THE TEMPLE OF SOLOMON THE KING
“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.
“ 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 them-
selves, and that one most highly revered !—they had refrained
from active opposition. The adept who wrote this added that
the Order had already quite enough knowledge to enable it or
its members to formulate a magical link with the adepts.
“ Shortly after this, one called S.R.M.D. announced that he
had formulated such a link, and that himself with two others
was to govern the Order. New and revised rituals were issued,
and fresh knowledge poured out in streams.
“We must pass over the unhappy juggleries which
characterised the next period. It has throughout proved
impossible to elucidate the complex facts.
“We content ourselves, then, with observing that the death
of one of his two colleagues, and the weakness of the other,
secured to S.R.M.D. the sole authority. The rituals were
elaborated, though scholarly enough, into verbose and pre-
tentious nonsense: the knowledge proved worthless, even
where it was correct: for it is in vain that pearls, be they never
so clear and precious, are given to the swine.
“The ordeals were turned into contempt, it being impossible
I Q 241