This Text presents an introduction to the Alchemical Philosophy of the Ancient Mysteries, it contains extracts from many different books and is organized into 2 main sections: 1) An explanation of the Alchemical Symbolism which has 3 parts that are mostly extracts from 3 of Jean Marie Ragon's books published together in 1853: Masonic Orthodoxy, Philosophical Masonry and Occult Masonry. Taken together, these extracts are a wonderful synthesis of how Masonry is a continuation of the Ancient Mysteries. 2) Contains the Instructions and/or Catechisms from 3 different French Masonic orders: FRENCH RITE (early to mid 1700s), ADONHIRAMITE RITE (late 1700s), and MEMPHIS RITE (mid 1800s). These show the Ancient Philosophical, Hermetic, and Alchemical symbolism which was explained in the first section. Finally, in the Editor's Appendix, there is an explanation of the "Masonic Tablet", followed by an article about the "Generation of Beings" and then a list of the "Shem Hamphorash" or the '72 Names of God'.

This book demonstrates conclusively the identity of the solar and lunar rites of the Greeks, Romans and other peoples, ancient and modern, to the rites of Freemasonry and Christianity. '...a complete demonstration of the incorporation of the Solar and Phallic Mysteries in Christianity.' Aleister Crowley

Un libro che non puo mancare nella biblioteca di ogni Massone interessato all'approfondimento della storia e del simbolismo dell'Istituzione. Quest'opera, che e il condensato di un piu vasto progetto dell'Autore Jean-Marie Ragon, Les Fastes Initiatiques, rimasto incompleto, affronta in un'ottica completa la storia dei Riti Massonici, pur con una personale visione di parte, non sempre condivisibile. Eppure, si puo considerare uno dei monumenti capitali della storia della Libera Muratoria.