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The excerpts in this section focus on the struggles the Armenian Latter-day Saints faced, particularly in terms of providing for their basic necessities and attempting to ameliorate their plight. Deeply impoverished because of dire economic conditions generally and persecution by the Ottoman government and the broader Armenian community and clergy, the Armenian members and their missionary leaders pursued various enterprises, such as carpet weaving, textile manufacturing, creating an agricultural commune, and even several abortive attempts to establish a “Mormon colony” in the Holy Land to help provide for their members and fulfill the Church’s millenarian aspirations. Further, Booth and his fellow missionaries established what proved to be short-lived schools for children who were forbidden to attend local Armenian schools because their parents had converted to the Church and been baptized.

Assisting the Poor, Establishing Schools, and Creating Jobs[1]

January 7, 1899 (Saturday) [Aintab]

The great panorama of poverty and suffering began to unfold itself to my view. Several came to ask alms of us and Bro Maycock & I went to see one lady woman whose daughter had been sent to ask our assistance. In a wretched room, fit more for fowls than human beings, with no comforts save the dirty rugs and a pile of filthy ragged quilts, lived a poor woman with three children. The mother in a recent accident had broken her arm and we found her crouched beneath the covers writhing in pain, and almost famishing with hunger. The Tander, a hole in the stone floor into which a few live coals were placed, assisted in keeping her warm as the quilts were thrown over the little fire place to save the small amount of heat. Under this rude bed the other children cuddled up and passed away the hours. We gave the[m] a small amount to buy some bread and turned away with aching hearts only to learn of more still suffering yet in countless forms.

January 22, 1899 (Sunday) [Aintab]

After S.S. we called again to administer to the sick. In the afternoon meeting the Saints united in faith and prayers for a number of their breatheren and sisters who have not been well for some time. One after another arose and offered a special prayer for some one of the afflicted until the time had nearly all been taken up when Pres Maycock occupied a few minutes. A good spirit prevailed and it was a time of spiritual rejocing before the Lord. We blessed two children in the meeting. A few visitors were also present.

January 23, 1899 (Monday) [Aintab]

Spent most of the day in reading the news papers from Utah as they arrived that morning (none for me). Made several calls and visits among the sick and poor and adminstered to them according to their conditions.

January 24, 1899 (Tuesday) [Aintab]

A knock at the door aroused us early in the morning and the sad news came of the death of Bro. Körükji Gevork, the man to whome we have administered so often of late. Under the circumstances from human eyes it appears to give the Protestants, from whome we have met such bitter opposition, another opportunity to point their scornful finger at our labors. We had hoped the Lord would work everything connected with the affair in a way and mannar that would turn the hearts of the people more in favor of the Gosple and it seemed to us that all was so favorable to this <end> that He would surly raise the sick from his bed and bring our opponants to realization of the fact that God is with his people. But the Lords ways are not as ours.

Even before we could settle down to our days study another messenger brought the painful tidings of a second death among our number—that of Bro Samuel’s little Girl, and we were requested to go at once to the funeral the time of which was set for one hour after sunrise. The child died at day break but the custom in this country is not to keep the corpse longer than a few hours. To me the scene was one of pity. Of all the funerals I ever saw this one was the most strange and peculiar. Going to the <house> we ascended a short flight of rude stone steps and entered the room where the young child had, but a short time since, been summoned to another sphere where pain and suffering are not endured. It was a dismal little hovel in the cheerfulest of times but thrice gloomy did it seem that early morning hour. The walls were of cold unplastered stone, the ceiling dark and low; the floor of earth, save where a rush woven matress hid the uninviting sight or a peice of carpet stretched along which served for chair and bed and floor. A number of relatives and friends had gathered, and others came later so that the little room was well filled with sad and weeping hearts. In the center of the room, on a large rough pillow lay the corpse, like a sleeping child, and over it was spread a little calico wrap, the one I suppose she had worn for best on Sunday oft before. Coarse brown stockings and heavey black leather slippers were visible below the dress which also was of a dark pattern. There was nothing beautiful or lovely but the pale white face embeded in a crescent of half golden curls; and that neatly sacred neatliness which makes the holy dead so sweet to look upon was now rendered this sad scene more piteous with its painful absence.

There were no white robes like angels wear
No hand-clasped-rose on either side
No wreath of flowers, no cross was there
No costly token to abide.
There was no sweet casket trimmed with lace white
No hands were folded on the breast
No silvery disc on which to write
Those loving words, “At Rest”
There was no grand cortage to the tomb
No funeral march to music’s breath
The hope that twinkled through the gloom
Was all that brightened death.

After the services a white cloth was wraped around the body and strings were torn from the same piece with which to tie it there. The poor mother wept biterly as her darling child was thus hid and taken from her gaze. One of the men took the corpse up in his arm, a shawl was thrown about it and the little thing was carried to that most common bed of all—the grave. It was an uninviting tomb and shallower than its measured length. An opened box which held the bones of others long since dead and gone became that childs unenvied bed until the resurrection morn. To me the day was gloomy, for the Saints were sorely tried but still I know that God who doeth all things well will not forsake his children if they put their trust in Him.

We were advised not to go to the funeral of Bro Gevork as the feeling of bitterness had been aroused against us and it would be likely to cause a great disturbance among the people. The two were burried almost within a stones throw of each other and while we were at the grave <of the girl> the man was brought and burried too.

June 16, 1899 (Friday) [Aintab]

My class in [the Latter-day Saint] school comes immediately before the noon recess and I remained a few moments to watch the children eat their lunch. There was a variety of the plain food peculiar to Turkish diet—unleavened bread, cheese, rice rolled in grape leaves, cucumbers, etc. As they seated themselves in little groups on the floor in different parts of the room and began eating their scanty meals, I noticed one little girl with downcast features slyly move away to an unoccupied part of the room as if to hide the secret of her exceptional condition. On inquiry I learned that she had no dinner, her parents being poor and the little sufferer had come to school to mingle with her more fortunate classmates in all their exercises. . . . I asked some of the children to divide up with their hungry sister but they either misunderstood me or were unable to conquer their own selfishness and I left the room with a heart half aching for my ill fated pupil. . . . I had concluded to return and take the young child a lunch from our own cupboard. With a small loaf of bread, some meat, and vegetables, I soon reached the school room again but was made glad by the news that one of her school mates had shared dinner with her and I then gave the lunch I had taken, to the two who had eaten but were still hungry.

July 26, 1899 (Wednesday) [Aintab]

Attended Y. L. Association held at Avedis Kastians house. The girls carried out their program without much assistance but it is difficult as only a very few of them can either read or write.

After my class I went again and administered to the sick sister and found her some better. Called to see Arminag Kalishian who also has been ill for several days.

September 10, 1899 (Sunday) [Aintab]

We went for breakfast to a family of very poor folk who have become friendly to us and some of the members asked for baptism. They lived in a little dark hoval, one room being cut into a large rock which formed the walls with no outlet but the one door. It seemed like a fulfillment of Prophecy where “hunters would find men in the holes of the rocks.”[2] The man was without a wife, she having joined the islams and left him. His son, (married) & wife and 2 children, a girl 12 and a boy about 8, were living together. His name is Krekore Kunajian. After dark we went out again and I babtized 2 more persons, Yevnege Kunajian, aged 12, and her brother Abchar, aged 19.

October 23, 1899 (Monday) [Aintab]

Spent several hours in drawing a map of Palestine on cloth about 33 x 60 inches. While working on the map Bro Hohannus Assian came with the sad news that his little child about 18 month old had died and he desired me to attend the funeral. Several of the saints were present and we conducted a short service of singing and prayer and a few remarks by Artine Uzoonian when the corpse was picked up and carried in arms to the cemetary. There was no cofin and the little body, wrapped in white course cloth, was laid down in the dirt about 30 inches deep, among the decayed bones of others long since intered in just such shallow graves. (See Jan 24 1899) <Administered to Sister Dudu Kalishian.>

November 10, 1899 (Friday) [Aintab]

Called to see more of the poor. In the evening some of the brethren met to consider the proposition of buying wheat for the poor. Bot oranges and ate for the first time this season.

November 13, 1899 (Monday) [Aintab]

Attended my classes and in the afternoon sold the Draft (see Nov 5) and bought 246 Botman of wheat for the poor, for which I gave 807 piasters. Several of the saints met at Zodoks and boiled the wheat that night for keeping <& eating> during the winter.

March 7, 1900 (Wednesday) [Aintab]

Talked and studied turkish and in the evening met with some of the brethren who had various propositions to offer on how to assist the poor saints.

[Joseph W. Booth letter, published in “Abstract of Correspondence,” Millennial Star, March 15, 1900, 165–66]

The branch here is in fairly good condition, but very frequently we find our own brethren without food or fuel, and no work whatever to do. Only yesterday one of them came in for assistance, sat for an hour or so, got up and bid us good-bye and then stood at the door, too modest to make his own wants known, until he was asked to come in again and say what he wanted. He had nothing to eat for his family, and had been walking the streets nearly all day in a rain storm trying to sell his only coat, offering it for less than a shilling but could find no buyer.

April 26, 1900 (Thursday) [Aintab]

So many of the brethren were out of work that we decided to send them out to Artines “Bag”[3] and have them dig and pick rocks for a day. Arrangements were made and all who wanted to work were engaged for tomorrow. Testimony at night where I spoke a few minutes, after other[s], on Trials etc. After the meeting a sad story of Poverty was related to me by Krekore Orulian[4] concerning his own family and how his daughter had sold her dress and had to pa[y] a small debt.

April 28, 1900 (Saturday) [Aintab]

“Hammum” and short lesson from Levon in the morning. Bought a bottle of Lemon extract and made a drink for Hagop Bezjian. Talked with Hohannus Hagopian more aboute the house. So much opposition has been met that we were obliged to give up our first plan of renting the place for church services. We now decided to pay 6 liras more and assist him in finishing it and rent it for 3 years at least all but 1 room <in> which he desires to live.

May 1, 1900 (Tuesday) [Aintab]

Visited the sick man where we called on Sunday, and took him a bottle of Lemonade and gave him a few piastres. He and his wife are both sick today, and no food in the house.

May 5, 1900 (Saturday) [Aintab]

Paid Hohannus Hagopian in full for house rent. We have been foiled in our purpose of getting another house to hold meetings in or at least in getting the one we first intended and for which we have spent so much money. We have now secured the place, with the exception of 1 room, for three years. (See Apr 28.) Vorton, the Evsaheba, returned from Haleb where he has been visiting about 2 months.

May 11, 1900 (Friday) [Aintab]

Word came that Hagop Bezjians wife has given birth to a girl. We made arrangements for a few more of the brethren to go to the “Bag” and work tomorrow.[5] We were told by one of them that they had been without food 3 days except a handful of wheat given by a neighbor. We paid them most of their wages that night so they could get bread for breakfast before work.

May 12, 1900 (Saturday) [Aintab]

Visited Hagops family and assisted them some. We were short of means and gave them ten and a half kurush = about 42 cts. Hagop said 4½ = 18 cts would be enough for the “ebe.”[6] Both he and his wife were sick in bed. Visited the missionaries families.[7] Turned back after passing a begger and gave her 15 para.

January 20, 1902 (Monday) [Zara]

The Byram continued and the people spent the day in visiting etc. I was at Nishans nearly all day. He cut my hair and trimmed my beard in good style. As I was walking through the market about sunset, the weather cutting with a sharp breeze, I met a poor man sockless and only open <old> slipers on his feet. So pityful did he look that I called him up to a stall and bought him a pair of <woolen> stocking.

September 11, 1905 (Monday) [Samsoun]

Went to the Vice Consuls office and read the papers a while and then called on Budvilli Gulbankian. The Budvilli (Preacher) is from Marsevan. Spent about 1¼ hours with him. He told me of the poverty of the People in the village and the horrible conditions in which they are found. Said the reason for the call from some of the people for me last year was that they had an idea the Mormons would take them to Am[erica].

September 26, 1907 (Thursday) [Aleppo]

During the day an incident occured recalling the need of the Saints living in union and putting away pride. A few years ago Dr. Armenag D. Shil Hagopian was our heavest tithe payer in the Aleppo Branch and for many years Hovhannes Boajian had been in dier poverty and almost continually drawing support from the church. For the past two or three years the Dr’s tithing record has been very poor and we heard that he said he was not willing to pay tithing for Boajian to eat it up, etc. To day Bro Boajian bought in the largest tithing that has been paid at one time by any one in the Aleppo Branch for a long time, and before it was put in the tithing money sack Dr Armenags boy came for aid and the <same> money was given him to carry home to his mother who is in the most destitute circumstances they have seen for years.

November 3, 1907 (Sunday) [Aleppo]

An exciting time occured in the city called Yaghma. Hundreds of people stormed some of the rich places and carried off wheat, oil, meat, and whatever they thought proper. Poverty was the cause of affair together with high prices in food etc.[8]

April 30, 1908 (Thursday) [Aintab]

The condition of the Saints at the close of April is not flattering. Poverty is among them and our sympathy is enlisted daily but we are in a position that hinders us from aiding them as much as we should like. There is no tithing on hand in the branch and very little being paid in. The Relief Society has none, and more than that, both accts are owing the elders for cash advanced to aid them. Besides this there is a lack of unity which is not at all encouraging. We hope for a reformation in the near future.

May 1, 1908 (Friday) [Aintab]

Paid out about 2½ mejedies more to poor. Took a walk with the elders, and called at Moses Hinduian and watched him make a Kulak (cap) of wool. He beat the wool and cut it up fine then laid it on a cloth in small piles, about 15 x 24 in. then rolled it on a stick and pressed it till it became matted. After which he worked it up with the hands with soap & water till it became thick and solid like a “felt boat” and shrinking made cap of wool. I ordered that one for me and it was laid away to be finished and dyed later. They cost about 5 cts each and the material is worth half the amt. and it takes about an hour to make one.

The Mormon Colony Initiative[9]

May 9, 1899 (Tuesday) [Aintab]

Wrote letters to my wife, Provo A Wootton, Liverpool and A L Larson, Haleb. [Excerpts from Booth’s letter to A. Wotton:]

Our great drawback in this country is the poverty of the Saints; and in fact the distressing condition of thousands more make the scene a pitiable one; and to render it even more sorrowful the future offers but little relief. A large majority of the people are engaged in weaving. They labor at their little looms for 6d. to 1s. per day. This year Germany and other European countries are sending their cloth into Syria and running a close competition with the local manufacturers. It is reported that 8,000,000 huroosh, £64,000, worth of cloth is now stored up in this city alone awaiting a market, which if not found will necessitate the closing down of nearly all the shops where the goods are made.

It seems to me the colonization movement cannot be too rapidly pushed, but the Lord will take care of that part of the work in His own due time. Mormonism is being vigorously opposed by our enemies, but the opposers use oil instead of water to extinguish the flames soon destined to consume the evils of this world. The ministers are the chief agitators, the great fire brigade, against the Mormon conflagration, and some of them ignorantly stand with the very nozzle of the hose in their hand directing their inflammable fluid of hatred against this ever living fire of truth.[10]

August 26, 1899 (Saturday) [Aintab]

Nothing of special importance asside from the mail which consisted of a letter from Pres. Hintze in Constantinople in which he spoke of a proposition to get recognition of the Turkish gov. and said if it proved a success the “colony scheme” would be brought much nearer.

October 10, 1899 (Tuesday) [Aintab]

In the letter to President Hintze, I told him if he would go home and work up his colony scheme and return with 15 or 20 families from Utah, he might call at Alpine and invite Mrs J. W. B. to accompany him back to Turkey and we would stay in the mission for 5 years from to day. I suggested the names of John Moyle, J. H. Beck, Jos A Stubbs, and J. M. Jensen with their wives as being good colonizers, also James Clove. What will become of the proposition time alone can tell. I am very anxious to see the Colony established. In Y.M.A. in the evening I gave a lesson on the Geography and a little history of Palestine.

April 30, 1900 (Monday) [Aintab]

Wrote a letter to Bro Holdaway, Haleb, and one to Pres P. D. Lyman, Liverpool. In the latter I notified him of my selling the draft. Spoke latter of the poor and made a strong plea for “colony” or “emigration.”[11]

December 5, 1900 (Wednesday) [At the German colony on the outskirts of Haifa]

Arose early and were shown about the premises. Many important ruins are being unearthed and a rich variety of trees and garden plants are boring their roots through soil enriched by the wasted splendor of the long long passed. Large white rock said to have been brought from Banias, and worked with sculptoral skill into many an unknown meaning are found burried among the blue stones of more common use in that vacinity.

We left at 7.30 and just outside the west gate by the edge of the sea I plucked a few blades of grass by special request of an Alpine Friend. One palm tree grows near. Passing on along the shore to the west we view with interest the scenes before us. We were not in a hurry but read and talked of the ancient cities and where they might have been, as the location of many of them is questionable to day. Many things point to the spot now known as Khan Minyeh as the sight of Capernium. Ruins of ancient cities lie all along the shore in this direction and but few if any can be located with certainty. Ain El Tabigha with its copious burst of <warm,> brackish water runing the old stone mill, and some 50 rds farther west the ruins are said to be those of Bethsida, the home of Peter, Philip, etal. At this latter place is now the neatly constructed walls enclosing a German Catholic Hospice among a rich growth of selected trees. Seferim Beiver, a tall good natured heavy bearded old gentelman, is the Director.[12] We were served to a free lunch of bread, eggs, soft white chees, jelley & oranges. We left here at 11.10 and ascended the path which runs 50 or 60 ft above the shore and from where a fine view of the lake is ha obtained. An old water way seems to have been chosen for the path leading around the promantory and passed Ain et Tini, another large spring bubbling out from under a percipitous blue rock. Khan Minyeh is a few rds to the N. away from the shore. From here we get a fine view of the Plain of Genneseret stretching back a mile from the lake and 3 miles along its boarder. We went to the spring and into the swamps leasurely viewing the surroundings and then at 12.15 started across the plain. Many streams flow through this rich tract of land but it seems to be idly slumbering till the hand of industry comes again to turn it into life. Oleanders and thorns, with a few black berries, are found along the way which sometimes touches the sands of the beach and sometimes receds among the bushes. Cattle & goats are in abundance. This plain of Genneseret is my ideal spot for a colony. A little farming is now seen, but very poor. About 1.30 we were sitting under a large tree near the village of Magdal, the home of Mary Maddelena, at the south <W.> end of the Plain. The road again leads high along the mt side affording a delightful view of the sea from there around to the mouth of the Jordan and the hills on the opposite side.

July 20, 1904 (Wednesday) [Aintab]

Elder Charles Teuscher & I left Haleb for Aintab. We traveled in a common carriage with a wealthy and influential Catholic Hosep Effendi who was very friendly and we had many talks on the gospel as well as current topics. He is a large land owner and agriculture interested him very much. He talked of renting us a villiage for a few families. The beginning of a colony perhaps.

May 26, 1905 (Friday) [Marash to Aintab by carriage]

It was cold till we reached the valley. The village of Erijek was lively with men, women, children, and cattle, goates, and dogs. Nooned near the bridge. As we passed thru this great stretch of poorly cultivated land and saw the hundred of acres, and the beautiful streams of water in passive idleness, I thought long and seriously of the time when a colony can be established here.

July 25, 1905 (Tuesday) [Zara]

<Wrote to Pres Grant . . .>

[In this letter Booth writes: “Seven years ago, when on my way here to Turkey, I expressed a desire to labor ten years in the mission field. That desire is coming about as fast as time can bring it. And now I have three more desires of my heart. One is to see the Book of Mormon among the people in their own language, the second is to get recognition from the Osmanli government for our Church, and the third is to see a colony established in this land for the Saints.”][13]

August 27, 1905 (Sunday) [Zara]

Attended <Protestant> church, met Prof. Sivaslian. Posted letters to Pres Grant,[14] <to> Presiding Bishop Office, & to F. F. Hintze.

September 16, 1905 (Saturday) [Constantinople]

Reba & I went shopping and while she purchased some clothing I preached the Gospel to the clerks. Later we called on Minister Leishman[15] and had a hours talk on the condition of affairs and our rights etc. He said he would assist us in securing permission for a Colony in this land. In some respects our Gov. is weak in its relationship with the Ottoman Empire. The outrageous treatement accorded us last May in Marash was thought by him to be “awful” but nothing of any importance beyond a “reprimand” was done to the offending parties.

September 26, 1905 (Tuesday) [Constantinople]

Called on our Ambassador Mr Leishman and presented him with the Book of Mormon. Then had a nice talk on the question of Colonization in Turkey and received the promise of support and well wishes and much advice.

February 1, 1908 (Saturday) [Aleppo]

Wrote a letter to The First Presidency concerning the conditions of the mission and again suggested a “Colony” and “Recognition” if it costs $50,000.

May 25, 1908 (Monday) [Aintab]

Was busy most all day and posted letters to Pres Jos F Smith.[16] I answered Pres Smith (see Sat last) at length giving conditions of the mission and our bewilderment since the death of Elder Huber, and now the news of Elder Shepherds getting worse. Asked again for a move to be made for a colony to curtail this poverty the saints are in. I was very tired and almost ill at night, the weather being hot. A big fire occured during the night.

August 7, 1908 (Friday) [Aleppo]

Received 2 letters from Liverpool, one contained an order (P.O.) for £20. The other contained instructions from Pres Penrose regarding the saints and stated that Arzooman had left Liverpool for Havre via London, Aug 5. I wrote to Elder Newman at Aintab and a card to Pres Penrose asking for a copy of the letter from the First Presidency regarding renting a farm in Turkey. Also wrote the following to

“American Ambassador
Constantinople, Turkey
Dear Mr Leishman,

I am here in Havre till 17 inst. Will you kindly inform me if the recent “Reform” in Turkey will have any effect in aiding the release of our Books of Mormon in Alexandretta. Does “Free Press” mean also “free books”? Does the movement include “Religious Liberty”? If the books are to be delivered to us, please order them sent to the U. S. Consulate at Aleppo and I will receive them there & pay expense on my arrival.

I met Senator Smoot in London a few days ago. He told me I had permission from the Church Authorities to begin an experiment in agriculture in Turkey providing was favorable there. Can you secure permission from the Sultan for me to rent or buy a tract of land with water right (preferable gov. land) on which to establish such a station under American protection?

If necessary I will call there about Sept 1 to see you. Please address me c/o American Consulate, Havre, France. Very Truly Yours,
J. Wilford Booth.”

August 10, 1908 (Monday) [Le Havre, France]

Received a letter from Pres Penrose enclosing a copy of one sent to me at Aleppo concerning the renting of land in Turkey. It was dated at Salt Lake City, July 2, and read as follows.

Salt Lake City, July 2, 1908
Pres J. W. Booth, Turkey
Dear Brother,

Your letter of May 23rd has been read and considered and we improve the present opportunity of replying to that particular part of it in which you state that the Mayor of Aintab had suggested that it would be a good thing for us to start up work in agriculture for our people, as implements are allowed to enter into that country free of duty for such work.

In connection with this suggestion we have referred to your communication of July 31, 1907 and have considered the proposition therein contained about renting a tract of farming land consisting of from 800 to 1200 acres belonging to Mr Frederick Poche, the Consular Agent at Aleppo; and we have concluded to authorize you to rent this property for such a time as you & the elders with you think best, with the privilege of re-leasing at the expiration of the time you and the owner may agree upon. Of course this particular piece of property may not be in the market for rent at the time our letter reaches you. In that event we shall leave the matter in your hands to act according to your own discretion as to whether you will rent some other property or not. If this should be the case we suggest that you try to get it on the same terms mentioned, as to time.

If Mr Poche’s land can still be rented on the same terms mentioned in your letter, in order to save time and to furnish you with the money necessary to commence work on it, if, in your opinion it would be necessary to do so, we suggest that you cable us the word “rented” and immediately upon receipt of the cable containing this information, we will instruct our implement company to ship to you at Beyrout, Turkey, care of the Am. Consul, the things named in your letter & send invoice of the same to you at Aleppo. And we will now send a copy of this letter to Pres. C. W. Penrose at Liverpool which shall be his authority to place at your disposal, by telegraph or other wise, $1000 to enable you to commence operations, and this we do that you may not be handicapped against time required to correspond with us direct; in fact this is in keeping with your own suggestion.

It has not been clear to our mind that we ought to purchase land, to any great extent at least, in Syria, but we consent to your resorting to this renting proposition as a means of ascertaining what, if anything, can be done by way of assisting the poorer class of our Armenian Saints to make in independant living which, if successful, will no doubt lead to an effort on our part to colonize there. But as to the idea of colonizing we particularly desire you to make no promises whatever in this direction to our Armenian brethren & sisters, so that they shall not reap any disappointment whatever in the event of failure o[n] our part to carry out their wishes in this respect.

We fully appreciate the love and affection you entertain for our brethren & sisters among whom you are laboring, & it gives us a great deal of pleasure indeed to authorize you to make this effort by way of a venture, to ameliorate their conditions.”

With Kind Love, Your Brother,
Anthon H Lund, In behalf of First Presidency

P.S. Rough draft of this letter was read to Pres’ts Smith and Winder before they left for Oregon on the 26 ult. & acquiesced in by them. Since writing the above we have communicated with the Manager of our implement company who has promised to take the matter up with the nearest agent doing business to Beyrout, with a view of ascertaining if the things needed by you can be furnished by him instead of shipping them direct by the factory. A. H. L.”

I hope that is a beginning of a realization of one of my long cherished hopes in favor of the Armenian Saints. May the Lord give us wisdom and prosper us in the undertaking if He sees fit to have us begin.

August 14, 1908 (Friday) [Le Havre]

My birthday, 42 years old! I am in the city La Havre, France, in good health and enjoying myself only under great anxiety concerning the saints here with me, and also the work in Turkey where I ought to be at the present time looking after the matter of starting up an Agricultural Industry.

December 28, 1908 (Monday) [Aleppo]

Received letters from Bro Thos. P. Page (who is intending to visit Turkey to assist us in looking out a location for a colony).[17]

April 16, 1909 (Friday) [Aleppo]

Bot some violine strings, a knife and a tooth brush. Wrote to Pres Heber J Grant at Salt Lake answering a nice letter from him. Also wrote Mr. J Debbas, Vice & Deputy Consul, Mersina. Listened to stories of disunion among the Saints, and held Priesthood meeting at night. I am almost doubting if the Saints are ready for a colony for they cannot be trusted yet when left to themselves.

July 31, 1909 (Saturday) [Aintab]

Did more writing—to the Desere[t] News Co. ordering the paper not to be sent to Turkey, to the elders as the mission is to be closed, a card to Miss Jensen notifying her of our release etc. The weather was very warm & I was a little feverish also. Elder Phelps was not well. The mail written the last 2 or 3 days was posted and we shall now ansxiously await the reply to these letters as we expect to leave Turkey about as soon as we receive the answers.

The past month has brought a great change in our plans and hopes and aspirations. Instead of a Colony for the Saints at which we could have them more in union & progress and development in both temporal & spiritual things, as we have partially hoped, we are soon to vacate the field and leave the poor saints to drudge along alone with poverty and persecution and hungar. Already gloom seems to be setteling over them like a cloud and a hint of our departure, like a thunder bolt, is followed by a shower (of tears).

[Written in left margin] Assisted several poor with money.

July 11, 1922 (Tuesday) [Aleppo to Beirut by train]

We left Aleppo at 5.45 am by train for Beyrouth where we arrived at midnight. <Stayed at Hotel Bagdad.> Elder Woodruff & I enjoyed the long ride and passed the day in conversation on gospel topics, land for colony, home friends & relatives, read letters, etc etc. Gulu Uzunian was in our compartment with several other Armenians. We met, at Zahla, our sister Zaruhee Kurajian, who came from Aleppo yesterday with some of her folks, and her bro Krikor.

July 17, 1922 (Monday) [Beirut]

At the Near East Relief rooms I met Mr Bayard Dodge[18] and during a short conversation asked him if he knew of any villages for sale in Syria. He replied, Yes I just left the Am Consulate a few minutes ago & the Consul, Mr P. Knabenshue, told me of one for sale not far from Sidon.[19] He gave me a letter to the Consul & I went & learned that a Mr. Audi could give me some information. Mr Audi is a shipping agent and is a friend of our Consul. He arranged a meeting with the owner of the <3> villages & gave me some information from a description of 2 pages of type written matter. Wrote to Krikor Kurajian, Zahleh (see 19).

July 21, 1922 (Friday) [Beirut]

Mr Nadra Sheyl, brother to some people in Provo & Helper, Utah, called to see me & took me to his home where he treated me very kindly. I wrote a note to Charly Sheyl, one of my students in the Junior High last year or 1920-21 & left it for Nadra, to send. He later took Yakob & Krikor Kurajian & myself to Chtaurah to look a big farm of some 400 acres for sale. It belongs to an old couple Mr & Mrs. Selem Boulad. It comprises the main part of the village containing about 40 houses, Hotel, church, mill, Wine Vats, Distillary, sheds, <garage> shops, offices, etc with about 40000 trees for poles, 30000 mulberries, 110,000 grape vines, fields, gardens <and a fine stream of water> etc. and they ask 50,000 Pounds Sterling for it. Mr Nadra Sheyl said he could make a bargin with them for £30,000. We had dinner with them and got an insight into the life of wealthy people. They clame that about 200 persons are living from the products of their farm.

I paid Nadra 150 S. P. for driving us there & back, some 6 miles. We were gone 5 hours.

September 29, 1922 (Friday) [Aleppo]

Another row among the Saints over a water jar. Met a relative of Moses Hindoian named Varton Hindoian who has recently come from Aintab, escaping by aide of bribes and Islam accomplices. Later in the day I received the letter from David O McKay (see 28 inst) telling me that there is to be no colony “until the Authorities indicate what should be done.”

September 30, 1922 (Saturday) [Aleppo]

Wrote letters to Reba, and to Mr Selim D Boulad, Chtaurah, Syria (see July 21) last, and to Mr S. Audi, Berute.[20]

April 14, 1923 (Saturday) [Aleppo]

Wrote to Pres. Heber J Grant and made another plea for a colony.

January 23, 1924 (Wednesday) [Aleppo]

Spent some time in looking at carpets, and the work of carpets, both yesterday and to day, and Pres McKay gave some orders to Khoren and his folks to have some made.

In the evening we held a Farewell Party and after songs and games and stories and a most earnest and touching prayer and blessing by Pres McKay, the Saints gave them a parting hand in tears and sobs and affections, and our conference closed. It has been a very happy event, and our visitors express their pleasure also with conditions generally throught the whole weeks meetings with people and Saints of Syria. Late we called and talked with the Baki Brothers on the idea of Colonization. They have land and would like us to occupy it but political conditions are not as stable as desired.[21]

March 15, 1924 (Saturday) [Aleppo]

I went with Loui Hekimian and Mr Azariah [blank] owener of Jengia Baghch, a big 20 acre garden N.E. of town to look over the place as a spot for rent (see June 1, 1922). Also talked with Mr Baron of the big Hotel who told me of some villages east of Aleppo. Before going out this morning I told Bro Hindoian to call the saints together and tell them that they cannot get any more help in charity donations until they come to more unity and make peace among themselves. There was an attempt made but it was not successful, as all were not present.

March 21, 1924 (Friday) [Aleppo]

It rained hard so we did not go. I met Wahab Gazi the man who has rented the old Agricultural experiment Station near Muslimea (See Dec 13/23) and he seems willing to relinquish in our favor. In the evening word came that robbers have killed 6 or 7 persons near the boarder of Anitolia at Ey. Bez. The bodies were brought in by train to night.

April 8, 1924 (Tuesday) [Aleppo]

Copied records and reports. A young man Michial Keboji, Armenian, who has been in Am. for many years called to talk with me. Dr Dekran [blank] & two young Mohammedians on a graduate from Roberts College and a land owner on the Orontes River called to talk about renting their village to us. . . .

April 10, 1924 (Thursday) [Aleppo]

Visited Muhamed Bey a rich land owner who has a villiage N.E. of Aleppo to rent. Also visited the Boys orphanage of Mohammedans in Jemaliah. Met Miss Maria Bozolanian, a niece of Elisa K. Uzunian recently released from N.E.R. She & other relatives were here at our place.

April 25, 1924 (Friday) [Aleppo]

Read a sketch of the life of Nephi Anderson, also “Pres Youngs Northern trip in 1870” in Geonological record of Apr 1923. Dr Dikran came with a Supervisor of Agriculture from the Jesser district S.W. of Aleppo. He wanted us to go there & locate. Wrote to Dr J. E. Talmage concerning tracts, colony, etc.

April 26, 1924 (Saturday) [Aleppo]

Copied the two letters—to S. O. S. & Dr Talmage (see 25 & 24) and attended to regular work of the Mission. Received a letter from Pres. McKay who gave me some pleasing news as to the prospects of a colony for the Armenian Saints. He enclosed a copy of his recommendations to the First Presidency dated Apr 3, 1924. Also the letter contained a check for £50 Sterling for the Mission. Reba & I had supper at Nazar Bezjians.

May 8, 1924 (Thursday) [Beirut]

I learned thru Abraham Khouri here in Beirut of some land for rent or sale in the valley of the Litany, some 2000 acres he said. Wrote to Reba & Pres McKay and prepared to leave tomorrow morning.

May 16, 1924 (Friday) [Tel Amara, Rayak, and Zahleh]

Hair cut & then took a ride to Tel Amara a villiage of 7 families, near Rayak—a nice place for a colony if more land could be purchassed. Krikor & Madri went with me. Met a Mohammedan who had been in America & wished us well. On our return to Zahleh I talked with Mr Elias Bhamduni a lawyer and a land agent who advised us to try and locate on the Farm near the Said Niel Station belonging to a Mr Tueiny. Wrote to Pres McKay & left Zahleh and walked to the Station at Maallaha where I took train at 4.30 p.m. and went to Rayak.

June 21, 1924 (Saturday) [Aleppo]

Recd a letter from Pres Grant & counselors giving an unfavorable reply to my pititions for a colony and for aide for the Non Tobacco Movement, see Apr 14, 15, & 16. s.

July 2, 1924 (Wednesday) [Aleppo]

Relief Society meeting at which I told the Sisters & some brethren present of a letter from Pres McKay, received last night in which he speaks of coming if needed to assist in locating a tract of land for rent.

May 1, 1925 (Friday) [Aleppo]

The condition of Armenian Mission of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is to day in a fair state of progress and prosperity though not as encouraging as I could wish it to be. So far this year we have had no baptisms but some 7 or 8 prospective candidates seem about ready to accept that ordinance. We have also been making efforts in the preperation among the male members for a number of ordinations to and advancements in the Priesthood which we hope to see accomplished in the near future. A few marriages are also being arranged for among the young people.

We have a total membership to day 165 including blessed children and 2 missionaries from Zion, viz. myself, H[igh] P[riest] and my wife Mary R. Booth, 4 Elders, Hagop Bezjian, Moses Hindoian, Nazar Bezjian, Abraham Hindoian, 4 Preasts, Khoren Uzunian, Kevork Bezjian, Hovhannes Aseian, Hagop Gedikian, 6 Teachers, Mihran Palosajian, Rupen Uzunian, Hovhannes Bezjian, Garabed Silohian, Hovsep Uzunian, Garabed Junguzian, 3 Deacons, Habib Bezjian, and male members 42 (1 died since Jan report), Female members 77, children blessed & recorded—Males 11, Females, 18 = 165.

These are mostly in Aleppo, Syria but a few have moved away to find employment, some are almost lost again. Besides these, there are a number of the old members, baptized in the old Turkish Mission days (sixteen to thirty years ago) and who have not come into the fold thru recent baptism according to the decision of Pres. Orson F Whitney in 1922, as the old records were lost, and new books were opened to record the work as commenced again at the opening of the Armenian Mission. To day there are some backsliders and weak ones but so far no excommunications have taken place but we expect such actions will be necessary in the not distant future.

For 25 years I have been hoping and longing and urging and praying for the establishment of a colony for the Armenian Saints but so far it has not materialized. We meet with objections and difficulties here and there. A suitable location where land and water and wood, building material and climate etc as well as safety from the ignorant and malicious who might be in the neighborhood—all of these must be considered and also something reasonably cheap. And knowing this Mission to be a part of the Great Work of the Lord, I humbly await his graceous will for He can provide for his people when we are ready to receive the blessings in store.

At this date we have a goodly number of faithful saints, a splendit set of Teachers acting in their calling as watchmen of the people. We have a good Sunday School of four grades with energetic teachers and officers, a Relief Society of about 50 members in fairly good working order, a Young Mens and Young Womans Mutual Improvement Association doing good work, and our Sacrament meetings & Testimony meeting well attended.

To day I went to the U.S. Consulate and secured some blank sheets for inv[o]ices to be used in a shipment of rugs to Utah. Mr Maurice W Altaffer the Am Consul at Aleppo is very kind to us and often supplies us with choice reading matter both books & papers. I wrote to Lila B. Adams <my n[iece]> or began a letter, concerning the rugs we are shipping for her and others. She ordered 2 & said that likely others would want some so we are sending three in one roll addressed to A. L. Booth, Provo. I read conference news etc.

June 3, 1925 (Wednesday) [Aleppo]

Wrote a lengthy letter to Pres Talmage giving him a brief out line of what has been <done &> written on “colonization” since 1897.

May 28, 1926 (Friday) [Aleppo]

Had a short talk with Consul Alling concerning our ideas of colonization. He proffered to speak to General Billotte about us and get his opinion also.

June 18, 1926 (Friday) [Aleppo]

I wrote a paper for the Am. Consulate giving the Consul an idea of what we would desire in case we undertook to colonize in Syria. In the ten points I mention were level land irrigation, protection, object of Colony. Schools tax exemption & Custom duties exemption for a year or two, etc. I took the paper to Mr Alling who immediately wrote a letter to Gen. Billoett and said some very favorabl things to him for our people & church work.

June 28, 1926 (Monday) [Aleppo]

I had Elisa Aseian copy some correspondence received last Sat. from the Am Consul, concerning our ideas of a colony and the Generals (Billotte) reply to a letter sent to him by Mr Paul H Alling, Vice Consul in charge. In all it seems a most favorable and most official move along that line. <I wrote to Pres Grant & Counselors.>

August 26, 1926 (Thursday) [Aleppo]

[T]alked to Mr Troutman the New Consul concerning a letter just received from General Billotte on the matter of securing land for colonization.

February 11, 1927 (Friday) [Aleppo]

I copied a report which Dr Harris is sending in to the First Presidency, concerning the future policy of the Armenian Mission work,— The questions of an Agricultural colony, an Industrial colony, continuation of present conditions improved, and a change of Mission Headquarters to Haifa, Palestine, were all suggested.[22] After a closing chat and reading some of Poem—David Ben Yisha, papers, etc, we went with him to the Bagdad Station where he took train for Constantinople 7 p.m. His stay has been a very pleasant one.

February 16, 1927 (Wednesday) [Aleppo]

Wrote to The First Presidency concerning the visit and report of Dr. Harris.

[Excerpts from the letter as follows:]

You are well aware of the sincere efforts I have made for the last 28 years and of the hopes and dreams and aspirations and anxieties to see a colony of Latter-day Saints established in these old Bible lands, founded on gospel principles and to be a living example of light and life and salvation for and to this people so long in the thralls of the blighted customs and traditions and superstitions which have prevailed here for so many centuries, but even after all my fond anticiptions, and fervent prayers and earnest longings and at last with a possibility of a crushing of my hopes for such a blessing, I think I have never in all these long years felt more reconciled to willingly and cheerfully and thankfully acquiesce in any decision that the authorities might see fit to make on the report now sent to you by our recent visitor Dr. F. S. Harris.[23]

March 23, 1928 (Friday) [Haifa]

Wrote letter to Pres Widtsoe. To day the Palestine Bulletin of Mar 22 reached us and it contains a ¼ of a column under the head line, Mr Booths Impressions of Palestine.

[Quoted from the Palestine Bulletin as follows:]

Haifa, March 18—Mr. and Mrs. Jos. W. Booth are back in their new home in the German Colony after a recent trip through Palestine. Mr. Booth has been an ardent lover of the Holy Land for more than 30 years, and Haifa has an especially strong hold on his affections. In an article more than 20 years ago he wrote: ‘Beirut may be the shining belt buckle of these lands, but Haifa is the diamond brest-pin of all the Near East.’ He made a trip on a bicycle from Aintab to Palestine in 1900. And now comparing the conditions here with what he saw so long ago he says. ‘It is like turning from a swamp reeking with miasma and death dealing odors to a field of flowers vocal with the song of birds.’ Mr. Booth is intensely interested in the development of Palestine. He and all his people, the Latter Day Saints, whose three hundred cities in Western America proclaim their succesful achievements as colonisers, have their eyes turned on the movement, and their hearts tuned in harmony with all the ancient prophets for the redemption of the Promised land.

“Closing his short chat, Mr. Booth made this laconic statement. ‘The success of Palestine now rests upon four basic principals, viz. genuine repentance, Unity of all classes, Faith in God, and good hard work.’ He was favourably impressed with Jaffa, Tel-Aviv and the Plains of Sharon.”[24]

Notes

[1] Excerpts in this section come from Booth Journals, vols. 7–8, 11, and 13–15.

[2] Booth is most likely paraphrasing Jeremiah 16:16: “Behold, I will send for many fishers, saith the Lord, and they shall fish them; and after will I send for many hunters, and they shall hunt them from every mountain, and from every hill, and out of the holes of the rocks.”

[3] ����ğ is Turkish for “vineyard.”

[4] The Orullian family were faithful members of the Church in Syria and became dear friends to Booth. Booth helped the family find their way to America in three separate groups, the first being Esther and James in 1902; the second Krekor, Dudu, Joseph, Moses, and Azniv in 1908; and the third John, Osanna, and their children in 1909. Information about their lives in Aintab and Aleppo and their exodus can be found in Aaron David Orullian, Orullian Family History, 24–33. See fig. 21.

[5] On this term see footnote 3 above.

[6] Ebe is Turkish for “midwife.”

[7] See journal entry of May 9, 1900, in “Seeking Converts and Planting Churches” in part 1. These missionaries are three local Church members called to proselytize in the nearby city of Killis.

[8] Numerous strikes, demonstrations, and riots spread across the empire during 1907–8, followed by the Young Turk Revolution in July 1908 protesting widespread European intervention, economic turmoil, suffering, and poverty in the empire. Many of the strikes were instigated by clandestine cells of the Committee of Union and Progress who blamed worsening conditions on the corruption and mismanagement of Sultan Abdulhamid II. Quataert, Social Disintegration; and Kansu, Revolution of 1908.

[9] Excerpts in this section come from Booth Journals, vols. 7–9 and 12–18.

[10] Joseph Wilford Booth, “Abstract of Correspondence,” Millennial Star, May 25, 1899, 330–31.

[11] “Colony or emigration” were the two main options that Booth saw for improving the lives and conditions of the Latter-day Saint Armenian community in the Ottoman Empire; however, both were very difficult to attain during his lifetime. See introduction to part 3, “Latter-day Saint Community Life in Aintab, Aleppo, and Zara.”

[12] Booth is referring to the colony established by the German Catholic Palestine Society. Baedeker, Palestine and Syria (1894), 256.

[13] “Turkish Saints Celebrate—Progress in Syria,” Millennial Star, August 24, 1905, 540–41.

[14] Booth’s letter is quoted in “In Syrian Cities,” Millennial Star, September 21, 1905, 605–6. He describes the work in Zara and mentions that some members are planning to emigrate to Zion. Wishing that his colony idea could be realized, Booth writes, “The longer I stay among them, the greater becomes my desire to see them gathered and taught how to work without so much wasted energy” (606).

[15] John George Alexander Leishman was the US Ambassador to the Ottoman Empire from 1901 to 1909.

[16] Joseph F. Smith became the sixth president of the Church in October 1901.

[17] Thomas P. Page, a former missionary to the Ottoman Empire in the 1890s, had been sent in 1909 by the Latter-day Saint leadership (First Presidency) to investigate the prospects of purchasing land to start a Latter-day Saint colony. Shortly thereafter, the Turkish Mission was closed due to conflict, strife, and political instability. Berrett and Van Dyke, Holy Lands, 255–56.

[18] Bayard Dodge (1888–1972), son of American philanthropist Cleveland H. Dodge (organizer of Near East Relief), had recently been director of Near East Relief in Syria and Palestine. Teaching at the American University of Beirut since 1913, he served as its president from 1923 until 1948 and later became one of the most distinguished American scholars of Middle Eastern studies of the twentieth century. Kaplan, Arabists.

[19] Sidon was a predominantly Muslim coastal city that the French declared in 1920 to be part of the state of Lebanon. This became official in 1927 when a revised constitution for Greater Lebanon was ratified. Khoury, Syria and the French Mandate, 57, 247, 617.

[20] Booth, in an understated reference likely due to severe disappointment, notes writing letters to two landowners near Beirut conveying the message that he just received from Elder McKay, who was president of the European Mission at that time: the Church will not be buying land for a colony.

[21] By this time there was growing opposition to the French Mandate in Syria by Aleppo’s Christian and Muslim populations because of economic and political instability. Aleppo’s economy suffered greatly from diplomatic troubles between Turkey and French Syria. What was once a very lucrative trade was now severely reduced. Additionally, Aleppo had absorbed approximately forty thousand Armenian refugees, which exacerbated already-stretched resources. Higher rents and taxes caused unrest and discontent with French rule, which did little to ameliorate these fiscal and political problems. Khoury, Syria and the French Mandate, 135.

[22] Although the report praised the work the Booths had accomplished, it recommended against establishing an agricultural colony due to political instability, high cost, and absence of an agricultural background among the Armenian members. Instead, Harris suggested that the mission headquarters be established at Haifa, that missionary work be focused on the better educated, English-speaking populations of Palestine, and that the Armenian branch be administered by natives. In general, the report was a recommendation to retrench and focus missionary efforts on communities that would bring forth greater fruits and require less intense investment by the Church. Jenson, Many Lives of Franklin S. Harris, 116–18; Lindsay, “Dream of a Mormon Colony,” 64–66; and Berrett and Van Dyke, Holy Lands, 257–61.

[23] This letter can be found in Turkish Mission Manuscript History and Historical Reports, 1884–1951.

[24] “Mr. Booth’s Impressions of Palestine,” 3.