Smyrna times., 1892-09-21
PERSIAN HERETICS.
A Prosecuted SECT DRIVEN OUT
BY THE PRESENT SHAH.

mOham-
medan RefOrmer-His Brave Though
Untimely Death-The Greater Beba.
Who Is an Exile from His Native Land.
Professor Browne, lecturer in Persian
at the University of Cambridge, has
written a curious book, entitled "The
Episode of the Bah" Probably a 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
i've unmolested in their own country.
holding their meetings secretly for fear
OF the persecution of the angry MolIabs
The Bah was a Mohammedan ro-
former, who went to Mecca and cana
Dack with new commentary on the
Koran. He spoke of himself as suDerior
to Mohammed and to all other great re-
hglous reformers, but he announced
that a greater than he was coming. That
greater one Is Beha, who lives in am
earthly paradise called Behie near
Tyre, where Professor Browne fOund
MN. The author says he feels quite nm
equal TO the task Of conveying a vivid
impression of the faces and forms that
surrounded him during his visit 70 tbis
strange retreat. He almost runs short |
OF adJectives when he describes the |
wondrous and venerable figure of tbe |
holy man. He says he beheld a face |
which he will never forget, although he |
cannot describe it. The piercing ewes
seemed to read his very soul. ono need |
10 ask IN whose presence | stood as 7
bowed myself before one who is the oh
Ject OF devotion and love which kin,,s
might envy and emperors sigh for in
vain"
Beha's preaching is 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
lie sees kings and rulers lavishino tbei,.
treasures III the purchase of means Of
destruction instead Of procuring the
means of happiness. Meekness CON
cord, obedience, submission are tba es
OF his secret in the perfect wav
de IS loved and revered by all his fol
lowers wherever they may be. and many
! message from him is read in the secret
IN Persia of the humble fol
lowers of the Bah.
Inc Bah was not learned in the law
Ike the great doctors Of the church
lnd Tor that reason they held him in
1t was his habit to disn,,+o +
With them IN the temples, and altbongb !
No was ignorant his wisdom mt their ;
to shame. They said La
'roved himself an impostor because be
aIked bad grammar He showed tbar
nat ms grammar was the grammar of
ne Koran, and asked them if it was not a.
eCIer 10 be wrong with the propbet re
nan right with the rest of the world
Whenever he became too troublesome
hey beat him with rods. At last tbo,y :
az MN shot. company of infantrv
as drawn up, and the Bah and ono of
Is followers were placed before If as
lrgets. The first discharge killed 4bo G
'uower' but only broke the cords that "a
ound the prophet. He might have con
5rted his execulOners then if he had
al time to make the most of the sit,,a-
on But before he could speak the
cond volley was fired and the Rah :,
ed Of many wounds. D
his followers were terribly inceneed iol
the outrage, and tried to assassinota pl
e shah. 1t Is said that he faixted wifi II
rror at the sight of the consDiratovs da
ID was only saved by the timely a,,.;' sa, sH
i OF his escort. For q time be NIL -
'lsla very unsafe for the followers of !.
Bab. He killed their leaders. and n
thls DAY those who escaped from their
tive land have never dared TO return 81
nong the victims was the one saliva. Be,
N Lass OF the movement. the bea1ti-
Aurratu l-Ayn, who, it is said. was
miracle OF learning and of every fa,ni- Aft
10 charm' She was killed bv slou, Go, G1o,
'ture, and to the very last she declared Co
supreme faith in the teachings of CD l.
Bah. The Mollahs who slew bor Goi
Ae near rebelling few months AGO M, ,G,
zen their lord and master Threatened ''@
interfere with the tobacco ouestion
Persia. They made him trernble for L.
life and throne until the obnorions nj
assures he proposed were rescinded
leanwhile Beha is waiting patientlv
exile, confident that the day will como Uns
en- his teachings will triumph in Per- Y,
and the leaders of his faith can ro- ing
n to their land.-New York sun '"'S
" ALI
fam