The Banner Of The Prophet

Within the Mosque of St. Sopliia at Oonstantinople lies a flag which, if i fuilei, would startle all Christendom, and compel it to band together in a common stmggle against Ielamism. Imperfect, and sometimes fanciful, accounts have been given of the flag, and many , bad translations of the inscriptions on it. Fi'om the best source we gatlier some facts which are, at this time, very intercsting. This emblem of the power and sacred office of Mohammed is described to be of "green Kilk, with large crcscent on top of the stefl', from which is suspended a long plumo oí horse-hair (said to be the tail of the Prophet'n favorite Arab stecd), whilo the folds of tbe flag j exhibit the crescent and quotations from the Koran." The accurate quotations are as follows : "All who draw it [the sword] will be rewarded with temporal advantages ; every drop of their blood, ! every peril and hardehip endured by them, will be registered on high as more meritorious than either fasting or pi-aying. If they fall in battle their sins will be at once blotted out, and they will be transpoited to paradise, thereto revel in eternal pleasures in the aims of blackeyed houris. But for the flrst heaven are reserved those of the faithfnl who die within sight of the green flag of the ; prophet." Then fellow the terrible and significant words, the fearfui war-cry against God and man : ' ' Then may no man give or expect mercy I" This is supplemonted by the motto : ' ' The gates cf paradise are unrler the shade of the swords." The origin of the color is tra(ïitionally stated to be that the prophet one day looking out upon verdant fields said that " Nature is green, and green shall be my emblem, for it is everksting and universal." He prophesied that when Islam should number a hundred millions the flag should stop the invasión of the Northern races, and lrs followers now amount to one hundred and twenty millions. The Koran declares that when it is unfurled the ' ' earth will shake, the I mountains melt into dust, the seas blnze I up in fire and the children's hair grow white with anguish." This is Oriental fustian, yet believed by teeming millions to represent great and triumphant truths. Islam must be in positive danger before the Sultan requires the Sheik-ul-Islam, or Moliammedan Pope, to bring the flng from its resting place and unfurl it before all Mohammedans. During the time that Oatherine of Kussia sought the ownership of Constantinople, the flag was bronglit to the light; but shefailed, and it was not flaunted in the face of Christendom. If it should fly the Sultan is supposed to be its bearer, and for that reason it would be formally committed to his hands with al] the ceremomous zeal of religious fanaticism. Throughout the Ottoman empire proper, embracing Turkey in Europe, Asia Minor, oud Syria, and throughout Persia, the the countries on the Euphrates and Tigris, Hindoostan, Egypt, the Barbary States, and as far as Zanzíbar, every Moliammedan would be callêd upon to rally to its support under pain of the anathema of the Prophet, and of expulsión from paradise. The frightful carnage which would result from such a combination of fanatics would be horrible.