THE CRISIS IN PERSIA * MISSIONARY PERILS IN TURKEY * MISSION SCHOOLS IN

TURKEY

MAY, 1915

THE CRISIS IN PERSIA

The Christians in Persia are crying aloud to God for help, as did the
Children
of Israel in the days of Pharaoh's oppression. Fifteen thousands of the
m are in
the mission compounds of Urumia, and thousands more facing death or
worse in
cities and villages. Rev. Robert M. Labaree, who went out ten years ago
to take
the place of his brother who had been murdered by the Kurds, now writes
appealing for help for these starving thousands, who are suffering
because they
are Christians and not Mohammedans. Turks and Kurds are bearing down
upon them
burning villages, looting property, killing men and boys, and carrying
away
women and children to a fate worse than death. More than fifty
thousands dollars
are needed immediately if these sufferers are not to die of starvation
on the
mission premises.

In the days of Pharaoh there were no human servants of God who could be
called
upon to relieve. His people's distress, and He called into operation.
His mighty
forces of nature to effect their release. To-day millions of men and
women
profess to be ready to follow His bidding -- "Inasmuch as ye have done
it unto
one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." This
call comes
to Christians in America most loudly and insistently. They are most
free from
the awful strain of war, and their missionaries have been working in
Persia for
eighty years, and are the only ones in a position to render the needed
help.
Persia is undergoing a baptism of blood, and if the Christian Church
gives the
needed sympathy and assistance we may see even more wonderful results
than have
followed in China, where the attempt to stamp out Christianity fifteen
years ago
resulted in the physical death of 10,000 Christians, but has born fruit
in the
awaking into spiritual life of hundreds of thousands of those who were
spiritually dead in Boxer days. Truly, Christianity in Persia is at a
crisis,
but it may be a crisis, that may be turned to victory.
MISSIONARY PERILS IN TURKEY

The storming of the Dardanelles and the Bosporus has caused some to
fear that
the missionaries in Turkey may be in peril. All letters from
Constantinople,
Smyrna, and Asia Minor, however, report the situation as quiet. The
storming of
Smyrna will probably not bring danger to the missionaries. The
missionaries
will, doubt, withdraw to the college grounds outside of the city, where
the
American flag will be displayed. At Constantinople, Robert College has
been
selected as the place of rendezvous in case the city is bombarded
(which is not
anticipated). The Turks have made attacks and there has been some
clashing among
Turks of a 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 its side.

In case Russia takes control of parts of Turkey, the change will

probably not
materially interfere with the missionary work. Russia has shown
increasing
liberality in the last ten years, and the war will possibly result in
greater
liberalization of Russian administration and in advancing the Kingdom
of God in
Turkey. Missionaries write in a hopeful tone for the future. A door of
approach
is opening to the Moslems surpassing anything in the ninety years'
experience of
the American Board in Turkey.

On the other hand, letters from Asia Minor describe an attitude on the
part of
the Turks in authority that looks very threatening toward Christians of
any race
aside from the Germans. Many Greeks, Armenians, and Protestants are in
terror
because of threats and daily outrages. Greeks in one city were
imprisoned simply
for using the Greek language. Pictures of bloody massacres and outrage
are
posted in Turkish schoolrooms. On the walls of a school for little
girls, for
instance, states in one letter, hangs a lurid scene in blood-red and
white.
Headless bodies lie around; hands, arms, feet, from all of which blood
streams.
In the center stands a Christian hacking an old man to death. On all
these
pictures are words certain to arouse bitter fanaticism."
The teachers say these pictures are sent by the government, and declare
that
they are instructed also to teach the children poems which inculcate
hatred and
contempt. One "hodja," on being reasoned with, merely stamped his foot
and said,
"So will we grind these enemies under our feet."

The American missionaries, for the most part, seem to expect little
trouble in
case the Allies capture Constantinople. Years of kindness, and the help
and
friendliness extended in the last few months, have laid such
foundations of
trust that the common people will not carry out the cruel or blood
plans of some
Moslem leaders. Many Americans are looking forward to greater intimacy
and
helpfulness than ever before, growing out of the shared troubles of
recent
times.

MISSION SCHOOLS IN TURKEY

The degree of the Turkish Government abrogating the "capitulation" was

issued
last August. Soon after this, a governmental order was issued affecting
private
religious, educational, and benevolent institutions in the empire,
assuming that
previous agreements were also abrogated, so that the rights of each
institution
must be taken up de novo. Institutions that have no imperial formation
are
reckoned as actually not in existence, and are not to be recognized,
and were
given two months (from September 18th) to apply directly to a foreman,
not
through any diplomatic representative. Any institution failing to
secure its
forms within the two mount's' limit was to be immediately closed.

Some of the statements in the order will gravely affect missionary work
if they
are put into operation. Foreign individuals may fund private schools in
Turkey
only by imperial affirmation and the accordance with the Ottoman law,
after
permission has been granted by the Department of Education.

Some of the conditions indicate the blow that would be struck at

Christian
missionary education by such regulations. All schools, without
exception, are
subject to municipal taxation. All schools must make obligatory the
study in
Turkish of the Turkish language, with the history and geography of
Turkey, the
Turkish language being the language of the school. The program of the
schools is
to be approved by the necessary authorities, including the approval of
all
text-books, etc.