PREFACE. In the Appendix to a previous work entitled, "Parsifal; or, Wagner as Theologian," the following note and comment appeared: "The assumption of our geologists seems incontrovertible. that the human ERRATA. p. x., line 11 from top, for "great" read "Great." p. 18, line 6 from bottom, for "planetary conjunctions near Arics" read "the astronomical computations of the year of the Crucifixion (see p. 263)." p. 19, line 5 from top, for "above planetary conjunctions near Arics being B.C. 7" read "the year of the Crucifixion being A. D. 29." p. 19, line 7 from top, for "2159" read "2123." p. 29, bottom line, for "B.C." read "A.D." p. 126, line 7 from top, for "an deach" read and each." p. 135, line 8 from top, after "Torah" add "see p. 35." p. 155, line 11 from top, for "in index" read "pp. 55-56, 58-60.” p. 189, line 5 from top, for "index" read "pp. 84, 308, 310, 313–316." p. 267, for "A.D. 24" read, in both places, p. 312, bottom line, for "121, 122" read 84, 316, 415." p. 314, line 12 from bottom, after "foe" add "(see pp. 85-86, 108)." p. 322, line 4 from top, for "Index" read "page 298." p. 326, line 5 from bottom, for "in index " read "pp. vii., 76, 104, 106." is nave named, namely, in indicating the right line of effort for the restoration of the long-broken continuity of human consciousness between historic man and his prehistoric ancestors, that success will be largely due to the discovery that, in the Great Pyramid mankind possesses the veritable keystone of PREFACE. In the Appendix to a previous work entitled, “Parsifal; or, Wagner as Theologian," the following note and comment appeared: The assumption of our geologists seems incontrovertible, that the human race must have survived a mighty transformation of at least the greater portion of our planet.'-(Wagner.) The notes prepared on this point have assumed such proportions that they must be reserved for a separate work entitled, 'The Lost Pleiad; or, the Fall of Lucifer the Key to the Solar Myths and the Origin of all Known Forms of Religion.' The conclusion developed by the testimony gathered being that in Christianity, far from 'something small and local,' we possess the religion of Prehistoric Man, and that it is now being reestablished upon its ancient intellectual foundations largely by the involuntary agency of Modern Science." After several years of research and comparison, and classification of results, it became apparent that an exhaustive treatment of the vast subject would involve a new universal synthesis rivalling in its proportions the Synthetic Philosophy of Herbert Spencer. The attempt to execute such a work being out of the question for one actively engaged in professional life, a point of departure was sought for the consecutive presentation of some of the most striking facts brought to light by these investigations. Such a point of departure subsequently appeared as a result of a most surprising and unexpected discovery with reference to the Great Pyramid, viz., that it forms the connecting link between the Astronomy and Geography, and at the same time between the Religion and the Science, of the ancient world. Attempts to reconstruct the long-fallen arch of prehistoric science, art, and religion have not been wanting in the past. Should the present work prove successful where its predecessors have failed, namely, in indicating the right line of effort for the restoration of the long-broken continuity of human consciousness between historic man and his prehistoric ancestors, that success will be largely due to the discovery that, in the Great Pyramid mankind possesses the veritable keystone of that arch, whose broken fragments have been the wonder and the enigma of ages. "If the proposition which you advance," wrote a professional man to whom was submitted a brief abstract of the contents of the present work, "can be shown to have scientific basis, it is undoubtedly one of the greatest possible interest to all mankind." The author does not presume to attach such importance to any conclusions to which his mind has been led by the testimony of historic facts in evidence; the facts themselves he can but consider of supreme interest. In the church at Epsom, Surrey, England, an exquisitely beautiful monument, executed by the distinguished sculptor Flaxman, bears the following inscription, written by the Rev. William Jones: "GLORY TO GOD ALONE. SACRED TO THE MEMORY OF THE REV. JOHN PARKHURST, A.M., AND DESCENDED FROM THE PARKHURSTS OF CATESBY, HIS LIFE WAS DISTINGUISHED NOT BY ANY HONOURS IN THE CHURCH, INTO THE TREASURES OF DIVINE LEARNING : THE FRUITS OF WHICH ARE PRESERVED IN TWO INVALUABLE LEXICONS, WHEREIN THE ORIGINAL TEXT OF THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENT IS INTERPRETED WITH EXTRAORDINARY LIGHT AND TRUTH. Reader! if thou art thankful to God that such a Man lived, That neither the Pride of false Learning, As to render his pious Labours in any degree ineffectual. AND DEPARTED IN FAITH AND HOPE IN THE 69TH YEAR OF HIS AGE." CATHOLICITY OF LEARNING. vii The two learned Lexicons of Parkhurst have long disappeared from public use in the study of the Bible, not because they have been improved upon in their characteristic feature of widest catholicity of learning, but because the Lexicons which have supplanted them are based upon a diametrically opposite principle, namely, the ignoring of all points of contact between Hebrew and classic literature. In his Lexicons, Parkhurst writes, "not only the Lexicographers and Verbal Critics, but the more enlarged Philologists, the writers of Natural and Civil History, Travellers, ancient and modern, into the eastern countries, and even the Poets, have been made to draw water for the service of the Sanctuary, or to contribute their quotas to the illustration of the Hebrew scriptures." Logic teaches that it is impossible to know anything apart from its relations to other things, both similar and dissimilar. Comparative anatomy in religion no more disproves the existence of the vital element of religion than comparative anatomy in physiology disproves the fact or explains the mystery of life, but comparative anatomy throws a flood of light upon the laws governing the birth, growth, and death of the physical or visible organization alike of religions and of men. To doubt the fidelity to Christianity of a thinker solely because he has studied comparative religion, is like doubting one's belief in humanity as distinguished from the brute creation, because he has investigated the points of similarity and dissimilarity be tween the human species and the various types of the animal kingdom from mollusc to ape. That there is in religion something to investigate, the briefest consideration will make manifest. Obviously, religion. has both form and substance, as an egg has shell and contents. But a bird, deprived of calcareous nutriment, cannot provide shells for her eggs. It does not follow from this, however, that the carbonate of lime originates either bird or eggs; still less does the fact that the bird turns the lime to account explain the origin of the lime itself.* In respect alike to theology, "The origin of the chalk formation has not been satisfactorily accounted for. Lyell, blowing hot and cold in the same breath, says, in the index of his 'Principles': 'Chalk: Warm climate indicated by fossils of the chalk.' Chalk: Float |