Ancient Priests and Prophets
Spiritual Gifts - Woman as Priestess and Sybil - Classification of Spiritually Endowed Persons - Magnetizers, Mediums, Their Specialties - Power of the Human Spirit.
The chief duties of the ancient Priesthood were first, to find out the points of contact or unity between man and higher existences than himself; next, to discover the laws of man's being, and teach him to adjust his actions to the will of those higher existences; and finally, to invoke or solicit their aid for man in the performance of his earthly mission. These were the duties of the ancient Priest, and should be no less obligatory upon officials of the same order to-day, but whilst we see some attempt in the external rites of ecclesiasticism to perform the third part of these priestly offices, we look in vain to discover any religious body which faithfully emulates the ancient Priest in the performance of the two first named duties.
It is enough for the historian to record that it has been done, and show that it was upon the performance of the solemn offices of spiritual ministry, that the structure of ancient Priesthood was upreared.
Amongst the Hindoos, Egyptians, Chaldeans, Persians and Hebrews, frequent mention is made of the Prophets, as a class distinct from the Priesthood, although at times associated with it. When the Prophets did take part in the temple services, they were esteemed the most honored of the Priestly order, and their dictum was received with unquestioning reverence as the voice of Deity.