Norwich bulletin., 1917-04-04
RECEIVES LETTER FROM
 MISSIONARY IN VAN.
pr. RaynoIds Tells of War Conditions
 in Russia.

The following letter from pr. George z. Reynolds. missionary in Van Turkey, for over 35 years, will be of interest to his friends and acquaint- ances here. His wife was Martha Tin fer, a Lyme woman, and lived there until her marriage to Dr. Reynolds, after the wedding. Dr. Rays olds came to this country before the outbreak of the European war to solicit funds for their mission school. He was unable count of the war, and Mrs. Reynolds died three days before his arrival, while fleeing from their mission during an outbreak between the Armenians and Turks.
 Erivan, Caucasus. Russia,
 Jan. 2, 1917. To the Congregational Church Sunday
 School, Old Lyme. Conn:
 My Dear Young Friends: I was de- lighted yesterday to receive $25 from people for whom I am working here. I am glad to know that you are still interested in the people for wom am working, though my dear wife, your townswoman, has passed on to the better land. The people for whom W labored for more than 40 years in Van are now driven out from their homes by this dreadful war and scattered abroad in a foreign land. Their former homes are destroyed and they are liv- ing on charity, most of them unable to procure any work. Even those for snerly living in wealth and luxury are reduced to abject poverty. A very large part of the men have been killed and so there are thousands of widows with from one to six or more children dependent on them, living in small, un- comfortable rooms, often with no floor but the earth, and with almost no floor utmost difficulty that these mothers can procure the food necessary to keep themselves and their children alive. We are here trying to do what we can to make them more comfortable, but the means at our command do not suffice to reach a tenth. of those in need. We are running an industrial plant. giving out wool to women to spin and knit, sand thus employed, more than twice ss many more are clamoring for a share in <h.S work.
 A little money has also been sent to use for helping these orphans, and I think that you will like me to use the s25 which you have sent for this pur- pose. We are giving g per month to each child whom we accept, which will barely enable the mothers to keep them alive till circumstances should change for the better, as we hope they will in time. There are many of these poor children also who have lost their mothers as well as fathers some of whom are cared for by their reIa- LlVeS ana some are aDSOlutelY without anyone to care for them. I believe that years ago your Sunday school was in the habit of sending money for our orphanage in Van. Now I am finding good many children of those former members of our orphanage whose fathers have been killed, and I am glad to be able to help some of them. One of those orphan boys was named Set and after he left the insti- tuition he married Anlkin. also from the orphantge, and they lived in beautiful lake. One of the earliest of the dreadful outrages inaugurated with the purpose of utterly destroy ing the Armenian people was perpe- trated in that village. when all the men were gathered together by the some 2,500 of them. and in the evening were marched out in groups, lined up in front of the sol diers and ruthlessly shot down. An kin is now here with her two chill dren and I have taken her oldest boy Hairig, ten years old. on my list and if you like, I will consider him as be- lon ging to you and your money will furnish his stiperHd for a year. I ask also that you remember these poor children in your prayers. asking the dear Lord to have mercy on them and hasten the time when 1t may be possible for them to return to their in ruins. as perhaps you know, our own homes and work are also.
 With hearty thanks for your gift and best wishes for a happy and blessed new year, I remain.
 Yours most sincerely,
 G. c. Reynolds.