Page 123 - Neglected Arabia Vol I (1)

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NEGLECTED ARABIA 0

were glad enough to reach it the day before Christmas. It was fully
u mondi before we could consider ourselves settled, and as we left
on leave to India about the middle of June, it will be seen that our
time in Bagdad has dwindled to only four and a half months, and
btill less when a two weeks' tour to Mosul is deducted. Although
this time may not have allowed much of. actual work, yet • it lias
given me definite views about missionary enterprise in Mesopotamia.
One should first speak of the kindness of the workers of the C. M. S.
who remained in Bagdad until after my arrival. Dr. Lavy and Dr.
Johnson did all they could, both in information and advice, to help us
gather up the details of their past work, especially as relating to the
native Protestant congregation and school under their care. Our best
wishes will follow them as one enters a new sphere of activity in the
Sudan, and the other retires after a long and busy missionary career.
I might mention here that I was given Power of Attorney to administer
" the C. M. S. property now being used by the military. This property
consists of nearly an acre of land on the river bank, a mile below the
South Gate of the city. On it is the ineomplpted building which was
to be the Mission Hospital. This property the C. M. S. is willing to
*cll to us for what it cost them. Although there has been a certain
amount of deterioration, due to its use by the Turkish and British
forces, yet the greatly enhanced values of t today would make it a
profitable investment for tfie future. The question is, to what use the
present- incompleted structure could be put? The adaptation of a
hospital building into a dwelling is a doubtful possibility, but it might
easily be used as a school or dormitory.
The present Protestant school is an uncertain, perhaps doubtful, mis­
sionary asset. Fostered by the C. M. S until it had gained a recognized
position among the schools of the city, it suffered greatly during the
war. Thrown upon their own resources the community deserves great
credit for the sacrifices made to keep it in existence. Last year they
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received a grant of Rs.1,000 from the C. M. S., another of Rs.2,000
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from the Government, and some help from the English Garrison Church. i
With the school fees and special subscriptions from the Protestant
families, they have maintained a respectable school of one hundred
pupils and three teachers. During the latter part of the year I taught
a class in higher English. The grant from the C. M. S. will not be
renewed, and that from the Government and the English Church
will be cut down, and unless they receive substantial help from other
sources they cannot maintain their position. Together with the financial
difficulty is the evident purpose of the Government to gradually dis­
courage denominational schools, and to draw the children into their
own, now attended by the Moslems only. One sympathizes with their
viewpoint—that the future stability of the country requires a better
understanding and mutual respect between the various religious bodies,
mul that this can best be brought about by a general public school
attendance. My own belief and hope is that this can eventually be
dune, while still conserving to the Christian minority many of the
privileges of Christian instruction now enjoyed.