The history of initiation, 3 courses of lectures

THE

History of Enitiation,

IN THREE COURSES OF LECTURES;

Comprising a detailed Account of the

RITES AND CEREMONIES,

DOCTRINES AND DISCIPLINE,

OF ALL THE

SECRET AND MYSTERIOUS INSTITUTIONS

OF THE

ANCIENT WORLD.

BY GEORGE OLIVER,

VICAR OF CLEE; P. G, CHAPLAIN FOR THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN; AND DOMESTIC
CHAPLAIN TO THE RIGHT HON. LORD KENSINGTON.

Procul, ô procul este profani,

Conclamat vates, totoque absistite luco.

Æn. vi. v. 258.

LONDON:

PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR;

AND PUBLISHED BY BRO. WASHBOURN,

48, Salisbury Square, Fleet-Street.

MDCCCXXIX.

837

ΤΟ

CHARLES TENNYSON, Esq., M. P.,

M. A., F. R. S., F. A. S., &c. &c.

PROVINCIAL

GRAND MASTER OF FREE AND ACCEPTED MASONS FOR THE COUNTY OF LINCOLN.

SIR,

Whilst I was assiduously engaged in arranging these Papers for the Press, I received the gratifying intelligence that the friend and supporter of all my literary labours had been elevated, by His Royal Highness the Duke of Sussex, to the superintendence of this Masonic District, in the capacity of its Provincial Grand Master. It required no deliberation to determine at whose feet these Lectures should be placed; for duty and inclination alike concur in the propriety of inscribing them to you, as the ostensible guardian of Masonry within the Province, and the legitimate patron of all its collateral pursuits.

To your energies, Sir, I confidently look for the spread of Masonry in this extensive County. From your enlightened understanding and vigorous superintendence I anticipate measures that will secure to the man of letters a profitable employment for his time in the tyled recesses of the Lodge; for it may be fairly presumed that if his mind be not deeply interested in the investigations, he will soon bid adieu to Freemasonry.

Experience is a species of wisdom that is seldom erroneous; and it amply confirms the opinion that a masonic Lodge is founded upon an insecure basis if it rejects from its illustrations the philosophy, and contents itself with the technicalities of the Science; like one possessing the keys of a rich casket of splendid jewels, which he does not possess the curiosity or the promptitude to open, that their rarity or value may be correctly estimated.

It is well known that in our Lectures, much scope is afforded for amplification both in science and morals; it cannot then be a futile expectation, while knowledge is making such a rapid progress in the present age of free inquiry, that, by the judicious rule and masterly elucidations of our legitimate governors, our lodges will maintain their proper character of schools of virtue and dispensers of the liberal arts.

Imbued with these sentiments, it affords me no inconsiderable degree of pleasure to associate your name with these Lectures, assured as I am that it will recommend them to the notice of the fraternity.

I have the honour to be,

Sir,

Your obliged

And most obedient Servant,

And Brother,

GEO. OLIVER.

Grimsby, Mar. 1, 1829.

ANALYTICAL TABLE OF CONTENTS.

PREFACE; explaining the indispensable qualifications of the Master of a

Lodge, xi.

TESTIMONIES in favour of former publications by the Author, xv.

FIRST COURSE.