The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-01-04

in this city, has just received let
ter from r. s. Greaves, missionary
for that denomination in Turkey and
Greece, in which he gives 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 coun-
try and Greece. Mr.. Greaves went
to Turkey as a missionary from the
United States several years ago, and
has made a special study Of both the
religious and political conditions in
those two countries. The letter
says:
1T is now over four years since
the eyes of the world were turned on
Turkey, as amidst general rejoicing
the constitution was proclaimed, and
people were surprised to find Moslem
and Christian hanging on the others
neck, and with knife in hand calling
each other brother. For a brief mo-
ment religion and nationality seemed
to be forgotten as amidst the gener-
al excitement each We'd with the
other as to who could seem the most
patriotic towards his country. II was
an immediate emancipation from
many heavy burdens and restrictions
and everywhere there seemed a spir-
II Of greater liberty and freedom.
For a time all went well, but little
by little one could notice the reaction
setting in. The Turks did not do all
that was expected Of them, and on
the other hand the Christians were
not slow to find fault, and felt great.
err liberty to air their grievances than
formerly they had dared to do. It
was not long before it could be
plainly seen that the Turks and Chris
tians no longer considered they were
brothers, and as the Turk had power
on his side, 1t is not difficult 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, now they had
a dozen. Personally have failed to
find this true, for undes the new ad.
ministration | have seen many i'm
provements that formerly were new
er thought of.
in 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
enviable one. At times there have |
Deen reprsals with the natural con.
sequences, until hatred for the Tur- |
kish rule has spread everywhere.
THE christian people do not by .
any means always agree amongst
themselves, and the name is often
the only thing that reminds one of
the Savior of mankind. Many of the
priests know practically nothing OF
the word of God, but they are able
% perform the rites of the church,
and they can baptize the babies, mar
ry the people, and bury the dead.
There is one subject, however, on
which these people have perfect agree
ment, and 1t Is the thorough detes-
tation Of the Turk II is this, rather
than either love or religion, that has
bound them together during the pres
ent crisis.
"A Greek or Bulgarian may be an
Ottoman subject, but his heart is
with his own nation, and his fellow
countrymen across the border has al
ways had an open ear for his trou-
bles, until sympathy has taken the
form OF strong action; and the out.
come Of the whole thing is the pres
ent war.
In the press one sees the opinion
of writers divided; some speak OF |
the Turks as brave and honorable |
men, while others describe them as
a lot of barbarous people II 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 inhum.
an.
"A Turk is looked upon as being
fanaticai, 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.
1t Is well to note that this latter race
of people have no complaint against
Turkey from a religious standpoint,
and it is the Mohammedan soldier
who has often protected him from an
Infatuated Christian CD mob, especi-