The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

186 HISTORY OF INITIATION.
most high god, was Odin, 23 who was also believed to
send plagues
into the world when provoked by the
wickedness of its inhabitants and his ;
anger could only
be appeased by human sacrifices, prayer and repentance.
24
Idols and visible representations of the deity
were originally forbidden, and he was directed to be
worshipped in the lonely solitude of sequestered forests,
where he was said to dwell, invisible and in perfect
silence. 25 But after the irruption of Sigge and his fol-
lowers, other objects of adoration were introduced; 26 to
each of which was assigned a particular dominion ; and,
hence, every object of the creation soon became placed
under the care of its presiding divinity. The trees, the
houses, fire, water, sun, stars, and even thunder and
lightning, wind and rain, had each its protecting deity ;
23 " Odin is believed to have been the name of the one true God
among the first colonies who came from the East and peopled Ger-
many and Scandinavia, and among their posterity for several ages.
But, at length, a mighty conqueror, the leader of a new army of adventurers
from the East, overran the north of Europe, erected a great
empire, assumed the name of ODIN, and claimed the honours which
had been formerly paid to that deity. From thenceforward this deified
mortal became the chief object of the idolatrous worship of the
Saxons and Danes in this island, as well as of many other nations.
Having been a mighty and successful warrior, he was believed to be
the god of war, who gave victory, and revived courage in the conflict.
Having civilized, in some measure, the countries which he conquered,
and introduced arts formerly unknown, he was also worshipped as
the god of arts and artists. In a word, to this Odin, his deluded
worshippers impiously ascribed all the attributes which belong only
to the true God : to him they built magnificent temples, offered many
sacrifices, and consecrated the fourth day of the week, which is still
called by his name, in England, and in all the other countries where
he was formerly worshipped." (Henry's Hist, of Eng., vol. ii.)
24
Mallet vol. c. 7.
i.,
25
Tacit, de mor. 1. Germ., ix.,
c. 35. There is a peculiar degree of
solemnity in a primitive grove. A writer on the scenery of America,
thus expresses himself respecting one of the vast woods of that continent:
"When tlie air is calm, scarcely a sound of anything is to be
heard; for the few birds that flit athwart the gloom are dumb. It is
impossible for any one to enter such solitudes without dread ; nor
can the traveller contemplate his condition without anxiety and fear.
The comparison of a gothic cathedral to the grove, is old and trite ;
but the associations which the vast forest aisles and embowered
arches awaken, make the sense of a present divinity far more powerfully
felt, than in the greatest cathedrals with all their gorgeous talismans
of devotion."
26 Verst. Rest., p. 69.