CHAPTER XYII.

SECRET SOCrETTES IN TilGYPT.
The principal seat of the Egyptian mysteries was at Memphis. They were of two kinds — the Greater and the Less, or the former taught by the priests of Osiris and Serapis, the latter by those of Isis. The candi- date was required to furnish proofs of a pure and moral life as evidence that he was fitted for admission or en- rollment. When these conditions were fulfilled, he was required to spend a week in solitude and medita- tion, abstain from all unchaste acts, confine himself to a light diet, and to purify the body by frequent ablu- tions and severe mortification of the flesh. Being thus prepared, the candidate was ordered to enter -the pyra- mid during the niglit, where he had to descend on his hands and knt>es through a narrow passage without steps, until he reached a cave-like opening, through which he had to crawl to another subterranean cave, on the walls of which he found the following inscription: ''The mortal who shall travel over this road alone, with- out hesitating or looking back, shall be purified by air, by Are and by water; and if he can sunnount the fear of death he shall emerge from the bosom of the earth ; he shall revisit the light, and claim the right of preparing his soul for the reception of the mysteries of the great goddess Isis.'' At the same time three priests, dis-
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guised m masks resembling the heads of jackals, and armed with swords, sought to frighten him, first by their appearance and noise, and afterward by enumerating the dangers that awaited him on his journey. If his courage did not fail him here, he was permitted to pass on to the Hall of Fire. This was a large apartment lined with burning stuffs, and whose floor was a grate painted flame-color; the baTs of this grate were so nar- row that they offered scarcely room enough for him. to cross. Through this hall he was obliged to pass witli the greatest speed to avoid the effects of the flames and heat. Having overcome this difficulty, he next encoun- tered a wide channel fed from the waters of the Nile. Over this stream he had to swim, with a small lamp, which fnrnishd all the. light that was afforded him. On reaching the opposite side, he found a narrow pas- sage leading to a landing place about six feet square, the floor of which was made movable by mechanism un- derneath. On each side were walls of rough stone, and behind wheels of metal were fixed. In front was a gate of ivory, opening inward, and preventing any farther advance. On attempting to turn two large rings annexed to the door, in hopes of continuing his journey, the wheels came into motion, producing a most stunninfj and terrific effect, and the floor gave way, leaving him suspended by the arms over apparently a deep abyss, from which proceeded a violent and pierc- ing current of cold air, so that the lamp was extin- guished, and he remained in complete darkness. In thfs process of trial, it will be observed that the candi- date was exposed to the actions of the four great puri- fying elements — Earth, Fire, Water and Air. After the risk of falling into an unknown depth had con-
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tinued for a moment or two, the floor resumed its orig- inal position, the wheels ceased to revolve, and the door of ivory flew open, disclosing the sanctuary of Isis, il- luminated with a blaze of light, where the priests of that goddess were assembled drawn up into two ranks, clothed in ceremonial dresses, and bearing the mystical symbols of the Order, singing hymns in praise of their divinity, Avho welcomed and congratulated him on his courage and escape from the dangers which had sur- rounded him. The entrance to the sanctuary was con- structed in the pedestal of the triple statue of Isis, Osiris and Horus; and the walls were ornamented with various allegorical figures, symbols of the Egyptian mysteries, among which were particularly prominent: 1, A ser- pent throwing an egg out of its mouth ; a symbol of the production of all things by the heat of the sun. 2. A f^erpent curled up in the form of a circle, holding its tail in its mouth; an allusion to eternity, and to the uninterrupted revolution of the sun. 3. The double tau, which is meant to represent the active and passive power of nature in the generation of all things. There he was made to kneel before an altar, and required to pronounce the following solemn obligation: ^T swear never to reveal to any uninitiated person the things that I have seen in this sanctuar}', nor any of the mysteries which have been or shall be communicated to me. I call on all the deities of earth, heaven, and of the infernal re- gions, to be witnesses of this oath; and I trust that their vengeance will fall on my head should I ever become a villain so base and perjured." He was then retained for several mouths in the temple, where moral trials of different kiuds awaited him. The object of tiiis was
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to bring out all the traits of his character, and to test his fitness for his vocation. After he had passed through this trial, then came what was called his Mani- festation. This consisted of a number of ceremonies, of which the novice was the subject for the space of twelve days. He was dedicated to Osiris, I sis, and Horus, and decorated with the twelve consecrated scarfs and the Olympic cloak. These scarfs were embroid- ered with the signs of the zodiac, and the cloak with figures that were symbols of the starry heavens as the abode of the gods and happy spirits. A crown of palm leaves was placed upon his head, and a burning torch in his hand. Thus prepared, he was again led to the altar where he renewed his oath. He drinks the water of Lethe, presented to him by the high priest to forget all he ever heard in his unregenerated state; and after- wards he drinks the water of Mnemosyne to remember all the lessons of wisdom imparted to him in the mys- teries. Then he is instructed with the meaning of the signs and symbols and declared a person who has been initiated into the mysteries of Isis, the first degree of Egyptian rites. The emblem of the Order was a scep- ter surrounded by an eye, to signify him that rules and sees, symbolical of the sun.