CHAPTER V.—The Mysteries of as antery : its idealised nee ee

crucian or Christian renderings , 50 OuaprerR VI.—Rites and Ceremonies of the faim Phallic Wor ae aed
its connexion with general religious meanings ; ‘ ‘ AE
So Cuapter VII.—Hebrew Phallicism ; 64
t,
~) CaapteR VIII.—The Rosicrucian and Gnostic Bemties of ae Obelisks, S Pyramids, and Phallic Monuments of the Peoples of Antiquity 70 , Cuapter IX.—The Phalli and Pe dae Priapic Monuments ag a) of “ The Fall” : Z ‘ i : ne A, SS CuaptTEerR X.—Priapic Illustr ne ‘ ; 101
eS CuaprEer XI.—Transcendental Ideas of the Bociec ucians ; their Cabalistic _~ Philosophy as to the Occult interchange of Nature and of Magic . 115 “© Cuarrer XII.—Considerations on the Mystic Anatomy of the Rosi-
‘= erucian Philosophers : - : ae os ; . Sel 2e SCuaprer XIII.—Rosicrucian Profundities : : : ; ‘ Ee ~CuapterR X1V.—The Gnostics and their Beliefs. : 142 S CHaPrer XV.—The Indian Religions. Annotations on the Becta . = Writings of the Hindus . : 1977 SOnaprer XVI.—An Original Essay ¢ on Myst ation and the Sake °) Passion, or “The Act” . : : : ; : . LSS ~ ~~ APPENDIX. ~ ~SoThe Worship of the Lingam (Phallus), or Male Principle, in India . ~ 239 ys Physiological Contests—The Pelasgi—The Round Towers of Ireland— Adoration of the Vulva : ; : ; i . ‘ ahd
Lingam Gods in Great Britain ; , ; ; 260
Vill Contents.
PAGE
Phallic Worship among the Gauls . ; “ Z : 7 ‘ . /agS Phallic Idolatry of the Jews . 5 ° ‘ . ; : . : Ro Gnostic Rites . : 5 ; : ; : ; - : 5 - 265 Symbol Worship . - . 4 ; : ‘ ° : - 266 The Symbol of the Bafhent : : a 274 The Rationale of Generation—The dactitine of Vir ginity-—Conaeeeae
Women—Bridal Devotions . : . ; ‘ : ; 78 The Religious Rites of Ancient Rome . : a2 7h Sacred Colours—Bells in Ancient Worship—The Cock as an Esrhlaet . £287 INDEX . : : : ; : ‘ : ° ; : . - 293
Noticr.—A small series of engravings illustrative of the subject of the present work is in preparation, under the superintendence of a gentleman connected with the British Museum, and will be issued, with letterpress descriptions, in a convenient form, for presentation to subscribers.
Those who may care for this supplement will please notify their wishes to the publisher, in order that a copy may be forwarded, for which there is no charge whatever ; but in no case will the illustrations be supplied through agents, or otherwise than on direct application to THE PUBLISHER.
INTRODUCTION.
ALL these original facts and theories, as applicable to general religion, were first brought forward by the author in a work entitled, “The Indian Religions ; or, Results of the Mysterious Buddhism,” published in the early part of the year 1858. Subsequently to the ap- pearance of that book several other writers, impressed by its importance, hitherto unsuspected, took up and enlarged upon the details referring to this subject, without, how- ever, touching, or seeming to be even aware of, the spirit and inner meaning of the matters which they so confi- dently and ignorantly handled, with, however, all the innocent good faith in the world. This exploration into the modern day refers to the recurrence of the introduction into history of the “ PuaLtiic THeEory,” as supplying the necessarily mystic groundwork of ALL RELIGION— nay, furnishing altogether the reasons for religion. Con- spicuous among these writers, subsequent in time to the production of the work above referred to, is Dr. Thomas Inman, of Liverpool, a writer of singular ingenuity, but astray in his general disbelieving conclusions, his par- ticulars being correct, while his results are arrived at erroneously, though in full sincerity, which is deeply to be regretted, considering the display of so much inde- fatigable research and the expenditure of so much valu- able labour. Dr. Inman is the author of two ponderous,
very learned volumes, entitled, ‘“ ANCIENT FaIrHs b
X ; Introd uction.
EMBODIED IN ANCIENT Names.” To a certain extent there is a similarity in this valuable work to that of Godfrey Higgins, which displayed wonderful penetration and power of analysis, and indomitable philosophical in- sight, enthusiasm, hardihood and perseverance, published under the title of “ ANACALYPsIs; oR, AN ATTEMPT TO Draw ASIDE THE VEIL OF THE SalIrTic Isis,” in heavy quarto volumes, in 1833, 1834, 1836. The “Cz.tic Drutps,” another important quarto of Godfrey Higgins, abounding in antiquarian truth, and beautifully illustrated, appeared in 1829; and, in 1834, an _ invaluable antiquarian Phallic book, “THe Rounp Towers oF IRELAND,” written by a very accomplished scholar, Henry O’Brien, who, of course, mainly on account of his in- sight, solidity, and genuineness, especially as advocating— nay, proving—unwelcome and startling antiquarian con- clusions in regard to the Rounp Towers, encountered not much less than a storm of opposition. These books (we may aver), on account of their difficult, evading and reluctant (even obstinate) subjects for discovery, range under the same head as Dr, Inman’s “ ANcIENT FaITHs.” They explain idolatry.
Messrs. Staniland Wake and Westropp, and Dr. Phené, a well-known and industrious antiquary, produced memoranda and books of greater or less importance and noteworthiness upon this strange but engrossingly se- ductive “ Phallic” subject, when their attention had been led up to it;—though, in truth, the emulative attention of these scholars was first challenged by the works in which the topic was dilated upon (but only in the certain proper way) by the present writer.
The curiosity in regard to this subject ees. as was
Introduction. Xi
to be expected. Efforts at the disinterment of the con- clusions of the ancient mystical writers, taken up from point to point, followed on the writings of the present author. The Americans in particular, in circuitous de- flections or more promising direct searching out, wrote and published in recognitive quarters. And this move- ment evoked sparks of re-animation to the truths of the Phallic theory in various directions back again in our own country. Through these means was incited notice to these grand philosophical problems of the real meaning of the old idolatries in which lay the expression of enthusiastic religion. The seeds, cast at hazard origi- nally with much distrust of their reception in this present too-sharpened intellectual age, took root in the New World. The mainly forgotten puzzles among our inquisi- tive brethren in America found fit matrix in which to spring. And in response to this autiquarian signal, sounded across the seas, books in America made their appearance, arising principally from certain abstract (and before that time unconsidered, except by Sir William Jones, the great Indian authority,) speculations as to the groundwork of that shadowy religion—“ mystery of all mysteries” — Buddhism—handled nowadays by very many and very incompetent hands. ‘These original ideas about Buddhism were published by the present writer in his work “The Indian Religions,” which contains the germ of all the new views. But all these discourses by other people, and speculative attempts to discover—this hover. ing for ever round and round a subject, more than general description of which is denied, and which is ever intended to be denied—even in the mental interest of the querists themselves—have been vain, because they have
-
Xil Introduction.
been insufficient, formed out of that which could sustain no structure, and springing from minds not abstract and keen enough to find out for themselves—being not adequately gifted.
There is always a fixed point of reserve in these occult matters, beyond which it is hopeless—as it has always been, and always must be—to penetrate. Large and important enough is the margin up to this rigid line, beyond which, to all ordinary explorers, access and dis- covery is as impossible as it would be uncomfortable, if by any possibility of comprehension arrival at these grand supernatural truths could ever be realised—that is, by the usual most acute inquirers among the people. But the majority of investigators—even learned investigators—are dull enough, and are too cold of imagination to be im- pressed with great facts if they happen to be remote ideas and new and difficult to be believed. Therefore all is at the best in this general incredibility. And the secrets are so fixed and so sure—being so deep-buried for all time in symbols so mysterious as to be far beyond reading—that the paraded decipherments, to those knowing ones whose attention has been drawn to them through the aggressive vanity of the Egyptologists and in the effrontery of some of the predominating scientific people, although trumpeted in the Press as discoveries, are laughed at quietly by those who “ know better.” But the persuading of the public is easy by the strength of names, and through the “influence of authority in matters of opinion,”—a persuasion which did not escape the penetration of Sir George Cornewall Lewis, nor does it evade the detection of certain cool observers disposed to pass over with a certain measure of contempt the parade of
Introduction. Xill
the string of letters—marking degrees—which, like the paper vertebrze of the flexile tail of a kite—adorn many a name stamped with the stamps of academical and other supposed and accepted learned societies.
The present writer furthermore claims to be the first introducer, as the grand philosophical problem, of the vast religious and national importance of “ Buddhism,” so important to England, as being the mistress of India, of the immense Buddhistic countries, with their prodigious populations. Buddhism and its speculative foundations, and the question whether these are founded in absolute vital truth, or whether they are to be dismissed as mere mythology, has now become such an important topic that no words can realise the extent and possible results of the same.
The attestation to the justice of his claim is to be found in the fact of the number of books upon the subject of Buddhism which have appeared since the date of the “Indian Religions; or, Results of the Mysterious Buddhism,” produced in the years of the great Indian Mutiny—viz., 1857-1858. This book —a moderate-sized octavo -— although entirely opposed to the arguments and line of indoctrination of nearly the whole of the British Press and the political people, headed by the Times, and to the opinions enunciated and approved by the general ratification of the people of England (in appearance), was warmly adopted and certified as establishing truths by no less distinguished and enthusiastic and patriotic authorities than a previous Governor-General, the Earl of Ellen- borough; by Sir Erskine Perry, Judge of the Supreme Court ef Bombay, and several other members of the
XIV Introduction.
Council of India; by Lord Lyndhurst, the Lord Chan- cellor, many members of Parliament, principally from the. Conservative ranks, and many scholars and enlightened men, not only in France and England, but in Germany, and particularly in the United States of America, where these subjects were viewed largely, apart from politics. We may declare that the book was received with great marks of favour—this, in its explanations, as speaking truth (and useful, enlightening truth), in regard to the real opinions and feelings of the vast population of India, both of the Hindoos and the Mahometans. Notwith- standing this, it was truth, necessarily unpopular and disbelieved in at that time—now long past—provoking and enraging in the then natural fierceness of feeling and in the impulse of intense hostility in England to every- thing (native) of India. ‘This work, “The Indian Re- ligions,”? now totally out of print and very scarce, was published anonymously, and was founded upon a mass of authoritative proofs furnished to the author from India itself. It bore—at once an entreaty and a warning— upon its title-page the significant words of Themistocles in his own native Greek, as applied and addressed to the people of England, “Strike, but hear !”
It was really a very bold challenge offered to public opinion in England—so aroused, and so, as the present writer thought at the time, mistaken—this laying before the people of England such a remonstrance in regard to the general unfortunate policy. Of the mistakes of this policy the British people are now thoroughly con- vinced,
In some very eminent but at that time unpopular quarters in England (1857-1858) this novel and un-
Introduction. XV
expected anonymous work secured deep attention and won firm reliance. But although too bitterly true, as the