The Ekalaka eagle. [volume] (Ekalaka, Mont.) 1909-1920, 1915-05-28
Religious
Missionaries Wait In Hope.

The Rev. DR.. James L. Barton, Sec
rotary of the American board Of com.
missioners for foreign missions, issued
a bulletin dealing with conditions in
Turkey, as disclosed in letters received
from missionaries in that country. In
part this says:
1--WE have received between twenty
and thirty letters from missionaries IN
Turkey, covering Trebizond, Erzroom,
Van, Bitlis, Harpoot, Mardin, Aintab,
Adana, Marash, Sivas, Smyrna, Con-
stantinople, Marsovan and Saloniki.'
All report the situation as quiet, and
many of them speak of sister stations
in the same way.
"We have no fear that the storming
Of Smyrna will bring danger to the mis-
%sionaries there, as undoubtedly, in case
of bombardment Of the city, the mis-
sionaries will withdraw to the college
grounds outside of the city, where the
American flag will be put up and prob
ably the United States consul general
will make his headquarters there dur
ing the bombardment. At Constanti-
nople Robert college has been selected
as the place of rendezvous in case the
city is bombarded.
"No fear has been expressed in any
letter Of any possible attack on the
missionaries. The Turks have made
attacks on the Greeks in the Smyrna
district and on the rear side of Smyr.
ma which have been at times very
v,,o1 n,r7 %ln~c Inc 1,oo, copao o1Oc1y.
ing among Turks Of the war party and
the peace party at Constantinople. the
peace party being the stronger. but
without much leadership. while the
war party has all the German officers
and the army and navy on it's side.
1.-THE reports do not indicate any spe-
cial physical suffering on the part OF
the missionaries. The American board
is getting money to all mission stu.
lions readily and is sending, in addi.
ton to that sent for the support of the
work, considerable sums for relief.
we of the American board have no
fear that Russian control Of parts Of
Turkey will materially interfere with
its work. Russia has shown unusual
and increasing liberality in the last ten
years, and we have every reason to be-
lieve that the outcome Of the war will
result in large measure in a greater
liberalization of Russian administra-
ton and in advancing the kingdom of
: God in Turkey. Our missionaries have
never written in a more hopeful tone
for the future"
Call For Great Revival.
The Federal Council of the Churches
1 of Christ In America, which recently
l published statistics showing al unusual
gain in church membership in the past
. year, issued Il call to prayer for a
j worldwide revival, urging the churches
l not to be satisfied with the gains of tho
i past year.
The ''call' says that the spiritual adj
vance Of the church has always been
marked by revivals, and adds:
'The situation in our country is from
a spiritual viewpoint ut a critical stage.
Processing Christians are not active in
winning men to Christ. The situation
abroad, where professedly Christian
nations are killing men by millions, is
such that only a great revival Of true
religion can bring peace. The church.
es are urged to prayer for all nations
and their rulers and for a revival
among all church members as we'll as
those who are in spiritual darkness"
Christians In Japan Start Campaign.
Japanese Christians throughout the
empire have begun an organized evan
gelistic campaign. All sects are rep
resented. Among the leaders are Dear
ing, Wainwright and Draper, Ameri-
cans; Heaselet. an Englishman, and
Mackenzie. a Canadian.
The movement started in Tokyo with
a union prayer meeting in the Young
Mems Christian association hall.