The weekly Floridian. [volume] (Tallahassee, Fla.) 1867-19??, 1892-04-23
PERSIAN HERETICS.
a PROSECUTED SECT DRIVEN OUT
BY THE PRESENT SHAH.

WHO In an Exile from His Native Land.
Professor Browne, lecturer in Persian
ut the University Of Cambridge, has
written q curious book, entitled "The
Episode Of the Bah" Probably q few
people know who the Bah is, but Mr..
Brownies researches are certain to
awaken interest in the man who was the
arch hereto Of Persia in the early part
OF the reign Of the present shah. He
died violent death at the hands Of the
government when it was learned that
the heresy that he preached threatened
the peace of the national church. His
followers live and are faithful to his
memory and teachings
Their leaders are in exile, and Profess
sor Brownies book tells of his extraordi-
nary exertions to see them and get their
story from their own lips. They are
scattered far and wide. Some of them
are in Cyprus; others are in Palestine,
safe from the vengeance of the shah. All
Of them would expect to lose their heads
If they showed themselves in Persia.
Only the humble followers Of the Bah
live unmolested in their own country,
holding their meetings secretly for fear
OF the persecution of the angry Mollahs.
The Bah was a Mohammedan re-
former, who went to Mecca and came
back with new commentary on the
Koran. He spoke of himself as superior
TO Mohammed and to all other great re-
hgious reformers, but he announced
that a greater than he was coming. That
greater one is Beha, who lives in an
earthly paradise called Behje, near
Tyre, where Professor Browne found
him. The author says he feels quite un-
equal to the task of conveying a vivid
impression of the faces and forms that
surrounded him during his visit to this
strange retreat. He almost runs short
Of adjectives when he describes the
wondrous and venerable figure of the
holy man. He says he beheld q face
which he will never forget, although he
cannot describe it. The piercing eyes
seemed to read his very soul ''No need
to ask in whose presence stood as /
bowed myself before one who is the OBJ
ject of devotion and love which kings
might envy and enperors sigh for in
vain"
Beha's preaching is a prophecy of the
''most great peace" and of the brother
hood and unity Of man. The brother
hood of the entire race is coming, he
predicts. Prof. Browne says Beha knows
the exact position of European affairs
and is sorry for the western nations.
He sees kings and rulers lavishing their
treasures III the purchase Of means of
destruction instead of procuring the
means of happiness. Weakness, con-
cord, obedience, submission are the es-
sentials of his secret IN the perfect way.
he is loved and revered by all his fol-
lowers wherever they may be, and many
message from him is read in the secret
meetings in Persia of the humble fol-
lowers of the Bah.
The Bah was not learned in the law
like the great doctors of the church,
and for that reason they held him in
contempt. It was his habit to dispute
with them in the temples, and although
he was ignorant his wisdom put thei,
knowledge to shame. They said he
proved himself an impostor because he
talked bad grammar. He showed them
that his grammar was the grammar of
the Koran, and asked them if it was not
better to be wrong with the prophet
than right with the rest of the world.
Whenever he became too troublesome
they beat him with rods. At last they
had him shot. A company of infantry
was drawn up, and the Bah and one of
his followers were placed before it as
targets. The first discharge killed the
follower, but only broke the cords that
bound the prophet. He might have con-
Yerted his executioners then If he had
had time to make the most of the situa-
ton. But before he could speak the
second volley was fired and the Bah
died Of many wounds.
His followers were terribly incensed
at the outrage. and tried to assassinate
the shah. 1t is said that he tainted with
terror at the sight of the conspirators,
and was only saved by the timely arri-
val of his escort. For time he made
Persia very unsafe for the followers of
the Bah. He killed their leaders, and
TO this day those who escaped from their
native land have never dared to return.
ton Lass of the movement, the beauti-
full Kurratu 1-'Ayn, who, it is said. was
q miracle of learning and of every femi-
nine charm. She was killed by slow
,tgture, and to the very last she declared
hi supreme faith in the teachings of
the Bab The Mollahs who slew her
came near rebelling few months ago
when their lord and master threatened
to interfere with the tobacco question
I'm Persia. They made him tremble for
his life and throne until the obnoxious
measures he proposed were rescinded.
Meanwhile Beha is waiting patiently
IN exile, confident that the day will come
when his teachings will triumph in Per-
sia and the leaders of his faith can re-
turn to their land.-Ncw York Sun.