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DRURY, MARION RICHARDSON: United Brethren; b. at Pendleton, Ind., Dec. 27, 1849. He studied at Western College (now Leander Clark College), Toledo, Ia. (B.A.,1872), and was graduated from Union Biblical Seminary, Dayton, O., in 1875. He held pastorates at Toledo, Ia. (1875-87), and Cedar Rapids, Ia. (1878-81), and from 1881 to 1897 was associate editor of the Religious Telescope (Dayton, O.). Since 1898 he has been pastor of the First United Brethren Church, Toledo, Ia. In theology he is an orthodox member of his denomination. He has written Pastor's Pocket Record (Dayton, O., 1883); The Otterbein Birthday Book (1887); Handbook for Workers (1888); -Pastor's Companion (1894); At Hand (1895); Our Catechism (1897); and Life and Career of Bishop James W. Hott, D.D. (1902).

DRUSES.

Origin (§ 1).

Mohammedan Forerunners of
the Druses (§ 2).

Obscurity of the Druse Religion (§ 3).

Doctrine of God (§ 4).

The "Administrators" (§ 5).

Nature of the Soul (§ 6).

Knowledge (§ 7).

Ethics end Customs (§ 8).


Druses are the adherents of a composite sect which still exists in Syria, especially in the Lebanon. From their use of the Arabic language the Druses, who term themselves "Confessors of the Unity (of God)," seem to be a mixture of Syrians and Arabs. Their type, on the other hand, would indicate that they are descendants of the pre-Mohammedan Aramaic population. The steady resistance of this liberty-loving community to the State has aided in the preservation of their religion through the centuries, while they feel, on the other hand, that they form a distinct nation simply because of their religious isolation. By their tenacity, cunning, and valor they have succeeded in resisting all attempts at subjugation, and still form a State within a State. They now number about 100,000, although in recent years political circumstances have led many families to emigrate from Lebanon to the Hauran, where they have settled among the peasants and Bedouins of that region. It is worth noting that there are two Druse villages on Mt. Carmel, and they have a sanctuary there at which they perform a yearly sacrifice.

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