The Origin And References Of The Hermesian Spurious Freemasonry.

which they were erected , were expressed , as was generally believed by the hieroglyphics upon them ; which being invented by Hermes , and kept secret by his followers , were called the Hermesian

alp habet . * The writers of more modern times were equally unsuccessful . The laborious Kercher , who says that the pyramids were covered with religious inscriptions in hieroglyphioalt characters , as well as the Abbe Pluchehaving formed their theories

, on the basis of the ancient hypotheses , had to contend with so many impediments as to prevent them from arriving at a satisfactory result ; and though they devoted much learning , and laborious research to the task , and were indefatigable in the

pursuit of truth , their systems have been rejected , and their interpretations thrown aside ; it is owing to the recent discovery of the Eosetta Stone , now in the British Museum , that a new artel surpassing light has been thrown on this d . 'irk and intricate

subject . This discover ) ' has called into existence the talents of Aekerblad , Sacy , our own countryman Dr . Young , Champollion , Spineto , Rossellini , AVilkinson , and other laborious writers on Egyptian antiquities ; and it is on the result of their combined researches that T have founded

my interpretation of the compound symbol before us . I subjoin the figure , which I take to be a pure anaglyph ; a peculiar sort of hieroglyphic ivhich appears to have been an enlargement of the use and meaning of

symbolical compositions . Some understand the anaglyph to be nothing more than a scul pture in low relief ; others consider it to be a kind of hieroglyphical anagram ; but in my opinion the definition of Spineto is the most satisfactory . He says , " these

anaglyphs are emblematical signs , or fantastic figures , which represent not syllables nor words , nor even renl objects , but ideas , and even these are exhibited all egorically . They do not offer to our view scenes aud objects belonging to private

life , or to reli gious rites and ceremonies , but they seem and are , an extraordinary mixture of imaginary , as well as real beings , which , without having the least similarity together , are nevertheless so united as to

represent several ideas . Tnese signs are not uncommon on Egyptian monuments , as you may easily ascertain by looking into the " Descrip tion de l'Egypte , " but fortunately they are not in any ; and they seem allegoricallformed by the combination of

y several distinct qualifications or attributes belonging to different subjects . " * Sir William Drummoud considers the anaglyph to have been to sculptures , Avhat the anagram was to iwitten characters . I

The compound symbol before us was introduced into the Isiac or Bembine Table by its fabricators ; but the copy exhibited above , and to which I shall more particularly refer , is extracted from the Arabian work of Ahmed Bin Abubekr Bin

AVashih on Ancient Alp habets ; ivhich i aries from the other in some important points . As the translation of this work is not in many hands , I Avill quote the translator ' s observations on it in full , as they include a kind of initiation Avhich may not

be uninteresting to the fraternity , and at the same time contribute to illustrate the anaglyp h under our consideration . " The figure is expressive of the most sublime secret called Bahumed and Khamf , or the secret of the nature of the Avorld , —

the secret of secrets , —the beginning and return of everything . The Hermesians let nobody into this secret but their disciples , Avho had been regularly initiated into all the four degrees or classes . The first class comprehends the sect of the Hardmisah

Alhawmiyah , who were , all descendants of Hermes the Great . They married daughters of their own race only , and were not allowed to have any kind of intercourse with