A BRITISH MOSQUE.
[TO THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR:]
Sin,—Some time back in the House of Commons Colonel Seely (Under-Secretary for the Colonies), in reply to a question, said that the Government will not interfere with the work of the different missions professing various religions who are stationed at Lagos for spreading their propaganda. On that the Rev. Dr. Clifford seems to have said in one of the Radical papers that "if Government is going to take such a course with regard to religions, why should not they establish a Mohammedan mosque at Westminster and maintain a priest?"
Well, Sir, these remarks are by no means complimentary, yet they are not without significance for us ; I mean the Mohammedan residents of England at the present time. Lately we have been seriously thinking of having a mosque in London, and the Islamic Society (whose chief object is to have a mosque in London), and probably the All-India Mohammedan League, are thinking of sending an appeal to Mohammedan rulers and Mohammedan noblemen of India for the funds. When that is done, the London County Council would be approached for a piece of ground at a suitable place. It is a known fact that the ex-Sultan of Turkey not only gave grounds for churches and mission- schools, but gave buildings in Constantinople. Surely, Sir, the British people would not object to provide a piece of ground when they realise the number of Mohammedan subjects under the British Crown. It is about sixty-three millions in India alone.
It might interest Dr. Clifford to know that we already have two mosques in England—one at Liverpool (where there is a small colony of English Moslems), and the other one at Woking, which has a nice museum and hostel attached to it— both of them built and maintained by the Mohammedans. But we want a mosque in London, where Mohammedans from different parts of the world have to go to a hotel or restaurant for their religious prayers and ceremonies.—I am, Sir, &c.,
A. H. KHLIDA.DAD KHAN (of the Islamic Society, London). 85 Skooter's Hill Gardens, Eli bun, Kent.
[The movement for the establishment of a mosque in
London has our best wishes. That the London County Council would feel justified in doing what would be equivalent to giving a grant of the ratepayers' money is doubtful. The better plan is, we cannot help thinking, to collect voluntary subscriptions.—En. Spectator.]
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