john-r-bennett-the-origin-of-freemasonry-and-knights-templar
john-r-bennett-the-origin-of-freemasonry-and-knights-templar
john-r-bennett-the-origin-of-freemasonry-and-knights-templar
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FREEMASONRY AND KNIGHTS TEMPLARprior to <strong>the</strong> reign <strong>of</strong> David in Jerusalem, <strong>and</strong> morethan six hundred years before <strong>the</strong> firstOlympiad,*<strong>the</strong> beginning <strong>of</strong> true Grecian history. They werecelebrated at <strong>the</strong> village <strong>of</strong> Eleusis, near <strong>the</strong> city<strong>of</strong> A<strong>the</strong>ns, Greece. Like <strong>the</strong> Egyptian Mysteries,<strong>the</strong>y were divided into two classes, <strong>the</strong> lesser <strong>and</strong><strong>the</strong> greater. The lesser Mysteries were celebratedon <strong>the</strong> banks <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Ilissus, whose waters supplied<strong>the</strong> means <strong>of</strong> purification <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> aspirants. Thegreater Mysteries were celebrated in <strong>the</strong> templeat Eleusis. They were public to <strong>the</strong> many <strong>and</strong>secret to <strong>the</strong> few. They were dedicated to <strong>the</strong> goddessDemeter, <strong>the</strong> Ceres* <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Romans, who wasworshiped by <strong>the</strong> Greeks as <strong>the</strong> symbol <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> prolificearth; <strong>and</strong> in <strong>the</strong>m were scenically represented<strong>and</strong> secretly taught <strong>the</strong> loss <strong>and</strong> recovery <strong>of</strong> Persephone,<strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> doctrine <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> unity <strong>of</strong> God <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong>immortality <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> soul. The scenic representations,secret signs <strong>and</strong> words <strong>of</strong> recognition, <strong>the</strong>instruction in a peculiar dogma, <strong>and</strong> <strong>the</strong> establishment<strong>of</strong> a hidden bond <strong>of</strong> fraternity, gave attractionto <strong>the</strong>se Mysteries, which lasted until <strong>the</strong> veryfall <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> Roman Empire, <strong>and</strong> exerted a powerfulinfluence on <strong>the</strong> mystical associations <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> MiddleAges.* That which connects <strong>the</strong>m with <strong>the</strong> moderninitiations <strong>of</strong> Freemasonryis evident in <strong>the</strong> commonthought which pervades <strong>and</strong> identifies both ; thoughit is difficult, <strong>and</strong> perhaps impossible, to trace all<strong>the</strong> connecting links <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> historic chain.Mysteries <strong>of</strong> Mithras.There are none <strong>of</strong> <strong>the</strong> ancient Mysteries whichafford a more interesting subject <strong>of</strong> investigation15