No. 190.
Mr. Schuyler to Mr. Frelinghuysen.

[Extract.]
No. 69.]

Sir: Some months ago the agent in Greece of the American Bible Society complained to me that his agents and colporteurs in various places in the interior were prevented by the authorities from selling Bibles, thus causing a pecuniary loss to the society.

[Page 261]

I subsequently had letters on this subject from the general agent at Constantinople.

The agent here, Mr. Kalopothakes, a Greek subject, though educated in America and married to an American, showed me the opinion of legal counsel, which convinced me that such interference with the sale of Bibles in Greece was illegal.

Mr. Kalopothakes was at first of opinion that he should take what would certainly be the only proper course for the agent of any commercial establishment in similar circumstances, that is, bring an action in the courts against the offending officials.

This, however, the Bible House was unwilling to approve, lest they should seem to force their publications upon the Greek people.

A similar case had arisen in 1876, when General Bead succeeded in arranging the affair by an unofficial conversation with the minister [see General Bead’s dispatch No. 219, dated August 3, 1876, and reply of the Department No. 88, dated August 25, 1876]; and, acting on this precedent, I had an unofficial conversation with the prime minister, who promised to look into the matter. I called his attention to the fact that the sale of Bibles was allowed without interference in Athens, in the principal streets, not far from his office, and I thought that no reason could exist for pursuing a different system in the provinces. A similar course was taken by the English chargé d’affaires in behalf of the British and Foreign Bible Society.

Some days ago Mr. Kalopothakes again complained to me that a colporteur whom he had sent to Ithaca, instructed to take no books of any kind except Bibles, and to give none away, but simply to sell them, had been stopped and his books seized.

He gave me the telegram of his agent announcing this fact. Having occasion that afternoon to see the prime minister, I gave him the telegram, and he promised to telegraph at once to Ithaca and inquire into the facts. He expressed, however, a doubt as to whether they were exactly as had been represented to me.

I have informed Mr. Kalopothakes that I do not feel justified in taking further steps in the matter, and certainly not in taking any official action, without positive instructions from you. I have hesitated about bringing the matter before you, thinking it might be preferable that I should be left without instructions. Mr. Kalopothakes has now gone to America, and has the intention of himself representing to the Department the case of the Bible Society.

The situation is a delicate one. The Greeks are very sensitive to anything in the matter of proselytism, not only because they love their own church but because their church has been a strong, and perhaps the strongest, instrument in preserving Greek national life and in obtaining their freedom. As they wish to maintain their influence among the Greeks now subject to Turkey, and as the Greek Church is their most powerful arm, any division in the church, or any effort to create dissatisfaction with it, seems an attack against their patriotism.

It was for that reason that the first article of the Greek constitution was made to read:

The dominant religion in Greece is that of the orthodox Oriental Christian Church. Every other recognized religion is tolerated, and the full exercise of its worship is protected by the law. Proselytism and any other intervention prejudicial to the dominant religion are forbidden.

Now, the sale of the Bible, whether in English or in modern Greek, is not forbidden by the constitution or the law, although the modern [Page 262] Greek translation issued by the American Bible Society, as it is not opposed by the synod, is not allowed to be used in the schools.

* * * * * * *

In case you should see fit to give me instructions in this case, I hope they may be to the effect that in a country like Greece, where good tribunals exist, the Bible Society should exhaust its legal remedies before applying to the legation for diplomatic aid, leaving me, however, a certain latitude for unofficial good offices.

I am, &c.,

EUGENE SCHUYLER.