Bridgeton pioneer., 1916-10-26

hentlon of the absorption of the Ar
menian Empire in that of Darius in
5l4 b. c. For twenty-six or seven
centuries their history has been as
sociated with that part of the world
lying between the Black and Caspian
Seas and the Caucasus and Taurus
Mountains. Within that territory was
Graded the human race, the home of
our first parents in the Garden of
Eden. 1t is the land of the worlds
new birth after the flood where the
ark of Noah landed upon Mt. Amarat
1t is the land and the people visited
by our Lords disciples who accom-
panied him in the flesh. bearing the
good news of the gospel.
The people of Armenia are among
the most civilized and cultured peo-
Piles of antiquity, belonging to the
Indo-Germanic family From the
second century we find distinct traces
of Christianity which became firmly
established in the third century by
the representatives of Bishop Greg
ory. The Bible was translated into
the Armenian language in the fifth
century. During all these centuries
Armenia has been christian nation
maintaining its christianity in spite
of opposition, persecution and death.
A christianity with which we would
not agree, perhaps, in all particulars,
but yet christianity that has been
marked by allegiance to the Nazarine
in the very stronghold of Islam.
In 1S94-1S95-1S96 thousands were
killed in fanatical persecution that
aroused the indignation of the civil
lized world, but the barbarities of the
present persecution are incompatible
with anything that has gone before.
A population of about 100000 in
August, 1914, has been reduced to
100000 and those survivors home
less and staring in exile. Men have
been driven out of their villages and
slaughtered with bludgeon and axe,
in some instances several of them
ted together so that they might be
killed with one bullet Sea-coast
towns have been decimated by the
simple expedient of taking large par
ties of the Armenian men out in YES
sells under guard, and shortly the
guards returned alone Women and
children were driven in forced
marches under burning sun and chill
of night without food, or drink or
clothing, dying by the hundreds along
the way. Children's brains were
dashed out against the rocks, other
children were cast into the streams
to drown, and if perchance they could
swim they were shot. Infants were
left by the roadside to die o. cast in
to the river. Women and girls en-
dured hardships and experiences
worse than death, and many a moth
er sacrificed her young daughter in
the Euphrates in order to save her
from a worse fate. Denied food and
drink though water was sometimes
at hand, starved to death. These facts
are only suggestions of the untold
and unreliable slHerings of the Ar
menian people during the months of
persecution.
The result of it all is that there are
100000 dead, another 100000
homeless, naked, starving to death. OF
these latter 100000 are children. They
have existed on grass that is now
dried up. they are eating the carrion
and offal-and dying about three ev-
cry minute. Ambassador Henry Nor
genthau says it will take $5,O00,OOO to
rehabilitate this remnant.
The call comes to christian Ameri-
ca and American Christians. 1t is
the call of mothers as they watch
their children starving to death and
dying. 1t is the call of girls with
the promise of life before them if thew
can be saved. 1t is the call of little
boys with pinched and emaciated
faces who are famishing. 1t is the
call of infants fastening to death with
their last wall a cry of hunger
1t is christianity's test, your test
and mine of our christianity. "He
that seeth his brother in need and
shutteth up his compassion against
him, how dwelleth the love of God in
him?' 1t is the call of the Master to
his service. We sometimes say if we
had something definite to do in chris
tian service we would do it. This is
your opportunity. The King is await