The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-20

! within the borders of Armenia. The
Euphrates and the Tigris of the Bible flow
south to the Persian Gulf. The Araxes
now the boundary between Russian and
Persian Armenia, flows eastward into the
Caspian Sea, and Tehorauk or Pison of the
Eden OF Genesis flows into the Black Sea
on the north. Beasts and birds fill the
forests and the waters swarm with fish.
The horse, camel and sheep flourish, the
latter being exported in large numbers.
The Armenia of ancient times covered
over 10000 square miles and had many
rich and beautiful cities, the ruins OF which
bear witness still to their former splendol
and opulence. Van and Erzeroum, i'm
portant cities OF the Armenia of to-day
were mighty of old.
In the Revue Francois, 1886, the mum
| Der of Armenians in the world was given
at 6, 900, 600, 3,500,000 of whom were under
Turkish rule, 100000 under the Russian
Government, 100000 in Persian Armenia
and the remainder scattered over various
countries. There are said to be 000C
Armenians in European Turkey, of whom
20O,O0O are in Constantinople alone. Orig
inally brave and warlike, they are now
noted for their peaceable dispositions and
their ready submission to the laws of the
country in which they may happen to So
journ.
They are said to possess all the good
qualities necessary to the progress and
civilization of Asia Minor. Their long list
OF eminent scholars, statesmen, poets and
travellers bear witness TO this. Their reli-
gious fervency, military valor and proves
as well as their genius for commerce, are
spoken of by all early writers.
Byron says of them: 1T is difficult to
trace in the annals OF any nation less
crime than in the Armenian, whose vir-
tues are those OF peace and whose vices are
those of oppression" Gibbon says that
1.-The helpless nation has seldom been per-
mitted to enjoy the peaceful tranquility
of servitude. From the earliest times to
the present the country has been the the
alter OF war. Their religious zeal has ever
been fervent and intrepid, preferring mar
tyrdom to Moslemlsm In many instances.
AS with the Armenian nation so it was
with the Armenian church. From the
very first it has been distinct and indie
pendent body of Christians. Thaddeus,
one of the seventy, with Bartholomew and
Judas, is said to have preached the gospel in
Odessa, the ancient capital of Armenia,
and ba ptlZed King Akbar and many of his
subjects in the new faith.
The church as thus founded continued
in existence, but languished until 302,
when Gregory, prince OF the reigning
house, the Arsacidfe, was converted and
began q revival and rebuilding of the
.
and his zeal knew no bounds. Prosecuted
much at first, he finally converted the
King and many of the chief men and at
the request of the King was himself conse-
Grated as Bishop, of Armenia at Casarea
A. d. 302. His successors were styled
Patriarchs and under their rule the church
took deep root in the hearts of the people
and in the face of all manner OF continued
persecution it has grown and prospered.
The number of Armenian Christians is
given at about LOGO, eco, Of whom 200. 00C
belong to the Roman Catholic church and
10000 to the Protestant. In doctrine the
Arminiar church is almost IN line with
the Greek Catholic church, and since the
middle of the eighteenth century has had
close utilization with it, and has looked
largely to Russia for protection, which
Russia has always been ready to accord.
In 1873, however. England interposed an
objection to Russa's having such an ex-
cuse to interfere in Turkish-Armenian
affairs, and it was agreed that protecto-
rate should be jointly shared by Russia
and England. By the Cyprus convention
OF the same year England is irresponsible
with Turkey for the effective amelioration
of the condition of the Armenians.
1t is high time that something should be
done, not only by the two protectorate
nations, but by the joint action Of the
civilized powers. May it be done and done
speedily, and the long and horrible chap
Ter OF murder, rape, arson, pillage, slavery,
oil manner OF cruelty and oppression OF