The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1908-02-07

lis Vial oSICl VI IlClI
The great flood of tourists in Cairo
makes itself felt in this respect, being
one of the influences that, impercep-
itbly, undermine the solidarity of Is
lam
My dragoman threw 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 l 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. l 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? / do
not You think bad man, who lies,
shows two faces and does many
wrong things, go to heaven because
he is a Mohammedan? I do not.
Bad man go to hell; good man go to
heaven; do not care what priests
say"
Not only the advent of the western
spirit. but also the immortality of it's
followers is weakening Mohammedan-
ism. Cairo is probably the wickedest
city in the world, not even Port Said
surprising it. The position of women
is indicated by the statement on the
part of a Moslem authority, that not
five per cent. of the Mohammedan
men retain their first wife until death.
Divorce is as common as it is easy.
The men are grossly and naturally
immoral. They drink large quanti-
ties of liquor despite the prohibitions
of the prophet. Only eight per cent.
of the population can read and write,
The people are senile and ingenious
mendicants. Their religion, which
should be intense Mohammedanism
has degenerated into all sorts of SUI
perstitions.
A Fat Mans Misery.
Thus, at the entrance to the mosque
which is a duplicate of the Mecca
mosque, there stand two marble pill
lars. The belief is that whoever can
squeeze between these two pillars is
free from evil and sure of paradise
But the person in whose heart evil
resides can in no wise get through.
Physical form is not taken into &C
count. Our driver was terribly con-
cerned because he could not squeeze
through, even after removing various
garments. After much effort, and at
the risk Of ribs, we pulled and pushed
him through; and he was straightway
as happy as a peasant girl after her
confirmation.
No "HoIy War;"
Frequently the alarm is sounded
that pan-Islamic movement threat
ems Europe or Asia, and that the
green flag of ''holy war" is to be un-
furled. Undoubtedly the leaders of
Islam are solidifying their forces as
thoroughly as possible; and undoubt-
eddy Mohammedanism is the most Sc
rious foe to be met by the Christian
missionaries. The report, however,
that Islam is growing rapidly, and car
rying on an aggressive missionary
campaign, cannot be verified here.
Leading students of Mohammedanism
say that they can find no evidence of
such movement. 1t is as unfounded
report as the rumors of holy
Worf With a Cd VIZ Of
races and governments and civiliza-
tons, it seems the height of improb-
ability that there should ever be a
holy war" The prophet is fighting
against the calendar.
None the less, Islam makes 1t warm
for all apostates. Ostracism and per-
secution-loss of home, friend, social
position and means of earning a live
lihood-follow the Mohammedan who
becomes Christian. 1t is frequently
asserted that there never has been a
genuine convert from Mohammedan-
ism to Christianity. The American
mission alone has detailed records of
140 such, as result of its work since
1854. Not very large company, it is
true, but enough to prove the posi-
bility of wide success.
Sapping and Mining.
Like many other oriental missions,
this one of the United Presbyterian
church is working for the second and
third generation. 1t plans long,
wide and far-reaching campaign. BY
many indirect methods, it is inculcat-
ing more tolerant spirit in the
community, and removing the ancient
prejudice. 1t is educating the boys
and girls, on scale almost equal to
that of the reformed government it.
self. A recent report showed 49,
600 scholars in the schools of this
American mission, and $4,000 in all
government schools. There are more
than 10000 scholars in the mission
schools, of whom about 5000 are Mo-
hammedans.
The ancient Coptic Christian
church, now sadly corrupted, has per-
sisted in Egypt despite all Moslem
persecution. Among these the first
work of the missionaries was done,
and from thon Donna fba ,,o;or;4,, &c