Semi-weekly south Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1883-1889, 1886-12-10
A SYRIAN's STORY.
Thrilling Narrative of Terrible Massacre
Of Christians in Damascus.


, A gentleman of medium height and
slender built, with black hair and dark
complexion, appeared before a small
audience in the chapel of the Woodland
Avenue Presbyterian Church not long
ago. twas understood that he was to
make a missionary address, but he sur
prised his hearers with something re-
'freshingly difIerentfrom the stercotypcd
missionary dissertation. As an eN-
ample of conciseness and good English
tho effort should have been heard by
many ministers. The speaker was Mr..
Mulhanna L. Barakat. of Syria, now
student at Auburn Theological Semi
nary. He took rs his text the words OF
God to Saul, found in the ninth chapter
of Acts: saul! Saul! why persGcutest
thou me?"
The speaker said that Syria is oc-
cupicd by two classes, the proper resi-
dents, who are descendants of the
PhGnicians, and who are descended
from the time of the apostles. The
others are the Mohammedans, the i'm
ported inhabitants. The capital of the
country is Damascus, a city of 100000
inhabitants, 10000 Of whom are
Mohammedans, who persecutc the
Christians. Approaching Damascus
one secs an open space which will be
pointed out to the visitor as the very
spot where Saul heard the voice;
"Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?"
The street mentioned in the Acts as the
street called Straight is not straight,
and the Acts is careful to explain that
it is merely called Straight, Mr.. Null
hanna lived in Damascus near this
street. He referred frequently and
with bitter emphasis to the MOhammc-
dams who conquered the country and
subjected to the sword all who refused to
accept their religion. The very Same
Islam means to conquer. The belief
of the Moharhmedans is that God
is Just TO punish other nations,
while His mercy is extended to-
ward the Mohammedans. They de-
clare that at the day OF judgment the
people will be gathered by nations, the
Christians headed by Christ, the Islam
ties by Mohammed. and so on. Each
nation led by its prophet will be re-
ouired to walk narrow way like the
edge of a sword. Thus in single file
they will be walking toward Heaven,
when suddenly there will come cry
from Heaven and all will tumble down
to hell. Another sect will try it and
meet the same fate, Finally only the
Mohammedans will remain, and they,
conducted by Mohammed, will hear a
voice from Heaven crying: "a sinful
nation but a merciful God, welcomed
Their heaven will be large garden
with fruits. Their angels will be wait
ers to serve them with roast beef and
all luxuries.
The most thrilling part Of the address
was the Syrian's story of the terrible
massacre in Damascus twenty-siX years
ago. He said: Zone evening my father
returned home earlier than usual, and
we children heard him talking seriously
with mother about danger of an out
break among the Mohammedans. Next
morning my brother and |, then small
boys, went to school as usual. Soon
we heard screaming, and the teachers
ran away. We emerged from the
school building to see the houses in
/ flames. The women whose husbands,
sons and brothers had been murdered
bv the Mohammedans had taken refuge
| in house and we ran in among them.
Then the mob burned the school-house.
We finally made an effort to reach
home, but we found the buildings on
the street called Straight, through
which we had to pass, on fire, and we
could not get through. Back OF us was
the mob, in front of us the fire. A
Mohammedan found us crying and
babe us follow him. Many Moham-
medans Tered Christian children to their
houses and murdered them. We en-
pected the same fate and refused to
90. Then another Mohammedan lifted
an axe dripping with blood over us as
if to kill us, and we ran to the first
mentioned Mohammedan, for we saw
he had no weapon, He proved to be a
kind man and kept us concealed nine
days. Our parents and sisters had
taken refuge in the castle, and l can
not describe the scene when our mother
learned that her boys were alive, and
when the family was again united for
the first time after the massacre. 1t was
proved to be the last time. My father
was out to get food for the children
and was never again seen alive. My
mother frantically searched for him.
She asked a man if he had seen my
father. His only reply was to show a
blood-stained weapon. My mother
understood then. She never recovered
from the shock. Then my sister, hay
/ ing no one to care for her, died The
others Of us finally sought safety il
Alexandria, and there again we werC
compelled TO pass through another ter
rible massacre of Christians by Mo
hammedans. We fed to America, tn,
land of the free, where we arrived fou
, wears ago. Cleveland Plain Dealer.