Norwich bulletin., 1915-11-08
|REV. H. ]. WYCKOFF GAVE LECTURE
Christianity,s Greatest RvaIWhat the American Mis- sion Board is Doing Combat Its Advance in Africa.

f lt g In place of the usual sermon at the Second Congregational church on Sum day evening Rev. Herbert J. Wyckoh, the krastor, gave an illustrated address on Mohammedanism - Christianity 6 Greatest Rival" The address dealt with
 the rapid progress that Mohammedan- ism is making in Africa, through the Moslerl missionary traders. Briefly the history of the movement and the life. of it's originator. Mohammed, were interestingly described by Rev. Mir. Wyckoff- The disadvantages of Mo- hammedanfsm, especially in marriage customs, were described and in closing Rev. MT. Wyckoff told of what the American Board is doing in Turkey. The many pictures were both beautiful and instructive. s
 Religion of the Dssert.
 In part, Rev. Mir. Wyckofrs address was as follows:
 Mchammedansim is religion of the desert. It arose in the midst of Ara bians sands, was developed by wild Bedcuin tribes, and today boasts the place of its origin as the religious cen- in 1t the mystery of the desert. the mystery of lmitless spaces of the blazing sun, of brilliant consultations. Mohcmmedauisrn, moreover, reflects the hsrdness of desert life. Its con- ception of God is that of an arbitrary
  Its | heology matches the barren wastes where its founder was born and reared.
 Mohammed was undoubtedly a gen. jus of the first order. one of the great master minds Of history. After all the explanations which are given of the success of Islam. the chief reason re- mainS-the man Mohammed-a unique personality. Whatever criticism we may have to offer as to Mohammedan ethica and theology, we must admit that 1t places a splendid emphasis upon the most characteristic act of religion, Prayer is required of every Moham- medan five times day: Sunrise. noon, P. m., sunset and nightfall.
 Westerners who have not travelled in the east have little conception of the muititudes of mosques found in every Mohammedan center. Constan- tinople fairly bristles with them Fror a single window of the Ameri- can Board school at Brousa over SC
 minarets can be counted.
 No Place for Woman.
 l Islam is a mans religion. It was 1 invented by a man for men. Women l hold nc place in it's councils, and rare- ly are they admitted to the mosques l The degradation of Moslem women is 1 typified by the heavy wells which they wear upon the streets. For woman | to have her face seen by a man who IS nor Ter nuSpanQ, DFOtneE UT SoIl 1S l to the strict Mohammedan, a very seri- ous matter Since the revolution oi
 1908 new spirit has taken possession of many of the women, and in the cities some are emboldened to show l their faces in public.
 Islam reaches it's lowest depths 1T l its attitude towards marriage. The 1 law restricts man to have four lega l wives, hut he can have any number oi concubines. Islam allows divorce al I the pleasure of the man, and is no' adverse to temporary marriage fol cony enience. Polygamy. divorce and slavery are the three great evils of this religion. Marriage Is a slavery, the
 women being weighed down by theil ignorance. their, sense of inferiority The 100, ,000, ,000 Moslem womer throughout the Orient appeal to theil sisters in Christian lands to deliver them from this ignominous yoke o1 bondage.