The Hope pioneer. [volume] (Hope, N.D.) 1882-1964, 1909-08-12
POWER IN TURKEY
GREAT MAN INDEED IS THE
TcHELEsi OF KoNlAH.
Next to ths sultan Ranks the Head
Of the DsrvIshes, Whom the
Mass Of the People Fear
and. Love,

Next to the sultan, the Tchelebi Of
koniah. who was summoned sooner
than was planned to grid the sword of
Osman upon Mehemed ", is the great.
est Parsonage In the Ottoman empire,
for he is the direct descendant of Ala
Eddtn, sultan Of the Seljuks. who
gave up his title to the founder of
the present dynasty, Osman the IL
lustrtous, SO as to be able to lead q
retired life. This happened early in
the fourteenth century. and aver since
then the descendants of Ala Eddin
have invested the sultan by gtrding
him with Osman's sword.
The Tchelebi and his followers,
who are rich in land and live In a
monastery at Koniah In Asia Minor,
are known to the European world as
dancing dervtshes. "A derytsh can be
either 9 dancing or a bowling dervtsh.
but q dancing dervish ranks higher
than his bowling brother. Their cere-
mony, as performed in q sitting hall
on Tuesdays and Fridays in Pera or
Scutart, GEMS to the tourist rather
comical. but behind 1t lies that deep
reverence for the prophet and the
fanatfcism Of the faithful. It is
through. the dervishes that the Turk
ish masses understand their religion.
Therefore. they are not to be des-
pissed, even by the tourist, whilst to
the historian they form a link be-
tween modern religion and the long
forgotten practices Of ancient Egypt.
Each dervish. on entering Tchele-
bis monastery, has to take a VOW Of
chastity, poverty and obedience, his
calling answering to that Of the monk
Of western ideas. All the same they
are allowed to marry and have .
house IN the town. though they must
pass at least two nights q week in.
their monastery. Neither do they
keep strictly to the vow of poverty,
for besides a trade. many get large
sums as presents from the faithful.
Humility Of soul they profess: but no
man has 9 prouder manner and ex-
terror than a dervish. The monastery
Of Koniah, over which Tchelebi rules.
is very large indeed: but the usual
number OF inmates IN such places is
about 40. Their chief is called q sheik
or Grand Mufti. They get their food
and lodging free, and are supposed
to take their meals alone In their
cells. To the European mind, how
ever, they seem to spend most Of
their time In cafes and other public
places, whore they tharangue the ~peo-
pie and receive OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
is supposed TO be forbidden. They go
long Journeys; the Koniah dervishes
often reaching India. Every Mohamu-
medan offers them food and lodging
on the way, q they get there for
nothing.
Amongst the more educated Turks
they have lost much Of their ancient
prestige and they have come down to
be mere conjurers. But the people
fear and love them, and did Tchelebi
Of Koniah refuse to GRID on Osman's
sword, or did the sultan abolish the
ceremony, millions Of the faithful
would refuse to acknowledge Mehem.
ed v. as their caliph. There are, in
the Ottoman empire, about six Of
these monasteries, which the Turks
call Mevlivi. from the name Of their
founder ~ Mevievahina- Djellah-Eddhr
el-Roumi. They have tekha or con
vent at Pera, Constantinople; and ).
room at Scutari. where they perform
their exercises.