New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-31
MAS0NS OF THE ORIENT.
41meer's Initiation and Role of the
Craft in AsiQ and africa.

Habib TIA Khan. Amer and King OF Afghan
istan Is the latest addition to the long list IF
rulers OF the Old Weird who belong 10 that i'm
nense fraternity know as the Free AIasons and
his initiation constituted one Of the most note
worthy episodes Of his two months visit TO
India. which has just been brought TO a close.
Not that he is the first Asiatc potentate to join
the craft. Masonry includes many Of the
sovereign princes, rajahs and nabobs Of India
among its members. It is at the lodge that
Moslem and high caste Hindoo meet the English
man on a common ground, on terms Of equality
and friendship. and Masonry has accom-
plished more toward the creation of a sentiment
Of brotherhood between the European and the
Oriental-two elements which are as difficult
10 blend as wine and OIL than anything else that
has ever been devised It is for this reason that
the English authorities in India, far from oppos-
ing. on the contrary view with satisfaction the
enread OF Freemasonry throughout King Ed
wards great Eastern empire and do everything
in their power 10 encourage the organization OF
new lodges. In all parts of the world secret
societies seem to appeal 10 the dusky races.
,7bev abound not only in Asia but also in
Africa For the most part their object Is
~ a fanatical or Of criminal order. 1t is there
core extremely iudicious on the part OF those
Western powers which have dependencies on the
mark Continent and in the Far and Near East
N take advantage Of this craze of the native for
secret societies TO induce him TO join an organ
izafion such as that OF the Free Masons the
,,urnose Of which is fraternal instead of homici-
dal
Here in America. as in the United Kingdom OF
Great Britain Masonry. IS SUCH holds ltseit
aloof from politics. which it regards as consil-
,,,.ing a source of discord. and as therefore cal
culated TO defeat the objects which IT has IN
faf~ frat
,ela+ions among all its brethren. It devotes
itself exclusively TO philanthropy 1t is possibly
owing 10 this that little advantage has been
taken as vet by the American authorities OF the
,,on,,lari.v Of Masonry among the natives OF the
77tvirnira Islands II was introduced there IN
the last two decades OF the Spanish domination
and in spite Of all the efforts Of the government
and Of the clergy to arrest its growth II spreau
ranialv all over the archipelago The principal
leaders Of the instructions that characterized
the closing wears Of Spanish rule held hlsh
rank in the craft which furnished theih win
The means of communicating rapidly anu sSOi''
Il, with their adherents. besides cohsu'u'ii's
o,,+ao Of LOYALTY and discretion. have ne
fore me as I write this remarkable iheIli'i i''
oda,essed by the Spanish clergy in the Fhiiip-
- - the home government at Madrid III
Anru ls9s-that IS TO say, a few weeks
tora the hattie Of Manila Much OF this meiloi'-
Al i gtven up 10 denunciation Of the author
,,ies Of the archipelago for not acting Win 81
accent energy in the suppression OF free oi0So,'
~ which il declares had built up a wan oi r.,
ration between the natives and Spal'iarus
clergy demonstrate in the address tlat TIC
revolutionary movement against Hpai-l Ga
snaare6 by the Katipunan Lodge al MAMMA 80
,7resict that the supreness or the eoNei
- ,-,,;,s on. Masonry among the natives
@J,a aKyan
would inevitably eliminate IN the 49,,
% % ae,a- this was written the prophecy
q i''o @.,araa and n this day many spaniards
oo,,,,,roaa that the sacrifice of these
colonies was due far more 10 the
Of the Masonic craft than to the toree u