, 1884-07-02
LEBANON DRUsEs.
How an American Managed to Join
an Oriental Order.
Tho secret ConcIave n Druses
Among tho Mountains of Lobn
non---The Initiation OF
n Candidate. !


Last evening a reporter called on the Rev.
R. IL Coleman Mt his residence, and hadh very
interesting conversation with him re regarding
his recent visit 10 the Orient In reply to a
question regarding the special object Of his
visit he said: .
Il am prosecuting q course OF study re-
glrding the history and chronology of tho
Bible compared with the real topography of
Palestine and its present condition; also en-
dea to establish a connection between
the order of Freemasonry and the ancient
order OF Drus-s. which pertains with the
people inhabiting tho villages among the
Lebanon mountains. ., "
~Its existence was first suspected by a gov
ernor OF Beyrout, who resolve to gain its
secrets, IL possible. aud he went about 1t in a
peculiar way. One day he presented a
favorits hous hold slave to a powerful sheik
who WINS visiting the city as a mark OF es-
TEEN. The shiek soon departed Tor his native
mountains, taking the slave with him. At
the expiration of a year the governor paid n
visit to the neighborhood, sent for the shiek,
an offered to buy his servant back again.
telling him that he was indispensab!e-that
he could not do without him. The shiek
would not nccept any money, but became
angry and sent the slave to tho governor.
After they returned to Beyrout the governor
questioned the slave Regarding the existence
OF the order OF the Druses. AT first he denied
all knowledge OF it, but finally admitted that
he knew of Its existence through hearing his
master and others talking OF it In solemn
conclave, but denied that he belonged to it,
and upon being coerced TO tell all he knew
replied; You may burn me-, but 1 will
never divulge tie little L know.'P
@Did you succeed IN joining the order,
doctorr'
ayes, and l am probably the only man
0ufafda M. THAR ntv rara xvho baa aya- haa,,
accepted"
avn you be kind enough to toll me how 1t
came about"
"Well, yes, but as you are not a member of
the craft l cannot describe the forms and
: ceremonies used in the initiation; however, l
will let you understand how / accomplished
my purpose. On our arrival among the
Lebanon mountains we encampe1 near q
isheik's vii ags. and 1 at ones began to culti-
yate his acquaintance through an inter
prefer. In a short time we became quite
frien lily, and through the Interpreter / ex-
pressed my admiration for the Druses aud
my desire to become a member of the order.
l was met with opposition, of course, but
after explaining my motive and reading sew
eral passages from my book he promised me
his assistance and held a meeting of member
living in his own village, which lasted all
night Next day he sent a courier for a
neighboring sheik, and all the following
night the conclave was prolonged. Then
they questioned me through the interpreter,
and the nature OF the questions was almost
precisely similar to those put to a candidate
for admission to Freemasonry. Up to this
time the interpreter was the medium of
communication between US, but when it was
intinated that they would accept me as a
member and initiate me, he was Obliged to
withdraw after first being told to tell me
that u document would be placed in my
hands after the ceremonies, under solemn
pledge that the seal should not be broken
unless in tho presence OF some accepted
Mason Of good standing, who could
interpret the contents to me. After
the leading sheik had prepared an
extensive document in Arabic, copied from
an old original parchment in his possession.
/ was taken to n secluded valley, where, un-
der the blne canopy of sky, | was initiated
into the order. The secret signs and pass
WORKS were communicated under an ufn-
brella, for fear some prying eyes might be
watching. After the ceremonies were COLI
cluded we returned TO the village. The
strange, picturesque scene-the c stunes and
earnest swarthy faces OF the Druses during
the ceremouies-was oae never 70 be for
gotten"
what is the moral and social condition of
the Druses, doctorFr
"Morally they are purer THAI any Of the
Orientals with whomI nave come in contact.
Women, who, with most people in the east
are degraded, are by them treated with n
greater degree OF respect; more in accordance
with the manner in which she should be
treated. Crime Is punished in the most hor.
rible manner, and consequently there Is very
little OF it,