History of initiation

By G. Oliver. Distributor: Lulu. $24.99. 250 pages. Paperback CQ. 2016 (1841).

Dr. Oliver has been considered as the founder of what may be called the literary school of Masonry. He brought to the study of the Institution a significant amount of archaeological learning and gave to Free-masonry a literary and philosophical character which has induced many succeeding scholars to devote themselves to those studies. His statements and conclusions, especially as to the origin or the history of the Order, should be received with caution. Yet, with this reserve in mind, no writer in the English language may have done so much to elevate the scientific character of Freemasonry.

This present work introduces a comprehensive examination of the Mysterious in the context of modern Freemasonry. Here, Oliver sought to provide the history and practice of the major mystery cults from India, to Persia, to Greece, Britain and America. In so doing, he described them in considerable detail.

About 400 references have been verified.

Tetractys

Contents

Lecture I. General introduction.

Antiquity of initiation. Tokens, when first adopted. Enoch the inventor of books. (n.) Employment of the first freemasons, 1. Peculiar meaning of Darkness, 2. Initiations perverted, 2. Progress of the false initiations. The universal deluge. Origin of the metempsychosis. Decay of Masonry. Essenes take charge of it. Nature of the idolatrous initiations. The candidate was a representative of Noah. Legend of initiation. Osiris and Typhon. The aphanism. Lamentations of Isis. Caverns of initiation at Byblus. (n.) The euresis, 1. Ear of corn, 1. (n.) hieroglyphics of the mysteries, 2. Terrors of initiation, 2. Felicities of initiation, 3. Despisers of the mysteries. Initiation the only means of acquiring knowledge. Human victims. Black, an emblem. (n.) Places of initiation described. Power of the priests. The mysteries abolished. Causes of their destruction. Celebrated after the establishment of Christianity.

Lecture II. History of initiation in Hindostan.

Origin of India, 1. Sects, 1. Deities, 2. Mysteries, 2. Places of initiation in Hindostan, 3. Caverns of Elephants, 3, and Salsette, 4. Periods of initiation. Four degrees. First degree. Investiture of the Zennar. Instruction. Second degree, austerities of. Ceremony of initiation. Bewailings. Terrible ceremonies. Candidate made to personate the Avaters, 1. The ten avaters described, 1. Seven caverns, 3. Bells, efficacy of, 3. (n.) Gyge’s ring, 4. Illuminated sacellum, 4.

Lecture III. Philosophy of the eastern mysteries.

Peculiar ceremonies. Amulets. Sublime Name. ॐ, A. U. M. 68. तत्, सत्. Lecture from the Archbrahmin. Virtue and science recommended. Symbolical instruction. Third and Fourth degrees, 1. Lecture, 1. Definition of the deity, 1. Light, 2. (n,) Egg, a symbol, 2. Divine unity, 2. Eternity, 3. Dissolution of matter, 3. New creation, 3. (n.) Chinese worship, 4. Confucius, account, of, 4. (n.) Places of initiation, 5. Amulets, 5. Magical words, 5. Precepts, 5. Mystical symbols, 6. Japanese account of the creation, 6. Caverns of initiation. Probations. Pastos. Amulets.

Lecture IV. Initiation in Persia.

Birth of Zoroaster. Account of his education. Reforms the Persian religion, 1. The sacred fire, 2. Scripture authorities, 2. (n.) Cave of initiation, 3. Its splendours, 3. Numerous initiations, 4. Probation, 5. Rigours of, 5. Preparation, 6. The Sirocurgh of Persian mythology described, 6. (n.) Seven stages of initiation, 7. The terrific process minutely described, 7. Its actual dangers. Torments. Grotto of Elysium, 1. Amulets and talismans enumerated, 1. (n.) The divine Lights, 2. Account of the creation, 3. Contests of the two powers, 3. Theogony, 4. Legend, 5. The son of a virgin proclaimed 86. Incestuous connections, 7.

Lecture V. History of initiation in Greece.

The Grecian mysteries divided into lesser and greater, 8. Eleusinian, 8. Pythagoras initiated. His poultices. Privileges of initiation, 1. Sciences taught to the esotericks, 1. Origin of the word philosopher, 1. (n.) Instruction by mystical sentences, 3. Symbols, 3. System of Plato, 4. Three degrees, 4. Creation and destruction, 4. Plato’s Trinity, 4. Fall of man, 5. Deluge, 5. Officers, 5. Internal parity required of the candidate, 6. The initiations were preceded by a public festival, 6. Preliminary rites, 6.

Lecture VI. Ceremonies of initiation into the mysteries of Bacchus.

Place of initiation, 8. Description of, 8. Incantation, 9. The aspirant purified, 9. Formula of exclusion, 0. Machinery of initiation, 0. The aphanism; 101. Lamentations, 2. Wanderings of Rhea, 2. Mystic dance, 3. The euresis, 4. Descent into the infernal regions, 4. Elysium, 5. Doctrines, 6. Fables referring to the deluge, 6. (n.) Investiture, 7. Symbols, 8. Pollutions of the mysteries, 8. Moses and Bacchus compared, 9. Facts in the life of Moses found in the Grecian spurious Freemasonry, 9. Darkness and Light, 10. The Grecian mysteries abolished, 10.

Lecture VII. Places of initiation into the celtic mysteries.

Derivation of the name of Druid, 12. The mysteries, arkite, 13. Copious illustration of the number seven, 13. (n.) Nature of the ceremonies, 14. Origin of the Britons, 15. Objects of worship, 16. Sacred rocks, islands, and lakes, 17. Legend of a holy lake, 18. (n.) Water of purification, 19. The earth a pollution, 19. Illustrated, 19. (n.) Groves of oaks. Mountains, 1. Form of temples, 2. Circular, 2. Stonehenge. (n.) Oval. Long Meg and her daughters. (n.) Serpentine. Abury. (n.) Winged. Cruciform. Classernis. (n.) How constructed. Caer Sidi, , Caverns of initiation, how fitted up. Arthur’s round tablet. (n.) Giant’s cave in Cumberland. (n.) Grotto at Castleton. Intricate passages.

Lecture VIII. Ceremonies of initiation in Britain.

Periods of initiation, 1. May eve, 1. Sun at its meridian, 1. Preparation, 2. Robes of the candidate, 3. Confinement in the cromlech. Hymn. Circular procession. The circular dance of different nations, (n.) Oath. Transformations. Darkness and mysterious noises. Purification of the sea of Dylan. Light. Presentation to the Archdruid. Instruction. Investiture. Preparation for the third degree. Death of the mysteries. Terrific and dangerous progress to perfection, 3. Rejection, 2. Triumph, 2. Thrice born, 3. Extensive privileges of the perfectly initiated candidate, 3.

Lecture IX. Symbols and doctrines of the druids.

Various methods of augury, 4. Lots, 4. Number three, 4. Seven. One hundred and forty-seven. Mystical orchard. Power of the druids. Logan or rocking stone. (n.) Magic. Druidical vaticination 147. (n.) Antiquity and utility of symbols. Anguinum. Various symbols illustrated. The oak. Misletoe. Symbolical language, 1. The unity of the Godhead, 2. Creation and deluge, immortality and a future state, 2. Place of punishment, 2. The liberal sciences, 3. Botany, medicine, and languages, 4. Morality and truth, 4.

Lecture X. History of initiation into the gothic mysteries.

Introduced by Sigge or Odin, 5. His system, 5. Human victims. Power of the Drottes. Introduction of Christianity. The system abolished. The annual festivals. Yule. Origin of Yule-cakes, Christmas-boxes, New-year’s-gifts. (n.) Origin of healths and pledges. (n.) Palace of Thor. Natural cave of initiation in Norway. (n.) Illustration of the palace of Thor. Kingdom of Thrudwanger, 1. Preparation of candidates, 1. St. Vitus’s dance 161. (n.) Descent to the tomb of Volva, 2. Invocation and magical ceremonies, 2. Bewailings for the death of Balder, 3. Account of his death, 3. (n.) Progress through the subterranean passages of initiation, 4. Twilight of the gods, 4. Door of expurgation, 5. Illuminated sacellum, 5. Oath, 6.

Lecture XI. Doctrints and morality.

Splendour and importance of the Spurious Freemasonry. Investiture. White Shield. Niding. Sign of the Cross. Talismanic ring of Balder. Charge. Symbols 169. Magic. Charms. Amulets. Oracles. Runic spells. Witches, 1. (n.) Doctrines, 2. One God, 2. Idols multiplied, 3. Temple of the tri-une god Odin-Thor-Frea, 3. Creation, 4. Deluge, 5. End of the world, 5. New creation, 6.

Lecture XII. History of initiation in America.

When America was peopled, 7. Science of the primitive inhabitants. (n.) Mysteries. Deities. Vitzliputzli, the god of mercy. Tescalipuca, the god of vengeance. Rainbow. Horrible sacrifices. (n.) System of the Mexicans, barbarous, 1. Serpents, 1. (n.) Painful probations, 2. Bloody purifications, 2. Manner of sacrificing a human victim, 3. (n.) Descent into the fearful caverns of initiation, 4. Horrible sights there displayed, 4. Regeneration, 5. Indecency of these rites, 6. Symbolical instruction, 6. Creation and destruction, 6. Cosmogony of the American savages, 6. (n.) Triad, 8. Wanderings of the first settlers in Mexico, 8. Hieroglyphics. Amulets. The system introduced by Manco Capac and Mama Ocello, 1. Triad, 1. Annual festival, 2. Ceremonies and processions, 2. Prodigies, 4. (n.)

Corollary.

The mysteries funereal, 5. Tests and probations, 5. Doctrines, 5. The resurrection, 6. Coincidences, 6. The mysteries corroborate the Mosaic records, 6. Applied to religion, 6. Machinery of the Apocalypse, 6. (n.) Belief in a supreme Cod, 8.