THE SACRED STANDARD OF THE PROPHET.

Manawatu Times, Volume II, Issue 89, 25 August 1877, Page 3

THE SACRED STANDARD OF THE PROPHET.

f The sacred *elic of Mahomet, the unfurling 'of which by the 1 Sultan of Turkey during the present war betw.een (the Turks 'and the Russians it is feared Will provoke a massacre -of the CKrisi( ,tians, "came into possession of the Sultans of Turkey m the reign of Selim. I. £a.d. 1512-1520), after his conquest of Egypt, 'arid on l! three or four occasions, m times* 1 of 'emergency, has been taken from the place where it is religiously kept and guarded, and unfurled at the head of, the Ottoman troops, m whom and ;the Mussulman populace its appearance excites intense fervor and fanaticism.' " ■ The .zeal with which the Mussulmans flock to the standard, and their fan:attcal; desire to massacre Christians, whenever the sacred flag is displayed, are explained by the manifesto issued by Mattomet at that period of his career when the sword was announced as the instrument of the Mahometan faith : — "I, therefore, the last of the Prophets/am sent with' the sword! Let those, who promulgate my faith enter into no argument, or discussion, but slay all who refuse obedience to the law. .Whoever fight for the true .faith, whetherhefall or conquer, willassuredly receive aiglorious reward. The sword is the Jcey of heaven and hell : all who draw.ifcin the cause of the faith will be rewarded with temporal advantages ; "every drop shed of their blood, ever peril or hardship endured by them, will be registered on high as more meritorious then , even fasting or praying. It they falL m battle their sins will at once be bjlotted out, and they will be at 'once transported to Paradise, there to revel m eternal measures m the arms of black-eygd hou i."