TESTIMONY OF A BITTER ENEMY.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XIX, Issue 33, 22 May 1891, Page 20

TESTIMONY OF A BITTER ENEMY.

Mb. J. A. Ainslib writes to the Star of the East, the organ of the Turkish Mission Aid Society, that the Catholic Oaurch is likely to overrun Persia and rule where the heathen religions of Assyria and Babylon held control in ancient times. Ha says : "It may be weU to mention one or two important facts about the Papal Caurch our opponent. The centre, which they have established a*. Mosul is said to be the strongest in all Asia. They are aiding every year to the number of their schoo s, chapels and other buildings, until now they own a large property ia the heart of the city. By me*ns of rich oreseats to the various officials they have gained an overpowering influence in the Government. Fora series of years they have been educating young men of the legion, and sending them to the College of the Propaganda at Rome, whence they are returning as priests filled with bitter hatred of all Protestantism. •'As a result of this process, we find Mosul to- lay overrun with priests who are too c ger to use all their skill in tryirjcr to draw tbe unwary into their toils. Tha P.piat* have at last by "fair promises and deceitful measures, succeeded ia gaiuing to themselves the last congregations remaining to th-s olj Chaldean Church. Thus this branch of the old Nestonan Church bn v last bmd swallowed un by the Church of Horn,. Taey 1-atst.ll reUinei in great measure their ancient forms of litual. But sam after this union was erected the Papia-s took away all these, patting in their stead the regular Romish litual, which contains miDy expressions very offensive to the Chaldeans, aae.<7.,' Mary, the m >ther of God.' When this ritnal was first placed ia the Courches, some of the priests an-i deacona refused to use it. But a mixture of threats and bribes soon convinced tsem that they would fare much better if they quietly complied with the new order. "So far as it appeara oa the surface all is peace at present but there is much bitterness of heart among many who h*ve still remaining enough spiritual life to feel the ignominy of this oppression Thia new ritual is in the Syiiac language, but it seems to me only a question of time and policy when the ritual through that entire region will be use 1 m Litiu. As we see the Church of Borne tightening thus the cords ab _>ut her victims, an i year by yjar bringing them into her toil*, wa long and pray that the Protestants of the West would come to the relief of this oppressei people, and cause them to hear the glonoua sound of gospel liberty. We feel sure that could the Churcnea at home see what w- ace, an i feel, as we do, the importance of the work in this region, they would soon find men 'and means to build up a strong work on this site of ancient Nineveh."