CROSS AND CRESCENT.

Auckland Star, Volume XLVII, Issue 167, 14 July 1916, Page 2

CROSS AND CRESCENT.

The attention of Christian folk interested in foreign mission work was strikingly directed by the Rev. C. H. Laws, in an address at Mt. Eden Methodist Church last night, to an impending mighty clash of religions in the northern and central belts of South Africa. The speaker pointed out that there wae in that area a population of 150 million people of the black race, who must, witirin the next century, play an important part in the world's energies, and they must be tremendously influenced by the militant Islam religion that was preeeing down on them from the northern fringe of Africa. There was already set in a growth of Islamism, recast, and developed by the light of Christianity, preparing for the conquest of Africa. The speaker explained the rice. and growth of Mohammedanism, and the character of the faith, to' show that by. the simplicity of its creed, ite appeal to the more sensual aide of-human nature, and its tolerance of heathen customs, it made a special appeal to the heathen mind, and at the same time, by its forme, it made the trader, - the merchant, the camel-driver, and the elave-dealer all active propagandists, or missionaries. On the other hand Christianity, outeide of the difficulties inlicrent in a more ascetic faith, had to face the blood feud that had grown up between the two creeds as a result of the Turkish and Armenian difficulties. And in tho coloeal light between the creeds ovct a vaet area populated by 15(1,000,000 people, there were arrayed on tho eide of the Crow, against the Orescent, only 75 Christian misfrionaxioaj