It may not be absolutely necessary for me to say that infallibility cannot justly be ascribed to any author, nor claimed by him, even when writing of his own experiences, and the social environment in which he was born and brought up. However, in Yankee, not in Oriental, {viii} fashion, I will say that _to the best of my knowledge_ the statements contained in this book are correct. Finally, I deem it necessary before I bring this preface to a close to sound a note of warning. So I will say that the Orientals' extensive use of figurative speech should by no means be allowed to carry the idea that _all_ Oriental speech is figurative. This manner of speech, which is common to all races of men, is only _more extensively_ used by Orientals than by Occidentals. I could wish, however, that the learned theologians had suspected more strongly the literal accuracy of Oriental utterances, and had thus been saved at times from founding a huge doctrinal structure on a figure of speech. Notwithstanding all this, the Gospel and the Christian faith still live and bless and cheer the hearts and minds of men. As an Oriental by birth, and as an American from choice, I feel profoundly grateful that I have been enabled to render this modest service to the Churches of {ix} America, and to present this book as an offering of love and homage to my Master, the Syrian Christ. ABRAHAM MITRIE RIHBANY BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS. {xi} CONTENTS PART I. THE SYRIAN CHRIST. I. Son of the East II. Birth of a Man Child III. The Star IV. Mystic Tones V. Filial Obedience VI. Feast and Sacrament VII. The Last Scene PART II. The Oriental Manner Of Speech. I. Daily Language II. Imprecations III. Love of Enemies IV. "The Unveracious Oriental" V. Impressions _vs._ Literal Accuracy VI. Speaking in Parables VII. Swearing VIII. Four Characteristics {xii} PART III. BREAD AND SALT I. The Sacred 'Aish II. "Our Daily Bread" III. "Compel Them to come in" IV. Delaying the Departing Guest V. Family Feasts PART IV. OUT IN THE OPEN I. Shelter and Home II. Resigned Travelers III. The Market Place IV. The Housetop V. The Vineyards and the Fields VI. The Shepherd PART V. SISTERS OF MARY AND MARTHA I. Woman East and West II. Paul and Woman III. Jesus and his Mother IV. "A Gracious Woman" PART VI. Here and There in the Bible Index {3} PART I THE SYRIAN CHRIST THE SYRIAN CHRIST CHAPTER I SON OF THE EAST