Cottonwood chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1917-current, 1922-05-19


Though the World war changed the
temporal map OF Arabia, raising the
narrow strip Of the Hejaz, formerly
q Turkish province, into a kingdom,
II did not alter the place In the world
of Mecca, chief of the HeJaz cities.
That mystic city under Arab control
still Is the center of all MOhammedan
thought and action as 1t was under the
Turks.
The Importance OF Mecca is not due
TO Its resident population of perhaps
100000 but to the more than 100000
pilgrims who visit II each year from
every nation of Islam. Statistics are
hopelessly contradictory and confus-
ing regarding the number of annua!
visitors. According to Turkish official
estimates, In 1907 there were no less
than 100000 pilgrims. II is marvel
how so many thousands can find food,
shelter, and, most oi all, drink, in
such a desert city.
The religious capital OF Islam, and
now the temporal capital OF the new
kingdom OF the Hejaz, affords an in
|
Mohammedanism In various parts of
the world, for one can rightly gauge
| the strength of religious fervor In this
great non-Christian faith by the num-
Der Of those who go on pilgrimage.
From Java, Bengal, West Africa, Cape
Colony and Russia, as well as from the
most inaccessible provinces of China,
they come every year and return to
their native land-if they escape the
hardships Of travel-to tell of the
greatness and glory of their faith,
however much they may have been
disappointed In the actual condition
of the city and Its sacred buildings.
When we consider Mecca, Moham'
med's words Of prophecy In the second
chapter of his book seem to have been
literally fulfilled: $50 we have made
you the center of the nations that you
should bear witness to men," The
old pagan pantheon has become the
religious sanctuary and the goal OF
universal pilgrimage for one-seventh OF
the human race.
From Sierra Leone to Canton. ant
from Tobolsk to Cape Town. the faith
full spread their prayer carpets, built
their houses lin fulfllment of an i'm
portant tradition, even their out
houses y, and bury their dead orient
ed toward Mecca. II the old worlt
could be viewed from another planet
its details disclosed, the observe
would see concentric circles of livini
worshipers covering an ever-wideninl
area, and one would also see vas
areas of Moslem cemeteries with ev
ery grave dug with Its main axis to
ward the sacred city.
Its Mysteries Laid Bare.
Mecca Is no longer a yelled city.
score of intrepid travellers have TN
yelled II. From Bartema, Wild an
Joseph Pitts to Burton, Burckhardt
HurgrOnje and Courtellemont, the
took their lives in their hands. herd
ed with strange companions. under
went untold hardships. and by luck o
pluck came scatheless out of this lion
den OF Islam. According TO bought,
: scarcely a pilgrimage takes place with
out some persons being put to deaf
as intrudIng Christians. An educate
and pious Moslem In Cairo admitte
, recently that when he went on pilgrim
age and took pictures OF the city h
life was endangered more than one
by the fanaticlsm OF the inhabitant
However, there are many who beliey
: that the establishment of the ne
: kingdom will mean the removal OF r.
! strictions against non Moslems.
+ The mixture OF races brought abol
!, In Hejas province for so many Gel
@ turtles by the pilgrimages has not bee
conducive to morals or good goverl
ment. No one who has read the a
count of social life at Mecca, as give
" by Hurgronje and other travellers, Il
II Guiding Moslem pilgrims themselve
II can doubt the need for social refor
l. In that city. Mecca is the microcos
II of Islam In Its religious life and a
pirations. According TO Hurgronj'
at is Islam, the official religion. while
brings together and amalgamates g
= the heterogeneous constituents of Me
can life. on the other hand, this 5
u ciety itself YIELDS into chaotic who
e the prejudices and superstitions of &
n. countries" In other words, Mecca
the sink hole of Islam. All witness
IL agree as to the fragrant immorali
10 which pervades the streets. and ev'
- the mosque, OF the sacred city. q
prevalence Of the slave trade. q