Correspondence.

CORRESPONDENCE .

We do not hold ourselves responsible for the opinions of our Cor . respondents . All Letters must hear the name and address of the Writer , not necesxarily for publication , but as a guarantee 0 / good faith . We cannot undertake to return rejected communications .

THE MYSTIC SHRINE .

To the Editor of the FREEMASON ' S GHRONICLE . DEAR SIR AND BROTHER , —When I referred to the Mystic Shrine , in my last communication , I wag ignorant of its history . Bat I have since then got hold of a boob published in New York in 1885 , by Bro Bobert Macoy , viz ., " Masonic Directory and Cyolopaadia of History , " in which I find the following account ; it ig thus headed : —

" ORIGIN AND HISTORT OF THE ANCIENT ARABIC OBDER or THE NOBLES OF THE MYSTIC SHRINE . " The Order of the Nobles of the Mystic Shrine [ says my authority ] was instituted by the Mahommedan Kalif Aler , the cousin germane and son-in-law of the Prophet Mahommed , in the year of the

Hegira 25 ( A . D . 656 ); at Mekkah , in Arabia , as an Inquisition or Vigilance Committee , to dispense justice and execute punishment upon criminals who escape their just deserts through the tardiness of the courts , and also to promote religious toleration among cultured

men of all nations . " Tbe Order is yet one of the most highly-favoured among the many secret societies whioh abound in Oriental countries , and gathers aronnd its shrines a select few of the best educated and cultured classes .

" Its membership in all countries includes Christians , Israelites , Moslems , and man in high positions of learning and of power . One of the most noted patrons of the Order is the present Khedive of Egyyt , whose inclination towards Christians is well known . " Frequent revolutions , however , in Arabia , Persia , and Turkey have

obscured the Order from time to time , as appears from the many breaks in the continnity of the records at Mekkah , but it has as often been revived . Some of the most notable revivals are those at Mekkah and Aleppo in A . D . 1698 ( A . H . 1110 ) and at Cairo in A . D . 1837 , ( A . H . 1253 ) the latter under the protection of the Khedive of

Egypt , who recognised the Order as a powerful means of civilisation . " Tbe Nobles of the Mystio Shrine are sometimes mistaken for certain orders of Dervishes , such as those known as the Hanafeeyeh , Rnaeeyh , Sadireeyh and others , either howling , whirling , dancing , cr

barking , but this is an error . The only connection the Order ever had with any sect of Dervishes was with that called Bektash ( white hats ) . This warlike sect undertook to favour and protect the ' Nobles' in a time of great peril , and have ever since been counted among its most honoured patrons .

" The famous Arab known as the Bektash , from a peculiar high white hat or cap which he made from a sleeve of his gown , the founder of the sect named in his honour , was an Iman in the army of Sultan Amurath I ., the first Mohammedan who led an army into Europe ,

A . D . 1330 . This Sultan was the fonnder of the military order of the Janizaries ( so called because they were freed Christian captives , who were adopted into the faith of the army ) , although his father , Orkhan , began the work . Bektash adopted a white robe and cap , and instituted the cpremony of kissing the sleeve .

" The Bektash Dervishes are numbered by many hundred thousands , and they have several branches or offshoots , which are named after the founder of each . Among the most noted of them are the Darkaweeyeh , the Khowaneeyeh , the Abdel-Kader of Bag . dadeeyeh , and tbe Easaweeyeh , who have their headquarters at

Cairo in Egypt , Damascus and Jerusalem in Palestine , Smyrna and Broosa in Asia Minor , Constantinople and Adrianople in Turkey , in Europe , Teheran and Shiraz in Persia , Benares and many other cities in India , Tangiers in Morocco , Oran in Algiers , and Mekkah in Arabia , where all branches and sects of Dervishes are represented at the annual meeting , which is held during the month of pilgrimage .

" The Bektasheeyed ' s representative at Mekkah is a Noble of the Mystic Shrine , is the chief officer of the Alee Temple of Nobles , and was in 1877 the chief of the Order in Arabia . The chief must reside either at Mekkah or at Medinah , and in either case must be present in person or by deputy in Mekkah during the month of pilgrimage .

" The Egyptian Order of Nobles has been independent of the Arabian , except the yearly presence of the Deputy in Mekkah , since the expedition of Ibraheem Pasha , the son of Mohammed Alee , the Great Pasha of Egypt , in 1818 , when the Wahhabees were conquered .

" Among the modern promoters of the Order in Europe was Herr Adam Weishnupt , a Eosicrucian ( Rosy Cross Mystic ) and Professor of Law in the University of Ingoldstadt , Bavaria . This distinguished scholar opened a Temple , 1 st May 1776 , the members of which were styled Illuminati , and exercised profound influence before and after

the French Eevolution . From this parent stem the Temples were spread tbronghout Europe , recording such names as Frederick the Great , Mirabean , Dnke of Orleans , Goethe , Spinoza , Kant , Lord Bacon , and many more literary , scientific , and professional men on their rolls .

" In no single instance has the Government in any country ventured openly to oppose the silent , secret workings of the ' Nobles , ' although the secret agents of the Government are always present , and exercise a careful surveillance in every Mystic Temple .

" The leading spirits of the Order are founrl in every circle of the higher classes , even including the functionaries of Government , and exert an 'nflneuce in proportion to their position , dangerous to the vicious , beneficial to the virtuous .

Correspondence.

" The Order of Nobles of the Mystio Shrine in America does nob advocate Mohammedanism as a seot , but inculoates the same respect to Deity here as in Arabia and elsewhere , and hence tho secret of its profound grasp on the intellect and heart of all cultured people . " 111 . William S . Paterson 33 deg . of New York , a Masonic student

of no ordinary merit , at much expense of money as well as time , had the plates which embellish this brief history prepared , and in connection with 111 . Noble A . L . Rawson , the translator , prepared and edited the history of the Order , from which we have been permitted to write these notes .

" The ritnal in use is a translation from the original Arabic found preserved in the archives of the Order at Aleppo , Syria , from whence it was brought to Algiers , thenco to Cairo , and to Loudon by Ttizk Allah Hassoon Effendee , a celebrated author and historian . The ritual was also translated into the Italian lauguago by the great

Orientalist , Luigi Marracoi , and a temple constituted which found active co-labourers in the persons of Count Cavonr , Mazzini , Garibaldi , and King Victor Emanuel . " In making the present version , the translator has had the benefit of the works of Alnasafi , of Marraoi , and of Hassoon . The rendering

is literal where the idiom permitted , except where a local reference required the substitution of American for Oriental names of cities . " The work has been perfeoted under the supervision of Brother Dr . Walter M . Fleming 33 deg ., Sovereign Grand Inspector General A . A . S . Rite , and Past Eminent Commander of Columbian Com .

mandery , No . 1 , Knights Templar , New York , who received his instructions and authority from Rizk Allah Hassoon EfFendee , who had competent jurisdiction for America . " These instructions were received by Dr . Walter M . Fleming 33 deg . at the hands of 111 . Noble William J . Florence 32 deg . of the

City of New York , direct from Cairo , Egypt , in 1870 , and in November 1871 , assisted by William J . Florence 32 deg ., A . J . Rawson 32 deg . ( the translator ) , Edward Eddy 33 deg . ( deceased ) , Sherwood C . Campbell 32 deg ., Oswald Merla D'Anbigne 32 deg . ( deceased ) , James S . Chappell 32 deg . ( deceased ) , John A . Moore 32 deg .

( deceased ) , George W . Miller 32 deg ., William S . Paterson 32 deg ., Daniel Sickels 33 deg ., Charles T . McClenachan 33 deg ., John W . Simons 33 deg ., Albert P . Moriarty 33 deg , and Aaron L . Northrop 33 deg ., names distinguished in every branch of the Masonic guild , instituted in the City of New York ' Mecca ' Temple , Nobles of the

Mystic Shrine , with 111 . Walter M . Fleming 33 deg . at its head . "June 6 th 1876 . The Imperial Grand Council of the United States was organised , whose officers , as in Arabia , are elected for a term of three years . The regulations of the Imperial Council for the United States , as in Europe ( except England ) , Asia and Africa , have

established as pre-requisites for membership that each candidate must be either a 32 nd degree A . A . S . or a Knight Templar in good standing . In England the 18 th degree is sufficient .

"The generous proposition to make the Order of Nobles an organisation for the exercise of charity , the improvement of the mind , aud an ally of the Fraternity of Freemasonry in the United States was primarily adopted by the Imperial Grand Council . "

Tbe above history is decorated with three funny oriental pictures . One has , among other mysterious figures , two men with asses ' beads on their shoulders , facing each other , both standing under a pair of scales . The first picture , however , I very much suspect was not designed by the III . Wm . S . Paterson 33 rd

degree , & c , for the 111 . Dr . Darius Wilson has the same picture in his "History of the Royal Masonic Rite ; " and as it has an Egyptian look , Dr . Wilson seems most entitled to the proprietorship of that picture . Under the third picture are the names of the Imperial Nobles of the Council , every Officer has the prefix of

" Imperial , " but Walter M . Fleming 33 rd degree , & c . is an " M . I . Imperial . " Next , there 1 B a list of twenty-one Temples , extending from New York to California , and from Vermont to New Orleans : we have one in Boston also . Philadelphia and Baltimore are also blessed with the civilising influence of Mystic Shrinistn , and

altogether they claim to have a membership of 2560 . But I must here add a very important fact , viz ., in the " Tripoli Temple " at Milwaukee in Wisconsin , the Thrice Illustrious Sovereign Grand Commander of the A . and A . Rite of the Northern Jurisdiction of the United States of America , viz ., the great Henry L . Palmer , the head

of the orthodox 33 rds , serves in the said Tripoli Temple of Mystic Shriners as a " G . P . and Deputy . " The said history finally winds up with the "Arabic Almanac A . H , 1301-1303 , " corresponding with the " years of Grace " 1884 , 1885 down to the 7 th of January 1886 . Now , my Dear Sir and Brother , between you and I and the

post ( as the saying is ) , I confess that I have some doubts about the above history . For instance , I cannot understand how Herr Adam Weishaupt in 1776 could have induced Spinoza and Lord Bacon to become Mystic Shriners ? And other arguments might be brought against the truth of the above narrative . But , on the other hand , a

t ; reat deal might be said in its defence , and if the said Order should coutinue until—say 1940—unquestioned andnnrebutted , the evidence in its favour would then be overwhelming . Let us imagine that in 1940 , when Shrineries will probably be counted by hundreds or thousands , and a " Thomas " should then be bold enough to attack

the authenticity of the above Shriner's history , the orthodox Shnner would then argue after the following manner : — ORTHODOX . — "You , Sceptics , question the antiquity of Masonry , the antiquity of the first three degrees , the antiquity of Masonic Grand Masters , the Masonry of Sir Christopher Wren , & a . Now

I know that you are wrong , but I must admit that your arguments are at least plausible , for when Anderson wrote his immortal history , doubters did not exist , and whatever he wrote was at once believed . If , therefore , no one questioned Anderson ' s history during his life * time this may be owing to its appearance in an ' age of faith . ' "

SCEPTIC . — " What do you say to the Masonry of De Molay , and to the Frederick the Great Charter ?"

ORTHODOX . — " Well , De Molny ' s Masonry is not as absurd as you make itout to be ; for you cannot deny the existence in olden times of Knights Templar , nor can you deny that Freemasons existed at