The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-07-05
The Bah.

DuG inc mOSC 1OrmluaDle religious
movement the East has known in many
years, an impulse which still operates
with increasing energy and of which
the end cannot be coniectured, was
originated by an obscure fanatic named
Ali Mohammed, but who is known
among his followers as the Bah Cor
gate,) and whose faith, now entrenched
and waxing throughout the empire, is
denominated Babsm. He was the son
of a grocer of Shiraz, and, like Mo
manned, 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
Imaua. 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
pretensions 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 null
titudes thronged round and 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, portion of the substance of
the Almighty himself. But prophet
is additionally 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 as that which MOhammed
infused into his followers. There were
many proselytes among the priesthood
and the schism, hitherto local and OBJ
scure, broke out simultaneously in all
parts of the empire. In 1850 the chief
priest of Zingan, q city on the road
from Tabriz to Teheran, publicly
avowed his belief in the new faith, and
an army was sent against him. With
thousands of followers he took refuge
within the walls of the city
and maintained seige for
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 the
seige, the Persians, maddened by the
obstinacy of his followers and alarmed
at the spread of his doctrines, brought
forth the Bah to execution. He was
bound to a post with ropes, and file
| VI lhuohCtCCLS, hb GliC NOlh VI
discharged a volley at him. When the
smoke cleared away it was found that
the bullets had cut the ropes which
bound him, and he had disappeared.
The soldiers and the multitudes assem-
bled to witness the execution were for
a moment awed at what seemed to
them a miracle. But in few minutes
the fugitive was discovered, I'M
wounded, in the guard house near by,
where he had taken refuge. He was
brought out again, and this time was
shot. If he had reached the bazaar
near at hand, instead of the guard
house, he would very likely have
escaped, as he had multitudes of secret
friends and believers among the people
there, and they would have concealed
him. 1t may be imagined than an
occurrence so miraculous as his disap-
pearance would have been hailed every
where throughout the East as proof
of his divine mission. As it is, Babism
is vital and augmenting spiritual
force in Persia, and having in view
the impassioned and fanatcal character
of the people among whom it has struck
its roots, he would be a bold prophet
who should venture to forecast its
future. Trherau, PERSIA, Cor. Brook
| Iyn Edqle.