Arizona republican., 1912-12-29
SOME FACTS 0N
 BALKAN STRIFE
Missionary in Turkey Writes Interesting Let ter to Elder Sims of the Seventh Day Adventist Church

EiueF Geo. S1lnS of the SeVcnt h Day Adventist church in this city. has just received a letter from R. $. Greaves, a missionary for that de- nomination in Turkey and Greece in which he gives a forceful narrative of what led up to the war just closing in Turkey, the downfall of the once mighty conqueror, and the religious conditions in that country and Greece. Mir. Greaves went to Turkey as missionary from the United States several years ago. and has made special study of both the religious and political conditions in those two countries The letter says:
 Tt is now over four years since tn eyes of the world were turned on Turkey. as amidst general re joicing the constitution was pro claimed. and people were surprised to find Moslem and Christian hang ing on the others neck, and with knife in hand calling each other brother. TOT a brief moment rel- zion and nationality seemed to be forgotten as amidst the general ex- citement each vied with the other as to who could seem the most pa- triotic towards his country It was an immediate emancipation from many heavy burdens and restrictions ard everywhere there seemed a spir- it of greater liberty and freedom For time all went well. but little by little one could notice the reaction setting in. The Turks did not do all that nf on the other hand the Christians were not slow to find fault. and felt greater liberty to air their griev- anCes than formerly they had dared to do. It was not long before it could he plainly seen that the Turks and Christians no longer considered they were brothers. and as the Turk had power on his side it is not diff ficult to guess how things generally went. From petty things often hard feelings arose until it got to be the common saying that whereas under the old regime they had one master, have failed to find this true, for Inder the new administration I have seen many improvements that form erly were never thought of.
 Tn the country places and small towns perhaps the people have had the most cause for complaint and of ten their position has not been an enviablc one. At times thc~e have been reprisals with the natural on- sequences. until hatred for the Turk ish rule has spread everywhere.
 'The Christian people do not oy any means always agree amongst themselves, and the name is often the only thing that reminds one of the Saviour of mankind. Many of the priests know practically nothing of the word of God, but they are able to perform the rites of the church. and they can baptize the babies. marry the people, and bury the dead. There is one subject, how ever on which these people have perfect agreement and it Is the thorough detestation of the Turk. It is this, rather than either love or religion. that has bound them to- gether during the present crisis.
 "A Greek or Bulgarian may be an Ottoman subject. but his heart is with HIS Oh II DdilOil- anu ilio ltIiDN 1Ohh- trymap across the border has always an open ear for his troubles. until sympathy has taken the form of strong action; and the outcome of the whole thing is the present war
 Tn the press one sees the opinion Of the writers divided: some speak of the Turks as brave and honorable men. whilst others describe them as q lot of barbarous people. If We could divide them into two classes, and place each man with the class to which he belongs, undoubtedly We should find gentlemen who earnestly and sincerely desire the good of their country, whilst on the other hand, we should find a rabble that are ready for any work, no matter how inhuman.
 "A Turk is looked upon as being fanatical. and he certainly regards his religion as superior to all others, and is not willing to allow any Mo- hammedan to change his faith, yet he allows Christians to have their own forms of religion, and also eX- tends the same privilege to the Jews Ii is well to note that this latter race of people have no complaint against Turkey from q religious standpoint, and it is the Mohamme- can soldier who has often protected him from an infuriated Christian CD mob. especially on such days as Good Friday, when certain demonstrations are held In certain parts of Tur- key. had the Greeks been the rulers, probably most of the Jews would have had to leave, exactly as they have to do under the same priest hood in Russia. Even in Greece it., self, where the people are better ed ucated than the Christian element in Turkey, one can visit Athens and other principal cities, and almost the entire absence of the Jew is quite remarkable.
 Tn the splitting up of d portion of the Turkish empire, nations acqulr- ing new territory will have to face new duties, for races will fall under their rule with different ideas and conceptions of religion than they themselves hold. In what spirit are these nations going to meet their new subjects? Also. how are the different missionary societies going to be dealt with. who, under the Turk ish government. had much freedom ? ' h;,,l- tn call attention tO