New-York tribune., 1901-04-28

believers and the like Others have caught the
me- -hods Of Christians and hold open air meet
ings- conducting campaigns of education In
India, the great Mahometan country Of the globe.
this Occidental way Of teaching a new faith is
common The empire holds ifty-nine million
followers Of the Prophet, and the rate Of in
crease is enormous. 1t has been estimated that
more than half million converts are made each
year One missionary boasts 81 having added
TO Islam less than two hundred thousand
souls Others have records less startling but
still impressive. These zealots may not be
above extending figures with a view to self
glorification; but It is undoubtedly true that the
low caste Hindoos going to Mahom-
etanism in great numbers. The doctrine that
al followers of the Prophet are equal. set
forth in the Koran ana followed to the letter by
the missionaries appeals nothing else could
to these poor outcasts The Christian teacher
who offers them the same relief is handicapped
by belonging 10 the dominating race: but the
Mahometan's tale seems To the Hindoo true
as it IS good Among the cotton weavers Of Ben
gal the conversions 50 frequen- that the
people have been described as going over en-
maSse to Islam. n several provinces the Ma
hoInetan population far outnumbers that Of all
other religions. The upper class Hindoos Of
course regard the movement with little favor
Between them and the Maho-letans there is
long standing Jealousy The son Of Islam never
forgets that he came in a conqueror and re-
mains to a great extent sufferance.
IN THE MALAY ARCHIPELAGO
In the Malay archipelago there are thirty-one
million Mahometans the largest group outside
Of India Here too. there is great enthusiasm
for the cause. 1t has been suggested that the
MahOmetan societies Of the archipelago helped
TO incite the Philippine revolt against Spain
From this centre too, missionaries are con-
stantly being sent out even to Australasia. In
the islands Of the Pacific they have met with
considerable success. Many Papuans have
changed their faith and have testified to their
zeal by taking the name Of a holy society-the
SenOuissia-tO mark their conversion. The en-
thusiasm Of the Malays may be accounted for
by the fact that m ny Of their old people think
# is pous act to die Mecca. Thus there
has come to be a fair sized Malayan colony in
the sacred city. the members corresp 5nding. of
course. with old I-.= nds ] one. In this way
every breath Of excitement religious fanati-
cism at Mecca is felt the group of faraway
islands. and from them sent On 10 ;heir mission
aries in Oceanica.
The Mdhometan population Of Chira is nearly
thirty millions. Little is being done in the way
Of nissic nary work. that Is in the way of spe-
ciaI ernssarie-s preaching n public places.
The natural indifference OF the average Chinese
to speculative religion would not justify such a
step. But the faith does not seem To be losing
ground and the natural increase Of so large
a number Of believer is considerable.
But after all tie interesting field Of
Mussulman activity is Africa. the land which
sa A the glory Of the faith, and which the Cres-
cent seems TO have marked for its own Here
Is fanaticisfn which recalls the Middle Ages;
here. too on the other hand, is AIos,em learning
nd hest %
.4ica beli.ve that it viii be possible for them
some day to recover their ancient glory. and
so not look favorably upon the Christian
,,s,,rper. History and the talk Of the faithful
have taught them Of the religious Fars and the
slime when tire crescent nag hosted over Spain
a seemed about TO dominate all Europe.
rbe, too in ar oasis Of the Sahara is situated
,be great convent Of the Senouissla that so
ciety from whose ranks. legend says snail arise
the Mahdi who will put all things under ms ieel'
If ia no wonder that missionary zeal hnds
fold n Africa.