This vintage book contains a fascinating exploration of the tradition of freemasonry, looking particularly at the relationship between the craft and the upper echelons of the order's grades. Arthur Edward Waite (1857 - 1942), more commonly referred to as A. E. Waite, was an American-born British mystic and poet. He wrote profusely on the subject of the occult and esoteric matters, and is famous for being the co-creator of the Rider-Waite Tarot deck. His work arguably constitutes the first attempt to systematically studying the history of western occultism, which he viewed more of a spiritual tradition than proto-science or pseudo-religion, as was the more common conception. Contents include: "The Root-Matter of the Alleged Hermetic Connection", "The School of Alchemy: In Excursus", "Masonic Systems of Alchemical Degrees and, Firstly, the Hermetic Rite of Abbé Pernety", "Masonic Systems of Alchemical Degrees and, Secondly, The Hermetic Rite of Baron Tschoudy", etc. Many vintage books such as this are increasingly scarce and expensive. We are republishing this volume now in an affordable, modern, high-quality edition complete with specially-commissioned new biography of the author.