Originally posted by jbarr
While I it could be argued that Masonic rituals have roots in the ancient mystery schools, I've yet to see any connection with "magik" (and I'm taking
"magik" to likely refer to the likes of Wicca, Paganism, and possibly Satanism.)
Wicca actually plagiarized some elements of Masonic symbolism and ritual, similar to what the Mormons did. Pike says on p. 839 of Morals and Dogma
that:
THE Occult Science of the Ancient Magi was concealed under the shadows of the Ancient Mysteries: it was imperfectly revealed or rather disfigured
by the Gnostics: it is guessed at under the obscurities that cover the pretended crimes of the Templars; and it is found enveloped in enigmas that
seem impenetrable, in the Rites of the Highest Masonry.
He then elaborates on Magic a few pages later, defining it as the "Science of the Ancient Magi". His version of the 32nd degree ritual details how he
believed that modern Freemasonry came into possession of the ancient Magian symbolism via Pythagoras.
Interestingly, a good deal of Morals and Dogma, including the abovementioned section, was lifted verbatim from Eliphas Levi's "Transcendental Magic".
The York Rite, on the other hand, is decidedly Judeo-Christian, and I see no evidence of anything connecting it to "magik".
Much of the York Rite does contain Kabalistic symbolism, however, which could be described as the "philosophy of magic" (Pike mentions this in the
AASR 26th degree as well). Aleister Crowley and John Yarker co-authored an interesting essay on the Kabalistic symbolism of the Royal Arch and Mark
Master degrees. Furthermore, even in the SC Ahiman Rezon, Mackey tips his hat to the Kabalah as the foundation of Blue Lodge symbolism.
edit on
27-7-2011 by Masonic Light because: (no reason given)
.
Got to agree there, something to be said for having a congress that beleives in virtue. I read somewhere that in the 30's something like 80%
of Congress were masons. Today I doubt if it's 3%. Compare their record with todays. Compare their budget surpluses with our deficits. 
