The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-12-17
Steps Taken by the Presbyte-
rian Ministerial
Union.
TO BE NON-SECTARIAN.
A Committee Will Confer With
the Ministers ASso-
citation.
INTRODUCED BY DR., MINTON.
1--WE Can Pray, but in the Meanwhile
g.. Our Brethren in Armenia
Are Dying"
TO BE NoN-sECTARIAN
INTRODUCED BY DR., MINTON.

The massacres in Turkey occupied most
OF the attention of the Presbyterian Minis
terial Association yesterday. Dr. Minton
introduced the subject. sit seems to me-"
he said, IF We could have a great mass
meeting of Christians to protest, it might
have some effect.
w e can pray, but meanwhile our breth-
rem in Armenia are dying. Any resolu-
ton we might draft would go into the
waste basket, but mass-meeting repre-
senting the sentiment of the community
would have some effect at Washington.
It ought not to be Presbyterian meeting,
or even q Protestant meeting. 1t should
be held to give voice to the sentiment OF
the country against the atrocities, not be-
cause the Armenians are Christians, but
because they are an outraged people.
believe on these grounds some of our great
lawyers and orators would consent to ap-
rear on the platform, not on the grounds
OF Christianity, but of humanity
DR.. Sewer moved that a committee be
appointed to confer with other ministerial
bodies, 10 arrange grand mass-meeting.
DIR. Scott, DR.. Minton and DR.. Sewer were
appointed. DIR. Scott said: There is Meth
ing that compares in history with the mas
sacres that are being perpetrated IN Tur-
key. If the Christian people in this part
OF the country would unite in raising their
voices, it might have its effect, but it is too
late in the season to reach the interior at
present.
''Are you personally acquainted with
these scenes % asked DR.. Minton.
DR.. Scott replied that he had lived for
years in the heart of the oppressed district
and had travelled extensively in the towns
and villages. He described the plundering
the Armenians have to endure at the hands
of the predatory kurds, and stated that
the preteXt for the massacreS was the re-
sistance they were beginning to offer to
these outrages. Said DR.. Scott:
The Armenisns are q distinct race of people
and are one OF the Oldest races of Asia Minor,
having had a written language that has re-
manned unaltered for over 5000 years. They
are nominal Christians, having been associated
with the Roman Catholic church up to the
fourth century, but at that time they severed
their connection with that church, owing TO q
disagreement in regard to the personality OF
Christ, but TO some extent they still use the
rites and forms which accompany the Catholic
religious ceremonies.
They 70 longer recognize the Pope and have
appointed an ecclesiastical head OF their own
who is known : the Catholics"
The ATmenians are considered the artisans
oNthe Orient, and there is no doubt as to their
and other educational institutions which lar
excel any institutions established by the semi
barbarous Turks and Kurds, by whom they
have been so outrsgeously oppressed for so
many years.
1t is not generally known that these inoffen-
SiVe Armenlans have been subject to the abuse
OF the Turks and Kurds for a score of years,
but such is a fact. For over twenty years dur
ing the fall season the Kurds nave fitted out
caravans and after heavily arming themselves
have swooped down upon the unsuspeeting
Aerr7 nT1fa n
cities. They have the people at thair mercy
as the msrauding tribes have the whole nation
of Turkey behind them in their lawless acts.
During these intervening years the Arme-
mans have been growing more intelligent, and
finally realizing that they were being abused
they began TO assert their rights. Conse-
quently when the Kurds found they were being
opposed instead OF robbing and plunderlng as
before they melted these brutal massacres.
think in humanity's sake that we should rem
der these outraged Armenlans all the assist
anne that lies in our power
DR.. Mathena expressed warm approval
Of the mass-meeting and said he believed
an infidel, if he had a heart, would be will
ing TO cooperate in such movement. Dr..
Woodworth and Rev. E. Duprey also ex-
pressed appreciation, though the latter
said, I'VE can talk about sending onr gun
boats through the Dardaneles, but we
should soon bring the European concert
down on US if we did,
DR.. Parey said, Russia is the only
country that can take charge of the Turks. :"
At the conclusion OF the meeting DIR. ii.
Bevier and Dr. H. C. Minton visited the
cericus 10 lay the proposition before the
Epjscopalian clergy. Hearty approval was
EXPRESSED. especially by the chairman,
Rev. George Edward Walk, and by the
Rev. Mr. Moreand. 1t was unanimously
resolved to appoint q committee, which
shouId be ready to confer with the Presby
terrain committee next Monday, when the
full list of committees will be read.
At the Congregationalist Monday Club
DR.. Bevier and DR.. Minton met with hearty
Endorsements.
DR.. Minton, in laying the suggestion for
a mass-meelng before the club, said: The
situation is one of utmost horror. |
have been in Turkey and | have seen the
present Sultan; he is either a fool or a
knaye, or both. Are we to let this work
go on. without an indignant protest"
Rev. DIR. Williams moved that commit
Tee be appointed, and the following gentle
men were named in pursuance of his mo-
ton: Dr. Williams, DIR. {. .. Brown and
DR.. Pond.
AT the meeting of the San Francisco
Presbytery, yesterday afternoon, in How
ard PRESBYTERIAN Church, the subject of
Turkish atrocities was informally discussed
and a strong sentiment of protest
against the IN was expressed. 1t is the in
tention of Dr. H. Bevier, DR.. II. G. Minton
and DIR. T. E. Scott to confer with those
ministerial bodies which could not be
reached Yesterday. Every effort will be
made to see that the mass-meetlng is a
20 nd sT1ppacc