THE NEW SCHAFF-HERZOG
of new doctrines and strange survivals, of bold speculation and poetical mysticism. Within the last century Babism, developing into Behaism (qq.v.), has been offered by Persia to 6. Condi- the world as a universal religion. The tions of claims made for it are extravagant, and Work. it is making little progress, but it testifies to the fertility of the Persian mind, to its discontent with Islam as a social system, and in some of its teachings to the influence of Christianity. The Sufi teachings finding their expression in the Masnavi of Jalal ud Din and the cosmopolitan morality of Sheikh Saadi have not lost their influence. The yearning after a closer communion with the divine than that offered in orthodox Islam finds expression in many ways. All of these influences make many restive under the intolerance of Islam; and while there is little prospect of the proclamation of religious freedom at present, many forces are working in that direction and are already increasing the amount of freedom realized. A majority of the Persians are adherents of the mutashari scholastic Shiite Islam, which makes life center in the fulfilment of the law; although even with them the greatest religious season is the Muharram, the time of mourning for the propitiatory sufferings of the Imam Hussein. Less numerous and yet wide-spread are the more liberal Sheikhis, as a^e the many branches of 'Arifs (or Sufis). Then one must mention the growing class of the modern type of free-thinkers. These have some European education and are apt to be theists with little definite theological belief. The Sunnis, mainly Kurds, though numerous (probably a million), are outside the current of national life and are mostly very ignorant. The Ah Illahis are a numerous sect of obscure but ancient origin, having secret rites and a merely nominal attachment to Islam. This complex of sects and beliefs is made more intricate by race and language divisions and by tribal and dialect subdivisions. Finally to all these influences and counter-influences must be added the new movement in Islam with its new patriotism and its new attachment to European civilization and liberty. Unless this force is very quickly spent, religious change must result from it; for it is marked by two anti-Islamic ideals, national patriotism and the regulation of society by legislation originating in society itself and not enforced by religious sanctions. The disintegrating effect of modern science must also be taken into account. Meantime the variety of belief, the heritage of heresy, and the speculative tendency of the Persian mind, which have leavened even the Turkish population of northern Persia, all give openings to Christian truth. The need for missionary activity is great; and the missionaries must be strong in character, wise and alert in action, and full of intellectual and spiritual power in order to make the inevitable change a movement Christward. W. A. Shedd.
Bibliography: Beside the literature named in the text consult: W. A. Shedd, Islam and the Oriental Churches, Philadelphia, 1904; B. Brisson, De regio Persarum prineipatio, Strasburg, 1710 (best ed.); J. Perkins, Residence of Eight Years in Persia Among the Nestorian Christians, Andover, 1843; idem, Missionary Life in Persia; Glimpses
of a Quarter of a Century's Labor among the Nestorian Christians, Boston, 1861; T. Laurie, Woman and her Saviour in Persia, Boston, 1863; D. T. Fiske, Faith Working by Love, Boston, 1868; D. W. Marsh, Tennessean in Persia and Koordistan: Scenes and Incidents in the Life of S. A. Rhea, Philadelphia, 1869; W. Guest, Story of a Consecrated Life (Fidelia Fiske), London, 1870; R. Anderson, Hist, of the Missions of the A. B. C. F. M., Oriental Missions, Boston, 1874; Berthold-Ignace, Hist, de la mission de Perse 1604-12, Brussels, 1887; A. Riley,
Progress and Prospects of the Archbishop of Canterbury's Mission, London, 1889; J. Bassett, Persia; Eastern Mission, Philadelphia, 1890; A. J. Maclean and W. H. Browne, The Catholicos of the East and his People, London, 1892; E. A. Lawrence, Modern Missions in the East, New York, 1895; S. G. Wilson, Persian Life and Customs, London, 1896; V V. Barthold, Zur Geschichte des Christenthums in Mittel-Asien bis zur mongolischen Eroberung, Tubingen, 1901; J. B. Piolet, Les Missions catholiques francaises aux xix. Steele, 6 vols., Paris, 1901; C. H. Stileman, The Subjects of the Shah, London, 1902; Hamd Allah, Mesopotamia and Persia under the Mongols in the 14th Century, London, 1903; J. Labourt, Le Christianisme dans V empire perse . 224-6S2, Paris, 1904; W. A. Essery, The Ascending Cross. Some Results of Missions in Bible Lands, London, 1905; E. R. Browne, A Literary History of Persia, London, 1906; F. H. Davis, The Persian Mystics, Jalalu'ddin Rumi, London, 1907; E. Aubin, La Perse d'aujour d'hui. Iran. Mesopotamie, Colin, 1908; J. G. Wishard, Twenty Years in Persia, New York, 1908; Mrs. M. E. and A. Hume-Griffith, Behind the Veil in Persia and Turkish Arabia, Philadelphia, 1909; M. Jewett, Reminiscences of my Life in Persia, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, 1909; V. Berard, Revolutions de la Perse. Les Provinces, les peuples, et le gouvernement du roi des rois, Paris, 1910; the literature under Grant, Asabel; Marttn, Henry; and Stoddard, David Tappan.
PERSONA, GOBELINUS: Canon and dean at Bielefeld; b. probably at Paderborn in 1358; d. at the monastery of Boddeken, near Paderborn, c. 1421. After a prolonged sojourn in Italy, especially at the court of Urban VI.; he received an appointment at the cathedral of Paderborn and later became pastor of the Market Church. As dean at Bielefeld under Bishop Wilhelm von Berg of Paderborn (1400-14) he contributed greatly to the reform of the Paderborn monasteries. He is to be mentioned chiefly for his work Cosmodromium, hoc est chronicon universale complectens res ecclesice et reipublicce ab urbe condita usque ad annum Christi 1418 (ed. H. Meibom, Frankfort, 1599; ed. the younger H. Meibom in Scriptores rerum Germanicarum, i. 53 sqq., Helmstadt, 1688). Although a worthless compilation for the earlier times, it is a valuable source of information for the conditions and opinions of the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
(A. Hauck.)
Bibliography: E. A. Bayer, Gobelinus Persona, Leipsic, 1873; A. Hogemann, Veber die Quellen des Gobelinus Persona, Halle, 1874; ABB, ix. 300-301.
PERSONNE, JOHN WILHELM: Swedish theologian; b. in Stockholm 1849. He studied at Upsala (Ph.D., 1875; Th.D., 1897), and at Tubingen (1877) ; he was appointed reader at the North Latin School in Stockholm (1881); was inspector at the catechist schools (1883-97); since 1885 he has been member of the committee revising the Swedish translation of the Bible; and since 1897 he has been provost of the cathedral in Linkoping. Among his works may be mentioned De mosaiska altaroffren (1874); V Rydbergs Bibelns lara om Kristus granskad (1880); Grunddragen till Gamla testamentets sedeldra (1881); Bibelkritikens nyasta hypoteser om