Grand Lodge.

GRAND LODGE .

LONDON , SATURDAY , SEPTEMBER 5 , 1 S 63 .

Tlie length of our report of the quarterly communication of Grand Lodge , and other interesting matter prevents us fully reviewing the proceedings in our present number , —indeed , we have in them materials for more than one article . ~ We congratulate the brethren on the settlement of the question with ,

regard to the Grand Lodge Property , and trust that tlie buildings will forthwith , be proceeded with . "With regard to the appeal from the decision of the Provincial Grand Master of Quebec , relative to the rig ht of visitors to be present at Masonic trials , we

altogether dissent from the dictum of , the Grand Eegistrar . Luckily , we have no such scandals as trials in the lodges in England proper , and must , therefore , look for our law to those countries where they are unfortunately too common ; and where , we are convinced , prying curiosity , or tlie love of slander , is not allowed to prevail over decorum .

On tbe next question which came before Grand Lodge , that of the right of P . 'Wardens under other Constitutions to become Masters in English lodges , we hold with the ruling of tbe Grand Master , that they must pass the "Warden ' s Chair in an English lodge , even though , as Bro . Stebbing contends , it may

give rise to some inconvenience in the colonies . The decision on the appeal of Bro . Lowry , of the South Tarra Lodge , is about as contradictory as it is possible to make it ; but what then ? it does not hurt the dignity of an over zealous official , though the

remarks of the Grand Master and other members of Grand Lodge are as condemnatory of his conduct as they well could be . We approve of the appointment of the Committee to consider the Constitution of the Board of Benevolence ; but upon this , and the other subjects touched upon , we shall have something more to say hereafter . '

The Mystical Principles Of Islamism; Or, A Lecture On The Derviches.

THE MYSTICAL PRINCIPLES OF ISLAMISM ; OR , A LECTURE ON THE DERVICHES .

BY BRO . JOHN . P . BROWN , CoNsxASTraorLE . Luring a recent visit to Smyrna , where I was received in a very flattering manner by my Masonic brethren , theD . Prov . G . M . waspleased to makeallusion to the attention which I had given to the subject of the Orders of Derviches , and their mystical rites , and

expressed the desire that I should favour the Craft with some account of my researches . With much pleasure I comply with what I may consider as a request from so high a source , especially as what I have to relate will enable my brethren to judge how far , if at all , there be a connection with , or similarit y between , the various Orders of the Derviches and Ereemasonry . At the same time , I hope that whatever I may have been able to collect on the

subject , or can be comprised in so small a space as a lecture , will be regarded as a commencement , to be followed up and improved upon by others , possessing facilities superior to my own . The subject is quite a new one , especially in the point of view proposed in the present lecture ; and I therefore must crave the friendly indulgence of the brethren for its

imperfections . I have repeatedly heard it reported at Constantinople , and even seen it so stated in the books of some writers on the East , that there were Masons , and Masonic lodges , in this country among the Mussulman part of the population . A Masonic brother told me that he had seen a Mussulman vessel at anchor in

the port ol Jeddah , m the Eed Sea , bearing a nag which contained a Masonic emblem . A few years ago , a worthy English brother , then in this city ( Constantinople ) , told me that he was assured by a Mussulman officer , who had- visited Europe , that there were Mussulman Masons , with lodges , in various parts of Turkey ; that there was a Grand Lodge at Scutari

, a lodge in Salonica , and another in Adrianople ; and that there were several lodges in this city , maintained in great secrecy , their external forms being those of private residences , so as to avoid attention ; and that , in place of the term "Erank Masons" ( a term not popular here ) they were called by the name of

, Mellamyoons . But the most remarkable assertion made by this person was , that there actually exists in a village on the Sea or Lake of Tiberias , in Palestine , strictly secret , a Grand Lodge , taken there at some remote period , during one of the cruel persecutions of the Jews .

Erom a respectable source I , some time ago , learned that there was a lodge at Belgrade , on the Danube . The name of this lodge , and that of the Worshipful Master , were given me , and I was particularly requested by a brother to ascertain , if possible , the correctness of this assertion , and to open a correspondence with the Master . In this view , I addressed a

letter to a foreign resident of this place ( since deceased ) , begging him , if practicable , to ascertain the truth of this report , ancl let me know the result . He was so good as to do this , and informed me of the existence , at Belgrade , of a Tekkeh of the Bektash Derviches , bearing the same name which had been given to me , and the Sheik was also known by the title I have heard . He added that he believed this Order did not hold any affinity with , or resemblance

to , 1 reemasonry , and that it was not based upon princi ples of fraternal benevolence , or , to use his own words , " that the benevolence of each member commenced with his own pockets , and also terminated there . " Not long after receiving this letter , I learned that the Sheik of this Tekkeh had come to Constantinople , andat my requesta brother Mason who knew

, , him Avas so good as to accompany him to see me . I had an interesting conversation with him , and ascertained that the information received from Belgrade , regarding the Order of the Tekkeh , and his own name , was entirely correct . He had , some years previouslyvisited Vienna and Berlinandat one of

, , , these cities , been initiated as an Apprentice Mason ; in evidence of which he showed me his diploma , ancl gave me the G . and S . of that degree . He evinced a strong desire to fraternise with me as a Mason , and thought there were many points of resemblance be-