The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-02-20
HIS HIGHAkSS, IHE AGA KHAN,
 OF BOMBAY, INDIA.

Ills Hig0neSS the Akd hHdn, Wno landed in San Francisco about a month ago, is little known in the United States, but he is an important charac- ter in the east.
 He is said to be the forty-eighth lin- .eal descendant of Ali, who was the son. in-law and the cousin of Mohammed.
 It is said that Mohammed told his friends that his followers would be di- vided into seventy-threa sects. The fulillment of this prediction began im- mediately after the prophets death, and was more than realized in it's en- tirety centuries ago. The first great schism was caused by disagreements regarding the succession in the Khali- fate. The followers of Ali do not rec ognize the first three KiDalifs. These are called Shiahs, and their opponents are the Sunnis. The latter, who out number the former about ten to one, are considered the orthodox Mohamme dans The feud between these two factions, which has lasted for more than twelve centuries, has been most bitter, and is still frequently the cause of bloodshed.
 His Highness the Aga Khan Is the chief religious leader of the Khojas and of other divisions of the Shiah Moham- medans. His grandfather, Hasan Ali Shah, who was born in Persia in 1900, is said to have been descended not only from the great prophet of. Arabia, through Ali, but also from the royal house, of Persia from prehistoric times, and from the Beni-Fatimite Khalifs, who ruled in Egypt at the time of the crusades, proving that in His Highness the Aga Khan's veins runs the blood of many royal families, who, in days long past, have been famous in many lands.
 Hasan Ali Shah was for years the successful governor general of the province of Herman in Persia. Later on, falling under the displeasure of the Shah, he fled to India and immediately entered into friendly relations with the British authorities. The Afghan war was then in progress. Since the inhab- itants of Afghanistan were chiefly shialp Mohammedans, and as most of the frontier tribes acknowledged the authority of the Aga, he proved of very great service at that time to the gov- ernment of India, as he did again some years later, during the Sind campaign. Tn recognition of this valuable assist ance the title of His Hlghness" was conferred upon him by the late queen empress.
 Numerous communities in India, Afr ghanistan Khorassan, Persia, Arabia, Central Asia, Syria, and even in dis tant Morocco, recognized the Agas re- ligious authority over them. The more ignorant among these followers render ed him almost divine honors When he died and was succeeded by his son in 1881 they described the going of their Aga, not as death, but in their one re- mark, God has taken on change of raiment"
 The grandson of that same Hasan All Shah, whc Ills Highness the Aga Khan Ill., the parsonage who has recently made brief visit to this coun- try for the purpose of studying our methods and institutions
 His mother, who is daughter of the late Shah of Persia, has taken great paips that his highness should have superior religious and Oriental as well las European training and education.
 Although but thirty years of age, his .hignness has travelled extensively and has made most favorable impression wherever he has been in India and in Europe. He has been made a Knight Commander of the Indian Empire, and was called by Lord Curzon to Calcutta Ito serve on the viceroy's Council an honor to which only the ablest citizens of India are appointed.
 His highness is an ardent Mohamme- dan. In his efforts for the improve ment of his people he has quietly op- posed Christian missions, seeking to supplant mission schools by others in which Christianity will not be taught, and discouraging the admission of Bi- ble women into their zenanas. s+