f'7] 



to the sexual part of the goddess. Spring was, indeed, 

 the special season for phallic processions, as we learn 

 from a passage of " lamblichus de Mysteriis," given by 

 Mr. Westropp : " We say the erection of the phalli is a 

 certain sign of prolific power, which, through this, is 

 called forth to the generative energy of the world ; on t . 

 which account many phalli are consecrated in the spring, 

 because then the whole world receives from the gods the" 



power which is productive of all generation." 



It is sufficiently obvious that the return of the sun to ^T 

 the vernal equinoxial sign each year, or the union of the 

 active and passive principles, formed the cornerstone 

 of the various religious systems, and that this marriage, 

 as it were, of heaven with earth, occurring each spring- 

 time, and bringing with it such a train of good results, 

 gave rise to the most sacred institutions and rites, which 

 to us may appear disgusting, but which, to the ancients, 

 were looked upon with the greatest awe and veneration. 



It was not to the generative organs that the ancients 

 offered homage, but to the principles represented by 

 them to the active and procreative power of the god of 

 nature, the prolific ram-sun, at the spring equinox, and 

 to the passive and recipient mother-earth, the womb of 

 nature, from which we all emanate and to which we all 

 return. It is, however, reasonable to imagine, with the 

 Rev. G. W. Cox, that " it is clear that such a cultus as 

 this would carry with it a constantly-increasing danger, 

 until the original character of the emblem should be 

 as thoroughly disguised as the names of some of the 

 Vedic deities when transferred to Hellenic soil." Indeed, 

 it is matter of history that these rites, which were held 

 so sacred by the Egyptians, were turned to the basest 

 and most wicked purposes in after times by the wor- 

 shippers of Bacchus, Adonis, and other deities. The 

 Bacchanalian mysteries and secret rites called Dionysia^ 

 or Supper of the lord Dionysos, were publicly denounced 

 by the Roman authorities at the commencement of our 

 era, as were also the Adonia, or Suppers of the lord 

 Adonis, and the Love Feasts, Agapae^ or Suppers of the 

 lord Jesus. From Gibbon we learn that the early Chris- 

 tians were in the habit of committting at their Love 

 Feasts the most unnatural crimes with sisters, mothers, 



