Brother of the Third Degree, Wisdom Ancient
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BROTHER OF THE
THIRD DEGREE
By
WILL L. GARVER
BORDEN PUBLISHING COMPANY
ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA
Copyright 1894
By W. L. GARVER
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE
2
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
CHILDHOOD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
CHAPTER II.
SEVERED TIE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
CHAPTER III.
PRINCESS LOUISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
CHAPTER IV.
PARIS—MOTHER! . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
CHAPTER V.
MORE MYSTERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
CHAPTER VI.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
CHAPTER VII.
MEMBER OF THE FIFTH DEGREE . . . . . . . . . 46
CHAPTER VIII.
IOLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
CHAPTER IX.
LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
CHAPTER X.
TESTS .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
CHAPTER XI.
THE BLACK BROTHERHOOD . . . . . . . . . . 86
CHAPTER XII.
DEATH—LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WHITE BROTHERHOOD . . . . . . . . . . 107
CHAPTER XIV.
“VIRGIN LOVER” . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
CHAPTERXV.
A HONEYMOON? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
CHAPTER XVI.
ST. GERMAIN—WAR . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
CHAPTER XVII.
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE
3
NAPOLEON THE GREAT . . . . . . . . . . . 153
CHAPTER XVIII.
LLHASSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
CHAPTER XIX.
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE . . . . . . . . . 176
VOCABULARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE
4
CHAPTER I
CHILDHOOD
“There is a principle, proof against all argument, a bar against all progress,
and which if persisted in cannot but keep the mind in everlasting
ignorance-and that is, contempt prior to examination.” —PALEY.
“Accept nothing that is unreasonable; discard nothing as unreasonable
without proper examination.” —BUDDHA.
MY name is Alphonso Colona. I am a Mexican of pure Spanish descent, but
was born in the city of Paris. I am the only son, but had a beautiful sister,
Esmeralda, three years my junior.
My father, Ferdinand Colono, was a direct descendant of the Colonos of
Granada, who traced their ancestry back to the time of the Moors, and who
were known throughout the Hispanian peninsula for their skill as physicians.
My mother was of the noble Vesta family of Seville, who were likewise most
skilled physicians.
Father and mother first met while they were students in Paris. After ten
years of the purest and most studious companionship, and after they had both
graduated with highest honors, they were married; and I am the first offspring
of that union. After my birth my parents moved to the City of Mexico, where
my father’s parents had located early in the nineteenth century.
There had always been a mystery connected with their schooling; a mystery
I did not understand until late in life. They were two of the most learned
people of their time, and strange to say, they came from the very center of
materialistic thought deeply imbued with mystic ideas.
Upon his return to Mexico, father immediately commenced to practice as a
physician, and soon became known far and near for his wonderful success and
skill.
In fact, his fame became so great that it was not confined to Mexico alone,
but extended throughout the entire west; and he was offered almost fabulous
salaries by the governing powers of the South American states.
All these he respectfully declined, and remained in the city administering to
the rich and poor alike, never refusing the low or the high. As a result he was
known and beloved by all, and exerted a powerful influence both in
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE
5
governmental circles and among the masses.
Mother, scarcely less learned, and most highly accomplished in art and
music, possessed an influence equally as great as father’s, but, except on
special occasions, spent most of the time at home as the instructor of sister and
myself, considering it here special duty to be our tutor.
Our home was beautifully located upon a hill in the suburbs of the city. A
two-story building with a classical exterior in stucco, and a large interior court
beautifully paved with many-colored pebbles and made pleasant by a
sparkling fountain and tropical plants and trees.
Many years have passed away since mother sat here in the cool of the
evening and pointed out and explained to sister and I the starry constellations
which shine so brightly in the clear sky of all tropical countries.
Still do I remember with most vivid clearness those evening lectures. She did
not consider the starry hosts as mere shining lights to dispel the gloom of
night, but thought like her ancestors of Moorish times that all were filled with
life, the dwelling places of gods and spirits, and had a most intimate relation
with the children of earth. Many years have passed away, many vicissitudes -
and the bright sunny days when my beautiful mother would take Esmeralda
and me to the neighboring mountain peak, and cultivate out tastes for nature’s
beauty as we gazed out upon the placid mirror of the gulf, and far away to the
blue and misty mountains ‘round about. I still remember the pleasant lessons
in geology and natural history we received upon these journeys, for many
were the curious stones, plants and animals we here found joy in studying. I
still recall the loving light that shone from mother’s dark, bright eyes as she
cautioned us not to harm the little creatures, as all life was sacred and from
God; that these small insects were in existence for a purpose, and we could
learn more by studying them in life than by pulling them to pieces in death.
After frequent journeys to the mountain, even the birds seemed to learn we
were not like most beings of our kind, and became kind and friendly, lighting
on our shoulders and perching on our hands. Even now I see Esmeralda, with
her long, dark curls floating in the wind, laughing and talking to the redbreast
on her hand.
Ah! These recollections made me sad for many yeas. I loved my beautiful
mother and sister with a pure and holy love, and I often wished I was a child
again to enjoy the unalloyed happiness of those hours. But now I know this
was not wise. You see, dear friends, what I have lost, but do you know what I
have gained? Great were those joys, but still greater are those that come from
the full unfoldment of our spirit natures. And then, it is not wise to dwell upon
the past beyond recall, except in study that may better guide our footsteps in
the future.
Father, while almost constantly administering to the sick, never lost an
opportunity to be at home, and frequently accompanied us upon those
mountain journeys or talked with us beside the fountain in the court.
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BROTHER OF THE
THIRD DEGREE
By
WILL L. GARVER
BORDEN PUBLISHING COMPANY
ALHAMBRA, CALIFORNIA
Copyright 1894
By W. L. GARVER
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE
2
CONTENTS.
CHAPTER I.
PAGE
CHILDHOOD. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
CHAPTER II.
SEVERED TIE S . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
CHAPTER III.
PRINCESS LOUISE . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
CHAPTER IV.
PARIS—MOTHER! . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
CHAPTER V.
MORE MYSTERY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
CHAPTER VI.
THE WOMAN IN BLACK . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
CHAPTER VII.
MEMBER OF THE FIFTH DEGREE . . . . . . . . . 46
CHAPTER VIII.
IOLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
CHAPTER IX.
LOVE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
CHAPTER X.
TESTS .. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
CHAPTER XI.
THE BLACK BROTHERHOOD . . . . . . . . . . 86
CHAPTER XII.
DEATH—LIFE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
CHAPTER XIII.
THE WHITE BROTHERHOOD . . . . . . . . . . 107
CHAPTER XIV.
“VIRGIN LOVER” . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118
CHAPTERXV.
A HONEYMOON? . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
CHAPTER XVI.
ST. GERMAIN—WAR . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
CHAPTER XVII.
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE
3
NAPOLEON THE GREAT . . . . . . . . . . . 153
CHAPTER XVIII.
LLHASSA . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
CHAPTER XIX.
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE . . . . . . . . . 176
VOCABULARY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE
4
CHAPTER I
CHILDHOOD
“There is a principle, proof against all argument, a bar against all progress,
and which if persisted in cannot but keep the mind in everlasting
ignorance-and that is, contempt prior to examination.” —PALEY.
“Accept nothing that is unreasonable; discard nothing as unreasonable
without proper examination.” —BUDDHA.
MY name is Alphonso Colona. I am a Mexican of pure Spanish descent, but
was born in the city of Paris. I am the only son, but had a beautiful sister,
Esmeralda, three years my junior.
My father, Ferdinand Colono, was a direct descendant of the Colonos of
Granada, who traced their ancestry back to the time of the Moors, and who
were known throughout the Hispanian peninsula for their skill as physicians.
My mother was of the noble Vesta family of Seville, who were likewise most
skilled physicians.
Father and mother first met while they were students in Paris. After ten
years of the purest and most studious companionship, and after they had both
graduated with highest honors, they were married; and I am the first offspring
of that union. After my birth my parents moved to the City of Mexico, where
my father’s parents had located early in the nineteenth century.
There had always been a mystery connected with their schooling; a mystery
I did not understand until late in life. They were two of the most learned
people of their time, and strange to say, they came from the very center of
materialistic thought deeply imbued with mystic ideas.
Upon his return to Mexico, father immediately commenced to practice as a
physician, and soon became known far and near for his wonderful success and
skill.
In fact, his fame became so great that it was not confined to Mexico alone,
but extended throughout the entire west; and he was offered almost fabulous
salaries by the governing powers of the South American states.
All these he respectfully declined, and remained in the city administering to
the rich and poor alike, never refusing the low or the high. As a result he was
known and beloved by all, and exerted a powerful influence both in
BROTHER OF THE THIRD DEGREE
5
governmental circles and among the masses.
Mother, scarcely less learned, and most highly accomplished in art and
music, possessed an influence equally as great as father’s, but, except on
special occasions, spent most of the time at home as the instructor of sister and
myself, considering it here special duty to be our tutor.
Our home was beautifully located upon a hill in the suburbs of the city. A
two-story building with a classical exterior in stucco, and a large interior court
beautifully paved with many-colored pebbles and made pleasant by a
sparkling fountain and tropical plants and trees.
Many years have passed away since mother sat here in the cool of the
evening and pointed out and explained to sister and I the starry constellations
which shine so brightly in the clear sky of all tropical countries.
Still do I remember with most vivid clearness those evening lectures. She did
not consider the starry hosts as mere shining lights to dispel the gloom of
night, but thought like her ancestors of Moorish times that all were filled with
life, the dwelling places of gods and spirits, and had a most intimate relation
with the children of earth. Many years have passed away, many vicissitudes -
and the bright sunny days when my beautiful mother would take Esmeralda
and me to the neighboring mountain peak, and cultivate out tastes for nature’s
beauty as we gazed out upon the placid mirror of the gulf, and far away to the
blue and misty mountains ‘round about. I still remember the pleasant lessons
in geology and natural history we received upon these journeys, for many
were the curious stones, plants and animals we here found joy in studying. I
still recall the loving light that shone from mother’s dark, bright eyes as she
cautioned us not to harm the little creatures, as all life was sacred and from
God; that these small insects were in existence for a purpose, and we could
learn more by studying them in life than by pulling them to pieces in death.
After frequent journeys to the mountain, even the birds seemed to learn we
were not like most beings of our kind, and became kind and friendly, lighting
on our shoulders and perching on our hands. Even now I see Esmeralda, with
her long, dark curls floating in the wind, laughing and talking to the redbreast
on her hand.
Ah! These recollections made me sad for many yeas. I loved my beautiful
mother and sister with a pure and holy love, and I often wished I was a child
again to enjoy the unalloyed happiness of those hours. But now I know this
was not wise. You see, dear friends, what I have lost, but do you know what I
have gained? Great were those joys, but still greater are those that come from
the full unfoldment of our spirit natures. And then, it is not wise to dwell upon
the past beyond recall, except in study that may better guide our footsteps in
the future.
Father, while almost constantly administering to the sick, never lost an
opportunity to be at home, and frequently accompanied us upon those
mountain journeys or talked with us beside the fountain in the court.
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