Birmingham state herald., 1896-07-14
TWAS 4 STIRRING FINALE To the International Christian Endeavor Convention. AN APPEAL FOR ARMENIA By Evangelist Mills Which Should Sur Even a
 Heart of Oak. PRESIDENT CLEVELAND CENSURED For Ignoring Christianity's Cry for the Suf- fering People Who Are Being Butch-
 cred by Turks-A Woman's
 Appeal.
PRESIDENT CLEVELAND cENsURE

Washington, July 13.-The last days session of the fifteenth international Christian Endeavor convention began to- day at the appointed hour in the three white tents simultaneously after the
 usual series of prayer meetings, Presi- dent Clark, Treasurer Shaw and Trustee Wayland presiding. It was a day re- served for missionaries.
 Addresses were made in the tents 'sWilliston' and "Endeavorer'' by a num- Der of foreign delegates, India, China, Africa, Asia, England and the countries of continental Europe being represented. Among others, Missionaries Coll of Africa, Putnam of India, Bentley of China and Hildner of Germany spoke. The chief interest of the day centered in the Armenian demonstration in the tent Washington" An Armenian relief committee has been at work all the week stirring up enthusiasm among the dele gates. Special Armenian relief flags and badges have been spread over the city, and they appear everywhere in decora- tions in street cars and on the head dress and lapels of the delegates.
 Three Armenian missionaries are here, one being Secretary Greene of the na- tional relief committee, and the others
 being women, Margaret w. Leitch of Ceylon and Rebecca Kirkorian of Tur- key, just returned from the scene of the atrocities. These three spoke to an im-
 mense crowd of sympathizing Endeavor- CTS today in the tent Washington" The appearance of Miss Kirkorian in
 Armenian costume, her sad face and her broken and pathetic story of her people
 moved the great audience to frequent and audible expressions of sympathy and sorrow. Her father, a venerable protes-
 tant pastor in Armenia, has just been re- leased from a Turkish prison. Two of
 her brothers are still suffering imprison- ment. yet she spoke with remarkable fcrbearance of her prosecutors. She did not ask for the extermination of the Turks.
 "As Christians" she said, i've believe in Sod and his power and promises con- cerning the kingdom of Heaven, and so we walt and hope for religious harvest among the Turks. Oh, we do not want them to die in their sins, but we desire to see them united with us in the same salvation and become possessors of eter- nal life If you think the Moslem peo- pie are doomed to eternal condemnation you are greatly mistaken. We Ar menians, their afflicted victims, do not think so, do not desire so, do not believe so No,the Mohammedans must and shall
 be saved. When and how? You are to
 give the answer to this important ques-
 tion. It is in your hands to keep or reach
 out the light of truth from among them
 Do you want to save those millions Of
 wretched, perishing souls? The Ar menians have suffered and are crushed,
 but, thanks be to God, the door of His
 kingdom is open to the Turks. Oh, churches of Christendom, do try to keep that door open. If you are to close it, it may remain closed for centuries. If this opportunity is lost 1t would seem as If the Armenians, who have suffered and died for their Savior, have suffered and died in vain"
 After her appeal she was again pre- scented to the audience, while Miss Leitch, her fellow worker, wrapped her in the folds of an American flag and call ed upon Americans everywhere to see that the protection of this government was extended to Ter people. This incl dent brought cheer after cheer from the audience.
 Evangelist Mills took up the appeal and in a passionate harangue assailed the governments of Europe, England and the United States for their indiffer- ence toward the Armenian slaughter. He said he wished to voice the inarticu- late cry of an afflicted people. who for 400 years had been suffering unspeakable, insufferable prosecutions. He recited in rapid succession incident after incident of Turkish cruelties.
 What have the nations done to check these atrocities? Absolutely nothing" he cried, except to assure the Turk that he might do as he pleased" He praised the Armenians, especially for the chasti- ty, bravery and nobility of their women. He declared that of the 1000 Armenians in America not one had ever been brought before court charged with crime. Not one Armenian name had ever been entered on the lists of Ameri- can charitable societies. ''They were the great people of Turkey" he said, "and when Turk wanted son whom he could respect he stole an Armenian woman to be his mother It is said" he exclaimed, ''that the sultan himself is the son of such a Christian mother"
 He called attention to the Turks bigot- ry, and showed that 1t led him to the ex- tren1ity of cruelty in his treatment of the '1nf1dels." He read sample prayer of Moslems, in which Allah was called upon to utterly destroy the "infidel' and all his relations and property, and to give them into the power of the Moslem. "yVhat wonder is It." he cried, "that the pious Turk, after centuries of repetition Of this prayer, should attempt to please his God by extermination of the Arme- nfans?"
 He described the brilliancy and cun- ming of the sultan, showing him to be a man of great ability, and he said: "I have no doubt that these massacres in Armenia were planned and carried out by the sultan for his own purpose"
 Mir. Mills laid the blame for the atroci- ties at the doors of the Christian nations. He declared that England stood perjured today before God and the nations for her failure to prevent them. England" said he, "who held up her hands and swore to protect the Turkish Christians, has broken her VOWS, and the blood of those who died in Armenia is upon her hands" Great cheering.)
 He showed also that responsibility rest ed upon the government of the United States. She has more direct cause than England to interfere. 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 protect them. HIisses) How glorious was their an- swer to our faltering ministers we