The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

116 HISTORY OF INITIATION.
great body of Persian Scythians, whom the Greeks call
Phenicians." These opinions, collected by Mr. Hutch-
inson, 15 can only prove that the nations agreed as to the
practice
of similar rites and ceremonies in the administration
of religious worship for the Druids nourished in
;
Gaul and Britain, at least coeval with the planting of
many other nations, from which theorists have conjectured
they might derive their original. 16
Besides, these
several people paid their devotions to different objects
of worship; some were Sabians, and worshipped the
host of heaven; others were magians, and confined
their adoration to the solar fire two sects which ;
always
entertained the utmost contempt and hatred for each
other's principles. 17 The testimonies, however, are amply
sufficient to point out the analogy which subsisted in
early times between the mysterious institutions of those
15 Hist. Cumb., vol. i., 247.
16 The first people who settled in Britain are said to have been led
hither by Gomer, or some of his immediate descendants. (Turn.
Angl. Sax., vol. i., p. 14.) If this be true, Britain received its population
very soon after the Dispersion. The continent of Europe was
peopled by the children of Dodanim, the grandson of Japheth and
;
by the operation of some or all of the causes resulting from a redundant
population, the surplus being pressed to the sea coast of Gaul, our
island was discovered in the distance, and a wandering tribe called
the Hord Gaeli, who, on a casual visit, named it the Watergirt Green
Plot, according to the testimony of the Welsh Bards having been
tempted to take possession of it, found it so rich and beautiful that
they changed the name to the Honey Island. I have the authority
of Sammes for saying that this took place about A. M. 1910, the
exact period when Ninus founded the kingdom of Assyria, or a little
before Abraham first went into the land of Canaan. This tribe was
subsequently dispossessed by a stronger party, under the command
of Prydain, the son of Aedd the Great, who, collecting together some
scattered tribes of the Cymri who were friendly to his
interests,
made an inroad upon the island, and took an undisputed possession.
and he sub-
Its name was once more changed to Prydain or Britain ;
divided it into three parts, and placed in them as viceroys three of
his most distinguished followers, at the head of their respective
tribes. First the Cymri, who came with Hu the mighty. These
introduced arts and civilization, and inhabited Wales. The second
tribe who settled in the island were the Lloegrians. They came from
Gwasgwyn. and were descended from the primitive nation of the
Cymri, and took possession of England. The Brython, descended
from the same stock, came from the land of Llydaw, and
peopled Scotland. Hence the Britons adopted the ternary
division of the island which it has ever since retained ; and called
the several portions Lloeger, Cymru, and Alban, corresponding with
England, Wales, and Scotland.
17 Vid. Prid. Connect., vol. i., p. 226.