The Morning herald., 1877-06-12
THE MARONITEs.

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I tains, nestled amidst its cedar forests, may
b. found great numbers Of villages, in-
habited by Christian people called the
Maronites. They are also to be found in
Antioch, Aleppo, Damascus, Tripoli, and
in lesser numbers in other Turkish cities.
Alone Of all The Eastern peoples, they
have resisted the conquering scimitar of
the Saracen, and the Turk. For one
thousand years they have held against he
! whole Mohammedan Empire the rugged
passes Of Lebanon, and maintained u stur-
dy independence. These people number
about 100000, and are able TO send into
\ the field, upon an emergency, their entire
fighting population. They are an indus>
trious people, we'll advanced in the niceties
Of civilization, religious, and we'll educa-
tel. Their spiritual head is the Patriarch
ofAntioch, who resides at Kesrewan.
10 the seventh century the followers Of
J M,hamet captured Damascus, and con.
quered the greater part of Syria; the har-
dy mountaineers Of Libanus opened their
doors to the flying Christians from the
plains, and confronted the Saracen. The
mountain homes of the Maronites were
thus the first barrier to the tide Of Sara
cenic conquest, which was pouring onward
from the sands of the desert, and the sue
cessor Of Mohamet, was compelled for the
first time in his career, to bend before the
warriors Of the mountains. At this time
these Christian mountaineers were led bv
John the Maronite, at once Bishop OF
Djebail, and leader of the people. He intro
duced municipal government, Injured them
to military discipline and taught them to
rely upon their good right hands, and the
God Of battles. They enlarged their domain
until it reached almost to the walls of Je-
rusalem. The Emperor of Constantine
pie, Justiman l., to carry out some piece
Of Imperial policy, endeavored to induce
them to remove from their mountain home s
and leave free passage for the Saracen.
1t were narrowing story to relate the
treachery Of the Byzantine Emperor and
his agents, enough to say that the Maron-
ties suffered much through treachery. and
lost many Of their towns and villages, in
addition to the great Monastery of Hama,
which contained priceless treasures of sy-
rian manuscripts.
For about four centuries a pail closes
over them, the East resounded with the
din Of arms, and no doubt the Maronites
sustained their ancient reputa,i IN for valor,
In the Crusades we read Of them as
faithful and una'nching allies of the Chris
tians. After the fall of Antioch, in the
middle Of the thirteenth century, the cru,
city and bigotry of Bendecar, the Sultan
oil Egypt, drove the (hrisliana away-in
body were move invited into the Maror-
ite villages, where they were received with
Oriental hospitality. Here, in the very
heart of Mohammedan rule, the sweet tink-
ling of the Sunday morning bells, echoes
across the hills, giving assurance of ex-
emption from the evils of Moslem rule.
for wherever the Turk has full dominion
this privilege is denied the Christian.
In 1910, fierce war broke out between
tbs Dfuses, a half pagan and half Moham
edan tribe inhabiling the eastern slope
the Libanus, and their Maronile neigh
bors. The former were aidedby the Turkish
soidiery, the Maroniles suffered severely
The complications Of the Syrian question:
in 1910, when the great powers inter
vened to restore Syria to the Sultan from
whom twas torn by, the son Of Mehemit
Ali, PAsha Of Egypt there was reason
to raise the hope that Syria still more
than half Christian; would no longer b.
left subject to the Turk, but he erecttd d
unto Christian Kingdom. The selfish
policy Of England defeated the scheme
In our time there is another chance
through the Intervention of Russia. It is
shame that the land consecra,ed by the
labors Of our Lore, that the cave OF
Bsthlehum, the towers Of Nazsruth, the
Mount Of Calgary, the cradle of our faith
should resound with the tread Of the brutal
Tark,-the cross shenld be cast down, anc
,be inidel crescent throw its shadow upor
Jerusalem.
The history Of the Maronites, is full o
inspiring lessons-lessons which in III,