St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-03-23
LEBANON DRUSES.
How an American Managed to Join
an Oriental Order.
The Secret eConclave OF Druses
=. Among the Mountains Of Leba-
non-.-The Initiation or
Candidate.
rCourier-JournaI INTERVIEW. I

lCourier-J ournal Interview
Last evening reporter called on the Rev.
r. b. Coleman at his residence, and had very
interesting conversation with him regarding
his recent visit to the Orient. In reply to a
question regarding the special object of his
visit he said:
Il am prosecuting course Of study re-
garding the history and chronology of the
Bible compared with the real topography of
Palestine and its present condition; also en-
deavoring to establish a connection between
the order of Freemasonry and the ancient
order of Druses, which pertains with the
people inhabiting the villages among the
Lebanon mountains.
"Its existence was first suspected by gov
ernor Of Beyrout, who resolved to gain its
secrets if possible, and he went about it in a
peculiar way. One day he presented a
favorite household slave to powerful sheik
who was visiting the city as mark of es-
TEEN. The shiek soon departed for his native
mountains, taking the slave with him. At
the expiration of year the governor paid a
visit to the neighborhood, sent for the shiek,
and offered to buy his servant back again,
telling him that he was indispensable-that
he could not do without him. The shiek
would not accept any money, but became
angry and sent the slave to the 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 the little known
"Did you succeed in joining the order,
doctor2"
eyes, and am probably the only man
outside Of their own race who has ever been
accepted"
"Will You be kind enough to tell me how it
came about!"
swell, yes, but as you are not member of
the craft l cannot describe the forms and
ceremonies used in the initiation; however, /
will let you understand how accomplished
my purpose. On our arrival among the
Lebanon mountains we encamped near a
sheik's village, and 1 at once began to culti-
vate his acquaintance through an inter
prefer. In a short time we became quite
friendly, and through the interpreter ex-
my desire to become member of the order
1 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 meeting of members
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 1t was
intimated that they would accept me as O
member and initiate me, he was obliged tc
withdraw after first being told to tell NE
that a document would be placed In my
hands after the ceremonies under solemn
pledge that the seal should not be broken
unless in the presence Of some accepted
Mason Of good standing, who could
interpret the contents to me. After
the leading sheik had prepared ar
extensive document in Arabic, copied from
an old original parchment in his possession
was taken to secluded valley, where, un.
oOl CiiO piuO SehOPJ VA ShJ, was
into the order. The secret signs and pass
words were communicated under an um.
brella, FOR fear some prying eyes pI!ssat be
watching. After the ceremonies were con
cluded we returned to the village. The
strange, picturesque scene--the costumes and
earnest swarthy faces Of the Druses during
the ceremonies-was one never to be for
gotten"
"What is the moral and social condition OF
the Druses, doctors"
"Morally they are purer than any Of the
Orientals with whom have come in contact
Women, who, with most people in the cas-,
are degraded, are by them treated with 9
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."