National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1867-04-05
From the Pllttsb rgh Sen incl
Notes of Foreign Travel--Religion in
Egypt.
BY REV. SELATT W. BROWN.

BY REV, SELAH W. BROWN.
This old Bible land is not without
It's religions. Here every man You
meet has his creed, and belongs to
some sect. We will inquire into
the history, belrt and practice of
two of the religious denominations
of Egypt.
THE COPTS.
The Coptic Church is the largest
Christian sect in Egypt, numbering
at least 10000 members. They
hold that thcy are descendants of
the Christians of Apostolic times.
and call the Greek and Roman
Catholics, hcrctics, They are un-
dou5tedly the best representatives
of the ancient Egyptians to be found
in the land.
The Copts seldom intermamy
with other Egyptian races. and
they refuse to wear white or red
turbans, that they may not be talk
en- for followers of Mohammcd. AS
a class they are quite ignorant,
though their education is superior
to the MoslemS. The work of
Scribcs and Clerks is almost wholly
i'll their hands.
The head of the Church is the Pa
triarch of Alexandria, who claims to
occupy the chair OF st. Mark. The
Bible, which they profess is THEN
rule of faith and practice, is freely
given to the laity. Their creed EN-
braces most Of the principles of the
Gospel. though it is burdened with
many false and foolish doctrines
and ceremonies. In many respects,
their religion resembles the Roman
Catholic. The alteration paid to
pictures, the worship Of the Virgin
ard Saints. their confessional, their
/ festivals and iaSts, their converts
and monaSterieS, their seven sacra
mcntS, and their service III an un
known tongue all remind us of tho
Romish Church. The CoptS attach
great importance to the rites Of bap
tism and circumcision like the
Moslems they have their state,
seasons of daily prayer, but unlik,
the followers Of the Prophet the,
will drink freely OF Spirituous Ii
quors.
The women occupy q part of the
Church separated rom the men,
apartments by II lattice work parti
tion, and always wear their wells
during worship. Their sanctuaries
are not provided with sets, but you
are offered crutch upon which You
may lean during service.
TIE MoSLEMS.
Nearly thirteen centuries ago, al
obscure person named Mohammed
lived in Arabia. pretending to re
ceivc n revelation from God. ii,
affirmed that while in II cave nca
the city of Mecca, the Angel Ga
hriel appeared to him bringing
communication from the Almighty
and addressed him as the "Apostl
of God"
In the twelfth year ofhis mission
Mohammed gave out that he ha,
made u night journey to Heaven
He told his friends that one nigh
as he lay in bed, the angel Gabrie
. cau.o aud walked him, leading hin
to the door of his house, where wa
a white beast named .\lborak, read
! to take him to Paradise. The an
NAL, not having been einploye
since the days of Jesus, was so vile
: that Mohammcd could not noun
p But the prophet promised AlbortI
% a place in Paradise. This quiete
/, the beast, whercupon Mohamme
. mounted. Gabriel took the rein
I and away they went to JcruSalci
$ much quicker than lightning. IheI
= Alborak was fastened to rock, an
u Mohammcd with Gabriel aScende
by ladder to the first Heaven. ~
Z the sides of the door was Mrlt'eI
..Thcrc is no God but G0d, a"'
|. Nohommcd is his Apostle - Inc,
!, Knocked and Il voice inquired y" II, ~
q is there p "GabricT was 'l'' "l
II swcr. "Who is that with So"
1t .Mohammcd," said t ne Ahse'' @
e Come ia, he wilt be very Welco'r'
c said the voice. They entered a','
- rnnnd an old man which proved t
:. hn Adam. also many angels, VIII
# s,,nJ ns scntncls to guard the ii,
II lv Place against the intrusion I
n devils. The distance from the fir
/. 70 the second Heaven was five hui
o dred years journey Gas men tray
:. on carth,) but Mohammcd and &
q brcl were at the second door in
II single moment. Here they tou,