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Article FREEMASONRY IN TURKEY, PERSIA, AND JAPAN.* ← Page 3 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Turkey, Persia, And Japan.*
of our brethren , not only in Turkey but in Persia , as we can put ourselves in correspondence direct with the Grand Master of . the craft in Turkey . " In another part of the letter it is stated that G . M . Ismael is much pleased at the thought of shortly seeing the consecration of one of our lodges , to which he expects to be invited , and which invitation he will acceptalthough several days' journey distanthe being very desirous to
, , become better and nearer acquainted with Christian Freemasons , and wishes to have personal intercourse with them . About twenty years since we remember a distinguished Mahommedan brother visiting the Lodge Einigkeit , in Frankfort on the Maine , although it happened that he was not present at any work ; he was introduced to several of the brethren , attended the masonic club , and the ceremonies were explained to him . Many of the senior members of the lodges at
Frankfort will recollect him ; his name , if we remember correctly , was Ismael Gibralter ; he was conspicuously engaged at the time of Napoleon ' s invasion , and was , at the period to which we have alluded , employed by the Viceroy of Egypt to purchase metal in Sweden for casting cannon . The present professor at Leyden , Bro . F . Von Sybokl , who had made a long stay at Japan , whither he had gone as medical attendant to the
Dutch embassy , but remained several years after its return , for the purpose of measuring the country and investigation , addressed the Lodge Socrates in Frankfort upon the subject of lodges in Japan , and among other matters mentioned , that at initiations the candidate ' s eyes were released from a bandage in front of a looking glass , amid the cry of " know yourself . " When we compare these different reports we must come to the
conclusion that Freemasonry not only exists in the East , but is spread over a large portion of Persia , Japan , Egypt , and European Turkey , and that a very considerable number of our brethren have seen the light who are not professing Christians .
QThe translator hastens over the writer ' s arguments , as not heing immediately connected with the subject of enquiry , but admits the correctness of his doctrines , and soundness of the position he takes to prove Freemasonry universal , not confined to any religious sect or particular purpose . Any one wishing to read the article will find it at pages 258-9 , in the tenth volume of the Latomia . The writer then proceeds"
)—A question forces itself upon our attention—how did Freemasonry come to the East ? Did it commence , and was it cultivated there , as are shewn in the words , " where the sun rises , " or was it transplanted from Europe , or still more , was it sought and found in the East but nourished in the West , and returned to them enriched and honoured by European experience ? A slight clue may be found in the masonic histories of France and England ; the latter allowed lodges to be establishedand granted warrants for the in various eastern cities
, purpose , , during the former century ; while in the early part of this we have the publication of , " Verbal de la Reception dans l'Ordre du Fr . Askery Khan , oncle de l'Empereur regent en Perse , son Ambassadeur pres de la cour de France ; Paris 1809 , " a notification that his Excellency the Persian Ambassador at the court of Napoleon , became a Freemason on the 24 th of September , 1808 , in " la Loge du Contrat Social et de St .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Freemasonry In Turkey, Persia, And Japan.*
of our brethren , not only in Turkey but in Persia , as we can put ourselves in correspondence direct with the Grand Master of . the craft in Turkey . " In another part of the letter it is stated that G . M . Ismael is much pleased at the thought of shortly seeing the consecration of one of our lodges , to which he expects to be invited , and which invitation he will acceptalthough several days' journey distanthe being very desirous to
, , become better and nearer acquainted with Christian Freemasons , and wishes to have personal intercourse with them . About twenty years since we remember a distinguished Mahommedan brother visiting the Lodge Einigkeit , in Frankfort on the Maine , although it happened that he was not present at any work ; he was introduced to several of the brethren , attended the masonic club , and the ceremonies were explained to him . Many of the senior members of the lodges at
Frankfort will recollect him ; his name , if we remember correctly , was Ismael Gibralter ; he was conspicuously engaged at the time of Napoleon ' s invasion , and was , at the period to which we have alluded , employed by the Viceroy of Egypt to purchase metal in Sweden for casting cannon . The present professor at Leyden , Bro . F . Von Sybokl , who had made a long stay at Japan , whither he had gone as medical attendant to the
Dutch embassy , but remained several years after its return , for the purpose of measuring the country and investigation , addressed the Lodge Socrates in Frankfort upon the subject of lodges in Japan , and among other matters mentioned , that at initiations the candidate ' s eyes were released from a bandage in front of a looking glass , amid the cry of " know yourself . " When we compare these different reports we must come to the
conclusion that Freemasonry not only exists in the East , but is spread over a large portion of Persia , Japan , Egypt , and European Turkey , and that a very considerable number of our brethren have seen the light who are not professing Christians .
QThe translator hastens over the writer ' s arguments , as not heing immediately connected with the subject of enquiry , but admits the correctness of his doctrines , and soundness of the position he takes to prove Freemasonry universal , not confined to any religious sect or particular purpose . Any one wishing to read the article will find it at pages 258-9 , in the tenth volume of the Latomia . The writer then proceeds"
)—A question forces itself upon our attention—how did Freemasonry come to the East ? Did it commence , and was it cultivated there , as are shewn in the words , " where the sun rises , " or was it transplanted from Europe , or still more , was it sought and found in the East but nourished in the West , and returned to them enriched and honoured by European experience ? A slight clue may be found in the masonic histories of France and England ; the latter allowed lodges to be establishedand granted warrants for the in various eastern cities
, purpose , , during the former century ; while in the early part of this we have the publication of , " Verbal de la Reception dans l'Ordre du Fr . Askery Khan , oncle de l'Empereur regent en Perse , son Ambassadeur pres de la cour de France ; Paris 1809 , " a notification that his Excellency the Persian Ambassador at the court of Napoleon , became a Freemason on the 24 th of September , 1808 , in " la Loge du Contrat Social et de St .