| Show PALES palestine the land that has so long lain in a deathly slumber is awakening to new life the alaa throb of civilization is being felt capitalists are launching new enterprises and various foreign influences fluen ces are shaping the destiny of this one favored land but while material progress is marking the present state of affairs in palestine the question is as the now york evangelist puts it will it bo mohammedan or christian if christian will it be protestant greek or roman catholic A writer in the samo paper writes regarding the present social condition of the people he says that while protestant ism by the agency of the presbyterian college at beirut and printing presses at the same places sending over the country millions of pages of christian literature and the entire scriptures in the arabic language and of presbyterian schools of various grades and by other and perhaps minor means is unquestionably doing an efficient work for the religious and social regeneration of palestine by the overthrow of mohammedan ism other and opposing forces are each contending under a religious banner for palestine as a prize the latin or boman catholic church with her usual persistency is antagonizing all other christian agencies and establishing schools pilgrim bouses and convents throughout the country and her missionaries boast that within less than a score of years will have little or no foothold in palestine the greek church sure of a liberal financial support from the kussian gov eru ment with a zeal which protestants can but take knowledge of erects its churches and affiliated institutions and is evidently making preparation for a permanent stay in palestine and is possible r doma ining influence over its affairs and it would be hardly prudent io positively deny the greek church may succeed influence and perhaps a russia army behind her or before her and if need be both behind and before but mohammedanism will yield to neither of theae struggling and antagonistic influences with sharp and desperate efforts to hold possession of what are also to them a sacred lam and sees its danger and will be prompt to resist either by peaceable or forcible means the loss of both or of either just now it is reported to be bubbly engaged in establishing its schools all over palestine and very recently it manifested wisdom enough to allow itsell to bo taught by its opponents aud actually established a hospital |
