AN'SARIES, or ANSA'RIANS, called also Nossairians, an Arab sect living in the mountains between the n. part of Lebanon and Antioch; found also in Antioch and other towns and villages of the coast. Little is known of their origin or history. They endeavor to conceal their doctrines from strangers, and of their own people none but male adults are admitted to the secrets. But it is evident that their tenets are a mixture of paganism and Mohammedanism, with some faint suggestions from Christianity. Their founder, Nossair, who lived about 890, taught that God appeared eleven times in human form, to Abraham, Moses, Jesus, Mohammed, and others; that lie always encountered opposition, whereupon lie returned to heaven, wrapped himself in a blue mantle, and resorted to the sun, which is therefore an object of their worship. They are said, by some writers, to look for a messiah who will be the twelfth person of human form in whom God will appear. Other accounts are that they hold to seven manifesta tions of the supreme deity, of which Ali is the only one to be adored. They believe in migration of souls, which for the faithful will be a progress from pure to more pure until they become stars; but sinners will be transformed into Jews, Christians, donkeys, dogs, and hogs. They practice circumcision and ablution, and pray in the open air
three times a day. Promiscuous intercourse of the sexes is practiced on certain festivals, and their religious rites are believed to be vile. Though their religion inculcates benev olence, honesty, and patience, they arc thievish and superstitious, yet hospitable. Each community is governed by a mokaddem, who is almost entirely independent. •It is said that the most numerous of the three sects into which the A. are divided worship a beautiful young woman, who is elected goddess once in three years. A late writer estimates their number at over 200,000, and says that they believe in a divine unity in three persons, the last two being created. The first, the supreme deity, is Manna or " meaning," the second Ism or " name," the third Bab or " dove." Mere is also a system of hierarchies wonderful for number; there are 14,000 "near ones," 15,000 "cherubim," 16,000 "spirituals," 17,000 " saints," 18,000 "hermits," 19,000 "listen. ers," and 20,000 "followers," besides prophets, apostles, and heroes. They profess to receive, among other sacred books, the Old and New Testaments, and the Koran.