If the place of one's christening is any indication as to what religion one should follow, I should have been a member of the Church of England; but as soon as I was old enough to attend religious assemblies of any kind, my thoughts turned to the Congregational Church, and to this Church I adhered until I reach the age of 27. I followed this form of religion while I was in India, where it went under the name of the United Board Church, which included, besides, various other denominations, such as Presbyterians, Methodists, Baptists, Wesleyans and other too numereous to mention. During my stay in India, I also visited the Burning Bush Mission, and that of the Seventh Day Adventists, and in all these there seemed to be something a walk on the quay when we were greeted with a charming "And how are the boys!" by this very pleasant Swede, who I then learnt, was the Chief Officer of a boat lying in the harbour. We were so attracted by the man's presonality and his hearty greeting that
we stopped, and , after mutual introduction, became engrossed in conversation with him. He invited us to his ship, and as we approached his cabin, he opened its door welcoming us with the words "Walk in Brothers!"

All of us were rather taken aback by this fraternal greeting, and being the youngest of the lot, I waited for my seniors to give the start. As the others were apparently too shy or too conservative, I dared to break the ice and remarked to our host: "Your are so different from the other white men that I have met." "Yes, lad," was his genial reply, "It's because I belong to the greatest Brotherhood in the world." "Which Brotherhood is that?" I asked. "It is the one and only Brotherhood that recognises all God's creatures as belonging to one great universal family, irrespctive of caste or colour; a brotherhood which is endeavouring to uplift another and spread the true teachings of the Prophet." "Oh! you believe in a Prophet?" I said. "Yes," he replied, "And some day so will you." "What makes you say that?" I demanded. "You are made of that stuff and after many years you will think of me," was the reply I got.

Then turning to my companions as well he said, "Come lads, let us have some black pan." We enjoyed the coffee and cakes, and bid him a hearty "Good-bye." His ship left early next morning for New York, and I have since lost sight of him. But I can never forget the charming impression I have of him and the subtle influence of his conversation. Now I realise that he was a true Muslim. All throughout my ramblings in different lands, I continued my study of peoples and religions. When I came out of East, many years ago, I had an opportunity of making a comparative study of the great religions at first hand, and one of the first things that struck me was the stand-offishness, the pinchbeck dignity and the pseudo-aristocracy of the members of the congregations of the so-called Christian churches. It is an undoubted fact that there are a comparatively few dignitaries in the various churches who not only preach but really practise the teachings of Christ. But as against these there are thousand who have made it only a profession and are lacking in the brotherly love, hunility and understanding which are the genuine attributes of all nobility. Such indifference and lack of sympathy has driven millions from the Christian churches because they have been but given stones when they asked for bread. But in illustrious contrast to this stands out the teaching of the Holy Prophet of Islam. Here you find kings and peasants seated side by side, united in prayer in Allah's Holy Presence. No distinction is here of caste or colour, and those who have experienced or read of the pilgrimage to Mecca would, no doubt, appreciate the fact that here, at least, is to be found, in practise, the cult of Universal Brotherhood. Shoulder to shoulder one may see people of all races, white, black and yellow, all united together by that one bond of Faith--that great belief in Islam. The solidarity of Islam is unquestioned. Instead of an atmosphere vitiated by prejudices of the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the white and the coloured, one breathes here God's pure air full of the loving kindness and invigorating spiritual Love of Brotherhood. Man was born noble and equal. I cannot, therefore, see why there should be any chosen people of God while the rest of the world should be drawers of water and hewers of wood for them. Being rich or poor, high or low, white or black, is purely accidental, for, in the eyes of Almighty, all men are equal. But in spite of the gradual and progressive evolution of mankind, it is surprising to find what moral blindness and spiritual antipathy there is among men against those whom they cannot understand or appreciate.

But now that I have shaken off the shackles that held me fast to an iron-bound tradition built on prejudice and misunderstanding; and now that I have become a member of the noble Brotherhood of Islam, I feel that, as a true Muslim, it is my duty to broadcast the glories of the teachings of the Prophet of Islam. To those who are in doubt and despair, as I was at one time, I say, take this opportunity and devote some time and attention to the study of Islam. It will reveal to you the world in a light that was never before understood by you, and guided by your Faith in the Oneness of God and the equality of all mankind you cannot but feel and experience that peace which is Islam.

I think it will not be inopportune to mention my debt of gratitude to my Muslim brethern in Ceylon, and specially to Mr. A.J.A. Cader who made it possible for me to declare my Faith in Islam. Immediately I came here I got in touch with him. I doubt not that the conversations he had with me helped to convince him that mine was a conversion of faith consequent on deep and careful study and not a mere plunge in the dark. He attended to everything necessary and I was glad to accept Islam at his hands.

To my Chritian brethern I would say that derision need not be theirs. A little careful study, a more tolerant attitude and a change of mind and heart will convince them that as against the preaching of Christianity there is both precept and practice of Islam which alone redounds to its greater glory.

Omar Proutt