orce, or whether she
was willing to become a Moslem. If she says she was taken by force, she
is returned to her parents. There are a few cases where women willingly
go to the Moslem but this is from their wickedness or their poverty.

MORALS ELEVATED.

Not many years ago a Moslem would enter the private homes of the
Assyrians without an invitation. The husband and father did not want
him there, but so long had his rights as a man been ignored that he did
not have the manhood to drive him away. Then, too, he feared if he
offended the Moslem, that the latter would secretly destroy some of his
property. These uninvited visits gave the stranger an opportunity to
become acquainted with the family, and perhaps an attempt to kidnap a
daughter would follow. But this has changed. If a stranger enters an
Assyrian home to-day he behaves like a gentleman or he is ordered to
leave. The manhood and independence of the old Assyrian has been
aroused.

In a national conference of the Protestants, Catholics and Old Assyrian
churches held a few months ago, rules and plans for the development of
the nation and the uplifting of morality were adopted. Among other
things, Christian girls and women are prohibited by these rules from
working for Mohammedans; second, no girl nor woman can go to a city of
Mohammedan merchants to do trading. This is the first conference of
this kind that has been held by Assyrians for 400 years.

Many of the native young men who have been educated by the missionaries
have become able men and influential citizens. There are some of them
who can stand before the king and speak with greater power than any of
the government officers. This is in great contrast with the condition
of Assyrians before the missionaries came. In those days leading
Assyrians could not stand before even a low court to plead their cause.

In 1893 a general, third in the government, visited Oroomiah college.
When he saw the training of the young men he was impressed and
afterwards, in a conference of lords, said: "The young men who are
being educated in the mission schools would become leaders in the
political affairs of our nation if they had a chance. I believe a time
will come when they will hold high offices, and the sons of lords will
be ruled by them, unless you do something for the future of your
children."

The Shah has given the title of count to some of the graduates in
medicine. He sees their useful work and says they are he