Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-05-14
SECT OF THE BABITES.
A RELIGION FOUNDED BY A DE-
sCENDANT OF MoHAMMED.
Abbas Efendi, Persian Prophet,
Claims Greed is Growing in
America

William E. Curtis In the Chicago Record Herald
HAF'A, Syria, April 1.-The most interest
ing prisoner at Acre at present is Abbas
EHendl, learned Persian prophet, who
proclalms a new religion, and Is the head
OF the sect known as Babies or Babies
SO called from the word Bah, which mean
gate. The founder of the sect, a Persian
OF high rank, member Of the Seyid and a
direct descendant Of Mohammed called
himself THE Gate to God" hence the name
OF his followers. He was a Persian mer-
chant, Mira ALI Mohammed born at Shiraz
in 1920. In 1874 he claimed to have visions.
his pretensions were very much like those
OF Mohammed, and he declared thai
through him alone could mankind receive
the truth and reach heaven. With his
friend, moulah. or priest Of the Moslem
church, from Bushru, in the province of
hhurasan, Persia, he retired to a monas-
terry at Kerbela, on the Euphrates and
there spent several years in fasting medi-
tatlon and study to prepare himself for a
great duty to which he had been assigned.
Syria seems to be the birthplace Of re-
ilgions Judaism, Christianity, Mohamme-
danlsm ana 1nnumerable other faiths have
originated in Its deserts. No great religious
movement except Brahamanism and Bud
dhism originated elsewhere.
History of the Movement.
The history of the Babite movement is
similar to that of Others AS soon as its
leader began to make his influence felt and
his disciples multiplied the government per-
secuted them, and then, of course, he grew
in strength and popularity. He went about
the country preaching and teaching, and at
his death Moulan Husein declared him to
have been divine being, and that only
those who believed in him would be saved
Husein played the part Of John the Baptist
Peter combined
head of the sect. He was arrested con-
demned and executed for heresy and sedi-
ton In 1850, but 1t only strengthened the
movement, and his disciples increased ran
idly in numbers. zeal and fanaticism. It
became q religious war. A new leader
Moulah Mohammed Ali. appeared, took up
headquarters at Bagdad, organized an
army and attempted to force the new faith
upon the government. Battles were fought.
thousands OF persons were massacred and
finally, in 1866. the Shah Of Persia, finding
his throne in danger, appealed to the Sultan
OF Turkey, who sent troops to his assist
ance.
The leaders Of the movement were CAP
tured and sent to Adrianople, In European
Turkey, where they were confined In the
Turkish citadel, and soon began to quarrel
among themselves, the sons Of the Messiah
and the descendants Of the prophet Husein,
each claiming to be the head Of the church.
Beha, who seems to have been the ablest of
them, was sent to the prison at Acre and
obtained permission from the authorities
to send ambassadors to Acre to effect q
reconciliation between the two factions. but
his ENJOYS were murdered by agents Of
Bella. and since then very little has been
heard from the Cyprus branch.
Branch in United States.
Beha's following. however, continues to
grow and now numbers several hundred
thousand. Beha died in 1883 and his eldest
son, Abbas Effendi. succeeded him as chief
priest of the Babies. He is a clever,
learned and respectable man, having a
magnetic presence, attractive manners and
a great deal Of tact Some years ago he
sent disciples to America to carry the Cos
pei of the Babies, and. according to re-
ports received here. they have met with
considerable success. Their chief represen-
tative is a Mr.. Chairall. who resides in
New York and has translated into the
English language and published a series of
volumes setting forth the creed and prin-
ciples of the new faith. Abbas claims to
be Christian. He worships God, accepts
Christ, but claims himself to be the EN-
bodiment OF the Holy Spirit, the third mem
Der of the God-head.
The fundamental principle. as he explains
1t, is to love your fellow men and do good
but an ordinary mind like mine finds # i'm.
possible to follow the intricate reasoning by
which he proves himself to be the gate to
heaven. AbbaS E6endi is q fascina ting nya-