The sun., 1908-10-15
JOSEPH WOLFF, MISSIONARY
His Remarkable Career Recalled by ths
Death Of His DiStinguiahed son

To THE EDITOR OF The suS-sir, n,
death Of tho Right Hon. Sir Henry prur
mond Wolf, p. O., @. @. B.. @. G. ". ~
the age Of rs. brings W into close touch win
q past generation His godfather. Altar
whom he was named, was Henry Drpm'
mond, one Of the founders OF the "CatboIIo
Apostolic Church." commonly called hs
Irvingites. In fact. his father irst met
Lady GeorRiana Walpole In the house n,
Edward Irving. She was the grand.
daughter OF the English statesman Robert
Walpole. Sir Henry's father was -Josenb
wolff, missionary" as he loved to stvle
himself. who Ia beyond question the most
unique figure In the gallery Of foreign eyan.
Rellsts. and who In some respects NAV Ia
oonsidepsd an Anglo American production
He visited New York In August, 1887, and ba
was the guest of "Mr. Stuyvesant. a mos.
excellent citizen" by whom he was Intro'
duced to Bishop George Washington Doans
at Trenton, N. j. Wolf was ordained a
clergyman of the Episcopal Church by
Bishop Doane. and created doctor or
divinity by the ancient foundation Of 81,
Johns College, Annapolis. His volume m
missionary travels, which is a most remark.
able record, was dedicated to Mr.. Glad.
stone.
The late Sir Henry was not particularly
proud OF his Israelitish ancestry, much 10 y
the disgust OF Disraeli, who was alyays
proud Of his own. IL was thought at ona
time that Sir Henry would become prom.
inent figure In the East. but after serving
In Persia and Turkey he found more con-
genial position in Spain. where for some tim
he represented the British Government
In the year 1880, when Henry Drummopd
was born, his father was merely Jewish
adventurer. After his travels In Persia
Joseph Wolf was lionized in London and
became the Huest Of the second Lord Or.
ford. Here he captivated the heart Of the
Earl's young daughter. The noble Earl ef
the house Of Walpole was irate. and sent for
Joseph and wanted to know how a "mer
upstart" could aspire to the hand Of noble.
mans daughter. Joseph Wolff. mission.
Gry," was equal to the occasion. Taking
out Of his pocket long roll Of parchment,
a b read g. his ssp by step pt t. D
oiaiPeds oHd PJoseph. said his lordshlp. % you ssi
are the stra1sest being In existence, and 4
you 1 suppose you must take her
It was after his marriage that Joseph
Wolf made his notable journey TO Bokhars,
ts tSs a%s Of Ss oh the ms afSS @ $
to death the British envoys Stoddart and
Connolly because they refused to pros
trate themselves In his presence. On bis
arrival Joseph asked how many times he
must PROSTATE himself before the Ameer.
He was told three times. He replied, I
shall prostrate myself thirty times. Put.
ting on his red silk doctors gown and plac-
ing over II his doctors black and crimson
hood, with the shovel hat OF a church dig
ntary on his head, he slowly crawled along
the floor to the feet of the Ameer, and then
reverently placed his head beneath the solo
Of the Ameer's foot. exclaiming in Persian,
Asylum Of the universe! Peace be 10 the
King" The Ameer burst into a At Of
laughter, and said: Stand up and let me
have. look at. YOU" Looking at him
closely and examining his robes, the Ameer
exclaimed Thou star with a tail referring
to the doctors hoodl. thou art not like
Jew, a Christian nor Hindu, nor a Rus
sian, nor an Usbeck. Thou art OF thy own
kind. Thou art Joseph Wolf.
VOLTS visit to Bokhara has been admitted
on all sides to be one Of the bravest deeds
ever accomplished in Oriental travel.
This was In the year ls43, and 1 remember
story as a. pure fabrication. But In after
years I had an opportunity Of investigating
his wonderful narratives on the spot. and
know Of no story of travel more graphic
than -The Travels Of Joseph Wolti. Mis-.
sionary." Strange to say. when In England
fey found his son, son, Sir Henry determined to
NEw YopE Oofober IA