In the absence of Dr. and Mrs. Crawford the past year, no report was received from this station. These friends have returned, ready to take up the work with renewed vigor the coming year. PUBLICATION DEPARTMENT The list of books issued has been small compared with that of some previous years. The most important publication of the year was the "Armenian Hymn and Tune Book." Other books issued were a Physical Geography in Osmanli-Turkish, a First Reader in Armenian, another in Armeno-Turkish, and notes of the Sunday school lessons in the two languages. The circulation of the Avedaper in 1908 was larger than ever before, and in 1909, in spite of the increase in the price of subscription, the total of the previous year has been maintained and slightly increased. The department regrets the fact that so little has been done for the Greeks in their own language. The chief aim has been to help the Protestant communities, and the great majority in these communities are Armenians. Yet the fact is not ignored that the Greeks far outnumber the Armenians in the empire. So far as there is an open door for reaching the vast Moslem majority with a wholesome and helpful literature the opportunity should be improved, after learning by careful investigation what kind of useful publications would find readiest acceptance. CENTRAL, TURKEY MISSION AINTAB (1852).- Fred. F. Goodsell, Stephen vR. Trowbridge, Ordained; Mrs. Lulu K. S. Goodsell, Mrs. Blanche H. Trowbridge, Mrs. Margaret R. Trowbridge, Miss Elizabeth M. Trowbridge, Miss Isabella M. Blake, Miss Harriet C. Norton, Miss Alice C. Bewer, Miss Lucile Foreman. OORFA (1854).—Miss Corinna Shattuck. MARASH (1854).-Lucius O. Lee, D.D., Frederick W. Macallum, Ordained; Mrs. Eula B. Lee, Mrs. Henrietta M. Macallum, Miss Ellen M. Blakely, Miss Cora M. Welpton, Miss Kate E. Ainslie, Miss Annie E. Gordon. HADJIN (1872).—Miss Virginia Billings, Miss Emily F. Richter. ADANA (1852).-William N. Chambers, Ordained; Mrs. Cornelia P. Chambers, Miss Elizabeth S. Webb, Miss S. Louise Peck. TARSUS (1859).-Thomas D. Christie, D.D., Ordained; Mrs. Carmelite B. Christie. In this country.-John E. Merrill, Ordained; Mrs. Isabel T. Merrill, Miss Mary G. Webb, Mrs. Mary P. Rogers. On the way out. Harold I. Gardner, Ordained; Miss Olive M. Vaughan. Associated with the mission, not under appointment.-Dr. and Mrs. F. D. Shepard, Miss Caroline F. Hamilton, M.D., Miss Charlotte F. Grant, Miss H. E. Wallis, Miss Martha Frearson, Miss Marshall, Miss Salmond, Miss Buell, Miss Louise O. Unger. Three stations; 55 outstations; 8 ordained men; 7 wives; 19 single women; 38 organized churches; 150 added by confession; 67 Sabbath schools; 1 theological semi nary; 3 colleges; 13 boarding and high schools; 65 other schools; 6,362 total number under instruction; hospital, 5,588 patients; 2 dispensaries, with 79,090 treatments. The above statement is incomplete, inasmuch as the reports were destroyed during the uprising in April last, and the figures have been made up from previous years. This mission during the year 1908 enjoyed a period of usual prosperity, and its reports for the twelvemonth were prepared and most of them forwarded before there was any apprehension of unusual experiences that would change their character; but in April of the present year the whole mission was called to pass through a baptism of fire and blood, the terrible results of which so changed the situation that it becomes a question how to present the case properly in this annual report. The annual meeting of the mission was to have been held at Adana in April, and it was while the delegates were on the way to this meeting that the fearful outbreak occurred, in which one American missionary of our Board was slain, twenty-one native pastors and preachers became martyrs for Christ's sake, while scores and hundreds of Christian adherents were ruthlessly slaughtered and the flames consumed their homes and household possessions. The 14th of April, 1909, will be memorable as long as this generation lasts as a day of carnage and gloom, the only light on the sad scene coming from the heroic faith and Christian devotion of both missionaries and people. It seems best in making up the record of this memorable period to give the reports of the work as they were prepared for the different localities and departments of work as matters stood at the close of the mission year, adding such supplementary reports as may fairly represent the situation at the present time. THE STATIONS-MARASH At the close of the mission year this station had connected with it 12 outstations, having 7 organized churches; there were 1,982 communicants, 40 of whom were added during the year. The adherents numbered 5,799, and there were 1,714 under instruction. The First Church in Marash City suffered from divisions and quarrels, leading to separate services for a time. A commission of laymen from Aintab aided the church to such an extent that there has been much improvement in the situation, though perfect results have not been secured. Dr. Lee summarizes the work as follows: "Last summer the Third Church was made happy by the restoration of their pastor after an absence of four years, the last of which was spent in prison in Constantinople. The academy continues as usual, having a faculty of six college graduates this year. It also has a large debt. The Educational Club is continuing in its seventh year with its usual success. Six of the 12 outstations are now employing college and seminary graduates with increased wages, and the work is correspondingly hopeful. The attendance in the Albustan church has been unusual, the preacher preceding his sermon by a short one to children. On New Year's Day the priests of the Gregorian and Catholic churches united in a service in our church, and all made addresses. The work in Zeitoon is, all things considered, the most hopeful in the station. The church is very full and plans are under way for a new building. A patriotic and general improvement club of Gregorians and Protestants was formed in Zeitoon during the year, which meets every Sunday, and our pastor is invited to speak every second Sunday, giving information and items from the outside world. Similar clubs have been formed in Geben and Geoksun, in the latter of which the Turks join. Fundajak has built a new parsonage, as also Baghche, including a schoolroom. Geben is also pushing for a new building, which is very much needed. The old Anderoon church has been extensively repaired. In Zeitoon, Geben, Fundajak, and Kharne night schools have been opened with a hopeful attendance. Six of the outstations have been visited by missionaries." On May 20 Dr. Lee added a supplementary report as to what happened after the above report was written: "The station has suffered the loss of five out of its eleven preachers by massacre while on their way to conference in Adana. This is the greatest proportionate loss of the mission, save Hadjin, where not a preacher survives. The names of the lost preachers are Nazaret Heghinian of the Marash Third Church, Hagop Albarian of Geben, Hovagim Kayayan of Albustan, Sdepan Hovhannessian of Kharne, and Takvor Hagopian of Baghche. All of these, save the last, were full college and seminary graduates. Our loss is very great, and a serious problem is upon us how to provide for these vacant pulpits. The Kharne church was very prosperous and was on the point of passing into full self-support. Their church building was burned in the massacres of 1895, although no other direct harm befell the town. By most commendable effort a large dwelling house had been purchased by the congregation and converted into a church building, and they were moving towards a new parsonage when all was suddenly burned down, together with every Armenian house in the place. Two-thirds of all the men church members were killed and a few of the women. Others escaped by flight to other places. The women and children remaining have been in a most pitiable condition and under continual threats from the Moslems, and otherwise maltreated. There remain, however, about 15 male church members in different places and 34 female members, who together with others and children make up a company of over 200. We must resume church work there as soon as circumstances allow. In Baghche the church building and new parsonage and schoolroom were spared. Many Armenians were killed, but from our small congregation only one man and woman were lost at latest accounts. At one time there were about 3,000 refugees and others in the town in a most sorry condition of want and disease. Our people are already calling for a preacher again. "Of the Marashlis who were working in the Adana or Cilicia region, it is now known that over 300 were killed, with more names almost daily reported. Taken altogether, some estimate that about 14,000 persons in this station are in different degrees of need." Theological Seminary.-Twelve students were graduated from this seminary on June 8, 1908, leaving six for further study. Instruction was given by [Report Messrs. Lee and Macallum. All the students maintained good character and standing, and gave promise of useful lives in the ministry. In the supplementary statement made it appears that four of these students were killed in the massacres and three were compelled to flee from their homes. This is a sad loss for the mission, where the need of Christian preachers is as imperative as ever. Efforts should be made to secure young men for training that they may supply the places of those who have fallen. Central Turkey Girls' College.-Miss Blakely, at the head of this college, reports that there were during the year 113 pupils, 63 in the college department and 50 in the preparatory department; 23 were boarders. Special mention is made of the addition to the teaching force-Miss Ainslie, who came with a knowledge of the Arabic language, and Miss Ella Buell, who was sent out for a term of three years by the Woman's Board of Missions of the Interior to instruct in English. The absence of Miss Gordon while on her furlough was deeply felt, and she will be most gladly welcomed on her return. The massacre occurred during the Easter vacation of the college, and though there was a slight delay in opening, the school work has continued without interruption. Ten girls were graduated on the twenty-fifth anniversary of the founding of the institution, making the total number of graduates 154. Woman's Work. The station has a larger number of girls' schools than during any previous year. In ten villages and towns 12 Marash college students are teaching and taking charge of work for women. The Biblewomen have done excellent work, finding an opportunity as never before to visit Moslem homes. For two years a school for blind children has been in operation, superintended by Mrs. Macallum; the teacher is a graduate of Miss Shattuck's school at Oorfa. The children are poor, but they learn to read and write by the Braille system, and much joy is brought into their lives. There are vigorous Christian Endeavor Societies in each of the three Marash churches. Great desire is felt for a girls' grammar school and for a trained kindergartner from America, which latter need it is hoped is on the point of being supplied. AINTAB The statistical table and the detailed report for this station and the Aintab district were prepared and were in charge of the delegates who were on their way to the annual meeting of the mission at Adana, when they were overtaken by the mob and lost their lives as martyrs for Christ's sake. The papers were never recovered, and the reports of the work are necessarily very incomplete. President Merrill, of Aintab, now in this country, has supplied many facts. The first of the year there were 7 independent churches and 18 which were aided. Four of these churches lost their pastors during the massacre, and some of the churches were nearly if not quite wiped out. During 1908 three young men, all graduates of Central Turkey College, were ordained, two of them having lost their lives while on the way to Adana. Special religious interest has been reported from the churches at Hassan Beyli, Aintab, and Eybez. Five graduates from the Marash theological seminary went into the work of the Aintab station, and the spirit of some of these men in accepting and desiring village work was admirable. Central Turkey College graduated 16 students in June, 1908, and had the largest enrollment in its history, 201. After the proclamation of freedom, July 24, 1908, a number of Mohammedan young men registered themselves as students. Subsequently the political situation resulted in serious difficulties in the matter of discipline and the college was closed by the board of managers on March 3, but was reopened about three weeks later, only about two-thirds of the former students being readmitted. This severe and decisive action on the part of the college is said to have been a large factor in the saving of Aintab from massacre in April, as it convinced the local government and leading Mohammedans of the thorough loyalty of the college and its constituency to the Turkish government. The martyrdom of Prof. Sarkis Levonian on the road to Adana has been a great blow to the college. Many of the pastors and teachers who lost their lives in April were also its alumni. The absence of President Merrill, who came to America on furlough largely to seek endowment for the college, necessitated the placing of Mr. Goodsell in charge of the accounts and of the college administrative work. Mr. Trowbridge also assisted in the college and visited the outstations, aside from work on the language. Miss Trowbridge has not been connected with the hospital, but has visited homes in the city and made tours to the villages, including a number of Moslem villages. The station will greatly rejoice in the return of Miss Lucile Foreman, who, after an enforced stay in the United States for the last five years, has recovered her health and will resume work in the girls' school at Aintab. Dr. Shepard has been engrossed in work, though impeded somewhat by ill health, greatly needing another American physician in the hospital. OORFA Miss Shattuck reports the continuance of the work under her supervision, notwithstanding her own physical infirmities and unusual difficulties under which the work is conducted. The Armenian Protestant schools at Oorfa and Garmouch number 7, the teachers employed 14, while the pupils number 371. Most of the teachers were trained in the institutions of the mission. Efforts are being made to raise the grade of the boys' high school so that it can fit students for entering Aintab College. The work of supervision in all departments has been attended to by Miss Shattuck as far as her strength has permitted. The school for blind has had an increased number of pupils, 23 of them being boarders in the Orphanage Home. This school, Miss Shattuck reports, is the "happiest set we come in contact with." The pupils come from different regions as far away as Marsovan, Cesarea, Harpoot, and Van. The Bible-women, 7 in number, have under regular instruction 250. |