The sun., 1919-01-13
MOha I'm m danism I'm the War.


The war has shattered many of the
traditions ami generally accepted be-
liefs regarding Mohammcdunism and
has wrought greater changes in Islam
than in any other of the leading re-
llgions. 1t has not only shown the
fear OF holy war 10 be ground
less but 1t has given new meaning
to the somewhat indefinite term the
Mohammedan world. has led tn the
defeat Of the largest Moslem govern
ment, restored political Independence
to the holy cities of Islam. and has
brought the long continued dispute
over the Caliphate TO the point that
there is now 10 universally recognized
head of Islam, and for the first time
no accredited temporal successor to
MouAMMED.
BY the "Mohammedan world" was
formerly meant that great body OF
Moslems, about 22J,OOOo00 people, or
one seventh 1T the world population. n
potential solidarity which owed allcgi-
ance above all to its religious head.
Despite the fact that Great Britain
was the ruler over the greatest mum.
Der of Mohammedans. that Russia.
France, Spain, Italy and the United
States were the actual rulers of other
| large bodies, II was asserted that in
Islam there was no nationality. and
that the only unity was that based
upon religion. The foundation of this
belief was that Muhnmmedanism was
from the beginning a unified religion,
and that in all its history, despite
Schismatic movements. it has had one
universally accepted prophet, one I'M
questioned book, the koran. one holy
shrine. McCa, one confession Of faith.
and one representative on earth of
The prophet. the Caliph. 1t was this
unQuestioned unity for aggression aad
protection that all efforts at prose
lytism among the Moslems confronted
and to which they laid their failures.
The war proved TO the Christian
world the incorrectncss of this view.
Scarcely had the declaration of hos
| tilities been made than the Mos.cms
of British, French and Russian terri
tories declared their allegiance to
! their respective Governments. DJAME1.
Pasha made test of the sincerity of
these declarations by attempting an
! invasion of Egypt, counting upon sup
port from the MOhammedans of that
country. They arose not only against
| him but they organized in defence of
/ Egypt from all attacks of the Turks
on the east and also from invasion
! from the west by SenouSi, whom
I Turkish agents had melted to war.
! Mohammcdans from India and At
RIGA fought with the British and
/ French on the western front. The
most faithful defenders of Islam,
arose against the Government of the
! Caliph at Constantinople, joined the
British in the conquest of Ottoman
! territory and fought valiantly against
the Turks to secure their own indie
pcndence.
This alignment of the forces OF Is
lam against Turkey was effected de-
suite one of the most carefully pre-
pared and shrewdly managed cam
paigns ever made to arouse the Mos
! Unaan
disclosed the vigorous efforts which
were made to secure support for the
iihad declared at Saint Sophia, Con
stuntinople, In the name of the Ca
liph. 1t, however, was received with
little enthusiasm even within the OF
toman Empire; while protest came
from India Egypt. Morocco, Tr!poli
in fact from every Mohammedan
country, against the attempt to in
yolve Islam in n religious war under
any circumstances, and especially in
support OF Germany.
As the result of this attempt camt
the proclamation from Mecca 10 the
Molnmmedans of the world that the
Sultan of Turkey could be no longer
recognized as the Caliph. AS the
right of the Sultan TO this honor hat
been long disputed the Mecca procla
nation mot n more or less sincere mp
proval by the Moslem world out side
of Turkey. COnstantinople acquired
: the Caliphate when 1t was the seat OF
the Turkish Government in the height
of its power: with the passing o.
the glory of Turkey and Its present
} condition of humiliation there exist!
no longer any reason that CONSTANT
, nople should remain the religious heat
l OF Islam. On the other hand it |,
doubtful II the Moh0mmedan fac
lions will agree upon it's transfer tC
} Mecca. At the same time 1t Is i'm
possible that, In accordance with tho
. laws of the church, it can be bestowed
elsewhere in view of the fact tina
there Is no powerful, independent
Q Moslem Government.
The war has, In fact, disclosed tn,
y true strength Of MOhanlmcdanism an,
, the problems which 1t must meet il i
1 continues to hold It's position as on,
= of the great religions of the world
r Or. JAMES J., BARTON Of the Ameri