Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

276."The successful probationer, at the expiration of his novitiate, was brought forth into the cavern of initiation, where he entered on the point of a sword presented to his naked left breast, by which he was slightly wounded, and then he was ritually prepared for the approaching ceremony. He was crowned with olive, anointed with oil of ban, and armed with ^[144] enchanted armour, by his guide, who was the representative of simorgh, a monstrous griffin, and an important agent in the machinery of Persian mythology, and furnished with talismans that he might be ready to encounter all the hideous monsters raised up by the Dives to impede his progress to perfection. Induced into an inner apartment he was purified with fire* and water, and solemnly put through the Seven Stages of initiation. From the precipice where he stood, he beheld a deep and dangerous vault into which a single false step might precipitate him down to the 'Throne of dreadful necessity,' which was an emblem of those infernal regions through which he was about to pass. Threading the circuitous mazes of the gloomy cavern, he was soon awakened from his trance of thought, by seeing the sacred fire, at intervals, flash through its recesses to illuminate his path; sometimes bursting from beneath his feet; sometimes descending on his head in a broad sheet of white and shadowy flame. Amidst the admiration thus inspired, his terror was excited by the distant yelling of ravenous beasts; the roaring of lions, the howling of wolves, the fierce and threatening bark of dogs, etc."**

277."The circumambulation among the pagan nations referred to the great doctrine of Sabaism, or Sun-worship. Freemasonry alone has preserved the primitive meaning, which was a symbolic allusion to the sun, as the source of physical light and the most ^[145] wonderful work of the Grand Architect of the Universe. The lodge represents the world; the three principal officers represent the sun in her three principal positions — at rising, at meridian, and at setting. The circumambulation, therefore, alludes to the apparent course of the solar orb, through these points around the world. "*

278."In the rite of circumambulation we find another ceremony borrowed from the Ancient Freemasonry that was practiced in the Mysteries. In Ancient Greece, when the priests were engaged in the rite of sacrifice, they and the people always walked three times round the altar while singing a sacred hymn. In making this procession great care was taken to move in imitation of the course of the sun. For this purpose they commenced at the east, and passing on by the way of the south to the west, and thence by the north, they arrived at the east again. By this means, as it will be observed, the right hand was always nearest the altar.

279."Among the Romans the ceremony of circumambulation was always used in the rite's of sacrifice, of expiation, of purification. Thus Virgil describes Corynoeus as purifying his companions at the funeral of Misenus, by passing three times around them while aspersing them with the lustral waters, and to do so conveniently it was necessary that he should have moved with his right hand toward them.

^[146] 280. "Among the Hindus the same rite of circumambulation has always been practiced. As an instance, we may cite the ceremonies which are required to be performed by a Brahmin upon first rising from bed in the morning. The priest having first adored the sun, while directing his face to the east, then walks toward the west by the way of the south, saying at the same time, ' I follow the course of the sun, ' which he thus explains: 'As the sun in his course moves round the world by the way of the south, so do I follow that luminary, to obtain the benefit arising from a journey round the earth by the way of the south.' "•

281."Among the Ancients Silence and Secrecy were considered virtues of the highest order. The Egyptians worshipped Harpocrates, the god of secrecy, raised altars in his name, and wreathed them with garlands of flowers. Among the Ancient Romans these virtues were not less esteemed, and a distinguished Latin poet tells us, 'for faithful silence also there is a sure reward. ' "* *