New-York tribune., 1922-09-25
Mass Meeting
Calls on It. S.
To Curl, Turk
Federal Council of Churches
Demands Protection for
Minority ReIigiousBodies;
Makes Appeal TO Allies
Condemns Our Aloofness
Urges America Be Present
at Coming Conferences;
Appeals for Relief Funds

Resolutions asking the United States,
the Allies and the League Of Nations
to intervene in the Near East and pre-
vent spread of the Smyrna massacre
were adopted yesterday at o spirited
mass meeting in Synod Hall, Cathe-
dral of st. John the Divine. The meet
ing also demanded that full protec-
tion be given to the minority religious
bodies existing within the Moslem
world that they might not be left to
the unmerciful Turk.
The hall was crowded to the doors
by persons of all creeds, and before
the business of the meeting was half
over it was necessary TO organize
second meeting on the lawn north of
Synod Hall.
The Federal Council of Churches,
representing virtually all evangelical
churches. arranged the meeting for
the purpose of raising relief moneys
for the surviving victims Of the
Smyrna attack. The occasion eventual
~, however, became one of protest,
some Of the speakers blaming the
failure of the United States to enter
the League of Nations as one Of the
reasons why the massacre occurred
DR.. John H. Finley presided With
him on the platform were DR.. James l..
Barton. Of Boston, chairman of the
Near East Relief; DR.. Robert E. Speer,
president Of tho Federal Council OF
Churches; DR.. Harry e. Fosdick, of
the First Presbyterian Church, and DIR.
j. P. McCernbs, Of St. Pauls Chapel.
Resolutions Passed
The resolutions, which are to be for
warded to President Harding and to
the Church in Smyrna, are as follows:
"The tragedy of Smyrna has astound-
ed the world and shocked the sensibil-
ties of all peoples of all creeds and
religions. We, therefore, voicing, as
we believe, the strong conviction of
the philanthropic and loyal people Of
America, make the following appeal:
"First, that an immediate and gen
erous response be made to the need
for food and clothing for the hundreds
of thousands Of absolutely destitute
refugees whose chief hope is in Amer
lea, and that the Near East Relief be
requested to use its organization for
this purpose.
Second, that we entreat the United
States government, the Allies, the
League of Nations, and especially
France, which has entered into treaty
rotations with the Kemalist govern
ment, that measures be taken at once to
prevent future atrocities and afford an
adequate guaranty and protection 10
the minority populations left under the
rule of the Turk.
Third, that, because Of the wide in
terests Of America in the right settle
ment of these questions, the United
States be represented in the forthcom-
ing conference on Near Eastern af-
fairs
Cablegrams also were sent to the
secretary of the League of Nations at
Geneva and to President Poincare of
France asking for protection for the
religious minorities and for the Ar
menian national home.
Not Urging War on Turk
DR.. Speer the first speaker, said that
the meeting was not to propose war
on the Turk, but to express sympathy
for suffering and dying people. The
tune was past when the Mahometans
could be united for a holy war on the
unbeliever, he said
to a permanent home" Dr. Speer con-
| tinued. Justice will not be done in
the world until the scattered flock,
whose only offense is Christ, is gath
cred in an abiding place of its own.
We are here to save our own souls.
We are not of those who would pass
these people by, saying Let them 20
their own damned way''
Dr. Fosdick recalled that 25 900 Chris
tan women in Smyrna had been dis
ttTbuted among the Turkish soldiers.
he said that massacres like that at
smyrna were a matter of religious
convection with the Turks and that
they should be prevented from wrenk-
ilnng death and destruction upon Chris
tians.
DR. Barton. who had spent many
years in tho Near East, said that the
Turks. had begun the systematic kill
ing Of Christians back in the remote
mountain districts during Abdul
Hamid's day; that they had tried to
carry it on in secret, and that now
the smyrna outrage was an omen de-
nance to the world If the Turks made
a successful move on Constantinople
the Russian Bolsheviki, who were in
sympathy with them, could be ex-
pected to strike blow at Christian
eaylhxation on their own account.
Or. W. L. Kinsolving, of St. Georges.
opened the overflow meeting on the
lawn. He was followed by DR. FosS;cl,
ana DIR. Finley Tho +~nor,.o~ Z ~ =