t of secrets" of the Hermetics; the wisdom of the
"initiates;" the spiritual quality in folk-lore; the time
when "temptation" will be no more; when "naked and unashamed"
the race will re-enter the lost Paradise.

CHAPTER VIII

THE HIDDEN WISDOM REVEALED 137

Science and mysticism the same at root; Christian mysticism
versus scientific postulates; the interior meaning in fairy
stories; personalities and principles in mystic revelation;
the esoteric meaning in Mythology; are there gods and
mortals? the ark in religious symbology; its interior
meaning; what were the "tablets of stone?" the reality of the
"cherubim" and the "seraphim;" the inner meaning of the
symbolical "ark of the Covenant;" is spiritual love devoid of
sex?; what is the symbolical "flaming sword?"; why the Jews
claimed to be God's "chosen people;" what makes for "immortal
godhood?"; the symbolism of the "life-token" stories; the
symbolism of the sleeping princess; a theory that solves all
the problems of life; the symbolical rites and ceremonies of
secret orders; the secrets of the Ancient Alchemists; the
Rosicrucians; the Free Masons; the Hermetics; their
initiation rites and ceremonies explained; what is meant by
the "Holy of Holies?" by the "secret chamber;" and the degree
of "mastership;" the sexual significance of the symbolism of
the "templars;" the red rose on the cross; the star and the
crescent; what is the inner meaning of "the radiant center;"
why the Catholic Church opposed the order of Free-masons; did
the Alchemists discover the secret of metallic transmutation?
what is meant by "the philosopher's stone;" why it was of
such a rare purity; why the early Church opposed all
reference to sex; the distinction between "discovering" and
"finding;" their spiritual meaning; what was the stone that
was raised at Babylon: was it a phallic symbol? why the
average "Knight Templar" fails to attain the powers and
privileges of esoteric Free-masonry; what is the "gate of
life?" the Arcana of the Hermetics and its sexual
significance; the symbolism of the double-headed eagle; why
the eagle was an ancient religious symbol; the antithesis of
"the eagle and the dove" explained; the "lamb and the goat"
symbolism; the God-ideas of the Ancient