The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1877-08-01
Mus.a,m.n secret societies.

MU&HHatAA0M gC&GG& oBJhStAt$e
The Mussulman nations are per-
meared by secret societies and their
agents. "The rami6cation of these
societies. to quote the letter written
by Mr.. Wood from Tunis, extend
like . net over the whole of the Mo-
hammedan world, in towns as well
as villages, aid then they have re-
doubled their zeal in carrying out the
sacred object Of their mission-name-
lly, the consolidation of Islam as
against the inGdels." In the latter
term are, moreover, included not only
Christians and Israelites. but also
Mussulmal princes and p~otentates
suspected, as the Khedive is suspect
ed, of being favorable to Christian
institutions. The most prominent Of
these religious orders according to
the same witness. are the Bektashy,
Abdul Kaderei Bagdadi, the Know
an Tor Fraternity Issa wiye. and
Darkawy.
OF all these scots the Bektashy is
that which comprehends the greater
number of the higher and
better educated classes. Its mem
bers profess to be rationalists or free
thinkers, and Nj. Wood thinks that
it is in consequence comparatively
harmless. But events have occurred
in Constsntinople since the report in
question was written showing that q
free thinker, or even q member of the
liberal and progressive party, will
not be averse, when opportunity offers,
from trading upon the vulgar enthusi-
asm fostcred by the sects for his OVID
erds. However little the Bektasby
hold to the old rigid dogmas of Islam,
they know that their " power lies
chiefly in making use of those more
ignorant associations which profess
narrower creeds. The Khowan sect
has its principal headquarters in Ye-
man and at Mecca, and as it is at the
latter town that the annual general
meetings Of all the societies are held,
its members are better known, and
probably have a more widespread in
huence among their co-religionists,
than any other. The Abdul Kader
ell Bagdadi was originally a purely
religious order, but has gradually
changed its character and now,
though less active than some other
societies, is politically as well The
most jealous and higoted, however,
of all the orders is the Darkawy
whose principal seat is Morocco.
These are the Jesuits OF Mohamme-
Observation-Disclosures and uncom-
promising, %hesitatiDg at nj device
for the accomplishment Of their OBJ
ject. 1t is their especial care to work
in close proximity to the Christian or
Jewish missionaries, so as to cuonter-
act the influence Of their teaching /;
and although their affiliations and
branches extend over the whole Of
Western Asia and Northern Africa,
their propaganda is exercised with
greater fervor and fanaticism in those
countries-such as India-where
there is O considerable Christian ele-
ment, or which have fallen under the
dominion or influence CT European
Powers" Another society which is
not mentioned by Mr.. Wood, is de-
scribed in a letter from Crete dated
1873. This is the Mevlevis, which,
as well as the Bektashy. has been in
full working activity in the island for
some years past. 1t was originated
by a Dervish chief at Adm, in Asia
Minor, and has rapidly extended its
organization throughout the Ottoman
Empire, being encouraged every
where, as it appears, by the approval!
of the Turkish Government. Its oh
jeet is philanthropie and religious
the propagation Of ~Islamism, and the
education Of the poorer classes in the
tenets of the Koran. Its apostles
hold weekly religious meetings for
the purpose Of eatechising their con-
verts aud disciples, and were, when
the consul wrote, constructing q large
ticket" at a short distance outside
the town of Canea.
Both the writer's We have alluded to
above point out that. although the Sc
cret societies have proceeded lately
wish greater caution, it must not be
inferred that their fanaticism has
.bated, or that they have in any way
relinquished their purpose, which is
with them an object of fervent faith.
On the contrary circumstances have
in modern times contributed largely
to increase their power and extend
their spheres Of action. For instance
the introduction Of steam navigation
in the Mediterranean, the Red Sea,
the Indian Ocean, and the Persian
Gulf has enabled their missionaries
10 meet at fixed and regular times at
sacred rendezvous of Mecca.
Meetings are held at Mecca at the
time of the pilgramages.-PaH Hal