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The History Of Freemasonry.

THE HISTORY OF FREEMASONRY .

( Continued from p 90 . ) A CONSIDERATION of the "worship of Mithras completes Bro . Gould ' s account of " The Ancient Mysteries . " This cult had its origin in the time of the ancient Persian

monarchy , bufc the Mithraism that was introduced into Rome in the century before the Christian era , or at a later period—there being differences of opinion as to the exact date of its introduction—was a modified form of the

Mithraism of the Zend-Avesta , or sacred writings of the Persians , attributed to Zoroaster . In the latter he is the chief of the Izeds under his creator Ormnzd , in whose wars against Ahriman he is the presiding agent ; but in the former he was confounded with the sun and the Supreme

Deity . " The fnndamental dogma of the Mithraic doctrineswrites Bro . Gould , " was the transmigration of souls nnder the seven planets , over whose operations Mithras presided . The initiated were divided into seven classes or grades "other authorities , as shown in a footnotegive other

, numbers — which were named , successively , soldiers , lions , hyaenas , & c , after the animals sacred to Mithras . After passing victoriously through the several ordeals , the neophyte was presented with an engraved stone or amulet , as a token of his admission into the brotherhood ,

and with the object of supplying a means of recognition by its members . He was also offered a crown , which , bowever , he was instructed to refuse ,. saying , ' My only crown is Mithras . ' The followers of Mithras , differing from the initiated of other systems , never wore wreaths ; and when

tried and proved' as to their having been duly admitted to a participation in this mystery , threw down the offered wreath , saying , ' My crown is my God . ' The candidate , moreover , on the successful conclusion of his probation , was marked in some indelible manner , the exact nature of

which cannot now be ascertained . Mr . King is of opinion this mark was not burned in , but incised or tatooed , but he need hardly have suggested that the members of a secret society did not receive the mark of membership on any conspicuous part of the body . We learn from sculptured

tablets , ^ and from inscriptions and symbols on tombs , that Mithraism prevailed extensively in this country , as well as in Germany and Gaul , in each case , no doubt , having been introduced by the Eoman legions . " This faith or cult is supposed to have " survived into comparatively modern

times in heretical and semi-pagan forms of Gnosticism , " which , we are told , " was the earliest attempt to construct a philosophical system of faith . It was a speculative system , and exercised little influence upon the masses of the people . " Later on he adds , " From the fact

that many genuine Gnostic symbols have come down to us , or reappear in speculative Masonry , it has been contended , that whereas the Gnosis , in its last and greatest manifestation , the composite religion of Manes , absorbed within itself the relics of the Mithraic faith , so in turn the

Manichean talismans and amulets have kept an unbroken existence through the Sectaries of tbe Lebanon , the Soofees of Persia , the Templars , and the Brethren of the Rosy Cross . Von Hammer lends the weight of his authority in support of the Templar link ; which , however , he believes to have

been forged at a very early period of the Gnostic heresy , and that it connected tbe Soldiers of the Cross with the Ophites , and not the Manieheans , their far later successors . " He concludes by furnishing an instance from Mackey " of the transmutation of Gnostic talismans into Masonic symbols , by a gradual transmission through alchemy ,

Rosicrucianistn , and mediaeval architecture , " in the " Azotli Philosophorum of Basil Valentine , the Hermetic philosopher , who flourished in the seventeenth century . " In

tins is a plate , " which is hermetic in its designs , but is full of Masonic symbolism , " representing " awinged globe , 'ascribed with a triangle within a square , " on which reposes a dragon . " On the latter stands a human figure of

The History Of Freemasonry.

two hands and two heads surrounded by the snn , the moon , and five stars , representing the seven planets . One of the heads is that of a male , the other of a female . The hand attached to the male part of the figure holds the compasses , that to the female a square . The square and compasses

thus distributed appear to have convinced Dr . Mackey that originally a phallic meaning was attached to these symbols , as there was to the point within the circle , whioh in this plate also appears in the centre of the globe . ' The compasses held by the male figure would represent the

male generative principle , and the square held by the female , the female productive principle . The subsequent interpretation given to the combined square and compasses was the transmutation from the hermetic talisman to the Masonic symbol . ' "

This completes the sketch of The Ancient Mysteries " and is followed by an account of that remarkable sect " the Essenea , " based on Dr . Ginsburg ' s essay . It will be

as well that we should note the more important particulars respecting them . Thus , as to their doctrines and practices—" They regarded the inspired Law of God with the utmost veneration . Tbe hisrhest aim of their life was

to become the temples of the Holy Ghost , when they could prophesy , perform miraculous cures , and , like Elias , be the forerunners of the Messiah . This they regarded as the last stage of perfection , which could only be reached by gradual growth in holiness through

strict observance of the law . They abstained from using oaths , because they regarded the invocation , in swearing , of anything which represents God ' s glory , aa a desecration . " The degrees of parity , according to Jewish tradition , were four in number : " I . The ordinary purity

required of every worshipper in the temple ; 2 . The higher degree of purity necessary for eating of the heave-offering ; 3 . The still higher degree requisite for partaking of the sacrifices ; and 4 . The degree of purity required of those who sprinkle tbe water absolving from sin . " Of these only

the first was obligatory on every one , while the others were voluntary . The strictness of the ceremonial law led them ultimately to form themselves into a separate community , in which , with the exception of some weaker brethren , they led a life of celibacy , those who were permitted to take

unto themselves wives being debarred from advancement to tbe higher orders of the brotherhood . They had all things in common , and were governed by a president , " who was elected by the whole body . " Trials were conducted " by juries composed of at least a hundred members , who had to

be unanimous in their verdict . " They " always got up before the sun rose , and never talked about any worldly matters until they had assembled and prayed together with their faces turned towards the sun . Some occupied themselves with healing the sick , some in instructing the young ;

but all of them devoted certain hours to studying the mysteries of nature and revelations , and of the celestial hierarchy . At the fifth hour ( or eleven o ' clock a . m . ) the labour of the forenoon terminated , and they partook of their common meal , each member taking his seat

according to age . " Between labour and refreshment they assembled together , baptised in cold water , put on their white garments—the symbol of purity—and entered the refectory with as much solemnity as if it were the temple . They ate in solemn silence , and when the meal was ended ,

resumed their ordinary dress and occupations till supper time . The observance of the Sabbath was exceedingly strict , ten members constituting an assembly for divine worship . They had no ordained ministry , the ordinances of the brotherhood and the " mysteries connected with the

Tetragrammaton , and the angelic worlds "formingthe leading topics of Sabbath instruction . Recruits were obtained from the Jewish community . " Every grown-up candidate had to pass through a novitiate of two stages , which extended over three years , before he could be . finally

accepted . In the first , which lasted twelve months , he had to cast all his possessions into the common treasury , and received a copy of the ordinances , as well as a spade , an apron , used at the lustrations , and a white robe , to put on at meals , being the symbols of purity . After this

probation , he was admitted into the second stage , which lasted two years , and was called an approacher . During this period he was admitted to a closer fellowship , and shared the lustral rites , but could not hold any office , or sit down

afc the common table . On passing through the second stage of probation , the approacher became an associate , or a full member of the society , when be was received into ihe brotherhood , and partook of the common meal . Before ,