Evening journal., 1893-05-08
MOHAMMEDANISM.
a RELIGIOUS SOLUTION OF THE
SOUTHERN NEGRO PROBLEM.

Such, It Is Suggested, May the Teaching
of sIohammed webb Prove-somethine
About the Religions Of other Lands.
Buddhism and Hindooism.
A very amiable and lovable man, Mr.
Mohammed Webb, is in this country
looking over the field to decide whether
or not the United States is promising
field for the exploiting of the Moham-
medan faith. He does nokQndertalie to
make proselytes to his religion without
giving the faiths already in the field fair
notice Of his probable intentions. This
is certainly reasonable, though it is more
than we of the Christian churches do
when we send missionaries to India AID
Central Asia. The Mohammedan reli-
gion has probably 155, 600, 600 believers
and has many very charming features.
There are objections TO it likewise that
we shall not attempt TO defend. It is
true that in our highly civilized land we
do not prohibit a man from marrying
four or five times, but we insist that he
shall have been legally released from
previous matrimonial obligations. The
religion Of Islam, mindful Of the uncer-
tainties of life and thevagaries of human
happiness, winks at polygamy, while it
does not enioin it. To employ the simile
synthetically, we drive tandem, while the
Mohammedan harnesses up four or more
in hand.
Among the features that ought to COM
mend Mohammedanism TO a large pro
portion of our citizens is its stanch de-
votion to absention from strong drink.
Belief in God is admitted and enjoined.
AS in Buddhism, kindness TO all animals
is commanded. It's conception Of pur-
gatory is picturesque, for good and bad
souls alike have 10 cross the bridge Al
sirat, that spans hell and is described
as finer than a hair and sharper than the
edge of a sword. Many a believing
Christian will take considerable comfort
IN the thought that the Mohammedan
finds it quite as difficult TO attain the
kingdom Of heaven as does he. Predes-
tination was q cardinal doctrine Of the
prophet, but we Christians have been
won't to ascribe its PRONUNCIATION TO the
political motive Of rendering his follow
ers contemptuous Of danger and suffer
ing.
The Mohammedan religion is simple
enough and is divided into faith and
practicable latter including prayer,
almsgiving, fasting and a pilgrimage to
Mecca. Taken by and large, it is thor
oughly practical religion for the races
who lead nomadic lives, and one pre-
eminently calculated for propagation at
the swords point. II is the latest Of all
the great faiths Of thoworld, only dating
back to 622 A. d., while Buddhism is
probably of 200 years earlier origin and
Hindooism coo years earlier still.
There is just one field in this country
for the introduction Of the simple and
trusting faiths Of the east, and that is
the great negro population Of the south
The hearts of the lowest types Of the col
orcd races are receptive and naturally
religious, and any faith new to them tina
will supplant Voodooism ought TO bl
welcomed by the stanchest Christian
There are today 800, 600 Of believers il
hat strange and disgusting mysticism.
The southern negro must have n re
igion Of pure credulity, with plenty o.
rewards and the mildest possible punish
ments Buddhism, whose adherents 10
day number more than one-third of The
human race might suit him did it only
promise heaven or some equally at
tractive future abiding place. But i
offers nothing better than extinction; NJ
God, no soul, no hope-save annihila
tionl 1t is q dream of peace-of eterna
sleep, Niryana coming to the believe
like the snuffing out of a taper Bud
dhism never has been are ligion of fanati
cism, but has always been charitable
and tolerant.
If the millions Of negroes in the gul
stares, who are today in the grossest in
tellectual and moral ignorance, coul'
have formulated for their use a ney
creed uniting some Of the beautiful
teachings Of Gautama and Mohammed
they might be guided in the direction @
purer and nobler lives. Christianit
could come later if they felt the need @
it, but we do not believe that any ma
or woman who knows the facts regard
ing the class TO which we refer viii den
that Mohammedanism or Buddhism
properly introduced and preached, woul
advance the condition of that part Of th
negro race. Great schools like the NaI
derbilt and Lincoln universities ana II
institution at Raleigh do not reach tt
ricefelds Of Georgia, the cotton planti
tions of South Carolina or the swamp
Of Mississippi and Louisiana.
Here are great missionary fields, anl
without prejudice, they can be honestl
recommended TO the advance guard
the benefcent missionary hosts that ma
be expected to flock to this country if
Mohammedan OF Buddhist propagan6
be decided upon.-Julius Chambers
New York Recorder.
The Discovery Of Glass.
IL ~. - -. =. l..