The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

THE MYSTERIES OF BACCHUS. 97
after which his conductor delivered him over to the
raystagogue, who then commenced the initiation with the
prescribed formula, E%as, Exas, eore fierce, Depart hence,
all ye profane ; and the guide addressed the aspirant by
exhorting him to call forth all his courage and fortitude,
as the process on which he was now about to enter was
of the most appalling nature. And being led forward
through a series of dark passages and dismal caverns, to
represent the erratic state of the Ark while floating on the
troubled surface of the diluvian waters, 11 the machinery
him. He first hears the distant thunder
opens upon
accompanied by
pealing through the vault of heaven, 12
13
the howling of dogs and wild beasts an apt representation
of the confusion which prevailed amongst the
multiplicity of domestic and ferocious animals during
the period of Noah's confinement in the Ark. These
terrific noises rapidly approach, and the din becomes
tremendous, reverberated, as it doubtless w r
as, in endless
repetitions, from the echoing vaults and lofty caverns
within whose inextricable mazes he was now immured.
Flashes of vivid light now broke in upon him, and rendered
the prevailing darkness more visible ; and by the
momentary illumination he beheld the appearances by
which he was surrounded. Monstrous shapes and apparitions,
14 demoniacal figures, grinning defiance at the
intruder ; mystical visions and flitting shadows, unreal
phantoms of a dog-like form, 15 overwhelm him with
11 It was a rude and fearful march through night and darkness.
(Stobseus. apud Warb. Div. Leg., vol. i., p. 235.)
12 It has been asserted that the Egyptians, and hence probably the
Greeks, were acquainted with some chemical process to produce an
explosion like gunpowder. (Maur. Ind. Ant., vol. vii., p. 671.) If
this be correct, the imitative thunder is easily accounted for.
13
St. Paul admonishes the heathen converts to beware of dogs.
(Phil, iii., 2.) They were symbols of the xay.odaificov, or evil genius,
and were used and worshipped in the way of propitiation.
14
Monstrum, horrendum, informe, ingens cui lumen ademptum.
(^En., 1. vi.)
15 Pletho. Schol. in Orac. Zoroast., p. 131. The celebrated Barker
Anubis (latratorem, semicanem deum. ^En., 1. viii.) was exhibited.
Cerberus, the infernal monster, was here represented in mimic show
with his three heads, which are said by Porphyry to have referred to
the rising, southing, and setting of the Sun (Apud Euseb. prsep.
Evan., 1. iii.) ; and hence it is a reasonable conjecture that this noisy,
latratory porter of hell was solar orb.
nothing more than an emblem of the
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