Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-05-27
SOME MosLEM BRoTHERHooDs.
Powerful Secret Society Useful in
Promotion of Holy Wars.

When an occasional war dispatch
from Tripoli mentions the sheik of the
Senussi it conveys little meaning to the
average reader but those conversant
with conditions in North Africa know
that it refers TO a powerful secret So
eiety with membership sometimes es-
timated as high as 100000; that the
ehaik is absolute chief of this organiZa-
ton. and that it is but one out of a
dozen societies that embrace several
million of the Moslem inhabitants of
North Africa.
The order of Sidi Mohammed ben Ali
IS Senassi is the youngest as Well as
the largest and most jealous of the
hrotherhoods, and description of it
will serve for all, since they differ prin-
eipally in having different founders
and somewhat different rituals, says
the New York sun. The followers of
Sidi Yusuf ell Hansal, for instance, re-
peat 200 times at each of the five peri
DDS of prayer the following formula:
20 Ged, peace be unto our lord and
master Mohammed." while the adher-
ents of Sidi Mohammed ben Abderrha-
man are bound to mutter at least 5000
times day the Mohammedan declara-
ton of faith: There is no God but
God; Mohammed is the prophet of
God
The Senussis owe their name to an
Algerian lawyer, who left the country
on the French conquest and Travelled in
the Orient, becoming a disciple at
Mecca OF Ahmed ben Edris, who dying.
designated him as his successor The
doctrine of Chadhelism taught by Arm
ed ben Edris and taken up by his sue
ccssor consisted in a supposed return
to the original purity of Islam and
general remuneration of the luxuries OF
life. His followers were taught to obey
no authority unless it showed itself
worthy by proper observance of the
Eoran and to have no dealings with
Christian or Jew. IT was 1897 that ST.
di Mohammed Senussi founded the
brotherhood which bears his name.
2 Appealing strongly to fanaticism, the
Senussio order rapidly became the
most powerful in North Africa. with
headquarters at Jerabub. near the
Egyptian frontier of TTipolitania and
branch monasteries all over the coun-
try. Tripolitania was at that time.
and for the most part is yet, land
wholly out of the course of civilization,
and the Senussis We're as isolated there
as the Mormons during the first years
in Utah.
The brothers live all over North At
RIGA, following their usual pursuits and
wearing no distinguishing mark save
the rosary common to all Moslem Sc
cret society men. In practice they are
bound unquestioningly to obey all ord
ers sent out by their superiors. to carry
all disputes to their religious superiors
rather than to courts Of law. and to
pay an annual tax OF 1-2 per cent of
their capital, or, il without capital. to
do corresponding amount of work on
the domains Of the brotherhood. The
wealth thus poured into the various
monasteries is largely dispensed in
aims. which helps further to increase
the prestige of the order.
on the death of the founder, his son
succeeded him. The order continued
to grow, and the new head, in order TO
be still more remote from civilization.
removed to the oasis of Kufra, deep in
the hinterland of Tripoli. The only
European who has ever set foot in the
stronghold was Gerhardt Rohlfs, q
German surgeon long attached to the
II
tended to be a convert to Mohainme-
danism, and during the 'T0s made a
series of trips through the Sahara. none
Of which equaled in thrills the one to
Kufra. He was exposed almost as soon
as he arrived and turned back with a
severe bullet wound. The headquarters
were then moved to a still more distant
oasis, but have since returned 10 Kufra.
tl<. oil
with Tripoli Italy has received a pos
session that makes white elephant
by comparison seem like n useful and
desirable acquisition. Hatred of all I'M
believers is one of its principal doc
trines 1T is capable of making "A lot Of
trouble within it's territory. The pres
ent head Of the order. however, seems