Mystic Masonry

Full title is: Mystic Masonry: The Symbols Of Freemasonry and The Greater Mysteries of Antiquity-----published in 1897.Table Of Contents. Introduction — Chapter I. Principles of Education and Ethics — Chapter II. The Genius of Freemasonry — Chapter III. The Genius of Freemasonry (continued) — Chapter IV. The Secret Doctrine — Chapter V. The Secret Doctrine (continued) Science and Religion. — Chapter VI. The Secret Doctrine (continued) The Seven-fold Nature of Man — Chapter VII. The Secret Doctrine (continued)The Sign of the Master — Chapter VIII. The Great Lodge — Chapter IX. An Outline of Symbolism — Chapter X. ConclusionIllustrations and Plates are available for viewing and download at www.digitaltextpublishing.comPreface To The Second Edition. That a second edition of this little book should be called for within six weeks of the date of issue is, perhaps, the best answer to the inquiry in the mind of its author as to what kind of a reception so serious a view of modern Freemasonry, and so high an estimate of Ancient Mysteries as is herein set forth, might receive. It has not only attracted attention and excited inquiry, but met the unqualified approval of certain high Masons. Sir Albert Pike's greatest work, restricted to the members of the craft, obtained but one hundred and fifty subscribers. If Mystic Masonry quadrupled this subscription list before the date of publication, the reason is to be sought, not in the superior quality of the book, but in the more popular form in which the subject is handled, in the removal of all restrictions as to subscribers, and still more, from the fact that a widespread interest has of late arisen in regard to these subjects; offering, as the author believes, the grandest opportunity presented to real Masonry for more than a thousand years, for presenting its sublime philosophy to the world for the uplifting of humanity. Mystic Masonry is, to a considerable extent, a compilation. It was not the author's purpose to become an innovator, but rather, in a modest way, an inspirer and renovator, and for this purpose he but repeated statements that had already been made by those high in Masonic authority, statements that had been overlooked or forgotten, and that needed to be remembered. In his preface to Morals and Dogma, Mr. Pike declares that about one-half of that work is original matter, and half taken from various sources, and that as he was writing neither for fame nor money, but for the benefit of the craft, the source of what he had set down was a matter of secondary importance. He often adapted, rather than quoted, in many places, and very seldom gave authorities. He wrote those things which he evidently believed his Masonic Brotherhood ought to know, and as he had divested his mind of all selfish motive or hope of gain, so must he be exempt from the charge of plagiarism. He drew very largely, in many places, from the writings of Abbe Constant, better known as Eliphas Levi, whose writings then existed only in the French language, and which undoubtedly contain the most profound knowledge of the Occult Sciences and the Ancient Mysteries given to the world since the days of the Old Initiates. As the present author has observed, in the body of this book, it matters far less whence these truths have been derived than what they really mean, although no reader is bound to accept the interpretation put upon them by any writer or commentator. Yet every intelligent inquirer may discern their general reasonableness, the logical sequence of the whole as revealing a profound philosophy of Nature and of Life, and the beneficent influence they must exert if universally diffused and generally adopted amongst men. Read more