a mystical occurrence ensued at the baptism, "the Spirit
of God descending like a dove and lighting upon Him," and a voice from
Heaven saying: "This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased."

And with these words the mission of John the Baptist, as "Forerunner
of the Master," was fulfilled. _The Master_ had appeared to take up
his work.

THE MASTER.

And, now, let us turn back the pages of the Book of Time, to a period
about thirty years before the happening of the events above mentioned.
Let us turn our gaze upon the events surrounding the birth of Jesus,
in order that we may trace the Mystic and Occult forces at work from
the beginning of Christianity. There are occurrences of the greatest
importance embraced in these thirty years.

Let us begin the Mystic Narrative of Jesus the Christ, as it is told
to the Neophyte of every Occult Order, by the Master Instructor, by a
recital of an event preceding his birth by over one year.

In Matthew 2:1-2, the following is related:

"Now when Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days
of Herod the king, behold, there came Wise Men from the East
to Jerusalem, saying, Where is he that is born King of the
Jews? for we have seen his star in the East, and are come to
worship him."

In these simple words is stated an event that, expressed in a much
more extended narrative, forms an important part of the Esoteric
Teachings of the Mystic Brotherhoods, and Occult Orders of the Orient,
and which is also known to the members of the affiliated secret orders
of the Western world. The story of THE MAGI is embedded in the
traditions of the Oriental Mystics, and we shall here give you a brief
outline of the story as it is told by Hierophant to Neophyte--by Guru
to Chela.

To understand the story, you must know just who were these "Wise Men
of the East"--The Magi. And this you shall now be taught.

THE MAGI, OR WISE MEN.

The translators of the New Testament have translated the words naming
these visitors from afar as "the Wise Men from the East," but in the
original Greek, Matthew used the words "_The Magi_" as may be seen by
reference to the original Greek versions, or the Revised Translation,
which gives the Greek term in a foot-note. Any leading encyclopedia
will corroborate this statement. The term "the Magi" was the exact
statement of Matthew in the original Greek in which the Gospel was
written, the term "the Wise Men" originating wi