Overview

In 1888, Albert Pike, Grand Commander of the Scottish Rite (Mother Supreme Council of the World), produced a private manuscript he labeled Esoterika-an inquiry into the symbolism of the Blue Degrees. Within it he sought to unveil the true significance of the Square and Compasses, the Hiramic legend, and other Masonic symbols. Still, he lamented that the deeper meanings of several key symbols remained largely unrecovered. This volume marks the editio princeps of Pike's previously unpublished second part to Esoterika. He herein focuses on the ethical and mathematical pillars of the Craft, offering a sophisticated exegesis on the Cardinal Virtues (Temperance, Fortitude, Prudence, and Justice) and the 47th Problem of Euclid. Moving beyond moral allegory to explore their roots in classical philosophy and initiatic tradition, he reveals symbols of profound significance. Edited and annotated by Arturo de Hoyos, this work serves as a vital contribution to the study of nineteenth-century American esotericism. De Hoyos provides a comprehensive historical introduction and a survey of the philosophical sources that informed Pike's interpretive framework. By contextualizing Pike's methodology within the broader traditions of Freemasonry, this work transforms a private manuscript into a scholarly resource, essential for any serious examination of Masonic symbolism and its intellectual lineage.

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9781633919686

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