The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-09-04

The Hope FOR turkey 10 In schools Like
That Es,a b,ishrd ~ Beirut.

The Hone for turkey IL In schools Like
That Esta6'ishrd ~ Beirut.
To rsx ENRON or Tpr StN--Sr: The
Turkish Ambassador IA Washington. speak
ing tho other day about the protection OF
American interests In his Sovereigns prov
inces uttered a few hasty words about the
missionary work in Turkey which need rnodi-
fcat ion and correction. He ought 10 Know
that in his country there are various missions
of different nationalities and each nation 10
sometimes represented by more than one
mission There are the French the Italian,
the Russian and tho American and English
doubt If Chekib Bey ever visited an Amer,-
can mission school in Turkey or had inter-
course with an American missionary in Tur-
KEY or elsew here Has he ever come in rela-
,ioa with any one Of tho American college
graduates or school teachers III he had
sin gle private interview with them ne wonld
surely be co. "inced that they are more pa
trotic than he or any other Government ON
cial in Turkey II is "A question II ne KNOWS
what lies in the hearts of Ottoman subjects
in Asia. because. aside from the mean go
bet w Gems who carry brides from this man to
the other. the Ottoman omcihls rarely come
in contact with the people
Let Chekib and men Of his stamp Keep
silent and listen TO others who know turkey
and its people and not he so hasty IN de-
nouncng men and institutions about whom
he has only ague notions. There is a Turkish
proverb which says Listen twice and speak
once. because God has made two ears, out
one tongue"
! must at present pass by the rest Of mis-
sion works In Turkey and tell Chekib Bey, his
Turkish Majesty's Ambassador. a little about
the American missionary work in Beirut, and
incidentally show MN that the American
missionary is blessing to mis- country; Tor
if ever the Ottoman Empire Is regenerated
that blessed future viii be brought forth by
the instrumentality of missionary establish
ments IN Turkey.
Beirut thOug gil n ancient city, so Far as his
tory goes. is one of the few fourishing and
progressive cities in Turkey. Two other
cities on the Mediterranean coast line are fast
increasing in size. commerce and political
significance. OF these. first in the list comes
smyrna next Salonica. Beirut being the
third But Beirut while third in population
and in the commercial scale, stands hrst III
| the educational. tonstantinople excepted.
Of he i ds Fsas IN I
and in that field the Americans stand prom,
nently first | would not ignore the work Of
French missionaries in Bsiryth ous az present
| Happy was the moment when the hrad OF
the old President. D. Bliss, conceived the
thought Of establishing an educatonai lnsti-
tant from Constantinople Beirut grew in
size and importan.e as that school estan o.
Of Of Which Which President b. Bliss was principal,
treasurer. secretary, teacher preacher and
| handful OF students At the time when the
| pre- sent college premises we're bought. II was
a den of foxes and ja"kals. nest Of thieves
| for smu9glers RAs- Beirut was place
dreaded by the people To-day 1t is the most
beautiful site and the safest place IN an ths
! lighthouse. it ia all American. right and lett,
No picture and no description can convey on ,sy
correct idea of the beau;lin scenery OF ,ms
go there. breathe that soft. mild balmy ar.
gaze on that clear. c!oudless, azure sky. look
Of p pine id Ills Of popnIons Lebanon view
that blue, calm lake-like sea lying as mir
ror beneath your feet and hear tho incess !A1t
which Homer heard and sang. See how many
students from many lands representing many
nations. races and religions. are waikihk:
psHSn Zach ana o. fnn 20 or With them to Se
classes and hear them recite. Go to their
meetings and societies, hear them deliver
Come let US enter with them thu. grand col
lege chapel Look how group after group.
departmsnt after departmsnt . enters .'s1 1li
taken their seats: now peals the orsa Az every
student rises to his feet in soldier ne man
and oil unite no pfbssG bey aTe
lem. Jew. Druse Orthodox, Gregorian. Catho.
| lie and Protest ant. all singing praise TO one
100 st a a to the r !" Of the Scriptures
! Nowhere in all the East can you see such
sight Every American who enters those
| college gates forgets that he 70 in 1urkey,
! G 900 miles away from home. and every Otto
man thanks God that these Americans have
| come to his country. 49,, III, IA.
! But the syrian Protestant College, with its
great number OF professors. teachers ana IN
! strndors. ia not proud Of the stately 6nildinss'
of tho romantic situation. OF the palm trees:
! nine trees azedaradia, cy presses ana pepper
! Trees which beautify the whole scenery. but
| OF it's sons Her boast ia the educational
is a common fountain Of knowledge for all,
| n truly cosmopolitan beacon-light. true TO
| the traditions OF mother country America
! Last wear there we're fourteen nations and
races represented by $50 students. yet not
once was there raised race Question among
to get the honors Of the class or the medals
Of The nald-day games, Let Chekib Bey and
! men OF his standing think over TINS ana tell
| Contrary to Chekib Bey's assertions. these
races come to know each other and learn to t,
respect And honor the nnd ta Tss0P how
the fatherland looks at them as stcpsons. If
:" "' her %'' Christian citizens the fate Of Turkey
to-day would be far different. Egypt owes
its present happy state to lotra a. govern ri.,
. Protestant college in Beirut
To-day hundreds Of young men. Greeks
and Armenians and SvrianS. all over turkey
, graduates OF American colleges in the otto
man empire are left disinherited. ignored
md handicapped, weeping over the misfort-
ynes of their empire and their own nSklsss
all more patriotic than any ot''''a e TURKEY