Traditions of Freemasonry
and Its Coincidences with the Ancient Mysteries
A. T. C. Pierson
Macoy & Sickels & Pierson · New York · 1865 · First Edition
FREEMASONRY — THE ANCIENT SOCIETY
Pierson presents Freemasonry as a surviving tradition of extreme antiquity. He records its claim to be “the most ancient society in existence,” with Masonic tradition carrying the association to a period “long anterior to the Deluge.”
He then advances his own broader thesis that the tradition preserved by Masonry represented “the original religion of man.”
THE POINT WITHIN THE CIRCLE — ADAM AT THE CENTER OF CREATION
Pierson describes the point within a circle as one of the most ancient symbols and traces its meaning back to the dawn of humanity. He suggests that Adam, contemplating the universe from his own position within creation, would naturally see creation as a circle and himself as its center.
“the creation was a circle and himself the centre.”
THE CENTER OF THE CIRCLE — FROM ADAM TO DEITY
Pierson continues the symbolism through the Garden of Eden, which he says tradition regarded as circular, with the Tree of Life at its center. Adam cannot remain the true center because he moves through the Garden; the permanent center is instead assigned to “the Deity,” whom Pierson associates with immortality and eternity.
He concludes: “Hence arose the masonic emblem of a point within a circle.”
In Pierson’s interpretation, the geometry progresses from creation envisioned as a circle with man at its apparent center to the divine as its permanent and eternal center.
PILLARS & OBELISKS — PRESERVING KNOWLEDGE
Pierson describes the ancient practice of preserving knowledge by inscribing it upon pillars and obelisks. Citing earlier authorities, he calls inscriptions on pillars “the most ancient way” of preserving “monuments of learning,” and states that such pillars functioned in place of libraries.
He further records traditions that entire bodies of knowledge were delineated upon obelisks and that knowledge was transmitted between peoples through engraved pillars and obelisks.
ENOCH — THE WARNING AND PRESERVATION OF ANTEDILUVIAN KNOWLEDGE
Enoch calls a “special assembly of Masons” whom he trusts. Adam communicates a prophecy that mankind's corruption will cause the destruction of creation “either by water or fire.” Enoch becomes anxious for “the preservation of the sacred mysteries committed to his charge.” The Shekinah / sacred presence appears to Enoch. It gives him instructions intended “to preserve the wisdom of the antediluvians to their posterity” when the world, except one family, would be destroyed.
ENOCH — THE DIVINE METHOD OF PRESERVATION
Enoch receives a vision in which the Deity appears visibly and transports him to a mountain reaching toward the stars, where secret divine knowledge is revealed. The vision then shows him nine subterranean chambers, which Enoch interprets as instructions for preserving the sacred mysteries. Enoch subsequently constructs the nine underground vaults, reproducing the preservation system revealed to him. The preservation method itself is presented as originating in a divine manifestation and intended to transmit sacred knowledge beyond the destruction to those who would “repeople the earth.”
ENOCH — PRESERVING KNOWLEDGE THROUGH THE DESTRUCTION
Enoch places the sacred object bearing the Ineffable Name in the lowest vault, concealed so that its secrets would remain secure through the anticipated destruction of mankind. Fearing that “all knowledge of the arts and sciences would be lost,” he then constructs two great pillars designed to survive either possible catastrophe: one of brass to resist water and one of granite to resist fire. On the granite pillar he engraves hieroglyphics describing the subterranean chambers, creating a record through which the hidden knowledge could later be recovered.
ENOCH — DIVINE REVELATION & CELESTIAL KNOWLEDGE
Pierson records traditions that Enoch was the first inventor of books and writing, with the alphabet communicated to him by the angel Gabriel. Enoch was said to possess “no less than thirty books of Divine revelation” and to be the first to write with a pen. He is credited with knowledge of the zodiac, planetary courses, astronomy, and a 600-year celestial cycle. The Archangel Uriel is said to have revealed to Enoch “the nature of the month and the tropical year.” Pierson also records that Enoch inherited the books of Seth and Adam.
MOSES — THE DOCTRINE OF IMMORTALITY
Pierson introduces the chapter with the explicit statement: “Moses was fully acquainted with the Doctrine of Immortality” The opening text then identifies what that means: Moses had been assumed ignorant because he omitted future rewards and punishments from the law. However, Pierson frames the disputed knowledge specifically as “the immortality of the soul.”
MOSES — KNOWLEDGE DELIBERATELY CONCEALED
Pierson records Bishop Warburton's position that Moses was fully acquainted with the doctrine of a future state. He deliberately avoided referring to it in the law and used guarded language “in order to conceal it.” Pierson then broadens the point: the Hebrews, Egyptians, Phoenicians, Persians, Hindus, Grecians and others were aware of the doctrine, but teachings on these subjects were esoteric — not communicated publicly, but restricted to “a favored few” through initiation into the Greater Mysteries.
EGYPTIAN MYSTERIES — CONCEALED KNOWLEDGE
Pierson describes an Egyptian chamber associated by tradition with Moses, covered with representations of the sun, stars, spheres, men, and animals, which he says represented important things and “under emblems, very profound secrets.” He then describes the Egyptian Mysteries as possessing a restricted body of knowledge, communicated only to those intended for the throne or priesthood. This knowledge was “veiled” through allegory, symbols, and hieroglyphics, and withheld from anyone not considered worthy of initiation. The mysteries included important doctrines, particularly those concerning “the Divine Unity and a future state.” Pierson then begins his argument that Moses could not have been ignorant of this knowledge.
MOSES — INITIATED INTO THE KNOWLEDGE OF EGYPT CONTINUED
Pierson states that Moses “could not have been left in ignorance of this mysterious knowledge,” because, as Moses himself is said to inform us, he was acquainted with “all the learning of Egypt.”
SONS OF GOD — THE DESCENT AND CREATION OF GIANTS
Pierson recounts a Hebrew tradition where the descendants of Seth “go down” from the holy mountain and are immediately captivated by the women below. He identifies this as “the intermarriage of the sons of God with the daughters of men.” Others subsequently “continued to descend from the mountain” and took wives. From these unions “sprung the giants,” described as possessing extraordinary strength as well as extreme impiety and cruelty. The giants then “polluted the earth with wickedness of every kind.” The corruption eventually becomes universal. Only Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives remain on the holy mountain.
