Mohammedan Doctors and Saints.

Professor Toy gave his second lecture on Moslem Civilization last evening in Upper Boylston.

The Mohammedan church is divided into 73 sects, which differ from each other in church government and ritual and also in regard to the doctrines of free will and predestination. There are two main sects, the Sunnites, or Orthodox, and the Shiites, or Sectaries. The latter belong to the party of Ali, the son-in-law and successor of Mohammed, and regard his descendants as the only legitimate Caliphs. Thus the Caliphs after Ali are considered as usurpers.

The Orthodox Sunnrites are divided into four schools, founded by various doctors, which teach respectively the doctrines of rationalism, mysticism, Puritanism and strict orthodoxy.

The Moslems have a belief similar to our Second Adventism. There were twelve Imams, the last of whom was expected to restore the Caliphate to the family of the prophet, and to bring universal peace. The last Imam, however, was born and died but things went on as before. His adherents then said that he was not really dead, but would return again and complete his work as El Mahdi, "he who is guided by God." Many have taken this title, but all have eventually met with defeat and death. The present Mahdi owes his success to a series of fortunate accidents, and to the fanaticism of the country where he has appeared. The intelligent Moslems, however, believe that he is only a clever adventurer, who would speedily be crushed by a disciplined army.

The tendency of the Islam at present, is towards liberalism. Mohammed himself never claimed supernatural power. He said that he was only the messenger of God. His followers, however, embellished his life with signs and wonders. No worship is now addressed to him, nor is his intercession asked for.