Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-09-09

ShOu8n AAON AhOSl Va tiIS AuSC dAC Nv.
ing outside Persia, chiefly In India. In
the seventh century the Mohammedans
conquered Persia and the Parsee fol-
lowers Of Zoroaster were bitterly per-
secuted. Some fed to other lands:
others remained to face the rigors Of
prescription, while large number for
sock the ancient faith and embraced
Mohammedanism.
The involuntary exiles settled In
Guzarat, India, and prospered. From
poor tillers of the soil and mechanics
they became wealthy land owners and
extensive traders. Wealth gave them
power and influence. They entered the
professions, and as civilization, as fos-
tered and promoted by English occu-
pancy and government, advanced they
kept in step with It, becoming PROBES.
sors, lawyers, architects, publicists,
doctors and scientists. While clinging
to their own religious system, they ac-
commodated themselves In other ways
to EuropeOn habits and became dis
semiDators of western civilization
among the Hindus. They are to-day
on a plane Of equality with the Eu-
ropeans in India, while one Of them,
at least, entered the imperial Parlia-
ment and represented London con-
stituency in the halls Of Westminster.
Zo0astrianism, the religion to which
they cling and which is one Of the old
est on earth, is monotheistic, although
many writer's have asserted that the
Parsees worshiped more than one God.
But while accepting only one supreme
being the Parsees recognize two hostile
principles. the good and bad; the one
the author of whatever is good and
bright and useful, the other the author
of what Is dark and noxious. The con-
tilct between these powers will end In
the triumph of the good principle.
Their worship consists of oral recita-
lions of portlons.of 1.-The Zendavesta,
which is their Bible and which con-
tains all their doctrines as founded by
Zoroaster, to whom God revealed them.
The offerings made consist of fruit,
flowers, milk, incense and the Juice Of
"a certain plant These offerings are
made by their priests, who also keep
the sacred fire constantly burning In
the temples. The Pharsees have alwayl
regarded fire rs the symbol OF divinity,
but never, MS has been charged, have
| they been worshipers of 1t.
The Parsee is not forced to attend
places of worship In order to discharge
his religious duties Often at Bombay,
where large colony of them is settled,
numbers or them go TO the seasnOrs
land recite their prayers, with their
faces turned to the rising or setting
sun, which to them Is an emblem OF
the glory and refulgence OF the Su
prebe Being.
Commercially they are honest and
their morals, too, are pure. Their re.
ligion teaches that only the pure in
thought, word and deed shall go to God
after death. AS people they have
been little affected by Christian mis-
sionarles, very few of their number
ever forsaking their own religion for
any phase OF Christianity.
They Are charitably inclined and
their beneyoience is not limited to theil
own people. Thus the fund laid aside
by Mr.. Wadia, whose family have beer
shipbuilders at Bombay for 100 years
is not restricted to Parsees, but is ap
plicable to sufferers everywhere OF
earth. Mr.. Wadia's mother. too, was
philanthropic and gave millions Il
charity. The same may be said OF
many other wealthy Parsees, who have
contributed literally for the relief Of
India's famine victims.
The total number Of Parsees in In
din is 100000, over $4,000 of whom live
In Bombay. How Industrious they are
is seen from the fact that a few years
ago, when there was great distress Ii
India, there were only five Parsees
who were found to be mendicants. And
a fact still more notable was that oui
of the entire number not one female
was untrue to her honor.
W., .AAu. -. ...sc .,