From poster by Louis Raemaekers iillilillilllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllllllllillllllllllllill^ Am I This Man's American Counterpart ? BUT a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he was moved with compassion, and came to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring on them oil and wine; and he set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow he took out two shillings, and gave them to the host, and said. Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, I, when I come back again, will repay thee. diii{iniiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiii[iiiinniiiiiiii!uuiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii llliilliilillllililllllllllllillillllllllllllllllllllllillllllilllllllllllllllllllil ARMENIA The Word Spells Tragedy Included under the shadow of this historic name are not only Armenians, Syrians and Greeks; but Assyrians, Jews, Maronites, Arabs and others. All have suffered untold agonies during the present war. Hundreds of thousands have died the martyr's death. The remnant is now left to perish from exposure, disease, starvation. America alone holds the key to the situation. Her wealth is abundant, her blessings unmeasured. Her generous heart will not fail to respond to the piteous cry of these descendants of the early races of Bible lands. Read the story in the pages that follow. Join hands with thousands of others to help meet the appall- ing need described. This Handbook is for the use of all who are willing to assist in the splendid life-saving service for which it ap- peals. The facts speak for themselves. 1 Jiiiiiiiiiiiiiii»iiiitiiiinmiii«i;iiiii!iiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiimiiiiiiiii]ii)mini!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!ii]n^ ■lilliillllllllllllllllllillillllilllllllllllllllllllllli Tragic Situation In Western Asia It calls for an immediate display of the Samaritan spirit of the world REPORTS regarding the atrocities, deportations and sufferings among the peoples of Western Asia have been so terrible as almost to challenge belief. They •do stagger the imagination of those who were not eye witnesses. Personal testimony of many who lived through the earlier period and information furnished by American Ambassadors, Consuls, teachers, physicians, missionaries and business men who have recently returned from Tur- key to America confirm the worst. Documentary evi- dence of an overwhelming character is also abundant. 'At a history making conference held in New York in September, 191 7, and participated in by 139 representa- tives of the above classes — the very people who know most about actual conditions in the afflicted territory — the following statements were unanimously agreed to as well within the facts: At least 1,000,000 Armenians and Syrians in Turkey have perished during the past two years from massacre, deportation, exposure, starvation, disease. Over 2,000,000 are now homeless and in dire distress. Thousands of Greeks deported from the sea coast of Asia Minor are "how in danger of starvation. 400,000 of those in need are orphans. Little children scarcely able to feed themselves live absolutely alone in deserted homes. 75,000 children under twelve years of age are starv- ing in Syria and the Lebanon alone. Sufferers in the Lebanon district recently were dying at the rate of 1,000 a day. 500,000 refugees have fled the Turkish dominions and in their temporary homes cry for help. Relief work still goes on in Turkey uninterrupted by break of diplomatic relations. It is freely administered in Persia, the Caucasus and else- where. Distribution is wisely and economically made by absolutely reliable agents. Every dollar contributed goes for relief, none for expenses. $30,000,000 will be required for this winter's needs. $5.00 per month will save a life. 2 iniuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiNiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ ■iiiilililliliillllillillllllliiilllliillllllilllll^ THE WHITE HOUSE WASHINGTON AN tfPEAl TO THE AME3?I0AB PEOPLE. Ona year ago, in oompllanoa with resolutions passsJ Djr the Senate and by the House of Representatives, I appointei days upon whloh the people of the United States might make suoh' contributions as they felt disposed for the aid of the stricken Armenian and Syrian peoples. American diplomfitic and consular representative's and other American residents recently returned from Western Asia, assure me that many thousands of lives were saved from starva- tion by the gifts of the American people last winter. They also bring full assu:-anoe of the continued effective distribution of relief and report thst the suffering and death from exposure and starvation will inevitably be very much greater this winter thai; last unless the survivors oan be helped by further contributions from America. neports Indicate that of orphans alone there are mora than 400,000, besides women and other dependent children reach- ing a total of more than 2,000,000 destitute survivors. ' Tha situation is so distressing as to make a special appeal to tha sympathies of all. In view of the urgent need 1 call again upon the people 01 the United States to make suoh further oontrlbutlons as thay feol disposed. In their sympathy and generosity for the aid of these suffering peoples. Contributions may be maie t^irough tha American Red Cross, Washington. D. 0. or direct to *ha American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, Cleveland H. Dodge treasurer. One ■ adison Avenue, IJew York City. * 29 Ootobor, 1917. 3 iiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii miiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiii iiiNiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiN.iimiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiffliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiaiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^ From Ambassadors, Consuls and Others From Ambassador Elkus. WHEN I left Constantinople, owing to the breaking of diplomatic relations with Turkey, the work of relief carried on by the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief was so thoroughly organized that ar- rangements were easily made for continuing that work in every department, even in the absence of the Embassy and United States Consuls at different points in the country. The work is now being carried on effectively at all of the centers under increasing friendliness on the part of the Turkish officials, and with a need that is constantly growing greater as the winter approaches. A letter from the American representative now in Con- stantinople, dated August 17, 191 7, which has just reached me, confirms this. Signed, Former Ambassador Morgenthau's Testimony. It has been to me a source of great satisfaction to know that the relief work carried on under the direction and with the support of the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief has continued since my withdrawal from Turkey without abatement. From all that I have learned through conference with American representatives who have recently come from Turkey, I am convinced that the work now, even after diplomatic relations have been broken, is still going on' in some districts with increasing force and effectiveness. It is gratifying to learn through those who have recently come from the country that the Turkish officials have promised to cooperate in the matter of caring for the terrible destitution which so widely prevails in the country. Let us hope and pray that they have seen the error of their ways. Signed, New York, October 8, 191 7. 4 I I iiiiiiii I iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiimmiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii niiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiin™™ illiiilllillllllllllllllliillillllllilllllllllllllilllllWII Former Ambassador Straus Writes. Although I have not been in Turkey since Turkey was involved in the war and came under Prussian domination, resulting in nameless atrocities against the non-Moslem populations, I have had conferences with those who are thoroughly familiar with the situation and am gratified to be assured that now since diplomatic relations have been severed, this has not prevented the continuation of the relief work so well established and so successfully con- ducted by Ambassadors Morgenthau and Elkus. I am impressed with the increasing need as the winter comes on. The cold is severe through all the region of Asiatic Turkey north of Syria and if these refugees are not aided by relief from America many more will perish. New York, October 9, 191 7. Consul Leslie A. Davis Goes Into Details I believe there is no place in the world where there is greater and more urgent need of relief at the present time than among the surviving Christian population in the Turkish Empire. I speak from a personal knowledge of the situation, as during the past three years I have been located at Har- poot, and there was brought into close contact with the distress and misery of thousands of homeless and destitute women and children who are absolutely dependent upon charity for their subsistence. For the past two years systematic relief has been regu- larly given by the American missionaries and myself to more than 5,000 Armenians in the vicinity of Harpoot alone. Notwithstanding our efforts, it was impossible to reach all and many hundreds were constantly being turned away owing to insufficient funds, while in scarcely any instance was the relief given adequate for their needs. All that anyone ever received was one small piece of bread a day and in many cases this had to be shared with others. It is to be borne in mind that very few of these people have any way of earning money, as owing to the existing conditions there is no work to be obtained. The majority of these unfortunate women and children are now in such a wretched and helpless condition that they cannot long survive if help is not received. In fact, many did die last winter for lack of food. Present con- ditions are more critical than ever. I am glad that it is still possible for funds to be sent to the Harpoot District, which is the most difficult to reach S iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimniiiiiMU!uniiiii!iiiiiiii!iiiiiiiii!iiiiiiii!iiiii!i!iiiiiiiim iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinmil) llllillllllilllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllilllillllliillllllllllllllllllll^ owing to its being so remote and inaccessible. I happen to know that funds which we sent there after my de- parture in May arrived safely and were distributed as effectively as before, and I have since received several appeals from Harpoot for immediate and regular help. Arrangements have been made by which funds can continue to be sent there without any risk of loss and, if it can be done in this difficult interior district, there can be little doubt about reaching all other parts of Turkey where relief is being distributed. It is my conviction that every dollar which is con- tributed for the relief of the suffering Armenians and other Christian people in the Turkish Empire will reach the persons for whom it is intended and that no part of such funds will fall into the hands of others. Signed, October 3, 191 7. From First Secretary Tarler As First Secretary of the American Embassy at Con- stantinople from before the beginning of the present war and until nearly a month after Turkey broke diplomatic relations with the United States, I have had constant and close relations with the distributors of relief among the Armenian, Syrian and Greek refugees in that country. As Ambassador Elkus was the chairman of the Distrib- uting Committee, I was brought officially into close con- tact with all that work. There is no question as to the extreme need. The dis- tress among the stricken people is beyond any power of words to describe. The present monthly appropriations of the Committee meet this need to a limited degree. Up to the time the Embassy left Constantinople the Turkish officials were generally friendly to the American members of the Relief Committee. Certain reports from the in- terior show that they were not only friendly, but helpful in aiding the relief agents in securing supplies and in coming into contact with the distress. The American missionaries who have had main charge of relief measures, work without pay, and owing to their wide experience, knowledge of the pyeople of the country and their language use the limited funds at their disposal in the most economical manner. Through soup kitchens, industrial relief and personal supervision the greatest efficiency is secured with the most economical use of funds at their disposal. To my certain knowledge relief is being widely and most effectively distributed at the present time with a tendency to enlarge the opportunity of reaching the dis- tressed refugees. As it is impossible to send or bring our written reports or photographs the various relief com- 6 .[i!iiiiniiiii!iii!nii!«iiiiiiiii^ Important distribution Where Millions of Human Beir ROUGHLY, the above map covers the territory in which the events briefly portrayed in this hand- book have taken place. Within this area more than a million men, women and children have lost their lives through massacre, deporta- tion, disease, starvation — all during the last two years. Atrocities have now ceased, but the remnant of the people, including hundreds of thousands of orphans, is in danger of starving to death. Many of these are away from their homes which have 24 The above map is availa points in type like Beirut ngs Are Starving — Western Asia been destroyed. They have no means of livelihood. Their sole dependence is American charity. All the aid we will supply can be applied directly in practically any part of the entire section. The Turks themselves are now encouraging the work of distribution. American missionaries and consuls and representatives of other Christian governments are engaged in this beneficent service. Without remuneration, they are tire- less and efficient. Every dollar contributed here is used for relief there. All expenses are met without draft upon contributions, lable on paper 22 x 34 inches. 2S J Who Are These Sufferers? The Armenians. THE Armenians are of Latin origin. About 1300 B. C. they left their original home in Thrace, South- eastern Europe, crossed the Bosphorus into Bythinia, pushed easterly into Cappadocia, and in the eighth cen- tury B. C. reached Ararat, where they founded the State of Armenia. Under Tigranes the Great, about the first century B. C, Armenia attained the height of her glory and power. Her territory extended from the Caspian to the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, from the western Caucasus to the Mesopotamran plains, with an area ex- ceeding 500,000 square miles and a population of 25,000,000. Armenia was the first nation to embrace Christianity as a national religion. Apostles Thaddeus and Bartholo- mew preached the gospel there. The Armenian Church has had 137 Pontiffs in unbroken succession, whose seat, since 309, with occasional transfers elsewhere has been at Etchmiadzin, the Great Monastery in Russian Ar- menia. There were in 1913 4,500,000 Armenians the world over. Of these about 200,000 were communicants of the Church of Rome. Since 1847 about 100,000 have joined Protestant denominations, as a result of the work of American missionaries, and the remainder were the ad- herents of the Apostolic Christian Church of Armenia. To-day this church has 100 bishops and archbishops, about 10,000 ecclesiastics of lower rank and 3,909 parishes. Following her conversion to Christianity, Armenia was in a continual death grapple with Zoroastrian Persia and the ever surging hordes of barbarians from the wilds of Asia. Armenia was the highway upon which crossed and recrossed the alien enemies of civilization — the Moslem Arab, Mongol, Tartar and Turk. The Ar- menians, isolated and separated from the rest of civiliza- tion, represented the West in the East and fought its first battles. Finally exhausted by the swelling tide of the pagan and Moslem forces, they retreated westerly and in 1080 set up the kingdom of Lesser Armenia, along the coast of the Mediterranean. Here they became the active allies of the Crusaders. But with the collapse of that unfortunate movement they fell a prey to the wrath and vengeance of the Mameluke Sultan of Egypt. King Leon VI, after eight months' defense of Sis, his capital, laid down his arms in May, 1375, and thus ended the independence of Armenia. Armenia was eventually di- vided between Turkey, Russia and Persia. Of the esti- mated 4,500,000 Armenians (in 1913), 2,300,000 lived 26 mimrainiiiimiiiiiiiiimiraiiiiiiii 1 iiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiininii in Turkey, about 1,500,000 in Russian Armenia, and the remainder were scattered over the world. In Turkey, despite the oppressive and obstructive rule, the Armenians have been one of the principal construc- tive forces and have, together with the Greeks and the Syrians, enabled the Turk to satisfy his manifold wants. The Turkish printing press, the Turkish grammar and the Turkish theater owe their origin to the initiative of the Armenian. General Sherif Pasha, the former Turkish ambassador at Stockholm, made the following statement as recently as October, 1915: If there is a race which has been closely connected with the Turk by its fidelity, by its services to the country, by the states- men and functionaries of talent it has furnished, by the intelligence which it has manifested in all domains — commerce, industry, science, and the arts — it is certainly the Armenian. The Syrians. Syria is a narrow strip of land extending from the Tauric Mountains in the north to the Sinaitic Peninsula in the south, the Mediterranean Sea on the west and the desert on the east. It occupies a strategic position in the map of the old world, being a connecting link, a bridge, as it were, between Europe, Asia and Africa. Syria is the birthplace of two Monotheistic religions — Judaism and Christianity, and is closely related to the birth and development of a third, Mohammedanism. The country has five provinces: Aleppo, one of whose cities is Antioch; Damascus, whose capital by the same name is reputed to be the oldest city in the world; the Lebanon, famous for its cedar trees; Beirut, whose capital by the same name is the sea port of Syria; and Jeru- salem. The Syrians are not Assyrians. The latter term is sometimes abbreviated into Syrians; but the Assyrians are Nestorians living in Mesopotamia, Kurdistan and northwestern Persia. They are in no way related to the modern Syrians on the eastern shore of the Mediter- ranean Sea. Neither are the Syrians Arabs. The confusion on this matter has arisen because they speak Arabic, but their adoption of the Arabic tongue is a comparatively recent event in their history, subsequent to the invasion of the country by the Arabs in the seventh century. Most of the Syrian Moslems are of Arabian stock and number about two millions. The Christians, numbering more than one million, have suffered most in the terrible events of the past two years. Who, then, are the Syrians? They are a mixed Semitic race, the remnant of the Phoenicians who were the first to discover the laws of navigation and who disseminated the alphabet. They are the descendants of the Aramaeans who transmitted Greek culture and philosophy to the Orient, and whose language Christ used as a mother 27 uniiiimnniiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiii'iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii illlliilllillllliilililliillilllillilillllllllliillilllillilllll^ tongue. Some Syrians rightly trace their origin to the Arabs, who in the middle ages were the only bearers of the torch of civilization; and others to the European crusaders, many of whom settled in the country after the eclipse of their kingdom. Aside from their religious contribution to the civiliza- tion of the world, the Syrians have other things to their credit. More than one of them succeeded in capturing the Roman crown and installing himself in the imperial chair of the Caesars. Two of the main contributors to the Justinian Code of Laws were professors at Beirut. The founders of Neo-Platonism were from Palestine. One of the tutors of Tiberius Caesar was a Syrian. The great engineer who planned Trajan's palace and the bridge over which he crossed the Danube was from Damascus. A Syrian, by discovering "Greek Fire," saved Constantinople to the Christian world. Eusebius, the "father of ecclesiastical history," was a Syrian, and so was Justin the Martyr. The Greeks. The Greeks in Turkey are confined mostly to the shores of Asia' Minor and the adjacent islands. They are direct descendants of the Greeks who held sway in Constantinople until its capture by the Mohammedans in 1453. They number in Turkey about five millions, speak Greek and profess Orthodox Christianity. The Greek element is one of the most progressive elements in Turkey and controls the finances of the empire. They have suffered the loss of all things through deportation and are counted among the needy ones of Turkey. The Assyrians. The Assyrian Christians inhabit a portion of the terri- tory known to ancient history as Assyria, including a part of Mesopotamia, Kurdistan and northwestern Persia. They are also sometimes designated as Nestorians. Syriac is their mother tongue. Some of them are under Turkish rule; others under Persian rule. They number about 140,000 persons. It was Nestorian or Assyrian missionaries who carried the gospel of Christ to Arabia, India and China. The Occident is indebted to this church for preserving the divine message and trans- mitting it to the modern world. The Jews. The historical status of the Jews and their contributions to the civilization are well known. A great many of the inhabitants of Palestine in Syria are Jewish and depend upon American aid, for they have suffered quite as severely during the present war as the other peoples of Western Asia. In the United States, there are several organizations formed by Jews for the relief of their race. Representatives of the Armenian-Syrian Committee, of course, render such help as they can. 28 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii:iiiiii!iiiiii;iiii]!i;iiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHi{i{n»iiiiiiiiiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiil ilillilliliilillillllllllllllilllilillllilllilllilfflllllllllllllllllllllilllilliliil^^^ Sunday School War Council Acts Recommends That All Sunday Schools Cooperate to Relieve Distress. Christmas Time Is Suggested. The Vote of the Council at Cleveland, Ohio, 4 tnnMIAT the Sunday School War Council recommend I to the Sunday schools of America that the present situation and needs in Bible Lands be presented as effectively as possible to all Sunday schools, and that an offering or subscription for Armenian and Syrian relief be taken in the Sunday schools at Christmas time or at other early appropriate date. "That we recommend that suitable literature ana sup- plementary lessons be prepared by the American Com- mittee for Armenian and Syrian Relief for the use of such Sunday schools as may care to use them in increasing the educational and spiritual significance of the offering, and that the Sunday School War Council offer our help in distributing the same." jVote— The Sunday School War Council represents the Sunday School Council of Evangelical Denominations and the Interna- tional Sunday School Association. Official Statement by the Covmcil. THE Sunday schools of America have been asked to raise at least $1,000,000 for the relief of the destitute Christians of Armenia, Syria and other Bible Lands. The Sunday School War Council, representing through the denominational boards and the International Sunday School Association practically all of the Sunday schools of North America, most heartily endorses this appeal and earnestly urges that Christmas Sunday, or such other Sunday as may be more convenient, be set apart in every Sunday school in America for the presentation of the cause of Armenian and Syrian Relief and an offering be made for this most worthy cause. It is doubtful if the world has ever witnessed a more pitiful and compelling appeal than that which comes to us at this time from these destitute Christians of the Near East. Through the misfortune of war more than two millions pf these unfortunate people have been driven from their homes or otherwise deprived of their propeity and income, until they are entirely dependent upon the charity of others for their sustenance. Among those who suffer are 400,000 children w'hose parents have been massacred or who have died from hunger and exposure. The only way that the lives of these little ones can be saved is by Americans providing the money necessary to purchase food, clothing and shelter for them. September 20, 1917. 29 nni 1 1 » raimii ■IIIIIIHIlllllllllllillllliilllllllllillllillllllllllilillllllllllilllllllllllli Hundreds of these crushed and broken people are dying daily for lack of proper nourishment and care, and thou- sands will die unless provision is made for their relief. Five dollars will sustain a life for thirty days and $60.00 for an entire year. The Sunday schools of America out of their abundance simply must come to the relief of our destitute fellow Christians across the seas. To fail to do our full duty in this hour of a helpless people's hopeless need, would be to inflict a fresh wound upon the body of Him whose birth we celebrate at the Christ- mas time. May God help America to save Armenia and Syria! Edgar Blake, Chairman John L. Alexander, Secretary Sunday School War Council of North America. Personnel of the Executive Committee. Sunday School War Council. In pursuance of the above action the following persons have been appointed to serve as an Executive Committee of The Sunday School War Council to act in immediate cooperation with the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief: Edgar Blake John L. Alexander A. M. Locker W. C. Pearce E. B. Chappell William H. Danf orth Guy C. Lamson R. E, Magill F. W. Ramsey C. C. Stoll I. J. Van Ness Sidney A. Weston Robert M. Hopkins John M. Somerdyke Lester Bradner From a Relief Worker in Syria. Jamal Pasha was not in favor of the massacres which took place. There were no real massacres in his district. I think probably he did countenance the restricting of the food supplies for Syria. He thus had to sign the death warrants for all the Arabs, Moslems and Christians in Beirut. We gave relief to about 15,000 in the mountains and Beirut District. The people bake their bread in loaves which weigh about one and a half pounds. Every indi- vidual gets a quarter of a loaf a day. Fifteen thousand people were receiving this ration. They had to make breakfast, dinner and supper of it. It was not much but it kept them from starvation. The work was organized in Brumali by Arthur B. Dray, a British subject, who received his medical train- ing" (he is a dentist) in America. The work in Brumali was so organized that only women and children were to receive food. The men were not to receive any. The government said the men would be supported if they vol- unteered for the army. Since it was impossible to get wagons, the men carried the grain on their backs from the mill to the kitchens. They received no money re- muneration, only one loaf, the others received food only. 30 iiiniiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiniiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinniiiiiioiiinninniiiu iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiii Definite Suggestions for Sunday Schools Prepared by the Executive Committee of the Sunday School War Council. Unparalleled Opportunity for Service \ S you have read on the previous pages there are in Armenia and Syria, as nearly as can be estimated, 2,500,000 homeless, destitute people. $30,000,000 will be needed to keep these people from starvation during the coming winter. This allows but a pittance of less than seven cents per day per capita for food, shelter and all life's necessities. It is hoped that the contributions from the Sunday schools of America will be not less than $1,000,000. If every school will give its share this sum can easily be raised. It is earnestly hoped by those who prepared this ma- terial that directors of religious education, Sunday school superintendents and leaders will appreciate the twofold opportunity which is offered in this material in addition to the greatest consideration of the human lives to be saved. Here is a new means of awakening a fresh interest in Bible Lands. The material offered can also be used to furnish a fall or winter program of graded missionary instruction. Character will be devel- oped through service. A strong appeal will be found for every member of the school, urging sacrifice for others during this world crisis. (1) Send for Sunday School Material. Address your own denominational Sunday school board or the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, One Madison Avenue, New York City. (2) Acquaint your leaders, Sunday school teach- ers and heads of departments with the need of these people and the suggested program for their relief. (3) Adapt this program to your conditions. Keep in mind that every member of your school must be given some idea of the terrible suffering before help is asked. (4) Gather contributions so that they may reach the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Re- lief in New York not later than January 9, 19 18. Funds cabled on that day will reach the Armenians and Syrians by January 19, which by the Georgian Calendar is Christmas Day. Write NOW to your denominational Sunday school board, or to the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, One Madison Avenue, New York, asking Steps to Be Taken How to Begin 31 II iliilillllli D I I iiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiii]!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiniiiiiiinii]n^ ■■raiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiraiiiiiiiiffliiiiiiiiBiiiiiiiM them to send you copies of all material to be used in the Sunday school. Note — In those denominations where by denominational agree- ment certain boards have first claim on Thanksgiving or Christ- mas -offerings, it is suggested that some other Sunday as early as practicable be used for this purpose. Outline of Sunday School Material I. "The Call of the Dying Armenians and Syrians to the Sunday Schools of America" THIS is a four-page leaflet including, (i) Facts con- erning the present condition in the Near East, (2) A suggested educational program looking toward an ap- peal for the sufferers. Two plans are suggested, the first provides for a four- Sunday educational program culminating in the offering on Christmas Sunday. The second suggests a simple brief study of the boys and girls of Bible Lands for use on a. convenient Sunday preceding Christmas. All material needed to carry out these programs will be furnished free upon request by writing to your denominational Sunday school board or to the American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief. 1. The Four-Sunday Educational Program. It is recommended that wherever possible ten minutes be given on each of the first three Sundays in December to be followed by a full hour's program on the Sunday preceding Christmas. For this day a special order of service has been prepared (Described on page 34), which is appropriate for the Christmas season and provides for a gathering of the offerings. As will be seen froni the following outline the material for the first three Sundays is made up of Bible stories compared with hap- penings of recent months. First Sunday: "The Land of Noah's Descendants," with a picture of the life in that country before the outbreak of the war. Second Sunday: "An Ancient and a Modern Exile": stories of Babylonia and Assyria, describing deportations which took place under those empires, and stories of modern Syrians, their sufferings and present numbers. Third Sunday: "Stories of Modern Heroes of the Cross" including, (i) graphic sketches of the life of boys and girls in these Bible Lands, (2) brief accounts of the de- portations, not dwelling too much upon gruesome details of physical suffering, but bringing out more especially the deeper sorrow and wretchedness, (3) stories of hero- ism, self-sacrifice and generosity of natives, missionaries and others in work of relief. IIIIIIIHIIIII 32 mimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiniininnniiiiiiiiuiiiiiiilliri Illlllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllli Distribution of envelopes or collection boxes to indi- viduals, classes and families should be made on this Sunday. Fourth Sunday: A special order of service based on ''The Parable of the Good Samaritan" (page 34). 2. The One-Sunday Program. This program will be sent free upon request. It is entitled, "Boys and Girls of Bible Lands." Another suggestion is that selected features of the four- Sunday program be used on a. single Sunday. 11. "A Story That Must Be Told" This four-page leaflet includes material for each division of the Sunday school: 1. A story for children, telling of the children's needs in Armenia and Syria. In connection with this appeal for the elementary division of the school an attractive "Giving-Up Stamp Book" has been provided so that the child can paste a stamp in the book for every nickel which is placed in the gift box. These stamps are of different colors, and represent things to eat, things to drink, things to wear, amusements and money earned or received as a gift. An attractive button will be given to each one who helps to fill a stamp book. 2. For the young people of the school the sug- gestion has been made that two stories be told by per- sons dressed in Syrian costume: (i) "Syria of Long Ago." The basis for this story which may be told by either a young woman or a young man is "The Song of Our Syrian Guest," by William Allen Knight (Pilgrim Press, twenty-five cents). Careful suggestions as to the telling of this story will be found in the leaflet. (2) "Syria of Today: My Escape." This is a true story of a young Armenian boy (seventeen years old) whose father was a college professor and who has recently succeeded in reaching America. The story of the sufferings of his family has been duplicated in many Armenian families. 3. Adult classes, departments or groups of friends are urged to form local cooperating committees. Special information on this phase of the work will be found, on page 35- This pamphlet also tells how the above groups may render definite help, as follows: ( 1 ) Individual or group contributions — of any sum. (2) Regular monthly contributions for any num- ber of months, or until cancelled by giver. Desired to provide for regularly recurring daily needs. (3) Provision for one or more orphans — $5.00 each per month. It is hoped that many classes, depart- ments, schools, groups of friends or families will assume the support of one or more orphans for as many months as possible. 33 itti|i|iiiiiiiiHUiHiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiii!iiiniiiiiiii»iiiiiiiiininii«iKii!:iiiiiiniii{:i:Hiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniii^ liiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiraiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii (4) Armenian families supported by American fami- lies — average of seventeen cents per capita per day. III. The Service for Christmas Sunday This service has been especially prepared to combine the spirit of Christmas with the offering of the Sunday schools of America for the starving Armenians and Syrians. It is called "Good Samaritans Today." The service is based on Christ's story of the Good Samaritan and includes: (i) Responsive reading from the Bible of the Parable of the Good Samaritan; (2) A modern interpretation of this story. (If feasible this part of the program may be given in costume.) (3) An opportunity for the response of the School and audience to the challenge that Armenia and Syria extend to us today TO BE GOOD SAMARITANS. IV. Complete List of Sunday School Material 1. "The Call of the Dying Armenians and Syrians to the Sunday Schools of America." General outline of plans. 2. "A Story That Must Be Told." Material for chil- dren, young people and adults. 3. "Good Samaritans Today." A 'Christmas service. Program needed by all participating and the audi- ence. Twelve copies of supplement with each order. 4. Sunday School Manual. Outline of material, meth- ods, etc., for superintendent or director. 5. "Boys and Girls of Bible Lands." See description of No. I above. 6. "Stories from Real Life." A series of leaflets. 7. "Sixteen Striking Scenes." Pictures similar to the Perry Pictures. Size 6 by 8 inches. Ten cents set. 8. College Leaflet. 9. Adoption Forms. To be used by schools, classes or individuals assuming financial responsibility for a child. (The use of these forms will not, of course, constitute a legal adoption.) 10. Christmas Blank Checks. One for each child. 11. Gift Boxes and Envelopes. For school and home. 12. Giving-up Stamp Book. To be used with Gift Boxes in elementary division. 13. Posters to hang up in the school room: "Ten Cents " "Food," "2>^ Million Starving," "President Wilson's Appeal." 14. "Where Millions of Human Beings Are Starving." Map of Bible Lands, A. D. 1917. Paper, 22 x 34 inches. For further information regarding Sunday school work address American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, Sunday School War Council, One Madison Avenue, New York. 34 ffliinniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiniiimniimiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiliiDiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiimiiiiimiim Local Organization and Methods of Work A Life and Death Responsibility. THE task is colossal. Hundreds of thousands of lives are at stake. Organization is imperative. We can save them, but we cannot do it with leisure moments and spare pennies. The present day crisis demands personal sacrifice on an heroic scale. Some persons or group of persons in every city and community can have the privilege of saving a considerable number of these helpless women and children. Do we dare turn our backs on such an opportunity and let them starve? Committee Organization. In many cities committees were organized for the Armenian and Syrian Relief Days in 1916. Such com- mittees should at this time reorganize or renew their efforts, possibly adding new members to grapple with the larger opportunity, and immediately launch an ag- gressive campaign along lines suggested in this booklet. In cities and communities having no committee some one person as a rule must accept the responsibility, taking the initiative and with the cooperation of the mayor, pastors and other philanthropic citizens, organize a committee quickly for effective work before the rav- ages of winter have put these dying people beyond our power to help. The local committee should include some of the best- known public-spirited men of the city and should be representative of the leading religious, commercial, social and professional interests of the community. The following should be urged to participate: the mayor of the city, the superintendent of education, the chairman or a representative of the chamber of com- merce and prominent philanthropic and religious work- ers, including Protestants, Roman Catholics and Jews. But if it is impracticable to secure the leadership of those named, have A COMMITTEE, even though it be small and self-constituted, that can work quickly and effectively in this emergent life-saving service. Executive Secretary. In the larger towns and cities an executive secretary will be needed and should give his entire time to the details of the work. No business or government enter- prise would dream of grappling with a problem of this magnitude with only volunteer or part-time workers. The task cannot be accomplished that way. The biggest and highest salaried men in America today are giving up their positions, their salaries and their profits in order to give to the government irt this time of crisis their un- divided personal service either for nominal stipends or 35 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii ■liillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll for no salary whatsoever. Every community has in it some business man, pastor, assistant pastor, Sunday school superintendent or other good executive who cannot go to the trenches but who is equally willing to pay the price of life and do his bit for his fellowmen. Here is such a person's opportunity to organize a campaign that will save scores, perhaps hundreds, of lives. Denominational boards are releasing their more im- portant head secretaries to assist in the national office of this campaign. May not churches and Sunday schools likewise release leading pastors, assistant pastors, and Sunday school superintendents; and business houses re- lease their best executives and organizers. Do we not have here an acid test of our Christianity? Are we will- ing to sacrifice some of our local church leadership and business interests in order that thousands of our fellow- men and co-religionists may be saved from death. If not, would it not be well to tear from our Bibles the story of the Good Samaritan and a large part of the New Testament? "HE THAT KNOWETH TO DO GOOD AND DOETH IT NOT TO THAT MAN IT IS SIN." Local Expenses. Frequently, perhaps usually, the ideal man or woman for full-time executive leadership in this work will be one who must have some financial remuneration to meet necessary personal obligations. It is hoped and be-, lieved that in every city some one or more persons can be found who will quickly see that the best contribution they can make to Armenian and Syrian Relief and to the saving of lives will be by underwriting the expense of an effective local campaign. Every dollar thus con- tributed for publicity "id promotion expenses should send many dollars to buy bread for the starving. To provide funds for the local expenses should be esteemed a special privilege yielding unusually large returns in the form of relief. If, however, it is impracticable quickly to discover some one to contribute the expense fund, the necessary local expense may, by order of the local committee, be met from general contributions, the net proceeds of the cam- paign being forwarded to New York for transmission to the relief fields. The National Committee pledges itself to send direct for the work of relief a hundred cents of every dollar that reaches New York. All the expense of the National Committee are met privately. Regardless of how the local expenses are provided, there must be expense. Even the United States Gov- ernment has to spend $3,000,000 in the work of selling its liberty bonds, gilt edge though the bonds are. It costs to place facts before the people. The local committee that fails to incur expense for; publicity, postage, station- ery, etc., will almost inevitably fail to secure from its 36 irailllIHl«nill!llilllllllllllllllllllll!IIIIIllIIIlIlIllIlllllIllllim«ll!!ll!!l!llllllilIIII[t111ffiII«IIIIlill]^^ IlillllliilllliUiiiilillllillllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllll citizens a response in any degree commensurate with the colossal demand for bread with which to save the innocent non-combatants of Bible Lands. Publicity. Get the facts before the people. For this purpose it will frequently be desirable to appoint a sub-committee or secretary -on publicity to disseminate information con- tinuously through the press, pulpit and printed bulletins. One accustomed to prepare material for the press should have charge of this work or at least be on the committee. Special suggestions will be provided upon request by the publicity secretary of the National Committee. Among the methods used by the publicity committee should be: (1) Preparation of special letters and articles for the local daily and weekly papers by pastors and mem- bers of the local committee from material found in this pamphlet and other general publications. (2) Publication in the local press of the cablegrams and news bulletins sent out by the National Committee. (3) Distribution of posters (furnished by the Na- tional Committee) in all railway stations, hotels, public bulletin boards, churches and Sunday schools throughout the community. (4) Placing of posters in street cars. (5) Circulation of leaflet literature in the churches and in the homes. (6) Employment of church programs, bulletins and periodicals. ■ (7) Interviewing the editors. Discover whether they are receiving and using material sent from the New York office. Duplicates of this material will be sent to local committees if requested. (8) Sending communications to the editors and asking friends to write letters that can be published. (9) Asking business firms to devote a portion of their advertising space for one or more days to this cause. (10) Asking local papers to open a relief fund of their own to which citizens will be invited to send contribu- tions, the local papers making daily reports of receipts and turning them over to the local treasurer at the close of the campaign. (11) Requesting booksellers to display in windows books on Armenia and Syria and have the public library feature books on this subject. The posters (11 x 14) furnished by the committee can be displayed in connec- tion with such exhibits. Large Gifts. Too much emphasis cannot be laid upon the need for effort to secure large gifts in some degree proportionate to the terrible need. Collections and small contributions are important, both financially and spiritually. But in every city there are prosperous, well to do individuals who should be approached personally by the committee 37 i!)iiiiiiiH HIM H iiiiiii»iiiii;,;ai,;;;;iti,.K . - ,K;Q!i«iini!i«;;Hii»inii«i(iiiiiiinii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii«iiiiiii!^ IHIIIIIIIIililllillllllllllllillllllllilliillliillllllllllllllilllli and asked to give one thousand, five thousand, ten thou- sand dollars or more out of their abundance to relieve Armenian and Syrian distress. One individual has con- tributed over $100,000, another $90,000, another $25,000. Such contributions purchase more bread, flour, blankets and medicines and save more lives than many small col- lections, important as small collections are. (1) Secure a list of the more prosperous citizens of the community, including the names of persons who recently gave large sums for supplementary meals for Belgian children. Since the United States and other governments have provided funds with which to care for Belgian relief, these individuals will in many in- stances be willing to have these contributions given to buy, not supplementary meals, but the first crust of bread with which to sustain life among Armenians, Syr- ians and Greeks of Asia. (2) Prepare a larger list of smaller contributors to whom a letter should go over the names of influential members of the local committee asking them to send contributions to the local treasurer. Leaflets for en- closure in such solicitation will be sent upon request. Social, telephone and business directories will furnish the basis of these lists if more select lists are not available. (3) The important point is to get the work started promptly before large numbers of these unfortunate peo- ple have been taken by death beyond our power to help. Someone in each city and community must take the lead and take it at personal sacrifice. Public Meetings. Public meetings should not be depended upon as a major resource financially. They will be of value chiefly as an occasion for giving publicity to the facts both from the platform and through the press. From the standpoint of publicity and financial returns it is of the utmost importance that some relatively large sub- scriptions be secured quietly by personal work preceding the meeting, to be announced at the psychological mo- ment during the meeting. By way of illustration, a mass meeting in New York last spring, in spite of the worst rainstorm of the year, yielded an offering of more than $120,000. This $120,000 offering was the result of a carefully organized canvass for large gifts. Fully $100,000 of the $120,000 was pledged in advance, but not announced until the time of the meeting. But without the mass meeting as an immediate objective introducing the time element, the contributors of the $100,000 could not have been brought to the decision point, and without the $100,000 for in- spiration, the smaller contributors in the meeting would not have given the additional $20,000. Moreover had the subscriptions not been secured in advance most of the $100,000 offering would have been 38 ■iiiiiiiiiniiiiiniiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiin^^^^^^^ ■liilllllllliilllllliillliliiiiiililillllllllllllllllllll^ lost, since the subscribers themselves were by rainstorm and other causes detained from the meeting. If practicable get some well-known citizens to agree to duplicate all that is raised in the mass meeting up to a certain generous maximum or secure a number of friends to con-tribute a certain percentage of all that is raised. In every case use the mass meeting for pub- licity even more than as a financial asset, planning to follow the publicity of the meeting with an equally well- organized personal canvass and correspondence campaign. Continuous- Help. Secure both from individuals and organizations as many pledges as possible on a monthly basis. The need will be continuous until these exiles can be returned to their homes and are made self-supporting. Subscriptions from Large Organizations. Arrange for the canvass of department stores, fac- tories or other large industrial corporations, subscriptions to be collected through the cashier in connection with the weekly or monthly payroll. Gifts to Definite Objects. It is suggested that individuals adopt orphans in Western Asia at an expense of $60.00 per year per child; forms of adoption papers (not legally binding) will be furnished upon application. Speakers' Bureau. A speakers' bureau should be organized to see that the situation in Bible Lands is presented before all churches, Sunday schools, young people's societies. Young Men's Christian Associations, Young Women's Christian Associations, lodges, clubs and other organizations. The speakers' bureau should get the consent of all the more popular speakers in the city to address meetings arranged for them. Copies of available literature, cable- grams, reports, etc., should be placed in their hands as a basis for their addresses. More important than the speeches, however, from the standpoint of giving bread to the hungry, is the financial response. Again, as in the larger meetings, substantial advance subscriptions should, if possible, be in hand for announcement at the psychological moment to stimulate much larger gifts than would otherwise come from the general appeal. Women's Organizations. Secure the energetic cooperation of women's clubs or other organizations of women. The indescribable suffer- ing and destitution of hundreds of thousands of women and children should appeal to the deepest sympathy of the womanhood and childhood as well as the manhood of America. Last year in certain cities the women or- ganized a personal canvass of every house in the city. 39 miiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!imiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiii[iiiiiiiii[iii!iiiiiiiiii Ill iiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiininniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii illllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllliilillillillllliillillllilllillllllllllllll^ State and County Organization. The National Committee must depend chiefly upon committees in large cities to reach out and organize work in the surrounding towns of the state, and upon county seat committees to organize work in other towns. Any local committee able and willing to do this exten- sion work will be provided with the names and corre- spondence of all persons from their territory now recorded in the central office and will be given every possible aid from the national office for the development of an ef- fective state and county organization. Here again is an opportunity for some man unable to go to the trenches to do his bit. Armenian-Syrian-Greek Parade. Especially in cities where there are a considerable number of Armenian, Syrian and Greek residents, an interesting street parade should be arranged on the Sat- urday preceding the Sunday when subscriptions are re- ceived in the churches. This parade should be partici- pated in by representatives of the churches and Sunday schools, as well as the Armenians, Syrians and Greeks themselves. A demonstration of this kind will have great educational and advertising value, acquainting Americans with the little known history and the achievements of these great races, and with their present destitution and needs. It will also prepare the citizens to make a better response in the financial solicitation that will follow. In cities where there are no Armenian, Syrian or Greek residents, an effective street demonstration can neverthe- less be organized, calling the attention of citizens to the urgent need and preparing them for financial co- operation. T'he accompanying picture of a float used in Seattle, Washington, is but suggestive of many that could be arranged, with other placards and banners setting forth outstanding historical facts and present needs. Recognizing our national indebtedness to France, what shall we not say of the indebtedness of the Christian Church to these Bible Lands? Street Display in Seattle. 40 iiiiiiiiiimiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii!iiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiaiiii!ii!iiiiiiiiii!!iini![iinii[|[iii«iiiiiiiii;iiiiiiiiiiii!^^ ■iiilffllilllllllliilllllliilllillllllEllllillllllllllllllllliiillllllliill^ Other Plans Successfully Used Last Year. "Tag Days." Quite generally throughout the United States last year the Saturday of Armenian and Syrian Relief Days was observed as "Tag Day." The small change offerings taken in the streets of New York alone amounted to nearly $20,000 and many cities proportion- ately did better than New York. The committee is prepared to supply suitable collection boxes and banners for use of committees who are organizing "Tag Days." Stereopticon Slides in Theatres. Pittsburgh last year used twenty sets of stereopticon slides in twenty theatres of the city, in connection with the regular theatre programs. A limited number of sets of these slides can be provided by the National Committee. Slides in Churches. In Washington Street Congre- gational Church of Toledo, Ohio, as well as in many other churches, a set of Armenian relief slides was used in connection with the regular Sunday evening service. Proclamations. Scores of cities secured a proclama- tions from their mayor and also from the governor of the state, supplementing the President's proclamation, thereby securing increased publicity and more definite local support in their work. Street Car Signs. Brooklyn had 3,200 street car placards printed and by permission of the management, placed in all the street cars of the city. Several other cities did likewise. Suitable placards will be provided from New York if desired. Self-Denial Week. In another city all school chil- dren and others were asked to observe "Self-Denial Week," giving the proceeds of their self-denial to buy food for the starving. On Saturday of Relief Days, all the school children in a body marched through the streets with relief envelopes, presenting their offerings to the committee. A House to House Canvass was conducted by the women's clubs of Brattleboro, Vermont. Boy Scouts and Camp-Fire Girls. Washington, D. C, enlisted the service of the Boy Scouts. The Camp- Fire Girls and similar organizations should likewise be interested in this humanitarian life-saving service. Supplement to Newspapers. In Mitchell, South Dakota, and many other cities, a leaflet similar to the one called "Now or Never" was delivered as a supple- ment with all daily papers. Salvation Army. One hundred and fifty Salvation Army officers, soldiers and cadets, with their regular collection kettles, but with Armenian and Syrian relief banners were detailed by the New York City Salvation Army Post to assist at all principal street corners in receiving offerings for Armenian and Syrian Relief. Girl Collectors. The Washington, D. C, Herald of October 9 announced that: "Several hundred of the most attractive girls in the Capital will assist in the collection 41 'IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII[!ll[IIIIIIMIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIin!lll)IIIIIIIIIIIIIIUIII^ illlllllllllllllliilllllilllilllllllllllllllilllllllllil^ of funds for Armenian-Syrian war sufferers. The appeal for volunteers has been made by a committee of promi- nent citizens, representing the leading churches of the city. The girls will be organized into an effective work- ing unit by the Women's Auxiliary Committee. They will cover all principal traffic centres, department stores, theatres, government buildings, banks and hotels." Leaflet Distribution. In Meriden, Connecticut, the public school teachers gave to their pupils copies of the leaflet similar to "Now or Never" to be taken home to parents in preparation for the offering to follow. Boxes in Banks and Hotels. In New York, the ladies auxiliary committee placed collection boxes in every hotel and bank in the city. A Typical Local Organization The following memoranda concerning the New York City organization is given for the guidance of committees not yet fully organized, although it is recognized that the New York organization is in no way superior to that which has already been effected in other cities. The mayor of the city, John Purroy Mitchel, has accepted the honorary chairmanship of the committee, with Mr. Frank A. Home, president of one of the largest business enterprises in the United States, bank director, etc., as acting chairman. Twenty thousand dollars has been pledged by one man to meet the necessary local expenses of an effective cam- paign for reaching New York citizens. This pledge for local expenses is independent of any National Com- mittee expenses and is not from the same individual. A suite of offices has been opened in the Metropolitan Building with a general executive secretary, a publicity secretary, a secretary in charge of the speakers' bureau ■ and public meetings, an office secretary, a secretary in charge of work among women's organizations, and a clerical and stenographic staff to handle the heavy cor- respondence and office details. Other cities may not require so large a secretarial staff, but unless some similar provision is made in other metropolitan centres, we can- not hope to secure funds sufficient to save the lives that are depending upon us. The Flight— The Succor One-quarter of a million persons succeeded in effe.cting a prompt escape into the provinces of the Russian 'Cau- casus, among them American representatives. These latter have done wonderful work in caring for the sick, giving_ bread to the hungry, clothing to the naked and in caring for orphans, and the maintaining of industrial relief and helping the refugees of a worthy people to pull through this crisis alive. — From an eye-witness. 42 'inillllllllllllllIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIU!!lll!IIIIIIIIIIIUIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!llllllllllllllll!lllllllllllllllllllllllllll!lllll^ lllllllllilllliilililllllillilllllllllllllllllllliilllillillili^ Personal Suggestions to Pastors By Dr. Worth M. Tippy, Executive Secretary, Commission on the Church and Social Service, Federal Council of Churches, and one of the Secretaries of the General War-Time Commission. 1. Master the facts in this handbook. 2. Pray much over the appeal you are to make in behalf of the sufferers. 3. Put up posters at the earliest possible date in various rooms and corridors of the church, especially in the vestibule and on the bulletin board outside. 4. Keep pamphlet literature in the vestibule from now until Christmas. 5. Organize a committee of representative people on Armenian and Syrian Relief, with a representative each from the Sunday school and young people's society, to promote the offering and coordinate ef- forts. The committee should have a chairman, secre- tary and a wisely chosen treasurer. 6. Take the offering on the earliest available date, not later than Christmas Sunday morning or New Year's Sunday morning. 7. See that the service is well announced, also send out subscription envelopes not less than ten days in advance, at least to a selected list of persons. For expense of this see page 36. The importance of the offering is so great that it is urged that the committee, assisted by the pastor, also make personal solicitation in advance to large givers. Do not hesitate to go to citizens who are not members of the congregation. 8. Wherever possible secure pledges on a monthly basis to continue during the period of the war. Five dollars a month will maintain one person. Pay- ments on such pledges will need to be followed up. 9. If possible, devote the hour to the appeal. Nothing could be more appropriate than to do this in Christ's compassionate name. If it is impossible to use the entire hour then give generous space in the church calendar or bulletin, and take abundant time to explain the offering, and to urge the people to make a generous response. Remember, the lives of one or more persons will surely depend upon the courage with which you present this cause. 10. It is suggested that pastors whose hearts are reached by this appeal take it up in the local min- isters' association or federation of churches, to secure the widest action, also with local papers. A personal signed letter or article on the subject, with occasional fresh information for publication, will prove valu- able. 43 iiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinii iiiiiiiiraiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiraiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinmiiiiiiiiiiiiii ■lliiliilllllillliBiililllllllillilllllllilliiillffl A Suggestion from the Gen- eral War-Time Commission THE condition of the peoples of Armenia and Syria is tragic in the extreme. Between one and two mil- lions have perished from massacre, starvation and ex- posure, and unless immediate and sustained assistance on the largest possible scale is sent to those who survive multitudes of them will perish this winter. The situation is so critical that a united appeal is being made to the churches for a nation wide offering for Arme- nia and Syria. The General War-Time Commission of the Churches, the United Sunday School War Council rep- resenting the Sunday School Council and the Interna- tional Sunday School Association, and certain Young Peo- ple's Societies have agreed each to assist in bringing the entire Church into service in this emergency. Recognizing the urgent necessity for immediate action, in order to secure funds to purchase wheat from the recent harvest when it is least expensive, the General War-Time Commission of the Churches at a meeting of the Execu- tive Committee on Friday, October 19, voted unanimously to recommend that as many churches as possible through- out the country receive a church offering for Armenian and Syrian sufferers at the earliest practicable date. The General War-Time Commission of the Churches recognizes the urgent and repeated appeals that are being made to churches and citizens, but it also realizes that these are days of privilege and vicarious service from which none can hold back. The Christian people of America must economize and give continually as their brethren in England have done for the last three years. The starving must be fed so long as we have bread, and aH our institutions of religion, philanthropy and civ- ilization must be maintained at war-time strength. The Power of God will be visited upon the Church according as it abandons itself to the great work which the Head of the Church has thrust upon it. Faithfully yours, Robert E. Speer, Chairman. Executive Committee Rev. Samuel Z. Batten Rev. Edgar Blake Rev. William Adams Brown Rev. J. F. Carson Miss Mabel Cratty Rev. D. D, Forsyth John M. Glenn Rev.B.D. Gray Rev. Howard B. Grose William A. Harbison Rev. William I. Haven Prof. J. R. Hawkins Rev. Hubert C. Herring George Innes Alfred R. KimbaU President Henry C. King Rev. F. H. Knubel Rt. Rev. William M. Lawrence Rev. Albert G. Lawson Bishop William F. McDowell Rev. John M. Moore John R. Mott Rt. Rev. James DeWolf Perry Fred B.Smith James M. Speers Samuel Thome, Jr. Harold H. Tyron Rev. James I. Vance Rev. Gaylord S. White 44 HiiiiiuiuiiiiiiiniiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiHiinii^ ■iiilillllllllllllilllllllllllOillililiiliiliiliilliilliliililili! To Those Who Wish to Knc vv More of the Subject Selected Titles from Many Books Available. Barton, James Levi: Daybreak in Turkey. Boston, Pilgrim l''x■r^, 1908. Bliss, Frederick Jones: The Religions of Syria and Palestine, ^oe.7 York, Scribner, 1912. (The Bross Lectures 1908.) Bryce, James: Treatment of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, 1915-16. New York, Putnam, 1917. Curtis, William Eleroy: The Turk and His Lost Provinces. New York, Revell Company, 1903. Out of print. Filian, George H.: Armenia and Her People; or the Story of Armenia by an Armenian. Hartford, Conn., American Pub- lishing Company, 1896. Gardner, W. H. T.: The Reproach of Islam. Young People's Missionary Movement, 1911. Gibbons, Herbert Adams: The Blackest Page in Modern History; Events in Armenia in 191S. New York, Putnam, 1916. Gibbons, Herbert Adams: Foundation of the Ottoman Empire. London, Milford, 1916. Greene, Frederick Davis : Armenian Crisis in Turkey ; the Massacre of 1894. New York, Putnam, 1895. Herrick, George Frederick: Christian and Mohammedan; A Plea for Bridging the Chasm. New York, Revell Company, 1912. Hitti, Philip K. : The Origins of the Islamic State. Columbia University Press, New York, 1916. Holmes, Mary Caroline: Who Follows in Their Train? New York, Revell Company, 1917. Jessup, Henry: Fifty Years in Syria. 2 volumes. New York, Revell Company. Leary, Lewis Gaston: Syria the Land of Lebanon. New York, R. M. McBride Company. Macdonald, John : Turkey and the Eastern Question. New York, Dodge, 1913. Miller, William: The Ottoman Empire. Cambridge (Eng.) Uni- versity Press, 1913. Pears, Sir Edwin : Turkey and Its People. New York, George H. Doran Company. Richter, Julius : History of Protestant Missions in the Near East. New York, Revell Company, 1910. Rihbany, Abraham, M.: A Far Journey. Boston, Houghton, Mifflin & Company. The Syrian Christ. Same. Rockwell, William Walker: The pitiful plight of the Assyrian Christians in Persia and Kurdistan. Described from the Reports of Eyewitnesses. American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief, 1916. Toynbee, Arnold J. : A summary of Armenian history up to and including the year 1915. (In his Documents relating to the treatment of Armenian and Assyrian Christians in the Otto- man Empire and Northwestern Persia.) New York, George H. Doran Company. Williams, William Llewelyn : Armenia; Past and Present. London, Kings & Son, 1916. Armenia's Tragic Story. Same. Wilson, Samuel Graham: Modem Movements Among Moslems. New York, Revell Company, 1916. Zwemer, Samuel Marinus: The Disintegration of Islam. New York, Revell Company, 1916. Islam : A Challenge to Faith. New York, Student Volunteer Movement, 1907. See also: Armenia, A List of Books and Articles. By William Walter Rockwell, Ph.D. American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief. 45 tiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiH iiiniiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiin i iiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiraraiiiu i iiiimiiiimiiiiiiiimniiiiini A New Harmony of the Gospels A. D. 27— A. D. 1917 "But when he saw the multi- tudes, he was moved with com- ■passion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd." Matthew 9:36. "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother in need, and shutteth up his com- passion from him, how dwell- eth the love of God in him?" I John 3 :17 "It is impossible to see their deplorable condition and not be deeply moved. In every tent there are sick and dying. Any one who cannot get a piece of bread by begging eats grass, raw and without salt. The people gather locusts and eat them raw. They catch stray dogs, and hke savages, pounce upon dead animals, whose flesh they eat eagerly and without cooking. Damascus. "Relief committee reports forty thousand refugees. Prices high. Eight hundred thousand dollars required the next twelve months. Funds exhausted." American Consul, Tabriz, Persia. "The American missionaries supervising relief distribution in the Turkish Empire have been made attachees of the Swedish Legation and are given every courtesy by the Turkish government." Elkus. "Mothers come to us and say, 'It is not for ourselves we plead, but for our little ones; we gladly give them all we have, but still they are hungry. Oh! Do help us or our minds will give way to the continuous pleadings for bread for our children.' We do what we can, but thousands are in need of food, clothing and clean homes." "In every place the refugees were found to be in great need of clothing and bedding. Many, many families have but one or two quilts as their total bed- ding which are used as cover- ing while the members of the family lie on the dirt floor of stables and basements, some of which are very cold. Those who have come to the Caucasus as a result of the recent retreat are quite destitute, lacking food and bedding and sometimes even clothing." Erivan, Caucasus. "The poor are dying of hun- ger and those of the men left at home and able to work are unable to secure enough to sus- tain the' lives of the famiUes." Mesopotamia. 46 Jiiiiiininimnniiiiiiiiiinniniiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii, iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiiiiiiiiiimiiiinmiii i iiiiiuiiiiiiiiiii imiiiiut "And the king shall answer and say unto them. Verily I say Unto you. Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." "Then shall he answer them, saying. Verily I say unto you. Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me." Matthew 2S:37, 38, 40, 45. "When saw we thee a stranger, and took thee in? or naked, and clothed thee?" "Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, and fed thee? or thirsty, and gave thee drink?" "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us : and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren." I John 3 :16. "Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world." James 1 :27. "Suffer the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the king- dom of God." Mark 10:14. "The American Committee learns by cable of the death in , Turkey, of She had remained in for the last three years, enduring all the hardships without com- plaint for the sake of the serv- ice to be rendered. Her name will be added to the score of others who have sacrificed their lives to relieve the suffering of the people of Western Asia." "Need of orphans particu- larly great. Orphanages should be established immediately. Caucasus Committee already supporting thousand orphans. Investigations indicate forty thousand fatherless children await your answer to our re- quest for support." Tiflis. "Urge Committee to assume responsibility for ten thousand fatherless children at rate of three dollars per month per child." Erivan. "A recent tabulating of or- phans without either parent gives us a total of about one thousand under fourteen years of age on the Urumia plain!" Persia. "I am thinking of the crowds of children outside that are crying for bread, of the women, the mothers, who are wander- ing in despair to find bread for their little ones. The re- sponsibility of having seen this compels me to write." Syrian Desert. "In Aleppo alone we are fur- nishing immediate relief to twenty thousand persons and twelve hundred orphans." Aleppo. Printed Matter Available. "Now or Never," Illustrated folder. "Some One Must Lead." Leaflet. "Armenia." A Worker's Handbook. Four-page Illustrated Letter of Appeal. Subscription Cards. Subscription Envelopes. Collection Boxes. Pasteboard, four by six inches. Posters: "2>^ Million Starving," "President Wilson's Appeal," "Food." See also special list of Sunday school material on page 32. Send all orders to One Madison Avenue, New York. 47 iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiNiiiiiiiiin iiiilllillilllliiiillilllllflllllililllllllllllllllplll^ Contents Armenia. Cover design by Louis Raemaekers. Am I This Man's Counterpart? Inside Cover Tragic Situation in Western Asia ' 2 President Wilson's Appeal 3 From Ambassadors, Consuls and Others 4 Abram I. Elkus, Henry Morgenthau, Oscar S. Straus, G. C. Tarlor, E. I. Watson, J. B. Jackson, Francis E. Clark. The Story in Letters, Cables and Conversations 8 The Very Latest Cables 12 Incidents to Stir One's Soul 13 Story of One Who Escaped 15 Mooshek Vorperian. America's Response to These Terrible Needs 19 Some Questions Answered 20 Remittances to Relief Committees 23 Accounts Carefully Audited 23 Map of Western Asia. "Where Millions of Human Beings are Starving" 24,25 Who Are These Sufferers? 26 Sunday School War Council Acts. . . . 29 Definite Suggestions for the Sunday Schools 31 jjj^ Programs, Helps, etc.' Outline of Sunday School Material 32 Local Organizations and Methods of Work 35 A Typical Local Organization 42 Personal Suggestions to Pastors 43 By Dr. Worth M. Tippy. A Suggestion from the General War-Time Com- mission 44 By Dr. Robert E. Speer. For Those Who Wish to Know More of the Subject 45 A Bibliography. A New Harmony of the Gospels 46 Membership and Officers of the American Com- mittee for Armenian and Syrian Relief. Emotion, Decision, Action. 48 ui B B u » I III iim n nHin r lililiilillilllllllllllllliliillliillllllllllilililllilllllilllili American Committee for Armenian and Syrian Relief ONE MADISON AVENUE, NEW YORK Including Work of the Armenian Relief, the Persian War Relief, and the Syrian-Palestine Committees James L. Barton Chairman Charles V. Vickrey Secretary Hon William Howard Taft Frederick H. Allen Arthur J. Brown Edwin M. Bulklev John B. Calvert William I. Chamberlain John D. Ceimmins Cleveland H. Dodge Charles W. Eliot William T. Ellis James Cardinal Gibbons Jerome D. Greene Rt. Rev. David H. Green Fred P. Haggard Harold A. Hatch William I. Haven Myron T. Herrick Hamilton Holt Arthur Curtiss James Woodbury G. Langdon Frederick Lynch Vance C. McCormick Samuel T. Dutton Vice-Chairman Cleveland H. Dodge Treasurer Hon. Charles Evans Hughes Chas. S. MacFarland William B. Millar Henry Morgenthau John R. Mott Frank Mason North George A. Plimpton Rt. Rev. P. Rhinelander Karl Davis Robinson William W. Rockwell Wm. Jay Schieeeelin George T. Scott Albert Shaw William Sloane Edward Lincoln Smith James M. Speers Oscar S. Straus Henry A. Wheeler Stanley White Ray Lyman Wilbur Talcott Williams Stephen S. Wise Expense of collecting and transmitting funds is met privately. One hundred cents of every dollar contributed goes to the im- mediate work of relief. The Committee urges immediate attention to this pressing need, and asks that contributions be sent to CLEVELAND H. DODGE, Treasurer One Madison Ave., New York iiiiiiiiiiiiniiiiiiiiiiiiai iiiiiiiiiiiiii uiiiiiiiii iiiiiiiiiiim iiimiiiiffliiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii iiiiiNniiii iiimiiiniiiiiui illllllllilllllllillllllllllllllllllllllllllllllllillllllllllilllllllllllllllllll Emotion — Decision — Action ! HE facts — terrible, gripping, heartbreaking facts, are here. The cry of anguish sobs through these pages from beginning to end. Perhaps heart and conscience have been moved to the depths, what noiw? If this terrific voice of need does not impel us to work and give, and give and work, and yet again, what cry from the riven soul of mankind can lead us to action? Let the utmost measure of devotion be swift and sure. Amid the deafening, clamoring voices of war we hear the feeble cry of innocent people crushed by a fearful tragedy, bereft and comfortless. O Friend, O Brother, they shudder on the brink! Shall we reach out hands, warm, strong, steady to hold them back to life and cheer them back to hope again, until peace once more blesses with sweet quietness a broken-hearted world? Let us do it today and again tomorrow^ — forgetting the calendar until our limit is reached and beyond. iiiiiiiiiiiiniiniiiiiiiiuniiiiiuiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiinniinniinini'iim^