The state herald. (Holyoke, Logan County, Colo.) 1887-1921, 1912-06-21

lHt SUelh Oh lHt Senuesl u
w conveys little meaning to
the average reader, but
those conversant with conditions in
North Africa know that 1t refers to
powerful secret society with men,
berships sometimes estimated as high
as 100000: that the sheik is absolute
chief of this organization and that 1t
is but one out OF dozen societies
that embrace several million of the
Moslem inhabitants Of North Africa.
The order OF Sidi Mohammed ben
Ali es Senussi is the youngest as well
brotherhoods and a description of It
will serve for all, since they differ
principally In having different found
ers and somewhat different rituals.
The followers of Sidi Yusuf 81 Hansali,
for instance, repeat 200 times at each
of the five periods OF prayer the fol-
lowing formula: 20 God. peace be
unto our lord and master Mohammed,"
while the adherents Of Sidl Mohammed
ben Abderrhaman are bound to NUT
ter at least 5000 times a day the Mo
hammedan declaration 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. dy.
ing. designated him as his successor
The doctrine OF Chadhelism taught
by Ahmed ben Edris and taken up by
his successor consisted in n supposed
return to the original purity OF Islam
and n general renunciation Of the lux,
uries OF life. His followers were
taught TO obey no authority unless II
showed itself worthy by proper oh.
servaEce OF the Koran. and to have no
dealings with Christian or Jew.
Taxed for Aims.
Tho brothers live all over North AZ.
RIGA following their usual pursuits and
wearing no distinguishing mark save
the rosary common TO all Moslem
secret society men. In practice they
are bound unquestloninrly TO obey all
orders sent out by their superiors. to
carry all disputes TO their religious su.
periors rather than to courts OF law
md TO pay an annual tax OF 2il per
cent. Of their capital or, II without
capital. 10 do corresponding amount
OF work on the domains Of the broth.
erhood. The wealth thus poured into
the various monhsterles Ia largely dis.
pensed 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
20 grow and the new head. in order TO
be sim more remote from civilization,
removed to the oasis Of Kufra. deep
in the hinterland Of Tripoli The only
European who has ever sot foot in
this stronghold was Gerhardt Rohifs.
n German surgeon long attached 10
the French foreign legion. Later no
pretended 10 be n convert 20 Mohnm.
mechanism md during tho seventies
mndc a series OF trips through the
Sahara. none Of which equaled In
thrills the one 10 Kuira. He was OK.
posed almost aa soon as he arrived
and turned back with n severe bullet
wound. Tho headquarters were then
moved 10 still more distant oasis.
but have since returned 10 Kufra
In taking over the brotherhood
along with Tripoli Italy has received
n possession that makes white ele.
plant by comparison seem like n use.
ful and desirable acquisition, Hatred
OF NIL unbclievcra In one OF its nrln.
clrni Doctrines, II IA capable Of MAX.
iny 10, Of trouble within ia tori.
tory Tho present head OF the order.
however. seems 20 BE- either very wary
or else lacking In decision and energy.
n disposition that Ia traced back two
decades 20 n crushing defeat which
the French inflicted on some OF his
followafs during their occupation Of
the SAHARA, The aholk. II IL report
cd haf started holy war 10 prevent
that Conquest. bu, the French had been