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Article ON THE HISTORY OF INITIATION.* Page 1 of 4 →
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On The History Of Initiation.*
ON THE HISTORY OF INITIATION . *
BY BRO . R . 1 . CRUCEFIX , M . I ) ., P . G . D . , ETC . ETC . ( Continued from p . 2 / , Vol . P . )
Tins subject of the ancient initiations has engaged the attention of learned men of all ages and nations . Before the promulgation of Christianity , the philosophic heathens were too conscientious , or too much in dread of personal consequences , or had too great an interest in concealing their recondite mysteries from the world , to suffer themselves to he betrayed into any exposition which might he construed into a breach of fidelityIf Cicero and Virgil constitute to
. any exception these remarks , it could only he because the mysteries were in their time degenerating into disrepute , and consequently their terrors operated Jess powerfully than on their predecessors , who wrote when the penalties were inflicted ivith the utmost rigour . When the Atonement of Christ had silenced the oracles , and given a fatal blow to the mysteries by which they had heen so long and so successfully upheldand after they had been bthe
, altogether suppressed y edict of Theodosius , the peculiar secrets and observances became objects of enquiry with all men . Tertullian , who had been initiated before his conversion , gives us some hints respecting their abominations ; Lucian brings them into open ridicule ; Apuleius and Plutarch reveal many of the ceremonies ; Eusebius and Porphyrins record some of their indecencies ; and Jamblichus makes us acquainted with some important points on their hieroglhieal and symbolical systemAnd chain of
yp . a writers through Bishop Warburton , Bryant , Maurice , Faber , and others , have treated on their component parts . It remained , however , for one of our own Masonic body to collect all the scattered opinions respecting these mysterious rites , doctrines , and observances into one focus , and to display every particular of the occult ceremonies in a consecutive and connected form .
And well has he executed the task ; leaving little for his successors in the same path to perform . The object and design of these extraordinary institutions—the places and ceremonies of initiation—the doctrines aud superstitions attached to them in every quarter of the globe , and amongst every ancient people , are accurately delineated in the work before us . Nothing is left to imagination , nor has the most trifling detail been omitted . Whether analysed into parts , or taken as a whole , this book is worththe attention of the scholar and anti
y quary . _ The places selected for the purpose of initiation were generally in situations equally inaccessible and remote from observation . Dens and caverns , when found naturally , were always used with additional excavations , for the more convenient disposal of that fearful machinery which was intended , while it covered the aspirant with terror , to inspire m his mind a sublime opinion of the mysteriesand veneration for
, a those dignified characters in whose custody they were placed . The subterranean temples of India are superb specimens of what human art and human industry can effect , when under the influence of superstition . The cavern of Elephanta , the most ancient temple in the world framed by the hand of man , is one hundred and thirty feet
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The History Of Initiation.*
ON THE HISTORY OF INITIATION . *
BY BRO . R . 1 . CRUCEFIX , M . I ) ., P . G . D . , ETC . ETC . ( Continued from p . 2 / , Vol . P . )
Tins subject of the ancient initiations has engaged the attention of learned men of all ages and nations . Before the promulgation of Christianity , the philosophic heathens were too conscientious , or too much in dread of personal consequences , or had too great an interest in concealing their recondite mysteries from the world , to suffer themselves to he betrayed into any exposition which might he construed into a breach of fidelityIf Cicero and Virgil constitute to
. any exception these remarks , it could only he because the mysteries were in their time degenerating into disrepute , and consequently their terrors operated Jess powerfully than on their predecessors , who wrote when the penalties were inflicted ivith the utmost rigour . When the Atonement of Christ had silenced the oracles , and given a fatal blow to the mysteries by which they had heen so long and so successfully upheldand after they had been bthe
, altogether suppressed y edict of Theodosius , the peculiar secrets and observances became objects of enquiry with all men . Tertullian , who had been initiated before his conversion , gives us some hints respecting their abominations ; Lucian brings them into open ridicule ; Apuleius and Plutarch reveal many of the ceremonies ; Eusebius and Porphyrins record some of their indecencies ; and Jamblichus makes us acquainted with some important points on their hieroglhieal and symbolical systemAnd chain of
yp . a writers through Bishop Warburton , Bryant , Maurice , Faber , and others , have treated on their component parts . It remained , however , for one of our own Masonic body to collect all the scattered opinions respecting these mysterious rites , doctrines , and observances into one focus , and to display every particular of the occult ceremonies in a consecutive and connected form .
And well has he executed the task ; leaving little for his successors in the same path to perform . The object and design of these extraordinary institutions—the places and ceremonies of initiation—the doctrines aud superstitions attached to them in every quarter of the globe , and amongst every ancient people , are accurately delineated in the work before us . Nothing is left to imagination , nor has the most trifling detail been omitted . Whether analysed into parts , or taken as a whole , this book is worththe attention of the scholar and anti
y quary . _ The places selected for the purpose of initiation were generally in situations equally inaccessible and remote from observation . Dens and caverns , when found naturally , were always used with additional excavations , for the more convenient disposal of that fearful machinery which was intended , while it covered the aspirant with terror , to inspire m his mind a sublime opinion of the mysteriesand veneration for
, a those dignified characters in whose custody they were placed . The subterranean temples of India are superb specimens of what human art and human industry can effect , when under the influence of superstition . The cavern of Elephanta , the most ancient temple in the world framed by the hand of man , is one hundred and thirty feet