Chicago eagle. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1889-19??, 1903-09-12


The rarsees are OF Persian Origin,
though now most of the race are liv-
lug outside Persia, chiefly in India. In
the seventh century the Mohammeda ms
conquered Persia and the Parsee fol.
lowers Of Horoaster were bitterly per.
secuted. Some fled to other lands;
others remained to face the rigors Of
prescription, while large number for
cook the ancient faith aud embraces
Hc,iammeta nisn.
The Involuntary exiles settled in
Cuzarat, India, and prospered. From
poor tillers Of the soil and mechanics
they became wealthy land owners and
extensive traders. Wealth gave them
tower and influence. They entered the
professions, and as civilization. as fos.
tered and promoted Ivy English occu.
Fancy and government. advanced they
kept In step with II, becoming profes.
tcrp, lawyers. architects. publicists.
doctors ana scientists. While clinging
10 their own religious system. they &C.
commodated themselves In other ways
t. Europeon habits ana became dis.
tsfninators Of western civilizati
among the Hindus. They are to-day
ON 4 plane Of equality With the Eu.
iooeans In India. while one Of them,
ut least. entered the imperial Parlia.
iuent and represented London con.
ktituency in the halls of Westminster.
Ioroastrla the religion to which
they cling ana which IN one Of the old
cst on earth, Is monotheistic, although
iuany writer's have asserted that the
parsees worshiped more than one God.
Hut while accepting only one supreme
being the Parsees recognize two hostile
principles. the good and bad: the ons
the author Of whatever Is good and
bright and useful, the other the author
OF what Is dark and noxiOus. The con-
Gtct between these powers will end In
the triumph Of the good principle.
Their worship consists " oral recita.
tons Of portions OF the Zendavesta.
which Is their Bible aud which con.
tains eli their doctrines ~ founded BY
zoroaster, 70 whom God revealed them.
The offerings made consist Of fruit,
flowers, milk. incense aud the Juice of
certain plant. These offerings are
tnade by their priests. who also keep
the sacred fire constantly burning In
the temples. The PharSses have always
regarded fire as the symbol OF divinity
hut never. Hs has been charged. have
they been wOrshipers Of IL.
The Parsee II not forced TO attent
places Of worship In order to discharge
his religious duties. Often ut Bombay
where large colony OF them IL settled
numbers OF them ~ to the seashore
and reclte their prayers. with theil
faces turned to the rising or setting
sun, which to them is an emblem OF
the glory and refuigeacs Of the su
prebe Being.
Commercially they are honest ant
their morals. too. nre pure. Their re
iiaion teaches that only the pure II
thought, word and deed shall! so to Coz
after death. As people they hav'
been little affected by Christian mis-
s'onaries. very few or their numbe
ever forsaking their own religion 70
my phase OF Christianity.
They are charitably inclined an,
their benevOlence II not limited to thel
own people. Thus the FUND laid asid
~ Mr.. Wadia, whose family have beef
shipbullders ut Bombay Tor $50 years
1, not restricted to parsa.,s but Is ap
U,icable to sufferers everywhere o.
earth. Mr.. Wadia's mother, too. wa
phl!anthropic and gave millions I
charity. The same may be said o
I,any other wealthy Pars".s, who hay
contributed literally Tor the relief o
Iudia's famine victims.
The Total number IF pa-sees In lr
aia j. 100000, over $1,000 ~ whom liv
"a Bombay. How industrious they ar
/, seen from the fact that a few year
ulo, when there WAS great distress |
india, there were only live Parsee
Gho were found 10 he menlican,s. An
fact still more notable was that q,
~ the entire number nor one fema,
l....