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

rants during the initiation . The arrival at the portal of the applicant is made known to the Sheik , as that of a Kool , or slave , and he is led in by his two guides to the centre of the apartment . This is always a perfect square in shape , the four angles signifying the four columns of the Suffaistic principles previousl y

explained . He is placed on a large stone in the centre , which has twelve scallops , in memory of the twelve Imaams , called the Maydan-Tash . This represents the altar on which Ishmail ( Isaac ) was to havebeen offered up as a sacrifice b y his father Ibrahim ( Abraham ) , in perfect submission to the commands

of Allah ; his arms are crossed on his breast , his hands resting on his shoulders ; his body is in an inclining position , and his right toes extend over those of his left foot . In this position , the guides , addressing the Sheik , again inform him that they have brought him a Kool , or slave , who is desirous of seeking the truth ,

and has been properly tested . The Sheik is seated in front of the entrance in a position directed to the Keabeh of Mecca , called the Mihrab , and is attended by eleven members , AA'ho with him represent the twelve Imaams . These eleven form the officers of the Tekkeh , and as such have particular titles . The

Sheik represents the Caliph Aali . The destitute -condition of the neophyte is an evidence of his design to abandon the joys aud pleasures of the world , and -to give himself up to spiritual meditation , and all the observances of abstinence and abstraction , and to thus search after a nearer approach to the Deity . Various

prayers are performed by the Sheik and all present , which are detailed in the Ritual , at the conclusion of which he approaches the Sheik , and , after assuming a peculiar position , his right hand pressed in a particular manner in that of the Sheik , the latter recites the 10 th verse of the GSth chapter of the Koran , as follows : —¦

" Those who , on giving thee their hand , swear to thee an oath of fidelity , swear it to God . The hand of God is placed in their hand . Whoever violates "this oath will do so to his hurt ; aud to whomever remains faithful , God will give a magnificent reward . " He is next told , in an impressive manner , that

death awaits him in case he ever discloses the secrets and mystical rites of the Order ; and he is required to take the following vow , repeating the words as they are articulated b y the Sheik : — "Mohammed is my Rehper ( guide ) . ' •' Aali is my Murchid" ( spiritual director ) .

The Sheik then asks him : — "Do you accept me as your Murchid ?" And the Murid ( or disci ple ) having replied in the affirmative , the Sheik declares—. " I then accept you as my son . " These vows may seem to be of little importyet

, they have , to devout Mussulmans , a signification of ¦ an impious aud aAvful nature ; for they place the blessed Prophet and the holy Koran inferior to Aali , and the Sheik , as the representative of Aali , in the place of the Prophet . I am not aware that thisor any other Order of

, the Derviehes , possesses secret signs of recognition other than a placing of the hand on the chin , or immediatel y below it , —perhaps in memory of their vow . This is , I believe , also limited to the Bektashees on entering a Tekkeh ; they bow to the Sheik , laying the

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

right hand across the breast , which is called Bayoon Kesmeh ( cutting the throat or neek ) j in token of humility and of submission . All Mussulmans make use of the double triangle , called the Muhur-i-Suliman , or " seal of King Soliman , son of David , " the motto of which is , in Persian ,

Een niz bugzered , or , "this also will pass away ; " and the Melamgoons , mentioned in another part of this lecture , place on their tombs a figure resembling an hour-glass , or two perfect angles , with an angle of each joined , and with two points above and one on each side of the figure . Others use a single triangle ,

with one or two points under it . The salutation of most Derviehes is , "Ya , Hco , Ereulei ! " with the ri ght hand laid across the breast ; and the answer is "Ay Yallah , Shahim . " On departing , the , Dervich says , "Ay Yallah ! " and the response is , "Hoo , Dost ! " * In concluding my very lengthy lecture , I would add one of their traditions as an illustration of the faithful

manner m which the Derviehes keep the secrets of their Order . It is related that once an Eastern Sovereign , being desirous of ascertaining the secret mysteries of the Derviehes ( probably of the Bektashees ) , eoufidecl to them at their Ikrar , or initiation , had one of the fraternity brought before him . After

failing to induce him to reveal them by promises of reward , he threatened him with death , and the extinction of his Order . The Dervich , faithful to his vow , declared that he could not divulge them , but said that he possessed a book , which , if properly used , Avould enli ghten the Sovereign . This bookhowever

, , he refused to give up , and in his anger the Sovereign , after having had the Dervich decapitated , made diligent search for the coveted secrets Avhich he supposed Avould be found in the book , on the person of the martyr to his vow . The Sovereign , seated on his throne , surrounded by his Court , eagerly seized upon

the book , and , hastily turning over its leaves , Avetting his fingers for that purpose , sought anxiously after those on which the secrets were inscribed . Leaf after leaf Avas turned over , —the one as blank as the other , —until the poison in which they had been steeped having taken effect , the Sovereign fell over and expired in the arms of his frightened courtiers .

Masonic Notes And Queries.

MASONIC NOTES AND QUERIES .

OrEKACIA'E I'REEJUSONKY . In some MSS . it is stated that at the Grand Lodge convened by King Athelstan , MSS . were produced in Hebrew , Greek , Latin ( preserved since the Roman times ) , and other languages , and implying that the accounts of Masonry , given in different countries , were compiled from these documents . I doubt the existence

of a Grand Lodge so early , but should he glad if any brother would give his reasons for believing in such . Tho Hebrew evidently swallowed up all the other systems in England . —ANAME or 11 IBA 3 I ABIJF . "R . E . X . " is using his time , I fear , very unprofitably . First show that Abiff was used in our ceremonies before 1760 . —A .