Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-21
WORK Of HIGH TYPE
Influence of American Mission
aries in Turkey.
LABOR TO ELEVATE RACE
Modern Improvements introduced
for Benefit of People.
RESPECTED BY ALL CLASSES
Students of Protestant Schools in
Ottoman Empire Emigrate to
United States.

BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS
Special Correspondence Of The Star and the
Chicago Record Herald.
CONsTANTINOPLE
September II, 1910.
Nowhere in all the world. not even in
China or Japan. the results of the
labors and influence of American mis-
sionaries more conspicuous or more gem
orally recognized than in the Ottoman
empire. They have not confined themselves
to making converts to Christianity, but
their Intelligence and enterprise have
been felt even more extensively and eff
fectively in the material than in the
spiritual improvement of the people.
The 1rSt electric. telegraph instrument
in Turkey was set up by missionary
They introduced the first sewing ma chine
the first printing press and the first
modern agricultural implements. They
brought the tomato and the potato and
the other valuable vegetables and fruits
that are now staples: they built the first
hospitals, they started the first dispensary
and the first modern schools. Before they
| came not one of the several races in
Turkey had the Bible in their own
Koran now; but today, thanks to the
American missionaries, every subject of
the Turkish Sultan can read the Bible in
his own language. if he can read at all.
But large volume would be necessary
to tell what / would like to say on this
| subject. Mr.. Bryce, the British am
| bassadOr to Washington, in one of his
| books says: Il cannot mention the
American missionaries without a tribute
| to the admirable work they have done.
Thew have haen the only In
that has worked from abroad upon the
Turkish empire"
Sir William Ramsey the famous British
scientist, who has spent much time in
could quote dozen other equally COM
petent authorities as to the character of
| the men and the results they have ac-
complished.
Schools and Churches.
The American missionaries have over
400 schools, 40 or more large churches in
the centers Of population, with congrega-
tons numbering as high as 1900, besides
multitude of out stations in the villages
Of Asia Minor. In the division of terri
tory the Presbyterians have Syria. the
United Presbyterians Egypt, while Euro
pean Turkey and Asia Minor are occupied
by the American board of commissioners
Of foreign missions. affiliated with the
Congregational Church, with headquarters
at Boston
There are several Church of England
missions, but no. central organization.
The Swedish, German and Swiss Luth-
Grams have schools, churches and orphan
ages. The French Roman Catholics have
schools and hospitals in Asia Minor, in
charge of Capuchin and franciscan
monks, but the chief missionary work in
Turkey, educational, benevolent and evan
gelical, has been done by agents of the
American board since 1870. when two
pioneers, Pliny Fisk and Levi Parsons,
landed at Smyrna and began to prepare
themselves for preaching and teaching
by learning the native languages.
The headquarters from which. the cam
paign of evangaliZation and civilization
is directed is called the Bible house in
Stamboul, the native section of CONSTANT
day the most far-reaching lighthouse in
all the east. Its rays penetrate to every
corner Of the Ottoman empire. Here
are the Offices of administration, the de-
pository of the Bible Society, the printing
plant and publication house. the treasury,
the library, the information bureaus and
other branches of the work If you ever
want to know anything about missions
ually or collectively, their personnel, their
purposes or the results they have ac-
complished, or anything about American
educational and charitable work in
Turkey, write to the Bible house, SIAM
boul, Constantinople. and If you have any
money to contribute toward the expenses
Of the great work that is going on send
it there to DIR. Peet. the treasurer.
Missionaries as Educators.
The most far-reaching work of the
American missionaries is educational,
which comprehends all races, all religions
and all languages. They are educating
representatives of every one of the many
different races in which the Turkish empire
is composed regardless of religious faith
Turks. Arabs. Egyptians, Armenians
Kurds, Persians, MacedOnians, Bulgars,
Druses, HISTORIANS, Greeks. Russians,
Georgians, Circassians and others too nu-
merOuS to mention. Their influence is
thus extended to every community be-
cause no student leaves an American in
stitution without carrying with him lLe
germs of progress which must affect the
| family and the neighborhood and all of
| the inhabitants with whom he may
| thereafter come into contact.
| This influence has been working for
| half century or more and has been pre-
pairing the minds of the people for the
great change that has recently come over
| them. The missionaries do not teach
revolution; they do not encourage revolu-
| tionary methods, but they have always
preached and taught liberty, equality,
| fraternity and the rights of man.
The congregations of the American
churches and especially the pupils of the
missionary schools, are usually reduced
| from % to 80 per cent every year by
emigration to the United States. Having
| learned from their teachers of the adj
| vantages and the opportunities that exist
across the water; having acquired the
English language, and being able to get
good advice as to location and often let
| tiers Of introduction, they have had de-
cided advantages over ordinary emf
grants and for the same reason they
make the best sort of citizens when they
reach their new homes. 1t has been very
difficult for an emigrant to leave Tur-
key until two years ago, but somehow
or another there has been a constant
stream running that way for quarter of
century.
Best of the Students\ Emigrate.
A dozen missionaries have told me that
the brightest and most promising young
men and women in their districts. and
especially the best teachers In their
schools, have emigrated. Many Of them
20 to Massachusetts: Chicago has thou
sands, and there Is a large colony in
| Troy working in the shirt and collar rae
| tories For example, the churches at
/ and