The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

168 HISTORY OF INITIATION
parsimonious
manner in which this festival was con-
ducted. The next celebration was dedicated to Frea, 14
15
the goddess of pleasure and ; commenced on the first
quarter of the second moon in the new year ; and the
third was celebrated in honour of Odin, the god of battles.
It commenced at the beginning of
Spring, and was
celebrated with great magnificence in the hope of a suc-
16
cessful warfare in the ensuing campaign. These were
the three principal times of celebration ; but the initia-
tions were performed at innumerable other smaller festi-
fortress. To this strong hold they drove all the cattle, and, having
salted them, the freebooters returned home, where they spent their
Jol [Yule] or brumal feast with much glee. Such an expedition was
called Strandhoggua, or a strand slaughter." ( Jamieson, Scot. Diet.,
v. Yule, iii.)
14 This goddess was the same as the Grecian Mylitta or Venus, and
probably derived her name from Phree, to be fruitful.
15 Frea was esteemed equally the wife and daughter of Odin. (Mai.
North. Ant., vol. ii., p. 30.)
16
It was esteemed disgraceful in any individual to quit these festivals
sober. (Mai. North. Ant., vol. i., p. 137.) Hence excessive drinking
introduced the attendant custom of vows and pledges. Each person
present, before he put the cup to his mouth, made some vow to the
tutelary deity of the festival, for the purpose of securing his protection.
When this had been performed by the whole company, the ceremony
of pledging each other commenced. The president, or chief person,
taking the Cup, called publicly on the next in rank to pledge him, and,
after drinking, placed the cup in his hand. The next inferior personage
was drank to in the same manner, and so the toast proceeded round
the board. Hence the origin of drinking Healths. This social custom
was introduced into Britain by Hengist, at a banquet prepared by him
in
" honour of Vortigern. At this feast, Rowena, instructed by her
uncle, presented to the aged prince a cup of spiced wine, and, with
smiles, welcomed him with the words Waes heal hlaford Cyning ;
i.
e., Be of health, my lord king to ; which, through his interpreter, he
answered, Drinc heal, or, I drink your health." (Brady, Clav. Cal.,
vol. ii , p. 320.) Or, as it is more poetically expressed by Milman
(Samor, Lord of the Bright city),
She, by wond'ring gaze
Unmov'd, and stifled murmurs ot applause,
Nor yet unconscious, slowly won her way
To where the King, amid the festal pomp,
Sate loftiest. As she rais'd a fair clasp'd cup,
Something of sweet confusion overspread
Her features ; something tremulous Ibroke in
On her half-failing accents, as she said,
" Health to the King !'' the sparkling wine laugh'd up
As eager 't were to touch so fair a lip.
It was a custom of this people to indulge themselves in drinking a
liquor made from honey for thirty days after the marriage of their
principal men; whence arose our phrase of the Honey-moon.