EGYPT TO-DAY.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 821, 21 May 1910, Page 12

EGYPT TO-DAY.

INTERVIEW WfTH MB. W, BRADLEY. GROWTH OP THE NATIONALISTS, An euiconi aging account of missionary work in Egypt is given by Mr. William Bradley, of Hie, Egypt General Mission, who is at present in Wellington. 'The mission is an inter-denominational body, and its work falls into three divisions—evangelistic medical, and educational. Aggressive missionary work haa been carried on among the Mohammedans by the mission with great success. Only a few years ago. Mi. Bradley informed a DoiONioH representative the first descendant of the Eoyal family of Mohammed known to have become a Chnstian wafi converted, changed his name, and engaged in Christian work in Cairo. despitG great opposition shown by thfl Mohammedan authorities. There axe now nearly three hundred ordained men, won from the whole Modem world, who are helping to spread the "Christian trath. Tho first conference of converta won from Islam was held last year near Cairo, and included representatives of the noted families of Mohammedanism from' Syria, Palestine, and Egypt, »ho 6ent out to the world a public testimony of their Christian faith, vith the result that many secret believers were led to make publio profession of their new religion. There were- about forty" persons at this conference. Despite the {act that every Mohammedan is expected to proselytise wherover he may Mohammedanism, Mr. Bradley Bays, ia undoubtedly declining. It contains no ideals, is hopeless, and illiterate, and wherever Mohammedanism reigns to-day there is nothing but oppression and misery. These natural deficiencies, and tie progress of enlightenment, and education, together with the internal divisions of Moliammedane themselves, are responsible for the creed's decline. Mohammedanism has no fewer than 150 sects, though their differences art not so broad as those which divide many of the Christian denominations. The Egypt General Mission publishes an Axamo paper, of ; which-nearly three thousand copies are circulated every month for. Mohammedans. "The outlook is most promising," declared Mr. Bradley, "and the more eo sinco Mohammedans who are won to Christianity become very (strong Christians. conviotions they carry, they will Buffer for them with a Pnritanic readineee." Mr. Bradley instanced tho case of a man vrhoeo father, was the head of a large town in Morocco, and who gave np the prospect of succeeding him, and probably thousands: of pounds in wealth, to can? on Christian work in Egypt, married to a Christ tian. girl, and earning fi salary of £3 or £i a month.

Questioned with resaro! to the Nationalist movement in' Egypt, Mr. Bradley said that it originated with a olotot ,man named Mnstapha Pasha, whom certain English politicians took to England, whero he delivered an oration before a , number of members of Parliament Mtbtnpha Pasha felt that he had the ears of the British Parliament, and When he returned to Egj-pt he 'stirred up tt great spirit of nationalist enthusiasm, and Tiis followers thonght that thfi time had come to have a Parliament of their own. Mnstapha Pasha died suddenly twd rears ago, bnt sinee_ then two or three members of the British Parliament have continued at intervals to probe Sir Edward Grey on questions of Egyptian rule, and this has encouraged the Nationalists to think that they Tiave sympathisers in Great Britain, and that there is hope of gaining their end. The success of the Young Turkish Party in therecent revolution has encouraged the Egyptian Nationalists in their dreame,, though tho conditions in Turkey and in Egypt are altogether different. Since 60 per cent, of the population of Egypt are illiterate it is quite impossible, Mr. Bradley holds, to. grant 'self-government. The people aro not ready for such a and to grant self-govern-ment would simply mean that the whole security of tho country would, be destroyed. x According to Mr. Bradley it is a mistake to think that in spite of recent iraprovements, Egypt is Gtill in a more or less primitive sf.ite. In several directions, he declares, New Zealand might take an object lesson from Eeypt. The Dominion's railway service, which Mr. Brndley describes as "slow, out-of-date, nnd inefficient." cannot compare witS the splendidly equipped and well-admin' istered railways in Egypt and tho Su> dan. Tn postal matters, also. New Zealand might well copy the Egyptian eyatern of collecting mails rn bogs witTi snring lips, the effect of which is that the man who collects the mails from the boxes does not touch a letter!