Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-01-12
THE GROWTH OF ISLAMlSM
CENsJs SHOWS 17G,5OO,OOO MUSSUL-
MANS IN THE WORLD.
A. Head of the Church the Sultan OF
Turkey Aims to Increase His
Religious influence.

From the Chicago Tribune.
The Sultan Of Turkey, as the head OF the
Islam faith, has been collecting statlstcs
as to his church. Under his own rule ne Is
claiming 100000 followers OF lsRm. anu
in the world at large a total OF l'6,ooo'ooV.
Connecting the fact of this extended CEN
GIG which the Mohammedan caliph has been
taking and the comparative energy Win
which the sultan has been extending the
new railway from Palestine to Mecca, op-
servant students Of the orient are agreed
that he is in the position of forearming for
future possibilities. His declaration that
he might be able to stop the war In emma
nv appeals to the Mohammedan Chinese is
regarded significant OF his satisfaction.
The aggressiveness of the Christian church.
es In the world has put him upon the de-
fensiye, AS far as possible he seems dis
nosed to concentrate the powers Of resist
ance that are more or less inert IN tnese
176. 600 600 MOhammedanS. The contlnua-
ton of the Meccan railroad is an indication
that he means to keep the holy places OF
Islam under his control and thus make
sure Of the authority upon which his claim
as caliph are based.
Millions of Mussulmans.
The results of the recent census are Of
chief interest This count shows that 49,
600 900 of the faith are directly under his
control. In contiguous states and territories
of Asia, including Persia. A-ghanistan, Bel
oochistan, India, Russian Turkestan and
China, their numbers are estimated at 49,
QUO 900. Africa, which has made great &C
cessons to the Mohammedan rellglon Is
credited with $500 600 converts. In other
countries Of the world 1t Is estimated that
there are %, 200, 600 followers of the prophet.
These millions of the one faith however.
are divided into two sections. me vast
majority Of the followers of Mohammed are
Sunnis The minority are Shiahs, who hold
more or less aloof from the Sunnls. a ca
Suunis, but not directly Of the Shiahs.
In India, under the political rule OF the
British. and in the native states OF that
country. are 10000, 600 Mohammedans, most
of whom are Sunnis. The Afghans and the
Turcomans also are adherents of the caliph.
Mohammedans in China are accredited
principally to Kashgaria, Mongolia, Yum
nan and Kansuh. The caliph estimates
their number at 10000, 600 for the whole en-
pire. 1t was on the strength Of these num-
bers that the head Of the faith recently ex-
pressed his belief that II called upon to do
SO he might irltercede and command peace
in China such as the allied powers had been
unable to do.
Problem for Christians.
These Chinese followers OF the prophet
belong to the Sunnis and are In direct re-
ligious touch with Mecca. though not hev-
ing great political affinity with Constanti-
nople. THIS lack of political unity has been
due to the lethargy Of the Turk and to the
internal troubles Of his country. He has
been closely confined to these internecine
dffiiculties and SO has lost touch with the
celestials. Seemingly he has recognized
this laxity and has determined to overcome
Its effects It Ia not believed that he has
any idea OF being called upon to make good