Mevlevies

Mevlevies

an order of rigid Mohammedan monks. The novice receives his preliminary training in the convent kitchen during the period of a thousand and one days, after which he is received into the order. Their doctrines are chiefly those of the Persian Sufis (q.v.). Contrary to the teachings of the prophet they have introduced music and dancing into their worship. They are the best endowed of all the orders of Moslem monks; yet they use only the coarsest fare. and the plainest raiment, while they distribute much of their revenue in alms to the poor. They are the Dancing Dervishes of Turkey, and consist chiefly of the higher class of Turks. (See Dervisi); (See Mohammedanism).