, 1881-05-15
ETERNAL PUNISHMENT.

III Lh4< - II L. ~ ~ 4C IL IL EN L.
HE11. As PICTURED IN TIE ELErs1SIAS MYs
TEEIES.
In the Eteusinian mysteries Of Greece ths
doctrine of the punishment Of the wicked i,
hell OF torment is set forth with great dis
tinctness.
The following is from "The History of thu
Progress Of Religious 1leas,'' by Mrs. L, "
Childs:
1.-The most solemn Of them all were the
mysteries of Isis, introduced from Egypt
and called by the Greeks the Eleusinian 1nys.
teries. sacred to Ceres.
THE rites of Initiation lasted nine days. On
the last day the candidates for initiation, h:v-
11lg gone through probation of fasting p,lrifi-
c1t1on, sacrifices, and prayers, were admitted
for the first time: t. the mysteries. What
these were is unknown, but some of tile ex-
ternal circumstances are recorded. At even
tide, the priests let them 90 to vast cdifice
called the mystical temple. At the entrance,
they washed their hands i'll consccrated
water, being admonished TO present them
selves with pure minds, without which ex-
ternaI cleanliness would Ee of no avail With
a loud voice the priests warned all the pro-
fame to retire, and the worshipers remained
alone. Thunder rolled around them. Light
ming flashed across the thick darkness and
revealed startling apparations us it passed.
AT last the inner doors were opened. The
Interior Of the temple hurst upon them in /.
blaze OF light, and strains OF ravisiing music
foated tl on the air; Tie statue of Ceres
On her head were the horns Of tile lunar
crescent, and l!er robe was covered with
shining stars. In one hand she held bas-
ket ot grain. i'll the other the Egyptian mu-
rested Oil the ocean, the other was stepping
on the earth. At the foot Of the statue
priests crowned the l1ovitiate with garlail1s
OF sacred myrtle Then followed a series o.
intended to represent the creation Of the
world, the progress Of society out Of bar
barism, the passagc Of the soul through
death, JriWtfnl pictures nf torture IN Tnr-
te1r,s, and enchanting ,isionsof the Elysian
S"Crowned with myrtle, and enveloped
in robes which FROM tllis day were
preserved as sacred relics, the novlces were
$" eonducted 1'a beyond The BOUNDARY inpasSabie
symbols Of the supreme Deity, and his three |
assistants, representing the three other gods,
were carefully visible Lestany should have !
been introduced not sufficiently prepared for |
1he rites, the herald exclaimed, Far from
hence the profane, the ilnpious, all who are |
polluted hy snip II any such were present |
and did not instantly depart, death was the
1leyei-1ailing dooin.. The skins Of new-slain
the ,noyices, the ritual of initiation was
read, and hymns were chanted in honor Of
Ceres. The novlces moved on. while
4 deep zee sound rose from beneath as as
thunder peaIed, p the 'i lishtnins fiasIie and and
spectres Elided through the vast obscurlty,
moaning, sighing, and groaning. Mysterious
snades. the inessengers0 0f the internal deltlcs
Nnangnisl, Madness, Famine. Disease, and
ot tile hieropllant, delivered in a solemn I
voice, added to the horrors OF the scene This
vas intended as a representation OF tie n
1efnal regions where misery held its seat.
1ied Issued from tho darkness. were distinguished
enose aa. Ut the suicides, thus punished 1or
eowardy deserving the posts which tie gods
aaa assigned them III this world.
But the scenes which the norlces had |
hitherto beheld, seemed to be a sort of pur-
satory, where penal fires, and dire anguish.
ald the unuttcrablc horrors Of darkness
a,s: mste believed to purify from the guilt az
HSu!red Sed i'll this mortal life. Suddenly the
t9;aGrstlng open of two vast gates, with 4 ter
aa rue sound, tiimly displayed to their sight. ]
ana faintty bore to their ears, tho tornc7tts Of
T.uxc nass trhose state 1ras ercrtastt1'I-who had
~. passed yea The bounds beyond when tncfe was
NJ hope, On the horrors If this abode Of ,
ddne1ilsli and despair Il curtain may be {
,uriopped; the subject is unutterable. On G
"ala prnceetled the lioyices, and We're soon
iiv4saaeted into another region, OF ever
listing tta bliss; the sojourn of the beSt; OF !;
,nose s.1 whose hearts had been purified and I
,Mniose minds had been enlightened by the '
" aoly doctrine.' This was Elysum, the JOYS =
!. ~ Which were equally unutterablc. equally;
;;nton ;ntt tttonn1prefenslb}e. TO m0rtals not admltted
lug In.o these mysteries. Here veil was IL like L
N1aiIer N'iIIer drawn over the scene. e.''~Cdbtnct q
IYIfc!t,opediu. Fol TX. i
n y Mhateyer may lave been the origin ut the Fl
usas srf Of Hell, we have here the most eXp]lclt -
Eears es before the Christian era. lie, there a
io0 i%as who would trace the antiquity OF these
s; may safely cnn1ine himself to the Il
'e1'ou preceding the Eleusinian mysteries. \
it1E ANGLICAN CHURCH. 4
CRISIS IMMINENT GROWING OFT OF TIE Il
- FiTEAL1ST PROSECUTIONS Il
W outsider believed that the Bishops OF
BE- English f>b,r,,, oo,,1, c,,,,r ont rituaf- | b
SIN HI. -os>. 1eA .o"io S'''4'n e tho+ | #