San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1889-02-05

tne nouvc rnereor, Tor IEcd hist truly sid
there is no justification for crime But
have one favor to ask before l bow to thy
righteous and merciful Judgment Grant me
TO ascend the pulpit once more In order to ad-
dress thy congregation for the last time, after
which thine eyes or those of thy congrega-
ton will never behold me in life again"
1t may seem strange, but the mufti granted
Mahalech's request, and the faithful were
called to prayers. The mosque was crowded
to hear Mahalech for the last time, and all
expected to hear something extraordinary, in
which. indeed, they were not disappointed
The preacher exhorted his hearers TO perform
deeds and acts Of charity; no defined charity
into different phases, assigning the lowest
grade to the giving Of charity to all corners,
and the highest to those who although they
may have been wronged, can have charity
enough to judge of their fellow man with for
bearance. This species of charity is, indeed
sublime, for remember" said the preacher,
1.-THE saying Of the prophet: Thou art incap-
able of judging thy neighbor till thou art
placed in the same situation Charity and
good deeds are on earth our surest and best
investments; a time will come when we shall
find them again Remember, also, that fast
ing leads to paradise, prayer shortens the road
to it, while charity and good deeds open the
very portals Of paradise. The great preacher
concluded his sermon by quoting the cele-
brated parable of Itchoe of Delhi and his three
friends, which has even been carried to
Franghiland, and is always applied in a pro
ftable manner.
"In Delhi" said Mahalech, there lived =
respectable, we'll to do man, who was called
Itchoe, and had three friends, FL Caspu, Ell
Mispach and FL Tidcath. Itchoe loved FL
Caspu and devoted most Of his time to him,
often neglecting himself and his family for
Fl Caspu's sake, and indeed he was, without
perceiving it, more Of q slave to Ell Caspu
than q friend He loved Ell Mispach dearly
and devotedly; still the devotion YVES inferior
to that which he bestowed on his first friend
His third friend, FL Tidcath, he saw only 90
casionally. Itchoe did not 60 often out Of his
way to oblige his friend, but when Fl Tidcath
called on him he would receive him politely
and even cordially, yet there was no COM
parison in the loye he bore this friend to tho
other two
Suddenly the king Of Delhi sent for Itchoe
Accusations had been made against him, and
he was called upon for Judgment Itchoe felt
that he was not quite clear, and he was there
fore in great distress His friends were with
him in this hour Of trouble But what was
his surprise and grief when his dearest friend,
FL Cap.u, remained quietly sitting in q cor
ner Of the room; nor did he even 60 as far a.
the door or wish him God speed Ell Mispach
accompanied him as far as tho portals Of the
hall Of justice, weeping all the way; but
when the gate opened he once more embraced
Itchoe, and, tearing himself away from him
as if his heart would break, turned his face
toward the town and left him. Itchoe be-
lieved himself now alone, for he never
thought of Ell Tidcath all this time; but
what was his establishment, when brought
before the judgment seat, to find his long
neglected and perhaps sighted friend stand
ing at the foot Of the throne. He had, IN
perceived, entered the portals with Itchoe
and had sped there before him, and rs soon
as the king called on Itchoe to defend himself
against the accusations, Fl Tidcath threw
bIruself before the king and pleaded for his
friend with such eloquence with so many
tears and applications. that the king who
was just prince as well as merciful one,
forgavs Itchoe's misdeeds and showed him
mercy.
MY friends" said Mahalech, .'in Itchoe
We ourselves are represented; we all have
three friends in this world Ell Caspu Is our
money, our wealth and our position. do we
not unfortunately sacrifice our time, our
pleasure to this friendi Do we not neglect
ourselves and our families for his sakei FL
Mispach is our family, and FL Tidcath, the
neglected friend, represents our good deeds,
our charity we do in this world. Alas how
seldom do we seek it of our own accord, and
how do we not neglect iti Suddenly we are
are called upon for Judgment, not by an
earthly prince, but by the King Of kings, by
Allah himself The first that leaves US is our
great friend Ell Caspu, our wealth and posi-
ton Not even to the door does our money
accompany us when we die, cold safely
locked up in a hiding place. its awaits its new
slave Ell Mispach, or our family, accompany
us, weeping and Sorrowful, as far as the
portals Of judgment-that is, the grave-and
there with breaking heart they tear them
selves from US to return to the living. But
Ell Tidcath, our much neglected friend, our
good deeds, they enter unperceived the grave
with us, they arrive at the judgment seat
even before us. They plead our cause before
the great and righteous judge and Allah is
merCiful. blessed be his name, he will listen
to the pleadings of this great advocate and
will forgive us accordingly Practice, there
fore, charity and remember that every good
deed will raise supplcant for mercy at the
Judgment seat
AS for me" concluded the preacher, "even
| have learned that if bad wife is worse
than DEATH charity has this day saved me
from that death"
After he had thus spoken, even these last
words, which cleared up to his hearers the
mystery of that morning, he took his staff
and left the mosque, while the congregation