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REVIEWS < SECRETS OF THE HOLY LANCE: The Spear of Destiny in History & Legend by Jerry E. Smith & George Piccard Adventures Unlimited Press, USA, 2005 ISBN 1-931882-43-6 (341 pp tpb) Availability: Aust/NZ/UK/Europe— NEXUS offices; USA—Adventures Unlimited, website http:/Awww. adventuresunlimitedpress.com he story of the legendary lance that Roman centurion Longinus used to spear the side of Jesus Christ during the Crucifixion was popularised by Trevor Ravenscroft in his 1973 book The Spear of Destiny. Now, in Secrets of the Holy Lance, authors Jerry E. Smith (HAARP: The Ultimate Weapon; 5/06) and George Piccard (Liquid Conspiracy; 7/01) progress the story of the occult power behind the spear. They suggest it may have been created by Tubal- Cain, the seventh-generation grandson of Cain, son of Adam, and they go on to give a potted history of the spear's line of posses- sion up to and including Adolf Hitler, who ordered it to be removed from the Hofburg Palace in Vienna in March 1938 when he invaded the city. From here, the authors focus on the Nazis and the lengths they went to in order to pro- tect this occult talisman, even suggesting that the spear recovered by the Allies and returned to its home in Vienna in 1945 is a clever forgery. The real spear, they suggest, was spirited away to a secret Nazi base— Station 211—in the Miihlig-Hoffmann Mountains in Antarctica. They speculate that finding the base and the spear was a top priority of the 1945-46 Admiral Byrd Operation Highjump mission to Antarctica, though it may not have succeeded. The authors draw on accounts from Col. Howard Buechner and Captain Wilhelm Bernhard suggesting that one Colonel Maximilian Hartmann, a Knight of the Holy Lance, led an expedition to Station 211 in 1979 and succeeded in retrieving the relic and return- ing it to Germany and the Knights' custody. With reference to some of the lesser known mysteries of the Nazis' war effort— including the development of flying saucers, the possible establishment of a Fourth Reich in Antarctica or South America and involve- ment of alien intelligences—Smith and Piccard explore unexpectedly vast territory in Secrets of the Holy Lance. VES. INUW, LL QELTEL UJ ULE LLULY LUNE, authors Jerry E. Smith (HAARP: The THE SECRET HISTORY OF teges, Naudon notes. ne Scottish and Ultimate Weapon; 5/06) and George Piccard FREEMASONRY: Boes Pane ne cots ant nine , Nas . English rites and outline some secrets of th (Liquid Conspiracy; 7/01) progress the story __ Its Origins and Connection to the Craft, *vncluding the symbolism and language of the occult power behind the spear. They Knights Templar A suggest it may have been created by Tubal- 9) p and how these have been preserved in later Cain, the seventh-ceneration erandson of by Paul Naudon ; , speculative masonic thinking and rituals. A cain the seventh ve analthee A onto give a Inner Traditions, USA, 2005 (first pub. in sacred tradition has been nurtured, showing potted history of the spear's line of posses- French by Editions Dervy, 1991) as Naudon says that faith lives only through sion up to and including Adolf Hitler, who ISBN 1-59477-028-X (31 1p tpb) works and that works are worth only the ordered it to be removed from the Hofburg Availability: Inner Traditions, faith that moves them. Palace in Vienna in March 1938 when he http://www. innertraditions.com . invaded the city. rench law scholar and high-ranking _ From here, the authors focus on the Nazis A Freemason Paul Naudon makes a distinc- and the lengths they went to in order to pro- _tion between operative and speculative tect this occult talisman, even suggesting Freemasonry in this "secret" history of the that the spear recovered by the Allies and craft. However, he argues that contrary to returned to its home in Vienna in 1945 is a conventional opinion there is a link between clever forgery. The real spear, they suggest, the two forms and there was an intimate was spirited away to a secret Nazi base— connection between the masons and the Station 211—in the Mithlig-Hoffmann Knights Templar. He advances his case Mountains in Antarctica. They speculate with reference to obscure French and that finding the base and the spear was atop _ English masonic documents, Church texts priority of the 1945-46 Admiral Byrd and other sources, and his research encom- Operation Highjump mission to Antarctica, passes the changing historical, social and though it may not have succeeded. The spiritual contexts over the years. His book, authors draw on accounts from Col. Howard _first published in French in 1991 and now 66 = NEXUS translated into English by Jon Graham, takes the less-travelled path with an emphasis on the operative side of Freemasonry. Naudon goes back to the ancient Roman collegia or colleges of artisans (with minor reference to Egyptian predecessors) as the cauldron of sacred builders who in turn influenced the development of early monas- tic associations and the trade guilds and brotherhoods that sprang up in the Middle Ages. Mastery of temple "carpentry" reached a pinnacle in the Gothic cathedrals of France, which had obvious Templar influ- ences as well as Benedictine blessing and whose master masons enjoyed special privi- leges, Naudon notes. He goes on to compare the Scottish and English rites and outline some secrets of the Craft, including the symbolism and language and how these have been preserved in later speculative masonic thinking and rituals. A sacred tradition has been nurtured, showing as Naudon says that faith lives only through works and that works are worth only the faith that moves them. www.nexusmagazi ne.com DECEMBER 2005 — JANUARY 2006