THE MISSIONARY

REVIEW OF THE WORLD

THE RESCUE OF ARMENIA
NOVEMBER, 1917
EDITORIAL COMMENT
THE RESCUE OF ARMENIA
OVER a million Armenians have been murdered or have died as a result of the fiendish
policy of the Turkish government. These million men, women and children are beyond
human aid and beyond earthly cruelty who may be rescued by the prompt help of
Christians. Four hundred thousand of these sufferers are orphans, and it is from their
number that the future Armenians parents, teachers, preachers, physicians, farmers,
manufacturers and merchants must be developed. They are the race that has the ability
and the desire to develop the resources and civilization of that important country. They
must not land in a position to help them with the necessary funds of feed the hungry,
cloth the naked and purchase the implements by which they may again come to self-
support. The present situation is worse than can be imagined, and help must be sent soon
if it is to be help at all. Telegrams give the following facts:
"Bread-winners generally have perished through massacre, deportation, or in army.
Practically all now destitute were self-supporting before war."
"Extermination or material diminution of Christian races greatly deplored, as the hope of
future up building lies with this progressive element. American and Swiss missionaries
remain on the field for continuing the work for destitute as in the past. They implore
appropriations."
"Expense, on moderate basis, for repatriation, rebuilding homes, seed, animals, tools,
necessary for self-supporting life, $8,000,000. Present need if for keeping the people
alive. Food clothing, shelter for 1,000,000 most needy people, $1,000,000 per month;
supporting 35,000 orphans, $30,000, minimum.
"People come pleading for work until it seems sometimes as though we must go crazy
from being constantly compelled to refuse them. It is one constant stream of ragged,
forlorn women with drawn faces, begging with tears, and even demanding work."
The Syrian and Armenian Relief Committee (of which Mr. Cleveland H> Dodge is
treasurer), has already forwarded to Turkey, Russia and Persia over $4, 250,000 for relief
work, and are now making an earnest appeal to American Christians to supply
$30,000,000 more needed during the coming six months. The cost of sustaining life in the
different areas varies from $3.00 to $16.00 a month, and this does not include money for
reestablishing the Armenians in their own land. The Russian Government has already
given between $7,000,000 and $10,000,000 for the suffers, but this relief fund has now
been exhausted.
There are forty- nine missionaries of the American Board still in Turkey, in thirteen
centers. Fifty more Americans are in Syria. Through them and through the a Swiss and
other neutrals, the money for the relief can be distributed.
It is impossible to describe the suffering of these people who have been forced to fly from
their homes without any provision for the needs of tomorrow. Many of them are educated
and refined; most of them are women, many are aged or children, and all of them could
have saved themselves by denying Christ to become Moslems. While these hundreds of
thousands have given all their possessions and even their lives for Christ, what have
Christians at home been giving in comparison? Today is the day to minister to Christ
Himself by feeding the hungry, clothing the naked, and visiting the sick who belong to
Him.