Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-28
FOX FOREIGN MISSIONS
ANNUAL REPORT OF THE AMERI-
CAN BOARD IN BOSTON.

BOSTON, Mass, December 2S. - The
American board of commissioners for for
eign missions in its ninetyfifth annual re-
port, made public today, deals at length
with conditions In Turkey 1t states that
the political situation in the western Tur-
key mission, which includes Constantine
pie, has been favorable, without special oc-
casions for anxiety and uncertainty.
While there has been no little terrorizing
in the Salonica field of the European Tur-
key mission, and a spirit OF revolution in
parts of Bulgaria, fear of war or of a gen.
eral massacre Of Christians has not been
acute. In the Salonica station touring by
the missionaries has been handicapped by
the insistence upon the part OF the govern
ment upon sending large body of troops
as protection to the missionary. The
quartering of such small army upon the
people of town small tax in itself,
while the constant presence of Turkish
troops terrorized the people and drove
them away from the missionary and his
services
Educational work in Bulgaria will prob
ably need to be reorganized in the near fu-
ture SO as to meet more fully the require
ments OF the Bulgarian pupils and to Sc
cure recognition from the Turkish govern
ment. The government withholds it's ap-
pToval at present from graduates from
both the collegiate and theological institute
diio tHe BITS pOdfti1g ScnCOI at SdmOkOF.
In order to bring these schools up to the
government standards money must be ex-
pended upon enlarged buildings and more
teachers will need to be employed.
Significant Events. as~"-a
One Of the significant events of the year
was the gift of 200 francs, gold, from Prince
Ferdinand Of Bulgaria for repairs upon the
mission church at Sofia
The greatest unrest has been in the Van
and Bitlis fields, eastern Turkey" the re-
port says, where bands Of revolutionists
organizing In Russia, have attacked Turk
ish villages and cfashed with Turk
ish troops. Poverty and suffering in these
two stations especially have been severe
The missionaries have administered relief
funds sent from the United States, England
and Germany, and the regular work has
gone on with but little permanent Interrupt
ton.
''The government has thrown many OBJ
stacles in the way of missionary travel
Evidently orders have been sent out into
the districts from Constantinople to prevent
the missionaries from travelling in the coun-
try. This has led to annoyance. but has
not prevented the prosecution of the outside
work. The local officials have, for the most
part, been courteous and kindly disposed"
Unrest in Arabia.
The troubles of the government In Arabia
calling out the reserves and increasing the
es. Emigration of Armenians to the United
States is a direct hindrance to the work in
that many of the trained teachers and
Christian workers~are among the number
The conditions of the country have driven
a great many of the young men to the
United States. Several of the members of
the church have suffered Imprisonment
from the alleged false charges of the Turk
ish government. Two of these have Leen re-
leased this year after more than two years
of Imprisonment.
They report that while in prison they had
large audiences TO whom they were permit
ted to preach day after day.