THE EQUINOX
Listen, we pray you, with attention: for once only does
the Great Order knock at any one door.
Whosoever knows any member of that Order as such,
can never know another, until he too has attained to mas-
tery.
Here, therefore, we pause, that you may thoroughly
search yourself, and consider if you are yet fitted to take
an irrevocable step.
For the reading of that which follows is Recorded.
THE HISTORY LECTION
7. Some years ago a number of cipher MSS. were dis-
covered and deciphered by certain students. They at-
tracted much attention, as they purported to derive from
the Rosicrucians. You will readily understand that the
genuineness of the claim matters no whit, such literature
being judged by itself, not by its reputed sources.
8. Among the MSS. was one which gave the address of
a certain person in Germany, who is known to us as S.D.A.
Those who discovered the ciphers wrote to S.D.A., and in
accordance with instructions received, an Order was
founded which worked in a semi-secret manner.
g. After some time S.D.A. died: further requests for
help were met with a prompt refusal from the colleagues
of S.D.A. It was written by one of them that S.D.A.’s
scheme had always been regarded with disapproval. But
since the absolute rule of the adepts is never to interfere
with the judgment of any other person whomsoever—how
much more, then, one of themselves, and that one most
highly revered!—they had refrained from active opposi-
tion. The adept who wrote this added that the Order had
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