The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-01-21
DIVISION OF THE BABIsTs.
The American Factions of the Sect
Led by Women.

NEW YORK, Jan. 25.-A sort of schism
has occurred among the followers of Bah
ism in this country. Babism which is a
branch OF Mohammedanism, was intro
duced into the United States by Dr.
Kheiralla. who says he is a native of
Cairo, Egypt. and came here seven years
ago. His mission was to tell the PEOPLE
of this country that God had manifested
himself in the flesh again, under the name
Of Beha Ullah. The latter was born in
Persia in 1918 and died at Acre in Syria
in 1892. He left a large family the eldest
sen of whom the Abbas Effendi, was de-
clared to be the incarnation of Jesus
Christ Abbas Effendi is now living in his
fathers palace. which is named Behjeh
or Delight. at Acre. He has but one wife
and a few children, whereas his father.
the Beha Utah. had two wives and
twelve children.
Some American men and women took an
interest in this new faith as DIR. Kheiralla
taught it, and at parlor meetings held by
DR.. kheiralla in New York were seen for
mer Theosophists, Spiritualists, free think
ers. and agnostics and also few progress
sive people who still retained their mem
bership in orthodox churches. There were
a few others who knew Of Babism. through
the very able books written on that sect
literature at Oxford, England. The new
faith. in the garb it first assumed in DR..
Kheirallas hands. showed some os the
features Of Christianity. Dot DIR. KheiraHa
mystifed those who asked for full eX-
position OF his doctrine. Not one of his
hearers knew exactly what he was teach
ing until the end of his course, when, in
the last lesson. he gave them the infor-
nation that God had come down to earth
again and had lived for seventy-three years
In Persia and Syria, and that his vice
regent on earth was his son. now living
at Acre. Acre is called the Holy City by
the Babists 1t is a place not impossible
to find by those who have time. money.
and inclination to go there, and DR.. khei-
ralla was listened to by some people who
had curiosity enough to go to Syria and
investigate for themselves. Only those
succeeded in seeing Abbas Effendi who had
letters or endorsements of some kind from
DR.. Kheiralla. Those who did and those
who did not see the Holy Family or
some member of il, talked a good deal in
Acre about what they had learned from
Dr. kheiralla. and much comment and no
little criticism Of the doctor followed.
Thereafter DR.. Kheiralla FASTENED to
Acre himself and took into the presence
of the new Messiah two American women
converts. One of these was Mrs. Phoebe
A Hearst. the wealthy Californian. who
now resides in Washington. Mrs. Hearst
enjoyed the distinction of having Abbas
Effendi pay her special attention and bless
her by laying his hands on her bowed
head. When she. kneeling before him,
was told to rise he babe her ''be of good
cheer" So much impressed was she by
him that when she came back to America
she increased her already liberal contri-
buttons to the cause until her gifts are
81. H.
dollars. She declared her faith in writing
in these words:
Il believe with all my heart and soul
that he is the Master, and / hope that all
who call themselves believers will con-
cede to him all the greatness, all the
glory. and all the praise, for surely he is
the Son of God"
great many of the believers do not
agree with Mrs. Hearst and the sect in
this country is now divided, one faction
admitting that Abbas Effendi is the
Christ. the other. with DR.. Kheiralla at
its head. denying it, and urging that Beha
Ullah is the only one who should be wor
shiped. Mrs Hearst has been paying the
EXPENSES OF several of the convert teach
ers and has made the cause her own. But
if Abbas Efendi has a wholly devoted
convert in her, he has also an American
woman opposing his pretention to Mes
siahship This is Mrs. Rose Owen Oil
phant Templetcn. daughter of the ia
nous spfritualist Robert Dane Owen.
Mrs Templeton went to see Abbas Eff
endi. argued with him and tried to con-
vince him of the folly of his course. Her
only reward has been abuse and ingrati-
tude.
Now. while the Babists in the East are
looking to Amesha as a field for the
.nraod of Nohammedanism there is pre-
,ented the spectacle of two American wo-
men standing in antagonism concerning |
the leader of the sect. Mrs. Hearst is |
using her millions to spread this new re-
Iigion, and Mrs. Templeton is using her !
pen and voice to warn her fellow -coun-
trymen against the pretensions of the |
man who says he is the Messiah. The |
trouble in the sect has caused many who |
we're not yet believers, but who we're in |
it. to give a wide berth to the |
slamism designed for Americans.