Page 215 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

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K NHCI.ECTF.D AKA HI A

And now tumuli' tu those tilings that are of more vital interest to
the missionary, what can he said about that which in our Church
reports at home is called “The State of Religion.” In the first place I
think that 1 can see a change in the general aspect of Islam itself. I
have always said that, in my opinion, the Arab was essentially religious,
and that whatever might be said about the Turk or others, the Arab at
heart was never an atheist. Now I must modify that statement. It is
very sad to hear some of my Mohammedan friends lament over the
fact that their sons are growing up without faith in a God. It is only
fair to say that this same failure to appreciate spiritual values is also
mourned by leaders among the Jews and Oriental Churches. And while
it can be truly said that this worldliness does leave doors wider open
and make it easier to scatter the “good seed,” yet I fear it does not
increase the area of “good ground” upon which the message may fall
and germinate. But on the other hand, there is an awakening spirit
of inquiry and I rejoice that more men have come to me during the
past few months to talk about Christianity than I have known in a like
time in all my missionary experience. For some of these contacts I
have been indebted to the fellowship and zeal of the colporteurs of the
British and Foreign Bible Society and it is a pleasure to testify to their
faithfulness. The central location and accessibility of our present
residence have also undoubtedly made it easy for those wishing to sec
the missionary.
1 wish 1 could introduce in person some of my regular visitors. One
is a dear old man, a rather learned Sheikh, who dales his interest in us
from a cherished acquaintance with Peter Zweiner at Maskat. Another
some twenty years ago, was put in prison for visiting a C. M. S. mis­
sionary here in Baghdad, lie loves to talk about the Prophet Jcsui
and how his character stands out tar and above any other human
being, so far that it partakes of the divine. Two very attractive young
men were devoted in their Gospel study with me, until search for a
livelihood took one to the Persian border and the other to the town*
of the Euphrates. In my meeting with these people 1 have tried to
focus their interest in the life and teaching of Jesus as given in the
Gospel and have found that the drawing power of the lifted-up Christ
is as great now as ever. Another thing I have had brought home to
me is their interest in and appreciation of our brief prayers, when their
and our common needs are taken to our God and Father. A very
interesting disclosure in the life story of several of these men is the
way in which their first interest in Christianity was owing m early
contact with representatives of the Oriental Churches. If these member*
of Christ’s body would only seek to reap, as they, consciously or un­
consciously, sow the good seed among their Moslem neighbors! But
racial antipathies extending over centuries arc hard to overlook.
Yusuf remains staunch in his profession. His employment giving
him two or three days of liberty each week, he has asked if he might
go out into the surrounding districts selling the numerous and attractive
tracts, of which, thanks to the A. C. L. S. M., we have an abundant
supply. For this I pay him only his travelling expenses. Week alter
week he has made these little trips, mostly taking advantage of thc

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