The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-07-14
TALKED FOR ARMENIA
II Was the Chief Topic at the Session Of
the C. E. Convention Yesterday.
OUR OFFICIALS SEVERELY cEHsuRED.
1n Burning Words u Speaker De-
scribcs the SufrerinEs of Armenian
Christians and Lays Much OF the
Blamc ut the Doors Of the Govern
menis OF Europe and OF Anlerica.l

| session OF the Fifteenth International
| Christian Endeavor Convention began
4 to-day at the appointed hour in the
| three white tents simultaneously. after
the usual sunrise prayer meetings,
| President Clarke. Treasurer Shaw and
Trustee Wayland presiding. 1t was a
| day deserved for missionaries. Address
es were made in tents Willis.on and
| Endeavor by a number of foreign dele
gates-India, China, Africa, Asia, Eng
| land and the countries of Continental
| Europe being represented. Among
| others, Missionaries Geall. of Africa,
Putnam of India, Bentley of China, and
| Hildener of Germany. spoke.
The chief interest of the day centred
In the Armenian demonstration in Tent
Washington. An Armenian relief COM
| mittee has been ait 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
| the decorations of the S.reet-cars and
| the head dress and lapels of the dele
| gales. Tn: ee Armenian missioiSarse: /:
| are here, one being Secretary Green, or
| the NatioEal Relief Committee. Ehe
| others being women-MarGsret w.
Leitch, of Ceylon, and Rebecca Kirko-
rian of Turkey-just returned from the
| scene of the atrocities. These three
| :poke ITO the immense c:owd of sympa-
! th:zing Endeavorers to-day in Tent
| Washington.
The appearance of Mrs. Kirk O'R:an
| in Armenian costume. her sad face ana
| her broken and pathetic story OF her
| peoples sufferings moved the great au-
| dience to frequent and audible express
| sions of sympathy and sorrow Her IA
| ther. a venerable Protestant pastor IN
L i,,- cod from a
| Turkish prison. Two of her brothers
| are still suffering imprisonment, yet
| she spoke wF.h iemarkable forbearance
of her prosecutors. She did not ask for
| determination Of the Turks.
"As Christians" said she, we pe-
ljeye in God and his power and prom
| ises concerning the kingdom of heaven,
and so we wait and hope for a reli.
Cious harvest among the Turks. On!
we do not want them to die in their SINS
| but we desire to see them united with
us i'm the same salvation and become
| possessors of eternal life. II you think
| that the Moslem people are doomed to
| eternal condemnation you are greatly
mistaken. We Armenians, their afi1ic-
ed victims, do not think so, do not de-
| sire so, do not believe so. NO. the MO-
hammedan3 must and shall be saved.
| II Is in your hands to keep or smut out
| the light of truth from among them. DO
| YOU not want to save those millions or
wretcbed. perishing souls? The Arme-
mans have suffered and are crushed.
| but. thanks be to God. the door Of His
kingdom is open to the. Turks. on,
| churches of Christendom, do try to keep
| that door open: IL you are to close II.
| il may remain closed for centuries. Ii
| this opportunity Is lost it would seem
as IL the Armenians who have suiter-
| ed and died for their, Savior nave suiler-
ed and died in vain
After her appeal she was again pre-
| sented to the audience, while Miss
| Leitch, her fellow worker, wrapped her
| in the folds of an American flag and
| called upon Americans everywhere 10
| see that her people were extended the
| protection of this government. This in
l cidenIt brought cheer after cheer from
the audience.
| Evangelist Mills took up the appeal.
| and in passionate harangue assailed
| the governments of Europe. England
| and 'she United States for their tndiner-
| ence toward the Armenian, slaughter.
| He said he wished Ito voice the inarticu-
| late cry of an afflicted people who for
400 wears had been suffering unspeak-
| able persecutions. He recited in rapid
| succession incident after incident OF
| the Turki.h cruelties. What have fhe
nations done to check these atrocities?
| Absolutely nothing" he cried. "except
| to assure the Turk that he might go as
he pleased" He p:aised The ArmenianS
| especially for their chastity. bravery ana
/ nobility of their women. He declared
that of the 10000 Armenians In Unhed
| States no one had ever been brough. pc
| fore a. court charged with crime. Not
| one Armenian name had ever been en-
| tered on the lists of Armenian charita-
BILE societies. They were the great peo-
pie of Turkey, he said. and when
| Turk wanted a son whom he could re-
spect he stole an American woman 70
| he his mo. her. ut is safd.'' he exclafm-
| ed THAT the Sultan is himself the son
/ of such a Christian mother. he caii-
| ed attention to the bigotry OF the Iurk
| and showed that /; lead him to the eN-
| tremity of cruelty in his treatment Oh
the .infidels." He read a sample prayer
| of Moslems in which Allah was called
upon to utterly destroy the intidels, all
his relations and property and 70 give
| them into the power of the Moslerl.
what wonder is it." he cried. " that
| the pious Turk, after centuries OF repe.
| tition of this payer should SIempt
| to please his god by exterminatioh Oh
| the Armenians.
| He described the brilliapcy and cum
ming of the Sultan, showing him TO De a
man of great ability, and said: i nave
no doubt these massacres in Armenia
/ we're planned and CARED out py ple
Sultan for his own purpose.
| Mr. Mills laid the blame for the atroc-
/ tiles at the doors of the CHRISTIAN nd,
| tions. He declared that England stoou
perjured to-day before God and the ma
tions for her failure to prevent them,
England" he said, who held up mel
hands and swore to protect the TURKISH
Christians. has broken her VOWS ana tne
l,hlaodLnfthosew who. died IN Armenia ma 1.
upon her hands lGieat i,,s... cneerins1 -est.
/ He showed also that responsioiif,y resi-,
| "a vnnn the government of the United
s.,tas she has moe d.ect cause than
Enels,d to interfere. Yet she Eao
CO rceIv asked for an apology. Nay
- minister has even warned the Amer
| ioa missionaries 10 get out oil Iurkey, as
Sa shonId NOT be able to protect shenl'
ru,ssesl How glorious was their ans,
wer 10 our fasering minister: we wLii
s,a,- here and die with our people. TAP,
ntai,se and hisses). He then explatlssu
how the British ambassador hao e1tehu,
| ed his protection to the MISSIONARIES -
that they were allowed 20 cosstiiius .s,..
yo.k ,,nmolested THAT vas the oniy
| W.. son that they were not slaughtered,
ha said .sHad our noble President. or
one OF his fishing excursions, wandeE
| into the3Turkish domain. and
much as a tiny little bullst fronR
| play plaspS passed through 81
Il - ss would - & !I11.