Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

293."Turning from the scenes of woe, he (the candidate) was passed through some other dark caverns and passages, until, having successfully treaded the labyrinth, consisting of six spacious vaults, connected by winding galleries, each opening with a narrow portal, the scene of some perilous adventure; and having, by the exercise of fortitude and perseverance, been triumphantly borne through this accumulated mass of difficulty and danger, the doors of the seventh vault, or Sacellum, were thrown open, and his darkness was changed into light. He was admitted into the spacious and lofty cavern already described, which was denominated the sacred grotto ^[152] of Elysium. This consecrated place was brilliantly illuminated, and sparkled with gold and precious stones. A splendid sun, and starry system emitted their dazzling radiance, and moved in order to the symphonies of heavenly music. Here sat the Archimagus in the East, elevated on a throne of burnished gold, crowned with a rich diadem decorated with myrtle boughs, and habited in a flowing tunic of a bright cerulean tincture; round him were arranged in solemn order the Presules, and dispensers of the Mysteries; forming altogether a reverend assembly, which covered the awe-struck aspirant with a profound feeling of veneration; and, an involuntary impulse, frequently produced an act of worship. Here he was received with congratulations; and after having entered into the usual engagement for keeping secret the sacred Rite of Mithras, the Sacred Words were intrusted to him, of which the ineffable Tetractys, or name of God was the chief. "*

294."The Rite of Investiture, called, in the colloqually technical language of the order, the Ceremony of Clothing, brings us at once to the consideration of that well-known symbol of Freemasonry, the Lambskin Apron.

295." This Rite of Investiture, or the placing upon the aspirant some garment, as an indication of his appropriate preparation for the ceremonies in which he was about to engage, prevailed in all the Ancient institutions.

^[153] 296. "In the Levitical economy of the Israelites the priests always wore the abnet, or linen apron, or girdle, as a part of the investiture of the priesthood. This, with the other garments, was to be worn, as the text expresses it, 'for glory and for beauty,' or, as it has been explained by a learned commentator, 'as emblematical of that holiness and purity which ever characterize the Divine nature, and the worship which is worthy of Him.'

297."In the Persian Mysteries of Mithras, the candidate, having first received light, was invested with a girdle, a crown of mitre, a purple tunic, and, lastly, a white apron.

298."In the initiations practiced in Hindustan, in the ceremony of investiture was substituted the sash, or sacred zennaar, consisting of a cord, composed of nine threads twisted into a knot at the end, and hanging from the left shoulder to the right hip. This was, perhaps, the type of the Masonic scarf, which is, or ought to be, always worn in the same position.

299."In the Scandinavian Rites, where the military genius of the people had introduced a warlike species of initiation, instead of the apron, we find the candidate receiving a white shield, which was, however, always presented with the accompaniment of some symbolic instructions, not very dissimilar to that which is connected with the Masonic apron.

300."In the Apocalypse a white stone was the reward promised by the Spirit to those who overcame; ^[154] and in the same mystical book the apostle is instructed to say, that fine linen, clean and white, is the righteousness of the saints.

301."In the early ages of the (true) Christian Church a white garment was always placed upon the catechumen who had been recently baptized, to denote that he had been cleansed from his former sins, and was thenceforth to lead a life of innocence and purity. Hence it was presented to him with this appropriate charge: * Receive the white and undefiled garment, and produce it unspotted before the tribunal of our Lord Jesus Christ, that you may obtain Immortal life.' "*