Evening star., 1936-08-07
Missionary Buck From Persia
Sees Repeal Greatest Change
Wife of Rer. Frank F.
Oster Sees Electric
Refrigerator.
BY PHILLIP N. JOACHIM.

Back from Persia on their third
brief furlough In Is years, Rev. Frank
F. Oster superintendent Of Seventh
Day Adventist missions there, and his
wife and 11-year-old son Kenneth
are seeing" America again.
Most noticeable Of all changes here,
he finds, are those brought about by
repeal. Shaking his head solemnly,
Rev. Oster explained that while saloons
and drunkenness were quite prevalent
on his first departure from the United
States in 1909, they were invisible"
on his return here in 1921 and 1927.
II was most pleased to think America
had done away with all that" he ex-
planned, "now I find 1t all over again" /"
Tuesday night" Mrs. Oster broke
In excitedly, IT saw my first electric
refrigerator" And Kenneth, beaming,
professed to having had his first ice
cream soda In eight years. In Persia,
which the government insists on call
ing Iran, use Of electricity is permitted
only at night, they said.
Most Noticeable Changes.
Smoking of cigarettes by women, the
increased number of automobiles, i'm
proved roads, beautiful lawns, and
difference in clothing styles are among
the most noticeable changes, the Osters
said.
Since the widely-publicized arrest OF
the Iranian Minister by an Elkton. Md,
policeman last Winter, no American
literature of any form, other than let
terS. Is permitted In Persia.
That cut us of from the United
States almost entirely" Rev. Mr.. Oster
explained. We couldn't even receive
our religious papers, or the doctors
their medical journals"
Iran, or Persia, has seen many drastic
changes in customs during the last 10
years under the rule of the Shah,
His Majesty Ria Kahn Pehlavi, the
missionary explained.
Fez Was Abolished.
The traditional fez, which marked
the Mohammedan from the Christian,
was abolished little over a year ago.
In its place the European hat must be
used
This ruling caused numerous upris-
ings. it was said, and in the holy city
Of Meshed alone it was estimated that
nearly 10000 persons were killed dur
ing the rioting.
Likewise. the traditional "veil, -
which reached almost to the ground,
was ordered removed from the wom-
ems faces. This. too, caused trouble
being enforced about a year after the
change in the hat custom, but on top
Of the other fighting was not so great
The people had learned to do what
the Shah said" Kenneth explained.
Difficulty is encountered in preach
ing a sermon there, Rev. Mr.. Oster
declared. adding one congregation
would speak as many as five Ian
guages. To get around this, several
interpreters occupy places around the
pulpit. When the pastor has COM
pleted q sentence the interpreters
translate 1t to their respective sects.
Besides ministry work. the Seventh
Day Adventists conduct schools in the
country.
On order OF the Shah, Persian
youths must attend the first six years
of schooling in native institutions.
After that they may do as their par
ents desire. The number attending
Adventist schools was estimated at
between 400 and 500.
Rev. Mr.. OSter and his family now
are quartered at the Washington San
itarium. an Adventist institution, in
Takoma Park. Md. They have been
here two weeks, having arrived in May
to attend the world conference in San
Francisco.
The missionary will return to his
work in November. Mrs. Oster. who
has educated her son through the
eighth-grade school work, will remain
In this country a while longer to place
Kenneth in school.