Page:Islam, Turkey, and Armenia, and How They Happened.djvu/221



The late Armenian massacres, far from being a local or temporary and accidental event, have their deeper and wider effects, that touch the universal interests of the world, and especially of the Christian church. We are very anxious to bring the subject before our readers as the subject of their own interest, from the following point of view:

1. Islam is a Destructive Power. Admitting some good principles disclosed in the Koran, be it borrowed or original; admitting some past service of the Arabs in acting as birds to carry the seeds of Greek philosophy to other parts of the world; admitting its temporary effect upon the surrounding heathen tribes, in extending the idea of one God (thonghthough [sic] very erroneous compared with the evangelical idea of divinity), yet, as a whole, its influence has been detrimental and injurious to progress and christianity.

Besides, Islam is not a dead power. Under the hypocritic appearance of humanity, and the imitative mockery of civilization of Islam, still lies the same venomous dragon of the early ages—to ruin the vitality of the Christian church; and whenever it finds an opportunity for its deadly work, it is eager and able to act. The great Queen of England may feel herself happy and proud for the millions of her