The record-union., 1893-12-13
TEE ACADEMIA.
1t Gives an Evening to Talks About
the SaraCenS.
Interesting and Instructive Essays on
Their Religious, Political and
Social Aspect, Etc.

The regular meeting of the Academia
was held at the High School last night, a
large attendance being present.
Mrs e. B. Purneu rendered her reslg-
nation as President. and asked the society
to elect another in her place.
The essays of the evening were three,
treating severally of the religious, polit-
icaI and social aspect of the Saracens.
That treating of the religious aspect was
read by Mrs. Purnell.
She said that in taking up the religion
of Mohammed we enter into wide field.
Both Christian and Mussulman look back
to Jacob, their Hebrew ancestor. The
various tribes scattered over wide ex-
tent OF country, and the tribe of Koresh,
from which Mohammed sprang, descend
ed from him.
She gave a sketch of his boyhood, his
entrance at % years old into mercantile
pursuits, and marriage. AT the age OF 4O
he first entertained the idea of founding
a religious sect. 1t is a question whether
at first he was an enthusiast or a religious
impoStor. He was probably honest at
first, but success tempted him and over
came him. Reciting his long struggle to
make converts by the production OF the
, Koran, and appeals to the fancy Of SEN
sual race, his efforts were finally success
ful.
For twelve centuries now have caravans
of pilgrims struggled through the desert
sands and drank the filthy water from
the holy wells.
She recited the articles of Mussulman
belief, which resemble in many things the
Christian faith, and has a warp of truth
running through their fabric. When
forced to make his hegira from Mecca, he
found at Medina an army of converts
ready to do his bidding. Then he changed
his doctrine to force, and propagated 1t by
the sword.
In the progress of early Christianity it
changed its purity of purpose, and de-
clined in spirituality. The Bishops as
sumed more and more of authority, and
the POpes took their places. This weak
ened it and it fell before Islamism, which
was the little horn spoken OF by Daniel,
which waxed great to the east and south,
and which St. j ohm also saw in his vision
at Patmos. Christianity will, however,
eventually triumph.
After the essay a vocal solo by Mrs. j.
II. Pond was given with great feeling and
expression.
Then followed paper on the political
aspect OF the Saracens, by Professor
Pond.
The meaning of the term Saracens, he
properly to the dwellers OF the desert, the
Greek and Latin words both having that
meaning. The spread of Islamism over
the East, even to China, was outlined by
him. The Arabs have never acknOwl-
edged allegiance to any other nation.
Mecca was always the holy place, even
when Medina was made the first political
center of Islamism, until his capture of
Mecca turned the attention Of the world
to his religion.
The speaker detailed the progress of
his conquests, absorbing Judea, Egypt,
the Persian empire under the four OrthO-
dox Cahphs, Damascus becoming the
center on the accession of the fifth Ca
uph. Intestine diSsensions ragged then
for forty-six years, but in spite of it
Spain was seized, France overrun, and it
seemed as if Christian civilization would
be wiped out. But the TeutOns and
Franks stayed the rushing tide, and after
seven days of terrific conflict at Tours
the Moor was conquered and Christianity
was still destined to dominate Europe
For seven years Christian and Saracen
contended for Spain, till in 1892 the
Islams retired to Africa.
He then depicted the destruction of
Constantinople and the persistent efforts
IN the east to conquer Europe; the cru
city shown to capGives and the sensuality
which weakened and caused their failure
dom was divided into three parts, with
three Capitals and three rival Caliphs.
The Callphate was finally destroyed by
the Mongols, whom one of the Caliphs
had called to his assistance. The Otto
mans finally obtained the ascendancy
over the Mamelukes, and the Turk be-
came the head of Islamism. The last
irruption into Europe and its repulse set
the boundary of its conquests in that
direction, and the conquests of Islamism
are ended. Their effects, however, re-
main.
The committees for the two succeeding
months were announced, after which
Miss Dunster gave fine instrumental
solo.
The paper by II. V. w. Raymond was
upon the Social Aspect Of the Sara
Gems"
He said it might be divided into four
heads-frst, their domestic life; secondly,
their relation to their neighbOrs and
strangers; thirdly, their commercial re-
lations, and lastly, their intellectual life.
He touched upon the customs of court
ship among them; OF marriage, the tie
and its slenderness, and the ease of di-
Vorce on the part of the man; the small
regard paid to women, and the small
value set upon their lives. The harems,
the customs in eating, the cooking, the
sleeping arrangements all passed in re-
view.
In their relations to their neighbors
wars were the rule, but their hospitality
was unbounded, and the word pledged to
the guest inviolable. The funeral cere-
monies were next described.
Passing to their commercial relations,
the extent to which they have pushed
trade through all contiguous countries
was touched upon, and their intellectual
life next claimed attention, and the won
derful results which followed its extern
sion in every direction, and the civIliza-
tion and enlightenment spread over the
world and SO far-reaching in its results
were dilated upon.
The three papers were listened to with
the deepest interest and attention, and it
was an intellectual treat of the highest
order.
GfoI.on SOnIacr in Town