The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-07-08
NOIANNEDANS
IN THIS COUNTRY
Thousands Who Profess Belief in the
Religion Of the Turk are Fol-
lowed in His Steps.

TIL, fact that Abdel Karin, the Egyptian
mystic has come all the way from caro-
TO Kenosha Wis. 10 settle the disputes
OF the Truth knowers and TO depese Or
Ibrihn! G. khieralla of Chicago. from MS
position as leader OF the sect In this coun-
try. has once mora called attention TO the
2aCr that there is a large and ever m
creasius. congregation OF fuli-fledSed Mo-
hamlr sdans in the United States
This OF course, does not mean that
enough of the followers of the prophet
have como to this country to make the
establishment Of such congregation
possible. but there are thousands of Amer
leans OF education and refinement who
have turned their back upon all the ten
cts OF Christianity to embrace the faith OF
the Turk.
Startling as such an assertion may be. 1t
IS nevertheless the truth. and the TACT mat
Abdel Karin should have taken the trouble
to travel such a distance TO depose Dr.
Khieralla and expose what he regarded
as the errors Of the Chicagoans teachings.
proves concusively that the sect must
have assumed quite respectable proper
tons.
For several years or almost since the
days of the Congress of Religions. the So
ciety known as the Truth krowers has
been euga ged III prGmuigating its doctrines
throughout tho West. Whila the heaGuuar-
tiers OIL TIE SOC!tLS was d. -NStISS4iS'' ~ 80
branches were established in other cit
les, even a few converts being made III the
East
AS the society was secret in character.
however. and as the members were care
full to conceal their beliefs as we'll as
their identity from the world, the general
public knew little about them. In fact
this secrecy was maintained until about
year ago. when Slogan Vatralsky, a
bulgarian who had been devotins his
time 10 the study of religions since his
graduation from Harvard, in 1891. took
the initiation necessary 70 become a mem
Der of the society, and then promptly ex-
posed its secrets.
A PERSIAN SECT
According 10 VatraIsky Truth knowers''
is simply another name for Babism. one
of the leading sects of Mohammedanisn
This sect arose III Persia in the year lSi-.
Seyed Mon1mued All being its prophet
and founder. He made a pilgrimage TO
Mecca anG returned to Persia with a COM
mcntary on the Koran, composed by HIM
self. He thsr proceeded to make the claim
that all previous revelations had been
hut prefssuratons of him, and that he
himself was Bah the gate through which
all true kbCw edge came to mortaIs- Dis
ciples frckeG 10 him and he headed an
instruction, but, being defeated, was ex-
ecUted. His followers, however, fled 70
Turkey, and from that place has spread
the Babst doctrine that has found its
latest converts in Wisconsin.
Although the sect OF Truth Kaowers is
composed entirely of law abiding and re-
fined American citizens, Vatralsky cannot
say enough in condemnation of it. THE
teaching ne says, lis insidious. II is
mora pantheistic than Christian Science,
more absurd than Mormonism and is pow
erfui t!lrolSh its esoteric IDEAS Secrecy
lends it strength. and is by far the most
dangerous cult h.at has as yet made it's
appearance on this continent. l cannot
believe that the majority OF these people
know in reality the nature of the teachings
to which they have surrendereSi them
selves.
yatralsky claims to speak Will. the au-
thority resulting from a careful study OF
the religion, and he states that he is pre-
pared at any time to substantate his as
sertions.
The Truth Knowers. on the other hand,
claim that their religion does not coacsrn
The outside world; that this country recos-
nizes liberty of bslief and worship. and that
if they. then. wish to Worship according 70
the faith of Mohamnled. il IS their auSi-
ness and no ons has the right to foro!o
them from doing SO. position s:iat -
undoubtedly correct.
In facs. If they had not eomm93esi to
Quarrel among themselves i; is iou9iIul
II the general public would have Gone
NOR, than devote ordinary curiosity 20
the doings of their society. Now that the
disputes have assumed such proportions
that il has been necessary to summon the
head of the sect from Egypt. 1t is bur
natural that people should take trifIe
more interest in this American adaptation
of the religion of the Turk
THE REAL HEAD
Dr. Ibritl;u e Khetra.la. who has been
the cause of all this publicity and dis
cord. is a most Interesting character a
few years ago he was clergy man OF the
Church OF England. but he had long been
interested IN occult matters. and when
~ opportunity TO make study OF them