Page 146 - Neglected Arabia Vol 2

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NEGLECTED AKA HI A 5

tin.* matter of the trouble through which Pastor Nielsen, of the Danish
Mission in Syria, is passing. Pastor Nielsen, through jjersOnal contacts,
was beginning to have a very effective influence on individual Moslems in
Pamascus. Owing to an attack printed in a newspaper by some hostile
Moslem, the French Government, nervous lest any disturbance be caused
in the state of-Syria, ordered the closing of the reading poom under Pastor
Nielsen’s charge. Pastor Nielsen was refused a hearing as to the justice
of the accusations made. Without being given any trial he finds it neces­
sary to leave the work for which he is so well prepared and which needs • i
! him so sorely. The Executive Committee of the Council took this whole
matter under advisement and has prepared a memorandum to the High
Commission, and it is hoped that it may be put before the proper authori­
ties in the near future. “In the meantime," reads the report, “we have ! *
been trying to assure Pastor Nielsen and his Mission of our great interest i
mid sympathy and advising them mum strongly tu continue the activity In • i-
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UumuBCUB even though It muy bring uhoui a orUis."
Another example of opposition to MUnion work by a no-culled Chris­ i .
tian government in that reported by the Swedish Missionaries in Abys­
sinia who have carried on valuable work for many years and have been a
great blessing to the people. They are told that when once they leave and
return to Sweden they would not be allowed to get back to their work.
This attitude on the part of the Italian government is a way of saying “We
do not allow any other but Roman Catholic Missions to work in Etritrea."
The Egypt General Mission are going through a trying time, as to two
women converts who according to the constitution have the right to be­
come Christians. According to the Sharia law, however, no unmarried
woman is tree to change her religion whatever age she attains. The report
leads: “A country which is governed by two sets of law cannot claim to !
be among the enlightened countries of the world." In Turkey, where the
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missionary taking up the morning paper must be prepared for the surprise *
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uf all sorts of astounding reforms, great courage and optimism is shown. • i
Although one Mission School has been closed, other new ones have been ■ i :•
organized. When one door of activity is closed another is opened. The "
recent reforms which resulted in Romanizing the Turkish alphabet has
doubled the reading constituency. This is sure to have a very good effect i
on the future of Christian literature. ».
One is encouraged, indeed, to hear of the strong Student Volunteer . \
Band in the Assuit College in Egypt, where 25 per cent of the students • t ;
have volunteered for full term Christian service.
To those who have worked so long in Arabia with so little encourage­ : >
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ment, bow strange sounds the report from the Irish Presbyterian Mission H
In AlexuiitlreUu: "In our purt of the field there urc no doors, but free ; i
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entrance to Moslems. There is no reason why we shouldjiot win Moslems
m Christ."
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“In Abyssinia," we read, "there are no foreigners (non Abyssinians)
engaged in the work among Mohammedans. The gospel is being preached •i
to the Moslems by converts from Mohammedanism who are the fruits of
the work commenced some years ago by Sheikh Zacharias. In the north
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