The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1914-04-30
CHRISTIAN Tells
OF LIFE IN MECCA !.
Penetrated Walled City and
Stayed Eight Months.
THElSLAM OF CENTuRIESAGO
Nothing Could Be More InconceivabIy
Remote, Says Dr.. Hurgronje, Whose
Studies Convince Him That Chris
tianity Can Never Replace Moham-
mechanism There.

The dangerous and unusual expert
ence of penetrating the walled city OF
Mecca, living there for eight months |
in a Mohammedan household, perform |
ing all the rites and ceremonies which
the 100000 pilgrims perform every
day and attending lectures which in
the past have been heard only by Mo-
hammedan ears, was accomplished
successfully by DR.. G. Snouck Hur
gronje, professor in the University of
Leyden, and now in the United States
as exchange professor to a number Of
American universities
DR.. Hurgronje is not only an adept
in the Arabic language, but prefaced
his sojourn in the sacred city by sew
eral years of research in Mohammedan
theology. 1t was this complete ia
miliarity with Mohammedanism which
made it possible for him to preserve
his disguise for the entire period of
eight months.
81 even fooled the tramp Dogs he
explained. 'They are afraid of the
Moslems, but they can smell foreign
er-an infdel, you know-and they re-
veal him to the Mohammedan by at
lacking him.
Live as In the Dark Ages.
Nothing could be more inconceiva
bly, remote than Mecca. It represents
the Islam of centuries ago. The houses
are impossible. All the conveniences
to which we are accustomed light,
heat and water-are as they were in
| the dark ages. But one who has not
been to Mecca, has not lived there in
| Mohammedan households and studied
| at the mosques cannot understand
Islam.
''There has been some talk from time
to time that Mecca would be thrown
open to the world by force. But see
nothing to indicate that this is true.
England is the only nation that would
attempt it, and it would stir up too
much trouble-trouble for her in the
British Indies should she take such a
| course. Mecca will for many years to
come, I believe, continue to be cen
ter Of Mohammedan tradition
! Dr.. Hurgronje believes that there
will be a gradual breaking down of
barriers and a merging Of the east and
west, which will come with compara-
tive rapidity within the next few dec
AIDES. He holds that the future devel-
opment Of Islam will repeat with an
amazing degree of similarity the his
tory Of later Judaism. The evangel-
lists of the Christian world who look
| forward to an incorporation Of all
creeds by the Christians will not see
their dream realized in regard to Mo-
hammedanism. Mohammedanism will
continue as strong and vigorous faith
as Judaism, adapting itself much in
the same manner as Judaism has
adapted itself to changing conditions
and requirements.
Will Never Adopt Christian Faith.
For seventeen years DR.. Hurgronje
has been adviser to the government OF
Holland on matters relating to the
Dutch East Indies and so speaks with
authority. He says:
"Holland has empire over some So,
100000 Mohammedans. The idea that
she is going out to preach and wir
over those millions to the gospel has
long since been abandoned. What we
have come to realize is the need fol
educating these people, who, from the
twist of historical events, have be-
come intrusted to our care We have
realized that the best thing for theil
souls is the adaptation of their faitt
i and their own institutions to the re
quirements of the day.
o ''The Mohammedan regards Chris
tianity as something over and done
!, with, and to his mind the adoption Of
| it would be turning backward What
/ ever the change which Islam will I'm
dergo in the next half century it will
not be change which includes fh,