The Savannah morning news., 1901-08-11
"BABIsSI" IN CHICAGO.
A Centre of an onshoot of Mabom-
etanism.

hglonists in Persia. Herbert w. Bow
en-. former United States minister to
that country, has been requested to lay
the matter before the Shah and ask
him to give the Babists fair treatment.
rew days ago a committee of prom
lnent Americans waited upon Mr..
Bowen In Paris and asked him to per-
sonally present to the Shah a petition
reclting the conditions that now pre-
vail in Persia, and to make a plea for
freedom in religious belief. Among
those who subscribed to this petition
according to the advices from Paris
We're Miss Airline Peck, daughter of
Ferd w. Peck, of Chicago, and Miss
Natane Barney, a wealthy young wo-
man or Bar Harbor, Me. Miss Peck, it
is understood, is acting as the repre-
sentative of the Chicago colony of
baplsts, Which numbers one thousand
ana Is the strongest numerically and
financially of any in the United States.
An intimate friend of Miss Peck in
speaking of the matter said:
i don't know how far Miss Peck has
become interested in Babism, but she
has been studying the doctrine, and
mas FOUND much in 1t to admire. She is
woman OF brains and has a warm
interest in the welfare of mankind the
aims, was to ameliorate the condition
OF women in Persia, and this would he
sure to enlist the sympathies of Miss
Peck"
Havlng been recalled from his post
at Ieheran, Mr.. Bowen is not in posi-
ton to assist the Babists. and the
matter has been referred to his suc-
cessor, Lloyd Griscom, who is expected
IN Farls shortly on his way to Persia.
Chicago "A Babtist Centre.
Babism was first heard of In this
country in 1898 at the Worlds Con-
gress or Religions in Chicago, when a
certain Babi named Ibrahim Kheiral-
ian, who had come to the states on
business, gave a course of fifteen lee
lures on Mahometanism, and the va
rious movements which had grown out
OF II. In the course of these lessons he
continually referred to the Bah. and
IN snort time he is said to have Sc
cured over one hundred believers. He
next proceeded to New York citv
where he published his lectures. Sucb
We're the beginnings of Babism in the
United states. OF the subsequent his
tory OF the movement in America 1T Is
at present hard to speak. The princi-
pal Babi centers in the states are as
follows: Chicago, about 1000: Keno
sha, Wis, from 400 to 500; New YORK
city about 400 Washington, Baltimore.
Philadelphia, Wilmington and RelIe-
Vue' Del; Newark, Fanwood and Ho-
poKen' N. j.; Brooklyn and Ithaca. N.
e, petroft' Mich; Boston, Cincinnati
oan francisco and Denver.
Babism dates back to Nav % 1914
When Mira Ali Mohammad OF Sbi,
way or infinite learning. striJxingIv
nanosome' with irresistible charms Of
Speech ana manners, proclaimed him
sen as the promised guide. the Rah
OF gate" through which men niebt
communicate with the Imam Mabdi
Inns Bah proclaimed against the world :
nhess and immortality of the Mullas or
Mahometan clergy, and the Injustice
ana rapacity of the civil authorities. His
Iollowers grew in number. Naturally
the clergy and the Persian rovernmant
mated and feared him.
He was pronounced a heretic ard
thrown into prison. While in conf,ne-
nent he declared himself not merely
tne gate leading to the Imam NAH
a. but the point of revelation" ths
imam himself. But he declared his
mission was not final, and spoke OF one
yet greater than himself. who shouId
come after and should be "He whom
GOD shall manifest" His successors
nave assumed to be this greater one.
ana even the All Powerful One
Miracle of "the Bab.y
On July 9, 1850. Mira All Mohammad
the Bah, and Aka Mohammad Ali. his
disciple, were dragged by the Shah'e
soldiers for many hours through the
crowded streets and bazaars of Ta-
oriz Arrived at the appointed place
OF execution, the two were suspended
oy ropes passed under their arnnits
10 staples set in a wall AS the SOL
1iers We're ordered to fire on them the
Bah said to his companion. "Verilv
thou art with me in paradise," When
the smoke of the volley cleared away
the body of Aka Mohammad Ali. rid
died with bullets, hung lifeless from
the staples, but the Bah had disap-
peared. The bullets had severed lust
ABOVE his arms the cords that held him
Here, indeed, seemed miracle. Had the
Bah escaped the whole of Persia would
soon have been added to his following.
But soldier caught sight of him and
dealt him blow with his. sword. When
the people saw blood flowing from the
wound tnus inflicted on the unresistine
victim their doubts and fears vanished.
the Bab's death was soon accompIished'
The Shahs have martyred many Ra-
Dis, yet, still in its infancy, as IL were.
1t Is said to count to-day more than
one million adherents. The chief CEN
ter OF the church is now at Acre: Abb
oas Effendi is the Bah. The Bah year
contains nineteen months of nineteen
days; fasting from sunrise to sunset is
ordained during the last month of the
year. Strictest personal cleanliness is
insisted on; the use of knives and
forks, instead of the hands, is entoined.
Mendicancy 10 thus prohibited:
THE most hateful of mankind be-
fore God is he who sits and begs: take
hold the robe of opportunity, relying
In God, the Cause OF Causes"
All are ordered TO marry. Wives who
for period of nine months have had
no news of their husbands are permit
ted to marry again; but II they are
patient 1t is better, "since God loves
those who are patient" II a man
and his wife quarrel, he is not to di-
vorce her at once, but wait for whole
year, so that, perhaps, he may become
reconciled to her.
Nature of Babist Faith
Babism is a religious great grand
child of Mahometanism, which, how
ever, 1t now seeks to destroy; the
grandchild of Shiism, and the child of
Shaykhism, which originated early in
the nineteenth century in the teach
ing Of a certain Ahmed Apsal.
According to Shiism. the orthodox
religion of Persia, there were twelve
Imams. saints of whom eleven lived
and died on earth. The twelfth, known
as the Imam Mabdi. disappeared from
the eyes of men in the year $40 A D.