Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1897-05-06
TIE ETBNIKE HErAIRIA.

Reference has often been made In
the dispatches 10 III, Greek patriotic
society, the Ethnike Hetsiria, whose
leaders seem largely responsible Tor
the oulburst of patriotic enthusiasm
that forced the Greek government to
90 TO war with Turkey. Very little is
known, however, Of that Organization;
but II ia belle ved lis members coDsis.
oil the most highly educated Greeks at
home and abroad, and that their ulti-
mate aim is the liberation OF all
Hellenes now living In the Turkish
provinces. AS one OF the chiefs OF the
society is mentioned George Gusslo,
the manager OF the Anglo.Egyptian
bank. He personally attended to the
equipment Of the revolutionary corps
wnich entered Into Macedonia.
Michael Mellas who 10 au tx.mpyOr OF
Athens Is mentioned as president OF
tins council OF the Helairis. He be-
longs to noble family OF the Eplrus.
ID. Bteianon, who 10 also member OF
the council, is a former minister OF
I foreign affairs Of Greece.
The Hetairia undoubtedly 10 a re-
vivai of the so.cllled Fsiendiy Hetsiria
founded in 1914 and active in the
struggle for Greek Independence. The
New York Tribune says this society
divided It's members Into seven degrees
--irienia, the recommended, priests,
shepherds, arch-shephetdf, devotees,
and the chiefs OF tue devotees. When
a member was admitted to the Helairia
he was comm nded to have ready his
arms and fifty cartridges, so as to be
prepared when the orders OF his chiefs
should be Issued. While advancing
to the higher degrees tue member was
taught that he must fight to the death
the enemies Of the religion OF the
Greek race and his fatherland, and
during the Initiation sword was in.
trusted to the candidate with the FOL.
lowing admOnition from the chief:
"Thy country hands thee this sword,
so thou canst uusheath 1t for her sake."
The membership certificate which
was handed TO the advanced mem.
bers bore the sign OF The cross and
underneath IA reversed cent
1t lie believed that the same degrees Of
membership nd Sim lar bylaws have
been Adopted by the new organization.
Ii has signs and passwords and 6
cipher for correspondence between Its
different branches, thus insuring sbso-
Lutte secrecy. The power OF the organl.
cation is due TO several circumstances.
Its leaders are men whose patriotism
and honesty are beyond doubt. They
never NEEDLE with the Internal policy
OF the country and consequently draw
support from all parties, aud only tried
anu faithful members are admitted
among the ranks. No one lie permitted
to join until 1t has been proved he is
a man of honor and a warm patriot,
able either by his social position or his
intellectual talents to contribute to.
ward the success OF the object OF the
| Helairla.
Speaking Of the origin OF the society,
or rather its revival at this time, the
New York Tribune ssys:
Among those who follow closely what
| Is going on in Greece II Is not sectot
that some of the most enthusiastic and
| influential followers of tho National
| Hetairia are Free Masons. Taking into
consideration the fact that the Greek
| Freemasonry has lately been organized,
having as its main object the freeing OF
the Greeks still remaining under Turk-
| ish msrule. IL would tend to the belief
that TO the Greek Free hIasons may be
| attributed the tlrst movement for tho es-
adjustment OF tho National Helairia.