The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

IN GREECE. 93
the accompanying offerings. 49 The ceremonies were
opened by the officiating priest, who asked publicly,
"Who is fit to be present at this ceremony?*' To which
it was answered, "Honest, good, and harmless men."
50
He then rejoined, "Holy things are for holy people;"
crying with a loud voice, " Let us pray ;" 51 and proceeded
in due form to make the requests of the attendant aspirants
known to the benevolent deities. Then the sacrifice
was offered with the customary formalities, seasoned
with salt, because salt was an emblem of hospitality and
friendship : and the priest augured 52 from the entrails of
the victim, whether the gods were propitious to their
praters. If the response were favourable, the rites of
initiation were forthwith celebrated.
4 -
Plat, Tiraseo. M Kellet. Tricsen. Christ., p 548.
51 At the commencement of these services amongst the Romans,
proclamation was made, ut faverent linguis, that the people should
govern their tongues : and, at the conclusion, before they were suffered
to depart, they were enjoined litibus et jurgiis abstinere, to
abstain from brawls and quarrels. During the whole continuance of
the festival, the strictest equality was observed, and a heavy fine was
imposed on any opulent person who endeavoured to distinguish
himself by an equipage. But, wheft the celebration was ended, and
every person resumed his ordinary station in life, the gradations of
rank were defined and observed with their accustomed regularity.
(Plin. Nat. Hist., 1. xxviii., c. 2. Hor., 1. in., Od. 1. Juvenal., Sat.
12.)
62 ** The most ancient oracles in the heathen world were unquestionably
dictated by the spirit of truth ; for God never left himself
unwitnessed by his extraordinary interpositions, as well as by the
ordinary dispensations of his providence. But, in process of time,
the oracle degenerated and basely sanctioned the introduction of
Egyptian Polytheism, with the rites of the Lingam or Priapus &c.,
celebrated at Samothrace likewise; as we learn from the candid and
honest report of Herodotus, who was ashamed of their impurities."
(Kale's Anal., vol. 4, p. 465.)