Freemasonry of the Ancient Egyptians (Paperback)

by Manly Palmer Hall (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Interprets the Freemasonry of the Ancient Egyptians as set forth in the teachings of the State Mysteries. Among the subjects discussed are Egyptian magic, the Osirian cycle, the secret doctrine of Egypt, and the initiation of Plato. The appendix is The Crata Repoa, a restoration of the ancient Egyptian mysteries, describing the initiation ceremonies which took place in the old Egyptian temples. This has been translated into English by Dr. John Yarker from the French edition of 1778. Illustrated.

From the Publisher
The Philosophical Research Society is a nonprofit organization founded in 1934 for the purpose of assisting thoughtful persons to live more graciously and constructively in a confused and troubled world. The Society is entirely free from educational, political, or ecclesiastical control. Dedicated to an idealistic approach to the solution of human problems, the Society's program stresses the need for the integration of religion, philosophy, and the science of psychology into one system of instruction. The goal of this instruction is to enable the individual to develop a mature philosophy of life, to recognize his proper responsibilities and opportunities, and to understand and appreciate his place in the unfolding universal pattern.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 162 pages
• Publisher: Philosophical Research Society Inc; 4 edition (October 1982)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0893148032
• ISBN-13: 978-0893148034
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 6.3 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,853,226 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Thoughts on "Freemasonry of the Ancient Egyptians", September 14, 2000

By	Cletus F. Wallace (Coatesville, PA, USA) - See all my reviews

This is a great book, but not an easy read. There is much here to be read several times and pondered upon.

The author states his purpose in writing the book is: "To suggest an interpretation of Egyptian metaphysical tradition in harmony with with the teachings set forth in what we call the mysteries."

In the introduction, the author lodges a valid criticism of some academics in the fields of Egyptology and archaeology. He makes a distinction between two types of academics. The first are those who are too close to the to see the trees. They are "materialistic minded men" bent on maintaining their reputations and place in the academic community. Terrified of controversy and change. Unwilling to accept conclusions and new theories based on the latest scientific methods. The second group are those bold enough to speculate on new ideas based to modern exploration and research. These people are unafraid to reveal their conclusions to public scrutiny.

This work will be of interest to hard-core students of Freemasonry, especially those who are open-minded and inclined to search for the roots of Freemasonry among the ancient Egyptians.

To the Master Mason interested in the origins of the Craft, the section dealing with the "Crata Repoa" will be quite interesting. To avoid forming the misconception that he is reading the narrative of a modern ritual The reader must keep in mind the author is dealing with a ritual that could only have originated in ancient Egypt and passed down through the ages. Ultimately, the reader must make up his own mind about the information presented by the author.

In chapter Four, "The Secret Doctrine of Egypt", Freemasons will be fascinated by the author's treatment of the "Widow's Son".

Those who are not members of the Masonic fraternity may have difficulty grasping some of the concepts relating to Freemasonry presented by the author.

Manly P. Hall was raised on November 22, 1954 in Jewel Lodge No. 374. In 1990 Mr Hall was elevated to the 33d degree, the highest honor and degree in Freemasonry.

The author has written other books on Freemasonry: "The Lost Keys of Freemasonry"; Masonic Orders of the Fraternity"; and "The Secret Destiny of America".

An extremely interesting section of the book presents the author's perspective concerning the "Curse of Tutankhamen's Tomb".

In my opinion, this book will not be well received by Christian Fundamentalists and the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church, based on the author'frank and historically correct criticism of these two groups.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Ancient Egyptians?, December 7, 2003

By	lucifer-dianus "lucifer-dianus" (Louisville KY) - See all my reviews

As an introduction to the Crata Repoa (which is an interesting document that used to circulate in masonic and paramasonic circles) this is a good book. It is however, highly speculative that the Ancient Egyptians practiced these rituals, so the title is somewhat misleading.

3.0 out of 5 stars Egyptian Speculation, July 22, 2001

By	Donald E. Eastlake "Three" (Milford, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

While I enjoyed this book, I think its title is misleading. The connections between the Egyptian Mysteries and anything resembling Freemasonry, at least that of the last several centuries, is very tenuous. Furthermore, it is not clear to me that the details of the Egyptian ceremonies described are more than speculation. If you would enjoy such speculation, as I did, that's fine. Otherwise, beware.