The Virginia enterprise., 1908-02-07

Oc IL US VI CSy ~, VI dA uO 'CouSl VI
plain signs. The unrest of Egypt is
bound to assert itself ere long in
| ways that will command the attention
| Of civilization. The loud mutterings.
to be heard in the cafes and bazars.
| are not the thoughtless vaporings of
the idle: very considerable proper
tion of the people, including the pro-
g,essive, educated Young Egypt"
party. are thinking definite things
concerning the overthrow of the Eng
lish power. Lord Cromer's recent de-
parture was made the occasion for so
many outspoken criticisms against
the British that it was preceded, as
| precautionary measure, by the
parade of all the British forces, fully
armed. through the streets Of Cairo.
Missions and Politics.
All this has relation to the mis-.
sionary propaganda. This upheaval
and restlessness is cracking the hard
surface of Mohammedan exclusiveness
and intolerance. Where the news.
paper and the worlds spirit enter.
there religious prejudice cannot abide.
In their seemingly hopeless assault
upon Islam. the missionaries have
powerful reinforcement in the fledg-
ling modernity of New Egypt.
On the other hand. the missionaries,
by their schools and literature, have
done more than a little to awaken
Egypt from the torpor of centuries.
British officials and Egyptian reform
ers have alike definitely and publicly
acknowledged the influential contribu.
ton to the country's higher welfare
! made by the American missionary.
Old Egypt the land of the dead, is be-
coming one of the worlds new ma
tions, blessed with prosperity al
most equal to the amazing fertility
Of Its soil.
The Sword OF the Prophet.
Cairo is the citadel and cradle of
Mohammedanisrl Sanguine Chris
tians predict that, as the magnificent
N1ohammed Ali mosque, which over
looks the entire city, from the sum-
nit of the ancient citadel is now sur
rounded by the soldiers of a Christian
power, so the religion which it rep
resents is bound to succumb to the
advance of Christianity. Which is
more easily said than done. This is
a thoroughly Mohammedan city The
Christian may still hear himself cursed
as an unbelieving dog, in the bazars
and in the mosques.
What has often been called the
largest university in the world, the
highest educational institution of 1s-
lam is situated here; and when Wis
tied it the sibilant sound of serpentine
hate followed me through all the vast
fnclosure. The books say that there
are 10000 students taking the 12-year
course in the Ell Azhar mosque. al
though the officials told me that the
number is more than $4,000. This is
now the fountain head of the force
by which Mohammedanism has con-
quered 232,966,170 of the worlds popu.
lation. The only reason that this
force is no longer expressed by the
sword, as formerly. is that the great
world powers, which are Christians,
prevent. Curiously enough, the
Christian emperor of Great Britain
and India rules over more Mohammed.
ans than any other sovereign. In
Egypt there are about 100000 fol.
lowers Of Islam, 100000 Coptic Chris.
tians, and small scattering Of Jews
and Protestants.
This Azhar mosque is like only it.
self. The students, who have come
from every part Of the Mohammedan
world, do not study occidental fash.
ion, in classes and under teachers I
could find no traces of organization
whatever. The students-all men, of
course, sat- reclined or lay about the
floors in nondescript fashion.
Studying, Eating, Sleeping in Church.
The mosque is also lodging house.
The students sleep where they study,
and apparently they sleep and study
when they please. Likewise. they eat
where they sleep. after the primitive
style of the east. The passing of the
occasional tourist arouses sufficient in
terest to set the students to Kissing:
i
min Of the place than by these hostile
| demonstrations. knowing that there
is no real danger. since Britain rules
with strong hand.
UngratefuIness of "The Faithful"
! The famous ''howling Dervishes" of
Cairo are no longer to be seen by
visitors. because of fanatical out.
breaks. and because of the disgust
ing character of their exhibition.
The great food of tourists in Cairo
makes itself felt in this respect. being
one Of the influences that, impercep-
itbly. undermine the solidarity of ls-
lam.
| My dragoman threw a side light on
religious conditions He assured me
that he is faithful follower of the
prophet. keeps the fast of Romadon,
and observes the early prayers-al.
though in our days together I failed
to catch him at these. We were
rocking across the desert on camels.
when in his terse fashion he gave ut.
terance to what is the practical inf.
deity of many Moslems. priests say
all Christians go to hell and all Mo-
hammedans go to heaven. do not
believe it. You think good man who
has only one face and makes straight
talk and gives to the poor. will go to
hell because he is Christian: I do
not You think bad man. who lies
shows two faces and does many
wrong things. 60 to heaven because
he ts a Mnhammedan? do not