The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-01-31
a RELIGIOUS ROMANCE.
THE STRANGE HISTORY OF AN ARAB
POTENTATE'S LIFE.


THE STRANGE HISTORY OF AN ARAB
POTENTATE'S LIFE.
A BAPTIST STORY OF ABDUCTION AND FORCED
MARRIAGE IN A FOREIGN CoUNTRY--THE
SEED OF THE CHURCH IN ARABIA.
The National Baptist relates this remark
able romance: About twenty-fiVs years ago
a company of young men started out from
Damascus, headed for Jerusalem. They
had not gone far before a band of armed
horsemen surrounded them, and ordered
a halt. The leader said the caravan might
move on, unhurt and uDharmed, II they
would deliYer up one Of their number,
young man pamed Randall, who should not
suffer if he would come along with them
peacefully. The terms, though hard, we're
acceded to, and the last look his compan-
ions had OF him was to see him mounted on
a fine horse attended by the gay horsefnen
Of the BedOuin sheik or the LIS Arish tribe,
which tribe usually winter in the neighbor-
hood OF Damascus, and ia the summer move
south and east over the greas plain, seeking
pasturage and water tor their flocks and
herds.
THE BEAUTIFUL ARzALIA.
The young man was taken to the sheik's
tent, and to his surprise found magnificent
entertainment awaiting him. What does it
all mean? Arzalia, the shelk's daughter,
has seen the young man and fallen passion
ateIy in love with him, and this Is the we'd
ding feast. The young man aud Arzalis are
married. There was no escape tor him.
His tent was guarded by night and his per
son watched by day, lest he should escape,
and this guard kept over him Tor years. De
and Arzalia, however, seemed happy. chill
dren we're born to them, and their domestic
life was marked by kindness, courtesy and
true affection. Randall rapidly scquir6d the
Arabic language; his wife as rapidly mas
tered the English. Their children were
taught in both. Now, who was this Ran-
dali? In Oneida county, New York, Ines
bis father, who has never seen the is& Of
his son. This father is now a man of some
seventy years, who was brought up among
the Indians and has travelled again ard
again with the hunters of his tribe over the
entire Mississippi valley in search of fish and
game. At the age of twenty-One the chief
OF his tribe said: "YOu had better return to
the white people, for among them you can
10 more Of man than among the Indians"
THE FATHERS MARRIAGE,
He returned, secured a Welsh lady for his
vile, and while she was on a visit to her
relations in Wales this son was born. The
mother dying soon after his birth, he re-
mained until manhood with his kindred in
Wales. and was taking trip through Syris,
previous TO his return TO America, when he
was captured by the sheik and compelled to
marry his daughter. His mother wss a
Baptist, and he, before he left Wales for the
0rleut, was baptized. When he was ad-
mitted to the sheik's family they
hsd to receive his reli gion as we'll as his per-
son. Through him his wife became a Chris
tian; his father-in-law became patron Of bis
faith; his children were brought
up sin the fear of the Lord :" his son has be-
come sheik of the tribe-the father-in-law
having died. All the surrounding tribes
have become favorable to the new religion,
and have pledged their swords in its deerse.
Many have been baptized; hundreds of chill
dren have been taught the new religion.t
ROSA RANDALL's TRIAL.
But dervish, zealot of the Mohamnne-
dan faith, had for long time been endsav-
oring to stir up opposition and prosecutions;
he strove to have Randall's sons thrown out
of the employ Of the Turkish government,
and, falling in this, turned his assault upon
a daughter of the foreigner, and charged her
with witchcrsft and spostasy from the true
faith. She was brought before the meglis,
composed OF one hundred and forty-four
venerable sheiks and effendis, to answer
charges which involved her life. The
charges having been presented and sub
stantiaied as best they could be by wit
pesses, she was called upon to answer
them through her advocate. She, although
but fourteen years of age, and dressed in
the neatest manner, and with placid face,
and calm heart, and unfalteriDg trust, re-
sponded, "Most venerable fathers, will re-
ply in person." and then, with fervor, and
faith, and power, holding her Bible in her
hand, and frequently reading passages from
it. SIZE made defense worthy an apostle;
and when she. finished the unanimous ver-
dict was in her favor. and the chiefs of the
tribes pledged each other their swords anew
to defend all Christians who thought and
felt ss Rosa did. But the old dervish
breathed revenge, and determined to take
thai young life.
DEATH OF ROSA.
The trial was in October, 1872. In June,
1873, while Rosa was teaching a class of
forty-two little girls. in a grove, the way to
heaven, the dervish stealthily approached,
and before any one was aware he had muir
dered the maid and fed. The fieetsst horses
of the tribe, with armed riders, went in pur-
suit. He was soon captured, tried and exc
cuted. But the work is growing, the truth
is spreading, and a new chapter in the
history OF spreading Gospel light has been
unveiled to us, alike startling and impress
sive. When the whole story Is told-as il
soon will be-a more remarkable chapter
in the history of the preaching of
the gospel has not been offered this csn-
tury. In the last letter from Lady ArzAiia
Le Avish RANDALL, giving ali the particulars
of her ehild's trial and tragic death, occurs
this beautiful sentence and earnest request:
Pray Tor me, that my piety may be as
humble as the violet, as enduring as the
olive, and as fragrant as the ORIENT" We
hope, in the course of a year, 10 offer the
readers of this sketch the entire story, from
the hut of the Indian TO the tented church
of the Bedouln; but we could not consent to
keep "the glad tidings' to ourselves any
longer and SO have told our story In brief