The Appeal., 1889-11-09
THE KORAN IN AFRICA.
DIR. p. w. Blyden Delivers an
Interesting Lecture at Z.
. Bethel Church
On the Dark Continent.

! L..
| Monday night DR., Edwa ID w. Blyden
the distinguished African scholar and
traveller, lectured on "The: Koran in
Africa" and for nearly TWO hours be
held his hearers SPELL bound, as he, with
easy, graceful delivery. spoke of the
wonderful influence of that book on the
natives of Africa. +. L. Barnett, ESQ.
introduced Dr.. Blyden, who began by
saying that the Koran holds it's vo,aries
under Its own peculiar spell. All, in
every cline, regard it with a reverence
which no alien influence caL undermine
/ The religion 1t teaches" he said
was not quite fifty yesrv.o when i,
had overrun the whole of North Africa
A part Of the, wonderful influence
which this religion has for the African
over the Christian religion. the lecturer
sa O., ;ls due to the equality ofraces, az
taught by the Koran, u doctrine which
Christian missionaries DO LOT successfully y
teach. r.. .. .l.:-. .
Ihere is q chapter in that sacred
book inscribed to u Negro, III which Lis
wisdom and piety are specially dwelt
upon and pointed out as the direct gifts
VI God. This Is the thirty first chapter,
enlltled 'Logmaa' Rodweil suposes that
Logman is the same person whom the
Greeks, not knowing his real name,
have called Esop. He is celebrated in
Arabic poetry as 'Brimful Of wisdom,
black AS night.'' crae.s~ -.
mo Mosleln, whether Arab, Turk or
Indian, Cali read this chapter OF the
Nora" given according to their belief by
direct inspiration of God, and separate
the Negro from participation in The
privileges Of God's elect. Moilanlued
nad as tbs right. hand man in the iucip-
tent stages vi his religion Negro" ;.'-
christian missionaries, rs i rule,
Know very little Of the hold. in,ellec, ual
AMI patriotic, which Islam has u pon the
Negro tribes VINO have embraced it, or
they would u 1t ronsitier the task 10 easy
10 n'ake them surrender q system in
which they have borne, xnd still bea +, 10
impor'ant part, tor = sys.em intro.
duced by Foreigners which brings ti,vul
lo social or political advantage; merely
quahiy ing ,heu. IL be humble follow or.
!" .li worldly aud even spiritual matte r.
Of Their religious guiders.' While +,iom
the teaching ol Tie Koran and tie whole
secular literature Of hls. relis s.vn, til.
Negro .uoslein i. taught profound self.
respect, lie is nowhere encouraged I,
look upon the Arab, tArouxh whom, b.
received the religion. US 44s = 'supvriv,
Deiiig.'' SA> ',1t'*'Si &: *'.. = ~. =!
Here Or. Blyden switched of from
his n'atuscript and Old Ills he4rer rs the,
ought tO be thankful that thsy were
! Negroes. ,%'&sl 20
You thank God" said he, "that Hi
delivered an saved your race, aud W,
many OF you sesin ashamed Of , our culor
God illade Tins black skin xnd wvoi,
nair, and you can't g.;t yet rid vf III. ii,
Tie klnks are heie u stay, and llo ami
Sink process will remove lheui. AS :,
race you are independent and d!sliuct
ana Nave y Iiiirsivn ~ perform. THIS IL
! lesson you Shouts begin to leArn." II
Every MOslem Negro tcarl,es .lis chile
tO read aud wiile, aud teachve Liu, ever,
uay ies,Ons in the Koran. They becvul,
veireu III it, while The Christian Nexr.
is comparatively ignorant. They ire
quenty become missionaries Wien the,
themselves are unable 70 read. 20
II have seen that here III Americ,
,I'ere are Negroes in tile pulpit, vii.
could not read tEe nalne vl God ii i
were written in letters az large as Iii
church.
Tier. are about $50 600 600 inhabi,ant,
in the Soudan," continued D.. Btyuel,
''and of these 8O,OOO,OOO are Mosirl. 1.
Negroes. Tie only agency - co,,i.un
this system and u break in,o their rank
with the religion ot Jesus Christ is LII,
African Church,"
Once more the speaker appealed per
sOnaliy 10 his listeners. '.Tu,s is YOU
mission. No Europeans can accvu.
plish it. Yon do NOT see it nov. bu
you will later. God reveals his plan
Igradually. At the sanle time you vii
solve the Negro Problem, in this cou..
try, which began with tho arrival Of ~
first Negro"