HATERS OF CHRISTIANITY

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume VII, Issue 1957, 6 April 1885, Page 2

HATERS OF CHRISTIANITY

A correspondent writes to the London "Telegraph" that there exists in Egypt and Mohammedan countries a secret society called the "Senoussi," which is greater in its influence and numbers than ever was the Society of Jesus in its palmiest days. It had a hand, he says, in Arabi's rebellion, counts the Mahdi of the Soudan as one of its officers; and was at the'bottom of the two movements, having instigated both of tfieni. The Grand Master of the Senoussi boasts that lie has more or less at his command about 30,000,000 of Mohammedans—that is, over a third of the total number of the faithful. The greatest number of those, being more or less subject to Christian powers, dream of nothing but of the universal empire promised by the Koran. The' feeling of intense hatred against the Christian is deeply engrafted in their hearts, and whether latent or eruptive, the Vrork which goes on is permanent, f h?y are at any moment prepaid to seize the opportunity of a struggle with civilised'nationsf their sole' aim is n holy war, with neither true? nor manjy, 'against all those who covenant with the infidel.

Their headquarters are at Serhboub, on the Egypto-Tripolitan border,'! It rerembles a fortified- convent, ''Evon ten years ago it had sixteen big guns purchased at Alexandria, r and several large factories where gunpowder was produced, and small pruts, obtained in Egypt, remounted ■ and repaired, In February last the number of big guns had increased to over a hundred, and there were besides twenty mitrailleuses of German manufacture. According to trustworthy information, two Italian and three Austrian vessels anchored during the months of Juno and July last in the port of Tabrouk—which belongs to' the Order—laden with arms, shot and shell, which were immediately forwarded over the 200 kilometers separating the port from Serhboub, There are also at the latter place a splendid library, transported thither from Mecca, the former headquarters of the fraternity, stables containngover4ooo magnificenthorses, reservoirs, plantations, etc. According to the distinguished French author Durveyrior, the bodyguard of the master who' resides there consists of ovor 3000 Algerians."