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224 The Strength of Mohammedanism im Syria, and its Practical Hold on the People.the Ottoman Tm'ks, whose Sultan, Aj^dul Hamid, The Scriptures in Arabic have opened the eyesresides in Constaniinople. The only bond of of not a few who read God's Word in secret, andunion between the Arabs and the Turks is ihe await the day of deliverance.Koran and ' the religion of Islam. The Arab The Moslems find it necessary to defend thehMoslems submit to be ruled by the Turks, on the peculiar doctrines in newspapers and tracts, quiteground thai the Sultan is iheir Khalif or religious a remarkable concession, yet we are not allowedPrince, although in other respects they hate the to answer them. The repressive measures usedTurks as foreigners. It is astonishing to observe to prevent printed discussions are justified by thewith what ease a handful of Ottoman Turkish offi- anthorities on the ground that they would occacersrule all Syria, collect the taxes, and enforce sion riot and bloodshed. This is probably truethe enrolment of soldiers. ' in the present state of society. As the Koran re-If it be asked whether Mohammedanism is quires of all Moslems that they read the Old andstronger or weaker in Syria than it was forty New Testaments, the wisest and best course is toyears ago, I should say, both : it is stronger in offer to the people the Word of God, and leavesome points, and weaker in others. It is stronger God's Word to accomplish its own blessed mission.through the efforts of the Government to revive Should the way ever be opened for judicious,the old war spirit of Islam. The army is a Mos- courteous, and kindly printed discussions with thelem army, not a national army made np of all Moslems as to the claims of Chrisiianity, thereclasses, but a class army, the army of the prevail- wUl be many ready for the task, as there are nowing sect. It is as though England should exclude iu India.all Catholics from her army and navy, and France The practical hold whieh Islam has upon theexclude all Protestants. The whole male Mosleni people is marvellous ; it is a relentless system opopulation are reckoned as soldiers, ready to fight ritual, yet they perform its rights with wouderfiilfor'the Sultan and the faith. All the modern mill- patience and regularity—every male child is cii;-tary inventions and appliances introduced intothe cumcised, every man mnst make the pUgrimagearmy and navy, are meant to help the reUgion of to Mecca. They frequent the mosque and holdIslam. The military and civil service schools are extraordinary prayer-meeting-s caUed Zitr, inalmost exclusively for Mohammedan youth, and which their voices sound at a distance like a hoareethe evident intent of the authorities is to favor one bark or growl. I once heard a strange noise onsect, io ihe disadvantage of all others. And in Sabbath evening, and asked my cook whether mythe civU courts, the testimony of Christians and neighbor was sawing w^ood ? He looked out andJews is not received. Only Mohammedans can repUed, " No, U is only a Moslem prayer-meeting."testify, and this in spite of various firmans declar- 'The sound to a stranger is weird and terrifBc. Aing that Christian testimony shall be received. crowd of men sitting or standing in a ring, beginAll these things tend to strengthen the hold of slowly in unison, each repeating the motto "iaislamupon the Mohammedan population. It is i-hi-ha,"—"No God," with each exhalation of hisfor their interest to remain Mo.slems,breath, aud with each inhalation, " Il-lal-la-ho,"-On ihe other hand, they feel their inferiority as "Bnt God," These words are repeated fastera nation to Christian nations, ami find their re- and faster until the voices merge in a rapid grofflligion an insuperable barrier in the way of pro- or coarse bark, and finaUy cease from the exhausgress,Many'of ihem are disgusted with polygamy tion of the worshippers. It is very exhausting,and its attendant evils, whUe they find ii conq- and hence regarded as most meritorious,melided in the Koran.Mingled with the religious duties and belief