Daniel was very fond of fishing, hunting, and raising grapes, and was
one of the best husbandmen in Persia. One morning when fishing, a young
man whose name was Abraham, and afterward a classmate for seven years
in college, handed to him an envelope in which was written by Dr.
Oldfather, a missionary, and President of the Presbyterian College at
Oroomiah, Persia, "We have accepted you in our college." Daniel thought
this a calling from Jesus Christ just as He had called four of His
disciples from their fishing. He threw his net on the shore of the
river, and kneeling down, thanked God for this, His holy calling.
Rising up from his prayer he took his net, and started for home. On
arrival he told his parents that he wanted to go to college. Again his
father objected, saying that he could not spend any money for his
education.
But his mother sold all her jewels and sent him to college.
COLLEGE LIFE.
In 1875 Daniel went to Oroomiah college. For first two years Rev. Dr.
Oldfather was President of the college. In the second year he was
converted by hearing a sermon and a song by Dr. Oldfather whose singing
quickens sleeping souls of sinners. His class at the beginning was
thirty persons, but at graduation only twelve. He studied very hard,
sitting up at night with his book until eleven o'clock. One of his
classmates, Rev. Abraham, was his bosom friend. They recited in a small
closet often until midnight and then had prayers before going to bed.
Daniel graduated in 1882 under the Presidency of Dr. J. H. Shedd, one
of the most eminent men ever sent as a missionary to Persia by the
Presbyterian Church. All his classmen are leaders in the Presbyterian
church as well as of the Nestorian nation. For two of them have lately
been offered the title counts by the late Shah. Dr. S. J. Alamsha a
noble consecrated Doctor of Medicine, one of the fellow graduates of
Daniel, shows the tenor of the spirit of Christian fortitude and
devotion in declaring his faith in the Trinity in the very face of the
Governor of State who had just threatened him with persecution by
cutting off his hands if he insisted on repeating the confession. But
Dr. Alamsha replied that he was a Christian, and if ever questioned as
to his faith would confess it not only at the cost of his hands but his
head also. He further stated that he would not impose his faith on any
one unless they requested, and that if the Governor did not want his
confession he had better not ask for it.
[Illustration: WIFE AND DAUGHTER OF THE AUTHOR.]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account