The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

I
IN GREECE. 91
of truth fully prove the source whence the mysteries in
general proceeded, because they bear undoubted marks
that at their institution they were commemorative rites
pointing to events which actually took place
at the
commencement of the world. 39 He taught the "history
of the Deluge, and wrote a book professedly on the subject,
which he called Atlanticus; and he inculcated the
metempsychosis, and the important
doctrine of man's
personal responsibility.
The chief hierophant or dispenser of the mysteries,
represented the Demiurgus, or Creator of the universe, 40
and led a retired life of perpetual celibacy, that he might
be entirely at
liberty to devote himself to the study and
contemplation of celestial things, and thus become a
perfect master of every science embraced by the Institu-
tion of which he was the despotic head. 41 The next
ceives by him. In this fable of Plato, Origen
takes notice what a
near resemblance the garden of Jupiter hath to Paradise, Penia to
the Serpent which circumvented Adam, and Porus to the man who
was deceived by the Serpent. Which he conceives to be the more
probable, because of Plato his custom to wrap up those excellent
things he knew under some fables because of the vulgar ; for which
he after speaks of his custom in altering and disguising what he had
from the Jews, lest he should too much displease the fabulous
Greeks, if he should adhere too close to the Jews, who were so infamous
among them." (Stillingfleet. Orig. Sacr., p. 518.)
9 The truth is, that though Plato professed to have received his
knowledge from an ancient tradition, he had it in reality from the
Jews, as Origen has truly testified (see also Clem. Alex. Strom. 1) ;
but the facts were unaccompanied by the key; and, therefore, he
inculcated on his disciples, the unimportant nature of the information,
unless some future philosopher should rise up among them, who
should be capable of revealing the true interpretation.
;0 Euseb. Prsep. Evan., 1. iii., c. 12.
41 To accomplish this abstraction with the greater certainty, it was
customary for these dignified priests, in the earlier periods of their
history, to mortify the flesh by the use of certain herbs which were
reputed to possess the virtue of repelling all venereal excitements.
Nay, some were so rigid in this respect, as literally to proceed to the
expedient of emasculating themselves, that all inclination to illicit
pleasures might be effectually subdued. This practice was esteemed
highly meritorious. It was an axiom that what is most valuable
to man should be offered in sacrifice to the gods ; and, hence, castration
was invested with a high degree of supererogatory merit. Hence
we are told by Lucian (de Dea Syria.), that in Syria, during the
celebration of their most solemn rites, the priests would suffer themselves
to be attired in female habiliments, and submit to the castigating
knife, in the presence of the assembled crowd ! Such is the
power of enthusiasm !