Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-12-06
ISLAM FACES
CHRISTIANITY IN
WORLD SUPREMACY

Atlanta, Dec. 5. CA. PD-The
whole OF ChriStendom faces the
whole of the Moslem world in the
open; Christianity and Islam face
each other as rivals for world
dominion. and compromise is i'm
possible said the Rev. DR.. Samuel
NJ. Zwcmer Of Cairo, Egypt, an
authority OH the Moslcm World. in
summing up present conditions be-
fore this evenings session or the
fourth quadrennial. meeting of the
Federal Council of Churches. The
missionary faces new and startling
conditions in Mohammedan lands.
Islam has entered q new world. he
explained. The enormous activities
of Moslem journalism are coDtribut-
ing to tolerance and accessibility.
Islam challenges America and
Europe by the activity Of it's propa-
ganda." the speaker told the gather
ing. "Puganism in Africa is crum-
bling. but Northumberland contests
with Christianity for supremacy In
that continent" On the other hand.
DR.. Zwemer pointed out that Mo-
hnmmedanism is open to Christian
,ly as never before and the Chris
tan church faces a supreme oppOr-
conditions he declared that the
Koran has been translated into 4O
languages and can be bought in
sections as phonograph records in
Cairo and Calcutta.
A desperate struggle Is taking
place between the progressiVes anu
reactionaries in Mohammedan lands.
Today we witness the remnants OF
the old Turkish Empire. Arabia,
Mesopotamia, Egypt, Palestine,
struggling in the thrues OF a new
nation4lism, eager for democracy
and none bold or strong enough to
save the Caliphate, when tho Turks
themselves abolished the office and
deported the last OF Ottoman Cal
iphs.
"At the series Of conferences OF
Christian workers among Moham-
medans recently held in the Near
East and North Africa. under the
auspices Of the International Mis-
sionary Council, and at similar con-
ferences in India, united opinion
was that missions face an entirely
new situation of great promise. In
the Near East post war conditions
have altered the missionary problem
to an amazing degree. Whole class
es of people who never before could
be reached by the message of Christ
have now become physically anu
spiritually accessible.
AT the Jerusalem conference II
was agreed that of the population OF
the Moslem world, which numbers
pa ,3f4 $50 persons. we find that no
less than four-fifths are now in
creasingiy accessible to every meth
cd Of missionary approach. In somc
lands where work Ii hindered or
prevented by government the peo-
pie themselves would welcome
Christian missionaries II the restric-
tons were removed.
1--WE face a new world situation.
1t is new world OF Islam because
Islam has entered the new world.
Carefully prepared statistics show
that Islam 10 found I'm all. the i've
continents.
"In North America there are scat
tered groups numbering, 1t 10 true.
1900 only. but active In their propa-
ganda through The Moslem Sunrise
published in Chicago. In South
America. in Brazil, Argentina. Qua
deloupe and Guiana there are over
10000. In France the number or
Moslems is increasing. In Paris
alone there are nearly 5000. South
eastern Europe still has an acute
Moslem problem. -
Islam challenges Europe and
America by the activity of It's propa-
ganda In centers such as London,
Berlin. Parts and Chicago. Turkey
is turning her back on the past and
10 trampiing on traditions that had
the sanctity Of age and religion. The
cry Of the 'reactionaries is back to
the Koran and to Moltammed.f The
problem of the progressives Ii to get
as far away from both as Is decent
and safe. The educational revival,
the renaissance OF Arabic as a world
language, the feminist movement,
above all the enormous activity Sor
Moslem journalism cooperate to
bring about new conditions OF toIer-
anoe, accessibility and responsive
ness.
ITO sum up the. situation In this
new world OF Islam we say that tire
whole of Christendem faces the
whole Mosisn world In the open.
The day of clandestine or indirsct
approach II past. They. too, know
that ChrfSffa nifty And Iafa rst farA