-
Articles/Ads
Article THE HISTORY OF INITIATION.* Page 1 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The History Of Initiation.*
THE HISTORY OF INITIATION . *
BY BRO . H . T . CRUCEFIX , SI . D . P . G . D .
( Continued from p . 151 , Vol . B . J
THE General History of Initiation has been examined with diligence , and copious remarks have been made , it is hoped , with advantage to the Masonic reader . But as matters of greater interest to ourselves , because a personal investigation is within our power , I proceed to consider the places of initiation in Britain , which will be found to vary very little from those m other parts of the world . " Dr . Borlase has traced a surprising uniformity in the templespriestsdoctrinesand worshiof the Persian
, , , p Magi and the British Druids . This conformity , indeed , is so striking and extraordinary , that Pelloutier , in his History of the Celts , will have it that the Persians and the Celts were originallv one and the same people . Major Vallancey is of the same opinion ; " adding , that the -Drmds first flourished in the east ; in Hindostan , as Brahmins ; in Babylon and Syria , as Chaldeans ; and in Persia , as Magi ; and from thence came hitherwhom the Greeks call Phenicians" These
, . opinions collected by Mr . Hutchinson , can only prove that the nations agreed as to the practice of similar rites and ceremonies in the administration of religious worship ; for the Druids flourished in Gaul and Britain , at least coeval with the planting of many other nations , from which theorists have conjectured they might derive their orieinal .
Besides , these several people paid their devotions to different objects of worship ; some were Sabeans , ancl worshipped the host of heaven ; others were Magians , and confined their adoration to the solar fire ; two sects which always entertained the utmost contempt and hatred for each other ' s principles . The testimonies , however , are amply sufficient to point out the analogy which subsisted in early times between the mysterious institutions of those countries which were formed by the migration of the first descendants of Noah and
his family . The genera ] name of the sanctuary where the peculiar mysteries of Britain were formally celebrated , was Caer Sidi , the circle of revolution ; so called , from the well known form of the Druidical temples . It appears extremely probable , that this sanctuary consisted of a range of buildings erected for the purpose , immediately adjoining their most sacred temples , in the centre of an impenetrable grove of oaks , consecrated with solemn rites to the service of the
Deity , and hallowed with the blood of human victims . In some parts of England , the initiations were performed in the secret recesses of holy caverns formed by nature , with every convenience to give effect to their celebration ; for a cavern was understood by the Epoptae , to represent the central cavity of the vast abyss , or the great receptacle of the diluvian waters ; or , in other words , Hades . The peculiar degree of sanctity attached to these awful enclosures , was calculated to produce a lasting impression on the aspirant , as well as to prevent the idle approach of the initiated . Con-
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The History Of Initiation.*
THE HISTORY OF INITIATION . *
BY BRO . H . T . CRUCEFIX , SI . D . P . G . D .
( Continued from p . 151 , Vol . B . J
THE General History of Initiation has been examined with diligence , and copious remarks have been made , it is hoped , with advantage to the Masonic reader . But as matters of greater interest to ourselves , because a personal investigation is within our power , I proceed to consider the places of initiation in Britain , which will be found to vary very little from those m other parts of the world . " Dr . Borlase has traced a surprising uniformity in the templespriestsdoctrinesand worshiof the Persian
, , , p Magi and the British Druids . This conformity , indeed , is so striking and extraordinary , that Pelloutier , in his History of the Celts , will have it that the Persians and the Celts were originallv one and the same people . Major Vallancey is of the same opinion ; " adding , that the -Drmds first flourished in the east ; in Hindostan , as Brahmins ; in Babylon and Syria , as Chaldeans ; and in Persia , as Magi ; and from thence came hitherwhom the Greeks call Phenicians" These
, . opinions collected by Mr . Hutchinson , can only prove that the nations agreed as to the practice of similar rites and ceremonies in the administration of religious worship ; for the Druids flourished in Gaul and Britain , at least coeval with the planting of many other nations , from which theorists have conjectured they might derive their orieinal .
Besides , these several people paid their devotions to different objects of worship ; some were Sabeans , ancl worshipped the host of heaven ; others were Magians , and confined their adoration to the solar fire ; two sects which always entertained the utmost contempt and hatred for each other ' s principles . The testimonies , however , are amply sufficient to point out the analogy which subsisted in early times between the mysterious institutions of those countries which were formed by the migration of the first descendants of Noah and
his family . The genera ] name of the sanctuary where the peculiar mysteries of Britain were formally celebrated , was Caer Sidi , the circle of revolution ; so called , from the well known form of the Druidical temples . It appears extremely probable , that this sanctuary consisted of a range of buildings erected for the purpose , immediately adjoining their most sacred temples , in the centre of an impenetrable grove of oaks , consecrated with solemn rites to the service of the
Deity , and hallowed with the blood of human victims . In some parts of England , the initiations were performed in the secret recesses of holy caverns formed by nature , with every convenience to give effect to their celebration ; for a cavern was understood by the Epoptae , to represent the central cavity of the vast abyss , or the great receptacle of the diluvian waters ; or , in other words , Hades . The peculiar degree of sanctity attached to these awful enclosures , was calculated to produce a lasting impression on the aspirant , as well as to prevent the idle approach of the initiated . Con-