The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-09-04
Christians AT Home in
Closer Touch With
Orient
ARMENIANS
FACE NEW PERIL
Zionists in Palestine
Also i'm a Pitable
Plight
nv THg RELIGIOUS RAMBLER

By The RELIGIOUS RAMBLER
Optimism has not been killed by
the war, for there are some iar-see-
lng Christian leaders who are pre-
dieting. aimee the center Of military
interest has shifted TO Bible lands.
that new spirit OF Christian soil
cnrjty, II not actual church union.
Is being rapidly fostered N Amer
lea and Europe by the focusing OF
Christians attention upon the hdel-
ity and suffering Of branches OF the
church whose very existence was
but dinly known TO most western
church members a year ago.
Back TO the land OF their faiths
beginnings the thoughts OF Chris
tians are being carried by newspaper
cabisgrams and articles in the rehg-
ious press, and, all Unexpectedly.
they are acquiring new knowledge
OF. and n new zeal for, the historic
church which comprehends all elias
alterations Of believers.
The prosecutions which these
Christians OF the near east are noT
suffering at the hands OF the Mos
lens are appealing to the deepest
springs OF universal religious sym
pathy. Protestant and Catholic finc
themselves "in unity, as the
Friends say. with these sufferers for
the cross and the name who belong
10 the ancient HISTORIAN. Gregorian.
coptic and Syriac churches. as well
ma to the Greek orthodox and Roman
Catholic bodies.
Within the past few days private
adyices have come from Americans
Ia Constantinople TO the effect that
the present condition OF Christians
IN certain parts Of the Ottoman en-
pire IL worse than II has ever been
This correspondent declares that the
wholesale removal OF large sections
of Christians from their homes is
being carried out In a way that -
nothing less than nendlsh" "Thc
msssacres OF 1896, and Of 1908, are
pale In comparison with what is now
going on al Van. Mardin and far
Their east"
The writer intima;es that the prac-
tical determination OF the Armen.
iAns Is seriously contemplated N
high quarters For Il must be re-.
membered that all good Moslems are
now supposed 10 be engaged IN a
''holy war" while this "jihad" has
failed IN all It's larger political as
poets. Il Is none the less bearing
fruit in persecution and massacre
OF Christians IN isolated communi
ties. as this column predicted at th'
time.
In all this the effect r. disceruibls
that the blood Of the martyrs" Il
becoming ''the seed OF the church
\ For the peculiarly sensitive religious
mood Of this day il grssping. Al
never before. the real oreness o
!. Christendom's faith and cause. Hu
& manity may look for such manifesto
lions Of worldwide Christian until
a. have not heretofore come into TIL
fmaginations OF any but the mos
advanced thinkers. This unity vii
be sentimental and spiritual. rattle
than ecclesiastical In IL. the Gree
Catholic will share with the RomAl
Catholic. the Greek orDodox wit
ths Protestant. the Coptio with III
Crsgorien, the Syriac with the Cha
dean, the Maronits with tho Nestc
rian, and the churches OF the IN
east with the churches OF Europ
and America.
There Is something dramatic abou
the way In which the tides Of N
time. political and military, az wei
- religious. are turning back 70 tn
q ancient centers OF thought in Bib
lands. II IL as II the race we're bt
ina carried back 20 the scene Of tb
earliest revelations OF one suprem
God. 10 learn anew the lesson q
earth's duty TO heaven.
In the new emergence OF Biol
lsnds as the center OF civilization
latest and profoundest interest man!
earnest Bible students see a clea
fninllment OF scripturai prophecy
and pre.mIilenarians freely predic
n the speedy return OF Christ az Jeru
< salem.
AZ the outbreak OF the wa
sheashtinl persons were startled q
u whnf mfnht he called clash n
Slirties. FOR every nation called upO
t,od a. n He we're national ido
% b. produced 10 emergency a. par
~ the nations military equipment
Zach OF the warring nations cont
IDENTIFY invoked the aid al the Diet
Akainst lts antagonists who, ia turr
u<fn PRAYING presumably to "a
xzucc God Nov there has been