Mysticism and its results: Being an inquiry into the uses and abuses of secrecy

About this book

Delving into the history of secrecy, John Delafield’s work opens with a sweeping declaration that “THE WORD WAS GOD,” immediately framing the treatise as a philosophical inquiry into the immutable laws of truth and their bearing on past, present, and future. The author promises a collection of “facts, perhaps, somewhat out of the usual range of reading,” aiming to provoke thought rather than dictate doctrine. From the outset, the text outlines a systematic exploration of mysticism, beginning with definitions of secrecy, mystery, and mysticism, then progressing through a chronological survey of secret practices, from ancient mountain rites and the hidden writings of the Magi to the clandestine operations of the Jesuits and Rosicrucians, culminating in a discussion of how secrecy influences political power and self‑government.

Written in a dense, nineteenth‑century scholarly style, the book blends theological exposition with historical analysis, employing a formal, often rhetorical tone that reflects its era’s penchant for exhaustive footnotes and classical references. Readers who relish rigorous intellectual pursuits, especially those interested in the interplay of religion, secret societies, and the evolution of doctrinal authority, will find Delafield’s exhaustive catalog of esoteric traditions both challenging and rewarding.

Opening lines

"THE WORD WAS GOD." That "WORD IS TRUTH." Truth can never change, or it would contradict itself. Past, present, and future, must be governed by immutable laws. Experience is acquired by the careful study of history, and the present condition of all things. All is governed now by that same law of truth, which was from the beginning of the world, and ever shall be. What serious lessons, then, may be learned by a careful examination of past ages; and how useful may they not be to us and our children for future ages? We can only judge of that which is to come hereafter, by studying the past, and carefully noting the present. …

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