Freemasonry was introduced into the Ottoman Empire during the nineteenth century. It acquired political significance during the Tanzimat era (1839–1876), when Ottoman statesmen were inducted into the French Masonic Lodge in Istanbul and Masons are said to have played an important role in bringing about Sultan Murad V’s accession to the throne in May 1876. In Paris, members of the Young Turks, the movement opposed to the autocracy of Abdülhamid II (1876–1909), also came under the influence of freemasonry.

       The Jews of Salonica were reputed to be active as masons. Emmanuel Carasso …