Freemasonry and Ancient Gods. 2 volumes

This rare and fascinating book, originally written for his fellow Masons in 1921 by the renowned John Marlow Ward, focuses on one of the most intriguing themes: the unified primal religion. Doctor of Science and high-ranking Mason John Ward explored the connection between the rituals, signs, and words of Freemasonry with ancient religions and traditions around the world. He argues, with numerous evidences, that there existed an ancient, pre-written, and unified mystical tradition, which found its continuation in the secret signs, oaths, symbols, and rituals of mystical communities worldwide. The same gestures and passwords are used among the Masons of Europe, in the communities of dervishes in Asia, and the Brahmanical traditions of India, African brotherhoods, Chinese societies; from Australia to Mexico, we find a coherent myth with only minor differences. Written in 1921, the book contains unique data, photographs, and materials from many practices and rituals of primitive peoples, which have now been lost or turned into entertainment for tourists without understanding their original meaning; similarly, according to Ward, in his own eyes, the most archaic—and valuable for the researcher—traditions of secret societies, including the Masons themselves, were disappearing.