New-York tribune., 1896-05-04

In CIVIL suit that he must pay sum equal
to a tenth of the amount in litigation before his
witnesses could testify. while in the mean time
the plaintiff had receipt from the Court for a
bribe paid? Christian merchant Is dragged
through the streets tortured and killed in the
yard of the chief mosque by mob headed by
Moslem ecclesastics, and the Governor confesses
that he dare not lay a finger a single one of
the murderers. Petitions to officials of every
grade up TO the Shah himself, with representa-
tions to the various Christian embassies. result
in grant of $50 and an annuity of $50 to the
widow.
"(2) In the inaccessible mountain valleys the
HISTORIANS practically Independent. paying
only nominal taxes, no Government official dar-
ing to enter their villages and now as for ages
past, maintaining themselves by force Of arms
against the surrounding Kurds. With these peo-
pie justice is revenge and punishment reprisal.
"(3) In the villages scattered among the Kurds
and especially in the portions OF Kurdistan so
far subjected to the Government to pay regu-
lar taxes. the mseries OF the HISTORIANS ex-
istence pass all description. Without massacre.
without international investigation the cries OF
victims never echong beyond the surrounding
cliffs. year after year houses have been sacked.
people murdered. villages depopulated and thou
sands of innocent ~ rsons reduced to beggary.
NtHout protecting tHt Wl't'H'h p''P'' ''''''
Kurdish outrage the Government adds a heavy
burden of taxation. In some parts for several
years Kurd. Turk, caterpillar and locust have de-
vastated and to-day massacre threatens Is 1t
any wonder that hungry. naked troops OF beg
gars cross the border into Persia whenever they
eude the guards set to prevent their escape?
Such Is the state of Caviar. of Berwar, or Albakh'
Of Mocha, Of Supna Of Bohtan.
THE work Is done fr I'M two GENITAL stations,
at Urumia and the other at Mosul The
Urumia station has three clerical missionaries.
Industrial missionary. a male physician.
woman physician and three other unmarried
women missionaries. Mosul has two clerical
missionaries a physician and one woman teach
er The work Of the last-nemed station is much
emaler In extent, although in some ways even
more interesting
PREACHING AND CHURCH WORK.
'Tn about seventy places the Gospel Is
preached each Sunday to nearly 1000 persons.
nne-tenths Of whom are In Persia The preach
about sixty native HISTORIANS and the
American missionaries. Besides these stated ser
vices. meetings are held in of other places
during missionary tours. and many more per-
sons are met in private intercourse.
"These people have been Christians in name for
centuries Christianity has become to them a
thing OF inheritance. not Of personal choice;
traditional mode of life. both inevitable and in
alienable. They would die for IT. and yet it has
no vital connection with their daily living.
fast pray ! commune said to me poor, g-
norant man in a secluded mountain valley. with
evident conviction that nothing remained for
him to do. moment later. for the first time in
his lfe he heard an intellgible account OF
Christ's death Yet give them all honor for
Ia vip Lop Name for against
overwhelming odds. even II they did not know
It's message OF peace and purity. They usually
listen with reverence and readiness to the Word
spoken or read from the printed page Again.
the people are convinced OF their hopeless pow
erty For generations 1t was their protection.
and II became a second nature to them. Usually
real sometimes imagined. II Is an obstacle to
progress begetting mendicancy and destroying
self-respect.
"Otherwise circumstances vary widely. In one
village from 300 to 400 gather In large church.
a landmark for miles around. One-third OF the
population church members. and most OF
them are able to read. Even the Old Church no
longer knows whether 1t is fast day or not.
and the old priest breaches Evangelical sermons.
In another village the men are demorallzed by
lives Of wandering beggary and unblushing false
hood in Russia and have lost all religion. The
preacher gathers a congregation or women, with
a handful of men In another a little group
gathers about the preacher In room which Is
storeroom, kitchen, parlor. sleeping room and
everything else for a family of twenty.
''The missionary in his tour may gather his
audience In the shadow OF an old church. the
legendary history Of which began 1900 years
ago. or which by tradition OF popular ac
ceptance was carried by angels In the air to
t.ita htrf IN NOR
ing come with their willing Offering. He may
gather the shepherds from the nocks and the
women from their churns to his tent door in the
mountain pastures. where the water bursts
from banks Of perennial snow, and spring fiow-
ers bloom In August.
"Revivals have been a very effectual means
of work. and many persons have been led In
such times Of special presence of Gods spirit TO
the true service of Christ. The winter Is the
season In the villages Of the plain for such
evanselstic work and we plan for them every
year.
"A church has thus grown up. Protestant ana
Evangelical Presbyterian In principle but
ADAPTED to local needs and customs This
church is self-governing. with its own articles
~ faith ecclesiastical laws and courts. 1t con-
tributes in some degree to It's own support
In membership It numbers more than two thou
.and The nreachers Of the Evangelical Church