The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-20
LAND OF THE SHAH.
A Native Persian Delivers M In.
:crcsting Lecture.
TELLS or INIIuMAN TREATMENT
TO whiei, the Armenian Christian. ofthI.
A.iatio Country arc subjeuted-I'he Lats
Shah, However, wnsnn Advanced Ruler
III ITS Ihbsraliiy --0ntrnges ferpttrnted
On Christian Women Dc.etlbed- alIs.
sionuries Doing Effective Work.

Mr.. David l., shHhbRs lccturcd In tho
First Presbyterian church last night on
tho condition Hnd needs OF the Armen.
lans and Christians living In PcrslH. The
church was we'll flilcd and the interest
that was manifested showed that the
congregation was In sympathy with all
the eloquent and interesting speaker
said.
Mr.. Shahbaz IL native OF Groom
lah, Persia, and Is now a pupil at the
Mccormick Theological Seminary, Of
Chicago, from which no Will graduate
next year. At the completion OF his
course he wilt go back to Persia as a
Presbyterian missionary to the Moham-
mcdans, and II was with this end In
view that he came to this country for
his theological education.
The services last night were opened
by Rev. Joseph specr. Of the Second
Presbyterian church, who introduced
the speaker In d few well chosen words
Mr., Shahb1z began by calling nttGn.
American institutions, OF this countrys
resources and its prosperous condition.
This lie attributed as tho reward Of
Just God for tho obedience OF the Amer
lean people to His win. lie contrasted
to this the present condition OF Persia,
and drew a vivid picture OF the GUS
toms and habits OF the natives OF that
country. Their mode OF living, their
wearing apparel and their religion.
were spoken OF. lie spoke OF their
cruel methods OF punishment and OF tic
tortures inflicted and described the
various means OF execution infinitely.
TIL last Shah, said the speaker, was
very liberal to the Christians OF his
country and recognized the Armenians
and Christians to Il greater extent than
any of his predecessors. The present
Shah has not had time to give EVIL
dence OF the course he will pursue In
the punishment Of those intlctIng out
RACES on the weaker element OF the
country. but It Is to be hoped that IN will
go farther and be more severe than
any OF the former rulers.
The speaker told Of the way taxes arc
collected In Persia and 10 whom the
revenues go. The rulers OF each Sec
ti0r province acquired the title By
purchasing the tract Of land over
which they rule, then they tax the In
habltants any amount they Ike and as
often rs they desire. There Is no speCi-
fled time for the collections 10 be made.
but the ruler can order one at any
time. II any OF his subjects refuse to
pay or are too poor to do SO, they are
tortured md banished from the land.
There Is no Justice In Persia for n
Christian or an Armenian, said the
speaker. Neither Is given trial and
both are often punished for nothing. II
Il Mohamm1dan kills a Christian or
an Armenian. 1t Is looked upon as a
sacrifice and no investigation Is made,
but should n Christian or Armenian
kill a SMOhammednr. he IS made 10
feel the heavy hand Of the law. He told
OF an execution he witnessed and his
description OF 1t was graphic. He told
how the victim was taken to the block
and the headsmnn. whettcd his axe be-
fore his eyes, then drew 1t across his
throat several times before decapitatlng
him. He told OF the many natives who
hal hUen buried alive and the modes of
doing II. He saw one poor fellow put in
hole heRd downward, and plaster OF
Paris poured In around him. Another
was placed on his feet and IN. same
substance poured In the hole gradually
until It covered him entirely. Armen-
lans have their ears. noses and hands
cut or FOR the most trlil!ng offences.
A Mohnmmednn may go to n Chris
tIRn's home and demand anything he
has and take it. He can compel The Ar
menlan 10 work for him for nothing
and /: Ire refuses he Is punished. Mr..
Shnhbas spoke ut length OF the peril OF
the Christian won a. In his native coun-
Try End cited instances where they were
outraged by the MOhammedanB, who
stopped nj nothing. He also told OF the
advantages OF the American and Eng
llSh missionaries over those OF any
other country. They are permitted to so
into nny part OF the country and preach
the gospel to any class, and are pro-
teLtrd from harm by the Persian au-
thorltIcs. while the German or French
missionaries are subjected to the most
outrageous treatment. and are often
banishcd from the country altogether.
For this reason Mr.. Srlhbaz has been
naturnlizGd and when he returns TO
Persia, he VIII go us an American cltl-
zen.
The way to stop the Armenian out
RACES, said the speaker, Is through the
missionary. He urged the American
churches to USE their influence In send
ing Christian workers Into that coun-
try - work 10 the interest Of Christ and
the church. He closed by asking the
prayers OF the church for himself and
the cause. he represents and his plea for
this was most earnest and touching.
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TIE King OF Pills Is Bcccham's-
DEECIAMS.
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