Chapter 41

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION.

COLLEGE.

The first need of the nation was a college. In 1836 Justin Perkins gathered a small number of deacons and priests to teach them for the work of spreading the gospel. The native priests were very ignorant, but Mr. Perkins believed it would take fewer years to prepare them for the work than children, so he opened a rude school in a cellar. At that time the priests in common with all other people drank wine and were frequently drunk. When Dr. Perkins opened his school for the native priests and deacons many of them brought a bottle of wine for use during school hours. Dr. Perkins dealt patiently with them but stated that it was against the rules of the school to bring wine. They replied that they would not come to study if they were not allowed to bring wine. So wine they brought. One native preacher who is now an old man and a fine singer, told at a recent synod of this early school, of which he was a member: One day they got too much wine and went upstairs and began to dance. Dr. Perkins called to them and asked them to dance a little slower. They replied to the teacher that they would dance slower, but kept on dancing. In time the habit of drinking was left off and total abstinence was firmly established.

The school in the cellar has grown until now we have in Oroomiah a fine brick building in which the college classes meet. In it are six branches: high-school, preparatory, college, medicine, industrial, and theological. Its superintendents from the start have been able men. Dr. Perkins founded it, Mr. Cochran further developed it, and the late Dr. Shedd, a profound theologian, contributed his fine ability to the institution. Several eastern languages are taught. Mathematics, including algebra and geometry, geography and history are taught, but of course not as completely as in America.

LADIES' SEMINARY.

When the missionaries came to Persia there was only one woman among the 200,000 Assyrians who could read. Girls were not encouraged to study as it was against law and believed to be useless. This belief originated in Mohammed's teachings. Fidelia Fisk, soon after her arrival, saw the condition of women and determined to open a seminary. At first it was difficult to get girls to attend. If mothers were asked to send their girls, they asked, "What is the use? They can never become bishops or priests." If a girl was asked to attend she would reply that she did not have time as she must be preparing a dowry for her wedding, an event that would certainly occur before her eighteenth year. However, a small free school was opened for girls, where the branches taught were similar to those of the college. Fidelia Fisk labored faithfully in her duties as teacher and made for herself a lasting reputation in that country.

Her patience was often severely taxed. It is told of her that once after she had become old she was trying to explain an example in multiplication, when a loose tooth dropped out of her mouth. She sank wearily into a chair, exclaiming, "It's no use; there is no god of mathematics in this nation."

There stands to-day on the same site where this faithful soul started the little school, a beautiful brick building known as the Fidelia Fisk Seminary. It is also self-supporting, and is attended by 75 or 100 students. Now the girls and mothers laugh at their old superstition about education, as they have learned that it prepares one for something besides bishop or priest. Fathers want their daughters to attend the seminary, and young men who are looking for a wife appreciate the importance of the training which seminary girls have received. They know that she can raise their children better, keep the home cleaner, and better understand her relation to her husband.

While the seminary was founded by Fidelia Fisk it was developed largely by Jenny Deane, who was superintendent of the institution for thirty years. It was under her direction that the building was erected. Miss Deane was a very wise lady, and has few, if any, superiors in America in the management of an institution. As a retired missionary she now resides in Detroit, Michigan. She will never be forgotten by the many women in Persia whom she has so greatly helped. There are also four other seminaries in Persia for ladies.

MEDICAL SCHOOLS.

The beauty and blessing of medical mission work will be better understood if we contrast it with prevailing ideas about medicine. Until about fifteen years ago there were no Persian doctors who had become such from the study of books on medical science. There, were, however, many quack doctors who had a system of superstition which had been taught them orally by older men. Blades of some kinds of grasses which are known to medical science as having no medicinal properties were the chief remedies prescribed for disease. Internal diseases were called supernatural, and it was believed they were inflicted by evil spirits. None of the doctors could do anything for this form of disease, as they considered it out of their realm. A patient with an internal disease was sent to the priest who would diagnose the case by looking into the Koran or some other book in which he locates the particular demon that is afflicting the patient. Writing something mystical on two slips of paper, the priest gives direction for their use: "This one soak in a cup of water and have the patient drink the water. The other, bind on the patient's arm. I find that it is demon so and so afflicting the sick man, and I have bound the mouth of that evil spirit so that he cannot do further harm."

There are several remedies for fever. One is to tie seven knots in a white thread and fasten it around the wrist. Wearing this fifteen or twenty days cures the fever, they say. Another remedy is to remove the clothing and jump into cold water before breakfast. If a man has a severe attack of colic and cries, "I die, I die," his friends run for the nearest baldheaded man, as he is known to have power to remove the pains by firmly pressing the smooth surface of his cranium against the surface of the patient's body nearest the seat of pain. Many baldheaded men in other countries laugh at this remedy, but Persian doctors affirm that it will cure, and that skeptics should try it. Pork is never used as food, but it is believed to remove rheumatism when bound on the parts afflicted.

There are now some medical men in Persia who have graduated in an American or European medical college. Patients for whom they have prescribed often consult the Mujtahid before taking the medicine. Once a man with a diseased foot came to Dr. Cochran for treatment. The doctor told him that his life could be saved by amputating the foot. The patient consulted a Mujtahid who told him that it was against religion to part with any member of the body. Therefore the patient retained his foot and died. The modern midwife is greatly needed in Persia as many women die for want of attention, and it is against the law for male doctors to give them treatment. The name hospital was unknown in Persia before the missionaries came. But, thanks to God, we have to-day three missionary hospitals. The good they do cannot be expressed in words. They are open for all no matter what their beliefs. The largest one is in Oroomiah. It is under the charge of Dr. Cochran, a godly man, who is known in all Persia. The late Shah appreciated his work so much that he gave him the highest degree that is possible to give to a foreigner. When patients enter these hospitals, lie down on clean beds, are given good food and kind treatment, they are surprised, and sometimes have said that heaven cannot be a nicer place. Some wild Kurds have been brought to the hospitals. They came in like roaring lions but went out meek as lambs. Hundreds of people have been snatched from the mouth of the grave by treatment received here. They cure not only the body but the soul also. Two wild Kurds who were healed here became Christians and are now active church-members. Dr. Cochran has from six to ten native students of medicine. They take a three years' course, and some of them have become such useful physicians that the Shah gave them the title of count. The Mohammedans have confidence in the Christian doctors, and send for them to treat their children and wives in all cases except childbirth.

COUNTRY SCHOOLS.

There were no schools for common education among the people before the missionaries came. They met with some opposition in starting country schools from superstitious old men. They said the Europeans and Americans are a cunning people. They will fill our children's heads with notions that will take them away from us to foreign countries. On the other hand there were many parents eager to have their children get learning. So schools began. Books and writing material were so expensive and scarce for a time, that a canvas with the alphabet printed on it was stretched on the wall. Thirty or more children could stand before this canvas and study. For those who were learning to write boxes of sand were provided. Herein written language was traced. There are to-day seventy schools for children in the district of Oroomiah. The population of this district is nearly half a million. Some of the schools are self-supporting, while in others the teacher's salaries are paid by the missionaries. These schools are like a garden of flowers in a desert. They have a very strong moral and elevating influence in a community. It is generally believed by Christian workers there that there is no better foundation for the future of the church than these schools. In them are taught three languages, a little geography, mathematics and the Bible. Nearly all the students can repeat from memory the ten commandments, the Lord's prayer, and creed of the apostles. The chief aim is to teach the fear of God. A good many students are converted in school. After school some of the students go among their neighbors in the evening to read the Bible to them. The teachers are chosen by the board of education. One important rule governing the choice is that the applicant must be a regular member of the church. The teachers are very devoted and faithful to their work. They consider that their work among the children is similar to a pastor's work among his people. They watch after their pupils in school and out as a shepherd cares for his flock. A monthly meeting is held for teachers at which best methods of teaching are discussed. One of the principal subjects considered is, how to develop spirituality among the pupils. These meetings are refreshing to the teachers, and they return to their work full of the love of Christ, zealous to spread His truth. Sometimes a religious mid-week meeting is held in the schoolhouse for students only. These meetings often bear blessed fruit. In one such meeting in a preparatory school over which the writer held supervision, thirteen boys of ages from thirteen to sixteen years, were converted. These boys remained after the meeting closed and, touched with the Spirit of God, they prayed with tears in their eyes. Some of them have since become preachers of the gospel. In the country schools some of the teachers work more faithfully for the salvation of their pupils than pastors work for their flock. In one school two boys were attacked with a fatal disease. The teacher, accompanied with several pupils, visited the first sick boy and asked him if he was afraid to die. He replied that he did not want to give up his studies. The teacher asked if he did not know that Christ was a teacher. The dying boy was gladdened by this thought, and, with a smile on his boyish face, he said: "I'm going away to Christ and He will teach me." With these words his soul took its flight above. The other sick boy was then visited and comforted in the same way. He, too, soon died of the fatal disease. The missionaries are carrying on 113 schools in Persia and the Kurdiston mountains. The number of teachers employed is 116 and there are 1821 boys and 720 girls; total 2541.

TRANSLATION OF BOOKS.

When the missionaries first came to Persia, ancient Syriac was the language of literature; therefore the common people could not understand anything in the ceremonial words of the priests. Dr. Perkins, with the aid of native scholars, translated the Bible into the common language, or modern Syriac. After the new translation was printed the common people were surprised and rejoiced greatly at having the sacred Word in a form that they could understand. From time to time other books were translated, such as parts of commentaries on the Bible, Pilgrim's Progress, Rest of Saints, Morning to Morning, etc. These books are read in connection with the Bible in the daily worship of the native Christians. Rev. Benjamin Larabee D.D., with some native scholars, greatly improved the translation of the Bible into modern Syriac, about two years ago, by a careful revision of the first translation. Mrs. J. H. Shedd who was known as the "Mother in Israel" did a great work for our people in translating books, and tracts and preparing the Sunday lessons.