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Article ON THE MYSTERIES OF THE EARLY AGES AS CO... ← Page 3 of 5 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Mysteries Of The Early Ages As Co...
Borne , and to perform their religious ceremonies with the greatest secrecy . Nor was this the only motive , as a certain love of mystery may have been fostered in their minds by ideas derived from the heathen and Jewish worship . For a similar reason the service was
administered for a series of ages " inemoriter " by the priests , and the responses w ere taught to the people , as it is evident that for three centuries there is no proof of the existence of any written ritual ; and this fact is an object of great interest to the Brethren , as corroborating the antiquity of our Order .
"Without entering into tedious and unnecessary details , we will shortly enumerate the leading points of initiation as they are stated to have existed in the Eleusinian mysteries ; so that a comparison may be formed on this subject . After a long ceremony of purification , continued through nine days , the candidate was admitted by night into a vast and stupendous buildingj arranged with long corridors and galleries , wherein strange and amazing objects presented themselves to his sight . He was apparently exposed to the terrors of an earthquake , was surrounded by the flames of fire amidst the most appalling imitation of thunder and lightning , and in a moment encircled with the gloom of impenetrable darkness . Hideous noises and bowlings were heard , and apparitions made to appear . His progress was still further arrested by channels of water , which could only be passed by wading , the clothes being on the head , With a lamp affixed , as this was the only light allowed .
He at last found himself at the entrance of a narrow passage leading to a landing-place about six feet square , the floor of which was made moveable by mechanism underneath . On each side were walls of brass , and behind wheels of the same metal were fixed . In front was a gate of ivory , opening inwards , and preventing any further advance . On his attempting to turn two large rings annexed to the door , the wheels came into motion , producing a most terrific effect , and the floor gave way , leaving him suspended by the arms over apparently a deep abyss , from which proceeded a violent current of air , so that the lamp was extinguished , and he remained in total obscurity . In . this process of trial , it will be observed that he was exposed to the action of the four elements , —earth , fire , water , and air . After the risk of falling to an unknown depth had been continued
for a few minutes , the floor resumed its original position , the wheels ceased to revolve , and the door of ivory flew open , disclosing the sanctuary of Isis , illuminated with a blaze of light , where the priests of that goddess were assembled drawn up in two ranks , clothed in ceremonial dresses , and bearing the mysterious symbols of the Order ; one of which consisted of a golden , vase in the form of a ship , made to serve as a brilliant lamp . * rhe . shi p was named Barla , and is supposed to have been the emblem of a constellation . . As the worship of Isis was known to have prevailed throughout ( hud , the name of its capital ( Paris ) is said to havo been derived from this . source , and the arms of the city at this dsiy consist of a ship .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
On The Mysteries Of The Early Ages As Co...
Borne , and to perform their religious ceremonies with the greatest secrecy . Nor was this the only motive , as a certain love of mystery may have been fostered in their minds by ideas derived from the heathen and Jewish worship . For a similar reason the service was
administered for a series of ages " inemoriter " by the priests , and the responses w ere taught to the people , as it is evident that for three centuries there is no proof of the existence of any written ritual ; and this fact is an object of great interest to the Brethren , as corroborating the antiquity of our Order .
"Without entering into tedious and unnecessary details , we will shortly enumerate the leading points of initiation as they are stated to have existed in the Eleusinian mysteries ; so that a comparison may be formed on this subject . After a long ceremony of purification , continued through nine days , the candidate was admitted by night into a vast and stupendous buildingj arranged with long corridors and galleries , wherein strange and amazing objects presented themselves to his sight . He was apparently exposed to the terrors of an earthquake , was surrounded by the flames of fire amidst the most appalling imitation of thunder and lightning , and in a moment encircled with the gloom of impenetrable darkness . Hideous noises and bowlings were heard , and apparitions made to appear . His progress was still further arrested by channels of water , which could only be passed by wading , the clothes being on the head , With a lamp affixed , as this was the only light allowed .
He at last found himself at the entrance of a narrow passage leading to a landing-place about six feet square , the floor of which was made moveable by mechanism underneath . On each side were walls of brass , and behind wheels of the same metal were fixed . In front was a gate of ivory , opening inwards , and preventing any further advance . On his attempting to turn two large rings annexed to the door , the wheels came into motion , producing a most terrific effect , and the floor gave way , leaving him suspended by the arms over apparently a deep abyss , from which proceeded a violent current of air , so that the lamp was extinguished , and he remained in total obscurity . In . this process of trial , it will be observed that he was exposed to the action of the four elements , —earth , fire , water , and air . After the risk of falling to an unknown depth had been continued
for a few minutes , the floor resumed its original position , the wheels ceased to revolve , and the door of ivory flew open , disclosing the sanctuary of Isis , illuminated with a blaze of light , where the priests of that goddess were assembled drawn up in two ranks , clothed in ceremonial dresses , and bearing the mysterious symbols of the Order ; one of which consisted of a golden , vase in the form of a ship , made to serve as a brilliant lamp . * rhe . shi p was named Barla , and is supposed to have been the emblem of a constellation . . As the worship of Isis was known to have prevailed throughout ( hud , the name of its capital ( Paris ) is said to havo been derived from this . source , and the arms of the city at this dsiy consist of a ship .