The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-02-01

appeared beside her in a chariot drawn by
ebony coursers. Ceres clasped her daughter
to her breast and her joy was greater than her
sorrow had been. Then she said, " My child
now that you are come back to me shall never
let you 60 again to live with Pluto in his dark
kingdom" But Proserpine said, {" 1t cannot
be SO, my mother. Before / came to see you
Pluto gave me pomegranate to eat, and hav-
ing tasted its seed must return to him again
when six months have passed by. But be of
good cheer my mother for six months in
every year I may live with you in this upper
world, and six months in every year I must
live with him in his dark kingdom in the
underworld. But do not feel afraid in his
dark and gloomy home Although he never
laughs or smiles, he is very kind to me-" So
Ceres was comforted because her daughter
was not unhappy, and everything that grew
upon the earth felt that her sorrow had passed
away. Once more the fields whtened with
the harvests the trees bore their fruits the
flowers blossomed in the gardens.
The suspension and decay of vegetation in
winter impressed the ancients with the transi-
toriness of all earthly life Hence the alb
duction of Proserpine was held to be a symbol
of death. But her return again suggested
hope that out of death would spring a new
life-that after death men would not for
ever remain in the unsubstantial region of the
shades" Such at least seems to have been
the thought impressed upon those initiated
into the Elusinian mysteries, instituted at
Elusis in honor of Ceres and her daughter
Proserpine. The Elusinian mysteries were
divided into the lesser and the greater mystic
ries, the former in honor of Proserpine, the
latter in honor of Ceres. Initiation into the
lesser constituted preparation for initiation
into the greater mysteries. One year after
receiving, the lesser candidates sacrificed a
SOW to Ceres and were then admitted to the
greater mysteries Persons of both sexes
and of all ages received initiation, those con-
barred. To neglect to be initiated was
considered by the Greeks to be a great crime,
and formed part of the accusation for which
Socrates was condemned to death. The init
alton usually took place in the nighttime.
Candidates We're first crowned with myrtle
and were then received into spacious edifice
called the Mystical temple. On entering the
temple they washed their hands in holy water
and at the same time were admonished to pre-
sent themselves with minds pure and unde-
filed, without which the external cleanliness
of the body would not be accepted. The
holy mysteries were then red to them out of
book which consisted of two stones cemented
together The priest who initiated them then
propounded certain questions to which they
heard strange sounds and beheld strange
and frightful objects. The place in which
they were would appear respondent with
light and radiant fire, and then instan-
taneously all would be shrouded in pitchey
darkness, out of which would proceed light
ming and artificial thunder and pretended
forms of spirits To divulge the secrets of
these mysteries was considered crime
worthy of death The garments in which can
didates were initiated were deemed to be sacred
and were preserved as charms. In some re-
been an institution resembling modern ma
sonry. In other respects they are suggestive
to those who have taken the fifth degree in
the order of Patrons of Husbandry.