The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

DOCTRINES AND MORALITY. 185
property of curing diseaces, were termed Medicinal.
The most trifling error in the composition 21 of these won-
der-working amulets, was said to be fatal to the artist
himself, or to endanger the life of his dearest friend ; and
hence none dared to attempt the formation of a charm
but he who, by initiation, had become perfectly instructed
in the various ceremonies, which were indispensably
attached to every particular service.
The doctrines inculcated in these mysteries embraced
disquisitions on the nature of the gods, the creation of
the world, the Deluge, and the present and future condition
of man. The early inhabitants of Scandinavia
believed in a god, who was "the author of every thing
that existeth; the eternal, the ancient, the living and
awful being, the searcher into concealed things, the
being that never changeth." 22 The name given to this
20 "All these various kinds differed only in the ceremonies observed
in writing them, in the material on which they were written, in the
place where they were exposed, in the manner in which the lines were
drawn, whether in the form of a circle, of a serpent, or a triangle, &c.
In the strict observance of these childish particulars consisted that
obscure and ridiculous art, which required, to so many weak and
wicked persons, the respectable name of priests and prophetesses,
merely for filling rude minds with jealousy, fear and hatred." (Mai.
North. Ant., vol. i., p. 316.)
21 The superstition of the " Hand of Glory" is still firmly believed
"
in some parts of Germany. Its composition was as follows : Take
the hand of a person hanged and exposed on the highway ; wrap it up
in a piece of a shroud or winding sheet, in which let it be well squeezed
to get out any small quantity of blood that may have remained in it;
then put it into an earthen vessel with zimat, saltpetre, salt, and long
pepper, the whole well powdered ; leave it fifteen days in that vessel j
afterwards take it. out, and expose it to the noontide sun in the dog
days, till it is thoroughly dry, and if the sun is not sufficient, put it
into an oven, heated with fern and vervain. Then compose a kind of
candle wifh the fat of the hanged man, virgin wax and sesame of Lapland.
The Hand of Glory is used as a candlestick to hold this candle
when lighted. Its properties are, that wheresoever any one goes with
this dreadful instrument, the person to whom it is presented will be
deprived of all power of motion. Hence it was used by housebreakers
to enter houses at night without fear of opposition. But there was a
counter charm which would deprive the Hand of Glory of its effects.
The threshold of the door of the house and other places where the
thieves might enter, was to be anointed with an unguent composed of
the gall of a black cat, the fat of a white hen, and the blood of a
screech owl, which mixture must necessarily be prepared in the dog
days." (Grose. Provincial Glossary, and Popular Superstitions.)
22 Edda. Fab. 12.