UA-R-GC-1914-01-01-1923-11-27_Page-021

22U November 27, 1923. Appendix D. REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON SPIRITUAL RESOURCES OF THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY AT CAIRO The group of friends remembering the work of the University in prayer has continued faithful throughout the year and now numbers slightly over four hundred. It is interesting to note that this group is not restricted to any one locality but in it are represent-atives from Egypt, China, India, Japan, Porto Rico, South America, Canada, and thirty-six states of our own Unit ed States. Each member agrees to mnember the University in prayer for one year. At the end of this time a notice is sent asking for a re-newal, and it is encouraging to note that in most cases a renewal is received promptly. The group has been kept informed of the needs for prayer and causes for thanksgiving by means of letters, Bulletins, and a small leaflet "Aids to Prayer" which besides giving the objects for daily remembrance, also contains poems and quotations helpful to one's faith and prayer life. With this in mind other leaflets have also been sent at regular intervals, such as: "Preparation for Life's Greatest Business" - by Rufus M. Jones "How they Got thef=e" by William H. Ridgway. "Who is Jesus Christ" - by Charles R. Brown. Letters of appreciation for the literature have been received from a number on the list showing that, besides furnishing very real spiritual support for the University, this work has proved the value in strengthening the spiritual life of the individual members in faith and prayer. It is most important that the University hold the Mohammedan stucicnts who have enrolled. At the same time it is important that these students be brought face to face with the full message of Christianity. This difficult problem is beofre the prayer group constantly. The following item from the front page of one of the leading Mohammedan papers in Cairo dated September 27, 1923, shows the need for sincere prayer that Mohammedan fanaticism may not develop-to the point where it will seriously impair our Christian work with the Moslem students: "We have received an article signed by Ahmed Fahmy Tharwat, in the Abbasia Quarter of Cairo, placing blame upon the American University because it require... the Mo-hammedan students to enter Chapel each ,corning, and treats rigorously any one who fails to attend. If this is true, we must call the attention of the Administration of the University to the necessity of recognizing the religious creed of the students and to the necessity of no compulsion of students to do what they do not want to do; for the coupulsion is an interference by the University in whrtt it has no right to do. We hope the American Univer;_.ity will issue a statement on this subject.