62 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



fercd but little with their labors, to cramp them and give them a par- 

 ticular tendency. They, on their part, concerned themselves but little 

 about politics, nor cared much to influence immediately and decisively 

 the society in which they lived." 



Liberty of thought was allowed in Roman civilization, and yet, 

 even there, was not permitted upon political subjects. The Roman 

 method of conciliation was, first of all, the most ample toleration of 

 the customs, religion, and municipal freedom of the conquered, and 

 then their gradual admission to the privileges of the conquerors. Free- 

 dom of thought was allowed to a remarkable degree. Education was 

 controlled neither by priest nor magistrate. Writing was free, and 

 the circulation of popular works was extensive, though probably the 

 rulers would have quickly restrained the circulation of what they 

 considered injurious to the state. Public speech was free upon phi- 

 losophy and morals, and uj)on theories of government, liberty, and' 

 tyrannicide. 



"While Mohammedanism has fixed unalterably its doctrines and 

 forms, and has allowed no discussion of them, and so far has been 

 inconsistent with freedom of thought, still it has permitted a measure 

 of free thought. Its followers do not regard infidelity or heresy as 

 criminal, and persecution for theological opinions .has not been their 

 rule. They have never had an Inquisition ; or the burning of an unbe- 

 liever under authority of law. They have always allowed conquered 

 Christians to retain their faith, and even to have public worship. No 

 wars of compulsory conversion like those of Charlemagne, no expul- 

 sion of unbelievers, like that of the wars of Spain, stain the record of 

 Mohammedanism. The succession of the Greek Patriarchs of Constan- 

 tinople and Jerusalem has been regular for more than four centuries, 

 and their relations with the Sultan have been far more amicable 

 usually than those of the Pope with the kings of France and Ger- 

 many. 



The Koran says, " Those who are Moslems and those who are Jews, 

 and the Christians and the Sabeans who believe in God and the last 

 day, and work righteousness, for them is their reward with the Lord, 

 and there is no fear for them, and they shall not be put to sorrow." 

 Many of the caliphs invited Christian scholars to their courts, and 

 were glad to have Christian students in their schools. The Caliph 

 Ilaroun-al-Raschid employed Nestorians as head teachers. In the 

 tenth century ambitious young Frenchmen went to the Asiatic 

 schools of Spain. For instance, there Gerson, afterward Pope Syl- 

 vester II, was educated. 



We now come to the progress of liberty of thought in Christen- 

 dom. 



The Christian Church has been afraid of inquiry because, so far as 

 it makes unsound and false statements of fact, contrary to those of 

 the Bible, it tends to unsettle the minds of men in what is regarded 



