e had to pass a long time almost starved, and
without any enjoyment whatever; was then let into a dark temple, crowned
with olive, tied round with a purple girdle, and frightened almost to
death with horrid noises, terrible sights of some kind, great flashes of
light and deep darkness between, etc., etc. There was a ceremony of
absolution from past sin, and a formal beginning of a new life. It is a
curious fact, that this performance seems to have been a kind of pious
marine insurance company; as the initiated, it was believed, could not
be drowned. Perhaps they were put in a way to obtain a drier
strangulation. The reason why these ceremonies were kept so successfully
secret, is plain. Each man, as he was let in, and found what nonsense it
was, was sure to hold his tongue and help the next man in, as in the
modern case of the celebrated "Sons of Malta." It is to be admitted,
however, to the credit of the Cabiri, that a doctrine of reformation, or
of living a better practical life, seems to have been part of their
religion. This is an interesting recognition, by heathen consciences, of
one of the greatest moral truths which Christianity has enforced.
Something of the same kind can be traced in other heathen mysteries. But
these heathen attempts at virtue invariably rotted out into aggravations
of vice. No religion except Christianity ever contained the principle of
improvement in it. Bugaboos and hob-goblins may serve for a time to
frighten the ignorant into obedience; but if they get a chance to cheat
the devil, they will be sure to do it. Nothing but the great doctrine of
Christian love and brotherhood, and of a kind and paternal Divine
government, has ever proved to be permanently reformatory, and tending
to lift the heart above the vices and passions to which poor human
nature is prone.

The mysteries of Eleusis were celebrated every year at Eleusis, near
Athens, in honor of Ceres, and were a regular "May Anniversary," so to
speak, for the pious heathens of the period. It took just nine days to
complete them; long enough for a puppy to get its eyes open. The
candidates were very handsomely put through. On the first day, they got
together; on the second, they took a wash in the sea; on the third,
they had some ceremonies about Proserpine; on the fourth, no mortal
knows what they did; on the fifth, they marched round a temple, two and
two, with torches, like a Wide-Awake procession; on the sixth, seventh,
and eighth,