The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-12-11
the STRICKEN LAND
Miss Agnes Slack Lectures on the Siiu-
alton In Far OFF Armenia.
BRUTAL PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS.
The Grcat Work OF RcIier. Whnt Has
heen Accomplished and what IL
fet TO Bo DOne-The Blood Thirsty
suitan-Nobie Work OF tho w. g. Il.
U.-Thn collection.


ono of the most interesting as we'll
rs important meetings of the year was
hcid at Cumberland street Methodist
church last night, when a large and Gull
t,Nated audience gathered to hear Miss
agnes Slack. OF England. lecture upon
lnc wrongs of the American Christians
at the hands of the Moslem Turk.
MiSS sack is honorary secretary of
the Worlds w. G. II. U and. as that
great organization has Interested Itself
SO extensively In the cause OF this suf-
icrinS people, Miss Slack naturally be-
gan 10 identify herself with the move
ment. and In England. particularly, she
has been devoting her energies In this
direction. She has In her household nm
armenian woman who Is learning the
fhSiish language with view to becon-
ing Il missionary. and while Miss Slack
mas not visited this far-orf country her
self she Is probably one of The best in
formed woman in England on the sub
jcct.
She has been in this country for some
TIME. and is returning North from a
Southern tour. coming here from Rich
nond at the invitation OF the Norfolk
w. C. II. u.
INTRODUCED BY MIR. ATWILL.
Rev Arthur s.. Lloyd was to have
made II brief address. but was called
out OF the city. Rev. DIR. w. J. Young
was also scheduled for talk but yield
ed his time TO Miss Slack, who was in
tro1uced by Rev. w. II. Atwill, pastor
of Cumberland street Methodist church.
III few appropriate and earnest words.
DEPRIVATION AND SUFFERING.
Miss Slack Is slender, graceful and
handsome, and though small, Is not the
less imposing when speaking. She has
clear delivery and an earnest, straight
forward way about her that goes at
once tn the hoortS NJ hao
The first portion of her address, which
consumed about an hour, was devoted
to the terrible suffering and deprivation
which exists in Armenia at present-a
vastated; $4,000 male bread winners
mnssacred; 47.600 houses and shops
plundered or burned; Al 900 Christians
forced into Mohammedanism; 300 900
people. mostly women an children, with
out food. clothing or some means of
support.
EXTENDING THE MONEY.
She said that nearly the entire popu-
lation had been deprived of plows and
other farm utensils, and. that great
deal of the money collected wen. to
purchase new implements and seeds In
order to avert further famine. If possi-
BILE. after the next harvest time.
Then, too. an effort is being made,
and successfully, to collect the thous-
ands OF little homeless and fatherless
children into lots of from eight to ten,
each lot to be placed under the care of
some good widowed woman. Living in
that country, she said. was fortunately
very cheap, and $40 would take care OF
child for one year, OF q family three
months
THE BLOODY SULTAN.
Describing the Sultan she said he was
ever intent to slay Christian people,
wherever in his domain they might live
hppnlSp hn rpn1iZad riotto .tt,
was n great civiliZer, and he feared civil
lization with it's new influences, which
would rob him of his despotio power.
Within the last 10 years, she said, 161.-
600 Christians had been massacred with
in the domain of this bloodthirsty ruler.
WHAT HAS BEEN DONE.
Speaking OF what has already been
accomplished, Miss Slack said that un-
der the vigorous protection of the
American and British Governments, and
by official permission of the Sultan.
there are at work in the devastated re-
gion 20 distributing centres under Amer
lean missionaries: three relief expedi-
tions OF Clara Barton's American Red
Cross: Industrial Relief begun; seeds and
tools being supplied as fast as possible:
100000 sufferers partially aide1 only
one-third of the number In actual need:
$250O00 given by the people OF America
and s250G00 by the people OF England
OkI fiElt NEEDS.
The need of further foreign aid. she
said. will increase until n harvest is Sc
cured: 10000 cases of typhus, smallpox
and other dangerous diseases are report
ed, and unless prompt and efficient aid
is extended. the ravages of pestilence
and famine will exceed those of fire and
sword.
AN ADMIRABLE PEOPLE.
Miss Slack then gave n simple bnt
effective description of the character
istcs and disposition of the Armenisns.
They are, she said, n quiet docile. nm
warlke people, exceedingly clever
quick and faithful. There are 10000 of
them in this country. but little Is heard
of them because they attend to their
business and make little noise. They
are anxious TO learn the ways of civili-
cation and make invaluable servants.
KING ALCOHOL.
While the collection was being taken
up the speaker dwelt upon the great
work the w. c. II. u. was doing and the
terrible ravages King Alcohol was maxi
ing, staying 100000 IL year in this conn
try alone. instead of lei 900 in rs years
She spoke of the $4,000 criminals in E,nfr.
lish prisons and the 40, 600 manlacs In
English insane asylums, 90 per cent,
of whom, she said. came there throurh
the influence of strong drink 80
The collie tion was announced as Mrs.
Slack concluded. 1t amounted to abous