The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1893-09-13
HOW MOSLEMS KEEP RAMADAN.
A Fast Which Means Much More than the
Christians Lent.

Christians Lent.
1t was during my stay at Bislsra,
says Dr. Henry NJ. Field, that 1 drove
out with a friend to the convent o fthe
White Fathers, the order organized by
the late Cardinal Lavigerie. with the
special purpose of carrying the Gospel
into Africa. We had no introduction,
but rang the bell at the gate, which
was soon opened by a man of tall
figure, which might have been that of
q soldier, with a grave but kindly face,
who received us courteously and con-
Quoted us about the grounds. We soon
perceived that he was the head of what
| may call, without offense, this semi
religious and semi-military tablish-
ment. AS we We're walking through
the palm grove in the rear OF the con-
vent he suddenly turned to me and
said:
do you know that this is the first
day of the month of Ramadan?" (The
Mohammedan Lent. to which they
give indeed but thirty days, while
Christians keep forty in commemora-
ton of our Lords fasting in the wilder
ness.( But he Immediately corrected
himself by adding that, although it
was the day according to the calendar
(for the date of the beginning of
Ramadan, as of the beginning of Lent,
is determined by the changes of the
noon, yet inasmuch as this particular
day, the 18th of March, happened to be
Saturday, which was the Sabbath of
the Jews, it was thought better that
the two days should not come together,
and therefore the Moslems Welded 10
their brethren of the more ancient
faith, and postponed their opening
to the next day. But the time of be-
ginning was fixed according to the
reckoning of the Jews from the hour
of sunset instead of midnight, for at
sunset that Saturday evening heard
the firing of guns in the citadel in rapid
succession, announcing to the faithful
that the holy fast of Ramadan was be-
gun. And from that time till | left
African Constantine, Bone and TuGis
every day the evening gun told when
the hours Of fasting were ended, and
the faithful might once more partahe
of food.
But the first notice we received was
from the white father. and | at once
pricked up my ears to learn more about
this peculiar form of penauce. which,
while wholly unknown to the western
world, is observed over a large part of
two continents, Asia and Africa. The
missionaries of Constantinople had told
me how during that month they were
awakened every morning by the thun-
ders from the ships of war in the Bos-
porus-
Eyes. yes: I know. Eamadan is the
great fast OF the Moslems. But what
does it amount to? | suppose they go
down on their knees 10 do penance for
month as sort of compensation for
the sins that they viii commit the rest
of the year"
A Frenchman is never thrown off his
balance so as TO betray his light
opinion of another's want of inforna-
ton or he might have smiled at my
ignorance He enlightenedeme gently
as to the Importance OF the event in the
Mohammedan year, for with all true
believers it mas a special 'sacredness. !
The keeping of Ramsdan is part Of
the Moslem law. and is enforced by a
powerful public opinion. In Chris |
tain country il is no reproaeh not 70 !
keep Lent. Indeed. some intense Pro- !
testants make IL principle not 90
keep Il, as II IL were conceding I
to what they are 4
pleased to regard as superstition But I
with the Arabs and the Turks IL il not /
only expected that every man shall 4
keep Ramadan. bat IL is a disgrace not 4
20 keep il. for which one would be- \
come almost an or:cast among his pep
pie.
And az TO the manner o. keeping Il. ,
IL is with strictpsss almost unknown 4
in the Christian world. in the observ- /
q nee Of the fssts prescribed by the /
church. During all this month the /
more devout believers viii neither ga. /
nor drink from the rising 20 the going !
down Of the sun
Of course, all Mo.lens do not adhere
rigidly % this strict rule Of sbsti-
nenee. Some take refreshments IN the
secret of their houses. and others on
prescnse Of its being required b. their
health. There are many ways 20 Grade
what one does not wish 20 observe.
But this mitigation Of suffering is OBJ