The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1879-08-16
Communicated.
Raceland, Alg. 10th, 1879.

My. Editor Nov ENJOYING
vacation, in ordc to temporarily
avoid falling ito the artfully
set SHARES OF Recreation-tbat
deceptive reptile when so fire.
quently assails q in the attire of
All inspired Goddess, but whose
caresses ever ilpart the loath-
some contagion of idleness, as
we'll as poison tie crystal current
OF true desire and manly aspira.
tlons-l am indeed to lay before
the reader of tn, worthy SENTI>
MEL certain face carefully collec-
lected with the !esign of casting
a few feeble rgs OF light upon
that dark shr,ud, which has
obscured from % many the glo-
rlous effects of IOhammedanism,
and III its darkness, left not a
visible trace OF Heavens grand
purpose in this mission. At the
dawnlng OF the seventh century
the world had lest its vigor and
grandeur, and yelapsed il to a
degraded state of lethargy.
Greece, with its classic renown,
had passed away like ii brilliant
meteor, which leaves behind a
darkness more intense. Rome,
which had so long siumbered un
der the intoxicaiin ing draughts of
glory, with groa,s and struggles
had suffered the Death of despair.
The barbarian tide had devasta-
ted Europe, and lad left within
its cruel vortex SARGE a vestige
of civilized customs. 1t was dur
ing this inauspiciots period that
in the parched deserts of Arabia.
arose the prophet Nohamet, who
though in truth uIinspired, was
destined to pour the most lasting
oil upon the whees OF human
progress. Sun and star worship
were forbidden the revelation of
a great God was made; and
through this alone vas the first
ray OF celestial truth made t.
blaze upon the Moslem brow
Long and cruel wars we're waged
for the propagation of this faith
and though the barren plains
were during this epoch, deluged
with the streams of blood, thu
glorious effects produced feebIy
compensate for the loss of life
Schisms then existed which
threatened the total dissolution o
the Christian Church; final ruiz
seemed inevitable, and dismem
berment but a matter 6t time
when the daring deeds of Mahom
med with d sudden shock CAUSE,
that speedy consolidation. which
had garlanded Christianity will
the wreath OF immortality. Th,
chilling blasts of Islamis,u, for I
time swept territically Throughout
entire Spain but when the storm
had subsidized, the benefit derived
was scarcely to be estimated. Thu
European knowledge Of agricul.
ture, science and the arts wa.
much extended. Cotton and SUI
gar cane were first introduced b,
the Saracens and there are wri
ters who affirm that this, by Civ
ing a new impulse to EurOpeaI
art and luxury, Was the medium
Of opening Il maritime comluuni
cation to India. One of the mos
vital benefits we have derived
from the faith is the effect it ex
erted Oh literature. The Alex
andrian library was destroyed
but its scores of volumes were I'll
important, except as relics of {
barbarous age. The rise OF Bag
dad with its immense number O,
pupils and professors, Was due
to Mohammedan exertion. A,
COrdova and Andalusia magnif
cent libraries were established
but even they fell into insigniti
canoe at thought of the great
scientific institutions erected by
them. 1t was they who adorned
the Africans with philosophy and
enlivened them with songs. 1,
Was they, as We have seen, who
rekindled the smouldering flame
Of Christianity. Colelidge sees
a striking conveyance between
Christianity and MOhammedan.
ism, and the far-sighted Foster
has likened Islamism to a moou
which is by degrees resiguing its
borrowed rays to meet III the
light Of everlasting gospel the
the sun of righteousness" The
question, whether those rays will
ever meet that glorious sun, time
alone can solve. Time alone can
tell whether the mission is now
complete, or whether Heaven has
for it's accomplishment a create,
end in view. But with the bless
ings that Mohammedanism has
been the means of bestowing ur
on man, we are constrained t.