Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1892-08-28
PERSIAN HERETTCS.
A PROSECUTED SECT DRIVEN OUT
~ THE PRESENT SHAH.

Tho Rise ana ran Of nab. the mohAm-
meaan Reformsr-His Brave Though
UntimeIy Death-The Greater BebA.
Who 10 an Exile from ITS Native Land.
Professor Browne. lecturer in Persian
OF the University Of Cambridge, has
written curious book. entitled The
Episode Of the Bah" Probably few
people know who the Bah Is. but MIR.
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 violent death Mt the hands of the
government when 1t 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
| il 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 Mohammedan re-
former, who went TO Mecca and came
back with new commentary on the
Koran. He spoke of himself as superior
I NJ. 4 N
hgious reformers. but he announced
that a greater than he was coming. That
greater one is Bella, who lives in an
earthly paradise called Behje, near
Tyre, where Professor Browne found
him The author says he feels quite I'M
equal to the task OF conveying vivid
imp ession of the faces and forms that
surrounded him during his visit TO this
strange retreat. He almost runs short
Of hdjectiyes when he describes tho
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 tie OBJ
ject of devotion and love which kings
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
He sees kings and rulers lavishing their
; treasures in 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 ia the perfect way.
, He is loved and rcvered by all his fol-
! lowers wherever they may 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. Ii was his habit to dispute
a 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
4 the Koran. and asked them If it was not
!. better to be wrong with the prophet
A than right with the rest Of the world
!, Whenever he became too troublesome
, they beat him with rods. AT last they
4 had him shot. A company of infantry
, was drawn up. and the Bah and one OF
. his followers were placed before it as
ii targets. The first discharge killed the
= follower. but only broke the cords that
/. bound the prophet. He might have con-
!. verted his executiouers then IL he had
!. had time to make the most of the situa-
!, ton. But before he could speak the
a second volley was fired and tho Bah
a died of many wounds.
His followers were terribly incensed
n ut the outrage, and tried 10 assassinate
!, the shah. II is said that he tainted with
u terror at the sight Of the conspirators
4 and was only saved by the timely ARR.
m val of his escort. For time he made
10 Persia very unsafe for the followers 81
. the Bah lie killed their leaders, and
% to this day those who escaped from then
y native land have never dared to return
i Among the victims was the one Saliva
a full Kurratn 1-'Ayn, who, Ii il snid. was
Il q miracle of learning and of every femi
!. nine charm. She was killed by slow
torture. and to the very last she declared
her supreme faith in the teachings o.
the Bah. The Mollahs who slew hel
II. came near rebelling few months ago
n when their lord and master threatened
4 70 interfere with the tobacco question
,n in Persia. They made him tremble fol
he his life and throne until the obnoxious
n. measures he proposed were rescinded.
r. Meanwhile Bella Is waiting patiently
ly In exile, confident that the day will come
n when his teachings will triumph in Per
/ STA and the leaders Of his faith can TO
ar turn TO their land. York Sun.
~ A Coon Story.
l,.aka.l s,,A f,, frn,