Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1882-08-10
MOhammedaUism.
II.

can look back to it with any other feel
Ings than those of shame.
The sixth century was pointed out
in prophecy as the time when the
transgressors are come to the full. In
all parts of the State there were Sc
ditions and revolts, and in the Church
it was the age of heresies. The very
existence of God was mangled over un-
til He was myth. Every heresy that
has cursed and distracted the Church
was found then in substance. Pro-
fessed Christians denounced, reviled,
prosecuted, butchered, and assassinat-
ed one another, until the very name
public nostrils.
During this century the Christians
suffered little persecution from Jews
or Pagans. It was not necessary.
They destroyed themselves and each
other much more completely than both
Jews and Pagans could have done the
work; so Satan outside of the Church
had rest.
This condition of affairs cried to God
for vengeance, and He rails ed up Mo-
hammed to do His work, and qualified
him for it, and furnished him all neces-
sary assistance.
Few men have been the sub
Ijects of more abundant and varied
abuse than Mohammed, and even to
this day the system he founded Is re-
garded by many who claim to be intel
ligent Christian men as the sum of all
villainies, and the exponents of his
system are placed outside the pale of
liberation and respect.
It is forgotten that he who could
found system which once set up has
lasted almost thirteen centuries, and is
to-day making rapid strides forward,
should command the earnest and re-
lspectful attention of thinking men in
all nations.
Unless even the testimony of his enc
mics is at fault, Mohammed was man
of splendid personal appearance, and
human Dature. and of the times In
which he lived. He had vast and
penetrating genius, most attractive
eloquence, and great personal intre-
pidity. That he was ambitious and
unscrupulous is equally true.
One thing may be said here: When
he declared that he was commissioned
Of God to reform the religion of the
world, he told the truth; for candol
compels the admission that his system
bad as it was, was great improvement,
on the Christianity that preceded it.
He set forth his principles In the
Koran or Mohammedan Bible, and
owing to its intimate acquaintance
with both the Jewish and Christian
organizations, some have affirmed that
Mohammed could not have written it.
and some have in consequence af
firmed its direct inspiration, whilst
others have attributed its existence te
Sergius.
Mohammed could not write, and the
most reasonable solution is that he die
tated and that Sergius acted as aman-
uensis.
In support of this theory, it is urged
that in some parts of Gust or Ethiopia
the knowledge of the true God re-
mained q long time. The wife of Mos
es was an Ethiopian. Some of that
people were in the service of King Da
vid. Solomon subdued at least "a parl
of that country. Under Zerah, their
king, they invaded J Judea. During
the Babylonish captivity many Jews
went into that country, and still more
during the wars of the Syrian success
sion. AT the day of Pentecost Arab
ans were present. Philip baptised an
Ethiopian or Arabian eunucb. The
Apostle Paul visited them, as also did
Bartholomew. And added to all these
facts, Mohammed was q very careful
observer, and in his trading expedI-
tions had been from his childhood con-
versant with both Jews and Christians,
and so had great opportunity to ac-
quaint himself with their whole his
tory, and so be able to select such pol
tons of it as suited him.
| When MOhammed died his followers
Idivided. One school followed his faith
er-in-law, the Khalif Abubeker, and in
addition to the Koran held to another
law said to have been given by Mo-
hammed by oral tradition. This was
rejected by the other sect or school,
which followed Ali, a son-in-law of the
Prophet. These two sects abuse and
persecute each other just like Christ
ians.
The Koran is divided into la chap
ters, under as many different headings,
and is devoid of system, 50 that close
attention is needed to find out what it
teaches. AS might te expected, as q
lreaction must precedc a reformation,