The Arcana of Freemasonry (1915) - The Masonic Trowel

THE ARCANA OF FREEMASONRY 189
learnt the secrets of a M.M., and this has been
done, apparently, because the true gnosis of the
Ancient Ritual of Egypt was not known to those
who compiled our Ritual in its present form.
The old Egyptians formed an Ideographic
Symbol called Amenta to teach the Mysteries, and
it was here, in Amenta, that one learnt the true
secrets of a M.M. In the i8° there is a room
corresponding to this of the old Egyptians. You
have been told that you travelled from the East
to the West to learn the genuine secrets. That
is so ; there you entered the Amenta in the West,
travelled back to the East, and came out with all
the true and genuine secrets of a M.M. This point
within the circle was their circumpolar Paradise
or Heaven, where you will all be received in spirit
form after this earthly life, but you must possess
all the secrets and passwords before you can enter
there, according to the Egyptian Wisdom, and
these were learnt in Amenta.
The Gavel (Fig. 12), the emblem or symbol
of the W.M., is a Symbol of Power and
Might, and its associations are very important.
It was the original sacred sign used amongst primi-
tive man, and originated with the little Pygmy in
Africa. This, their sacred sign, is found in many
countries, including Wales, Cornwall, France,
America, and in Asia. Originally it was just three
sticks crossed as in Fig. 10. Amongst
the little