The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-18
IN BEHALF OF
THE ARMENIANS
Petition Of the Bishops Of the Pro.
testant Episcopal Church Of the
United States.
SETS FORTH THE CONDITION
Aad Asks. 10 the Name Of the Almighty
That the rerseeutiOs Be rnt to an
End-The Gar Asked to
Interpose.


Interpose.
New York. February 1.-THE bishops
OF the Protestant Eplscopal church In the
United States. who recently sent a petit
ton TO President Cleveland. asking that
the government interfere In saving the
Christian Armenians from continued
massacre at the hands OF the Turks. have
forwarded TO the powers Of Europe and
10 the archbishop OF Canterbury a me-
moral Of similar import praying that
immediate measures be adopted TO COM
pei the Turks 10 cease from slaughter
and persecution.
On the advice Of the state department.
the several memorials were forwarded on
Saturday, addressed TO the ministers OF
foreign affairs Of France. Germany. Aus
tria and Russia. At the same time in
which the letter was dispatched 10 Presl-
dent Cleveland. a letter was sent to the
archbishop OF Canterbury as head Of the
English church. Notice OF the reception
Of the letter to the archbishop Of canter-
bury has already been received.
This action thus taken by the bishops
OF the Episcopal church In behalf OF Ar
menia Is the result OF letter sent 10
each OF the bishops BY the Right Rev.
John Williams. ID. D.. bishop OF Con-
necticut and presiding bishop. enclosing
a circular showing the condition Of az
fairs In Turkey at the present moment
In this circular the bishops say, among
other things:
2 In a territory, some 5000 miles In
uraa a aNorf has haaf. fsnado nd Ia nnxE
being made TO exunguish Christianity
among the Armenian race by destroying
church edihces, killing the Clergy and
forcing the surviving members OF their
hocks. In all places where foreiga con-
suls are not present to report the facts,
10 become hohammedans. IL now sesms
probable that large part OF those who
have been Killed In the country districts.
are martys, who have refused life at the
price OF denying our Lord. Large num-
bers OF widowed Christian women and
orphaned children have been swept, with
out VIII OF their own, into the families OF
the men who have destroyed their
women.
Thousands OF others deprived OF sue
cor, deserted by Christiandom and threat
ened by instant death. have been led to
accept In name the religion which has
ruined them. have been circumcised by
force. and now beseech God and human
ity to save them from the death which
the Mohammedan law holds over such
In case they afterward attempt to obey
the dictates OF their conscience. Yet
other multitudes are now being singly
approached and put under pressure OF
the most awful threats IL they continue
to refuse to deny the Lord Jesus Christ"
To the archbishop OF Canterbury. head
of the Anglican church, the American
bishops have sent this appeal:
I'VE, bishops OF the Protestant Eplsco-
pal church In the United States of Amer
lea. having learned with deep sorrow the
deplorable and continuous persecution OF
our fellow-Chrlstians in Asiatic Turkey.
do hereby appeal to your grace in their
behalf. Is 1t not possible for US. laying
aside at this crisis all questions political.
International or commercial. to rise to-
the higher plane of earnest, sympathetic
action, that stop may be put 10 the
horrible massacre or Armenian Chris
tiansF III one member suffer. all the
members suffer with It," 1t is evident
from careful analysis OF the causes and
reasons OF this determined assault that
the real object of 1t Is the destruction of
the church in Armenia by the Staying OF
all those who refuse to give allegiance |
to Islam,
1t is therefore distinctly religious per- |
and the number Of martyrs al |
ready sacrificed Is probably larger than
In any prosecutions Of the early church. |
II would seem, considering the feroclty |
Of the cruel attack upon our brethren In |
the awful suffering they are
enduring, the fact that the offer is made
to these Christians that their lives shall |
be spared II they renounce their faith,
that crusade supported by Christians |
the world over would be truly warranted
We. therefore, respectfully and lovingly
plead with your grace that for Christ's
sake, for the sake Of His religion, you
Interpose the weight of your office and
TO succor and defend this af-
hicted and prosecuted branch of the
Christian church. May we not ask that
the great Church OF England, through
her episcopate, shall take decisive action,
that our sunering fellow-Christians may
1nd not only ready sympathy but speedy
delivery from their foes?
In addition to the letter TO the arch
bishop or Canterbury, petitions have
been sent 10 the president OF the French
republic the emperors OF Germany and
Austria and to the car OF Russia. This
: the letter 10 the czar;
10 MIS- imperial Majesty Nicholas III,
lar Oh All the Russias:-
Sire-We. bishops OF the Protestant
spiseopai Church IN the United states
four imperial majesty. as the head of the