Dedication of the Shrine of Thoth
The priest stood in front of the altar and said:
It was said of the Creator God at the time of Creation:
"He created the local gods, He made the cities. He founded the provincial
divisions; He put the Gods in their places of worship, He fixed their
offerings, He founded their chapels. He made their bodies resemble that form in
which they desired to be made manifest. And so the Gods entered into their
bodies of every kind of wood, of every kind of clay, of every kind of thing
which grows upon Him, in which they have taken their form."
In keeping with the traditions established at the First Time let the Shrine of
the Lordly Ibis be set up for the observation of the proper sayings of words,
giving of praise and makings of offerings to this Great God.
Let there be established a priesthood for the observation of the correct ritual
and service to the God, who at regular times give service to the God. The
rituals will be performed once a week and a high ritual performed during the
cycle of the New Moon.
While the priests give this service to the glory of the God, it is hoped that
the God will receive the priest in service — and let them walk in the light of
the instructions of the God so that they may serve the God and the Gods'
creations in a way that is honorable and right.
Let it be said that the House of the Lordly Ibis is His house and that He
resides in His house so those who would speak to Him can say "I laid my
prayers before the feet of the God and the God was before me."
Since the Shrine has been established it is a sacred place and cannot be used
except in religious ways. If at the death of the present priest, there is no
one to preserve the Shrine it is commanded that a priest of the Church of the
Eternal Source Destroy the Shrine by burning.
The priest turned to the people and said:
"The words of dedication have been said. Let us now purify the Shrine by
incense, offerings, and prayers, and welcome the coming of the Gods'
presence."
The priest drew the veils of the Shrine and lit the incense and incensed the
Shrine.
by Donald Harrison, Priest of Thoth / 29 Paopi, CES Church Year 1 (9-15-71)