The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

DOCTRINES OF THE DRUIDS. 155
throughout the prophetical and inspired writings. 19 The
mysterious knowledge of the Druids, in like manner, was
imbedded in signs and symbols. Taliesin, describing his
initiation, says, " The secrets were imparted to me by
the old giantess, without the use of audible 20
language."
And again, in the poem called his Chair, he "
says, I am
21 a silent proficient." The symbols which could contain
the learning and morality of the Druids, must necessarily
have been both numerous and significant. From a mul-
tiplicity of these emblems, I have selected the following,
as being decidedly characteristic of the people and of the
institution.
The anguinum ovum was a very important symbol, and
contained some highly mysterious allusions. As an Egg
is the fountain of life, this serpent's egg referred, properly,
to the Ark while it floated on the expanse of waters, and
held within its inclosure every living creature. It was
attended by a serpent entwined round the centre of the
amulet, to signify the superintending care which an eternal
Being affords to his worshippers. 22
It had the reputed
19
See. particularly, the books of Jeremiah and Ezekiel Parables of Our Saviour, and the Apocalypse.
; the
In the Theocratic
Philosophy of Freemasonry, Lect. vii., the subject is copiously ex-
20
plained.
Welsh Archyeol., vol.
i., p. 166.
21
Ibid., p. 37. The Druids were great lovers of silence, and enforced
the observance of it with much rigour at their public assemblies. If
a loquacious member incautiously violated the solemn stillness of their
meetings, he was publicly admonished three several times. A repetition
of the offence was punished by placing a conspicuous mark upon
his robe, and declaring that the sword was naked against him;
(Priddeu Annwn, Welsh Arch., vol. i., p. 45,) and if this failed to
correct the impropriety of his conduct, expulsion ensued; and, in
exaggerated cases, a still more severe and signal punishment.
23 The anguinum, or Druids' egg. was said to be produced by a knot
of serpents, and, being propelled into the air, was caught in the vestment
of the priest, and carried off with great rapidity, to avoid the
fury of its parents. This egg,
if genuine, was said always to float, so
did the Ark. The method of its formation was, however, fabulous, or,
to use the words of Mr. Davies, (Myth. Dru., p. 210,) "was but so
much dust thrown into the eyes of the profane multitude." The
Druids were the serpents, and the eggs were crystals curiously contrived
to conceal within their substance the mysterious tokens of the
highest orders, which were not even revealed to the person in whose
custody they were placed, but on full and substantial proof of his
wisdom and prudence, and in union with the solemn investiture of
their ineffable degrees of
perfection, to which no person was eligible
as a candidate who could not produce one of these magical crystals, as
a token of due preparation and previous acceptance.