book carried by the angel in Kevelation. The chief

prophecies relating to the order are found in Daniel and Revelation, and they claim that the mysterious prophecies in those books, concerning which theologians have never been able to agree, are understood and in- terpreted only in the order.
Each spot on every card has a definite meaning, and one of the first things the candidate does in receiving the first degree is to have his birth emblem read for him to discover its relation to his life.
It is not possible to tell here in full all the part which the cards play in the initiation of the new member and in the unfolding of the secrets of the order, for they are interwovefi. everywhere. Diamonds mean wealth and power, and they represent the autumn, the ricbest sea- son of the year: the spade means labor, duty, and death, and stands for winter: the heart, ethics and religion, and represents Aries, the laml), spring.
There are now in the world about 2,500 members of the Order of the Magi, and most of these are in Amer- ica: their identity is a secret, save to their fellow-mem- bers.'^
CHAPTEll XVI.
THE mitjii:adj-:s.
The Mithrades of ancient Persia had their secret so- cieties and have imitators to-day.
On the Mithraic monuments we find representations of the globe, of the snn, the club and bull, symbols of the highest truths, the highest creative activity^, the highest vital power. The principal dogmas as revised by Zoroaster, are as follows: From the beginning there have existed two beings, Ormuzd and Ahriman, the principles of the universe. Ormuzd is pure eter- nal light, the spirit of beauty and love, and original source of perfection. Ahriman was also originally of the light, and so far good; but as he envied the light of Ormuzd he obscured his own, became an enemy to Ormuzd and the father of evil, and of all evil beings who joined him in a contest with the good. Ormuzd and Ahriman performed the work of creation at differ- ent epochs, and brought into existence various species of beings. Ormuzd created the community of good spirits; tirst six immortal spirits of light; then twenty- eight subordinate spirits, representatives of the months and days; and at last a multitude of human souls. Ahriman produced a number of bad spirits, six great epirits of darkness and a large number of bad spirits of a lower rank. The good dwell witli Ormuzd in the
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light; the bad with Ahriman in the kingdom of dark- ness.
The place for initiation was alwa3^s a subterranean apartment. A ladder with seven steps led from one place to another, by which the candidate ascended to the mansion of felicity. The probationer had to un- dergo long and severe trials before he was admitted to the full knowledge, of the mysteries. The first degree was inaugurated with purifying lustrations, and a sign was set on the neophyte's brow, whilst he offered to tho god a loaf of bread and a cup of water. A crown was presented to him on the point of a sword, and he put it on his head saying: "Mithras is my crown." In tho second degree the candidate put on an armour to meet giants and monsters, and a wild chase took place in the subterranean caves. The priests and officers of the- temple, diss:uised as lions, tigers, leopards, bears, wolves, and other wild beasts, attacked the candidate with fierce bowlings. In these sham fights the aspir- ant ran great personal danger, though sometimes tho assailants caught a Tartar. In the next degree he put on a mantle on which were painted the signs of the zodiac. A curtain then concealed him from the sight of all ; but this being withdrawn, he appeared surround- ed by frightful griffins. After passing through other trials, if his courage did not fail him, he was hailed as the "Lion of Mithras," in allusion to the zodiacal sign in which the sun attained his greatest power. Then a solemn oath was administered to him, binding him to secrecy under the most severe penalties.
The Heptasophs have largely borrowed from this an- cient order.