DERVISH

[s. 227] : A Mohammedan Theosophist or native workers, men and women; 12 Sunday schools, a Young People’s Society, and 999 pro- Sufi; commonly a member of an order formed for the purpose of seeking mystical knowledge of fe ing Christians. God. Etymologically the word “dervish” means one who begs at a door, literally as a mendicant, or figuratively as a suppliant at the door of God’s mercy. The latter meaning is the one which the older Dervish Orders insist upon. In Turkey popular contempt for the unattached, wandering, and begging Dervishes is expre ed in a proverb which says, “The Christian’s lazy man becomes a monk; the Mohammedan’s, a Dervish” {Kris tian in tenbeli keshish olcmr, Mu ulmaninki Dervish). Yet comparatively few Dervishes are mendicants. It is customary to call Dervishes monks, but none of them are monks in any sense which implies vows of service in an order, celibacy or permanent residence in a monastery. Of themselves they prefer to say that they are “Fakirs,” that is to say “poor” who desire to serve God. Therefore they have become followers of Sufiem, DEMERARA: A river and district in British Guiana iq.v.). DEOBAND A town in the Sahranpur district. United Provinces, India; situated 45 miles N. E. Population (1891), 19,300, of whom of Meerut. about 11,000 are Mohammedans and the most Station of the of the remainder are Hindus. ME, with (1902) 11 native workers, men and women; 1 place of worship, 10 Sunday schools, 1 Society for Young People, and 705 profe ing Christians. Also written Deobund.: DEOGARH: A town in the Santal Parganas, Bengal, India; situated 55 miles S. by W. of Bhagalpur. Population (1891) 8,300, chiefly Hindus. It contains 22 temples of Siva and is a famous center of pilgrimage. Station of the CWBM, with (1902) 7 mi ionary women, 2 of them physicians; 4 native workers, men and women 3 preaching places, 2 schools, an orphanage, a dispensary, a leper home, and 130 profe ; Name also written Deoghur. ing Christians. 227