The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-08-16
PATRIARCH OF ARMENIA
THE ARMENIAN NATION Isl T
MOST SUCCESSFUL LEADER.
The Interesting Career Of a Remark
able Man-His Great Reputation
as Preacher and Teacher.
New York Times.

New York Times.
The news of the resignation of the Ar
menian Patriarch at OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
theos Ismirlian-is one of the most i'm
portant and significant items that have
come from Turkey for a long time. For
a year and a half this Armenian. by far
the ablest and strongest man the nation
has produced during this period of its trial,
has stood like a rock between the inter-
ests of his people and the oppression of
the Turkish government on the one hand
and the nefarious plottings of the revolu-
tionists on the other. He has been un-
Improbable by brides. has yielded before
no threats, but with quiet determination
and shrewd diplomatic action has sue
ceeded in accomplishing not a little. That
he has failed of accomplishing more is in
no respect his own fault. The hostility of
the Turkish government and the env of
the revolutionary leaders have been REIN
forced positively by the peculiar tortuous
policy of Russia, and negatively by the
~inaction and divided counsels OF the other
European powers. So that the best that
he could do has been very little in COM
parison with what he wished. and more
than once he has been upon the point OF
HA5 iho 81 0H-S
the earnest request OF the majority Of the
National Council. who realized that there
was no one to fill his place.
Mattheos Ismirlian was born In Con-
stantinople in 1915, but took his family
name from the city of Smyrna Qsmir).
where his grandfather was a resident. He
was educated in the Armenian schools OF
the capital. and his ability was so marked
xl.% - ~ .-1 90 rfn1fhA- 4 he hnpQrnQ
deacon of one of the local churches. AT
the age of twenty-four he entered the
Celibate College and was ordained as arch
priest. From that time his advance was
rapid, he being elected secretary TO the
patriarch, member of the National Assem-
bly,. and also a member of the Synod. He
had a wide reputation as a preacher ana
teacher, his style being simple. direct and
intense. But his popularity. was due even
more to his unusual soundness of judy
ment and purity of motive.
HONORS HEAPED UPON HIM.
In 1876, at the age of thirty-one. he was
ordained bishop, and was advanced from
one post of honor to another. until ten
years later he was put in charge OF the
parish of Egypt. which required at that
time numerous reforms and general purlh-
cation. Here he won the hearty devotion
of his own people, and even secured dec
o~rations from the Sultan and from King
Menelek of Ahyssinia. In 1891 he re-
turned to Constantinople, and soon after,
on the death of the Catholics of Etch-
miadzine. the ecclesiastical head of the
Armenian Church, he was not only one
of the first four nominated in the assem-
bly,, but on a subsequent ballot his name,
with thai of Archbishop Khrimian, was
sent TO the Car for selection. 1t was gen.
orally thought that the choice would be a
difficult one. Khrimian was an old man
but very popular. especially among the
more advanced element of the nation. He
was well known as liberal in his ideas.
Ismirlian was young, aggressive and,
while thoroughly orthodox, strongly OPP
posed to the style of ecclesiastical poll
tics that had been so powerful in the
church. The Cars choice fell upon the
older man. and events have shown that
he understood the characters of the two
candidates thoroughly. The Catholics has
disappointed a large element in the ma
ton. Whether 1t would have been posi-
BILE for him to have taken any other
course than that which he has followed
In general subserviency 10 Russian inter-
ests il Is perhaps impossible TO say. 1t is,
however. almost certain that he has not
been the strong character that Ismirlian
would have been. The latter was by nc
means disappointed. He had not lifted a
finger TO secure the nomination or election,
and was satisfied to perform the duties OF
his new position to the best of his ability.
As the political situation becomes more
and more difficult the Armenians looked
around for some one to lead them in their
strife with the Turkish government. For
many years Nerses had been Patriarch. a
man of upright, noble character. but with
out that aggressive ability which would
nave made him a leader. His successor
was a man of education, but from an ex-
perfence in Jerusalem, as ell as his ma
tural characteristics. was not adapted Ia
the stormy times. In the midst of the dis
turbances IN 1894 he resigned, and immedi-
ately there arose on every hand a demand
for Ismirlian. The great question was
whether his election would be favored by
the Sultan. for he was a thorough-going
and, contrary to the general fear. his
election was confirmed. One of his first
steps brought him into collision with the
government. During the summer of 1884,
bishops of eastern Turkey had been i'm
prisoned and he sent a letter to the Min
new bishops in their places. The govern
ment replied that the reports about i'm
prisonment were false and the request
must be withdrawn. The patriarch ar-
swered: The statements are true, and the
truth l cannot withhold"
BRIBES DECLINED.
Finding hat threats awaited nothing,
brides were tried. The highest decorations
available for civilian subjects in the en-
pire were offered him. He returned them
with the reply: Your majesty. what have
1 to do with such things? I am a simple
priest. | live on bread and olives. as dc
my people. l have no place in my house
for such gorgeous things. l pray you dc
not ask me to accept them" His whole
conduct was a carrying out of his pledge
at his installation. My understanding OF
the word faithful is this: Faithfulness in
wolves on the side of the government pro-
lection. life. and property. Without this
faithfulness on the side of the subject is
hypocrisy"
But unfortunately 1t was not only the
Turkish government with which the Pa.
triarch had TO deal; the revolutions
movement had gained considerable power
ard through the summer of 1885 was in
creasingly aggressive. The leaders sough
by every means TO secure the Endorsement
Of the Patriarch. He steadily refused tc
give ii. More than that he distinctly op.
posed and condemned their course. They
tried threats and IL was stated on every
hand that he would fall a victim 10 q
Huntchagist bullet. but he wavered not a
all. When the ill-advised demonstration
in Constantinople was planned he did his
best 10 prevent it, but his courisels were
overruled. Then when the nation was
suffering under the terrible blows of Turk
ish brutality he stood firm as a rock In hi: