Omaha daily bee., 1889-02-24

A mysterious and startling invitation
reached this city from Lincoln. 1t contained
Il programme of attractions printed in dis
play type, sandwichlng Il liberal supply of
exclamation points. "A glance at the bill of
fare showed this order of events: Reception
of petitions and conferrIng of the orders,
extraordinary festival, reception of return
ing pilgrims, gorgeous PROFESSIONS, Oriental
mysteries, relOiClnGS, ChantingS, brilliant
Examinations, and the admonltiUn of Poten-
tate Mclchert II. Garten to illustrious no
bles of the necessity for attendance. The
invitation also indicated that a new building
had been erected in Lincoln, that is, Scsos-
iris temple, in which Is located Shrine hail,
the headquarters of all this disturbance.
There was something in it, for yesterday
afternoon Hon. Gustav Anderson folded his
tent without noise, placed II on the back of a
magnificent camel, and, seating himself on
the load, led Il caravan of shriners similarly
equipped to the capital city, arriving there
in ample time to witness the doings, of
which, it appears on late and full advices
from the Lincoln Shrine hall, but Il faint
outline was attempted in the bidding of the
potentate.
The order of the Mobiles of the Mystic
Shrine was instituted by the Mohammed an
kalif Alec, the German cousin and son in
law of the Prophet Mohammed, in the year
of Hegira % ca. ID. 656), at Mekkah, in
arabia, as an inquisition or vigilance COM
mittee, to dispense justice and execute pun
ishment upon criminals who escape their
just deserts through the tardiness of the
courts, and also to promote religious tOlera-
tion among cultured men of all nations. The
order is yet one of the most highly favored
among the many secret societies which
abound in oriental countries, ana gathers
around its shrine5 a select few of the bcs
educated and cultured classes. IL includes
the khedive of Egypt, who with his prede-
cessors recognized the order as a powerful
means OF civilization. Among the modern
promoters of this organization in Europe was
Herr WciShaupt, a Rosicrucian and pro-
fessor of law IN the university of lngold-
stadt, Bavaria. This distinguished scholar
opened a temple May l, l77G, the mem
bers of which were styled illumi-
natl, and exercised a profound iutu-
cnce before and after the French
revolution. From this parent stem the TEN
plies spread throughout Europe, recording
such names as Frederick the Great, Mira
beau, Duke of Orleans, Goethe, SpinO2a,
Kant, Lord Bacon, and many other profess
sional men. The mobiles in America do not
advocate Mohammedanism as a sect, but in
culcate the same respect to Deity here as in
Arabia and elsewhere and hence the secret
of this profound grasp on the intellect and
hear of all cultured people. The work in
this country has been perfected under the
supervision of DIR, Walter NJ. Fleming, SOW
ereign grand inspector general A. A.. s..
r., and j. II. G.. of Columbian commandery
knights Templars of New York, who re-
ceived his instructions and authority from
Itizk Allah HassOon Effendee at the hands of
lllustrious Noble William j. Florence, who,
in 1870, brought them direct from Cairo,
Iigypt.
june 6, 1876, the imperial grand council of
the United States was organized and its
officers, as in Arabia, arc elected for three
years. The prerequisites for membership
are that a candidate shall be either Il 32d
degree A. A. 5, X. or Knight Templar in
good standing. The generous proposition to
make the order of MOBILES an organization for
tie exercise of charity, mental Improvement
and an ally of Froemasonary in the United
States was primarily adopted by the imperial
grand council.