The Somerset herald and farmers' and mechanics' register. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 183?-1852, 1846-08-04


were highly indignant that the Pope
should claim superior authority 10 that of
their master. Father Karpini renewed
the attempt, but with no better success.
Some fifty years afterwards, however,
monk succeeded in procuring from the
reigning Prince George, submission to
the Pope. His son was baptized, and
large portion of his people likewise en-
braced the Romish faith. In 1899,
George dying, his son returned to the
HISTORIAN faith and the nation followed
him.
Marco Palo travelled through the whole
of Central Asia, and met whole commu-
mites of these HISTORIAN Christians, and
his descriptions of them are highly inter-
esting. Their field of labor was 5000
miles in length, and $500 in breadth. and
they fourished for about SO0years. Their
first check was from Ghengis Khan, and
afterwards, in the 18th century, they
were almost extinguished by the crest
conqueror Tamerlane. Yet even to this
day the ideas and sentiments Of their ear
ly faith survive among them, and may be
traced in many of their customs and modes
of worship. This is fully certified by
intelligent travellers TO be the case in
Thibet and Tartary. The chief fault of
the HISTORIAN Churches was an ambition
TO multiply their converts, vet they uni
formly and constantly regarded the Bible
as their rule Of faith and practice.
In 1897 the Portuguese landed on the
coast of Malabar, and were astonshed TO
find there Christian Chuch-having a
regular clergy, a simple worship, the
scriptures entire, and without connection
with any other church except that of the
HISTORIANS of Persia. They regarded
Antioch as the metropolitan city Of the
Western world, and traced their origin to
St. Thomas, who labored among them,
suffered martyrdom at a place called after
him, and lying little south OF Madras.
References are made in authentic ecclesi-
astical histories, as early as $50 to these
churches; and in the 9th century, Alfred,
King of England, sent an embassy to es-
tablish friendly relations with them.-
They were visited by Marco Palo in the
18th century. They were evidently a
branch of the HISTORIAN church. They
had, when the Portuguese landed, 200
churches, and over 100000 communi-
cants, and were at war with the surround
! ing heathen nations. They welcomed
the Portuguese as allies, but the latter
soon rendered themselves more terrible
foes than the heather, for they establish
ed the inquisition, ordered them TO give
! up their Bible. commanded a change of
their liturgy, and by fraud and intrigue
brought about half Of them to subiection.
In 1856, Mar Joseph, Bishop, was sent
in chains TO Lisbon, CONDEMNED and
banished TO Rome, where he died. The
mquisitIon Of Goa was kept busy, and
thousands were burned for maintaining
doctrines now universally regarded as
evangelical
In 1905, the inquisition was abolished.
In 1906, Claudius Buchanan visited them,
under the protection of the British Gov
erhment. Bishop Heber subsequently,
found them in great difficulty from at
/ ACAiDAS tlidh NSlC W lOlGC luCt1l fllAO
connection with the Greek Church; but
it is hoped that, under the exertions of his
successor, Bishop Wilson, they may a.
gain find peace.
The HISTORIANS of the Plain of
| Ooroomiah, are the remains Of the origin
al HISTORIAN Christians. The first Eu-
ropean who visited them was Sir Robert
Ker Porter, in 1919; in 1881 they were
visited by Drs. Grant and Rev. Eli Smith,
and a German Mis- ssionary from Basle.
DIR. Grant found that the Mahomedan
Masque in Ooroomiah was an ancient
HISTORIAN church. In all the surrounding
villages he found churches glad to receive
instruction. An American mission has
been established there. They live under
the Persian government by which they
are severely oppressed.
Tne HISTORIANS at the Mountains, orig
inally lived in the plain, and retired to
preserve their independence, which they
have always done. They retired at a
very early period and were attacked by
Tamerlane, but without success. They
always recognised the Christians of Mala-
bar as their brethren. The efforts Of the
Papal Church to bring them under its
dominion have been incessant and the
French Consul al Bagdad, who is Papal
Bishop, has used all his influence either
to accomplish that object or secure their
destruction. DIR. Grant was the first
fnreigner who had succeeded in visiting
them. He was about to establish mis-
sion there, but the envoy of Rome excited
the surrounding savages to massacre them
which was done three or four years since.
In 1870 their number was estimated at
10000; modern estimate fix it at about
10000. The language is like the He
brew, and from this circumstance DIR.
Grant supposed them to be the ten lost