Page 289 - Neglected Arabia Vol 1 (2)

NEGLECTED AKA HI A 15
lion upon the confidence which is so soon won by our representatives
out there.
hut even more striking has been an experience of the past year. One
of our missionaries at Kuweit on the Persian Gulf was entertaining at
dinner no less a person than His Excellency Sheikh Ahmed al-Jabir,
ruler of the principality. The Sheikh commented upon an automobile
which we had recently shipped to Kuweit and expressed the desire to
purchase one. Upon advice of the missionary he cabled to his agents
in Bombay who forwarded me a draft to cover the cost while the
missionary sent me the order for a Ford roadster with right-hand drive.
After considerable negotiations with Ford representatives such a car was
dually shipped down from Cuundu and forwarded. About u week later
came unulher order from His Excellency for a Ford Sedan, also with
ritfhl-hand drive; a few weeks later, this time through another mission­
ary. came an order for a windmill. Finally, just a few weeks ago, 1
received a draft from his Bombay agents for nearly $2,000, and promptly
became quite curious as to his latest wish. A letter from the missionary
kjuii followed, announcing that His Excellency desired a complete
electric lighting plant tor his palace, a duplicate of one installed in our
lUi5pital compound recently. One who knows anything of the character
0f the Arab will appreciate the significance of the story, He is
naturally of a rather suspicious nature, not given to trusting his money
udilv to friends, let alone strangers. His advancing of considerable
turns to some unknown person in New York City is eloquent proof uf
ihc measure of his trust and confidence in the missionary “infidel" whom
he had come to know on the field.
And this winning of the friendship of the man of alien race, tongue
md creed is the basis of missionary work. As a missionary friend
once expressed it, “No one ever came to believe in Christ who did not
hot believe in a Christian. If this atmosphere of warm, human friend­
ship can be maintained through all the relationships of the missionary
Uj hia fellow missionaries, and to the people for whose salvation he
UU>rs, he will never be found to have wrought in vain.

The Law of Apostasy in Islam
Rev. Samuel M. Zwkmkr D.D.

I T IS not often that a scholarly book contrives to be fascinating as
well, but “The Law of Apostasy in Islam,” Dr. Zwemer’s latest
literary effort, is one which we are sure our readers will find both
authoritative and interesting. Dr. Zwcmer has set himself the task
j answering the question, why there are so few Moslem converts. He
£«cu\ers the answer in the Moslem “Law of Apostasy” which regulates
relation between the Moslem community and those who wish to leave
i and join some other faith. The operation of this law through the
usuries and the thrilling stories of martyrdom with which Dr. Zwemer
£u>trates it are told in his best style. The book may be ordered from
D* Moslem World, 156 Fifth Avenue, New York. Price, $2.00.
J. H. W.
I