Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-02-26

He was adopted by his uncle. Abouta-
ieb. The pure and upright character OF
the lad soon earned him the epithet Ell
Amin. the Faithful. For ten years he
served his uncle as q shepherd and
camel-driver. Conducting caravans to
syria, he there often met the half mad
monk Bahira, or George, whose dis
torted tales from scripture exercised a
large influence on his subsequent career.
Captivated by his virtues and manly
beauty. the rich widow Khadijah. into
whose employ he had entered, offered
him her hand. Though she was fifteen
years his senior. their union was happy
and Mohammed proved himself a faith
ful and devoted husband
Freed by marriage from the necessity
OF daily labor. Mohammed now gave
free exercise TO the religious sentiment
which was always dominant in his
character. His soul sickened at tho su
perstitions of Arabia The general CON
dition of his people filed him with dis
tress. by self-imposcd austeritics and
long fasts and prayer he sought TO APP
pease. he knew not whom, and to come
into knowledge of the truth.
The Arab historians state that on
FRIDAY in the month of Ramazan
Wheh lie was forty years OF age he saw
III n dream the angel Namous. or Ga
priei. ana heard himself saluted as pro-
phet oil God. In ccstatic visions. re-
peated at intervals and attended Inv
bodily commissions, successive chapters
were revealed of what was to become
the Koran. These chapters he comit
ted to memory. as he could neither read
nor write. Three years he preached in
secret. His wife was his first and for
many months his only convert. Nine
years he preached openly. Like John
me BAPTIST, he wrought no miracle
Like Peter and John. he was an un-
learned man. But in his words burned
intensity of conviction. Always in dan
ger of his life, he endured every con-
ceivable insult from the Meccans. and
especially from their chief family, the
Koreish. Persons the least unfriendlv
considered him n mailman Still he
could not be silenced. His converts
meanwhile were few. Then in GO the
town Of Yatreb offered him an ASYLUM
and acknowledged the divine nature of
his mission. Escaping assassination i'm
Mecca, he reached the friendly CITY
which changed its name to Mcdinet cl
Nabi. the City of the Prophet. This re-
moval is called the hcgira. or flight.
From 1t the Alussulmans date their
chronology.
The following ten years were filed
with constantly accelerating success.
When Mecca in GO violated the truce
which 1t had sworn. he at the head of
10000 followers marched upon the CITY
OF his birth. IT surrendered without a
lie
the falschood disappcar." he DESTROYED
the idols which surrounded the l<aaba
and the awe-strickcn citizens accept
ed his creed. ON June S. CO.. lie died at
Medina and was buried under his favor
lite palm trees. In the unconscious de-
lirium of his last moments he talked Of
the angels and God.
Up to the time OF the hegira, when he
was - years OF age. the closet scrutiny
reveals no naw in his character. Then
when the hour of triumph came tho Vo-
luntuary and the warrior obscured the
virtues Of tho apostle. An able states
man and skillful commander, he was
intrepid in battle and humane in vic
tory. Putting forth no cXtravagant
claims concerning himself. lie declared
he was only an ordinary man intrusted
with the high commission of proclaim
ing the unity OF God Whether self de
ceived or not, he was sincere. Impair
tial investigation must pronounce him
one of the greatest and most sagacious
reformcrs the world has seen.
EDWIN A. GROSVENOR.