From the book
Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry
R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordHidden masters are teachers or superiors whose guidance is asserted while their identities, locations, or full activities remain concealed.
- In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonryThe Great Lodge is said to shape history behind visible institutions.
- In this editionHidden masters is an editorial grouping of several attested expressions.
- A place to readM.27: … “Great Lodge of the Magi, the Adepts, the Perfect Masters, known and designated also by many” …
Meaning
Hidden masters are teachers or superiors whose guidance is asserted while their identities, locations, or full activities remain concealed.
Use in the book
The Great Lodge is said to shape history behind visible institutions. Unknown heads lead smaller societies in the Foundation narrative. The rules then make access to the highest superior indirect and prohibit revealing the abode of a hierophant. The principle becomes both an account of spiritual history and a rule of governance.
Places to read
- Mystic Masonry · Block 27… “Great Lodge of the Magi, the Adepts, the Perfect Masters, known and designated also by many other names, has never ceased to exist; that this Lodge has often, though secret and” …
- Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 48… “like calibre, were but the outward manifestations of hidden forces which were attempting to indoctrinate the whole Masonic Body with true spiritual, mental and moral Mystic knowledge, because the Masonic body,” …
- Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 111… “body of 'Wise-Men,' who were known as the 'Unknown Heads' of many of the small societies. The conditions of entrance are briefly given, as follows:”
- Masonic Symbolism · Block 155… “the wisdom which guarded the personalities of the real leaders. Thus the same system of Secrecy is still followed.”
- Rules and Regulations · Block 23… “Lodges can come into direct contact with the unknown Supreme Grand Master, and since no one but the candidate for the Highest Degrees can know the Supreme Grand Master, it will” …
In this edition
Hidden masters is an editorial grouping of several attested expressions. It is not inserted as a uniform official title into quotations.
Reading the argument
Concealment can describe how an order represents leadership to members. It cannot independently verify the leader's acts or the continuity claimed for a succession. The ethical qualities required of a true master remain a separate standard.
unknown heads
“unknown heads” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: F.111.
unknown Supreme Grand Master
“unknown Supreme Grand Master” — 2 occurrences in 2 text blocks: R.23, 26.
hidden forces
“hidden forces” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: F.48.
Perfect Masters
“Perfect Masters” — 2 occurrences in 2 text blocks: M.27, 29.
real leaders
“real leaders” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: S.155.