The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-12-14
ARMENIA,s UNHAPPY STATE.
Interference by Christian Powers
Her Only Hope.

Interference by Christian Power
Her Only Hope.
Rev. Kirkor Hagop Basmajian deliv
cred an interesting lecture at the FRS
Baptist church last night on the subjec
of the massacres Of the Armenians by th'
| Turks.
| Mr.. Basmajian is a native Armenian
| but has been in this country several years
| and speaks the language with sufficient
| fiuency to be easily understood. His au
dience found him very entertaining
speaker
The Armenians. Mr.. Basmajian stated
are the Oldest Christian people in the
world, having been Christians since the
fourth century. Although surrounded by
the Turks on all sides and subjected to
continual oppression and persecution, they
have remained true to their religion. AS
to the character Of his people, he said
that there are 1900 Armenians in
the United States, and there is
not one drunkard convict or paupef
among them. He denied that the Arme-
mans are revolutionists. A people with
out arms could not be revolutionists, he
said. The Armenians are an intelligent
progressive people, far superior to the 9TH
er races by whom they are surrounded
They have made Turkey what it is, he said
They are the merchants, physicians, arch
itects and teachers of the empire. In
spiteaof their hatred of the Armenians,
the Turks are compelled to recognize their
ability and notwithstanding the massacres
which have taken place in Constantinople
itself there are 500 Armenian government
officials to-day in Constantinopie. The
sultan's physician is an Armenian and so
is his architect.
that these massacres are allowed to
go ON uninterrupted? Sixty mil
lion Mahommedans in India enjoy
every protection Of the British govern
meat, while thousands of Christians are
butchered by Mahommedans in Turkey.
over 10000 Christians have been massa-
cred in Turkey in the last few years.
The Armenians, Mr. Basmajian said, are
the oldest Christians. The Bible was trans
lated into their language in the fourth cen
fury. They had the first national church.
Their religion is neither Roman Catholic,
Greek, nor Protestant, but ii accepts con-
verts from all without requiring them to
go, through any special ceremony.
The Armenian church service would not
suit Savannah people, Mr.. Basmajian
thinks. The services are five hours long.
church and the women in the gallery. The
oriental custom is followed. The people
take off their shoes, but keep their hats
on. He gave interesting accounts of
the customs of the Armenians. They are
not allowed to have bells in their churches,
and the sections give notice by going about
the streets singing.
Mr.. Baslnajian sang several hymns in
Armenian and also chanted the Lord s
Prayer in Armenian. The chanting of
passages of scripture is one of their Gus
TOMS The singing is in very slow time,
and there is one song of only four words,
which requires twenty-five minutes to
sing. Mr.. Basmajian sang a part of one
word for the audience. He spoke of the
Turkey. The Christian nations of Europe,
with their 100000 soldiers and numbers
of idle warships, could stop the massa-
cres in a week, he said. England could
send expeditions up the Nile,
and France could send thousands of
soldiers to die in Madagascar he said, but
neither will do anything for the Arme-
mans in Turkey They are ready to shed
blood for their own profit and advantage,
but not for the sake of suffering humanity.
The Armenians are prosecuted because
they are Christians, the lecturer said, and
because they want a little more liberty
They want liberty to sing their national
hymns, to teach their children their ma
tional history, to meet together for public
discussion, and to come and go about their
business.
The speaker quoted Patrick Henry
words: "Give me liberty, or give me
DEATH" with hearty approval. He fol-
lowed this by pronouncing an eloquent
panegyric on liberty. He spoke of the
work which Americans have done in
Turkey through their mission
aries, schools and colleges, and
especially of the great work
done by Clara Barton and the Red Cross
Society in relieving the distressed after
the massacres by the Turks. Although
beloved by the Armenians, he said, the
American flag is despised and dishonored
i'm Turkey. The american missionaries
have been prosecuted and schools and
houses of worship destroyed and yet the
government has done nothing. 1t had
made a claim for an indemnity Of $1,0oO
co., but that is ALL The trouble was that
this administration did not have enoAsh
backbone Mr. Basrfiajian said. The Arme-
Man Question, hesaid, will never be settled
until 1t is taken out of Turkish hands,
The sultan must be deprived of his power
and civilized government established in
Constantinople and the other cities of the
empire. Armenia must have Christian
government. AS long as the sultan has
power the massacres will go on.
A collection was taken up for Mr. Bas-
majians benefit. He announced that he
would lecture at Trinity church Friday
night and alsd Monday and Tuesday
nights for the benefit of the parsonage
fund of the church. He knew his lectures
were good, he said, because he wrote
than himself