The Washington herald., 1911-12-17
The MoSlem World.

An interesting outcome of the Edin-
burgh conference is the Moslem World,
a quarterly review which has just COM
pleted its first volume says the Church
man. Its purpose is to continue the delib-
erations initiated at the conference on
the state and the needs of Mohamme-
dan lands and peoples, and to bind to-
gether in a community of study and ef-
fort those who are laboring for the good
Of Moslems in general. The editor is
DR.. S. NJ Zwemer. for many years a
missionary leader in Arabia; the publish
er is the Christian Literature Society for
India in London. The Fleming II. Re
veil Company and Mrs. E. f. Olcott, IS
West Thirty-ninth street, New York, are
American representa- tives.
The review in its first year has among
its contributors the Bishops of Durham
and MOmbasa, DR.. Julius Richter, and
the Rev. W. II. T Gardner, the Rev.
DTs. Charles X. Watson, J. w. Cunning,
J. c. Rutgers, and Mrs. S. BobrOvnikoff
DR.. Zwemer's article. A general survey
of the MosIem world" and the directness
and force of his editorial in the October
number would in themselves justify that
issue. DR.. Zwemer demonstrates the need
for such a review in these articles alone.
The ignorance and innocence of the
Christian world with regard to the Mo-
hammedan world is very great, and by
missionaries without regard to the divi-
sions of ChristendOm. DR.. Zwemer will
do a double work He will concentrate
the attention Of Christians on Moham-
madanism. and by bringing so many diff
ferent points Of view to bear he will
make clear the necessity for united ef-
fort. Islam will never be brought to a
knowledge of Christ by individualistic or
haphazard methods Christianity is not
individuaIistic. but social and organic.
and not until tho impact of the Chris
tian family as family is brought to
bear upon the MOhammedan world can
Islam be expected to respond and to full
fill the destiny breordained for humanity
in Christ
Bishop Peel Of Mombasa. in islam not
a stepping stone to Christianity pre-
sents very powerfully the virtues OF
Islam. The faith Of Islam is a noun
tain height in comparison with the bar
barrie beliefs Of the pagan" he saws.
Very real is the uplift which Islam gives
TO those who aba ndOn heathenism for II.
The pagan tribesman gains immensely
by his adoption Of the beliefs. the Gus
toms, the higher standard Of morals and
the simple but impressive religious cere-
mOnal Of the followers of MOhammed.
He is drawn into the wonderful fellow
ship OF the many, many millions who
maRncttCaly adhere shoulder to shoulder
in the face OF the religions Of the world
and the Christian religion OF Christ, and
he imbibeS al undying enthusiasm for
a man and cause which eXcites the ad-
miratiOn Of all behOlders. The step from
the CruditieS Of animism and a deba sing
fetishism into the social amenities of
MOhammedan lie. to which are to be
added the elevating culture. intellectual
and religious. of the Moslems. is so great
and satisfying TO the pagan African that
he imagines he has reached the goal Of
civilization. where he may rest. expand,
and enjoy the newness of all he has eX-
perienCed.'
There is something so far and generous
in these and many other statements made
by the Bishop OF MOmbasa that one feels
that he is a real statesman. One nat
urally expects that the bishop will go on
to show, as he does, how utterly short of
a saving, resurrectng life. the life that
is revealed in Christ. the Mohammedan
religion falls. But we are not at all pre-
pared, remembering that God is the
source Of all shades and grades of good
ness, to be told that the adoption OF the
faith of Islam by the pagan people is in
no sense a stepping stone toward or prep
aration for Christianity. but exactly the
reverse" II a higher standard of
morals" and the wonderful fellowship of
the many" and the elcvating culture.
intellectual and religious. of the Moslem"
arc not steps from paganism toward
Christianity, then from what source do
these virtues come and to what ought
they lead?