Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-07-09

several respects the European war
has inflicted hardships on the from
tiers Of the Christian religion. Not
only have the Mohammedans In Tur-
key aud Persia seized the opportunity
afforded by the war to persccutc all
unbclieverS, bat converts TO Christ
tianity throughout the world, secured
after many years ct patient teaching
by the missionaries. have become dis
tinctiy skcptical. and, in some cases
have even returned to former idols
and snake worship. In northern Can
ada the Indians arc in1uiring naivcly
why Christians, being not savagcs.
should fight and Stay each other: while
In India, where there are many rcli-
Eions and much superstition. the war
has served to weaken the faith Of
many converts, who have ceased at
tending the mission schools. And now
comes the unfortunate hostility in
Mexico which Will put an end TO tho
missionary work NOW going forward
among the Indians OF that country.
According TO the statement of "A re-
turned missionary, however, Mexico is
fast overcoming her deficiencies In
schools. which arc the great missions
Of the churches. and even the poems
are receiving certain amount of edu-
cation. The war in Europe has
taught Mexico few lessons. too al
though many people think Of the
country as too immersed I'm hloodshcd
10 take advantage Of them For cx-
ample, II is reported by this mission
airy that progressive governor OF the
fucaian Province some months ago
issued an order that every parent must
provide n seat for his child in school
and keep him there between the ages
of five and fourteen. This was con-
siderable hardship on the average
Mexican. who is no capitalist. but IL
was an important step in the way Of
IN t,.,
which neglec,S II. Another reform in
stituted by this governor prohibited
the drinking OF any liquor in Yuca;an.
with the exception Of beer. witness
the influence Of Russian vodka re-
forms and the restrictions on the sale
OF liquor in England
But In spite Of many disappoint-
ments and hardships. the missionaries
are sticking To their jobs In Europe
and Asia and Africa. Many were COM
PEELED to leave Turkey al the time of
the great exodus of the Armenians. and
those that remain arc now required to
teach Turkish in the mission schools.
but Ambassador Morgenthau has stood
Loyalty by them and enforced the pro-
lection due Americans AS IL happens,
Ambassador Morgenthau is Hebrew.
but he has done everything within his
power to- assist Christians during the
crisis. When asked by a missionary
why he helped a religion in which he
had no sympathy. the ambassador sal :
ut is true | am a Hebrew, hut the
United states is 81 per cent Christian
and per cent Hebrew. and I represent
that country Therefore, in my Off
cial capacity. I am 81 per cent Chris
tian and per cent Hebrew"
Armcninnx SIN Pcr.ecutcd.
The slaughter and plumber of the
Armenians is still going forward in
those towns and villages where rcfu-
gees have sought shelter, and in Urmia.
Salinas, Khoy and Albak thousands of
destitute Armenians and Syrians are
subssting on the meager charity OF
friends and missi ona rics, who are little
able to give it. The missions that have
escaped destruction arc issuing another
call for relief for these people who are
exposed to cold as well as hunger
The courage of the missionaries who
have remained in this country de-
vastated by the mountain Kurds can
not he overestmated. A Methodist
missionary arriving in PetrOgrad not
long ago. after many narrow escapes
in Urmia and Persia, wrote an account
of his experience, in which he told Of
the horrible death of an American doc
tor. who was killed by the Turks The
doctor was in small village attacked
by the Turks. and fed together with
many other Christians, to a nearby
mountain. He was captured. Owing
to the fact that he had acquired merit
by doctoring the wounded. the Turks
graciously agreed to spare his life II
lie would become n Mohammedan. The
doctor refused. and was thereupor
drenched with oil and burned at the
stake.
India's Missions Progress.
With the exception of the eXpeiline
Of German missionaries from India, the
missions of that land so far have beer
free from strife and confusion. While
many converts have disappointed then
by going back to their old gods. the
work of securing new converts and
teaching the ignorant has gone steadily
forward against only the usual difficult
ties. When it is remembered that India
has n popula ton three times the size
of the United States. with 147 Ian
guages, Of which at least twenty-thret
are spoken by 100000 or more peo
Pile. 1t may be seen that Indian service
calls for an accomplished missionary
The British government has been quick
to realize the value of the mission II
the control of the East, and now mucf
police activity is made unnecessary by
the success of the missionaries
For example, the British government
has had great deal Of difficulty In
subjugating n tribe OF hillmen known
as kallars, who lived by robbery. The