The islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1891-1899, 1894-12-27
THEARMENIAN HORROR
Statement From American
Foreign Missions Board.
MORE OF THE HORRIBLE DETAILS
The Position Of the Missionaries of the
American Board Within the Turkish
Empire is an Extremely Delicate One
nd

Indeed.
Boston, December 1S.-The American
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mis-
sions more than any other missionary
organization in America centralizes its
work in behalf of Armenians in Asiatic
Turkey. Its Western Turkey mission
began in 1919, its Eastern Turkey mis-
sion in 1886 and its Central Turkey mis-
sion in lS47. These three missions COM
prise fifteen stations and 2S6 out-stations.
There are forty-fve missionaries, one
medical missionary in Eastern Turkey,
forty-two married women and seventy
three unmarried women. They employ
791 native laborers. These laborers oc-
cupy 299 places. The Sunday schools
number 264. The adherents are esti-
mated at 46, 1854. There are 1l2 churches
with membership of II, ISL, of which
498 were received within a year. The
educational work is extensive. There
are four theological schools; thirty-one
colleges, high and boarding schools for
boys; twenty colleges, high and boarding
schools for girls, and 372 common schools
containing 1888 pupils. The contribu-
tions of the natives last year to the Ameri-
can Board amounted to $34, 758. These
facts do not include the work in Euro
pean Turkey.
Numerous inquiries have been received
from the press and from others in the
United States, which have induced this
organization to furnish the following
statement relating to affairs in Turkey:
1--WE are not unconcerned by the re-
ports of the massacres in Eastern Turkey.
The position of the missionaries of the
American Board within the Turkish EN-
pire is an extremely delicate one. Sym
pathizing deeply on one side with all who
are suffering by reason of poverty, op-
preston and misrule, they have yet been
loyal to the government under which
they have lived, and have never counte-
nanced sedition or rebellion. 1t has
been their blessed privilege while preach
ing the gospel of Jesus Christ to aid the
poor, to protect, as far as possible, the
oppressed and to deliver from unjust Of
fcials multitudes who have been arrested
or imprisoned. It is not necessary for
our missionaries after these scores of
years of devotion and devoted labor for
the native race of Turkey to prove their
sympathy with the suffering and OPP
pressed by joining others who, at safe
distance from the scene of danger, are
passing vigorous resolutions in condem-
nation of the wrongs inflicted. They
are doing their best amid no little peril
to themselves in the interests of those
for whom they have long labored; but
our readers can we'll understand that for
the sake both of the helpless and for the
helped it is inexpedient for us to pre-
sent full statement of all we hear and
believe. Some things we may properly
say prior to the full investigation of the
alleged atrocities, which we trust will
be made by the representatives of both
our government and of the European
powers.
In the Sassoun region, south OF
Moosh plain, there are, or were many
villages inhabited by Armenians. These
people were systematically robbed OF
their focks by Kurds, and in the latter
part of the summer the Armenians pur-
sued the robbers in their endeavor to re-
cover their property. In the fight which
among whom were some who were en-
IOllCu do AuIhloH cOlulCics w uOh III
formation was given that the Armenians
had killed some of the Sultan's troops
the charge of rebellion was made and Or
ders were sent to put down the insurrec-
ton. The result was these lawless and
uncontrolled soldiers made indiscrimi-
nate slaughter of the people who had
sought to defend their property. In the
horrible massacres which followed thou.
sands were slain, some state 6, 900, others
10000. The details of this horrible affair
are not obtainable even by those near
the scene. They will never be obtained
unless foreign governments insist upon
q thorough investigation conducted by
foreigners. The poor people are in ter
ror, and do not tell the truth unless
under protection. A document has been
prepared near the scene of the carnage
purporting to give the judgment of the
people that the thousands slain in Tai
vorie met their just deserts, and express
ing regrets that it had been thought best
to send Consuls to investigate since
there has been no need for their coming.
The value of such document will be
understood when the methods for secur-
ing signatures are known. But such in
vestigations should be most vigorously
pushed, either to relieve the government
from unjust charges, if the statments are
incorrect, or, if they should be proven,
to bring about the conditioning punish
ment Of the guilty parties"