The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

THE GOTHIC MYSTERIES. 165
of the Scandinavians, 3 and in his progress founded many
empires, and performed such prodigies of valour, as are
wholly incredible, except to the believers in Scandina-
vian tradition. In every country which he subdued, he
introduced the eastern mysteries, modelled into a form
subservient to his own secret purposes. 4 He placed over
the celebrations twelve hierophants, whom he styled
Drottes, and invested them with uncontrollable authori-
ty ; they were alike priests, and counsellors of state,
and judges, from whose decision there was no appeal. 5
Their power was extended to its utmost limits, by being
allowed a discretionary privilege of determining on the
choice of human victims for sacrifice. Even the monarch
was not exempt from this choice. Hence arose the
necessity of cultivating the esteem of these sovereign
pontiffs ; for if an officer of the highest dignity in the
state became obnoxious to the Drottes, as the dreaded
arbiters of life and death, from whose decision there was
no appeal, his life was held by a very uncertain tenure ;
for at the very next celebration it was almost sure to be
offered up in sacrifice to the gods.
This privilege was an abundant and never-failing source
of wealth as well as influence ;
for the superstitious people,
in the hope of averting a calamity so exceedingly
dreadful, were profuse in their offerings and oblations ;
and in times of general calamity, when the blood of
human victims 6 was necessary to appease their sanguinary
3 Mai. North. Ant., vol. i., c. 4.
4 The fact is, that the system of the warlike Sacas was of a military
cast, and hence differed materially from the corresponding system
practised by the hierophants of India, Greece, and Britain, derived, as
they were, from the same source, on the plains of Chaldea. In a word,
the two great Sects into which primitive idolatry had been divided,
to serve the ambitious policy of their professors, were practised by
the Britons and the Saxons, two immediate neighbours, who were
ultimately blended into one and the same people.
5 Mai. North. Ant., vol. i., p. 65. From this order proceeded the
establishment of British juries, consisting of the same number of men,
invested with similar powers.
6 These sacrifices were all conducted on a principle of veneration
for the sacred numbers three and nine for ; every thrice three months,
thrice three victims, many of them human, on each of the thrice three
days of the festival's continuance, were offered in sacrifice to the
tri-une god. (Mai. North. Ant., vol. "
i., p. 133.) The number nine
has long been held in great veneration among the Tartars, whence,
probably, the Scandinavians derived their origin. All presents made