The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-05-08
A MARONITE MISSIONARY.
Father YazbGk Holding Services For
the Local Colony.

The Missionary to Deliver an Illus
trated Lecture Tomorrow Night.
Some Interesting Facts About Father
Yazbek and His People.
Rev. Joseph Yazbek, a famous Maronite
missionary, is in the city, a guest of Rev.
P. H. Mcmahon at St. Patrick's church
parsonage. Savannah has quite a colony
of Maronites, and at $50 O'Clock yester-
day morning Father Yazbek celebrated
mass for his people at st. Patrick's
church according to the Maronites rites
and preached to them in their native
tongue. The entire colony was present.
The mass according to this ancient rite
was something entirely new to the bal
ance of the congregation and was an in
teresting ceremony, Incense is used al
most constantly during the mass, and at
one point a male Maronitc stops into the
church aisle and reads responses in the
Svriac language. Father Yazbek is giving
a mission to the Maronites here and
theres will be another mass for them
at St. Patrick's at o'clock tonight,
which will also be conducted in the Syriac
language
A TALK ON THE HOLY LAND.
He preached a highly entertaining
sermon at the high mass on a ''Pilgrinage
to the Holy Land" Beginning with a
beautiful description Of Lebanon, the
northern district of Palestine, so
frequently referred to in the pages of
Holy Writ Father Yazbek carried his
hearers along the route from Mount
Carmel on the northern coast. toward
Jerusalem, touching the several places of
intcrest-the Dead Sea, Jericho Betlis-
iado, and concluded with vivid word
picture of the ancient city of Jerusalem.
In describing the Dead Sea, the former
siteOf the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah,
the preacher was especially interesting.
Father Yazbek will repeat the lecture
tomorrow night at 7:30 o'clock in the
basement of St. Patrick's church, amply
flying it, and will display eighty views of
the principal points of interest in the Holy
Land 1t will be a treat.
AN INTERESTING LECTURE.
He carries his hearers {, 900 miles to the
Holy Land, and with a familiar tread born
of years residence and study among it's
sacred hills and escorts them from one
point of interest to another. OF each
spot which marks an event in the life of
Christ the missionary gives a pleasing
description.
Father Yazbek has been in America
about two years and has Travelled thou
sands OF miles, visiting all of
the larger cities and a number
Of the smaller. His success has been
great He estimates that there are about
10000 MarOnite Catholics in the United
States. The 1MarOnites are under the
jurisdiction of the patriarch Of Antioch,
who derives his authority from the pope
FATHER YAzBEKs HISTORY.
An interesting history attaches to
Father Yazbek, his people and his mis-
sion The reverend father was born in
the village of Ghaballeh, in Lebanon, in
1887. He entered college in 1866 and left
twelve years after, In 1880-'81 he taught
in st. Louis College, Chair; 1SS2-'S3 at
Charity College, Aramoon; 1SS3'86 at
OntOura or Lazarists' College and in
1oS6-90 at Mgr. DebS' College, BcyrOut.
In 1890 the patriarch of Antioch, at the
suggestion Of the holy sec, determined to
sent a priest to the United States. His
choice fell upon Father Peter KOrllemaz
who had spent many years as a mission
airy in the Latin patriarchate of Jeru-
salem, and who had sent large numbers of
schismatics back to the true fold. Father
Peter was not conversant with any of the
European tongues, and the patriarch
appointed as his companion and
interpreter Mr.. YaZbelQ who
was quite a linguist but who had
not be ordained to the priesthood 1t was
determined, however, that Father Peters
companion should be ordained in this
country and acknowledgement his arrival
he began the study of the English Ian
guage in St Johns College, Fordham, N.
\, and was ordained by Archbishop
Corrlgan on March 1. 1891. Father Peter
assumed charge of chapel in New York
where services according to the Maronites'
rites are conducted, and Father Yazbek
began his missionary labors.
HIS PEOPLE THE FIRST CHRISTIANS.
The Maronites were the first Chris
tlans and have proved worthy of the
name. According TO tradition they re-
celVed the faith from the al ostles them
selves and were known as Syrians until
Ine n1th century, when the HISTORIAN and |
Eutychian herCsies threatened to make !
serious havoc Of their Catholic household
a learned NIaronite abbot defended
tnelf position so well that the |
formidable invasion withdrew and the |
people decided to call him their |
leader and themselves his followers The |
monks OF Lebanon We're ever afterward !
called the monks of Maron. On one oc- !
caslon, while going to preach in defense |
Vi Cathollc doctrine, a treachcrOuS band |
OF Schlsmatics set on these good fathers |
anu Killed 800 of them. Their feast is |
aoted on the Roman martyrology ON July |
81, as Disciples of st. Maron"
/, Toward the end of the seventh century |
inc Maronites were called on to defend |
Lnelf 1dlth from another severe attack.
schlSm by monk named John, whom |
iney Surnamed j. Maron, because of his |
likeness to their founder in his wonderful |
leal in rcpelling the insidious attacks of |
I9e subtle Monathelites In reward for !
MS services John Maron was made bishop |
VI Botrys and afterward patriarch of |
Al1qoeh, which latter dignity he received |
d. Ihe hands of Pope Sergius.
FIGHTING TIE MoHAMMEDANs.
T. In those days the Maronites held sway |
from Jerusalem to Antioch. and it was |
not until the eighth or ninth century that |
me Mohammedan forces drove them to |
snc mountains, where they have since re-
manned more or less under the cruel Otto |
man yoke. Early in the twelfth century
S3yhohc Europe rose in arms TO drive the |
IoIoWers Of Ali from the Holy Land, |
winch was being polluted by those |.
!uhunan fanatics. This was an event Of |
Importance TO the MarOnites and they |
rendered invaluable aid TO the defenders |
VI me holy scpulcher, and. above all, to |
me brave and generous Louis TX of /
I rance, whsm. when he lay a prisoner in |
E,ag%pt, they tried to liberate by sending |
9G'UOO OF their countrymen to his /
aIo. When Godfrey de Bouillon |
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