Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1882-07-28
THE FERMENT THE EAST.
Possibilities Of IA Holy War in Arabia

tffom the New York Ierald.l
Among the sacred writings of FL Islam is
found the following prophecy:
On the first month of Moharrem, in the
year Hegira 1900 November ~, 1882, will
appear the FL Mehdi, or Messiah. He will
be exactly forty years of age, and of noble
bearing. One arm will be longer than the
other; his fathers name will be Mohau.-
med, his mothers Faliua, and he will be
hidden Tor time prior 10 his mani
festation.
The sacred parsonage who fulils all the
requirements of this prophecy is the elder
son of the famous Sidi Mohammed Es-
Sonoussi, whose doctrines advocating "a "A
return to the most austcrc principles OF the
faith, (2) crusader rather crescent.
ade'-against the contamination of Islam
by Christian contact, and 90 the ccnsure of
the Turkish government Tor adopting Eu-
ropean costumes and and copying European
institutions. These doctrines were received
with enthusiasm in North and Central Africa
as early as 1850, and have since been steadily
gaining more adherents; and to-day there
are over 700 zaovia, or subordinate places
OF worship, where.the Senoussi doctrines are
expounded. These zaovia are scattered
about in every conceivable place between
Morocco and Mecca. AT Mecca the Sem
oussi sectarians have struck up sort of
offensive and defensive alliance with the
famous Wahabees or Unitarians of FL
Islam.
Senouss emissaries are now busying them.
selves in StambOul with discussions with
the Sheik FL Islam and the ELENA upon
intricate theological points, the practical
outcome OF which is that ''the Mosen's
hn IN ,.-,.n ,.,s.
and Christian innovations. and must empty
all possible means to check further Christian
advances into the Dar-el-lslam." The pres.
ence of the English and French fleets at
Alexandria; the declaration OF the four
llema, who ut Cairo informed DervisCh
Paeha that had il not been for Arab Pacha
Egypt would have been annexed by Euro
pcans and finally the firm refusal of the
the Sultan to consent to "a European confer.
ence regulating the internal affairs of his
empire has given an intensity to the Scnous.
81 discussions that may at any moment
assume startling proportions.
Abdul Hamid is fully alive to the danger
that menaces him, and TO ignore, or even
to neglect the state of public opinion in
North Africa and Arabia, of which Senoussi
agents are the opponents, might cost Abdul
Hamid the Caliphate The Ottoman Cal
phute is also menaced by danger from
another quarter, During the past five or six
years several powerful chiefs in SYRIA aud
liedjaz have been trying TO form coalitions
for the purpose OF throwing off the suprem.
acy OF the Sultan and reviving the old Arab
khabfat. In the event of such u scheme
succeeding the Grand Shereef of Mecca, who
is OF course q descendant Of the Prophet,
would probably be chosen US Caliph. Two
years ago Abdul Muttnlib, who had been
al rtn .t..l,
IN 1858, which led to his deposition, per-
suaded the Sultan that his relative and rival,
the then Graud Shercei lIussein, was u dan.
gerous pretender aud would soon openly
declare himself Caliph. Whether Husseiu
really harbored such designs il is impossible
to know.
But the facts are the Sultan resolved 10
order Hussein 10 come to Constantinop!c,
but fearing les, this demand should be openly
deied His Majesty induced Hussein to come
to ieddah. A near relative of Abdul Nut
oali6 at the same time left Consttutinopl,
for feddah. Upon the simultaneous arrival
In feddah of Abdul Muitalib's relative and
the Grand Shereef Hussein the latter was
assassinated by Persian dervish, or holy
man of the Shah sect of Mohammedans,
who with clssped pocket-knife ripped up
the abdomen OF His Holiness. A large
amount OF money was found in possession Of
the assassin, who was executed without any
attempt being made to discover his accom-
plices or instigators. The office OF Grand
Shereef OF Mecca is In certain sense hered.
itary-that is, II remains always IN one fam
lily, which claims direct descent from the
Prophet; but the Sultan has right to an
point any member of the family he chooses.
As soon as the news of the Grand shereef's
death reached the Sultan, His Majesty al