The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

120 HISTORY OF INITIATION.
which, at the time of the Deluge, was the sole existing
place of habitation, and contained the whole human
race. Each of these islands bore the mysterious name of
Avanc, and drawing it out of the lake with a yoke of
oxen, attended by many mystical ceremonies, formed one
of the principal rites of the Druidical religion. 30 In every
nation of the world, water was profusely used during the
initiations; and hence the propriety of the British custom
of performing their celebrations in the centre of a lake.
It had a twofold reference ; first, to the diluvian waters
which cleansed the earth from its impurities by a general
31
lustration and ; secondly, as the external medium of
purification by which the Mystas were ritually regenerated.
32
It was a maxim with the Druids, that water
was the first principle of all things, and existed before
the Creation in unsullied purity ; but that its perfect
qualities were diminished when it became blended with
the earth at its original formation out of chaos ; and
hence it was believed that water lost some portions of
its purifying qualities by contact with the earth, which
was considered the very principle of contamination ; and,
30 Vid. Signs and Symbols, Lect. 5. Hist, of Beverley pp. 14 41.
31
1 Pet. iii., 20, 21. Grot, in Matt, 6.
iii.,
32
Nothing could be more universal than this practice. The Jewish
religion and all the systems $f Paganism, however diversified in other
respects, held equally the necessity of repeated ablutions to cleanse
the soul from moral defilement. From the plains of India to the
utmost regions of the West, this doctrine was implicitly received;
originating, most probably, from some uniform practice which accom-
rites anterior to the
panied the patriarchal performance of religious
general dispersion from Babel. It was believed by the Druids that
the earth was the great principle of contamination, and that every
thing was polluted, in a greater or less degree, which had communication
with it. Even the stone deities were superincumbent on other
stones, lest they should be subject to defilement ; but when the
Mediator of the Christian covenant came into the world to restore the
true religion, and to show that ritual pollutions and purifications were
at an end, he clothed his divinity with earthly flesh, by being born of
a woman, and yet, received no contamination, for he was free from
every imputation of sin ; and in his doctrine strongly and constantly
inculcated that man's defilement was not derived from anything
external, but that it proceeded from the heart. The Pharisees used
many ablutions to cleanse ceremonial impurity. They taught that
to perform even the common offices of life without washing, was
sinful. This doctrine was condemned by Him who knoweth the' most
secret thoughts of every heart; and he openly proclaimed that their
frequent washings could never atone for sin.