The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-11-19
ARMENIAN PROSECUTIONS.
Stcad1aSt Adherence to Their Faith
Amid TribulatiOn
Louis Republic.

In no country on earth, perhaps,
has the Christian religion contcnded
against such fearful odds as in Ar
incniO.
Away back in the fourth century.
less than 300 years from the date upon
which the last book Of the new tcsta-
inrnt WAS finished, Tiridatcs the Groat,
the ruler ot Armenia, was converted by
st. Gregory. Armcnia was at that
(lnc ~ Roman province, but its ruler
"Ga Il native prince, and his example
was followed by thousands Of the nobi-
Ity and common people.
From that time down to the present,
Il period OF over 800 years, Armenia
las been the bulwark of Christianity
IN Asia. But the standard Of him who
uicd on Calvary, and whose teachings
have been practiccd "cven in the
uttcrmt st ends Of the world" has not
held a!oft by this determined people
except under the most adverse circum-
stances.
soon after the death of Tiridates,
and when the little band Of Armenian
Christians had been reduced to q
mere handful by the incursions Of the
pagan tribes, which surrounded them
on AL sides, their country was literally
ovcrrIn by the Persian iirc-worship-
crS.
Hardly had it recovered from this
pagan raid before its Christian popu-
!ation was again dccmatcd-thi time
! by the Mohammedan caliphs, who
! proceeded to put every man and wo-
man to the sword who would not
! publicly declare that there is no god
but God, and Mohammcd is his pro
| phet.'
But the Christian watch fires did
! nat n.al, Il Il hD
! prevalence of this great storm OF ad-
vcrsity. From the few sparks which
were preserved through those perilous
times sprang the movement which
nearly wholly chriBtianiZed that isO-
lated Asiatic region during tho ninth
and tenth centuries. During the two
centuries mentioned Armenia was
ruled by native princes and enjoyed
great prosperity. The llth century
! lnauguratcd another era OF massacre
and devastation, the almost defense
! less Armenian Christians being this
time aSsailcd by both tho Greeks and
the Turks, who divided the country
! between themselves, leaving but one
or two tributary princes. They with.
stood this crucial tcst, az they had
several others, however, and came out
rs the " United Armenian Provinces >
within less than a century.
In the 18th century the MOngols took
their turn and almost wiped the ar.
mcniuns OF the face Of the earth, but
they arose, and was quite prominent
In Asiatic affairs until the middle OF
the 10Th century, when their country
WAS divided between Persia and Tnr-
key. Then came Il struggle between
the two countries last mentioned for
the possession Of the ancient province
in which, Of course, Armenia was tho
greatest sufferer. Early in the pres
| ent century the Russian czar took &
hand, declaring himself to be the
"protcctor Of Christian rights in Ar.
mcnia. The British have also pro
claimed themselves champions O
, Christianity in the east, but the massa
+ crcs OF Armenian Christians by Turks
kuris and pagans continue, just tho
same as they have except the shor
intervals Of comparative quietude, fo
4 more than 800 years. Any people
Y wac for conscience sake will sulio
one constant nightmare Of war, bloot
and general oppression surely deserves
: the sympathy and should command
+ TIC help aud support Of every Chris
l. llan nat on on the globe.