The San Francisco call., 1903-12-13

our heads by showing TO US in time
that we are all wrong in the matter Of
religion and that We shall be saved by
becoming Moslems. To that end he is
giving the light Of his countenance and
The rare support CT his check book TO
the Sheik-ul-Islam Of the British Isles.
whose headquarters lend picturesque
ness 10 the otherwise dingy city Of
Liverpool
Although the Sheik is notable fig
ure in his official gowns, Oriental
enough 10 satisfy the most exacting OF
his converts. YET his ordinary. every
day pursuit is that Of a prosperous
Police Court lawyer with a big criminal
practice. AS such he is William Henry
Quillism. but TO the 500 British subjects
whom he has already gathered into the
MOhammedan fold he is known as Abb
dullah Quilliam.
The Sheik was born in Liverpool and
Of British parents. too, but his life has
been remarkable for all that. Early in
his Police Court practice he came to
the conclusion that drink was one OF
the devils most effective aids, and in
consequence he became an active tee
totaler, winning some renown for his
twenty-five years ago he went on a
tour 10 Turkey and Morocco and took
10 studying the tenets Of the Moslen
creed, with the result that he and his
wife became converts.
Now Mohamnedanism has sIu-axs
been associated with polygamv in the
English mind and QuiIIiam was srr-
5ected 10 a great deal Of ridicule when
his conversion became known. Undis-
mayed, however, he commenced q
course of propaganda. mostly through
lectures delivered at temperance socf-
cites, and gradually gathered small
band Of adherents around him. His
early converts were mainly relations
out IN time his fame spread and. Indian
seanen or Lascars and other Oriental
visitors 10 the great seaport used 10
visit his house TO pray.
STUDIES ARABIC LANGUAGE.
By dint Of hard study he had become
a proficient Arabic and Turkish scholar
able 70 speak and write both languages
huently. He wrote 10 the Sultan Of
Turkey, and received q mandate TO visit
Constantinople. He responded in per
son and was received cordially by Ab-
oul the damned" who made a great
impression on him, as he does on almost
every one who comes into personal con-
tact with him. The Sultan. so OufIIian
declares, Is one OF the kindest of men.
and has great love for children. He
Is an astute man Of the world and is
thoroughly versed in French and Eng
iish literature. On this occasion Quill
liam was accompanied by his son. 2
little boy Of ten The Sultan took the
lad on his knee, called him his little
man" and asked him how he liked Tur-
key The boy replied that he liked. Tur-
key very much, and the Sultan replied
that n he should be a good boy. obey
his parents and study hard. he. the Sui
tan. would perhaps be able to make a
man Of him. That man now holds an
important Official position in CONSTANT
nople.
The result OF Quilliam's. interview
with the Sultan was that he was sp-
pointed chief Of Islam for the British
Isles. and was decorated with the Or
der q the Medjideh. On his return TO
Liverpool 10 Sheik opened a mosque
and Moslem institute in the West
Derby Road. and ever s--ce public
prayers have been held there on Fri
Says in the praving room" to the huge
delight and wonderment Of the prosaic
neighborhood.
Since his conversion honors have
come thick and fast 70 AbdulIah Quill
lism- He has journeyed frequently 10
COnstanun0ple 10 see his Imperial
friend and patron. getting prompt audi
ence where many an envoy has knocked
in vain. He has hobnobbed with the
shah of Persia. and with the Ameer Of
Afghanistsn. receiving an unpronounc-
able title and a gift Of sl2.500 for the
good of the cause from the latter. The