THE ARCANE SCHOOLS - Fort Myers Beach Masonic Lodge No. 362

history of the Order anterior to the eighteenth century. It must also
be
added that in the republication of the old charges in the edition of
1738,
he made several important alterations and interpolations, which justly
gave some offence to the Grand Lodge, and which render the second
edition
of no authority in this respect.
ANIMAL WORSHIP. The worship of animals is a species of idolatry that
was
especially practised by the ancient Egyptians. Temples were erected by
this people in their honor, in which they were fed and cared for during
life; to kill one of them was a crime punishable with death; and after
death, they were embalmed, and interred in the catacombs. This worship
was
derived first from the earlier adoration of the stars, to certain
constellations of which the names of animals had been given; next, from
an
Egyptian tradition that the gods, being pursued by Typhon, had
concealed
themselves under the forms of animals; and lastly, from the doctrine of
the metempsychosis, according to which there was a continual
circulation
of the souls of men and animals. But behind the open and popular
exercise
of this degrading worship the priests concealed a symbolism full of
philosophical conceptions. How this symbolism was corrupted and
misinterpreted by the uninitiated people, is shown by Gliddon, and
quoted
in the text.
APHANISM (Greek [Greek: a)phani/zo], _to conceal_). In each of the
initiations of the ancient Mysteries, there was a scenic representation
of
the death or disappearance of some god or hero, whose adventures
constituted the legend of the Mystery. That part of the ceremony of
initiation which related to and represented the death or disappearance
was
called the _aphanism_.
Freemasonry, which has in its ceremonial form been framed after the
model
of these ancient Mysteries, has also its aphanism in the third degree.
APORRHETA (Greek [Greek: apor)r(e/ta]). The holy things in the ancient
Mysteries which were known only to the initiates, and were not to be
disclosed to the profane, were called the _aporrheta_. What are the
aporrheta of Freemasonry? what are the arcana of which there can be no
disclosure? is a question that for some years past has given rise to
much
discussion among the disciples of the institution. If the sphere and
number of these aporrheta be very considerably extended, it is evident
that much valuable investigation by public discussion of the science of
Masonry will be prohibited. On the other hand, if the aporrheta are
restricted to only a few points, much of the beauty, the permanency,
and