The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1905-02-26
A pAN.IsL4MIC CONGRESS.
Gathering OF Mussulman Leaders to he
Held In ConStantInople This Year.

To rHE EDITOR or THE SuN-Sir' Accord
ing 10 intelligence from Constantinopie. a
congress OF remarkable character Is 10
assemble there this year.
During the past few years movement has
been going on among tAe leaders OF Thought
In the Mussilman world with the object OF
bringing together at stated times delegates
whose duty it Is II discuss the conditions In
the various Mussulman countries and the
general interests of Islam The association
described has no fNei centre or permanent
council bit carries on its work by means OF
correspondence AMI by delegates chosen for
the occasion This year Constantinoplo has
been selected as the place OF meeting mo
Sultan would have prevented " II lie could.
but dare not on accounted the great reli gious
and political influence OF tAo men at the head
Of tho mo "enent
Tho congtSss ia held ostensIbly only for
the purpose ofNbringing about uniformity In
tle teaching and Interpretation OF the Sacred
Law which has been much disturbed OF late
by the pretanslons Of the various Mahdls
who have arisen from tine 10 time. and tho
unsatisfactory manner In which the sultan.
Abdul Hamit II has filed the exalted
post Of Two Khalifatc In his anxiety to
bring about tie political unity Of Islam, tho
sultan has neglected or deAei the sentiment
OF 200 900 Goq Of Mohannnedans. Win me
result tlat there il danger Il eonnict be-
In which the hhall 'ate would 20 down. and
with II his authorty and dignity az head OF
the true helieNpTa " IL IL this that the
sultan fears. and that leads him 20 permit
the Pnn-lslawc congress. as II may be called.
t. meet at his capital
Politically tho object Of the delegates who
" III be present will not be 10 bring those whom
they represent under the direct control OF
the sultan. but through the relieious influence
10 bring about "a common accord among
Mussulnaus of all countries and races,
whether under sovercigns and rulers Of their
own faith or subject u foreign rule. for
mutual protection In the programme laid
of preserving good relations with those
Governments and countries which do not
threaten or attack the interests or Islam
or the faith of ita adherents. while Alussu Imam
Princes and rulers are warned that those
among them who may become a cause Of
weakness or tho ruin OF Islam, VIII be held
responsible before the Sacred Law, from
Sultan as khalfa will be urged to begin the
reforms called for.
The hope of the leaders of this Pan-Isamlc
movement appears t. lie almost solely In tho
possibility that the sultan Abdul Hanitd
may be induced TO reform himself falling
that. they sec only the end Of the khalifats
and the disintegration of Islam. They &C
knowledge that lslamism has no longer the
strength It had in the past. and that no one
OF the Mussulman tltes has the power TO
defend itself alone
from the general tenor of the Information
received the coming gathering OF leaders In
Islam will he a notlhle event fraught with
consequences that will mark the beginning
OF new era in, or the end Of the great theo-
cratic power that at one time threatened %
ovcr-preld Europe. ORIENT.
NEW iuNk Feb. Is.