Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1912-01-25

to the teachings of the armies OF Christian mis-
sionaries spread out over 1t.
But, according to a number of these very mis-
sionaries, who have gained their knowledge in
the battle-line formed by Christianity against Is
lam and other religions, this is by no means the
case. From the front they bring the news that
Mohammedanism, far from being quiet, is pulsing
with new life; that its missionaries, filled with
fanatic zeal, are making hosts of converts to their
doctrines, not only among pagans, but among
peoples previously converted to Christianity.
Africa is where the pitched battle for converts
between Christianity and Islam is being waged
most furiously. Those who have been over the
ground declare that the religious fate OF the
Dark Continent hangs in the balance. Mohanl-
mechanism has made such progress there OF
late, they aver, that it Is a question whether
it will not soon become Africas dominant faith.
Nor is that portion OF the earth the only
place where Islam is striding triumphantly for
ward. P~anIslamism, sedulously fostered by
Abdul Hamid, deposed Sultan of Turkey, has
served to stimulate the aggressiveness OF the
Prophets followers in India, Malaysia, Central
Asia. Siberia, Russia and other lands.
This aggressiveness is noticeable not only
among those M-ohammedans who seek to recon
Gle their time-worn religion to modernity, but
also among the blind fanatics of orthodoxy,
who will not give up one jot or little of the
doctrines nanueQ GOWN 10 Inem NY lHelT lure
fathers straight from the days Of
The one great characteristic of the Moslem
world today is unrest.
Like the prodigal son in the parable, Islam
is coming to itself and is becoming conscious
of it's need. Three great movements in the
Moslem world at the present time are all OF
them indicative Of this unrest-the develop
ment of the great dervish orders, the growth
of the panlslamic spirit and the attempt OF the
new Islam to rationalize the old orthodoxy
all of them due to the same cause, namely, the
readjustment Of Islam to the progress OF mod
ern thought and western civilization, either by
way of protest and detance, or or
ton and compromise.
The modernist movement touches every Mos
lem who receives education on western lines,
whether in Java, India, Persia or Egypt, and
compeIs him to adopt a new theology and a
new philosophy and new social standards or
give up his religion altogether. How far the
advocates of the new Islam go in throwing
overheard their cargo to save the ship Is Illus
trated in a book, 1.-The Truth About Islam"
just published at Cairo by DR.. Muhammad
Badr. a graduate of Edinburgh University. No
orthodox Moslem would recognize this pre-
sentation Of Islam as the same religion which
he processes.
The enormous increase and activity OF Mos
lem journalism in all the chief centers OF the
Moslem world is also an indication OF intel
iectual and social unrest. Some Of the leading
papers are already the mouthpiece OF intol-
erance and show a sullen attitude toward
Christianity.
The religious movements in Islam today are
radically progressive or retrogressive. The
deryish orders and the Mahdis in Somaliland,
Yemen and the Sahara, all believe In a Pan
Islamism utterly opposed to modern civiliza-
ton. and their cry is Back to Mohammed."
The advocates of reform in Java and Per
sia. the preachers of the new Islam in India,
and the nationalists in Egypt, on the contrary,
are trying to get away from Mohammed and
the early standards of Arabian civilization. re-
iect most Of the traditions, and make rational
81 ism the basis OF their faith.
According to them, Mohammed was neither
immaculate nor infallible. Their ideas and
their ideals are at the opposite pole OF or
thodoxy.
However, as has been stated, orthodox Islam
and up-to-date Islam seem to be alike In one
th,ng-they are both moving forward.
TO turn first 10 Africa, the great battle
ground, evidences Of this progress appear on
every side. In central Africa a dozen sects OF
deryishes are at work observation-disclosures
among them the powerful Senusi, who yearly
send out large bands OF missionaries. In short.
as one Christian worker puts It, Every MO
hammedan Is a missionary"