Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-10-07

|'sssxaE<sfu ll title indicates, of
=SssSssgE-N$Arabi origin. 1t was
instituted BY the Mo-
SAM BRIGGS, hammedan Kalif Alec,
the cougin-german snd son-in-law Of the
Prophet Mohammed. in the year Csc at Mecca,
as an inquisition or vigilance committee to dis
pense justice and execute punishment upon
criminals who escaped their just deserts
through the hardness Of the courts and also to
promote religious federation among cultured
men of all nations. In this way the most noted
and respectable men Of the nation were drawn
into its membership. In time the need Of
a vigilance committee to correct the failings OF
the courts was obviated, but the order con-
tinued in existence, developing into fraternity
that took hold upon the intellect and heart Of
the leading Arabs, and a. such has been con-
tinued, spreading gradually westward until it
has embraced the greater part OF Europe and
America.
TIE FIRST AMKRYcAN DRANcH.
Mecca temple Of New York was the first
American branch instituted. This temple now
limits its membership to 1000 and there are no
vacancies
Instituted under Mohammedan auspices
there Is scarcely city of importance which
came under the sway of that religion which
does not now possess Q temple of the order. In
the temple at Jerusalem are found the heads Of
the great Christian sects, the consuls Of the
various powers represented there, II in all. and
a host of educated and refined men, leaders
many gifted ones in science and the arts-and
many noted travellers from nearly every eoun-
try on the face Of the globe. The present
khedive of Egypt and all the prominent at
taches Of his court are members. The emperor
OF Russia is also enrolled as a noble and is held
IN high favor among his fellows in the east.
The temple at Mecca is venerated the first
in importance. Jerusalem being second and
Damascus third. The meetings at the latter
arA hold mt 10 md fhn do Of 4 he
organization there have been kept, with very
few intermissions, for over twelve centuries,
dating from AID. 657. At Alexandria, Egypt,
the members of the order meet in the ancient
PALACE OF THE PToLEMIEs,
now partly remodeled for offices and lodge
rooms. On the days of high festivals it has
been the custom there for some centuries to
hold solemn coneiave in one of the great
temples of ancient Egypt, the mystic rights
being performed under the stony eyes of the
seulptured gods and the painted heroes Of the
golden age of the Nile kings. Probably at no
place in the world are the ceremonies of the
shrine SO brilliant as those exempli6ed by the
mobiles at Alexandria. Their robes and affairs,
urns and scimeters, korans, scepters, crescents,
slaves. caskets, mallets and spea-s are all hoary
with age, respondent with historic jewels
and matchless gems, all having a halo of
magnificent association and memory about
them that gives them a value not to be
reckoned by figures or enhanced BY forid de-
scription. Costly gems can be bought any
where for money, but . costly gem that once
rose and fell in billowy grace upon the beauti-
cannot be purchased for gold. Such gem. ac-
cording to Hon. John Worthington, United
States consul at Malta, the mobiles at Alexandria
have set in the handle of a certain mace. Their
battle axes, gongs, goblets, &C., each possess
not only material but also an antique and his
toric value.
BROUGHT HERE By MR. FLORENCE.
The order owes its introduction into the
United States to William ]. Florence, the actor,
who is Mason of prominence. In September,
1870, he was in the city of Marseilles, France,
and having occasion to call on Duncan, Sher-
man 4 Co., bankers, was told by one of the
CLERKS that there was to be ceremony Of an
unusually attractive character at a ball near the
grand Hotel de PUnivers, and, being known to
the clerk as Mason, was invited to be present
His curiosity was excited by the glowing hints
as to the oriental wonders to be seen there, and
he attended the meeting and was initiated into
the ancient and Arabic order of the Mobiles of
tine Mystic Shrine. The order was introduced
III America in 1911. with the restriction that
only Mssons of the highest degree should be ad-
mitted. as only such we're deemed able because
OF their previous instruction, to fully under
stand the teachings of the mysteries unfolded
An Imperial Grand council of the order for the
United States of America was proclaimed June
8, 1876, since which time temples have been
established in every state in the Union. oply
one being allowed in a city, and then only at
the most Important centers OF population. As
promoted In this country and in Europe and
other parts of the world where Christianity
prevails the order 10 devoid of Islamism and ia
In harmony with
CHRISTIAN IDEAS AND LAWS.
Its power promises to be great and its future
brilliant. The emblem worn by the members
resembles a crescent. The crescent is formed
Of two tiger claws joined together By q plate of
gold, upon one side Of which is represented a
female sphynX; upon the other side a pyramid.
an urn, star, and, besides the date of institu-
ton, the legend "Robur ct Juror" The shrine
is referred TO by the Moslems generally as the
order Of the unwritten law, in distinction from
the written law, which is the Koran. The
ritual now in use is a translation from the
original Arabic found preserved IN the archives
OF the order at Aleppo, Syria. whence it was
brought IN $50 to London, England. by Rizk
Allah Hassan Efendi, who was the author of
several important works in Arabic.
RENOWNED ARABS OPINION.
The renowned Abd-el-Kader, in speaking of
the manner in which the ritual is exemplified IN
this country, wrote few years ago as follows:
Il am gratifed with the pride of a KNOWLEDGE
already become accepted and its virtues and
its powers recognized in the western hemis-
phere. May success and continuance prevail
with you and yours. Populate your
sanctuaries with the good, the upright, and
the Just. Honor the worthy, select the men of
science and art, dignitarles, men of rank high
officials. and superior class for officials in
power, and men Of character and worth for the
all-powerful mass Of memberhood" When
rendered inteiligently the ritual imparts a
beautiful and impressive ceremony that needs
no establishment, conveys no obscure senti-
ment and is at once all that could be desired
as an authentic translation
BATTLE INCIDENT.
Consul Worthington, who has already been
mentioned as a member of the order, and who
gives glowing description of the ceremonies
at Alexandria, relates authentic incident
which occurred at the first battle of Teb, in the
SOudan.
Ahmed Effendi Kadri was a Turkish soldier
OF fortune whose love for the excitement and
strife OF battle arose more from u desire for
diversion than from q thirst for blood Fight.
ing was pastime to HIM and from youth he
had wandered from tribe to tribe through
Arabia. volunteering wherever and whenever
conflicts were imminent He was Q stalwar,
believer in Il-Islan and performed his religion,
| duties piously. He was an officer under
forces Of Gen Baker Pasha. of unsavory Eng.
Bakers Egyptian troops was such ut that bat
| tie (Teb) that humanity's cheek mantled with
shame at the story, there were here and there
.r,opg Raker's o<ticxra NJ nAa IA r,,,.