Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1876-03-02
Interior of an Arab Mosque.

Il g Il
see was the Mosque of Mohammed Ali,
which is situated within the enclosure
known as the Citadel, built by Saladin, in
Il66, of stone brought from the small
pyramids Of Geezeh.
As you put off your shoes at the outer
door Of the mosque you enter a beautiful
marble paved court, or cloister, the whole
aspect Of which appeals alike TO your SEN
timent of reverence and your love OF arts
tic fitness 1t is so absolutely pure and
white and stainless that you own instinct
lively that 10 tread its precincts with shoes
stained with the travel of the dusty streets
would be indeed veritable PROCLAMATION.
You 90 to the graceful fountain which
stands in the center, honoring the Moslem
reverence that will not enter its holy place
with unwashcd hands Or feet; and when
one stands within the richly decorated
doorway he must be dull or prejudiced
indeed If he does not confess 10 the com
bined sense OF grandeur and splendor with
which its lofty proportions and brilliant
coIoring I'LL his mind. Even the wretch
ed lanterns which are simply globes oil
clear glass without the faintest tint OF
color or decoration, somehow fell In, TO
my barbaric and American vision, with
the general veneration for light as sym
Dol of the source of light which IL so
Characteristic OF all Eastern religions, and
scarcely less OF that great body of Eastern
Christians whom we know generally as
the Greek Church. Indeed, II seemed at
FIRST curious, but, after few moments
reflection, not an unnatural association OF
ideas to find myself comparing the Mosque
OF Mohammed Ali with the famous Russo
Greek Church known as ST. lsaacs,
which / had seen few months before in
st. Petersburg The latter is undoubted-
ly one OF the great ecclesiastical structures
of the world, and yet | am constrained TO
own that il never produced upon me the
effect of the Mosque OF the Citadel tas 1t
is more Familiarity Called in Cairo. The
sense of height of splendor and religious
appropriateness instead of diminishing
continually increased, and one could un-
derstand and pardon the impulsiyeness OF
a somewhat ELUSIVE English lady, who
during our stay at Cairo was seen To pros
trate herself in mosque in Oriental fer
vor of posture and mien.
Nothing could be more different than
,, the scene which, when we turned TO a
corner of the mosque, near the TOMB OF
the founder confronted US. In the center
of small group who were gathered about
him in half kneeling, half-sitting postures,
sat an elderly man upon rug, which he
had evidently brought with him, expound-
ing the Koran Most OF his handful OF
hearers had copies of the Koran, with which
they followed him, and many of them did
| not hesitate to interrupt him repeatedly
with questions. 1t was scene alike for
| the painter and the student. There were
no two attitudes alike, and yet all were
| equally graceful and easy. Here and
| there was pupil whose eager lace and
| necessarily acquiescent rod made one
envy the facility and the enthusiasm with
which he followed his preceDtor; and
| what was most curious, though the whole
| process OF expounding, and hearing, and
answering questions was going on 10 an
| ordinary cOiloquia, tone, none OF the adj
jacent worshippers seemed 10 be in the
| slightest degree disturbed by ii. A locker
| on would have discovered in the whole
scene a suggestion worthy OF the consid-
Grafton OF the advocates, in Christian
| lands, OF what are known as free and open
| churches. In all the vast area there were,
as have said, no seats, benches. or chairs,
| no reserved places which could be
| purchased by wealth or caste. The whole
was covered with carpets, and was equally
| free to all and the opportunities which
| this absence OF fixtures afforded for utiliz-
ing any part of The sacred edifice in the
way have indicated for little knots OF
students of their sacred volume, above all,
the absolute freedom with which, at ali
hours Of the day, every part of the
splendid building was placed at the IN
reserved disposal of the humblest wor-
shipper, suggested that here, too, was
something worthy of the imitation of
those who happen to be the guardians of
the sacred buildings Of purer faith. -
Cairo Cor. N. Y. Egeniaq Post