New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-05-19
TIE ARMENIAN OUARREL.


developed talent for schism that we can hardly
anticipate, from the Pope's threat of proceeding
to extremities against the truant bishops OF
that communion, any other result than the
permanent establishment of the new subdi-
vision which came into existence among the
followers of the Armenian rite at the very
opening of the Gcumenical Council. The
children of st. Gregory, dwelling about Con-
stantinople, and in the Turkish and Russian
provinces, and in other frontier regions of
Europe and Asia, have been famous from
remote days for an independence OF spirit
which hardly brooks ecclesiastical authority,
and in particular for a jealousy of the pre-
emnence of tho Roman See. Far back in the
infancy of the faith, the greater number OF
them Iepudiated the general councils, and took
the distinctive name of Gregorians from the
apostle who converted their country about the
end of tho third century. Time and
again in after years they yielded temporary
and half-hearted obedience to the POpes, but
their obedience was yielded rather from pOlt-
ical considerations, at moments when they
needed the help of Western nations against the
Moslems, than from theological convictions,
and never lasted much longer than the danger
which provoked it. Three principal par
ties have recently existed among them.
The Armenians of the Gregorian rite,
so-called, acknowledge no allegiance to
Rome, and neither follow the Roman lit
urgy nor hold the Roman creed The
Armenian Professionals are a sect of refOrmers,
comparatively few in numbers but vigorous
and aggressive, with whom the Professionals OF
England and other parts of the West have
cultivated brotherly relations. The United (or
Orthodoxy Armenians finally accept the faith
of the Roman Church and acknowledge the
primary of the Pope; but they have never
shown that submission to the Papal man
dates which the successor of ST. Peter de-
mands of all his children. In particular
they have claimed the privilege of electing
their own bishops, observing all their ancient
usages, and in general managing the discipline
and organization of their Church in their own
way. Thus there has always been spark of
quarrel between st. Gregory and st. Peter
which very slight breeze might fan into
fierce fame.
Last Winter the outbreak occurred in COnse-
quence of the appointment by tho Pope of
two Armenian bishops. These prelates were
man Patriarch of ConstantinOple; but the peo-
pie rebclled, and, meeting in room in Pera,
denounced any attempt to interfere with their
discipline, rejected some of the Papal re-
scripts, and organized themselves as the
"Oriental Armenian Catholics" About a
third of their priests in COnstantinOple
and some 800 families of the laty
took part in this movement and emissaries
were dispatched to invite the adhesion of the
communities in Asia Minor. Rome made every
possible effort to bring about a reconciliation,
but every effort failed. The schism spread,
until the new church embraced not only
great numerical majority of the population, but
a decided preponderance of intelligence and
culture, and felt itself strong enough to exact
as a condition of peace the resignation of Mgr.
Hassoun, the conservation of a patriarch to be
chosen by themselves, and a guarantee of their
right to name their own bishops.
The Sublime Porte has so far fallen away
from the primitive zeal of Islam that instead
of pursuing the infdel with the sword it now
cultivates policy of liberation, and is rather
inclined to keep its Christian sects in good
humOr by helping them against each other. 1t
made haste to favor the Oriental Armenian
organization IL gave tncm at once the use
of a church; and it now supports their
demands at Rome with whatever infu-
ence it may have in that rather hostile
quarter. Certainly the Turkish Govern
ment will be likely to give the separatists
their full share of the ecclesiastical property;
and if matters come to an extremity, and the
schismatics are formally cut off from the body
of the faithful, they may count upon having
the Sultan on their side. As no point of doc
trine is involved in the dispute, this result
promises as little for the publication of faith
as for the unity of Christendom.