Durango semi-weekly herald., 1902-05-15

luf. hp'HuinE Vpltlpu Di tAfn h'HfpN
In the city and the remainder ot the
year In the provinces Of Turkey or In
some neighborlug state
According 20 religious belief the
population II supposed to be- divided
somewhat AZ followsi
Moslcms ,..-........4. .s,.,. 900, 900
Greeks .-.,tes...t+. +.t...,,,,l 10000
Armenians ,......,.. ,,s.--. 100000
Jews ts.,-i,....-.,--..- 10000
Buigarlnns .................. G.0O0
Greek Catholics .,t,..,.. l,2G0
Roman Catholics .....,.....4 Is 90
Protustants Observation-Disclosures 1000
Miscellaneous .,s.+s......4. 10000
The oty IL divided into ten muulcl-
pal circles OF wards. which. combined
constitute yilayet whose affairs are
directed by a prefct assisted by n
m.jlis or council and a large stan OF
officials. Each municipal circle has II
director aud IL subdividod into pre-.
cincts which are governed by mudir.
The prcfet. or governor. h. a despoi
responsible 10 no ono but the sultan
aud exercising absolute AMI nnpup
toned authority over the lives an1
property IL con0Hlcatod At his orders
and NO questions can 10. asked He
regulates the taxes. receives the funds
and disposes of them without a queat
tion The mudirs and other Hnbog
dinates carry out his Instructions AMI
trust him 10 stand between them mn 3
the sultan The Munlhhs OF the Mos.
tenn church must be taken into con
sileration always NJ they are tho
most powerful body In Conataniinopio.
and their Influence over the people
Is undisputod. The sbclkb.un,isiam,
the head OF the church ntandH next
TO the sultan In power and authority,
and the prefct ana mudirs hre cRrn
ful never 10 offend him.
There IN II multitude of priests.
divided into classes aud ranks The
lowest In the muczxln. who IN sori
of sacristan OF sexton at the mosque.
He calls the faithful 20 prayer but
takes no part in the devotional cNcr
clsnA. Soitas are theological stu.
dents, young preachers who make M
fanaticai aud turbulent class and
are the canso OF most of the distub
anccs Ia Consinntinople as the stu
dents Of universities often are In 9th
ct European countries Nokt 10 them
In rank hrv tho cadls. who exercise q
temporal M wei las spiritual jurisdi,
tion. acting as notarios, justices ui
the peace. Judges OF the courts and
look after the financial affairs OF thc
different parishes and religious ur
dors. There are several roligiouH
brotbcrhoodH and orders like the dur
Wishes The mouiahH or regular
priests. who conduct the services al
the mosques. may be compared with
the ordinary clergy IN our country
One grade above him In the shodia
or professor of theology. who is found
dali, al the mosques with copy Of
the Koran and other orthodox auth
critics before him eSpounding the
faith OF the Mohammedans 20 groups
of students and others who gather
around him sitting rossioggcd upon
the floor.
You can mud these groups Ia every
mosque at all hours OF the day, ana
they remind you OF the story OF Jesus
teaching In the temple. The heolo
sians receive fees from their pupils
Another class OF khodta oNpound tn,
Koran io ordinary people very much
In the manner OF our Sunday school
ciasses Amer the regular prayers
are over In the mosques they take
convenient places, aud those who a.
sire To learn from them squat around
In semicircles within the sound OF
their voices. The lesson OF lectur,
lasts abou, half an hour. Many OF
the pupils are business mon who are
Interested 10 hear and know 9th
ers are poor devotes who scarcely
understand the language OF the teach
er but listen attcntively to everything
he says, There is no regularity about
the lectures and no stated fe.s are
charged Those who attend can pay
whatever they like. Some of the
abiest theologiAns attract large clasErs
and make a good living Their in
comes are much better than the sal
aries paid TO the ordinary moulahs
or parish priests.
Superior 10 them are the mufti, or
bishops. and the sheikh ul-lslam is
known as the great mufti
Nearly all OF the MoslcWs IN Con
stantinople are employed either by
the church or the state. OF are ordin'
ary common working men. They
are ignorant and fanatical dangerous
when excited by the priests or the
softas. who make the mischief and l
are as devout as any people In the I.
world II is the universal testimony |
that Musselmen are more loyal TO
their religion and more faithful to
Its teachings than the members OF any