The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

THE CELTIC MYSTERIES. 113
by the Pheryllt, who correspond with the Telchines,the
Curetes, or the Idei Dactyli of other nntiniis. The ceremonies
of initiation and worship also bore a character
similar to those of the people whence they wort; derived,
accommodated to the peculiar genius of the people, and
amditting of various minute modifications, arising from
the accidental circumstances of local situation, and the
temporary revolutions of manners and government.
corresponded with the seven Menus, the seven Pitris or Kishis, and the
seven Brahmadicas of Hindoo mythology ; and for the same reason,
perhaps, as these persons were the whole of mankind then living in'
the world, the septenary number, amongst the Cabalists, denoted
universality, and was termed by the Pythagoreans slo/nsleia. To one
of the above causes may be ascribed the origin of the seven vases in
the temple of the sun near the ruins of Babian, in Upper Egypt.
(Savary, Letters on Egypt,) the seven altars which burned continually
before the god Mithras in many of his temples : (Montf. Ant., torn,
ii.. 1. 7.) the seven holy temples of the ancient Arabians; (Sale,
Koran, Prelim. Disc., p. 22,) the seven bobuns of perfection exhibited
in the Hindoo code ; (Holwell, in Maur. Ind. Ant., vol.
ii., p. 331,)
with the defective knowledge of the same people which circumscribed
the whole earth within the compass of seven peninsulas, or dwipas ;
(Sacontala. Sir W. Jones. Works, vol. vi.) the seven planets
of anti-
quity ; the Jewish Sephiroth consisting of seven splendours ; the
seven Gothic deities ; commensurate with the hebdomadal division of
time the seven worlds of the Indians and Chaldeans and the ; ; seven
virtues cardinal and theological. (Vid. Signs and Symbols, p. 159.)
In a word, seven was always considered as a number possessed of
many mysterious properties and divine sacrifices were ; considered
most efficacious when composed of this number.
Seven bullocks yet unyoked for Phoebus clause,
And for Diana, seven unspotted ewes.
DRYDEN.
And even our own Scriptures abound with innumerable instances of
the authorized use of this number. At the Deluge. Noah received
seven days notice of its commencement, (Gen. vii., 4,) and was commanded
to select dean beasts and fowls by sevens, while the unclean
were only admitted by pairs, (Gen. vii.. 2.) On the seventh month
the Ark rested on Ararat, (Gen. viii., 4,) and Noah despatched his
dove at the distance of seven days each time. (Gen. viii., 10, 12.)
Job and Balaam each offered sacrifices by the express command of
God, consisting of seven bullocks and seven rams; (Job xlii., 8.
Numb, xxiii., 1.) and this was undoubtedly conformable with the
usual practice of Jewish antiquity. The destruction of Jericho was
miraculously effected by the use of this number; for seven priests
bearing seven rams' horns for trumpets, were directed by the
Almighty to compass the city seven days, and on the seventh to
proceed round it seven times, when the walls should fall into ruin.
(Josh, vi., 4, 5.) Solomon was seven years building the Temple ;
(1 Kings vi., 38.) which was dedicated in the seventh month, (1 Kings