From the archive: The impact of war worldwide
The Friend reported on the affect of the war on missionary work
The first world war was not just confined to the European continent. It had a significant affect on people elsewhere in the world. News of Friends, particularly those who were working in Quaker missions, was reflected regularly in the pages of the Friend.
Friends Mission, Constantinople
When other missionaries left two Friends stayed:
‘Miss Burgess and Miss Harris are remaining for the present in Constantinople. The conditions there have been grave since the outbreak of the war. On August 12th Miss Burgess wrote: “We had a panic in the money market immediately on war being declared by Germany, Austria, and Russia. The first days there was a famine in bread and flour; now things in that direction for the present moment are better. The mobilisation has meant much unrest, since it took men up to forty-five years of age. We do not know what is before us, but we do know God is on his throne and He sees and knows and hears our supplication.”
‘On September 7th she writes again from Friends’ Mission House:… “I have over 300 women connected with the industrial work, and no money to employ them. Already the cry of hunger is at our door.”’
The Friend, 9 October 1914
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