Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1909-01-08

even an alphabet. and no literature eN-
cept popular songs, fairy tales. and folk
lore. Their religion is as much mixed as
their language. The population is com
posed of orthodox Greeks. Roman Cath
clics. who have been converted by Italian
priests: Jews whose ancestors came from
Palestine after the destruction of Jeru-
salem, and from Spain after they were
banished by Ferdinand and Isabella.
There are MohammedanS from turkey
and a few Professionals who have been con-
verted by American missionaries. Inc
American beard of foreign missions has
been at work in Albania and the neigh,
boring provinces for many years. an"
practically the only educational oppor-
t,1nities are found i'm its schools, Wh1ch
are highly esteemed and attended by the
children of the most influential families.
Significance of Recent Assembly.
Knowing what I have told you about
Albania you will appreciate the s1snlt-
icance of the assembly which met in the
Albanian clubrooms at Monastir the 1ltn
of last November. There were 160 dele
gates from various parts OF Albania, ana
from Albanian communities in Roumania,
Bulgaria Italy, Egypt. America and else
where They continued in session for
week discussing patriotic subjects and
especially the best method or securing
the adoption of uniform alphabet ana
language fer their people. me conNeh-
ton was presided over by Midhat Bey.
dra soman of Hilmi Pasha. the recent
Turkish governor. who imprisoned several
American missionaries last winter SEARCH
ed their houses for reasonable docu-
ments destroyed their text books. and the
records of the schools as reasonable lit
eratllre and prohibited instruction.
The change that has taken place may
he understood by the fact that Hilmis
chief assistant was the presiding officer
49, r-itf flt mot rooms
of the first political club organized after
the proclamation Ct freedom last July:
The sessions were attended by the VAN
Paslla or Governor OF Monastr. ana
ceedings received their hearty approval.
which WAS unprecedented in Turkish his
tory and also indicates the remarkable
changes that have occurred.
Delegates Impressively Fraternal.
Mrs. p &. Kennedy, missionary
friend. who attended the session. writes
me that everybody was impressed by the
spirit OF fraternity manifested by the
delegates. who represented four distinct
religious creeds. Father Fishteh. Ro-
man Catholic priest from Skorta was one
of the most active members of the con-
yention. and a Moslem hodja was so af-
fected by one of his speeches that he
rushed forward and embraced him before
the audience.
1t was decided 10 retain temporarily
what is known as the Constantnople al
phabet-the one which is in vogue in
South Albania. until a committee of
eleven men, who were appointed by the
Chairman was able to prepare a national
alphabet to be submitted at another con-
yention to be held at Janina two years
hence.
After the adjournment several of the
delegates visited the missionary schools
al,, ini wi american
teachers and the missionary colony i'll
their THANKSGIVING celebration which
was also an unprecedented event and IL
Illustrates the freedom that is now being
enjoyed in the Turkish provinces, where.
only six months ago, the people scarcely
dared breathe their own names
Public Appreciates Lecture Course.
Mrs. Kennedy writes me that one o. the
new features of the American school this
fall is Il lecture course. which is at
tended by the public, who manifest deep
interest and appreciation of the privilege.
Two OF the delegates made speeches.
Mr. Gurakug. poet and author, and II
Roman Catholic. educated in Italy. and
Muslin Bey. n Mohammedan and de-
scendant from the Cournus family. many
members of which occupied the Byzantine
throne between the eleventh and thirteenth
centuries. Although his immediate fam
tiars Muslin Bey's father was an exile
from Turkey or many years. and the
son was educated in Paris. He has been
one of the most active of the young
Turkey party, and has worked earnestly
for the liberty which his people now
enjoy.
Want More American Schools.
Mr.. Gurakug. speaking as Roman
Catholic, paid an enthusiastic tribute to
the American schools and said: Eve will
plead with America to found more of
them throughout the country
This was one of the most remarka BILE
Thanksgiving services that ever occurred.
and there could be no better Illustration
of the changed conditions in Turkey than
when Il Roman Catholic and "A Mciisin-
medan spoke in Il Protestant American
school in the presence and under the
auspices of Il Turkish official and discuss
ed publicly the blessings of liberty and
urged the people TO take advantage Of the