Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1884-10-23
q Marriage 0utrag ge.


the Armenian population, both there and at
adnua, are in i great state OF excitement,
owing to a most dastardiy outrage lately
pcrpctrated IN the name of religion upon
the person Of young girl living at Hadjin,
. small town of Clicia, in Asia Minor. The
circumstances well illustrate the double RUE
under which tie Eastern Christians live
that G: the Turks and cfihcir own bishops
and shows up in dark colors the tyranny so
often exercised by the latter, which has
done more 10 swell the ranks of the Ar-nc.
nian Protestants than all The exhorations
of the American missionaries. \ certain
Miss Naruis Kirk yacharinp, belonging 10 Il
we'll known family of Hadpr, was afilanced
a; :. very lcuGer age, according to the bar
barious custom Of the country. TO The son OF
. nei.hbOr. From the age Of six she was
placed at the mission school, where her
~reat intelligence and beauty made her 4
iayorijp and she became !. most accom-
plisbel young lady.
Naturally enough she learned to desplse
the ignorance around her and to form other
ideas OF marriage from what she saw among
her teachers, and when on leaving school,
at the beginning Of the present summer, she
found her hand claimed By loutish indi-
vidual with the manners Of IA pig she strong
ly objected TO lalify the promise made for
her by her parents when she was only five
wears old Her tears and supplications pre-
vailed, and, the first engagement having
been broken of, later on asecond was form
ed with young fellow living at Adana, and
they were about to be married. The fam
lily priest, however, made his appearance one
day, declaring that he could not marry them
that the first betrothal held good aud that
the Young girl had better make her peace
with her discarded fance, as the "tchorha-
iess'' 1.-THE elders OF the community were
determined that she should take him for
husband and no other. In vain the father
hesougbt these people not TO interfere. The
father then telegraphed to the CATHOLICS OF
Sis, the great Armenian pre!ate who wields
Papal authority over halt the Armcnans of
Asia Minor.
This enlightened ecciesastic, when he
made his appearance, not only sided WITH
the tchorhajces, but arranged with them
plan for carrying out the marriage and con-
summatng it in the teeth of all opposition.
Pending me negotiations the poor girl had
fled for refuge to the house of The mission.
airy, trusting in the protection Of the foreign
flag. The Turkish authorities, Of whom
she wos demanded by the Bishop, ana his
vile crew in the name Of the community,
refusing TO take any steps in the matter, y
lot Of rulfians were hired To attack the place
and carry her off by force. Immured in a
convent cell. she was submitted TO the most
rigorous treatment with the hope of over
coming her resistance. She continued, how
ever. to manifest ner repugnance to the
union, declaring that she would rather die
81, I'M, ,,ri, ~ q pa n
such uersecutiou. Spurred cn by the evil
counsels Of the tchorbajees and the desire
to strike blow at the influence of the
American missionaries, the Bishop finally
decided to conduct the marriage ceremony
by free. Proceeding to her prison cell
with all the necessaries, accompanied by
the animal, burning with his vile desire TO
possess her, and the tchorbajees bought
with bis gold, this ignoble prelate COM
menced to read the service. At sight of
the leerng crowd the poor girl tainted.
Brought to again she fell at the knees OF
the Bishop, and. with tears, impored him
to desist. In win she struggled TO escape.
Held fast by two Of the ruffians rs she lay
upon the floor, for she could not be kept
upon he; feet, the horrid sacrilege was
completed hv the nuptial benediction being
pronounced while she still loudly pronounc-
ed against it. The matter did net end here.
The sc-callci husband left with the young
girl, in order that he The consummation of
the marriage al opposition might cease,
found the strength of the unwilling bride
too much for him, and SO the tchorbajees
had TO come In his assistance. Some six
hours afterward the poor victim, more dead
than alive, was carried OIL to. her brutal
masters residence. Seeing the stir the
matter has created-for it has now reached
the foreign embassies--the British and
French CoEsllls at Adana have sent reports
on the subject to Constantinople confirming
all that has Just been related. The fathers
life has even been threatened, as well as
that Of The girl, If an end be not put at once
to the measures that are licipg taken 10
bring about an official inquiry, and NJ. ker,
kyacharian has thought it necessary to 1y
to Adana. The key 70 the conduct of the
Bishop is no doubt to be found in the jeal-
ousy with which the progress made by the
American missionaries in that part of Asia
Minor IS regarded by the Armenian clergy.