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Article THE ANOIENT MTaT ← Page 6 of 7 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Anoient Mtat
had proceeded from its mouth , whence sire issued all the decrees of fate for mankind , announcing to him that a person , an inhabitant of the city of Madaura , would come to him , whomhe was forthwith to initiate in his mysteries ; that , though poor , lie would obtain glory from hisvxeligious exercises , and that profit would accrue to himself from imparting his knowledge .
The description of the subsequent initiation of Lucius into the masteries of Serapis and Osiris , is not at all circumstantially described by Apuleius ; he seems to have been kept for some time hi a constant state of doubt , as to whether he had or lad not been fully Mtiated , ,, whether he had or had not ariy more ceremonial to go through to make him more completely the priest and the servant of the divinities
which he worshipped ; and , in short— "By Hercules / ' he says in one place , "I began to have doubts of their fidelity . " At length , when fluctuating between hope , and doubt , and fear , till driven to the verge of insanity , the figure of Serapis appeared to him , and addressed him : —
u Be not terrified , Lucius , and think not that thou hast omitted anything in the repeated series of sacred rites thou hast undergone . Rather shouldst thou exceedingly rejoice at these reiterated marks of favour of the divinities , and be thankful at receiving thrice , what but few are permitted to receive at all . And confidently believe that from that number thou wilt always be blessed . Besides , thou wilt find on reflection that this ceremonial is most necessary for thee , if thou wilt only now consider that the stole ofthe
goddess , with which thou wast invested at Cenchrese , still remains for you in the temple there , and that you cannot so much as supplicate at Eome on solemn festivals , or be ennobled here by that auspicious apparel , wdien thou art ordered to assume it . Wherefore , in order that thou mayest enjoy health , happiness , and prosperity , Under the protection of all the three powerful deities , once again submit thyself cheerfully to he initiated in the sacred mysteries , the mighty gods being thy advisers .
" Thus did I become perfected in the mysteries , " says Lucius ( or Apuleius for him ) , " and after the lapse of a very few days , the god Osiris , who is the chief of the great , highest among the greater , and ruler among the greatest , condescended , in his own venerable person , to announce to me that I should forthwith acquire glory and renown through my pleadings in the forum , and to bid me not to fear the slanderous reports , which envy for my well known learning was sure to bring upon me . And in order
that , in my ministrations in his sacred rites , I should be raised above the ordinary ranks of my holy profession , he made me a member of his college of Pastophori , and enrolled me among the number of his quinquennial decurions . From that time , therefore , I joyfully discharged my duties as a member of that most ancient college , which was founded in the time ot Sylla , and with my head newly and entirely shaved , cheerfully exposed ni } baldness to the public gaze , whithersoever I went . "
Thus has Apuleius brought to a conclusion , not seemingly in a very definite or satisfactory manner , his celebrated fable or narrative of the " Golden Ass . " The purport of it doubtless was to recommend participation in the mysteries of initiation . Such were some of the mysterious rites from which Freemasonry , as it now exists—though
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Anoient Mtat
had proceeded from its mouth , whence sire issued all the decrees of fate for mankind , announcing to him that a person , an inhabitant of the city of Madaura , would come to him , whomhe was forthwith to initiate in his mysteries ; that , though poor , lie would obtain glory from hisvxeligious exercises , and that profit would accrue to himself from imparting his knowledge .
The description of the subsequent initiation of Lucius into the masteries of Serapis and Osiris , is not at all circumstantially described by Apuleius ; he seems to have been kept for some time hi a constant state of doubt , as to whether he had or lad not been fully Mtiated , ,, whether he had or had not ariy more ceremonial to go through to make him more completely the priest and the servant of the divinities
which he worshipped ; and , in short— "By Hercules / ' he says in one place , "I began to have doubts of their fidelity . " At length , when fluctuating between hope , and doubt , and fear , till driven to the verge of insanity , the figure of Serapis appeared to him , and addressed him : —
u Be not terrified , Lucius , and think not that thou hast omitted anything in the repeated series of sacred rites thou hast undergone . Rather shouldst thou exceedingly rejoice at these reiterated marks of favour of the divinities , and be thankful at receiving thrice , what but few are permitted to receive at all . And confidently believe that from that number thou wilt always be blessed . Besides , thou wilt find on reflection that this ceremonial is most necessary for thee , if thou wilt only now consider that the stole ofthe
goddess , with which thou wast invested at Cenchrese , still remains for you in the temple there , and that you cannot so much as supplicate at Eome on solemn festivals , or be ennobled here by that auspicious apparel , wdien thou art ordered to assume it . Wherefore , in order that thou mayest enjoy health , happiness , and prosperity , Under the protection of all the three powerful deities , once again submit thyself cheerfully to he initiated in the sacred mysteries , the mighty gods being thy advisers .
" Thus did I become perfected in the mysteries , " says Lucius ( or Apuleius for him ) , " and after the lapse of a very few days , the god Osiris , who is the chief of the great , highest among the greater , and ruler among the greatest , condescended , in his own venerable person , to announce to me that I should forthwith acquire glory and renown through my pleadings in the forum , and to bid me not to fear the slanderous reports , which envy for my well known learning was sure to bring upon me . And in order
that , in my ministrations in his sacred rites , I should be raised above the ordinary ranks of my holy profession , he made me a member of his college of Pastophori , and enrolled me among the number of his quinquennial decurions . From that time , therefore , I joyfully discharged my duties as a member of that most ancient college , which was founded in the time ot Sylla , and with my head newly and entirely shaved , cheerfully exposed ni } baldness to the public gaze , whithersoever I went . "
Thus has Apuleius brought to a conclusion , not seemingly in a very definite or satisfactory manner , his celebrated fable or narrative of the " Golden Ass . " The purport of it doubtless was to recommend participation in the mysteries of initiation . Such were some of the mysterious rites from which Freemasonry , as it now exists—though