Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1877-06-04
THE sOFTAs.
Who aud what They Area Turbu.
lent Elemenstn Turkish Politics.
phiIaaeInhia Telasranh


who aud What They Area Turbu
lent Etemenstn Turkish PoliIies.
PhiladsIphia Telesraph.l
The Softas who have again inaugura
ted a movement which may lead, as die
that Of a year ago, not only to q change
in the Ministry. bat to the deposition o.
the Sultan, are, properly speaking, the
pupils who are engaged in the study o.
MussulmaH theology and laws Of the
medresses, or schools attached to the
mosques, the range of their studies, how,
ever, being practically limited to learn.
ing to read the Koran. The Softas take
their name from o corruption ofthe past,
participle soukhte-burned-applied ID
them because they are supposed 70 be
consumed by the love of study Of sacred
things, and devoted TO a life Of medita.
ton. The SoitSs follow their studies in
the school building, sleeping aud eating
st the lmsretts, where free lodgings and
food are provided for them ont Of the
legacies Of the pious II their families
can afford to do SO, they furnish them
with clothing and bedding; If rot, these
are given 10 them from the same chart
table fund. The number of Sofas is
very large, fer one reason, because of
their exemption from military service.
After long continued study Of Arabic,
and the Koran and its commentaries, the
Sofia, after an examination, which,
though nominslly arduous, is almost in
variably passed successfully, takes the
title Of Khodja.
The Khodja-khavadje, reader or sim
ger--a scholar who mas taken his diuIo.
ma in the medresse, teaches for several
years, in fact till he has conducted a
class Of Softas through the same course
be had himself taken, when, on applica-
ton to the ministry Of worship, at whose
head is the Sheikh ul-Islam, and after a
severe examination, be receives the title
II Ulema. The Mussnlman does moi ar
rive at this dignity until be has reached
the age Of thirty or thirty.6ye. 1t con-
tsrs numerous privileges, for these doe.
tors escape military service, unless in
the event Of the djibad, or sacred war,
and from their ranks are filled the judge
ships, the euracies $50 to speak, of the
mosques, the p~rofessorships in the me.
dresses, the trusteeships connected with
the administration of the trust funds for
plous and charitable purposes, etc. On
May 10Th II was announced that the
SAeikh ulIslam had proclaimed a holy
war against Russia, aud ever the Ulema
the word is plural and signifies wise
meR-are o subject to military duty.
A morning telegram states that fifty Of
them have just been landed in the Cri.
mea, to encourage the recently snRounc-
ed Tartar instruction, by exciting the
Mussulman population TO rise against
Russia.
The lmaums-wbo are the real priests
and have charge Of the public religious
seTvices-are selected from the Ulema.
The title Of lmaum comes from the
Arabic, and is the equivalent Of leader
or outpost. There is as a rule one
lmaum to each mosque Of minor impor.
tanee-mess6jid-whil two, or at most
three, one OF whom is designated the
chief authority, are appointed to the
principal mosques-diAmis
Tbs term Sofia, as used in the tele.
grams, includes all the grades above
mentioned, from the Imsum, or priest, to
the Sofia proper, or mere student of the
Koran. They are usually distinguishes
Die in Turkey by wearing a white turban
arouud their fez, or skull cap. Sultan
Abdul.Aedjid, the predecessor of Abdul.
AXIS, ~eHdeevored to induce his subjects
to wear a European dress, and succeeded
so far that almost without exception
everyone except the very lowestin the
public service adopted it. But the Sofas
to q man retained the old-fashioned bag
gy, slouching dress which Abdul edjid
wished TO get rid of.