The Arcana of Freemasonry (1915) - The Masonic Trowel

THE ARCANA OF FREEMASONRY 19
the greatest serpent of Evil. The left foot was
first placed on him, and is symbolical of com-
mencing our journey through life by putting all
evil thoughts and actions under and away from us ;
we should tread down the great evils which beset us
through life. The destruction of Apap is given
in
of
these words which can be found in the Papyrus
"
Nesi-Amsu : His body shall be cut in pieces
and burnt to ashes, and these ashes scattered over
the face of the earth and water by the four winds
of Heaven."
If the candidate turned back, or violated his
obligations, his Throat was cut and Head chopped
off (Ritual, Ch. xc.) after his Heart had been
torn out (Ritual, Ch. xxvii., xxviii., and xl. i.
These Mysteries were the beliefs of the old wise
men of Egypt enacted in a dramatic form to
teach the Initiates their beliefs, as to what the Soul,
or Manes, had to undergo or pass through after he
had departed this Earthly life, before he could
enter Paradise.
Their W.M., or High Priest, was placed in his
chair with the same Grip and Token as we use at
the present day, except that it was the other Arm,
as may
be seen on one of the bas-reliefs of the
Temple of Khnumu, at Elephantine. Here the
W.M.E. is presented to the master in the chair,
who then places him in his chair with the Grip
| and Token, and gives him the word of the Chair,
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