DISCOVERY 



333 



of Freemasonry, endeavours to show that ilasonic ritual 

 can be traced back to early prehistoric times. Although 

 ilr. Springett's aim is more restricted, his book links 

 on to Dr. Churchward's work in that he suggests a con- 

 nection between the cults which he here brings under 

 review with sun and stellar worship through the religions 

 of ancient Egj'pt and Mesopotamia. The scope of the 

 book is wider than the title indicates ; it covers not 

 merely the sects of Syria, such as the Xusairi and Druses, 

 but deals with most of the mystic religions of Western 

 Asia, the Eleusinian mysteries, Mithraism and Gnosti- 

 cism, as well as with Mohammedanism and its principal 

 sects, Shia, Sufi, Ismaeli, and the like. 



It may be i\oted in passing that the author has no 

 first-hand knowledge of this part of his subject, but merely 

 summarises from his particular point of view the accounts 

 of other writers, not all of whom would now be regarded 

 as authoritative. 



Jlr. Springett's theory is that the present ritual of 

 Freemasonry is derived from the European continuations 

 of the ancient mysteries, and, in particular, from the Mani- 

 chaean doctrines perpetuated by the Crusaders. The tradi- 

 tion, he holds, was carried on by bodies founded by the 

 last Grand Prior of the Knights Templar when that order 

 was suppressed. The connection between the rites of 

 Freemasonry and the heretical beliefs of the Templars 

 has been suggested before. It is doubtful how far the 

 Templars did hold the beliefs attributed to them. The 

 author reUes upon the charges brought against them at 

 the time of their suppression ; but the evidence would 

 not now be held to be conclusive, and confession under 

 torture is not proof. Mr. Springett suggests that the 

 Templars had modelled their organisation on that of the 

 Assassins, the Ismaeli who followed the " Old Man of 

 the Mountains." Although the Crusaders were in close 

 touch with the Western branch of the Assassins, and 

 were, on at least one occasion, in alliance with them, 

 the resemblances in the two organisations are merely 

 superficial. As no note was made of the contents of the 

 records of the Assassins until after their destruction by 

 the Mongols, our knowledge of their tenets and organisa- 

 tion is not necessarily accurate — a fact which may 

 account for some of their remarkably peculiar features. 

 It cannot be said that Mr. Springett has proved his 

 case : where he sees identity his readers will probably 

 see little more than an interesting similarity. Throughout 

 connection is assumed rather than demonstrated. The 

 author's lack of archaeological knowledge has led him to 

 formulate theories which will not bear critical examina- 

 tion, and to accept the conclusions or dogmatic staterhents 

 of others which can no longer be maintained. Druids 

 and Phoenicians are called upon to play a part in support 

 of theory to which we have ceased to be accustomed. 

 In minor details the author has not escaped error ; the 

 Pole star is not in Ursa Major, and it is to be presumed 

 that, in alluding to the decipherment of the Babylonian 

 and Assyrian tablets, the author really intended to refer 

 to the Behistun inscription, and not, as he does, to the 

 Rosetta Stone. 



E. N. Fall.\ize. 



Books Received 



(Mention in this column does not preclude a review.) 

 MISCELLANEOUS 



Secret Sects of Syria and the Lebanon. By Bern.\rd' 

 H. Springett, P.M.. P.Z. (George Allen & Unwin, 

 Ltd., 125. 6d.) 



The Supremacy of Spirit. By C. A. Richardson, M.A. 

 (Kegan Paul, Trench, Triibner & Co., Ltd., 5s.) 



Among the Head Hunters of Formosa. By Janet B. 

 Montgomery McGovern, B.L. With a Preface by 

 R. R. Marett. M.A., D.Sc. Illustrated. (T. Fisher- 

 Unwin, 155.) 



Stories from the Early World. By R. M. Fleming. With 

 an Appendix by Prof. H. J. Fleure, D.Sc. (Benn 

 Bros., Ltd., 15s.) 



At Home with Wild Nature. By Richard Kearton, F.Z.S. 

 Profusely illustrated. (Cassell & Co., Ltd., 75. 6d.) 



PSYCHOLOGY 



Beyond the Pleasure Principle. By Sigmund Freud, 

 M.D., LL.D. (The International Psycho-analytical 

 Press and George Allen & L'nwin, Ltd., 6s.) 



Studies in Psycho-analysis. By Prof. C. B.\udouin. 

 Translated by E. and C. Paul. (George Allen & 

 Unwin, Ltd., 125. 6d.) 



Remembering and Forgetting. By Prof. T. H. Pe.\r, 

 M.A., B.Sc. (Methuen & Co., Ltd., 75. bd.) 



SCIENCE 



The Principle of Relativity, with Applications to Physical 

 Science. By A. N. Whitehead, Sc.D., F.R.S. 

 (Cambridge L^niversity Press, los. bd.) 



These lectures expound an alternative rendering of the 

 theory of relativitv. The book is divided into three parts. 

 Part I is concerned with general principles and is mainly 

 philosophical in character ; Part II is devoted to 

 physical applications ; Part III is an exposition of the 

 elementary theory of tensors. No part of the book is 

 easy reading ; it is not another popular book on relativity 

 — Einstein diluted at Aldgate pump ; it is indeed for 

 students of the most serious class only. To appreciate 

 Dr. Whitehead's arguments and points completely a 

 reader must be philosopher, physicist, and mathematician 

 in one, and few there be who are such. 



The Manufacture of Dyes. By John Cannell Cain, D.Sc. 

 (Macmillan & Co., Ltd., 12s. 6d.) 



A posthumous work, edited by Dr. J. E. Thorpe, in- 

 tended as a supplement to an earlier volume. The Manu- 

 facture of Intermediate Products for Dyes, and one of 

 the first compilations in English of the methods actually 

 used in making dyes. 



