Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry

The names of the other four degrees it is not even lawful for me to state in a public manner, but sufficient for me it is to say that the manner and order of the officers of the Great Pyramid was as follows: ^[22] "The Chief or Singer, who carries an instrument symbolical of music, and two books of Hermes, one of them containing the hymns of the gods, and the other the list of the kings. After him comes the Horoscopist, observer of the seasons, carrying a palm-branch and a time-piece symbolic of Astrology. He has to know by heart the four books of Hermes, which treat of Astrology: the first of which treats of the order of the planets, the second of the rising and setting of the Sun and Moon, and third and fourth of their movements in their orbits, and the aspects of the stars. Then comes the Sacred writer, having some …, and in his hands a book, an ink-bottle, and a reed for writing, according to the manner of the Priests. This officer has to understand the language of the hieroglyphics, the description of the universe, the courses of the sun, moon, and planets, the divisions of Egypt into thirty-six districts, the course of the Nile, the Sacred ornaments, the Holy places, etc. Then comes the stole bearer, who carries the gauge of Justice, or measure of the Nile, and a Chalice for libations, together with ten volumes containing the sacrifices, the hymns, the prayers, the offerings, and ceremonies of the feasts. Finally appears the Prophet, carrying in his bosom, but exposed, a pitcher. He is followed by those who carry the bread, as at the marriage of Cana. This Prophet, in his position as Keeper of the Mysteries, must know by heart the ten volumes which treat of the Laws, of the gods, and of all the disciples of the Priests, etc., which are outside of the forty-two volumes. Thirty-six are known by ^[23] these persons, and the other six, treating of medicine, of the construction of the human frame, of sickness, of medicaments, and of surgical instruments, belong to the postophores.