The Rites of Eleusis

2 in his hates, passionate in his loves. He may not be as morbid as Baudelaire, but he is bolder than, Swinburne. And he has equal mastery of verse. But he is still a young man, and so only known to a select circle. It is certain that one of these days Crowley will be considered to rank with Coleridge, Shelley, Keats, and Swin- burne. In many of his poems he strikes the highest note. Crowley is not only a poet, he is also a philosopher. He studies mankind from outside. He earnestly desires to help humanity. He believes that he has a mission in the world. He is so much in earnest that he has already a large following amongst those who, whilst essentially religious, have no creed. Captain Fuller has written a book upon Crowley and his aims. In this book he not only calls attention to the poems of the writer, but he devotes some hundred odd pages to the new philosophy which is to lead man- kind to happiness and a nobler life. What is this philosophy ? It is devoted to a search after Ecstasy, and is called Scientific Illumin- ism. “ Religion and Science for many years seemingly ran antagon- istic to each other ; but in reality their antagonism has been of a superficial nature, and fundamentally they at heart are one,” thus writes Captain Fuller, whom we may accept as an authority. Crowley is the mouthpiece of a society the object of which would seem to be the attaining of religious ecstasy by means of Ceremonial Magic. Dr. Maudsley defines Ecstasy or Samadhi as a quasi-spasmodic standing-out of a special tract of the brain. W. R. Inge defines Ecstasy as a vision that proceeds from ourselves when conscious thought ceases. But however you may feel about Ecstasy there is no doubt that it is an essential part of true religious feeling. Crowley says “ True Ceremonial Magic is entirely directed to attain this end, and forms a magnificent gymnasium for those who are not already finished mental athletes.” By act, word, and thought, both in quantity and quality, the one object of the ceremony is being constantly indicated. In order to induce this religious ecstasy in its highest form Crowley proposes to hold a series of religious services ; seven in number. These services are to be held at Caxton Hall, Westmins- ter, and will be conducted by Aleister Crowley himself, assisted by other Neophytes of the A∴ A∴, the mystical society, one of whose Mahatmas is responsible for the foundation of THE EQUINOX. The seven services will be typical of Shakespeare’s Seven Ages of Man, and each one will be dedicated to the Planet that rules its