But since the absolute rule of the adepts is never to interfere with the judgement of any other person whomsoever—how much more, then, one of themselves, and that one most highly revered!—they had refrained from active opposition. The adept who wrote this added that the Order had already quite enough knowledge to enable it or its members to formulate a magical link with the adepts.
10. Shortly after this, one called S. R. M. D. announced that he had formulated such a link, and that himself with two others was to govern the Order. New and revised rituals were issued, and fresh knowledge poured out in streams.
11. We must pass over the unhappy juggleries which characterized the next period. It has throughout proved impossible to elucidate the complex facts.
We content ourselves, then, with observing that the death of one of his two colleagues, and the weakness of the other, secured to S. R. M. D. the sole authority. The rituals were elaborated, though scholarly enough, into verbose and pretentious nonsense: the knowledge proved worthless, even where it was correct: for it is in vain that pearls, be they
