The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

THE CELTIC MYSTERIES. 121
therefore, to secure to themselves a certain supply of this
element unpolluted with any impure alloy, they used to
scoop hollows or cavities on the upper surface of certain
elevated stones to catch the waters of heaven before they
reached the ground. 33 Kain was preferred to river water,
snow to rain, and ice to snow. These rock basons were
hence invested with a peculiar degree of sanctity, and
were always attached to their temples, or places of initiation,
when not situated on a lake 34 or river of water.
The Britons had the utmost veneration for a grove of
oaks, 35 and here the most sacred places of religious celebration
were constructed f 6
if hills or moun-
particularly
33
Borl. Ant. Corn., b. c.
iii., 11, p. 225.
34 Sir Walter Scott has woven this superstition into a most beautiful
Poem (Lady of the Lake), attended with all the machinery of initiation.
The island in the lake called Loch Katrine (Ketturin). which
signifies the Gate of Hell, and in India and some other countries was
but another name for the Pastes and Brownie's cavern ; (Coir Uriskin),
for the whole superstition of the brownies was but a remnant o
the stories of initiation; the Lady in the boat, and the range of
caverns which the island .contained, are all indications of this fact.
"
Mr. Stuart, the guide to this lake island, and scenery, says, In the
bosom of a rock south of the Pass, there was a cave where an outlaw
named Fletcher resided many years ; but, though tradition is so particular
with regard to its situation, as to describe minutely the different
views which it commanded, he said he had entirely lost the entrance
of it, though he had searched for it with the utmost care." (Hogg's
Tales, vol. i., p. 150.) The island is called Rough Island, and the
attendant spirit is like a satyr or goat. (Lady of the Lake, Notes,
35 Lucan. 1. iii.
Pharsal.,
p. 355.)
36 The sacred grove was a primitive place of devotional celebration.
Abraham planted a grove of trees as a retreat of silence, solitude, and
prayer; but the same practice having been subsequently used by
idolaters, and their groves converted to the most horrible and revolting
purposes, the denunciations of heaven were launched against
consecrated groves in general. The Israelites were not only forbidden
to plant them, but their destruction was enjoined in every country
which they conquered. It was accounted sin in the Hebrew monarchs
and it is said of Ahab, that he
if they presumed to sacrifice in groves ;
did more to provoke the Lord to anger than any of his predecessors,
.because, amongst other acts of iniquity, he made a consecrated grove.
The first patriarchs also worshipped in groves of oak (Gen. xviii., 1,
4, 8. xxi., 33. Josh, xxiv., 26) ; but the custom was subsequently
condemned, because it led to disorder an/ prostitution. (Deut. xvi.,
21. Isai. i.. 29. Hosea iv., 12, 13, 14.; In the idolatrous nations a
grove was essential to divine worship. (Diod. Sic., 1. xvii. Quint.
Curt., 1. iv., c. 7. Strabo. Geogr., 1. viii.) Pindar (Olymp. x., 52,)
introduces Hercules as planting a sacred grove ; and in India, groves
of olive were planted in the most venerated situations. (Asiat. Res.,
vol. vi., p. 524.) In a wor.d, as I have many times observed, idolatry
was nothing but a perversion of the patriarchal rites.