The Rites of Eleusis

3 particular age. For example, Saturn “ the lean and slippered pantaloon,” or sad old age. Jupiter the solemn and portentous justice, the serious and serene man who has arrived and controls. Mars the soldier, full of energy and life, vigorous and formidable. Sol the man who has still something of his youth left, and is gay betimes and serious betimes, the man who loves and the man who works. Venus explains itself in Shakespeare’s words, “ the lover with a woeful ballad.” Mercury the schoolboy, happy, careless and gay, mischievous and full of animal life. Luna the age of childhood and innocence, unsmirched and white as the planet herself. Each will have its own ritual, arranged for the purpose of illustrating the particular deity to which it is devoted ; each ritual will be both poetic and musical. Verses of the great poets appro- priate to the planet and all that the planet represents will be re- cited, and the ideas suggested to the spectators will be translated into inspired music by an accomplished violin player. There will further be mystical dances by a brilliant young poet who thus draws down the holy influence. The ceremonies will commence at nine o’clock precisely, and no one will be admitted after that hour. They will occupy about two hours, and those who attend will be requested to centre their whole minds upon the idea of the evening, the object, of course, being to induce in the spectators a feeling of religious ecstasy. One hundred seats only will be available and the rent for these seats for the seven ceremonies will be five guineas. The proceeds will be devoted to THE EQUINOX, and the objects for which THE EQUINOX was established. The following is a description of a ceremony in honour of Artemis held in July at the offices of THE EQUINOX. The present series will be even more elaborate and perfect.