A NC IENT MYS TE R IES

A ND

MOD ER N MA S ON RY

BY

R EV L C HA R L E S H V A IL
.
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PA ST O R O F P U L L M A N M E M O R i A L C II U R C H
‘
—

A T AL BI O N N Y
, . .

F IR S T E D IT ION

P U B L l S HE D Bv
M A C OY P U B L IS HIN G A N D M A S ON IC S UP PL Y c o.

N EW YO R K C ITY, N . V . U. s. A .
 C O P Y R IG HT
1 90 9 BY

Macoy Pub MasonicSup. .

45 7--
9 J O HN S T .
von x . u . s.

E N T E E
R D A T S T A T IO N E R S
’
HA L L

L O N D O N l9 0 9

A L L . R IG HT S R E E
S R V E D U N D E R

B E R N E C O N V E N T IO N

Maco y Pu b lishi n g an d Maso n i c Su p p ly Co .

Ne w Yo rk. U. S. A .
 PR E FA CE .

Th e Seri es of L ectu r e s wh i ch
Su n d a y E v e n i n g
c o m p ri s e th i s b o ok w e r e fi rs t g iv e n i n t h e Pu l l m a n

Me m ori a l Ch u rch A lb io n N Y t o t h e m e m b e r s
, ,
. .
,

o f Re n ovatio n Lo d g e N o 97 F . A M an d t h e
,
. . .
,

c o n gr e g a tio n of w h ich t h e a uthor i s p a stor Th e .

ma n y calls for t h e lectur e s in p ri n t e d f orm le d

t o th e i r p ubl i c a tio n W e tru st th a t t h e b o o k m ay
.

con tribut e t o a b e tt e r u n der st an d i n g o f t h e Ord e r

b y t h e gen e ra l p ub l ic ; i n sp i rin g o u r B r o th er Ma
s o n s t o g r e a ter a pp r e ci a t io n o f a n d l o y a l ty t o t h e
F r a t e r n ity a n d e n c ou r agi n g a ll to l a bor for t h e
,

re al iz a tio n of t h e g r e a t p ri n c ipl e s a n d i d e a l s e m
b o di e d i n t h e A n c i e n t My st e ri es an d ou r Mod e r n
Ma s o n ry .

C HA R L E S H . V A IL .

A l b ion , N . Y .
,
Ma r c h I O, 1 909.

2 07 1 6 7 0
 TA BL E O F CONTENTS

P AG E
I
L ECT U R E .

T H E O R I G I N A N D O BJ EC T O F TH E A N C I E NT MY ST E RI E S

L E CT U R E I I .

T H E E G Y PT I A N H I N D U A N D PE R SI A N MY ST E RI E S
, ,

LEC T U R E I I I .

T HE D R U I D I C A L G O THI C G R EC I A N A N D J E W I S H MY ST E R I E S
, , ,

LECT U R E IV .
T H E C H R I ST I A N MY ST E RI E S
L E CT U R E V .

T H E C H R I ST I A N M Y ST E RI E S (CO N C L U D E D)
LE CT U R E VI .

T HE M E A NI N G OFR U E I NITI A TI N
T O

LE CT U R E V II .

T HE M E A N I N G O T R U E I NITI A TI N (CO N C L U D E D)
F O

LECT UR E V I I I .

T HE O I I N A N D H I T O RY F F R EE MA SO NRY
R G S O

LE CT U R E IX .

T HE O R I G I N A N D H I ST O RY OF TH E K NI G HT S T E MPL A R S A N D
TH E A N C I ENT ACCE PT E D SC O TTI SH R IT E
L EC T U R E X .

T HE SY MBOL S A N D L E G E N D S O F M A SO NRY

L E C T U R E XI .

T H E SY MB OL S A N D L E G E N D S O F M A SO NRY

L I ST OF M A SO NI C A N D K IN D R E D BO O K S
 A N CIE N T MY ST E R I E S A ND MO D E RN
MA SO N RY .

I N TR ODU CT I ON .

The p u r p os e o f th e s e l ec tu res i s t o c on s id er t h e
ori gi n a n d n a tu re of t h e A n ci e n t My s t e ri e s an d
Mo d e r n Ma so n ry a n d t o S h o w t h e rel a tio n w h ich
th ey be a r on e t o t h e oth e r F r e ema so n ry d eals
.

l a rge l y w i t h t h e m or a l s a n d sy m b ol s o f th e My s
t e r ie s O f A n tiquity an d ori gi n ally wa s on e o f t he
.

cha n n e l s of A n ci en t W i s do m .

T h e re w er e a f e w a m o n g t h e fou n d e r s O f Mo d
e r n Ma so n ry w ho p o s s es s e d th e Roy a l Se cr e t or , ,

at l e a st h a d a k n ow l e d ge O f it s e xi st e n c e a n d if
, , ,

t h e k ey h as b e e n l os t t h e Ma so n a s H e i r a p p a r e n t
, ,
-

o f t h e O ld W i sdo m ,sh oul d b e for e m o st i n th e

s e a rch fo r i t s re c overy .

A ll ag ree th at th e Ma so n i c sy mb ol s an d t r a d i
tio n s a r e o f th e g r ea t e st a n tiqu ity an d c an b e,

t ra c ed to th e fa r E a s t to th e e a rl i est c ivil iz a tio n

—
,

from which tim e an d p l ac e th ey h av e spok en in

n a tur e s l a n gu a ge to a ll p e op l es o f t h e e a rth We
’
.

are m ore a n d mor e c o n vi n c e d that th i s p ictu r e

la n gu age o f o u r rit u a l c o n t a i n s a mos t comp l et e
ph ilosoph y a k n o w l e d ge emb ra c i n g t h e et e r n al
—

v e riti e s o f th e u n ivers e an d that th es e symb ol s

,

w e r e d es i gn e d by t h e In itiate s O f o ld t o p r e s e rv e
an d co n vey th a t A n c i e n t W i s d om t o th e p r e s e n t
10 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

an d f u tur e gen e r at ion s Thou gh e mp ir e s an d dyn a s

.

t ic c on ti n en t s h a v e app e a r e d an d p a s se d aw ay ,

th e s e a n c i e n t sy m b ol s h e w n i n ro c k c u t t e m p l e s
,
-

an d m o n u m e n t s , h a v e s erv e d t o c o n v e y t h e Gr e a t
S e c r e t fr o m a g e s p a st a n d w i l l c o n ti n u e i t s r e c or d
as l on
g a s t hi s p a rt O f t h e u n i v e rs e r e m a i n s .

Mo d e r n Ma so n ry h a s b e c o m e in a S p e c i a l s e n s e
, ,

t h e c ustodi an O f t h e s e an c i en t sy mb ols ; an d should

n ot b e c on t en t w i t h its poss e ssio n o n l y n or w i t h ,

m e r e ly i m it atin g its v a riou s pr e d e c e ssors ; b u t Sh ould

e n t e r bol d ly i n to t h e i n h e rit an c e o f its birthri ht an d
g
s e e k t h e An ci en t Wisdom of i t s illustrious proto typ e s .

T O c on fi n e t h e in t er p r e t ation o f i t s sy mbols an d
l egen ds to l e sson s in m ora lity an d frat e r n i ty s u c h a s ,

ar e fou n d in all e x o t e ri c r e li gion s is n ot t o gr a sp t h e

,

d e e p e r m e an i n g th at t h e glyphs an d p ar abl e s w e r e
m ean t to c on v e y . Man y t o d ay r ealiz e t his f act an d
-

th e y ar e s e e kin g s t ill Mor e Li ght

“ ‘ ”
with out as w e ll
—
,

a s w i t h i n t h e t il e d d o ors of o u r L o d ge s .

In s e t ti n g for t h t h e re sults o f mod e r n r e s e a r c h c on

c e rn i n g th e symb ol s an d l ege n ds o f an t iq u i t y an d t h e ir
m e an i n g in Mo d e rn Ma so n ry I S h a l l n ot li ft t h e v e il
,

fr o m t h e s e c r e t s o f t h e O rd e r b u t w il l e n d e a vor t o
,

l e ad t h e i n i t i at e t o t h e c l ear e r li ght th at h e m ay n ot
on l y see f or hi m s e l f t h e c on n e ct i on li n ki n g t h e p a st
,

w i t h t h e pr e s en t ; b u t w il l b egi n t o kn ow thr ou gh t he ,

d e v e l op m en t o f hi s hi gh e r Ma s on i c man h ood t h e ,

m i gh t y truth o f w hi c h th e s e sy m bol s s pe ak In this .

e n d e avo r I sh all on ly r e f e r to t hose t hi n gs in Ma

so mry th a t a r e e x o t e ri c a n d c o n t a i n e d i n o u r b e s t
publ i ca tio n s I do n o t c l a i m t h e k n o w l e d ge t h a t
.

w ou l d e n ab l e m e t o c o m p l e t e l y u n fo l d t h e m y s t e ry
a n d ph il o s o ph y e m b o di e d i n t h e g l yph s of a n c i e n t
In tr o d u c ti o n 11

ti m es b u t that th ey d o embody a n oc c u l t s c i e n c e
,

n o th i n ki n g m an o f to day h as a n y doub t an d if I
-
,

a m ab l e to th row eve n a l ittl e l i gh t o n t h e g r e a t

s ubj e ct of a n c i e n t sy m b ol ic my st e ri es I shal l fe el
amp l y rep a i d for m y e ff ort s .

I a m sure the l e ctur e s w ill prov e i n te r esti n g an d

i n st ru c t iv e to b oth m e mb e rs an d n o n m e m b e rs of
-

t h e Or d er a n d w h i l e som e f e w thi n g s m e n ti o n e d
,

w il l b e b e tter u n d ers too d b y Ma st e r Ma s o n s m y ,

m e a n i n g w il l b e c l ea r to al l ! a n d that th e y may l ea d
t o a b e tt e r u n d e rst an d i n g o f t h e A n c i e n t My s t eri e s
an d Mo d er n Ma so n ry ,
I b es p eak f o r t h e s u b j ect
matter you r c areful i n v es ti gatio n .
 L E CT U R E I .

T HE O R I G IN A ND O B J E CT O F T HE

A N CIE N T MY ST E R I E S .

A lo n g w ith t h e popul a r traditio n s an d publi c c ults of

an c i e n t ti m e s
, t h e r e e xis t e d an i n n e r o r gan iz ation O f
r e l i gio n t he Mys t e ry In sti t u t io n w hi c h wa s the
— —

c h an n e l o f s e cr e t tr a di t ion s .

W hil e o u r k n o w l e d ge o f t h e My st eri es i s n ot so
e xt e n s iv e a s w e c oul d d e sir e o w i n g t o t h e f a ct that
,

th e y w e re a n c i e n t ly gu a r d e d w ith t h e gr e a t e s t c a r e
—
t h e s li g ht e s t v iol a t io n of t h e o a th of s e c r e c y b e

i n g p u n i sh a b l e by d e a th w e k n o w t h a t t h e m y s
—

t e r y si d e O f reli gion a kn o w l e d ge O f it s hi gh e st cult

-
,

a n d d octri n e s w a s o n l y a tt a i n e d throu g h i n iti a t io n

,
.

E v e ry g re a t T e ac h e r o f a n tiquity p a s s e d t hrou gh
th es e p or t a l s T hi s o n e fac t i n it s e l f m a k e s th e
.

s t u d y O f t h e My st e ri e s O f th e utm o st i m porta n c e t o
Ma so n s .

Th e In stitution o f t h e Myst e ri e s wa s to b e fou n d in

a ll p a rts o f t h e w orld The r e w e r e t h e Myst e ri e s o f
.

I sis an d Osiris in E gypt t he M ithr ai c Myst e ri e s o f

,

t h e P e rsi an s t h e Orphic an d B ac c hic an d t h e later

,

E l e usi n i an s em i Mysteri e s O f Gr e ec e t h e Myst e ri e s o f

-
,

Sam othr ac e an d Ch a l d e a the Myst e ri e s o f In di a the

, ,

D r u i di c al Mys t e ri e s t h e Goth i c Myst eri e s

, an d ,

m a n y o t h ers .

T h u s i t fol l o w s t h a t th e k e y to a n t iq u ity i s a
k n owl e d ge of i t s M y s t e ri e s T h e l a t e G e n A lb e rt
. .
14 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

Pike form erl y Sov e rei gn Gra n d Comm a n d er of t h e

,

Sup rem e Cou n cil Sou th er n J uri s d ictio n A A S R

, , . . . .

“
illustrat e s this by s ayi n g ! Th rough the veil o f all
t h e h i e r atic a n d my sti c al l e go r i e s o f th e an cie n t
d ogm a s u n d er th e s e al O f a ll t h e sacr e d w riti n g s i n
, ,

t h e ru i n s o f Ni n e v e h or Theb e s on the worn ston e s ,

o f t h e a n c i e n t t emp l e s an d o n t h e b l ac ke n e d f a ce of
,

t h e Sp hi n x of A s syri a o r E gypt i n th e m o n strou s ,

o r marv e l ou s p ictu re s wh ich th e sacre d p a ges of t h e

V e d as t ra n sl a t e f or t h e b el ievers of In dia . i n t h e
stra n ge emb l em s O f ou r old b ooks of A l c h emy in ,

t h e c e re m o n i es O f r e c eptio n p r a c ti c e d b y al l th e
myst e rious Societies we fin d t races o f a d octri n e
,

ev ery w h e re th e s a m e an d ev e ry w h ere careful ly

,

co n ce a l e d Th e oc c u l t ph i losoph y s eem s t o hav e

.

b e en t h e n u rs e o r go d moth er o f al l rel i gi o n s th e ,

sec r et l ever o f all th e i n t ell e c tual forces t h e key o f ,

al l d ivi n e O b scuriti e s a n d th e A b s ol ute Q u e en of

,

Society i n t h e ag e s w h e n i t w a s e x cl u siv e ly r e
,

”
s erv e d for t h e e d u c ati o n O f t h e P r i est s an d Ki n gs .

( Mor als an d D ogma p , .

TH E OR I G I N O F T HE M Y STE R IES .

Th e My steri e s h a d th ei r ori gi n i n th e fi r s t g r eat

T each e r s a n d Gu i d e s of hu ma n ity Th e s e a re c a ll e d .

“ ” “
the So n s O f V e n u s t h e y form e d t h e N u rs e ry of
,

”
A d ept s t h e n u cl eu s O f th e fi rst Gr e a t W h ite
—

Lo d g e Th e Ch ief of t h e s e i s k n o wn by m a n y my s
.

“
t ic n am e s i n th e O ld w riti n gs the Root B a s e o f
—

” “ ”
t h e O ccul t H i erarc h y th e Ku mara e t c Su r
, , .

rou n d i n g t h e Ch ief t h e r e wa s a smal l b a n d O f B e

i n gs wh o cam e t o ea r th t o la b or for t h e e v ol utio n
o f you n g h uman ity A n othe r class of Be in gs who
.
O r ig i n an d O bj ect f
o th e A n ci en t My ster i es 15

a i d e d in thi s w ork was call e d A gn ishv atta s Man y O f .

”
th e s e we a r e told in t h e St an z a s o f D zyan b e cam e
, ,

A rh ats Th us wa s e s t abli sh e d upon earth a cco rdi n g

.
,

t o tr a ditio n t h e first Gr e at Occult Hi e rarchy

, .

In t h e s oc c u l t k n owl e d ge w a s t a u gh t
ea rl y a ge

O p e n ly as t h e s c i e n c e s a r e t a u ht i n o u r c ol l e e s
, g g
to d ay B u t i n t h e c ours e of ti m e m an y a l l o w e d
-
.

th e i r s e l fi sh n e s s t o rul e a n d SO a b u s e d th e i r p o w er
t h a t it b e c am e n e c e s s a ry t o w ithh o l d s u c h k n o w l
e d ge fr o m t h e u n w o r t hy Th i s w as t h e c o n ditio n
.

o f reli gious a fia i r s w h e n t h e Myst e ries w e r e n e ce s

‘

sa r ily e st ablish e d by t h e Ki n g Pri e sts of t h e D ivi n e -

D y n a sti e s in t he d ays O f A t l an tis

,
.

T h e r e w e r e m a n y a l r e a dy i n p os s es s i o n of o c c ul t
k n o w l e d ge w h o w e r e so e n gro ss e d i n s e l fi sh n e s s
th a t th e y c o u l d n ot b e b rou ght i n t o t h e d ivi n e
p a t h ; a n d t h e i r a bu s e of t hi s po w e r o v e r t h e f o r c e s
Of n at u re m ad e th em gi an t s O f e vil Th e y r e .

b e l l e d a ga i n s t t h e W h i t e E m p e ror, an d b e c a m e
B l ac k thi s c a u s e d a l o ng a n d fi e r c e
st ru ggl e A t l a s t t h e c u p O f e vil w as f u ll ; t h e forc e s
.

of n at u r e w e r e tur n e d aga i n st t h e l an d u n til t he ,

g r e a t c o n t i n en t t o g e t h e r w i t h all foll o w e rs of t h e ir
,

own s e lfish pr ac ti c e s an k b en e ath t h e w aters O f t he

,

oc e an B e for e t h e st o r m brok e ho w e v e r t h e m e n of
.
, ,

”
the Goo d L aw h e e di n g t he s u mmon s t o e s cap e
“
,

m i gr at e d t o a pl ace o f s a f e ty .

B e fo r e t h e v e r t h ro w O f A tl a n ti s th e My s t e ri es
o

w e r e w e l l e s t a bl i sh e d i na n c i e n t C h a l d e a a n d E gyp t
t h e t w o g r e a t F our t h r a c e n a t i o n s b e i n g O ff
—

shoots O f t he gr e at A t l an t e an civiliz at ion Th e In .

di a n My s t e ri e s c a m e fro m h e r O w n Pri e s t Ki n g t h e ,
16 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d M o d er n Mason r y

Man u w ho ga v e to t h e firs t b r a n c h O f t h e A ry an
,

s to c k it s r e l i giou s t ea c h i n g F ro m th i s fou n t of .

t h e A ry a n r a c e t h e My st e ry t e a c h i n g i n a ft e r y e a rs
—

flo w e d w e st w a rd an d m i n gl in g w ith th e O ld e r tr ad i
,

tio n d e riv e d from A n c i e n t A tl an ti s ga v e t o it n e w

, ,

l if e a n d p o w e r T h e Gr e e k s r e c e iv e d th e ir My s
.

t e r i e s fro m O rp h e u s w h o i n t rodu c e d th e m d ir e ct
,

fro m In di a B u t fro m w h a t e v e r source t h e v a riou s

.
1

n a ti o n s r e c e iv e d th e i r my s t ic i n stru c t io n th e m ea n ,

i n g w a s e v e r th e s a m e al l In iti a t e s w er e m e m b e rs
—

O f t h e o n e Gre a t B roth erh oo d In th es e e a rl y d ay s .

th e Mys t ery In stitutio n s w ere co n d u c t e d by Gre a t

-

A d e p t s wh os e k n o w l e dg e w as th e fru it a ge of a
p ri o r sy st em of evol u tio n ; b u t a s ti m e w e n t o n a n d
ou r h u m a n ity d e v e l op e d t h e g r ea t Ma st er s gr a d
,

u a lly w i t h dr e w a n d t h e My s teri e s w ere c o mm i tt e d

,

t o t h e a dv an ce d p u p il s of our pres en t syst em o f

e vol u ti o n .

TH E S OUR CE O F RE L I G I O N S .

T h e r e ar e t w o s ch ool s O f thou g ht i n t h e m o d e r n
world Comp a r ativ e Myth olo gists an d Comp ar at iv e
—

R e l i gi o n i st s T h e a n sw er s give n by th e s e two
.

s ch o ol s to t h e qu e s t io n of th e sou r c e of r e l i gio n
a r e di a m e tric a ll y O pp os e d b ut b oth b a s e th
,
ei r a r gu

m e n t s up o n th e s a m e com m o n f ac t s T h es e f ac t s .

are O f m a rke d Sim il a rity n ot o n ly i n th e t e ac hi n g

,
,

ch a r a ct e r a n d p o w e r O f t h e Fo u n d e rs of r e l i gio n s
,
,

b ut a l so of t h e m a i n o u t l i n e s O f th e i r l iv es .

stori s of th s S vi r Go d s an d th e ir t e a c h
The a o -
e e e

i n gs an t e d at e som e O f th em by man y cen turi es t h e

,
,

bir t h O f t h e Christi an Savior This si m il ari t y .

a mou n ti n g in m an y cases t o p ractic al id en tity den ot e s , ,

O r igi n an d O bjec t f
o th e A n ci en t Myster i es 17

a ccor d i n g t o b ot h schools a comm on origi n , .

T h e Co m p a rativ e My th olo g i st s c o n t e n d th a t th e
c o mm o n o ri gi n i s on e o f com mo n i gn or a n c e t h at ,

t he u n iv e rs a l n atural ph en om e n a a n d t he p e rson
i fic a t i o n o f th e s e p o w e rs of n a tu r e r e su lt e d i n s i m i
,

la r i d ea s T h i s s c h ool m ai n t a i n s th a t th e lof t i est

.

rel i gio u s s e n ti m e n t s a n d d o c tri n e s ar e m e r e l y th e

r efi n ed f e e l i n g a n d exp r e s sio n O f t h e b a rb a rou s
gu e ss e s O f pri m itiv e m en ; th at A n im alis m F e tish ,

ism an d N atur e w orshi p ar e t h e soil out O f w hi c h

-

t h e hi g h e s t form s of r e l i giou s flo w ers h a v e b l o s

som e d an d th at t h e fou n d e rs o f t h e gre at r e li gion s

a r e th e highl y d e v elop e d b ut l i n e al d es c e n d a n t s of
“
th e whirli n g m e d i c in e m an .

O n t h e oth er ha n d th e Comp a rativ e Rel igi o n i sts

,

m a i n tai n th a t th e c om mo n ori gi n i s o n e o f D ivi n e

Wis d om or G n osis A ll reli gio n s th ey say origi n
, . ,
,

at e fro m th e t e a c h i n g s O f D iv i n e Me n w ho c o n ,

st i t u t e a g re a t B roth e rh oo d o f Sp iritu a l T e ac h e rs ,

a n d g iv e o u t fro m t im e t o tim e t o diff e r e n t r a c es

,

a n d n a tio n s of t h e w orl d s uch p a rt s o f t h e fu n d a

,

m e n t a l t ruth s o f reli gio n a s a r e s uite d to t h e n ee d s

of t h e p e o p l e .

Th e y c o n t e n d that A n i mal i s m F eti sh i sm a n d , ,

N atu r e w orsh ip ar e t h e d i stort e d an d d w a rf e d d e

-

sc e n d a n t s o f tru e r e l i giou s b el ief an d th at t h e ,

fou n d e rs of g re a t r e l i gi on s a r e m e n w h o h a v e a d
v an c e d b e yo n d n orm a l hu m a n ity t hu s b ecom i n th e
, g
sp i ritu a l g u a r d ia n s of t h e race .

We hav e n o h e sit an cy in s ayi n g th at we ac

c ep t t he vi e w O f the Com p ar ativ e R e li gion ists ,

f or t h e Scriptur e s o f th e v a riou s rel i g io n s fur n i sh

a bu n d a n t ev i d e n c e that t h e f o u n d e rs w e r e a d v an c e d
18 A n ci en t My st e r i es an d M od er n Mason ry

m en , an d
th e i r t e a c h i n g s a r e n ot surp a s s e d ( or oft
e n e qu al e d
) by l at e r w ri t e rs i n t h e s am e r e li gion s .

T h e Sac re d B ooks O f t h e E a st g iv e a mp l e e v i d e n c e
o f th i s f a c t ; w h il e t h e a l l e e d r e fi n i n p ro c e s s Of
g g
t h e My t hol o gi st s i s w itho u t a d e qu a t e sup port .

We l so fin d am on g s av age s man y tr ace s o f

a

l o fty i d e a s w h i c h a r e e n ti r e l y b e yo n d th e ir c ap ac ity
to o ri g i n at e W h e n w e r e m e m b e r th a t th e s a va ge
.

trib e s of to d ay a r e n ot ou r a n c e str a l typ e s b u t

-
,

r a th e r t h e d e ge n e r a t e O fi spr in g O f p a st gr e a t n a
ti o n s w e b e g i n t o u n d e r s t a n d ho w t h e y c a m e to
,

p os s e s s th e s e l o f t y i d e a s th e y a r e t h e f a i n t r e m a i n
—

i n g v e sti g e s O f t h e W i s do m l o n g a g o i m p a r t e d by
a gr e at r e li gi ou s T e ac h e r ( Eso te r i c Ch r isti an i ty
.
,

B esan t Ch I ) , . .

It i s e v i d e n t th a t m a n i n h i s in f a n c y w a s n ot
l e ft to g ro w up u n a id e d T h e r e h a v e a l w ay s b e e n
.

E l d e rs or Sage s fr om w ho m t h e l e ss a dv an ce d br e th ~

r en r ece iv e d dir e c ti on an d tr a i n i n g ; s u c h e v e r st o od

b e s id e t h e e a rl i e st c r a dl e O f h u m an ity a n d ga v e ,

t o t h e r a c e t h e n e e d e d gui d a n c e a n d i m p u l s e to w a rd
a h i g h e r i d e a l of c ivil iz a t io n .

The fi rst g r e at T e a c h e r s w e r e a dv an c e d s o u l s
fr o m oth e r a n d sti l l e a rl i e r sy s t e m s o f ev o l u t io n .

T h e y w e r e t h e A d e pt s of t h e e a r l y r ac e s w ho e s
t a b li sh e d up o n thi s e a r t h t h e fi rs t g r e a t O cc u lt F r a

t e r n it y .T h e s e l o fty B e i n g s w a t c h e d o v e r an d
g u i d ed e a rly m an ki n d ; a nd a s m e n a dv a n c e d an d

b e c am e fitt e d for h i gh e r k n o w l e d g e t h e y w e r e in
st ru c t e d i n th e n at u r e of t h e god s t h e h u m an s oul , ,

t h e my st eri e s of t h e u n s e e n w orl d a n d th e p roc e s s

,

e s O f t h e w orl d s c o n ti n u a l e vol utio n Su c h a r e

’
.
20 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

SEC REC Y O F I N I TIATES .

Thi s has bee n t h e m e th od o f all gr e at i n st ructor s .

In iti a te s o f a ll a ge s h a v e m a i n tai n ed a p r ofou n d

Sil e n c e co n c ern in g t h e t r ut h s l ear n e d i n th e My s
t e r ie s . F rom O r p h e u s t h e fi rs t In iti a te o f w hom
, ,

h i story c a tch e s a gl i m p s e t o Pyt h a gora s Con

, ,

f u c iu s , B u dd h a A p ol l o n iu s
, J e s u s Sa c c u s n o
, , ,

T e a ch er ever com mi tt e d a n yth i n g t o w r it i n g for

i n d is c ri m i n at e p ub l i c u se .

H e rod otus in spe aki n g o f t he r e ason s w hy an i

,
“
m a l s w e r e w orsh ip p e d s ay s ! If I w e r e t o e x p lai n
,

t h e s e r e a so n s I s hou l d b e le d t o th e d is cl osure o f
,

t h es e h ol y m atters wh i c h I p articularly w i s h t o
,

“
a voi d , a n d a gai n i n oth er m atters Co n c e r n i n g
,

these at t h e sam e tim e th at I co n f ess mysel f su f

,

fic i en t ly i n for med I f ee l m ys e l f comp e ll e d to be sil

,

ent . O f t h e c erem o n ie s a l s o i n h o n or of C eres I ,

may n ot v e n tu re t o sp ea k fu rt he r th an t h e obl i ga
,
”
ti on s o f r eligio n will allow me .

J esu s ch a rg e d h i s d i scip l e s that t h ey tel l n o

“
m a n that h e w as t h e C hri st al s o s a yi ng , Gi v e n ot ,

th a t w hi ch i s holy u n to th e d o g s n eith er c a st y e ,

y ou r p e arl s b e for e s w i n e ; l e st t h ey t r am pl e t h em
u n d e r th e ir f ee t an d turn agai n an d ren d you He ‘

s u r e l y h a d good re a so n f or h i s s e crecy Ma n y h ave .

l e ar n e d t h e w i s d om o f th e s e w o r d s w h e n t oo lat e ;
A n a x a gor a s Pyth agor a s a n d Socrat es a r e n otab l e
, , ,

e x a m pl es .

T h e gr e a t T e a ch ers i n st ructe d t h ei r c h os e n d i s
c i ple s i n t h e h i gh e r k n o w l e d ge a n d p rop a gate d
“
t h es e t ruth s i n a l l e gori es a n d p a rabl e s A ll that .

can b e s a i d co n c er n i n g th e Go d s say s Strab o , ,

“
mu s t b e b y e x pos iti o n O f O l d opi n io n s an d f ab l e s ;
.
O r ig i n an d O bjec t f
o th e A n ci en t Myster i es 21

i t b e i n g t h e c u s t o m of t h e a n c i e n t s t o w r a p u p i n
i m age s a n d a ll e go ry t h e i r th o u g ht s a n d d i s c ov e ri e s
”
c o n c e r n i n g n a tu r e .

Pyth a go r a s t h e g r e at m a th e m a ti c a l Ma so n d i
, ,

v i d e d h i s c l a s s e s i n t o t h e e x o t e ri c a n d e sote ri c a n d ,

h i s s e c r e t s w e re forb id d e n t o b e c om m itt e d t o w rit

mg .

T h e So c i e ty of th e E s s e n e s a mo n g w ho m w e re ,

St J oh n t h e B a p ti s t an d St J o h n t h e E v an ge l i st
. .
,

m a d e S i m il a r di s t i n ctio n s ; d ivi di n g th e i r a d h e r e n t s
i n t o N eophytes B r e thr en an d P e r f e c t w hil e Am
, , ,

m o n i u s Sac c u s obl i ge d h i s d i s c ip l e s by o a th n o t t o
divul ge h is d o c tri n e s e x c e p t to tho s e w ho h a d b e e n
,

t h o rou gh ly i n stru c t e d an d p r e p a r e d .

I n E g yp t w e fin d t h e s a m e m et hod i n p r ac t i c e ,
“
for C l e m e n t s a ys T h e E gyp ti a n s di d n ot e n t ru s t
,

t h e myst e ri e s th ey poss e ss e d to a ll an d su n dry an d ,

di d n ot d iv u l g e th e k n o w l e d ge o f d ivi n e t hi n g s t o
t h e p rof a n e
”
He a l so i n for m s u s th a t t h e sp hi n x e s
.

e re ct e d in fro n t o f the t e m p l e s an d pl ac e s O f In
i t i at i o n d e n ot ed S il e n c e a n d s ecre c y th a t a ll sa c —

r e d t ruth i s e n f ol d e d i n sym b o li c a l fa b l e s a n d a l

l e go r i e s a n d h e says o f t h e M y st e ri e s
“
—
T hose w h o ,

i n s t itut e d t he Myst e ri e s bein g philosoph e rs buri e d

, ,

th e ir d o c tri n e s in m yth s S O a s n ot to b e ob vi o u s
,

t o a ll .
( Th e S tr o m a ta B ook V Ch VII Ch I X )
, , . , . .

Th e Sage s of Gre ec e ac c or d i n g t o P a u s an i a s
, ,

N e v e r wrot e oth e r w i s e th an i n a n e n i gm a ti c al
”
m an n e r T h e y c o n ce a l e d th eir k n o w l e d g e u n d e r
.

t h e veil of fi ctio n a n d so tau gh t tha t t h e vul ga r

m i gh t n o t c o m p r e h e n d T h e typ i c a l H erm e s as
.

se m b l e d h i s d i s c ipl e s i n a h ol y p lace o r Sh ri n e wh e re
22 A n ci e n t Myster i es an d M od er n Mason ry

stri c t s e cr e c y w as i m po s e d In t h e P e rf e ct Se rm o n .

“
h e s a ys A n d y e O T a t A s c l e p iu s a n d A m m o n
, , , ,

i n s i l e n c e hi d e t h e my s t e ri e s divi n e w ith i n t h e s e .

c r e t pl a c e s O f you r h e a rts an d br e ath e n o w or d o f

,
”
th e i r c o n c ea l m e n t T hi s w a s t h e u n iv e rsal pr o
.

c e d u re .

Says Wm R . . Si n gl e ton , 33 d d egr e e ,

Past Gr an d
Sec r et a ry . Gr an d L od ge of t h e D is t ri c t o f Colu mbia !
“
T h e w isd om o f t h e Ch ald e an s Phoe n i c i an s E
gyp , ,

ti o n s J e w s O f Zoro a st e r San c o n iat h o n P h e r e c y d e s

, , , ,

Syrus Pyth agoras Soc r at e s Pl at o ; O f all t he an c i en ts

, , , ,

th at i s c ome to our h an d is sy mbolic In t h e

,
.

m ethod expl ai n i n g t h e v ariou s sy mbols r e li gion an d ,

philosophy w e re v e il e d in a ll egori c r epr e s en t ation s .

Th e s e sy mbols w e re displ ay e d Op en ly in
t he t empl e s to th e prof an e al t ogeth e r
obs cur e but str eam i n g w ith b e am s o f li ght t o t he
,

In iti at e d ( History of F r eemason r y an d Con

.

cor d an t Or d e r s p ,
.

O CC ULT S Y S TE MS O F W R I T I NG .

T h e r e w er e v a riou s m ethod s e m pl oy e d by th e
t e ac h e rs t o c o n ve y a n d y e t c o n c e a l t h e tru t h s of
t h e M yst e ri e s T h e th r e e m a i n Kab b a l i st i c s ys
. .

t e m s a r e t h e G e m a t ri a w h i c h i s b a s e d o n t h e n u
,

m e ri c a l v a lu e O f w ord s appl yi n g t o t h e l e tt e rs O f
—

a w o r d t h e s e n s e th e y b e a r a s n u m b e rs ; t h e T e m u

r a b y w h i c h a w or d y i e l d s i t s m y st e ry b y a n a g r a m
,

th e tran sposi t io n O f t h e l e tt e rs an d t h e Not a ri

‘

— —

c on w hi c h m ay b e c o m p a r e d t o st e n o gr a phy Th e
,
.

sy s t e m O f n u mb e r l e tt e rs w a s d e ri v e d from Ch al
-

d e a by t h e Heb re w s d uri n g an d sub s equ e n t to th e ir

c a ptiv ity Th e C h a l d e an s w o rke d o u t t h e i r c os
.
O r igi n an d O bj e c t o f th e A n ci e n t Myst er i es 23

mogon ie s throp oge n e ses in n u mb e rs th e i

an d an ,

s ac r e d books w er e w ri t t e n with t hi s O bj e c t i n v i e w ;
Py t h a gor a s h ad a n u m b er ph il os o ph y w h i c h in a ll -
,

p rob a bil ity h e l d m an y r e s e m bl an c e s to t h e n umb e r

b ooks O f Ch a l d e a ; th is m e tho d w as d e v elop e d to a
g re a t e xt e n t b y th e H el l en i s i n g t e n d en c i e s Of t h e

c ul tured R a bb i s of A l e x a n d ri a T h e G n o sti c s a l so .

m ad e m u c h u se O f this n u mb e r sy m boli sm t h e - —

s y s t e m o f Ma r c u s b e i n g qu it e e l ab or a t e a n d th e ,

b o ok s of H e rm e s a r e p rob ab l y th e O l d e st r e p os itor ~

i e S O f n u mb e r sy m b ol i s m i n w e s t e r n c iv i l iz a t io n
-
.

C los e l y o n n e c te d w ith thi s w a s G e o m e tri c a l

c
'

sy m b oli s m w h i c h w a s also u s e d by Pyth ago r a s

,

t h e s qu a r e tri a n gl e p o i n t w i t h i n t h e c ir c l e c ub e
, , , ,

d oub l e t ri a n gl e 47t h p robl e m O f E u c l i d e t c

,
. th e ,
.
,

g e o m etri c a l fi gu r e s r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e n u m b e rs O b
je c t iv e ly I n e v e ry c o s m olo gy fr o m t h e e a rl i e st
.

t i m e s w e fin d t h e b a s i c i d e a c o m b i n i n g n u m e ri c a l
g e om e tri c a l fi g ures .

T h e r e i s a l so th e al l e gori ca l m eth o d a s e tti n g —

fo r t h O f truth in t h e form o f myths or p a r ables , ,

a n d furth e r m or e t h e s e c r e t s a c e rdot a l to n gu e t h e
, ,

Se n zar which w as k n ow n to t h e I n iti a t e s of e v e ry

,

n a tio n T h e n to ri gh t ly r ea d t h e w o rl d s Script
.
’

u r e s o n e m u st h a v e t h e k e y s to a ll th e s e v a riou s

sy st e m s .

O B J ECT O F TH E M Y S TE R IES .

The bj e c t of t h e My s t e ri e s wa s t h e i n stru c t i o n
O

a n d d e v e l op m e n t O f m a n Th ey w e r e t h e w ork o f
.

g e n iu s e m p l oyi n g t h e s c i en c es a nd a p rofou n d

k n o w l e d ge o f t h e hu m a n h e a r t in t h e t a sk of p u r i
24 A n ci en t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

fy i n g t h e soul a n d s e e ki n g m an s f e l ici t y by t h e
,
’

m e an s o f v irtu e Gr ea t e m ph as i s wa s l a i d upo n
.

m a n s i m m o r tal ity a n d th e obj e c t a n d p urp os e o f

’
,

t h e Myster ie s was to fit him for a bless e d stat e

b eyo n d Thu s th e se mysteries t aught t he con di
.

tio n O f th e p ostm ort em s tat e a n d s trov e t o d ev e lop

,

i n th e c an di dat e t h e p ow ers th a t woul d e n ab l e him

t o v e r ify t h e i n st ruct i o n fo r h im s el f , .

A n ti q u ity h a d h el d tha t there was a sci e n ce O f

t h e soul a kn owl ed ge o f thi n gs un see n a G n osis ;
, ,

an d n ow th a t th e p o s s ibil i t y o f e x te n d i n g t h e
b o u n d s o f c o n s ciou s n e s s b eyo n d th e p hy sical p l a n e
h a s b e e n p rov e n by ma n y e x p eri m e n t s i n p sychi sm ,

th e cl a im o f t h e My st e ries i s n ot b eyo n d ratio n al

b el i e f Th a t th e ego m ay t ra n s c e n d th e l i m it s of t h e
.

bod y an d b ec ome c on scious on t h e high er p la n e s

o f n a ture v erifie s th e truth o f t h e my s teries o f al l

a ge s a n d p rov e s t hat n atu re s G o d i n i n fi n it e wi s

’
,

d om throu gh t h e c o n st an t pr ogr e ss or d e v e lopm en t

,

of h i s ch il dre n i s i n itiat i n g t hem from ev ery fi e l d of

,

l ab or t o a i d i n h i s m ighty work .

Th e hi g he r i n s tru c tio n wa s n ot o n ly giv e n by

p erfecte d I n iti a t e s w ho coul d fu n c tio n o n th e high e r
p l a n e s b ut th e a s si st an c e of an ge l ic hierarch i e s was
,

al s o i n voke d an d th os e e x a l t e d B ei n g s cam e t o
t e a c h a n d e l e v a t e by th ei r p res e n c e Iam b lic h u s .
,

the gr eat Th e urgi st of t he thir d an d fourth c en

“
t u rie s A D says . . Th e God s [th e s e Be i n gs a r e
,

n ot God s i n t h e W es t er n s e n s e of t h e t e rm bu t
A n ge ls or D e v a s ; Pl ato c alls th em the Mi n or
,
‘

“
God s to disti n gu ish them from t h e Su p reme ! b e
’

i n g b e n evol e n t an d p ro p itiou s impart t h ei r l ight t o

,

Th e urgis t s in un v aryin g abu n d an ce c alli n g u p ,

O ri gi n an d O bject o f th e A n ci en t Myste r i es 25

w ar d thei r sou l s t o them s el ve s p rocu ri n g f o r th em ,

a u n ion wit h t he m selves an d accust omi n g them , ,

w h il e they are yet i n bo d y t o b e s e pa ra t e from ,

b odi e s an d t o be le d a rou n d t o th e ir e t e rn al an d in
,

” “
t e lligib le p ri n ci p l e For the soul ha vi n g a two f ol d
.

li fe on e b e i n g in con j u n ction with body but t h e othe r

,

”
b ei n g s e p a rat e from al l b o d y i t i s m os t n ec e s sary
,

t o lear n t o s ep a rate f rom t h e bod y that thu s it may ,

un it e with t h e Go d s an d l e ar n t h e t ru th s O f th e
in tell igibl e worl d ( E soteri c Christian i ty p 2 4
.
, . ,

T h e co n s u m matio n o f all th i s wa s t o m a ke t h e
In iti at e a G o d e ith e r b y u n io n w ith a D ivi n e B ei n g
,

w ithout o r by t h e r e a l i z a t io n O f t h e D i vi n e Self
w ithi n .

Sallust s ays th at t he Obj e c t of t h e c e remon ies of

In i tiatio n w a s to u n it e m an w ith th e w orl d an d
D eity .Th e In itiat e cl a im e d th at t h e soul p uri
fle d f rom a ll st a i n co u l d se e t h e Go d s i n thi s l i f e
,

that i s cou l d a tt a i n t h e b e at i fic vi sio n an d h ol d

, ,

c om mu n i o n w ith th e I m mort a l s Pro f Harn i c k r e . .

m ark s th a t d e i fic at ion w as t h e i d ea of sal vatio n

tau g h t i n t h e Mysteri e s .

Th e Gr e ek N e O p l ato n i st s c a l l e d th i s s tat e T h e
-

”
O ph a n y w h i c h m e an s e ith e r c om m u n icatio n b e
,

t w e e n t h e Go d s o r G o d an d t ho s e In i t i a t e d m o rt al s
wh o are sp i ritu a l l y fi t to e n j oy s u c h i n tercours e ;
o r t h e p r e s e n c e o f a G o d i n m an a n i n c a r n a tio n o r ,

b l e n d i n g o f th e p e rso n a l D eity ; th e H i gh er s el f
w ith t h e low e r s e lf it s rep r e s e n t a tive o n e arth
—
.

Ploti n u s d efi n e s th i s s tat e a s T h e l ib eratio n of

t h e m i n d from it s fi n it e c o n s c io u s n es s b e com i n g on e ,

”
a n d i d e n tifi e d w ith t h e I n fi n ite T h e l e n gt h an d
.
26 A n ci en t My st er i es an d Mod er n Mason r y

fr e qu e n c y O f t hi s s ub l i m e co n ditio n d e p e n d s upo n
t h e sp iritu a l d evel op m e n t P ro c l u s c l a im s to h ave
.

ex p eri e n c e d thi s e c st a sy six ti m e s d uri n g hi s m y s t i c

l if e ; Plot i n u s st a t e s th a t h e h a d r e a c h e d t h i s st a t e
“
b u t thr e e ti m e s as y e t Porph yry a s s er t s th a t A p
polon i u s att ai n e d this st at e fou r ti m e s w hil e h e ,

e xp e ri e n c e d it b ut o n c e an d th a t a ft e r h e w a s
,

sixty y ea rs O f age Th i s il l u m i n a tio n m ay c o m e

.

a n d go a s a fl a sh or it m ay l a st for h ou rs W i t h
, .

t h e h i g h In i t i a t e s t h e W or d i s r e a ll y m a d e fl e sh
, ,

th e u n io n c o m pl e t e an d it s du r a t io n c o n ti n uou s
,

throu ghout li f e Th e Myst e ri e s w e r e as a tr ai n i n g

.

s c h o o l t o t h i s e n d Phi l o i n sp eaki n g O f t h e D iv i n e
.

“
V i s i o n s ay s ,
It i s t h e sp e c i a l g if t o f th os e w ho
d ed i cat e th em s elv e s t o t h e s er vi c e o f Th at w hi c h is - - ~

to as cen d by m ean s o f th e ir r ation al f ac u l

ti e s to t h e h e i ght o f t he aeth e r s ett i n g b e for e th e m
,

s elv e s Mos e s t h e R ac e th at is t h e fri en d O f G o d

‘ ’
—

( Th e R ac e O f t h e Lo g os ) as t h e l ea d e r o f t h e w ay

t h e w o rk of philosophy is n au ght e ls e than

”
t he strivi n g clearly to see th e s e thi n gs .

Procl us a l s o s ay s In a ll t h e In iti ati o n s an d My s

,

t e r i es t h e God s e xh ibit m a n y for m s o f th e m s e l v e s

, ,

a n d a pp e a r i n a v a ri e ty of S h a p e s ; a n d s o m e t i m e s ,

i n d e e d a form l es s l i gh t O f t h e m s e lv e s i s h e l d f o r t h
t o t h e vi e w ; s o m e ti m e s th i s l i gh t i s a c c or d in g t o
a h u m a n fo r m a n d som e ti m e s i t p ro c e e d s i n to a
”
di ff e r en t sh ape ( Q u.o t e d i n E l e u si n i an an d B a c chi c

Mysteri es Taylor p
, ,
.

T a ylor t oo correctl y i n f e rs T h e m ost subl im e

, ,

p a rt of the epopt e ia or fi n al r e v ea lin g con sis t e d in ,

b e h oldi n g the Go d s [high pl an e t ary spirits ! th em

28 A n ci en t My st er i es an d Mod ern Mason ry

( t h e e x e t
n si o n Of s c iou s n e s s ) w e a r e t o l d w a s
con , ,

a tr a n s c e n di n g O f t h e li m it a tion s o f b o dy an d wa s ,

a f a c u l ty p o s s e s s e d by t h e forb e a rs O f t h e
’
rac e ‘

”
i n t o w h i c h H e r m e s a n d n ow T a t a r e b e i n g bor n .

( Th r i ce Gr ea test He r m es Vol II p ,
. Th e , .

n at u r e O f E c st a sy i s f u r t h e r e xp l a i n e d as t h e fr u it
“
o f m e dit a t io n a n d c o n t e m p l a t i on T h e G n o s is O f
.

t h e Goo d i s hol y S il e n c e a n d a
g ivi n g h oli d a y to
e v e ry s en s e .This is in a c cor d with the Yoga
of th e Up a n i sh a d s w hich sh o w s i d e n t ity o f thou gh t
,

of thos e w ho h a v e h a d firs t ha n d e xp e ri e n c e .

“
H e rm e s p roc e e d s . For it is possibl e my son th at , ,

a m a n s sou l sh o u l d b e m a d e l ik e to G o d e e n w hil e
’ ’

it stil l i s i n a bo d y if it d oth c o n t e m p l a t e t h e
,

B e auty o f t h e Goo d This is th e tr u e d e ificat ion or

apo t h e osis Man is lik e Go d in th at he b e come s a
—

G od . T h e r e s u l t of t h e e vol utio n O f th e s o ul w as
“
t h e a tt a i n m e n t u n to t h e first st eps O f de athl e ss
” “
n ess ,
S p ok e n of b y P a u l a s t h e r e s u rr e c t i o n of
” “ “
t h e d ead . Th e soul s v i c e
’
s ay s H e r m e s
, is ,

i gn or an c e Bu t on t he o t h e r h an d t h e ,

virtu e O f t h e sou l is Gn o sis For he who kn ows h e .

,
”
g o o d an d p ious is a,
n d still w hil e on the e a rth divi n e .

H e r e w e h av e t h e a tt a i n m e n t of t h e d ivi n e st a t e ,

th at o f A d ep tship whil e still in t h e b ody

'
.

Proc lus h e ld th at In iti ation e l evat e d t h e so ul ,

fro m a m a t e ri a l s e n su a l a n d p u r e ly hu m a n l ife
, , ,

to a com m u n i o n a n d c el e sti a l i n t e rcou rs e w i t h t h e

Go d s ; an d th a t a v a ri e ty O f th i n g s for m s a n d , ,

sp e c i e s w ere S h o w n to In iti a t e s r e p re s e n ti n g t h e ,

firs t g e n era tio n o f t h e G o d s .

In sp e a k i n g O f P et osi r i s Pro c l u s t e l l s u s th a t th i s
,

Egyptian Philos op he r had an in tim at e kn owl e dge

O r igi n an d O bj ec t f
o th e A n ci e n t Mysteri es 29

of e ve ry or d e r o f t h e God s an d A n gel s a n d refers t o ,

a hi er a tic formu l a o f th eu rgi c i n vocatio n t o t h e

gr eat es t O f th e go dd es s e s ( N ece s s i t y ) f or i n d uci n g ,

t h e visio n o f this p ow e r V alen s t e lls us o f N ec hep

.

so w h o attai n e d t o d irect k n o w l e d g e O f th e In n e r

Way V e t t i u s i n th e fi rs t h al f o f t h e fi rs t ce n tu ry
.
,

A D lam e n t s th a t h e d id n o t l iv e i n th os e d a y s o f
. .

In i t ia t e Ki n gs Rul e rs an d Sage s who occupie d t hem

,

s e lv e s w ith th e Sac re d Sci e n ce In t hos e d ay s so .

gre a t was t h e i r lov e for th e hol y m y st e ri es so h i g h ,

th eir virtu e t h a t th ey l eft th e e a rth b e l o w th em

, ,

an d in t h e ir d eathl e ss soul s be ca m e h eav en walk

”
e rs an d kn ow e rs o f thi n gs divi n e V e tt iu s al so .

q uote s a Gr e ek ap oc a lypt i c t reati s e O f N e ch ep so

wh e re t h e kin g t el l s u s th a t h e h a d rem a i n e d i n
con t empl ation all n i ght ga z in g i n to the aeth e r ; an d
so i n ecs tasy h e l eft h i s b o d y a n d h a d th e n h ear d

a h e a ve n ly V oi ce a d d res si n g h im T hi s V oice w a s .

n o t m e r e l y a sou n d b ut app eare d a s a sub sta n ti a l

,

p r e s e n c e w h o gu i d e d N e ch e p so o n h is way th rou g h
,

t h e h eav en ly space ( Th r i ce G r ea
. t est H e r me s V o l , .

I p
,
.

co n si d ere d th e e stabl i s h m e n t of th e E l eu
Ci cero
s in i an My st e r i e s t o b e t h e g r eates t o f al l b e n e fi t s
c o n ferre d b y A th e n s o n oth er com m o n w e a l th s ;
th ei r e ff e ct h avin g b ee n t o civ ili z e m en soft e n ,

sav a g e ferociou s ma n n ers an d te a ch t h em t h e tru e ,

p ri n cipl e s o f m oral ity w h ich i n iti a t e man i n to t h e

,

on ly ki n d o f li fe wo rt hy o f h im ( Ci cer o ci ted in .

Mor als an d D ogma p The Myste r ies pro

, .

cu r e d for man a r eal feli c ity on e a rth by m ea n s o f

virtue He was t aught t h e i mm o rt ality o f t he soul
.

an d t h e i n flexibl e law s o f d ivi n e j usti c e an d t he ,

30 A n ci en t My st e r i es an d M od er n Ma son ry

g r e a t m or a l p r e c e p t s w e r e m a d e k n o w n n ot o n ly t o
t h e I n i t i a t e s b u t a l s o t o t h e p rof a n e T h e My s .

“
t e r i es p oi n t e d ou t t o m en t h e way t o liv e b e t t e r
a n d d i e happ i e r b ut a s w e h av e s e e n t h e obj ect
, ,

of t h e My st e ri e s w as n ot m erel y to t e ac h m or a l ity ,

for a s G e n Pik e w el l s ay s
. Ha d m oral truth s ,

a l o n e b e e n t a u h t th e In itiat e s t h e Myst e ri e s c oul d

g ,

n ev e r h a v e d e s e rve d n or r e c e iv e d t h e m a gn ifi c e n t
‘

e ul o g ium s O f th e m os t e n l i ght e n e d m e n of A n
t iq u i t y —
O f Pi n d a r Plut a rc h I so c r at e s D io d or u s
, , , ,

Pl ato E uri p i de s So c r at e s A ristoph an e s Ci ce ro

, , , , ,

E pi c t e tus Ma rc us A u r e lius an d oth e rs ! philosoph e rs

, ,

hostil e t o t h e Sac r e d ot al Spirit or histori an s d evot e d ,

to the i n v e sti gation O f Truth N o ! a ll t h e sci en ce s .

w e r e t au ght th e r e ; an d thos e or al or w ritt e n tr a di

tion s bri e fly commu n i cat ed w hi c h re ac h e d b ack to t h e
,

”
first age o f t h e w orl d ( I bid p
.
,

Th e O bj e c t O f t h e Myst e ri e s th e n w a s t o i n stru ct , ,

m e n i n t h e r e a l s c i e n c e O f b e i n g an d t o l e a d th e m ,

u p t h e s t a i r w a y t o p erf e c tio n 54 0 t h e s up e rh u m an —

st a ge t o th e Ch ri st an d t h a t wh ich tra n s c e n d s
—
.

e v e n p e rf ec t Ma s t e rhoo d .

In th i s w ay t h e y s o u g ht t o p u rify th e soul hol d ,

i n g th a t t h e tru e h o m e O f t h e soul w a s i n th e h i gh
er sph e r e s t h e e arth a pl ac e o f e xil e an d th at to
, ,

r e tur n to it s b i r t hp lac e t h e soul m u st fr e e i t s el f

fro m th e p ow e r O f t h e w orl d m u st b e e m an c ip a t e d —

from th e p a s si o n s a n d th e h i n d ra n ce s o f t h e se n s es .

The Myst e ri e s taught m en how to att ai n th e do

m i n io n O f t h e sou l w h i c h w a s a b sol ut e l y n e c es sa ry
,

“ ”
as W e m u s t fl ee f r o m e v e ryth i n g s e n su a l say s ,

Porp h yr y “
t h at t h e soul m ay w ith e a s e r e u n ite
,
.

i ts e l f w ith G o d .
O r i gi n a nd O bj ect o f th e A n ci en t Myst er ies 31

Thus t he Myst e ri e s sou ght to s an cti fy m en to ,

il l u m i n a t e t h e i r s o u l s a n d fi t t h e m to r e t ur n c o n
sc i o u sly t o u n io n w i t h t h e D e ity T h e G n os t i c s al l
.

cl a i m e d th at a m an c ou l d so p e r f ect hi m s e l f th at he
w ou l d b e c om e a c o n s c io u s w o rk e r w ith t h e Logos .

T h e obj e c t O f t h e My s t e ri e s , t h e n w as n o t o n l y t o
,

t e ac h t h e u n ity of God a n d t h e i mm ortal ity O f t h e

s oul a s W a rb u r t o n Ma c k e y a n d oth e r Ma so n ic
,
»
,

w rit e rs c on t en d b u t t o en abl e e ac h m an to v e ri fy
,

th e s e g r e a t Sp iri t u a l f a c t s for h i m s e lf .

Th e s e c i t atio n s from th e a n c i e n t c l a s s i c w riters

a n d p hilos op h er s r e ga rdi n g t h e M y s t e ri e s m i ght b e

greatly e xt en d e d but this w ill su ffic e to Sho w the

,

r e v e r e n c e a n d a d m ir a tio n i n wh i c h th e Myst eri es

w e r e t h e ld W o ul d th e s e My s t e ri e s h a ve r e c e iv e d
.

s u c h h i gh p r a i s e h a d th e y n o t k n o w n th e m to b e o f
“
d ivi n e ori gi n ! A s h a s b ee n w e l l s a i d W h en m e n ,

l ike Pyth a gor a s Pl at o an d Iam b lic h u s r e n o w n e d

, , ,

for th eir s e v er e m o r a l ity t ook p a r t i n t h e My s t e ri e s

,

a n d spok e of th e m w ith v e n e ratio n i t il l b e hoov e s

o u r m od e r n c riti c s to j u d ge th e m up o n t h eir m e rel y

e xt e r n a l a sp e c ts
”
Man y hav e accep te d w ithout
.

qu e sti o n c ert a i n d erog a tory st a t e m e n t s O f t h e e a rly

C h ri s t i an A pol o g i st s c o n c e r n i n g th e My st e ri e s ,

with o u t tak i n g i n t o c o n si d e ra tio n th e fa c t th a t th e

.

w ri t e rs w e r e an i m at e d by t h e spirit o f bitt e r c on
t r ov e r sy D u e a l l o w a n ce S hou l d b e m a d e for th i s
. ,

p l ac i n g s u c h st a tem e n ts i n t h e s a m e cat e gory a s

thos e O f t h e P agan s w h e n th e y c h a rge t h e Ch r i s
,

ti an s with bein g A th e ists an d pr actici n g sh ame f u l,

rit e s .

To suppos e th a t th e Myst eri e s w ere th e i n ve n tio n

Of c h a rl a t a n is m i s th e h e i g ht o f a b s urd i t y T ru e . ,
32 A n ci en t My ste r i es an d M od er n Mason ry

th ey d e ge n e rat e d i n t h e l a p s e o f tim e as d i d t he
Christi an A gap e but i n t h e b egi n n i n g an d for
a ge s th e y w ere p ure an d n obl e a n d t h e w i s e s t
, an d

b es t m e n o f a n tiquity w e re n ot w i lful f alsi fie r s .

Th e Myst er ies w e r e truly t he gr eatest i n s t itution s

o f an c i en t ti m e s
. Th ey c on t ai n e d all th at was m ost
p rof ou n d in philosophy an d mo st s p iritual in r e ligion .

Su c h w er e t h e A n ci e n t Myst erie s of w hi c h Ma
son ry i s t h e s ucces so r .
 L ECTUR E II .

THE E GYPT IA N ,
H IN D U ,
A ND P E R SIA N
MY ST E R IE S .

Un dou b te d ly t he ce re m on ies o f In itiation we r e o r ig

in ally fe w an d all w e r e i n t en d e d to symb oli z e t h e
,

p rogr e ss o f t he huma n soul they we r e t he outwar d

—

si gn s o f an i n wa r d f act In iti ation as we s hall see

.
,

in a su b se que n t lectu r e was r ege n eratio n a r eal

,
—

“ ”
Sp iritual n ew becomi n g or re b i rth The can d i d ate
-
.

h im sel f b ecame t he t h i n g sym b oli z ed Her m e s Bu dd —

,

h a Chr ist etc

, , Thi s stat e was t he res u lt o f real In
.

it iat ion a n e volu t ion o f t h e human i n to t he d ivi n e

—
.

In the course O f ti me this spiritu al tr uth was n eg

lect e d an d i n iti ation n o lo n ge r mean t s p iritual r e
en eratio n an d t h e r ites n o lon ge r ty p ifie d t h e v a
g ,

riou s stages o f t h e soul s p rogr e s s

’
t he mystic birth
—
,

d eath an d r esurrection
,
The key t o t he s p iritu al
.

s c i en ce was forgotten the Ma ster s Wor d lost

,
—
“ ’”
,

an d In itiatio n con siste d merely i n imp arti n g t o t h e

ca n d i d ate t h e t ra d ition al kn o w le d ge o f t h e sy mbols

as han d e d d ow n from time immem orial an d gr a d u ,

ally t he tr u e m ean in g O f t he symbols d i sa pp ear e d an d ,

ev en t h e sym b o ls thems e lves we r e tr an s f orme d in t o

c ru d e d ogmas .

CE R EM ONI ES O F I N I TIATIO N
THE .

Th e A n cie n t Mysteri e s wer e di vi d e d in to t wo stage s

—
the P r obati ona ry Pa th an d t he A d v a n ced or Pa th
34 A n ci e n t Myster i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

Prop e r In m ost sch ools the P rob ation ary P ath was
.

mer e ly pr e lim i n a ry but as some s c hools b egan with

, ,

the p r e li m i n a ry in n u mbe ri n g t h e stages or division s ,

on e n ee d s be on guar d to avoi d m isu n de rsta n d i n gs .

Others as in Gr e ece divid e d th e ir Mysteries i n to the

, ,

Less e r an d t he Gr e ater Beyon d w hi ch th e r e was .

t h e T ru e Myst e ry o f t h e P a th ( In oth e r syst e ms t h e

.

Tru e an d the Great e r Myst e ries w e r e u n d oub te d ly th e

s ame ).

The h i gh e r e volution b e lon ge d t o t he Tru e or R eal

Myst e ri e s to w hi c h all others le d A N e ophyt e was
,
.

comp e lle d t o be profi c i en t a lo n g th e s e li n es b e for e h e

was allow e d to t ak e t h e r ea l In iti ation an d e n t e r upon
t h e Pat h prop e r whi c h w ill be c o n sidered in a su b se
,

que n t l ec tur e Th e r e wer e out e r forms an d c er emo

.

n ies w hi c h stoo d for an d sy m boliz e d t h e T ru e My s

'

t e r i e s but li t tl e wa s k n own of th e i r i n n e r n atur e e x

,

c ept by those who e xperi en c ed th em ,

The o i s w e r e u n doubt ed ly alter e d in t he

ce e m n e
r
c ou rs e O f tim e but e v e n in t h e d ays o f t h e gre at e st
,

d et erior ation w e fin d tr ace s o f t he hi d d en wi s d om i n

c on n ec ti on w ith t h e an c i en t sy m bols s om e o f whi c h —

h ave surviv e d an d are t o b e fou n d in Mo de r n Ma

,

son ry .

TH E E GY PTIA N M Y ST E R IES .

The le ar n e d Gr e e k Plut a r c h himsel f an In itiate ,

i n to t he O sir eaca o f w h i ch th e r e was prob ably a

,

thias os at D e lphi giv e s m u c h v alu abl e i n for mation

,

regar d in g t h e Myst e ri e s of Egypt O f cours e h e . ,

coul d on ly giv e hi n ts f o r as h e s ays in s p eaki n g O f

, , ,

“
t h e Priests T he ir philosophy whi c h f or t h e most
,
—

p a rt w as hi d d e n i n myths a n d wor d s ( logoi ) co n t a i n ~

36 A n ci en t My st er ies an d Mod er n Mas on ry

t o the river Nile wh en c e it was bor n e ou t on t h e

,

floo d to th e sea When Isis hear d w ha t h ad b een

.

d on e she set forth i n se a rch O f t h e c hest which mea n , ,

whil e had been carr ie d b y t h e waves to t h e Byb los

,

cou n try wh e r e t h e la n d w as h brought it t o rest in a

,
-

ce rt ai n h eath e r bush or t ama ri sk tr e e a s p ecies o f ,

a cac i a This b ush grew arou n d e n f ol d e d an d h id it

.
,

e n t i rely within itsel f Th e Ki n g Malk an d e r mar .

v e lle d at t h e great n ess o f t h e tr e e an d cut it d ow n ,

an d ma d e o f it a p r op in th e f orm o f a pi ll a r f or h is

r oo f
,
but Isi s h avi n g fou n d t race o f th e chest an d
its d is p ositio n through A n ubis an d the d aemon ean
s p irit O f a v oice came a lso t o Byb los an d sitti n g d ow n
,

b y a fou n t a i n h e a d s how e d att e n ti o n t o t h e mai d s of

t h e Q uee n d ressi n g their hai r with am b rosia thu s
, ,

s ecuri n g an i n vitatio n t o t h e p alace whe re she b ec ame ,

n u r se o f t h e Q uee n s little chil d ; t hen fi n d in g time

’

r i p e to rev e al h e rs e l f t h e G od d ess cla im ed f or h e r

,

own the p illar O f t he roo f an d taki n g it d ow n sh e , ,

cu t t h e tr ee from arou n d t h e c o ffi n an d p l a ci n g t h e

ch e st in a boat c ar ri e d t h e bod y to h er son Horus

, ,

who con c e al e d it in a d e ep f ore st Bu t Ty p hon while .

ou t hu n ti n g c ame u p on it an d recogn i z i n g t h e bo dy,

as th at o f Osiris tor e it i n t o fourt e en p a rts an d scat

, ,

t e r e d t h em ab r oa d I sis h eari n g wh at h ad b e e n d on e
.
, ,

sou ght t o recov e r t h e parts an d succ e e d e d in fin d in g ,

a ll b u t o n e w hi ch had b ee n cast in to t h e riv e r an d

,

e ate n by t h e fish e s Ho rus t h en f ought Typ h on an d

.

ov e rp owe r e d him w h e n i t was p roclaime d that O SII IS

,
'

h ad ris e n from t he de a d .

T his i s mere ly an outlin e o f the myt h It has a .

macr oc osmi c an d microcosmic m ean i n g In t h e f or .

m er s en se Osi r is an d Isi s are c osmic or su p e r cosmic

,
-
Th e E gyptia n , Hin d u , an d P e rsian Mysteri es 37

be i n gs , sym bolize d by t he su n an d moo n an d t he ,

e l d e r a n d you n g er Horu s a r e th e I n t el l i g ib l e an d

Se n sib l e W orl d s Microcos mi ca l ly t h e Myth p er

.

tai n s t o th e m y st e ry of In iti a tio n th e Horu s or —

Ch ri st st age of ma n hoo d In th i s l a tt e r a sp ect i t .

sy m bol iz e s t h e my sti c l i f e o f t h e In itiat e .

“
In rega r d to In itiati on Plutar c h says Wh en the ,

In iti at e s O f Isis at thei r d e ath are adorn e d in these

‘ ’

[ robe s ! it i s a sym bo l that this R easo n ( Logos ) i s

, ,

w ith them ; an d with Him an d n au ght else th ey go

there [ or w a lk th e r e th at is in Had e s t he d e ath
, , ,
—

h e r e m en tion e d i s t he mysti c d eath un to Sin ! For .

it i s n ot th e gr owi n g b e a r d an d w ea ri n g c lo a k th at
makes philosop h ers O Kl ea n ot clothi n g in l i n en
, ,

a nd shavi n g o ne s e l f that ma kes In iti ates o f Isis ; b u t

a t ru e I siac i s on e w ho wh en he by law re c e iv e s them

,

searches ou t by r e ason ( Logos ) t he [Myst e ri e s !

show n an d d on e con c ern i n g th e s e G od s an d me d itates
”
upon t h e truth in th em ( I bi d S e c I I I ) .
,
. .

T his Myst e ry rit e is re f e rre d to by Epiph an iu s as

sole mn iz ed in t he T e m pl e O f Isis w ho i s call e d t h e
V irgi n Mother or W o rl d V irgi n
,
In sp eaki n g o f .

t h e F east O f E p iph an y whi c h was a gr ea t d ay in ,

E gypt con n e ct e d wi t h t h e birth o f t he A e on ( a p hase

“
O f t h e b i rt h O f Horu s ) h e s a y s In d e e d th e l e a d ers , ,

o f t he i d ol cults
-
fill e d with wil e s t o d e c e iv e th e i d ol
,

worship p ers w ho beli e v e in th e m in ma n y pl ace s k e ep ,

hi ghest f e stiv al on t his sa m e n i ght of E piph an y ( the

ma n i festation O f Light ) so that t h ey whos e h op es ,

a r e in e rr or may n ot se e k th e t ruth For i n stan ce .

,

at A l e x an dr ia in the Kore ion as it i s calle d an im

, ,
~

men se tem p le that is t o say the p reci n ct o f t he vir

—
,

gin ; a f ter t h ey have kept all n igh t v igi l with son g an d

38 A n ci e n t Myst er i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

music ch an tin g to th e ir idol when t he vigi l i s ov e r at

, ,

cock crow th ey d e sc en d with li ghts i n to an u n der

-
,

grou n d c rypt an d ca rry up a woode n i mage lyi n g

,

n ake d on a litter with t he sea l o f a cr oss m ad e in

,
'

gol d o n its forehe ad an d on e ither h an d t w o simil ar

,

se als an d on both kn ee s two oth e rs a ll five s eals bei n g

, ,

si m ilarly m ad e in gol d A n d th ey carry a rou n d t h e

.

image its e l f ci rcum ambul ati n g s ev en ti m es t he i nn er

,

m ost t emp l e to t he ac comp an i m en t of pipes tabors,

, ,

an d hym n s an d w ith m e rry m akin g th ey c a rry it

,
-

do w n aga i n u n de rgrou n d A n d i f th ey a re a ske d t he .

m e a n in g O f this m yst e ry th e y an s w e r an d say ! TO

‘
,

d ay at this hour the Ma i d en ( Kor e ) th at is t h e V i r , ,

In t h e c ity of Petr a
’

gin gav e b irth to t h e A e on

,
.

a lso the s ame is d o n e an d they si n g t h e p r a is e s o f t h e

, ,

V irgi n an d him w ho is bor n from her ,

D u sar es th at is A lo n e Be gott en O f t h e Lor d

, ,
This .

a lso t a kes pl ac e i n the City O f B lou s a on t h e s a m e

”
n ight j ust as at P e tr a an d at A le x a n d ria .

Epiphan iu s outsid e r c ou l d n ot be expecte d to

as a n

u n de rst an d t h e rit e s h e d e s c rib e s an d as a n arro w ,

b igot h e c oul d n ot b e e xp ect e d t o d eal w ith t h em f a ir

ly. B u t t h e i mp ortan ce O f t h e p a ssag e i s t h e t e sti
mo n y it be ars to t h e f ac t that on e O f t he most w ide
“
sp r ead mystic fe stiv als was c on n e c te d with a rit e o f
”
resurr e ction You n otic e h ere t h e crowi n g o f the
.

”
coc k w hi c h is c on n e ct e d with t h e c rucifixion o f J e sus ,

an d t he c ross m a rke d on t h e foreh e a d h an d s an d , ,

kn ees Or f e et O f th e i mage or t h e on e who has r e ,

tu rn e d from the Un de rworl d ( H ad e s ) .

Epiphan iu s t e ll s u s that t he mystic rit e re p resen t s

a m ac r ocos m ic myst e ry V e ry true but it also r ep.
,

r ese n ts a mic r oc osmi c mystery The mystic b i rth .

,
Th e Egypti an , Hin d u ,
an d P ersia n Myster i es 39

d e at h , r e surrectio n wer e f am ili ar t o all t he s c hool s

an d ,

an d c omm u n iti e s o f a n ci e n t ti me s an d t he mystic ,

“ ”
risi n g agai n from t h e d ead was an i n tegr al part O f
th e u n iv er s al m ystic dr ama -
.

The In iti ation s O f E gypt ar e d escri b e d by C W . .

Le ad b e ate r a well kn ow n theosophical w riter as f ol

, ,
.

“
low s ! The can d i dat e was attire d in a whit e r obe -
,

emb lema ti c o f t he purity whic h was e x pect e d an d ,

b rou ght be for e a con cl ave o f pri e st i n iti at e s in a sor t -

o f v ault or c av e rn He wa s first form ally tes t e d as

.

t o the d e ve l opmen t o f t he clairvoyan t f aculty which

h e had b e en p r evi ously i n stru c t e d how t o a w ake n ,

an d for t hi s pu rp ose h ad t o re ad a n i n s c iptio n u pon

r
a br az en shiel d o f which t he bl an k sid e wa s pre
,

sen t e d t o his physic a l visio n Later he was l e ft a lon e .

t o keep a ki n d o f vigi l Certai n m an trams o r w or d s

. ,

o f po w er h ad b ee n t au ght him which were su p pose d

, ,

t o be app rop ri at e to co n trol a c e r ta i n cl ass O f e n tities .

Oth e r c e r em on i e s O f t h e Egypti an Myst e ries

are o f i n t e r e st A t on e st age O f hi s a d v an c e
.

m en t t he c an di dat e l aid hi m s e l f u p on a curiously hol

lowe d w oo den cross an d a fter cert ain c er em o n i e s was
, ,

en tr a n c e d Hi s bo dy was th en carri e d d ow n i n to t he
.

v aults un d e rn e ath t he t e mple or p yra mi d while he ,

hims e l f d e sc en d e d i n to H ad e s or t he u n d erworl d
‘

,
’

th at i s t o say i n o u r mod e r n n o m e n cl ature

, ,

h e p a s s e d o n to t h e a s tr a l p la n e H e re h e .

h a d m an y exp e ri e n c es p a r t o f h i s work b ei n g ,

to
‘
p r e ac h t o t h e sp irit s i n p ri so n ; fo r h e ’

r e m a i n e d i n th a t t ra n ce c o n d itio n thr e e d a y s a n d

three n i gh ts w h ich typ ifie d t h e th r e e rou n d s an d

,

t h e i n t e rvals b e tw ee n them d uri n g w hi c h man was go ,

i n g t hrough t h e e a rl ier p a r t of h i s evol utio n a n d d e ,

40 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Mo d er n Mason ry

s cen din g i n to m atter Th en a ft e r thre e d ays an d

.
‘

thr e e n i ght s i n t h e h e a rt o f t h e e a rth on t h e mor n ,

’

’
in g of t h e f ourth day h e ro se aga i n from t he d ead
‘

, ,

that is his bo dy w as brou ght b ac k from th e

vault an d so p l ace d th at t he r ays o f t h e risin g su n
,

fell upon his f ace an d h e aw ok e This sy mb oliz e s the.

aw ak en i n g of m an in t h e fourth rou n d an d t he c om ,

m en cemen t o f his a sc en t out o f m att e r on t h e u p w a r d

”
a rc O f e volutio n ( S ome G limp ses of Occu ltism p
.
, .

73
A ccordi n g to P i et schman n t he Egypti an Myst e ri es
,

h ad thr e e gra d e s c all e d M ort a ls In t e lli ge n ce s an d

, , ,

C re ators of Li ght Th e Mortals w e re prob ation a ry

.

pupils who w e re i n struct e d in t h e d oct r i n e bu t w ho

, ,

h ad n ot y e t r e ali z e d t h e i nn e r vi sion ! Th e In t e lli

g e n c e s were t h ose w h o ha d att a i n e d t he i nn e r visio n

an d had be come men an d r e ce iv e d Mi n d The Cr e .

at or s or So n s o f Light w e r e thos e who h ad bec ome

on e with the Light had att ai n e d t o true s p iri t u al

—

c on scious n ess . Thes e t hr e e st age s ar e call e d by W .

Marsh am A d ams In itiation Illumi n ation an d Per f ec

, ,

ti on This state c oul d be attai n e d whil e yet in the

.

b o dy an d i n clu de d t h e a fter d ea th c on s c ious n ess a s

,

a p a rt of its con t en t .

The an ci e n t t e mples O f In iti ati on in E gypt w e r e

mo d e ls o f t he H eav en ly J e ru s alem a type of t he ,

worl d b u il d i n g t o u se a J ewish Gn ostic t e rm A dam s

-
, .

“
de s c ri b e s t h e te mple at D en d e rah thus In t h e cen te r ,

O f t he t e mpl e is t he Hall O f the A ltar with en tra n c es ,

Op en i n g ea st an d west ; an d b eyon d it li e s t h e gr eat

h al l of t he t e mpl e e n titl e d t h e H al l of t h e Chil d in
h i s C ra d l e f rom wh e n c e a cc e s s i s O b tai n e d t o t h e
,

secr e t an d s ea l e d shri n e e n t e red on ce a ye ar by th e

Th e E gyptian , H in d u, an d P ersia n My st er ies 41

hi gh pri e st on ,
t he n i ght Of m idsumm er .
( Th e B ook
of th e Mas t er , or th e Egyp tian D oc tr in e f
o th e L ight
B or n t o th e Virgi n Moth er A dams p ,
The r e
, .

w e re also v arious oth e r h a lls an d cha m bers suc h as ,

Hall o f t he Gol den R ays Chamb e r o f Gol d Cham be r

, ,

o f B irth D w e lli n g o f t h e Gol d en O n e Cham b er of

, ,

F la me s all havin g r e fere n ce t o t h e Myste ries of

,

“
Li ght an d a d ivi n e B i rt h Th e chie f H al l o f t he
.

t em ple was t h e Hal l o f t h e Child in his Cra d l e an d ,

t h e c h i ef r e p r e s e n t a ti o n o n t h e p la n i sph e r e i s t h e hol y
Mot her with th e d ivi n e Chil d in her a rm s ”
( Ibid .
,

p 24 )
.

THE H I N DU M Y STERI ES .

The Myste r ies o f In d ia w ere cel eb rate d in tem p les

ca rve d ou t o f sol i d roc k ; an d in p yrami d s an d d ar k
p agod as The tem p le o f E le p han ta i s p e rha p s t he
.

most an cie n t in t he worl d It i s on e hu n d re d an d .

thirty fiv e f ee t squ ar e an d eight e e n f e et high su p

-
,

p o rt ed by four m a ssiv e pill a rs an d its wall s ar e cov ,

e r ed with st atutes an d ca rv e d e m bl e m ati ca l d ecor a

tion s The tem p l e s o f Salsett e e x ce e d in ma gn itu d e

.

those o f E l eph an t a though they are e x cavate d in r ock

, ,

thei r e x t e r n al f orm be i n g p yra m i dal The i n t e rior has .

man y ga lleries an d secr e t cavern s an d in t he i n most ,

“
r eces s e s o f t h e st ru c tu r e a cub ical ci st a a se p u l —

c h re wh ere t h e ca n d i d at e was lai d d u ri n g h is

e n tr an c e d stat e .

Anaccou n t o f t he In itiation i s gi v en by D r O li v e r .

in his History o f In itiation s whic h w e her ewith con

den se as f ollow s

Th e
my st e r ie s wer e d i v i d e d i n to f ou r d egr ees The .

mn did ate might pe r f o r m hi s fi r st p roba tion at t he

42 A n ci en t My st e r i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

ear ly age O f eight y e a r s T his con siste d o f an in .

ve stitu r e o f the Z enn a r or sacr e d c or d of t hr ee

“ ”
t h r ea d s c orr espon d i n g t o ou r cab le t ow
,
Thi s in -
.

v e stiture was atte n d e d with n um e rous c e remo n i e s an d

en d e d w ith an e x t en d e d lectu re from t h e pre cep t or .

A ft e r t hi s t he c an d i dat e was cloth e d in a li n en gar

men t wit hout seams an d a cor d p ut ov e r his ri ght
,

ear an d h e was p laced u n der t h e care o f a Br ahm i n

, ,

as a sp iritu a l gui d e t o be i n st ructe d in t h e n ecess ary

,

qualificati on s f or t h e Se con d D egr ee He was su b .

ject ed to man y har d shi ps an d ri gi d p en an ce s an d was

tau ght t o pres e rv e the p urity o f his bod y to avoi d ,

e x t e rn al d efilemen t s an d to d evot e much time to

stu dy o f th e sacr ed b ooks A t the age of t w e n ty i f .
,

h e w er e fou n d to h a v e m a d e su i table p r ofici en cy

in the prece d i n g d egree he was a d mitte d on p rob ation
,

to t h e Se co n d Here his aust er iti e s we re d oub le d

. .

A t t he co n clusion O f this p r ob ation he was In itiate d

i n to t he privilege s of the Mysterie s San cti fied by .

t he Sign o f the Cross w h ich was ma r k ed on e v ery

,

part o f t he b od y he was su b j e cte d t6 t he p r ob ati on

,

o f Pastos w h ich was d e n omin ate d t he d oo r o f Patal a

,

o r hell —
th e Tartaru s O f the G recia n Mysteri es T h is .

was the Mysti cal d e ath His p er f ection O f t he p r ob a

.

t ion ary p e rio d bei n g att a i n e d h e wa s led at t he d ea d, ,

o f n i ght to t he cave which had be en d uly pre pare d

,

for his r eception ; the in t e rior o f this c av e rn blaz e d

w i th a ligh t e qual to th e m eri d i an su n T h ere sat i n .

rich an d cos tly rob e s t he thr ee c hie f hi e rophan ts sta ,

t ion e d in the E ast W e st an d South to r e p r es en t t he

,

Sa c re d Tria d B r a h m a V is hn u an d Siv a with t he

—
, , ,

att en d a n t Mystagogu e s c la d in holy v e stm en ts seate d

,

a r oun d The w e ll kn ow n Si gn al from t he s ac re d b ell

.
44 A n ci en t My ster i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

i mport an t truths as t he s e v e n cav e rn s f or i n st an ce

, , ,

b or e an a llusion t o t h e s ev en f old d ivisio n O f t h e in

-

visi b le worl d t he s e v en p l ac e s of re w ar d an d pu n
—

i shmen t .

A ft e r thes e tri als t h e p e ali n g Con ch wa s sou n d

all ,

e d t h e fol d i n g doo rs w e r e thro w n Op en an d t h e can

, ,

d idat e was c on d u c t e d i n to P a r ad is e w hi c h wa s a spa ,

ci ou s ap a rt me n t bl azi n g with a thou sa n d brilli an t

lights orn a men te d with st atues an d embl e m ati cal fig
,

ur e s d ecorat e d pro fu se ly w ith gem s an d j ew e ls With

,
.

ey e s r iv ete d on t h e alt ar h e w as t au ght to e xp e ct t he

,

d e sc en t O f t h e D e i t y in t h e bri ght pyr am i d a l fir e th at

bl aze d u p o n it This gor ge ou s d ispl ay fill e d t h e m i n d
.

o f t h e a spiran t with a d m ir ation an d li ght e d up the

,

holy fe r vor o f d evotion in hi s hea rt An d n ow b e .

in g fully r egen e rated a n ew n am e was gi v en h im

, ,

p res siv e of h i s r e ce n tl y att a i n e d p urity an d h e was ,

i n t ro d u c e d t o th e c h i e f B r a h m i n i n th e m i d s t O f th e
,

august a ss em bly wh o rec e ive d him as a b r other an d

,

associat e i n v e ste d him w ith a white ro be an d tiara

, ,

se ate d him in an el e v ate d p lace an d solemn ly d cliv ,

e r e d t h e si gn s toke n s an d l e ctures O f t he Or d e r
, , Hi s .

for e h e a d was m ark ed w ith a c ross A n in v e rt e d lev e l .

or tau cross was i n scri b e d on his b r east this wa s a

, ,

b a d ge o f i n n oce n ce an d a symbol o f e ter n al li f e He .

was i n v e st e d with the sacre d sash or belt an d fi n ally , ,

h e w a s e n t ru ste d w ith t h e s ubl im e N a m e w hich w as

k n ow n o n ly t o the In itiat e d The A rc h B rahmi n
.

th en e n tere d on an e xplan ation o f t he variou s em

b lems w h i c h were a rr a n ged arou n d him ; with t he
arca n a o f t h e hi d d e n scien c e en fol de d un d e r t h e h oly
gloom o f t h e mysterious v eil .
Th e E gy ptia n , Hi n d u , and Persian My ster i es 45

An e x ten siv e syste m o f symboli c al i n struction was

a l so u se d in t h e Hi n d u Myst e ries an d their ph i loso,

p hy was v e il e d u n de r t h e im p ervious sha d e o f hi ero

g l yp h i ca l sy m bols u n i n telligib le to t h e p ro f an e
,
an d ,

i n te n d e d to le ad t hem in to a m az e O f error from ,

w hic h it was di fficult to e x tract a si n gle i d ea w hic h

bo r e an y s em bl an c e t o t h e origi n al truth These .

symbol s were publi c ly d is p lay e d in the ir te mp les bear ,

in g streams of li ght to t h e In iti at e d ; w hil e to the pr o

f an e t h ey w e r e but an Obscur e m ass O f u n i n telli gible
d a r kn ess .
( Ol v er s Histor y of In i tiati on s Ch
i ’
, .

TH E P E R S IA N M Y STE R IES .

The Pe r sian Myste ri e s or t h e Myste r ies o f Mith ra s

are amo n g th e m os t im port a n t o f a n ti quity E v e n .

Pyt h agoras i s sai d t o have tr avell e d from G r eece t o

r eceive In itiation at the ha n d s o f those Persia n Hiero

p h a n t.s The can d i d a tes w e r e pr e p a re d for In itiati on

by various lustra tion s an d forty d egree d ays O f pr o -

bat ion which e n d ed by a fif ty d ays fast

,
-
Th ese t r ials
.

w ere u n de rgon e in a subt e rr an ean c avern where the ,

can d id ate was bou n d to pe rp etual silen ce A t th e .

c on clusion o f his prob ation he was gui d e d i n to t h e

H all o f In iti ation an d r ec e iv ed on t h e p oi n t o f a swo rd
,

p r es en te d t o his n ak e d l e f t b r east He was co n ducte d

.

i n to the i n n e r Chamber whe r e he was p uri fi e d by fi re

an d wate r , an d the n con du cte d th rough th e s even
stage s o f In iti ation D r Oliv e r d esc ribes t h es e stages
. .

“
as follows ! F rom t he p r ecipice whe re he stoo d he ,

b e h e l d a d e e p an d d angerou s v ault in to which a si n gle

f als e ste p might preci p itat e him d o w n to t he t h r on e
‘

o f d rea d ful n e c e ssity which was an emblem o f those

’
,

in f e rn al r egion s through which h e was about t o pass .

46 A n cien t My ster i es an d M od er n Mas on ry

Thr eadi n g t h e c ircu itou s m az e s o f t h e gl oomy cavern ,

h e w a s soo n a w a k e n e d from hi s tr a n c e o f th ou ght by ,

se e i n g the s ac r e d fir e at i n t e rv als flash through its

, ,

r ece ss e s to illu m i n at e his p ath ; Someti mes b u r sti n g

f ro m be n eath hi s f e e t ; some tim e s d e scen d i n g on h is
head in a bro ad sh e et o f w hit e an d sh ado w y flame .

A m idst t h e ad m ir ation thu s i n spir e d his terror was ,

excit e d by t he distan t y e llin g O f r av en ous b e asts ; the

roari n g o f lion s t h e how li n g of w olv e s the fierce an d
, ,

thr e at en i n g b ark o f dogs En v e lop e d in bl ac k e st d ark

.

n e ss h e wa s at a loss w h e r e to turn for s a fety ; b u t was

,

i mp e l l e d rapidly for w ard by his att en d an t who m ai n ,

t a in e d an u n brok en sil en ce t ow a rds the qua rte r f rom

,

wh en ce t h e ap p a lli n g sou n ds p roce e d e d ; an d at the

sudd en op en i n g of a d oor h e fou n d hims e l f in a d en
o f wild b e a sts d i m ly e n light e n e d with a si n gle lam p
, .

His con du ctor exhort e d h im to cour age an d h e was ,

i mme di at e ly at t ack e d am i d st t h e m ost tr em en d ous u p

,

roar by t he i n iti at e d in t he form s of lion s ti ger s

, , ,

w olv e s grifii n s an d o th e r mon strou s be asts ; fierce

, ,

d ogs app ear e d t o ris e fr om t he earth an d w ith d rea d ,

f u l how lin gs en d eavor e d t o ov e r w h e l m the as p i ra n t

with al arm ; an d ho w br av e ly soev e r his c our age
mi ght sust ai n him in this u n equ al c on flict he se l d om ,

es c ap e d u n hurt .

Be i n g hurri e d throu gh this c aver n i n to an other he ,

wa s on c e m or e Shroud e d in d ark n e ss A d ea d silen ce .

s u ccee de d an d h e was obli ge d to proc e e d with d e

,

liberat e st ep medit ati n g on t h e d an ge r h e h ad j ust

,

e sc ap e d an d s m a rti ng u n d e r the wou n d s he had r e

,

c e iv e d
. Hi s att en tion ho w ever was soon r ouse d
, ,

from th e s e r e fl e ction s an d dir ec t e d to oth e r d an ge r s

whi c h ap p ea red to thr eat en A n u n d e fi n e d rumbl in g.
Th e E gy ptia n , H i n d u , an d P ersia n Myster i es 47

n ois e was h ear d in a dist an t r an ge o f c av e rn s which ,

becam e loud e r an d loud e r as he ad v an c e d u n til t he ,

p e ali n g thu n der s eemed to r e n d t he soli d roc ks an d

b u rst t he caver n s a rou n d him ; an d t h e vivi d an d c on
t in u e d fl a sh e s o f li ghtn i n g in str e ami n g sh e ets of
,

fir e re n d e r e d visible the flit t i n g sh ades of av en gi n g

,

ge n u who frow n i n g displ easur e a p p e ar e d to thr eat en

, , ,

with s u m m ary de s t ru c tion th e s e d ari n g i n tru d ers i n to

t h e pr iv acy o f th e ir hallow e d abod e s Sc en es like .

thes e w e r e multi p li e d wi t h i n c r easi n g hor r or u n til ,

n ature c ould n o l on ger e n d ur e the tri a l ; an d w hen

t h e a s p i r an t was r e ady to si n k u n d er t h e e ff ects o f e x

hau st ion an d m en t al agon y he was c on v e ye d i n to an
,

oth e r ap a rtm e n t t o r ec ruit h is str e n gth H e r e a vivi d .

,

illu m i n ation was su dd en ly i n tro du ced an d hi s out ,

rage d f ee li n gs w e r e soot he d by t h e soun d o f m e l od ious

mu si c an d t h e fl avor o f grat e ful p e r fume s Se ate d
, .

at r e st in this ap a rt m e n t his gui d e e xplai n e d the ele

,

m en ts of th o s e i n v al u abl e s ec r e ts which w e r e m or e
fully d ev e lop e d w h en his i n iti ation was complet e .

H avi n g pron ou n c e d hi m sel f dispose d to p rocee d

throu gh t he r e mai n i n g c e r emon i e s a si gn al was gi ven
,

by hi s c o n du ct o r an d t h re e pr i e sts i mm e di a t e ly m a d e
,

th e i r app e ar an c e ; on e o f w h om a f t e r a lon g an d sol

,

e mn p au s e c a s t! a livi n g s e rp e n t i n to his bo so m as a
,

token o f r egen e r ati on ; an d a p riv at e d oor bei n g

op en e d th e r e iss u e d for t h su c h how li n gs an d cri e s
,

o f l am en t a t io n an d d e sp a i r as stru c k h im w ith n ew
,

an d i n d e s c rib abl e e moti on s o f t e rror He tur n e d his

.

ey e s with an i n v o l u n t ary m oti on to t h e pl ace from

wh en c e th e s e b ew aili n gs app ear e d to proc e e d an d ,

beh e ld in e v e ry app a lli n g for m t h e tor me n ts o f the

,

w i ck e d in H ade s Tu rn i n g from this sce n e o f woe

.
,
48 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

h e was pass e d throu gh some oth e r dark cave rn s an d

p a ss ages ; u n til havi n g suc e ss fully thre ad e d t he laby
,

r i n t h co n sisti n g o f six spacious v aults conn e cte d b y

, ,

wi n di n g gall e ri e s eac h ope n i n g wit h a n arrow st on e

,

port al the scen e o f som e p e rilous a dv en ture ; an d

,

havi n g by th e e x e rci s e o f fo rt itu d e an d p ers e

,

v e r an c e b ee n triumph an tly born e thro u gh this ac

,

c u mu l ate d m ass o f di fficulty an d d an ger ; t h e d oor s o f

t h e s e v en th v ault or Sace llum wer e throw n o p en an d
, , ,

hi s d a rkn ess was cha n ge d i n to light He was ad .

mitt e d i n to the s p acious a n d lofty cav e rn a lrea d y d e

s c rib e d whi ch was d e n om in ate d the sacre d gr otto o f
,

E lysium This con s e c r at e d p lace wa s b r i llin at ly i l

.

lu m in at e d an d sp a rkl e d with gol d an d p recious ston e s

, .

A spl e n did su n an d st a rry syst e m e mitt e d their d az

z li n g ra dia n c e an d mov e d in or d er to the sym p hon ies
,

o f h eav en ly music H e re sat the A r chimagu s in the

.

E ast e levate d on a thro n e o f burn ish e d gol d c r own e d

, ,

with a ri ch d i ad em d e corat ed with myrtle b oughs ,

an d h abite d in a flo w i n g tu n ic o f a bright ce rulean

ti n ct u r e ; rou n d him were arran ge d in solemn or d er

t h e Pr e su le s an d d ispe n se r s o f the mysteries ; f o r m
,

in g a ltoge th e r a rev e r en d as se mbly which cov e r e d ,

th e awe struck -
a s p ir an t with a p ro fou n d f e e l
in g o f v en eratio n ; an d by an i n volu n tary im p ulse ,

fr e qu en tly p ro du c e d an act o f w orshi p H e re he was .

r e c e iv e d with con gr atul ation s ; an d a f t er havi n g en

t e r e d i n to t he usu a l e n gage m e n ts f or k e e p i n g secre t
t h e sacr e d r ite s o f Mithr as t h e s ac r e d wo r d s we r e
,

en trust e d t o him o f which t he i n e flab le Te t r act s or

‘

, y ,

N ame o f G od was the chie f ( Hist ory of In i tiation

, .
,

Oliv er Ch I V )
, . .

The can d idate was t he n i n st ructe d in th e secret

Th e E gypti an , Hi n du , an d P ersia n Mysteri es 49

s c i en c e Th e m e an i n g of t he emblems was e x
.

pl ai n ed t he i n c id en ts e xp e ri en c e d con v e rt e d to a
,

moral purpos e an d th ei r s i gn ifi can ce m ad e c le a r

, .

Nothi n g wa s d on e w itho u t a purpos e an d ev e ry e x

e r i e n ce ill u strat e d som e truth an d f act in n atur e
p .

What th ey w e r e d e si gn e d to set forth we shall se e in

subs e qu en t l ec t u r e s .

Su ffic e it h e re to say th at th e Mith r a Myst e ry was

,
-

i d en t i cal w ith t h e Christ Mys t e ry the myste ry o f - —

’
m an s per f ection an d fi n al apotheosis .

The s ec r et o f r egen e r at i on o f b e i n g born an ew or ,

spiritu ally or fro m abov e in bri e f t he d ivi n izi n g o f

,
—
,

man wa s t h e l a st w or d o f t h e Mithr a rites ; all e ls e

,
-

i s i n trodu c to ry or an c ill a ry This sec re t was t he on e

.

se c r e t of a ll t he gr e at m yst e ry rit e s an d myst e ry

-

( Myster i es of Mi th r a M ead p
”
a rts .
, , .

A Ritu al d ea li n g w ith t he myst e ry o f apotheosis

a n d us e d by t h e most a d v an c e d in t h e Mithr a i c e so

t e r ic c i r c l e s h as r e ce n tly be e n dis c over e d It is a .

“ ”
yoga rite on e fa r in ad va n c e of t h e low e r gra d e s
-
,

of In iti ati on In iti ation d oes n ot m ean c on su mma

.

tion it is m e r e ly st arti n g thi n gs goi n g Th e c an d i

—
.

d at e t o m ak e the i n iti ation v ali d must s eal up t h e

, ,

li n ks so to sp e ak an d thi s Mithr a i c Ritu al has to do

, ,

with t he fi n a l s t age s o f Spiritu al evolution ( F or a .

A Mi thr ai c
“
comp le t e e x p osi ti on of th is R i tu al se e

by G R S Mead )
”
R i tua l , . . . .

B e sides t h e v arious rit e s o f In iti ation a lr ead y d e

s c ribed we fin d t he s ame s ac ram e n ts in t he Mys
,

t e r ies th at in l at e r y ea rs w e r e ad m i n ist e re d in t he
Christi an Chu r ch .
50 A n ci e n t My st e r i es an d M o d er n Mas on ry

Justin Ma rtyr 1 50 A D sa ys t h at t h e e vi l d e mon s

, . .
,
.

i n t h e Myste ri e s of Mithr a s a p e d t h e Ch risti an Eu

c h ar i st , for th e r e wa s an o ff e ri n g of br ead an d o f a
c u p of w ate r w ith c e rt a i n e xpl an a t ory s acre d f or
m u lae .
( J u sti n Mar tyr F irst A p ology Vol II S ec ,
. .
, .

L I V L X II L X VI S e con d A p ology S ec XI II )
, , , . .

T e rtulli an 2 1 0 A D in sp eakin g o f t he Mithrai c

, . .
,

My st e ri e s s a y s He t o o b ap tiz e s s o m e th a t i s h i s
, , , ,
—

o w n b e li e v e rs a n d f a ith ful f o ll o w e rs ; h e p rom i s e s

th e p utti n g a w a y o f si n s by a l a v e r ( o f
hi s o w n ) ; a n d if m y m e m ory st il l s e rv e s m e ,

Mithra th e re ( in t h e ki n gd om o f Sat an ) s e t s
, ,

hi s m a rks o n t h e for e h e a d s o f h is s o l d i e rs ;
c e l e b r a t e s a l so t h e ob l a t io n of b r e a d a n d i n ,

t rod u ce s an i mage o f a r e s u rr e c ti on an d b e fore a ,

”
s w or d w r e aths a c row n ( P r escr ip ti on A gainst .

Her e ti cs Ch XL )
, . .

Tertulli an also ex pl a i n s t he id en titi e s by r e sortin g

t o t h e c on v en i e n t th eory o f t h e D e vil api n g t h e Chris
ti an f or ms B u t this c u riou s expl an ati on w ill h ardly
.

fin d a dhe r en ts to d ay i t is di fficu lt to ac c ept t h e

- —

ea rli e r a s c op i e s an d t h e m or e r e c en t a s ori gi n als

,
.

We sh al l se e l ater the origi n an d m ean i n g of th e se

si m il ariti e s .

Thus we fin d in th e an c i en t Egypti an Hi n du an d ,

P e rsi a n M y s t e ri e s a sy s t e m of r e li giou s c ul tu r e a n d
,

tra i n i n g t hat ori gi n at e d t h ou s an d s o f y ea rs ago an d ,

whi c h th rou gh m an y c en t u ri e s p r e s e rv e d an d h an d e d
d ow n t h e Ma st e r s W o rd t o t h o s e w ho h ad m ad e su f
’

“
fic ie n t progr e ss an d w e r e th e r eby d uly an d truly pre
,
”
r d to r e c e iv e i t
p a e .

Th e s e gr eat In stitution s w e re th e won d e r o f t h e

w o rld h en c e it i s n ot str an ge th at th ey r ece i v e d the
h i gh e st p ra i s e fro m all t h e gr e at m e n of an ti qu i ty
,
.

.
52 A n ci en t Myst er i es a nd Mod er n Mas on ry

an d hop e an d con fin ed in a crom l ech ( t omb ) f or

,

p a rts o f thre e days without food d ead in t h e lan ,

—
,

gu age o f the Myst e ri e s a fter w hi c h he was liber ated

,
—

for In itiatio n an d r e store d to li fe on the thir d d ay

, .

This c on fi n em en t p rec e d ed his In iti ation i n to ea ch o f

t h e t w o first d egr e e s Whe n t h e A spiran t wa s lib e r
.

ated h e was pla ce d in t h e h an d s o f an officer an d con

d uct e d arou n d t h e s an c tu ary n in e ti m es at fi rst with ,

slow an d m easur e d step which at l en gth was in ,

cr eas e d to a rapi d pac e D u r i n g t h e c ircuits the r e

.

wa s a clan g o f musica l i n st r um en ts an d recitation s in

p raise of thos e who w ere h e roi c in war cou rt eous in ,

p eac e an d the fri en d s o f religi on A t t h e c ompl e tion

, .

o f this cer em on y t h e oath of s e cr ecy was a dm i n ister e d

a n d t he a spiran t th en we n t through v a rious ce r em o

n i e s i n w hi c h h e r e pr e se n te d man y ch a r acter s d ec la r ,

“ ”
in g am on g oth e r thi n gs I h av e d i e d
,
an d I hav e ,

”
r e viv ed allu d i n g t o his mystica l d e ath an d re su r
,

r e ctio n .

In t he secon d pa r t o f the cer emon y the r e was the

d is ma l d ar kn e ss t h e d ir e ful shrieks t h e b a rki n g d ogs
, , ,

etc w ith which we h av e b e e n m a de f am iliar in t h e

.
,

pr ec e d i n g Myst e ri e s The aspiran t fin ally em e rge d

.

from t he gloom an d f ou n d hims e l f su r r ou n de d with

,

t h e most b rilli an t cor u scatio n s of li ght bei n g t h e n ,

presen t e d t o t h e Ar ch d ruid w ho i n st ru c t e d him in t h e

,

Myst e ries impa rti n g t h e kn o w le dge o f D rui d ism an d

, ,

e x h orti n g h im to t he pr actice of vi rtu e .

Ther e wa s still an oth e r d egr e e to b e a dmi n ist e r ed

to thos e who a spir e d to a high d egr e e o f p e r f ection .

To obt ain this furth e r a d va n cem e n t th ey we r e su b !

je c te d t o t he most ar d u ou s pu ri fication an d w ere com

D r u i d i ca l, G othi c G r e cian
, , an d J ewish Myster ies 53

m it t e d tom b for n i n e mo n th s w h er e i n sol i

to the ,

tud e th ey studi e d th e ology philosophy c osmogon y , , ,

“
a stro n o my e t c D r Oliv e r says this was Th e d e ath
, . .

an d b u ri a l o f t h e Mys t eri e s ; an d on its e xpir ati on he

w as said t o be n ewly bo rn f rom th e womb o f Ceri

d we n an d was p ron ou n c ed a r egen er ate perso n
, ,

c l e an se d from hi s former i m purities b y t h e mystical

( Hist ory of In i tia ti on

”
con t e n ts of h e r cauldron .
,

Oliv er p ,
.

When t he pe rio d o f gest ati on in t h e womb o f Cer i d

wen was compl ete a s the c on fi n e m en t in t h e tomb
,

was t e rm e d t h e c an di d at e was rea d y for f urthe r in

,

st ru c tion A no th e r trial h ow e ver must be b rave d

.
, ,

be for e th e highest d egr ee o f light coul d be con f erre d .

“ ”
The can d i d at e n ow calle d t h e n ew born i n f an t was
, ,

p laced in a b oat an d committe d t o t h e m erc y of t he

,

wav e s If h e succ ee d ed in securi n g a sa f e l an d i n g

.

place h e was triumphan tly r e ceiv e d an d this com

,
“
p le ,

tion o f t h e Thre e D egr ees ma d e the as p ira n t a t h rice ,

”
b o rn c o n fe r r i n g upon h im t h e p ower o f i n spi r ation
—

an d prophecy in t he h ighest f orm .

The D rui d s mai n t ain e d

a high i n t ell ectual sta n d ard ,

f or th e y t aught their d isciples a stro n omy b ota n y , ,

atomy l an guage s m e d i c in e et c Thus we see t he

, , , .

Myst e ries we r e always r epositories o f Wis d om .

TH E GOT H I C M Y STER I ES .

The Got hic Mysteri es wer e p r actic e d at on e time b y

a l l t he n o rthern n ation s o f Eu r Ope ; w e trac e thei r in
tr od u c t ion t o Sigge a Scyt hi an Pr i n ce who li v e d in
, ,

t h e first ce n tu ry B C . .
54 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d Mod er n Mason r y

There w e r e thr e e gr eat f e stiv als c on n ec t e d w i t h t he

Go thi c Myst e ri e s The mo st si gn ifi c an t wa s c eleb r at
.

e d at t h e w i n t e r Solsti ce an d d e d icat e d to Thor Th e .

n ext ce l e bration wa s d e d i cat e d to F r ea an d com

m en c e d at t h e s ec o n d m oo n in t h e n ew y e a r The .

third was d e d i cat e d t o Odi n an d was h e l d in t h e

spri n g Th e s e w e r e t h e pri n c ip a l c e l ebr ation s but
.
,

In iti ati on s wer e a l so p e r f o r me d at ma n y s m a ller f es

t iv a ls h e l d duri n g t h e y ea r .

Th e Pal ac e o f Thor t h e pri n c ip al pl ac e of In iti a

,

t i on s c on t a i n e d fiv e hu n dr e d an d fo rty h alls an d wa s
,

situat e d in t h e ki n gd o m o f Thu r d wan ge r .

Th e G othi c Myst e ri es lik e all oth e rs w e r e con

, ,

n ec t e d w i t h t h e Myst e ry Myth d i ff e ri n g on ly in d e
,

t ail Th e Gothi c v ersio n run s a s follows ! Bald e r

. ,

w ho was e st eeme d a s i n vul n e r abl e h ad in th e gen e r a l

,

a ssembly pl ac e d hi m s e l f in sport a s a m a rk at w hi c h

t h e go d s e x e r c is e d th e ir skil l in ca sti n g d a rts Odi n .

a n d E ri ga e x ac t e d an o a t h of s a f e ty in f a vor o f B a l d e r

from e v e rythi n g in n atur e e x c ept t h e m istl e to e whi c h ,

was o m i t t e d on acc ou n t o f its w eak n e ss L oki d is.

c ove r e d t h e e x c e ptio n an d pl ac e d a spri g in t h e h an ds

of t he bli n d Hod e r p e rsu ad e d h im to c ast it at B ald e r

, ,

who f e ll p i e rc e d throu gh w ith m ort a l w ou n d s

,
Hi s .

bo dy wa s th en pl ace d in a bo at an d se t afloat on t h e
“
w at e r w hil e t h e gods m our n e d for his d e c eas e Th e
, .

” “
f abl e of Ba ld er an d Loki s ays D r Olive r w ith t h e
, .
,

l amen t ation s o f t h e gods f or t h e d eath of Bal de r ,

b ears su c h an obvi ous r e l ation to thos e o f Osiris an d

Typhon Bacc hu s an d t he Ti t an s Cama Is w ara e tc
, , , ,
.
,

th at I en t e rt ai n n o d oubt but that i t c on stitute d the

Le gen d o f In iti ation ; as it is i n d e e d the ex act coun l
, ,
-
D r u i d i ca l, G othi c G ,
i
r e c an , an d J ewish Myste ri es 55

t e r pa r t of a ll oth e r sys t em s of myst e rious ce el bra

”
t ion .
( I bi d, p . 1 74, n o te

It w ou l d b e n e e dl e ss r e p e tition t o go i n to d e t ail
r e ga rdi n g th e s e In iti at i on s Su fli ce it t o say th at .

a f t e r t h e c an did a te wa s d uly p r e p a r e d by t h e usu al ,

f as t i n g an d t h e pr e li m i n ary c e r em on i e s o f s ac rifi c e ,

pro c e ssion s e t c h e was c on d u ct e d w ith n ak e d f eet

, .
,

i n t o t h e s ac r e d h all an d throu gh a wi n d i n g p athw ay ,

am id sh a d e s o f d a rk n e ss an d t h e howl in g o f d ogs to ,

t h e t o m b o f t h e pr oph e t e ss V olv a H e r e occu r e d .

t h e myst e ri ou s ri t e s of i n voc ati on Pa ssi n g on w a r d .

t h e ca n did at e hears t h e b e w a ili n gs for t h e d e ath o f t he

God Bal d e r He was t h e n c on fi n e d i n t h e Pa stos or
,
.

t om b an d gu a r d e d by H e i m d a l t h e d oo r k e ep e r o f
, ,

t h e Gods ; upon libe r ation h e wa s i n st r u c t e d t o s e a r c h

f or t h e body o f B a l d e r an d to en d eavor to r a is e him ,

from d e at h to li f e .

B e for e s t a r t i n g o n h i s d a n g e r o u s e xp e diti o n h e w a s
r e c omm en d e d t o t h e pr ot e c tio n of t h e God s The .

g u id e t h e n c o n d u c t e d hi m thr ou gh n i n e subt e rr an ean

p ass age s w h e r e v a ri ous e xp e ri m en t s o f awe an d t er

,

r or a w a it e d h im Com pl e ti n g his j our n e y h e en t e r e d

.

t h e ill u mi n at e d s ac e llu m an d fou n d B a ld e r en thr on e d

,

on a se a t o f hi gh e st disti n c tio n His en tr an c e w as .

r e e t e d w ith a n an th e m o f c on gr atul ation an d gr eat

g ,

r e j oi c i n g t o ok p l a c e for t h e r e s u s c i t a tio n o f t h e G o d .

Th e can d id at e t h en took a sol e m n oa th on a n ak e d

swor d a sym b ol of t h e sup rem e G od Throu ghou t
—
.

t h e c e r e m on i e s t h e c an d i d at e h a d b e en i mp e rs on ati n g
B a l d e r th a t i s hi s exp e ri e n c e s w e re t h e s a m e a s
—
,

B ald e r s w h o a s a p e r f e c t In iti a t e i s t h e typ e or first

’
, , ,

f ru its of hum an e volution Th e can di d at e h ad th en .

att a i n e d t he B al d er st at e o f man hood -

.
56 A n ci e n t My ster i es an d Mod er n Mason r y

TH E G R ECI AN M Y STER IES .

T h e My ste ri es w ere i n t ro d u c e d i n to Greece b y O r

h This r t Tea h r vid n tly le d on e o f t h e
p eu s .
g ea c e e e

wav es of em igr a t io n o f t h e A ry an stock i n to E u r op e .

Th e Orp hi c tr a d ition h ad v a riou s fortu n es In th e .

days o f Hom e r it w as n eglected for the peop le wer e ,

t oo p r ou d t o listen t o w ha t they r e gard e d as t he su

pe r st it ion o f th e i r fore fathers b u t w ith the rise o f

,

phil osophy in t h e s e ve n th c e n tu ry B C t h e earlier . .

reli giou s Myths were aga i n e x ami n e d an d it b ecame ,

evi d e n t tha t an ci en t Greec e p ossess e d a Myste ry tra -

d ition w h ich compared f avor ably w ith th at o f other

n ation s .

We do n otex actly t h e tim e wh en t h e Mys

k n ow
t e ry i n stitution s w e re e st ablish e d but we do kn ow th a t
th ey e x i ste d u n d er variou s n ames E l e usi n ia n Bac —
,

c hic D ion ysi ac Samot h r ac ean e t c

, , an d that all wer e
,
.
,

practically t he same Th e E l e usi n ian w e re p er ha p s

.

t h e most n ot e d as they con stitute d wh at might b e

call e d t h e State Mysteries In these the re we r e two
.

d ivision s t he Lesser an d t h e G r eate r b eyon d w h ic h

—
,

was t he true Myste ry o f t he Pat h Th e ce n t e r o f t he .

w or k of t h e Le sser Mysteri e s was at A grae ; the

G r eater at E leusis The Lesser Myste r ies d ealt pr in
.

c ipally wit h H a d es or t he Alst r al worl d ; t he G r eat

e r wit h t he Me n t a l or H e av en l y worl d The cere .

mon ial ga rm en t in the Lesser Myster ies was a

fawn skin ; in t he Gr e at e r Mysteries a gol d e n fle ece -
,

The ca n d i dates f or In itiati on were n aturally d ivi d ed

i n to t wo classes th os e who wer e on ly ca pab le o f r e
—

c e iv in g i n st ruction in t he thin gs p e rtai n i n g t o t he un

s een an d t h ose wh o were ca p ab l e of special t rai n in g

,
D r u i d i ca l, G othi c Gr e cian
, , an d J ewish Mys
ter ies 57

i n t he d e v e lop m e n t of cl ai rvoy an c e ; i n stru c tion was

also gi ven in cosmology an thropoge n e sis e tc , , .

The E leusi n ian Mysteries wer e celebrat e d with

much pomp an d laste d n i n e d ays The pl a ce s o f In .

it iat ion lik e thos e o f oth e r n ation s wer e gre at sub

, ,

terr an ea n cavern s con t ai n in g man y chamb er s an d sep

,

u lch r e s i n w hich t h e ca n d i d at e was immu r e d d uri n g

a p art o f t h e c er e mon i a l rite Som e o f these place s.

o f In iti ation with th e ir tombs cu t i n to t he solid rock

, ,

a r e d e scribe d at le n gth b y Mr Mau n d r ill Ev e ry . .

te mp le had a c ave rn conn e ct ed with it for In iti ation .

In som e c ou n tri e s t h e pl ac e o f In iti atio n was a pyr

ami d e r ect e d over a sub t e r ra n ean cavern .

Th e firs t portio n o f th e cer e mo n y am o n g t h e Gr e ek s

was t h e p urificatio n by wat e r Th e can d i dat e was .

the n con d ucted t o t h e v e sti b ule an d i n veste d with t he

sacred robe s an d a ft e r b e i n g e x horte d t o courage the
,

aspiran t was led through a series o f caver n s w h ere ,

he met wit h p ractically t h e same e xp eri en ces as we

have f ou n d in t he other Mysteri e s th e d ark an d —

gloo m y surrou n d i n gs t he p eal in g thun d e r t he howl

, ,

in g d ogs an d wi l d beast s the fl a she s o f v ivi d lig ht

, ,

mon strou s a p pe ara n ces etc A fter thre e d ays of

, .

th e se terrors he w as con fi n e d in a c e ll for r e flection

,
.

D r Olive r says
. This was t h e symb olic al d eath o f t he
,

Mysteries ; an d t he de liveran ce f rom con fi n emen t

w as t h e act o f re gen eration or n ew b i rt h ; an d
h e n ce t h e r e j uv e n at e d a s p i r a n t was t erm e d t w ice
bo rn ; on c e from t he womb o f hi s n atu ral mother an d
”
agai n from t he p ast os o f In itiatio n ( I bi d p . , .

Th i s d e live ra n c e was rath er a r esur r ection than a

n ew b irth ; t h e l at t e r applyi n g more p rop erly t o t h e
58 A n c i en t My ster i es an d Mod er n Mason r y

first s t age o f In iti ation althou gh in on e s en se ev e ry

, , ,

st age t h at m a rks an e xten sion of con sci ousn e ss i s a

n ew b irth .

Whil e t h e aspir an t was u n d ergoi n g t h e mysti cal

d e ath o f Bacc hu s t he In i t iat e s ac t e d out t h e Myth
,
.

W e h av e s e en th at this p a ssion visio n w as a p art o f-

e v e ry myst e ry d r am a
-
Th e n e ophyt e h e r e e x per i
.

e n ce d t h e Gr e at P a ssion hims e l f This f e e li n g was .

a p r e requisite to kn owi n g W hat it was we do n ot

.

kn ow b u t it h ad t o do w ith th e m ysti c d e ath o f the

'

Mast e r D uri n g this p art o f t h e dram a th e r e w e r e

.

lou d l am en t ation s ov e r th e d e ath o f the ir God an d ,

Rh e a lik e Isi s w e n t in s earch of his rem a i n s

, ,
.

At a give n sign al from t h e Hieroph an t t h e mou rn

in g wa s t u r n e d i n to j oy for it was an n ou n ce d th at t h e
,

body h ad be en fou n d an d restor e d to l i f e Th e c an .

d i d at e was lib e r at e d from his c on fi n em en t an d a ft e r ,

v a riou s e xp e ri en ce s in t h e i n f e r n al r egi on s gai n ed t he ,

v e r d an t pl a i n s o f E lysiu m w h e r e the souls o f the j ust

,

w e r e obs e rv e d i n t h e e n j oyme n t o f pur e d elights .

H e r e t h e Hi e roph an t d e liv e r ed a l ectur e on t he

purpos e of t h e Myst e ri e s ; gav e t h e usu al i n stru ction
in t h e s e cr e t s c i en c e an d b e sto w ed t h e i n sign i a of
,

t h e Or d e r Clem en t says of t h e Gr e e k Myst e ri e s

.
,

A ft e r th e se ( t h e lustr atio n s ) a r e t he m i n or My st e r
“

ie s w hi c h h av e some fou n d atio n o f i n stru c tion

,

an d of p r e li m i n ary p r ep ar ation for wh at i s to

c ome a ft e r ; an d t h e gr eat Mysteri e s in w hi c h n oth ,

i n g r e m a i n s t o b e l e ar n e d o f t h e u n iv e rs e b ut o n ly to ,

”
c o n t empl ate an d compr e h en d n atur e an d thi n gs ,

( S tr oma ta B ook V Ch XI )
, , . .
60 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

comm u n iti e s th at t he Pyt hagorean s took re fuge when

the ir school at Cr ot on a was brok en up .

TH E J EW IS H M Y S TE R IES .

Th e a n ci en t Jews had thei r Myster ies a s w e l l as ,

al l oth e r p eop les o f an tiquity Mr E lbe in his book . .

( F u t u r e L i f e,p 1.0 7) sa ys th a t it ap p e a rs to b e an es

t ab li sh e d fact th at t he Isra e lites had t h ei r Myst e r i e s ,

as well as t h e E gy p tian s an d t h e maj ority o f a n ci en t

r aces . A lthough they had thes e s ec rets occu lt ,

kn owle dge an d kabb alistic t eac hi n g whi c h p ass e d ,

—

form mouth to ear f or gen eration s am on g t h e J ewis h

Priests as d id t h e Brahmi n i cal teach i n g be fore it was
,

re d uce d to w r iti n g yet we do n ot fin d t h e Jewish

—
,

rit e s as e l ab orate a s those practic e d by oth e r n a

tion s Th e Jewis h K ab bal istic d oc tri n es w e re n ot
.

written d own u n til t h e first cen tu ry o f our era Rabb i .

El ea z a r t h e son of Rabbi Simeon B en J oc hai com

, ,

p il e d th e Kabb alistic teachi n g o f his f ather i n to a

work call ed the Zohar b u t thes e t e achi n gs did n ot
,

o r igi n ate wit h t hat n ot e d Rab bi they rea ch f ar in to ,

r e mote an ti quity This boo k which w as e d ited b e

.
,

twe en 70 an d 1 00 A D was l ost an d it s sacr ed con

. .
, ,

ten ts were p r ese rv e d on ly in a n umb er o f scatte r e d

ma n uscripts .

Th e Zohar was rewritte n acco rd i n g to Mu n k b y , ,

Moses d e Leon in th e 1 3 th cen tury an d was b ase d

, ,

u p on t h ose f ragmen ta ry ma n us c ripts an d an ci en t d oc

u me n t s whi ch ha ve be en p art ial ly d estroye d or l ost

to t h e gen eral w orl d .

Th e Seph er J et z er ah ( or Jew i sh B ook of Cr ea t i on )

is fi rst men ti on e d i n t he l ot h cen tu ry ,
a lthough its
D r u i di cal G o thi c Gr ecian
, , , an d J ewish My steri es 61

con ten ts are v e ry an ci en t . The s e t wo bo oks the Z o

,

ha r J e t z e r ah a r e
an d , th e stor e house of all sub sequen t
K abb alistic works .

The Ka bba listic writi n gs th en a re c om p a r ativ e ly , ,

mo d e rn b u t th e ir d oc tri n e s c am e to t he J e ws f rom
,

t h e Ch al d e a n s an d Egypti an s Mose s was an In .

it iat e an d k n ew the primitiv e u n iv e rsal myste ry lan

,
-

gu age a lso t he n um e ri c al syst em on whi c h it was

,

bas e d but his w riti n gs h av e n ot c ome d own t o u s

,

t h e books a t tribut e d to h im a r e n ot t he o ri gi n a l Mo
saic R e cor d s .

The arly H e b r e w teac hi n gs d erive d from Moses

e

had variou s fortu n e s t h e ori gi n a l scrolls w e r e p r ob

—

ably lost an d r e w ritt e n m an y ti m e s be for e t he d ays

o f E zr a an d wh e n t h e J e w s were c ar ried aw ay i n to
,

cap tivity the J e wish Sc r i p ture s w e re d e stroy e d

,
.

Ez ra en d eavore d t o restor e th em as b e st he c oul d b ut

!

th ey have be en t amper e d with e v en si n ce his d ay The .

Samarit an s r e pu d i at e t h e J ewish can on i ca l books .

Th ey ar e d isfi gur e d th e y say beyon d a ll r e cogn ition

, ,

by th e Tal mu d ists Th e y ha v e the ir books of Mos e s

.
,

di ff eri n g materi ally y e t c lai med by t he Sama r it an s t o

,

b e c are f ully cop ie d f rom the o r i gi n al .

Th e Bl ack J ew s of Southe rn In dia k n ow n ot h in g

o f t he captivity thus provi n g th at th ey e m i gr a t e d pr e
,

v io n s to 600 B C T h ey als o have a Book of Mos es

. .

which di ff er s greatly from eith e r of the above can on

ical b ooks .

A lt ho ugh t he Jews are r ight in d e cla r i n g that Mos es

origi n ally gave th e m thei r cosmology an d l aws still ,

t h e recor d s o f th e se l aw s hav e b ee n so c ha n ge d that

t h e pr e s en t b ooks a tt r ibut e d t o hi m are n ot t h e orig
62 A n ci en t My st e r i es an d M od er n Mason ry

i n al b ooks at a ll Som e fragmen ts o f t h e e arli e r

.

writin gs an d tra dition s m ay h av e b ee n av ail able at

t h e ti m e o f E zr a but in all prob abili t y t h e m a i n all e
,

r i e s w e r e t ak en from t h e sy m bo li ca l r ec or d s of t h e
g o

Ch a ld e an s a s t h e ea rli e r a ll egori e s h ad b e en a d opt

,
~

e d fro m si m il a r r e c or d s i n E
gy p t .

Th e d o c tri n e of K abb al a h i s p ractic al ly th e

the
s am e a s th at of t h e an c i en t u n iv e rs al t e ac hi n g A in .

Soph is t he w e st e r n an d Sem iti c Par ab r ahman Be .

t w e e n the A b s olute A in Sop h an d t he H e av en l y Man ,

th e r e i s a n i mp e rson al F irst Caus e D r Gi n s bu rg .

“
says For to r e v e al its el f to u s t h e c o n ce al e d o f all
, ,

t h e c on c e a l e d s en t fo rt h t h e Ten E m a n ation s ( Se

ph or ot h ) calle d t he F orm o f G od F orm o f t h e H eav en

,

ly Man Y e t si n ce e v en ! this lumi n ous f or m was too

.

d azzli n g for ou r vision it h ad t o p ut on an oth e r gar

,

men t wh ich is t h e u n ive rse Th e u n i v er s e th e r e f ore

, .
, ,

o r t h e vi s ibl e worl d i s a fu rther ex p r e s si o n of th e

,

D ivi n e Su b st an ce an d is ca ll e d in t h e K abb al ah The

, ,

”
G arm en t o f G od . This is t h e d octri n e o f t he V ishn u
P a r a n a a n d i n fac t o f all t h e s c hool s B u t i t i s n ot .

my p u rpos e h e r e to e xpou n d t he te ac hi n g of t h e My s
t e r i e s s o we m ust for ego further comm e n t
, .

Th e K abb al ah is o f v alu e i n throwi n g li ght u p on

t he e xot e ri c H e br e w b ooks althou gh it h a s be e n so
,

c h a n ge d th at it can n ot be trust e d to r e v e a l t h e a n c i en t

t e ac hi n g u n l e ss c orrob o rat e d by oth e r d ata .

In t h e rly ti m e s th e r e Was a c omp an y of prophets

ea

at N a ioth B eth e l an d J e ri ch o wh o for m e d s c hools

, , ,

o f In itiat e s wh e r e t h e secr e t t eachi n g wa s i mp art e d t o

t hos e who wer e qu a lifi e d t o h ea r Th es e s c h ools o f .

t h e pr oph e ts w e r e also s c hools for t h e d ev e lop m e n t o f

D r u i d i ca l, G o th i c G
,
r e c ia n , an d J ewish Myster i es 63

t he high e r psychi c an d spiritual facu ltie s whil e in ,

l at e r ti m e s t he E ss en e s Th e r apu t e s an d oth e r c om
, ,

mu n it ies w e r e t h e r e posi t ori e s o f t h e oc cult J e wi sh

,

t e ac hi n g It w ill b e i n t e r e s t i n g her e t o c on s id e r th e se
.

w e ll kn ow n s ects .

TH E ESSE N ES .

som e c en turi e s be f or e t h e Ch risti an era t h e E s

Fo r
sen ean c om mu n iti e s d w el t on t h e shor e s of the D e a d

Sea Th e ir c hi e f c ha racteristic was the d octri n e of

.

lov e lov e o f Go d lov e of virt u e an d love o f human

—
, ,

ki n d Th e y lived a li fe o f asc etic commu n ism in

.

which c e r t ai n hours w e re d evote d t o t h e stu dy o f r e

ligi on the myst e ri e s o f n ature an d r e velation
—
They .

had an i n n e r i n s t ru c tion an oc c ult te achi n g which

, ,

was gu a rd e d with gr eat s e cr ecy Th ey wer e evi d en tly .

i n con t act with Ch al d ean K a bbalism as th ey ma d e

mu c h o f t h e m yst e ri e s c o n n ect e d w ith t h e T etr agram
m aton t he fou r l ett e r ed mys t i c n ame of D e ity
,
.

Th e Es s en e s h ad th e ir d e gr ee s an d In iti ation s in ,

w hi c h w e fin d t h e i d e n t ity o f t e a c hi n g b e t w e e n E s
se n ism an d Christi an ity is most m ark e d Mr Mea d . .

su ms up th e s e p oi n ts o f con tact some w h at as

f ollows ! Con verts w e r e requir e d to s e ll their p0
s e ssion s an d giv e to t he poor for t h e l ayin g ,

up o f tr easur e was r ega rd e d as i n j uriou s to a

spirit u al li fe N ot on ly d id t h e E ss en e s
. d e spi s e
ri c h e s b u t t h ey liv e d a li f e o f se l f i mpos e d pov e rty
,
-
.

L o v e o f t he bro t h e rhood an d o f o n e s n e i ghbor was ’

t h e s ou l of E ss en e li f e a n d th e b a sis o f a ll ac tio n ;
,

an d thi s c h a r ac t e ris t i c o f t h e ir d is cip l i n e call e d

for t h un ive r s al a d m iration Th e m emb ers liv e d t o .

gether as a family ha d all thi n gs in c ommon an d ap

, ,
64 A n ci en t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

p oi n te d a stewar d t o man age th e c omm on p urse Whe n .

tr aveli n g t h ey woul d l od g e with b rethre n whom they

had n ev e r see n be fore as thou gh with the ol d est an d
,

most in timate fri en d s ; an d thus they too k n ot h i n g

wit h them whe n t h ey we n t on a j ourn ey A ll memb e r s .

we re on the same leve l an d the autho r ity o f on e ove r

,

a n othe r was f orb i d de n ; n ever theless mutual serv ice

was mutu ally e n j oi n ed Th ey we r e also great l ov er s
.

o f p eace an d so r e f use d t o ta ke a rm s or man u facture

,

w a rlike wea p on s ; more ove r they p roscri b e d slavery .

Th e ultimat e aim o f the E ss en es was t o be m eek an d

lowly in s p irit t o morti f y all si n f ul lust s t o be p ure
, ,

in hea rt t o hate evi l b u t reclaim t h e evil d oe r an d t o

, ,

be m e rci ful t o all m en an d moreov e r th e ir yea was to ,

be yea an d their n ay n ay Th e y w e r e devot e d to the

,
.
,
.

curin g o f t he sic k an d t he h eali n g of b oth b od y an d

soul regar d in g the powe r t o per form miraculous cure s
,

an d cast ou t evil s p i r i t s as t h e hi ghest stage o f d is

c iplin e . In bri e f they strov e to b e so p ure as to b e

,

com e tem p les o f the H ol y Sp irit an d t hus see r s an d ,

p roph ets To these i n n e r commu n ities were attache d

.

out e r c irc les o f pupils livi n g in t h e wo r l d an d f ou n d in ,

all the mai n c en tr e s of the D i aspora ( F ragmen ts .

of a F ai th F orgot t en Mead p , , .

The Th erapeu t e s were practic ally t h e same as the Es

se n es with t h e e x c ep tion p oi n te d ou t by Philo that
, ,

t he l atte r w e re devote d to t he p ra c ti c a l li f e w h ile t he ,

f o rmer p roc ee d e d t o t he h ighe r stage s of t h e con

t emplat iv e l i f e .

Itwoul d be i n te resti n g d id time p ermit t o gi v e a

, .

f ull ac c o u n t o f th e s e Th e r ap e u tist c o mm u n ities which ,

were so like ea r ly Christian ity that the Ch u r ch F ath

D r u i d i ca l, G o th i c Gr , e ci a n , an d J ewish Mysteri es 65

ers a lways recogn ize d them as Ch ri stia n s P h ilo in his .

“
Con t em plative Li fe gives a ful l d esc r iption o f these ,

”
Wis d om Lovers T hr ough thei r yea r n i n g f or t he
.

bless e d li f e t hey ab an d on ed t he worl d an d sou ght some

seclu d e d spot an d gave th ems e l v es en t ir ely t o stu dy
,

a n d c o n t e mp l a ti o n I n E gyp t th e re w e re m an y i n .

ev e ry Provi n ce an d esp eci ally arou n d A le x an d ria

, .

The mo st a d van c e d j oi n e d t he Ma r eotic colon y w h ich ,

was situ ate d j ust south o f A le x an d ria on a small

p lat e au The d w elli n gs o f this commu n ity we r e v e ry
.

si mpl e eac h con tai n i n g a sma ll ch am ber or closet in

,

which in sol itu d e th ey p er fo rm e d t he myste r ie s o f

, ,

t he holy li fe .

Philo woul d lea d u s t o b eliev e t hat the Ther apeu tes

w e re a ll J e w s Th is w a s p rob a b l y tru e of t h e Mar e
.

otic commu n ity with which h e was c on n ecte d as lay

p upil but thi s was onl y one o f a v a st n umbe r o f suc h
,

commu n iti e s sca tt e r e d all ov e r t h e worl d It i s q uite .

p rob a b l e th a t m an y o f th e s e w e r e a s s tro n gl y ti n ge d
wit h Egy p ti an or Zo r oastrian or O rp hic el em en ts as
t he on e s outh o f A le x an d ria was wit h Ju d a i sm Man y .

o f t h es e c o m m u n iti e s w e r e p u rel y e cl e c tic co m —

b i n i n g tr a d itio n s an d el e m e n t s of t h e variou s
s chool s .

TH E P H ARI SEES .

We are f airly familiar with e x te rn al si d e of th e

Ph a ris e e ism the mi n ut e ce r emon i alism an d ela b orate
—

rules o f e x te rn al p iet y b u t t he i nn e r si d e is n ot so —

w e ll u n d er stood Th e most lea rn e d o f the Jew s be

.

lon ge d t o this sect which o rigi n ate d in Ba byl on an d , ,

r ep r e se n te d t h e mai n st r eam o f Chal d ean an d Pe r sian

in flue n ce on Ju d aism In t he cou r se o f t im e it bec am e .

66 A n c ien t My st e r i es and M o d er n Ma son ry

d ivid e d i n to man y s c hools t h e str i c t e st o f w hi c h le d

,

a li f e of i n t e rn al pi e ty Th e hi gh e s t aim o f t his sc h oo l
,

was to att ai n to su c h a st at e o f holi n e ss a s to b e ab l e ,

t o p er f orm m ir a c u lous c ur e s an d to p roph e sy Th e .

d egr ee s o f holi n e ss prac t ic e d by t his sect a r e giv e n by

Mr Mead a s follo w s
. t h e st u dy o f t h e law a n d
cir cu msp e c ti on ; t h e n ovi c i a t e in w hi c h t h e apron
,

wa s a symbol o f purity ; e x t er n al pu rity by ,

m e an s o f lustr ation s or b aptisms ; ( IV ) c e liba c y ; .

( V ) i n w a rd purity purity o f th ou ght ; ( V I ) a still

.
,
.

hi gh e r stage w hi ch i s n ot furth e r d e fi n e d ; ( V II )
,
.

m ee kn e ss an d holi n e ss ; ( V III ) dr ea d o f e v e ry sin ;

.

( IX ) t h e h i g h e st st ag e o f h o l i n e s s ; ( X ) t h e s t a ge
. .

w hi c h en abl e d t he a d e pt to heal t h e si c k an d rais e t h e

d ea d ( Ibi d p
.
, .

It is q u it e e vi d en t th at th e r e was a wid e d ifle r e n ce

b e t w e en th e t e n e ts o f t h e H eal e rs an d t h e oth e r Ph ar
i se e s w h o b e l i e v e d i n t h e bl o od s ac rifi c e s o f t h e
T e m pl e w o rsh ip a n d t h e r e s urr e c tio n o f t h e ph ysi c a l
-

b o dy T hi s a ga i n il l u str a t e s t h e d iff e r e n c e b e t w e e n
.

t h e e xot e ri c a n d e sot eri c c ult s .

A ll th e s e m ysti c s c hools c on stitut e d l i n ks in t he

c h a i n o f t h e Wisdom o r G n osis tr an s m issi on J esu s .

hi m s e l f tau ght n othi n g n ew h e m e r e ly ill u m i n at e d t h e

,

tr a dition s o f t h e G n osis an d in his p u bli c t eac hi n g

,

pr acti cally threw op en to all s om e o f th e i n t e r m edi at e

g r a d e s o f t h e Myst e ri e s T h e J e ws th en in c om m o n
.
, ,

w i t h all t h e an c ien t n atio n s w e re in poss e ssion o f an

,

occu lt te achi n g whi c h i s t he s am e old Wisdom R e

,

ligi on tha t h as e v e r stood a s t h e b ac kgr oun d o f t h e

,

popul a r r e ligi ou s syst em s .

68 A n ci e n t My st e r i es an d M od er n Mason ry

coun tries Osiris H or u s in Egyp t O rm az d Mit hr a

— -
,
-
in
P e rs ia Z e us Hermes in Gr e ece J upite r A mm on
,
-
,
-
in
Rom e Thor Ba l de r in B rit a i n an d Scan d i n avi a
,
-
.

The In iti ate s kn ew t h e rea l m e an i n g o f t h ese

Myths for l i t e ra l ly t h e Su n i s n o t b or n a n d do e s n o t
,

d i e n o r i s i t r a i s e d fr o m t h e d e a d T h e r e c it a l s o f
,
.

th e s e e v e n t s a r e a ll e gori e s w h i c h v e i l ad e ep e r t ruth
,
.

In t h e p op ul a r r e l i g i o n s t h e Su n b e c a m e t h e obj e c t o f
worship an d t he H e ro o f t he Myths b eca m e t h e G od
,

o f t he various r e ligi o n s when t h e symbol wa s m istak e n

for t h e thi n g sy m b o l iz e d T h e Myth i s a n a l l e go ry

.

o f t h e activity of the Logos in the Cos m os an d o f t he ,

v a ri o u s st age s o f I n iti a tio n a n d l ik e a ll t h e rites i t

, ,

typifies th e mys t i c li f e of e ver y In iti ate E very per .

f e ct ed Ma st e r be c ome s a Christ a H e rm e s etc ,

In , .

i t iat ion co n sists in att a i n i n g t h e Ma st e r st at e A f a il -

.

u re t o u n d e rsta n d t he s e sy m bols an d a ll ego ri e s resulte d

in t h e c ru d e dogm a s o f p opul a r theology Ma n y h av e .

r ead this lat e r thought in t o t h e Myst eri e s th e ms e lves ,

an d h ave suppos e d th at t h e rit e s m e re ly sy m bolize d the

d eath an d r e surr e c tion o f som e H e ro or D em i Go d -

som e sp ec i al divi n e person age who was con si d er e d by

t h e ce l ebr an ts a s a G od A c c ordi n g to this t h e a spir
.

an t wa s m e r e ly r e pr e s e n ti n
g t h e d e ath an d r e surrection
o f t he G od from whom t h e Myst e ries d e riv e d thei r

n am e . Thi s c ru d e c on c e p tio n fa ll s f a r sh o r t o f t h e
re ality for t h e c os m i c aspect o f all th e s e r e li gious trag
,

e d i e s w a s sy m b o l iz e d by t h e a c t ivity of t h e Lo gos i n
t h e u n iv e rs e but th es e Su n Myths also typi fy t h e
,
-

mysti c li fe o f t h e In i t i at e The In iti ate d id n ot m e rely

.

r e p r e se n t s o m e H e ro h e w as th e H e ro him s el f a n d
, ,

t h e rit e s typ ifi e d w h a t h e b e c am e a B u dd h a a —
,

C hri st a Mith r a e t c o n e whos e my sti c l if e r e pre

, , .
,
D r u i di ca l, G o th i c G , r e cia n, an d J ewish Myste i
r es 69

e t
s n ed t h e my sti c l iv e s of a ll w ho h a d p r e viously
t rod th e p a th tho u gh th a t w as n ot t h e primary
,

si gn ifi c a n ce o f t h e c e re m o n y .

P e rhaps a ft e r t he Mysteri e s b ecam e corru p t an d d e

grad e d so c a ll e d In iti at e s m i ght h ave m i s r e ad the al
,
- -

legor ie s an d sy mbo ls b u t s u c h wa s n ot t h e c as e in t he
,

d a ys o f t h e re a l I n iti a t e s b efore t h e key t o t h e—

Sacr e d Sci en ce wa s lost .

Th e u se o f im age in s ome i n sta n ces em p loye d

the ,

t o r ep re se n t t h e can d i dat e e vi d en tly came i n to use

,

whe n the In stitution ha d be come so chan ge d that t h e

can d i dat e obj e cte d t o b ei n g l ai d away in t h e t omb as ,

was ori gi n ally t he c ustom an d an other i n d ica tion o f,

d ecli n e was t h e physi ca l t e rror t o whi c h the c an d i date

was subj e cte d Thi s was t o test his c our age an d was
.

s upp os e d t o ill u st rat e t h e e xp e ri e n c e s h e w oul d

m e et i n t h e i n vi sibl e worl d .

In the early days we are tol d the can d i date was en

, ,

tra n c e d w hen l ai d aw ay in the tomb he th en actually ,

visit e d t h e in visible worl d an d en c ou n t e r e d th e gr o

t e squ e i mage s an d forms t o b e se en th e r e He wa s .

“ ” “ ”
taught t h e w or d s o f powe r an d t he sign s o f power ,

a lthou gh th e y w e r e o n ly a mea n s o f st r e n gt h e n i n g t h e

will which alon e h owev e r is su fficien t t o overcome

, , ,

t h e ph an t orn e d ter rors Th e Hi e ro p ha n t als o use d his

.

occult po w er t o materiali z e illust rati on s o f vari ous

m
p ostmorte co n d ition s .

T h a t th e My st e ri e s w ere d esig n e d t o r eveal th e i n

v isi b le wo r l d is clea
,
r ly st ate d b y Pluta r c h wh o w as ,

hims e l f an In itiat e of hi gh st an din g He says t h at .

w h en a man di es h e goes throu gh t he sam e e xperien ce s

as those wh o hav e thei r c on scious n ess in c r ea se d in the
70 A n ci e n t Myst e r i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

Myst e ri e s Thus in t h e te rm s to d ie an d to be In
.
,
‘ ’ ‘

iti at ed we h av e an e x ac t corr e s po n d e n c e wor d to w or d

’

an d fa c t to f ac t F irst o f all the r e are wan d e ri n gs

.

an d w eary j our n eyi n gs an d p aths on whi c h we look

with suspicion an d th at s e em t o hav e n o t e rmi n ation ;

,

th e n b e fore t h e en d eve ry ki n d o f terror shu dd erin g

, , , ,

tr embl in g s w eati n g stupor Bu t at l a st a marv e lous

, , .

light shi n e s ou t t o m e et u s pur e sc en e s an d fair fi el d s

,

w e l com e us with son g an d d an c e an d the solemn ities

,

o f s acr e d sou n ds an d holy si ghts In w hich state h e .

who has already p e r f ect e d hi ms e l f in all thin gs an d ,

r eceiv e d In iti ation accomplishes his myst e ry reach e s

, ,

his f u ll fr ee dom an d p a ssi n g e v e ry w h e re at will h e t e

, ,

c e iv e s t he c row n an d is in c omm u n ion w ith t h e holy

,

a n d p u r e ; n o w ga z i n g d o w n up o n t h e u n p u r i fie d

multit u d e o f th e u n i n i t i ated w h o ar e stil l i n

l if e w a l lo w i n g i n t h e d e e p m i r e an d m i s t an d
, ,

a bi d i n g i n m i s ery from f ea r of d e at h a n d w an t o f

f aith in t he bl e ss edn e ss of th e soul li fe ( Plu t Fr ag -

. . .

V 9 e d D id ot
. . .
)
Th e vision of A r ida eu s also giv en by Plut arch was
, ,

ac c o rdi n g to Me a d e ith e r a li t e r a ry subt e r fu ge for

,

d e s c ribi n g some o f t h e i n struction in ce rt ai n Myst e ries ,

or a p a r t i al d es c ription o f t he i n visibl e worl d an d t he

con di t i on s of t h e sou l a f t e r d eath althou gh as we have , ,

s a i d t h e f or me r was a r e v e l ati o n of t h e l at t e r Bu t
, .

wh en t h e pow e r t o dir e ctly r e v ea l t h e f u tur e state was

lost th ey had to illustr at e it by dr amat i c an d scen ic
,

r epre s e n t ati on s To pr odu ce t h e gh ostly i mages an d

.

ph an toms in t he physi cal pl an e Myst eri e s a ctors an d , ,

e v en m irrors w e r e o f t en u se d n ot a s a d e ce p tion —

h o w e v e r f o r e v e rybo d y u n d e rstoo d th a t thes e w e r e

,

i l lus t r ation s on ly .
D r u i d i ca l, G o th i c, G r e ci an , an d J ewish Myst e r i es 71

With t he loss of the h ighe r mean s o f r ev elation ,

c o rruptio n g r a d u a l ly crep t i n a n d m a n at l a s t wa s

l e ft t o w i n h i s d e l i v e r a n ce w ithout th e vi sibl e a id
o f t h e Gr e at T e a ch e rs y e t w e a r e a s s u r e d by w is e
,

p r e c e p tors t hat thos e g r e a t soul s re m a i n co n st an t ,

e v e n t ho u g h u n s e e n a n d a r e e v e r r e a d y to a i d a n d
,

a s si s t t h e n e e dy w h e n e v e r t h e y co m pl y with th e

gr ea t o c c ul t law of t h e u n iv e rs e .

TH E D EC L I N E O F TH E M Y STE R IES .

The cause of t h e d e c li n e of the Mysteri e s was t he

p e r so n al am bition o f c r a fty pri e sts an d d e spoti c rulers .

Th ey began to los e this gra n de u r an d glo ry b e for e the

d ays o f A ristotl e th e ir retrogr e ssio n ho w e v e r was
, , ,

grad ual ; for at t he ti m e of Cicer o t h ey r etai n e d much

o f th e ir e arly s an ctity an d p urity an d eve n as l at e ,

as t h e ti m e of N e ro f o r a s u n s c rup u l ou s a s h e b e
.

cam e h e d id n ot d ar e to aid in the c el e br a

t i o n o f th e Mys t e ri e s aft e r c o mm it i n g a h i d eou s
cri m e T h e g r e a t o c c ul t k n o w l e d ge w h i c h h ad
.

m ov e d w e st w a rd for t hou s an d s of y e a rs b e ga n
a b ou t 500 B C to r e c e d e t o it s E a st e r n sou rs e
. . .

O w i n g to t h e E thiopi an i n v asion 570 B C th e royal . .,

thron e f e ll i n to t h e h an ds o f A mas e s a m an o f low ,

bi rth who d e stroy e d t h e pri e stly ord e r It is n ot

,
.

str an ge that in t h e d ec aden ce o f Gree c e an d Rome

,
,

ev en the Myst e ri e s shoul d sh ar e in th e gen e r al degra

d ation Se lfishn ess rul e d w ith an iron h an d an d b e
.

for e t h e en d o f t h e Roman Empire th e tru e spirit of ,

the M y st e ri e s wa s w ithh e l d l e a vi n g o n ly t h e o u t er
,

f o r m s behi n d It woul d b e u n fair to j ud ge t h e r e al

.

Myst eri e s from t h e r e li c s of this p e riod .

72 A n ci e n t My st er ie s an d M od er n Mason ry

Th e l ast o f t h e Pa gan Myst e ries in Eu rop e d isap

e a r e d w ith t h e d e str u ctio n o f t h e g r e a t c iti e s o f G a ul
p
—
A l e si a Bib ra c t i s a n d A rl e s an d alth ou gh t h e g re a t
, ,

wo rl d wi d e i n stitution n e arly p erishe d e x ce p t in t h e

-

East t h e s e cre t doc tri n e was n ot lost n or e n tirely

, ,

aba n d on ed eve n in th e We st It i s quite a task t o f ol

.

low i t th rou gh t h e s h ifti n g r e l i g iou s l if e o f t h e

Mi dd l e A g es b ut r e c e n t i n v e sti ga tio n s h a v e show n
,

that i t h a s b e e n u n b rok e n ly c o n ti n u e d i n s e c ret

fra t e r n iti e s fro m ag e t o ag e W e shal l trac e t h i s
.

d e sce n t i n a f utu re l ectu r e .

 LEC TUR E IV .

THE CHR I ST IA N MY STE RI ES .

THE TE T S I M ONY O F J ES U S A N D THE AP OS I L ES.

‘

The Chr i stia n R e ligion in common with all t he ,

gr eat reli gio n s o f an ti quity ori gi na lly poss e sse d an in

,

n e r or oc c ult t eac hi n g .

W J
. . B Mac L e od Moo re
. Supr e m e Gran d Mas
“ ”
t e r A d V it a m o f t he Sover e i gn Priory o f Can ad a ,

U ite d O rd ers of t h e T em p l e o f Malta says !

n “
The ,

se c re ts o f t he Mystery o f Christi an ity w e re o n ly

commu n icate d to t h e In itiates an d th es e In iti at e s w e re ,

fi rst m ade Chri stian s th en ad va n ce d in Chris t i an i ty

, ,

an d fi n a lly raise d t o a kn owl e d e of a ll its A or rh e t a

g p .

T h ere w e re t h re e d e gre e s o r st ep s i n Ch r i st ian i t y a n d ,

it s r e li gio u s syst em was kn ow n as t he D isc i p l in a A r ‘

’
ca n a the d is c iplin e o f t h e s e cre t Th e r e wa s an eso
—
.

t e r i c an d e xot e ri c d o c tri n e Th e t hre e cl a s ses w h o

.

r ec e iv e d t h e three d e gr e e s o f t h e p rimitive church

w e re t h e Catechum en s t h e Comp e t en t e s an d the Il

‘
,
’ ‘
,
’ ‘

lumi n ati In the first d e gr ee o f Christi an ity t h e can

’
.

d id at e w as b aptiz e d Baptism i n trodu c ed t he be

.

li eve r t o t h e C h r i sti an My st e ry T h e sacr e d d oct ri n es .

t au g h t i n th e s e v e r a l d e g re e s w er e thos e o f t h e
‘
T rin ity in Un ity t he In ca rn ation o f t he Logos
,
’ ‘

’ ‘
t h e C ru c ifi x io n th e R e su r
’ ‘
or So n of G o d , ,
’
r e cti o n
’
an d t h e Secr e t o f t h e Litur gy
‘
Bap .
,

t ism i n iti a te d t h e c a n d i d at e wh il e a p a rt icipa ,

tio n i n t h e Lor d s Supp er o r E u c h a ri st mark e d

’
, ,
74 A n ci e n t M st e r i es
y an d M od er n Mason ry

th e r i si n of t h e c a n d i d a t e to th e h i g h e st d e
a g
r e e of C hri s t i a n ligh t a n d do c tri n e A ll th rough
g
.

th e wri t i n gs o f t h e e a rly F ath e rs o f t h e Chur c h r e f e r

e n c e is m a d e t o t h e C hristi a n M yst e ri e s an d thei r

s ec r e t d octri n e s In i t i at e s w e r e stri c tl y f o rb i d d e n to
.

( Histor y
”
p ai n t cut or c arv e an y r e f e r en c e to th em
,
.

of F r e e mason r y an d Con cor d an t Or d e rs p , .

B e for e w e e xa m i n e t h e r ec or d s to se e i f t his c on
t en tion c an b e subst an ti at e d le t u s first n ot e som e thi n g
,

o f t h e Christi an mov em en t Th e ori gi n o f Chris t i

.

amity is i n volv e d in gr e at obs cu ri t y E v en t he p e rio d

.

at w hi c h J e sus liv e d is a m at t e r o f c o n t rov e rsy Th e .

foll ow i n g occu l t acc ou n t acc o rds w ith t he T al mud in

s tati n g th at J e sus liv e d in t h e d ays o f Ki n g J an n ai ,

wh o r e i gn e d ov e r t h e J e w s 1 04 t o 78 B C an d i s a s . .
,

“
f ollow s ! Th e child w hos e J ew ish n am e h as b een
t urn e d i n t o th at o f J e su s was b o rn in P al e sti n e B C , . .

1 0 5 d u ri n g t h e c on sul at e o f Public u s R u til u s Ru fus

,

an d G n ae us Malliu s Maxi m u s . His p a r en ts w e r e

w e ll bor n th ou gh po o r an d h e was e du c at e d in a
-
,

k n ow l e d ge o f t h e H eb re w Sc riptur e s His f e rv en t .

d ev ot i on an d a gr avity b ey on d his y ears le d his par

,

e n ts t o d e di c at e h im t o t h e r e li i ou s a n d a s c e ti c li f e
g ,

an d so on a ft e r a visit t o J e r u s a l em
,
in w hi c h t h e e x
,

t r aor d in a r y i n t e lli ge n c e a n d e age r n e ss for kn ow le d e

g
o f t he y ou th w e r e sh ow n in his s eeki n g o f t h e do ctors
in t he T empl e h e wa s s en t t o b e tr a i n e d in an E ss e n e
,

c om mu n i t y in t h e s ou th e r n J ud e an d e s e rt Wh e n h e
.

had r eac h e d t he age o f n i n e t een h e w en t on to t he E s

s e n e Mon a st e ry n e ar Mo u n t Se rba l a m on ast e ry w hi c h
,

was mu c h visit e d by l e a r n e d m e n tr av e li n g fro m P e r

sia an d In di a t o E yp t an d wh e r e a m agn ifi c en t li
g ,

b r at y of occult works m an y o f th e m In di an o f t h e
—
76 A n ci e n t My st e r i es and M od er n Mason ry

n er i n structi on c on stitut e d t h e ba sis of t h e Christi an

Mysteri e s D uri n g this tim e t h e dis c ipl es live d t o
.

gethe r in a re tire d spot on the outskirts o f Ju d ea at ,

tr acti n g s mall att e n tion b ecause of t h e m an y similar

c omm u n iti e s D urin g its e mbryo n i c st age t h e n ew t e
.

ligi on was hi d d e n in t h e womb o f com mu n iti e s similar ,

t o tha t of t h e The r apeu t e s It w a s s ome y e ars be f ore

.

it emerge d an d b egan its gen e ral p ro p agan da an d it ,

was on l y w h en t he disci pl e s wer e f ully prepar e d th at

th ey w en t fort h t o p reac h .

A ft e r J e su s d e at h h e c ompl e te d hi s human evolution

’

an d b e cam e a P e r f e c t Ma st e r Th e Christ th e n sur

.

r en d e r e d t o J e sus th e car e of th e C hristi an Churc h ,

an d He b e c am e t h e Hi e ro p h an t in t h e Christi an My s

f e ri e s He was t h e i n spira tion th at kep t al ive the

.

Gn osis in t h e Churc h un til t h e m ass of ign or an t sel f

i shn ess b ecam e t oo gr eat for i t s con ti n ua n ce Bu t he .

has sou ght t hor ou gh ou t t he c en turi e s an d i s s e eki n g ,

‘

t o d ay for th os e w ho h av e e y e s t o see an d ea rs t o
—
,

h ea r Wi sdom ( F or fu ll ex p osi ti on see Esoteri c

“
.

”
Chr istian i ty B esan t Ch I V )
, , . .

This is t he occult t eac hi n g w h ich i s f ully corrob or ,

a t e d by t he d octri n e of t h e e ar ly Gn ostics Th ey hel d .

th at thos e w hom Christ ori gi n a lly i n stru ct e d i n th e

hi gher doctri n e s brought ab out his co n d emn ation for
,

bl a sph emy by t he O rthodo x J e w ish authoriti e s b e ,

cau se th e y co n si d e r e d th a t his t oo op e n t eac hi n w a

g a s

d ivulge n c e o f t he Mysteries They also h e l d as can

.
,

b e s e e n by con sulti n g t h e Pist is Sophi a w r itte n b y ,

V ale n ti n us that a fter J e sus d eath he con ti n u e d his

,
’

i n st ruction o f th e d isciple s For ele v en yea rs he .

“
taught th em so f ar as t he r egi on s of t h e fi rst s t a tu es
Th e Ch r i sti a n My st eri es 77

on ly an d up to t h e r egion s o f th e first myst e ry the ,

”
m ystery w ithi n t h e v e il N ot w i t hs tan di n g t h e r e
.
,

w e re omis sion s o f ma n y po i n t s whi c h as ye t th ey

w e re u n abl e to c ompr e he n d t h e i n st ruction was so ,

won d er f u l t ha t th ey thou ght th at all h ad b e en rev eale d ,

t h e gn osis o f all gn os e s In t he t w el fth y ear h avi n g

.
,

r e c e iv e d the rob e o f glory he s ays t o his d isciples ,

L o I h av e p ut on My v e stur e an d all pow e r h ath

“
, ,

be en giv en Me by t h e F irst Myste ry Ye t a littl e whil e .

an d I will t e ll you t h e myst e ry o f the pl e ro m a an d the

p l e rom a o f t h e pl e roma ; I will c on c eal n othi n g from

ou from t h is hour but i n per fe ct n ess will I p e r f e ct
y ,

you i n the whole pl e roma an d all per f ection a n d ev ery

, ,

myst e ry ; w hich thi n gs i n dee d ar e the p e r f ec tion o f all

, , ,

p e r f e ction s t h e p l e rom a o f all p l e rom a an d t he gn o

, ,

sis o f all gn os e s w hi c h a r e in My vestur e I w ill t e ll

,
.

you all myst e ries from t h e e x t e rior o f th e e xt e riors to ,

t h e i n terior o f t he i n teriors
”
This t h e Master d id
.

an d i n struct e d t h e m in t h e My st e r y o f t h e F irst Mys

'

f ery an d the Mystery o f the In e ff abl e Th en follow s .

i n st ru c tion on t he n atur e o f t h e pr eac hin g by t he d is

c iple s wh e n t he Ma st e r h as e n t e r e d t h e Li ght an d the ,

con dition upon w hi ch t he Myst e ri e s sh all b e giv en to

others He th en t e ac h e s th em r e gardi n g the post mor
.

t em st a t e of t h e si n n e r t h e
, ri ght e ous u n i n i t i a t e d an d ,

t he righteo u s i n iti at e d e t,
c This s.ec r e t t ea c h in g c on

stitut e d t h e Myst e ri e s o f J e sus .

The publi c an d p rivate te achi n g o f J e sus n aturally

resulte d in two tra d ition s Th e m ys t i c tr adition r epr e
.

sen ts t h e i n n e r t e achi n g an d t h e Ebion ite r epresen ts

,

the p u bl ic t e achi n g It was agai n st t h e ori gi n al f ol

.

lowers o f t he p ubli c tr ad ition that Paul con t en ded in

his e ff orts t o u n iv e r sa 1iz e Ch r isti an ity The P etro
,
.
78 A n cien t Myst er i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

Pauli n e con trov e rsy was a struggl e b etwee n t h e e x t e r

n al an d mysti c si d e s o f t h e n ew moveme n t Th e .

E bion ite s u n dou btedly pr e s e rv e d t h e origi n al an d true

traditi on r e gardi n g t he birth an d n at u r e of Jesu s f or ,

they he l d th at Jesus was a man born as ot he r men ,

t h e n atur a l son of Jos eph an d Mary Th at t h e tr ad i

.

tion o f t h e Ebion it e s or N az ar aen s d i ff e red w i de ly

from t h e histori c ize d dogmas o f l ater tim e s m ay b e ,

se en e v en t o d ay from t h e Cod e x N asaraeu s o f th e

,
-
,

Man d ai t e s t he de s cen d an ts o f t h e N az ar aean s w ho

,

dw e ll in t h e m arsh e s o f South e r n Babylon i a We must .

n ot c o n fus e t h e early form o f E bio n itism w ith the

l at e r form s whi c h w e r e o f a Gn ostic n atur e t h e out e r —

commu n iti e s b e i n g fi n ally i n flue n c e d by t h e i n n e r Jew

ish tr ad itio n .

Pau l hims e l f wa s a mystic in touch with t h e i n n er

,
l

commu n iti e s an d h e saw th at Christi an ity was d e

,

si gn e d t o be t he r e li gion o f t he n e w rac e about to be

b or n It i s e vi d e n t th a t P a ul w a s n ot ac qu a i n te d
.

with the l at e r acc o u n ts of t h e can on i cal Gosp e ls for h e ,

doe s n ot te ac h t he histori cal J e su s b u t th e Mystic

Christ Th e c an on i c a l ac c ou n ts w e re p rob ab ly c ompile d
.

i n t h e last qu a rt e r o f t h e first c e n tury or in the fi rst

p a rt of th e secon d th at is th ey reac he d their presen t
, ,

form at th at time The sy n optics we r e base d u pon

.

a sk et c h of an i d eal li fe writt en by on e of t h e A p os
,

tles o f th e i n n e r c ommu n iti es an d i n ten d e d f or gen

,

er al c ircul ation Rou n d this n u c l e us later compilers

.
, ,

bishops o f t h e outer c hu rc hes wove much oth e r mat ,

t e r whi c h wa s s e le c t e d from a m ass o f l egen d an d tra

d ition .Orthod ox y or G en eral Ch ristian ity trac e s it s
origi n t o th e se d ocum e n ts .

We a re no w rea dy to e x amin e t he t e achi n gs of

Th e Ch r i sti an My ster i es

In t h e fou rth c h apt e r o f Mark is r ecor d e d t he p ar

a bl e o f t h e sower
gi v en by J e sus t o t he multitu d e at
,
,

h
t e co n clusion o f which he s a id ' “
He th at hath e ars
,
” “
t o h e a r let him h ea r A n d w h en h e was al on e t h e
.
,
“
wr it er says th ey th at w e r e abou t him with t he tw elve
,

”
a sk e d of him t h e p a r a bl e an d He s a i d u n to th em
, ,
“
Un to you it i s give n t o kn ow t h e myste ry of the
ki n gdom of G od ; but u n to th e m that ar e without all ,

th e s e thi n gs ar e don e in p arabl es ( M ar k I V 9

.
, .
, ,

10 ,
A littl e l at e r i n t he s am e c hap ter we are
“
tol d Wi t h m an y su c h p arabl e s sp ak e He t he w ord
,

u n to the m as th ey w e r e abl e t o h ear it Bu t wit hout a

, .

p a r abl e sp ak e h e n ot u n to th e m an d w h en th ey w e r e ,

”
a lon e h e e xpou n d e d a ll thi n gs to his dis c ipl e s ( 1 bi d .
,

33 ,
T h e w rit e r r e c ords the i n t e ll ec tu al i n te r

t a t i o n o f t h e p a rabl e of t h e sower give n by J e sus

p r e

to his dis c ipl e s Th e s e thi n gs hav e a thr e e fol d m ean

.
-

in g a s u r fac e an i n t e ll e ctual i n te r p r e tation an d a

—
, ,

mysti cal or Spiritual m ean i n g whic h was n e v e r writ ,

t e n but was committ e d orally by the t e a c h e r to his

p l e d ge d d isci p le Origen s ay s all Scriptu re has a
.

bod y t he commo n historical s en s e ; a soul a figu rative

, ,

m e a n i n g t o be i n t e ll e ctu ally d isc e rn e d ; a n d a Spirit ,

an i n n er occult se n s e kn ow n on ly t o t h e spiritually
,

m i n d e d It w a s thi s i n n e r o c c ul t t ea c hi n g th a t J e su s
.

“
g a v e t o thos e i n th e h ou s e w h e n th ey w er e

alo n e to thos e w ho w e re p rivil e ge d t o k n ow

,
—

”
t h e m y st erie s o f t h e ki n gd om o f G od .
80 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

Th e Ki n gd om of H eaven or Kin gd om o f Go d re
f e rs t o t h e Myst e ry In stitution or to t h e s p iritual stat e
-

which t he dis c ipli n e an d k n owle dge or Gn osi s r e

,

v eal e d in t he Mysteri e s e n able d on e to att ai n In

'

.
,

t h e Pi st i s Soph i a J e su s i s s a i d to h a v e brou gh t t h e
“
K e ys o f t he Mysteri e s o f t he Ki n gd om o f Ligh t ”
,

m e a n i n g th at t h e p e rf e c t In it i a t e h a d att a i n e d t h e
.

Ki n gd om t h e h i gh sp iritu a l st a t e ev e n wh il e o n
, ,

“ ”
e a rth In t h e B ook o f t h e Gre a t Lo g os a n oth e r
.
,

e a rly G n osti c tre a t is e w e a r e tol d that th os e w h o

,

h a v e rec e iv e d th e Gr e a t e r M yst e ri e s th e My st e ries

,
“
o f th e Li ght Tr e a s u re h av e a l r e a d y i n h erit e d th e
,

Ki n gd om of G o d w h il e stil l on e a rth ; th e y h av e
th e i r sh a r e i n t h e Li gh t T re a sure a n d a r e i m m o rt al
”
Go d s .

We see by this th e re al m e an i n g o f Jesu s sayi n g ’

,

Giv e n ot that w hi c h i s holy t o t h e d ogs n e i the r ,

"
cast y e your p ea rls be f ore s w in e ( Ma tt VII . . .
,
“ ” ” “ ”
D ogs lik e t he vul ga r an d the pro f an e w as a
term appli e d by those w ithi n a ce rt ai n c ircle t o all ,

wh o w er e o n t h e out si d e Th i s w a s th e s e n s e i n
.

wh i c h J e su s u s e d t h e t e rm s ; for thos e n ot i n iti at e d

i n to t h e my st e ri es o f th e k n owl e d g e c oul d n ot
u n d e rst an d t h e i n n er t ea c h i n g ; a n d to giv e i t t o
th e m w oul d b e l ik e cast i n g p e a rl s b e for e s w i n e .

A gai n
the n ame s Ki n gd om the Ki n gd om o f
,
” “ “ ”
G 0 d o r th e Ki n g d om of H e a v e n t h e S tr a it Gat e
” “
t he Narrow Way t he Sav e d ar e all techn ical
, ,

t e rms c on n ect ed with In iti ation an d t h e Mysteries .

This is evi d e n t fr om the passage s in w h ich thes e t erms

“
occu r . The questi on was a sked Jesus A re th e re ,
”
f ew that be save d ! an d he r e p l i e d “
Strive t o e n ter
,

in at the st rait gate ! f or ma n y I say u n to y ou w ill

, ,
Th e Ch r i st ian My ster i es 81

s e ek to t r in , an d
shall n ot be abl e
en e
( L u ke XIII .
,
“
2 3, A g ai n h e s a i d E n t e r y e i n at th e strait
, ,

gat e ! for wi de is t he gat e an d broa d is t h e w ay th at , ,

le ad eth t o d e struction an d m an y there be which go,

in t he re a t ! be c aus e str a it is t he gate a n d n arrow is ,

t h e w ay w h i c h l e a d e th u n to l if e a n d few th er e b e
, ,

( Matt VII 1 3
”
t hat fin d it . .
, , ,

Th e ppli cation of this pass age t o t he futu re worl d

a

i s withou t fou n d at ion To su p pos e that ma n y wi ll

.

ea rn e stly se e k t o en te r he av en b u t wil l b e u n able t o

ga i n ad mi ssion is both u n r e ason abl e an d u n scriptural .

Wh e n t he Se e r o f t he A p oca lyps e des c ribes t h e he av en

“
world he d o e s n ot b e hol d mere ly a f ew b u t a gr eat ,

multitu d e which n o man coul d n u mb e r ”

( R ev . .

VII .
,

T he Str a it
Gate here i s n ot t he gateway of
h eav en but t h e gate w ay o f In itiation Fe w i n dee d
,
.
, ,

“
h av e suc cee d e d in e n teri ng this Stra it Gat e al ,

t hough m an y have sought its p ortals Th ere are .

some e ven t o d ay w ho ca n b ea r witn e ss to t his st ate

,
-
,

me n t some who for years h ave striv e n b u t h ave n ot

,
“ ”
y et re a che d the g oa l The Sa v e d. t h e t r u e In itiate s , ,

“ ”
thos e who have att ai n e d t he Ki n gd om o r spi r itual ,

N irv an a h a ve al w ay s b e e n f ew So m e thr e e th ou sa n d
,
.

“
ye a rs ea r li er K r ishn a sai d
,
A mon g thousan d s of ,

men scarce on e st r iveth f or p er f e ction ; o f t he suc

,
"
ce ssf u l strive r s scarce on e kn oweth m e in esse n ce .

Th e gr e at multitu d e have alw ays f ollowe d t he b roa d

way w hi ch lea deth time an d agai n to d est ruction ; on ly
t he f e w hav e sought t h e n a rrowe r an d st ee per roa d of
In iti atio n th a t lea d eth d ir e ct u n to li fe .

The stu de n t of the w orlds Sc r iptur e s is familia r

’
82 A n cien t My st er i es and Mod er n Mason ry

w ith th e symbol of t h e N arrow Way It is t h e .

old n a rro w way so oft en r e f e rr e d to t h e P ath d iffi ,

c ul t to t r e a d a s t h e e d g e o f a r a z or J e su s d oe s n o t .

u se t h e symbol in an y n ew s e n s e It i s t h e old .

Str a it G at e an d N a rrow W ay of In iti atio n This

“ ” “ ”
.

was sy mboliz e d in t h e A n ci en t Myst e ri e s by the n a r

ro w ston e orifi ce w hi c h s ep a r at e d eac h o f the s ev en
c av e rn s from its su c c e ssor an d thro u gh whi c h t h e can
,

d i d at e had t o p ass in goi n g from on e ch amb e r t o th e

n e xt Th e Kin g s Ch am b e r i n t h e gr e at Pyr am i d wa s
’
.

en t e r e d t h r ou gh su c h a gat e R ega rdi n g this Mr St an S

. .
a

“ ’
l an d Wak e s ays Th e so c all e d Ki n g s
,
-

was pr ob ab l y t h e p l ac e t o w h i c h the In iti at e was a d

m it t e d a ft e r h e h ad gon e throu gh t h e n a rrow up w ard
p a ssage an d t h e gr an d gall e ry w ith its low ly t e rm i n a
,

tion w hi c h gra dually pr ep a r e d him for t h e fi n al st ag e

'

o f t h e Sac r e d Myst e ri e s ”
( Or igin an d Sign ifican ce
.

of th e G r e a t P yra mi ds
”
p , Thi s p assage sym
.

“ ” “ ”
bo liz e d t h e N arro w or Str a it Gat e w hi c h l e ad e th
”
u n t o 1i f e t h e n ew Spi ritu al r e birth
—
to w hi c h J e su s —

re f err e d It was a sy mbo l t he m ean i n g of w hi ch was

.
,

w e ll u n de rstood by e v e ry In iti at e Th e Maso n will .

r ecall a si mi la r sy mbo l in t h e gat ew ay throu gh w hi c h

h e p a ss e d in t h e Roy a l A r c h D e gr e e
'

It is of i n t er e st to n ot e in this c on n ection t h e in
, ,

c id en t o f t h e y ou n g m an wh o c am e t o J e sus a n d a d

d r e ssi n g h im s aid
“
Good Ma st e r wh at goo d thi n g
, ,

He w ish e d
”
Sh a ll I do th at I m ay hav e e t e r n a l Li f e !

to s ecur e a p e rm an en t abo d e in t h at w orl d wh er e th e y

d ie n o m or e in other w ords h e wa s s ee ki n g lib e r atio n
, ,

f r om t he n ec essity o f r e pe a t ed births an d d eaths R e .

memb e r t h e J ew s b e li e v e d th at all i mp e r f e c t souls

,

r e t u r n e d to earth li f e In r eply J e su s gav e t h e usu a l

.
84 A n ci en t My st er i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

gre at riches an d vast i n t e r e sts in t he m at e ri a l w orl d ,

th at h e can p ass t h e n a rrow gat e w ay of t h e world o f

the s p irit Poverty ob edi en ce an d ch asti t y we r e t he
.
, ,

vow s t aken by t he can d i d at e f or In itiation in all age s ,

an d J e sus si m ply repe ats th e u n ive rsal t e achi n g .

An other
’
i n dication o f Jesu s k n owl e d ge o f the t e c h
n ic al t e rms of In itiatio n i s in t h e w or d s s p oke n t o N ic
“
od e mu s , V e rily verily I say u n t o th e e E xce p t a man
, , ,
”
b e b or n agai n h e c an n ot see the Kin gd om o f G od
,
.

( J oh n III ,
This birth or b aptis m is spoken of a s
o f w at e r an d o f t h e spi rit t h e first bapti sm is the fi rst
,

“
In iti ation w h en t he ca n di d at e i s w elcome d as a little
,

”
chil d . Th er e was a l at e r In iti ation the baptism o f ,

t h e In iti at e i n his m an h ood c all e d t he b apt i s m o f the

,

Holy Ghost an d fire ( Matt III . .

,

In th e Co d e x N asaraeu s o f t h e Ma n d a it e s th ere i s
a b ea u ti ful st o ry o f this mystic b aptism J e sus c om e s .

to J oh an n a h t o be b aptiz e d se e ki n g In iti ation i n t o t he

—

t h e mysti c s c hool o f Joh an n a h B u t Joh an n ah rec og .

n i z e s him as t h e Ma st e r by w hose p o w e r h e h ad b e e n

teachi n g an d i n iti ati n g for forty an d t w o y e ars J o .

ha n n a h giv e s t h e lo w e r In iti ation of ext e r n al b ap tism

to J e sus an d r ec e iv e s in turn t he t ru e spiritu al b ap
,

t ism from t h e Ma ster hi m s e l f wh en He gav e him

“
,

t h e grip o f t h e Rusht a an d l a id his h an d upon h im in

,

Jor d an ; an d He ma d e h im lay off his ga rm en t o f fles h

an d blood ; an d He cloth e d him in a r ai me n t o f glory .

“ ” “ ” “
Th e p hr a ses littl e o n e s little chil d an d chil d r en
,
.

w er e u s e d in t h e mystic circl e s o f t he time t o d en ote

“
o n e j ust In itiat e d J oh an n ah s ays Com e in p eace
.
, ,

Little O n e N ow I go with th e e Little O n e

. , , ,

that we may en ter the st rea m Com e c ome Little . , ,

Th e Ch r i sti a n Myster i es 85

On e o f three y ears an d on e d ay you n ge st am on g his ,

b rethr e n but olde st with his Father w ho i s so s mall ,

”
e t his s ayi n gs are so e x alte d In the E sse n e an d
y .

The rapeu t e commu n iti es sen or it y was r e ckon e d n ot

by age b u t by t h e years t he b rother h ad b e en a mem
,

”
b e r o f t h e Or d er Th e Secon d B i rt h is a lso a well
.

r e cogn iz e d an d u n iv e rsal ter m f or In itiat i on Th is .

wi l l be c l early se en wh en we con si de r more d efi n it ely

t h e qu e sti on o f In itiation in a succe e d i n g lecture .

On th e i ght prece d i n g h is d e ath J esus s ai d to his

n ,

“
A p ostles ,
I hav e ye t man y thi n gs t o say u n to you ,
”
b u t ye can n ot b ear them n ow ( J ohn X VI . Som e ,

o f thes e thi n gs wer e u n d oubted ly s a i d by J e su s a ft e r

h is r e surrection d uri n g the p e riod w he n h e r em ai n e d

,
“
with his discipl e s Spe aki n g t o them o f t he thi n gs pe r
,

t a i n i n g t o t h e Ki n gd om of G od O f c ours e n on e of
.
,

“
thes e thin gs pertai n i n g as th ey d id t o t he Ki n gdom of
, ,

G od —
”
the Myst e ri e s ar e publicly rec or ded ; but on e
—

c an n ot d oubt t hat th ey w ere tr e asur ed an d han d e d

d ow n orally a s a p r e cious heri tage There i s a trad i .

tio n in the e a rly c hu r ch t hat this i n st ruction con ti n ue d ,

n ot o n ly f or ty d ays bu t f or ma n y y e ars
,
.

We will now tu rn Paul We shall fin d t he

t o St . .

w riti n gs o f t his A p ostle t o the Ge n tiles p e rm e ate d with

r e f e re n ce s to occult t eachi n gs an d th e Myste r i e s ; hi s
u se o f t h e t ech n ical terms conn ect e d with In itiation

i s sufficie n t t o p r ov e t o an y u n p re j u d ice d min d t he

, ,

e x isten ce o f t he in n er tes ching o f th e Church in it s

p r i m itive stat e .

In fi
t he rst E p istle t o t h e Cor in t h i an s Paul r e f e rs t o ,

“ ”
t he d egr ee o f Per f ec tion an d to the t eachi n g that
belon gs t o t hat d egr e e ; he says We S p eak wis d om
“
,
86 A n ci en t My ster i es an d M od er n Mason r y

am on g th em th at p e r f ec t W e sp e ak t h e wis
ar e .

d o m o f G o d i n a m y s t e ry e ve n t h e h i dd e n w i s dom
,

which G od or d ai n ed b e f or e the w orld u n to our glory !

whi c h n on e of t h e pri n c e s o f this w orld k n ew .

B u t G od h ath r e ve al e d th em u n to us by his spirit ! for

t h e spirit s e a r c h e th all thi n gs y ea t he d e e p thi n gs , ,

o f G od Whi c h th i n gs a lso w e s p eak n ot in t h e

.
,

w or d s w hi c h m an s w isdo m t eac h eth bu t w hi c h t he

’

”
H oly Ghost t eac h e t h ( I Cor 1 1 6 7 1 0 . .
, , , ,

“
A n d I,
br e thr en c oul d n ot sp ea k u n t o yo u a s un to
,

spi rit u al but as u n t o c ar n a l e ve n a s u n t o b ab e s in

, ,

C hrist I h av e f e d y ou w i t h m ilk an d n ot w ith m e at ;

.
,

for hith e rto y e w e r e n ot abl e to b e a r it n e i t her ye t ,

n ow a r e y e abl e F or y e ar e y e t ca r n a l
. A s a w is e .

ma st e r b u ild e r I h av e l ai d t h e fou n d ati on

-
, ( 1 Cor . .

II I 1 ,
2, 3,

L et a m an so ac c ou n t of u s a s o f t he m i n isters o f
,

”
Chri st ,
an d st e w a r d s o f t h e myst e ries o f G od ( I Cor . .

I V,

Is it n ot e vi d en t from th e s e p a ss age s th at t he A p os
t le poss e ss e d an i n n e r w isdo m th at t h e Christi an s at
Cori n th w e r e n ot y et abl e to rec e iv e ! R em e mb e r th at
th e s e w ords w e r e a dd r e ss e d to thos e w ho w e r e in full
memb e rship o f t h e Chur ch Th ey had all th at t he .

mod e r n c hu rc h giv e s t o its m emb e rs but t h e r e was a ,

h i d d en wi s d om w hi c h th ey c oul d n ot y et b e a r Th is .

wisdom wa s o n ly giv en in t h e Myst e ri es wh er e wis —

”
d om was s p ok en am o n g t h e P e r fe c t The r e curri n g .

t e c h n i cal terms in th e s e p ass age s should evi d e n c e th e ir

con n ection with t h e w orl d w i de Myst e ri e s ! Th e Per
-
“

” “ ”
fe et t h e Wis d om t h e Hi dden Wisdom th e Wis
, , ,

d om o f G od in a Myst e ry t h e wise Mast e r buil d e r

“ ”
-
, ,
Th e Ch r isti a n My st er i es 87

St e w a rds of Myst e ri e s o f God

t he P au l c on s tan tly
—

u s e s th e se t e c h n i c a l t e r m s w hi c h b e l o n g to t he mysti c

tra di t i on T he c omm u n iti e s w hic h h e a ddr e ss e d mu st

.

h av e b e e n f a m i l i ar w ith his n om en c l at ur e for h e d oe s ,

n ot sp e ak o f t h e s e thi n s a s n e w but a s w e ll k n o w n
g ,

t o thos e t o w ho m h e writ e s .

In t h e E pis t l e to t h e E ph e si an s P au l r e f e rs t o t h e
Myst e ri e s s ayi n g t h a t by r e v e l at i on h e m ad e k n ow n
.

” “
u n to m e th e myst e ry my kn o w l e d ge in t h e myst e ry
,
” “
o f Christ th at a ll men m i ght se e t he f e llow ship of
t h e m yst e ry ( E ph III 3 4
. .
, , ,

In t h e E pistl e to the Pa u l d ec l a r e s th at
Colossi an s ,

h e h a d be e n a m i n ist e r to f u l fil l t h e w o rd o f
m ad e
Go d ,
E v e n t h e m yst e ry w hi c h h ath b een hid from
age s an d fr om gen e r a tio n s b u t n ow is m a d e man i f e st
,

to his s ai n ts ! To whom G od wou l d mak e k n ow n

w h at i s t h e ri c h e s of th e glory o f this myst e ry amo n g
t h e G e n til e s ; whi c h is Christ in y ou th e h ope of ,
”
g l o ry .
( Co l I 2 6 .
,
This C hrist w ithi n is i n d ee d
a m yst e ry it i s t h e li f e o f t h e In iti at e w hi c h w h en
—
, ,
“
f u l ly d e v e lop e d w ill pre s en t t h e m an p e r f e ct i n J e s u s
,

”
Christ .

In t h e E pistl e to t he Philippi an s P au l s ays I c ou n t ,

a ll thi n gs b u t loss for t h e e x c e l l e n c y o f t h e k n o w l e d ge

o f Christ J e sus Th at I m ay kn o w him an d t he

. ,

p ow e r o f his r e surr ec ti on an d t h e f e llowship o f his

,

su ff e rin gs bei n gmad e c on formabl e u n to his d eath ! If

,

by an y m e an s I mi ght att ai n u n to t he r e s u rr ection o f

t h e d ea d Not as thou gh I ha d a lr ea dy at t a in ed e ith e r
. ,

w e r e alr ead y p e r fect L et us th e r e for e as man y

. ,

”
a s be p e r f e ct b e thu s m i n d e d
, ( Phil III 8 . .
,
88 A n ci en t My st e r i es an d M od er n Mason r y

Th e resurr e ction w hi c h t h e A postle

strivi n g t o was
att a i n wa s n ot t he ordi n a ry r e su r recti on of Chri stian
“
b e li e f f or this r e quir e s n o e ffo rt Bu t th e r e is a r e
, .

su rr e ction which is n ot easily att ai n e d J e su s re f e rs .

“
t o this in his r e p ly t o t h e Sa d d uc e es Bu t th e y whic h ,

shal l b e acc oun te d worthy t o obtai n th at w orld an d th e ,

r e surr e ction from t he d ead n e ith e r m arry n or are ,

giv e n in m a rri age ! n e ith e r can th e y d i e an y m or e ! f or

th ey ar e e qu al u n to t he an ge ls ; an d are c hildr e n o f
”
G od bein g t he chil d r en o f t h e r e su rr ec tion
, ( L u ke .

XX 3 5) ,

J e sus h e re con n e cts t he resurr ection with li b e r ation

from d eath thos e atta i n i n g t h e r e su rr ection do n ot
—
“

die an y mor e The p e r fect e d In iti ate was lib e rat e d

.

“
from t he circle o f gen er ation s o f birth an d d eath ,

he was wor t hy t o ob tai n th at worl d o f p e rm an e n t

a b o d e The real man is s e xle s s an d t hos e who are
.

abl e t o ab an d o n their an i m a l n atur e r e tur n t o t h e e t e r ,

n al e sse n c e ab ov e w h e r e t h er e i s n e ith e r m al e n or f e
,

m a le bu t a n ew cr eatur e this i s the tru e r e surr ec tion

,
—
.

Wh en t he n eophyt e r eac hed a cert ai n st age o f i n t e rio r

“
d ev e lop men t or en lightrn en t he was s ai d to rise from
” “ ”
t he d e a d Th e phras e. resurr e ction f rom t he d ea d
is a mysti ca l p hrase d en oti n g t he n ew b irth or Gn o
stie Illumin ation The A p ostle was strivi n g t o attai n
.

“
th at r esu rr ection an d he u rges as m an y as are per
,
”
f ee t t o strive also He d oes n ot urge t he or d i n ary
.

b el iever ; for o n ly thos e who h ad att ai n e d t o t he d e

“ ”
gre e o f t he Pe r f ec t c oul d h 0pe for imme d iate d e
“ ”
liver an c e He was alr ead y o f th e Per f ect an d he
.

“
s ays t o hi s f e llow In itiates I p r ess towar d t he m a rk
,

f or t he p rize o f t h e hi gh callin g o f G od i n Chri st

Jesu s Let us th e r e f ore as m a n y as b e p e r f e ct be thu s
.
, , ,
Th e Ch r i sti a n My ster i es 89

mi n d e d The In iti ate was t o be come t he Rise n Christ

.
.
“
Th e ordi n a ry beli ev e r had put on Ch rist They .

w e re bab e s in Ch rist Ch rist was t h e Savior t o

.

whom th ey l o ok ed for h e l p kn owi n g Him a fte r t he ,

fl e sh Bu t w h en they had con qu e re d t h e lower n ature

.

an d w e re n o lo n e r c arn al
‘ ’
g th en they were t o en te r on ,

”
a hi gh e r p ath an d w e r e thems e lves to become Christ
, .

( Esoter ic Christia n i ty B esan t p , , .

P au l h ad st ru ggl e d to att ai n this i de al an d had at

l ast su cc e e d e d He s ays I am n ow r ea dy t o be oi
.
“
,

f e r e d an d t h e time o f my d epartur e i s at ha n d
, I .

h av e fou ght a goo d fi ght I h av e fin ish e d my cou r se , ,

I have k e pt t h e f ait h ; h en ce fo rth ther e is l ai d up f or

”
me a crown o f ri ght e ous n ess ( II Ti mo t hy IV 6 8 .
, ,
-

“
This was t he cro w n gi ven t o him th at ov e rc om e th ‘
,
’

o f w ho m it i s s a i d b y t h e asce n de d Ch rist ! I will

‘

m ake him a p illa r in t he t empl e o f my G od ; an d he

sh al l go n o m ore ou t ( R ev III . For a ft e r the .
,

R e surr e ctio n t he In iti at e has be come t he P e r fec t Man ,

t h e Ma st e r an d He goe s out n o m ore f rom the Tem

,

ple.
( E soter i c Christia ni ty p , .

In t h e Fi rs t E p i stl e t o T i m othy Paul e xhor t s his ,

son in t he f aith to see th at n othi n g is d on e co n trary t o

soun d d oc tri n e Paul d ecl a re s th at the glorious gospel

.

o f th e b l e s s e d G o d h a s b e e n c ommitt e d t o hi s t ru st ,

an d h e c o m m its t o Tim ot hy an im p orta n t c ha rge in

“
thi s con n ection This c ha rge I c ommit u n to thee
. ,

”
son Timot hy ( I T.i mo th y I A n d a gai n he says
, ,

0 Timot hy k e e p that whi c h i s committ ed t o t hy

“
,

ast t he form of Sou n d

” “
trust .
( I b i d VI Hold
.
,
f
wor d s whi c h thou h ast he ard o f me th at goo d thi n g . .

which was committ e d u n to th ee keep by t he Holy ,

90 A n ci en t Myst e r ies an d M od er n Mason ry

Ghost w hi c h d w ell e th in us ( II Ti mothy L 1 3

.
, ,

“
N egl e c t n ot t h e gi ft th a t is in th ee w hi ch was given ,

th ee by p rop h e cy w ith the layi n g on of th e h an ds o f

,
”
t h e Pr e sbytery o f t he In iti at e s ( I Ti mo thy I V
-
.

Thi s kn o w l e dge w hi c h h ad b ee n comm itt e d to Timothy

an d whi c h h e w a s to gu a r d so comp l e t e l y wa s n ot t h e ,

common kn o w le dge poss e ss e d b y Christi an s in gen e ral

-

th e r e was n o s p ec i a l obli gation s l ai d upon h im re gar d

in g th at but it wa s t he d octri n e committ e d to his
,

tru st as an In itiat e .

Pa ul i n structs him t o s e l e ct d eacon s fr om amon g

“
t hos e who h ad a kn ow led ge o f the myst e ry o f th e
Fa ith ,
”
an d t h e
“
myst ery o f god li n e ss ”
He wa s fur .

th e r t o p rovi d e f o r t h e tr an s m ission o f this s ac r e d

'

“
te achi n g t he t hi n gs th at thou hast hear d of me
,

am on g m a n y w it n e ss e s [ in t h e a s se mbly o f In iti ates ! ,

t h e s am e c omm it thou t o f a ith ful m en who sh all b e ,

”
abl e to t e ac h o th e rs a lso ( II Ti mo thy II
. . This , , ,

o f cou rse r e f e rs to t h e sacr e d oral t ea chi n gs give n

,

on ly to In itiat e s If t he or d i n a ry d octri n e s of t h e
.

c hur c h w ere m e an t Timothy woul d have been in

,

structe d to write it d ow n for tr a n smission or rather ,

P aul woul d hav e written it ou t hims e l f Bu t the .

s e cr e t t eachi n g coul d n ot be writt en ; th e y w e re n ot

t h e thi n gs r ea d by Ti m othy they were P a ul s p riv a t e
’

i n struction s give n withi n t h e sacr e d p reci n cts ; they

,

w e r e to be tran s m itted to others by wor d o f mout h .

Paul i n iti at e s Timothy i n to t h e Mysteri es o f t he

Ch ur c h an d e x horts him t o ke e p t hat whic h is com
“
,
”
mit te d to hi s trust an d to p rovide for t h e d u e t ra n s
,

mission o i thi s kn owl e d ge t o oth e r te achers We thus .

h ave p rovision ma d e f or t h e tra n smission o f the oc

cult wisd om f or t hr ee gen e r tio s Timo y
a n t h repr e»-
 LE CTUR E V .

THE C HR IST IA N MY STE R IES .

( Con clu d e d )
.

TEST I M ONY O F THE EARLY C H URCH .

In t he last le c tur e we e xami n ed t h e t e stimon ies of

Ch rist an d His A postles , an d f ou n d th at th e y had an

i n n e r te ac hi n g a d ee p spiritual kn owledge whic h was

, ,

n ot impa rte d t o t h e masses .

We Sh all n ow p roce ed t o t h e history o f the ea r ly

chur c h in which we fin d th at th e Myst e ri e s as e s ,

t ab li sh e d by Christ c on stitute d a d e fin ite i n stituti on

,

in t he early Ch risti an ce n turi e s .

There were t wo t ra d ition s o f t he Ch r istian G n osi s

—
t he G n ostic which re c ogn iz e d t h e Christia n G n osi s
,

as on ly a p a rt o f t h e Ge n era l Gn os is an d t h e o rth o
,

d ox which h e l d t o t h e e x clusive ch ar act e r o f the

,

C hr istian Gn osi s .

L u s first c on si d er t h e Gn ostics The very me a n

et .

in g o f t h e wor d Gn osti c is t o kn ow The Gn ostics .

we r e th e fi rst p hilosop h ers an d theologi an s o f th e

Christian Ch urch ; t hey had an inn er es ot e ric teac h
ing w h ich th e y claime d came d irect f r om Jesu s an d
t he A p ostl e s. Th es e p hil osophers were n ot on ly t h e
m ost culture d in t h e Ch r isti an ra n ks bu t we r e z eal ,

ou s worke r s in their f a ith ; th e y e n d eavored t o f or

mu lat e Christi an ity as a u n iversal p h iloso p hy Th ey .

lived strictly an d f ollowed t he p ath o f r ight eous n ess ,

 Th e Ch r i st ia n My ste ri es 93

strivi n g by e v e ry m ean s to puri fy th ems e lv e s an d to

r ealiz e by d a ily pra cti c e t he t eac hi n gs o f t he Ma s te r ,

s e e ki n g alw ays t h e sci e n ce o f r ealiti e s t h e kn o w l —

e d ge o f G od h en c e wis d om was th e ir goal an d spir

,

it u al thi n gs th e ir stu dy Th ey look ed at t he probl em

.

o f cos mogon y an d an thr opoge n y from abov e an d in ,

this th e y m ay h av e b een as r e a son abl e in th e i r prop e r

d om a i n a s t h e m o d e r n s c i en tist w ho l oo ks a t t h e pro b
le m fr om b e lo w U n til t h e m iddl e o f t h e s ec on d c e n
.

t ury at l e a st t h ey c on t i n u e d a p a rt o f t h e G e n e r a l
, ,

Chris t i an bo d y but at l ast t h e n a rro w n e ss an d bi go t ry

,

o f thos e w ho follo w e d t h e ou t e r tra dition su cce e d e d

i n h avi n g t h e m d e n ou n ce d as h e r e ti c s ; an d this c hi e fly
f o r c on t en di n g th at t he t e ac hi n gs o f Chris t con ta i n e d
a wis d om th at tr an s c en d e d t h e c o m pr e h e n sio n o f t he

mu ltitud e .

The Gn osti c s h ad thei r Myst e ri e s an d In iti ati on s .

E v en i n t h e r ecen tly d iscov e r e d A c t s o f J oh n we

“ ”

h av e a fr agm en t o f t he e a rly G n osti c ri tu a l of t he

Myst e ri e s ; th e r e i s a l s o m e n tio n o f so m e o f t h e d e
“ ”
g r e e s such a s t h e I n iti ation o f t h e Cross a n d in ,

“ “ ”
t he P ist is Sophi a t he Books o f t he Savior
, an d ,

“ ”
t he B ook o f t h e Gr e at Logos th e r e is con s t an t
,

m en tion o f t he Myst e ri e s The C hristi an Myst e ri e s .

,

lik e t h e E l eu si n i an w e r e divi ded i n to t w o p ar t s t h e

, ,

L e sser an d t he Gr eat e r .

Be si d e Gree k ori gi n a l Gn ostic w orks abov e

the
m en tio n ed we hav e som e Gn osti c fr agm en t s recov
,

e re d f rom t he p ol e mic a l writi n gs o f t he Churc h

F ath e rs b u t a s th e s e writ e rs w e r e t he m ost bitter op
,

o n e n t s o f t h e Gn ostics th e y are n ot a very accur at e

p
sourc e o f i n formation Ir aen eu s is ou r chi e f i n f o rm
.

an t b u t h e has b e en s hown to be en tir e ly un re li ab l e

,
.
~

94 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d Mod er n Mas

on r y

I a m co n vi n ce d that the G n ostics cam e the earest n

t o pres e rvi n g t h e G n osis of the Ma st e r but ev e n with ,

them a fter a tim e t h e gr eat Sp iritual truths becam e

, ,

i n term i x e d with ma n y f an t astic i d e as .

I r egret that s p a c e d oes n ot perm it an exte n d ed e x

ami n at ion o f thi s m u c h n egl ecte d fi e ld of origi n al
Chris t i an m y sti c is m but as all a dm it t h e e xist e n c e of
,

a Gn osti c Gn osis it will n ot be n e cessary to go i n to

,

fu rth e r d et ails .

Let u s n ow loo k at t he O r thod o x Gn osis This re p .

resen ts t he n arro w er str e am i f n ot in volu m e at least,

in e xclusiv e n e ss an d though the l at e r Churc h f ath

,

ers con d em n ed th e follo w e rs o f thi s tradition e qually

with t h e G n ostics for some c en turies it h ad a wi d e
,

f ollowi n g amon g t h e mor e in tellige n t o f t he ea r ly

churc h .

We will trace thi s t ra d iti on mor e fully ! Polyca rp ,

a f e llow d iscipl e with Ign atius an d St Joh n in his .

,

Ep istle to t h e Chu rch at Philippi writes I trust t h at

, ,

e a r e well verse d in t h e Sac r e d Scriptures an d that

y ,

rom you
n othi n g is h i d f-
'

but to me this p rivilege i s

,

”
n ot yet gra n te d ( A n ti N.i c en e F a t h
w
e r s A m E d ,
. .

Vol 1 p .
,
It is evi d en t from this that there was
.

a hi d den t eachi n g in whi c h Polyc ar p was n ot yet in

struct e d for he trusts tha t those t o w hom h e w r ite s
,

are f arthe r a dva n ced that there is n othi n g h id f r om

,

th em so Polyca rp e vi d e n tly was n ot yet a f ull In

,

it iat e .

the Ep istle t o Ba rn abas its w r it e r s ays If I

In ,

shoul d tak e the troubl e to commu n icat e to y ou s om e

p ortion o f what I have mysel f r e ce ive d it woul d ,

p rov e to me a suffi ci en t r ewa rd th at I mi n iste r to

Th e Ch r ist ia n My ste r i es 95

s u c h spirits ( E p istle to B arn a bas Ch

.
It i s , .

c l ea r fr om this t h at B a r n ab a s ha d r e c e iv e d in st r u c

ti on in a ddition t o th at poss e ss e d by t h o s e t o w hom

h e wrot e .

Ign at ius , in his Epistl e to t he E ph esi an s w ri t e s I , ,

kn o w bo th w ho I am an d to w hom I w ri t e Ye .

a r e i n i t i at e d i n t o t h e myst e ri e s o f t h e Gosp e l w i t h

P aul t he ho l y t he m ar tyr e d i n a s mu c h as h e wa s a
, , ,

( Ch XII ) In t he Epistl e of Ig
‘ ’
c h o s en vess e l . . .

“
n a t iu s t o t h e Tr alli an s he s ays F or m i ght n ot I
, ,

w rit e to you thi n gs m or e fu l l of myst e ry ! Bu t I

f e a r t o d o s o l e s t I should i n fli c t i n j u ry on you w ho
,

a r e but b ab es Pa rd on m e in this r e sp ect l e st a s n ot

.
, ,

be i n g abl e to r ec e iv e th e i r w e i ghty i mport ye shou l d ,

b e str an gl e d by th e m Fo r ev en I tho u gh I am
.
,

bou n d ( for Christ ) an d am abl e to u n d e rst an d b eav

en l
y thi n gs t h e an ge li c or d e rs an d t he diff e r e n t sorts
, ,

o f A n ge ls an d hosts t h e disti n c tio n s b e t w e e n po w e rs

,

a n d domin ion s an d t he d iv e rsiti e s b e t w een thro n e s a n d

,

a uth o riti e s t h e m i ghti n e ss o f t h e A e on s

,
an d t h e p r e ,

e m i n en c e o i t h e c h e rubi m an d ser aphi m t h e s u b l i m ity ,

o f t h e Spirit t h e Ki n gdom o f t h e Lord an d ab ov e all

, , , ,

t h e i n c o mpar ab l e m aj e sty o f A l m i ghty God t h ou gh —

I am ac qu ai n t e d with th e s e t hi n gs ye t I am n ot th e r e ,

f o r e by an y m e an s p e r f e c t ; n or am I s u c h a d i sc ipl e
”
a s P aul or P e t e r ( Ch V ) . . .

This p a ss age is i mport an t as sh ow i n g th at t h e My s

“ ” “
t e r ie s d e a l t with h e av en ly thi n gs t h e an ge l i c or ,

”
d e rs e tc
, .

In his Epis t l e t o t he Phil ade lphi an s he s ays Th e ,

pri e sts i n d e e d are good b u t t h e Hi gh Pri e st [ Hier o

,

ph an t ! i s better ; to who m t he holy o f holi e s has b ee n

96 A ncie n t My ster ie s an d Mod er n Mason ry

commi tt ed an d who alon e has be e n trust e d w ith the

,
”
secrets o f G od ( Ch I X ) . . .

In t he Con sti tuti on s o f th e Holy A p ostles as ,

c ri b e d to Cle m en t B ishop o f Rom e t he author in

, ,

s p eakin g of th e i n struction o f catechumen s an d th eir

“
i n iti a ti on says No w a ft e r what mann e r thos e ou ght
, ,

t o liv e th at ar e i n i t iat e d i n to Christ h as b e en .

s aid in t h e for e goi n g dir e ct io n s B u t it is r e as on abl e.

n ot t o l ea v e e ve n thos e who a r e n ot y e t i n i ti at e d w ith

ou t assistan ce . A n d w h en it rem a i n s t hat t h e

c a t e c hu m e n i s t o b e b a p t i z e d le t h i m l e ar n w h a t c o n
,

c e rn s t h e r en u n ciation o f th e d e vil an d t h e j oin i n g o f ,

hi m sel f with Ch r i st ; f or it i s fi t t hat he shoul d firs t

a bstai n from t h in gs co n tra ry an d the n be a d mi t te d to
,

t h e Myst e ries He m ust be for e han d p u r i fy hi s hea rt

.

f rom al l wicke dn ess o f di s posi t io n f rom all s p ot an d ,

w rin kle an d the n p a rt ak e of the holy thi n gs

,

th at so t he can d i d ate for baptism w hen h e is an oi n t e d , ,

may b e fr e e from al l u n god li n e ss an d may b ecome ,

worthy o f in itiation ( B o o
. k V I I S ec ,
.

We n ow c om e to Cl em en t of A l e xan d ri a . He w as
a d iscipl e of o f t h e Cat hec h et ica l
P an t aen u s, ma st e r
School in A le x an d ri a an d a ft e rw ard su cc e e d e d him
as t h e h ead o f t h e sc hool in 1 89 A D Cl em en t . .

s p eaks o f P an t aen u s an d t w o oth e rs prob ably Ta t ian ,

“
an d Th e odotu s as pres e rvi n g t h e tr aditi on o f t h e
,

bl e ss e d doc tri n e d e riv e d dir ec t ly from t h e holy apo s

tl e s P e t e r J ame s J oh n an d Paul t he so n s receivi n g
, , , ,

i t from t h e fath e r cam e by Go d s w ill to us also t o

,
’

d eposit thos e an ce str al an d a postolic s e e d s the .

Lor d . a llo w e d u s t o c om m u n i c ate o f those di

vin e Myst e ri e s an d o f th at holy li ght to those who

, ,

a r e abl e t o receiv e th e m He d id n ot c e rt a in ly d i s
.
Th e Ch istian Myst eri es
r
97

l s to
c o e t he m an y
w h at did n ot b e l on g t o t h e m an y
b u t t o t he f ew t o wh om h e kn e w t h a t t h e y b e l on ge d
wh o w e r e c ap ab l e o f r ec e ivi n g a n d b e in g m ou l d e d ac
c o rdi n g to th e m B u t s e c r e t t hi n gs ar e e n t r u st e d t o
.

sp e e c h n ot t o w ri t i n g a s in t h e c a s e w i t h G o d A n d
, , .

i f on e say th a t it is w ri t t en t h e r e i s n o t hi n g s ec r e t
,
‘

w hi c h sh al l n ot b e r e v e al e d n or hidd en w hi c h sh al l
,

n ot b e dis c los e d le t h i m a l so h e a r fr om us t h at t o h im
’
, ,

w h o h e a rs s ec r e t ly e v e n w h at is s ec r e t sh a ll b e man i
,

f e st e d
. This is w h at wa s pr e di c t e d by thi s or ac l e A n d .

t o h i m wh o is ab l e se c re tl y to obs e rv e w h a t i s d e liv e r e d
t o him th a t w hi c h i s v e i l e d sh a ll b e dis c l o s e d a s tru t h ;
,

a n d w h at is hidd en t o t h e m an y sh a ll app e a r m an i f e st ,

to t h e f ew F or w hy do n ot all kn ow t h e t ru t h ! Why
.

is n ot ri gh t e ou s n e ss l ov e d i f ri gh t e ou sn e ss b e lon gs t o
,

a ll ! B u t t h e Mys t e ri e s a r e d e liv e r e d m y st i cally th at ,

wh at is spok en m ay b e in t h e m ou t h o f t h e Sp e ak e r ;
r at h e r n ot in his v o i c e b u t in h i s u n d e rs t an din g
,
.

Th e w riti n g o f t his m e m o r an d a o f m i n e I w e ll kn ow , ,

is w e a k w h en c om p a r e d w i t h t h at Spiri t f u ll o f gr ac e , ,

w hi c h I wa s privil ege d to h e a r Bu t i t W ill b e an .

i m age t o r e c a l l t h e a r c h e typ e t o him w ho was s t ru c k

w i t h t h e t hyrs u s [ a w an d b o r n e by In i t i at e s w i t h
whi c h c an did at e s w e r e t o u ch e d d u ri n g t h e c e r emon y
W e pr o f e ss n ot to e xpl ai n Se
‘
o f In iti a ti o n ! .

c r e t thi n gs s u ff i c i e n t ly f ar from it b u t on l y t o re
— —

c a l l th e m to m e m o ry w h e t h e r w e h av e for go t au gh t
, ,

or w h e th e r f or t he p u rp os e of n ot f orgett i n g .

Som e t hi n gs I p u rpos e ly om i t in t he e x e r c is e o f a ,

w is e se l ec t i on a fr a id t o w ri t e w h at I gu a rd e d agai n s t
,

sp e a ki n
g ; n o t g rud i
g g n f o r t h a t w—
e r e w ro ng but —

f ea ri n g f o r my r ead e rs l e st th e y sh ou l d st u mbl e by
,

t aki n g th e m in a w ron g s e n s e ; an d a s t he prov e rb ,

98 A n ci e n t My st e r i es an d M od er n Mason r y

s ays , we ho u l d be fou n d r eac hi n g a s w ord t o a c hild

S
‘ ’
.

s o m e th i n gs m y t r e a t i s e w i l l h i n t o n so m e it -

w ill li n ge r ; so m e it w ill m e r e ly m en tion It w ill try to .

s p e ak i mp e r c eptibly to e xhibit s ecr etly an d t o d e mon

, ,

str at e Sil e n tly .

( Th e S tr oma ta B ook I Ch , ,
.

A gai n i n sp e aki n g o f Th e Myst er i e s of t he f aith

“

“
n ot to be divul ge d to a ll h e s ays B u t si n ce this
, ,

tr a d iti on is n ot publish e d a lon e for him who per

ce iv e s t h e m agn ifi c en ce o f t h e wor d ; it is r e quisit e ,

th e r e f o r e to hid e in a myst e ry the wisdom spok en

, ,

w h i c h th e Son o f G od t au ght N ow th e r e f o r e Is ai ah .
, ,

the p roph e t h as his ton gu e purifi e d by fir e s o th at h e ,

may b e abl e to tell t he visi on A n d w e must p uri fy .

n ot t h e to n gu e a lon e but a lso t h e e a rs , i f w e att em pt ,

to b e p a rt ak e rs o f the truth Such w e r e t h e imp e d i .

m en ts in t h e way of m y w riti n g A n d eve n n ow I .

‘
fear as it is s ai d to cast t he p earls b e fore swi n e l e st
, , ,

th e y tr ead t h em un de r foot an d turn an d r en d us , .

’

Fo r i t is di ffi c ult to exhibit t h e r e ally pu r e an d tra n s

p a r en t words r esp e cti n g t he tru e li ght to s w i n ish an d ,

u n tr ai n e d h e ar e rs for scar c e ly would an ythi n g which

,

th e y co u ld h ea r b e mor e l u d icrous than th e s e t o the

mu ltitud e ; n or an y s u bj ects on the other h an d mor e , ,

a d mir abl e or mor e i n spiri n g t o thos e of n ob l e n ature .

Bu t t h e n atural man r ece iveth n ot t h e thi n gs o f t h e

‘

Spirit of G od ; f or th e y are foolishn e ss t o h im

’
Bu t .

t h e w is e do n ot utt e r with th e ir m ou th wh at th ey rea

’
son in c ou n cil Bu t w h at ye h e ar i n t h e e a r s ays
‘
. ,

t h e Lord proc l a i m upo n t he houses [ in t h e a ssem bly

‘ ’

o f t h e In iti at e s n ot to t h e m en in t he street !; bid

,

d i n g th e m r ece iv e t h e s e c r e t t ra dition s o i t h e true

1 00 A n ci en t My ster i es an d M od er n Mason ry

fice says it was impossibl e that gi ft s o f thi s Sort

an d ,
” ”
coul d b e writt en without dis guis e Bu t he c on .
,
“
t in u e s t h e G n os tic a p r e h e n d s N ow th i t i s
,
p en .
, ,

n ot wis h e d t ha t all thi n gs shoul d be e x pos e d i n d is

c r i mi n at e ly to all an d su n d ry o r t h e b en e fits o f wis ,

d om commu n i ca t e d to those who hav e n ot e v en in a

d ream been purifie d i n soul ( f or it is n ot allow e d t o
han d to e v e ry ch an ce c ome r what has b e e n procure d
wit h such l aborious effor ts ) n or are th e mysteries o f
”
t h e word to b e e xpo u n d e d to t he p ro f a n e ( S tr o .

ni a ta B oo k V Ch IX )
, ,
. .

In the n ext c ha p t e r h e s ays d isti n ctly that t he r e i s

an i n stru c tion of t he p e r f e ct t o w ho m G od .

wish e d to m ake k n ow n what is the r ich e s o f t h e glory

o f this m ystery am on g the n atio n s So th at on t h e .

on e ha n d the n a r e t h e myste r i e s w h ich w e re h i d till

, ,

the ti m e of the apostles an d were d e liv e red by t h em ,

as th ey r e c e ive d f rom the Lor d an d con ceal e d in the

O ld T e st am e n t w e r e m an i f e st e d to t h e s a i n t s
,
And .
,

on t h e oth e r ha n d t h e r e i s the rich e s o f t h e glory o f

‘
,

t he myst e ry i n t he Ge n tiles w hi c h is f aith an d hope

,
’

i n Chri st ; whi c h in an other p lac e h e has c all e d

‘
the fou n d ation He says that t h e kn ow l e dge does
.

n ot app e rt a i n to all an d quotes P aul t o this e ff e ct ( Col .

“ ”
11 2
, ,
B l e sse d be ou r Lor d B r e thr e n h e says , , ,
“
who h as put i n to our hea rts wi s d om an d t h e u n d er
stan d i n g o f His s ec r ets It is bu t for f e w to
.

com p re hen d th e s e thin gs In struction w h ich

. ,

r eveals h i d d en thi n gs i s calle d illumi n at i on a s it is

, ,

t h e t e ach e r on ly who u n c overs t h e li d of t h e ark .

F or I k n ow says t h e A postl e th at whe n I

‘ ’ ‘
, ,

c o m e to you I s h all com e in t h e full n e ss o f the bles s

,

i n g o f Christ .He th e n quo t es P aul c o n ce r n i n g t h e

’
Th e Ch r i st ian My st er i es 1 01

f ulln e ss of t he bl e ssi n g o f Christ d e sign ati n g the

spiritual gi ft an d t he gn ostic c om mun i cati on which
, ,

bei n g pr e se n t h e d e sire s t o i mp a rt t o th em pr e s en t as
‘
t h e fulln e ss o f Christ ac c ordi n g to t he r e v e l ation o f
,

t h e myst e ry s ea l e d in t h e age s o f et e rn i ty but n ow ,

ma n i fest e d by t h e proph e ti c Scripture s accor d i n g to ,

t h e comm a n d o f t he et e r n al G od
’
Bu t on ly t o .

a f e w o f th em i s show n w h at thos e thi n gs are which

are con t ai ne d in t he myst ery Ri ghtly the n Pl ato .
, , ,

i n t he ep istles treati n g of G od says We must sp eak

‘
, , ,

in en igrn as ; th at shoul d t he t abl e t com e by an y mis ,

ch an ce on it s l eav e s e ither by sea or l an d he who

, ,

r e a d s may r e mai n ign ora n t

’
A ki n t o this is
.

w h a t t h e h oly a postl e P a ul say s p r e s e rvi n g t h e p ro ,

h e t ic an d truly a nc i e n t s ec r e t from w hi c h t h e t e ac h
p
i n gs that w e re goo d w ere d e riv e d by t he Gr eeks ,

Ho w be it we s p e ak w is d o m amon g th em who are per

‘

f ec t m o k V Ch X )
’
.
( S t r o a ta B o , , . .

Wisdo m h e d ec l a r e s to be ce rt ai n kn o w l e d ge .
, ,

bei n g a sur e an d irr e fr agabl e ap p r e h en sion o f thi n gs

d ivi n e an d human c ompr e he n di n g t he pres e n t past
,
. ,

an d futur e . an d it i s irr e fr agabl e by reas on ,

in a smu c h a s it ha s be en c ommu n i cate d An d .

t h e gn osis its e l f i s that w hich has d e s c en d ed by tr an s

mission t o a f e w havi n g b ee n imp arted u n w ri t t e n by
,

th e apostl e s (.S t r o ma t a B oo k V I C h ,
VI I ) ,
. .

Thes e quot ation s mi ght e asily be e xte n d e d b u t a ,

su ffici en t n u mb e r has b een giv en t o Show th at Cl em en t

kn ew o f a s e cr e t t e achi n g an d w as wri t i n g for t he
e
b n e fi t o f thos e w h o like hims ,
e l f w er e l n it i at e s i n
,

th e C hristi an M yst e ri e s C l e m e n t
. quotes co n ti n ually

r
f o m t h e Sc riptur e s to illu str a t e t h e mysti c t ea c hi n
g ,
1 02 A n ci en t My ster i es an d M od er n Mason r y

thus show i n g th at h e r ec ogn iz e d t h e p ass age s to w hi c h

w e r e f e rr e d e arli e r as e vid en c i n g t h e e x is t en c e o f a
h i d d e n e sot e ri c t eac hi n g
, ,
Th e G n osti c w a s on e w ho
.

kn e w an In iti at e o f t h e Myst e ri e s
,
.

L e t u s n o w tur n to Ori g e n t h e n ot e d p up il o f Cl e
,

m en t an d be y on d dou bt t h e gr eat e st s c hol ar in the

,

e arly c hu r c h . In his f am ou scon tr o v e rsy w i t h Ce lsu s

man y r e f e r en c e s w e r e m ad e to t h e s e c r e t t eac hin gs of
t he c h u r c h . Ce l sus c h a r ge s Christi an ity with b e i n g a
s e cr e t syst em Ori gen r e plyi n g th at w hi l e c e rt ai n
.
,

t h in gs w e r e s ec r e t ot h e rs w e re publi c sa ys Bu t th at
, , ,

th e re should b e c e rt a i n doc trin e s n ot m ad e kn ow n t o ,

t h e m ulti t ud e w hi c h ar e ( r e v e al e d ) a ft e r t h e e xot e ri c
,

on e s h av e be en t au ght is n ot a p e culi arity o f Chris

,

t ian ity a l on e but a lso of philosophic

,
sys t e m s in ,

w hi ch c e rt a i n t ruth s a r e e xot e ri c a n d o th e rs e sot e ri c .

Some o f t h e h ea r e rs of Pyth agor a s w e r e c on t en t w ith

his ips e dix it w hil e oth e rs w e r e t au ght in s e c r e t
thos e d octri n e s w hi c h w e r e n ot d e e m e d fit to b e c om
m u n ic at e d to prof an e an d i n suffic i e n tly pr e p ar e d e ars .

Mor e ov e r all t h e Myst e ri e s th at ar e c el ebr at e d ev e ry

r

w h e r e throu gh out Gr e ec e an d b arb arous c ou n t r i e s al ,

t hou gh h eld in s ec r e t h av e n o d iscr e dit th r ow n upon

,

th e m so th at it i s in v ai n th at h e en d eavors to c al u m
,

n i at e t h e s ec r e t doctri n e o f C hristi an ity s e e i n g h e d oe s ,

”
n ot c orr ec tly u n d e rst an d its n atur e ( Or ige n A gain st.

Celsu s B ook I Ch VI I )
, , . .

“
A gai n Ori ge n sa ys I h av e n ot y et spok en of t he
,

obs e rv an ce o f all t h at is w ritt en in t h e Gosp e ls e ach ,

o n e o f w hi c h c on t a i n s mu c h d octri n e d i ffi c u lt to b e

u n d e r stoo d n ot m e r e ly b y t h e m ulti t u d e b u t e v en by
, ,

c e rt a i n o f t h e m or e i n telli gen t in c ludi n g a v e ry pro

,

f ou n d e xpl an ati on o f t he par abl e s w hi c h J e su s d eliv

1 04 A n ci en t My ste r ies an d M od er n Mason ry

ne ss A n d w h en thos e who h ave be en tur n e d tow a r d

.

virt u e h av e mad e progr e ss an d h av e shown th at th e y ,

h ave b e e n purifi e d by t h e wor d an d h av e le d as f ar ,

a s th e y can a b ett e r li f e th en an d n ot b e fore d o we ,

i n vit e th em to p arti c ip ation in our myst e ri e s F or .

‘

we sp e a k w is d om amo n g th e m th at ar e p e r f ec t
’
.

( O r ige n A g n st Celsus B ook III Ch L IX

a i , ,
. .
)
Ori gen th en xpl ai n s th a t in t he Christi an My s
e

t e r ie s a s in a ll o th e rs thos e a r e r ec e iv e d who h av e
“ ” “
cl e an h an ds w ho ar e a thl e tes in pi ety an d e very
,

“
vi rtu e . Who ev e r is pur e n ot on ly from all d e hle
” “
m en t h e s ays but from w h at ar e r ega rd ed as l e ss e r
, ,

tran s gr e ssion s let him b e boldly i n iti at e d in t h e mys

,

t e r i e s o f J e sus whi c h p rop e rly a r e m ad e kn o w n o n ly

,

to t he holy an d t he pur e He w ho act s a s an .

i n iti ator acc or d in g t o t h e pr ec ep ts o f J e s u s w ill say

, ,

t o thos e who ha v e be en purifi e d in h e art He w hos e ,

‘

sou l h as for a lo n g ti me b een con scio u s o f n o evil

, , ,

an d e sp ec i a lly si n c e h e yi e l d e d hi m s e l f to t h e h ea li n g

o f t h e word let su c h a on e he ar t h e d oc tri n e s w hi c h

,

w e r e spoken in p riv at e b y J e su s to His gen ui n e dis

cipl e s .Th er e for e in t h e comp a rison whi c h h e i n sti
’

t u t e s b e t w ee n t h e p roc ed ur e o f the i n iti ators i n to the

Gr e c i an myst e ri e s an d t he t eac h e rs o f the do ctrin e
,

o f J e sus h e do e s n ot k n ow t he d i ff e r en c e b et w een in
,

v i t in g t h e w i c k e d to b e h eal e d an d i n iti ati n g thos e al ,

r e ady purifi e d i n to t h e s ac r e d m yst e ri e s ! Not to par

t ic ipa t ion i n my st e r ie s th en an d t o f e llowship in the
'

, ,

wis d om hi dd en in a myst e ry w hi c h God ord ai n ed be for e ,

t h e w orld t o t h e glory of His s a in ts d o we i n vit e t h e ,

w i c k e d m an an d t he thi e f
,
but su c h as thes e we in.

vit e t o b e h eale d Oth e rs agai n w hich to t h e

.
, ,

pur e in soul an d bod y e xhibit t he r ev e l ation o f the ‘

 The Chr isti an My st er i es 1 05

mys t e ry w hi c h was k ept s e cre t si n c e t h e w or l d b egan

,
,

b u t n ow is made man i f e st by t h e Script u r e s of t he

’
p roph e ts an d by t h e app ea ri n g of our Lo rd J e sus
‘

Christ w hi c h app ea ri n g is m an i f e st ed t o eac h on e

’ ‘ ’
,

o f th o s e who a r e p e r f e ct an d w hi c h e n li ht e n s t he
g ,

r e a son in th e tru e kn ow l e dge o f thi n gs G od .

t h e Word wa s s e n t i n d ee d a s a physici an to si n n e rs
, , ,

an d a lso as a t eac h e r o f divi n e m yst e ri e s to thos e w ho

”
a r e a lr eady p u r e an d w ho sin n o m ore
( Or igen
A gain st Celsu s, B ook III , Ch L X L XI
.
, ,
L XII )
.

A r chilau s, B ishop o f Ce s a rea in Me sopot ami a ,

s ays ,

The Lord sp a k e i n p ar ab l e s to t h o s e wh o w e r e in
c a p a bl e o f h e a ri n g but t o His dis c ipl e s He e xpl ai n e d
,

th e s e par abl e s in priv at e For t he i llu m i n ation o f t he

.

glory is for those who h a v e b een en li gh t en e d w hil e ,

t he bli n di n g is for th e m w ho b e li ev e n ot Th e s e mys .

t e r ies whi c h t h e c hur c h n ow d ec l a r e s to you who ar e

,

tr an s f e rr e d fro m t he l ists o f t he cat ech u me n s i t is n ot ,

h e r custom to d e cl a r e t o t h e G en til e s F or we d o n ot .

d e c l ar e t h e my st e ri e s tou c hi n g t he Fath e r an d the ,

Son an d t he Holy Spirit to a G en til e ; n e ith e r do we

,

sp e ak o f t h e myst e ri e s pl ai n ly in pr es e n c e of t h e cat e
c h u m en s ; but m an y a ti m e we e xpr e ss ours e lv e s i n an

oc cu lt m an n e r so th a t t h e f ai t h ful who h av e in t e lli

,

ge n c e m ay appr eh e n d t h e truths r e f e rre d to while ,

thos e who h av e n ot th at i n t e lli gen ce may rece iv e n o

”
hu rt i N i e n e F a th er s Vol VI p
.
( A n t c ,
.
, .

uot tio n s o f this i mport c oul d b e e xt en d e d if

Q a ,

n ece ss a ry but it i s n ow b eyon d qu e stion t h at th e r e

,

ex ist e d in t h e early church a d e fi n it e i n stitution c all e d

Sac r e d Myst e ri e s or t h e Myst e ri e s o f J e sus
“ ”
t he ,

wh e r e i n was tau ght a hi gh e r wisdo m The churc h .

to d ay thi n ks it h as acc omplish ed its m ission by pro

-
1 06 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

d u cin g t h e s ai n t an d poi n t s to t h e good man a s t he

,

c r o w n i n g gl o ry Wh e r e a s in t he e arly d ays o f t h e
.

church t he att ai n m en t of p u ri t y wa s n ot t h e goal b u t ,

m e r ely t he b egi n n i n g Th e r e w e r e thr ee St ages or

.

d egr ee s through w hi c h m e n p ass e d Pu r ificat ion Il —

,

l u mi n ati on an d P e r f ectio n Purifi cation le d to s ai n t

,
.

ship ; Illu m i n ati on gav e i n t e rior kn ow l e d ge t h e ,

Gn osis t au ght in t he Myst e ri e s ; P e r f e ct ion wa s t h e

a tt a i n m en t o f u n ity w ith t h e D ivi n e Th e e a rly .

c hur c h w e n t on fro m t h e p o i n t w h e r e t h e m od e r n
c hur c h l e av e s o ff an d t aki n g t h e s a i n t le d h im t o t h e
,

B eat ific V i sion .

D u ri n g th e s e early cen tu r 1 e s th e r e was a stru ggl e

b et w e en t h e two e l em en ts in Christi an ity t h e f e w —

who poss e ss e d t h e i n n e r t e achi n g an d t h e m ass of ,

c o mm o n b e li e v e rs Th e e xot e ri c e l e m en t fi n al ly
.

g a i n e d supre m ac y an d t h e Mysti c s w e r e d en ou n c e d
,

a s h e r e ti c s . Th e Myst e r i e s as an or gan iz e d in st it u
,

tion c eas e d t emp o rarily f or l ack o f suit abl e m at e ri al

,
.

T h e Su b l i m e Sec r e t ho w e v e r w as n ot l o st f or t h e
, , ,

li gh t con ti n u ed to b u rn throu gh all t h e age s’

.

F ro m ti me to tim e e ff orts wer e m ad e to r e viv e t he

i n sti t u tion t o its form e r gl o ry but t h e c o n ditio n s o f ,
“
t h e age w e r e too gross an d s u p e rstitio u s Tw o .

str eam s may n ev e rth e l e ss b e trac k e d throu gh Christ en

d om str e am s which h a d as th e ir sou r c e t h e v an ish e d
,

Myst e ri e s On e wa s the str eam o f mystic l ear n i n g

. ,

flow i n g from t he Wisd om t h e Gn osis i mp art e d in t h e

, ,

Myst e ri e s [both P agan an d Chri sti an ! t h e o t h e r wa s

th e str eam o f m ysti c c o n t empl atio n e qu a lly p art o f ,

t h e G n osis l ea d i n g to t h e e c st a sy to spiri t u a l vi sion

, ,
.

This l att e r how ev e r d iv e rt e d from k n ow l ed ge r ar e l y

, , ,
 A n ci e n t Myster i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

b e e n by tho s e w h o po s s e s s th e k ey In s h ow i n g th i s
, .

c o n n ec tion an d p oss e ssion we will co n si d e r m o r e fully

the m ean i n g o f In iti ation in the Pagan an d Christian

Myst e ri e s t o which I i n vite y our att en tion in t he f ol
,

lowin g lectu r e .
 L E CTUR E VI .

T HE ME A N IN G OF TRU E I N IT IA T ION .

It is a w ell k n ow n f ac t th at t h e biogr aphi es of all

t h e gr e a t W o rld Saviors c l o s e ly r e s e mbl e eac h oth e r
-
.

A ll a r e r epr e s en t ed a s d ivi n e ly be gott en an d bo r n ,

at t h e s am e ti m e o f t h e y e a r ; all a r e thr e at en e d w i t h

d e ath in i n f an cy ; all a r e t em pt e d p e rs e cu t e d an d , ,

fi n ally sl ai n ; all d e s c en d i n t o h e ll an d a f t e r t hr ee d ays

ris e fr om t h e d e ad ; an d at l ast a ll asc en d i n to h eav en
an d be c om e glorifi e d God s .

Wh at i s xpl an ation o f this won d e r ful si m i

t he e

lar i ty in t he liv e s o f J e sus A po ll on ius M i t hr a B u d

, , ,

d ha Kris hn a Zoroa st e r e t c ! Th e s ol u t io n of this

‘

.
, , ,

r emark ab l e id en t ity i s t o b e fou n d in t h e f act th at all

th e s e Saviors w e re In i t i at e s i n t o t h e Myst e ri e s o f A n
t iq u it y . Th e v ariou s n arr ativ e s do n ot d e sc rib e the
h sc a l li f e o f t h e h e roe s b u t t h e i nn e r mys t i c li f e
p y , ,

b e i n g but a m at e ri aliz ati on o f t h e mysti c li f e o f t he

In iti at e .T he physi c al pl an e bio gr aphi e s m i ght gr eat
ly v a ry but their lives as In iti at e s ar e e v e r t h e sam e
,
.

our study of t h m i g of tr In i t i ation w e

In e ea n n u e

sh a ll se e t h e ori gin of th e s e s t o ri e s I w ill c o mm e n ce

.

at t h e b e g
i n n i n g a n d tr ace t h e v a rious s t age s o f
p r ogr e ss .

In t h e fir st p l ac e a ,
man to be r ec ogn iz e d as a
n di d a t e m ust b e pur e an d holy an d poss e ss a w e ll
ca ,
,

Hav mg at t a 1 n e d
d e v e l op e d an d w e ll tr ai n e d m i n d
- .
1 10 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason r y

th e xot e ri c good li f e h e en t e rs on t h e pr ep ara

e ,

ti on for In iti ation Ce rt ain c on d ition s h av e n ow t o

.

b e fulfill e d an d c e rt a i n attribut e s ac quir e d The a s .

“
pi r an t for In iti a tion must b e worthy an d w e l l qu a li
”
fie d duly an d truly p r e p ar e d
,
D uri n g this p e rio d .

t h e can did at e is s a id to b e tr ea di n g the Prob ati on a r y

“
P at h t h e P ath w hi c h l eads u p t o t h e St ra it G at e
, ,

b eyon d whi c h is t h e N arrow W ay or th e Path o f “

,

H o li n e ss t h e Way o f t he Cross whi c h l eade t h

” “
,
”
,

un to li f e .

L et me bri e fly su m u
p t h e ttribut e s to
a be ac

qu ir e d !

I . Th is mea n s that t he aspi ra n t

D iscrimi n ation .

b ec om e s abl e t o dis ti n guish b e tw e en t he E t e rn al an d

t h e T em po r a l t h e R e al an d t h e U n r e a l so th a t wh at
, ,

is u n r e a l to t h e world be c ome s r eal t o him He must

. .

se t his a ff ec tio n s on t hi n gs ab ov e loosen t h e ti e s on ,

w orldly obj e cts an d fix his aspir ation s on thi n gs pe r

,
“
t ai n i n g to t h e u n s e e n T hi s has be en call e d
. al
”
legian ce to t h e Hi gh e r Sel f .

2 . Ri ght The a s p iran t h e r e l e arn s

D e votion t o .

to do w h a t is ri ght b ec a us e it is right without re gar d ,

to his own gai n or loss This is some tim e s c all e d ih .

d iffere n ce to p e rson a l r e w a r d a s t h e fruit of goo d

ac tion s This i n d i ff e r en c e is t h e n atura l r e sult of
.

t h e pr e vious st ep m en c ea s e to cr av e for ear thly r e

,

w a r d s wh en they realiz e thei r impe rman e n t cha r

acter .

si x u
Th e lificati on s ( a ) Con t r ol o f Thoughts
3 .
q a

purity an d c al mn e ss w hi c h r e sult from con t rol of

’
t h e mi n d ( )
b C o n.t r ol o f A ctions mastery o f o ne s —
112 A n ci en t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

an A se kh a Chri st Triu mphan t Th e first

A d ept -
a .

st ep i n t h e Hi n du syst em is ca ll e d Sot apat t i o r Soh an .

On e w ho attai n s this l e v e l is c all e d t he Sotapan n a or

Sowan i he
who has en t er e d th e stre am on e who h as
—
,

b egu n the hi gh e r hum an e volution This e volution is .

th at o f t he D ivi n e Chi l d an d is call ed in diff e r en t sys

,

t em s by di ff e r en t n am e s Chri st Hor u s B ud d h a e tc
—
, , ,
.

It was thi s first great In iti a tion th at th e D ivi n e

at

Child was born in m an This was spok en o f as the

.

“ ”
N e w or Sec on d B ir t h a mysti c t e r m oft e n e m—

p l oy e d to d e n o t e t h e rit e s o f In iti a ti o n In I n d i a .
,

“
eve n t o d ay t h e hi gh e r c ast e s a r e c all e d the twice
-
,

bor n a n d t h e c e r em on y th at m ak e s th em su c h i s
,
’

c a l l ed In iti a tio n Th e rit e of b a p ti s m i s c o n n e c t e d

.

with t h e first In iti ation It is a symbol o f pu r i fica .

tion an d si gn ifie s th a t t h e can di d at e ha s att ai n e d

,

t he puri t y of c h a r ac t e r n ece ss a ry for accept an c e .

In all th e s e Myst e ri e s s ays D r Mack ey t h e

“ ” “
.
, ,

first st e p t ak en by t h e can did at e was a lustr ation or

p urifi cation Th e a spiran t was n ot perm itt e d to
.

e n t e r t he s ac r e d v e stibul e or t ak e an y p art i n the ,

s e cre t for mul a o f In i t i ation u n til by w ater or by , ,

fir e h e was em bl e mati cal ly p u rifi e d f ro m t h e c or

,

r u pt i on s o f t h e world whi c h h e wa s a bout t o l eave

"
b eh md ( Sym b olism of F r e e mason r y M ac k ey p
.
, ,
.

Th e purifi c at i on o f t he bo d y was symbolic o f

a p urific ation o f t he h eart .

F r e d e ri c sp eaki n g of t h e Egyptia n Mys

Port a l ,
in
“
t e r ie s s ays ,
In E gypti an Cos m ogo n y
,
w at e r was .

the m oth e r o f t h e w orld t h e mat rix o f all c r eat e d b e

,

i n gs Man was c on sider e d as an im age o f t h e w or l d

. ,

t h e In i t i at e was t o be born aga i n to a n ew li fe an d

t he b aptism th en ceforwar d sy mboliz e d t h e prim e val
Th e M ea n i n g o f Tr u e In i tia ti on 1 13

w at e rs ; it w as on this accou n t th a t t he In i t i at e was

c a ll e d
“
Mos e s a w ord si gn i fyi n g in Egyp t i an acc ord
”
, ,

in g to J os e phus s av e d from t h e w a t e r or by t he
, ,

w at e r . w at e r was a symbol o f p u rity an d d e sig

”
mat e d t he birth of t he p u r e or In iti a te d ( A Camp ar i .

son of E gyp ti an Sy m b ols with th ose of th e He b r ew s ,

19
. A gai n h e s ays Sp eaki n g o f t h e m e thod o f
, ,
“
E gy pti an b aptis m Horus an d Thoth Lu n n s pour
,
-

wat e r on t h e h e ad o f t h e c an did at e w ho is t ran s ,

f orm e d to divi n e l i fe an d to p uri ty T he le .

ge n d ac comp an yi n g t his s c e n e h e tran sl at e s thus ,

H o rus son o f Isis b ap t is e s w i t h w at e r an d

, ,

”
fir e . This is r ep e at e d t hr e e t i me s The n ame .

g iv e n to t h e b a ptiz e d or an oi n t e d a s w e h a v e ,

s e en was Mos e s si gn i fyi n g r egen e r at e d or b e

, , ,

gott e n aga in R e memb e r t he l aw giv e r o f t he J ew s

.

was c all e d by t he Egyp t i an s Mose s on e s av ed by —

w a t e r or in ot h e r w ord s on e In i t i at e d In t he A c ts
, , , .

o f t he A pos t l e s we are t old th at Mos e s was l earn e d

i n a ll t h e wisdom of t he E gyp t i an s ; i f so h e must ,

h av e b ee n an In iti a t e T he gr e at Myst e ry of Egypt .

wa s t his s e c on d birth t h e B ir t h of Hor u s ,

Says W . .

Ma rsh am A dams Thr ou ghou t t h e s ac r ed w ri t i n gs

“
,

o f E gypt th e r e is n o d oc t ri n e o f w hi c h m or e fr e q u e n t
,
”
m en tion is m ad e th an t h at o f a divi n e bir t h ( Th e .

Egyp tian D octr ine of L igh t A d ams , ,

The did at e wa s i n i t i at e d from t h e Sac r e d Rol l

c an ,

B ook of t h e Gr eat e st Myst e ri e s

“ ”
c a ll e d t h e an d ,

a f t e r p a ssi n g t h e P a ssa ge of t h e Su n t h e c row n of ,

Il l u m i n ation wa s pl ace d upon his h ead A n d n ow .

“
t h e n e w t w i ce born c loth e d i n p ow e r an d c ro w n e d
-
,

wi t h li ght t r av e rs e s t he abod e s o r s cen e s o f his for m

,

e r w e a k n e ss th e r e t o disc e r n by his o wn e n l i ght e n e d

, ,
 1 14 A n ci e n t Myst er i es an d M od er n Mas
on r y

p e rception ho w it is Osiris w ho s atisfi e s t he b al an ce

,
‘

o f Him w ho rul e s t h e H eav en s ; to e x e rt in i t s sup

e r n al fr ee dom his c r e ativ e w i ll n ow the Lord n ot , ,

t h e sl av e of t h e sen s e s ; an d t o r e j oi c e in t h e j ust su f
f e r in g whi c h w rou ght his Ill u m i n ation an d Ma st e ry .

( I bi d p , .

H e rm es in t he Sec r e t Se rm on o n t h e Mou n t ai n ,

dis co u r se s on t he s ec r et of th e N ew B ir t h This .

“
m i ght w e ll be c a ll e d t h e In iti ation of Tat Th e .

s e r m o n i s i n t h e for m of a di a logu e b e t w e e n H e rm e s
t h e Ma st e r an d Tat t h e p u pil
“
Tat s ays In t h e .
,

G e n e ral Se r m on s fath e r [a t ech n i cal n am e o f t he

,

Mas t e r or In iti at o r ! thou didst sp eak in rid d l e s m ost

,

u n c l ear c on v e rsi n g on D ivin i t y ; an d w h en thou s aidst

,

n o m an c ould e e r be s av e d be for e R e birth t hy m ean

’

in g t hou didst hid e F urth e r w h en I b e c am e thy

.
,

Su p pli an t in W e n di n g up t h e Mou n t a ft e r thou

, ,

r h a d st c o n v e rs e d w ith m e an d w h en I lon ge d to l ear n

,

t h e Se r m on ( Logos ) on R e birth ( for this b eyon d all ,

oth er t hi n gs is j u st t he thi n g I k n ow n ot ) thou s a idst , ,

th at thou w ouldst giv e it m e w h en thou sh al t h av e —

‘

b ec om e a stran ge r to t h e w orld Wh e r e for e I go t me .

’

r ea dy an d m ad e t he thou ght in m e a str an ge r to t h e

w orld i ll usi on
-
.

G R S Mead in his Thri c e Gr e at e st H e rm e s

. . .
, ,

in c o mm en ti n g upon this discours e s ays Th e t i m e , ,

h as c o m e f or Tat to r ec e iv e throu gh his Mast e r , ,

th e tou c h of t h e tru e Mi n d in Con s c ious n e ss t h e Christ ,

i s to b e bo r n in his h ea rt t h e li ght o f t h e Pl e r oma i s

,

t o shi n e in his i n m os t b e i n g It is t o be a N e w B irth . ,

a R e ge n e r atio n o r R e birth in t h e s en s e o f b e i n g bor n

, ,

( Th ri ce Gr eat est He r mes M ea d Vol

”
fr om A bov e .
, , .

II, P .
 116 A n ci en t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

Ba cc hi c the Coryb an tic Mysteries ; th ey are afire

an d
”
with G od un til th ey behol d t h e obj ec t o f their love .

“
A ga i n Philo s ays Now this n atural c l a ss o f m en [ lit
,
.

r ace ! is to b e f ou n d in man y p arts of t h e i n h abited

world ; for both t h e Gr e ci an an d n on Greci an worl d -

”
mu st n ee ds sh are in t he p e r f ect Good ( P hilo on .

Th e Con temp la tiv e L i f e )

“
This R ace th en w as .
, ,

t h e R a c e o f In iti at e s the Race of Elx ai m en tion e d

,

b y E piph an iu s Thos e atta i n in g this st ate appreh en d

.

e d t h e myst e ry o f Rebirth .

A lthou gh this spiritu al st ate c ould n ot be taught t o

the n e ophyt e in wo r d s s t ill as Mead p uts it H e rmes
, , ,

c an guide T a t tow a rd t h e r e a liz a tio n o f the B l e sse d

Si ght by put t i n g hi m sel f i n to t h e s u bli m e st at e of

,

con s c ious n e ss th at Tat so to sp eak b ath e s or i s

, , , ,

b aptize d in his Ma st e r s s piritu a l pr e sen ce t h e Cu p

’
—

o f t h e Min d This i s the true l ayi n g on o f h an d s

. .

H e rm e s d e s c rib e s t he chan ge th at tak e s pl ace in him

sel f wh en he p a ss e s i n to t h e hi gh spiritual con scious
“
r n e ss . Wh en e e r I Se e withi n mys e l f t h e Simpl e V i s
’

ion. I h av e p a ss e d throu gh mys e l f i n to a Bo dy

th at can n ev e r die An d n ow I am n ot wh at I was
.

b e for e ; but I am b or n in Mi n d The Mast e r focus .

ses his con s c io u s n e ss in t he hi gher p art of his spirit

u al n a tur e tr an s f e rs it to a spiritu al vehicle
—
The .

way to do this is n ot t au ght an d it c a n n ot be se en ,

by the comp ou n d el em en t by mean s of whi c h thou

”
s e e st th a t is it c an n ot b e u n d erstood f ro m an y sen
, ,

sibl e e xperi en ce N o physi cal si ght can p e n et rat e

.

this Myst ery “

Thou s ee st me with eyes my son
.
”
, ,

s ays Herm e s but wh at I am thou d ost n ot u n d e r

,

s t an d T h e out e r physi ca l form of the Mast e r was

.

there bu t his soul had been li b e r ate d f r om t he b od y

,
.
Th e M ea n i n g o f Tr u e In i tia tio n 1 17

Thi s mys t e ry cou l d on ly be u n d e rs t ood by on e who

hi m s e l f h ad r e ach e d t he hi gh e r st at e .

’
T a t s spi rit u al s e n s e s ar e bei n g born by t he aid o f
t h e Ma s t e r He s ays In to fi e r c e fr en zy an d m i n d
“
.
,

f u ry h a st t h ou p l u n ge d m e f ath e r for n ow n o l on ger , ,

d o I se e m y se l f
”
He is losi n g tou c h w i t h t h e phy si
.

c al pl an e c on s c io u s n e ss b u t th a t is n ot en ou gh
, .

“
H e r m e s s ays I w ould m y son t h at thou h ad st e en
, , ,
’ ’

”
p a ss e d ri gh t t hr ou gh thys e l f t h a t is p as se d i n t o t h e , ,

“ ”
hi gh e r v e hi c l e t h e b ody t h at c an n ev e r d ie
,
This .

is t he myst e ry th at H e rm e s c ou l d n ot e xp l ai n in
words ( Th e S e cr e t S er mon on th e M ou n ta i n )
. .

I si s i s n ot p e r m i t t e d to d ec l ar e t h e s e c r e t of R e
birth op en ly t o Horus Sh e s ays I m ay n ot t e ll t h e
. ,

story o f this birth ; for it is n ot p e rm i t t e d t o d ec l ar e

t h e ori gi n o f thy d e sc e n t O Horus son o f m i gh t y , ,

po w e r l e st a ft e r w ar d t he W ay o f B irth o f t he immor
,
- -

”
t a l Gods sh ou l d b e k n o wn u n t o men (Q uot e d i n .

Thr ice G r e a test Her me s ,

Vol . II, p . In t h e
I si s m yst e ry tr adition we fin d th at i t was a p art o f
t h e w or l ! t o b e sto w th i s h i g h e r c o n s c iou s n e s s D i o d .

“
oru s i n f or m s u s th at it was Isis w ho disc ov e r e d t h e
Phil t r e of i mm ort ality by mean s o f w hi c h w h en , ,

he r son Horu s w ho ,
h a d b e e n plo t t e d a g a i n s t by t h e

Ti t an s an d foun d d ead b en eath th e w at e rs n ot o n l y

,
,

r ais e d h im t o li f e but al so m ad e h im a sh a r e r in
,

i mm o rt ali t y ”
. In iti a tio n b e sto w e d or r e s t or e d t o

t h e so u l t h e c o n s c ious n e ss o f i m m ort a li ty This .

“
wa s u t r ly a n e w birth a n i n n ,
e r c h an g e a str i ki ng
,

o f a n ew k y
e n ot e H e .w h o is r e bor n i n t o t h e G no ‘

pass s from m i to t h st t o f s u p e r m an -

Si s n e a e .
e an
,

Th e e v ry e sse n ce of G n osi s is t h e f a c t th a t m a n can

t ran sc en d hi s pr e s en t limit ation s an d bec ome c on ,

1 18 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Mod er n Mason r y

sc iou sly d ivi n e

This is t rue illumi n ation Those
. .

wh o attai n e d this H e r m e s or Horus st at e w e r e to

k e ep sil e n t c on ce rn i n g their pow e rs an d n ot boast ,

o f thei r Gn osis .

We t h i s s am e t eac hi n g in t he Christi an Mys

fin d
“
t e r ie s . J esus s ays E x ce pt a m an b e bo rn aga i n
,
”
h e can n ot se e t h e Ki n g d om o f G od ( John I I I .
, ,
“
P et e r s ays See i n g ye h ave p urifi e d you r souls in
,

ob eyi n g t he truth b e i n g born agai n n ot o f c or

.

r u pt ib le s e e d but o f i n c orruptibl e by t h e word o f ,

God whi c h liveth an d abi d eth for e v e r ( I P e t er I . .

22

The birth is spok en o f as th at of w at e r a n d t he

In t h e Myst e ri e s o f J e su s as i n all others
”
s p i rit .
, ,

b aptism was a l w ays c on n ec t e d w ith t he first In iti atory

Rit e Man y illustration s o f this pivot d octri n e o f
.

t h e ea rly c hur c h might b e c it e d fr om G n osti c writi n gs .

T he ov e r writ e r o f t h e N aasse n e D oc u m en t t e lls u s

-

th at t he L e ss e r Myst e ri e s p e rt ai n t o flesh ly gen e r a

tio n w he r e as t h e Gr eat e r d e al with the n ew or sec
, ,

on d birth w ith r egen e ration an d n ot w ith gen e sis

, .

In s p ea ki n g o f t h e Myst e ry o f Regen e r ation t h e ,

“
w rit e r s ays For this is the Gat e o f H e av e n an d
, ,

this is th e Hou s e o f G od w h e r e t he Goo d G o d ,

d w e ll s a l o n e ; i n to w h i c h [ hou s e ! n o im p ur e [m a n !
sh all c ome n o psy c hi c n o fle shly [m an ! but it is
—
,
—

k e p t u n d e r w atc h for t h e Spiritu al al on e w h e r e —

,

w h en th ey c om e th e y m ust c a st aw ay t h e ir garm en ts
, ,

an d all b e c o m e brid egroo m s ob t a i n i n g th e ir t ru e m an

,

hood throu gh t h e V irgin al Spiri t For this is t he .

V i rgi n b ig w ith Child c on c e ivin g an d b eari n g a

, ,

son —
n ot psy c hi c n ot fleshly but a bless e d A e on of
, ,

A e on s
”
th at is an i mmortal G od Th i s i s th e bi r t h
, ,
.
1 20 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason r y

ca lpl an e ,
h e h ad t o d apt hi m s e l f t o n e w c on diti on s
a .

E ac h rit e w as a Sign an d sym bol o f Spiritu a l c on

sc io u sn e ss w hi c h h a d co m e t o t h e n e w bor n d is c ipl e .

“
T h e C h ri st p ri n c ipl e t h e i n tu i t i o n a l W i s d o m i s
, ,

bo rn in t he sou l an d w h en t h a t B u dd hi c [ spiritu al !
,

c on s c i ou s n e ss is aw aken e d t h e soul b ecom e s agai n , ,

a s it w e r e a littl e c hil d bor n i n to th a t hi gh e r li f e o f

, ,

t h e In iti at e d w hi c h is in tru t h t h e Kin gd om of

,

”
H eav en .
( Ch r istian Cr e e d L ead be a ter p ,
Th e ,
.

“ ”
n e w bo rn Son t he
,
littl e chi l d a t ec h n i cal t e rm d e ,

n oti n g on e j ust In iti at e d is n ow t o liv e t h e divi n e

,

“ ”
li f e an d b e come lik e u n t o t h e F ath e r p ass from —

Son ship t o Pe r f ec tion .

Th e n ew or spiritu a l birth th en is a mysti c f ac t , ,

.

Th e m at e ri aliz ati on o f t his i n n e r t ruth i n to t h e do gm a

“ ”
o f t h e V irgin B irth m ust h av e be en a co mp a r ativ e ly
l at e d e v e l op m en t in t he e volution o f pop u l a r or gen
e r a l Christi an ity Th e d ogm a is n ot t o b e fou n d in
.

t h e c omm on do cum en t an d t h e ea rli e r tr a d itio n s a ll

,

stat e th a t J os eph w as t h e n a tur al f ath e r o f J e sus .

Ce lsu s ac c us e d t h e Christi an s o f c h an gi n g th e ir gosp e l

story man y ti m e s in ord e r t o b e tt e r an s w e r t h e ob
je ct ion s of oppon en ts This is t ru e on ly o f th e e x
.

ot e r ic t r a diti on .

No w u s c o n s i d e r t h e v a riou s st age s i n t h e e v o
le t
lu t ion o f t h e Chri st in m an To un d e rstan d t hi s .

hi gh e r evol u tion w hi c h con stitut e d t h e work o f t he

,

Tru e Myst e ri e s we m ust u n d e rst an d m an s c on st it u

,
’

tion .

We w ill use h e r e t h e Ch r i sti an t e rm in ol ogy bec ause

‘

o f f amiliarity w ith t he t e rm s bu t th e f acts d escribe d ,

a r e t h e s am e i n all syst e m s .
Th e M ean i n g o f Tr u e I n i t ia ti on 1 21

C hris t i a n th e o l o gy u s u a l ly ac c e p t s t h e t hr e e fo l d -

division Spirit Sou l an d Bo dy This is so u n d b u t

—
, .
,

in ord e r to u n d e rst an d t h e Mys t e ry o f t he li f e of t h e

D ivi n e Child e sp ec i a ll y hi s c r u c ifixion r e s u rr e c t ion
, ,

an d a s ce n si on we sh all n e e d a furth e r subdivisi on

,

o f man s c on st it u ti on Th e spirit is its e l f a tri n i ty

’
.
,

c o n t a i n i n g t h e thr ee a sp ec ts o f t h e d ivi n e li f e In —

t e llige n ce Lov e a n d Will ; t h e soul is t w o f o l d com

, ,

pos e d o f t h e m i n d an d emot ion al n atur e ; t he body

is t he m at e ri a l i n s t ru men t o f the sou l an d Spirit an d i s ,

a ls o d u a l b e i n g c ompos e d o f t h e d e n s e physi cal body

,

a n d i t s e t h e ri c d o ub l e Th e s e l o w e r portio n s or pri n
.

c iple s —
t h e d u a l physi c a l bo d y t h e d e sir e or e mo ,

t ion a l body an d t he m en t al body

,
form t h e n a t u r al —

bo dy sp o ke n of by of St P aul Th e A lpost le s ays ,

. .

“
Th e r e i s a n at u ral body an d th e r e is a spiri t u al
”
bo dy . Th e spiritu al is m a d e up of t h e thr ee hi gh e r
pri n c ipl e s Th e low e st o f t h e s e is som e t i m e s call e d
.

t h e Caus a l body t h e s ec on d division t h e B l iss or

,

Glorifi e d or r e s u rr e c t e d b ody t he t hird an d hi gh e st ,

divisi on t he A t mic bo dy
,
.

Th e s e pri n c ipl e s o r bodi e s a re c orr ela t e d w i t h t he

lo w e r fiv e o f t he s ev e n pl an es of ou r u n iv e rs e Th e .

n or m al e v o luti on of m an ki n d t ak e s pl a c e on t h e thr e e

low e st p l an e s ; t h e Sup e r n or ma l evoluti on th a t of

-
,

h
t e In iti at e proc e e
,
ds o n t h e n e x t two pl a n e s w hi ch

a r e t h e spiritu al Th e s e fiv e pl an e s c on s t itu t e t he
.

fi e l d o f th e e v olu t ion of c on s c ious n e ss u n til t he hu

”
m an m e r ges i n to t he d ivi n e .

Bea ri n th e s divisio n s o f m an s con sti t utio n in

’

g e

mi n d an d t he pl an e s to which th e y ar e corr e l ate d w e ,

r
a e r ea dy t o study t h e myst e ry of t h e C hrist ev olu

t ion This e volution i s set forth in t he story o f the

.
1 22 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

Mysti c Ch rist Th e Mystic Ch rist i s on e a sp ect o f

.

th e Christ of t h e Myst e ri e s Th e Mystic Christ d eals .

wit h this Christ evolution w hi c h is t h e d e velop me n t,

o f t he Lov e or s ec on d a spe ct of t h e u n f ol di n g divin e

, ,

spirit in m an c all e d t h e Christ ; t h e oth e r a sp e ct

, ,

c alled t h e Mythi c Christ is t h e Logos t h e s eco n d

, ,

A sp ec t or P e rson o f t h e Tri n ity desc en di n g i n to ,

m atter .

The d ev e lop me n t o f t he first division of th e spirit

u al bo d y t h e asp ec t o f i n t e lli en ce t a k e s pl ac e in t h e
, g ,

or d i n ary li f e o f t h e w orl d Wh en this i n t e ll ectu al .

d e v e lopm en t h as be en carri e d to a hi gh poi n t ac ,

c o m pa n i e d by mor al d e velopm e n t th en t h e man is ,

r e ady for t h e e vol u tion of t h e s ec on d asp ect of t h e

spirit t he s e co n d division o f t h e spiritu al bo d y th at
, ,

o f Lov e call e d the Christ

,
.

We will c on si de r first this aspect o f t h e Mysti c

Christ t h e e vol u tio n o f t h e Chri st of t h e hu m an
—

“
S p irit .Th i s i s t h e C h ri st wh o i s i n e v e ry o n e of
us w ho i s bor n an d liv e s is c ruci fi e d ris e s from t h e
, , ,

d ea d an d a s cen d s i n to h e av en in ev e ry su ff e ri n g an d
,

triu mph an t Son of Man ”

This is the story of t he
.

mysti c li fe of every In iti ate .

We s e en that at t he first gre at In iti at ion t h e

ha v e
Christ i s bor n in t h e dis c ipl e This is t h e s ec on d .

birth to whi c h we h av e r e f e rr e d He is bo rn i n to .

t h e Ki n gd om of H eav en as a littl e chil d t h e n ame —

giv e n to a n ew In iti ate J e sus s a i d th at e x c ep t a

.

m an b e c om e s a s a littl e chil d h e c an n o t e n t e r the

Kin gd om .

E v ery s u c h ch il d i sb es et b y p eril s that d o n ot

b e f all oth e rs Th e d a rk pow e rs s e e k h i s u n d oi n g
. ,
1 24 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

s e es li ght on ce mor e an d f ee ls hi m s e l f agai n as

t he ,

t h e Son an d i s rea d y for t h e fi fth In it at ion sy m bol

, ,

i z e d by t h e resu rrection an d asc en sion an d rises t r i ,

u mph an t over d eath an d h e ll ; th en He rem a i n s for a

ti m e on e a rth t o t e ach his d isciples an d at l ast a sc en d s ,

i n to He aven .

Thi s story of t he gos p el biogr a p hy s ets f orth in

a ll egory t h e li f e history o f e v e ry In iti ate The in .

it iat ory rit e s symbolize t he stag e s through whi c h t h e

’
c an d id a t e pass e s Th e st age o f t h e soul s pro gr e ss
.

typifie d by d e ath buri al an d r e su rr ection wa s calle d

, ,

”
i n E gypt t h e d ea th rit e an d by t h e G n osti c Chris
,

“ ”
ti an s t he In iti ation of t h e Cross .

Th e c an d i d at e was r ece iv e d by t he i n itiati n g Hie ro

p han t at t he p rop e r tim e an d p l ac e u su ally a s ec lu ded ,

c hamber in a t emple or pyram id an d l ai d on t h e ,

ston e floor w ith a rm s outstretch e d ; som e ti me s on a

woo d en cro ss whi c h was hollow e d out to support t h e
,

hum an figu re He was th en touche d with t h e t hyr

.

“ ”
sus the Spear of the cru c ifixion on t h e h ear t ; h e
, ,

th en passed i n to a d ee p tr an c e The body was p l aced .

in a s arcoph agus of ston e a v ault or t omb be n e ath ,

t h e floor o f t h e H all o f In itiatio n an d c a r e fully ’

gu a rd ed Mea n tim e whil e the bo dy was d ead an d

.
,

buri e d h e him se l f was fully a liv e in the i n visible

,

worl d ( H ades ) an d un d e rgoi n g wh at was c alle d the

,

tests o f ea rth w a t e r fir e an d air He th en put on

, , .

his p e r f e ct ed B liss B od y w hi c h w as n ow fully or ,

gan i z ed a s a v eh icl e of con s c ious n e ss ! A fter the

thi r d d ay t h e cro ss b eari n g the bo dy was li ft e d up
, ,

an d carri e d ou t i n to t h e air on t he ea st si d e o f t h e

p yrami d or templ e an d pl ac e d on a sl op in g sur face

r ea dy t o gre et the ri si n g su n A t th e mom en t t he .
 Th e Mean i n g f Tr u e
o In i tia ti on 1 25

first rays tou c h e d t he f ac e t he p e r f ec t e d In iti at e t h e

, ,

H orus or Christ ros e from t h e d e ad r e su scnat e d t he

, ,

body an d glorifi e d it by his r e s u rr ec t e d bod y n o

, ,

lo n ge r a n atura l man but a spiritu al man havi n g ov e r ,

c o m e d ea t h an d h e ll .

Th e tra n ce typifies his d eath u n to sin th e re

“ ”
v iv al hi s
,
rebirth or r e surr ec ti on u n to ri ghte ous n e ss .

“ ”
In t h e A c ts of J oh n th e r e is pr e s e rv e d the tr adi t ion
“
o f t he i n n e r s c hools on t he myst e ry o f t h e In
i t iat ion o f t h e Cross
”
We fin d h e r e n o t r ac e o f t h e
.

lit e r a l histori c tr adition Th e c rucifixion was an in

.

n e r e xp e ri en c e o f t h e soul T he cross was a sy mbol

.

o f t h e cru c ifixio n o f t h e soul in t h e m att e r an d its

r e ge n er at on .
“
Mysti cal d eath s ays D r H a rtman is ,
“
.
,

id en ti c al w ith spirit a l r egen er ation ”

Magic Whi te .

a n d B la c k ,
”
Har tman p The c ross a ls o sy m
, .

“ ”
b o li z e s c os m i c p ro c e s s e s If t h e A cts of J oh n h ad
.

iv en t h e dr a m a o f In iti ati on as w e l l a s t h e lit u r gy we

g , ,

shoul d u n d oubt e dly h av e s e en th at t he p assi on of Christ

was som e thi n g quite di ff e r en t from w h at h as b een
p opul arly s u ppos e d I h ave sho w n in t h e p recedi n g
.

“ ”
l ectur e s th at t he symboli c rit e s o f c r u cifixio n an d
”
t he
“
r e su rr ec tion o f t h e de ad w e r e con n ect e d w ith ,

t h e m ost worl d w id e mysti c f e stiv als o f a n tiq u ity a

-
,

hi ghly i mporta n t f act for it en abl e s u s to u n d e rst an d

,

t h e m ean i n g o f t h e Christia n c rucifixion an d r e sur

r e ction .

Wh en the n e ophyt e re ac h ed a cer t ai n stage o f

“
p e r f ection or en li ght en me n t he was s aid to ris e ,

The phras e r e surr e c tion fro m t he

” “
from the d ead .

d ea d i s a mysti cal phras e u s e d to r epre s en t t he n ew

”

birth or r e surr e c tion t he Gn os t i c illumi n ation Wh en

,
.

t he c an did a t e r e ac he d this st age he was immort a l

1 26 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

h ad tt ai n e d u n brok en c on sciou sn e ss o f his Spiritu al

a

e go ; h e b e cam e n ow t h e triu mph an t Chris t I am h e ,

th at liv eth an d wa s d ead ; a n d b e hold I am a l iv e for ,

e v e r m or e A m en ; an d h av e t he k eys o f h e l l an d ‘

”
d e ath .
( R ev I .
,

L et me
h e r e c it e seve ral authorities regardi n g this
i mport an t c e r em on y ! D r Oliv e r sp eaki n g of In .
,
“
it iat ion s ays ,
It was c o n sid e r e d to be a mys t ical
,

d e ath or oblivio n o f all the st ai n s an d i mper f ec tion s

o f a c orrupt e d an d evil li f e as w e ll as a d e s cen t i n to ,

h e ll wh e r e ev e ry pollution was pu rge d by lustr ation s

,

o f fir e an d w at e r ; an d t h e p e r f e ct E p opt was th en
s ai d t o b e r e gen e r at e d or n ew born r e stor e d to a ,

r en ov ated e xist en c e o f li f e l ight an d p u ri t y an d , ,

pl ac e d u n d e r divi n e prot e ction H

( story of I n
i .

“ ”
i tia tion Oliv er p
,
In his Si gn s an d Sy mbo ls
, .
,

In all t h e A n c i e n t Myst e ries b e for e

“
h e agai n s ays , ,

an aspir an t c ould c l a i m to p arti c i p at e in t h e hi h e r

g
s ec rets of t he i n stitutio n h e was pl ace d w ithi n t he
,

P astas or B e d o r Cofli n ; or in o th e r w ords wa s sub

, , , ,

je ct e d to a solit ary c on fi n e m en t for a pr e s c rib ed p e riod

o f tim e t hat h e m i ht r e fl ec t s e riously in s ec lusio n a n d
, g ,

d arkn e s s on wh at h e was abou t t o u n d e rt ake

, .

This was t h e symb oic al d e ath o f t he m y st e ri e s an d ,

hi s de liv e r an c e fro m c on fi n em en t was t h e act o f

r ege n e r ation or b e i n g bor n agai n ; or as i t was a lso ,

t e rm ed b e i n g r ais e d from t he d ead

, Th e c e r e .

m on y h e r e allud e d to was d oubtl e ss t he s am e as t he, ,

d e s c e n t i n to H ad e s His r e surr ec tio n from t he

. .

b e d [ or to mb ! was his r e storati on to li f e o r his ,

r ege n e ration i n to a n ew w orl d ; an d it wa s virtu ally

t h e sa m e a s his retur n from H ad e s Th e c an d i .

d at e w as mad e t o un d e rgo th e s e c h an ge s in s cen i c

1 28 A n ci e n t My st er i es and M od er n Mason ry

gard e d as thr ee d ays an d thr ee n i ghts It has b een .

suggest e d th at the short en i n g of t h e t i m e was d u e

t o t he f ac t th at i n t h e d ege n e ra c y o f t h e Mysteries ,

wh e r e atte mpts w e re m ad e to m in imiz e all requir e

m en ts t h e ori gi n a l p e riod be cam e so t e dious t o c an d i
,
~

d at e s w ho c oul d n ot pass i n to t h e tr an ce th at t he ,

t i m e was re d uc e d from s e ve n ty two hours to t w e n ty -

s e v en by j ust r e versi n g t h e fi gur e s thus s avin g th e

, ,

c an di dat e n early two full d ays o f solit ary con fin e

m en t Th e m at e ri aliz e d gosp e l story evi d en tly fol
.
,

lo w ed this l at e r p rac ti ce .

Th e s e gr eat rit e s stood origi n ally for gr eat Spirit

u al t ruths Th e body with w hi c h t he c an didat e
.

“ ”
rose fro m t h e d e ad was t he B liss Bod y t h e b od y —

o f t h e Christ w hi c h h ad be en d e v e lop e d d u ri n g the

p e rio d o f s e rvi c e on earth This b od y b e lon gs t o t he

.

li f e of t he In iti a t e t h e Christ li fe It s buil d i n g b egi n s

—
.

at t h e secon d birth wh en t he Christ is bor n in m an

, ,

an d r e ach e s i t s c o m pl e tio n at t h e r e su rr e c ti on Du r .

i n g this e volution a ry p e rio d w he n t h e Son is ,

be
”
in g m a d e per f e ct t h e In iti at e is call e d t he Son o f
Man t h e p e r f ec t e d ris en
, an d glorifi e d Ch rist is
,
“ ”
c all e d t he Son of G od .

Th e r e is still an oth e r f eatur e of t h e Chr i st st o ry

t h e A s c e n s io n T h i s h a s t o d o w ith th e t h ird p a rt o f
.

t h e spi ritu a l bo d y t h e p utti n g o n o f t h e A t m i c b o d y

, ,

or t h e V e st u r e or Rob e of Glory a s it i s call e d in the ,

P i st i s Sophia . Spi r t u al evoluti on c o n sists in t h e or

i a t i o n an d vit a liz ation o f t h e v ario u s G ar m e n ts
g a n z

or Sh eaths o f man i n to V e stur e s or Rob e s o f Po w e r

an d Glory for t h e u se o f t h e R e ge n e r at e i n t h e Path

“
o f A sce n t , the Way A bov e T he high e st V esture
.
Th e M ea n in g f Tr u e
o I n i tia t io n 1 29

pr ep ar e s t he Son for u n ion w ith t h e Fat h e r an d as ,

a s p irit u al f ac t this i s sy m boliz e d by t he A s c e n sion .

Th e m at e ri al st o ry o f t h e A s ce n sion is a n h ist or ic iz a
ti on o f this i n n e r mys t i c t ru t h e xp e ri en ce d by e v e r y
,

so u l t h at be come s c on sciously on e w ith God .

Th e sa ce n sion for h u man ity is w h en t h e w ho l e

r ac e has att ai n e d t h e Christ c on diti on t he st at e of t he ,

Son an d th a t Son b ec ome s o n e with t h e Fa t h e r an d

, ,

God i s a ll i n all T h a t i s t h e go al p r e figu r e d i n t h e

.
,

triu mph o f t h e In iti at e but r eac h e d on ly w h en t h e

,

h u man r ac e is p e r f e c t e d an d w h en t h e gr eat orph an

‘
,

H u m a n i t y i s n o l o n ge r a n orph an b u t c o n s c i o u s l y
,
’
,

”
r ec ogn i z e s i t s e l f a s t h e Son o f G o d ( E so t.e r i c Ck r is

ti an i ty, B esan t, p .
 L E CTUR E V II .

THE MEA N I N G OF TRU E I N IT IA T ION .

Can clu ded .

)
W e h av e s een p r e c e d i n g l e c tu re th a t th e
in t h e
Chri st o f the Myst e ri e s h as t w o a sp e cts t h e Mystic —

an d t h e Mythi c In t h e Mystic the Microcos m

.
, ,

Man t h e Christ o f t h e Mysteri e s r epres en ts t h e sec

, ,

on d a spe c t of t h e d ivi n e spirit i n hum an ity call e d the ,

Christ ; in t h e Mythi c t h e Macr oco sm the Cosmos

, , ,

t h e Christ o f t h e Myst e ries repr e s en ts t h e Logos in

,

His m an i f est ation throu gh Hi s Secon d A sp e ct .

p r e c e d i n g l e c tur e w e h av e s tu di e d t h e My s
In t h e
t ic Christ ; n ow we a r e t o con si d er t h e Mythi c Christ .

Th e gr e at f acts of t h e spiritual li f e wer e c ar e fully

gu a rd e d in t h e Myst e ri e s , an d given ou t t o t h e worl d

o n ly in sy mboli c l an guage The Solar or Su n Myth

.
-

is the pop u l ar t e ac hi n g co n ce r n i n g t he Cosmic Mythic

Ch ri st th e C h ri st of t h e Solar Myth s o r l e ge n d s A
—
.

Myth we m ust r em em ber is n ot mer e fiction ; it may

be tru e r th an writt en history ; it is a gre at truth em
bodi e d in a p i ctori al form A ll symb ols w e r e em
.

p loye d by In iti ates w ith a d efin ite mean i n g ; we n e e d ,

the re fore to kn ow t h e tru e m ean i n g o f t h e symb ol s

,

in order t o r e ad t h e t ru e m ean i n g o f t he Myth .

The Solar Myth s e ts forth pri mar ily the activity

-
, ,

o f t h e Lo g os ( t he Myth i c C h ri st ) i n t h e u n iv e rs e ;

sec on d arily t he mystic li fe

, of t h e In itiate Th i s .
1 32 A n ci e n t Myst er i es an d M ad er n Mason ry

i n to he aven wh e r e at t h e Sum me r Solsti c e he at

, , ,

t ain e d t he acm e o f his glory an d p e r f e cti on Th e r e .

h e rul e s triu mp h an t an d giv e s his v e ry li f e t o rip en

the fruit an d grai n an d so sust ain his worship e rs .

Th e s e ar e t h e salie n t poi n ts in the lives of all t he

Su n Gods for e ach i s bor n on t h e 2 5t h o f D ece mb e r
-
, ,

an d c rucifi e d at the V e rn al e qui n ox Th e birth d at e .

-

is fi x e d while the d e ath dat e i s v a ri abl e This o f it

,
-
.

s e l f shoul d b e su ffic ien t to show us th at both Christ

mas an d E aster ( t he Sun d ay followi n g t h e n e xt full
moo n a fter the v e rn al e qui n o x ) w e r e origi n ally sol ar
f estivals A f e stival cal c ul at ed by t h e r e lativ e posi
.

tion s o f su n an d m oo n was n ot d e sign ed to commem

,

orat e t he an n ivers ary o f an y historical e v en t W e .

a r e n ot h e r e d ea li n g with t h e histo ry o f a m an but ,

w ith th e H e ro of a sol a r m yth .

It i s i n teres ti n g to n ot e th at th e fa s t prece d i n g th e
E ast e r festiva l is w orl d wi d e an d i n m an y c ou n tri e s
-
,

e xte n d e d to t h e tim e limit o f o u r m o d e r n L e n t

forty d ays O f c ours e th e ori gi n al p e rio d was on l y

.
,

t h e ti m e i n t e rve n i n g b et w e en the d e at h an d r e su rr ec
tion .

A n oth e r i n te r esti n g fact in this c on n ection i s that

t he an i m al a dopt e d as t h e sy mbol o f t h e H e ro is t h e
S i n o f the Zo d iac in which t h e Su n is at the v e r n a l
g
e qui n o x of his age an d thi s v ari e s with th e pre
,

c e ssion o f t h e e q ui n ox es Thus O an n e s an d J e su s
.

h ad t he Sign Pis c es t h e Fish e s ; Mithr a an d Osiris

‘

Taurus t he Bull ; Jupit e r A mmon A ri e s t he Lamb

— - '
—
,

e tc.
,
w h ile Jesu s is also r e pr e s en t e d as t h e L amb .

Th e Su n Myth th en pri marily s ets forth th e ac

-
, ,

t iv ity o f th e Logos in t h e Cos m os This a ctivity is .

Th e M ean in g f Tr u e In i tia tion
o 1 33

r e flect e d in
a p arti al way in the y ea rly cours e o f t he
Su n T h e Lo gos i n Hi s Se co n d A sp ec t as t h e Co s
.
, ,

m i c Myth ic C hri st d e sce n d s i n to m a tt er b ec o m e s

-
,
—

i n car n at e c loth e d in fl e sh
,
”
He thus s ac rifi ce s h im .

s e l f by pu tt i n g on t h e li mit ation s o f mat te r en t e ri n g ,

t h e w omb of matt e r which is y et virgi n u n pr od u c ,

tiv e Thi s matt e r has b e en v iv ifie d by t he Holy

.

Spirit that it m i ght p res en tly tak e form an d is th u s

p r epare d to r e ceiv e t h e li f e o f t he Se c on d Logos t he ,

Son a s p ec t of God who took this m atter as a v e hi c l e

,

for his en e rgi e s The ori gi n al o f t h e N ic en e Cr ee d

.

“
r an thus A n d was i n c a r n ate o f t he Holy Ghost an d
,

t h e V irgi n Mary
”
n ot of t h e vir gi n m att e r al on e b u t
— -
,

o f m a tt e r alr e ady puls atin g w ith t h e li f e of t h e Third

Logos so th at both t h e li f e an d t he m att e r surrou n d e d
,

Him a s a vestu r e .

Thus wa s t he d e sc en t o f t he Logos i n to m att e r d e

sc rib e d in t h e histori c iz e d li f e of t he Savi ors
,
,

as t h e V ir gi n B irth ”
an d i n t h e S ol
,
a r M yth a s

t h e birth o f the Su n G od Th e m is appr e h en sion o f

-
.

this all egori cal illustr ati on as t h e li f e history of a ,

physic al h u man bei n g an d its i d en tifi cation wi t h J e sus

, ,

an d t h e v a riou s oth e r World S a viors w a s most - u n f

,
o r

t u n at e an d misle ad i n g ,

A ft e r t h e i n ca r n t a io n co m e t h e early worki n gs of

t he L og os in m a t t e r a ptly t ypifi ,
e d by t h e i n f an cy of

t h e Myth To all t h e f bl
.
e e e n e ss of i f yn a n c Hi s M a

je st ic p o w e rs b ow th e ms e lv e s letti n g but litt l e pl ay

,

fo rth on t h e t en de r for s th y m e e n soul M a t t e r im .

prison s s ee m s a s thou gh thr e at i g to sl y i t s i f t

,
e n n a n a n ,

Ki n g whos e glory i s veil e d by t h e limit tio s He

a n h a s
,

a ssu m e d S lo w.
ly He sh a p e s it t ow a rds high e n ds ,

d Hi m s e l f
an d li fts it i n to m an hoo d th str t h s
a n e n e c e
,
1 34 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d Mad er n Mason ry

on t heross o f m atter th at He m ay p our forth from

c

th at cros s all t h e po w e rs o f His surr en d e r e d li f e .

D ead He s e e m s an d b urie d out o f si ght b u t He ris e s ,

aga i n c loth e d in t h e v e ry m a t t e r in w hich He s eem e d

t o p e rish an d ca rri e s up His bod y of n ow r ad ian t

,

m att e r in to h eav e n w h e r e it r ece iv e s t h e do w n p ouri n g

,

li f e o f t h e Fath e r an d be c om e s the v e hi c l e of m an s
,
’

imm o rt al li f e For it is t h e li f e o f the Logos whic h

.

form s t h e gar m en t o f t h e sou l in man an d He gives it ,

th at men may liv e throu gh t he ages an d grow to the

m ea sur e of his own sta tu e Truly ar e we c loth e d in
.

Him first m a t e ri a lly an d th en spiritu ally

”
, ( E soter i c .

Chri stian i ty p ,
.

The Lo go s t h u s l e a v e s th e pl a n e of In fin it u d e ,

wh e r e He is on e w ith t he Fat h e r an d be come s in ca r ,

n at e ,
an d is fi n a lly crucifi e d i n sp ac e This is the .

c ru c i fixio n o f Christ t h e gr ea t c os m i c s ac rifi c e r ep

, ,

re s en t e d by t h e sy mbol o f the c ru c ifi e d Man w hi c h ,

a t l a s t b e com e s m aterializ e d i n to a n a c tu a l d eath by

c r u c i fix on T h e story thus histori c i z e d b ec ame at

.

t ac h e d to t h e v a ri ou s Worl d Saviors Bu t the orig

-
.

i n al c ru c ifixi on was no d isgrace f or t h e sym bol us e d ,

t o r e pr e s en t t his myst e ry is th at of the He av e n ly Man ,

w ith ar m s outstre t ch e d pouri n g l i f e an d l ight in t o

,

His c r e atur e s Th e So l a r My t h outl i n e s th e s e gr eat

.
-

spiri t u al f ac ts re ga rdi n g t h e worki n g o f G od in t h e

u n iv e rs e .

E v e ry s y mb o l pri ma ry an d a se c on dary
h a s b oth a

m e an i n g Th e Su n is a sy m bol o f t he Logo s in i t s
.

p ri m a ry m e an i n g but it a lso r e pr e s en ts an y on e w ho
,

is r e pr e sen t ative of t h e Logos Thu s a Gre at In it i .

a t e s e n t on a Sp e c i a l m issio n to t h e w orld w o ul d by
, , ,

virtu e o f his offic e an d mi ss ion have the Su n as his ,

1 36 A n ci en t Myst e r i es an d M o d er n Mason ry

an d qui n ox e s were t h e tim e s w h en the Mysterie s

e ,

w e r e ce l ebrat e d an d the rites of In iti atio n a d m in is

te red .Thus both t h e Mythic an d Mystic Chris t hav e
co n tribut e d to the gos p e l sto ry .

Th e s e Su n Myth stori e s h ave recurred through all

-

t h e age s h avin g be en tol d an d r e told in tur n o f each

,

g r ea t T e a c h e r t h e l e g d s o f t he Mythic Christ
e n —
, ,

Buddh a Krish n a ,
m i n glin g with t he h istory o f e ach
—
, ,

an d cryst a llizi n g about e a c h as an historic a l perso n

a ge . Bu t th e s e materiali z e d stories p ert ai n especi ally

to t he li f e o f t h e Son of Man a d isti n c tive t itl e n ot , ,

o f a n i n divi d u a l but an offic e Wh en on e attai n s thi s .

lev e l an d sta n d s in this r e l atio n to hum an ity then , ,

as a r ep r e s en t ative o f G od t h e story o f the Logos in ,

t h e Su n b e co m e s his own i n de e d for t h e f acts u n d e r ,

lyi n g this story have be en wholly r ea liz e d in his spi r

it u al li f e .

Her e we
l earn t h e ma n n e r in whic h a rose th e sto ry
of t h e d eath bu ri a l an d resurr e ction o f a crucifi ed
,

Savior On t h e li n es o f t h e Sol a r Myt h an d t he

.
-
.

In iti atory rit e s the m at e rializi n g t en de n cy o f m an

,

w rou ght ou t for its e l f in e ach r eligion an historic al , ,

n a rr ativ e o f a p e rso na l Savior w ho is vir gi n bor n is , ,

c ru c ifi e d ris e s fro m t h e d ead an d fi n ally asc en d s

, ,

i n to h eav en ; or t he historicizin g may in som e in

, , ,

s t an ce s h av e be en pu rp os e ly do n e by th o s e w ho
,

kn e w t he popul ar n a rrative b e i n g writt en f or t h e

,
—

m ultitud e in su c h a w ay as t o set forth the My s ~

t e r i e s all e go ri ca lly In e i t h e r c a s e an d p e rh a ps b o th
. ,
—

m e thods pl ay e d a p a rt ( we h av e ab u n d an t p roo f o f
t h e for m er a n d m an y i n di ca tio n s o f t h e l att e r ) t he ,
-

accou n t symboli z es t he in n e r d o ctri n e an d sets f orth

figu r ativ e ly the occult te ac hi n g o f t he G n osi s Bu t .
 Th e M ea n i n g f Tr u e I ni ti a ti o n
o 1 37

t he r e al m ean i n g of t he sy mbo l ical te ac hi n g o f t he

Myth an d Rit u al ha s b e en pr ac ti cally lost si ght o f ;
m ost p e opl e t o d ay r egard t he n a rr at iv e s as t he
—

physi ca l li f e history o f i n divi du als How e v e r t h e r e .

,

a r e som e w ho ar e b e in m n
g g to u n d e rst an d th at the
sy mb o l i c al t eac hi n g of t h e d eath buri a l an d r e s u r , ,

r e ctio n ar e but typi cal o f t he sou l s p rogr e ss ’

.

J e sus o f N az a r e th l ik e B uddh a Krish n a an d man y

, , ,

oth e rs wa s drap e d w ith t he s t ori e s o f t h e Logos an d

, ,

t h e s ali en t e v en ts in t h e Su n Myth be c o me t he s a li en t
-

e v e n ts i n his physi cal l i f e Th e sym bols on ce ma

.
,

t e r ializ e d w e r e a tt ach e d to e ac h D ivi n e T e ac h e r in

,

tur n givin g ri s e to t he w on d er ful si m il aritie s in th e ir

,

r e sp ective biographies .

Bu t let us n ot los e sight of t he f act that th e mysti c

birth b aptis m t r an sfigu r at ion d eath r e s u rr ection an d
, , , ,

a s c en sion w e r e r e a liti e s in t h e li f e history o f e very

In iti at e This d r ama i s r ep eat e d in e v e ry s ou l th at

.

b e com e s a Christ .

Th e s t ory of t h e gosp e l was origi n ally a religious

roman ce i n t en d e d for spiri t u al i n stru ct ion bu t th e ,

l at e r bishops o f t h e ou t er c hurch e s n ot h avi n g th e ,

k ey to t h e i n n e r m ean i n g acc e pt e d t h e roman c e a s

,

“
It is s ai d th at Th e co m m on docu
‘
ac tu a l history .

m e n t [w hi c h for me d t h e b asis of t h e c an on i c a l gos

’

p e ls ! i s to b e tra c e d to t he Sk e t c h o f an id e al li fe
w hi c h was in t e n d e d for purpos e s of prop agan d a ,

an d w hi c h c o u l d be furth e r e xpl ai n e d to thos e who

w e re r eady f o r mo re d e fin it e i n stru ction s in t he t r u e

n at u r e o f t he Christ Myst e ry To a c er t ai n e xt en t
-
.

i t wa s b as e d on s om e o f t he tr ad i t ion s of t he actu a l '

histori c doi n gs o f J e sus but t h e h i st or ical d et a ils w e r e

,
1 38 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Mad er n Mason ry

o f ten tran s form e d by the light o f the my st e 1 y teach -

in g an d much was ad d e d in c h an ge d form c on c e r n

,

in g t h e d ram a o f t h e Ch r ist Myst e ry ; a ll egories an d

p ar abl e s an d actual myst e ry doi n gs w e re w ov en i n to it ,

with wh at app e ars n ow t o be a c on su mm at e art whi c h

has b affle d for ages the i n t e ll e ct o f t h e worl d but ,

whi c h at t h e tim e was r ega rd e d by t h e wr 1 t e r as a

mo de st e ff ort at simpli fyin g t h e spiritu al truths o f th e
In n e r li fe by putti n g th e m for w a r d i n the form o f
,

w hat w e shoul d n ow call a histori cal rom an c e b u t

‘

,
’

whi c h in his d ay was on e o f t h e n atur al m eth od s o f

”
h agga da an d apoc alypti c .
( D i d J esu s L iv e 1 00
Yea rs B C ! M e ad p
. ”
, .

Th e author o f this rom an ce n e v e r d r eam ed th at the

story would b e t ake n oth e r w is e than a s h e i n t en de d
i t a sy mb ol but in t he compil ati on o f t h e c an o ni cal
—
,

accou n ts m uch l egen d an d histori c iz e d dogma was

built a roun d this ori gi n al rom an c e .

Th e mystic teachi n g in thi s way b ecame ac cep t e d

first as hi sto ry an d fi n ally as d ogm a Ir en ae us wa s .

on e o f t h e chie f d e v e lop ers of t h e d og ma s Th e .

G n ostics c on t en d e d th a t he an d thos e l ik e h im who

a c c e pt e d t h e c rud e lit e r a l vi e w ,
did n ot kn o w t he ori
i n a n d m e an i n g o f th e s e thi n gs P api u s an d Ma r
g .

cio n who were e arli e r th an Ir en aeus i n sist e d th at

, ,

such s c riptur e was n ot r eli abl e a s absolut e history .

The Gn osti c s kn e w how th e s e s c riptur e s w e r e m ade

“
an d th e y poss e ss e d a m emo ry o f t h e m an n e r o f thi n gs
d on e an d s ai d fr om t h e e arli e st ti m e s an d look e d w ith
,

am az e m e n t on t h e n a rro w an d c r am pi n g b e li e fs th a t

t h e b i sh op s o f th e o u t e r c h u r c h e s w e r e i m p o si n g o n
Ch r iste n d o m as t h e o n ly truths of t he Christ revela -

tion . Thi s con t en tion o f t h e Gn osti c s as o f ,

1 40 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d Mod ern Mason ry

Thi s i s c on clusiv e e vi d en c e th at at t h e ti m e o f Ju stin

Ma rtyr 1 40 t o 1 60 A D th e se gr e at Spiritual rea li
, . .
,

ti e s in t he Mystic li f e w e re n ot rega r d e d b y some at ,

least as historical f acts

, .

J usti n further s ays Bu t a s t o t he Son o f G od

,

cal l ed J e su s e v en though he were on ly a man

—
,

[born ! i n t he c om mon way [yet ! b ecause o f [hi s! ,

wis d om i s he w or th y t o b e calle d Son o f G od ; f or all

writ e rs call G od Fath e r o f men an d god s
‘
An d .
’

i f we say [ f urther ! th at h e was a lso in a sp e cial way ,

b eyon d t h e comm on b irth b e gott en o f God [ as ! Wor d

,

( Logos ) o f G od let us h av e thi s in com m on wi t h

,

you w ho c all H e rmes the Wor d [ Logos ! w ho b ri n gs

”
t idi n gs from G od ( I bid p
.
, .

Th e Son ship of Jesus th en was con si dere d the

, ,

“
s am e as th at o f He rm e s An d n ot e al s o that b egot
.

t en o f G o d d i d n ot re f er to p hysical birth but t o ,

som ethi n g b eyon d Justi n d istin ctly state d that J e sus

.

wa s a m an b orn in t h e co m mo n way Thi s highe r .

birth by w hi c h m an was b egott en of G od an d so be ,

“
ca m e a Son was n ot e x c eption al with Ch risti an ity
, .

In fact J usti n Martyr wan ts it d isti n ctly u n d erst ood

,

th at he t each e s n othi n g n ew b u t m e r e ly clai m s for ,

J e sus t he disti n ctive titl e of a Son o f G od in t he s ame ,

se n s e as w e r e H e rm e s A scl e pius D ion ys u s an d oth

, , ,

e r s Son s o f G od
,
th at is he cl aim e d J e su s wa s an
, ,

In itiat e .

Origen also i s in accord wit h Justin Martyr He .

“
sp e aks of th e myst e ry o f t he r e surrection an d c on
t r a st s this i n n e r d octri n e ( w hich he s ays is n ot u n
,

d er st ood b y u n b e liev e rs ) w ith t h e e x ot e ri c d octri n e

,

o f the r e su rr ec tion which was k n o w n t o all an d was

Th e M ean i n g f Tr u e In i tia ti on
o 1 41

an arti c l e o f faith amon g m an y ( Or ige n A gain st .

Celsu s B ook I Ch VII )

, , It is quit e evi d en t th at
. .

th e r e was a wi d e di ff e r en ce bet w een the mysti c d oc

tri n e of the crucifixion an d r e surr ection an d the pop ,

ul ar e x ot e ri c f aith .

Thus studyin g t he i n n e r teachi n g of t he Myst e ri e s

we see th at Christ i s n ot a un iqu e person age but t h e ,

first fru its t he prom is e of man m ad e p e r f ect The

—
.

In itiat e h as e v e r be en thus r e gar d e d for to att ai n t h e,

“
Christ st ate is s alvation
—
Th e st age o f d is c ipl e ship
.

wa s t o p ass i n to th at of So n shi p The li fe of t h e Son

.

was to b e liv e d amo n g men till it was c los e d by the r e s

u r rec t ion ,
an d t h e glori fi e d Ch rist bec am e on e of t he
”
p e r fe ct ed Saviors of t he Worl d ( Esoter i c Ch ri s
.

tian i ty, B esan t, p .

E v e ry m an i s a pot en ti al Christ an d t he purpose ,

o f e volu t io n is t o r a i se e v e ry h u m an bei n g to t h e sub

lim e d egr e e o f a Mast e r Christ .

 L E CTUR E V III .

THE OR IG I N A ND H ISTORY O F F R EE

MA SON RY .

The maj ority o f t h e u n i n itiate d believ e t hat e very

thi n g co n n ec ted with Mason ry is to be k ept a s ec re t .

This i s an e rror for th e r e are man y books writt en on

,

Ma son ry which ar e op en to the pe r us al o f all whet h er ,

t hey b e mem b e rs of or stra n ge rs to t he Ord e r I .

s h all d i v ulge n o pl e dge d sec r ets .

The Emi n e n t Mason ic Scholars Messrs Stillson ,

.

an d Hu gh an
“
in i n tro d uci n g t h e
, History o f F r ee
mason ry an d Con cor d an t Or d er s p lai n ly stat e t hat
, ,
“
Nei t her i s t h e wo r k n ecessa r ily for F re e mason s
alo n e ; f or n ot a few o f t h e cha p ters fur n ish excel
l en t an d suggesti v e r ea d i n g for those who woul d like
t o kn ow som e what o f t he B rot h e rhood either p rior t o

j o m mg i t s ran ks or b ecau se o f this el igible oppor

,

t u n i ty t o p e r use a r eliab l e accou n t o f so v en e r a b le an d

”
pr e emi n e n tly res pe ctab le an Orga n i z ation
-
.

E x c ept for some po rtion s o f t h e Ce rem on y t h e —

sign s an d passwor d s w h ich relate to t h e mod e s o f

—

r ec ogn ition th e re is n othi n g sec r et in Mason ry

, .

There has be en so much misun d e r stan d i n g on t h i s

subj e ct th a t perha p s it might b e well t o corrob orate

t his stat em e n t The sam e stan d ar d aut h or i ty j ust

.

“
cite d says A t t h e outs e t the r e fore i t is well t o p oi n t
, , ,

ou t that t h e Mason ic f r ate rn ity is n ot st ri ctly speak,

 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Mad er n Mason r y

pr e s e n t i n t e rior form o f F r e e mason ry was d e riv e d

from t he Tyri an w orkm e n at t h e buil d i n g o f Kin g x

Solomo n s T e mp le
’
Th e r e is n o evi d en ce t h at t he
.

J e ws p ossesse d t h is i n t e rior form or th a t Mason ry

”
,

its e l f i n c lu d ed it be for e 1 71 7 wh en it was i n t ro

d u c ed i n to the Or d e r by thos e w ho h a d a kn owle dg e
o f the A n c ie n t Mysteri e s Mason ry t hen i s n ot a
.
, ,

l i n ea l d escen d an t o f t h e Myst e ri e s ; b u t is m oul d e d

upo n th em Th e Recon stru ctio n ists b u ilt upon the
.

a n cie n t myths u si n g sy m bols kn own from t h e earliest

,

d ays an d wove these sy m b o l s an d myths d e rive d from

,

t h e Mysteri e s i n t o the symbolism o f Sol omo n s Te m

’

p le.

Th e tr av e lin g F re ema so n s o f the Mi dd l e A ges may

or m ay n ot h av e b e en d e s c en d an ts o f the D ion ysi an
a r t i fic e r s ; o f this w e h av e n o e vi d e n c e n or d o we ,

kn ow t h e e x ac t d ate o f t h e b egi n n i n g o f t h e Maso n i c

m ov e m en t b u t are assur e d it can lay claim t o n o
,

gre at an tiquity t h e actual history o f th e Cra ft e x

—

te n di n g n o furth e r b ac k th an some six c e n turi e s .

A n d th e n thi s e arly or gan iz ation prior to the r e c o n

,

stru ct ion p eri o d o f 1 71 7 was som e thi n g quit e d i ff er en t

,

fr om its pr e se n t f orm mo d er n Ma so n ry b e 1 n g an
—

e n tirely n e w d e parture .

T h e ap p l ic a ti o n o f th e t erm F reem a so n ry t o t h e
A n c i en t Myst e ri e s wh e th e r J e w ish or P agan is th en
, ,

misl ea d i n g ; an d t h e d e sign ation o f t h e form e r a s

pur e an d t he l atte r as Spuriou s is ab sur d an d withou t
,

an y basis in f act B oth syst e ms w e re d e ri ved f rom

.

t h e s am e sour c e an d both a r e tru e ; how e v e r the ,

P agan an t e d at e d t h e J e w i sh by m an y thou sa n d s o f
years It i s c u r i ou s w h at p eop l e w i l l d o a n d to w h at
.

e x tr e m e s th e y w ill go in support o f a th e olo gic a l c r ee d !

 Th e O r igi n an d H ist or y f
o F r ee mason r y 1 45

m o d e rn , we
h ol d th a t it h a d it s sou r c e i n t r u e My s
t ic i sm an d i s on e o f t h e c h an n e ls o f t h
, e Mystic t eac h
in g . In corrob or a ti on o f this let u s n ot e som e of t he
c o n n ec ti n
g l i n ks b e tw een t h e e s ot e ri c s c hool s of t he
e a rly C hristi an c e n turi e s an d t h
e l ater Mason i c m ov e
m en t .

Th e words of w ell k n ow n Mason ic authority E

t he ,
.

Ma c b e a n a r e o f i n t e r e s t i n th i s c o n n e c tio n He s ay s
, .
,
“
I may su gge st th a t som e portion at l ea st of our s m
y
b oli sm m ay h av e c om e t hrou gh a T em pl ar s our c e ,

Roman ist y et d e eply ti n ge d w ith Gn osti c is m ; whil e

,

a t a l at e r d a t e t h e Loll a rds
( suppos e d to b e i n h e rit ors
,

o f Man i c h e is m ) an d w ho w e r e bu t on e o f t h e man y
,

r e ligo polit ica l s o c i e ti e s w i t h w hi c h E urop e wa s hon e y

e

c om b e d possibly i n trodu ce d or r e viv e d s om e o f th e s e

,

t e ac hi n gs .O n e thi n g is c e rt ai n that s atis f act ory ,

r e n d e ri n gs of ou r symb ols c an on ly b e obt ai n e d by a

study of Ea st e rn My sti c is m ; K abb al isti c H e rmeti c , ,

Py t h agor e an an d Gn osti c D o w n t he c en t uri e s we

, .

fin d e n roll e d t h e n am e s o f philosophic t eache rs who

v e il e d th e ir doc tri n e s in figur e s si m ila r to thos e in
v ogu e am on g t h e Rosi c ru c ia n s an d still m or e r ecen t
stud en ts an d o ft en i d en ti cal w ith t h e si gn s we bl azon
,

( Hidd en
”
on t h e w a lls o f our Lo d ge s a n d Ch a pt e rs .

S ou r c es of Mas on r y Coop er Oak ley pp 3 4,

-
, .

O n e tr ad ition tr ac e s Mason ry to Man ich e is m or

T h e Son s o f t h e Widow J oh n Ya rk e r in spe aki n g
. ,

“
o f this or d e r say s A bout t h e y e ar 2 00 A D the
, , , , . .
,

m o st n o t ew o rthy Gn ostic s ect was a P e rsi an b ra n ch

o f t h e Man i c h e e s ; it was d ivi d e d i n to thr ee c l a sses

A u d itors E l e c t an d P e r f ec t an d t he s e ct was rul e d b y

, ,

tw e lv e A postl e s with a thirt e en th as Pr e sid en t

,
.
1 46 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d Mod er n Mason r y

Th e Rit e had
Th e osophi cal Gosp el which taught
a ,

that t h e basi s o f all r e li gi on was on e In 657 they .

ha d ch an ge d th e i r n am e s t o Paulici an s an d l ate r ,

Cath a ri E u c hit e s B ogo m il e s an d in still m ore rec en t

, , ,

ti m es still Loll a r d s,
Th ey w e r e a s ec ret Sp e c
.

u lat iv e soci e ty wi th d egre e s d i st in gu ishe d by si gn s

, ,
,
”
tok en s an d wor d s like F r ee m ason ry ( Th e K n eph .
,

V al V N a
.
,
.

Thi s or d e r was fou n de d by Ma n i as a restatemen t ,

o f t h e old truths o f the Myst e ri e s an d con ta in e d t h e ,

true G n osis H e combi n e d t h e t e achi n gs o f Zoroa st e r

.

with thos e o f Jesus bot h b e i n g as p ects o f t h e s am e

—

Wis d om but the myst e ry teachi n g h ad come to b e

,
-

regard e d as h e retical by t he e st ablish e d Orthod o x y

of bo t h r e li gion s con s e qu en tly h e wa s put t o d ea th
,

by t h e P e rsi an s an d his d isci p les like w ise slai n b y t he

,

Christi an s .

The Ma n ichean s from t h e f ou rth ce n tu ry wer e

, ,

bitt e rly p e rsecut e d by the R om an Chur c h ; t he society ,

howev e r spr ea d r apidly in spit e o f all opp osition

,
.

Says R egh e llin a d a Sc hio a. w e ll kn own It alia n ,

Ma so n In t h e l ifet im e o f Ma n e s [ Man i ! h i s p up i l
“
, , ,

H e rm an h ad spre ad his teachi n g in E gyp t wh e re

, ,

t he C optic pri e st s an d oth e r C hristi a n s m i n gl ed it

with t h e Myst e ri e s a d o pt e d from the J e ws It .

of the Wi d ow an d t he c ult o f t h e Gr e at A r c hit e ct

,
,

c am e to u s in con s e qu en c e of a pp a ren tly u n for e seen

e v e n ts, an d it w ill b e see n th a t it was p ri n c ip a lly by

m ean s o f t h e C ru sa d e s th at th e y obt a i n e d a se c ure

foot in g in t h e West The Myst e ri e s m ai n tai n e d their
.

e xi ste n c e u n d e r t h e n ame o f the cult o f t h e Great

1 48 A n ci en t Myster i es an d M od er n Mason r y

Th e C ologn e R ec or d which is d ate d 1 53 5 b ears

, ,

w it n e ss that a s e cr e t soci ety exist e d b e for e 1 440 u h ,

d er t h e n am e o f t h e B rot herh ood o f St J oh n an d .

,

s i n ce th en an d up to 1 53 5 u n der t he titl e of St .

Joh n s Order o f F r e emas on ry or Mason ic B roth e r

’

hoo d This R ec ord c on t a i n s t h e follow i n g p ass age

.

Th e B roth e rh oo d o r th e O r d er o f F r e e m a s o n
,

B roth e rs bo u n d toge th e r ac c o rd i n g to St J oh n s holy

, .
’

rul e s ; tr ace s its ori gi n n eith e r from t h e T e mpl a rs n or

f rom an y other spi ritu al or t e m por al K n i ghtly O r
d e r but it is ol d e r t h an a ll si m ilar Or d e rs an d has
, ,

e xist e d i n P a l e sti n e an d Gr e e c e as w e ll as i n v a ri ou s
,

p a rt s o f t h e Ro m an E mpir e B e fore t he C ru s ade s

.

our B r o th e rhood a ro se ; at a ti m e wh en in c on e qu en c e s

o f t h e stri f e b e t w e en t h e s e c t s te achi n g C hristi an

m or a ls a s m al l n u m b e r o f t h e In itiat e d e n t r u st e d
,
—

w it h the t ru e teachin g o f virtu e an d t he s en sibl e e x ,

p osition o f t he s ec r e t t eachi n g s ep ar at e d th em selves

—

”
from t h e m a ss O f cours e t h e auth en ti c ity o f this
.
,

R ec or d is rej ec t e d by m at e ri alisti c Maso n s but is ,

u su ally accepte d as gen ui n e by a ll Mysti c Ma son s .

Mr Mack en sie p oi n ts ou t th a t the R ec or d i s r e f e rre d

.

to in t h e r egi st e r o f t he L od g e at Hagu e a s th e r e in ,

exist en c e so i f it is a frau d it is on e o f at l eas t t w o

, , ,

c en turi e s stan d i n g The mysti c te ac hi n g o f t h e

.

B roth e rhoo d o f St John must h av e be e n t h e s ame

.

as th at o f t h e oth e r m ysti c Ord e rs an d t h e v alu e ,

o f thi s R ecor d i s in the testi m on y it be a rs t o t h e k n o w n

e x i st en c e of thi s.s e cret t ea c hi n g ; w h e th e r Mason ry
r e c e iv e d it fro m t h e T e mpl a rs or from so m e ol d e r

organ iz atio n is n ot i mpo r t an t .

Som e con te n d th at u n til t h e revival i n 1 71 7 the , ,

myst e ri e s o f t h e c ra ft w e r e m e r e ly th e p ec ul iar me th
Th e O r igin an d Hist ory f
o Fr e emason ry 1 49

o d s or rul e s employe d in their special art This may .

b e p ar tly tru e o f t h e bod y a s a w hol e but that an i n n e r ,

oc cul t t eac hi n g exist ed i s q uit e evi d e n t G en Pike . .

“
s ays that A mon g F r e em ason s of a c e rt ai n c l ass an d
limited in n u mber t he sam e sym bolism o r a lar ge
,

p a rt of t he s am e as a fte rw a r d s pl ac e d in t he d e
,

gr ee s d id e xist lon g b e for e p e rhap s so m e cen turi e s

, ,

b e fore I f th ey p oss e sse d the sym b ols th ey m ust

h ave had a kn owle dge in p art at l east of th e 1 r m e an
, ,

in g. A gai n G en Pike s ays . The art of buil d i n g ,

then st oo d abov e all other ar t s an d m ade all others

subs e rvie n t to it It comman de d t he s e rvices of t he
.

most brillian t i n tell e ct s an d o f the gre at e s t artists .

T he old sym b olism was e mbo d ied in t h e c h urches

an d cath e d rals an d som e of thes e were a dor n e d with
,

figu r e s an d d e vic e s whi c h woul d n ever h ave b een tol

e r a t e d th e r e i f t h e priesthoo d h a d k n o w n wh at th e y
”
m ean t t o the A d ept s This p rov e s th e ir possession
.

o f oc cult k n owl e dge .

Mr F i n d el sums up t he op i n ion s of t h e l ead i n g

.

F r ee m a son s o f G e rm an y as follo w s ! The Gra n d

Lodge o f G e rm an y furth e r a ssum e s th at in t h e Buil d ,

in g F rat e r n iti e s of the Mi d dl e A g e s b e si d e s th e ir ,

ar t a s e cr e t scie n ce wa s ca rri e d on t h e s u b str a tum ,

,

of w hich was a r e al C hristi an Myste r y s e rvi n g a s a ,

p reparatory or eleme n tary s choo l an d step p i n g ston e

to that an d th e St J ohn s Mason ry w hich lat t er w as
.
’
,

n ot a m e r e system o f mor a l philoso p hy bu t close ly ,

a llie d an d co n n e cte d with this myst e ry I t w a s c on .

’
ce d e d that th e F r ee maso n ry o f ou r days ( St John s
,
, .

F r eemaso n ry ) s p ra n g f r om t h e Buil d i n g Frater n iti e s

,

of t h e M i dd le A ges b u t at t h e same time as ,

sert e d t h at in the e a rly ages there e x ist e d a secret

1 50 A n ci en t Myster i es an d M od er n Mason r y

Soc i e t y w hi c h strov e to c omp a s s t he p e r f ec tin g of the

hu man ra c e pr ec is e ly in t h e s am e m an n e r an d em
, ,

p loyi n g si m il a r m e an s a s d id t h e Sw e dish syst e m

, ,

w hi c h in f act o n ly follo w e d in the w ak e o f i ts pr e

d e c e ssor b e i n g c o n c eal e d in t h e B uildi n g F r at e r n iti e s
, ,

so th at ou r soc i e ty d i d n ot a ris e from th em b u t ma d e ,

i t s e l f a way thr ou gh th e m Th e s ec r e t s c i en c e t h e
.
,

myst e ry was v e ry an c i en t i n d ee d This myst e ry

,
.

for me d t he s ec r e t o f the Hi gh e r D egr e es o f t h e

Ri t e w hi c h w e r e n ot me r e ly k e pt hi d d e n fro m t h e
,

r e s t o f t h e c o n f e d e r a t i o n b u t a l s o from t h e m e m
,

b e rs o f t he i n f e rior d egr e e s o f t h e syst e m its e l f .

This myst e ry wa s f u l ly c on fir m e d by d oc u m en ts
whi c h t h e Gr an d L od ge o f G e r man y h a d in its k ee pi n g .

Thi s s e c r e t l egen d i s t h e s am e a s t h a t o f t he
Ca rpo c r ati an s w hi c h i s t h a t J e sus c h o se som e o f t he
,

A postl e s an d c on fid e d t o th e m a s ec ret s c i en c e w hi c h ,

was tr a n s m itt e d a ft e r w a rds to t h e p ri e sts o f t h e Or d e r

o f t h e K n i ghts T e m pl a rs a n d t hrough th e m t o t h e

B uil d i n g F r a t e rn iti e s d o w
,

,
n t o t h e pr e se n t F r e e
m a so n s o f t h e Sw e d ish Ri t e Th e Sw e dish syst e m
. .

t e ac h e s th at th e r e h av e b e e n m e n o f all n ation s w ho
h av e wo rshipp e d God in spirit an d in truth an d su r ,

rou n d e d by i d ol a t ry an d sup e rstition h av e yet p re ,

s e rv e d th e ir pu r e r faith Se p a r at e fro m t he w orl d

.
,

an d u n k n ow n to it this W is d om h as b ee n p re
,

s e rv e d b y the m an d ha n d e d d ow n a s a mys
f e ry . In the ti m e of the J e w s th e y m ad e u se
o f t h e E ss en es ,
in whic h s ec t J e sus was brought
up an d Sp en t t he gre at e r p a rt of his li f e
,
.

H avi n g be e n i n structe d by Him in a more p er f e ct

k n o w l e dge o f Holy Thi n gs th e y h ad am i d per secu
, ,

t io n t au ght in sil e n c e th at which was committe d t o

,
1 52 A n ci en t My st er i es an d Ma d er n Mason ry

societi es e ac h an i n strum en t u se d in ke e pi n g al i v e
,

an d h an d i n g alo n g t h e mystic te a chi n g u n d e r v a rious

d i sgu is e s .I f Mason ry h ad n o p a rt in this wo rk it ,

was truly an e x c ep tion t o th e m an y soci e ti e s th at e x

i st ed from the 4t h t o the 1 8th cen turies
. . .

The e arly history o f F reem as on ry is ve ry meag r e ,

ow i n g p e rh aps to t h e n atur e o f t h e organ izat ion The .

e a rliest r ec or d s o f ac tu al l od ge m e e ti n gs w e re in 1 599 ,

bu t th e r e ar e copi es o f O ld Char ge s an d la w s d at
in g from the 1 4th c en tu ry . .

It d oe s pp ea r fr om t he ol d est ma n us c ri p t th at
n ot a

t h ey us e d si gn s toke n s an d words su c h as l ater on

, , ,

w e re e mploy e d to s e cu r e r ec ogn ition ; ho w ev e r suc h ,

m ay hav e be en the c a s e Th e r e w e r e ce rt ai n se c r e t s
.

w hi c h p ert ai n e d t o t he ar t of b uil d i n g which t h e m e m

,

bers o f the Lod ge w e r e bou n d to k e e p an d it was these ,

tra d e s ec r e ts which gav e to t h e Or d er its m o n opoly .

Bu t i n the c ours e o f time the strict regul atio n of the

gu il d s r e l a x e d an d ther e gr adu ally gr ew up a n oth e r
b od y o f op e rat iv e s which suc c e e d e d in br eaki n g d ow n
,

t h e mon op oly thus Op en i n g t h e w ay f or t h e p urely

,

Sp eculativ e Society .

Th e t e rm F re em ason which origi n ally mea n t a

,

work e r in fr ee ston e cam e l at e r on to b e appli e d t o

,
“
all Cr a fts m en who h ad obtai n e d thei r fr e e d om as
Mason s to w ork in Lodge s w ith t he F r at e rn ity a ft e r
”
d u e app r en tic e shi p an d passi n g as F e llow Cr a fts .

“ ”
As early ev en as the ol de st Charge s p e rson s n ot
op e rative Mason s w e r e a dm itt ed to t h e Or d e r an d
”
wer e d e sign at ed by t h e ter m A c ce p t e d to d is ,

t in gu i sh them from t h e worki n g Ma son s for ma n y ,

o f thi s cl a s s w ere a t t r a c t e d to Ma s o n ry b y t h e m oral

The O r ig i n an d H ist or y f
o Fr eemason ry 1 53

pri n cipl e s an d p e rhaps t h e mysti c kn ow l e dge o f t h e

,

F r a t e r n ity Some o f th e s e w e r e me n o f l e a rn i n g an d
.
,

i t w a s th i s c l a s s u n doub t e dly th a t h a d m u c h to do
with t he r e con stru c ti on of t h e Ord e r The in t r od u c .

“ ”
t ion o f this Sp ecul at iv e m emb e rship ; th at i s those ,

who did n ot f o ll ow t h e tr ad e as a me an s of livelihood ,

p rov e d a m ost fortu n ate thi n g f or t h e pr e s e rv ation o f

”
t h e Or d e r at a ti m e w h e n t h e old Ch a r ge s h ad
p racti cally c e a s e d to be i n fl u en ti a l Ha d thi s n ot b e e n .

don e it i s d ou b t f u l i f t he In s t i t u tion o f F r ee ma s on ry
woul d h av e b een in e xist e n c e to d ay —
.

Sp e c ul ativ e Mason ry e xist e d as f ar bac k as t h e

“ ”
ol d e st Ch ar ge s b u t t h e prop o rtion w hi c h the Sp ec
,

u lat iv e el e m e n t bor e to t h e Op e r a tiv e i s n ot k n ow n .

F rom t h e f ew r ec ords w e h av e o f t h e 1 7t h cen tury . ,

it would s eem th at at t h at t i m e t h e gr ea t m aj ority w e r e

Sp ec ulativ e F r e ema son s altho u gh som e bod i e s w e r e
,

c hi e fly Op e r ativ e .

We l ea rn from re c ords th at A ppr en t i ce s

th e old

serv e d s ev en y ea rs an d th at b e i n g p a ss e d t o F e ll o w
,

Cr a fts d ep en d e d u pon the r e su l t o f an e x am i n ati on

a s t o th e ir op e r a tiv e skill an d lik e w is e t h e p a ssi n g
,

o f Fe llow Cr a f t s to Mast e r Ma son s O f cou rs e t his . ,

d i d n ot apply to t h e hon or a ry m embe rs A ppr e n ti c es .

w e r e m emb e rs an d e x e r c is e d all t he privil ege s a s su ch ,

j ust t h e s am e a s F e ll ow Cr a fts an d Mast e rs for at ,

th at ti me t h e s ep a r at e Mason i c d egr ee s had n ot c ome

i n t o e xist en ce Thr e e gr ade s or c l a ss es w er e r ecog
.

n iz e d,
bu t thi s d id n ot si gn i fy e sot e ri c st ages an d ,

we fin d n o i n ti m ation s of two or m or e d egr ee s b e i n g

“ ”
worke d b e for e t he r eviv al o f 1 71 7 .

By t he latter part of the 1 7t h c en tury Ma son ry in

En gl an d h ad be gu n to r e trogra de Th e So c i ety b ecame .
1 54 A n ci en t Myster i es an d M od er n Mason ry

so c ommerc ial that it a pp lie d m e r ely to selfish gai n ,

c a u s i n g som e w ho w er e m o re d e e p l y i n t ere st e d i n t h e
Or d e r to r ealiz e that somethi n g must be d on e to pre
v en t tot al e xti n ction o f the F r at e rn ity The t wo .

movi n g spirits w e r e D r A n d e rso n an d D r D e sagu lie r s

. .

an d a t their h an d s the Or d e r saw a c om p l e t e ch an ge

in 1 71 7 D uri n g th at y ear four Lod g e s met in L on

.

d on on J u n e 2 4 an d for m e d t h e pr emi e r Gran d Lo dg e

,

o f t h e Worl d This ho w ev e r d i d n ot i n clu d e t h e

.
, ,

Ma son i c bo dy at York Th e York Ma son s r e m a i n e d.

i n d e p en d en t an d f orme d in 1 72 5 a Gra n d Lo dge o f

,

th e ir own c all e d the Gra n d Lod ge o f all En gl an d

, .

This bo d y c on ti n u e d u n til 1 790 but it n e ver ch art e re d ,

L o dg e s outsi de o f En gl an d .

Dr . A n d erson an d Dr
togethe r w ith
. D e sagu lie r s,
oth e r old m e mb e rs c hos en for th e ir ability w e re d e s ,

ign at e d by t h e Or d e r to for m ul at e a n e w an d b e tt e r
me th o d o f t h e hi story c h a rg e s r egu l atio n s e t c
, As , ,
.

t h e r e sult o f th e ir w o rk we h a v e t h e F r ee an d A c

ce pt e d Ma s on ry fou n d e d on t he apoch r yphal legen d

,
“ ” “
o f Hiram an d the Symbolis m o f Solomon s Tem
,
’

p le.

In t h e form ation o f d egr e e s man y o f t h e c ustom s

o f th e an c i en t Myst e ri e s w e r e ad opt e d Th e third or .

Mast e r s D egre e b as ed upon t h e Hira m l eg en d

’
,
“ ”
,

ca m e in to u se ab out 1 72 3 in f ac t t h e w h ol e d egr e e , ,

syst em was t he work o f t h e R ec on st r uction ists .

Says D r .Mackey It i s n ow t he opi n i on o f t he

,

b est s c hol ars th a t the d ivision o f t h e Mason i c syst e m

,

i n to d egr e e s w as the work of t he Revivalist s o f t he

b e gi n n i n g o f t h e 1 8th c e n tury ; th at b e f ore t ha t perio d
th ere was b u t on e d egr ee or r ath e r on e c omm on p lat,
 1 56 A n ci e n t My ster i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

lows .
( History o f F r ee mason ry an d Con cor d ant
Or d ers p ,
.

The sym boli sm an d lege n d s a dop te d by t he R e

v ision is ts an d work e d i n to t h e d e gr ee s a r e chi e fly ,

those o f t h e A n cien t Mysteri e s The imm e d iate s ource .

fr om w hi ch this m aterial was d erive d is n ot d efi n i tely

kn ow n Ma n y h ave thought that the Recon st ruction
.

i st s d e riv e d it fro m the Rosic rucia n s an d Bacon s

’

“
New A tl an t is Mr Hu ghan says that W igst on s
. .
’

“ ”
b ooks on Baco n Sh ak e s p e are an d t he Rosicruci an s
,
“
an d F ra n c is Bac on Poet Proph e t an d Philoso p he r
, , ,

c o n t a i n Rosicru c ia n an d B a c o n i c i d e as w h i c h in flu ,

e n c e d the Ma so n ic R e co n st ructio n ists o f 1 71 7 He .

“
aga i n s ays that Th e N e w A tlan tis s e e m s to b e an d ,

prob ably i s t h e key to the m od er n ritual o f F ree

,

”
ma son ry ( Ibi d p XXXI )
.
, . .

Mason ry i s thorou ghly Herm e tic an d K abbalistic ,

an d t h e fra m ers o f th e se d e grees were evid e n tly Kab

b a li st i c a n d H erm e ti c p h il o soph ers a n d w el l ac ,

q u ai n t e d with a ll thes e wor k s an d other mystic w r it

i n gs
.

Mr Si n gleton 33 d d e gr ee Sec M W Gran d

.
, ,
. . .

Lod ge D istrict o f Columbi a says The Kabb al i sts

, , ,

w e re the i n v en tors of t he ri tuals of th e o r igi n al d e

gr e e s an d K abb a li sti c scholars in F r an ce an d Ger
,

ma n y hav e m ulti p li ed the d e grees by elab o r ati n g u p on

’
the l egen d s o f the first thr e e
‘
Ther e was origi n . .

ally in Sp eculative Mason ry b u t on e ritual w h ic h Was ,

very S i mpl e ; ou t o f th at on e t ru n k have grow n all

the b ran ch e s an d t h e fruit f rom t h es e b e ar s t he t e
,

s em b l an c e oi H e r m eti c i s m a n d th e Ka b b al ah .

The Thir d d e gree t h e Royal A rch an d t h e Sel ect o f

, ,
Th e O r i gi n an d Histor y f
o Fr eemason r y 1 57

2 7, ar e a ll desi gn e d to imitat e t he an c ie n t Mysteries .

( I bid p , .

Mr Moor e a lrea dy q uote d s ays Som e o f these

.
, , ,

r it e s woul d appear t o be d e rived from t h e H e r m e tic

p hilosophy o f t he German school o f whi ch n o p r oo f ,

e x ists ; b u t whe n philo soph e rs wit h others j oi n e d t he

, ,

Cr a ft L od ge s in t h e 1 7th c en tu ry t h ey may h ave in ,

t r od u c e d som e o f their H e rm e tic Ro sicrucia n symb ol s

in to Ma son ry ”
( I b i d.p , .

G en Pik e t h e e m in e n t A merica n Mason ic autho r

.
,
“
ity s ays t h at t o The m en of i n tellige n c e wh o b e
,

lon ge d to on e o f t he lodges in 1 71 7 i s to b e a scri be d ,

t he a uthorshi p o f t h e thir d d egr ee an d t h e i n trodu c tion

o f H e rm e tic an d oth e r sy mb ols i n to Mason ry ; they

f orme d t he thre e d e gr e e s for t h e p urpose o f commu n i

cati n g th e ir d octrin e s v e il e d by th e i r sym bols e x
,

c ep t to those fi t t e d t o r e ce ive th em an d to give ,

t o al l oth e rs trite mor al e xp l an ation s of them which

”
th ey c ould r ec e iv e The pl an was w ork e d ou t by these
.

R e con st ru ct ion ist s an d form ally a pprov e d an d ac

c ept e d in 1 72 3 b e com i n g k n ow n as the n e w c on st it u
,

’
tion an d i s t h e F r eemason ry o f to d ay ( A n d er son s
,
-
.

Con sti tu ti on s,

In a work c alle d Mason ry D iss e ct ed ap

1 730 ,

ea re d This pu rporte d t o b e a rev e l atio n o f F ree an d

p .

A cc ept e d Ma son ry A S the r e sul t o f this man y s p u r

.

ious Lo dge s wer e form ed The Gra n d Lo dge en .

d e av or ed t o th w a rt thi s by i n tro d uci n g certai n ch an ges

in t he pass wor d s e t c -
Th e se a l t e ratio n s c ause d
,
.

much d iss atis f action an d m an y w i t hdr e w f rom t he

,

r e gular Lo dg e s an d f orm e d Lodge s o f th e ir own .

Th e se sec e ders fi n ally form e d an i n dep en d en t bo dy in

1 58 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Ma d er n Mason ry

1 751 , an d a ssum e d the n am e A n ci en t York Maso n s .

T h ey c l ai m e d to hav e p res e rv e d t h e old form s th us —

“ ”
t h e n am e A n c i e n t an d the y cal le d t h e regul a r Gra n d
,

Lod ge the Mo d e r n s
“ ”
B oth Gra n d Lo dg es wer e
.

p ros p erou s an d e xt en de d t he ir i nflu en ce even i n to

A meric a thu s prod uci n g d iss en sion n ot on ly at h ome
,

but abroa d .The st ri fe b e t w e e n these two Gran d

Lo d ge s c on ti n u e d u n til 1 81 3 w h en a u n ion was e f
,

f e ct e d u n d e r t h e titl e o f t h e U n it e d Gra n d Lo d g e A .

um on was al so e ff ecte d in A m e rica thu s e n d i n g t he ,

s c hism an d to con stitut e a r e gul a r mod e o f w ork a

,

u n ion degr e e was ad opt e d Th e Gra n d Lod ge o f Ir e

.

l an d was for me d in 1 72 8 an d t he Gran d Lo dge o f

,

Scotla n d in 1 736 .

The re is n o u n i fo rm ity in the d egree system in

t h e d i ff e r e n t c ou n tri e s To t h e thr e e sy mb olic d e
.

gr e es others hav e b een a d de d from t i m e to ti me b u t

, ,

there has been n o un i for m ity in th e ir acc eptan c e Th e .

Royal A r c h a pp ear e d about 1 740 but by whom it was ,

fou n de d is n ot kn o wn though it is clea r ly o f E n glish

,

origi n The r e i s n o recor d o f its b ei n g work e d in

.

Ch apters u n til 1 762 w h en a c ha p t e r o f t h e Roy a l

,

A rch was for me d at York It b ec am e the fourth de

.

gr ee in t h e A n c i en t Gra n d Lo dge syst em Th e Mod “

.

”
ern s d id n ot r ec ogn i z e this d egr ee or ad opt it offi cially
u n til 1 767 Upon th e u n io n it becam e a p art o f the
.

E n glish Rit e .

The Ma rk d e gre e also origi n ated about t his t ime .

It was formerly c on f e rr e d in E n glan d u n d e r Roy al

A rch warra n ts but l at e r was gover n e d by an i n d e
,

p e n d en t Gr an d L od ge o f its own .

The Pa st Mast e r d egr e e is u n d oub te d ly on e of evo

lu t ion . It was origi n ally w ork e d in Cr a ft Mason ry ,
1 60 A n ci e n t My st e r i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

W ebb tri e d to Show th at h e h a d ad opt e d the tru e w ork

o f t h e A n c i e n t York Ma son s b u t it is w e ll kn ow n th at
,

t h e cl a im is w ithout fou n d ation .

In on clu d i n g this chapt e r we will giv e in or d e r

c

t h e v a ri o us d e gre e s th at c o n stitute t h e s t a n d a r d Ma
son i c work in this c ou n try .

Th e y a r e t he Symbolic degr ees o f t h e Blue Lo dge

E n t er e d A pp r e n ti ce Fe llow Cra ft an d Ma s t e r Ma son
, .

o f t he Roya l A rc h Ch apter
Th e Capitul a r d e gr e es
Mark Ma ster P ast Mast e r Most E xc e llen t Ma st e r
, ,

an d t he Roy a l A rch .

Th e C rypti c d egr ee s o f t h e Cou n cil Royal Mast e r —

,

Se l e c t Ma st e r an d Sup e r E x ce ll en t Master
-
.

Th e C hiv a lri c of t h e Com m an dry o f

d egr ee s
K n i gh t s T em pl a rs Kn i ght of t h e R e d Cross Kn i ght
—
,

T empl ar an d K n ight o f Ma lta an d ,

Th e Philosophic degr e e s o f t h e Sc ottish Rit e sys

t em d ivi d e d i n t o a Lo d ge of P e rf e c t io n a Cou n ci l
,
—
,

Pri n c e s o f J e ru s a l e m a Ch a pt e r o f Ros e C roix a

, ,

C ou n c il of K a d osh a Co n s i s tory a n d t h e Sup r e m e

,

Cou n c il .

Th e histo ry of the
Kn ights T e mplars wil l b e c on
si d e r e d in ou r n e xt l ec tu r e toge th e r w ith th at o f the
,

A n cie n t an d A cc e pte d Scottish Rit e .

 L E CTUR E IX .

T HE OR IG IN A ND H ISTORY OF T HE

KN IGHT S T E MPL A R S A N D T HE A N

CIE N T A N D A CCE PT E D SCOTT I SH

R IT E .

We will first con si de r t h e Military O rd e r of t h e

Kn ight s Tem plars o f t he Crus ad e s This or gan iz ation .

was ori gi n al ly ca ll e d t h e Or d e r of t h e Te mpl e an d ,

was fou n d e d in 1 1 1 8 1 1 1 9 A D by n i n e B en e di cti n e

-
. .
,

Mon k s who r e si de d in Mon ast e ri e s at J e r u s al em The

, .

obj e c t o f the Or d e r wa s t h e d e f en se o f the Holy Sep

u lch e r an d t h e prote ction o f the Chris t i an pil grims

who visit e d t he s ac r e d shri n e Th e holy pl ac e had

.

b een d e s ec r at e d an d t he Christi an s p e rs e cu t e d b y
both Sar acen an d Turk The Christi an Mon ks j oi n e d
.

t h e P a tri a r c h o f J e rus a l e m in gu a rdi n g t h e appr oac h

t o t he c ity an d liv e d u n d e r t h e B en e di c ti n e rul e fight
, ,

in g for t h e c aus e o f t he Ch u r c h The Patri ar c h as

. .

sign e d th em qu art e rs in t h e p al ac e o f t h e L ati n Ki n gs

o f J e rus al em som e ti mes c all e d Sol omon s T e mpl e
,
’

an d it wa s this th at gave t h e T e m pl a r n am e to t he

Or d e r.

T he n ew Or d e r r en d e re d v alian t se rv ice t o th e p il
ri m s a n d oth e rs i n n e e d ; t heir f am e spr ea d r apidly
g
an d th e i r ra n ks a s r apidly in c r ea s e d by r ec ruits from

t h e r e ligious frat e r n iti e s i n E ur op e members o f the ,

F r en c h n obility an d the n f rom a ll c lasse s of s oci e ty

,
.
 1 62 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

These rec r uits wer e o rgan i z e d by skill ful milit a ry

lea d e rs an d be for e lon g b e c ame re n ow n e d in th e art o f
war The Or d e r was stri ctly a reli giou s b od y an d
.

was compose d o f three class e s Kn ights Chapl ai n s -

,

an d Servi n g B roth e rs A c ou n cil wa s h e l d i n 1 1 2 8

.

to d e te rmi n e t h e st atutes o f the Or d er Rul e s o f d is .

ci plin e an d obligation s n umb er i ng sev e n ty t wo were

‘

a d op te d A t a l at e r d ate they w e re e lab orate d i n to a

.

more comp lete ritu al .

In ou r l ast le ctu re we men tion e d t ha t t he e arly

Tem p l a rs p ossess e d a secr e t d oc tri n e Th e e arly .

F reem a son s also tau ght in s e cret maki n g it d i ff i cult

,

t o t ra ce o n e w ithou t m e n ti o n i n g t h e oth e r I n e e d .

he r e on ly to r e call that t he secr e t sci en c e h ad p ass ed

a lon g fro m age to age u n ti l r ec e ive d by the Kn ights
,

T empl a rs A cc or d i n g t o the r e cor d o f the G e rm an

.

Lodges the Te m pl a rs rec eive d t h ei r mystic teachi n g

from c e rtai n Syri ac Christi an s bu t of w hat p a r ticul ar
,

d octri n e cult or or d er th e y d o n ot state

, P e r ha p s .

th ey w e r e m embers of t h e B rotherhood o f St J oh n .
,

which accor d i n g to th e Cologn e Rec or d p ossesse d a

, ,

mystic t e achi n g or p erhap s th ey were memb ers o f t he

Johann ian Ch risti an s ; agai n p e rhaps th es e t wo socie
,

ti e s may h av e b e e n o f the sa m e or a v e ry similar or

“
d er . The Johan ni te s we r e also calle d Ch ristian s o f
”
t h e E ast Th e r e i s a t ra d ition that t rac e s t h e secret
.

teach i n g o f t h e T emplar s t o t he Joh an n ites so it i s ,

mo r e tha n prob ab l e that the Syri ac Ch ristian s we r e

memb e r s o f this B r other hood .

T h i s t r a d ition as gi v e n b y G en Pike states t ha t

,
.
,

There e x iste d at t hat p e r io d in th e Ea st a sect o f

Joh ann ite Christian s who claime d t o be t h e on ly t rue
,

In itiates i n to t he real Mysteries o f t h e r eligion o f the

1 64 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

myst e riou s an d w hi c h he w ou ld n ot sho w an y on e ‘

for all t h e w orld ( G e hei m eleh r e d es Templh e rr e n

’
.

Or d ens p ,
. W J Mac L eod Moor e 3 3 r d d e gr e e
. .
, ,

“
in sp e aki n g o f t h e T e m pl e O rd e r s ays Th e ir R u l e rs
, ,

a rrogat e d to th e m s e lv e s a hi gher d e gr e e o f k n owl e d ge

in a ll thi n gs an d t au ght in th e i r s ec r e t c on c l a v e s
, ,

w h e r e n on e but t he m o st trust e d m em b e rs w e r e a d
mit t ed th at t he P ap a l p ow er was a f a ls e an d d an
,

g e r o u s a ssu m ptio n o f a u t hority o v e r the mi n d s a n d

c o n s c i en c e s o f m e n an d th a t v e ry m a n y o f t h e d ogm a s
,

o f Rom e w e r e gr o ss an d c hil d ish s u p e rsti t io n s Th e y .

a l so c u ltiv a t e d an d a ss e r t e d m or e libe ral vi e w s of

f a ith an d r e li gi on th an w e r e c u rr en t a t t he ti me b e ,

in g w e ll v e rs e d i n t h e Myst e ri e s l e ge n ds l e a r n i n g , ,

an d t r a ditio n s of t h e p e opl e s t h e y h ad com e in

c o n t ac t w ith in t h e E a st ( Histor y of F r e e ma son r y
.

an d Con cor d an t O r d e r s p , .

Th e vid en c e t h a t t h e e arly T em plar Or d e r po s

e

s e s s e d a s e c r e t d o c t ri n e b e i n g c o n c l u s iv e w e w il l ,

n o w r e t ur n t o t h e h i st o ri c a l d e v e l op m e n t .

T h e Or d e r spr ea d rapi d ly an d wa s soo n e s t ablish e d

in e v e ry ki n gdom o f La t i n Christ en d om Th e p a rt .

w hi c h t he T e mpl ars t o ok in t he Cru s ad e s i s too w e ll

kn ow n to n ee d r e it e r a tion for fr om t h at ti m e on t he
,

hist o ry o f t h e T em pl a rs w as t h e history o f t h e Cru

sa de s .

Wh en t he C rus ad e s t e r m i n at e d t he T e mpl a rs re
t ur n e d to th e ir n u m e rou s Pre c e ptori e s in E ur op e a s ,

t h e Or d e r wa s o f n o furth e r u se as a m ili t a ry bod y .

Th e ir gr e at w e al th an d p o w e r a rou s e d t h e j e alou sly

of Philip IV o f F r an c e w ho c ov et e d th e poss e ssi on s o f
. ,

t h e Or d e r an d t h e P o p e dis t ru st e d it s fi d e li t y to t h e
,

P apacy A b it t e r h a tr e d wa s e n gen d e r e d by m an y
'

.
O r ig n
i an d H ist or y f
o th e K . T
. an d A A . . S . R . 1 65

a cts o f in subordi n ation agai n st t h e ki n g s arbitr ary ’

a u t hority an d
, he set ab out t o work th e ir d e
struction ; t o this en d calu mn i e s of ev e ry d e s c rip t ion
wer e c irc ul ate d th e y w e r e ch arge d w ith h e r e sy an d
,

all m an n e r o f c ri m e s Philip en l ist e d t h e support o f

.

Pop e Cl em en t V w ho o w e d his p ap al tiar a to t he

.
,
’
Ki n g s gol d or i n fl u en c e an d t h e ov e rthrow was ,

bro u ght ab ou t T h e w ork o f s u ppre ssio n was t oo h ea rt

.

l e ss to r ec it e Man y w er e ca st i n to p ri son an d t or
.
,

f ur e d to c on f e ss c ri m e s o f w hi c h th ey w er e i gn o r an t ,

an d fi n a lly w er e bu rn e d t o d eath u p on f agots Th e .

Gr an d Ma ster D e Mol ai was seiz e d w hile in P aris

by sp eci al i n vita t ion o f Pop e Cl em en t c ast i n to pri son , ,

wh e r e h e was k ept sev en y ears an d at l ast t ak en out ,

an d bu rn e d at t h e st a k e O n May 2 1 3 1 2 Cl e m en t .
, ,

i ss u e d hi s f amous Bu ll tr an s f e rri n g t he e s t at e s o f t h e
T e mpl ars e x ce pt thos e in Sp ai n an d Portu gal to t he
, ,

K n i ght s o f St John . .

Th u s p e rish e d t h e Or d e r of t h e T empl e Wh at .

b ec am e of t he thou s an ds o f T e mpl ars up on t h e sup

pr e ssi on of t h e Ord er is n ot d e fi n i t e l y k n ow n Som e .

may h av e j o in e d t h e Ord e r of St J ohn o f J e ru s al em .

,

upon w hi c h t h e c on fis c at e d l an ds of t h e Te mpl ars had

b e en c on ferr e d an d some as alr eady i n ti m at e d may
, , ,

h av e t ak en r e fuge in t he Guil d s o f Ston e Mason s .

M an y r e j ec t this l att e r th e ory as b e i n g without

histori c fou n dation but W S P e rry 32 n d d egr e e ,
. . , ,

s a y s r e ga r d i n g t hi s W e d o n ot q u e s t i o n th i s st a t e
,

m en a st it st an ds History f a ils
. to r e c ord m u c h th a t
tu lly o urs m u h that s bs qu t s w o u ld
ac a cc c ,
u e e n a g e

h
g
l a d ly k n o w W e se e n o
.
r e a so n ho w e v e r f o r t e
, ,

ass e rtion so o f t en mad e

,
o f l t
a e y ea
'

rs t h a t a n y c o n
,

betw a C hiv lri Or d e r s u c h as t h e

n e c t ion ee n a c ,
 1 66 A n ci e n t My st e r ie s and M od ern Mason r y

Kn i ghts T em p l ars an d a fr at e rn i t y o f Op e rativ e Ma

,

s on s su c h as c e rt a i n ly e xist e d in Me di aev a l ti m e s
, ,

( I bid p 1 40 ) Mr
”
is out o f t he r an ge o f possibility .
, . . .

P e rry th en go e s on to ar gu e th at t h e Guilds w ere

k n ow n an d e v en employ e d by t h e Kn i ghts T empl a rs
in t h e c on stru c t ion of th e ir Ch u r c h e s Pr ec e ptori e s , ,

an d str on gh o l ds a ll ov e r E ur op e a n d t h e Ho l y L an d
, ,

an d w h e n th e y w e r e d e sp o il e d t hey w ou l d n atur a lly

se e k pr ot ec t ion am o n g the body w i t h w hi c h th e y h ad

a l r ea dy a c e r t a i n c on n ec ti on .

H en ry E Man n i n g Ca rdi n a l A r c hbishop o f West

.
,

“
m i n st e r s ays
,
A s f ar b ac k a s th e 1 2 th c en t u ry t h e
, ,

Lod ge s o f t he Gu ild en j oy e d t he sp e c i al pro t ec t i on

o f t h e K n i gh t s T e m pl a rs It i s ea sy i n this way t o
.

un d e rs t an d h ow t h e symbo li ca l a llu sion to Solom on an d

His T em pl e m i ght h av e p a ss e d from t h e Kn i ghts i n to
t h e Ma son ic for m ul a ry In this way t oo mi ght be
.
, ,

e xpl a i n e d how a ft e r t h e s u ppr e ssio n of t h e Ord e r o f

,

t h e T e m pl e s o me o f t h e rec al c i t ran t K n i ghts m a i n

, ,

t ai n i n g th e ir i n fl u e n c e ov e r t h e F r e e mason s w oul d be ,

abl e t o p e rv e rt w ha t hith e r t o h ad b e en a h a r m l e ss

c e r e m on y i n t o an e l ab o r at e ritu a l t h a t shoul d i m p a rt
”
som e of t h e e rrors o f t h e T e m pl a rs t o t h e In iti a t e d .

( I bi d p ,
.

This Catholi c w ri t er m ay k n o w w h e r e of h e sp eaks ,

a s i t i s g e n e r a ll y sup pos e d th a t C a th o l i c s ch ol a rs h a v e

a cc e ss to c e rt ai n r e c ords n ot acc e ssibl e t o oth e rs ,

t h e r e f o r e it is n ot i mpr ob abl e th a t t h e old Ord e r

,

c on ti n u e d to e xi st wit h i n t h e Guilds o f Ston e Ma so n s .

It is also s a id th at w h en th e ti m e came th a t th ey c oul d

s a f e ly pro c l a i m t h e c on ti n u an c e of th e ir Order th e y ,

i n stitu t e d t h e Rit e of Stri c t Obs e rv an ce an d prov e d

t h e ir gr atitu d e for t h e prot e ction aff or d e d by r e ce iv
1 68 A n ci en t Myster i es an d M od ern Mason ry

en ter e d t h e Mason i c Or d e r in 1 742 whe n at F ran k ,

fort on Mai n In t h e n e xt year h e is s ai d t o have

- -
.

e stab lishe d a Lo d ge at P a ris an d w hile stayi n g with

,

t h e F r en c h A r m y he b e cam e a cq uai n te d w ith t h e

h ea d s o f a Rite w h ich p rete n d ed to b e in its h igh e r ,

d egree s t h e con ti n uation o f the famou s Or d e r o f

,

K n i ghts T em p l a rs A ccor d i n g to his r e p eate d d ecla

.

r ation s m a i n t a i n e d e v en on his d e ath b e d he was r e

, ,

c e iv e d in to this Or de r in Paris b y Lor d Ki l m a r n ock

, , ,

Gr an d Master o f Scotl an d a Jacob it e n ob l e man on , ,

w hi ch o ccasion Lor d Cli ff or d act e d a s Prior He .

wa s pr e s en te d to a ve r y hi gh m e mbe r of t h e Or d e r a ,
‘
myst e riou s p e rso n age c all e d on ly t h e Kn ight o f t he
R e d F e ath e r Perha p s this wa s Prin c e Ch arl e s E d
’
.

w a r d hi m s e l f V on Hu n d su p pos e d h im to be the
.

Supr em e Gr an d Mast e r of the Ord e r an d wa s ap ,

poi n t e d by him coa d j ut or of the Sev en th Provi n c e o f

t h e Order ( G e rma n ia In f e r ior ) Hu n d visit e d Scot .

l an d also wh e re h e was bi d d en t o r ais e t h e Or d e r in

,

G e rm an y togeth e r with t he th en Master o f t h e Sev

,

en t h Provi n c e d e Mars c h a ll who m he a l w ays c on si d

, ,

e r e d his pr e d e ce ssor Mars c h all had f ou n d e d Lo d ge s

.

a t A lt en bur
g an d N au mbu r g b u t fo u n d o n ly in the ,

l att e r m en worthy o f b e i n g le d furth e r viz to b e r e , .

,

ce iv e d i n to t h e T e m pl a r d e gr e e s
”
( Th is i s a su mmary .

by Coop e r Oa kley i n Tr a ces o a Hid d en Tr a d i ti on ”

“
f
-

“
of an ar ti cle i n th e Tr an sa cti on s of L agge Q u a tar Ca
”
r an a ti Na .

R eghe llin i
s ays o f V on Hu n d ! In 1 756 t h e w a rs
h ad c au s e d t h e Prussi an
( Mason ic ) Lod ge s t o be
a b an d on ed Baron d e Hu n d who had receiv e d t he
.
,

Hi gh T emp lar s D egr e e in t he Ch ap t e r o f Cl e rmon t

’

at Pa ris on return in g to Be rli n decl a r e d t hat h e h ad

,
O r igi n an d H ist or y o f th e K . T . an d A A . . S . R . 1 69

be en r a is e d to t he d i gn ity o f Gr an d Master o f t he -

T em pl a rs by M Ma rsch all who ca l l e d hims e l f t he

.
,

s u c c e ssor o f t h e G G Mast e r T empl ars by u n in t e r

'

- o

r u pt e d tran s m ission from t he ti m e o f J ac qu e s de

Mol a i th a t Ma rs ch all on his d e ath b e d h ad d e l e gat e d -

this hi gh dign ity t o h im an d had d e cl a r e d h im hi s ,

su cc e ss o r ; tr an s m itti n g to him all hi s p ow e rs an d

di gn i t i e s He did n ot omit to giv e H u n d a list
.

of all t h e n am e s o f t he T em p l ar Gra n d Ma s
t e rs w h i c h m u st th e re for e h av e b e en a cu ri
,

ous c on tr ast to t h e list o f t h e Ord e r of t h e T emple

o f P a ri s Hun d p l ac e d hi m s e l f at t h e h ead o f the
.

G e r m an r e for m e rs ; h e p e rsu ad e d th em th at his Rite

w oul d r e sto re F r eem a so n ry to its an c i en t brilli an cy
an d its for m e r sp l en d or His p ri n c ipl e s w e re .

a lto ge th e r phil o s ophi c a l He m a i n t a i n s th at

.

th e s e Pon ti ff s ar e t h e on ly Pr i e sts of t he True Li gh t ,

t h e W o rship e rs of God an d t h e d is c ipl e s o f t h e pur e

,

” “
d oc tri n e s of J e su s an d o f J ohn ( Tr a ces of a Hi d .

”
d en Tradi ti on ,

In this co nn e c tion we n ee d to n ot e on e Joha n n A u

gu s t u s St a r c k a t eac h e r of Ori en t a l l an gu age s an d a
,

stud en t o f th e ology an d philosophy He h ad h e l d .

ma n y p u bli c positio n s am on g oth e rs th at o f i n t e r

,

p r e t e r of Ori en t al m an u s c r ipt at t he Roy al Libr a ry in

P a ris Mr s Coop e r O akl e y s ays St a r ck h e l d th at
. .
“
-
,

t he mysti c t ra dition s of t h e K n ight s T e m pl a rs d e ,

riv e d by th em from those still ol d e r frat e r n iti e s wit h

wh om th e y h a d c om e in c on t ac t in the E ast w e r e pre ,

s e rv e d am o n g t h e c l e ric als o f th at Or de r wh o h ad
c heris he d th e ir u n brok e n c o n ti n uity u n til his d ays an d ,

h e ann ou n ce d th at h e wa s in c o mm u n i c ation w it h
”
c e rt a i n Sup e ri ors or Chi e f s of t h e Or d e r
, ( Ibi d ,

p .
1 70 A n ci e n t My st e r ies an d M od e r n M ason r y

R .Gould a w e ll k n o w n E n gli s h au thori t y w ri t

F .
, ,
“
in g on t h e Stri c t Obs e rv an c e s ays On F ebru a ry , ,

1 7th 1 767 som e Mason s

, ,
c hi e f a mo n gst w ho m m ay
,

b e m e n tio n e d V on V e ge s ac k V on B oh n e n an d Sta rk , ,

f ou n d e d at Wis m a r t h e L od ge o f t h e Thr e e Li on s ‘
,
’

an d a t ta c h e d th e r e to a Sc ots Lo d ge
‘
Gustavu s o f t h e ,

G ol d en H am m e r Shortly a f t e r w a r d th ey a dd e d a
.
’

hi t h e rt o un kn o w n bo d y a Cl e ri cal Ch apt e r To , .

t h e s e br e t hr en we ar e i n d e b t e d f or t he hi storical fic
ti on [sic ! t h a t t h e Kn i ght s T em pl a rs w e re d ivi de d
i n t o m ilit ary an d s ace r d o t a l m e m be rs ; th at t h e l att e r
poss e ss e d a ll t h e s e c r e t s an d mysti c l e a rn i n g o f the
Ord e r ; an d th a t t h e y h ad pre s e rv e d a c on t i n u ou s e x
ist e n c e do w n to t h e e ight e en th c e n t u ry Sta rk
’

c l a i m e d t o b e t h e e m i ss a ry of th e s e C l e ri ca l T e m pl a rs ,

a ss e rt e d t hei r an d his own s u p e riority ov e r t h e

Secu l a r K n i ght s an d o ff e r e d on hi s c l a i m s b e in g ac
, ,

kn o w l ed ge d to i mp a rt th e i r v a lu abl e s ec r e t s t o V on
,

H u n d an d his dis c ipl e s St ark ( 1 741 1 8 1 6) wa s a .

-

stu d en t o f G otti n gen an d a v e ry l ear n e d m an an Ori

, ,

en t a l li n guist o f gr ea t a tt a i n m e n ts an d h a d h e ld sc i ,

e n t i fic a ppoi n tm en ts in St P e t e rsbu rg P a ri s Wis ma r

.
, ,

( Histor y of F r e e mason r y G ou ld V
”
an d e l s e w h e r e . .
, , ,

p .

Gou l d r ega rds St ark a s an i mpostor but lik e m an y ,

o t h e r m a t e ri a l i sti c c ri t i c s w ho r e j e c t t h e tr a di t io n he ,

off e rs n o proo f o f its f alsity ,

In reply to t h e c ritici sm th at the Kn i ghts T em pl a rs

c o u l d n ot h a v e c on ti n u e d t o e xi st for
43 8 y e a rs u h
kn o wn t o t h e outsi d e w orld St a r k s ays If he [D r , , .

B i e st e r ! h ad b e en som e wh at b e tter ac qu ai n t e d w ith

e c c l e si a sti c a l history h e w oul d h av e fou n d n or o n ly
,

on e b u t s e v e ra l r e li ious bo d i e s which u n d e r far m ore

, g ,
1 72 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d M ad er n Mason ry

Much mor e m i ght be s aid but this i s suffi c i en t to

,

show th at in t h e e arly d ay s o f the Mod e rn K n ights

T emp lars there w e r e m an y who r ec ogn iz e d t h e e x ist
e n c e o f the se cr et d octri n e .

As to the ori gi n o f the K n i ghts T e mp l a rs of to d ay -

,

an d th e ir conn e c tion w ith F r ee m a son ry v a ri ou s theo ,

ri e s h av e b een prop ose d So me conten d t hat t h e

.

mov em en t was the r e sult o f t h e n um e rous w orks of

t h e 1 7th an d 1 8th cen turies on oc c ult p h i losop hy an d ,

t h at upon th e d ispersion o f t he Or d er o f St Joh n an d .

t h e T e mpl a rs of Sc otl an d t he s e c r e t c e r e mon i e s an d

,

pri n c ipl e s w e r e obt ai n e d an d p romul gate d whi c h d i ,

r ect ly le d to t h e r e viv al of the Chiv alr ic Or d e rs u n d e r

t h e i mp re ssion tha t th ey w e r e of Mason i c origi n .

Oth e rs hol d th at t h e pr e s e n t Or d e r or i gi n at e d from

t h e Hi gh Gr ad e s of F r e em a so n ry t h e H e r m e ti c or , ,

Sc o ttish syst em an d w as gr a ft e d on t o F r ee m a son ry

,

by B aron Hu n d in 1 754 Fe w i f an y woul d m ai n

.
, ,

t ain to d ay th at t h e pr e se n t organ iz a tion o f Kn i ghts

—

'

T empl a rs i s a lin e al d e s ce n d an t of t he old Chiv alric

Ord e r Th e Kn i ghts T empl ars of t h e pr e s e n t in
.
,

c omm on w i t h Ma so n s in g en e r a l m ake n o c l ai m to,

m ys t i c k n o w l e d ge an d but f e w in t h e Ord e r even

,

k n ow th at s u c h a Wisdom s c i en ce e v e r e xist e d
-
.

Th e d egr e e s o f t h e A me rica n syst em o f t h e

Kn i ghts T e mpl a rs ar e t h e Kn i ght o f t h e R e d Cross ,

Kn i ght T e mpl a r an d K n i ght o f Malt a Th e R e d

, .

C ross is n ot e mbr ace d in t h e E n glish Con t i n en t a l or ,

Can a di an syst em s T h e T e mpl a r d egr e e s h av e be en

.

us e d in c on n ection with F r e em aso n ry for abo u t a cen

tury Says W J B Mac L eod M oore A lthou gh the
. . . .
“
,

T e mpl ar degr ee s have b e en in c on n ec tion w ith F r ee

m a so n ry for about a c en tury past it d o e s n ot follow ,
O r i gi n an d Hist ory f
o th e K . T . an d A . A S
. . R . 1 73

th at th ey pr e viously h ad an y su c h c on n e ction It was .

o n ly ab ou t tha t ti me or a f ew y ea rs e a rli e r th at t h e
, ,

e rror wa s m ad e in Gr eat B rit a i n an d I r e l an d o f a dd

in g t h e c hiv a lri c T e mpl a r Or d er to t h e Mason i c sys

( Hi stor y of F r ee mas on r y an d Con cor d an t
”
t e ms .

Or d er s p ,
.T h e T e mpl ar d egr e e s l ik e t h e oth e r ,

sid e d egr ee s w e r e first con f e rr e d u n d e r B l u e Lod ge

,

Wa rr an ts w hich si mp ly m e an s th at Mason s p o ss e ss
,

in g th o se d e gr ee s c am e toge th e r i n th e i r Lod ge s an d
w ork e d th em In t h e c ours e of t i me Ch ap t ers an d
.

E n c am p m en t s w e r e organ iz e d an d T e m pl aris m took ,

on a m or e i n d e p en d e n t an d p e r m an en t for m .

W e b e li e v e w i t h Mr M oore th at it w as an e rror to
.

m e r ge t he T e mpl a r d egr ee s i n to t h e Ma s o n i c syst e m .

In E n gl an d t h e T e m p l a r syst em h a s alw ays b een k e pt

s e p ar at e fro m t h e Cr a ft d e gr ee s T h e Roy al A rc h is .

th e r e c on sid e r e d t he c li max o f F r eema son ry Th e r e .

i s a ls o a di ff e r en c e d u e to t he f ac t th at the En gl ish
d e gr e e s ar e b a s e d u p on t h e old T e m pl a r c e r em on i e s ,

whil e t he A m e ri can syst em i s b as e d upon t h e c ra ft

d e gr e e s Thi s m ak e s t he A m e ri c an sys t em bro a d e r
.

an d m or e in h a r m on y with t h e spirit o f F r e e m a son ry ,

a l t hou gh i t is still p a r t ly s ec t a ri an This s ec t a ri an ism .

i s n ot i n acc or d with t h e an c i en t l an d m arks an d gen ius

o f Mason ry I f we h av e t h e ri ght to Ch risti an iz e
.

Mason ry so h ave Moslem s Bu d dhi st s an d all oth e r

, , ,

r e li giou s s ec ts a ri ght to tr an s for m it to fit their

,

c r e ed s ; su c h tr an s form at ion s an d li m it ation s d e priv e

Ma so n ry of its tr u e spi rit an d u n iv e rs al ch a ra cte r ,

a n d shoul d su c h a proc e ss b e c o m e gen er al Mason ry

its e l f w oul d soon b e d estr oy e d .

Th e T emp l a r syst em shoul d ha ve stood a lon e on its

own m e rits an d pri n c iples It shoul d hav e b e en le f t
.
1 74 A n cie n t Myster i es an d M od er n Mas on ry

as a s e ri es of sid e d e gr ee s for Ma son s prof e ssi n g

Th e v e ry n am e Mason i c Tem
“
Christi an p ri n c ipl e s .

”
la ri sm is a m is n ome r the s ectari an ch ar ac ter o f
p
—

th e on e is n ot in acc ord w i t h t h e u n iv e r sa l c h a ra ct e r
o f t h e oth e r This d ecl ar atio n doe s n ot ca s t an y r e
.

flec t ion u po n t h e T empl a r d e gr ee s ; in f ac t we c on ,

si d e r th em am on g t h e best an d m ost i n spi ri n g o f the

A m e ri can syste m ; howev e r we believe th e y should

,

h ave r emai n e d s eparated f rom a n on sectari an bo d y -

.

t o agai n qu ot e M r M oore
” “
It i s a m is ta k e , to con .
,

n ee t T e m pl a ris m w ith F r e ema so nr y .

F r e d e ri c Sp e e d ,
d e gr ee P ast R E Gran d
33rd . .

Comm an d e r Mis s i s o f t h e s am e opi n i on

, ,
He says .
,
“
If th en an ywh e r e th e d oor o f an y d egr e e is cl ose d
, ,

a gain st him w ho be li e v e s in o n e G od an d th e soul s

’

i mm ortality on ac coun t o f oth e r t e n ets o f his f a ith

, ,

t h at d egr ee is n ot F r e e m ason ry That t h e T e m p lar .

d egr e es [prop e rly ! form n o p art o f Masonr y we hav e ,

t h e d e c l a r a tion of t h e r e p u te d a uthor o f t h e A m e ri can

Ritu als Th om as Sm ith Webb w ho in 1 81 2 an d sev

, , , ,

e ral subs e q u en t e d i t ion s o f his F r eem ason s M o n itor

‘ ’ ’
,

s ays A l t hou gh the s ev e r al order s o f Kn ighthood are

,
‘

con fe rre d bot h in E urope an d Am e ri ca r eputed ly un der ,

t h e s an c tion of Maso n i c a ssem bli e s th ey co m p ose n o’ ‘

,

par t of t h e syst em o f F reem aso n ry He t e ll s u s .

’

th at in A m eri ca th e y ar e con f e rr e d as hon o ra ry d e

gr e es . Mr Sp ee d c on tin ues It i s ti m e for in t elli
.
“
,

ge n t Mason s to divest th e mselves o f the superl atively

ri di culous an d o f ten e x plod ed i d ea th at th e r e i s an y
co n n ection betw e en w hat we n ow kn ow as Tem p lar
ism an d t h e F r ate rn ity of F r e e an d A ccept ed Mason s ,

e x c ep t th a t whic h i s f oun d in t h e r estr icti on o f its

m emb e rshi p t o those who have fi rst received the sev
1 76 A n ci e n t My st e r i e s an d M od er n Mason r y

1 801 an d Rit e h as b ee n ca ll e d b y its pr e s e n t n ame

th e ,

A n c ie n t an d A cc ept e d Sc ottish Rit e si n ce t h a t d at e

, .

Th e Rit e is f o un d e d on t h e Sy m boli c d egr ees an d ,

is c on f e rr e d on ly on Mast e r Mason s It s d e gr e e s be .

g i n w ith t h e 4 t h a n d e x t en d t o t h e 33 r d Th e y are .

c on f e rr e d in subordi n at e bo d i e s as follo w s ! Th e
Lo dge o f P e r f e c t ion 4t h t o 1 4th i n clusiv e ; t h e Coun
—

c il o f Pri n c e s o f J e r u s a l e m 1 5t h a n d 1 6th ; the Ch ap

—

t e r o f R o s e C roix —
1 7t h an d 1 8th the Con sistory o f
Subli m e Pri n c e s of t h e Roy al Sec r e t l gt h to 3 zu d —

e x c e p t in t h e Sou t h e r n J urisdi c ti on w h e r e t h e 1 9th t o .

o t h d gr ee s c on sti t ut e a Cou n cil o f K a d o sh an d thei r

3 . e

Con sistory b e gi n s w i t h t h e 3 I st d e gr e e ; an d t h e Su
.

pr e m e Coun c il w hos e offi ce rs a r e A c tiv e 3 3 r d d e

,
.

gr e e Ma son s . Th e r e i s also an Ho n or ary 33 r d d egr e e .

c o n f e rr e d by t h e Su pr e m e Cou n c il a s a m e ri t f o r dis

t in gu i sh e d s e rvic e i n t h e F r a t ern ity .

Th e m o ral t e achi n g o f th e s e d egr e e s i s e x em plary

a n d t h e dr am a ti c e ff ec t o f t h e work is b e yo n d c om

p arison We h av e n e i t h e r ti m e n or sp ace t o c on si d e r
.

t h e syst em in d e t a i l b u t th e r e a r e c e rt a i n t eac hi n s
,
g
c on n ec t e d with so m e o f t h e d e r e e s t o w hi c h you r
g
sp ec i al att en tion is dir e ct e d W e r e f e r to those
.

w hi c h by s ome ar e thou gh t t o be se c t a ri an 1 11 c h ar ac
, ,

t e r an d t h e r e f o r e oppos e d to t h e ori i n a l pl an o f t h e
,
g
R econ struction ists to lay a broa d fou n datio n for t h e
—

c e r e m on i e s w hi c h w ou ld a d m it m en o f
a ll r e ligion s .

It is to be r egr e tt e d th at s u c h a c o sm opolit an b a sis

c ou l d n ot h av e be en m a i n t a i n e d .
O r igi n and H ist ory o f th e K . T . an d A A . . S . R . 1 77

ev en wh en appropri at e d by a Sp eci a l r e li gion for t h e y ,

ar e e sse n tially u n iv e rsa l an d belon g t o g e n e r a l r e

,

ligion .

To illust rate mor e fully D r Mack ey in sp ea ki n g , .

,

o f the Crypti c d e gr ee s w hich ar e b as e d u p on t h e le

,

“
gen d o f t h e Sac re d V ault s ays To support thi s le
, ,

gen d t her e is n o his t ori c e vi d en c e an d n o authority

ex ce pt th a t o f the T a l m udi c w ri t e r s It i s c lear ly a .

my t hica l sy mb ol an d as su c h we m ust a cce pt it

,
.

Lik e e v e ry oth e r myth an d a ll egory o f Ma

son ry t he historical r e l a tion m ay b e tru e
,
or it may ,

be fa lse ; it m ay be fou n d e d on fact or be t h e in v e n ,

tio n o f im agi n at io n ; th e lesso n is still th e re an d th e ,

”
sym bolis m t each e s it e x c lusive o f t h e history
, ( Eu .

cy clop e dia of F r e e mason r y p ,

.

G en Pike also emph a si z es thi s p ri n ci p le In Sp e a k

. .

in g of t h e l e ge n d upo n w hich t h e d egr ee o f t h e Royal

“
A rc h i s b a sed he sa ys
,
It is o f but little im p orta n ce
,

w he th e r it is in a n yw is e historic a l F or its value con .

si sts in t h e l e sson s w hi c h it i n cul cat e s an d t h e d uti e s ,

which it p re scri be s to those wh o recei v e i t The par .

abl e s an d a ll e gories o f t h e Scriptu res a r e n ot l e ss valu

abl e th an history Nay t hey ar e more so b ec aus e

.
, ,

a n c ien t history is little i n st ructiv e an d t ru t h s are con ,

c e a le d in an d sy m b olized by t he legen d an d t he Myth

”
.

( M or als and D ogma p , .

We shoul d b ear this f act in mi n d w h en we con

si d e r t h e d e gre e s o f t he Scot t i sh Rite especi a lly th at ,

o f t h e Ros e Cro i x Th e l egen d upon which thi s d e

.

gr e e i s b a se d i s purely sy mb oli cal an d as su c h c on ,

v e ys a gr an d truth Som e h ow ev e r h ave th o u ght

.
, ,

th at t h e d oct ri n e of this d egr e e e x c lu d e d the n on

Ch risti an whi c h sho w s h ow t h e p u rpose o f Mason ry
,

h as been mis un d e rstood .

1 78 A n ci e n t Myst e r ie s an d M a d er n Mason r y

G en . s p eaki n g o f the d egr ee s ays

Pik e ,
in No , ,

Mason ha s t h e ri ght to i n t e rp ret t he symbol s o f thi s

d e gr e e for an oth e r or t o r e fus e h im its myst e ri es i f
, ,

h e will n ot t ak e th e m w it h t h e e xpla n ati on an d com

” “
m e n tary su p er a d d e d A g a in h e s ays. E ac h o f u s ,

m ak e s su c h applic a tio n s t o hi s own faith an d cre e d

o f t he sy m bols an d c e r emon ies o f this d egr e e a s seem s ,

t o him prop e r
”
( M o r a
. ls an d D ogma Ch X VIII ) , . .

This is w ell s a id E very i n t e llige n t Ma son shou l d

.

m ak e a prot e st agai n st th e c ru d e an d an tiqu at e d e x

p l an ation s of t he sy mbols give n in thi s d egre e The .

d e gr ee its e l f i s n ot n ec e ss a rily sect ari an bu t t h e e x ,

p l an ation s a d opt e d in the wo r k are n ot o n ly s ectari an

an d u n Ma so n i c but t h e y b e lon g to a system of thi n gs
-
,

whi c h i n t e lligen t p eop l e are f ast l e avi n g b e hi n d .

L et me bri e fly sum m ari z e expla n ati on given by the

t h e au thority j u st quoted Th e cros s ha s be en a sa
.

c r e d sy m bo l fro m t h e e a rli e st an tiquity It i s fou n d .

upon al l t h e en d u ri n g mo n u m e n ts o f the w orl d ,

i n Egypt A s syri a In d i a Pe rsi a Me x ico etc

, , , It s , ,
.

peculi ar m ean i n g in thi s d egr e e i s th at give n t o it by

t h e an c i e n t E gypti an Thoth o r Ph th a who is r ep r e ,

sen t e d on t he ol d e st m on u m en ts c a rryi n g in h is h an d
t he C ru x An s a t a a tau cros s w it h a ri n g ov e r it
,
—
.

Thi s was t he hi e roglyph for li fe an d with a tri an gle ,

p re fixe d mean t li f e gi vi n g To u s t here f or e it i s

-
.
, ,

t he symbo l o f li f e o f th a t li fe that e ma n a t es from

,
—

D eity an d o f th a t E t e r n a l li f e f or which we hop e .

The Rose was an ci en tly sacre d t o A u rora an d the

Su n . It is a symbo l of d aw n o f t h e r e su rr e c ti on , ,

Li ght an d t he re n e wal o f Li f e The Cr oss an d Rose

,
.

togeth e r sign i fy hi e roglyphically t he D aw n o f E ter ,

n al Li f e an d the a dv en t o f a Saviou r for w h ich a ll

1 80 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

o f its illu m i n a tion ; but it s u n iv e rs a l ity i s its b oast .

In its l an gu ag e citiz en s o f every n ati on m ay c o n v e r s e ;

at its a lt a r m e n of all r e ligi o n s m ay k n e e l ; to its cr e e d
”
dis c ipl e s o f e v e ry f a ith m ay subscrib e ( Th e Sym
.

b olism of F r e e mason r y M ac k ey p, , .

We h av e d w e lt pon this d egr e e becau se o f t he

u

p ri n c ip l e i n volv e d The le gen d s u p on w hich this d e

.

r e e i s b a s e d whil e dr aw n from the N e w T e sta m e n t

g , ,

ar e a lso to b e fo u n d i n m an y oth e r worl d Scriptur e s ,

for th e sy mbolis m o f whi ch the re a l m ean i n g h a s b een

,

show n in ea rli e r l ec tur e s is u n iv e rs al Th e d egree

, .

its e l f is r ea l ly out o f pl ac e in t h e Sc ottish Rit e sys

t e m ; it should belon g in t h e T e mpl a r syst e m i f an y ,

w he r e .

To ag ai n q uot e G en Pike , We tea ch t h e t rut h o f

.

n on e o f t h e l e gen d s we r e cit e The y ar e t o u s but

.

p ar abl e s an d all e gori e s i n volvi n g an d en v e lopi n g Ma

,

so n i c i n stru c tio n ; t h e v e hicles o f us e fu l an d i n te r est

i n for mation . E v e ry on e b ei n g at lib e rty t o apply

our sym b o ls an d e mbl em s a s he t hi n ks m ost c on sist en t
”
w ith t ruth an d r eason an d w ith h i s own f aith . .

( Mor als an d D ogma p ,

. L e t e v e ry Sc ottish
Rit e Ma son b ea r this f act in mi n d ; an d it woul d be
w e ll for th e Kn i ght T emp l a r t o rem e mb e r thi s also ,

for t h e r e we h av e t h e s am e sy m bols an d the s am e

c ru d e i n t e rp r e t ati on o f th e m Th e se sym bo l s a s w e
.
,

h ave s e en r e f e r t o r e aliti e s in t h e d ivi n e li f e o f J e sus

, ,

r ath e r than t o t h e i n c i d e n ts in his physi cal e x per i

en c e s.
.

In t h e ea rly d ays o f t h e Sc ottish Rite t he system

was f u ll o f gr o t e sq u e an d i n c on gruous thi n gs of c on ,

t ra d ict ion s an d f an tastic e x trav agan c e s The Su .

pr em e Cou n c il o f t he South e rn J uri s d i ction o f the

O rigi n and Hist ory f
o th e K . T
. an d A A
. . S . R . 1 81

U n it e d St at e s at l en gt h u n d e rtoo k t he t ask of r evisi n g

t h e work o f t h e thirty d e gr ee s u n d e r it s j urisdiction ,

bu t whil e this was d on e with c on si d e r ab l e su ccess

th e r e a r e still an ac hron is m s an d con tr adiction s which
Sh oul d be elimi n a ted t o m ake t h e syst em h a rm on iou s .

The moral tea c hi n g o f all t h e Rit e s is e xcell en t .

On e w ho lives up to t he st an d ard i n c ulcate d in t h e

Sc ottish Rite d egr ees w ill fulfil every d em an d m ad e
by t he strict est cod e o f m ora lity .
 LE CTUR E X .

T HE SY MB OL S AzN D L E G E N D S OF
MA SON RY .

The r eal secret s of Ma son ry lie c on c ea led in its

sy mbo l s an d l egen ds .

Th e s e symbols an d l egen d s ar e t h e mean s by whi c h

t h e divi n e truths of Ma so n ry a re con v ey e d to t h en eo
p hyt e Thi s wa s t he m ethod o f i n stru c t ion in t he A n
.
.

c i e n t Myst e ri e s an d i t was n atu r a lly a d op t e d i n the

,
“
i n stit u ti on of F r ee ma s on ry To form symbols an d
.

”
to i n t e rpret th em s ays Cr eu z e r were the m a i n oc
, ,
”
c u pat ion s of t h e an c i e n t pri e sth oo d an d t h e m yths ,

w e r e i n v en t e d to i llustra t e a ph ilOSOph ic or r e li gious

truth .

Dr Ma c key a ft e r dis c u ssi n g the q u e stion of myt h s

.
, ,
“
s ays It must b e e vid en t fro m all th at h as b e e n s ai d
, ,

r e s p e cti n g t he an a logy in origi n an d d esign betw een

t h e Ma s on ic an d the an cie n t r e ligiou s m yths that n o ,

on e ac qu a in t e d w ith t he tru e sci en c e of this su b j ect

c an ,
f or a m om en t c on t en d th a t all t h e l ege n ds an d
,

tr ad ition s of t h e order ar e to t h e v e ry l etter h istor

, ,

( Symb olism of F r e emason ry Mack ey p

”
i cal f ac ts .
, , .

He giv e s as an illu st r ation of this t h e myt h

“
o f t h e Wi n di n g St a irs which h e s ays tak en in its
, , ,

li t e ral s en s e is in all its parts op p ose d t o histo ry an d

, , ,
”
p robabili ty .

A ga i n , h e c alls att en tion to t he m y t h w hich tr ace s

the ori gin o f F r eem a son ry to t he be gi n n i n g o f t he
1 84 A n ci en t Myst er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

in g they ar e bu t m e r e chil d s pl ay He mu st study the

’
.

m yths t h e tra diti on s an d t h e symbols o f t h e or d er

, , ,

an d l ea rn t h e ir tru e i n t e r p retatio n ; for thi s alo n e c on

st it u t e s the s c i e n c e an d t h e philos op hy t h e en d aim

—
, ,

an d d e si gn of Sp ec ulative Maso n ry ( Ibid p 2 1 2

.
,
.
,

T he s e d e ep e r thi n gs as D r Mackey i n timates are

, .
,

n ot f ou n d in t h e m on itori a l e xpla n ati on s J D B uck

”

. . .
,

a 3 2 n d d e gr e e Ma son in his wo n d e r fu l boo k on My s

,

t ic Ma so n ry says
“
, ,
Th e most profoun d s e crets o f
Mason ry ar e n ot r eveale d in the Lod ge at al l They .

belon g on ly to the f ew Bu t thes e sec rets must

.

b e sought by the i n d ivi d u a l himsel f an d t h e can di d ate

,

is d ebarre d from pos sessi n g them solely by his own

i n att en ti on to t he hi n ts e v ery w her e gi v en in t h e ritual
o f t h e Lodge or by his i n di ff e r en ce t o t h e subj e ct I f
,

he p r e f e rs t o treat the w hole subj e c t with con t e m p t ,

an d to d e n y that an y su c h r ea l k n owe d ge e x 1 st s it ,

becom e s ev i d en t that h e n ot on ly c loses t h e d oor

aga i n st t he p ossibility o f himsel f p ossessin g such
kn ow l e dge but h e also be comes imp erv ious t o an y
,

e vi d en ce o f i t s e xisten c e t h at might com e t o him at

an y time . He has n o on e but hims e l f to blame if h e

( Mystic Mason ry B u ck p
”
is le ft in d arkn e ss .
, , .

XXX VI ) .

The ritual an d m on ito ri al l es son s o f the Lod ge

teach n ot h i n g n ew an d t he e xplan a tion s o f t h e sym
,

bols ar e often p u e rile an d i n ad e qu ate G en Pik e . .

“
s ays Ther e i s n o sight u n d er th e su n more piti ful
,

an d lu d icrou s at on c e than t h e s p e c t acl e o f t h e Pr e s

,

ton s an d t he Webbs n ot to me n tion the lat e r in car

,

n atio n s of Du ll n ess an d Commoplace u n d ertakin g ,

t o e xpl ai n the old symb ols of Mason ry an d a dd i n g t o

‘ ’

,
Th e Sy mb ols an d L eg en ds of Mason ry 1 85

an d imp rovi n g th em or i n v en ti n g n ew on es To t h e
‘ ’

,
.

Ci rcl e e n c losi n g t h e c en tr a l poi n t an d it sel f t race d b e

,

tw ee n t wo par all e l li n e s a fi gu re pur e ly Kabb a listi c ;

,

th e se p erson s h ave ad d e d th e super i m pose d B ib l e an d -

,

even r ea re d on that t he lad de r with thre e or n in e

rou n d s an d the n give n a v api d i n t erpretatio n o f t h e
whol e so p ro fou n dly absu rd as a c tu a lly to e x c it e ad
,

( Mor als a n d D ogma P i ke p

”
mi ration .
, , .

The e x ege sis i s al so o ft e n cru de This is n ot .

stran ge a s th e ritu al wa s writte n be for e t h e d ays of

,

mod e rn B iblical s c hola rship an d p erh aps it would be

,

wel l i f t h e r itual were revis e d Th e s e imm atur e con.

cept i on s c ou l d b e elimi n at e d without a ff ecti n g t h e

mean i n g an d beauty o f t h e ce remon i e s Howev e r i f .
,

we b e a r in m i n d th at Ma son ry d oes n ot i n d ors e its

l egen ds as lit e ra l f ac ts n o ha r m can b e d on e
,
.

W e w ill n ow c on sid e r some o f t h e symbols an d

myt h s o f th e F rat e rn ity .

TH E LODG E .

The Lod ge rep r esen ts Kin g Solomon s Templ e ’

.

The templ e i s a sym b ol ic i m age o f the un iverse an d ,

as such is sy m boli c in all its p arts an d a rran ge men ts ,

there for e t he t emp l e o f Solomon resemb l e s all t h e

,

templ e s of an ti quity that prac tic e d the Myster ies .

Th e Heb re w s like other peoples m ad e much o f t he

, ,

system o f n umbers to c on v e y th e i r hi d d en me an i n g .

Th e Holy o f Holi e s form ed a cu b e conr e spon d in g t o ,

t h e n u mb e r four which r e p re sen ts man i feste d n a tur e

, ,

while t h e th ree si d es or f aces o f the figur e w h en ,

d r a wn on a p lan e sur f ace r e pr e s en t e d t h e D e ity t h e

, ,

t h r ee asp e cts o f Will Wis d om an d A ctivity ( In t e lli

,

gen ce ) E ve rythi n g wit h i n t he tem pl e was symbolic

.
1 86
A n ci e n t My st e r i e s an d M od er n Mason ry

a lly a rr an ge d Th e c eili n g su pp ort e d by t w elv e col

. ,

u mn s rep r e s en te d t h e tw e lv e mo n ths of the ye r the

a
,

bord er s arou n d t he c olu mn s an d t h e can dl e st i c k with

t h e t w e lve li ghts r e p r e s e n t e d t h e t w e lv e si gn s o f t h e
zodi ac ; the s even li ghts the s e ve n p l an e ts ; the veils o f
,

fou r c olors r epr e s en t ed the four e le m e n ts e t c In t h e ,

.

R oyal A rc h D egr ee o f t h e Am e ri can Rit e the Tab ,

e r n ac le h as four v e ils o f d i ff e r e n t c olors to e ach of ,

whi c h b elon gs a b ann e r an d on each b an n e r i s ih

scri b e d on e o i t h e f our i m ages ; th e B ull the Lion , ,

t h e Man t h e E agl e
,
Th e s e con st e llation s an sw e r e d
.

to t h e e qu atori a l an d solstiti al p oi n ts of 2 500 y e a rs

B C
. . Th e four si gn s T au rus L eo Sc orpio an d , , ,

A qu a rius w e re t e r m e d t h e fixe d si gn s an d ar e as
, ,

si gn ed to t h e fou r v e ils Th e Su n en ter e d T auru s at

.

the v e r n al equi n o x L eo at t h e Summ er sol stice Seor

, ,

pio at t h e autu mn al e qui n ox ( for w hi c h on a ccoun t ,

of its m ali gn an t i n flu en c e A quill a t h e e agle was su b

, ,

stitut e d ) an d A qu a riu s at the wi n t e r solstice

,
.

E v e ry t e m pl e was a r e p r e s en t ati on of t h e u n ive r se ,

an d in th e m t h e gr e a t lights o f N atu re p l ay e d an im

port an t p art Th e i mage s of the Su n Mo on an d

.
, ,

Me r cury wer e rep r e s en t e d an d e v en in our Lod ge

,

room s th ey c on stitut e the thr ee li ghts e x c ep t th at for ,

Me rc u ry t h e Ma st e r o f t h e L od ge h as b e en su b sti
t u ted. E us ebiu s t e lls u s th a t t h e offic ers of the E leu
si n i an My st e ri es w e re t h e Hi e roph an t r e pr e s en ti n g ,

the Gr eat A r c hit e ct o f t h e U n iv e rse ; the torch b ea re r -

,

r epr e s en ti n g the Su n ; t h e alta r b e are r r e pr e se n ti n g

-
,

t h e Mo on ; an d t h e s acr e d he ra l d repres en t i n g M e r
,

cury The l atter wa s ch arge d with e x clu d i n g t he pro

.

fan e from the Myst e ri e s .

Ev e ry Lod ge , as we hav e s ai d repr esen ts

, t h e Tem
1 88 A n cien t Myst e r i es an d M od er n Mason ry

( 2 ) The Squ a r e an d Compasses Th e s e symbols .

a r e p e rh aps t h e m ost fam il i a r to t h e gen e r a l publi c of

an y in M ason ry I n ee d n ot d w e ll on t h e l e sso n s in
.

mor ality whi c h t h e s qu ar e an d com p a sses t eac h Ma .

son ry is how e v e r som e thi n g m ore t h an a syst em o f

, ,

mora lity an d it i s thi s in n er si gn ifi can ce th at I h av e

,

e n d e avor e d t o se t forth .

Th e r e is a scie n ce an d philos op hy c on c e al e d in th e se
“
symbols whi c h D r B u c k ex p l ai n s a s f ollow s ! T h e
.

Squ a r e wit h its on e ri ght an gle an d i t s s ca le of m e as

u r e men t s ap pli e s to sur f ac e s an d solids an d d e a ls ,

with t h e ap p a re n t ly fixe d stat e s of matter It repr e .

se n ts solida rity symm e try an d proportion ; an d this in

,

volves t he sci en ces o f arit hm e tic an d geom etry The .

Compasses with move ab le a n gl e set i n the Lod ge at an

ang le of 60 d egre es app lie s t o t h e c ircle an d t he
,

sphere ; to mov emen t s an d r ev oluti on s In a ge n eral .

se n se t he s qu a r e i s a symbol of m atter an d t h e e ar th ;
,

t h e Comp a ss e s o f Spirit a n d t h e h e aven s ( Mysti c .

Mason ry B u ck p , , .

Th e position o f t h e Squ ar e an d Com p as se s i n d icate s

t h e progr e ss of t he c an di d a t e from En t er e d A ppren
tic e t o th at o f Mas t e r Mason .

TH E ORNA ME N T S .

The Orn am en ts of a Lod ge ar e t h e Mosaic Pave

men t t he In d en t e d T e sse l an d t h e B laz i n g Sta r
, , .

The Mosai c Pavemen t is sup p os ed t o re p resen t t he

grou n d fl oor o f Ki n g Solomon s T empl e ; th e In d en ted
’

Tesse l the b or d er or skirtin g surrou n d i n g it T h e r e

, .

1 5 n o evi d en ce that eit he r e x ist ed in the an cie n t t e m

ple b u t t he symb ol i s sign ifica n t as i t d en otes th e

,

check ere d c ou rse o f li fe also the t wo oppo sin g p r i n

,
Th e Sy mb ols an d L egen d s of Mason ry 1 89

c iples N ature Li ght an d D arkn e ss Mich ae l an d

in ,
-
,

Satan B al d e r an d Loki Ormuz d an d Ah rim an e t c

, , , .

The B l a zi n g St ar a lso repr e s e n ts these tw o pri n ci

p l e s I f t he p oi n t i s tu rn ed up w a r d it repr e s e n ts G od
. ,

G ood Ord e r or t h e Lamb o f Or muz d an d St Joh n ;

, , .

i f the p oin t is t u rn ed d own w a r d it d en ot e s Lu c i f e r ,

E vil D isor d e r or t h e accu rs e d Goat of Men d e s an d

, ,

t he Mysteri e s The B lazi n g St a r or P e n t agra m a lso

.

r e pres en ts t he human bod y t he fiv e p o i n ts r epr e ,

—

se n ti n g t h e f ou r li mbs an d h ea d It is thu s call e d t he .

S ign o f t h e Mi c roc osm A ll the Myst e ri e s o f Magic

.

w e r e s ai d t o be summ e d u p in thi s sy mbol P arace l .

‘

sus pron ou n c e s it the greatest an d most p oten t of all

sign s .

TH E ALL SEEI NG E Y E .

This symbo l in t he A n c i en t Myst e ries i n d ic ate d the

, ,

si ght th at an n ul s ti m e an d sp ac e Thi s is t he sy mb ol .

o f t h e high e r c l a i rvoy an c e The Ma st e r a lw ays pos

.

s e ssed thi s si ght In In d i a this A ll See i n g Eye w as

.

ca ll e d the Ey e o f Siva T h e E gy p tia n s r e pr e s e n t e d

.

Osiris by th e sy mbol o f an op e n e ye an d pl ac e d this ,

hi e roglyphic o f him in all th e i r t empl e s In t he Lod ge .

t h e A ll See i n g E ye r e pres en ts t h e O mn i sc e n ce o f G od ,

—
Th e E ye th at n ev e r sle e p s It m ay a lso r e pr e s e n t.
,

as in the An cie n t Myste r ies t he higher vison , .

TH E L ETTER G .

This lett e r is t he n atur al symbol amon g E n glish

sp eaki n g peopl e for God It is a substitut e in A m e ri
.

c an Lod ge s for t h e He b r e w Y od w hi c h is t he Kab ,

b alist ic sym b ol f or u n ity In F ran ce t he l etter Yod

.

i s put in th e B l az i n g St ar .
1 90 A n ci e n t My st e r i es an d M od er n Ma son ry

C LA S P ED HAND S
TH E .

Thi s symbol wa s u s e d by Py t hag o r as an d r e p t e

s e n t e d t h e s ac r e d n u m be r t en t h e n u m be r e xp r e ss ed
—

by t he myst e rious Tetr ac tys This fi gu r e wa s r e pr e

.

s en t e d in t he form o f t h e t ri an gl e Th e H ebr e w s .

form e d it with t h e l e t t e rs o f t h e D ivi n e N am e B oth .

Pyth agora s an d t h e H ebr ew pri e sts bo rrow e d t h e fig

u r e from t h e s ac r e d s c i e n c e of E gypt .

TH E T R I ANGLE A ND DOU B L E T R I ANGL E .

A ll t h e na tiqu i t y con sid e red t he trian gl e

tion s o f an

as s ac r e d It was on e of t h e m ost c omm on sy m bo ls

.

for t h e D eity Th e thr e e sid e s typi fy t h e thr ee as

.

pe c t s of God Will —
Wisdom a,
n d I n tellige n c e H e re .

we h av e t h e Tri n ity in Un ity .

Th e d oubl e tri an gle i n terl ace d symboli z es the m an i

,

f e st e d u n iv e rse the u n ion o f spirit an d ma t t e r

—
Th e .

tri an gl e poin ti n g up w ard is spirit or fire ; the on e poi n t

in g dow n w a rd is m a tt e r or w a t e r O n e r epr e s e n t s .

t h e d e s cen t o f s p irit i n to m att e r the other the a sc en t

,

o f m att e r to spirit Th e un ion o f t h e two in the

.
,

m an i f e s t e d u n iv e rs e is i n sep a r abl e
, Thi s d ou b l e tri.

an gl e is us e d in In di a t o sy m b o liz e t w o Hi n d u Go d s
,

or r ather t he two asp ec ts o f Ishv ar a Siv a an d V ish —

nu . It a lso r ep r e s en ts t h e six poi n ts t h e sen ary , ,

which with t he poi n t in the c en ter i s the sept in ary .

TH E L I GH T .

Th e re are thre e gr eat e r an d thr ee lesser li ghts in

Ma son ry an d thou gh t h e ritu al does n ot gi ve an y ex
,

pl an ation o f th e s e symbols th e re i s an import an t ,

me an i n g c o n n e ct e d with th e m The Su n i s an an c i en t
.

sym bol of t he Logos it sign ifi e s the mal e a spect the

—

,
1 92 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Mod er n Mason r y

says that The e rror aros e from t h e ign or an ce o f thos e

i n v en tors who first en grave d the m a s on ic sy mbols for
our m on itors The la d d er of Mason ry like t h e e q ui
. ,

poll en t l ad de rs of its ki n d re d i n stitutio n s a lw ays h ad ,

s ev en st eps although in m o de rn tim e s t h e thr e e p ri n

,

c ip al or upp e r on es are alon e allu d e d to Th e se .

rou n ds b egi n n i n g at t h e lo w e st are T e mp e r an ce For

, , ,

”
t it u d e P r u d en c e Ju sti c e F a ith H 0pe an d Ch a rity
, , , , ,
.

( T h e S y m b olism o f F r e e mason r y M ac k ey p , ,
.

Th e applic a t i on of th e s e virtues how e ver is a later , ,

a d d ition to symbolis m .

Th e s e v en rou n d s ar e a ls o e mbl e mati c al of th e sev e n

p l an es o f the u n iv e rse physical astral m en t al —
, ,

bud d hi c at m ic an u pa d ik a an d adi t h e s e v e n an cien t

, ,

e l e me n ts e art h w ater fire ai r e ther an d two u n

—
, , , , ,

n am e d ; t h e s e ve n su b plan e s o f t h e a stra l worl d

astra l soli d liqui d gas eous eth e ri c super etheric sub
, , , ,
-
,

atomi c an d atomic ; t he seven met a ls lead q uic k

,
—
,

silver copp e r t in iron silv e r an d gol d ; the s eve n

, , , , ,

colors b l ack purpl e gr ee n blue r e d whit e an d ye l

—
, , , , , ,

lo w ; t he seven ston es d iamon d am ethyst em e r al d —

, , ,

s apphire ruby p e arl an d topa z ; t h e s e v en an ci en t

, , ,

pla n e t s Saturn Merc ury V en us J upiter Mars Lu n a

—
, , , , ,

an d Sol T hus t he seve n st e ppe d l ad d e r h ad v a rious

.
-

a p pli ca ti on s an d c orres p o n d en ce s It s p r e s e n c e in the .

Mason ic i n stitution s is e vi d en c e o f the clo se a n alogy

b et w ee n F re e m ason ry an d the A n c i en t Mysteri e s .

R I GH T ANGLED T R I A N GL E
TH E ,

OR T H E 47T H P RO B L E M O F E U C L I D .

This i s o f t he most i mport an t symbols o f an

on e

t iqu it y T he p e rp e n d i c ul ar li n e w hos e m ea suremen t

.
,

is 3 rep res en ts th e activ e mal e p ri n c ipl e ; t h e b ase

, ,
Th e Sy mb ols an d L egen ds of Mason ry 1 93

li n e whos e m ea sur em en t is 4 r epr e s en t s t h e p a ssive

, , ,

f em al e p ri n c ipl e ; an d th e ir un ion or t he a ddition o f ,

t h e squ a r e s o f th e s e n u m bers w ill prod uc e a squ a r e ,

whos e root will be t h e h ypot h en eu se a li n e m e as ,

—

u r e d by 5 an d re p r e s en ti n g t he u n iv e rs e Th e s q u a r e .

o f t h e p e rp e n di c ul a r an d b as e t h e s qu a re
,

root o f w hi c h i s 5 t he n u mb e r o f t h e hypothen eu se
, .

It wa s t a u ght in a ll t h e Myst er i e s th a t t h e u n ion o f

t h e m al e an d f e m al e p ri n c ipl e s o f N a tu r e pr o d u ce d
t h e u n iv e rs e Thi s is t h e oc cult m e an i n g o f t h e 47t h
.

probl e m o f E u c lid t he sum o f t h e sq u a r e s of t he pe r

—

p en di cu la r a n d b a s e o f a ri g ht a n gl e tri an gl e e q ls
u a

t h e squ a r e o f t he h ypot h en eu se This is a symbol o f .

p er f ec t proportion b e t w ee n n umb e r an d for m s ; b e

tw e en Spirit an d m att e r .

Th e thr e e sid e s o f t h e tri an gl e b e a r t h e p roportio n s ,

a s we h ave s e en o f 3 4 an d 5 an d
, , ,
or ,

also 50 Thu s t he n u mber .

5 0 i s b a s e d o n t h e p rop o rtion o f t h e si d e s of the ri ht

g
a n gl e d tri an gl e .

Phil o sp e aks o f two s e ri e s w hi c h h e c alls tri an gl e s ,

a n d squ a r e s ; n am e ly 1 3 6 1 0
,
and 1 4 9 1 6
, , ,
With , , ,
.

r egard t o t h e tri an gl e s e ri e s it i s 1n t e re st
in g to n ote th at an d

In t h e s q u a re s e ri e s 1 4 9 1 6 ; , , , ,

an d
-
2
—

4
an d w as a sa
an d 2 0 + 3o =50 ; 50
cred n u mber an d was d e riv e d fr om t he r igh t an gl e d
,

tri an gle Th e gr e at e st J ewish f e stival ( Jubile e ) took

.

p la ce every fi f ty years .

T H E LA M B S K I N OR W H I T E LE AT H E R A P RO N
- .

In t he A n ci e n t Mysteries t he i n vestiture o f t he
A pron form e d an e ss en tial pa r t o f t he ce r em on y o f
1 94 A n ci en t Myste r i es an d Mod er n Mason r y

In itiation . Th e A p ron White Robe were symbols

an d

o f p urity . In Persia t h e i n v e stit u r e was e x ce e d i n gly

i mposi n g The can d i d ate havi n g t ak en t he oa th o f
.

secre cy was giv en the in sign i a o f t h e Or d e r the

,
—

Girdl e t h e Ti ara t he White A pron an d t h e Purpl e

, ,

Tu n ic The J ap an e s e ca n di d at e wa s also cloth e d in

.

c e rt ai n Garm en ts which c on siste d o f a Loose Tu n ic an d

White A p r on boun d rou n d th e loi n s with a gir d le In .

the d egr e e o f holi n ess p ractice d by the Ph arise e s t he

“ ”
n ovi c i a te was also gi v en an A p r on as a symb ol o f
purity The E s sen es an d D rui d s in veste d th e i r can
.

d i dat e s with a White Rob e an d t h e Sc a n d i n avi an s gave

-
,

the ca n d i date a White Sh ield In all these ceremon ies

.

wh atev e r the mater i al or form t h e symbo lic sign ifi ,

c an ce was alw ays t he sam e The White A p ron o f .

Maso n ry was d e rive d f rom these an cie n t c e r emon ies ,

an d is on e o f t h e m ost S ign ifi can t sym b ol s i n our O r

“ ”
d er ; t h e color Whit e havi n g b e en an em b lem o f
Li ght an d Purity from t ime immemorial .

The sh ap e an d combi n ation o f t he Mas on ic A p ron

i s th at o f a tr i an gl e over l app i n g a squ a re re p rese n t ,

in g the occult s ept en ary n ature o f man The t rian gle .

sym boli z e s s p irit or the t hr e e highe st p ri n ciples ; t he

,

squar e or qu atern ary t he f ou r lowest Each p ri n .

c iple is c orre late d t o a pla n e a rou n d an d a r ace

, Th e .

Spiritu al tr i ad is t h e s p i r itual bod y o f St P aul an d .

,

the quate rn a ry t he n atural b od y The tr ia d whic h is

.
,

t he immortal p art of man co n tai n s p ote n tially all t he

,

p owers o f D ivi n ity ; an d to d evelo p these laten t att ri

b utes it must d esce n d i n to matte r t he trian le must
g
—

i n ca rn ate in t he s quare Th is is re p rese n te d in Mason ry

.

by the d egr ee o f En te r e d A p p r e n tice an d is sym b ol

,

iz ed by t he way in w hic h t he A pp r e n tice is taught t o

1 96 A n ci en t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

thi n g sy mbo liz e d but Ma son ry in m aki n g t h e c an di

, ,

d a t e i mp e rs on at e Hiram h a s pr e s e rv e d t he ori gi n al
,

t eac hi n g Hir am i s id e n t i cal w i t h t he Su n God s o f

.
-

all n ation s it is a u n iv e rs al glyph for all r ea l In iti a

—
,

ti on is an i n t e rn a l p roc e ss a r ege n e r ation t he c on

, ,

su mm atio n o f w hi c h is t h e P e r f e c t Man or Mast e r ,

t he go a l of h u m an e vol u tion .

In t h e A n c i en t Myst e ri e s th e r e was a furth e r Ri t e

whi c h sy m boliz e d t h e n e x t st age t h a t o f u n i on with
,

t h e D ivi n e t h e A t O n e Men t
,
— —
This wa s the A s ee n
.

sion an d is sym boliz e d by t h e sq uar e en clos ed in t he

,

“
t ri an gl e
. T h e l ow e r n atur e i s h e r e r e fi n e d an d as
”
c e n d s t o t h e F ath e r . G od is A ll in A ll .

A s we h av e alr ea d y sa i d e ach p ri n c iple in m an s

’

c on s t i t u tion i s c o rrel a t e d to a pl an e A kn o w l e d ge .

o f the s e pl an e s wo ul d e n ab l e a man by a tra i n e d w ill

to d ir ec t t h e for ce s on e ach pl an e Su c h i s the power .

of a r eal Master .
 L EC TURE XI .

T HE SY MB OL S A N D L E G E N D S O F MA SON RY

Con tin u e d .
)
In thi s c on c lu d i n g lectur e of t h e s e ri e s we will ,

c on sid e r t h e r e m ai n i n g i m p ort an t sy m bols an d l e ge n d s

o f Ma son ry .

SA C R ED OR I N EFF A B LE NA ME .

This symb o l wa s u n ivers a l i n an c i en t ti m e s f or

e v e ry n a ti on of an t iquity h a d its Sac r e d N am e o r
In e ff abl e Wor d Th e Hebr e w sy m bol con si sts o f
.

f our l ett e rs Y od He V au He an d is ca ll e d the

, , , , ,

T e tr agr amm aton or fou r lett e r e d word This wor d

,
.

was s aid to h av e bee n c o mmu n ic at e d by God t o Mos e s

at the burn in g bu sh Th e n am e was h e ld m os t s acr e d
.

by t h e J e w s but its mean i n g an d prop e r pr on u n c i a

,

t ion h as lon g be en ob s c ure d .

B e for e t h e i n v en tion of t he m asor et i c poi n t s t h e

p r on un c i ation of a w ord in t h e H ebr e w l an guage
c o u ld n ot b e k n o w n by t h e c h a r acters t h e m s e lv e s so ,

it was e a sy in t h e c ours e o f ti me to los e t h e prope r

pron u n c i ation E sp e c i ally so as at th e b egi n n i n g o f
.
,

t h e H e l l e n is t ic a ge t h e u se of t h e n ame was r e s e rv e d
f o r t h e t e mpl e . A t t h e b e gi n n i n g o f t h e Chris t i an
e ra,
Phil o w ri t e s Th e fou r l e tt e rs m ay b e m en
,

t i on e d o r h ea rd o n ly by h oly m en w hos e ea rs an d
ton gu e s ar e p r ep a re d by w isdom an d by n o o t h e rs in ,
”
an y pl ac e wh ats oe v e r In t h e c ou rs e of ti me t h e
.
1 98 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Mad er n Mason ry

p ro n un c ia ti on o f t he n am e even by the te mp l e p r iests , ,

f e ll i n to d isus e an d t he man n e r o f its p ron u n ciation

,

at l en gth b e cam e a s ec ret en truste d on ly t o the f ew .

Whil e t he wor d wa s b e i n g w ithdrawn f rom common

”
u se ,
it was p ron ou n c e d A d on ai i n t he s cr iptures
“
,

an d wh en t he vo w el poi n ts w e re i n trodu ce d those

’

th at b e lon ged to A do n ai w e re p l ace d u n d er the Tetra

gr arnm at on .

The word its e l f i s a symbol ; the lette r s are p rob

a bly a rr an ge d as a b lin d A s th ey st an d in t h e Tetr a .

g r am m a t o n th e y h a ve n o si gn ifi c a n c e Th e y d o n ot .

r ep re sen t an y real Heb r ew wor d Now i f we apply .

t h e Heb re w m etho d o f halvi n g or tr an sposi n g l e tt e rs

which was us ed t o c on ceal t he m ea n i n g of a wor d or ,

r a ther i f we reve r se t h e p roc e ss which m ay have bee n

employed we ge t i n st ea d o f Y H V H
,
H V H Y . . . .
, . . . .

B e fore th e i n tr od ucti on o f vow e l sign s cert a i n w eak ,

c on s on an t s su c h a s Y od an d V au w e r e som eti mes ,

u se d to i n d icat e vow e l sou n d s so we fr e que n t l y see I ,

or E giv en a s an e quiv alen t for Yo d an d U or 0 ,

giv en for V an E v en Y o d i s som eti me s giv en as J od

.
,

an d V an a s W aw so we h a ve t h e n a me gi v e n a s Y H
, . .

V H or I H V H or J H V H or Y H W H
. . . . . . . . . .
, . . . .
,

or I H O H e tc
. . . .
, .

No w the person al p r on ou n s He an d She ar e w ri t

t en i n H e br e w w ith t h e si gn s He V au A leph an d , ,
-
,

He Yod A leph Wh e n A leph t e rm i n at e s a wor d

, ,
-
.
-
,

an d h as n o vow e l i mm e di at e ly p r ece di n g or follow in g ,

it is us u a lly dro p ped N ow i f we dro p t he fi n al .

A le ph we h av e th e tr an spos e d T e tr agrammaton H
-

, .

V H Y whi c h a r e t he p e rson al pron ou n s He an d

. . .
,

Sh e t h e m al e an d f em al e r e p rese n tin the two gr e at

,
g ,
2 00 A n ci en t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

of na mes m ea n t t he poss e ssion o f p ow e rs The .

spoke n n am e gav e on e t he p ow e r of t h e n a m e It i s .

i n t e r e s t i n g to n ot e how th e J ews w ork e d this id ea i n t o

th e ir syst em In t he T almu d t h e won d e r ful w o rks
.

of J e sus are ascrib e d t o his u se of the Sacr ed N am e .

A c c ordi n g to e a rly trad ition s t h e kn owle dg e wh e r eby

he wrou ght thes e works was le arn e d in Egypt but in ,
“ ”
t he d e v e lop e d Told ot h t he word of po wer was the
H oly Nam e t he Tetgramm at on ,
—
.

A ll t ion s of an tiqui t y ha d th e ir Sa c r e d N am e s
na ,
“
w hi c h w e r e Words of Pow e r Th e s e n am e s wer e .

for me d by t aki n g a l ett e r w hi c h c on v eye d a m ean i n g

an d a d di n g oth e r l e tters eac h h avin g a m e an i n g ; t h e

whol e w ord thus form e d c on stituti n g a Sac r e d N am e

or Wor d w hi c h c on t ai n s s om e gr e at truth These
, .

N am e s w e r e W ords of Pow e r for a s t h e u n foldi n g , ,

c on s c ious n e ss re aliz e s on e truth a fter an oth e r an d b e

c om e s that truth it rul e s In P e rs i a t h e Sac r e d N am e

, .

was H O M in In d ia A U M in Sc an d in avia
. . .
,
. . .
,

I O W in Gr e ec e I A 0 etc
. . .
, . .
, .

TH E R I TE O F CI R C U M A M B U LAT ION
This Rit e again c on n ects F r e emason ry w ith t he A n
c i en t Myst e ri e s It c on sists in a form al procession
.

a r ou n d t h e al t a r an d o ri gi n a lly a l lud e d to t h e ap p a r
,

e n t c o u rs e o f t h e su n w hi c h is fr o m east t o west In .

a n c i en t Gr e e c e t h e pri e s t s duri n g t he Rit e s o f sa c ri ‘

fic e w a lk e d th ree ti me s a r oun d t h e a lt ar whil e ch an t

,

in g a s ac r e d hy m n w hi ch was divid e d i n to thr ee ,

p a rts an d e ac h p a rt was to b e s u n g at a p a rti cu l a r

,

poi n t in t he proc e ssi on The an alogy b et w een this .

pr acti c e o f t he an ci en ts an d t h e r ec i t a t i on s of a p a ss
age o f Sc ript u r e in t h e Ma s on i c c ir c u m am b u l atio n is ‘
Th e Sy mb ols an d L eg en ds of Mason ry 201

q u ite pp ar en t In m aki n g this circuit it was con

a .

si d e r e d n e c e ss a ry th a t t h e r ight si d e should a l w ays be

n e xt t o t he a l ta r an d so t h e proc e s sion m ov e d from

,

w e st to t he n orth th en ea st south w e st an d th en t o
, , ,

t h e n ort h aga i n We fin d t h e s ame Rit e amon g the

.

Ro man s D rui d s an d Hi n dus In all th e se c e r emo

, , .

“
n i e s th e y w e r e i m it atin g t he e x am pl e o f t h e sun an d
”
followi n g his b en e ficen t c ourse .

THE L E GE ND O F THE W I ND I NG S TA I R S .

This L egen d is c on n ec t e d w i t h the Fe llo w Cr a ft

“
d e gr e e It is b as e d upon I Ki n gs vi 8 Th e door
.
, , ,

for t h e m iddl e ch amb e r w as in t h e ri ght sid e o f t h e

h ous e ; an d th e y w en t up with wi n di n g st airs i n to
t h e m iddl e c ha mb e r an d o u t of t h e middl e i n to t h e
,
”
thir d .

“
Out of this sl en d e r m at e ri al s ay s D r Mac k ey , .
,

h as b ee n c o n st ruct e d an all e gory w hi c h i f prop e rly , ,

c on sid e r e d in its sy mbolic al r e l atio n s w ill b e f ou n d ,

t o b e o f su rp assi n g b eauty Bu t it is o n ly a s a sym

.

bol th at we c an re gard t hi s w h ol e traditi on ; for t he

histori c a l f ac ts an d t h e ar c hit ectur al d et ail s alik e for
bid u s f o r a m omen t to s u ppos e th at t h e l egen d a s it ,

is r e h e ars e d in t he s ec on d d egr ee o f Mason ry i s an y ,

”
thi n g m o r e th an a magn ifi cen t philosophi c al my t h .

( Th e Symbolism of F r e e mason r y M a ck ey p , ,
.

Th e l e sso n w hi c h this l egen d t e ac h e s is n ot di ffi cu l t

to dis c ov e r F r e em ason ry is a sp e cu l at iv e s c i en c e
.

w hi c h h as for its obj ec t t he i n v e sti gati on o f divi n e

t ru t h T h e c a n d i d a t e i s i n se a r c h of m o r e li gh t a n d
. ,

a s a ll t h e c e r e m on i e s d en ot e a pr ogr e ss fr o m a l ow e r

to a hi gh e r st at e h e is al w ays pr ogr e ssi n g This

,
.

f u n d am e n t al sy mbolis m o f Ma so n ry i s fo u n d in e ac h
202 A n ci en t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

d egr ee Ther e is th e mysti ca l ladd e r the c e rem on y

. ,

o f circumam bula t io n t h e r e stor a tion to li f e e t c

, Th e , .

L egen d of th e Win d in g St a irs sym boli z es t he s ame

fa ct t he a s c en t of man from ign oran ce t o kn owl
—

e dge fr om d a r k ne ss t o light f rom d eath to li f e

, ,
.

The te p s o f t h e Win d i n g Stai r s c omm en ced on

s

the porch o f t he T empl e Thi s in d i ca tes t h e begin

.

n i n g of the m as on i c li f e th e p re p ar ati on for en ter

—

in g the t e m p le .

It is cu riou s t o n ote th a t t he n um b e r o f step s in

all t he syst em s has b e en od d Thi s p r ob ably i s d u e
.

to t h e f ac t th at t h e symbolism of n umbe rs was b or

row e d fr om Pyth agoras in whos e system of ph iloso
,

phy t he odd n u mbe rs w e r e re gard e d as sa cr ed though ,

the n umber o f step s has gr ea tly vari e d Tra c i n g .

boar d s h ave b e e n fou n d in w hi ch onl y fiv e step s ar e

rep res en t e d an d oth e rs which d en ot e s e v e n A t on e
, .

time in En glan d t h e n u m ber wa s thi rty eight whi c h -

,

w as re d u ced t o thi rty s even an d in thi s cou n t ry t he

-
,

n u m be r has be e n r e d u c ed to fi f t e en P e rh ap s fi ve .

woul d be t h e mor e ap propri ate as t h e sta irs only e x

t en d ed to t h e middle c h amb e r The n umbe r seven .
,

c o rrespon d in g t o t h e n u m be r of roun d s in t h e m ystic

l adder woul d i n d icat e t h e a tt ain men t o f per fection

,

t he Holy o f Holies We migh t say that the complete

.

st ai rs are com p os e d o f s ev en st eps t hr ee ca rr yi n g the

,
—

can did at e in to t h e grou n d floo r o f t h e t e m pl e t wo in to ,

t h e m i d d l e a n d t w o i n to t h e i n n e r sa n ctu a ry
, Th e .

ge n eral symbolism o f t h e L e gen d i s n ot aff ec t e d by

t h e n u mbe r of st ep s or t h e m e thod of division
, .

Th e can did ate wh o su cc ee ds in c l im bi n g t h e Wi n d

in g Stai rs w ill r ec e iv e hi s r e w a r d W ha t is t h e r e .

w ard or w age s of t he Spe c ul ativ e Mas on ! No t sil

204 A n ci en t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason r y

s ays It w as e vid en tly bor row e d from t h e p agan

,

Mys t e ri e s w h e r e B acch u s A d on is Proserpi n a an d

, , , ,

a host o f o th e r apoth eo siz e d b e i n gs pl ay t he s am e

r o le th at Hir am d oe s in t h e Ma son i c Myst e r i e s ”
.

( I bi d p ,
.

I h av e giv en v a ri ous for m s o f t h e s e L egen ds t h e —

Osiris A tys Hu B ald e r an d oth e rs b e ach o f

, , , ,
.

th e m t he H e ro o f t h e Myth di e s or is d e priv e d o f li f e ,

i s l aid aw ay in t h e tom b an d ris e s agai n fr om t he ,

gr av e This ce r e m on y was call e d the mysti cal d eath

.

a n d r e surr ec tion .

Th e l e ge n d r e pr ese n ts t h e activity of t h e Lo gos in

t h e c os m os an d t h e m ys t i c li f e o f t h e In iti a t e
, Th e .

an c i e n t l e ge n d s an d sy mbo ls a l w ays ha v e a doubl e

m e an in g an d som e t im e s m o r e Th e l ec t u r e s on Tr u e .

In iti ation se t forth i n d e t ail t h e t w o a sp ec ts of t h e

Su n Myth t h e mythi c an d t h e m ysti c
—
To t h e un i n .

it iat e d t h e c os m i c o r mythi c asp ec t o f t h e l e gen d was

'

t h e o n ly o n e s e e n thu s t h e Rit e s w e r e supp o s e d by

,

th e m m e r e ly t o t ypi fy t h e d e ath an d r e su rr ection o f

s ome H e r o or D em i God as Osiris Mithr a A tys , , , ,

A d on is T ammuz e t c an d so t h e Su n was w or
‘

.
, , ,

shipp e d u n d e r th e s e titl e s Pe r h aps this wa s n at u r al

.

e n ou gh for t h e visibl e Su n wa s a symbol n ot on ly o f

,

t h e Logo s t h e Spiritu a l Su n but a ls o of t h e In iti a t e

, ,
.

Th e y e ar l y c ou rs e o f t h e Su n r e pr e s en t e d in on e as
pee t t he mysti c li f e o f t h e In iti at e .

You w ill r ecall t h at in t h e Hin du Mys t e ri e s w h e n

t h e ca n di d at e r e a c h e d t h e s ou th in h i s c ir c ui t s he ,
“
s aid I c opy t he e x amp l e o f t h e Su n an d f ol low his
, ,

”
b en e ficen t cours e This e x am pl e was n ot m e r e ly e x
.

t e r n al The Su n i s a sy mbol o f t h e L ogo s an d it s

.
,

y e ar l y c ours e typifi e s t he w ork o f t h e Lo gos so th at ,

Th e Sy mb ols an d L egen ds of Mason ry 2 05

th e ca n di d at e b y r e pres en ti n g the Su n an d followi n g

,

his c ou rse is r eally follow i n g t h e e x a mpl e o f the

,

Logo s —
t h e Su n Myth typi fyi n g both t h e a ctivity o f
t h e L ogos an d t h e mystic li fe o f the In itiat e .

In t he t r u e My st e ri e s t h e Rit e s symboliz e d the v a

r iou s st ag e s o f this mystic l i f e Compl e t e m ast e ry over
.

t h e lower n atur e wa s typifi e d by plac in g t h e c a n d i

d a t e i n a t r a n c e a n d l a yi n g h im a way i n a s e p u lch er
for thr ee d ays an d n i ghts In t h e Ps e u d o Myst e ri e s
.

t he as p ir an t was c o n fi n e d in a c e ll in hi s n or m a l st ate ,

an d kept t h e r e in fear an d d a rkn e ss th at h e mi ght

r e flect on t he seriousn ess of t he st ep t ak en an d be ,

bett e r p re p a r e d to r ece iv e the myst er iou s tru ths b e

qu eat he d from the an cie n t d ays This was t h e sym .

bolical d e a th t h e d e liv e ra n c e from whi c h was c a ll e d

,

t h e resurr ec tio n Whil e c on fi n e d in his cell t he searc h

.

for the Hero was m ade an d his b o dy fin ally fou n d .

Th e Mast e r Mason will h e re see t h e sou rce o f the

Hi ram L egen d an d t h e Master s D egree I am n ot
,
’
.

p e rmitted to say more n eith e r i s it n ece ss ary for thos e

,

w ho are q u alifi e d will un de rst an d Mr Si n gl e ton . ,

,

r d d e gr e e a fter d escri b i n g the m ystic a l d eath in the

33 ,

A n c ie n t Mysteri e s says
“
The In t e lli gen t Mason will
, , ,

from t h is d iscov e r the origi n o f t h e Rites in the 3 r d

,

D e gr ee o f Sym b oli c Ma son ry an d t he st h an d 3 I st

D e gr ees A A S R
, . . . Th e Mysteries in all
.
,

thei r forms w e r e fu n er eal They c e lebrat e d t he mys

,
.

ti cal d e ath an d r ev iv i ficat ion of some i n d ivi dual by

the u se of e mb l e ms symbols an d allegoric al r epre
, ,

se n t at ion s ( H.i st or y f
o F r e e maso n ry an d Conc or d
an t Or d er s ,
Mr Sin gleton i s her e in e rror
.

in r egar d t o the pu r pose o f t he My ste r i es i f he me an s ,

t hat they m erely ce leb rat e d t he mystical d eat h an d

206 A n ci en t Myster i es an d M od er n Masonry

r e su r recti on o f some on e i n d ivi d u a l Th e c e rem on i es .

o f In itiatio n symboliz e d th e p rogr ess o f t h e human

soul an d the mysti cal d eath an d resu rr ection w e re
,

e x pe r ien c e d by e ve ry In iti a te Pe rh aps in the latt er

.

d a y s o f t h e My st eri e s w h e n n o tru e In itiati o n too k

,

p lace th e cerem on ie s may h ave b e en con si d er e d as

,

sym b olizi n g t he e x p e rien ces o f some s p ecial i n d ivid

u al but such was n ot t h e case in t he t r ue Mysteri es
, .

We see thus that t he story o f Hira m i s b u t a v ari

ation o f t h e an ci en t an d u ni ver sal legen d in which ,

Osiri s A d on is D ion ysu s Bal d er Hu an d man y m or e

, , , , ,

h ave p l ayed the prin cipal p art Some call Hi ram a

.

“ ”
mythical symb o Th i s i s t r ue but he is al s o a
.
,

mystical sym b ol Myt h ical ly Hiram is t h e Su n a

.
,

sym b ol o f the L ogos ; mystical ly h e i s t he per fect In

it iat e t h e Gran d Mast e r
, The myth was n ot i n ten d ed
.

to add to the facts of histo ry bu t a s D e Witte poin ts

, ,
“ ”
out t o illustrate a p h ilosop hic al or r eligi ous truth
, .

We mu st h e r e utt e r a p rotest agai n st t h e sec tarian

i n t e rpretation o f the Master Mason s de gr ee It is ’
.

t r ue that t h e d egree emb races the i n n e r t ru t h s o f

Chr istian ity in com mon with all the mystic t e ac h i n g
,
.

Bu t t he o r i gin o f the d egr e e an d all its symbols an d

lege n d s were d e riv e d f r om t he A n cie n t Mysteries an d ,

to call t he d egr ee a Chr i stian i n stitution as do Hutch ,

i n son an d Oliver i s e r ron eou s D r Ma ck ey in

, . .
,

sp eaki n g o f this t en den cy to Ch risti an i z e Mason ry ,

sa ys
“
,We fin d Ch ristian Mason ic write r s i n d ulgi n g
in it almost to an u n wa r r an tab l e e x cess an d b y t he ,

e x te n t o f the ir s e ctari an in t er p retation s materi ally a f

f ect in g t he c osmopolitan ch ar act er o f t he i n stitution .

This te n d en cy t o Chr istian i z atio n has in some in ,

stan ces b ee n so un iver sal an d h a s p revail ed f or so

, ,
208 A n ci en t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason ry

m ean i n g which is In itiation an d i t s u se as a symbol

,

o f i mm ort a li t y an d i n n oc e n c e Th e s e a r e c los e ly c on
.

n ec t e d an d m u st b e c on sid e r e d t ogeth e r to ge t t h e full

m ean i n g o f t h e sy m bol In old en da y s In iti a tion wa s

.

b as e d up on i n n oc en c e ; th at is upon purity of li f e , ,

an d t h e In iti a ti on brought a re a li z ation o f im mo r

tality .

TH E R I TE O F D I SC A L C EA T I ON .

This Rit e r e fers to t he act of un c ov e ri n g the f e et on

app r o ac hi n g ho l y gr ou n d It is a sy mb o l o f r e v e r
.

en ce ,
an d wa s a c om m on p ractice a m on g all t h e n a

tion s of an tiquity The p ri e sts alw ays off e r e d s acri

.

fice s w ith un c ov e r e d fe e t Pyt h ago ra s i n st ruc t e d his

.

dis c i pl e s to o ff e r s ac rifice s an d w orship with their

shoe s o ff Th e Moh am m e d an s w h en about to per
.
,

for m th e ir d e votion s alw ays l eav e th e ir slipp e rs at

,

t h e d oor o f the Mos que The D ru ids pr actic e d t he

.

s ame c ustom wh en ev e r they c e l e br at e d the sa c re d

rit e s Th e P e ruvi an s also l e ft t hei r sh oes on the
.

porch wh en the y en t e r ed t he t empl e D r Oliv e r t e ll s . .

“
u s th at The s am e u s age p revaile d e qu ally in In di a ,

an d t h e isl an ds to t h e w e st of E urope ; an d ev en t h e

A merica n s av age s t hou ght th at u n coveri n g the f ee t ,

w hil e i n th e act of d e votio n wa s a s ub lim e m etho d of

,

”
p ayi n g hon or to t he D eity ( g
S i n s .a n d S y m b ols ,

Oliv er ,

Th e J ewish la w givers a d op ted thi s sign o f r ever

en ce ,an d the sy mbolism h a s d e sc en d e d t o u s The .

appli cation o f t h e sym b ol to t h e thir d d egre e is well

kn ow n t o eve ry Mason .
Th e Sy mb ols an d L egen ds of Mason r y 209
'

T HE STON E OE F OUNDAT I O N .

This is t he most i mpo rt an t sy mb ol O f t h e Royal

A r c h d egr ee .It must n ot be con fou n d e d with an y
O f t h e ot h e r sto n e sy m bols su c h as t h e c o m e r s t on e
,
-
,

t h e k ey sto n e or the cap e ston e

-
,
-
.

In t h e firs t p la c e w e n e e d t o u n d erst an d that th e

sy mbol is pure ly all egori cal To accept it i n a liter al .

s en s e w ill p re s e n t a s D r Mack ey s ay s A bsurditi e s

,
.
,

an d pu e riliti e s w hi c h w ou l d n ot oc c ur i f the Sto n e O f

Fou n d ation was r e c eiv e d as it r e ally i s as a philo

, ,

s op hi cal myth c on v eyi n g a most p rofou n d an d b eau

,

ti ful sy mbolism R ead in thi s spirit as all t he l egen ds

.
,

O f Ma son ry should be r ea d t he mythi ca l story O f t h e,

Ston e O f Fo u n d ati on bec om e s on e of t he m ost impor

t an t an d i n te r e sti n g of all t h e Mas on ic symb ols ( Th e
”
.

Sy mb olism of F r e e mason ry p ,
.

We h av e n ot ti me to tr ac e the l egen dary history O f

t h e St o n e O f F ou n d at i on pr ob ably m or e l ege n ds ar e
—

c o n n ec t e d w ith this st on e t h an w ith an y o ther Ma s on i c

sy mbol Th e Mason i c l ege n d s o f t h e Ston e O f Fou n

.

d ation lik e n early all th at ar e O f J e w ish ori gi n ar e

, ,

d e riv e d fr om the J e w ish T almu d an d owe their ori ,

gin to t he i m agi n ativ e ge n ius of t h e T al m u d i c w rit

e rs. Bu t th e r e i s this di ff e re n c e b e t w een T a l mu d ists
an d Ma son s . The f o rm e r a cc ept all th e s e tr a d ition s ,

w i t h th e ir p u e riliti e s an achr on is m s an d abs u rditi e s

, , ,

a s histo ri cal whil e th e i n t e lli gen t Maso n r ec ei v e s

,

th e m a s all egorie s .

It woul d b e i n t e r e sti n g d id sp ac e perm it to giv e in

, ,

full th e s e Rabbi n i cal reve ries an d also th e Mason ic ,

tra d iti on s b as e d upon th em Bu t I can on ly outli n e .

t h e t ra dition .
21 0 A n ci en t Myster i es an d Mod er n Masonry

Th e Talmu d ic l ege n d s tell u s that En och built a

subt e rra n e an t em p l e on Mou n t Moriah con sisti n g O f ,

n i n e vaults situat e d be n eath e ach other an d c o mm u n i

c ati n g by ap e rtu res le ft in eac h v ault In t h e lo w est .

a rc h he d eposite d a cu b i c al ston e calle d a f t e rwar d s ,

t he Ston e O f F ou n d ation on whi c h h ad be en i n s c rib e d

,

t h e in e fiab le n ame o f G od He then m ad e a d oor o f

'

ston e wit h a ri n g in it an d pl ace d it over t he Open i n g

, ,

O f the upp e rm ost ar c h an d cov er e d i t so that i t coul d

,

n ot be s een In the d e structio n O f t h e worl d by

'

t he d e luge all t r ac e O f t h e subt e rr an e an tem p l e was

lost b u t whe n D avi d was d iggin g f or t h e f ou n da
,

t ion o f the Tem p l e h e d i scov e re d in t he low

, ,

est d epths of the e x cav ation a cert ai n ston e on which

,

t h e n am e o f G od was i n scribe d This ston e he r e .

mov e d an d d e p osit e d in th e Holy o f Holies It .

was a f avorite theory O f t he Talmu d l ege n d make r s

that D avi d lai d t h e fou n d ation u p o n which Sol omon
bu i lt th e temple Th e Mason ic tr ad iti on i s su b stan
.

t ially t h e same as t h e R abbi n ical e x ce p t th at i t su b ,

st it u t e s Solomon f or D avi d as the d is c overer of the

ston e an d m ak e s h im d eposit it in the crypt O f the

,

t e mpl e wher e it r emain e d u n til th e fou n da ti on O f t h e

,

s e c on d t empl e w as l a i d w h en it was d iscovere d an d

,

pl ac e d in t he Holy O f H oli e s .

These l egen d s in t h e light O f historic al n a rr atives

, ,

“
would b e as L ee s ays so m an y idl e an d abs u r d con
, ,

c e it s,as f a c ts but as a ll e gories th e y con t a i n an im

,

po rtan t symbolis m .

Th e sy mbo li s m an d w orship O f ston e s in an c i en t

ti m e s was alm ost u n iv ers al Th e Gr ee ks origi n ally .

u se d un h ew n ston e s o f a cubic al form t o r e pres en t

their G o d s Th e se c on s ec rat e d ston e s wer e pl ac e d
.
21 2 A n ci e n t My st er i es an d M od er n Mason r y

Th e sy mbolis m O f t h e Lost Word may b e appli e d

to t he d e gr a d ation O f t h e A n ci en t Mys t e ri e s w hi c h
r e sult ed in t h e loss O f t he r e a l Word t h e k n ow l e d ge —

O f o c cu lt s c i en c e F ro m that ti me to this m en h av e
.
,

e v e r b e e n in s e a r c h of t h e r e a l Wor d an d a l t hou gh
,

b u t f ew h av e b een abl e t o r e gai n t h e k n ow l e dge O f

t h e tr u e Myst e ri e s oth e rs h av e O ft en cau ght gli m ps e s
,

o f t h e i n n e r me an i n g whi ch is symb o liz ed by t he

,

Su bstitut e d Word Th at t h e symbo l is m is n ot w e ll

.

u n d e rstood i s e vi d en t from t h e f ac t t h at bu t f e w Ma
son s i f an y t o d ay p o ss e ss t h e k n ow l e d ge an d pow e r
, ,
-

i m pli e d in t he sym b ols an d l ege n ds O f t h e Or d e r ; f or

“ ”
t his r ea s on on ly Th e Substit u t e m on itori a l e x pla
—

“
n ati on —
is giv en t o t h e n e ophy t e u n t il h e p e rh aps in ,

”
fu t u r e gen e r a tion s sh all fin d t h e Tru e Wor d
,
.

Th at Ma s on ry was in s ea r c h O f t h e m e an i n g O f this
sy mb oli c Word is c l ea rly pr ov en by t h e i n si gh t O f t h e
,

R e vi sion ists in 1 71 7 an d t h e f ac t th at Symboli c Ma

,

so n r y did n ot pr e t e n d to giv e t h e c an did a t e t h e L o st

“l o rd Th e y kn e w th a t t h e Wor d was n o m e re n ame

.
,

b u t a k n owle d ge o f oc c ult s c i en c e w hi c h c oul d on ly

b e at t a i n e d by sou l d e v e lop m en t R e al Mast e rship
.

m u st aga i n b e r e a l iz e d b e f o r e t h e Lost W o r d c an b e
f ou n d an d s u c h r e aliz ation mu st o f n ece ssi t y b e t h e
,

e xp e ri e n c e O f eac h i n d ividu al broth e r by w h om i t is

f ou n d .

The u se mad e t r ad i t i on O f the r e c ove ry O f

of the
t h e L o st Wor d a n d its , i mp ar t at i on in t h e Roy al
A r c h d e g r e e sh o w s th a t t h e l at e r d e gr e e m ak e rs l ittl e
,

r ea liz e d t h e m e an i n g O f t h e symboli sm Th ey m i s .

t o o k t he symb ol for t he thi n g symb oliz e d The .

Roya l A rc h d egree c an on ly giv e t h e symbol Th e .

r eal Word w hi c h h o l d s t h e i n n e r m e an i n g an d t h e
,
Th e Sy mb ols an d L egen ds of Mason r y 21 3

pow e r o f t h e sy mbol is still a mys t e ry TO u n d e r

, .

st an d t his m y st i c symbol an d all th at i t i mp l i e s is to

, ,

poss e ss t h e k ey to t h e s c ie n c e O f su en ce s t he r e al —

K no w l e d ge or Word O f Po w e r .

C ON C LU SI ON .

We w ill n ow bri n g t his s e ri e s O f l ectur e s to a close .

W e h av e s ee n th a t Mas on ry is mod e l e d on t h e A n
c i e n t Mys te ri e s an d d e riv e s
,
i t s i mpo rt an t sy mbols
an d l e ge n ds from th a t s o u r ce Is thi s a m e r e coin c i
.

d en ce ! Wa s th e r e m e an t t o b e on ly a si m ilari t y in
out w ar d form ! W e c an n ot so b e l i e v e ; t h e an alogy
i s f ar t oo c l os e Th e men who form ul a t e d t h e ri t u al
.

v e ry w e l l kn ew w h at th ey w e r e d oi n g We beli ev e .

tha t t he s e c r e t v aults con t ai n j ew e ls n ot y e t d i scov

e r e d a n d i t sho u l d b e t h e w ork o f e v e ry tru e Ma so n
,

to s ear c h dili gen tly f or M or e Li ght To dis c ov e r t h e

“
.
”

fu ll m ean i n g of t h e glyphs an d all egori e s is t o r eviv e

t h e A n c i en t Wisd om t h e Sec r e t D oct r i n e o f A n
,

t iqu it y t h e r ea l Lost Wor d

,
That su ch Wis d om
.

on ce e xist e d w ill n ot b e den i e d by an y i n t e lli ge n t Ma

son ,
for t h e wh ol e sup e rstru c tur e Of t h e Ord e r i s
b as e d upon t he tr adi t ion s O f its e xist en c e D r Bu c k . ,

s ays In s t ead o f b e i n g an i m it ation O f t h e Mys t e r i e s

“
,

o f A n t iquity Mason ry shou ld b e c ome t h e ir R e st or a

,

t ion an d P e rp etu ation through t he c om i n g c e n turi es ,

n ot by r e l axi n g its d is c ipli n e or c h an gi n g its ri t u al

, ,

but by d eep en i n g the l ea r n i n g i n t e n si fyi n g t h e z eal

,

an d e l e v at i n g t h e a im O f e v e ry B roth e r t hrou ghout

( Mysti c Mason ry B u ck 19
”
t h e world . , ,
.

W e hav e se en th at t h e Master s of Old w e re tru e

O cc ul t i sts Ma sters O f D ivi n e Sci en ce Mason ry h a s
— .

pr e s e rv e d for us t h e n ame s th at i n di cate the r eality O f

214 A n ci en t My st er i es an d Mod er n Mason ry

occ ult kn owle dge an d po w e r in t he Pe r f e ct an d Su b

li me Mast e r Pri n ce A d ep t Sublim e Pri n ce O f t he
, ,

R oyal Secr e t e tc I f th es e n am es d o n ot im p ly wha t

, .

I hav e suggest e d th e y ar e a m e r e f a rc e an d shoul d b e

a b olish ed Th at th e y are em pty titles t o d ay all will
.
—

agre e ; man y havin g r e co gn i z e d this f act a re calli n g ,

f or th e ir a boliti on B u t I hol d that i n ste ad o f a b ol

.

ishin g t he titl e s we sh oul d e n d eavor to mak e t he m

st an d in f act for what in n am e the y i n d icate T h is
, , .

would be in li n e w ith t h e an cie n t trad ition a r e cov —

e r y O f t h e r ea l Lost Wor d t h e key to t he Scien c e o f ,

K n ow l edge Ev e ry Mas on shou l d l ab or assi d uously

.

for t he r ea lization of this i deal L et us n ot b e con .

“
t en t with t h e me re ru d ime n ts o f ou r philosop hy Th at .

skill says D r Macke y w hich con si sts in re pe a tin g

,
” “
.
,

wit h flu en cy an d p recision t h e ordi n ar y lectu r e s in , ,

complyin g w ith al l the c e r e mon ial requisition s O f t h e

ritual or t h e givi n g w ith su ffi c ie n t ac cu r ac y t he ap
, , ,

poi n t e d m o d e s O f r e c ogn ition p ert ai n s on ly t o t h e ,

”
v e ry ru d imen ts o f t h e m ason ic s c ie n ce ( Symb olism .

of F r e e mason ry 3 1 0 ) Th e r e are m an y t o day who

-
.
,

are n ot s atisfi e d with thes e p r e limi n ary ac quir eme n t s ,

an d the cry for

“
Mor e Light ”is bei n g h ear d in ev e ry
q uart e r of the Mason ic worl d In te lligen t Mason s .

ar e b e gi n n i n g t o reali z e th a t there is somet h i n g mor e

in our symb ols an d l egen d s an d they ar e seeki n g t he i r ,

i n n er an d ultimate mean in g .

L et us this w or k b y m aki n g ou r Lod ges

ai d in
sc hools ou r lab or st u dy our w ages l e arn i n g thus
, , ,

may we att a i n th at kn owl e d ge of D ivi n e T ru th w h ich

shall t ruly make us Mast e r Mason s .

So mot e it be .
 In the Q u a r r i e s.
The re lie man y ge ms f e l o q u e n c e man y sp ar kli n g r ay s o f ge n iu s
o , ,

man y p r ac ti c al thou ghts an d e xp r e ssi on s w hi c h if brou ght to the ,

su rfac e w ou l d p rov e o f e sse n ti a l se rvi c e to t he C r aft The se v al .

u able tr e asu r e s shou l d n ot b e l e ft to lie in the ru bbi sh an d be

c ove r e d w ith the du st o f a ge s an d forgott e n The se wr iti n gs o f .

the w i se st an d be st Mason i c sc ho l ars w or ds O f w i sdom e x p r e sse d

,

by me n of age a n d e xp e ri e n c e ou ght to be garn e re d i n to store

,
"
hou se s w he r e all c an have ac c e ss w he n c e to dr aw more li ght
to ill u mi n ate the p athw ay o f the w or ke r in the Mason i c q u arr i e s .

A li br ary of ri c h tr e asu re s of C r aft lite ratu re w ou l d p rove o f ,

e sse n ti a l be n e fit to the se e ke r afte r kn owl e dge an d wou l d be to ,

him a sc hoo l o f i n stru c tion w he n c e he c ou l d de rive i n sp irati on as

,

re fre shi n g as that to the w e ary tr ave l e r w ho sl ake s his thirst at the
fou n tai n of sp arkli n g w ate rs Com p s George J Gardn er a n d
—
. .

Charles T. Mitche11 Cor Re p ort G ran d Cha pte r Ne w York 1890

.
-
. , , .

D i r e c t i o n s f o r O r d e r i n g.
Se n d Ex p re ss Post Offi c e Mon e y Orde r for the amou n t of y ou r
or

p u rc hase an d the goods w ill be se n t i mme di ate ly su bj e c t to ap

, ,

p roval The y c an be exc han ge d or re tu rn e d whe n y ou r mon e y

.

w ill be re fu n de d; or by se n di n g on e fou rth of the amou n t o n de

,
-
,

p osit the y w il l be se n t by e xp re ss su bj e c t to i n sp e c ti on a n d a p
,

p roval Or if de sire d for u se on our Circ u l ati n g Li brary Pl an ;

.

se n d u s the p r i c e o f the book an d w e w ill p re p ay p ost age to

,

y ou. Afte r re adi n g re tu rn it to u s c ar e fu lly p rote c te d an d w e

w ill re tur n the mon e y ( e xc e p t on p a p e r bi n di n gs.) l e ss the p ost
age we have p ai d on i t an d 1 0 , for the first mon th s u se an d ,

5 70 for e ac h additi on al mon th ( For fu rthe r i n fomation re gard

.
“
in g Li bra ry Pl an se e l ast p age of thi s c at al ogu e .

A ll goods ar e gu ar an te e d to be as re p re se n te d .
 MA SO N IC HIST O R Y
an d
V AL UABL E
L IT E R A T U R E
A n c i e n t My st e r i e s an d M o d e r n M a so n r y The My ste ri e s .

Egy p ti an Hi n du Pe rsi an Dru i di c al G othi c G re c i a n J e w i sh an d

, , , , . ,

C hri sti an the ir Origi n an d Obie c ts; the Me an i n g o f Tru e In iti ati on
, ,

Ori gi n an d Hi story of Fre e mason ry Kn i ghts Te mp l ars A n c i e n t , ,

A c c e p te d Sc otti sh Rite a n d the Symbol s an d [fi ge n ds o f Maso n ry ;

,

in 1 2 Le c tu re s give n in Pu ll ma n Me mori al C hu rc h A l bi on N Y
, , , . .,

Re v Cha rles H Va il
. Ove r 200 p age s Extra lin e bi n di n g
. , . ,

sil k c l oth an d gil t stamp s NO 22056 . .

Pa p e r 22060 75 .

A n c i e n t M y st i c O r i e n t a l Ma so n r y lts Te ac hi n gs Ru l e s . , ,

Law s an d Pre se n t Usage s w hi c h gove rn the Orde r at the p re se nt

day . Dr R Swin bu rn e Cly mer
. . C l oth No 22086 . , . .

A n c i e n t C o n st i t u t i o n s o f F r e e m a so n s Ve rbati m c o py o f .

t he ori gi n al e diti o n o f 1 723 c o n t ai n i n g the Hi story Laws C har ge s

, , , ,

Orde rs R e gu l ati on s an d Usage s toge the r w ith a c oll e cti on o f old

, ,

Mason i c Son gs an d Mu si c A n derson ( A n ori gn al in good

. .

c o n di t i on is w orth NO 22081 .

A n t i q u i t i e s o f F r e e m a so n r y . Comp ri si n g Ill u str ati on s o f the

Five G r a n d Pe ri ods o f Mason ry from the C re ati on of the Worl d ,

to the De di c ati on of Ki n g Sol omon s Te mp l e ; i n c l u di n g c hapte r s on

'

Mason i c Tr aditi on Mason ry from the Cre ation to the ti me of

,

En oc h Ori gi n of A rt s an d Sc i e n c e s Mason ry from En oc h to the

, ,

De l u ge ldolatrou s My ste ri e s as c on tr aste d w ith Fre e maso n ry

, ,

Mason ry from the De lu ge to Isaac Symboli c In stru c ti on Maso n ry , ,

fro m Isaac to the De live r an c e from Egy p ti an C a ptiv i ty Five Poi n ts ,

o f Fe ll ow shi p Maso n ry from t he De live r a n c e to the De di c at i on o f

,

Ki n g Sol omon s Te mp l e Illu str ate d Rev George Oliv er D D Bl u e

'
. . . . .
,

c l ot h gil t 5 /2 x 8 A 24
l ' 2 p gs NO 22091
, , , , .

C y c lo p e d i a o f F r a t e r n i t i e s, T h e . In c l u di n g the Ori gi n Pur ,

po se s G rowth Hi story an d Stati st i c s of 600 or more soc i e ti e s By

, , .

A lbert C Ste v ens assi ste d by more than a 1 000me mbe rs of v ari ou s
.

Or de rs Comp l e te in on e VOL 468 p gs Illustr at e d by C harts

. , .

a n d Ma p s C l oth. No 2241 1
. .
E gy p t t h e C r a d le o f A n c i e n t Ma so n r y . Comp ri si n g a His
tory of Egy p t with a c omp re he n sive an d authe n ti c ac c ou n t o f the
,

A n ti q u ity of Mason ry the re su lt o f man y y e ars o f p e rson al i n ve sti

,

gation an d e xhaustive re se arc h in In di a Pe rsi a Sy ri a an d t he , ,

Vall e y of the N il e Norma n F de Cliff ord Be au ti fu lly ill u str ate d.

. . .

Art C an vass bi n di n g 2 v ol 9x 1 2 644p gs NO 22421 , , .

Half Ame ri c an Moroc c o 2 v ol No 22423 , ., .

Fu ll Ame ri c an Moroc c o No 22424 , . .

Full Pe rsi an Moroc c o. 1 v ol No 22425 ., .

E gy p t i an Sy m b o ls, A C o m p a r i so n with those of the He br e w s .

In c lu di n g Pri n c i p l e of Sy mbol ogy A p p li c ati on to Egy p ti an Symbol s , ,

t o the Sy mbo l s o f Co l or a n d to the Symbol s o f the Bi ble A c l e ar . ,

c on c i se e x p osi ti o n o f a mo st i n t e re st i n g su bj e c t by Frede rick Porta l ,

Tran sl ate d from the Fre n c h by J ohn W Simons Illustrate d , . .

No 22381
.

E n c y c lo p e d i a . By A G Mackey D D Re vi sed an d e n l arge d . . , . .

w ith n e w Su bj e cts Pro n ou n c i n g Di c ti on ary Mason i c Scri p tu re

, .

N ame s e tc C T McClena chan

. . . C l oth NO 22401 45C . .

Li brary She e p No 22402 , . GOC .

Hal f Ru ssi a G ilt Top NO 22405, , .

Fu ll Moroc c o NO 22404 , .

Tw o Vol Editi on No 22406

. , .

G e n i u s o f F r e e m a so n r y , T h e , an d the 20th Ce n tu ry Cru sade

For the good o f Mason ry a n d in the i n te re st o f Fre e dom an d ,

Fr ate rn ity Li ght Li be rty a n d Love ; agai n st Ign oran c e Su p e rstiti on

, , ,

a n d Fe ar De sp oti sm a n d J e su i ti sm
, J D Back C l oth bou n d . . . . .

33 9 p gs N0 22656
.
°
.

Hi st o r y a n d C y c lo p e d i a , Illu st r a t e d . A n A c c ou n t of th
Ri se an d Progr e ss o f Fre e mason ry“ De fin iti on s o f Te c hn i c a .

Te rms u se d by th"e Frate rn i ty ; also A Comp l e te Di c ti on ary 0

Sy m boli c Mason ry Ge orge Oli v er D D an d Rober t Ma coy 33 °
, . . ,

71 7 p gs 222 e n gr avi n gs Fu ll A rt C an vass No 22391

, .
, .

Li brary She e p Marbl e Edge NO 22392 , , .

Half A me ri c an Ru ssi a G ilt Top NO 22395 , , .

Hal f Ame ri c an Moroc c o Fu ll G ilt NO 22393 , , .

Fu ll A me ri c an Ru ssi a Fu ll G ilt No 22397 , , .

Fu ll A me r ie an Moro c c o Fu ll G ilt NO 22394 , , .

Fu ll Pe rsi an Moro c c o Fu ll G ilt No 223 98 , , .

Hi st o r y o f In i t i a t i o n . In Twe lve Le c tu re s ! G e n e r al In tr odu c

ti on Hi story o f In iti ati on in Hi n du stan Phil oso p hy of the Easte r
, ,

My ste ri e s In iti ati on in Pe rsi a In iti ati on in G re e c e Ce re mon i e s O

, , ,

In i ti ation i n to the My ste ri e s o f Bac c hu s the Ce l ti c Myste ri e s Ce re , ,

Hi st o r y o f F r e e m a so n r y A C o n c i se . Robt F Gou ld , . .

A most re li abl e c omp re he n sive a n d v al u abl e book 559 p gs 36 . .

C olu mn s o f i n de x N e arly 200 illu str ati on s man y o f the m be au

. ,

ti fu l hal f ton e e n gr avi n gs C l oth No 22771 . . .

Li brary She e p No 22772 , .

Half Moroc o No 22773 , .

Fu ll Moro c c o No 22774 , .

Le van t Moroc c o !No 22775 , .

Ir i sh Pr i n c e a n d He b r e w P r o p h e t a Maso n i c Tal e o f t he ,

C a ptive J e ws an d the A r k o f the Cove n an t A most i n te re st .

" "
in g boo k By the au thor of The J ericho Papers
. 300 p gs . .,

Le xi c o n F r e e m a so n r y , c on tai n i n g a de fin iti on o f all its Com

of
mu n ic able Te rms n oti c e s o f its Hi story Tr aditi on s an d A n ti q u i
, , ,

ti e s an d a n ac c ou n t o f all the Rite s an d My ste ri e s o f the A n c i e n t

,

Worl d A G Mackey 526 p gs No 23 1 61

. . . , . .

L i gh t s an d Sh a d o w s C on si sti n g o f
of the My st i c Ti e .
a bsorbi n g Maso n i c t al e s romanti c tr agi c an d hu morou s; a fe w o f
—
,

w hi c h ar e ! The Mason i c Bre astp i n a thrilli n g In di an story ; De ath ,

o n t he Si e rr a N e va da; C at he ri n e Willi ams or Hu sb an d a n d Wi fe ;

The C hu rc h Tri al or J y n i n the Mason s; Ston e Sq u ar e r s Lodge

” '
-
, ,

No 91 ; The Broke n Te sse r a; Thre e Bu ds o f Swe e t Bri ar ; The

.

Ec ho an d the Fl u te ; an d more than a hu n dre d othe r stori e s ,

ske tc he s a n e c dote s
, o p i n i o n s son gs a n d p o e ms ill u str ati n g the
, , ,
'
c har a c te r a n d te n de n c y o f Fr e e m aso n ry i n c l u di n g R obe rt Bu rn s ,

Fare we ll to Maso n s Rob Morris an d Alber t G Mackey 624p gs

. . . , .

illu strate d be auti fu lly bou n d in blu e an d gol d No 231 81

, . .

Lo d ge G oa t d G o a t R i d e s, T h e . More than a thousan d

an
an e c dote s i n c i de n ts an d ill u str at i on s from the hu morou s si de of
,

Lo dge li fe C omp il e d an d e dite d by J ames Pettibon e 600 p gs

. . .

Cl oth No 23 1 91
. .

L OW T w e lv e . Edwa rd S Ellis A M A book o f thrilli n g . , . .

an d i m p re ssive stori e s o f Maso n i c brave ry a n d l oy alty tol d with ,

that ac c u rac y an d c harmi n g sty l e w hi c h has give n Mr Ellis su c h .

worl d wi de p o pu l arity Hal f ton e Illu str ati on s No 23221

-
. 1 50 -
. . . .

Fu l l Le athe r a li n e gi ft book
, No 23 224 . .

L o st Wo r d F o u n d Th e The most c omp e lli n g bit of lite rature

, .

y e t p re se n te d by Dr Bu c k an d u n li ke an y t hi n g e ve r w ritte n
. ,
"
c on c e r n i n g the my ste ry o f the Lost Wor d J D B uc k 3 2°
. . . .
Man of Mo u n t Mo r i ah From Symbolism an d Pro p hec y , Th e .
to Sac rific e an d Fu l fill me n t a won de rfu ll y i n te r e sti n g story o f the —

G r an d Ar c hite c t at the Bu il di n g o f Ki n g Sol omon s Te mp l e

'

C M Bou te lle
. . Be au ti fu ll y ill u str ate d foll owe d by forty p age s o f
. ,

t he be st Mason i c a n d O E S p oe try i n c l u di n g Esthe r a sa c re d . . . , ,

drama 33 4 p gs Editi on a fte r e diti on has be e n sol d whi c h e n

. . ,

a ble s u s to gr e atl y i n c re ase t he q u ali ty an d sty l e o f the boo k for

se rvi c e abl e w e a r a n d ri c hn e ss o f a pp e ar an c e A c hoi c e gi ft book . .

Hal f Moroc c o an d fu ll gilt No 23488 3

. .

Hal f Ru ssi a an d fu ll gilt No 23487 . .

Half Moroc c o m arbl e e dge No 23483 , . .

Half Ru ssi a mar bl e e dge No 23486, . .

Fu ll Cl oth mar bl e e dge , No 23481 . .

He avy Pap e r Si de s m ar bl e e dge No 23485 , . .

Ma so n i c G em. A co lle c ti on o f Mason i c Ode s Poe ms e tc A , , .

ske tc h o f Esote ri c a n d Exote ri c Mason ry Re v A E Alford . . . . .

Ill u str ate d N0 23541 "

.

Ma so n i c Sk e t c h Bo o k or G l e an i gs from the Harve st Fi e l d of , n

Maso i c Lit r tu r
n By E d L u e ns
e a Thi s boo k c ove rs a
e. . a a r .

gr e at v ari e ty f s bj c ts an d i n c l de s some o f th c ho i c st work

o u e u e e

o f ou r Mason i c write rs as we ll as man y valu abl e an d i nte r

be st ,

e sti n g art i c l e s by the au t hor Fu ll gil t si de s an d e dge s 345 p gs . . .

6 x 9 Ill u str ate d No 23291 . .

Maso n i c To k e n IVilliam T A nde rson . A gi ft boo k for all . .

se ason s Fu ll gilt si de s an d e dge s Embe lli she d with u p wards

. .

o f thirty ill u str ati o n s the l e tte r p re ss be i n g from the p e n s o f a

,
-

l arge n u mbe r of ou r most gi fte d authors; e sp e c i ally i nte n de d for

Mason i c home re adi n g 289 p gs No 233 1 1 . . .

Me m p h i s A n c i e n t a n d Pr i m i t i v e R i t e Ori gi n In trodu c ti on
, . ,

an d Su mmary o f the Hi story ; Exc e r p ts from t he Lan dm arks o f the

Orde r In sti tuti on in Ame ri c a Man i fe stos Withdraw a l from Ori e n t

, , ,

o f Fr a n c e Tr e aty C o n fe de r ati o n Pre se n t St atu s De gre e s Se al s

, , , , , ,

Em bl e ms e tc J A Gotlieb M A M D L L D No 22821
. . . . ., . ., . . . .

Mi ssi o n o f Maso n r y T h e Rev Ma dison C Peters Cloth , . . . . .

Pa p e r No 23360
. . .35

Mo r a ls a n d D o gm a , A n c i e n t A c c e p te d Sc otti sh Rite from the

l at to 33 d De gre e by A lbert Pike Grand Commande r Thi s
, , , .

v alu abl e work is the re su lt o f y e ars of stu dy tr an sl ati on s from ,

a n c i e n t a n d mo de rn l an gu age s a n d t hou sa n ds o f doll ars e x p e n di ,

tur e by the au thor The Maso n i c a n d The oso p hi c al stu de n t w il l

.
 fin d in i t a mi n e of kn ow l e dge that c an be fou n d n owhe r e e l se ,

an d he re to for e w i thi n t he r e ac h of bu t fe w. The gr e ate st boo k

e ve r wri tt e n or p ri n te d a bou t Fre e Maso n ry 861 p gs . .

C l oth bi n di n g w ith gol d stamp s No 23361 . .

My st i c Ma so n r y Ex p l ai n s the Sy mbol s o f Fr e e mason ry a n d

.

the ir c on n e cti on with the G re ate r My ste ri e s of A n ti q u ity in whi c h , ,

for c e n tu ri e s have be e n c on c e al e d the gr an de st ac hi e ve me n ts in

,

kn owl e dge e ve r gai n e d by m an that throu gh the e fforts o f Fre e , ,

mason s may be a n d are be i n g u n de rstoo d an d r e store d to the

,

worl d J D Bu ck
. . Ill u str ate d 260 p gs No 23421
. , . . .

Po e t r y F r e e m a so n r y . Rob Morris L L D Maso n i c Poe t

of . , . . .,

Lau re ate w ith Portr ait an d Bi ograp hy o f the Autho“r by his son , .

W
,

In trodu c ti on by the A u thor a n d his favorite p oe m e Me e t Up

,
—

"
o n the Le ve l an d Part U p on the Sq u ar e in the ori gi n al w ords —
,

a n d l ate r c ha n ge s foll ow e d by ove r 50

, 0 p oe ms n ote s an d illu str a ,

ti on s 400 p gs O f fin e st book p ap e r Be au ti fu lly e mbosse d

, . .

c ove r 8 x 1 0/2 i n c he s
l No 23281
, . .

G ol d an d silve r l e af stamp i n g gilt e dge s No 23 285 , . .

R o se C r o i x , T h e . A story of Two He mi sp he res A most .

i nte re sti n g n ove l Da v id Tod Gilliam 369p gs No 23946

. . . . .

R o si c r u c i an C o sm o-c o n c e p t i o n , Th e , or Chri sti an Oc cu lt

A n El e me n tary Tre ati se u p on man s Past Evolu ti on
'
Sc ie n c e . ,

Pre se n t Con sti tu ti on a n d Fu tu re De ve l op me n t By Max He inde l . ,

w ho i n c l u de s a n ote of than ks to Dr Ru dolf Stein er an d Dr A lma . .

"
536 p age s
”
Von Bran dis Prove all thi n gs
. Pau l x .
—
.

1 4 of In dex Col or p l ate Ill u str ation s Di agrams e tc With Re d

, , , , .

u n de r G il t Edge s G re e n Cl oth G o l d an d Co lor Stamp s

, No , . .

23896 ( A Maste r Work worth man y ti me s its c ost ) , .

R o si c r u c i a n s, T h e . The ir Te ac hi n gs an d My ste ri es ac c ordi n g

to the Man i fe stoe s i ssu e d at v ari ou s ti me s by the Fr ate rn ity i tse lf.
A l so some o f the ir Se c re t Te ac hi n gs a n d the My stery of the
Orde r e xp l ai n e d Bro R Swin bu rn e Cly me r 304 p gs
. . . . .

No 23906
. .

R o si c ru c i a n s, Th e i r R i t e s a n d My st e r i e s. Foun de d on
the i r man i fe stoe s an d on facts an d doc u me nts c o ll e cte d from the
,

wri ti n gs of i n iti ate d bre thre n Hargra v e J e nn ings Illustr ate d

. .

464 p age s 6 x 9 No 23881 . .

Sa c r e d M y st e r i e s. Fre e maso nry in time s an te rior to the Te mp le

o f Sol omon Re li cs of May as an d Q u i c he s
.
y e ars ago , ,

the ir re l ation to the Sac re d Myste ri e s of Egy p t G re e ce C hal de a , ,

an d In di a A ugustus L e Plongeon. No 23956

. .
Sm b o l of G lo r y , show i n g the Obje c t an d En d o f Fre e mason ry ,

in a v al e di c tory an d thirt e e n l e c tur e s ! Maso n i c Sc i e n c e Poe try ,

a n d Phil oso p hy Kn ow l e dge Do c tri n e s C irc l e an d Par all e l Me an

, , ,

in g G re at Li ghts an d Mason i c Ladde r T he ol ogi c al V irtu e s an d

, , ,

Mason ry C lou de d C an opy an d Ladde r Symbol s A pp li c ati on

, , ,

Bl azi n g Star Symbol o f G l ory e tc

,
Re v George Oli v er 298 p gs
, . . .

c l ot h bl ac k a n d gol d st am p s
, No 24061 . .

Tr a d i t i o n , O r i gi n a n d E a r ly Hi st o r y o f F r e e m a so n r y .
A n e l aborate ac c ou n t of the tr aditio n s w hi c h form the bas i s of the
de gre e s in Fre e mason ry an d the ir c oi n c i de n c e w ith the A n c i e n t
My ste ri e s; al so the ori gi n of the Soc i e ty o f Op e rative Mason s an d
its tran sform ati on i n to a Sp e c u l ative Frate rn i ty ; w i th a bri e f hi story
o f the Orde r an d its ri tu a l s an d c u stoms
, By A T C Pierson . . . .

an d Godfr ey IV Steinbr enn er 540 p gs

. . x .Ill u str ate d .

No 2421 3
.

Wa sh i n gt o n a n d Hi s M aso n i c C o m p e e r s. A n i nte re sti n g

an d re li abl e w ork a bou n di n g in fac ts a n d i n c i de n ts p e rt ai n i n g to
,

Washi n gt on s Mason i c li fe A p art o f his history e ntire ly omitte d

’

. ,

by most o f his bi ogra p he rs brou ght to li ght by dili ge n t re se arc h

,

amo n g the Mason i c re c ords a n d doc u me n ts o f the p ast c e n tu ry .

Co n tai n i n g fi n e Mason i c p ortr ait o f Washi n gton an d n u me ro u s

othe r il lu str ati on s No 24301
. .
 A SE L E C T E D A SSO R T M E N T O F BO O KS
Hi st o r i c al F r a t e r n a l Sy m b o li c a l M y st i c
, , A st r o l o gi c , , ,

O c c u lt , Psy c h i c , Sp i r i t u a li st i c , O p t i m i st i c , Ph i lo so p h i c ,
M aso n i c , N e w T h o u gh t , E t c .
A h r i n z i m a n , T h e St r a n ge St o r y o f . A s tol d by hi mse l f ,

a fte r a p e ri od o f ove r 2000 y e ars; throu gh the su p e r c on sc i ou s - !

n e ss f A n ita Silv a n i The p hil osop hy of thi s gr e at My sti c an d

o .

Pe rsi an Ru le r w hat L ife hath tau ght him of the sou l on Eart h
,
—
,

in the A by ss an d in the He ave n s A Ne w Pil gri ms Progre ss

,
—

Ar a bi a n N i ghts Par adi se Lost Wa n de ri n gs in Sp iri t an d Par a

, , ,

di se Won No e s o n O bse ssi on a n d Me diu mshi p

. Pre fac e by .

Frederick lV Thu rstan M A of Clzrists College Ca mbr idge

. . . , .
“ '

To e ac h o n e c ome s li fe s l e sson in a di ffe re n t form L e t

him that wou l d l e ar n the me an i n g of thi s story att e n d to the se
words that he may the be tte r u n de rstan "
d a n d le t him that is the ,

i dl e be ar e r of a tal e p ass the m by Two vol u me s c ombi n e d . ,

in o n e book o f 49 c hap te rs Ill u str ate d w ith a p ortr a it o f Ahr .

in z iman an d a Vi si on in the De se rt 284 p age s x No . .

22026
A lt a r i n t h e Wil d e r n e ss, T h e . In se ve n c hap te rs The G ol de n —

Age The Exil e L ife in De ath The C o n fli c t The Wil de r n e ss

, , , . ,

lllumin ation The Te mp l e , re p re se n ti n g the Se ve n Sp iritu al Age s

,
-

of Man Ethelbert J ohnson C l oth No 2423 1

. 50
. , . , .

Pa p e r No 24235
, . 25 .

Be n Hu r , a Tal e o f the C hri st The G re at C hri sti a n Drama . .

Gen L e w Wa llace No 22076

. . .

Bo o k o f t h e M a st e r , T h e . A c l u e to the my ste ri ou s re li gi on o f
A n c i e n t Egy p t TV Marsha m Ada ms C l oth No 221 66
. . . , . .

Br o t h e r h o o d . N atu re s L aw Barcha m Harding No 221 76 50

'

, . . .

Br o t h e r o f t h e Th i r d D e gr e e . A n i n te re sti n g an d lac in atin g

story of the t hrilli n g e x p e ri e n c e s of an e ar n e st oc c u l t stu de n t o n

his w ay u p war d to t hose su bli me he i ghts of Un ive rsal Love an d De

v otion to Hu m a n i ty att ai n e d o n ly by the tru e i n i ti ate s o i t he G re at
,

White Brothe rhoo d a vivi d p i c tu re o f life in the famou s oc c u lt

—

sc hoo l s o f Pari s an d the Far East ; e xp l a i n i n g mu c h w hi c h has so

lon g be e n ve ile d in my ste ry lV L Ca r v er 377 p ages C l oth . . . . , .

No 22161
.
Co n st r u c t i v e Psy c h o lo gy . The Con stru c tive Pri n c i p l e o i
C har ac te r Bu il di n g Dr J D B k 32 No 22296
u.c
0
. . . . .

C u lt u r e o f C o n c e n t r a t i o n . Oc c u lt Powe rs an d the ir ac q u ire

me n t Wm 0 J u dge No 22266
. . . . .

D i sc o v e r y o f t h e So u l, T h e . Throw i n g li ght on the p ath o f

p rogre ssive man ; l e adi n g t hrou gh my sti c i sm to the di sc ove ry 0 1
those u n u se d p owe rs w ithi n the sou l w hi c h du ly a pp rop ri ate d ,

give e xp re ssi on to the Divi n e i n Man Floy d B lVilson . . .

No 22306
.

Ha r m o n i e s o f E v o lu t i o n . Thi s w ork marks ou t a n e w p ath ir .

the tre atme n t o f the so c all e d Oc c u l t in N atu r e att e m p ti n g to e xp l ai t

-
,

r athe r than to my stiiy an d to illu strate an d e l u c i date the c orr e latior

of sp iri tu al a n d p hy si c al forc e s in N atu re Floren ce Hu n tley .

463 p gs No 2271 6 . .

He r m e s a n d Pla t o The my ste ri e s of Egy p t an d of El e u si s

.

Edouard Shar e No 22856 . . .

In i t i a t i o n , T h e Wa y o f , or How to A tt ai n Kn ow l e dge o f tb
Hi ghe r Worl ds Ru dolf Stein er Ph D Ame ri c an i z e d from the tr an s
. , . .

l ati on by Max Gsy i N ote s by Edouard Schu r e A most v alu abl

. .

a n d n atu r a l gu i de in a matte r be twe e n y ou a n d y ou rse l f Ne .

l arge ty p e Pa p e r No 24280. 75
. . No 24276
. . . .

In i t i a t i o n a n d i t s R e su lt s. Rudolf Stein er P11 D A se qu e , . .

to the Way o f In i ti ati o n The se w orks in the p l ai n e st a n d ol e ar e s

. ,

w ay give more i n stru c ti on in o c c u l t kn ow l e dge t han an y y e

,

pu bli she d My sti c s an d the The oso p hi c Pre ss i n dorse the m it

. ,

the hi ghe st te rms Ne w large ty p e

. No 22976 . .

In Tu n e W i t h t h e In fin i t e . Ra lph Wa ldo Trin e Bou n d i .

J ap an e se sty l e or sp e c i al si lk No 22996 . .

Isi s U n v e i le d . A bou t 1 500 p age s Portr ait of the Au thor .

H P Blav alsky No 2301 6 2 Vols 6 x 9

. . . . 7 . .

J o se p h u s. The au the n ti c works an d life of thi s gr e at J e wi sh his

tori an an d c e l e brate d w arri or Tran slate d by Wm lVinston M A . . , .

1055 p gs attr ac tive l y

., bou n d a n d illu str ate d 7V 2 x 9V2 . .

No 23061
. .

Ki n gd o m o f L o v e , T h e . Hen ry Frank Be au ti fu lly e x .

p re sse d w hol e some

, he l p fu l an d i n sp iri n g e ssay s 245 p gs
, .

No . 1 .

Ko r an , Th e . Common l y c all e d the Alkoran o f Mohamme d ( th

Mohamme di an Bi bl e ) 559 p gs No 23071 . . .

Ki t sh u a an d O r p h e u s, the G re at in iti ate s oi the East an d We st

Edou a rd Scl mr e No 23 106 . .
Py t h a go r as an d t h e D e lp h i c My st e r i e s . Edou a rd Sclztzr e .

No 2381 1
.

Q u e e n MO O an d t h e E gy p t i an Sp h i n x . A most i n te re sti n g
a n d v al u ab l e w or k the r e su lt of e xte n sive r e se ar c h amon g t he
—

ru i n e d p al a c e s tombs an d te m p l e s a n d c ar e fu l stu dy o f the si gn s

, , ,

sy mbol s a n d a n c i e n t man u sc ri p ts o f the May as o f p r e hi sto ri c

Yu c atan ; show i n g e vi de n c e s of a c ivili z ati on an te dati n g by c e n ,

tu r ie s that o f t he Easte r n He mi sp he r e
, an d givi n g a r e aso n abl e ,

sol u ti o n o f t hat my ste ry o f the a ge s the Ori gi n a n d Me a n i n g o f

—

t he Egy p ti a n Sp hi n x A ugustu s L e Plonge on

. Be au ti fu lly ill u str ate d .

with fu ll p age hal f ton e p ri n ts from p hotogr ap hs take n by the

-
,

au t hor w hil e e x p l ori n g t hose an c i e n t r e m ai n s No 23851 Re du c e d . . .

from the Au thors p ri c e to .

Q u e e n Mo o s Ta li sm an . The Fall of the May a Emp ire A

’
.

be au ti fu l Poe m w ith ln tr odu c tion a n d Exp l an atory A rgu

me n t . A lice L e Plongeon Profu se ly ill u str ate d C l oth
. . .

No 23841
.

R u b a i y a t o f O m a r Kh a y y am , Th e . With 1 2 fu ll p age ill u s

tr atio n s i n c ol or s a n d ti n te d borde r de si gn s 6x 9 De c ke l e dge , . ,

No 23 936
. Wate re d Sil k No 23940 , .

Li mp Le athe r. No 23937 .

Se c r e t D o c t r i n e , T h e . The Sy n the si s o f Sc i e n c e Re li gi on , ,

a n d Phil oso p hy 6 x 9 A bou t 1 500 p gs w ith i n de x Vol s l

. . .

a n d ll No 24066. . Vol lll No 24067 . . .

Se c r e t D o c t r in e , A b r i d ge d . Hillaia’. No 2403 1 . .

Se r m o n o n t h e Mo u n t , an d othe r Extr ac ts from the Ne w

Te stame n t A ve rbati m tr an sl ati on from the G re e k w ith n ote s o n
.

t he My sti c al or A rc an e Se n se J a mes M Pry se C l oth . . . .

No 24076
. 60 .

Se rv a n t i n t h e Ho u se , Th e . A be au ti fu l an d u p li fti n g dr ama
o f Brothe rl y Love Cha rles Rana Kenn edy No. .

Six t h an d Se v e n t h Bo ok s o f M o se s, Th e . The wo n de r fu l
arts of the o ld w i se He bre w s t a ke n from the Mosai c boo ks o f the
,

Kabbalah an d the Tal mu d for the goo d o f man ki n d 1 00 p gs

, . .

Pap e r No 24040
, . .

St o r y O t h e r Wi se Man , Th e . A be au ti fu l n ar
of the
r ative Henry Van Dy ke Ex q u i site ly p ri n te d an d bou n d Cloth
. . . ,

No 23961 50 an d Li mp Le athe r No 23962

. , . . . . .

Te m p le , Th e . lts Mi n i stry an d Ser vic e s at the Ti me o f J e su s

C hrist. Rev Dr Eiders/ win
. . 308 p gs No 24201 . . .
Th e Ta b e r n a c le . lts Hi story a n d Stru c tu re Re v lv Shaw . . .

Ca ldecott Cl oth 5M . ; x 230 p gs No 24176

, . .

Th o u gh t s f o r t h e O c c asi o n . A Man u al of Hi stori c al Data an d

Fac ts He l p fu l in Su gge sti n g The me s an d in Ou tli n i n g A ddre sses
,

for the Obse rvan c e o f Ti me ly or Sp e c i al O c c asi on s of the Ma

son i c Odd Fe ll ows a n d vari ou s othe r Orde rs Comp il e d by
, .

Fra nklin Nohle D D 576 p gs c l oth No 2421 6

, . . . . .

Th r o u gh Si le n c e t o R e a li z a t i o n . Thi s work e mbo di e s a

sy ste m o f i n stru c ti on for me n t al gro wt h a n d att ai n me n t o f i de al s .

Floy d B Wi lson . No 24241

. .

V o i c e o f t h e Si le n c e , an d Othe r C hose n Fr agme n ts from the

Book of the G ol de n Pre c e p ts for the Dail y Use of L an oo s B P . . .

Bla vatsky C l oth No 24266 50 Le athe r No 24267

. . . , 75 . . . . .

W
J . C O L V I LL E S B O O KS.
.
’

A Selection of the Most Popu la r Worhs by This Great A uthor a n d We ll

Kn own L ectu rer in Eu r ope A merica an d A ustralia , , .

A n c i e n t M y st e r y a n d M o d e r n R e v e l a t i o n . A w on de rfu l
n e w w or k By lV J Colv ille
. The boo k w hi c h w ill be o f c on
. .
—
,

side r able si z e w ill aim to i n trodu c e se l e cte d ge ms from Ori e n ta l

,

lite ratu r e toge the r w ith p hiloso p hi c al i n te rp re tati on s of the mo st

di sp u te d Bi bl e te xts an d it w ill al so p re se n t hi ghly c on de n se d
,

bi ogr a p hi c al ac c ou n ts o f the Esote ri c Sc hool s of A n ti qu ity an d the

c har ac t e ri st i c s o f the ir fou n de rs To e ve ry li be r al mi n de d Bi bl e
.
-

stu de n t a n d to a ll w ho ar e i n ve sti gat i n g the p sy c hi c p robl e ms o f

to day the w ork as a w ho l e mu st a pp e al as on e o f more than

-

ave rage i n te re st .
’
A ri gi dly re stri c te d su bsc ri be rs e dition w il l be pu blishe d as
soo n as su bsc r i p ti on s have be e n r e c e ive d All who w i sh to .

add the ir n a me s to the roll ar e i n vi te d to se n d w ith fu ll n ame

a n d p ost o liic e a ddre ss
-
lmme diate ly o n p u bli c ati on the boo k w ill
.

be forw ar de d p ostp ai d to e ve ry su bsc ri be r throu ghou t the worl d .

Si x cop ies to an y si n g l e a d dr e ss o n r e c e i pt or

Bi r t h d ay s, Th e Si gn i fic e n c e o f , or Our Pl ac e s in the Un ive r

sa l Z o di a c W J Colv ille Le athe re tte . No 22191 50
. . . . .

Pa p e r No 221 95 . .

D a sh e d A ga in st t h e R o c k . A sc i e n tific n ove l ill u str atAed ,

with man y re markabl e di agr ams lV J Colv ille Cl oth . . . . .

No 223 1 6
. .

Fa t e Ma st e r e d -D e st i n y F u lfille d . Thre e sti r ri n g essay s on

live i ssu e s A ve ry taste fu l p re se n tati o n volum e lv J Colv l
iéa
. . . .
G lin t s o f Wi sd o m He l p fu l Say i n gs for Busy Mome n ts A h
, or .

str ac ts from Le c tu r es by W J Colv ille A n e n c y c l o p e di a of . .

p sy c hol ogi c al l aws c on tai n e d in an e n dl e ss vari e ty of su bje c ts .

Le athe re tte fle xi ble No 22671 40

,
Pap e r No 22675
. . 30 . . . . .

He a lt h f r o m Kn o w le d ge ; or the L aw o f Corre sp on de n c e s as
A p p li e d to He ali n g W J Colv ille Le athe re tte No 22745
. . 50 . . . .

Li f e an d Po w e r f r o m Wi t h i n . A n exc e ll e n t book e mbrac i n g ,

t he most a dvan c e d me n tal p hy si c a l te ac hi n g an d the simp l e st ru l e s

-

for the gu i dan c e o f daily life ac co r din gt o Ne w Thou ght stan dards , .

W J Colv ille C loth No 23 1 51

. . . .

L i v i n g D e c alo gu e Th e . 1 2 Exp ository Le c ture s W J , . .

Colv ille Le athe re tte No 23 1 56 . 50

.

Le c t u r e s by W J Colv ille on vari ous su bj e cts ! A tlan ti s T

, . he , ,

Way of ln itiation ln iti ation a n d its Re su l ts Symboli sm Its u se

, .
—

an d Val u e e tc Se n d for li st e ac h
, . 3 for 25 , . .

Me n t al Th e r a p e u t i c s E le m e n ta r y Te x t Bo o k o f . Twe lve ,

Pra cti c al Le sson s W J Colv ille No 22420

. . 25 . . .

O ld a n d N e w Psy c h o l o gy . Twe n ty fou r c hap te rs i n c l u di n g -

,

e xp l an atory e ssay s on m an y su bj e c ts o f vi t al i n te re st to a ll te ac he rs

a n d stu de n ts W J Colv ille C loth No .23 766

. . . . .

O n e si m u s T e m p le t o n . A vivi d roman c e tr ac i n g the e vol u ti on ,

o f a sou l from bon dage to li ber ty W J Colv ille C loth . . . .

No 23 771
. 50 .

Th r o n e o f E d e n , Th e . Twe nty six c hapte rs p re se nti n g im

“
-

p ortan t te a c hi n gs e n tru ste d to the wr ite r s c harge ; al so a re c ord

'

o f e xte n sive tr av e l i n t he Sou the r n He mi sp he re ; a n d a rati on al

sy ste m o f p re ve n t i n g as we l l as he a li n g di se ase s W J Colv ille . . .

C l oth No 241 86
. .

U n i v e r sa l Sp i r i t u a li sm . Sp iri t C ommu n i on in all age s amo n g

all p e o p l e The work has two di sti n c tive fe atu r e s ! ( l st ) A
.

re su me o f the Sp iritu al faith an d p rac ti c e o f Egy p t ln di a Pe rsi a , , ,

G re e c e Rom e C hi n a J ap a n an d othe r an c i e n t n ati on s n ot e x

, , , ,

c e p tin g Eu ro p e du ri n g C hri sti an c e n tu ri e s

, ( 2n d ) A su mmary .

o f re c e n t e xp e ri e n c e s in A me ri c a G re at Bri t ai n A u str ali a Fr an c e . , , ,

G e rman y lt aly an d othe r mode rn lan ds a ll te n di n g to show the

, ,

p e rsi ste n t c on ti n u i ty o f sp iritu al r e ve l ati on Cl airvoy an c e Te l e . ,

p athy an d Psy c hi c Phe nome n a in ge n e r al ar e de alt w ith i n se p a

r ate c hap te rs at the c lose o f the vo lu me w hi c h e xte n ds to 352 ,

p age s maki n g it a hi ghly u se fu l te xt book for all w ho ar e

,
-

i n te reste d in the q u esti on of human i mmortali ty W J Colv ille . . .

C l oth No 24256
. .
 Co n d e n se d L i st of Ne w
Boo k s, R e gu l a rl y i n St oc k , f o r
Sa l e , Ex c h a n ge or Ci r c u l a t i n g L i b ra ry
Use . Ma y b e Ex c h a n ge d i f n ot

Fo u n d t o b e Wh a t is Wa n t e d .

Or d e r By Nu m b e r.
2 2 00 1 A A S R
. . . .
, Boo k of th e . McClena chan
22 01 1 A d o p tive Rite , r e vise d , en lar ge d Macoy .

2 2 02 1 Ah ima n Re z on , Ge n eral Si c/eels .

2 2 02 4 Mo r occo bi n di ng , gilt e d ges .

2 202 6 A h r in z iman A n Occult Story A n i ta Si lv am

, .

Ak i n s Man u al o f t he Lod ge
’
2 2 0 36
2 2 006 A ll The s e Thi n gs A dd e d A lle n .

2 42 3 1 A ltar in t he Wil d er n ess J ohnson Cloth

. .

2 42 3 5 Pa p e r
2 20 51 A mar an t h O d es
2 20 55
2 2 0 41 Amaran t h Ritual r evise d, en la r ge d
, Macoy . . 1 .

2 2 08 1 A n cie n t Co n st Re p ri n t 1 72 3
. Mu s 1 c A n d erson . . 1 .

2 2 0 56 A n cie n t Myst e r i e s an d Mod e rn Mason ry 1 .

2 20 60 P ap e r R ev Ch ar les H Vail
. . .

2 20 71 A nn otat ed Con stitutio n s Si mons . 1 .

Cloth
’
2 3 72 6 A n O ccu list s Travels R ei chel . 1 . .

A n cie n t Mystic Orie n ta l Mason r y Clymer 1 . ” .

A n ci en t Orde r o f Hu rcu les ( B u r lesque ) , 6 cop ies 5 .

A n t e R oom Talks , Bloomer, I .

A n ti quities o f Freemaso n ry Oliv er I

. .

A n tiq uiti e s of t h e Or ie n t U n veil e d R edding 1 , . .

A r ca n e Schools Hist o f Fm sy J oh n Yor ker

-
.
4 . . .

A s a Man T h i nk et h J A llen . Cloth , 454x 754 .

. .

Le ather
Wate re d Silk
Sp ecial Gi f t Ed iti on
Pa p e r
Ben Hu r .Wallace
B ible Testimon y t o Th e oso p hical Truth s
Biogr a p hy of Mr s B abi n gton .

B i rth d ays , Th ei r Sign ifica n ce Colv ille .

Pa p er
Book o f A A S R . McClen achan
. . .

B ook o f I O O F F orm s
. . . . .

B oo k o f th e Cha p ter Mack ey . ,

B ook o f t h e Master A dams Clot h . .

B r otherh ood Har d in g

.

Br otherhoo d of H e ale r s J Mac be th Cl oth

’

. . .

B roth e r o f Third D egr e e Carv er .

Bu echn e r s Frate rn al Regi st er v est pock l eat her , .

’
Bu sb ee s D ige st I O O F ,
. . .

Cha p t e r Book o f t he Mack ey Cloth

, , ,

Cha pter Music Ilsley .

Charges of a Mason Chase .

Christm as Easte r an d Burial Se rv ices K T

, ,
. . .

Leat her R ev Cor n eliu s L Tu ri n g

. . .

Morocc o 1

Pa p er
Coles In itiatio n Ritual ( B u r lesqu e ) 6 co p ie s ,
.
3
Colora d o G r an d Lo d ge Mon itor Fost er Clot h . . .

L ea ther
Co n c ise Cyclo pe d ia o f Fr eemason r y Hawki ns . .

Con cor d ia wo r d s o n ly I lsley

, ,

Co n stitutio n an d Histo ry A A S R , . . . 2 .

Con stitutio n s O E S ,
A fr i ca p a p e r
. . .
, ,

Cosmogo n y o f Evolution I ngalese Cl oth . . 2 .

Cultu r e o f Co n cen tration W Q J u dge . . .

Con st ructive Psych ology B u ck .

Cou n cil Mon ito r Chase , ,

Cou n cil Mon ito r Mackey . ,

Cra f t Maso n ry Cu n n in gham

. .

Morocco
Cross Ma son ic Chart Rev i se d ,

Cruci fix ion b y an Ey e W itn ess

,

Cr yp tic Mas on r y Mackey .

Cyclop e d i a o f F r atern ities S l ev en s .

Cush i n g s Man ual Parliame n t ary La w

’
,

D ash e d A gain st t h e Roc k Colv ille .

F ive Jewels o f the Orie n t , The . B u r ton 1 .

F lo r al Ma rc h S imp son .

F loral Wor k B u nn ell .

Mon ito r G r L odge Comm

F l ori d a , .

Le ather 1 .

F re e maso n ry an d Jesuit ry
F reemaso n s Mon ito r Si ck els
’
. .

Same Lo d ge to Comdy leath er

, ,
.
,

F r ee mason s Mon ito r Th or n berg

’
.

Leather
F ree m ason s Mo n ito r
’
Webb Cloth . .

F r eimau r er s H an d b uc h Commi ttee

’
.

Leath er
Fr ei maurer s H an d buch , small
’
.

F u n d am en ta l Truths N D Cloth . . .

F u ne r a l Se rvices S imons Macoy .

—

Pap e r bou n d
G em o f Son g, 0 E S P i tkin <9 Math ews
. . .

P ap e r
G en e r al A himan Re z o n a La rge Mon itor , ,

Same morocco an d gilt Si ck els Macoy

,
.
—

Gen ius o f F reemason ry B u ck .

Gli n t s o f W i s d om W J Colv i lle . . .

P ap e r
Gre at Work T K . .

G ui d e t o Cha p ter Sh ev i lle G ou ld lim p clot h

.
, ,

Sa me in clot h an d gi lt b i n d i n g
Le at her bou n d with flap
Bou n d in i m it atio n cowhi d e morocco
Large li b r ary size cloth b oun d , .

Same in imitatio n morocco .

G ui l d F ree Ma so n s A n c C o n s t ,
. .

Han d Book o f F reemason ry D r ew .

Harmon ia . Mu si c Cu tler , ,
.

Harmon ies o f E volution Hu n tley . 2

Healt h f r om Kn owle dge Colv ille .

Le athe re tte
Heave n ly Li f e J ames A llen Cl oth
. .

Leat her
 Wate re d Silk
Sp e ci al Gi ft E ditio n
Paper
Hebrew B ible in E n glis h to 20 . .

H erm e s a n d Plato S chu r e ,

Hermetic Writi n g o f Parace su s Wai te 2 v ol 1 8 . . .. .

Heroi n es of Je r ico Cer emon ies Cloth D i ckson

. . .

He r oi n e s o f Je ri co Ritual Cl oth Di ckson

.
, . .

Histo r ic al La n dm a r k s Oliv er 4. .

H is tor ica l Sk etch Morton Comma n d e ry

—
2 .

Histo ry an d Powe r of Min d Ingalese Cl oth 2 . . . .

History o f A A Scottish Rite F olger

. .
3 .
,
.

Histo ry o f Color e d F ree mason ry Grimshaw 1 . . .

History of Fr eemasonry Con cise G ou ld Clot h 2 , . . .

Libra ry sheep
—
4 .

Hal f Mor occo 3 .

4.

Leva n t 8 .

Hi st o f Fr eem ason ry
. Con cor d an t O r d er s .
4 .

H al f Mo rocco S ti llson <9 Hu ghan

.
5 .

Full Mo r occ o . 6 .

10 .

Histo ry of Frmsy G ou ld 6 v ol V2 cal f

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.
,
. 25 .

Morocco ( Sh op worn sets on ly )

.
, 30 .

History of F reemaso n ry Mi tchell 2 v ols .

, 4 .

Library s he ep
—
5 .

6 .

Histo ry of In iti ation Oliv er . 1 .

History of K T Rev is ed A ddison

. .
3 . .

Libra ry Shee p 3 .

Hal f A merican Russia 3 .

Hal f A me r ic an Morocco 4 .

Full A m e rican Russia 4 .

Ful l A merican Mo r occo 5 .

Full Persian Morocco 8 .

Histo ry o f Mem p his Rite 1 .

Hist ory o f O E S En gle

. . 2 .

Hist ory o f Rosi c ruci an s Wai te 2 —

.

In iti a t io n W ay o f
, R u dolf S tein er P D
. 1 ,
. .. .

Pa p e r
In itiation and It s Results R u dolf S tein er P h D 1 .
,
. . .
In itiation o f a Can d i d ate 6 cop ies ( B u r lesqu e ) 5 —

In d i an Maso n ry Wr igh t .

In Mem ori am Ori n Welsh —

.

In st allation Cer emon ie s Si mon s Wh i tin g .

—
.

Paper
In tr od uction an d History A A S R ,
. . .

In Tu n e with t h e In fi n ite Tr i ne .

I O O F Hist an d Ma n ual
. . . . .

Hal f Morocco
Full Morocco
Ir ish Pr in ce an d Heb r ew Prophet Kissick .

Jerico R oa d ( I O O F ) Th ompson
. . . . .

J esuitry an d F rm sy R ameses .

J e su s t h e Last G r eat In itiate S chu r e

, . 1
J ew e ls o f Pythian Kn ighthood cloth , 3
H al f Mor occo .
4 .

F u ll Moroc c o 5
Jos e p hus The Works o f, 1
Ka bb al ah Un veil e d S L M Ma ther s Cloth . . . . . .
3
Ki n gdom o f Lov e F r an k . 1 .

’
Ki n g Solomon s Se cr e t ( Far ce )
K o f P D rill Ca r na han Leath er
. . . . 1
1
Kln ight s Zor oa ste r s ( B u r lesqu e ) 6 co p ie s 3
of the ,

Kn ight Temp lar Mel od ies p er d oz 4 , .

Kor an Tran slated by Sale

. 1 .

K r i sh n a an d Or p h eu s Sch u r e I . .

Lab yri n th as a Li f e Sto ry 0 E S Pa p e r . . . . .

Law o f Men tal Me d ici n e T J Hu dson . . .

Law of Psychic Phen omen a T J Hu dson . . . .

Le x icon o f F re emason ry Mackey .

,

Li fe an d Po w er f rom Withi n Colv ille .

Li fe an d D octri n e of Pa rac elsu s Cloth 2 . .

Li f e an d W r iti n gs o f D r Robt F lu d d Cloth 2 . . . .

L ight o f A sia E d win A r no ld . .

Light on th e Path M C Cloth . . .

Leath e r
Li ghts an d Shad ows Mor ris Mack ey 2
.
—
.

Livi n g D ecalogu e Colvi lle . .

Lod ge Go at Comic . .

Lod ge Music Ilsley .

Mason ic Token A nd erson 2 ,

Mason ic Tri als Tr eatis e u p on L aw L ook

. 1 .

Mast e r Mas on Han d B oo k Cr owe I .

Mast e ry o f Mi n d in Ma k i n g o f Man Fr an k 1 .

Mau re r ische s Lie d erb uch R oehr Cloth . .

Memor ial Se rvice 0 E S E n gle

, . . .

Met al Therap eutics A Te x t Book Colv ille

. .

Me y e r s Tactics
’
.

Mid d l e Ch amber Wor k Pa p e r .

Mi n iatu re Mon itor Webb .

L e ather
Missi n g Li n k ( B u r lesqu e ) 6 co p i e s .

Sam e with outfit

Mis sion o f Mason ry P eters .

P ape r
Mon itor o f A A S R By Webb Car son
. . . . 1 —
.

Mo n itor Gran d Lo dge N Y

—
I .

Moot Court Marti al 6 copies ,

2
Morals an d D ogma Scottish Rite P i k e
, 5 . .

Mu n c hers of H ar d T ack 6 cop ies ( B u r lesqu e ) 3 ,

Music o f Chapte r Marsh Clot h . .

Paper F l e xibl e
A m e ric an Morocco 1

P ap e r B oard
My rtle Bal d wi n Mu n n . 1

Mysti c Ch or d . Mabie
Pap er
Mystic Mason ry B u ck . 1

Mystic Tie M orr is Mackey

.
-
2

New Li ght f rom the G reat Pyr ami d P ar sons 5 .

N ew O d d Fe llows Ma n ual Gr osh lea the r I —

,

Cloth . L arge r Ed ition 2

Moroc c o an d Gilt Larger E d ition .
3
New Woman ( B u r lesque ) 4 copies 1 ,

Nu gget s f r om Kin g Solomon s Mi n es Sch malz 2 ’

.

Obelisk an d Fr eem ason ry Weisse p ap er 1 .

,

Obituary Rites of F re emason ry .

O c cu lt Scien ce in In d i a J acolliot .2 .

Oce an o f Th eos op hy The W Q J udge Cloth , . . . .

2 30 1 1 O d d Fellows hi p . His . an d Man ual . R oss 3 .

Hal f Morocco

O dd Fe llowship , Ofli cial History . Can vas

Hal f Morocco . A rt ca n v as

O E S B urial Se rv ices Macoy

. . . .

O E 5 Man u al Macoy Ori gin al Ed ition

. . . . . .

O ld an d N ew Psychology Colvi lle . 1 .

O n esimu s Te mp leton Colvi lle .

On the Road to Selr Kn owl e d ge J on es Cloth -

. . .

Ori en t al Ord e r o f Humility 6 copi e s .

( u r lesqu e )
B
Origi n o f F r ee m ason ry an d K T B en n e tt . . .

Out F rom the He art J A llen Cloth . . .

Leather
Wate r e d Sil k
Sp e c i a l Gift Ed itio n
P aper
Path o f Prosperity The J A llen ,
. .

Le ather

Sp ec ial Gi ft E d itio n
Paper
Paths t o Power Wi lson . 1 .

P e r f ect Way ; or Fi n d i n g o f Christ Kingsfor d 2

, .

E mboss e d Cloth Cov e r 2

Philosophy o f F ire Clymer Cloth . 1 . .

Poet ry o f F reemason ry Morris Silk cloth gi lt 3 . .

,
’
Pr e late s Lesson .

Pri n ciples Pr actice Mason ic Law Simons

, , 1 ,
.

Put T hr ough ( Comic )

Pyt hagoras an d t he D e lphi c Mysteri e s S chu r e 1 . . ,

Pythia n Kn ighthoo d clot h Cor nahan , 3 .

Ha l f Moroc c o 4 .

Full Morocco .
5
Q uee n MOO an d Egy p tian Sp h in x L e P longeon 4 .

Q ueen Moo 3 Talism an Cloth

’
1 . “

Q u e e n o f Sahar a 6 cop ies ( B u r lesqu e )

, 3 .

Q u ee n o f t he South Macoy .

Pa p er
Ran s for d D rill O E S . . . . .

R e d B lood of Od d F ellowshi p
R evi e w o f Cryptic Ma son ry Warv elle p a p e r .
,
.

Robe rts Rul e s o f O r der

’
.

Rose C roi x Gi lliam . .

Rosi c ru c i an Cosm o Con cep tion Hei n d el

,
.

R o si c r u c i an s Clyrn er
.

R osi c ru c i an s Rit e s an d Myst e ri e s J en n i n gs

,
. .

Roy al A r c h Comp an ion Ch ase limp cloth . ,

Sam e in cloth an d gild bi n di n g

L e ather bou n d w ith flap
Roy al A rch St an dar d M c G own li mp clot h . , , .

Sa me in cloth an d gilt bi n d i n g 1 .

L eath e r bo u n d with flap 1 .

Roy al Or d er of Ogli n g Owls ( B u r lesqu e ) 6 cop 3 , .

Rub aiy at o f Omar Khayram D eck e 1 edge 1 . .

Wat e r e d Silk 2 .

L im p Le ather 2 .

Rui n s o f Em p i res Valeny .

P aper
Leather
Sac r e d Mysteries A L e P longeon. .

Sca rl e t B ook o f F rm sy R ed di ng . .

Sc i en tific D emon str a tion o f t h e Future

Sec r e t D octri n e V ols 1 2 ,
B lav a tsky .
,
.

Sec r e t D octri n e V ol 3 B lav a tsky

, . .

Se c ret D o c tri n e A b ri d g e d
Se r mo n on the Mou n t P r y se Cl oth . .

Se r mo n s an d A dd resses 480 p age s ( Sho p worn ) . .

Se rv an t in t h e Hous e K e n n e dy 1 . .

Shibboleth K T Mo n itor
, . Con n or
. 1 . .

Sickl e s A hi man Re zon G en eral 2 , .

G e n ui n e Morocco 3 .

Sickl e s Mo n ito r 1 .

Leather I .

Sign e t o f K S F re eman son s D aughter A r n old 1

’
. .
, . .

Si gn s an d Sym b ol s Oliv er . I .

Si n g ula r Sto r y o f F r e e m aso n ry .

Si xt h an d Se v en t h B ook o f Moses
Sm i t h s D ia gram o f Parliamen t ar y R u l e s c loth
’
,

Le ather p archmen t cha rt

,
 Washi n gton an d His Mason ic Com p ee r s
Way o f In itiatio n R u d olf S tein er P D
.
,
. . .

Pap er
W ay of Peace T h e J A llen Clot h
, . . .

L eath e r
W at e r e d Sil k
Sp ecial Gift Ed itio n
Pap e r
We bb s Mon ito r
’

Leath e r
What A ll the World s a See ki n g Tr in e
’
-
.

Wis d om of t he A ge s ( B u rlesqu e ) 6 copies , .

Witch i n g Hou r Thomas .

Worsh ip f ul Mast er s A ssistan t Macoy

’
.

Sam e in Mor occ o an d gilt

,

3 2 D egrees K P or N i n et y in t he Sha d e Comic

. . . .

E XC H A N G E D IF N OT SA T I SFA CTO RY .

OT H E R B OO K S
on an y su b j ect ar e s up p l i e d i n t h e sh ort es t po s s ibl e tim e .

Rare old an d ou t of p r i n t w orks s ecu re d o r i n format ion

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given fro m ou r accu m ul a tiv e c a r d i n d e x W rit e u s a l s o if .

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y ou h av e a n y t o s el l ch ea p l y or t o giv e t o l e s s fortu n at e
col l e c tio n s .

Se n d for l i st co n t a i n i n g a d e s c rip tio n o f al l k i n d s of

Mu sic Chart s E n gr avi n g s C erti fi c a te s an d En grossmg ;
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For ou r man y re ade rs , w ho have
room for a colle c ti o n o f no

boo ks y e t w i sh to be c ome c on ve rsa n t w ith Mason ry its Ori gi n

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Hi story Sy mbo li sm an d O bj e c ts or The osop hi c My sti c Oc c u lt an d

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c o n t a i n i n g the l ate st a n d be st as we ll as man y r ar e o ld a n d ou t o i

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p ri n t books o n t he se su bj e c ts
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We i n vite y ou to c on su lt the m fre e ly at the olhc e withou t c harge ,

or to u se t he m at y ou r home s at the r ate o f te n p e r c e n t o f the ir

v al u e for the fir st t hirty day s a n d a n addi t i o n a l fi v e p e r c e n t for

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e a c h mo n th t he re a fte r w hi c h will c ove r the e xp e n se o f wr app i n g

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c a n a dd to y ou r stor e o f kn o wl e dge for gre ate r u se fu l n e ss an d p e r ,

so n a l e n ioy me n t .

A s ti me a n d c ar lar e is an i mp ortan t ite m y ou c an orde r the ,

boo ks to be se n t throu gh the ma il o r e xp re ss. by e n c losi n g stam p s or

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p e rc e n tage w he n the books are r e tu rn e d

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Re ade rs in a n y p art o f t he Un ite d State s c an take a dv an tage of

the mail r ate s Books V—
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whi c h we advan c e by
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p re p ay i n g the m to y o u r e xp re ss or p ost o ffic e de du c ti n g the same ,

w he n re fu n di n g bal an c e .

To se c u re books on the C irc u lati n g Li brary Pl an orde r the ,

boo ks in the u su al w ay se n d Mon e y Orde r e q u iva l e n t to the val u e

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Tru sti n g y ou will fin d i t c onve n i e n t to m ake u se of the boo ks at

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We are y ou rs frate rn all y

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