The sun., 1896-02-28
Tho Nfohammedan Congress.

A number OF foreign newspapers have an
nounced that some of the leading Moham-
medans among the Hindoos, Arabs, and
Turks have taken the initiative in con-
vokipp a congress to consider questions OF
vital interest to their faith. The meeting is
TO be held in the autumn OF 1898. and both
Tangier and Cairo have been proposed as the
place for it. We do not know how much the
promoters Of this congress hope to achieve,
but they are sanguine indeed, who believe
that any convocation can solve the momen-
tous problems confronting the Mohammedan
world.
The two great questions before tho con-
press will be how to reunite Islam, long ago
weakened as It was by doctrinal dissensions
which destroyed its solidarity and divided 1t
into many sects; and how to secure the
Faith 30 that it may be firm as rock, un-
shaken by the storms Of these modern days
when the overwhelming encroachments OF
the Christian nations and the menaces OF
agnosticism beset it on every side. 1t Is also
expected, we ARC told, that the congress will
demonstrate the injustice Of certain accuse
tions brought against Mohammedanism.
1t is not likely that intellect, ingenuity,
or learning can settle these questions to the
satisfaction of the Mohammedan world
One of the most impressive facts Of the
time Is the waning Of the power and
authority OF Islam in its strongholds
Many millions of Mohammedans see the
lands Of their fathers subjected to Chris
tian rule The Mussulman sovereignties OF
India have yielded to Christian domination
Europe rules nearly all the Mediterranean
coast OF Africa Even Morocco is submit
ting to the infldel. Her Sultan has at last
been compelled to permit the representa-
tives of the powers to live at Fez Many
Arab tribes are no longer subject to Mo
hammedan potentates. Christian soldiers
and traders throng the streets of Timbuctoo
and Harar, which no undisguised Chris
tan had ever entered few years ago. The
Ireat centres Of Mohammedan learning
Bokhara and Samarcand, pay taxes to the
Gar, and are served by a railway built by
European capital. Country after country
IN the Balkans has been wrested from the
hands of Turkeys Sultan, and the Otto
man power would be swept away in year
II it were not for the mutual jealousies Of
the rest of Europe. Not even does Islam
retain Mecca and Medina inviolate, for
Europe has assumed the right, on the plea
grimages to and from those holy places
Thoughtful Mohammedans fear for the
future, not only from the aggression Of
Christian Governments but from the infiu-
ence OF Christian missionaries and from the
general decay Of learning in all the lands Of
Islam. The glories Of the great schools Of
Damascus, Fez Cairo, Bagdad, and other
centres Of Mohammedan science have faded.
Even Christian instructors are found in the
schools Of Constantnople, and the women
of England, Germany, and France have been
admitted to the harems to teach accomplish
ments to the wives and mothers of Mussul-
mans.
Mohammedanism does not repudiate prog
ress Is it possible for the leaders to 30
marshal the forces Of Islam that they may
march with the winners under the banner
ofevolution; or will they be crushed between
the upper and the neither mllstones9
If the coming congress can find even
partial answer for any Of the great ques-
tions it proposes to discuss, it will have a
con spicuous place in history.