Morning journal and courier., 1893-11-14
Making the Meecan Pilgrimage, IReT. Thomas P. Hughes ia the New York Ind,
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lReT. Thomas P. Hughes ia the New York Irde.
 pendent.
 The instructions regarding the manner of making the Meccan pilgrimage as given in Aohsmmedan theological works are 60 minute and eIaot that there can be no de- vlation. These instructions are founded upon the way In which the prophet him self performed the pilgrimsge-or Hail, As 1t is called in Arabic-shortly before bis death. Upon the pilgrims arrival at the last stage rear Mecca he bathes, and d. vesting himself of his clothes, he assumes the pilgrim's sacred gard. which consists of two seamless wrappers, one being wrapped around the waist and the other thrown loosely over the shoulders, the shAven head being left uncovered. The pilgrim, having now entered upon the journey, weDds his way to the sacred city, singing As he trudg. es along the pilgrims song, known SC the tslbiyah:-
 I stand up! For thy service. God. stand I stand up! There is no partner with thee, I Verify. thine Is the praise! The blessing, The
 There is no partner with thee:
 Immediately on his arrival at Meccs the pilgrim performs the legal ablutions and he kisses the sacred black stone. He then encompssses that strange cube-like build ing, covered with black curtain, seven times. Three times he runs around with quick step and four times at 6 slow. measured pace, even ss the prophet did twelve centuries ago. He then proceeds to the very place where the patriarch Abrs- ham prayed when he visited Ishmssl in the Arabian desert. The pilgrim then passes outside the city wall and descends the hills of Safa and Marwah and three times runs from the top of one hill down to the valley and up to the top of the other. Then on the seventh day he listens to a good long sermon in Arabies setring forth Ae excel fences resulting from pilgrimages Then on the eighth day he proceeds to the sacred valley called Nina. the very spot where Adam "vished" for paradise iu the worlds remo'est sges The ninth day finds him at Mount Ararat, ths place where Adam and Eye(haviDg forfeited heaven for eating wheat, and having wandered in separation for many yearsl me: once again on this mount of recognition" which is eitusted twelve miles from Mecca The tenth day is the great "dsy of sacrifice" observed
 
 on this day thst the pilgrim. according to his means, takes sheep or goat or COW or a camel, and placing its head in the direction of the sacred black stone, plunges @ knife into its throat with great force and cries In loud voice, "God is great! O God, accept this sacrifice from mel" Be. fore this day of sacrifice is over the pilgrim stands before the three pillars in Nina which are known as the great devil and the two little devils; and, casting seven stones at each, expresses In 6 symbolic form his hatred of the prince of evil The next thres days are days of well-esrned rest. and then the pilgrimage is over. The Hsjji, ss the pilgrim Is now called, drinks the water of the we'll Zsmman within the pre- cincts of the mosque at Mecca. The identical spring from which Hagar and Ishmsel drank in the wilderness; but which, unfortunately for the truthfulness of Moslem topography Is, in Genesis xvi: IA, said to have been bstween kadesh and Barred. The pilgrimage Is now over, and, according to the express words of the prophet, the pilgrim returns to his native land ''as pure from sin as the day in which he was born"