Howard Conklin Baskerville

Some believe it is because of the claim that Tabriz, the city in which Howard Baskerville met his end in 1908 with a bullet through his heart, is now believed to be the original location of Garden of Eden and the birth place of Adam and Eve?

Or maybe because of the courage of Ata Servati, the noted poet, play writer and film maker from Iran who was born into Muslim family, and decided to write about this Presbyterian Christian missionary who suggests the answer to the world’s problems at this time is what the Christ believed -- “Peace and Love.”

It could be both of these, but also the fact that Iran again has become a threat to the world with its nuclear ambitions, must play a part.

My guess, however, is that the story of an unlikely American Christian laying down his life for a group of people he knew little about, is what has captured the imagination of the mass media who have been lining up to interview its author about his just limited released book, In Search of Heaven.

In Search of Heaven tells the story of how Baskerville 1907 went to the city of Tabriz in Iran in 1907 to work as a missionary-teacher. The following year he was killed after joining the fight for Iranian freedom, after the Russians had bombed and destroyed the Iranian parliament, killing all of its representatives.

Already, Ata Servati, who now lives in the Los Angeles area, has received scores of e-mails from people about his book which he hopes soon to turn into a major motion picture.

One of them read, “Howard Baskerville was an Iranian hero and son of freedom, who sacrificed his life in a young age to fight against the carpetbaggers, who at that time were just puppets of Russians and English. Isn’t Russia supporting Iran at this time as she did in 1907? Who is the loser again? It is, of course, the people of Iran. History is repeating itself. And I hope that Americans will rally behind you and buy the book to learn more about the reign.”

Donald L. Hughes, the founder of JesusJournal.com has written about what Howard Baskerville found when he first arrived in Tabriz.

“The cause that Baskerville immediately championed was constitutional government for Persia,” he wrote in an article for ANS about the book. “When he arrived there, he found the country had an incompetent and dishonest Shah, and, as Servati says, the country had become the ‘plaything of foreign powers: the English, the Russians and the Turks.’

“From his arrival in Tabriz, Baskerville was caught up in the drama of the approaching political showdown. He befriended many leaders and questioned them about their views and how Persia would benefit if they had victory, either in the Assembly or the battlefield. Ultimately, he cast his lot with Muhammad Hassan Sharifzadeh, Hajji Agha and other friends who wanted to bring even-handed democracy to the Persian people.

“Though characterized as a peaceful person in the beginning of the book, Baskerville is quick to take up arms. This turn of events appalls S.G. Wilson, the principal of the Presbyterian school where Baskerville is supposed to be teaching. He pleads with Baskerville to return to his teaching post. Wilson implores him saying,

“‘In reply to your letter of resignation from your position of teacher, allow me to say that I regard your contemplated course of action as unwise, rash, and impractical, as founded on a grave error of judgment and certain to lead to serious consequences to yourself and others. I, as a friend, must advise you strongly against any such course. If you acknowledge my authority, I would enjoin you from it for the common good. I regard your first obligation as to the school and still look to you to fulfill your contract as a teacher.’

“Baskerville ignored these pleas, trained a platoon of Persian soldiers, and, during the first attack on the first day of battle, was killed by a bullet in the heart.

“At first blush this does not seem like a very triumphant tale. It may seem more like a story of impetuous youth gone wrong. Yet, Baskerville became an instant folk hero to Persians, and they honor his memory to this day. In the midst of all the anti-American rhetoric we’re hearing, many ordinary Iranian citizens continue to respect the U.S. because of the zeal and sacrifice of Howard Conklin Baskerville nearly 100 years ago. They learned about him in school, as one might learn about Patrick Henry in America, and over the years Baskerville has become the stuff of legend.”

Hughes concluded by saying, “Ata Servati has written an interesting book that is well worth reading. It is not a conventional non-fiction book, as one might hope for in a biography. Yet, it is not an historical novel, though many will think it is closer to being that. Actually, it reads more like a movie script that floats over the action rather than being intimately involved in it. Who will be the actor that fleshes out the rash humanity of Howard Baskerville? Will it be Brad Pitt, Val Kilmer, or some brash newcomer? Perhaps it will be a movie someday, but in the meantime you can enjoy this book simply because it demonstrates how unclouded idealism can engender mutual respect among people.”

But back to the reason for such media interest; I think it is because they are looking for an answer to the present morass that is American-Iranian relations and maybe they feel that this American missionary who’s inspiring story helped to bring freedom to Iranian people all those years ago, could again inspire the Iranian people again to get their freedom from the radicals who now run the country.

The core theme of this book is certainly a blow to the radical clergy in power in Tehran who hate everything about America, yet they cannot ignore the fact that an American Christian paved the way for freedom in their land all those years ago.

However, there must be something good about this book that Mr. Servati is been invited to speak in churches and peace organization around the country about this man who has so influenced him. He has also offered the book for sale of up to 50% off its retail price, during his speech; the funds to be donated to the church or organization, or to the members of the church or organization.

In Search of Heaven” can be obtained through www.insearchofheaven.com and Ata Servati can be contacted for interview or for booking to speak at his e-mail which is: sennapic@aol.com. 

Dan Wooding is an award winning British journalist now living in Southern California with his wife Norma. He is the founder and international director of ASSIST (Aid to Special Saints in Strategic Times) and the ASSIST News Service (ANS). He was, for ten years, a commentator, on the UPI Radio Network in Washington, DC. Wooding is the author of some 42 books, the latest of which is his autobiography, "From Tabloid to Truth", which is published by Theatron Books. To order a copy, go to www.fromtabloidtotruth.com. danjuma1@aol.com. (Photo Ata Servati being interviewed by Dan Wooding)