Skip to main content
Museum of Freemasonry

Masonic Periodicals Online

  • Explore
  • Advanced Search
  • Home
  • Explore
  • The Freemasons' Quarterly Review
  • June 30, 1851
  • Page 39
  • HISTORICAL ENQUIRY INTO THE FUNEREAL CEREMONIES OF THE VARIOUS NATIONS OF THE WORLD*
Current:

The Freemasons' Quarterly Review, June 30, 1851: Page 39

  • Back to The Freemasons' Quarterly Review, June 30, 1851
  • Print image
  • Articles/Ads
    Article HISTORICAL ENQUIRY INTO THE FUNEREAL CEREMONIES OF THE VARIOUS NATIONS OF THE WORLD* ← Page 3 of 7 →
Page 39

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Historical Enquiry Into The Funereal Ceremonies Of The Various Nations Of The World*

the corpse on the ground , the brahmin utters in a gr . iA-e tone the words following , " Oh earth , who during his life nourished this man made of earth , we restore him to thee after his death . " The corpse is then covered with combustible materials , to Avhich fire is applied , and the brahmin exclaims , " Oh fire , whose beneficent Avarmth maintained the life of this man , Ave restore his body to thee in order that thou mayest purifit . "

y The corpse being entirely consumed the ashes are thrown into the air , the brahmin crying " Oh air , by Avhose means this man breathed , Ave restore to thee after death that by ivhich thou supported it in life . " The ashes cast into the air fall into the ivater , the fourth element being in conclusion thus apostrophised by the brahmin , '' Oh earth , thy moisture ivas the principle of this man ' s life , we restore him to thee after his death . "

At Madagascar they thus interrogate the deceased , " Why say they art thou dead ? What grief has impelled thee to yield up thy breath ? Wert thou not rich enough ? Hadst thou not sufficient gold and iron , flocks , and slaves ? " After the ceremony they construct upon his grave a small wooden haven , which they are careful to supply with rice , tobacco , and other provisions . The children repair from time to time to the nlace of senulture . and when thev are in anv difficulty thcv

seriously eonsultHhe deceased ! thereon , saying to him , " Thou , ivho art noiv present Avith God , advise us AA'hat must be done in such an affair . " The negroes in the kingdom of Juida , on the Slave Coast , never inhabit the divelling of the departed for the space of twelve moons . The ancient inhabitants of the Canaries , were accustomed to place their deceased king in a cellar . They armed him ivith a great stick , in order that he might make use of itas a defence against malevolent spirits .

, All the nations , and all the religions which have preserved the inward , and almost universal feeling of the immortality of the soul , have also been desirous of describing the fate of mortals in another life . The Greeks , following the Egyptians , who themselves derived their views from the Phoenicians , imagined that there was upon earth a vast abyss , Avhich they called Tartarus ; this idea was a reminiscence of the mysteries established in Egypt , and to ivhich Freemasonry makes

sensible approaches . They also supposed that three Fates ( Parques ) presided over men ' s destiny , and three judges , rulers of the empire below , disposed of his eternal existence ; Pluto , Minos , and Rhademanthus , composed the infernal tribunal . These interrogated the soul of the deceased , bestowing the joys of the Elysian Fields upon all those , whose life had been virtuous and irreproachable , ivbile the wicked were delivered over to the Furies , charged to torment them , and with whom was to be found the purification by water , by fire—punishments and trials of all kinds .

They pretended to have received these particulars from those , who had formerly returned from hell , and it would be difficult to require perfect sincerity from men so situated . It is now certain that in the mysteries of Isis , Eleusis anil Ceres , occasion might be afforded for these reports , by the ceremonies observed in initiation . The Neophyte had only the poAver of AvithdraAving , and re-entering the world again , up to a certain point , at which he had seen and heard nothing . * He who at a later

“The Freemasons' Quarterly Review: 1851-06-30, Page 39” Masonic Periodicals Online, Library and Museum of Freemasonry, 12 May 2025, django:8000/periodicals/fqr/issues/fqr_30061851/page/39/.
  • List
  • Grid
Title Category Page
THE FEEEMASONS' QUARTERLY MAGAZINE AND REVIEW. Article 1
THE REVELATIONS OF A SQUARE. Article 9
THE FREEMASON'S WIDOW.* Article 29
CONCISE BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCH Article 35
HISTORICAL ENQUIRY INTO THE FUNEREAL CEREMONIES OF THE VARIOUS NATIONS OF THE WORLD* Article 37
BRO. MARSHAL SOULT. Article 43
HISTORICAL NOTES ON FREEMASONRY. Article 44
CORRESPONDENCE. Article 54
TO THE EDITOR. Article 59
TO THE EDITOR. Article 60
Obituary. Article 61
MASONIC INTELLIGENCE . Article 62
UNITED GRAND LODGE. Article 63
QUARTERLY COMMUNICATION , June 4, 1851. Article 68
GRAND CONCLAVE. Article 72
THE 33RD DEGREE FOR ENGLAND AND WALES, AND THE DEPENDENCIES OF THE BRITISH CROWN. Article 74
Supreme Council for Ireland. Article 75
Supreme Council For Scotland. Article 76
THE CHARITIES. Article 78
THE ROYAL BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION FOR AGED FREEMASONS AND THEIR WIDOWS. Article 84
METROPOLITAN. Article 89
PROVINCIAL. Article 97
SCOTLAND. Article 114
IRELAND. Article 119
COLONIAL. Article 120
WEST INDIES. Article 123
AMERICA. Article 124
LITERARY NOTICES Article 125
BRO. WYLD'S GREAT GLOBE. Article 127
THE GREAT EXHIBITION. Article 128
Page 1

Page 1

1 Article
Page 2

Page 2

1 Article
Page 3

Page 3

1 Article
Page 4

Page 4

1 Article
Page 5

Page 5

1 Article
Page 6

Page 6

1 Article
Page 7

Page 7

1 Article
Page 8

Page 8

1 Article
Page 9

Page 9

1 Article
Page 10

Page 10

1 Article
Page 11

Page 11

1 Article
Page 12

Page 12

1 Article
Page 13

Page 13

1 Article
Page 14

Page 14

1 Article
Page 15

Page 15

1 Article
Page 16

Page 16

1 Article
Page 17

Page 17

1 Article
Page 18

Page 18

1 Article
Page 19

Page 19

1 Article
Page 20

Page 20

1 Article
Page 21

Page 21

1 Article
Page 22

Page 22

1 Article
Page 23

Page 23

1 Article
Page 24

Page 24

1 Article
Page 25

Page 25

1 Article
Page 26

Page 26

1 Article
Page 27

Page 27

1 Article
Page 28

Page 28

1 Article
Page 29

Page 29

1 Article
Page 30

Page 30

1 Article
Page 31

Page 31

1 Article
Page 32

Page 32

1 Article
Page 33

Page 33

1 Article
Page 34

Page 34

1 Article
Page 35

Page 35

1 Article
Page 36

Page 36

1 Article
Page 37

Page 37

1 Article
Page 38

Page 38

1 Article
Page 39

Page 39

1 Article
Page 40

Page 40

1 Article
Page 41

Page 41

1 Article
Page 42

Page 42

1 Article
Page 43

Page 43

2 Articles
Page 44

Page 44

1 Article
Page 45

Page 45

1 Article
Page 46

Page 46

1 Article
Page 47

Page 47

1 Article
Page 48

Page 48

1 Article
Page 49

Page 49

1 Article
Page 50

Page 50

1 Article
Page 51

Page 51

1 Article
Page 52

Page 52

1 Article
Page 53

Page 53

1 Article
Page 54

Page 54

1 Article
Page 55

Page 55

1 Article
Page 56

Page 56

1 Article
Page 57

Page 57

1 Article
Page 58

Page 58

1 Article
Page 59

Page 59

1 Article
Page 60

Page 60

1 Article
Page 61

Page 61

2 Articles
Page 62

Page 62

1 Article
Page 63

Page 63

1 Article
Page 64

Page 64

1 Article
Page 65

Page 65

1 Article
Page 66

Page 66

1 Article
Page 67

Page 67

1 Article
Page 68

Page 68

1 Article
Page 69

Page 69

1 Article
Page 70

Page 70

1 Article
Page 71

Page 71

1 Article
Page 72

Page 72

2 Articles
Page 73

Page 73

1 Article
Page 74

Page 74

1 Article
Page 75

Page 75

2 Articles
Page 76

Page 76

2 Articles
Page 77

Page 77

1 Article
Page 78

Page 78

2 Articles
Page 79

Page 79

1 Article
Page 80

Page 80

1 Article
Page 81

Page 81

1 Article
Page 82

Page 82

1 Article
Page 83

Page 83

1 Article
Page 84

Page 84

2 Articles
Page 85

Page 85

1 Article
Page 86

Page 86

1 Article
Page 87

Page 87

1 Article
Page 88

Page 88

1 Article
Page 89

Page 89

2 Articles
Page 90

Page 90

1 Article
Page 91

Page 91

1 Article
Page 92

Page 92

1 Article
Page 93

Page 93

1 Article
Page 94

Page 94

1 Article
Page 95

Page 95

1 Article
Page 96

Page 96

1 Article
Page 97

Page 97

1 Article
Page 98

Page 98

1 Article
Page 99

Page 99

1 Article
Page 100

Page 100

1 Article
Page 101

Page 101

1 Article
Page 102

Page 102

1 Article
Page 103

Page 103

1 Article
Page 104

Page 104

1 Article
Page 105

Page 105

1 Article
Page 106

Page 106

1 Article
Page 107

Page 107

1 Article
Page 108

Page 108

1 Article
Page 109

Page 109

1 Article
Page 110

Page 110

1 Article
Page 111

Page 111

1 Article
Page 112

Page 112

1 Article
Page 113

Page 113

1 Article
Page 114

Page 114

2 Articles
Page 115

Page 115

1 Article
Page 116

Page 116

1 Article
Page 117

Page 117

1 Article
Page 118

Page 118

1 Article
Page 119

Page 119

2 Articles
Page 120

Page 120

2 Articles
Page 121

Page 121

1 Article
Page 122

Page 122

1 Article
Page 123

Page 123

2 Articles
Page 124

Page 124

2 Articles
Page 125

Page 125

2 Articles
Page 126

Page 126

1 Article
Page 127

Page 127

1 Article
Page 128

Page 128

2 Articles
Page 39

Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.

Historical Enquiry Into The Funereal Ceremonies Of The Various Nations Of The World*

the corpse on the ground , the brahmin utters in a gr . iA-e tone the words following , " Oh earth , who during his life nourished this man made of earth , we restore him to thee after his death . " The corpse is then covered with combustible materials , to Avhich fire is applied , and the brahmin exclaims , " Oh fire , whose beneficent Avarmth maintained the life of this man , Ave restore his body to thee in order that thou mayest purifit . "

y The corpse being entirely consumed the ashes are thrown into the air , the brahmin crying " Oh air , by Avhose means this man breathed , Ave restore to thee after death that by ivhich thou supported it in life . " The ashes cast into the air fall into the ivater , the fourth element being in conclusion thus apostrophised by the brahmin , '' Oh earth , thy moisture ivas the principle of this man ' s life , we restore him to thee after his death . "

At Madagascar they thus interrogate the deceased , " Why say they art thou dead ? What grief has impelled thee to yield up thy breath ? Wert thou not rich enough ? Hadst thou not sufficient gold and iron , flocks , and slaves ? " After the ceremony they construct upon his grave a small wooden haven , which they are careful to supply with rice , tobacco , and other provisions . The children repair from time to time to the nlace of senulture . and when thev are in anv difficulty thcv

seriously eonsultHhe deceased ! thereon , saying to him , " Thou , ivho art noiv present Avith God , advise us AA'hat must be done in such an affair . " The negroes in the kingdom of Juida , on the Slave Coast , never inhabit the divelling of the departed for the space of twelve moons . The ancient inhabitants of the Canaries , were accustomed to place their deceased king in a cellar . They armed him ivith a great stick , in order that he might make use of itas a defence against malevolent spirits .

, All the nations , and all the religions which have preserved the inward , and almost universal feeling of the immortality of the soul , have also been desirous of describing the fate of mortals in another life . The Greeks , following the Egyptians , who themselves derived their views from the Phoenicians , imagined that there was upon earth a vast abyss , Avhich they called Tartarus ; this idea was a reminiscence of the mysteries established in Egypt , and to ivhich Freemasonry makes

sensible approaches . They also supposed that three Fates ( Parques ) presided over men ' s destiny , and three judges , rulers of the empire below , disposed of his eternal existence ; Pluto , Minos , and Rhademanthus , composed the infernal tribunal . These interrogated the soul of the deceased , bestowing the joys of the Elysian Fields upon all those , whose life had been virtuous and irreproachable , ivbile the wicked were delivered over to the Furies , charged to torment them , and with whom was to be found the purification by water , by fire—punishments and trials of all kinds .

They pretended to have received these particulars from those , who had formerly returned from hell , and it would be difficult to require perfect sincerity from men so situated . It is now certain that in the mysteries of Isis , Eleusis anil Ceres , occasion might be afforded for these reports , by the ceremonies observed in initiation . The Neophyte had only the poAver of AvithdraAving , and re-entering the world again , up to a certain point , at which he had seen and heard nothing . * He who at a later

  • Prev page
  • 1
  • 38
  • You're on page39
  • 40
  • 128
  • Next page
  • Accredited Museum Designated Outstanding Collection
  • LIBRARY AND MUSEUM CHARITABLE TRUST OF THE UNITED GRAND LODGE OF ENGLAND REGISTERED CHARITY NUMBER 1058497 / ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © 2025

  • Accessibility statement

  • Designed, developed, and maintained by King's Digital Lab

We use cookies to track usage and preferences.

Privacy & cookie policy