New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1853-01-20
NEW-YORK TRIBUNE.
SKETCHES OF LECTURES.
Mohammed and the snrncen Empire.

Prof. KorPPEy delivered last evening the
twelfth lecture of the popular series the Tabernacle,
being discourse on "M0hammed and the saracenic
Empire"
The lecture was introduced by description OF
Arabia. its situation division climate natural scenery
and inhabitants Hedjas the west along the shores
of the Red Sea- on the south, Yemen; east, on the
Persian Gulf Oman and AlAhsa; in the Interior the
dreary table lands of Nedjd Barren mountain ranges
divide these provinces the south, where the noun
tans are lofty enough to attract the clouds and draw
down refreshing showers, many ryulets spring forth
and luxurant fertility marks their descent to the Indian
Ocean There the power of a burning sun WINES,
what it elsewhere destroys an island of verdure arises
in the midst of the sandy desert groves of palm trees
cover the plain olive groves and vineyards the slopes
in the most beautiful variety and along the coasts OF the
Red Sea where the waters abundant, flourish
ing cities have arisen from the earliest antiquity
The lecturer then drew the attention of the audience
10 the particular character and beauty Of Arabian
scenery, which he illustrated by pictorial view taken
from Mount Iarah ON the southeast of Mecca, oves
looking that romantic city, Mount Arafat, the desert
plain the port of Djidds with lie orange gardens the
broad belt of the Red Sea- and the distant purple noun
tsins of Egypt The charm Of the Arabian and syrian
.cenery lies in the wonderful tin,s and hues which it
the haes Of the rainbow blue purple, violet emerald
yellow and lilac of soitness and brilliancy super
natural that the eastern traveller often fancie himself
transported into another world This brilliant aspec:
Of nature, the Transparency Of the atmosphere the
balmy fragrance of the breeze and the picturesque
scenes of Arabian CARAVANS encampments fairy cities
with airy cupoas, soaring minArets and towers make
him feel fervent longing alter the climate, life, and
manners of the East tina, all the American comforts
and facilities for travelling neither satisfy nor dis
pei.
The Arabs from the remotest times, were divided
into dwelxs In cities where they, BY their sedentary
life lose some features of their original stsmp-and
into jewellers in tents or Bedouns who, the Chi.
dren Of the Desert, were the most numerous and pre-
served the national character all its primitive force
and freshness.
The religion of the Arabs in the DAYS of darkness.
thew before Mohammed psrtook Of the saSean and
Msgian worship of their noghbors, they noted the
sspect and movement Of the heavenly bodies, AMI
formed theories of their influence on human affairs,
while many followed the principles OF Persian Duasm,
and worshipped the blazing iregod the SUBMITS OF
their mountains Judaism still preiOminatcd in the
South and all the Christian secis or heresies had
their own votsries because thousands of exied Chris
! tsns Monophysites HISTORIANS, Jacootes, and many
Others had found refuge in that secluded and indie
pepdent peninsula The Arsbs, therefore, were well
acquainted with the Mossic traditions they fixed the
site of Paradise on their bleak hills of Mecca and
made ADAM with the assistance OF the Angel GABRIEL
build the Casba which after the deuge-during which
some OF the stones had been dlocsted-wa restcredoy
Abraham. The sanctuary, with lie 800 monsrous
Idols and the sacred tone-perhaps al seroe-"hicn'
from white a. they said had become blood-b with
the sins Of mankind-forgned the center for the pu
srages and heather worship OF the different sees IN
Arabia. before Mohsnmed. who himself aware OF all
this abeurdity moe. earnestly attempted to Abolish
those rites and to substitute for the Csabs-ae site OF
the sacrifice of Abraham Mount horah and The temple
Al Jerusalem But in vain The old supersoaons OF
that tenacious people would not yield, and the open To
belion Of lis proseytes st last forced the
toconnive az this heather worship which stands 70 ais
day in the most astonishing contradiction 10 al me
purer and philosophical doctrine. OF the Moran
This Is an important point and vinaica;es the law
s~er from an unjust accusion More than thry ~
Hious .eets thus co-exised among an intelligent ana
hshly poetical people BY the disposition of their minds
and BY the grandeur beauty or Of nature around
them given 10 silent meditation and enthusiastic 3S'o
ton Yet this diversity of belief npeded every unioa
and caused continual internal disturbances and civil
ysrs. Tine wa. at last ripe for reform. and sreA
genius arose who saw these Heterogeneous element
and WHO had the skill the courage and talent 70 uAe
them 10 bring them al to the worship o. the one uu7
Goo ard to fern and drill them into mighty naioh-
Ihis man l. MohaInned he was neither Al inpos'o'
nor hypocriie nor did h., the quiet wealthy ne
chant living in the bosom Of domestic happiness VIII
his beloved wife Kadah, dream Of eonquerins an en-
pire With the sword. He wss not q learned 'n70''
elan. though he had by his early travels IN sA pea
placed in many relations TO Christians and 'e"s CIV
bad treasured Up IN his reientire memory H1As -.
ard does which he later gave back 20 me worn n -
koran. Evety page Of that book proves li.s y
inwsrdly deeply taken with the venerable hsO,e"
dit,ons and with adnlirs;on for Christ bai l.e ~
rup ion Of the Elste, Church al that time "a y ~
ana the violent sehism between the s'noPN' 80
Nestorisns Iacobi,es and MArouites-nAy' An''-5
LEWIS themselves with their Tsrlnih MisAna az "a
balls. could certainly not induce him 70 oeeolne
aChri,iian ner Jew What wonder aen,
Arab Of strong mind, VAIN heart beating ~
humanity with an imagination hery as the
the desert-.houli in all reality, in all sinesi-!' 49,
up tie ldea that he WIS called On By God 20 e.-A-
, Ire mischief and sehism Of his time a. rs -"
! Il l~-.x prrr =