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Article THE HISTORY OF INITIATION.* ← Page 2 of 4 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The History Of Initiation.*
siderable space was necessary for the machinery of initiation on its largest and most comprehensive scale . Apartments of all sizes , cells , vaults , baths , and long and artfully contrived passages , with all the apparatus of terror which was used on these important occasions , could not have been contained within a small compass ; although it is tolerably clear , that an initiation on a minor scale was performed in many ts of the island within the inclosure of caverns of moderate
dimenpar sions . It is well known , that what was pure mythology in one age , became romance in another ; and hence , the fables current in this country about King Arthur and his knights , connected with Merlin the enchanter ; their imaginary combats and discomfiture of giants and powerful magicians , were all derived from occurrences that took place during the initiation of candidates into the highest mysteries of Druidism , which were of a
complicated nature , abounding with transformations , battles , and fearful adventures . Hence , every remarkable structure in this island to which the name of Arthur is attached , was , doubtless , connected with the initiations ; and the same may be said of those places to which a giant was a party . All ancient temples consecrated to religious worship , in whatever country—for the practice of all idolatrous nations was uniform in this particular—had places of initiation connected with them , and most frequently these places were subterranean . Few caverns in this
country remain to relate the wonders of Druidical initiation ; but the stupendous grotto of Castleton , in Derbyshire , called by Stukely the Stygian Cave , is sufficient to convince us that these celebrations were of the most terrific nature ; were performed with the aid of complicated machinery , and did not yield in interest and sublimity to those which have been so highly eulogised in the more polished and civilized nations of Egypt and Greece . They were usually constructed on the principles of secrecy and retirement from public observation . Long ,
dark , and , in all practicable cases , intricate passages were the united essentials of the mysterious precincts ; and it is evident , that as religion could not be practised distinct from initiation , so places for the performance of these important rites were always constructed within , or near the edifices consecrated to religious worship . Mr . Faber is of opinion , and I think the conjecture is too reasonable to he lightly rejected , that St . Patrick ' s purgatory , the pyramid at New in the small island off Sli
Grange , the Temple of Muidhr , go , together with the Cornish Tolmen , Stonehenge , and the stupendous natural cave of Castleton , in Derbyshire , were all places destined for the celebration of the Phallic worship . AVith respect to the latter , I beg leave to quote his own words , which appear to carry conviction with them : — " With regard to the interior of the Derbyshire cavern , I am persuaded , that any person who descends into it , after having first attentively perused the sixth
book of the Eneid , will be not a little surprised at its singular resemblance to the Hades of the mysteries , though the terrific machinery , once introduced into it , exists no longer . You first enter into an immense and magnificent cave , the whole of which , however , is perfectly visible by the dusky light admitted through its noble arched gateway . From this cave , you are conducted to a small nan-ow door , having passed through which , you rapidly descend , until you find yourself on the brink of a subterraneous river . Over the river you are ferried in a small boat ; and , after reaching the opposite side , you continue your course along its bank , through an alternate succession of narrow
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The History Of Initiation.*
siderable space was necessary for the machinery of initiation on its largest and most comprehensive scale . Apartments of all sizes , cells , vaults , baths , and long and artfully contrived passages , with all the apparatus of terror which was used on these important occasions , could not have been contained within a small compass ; although it is tolerably clear , that an initiation on a minor scale was performed in many ts of the island within the inclosure of caverns of moderate
dimenpar sions . It is well known , that what was pure mythology in one age , became romance in another ; and hence , the fables current in this country about King Arthur and his knights , connected with Merlin the enchanter ; their imaginary combats and discomfiture of giants and powerful magicians , were all derived from occurrences that took place during the initiation of candidates into the highest mysteries of Druidism , which were of a
complicated nature , abounding with transformations , battles , and fearful adventures . Hence , every remarkable structure in this island to which the name of Arthur is attached , was , doubtless , connected with the initiations ; and the same may be said of those places to which a giant was a party . All ancient temples consecrated to religious worship , in whatever country—for the practice of all idolatrous nations was uniform in this particular—had places of initiation connected with them , and most frequently these places were subterranean . Few caverns in this
country remain to relate the wonders of Druidical initiation ; but the stupendous grotto of Castleton , in Derbyshire , called by Stukely the Stygian Cave , is sufficient to convince us that these celebrations were of the most terrific nature ; were performed with the aid of complicated machinery , and did not yield in interest and sublimity to those which have been so highly eulogised in the more polished and civilized nations of Egypt and Greece . They were usually constructed on the principles of secrecy and retirement from public observation . Long ,
dark , and , in all practicable cases , intricate passages were the united essentials of the mysterious precincts ; and it is evident , that as religion could not be practised distinct from initiation , so places for the performance of these important rites were always constructed within , or near the edifices consecrated to religious worship . Mr . Faber is of opinion , and I think the conjecture is too reasonable to he lightly rejected , that St . Patrick ' s purgatory , the pyramid at New in the small island off Sli
Grange , the Temple of Muidhr , go , together with the Cornish Tolmen , Stonehenge , and the stupendous natural cave of Castleton , in Derbyshire , were all places destined for the celebration of the Phallic worship . AVith respect to the latter , I beg leave to quote his own words , which appear to carry conviction with them : — " With regard to the interior of the Derbyshire cavern , I am persuaded , that any person who descends into it , after having first attentively perused the sixth
book of the Eneid , will be not a little surprised at its singular resemblance to the Hades of the mysteries , though the terrific machinery , once introduced into it , exists no longer . You first enter into an immense and magnificent cave , the whole of which , however , is perfectly visible by the dusky light admitted through its noble arched gateway . From this cave , you are conducted to a small nan-ow door , having passed through which , you rapidly descend , until you find yourself on the brink of a subterraneous river . Over the river you are ferried in a small boat ; and , after reaching the opposite side , you continue your course along its bank , through an alternate succession of narrow