Jim Marrs - Rule by Secrecy - The Hidden History that Connects the Trilateral Commission, the Freema

redeemed and restored to its pristine state," a process which required "vast time-cycles for its achievement." He added that this restoration also required "skilled scientific assistance" from "those 'gods' and angelic guardians of the erring race of whom all the ancient traditions and sacred writings tell."

Masonic author Manly P. Hall demonstrated that Wilmshurst was not merely speaking allegorically, explaining, "In the remote past the gods walked wirh men and .. . they chose from among the sons of men the wisest and the truest.

"With these specially ordained and illumined sons they left the keys of their great wisdom. . . . They ordained these anointed and appointed ones to be priests or mediators between themselves—the gods—and that humanity which had not yet developed the eyes which permitted them to gaze into the face of Truth and live. . . . These illumined ones founded what we know as the Ancient Mysteries."

So one inner Masonic secrer has to do with their awareness of prehistoric "gods" who left their knowledge to certain individuals, thus illuminizing them. This knowledge was passed down through ancient Mystery Schools to the founders of both the Jewish and Christian religions, whose traditions were learned by the Knights Templar and brought to the inner core of modern Freemasonry.

The transition from ancient secret societies to more modern secret organizations was invigorated by the introduction of this "Illuminized" Freemasonry in the late eighteenth century, itself a blending of elder esoteric lore with Cabalistic traditions. These secrets continue to lurk at the inner core of Freemasonry even as its unknowing millions of members enjoy its outward philanthropy and fellowship.

The diligent researcher can begin to understand these ancient secrets only after the most laborious and serious study—much is still not being told in a direct manner, as admitted by Masonic authors.

Another of the ancient secrets concerned the concept of reincarnation, which, apologized Wilmshurst, "will be novel and probably unacceptable to some readers." He added, "We are merely recording what the Secret Doctrine teaches."

It was this hidden and esoteric side of Freemasonry that prompted critics to charge the order as antireligious. "Accusations that the Freemasons have cultivated the occult sciences—particularly alchemy,