The Arcana of Freemasonry (1915) - The Masonic Trowel

INTRODUCTION
the truth, and an exoteric rendering
xi
of the V.S.L.
must not take the place of the esoteric represen-
tation of the Ritual of Ancient Egypt.
The meaning of my quoting the V.S.L. is not
as a proof of history, but as a proof that even
those who believe in the traditions, have traditional
evidence that it was not, and is not, correct. As
an authority, " sacred historical documents "—i.e.
the V.S.L.— are, I contend, not historical at all-
only
traditions. Let us see what reliance can be
placed on these traditions against
documents still
in existence ; one point only must suffice, because
otherwise I should have to write a whole volume.
Clement of Alexandria fixes the date of the
other enumerations, by this state-
"
That it occurred 345 years before the
Exodus, among
ment :
'
Sothic Cycle: "
Now the Sothic Cycle was in
existence before the time of Mena, over
4000 B.C., as borne out by " Manetho and the
Monuments," and was a cycle of 1,460 years with
four years as intercalary.
The Hyksos period of " Shepherd Kings," or
their reign at Memphis and Lower Egypt, was
2554 B.C., and when they left Egypt they built
Jerusalem. They left in the reign of Tuthmoses—
and Moses lived after this, and was driven out of
Egypt with his followers. Traditions versus
History. It would be unnecessary to add more, I
think, to prove my contention correct. Resseignier