The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-10-04

OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES nelp INeHl III luclT euuCd-
tional and medical work By gifts of money,
land and buildings"
Before you are judged at all by Mo-
hammedans. much less condemned. many
things will there be to be inquired Of. says
European who has spent almost life
time among MohammedanS. First, are
you an Eastern? III you are not says the
Eastern, L have no standard at all by
which to measure you. If you are, then of
what class or caste of Eastern are you? If
you are not of my particular community,
equally are you without my orbit If you
are, and you have sinned. my condemna-
ton extends to the exclusion of you from
bread and water That rule our religion.
which Is greater than either of us. has
made. But I will buy with you. sell with
you, and talk with YOU. Generous and
cheerful. indeed. is this tolerance among a
people who still will die of thirst rather
than drink water from the hands OF an out
sider."
Religion, says the true follower of the
prophet, is woven throughout the entire
fabric of Mohammedan civilization. 1t is
not mere decoration; ii is part of the
piece; and every mans daily conduct is
guided and regulated by the ceremonial
duties as we'll as by the principles of his
faith. Nobody is ashamed of practicing his
religion. In Mohammedan countries it is
common sight to see people praying at the
corners of streets or by the wayside. Their
conduct Is not pharasaical. They spread
their mats and pray because it is the hour
of prayer, and they dare not neglect it,
even though it catches them unawares upon
y,attf n.
a reputation for sanctity by such conduct.
just as certainly they would not accord it.
10 others who did the same. And they ex-
pect Christians who dwell among them to
be as devout and attached TO their religion
as they are themselves. If the Christian
is lax, the Mohammedan has no respect for
him. 49,.
THE MOHAMMEDAN SPIRIT.
Similarly. they are rigid in their fasts.
Even the children cannot be tempted to
break "hunger-stricken Ramazan," or any
other of the numerous fasts of Islam.
An Anglo-Indian woman, who has spent
years studying the Mohammedan tempera-
ment. tells striking story on this head.
which illustrates the Mohammedan spirit
II remember dear. small boy, the son
Of our night Waterman. His small soul
loved mangoes. and one day, as he followed
me about the garden. 1 offered him one.
NO he said wistfully; may not
take it,
but whyT
:" Does the Miss Sahib not know II is my
fast? The giant of darkness strives to
overcome the sun, and not even water must
pass my lips for so many hoursr
THE duty, in the case of this youngster,
was self-imposed. for he was only six years
of age, and so not yet within the pale Of
orthodox Moslem rigidity'
This story, says the Mohammedan, ex-
plains the fighting strength of Mohamme-
danism, the absolute subordination of its
| devotees. Men trained as this boy was
training himself will kill for the faith Just
as readily as they will die for the faith,
but there is nothing petty about them.
They can appreciate and tolerate other
faiths so long as the adherents of those
faiths do not insult Northumberland.
Half the outbreaks at places like Beirut are
caused. IL Mohammedans may be believed,
by Christians committing. either intention
ally or accidentally, what Mohammedan
deems to be sacrilege.
For Moslem the world is divided by ira
Il
abode of Islam) and Oar al-harb" (the
abode of war; That would seem to imply
that the Moslems hand rs against all unbe-
levers. but Mohammedan canon law If the
| best Egyptian lawyers are to be believed,
! DEGREES that "Jihad" (holy war; must never
be made unprovoked against "Dar al-harb."
CHRISTIANS HAVE NO RIGHTS.
Every one knows that the whole system
of Mohammedan civilization bears hardly
on Christians who live under It, 1t has
been said that personal rights exist only
| for Mohammedans in Islam" Christians
cannot give evidence in Mohammedan law
courts, they may not bear arms, and they
have to pay capitation tax. 1.-THE Koran
makes these DEGREES" says the Mohamme-
dan, In defense, land we cannot go back
| of it,"
These are religious dogmas," says a
| United States vice consul in Turkey, I'm one
OF his official reports. (which will never
alter unless the whole fabric of their relig-
ion passes away and another institution is
planted in its stead. have opened the SUBJ
| ject before the doctors OF the law, and they
assert: These are religious dogmas based
on religious principles, and if his Majesty
the Sultan wishes to order anything con-
trary the Mohammedan population collec-
lively will not obey him. And they might
have added that such a step might bring
on an Instruction
What ''the faith" prescrihes must be
obeyed. Outside of that. the Mohamme-
dams claim, they are remarkably tolerant
especially in the Turkish dominions. Copts
and Maronftes, DrIses and Greek Chris
tians are all allowed the free exercise OF
their different religions. and no Moham-
medan would dream of molesting them OF
insulting them while they were assembled
TO worship their God in their own way
His mental attitude toward 'infidels'' is
| curious. If a ..jihad tholy war; were pro-
claimed he would be ready enough to slay
them, but IL, in his path of massacre, he
came upon Christian at prayer he would
hold his hand until his destined victim had
| finished the act of worship. His instructive
reverence for any kind of religious NANTES
tation would check his lust for blood.
SULTAN'S POWER LIMITED.
1t is usually assumed by Western states
men and Western newspapers that the
| Sultan of Turkey is an autocrat who car
| rule as he wishes. whose fiat means the
slaughter or the sparing of Christian vii.
lagos and Christian peoples within his do