190 TRANSACTIONS OF THE | APR. 30, 
13. The Jacobites. This sect of Monophysites was named 
after Jacob Baradeeus, a monk of Phasilta near Nisibis, in the 
sixth century. A favorite illustration of their view of the ab- 
sorption of the human nature of Christ in his divinity is: 
“Glass is made of sand, but the whole is only glass, no longer 
sand. ‘Thus the divine nature of Christ has absorbed the 
human, so that the two have become one.” Wolff regards them as 
of Hebrew origin, and they call themselves Bnai Israel. Never- 
theless, it is not certain that they are a pure Hebrew race, the 
heresy of the Monophysites having extended widely through the 
Kast, infecting the Nestorians, who were certainly a mixed race, 
spread through all Asiatic Turkey. 
The headquarters of this sect is at Mosul, and the greater 
part of the membership of 150,000 is in upper Mesopotamia. 
A few are found in some villages near Damascus, where they 
speak a corrupt Aramaic. <A few are scattered through north- 
eastern Syria. ‘They are remarkable for their ascetic view of the 
religious life, and their compact vigorous hierarchy. 
14. The Armenians. Few of the members of this large and 
important communion live in Syria. They are undoubtedly the 
purest, except, perhaps, the Bedawin, Maronites, and Gypsies, 
of all the races of the country. They claim the origin of 
their faith directly from Christ, without the intervention of the 
Apostles. They have a famous convent on Lebanon at Bezulmar, 
and are found in most of the cities of Syria and Palestine, as 
bankers and merchants. A peculiarity of the priestly dress with 
them is the long black veil which hangs gracefully down their 
backs. Asacommunity the Armenians of Syria are exceptionally 
intelligent and wealthy. 
There is also a papal branch of the Armenian church, repre- 
sented by a few individuals in Syria, chiefly at Aleppo. 
15. The Latins. From the days of the Crusades there has 
been a Latin church in the East, composed either of survivals of 
the European hosts, or those who cast in their lot with them. 
They are few in number, but of great influence in the country, 
owing to their being the medium of pecuniary assistance from 
the Latin churches of Europe. It is through them that the 
educational work of the churches affiliated with Rome is princi- 
pally conducted. They have large convents and schools, and 
the most imposing churches in the country have been built by 
them. The Capuchin, Lazarist, Benedictine, Jesuit, and other 
orders are largely represented. 
16. The Copts have ecclesiastical establishments in Jerusalem, 
and a few scattered members in the commercial cities. ‘They, 
in common with the Abyssinians, retain the rite of circumcision. 
