Celebrating the anniversary of the ascension forty days after Easter,
it was anciently observed on the 4th of May, and it was taught that the
incarnate saviours ascended bodily into heaven, in a golden chariot
drawn by four horses caparisoned with gilded trappings, all glittering
like fire in the fervid sunlight. Hence when we read in II. Kings ii.
11, that "There appeared a chariot of fire and horses of fire, . . .
and Elijah went up by a whirlwind into heaven," we must accept this
text as descriptive of the imaginary ascension of one of the incarnate
saviours of ancient Judaism.


Assumption.

When the Summer solstice was in the sign of Cancer, the sun was in that
of Virgo in the month of August, and the anniversary of the Assumption
was observed on the 15th of that month, and is so observed at the
present time. The fact that the anniversary of the Ascension precedes
that of the Assumption explains why Jesus is made to say to his mother
(Virgo) soon after his resurrection, "Touch me not: for I am not yet
ascended to my Father." John xx. 17.


The Lord's Supper.

In the ancient solar worship the so-called ordinance of the Lord's
Supper was observed just before the anniversary of the autumnal
crucifixion; and consisting of bread and wine, in reference to the
maturing of the crops and completion of the vintage, was, like the
modern festival of the hardest home, a season of thankfulness to the