George Bliss to George Gilman, May 5, 1884

Mr. Bliss to Mr. Gilman.

Sir: Word has just come that our excellent colporteur in the Smyrna district was arrested at Denizlu, half way between Aidiu and Isbarta, and sent to Smyrna under guard. Mr. Bowen at once went to Consul Stevens, and the young man was released about 9 o’clock at night. His crime was selling books which had received the sanction of the Government and had passed the censor.

A letter from Erzeroom informs me, under date of April 18, that a telegram had just been received from Khanoos stating that our colporteur there had been imprisoned for book-selling. Rev. Mr. Chambers went immediately to the governor, and he promised to telegraph for him to be released. Mr. Chambers had no assurance that it would be done. The head of the censorship in Erzeroom was present at the interview with the governor, and interposed his word to the effect that we had already been forbidden to sell books in the villages. The question which has been slumbering in that region since the fall of 1882 will very likely be reopened. Now, what are we to do if an order shall be issued forbidding in toto our colporteurs to hawk books in the villages? All our Bibles have the permit of the censor and of the central Government in one form or another. All the books of the mission have been approved, also, by the same departments. We have paid duty, &c.

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