The Essenes were an ancient Hebrew Occult Brotherhood, which had been in existence many hundred years before John’s time.  They had their headquarters on the Eastern shores of the Dead Sea, although their influence extended over all of Palestine, and their ascetic brothers were to be found in every wilderness.  The requirements of the Order were very strict, and its rites and ceremonies were of the highest mystical and occult degree.  The Neophyte was required to serve a preliminary apprenticeship of one year before being admitted to even partial recognition as a member and brother.  A further apprenticeship of two more years was required before he was admitted to full membership, and extended the right hand of fellowship.  Additional time was required for further advancement, and even time alone did not entitle the member to certain high degrees, the requirements being that actual knowledge, power and attainment must first be manifested.  As in all true Occult Orders the candidate must “work out his own salvation,” neither money nor influence having any weight.

Absolute obedience to the Rules of the Order; absolute poverty of material possessions; absolute sexual continence—­these were the conditions of membership to be observed by both Neophyte and Initiate, as well as High-degree Master.  Understanding this, one may imagine the disgust inspired in John by the amorous solicitations of Salome, which caused him to lose his life rather than to break the vows of his Order, as is so startlingly pictured in the stage productions of modern times.

One of the ceremonies of the Essenes was that of Baptism (literally, “dipping in water”) which was administered to Candidates, with appropriate solemnity and rites.  The mystic significance of the ceremony which is understood by all members of Occult Orders, even unto this day, was a part of the ritual originated by the Essenes, and the rite itself was a distinctive feature of their Order.  The performance of this rite by John the Baptist, in his ministry, and its subsequent acceptance by the Christian Church as a distinctive ceremonial, of which the “sprinkling of infants” of to-day is a reminder and substitute, forms a clear connecting link between the Essenes and Modern Christianity, and impresses the stamp of Mysticism and Occultism firmly upon the latter, as little as the general public may wish to admit it in their ignorant misunderstanding and materialistic tendencies.

The Essenes believed in, and taught the doctrine of Reincarnation; the Immanence of God; and many other Occult Truths, the traces of which appear constantly in the Christian Teachings, as we shall see as we progress with these lessons.  Through its Exalted Brother, John the Baptist, the Order passed on its teaching to the early Christian Church, thus grafting itself permanently upon a new religious growth, newly appearing on the scene.  And the transplanted branches are still there!