The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1894-05-07
ABOUT The ISLAMITES
DR.. Saadi Talks at st. Paul's of
the Koran Believers.
Some of the Evils of Mahammedism De-
scribed-Sad Condition of the Women
Beliefs and Requirements.

DIR. John Saadi, of Tangiers, Morocco.
who is studying medicine at the Jefferson
College, Philadelphia, spoke last night
at st. Paurs Church On Moham-
mechanism. He was on the relief
expedition sent to General Gordon.
and he gave a brief account of IL.
Previous to the talk medals were presented
to three member of the choir. The String
fellow medal for reverence was given to
William Richie; the Jones medal for at
Tendance was given TO Arthur Fisher. and
the McOua medal for musical excellence
was given to- John Bryan. Mr.. Saadi wore
the native costume, not that he is a Mo-
hammedan, but because he would speak on
that subject. 1t consisted of a long skirt
and coat Of china silk, and he wore a red
turban with a silk band. Medals on his
coat were given to him by Queen Victoria
and by the Khedive of Egypt for his serv-
ices as interpreter with General Wolseley.
He said there were many people who would
push Mohammedanism in this country, but
that the Christian religion was the only
one producing civilization. Mohammed ap-
peared five hundred years after Christ, and
he could say that only Mohammedanism
had brought the Syrian where he is to-
a. II III SHllSlldH ItlSlOu ITOIl
missionaries. Mohammed became acquaint-
ed with Jewish rabbis, who taught him
the Bible, and from it he founded mis- re-
ligion and announced himself as the proph-
ct. He spoke of the condition of women
In the Mohammedan countries, where they
were not allowed to let men see their faces,
and where they were slaves, in hat they
were compelled to stay in the house TN
-. - .A-:- H. - -
have one, two, three or four wives, and
the wives are told that the prayers of their
husbands will save them. Women are not
allowed TO have physicians, and they are
left to suffer and let nature take is course.
The speaker said that he was glad there
were heroic women, who were going to that
country, who were medical missionaries,
and who could give the women of that
country relief. If a Mohammedan is not
satisfied with one set of wives he can di-
vorce them and have a new set, and all
he has to do to divorce them is to tell
them that he does so, and the deed is done.
The Mohammedans believe IN a wonderful
heaven, where there are trees, gardens,
chairs. carpets. rivers flowing with milk
and honey, and where they have innumera-
bic spirits TO wait on them as slaves. DR..
Saadi told a story of how it happened that
the Mohammedan prayed only five times
a day. Mohammed was going TO the throne
of God, because the command had been
made that they should pray fifty times a
day. on the way he met Moses, who asked
MIN MS eTrdnu, dDQ II was IOlQ MIN, anu
Moses babe him return and ask that the
number of times of prayer be iessened.
Mohammed went back and IL was made
forty, another trip 1T was made thirty, and
so on down to five. when Moses told him
to make still another trip. but Mohammed
said he was tired and ashamed to go again,
and that was the reason the Mohammedan
had to- pray five times q day. He spoke of
the faithfulness and courage of the people
of that religion. He described how the Mo-
hammedans go to Mecca and visit the holy
nall IL .n-ar1 - -.-
from the visits. he told of how the visitor
stood by the well and the servant took a
pail of water and poured over him. and he
caught as much OF the water as he could
in his mouth; all the rest ran back into the
we'll. The water. with its soil, carries the
disease. and many take bottles full of the
God and M~ohammed, to pray five times a
day. to keep the fast day. TO visit Mecca
and TO give aims to the poor are required
of the faithful.
In regard to the relief expedition. he said
the Soudanese are all M~ohammedans. and
are faithful and courageous In war. There
Christians. and if the latter were as faith
full as the former the world would soon
be evangelical. The Doctor believes thar
even If the expedition to Gordon had been
earlier the result would have been the
same. as General Gordon was killed when
they were within thirty-ive miles OF him.
He gave an account of Gordon's religious
belief and the letter which he wrote TO his
sister just before his death. DIR. Saadi will
return TO Morocco and practice medicine
and be a missionary; He introduces the
Christian religion in his profession as an
occulist by having scriDtural texts in his
office. to try the eyesight. One of his
friends in Tangiers was Sir John Drum
mond Hay. who was an uncle OF Rev. GA.
Christensen. of this city. and the latter is
the first man that DIR. Saadi has met I'm
this country who knew any pne i'm Tan
giers. He will give a parlor lecture Thurs
day evening. One-half of the proceeds will
go TO the speaker and the remainder to the
choir fund.