The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1880-04-28
CoRREsPoNDEN CE.
Letter from Rev. DR.. M. D. ,Hoge.
CAIRO, March 25th, 1880.
The TsIau, Faith
The Islam Faith

1CbSOA AtOAAA NV LII 4NA' ~ 11O6S.
CAIRO, March 25th, 1880.
The Islam Faith
slowly relaxes its hold upon the loyalty
Of the people. 1t is at once religion, a
political economy, and philosophy The
Koran of the Mohammedan is not only
the fountain, but the measure and limit
of all truth. 1t engenders not so much
the worship of Father as of Fate. 1t
proposes to satisfy the conscience without
an atonement. 1t demands five seasons
for prayer each day, but does not develop
spiritual life. The Paradise of the Mo
hammedan is in keeping with the tastes
and pursuits of his earthly existence-a
land in which gazelles disport themselves
In groves of palm and sugar cane, where
the faithful are refreshed with fruits and
flowers and endless banquets, where pipes
are enjoyed ad hbitlna, and houiS, at
discretion.
was powerfully impressed with the
means by which the faith of the False
Prophet is kept alive in the hearts of it's
professors and their zeal enkindled in its
propagation everywhere, when l visited
the Mosque El-Azhar to see the great
Moslem University. There are between
three and four hundred Professors, and
about ten thousand students, who come
from different parts of Egypt, from Tur-
key, Syria. Nubia, Persia, and various
Mohammedan countries throughout the
world.
We entered by what is called the gate
Of the BARRIERS, and the first detachment
of pupils consisted of several hundred
boys who are required to commit the
Koran to memory. DR. Lansing told me
that some of them could repeat the whole
of it from beginning to end What les
son is this to our Sunday Schools at home,
where so little attention is paid to memo
rizing the holy Scriptures
We then were ushered into the Great
Court, where an astonishing spectacle
arrested our attention. Think of one
room for recitation and study whose floor
covers an area Of 5000 square yards
This vast apartment is destitute of all
architectural beauty The low ceiling is
supported by $50 columns of granite and
marble-the floor being covered with
mats and carpets. Each professor sits on
the floor, his class, varying from thirty to
I44IJ III oCdJcO III a ClICl6 arOQnQ
him. | then understood the meaning of
the passage where Paul tells us that he
was brought up at the feet of Gamaliel.
/ stopped at the outer edge of one of
these circles and watched the professor
as he delivered his lecture, and | wished
[ could understand him. DR.. Lansing
informed me that he was one of the
teachers of Rhetoric. His countenance
was one OF great benevolence and his
manner was very persuasive. He gently
rocked to and fro as he discussed his
theme, and the students bowed backwards
and forwards, keeping time with him in
the movements of their bodies Their
attention was most marked. They fre-
quently smiled at what supposed were
his good points or illustrations, and some
times little murmur of assent would run
round the circle. Not one of them seemed
to notice our presence, although we were
company of foreigners standing over
them in dress as outlandish to them as
theirs was to u.s.
In this University young men are pre-
pared for civil life, but their training is
chiefly a religious one Their example
affords a great moral lesson. Deluded
though they be, their industry and self
denial are worthy Of a better cause.
They sit on the floor, sleep on the floor,
take their meals of food Just sufficient to
sustain life, and toll most laboriously in
the midst of privations of every kind.
and do it all cheerfully.
The Professors in these schools receive
no n, salaries, but are supported by aims or
their own industry when not engaged in
teaching, while their pupils are destitute
OF comforts Of any kind. DR.. Schaf
says The simplicity and selfdenial of
inns student life is wonderful. Our The
oIoglcal students would not stand it a
week This University is the greatest
Propagandist institution in the world