The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

22 HISTORY OF INITIATION.
by open and spacious galleries, multitudes of secret dungeons,
subterranean passages, and vistas, terminating in
adyta. 75 which were adorned with mysterious symbols
carved on the walls and pillars, in every one of which
was enfolded some philosophical or moral truth. 76 Sometimes
the place of initiation was constructed in a small
77
island in the centre of a lake a hollow j
cavern natural
or artificial, with sounding domes, tortuous passages,
78 narrow orifices, and spacious sacelli ; and of such magni-
79 tude as to contain a numerous assembly of persons. In
all practicable instances they were constructed within
the recesses of a consecrated grove, which in the torrid
regions of the east conveyed the united advantages of
secrecy and shade and ; to inspire a still greater venera-
designed for initiation into the mysteries. (Fab. Pag. Idol., vol. p. 269.)
iii.,
75
Plut. de Isid. et Osir., p. 639.
76 In the Divine Legation of Moses, the learned Warburton has
given some plates from the Bembine Table, which is an invaluable
specimen of the secret symbols concentrating the leading principles of
Egyptian politics, learning and religion.
77 One of the most sacred places which ancient Egypt could boast,
was the small island of Phile in the Nile, near the cataracts. The
whole island was dedicated to Osiris and Isis, and appropriated to
their : worship and a superb temple was erected, which almost covered
its entire surface, where the relics of Osiris were said to be preserved.
"Throughout the whole of this famous island," says Mr. Maurice
(Ind. Ant., vol. iii., p. 536), "where anciently the solemn and mysterious
rites of Isis were celebrated with such distinguished pomp and
splendour, there appeared to Mr. Norden to run subterranean passages.
He attempted to descend several of the steps that led down into
them, but was prevented, by the filth and rubbish with which they
were filled, from penetrating to any depth. It was in these gloomy
caverns that the grand and mystic arcana of this goddess were unfolded
to the adoring aspirant, while the solemn hymns of initiation resounded
through the long extent of these stony recesses. It was
there that superstition at midnight waved high her flaming torch
before the image of Isis borne in procession ; and there that her
chosen priests, in holy ecstacy, chaunted their sweetest symphonies."
78 Plut. de Isid. et Osir., p. 639.
79 Strabo. Georg., 1. ix. In the particular mysteries of every nation,
these places will be described with some degree of minuteness ; suffice
it to say here, that such complicated excavations are common in every
part of the world, and were indubitably used as places of initiation.
(Vid. Pag. Idol., vol. iii., p. 254.) Even the stable, or rather the cave
at Bethlehem, in which Jesus Christ was born, if we may credit the
testimony of the learned Calmet, was afterwards devoted by the Emperor
Adrian, to the celebration of the mysteries of Thammuz or
Adonis. (Cal. Diet, in v. Bethlehem.)