MORALS ELEVATED.
Not many years ago a Moslem would enter the private homes of the a.s.syrians without an invitation. The husband and father did not want him there, but so long had his rights as a man been ignored that he did not have the manhood to drive him away. Then, too, he feared if he offended the Moslem, that the latter would secretly destroy some of his property. These uninvited visits gave the stranger an opportunity to become acquainted with the family, and perhaps an attempt to kidnap a daughter would follow. But this has changed. If a stranger enters an a.s.syrian home to-day he behaves like a gentleman or he is ordered to leave. The manhood and independence of the old a.s.syrian has been aroused.
In a national conference of the Protestants, Catholics and Old a.s.syrian churches held a few months ago, rules and plans for the development of the nation and the uplifting of morality were adopted. Among other things, Christian girls and women are prohibited by these rules from working for Mohammedans; second, no girl nor woman can go to a city of Mohammedan merchants to do trading. This is the first conference of this kind that has been held by a.s.syrians for 400 years.
Many of the native young men who have been educated by the missionaries have become able men and influential citizens. There are some of them who can stand before the king and speak with greater power than any of the government officers. This is in great contrast with the condition of a.s.syrians before the missionaries came. In those days leading a.s.syrians could not stand before even a low court to plead their cause.
In 1893 a general, third in the government, visited Oroomiah college.
When he saw the training of the young men he was impressed and afterwards, in a conference of lords, said: "The young men who are being educated in the mission schools would become leaders in the political affairs of our nation if they had a chance. I believe a time will come when they will hold high offices, and the sons of lords will be ruled by them, unless you do something for the future of your children."
The Shah has given the t.i.tle of count to some of the graduates in medicine. He sees their useful work and says they are helping his people. The royal family and some officers favor indirectly if not directly, modern education; and they have confidence in Christians. The occupation of selling merchandise is being entered by Christians; they have much prejudice to overcome but will likely succeed gradually.
Thanks to G.o.d, many of the old oppressions have pa.s.sed away. a.s.syrians can now build any kind of house they want; Moslems can no longer say that they must walk or ride a donkey; they can wear clothes of any style or quality they choose. No longer are Christians required to trim their clothes in red to mark their inferiority. All these are the fruits of the blessed gospel.
CHAPTER VI.
MISSION WORK AMONG MOSLEMS.
Mission work indirectly and slowly spreads among Moslem. The Koran forbids Christians to preach to Moslems, and no Christian dared discuss questions of religion with Moslems before the time of missionaries. To attempt to show Christ"s superiority of Mohammed was forbidden. If a Moslem should say, "Mohammed was a greater prophet than Christ. Ours is the true religion. You are infidels." The Christian with a timid, downward look would reply "Yes sir, you are right." But the answer to this a.s.sertion to-day is a firm "No sir." The Christian now sees truth clearly and feels it his duty to uphold it. There is now free discussion of religious questions. A Christian discusses with Moslem priest if he chooses. And sometimes they call at the homes of Moslems and read the Bible to them. The Christian feels it his duty to discuss with any one who approaches him, as he possesses light which that one needs. There is in one city an evangelical church in which all of its members are Mohammedan converts, while many other churches have a few.
The spirit of these converts is that of martyrs. The Koran teaches that any Mohammedan who denounces the faith deserves death, and that one who kills the deserter has done a n.o.ble deed. Some of these converts have suffered martyrdom and one who was killed after great torture, prayed as his last words: "O Jesus we thank Thee that Thou hast made us worthy to be Thy martyrs. Our supplication is that our blood may become as seed to Thy church." No doubt G.o.d will answer this prayer in due time.
The seed is sown; the leaven is mingled and will in time, no doubt, leaven the 9,000,000 Mohammedans.
The writer, a representative of the evangelical missions, wishes to express his deep grat.i.tude to the American Board who started mission work in Persia, and to the Presbyterian Church, which, in 1871, a.s.sumed the responsibility of the work and has since so n.o.bly carried it on.