Classical Freemasonry,

of which was something occult and mysterious . A very clear and concise account of the E gyptian mysteries has been given by Sir G . Wilkinson , in his Manners and Customs oj the Ancient Egyptians , of whicli the following abstract will convey a good description : — " The Egyptian mysteries consisted of two degrees , denominated greater and less ; aud to become qualified for admission into the higher classthe

, aspirant must have passed through those of the inferior degree . The priests alone could arrive at a thorough knowledge of the greater mysteries ; but so sacred were these secrets held , that many members of the sacerdotal order were not admitted to a participation in them at all , and those alone were selected for initiation who had proved themselves

virtuous ancl deserving ofthe honour . " " The Egyptians , " says Clement , of Alexandria , " neither entrusted their mysteries to every oue , nor degraded the secrets of divine matters by disclosing them to the profane , reserving them for tho heir-apparent of the throne , and for such of the priests as excelled in virtue and wisdom . " But there can be little

doubt that , at a later period , the same liberality , as to the admission of the laity , which characterized the Eleusinian ancl other mysteries , prevailed in Egypt , and that many laymen , and even some foreigners , were admitted to the lesser mysteries . The Orphean ancl Eleusinian mysteries constitute the great models on which all succeeding mysteries were

formed . These festivals were instituted at Eleusis in honour of Ceres and Proserpine , the former of whom was believed to have taught the inhabitants the art of agriculture and the holy doctrine—a doctrine which was said not only to purify

the heart from sin and expel ignorance from the mind , but to ensure also the favour of the gods , and to open the gates of immortal felicity to the initiated . The mysteries , like those of Egypt , were of two kinds , the less and the greater —held at two different periods of the year , and at two different places : thc lesser , which were introductory to the greaterbeing celebrated at Agrteon tho banks of the

, , Ilyssus ; the greater at Eleusis . The celebration of tho greater mysteries occupied nine clays , chiefly devoted to the sacrifices , processions , and other acts of worship ; and during this period the judicial tribunals were closed , an armistice was proclaimed , private enmities were hushed , and death was decreed by the Athenian senate against any onehow hih

, g soever in rank , who should disturb the sanctity of the rites . The-ceremonies of initiation into both the lesser and greater mysteries were conducted by four priests — Hierophant , Dadouchos , Hierokeryx , and E-pidomias ; ancl these again were assisted by numerous inferior functionaries , to whom various appellations wero givenindicative of their several

, duties . The examination of these who had been purified by the lesser mysteries , and who were preparing for the greater , was apparently vigorous . "But as the benefit of initiation was great , such as were convicted of witchcraft , murder , even though unintentional , or any other heinous crimes , were debarred from those mysteries . " A childstyled the child

, of holiness , whose innocence , it was believed , of itself endowed him with capacity to fulfil the requirements of the mysteries , was selected to conciliate the Deity in the name of the initiated . Of the ceremonies which attended the

initiation , we know but little ; since every postulant was required , under the most dreadful oaths , to conceal whatever he saw or heard within the hallowed precincts ; and he who violated the oaths was not only put to death , but devoted to the execration , of all posterity . Crowned with myrtle and enveloped iu robes , which , from this day , were preserved as sacred relics , the novices were conducted beyond the

boundary impassable to the rest of men . The hierophant , with , his symbols of supreme Deity and his three assistants , were carefull y visible . Lest any should have been introduced not sufficientl y prepared for the rites , the herald exclaimed , " Far from hence the profane , the impious , all who arc polluted by sin ! " If any such were present and did not instantly depart , death was the never tailing doom . Tho skins of new

slain victims wero now placed tinder the feet of the novices , the ritual of initiation was read , and hymns were chanted in honour of Ceres . One of these hymns has been translated as follows : " I will declare a secret to the initiated , but let the doors be shut against the profane . But thou , Musteus , the offspring of fair Selene , attend carefully to my song ; for I shall speak of important truths . Sutler not , thereforethe

, former prepossessions of your mind to deprive you of that happy life which the knowledge of these mysterious truths will 2 ) rocure you . But look on the divine nature , incessantly contemplate it , and govern well the mind ancl heart . Go on iu the right way and see the sole Governor of the AVorld . He is One , and of himself alone ; and to that one all things

owe their being . He operates through all , was never seen by mortal cj'cs , but does himself see every thing . " The novices moved on , while a deep ) sound arose from beneath , as if the earth itself ivere complaining ; the thunder pealed , the lightning flashed , and spectres glided through the vast obscurity , moaning , sighing , and groaning .

" Of various forms , uimuiiiber'd spectres more —• Centaurs and . double shapes—besiege the door . Before the passage horrid Hydra stands , And Briareus with his hundred hands ; Gorgons , Geryou with his triple frame , And vain Chimaira vomits empty flame . " DKYDEN ' S -ZENEID , i . 6 .

Mysterious shades , the messengers of the infernal deities—anguish , madness , famine , disease , and death—flitted around , and the explanations of the hierophant , delivered in a solemn voice , added to the 'horror of the scene . This was intended as a representation ofthe infernal regions , where misery had its seat . As they advancedamidst the groans whicli issued

, from the darkness , were distinguished those of the suicidesthus punished for cowardly deserting- the post which the gods had assigned them in this world . But the scenes which the novices had hitherto beheld seemed to be a sort of purgatory , where penal fires , and dire anguish , aud tiie unutterable horrors of darkness were believedafter countless ages of

suf-, fering , to purify from the guilt acquired in this mortal life . Suddenly the bursting open , of two vast gates , with a terrific sound , dimly displayed to their sight , and faintly bore to their ears , the torments of those whose fates were everlasting —who had passed the bounds beyond which there is no hope .

" Obscure they went through dreary sheds that led Along the waste dominions of the dead . Thus wander travellers in woods by night , By thc moon ' s doubtful and malignant light . " DllYDBM ' s ____ > E _ D , VI . On the horrors of this abode of anguish and despair a

curtain may be droprped—the subject is unutterable . Onward proceeded the novices , and were soon conducted into another region—that of everlasting bliss , thc sojourn of the just—of those whose hearts had been purified , and whose minds had been enlightened by " the holy doctrine . " This was Elysium , the joys of which , were equally unutterable—equally

incomprehensible to mortals not admitted into these mysteries . ¦ Here a veil was , iu like manner , thrown over this scene . When we come to reduce this to a plain statement of facts , at what do wo arrive 1 We find that a candidate for initiation had to bo a man of unblemished character . The code of morals to which he had to subscribe , and in which he was afterward instructed , was based upon the highest principles of virtue and wisdom . He became from that moment identified with all that was pure—an enemy to sin—ancl a

regenerated being . Is there no resemblance here ? We think there is a strong likeness to genuine Freemasonry—so strong , that we scarcely know how to consider them , distinct from each other . Thc essential principles—such as a belief in one God , the doctrine of rewards and punishments , the resurrection of the body , and the immortality of tho soul—are the same .