The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1909-11-16
POWER IN TURKEY
GREAT MAN INDEED is THE
TcHELEBl OF KoNlAH.
Next to the Sultan Ranks the Head
Of the Dervishes, Whom the
Mass Of the People Fear
and Love.


Next to the sultan, the Tchelebi OF
koniah, who was summoned sooner
Van was planned to gird the sword OF
Osn4an upon Mehemed ". is the great
est parsonage in the Ottoman empire
or he IS the direct desceadan- Of Ala
.dcin, sultan Of the sei1uks, who
gave up his title to the founder OF
the present dynasty, Osman the Il.
ustrious, so as to be able to lead q
sured life. This happened early In
he fourteenth century, and ever since
lsn the descendants Of Ala Eddn
nave invested the sultan by girding
mia with Osman's sword
The Tchelebi and his followers,
who are rich in land and live in 4
monastery at koniah in Asia Minor,
ire known to the European world as
ssncing dervishes. A dervish can be
either a dancing or bowling dervish,
but a dancing dervish ranks higher
than his bowling brother Their cere-
mony, as performed In sitting hall
on Tuesdays and Fridays in Pera or
Scutari, seems to the tourist rather
comioal, but behind 1t lies that deep
reverence for the prophet and the
fanaticism of the faithful. 1t Is
through the deryishes that the Turk.
lsh masses understand their religion.
Therefore, they are not to be des-
pissed. even by the tourist, whilst to
the historian they form 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 a
house in the town, though they must
pass at least two nights a 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 a 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 a 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, where they harangue the peo-
pie and receive present" begging
is supposed to be forbidden They go
long journeys; the Koniah dervishes
often reaching India Every Moham-
medan offers them food and lodging
on the way, so 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 coniurers. But the people
fear and love them, and did Tchelehi
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
lhese monasteries which the Turks
call Mevlivi. from the name Of their
founder -Dieliah-Eddin-
el-Roumi They have telkha or con
rent at Pera, Constantinople; and
.oom at Scutari, where they perform
heir exercises.