The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-03-19
El.Malldf.
BY + d. BURRDLL, D. d.
central Presbyterian

In 15l7 the Mamcluke refers of Egypt were
conuu red by SrliIn l., who reduced Egypt to
q Turkish province, and, pr0clnlming himself
the successor OF Moiammtd, assumed the u
tie of Khalif. the shadow OF God.
For three and u half centuries the khalifatc
has continued with the Turks. There have,
however, always been Mnla lmedanS WHO re-
sented the usurpatiOn and lived IN nope OF re-
storing the government TO the legitimate
Arab line.
The first notable expression of this discon-
tent in modern times was when ATabl-liey
revolted. He was an Arab colonel ~ me
sibordination among the soldiers he succeed
ell In pushing himself to The IRON. until, AS
Minister OF War, he was able TO dictate terms
TO the Egyptian government. he was iihhily
subducd. as the reader will remember, by the
Intervention of Il Christian European power.
II now transrireS that he was operating Slin-
ply MS an instrument for the proiinllon OF
Arab MohainmeunnlSIii, III Tie ONcTlHTow VI
the Turkish KlaliIate.
In the meantime, II strange persona%e call.
ing himself Ell .Ndhdi, l. C., the Prophet OF
God, was gathering an arh,y ABOUT nm on ~,
the upper Nile. Arabi-Bey Is now powerleSS ;
but this e. .Mnhdi. with his barbaric hordes:
has made himself the most conspicuous and
formidable figure IN thai quarter Oh tue si"ne.
ing .Nohnmmch- .ihn'et. lie Is said to be Grip
pie, one arm Slirivellcd, the other hanging al
most to his feet. He has donned the green
lurlnli WulcD tilll Dt u luliS WI piIS ~ q
descendant Of the prophet.
There is much to favor his claims among
the lanatical Arabs. TO begin with their ira
ditions teach that, at about this time. atiuid",
or MrSsias. Is 10 come and strengthen the
trembling Scepter Of Islam.
The religion of Muhammcd has long been
waning. The only advance has been among
the telicll-worshipprrs OF central AFRICA, ma
this has been rather in the interest OF the
slave trade than tor propagation ~ lh1tli: III
is II fact worth noting that, OF the l75 millions
Of Mohalnme'lanS on the Eiobe, lw'shithS' or or
was this and kindred facts that provoked that
loyal ISlamite. ArHbi-icy, to offer himself us
an instrument for the prosecution OF Il Jrhdd,
or holy war.
The Sultan, the r~eigning successor of Mo.
BANNED has, 1t Is needless "a say: pronounc-
ed against the claims OF FL laid re re,
minds the faithful that when The predicted
signs, among which nre these: ~ The sun
shall rise I'm the west. (2.( The Jesus of the
Christians shalt appear IN the SIX les, and C)
a rerfumcd breeze shall blow from Syria
and kill MI intidcls. .
a few months ago the Egyptian government
asked an authoritative opinion from the Doc
tors Of E-.Mnhdi, the great Mohamnicdan
College ut Cairo. OF the pretenSions or the
false prophet. They are regarded rs flnhl al-
thoriiy in all matters pertaining to Mussul-
man faith. They returned this answer: ut
Is orthodox to expects GUIDE or froPnet VINO
shall ~extcrninate the intidcls and restore the
! TX llElt bDul liz SiIttii OAiS it''
and fly to Mecca reversing the flight OF Mo-
hamtnrd y and he slrnllhppcar In an intcrrcg-
mum of alephatcs. They therefore pronounce
F!.Mahdi an impOster and conclude by quot
ing this verse from The Koran: "He who
lies knowingly and of generalization VIII
have hell Tor his permanent abode
The success of this false prophet would
mean, mt the least, q restoration Of the slave
trade and the rolling back of the tide of bar
burism over the v,>l region of the S"u,lan:
But no such event is possible. The English
cabine, has recently resolved to.intei Yele Tor
tho defence of ErHpit proper; ana lu,keS
will. IN all likelihood. send an army TO hriIc
hnck the invader from the stronghold OF the
UPPER Nile.
Thus far El-AIadhi has swept all before him.
He hus, In the past three years. won Ten plic,-
ed battles and destroyed four armies. Ills
troops are true children of tho Observation-Disclosures
religious fanatics and slavctraders-swceling
down upon the foe like the wli1rlwlnd mt
they have, up to this time. met only tIlc
worthless soldiery OF Egypt. For her prom
Use of intervention, England deserves the
Trunks of all enlightened people. .
matter. In some way, IL will surely work the
Glory of God. The least result. In all prooa-
bility will be- the opening up on the uitrk con-
tlnent, from the north, TO the incoMlilgo Of inc
gospel. The railroads now being constructed
for the transportation of armies shall prove
to be- high WAYS for shiloh, Prince OF Peace.
From the land OF tie Iha,aolis shall again
90 forth u people ~ sacrifice, hearing across
the desert, into an unknown land, the ARK OF
the covenant of tioa.
And That is the duty of the Church " Frnm
the tower of the Mn. ulmans, far away, inc
voice of the MueZzin comes to us. ITO prayer!
To prnycr!' Aye, let all the fitliinl pray
without ccasin@ thai the dark nations along
the Nile may confess In truth "A'luh.ll-Al-
lah"-the Lord alone Is Cod