THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING
The Hierophant informs the members assembled that he holds a dispensation from
the greatly honoured chiefs of the Second Order, for the purpose of commencing the
process of the initiation which shall ultimately lead the Candidate to the knowledge of his
Higher Self, But he is first admitted to the Grade of Neophyte which hath no number,
concealing the commencement of All-Things under the simulacrum of No-Thing.
The Hegemon, the representative of the Gods of Truth and Justice, is consequently
sent to superintend the preparation, thus symbolising that it is the Presider of
Equilibrium who is to administrate the process of initiation by the commencement of
the Equilibration of the forces in the Candidate himself, by the symbols of Rectitude and
Self-control. But it is the sentinel who actually prepares the Candidate; whose body is
now surrounded by a triple cord to show the restriction of the powers of Nature ; and
it is triple to show the white Triangle of the Three Supernals, His eyes are also
bandaged, symbolising that the Light of the natural world is but as darkness compared
with the radiance of the Light Divine.
The Ritual then continues :
Hegemon : “ Child of Earth ! arise, and enter into the Path of Darkness!”
The Hierophant then gives his permission, ordering the Stolistes and Dadouchos to
assist the Kerux in the reception ; but the Kerux bars the way saying:
“Child of Earth! unpurified and unconsecrated! Thou canst not enter our
Sacred Hall.”
Whereupon the Stolistes purifies the Candidate by Water, and the Dadouchos
consecrates him by Fire.
Then the Hierophant speaks : he does so not as to an assembly of mortals, but as a
God before the assembly of the Gods. «And let his voice be so directed that it shall
roll through the Universe to the confines of Space, and let the Candidate represent unto
him a world which he is beginning to lead unto the knowledge of its governing angel.
As it is written: ‘The lightning lighteneth out of the East and flameth even unto the
West, even so shall be the coming of the Son of Man!’”
The Candidate during the ceremony is addressed as “ child of Earth ” as representing
the earthly and material nature of the natural man: he who cometh forward from the
darkness of Malkuth to strive to regain knowledge of the Light. Therefore it is that
the path of the initiate is called the Path of Darkness ; for it is but darkness and
foolishness to the natural man.
The Hierophant giving his permission to the Kerux to admit the Candidate, seals the
Candidate with a motto as a new name. This motto is not a name given to the outer
man’s body, but an occult signifier of the aspiration of his soul.
“In affirmation of this motto, now doth Osiris send forward the Goddesses of the
Scales of the Balance to baptize the aspirant with water and with fire. Even as it is
written: ‘ Except a man be born of water and of the spirit: in no wise shall he enter
nto the Kingdom of Heaven.’”
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