The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1892-05-28
PERSIAN HERETICS.
4 PROSECUTED SECT DRIVEN OUT
BY THE PRESENT SHAH.

The Rise and Fan Of nab, the Moham-
medan Rcformer-His Brave Though
Untimcly Death-The Greater Beba,
who Is an Exile from His Native Land.
Professor Browne. lecturer in Persian
at the University Of Cambridge, has
written curious book, entitled "The
Episode of the Bah" Probably a few
people know who the Bah is but Mr..
Brownies researches are certain 10
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 a 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 Profes-
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,
bolding 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 q 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 20 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 udjectives when he describes the
wondrous and venerable figure of the
holy man. lie says he beheld a face
which he viii 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 l
bowed myself before one who is the OBJ
ject of a devotion and love which kings
might envy and emperors 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 in the purchase of means of
| destruction instead Of procuring the
means Of happiness. Meekness. 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 theymay be, and many
a 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. 1t was his habit to dispute
! with them in the temples, and although
he was ignorant his wisdom put their
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 mp, and the Bah and one of
his followers We're placed before it as
targets, The first discharge killed the
follower, but only broke the cords that
bound tile prophet. He might have con.
verted his eSecutioners 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 Bal
died Of many wounds.
His followers were terribly incensed