The History of Initiation - The Masonic Trowel

EASTERN MYSTERIES. 57
rant, however, was the representative of Noah ; and the
ark, which was accounted his mother as well as his wife,
was actually surrounded by a rainbow, at the time of
his deliverance or new birth ; and hence he was figura-
tively said to be the offspring of the rainbow.64
The Japanese held that the world was enclosed in an
egg 65 before the creation, which floated on the surface of
the waters. 06 At this period a prickle 67
appeared amongst
64 The universal prevalence of this symbol in all the systems of which
we have any knowledge, is very remarkable and ; points out that the
Spurious Freemasonry had a reference, in its original state, to the
Deluge; and that the holy covenant of God was embodied in its
system of hieroglyphical symbols.
65 The Egg was always esteemed an emblem of the earth.
66 The history is thus given in the Ceremonies and Religious Customs
of
"
various Nations, (p. 417.) There is a pagoda at Micoa consecrated
to a hieroglyphic Bull, which is placed on a large square altar,
and composed of solid gold. His neck is adorned with a very costly
collar ; but that indeed is not the principal object that commands our
attention. The most remarkable thing is the Egg, which he pushes
with his horns, as he gripes it between his forefeet. This Bull is
placed on the summit of a rock, and the Egg floats in some water,
which is enclosed within the hollow space of it. The Egg represents
the Chaos ; and what follows is the illustration which the doctors of
Japan have given of this hieroglyphic. The whole world at the time of the
Chaos was enclosed within this Egg, which swam upon the surface of
the waters. The Moon by virtue of her Light and her other influences,
attracted from the bottom of these waters a terrestrial substance,
which was insensibly converted to a rock, and by that means the eggs
rested upon it. The bull observing this egg, broke the shell of it, by
goring it with his horns, and so created the world, and by his breath
formed the human species. This 7 fable ma} in some measure be reconciled
with truth, by supposing that an ancient tradition had preserved
amongst the Japanese some idea of the creation of the world but
;
that being led into an error, in process of time, by the ambiguous meaning
of the name of the Bull, which in the Hebrew is Language attributed
to the Deity, they ascribed the creation of the world to this
animal, instead of the Supreme Being."
67 To this source may be referred the Gothic idol Seater, which
Vcrstegan, from Johannes Pomarius, thus describes. (Restitution
of Decayed Intelligence, p. 78.) First, on a pillar was placed a pearch
on the
sharp prickled back whereof stood this idol. He was lean of
and was bareheaded and bare-
visage, having long hair and a long beard ;
footed. In his left hand he held up a wheel and in his ; right he carried
a pail of water, wherein were flowers and fruits. His long coat
was girded unto him with a towel of white linen. His standing on
the sharp fins of this
fish, was to signify that the Saxons for their
serving him, should pass steadfastly and without harm in dangerous
and difficult places, &c.