New-York tribune., 1902-09-07
THE COPTS IN THE SOUDAN.
Continued from ninth page.

one is expected to stand, crutches are supplied
on which to lean
The moral status of the clergy is low, in spite
OF the fact that marriage is forbidden only to
the higher grades Of the secular orders Drunk
enness is their besetting sin. Even the princi-
pal festivals of the Church are often dis sraced
by frightfu OutbuTsts of this vice on tie part
of the clergy and, the latter are a rule
poor and without any fixed pay of any kind,
they resort to all sorts of schemes OF a more or
less shady character to obtain money The ma
jority of the churches exceedingly diIapi-
dated, and remarkable for their dirt the
priests. while of the condition of affairs in the
various converts and monasteres the less said
the better.
OF course, neither the Roman Catholic Church
yet the various Protestant denominations
have anything in common theologicaliy speak
ing with the Copts, and if the Gar has put
forward claim to act protector of the Coptic
Church in Egypt it is solely for poltical pur-
poses, as from the point of view of the Orthodox
Church of Russia the Copts are as schsmatic
to-day they at the time of the Council
of ChalCedon.
Indeed, the impOssbty of any doctrinaI un-
Outstanding of Russian Orthodoxy, Roman Cath
olicism and the various Protestant denomlna-
tions with the Copts is strikingiy shown by
the fact that all of these churches have mis-
sionaries work in lower Egypt. endeavor1ng
to convert the Copts their particular forms
of Christianity and it is impossible TO conceive
this proselytism being carried on at great ex-
pense unless those by whom it was undertaken
were thoroughly convinced that the objects
| thereof-namey, the COpts-were badly in need
| of conversion. The Roman Catholics have made
| about five thousand converts. who are now
subject bishop of their own race, Monsignor
Macarios consecrated by Leo XIII. The Prot
| estant denominations have probably two thou
sand more, while the Russian Church has bare
| ly two thousand converts, being obliged to OBJ
| serve much discretion. for fear of interfering
/ with the Cars political claims to the protec-
| torship of the Coptic Church.
Any one who has enjoyed the opportunity that
| fell to my share when in Egypt Of becoming
| acquainted with the Patriarch Of Alexandria,
| with a number of members of the Coptic clergy,
| who has visited their churches and several of
| their monasteries. and who has taken the
! trouble to study their past history and present
| condition, will share my regret that if Chris
tian mission work is to be allowed in the Sou
dan it should be left in the hands of the Coptic
| clergy and restricted TO them. There is little
in their teachings. in their behavior in their
| character to inspire the Soudanese-the ex-
| dervishes-with respect for the Christian
| ligion. to convince them of its elevatng and
| civilizing influences. The Soudanese Moslem
| who, obedient to the directions of the Prophet,
| abstains from stimuIants well from usury,
! who keeps his word when given in certain
manner and who follows the directions OF the
| Koran in regard to ablutiOns-in one word. the
| Mahometan who lives up to his faiths
! infinitely more reputable individual than the
dirty, drunken lying and theving Coptic priest
and missionary. If Christianity is to be placed
| once before the Soudanese, il should DE
| Christianity of the highest order, presented by
! the best priests and clergy that the mission So
| cieties of the Protestant denominations here and
! in Europe and of the Roman Catholic Church
can find for the purpose. 1t is not merely impoH-
| tic but even absolutely incomprehensihe that
| they should be Disseminated against in favor
| of the COptic clergy. ES-ATTACHE.