Waterbury evening Democrat., 1893-12-11
THE MUEZZlN'S GALL.
A Novel Scene In Union Square-Church-
EOers Heard the IsIAmItes Called to the
Worship of the Eastern Prophet-A Split
Already In the Oriental Sect.

Worship of the Eastern ProPhet-As Split
Already In the Oriental Sect.
New YORK. Dec. 1l.-An altogether new
and interesting sight met the view of peo-
pie who CHANGED to be on the east side of
Union square Sunday morning. 1t even
aroused the curiosity of the few actors
who insist that the Rialto belongs to that
neighberhood, and who show their tenaci-
ty to this tradition by gathering each
morning near the Morton House.
Just at 10 o'clock n man appeared at the
top of the stoop of an unpretentious brick
building at S Union square. He was gray
bearded and thick bodied and wore the red
fez of the Mussulman. He stretched out
his arms as he looked pleadingly toward
the east. On the sidewalk was a group of
people awaiting the Mussulman's sum-
mons to prayers, which came to their ears
in these words:
The Call to Prayers.
God is great. God is great! God is great! God
Is great. bear witness that there is no god
but God. bear witness that MOhammed is the
apostle of God Come to prayersi Come to
prayers! Come to salvation, Prayer is better
than sleep. God is great! God is great! There
is no god but God! There is no god but God!
This is the Azan or call to prayers made
by the muezzin from the mosque. 1t was
Emin L. NabakofT, who, according to No
manned Alexander Russell Webb, is one
bearing no authority, and indeed is what
Mohammed Webb is pleased to term fakir.
Nevertheless the call and the meeting
which followed may be taken to show that
the Mohammedan church in America is
large enough to have a split. Mohammed
Webb, the first apostle of Islam to this
country, says the split is only a chip from
block already well grounded, but others
contend that there will be two branches of
Islam in this country unless Mohammed
Webb comes to their terms.
Mohammedanism has been promoted in
this country by a syndicate of wealthy
Musselmans in Arabia and India the head
of which is Hajee Abdullah Arabi a mer-
chant prince of Jeddah, Arabia.
A large amount of money was pledged
to scatter the teachings of Mohammed
through the new world, and in charge OF
this work is Mohammed Alexander Rus
sell Webb, an American citizen, who was
converted to Islam several years ago
weekly paper, The Moslem World, was
started, and a bureau of information was
opened at ass West Twentieth street AT
this place literature is prepared and sent
out, and meetings are held on Fridays and
Sundays.
Mohammed webb's Criticism.
The call for prayer in Union square yes
terday is unique for the reason that Mo
BANNED Webb has not yet attempted the
practice of religious ceremonies He has
been content thus far to instruct by lee
lures at the meeting place on Friday even,
ings. On Sundays meetings of inquiry are
held, and in this way the work has been
progressing in manner most satisfactory
to Mohammed Webb.
Mohammed Webb, who is known as
Sheikhul-Islam because of his Office as CHIEF
teacher in this country, seemed greatly
amused over the Union square meeting.
He said that the ceremonies were ridicu-
lous and certainly would not be tolerated
in a Mohammedan country. A call for
prayer made at 10 o'clock in the morning
would be considered blasphemous by true
Mussulman. The call should be made by
the muezzin when the light of day first ap-
pears from the east.
The Turkish consul in this city was in
terested in the meeting at Union square
and sent representative, who reported
later at the office of The Moslem World