| Show LETTER FROM ELDER HINTZE by courtesy of president angus M cannon we are permitted el emitted to make extracts te from rom a letter addressed to him by elder F P F hintze dated constantinople stantin ople september 1889 the writer refers to we the difficulties he and his fellow laborers have had to contend with but says of course I 1 believe in our ultimate triumph in planting the gospel here for this I 1 have of course my reasons which are easier told vocally than expressed on paper and by being here and becoming thoroughly interested they are still easier understood suffice it to say there are many good people here but they are children in their ways though mentally very bright and inquisitive so that to keep them from searching into the higher branches of the revealed plan of salvation is sometimes quite a science they are kind and artand apt and willing I 1 to learn but the examples set before before them are so inferior and yet yec so binding by priest crafts in various forms that words can have but little effect upon them newspapers have no circulation cu lation to speak of in turkey hence the people are but poorly informed of course many would say why do they not accept liberty through the dospel 0 E of christ this thia queston is easby easily solved from our p point of view and our ideas and practice liber ty but here it is different herice a different view must be taken people here investigate they find on our r doctrines are true and they say what shall we do to be saved we tell them of course as peter did the jews then the questions arise are you recognized by the government ern ment can you tell how we may be protected from the ravi ravishes of wicked men where shall we bury our dead I 1 many more similar questions are asked which we can only answer b by saying he that trusts I 1 in god will ld find deliverance of course we have found some that so feel and act accordingly but they the are few and from my experience wn with the people I 1 see they will continue to be rew few because the strain is very neavy heavy true turkey la is in many respects a free country but it is none the less under a despotic form of government ern ment all churches in the empire must be recognized by the government otherwise they are put to endless inconvenience even in the burying in g of a dead person which is all done under church direction if a mans church be not recognized he finds no for his dead easily true we have not met any snags of that kind yet but the people see the prospects ill all the same then one would say let them thein emigrate to zion yes but first to do so they must have means we cannot offer them that and if they find means they must steal teal out of the country as emigrating to america is strictly prohibited except for merchants we desired to print a few tracts language the first obstacle we have now overcome we have an intelligent young medical student at who understands both english and T turkish u akish well and who is apparel apparently n tl a faithful member but we h have ve faced faced to obtain government permission the objection being that we are not yet recognized there is still another way we could prepare our translations here and print elsewhere but to do this the way Is is also not clear just yet here in constantinople there is absolutely sol nothing for me to do except government government bu liness and printing rind for or which causes we are boua bound to hold h nad on for a while when we must break up and KO go into the country where we are wanted true the elders are all there except myself but they do not know the language hence the work will be practically at a standstill for fora a year until they have learned the language still ti my y trip through asia minor of will which h you are undoubtedly more or less 1 informed ormed from other sources has been of much practical value as wen well to the work here as to myself personally the elders are now amon among friends of which we have many and aril pome gome saints at is brother a native who understands english and is very zealous in the gospel hence a great help to elders smart and simmons who are there at with brother Sha hablan elder stauffer finds a good home I 1 hid had several objects in sending the Elders into the country before learning the language among which are they live chea cheaper r r there they loam leam faster by I 1 being del g among the natives and they learn the customs and ways of the people and they the people learn ours so ao much soonee and then as there are saints there now who will be of assistance to the elders the elders will also be of comfort to them of political troubles we know but little you know it quicker than we can telegraphic news is seldom permitted to be published in the dailies therefore it is known to you before efm to us improvements are slowly forcing their way the past summer the water 3 dyste system in was I 1 improved m Is roved by proper water a works but it as expensive the railroad is here now but is not appreciate ed the lack of appreciation lies so far as I 1 stand it in the fact that the railroad is undermining the turks first it brings wickedness which they J cannot keep off not having the elpe i fience nor strength secondly all improvements prove ments and their government or superintendence must necessarily be in the hands of foreigners the natives particularly the edans being incapable |
