The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

THE CELTIC MYSTERIES. 123
peak only, represented the male principle;
with two
peaks, the figurative lunette or Ark, symbolized the
female principle; and with three, the two principles
united. 39
each nation feigned to be within its own boundaries. When a moun-
tain was adorned with three peaks, therefore, it was accounted
perfect,
and worthy of superior veneration, from its apt representation of this
union of the sexes, which furnished the natural means by which the
world was repeopted. (Yid. Signs and Symbols, Lect. 9.) Perfect
specimens of all these varieties of mountains are frequent in the
counties of Lancaster, Cumberland, and Westmoreland; and I cannot
but think that this part of the island was a favourite resort of the
druids for j they contained every requisite in vast abundance for the
practice of their religious rites. The rivers and lakes ; the many
natural caverns and excavations the ; numerous specimens of the holy
mountain in every possible variety afforded such ; a combination of
natural facilities for the exercise of their mysterious celebrations, that
they could not be overlooked by that acute and politic order of men.
Accordingly, we find, in the stupendous monuments with which these
counties still abound, the most positive traces of Druidical ingenuity
in all its several forms whether ;
consisting of stone or earthen temples,
the cromlech or the kistvaen. the logan or the tumulus, the seat
of justice or the sacred all grove: being unquestionable evidences of
Druidical habitation. A learned and indefatigable writer, whose
opinions claim every attention and respect, says the same thing of
"
some of the southern counties. Numerous remains of stone circles,
cromlechs, rocking stones and tumuli still exist in the Scilly islands,
and are continued along the coast of Cornwall and Dorset, to the
widely-extended plains of Wiltshire ; all, from their rudeness, bespeaking
a very ancient, and, I may pronounce, a Celtic origin; and
corresponding in a very striking degree with those on the opposite
shores of our mother country Gaul." (Hoare's Ancient Wilts., vol.
i. )P . 12.)
39 We are indebted to Capt. Wilford for bringing to light a recorded
tradition of the Hindoos, that the British Druids held mountains and
"
lakes in superior veneration from the causes just enumerated. Britain,"
says this author, " was termed by the Indians, Tricatachel, or
the mountain with three peaks and was hence considered as a ;
place
of peculiar sanctity. England was denominated, Rajata-Dweep ; Scotland,
Scuteya-D weep; and Ireland. Suvarna-Dweep. The pitris, or
primitive fathers, were said to reside in Suvarna ; and their place of
abode was either on the summit of a mountain, or in a cave called
Maha Dewa, in an island situate in the midst of a lake, whose waters
were reputed bitter. From this cave issued a long passage into the
infernal regions. Here the souls of their deceased ancestors were
invoked." This is a correct account of a place of initiation, and is
thought to have a reference to the celebrated Purgatory of St. Patrick,
in Lough Derg, in Ireland, into which no person was allowed to enter
without first undergoing all the ceremonies of purification and preparation.
This purgatory, according to the opinion of Mr. Faber (Myst.
Cab., vol. ii., p. 392), was, doubtless, a place appropriated to the performance
of the rites of Druidism. It will be remembered that the