The Washington herald., 1911-09-09
THE TREND OF THINGS
American Boards Commission to
Investigate Turkish Situation.

Special to The Washington Herald.
Boston, Mass, Sept. S.-The new con-
ditions in Turkey brought about by
the new political order affects vitality all
missionary work carried on in that
country. This calls for changes in
methods and the inauguration of new
measures. The American Board Of Mis-
sions, with headquarters in Boston,
whose work in Turkey extends from AL
bania, on the west, to Persia, on the
east, and from the Black Sea to the
Mediterranean, feeling the importance
Of shaping its work to the new condi-
tions. is soon to send out a strong COM
sion 10 investigate present conditions and
so shape its operations as to meet the
present needs.
This commission is organized by the
foreign secretary of the board, the Rev.
DR. James L. Barton, who will himself
be a member Other members already
appointed are the Rev. Prof Edward G.
Moore of Harvard. who is chairman of
the prudential committee of tho board;
Rev. Prof. Arthur L. Gillett, of Hartford
Seminary, and chairman of a board COM
mittee that deals directly with Turkish
affairs: and Rev. Dr. Morris H. Turk, q
Natick, Mass, pastor.
1t is the plan Of this commission to
visit every mission station of the Ameri-
can board, every high school, college,
seminary, AMI hospital. and so study
their problems first hand and on the
ground. 1t is expected that this work
will consume tie first six months of
next year. In July, 1912, an all-Turkey
conference will be assembled in Con-
Etantinople at which delegates will be
present representing not only the work
of the American board in Turkey, but
also the work in that country of all
other religious and charitable organiza-
tions, as the Presbyterian Board OF Mis-
Eions of New York, the American Bible
and American Tract societies of New
York, the British and foreign Bible So
:iety and Bible Lands Mission Aid So
ciety, of London, as we'll as others.
Christian people of this country and
England have put thousands OF dollars
into this Turkey field, and hundreds Of
men and women from these countries
have gone there to labor. Very material
results have been obtained There are,
for example, ten American colleges in
the empire which have been the pioneers
in the Introduction OF modern higher ed
ucation. Below these are whole array
Of preparatory schools scattered over the
country. AS new Turkey develops its
these American institutions so shape
their courses of instruction that they
shall supplement the government schools.
There is now a great call for technical
training. The commission is to invest-
gate this whole subject Already SUBJ
committees are at work in Turkey col
lecting data for commission and con-
ference.
1t is the purpose of the American board
10 make this the most thorough investi-
cation of missionary work ever under
taken by any board in any country.
The men appointed on the commission
are experts AMI the delegates at the con-
ference will consist almost entirely Of
men and women who have spent years
in Turkey and know the conditions and
needs. The womens board will also
send leading representatives,. The Bos-
ton board has already appointed Miss
Kate G. Lamson, foreign secretary, and
Miss Louise Day, the treasurer, to rep
resent them in preliminary Investigations
md conferences.