The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1901-12-06

Charles VanGilder, Harry a. Van
Glider, Franklin @. VanOrden, Dav id
r. Mott. Victor A. Wiss.
HISTORICAL SKETCH.
In response to a request from a
number of the members of the Mason
ic order in Morristown. the Chronicle
publishes brief historical sketch of
the Order Of the Mystic Shrine.
The Order of the Mobiles of the
Mystic Shrine was instituted by the
Mohammedan Kalif Alec, the cousin
german and SON in law of the. Prophet
Mohammed, in the year of the Hegira
20 "a. d. 644), at Mecca, in Arabia,
as an inquisition, or Vigilance Com
mittee, to dispense Justice and exc
cute punishment upon criminals who
escaped their just deserts through the
hardness of the courts, and also to
promote religious liberation among
cultured men of all nations.
The Nobles'' perfected their or
ganization and did such prompt and
efficient work that they excited alarm
and even CONSERVATION in the hearts
of the evil doors in all countries under
the Star and Crescent.
Thessecret and real purpose can only
be made known to those who have
encircled the Mystic Shrine according
to the instructions in 1.-THE Book of
the Constitution and the Regulations
of the Imperial Council"
It's membership in all countries in
cludes Christians, Israelites, Moslim,
and men in high positions of learning
and of power.
The character of the order as it ap-
pears to the uninitiated is that of a
politico-religious society. 1t is really
more than such society could be !;
and there are hidden meanings in it's
simplest symbols that take hold on
the profoundest depths of the heart.
Among the traditions of the order
occurs this very significant record !:
In no single instance has the gov
eminent in any country ventured
openly to oppose the silent, secret
workings of the MOBILES" although
the secret agents of the government
are always present and exercise a
careful surveillance in every Mystic
Temple. -
The salutation of distinction among
the faithful is, Els Salamu Aleikum'
Peace bel with You, to which is
returned the gracious wish, "Aleikum
es Salaam g With you be peace. "
The jewel of the order is crescent,
formed of any substance. The most
valued materials are the claws of the
Royal Bengal tiger, united at their
bases in gold setting which includes
their tips, and bears on one side of
the centre the head of sphinx, and
on the other a pyramid, urn, and
star; with the date of the wearer's re-
ception of the order, and the motto:
Arabic Kuwat wa Ghadab. -
Latin Robur ct Furor "
English Strength and Fury
On June 6, 1876, 1.-The Imperial
Council for North America" was
formed, and the first officers were
elected, as in Arabia, for the term of
three years. Ill. Walter M. Fleming
became Imperial Potentate, and III. -
WIS. Paterson, Imperial Recorder.
The prerequisite for membership in
Europe, Asia. Africa, and America
is the 80 degree A. A. S. Rite (18 de-
grees in England), or knight Temp
lar in good standing.
The generous proposition to make
the Order of the Mobiles an organiza-
ton for the exercise of charity, the
improvement of the mind, and an
ally of the Fraternity of Freemasonry
in the United States, was primarily
adopted by the Imperial Council
Subordinate Temples have been
chartered in nearly every state of the
Union by dispensation or in other
constitutional manner, under the au-
thority of the Imperial Council.
The late William J. Florence, the
popular comedian, is concededly one
of the first two founders of the Order
in America, the other being DIR. Walter
M. Fleming, of New York, who pre-
sided over Mecca Temple (the first
temple) nearly seventeen years, and
was first Imperial Potentate of the
Imperial Council, over which he also
presided for about twelve years.
When pilgrimages to Mecca were
interrupted by the Crusades about A.
d. $50, the Mohammedans west of the
Nile journeyed to Fee Tor Fas). in
Morocco, as to a holy city. Among
the flourishing manufactures of the
city was head covering called tar
boosh, now known as fez, which was
dyed scarlet for the students in a