Thus wrote Doctor Warneck, the great Lutheran historian of missions in 1902! He went on to speak of the policies of Russia, England and Germany, which jealously forbade the touching of Turkey. The good man is no longer living--what would be his emotions if he could look in 1917 upon the Near East and the confusion which political jealousy has wrought! [Illustration: OFFICERS AND TEACHERS OF LUTHERAN SUNDAY SCHOOL, NEW AMSTERDAM, BRITISH GUIANA.] [Illustration: ITUNI SCHOOL IN SCHOOL ROOM WHICH IS ALSO THE CHURCH.] [Illustration: SOME INDIAN MEMBERS OF ITUNI CONGREGATION.] The Lutheran Church has made but little effort either to revive the ancient Christian churches of the East, or to convert the Mohammedans. The most ambitious plans were those of the Basel Society whose leader, Christian Frederic Spittler, dreamed of an apostolic road from Jerusalem to Gondar in Abyssinia. The early work of the Basel Society in Russia and Persia was ended by imperial command. [Sidenote: A Lutheran Orphanage.] Among the various German missionary enterprises in Palestine which draw a large part of their support from Lutheran sources, is the _Syrian Orphanage_ outside Jerusalem, which for sixty-six years has been training children in useful trades. Here carpentry, joinery, printing, tailoring, shoe-making, blacksmithing and brick-making are taught. Its founder was _Pastor Schneller_, at whose death it was continued by his son. Now more than two hundred boys are enrolled, many of whom are confirmed in the Lutheran Church. A few years ago a school for the blind was added which received both boys and girls, who are taught basket-weaving, chair and brush-making. Another German enterprise which is partly Lutheran is the _German Orient Mission_ founded in 1895. From its printing press at Philipopolis it has issued translations of the New Testament and other religious literature into Turkish. Two Turks who were converted were compelled to take refuge in Germany. The _German Jerusalem Union_ has been at work since 1852. Its chief care is for the German churches in Palestine, but it conducts also mission work in the old Christian Arab population. The _German Jerusalem Association_ was founded in 1889 for the benefit of the German Evangelical congregation in Jerusalem. This is in no sense a missionary enterprise, but the fact that it is supported and authorized by the German government gives importance to all the German Lutheran work in Palestine. In 1898 the German Emperor and Empress were present at the dedication of the Church of the Redeemer, supported by this organization. This church building stands within the walls of the city not far from the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.