The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1884-06-04
The Prayers of Different Peoples

Ihere is within the mind OF every hui
man being strong desire for something
above and beyond the things of sense.
The heather in his blindness bows
down to wood and stone" A people
unlettered and untaught strive to satisfy
this craving in their own ignorant way.
Those who have a system of religion,
even if wrong, are often more Jealous
than the Christian.
Look at the Mohammedans, a widely
spread people, claiming all of Africa that
is not Pagan or Christian large part
of Asia and corner of Europe Five
times day the Muezzin calls to prayer.
The true believer, wherever he may be,
turns toward Mecca, often Frustrating
himself upon the ground and fervently
repeats parts of the Koran-every word
and punctuation mark of which he hon
estly believes to have been inspired. In
his own mind he is in the presence of the
Highest. "God is God and Mohammed
is his prophet" God to the Mussulman
is not kind, loving father, but an aw-
full, distant, terrible being, who will not
forgive sin. So, in their prayers, there
is no acknowledgment of sin, no feeling
of penitence, no confession Of unworthi-
ness. They know nothing of Saviour
and Redeemer who died for us-of the
Holy Spirit given to help us bear our
in6rmities and strengthen our weak
nesses. They gain access to the great
beyond. simply by following Mohammed
That name alone will unlock for them the
portal of heaven.
Turning to India, the great southern
peninsula of Asia, we find over one mil
lion women on whom the praying for the
mild Hindoo devolves. Fast and feast
days the men take for recreation and
pleasure, while the women throng the
temples, bringing their children and ear
ly instructing them to make offerings and
bow down to the idol, to the deifed
beasts or the sacred tree. With this
poor people it is difficult to distinguish
between the different forms of religious
worship. Flowers enter largely into the
temple offerings; various additions as
religious rites are in order at all times.
At the great hub, once year, the peo-
pie plunge into the sacred river, the
Ganges, in herds Blowing of horns at
these gatherings is common as a more
intense way of devotion. Instead of
elevating mankind Intellectually or
morally, their worship is unspeakably
degrading. The idols are hideous and
often obscene. The holy men, the fakirs,
are not fit for eye to rest upon. This
low state comes from the belief that God
is in everything and everything is God.
He is not only in the human being, but
in beasts, birds and reptiles; all are alike
objects of alteration man can adore him
self, so the fakirs teach. He need not
carry any burden of sorrow, of guilt He
need not know repentance or shame. How
can he mourn for impulses which are but
the inspiration of God in him ?"
Compared with Brahminism, Budd-
hism, which claims all of Eastern Asia,
seems comparatively clean and pure.
The idols are not as repulsive. The
senses are not so often shocked in
passing among the people. Quantity,
not quality, seems to be the object, and
to economic; the people do not limit
themselves in prayer to human speech,
but express themselves in various ways.
An elevation is sought for the Pagoda,
and on every point and pinnacle little
bells are suspended, which tinkle with
every passing breeze. Before commence
ing devotions the suppliant strikes a
large bell to call the attention of the re-
cording angel, who will give them credit,
or their prayers may be lost.
Many make business of laying in a
store Of merit for future emergencies, or
to dispose Of to some one less fortunate,
by attaching prayers to water-wheels and
windmills by which great amount is
done with very little effort Their great
object is to obtain merit by which they
gain longer time in the realm of spirits
before returning to this cold world in
another form. In the use of the rosary
chanting and praying in an unknown
tongue and in many other ways, this peo-
pie in worship resemble closely the Ro-
man Catholics.
Some writer says the poorest Christian
ity is better than the best Mohammedan-
ism. Yet our missionaries in Africa
claim that the tribes which have come
under the influence of Mohammedap
teachers are greatly superior to the tribes
in their uncivilized condition. Then how
low the Pagan, Offering sacrifices of hui
man blood to appease the wrath of an
unknown God. Believing in witchcraft,
trusting in charms and inoantations for
protection from evil but step removed
from the wild animals. How can they