The Fulton County news. [volume] (McConnellsburg, Pa.) 1899-current, 1908-08-20
FROM CHARLIE PITTMAN.
McConneIlsburg Boy For Eight Years a
Presbyterian Missionary In
Persia.
NOW IN THRoEs OF CIVIL WAR
Tabriz, Persis,
July "a, 1908

OOiJ IL ACOO'
You are, no doubt, interested
IN the reports of the present
troubles in Persia between the
Shah and the parliament. TabrIz
has been the scene of civil war
for over a month. The sound OF
rifle firing is almost constantly in
our ears, day and night. / hear
the "oang, bang" now as | write.
There are no open battles, but
they fight from behind walls
buildings and barricades. There
Is no Immediate danger to the
Christian population here, except
from stray bullets which come
pretty close sometimes. Our
buildings have been IN range of
the firing part of the time, and
bullets have been flying over us.
One struck our dlspensary. We
do not go out on the street any
more than necessary, but are
continuing our preaching servl--
ces. The greatest danger at
present is from bread riots. The
shops have been closed for more
than month, there is no work,
and food, especially bread, is very
scarce. We have many appeals
for help from the poor, both Ar
menlans and Moslems, and are
dong what little we can. We see
no hope of speedy end, as nei-
ther side takes any decisive step.
Houses of prominent men on both
E sides have been looted of every
thing, even taking out doors and
windows. | went with our Con.
sui to see the house of his high
chancellor, prominent man on
the side of the parliament. 1t
had, perhaps, 40 rooms in 1t, and
had been looted of everything
store rooms and cellars of all sup
plies, and the floors covered with
broken dishes and glass. l saw
about hundred shops that had
been looted.
] returned recently from tour
1863 miles to the south from Tab
riz (our field extends 40 miles
further), and got back before the
troubles began. Psrhaps you no
tlced IN the papers thrt the Far
man Farma, recently governor of
Tabrlz, led an unsuccessful expe
dition against the Kurds last win
ter at his own expense. After
wards he returned to one of his
villages near Miandvob. called
on him while in Miandvob. Learn
ing that | was minister, he IN
vlted me to come to his village on
Sunday to The Armenian church
and preach to his Armenian sub
lects. Upon inquiry he said he
had read some of the New Testa
ment, but had none with him, and
If l had one to give him he would
be very thankful. l had dispos
ed of all l had with me, but told
him | would mail him one from
Tabriz He is the great grand
son of Faith Ali Shah, a former
king, and brother-in-law of the
present Shah.
One Sunday evening IN Sain
kalla, my audience consisted of
Two Kurds, three Perslans, and
two Jews. After the Kurds left,
the Perslans tried to get the Jews
and me into discussion, but not
succeeding, | proposed that as
we represented three different
religions each should tell the
grcnnd of his hope OF the forgive.
ness Of SIN. The Jew said they
were great sinners, but they kept
the fast and observed prayer and
gave aims and left il to God wheCh
or lie would forgive their sins or
not. The Moslem said his hope
was based on the fact that who
ever loved their Prophet would
nave his sins forgiven through
MS mediation. The other two did
not accept that answer, but said
'hey must obey the Koran, and
'nen confessed they had not done
So then told of the forgive
ness OF sia by the at,nement of
christ, and they departed with
outany discussion. After re-
surn'ng to Sain KalIa on my way
nome' one OF the Moslems came
ano sad he had gone home that