The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

142 HISTORY OF INITIATION
The second part of the ceremony commenced with
striking the blind man a violent blow on the head with an
oar, and a pitchy darkness immediately ensued, 43 which was
soon changed into a blaze of light which illuminated the
whole area of the shrine, for now the fire was kindled.
This was intended to shadow forth the genial effects of
that great transition from darkness to light which the
arkite patriarch experienced on emerging from the gloom
of the Ark to the brightness of a pure and renovated
world, enlightened by the rays of a meridian sun. The
light was, however, suddenly withdrawn, and the aspirant
again involved in chaotic darkness. His heart thrilled
with horror. The most dismal howlings, shrieks, and
lamentations, saluted his astonished ears ; for now the
death of their great progenitor, typified by his confinement
in the Ark, was commemorated with every external
mark of sorrow. 49 This was succeeded by the howling
and barking of dogs, 50 the blowing of horns, 51 and the
mummings and disguisements ; for the actors took upon themselves
the resemblance of wild beasts, or domestic cattle, and wandered about
from one place to another; and he, I presume, stood highest in the
estimation of his fellow, who best supported the character of the
brute he imitated. This whimsical amusement was exceedingly popular,
and continued to be practised long after the establishment of
Christianity." It was, indeed, very common in the reign of Henry
VIII. and was doubtless the remains of the system of metamorphosis
which was used during the Druidical initiations the ; memory of which
was retained long after the institution itself was buried in oblivion;
for the mummers were always decorated with ivy leaves, the characteristics
of the priesthood, and the insignia of the mysteries. The
Christmas morris dances of the present day are perhaps the last
remains of this idolatrous superstition.
48 The oar is an unequivocal emblem of the Deluge ; and the darkness
represented the state of obscurity in which Hu was involved
while confined within the gloomy recesses of the Ark.
40 This was the origin of the coronach or funeral dirge, used by the
Celts to a very recent period and even now ;
imitated by the wild peasants
of our sister country, at the funeral of a deceased friend or re-
lation.
50 The tale of Pwyll in the Cambrian Register (vol. i., p. 177,)
records this circumstance :
" Pywll entering fully upon the chase, and
listening to the cry of the pack, began to hear distinctly the cry of
another pack which was of a different tone from that of his own dogs,
and was coming in an opposite direction." The whole of this tale is
worth considering, as it contains many plain intimations relative to the
ceremonies of initiation.
51 Tale of Pywll, as above. Taliesin. Kadair Teyrn On.