Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-04-03
A CHANGE IN FAITH
Something Of Experiences of an
Armenian Now in Ottumwa.
HE Was PROSECUTED BY THE TURKS

After DESERVING the Mohammedan Re.
li9ion, in Which He Had Become
Prominent, He Had to Leave Eu.
rope-Likes America.
j. |. TaminoSian, an Armenian about
thirty-ive years of age, whose home
at present is in Omaha. where he for
merly conducted a Christian mission,
is in Ottumwa this week on business,
and in an interview with a Courier re-
porter he related story which is
strange, full of happenings which al
most have the appearance of miracles.
His early life was spent in Syria, his
birthplace, Egypt and Turkey and af-
ter escaping from the Turks, by whom
he was to be put to death, Taminosian
was successful in an attempt to elude
the Turkish detectives and come to
America, where he has become nat
uralized as citizen, has done much
good Christian work, and he proudly
states that he is true republican.
Taminoslan's parents were Armen-
ians His father was converted to the
belief of the Congregational church
through the work of American mis-
sionaries in Syria before the boys
BIRTH The family, which was one of
the royal line of Armenia. was marked
on account of the fact that the head
had forsaken the Armenian national
faith and allied himself with the be-
lief of foreigners.
Leaves Home.
When the boy was 13 years old he
became interested in the Mohammed-
an belief. and when he Joined the fol-
lowers of this religion he was prompt
ly cut off from the family and his name
was disgraced as far as his people
were concerned. He went to Egypt
in the hope of finding more friendly
surroundings and Abraham Pasha.
cousin of the ruler of the land at that
time, became acquainted with the
young Armenian, and knowing that he
was of royal blood and knowing also
the cause of his leaving Syria, he of
fered him a home. He even did more
and adopted Taminosian as his son.
The boy was educated and at the
age of II years he became NOLAN
medan priest. Three years later he
was taken to the grand vizier, Camil
Pasha. who, in turn, conducted him to
the palace of the present Sultan of
Turkey. The sick man" heard the
young priests story and it pleased
him so much that he ordained him
bishop, giving him the right to preach
in the mosque at St. Sophia.
Conscience Stricken.
In 1890 Taminosian made a visit in
to central Turkey and became the
guest of the brother of the grand viz
Ter. At the home of this man was a
cathedral in which preached b;shop
OF the Armenian religion. When he
learned that the member of the royal
family of Armenia, who had been dis.
owned by his relatives, was in the
neighborhood he sent a messenger and
requested an interview.
Taminosian was by this time firing
OF the Mohammedan religion. He
saw that it was the religion of unedu-
Gated fanatics and was nothing when
compared with the Christian belief. 1t
was not hard, then, to persuade him
to become a Christian by making an
appear such as his fellow countryman
alone could make Accordingly he
decided to quit Mohammedism, but the
way was hard. Should he drop the
Turkish religion while yet in Turkey
he would be killed and the Moham-
medians would consider it a great
glory to put him out of the way. How
ever, making excuses to his host that
he would go to Constantinople so that
he could join the army, he started for
the capital, having informed the Ar
menian patriarch at that place of his
approach and his intentions.
Four days before the bishop-desert-
err reached Constantinople the Turks
began the persecution of the Armen-
lans. which action aroused the whole
world in defense of the powerless
Christians. The trouble had driven
the patriarch from the city and, I'M
able to find him, Taminosian was COM
PEELED to make good his promise and
join the Turkish army.
Turkish Customs.
While in the army the Armenian
learned the custom in vogue during
these days. The Armenians would be
tried and condemned in open court
and would be taken to prison At
night however, they would be desert
ed in lonely place by Turkish sol
diery and executed. Once, when his
company was taking out a party of
Armenians for this gruesome purpose
Taminosians conscience hurt him and
he refused to perform his military dut-
les. He was reported, and the gener-
al il charge, having a grudge against
him, confined him in a dungeon. In
due time, but without trial, he was
condemned to Punishment in Asia un.
til the end of his term of service, to
be beheaded at that time.
Through the aid OF his secret So
ciety the man was released from GUS
tody by force, and at Smyrna he was
taken off the boat which was taking
him to his living death. After many
he was aided in reaching
America by American and English
missionaries, and he landed in Phila-
delphia in June, 1898, meeting there
a brother who is studying medicine in
that city. The immigrants first posi-