The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1912-03-18
TURKEY A REGION
YET UNDEvELOPED
Missionary Worker Points
Out Some of the Conditions
Found in Oriental Land.
WITNESSED MASSACRES
Declares Recently Deposed
Sultan Responsible for Out
RACES Oh Christians.
WITNESSED MASSACRES

Miss Annie F. Allen. missionary who
has worked for years in Turkey, at Phil
lips Congregational church last night,
gave an interesting description OF Chris
tian missionary and school work In
Asatic Turkey. and entertainingly por-
trayed some OF the difficulties cncoun-
tered by Christian workers In that coun-
try.
Miss Allen said that in the interior
country there arc very few railroads and
chat transportation is accomplished by
wagon or horseback routes. In many
places the old wooden plows, similar to
those seen in Bible illustrations, are still
In use. While there are many deposits
or gold, silver and coal, these have not
been developed. Under Turkish law all
these belong to the government, and in
asmuch as the officials have not devel-
oped them. nor have they permitted for
elgn capital to 90 40. these valuable de-
posts arc permitted TO remain In their
virgin state for the most part
Extreme Fatalists.
The speaker said that the Turks are
latalists. giving an Illustration OF this
TACT in the remarl. OF one good Moham
and told that IL could be used as fuel II
only dug out of the ground But why"
said the Turk. SHOULD we interfere with
the purposes OF God? II he had Intended
it in the ground"
Miss Allen had with her two little
Armenian girls whom she had brought
from, from her school ,h in Turkey They were
proud of their exhibition They were
sweeL-faced little things and attracted
much attention. One OF them wore the
many blue beads common TO dress dec
these baubles 20 he tenders against the
evil eye. in which they believe and OF
which they have 4 dread.
MohaInmedans, explained Miss Allen,
believe in the same God as do Christians,
aud they believe In the Christ: but they
contend that Mahomet came after the
Christ and brought the last word in the
plan Of salvation, and that when Christ
shall again appear he will grant the gu
periority OF Mahomet, the greater proph-
et. They are charitable, giving freely
not countenanced and Miss Allen says
that She had never yet seen a Moham-
medan intoxicated.
Tells of Massacres.
During the massacres OF 1895 Miss AL
len was located at Harpoot $50 miles In
the interior from Constantinople She
posed as sultan. was responsible Tor the
massacres. He had secretly melted the
fShurds 10 commit deeds OF murder and
rapinc. She and her companions at Har-
poot were assured that if the Ilhurds at
tempted to molcsl them they should be
protected by the government In TACT
she said, the Turkish troops did place
a number of cannon at a narrow pass
approaching Harpoot, pointing them in
the direction from which the Khurds
would come; but when the raiders ac-
tually appeared the cannon were turned
on the Christian quarters Of the town
Turks dressed as khurds led the raIding
party, compelling the missionaries 10 fee
from spot 10 spot TO escape the bullets
OF the narauders. AT one time the men.
women and children hid behind The
schoolhouse. a heavily armed Turk
came around the corner Of the building
and threatened to shoot Miss Aliens
father held up his hands to signify that
fired at him. as he did at two other mis-
slonarles. For some reason ne missed all
three OF them and walked away. They
compelled to return because of the ina
bility Of the sick among them 10 proceed,
Much Progress Made.
Since 1909 conditions have improved
very much. The coming of the revolu-
ton which brought about the adoption
OF the constitution. had given greater
the Greeks and Armeuisns within their
country. But even now IL is not safe
70" a Turk TO openly express belief in
Christianity. While government Off
cialS would punish any attempt 10 injure
a Christian Turk. there are plenty Of
fanatics who would seek secretly TO put
bin on, OF the way For this reason the
Turkish girls who attend the Christian
schools are clrcumSrribed az TO their lib
erty 10 give free expression to their
thoughts on Christianity, although In
thclJ hearts they love II. However, when
through with their school work they so
back 10 their own churches. where they
quietly do y great deal OF good.
Some OF the revolutionary leaders had
confessed, declared Miss Allen. that
Christian missionary work for the past
eighty years had been instrumental In
the way for the constitution.
She asked that the mission work be
given all possible support, as IL ac-
wonderful good in bringing
enl ght eminent to thousands of heretofore
ignorsnt and downtrodden people In Tur-
key.
The Rev =. a Simpkln conducted tho
meeting. and hc followed Miss Allen in
an appeal to the cong grcsation to give
sympathy and aid TO the good work that
was accomplishing SO much for Chris
tianity.
Added 10 the regular musical pro-
was a solo by Miss Marie SCo-
bee. which wss excellently rendered.