acrossasiaminoro00chiluoft

50 ACROSS ASIA MINOR ON FOOT
hardly any conception coukl be wider of the truth.
American missions in Asia Minor are the property of
an American board, which is a corporation under
charter granted by the State of Massachusetts. The
property of American missions and foundations in
Asia Minor, Syria, and Constantinople, runs to a
value of many millions of dollars — even to millions
sterling, and is ever increasing. One hears that
normally the chief duties of the American Embassy
in Constantinople lie in watching over the interests
of American citizens and property connected with the
missions.
Marsovan Mission complains that by reason of situation
it does not have as good opportunities for securing
bequests and gifts as those more favoured missions
which stand upon the coast. Marsovan cannot be
reached by steamer, railway, or motor-car. Rich
men, one is told, are precisely the folk to whom a
journey by araha and its accompaniment of staying
at filthy khans appeal least. Rich men keep to
the coast, see the great missions there, with the
American flag flying over buildings erected upon
historic spots, and giving and bequests by will
follow. If only we were more accessible, sighs
Marsovan Mission, matters would be so greatly
better for us. How apparent the work we do upon
inadequate means would become ; how obvious, too,
that with double the means our power for doing
good would be quadrupled ! Like the Greek merchants
of Samst^m, the missionaries of Marsovan hope
for the railway.
And yet Marsovan has not done badl}'- for itself.
There are missions still further inland which look
upon it as a sort of unduly privileged metropolis of
missions. Far and wide these missions of the inner
wilds agree to speak of Marsovan as the " Gilt-edged
Mission," which unduly attracts to itself not only
money but missionaries.
And yet no visitor, I think,
would ever wish to see Marsovan Mission curtailed
any way, much rather would he see it grow indefinitely.
in