New-York tribune., 1906-10-12
WORK AMONG MOSLEMS.
Question Discussed Frankly at
american Board Meeting.
TBy Telegraph to The Tribune.

TBy Telegraph TO The Tribune.l
North Adams. Mass. Oct. u.-Followihg closely
upon the acceptance Of Mr. Leishman as Ambas-
sador at Constantinople comes the announcement
Of the new attitude OF the American Board toward
mission work among the Moslems in Turkey. For
the first time in the history of the American Board
this question was openly discussed upon the plat
form Of the board to-day.
Hitherto 1t has been feared that Moslem fanati-
cism might result in violence against the mission
aries at the front II II plainly stated that
this board IS endeavoring through its missionaries
to make Jesus Christ known 10 the followers Of
Mahomet For nearly fourscore and ten years the
board has maintained a silence that has been mis-
interpreted both in the East and in the West
Widely has the uncontradcted but erroneous state
ment been circulated that Mission boards not
working for the Christianization Of Mosems" and
that mo Moslems become Christian"
Theirs is even wide difference Of opinion among
the missionaries and the friends of the board as
TO the wisdom of discussing this question here to-
night Some fear il may result in open fanatcal
violence against missionaries in Turkey and else
where while others believe that the time has come
when the board should speak boldly and frankly.
Last April witnessed a long step In advance in
tho conference in Cairo Egypt where some sew
enty delegates assembled from all over the world
10 discuss this question. Since the conference was
in Moslem country, secrecy maintained at
that time TO prevent the breaking UP Of the gath
eTing. Two volumes are soon to be issued giving
TO the world full report of proceedings of the
first world conference of Christians upon the sub
Ject Of Mahometanism and its relation to Chris
tianity.
The Rev. Dr. James L. Barton, foreign secretary
of the board, this evening discussed fully and
fearlessly the problem in an address on ''Moslems
in Turkey" He recognized the danger Of the dis
cussion but said: "Can we better observe this
centennial Of grand advance in the aggressive
spiritual conquest OF the world than by begin
ming a new advance into the world occupied by
SSo,O00,000 souls who know neither the Christ nor
the Father? The new century of American foreign
missions calls for a vision OF the MosIen
world in its strength. its needs. its accessibility
its promise well in its antagonisrn to Christ
and those who bear his name"
DR.. Barton said that the American Board comes
IN contact with Mahometans in fourteen Of its
missions, only four of which are under a Mahomet-
an government. In ten of the missions in which
it is at work and where Moslems dwell. like India.
China, Africa and Mindanao. IN the Philippines.
there is ample religious liberty so far as the gov
ernment is concerned. The four missions IN Turkey
entirely under Mahometan government
where the state is identified with Islam.
Here" he added. there is no liberty for Ma
honetan to change his religion while nearly all Of
the high official positions in the military and civil
lists filled by Mahometans alone They control
the processes OF the government, and in spite OF
many promises granting freedom Of conscience TO
all subjects Of the empire. able to administer
the affairs Of state that Moslems clearly under
stand that no change of religion viii be tolerated.
After showing that Christian missions
strongly iutrenched in the Turkish Empire one
after another Of the great strategic centres having
bekn occupied. until there are more than six hun
dred foreign missionaries from Europe and America
at work. "a addition 10 two thousand trained
tive Christians pastors preachers, eVangelsts and
teachers who speak the languages OF the country,
Dr. Barton mentioned the preparations for advance
and called upcn the churches to support the new
movement to send more missionaries into Turkey
10 work wholly among the twelve million Moslems
TO send other missionaries directly to the th1ee
million Kurds and others stu TO so TO the two
million AIbanians in Western Mesopotamia. Other
ulans in this new movement involve the increase
of medical work. DT Barton closed with these
words:
Has not the time come for us TO advance by
planning 10 assist the Turks in organizing and
Zine is approaching when they viii be asking for
this help even more loudly than they do to-day
enable TO join hands with them in putting their
educational system upon a modern, permanent
We should prepare and issue a new-not contro-
verSal. but conStructlve-lter&ture IN large guam
es ana CI s iterire m od she ot be OF e le
translations. but must be produced by able men
VINO KNOW Io' - Id 80 toL VI tS IoIi
well as the essentials or CHRISTIANITY. we should
eo 1reauize forces that present every
Nosom in Turkey such Vision of the Christ
Ter ana be led to exclam. My Lord ard my Godr
DR. Lyman Abbott Of The Outlook" led an AMI
mated discussion this afternoon upon the PROPOSE
tior 10 spend more money in cultvatirg the home
6cId that larger receipts and missionary can
Tid1tes may be secured 1t the opinion OF all
,,bo smoke that the bCaEd was dong the best that
'oIl lie done with its present income. ana that its
friends shoJid give more and tTslst it's wise pru-
5'-,-s91 c5urlittca so l.aa the money wisely
-. y PtltccosL had charge of fho lavo
t-rol meetings snd made an inspiring address born
~ lis experience traveller in foreign lands