340
NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 s. vii. OCT. 23, 1920.
The Origin and Evolution of Freemasonry. By
Albert Churchward. (George Allen & Unwin,
12s. Qd. net.)
'THE publishers' announcement on the wrapper of this book a book in large type which runs to no more than 231 pages, demy octavo has about "it something sublime. " It shows," we are told " from whence man originated, and how he progressed in evolution, tracing his migrations through past ages, &c., and reveals how the various religious cults have been evolved."
As the title would lead one to suppose, this is
-the account of a form of gnosis. Its first principle
'is that " the discovery of the periodic laws of the
Corpuscles .... applies equally to the Natural or
Physical Laws, the Cosmic Laws and the Laws of
'"the Spiritual World." With this in mind our
author discusses the nature of life ; Sign language ;
pre-tolemic man and the origin of the first symbol.
and so works on to Egypt and the significance
of the signs, symbols, and mysteries of the
ancient Egyptian religion. Gerald Massey's
' Ancient Egypt, the Light of the World ' has
been largely drawn upon and is recommended for
'further study.
The whole is a mass of categorical statements xipon highly disputable subjects, after the usual iashion of writers who profess esoteric knowledge, and scout " exoteric " explanations given by " various Professors."
As an example of its kind it is interesting and it brings together a great amount of ancient lore, most of it familiar in itself, but subject here to some surprising grouping and interpretations.
A great difficulty at the base of all forms of gnosis, viz., the true relation of reason to intuition, imagination and the senses, is not tackled. Nothing in the shape of evidence is offered, and, after a survey of many beliefs and practices and the explication of many ancient ideas, the reader is left to himself to decide whether, after all, the authority for so much sweeping affirmation is good enough.
in
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