The Logan Republican. [volume] (Logan, Utah) 1902-1924, 1913-01-04
RELIGIOUS AND POLITICAL CON-
D|T|ONS IN GREECE AND TURKEY

In the splitting up Of portion OF
the Turkish Empire, nations acquir.
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 Tur-
kish government, had much freedom?
| think II is well to call attention to
the fact that only few months ago
a Protestant missionary in Greece
was sent to prison because he preach
ed things out of harmony with the
Greek Orthodox Church. Such things
are against the Greek law. Also the
Bible is only allowed to be printed
in the ancient language; and. as the
common people can neither read nor
understand this language, they prac-
tically are without the Bible, and
know nothing except what they hear
from the mouth Of the priest. The
Turkish government places no such
restrictions, and the agents of the
American and British Bible Societies
carried on their work to the benefit
Of the people; whereas in one of the
cfs ~
agent was recently arrested because
lawyer thought he had some Bibles
in his possession which were trans
lated into the modern language. The
agent was bound with a rope, and led
publicly to the station where he was
taken by train to Athens. The accu-
sation was entirely false, and the col
portuar was given his liberty.
Much Of the territory formerly
governed by Turkey now falls under
Greek rule, and it certainly would be
very regretable II the spirit of reli-
gious intolerance should be exercised |
in the newly acquired land. 1t would
mean that the people could no longer |
hold the Bible they now possess, and |
that henceforth the Bible colporturs
must sell no Bibles not printed in
the ancient language-a language |
even less comprehensive to the in
habitants of Epirus than those of
Greece.
Let us hope that with the enlarge
ment of territory there may be a cor
responding enlargement of ideas and
that every pers son who Is willing to
conform TO the government in tenn
poral matters, may be allowed per-
feet religious freedom. This would
be good way of celebrating the new
rule, and of showing good intentions
towards the various people who have
been brought under 1t.
Surely the war ought not to be
without its lessons, as We see the
once proud nation getting ready to
cave the territory over which it has
'ued for five hundred years. Chris
ians and Mohammedans have not
equally enjoyed the same benefits,
whilst on the other hand in certain
matters of religion, Turkey has given
iome privileges which have been
much appreciated.
There nave been some men in the
empire who have urged reforms, but |
ihe has been slow to listen to ad. |
rice, and failed to do to others as |
she would have been done by. The
'ule of the sword has not been sue
,essful rule, and in the hour of cal. |
imity he has stood as a stranger in
his own country. The inhabitants
have ever been more ready to help
the invader than their own ruler,
and the conquering armies have been
hailed with delight and glad shouts
as soon as 1t was thought to be safe
to show their real feeling. In his
dying moments his own subjects
have left him, and would gladly help
to thrust him deeper into his grave.
The Turk has been proud OF the
fact OF not only being a soldier, but
also a conqueror. During the Alban.
ian troubles / have seen troops with
long lines OF cannon and machine
guns marched to the front; officers
giving sharp orders here and there.
have seen armed soldiers leading
rows Of chained captives to prison.
| have seen policemen roughly dictat-
ing what must and must not be done,
but never until the last few days
have ] seen the Turk with his sword
and rifle taken from him, and being
compelled to march along as a pris-
oner of war, with naught left of his
manly bearing, and being governed
by the men he formerly despised and
looked upon as weaklings. II was a
pititul sight to see long professions
march along between two rows OF
glistening bayonets, and behind these