Christian Science not only heals the sick, cleanses the lepers, gives sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf, but it also teaches the higher meaning of retribution. Six years ago the remorselessness of the Turkish government compelled me to leave my home in Armenia and come to this country. In America I found myself, a frail boy, without the language, without experience, without home, and without a country. The hardships which I experienced intensified my revengeful feeling toward the Turkish government, and for a time my only thought was how I could go back to Turkey and avenge my wrongs. According to the Turkish law no Armenians who had emigrated were allowed to go back to their own country, and if any attempted to do so they were arrested, chained, and sent back under indescribable persecutions. In observing the so-called Christianity of the west with its material prosperity, and the Christianity of Armenia with its misfortunes, I concluded that there was no God. Although an atheist, I decided to study for the ministry and go back through the American Board of Missions, thinking that after my arrival I would give up my profession and carry out my plan of revenge; but a friend told me that the board never sends any one to his own country as a preacher. Then Christian Science was brought to my notice, and without knowing anything about it I resolved to study it, and after I had been educated, go back to Turkey and tell the authorities that I was bringing a new religion into the country; but I was still determined to carry out my plans for vengeance.
My extremity, was, however, God's opportunity. After failure to secure a position in Boston to help me in my schooling, a way was opened for me to go to New Hampshire, into a Christian Science family to help them, and in return they were to tutor me. There I learned of Christian Science as it is, and the truths of this blessed religion commanded me to put up the sword, and instead of hating the Turks I began to see them as they ought to be and as they really are. I also saw that the only difference between a Turk and myself was in our educated belief, and that back of us all is one infinite Principle, even God.
Since the revelation of this practical truth, Christian Science, my ideals have been changed, and as some one has said, I now see that the best way to punish a bad man is the discipline which will make him become good. After the proclamation of the constitutional government in Turkey, one of the prime movers of the present government, in an address to the Armenians, said, "You were struggling for freedom, and we persecuted you because we did not know what freedom was. You were right in your cause, and the only fault you had was that you were thirty years ahead of us."
