The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

INTO THE GOTHIC MYSTERIES. 173
whose life had recently paid the forfeit of his rash attempt
to explore the forbidden recesses of the consecrated
vault. 29 The hollow caverns re-echoed with his howl-
ings. Regardless of the posture of defiance assumed by
this hideous monster, the candidate was urged forward
by his conductor, and, passing this unreal shape, entered
the portal, and in the east found a spacious apartment,
in the centre of which was the Pastos or Tomb where
the oracle was immured. 30 In the distance, a vision of
the regions of death (hela) was presented to his eyes,
and he beheld a splendid throne which appeared de-
signed for some person of distinction 31
; but it was empty.
Here the mysterious rites of invocation commenced ;
magical characters were inscribed in squares, triangles,
and circles and ; charmed rhymes of irresistible potency
were repeated. The incantations being complete, the
reluctant prophetess signified her intention of uttering
an oracular response. 32 The candidate was instructed to
question her respecting the fate which awaited Balder, a
benevolent deity who was under the protection of the
celestial gods ; and, though deemed invulnerable, was,
nevertheless, supposed to be in imminent danger from
the unsuspected efforts of subtlety and malice. To this
demand the prophetess answered, that Balder should
suffer by the intervention of Loke, the adversary of the
gods, 33
who, by a sprig
of misletoe in the hands of a
29 "
The dog who guards the gates of death, meets him. His hreast
and his jaws are stained with blood he ; opens his voracious mouth to
bite, and barks a long time at the father of magic." (Ancient Runic
Poem in Mai. North. Ant., vol. ii., p. 220.)
30 "
Odin pursues his way his ; horse causes the infernal caverns to
resound and tremble ; at length he reaches the deep abode of death,
and stopped near the eastern gate where stands the tomb of the prophetess."
(Ancient Poem, as above.)
31 Runic Poem.
32 " He sings to her verses adapted to call up
the dead. He looks
towards the north he ; engraves the Runic characters on her tomb ;
he utters mysterious words he demands an answer until ; ; the pro-
and thus utter the words of the dead.
phetess is constrained to arise,
k Who is this unknown that dares disturb my repose, and drag me
from my grave, wherein I have lien dead so long, all covered with
snow, and moistened with the rains,'" &c. (Ancient Poem, as above.)
33 This people believed in the existence of an evil principle, who was
named Loke, and was esteemed the great adversary of gods and men.
This pernicious deity was the prince of fraud and perfidy; a perfect
master of all the arts of dissimulation, and addicted solely to the prac-