America's Assignment With Destiny: The Adepts in the Western Esoteric Tradition, Part 5

by Manly P. Hall

The story of unfolding of the esoteric tradition in the Western Hemisphere is told, beginning with the rites and mysteries of the Mayas and Aztecs. Parallels are drawn between the miracles of the North American Indian medicine priests and those of the wonder workers of India. Also an account of the Incas of Peru and their possible contact with Asia. Space is devoted to the riddle of Columbus, the role of Lord Bacon in organizing the English settlements in America, and the contributions of the German mystics through the Pietists, Mennonites, Dunkers, and Quakers. The American Revolutionary period and important personalities of that time are examined, as are the Latin American patriots such as Simon Bolivar, Miguel Hidalgo, and Benito Juarez.

Genres: History

119 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1973

About the author

Canadian born, Manly Palmer Hall is the author of over 150 published works, the best known of which are Initiates of the Flame, The Story of Healing, The Divine Art,Aliens Magick and Sorcery The Secret Teachings of All Ages, and An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy.
He was also the author of a masonic curiosity, The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923, more than thirty years before he joined a lodge. The preface of later editions states "At the time I wrote this slender volume, I had just passed my twenty-first birthday, and my only contact with Freemasonry was through a few books commonly available to the public." Later, in 1944, he wrote The Secret Destiny of America which popularized the myth of a masonic purpose for the founding of the USA. In 1950 he weighed in again on the meaning of Freemasonry with his booklet: Masonic Orders of Fraternity.
***
Initiated: June 28, 1954
Passed: September 20, 1954
Raised November 22, 1954
Jewel Lodge No. 374
Source: Grand Lodge of California records ; William R. Denslow, 10,000 Famous Freemasons, vol. ii. Trenton, MO. : Missouri Lodge of Research / Educational Bureau, Royal Arch Mason Magazine, 1958. p. 165.

Reviews

[Muhammad · Rating 3 out of 5]

The majority of this volume is about Aboriginal American esoteric religions and there connection or continuation in the colonization of this part of the Earth by Europeans who also have secret societies and esoteric movements. They were seperate, they were amalgamated and they have a shared destiny. To sum up the tome:

"There are two motions in human society. One is toward understanding, and this is the unifying force. The other motion is toward misunderstanding, and this is the dividing force. Each human being advances the universal destiny to the degree that he overcomes within himself the impulses
to divide and separate. It is not always possible to defend the conduct of groups or individuals or to cooperate with that which is obviously perverse. Too often, however, division is due simply to prejudice or to those egocentric impulses which tend to isolation through a false conviction of personal superiority. All institutions, sacred and secular, are composed of human beings. As these grow and unfold their natural consciousness, they verge toward each other by simple convictions of fraternity. Every possible effort should be made to encourage good feeling between sincere persons of different beliefs. This is only possible when all are generous and find justification in the realization of the pressing need of united effort.

The pages of history reveal the irresistible unifying force operating in human affairs. The story of man is the record of the struggle upward and forward from isolation to unification. No one can go against this motion without betraying himself, his world, and his God. All good things have come to those who have learned to work together, for this simple procedure is a symbol of civilization. Cooperation is the Great Work, the social alchemy which produces the Universal Medicine. It is recommended that the sincere truth seeker examine the various organizations which have risen in human society, and determine by their works rather than by their pretensions which ones are dedicated to the advancement of World Fraternity. Such associations, whether they be actual instruments of the Secret Schools or simply groups of sincere persons, are laboring in the light
and for the light. Once convinced of the reality of the Great Plan, the individual also receives a vision of realities which enable him to conduct his own affairs in harmony with the larger destiny."

[Kevan · Rating 4 out of 5]

This sometimes is packaged with Secret Destiny of America which is a good idea considering they are so close in theme and presentation. I prefer the other book greatly but this is good on its own merits. I generally recommend Secret Destiny as a must read and there are a number of other Manly Hall books/pamphlets I prefer but given that he is an author I love so much, I am glad that I purchased this book and it has a number of interesting insights concerning America.