We are once again, m y com panion and I, listening to the Sage . . . Each o f us has again seated him self and he im m ediately continues w ith his explanation:
"W hy n o t lin k the W H Y o f the Order o f the Temple to the universal quest o f the G rail! B ut w hat is the Grail? For m any, a legend and fo r all an enigma. THE G R A IL N EV E R TH ELE S S IS NOT A LEGEND A N D IT DOES NOT CO N CEAL AN E N IG M A . IT HAS BEEN AS MUCH M ISU N DERSTO O D BY THE IN IT IA T E AS BY TH E PROFANE . . . W IT H O U T D O U BT BECAUSE IT IS THE U L T IM A T E E X P L A N A T IO N A N D S YM BO L OF THE ABS O LU TE R E V E L A T IO N .
" L e t us firs t b rie fly review w hat we have jo in tly considered u n til now . . . Here are the E LEV E N SAGES o f A tla n tis in Egypt. Here is the stage set by this chosen land and F IV E o f the eleven th a t had become twelve sent as missionaries to the entire w o rld . Here are the o ther six 'operating' on Egyptian soil through the Pharaoh w ho had become one of them and in all Europe through the secret high places defined fro m th e ir sublime
knowledge — eleven secret high places on w hich depend the in itia tic centres to w hich the prepared man could have access.
“ These centres are born W HERE A N D W HEN necessary. They exist as long as it is necessary then they disappear and th e ir masters return to the supreme centre as long as it was in Egypt.
" B u t at a precise epoch, A L L BEING EVE R YW H E R E E S TA B LIS H E D . IT IS N ECESSARY T H A T A L L IS C O N SU M ATED E X O T E R IC A L L Y . TH E COMPLETE SACRED M ISSION R ETIR E S FROM TH E W O R LD . TH E IN IT IA T IC EGYPT
DISAPPEARS A N D THE CENTRES W HICH DEPEND ON THEM DIE IN T H E IR T U R N . THE W HOLE W O R LD ENTERS THE OBSCURE N IG H T OF P U R IF IC A T IO N , A FT E R H A V IN G A T T A IN E D THE E X A C T STAGE OF E V O L U T IO N WHERE T H IS FIR ST G R E A T STEP H A D LED THEM .
‘ ‘The obscure night commenced E X A C T L Y at the instant o f the death o f the Fourth Am enhotep. It is this death w hich marked the retirem ent o f the entire sacred mission w hich retired fro m the w o rld A T THE SAME T IM E as A m enhotep, a fte r he had given to the w orld the last message o f the Sages o f knowledge; THE ONE GOD . . .
"A fte rw a rd s there remained in the w orld o n ly , le t us say . . . "C E N TR E S FOR THE P R E S E R V A T IO N OF K N O W L E D G E " and the eleven secret high places are among the
highest o f them . . . and the knowledge is thus perpetuated IN THE SILENCE A N D SECRECY OF THOSE O N L Y w ho fu lfill the conditions o f ADEPTS and they are rare!
Meanwhile, E X O T E R IC A L L Y , the preparation is maintained. It is under a d iffe re n t fo rm ,
"s y m b o lis e d " so to say, among the corp o ra tio n o f hum anity.
"Yes, it is really THE OBSCURE N IG H T fo r the w o rld , and it was to last a long tim e b u t the h o u r o f the Golden Dawn w ill come one day and the sacred mission W IL L IN C A R N A T E ANEW , com pletely, fo r a new stage. This came about in 1096 in
C onstantinople begun b y the Crusaders whose mission has been, fro m this p o in t o f view, TO PREPARE TH E W A Y such as, in the last analysis, the Roman conquest had fo r a fundam ental end to reveal to the w o rld the GOOD NEWS sown in Palestine, w hich, otherwise, w ould have run the risk o f n o t being understood . . .
"1 0 9 6 ! C onstantinople! TH E M E E TIN G OF THE E N V O Y , OF THE SUPREME SAGE WHOSE NAM E C A N N O T BE KNOWN EXCEPT AS ONE OF THE HIGHEST RESPONSIBLE SECRETS OF THE TEM PLE , W ITH THE SEVEN IN IT IA T E S OF WESTERN C H R IS T IA N IT Y A N D THE IN IT IA T E S OF THE W O R LD OF IS LA M .
"1 0 9 6 ! C O N S T A N T IN O P LE ! It was there th a t the bases were form ed th a t w ould come to Jerusalem, tw e n ty tw o years later, in 1118, THE O R D ER OF THE TEM PLE, under the double investiture given to those o f these initiates; Hugues de Paynes and G eoffroi de Samt-Omer, the SECRET investiture o f the Patriarch Theocletes, s ix ty seventh successor o f the Apostle John and TH EN the PUBLIC investiture o f the Patriarch
Garim ond, representing the o ffic ia l w o rld . . . In 1127 the Order was to take its flig h t, protected by the G R E A T IN IT IA T E S A IN T -B E R N A R D .
"1 0 9 6 ! C onstantinople! THE R E A LIS E D CO N JUN CTIO N OF C H R IS T IA N IT Y A N D IS LA M . . . THE SECOND STAGE OF THE G R E A T R ETU RN OF THE SACRED MASTERS.
"T h e second stage! THE FIR ST WAS F R A N C H IS E D IN ONE OF THE SECRET HIGH PLACES S IM IL A R IN A L L POINTS TO THE FO R M ER! It is in this secret high place th a t the missions conducted by Hugues de Paynes and delegates fo r the "centres o f preservation and know ledge" to w hich all belonged, received IN IT IA T IO N , SECRET IN V E S T IT U R E , POWER A N D IN S TR U C T IO N .
"T h e fundam ental tie w ith the vanished mission was thus established in the secret high place chosen in KNO W LED G E o f cause. This was the FI RST PO INT. This same place was reinforced in C onstantinople; this was the SECOND POINT. The mission took possession o f its NEW BODY in Jerusalem, A N D TH IS was THE T H IR D POINT. The
m anifestation was finished, the w o rk was able to be undertaken, and it was, in 1127, on the sta b ility and solid fo u n d a tio n o f the FO U R TH and last echelon o f the preparation then p la in ly achieved.
“ It is in 1087 th a t the in itia l investiture to o k place in the secret high place designated fo r this purpose and in the presence o f the supreme representatives o f the ten others.
N IN E years were to run by before the meeting in Constantinople. T w o times E LEV E N years passed before the firs t bases were established in Jerusalem, and again nine years were necessary before the w o rk properly speaking could commence. M editate one day on the sym bolism o f these numbers. It w ill be A R E V E L A T IO N fo r you . . .
"T h e public history o f the Order o f the Temple, you already kn o w in its essentials.
I w ill presently clear up a few o f its SECRET aspects. Before all, allow yo u r soul to understand. The Order born in 1118, a number whose theosophical a d dition is E LE V E N , (1+1+ 1+8 = 1 1 ), died in 1314 fo r IT IS W ITH THE LA ST B R E A TH OF THE G R A N D MASTER JACQUES DE M O L A Y T H A T THE COMPLETE MISSION FOR A SECOND T IM E w ith d re w , AS IT H A D R E T IR E D W ITH A M E N H O TE P IV . The Order then had know n a PUBLIC life o f 196 years.
" In 1962, a N O T A B LE date in the occult histo ry o f m ankind, and the beginning o f the era o f Aquarius, it had disappeared 648 years previously, th a t is to say SIX TIM ES 108 years ago and I send you back once again to the sacred study o f the numbers which were so im p o rta n t fo r the initiates o f the Temple!
" A few decades ago, the mission has again taken force and vigour in the w o rld , after having fused, if this term is p erm itted, w ith the POWER o f the tra d itio n a l school o f the w orld whose twelve secret high places w hich I have said to be those o f the Rose-Croix Masters are so to say the "IN N E R L O C A L IZ A T IO N ’ . TH E R E IS THU S HEN CEFO R TH A R EU N IO N OF THE TWO PLANS, ABS O LU TE C O N JU N C TIO N , A U N IT Y OF FORCE A N D POWER, such as was D E M A N D E D in view o f the w ork to be accomplished in the new era o f Aquarius. M E A N W H IL E , in this body, actually at w o rk, where the mission is incorporated, THE TEM PLE TO O K ITS PLACE. It became P A R T OF IT , IT IS
RECOGNISED . . . A N D THE O R G A N IS A T IO N , C O N S TITU TE D A N D S TR U C TU R E D , T H A T IT G IV ES L IF E TO THE W O R LD A N D FOR THE W O R LD M A Y C A R R Y IN ITS BREAST THE TORCH OF THE T E M P LA R .
"Since February 5th 1962, there is a resurgence o f the th o u g h t o f the Temple. That was established and this RESURGENCE IS THE EFFECT OF THE ASPECT T E M P LA R o f the reunified mission. Now this aspect must materialise and it w ill do it be tte r IN THE BODY STR U CTUR E A L R E A D Y E S TA B LIS H E D . The force is such th a t, perceived FROM
O U TSID E , it gives b irth to laudable endeavours which, n o t being supported by the T O T A L mission, naturally cannot come to anything and w hich are the source o f regrettable errors.
. . . But EVEN T H A T is useful IN ORDER T H A T H U M A N IT Y M A Y KNOW ! In any case, the tim e has come FOR TH E R E H A B IL IT A T IO N OF THE ORDER OF THE TEM PLE IN ORDER T H A T THE L IG H T OF THE TEM PLE M A Y GROW, T H A T WHICH H AD CONDEMNED IT W lL L GROW LESS A N D LESS. For those w ho in the w o rld can understand, kn o w : THE HOUR OF JU D G M E N T HAS SOUND ED, THE TEM PLE , MORE POW ERFUL T H A N E VE R , DIFFU SES O VER THE E AR TH ITS FORCE A N D ITS V IG O U R . . . and in the eleven secret high places the torch in spite o f all gives fo rth its brilliance . . . Once again, brothers, let us p ra y ."
As before, he kn e lt down, his tw o hands placed on the sword before him , and it is on o u r knees th a t we also await the w ord.
Oremus charissimi fratres praesta quaesumus om nipotens deus ut ordo noster et aeternis p ro fic ia t in s titu tis et tem poralibus non d estituatur auxiliis.
Let us pray very dear brothers; God all p o w e rfu l, make it come about we pray you th a t our Order may be useful in the eternal designs and never be abandoned by its earthly helpers.
Strangely. I do not perceive the sound o f his "A m e n " u n til the m om ent he is seated and it must have been the same fo r my com panion as fo r me, in reseating ourselves, th a t he repeated in a low voice; "A m e n ".
That was the second tim e the Cardinal in W hite had invited us to pray and EACH T IM E he has pronounced the W O R LD OF THE TEM PLE . It seemed to me th a t IN THIS SAME M O M E N T th a t we are taking part IN AN IN IT IA T IO N w ith o u t having objective consciousness o f it, o r a R IT U A L A D JU S TM E N T , the explanations, "th e in stru ctio n s", being nothing more than "IN C ID E N T S " and sim ply com pleting the a ttitu d e and the sacred gesture as if to make, TH E END TO BE A T T A IN E D rise up afterwards to the critical faculties. But already he is speaking.
"T H E CIRCLE IS CLOSED A G A IN ! That w hich you were able to kn ow on the Order o f the Temple is NOW cleared up by a greater knowledge. YOU H A V E THE BASES W HICH U N T IL NOW H A D TO R E M A IN THE SECRET OF OUR HIG H PLACES. The Order o f the Temple has taken ITS PLACE fo r you in the filia tio n o f the absolute tra d itio n . TH E R E IS NO LONGER "S E P A R A T IO N ", THER E IS U N IT Y , and thus.
Monseignor, the docum ent w hich came in to y o u r possession is explained as is
explained the adjustm ent perpetuated to each generation o f yo u r illustrious fa m ily and to you at the age o f eleven years. Y o u r predecessors have received th e M A R K OF THE TEM PLE A N D YOU H A V E R EC E IV ED IT Y O U R S E LF , b u t being concerned, by reason o f the tim e in w hich yo u live, BY T H E RESURGENCE, the docum ent is cleared up fo r you O N L Y at a recent date. You have come here later than yo u r ancestors BUT y o u r presence in this place is MORE SIG NI FI C A N T A N D OF A N IM PO RT MORE FAR R EA C H IN G than theirs, when, one by one, ONCE IN T H E IR L IF E , they were adm itted in one o f the secret high places . . . As fo r you Frater, (and I knew th a t now he was addressing me) YO U SH O U LD be w ith us, fo r THE TEM PLE IS Y O U R TEM PLE AS IT IS THE TEM PLE OF E V E R Y S E R V A N T OF THE CAUSE, OF E VE R Y S E R V A N T OF MAN A N D WHERE YO U SERVE, THER E IS THE KNO W LED G E . . .
" L e t us pray fo r the last tim e ."
A last tim e ! THE T H IR D ! It is now in me a ce rta in ty. We are adjusted. Does my com panion understand? I have a sudden impression T H A T HE H AD KNOWN IT SINCE OUR M E E TIN G N EA R TH E F O U N T A IN ! He however w ill never ad m it it. In effect, T H IS T IM E IT IS I WHO IN S T IN C T IV E L Y REPRODUCE HIS GESTURES. The Cardinal in W hite has n o t knelt. He is standing, ta ll, immense in his w h ite robe, the sword raised above our bowed heads, w h ilst kneeling, ou r hands palm to palm before o u r breast, we are w ith in ourselves in silent prayer o f surrender and com m union:
" U t gladius nisi fo r ti et intrepida manu geritur d e fin it esse tim endum sici ordo nisi superiores regulae quoe eum d irig u n t non potest subsistere."
In the same way that the blade ceases to be redoubtable if it is n o t directed by a firm and resolute hand
so in the same way the Order cannot continue well w ith o u t the superior R ULERS w ho d ire ct it.
A n d the fo llo w in g phrase, I o n ly understood the beginning:
"ECCE V E S T IM E N T A T E M P L A R II. N O M IN E DEI OM NIPO TEN TE ET VOGORE MEI O F F IC C II . . . "
fo r the sword, then, touched m y le ft shoulder, then my head and my right s h o u ld e r. . . A N D I FEEL T H A T MY SOUL IS R EJO IC IN G . . .
A N D I feel th a t I am weeping . . .
Seated now at the side o f my com panion, he him self still a prey to an unspeakable
A SECRET MEETING IN ROME