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Brother of the Third Degree
Set in the near future (early twentieth century), this 1894 occult novel is a tale of eternal love, albeit chaste. The protagonist, Alphonso Colono, a Mexican, is born into a family with connected with the Illuminati, here called the 'White Brotherhood.' He moves to Paris and is initiated into the occult group, where he meets the woman who is to become his Iole. They meet St. Germain and other adepts, help a modern Napoleon unite Europe, and eventually pass beyond the mortal realm.
This novel may not have had the impact of Zanoni, which it bears superficial resemblances to. It does show that the modern complex of beliefs about the Illuminati was complete in all of its aspects in the last decade of the 19th century. The wandering eternal masters, the use of occult power to leverage political change, and the strange powers of the adepts, are present and accounted for. These concepts would later become dogma for groups such as the "I AM" Activity and its modern successors.
Garver's vision of a united Europe at peace in the 20th century, (after a period of war) was a good prediction, even if the mechanism he proposes is a bit absurd. The narrative itself is still a good read, despite the overblown period prose. This long-forgotten predecessor to the Da Vinci Code moves along nicely and has memorable characters. Not many 19th century occult fictions are half as readable.
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Title Page
Contents
Chapter I. Childhood
Chapter II. Severed Ties
Chapter III. Princess Louise
Chapter IV. Paris—Mother!
Chapter V. More Mystery
Chapter VI. The Woman in Black
Chapter VIII. Member of the Fifth Degree
Chapter VIII. Iole
Chapter IX. Love
Chapter X. Tests
Chapter XI. The Black Brotherhood
Chapter XII. Death—Life
Chapter XIII. The White Brotherhood
Chapter XIV. “Virgin Lover”
Chapter XV. A Honeymoon?
Chapter XVI. St. Germain.—War
Chapter XVII. Napoleon the Great
Chapter XVIII. Lhassa
Chapter XIX. Brother of the “Third Degree.”
Vocabulary
This novel may not have had the impact of Zanoni, which it bears superficial resemblances to. It does show that the modern complex of beliefs about the Illuminati was complete in all of its aspects in the last decade of the 19th century. The wandering eternal masters, the use of occult power to leverage political change, and the strange powers of the adepts, are present and accounted for. These concepts would later become dogma for groups such as the "I AM" Activity and its modern successors.
Garver's vision of a united Europe at peace in the 20th century, (after a period of war) was a good prediction, even if the mechanism he proposes is a bit absurd. The narrative itself is still a good read, despite the overblown period prose. This long-forgotten predecessor to the Da Vinci Code moves along nicely and has memorable characters. Not many 19th century occult fictions are half as readable.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Title Page
Contents
Chapter I. Childhood
Chapter II. Severed Ties
Chapter III. Princess Louise
Chapter IV. Paris—Mother!
Chapter V. More Mystery
Chapter VI. The Woman in Black
Chapter VIII. Member of the Fifth Degree
Chapter VIII. Iole
Chapter IX. Love
Chapter X. Tests
Chapter XI. The Black Brotherhood
Chapter XII. Death—Life
Chapter XIII. The White Brotherhood
Chapter XIV. “Virgin Lover”
Chapter XV. A Honeymoon?
Chapter XVI. St. Germain.—War
Chapter XVII. Napoleon the Great
Chapter XVIII. Lhassa
Chapter XIX. Brother of the “Third Degree.”
Vocabulary
374 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1894
38 people are currently reading
177 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews
October 13, 2021
Sinopsis:
“En este clásico metafísico, un joven buscador espiritual de la época de Napoleón viaja a París para ingresar a la escuela secreta de los Maestros. Allí conoce a su alma gemela, que es un iniciado de orden superior. En su afán por progresar rápidamente, cae presa de la hermandad oscura. Los Maestros usan esta experiencia casi mortal para probarlo más y enseñarlo como parte de su plan final. Él y su verdadero amor aprenden a trabajar juntos al servicio de los Maestros y la humanidad”.
Mi opinión:
Un libro de pura inspiración, esoterismo y misticismo. Una lectura para todos los gustos. Una perspectiva de la vida desde la que te podrás reencontrar con tu alma y los axiomas para una vida plena y real en su sentido. Llave para el conocimiento infinito y sabiduría Eterna. Es una historia sobre un iniciado en la Hermandad de la Luz. Recomendado para cualquier estudiante de los Misterios. Muy recomendando para todos los que deseen evolucionar la vida que en un pasado tuvieron. Me encantó.
“En este clásico metafísico, un joven buscador espiritual de la época de Napoleón viaja a París para ingresar a la escuela secreta de los Maestros. Allí conoce a su alma gemela, que es un iniciado de orden superior. En su afán por progresar rápidamente, cae presa de la hermandad oscura. Los Maestros usan esta experiencia casi mortal para probarlo más y enseñarlo como parte de su plan final. Él y su verdadero amor aprenden a trabajar juntos al servicio de los Maestros y la humanidad”.
Mi opinión:
Un libro de pura inspiración, esoterismo y misticismo. Una lectura para todos los gustos. Una perspectiva de la vida desde la que te podrás reencontrar con tu alma y los axiomas para una vida plena y real en su sentido. Llave para el conocimiento infinito y sabiduría Eterna. Es una historia sobre un iniciado en la Hermandad de la Luz. Recomendado para cualquier estudiante de los Misterios. Muy recomendando para todos los que deseen evolucionar la vida que en un pasado tuvieron. Me encantó.
April 19, 2008
The version I'm reading was printed in 1964.
This book is an insperational book for all who read, it's a must read no matter whom you may be, you wont be able to put it down.
This book gave me renewed outlook on life, completely filled my soul again with what I have lost not to long ago, My WILL to strive for everything and anything I could imagin possible or not. Most of all it enabled me to once again quench my love for endless knowlege form every book and every person!!
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Man must be conjoined with woman; mind must be conjoined with heart. Mind unchecked by heart or the intuitions that come therefrom, but only leads to blind materialism and cold dead forms, the riddle of the universe it cannot solve. Heart, divorced from mind, leads but to blind, fanatic faith, where reason is unknown and fancy runs the imagination wild. Reason and conscience must go hand in hand, indissolubly united."
"Never do anything just to please somebody; do it because you think it is right, and remember that the less self there is in any decision, the nearer right it will be."
"The man who seeks for truth with a selfish motive will never find it, for his desires will pervert his judgment and befog his reason."
"The greatest cause of error in the world is that prejudice which distorts facts to make them fit with preconceived opinions, and prejudice has its root in self."
"All your study of books and things is but to establish the instrumental conditions by and through which the Knower can break forth and manifest."
"Trials and suffering bring us to a full self-conscious realization of our might and unfold our undiscovered possibilities within."
"Love is but the souls desire for a portion of itself which it has lost, and without which its joy is incomplete."
This book is an insperational book for all who read, it's a must read no matter whom you may be, you wont be able to put it down.
This book gave me renewed outlook on life, completely filled my soul again with what I have lost not to long ago, My WILL to strive for everything and anything I could imagin possible or not. Most of all it enabled me to once again quench my love for endless knowlege form every book and every person!!
Some of my favorite quotes from the book:
"Man must be conjoined with woman; mind must be conjoined with heart. Mind unchecked by heart or the intuitions that come therefrom, but only leads to blind materialism and cold dead forms, the riddle of the universe it cannot solve. Heart, divorced from mind, leads but to blind, fanatic faith, where reason is unknown and fancy runs the imagination wild. Reason and conscience must go hand in hand, indissolubly united."
"Never do anything just to please somebody; do it because you think it is right, and remember that the less self there is in any decision, the nearer right it will be."
"The man who seeks for truth with a selfish motive will never find it, for his desires will pervert his judgment and befog his reason."
"The greatest cause of error in the world is that prejudice which distorts facts to make them fit with preconceived opinions, and prejudice has its root in self."
"All your study of books and things is but to establish the instrumental conditions by and through which the Knower can break forth and manifest."
"Trials and suffering bring us to a full self-conscious realization of our might and unfold our undiscovered possibilities within."
"Love is but the souls desire for a portion of itself which it has lost, and without which its joy is incomplete."
September 8, 2025
"El hombre que busca la verdad movido por el egoísmo nunca la encontrará, porque sus deseos pervertirán su juicio y nublarán su razón. La verdad es pura e inmaculada, y únicamente los puros de corazón y de mente la pueden percibir en toda su belleza. La causa más grande de error en el mundo, es el prejuicio que desfigura los hechos para que se ajusten a opiniones preconcebidas, y el prejuicio tiene sus raíces en la naturaleza inferior."
July 29, 2023
Wonderful wonderful novel.
Audiobook is on audible.
Mention of "Illuminati" in online descriptions are (intentionally?) misleading and gonna be off putting for many at first glance.
A beautiful spiritual book.
https://drjoedispenza.com/blogs/dr-jo...
Audiobook is on audible.
Mention of "Illuminati" in online descriptions are (intentionally?) misleading and gonna be off putting for many at first glance.
A beautiful spiritual book.
https://drjoedispenza.com/blogs/dr-jo...
May 4, 2024
Brother of the Third Degree by Will L. Garver is one of my all time favorite books. It is so rich with spiritual insights! I continue to incorporate the wisdom that is written in its pages in my daily life.
November 20, 2019
Turns your world upside down and to the highest aspiration possible. Favourite book. Point !
April 19, 2020
I really enjoyed this novel! Informative and well written, definitely recommend for anyone interested in occultism.
March 25, 2021
Loved it. Loved the mysticism, the magic the extremely pertinent insights. And it was fun while thought provoking. I went in not knowing what to expect and loved it.
November 27, 2021
Amazing book
It takes you higher than any other book I have read. In spite of the the difficult initiations the soul goes through, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you.
It takes you higher than any other book I have read. In spite of the the difficult initiations the soul goes through, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Thank you.
January 19, 2014
This was the favorite book of one of my first teachers, the Rev. Paul Neary of the Church of Ageless Wisdom. It is a story steeped in esoteric mysticism of an initiate into the Brotherhood of Light. Revealing and profound as was my beloved teacher.... Recommended for any student of the Mysteries....
April 13, 2008
I read a much older edition. Interesting book though, it makes you wonder.
June 21, 2008
Good story! It's weird that it was written sooooooooo long ago!
November 12, 2008
Great stuff in this one...secret societies, initiations....personal evolution!!! Lovely!
Read
July 7, 2009in the top five books i have read.
October 22, 2011
I couldn't put it down. What a sublime story, you even think It's real. Recommend to all who desire the evolution of the inner life.
July 16, 2012
Interesting depiction of dedication and personal growth, the process of growing the Spirit.
November 20, 2019
Turns your world upside down and to the highest aspiration possible. Favourite book. Point
Displaying 1 - 17 of 17 reviews