Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

234."Egypt was repeopled after the deluge by the sons of Ham, and they made more rapid advances in recovering a knowledge of the arts and science, partially lost by that catastrophe, than any other people, until Egypt became to be looked upon as the mother ^[128] of science. Philosophers of all nations resorted there for instructions and initiation, and writers generally assert that her religious system was borrowed by all other nations. Hence it is said the reason why Saturn, Jupiter, Neputine, Bacchus, Gionysius, Adonis, Hu, Schiva, Brahma, Odin, Fohi, etc., were said but to be other names for Osiris; and Venus, Astrate, Juno, Ceres, Proserpine, Cerdeiven, Frea, Rhea, Sita, etc., of Isis. The legends of every one of the different phases of the mysteries, irrespective of country or language, had the same general character; in fact, were all identical except in the name of individuals. Each legend represented the death, by violence, of some particular person; with some it was a god, with others a demi-god, and with others a great warrior or person who had conferred signal benefits upon man in agricultural pursuits, or in the arts and sciences. In consequence of such death something was lost; there was then a search made for that which was lost, a finding of it, or of a part of it, or of something that was adopted as a substitute for it — a beginning in sorrow and lamentation, and an ending in joy and rejoicing. Such is a brief summary of the legend that accompanied the ceremonial of each of the systems of the mysteries of which we have an account, either historical or traditional, that has been practiced on this globe. We have presented that of the Egyptian Mysteries because it has been generally regarded as the parent of all others. More pages of the writings of the ancients that have been preserved to our times are devoted to the mysteries than to the development ^[129] of empires. Hence we have a better knowledge of the ceremonial and legend of many of the phases of the mysteries than we have of the country in which they were practiced.

235."That all the mysteries throughout the world were the same in substance, being derived from one source, and celebrated in honor of the same Deities, though acknowledged under different appellations, is further evidenced from the fact that they are traced to the plains of Shinar before the dispersion of mankind.

236.' * They were introduced, so says tradition, into India by Brahma, into China and Japan by Buddha, into Egypt by Troth, the son of Mizraim (some say by Mizraim himself), into Persia by Zeradhust, into Greece by Melampus or Cadmus, into Boeotia by Promospus or Dardanus, into Messene by Caucon, into Thebes by Methapus, into Athens by Erectheus, into Etruria by Philostratus, into the city of Arene by Lycus, into Thrace by Orpheus, into Italy by the Pelasgi, into Cyprus by Cinyras, into Gaul and Britain by Gomer, or his immediate Descendants, into Scandinavia by Sigge or Odin, into Mexico by Vitzliputzli, and into Peru by Manco Capac and his wife — and into Judea by Hiram Abif."*

237."Egypt was the cradle of all the Mysteries. At one time in possession of all the learning and religion that was to be found in the world, it extended into other nations the influence of its sacred rites and ^[130] its Secret Doctrines. The importance, therefore, of the Egyptian Mysteries will entitle them to a more diffusive explanation than has been awarded to the examination of the other rites.

238." The priesthood of Egypt constituted a sacred caste, in whom the sacerdotal functions were hereditary. They exercised also an important part in the government of the state, and the kings of Egypt were but the first subjects of the priests. They had originally organized, and continued to control the ceremonies of initiation. Their doctrines were of two kinds, the Exoteric or public, which were communicated to the multitude, and Esoteric or secret, which were revealed only to a chosen few; and to obtain them it was necessary to pass through an initiation, which, as we shall see, was characterized by the severest trials of courage and fortitude.