The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-08-26

ber the best Of breed. In one room we
saw 100 or more saddles and brides,
many OF them richly ornamented. In
the collection are two Texas saddles
presented by Minister Terrell when he
represented our government in Con-
stantinopIe
Before passing from the Selamlik, as
the procession is called, it may not be
out Of place to remind the reader that
the ceremonies were interrupted less
than a year ago by the explosion of a
bomb close to the line of march. Near
the mosque is a large gate which the
procession passes. Outside of this gate
a guard is stationed, but carriages were
allowed to line I'D back of the guard.
On that occasion a new carriage made
It's appearance and secured a place as
near the gate as was permitted. This
carriage, having been expressly built
for the purpose, had a large bomb con-
CO 6led under the drivers seat. The man
In charge Of the enterprise represented
TO the driver that he wanted TO take a
photograph of the procession just as
the sultan passed, and instructed him
to press the button at the proper time.
He did so, and number OF those near
the sultan were killed but the sultan
himself escaped without injury. Great
er precaution is taken now than before,
but the head of the church still makes
his weekly pilgrimage 10 the mosque,
thus maintaining unbroken a record
covering nearly three decades.
I hope 1 shall be pardoned for giving
so much space to so military and spec
tacular performance, but 1t is a scene
that can be witnessed nowhere else,
and is the last reminder OF the pomp
and show that formerly characterized
all the empires of the east. It may
seem little incongruous that so many
swords and muskets should be brought
into requisition at religious function,
but IL must be remembered that Mo-
hamm mechanism recognizes the sword as
legitimate agency in the spread OF it's
creed.
I have been tempted to refer TO the
tenets OF Mohammedanism before. for
we began TO meet the followers OF the
prophet as soon as we entered Asia, but
II seemed more appropriate to consider
the subject In connection with the high
parsonage who combines the authority
OF temporal ruler with the dignity OF
Caliph.
The Koran is the book of the law. and
the Moslem is not permitted to doubt
its plenary inspiration. After Moham-
met announced that he had been select
ed as a messenger Of the Lord and
commissioned to preach. he began Civ
ing out what he declared to be reVela-
tons. They read as commands TO him
10 speak and TO Say" His central
idea was the unity OF God and his spe-
cial mission the overthrow Of idolatry.
He emphasized the resurrection OF
the body, and the Koran is full of
promises to the faithful, and as full OF
threats against the .nfidel. In the Ko-
ran God is quoted as promising: For
fh0Qa NVDn daUO11f rel xx-9fI,
their Lord gardens through which riv-
ers flow; therein shall they continue
forever: and they shall enjoy wives
free from impurity and the favor of
God" For the infidel, which includes
all who do not accept the prophet, the
following punishment is threatened:
Verify. those who disbelieve our signs,
we Will surely cast to be broiled in hell
fire; so often as their skin shall be well
burned, we will give them other skins
in exchange, that they may taste the
sharper punishment; for God is mighty
and wise"
Through the Koran he not only cred
| tied God with the creation ana with a
care for all the wants of man, but he
also declared that God deceived and
misled some, while he guided others
Alright. In one revelation he makes God
say: 'They who accuse our signs of
lelStnoOOs are QedI anu Qufnp, Walking
in darkness; God will lead into error
whom he pleaseth, and whom he pleas
eth he will put in the right way"
He accepted the Old Testament, and
counted Christ among the prophets. In
one Of the revelations he declares that
he is commanded 10 say: I'VE believe
in God and that which has been sent
down unto US, and that which hath
been sent down unto Abraham, and
Ishmael, and Isaac. and Jacob, and the
tribes, and that which was delivered
Urto Moses. and Jesus. and that which
was delivered unto the prophets from
their Lord We make no distinction be-
tween any of them and TO God we are
resigned"
In the beginning of his ministry his
revelations were friendly to the Jews,
whom he at first attempted TO concili-
ate, but when they rejected him, he
gave out other revelations which treat
co the Jews with great severity. He
started out to rely upon reason and an