Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-02-26
Ell Madhi.

Rev. DR.. d. J. Burrel contributes in the
columns OF the Central Presbyterian, an in
teresting article relating to the False Pro-
phet, whose name and fame is now spread
over the world, from which the following is
a full extract:
In 1917 the Mameluke rulers of Egypt
were conquered by Seliin l., who reduced
Egypt to Turkish province. and, proclaim.
ing himself. the successor of Mohammed, as
sumed the title of Khalif, the shadow Of
Cod For three and half centuries the
Khalifate has continued with the Turks
There have, however, always been Moham-
medans who resented the usurpat:on and
lived in hope of restoring the government
to the legitimate Arab line. The first nota-
BILE expression of this discomfort in modern
times was when Arabi-Bey revolted. He
was an Arab colonel in the Egyptian army.
l}y fomenting a spirit of insubordination
among the soldiers he succeeded in pushing
himself to the front until, as minister of war,
he was able to dictate terms to the Egyp-
tian government. He was finally subdned,
as the reader will remember, by the inter-
vertiOn of a Christian European power. It
now transpires that he was operating SIM
ply as an instrument for the promotion of
Arab MOhommedanism, in the overthrow of
the Turkish Khalifate.
In the meantime, a strange parsonage
calling himself ELMahdi, 4. e., the Prophet
Of God, was gathering an army about him,
in the Soudan, a howling wilderness lying
along the upper Nile. Arabi-Bey is now
powerless; but this El-lMahdi with his bar
bario hordes, has made himself the most
conspicuous and formidable figure in that
quarter of the globe. He is a negro Arab
Sheik, his real name being Mohammed-
Ahmed. He is said to be cripple, one arm
shrivelled, the other hanging almost to his
feet. He has donned. the green turban
which can be lawfully worn only by de-
scendant of the prophet. There is much to
favor his claims among the fanatical Arabs.
10 begin with, their traditions teach that.
at about this time, Guide, or Messias, is
to come and strengthen the trembling
scepter of Islam.
The religion Of Mohammed has long been
waning. The only advance has been among
the fetich-worshippers of central Africa, and
this has been rather in the interest of the
slave trade than for propagation of faith. 1t
is a fact worth noting that, of the 17j mil
lions of Mohammedans on the globe. two
fifths, or "a millions pay tribute TO Christian
kings. 1t was this and kindred facts that
provoked that loyal Islamite, Arabi-Bey, to
offer himself as an instrument for the prose-
cntion OF Jehad. or holy war. The Sui
tan, the reigning successor of Mohammed
has, it is needless to say, pronounced against
the claims of Ell Mahdi. He reminds the
faithful thai when the predicted Messias
comes he is TO be preceded by certain signs,
among which are these: a. The sun shall
rise in the west; e. The Jesus of the
Christians shall appear in the skies; and (3)
A perfumed breeze shall blow from Syria
and kill all infidels.
A few months ago the. Egyptian govern
ment asked an authoritative opinion from
the Doctors of EI Azhar, the great Moham-
pedan college at Cairo. on the pretensions
of the false prophet. They are regarded as
final authority in all matters pertaining to
Mussuman faith. They returned this an
swer: sit is orthodox to expect Guide or
Prophet who shall exterminate the infidels
and restore the true religion. But he shall
come from Medina and fly to Mecca (revers-
ing the flight of MohammedD and he shall
appear in an interregnum of Calephates."
They therefore pronounced El-Mahdi an
imposter; and conclude by quoting this
verse from the Koran: "He who lies know
ingly and Of premeditation will have hell
for his permanent abode"
The success of this false prophet would
mean, at the least, restoration of the slave
trade and the rolling back OF the tide Of
barbarism over the vast region of the Sou
dan.