THE FORERUNNER.

Strange rumors reached the ears of the people of Jerusalem and the surrounding country.  It was reported that a new prophet had appeared in the valley of the lower Jordan, and in the wilderness of Northern Judea, preaching startling doctrines.  His teachings resembled those of the prophets of old, and his cry of “Repent!  Repent ye! for the Kingdom of Heaven is at hand,” awakened strange memories of the ancient teachers of the race, and caused the common people to gaze wonderingly at each other, and the ruling classes to frown and look serious, when the name of the new prophet was mentioned.

The man whom the common people called a prophet, and whom the exalted ones styled an impostor, was known as John the Baptist, and dwelt in the wilderness away from the accustomed haunts of men.  He was clad in the rude garments of the roaming ascetics, his rough robe of camel’s skin being held around his form by a coarse girdle of leather.  His diet was frugal and elemental, consisting of the edible locust of the region, together with the wild honey stored by the bees of the wilderness.

In appearance John, whom men called “the Baptist,” was tall, wiry, and rugged.  His skin was tanned a dark brown by the winds and sun which beat upon it unheeded.  His long black hair hung loosely around his shoulders, and was tossed like the mane of a lion when he spoke.  His beard was rough and untrimmed.  His eyes gleamed like glowing coals, and seemed to burn into the very soul of his hearers.  His was the face of the religious enthusiastic with a Message for the world.

This wild prophet was most strenuous, and his teachings were couched in the most vigorous words.  There was no tact, policy, or persuasion in his message.  He hurled his verbal thunderbolts right into his crowd, the very force and earnestness emanating from him serving to charge his words with a vitality and magnetism which dashed itself into the crowd like a spark of electricity, knocking men from off their feet, and driving the Truth into them as if by a charge of a powerful explosive.  He told them that the spiritual grain was to be gathered into the garners, while the chaff was to be consumed as if by a fiery furnace; that the axe was to be laid to the root of the trees which brought not forth good fruit.  Verily, the “Day of Jéhovah,” long promised by the prophets, was near to hand to his hearers and followers.

John soon gathered to himself a following, the people flocking to him from all parts of the country, even from Galilee.  His followers began to talk among themselves, asking whether indeed this man were not the long promised Master the Messiah for whom all Israel had waited for centuries.  This talk coming to the ears of the prophet, caused him to answer the question in his discourses, saying:  “There cometh one mightier than I, after me, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to stoop down and unloose; he that cometh after me is mightier than I.”  And thus it became gradually known to his following, and the strangers attending his meetings, that this John the Baptist, mighty preacher though he be, was but the herald of one much greater than he, who should follow that he was the forerunner of the Master, according to the Oriental imagery which pictured the forerunner of the great dignitaries, running ahead of the chariot of his master, crying aloud to all people gathered on the road that they must make way for the approaching great man, shouting constantly, “Make ye a way! make ye a way for the Lord!” And accordingly there was a new wave of excitement among John’s following, which spread rapidly to the surrounding country, at this promise of the coming of the Lord the Master perhaps even the Messiah of the Jews.  And many more came unto John, and with him waited for the Coming of the Master.

This John the Baptist was born in the hill country of Judea, nearly thirty years before he appeared as a prophet.  His father was of the priestly order, or temple caste, who had reached an advanced age, and who lived with his aged wife in retirement, away from the noise and confusion of the world, waiting the gradual approach of that which cometh to all men alike.  Then there came to them a child of their old age, unexpected and unhoped for coming as a mark of especial favor from God a son, to whom they gave the name of Johanan, which in the Hebrew tongue means “Jéhovah is gracious.”

Reared in the home of his parents the house of a priest John saturated himself with all the Inner Teachings reserved for the few, and withheld from the masses.  The Secrets of the Kaballah, that system of Hebrew Occultism and Mysticism in which the higher priests of Judea were well versed, were disclosed to him, and occult tradition has it that he was initiated into the Inner Circle of the Hebrew Mystics, composed of only priests of a certain grade, and their sons.  John became an Occultist and a Mystic.  When the boy reached the age of puberty, he departed from the home of his parents, and went into the wilderness, “looking to the East, from whence cometh all Light.”  In other words, he became an Ascetic, living in the wilderness, just as in India even to-day youths of the Brahmin or priestly class sometimes forsake their homes, renouncing their luxurious life, and fly to the jungle, where they wander about for years as ascetics, wearing a single garment, subsisting on the most elementary food, and developing their spiritual consciousness.  John remained a recluse until he reached the age of about thirty years, when he emerged from the wilderness to preach the “Coming of the Lord,” in obedience to the movings of the Spirit.  Let us see where he was, and what he did, during the fifteen years of his life in the wilderness and hidden places of Judea.

The traditions of the Essenes, preserved among Occultists, state that while John was an ascetic he imbibed the teachings of that strange Occult Brotherhood known as the Essenes, and after having served his apprenticeship, was accepted into the order as an Initiate, and attained their higher degrees reserved only for those of developed spirituality and power.  It is said that even when he was a mere boy he claimed and proved his right to be fully initiated into the Mysteries of the Order, and was believed to have been a reincarnation of one of the old Hebrew prophets.

THE ESSENES

The Essenes were an ancient Hebrew Occult Brotherhood, which had been in existence many hundred years before John’s time.  They had their headquarters on the Eastern shores of the Dead Sea, although their influence extended over all of Palestine, and their ascetic brothers were to be found in every wilderness.  The requirements of the Order were very strict, and its rites and ceremonies were of the highest mystical and occult degree.  The Neophyte was required to serve a preliminary apprenticeship of one year before being admitted to even partial recognition as a member and brother.  A further apprenticeship of two more years was required before he was admitted to full membership, and extended the right hand of fellowship.  Additional time was required for further advancement, and even time alone did not entitle the member to certain high degrees, the requirements being that actual knowledge, power and attainment must first be manifested.  As in all true Occult Orders the candidate must “work out his own salvation,” neither money nor influence having any weight.

Absolute obedience to the Rules of the Order; absolute poverty of material possessions; absolute sexual continence these were the conditions of membership to be observed by both Neophyte and Initiate, as well as High-degree Master.  Understanding this, one may imagine the disgust inspired in John by the amorous solicitations of Salome, which caused him to lose his life rather than to break the vows of his Order, as is so startlingly pictured in the stage productions of modern times.

One of the ceremonies of the Essenes was that of Baptism (literally, “dipping in water”) which was administered to Candidates, with appropriate solemnity and rites.  The mystic significance of the ceremony which is understood by all members of Occult Orders, even unto this day, was a part of the ritual originated by the Essenes, and the rite itself was a distinctive feature of their Order.  The performance of this rite by John the Baptist, in his ministry, and its subsequent acceptance by the Christian Church as a distinctive ceremonial, of which the “sprinkling of infants” of to-day is a reminder and substitute, forms a clear connecting link between the Essenes and Modern Christianity, and impresses the stamp of Mysticism and Occultism firmly upon the latter, as little as the general public may wish to admit it in their ignorant misunderstanding and materialistic tendencies.

The Essenes believed in, and taught the doctrine of Reincarnation; the Immanence of God; and many other Occult Truths, the traces of which appear constantly in the Christian Teachings, as we shall see as we progress with these lessons.  Through its Exalted Brother, John the Baptist, the Order passed on its teaching to the early Christian Church, thus grafting itself permanently upon a new religious growth, newly appearing on the scene.  And the transplanted branches are still there!

Of course, the true history of the real connection between the Essenes and Christianity is to be found only in the traditions of the Essenes and other ancient Mystic Orders, much of which has never been printed, but which has passed down from teacher to pupil over the centuries even unto this day, among Occult Fraternities.  But in order to show the student that we are not making statements incapable of proof by evidence available to him, we would refer him to any standard work of reference on the subject.  For instance, if he will consult the “New International Encyclopedia” (Vol.  VII, page 217) article on “Essenes,” he will read the following words: 

“It is an interesting question as to how much Christianity owes to Essenism.  It would seem that there was room for definite contact between John the Baptist and this Brotherhood.  His time of preparation was spent in the wilderness near the Dead Sea; his preaching of righteousness toward God, and justice toward one’s fellow men, was in agreement with Essenism; while his insistence on Baptism was in accord with the Essenic emphasis on lustrations.”

The same article contains the statement that the Essenic Brotherhood taught a certain “view entertained regarding the origin, present state, and future destiny of the soul, which was held to be pre-existent, being entrapped in the body as in a prison,” etc. (The above italics are our own.)

John emerged from the wilderness when he had reached the age of about thirty years, and began his ministry work, which extended for several years until his death at the hands of Herod.  He gathered around him a large and enthusiastic following, beginning with the humbler classes and afterward embracing a number of higher social degree.  He formed his more advanced followers into a band of disciples, with prescribed rules regarding fasting, worship, ceremonial, rites, etc., closely modeled upon those favored by the Essenes.  This organization was continued until the time of John’s death, when it merged with the followers of Jesus, and exerted a marked influence upon the early Christian church.

As we have stated, one of his principal requisites enjoined upon all of his followers, was that of “Baptism” the Essenic rite, from which he derived his familiar appellation, “The Baptist.”  But, it must be remembered that to John this rite was a most sacred, mystic, symbolic ceremony, possessing a deep occult meaning unperceived by many of his converts who submitted themselves to it under the fervor of religious emotion, and who naively regarded it as some magical rite which “washed away sin” from their souls, as the dirt was washed from their bodies, a belief which seems to be still in favor with the multitude.

John worked diligently at his mission, and the “Baptists” or “Followers of Johanan,” as they were called, increased rapidly.  His meetings were events of great moment to thousands who had gathered from all Palestine to see and hear the prophet of the wilderness the Essene who had emerged from his retirement.  His meetings were often attended with startling occurrences, sudden conversions, visions, trances, etc., and many developed possession of unusual powers and faculties.  But one day there was held a meeting destined to gain world-wide fame.  This was the day when there came to John the Baptist the master, of whose coming John had frequently foretold and promised.  Jesus the Christ appeared upon the scene and confronted his Forerunner.

The traditions have it that Jesus came unannounced to, and unrecognized by John and the populace.  The Forerunner was in ignorance of the nature and degree of his guest and applicant for Baptism.  Although the two were cousins, they had not met since childhood, and John did not at first recognize Jesus.  The traditions of the Mystic Orders further state that Jesus then gave to John the various signs of the Occult Fraternities to which they both belonged, working from the common signs up until Jesus passed on to degrees to which John had not attained, although he was an eminent high-degree Essene.  Whereupon John saw that the man before him was no common applicant for Baptism, but was, instead, a highest-degree Mystic Adept, and Occult Master his superior in rank and unfoldment.  John, perceiving this, remonstrated with Jesus, saying that it was not meet and proper, nor in accordance with the customs of the Brotherhoods, for the inferior to Baptize the superior.  Of this event the New Testament takes note in these words:  “But John forbade him, saying, I have need to be baptized of thee, and comest thou to me?” (Mat:14.) But Jesus insisted that John perform the rite upon him upon the ground that He wished to go through the ceremonial in order to set His stamp of approval upon it, and to show that he considered himself as a man among men, come forth to live the life of men.

In both the occult traditions and the New Testament narrative, it is stated that 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 with the English translators.  There is absolutely no dispute regarding this question among Biblical scholars, although the general public is not aware of the connection, nor do they identify the Wise Men with the Oriental Magians.

The word “Magi” comes to the English language direct from the Greek, which in turn acquired it by gradual steps from the Persian, Chaldean, Median, and Assyrian tongues.  It means, literally, “wonder worker,” and was applied to the members of the occult priestly orders of Persia, Media, and Chaldea, who were Mystic Adepts and Occult Masters.  Ancient history is full of references to this body of men.  They were the custodians of the world’s occult knowledge for centuries, and the priceless treasures of the Inner Teachings held by the race to-day have come through the hands of these men the Magi who tended the sacred fires of Mysticism and kept The Flame burning.  In thinking of their task, one is reminded of the words of Edward Carpenter, the poet, who sings:  “Oh, let not the flame die out!  Cherished age after age in its dark caverns, in its holy temples cherished.  Fed by pure ministers of love let not the flame die out.”

The title of “Magi” was highly esteemed in those ancient days, but it fell into disrepute in the latter times owing to its growing use as an appellation of the practitioners of “Black Magic,” or “evil wonder-workers” or sorcerers, of those days.  But as a writer in the New International Encyclopedia (Vol.  XII, page 674) has truly said: 

“The term is employed in its true sense by Matthew (2:1) of the wise men who came from the East to Jerusalem to worship Christ.  The significance of this event must be observed because the Messianic doctrine was an old and established one in Zoroastrianism.”

The same article says of the Magi:  “... they believed in a resurrection, a future life, and the advent of a savior.”

To understand the nature of the Magi in connection with their occult “wonder working,” we must turn to the dictionaries, where we will see that the word “Magic” is derived from the title “Magi;” the word “Magician” having been originally “Magian”, which means “one of the Magi.”  Webster defines the word “Magic” as follows:  “The hidden wisdom supposed to be possessed by the Magi; relating to the occult powers of nature; mastery of secret forces in nature”, etc.  So you may readily see that we are right in stating to you that these Wise Men the Magi who came to worship the Christ-child, were in reality the representatives of the great Mystic Brotherhoods and Occult Orders of the Orient Adepts, Masters, Hierophants!  And thus do we find the Occult and Mystic “wonder workers” the high-degree brethren of the Great Eastern Lodges of Mystic Occultism, appearing at the very beginning of the Story of Christianity, indicating their great interest in the mortal birth of the greater Master whose coming they had long waited the Master of Masters!  And all Occultists and Mystics find pleasure and just pride in the fact that the first recognition of the Divine Nature of this human child came from these Magi from the East from the very Heart of the Mystic Inner Circles!  To those so-called Christians to whom all that is connected with Mysticism and Occultism savors of the fiery sulphur and brimstone, we would call attention to this intimate early relation between The Musters and the master.

THE STAR IN THE EAST

But the Mystic story begins still further back than the visit of the Magi to Bethlehem.  Did not the Magi say, “Where is He?  We have seen His star in the East and have come to worship him.”  What is meant by the words, “We have seen his star in the East”?

To the majority of Christians the “Star of Bethlehem” means a great star that suddenly appeared in the heavens, like a great beacon light, and which miraculously guided the steps of the Magi, mile by mile, on their weary journey, until at last it rested in the heavens, stationary over the house in which the child Jesus lived, between the ages of one and two years.  In other words, they believe that this star had constantly guided these skilled mystics, occultists and astrologers, in their journey from the far East, which occupied over a year, until it at last guided them to Bethlehem and then stopped stationary over the house of Joseph and Mary.  Alas! that these vulgar traditions of the ignorant multitude should have served so long to obscure a beautiful mystic occurrence, and which by their utter improbability and unscientific nature should have caused thousands to sneer at the very true legend of the “Star of Bethlehem.”  It remains for the Mystic traditions to clear away the clouds of ignorance from this beautiful story, and to re-establish it in the minds of men as a natural and scientific occurrence.

This story of the “traveling star” arose from the superstitious and ignorant ideas of many of the Christians of the first, second, and third centuries after Christ’s death.  These tales were injected into the manuscripts left by the disciples, and soon began to be regarded as a part and portion of the authentic Gospels and Epistles, although the skilled Biblical critics and scholars of to-day are rapidly discarding many of these additions as wilful forgeries and interpolations.  It must be remembered that the oldest manuscripts of the books of the New Testament are known to Biblical scholars to have been written not less than three hundred years after the time of the original writing, and are merely copies of copies of the originals, undoubtedly added to, altered, and adulterated by the writers through whose hands they had passed.  This is not merely the statement of an outside critic it is a fact that is clearly stated in the writings of the scholars in the Churches engaged in the work of Biblical study, and the Higher Criticism, to which works we refer any who may have reason to doubt our statement.

That portion of the verse (Mat:9.) in which it is said that “and lo; the star which they saw in the east went before them, till it came and stood over where the young child was,” is known to the Mystic and Occult Orders to be a rank interpolation into the story of the Magi.  It is contrary to their own traditions and records, and is also contrary to reason and to scientific laws, and this distorted story alone has been the cause of the development of thousands of “infidels” who could not accept the tale.

All intelligent men know that a “star” is not a mere tiny point of flame in the dome which shuts us out from a Heaven on the other side of the blue shell, although this view was that of the ancient people, and many ignorant men and women to-day.  Educated people know that a “star” is either a planet of our solar system, similar to the sister planet which we called the Earth, or else is a mighty sun, probably many times larger than our sun, countless millions of miles distant from our solar system.  And they know that planets have their invariable orbits and courses, over which they travel, unceasingly, so true to their course that their movements may be foretold centuries ahead, or calculated for centuries back.  And they know that even the great fixed stars, those distant suns and centers of great solar systems akin to our own, have their own places in the Universe, also their Universal relations and movements.  All who have studied even the most elementary school book on astronomy know these things.  And yet such people are asked to swallow whole this story of the “moving star,” traveling on a little ahead of the shepherds for over a year, and at last standing right over the home of Jesus, and thus indicating that the search was ended.  Let us compare this unscientific tale, with the traditions and legends of the Mystics, and then take your choice.

Had there been any such star in appearance, the historians of that day would surely have recorded it, for there were learned and wise men in the East in those days, and as astrology was a science closely studied, it would have been noted and passed on to posterity by both writings and tradition.  But no such record or tradition is to be found among the Eastern peoples, or the records of the astrologers.  But another record and tradition is preserved, as we shall see in a moment.

Yes, there really was a “Star of Bethlehem” which led the feet of the Magi to the home of the infant Jesus.  We have the following proof of this fact: 

     (1) the traditions and teachings of the Mystic Orders which
     have been handed down from teacher to student for centuries;

     (2) the statements and records of the Ancient Astrologers,
     which may be proven by modern astronomical calculations; and

     (3) the calculations made by modern astronomers, which shall
     be stated a few paragraphs further on.  These three sources
     of information give us the same tale, as we shall see.

Before proceeding to a consideration of this three-fold evidence, let us pause for a moment and consider the relation of the Magi to Astrology.  To understand the narrative of the Magi’s Visit to Jesus, we must remember that they were the very Masters of Astrological Lore.  Persia and the surrounding Oriental countries were the fountain-head of Astrological Teaching.  And these Magi were Masters, and Adepts, and Hierophants, and consequently knew all that was known to the greatest schools of Astrology of that day.  Much of their Ancient Astrological Lore has been lost to the race of to-day, but to these ancient learned men it was as much of a science as chemistry and astronomy are to the learned ones of our day.

The Magi had long waited for the appearance and incarnation of a Great Master of Masters, whose appearance had been predicted centuries before by some of the great Occult Fathers of the Mystic Orders, and each generation hoped that the event would come in his day.  They had been taught that when the event took place, they would be informed by means of the planets, according to the Higher Astrology.  All students of even our modern fragmentary astrology will understand this.  And so they waited and carefully scanned the heavens for the sign.

Now the traditions of the Occult Orders inform us that at last the Magi witnessed a peculiar conjunction of planets; first, the conjunction of Saturn and Jupiter, in the Constellation of Pisces, the two planets being afterward joined by the planet Mars, the three planets in close relation of position, making a startling and unusual stellar display, and having a deep astrological significance.  Now, the Constellation of Pisces, as all astrologers, ancient and modern, know, is the constellation governing the national existence of Judea.  Seeing the predicted conjunction of the planets, occurring in the Constellation having to do with Judea (as well as the relative positions of the other planets, all of which played its part in the observation), the Magi knew two things, i.e., (1) that the birth of the Master of Masters had occurred; and (2) that He had been born in Judea, as indicated by the constellation in which the conjunction occurred.  And, so, making the calculation of the exact moment of the conjunction, they started on their long journey toward Judea in search of the Master of Masters.

Now, again, the records of the Astrologers, preserved in the Oriental Occult Brotherhoods, in their monasteries, etc., show that at a period a few years before the Christian Era such a peculiar conjunction and combination of the planets occurred in the Constellation symbolizing the destinies of Judea, which was interpreted as indicating the appearance of an Incarnation or Avatar of a Great Divine Soul a Master of Masters a Mystic of Mystics.  It must be remembered that these Orders are composed of non-Christians people that the average Christian would call “heathens,” and that therefore this testimony must be regarded as free from bias toward Christianity or the corroboration of its legends.

And, in the third place, the calculations of Modern Astronomy show without possibility of contradiction that in the Roman year 747 (or seven years before the Christian Era) the planets Saturn and Jupiter farmed a conjunction in the Constellation of Pisces, and that these two planets, still in close position to each other, were joined by the planet Mars in the Spring of 748.  The great astronomer Kepler first made this calculation in the year 1604, and it has been since verified by modern calculations.  To those who would object that all this occurred seven years before the commonly accepted date of the birth of Christ, we would say that any modern work on New Testament Chronology, or any encyclopedia or reference work on the subject, will show that the former calculations were several years out of the way, and that the records of other events mentioned in the Bible, such as the “enrollment” of the people, which brought Joseph and Mary to Bethlehem, enable modern Biblical scholars to fix the date of the birth of Christ at about six or seven years before the usually accepted time.  So that modern research fully corroborates the astrological record and the Mystic traditions.

And so it would appear that the coming of the Wise Men the Magi was in accordance with the astrological signs, of the interpretation of which they were adepts and masters.  When this truth is known, how puerile and petty seems the myth of the “traveling star” of the commonly accepted exoteric version?  And the pictures of the Wise Men being led by a moving heavenly body, traveling across the skies and at last standing still over the cottage of Joseph, with which the Sunday school books are filled, must be relegated to the same waste-paper basket which contains the Bible illustrations, formerly so popular, which picture Jéhovah as a bald-headed old man with a long white beard, clad in flowing robes designed to hide his body.  Is it any wonder that skeptics, infidels, and scoffers of the spiritual truths have arisen in great numbers, when they have been asked to accept these things or be damned?

And is not this connection of Astrology with Early Christianity a rebuke to the modern Christian Church which sneers and scoffs at the science of astrology as a “base superstition” fit only for fools and ignoramuses?  Does not this picture of the Magi give a clear view of that which was formerly regarded as a mere fable, to be solemnly smiled over and taught to the children, with whom the story has always been a favorite owing to their intuitive perception of an underlying truth.  And now with this Mystic version, cannot you enjoy the legend with the children?  In this connection let us once more quote from the New International Encyclopedia (Vol.  II, 170), a standard reference work, as you know, which says: 

“Some of the earlier Christian Fathers argued against the doctrines of the earlier astrology, while others received them in a modified form; and indeed it formed a part of the basis of their religion in the Gospel narrative of the visit to Bethlehem of the Wise Men of the East, who were Chaldean Magi or Astrologers.”

Here is the testimony in all of the standard reference books, and yet how many of you have known it?

To understand the importance of the event which drew the steps of the Magi to Bethlehem, we must realize that the Coming of the Master was a favorite subject of speculation and discussion among Occultists and Mystic organizations all over the Oriental countries.  It had been foretold, in all tongues, that a Great Master would be given to the world a mighty avatar or appearance of Deity in human form, who would incarnate in order to redeem the world from the materiality which threatened it.  The Sacred Writings of India, Persia, Chaldea, Egypt, Media, Assyria, and other lands had foretold this event for many centuries, and all the mystics and occultists longed for the day “when the Master would appear.”  The Jews also had many traditions regarding the coming of a Messiah, who would be born of the seed of David, at Bethlehem, but their Messiah was looked upon as likely to be an earthly king, destined to free Israel from the Roman yoke.  And so, the tradition of the Jews was regarded as of inferior moment to their own predictions, by the Mystic and Occult Brotherhoods of the East.  To them it was to be an avatar of Deity God in human form come to take his rightful seat as the Grand Master of the Universal Grand Lodge of Mystic a descent of pure Spirit into matter.  This conception certainly was very much higher than that of the Jews.

And so, knowing these things, we may readily understand why the Magi pursued their search with such ardor and enthusiasm.  They had many weary miles of travel to Bethlehem, over a year being consumed in the journey.  They reached Bethlehem over a year after the birth of Christ and the appearance of the Star, the sight of which had started them on their quest.  They sought not a new-born babe, as common belief has it they searched for a child born over a year before. (We refer the student to any reference work, for a verification of this last statement.  The illustrations in the Sunday school books showing the Wise Men worshipping a new born babe in the manger are on a par with the others mentioned.  The Wise Men had nothing to do with the stable or the manger for Joseph, Mary and the Babe were lodged in a house by that time, as we shall see as we proceed.)

At last after their long and weary wandering over hill and plain, mountain and desert, the Magi found themselves in Jerusalem, inquiring diligently as to the whereabouts of the Master of Masters the Promised One, whose coming had been the subject of prophecy for centuries among the Eastern peoples.  The Jews of whom they inquired, although not familiar with the predictions regarding a Mystic Master, or avatar of Deity, were nevertheless thoroughly familiar with the prophecies of the coming of the Hebrew Messiah, and naturally thought that it was of this expected earthly King of the Jews that the Magi inquired, and so they reported it far and wide that these Great Men from the East had come to Jerusalem to find the Messiah the King of the Jews, who was to deliver Israel from the Roman yoke.  And, as the Gospel of Matthew (2:3) informs us:  “When Herod the king heard it, he was troubled, and all Jerusalem with him.”  Naturally so, when it is remembered that it was an Earthly Kingdom that they expected the Messiah would inherit.  And so, gathering the chief priests and scribes of Jerusalem around him, he bade them tell him the particulars regarding the prophecies regarding the Messiah where he was expected to be born.  And they answered him, saying:  “In Bethlehem of Judea for so hath the prophets spoken.”

And hearing the testimony of the scribes and priests, the wily Herod, who feared the realization of this old Hebrew prophecy which threatened to cost him his throne if fulfilled, called the Magi to his palace and in private consultation inquired of them the reason of their search.  And when they told him of the astrological indications of the “Star” he was still more wrought up, and wished to locate the dangerous child.  And so he inquired of them the exact date at which the star had appeared, that he might be better able to find the infant, knowing its date of birth in Bethlehem. (See Matthew 2:7.) And learning this he bade them go to Bethlehem and find the child they sought, and cunningly added, “And when ye have found him, bring me word, that I also may come and worship him.”  Thus craftily concealing his intentions to seize and kill the child, he endeavored to press the Magi into his service as detectives, by pretending to join in their desire to locate the Divine Child.

The Magi traveled on to Bethlehem, and arriving there made diligent inquiry regarding infants that had been born about the time that the star appeared.  There were many infants born in Bethlehem during the same month, of course, and the search was difficult.  But they soon heard strange rumors about a babe that had been born to travelers in Bethlehem about that time, the birth of whom had been attended by a strange occurrence.  This peculiar happening is related in Luke 2:8-20, in which it is stated that at the time of the birth of Jesus in the manger, certain shepherds keeping the night-watch over their flocks saw an angel standing by them, and “the glory of the Lord” shining around about them.  And the angel bade them be not afraid, for to them was to be given tidings of great joy, for there was born that very day, in Bethlehem, one who was to be the Anointed Lord of the world.  And the angel further directed them that the babe would be found lying in a manger in a stable, wrapped in swaddling clothes which was to be their sign.  And then suddenly the place was filled with a multitude of supernatural beings, praising God, singing, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace and good-will among men.”  And the shepherds flocked to the town, and there found the child in the manger.  And they spread abroad the report of the wonderful event accompanying the birth of the child.  And consequently the child and its parents became objects of more or less public interest.

And so when the Magi instituted their search they were in due time informed of this strange occurrence.  And they visited the house of Joseph and Mary and saw the Babe.  Making close inquiry of the parents, they found that the time of the child’s birth tallied precisely with the moment of the astrological signs.  Then they cast the Child’s horoscope and they knew that their shepherd’s vision coincided with their own science, and that here indeed was He for whom the Eastern Occultists and Mystics had waited for centuries.  They had found the Master!  The Star Child was before them!

Then these Great Men of their own lands these Adepts, Masters and Hierophants prostrated themselves on the ground before the child and gave him the salutation due only to the great Occult Master of Masters who was come to take his seat upon the Throne of the Grand Master of the Great Lodge.  But the child knew naught of this, and merely smiled sweetly at these strange men in gorgeous foreign robes, and reached out his little hand toward them.  But Occult tradition has it that the tiny fingers and thumb of his right hand, outstretched toward the Magi, unconsciously assumed the mystic symbol of the Occult Benediction, used by the Masters and Hierophants (and now used by the Pope in Papal Benediction) and gave to the worshippers that Master’s benediction.  The tiny Master of Masters thus gave his first blessing to his followers, and exalted worshippers.  But His Throne was not that of the Great Lodge, but a still higher place the knees of a Mother!

And the Magi then made mystic and symbolic offerings to the child Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh offered they Him.  Gold, signifying the tribute offered to a Ruler, was the first symbol.  Then came Frankincense, the purest and rarest incense used by the Occult and Mystic Brotherhoods and Orders, in their ceremonies and rites, when they were contemplating the sacred symbol of the Absolute Master of the Universe this Frankincense was their symbol of worship.  Then, last symbol of all, was the Myrrh, which in the occult and mystic symbolism indicated the bitterness of mortal life, bitter though pungent, preserving though stinging this was the meaning of the Myrrh, that this child, though Divine in his inner nature, was still mortal in body and brain, and must accept and experience the bitter tang of life.  Myrrh, the strength of which preserves, and prevents decay, and yet which smarts, and tangs, and stings ever and ever a worthy symbol of Mortal Life, surely.  Wise Men, indeed, ye Magi!  Gold, Frankincense, and Myrrh a prophecy, symbol, and revelation of the Life of the Son of Man, with His indwelling Pure Spirit.

And the Magi, having performed their rites and ceremonies, departed from Bethlehem.  But they did not forget the Child they preserved a careful watch over his movements, until they saw him again.  Saw Him again? you ask? Yes, saw him again! Though the Gospels say naught of this, and are silent for a period of many years in the Life of Jesus, yet the records and traditions of the Mystics of the East are filled with this esoteric knowledge of these missing years, as we shall see as we proceed.  Left behind by the Magi, but still under their loving care, the Child waxed strong and grew in mind and body.

But the Magi, being warned by higher intelligences in a vision, did not return to the wily and crafty Herod, but “departed unto their own country another way.” (Mat:12.) And Herod waited in vain for their return, and finally discovering their escape wrathfully ordered the massacre of all male children that had been born in Bethlehem and its suburbs of two years of age and under.  He calculated the two years from the witnessing of the “star” by the Magi.  Matthew 2:16 states the story of the fixing of the time as follows: 

“And slew all the male children that were in Bethlehem, and all the borders thereof, from two years old and under, according to the time which he exactly learned of the wise men.”

Herod sought to kill the feared Messiah the King of the Jews, who threatened to drive him from his earthly throne by killing all the male infants in Bethlehem that had been born since the astrological indication as stated by the Magi.

But this plot failed, for Joseph had been warned by “an angel in a dream” (which mystics teach was the Astral Form of one of the Magi) and was told to take the mother and child and flee into Egypt, and to stay there until the death of Herod.  And so Joseph, Mary, and Jesus then fled from the wrath of Herod, and stole silently away to Egypt.  And the Occult traditions have it that the expenses of the journey of this poor carpenter and his family that journey into strange lands, hurried, and without the chance to earn money along the way was accomplished by the means of the Gold that the Magi had offered to Jesus, and which they had insisted upon his parents storing away for His use.  And so the gold of these Occult Mystics saved the founder of Christianity from massacre.  And how poorly has Christianity repaid the debt, when one thinks of the persécutions of the Oriental “heathen” by the so-called Christians of all times!

And note this they carried the child to Egypt, the home of Mystery and Occultism the land of Isis!  A worthy resting place for the Great Occult Master that was to be!  And Occult tradition also has it that one night, wearied with their long journey, the family halted and passed the night in the place of the Sphinx and Pyramids.  And that the Mother and Babe rested between the outstretched forepaws of the mighty Sphinx, which held them safe and secure, while Joseph threw himself on the base before them, and slept on guard.  What a scene the Master as an infant protected by the Sphinx, that ancient Occult emblem and symbol, while close by, reared like mighty watchful sentinels, stood the Great Pyramids of Egypt, the master work of Egypt’s Mystics, every line and inch of which symbolizes an Occult Teaching.  Verily, indeed is Christianity cradled in the lap of Mysticism.

Thus endeth our First Lesson.  The Second Lesson will take up the Mystic Teachings regarding the Divine Incarnation of the Spirit in the mortal body of Jesus a subject of the greatest importance to all who are troubled with this difficult point.  We hope to be able to shed the Mystic light of Truth upon this corner which so many have found dark, non-understandable, and contrary to reason, natural law and science.  The Mystic Teachings are the great Reconciler of Faith and Reason.