New-York tribune., 1901-04-28
THE SPREAD OF ISLAM.
MAHOMETANISM'S MARVELLOUS IN
CREASE IN THE LAST TWENTY
YEARS-WHITHER WILL 1T LEAD?

A dispatch from ConStantlnople pflnSs WOrd
that the Sultan is organizing a movement for
the revival of Nahometanism throughout the
world and the strengthening of his position as
chief of the Nahometan peoples" This vast
scheme includes d pilgrimage from all parts of
the Mosle.n world to the Golden Horn. where
AbduI-Hamd will be enthusiastically recog-
niZed as the temporal and spiritual head OF
Islam and the emily riShtful holder OF the
sacred office of Caliph. If the correspondent IS
we'll informed this picturesque project puts the
finishing touch at least gives point 10 the
labor of twenty years. PligrlmaSes 10 con
stautiuopIe are new but the fear of such a re-
vivaI of Mahometanism has been a bogle 10
Oriental diplomats these many years. over
here the pIottiugs and ScherlinSs of suitans ana
sheiks concern the public little Only those
who take special interest in questions of the
Orient will realize how much is meant By the
Sultan's eager desire to have himself declared
CaIiph by delegates from all quarters OF the
globe The title is one he already holds by in
herftance from ambitious ancestor but, as
mary of the faithful declare without the
proper right. To the Caliph all Islam owes al
leeiance and Islam is a vast and rapidly in
crcasing world. A few figures Will give an
idea of the pace at which the creed of the
Prophet is bringing in recruits from other re-
iigioas In 1850. when the present revival
practically began. the crescent claimed about
I1J 100000 souls. Twenty years later the num-
ber of Mahometans was put at 26stuoe,uVu- IhlS
enormous rate of increase continues In iact'
the emissaries Of Islam We're never so active or
successful as just now
Modern Mahometanism. whatever may he ITS
inmost thought. has outwardlS disclaimeG al
desire to return to the masterful but hardly sat
isfactory argument of the sword in making con-
verts IL has learned that the results OF an
rs.p
APPARENT are really more substantial Mere
over the missionaries have learned 10 ADAPT
Themselves tactfuIly the conditions az the
people they are trying To reach. They are wen
trained Jealous teachers often fanatics yet
not infrequently also men who do not a.ioW
their enthusiasm for their own talth 70 hl'Ad
them to the virtue of the religion of others
Many of theut-most of them. in fact-oeionS
to some one OF the great religious societies of
Islam. and all the sects of MahometaAsm are
represented among them. Diversity of opinion
among the MussuImans is not so great as
among the Christians. hut there is enough diff
ference, of thought TO make four parties. with
the orthodox Mussulman largely Outnurnberins;
all others put together. Division of opinion
does not keep the followers of Mahonet from
uniting in missionary work; in fact one OF the
heretical bodies is especially noted for its
proselyting ardor.
THE TWO FACTIONS
Not all these eager preachers Of the Koran
have a political as well religious string To
their how Some. indeed. hold that the welfare
of Islam is best promoted by emphasizing the
rostion of the Sultan head of the Moslem
world since he is by far the most powerful Ma
ho,dctan prince Others are equally strong m
their belief that descendant of the Prophet
alone should hold the high and holy office of
Caliph There are many descendants of the
Prophet and they all saints. regardless of
their own personal merit demerit. There was
al enc time a rurnor to the effect that the Sui
tan in order to reconcile these conflicting par
ties, about to adopt as his son one oi Ma
homet's descendants who should succeed 20 10Th
sultanate and caliphate after Abdui-Has.s'@S
death. The report had foundation IN fast,
but its existence shows the feeling of she SidS-
sulman world. AS it is. the G-a-d Shereef of
Mecca is practically the spiritual head Of Islam
He comes in contact with thousands Of pilgrims
the most devolt of the faith, and whisper
from him goes to every part of the globe where
This powerful factor in the religious life of
Islam is cOnciliated by the Sultan with much
success that the desires of ConStantinOpie are
carried cut to the letter at Mecca
The missionaries the great societies and the
Grand Shereef the agents of Mahouetan
propaganda throughout the world 1t is inter
esting to note what they have accomplished.