Knowledge Files » History

Mozart and Masonry

Vigilant — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 03:31:07 +0000

This work looks at the involvement of Mozart with Freemasonry and analyzes the Masonic meaning of some of his works, especially The Magic Flute. Mozart and Masonry also provides an interesting look at Masonic music that was created before and after Mozart’s era.

“There is no doubt that Mozart had truly accepted the Masonic view of life, especially the teachings of the third degree. This is shown in a letter, frequently quoted, which he wrote to his father on April 4, 1787, when Leopold was seriously ill: “Death is (to be exact) the ultimate purpose of life and therefore, during the last few years, I have acquainted myself so thoroughly with this truest and best friend of man, that his image has not only ceased to frighten me, but has become a source of great comfort. And I can only thank God for having afforded me the opportunity (you will understand what I mean) to see in death the key to true happiness.” Further on he writes, apparently referring to the Masonic secret, “I hope and wish that your condition is improving while I am writing these lines. If, however, contrary to all expectations, you do not feel better, then I implore you by…. not to make a secret of it but to tell me the truth so that I may be in your arms as soon as is humanly possible. I implore you by all that we hold sacred”.

CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION
MOZART AND THE CRAFT
A MASONIC ALBUM FROM MOZART’S DAY
MASONIC Music BEFORE MOZART
MASONIC MUSICIANS AROUND MOZART
MOZART’S MASONIC COMPOSITIONS
THE MAGIC FLUTE: BACKGROUND
THE MAGIC FLUTE: WORDS AND Music
THE MAGIC FLUTE: SEQUELS
MOZART’S LIFE
MOZART THE MAN
MASONIC MUSIC AFTER MOZART
FOOTNOTES
NOTES
INDEX

The History of Initiation

Vigilant — Fri, 19 Mar 2010 03:14:20 +0000

In Twelve Lectures Comprising a Detailed Account of the Rites and Ceremonies, Doctrines and Discipline of all the Secret and Mysterious Institutions of the Ancient World. Contents: General Introduction; History of Initiation in Hindostan; Philosophy of the Eastern Mysteries; Initiation in Persia; History of Initiation in Greece; Ceremonies of Initiation into the Mysteries of Bacchus; Places of Initiation into the Celtic Mysteries; Ceremonies of Initiation in Britain; Symbols and Doctrines of the Druids; History of Initiation into the Gothic Mysteries; Doctrines and Morality; History of Initiation in America; Corollary.

“The excellent Preston says, with much justice, ” Many are deluded by the vague supposition, that our mysteries are merely nominal ; that the practices established amongst us are frivolous ; and that our ceremonies may be adopted or waived at pleasure. On this false basis we find too many of the Brethren hurrying through all the degrees of the Order, without adverting to the propriety of one step they pursue, or possessing a single qualification to entitle them to advancement. Passing through the usual formalities, they consider themselves authorized to rank as Masters of the Art, solicit and accept offices, and even assume the government of the Lodge, equally unacquainted with the rules of the Institution that they pretend to support, and the nature of the trust which they are bound to perform. The consequence is obvious; anarchy and confusion ensue, and the substance is lost in the shadow. Hence men, who are eminent for ability, rank, and fortune, frequently view the honours of Masonry with indifference ; and, when their patronage is solicited, either accept office with reluctance, or reject them with disdain.”

Table of Contents

General Introduction

History of Initiation in Hindostan

Philosophy of the Eastern Mysteries

Initiation in Persia

History of Initiation in Greece

Ceremonies of Initiation Into the Mysteries of Bacchus

Places of Initiation into the Celtic Mysteries

Ceremonies of Initiation in Britain

Symbols and Doctrines of the Druids

History of Initiation into the Gothic Mysteries

Doctrines and Morality

History of Initiation in America

Advancement of Learning and the New Atlantis

Vigilant — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 03:15:31 +0000

While he didn’t exactly invent science, Francis Bacon is its best-known early promoter. The Advancement of Learning is his 1605 argument in favor of natural philosophy and inductive reasoning, and it is still vigorous and cogent today. Though using the language of Shakespeare, the book remains largely accessible to modern readers–still, a bit of classical knowledge is helpful. Shaking off the centuries-old domination of Aristotle, Bacon advocated building scientific theories on facts and observations rather than pure reason; little has changed in our approach to understanding the world since then. Of greatest interest to historians and philosophers of science, the book will also appeal to those curious about the underpinnings of today’s naturalistic thinking.

The New Atlantis – This is one of Bacon’s most mysterious and prophetical works. References to the philosophy of the Rosicrucians and Freemasons are abundant. It is maintained that the New Atlantis was the blueprint for the founding of America. “This fable my lord devised, to the end that he might exhibit therein a model or description of a college, instituted for the interpreting of nature, and the producing of great and marvellous works for the benefit of man, under the name of Solomon’s House, or the College of the Six Days’ Works.” This book must be read by anyone interested in mystical history.

Contains two classic works.

The Secret Destiny of America

Vigilant — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 23:06:24 +0000

Manly Hall’s book on the hidden destiny of America is a well written and easy to read book of America as the Neoplatonic Utopia. Citing from rare and obscure references you will discover some amazing ideas of a land not born in history until some 500 or more years later. The book starts out in Ancient Egypt with Aknaten, as he declares the first democrat. Hall then states that the Greeks did at one time sail to America and got as far as the Great Lakes. The book also deals largely with prophecies. That of Atlantis, Nastradamus, Lord Bacon, Plato, and other more ‘silent’ prophets. The one particular aspect of this book that I really enjoyed is that Manly Hall really appreciates books and knowledge. He values them to the utmost degree (see his Great Books on Religion and Esoteric Philosophy). In the course of this literature he states that its not the facts that matter, but rather there is another point of view of history that we may not be aware of. This is just another one and to take it as gosepel truth is to miss the point entirely. Its to keep our imagination rolling and our eyes open that we can see the [personal] utopia. He goes on saying that America is the lost Utopia, or the never found utopia that so many people have been searching for or speculating in theory. Among the famous people that founded this country of whom all of which were involved in Freemasonry or other Secret Occult Societies. Washington, Franklin, Jefferson, and perhaps even Christopher Columbus.

Table of Contents

1. THE ORIGIN OF THE DEMOCRATIC IDEAL
2. THE WORLD’S FIRST DEMOCRAT
3 WESTWARD OCEAN TRAVEL TO THE EARTHLY PARADISE
4 THE FIRST ELECTION OF LAW-MAKERS
5 THE ANCIENT LEAGUE OF NATIONS
6 A ROMAN PROJECT TO GIVE RULERSHIP TO THE WISE
7 THE DEMOCRATIC TRADITION PRESERVED BY SECRET SOCIETIES
8 A NEW IDENTITY FOR CHRISTOPHER COLUMBUS
9 THE PROPHECIES OF NOSTRADAMUS
10 THE DESIGN OF UTOPIAS
11 THE OBJECTIVE OF THE SECRET SOCIETY
12 WESTERN CULTURE A THOUSAND YEARS BEFORE COLUMBUS
13 BACON’S SECRET SOCIETY IS SET UP IN AMERICA
14 A PROPHECY WRITTEN IN THE YEAR OF WASHINGTON’S BIRTH
15 THE UNKNOWN MAN WHO DESIGNED OUR FLAG
16 THOMAS PAINE AND THE RIGHTS OF MAN
17 THE UNKNOWN WHO SWAYED THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE
18 THE SYMBOLS OF THE GREAT SEAL OF THE U.S.
19 THE PROPHETIC DREAM OF GENERAL MC CLELLAN
20 THE END OF THE QUEST

Anacalypsis: An Attempt to Draw Aside the Veil of the Saitic Isis

Vigilant — Thu, 31 Dec 2009 19:32:26 +0000

“Godfrey Higgins was convinced that a high civilization had flourished prior to all historical records. He believed that there had existed then a most ancient and universal religion from which all later creeds and doctrines sprang.” His research lasted over 20 years. “He attempted to establish the existence of a prehistoric universal religion and to trace its development into contemporary times. He believed this religion possessed accurate knowledge of universal and cosmic phenomena and held neither priesthood nor institution as intermediary in man’s communion with the Divine.” This highly sought after book is extremely rare. Two volumes.

Partial Contents

Probable Origin of Numbers and Letters; Etymology and its Use; Origin of the Adoration of the Bull, Phallic and Vernal Festivals; Age of the World; First God of the Ancients, The Sun, Metempsychosis, Moral Evil, Buddha, Genesis; The Sun the first object of Adoration of all Nations; Two Ancient Ethiopias, Great Black Nation in Asia, Hindoos and Egyptians similar; Ancient Persians, First Books of Genesis, Disingenuous conduct in the Translators of the Bible, Abraham acknowledged more than one God; Jewish Trinity; Ancient Jewish Cabala, Sephiroths and Emanations; Melchizedek, Zoroaster, Zendavesta, All ancient Religions astrological; Character of the Old Testament; Orphic and Mithraitic Trinity, Mithra, Opinions of Herodotus, Porphyry, Strabo, Julian, Times of Pythagoras and Zoroaster, The Vedas describe the Persian Religion; The word OM; The Christian Trinity, Its Origin, Philo’s Trinity of the Jews; Life of Cristna; Crucifixion of Cristna, Immaculate Conception, from the History of Pythagoras; Buddha the Sun in Taurus, as Cristna was the Sun in Aries, Names and Meaning of the word Buddha; Isaiah’s Prophecy known to the Egyptians and the Celts of Gaul, Mystical meaning of the Letter M, Oriental Astronomical Systems; Cross the meaning of it, Monograms of Christ and Osiris, Lama of Tibet, Indra crucified, Jesuits’ Account of Tibet; Hercules and Samson the same; Baal, Etymology of the world Bal; Yajna or Passover; Secret Doctrines, Bull-headed and Ram -headed Gods; Disputed Chapters of Matthew and Luke; Flood of Noah, Text of Genesis, Origin of the Delta of Egypt; Adoration of the Virgin and Child; Ionians, Argonauts, Linga and Yoni; The Lotus; The Loadstone, Helen Athena; Ship of Egypt and Greece; Aphrodite and Diana, Thales; Cassandra, Babylonian Mythos, Constantine and Helena, Astrology; Rome, Jewish Pentateuch; Judaism shown by Eusebius to be older than Abraham, Hellenism; Mount of Solomon, Mount of the Cabala, Mount Olympus; Religions of Afghans and Rajpouts; Arabians of India; Jews hate the Female Principle, Jews and Egyptians, Observations on the Jews; Origin of the Sanscrit; Amazons; Cyclopes, all Ancient History Fable or nigma, Freemasons in Mundore; Serpent of Genesis; Observations on Homer, the Iliad, and the neid; Fish Avatar, Fish Acrostic; Observations on Templars, Chair of St. Peter, Gospel of St. Joachim, Masons; Freemasons of York and India.