Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1915-10-15
Martyrdoms in Near East Will
Dominate Thought of Churches
Evidences That Whole Country Is Becoming Aflame
Over the Unequaled Prosecutions of Christians

All plans for general religious work
in America this year are being rad
ically affected by the news of the
massacre of Christians in Turkey. AS
the facts seep into the consciousness
of Christendom there is developing an
intensity of passion which may sweep
the world, even as similar news from
the same region aroused Europe of
the Middle Ages 10 undertake the CRU
SaGes. One difference between then
and now is that the prosecutions are
immeasurably greater, and news
travels faster, and the solidarity of
Christians is greater.
Unless / misread all the present
signs, the martyrdom of Armenians
and other Christians. and of Jews as
we'll, now in progress in the Near East
will stir the churches of all names TO
unprecedented demonstrations. AL
ready the religious press is beginning
to realize that this crisis is more than
mere matter for editorial notes: at
least one of the foremost weekltes has
begun to print crusading articles upon
the news from Armenia. Ministers
meetings have taken up the theme,
and local pastors and prayer meetings
are devoting attention to ii. Turkish
atrocities are likely to have the right
OF way with church people this year;
end the combined wisdom of Christen-
tpUl IL SURE 10 llIlN SOlAlG way ONtN VI
the battling situation.
Great Meetings OVcrShadowed
The nation wide campaign of the
Laymen's S Missionary Movement began
n few days ago and it is covering all
the big cities of the land. The crisis
in Turkey, with more Christians being
slain for their faith than ever perished
under the Caesars Supersedes all other
subjects on the programs, simply be-
cause ii is the one subject in which
missionaries. preachers and laymen
are most interested at the present
hour. These enthusiastic mems meet
ings are sure to give support to the
American government in the formal
and stern protest which it has already
made TO Turkey and in any other more
radical steps that II may take.
Last Tuesday night there was a din
ner given by leaders in the world S
Sunday School Association at the Hotel
Astor. and the note struck there re-
Vealed the solidarity and sensitiveness
of Christian thought at this time. The
idea of rallying all Christians of every
name and age to the support of the
w-ChristianS who are being slain
because they will not spurn the Cross
end accept Islam is reaching down
even to the Sunday school and Chris
tiar Endeavor societies. Without any
body's formulating it into words the
idea is shaping itself in some minds
that if Islam wants a holy war" it
nay get more than it bargains for.
This is the month of the Congre-
Gational National Council, which meets
in New Haven, and the program for
months has been TO center interest in
the reorganization of the denomi-
nations boards. But the sword of the
Turk has changed all that. The atroci-
ties will hold the center of interest at
New Haven. They are almost a family
p'atter with the Congregationalists It
IS their converts who are being slain
by the thousands. Their schools are
being confiscated or destroyed. Their
are being driven from
their homes and put in peril of their
lives. Among the native teachers and
preachers already tortured and killed
ere many widely known in person to
regationalists in this country be-
cause educated here. This meeting OF
the National Council bids fair to be
one of the greatest and most solemn
experiences in the history of the Con-
gregational denomination.
Martyr Blood as Bond of Union
Needless to say. all American de-