The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-05-02
ETHNIKE HETAIRIA.
SECRET SOCIETY WORKING rOn
GREEK FREEDOM.
The Stringent Rules for Admission
The ..Supreme Power ana sh~
Seal Used as SiEnature-The
Causes which Led to Its Extab-
lfshment.

intervention IN the Gr3eco-TurkiSh Situa-
tion holding in its hands the peace of Eu-
rope. was established three years ago, as
the sequel 10 that other secret Greek or
ganixation which. under the name of the
Friendly Hetairia, has prepared and ac-
complished the Independence of tho
Greek kingdom. says the New York
Tribune. II is difficult to state the ex-
tent of the membership of the National
Hetairia. because the initiation. as we'll
as the work OF its different departments.
Is kept In the strictest secrecy Judging.
however, from what has been learned IN
to now. and from the active members who
guide the movement, IL can be safely as
serted:
First-That the founders OF the Hetairia
are rich and highly educated Greeks, liv-
ing in Greece or in foreign lands. who.
besides material contributions, give also
their moral influence 10 the work
Second-That the founders originally be-
longed 10 the Greek provinces held by the
Turks. or are scions of celebrated fam
lilies OF free Greece. Thus. for instance.
George Gussio. the manager of the Anglo
Egyptian bank. and one of the chiefs of
the Hetairia, who personally attended to
the equipment of the revolutionary corps
which entered into Macedonia last Thurs
day, Is himself a Macedonian. Michael
Mellas is an ex-mayor of Athens and
president of the council of the Hetairia.
He belongs 10 noble family of the Epirus.
ID. Stefanou. who is also member of the
council. IS a former minister of foreign
affairs of Greece
Third-The bylaws of the Hetairia dis
tinctly prohibit Its Intervention in the
interior political affairs of the kingdom.
Fourth-The object of the Hetairia is the
liberation of all Greeks still remaining un-
der Turkish msruIe
The Friendly Hetairia of which mention
has been made. divided its members into
- u
priests. shepherds. arch-shepherds. devo-
tees and the chiefs of the devotees. When
a member was admitted to the Hetairia
he was commanded to have ready his
arms and fifty cartridges. so as 10 be pre-
pared when the orders of his chiefs should
be issued. While advancing to the higher
degrees the member was taught that he
must fight TO the death the enemies of the
religion of the Greek race and hts father
land. and during the initiation a sword
was intrusted to the candidate with the
following admonition from the chief:
'"rhy country hands thee this sword. SO
thou canst unsheathe II for her sake"
The membership certificate which was
handed to the advanced members bore the
sign of the cross and underneath a re-
versed crescent.
The "supreme Power"
The same degrees of membership and
similar bylaws, evidently. have also been
adopted by the National Hetairia OF today.
which has signs and passwords for the
recognition OF members holding the same
degree. as well as for communication be-
tween all degrees. with the exception OF
the lowest. who cannot communicate with
or know the highest. The National Hetai-
ria has also n cipher for correspondence
between its different branches. thus insur-
ing secrecy for what passes from one TO
another. Whenever the Hetafria deems IL
necessary to publish o document. such
document is signed by the council. COM
posed of persons enjoying the general re-
spect of every one for services rendered to
the country. and OF prominent social and
financial position This council however.
always signs in the name OF the Supreme
Power" exactly the same as in the case OF
the documents of the Friendly Hetairia.
But who or what this Supreme Power" il
no one up to the present time has learned.
and 1t will probably never be learned. It
is surmised from what has been disclosed
by people in close touch with members
holding high positions In the Hetairia that
the words Supreme Power do not ex-
press one or more known persons having
a higher power than that OF the council,
but simply the Idea which gave birth to
the society-that is. that OF the father
land.
Most of the documents of the Hetairia.
instead OF signatures. bear simply the
seal the words upon which. when trans
lated from the Greek into Latin. mean
I'm hoe signo vinces."
The immense power of the Hefairia does
not depend upon the large number of its
members, although from what Ia known IL
can safely be assumed that today its
membership spreads all over free ana
enslaved Greece. and in foreign lands IL
counted by thousands. The Hetairia's
power Is due mostly to the fact that its
managers are men we'll known for their
tried patriotism and their absolute hon.
esty, which inspires unlimited confidence
among the Greeks. To this is due the
large contributions which are spent with
out the demand for any supervision. It's
wonderful success is also due to the fact
that since it's establishment the society
has proved by facts that IL does not mix
itself in the interior politics of the coun-
try II Is immaterial to the society of
whom the government is composed. or
who. with the vote of the people. r. raised
10 power. IT being a society or league
exclusively national. This condition has
permitted and facilitated the combining
Of elements which I'm the interior are wide
~ separated. but which still unite now for
the highest interests of the fatherland.
The power Of the Hetairia Is furthermore
due TO the fact that only tried and APP
proved people are included In its member
ship. No one is permitted to join its ranks
until IL has been proved he Is man OF
honor and warm patriot. able either by
his social position or his intellectual tall
ents to contribute toward the success OF
the object OF the Hetairia. When all this
ls fully ascertaIned. the candidate IL re-
ceived by a secret ballot and admitted
only. by an absolute ma jority. Thanks 10
these stringent measures. the society has
been able to enroll the flower Of the most
developed Greek citizens counting among
it's inferior grades professors. officers in
the army and navy. scientists. merchants.
manufacturers. and In short all the FORE
most members Of the social and CONNER
cial world Of Greece.
who Established the societys
III the establishment Of the Friendly He
tairia OF 1914 was due to Greek merchant
from Afta. Nicholas Shotufa. to whom
can the revival or the birth Of the new
Hetairia be attributed? This Is not known.
but among those who follow closely what
is going on In Greece II Is not secret that
some Of the most enthusiastic and infiu-
entail followers Of the National Hetairia
are Free Masons. Taking into considera-
ton the fact that the Greek Freemasonry
has lately been organized. having It's
main object the freeing OF the Greeks stili
remaining under Turkish nisrule. II would
tend 10 the belief that 10 the Greek Free
Masons may be attributed the first move
rnent for the establishment OF the Nation
al Hetairia.
Spring IL full or terrors 70 all whose
constitution is not able to resist the sud-
den changes Of temperature and other in
saiifbrfffes OF the season. To put the sys-
- 49, I'D