The Middlebury people's press. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1841-1843, 1843-03-01

them the religion Of those who hold them in
perpetual thrall, and preserving, nominally
al least and with the fervor Of enthusiasm,
a religion founded upon the Bible and con-
forming in all its great essential features 10
the faith of Protestant Chris;endom in the
West. TIER literary language is the an
cient Syriac; their vernacular modern d.
alect of it corrupted by diversions. contrac'
tons and the niroductions Of Persian words.
Besides the Holy Scriptures. which with
some slight exceptions we're found among
them, nearly in the form in which We have
them, the HISTORIAN Christians have also
books containing the. Church service of the
people, Legends of the Saints. Laws and
Canons of the Church. books of wise say
ings, manuscripts Of the New Testament,
dating back some six hundred years, and
few other books, mostly of religious stamp.
They have regular Church organization,
consisting of Patriarch US its head. and
pine Ecclesiastical orders, ordained by the
imposition Of hands and divided into do
cesses varying from one up to ten, fifteen
or even thirty villages. Their religious be-
lief and practice are simple and scriP,ursl
their doctrine clear and definite, and their
general manner of life perhaps quite as uni
yersaliy pure and upright as among other
nominally Christian nations.
The existence Of such q small band Of
Christian people in the midst of those who
for many years have been violent and pow
eful followers Of Mohsmmed, and bitterly
hostile thus 10 the faith Of their subject rece,
exposed 10 their hatred and oppression, yet
maintaining firmly their Independence. as a
religious body, in itself possesses deep AMI
mysterious interest. Whence were they
bow came they ihcIe'i and how happened
they to become and continue Christians
are questionsat once suggested. They are
believed BY many, and by our author among
them, to be descendants OF the Jews, per-
hsps that portion of the lsrseliies carried
into captivity by The Kings Of Assyria into
lands it may be not far distant from that they
now inhsbit. Dr.. Asahel Grant, likewise
an American Missionary, goes even farther
than this, and ventures to believe them de-
scendants of the lost Ten tribes. though this
theory is rejected by DIR. Robinson. a more
profoundly learned and decisive authority.
Their conversion 10 Christianity both The
ancient writings and the oral traditions OF
the HISTORIANS refe, TO Thomas, one Of the
twelve Apostles and IS several Of the
Christian Fathers state that Thomas travel
cd eastward even to India, preaching tho
Gospel as he advanced through the countries
intervening. Mr.. Perkins is disposed TO
regard the claims of the HISTORIANS on this
point at least as probable. Their origin as
Christian sect is a matter of authentic
Church history, mentioned by MoSheim. As
seman and others. Nestorius, from whom
they derive their sectarian name, born in
Syria, was made bishop Of Consrantinople,
A. ID. 428, and banished TO Arabic Petr1a,
on charge of heresy, for refusing among
other things to worship the Virgin Mary.
He was very generally regarded as perse-
cuied and injured man; and his case created
warm sympathy. especially at Syrian
School in Odessa and great numbers Of
young men being educated there warmly
espoused his cause and planted the seeds Of
that Church, once powerful in PeTsia, which
now survives among the HISTORIAN Chris
tians.
From this brief notice may readily be in.
ferred the many points of interest connected
with this mysterious people, their history as
tribe, their language and lis changes as
throwing light upon their origin, and these
features of their character which have ena-
bled them thus 10 maintain their religious
independence, even when their civil and
personal freedom had been completely
| 81 shaf a.
ine.loohing people, of fair complexion, bCli,
generous, kind, urtIess for Asatics, and ex-
tremely hospitable. Even those who dwell
among the mountains Of Koordisian, rough
and even fierce as are their general habits,
with alacriiy divide their last crust of bread
with stranger in want or a suffering foe.
AS field for Missionary effort, it will rea-
Oily be seen how many attractions they pre-
sent. Instead Of meeting them as do many
of the Heather among whom Missionaries
of the Church, with heroisrn worthy the
days of martyrs and the lnq1isiiion, peril
their lives for the good of their race and the
glory Of their faith the HISTORIANS have WEI
coined them 10 their midst as their instruct
ors in knowledge and religion. Placed as
they are among crumbling nations and tot
tering, false religion, their re-awakening TO
the life of the true faith is looked upon with
deep interest by Christians here as an I'M
portant element Of that advancing Reform
which is 10 plant upon the ruins of the Ores.
cent the eternal standard Of the Cross oil
Christ.
To this people as Missionaries MIR. Per-
kins and his Lady were sent in the latter
part of 1889 by the American Board of Fo.
reign Missions. After a preliminary sketch
of the circumstances under which he went,
and the general character of the people a.
mong whom he expected TO pass his life,
Mr.. Perkins gives history ofhis voyage to
Malta, thence TO Conslantinople and Trsbi
zond, his journey thence to ErzooD, Erivan,
Tabreez, the ancient GAIA where Cyrus de-
posted the treasures of CrGsus, ami thus TO
Oroomiah. Of all these journeyings he
presents most interesting and valuable ac-
count, introducing US 20 scenes and descn-
I L. Il, a.