Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-10-23

STA IOf some centuries past, Dut as III al
their missions they preached themselves
not Christ, their efforts amounted 70 lit
tie or nothing; so that The efforts for The
conversion OF Persia may be said to COM
mence with Henry Martyr.
As the memoir of Martyr is at the
hand of every one, shall not enlarge
on the events of his twelve months stay
at Shiaz, but content myself with bare
ly stating the results OF his labors; and
then present some facts which / have
cleaned from the annals of various mis-
sioaary societies, that may show the el-
fects Of these labors.
While at Shiraz, he accomplished the
laboI1ous task Of translaGng the New
Testament, and the Psalms of David, into
the Persian language. I have before
alluded to the treatise which lie publish
cd, in answer to the attack of the Maho-
medan professor of the law, on the Cos
pei. Two public arguments be held
with Che most learned, ingenious men
in Shiraz and almost every day, he
preached Christ to some whom cnr;osi-
ty, or love Of discussion, brought to see
him. In al these discussions he assert
ed, and | may say triumphantly MAIN
tanned the truth of the gospel, to the
confusion Of tie gainsayers.
What now do facts that have since
transpired, say of these labors1 The
Rev Robt. Pinkerton writes from st,
Petersburgh, January 1916, as follows:
"The Arabic tract of Mahomedanism
and Christianity made great stir Two
learned Persians have successfully I'M
dertaken TO answer it, and such produc-
tons have been condemned by the pub
lie voice as inconclusiyen 4 letter writ
ten some time in 1917 by an English
gentleman, = ident in Persia, TO dis
tinguished nooIeman in England, states
that Mr.. Martyrs discussions at Shiraz
produced 50 deep an impression, that
many were secretly converted, and the
Moolahs totally silcnced. His books
were put into the hands Of men of the
greatest celebrity and talents, to be refu-
ted; andin various places, eulogiums
on the gospel were openly uttered
hnother letter to tic same nobIeman
from Mahomedan in Persia, states that
q thorough conviction Of the writer Of
the truth of christianity, obtained in part
from the perusal Of Mr. Martyrs books.
After saying that he had carefully exa-
mined the various religions, and found
the religion of Mohammed to be voin
and false, he adds: "The result Of the
whole is, that ! have adopted in my
heart the christian religion;n and in a
postscript he says, Il have two brothers
who are the same way Of thinking with
myself" Mr.. Pinkerton in a second let
ter from St. Petersburgh, speaks farther
ofthc impression Mr.. Martyrs writings
had produced. In ibis letter he men
tons the arrival of Or. Campbell, an ac-
complished oriental scholar, who had
been travelling in Persia. DIR Camp
bell states that the Persians are much
more tolerant than the Turks, and in
general tont'of religious argument; that
he himself held en argument with a
Soofe in presence Of the king, who lis
tened attentvely to the dispute, and that
the heir apparent in conversing with
him, sometimes quoted the gospel in
Confirmation of what he was saying.
! win here notice an important fact
which ] find in The Boston Rccorder,ta-
ken from the london Baptist Magazine
FOR November, 1918. gi'hc Prince Roy
al is attempting to protect the christians
in Persia. He assembled a diyan at Te-
bri7, consisting of the principal doctors
of the law, and proposed 70 them the
following questions: WAS Christ true
prophet sent from God?. Are the laws
Of the gospel Just? and, is it lawful to
b!aspheme them:" The two first were
answ cred in the affirmative, and the last
in the negative. These decisions have
received alegal form, and the Prince, in
has punished one OF his
for insulting christian"
You will doubtlessexpect me to give
some account If the progress and circu-
ladon of Mr.. Martyrs New Testament.
lie commenced il June 18th, 1911, and
with the assistance of 1iirza Seid Ali,
it in five months Intending
TO present the translation to the king in
his own person, he undertook a Journey
from Shiraz to ieheran, the capital; but
on account of various obstacles, he fall
ed of accomplishing his object. His
mind, however, was relieved from anxi-
ETY., through the kindness ef Sir Gore
Ouseley, the British ambassador at the
Court Of Teheran; who promised to
presentit himself TO the king. This, as
he informs us in q letter 10 Lord Teign-
mouth, he did, on condition that the
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