877) National Test of Brotherhood 1916-17 : America's Opportunity To Relieve Suffering In Armenia, Syria, Persia, Palestine & Excerpts By Sukru Aya

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“A National Test of Brotherhood”
Relief to Armenia, Syria, Persia and Palestine

Excerpts by Sukru Server Aya

From: “Christian Advocate”, Sept. 21, 1916
-Christianity is blamed for not averting the catastrophe under whose scourge the world now writhes.-

- At least a million Armenians survivors destitute-
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Dr. Gibbons, Herbert Adams, London 1916 “The Blackest Page in History”
p.3: In the autumn of 1914, the Turks began to mobilize Christians as well as Moslems for the army. For six months in every part of Turkey, they called upon the Armenians for military service. Exemption money was accepted from those who could pay. (Armenians) proved themselves brave soldiers and intelligent and industrious laborers.

p.4: Women in childbirth were urged along by bayonets and whips until the moment of deliverance came and were left to bleed to death. The likely girls were seized for harems, or raped day after day by the guards, until death came as a merciful release. Mothers went crazy threw their children into the river to end their sufferings.
- SHOW Caricature - Read RELIEF Ads - Read 3rd Army Commander Decree

p.7: In the literal sense of the word, 100.000 to 120.000 Armenians arrived at Etchmiadzin stripped even of their outer garments. 35.000 – 40.000 of them were accommodated at Etcmiadzin.

p.11:

PRESENT CONDITIONS:
Armenian population of Turkey, Persia & Syria before WW1 2.000.000
Armenians massacred/died of wounds, disease, exhaustion    850.000
Survivors   about                                        1.150.000

p.24: AMERICA’S RESPONSE THUS FAR
Several independent committees were organized to raise funds
The Federal Council of Churches message in June 1916, “The Opportunity and Test of the American Christianity”.
President Wilson had appointed October 21 and 22 as day of contribution to Armenian and Syrian Relief. (Instructions how to give)

p.27: One dollar will keep a person alive for one month. One hundred dollars will buy a buffalo, $ 150 a yoke and oxen, $ 50 a cow.

Turkish Government pledges cooperation:
- The American Committee for Relief has been able to administer relief steadily
- Now Turkish Government cables the State Department at Washington that relief may be distributed to the indigent inhabitants of Syria through Red Cross and Red Crescent at Beirut jointly. (All ports were blockaded by Allies)

[List of Members]: James L. Barton (Chairman), Henry Morgenthau (Board mb.)

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