HISTORY OF IN TWELVE LECTURES ; COMPRISINa A DETAILED of DOCTRINES AND DISCIPLINE, OF ALL THE SECRET AND MYSTERIOUS INSTITUTIONS OF THE ANCIENT WORLD. BY THE REV. GEORGE OLIVER, D.D., D. P.O. M. FOR INCUMBENT OF THE COLLEGIATE CHURCH, WOLVERHAMPTON ; LINCOLNSHIRE; DOMESTIC CHAPLAIN TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE LORD KENSINGTON. A NEW EDITION. JL 6V W\-/ U.J. este\SOIV pi V/J.**iAAj Procul,tUUtUj proculJJJL 1 profani, Conclamat vates, totoaup* absistite luco. ^EN. vi., 258. NEW YORK: JNO. W. LEONARD & CO., AMERICAN MASONIC AGENCY. CLARK, AUSTIN & SMITH, 3 PAKK ROW. 1855. Stereotyped by HOLMAN A GRAY, NEW YORK. Printed and Bound by J. F. BRBSNAN, LOUISYILLB, KY. TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE CHARLES TENNYSON D'EYNCOURT, M. P. M. A., F.R.S., F.A.S., ETC. ONE OF THE EQUERRIES OF HIS R. H. THE DUKE OF SUSSEX, PROVINCIAL GRAND MASTER OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS FOR THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN. MY DEAR SIR, WHILST I was engaged in arranging these papers for the press, I received the gratifying intelligence that the friend and supporter of all my literary labours had been elevated, by His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, to the superintendence of Freemasonry in Lincolnshire, in the capacity of its Provincial Grand Master. It required no deliberation to determine at whose feet these Lectures should be placed; for duty and inclination alike concur in the propriety of inscribing them to you, as the osten- sible guardian of Masonry within the Province, and the legitimate patron of all its collateral pursuits. To your energies I confidently look for the spread of Masonry in this extensive county. From your enlight- ened understanding and vigorous superintendence I anti- cipate measures that will secure to the man of letters a profitable employment for his time in the tyled recesses of the for it be that if his Lodge ; may fairly presumed mind be not deeply interested in the investigations, he will soon bid adieu to Freemasonry. Experience is a species of wisdom that is seldom erro- neous and it confirms the ; amply opinion that a masonic IV DEDICATION. Lodge is founded upon an insecure basis if it rejects from its illustrations the philosophy, and contents itself with like one the technicalities of the science ; possessing the keys of a rich casket of splendid jewels, which he has not the curiosity to open, that their rarity or value may be correctly estimated. It is well known that in our Lectures, much scope is afforded for both in science and morals it amplification ; cannot then be a futile expectation, while knowledge is making such a rapid progress in the present age of free inquiry, that by the judicious rule and masterly elucida- tions of our legitimate governors, our Lodges will main- tain their proper character of schools of virtue and dis- pensers of the liberal arts. Imbued with these sentiments, it affords me no incon- siderable degree of pleasure to associate your name with these Lectures, assured as I am that it will recommend them to the notice of the fraternity. I have the honour to be, my dear Sir, Your faithful servant and Brother, GEORGE OLIVER, D. D. Wolverhampton, Dec. 7th, 1840. ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS. DEDICATION, iii. the of the PREFACE ; explaining indispensable qualifications Master of a Lodge, ix. LECTUKE I. GENERAL INTRODUCTION. Antiquity of initiation, 1. Tokens, when first adopted, 2. Employment of the first Freemasons, ib. Enoch the inventor of books, ib. (n.) Peculiar meaning of Darkness, 4. Initiations perverted, ib. Progress of the false initiations, 5. The universal Deluge, 6. Origin of the metem- psychosis, 8. Decay of Masonry, 9. Essenes take charge of it, ib. Nature of the idolatrous initiations, 11. The candidate was a representative of Noah, ib. Legend of initiation, 13. Osiris and Typhon, ib. The aphanism, 14. Lamentations of Isis, ib. Caverns of initiation at Byblus, ib. (n.) The euresis, 15. Ear of corn, ib. (n.) Hieroglyphics of the mysteries, 16. Terrors of initiation, 17. Felicities of initiation, 18. Despisers of the mysteries, ib. Initiation the only means of acquiring knowledge, ib. Black, an emblem, 19, (n.) Human victims, 20. Places of initiation described, 21. Power of the priests, 23. The mysteries abolished, ib. Causes of their destruction, 24. Celebrated after the establishment of Christianity, 25. LECTURE II. HISTORY OF INITIATION IN HINDOSTAN. Origin of India, 26. Sects, 27. Deities, ib. Mysteries, 28. Places of initiation in Hindostan, ib. Caverns of Elephanta, 29; and Salsette, 30. Periods of initiation, 31. Four degrees, ib. First degree, ib. Investiture of the Zennar, ib. Instruction, 32. Second degree, austerities of, ib. Ceremony of initiation, 34. Bewailings, 36. Terrible ceremonies, 37. Candidate made to personate the avaters, 38. The ten avaters described, ib. Seven caverns, 40. Bells, efficacy of, ib. (n.) Illuminated sacellum, 62. Gyges' ring, 64, (n.) LECTURE III. PHILOSOPHY OF THE EASTERN MYSTERIES. Peculiar ceremonies, 44. Amulets, 45. Sublime Name, ib. ^fo A. U. M., 46. n Lecture from the 47. V?V V^S, 47, ( -) Archbrahmin, Virtue and science recommended, ib. Symbolical instruction, 48. Third and fourth degrees, 50. Lecture, 51. Definition of the deity, ib. Light, ib. (n.) Egg, a symbol, 52. Divine unity, VI CONTENTS. ib. Dissolution of matter, ib. Eternity, 53. New creation, ib. account ib. (n.) Chinese worship, 54. Confucius, of, (n.) Places of initiation, 55. Amulets, ib. Magical words, ib. Precepts, ib. Mystical symbols, 56. Japanese account of the Creation, 57. .Caverns of initiation, 58. Probation, ib. Pastos, 59. Amulets, ib. LECTURE IV. INITIATION IN PERSIA. Birth of Zoroaster, 61. Account of his education, 62. Eeforms the Persian religion, ib. Scripture authorities, 63, (n.) The sacred fire, 64. Cave of initiation, 66. ib. Its splendours, 65. Numerous initiations, Probation, 67. Rigours of, ib. Preparation, 68. The Simorgh of Persian of mythology described, ib. (n.) Seven stages initiation, 69. The terrific process minutely described, ib. Its actual dangers, 70. Torments, 72. Grotto of Elysium, 74. The divine Lights, 75. Amulets and Talismans enumerated, ib. (n.) Account of the Cre- ation, 76. Theogony, 77. Contests of the two powers, ib. Legend, 78. The son of a virgin proclaimed, 80. Incestuous connections, 81. LECTURE V. HISTORY OF INITIATION IN GREECE. The Grecian mysteries divided into lesser and greater, 82. Eleusinian, ib. Pythagoras initi- ated, 84. His penances, 85. Pri vileges of initiation, ib. Sciences taught to the esotericks, 86. Origin of the word philosopher, ib. (n.) Instruction by mystical sentences, 87. Symbols, 88. System of Plato, 89. Three degrees, ib. Creation and destruc- tion, 90. Plato's Trinity, ib. Fall of man, ib. Deluge, 91. Officers, ib. Internal purity required of the candidate, 92. The initiations were preceded by a public festival, ib. Preliminary rites, ib. LECTURE VI. CEREMONIES OF INITIATION INTO THE MYSTERIES OF BACCHUS. Place of initiation, 94. Description of, ib. Incantation, 96. The aspirant purified, ib. Formula of exclusion, 97. Machinery of initiation, ib. The aphanism, 98. Lamentations, 99. Wan derings of Rhea, ib. Mystic dance, 100. The euresis, 101. Descent into the infernal regions, 102. Elysium, 103. Doc- 104, trines, Fables referring to the Deluge, ib. (n.) Investiture, 105. Symbols, 106. Pollutions of the mysteries, ib. Moses and Bacchus compared, 107. Facts in the life of Mses found in the Grecian spurious Freemasonry, ib. Darkness and Light 108. The Grecian mysteries abolished, 110. CONTENTS. Vll LECTURE VII. PLACES OF INITIATION INTO THE CELTIC MYSTERIES. Derivation of the name of Druid, 111. The mysteries, arkite, 112. Copious illustration of the number seven, ib. (n.) Nature of the cere- monies, 114. Origin of the Britons, 115. Objects of Worship, 116. Sacred rocks, islands, and lakes, 118. Legend of a holy lake, 119, (n.) Water of purification, 120. The earth a pollu- tion, ib. Illustrated, ib. (n.) Groves of oaks, 121. Mountains, 122. Form of Temples, 124. Circular, ib. Stonehenge, ib. (n.) Oval, ib. Long Meg and her daughters, 125, (n.) Ser- pentine, ib. Abury, ib. (n.) Winged, 126. Cruciform, ib. Classernis, ib. (n.) How constructed, 127. Caer Sidi, 128. Caverns of initiation, how fitted up, 129. Arthur's round table, 130, (n.) Giant's cave in Cumberland^ 131, (n.) Grotto at Castleton, 132. Intricate passages, 133. LECTURE VIII. CEREMONIES OF INITIATION IN BRITAIN. Periods of initiation, 134. May eve, ib. Sun at its meridian, 135. Preparation, 136. Robes of the candidate, 137. Confinement in the cromlech, 138. Hymn, ib. Circular procession, 139. The circular dance of different nations, ib. (n.) Oath, 140. Transformations, ib. Darkness and mysterious noises, 142. Purification of the sea of Dylan, 143. Light, 144. Presentation to the Archdruid, ib. Instruction, ib. Investiture, 145. Preparation for the third degree, ib. Death of the mysteries, 146. Terrific and danger- ous progress to perfection, ib. Rejection, 147. Triumph, 148. Thrice born, ib. Extensive privileges of the perfectly initiated candidate, 149. LECTURE IX. SYMBOLS AND DOCTRINES OF THE DRUIDS. Various methods of augury, 150. Lots, ib. Number three, 151. Seven, 152. One hundred and forty-seven, ib. Mystical orchard, 153. Power of the Druids, ib. Logan or rocking-stone, ib. (n.) Magic, 154. Antiquity and utility of symbols, ib. Druidical vaticination, ib. (n.) Anguinum, 155. Various symbols illustrated. 156. The oak, 157. Misletoe, 158. Symbolical language, ib t The unity of the Godhead, 160. Creation and Deluge, immortality and a future state, ib. Place of punishment, ib. The liberal sciences, 161. Botany, medicine, and languages, 162. Morality and truth, 163. LECTURE X. HISTORY OF INITIATION INTO THE GOTHIC MYSTERIES. Introduced by Sigge or Odin, 164. His system, 165. Human victims, ib. CONTENTS. Power of the Drottes, 166. Introduction of Christianity, ib, The system abolished, il. The annual festivals, ib.