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them included in the 〃magi。〃 Again； tracing this word to its remote
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ancestor； we find it terminating in the same Semitic root； 〃mag；〃 but of
this strange root no one was able to say much； except that it seemed to
belong to the Assyrian branch of the great Semitic race。 But quite recently；
thanks to our scientific explorers and archaeologists； versed in the
mysterious meaning of cuniform inscription； Assyrian scholars now
inform us that they have found the hoary； primitive original of it； of magic；
magi and imago； etc。 It is from an old Akkadian word； 〃imga；〃 meaning
wise； holy； and learned； and was used as the distinguishing title of their
wisest sages； priests； and philosophers； who； as may be supposed；
gradually formed a peculiar caste； which merged into the ruling priestly
order。 The Semites； who succeeded the old Akkadian race in the valley of
the Euphrates； as a mere matter of verbal convenience； transformed many
of the old Akkadian words to suit their own articulation； and 〃imga〃
became 〃mag；〃 and thus 〃magi。〃 THE BLEND between the Semetic and
the older Akkadian race； produced； by fusion of racial blood； the famed
Chaldeans。 So that we see how old are the words which many of us daily
use； but with different meaning。 Verily； it makes one feel； when be thinks
of magic and its origin； as though he were quite nearly related to the
people who honored King Sargon； the Wise； the earthly original of the
mystic Solomon of Biblical tradition。 The term Wand is an old Saxon
word； which primarily signifies to set in motion； to move。 From this we
derive our word wander； i。e。； to roam； and wandering； i。e。； moving and
continually restless。
We have now the original； therefore real； meaning of the words Magic
Wand； thus an object that sets in motion the powers of the magician； and
the magician； an Initiate of the sacred ritesA MASTER OF WISDOM；
possessing all the resources that enable him TO BUILD mould； and form；
to create in fact； by virtue of his knowledge of the secret powers of mental
imagery and the potential use of his own imagination。 He is both Mental
Mason and learned philosopher。
The student may doubtless ask； why all this care and labor regarding
mere definitions？ We reply that； it is because； the real meaning of the
words we have purposely selected for the title of our studies are； in
themselves； a far better revelation than we could possibly have written。
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Originally； ideas and words were related as absolute expressions or
correspondences； of each other。 This is not so now。 As the different races
became interblended； the purity of both language and morals retrograded；
and the people grew more to the external。 The intuitions and spirit were
compelled to retreat； giving place to only the intellectual and mental。 The
blending of the languages gave birth to many words wherein different
meanings were transmitted； hence； the trouble arising to…day over the
numerous interpretations of a single word。
Hybrid races have no such thing as a pure language。 Their ideas and
language； like their blood； is badly mixed up； confusing； and
unsatisfactory； so far as the real meaning of the words are concerned。 For
this very reason we find so many different meanings for the same word；
and also for this reason； we cannot formulate a legal enactment in the
Anglo…Saxon tongue that； a learned lawyer； versed in this senseless
jugglery of words； cannot demonstrate； to the satisfaction of the courts；
means something the very opposite of the real intentions the spirit
which the framers thereof； intended it to convey。 Anciently； it required no
artful cunning of the lawyer to interpret the laws。 The words had only one
simple and obvious meaning。 If a language could be so constructed to…day；
and the antiquated precedents of the courts annihilated； the legal
profession would be exterminated inside of twelve months； and an
affliction removed from the people。
The philosophy of the Magic Wand is this。 It is a magnetic； electric
conductor for the magician's will。 It directs the flow of his thought and
concentrates it upon a given point in space or an object。 It is； magically；
what the sights of a rifle are to a sportsman。 It enables him to focus his
powers with exact precision upon the mark against which； or upon which；
his will is directed。 Apart from this there is no power； per se； in the Wand
itself； any more than there is in a lightning conductor without the electric
storm。 Ergo； the Wand is the conductor； in the magician's hand； for the
lightnings of the soul； and just as the lightning rod is most useful and most
powerful to protect； when the storm is the strongest； so is the Wand most
powerful in the hands of the most potential magician。 We can only
transmit through this Wand the degree of force we may happen to possess
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in the soul。
In a properly prepared Wand lies the most powerful weapon； to protect
or destroy； that can be placed within a magician's hands。 With his own
spiritual force and knowledge； combined with the magic power attached to
the instrument； nothing can withstand its power； when directed with a
determined and powerful will。
Many substances have been employed in the manufacture of these
Magic Wands。 Metals or stones will not serve this purpose； unless covered
with some organic matter。 In any case stones are worthless。 The very finest
Wands are made from the live ivory of a female elephant。 A short Wand；
twenty…one inches long； tipped with gold at the largest end and silver or
copper at the other； is very powerful。 Next to these costly articles are
Wands with a gold or copper core； a wire； in fact； cased with ebony；
boxwood； rosewood； cedar or s