TIATA13
XIII. The New World and the Philosopher’s City
⎈ New Atlantis ⎈ The Call of Destiny ⎈ Society with Secrets ⎈Geomancy of the Founding Fathers ⎈ Sister Revolution ⎈ Shadows
I am a most noteworthy sinner, but I have cried out to the Lord for grace and mercy, and they have covered me completely. I have found the sweetest consolation since I made it my whole purpose to enjoy His marvellous Presence.
– Christopher Columbus
Things alter for the worse spontaneously, if they be not altered for the better designedly.
– Sir Francis Bacon
Rebellion to tyrants is obedience to God
– Benjamin Franklin
(proposed as the motto of the Great Seal of the United States).
New Atlantis
It is becoming more and more apparent in recent years that Christopher Columbus was not the first to ‘discover’ America. It has become widely accepted that many others had reached these shores long before him. Since none of these nations decided to colonize or take advantage of this new land, they are not relevant to the immediate story. However, there are other explorers that may have known of America before Columbus and who actually did have a hand in its development.
We will remember that evidence for early ocean travel is found in abundance. We know that at one point in history, the whole world map was quite accurately understood. We also know that there are many accounts relating the world entering a state in which great catastrophes shook the foundation of this international society. Is it possible that the knowledge of the American continent was held in secret for countless generations only to be used when it was needed? Manly Hall claims that the Greeks were in possession of this knowledge in the earliest times and that they had the means to reach America.
“There can be no doubt that the existence of a great continent in the Western Hemisphere was known to the Greeks. And also to the Egyptians and Chinese. It is nothing short of foolish to assume that the ancients lacked ships sufficiently seaworthy to navigate the larger oceans. Long before the Christian era, the older civilization had constructed boats far larger and more seaworthy than any of the vessels used by Columbus. One of the Ptolemys of Egypt built a ship large enough to have an orchard of fruit trees on the deck, together with swimming pools and fountains stocked with live fish.
Calculations based upon Plutarch’s description of ancient voyages seem to indicate that the Greeks not only reached the coast of America, but explored the St Lawrence River and part of the Great Lakes area. Plato, in his treatise on the destruction of Atlantis, wrote that due to the commotions in the ocean caused by the submergence of a vast continent, all navigation to the west ceased for a long time. This statement can only imply that such navigation had taken place in remote times.” Secret destiny
Greek Mythology often referred to a great land far to the west that abounds in all good things. The land, called the Hesperic Isles, was fertile and it is described as a sort of paradise. It was considered to be a land set aside for the perfection of the goal of the democratic utopia. There are many other references to the New World in ancient times. Plato’s account of Atlantis could be considered a major one if one takes the account seriously. Diodorus Siculus, in the first century AD described a great country many days voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. He said this land contained navigable rivers, large houses, forests and fruits. He claimed that the Phoenicians had discovered the land long ago but kept this knowledge secret. Pausanias, in the second century wrote, “West of the Atlantic are a group of islands whose inhabitants are red-skinned and whose hair is like a horse.” Also Ælianus, around 200 AD reported that amongst the Phoenicians of Cadiz, there was a common knowledge of a great island in the Atlantic. Proclus claimed that this continent had stones and pillars seemingly erected by the Egyptians and that the history of the people was inscribed upon them – thus we are reminded of the Olmec and Toltec stone statues and temple ruins.
Plutarch, around 70 AD wrote, “Far west in the ocean in the latitude of Britain, lie islands beyond which stretches a great continent. Greek language is spoken there.” Spyros Cateras pointed out that the Mayan language demonstrated many Greek words from the Homeric period. He also writes that “Years ago, in the republic of Uruguay, South America, were discovered traces of the army of Alexander the Great, swords and thoras with the inscription ’PTOLEMEOS ALEXANDROY’.”
Yet all this knowledge of the American continent would seem out of place had we not already examined the fact that clearly travel to and from this land was common knowledge in a time preceding the modern age of exploration. It makes sense that this awareness would have shown up in circles of philosophers and that it would be coded in language so as not to literally declare such news to the whole world. Those who knew were part of an elect few who would hold on to this knowledge until the appropriate time, when the ideal society would be built in this new land.
As Manly Hall puts it, “By the wisdom then of those gods who are eternally vigilant over the needs of man, the blessed lands of the west were set apart, for none of the great civilizations of the past rose in North America to overshadow the continent with the ruins of old tradition, or to set up the corruptions of old administrative policy. Foreign nations came to this continent in times long ago; but they formed no permanent settlements nor attempted any program of colonization. And so the soil was not impoverished by thousands of years of intensive cultivation, nor were the natural resources ravished to supply the substance to maintain endless wars and ageless feuds.”
So it seems appropriate that this chain of knowledge was used in the 1400’s. The dark ages had left little hope for the dream of the Philosopher’s City to take form under a system as oppressive as Catholicism. Seeing the brutal crusades and the unending inquisition, there seemed little hope for a utopian society to be established in Europe. But we must ask, what does Christopher Columbus have to do with any of this?
Perhaps the greatest flaw in the official story is that the voyages of Columbus were motivated by the need to find a new shipping route to India. It is true that the Middle Eastern territories, which need to be traversed in order to maintain trade with the Far East, were no longer as hospitable to many western countries as they had been. Therefore a sea route was preferable, and had Columbus discovered one, this would be to the benefit of Spain and other countries. However, it seems more likely, upon investigation, that Columbus actually possessed awareness of the existence of America and this was the primary reason for his voyages.
For being so huge an influence on world history, there is very little known about him. Twenty different cities claim his nativity and the date of his birth is unrecorded. More and more research today seems to describe him as having an excellent classical education. In 1937, Cateras authored a book entitled Christopher Columbus was a Greek. He claimed that Columbus was actually Prince Nikolaos Ypsilantis and was a Greek by birth. The statement is backed by many quotations from state documents and early historians. Even his own son referred to him as a Greek. It is imagined that his name was changed at some point and his true identity was concealed from history.
It is possible that he was inspired to sail the Atlantic by Plato’s references to Atlantis as well documentation of early Greek navigation in the west. Cateras also claims, in following with our hypothesis, that many Greeks had also sailed the Atlantic in ancient times including Hercules, Oddyseus and Eratosthenes, and that the Greeks had reached America and knew of its potential, however, like all important wisdom in Greece, this information only reached the ears of the initiated priesthood and was not entrusted to the citizens. Apparently, Columbus was entrusted with this knowledge and the decision to ‘discover’ America was finalized.
Hall recognizes, in studying the life of Columbus, that a mysterious man accompanied him in much of his life. He is described as being a counselor of sorts. Though nothing is proven on the subject, Hall suggests that this character sailed with Columbus on his first voyage, but was not listed among the crew. He remained in the West Indies and did not return to Europe. No further mention of him is made, yet his presence hints at the fact that Columbus was in fact tied in to a secret brotherhood which had held these secrets and extended this knowledge to him. Hall refers to this organization as the society of unknown philosophers, which we might assume to be identical to the unbroken chain of initiates that has staged the various uprisings of wisdom that we have been following all along.
In this light, Columbus did not discover America, he set sail knowing full well what he was seeking, and though he still had to find it, he knew it was there. The circumstances in Europe at the time fit perfectly with the concept. The light of understanding, of science and of reason was emerging from the darkness of the medieval ages and this was the perfect time to establish a new society – ideally a new country. It must be remembered, however, that when the continent was first uncovered, nobody expected it to rise into a great nation. No one foresaw what it would become except perhaps Nostradamus and the hidden societies that were building the foundations of the nation-to-be.
As it may be clear that some underground, organized system was behind the discovery, those who actually did the hands on work in building the new country were quite out in the open. We speak now about the heirs of the Templars, the Freemasons, as well as the Rosicrucians and many other societies. These groups were very busy during the initial centuries of the New World because they now had a means of finding freedom. They were very much like the Jews – a nation of their own, yet spread amongst many nations, with no land to call home. They existed in every country of Europe; ‘Royal Institutes’, ‘Invisible Colleges’, ‘Philosophical Societies’, etc. It seemed as though having a secretive fraternity was the new thing to do. All countries began realizing that if they established hidden organizations, they could control things much more efficiently. In other words, it was sort of like the CIA, which operates outside the government, only this invisible group existed across borders. It was this common purpose that linked all these learned men together. At the highest degrees of membership, these societies were all on the same page, if not the same team. Yet, within nearly all of these organizations were dark invading forces, constantly trying to confuse the mission and draw members towards sorcery.
Suddenly the door was thrown open to the ultimate opportunity – a world outside the Vatican’s jurisdiction. They had to move quickly to ensure that they established their position in this virgin continent.
One of the most important people in the development of the new world was, without a doubt, Sir Francis Bacon. His connection with the Rosicrucians and Freemasons is near impossible to deny, though researchers today tend to make a controversy of it. The simple fact is that his ideology and that of these brotherhoods were one and the same. It is in his work, New Atlantis, and also The Great Instauration, that the plan for developing America into this Promised Land first becomes quite plain and obvious to all. It was, for those who had hidden their ambitions of building a better world from the church for centuries, a radical step taken. The idea was completely out in the open. The plan for a restructuring of the sciences in the Great Instauration was not at all hiding the fact that reason would soon overtake blind faith. In these ways, Bacon made a bold statement in the face of the Church.
First of all, it is very clear that Bacon had a vast knowledge of the history that most people in the European world had no idea about – the ancient age of navigation. In New Atlantis he ties everything together neatly.
“You shall understand (that which perhaps you will scarce think credible) that about three thousand years ago, the navigation of the world, (specially for remote voyages,) was greater than at this day. Do not think with yourselves that I know not how much it is increased with you within these six-score years: I know it well: and yet I say greater then than now; whether it was, that the example of the ark, that saved the remnant of men from the universal deluge, gave men confidence to adventure upon the waters; or what it was; but such is the truth. The Phoenicians, and especially the Tyrians, had great fleets. So had the Carthaginians, their colony, which is yet further west. Toward the east, the shipping of Egypt and of Palestina was likewise great. China also, and the great Atlantis (that you call America), which have now but junks and canoes, abounded then in tall ships. This island (as appeareth by faithful registers of those times) had then fifteen hundred strong ships, of great content. Of all this there is with you sparing memory, or none; but we have large knowledge thereof.”
It seems clear that Bacon was amongst the highest degrees of this intelligence agency, which now included the newly forming Speculative Freemasons, which had formed from the remnants of the Templars in England and Scotland. It is also clear that Bacon was on the same page as Bruno and Campanella, as well as Andrea, the author of the Rosicrucian manifestos. Manly Hall has gone as far as to suggest that Andrea may actually have been Sir Francis Bacon, after he faked his death. All four of these characters described and published works on utopian vision and the ideal of building a city to represent this condition. Some have even claimed that Bacon was an incarnation of the Comte of St Germain. St Germaine, we would remember, is the Master of the Seventh Ray – the Violet Ray of wisdom and ultimate purification. He was reputed to be the greatest of all alchemists, and seems to show up in multiple eras of history, suggesting immortality.
The Great Instauration illustrates how we must develop a whole new mindset that will be the foundation of a scientific age in which we truly understand our surroundings. He believed that intellect must take its rightful place as a governor of nature, an overseer. This he believed could be accomplished and so he wrote this how-to manual on the subject. New Atlantis was a sort of blueprint for the plan of taking over the development of the new world and guiding its destiny towards a specific end. It was written as a suggestion more than anything, as if Bacon realized that he had an understanding of how to right the wrongs in society and needed to write them down for the benefit of the world. The way he viewed it, mankind needed desperately to change its entire mode of operating – a new way of thinking must be established.
It was a philosophical crime that Bacon never finished writing New Atlantis. Some believe he had finished it before his death, but that the ending was too revealing for publication. Some believe that he was actually William Shakespeare, or that Shakespeare was actually a collective of writers headed by him. It is thought that he did this in order to introduce a new language; invent new phrases and words that would better suit a scientific society. If this is the case, then we have a great deal of his writings left to us.
SHAKESPEARE
The point is that he was a very influential character, igniting his contemporaries to move towards achieving the goal of liberty and knowledge. He laid down the law and none questioned it. There was no one to challenge his authority, instead they acknowledged his intuition and foresight and adopted his plan. Since he was a member if not leader of several of these secret societies, he had many men behind his manifesto of reform and they followed him to America.
In the early days after Columbus, most of the voyages to America were prompted by the legends of treasures of silver and gold and temples encrusted in jewels. Many independent explorers took great advantage of this and became wealthy. Many others were sponsored by their state to do the very same. The Spanish were the most successful in this business. As the treasures began to dry up, however, it was realized that the only real value in America would be found in full-scale colonization. Of course, those of the societies had already known that this was the real treasure, and they were on it.
Many countries began to grab up sections of the eastern shoreline. England’s colonization attempts were led by Bacon, who masterminded the entire process. He and all his brethren could not have been in a better position. While France, England, Spain and other countries were setting up their colonies, so were the various secret groups. Each sent representatives to establish themselves in appropriate places. For the most part, it was carried out through Freemasonry.
Yet there were still other groups. One example is the German Pietist, Magistar Johannes Kelpius. In 1690, he and his followers arrived in Pennsylvania where they established their community. There they brought books on magic, astrology, alchemy and the Qaballah. They brought also the works of Jacob Boehme, a German mystic. It is believed that the entire group was Rosicrucian.
By the beginning of the Eighteenth Century most of the Atlantic coast belonged to England, and most of the secret societies of Europe were well represented in the colonies. As for Bacon’s plan, it was right on schedule, though it was known that much tribulation was yet to come before the philosophical society would be created. All the time this alliance of secret orders was waiting for the proper moment to declare America to be the free country it was destined to become.
The Call of Destiny
If there was anyone who was nearly as influential as Bacon, it was Ben Franklin. Franklin would become the ultimate spokesperson for the order of philosophers, in America, England and France. He was the hero leader that the order needed to see them through this grand transition, the time of revolution in both America and France. As an inventor, scientist, diplomat and philanthropist he was greatly admired. In earlier times, it seemed that he believed strongly in the union of England and the colonies, but this changed as England began to test the patience of America by imposing unfair taxes.
The Stamp Act caused many riots in America and in a diplomatic session, Franklin was able to convince the British to repeal it. The debate became heated however and Franklin was asked whether or not the colonists would rise up again in an attempt to resist British law. He replied that they would not, as long as they were not provoked. He was apparently loyal to the British at this point, yet he defended the people’s right to protect their liberty on American soil.
The tension was rising. When British officers killed several Bostonians, things turned serious. The resistant colonists made for the port to dump a shipload of English tea into the water. Many believe that Freemasons specifically were behind this, attempting to spark action elsewhere. Perhaps this is so, or perhaps it was simply angered town folk. Either way, it soon became quite evident that the only solution was independence from England. Nothing else would do. This mindset was certainly encouraged by the Masons and other influential groups, though it is hard to say exactly how much they were involved. Even though they were in positions of power, it takes numbers to accomplish a revolution, and the true driving force was the oppression burdening the Colonists. This force, however, was likely guided or sparked into action by the societies that were set on gaining independence from the start.
Franklin had intercepted certain letters of Thomas Hutchinson, the British governor of Massachusetts that called for more troops from England and spoke ill of certain American political figures. These he put into circulation in America and though he tried to keep them from becoming public, they did. He tried to keep a low profile, but eventually he admitted to having been the one who had leaked the letters. He was called before a council and was humiliated for several hours. He left the room in silence, perhaps finalizing his opinion that the colonists were right to be seeking independence.
In 1775, he returned to America to find a country preparing itself for war. At this point, the British were seeking him out. He wisely hid himself amongst revolutionary circles of people. He was immediately appointed to the Second Continental Congress, which would soon become the Congress of the United States of America. Jefferson and Washington had also just become members. One of the first decisions made at this point was to place Washington as military commander in chief of the revolutionary forces. Washington was now 43 years old and Franklin was 69.
When the Declaration of Independence was being drafted, Franklin was asked to assist its development. When it was finished, he was the most senior of the signatories. Immediately following this event, Franklin was given the task of attempting to gain the support of France. He and two others were sent on this mission. Upon arriving in Paris, Franklin began making friends among many prominent members of French society and especially with the Freemasons and radical intellectuals. It was not long before he had become an emplematic hero in France. Some would say that he was even more admired there than in America. His portrait was seen everywhere and all the intellectuals, Masons, artists and especially the ladies of high society sought out his company.
After a couple of years, Franklin finally established a secret negotiation with Louis XVI’s minister of foreign affairs, the Count of Vergennes. In 1778, treaties were signed in which France pledged economic and military support to the new nation. During his stay, he had also joined the Nine Sisters Lodge. This had been established in 1776 by Jerome Lalande. It had been preceded be the lodge called Les Sciences, formed ten years earlier by Lalande and Claude Adrien Helvetius. Helvetius’ ideas would become a great influence on the French Revolution in 1789. After his death in 1771, his wife, Anne Helvetius teamed up with Lalande and the Abbe Cordier de Saint-Fermin – the godfather of Voltaire. Anne’s salon in Paris was very famous and served as a sort of headquarters for philosophers.
Franklin, needless to say, would visit the establishment frequently and meet with many influential characters, many of which were established in various lodges that were networked throughout France. In 1777, he became the Venerable Master of the Nine Sisters Lodge. It was Franklin’s connection with the network of lodges and the different characters at the tops of these lodges that would win him the support of France, without which, the American Revolution may not have succeeded. It was this same network, with the same key players, that would help to spark the French Revolution a decade later.
Franklin left France and found that his home was now a free country. He had arrived in Paris as a renegade asking for aid from France, but he left as an important officer of the United States of America. His work had paid off. Eventually, he would help to make compromises while the newly formed government wrote out their constitution and he would die knowing that his mission was complete – America was now free and ready to pursue its destiny.
Of course, it was not only Franklin who embodies the mission of the Freemasons and other lodges to establish this country. There were many other key players. Marquis de Lafayette was also extremely helpful in acquiring French support for the revolution. Of course Washington’s military strategies were instrumental in the operation. Thomas Paine’s philosophical writings were also of great importance and the list goes on. All of these individuals were Freemasons.
Society with Secrets
Let us briefly return to an earlier time. In 1446, the Templar Knights, who were banished from all countries that were under papal authority, had in large part found themselves in the British Isles, one of the only regions that did not endorse the disbanding of the order. Here, they were responsible for the building of Rosslyn Chapel. Though this is not a fact and many will hold that the Templars did not have a hand in building the chapel, the reader will acknowledge at this point that though it may not have been knights wearing white tunics with red crosses, the symbols and images associated with the Templars as well as the later Freemasons and all the magical traditions extending back to Solomon’s Temple and Egypt, are abundant in this beautiful, one of a kind temple. Two knights riding one horse, the Green Men or nature spirits, roses, and especially the two pillars, known as Boaz and Jachin are all sure signs that this chapel was built by those who constituted the surviving tradition, though the order had apparently dissolved over a century earlier.
Rossyln Chapel is the only temple in the world of its kind. In fact, the only structures that are comparable to it are of ancient origins. This is to say, the chapel is a sort of Ark. Like the Tello Obelisk in Peru or the Turkish site of Gobekli Tepe, Rosslyn is like a time capsule, recording for posterity all the wisdom it could possibly contain. It is also very similar to the concept of the City of the Sun, in which all the wisdom of the city is engraved or painted upon its walls. Inside the chapel we find animals, plants and spiritual symbols which represent all the various forms of knowledge from the Egyptian religion to Christianity and even to local Druidic culture. It is, simply stated, the only temple that crosses so many boundaries, and for this it holds great importance to our history. Clearly, it was not erected without purpose, but it was a statement made by the builders.
Here is another interesting characteristic of the building. Its builders were extremely skilled stonemasons. Since the Rosslyn Chapel was built after the time of the Templars, it could be thought of as the transitional time between the Templars and the Masons. Freemasonry began as a network of builders. These skilled workers protected secrets of their trade by creating passwords and handshakes so as to identify themselves as legitimate architects. When one traveled to a new town and sought work building a cathedral, the employer had to know that the applicant did indeed posses the understanding and techniques to do the job properly.
It is clear from viewing the beautiful cathedrals of Europe that the builders must have possessed great knowledge of building and also of harmonic principles of design. These churches reflected the Egyptian understandings of sacred architecture, or how to create an atmosphere that would lift one into an elevated mindset or state of consciousness. There are no other buildings since the ‘age of cathedrals’ in Europe that display this brilliant use of harmony and proportion. These builders were the original Masons. Chartres and Notre Dame may be the two closest related to Rosslyn. It was at these Cathedrals that the alchemist’s would congregate and compare their chemical experiments. They created the stunning Rose Windows of Alchemical Glass, with blessings for humanity contained within.
In The Hiram Key, Masonic historians, Christopher Knight and Robert Lomas discuss the transition, or adaptation of Templar tradition into Masonic tradition. “From the completion of Rosslyn Chapel to the official opening of the Grand Lodge of England on 24 June 1717 the society that had evolved from the Templar Order and was to become Freemasonry conducted its business in secrecy. For reasons of self preservation the organization remained hidden from general view until the power of the Vatican began to slide rapidly in the sixteenth century.”
King James VI of Scotland, who would later become King James I of England, was the first King to rule both countries. He was also known as the first king to be a Freemason, having been initiated in 1601. Two years later, he became King of England. It was he who wrote the English translation of the Bible, known as the King James Version. This too, was under the supervision of Bacon, once again showing his concern for the English language. Though Freemasonry has apparently always allowed for freedom of religion, the introduction to the King James Bible seems to imply a certain amount of anti-Catholic sentiment. It would not be unexpected as it was the Vatican that had murdered so many Templars and forced their movement to go underground.
King James felt the need for the Masons to become a real entity, one that was not hiding in the shadows. He observed the need for a formalization of the structure and appointed William Schaw to the task. Schaw reformed the existing format of the Masons into the shape it generally holds today. This process had begun in the year 1598. Nearly two hundred years earlier, the St Clair family (who is linked closely to the construction of Rosslyn Chapel) had held gatherings that were the predecessors of this new and improved lodge system. This was known as the Court of Crafts. In Schaw’s time, however, the family had lost much of its power and influence because they had sought financial gain by controlling operative masonry.
In 1600, the masons had drawn up a document that would become known as the First St Clair Charter, which stated that “From age to age it has been observed among us, it is stated that the lairds of Rosslyn have ever been the patrons and protectors of us and our privileges, but within the past few years by negligence and slothfulness the office had passed out of use. This had deprived the lairds of their just rights, and the craft of their patrons, protectors, and overseers, leading to many corruptions, in the craft and to potential employers abandoning many great enterprises.”
It was in this time that older means of recognition and passwords were still in use, but Schaw’s formalization of the system established the ‘lodge meetings’. These were no longer operative Masons, or those who literally built castles and temples, but they were now largely Speculative Masons. When the fraternity allowed for speculative masons to join, it became a much larger organization. Though it still remained secret for a time, it began to keep written records. The speculative mason, or he who was not literally a builder, soon became identified as a Freemason. The operative masons became junior subsidiaries of the Freemasons and functioned as incorporations attached to the speculative lodges.
At this point, we have the modern system and format established, with three degrees of initiation required to become a Master Mason. This system would soon spread throughout England and finally throughout the whole world. This was the environment in which Francis Bacon would write his major works. It was King James who knighted Bacon and eventually made him Lord Chancellor. Schaw was also a friend of Bacon. Thus we can see the connection between these early lodges and the goal to establish the new world as a philosophic empire. The origins of these lodges began in Scotland and this is why one of the most influential branches of Freemasonry has become known as the Scottish Rite. Certainly the Scottish Rite was one of the most influential in terms of American development.
At a certain point, this secret brotherhood had gained enough momentum and placed itself in enough safe locations that it seemed more or less secure. At this time, it switched from being a secret society to being a society with secrets, and it openly referred to itself, thus they adopted the honorary, ‘Free and Accepted’. As it was the largest group of its kind, it gained a great deal of power. This is why the founding of America was so largely dependent on it.
Of the fifty-six signatures on the Declaration of Independence, at least nine are confirmed Masons, though some estimates suggest that up to fifty of them were members of the lodge. The nine that are confirmed were some of the strongest proponents of the document. As for the Constitution, at least thirteen signatories were Masons, out of thirty-nine – that is, one third of those who signed. The most influential of the founding fathers, George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, Ben Franklin, John Hancock, Thomas Paine, Paul Revere and many others were all Freemasons. Masonic presidents of the United States include George Washington, James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, James Polk, James Buchanan, Andrew Johnson, James Garfield, William McKinley, Theodore Roosevelt, Howard Taft, Warren Harding, Franklin Roosevelt, Harry Truman and Gerald Ford. Many others were suspected of being masons, but are not proven to be.
This is a simple fact of our history. Today, there are over one hundred thousand lodges around the world and as many as five million members, nearly one out of every thousand people on earth. Perhaps we can understand now how powerful this fraternity has come to be. As we have already seen, there was a strong possibility that it was Freemasons who performed the Boston Tea Party, and who likely roused an anti-British sentiment among the colonies. Therefore, they were responsible for igniting the revolution. If we are not yet convinced of the power behind the Masons, perhaps a look at the capitol city of the US will demonstrate that they had no intention of hiding their influence. Other cities as well, show a definite effort to build the Hermetic City, though the Dark Mark was certainly present already, perverting the plan.
Geomancy of the Founding Fathers
With the building of American cities, we find a return to the ancient art of geomancy. We will remember that this science was used to access the natural energies of the earth and is not unlike it’s Eastern cousin, Feng Shui. In ancient times, we see this practice used by all the various cultures around the world that were, as we propose, brethren to each other, as all had received a set of knowledge from an unknown ancestor. We will remember that the pressure points of the globe were able to give forth this energy. Therefore, it was the job of the geomancer to locate these points and identify the lines that connected them together. These ley lines curved around the globe. Once the points and lines were discovered, sites for building were established in an attempt to harness this energy.
Our thoughts may initially be drawn to the National Monument – an Egyptian style obelisk. An obelisk serves a similar function as a pyramid. In fact, one might imagine an obelisk as a pyramid with a very tall base beneath it. This is why many cities, and especially those built by Freemasons, have obelisks at designated points. These structures are designed to radiate the earth energy into the surrounding area. They also represent the male power or life energy. This, I believe is why so often they will be balanced by a symbol of feminine energy close by. Generally, this would be a sort of bowl or some concave form, oftentimes a fountain of water. So we would be right in making a connection between the founding freemasons and the National Monument, but this is merely the beginning.
It was the eighteenth of September, 1793 when Washington laid the cornerstone of the Capitol City in his name. This event was witnessed by hundreds of prominent Freemasons. His Masonic apron had been a gift of Marquis de Lafayette. It contained many Masonic emblems including the centerpiece, the all-seeing-eye. In ancient Egypt, the ceremony of laying the cornerstone was a major event. The date was chosen by casting a horoscope to consider the influences of stellar bodies. When building a new temple, the laying of the cornerstone represented the temple’s birth. Just as in humans the time of birth determines the astral influences that will guide the person, the same applies to buildings. In this way, certain powers or cosmic influences were invoked at the time the stone was laid.
In the case of the Capitol Building, and really the entire capitol city, the star Sothis, or Sirius, was the object of focus. This star, sacred to the Egyptians, was the star of Isis. David Ovason, who investigated this ceremony, concluded that the date and placement of the cornerstone was also dedicated to the constellation of Virgo. “The idea of Virgo plays an important role in the astrological symbolism of the city. I have also examined two foundation ceremonials in which the Virgoan element was of considerable importance. By taking this approach I might have given the impression that the sole Masonic concern in these early years of the building of the Federal City was with Virgo… The importance of Virgo, and her connection with the goddess Isis, has been recognized in Masonic circles from the very early days of American Masonry.”
Isis shows up in America again and again, and it seems as though, in the highest degrees of Masonry, there is a very mysterious tie with her star, Sirius – a connection of sorts. This connection also appears in the higher degrees of other lodge systems, but nowhere is it as prevalent as in Egypt itself. Occult books often contain a timeline which shows the basic path of the magical tradition through the journey we have made in the progress of this book. In the earlier times there is often a point on the timeline marked ‘The Sirius Connection’. This mysterious phrase does not tell us much, except the fact that this star is one of great importance to the magical tradition, and it implies that there was an event that connected us with it.
After the cornerstone ceremony, the plans for building the city commenced. Many theorists have brought attention to various details, claiming them to be clear signs of Masonic influence. Some of these may be true; others are simply the result of over examination. At this point, it may be worthwhile to examine a few of these details to strengthen our argument, but all in all, there is really no one who would deny out right the fact that the capitol was built on Masonic principles. We have already mentioned the Egyptian obelisk, which is decorated on its eastern side with the solar disc. We have also addressed the fact that the cornerstone was laid with a major Masonic ceremony.
We cannot miss the obvious fact that the government buildings were all produced in the Greek style, which was a copy of the Egyptian. The great Ionic style columns and the triangular tympanum above them reflect construction of the classical type. These architectural aspects were used in the most ancient of times, and came through Greece, into Roman use. The domes as well, like that of the Congress building, were recreations of older styles of masonry.
If we look into the relieves and paintings decorating the city, we will again find many images of the order, that is, if we know how to look. There are Phoenixes, roses, Masonic tools, representations of stars and many other themes consistent with their symbology. These symbols not only decorate the structures, but they are also found in the layout of the city itself. Let us quickly examine the street plan for the city.
George Washington and Thomas Jefferson each had a keen interest in the creation of the ground plan for the city. It would appear that it was built to represent certain ley lines, and also to function as a sort of Axis Mundi. In ancient times, the ‘center’ of a land would be found and here, those ruling the land would establish themselves, their influence emanating outward into the surrounding land. If we look at the streets of D.C., we find a basic grid system that is traversed by many diagonals.
One of the most obvious forms that emerges from this layout is that of a pentagram just north of the capitol building. This seems to be a very clear and intentional decision. Many others have found others stars, Pythagorean triangles, pyramids, cubes and even crosses that show themselves when given an aerial view of the city. A primary North-South meridian bisects the pentagram and passes through many important sites within the city including the Jefferson Memorial, The White House, the original location for the Obelisk and also the Scottish Rite Masonic Temple, which is the American headquarters so to speak. Many of these streets mark out ley lines that connect the city to other important sites throughout the country.
Jefferson played a large role in establishing the positions of sites in relationship to one another. He built what some consider to be a sort of secondary Axis Mundi, at the Poplar Forest in Virginia, his second home. This was built as an octagon. An octagonal building defines eight or sixteen different meridians which emerge from its center. As Jefferson was a land surveyor in his earlier years, this type of project seemed to be meant for him. In his book Axis Mundi, Bradbury Cort Lindahl describes how from this site, the lines defined by the structure point directly to many other sites hundred of miles away. These include the Georgia Guidestones to the southwest, the International Peace Garden on the border of Canada to the Northwest, and many other sites, including the Capitol City.
All these sites were planned out so as to be aligned with other structures and events. They are intentionally distanced from one another. Needless to say, there are countless examples of this type of work within the American framework – more than can be accounted for by coincidence. There is one more example that may illustrate the principle beyond all doubts.
It is quite strange to notice that Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington D.C. and Atlanta were all built in a straight line. Certainly this was a meridian of power. In fact, this same line also crosses through Teotihuacan in Mexico
Noting New York City’s position on this line, we should also consider the star shaped pedestal on which stands the Statue of Liberty. The base may also be establishing many lines from itself. The statue is an important aspect of the American mystery and its history certainly involved the Freemasons. The statue demonstrates the similarities in the trials and goals of both the United States and France.
Sister Revolution
The Statue of Liberty was a gift from France. Most people know this, but fewer know what it symbolizes. Of course, it is symbolic of the freedom gained by the American Independence movement, as well as the French Revolution, and it also represents the bonds of goodwill between the two countries that had aided each other, but this is not all. It is possible that the statue also represents the ideals imposed on the countries by the Masons. This is to say, Lady Liberty represents freedom and reason, which are timeless qualities, but it is also possible that it represents Egyptian principles as well.
Bernard Weisberger writes, “The sculptor who made the great statue was Italian. His name was Auguste Bartholdi. His work was greatly influenced by the ancient sculptor Phidias who made gigantic statues of the ancient goddesses, particularly Athena, ‘goddess of wisdom’ and Nemesis, a goddess who held a cup in her right hand. Before beginning the Statue of Liberty project, Bartholdi was seeking a commission to construct a giant statue of the goddess ‘Isis’, the Egyptian Queen of Heaven, to overlook the Suez Canal. The Statue of Isis was to be of ‘a robed woman holding aloft a torch’.”
Bartholdi tried to propose this project to compliment the Suez Canal – intending to place the statue at its entrance to symbolize ‘Egypt enlightening the East’. The project was not funded though, and so he looked to other sources. Eventually, he converted the project into one celebrating the hundredth anniversary of the American Revolution. It would become the statue of ‘Liberty enlightening the World’. To raise the money for the project, the Union Franco-Americaine was established in 1875, and as we may expect, many members were Freemasons, including Bartholdi’s cousin who was the French ambassador in the United States. In the very same year, Bartholdi was also initiated into the brotherhood. The man in charge of building this massive design was also a Freemason and the creator of the Eiffel Tower, Gustave Eiffel.
There is little doubt that the statue represents Egyptian ideas, but why would the French be in on the scheme to develop America into an Egyptian themed nation? As it turns out, the French had been undertaking the same venture which led to their revolution shortly after our own.
In the years before the revolution, France was brewing with discontent. King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette were becoming ignorant of the needs of their people, and they didn’t seem to care about their trials and tribulations. The aristocracy was becoming increasingly oppressive and less sympathetic. The Bastille of France came to be known as an emblem of this oppression. It was being used as a prison for members of the upper-class who had opposed Louis. This included many Protestants. It held many who had spoken out in print and media. Through the 18th century, the people came to hate this building, especially as autobiographies of prisoners were published.
In 1789, the formation of the National Assembly roused many revolutionary thoughts amongst those dwelling in Paris. At this point, the Bastille had already housed 5,279 prisoners. On the 14th of July, masses of outraged citizens swarmed the prison and stormed through its enormous walls. Prisoners were released and the governor of the Bastille, Bernard Rene de Launey, was murdered by the crowd.
After the mob had gained control of the structure, a team of about 800 men, led by Pierre-François Palloy, dismantled the fortress stone by stone. These stones were sold as memorabilia, many were sculpted into models of the Bastille and sent out to the many regions of France. Other stones were pulverized into a powder which was worn in small flasks as necklaces. These relics of the Bastille became bestsellers throughout France. It was suggested at the time to salvage the stones in order to build a pyramid at the site. Actually this was the plan for a time, but lack of funding prevented its completion. Even still, there was an effort underway to bring in a new set of symbols for the city – an Egyptian set of symbols. In 1793, Jacques-Louis David, a Parisian artist, built a sculpture of Isis seated above two lions. It was erected in the Place de la Bastille.
While the whole event was fueled by a number of conditions and collective emotions, the immediate actions taken after this initial step towards victory seem to describe to us what sort event it was. One of the most important laws of revolution is that you cannot overthrow a regime unless you have something better to replace it with. It was the replacement government, in this case, that may help us to see more clearly some of the factors involved.
A great deal of the fuel for this fire came from the philosophies of Rousseau and Voltaire, the latter of which Benjamin Franklin had initiated into the Lodge of Nine Sisters. But another influence was without a doubt the Masonic Lodges and other societies seeking to install a new system in France – not just political, but religious. Perhaps the primary motive behind the movement was to remove all forms of Christianity from France. At first, the revolution was simply something that needed to happen, but by 1793, when David had built the Isis statue, the philosophies of the new order had taken shape, and largely influenced by the lodges, the goal became replacing Christianity with Egyptian ideals. This was celebrated with Parades and festivals in which beautiful actresses would dress up as ‘the Goddess Reason’ – in other words Isis. In The Master Game, we read:
“Although the matter has been little studied, it became clear in the early days of the Revolution that its core objectives included not only the eradication of the monarchy and a radical readjustment of the social and economic order, as might be expected, but also another, even more far-reaching goal: the eradication, no less – one might almost say the extirpation – of Christianity from the soil of France. This objective was adopted as official policy in the winter of 1793, a few months after the Isis rituals at the Bastille, and set in train an intense and systematic national campaign of ‘de-Christianization’.”
The revolutionary government was called by itself ‘Convention’. It began to intimidate whole dynasties of Christian bloodlines. Priests and Bishops left their posts for fear of the Guillotine. Christian temples were converted into the meeting places for the ‘Cult of Reason’, or the ‘Cult of the Supreme Being’, as it was also called. This establishment was the brainchild of Maximilien Robespierre as he attempted to revive the ancient religion. It was Jacques-Louis David who primarily implemented this ‘cult’ into the culture. Eventually, the Cathedral of Notre Dame, perhaps the most famous of all French churches, became known as the Temple of Reason.
At a certain point, the monarchy was reestablished. Louis XVII, however, promised to honor the revolutionary ideals if he were to be put on the thrown. With the support of the people, this King took his place. It is not surprising that he was a Freemason, just like his successor, Charles X. These Kings brought more and more Egyptian symbolism into France.
In 1827, Charles X charged Champollion to import a 3,500-year-old Obelisk from Alexandria. This was erected at Place de la Concorde. Before the revolution, a statue of Charles’ father existed at this site, but was torn down in the turmoil. It was also the site of the beheading of Louis XIV and Marie Antoinette and so it was certainly a symbolic gesture to erect the Egyptian Obelisk in this place. We might also remember the great glass pyramid constructed at the Louvre for the bicentennial celebration to commemorate the Storming of the Bastille.
Perhaps we can now understand the connections between America and France in this time of revolution. Several steps took place in a specific order; the Freemasons and affiliates established their power in both countries, the American forces instigated the ‘anti-British sentiment’ and the need for independence, they sparked the revolution with the Boston Tea Party, gained support from the French Monarchy, overthrew the British in America, helped to instigate the revolutionary feelings in France, helped spark the French Revolution with the Storming of the Bastille, finally overthrowing the French Monarchy and establishing in both countries a Masonic-Egyptian theme of government.
It would seem as though these organizations were created by a central, governing body that was entirely secret. When we speak of Freemasons, we are not talking about a secret society. Though many would give them this title, the truth is, they are very open. Everyone knows that they exist. A real secret society is one that no one knows about, and it is this type that likely instructed the outer establishments. As we have seen, this type of hidden power has been present since the beginnings of civilization. Nearly all major turns that have taken place in our history show signs of curious activities, and very often, mysterious persons. Some seem to help, others, to harm, and many have indistinguishable motives.
Shadows
For instance, we already mentioned that an advisor of sorts accompanied Columbus on his voyage to America. But this man was omitted from history. Who was he and what exactly was his role? Why did he give Columbus all the credit? This may seem like a bit of pseudo-history, but it is possible that there were many others like this man involved in the building of America.
In 1890, a small book was published entitled, Our Flag, The Evolution of the Stars and Stripes. It was written by Robert Allen Campbell. There is very little known of this man, and the book itself is very hard to come by. It is rarely if ever found for sale and it may be a piece of literature marked by the Society of Unknown Philosophers. Francis Bacon had outlined the rules of publishing books of this nature, and stated that they must be marked in a certain way that makes it clear to the initiates that this author was a member, yet to the common person, it must not seem suspicious. This mark could be an artistic motif, or a specific phrase. It is possible that ‘Our Flag’ was one of these books, as it ends with a quote by Bacon himself.
Regardless, the author claims that this book was “a compilation of facts and dates from official sources, larger works, occasional pamphlets and addresses upon this and collateral subjects; and is meant, therefore, for the perusal of those who have not the time, opportunity or disposition for a more extended study in this line of research.” In discussing the original design of the flag, he describes a mysterious character much like the one who accompanied Columbus. The story is as follows.
In 1775, the Colonial Congress appointed a three-man committee to work out a design for the flag. These men were Franklin, Lynch and Harrison. They were sent to consult with Washington in Massachusetts. When they arrived they stayed at the home of a hospitable citizen. The master guest room of the house, however, was occupied by an elderly gentleman. This man’s name was never revealed. Instead, he was only referred to as ‘the Professor’. He ate only fruits, nuts and cereals; was very wise and highly educated. He spent most of his time studying rare books and manuscripts. These he would decipher, translate and copy. He kept the texts locked up in a chest, and never showed them to anyone.
Washington, Lynch and Harrison stayed in the second guestroom, while Franklin shared the Professor’s. It was noted that when these two first met and shook hands, there was an immediate and unmistakable mutual recognition exchanged between them. After this took place, Franklin, as the chairmen of the committee, proposed that the Professor should meet with the committee as a member. His invitation was graciously accepted. The following day, they met in the Professor’s room. Washington began by asking Franklin for his recommendations. Franklin replied by saying that everyone should listen to the Professor’s recommendations, and so he was given the floor.
“The sun of our political air, like the sun in the heavens, is very low in the horizon – just now approaching the winter solstice, which it will reach very soon. But, as the sun rises from his grave in Capricorn, mounts toward his resurrection in Aries, and passes onward and upward to his glorious culmination in Cancer, so will our political sun rise and continue to increase in power, in light, and in glory; and the exalted sun of summer will not have gained his full strength of heat and power in the starry Lion until our Colonial Sun will be, in its glorious exaltation, demanding a place in the governmental firmaments alongside of, coordinate with, and in no wise subordinate to, any other sun of any other nation upon earth.”
He was suggesting that the flag, as a symbol of this young nation must be ready to change, as the nation itself would change. He was hinting that when the country did find independence, it should have a symbol that could be modified rather than replaced. For this reason, he suggested the use of the thirteen stripes, which would be in a separate field from the British Union Jack. This way, England could be removed from the flag when its influence was removed from the colonies. This modification, the Professor explained, would “announce and represent the new nation which is already gestating in the womb of time; and which will come to birth – and that not prematurely, but fully developed and ready for the change into independent life – before the sun in its next summer’s strength ripens our next harvest.” As we know, it was in the following year that independence was declared.
Soon enough, this emblem was unanimously accepted and became the flag of the Colonial Army and Navy. On January 2, 1776, the new flag was raised by Washington in the presence of the British Army at Charleston Heights. The British soldiers inspected the new flag and recognized it with a salute of thirteen guns. Apparently, it was just as respected by the British as it was by the Colonies (at least while it still contained the Union Jack).
The Professor’s prediction that this new nation would be born within the year was obviously true, but it is interesting that at the moment when independence came, we find another anonymous person fueling the fire and instilling in the hesitant statesmen the courage necessary to sign the document.
It was July 4, 1776. The State House in Philadelphia was packed full of revolutionary politicians. The doors were all locked and guards posted at every entrance. Important figures from throughout the colonies had all joined together to sign the document that would change their history forever. The Declaration sought to join them together in purpose and give to them the freedom that seemed to be their destiny. Yet, many differing opinions still existed amongst those present. Representatives from different areas all had their own ideas of what the new country should embody. On top of this, all present realized that if they signed the document and failed to win the revolution, they would all be hung together for high treason.
Needless to say, the room was filled with tension. Many men gave speeches throughout the day. All spoke their minds passionately. Franklin calmly mediated between the varied thoughts and propositions. According to Jefferson, it was late in the afternoon when things began to get quite serious. The discussion had turned to topics concerning the manner in which they would all be killed. At this point, a new voice cut through the din. In 1938, The Theosophist published an article including the speech made by this anonymous man.
“Gibbet! They may stretch our necks on all the gibbets in the land; they may turn every rock into a scaffold; every tree into a gallows; every home into a grave, and yet the words of that parchment can never die! They may pour our blood on a thousand scaffolds, and yet from every drop that dies the axe a new champion of freedom will spring into birth! The British King may blot out the stars of God from the sky, but he cannot blot out His words written on that parchment there. The works of God may perish: His words never!
The words of this declaration will live in the world long after our bones are dust. To the mechanic in his workshop they will speak hope: to the slave in the mines freedom: but to the coward kings, these words will speak in tones of warning they cannot choose but hear…
Sign that parchment! Sign, if the next moment the gibbet’s rope is about your neck! Sign, by all your hopes in life or death, as men, as husbands, as father, brothers, sign your names to the parchment, or be accursed forever! Sign, and not only for yourselves, but for all ages, for that parchment will be the textbook of freedom, the bible of the rights of man forever.
Nay, do not start and whisper with surprise! It is truth, your own hearts witness it: God proclaims it. Look at this strange band of exiles and outcasts, suddenly transformed into a people; a handful of men, weak in arms, but mighty in godlike faith; nay, look at your recent achievements, your Bunker Hill, your Lexington, and then tell me, if you can, that God has not given America to be free!
It is not given to poor human intellect to climb to the skies, and to pierce the council of the Almighty One. But methinks I stand among the awful clouds which veil the brightness of Jehovah’s throne.
Methinks I see the recording Angel come trembling up to that throne and speak his dread message. ’Father, the old world is baptized in blood. Father, look with one glance of Thine eternal eye, and behold evermore that terrible sight, man trodden beneath the oppressor’s feet, nations lost in blood, murder, and superstition, walking hand in hand over the graves of the victims, and not a single voice of hope to man!’
He stands there, the Angel, trembling with the record of human guilt. But hark! The voice of God speaks from the awful cloud: ‘Let there be light again! Tell my people, the poor and oppressed, to go out from the old world, from oppression and blood, and build My altar in the new.’
As I live, my friends, I believe that to be His voice! Yes, were my soul trembling on the verge of eternity, were this hand freezing in death, were this voice choking in the last struggle, I would still, with the last impulse of that soul, with the last wave of that hand, with the last grasp of that voice, implore you to remember this truth – God has given America to be free!
Yes, as I sank into the gloomy shadows of the grave, with my last faint whisper I would beg you to sign that parchment for the sake of those millions whose very breath is now hushed in intense expectation as they look up to you for the awful words: You are Free.”
At this, the man fell into his seat and John Hancock rushed to the parchment. He had barely finished signing when the quill was grabbed from his hand. All rushed forward with a sense of sureness that had not been there before. The brave orator had sealed the deal. Then the delegates turned to thank him for the encouragement and his fine speaking, but he was gone. It was not long before it was realized that no one present had any idea who the man was. No one claimed to have seen him before that day, and none claimed to see him thereafter. His name had not been recorded.
Only his speech bears witness to his existence. How he had entered or left the heavily guarded building was also a mystery. Was he a member of the secret Order guiding American course? It seems quite possible considering he spoke of the Rights of Man thirteen years before Thomas Paine would pen his work by this title. He also spoke of the ‘Eternal Eye’ of God, which would later become an emblem of the Great Seal of the United States and had long been a symbol of several esoteric orders including Freemasonry.
Lastly, let us examine the Seal itself. When pondering the influence of secret societies on American culture, one will very quickly be led to the symbols which appear on the back of the dollar bill. Many people have a great deal to say on this topic, yet the truth lies somewhere amongst these many varied opinions. In general, it seems impossible to deny that the esoteric orders had some degree of influence, but it is hard to say exactly how much. We must note that the Seal of the United States is only one image on the dollar, and the only part that was developed by the founding fathers.
Of course, there is also a legend that surrounds the origin of the Seal. Originally, there were three separate committees established for this project, including a total of fourteen men. In the end, the task was given to Charles Thompson, who used the previous committees’ ideas to finalize the design. In the end he submitted only a written description of the seal, though he had previously made rough sketches. This was his description;
“On a shield. Chevrons composed of seven pieces on one side & six on the other, joined together at the top in such wise that each of the six bears against or is supported by & supports two of the opposite side the pieces of the chevrons on each side alternate red & white. The shield born on the breast of an American Eagle on the wing & rising proper. In the dexter talon of the Eagle an Olive branch & in the sinister a bundle of Arrows. Over the head of the Eagle a Constellation of Stars surrounded with bright rays and at a little distance clouds.
Motto In the bill of the Eagle a scroll with these words E pluribus unum.”
In the time when these committees were designing the appropriate image, the legend tells that Jefferson walked out of the building at night. In the darkness, a strange man, made invisible by a large hooded cloak, approached him. The man told him that he knew they had been trying to develop a seal and he handed Jefferson an image that would become the seal we are all familiar with. Jefferson apparently looked at the image and acknowledged that it was the right one immediately.
He brought it inside to show to the committee and to tell them of the strange encounter. When they walked outside to try and find him, he was nowhere to be seen. John Adams was present at the occasion and it is odd that at the Adams memorial in Washington D.C., a statue of a cloaked figure stands out front. Perhaps this is all a political fairy tale, imagined by politicians aiming to give the American public a feeling of mysterious purpose – a sense of divine backing – as though those of a higher realm were watching over the country. Indeed, perhaps this is the truth behind the man who swayed the signers of the Declaration of Independence as well. On the other hand, perhaps such stories were true. Perhaps they were all Rosicrucians, who could walk through walls or disappear.
The Eagle was also to reference the Phoenix. Very similar in appearance to the Eagle, the mythical Phoenix represented rebirth and immortality. It was the symbol of many magical fraternities, representing man’s ‘rebirth’ into wisdom. There was said to be only one in existence at a time that lived in the deserts of the Middle East. It would live for five hundred years and at its death, its body would burst into flame. From its ashes, its own reincarnation was born. It is often distinguished in illustration by the plumage rising from its head, which can be seen in this earlier sketch, and quite delicately hinted on the final ‘eagle’.
It is hard to ignore the fact that a bird similar to this one is found on the crests, seals and coat of arms of many royal families and societies. It is often holding a scroll in its mouth, and often grasps meaningful objects in its talons. The seal of the United States is no different. In its beak it holds a scroll reading, E PLURIBUS UNUM – ‘From Many, One’. This symbolized the unified purpose of the many colonies, and would later apply to the states.
Everything about the bird is in the number thirteen; thirteen stars above its head, thirteen stripes on the shield, thirteen leaves on the olive branch, thirteen arrows and even thirteen steps in the pyramid on the reverse side. The olive branch represents peace, while the arrows represent the strength of force.
The pyramid is left unfinished, like the great pyramid at Giza. The top is flattened off so as to say that the American Dream is in progress – unfinished. It represents imperfection and incompleteness, yet also durability, power and steadfastness. There are seventy-two stones visible in the pyramid, and this is certainly an important number, if we will remember. The Kabbalistic 72 names of GOD are formed from the Tetragrammaton, or the four letters IHVH, which can be arranged in seventy-two ways – each representing a different aspect of divine power. The pyramid as a whole speaks of the human condition. The goal of the Quest is never finished until global peace is established by building a new order in which democracy is spread throughout the world.
The term NOVUS ORDO SECLOREM has been translated as ‘The Order of the Ages Begins Anew’, or the ‘New World Order’, or one of many other phrasings. ANNUIT COEPTIS means ‘God has Favored the Undertaking’ – ANNUIT meaning to assent, to favor, to smile upon, and COEPTIS meaning undertakings, endeavors, beginnings.
The most undeniable sign of all, however, is the All-Seeing Eye of God. This is without a doubt a symbol used very often by Freemasons. It represents the ever-alert eye of the Grand Architect, constantly watching the progress of mankind. It is this divine force that represents the completeness of mankind – it is his final spiritual realization. Certainly it also gives another level of meaning that hints at the existence of hidden watchers within society – that is to say ‘big brother’ type, secret organizations that may or may not be monitoring every move of the populace…
Though many would claim that these symbols all simply imply ‘Divine Providence’, there is no denying that they are some of the most fundamental symbols of the secret orders behind their creation. Yet it can be argued that the image held a noble meaning in those early days. Ultimately, it was a reference to the third eye being turned on – the TRUE completion of humanity – the Crown, or CORONA. With this comes spiritual perception of reality. Before Freemasons existed, the Rosicrucians and many others utilized the Great Pyramid for their initiation ceremonies. As stated, Jesus himself was supposed to have been initiated in the Great Pyramid. So the ‘All Seeing Eye’ and the Pyramid are genuinely powerful and uplifting symbols, yet as with the Swastika, American Flag and the name ISIS, it has been deformed to mean the opposite of its original principle. Today it has largely come to be used to intentionally convey the concept of surveillance culture.
Yet it would seem that it may have come from a somewhat divine, Rosicrucian messenger, and so it would seem that originally, the symbol was used righteously, as a beacon of a clue that the Great Pyramid is of central importance to all humanity, and that higher beings were indeed watching over our course. Then again, perhaps this messenger had completely different intentions for the symbol. We may only speculate. It may become more a question of whether or not the Masons remained true to their original beliefs. Perhaps they were guiding mankind by the council of angels, but some decided to worship devils.
When William Barton proposed his drawing of the Pyramid in 1782, (above) it was taken directly from the 1778 sketch by Francis Hopkinson, intended for the fifty-dollar bill (below). The pyramid, however, was not often seen by the public until 1935 when it appeared on the back of the dollar bill. This was the work of Franklin Roosevelt, who acted on a suggestion from his vice president, Henry Wallace. Both men were Freemasons, and when they noticed the symbolism within the seal, they chose to include it on the currency. Originally, it was to be put on a coin, but eventually landed on the dollar.
Wallace was also influenced by one the great mystics of American History, Nicholas Roerich, who was his teacher or guru. All three of these men were also acquainted with Manly P. Hall, who was, at the time, publishing his philosophical journal entitled, The All Seeing Eye. He would become a Freemason later in life, after writing The Secret Teachings of All Ages and many other works. As a Mason, he would be restricted in what he was allowed to publish due to his vows. He also had a large influence on FDR’s presidency. This was a time when the First World War had apparently ended, but Hitler’s rise to power was in full swing. Roerich was also a strong proponent for the United Nations, was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize three times, and was known for his many efforts to achieve global peace. In these efforts, the idea of a New World Order was becoming more and more formalized. Therefore, it would be very appropriate to use the symbol at that time – to embody the concept of a definite plan for the world and to show divine authority over this plan. Of course, by this time, the New World Order was certainly becoming a very dark destination. It was, by then, becoming world domination rather than world liberation, if it had not made that switch long ago. Yet, it is only fair to allow the benefit of the doubt, if there is no direct evidence implying evil agendas at a given age.
The dollar bill, however, will be addressed more in later chapters. From these few points, we might understand on a fundamental level, what the Seal was designed to represent as well as the flag and the Declaration of Independence. Had there been no higher purpose behind these symbols of national identity, they may have been images related to farming, skilled trades, wooded lands, local plant or animal life, or other such themes that were universal from colony to colony. Instead, our national images reflect ancient symbolism transferred to the new country through countless generations of secret orders, from Egypt.
Whether or not any of the strange legends of mysterious persons are true, there is plenty of evidence that plainly shows the true nature of the United States of America and its relation to the esoteric agenda behind it. It is often said that these symbols are hidden in plain sight. They are powerful talismans that everyday affect those who see them with subliminal effects. With an understanding of the history that preceded the development of the New World, we can understand how important this great plan has been, and we have seen the trials and tribulations of the oppressed orders, forced into secrecy.
The next century, however, provides startling new realms of confusion, and the plot grows into an even greater labyrinth than ever it had been. For this reason, it is best to tie together the most important aspects of the story already described. After all, none of the things previously discussed have any bearing on our present day situation, these events are all done and over with. On the other hand, it is only in the gathering together of these concepts that we can adequately build a foundation for a ‘theory of the present’.
We must understand that humanity has fought the same battle for thousands of years, and there has never been a single country, religion or philosophy that was absolutely on either side. We have always been divided amongst ourselves. Just as nature has built into us a mechanism for automatically equalizing the number of males and females of a given population, so has it dispersed the archetypes. This is to say, there will always be selfish people and there will always be selfless people, and they will be born this way in whatever country fate chooses. They will be raised in the religion of their parents, yet they will always act according to their nature. At the same time, the like-minded will find one another and this is how specialized cultures, societies and fraternities are formed. It would seem that those groups which had previously sought peace and global harmony would soon realize a dangerous thing – that power is easily grasped by those bold enough to take it, and that once this power is in one’s hand, the plans can be amended.
Next Chapter:
XIV. The Fall of the Quest
The present section deals with the period extending from the collapse of the pagan Mysteries to the end of the Age of Chivalry. For practical purposes, the Esoteric Schools, which championed the human cause through the Dark Ages and the medieval world, may be considered together as the Orders of the Quest.
The symbolism and rituals of these Fraternities of the Middle Ages involved a search for something remote or hidden. To succeed in the Quest, the knight or companion (disciple) must dedicate himself to the service of his afflicted and exploited fellow man. He must rescue his own soul — the “fair maiden in distress” — by over-coming the giants, dragons, demons, and wicked nobles who pillaged the countryside. As a reward for these noble pursuits, the Christian and godly knight could aspire to a heavenly vision of spiritual mysteries.
The legends of chivalry are veiled accounts of man’s eternal search for truth. These beautiful stories are not, however, merely folklore. They are parts of an orderly tradition, unfolding through the centuries and bearing witness to a well-organized plan and program. Like the myths of classical antiquity, the hero tales are sacred rituals belonging to secret Fraternities perpetuating the esoteric doctrines of antiquity.
– Manly Hall, Orders of the Quest