Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-06-14
WALSH DESCRIBES
/ DEVIL WORSH|PERS
Capital Educator Tells of
Queer Sect Studied in
Near East.

H1lleS OF uLtle KNOWN POI tlOIlo Va VIC
Near East, DR.. Edmund A. Walsh, S. j.,
vice president of Georgetown univer--
sity. yesterday related a visit he had
strange tribe of YeZidi, commonly
known as Devil Worshipers," descrip-
ton he found to be literally true.
Wierd reports of this primitive tribe,
whose origins have long been a mys-
terry to ethnologists, prompted DR.. Walsh
to, venture into their mountain strong
hold at Balad-Sinjar, a 75-mile jour-
ney over wastelands west of Mosul.
Expecting other than a friendly well
come, he was cordially received by their
chieftain, a bearded prophet of the evil
spirit which the wild Yezidi worship
in the symbol of peacock.
DR.. Walsh remained quite a while
with these strange people, conversing
with them through interpreters and
found them friendly to him, Catholic
priest, as they are, he said, to all
Christians, although for prudential rea-
sons, he said, they worship Lucifer."
Had Audiences With Pope.
During his absence abroad. DR..
Walsh had three audiences with Pope
Plus XI. On one of these occasions
he was presented with a medal by the
Sovereign Pontiff in recognition of re-
lief and welfare work for Russia and
Near Eastern countries. The medal
beautifully wrought in silver, bears the
likeness of the Pope on one side. On
the reverse side Is the coat of arms of
the Pope and a bias relief of the Vati-
can City, even to the minute detail of
its radio towers and the railroad tracks
giving access to italian territory.
For five months the Georgetown
educator wandered at will over
Mesopotamia, devoting himself to a
study of political, economic and educa-
tional conditions. Making his head
quarters in Bagdad, the ancient city Of
the Caliphs, and later at Mosul, DR..
Walsh Travelled as far north as the
Turkish frontier, crossed the Tigris into
Kurdestan, and likewise westward into
Syria, now under French mandate.
But it was the kingdom of Iraq. where
he met the Devil Worshippers." that
DR.. Walsh found as presenting numer-
Gus attractions to the Western mind.
Lures ArcheOlOgistS.
"It has a particular fascination for
Psychologists and historians of the
human race" he said, because of the
antiquities buried in its soil. The
excavations now in progress under
American, French and English auspices,
constitute a fine contribution to knowl-
edge and scholarship. The land is one
finds at Ur. Kish, Hursag-Kalamma.
Dur Sharrukin and Lagash are now
supplementing the previous records I'M
earthed at Babylon, Nippur, Nineveh
and Ashur."
It was in this region of vast attraction
for any educator that DR.. Walsh
fingered and armed only with a camera,
went into the midst of the mysterious
tribe of the YeZidi.
This tribe" he said, "worships the
evil spirit under the name of 'Melek
Taus' symbolized by bronze peacock,
before which they offer incense, sing,
dance and PROSTATE themselves. Their
history goes back at least to the seventh
century.
Their beliefs" he added, ARE con-
tanned in two sacred books which are
preserved secretly some place in the
mountains-the Book of Revelation and
the Black Book. The Book of REVEAL
ton, which no foreigner has ever seen
or been allowed to read, purports to con-
tain the personal instructions of Satan
to his chosen people. One of the curious
injunctions of his Satanic majesty for
bids the Yezidi ever to mention his
name or even the syllables that COM
pose it.
Friendly to Christians.
"In speaking of their deity" Dr.
Walsh explained, "the Yezidi conSe-
quently use circumlocutions. such as
He Him whom thou knowest,' Him
whom fools and ignorant people curse.
The Yezidi venerate Mohammed, but
are hostile to Mohammedans: revere
Christ and like Christians. but for pru-
dental reasons worship Lucifer. They
received me, a Christian. Catholic
and priest with extreme courtesy, and
10 of their principal chiefs even per-
H1Sff cd 70 Nt1Off orNl1 ftloT1
memento of the visit"
In fact, Dr. Walsh declared. Ameri-
cans are welcome in every nook and
corner Of this cradle of the human
race"
THE recent treaty signed between
Great Britain, the United States and
1raq, and proclaimed by President Hoo
yer on March II, last, assures complete
equality to nationals Of the United
States, not only for purposes Of COM
merce, but for the conduct of educa-
tional. philanthropic and religious in
stitutions," he said.
Article of this treaty, he explained.
specifically accords this cultural and
religious liberty, even providing that
instruction in American conducted
schools and colleges may be given in
the English language, now greatly in
favor in the kingdom.
Discounts Fears.
Considerable anxiety has been ex-
pressed both in Europe and America,
as we'll as in Iraq itself, d. Walsh
found, concerning the future status of
Christian minorities subsequent to the
expiration of the British mandate. The
Christians, divided into Chaldeans,
Syrians, Latins, Armenians, Gregor-
ians, HISTORIANS, Greeks and Jacobites.
do not exceed 100000 out Of a popula-
ton of 100000.
1.-THE fears of reprisal and persecu-
ton that have been expressed and
widely published in Europe and
America may, 1 was informed, have
some foundation in respect to isolated
Christian villages situated III REGIONS
that are predominantlv Mohcmedan."
DR.. Walsh said. But it must, in JUS
tice. be said that could discover no
conclusive evidence tending to lessen
ores faith in the equitable intentions
OF the Irag government itself
1.-The guarantees embodied in its
constitution, in its treaties with foreign
powers and the growing interest re-
sulting from its candidacy for member
shin in the League of Nations would
seem to explode any danger of massacre
agsinGt non-Moslems."
On his travels. Dr. Walsh took hun
dreds Of Photographs of the. strange
PAGES he visited. These and material
Ct q political end economic nature
which he assembled, he i-'tends - use
in ccr"@oicn with his u-ual Winter
series Of public lectures on E,rSs:a, q
tons in the Near East.
DRIVER WHO HITS TREE