686 MISCELLANEOUS PAPERS. 



duct, of whicb we find no trace in the ethical philosophers of Greece 

 and Rome. Acts are judged by their intrinsic and inherent nature, not 

 by their bearing on some ultimate end ; a fatal deficiency in the morals 

 of the classic ages was the relation of the sexes and the lack of purity 

 and permanence of domestic institutions. 



S. D. Peet compared animal worship and sun worship in the East 

 and in the West. The worship of the sun was prevalent in different 

 parts of the world at a very ancient date. It was preceded by animal 

 worship; but it is more powerful and more extensive than animal 

 worship and grew out of it. The customs, habits, and language of 

 the races of northern Asia are compared, especially the Ostyaks, with 

 those of the aborigines of America. He discussed American religions 

 and the Bible, and thinks that there are many things which go to show 

 that there must have been a historic connection between the original 

 religions of America and the teachings of the Bible. 



S. B. Platner, reviewed Myth, Ritual, and BeUgion of Andrew Lang. 

 A method of explaining the irrational in mythology has been here 

 worked out far more comprehensively and satisfactorily than by any 

 other writer. 



MODERN ORIENTAL LANaUAGES. 



Cyrus Adler showed the importance of the study of modern oriental 

 languages for a knowledge of the ancient tongues and for the improve- 

 ment of our consular service and increase of trade with the East. 



MOHAMMEDANISM AND ARABIC. 



The question, Why am I a Moslem ? is answered by Ibn Ablis. There 

 is a universally wrong conception of Mohammedanism among Western 

 nations, but the more the religion of the Moslem is investigated the more 

 does it claim the respectful homage of those who study its teachings. 

 The Islam does not persecute any more than did or does Christianity. 

 Notwithstanding his extensive travels in the East and West, the writer 

 still clings to the five great duties of the true Moslem, and the six 

 great dogmas of faith ; in them he finds all that is needed to discipline 

 the human soul to that condition which is expressed in the word 

 "Moslem" — " one who is resigned." " I am a Moslem because I recog- 

 nize in Islam one of the many avenues through which the Creator of 

 the universe leads his people to the temple of truth." 



G. Benton discussed Mohammedanism in Africa, with reference to 

 Canon Isaac Taylor's statements, implying that Mohammedanism in 

 Africa is an almost unmingled and beneficial success, while Christianity 

 there is an undoubted failure. The replies of Canon McColl Bosworth 

 Smith show that Canon Taylor was partly right. The superior success of 

 Mohammedanism in Africa is due to the fact that it agrees better with 

 the material and practical which it is within the power of the crude 

 African mind to accept. 



