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who cheats and deceives the people。 A mason is the honorable designation
of a builder； who works in stone； metaphysically； a member of a semi…
secret society； whose sole advantage is social intercourse and standing；
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who proclaim fraternity and universal brotherhood theoretically and
practice the reverse in reality； a man who apes the Egyptian Mason； knows
nothing in reality of Hiram； his master； who knows nothing of the starry
Solomon or his mystic temple in the heavens； which Hiram built； and who
misconceives the import of the three villains； or assassins； and who；
further； knows nothing of that wonderful sprig of myrtle：in short； a Free
Mason； speaking generally； is a man who delights in ideals； social equality；
secret fraternity； and plays at mysticism； who parades on the Masonic
stage and enacts a role he does not understand。 The first meaning； that of a
builder； is the most correct。 Lastly； the imagination is the exercise of
mental imagerythe picturings of silent thought。
And now we will proceed BACKWARDS。 Imagination is from the
word 〃image；〃 a form； a picture； and has descended to us from the Latin
〃imago；〃 which； in its turn； was derived from the old Semitic root； 〃mag。〃
Mason comes to us from the Latin 〃mass；〃 which means to mould and
form； i。e。； to build； and the word 〃mass；〃 through various transformations；
was also derived from the root…word 〃mag。〃 Consequently； originally；
there was but little difference in the ancient idea of building pictures in the
mind and erecting the mental idea externally in stone。 It is from this fact；
that； we have to…day Mental Masons； a la the secret orders； and stone
masons； who labor for wages。 The Mental Masons have merely lost the
knowledge of their art。 They should； by rights； be as active and
correspondingly useful to…day as their more physical brothers； the masons
of stone。
This art would never have fallen into disgrace and disuse； if their daily
bread； or material accumulations； had depended upon their efforts in
building up the mental； moral； and spiritual attainments； of each other； and
bringing their knowledge into more external use； by making the material
edifice； the physical body； a purer and more fitting temple； for the Divine
soul。
Magic comes from the Latin 〃magi〃 and the Greek word 〃magos；〃
which means wise； learned in the mysteries； and was the synonym of
wisdom。 The initiated philosopher； the priest； and the wise men； are all of
them included in the 〃magi。〃 Again； tracing this word to its remote
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ancestor； we find it terminating in the same Semitic root； 〃mag；〃 but of
this strange root no one was able to say much； except that it seemed to
belong to the Assyrian branch of the great Semitic race。 But quite recently；
thanks to our scientific explorers and archaeologists； versed in the
mysterious meaning of cuniform inscription； Assyrian scholars now
inform us that they have found the hoary； primitive original of it； of magic；
magi and imago； etc。 It is from an old Akkadian word； 〃imga；〃 meaning
wise； holy； and learned； and was used as the distinguishing title of their
wisest sages； priests； and philosophers； who； as may be supposed；
gradually formed a peculiar caste； which merged into the ruling priestly
order。 The Semites； who succeeded the old Akkadian race in the valley of
the Euphrates； as a mere matter of verbal convenience； transformed many
of the old Akkadian words to suit their own articulation； and 〃imga〃
became 〃mag；〃 and thus 〃magi。〃 THE BLEND between the Semetic and
the older Akkadian race； produced； by fusion of racial blood； the famed
Chaldeans。 So that we see how old are the words which many of us daily
use； but with different meaning。 Verily； it makes one feel； when be thinks
of magic and its origin； as though he were quite nearly related to the
people who honored King Sargon； the Wise； the earthly original of the
mystic Solomon of Biblical tradition。 The term Wand is an old Saxon
word； which primarily signifies to set in motion； to move。 From this we
derive our word wander； i。e。； to roam； and wandering； i。e。； moving and
continually restless。
We have now the original； therefore real； meaning of the words Magic
Wand； thus an object that sets in motion the powers of the magician； and
the magician； an Initiate of the sacred ritesA MASTER OF WISDOM；
possessing all the resources that enable him TO BUILD mould； and form；
to create in fact； by virtue of his knowledge of the secret powers of mental
imagery and the potential use of his own imagination。 He is both Mental
Mason and learned philosopher。
The student may doubtless ask； why all this care and labor regarding
mere definitions？ We reply that； it is because； the real meaning of the
words we have purposely selected for the title of our studies are； in
themselves； a far better revelation than we could possibly have written。
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Originally； ideas and words were related as absolute expressions or
correspondences； of each other。 This is not so now。 As the different races
became interblended； the purity of both language and morals retrograded；
and the people grew more to the external。 The intuitions and spirit were
compelled to retreat； giving place to only the intellectual and mental。 The
blending of the languages gave birth to many words wherein different
meanings were transmitted； hence； the trouble arising to…day over the
numerous interpretations of a single word。
Hybrid races have no such thing as a pure language。 Their ideas and
language； like their blood； is badly mixed up； confusing； and
unsatisfactory； so far as the real meaning of the words are concerned。 For
this very reason we find so many different meanings for the same word；
and also for this reason； we cannot formulate a legal enactment in the
Anglo…Saxon tongue that； a learned lawyer； versed in this senseless
jugglery of words； cannot demonstrate； to the satisfaction of the courts；
means something the very opposite of the real intentions the spirit
which the framers thereof； intended it to convey。 Anciently； it required no
artful cunning of the lawyer to interpret the laws。 The words had only one
simple and obvious meaning。 If a language could be so constructed to…day；
and the antiquated precedents of the courts annihilated； the legal
profession would be exterminated inside of twelve months； and an
affliction removed from the people。
The philosophy of the Magic Wand is this。 It is a magnetic； electric
conductor for the magician's will。 It directs the flow