, 1877-05-20
CHRISTIANITY AND MOHAM-
mechanism.

. .Seia Tork Sun.
Several remarkable papers have lately APPEARED
in an English magazine on the comparative progress
OF Christianity and Islam In Africa Some OF the
facts and suggestions offered merit careful attcn-
rion, not only By their intrinsic importance, but
because the author of the articles, Edward r. Bly,
den the Principal OF the Liber:an College, ia him
self black Of pure African descent
: At time when events in the East provoke ap-
peals to religious prejudices, and when narrow
view OF Mohammedanism, its moral worth, and its
true function in education 10 often put forth even
in England and America, nothing could be more
opportune than lucid account Of what 1t has done
for Western and Central Africa We are told, for
instance, TINT Islam has tendency to pen up ma
tions in Chinese immobility; that 1t Is 4 sort OF
progress which sies the progressive spirit; that it
is not short cut stepping stone to better civ
ilization, hut blind alley. Now, that this notion
is quite erroneous, regards one brunch Of the
human at all events. the data collected By Mr.
Byde0 e1cctualiy prove.
For three centuries Western Africa has been in
contact with Christianity, Jet no! single tribe has
been collectively converted, nor has one powerful
chief arcepted the faith which European miesiona-
ries have Offered him NJ Elyden tells Us that even
not ) point, with the exception of one small
islnnd, where the imported Christianity can fairly
be said to have taken root Islam, on The other
hand, since It's introduction by Akpar in the ninth
century and establishment at Timbuctoo, has
steadily and vastly widened the circle Of its au-
thority, showing itself competent to master the
most vire and refractory trlhe3 addressing ITSELF
indeed, by preference to those peoples waich al
ready possessed Tie rudimeuts OF civil government
md social Organization: i Is Islam which has
built and now occupies the largest towns Of the in
terror, which has evoked and still controls most OF
the 1rade between Equatorial Africa and foreign
countries and which gives laws to the most con-
siderable Kingdoms, such has Hausa, Bornu, Dar-
four, kordofan, and SEMINAR. We are remin1ed,
further, that IN this quarter the fcryor Of proseyt
ism y un2uenched, and that every day the Moslem
missionaries are gaining ground on The native fe-
t1chism and doaty, and enforcing respect for their
faith upon al Africans, even those who are not yet
enrolled &c ta qndeE ne 81 81 the
Islam within its expanding pale, Mr.. Blylen tells
rs that, with the hrst step inland from the West
localities according as the Inhabitants heathen
or Aohnmnedon- The divergence runs through
the form Of government, the eoclal 1aws, the man.
Passing In 1873 from Sierra Leone to Futah Jalio,
he had to traverse some large pagan villages, and
soon after entering . Moha1nmedan town, he
the character, sentiments. and cond .tion OF the
population having undergone complete metamor-
phoas- 1t appears that the ascent Of an African
pulse. ia often attcnaed with signal exhibitions Of
individual capacity. Those who are familiar with
the Musgulman world Of Western and Northern
the negro converts who has exercised potent
influence in the religious and political affairs, not
" o. h n 4 Of 6e ta Ses fRa o
biography many Anasulman blacks Of merit
are said to figure, and much space ts g1ren
The nas ven asa Of .rne soo to se
by 'I the Sisssr s p One Of the most no.ewofta5
tween Timbuctoo and the Vest Coast was native
Of Fntah -ToEo, known "a the Shcik omarwal-H Haj:.
This man. brought up By an A rab missionary md
instructed In tho Arabic language, made two pill
grimages to Mecca, and, returning to his native
district, undertook proselytng campaign against
some formidable heathen Tribes, whom he subject
ed to Islam, ,-uext setting hin1eeff to purify the
practices OF several Au-sulmau peoples among
whom vestises Of ,dolatry still fingered We may
now raignins in two Of the LARGEST towns Of Cen
trail Africa One or two audlttonal facts deserve
mention. For instance, in sleErn Leone and
Liherin the Mohammedan converts build mosques
and maintain pubic worship at their own cost mud
Contribute largely to the support Of Arab mission
aries coming from foteiea parts, whereas it e no.
wholly in such matters on European and American
aid societies. Again, in the late Ashnntee wnr
the sanchest and bfavest Of the black troops were
the Aansas. who are strict Mohammedans, while
Biyden sssurss Is that Sir Garnet woleelJs etate-
e'ss tas eli Il
white man, ~ IT applied to the heathen Aoaaem
blaek Is lndlcsously u1-founded.
feet Of the two religions npon the native African
dontueas lies in another fact frequently remarked,
anu IN t1e explanation OF that fact- Almost al
Travellers agree that the negro-conyert to Ie1am
er1ncee sentiment OF personal dignity and self
respect not observed in the Christian neuphytes.
The reason. Of course, not far to seek II Chris
Eanity were now preached ~ It once was, to the
non Aryan races by missionaries OF their own te
less alien stock, We might possibly witness some
thing like the success Of those HISTORIAN monks |
who swept acruss Central Asia into China some ten&
centuries before the advent Of the Jesnits IN the
Inter country But It H. the work Of Christian
Is wholly, committed to men OF Eu. I!
ropean origin.-that Is. to men In whom the subtle
teachings OF literature and art hare planted an |
oyerWeeuing and inveterate pride OF race. We can /
Judge how grave bar this feeling must prove to |
close and ferrid sympathy On The part Of their I
.hite pastors with the Atican proselytes from the
plain admission Of 50 enlightened man as Bishon ]
debes, that s'These is certainly something repug-
liant in the negro to those who are unaccustomed /
o him. Where his conversion ia effected under
hese conditions, IT is not surprising that the /
1at1ve black shoald regard Its author ~
hyperion, OF, At MI events, alien being. Hence be
:onceives poor opinion Of himself, learns TO de-
'rectate his characteristic qualities, and ID dis
:ouE7sed by the manifest hopeleasness Of repro |
lacing the physical and mentai traits OF his pre-
.eptor. -
In the bands Of its Semitic apostles Islam seems |
o have been more profoundly loyal to the spirit OF
'foad humanity which WAS the common emblem OF /
'ota faiths There fs not now, and there never
~ been, any Instructive repuisioa. or assumption
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