Sacred Texts  Sub Rosa  Index  Previous  Next 
Buy this Book at Amazon.com

p. 514 p. 515

BOOK IX

SECRET TRADITION IN CHRISTIAN TIMES

p. 516 p. 517

THE ARGUMENT

I. PRELIMINARY TO THE WHOLE SUBJECT.--The atmosphere of the Middle Ages--After what manner the subsurface meanings in Graal books suggest the possibility of other concealments in literature about the same period--Mediæval mystic thought--Independent schools--The purpose of the present consideration--The assumption of a Secret Tradition--A question which arises there from--Multiplicity of traditions--A distinction between occult and mystic schools. II. SOME ALLEGED SECRET SCHOOLS OF THE MIDDLE AGES.--Albigensian sects and the misconceptions concerning them--Foolish attempt to connect them with the literature of the Holy Graal--The test question of Eucharistic doctrine in heresies--The Eucharist among the Manichæans--Albigenses from a Protestant standpoint--Various forms of the heresy--Persecution of all and sundry--The crusade under Innocent III.--Documentary evidence concerning points of Albigensian belief--The hostile evidence--On either assumption the Albigenses offer nothing to our purpose--The doctrine of transubstantiation--The speculations of Aroux--And those of the elder Rossetti--The argument from the Divine Comedy--Confusions on the subject of the Graal--Thesis concerning chivalry--An analogy from another controversy--General conclusion on the subject. III. THE LATIN LITERATURE OF ALCHEMY AND THE HERMETIC SECRET IN THE LIGHT OF THE EUCHARISTIC MYSTERY.--Development of two concurrent 

p. 518

secret schools at the period of the Graal--The claim of alchemy on the surface--The subsurface claim developed in later times--Declared object of the present research--Analogies of the arch-natural Eucharist--Correspondence with the notion of a voided House of Doctrine--Position of alchemy in respect of the first instance and of Kabalism in respect of the second--The period of transition in Hermetic literature--Byzantine Alchemy--Difficulties of the subject--The two schools of the Art--Their modern representatives--The terminology common to both--The one vessel--The alchemical matter--The Three Principles--Correspondences with the Holy Eucharist--Further concerning the alchemical matter--The Art as a Mystery of the Soul--Of purgations in Alchemy--Their correspondence in the experience of conversion--The Hermetic Stone--The Elixir--Of man as the whole Subject of the Art--Schedule of the chief process--Further concerning Eucharistic analogies--Distinctions in the order of symbolism--Summary of the catholic interpretation. IV. THE KABALISTIC ACADEMIES.--Of the Secret Language--The Mystery of Loss--The early schools of Kabalism--Its Theosophical Scheme--Of that which was taken from the Sanctuary of Israel--Analogies with Graal legend--The Holy Name--Accidental analogies between Graal and Kabalistic legend--Absence of all communication between the school of theosophy and the school of romance--Of Jewry in Spain and Southern France during the Middle Ages--Practical independence of all the coincident schools--The mind of Kabalism. V. THE CLAIM IN RESPECT OF TEMPLAR INFLUENCE.--An illustration of the romance of history--The Templars and the Latin Church--After what manner the Temple has been brought within the chain of the Secret Tradition--The Graal and Templarism--Nature of one hypothesis--

p. 519

[paragraph continues] Templar symbolism in Graal literature--The Temple and the Parsifal--What al--What is actual in the alleged connection--The Templars and Catholicism--The Graal and the Church--Questions of heresy--A matter of personal confession--Summary of the Templar hypothesis in respect of the Graal literature--Conclusion from the charges against the Order--Its true position--The ideal regarding it--The hypothesis abandoned. VI. THE GRAAL FORMULA IN THE LIGHT OF OTHER GLEANINGS FROM THE CATHOLIC SACRAMENTARY.--The Secret Orders and the Life of Sanctity--Depth and wonder of the Catholic Mass--Further concerning the verbal formula of consecration--Some errors of enthusiasm--Limitations of the Graal epoch--Traditional wonders of the Eucharist--Another side of the food-giving powers of the Graal--The first of the Divine Mysteries. VII. THE LAPIS EXILIS.--Dimensions of the Graal Stone--The Latin term of Wolfram--Renderings that are possible in the mystic sense--Stone and Chalice--Some scriptural analogies--Zoharic evidence--The Lost Word--Analogies that are far from the goal. VIII. THE ANALOGIES OF MASONRY.--(A) The Assumption of the Building Guild--The true values of genealogy--One point of correspondence between the Graal legends and Freemasonry--Romance of archæology--Historical side of Masonry--The minima of Masonic research--A distinction concerning three classes--An alternative concerning Masonry. (B) Masonry and Moral Science--The ethical position--That this is an unfit subject of symbolism--Comparative failure of the proposed instrument--Intimation that there is another side of Masonry. (C) A Theory of Hermetic Interference--Concerning early Craft records--Voyages of speculation--The authority of Ragon--After what manner he recites the invention of the symbolical 

p. 520

grades--Their true understanding stated apart from their origin. (D) One Key to the Sanctuary--Craft and High Degrees--Conclusion concerning ethical doctrine--Of certain studies recommended to the candidate by Masonry--After what manner we are to understand the symbolism of buildings--Of spiritual temples--The House of Doctrine--The Master and the question proposed to him--How the House of Doctrine was built on a different plan--The Secret of the King--The Temple in the heart--Concerning Rites of Initiation--The Tables of the Law--A secret deposit in Jewry--The Voided House in Masonry--The Masonic House of Christian Doctrine--A legend of Templar vengeance--An illustration from the High Degrees--The vacant sepulchre--Testimony of another High Grade--Masonic Orders of Chivalry--The Voided House of Christian Doctrine--Concurrence of Graal literature and Masonic implicits--The position of Masonry in respect of official religion--Conclusion as regards Masonry. IX. THE HALLOWS OF THE GRAAL MYSTERY RE-DISCOVERED IN THE TALISMANS OF THE TAROT.--Of sudden lights seen in unlooked-for places--Of playing-cards and the Book of Thoth--Concerning Tarot symbols as a treasure of the secret schools--Of available handbooks--Particulars concerning Tarot cards--The four palmary symbols--Their substantial identity with Graal Hallows--General conclusion as to the schools of symbolism--Secret doctrines and secret schools--Of one withdrawn school--Loss and gain--The restoration of all things.


Next: I. Preliminary to the Whole Subject