FactGrid:The Secret School of Wisdom

The Secret School of Wisdom (2015)

The Secret School of Wisdom - The Authentic Rituals and Doctrines of the Illuminati is a pioneering text, a full working manual of the Order, and an astounding insight into the world's most intriguing secret society.

For more than two hundred years, the world has held a prejudiced view of the Illuminati. Much has been claimed for and against the Order - its name synonymous with secrecy, intrigue, and mystery in the modern context, despite a poverty of concrete evidence in the English language. Little has been said about the factual structure and development through its life cycle. The Secret School of Wisdom - The Authentic Rituals and Doctrines of the Illuminati, is a ground-breaking text. It marks the first time that a comprehensive ritual book for the society has been re-assembled. Every degree, its instruction and associated texts, has been included and assembled in chronological order of progression. The reader is guided along the same path as many of Germany's most enlightened men, as they were in the years immediately prior to the French Revolution.

Much of this material has never been published - let alone translated into English. Supplemental texts are included to gain further historical insight into the Order and all documents have been checked for accuracy with the original archival texts.

"Although some of the rituals and documents have remained available in both libraries and digital archives, no English-language work has succeeded in presenting the magnificent treasure trove of original material as successfully as the book you are now holding in your hands. It is the first work of its kind to offer-for the first time-the full and complete system of the Illuminati under a single cover. Using original source materials, it succeeds in presenting a coherent and intelligible resource to students of Masonic rituals, secret societies, Enlightenment thinking, and little known aspects of world history. You may now read and study the authentic secret rituals and lectures which gave birth to the great conspiracies of today. As preparation of this book progressed I was thrilled to receive each new section, which I hungrily consumed, and compared with documents and manuscripts in my possession. I am happy to report that this book is everything I hoped it would be, and I am likewise happy to commend it to you."

Arturo de Hoyos, 33°, Grand Cross, Grand Archivist and Grand Historian, Supreme Council, 33°, Southern Jurisdiction, USA

• Hardcover: 447 pages
• Publisher: Lewis Masonic (19 Feb. 2015)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0853184933
• ISBN-13: 978-0853184935
• Illustrations throughout
• Order: Publisher's page Amazon Germany

Table of Contents

Introduction

A Note on Sources

Preparatory Essay: A General Idea of the Society of the Illuminati

I. Minerval Class

1. Noviciate - Obligation. Letter of a Candidate, Instructions for the Insinuati, or Recepti, Instructio pro insinuantibus seu recipientibus, General Statutes of the Order, An Easy Cipher for Ready Use
2. Minerval Degree - Statutes for the Minervals, Initiation Ceremonies, Form for an Initiation Minutes for Absent, Adult Candidates, Who Would Object to Being Initiated in the Same Manner as Very Young Men, Introduction Ceremonies, Statutes and Ceremonies for the Minerval Assemblies, Calendarium, Correct Pronunciation and Spelling of the Persian Months of Our Calendar
3. Minervalis illuminatus, or Illuminatus minor - Instructions for the Superior of the Minerval Church Concerning the Issuing of this Degree, Addendum A. Address During the Initiation of an Illuminatus minor, Addendum B. Instructions for a Better Understanding of the Order’s Organisation, Addendum C. Instructions for the Education of Useful Collaborators, Addendum D. A Lesson the Illuminati minores Receive in Writing, Addendum E. Explanation of the Minerval Allegories
4. Initiation of a Magistrate of the Minerval Church - Ceremonies for the Initiation of a Magistrate, Instructions for the Minerval Magistracy, Instructio pro Superiori, De officio Censoris, De officio Quaestoris, De officio Secretarii

II. Freemasonic Class

A) Symbolic Freemasonry

I. Ritual Book for the Three Symbolic Degrees - Introduction

1. Ritual for the Entered Apprentice Lodge - Before the Lodge is Opened, Opening of the Lodge, Initiation into the Entered Apprentice Degree Catechism, Questions One Can Ask a Brother Entering the Lodge, Closing a Lodge, On Table Lodges, Ritual for the Consecration of a New Lodge, Ritual for the Excommunication of a Brother, Ritual for the Table Lodges, if Sisters Are Present
2. Fellow Craft Degree - Ritual for the Fellow Craft Lodge - Before the Lodge is Opened, Opening of the Lodge, Initiation into the Fellow Craft Degree, Catechism of the Fellow Crafts, Closing the Fellow Craft Lodge, Secret Cipher of the Freemasons
3. Ritual for the Master Lodge - Opening the Master Lodge, Initiation of the Master, Closing the Master Lodge

Improved Constitution Book for the St. John’s Lodge

A) General Constitutional Articles - Introduction, I. Character and Qualities of a True Mason II. Public Conduct, III. Information about Other Institutions

B) Statutes for this Particular Lodge

C) Particular Articles of Instruction - I. Instructions for the Officers Lodge, II. Special Instructions for the Worshipful Masters, III. For the Deputy W. M., IV. For the Senior Warden, V. The Junior Warden, VI. The Secretary, VII. The Treasurer, VIII. The Master of Ceremonies, IX. The Almoner, X. The Housekeeper, XI. The Orator, XII. The Stewards, XIII. The Sick Visitor, XIV. The Decorator, XV. The Librarian, XVI. Information about the Serving Brethren, Addendum A. Report about the State of the Lodge

B) Scottish Freemasonry

I. Scottish Novice - Introduction, I. Opening the Lodge of the Scottish Brethren, II. Catechism of the Scottish Brethren, III. Closing the Scottish Brethren Lodge, IV. Information About the Working Lodges, V. Lodge Ritual for the Initiation to this Degree, Addendum A. Secret Instructions for those Tasked with Recruiting, New Members to the Order, Addendum B. Questions Used for Assessing the Character of a Candidate, for this Degree, Addendum C. Nosce te ipsum!

II. Illuminatus dirigens - Introduction, I. Further Information and General Instructions, II. Instructions Concerning the Lower Classes, III. Instructions Concerning the Freemason Lodge, IV. On the Reception into this Degree, V. Of the Solemn Chapters for Initiation, VI. Opening the Chapter VII. Initiation Ritual, VIII. Closing the Chapter, IX. Of the Love-Feasts or Agapes, X. Ceremonies during the Consecration of a Chapter, Addendum A. Form for the Lodge Constitution, Addendum B. The Prefect’s Order Star, Addendum C. The Knights’ St. Andrew’s Cross, Addendum D. Secret Cipher of the Scottish Knights, Addendum E. Explanation of the Masonic Hieroglyphs, Addendum F. Catechism of the Scottish Knights

III. Mysteries Class

A) Lesser Mysteries

I. Lesser Priest Degree. Presbyter - Introduction, Further Information Concerning the Acceptance to this Degree, Ritual for Continued Initiation, Addendum A. Instruction in the First Chamber, Addendum B. Instructions for the First Degree of the Priest Class, Addendum C. On the Initiation of a Decanus

II. Lesser Regent Degree. Princeps - Notification to the Provincial Superior Regarding the Issuance of this Degree, Initiation Ritual, Addendum A. Administrative System for the Entire Order, Addendum B. Instructions for the Entire Regent Degree, Addendum C. Instructions for the Prefects, or Local Superiors, Addendum D. Instructions for the Provincial Superiors

B) Higher Mysteries

I. Docetists

II. Philosophi. Sages

IV. Appendix

• A School for Humanity
• Some Early Documents - Statutes of the Illuminati, Reform of the Statutes of the 1st Class, Guiding Idea, Instructio pro Recipientibus, Instructio Insinuatorum, Instructions for Those Who Have Received the Facultas insinuandi, 24 Points Designed to Be Presented as Questions to New Candidates
• General Explanation of the Society of the Illuminati (alternative beginning)
• Supplement to the Illum. min. for the Better Instruction of the Superior
• Preparation for Those Who Are to Participate in Governing the Order
• Footnotes to a Revised Presbyter Degree
• Instructions for the National Inspectors