# Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened/Chapter XXIX

CHAPTER XXIX.
THE OUTCOME OF THESE MASSACRES.
The late Armenian massacres, far from being a local or temporary and accidental event, have their deeper and wider effects, that touch the universal interests of the world, and especially of the Christian church. We are very anxious to bring the subject before our readers as the subject of their own interest, from the following point of view:
1. Islam is a Destructive Power. Admitting some good principles disclosed in the Koran, be it borrowed or original; admitting some past service of the Arabs in acting as birds to carry the seeds of Greek philosophy to other parts of the world; admitting its temporary effect upon the surrounding heathen tribes, in extending the idea of one God (thongh very erroneous compared with the evangelical idea of divinity), yet, as a whole, its influence has been detrimental and injurious to progress and christianity.
Besides, Islam is not a dead power. Under the hypocritic appearance of humanity, and the imitative mockery of civilization of Islam, still lies the same venomous dragon of the early ages—to ruin the vitality of the Christian church; and whenever it finds an opportunity for its deadly work, it is eager and able to act. The great Queen of England may feel herself happy and proud for the millions of her ​Mohametan subjects—as a little girl would feel for some pretty small eggs of snakes. May the Lord grant that she may see her mistake before the season of the ripening of iniquity. It is not necessary to be a prophet for the prediction of a near future outbreak of a united Islam against a divided christianity. The Mohametans themselves are conscious that their end is approaching nigh, and that a great and last conflict will occur between themselves and the "giaour" powers of the world before Islam is driven to its former source. They say, "Sham (Damascus as the capital of Islamic regions) was the first, and Sham will also be the last." Islam is praying daily for this final conflict.
The unwise policy of Christendom is to give them time and opportunity to carry forward their long-cherished ambition. The Sultan of Turkey has craftiness and advisers enough to devise plots against "the giaours" who are trying to seize his alience against the brother nation. In the history of Islam there has been no more proper time to score a victory upon the Christian world. Egypt and other African territories, India and Afghanistan, Persia and Turkey, all Mohametan countries—and all offended by the policy of England—are finding good help in the anti-British union of Russia and France and unwise cooperation of the hot-headed German Emperor, to rise against England and to throw off her yoke; what then? Just what would be the destiny of a lion-keeper when the beast became excited and let loose? This is not a political dream, but a fearful reality, ​the pains of which is already begun in the "Houses of England."
2. England's Influence on the Eastern Question is Decreased. There was a time when the English Ambassador was the highest authority in Constantinople, and the English papers governed the destiny of the Eastern question. Two years ago British warships could enforce the Dardanelles and command before the walls of Bosphorus. The coward "Soverign of Turkey" was constantly watching the horizon with his fields-glasses to see the smoky trace of the "Ingilis" ironclads. The crisis has passed, the British vessels were ordered back from the mouth of the Dardanelles. That was the decisive victory that Russia gained over England, without firing a single gun. Even in the interior the common people, who know nothing about the geography and history of England, began to speak against her as the "Cahbe Ingilis" (Treacherous English), and to jeer at the Queen and her Prime Minister. The present favorite of the country is Russia, once "the Blind Mosgof, the Black Infidel."
In the arena of Eastern question Russia organized the play, Turkey acted, Armenia suffered and England lost. The writer is not of the opinion that it is too late for England, though far more difficult than ever, to rush into the field and save the present and future generations from the calamity which will follow the unnatural union of Turkish Mohametanism and Russian orthodoxism.
​The loss of the English Government means the loss of the Anglo-Saxon influence, something far more preferable than the selfish and avaricious policy of the government, or rather of the millionaires, who, having credited treasures to Turkey, do not want to lose their interest, even if it costs the blood of the Armenian, or any other nation. The loss of the Anglo-Saxon influence means the loss of Christian civilization. Russia, with her despotic policy of the Middle Ages, will be too glad to grasp the staff of the church universal and drive the nations back to the dark centuries.
3. Christianity is Passing a Test. This is the most delicate and inevitable phase of the question, and worthy to be considered. What have the Christian nations of the world done to save those who have suffered because of their Christianity; and what are they going to do to-day to better their condition, which is more dangerous and deplorable now than ever? Experience of the last Greek war encouraged the Turk in his bloodshed and brutality, and discouraged the Christian element of the country, especially the Armenians who, living largely in the interior, have little connection with the surrounding countries. "Well, it is the business of the governments to act," is the answer of Christian people and ministry. If so, then what is the mission of the church? What has been the influence of the Christian church upon the governments?
What can the Armenians think about their powerful and inactive fellow Christians? What can ​the Armenian ministers tell to their smitten and scattered flock when they inquire about the cause of their long neglect? What would you think if you had fallen into the hands of a wolf, and seen your older and stronger brothers stand by with folded arms and watch your agonies in cold blood?
The financial relief was necessary and exceedingly helpful in its time; but who does not know that the Armenian needs something more and something different? If the little bread given by a few Christians is taken as the full satisfaction in the conscience of Christendom, we are regretfully obliged to disturb the tranquility of that conscience, and solemnly declare before God and men that Armenia needs more than a morsel of bread. What greater need has ever been shown to the Church of Christ to supply? What more sacred cause was ever presented to the spiritual soldiers of the heavenly kingdom to pray and to fight for?
Going one step further, what are the Mohametans thinking about the sincerity of Christian fellowship, and about the essence of Christian religion? Many Turks were heard to cry, even at the moment of their most bloody deeds, "Now where is your Christos? Let him come and take you out of our hands!" and the helpless victims groaned in their souls and said "My God! why hast Thou forgotten me?" This is something that the enemies of Christianity would gladly grasp and use it against Christianity. This is something that true and zealous Christians, the advocates and protectors of our holy doctrines, must take ​into consideration, and act according to their responsibility; knowing that God will never do His part if human agents fail in their parts.
4. The Most Remarkable Outcome of these massacres is the manifestation of Christian life in the old Armenian church. Until recent times the majority of the civilized people had a vague idea of this Eastern nation. The last massacres taught the world about the faith and perseverance of that ancient Christian church. During the fiendish and wholesale slaughter of a few months 100,000 strong and noble men gave their lives for the sake of humanity and religion; though they knew perfectly well that by a single repetition of the short Mohametan creed they could be reckoned "Believers," and the law of Koran would protect them from every harm. The majority of the killed were offered the choice of Islam or the sword; even some were urged by their Mohametan friends and neighbors simply to repeat that one word and be saved. But they were not willing to do this. Not a single Gregorian priest among the eighty-four that were killed with most torturous deaths was willing to be an evil example before their flocks, who were waiting to follow his footsteps. Twenty-one Protestant ministers chose a martyr's destiny rather than a Mohametan name, some of them leaving their motherless children behind them. Catholic ministers were dismembered and tortured to death, still clinging to the faith of the cross. A poor, good man was seized by the mob and brought out of his shop upon the street to be ​butchered like a sheep. The Turkish neighbors tried to persuade him to accept Islam and be saved. "You are a harmless, meek man; we will take you from the mob if you will only say that you accept Islam, and afterwards you can pursue your Christian life." He asked two minutes to think. It was granted as an exceptional favor. He at once knelt down upon the cold stone to use these two last minutes in communion with his beloved Savior, and then put his head under the bloody axe, saying: "I cannot deny my beloved Jesus." While he was struggling in his blood his wife was killed at home, and four little children were left orphans. The only son of a widow was killed and the headless body was brought home after three days by a few neighboring friends; and, when the mother learned that her son was slain because he would not deny his Lord, she knelt beside him and kissed his blood-stained hand, and said, with flowing tears: "Rather so, my beloved son, than to see you deny our blessed Jesus!" "Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord."
Following is the English translation of an Armenian mother's letter to her son in the United States:
"My Dear Son: Our silence could not be prevented. We live and die clinging to the cross. Thank God for your safety. Read Psalm seventy-nine and know of us. Pray for us."
ARMENIA.
“ARMENIA, O Armenia! Will nations heed thy cry, Or must thou feel the Moslem's steel Till all thy people die?
Thy land that once held Eden, Where Adam went to dwell, The savage Turk by fearful work Hath made it now a hell.
Where Noah's mighty mountain Uplifts its ancient head, And views a plain piled high with slain, Armenia's martyred dead!
Where maidens, Christian maidens, Knelt down to fiendish Kurds, And on the air they breathed a prayer We dare not frame in words.
A prayer that even a savage Might listen to with pain, As daughters fair with bosoms bare Begged simply to be slain.
To woman's prayer was answered A demon's mocking laugh, And then the knife that ended life Seemed kinder far by half.
O chivalry of England! Of Europe! Of the earth! Your swords should flash, your cannons crash. For human right and worth.
Ought Turkish tigers shepherd This primal Christian fold, And boast of crimes unnumbered times, Too awful to be told?
Wake, lion-hearted Richard! Shake off the clinging sod! And once again lead Christian men Against these foes of God.”