Armenia and Her People; or, The Story of Armenia by an Armenian — John Shaqi
Armenia and Her People; or, The Story of Armenia by an ArmenianFilian, George H.
History
Armenia and Her People; or, The Story of Armenia by an Armenian
Filian, George H.
Armenia; Armenian question
I was a successful preacher, but I had no theological education (though
I studied my Bible hard), and felt that I needed one. I decided to go
to America for it, but the missionaries opposed the plan bitterly. One
of the ladies told me plainly it was a sin; that I had no right to
give up a successful and useful ministry to go there. I replied that
giving up the ministry would be a sin, but not going away to prepare
for higher usefulness, and coming back to carry it out. Then she said
I had no money to go, and did not understand English. I answered that
I had faith that God would create the means. She laughingly bade me
give her best regards to her friends when I came. She meant it for
a joke, but I carried it out in earnest.
How I finally came to this country would take too long to tell. I will
only say that I crossed the ocean by faith. When I reached New York in
July, 1879, I had only 15 cents in my pocket. I worked hard day and
night in a rag felt factory in the Bowery, and slept on the rags on
the floor, covering myself with a piece of flannel. But the Lord opened
the way. I went to Oberlin, Ohio, and studied there, supporting myself
by sawing wood for the professors of the Theological Seminary. In six
months I could talk English well enough to lecture, and after that time
I supported myself by lecturing. Finally I was sent to Nebraska as
a home missionary during the summer vacation. On my return I entered
the Chicago Theological Seminary, and graduated there in 1882, after
which I lectured rather widely through the country. Then I went
home, and for a time was pastor of the Constantinople Evangelical
Armenian Church. Later I had a call from Marsovan, accepted it,
and had so large a congregation there that a church with a capacity
of 2,000 was needed. I returned to this country, raised the money,
left it in a Chicago bank (where it still lies in trust), and went
back to build the church. That very success aroused the jealousy of
some wicked men, and they falsely charged me with being the leader of
the revolutionary societies in Turkey. On this charge I was banished,
and now I am here again,--free and happy with my family, but full of
sorrow for my dear people daily martyred by the Turks.
ANTIOCH.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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