The Equinox (Volume I, Number II)

THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING The Hegemon, executing the Hierophant’s order, says: « By command of the Very Honoured Hierophant, I invest you with the distinguish- ing badge of the grade. It symbolises Light dawning in Darkness.” The four pillars being thus established, now only is the Candidate invested with the badge of the White Triangle of the Three Supernals formulating in Darkness ; and now only is the Higher Soul able to formulate a link with him if the human will of the natural man be in reality consenting thereto, For the free will of the Candidate as a natural man is never obsessed, either by the Higher Soul, or by the ceremony. But the Will consenting, the whole of the ceremony is directed to the strengthening of its action. And as this badge is placed upon him, it is as though the two Great Goddesses, Isis and Nephthys, in the places of the columns, stretched forth their wings over the form of Osiris to restore him again unto life, The Mystic Circumambulation then followeth in the Path of Light to represent the rising of the Light in the Candidate through the operation of self-sacrifice ; as he passeth the Throne of the East, the red Cavalry Cross is astrally formulated above the astral White Triangle of the Three upon his forehead ; so that so long as he belongeth unto the Order he may have that potent and sublime symbol as a link with his Higher Self, and as an aid in his search for the Forces of the Light Divine for ever, if he only will it. But the Higher Soul or Genius returneth unto the Invisible Station of Harpocrates, into the Place of the hidden centre, yet retaining the link formulated with the Candidate. The address of the Hierophant then follows: “Frater X YZ, I must congratulate you on your having passed with so much fortitude through your ceremony of the admission to the o°=o0° Grade of the Order of the Golden Dawn in the Outer. I will now direct your attention to a brief explanation of the principal symbols of your grade.” When these have been explained the Kerux, as the Watcher Anubis, announceth in the following words that the Candidate has been admitted as an initiate Neophyte: «In the name of the LORD OF THE UNIVERSE and by command of the V. H. Hierophant, hear you all that I proclaim that A: B: who hereafter will be known unto you by the motto X Y Z, has been admitted in due form to the o° = o° Grade of Neophyte of the Order of the Golden Dawn in the Outer.” The Hiereus then addresseth the Neophyte and congratulates him upon being admitted a member of the Order, “ whose professed object and end is the practical study of Occult Science.” After which the Hierophant stateth clearly the Principia which the Neophyte must now commence to study. This being at an end the Kerux conducteth the Neophyte to his table and giveth 259