St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-08-09
COVINGTON, ST. TAMMANY PARISH, La, AUGUST 8, 1884,
The Bah.

But the most formidable religious
movement the East has known in many
wears, an impulse which still operates
with increasing energy and of which
the end cannot be cOnjectured, was
originated by an obscure fanatic named
Ali Mohammed, but who Is known
among his followers as the Bah (or
gate, and whose faith. now entrenched
and waxing throughout the empire, Is
denominated Babism. He was the son
of a grocer of ShiraZ, and, like Mo-
hammed, early began to dream dreams
and see visions. He was educated at
Kerbela, at the feet of great Mo
hammedan doctor who early discovered
in his pupil indications of mystic and
supernatural endowment. From ker-
bella he went to Bushire, where the
spirit of prophecy fell upon him. He
proclaimed the coming of the Twelfth
imaun. He essayed miracles. Those
which are recorded of him seem better
calculated to excite ridicule than Won
der, but they were sufficient to gather
round him a group of believers and
followers. The delusion spread rapidly.
With each accession of proselytes his
pret, n ons of supernatural power and
vision rose. He proclaimed himself
the Twelfth Imaun. In no long time
he avowed himself to be Mohammed
returned to earth again. and claimed
the dominion of all the Mohammedan
| people. Lastly, as increasing mul-
| titudes thronged round aud wor-
shipped him as the orator OF the
holy prophet of God, he advanced
his pretensions to their final limit, and
proclaimed himself the earthly incar-
nation of God himself. 1t seems strange
that the exorbitancy of his successive
| claims did not ALLEVIATE his proselytes,
but it had, instead, the effect of attach
ING them more passionately to him.
They were determined that his native
CITY should hear from his lips of the
mystic transubstantiation which had
made of the grocer's boy OF Shiraz.
whom the priests and elders had doubt
less often seen at play with other boys
near the city gates at evening. or bare
footed in the mosque kneeling at his
prayers, a portion of the substance OF
the Almighty himself. But prophet
is traditionally without honor in his
own country, and the bastinado was
applied to the feet of the Bah with such
promptitude and energy that he made
a full confession of his impostures and
was put in prison. This persecution,
however, only served to increase the
number of his believers, who were pen
etrated with the same fiery and warlike
fanaticism rs that which Mohammed
infused into his followers. There were
many proselytes among the priesthood
and the schism, hitherto local anu Cd
scure, broke out simultaneously In al
parts of the empire. In 1850 the che
priest of Zingan, city ON the roae
from Tabriz to Teheran. publicly
avowed his belief in the new faith, and
an army was sent against him. Witt
thousands of followers he took refuge
within the walls of the city
and maintained "a seige fo
many months, but was at last over
come, and his entire garrison, includ
ing the women and children, was slain
Meantime. during the progress OF th'
seiee, the Persians, maddened by thu
obstinacy of his followers and alarmed
at the spread of his doctrines, brough
forth the Bah to execution. he wa
bound to a post with ropes. and 4 fil
of musketeers, at the word OF command
discharged q volley at him. When tn
smoke cleared away it was found tina
the bullets had cut the ropes whic
I, hound him, aud he had disappeared
a The soldiers and the multitudes assem-
! bled to witness the execution were TO
, g. moment awed at what seemed t
them miracle. But in few minute
a the fugitive was discovered, uu
= wounded, in the guard house near by
, where he had taken refuge. He wa
: brought out again, and this time wa
q shot. If he had reached the baza
q near at hand, instead of the guar
4 house, he would very likely hav
!. escaped, as he had multitudes of secrt
4 friends and believers among the peopl
4 there, and they would have conceale
a him. 1t may be imagined than
n occurrence so miraculous as his disal
4 pearance would have been hailed every
= where throughout the East as a proc
ID of his divine mission. As it is, Babisl
i is . vital and augmenting spirltu;
:. force in Persia, and, having in vie
!, the impassioned and fanatical charact'
a CT the people among whom it has struc
!. its roots. he would be bold proph
!. who seould venture to forecast
I. future. iTrherau, Persia. Cor. Broo
-, E11f1