New-York tribune., 1909-05-11
SULTAN TAKES SWORD
CORONATION CEREMONI
IN TURKEY.
Crozcds Cheer Ne1C Ruler-Chrls-
tians admitted to Ayoub Mosque
Americans See Procession.

Americans See Procession.
ConstantfpopIe May 10.-Mehemed ended his
coronation day by ploughing a furrow IN the lawn
at Dolga- -Bagtsche Palace smybolically, at least
by holding the plough handles for a fraction of u
minute while two horses dragged it few yards
In carrying out the ancient test Mehemed V
showed himself 70 be sound OF body ana nj 10
bear the physical burdens of the empire.
1t had been a day both of fulfment Of ancient
customs and Of the breaking of them. Christians
were for the first time admitted to the small
mosque attached TO Ayoub Mosque and allowed to
see the ceremony Of girdins the sword OF Osrhah
upon the Sultan. Among the thirty persons pres
ent were Bucknam Pacha. an American. VINO mas
a high post in the Turkish navy. and WOODS
Pacha an Englishman who is also in the Turkish
service They were impressed with the beauty ana
solemnty of the ceremony, which, with the chants
of the priests lasted only twenty minutes.
As the Sultan crossed the courtyard of the
mosque to enter his carriage a white-turbaned
hadji. or teaching priest caused moments eN-
element by running forward with q petition
which he tried 10 hand &c the Sultan at the same
time talking wildly about the Koranic law. Two
soldiers caught him and hurried him out of the
yard. -
LAMENTATIONS IN THE CITY.
The day. notwithstanding rumors of reactionary
plots passed peacefully and without sign Of dis
furbance Lights are blazing in the minarets end
mosques of Constantinople tonight. the ships IN
the harbor are outlined in electric bulos and the
city generally is celebrating enthusiastically the
girding of the Sultan.
The Sultan went in launch from the Dolma-
Bagtsche Palace TO the Ayoub Mosque, where he
drew the scimitar OF his ancestor Osman I. the
founder Of the Ottoman Empire. from its sheath.
and standing in the square in front Of the group OF
buildings called the Sublime Porte, he raised the
weapon on high and took possession of the Turkish
Empire
The action Of che Sultan followed by an out
burst of shouting from the people massed beyond
the lines of the surrounding troops. together with
a fanfare Of trumpets and a rattle of musketry as
the soldiers fred salute. but above all this noise
rose sharp and clear the voices Of chorus or
schooboys chanting NIidhat Pachas Hymn OF
Liberty"
The scene a strange mixture OF historical
Eastern observance and modern Western civiliza-
ton. Mehemed Y. the first Sultan in four centuries
who has had blue eyes and fair hair. wore a
Western uniform of olive green khaki. He Is also
the first beardless ruler off his line. He wears a
pointed mustache Within sight Of the square were
the Byzantine walls of the city and the Genoese
tower of st. Sophia His majesty stood upright in
an open carriage fresh from a Paris factory. and
raised, with dignifed gesture the ancient sword
by thirty-four of his ancestors since the con-
quest of Constantinope.
'ARMENIANs AT THE CEREMONY.
In addition to the Sheik-ul-Isam and the uIema
Of the higher grades. there stood Me
herned representatives the principal religions OF
the empire. These were the Greek patriarch the
chief Jewish rabbi, three leading Armenans and
representatives of the Bulgarian Exarchate and
the Gregorian Protestants. The old Moslems in
the crowd were astonished TO see these despised
individuals sharing in the ceremony but only loyal
cheers resounded as the Sultan replaced the his
toric weapon, with its hilt OF sparkling jewels in
the scabbard. and the procession moved onward.
The sword OF OsTnan was taken at early hour
this morning from the treasure house OF the Old
Seraglio and carried to the mosque by Chelbi.
the Holy One Of Konia.' C'helib is grand master
Of the Melevee. Dancing Dervishes. He IS
puted TO be a direct descendant Of Jella-Leddeen,
who founded the order in the thirteenth century.
He is man of modern ideas and has introduced
agricultural machinery among the people. Incl
dentally, he that the American agents selling
these implements get their money.
THE WELCOME AT THE MOSQUE.
The Sultan was accompanied TO the Ayorb
Mosque. named after the standard bearer of the
Prophet. by Field Marshal Ghazi Moukhtar, his
and the Grand Vizier. The party
received by the Sheik-ul-Islam, clad in
coored silk robes and wearing a green turban.
and large gathering OF ulema wearing white and
green turbans some being clad in white. some in
black and in purple gowns. There were also
present the members OF the cabinet, the principal
military and naval officials deputations from both
houses of parliament and officials OF the court
Only of the who were in the service Of
Abdul Hamid at the palace in the old days
present. He was Ghalib Pacha, Abdul HamiCs
secretary for foreign correspondence, who is now
one of Mehemed's chamberlans and acted to-day
master OF ceremonies.
Only a few men entered the mosque after the
Sultan. The service consisted first of the usual
prayers Then three priests chanted special
prayer for the sword girding THE Holy One OF
Konia" then took the case containing the sword
of Osman and broke the seal. He removed the
sword and kissed it, and then handed it the
Sheik-ui-Islam, who in turn pressed his lips TO
the weapon and offered it to Mehemed. The Sultan
kissed the sword and returned it 10 the Sheik-ul-
Islam, who in turn handed it back to The Holy
One of Konia," who grded the weapon on the
sovereign as q symbol that the spiritual power of
the Church had been committed, together with
the temporal rule to Mehemed. The Sultan then
prayed in silence. and the ceremonies within the
mosque closed with chant
ARMoRED AUTOMOBILE IN PROCESSION
The procession which made its way through
Stamboul was led by armored automobile carry
ing a machine gun and detachments chosen from
all the branches Of the service. A great number
OF ecclesiasts and the ministers. deputies
drove in carriages The people cheered not
only the Sultan himself, but all the other well
known personages.
The Sultan himself looked cheerful and interested
and returned the greetings Of the immense crowd
with mods and salaams. To the ambassadors he
extended his right hand. The diplomatic repre-
sentatives had gathered under large blue and red
tent that had been set up in a Gisused cemetery
near the mosque Nine other large tents of green
and yellow were arranged close by for Journalists
members of the Committee of Union and Progress
and visitors from abroad All were guests Of the
government 4 buffet luncheon was served during
the long wait