The Donaldsonville chief., 1912-02-03

ceTned-as yielding more ana more
to the teachings Of the armies of Christian mis-
sionaries spread out over It. 49,"
But, according to a number of these very mis-
sionaries, who have gained their knowledge il
the batte-line formed by Christianity against is
lam and other religions, this is by no means tn
From the front they bring the news tha
Mohammedanism far from being quiet is pulsin
with new life; that its missionaries filled wit
fanatic zeal, making hosts of converts to thei
doctrines, not only among pagans, but among
peoples previously converted to Christianity.
Africa Is where the pitched battle for convert
between Christianity and Islam is being wage
most furiously. Those who have been over tn
ground declare that the religious fate OF the
Dark Continent hangs In the balance. Moham-
mechanism has made such progress there OF
late. they aver, that II Is a question whether
1t will not soon bses5pe Afrtca's dominant faith
Nor is that portion OF the earth the only
place where Islam is striding triumphantIy for
ward. Pan-Isamism, 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 Mohammedans who seek to recon-
cile their ti1ne-worn religion to modernity but
also among the blind fanatics of orthodoxy,
who will not give up one Jot or title of the
doctrines handed down to them by their fore
fathers straight from the days of Mohammed.
The one great characteristic Of the MosIem
world today is unrest.
Like the prodigaI son In the parable, Islam
is coming to itself and Is becoming conscious
of its 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 pan-Islamic spirit and the attempt OF the
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 defiance, or OF accommoda-
ton and compromise
The modernist movement touches every MOS
lem who receives education on western lines,
whether In Java, india, Persia or Egypt and
compes him to adopt new theology and
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 book. .The Truth About Islam"
Just published at Cairo by DR.. Muhammad
Badr, graduate of Edinburgh University NO
orthodox Moslem would recognize this pre-
sentation of Islam as the same religion Whlch
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
lectual and social unrest. Some OF the leading
papers are already the mouthpiece of intoi-
erance and show sullen attitude toward
Christianity.
The religious movements in Islam today are
radically progressive or retrogressive. The
dervish orders and the Mahdis In Somaliland,
Yemen and the Sahara, all believe in Pan
Islamism utterly opposed to modern ciyiliza-
| tion. 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 nationansts IN Egypt, on the contrary.
are trying to get away from Mohammed ana
the early standards OF Arabian civilization. re-
| iect most OF the traditions, and make rational.
| ism the basis of their faith
| According to them, Mohammed was neither
| immaculate nor infalIible. Their ideas and
| their ideals are at the opposite pole OF OF"
thodoxy.
However, as has been stated. orthodox Islam
and up-to-date Islam seem 70 be alike in one
thing-they are both moving forward
To turn first to Africa, the great battle
ground. evidences OF this progress appear on
eyery side In central Africa dozen sects OF
dervtshes are at work observation-disclosures
among them the powerful Senus1, who yearly
send out large bands OF missionaries. In short.
ss one Christian worker puts 1t, Every Mo
hasauedan is missionary.