Semi-weekly standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1853-18??, 1860-09-26
1NrrResrING 1ErTER FROM SYRIA.

~ INTERESTING LETTER FROM SYRIA.
The following letter is from one of the most re-
spected Missionaries of the American Board, who
has resided in Syria between and eight years
BHAMDUN, Mr. LEBANON,
Wednesday, Aug. /, 1909
admiral Martin, H. B. H. s., Marlboro:
DEAR SIR:-In compliance with your honored re-
quest most respectfully place at your service the
following narrative of what we have seen and heard,
ourselves, in the midst of the late terrible events
upon Mt Lebanon. Our high point Of observation,
Bhamdun, is situated in the Druse country, near
the Damascus road, four hours from Beyrout, and
four thousand feet above the Mediterranean. 1t
contains thousand souls, Greeks, Maronites, and
Professionals all Christian, under Druse Protection.
In all previous in the present war, Bhamdun has
always maintained a neutral position, and never
been plundered or burned by either party. Since
the summer of 1884, it has, more or less, been &C.
c:pied by the Syria mission and for the last seven
years by the missionary family now resident here,
as a station of the A. B. c. F. NJ. During the third
week of May last, in a strong order issued by the
Pasha and the Kayiurmakum addressed to the
DruSe Governors in the mountain, for the efficient
protection of all the American missionaries in their
respective districts we the first recognized per-
mission of Government for civil war between the
Druses and Christians. We knew their mutual
animosties hereditary antipathes, bitter retala-
tons; and the entire failure of government to in
terere except for their increased alienation and the
effusion of their blood. For weeks together we
saw the Druses removing their families and goods
southwark, and heard that the Christians, in like
manner, were removing southwark Alarmed at
these indications, On Tuesday, the 29th May, Wis
tied the chief bruce, Akkal, in this neghborhood,
found him anxious and earnest myself for pre-
serving peace, suggested the united mediation of all
especially the English and Frencb) consular author
tiles in Beyrout to intervene and prevent the threat
o,,olh orh If civ opIyr ooDH
dentially assured that their mediation would be
most acceptable to all the Druse Akas and Sheiks,
but that the SheikS, challenged to fight could never
ask for it. however desirable it might be. But alas
for Lebanon! the already begun. 1t COM
menced about A. NJ. of the same day, three hours
beyond us at the White Back Mountain, between
the Christians from Zahleh two thousand in num-
Der, more or less, coming up to burn the Druse vii
lagos; and one hundred and fifty or two hundred
gathered to oppose them and defend their
country. During the same afternoon, another band
of Christians, several hundreds IN number from the
North, came down upon Belt Miro about P NJ,
at the northwest of us, in full view of Beyrout
compelled the fifty Druses resident there to retire.
and burned their houses and other hamletS and so-
lated dwellings of the DruSes in that neighborhood
In the of the night following, almost all the
villages in the Metro District of mixed population
at the north of us, were set on fire, Druse and
Christian neghbors mutually contending for the
only few persons on both sides were killed. The
next morning, Wednesday, May 80, after sleepless
night, while | was with my family engaged in d.
vine worship, the whole population of Bhamdun
with few exceptions, suddenly rushed towards my
house, crying THE Druses are upon usw 1t was
a false alarm. Determined, if possible, 10 restore
confidence and save the village, condition that
one should 60 to war nor fire gun in Bhamdun,
without express orders except the forfeiture Of
his own life offered to identify my residence and
American citizenship with the tranquility and pre-
servaton of the village. My position was most
fully sustained by the Druse Governor, and by the
American Ambassador at Constantinople as their
official correspondence at the American consulate
plainly shows. Since that date, the Druse Cover
nor himself or his representative, came and resided
here often acknowledging that the presence and in
huence of the missionaries have saved his village,
always declaring that Bhamdun shall not be plum
dered while he lives. 1t is the triumph of preach
ing the gospel and living professionalism. A second
engagement in the field occurred on Wednesday, the
9th Of June. The Christians set on fire two Druse
houses in Faugha, in full view Of the point Hun
dreds on each side were engaged all day. The
Druses, thrice repulsed themselves, succeeded at
last in driving back the Christians to the vineyards
of Zaleh. And sir, from the aforesaid Tuesday,
May 90, when We saw and heard the first fighting
and burning of this war; for twenty-five days in
succession could see at this point the smoke and
flames of this great confagraton continually ascend
in one village after another, the smoke of fur
mace, toward Heaven while it extended from Bru-
mana, the capital Of the Christians, southwark to
Sidon, eastward to Hasbeiya, and northward to
Baabec, over an area of over one thousand square
miles. Expelled ourselves from Zahleh, in May of
last year, for Professionalism, heard, with
greet of the sudden expulsion Of all its families by
the Druses and the destruction of all their dwell
lings in a whirlwnd of fire. On Monday, June Is,
We saw the Turkish troops passing and melting the
DruSes to the attack the Saturday previous and
heard of similar indictments to the shocking barba-
rites of Sidon, DER ell Komr, Hasbeiya, Rasheya
and Damascus. Alas, for Lebanon and all Syria
| Alas, for the absence of all government at such a
timc Alas for the unfortunate divisions of the
Christian Consus in their opposite instructions and
ideas of policy Alas for the wild passions and self
ish lusts of our fallen nature mngling in the
and circumstances of this unmerciful war! The
wrath of God Almighty has fallen upon the goodly
mountain, Lebanon is laid waste; Damascus, Has
beyiya, bier Ell Roma, Zahleh, and two hundred
other towns and villages desolate, and all Syria
is now filled with homeless widows and orphans.
But welcome, Sir, thrice a thousand times well
to the united fleets of England and France with
the Ottoman Government. In the name Of God and
all Humanity bid you welcome, Sir, and most earn
estly beg your united consideration and compassion
towards the several communities of this unhappy
land in all their interests and relations which may
accord with the Providence of God and the ends of all
true for the restored prosperity of the
whole country and the social and permanent tran
guilty of its inhabitants.
have the honor, Sir
to be your faithful servant,
WIN. A. BENTON,
Citizen of the United States of America. "