The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-12-11

but he new abated his pretensions.
plans, nor grew impatient, nor de-
SPARED of success, and he gained con-
verts and followers and friends at
he claimed the most unbounded au-
thority, and the most implicit obed-
fence He got both from, first, hun
dreds. and then thousands, and event.
ually millions of men. He was perse..
cuted by the Koreish, chased out Of
Medina, as we'll as Mecca; his troops
We're assaulted, overwhelmed dis
persed, disbanded over and over again,
courage, never failed him; even when
gone sA his is foilowcrs dismayed and
panic stricken, he fell back again on
again to preach. teach, organize fresh
recruits. make new converts.
Eight years of this life had Tor all
result the flight of the Prophet, June
20, 622, with his family and few fol-
cestors regned-yet one-siXth or the
population of the earth computes time
from the Hegira. Doesn't all this
sound like a romance? He is described
as gentle, stately, unseliish. modestly
contented with anything for himself,
iitoSt atll-btHSiiit,t Noi'''S. 49,
fond of children, respectful to women
and to his followers, SO generous, kind
and svmpathetic that they were all
devoted to him, and counted nothing
sacrifice that they could do for him.
"God made him a prince" has been
sai> of him. His personal power over
men was amazing. An immutable VIII
made his manner grave, digniticd, gem
tie; his intellect was of the first order;
his great and good heart kept what
these gained and his urbanity anu l,i
consideration for the meanest OF hls
converts was that of his dealings with
the greatest SO Arabian men We're
as CLAW in the hands Of the potter
when Mohammed spoke or acted. re
had ten years of command, or sell
lions and purnose behind him when he
rode into Medina. in all things Iut-
filling the Oriental Idea OF a king, tall,
snare, of amazing strength: his cheek
still ruddy. his beard falling in waves
to his waist, his manner almost femi-
nine in grace. his eye dark and conf
sprineilv ascends HILL" The wnole
population turned out to sec the man
that they couldn't keep out of Medina
couldn't break, nor change, nor con-
ouer This happened on Friday.
SO that day was henceforward set
srart for public Worship Throughout
the Moslem world. He was riding his
camel, Al Caswah. and he threw the
reins over her neck and babe her seek
her resting nlare. The Canal stopped
In an open courtyard, and Mohanmed
dismounted and marked out the sue
for his first house, and the mosque IN
which devout pilgrlrS still worship.
For twelve wears he tried to reach ms
peonle nv the force OF argument alone
and orderly administration. lie pros
claimed Mecca a holy city. no chose
the month Ramadan for fasting at
an"~intra times he bade certain
negro slave, "Billal," ascend to the TOP
OF lofty house and cry aloud at APP
pointed times: prayer Is better than
sleep! Prayer Is better than sleep.
1t summons a sixth OF the human
race to its devotlons to-day: and IN
Asia, even Alexander the Great is an
unknown parsonage compared with
Binal. As soon as the mosque was
built that Mohammed commanded
erected, the Protestant open-alr
preachers great original schismatlc
'"iseioner preached from the steps.
But finding that the mastery of Arabia
was not to be won, as he preferred "
to be, by sheer weight OF argument 4
Che had set himself to stamp out
idolatry at any cost, he took up the
series OF forays. Ncurly all of them
brought him wealth, reputation and
converts, But when he failed, he
sternly stood his ground and alone
planned and directed fresh operations.
Ahanluta master Of tho situation 40