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Article ON SILENCE AND ITS ANCIENT SYMBOLS. ← Page 5 of 7 →
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On Silence And Its Ancient Symbols.
the eye of my readers . It -will be more useful to quote a few passages from ancient Avriters , and to deduce from them some inferences as to the import of the obligation of silence . A strange attempt has been made by the learned and acute Lobeck , to prove that silence Avas not observed as to the proceedings in the ancient mysteries . This statementwhich is at
, variance Avith every knoAvn statement of antiquity , may have originated from the fact that descriptions of portions of the ceremonies are found recorded ; but Ave rather fear it must be set doAvn to a taste for learned paradoxes , AAdiich German scholars are too prone to exhibit . Besides , even as in Masonry , certain points in the ancient mysteries were considered as
indifferent matters , Avhich might be divulged to the laity , and which , therefore , entailed no obligation of secresy . I doubt not , for instance , that the conversation between Lucius and the priest of Isis , in the eleventh book of the " Golden Ass , " contains the substance of an ancient charge , * though Ave find that , in reference to his feelings on hearing it , the candidate for initiation observes : " The priest had ended speaking , but my steadfast attention was not spoilt by any display of impatience ; quiet and
silent , I AA eut through the daily preparation for the rites . " Then follow the production of the mystic volumes , the preparatory bathings , and the revelation of certain things " beyond the poAver of the voice to express ; " and then a detail of the ceremonies , " as far as Avithout impiety might be revealed to the understanding of the profane . " Is not such a passage
ample evidence that , Avhile there were certain things Avhich imposed no restraint of silence , there were deeper mysteries which remained for ever closed , sealed up in the breasts of the initiated , and that a Masonic sense of a sacred obligation to silence is not of neAv growth , but is coeval with the earliest attempts of mankind to associate for purposes of mutual
protection , instruction , or benefit ? The use of initiatory rites , hoAvwer , though sanctioned by our Church , has been necessarily freed from secresy . What is necessary to all must be knoAvn to all ; but this is no reason AA hy secresy should not be the privilege of those AVIIO would seek some peculiar refinements of scienceand some common bond
, of unity . Happily , moreover , the complaints which Tertullian t brought against the mysteries of the earlier heretics no longer exist against a system , Avhich , though recognising those of eA ery creed throughout its craft , Masonry , yet allows of further
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On Silence And Its Ancient Symbols.
the eye of my readers . It -will be more useful to quote a few passages from ancient Avriters , and to deduce from them some inferences as to the import of the obligation of silence . A strange attempt has been made by the learned and acute Lobeck , to prove that silence Avas not observed as to the proceedings in the ancient mysteries . This statementwhich is at
, variance Avith every knoAvn statement of antiquity , may have originated from the fact that descriptions of portions of the ceremonies are found recorded ; but Ave rather fear it must be set doAvn to a taste for learned paradoxes , AAdiich German scholars are too prone to exhibit . Besides , even as in Masonry , certain points in the ancient mysteries were considered as
indifferent matters , Avhich might be divulged to the laity , and which , therefore , entailed no obligation of secresy . I doubt not , for instance , that the conversation between Lucius and the priest of Isis , in the eleventh book of the " Golden Ass , " contains the substance of an ancient charge , * though Ave find that , in reference to his feelings on hearing it , the candidate for initiation observes : " The priest had ended speaking , but my steadfast attention was not spoilt by any display of impatience ; quiet and
silent , I AA eut through the daily preparation for the rites . " Then follow the production of the mystic volumes , the preparatory bathings , and the revelation of certain things " beyond the poAver of the voice to express ; " and then a detail of the ceremonies , " as far as Avithout impiety might be revealed to the understanding of the profane . " Is not such a passage
ample evidence that , Avhile there were certain things Avhich imposed no restraint of silence , there were deeper mysteries which remained for ever closed , sealed up in the breasts of the initiated , and that a Masonic sense of a sacred obligation to silence is not of neAv growth , but is coeval with the earliest attempts of mankind to associate for purposes of mutual
protection , instruction , or benefit ? The use of initiatory rites , hoAvwer , though sanctioned by our Church , has been necessarily freed from secresy . What is necessary to all must be knoAvn to all ; but this is no reason AA hy secresy should not be the privilege of those AVIIO would seek some peculiar refinements of scienceand some common bond
, of unity . Happily , moreover , the complaints which Tertullian t brought against the mysteries of the earlier heretics no longer exist against a system , Avhich , though recognising those of eA ery creed throughout its craft , Masonry , yet allows of further