New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-01-19
SCHOLAR PREDICTS
MODERNIZED ISLAM
DR.. Hurgrange, Columbia
Lecturer, Says East and
West Are Meeting.
HAS LIVED AS ARAB
IN SACRED MECCA
Thinks Education Is Gaining
Ground, Though Ancient Faith
Will OutIive Changes.

A Mahometan civilization, patterned at
ter tho IDEAS OF our Western countries, IS
the picture Of future Islam which Pro
fessor snouck Hursrange. Of Lcyden Uni
versity. Holland. unfolded in an inter
view Yesterday. After nearly lifetime
spent IN the study Of Mahomctanism at
first hand Or. HurgranGe has been SC
lected as exchange professor 10 this coun-
try to deliver series OF four lectures ~
several OF our universities on his Oh
servations In the East
Or. Hurzrangc does not pose as
prophet when ho speaks OF what IS 10
become Of the Islam faith and followers
and his statements are simply depletion
Of the result OF well defined movement
which is al present apparent in the Mos
lem countries.
THE slow but steady assimilation or
the ideas of our Western civilization is
distinctly apparent among the more intel
lcctual Of the Moslems." Dr. HurgranSe
said. and the result is 70 be changed
Mahometansm. The faith will not be lost
nor cast aside by the Mahometans as TINS
movement progresses, but many OF the
medieval customs and beliefs Will vanish
4 correct attitude for the Christian
countries 10 assume toward the Mahome-
tan countries will have this process IN
mind. and all efforts among those people
must follow along these lines.
The more advanced OF the Moslems
are already adopting, many Of our IDEAS
Il. =
and they are stripping themselves OF
many of the customs and beliefs when
seem TO US impossible Of tenure with our
modern civilization. Foreign influences
are creeping in through contact and the
education gained in the schools conducted
hv the European and American missions.
Yet it Is TO be noticed that among these
educated few their firmness Of belief IN
the Mahometan teachings is not shaken.
But there are two difficulties Wnich
arise to make this process Of assimilation
and progress exceedingly slow. one oil
these is the totally inadequate provision
for public instruction made by the MOS
lem countries. instruction is limited 10
very few. and even 10 these are pro-
pounded medieval sciences and doctrines
which are in IN accord with advanced ed
ucation The second great drawback 70
an Improvement OF their civilization on
the lines OF our ideas is the absolute lack
Of education among the women OF Ma
honetan countries. This latter failing III
Aloslem civilization is a very strong
factor against any real assimilation oil
our ideas. where woman IS held on an
equal plane with man.
The process OF assimilation ana the
result TO which this course VIII lead are
comparable TO Judaism. except IN the one
great difference that the Jews were once
a nation. while the Mahometans extend
over many countries. and are not IN any
sense a nation. The Jews once held their
stand of aloofness to the Gentiles, ana IL
seemed TO their civilization impossible
that they could ever assimilate the IDEAS
Of the great countries outside. Yet the
lew is now a part of our civilization ana
varies but little from our customs. but
the Jew through all these centuries mas
not lost his separate religion and tenets.
Nv idea Of The Moslems in the FAR future
is similar to the Jews--a part OF our
civiliza lion. but still clinsins closely 10
their religion. shcrn OF those doctrines
ana teachings which are in conflict with
our civilization"
DR. Hurgrange spent seventeen years IN
the Dutch East Indies as official adviser
tn tho government Of Holland on any
matters appertanins TO affairs which
concerned the administration Of the ma