The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1912-01-26


as in Europe, It is considered more distin.
gushed not TO be an agricuturst The Mo-
hammedan coast population do grow some
vegetables and fruit but as for the principal
food which is rice they depend the people
of the interior. On their excursions they have
always money with them and they never for
get to make a show OF it,
The Mohammedans also dress in a better
way than the heathen and they very cunningly
array themselves in clothes which excite the
covetousness and desire of their heather
neighbors, who are very fond of buying new
articles They like TO perfume themselves and
constantly speak with contempt about eating
pork and of other customs of the people OF the
interior. In short, they know how to behave
as people Of higher rank and quality than the
simple pagans.
Through all these means the Mohammedan
traders arouse the people of the interior to i'm
itate their customs, and all these things are
profitable to a propagation of Islam"
From Asatic Russia come similar surpris-
ing tdings of Moslem encroachments in the
field of pagan conversion. A Christian work
er in that territory tells how. at the beginning
OF the nineteenth century, the Apostle of the
Atai" reverend Father Macary crossed the
plains south Of Tobolsk in Siberia 10 reach
the Altai, and perceived the state OF the mil
lions of heather Kirghis living there. He asked
the Russian government to allow him to begin
missionary work among the Kirghis, but he
was told that these people were too savage
as vet TO become converts TO Christianity.
Not long after that Mohammedan mission
aries entered the field worked with great zeal
and perseverance, and won over all the Kirghis
tribes TO the faith Of Islam.
AS a result of this setback the writer states
"the Christian missionary has now TO fight, not
the weak and beggarly elements of an animis
tic religion. but the seemingly inaccessible
granite fortress of Islam"
Regarding the general situation in Siberia
the same missionary says:
"Moslem propaganda is gaining in strength
and Mohammedan influence is growing, while
Christian influence. as represented by the Rus
sian church, is weaker. The unlucky war with
Japan and the proclamation of liberty OF con.
science have done their work Forty thou.
sand baptized Christians formerly Mohamme.
dams and heathens. have returned TO pagan
ism and Islam. Islam especially comes out OF
this crisis strengthened and more aggressive
than ever before"
In China there are millions OF Moham.
medans but. according 10 Christian testimony,
they are not markedly aggressive in pyopagat.
ing the doctrines OF the prophet The same
seems true Of Turkey and Persia
In conclusion, attention should be called to
phase OF the Mohammedan situation which
is especially startling from the fact that IT is
near 10 home viz: the activity OF Moslem
proselytzers in this western hemisphere
In several of the West Indian Islands ana
the Guiana territory OF South America there
are thousands of East Indian Mohammedans
In British Guiana there are $4,000: I'm Dutch
Guiana. $500; in Central America and the
West Indies. 90 600
such a small fraction OF the population
might we'll be omitted in our survey" state
the editors Of islam and Missions" were II
not that undoubted testimony comes in regard
20 the activity OF Islam. especially in British
Guiana and the West Indies
If the results OF centurys missionary ef
fort I'm British Guiana are TO be preserved the
Christian church must make a more deter.
mined effort TO combat the influence OF the
East Indian. The struggle OF the future In
British Guiana will be between Christ and Mo
hammed"