Mystic masonry, or, The symbols of freemasonry and the greater ...

70 Mystic Masonry.
the true religion, which existed already, began to b^
called Christian."*
St. Augustine was Bishop of Hippo, born in 347
A. D., and lived near enough the time of Christ to
know whereof he wrote.
But to continue our quotations from Morals and
Dogma :
"In the early days of Christianity, there was an
initiation like those of the Pagans. Persons were
admitted on special conditions only. To arrive at a
complete knowledge of the doctrine, they had to pass
three degrees of instruction. The initiates were
consequently divided into three classes : the first,
Auditors; the second. Catechumens; and the third,
*He Faithful. These doctrines, and the celebration
3 J the Holy Sacraments, particularly the Eucharist,
>ere kept with profound secrecy. These Mysteries
were divided into three parts : the first styled the
Mass of the Catechumens ; the second, the Mass of
the Faithful. The celebration of the Mysteries of
Mythras was also styled a Mass, and the ceremonies
*Quoted by Heckethorne— "Secret Societies," p. 12,
Introduction: "They were first called Christiana at
Antioch."