The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

214
COROLLARY.
SUCH were the famous mysteries of idolatry. I have
designedly omitted to draw any formal comparison, for
the purpose of shewing what portion of the true Freemasonry
they retained amidst all their abominations,
because the intelligent Brother will not fail to discover
the points of resemblance wherever they occur. It will
appear evident that all the mysteries of antiquity originated
in some common source, which was familiar to
the primitive leader of every tribe that formed the nucleus
of great and powerful nations ; because the ceremonies,
in all cases, bear a striking similarity to each
other. They were all funereal. The legend celebrated
the death and resurrection of some imaginary being in
whom, their affections were interested, and to whom
their devotions were directed to be paid. The rites
were always solemnized in lamentation, terminating in,
joy. Severe tests and probations accompanied the cere
monial; and the initiations were performed in secret
caverns, which were alike the object of horror and dread
to the uninitiated, and the vehicles of a mystical regenera-
tion to the epopt which conferred personal and political
distinction. Ablutions and purifications formed a dis-
tinguishing feature in all these institutions ; the efficacy
of which was not a little augmented by the supposed
virtues of amulets and talismans, that constituted a per-
petual shield of protection, under the cover of which, the
enlightened candidate expected to surmount all the evils
of life.
The doctrines of the mysteries formed another, and
more decisive evidence of their common origin and
primitive application. They exhibit traces, which cannot
be mistaken, of the unity and trinity of the godhead
; of the creation and fall of man ; the promise of a
Mediator, who should expiate sin by a voluntary death ;
the doctrine of redemption by blood, of a vicarious sacri-
fice, by the efficacy of ^which, a single
life would be
accepted as a sacrifice for all. We discover, in these
remarkable institutions, fables which bear an undoubted