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Article CliASSIOAL EEBEMASONRY, ← Page 6 of 11 →
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Cliassioal Eebemasonry,
in an impenetrable veil of obscurity ; but there can be no doubt that they partook df the general character of all mysteries , inculcating a purer knowledge of religion than was compatible with the super *
stitious observances then prevalent . On the union of these mysteries with the Bacchanalian orgies they fell- into merited contempt , and were at length gradually disused . The initiated in these mysteries , as well as the persons employed to initiate candidates in them , were called , in some cases , Orpheotelestae . *
The word mystery has been by some traced to the Hebrew "tHO , to hide , whence my star a thing concealed , formed from which are the Greek fivarnptov , old "French mestier , English mystery , and old English mistar , a trade or craft , the learning of which was something occult and mysterious . t A very clear and concise account of the Egyptian mysteries has been given by Sir G , Wilkinson , in \ m
" Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egj ^ ptians , " of which the following abstract will convey a good description :- — i 6 The Egyptian mysteries consisted of two degrees , denominated greater and less ; and to become qualified for admission into the higher class the aspirant must have passed through those of the inferior degree . The priests alone could arrive at a thorough knowledge of the greater
mysteries ; but so sacred were these secrets held , that many members of the sacerdotal order were not admitted to a participation in them at all , and those alone were selected for initiation who had proved themselves virtuous and deserving of the honour . " "The Egyptians , '' says Clement , of Alexandria , " neither intrusted their mysteries to every one , nor degraded the secrets of divine matters
by disclosing them to the profane , reserving them for the heir apparent of the throne , and for such of the priests as excelled in virtue and wisdom . " But there can be little doubt that , at a later period , the same liberality as to the admission of the laity , which characterized the Eleusinian and other mysteries , prevailed in Egypt , and that many laymen , and even some foreigners , were admitted to the lesser mysteries . The Orphean and Eleusinian mysteries
constitute the great models on which all succeeding mysteries were formed . These festivals were instituted at Eleusis , in honour of Ceres and Proserpine , the former of whom was believed to have taught the inhabitants the art of agriculture and the holy doctrine—' a doctrine which was said not only to purify the heart from sin and expel ignorance from the mind , hut to ensure also the favour of the gods , and to open the gates of immortal felicity to the initiated . ^
* Brando ' s Encyclopaedia . t Id . X At their entrance , candidates had to purify themselves by washing their hands in holy water ; they were , at the same time , admonished to present themselves with pure minds , without which the external cleanliness of the body would by no means be accepted : — The prince with living waters sprinkled o ' er His limbs and body ; then approach'd the door . JEwid > > vi . 8 <> 6 »
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
Cliassioal Eebemasonry,
in an impenetrable veil of obscurity ; but there can be no doubt that they partook df the general character of all mysteries , inculcating a purer knowledge of religion than was compatible with the super *
stitious observances then prevalent . On the union of these mysteries with the Bacchanalian orgies they fell- into merited contempt , and were at length gradually disused . The initiated in these mysteries , as well as the persons employed to initiate candidates in them , were called , in some cases , Orpheotelestae . *
The word mystery has been by some traced to the Hebrew "tHO , to hide , whence my star a thing concealed , formed from which are the Greek fivarnptov , old "French mestier , English mystery , and old English mistar , a trade or craft , the learning of which was something occult and mysterious . t A very clear and concise account of the Egyptian mysteries has been given by Sir G , Wilkinson , in \ m
" Manners and Customs of the Ancient Egj ^ ptians , " of which the following abstract will convey a good description :- — i 6 The Egyptian mysteries consisted of two degrees , denominated greater and less ; and to become qualified for admission into the higher class the aspirant must have passed through those of the inferior degree . The priests alone could arrive at a thorough knowledge of the greater
mysteries ; but so sacred were these secrets held , that many members of the sacerdotal order were not admitted to a participation in them at all , and those alone were selected for initiation who had proved themselves virtuous and deserving of the honour . " "The Egyptians , '' says Clement , of Alexandria , " neither intrusted their mysteries to every one , nor degraded the secrets of divine matters
by disclosing them to the profane , reserving them for the heir apparent of the throne , and for such of the priests as excelled in virtue and wisdom . " But there can be little doubt that , at a later period , the same liberality as to the admission of the laity , which characterized the Eleusinian and other mysteries , prevailed in Egypt , and that many laymen , and even some foreigners , were admitted to the lesser mysteries . The Orphean and Eleusinian mysteries
constitute the great models on which all succeeding mysteries were formed . These festivals were instituted at Eleusis , in honour of Ceres and Proserpine , the former of whom was believed to have taught the inhabitants the art of agriculture and the holy doctrine—' a doctrine which was said not only to purify the heart from sin and expel ignorance from the mind , hut to ensure also the favour of the gods , and to open the gates of immortal felicity to the initiated . ^
* Brando ' s Encyclopaedia . t Id . X At their entrance , candidates had to purify themselves by washing their hands in holy water ; they were , at the same time , admonished to present themselves with pure minds , without which the external cleanliness of the body would by no means be accepted : — The prince with living waters sprinkled o ' er His limbs and body ; then approach'd the door . JEwid > > vi . 8 <> 6 »