Martinsburgh gazette. [volume] (Martinsburgh, Va. [W. Va.]) 1810-1825, 1823-10-16

at Madras, N a letter csteg
October, 1917, writes respecting them,
thus: sThere are in Persia $4,000 per-
sons called Soofes, who, in 1903, open
ly renowned Mahomedanism, abolished
circumcision, established separate pla-
ces of worship, and adopted a peculiar
dress to distinguish them from the Ma
homcdans. They speak highly of Christ,
and revere the Scriptures. They would
receive the Bible, and especially the
New Testament, with JOY, and would
support with zeal all attempts to enlight-
en- the Persian nation. They have the
most learned teachers in Shiraz.n Hem
ry Martyr had frequent intercourse with
them, and abundant opportunity to learn
their true character. His account of
them is less fattering than the one have
just quoted, though perhaps not at vari-
ance with it. He represents their tenets
as refined scepticism of the most lati-
tudinarian Complexion. "Ther belIeve,n
he says, they know not wbat--wiIl adj
vance any thing provided it be mysteri-
ous-and delight in asking such ques-
tons as these. rs being one, or two?
What is the form of disembodied spirits?
Are not you and every created thing,
God!" Pr. Martyr asked Mira Abul-
casim, the most renowned of all the Soo-
fies, what was the way to be happy? He
did not know. How do you feel in
prospect of death---hope, fear, or nei-
ther'" "Neither," he replied, pleasure
and pain are both alike to me. They
renounce Mahomedanism entirely, and
believe in no prophet, Moses, in their
opinion, is not equal to Mira Abulca-
sim. Their practices coincide with their
sentiments; falsehood, drunkenness, and
every vice is the result of this scepticism.
Mira Seid Ali, the assistant of Mr..
Martyr in translating the New Testa-
ment, belonged to this sect
Tie Guebers, or Fire Worshippers,
are the remnant of the followers of 10
rooster They have been prosecuted by
Mahomedans ever since the conquest Of
the Saracens, with such unrelenting cru
city, that they are now nearly external
mated. At Yezd, a central town in Per-
sia, there are about 400 families; where,
under the present state of things, they
! enjoy tranquility. Great numbers fled
to India and the wilds OF Tartary to find
9 refuge from persecution. At Bombay
there is considerable number engaged
in commercial pursuits, who are said to
be worthy industrious people. Mr..
Martyn fell in with one there, whom he
found to be very learned and accom-
phshed. Sir William Jones and others
assert, that they are rongly accused of
worshipping fire, or the sun; that, on the
contrary, they worshipped the one true
God, of whom the sun and the everlast-
ing fire are symbols.
There are many Jews in Persia, but
they are very degenerate, daily desert
ing their own faith, and embracing the
tents of Mahomed. They are induced
to do this by the offers of the Prince,
who gives to each, on conversion, an
honary dress and the privileges OF Mus
sulmen. A Jewish Mahomedan priest
boosted that he had made hundred
Jewish converts to the faith of Maho-
med
The number of christians in Persia is
ahout 100000; consisting of Armenians,
Georgians, HISTORIANS, Jacobites, and
some Romish Christians. The Arme-
mans, by far the tnost numerous of all,
are 'enterprizing merchants, and have
the commerce of the whole country in
their hands. Amidst the persecution and
suffering they have endured from the
Mahomedans, they have maintained their
faith, and their churches ere seen in all
the large towns, showing almost the on
ly bright spots in the dark picture Of this
benighted region. In Ispahan, their
principal residence, they have 0 church
es Mr.. Martyr visited one Of them;
but he represents their worship as very
cold and heartless, and the people as
possessing little more than the form of
goodness. Both the Georgians and Ar
menians have the Bible in their own
vernacular tongue.
Ofthe Persian language in mission
airy point of view, Or. Buchanan says
it is next in Importance to the Arabic
and Chinese, in regard to the extent of
country over which it is spoken; being
generally understood from Calcrtta to
Damascus. 1t Is spoken at all the Mus
sulman courts in India, and is the usual
language of judicial proceedings under
the British government in Hindostan.-
With respect to its character, it has been
considered the language of poetry; ex-
ceiling ali the eastern languages in
strength, beauty, and melody. Com
pared with the languages of Europe, it
most resemblesthe German; but is more