Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-10-18
Sheik, Here Seeking Aid in
Move for Syrian Independ-
ence, Tells of Sect.
Absolute Secrecy Shrouding
Nation Made Necessary by
Continued Enemy Attacks.
BY THOMAS r. HENRY.

Oh the OruSeS, CLOSELY guarded SeCIeI
for nearly 1000 years, given to the
world
Such is the statement of Ameen
Hamada Bey, sheik of the Lebanon
Druses and brother of the Grand Sheik
HusSein Hamada, who is both spiritual
and political head of the little Druse
nation on the slopes of Mount Lebanon
which has maintained its integrity for
centuries against both Islam and
Christendom.
Ameen Hamada now is in Washington
after a visit to Druse and Syrian COM
munitieS throughout the United States.
The National Capital has small COM
munity of these people, known chiefly
in the past for their military exploits
against the Turks and the French. Now,
says Hamada. the Druse nation has
Joined hands with other Christian and
MoSlem sects for an independent Syria.
Although there has been much con-
lecture concerning the DruSe mysteries,
according to Hamada Bey. nearly
everything that has been published Is
very inaccurate since the full religion
is known only to small portion OF the
people themselves who have guarded
their secrets at the price of their lives.
Now, he believes, there is no further
reason for this and A. Mowhidine,
making an especial appeal to religiouSly
inclined intellectuals of all nations, may
become one of the corner stones OF a
new world religion. Hitherto the Druses
never have tried to preach their faith
to tohers, there have been no converts
and the secrets have been restricted
to born DruseS.
Greed Is Centuries Old.
Supposedly Al Mowhidine is a Mo-
hammedan cult. but, says Hamada Bey,
it might be called 1.-The extreme Protes-
tantiSm Of Islam" In describing the
creed of which his family are the chief
expounders, athe swarthy, soft-spoken
sheik of the Syrian mountains might
have been mistaken for an extreme
Christian modernist. "Al Mowhidine"
means Unitarian" and in the United
attend the Unitarian Churches, which
they find very similar to their own
temples"
The Druses, Hamada Bey, says. first
obtained their creed from one Of the
Fatimite caliphs of Egypt in the
eleventh century. AS result OF
persecution and wars they moved from
Irak to Syria and built for themselves
an impregnable community on the
mountain slopes. They were opposed
so bitterly by the other Moslem sectS
that the rule of secrecy was adopted.
AL Mowhidine makes use of the Koran
and the Old and New Testaments, the
sheik explained, but completely dis
counts the miracles in all of them,
teaches that reason Is the supreme
guide, and has a sort of transcendentalist
conception of the creation in which God
first created mind from which soul and
matter proceeded in order as ''conse-
quenceS." This rather obscure point,
which Is fundamental in this ancient
religion, Is close to some OF the most
advanced modern philosophy.
Consequently the prophets are con-
sidered as "personification of the mind
in action" and reverenced as such
rather than as human beings. The
Druses, says Hamada Bey, consider that
there is moral law in the world
handed down from Heaven, but are un-
willing to accept the biblical account
of the Ten Commandments. The sub
stance of these, says the sheik, recently
has been found in the Babylonian law
preceding Moses. thus bearing out the
Druse contention for thousand years
that they came down from the very
early days of the human race.
Consider Selves MOsIems.
The Druses, he said, accept fully the
philosophical concepts of Christianity
sonif1cations of mind in action" but
not as personally a supernatural being
or able to perform miracles. They con-
slider themselves Moslems, but attach
no particular significance to Mohammed,
except that he was the ancestor of the
caliph who first propounded their
philosophy.
They break entirely with Moham-
mechanism on the laws Of family rela-
- - s.ks-
and from the first have maintained the
institution of divorce Under Moham-
medan law the division of property is
strictly regulated. Under Druse law
the individual may will his property as
he pleases.
The substance of the Druse creed is
contained in a sacred book, THE
Wisdom" now entirely unknown out
side the nation itself. When it is
published, says the sheik, it will prove
a revelation to the world of this little
nation of mountain philosophers. Not,
he says, that all Druses are philosophers.
They are of all sorts, like everybody
else, but familiarity with the mysteries
is restricted to those who can under
stand them.
The Druse churches, he explained,
are very plain, and gold silver or any
sort Of ornament in the places OF Wor-
ship is forbidden. Instead these must
be used for charity. A striking differ
ence between the Druse creed ana Jul
daism, Islam and most of Christianity,
he says, deals with prayer.
The Encyclopedia Britannica says
that the Druses' are forbidden to pray
This, says the sheik is entirely wrong.
The true member of the cult must pray
great deal every day, but the prayers
are in the form Of a conversation with
the Deity rather than a supplication.
The DruSe is forbidden to ask for fa-
Vors in prayer. Things happen, he says,
according to the laws of nature, and 1t
would be considered extreme impiety to
plead that these laws be changed for
the sake of the individual. The usual
form of prayer, about which there has
been much speculation, he says, Is
merely: 20 God, I depend on Thee;
l want TO do Thy will"
Have Nothing to HIDE"
II see no further reason" says Ha-
mazda Bey, why the Druse religion should
remain secret any longer. The changes
brought about by the World War have
removed the reasons for secrecy. We
have nothing to hide. But since the
war we have been too busy to think
about 1t. Now we are struggling for our
national life and for the development
OF our country. When that is settled
we will turn to the other"
The Druse war with the French, he
said, is far from settled so far as the
Druses arc concerned, and he revealed
that the great Druse leader, Sultan
Pasha Atrash, now has retired into the
Arabian desert with nucleus of 5000
men, awaiting the result of present ne
gotiatiOns between Syrian leaders and
the French government. He never has
abdicated and doesn't intend to.