The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-07-14
Tent Washington's Vast Audi.
ence Is Fairly Carried Off
Its Feet.
a FIERY EvANGELIsTs TALK.
His Bitter Denunciation of the Admin.
istration Is Drowned in Cheers
of Approval.

w Os Osf July 1O.-1Q6
great event of the last days session of the
Christian Endeavor Convention was the
Armenian meeting in Tent Washington.
Arrangements had been made for week
past and vast crowd was in attendance.
One of the principal speakers was Miss
Kirkorian. Sue appeared in Armenian
costume. Her sad face and pathetic story
of her peoples woes moved the great audi
ence to frequent and audible expressions
of sympathy and sorrow. Her father,
venerable Protestant pastor in Armenia,
has Just been released from Turkish
prison. Two of her brothers are still suf-
fering imprisonment, yet she spoke with
remarkable forbearance of her prosecutors.
She did not ask for the determination OF
the Turks.
"As Christians" said she, 1--WE believe
in God and his power and promises con-
corning the kingdom of heaven and SO we
wait and hope for a religious. harvest
among the Turks. Oh, we don't want
them to die in their SINS but we desire TO
see them united with US in the same sal
walton and become possessors of eternal
life"
After her appeal she was again presented
to the audience, while Miss Leitch, her
fellow worker, wrapped her in the folds of
an American flag and called upon Ameri-
cans everywhere to see that the protection
of this Government was extended to her
people. This incident brought cheer after
cheer from the audience.
Evangelist B. Fay Mills took up the ap-
peal and in passionate harangue assaulted
the governments of Europe, England and
the United States for their Indifference
toward the Armenian slaughter. He de-
scribed the brilliancy and cunning of the
Sultan, showing him to be a man of great
ability, and then said:
al have no doubt that these massacres
in Armenia were planned and carried out
by the Sultan for his own purpose"
Mr.. Mills laid the blame for the atrocities
at the doors OF the Christian nations He
declared that England stood perjured to-
day before God and the nations for her
failure to prevent them. He showed also
that responsibility rested upon the Gov
eminent of the United States. She had
more direct cause than England to inter-
fere, yet she had scarcely asked for an
apology.
Nay; her Minister has even warned
the American missionaries to get out of
Turkey, as he should not be able to pro-
tect them"
He then explained how the British En-
bassador had extended his protection to
the missionaries so that they were allowed
to continue their work unmolested.
THAT was the only reason that they
were not slaughtered" he said. Had
our noble President on one of his fishing
excursions wandered into the Turkish do
main and seen SO much as a tiny little
bullet from Turks play pistol pass
through his sail take it that Americans
would have found it was some of our
business to interfere in Turkish affairs.
[Great applause and Iaughter.]
''If we as Christian Endeavorers did not
believe in war we might hope that while
the United States Government is spelling
for war some of the occupants of these
empty buildings around us laughter
might unanimously resolve to go to war to
protect the Turk. Great laughter.l
~ charge the Government of the United
States with misrepresentation of the en-
ightened sentiment of the American
people in this matter. The President oil
the United States. the Secretary of State
and the American Minister have disre-
garded our broken treaties. They have
permitted American lives to be endan-
gered; they have permitted American
property to be destroyed without repara-
ton, and American citizens to be impris-
oned.
"Our Government has stirred the pas
sions of the American people to anger
against England on thousandth part of
the pretext that would have sufficed for
destructive war with Turkey. The admin
istration officers have turned deaf and
almost scornful ear to the entreaties and
representations of some of our best citi-
r1afc - oh ~
societies, and denounce their conduct as
unpatriotic, uncivil, un-Democratic, un-
Republican, un-American, un- Christian,
selfish, weak, barbaric and criminal in the
eyes of the American people and of God
and. all men,"
Every word almost of these last SEN
fences of Mr.. Mills was greeted by loud
cheers. Men and women On the platform
behind him and in the benches before him
rose and shouted their hearty approval OF
the denunciation of President Cleveland
In the midst of the solemn charge of
cowardice, distinctly leveled at the chief
executive, the Secretary of State and the
American Minister, the whole audience
arose spontaneously, waving flags and
banners and crying aloud their approval.
As Mr.. Mills proceeded they kept on theil
feet repeating the cheer of Endorsement
at every adjective. Finally, when his
voice and manner indicated that he had
reached the end of his period, six rousine
cheers of approval were given.
Rev. Wyland Hoyt, who presided, rose
in his seat beside the speaker and called
upon the audience to reaffirm the charge
Again came the six cheers with hearty en-
thusiasm.
81 hope the response will echo through
the empty White House and extend tc
Bnzzards Bay" cried Mr.. Mills as he tool
his seat
The board of trustees of the United Soci
cites of Christian Endeavor held its fina
meeting for the year to-day in its room al
the Ebbitt House. and formally wound uI
the business of this convention. Resolu-
tions were unanimously passed expressing