# The Babis *Exported from [Holy-Writings.com](https://www.holy-writings.com/) on 2026-06-18 — 1 clipping.* --- > Source: Bahá'í Library Online (bahai-library.com), curated by Jonah Winters. Used by permission of the curator. Original citation: Charles William Heckethorn, The Babis, bahai-library.com. > ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────── > > THE > > SECRET SOCIETIES > OF ALL AGES AND COUNTRIES > > A Comprehensive Account of upwards of One Hundred > and Sixty Secret Organisations — Religious, Political, > and Social — from the most Remote Ages > down to the Present Time > Embracing the Mysteries of Ancient India, China, Japan, Egypt, Mexico, > Peru, Greece, and Scandinavia, the Cabbalists, Early Christians, > Heretics, Assassins, Thugs, Templars, the Vehm and > Inquisition, Mystics, Rosicrucians, Illuminati, Free > masons, Skopzi, Camorristi, Carbonari, Nihilists, > Fenians, French, Spanish, > And other Mysterious Sects > > BY > > CHARLES WILLIAM HECKETHORN > > IN TWO VOLUMES > > VOL. II > > NEW EDITION > > THOROUGHLY REVISED AND GREATLY ENLARGED > > LONDON > GEORGE REDWAY > 1897 > > REESE LIBRARY > UNIVEE CITY > ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS > VOL . II . > > The numbers preceding analytical headings refer to the sections. > PAGES > > AUTHORITIES CONSULTED xi > > BOOK XI > > FREEMASONRY > > I. THE LEGEND OF THE TEMPLE. — 383. Ancestry of Hiram Abiff. > 384. Hiram , Solomon, and the Queen of Sheba. 385. Murder of > Hiram . 3-7 > II. ORIGIN AND TRADITIONS. —386. The First Masons. 387. Periods of > Freemasonry. 388. Freemasonry derived from many Sources . 389 . > True History of Masonry 8-12 > > III. RITES AND CUSTOMS. — 390. List of Rites. 391. Masonic Customs. > 392. Masonic Alphabet 13-15 > IV. THE LODGE. — 393. Interior Arrangement of Lodge. 394. Modern > Lodge. 395. Officers. 396. Opening the Lodge 16-18 > V. GENUINE AND SPURIOUS MASONRY. — 397. Distinction between Genuine > and Spurious Masonry. 398. Some Rites only deserve Special > Mention 19 > > VI, CEREMONIES OF INITIATION. -399. Ceremonies of Initiation - The > Apprentice. 400. Ceremonies of Initiation - The Fellow - Craft. > 401. Ceremony of Initiation and Story of Hirain's Murder – The > Master Mason . 402. The Legend Explained. 403. The Raising of > Osiris. 404. The Blazing Star 21-29 > > VII. TAE Holy ROYAL ARCH . -405. Officers. 406. Ceremonies. 407. Pass > ing the Veils 30-33 > VIII. GRAND MASTER ARCHITECT. —408. Ceremonial 34-36 > IX. GRAND ELECT KNIGHT OF KADOSH . - 409. The Term Kadosh . 410. > Reception into the Degree. 411. The Mysterious Ladder. 412. The > Seven Steps : 37-39 > > 9903 : 3 > vi CONTENTS > PAGES > > X. PRINCE OF Rose -Croix . — 413. Distinct from Rosicrucian, and has > various Names. 414. Officers and Lodges. 415. Reception in the First > Apartment. 416. Second Apartment. 417. Reception in the Third > Apartment 40-43 > XI. THE RITES OF MISRAIM AND MEMPHIS.—418. Anomalies of the Rite of > Misraim. 419. Organisation. 420. History and Constitution. 421 . > Rites and Ceremonies. 422. Rite of Memphis 44-46 > XII. MODERN KNIGHTS TEMPLARS.—423. Origin. 424. Reviv al of the > Order. 425. The Leviticon . 426. Ceremonies of Initiation 47-50 > XIII. FREEMASONRY IN ENGLAND AND SCOTLAND. — 427. Freemasonry in > England. 428. Freemasonry in Scotland. 429. Modern Free > masonry . > 51-53 > > XIV.Chevalier > FREEMASONRY IN FRANCE. — 430. Introduction into France. 431 . > Ramsay. 432. Philosophical Rite. > 433. The Duke > de Chartres . 54-56 > XV. THE CHAPTER OF CLERMONT AND THE STRICT OBSERVANCE. —434. > Jesuitical Influence. 435. The Strict Observance 57 , 58 > XVI. THE RELAXED OBSERVANCE.—436. Organisation of Relaxed Obser > vance . 437. Disputes in German Lodges. 438. Rite of Zinzendorf. > 439. African Architects 59-60 > XVII. THE CONGRESS OF WILHELMSBAD . — 440. Various Congresses. 441. > Discussions at Wilhelmsbad . 442. Result of Convention . 443. > Frederick William III. and the Masons 61-63 > XVIII. MASONRY AND NAPOLEONISM . — 444. Masonry protected by Napoleon. > 445. Spread of Freemasonry. 446. The Clover Leaves. 447. Obse > quiousness of Freemasonry. 448. Anti-Napoleonic Freemasonry 64-67 > XIX. FREEMASONRY, THE RESTORATION AND THE SECOND EMPIRE. - 449. > The Society of “ France Regenerated .” 450. Priestly Opposition to > Masonry 451. Political Insignificance of Masonry. 452. Free > masonry and Napoleon III. 453. Jesuitical Manæuvres 68–71 > > XX. FREEMASONRY IN ITALY. —-454. Whimsical Masonic Societies. 455 . > Illuminati in Italy.456. Freemasonry at Naples. 457. Details of > Document. 458. Freemasonry at Venice. 459. Abatement under > Napoleon. 460. The Freemasonry of the Present in Italy. 461. Re > form needed . 72–77 > XXI. CAGLIOSTRO AND EGYPTIAN MASONRY. — 462. Life of Cagliostro. > 463. The Egyptian Rite. 464. Cagliostro's Hydromancy. 465. Lodges > founded by Cagliostro . 78-81 > XXII, ADOPTIVE MASONRY. —466. Historical Notice. 467. Organisation. > 468. Jesuit Degrees 82 , 83 > XXIII. ANDROGYNOUS MASONRY. — 469. Origin and Tendency. 470. Earliest > Androgynous Societies. 471. Other Androgynous Societies. 472. > Various other Androgynous Societies. 473. Knights and Nymphs of > the Rose . 474. German Order of the Rose. 475. Pretended Objects > of the Order. 476. Order of Harmony. 477. Mason's Daughter 84-90 > CONTENTS vii > > PAGES > > XXIV. SCHISMATIC RITES AND SECTS. – 478. Schismatic Rites and Sects. > 479. Farmassoni. 480. The Gormogones. 481. The Noachites, or > Noachidæ . 482. Argonauts. 483. The Grand Orient and Atheism. > 484. Ludicrous Degree 91-95 > XXV. DIFFUSION OF THE ORDER. — 485. Freemasonry in Spain and > Portugal. 486. Freemasonry in Russia. 487. Freemasonry in Switzer > land. 488. Freemasonry in Sweden and Poland . 489. Freemasonry > in Holland and Germany. 490. Freemasonry in Turkey, Asia, Africa, > and Oceania. 491. Freemasonry in America 96-99 > XXVI. PERSECUTIONS OF FREEMASONRY. — 492. Causes of Persecution . > 493. Instances of Persecution. 494. Anti -Masonic Publications 100-105 > XXVII. FUTILITY OF MODERN FREEMASONRY. — 495. Vain Pretensions > of Modern Freemasonry. 496. Vanity of Masonic Ceremonial. > 497. Masonry diffuses no Knowledge. 498. Decay of Freemasonry. > 499. Masonic Opinions of Masonry. 500. Masonic Literature. > 5000. The Quatuor Coronati Lodge 106-110 > > BOOK XII > INTERNATIONAL, COMMUNE , AND ANARCHISTS > 501. Introductory Reinarks. 502. Socialistic Schemes. 503. History of the > International. 504. Objects and Aims of International. 505. The > International in England. 506. The International Abroad. 507. The > International and the Empire. 508. The International and the War. > 509. The International and the Commune. 510. Budget of the > International. 511. Attempt to Revive the International. 512 . > Anarchists III - 127 > > BOOK XIII > POLITICAL SECRET SOCIETIES > > I. CHINESE SOCIETIES.-513 . Earliest Secret Chinese Societies. 514. More > recent Societies. 515. Lodges. 516. Government. 517. Seal of the > Hung League. 518. The Ko lao Hui . 128-138 > II. The COMUNEROS. — 519. Introductory Remarks. 520. Earliest Secret > Societies in Spain. 521. Freemasonry in Spain, the Forerunner of the > Comuneros. 522. The Comuneros. 523. Clerical Societies 139-142 > III. THE HETAIRIA. —524. Origin. 525. The Hetairia of 1812. 526. The > Hetairia of 1814. 527. Signs and Passwords. 528. Short Career of > Galatis. 529. Proceedings of the Grand Arch. 530. Ipsilanti's Pro > ceedings. 531. Ipsilanti's Blunders. 532. Progress of the Insurrection. > 533. Ipsilanti's Approaching Fall . 534. Advance of the Turks. 535. > Ipsilanti's Difficulties. 536. Ipsilanti's Fall . 537. Ipsilanti's Manifesto. > 538. Ipsilanti's Imprisonment and Death . 539. Fate of the Hetairists. > 540. Georgakis' Death. 541. Farmakis' Death. 542. Final Success of > the Hetairia . 143-156 > viii CONTENTS > PAGES > > IV. THE CARBONARI.–543. History of the Association. 544. Real Origin of > the Carboneria . 545. The Vendita or Lodge. 546. Ritual of Initiation. > 547. First Degree. 548. The Second Degree. 549. The Degree of > Grand Elect. 550. Degree of Grand Master Grand Elect. 551. Sig. > nification of the Symbols. 552. Other Ceremonies and Regulations. > 553. The Ausonian Republic. 554. Most Secret Carbonaro Degree. > 555. De Witt, Biographical Notice of. 556. Carbonaro Charter pro > posed to England. 557. Carbonarism and Murat. 558. Trial of > Carbonari. 559. Carbonarism and the Bourbons. 560. The King's > Revenge. 561. Revival of Carbonarism. 562. Carbonarism and the > Church. 563. Carbonarism in Northern Italy. 564. Carbonarism in > France . 565. Carbonarism in Germany. 566. Carbonarism in Spain. > 567. Giardiniere 157-177 > V. MISCELLANEOUS ITALIAN SOCIETIES. — 568. Guelphic Knights. 569. > Guelphs and Carbonari. 570. The Latini . 571. The Centres 572 . > Italian Littérateurs. 573. Societies in Calabria and the Abruzzi. 574. > Ciro Annichiarico. 575. Certificates of the Decisi. 576. The Calderari. > 577. The Independents. 578. The Delphic Priesthood. 579. Egyptian > Lodges. 580. American Hunters. 581. Secret Italian Society in > London . 582. Secret Italian Societies in Paris. 583. Mazzini and > Young Italy. 584. Mazzini, the Evil Genius of Italy. 585. Assassi > nation of Rossi. 586. Sicilian Societies. 587. The Consistorials. 588. > The Roman Catholic Apostolic Congregation. 589. Sanfedisti . 178-195 > VI. NAPOLEONIC AND ANTI - NAPOLEONIC SOCIETIES. — 590. The Phila > delphians. 591. The Rays. 592. Secret League in Tirol. 593 > Societies in Favour of Napoleon. 594. The Illuminati. 595. Various > other Societies. 596. The Accoltellatori 196-201 > VII. FRENCH SOCIETIES . — 597. Various Societies after the Restoration . > 598. The Acting Company. 599. Communistic Societies. 600. Causes > of Secret Societies in France 202-206 > > VIII. Polish SOCIETIES. — 601. Polish Patriotism. 602. Various Revolu > tionary Sects. 603. Secret National Government 207-209 > > IX . THE OMLADINA.-- 604. The Panslavists 210, 211 > X. TURKISH SOCIETIES. - 605. Young Turkey. 606. Armenian Society 212, 213 > XI . THE UNION OF SAFETY. — 607. Historical Sketch of the Society . 214-216 > XII. THE NIHILISTS. — 608. Meaning of the term Nihilist. 6o9. Founders > of Nihilism . 610. Sergei Nechayeff. 611. Going among the People. > 612. Nihilism becomes Aggressive. 613. Sophia Bardina's and other > Trials . 614. The Party of Terror. 615. Vera Zassulic. 616. Officials > Killed or Threatened by the Nihilists. 617. First Attempts against the > Emperor's Life. 618. Numerous Executions. 619. The Moscow Attempt > against the Emperor. 620. Various Nihilist Trials. 621. Explosion in > the Winter Palace. 622. Assassination of the Emperor. 623. The Mine > in Garden Street. 624. Constitution said to have been Granted by > late Emperor. 625. The Nihilist Proclamation. 626. The Emperor's > Reply thereto. 627. Attempt against General Tcherevin . 628. Trials > and other Events in 1882. 629. Coronation, and Causes of Nihilistic > * > CONTENTS ix > > PAGES PAGES > > en of Inactivity. 630. Colonel Sudeikin shot by Nihilists. 631. Attempt > ion. against the Emperor at Gatshina. 632. Trial of the Fourteen . 633. > of Reconstruction of the Nihilist Party. 634. Extension of Nihilism . > Sig. 635. Decline of Nihilism . 636. Nihilistic Proceedings in 1887. 637 . > ns . Nihilism in 1888. 638. Slaughter of Siberian Exiles, and Hunger > ree . Strikes. 639. Occurrences in 1890. 640. Occurrences from 1891 to > -ro Present Date. 641. Nihilistic Finances. 642. The Secret Press. > of 643. Nihilistic Measures of Safety. 644. The Nihilists in Prison. > g's 645. Nihilistic Einigrants. 646. Nihilistic Literature. 647. Trials of > he > Nihilists 217-256 > in XIII. GERMAN SOCIETIES. — 648. The Mosel Club. 649. German Feeling > En . against Napoleon. 650. Formation and Scope of Tugendbund. 651 . > 157-177 Divisions among Members of Tugendbund. , 652. Activity of the > Tugendbund. 653. Hostility of Governments against Tugendbund 257-262 > 9. > XIV. THE BABIS . -654. Bab, the Founder. 655. Progress of Babism . > . 656. Babi Doctrine. 657. Recent History of Babism . 263-269 > i. > n > XV. IRISH SOCIETIES.-- 658. The White Boys. 659. Right -Boys and Oak > Boys. 660. Hearts-of- Steel, Threshers, Break-of-Day-Boys, Defenders, > United Irishmen , Ribbonmen . 661. Saint Patrick Boys. 662. The > Orangemen. 663. Molly Maguires. 664. Ancient Order of Hibernians, > 665. Origin and Organisation of Fenianism . 666. Origin of Name. > 667. Fenian Litany. 668. Events from 1865 to 1871. 669. The Soi > =8-195 disant General Cluseret. 670. Phenix Park Murders, and Conse > quences. 671. Dynamite Outrages. 672. The National League. 673. > Comic Aspects of Fenianism . 674. Events from 1888 to 1896. 675 . > Most Recent Revelations 270-287 > 5-201 > > --- 206 BOOK XIV > MISCELLANEOUS SOCIETIES > 676. The A B C Friends. 677. Abelites. 678. Academy of the Ancients. > 679. Almusseri. 680. Anonymous Society. 681. Anti-Masonic Party. > 213 682. Anti -Masons. 683. Apocalypse, Knights of the. 684. Areoiti. > 216 685. Avengers, or Vendicatori. 686. Belly Paaro. 687. Californian > Society. 688. Cambridge Secret Society. 689. Charlottenburg, Order > of, 690. Church Masons. 691. Congourde, The. 692. Druids, Modern. > 693. Duk - Duk . 694. Egbo Society. 695. Fraticelli . 696. Goats , > The. 697. Grand Army of the Republic. 698, Green Island. 699. > rugari. 700. Hemp-smokers, African . 701. Heroine of Jericho. > 702. Human Leopards. 703. Hunters, the. 704. Huséanawer. 705. > Indian (North American ) Societies. 706. Invisibles, the. 707. Jehu , > Society of. 708. Karpokratians. 709. Klöbbergöll. 710. Knights, > the Order of. 711. Know -Nothings. 712. Ku -Klux -Klan . 713. Kurnai > Initiation. 714. Liberty, Knights of. 715. Lion, Knights of the. > 716. Lion, the Sleeping. 717. Ludlam's Cave . 718. Mad Councillors. > 719. Magi , Order of the. 720. Maharajas. 721. Mano Negra . 722. > x > > CONTENTS > PAGES > Melanesian Societies. 723. Mumbo - Jumbo. 724. Odd Fellows. > 725. 0 -Kee - Pa . 726. Pantheists . 727. Patriotic Order Sons of > America. 728. Phi -Beta-Kappa. 729. Pilgrims. 730. Police, Secret. > 731. Portuguese Societies. 732. Purrah, the. 733. Pythias, Knights > of. 734. Rebeccaites. 735. Redemption, Order of. 736. Red Men . > 737. Regeneration, Society of Universal . 738. Saltpetrers. 739. > Sikh Fanatics. 740. Silver Circle, Knights of the. 741. Sonderbare > Gesellen, 742. Sophisiens. 743. Star of Bethlehem . 744. Thirteen, > the . 745. Tobacco gical ety. 74 Tu ety of the. 747 > Utopia. 748. Wahabees 288-326 > > ADDENDA ET CORRIGENDA > > VOL I. > > Page 36 — Buddha's Image ; Work on Buddhist Religion ; Budda's Birth > place recently discovered 327 > Page 45— Temple of Hathor 327 > Page 142 — Family of Waldo 328 > Page 168—Vehm , Lindner's work on the 328 > Page 169-Beati Paoli - John of Parma 328 > Page 198— Astrological Society in London 328 > Page 230 — Master Pianco and the Rosicrucians 329 > Page 231 -Asiatic Brethren and their Custodian of Archives 329 > Page 258 — Meaning of term Garduna . 329 > Page 270 — The Camorra, Laws against the 329 > Page 273—The Camorra, Grant's “ Stories of Naples and the Camorra ” 330 > Page 315– The German Union : Bahrdt and his mysterious correspondents 330 > > VOL. II. > > Page 60—African Architects and their sections . 330 > Page 132— Tae -ping-wang, the Chinese Artista 331 > Page 139—Europe after the Congress of Vienna 331 > Page 159– The Carbonari : the author of “ The Memoirs of the Secret > Societies of the South of Italy, particularly the Carbonari ” . 331 > Page 207—Polish Patriotism : Courrière's opinion thereof . 331 > Page 259-Baron von Stein on the Tugendbund and secret societies - Baron > von Stein, Privy Councillor to the Count Palatine of Cologne 332 > Page 260—The Tugendbund and the German rising 332 > Page 278–Fenians : O'Leary's “ Recollections of Fenians and Fenianism 333 > Page 299 — Human Leopards ; why so called - many secret societies on West > coast of Africa 333 > Page 301 —Indian ( North American ) Societies : the legend of Manabozko > and Chibiabos 333 > XIV > > THE BABIS > > 654. Bab, the Founder. — His name—for Bab is a title—was > Ali Mohammed, and he is said to have been a Seyyid, or > descendant of the family of the Prophet. He was born in > 1819 at Shiraz, where his father was a merchant. Ali at > first engaged in trade himself, but in 1840 he began to > preach his new doctrine, declaring himself to be the Bab,1 > i.e. Door of Truth , the Mahdi. In 1843 he made the > pilgrimage to Mecca, but on his return was arrested by > order of the Shah, and from 1844 to 1849 kept in semi > captivity at Ispahan and Tauris, at which latter place he was > sentenced to be shot. He was suspended by cords from the > walls of the citadel, and a dozen soldiers were ordered to > fire at him . When the smoke from their discharges was > dispelled the Bab had disappeared — a cleverly -managed > manæuvre to establish a miracle. But he was soon after > reapprehended, and again condemned to death. The details > of his execution are not known ; it is reported that he was > shot. His long captivity and mysterious death were favour > able to the spreading of his doctrine, as also the fact that > during his life he was subject to occasional fits of frenzy, > and in the East — and sometimes in the West-- a madman is > considered to be inspired. And the Bah, like all prophets, > did not disdain availing himself of mundane means to pro > pagate his new doctrines ; he was greatly assisted therein by > the eloquence, combined with marvellous personal beauty, of > Kurratu’l 'Ayn, a young lady of good family, who early em > braced Babism, and suffered martyrdom for it (655). The > Bab was examined as to his teaching in 1848 by Nasreddin, > then Crown Prince of Persia, afterwards Shah , and a number > of Mullahs, the result of which inquiry was that he was > sentenced to the bastinado, in consequence of which it is > 1 Bab in Arabic and Chaldean means door, gate, or court ; hence we have > Babylon , the court of Bel ; Babel-Mandeb, the gate of sorrow, probably so > called on account of its dangerous navigation and rocky environs. > 264 SECRET SOCIETIES > > said he recanted and revoked all his claims ; but as we have > none but Mussulman historians—his enemies—to rely on, as > the examination was held with closed doors, we may doubt > this statement . > 655. Progress of Babism . — The Bab's teaching had not only > theological, but also political aims. Persian rulers have > always been conservative, but Babism was reformatory, and > the common people readily embraced it, as it seemed favour > able to the breaking down of the despotic powers exercised > by provincial governors, by whom the country was fearfully > oppressed. When, therefore, the Babis considered them > selves strong enough they seized Mazanderan , about fourteen > miles south - east of Barfurush ; but the Shah's troops having > cut off all supplies, they had to surrender, and were all slain. > This was in 1847. In 1848, on the accession of the late } > Shah a thousand Babis rose against him ; they, however, > were defeated by Mehdi Kouli Mirza, uncle of the new Shah, > and the three hundred survivors who surrendered cruelly > slaughtered , though they had been promised their lives. > Moulla Mohammed Ali, a Bab leader, in 1849 converted > seven thousand of the twelve thousand inhabitants of Zanjan, > seized the town , and drove the governor from the citadel ; > eighteen thousand royal soldiers were sent against him , and > more than eight thousand of the combatants killed , and the > surviving Babis had to surrender, and were put to death > with horrible tortures. In 1850 a follower of Bab, ambitious > rather than fanatical, Sayid Yahya Darabi, preached Babism > at Niriz, and gathered round him two thousand followers, > with whose help he hoped to hold the town. But the Shah's > troops attacked him ; he was assassinated by being strangled > with his own girdle ; the starved -out Babis had to yield, and > were all cruelly butchered . In 1852 some Babis attempted > to murder the Shah ; the inquiry following thereon proved > that at Ispahan and in all the great towns of Persia there > was a vast association of Babis and Loûtis, whose object was > the overthrow of the reigning dynasty. All convicted of > Babism were seized,and executed openly or in secret ; terrible > scenes were enacted by the Shah's orders in many towns of > Persia during a reign of terror, which lasted nearly two > years. The Shah's anger at the attempt, but especially his > alarm , was so great, that to test the loyalty of his subjects > he devised the “devilish scheme," as one writer calls it, of > making all classes of society share in the revenge he took > on the Babis. Thus the man who had fired the shot which > wounded the king was killed by the farrashes_literally, the > THE BABIS 265 > carpet -spreaders, but officially, the lictors of Eastern rulers. > They first tortured him by the insertion of lighted candles > in incisions made in his body. When the candles were > burnt down to the flesh , the fire was for some time fed by > that. In the end he was sawn in two. The Master of the > Horse and the attendants of the royal stables showed their > loyalty by nailing red -hot horse-shoes to the feet of the > victim handed over to them, and finally « broke up his head > and body with clubs and nails.” Another Babi had his eyes > plucked out by the artillerymen, and was then blown from a > gun. Another Babi was killed by the merchants and shop > keepers of Teheran, every one of whom inflicted a wound > on him until he died . Vambéry, in his “ Wanderings and > Experiences in Persia ,” mentions one Kasim of Niriz, who > was shod with red-hot horse-shoes, had burning candles > inserted in his body, all his teeth torn out, and was eventu > ally killed by having his skull smashed in with a club. These > are but a few specimens of the cruelties inflicted by order of > the amiable gentleman who, on his visits to this country, was > so loudly cheered by the assembled crowds. Among the > victims of that persecution was Kurratu'l 'Ayn (the Consola > tion of Eyes), a beautifuland accomplished woman, who pro > fessed and preached Babism. The manner of her death is > uncertain ; some say she was burnt, others that she was > strangled. Dr. Polak, who actually witnessed her execution , > in his “ Persia, the Land and Its Inhabitants," simply says, > “ I was a witness to the execution of Kurratu'l 'Ayn , which > was performed by the Minister of War and his adjutants ; > the beautiful woman underwent her slow death with super > human fortitude.” He gives no details as to the manner of > it. In spite of this persecution, or rather, in consequence > of it, Babism spread with astonishing rapidity throughout > Persia, even penetrating into India . Not only the lower > classes, but persons of education and wealth have joined the > sect. The only portion of the Persian population not > affected by its doctrines appear to be the Nuseiriyeh and > the Christians. > 656. Babi Doctrine. — It is contained in the Biyyan , the > “ Expositor,” attributed to the Bab himself, and consisting > of three parts written at different periods. It is to a great > extent rhapsodical, frequently unintelligible. It abounds > with mysticism, degenerate Platonism , beliefs borrowed > from the Guebres, vestiges of Magism, and in many places > displays the influence of a transformed Christianity and > French philosophy of the last century, propagated as far > 266 SECRET SOCIETIES > > as Persia through masonic lodges, though they were never > tolerated in Persia. We shall see further on how one > recently established came to grief. The Babi Koran in > culcates, among other superstitions, the wearing of amulets, > men in the form of a star, women in that of a circle ; the > cornelian is particularly recommended to be put on the > fingers of the dead, all which implies a return to Aramean > Paganism . The book maintains the divinity of the Bab ; > he and his disciples are incarnations of superior powers; > forty days after death they reappear in other forms. > “ God ," says the Biyyan, “ created the world by His Will ; > the Will was expressed in words, but words are composed > of letters ; letters, therefore, possess divine properties. In > giving their numerical value to the letters forming the words > expressing God, they always produce the same total, viz. > 19. Hence the ecclesiastical system of the Babis ; their > colleges are always composed of 19 priests; the year is > divided into 19 months, of 19 days each ; the fast of the > Ramadan lasts 19 instead of 30 days. During his life Ali > Mohammed chose eighteen disciples, called “ Letters of the > Living,” who, together with himself, the“ Point ” (the Point > of Revelation, or “ First Point," from which all are created, > and unto which all return ), constituted the sacred hierarchy > of nineteen, called the “ First Unity.” Now, Mirza Yahya > held the fourth place in this hierarchy, and on the death of > the “ Point,” which occurred, as already stated,in 1849, and > the first two “ Letters,” rose to be chief of the sect ; but > Beha, whose proper name is Mirza Huseyn Ali of Nur, was > also included in this unity, and he asserted that he was the > one by whom God shall , as Bab had prophesied, make His > final revelation ; for, be it observed, the BabiKoran , which at > present consists of eleven parts only, shall, when complete, > contain nineteen , and when that revelation is made, Babism > will be finished, and with it will come the end of this pre > sent world ; for, according to the belief of his followers,the > Bab was the forerunner of Saheb -ez -Zeman , the Lord of > Ages, who resides in the air, and will not be seen till the > day of resurrection . In consequence of the claim of Beha > the sect was split up into two divisions, the Behais and the > followers of Mirza Yahya Subh-i-Ezel (the Morning of Eter > nity ), and after him called Ezelis. The majority of the sect > are Behais, and the exiled chief Yahya lives at Famagusta, > 1 I find this mentioned by one writer only, Professor de Filippi, in his > Viaggio in Persia nel 1862," published in the Italian periodical Politecnico, > vol. xxii. p. 252, where there is a lengthy account of the Babis. > THE BABIS 267 > in Cyprus, where Mr. Browne, the translator of the work > OF > “ A Traveller's Narrative," visited him in 1890, as he also > visited Beha, at Acre, shortly after. The Babis are so far in > ut > advance of their Eastern brethren that they wish to raise > the status of woman, maintaining that she is entitled to the > same civil rights as man ; and one of their first endeavours > to attain that end is that of abolishing the veil. Various > charges, as against all new sects, are made against them ; > they are accused of being communists, of allowing nine > husbands to a woman , of drinking wine, and of other un > lawful practices; but proofs are wanting. It is said that > Jena they have special modes of salutation , and wear a ring of > peculiar form , by which they recognise one another. They > arrange their hair in a characteristic manner, and, as a rule, > are clothed in white, all which practices, on the part of > people who have to conceal their opinions, appears very > strange to outsiders. The Bab forbade the use of tobacco, > of the but the prohibition was withdrawn by Beha. Though only > half a century old , the sect already possesses a mass of con > troversial writings on points of faith — for in all ages men > have disputed most on what they understood least. The > ated Babis may yet become a great power in the East ; in the > care > meantime they afford us an excellent opportunity of watch > Tabia ing within our own day the genesis and development of a > 3th > new religious creed , in which vast power and authority is > conferred on the priests, greatly overshadowing that of the > , > ii hurt > king himself, unless he is a member of the sect, which , in > fact, if the creed becomes paramount, he must be to pre > serve his dignity ; for, according to the teaching of the > founder, he who is not a Babi has no right to any posses > sion , has no civil status. To enhance the influence of the > nica priests, divine service is to be performed with the utmost > pomp ; the temples are to be adorned with the costliest > productions of nature and art . > But it is certain the doctrines of the Babis suit neither > the Sunnites nor the Shiites , the latter of whom are the > til the > dominant religious party in Persia, and who particularly > objected to the Bab's claim of being the promised Mahdi, > Biche whose advent was to be ushered in by prodigious signs, > di tahun which, however, were not witnessed in the Bab's case. The > Eter > latter also was opposed by the new Sheykhi school. Early > According to the doctrine of the Sunnites , the Imamate , or vice > regency of the prophet , is a matter to be determined by the choice and > election of his followers ; according to the Shiites, it is a matter altogether > spiritual, having nothing to do with popular choice or approval. > 268 SECRET SOCIETIES > > in this century Sheykh Ahmad of Ahsa preached a new doc > trine, considered heterodox by true believers ; still he found > many adherents, and on his death , about the year 1827, was > succeeded by his disciple Haji Seyyid Kazim of Resht. He > died in 1844, prophesying the coming of one greater than > himself. Then Mirza Ali Mahammad , who came in contact > with some disciples of the deceased Seyyid Kazim, saw his > opportunity, and proclaimed himself the Bab ; the old Shey khi > party strongly supported him. But some of the followers of > Seyyid Kazim did not accept the new prophet, and became, > as the new Sheykhi party, his most violent persecutors. The > Bab consequently called the leader of the latter party the > “ Quintessence of Hell-fire ," whilst he, in his turn, wrote a > treatise against the Bab, entitled, “ The Crushing of False > hood .” From such mutual courtesies the transition to mutual > recrimination and accusation of objectionable teaching and > practice is easy, and consequently quite usual, and therefore > not to be too readily believed. > 657. Recent History of Babism . The fearful reprisals the > late Shah in 1852 took on the sect of the Babis , whatever > may be thought of their moral aspect, appear to have had > the desired political effect. From that day till the recent > assassination of the Shah , the outcome of old grievances, > and of an uncalled - for renewal of a fierce persecution , they > have committed no overt act of hostility against the Persian > Government or people, though their number and strength > are now double what they were in 1852. But this has not > softened the feeling of the Shah or of the Mullahs against > them . This was clearly shown in 1863. In that year a > Persian who had travelled in Europe suggested to the Shah > the establishment of a masonic lodge, with himself as the > grand master, whereby he would have a moral guarantee of > the fidelity of his subjects, since all persons of importance > and influence would no doubt become members, and masonic > oaths cannot be broken . The Shah granted permission, > without, however, being initiated himself; a lodge, called > the Feramoush -Khanek , the “ House of Oblivion " since on > leaving the lodge the member was supposed to forget all > he had seen in it — was speedily opened , and the Shah urged > all his courtiers to join it. He then questioned them as to > what they had seen in it, but their answers were unsatisfac > tory ; they had listened to some moral discourse, drunk tea, > and smoked. The Shah could not understand that the terrible > mysteries of Freemasonry, of which he had heard so much , > could amount to no more than this ; he therefore surmised > THE BABIS 269 > en die that a great deal was withheld from him, and became dis > satisfied. This dissatisfaction was taken advantage of by > some of his friends who disliked the innovation, and they > suggested to him that the lodge was probably the home of > the grossest debauchery, and, finally, that it was a meeting > place of Babis. Debauchery the Shah might have winked > at, but Babism could not be tolerated. The lodge was imme > diately ordered to be closed, and the author of its establish > CER ment banished from Persia. In quite recent times the Babis > have undergone grievous persecutions. In 1888 Seyyid > Hasan and Seyyid Huseyn were put to death by order of > the then Shah's eldest son, Prince Zillu's Sultan, for refusing > to abjure Babism . When dead their bodies were dragged > by the feet through the street and bazaars of Ispahan , and > cast out of the gate beyond the city walls. In the month of > October of the same year Aga Mirza Ashraf of Abade was > murdered for his religion, and the Mullas mutilated the poor > body in themost savage manner. In 1890 the Babi inhabi > mbio tants of a district called Seh-deh were attacked by a mob, > and seven or eight of them killed, and their bodies burnt > ‫من ب‬ > arba with oil. But it appears that on various occasions the Shah > restrained the fanaticism of would -be persecutors of the > Babis ; it did not, however, save him from the vengeance > sworn against him by the sect for former persecutions. On > Park > the Ist May 1896 Nasreddin Shah, the Defender of the > Faith, was shot in the mosque of Shah Abdul Azim, near > Teheran, and died immediately after he was brought back to > the city. The assassin , who was at once arrested, was Mirza > Mahomed Reza of Kirman, a follower of Jemal-ed-din, who > was exiled for an attempt at dethroning the Shah in 1891 . > After Jemal's departure Mahomed Reza was imprisoned ; > after some time he was set free, but continuing to speak > against the Persian Government, he was again imprisoned, > but some time after obtained his release, and even a pension > from the Shah. He confessed that he was chosen to kill the > Shah, and that he bought a revolver for the purpose, but had > to wait two months for a favourable opportunity. His execu > tion, some months after the deed - has it inspired the Babis > with sufficient dread to deter them from similar attempts in > the future ? > > K > I > W > > — *The Babis (Used by permission of the curator)*