The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1921-11-21
HORRORS OF ASIA
MINOR DESCRIBED
BYMR CRATHERN
Former Bennington Pastor Gives
First Hand Impressions
WITH NEAR EAST RELIEF
Appeals to Audience to Support
Efforts in Behalf Of Suf-
fering People

the spacious auditorium including tn,
gallery of the Second Congregations
church to hear Rev c. F. Hill Crath
ern. The Congregational, Baptis,
land Methodist churches had united Ii
this meeting. the Methodist Brother
hood attending in body, and many
of other churches were present.
Mr. Crathern was pastor at Ole
Bennington 1868, and during hi.
nearly two years stay in Bennington
had identified himself very promi
nently and helpfully with community
affairs. The large outpouring OF peo
! Pile was a tribute to 'his, ppularity
and was also the expression of inter.
test in his remarkable and thrilling
experiences in the Near East.
| Mr.. Crathern is living just now in
Mason. n. H., summer home, and
expects In the near future to resume
work in the pastorate. Recently he
has been speaking in the interest OF
Near East Relief, and came to Ben.
nington from an engagement in Rut-
land There is no solicitation OF
funds at this tine but such work of
giving information and putting before
the public the appeal OF the great and
piteous need in Asia Minor as Mr..
Crathern and other speakers are do.
ing, will prepare the way for the Near
East campaign to come early this
winter
The following is an outline of Mr..
Crathern's address;
The 1ith OF November viii be mem
orable in our thoughts for many years
to come as the day when the nation
commemorated the signing of the
,Armistice, and stood with bowed
heads and humble hearts TO pay the
tribute OF silence TO. the unknown
dead.
1t was also the day when we com
memorated the heroism of the bravo
men who fought for democracy and
civilization In the world war and the
day set apart for the converting Of
the Washington Conference 10 con
sider the lin tation OF armaments
and the problems Of the Pacific
The opening of that conference is
now matter of history said Mr..
Crathern. The modesty and majest3
Of President Harding's address OF
welcome made a profound Impression
and convinced the assembly that the
United States government was sin
cere In It's appeal to the conscience
Of the world while the fearless prop
osltions of Secretary Hughes al
though startling to the spirit OF mar
tial nations fell upon the ears of suf
fering humanity like the ringing of
sanctuary bell calling the world to
prayer.
That Conference is still n session
and let us pray God that the great
soldiers and statesmen gathered
around the council table at the capi
toll may be guided by divine wisdom
so that their deliberations may re
suit in World Peace and disarming
mankind OF all malice and hatred
and revenge engendered by war.
Mr.. Crathern then recalled the ear
" days OF the war and the intense
enthusiasm and patriotism of the
people is the just cause esponsed by
the nation and said that we must
manifest the same passionate interest
in the cause OF disarmament and
peace among all the peoples OF the
earth.
He said the nations Of the near
East regard America as the promised
land and look with eager eyes across
the sea to these shores for the heli'
which they sorely need in these days
OF unspeakable distress. Armenian
Koria. Adana, Tarsus, Aleppo, Aintab
and Turks are crying out, Come over
and help u.s.
They hoped and prayed that Amer
lea would take the political mandate
of the Near East and thus put an end
to the incapable governments that
ware bringing ruin and desolatlon
upon the people, but their expecta-
tions were disappointed But a.
though the U. S. government woulo
not take the political mandate the
American people through the , Meal
East Relief Organization were Wiling
10 take the food and clothing man
dates and save millions OF people
from starvation and death.
The speaker then took his audience
on thousand mile journey over the
Bagdad railroad and showed thrinhN
word pictures Of the splendid worS
done BY the Near East Relei N
Koria, Adara, Tarsus, Aleppo, Airtap
Marash and other places. Il
He spoke of the medical work oI
the physicians and nurses in tne
hospitals,. of the industrial pants
where boys aud girls we're trained IN
weaving, rug making, shoe MAKING
sewing, embroidery and many otne5
useful arts and Of the finely equipped
orphanges and schools where thous
ands Of destitute orphans are peing
cared for morally, physically ana
educationally and fitted for a uselui
life in the coming days. He paid
high tribute to the consecrated meu
and women who had turned thelr
hacks upon the comforts Of home IN
their native land to accept the prlva
tlons and hardships of life in the n.
terror of Asia Minor that they might
a.AV1