Savannah courier. (Savannah, Tenn.) 1885-1979, 1896-12-31
AnMENIArlr PROSECUTIONS.
sssadtaa Adhsrshce oithe People to ii

6eeadfnet AdhoYeace 0fithe People ia the
Christian Fallh Amid Tribaiatior.
In no countr, on earth, perhaps, has
the Christian religion contended
against such ttarful odds rs in Ar
menia.
Away back In the fourth century,
less thtn 800 years from the date upon
which the last hook of the New Testa-
ment was finished, Tiridates the Great,
the ruler of Armenia, was converted
70 Christianity .,by ST. Gregory. Ar
.wsnio ,ssyqs at that time Roman prov
ince, lttr its lulcr was N native prince,
iund bis txafaple wassfollowed by thou
sands OF the nobility and common peo-
pie.
!. From that time down to the present,
la period Of over 1900 years, Armenia
has been the bllwark of Christianity
Kin Asia. Bl. II standard of Him who
died ON Cal ar, and whose teachings
have been pss -tlced seven in the ut
lterniost ends OF the world" has not
held aloft by this determined people
except under the most adverse circum-
stances.
Soon after the death of Tirldates,
md when the little band of Armenian
Christians had been reduced to mere
handful by the incurslons of the pagan
tribes, which surrounded them on all
sides, their country was literally over
run by the Persian fire-worshipers.
Hardly had it recovered from this
pagan raid before its Christian popu-
lation was again decimated-this time
by the Mohammedan caliphs, who pro-
ceeded to put every man and woman
to the sword who would not publicly
declare that "there is no god but God,
and Mohammed is his prophet"
But the Christian watch fires did not
entirely die out, even during the prev
alence of this great storm of adversely.
From the few sparks which were pre-
served through those perilous times
sprang the movement which nearly
wholly Christianized that isolated
Asiatic region during the ninth and
tenth centuries. During the two GEN.
turtles mentioned Armenia was ruled
by native princes and enjoyed great
prosperity. The eleventh century in
augurated another era Of massacre and
devastation, the almost defenscless Ar
menian Christians being this time as
sailed by both the Greeks and the
Turks, who divided the country be-
tween themselves, leaving but one OF
two tributary princes. They withstood
this crucial test, us they had several
others, however, and came out rs the
"United Armenian Provinces" within
less than century.
In the thirteenth century the Mon
gols took their turn and almost wiped
the Armenians off the face of the earth
but they arose, and were quite prom
inent in Asiatic affairs until the middle
of the fifteenth century, when thcil
country was divided between Pcrsit
and Turkey. Then came struggle be
tween the two countries last mentioned
for the possession OF the ancient prov
ince, in which, OF course, Armenia wa
the greatest sufferer. Early in thu
present century the Russian car tool
, u hand, declaring himself to be TIT
: protector" Of Christian rights in Ar
menia. The British have also pro
claimed themselves champions of Chris
tianity in the east, but the massacre
of Armenian Christians by Turks
Kurds and pagans continue, just tn,
same as they have, except the short in
tervals Of comparative quietude, TO
more than 1900 years. Any people VIII
for conscience sake will suffer one con
,, slant nightmare Of war, blood and gen
! eral oppression surely deserves tn
, sympathy and should command tn
help and support Of every Christian ma
ton on the globe.-St. Louis Republic