found in the
wilderness of Sinai, the groves of Epidaurus, and in Samothracian huts."
He constitutes a prominent factor in the religious worship of India,
Assyria, Palestine, and Egypt, and, notwithstanding the fact that he is
not a native of Ireland, in an earlier age representations of him appear
in profusion among the symbols of that country. It has been said that
there is scarcely an Egyptian sculpture known in which this reptile does
not figure. The serpent whenever it appears as a religious emblem always
typifies desire--creative energy--which, proceeding from the sun, is
manifested in man and in animals. Whether it be a veritable snake in
a box, a serpent connected with the figure of a woman, or as a carved
representation on monuments or stones, or as chains or wreaths on
columns, bas-reliefs or friezes, the signification is the same.

The sacred character of this reptile among the Gnostics is shown by the
accounts given of their religious rites and ceremonies. By many of these
sects this holy creature was kept in a box, ark, or chest, and when the
eucharistic service was to be performed, he was enticed forth from
his resting-place by a bit of bread. So soon as his holiness had wound
himself about the offering, the sacrifice was complete and the service
was concluded by "singing a hymn to Almighty God, and praying for
acceptance in and through the serpent."

In later ages when the attempt was made to abolish serpent worship from
the Christian church, it was declared by the leaders in the movement
that Ophiolatry had been imported from Persia--that it had been brought
in by ignorant devotees who were too weak to renounce their former
faith.(140)

140) Forlong, Rivers of Life.

The extent to which the symbols representing Serpent, Sun, Tree, and
Plant worship are still retained as part and parcel of the symbolism of
Christianity is shown by the following report regarding the adoption of
a seal by the Presbyterian Church which appeared in the daily press only
a few years ago.

"After the assembly opened, the committee for the selection of a seal
made a report recommending: That the general assembly hereby adopts
as its official seal the device of a serpent suspended upon a cross,
uplifted within a wilderness, in form as represented upon the official
seal of the trustees of the general assembly, and displayed upon a
circular field of the same proportions. In addition thereto the figure
of a rising sun