The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

IN BRITAIN. 145
practise morality; arid to avoid sloth, contention, and
folly; and ultimately was invested wilh some sacred
badges of Druidism. The crystal, 62 an unequivocal test
of initiation, 63 was delivered to him, as an undoubted
preservative from all future dangers; and if not intended
for the highest offices of the priesthood, he \vas brought
before the sacred fire, three hymns were chanted to the
honour of Hu and Ceridwen, accompanied by the bardic
harps; the mead was solemnly administered by the
attendant officer, and the initiated aspirant was dismissed
with solemn ceremonies.
But, after having surmounted the two former degrees,
he was still deemed exoteric, and few attained the character
of esoteric, or thrice born ; for this degree was
administered to none but persons of rank and conse-
quence; and if a noble candidate aspired to a higher
degree of perfection than had been already communicated,
he underwent other and more arduous ceremonies
of purification. He was compared to a grain of pure
wheat, emblematical of his perfect fitness for the highest
mysteries of Druidism; and committed to the secluded
solitude of the cromlech for the space of nine months,
during which time he applied himself to the study of
theology, natural philosophy, and divination, cosmography,
astronomy, geography, rhetoric, logic, arithmetic,
and music. This tedious period was devoted to study
and reflection, that the candidate might be prepared to
understand, more perfectly, the sacred truths in which
61
Diog. Laert. Prooem.
63 This Amulet was variously shaped. Sometimes like a round
bead of glass; (Owen's Die., v. G-lain.) at others, like a crescent, or
glass boat; (Kadeir Taliesin. Welsh Archaeol., vol. i., p. 37,) now
it was denominated a glass circle, (Preiddeu Annwn., Dav. Druid.
Append., No. and now iii.) a glass house. (Ibid.) In each case it
was a powerful talisman of protection; and its colour was merely the
mark of distinction between the different orders. The Druids' crystal
was white the ; bards' sky blue, the eubates' green, and the aspirants'
was distinguished by a mixture of all these colours. The secret of
manufacturing them rested solely with the Druids.
63 " A crystal ring Abdaldar wore ;
The powerful gem condensed
Primeval dews that upon Caucasus
Felt the first winter's frost.
it may have charms
To blind or poison."
Southey's Thalaba, vol. i., p. 84, .103
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