Daily independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 188?-1915, 1891-08-25
WARRIOR. MONKS
4 New Order OF Christians Nstah.
lished In the Sahara
The Project OF Cardinal Lavigerie for
Preparing That Desert Ground TO-
the Seeds OF Civilis0s
tIon.

Indispensable to the Gospel, says
Harper's Weekly-at any rate, among
the turbulent and warlike races who
inhabit the northern half Of the dark
continent. He has witnessed the mar
velous success of the Moslem proselyt-
ism, which, although attended by vio-
lence and bloodshcd, has impaired a
certain amount of civilization and en-
lightenmcnt to nations stepped in the
very lowest depths of pagan barbarism.
After comparing the many millions
Of converts to Mohammedunism to the
relatively few thousands of converts to
Christianity in Africa, and after q care
full and profound study OF the problem
"a study for which his breadth of mind
and iberality of view particularly fitted
hin-he has come to the conclusion
that the system of sending out unarmed
missionaries to preach the Gospel and
nothing but the Gospel among the sav-
ages was all wrong; that both the hero
ism and the martyrdom of these pio-
nc.rs of Christianity were entirely
wasted, md that if any material good
were to be achieved, it could only be
done by means Of a radical change.
With this purpose in view he has
AouhdSNl IllC OAt1CA VI hOukH
of the Sahara, Instead of meekly bow
ing their heads to receive the martyrs
crown, they will fight for their lives.
They will seek to attract sympathy and
good will by developing the productive
ness of the oases, and by the creation of
new ones, where they will form sta
tions for the relief of the sick, for the
offer of hospitality to all corners, and
for the refuge and protection of fugi-
tive slaves.
Their aim will be to afford practical
demonstration of the benefits and adj
vantages of civilization, to preach by
example the elements thereof and to
thus prepare the ground for conversion
TO- Christianity. The latter, although
the principal object, is the last in order
For Cardinal Lavigerie proposes that,
instead of proselytism preparing the
ground for the seeds of civilization, it
is the elements of civilization which
ore to prepare the ground for the seeds
of Christianity. Civilization will act az
forerunuer instead of following in the
wake of the Gospel.
The headquarters Of the order are at
Bislsra, on the Algerian borders of the
great Sahara desert, and were solemn
ly consecrated by Cardinal Lavigerie in
the early part of last month. The name
of the spot is M'salla, which is the Ara
bic designation for n 'place of prayer"
The estate contains planta-
ton Of palms in full bearing, and is
traversed in part by small irrigating
canal, which is the share of the pre-.
cious fluid it is entitled to from the
B neighboring town. Great stretches of
ground are. however, uncultivated for
want of water, and measures have
already been taken for lUs reclamation
by the creation of an artificial supply.
A well was sunk to'a depth of fifty
three meters, the water of which, de-
clarcd to be practically inexhaustible,
rises naturally to within thirty-two me-
ters of the mouth of the we'll, and is
thence raised by pumps to the surface.
a second we'll has also been dug in Or
der to provide auxiliary resources.
The monks will, therefore, be trained
in the methods of Saharian culture as
we'll as the use of arms, while the
neighborhood of the illimitable tracks
of the desert will enable them to ac-
quirc the more savage accomplishments
tice.
The house, occupying an area of sew
enty meters by ten, with the kitchens
and offices in outbuildings, has the
ground floor solidly built of stone,
instead of the sun-dried mud bricks
generally used by the Arabs. The
choice Of Bislzra for the headquarters
of the order is n fortunate one, for
the town. which is Situated in an oasis,
commands one of the principal routes
of the Soudan. The town proper ia
composed of one large street full of Eu-
ropean houses, and intersected by a
number of smaller streets. The oasis,
which is five kilometers long and half
iilometer broad; forms forest of one
hundred and fifty Thousand palm trees
md five thousand olive and fruit trees
The population is cosmopolitan, and in
sludes Fi> ..Ih, Tunisians, Arabs, Moors