Since Turkey is our greatest mission field it was the natural decision of the Prudential Committee of the American Board that a book on that field, written in a highly personal vein about our own work and workers, was the clear need of the moment.
Unfortunately the Committee's choice of an author fell upon one who had never set foot in Turkey. The consequent embarrassments have been many. The book makes no claim to originality or to authority. The writer has used freely the available sources and is under special obligation to Dr. Barton's "Daybreak in Turkey," Dr. Zwemer's "Islam" and Dr. W. E. Strong's "The Story of the American Board."
The book is written to make our work in Turkey interesting to the people in our churches. It is for those who know little or nothing of our work. It is written in the conviction that the missionary story is worthy of the brightest colors. A word of apology is due to our missionaries in Turkey. It has proved impossible to mention the names of all. There are doubtless many glaring omissions. Nor has it been feasible to apportion emphasis according to the importance of a missionary's work. In many cases only personal interest and acquaintance have been the standards. We wish it were possible to leave out the rest of the book and to dwell only upon the faithful services and honored labors of each one of the "gallant two hundred" who now represent the American Board in the Turkish Empire.
The book is presented both for Study and for Reading. It will be found that, as with humanity at the moment, the appendix is a most important part. Its pages should be carefully read for they suggest attractive plans for the study of this book by reading circles and young people's societies, in the older Bible classes and in the church prayer meetings.
Thanks are due to all the friends in the office who have helped in completing this task; to Dr. Barton and to Dr. Patton for reading portions of the manuscript and for many suggestions; also to Dr. and Mrs. J. K. Browne, Rev. and 'Mrs. James L. Fowle, Dr. and Mrs. Robert K. Chambers and Dr. Joseph K. Greene, who have corrected many "warpings past the aim"; but chiefly to Miss Mabel Emerson of the Educational Department for gathering material, writing portions of the book and reading proof. These pages are the combined labors of that Department.
The book goes forth in the hope that it will deepen the conviction of our Congregational churchesin the sure triumph of the Kingdom of Christ in Turkey. -The American Board Rooms, Congregational House, Boston, August first, 1913. (From Preface)
Since Turkey is our greatest mission field it was the natural decision of the Prudential Committee of the American Board that a book on that field, written in a highly personal vein about our own work and workers, was the clear need of the moment.
Unfortunately the Committee's choice of an author fell upon one who had never set foot in Turkey. The consequent embarrassments have been many. The book makes no claim to originality or to authority. The writer has used freely the available sources and is under special obligation to Dr. Barton's "Daybreak in Turkey," Dr. Zwemer's "Islam" and Dr. W. E. Strong's "The Story of the American Board."
The book is written to make our work in Turkey interesting to the people in our churches. It is for those who know little or nothing of our work. It is written in the conviction that the missionary story is worthy of the brightest colors. A word of apology is due to our missionaries in Turkey. It has proved impossible to mention the names of all. There are doubtless many glaring omissions. Nor has it been feasible to apportion emphasis according to the importance of a missionary's work. In many cases only personal interest and acquaintance have been the standards. We wish it were possible to leave out the rest of the book and to dwell only upon the faithful services and honored labors of each one of the "gallant two hundred" who now represent the American Board in the Turkish Empire.
The book is presented both for Study and for Reading. It will be found that, as with humanity at the moment, the appendix is a most important part. Its pages should be carefully read for they suggest attractive plans for the study of this book by reading circles and young people's societies, in the older Bible classes and in the church prayer meetings.
Thanks are due to all the friends in the office who have helped in completing this task; to Dr. Barton and to Dr. Patton for reading portions of the manuscript and for many suggestions; also to Dr. and Mrs. J. K. Browne, Rev. and 'Mrs. James L. Fowle, Dr. and Mrs. Robert K. Chambers and Dr. Joseph K. Greene, who have corrected many "warpings past the aim"; but chiefly to Miss Mabel Emerson of the Educational Department for gathering material, writing portions of the book and reading proof. These pages are the combined labors of that Department.
The book goes forth in the hope that it will deepen the conviction of our Congregational churchesin the sure triumph of the Kingdom of Christ in Turkey. -The American Board Rooms, Congregational House, Boston, August first, 1913. (From Preface)
