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Article FREEMASONRY IN TURKEY, PERSIA, AND JAPAN.* ← Page 2 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Turkey, Persia, And Japan.*
ever visited Constantinople he should call at the Turkish monastery near the Sophia Mosque , where he would find several other acquaintances . As our friend at that time did not speak the Turkish language , and the other persons present were not Masons , the conversation was obliged to be discontinued ; our friend , thanking his informant , determined in his own mind to follow up the enquiry , but was not successful in finding a Freemason to act as interpreter . He ascertained that the Dervish
shortly afterwards left Jassy , and our friend had no opportunity of gaining any information , although he subsequently visited Constantinople and the greater part of the Turkish dominions , in the suit of a countess whose physician he became . The altered position of Moldavia compelled the governor to leave , and we have forgotten his title . The annexation of the province to Russia has , no doubt , put an end to all display of Freemasonryits lodges being strictly prohibited from meeting
, by the emperor . The accounts of the monastery before mentioned , shew that it is one of the most celebrated , and situated as described ; the monks belong to the order called Mauluvis ( Tourneurs ) , a portion of their religious ceremony being rapid turning of the whole bod y in one spot , sometimes for a very long period , at others , only several minutes , to the sound of a pipe . The name by which the monastery is known is Sirkedschi-Teckar ( the Vinegar Merchants' ) .
The foregoing would scarcely have been worth remembering , and certainly not worth making public , although our informant is an authority of undoubted veracity , if the masonic public were not interested iu a letter received by us from a Hungarian brother , dated the 6 th of August this year , confirming the information of Freemasonry existing in Turkey , and that a lodge is actually at work in Belgrade ; the details of this are so peculiar and authenticated , that we give the extract in full .
" A few days since , Bro . Schultze , a member of the Lodge Baldwin , at Leipsic , paid me a visit , passing through here on his return from Belgrade , where a brother of his resides , and who introduced him into a Turkish Freemason ' s lodge , in which he is the only Christian member . The Master of the lodge , which consists of fifty members , has also the honour to be ' Grand Master for European Turkey . ' The ceremonies , signs , tokens , words , & c , are the same as our own ; and the Turkish Masons seem far advanced in what we should term civilisation .
" Their religious ideas seem to be considerably extended ; they do not practise polygamy , each of the members has but one wife , and at the banquet of which Bro . Schultze partook , the ladies appeared unveiled ; wine was served during the repasts—they have carpets to walk upon , and use the steps like ourselves . These Masons are in direct communication with those of Persia , the number of whom exceetls fifty thousand . Brother Schultze was made an honorary member of the Belgrade Lodge ,
and was requested to present to the Master of the lodge of which he is a subscribing member , W . Bro . Gretschel , a certificate of honorary membership , and a communication in the Arabic language from the Grand Master , Bro . Ismael , which no doubt Bro . Gretschel will make public * I intend writing this day to the corresponding secretary of the lodge at Belgrade , to solicit information respecting a few of the particulars of their fraternity and organisation , which when received shall be forwarded to you . In this way it appears possible to obtain a knowledge
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Turkey, Persia, And Japan.*
ever visited Constantinople he should call at the Turkish monastery near the Sophia Mosque , where he would find several other acquaintances . As our friend at that time did not speak the Turkish language , and the other persons present were not Masons , the conversation was obliged to be discontinued ; our friend , thanking his informant , determined in his own mind to follow up the enquiry , but was not successful in finding a Freemason to act as interpreter . He ascertained that the Dervish
shortly afterwards left Jassy , and our friend had no opportunity of gaining any information , although he subsequently visited Constantinople and the greater part of the Turkish dominions , in the suit of a countess whose physician he became . The altered position of Moldavia compelled the governor to leave , and we have forgotten his title . The annexation of the province to Russia has , no doubt , put an end to all display of Freemasonryits lodges being strictly prohibited from meeting
, by the emperor . The accounts of the monastery before mentioned , shew that it is one of the most celebrated , and situated as described ; the monks belong to the order called Mauluvis ( Tourneurs ) , a portion of their religious ceremony being rapid turning of the whole bod y in one spot , sometimes for a very long period , at others , only several minutes , to the sound of a pipe . The name by which the monastery is known is Sirkedschi-Teckar ( the Vinegar Merchants' ) .
The foregoing would scarcely have been worth remembering , and certainly not worth making public , although our informant is an authority of undoubted veracity , if the masonic public were not interested iu a letter received by us from a Hungarian brother , dated the 6 th of August this year , confirming the information of Freemasonry existing in Turkey , and that a lodge is actually at work in Belgrade ; the details of this are so peculiar and authenticated , that we give the extract in full .
" A few days since , Bro . Schultze , a member of the Lodge Baldwin , at Leipsic , paid me a visit , passing through here on his return from Belgrade , where a brother of his resides , and who introduced him into a Turkish Freemason ' s lodge , in which he is the only Christian member . The Master of the lodge , which consists of fifty members , has also the honour to be ' Grand Master for European Turkey . ' The ceremonies , signs , tokens , words , & c , are the same as our own ; and the Turkish Masons seem far advanced in what we should term civilisation .
" Their religious ideas seem to be considerably extended ; they do not practise polygamy , each of the members has but one wife , and at the banquet of which Bro . Schultze partook , the ladies appeared unveiled ; wine was served during the repasts—they have carpets to walk upon , and use the steps like ourselves . These Masons are in direct communication with those of Persia , the number of whom exceetls fifty thousand . Brother Schultze was made an honorary member of the Belgrade Lodge ,
and was requested to present to the Master of the lodge of which he is a subscribing member , W . Bro . Gretschel , a certificate of honorary membership , and a communication in the Arabic language from the Grand Master , Bro . Ismael , which no doubt Bro . Gretschel will make public * I intend writing this day to the corresponding secretary of the lodge at Belgrade , to solicit information respecting a few of the particulars of their fraternity and organisation , which when received shall be forwarded to you . In this way it appears possible to obtain a knowledge