The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-12-03
RELIGION AND THE WAR.

THE STRUGGLE BETWEEN CHRISTIANITY AND
JOHN COTTON SMITH.
The Rev. John Cotton Smith delivered discourse
last evening tho Church OF the Ascension. Fifth
avenue and TcnIh street. '!The War Between Rus
sa aud Turkey; or. Tho Religious Aspects Of the
Eastern Question" He SAID IL am TO speak tonight
upon what IL xnown tho Eastern question, or she
relations Of the Turks 10 Christsndom know OF NO
subject which 10 more fraught with significance ~ 10
the future OF Christianity know OF mono in regard TO
which, IN Wow OF the interests OF Christianity. 1t IS
more important that lhere should DO thoroughly In.
telllgent sentiment throughout the Christian world
Thess my reasons Tor bringing the confederation
OF this subject before you at this time and
in this place. Moro than seven hundred
years ago Greek writer whose works still extant
spoke of prophecy which already ancient his
timc that IN the last days the Russians should be
masters OF Constantnoplc On tho TOMB of the Great
Constantine, the founder OF Constantnopie, 10 an IN
scrption to the effect that "tho yellow-naired
shall overthrow IsmacL" These ucts but indica-
tons Of deepseated anticipation the part Of tho
Russians and tho Turks that the great cty founded
BY the hrst Christian Emperor. would at some time
tall into tho hands OF tho Car Therefore, II that
In each generation one OF the Grand Dukes oil The I'm
perial family OF Russia bears tho name, because il
anticipated that he may Le called 10 succeed TO
tho imperial throne, In tho East, OF Constantine Tho
Car is the Caesar Of tho East because he claims
the succession OF the Eastern Roman Empire, and
Turks unconsciously recognize thor ultimate destiny
as an Asialc European power In the TACT that
the burial place OF Constan nople at Scutar on the
Asistic side OF the Bosphorus Tne speaker then
commented a. considerable length upon tho great IT.
ruptlons and conQuests by races OF tho North upon
those OF tho SCUM, and the prophecies Scripture
thought by many to point 10 some retributon I'M
pending over The followers OF the false prophet Tho
VI the Eastern question, review VI Inc rise ana
growth and decine Of the Ottoman power, and dwett
upon the religious element of The Eastern question.
In this connection he sad -
THE CHRISTIAN AND THn MrssCLMAN.
Whatever there Is OF owl in Mohannedanism Is .
th0usAndold intensified IN The Turkish manifestation
Of IL II IL Turkish Mohammedanism which 10 tie
peril AMI curse Of Cnristsndom to-day. II would
understand rightly The nature ami the influence vi
Nohxmmsdanism must have u right estimate OF
the Koran aud Of the system by which the Koran 10
autuoritativeiy interpreted The Koran is
Of ths alleged visions Of the Prophet with many pre-
cepts vi moral character. II IL suguiarly barren In
nm intellectual point Of view. having scarcely any
thing IN IL VI science, Inauguration or philosophy. ~
iatensely mUnothestic, aud s whole creed may be
summed up III me single Observation-Disclosures is one
God und Mohammcd Is his Prophet " In order "
enable the iaitniu rightly " understand The
Koran there are Tour commentaries or systems
The iuur orthodox imaums. who immoala,eiy
succeeded Mohammcd The hrst OF these
Moiekibu-AIas. who was born IN the year 7l3. dis
work was smpiy tnat VI compilation VI The sayings
0i the prophet illustrating Tue revelation which NC
had gwen IN The Koran. The second Abou Hanifo,
born 6yY. Hs system was one Of logical deduction
IRON The sayings oil Mohainmed Tho third was born
IN 767 His system 10 an eclectic one, for he made
use OF Inc systems of Of his predecessors only
incilning to that OF Molek. The fourth was Ahmed
i0o-Hau0al, who wns born IN $50. He systematlzed
she vast body vi traditions IN regard 10 Mohammsd
and The Koran, and reduced them 10 logical form.
Some students or Orlenial life and character have
thought that there ID one esture at least OF Mohsm
mechanism which Is worthy vi admiration, anu that Is
Its calT, unqueslionIng trust IN Tho providence OF
God. But very slight examination viii serve 10
man r. from what we understand bv .cii.
upon the providence Of Cod, aud how
little Il entitled ~ respect. The fundamental
principle Ia Accommodation ID that OIL the absolute
inpossiDility OF knowing anything about COD iude-
pendsntly OF the Koran and The traditions which nc
company aud interpret II All exercise Of reason IN
regard 10 God vi The worry outset eliminated IRON
Lie system, aud tho MussuinAn becomes
chine In references wnois subject vi rsiigivu.
IL strange therefore, mat the rsigVus oDserv
Of The most dov0ut n ussulmAn are wholly
external IN their character AID have scarcely any
thing truly moral or spiritual in them IL Is " be
memDerod that the wnolo system u MohammcdaEism
10 Of tue most sensual imaginable. una that tho
sincerity Of AUhammod himself ~ very grayciy com-
promised by The excessive sensual indugences winch
he claimed ny divine revelation Tor ullsoli. Besides
this. II 10 fundamental principie lsainsm
that all unDcnevers are to W Tue slaves OF tho iath
iul or exterglinated ny them. Tue relations wnicn
Northumberland would establish between tho follow
ery the false prophet aud others clearly midi
Gated In this saying OF the Prophet-"lf God valued
TINS world M tho wing OF u ny, Ho would not allow
unboliever SO much as u drink oil water from It,"
Whatever Can be logically deduceu ii0 saying Of
the Prophet Is 10 Ue received uiviuc revelation
There - then the Koran u verse 10 this ELECT
.'God created ine whole for you" Ine
syou" refers 10 true believers, and Inc whole earth
Is therefore designed ny God aud benefit
The Honintc ursts dcduce the icg timacy vi slavery
piracy and perpetual "warfare with the unOelievnK
world" II lisa Mussullnan prscept .has latin
be Kept and that no treaties or obligations 70 DO
regarded as uindng when nude WITH unbeIieverA
Que Of their muxlins IL that Tue death
oil prince u not much 10 DO regretted
AZ the loss Of province. There - another
maxim which was quo.cd conclus.v. when toe sui
Tan bajuzol Killed Ms brother, Dsquet Is worse than
putting 10 dcalh." One Vi the fundamental prIn-
cIpes oil MUhanuledansin, inteusihod Tic ottoman
form OF H. Is thc absolute scrviic suujectou vi
aud the subvcrson VI The family u w inc Institution
THE FALL or coxsrASrlxorLH
The speaker reviewed the conquests vi tho Ottoman
power. dwelling especially upon the capture vi Con-
stantnopis ny Mohummod IL Hungary WAS Invaded,
The provinces Of WaiAci,a, Moldavsa aud ssrvs were
conquered and Greece Itself. with all it, marvellous
wealth. tho treasures of antiquity, IA the grasp II
tue Ottoman urk We cannot everest mate th mar
ve0us significance Ia this the Siege VI
Couslantinopic w the Turks onder Mohammsd II. In
1861 Thlnk what IL was Tor Cur slendom that
city all into tho blood stained hanus DO
denled by The abominublu atrocities OF these Asatc
barLarianG There u stood and stands to-uay, The
superb creation Of sue nrst Christian Emperor whose
name Is will boar forever IL vi
magnIhcence oil natural scenery unequsl.ed through
out The world Through tho Dardauellss over Toe
Sea OF Msrmora, anu the oil ths Bosphorus
approach and catch sight vi the domes aud
rcts vi the city. Bowdei cd almost by the scenes VI
European AMI Asintic luxury which surround all
the way IRON tue Egean sea, wc arc overwhelmed by
tho grandeur OF Cousiantnvpie as bursts upon our
WOW. What night was that more tuna TOUR hun.
dred years ago wuen that terrible power, winch mud
been the dread Of Chrlstendom for seven uIics
had beaten age ator upon is eastern barriers ami
had overnastered the aucont Kingdoms, aud had
crushed the chivalrous civilization Of spain, stood
the very eve Vi victory around the wallis
oil Constantinopic The million Inhabitants
frantic with terror anu desperation.
Tho gates oi the inonasterics were thrown open
and the trembling crowds OF their Inmates swept
through ~ the ancient Cathedral OF Santa
Sophia the Holy Wisdom Twenty thousand
sought refuge within III walls. The shouts vi the
Turks, the thunder roar OF thoir engines Of war,
SCUM nearer and nearer. Mobammed H., with his
iron muco hand, rides on horseback into the ssuc