Daily Kennebec journal., 1905-12-29
OUR FOREIGN MISSIONS.
Annual Report of Commissioners Tells
of Prooress of the Work.

Hfhit0i nGEOTl VI Siis
of Progress of the Work.
Boston. Dec. 2S-Thc American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign
Missions made public today its 95th an
nual report. II states that the political
situation in the western Turkey mis-
sion which includes ConStantinoplc
has been favorable without special oc-
casicns for anxiety and uncertainty
The government at Washington is pro-
cccding, it says, with the understanding
that the Porte, By the action of August
last year, stands pledged to treat the
claims in behalf of American institu-
tions and citizens in Turkey precisely
as those Of France and the other
powers.
While there has been no little terror
iZing in the Salorica field of the Euro
pean Turkey mission, and Il spirit of
revolution in parts OF Bulgaria, feaI
Of war or of a general massacre OF
Christians has not been handicapped
by the insistenCc upon the part of the
government upon sending large body
of troops as protection to the mission
aries. DR.. House made one tour with
ilIdIiN dis 81 St'ItltlS W ll'lt'l Hill
This made Christian work almost i'm
possible. for the quartcring of such a
small army upon the people of the
town WAS no small tax in itself, while
the constant presence Of Turkish troops
terrorized the people and drove them
away from the missionary and his ser
vices. A smaller number was sent al
other times, Whicn proved a less handi-
cap to the work.
Educational work in the mission vii
probably need to be reorganized III tht
near future so as to meet more fully
the requirements Of the Bulgarian pull
pits and to secure recognition from tht
government. This statement applies
only to schools within bulgaria. one
of the leading officials has declared that
the government can recognize no teach
crs whose illness to teach has not re-
ceiycd the approval OF the government
1t WithholdS it's approval at present
from graduates from both the collcgl-
ate and theological institute and the
girls boarding school at SamokOV. II
order to bring these schools up to The
government standards, money must be
expended upon enlarged buildings anc
more teachers will need to be employed
One of the significant events of the
year was the gift of 200 francs, gold
from Prince Ferdinand of Bulgaria fol
repairs upon tilt mission church al
Sofia.
The greatest unrest has been III th,
Van ana Ritlis fields. eastern Turkey
the report says. where bands of rcvo-
attacked Turkish villages ana clashcC
with Turkish troops. At times these
conditions have 50 aroused the Turks
that there has been fear of general To-
cal lnussacrcs of the Christians; but
these have not occurred. although pOv-
crty and suffering in these two sta
tons especially havc been severe.
The missionaries haVr administered
relief funds sent from the United
States, England and Germany. ana TIL,
regular work has gone or with but lit
tie permanent interruption. The gov
crnmcnt has thrown many obstacles il
the way of missionary travel. Evident.
ly orders have been seIIt out into tht
districts from COnStantinoplc to Pre-.
vent the missionaries from travelling
III lnC country. MS mas l'u 10 an
aoyanccs but has not prevented the
prosecution of the outside work requr
ing the personal visitation of the mis-
sionarics. The local officials have. foI
the most part, been courteous and kind
ly disposed. openly showing thcil
friendly interest in the missionary"
The troubles Of the government il
Arabia calling out the reserves ana in.
CrcasinG the taxes hay" created uur"s
among all classes. Emigration nf Ar-
fncuianS to tn" United States is Il iii. cc
hirdrancr toSthc work, in that many
of the trained teachers ana Christian
workers are among the number.
The conditions of tn, country have
driven q great many of the young meT
to tie United states. Several of The
members of the church have suffered
Imprisonment from the false charges
Of the Turkish government. Two oi
these have been released this year ;ftcl
MORE than two years of Imprisonment
'.hry report that while in prison they
had large and interesting audiences t.
whom they were permitted to prcaci
DAY after day.