CHAPTER XYIII.

THE ELEUSINIAN MYSTERIES.
Among the ancient Greeks the most famous secret so- ciety was that of the Eleusiniaii m3'Steries. According to Clemens of Alexandria the Egyptian Melampus in- troduced them into Greece. They were celebrated in honor of Ceres^ the Isis of Greece ; while Osiris appears as Proserpine, for the death of Osiris and the carry- ing off of Proserpine to the infernal regions symbol- izes the same thing, viz: the sun's disappearance dur- ing the winter season.
The applicant for admission was rigorously examined as to his bodily health, mental capacity and mode of life. If these were satisfactory he was made to take a solemn oath to conceal whatever he would see or hear within the hallowed precincts ; and he who violated the obligation was not only put to death, but devoted to the execration of all posterity. Crowned with myrtle, and enveloped in robes, which from that day were preserved as sacred relics, the neophyte was conducted beyond the boundary impassable to the rest of men. Lest any should be introduced not sufficiently prepared for the rites, the Herald proclaimed: "Far from hence the profane, the impious, all who are polluted by sin." If jiny such were present and did not at once depart, death was the penalty. The candidate was then presented
Ill
naked to signify his dependence; a calf skin was thrown over his shoulders and the skin of new-slain victims put under his feet. During this time he heard beautiful music and the singing of hymns in honor of Ceres. Suddenly the whole scene changes; utter darkness sur- rounds him; a low deep sound rose from the earth; the lightning flashed, mighty winds were heard, terrifio thunder broke forth, and spectres glided through the vast obscurit}^, moaning, sighing and- groaning. Mys- terious shades, the messengers of the infernal deities — Anguish, Madness, Famine, Disease and Death — flitted around; and the explanation of the Hierophant, deliv- ered in a solemn voice, added to the horrors of the scene. This was intended as a representation of the infernal regions, where misery has its seat. As they advanced amidst the groans which issued from the darkness were distinguished those of the suicides — thus punished for cowardly deserting the post which the gods had assigned them in this world. Suddenly the bursting open of two- vast gates, with a terrific sound, dimly displayed to his sight and bore to his ears, the torments of those whose- state was everlasting punishment and despair. Onward proceeded the novice and was soon conducted into an- other region that of eternal bliss, the sojourn of the just — of those who had been .purified and whose minds^ had been enlightened by the "Holy Doctrine." This- was Elysium — the joys of which were equally unutter- able, equally incomprehensible, to mortals not admitted into the mysteries. Here was the statue of Ceres sur- rounded by a dazzling light. The candidate renewed his oath and the secrets of the Order were imparted to him.
CHAPTEU XIX.
THE ANCIENT DRUIDS.
The oldest known secret society in Europe was that of the Druids. Their teaching was in many ways simi- lar to that of Pythagoras and the Magi and their name may have been taken from the Gaelic word Druidh, "a wise man/^ or "magician." It was an article of the Druidical creed "that it was unlawful to build temples to the gods, or to worship them within walls or under roofs." All their places of worship therefore were in the open air, and generally upon an eminence, from whence they had a full view of the heavenly bodies, to whom much of their worship was directed. But that they might not be too much incommoded by winds and rains, distracted by the view of external objects, or dis- turbed by the intrusion of unhallowed feet, while they v^'ere instructing their disciples, or performing their re- ligious rites, they made choice of the deepest recesses of groves and woods for their sacred places. These groves were planted, for that purpose, in the most proper situations and with those trees in which they most delighted. The chief of these was the strong and spreading oak, for which tree the Druids had a very high and superstitious veneration. The elder Pliny tells us that whatever grew on that tree was considered by the Druids a gift from heaven, more especially the
113
mistletoe. When thus found it was cut with a golden knife by a priest clad in white robe, two white bulls be- ing sacrificed on the spot. The name given it by the Druids meant "All-Heal'^ and its virtues were believed ta be very great. Two other herbs called selago and samulos, were likewise greatly valued by them for their medicinal qualities. But the most remarkable of all the Druid charms was the anguineum, or snakes^ egg. It was said to be produced from the saliva and frothy sweat of a number of. serpents writhing in an entangled mass, and to be tossed up in the air as soon as formed. The fortunate Druid who managed, as it fell, to catch it in his sagum or cloak, rode off at full speed on a horse that was in waiting, pursued by the serpents till they were stopped by an intervening stream.
The Druids taught transmigration of the soul in the same way as Pythagoras. They entertained great ven- eration for the numbers three, seven, nineteen and one hundred and forty-seven, produced by multiplying the square of seven by three. Their chief deities are reduc- ible to two — a male and a female, the great father and mother — Hu and Ceridwen, distinguished by the same characteristics as belonged to Osiris and Isis, or any other supreme god and goddess representing the two principles of all being. The grand periods of initiation were quarterly and determined by the course of the sun, and his arrival at the equinoctial and solstitial points. The solemn initiations were performed at midnight, and contained three degrees, the first or lowest being the Eubates, the second the Bards, and the third the Dru- ids. The place of initiation was called Coer Sidi. The adytum or ark of the mysteries was called a cromlech or
114
dalmen, and was used as the sacred Pastes, or place of regeneration. It consisted of three upright stones, aa supporters of a broad, flat stone laid across the top, so as to fonn a small cell. The candidate was first placed in. a coffin, where his s3^mbolical death represented the degree symbolized the resurrection of the sun. He had to undergo similar trials as the applicants in the east- ern countries. A solemn oath was administered to him on a nak-ed sword, and he ratified it by drinking meat out of a human skull. A sprig of spruce was the badge. The Druids lasted till the fourth century, when the last of them were converted to Christianity, only in Ireland and England remnants remained till the time of St. Patrick and St. Augustine.
Upon the model of ancient Druidism are founded the different secret societies known as the American Order of Druids, the Ancient Order of Druids and the United Ancient Order of Druids. The first modern Druid Or- der was founded in London in 1781, and spread to the United States in 1831, and in 1872 the Order was in- troduced from America to Germany.