62 



EXTRACTS FROM THE MEMORANDUM 

 BOOK OF A TRAVELLER. 



NO. II. 



BEFORE I proceed to my sketch of the priests, I may 

 as well say a word or two concerning the rites of the 

 temple. They are as follow: when the priests and 

 neophytes are all assembled and have taken their seats 

 in solemn silence, the chief priest rises from his throne 

 and in a distinct voice communicates to his auditors 

 the subject for that evening's consideration and then 

 calls upon one of the priests, who has duly prepared 

 himself for the purpose, to make an oration upon it ; 

 the subject may embrace any branch of science or lite- 

 rature, chosen at the discretion of the priest according 

 to his ability or inclination : when the oration is finish- 

 ed a discussion upon the discourse is commenced and 

 continued, usually with great spirit, for two hours ; the 

 neophytes, and strangers casually admitted, are invited 

 to join with the priests, in this discussion, but they have 

 not the privilege of delivering an oration : when the 

 discussion has terminated, the chief priest announces 

 the subject which will be brought before the assembly 

 on the next night of meeting, and this, with around of 

 good byes and shaking of hands, terminates the pro- 

 ceedings. 



Such discussion must of course elicit various and 

 novel as well as striking and permanent views of the 

 subject in debate, especially \vhenthere are brought 

 to bear upon it, in succession the vast acquirement, the 

 deep, severe thought and matured judgement of men of 

 erudition; the quick perception, vigorous grasp and 

 lucid reasoning of men of talent, and the sparkling 

 fancy and vivid imagination of men of genius; they 

 must also diaw forth every speaker's abilities to their 

 full extent and show, tolerably clearly, the rank of each 

 in the scale of intellect. 



Such a temple ordained for such purposes and sup- 

 ported, as it is, by the minds and means of a few wor- 



