Alex Marcoux [Marcoux - A Matter of Degrees

Table of Contents

Copyright 2006 by Alex Marcoux

Bella Books, Inc.

P.O. Box 10543

Tallahassee, FL 32302

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, without permission in writing from the publisher.

First published 2006 by The Haworth Press, Inc.

First Bella Books edition 2014

eBook released 2014

Excerpts from Rule by Secrecy by Jim Marrs (2000, New York, HarperCollins). Used by permission of author.

Egyptian ritual on page 172 from The Sacred Tradition in Ancient Egypt: The Esoteric Wisdom Revealed by Rosemary Clark (2000. Woodbury, MN. Llewellyn Worldwide, Ltd.). Used by permission of the publisher. All rights reserved.

Portions of the thirty-second degree lecture on pages 157158, 188 are from The Deadly Deception by Jim Shaw and Tom McKenney (1988, Shreveport, LA, Huntington House Publishers). Used by permission.

Portions of the master mason ritual on pages 7274 (Chapter 12) and Jessies meeting with Stonewall on pages 8184 (Chapter 11) are from www.saintsalive.com/freemasonry/blue_lodge/blue_lodge_index.htm and www.saintsalive.com/freemasonry/blue_lodge/master.htm.

Cover Designer: Sandy Knowles

ISBN 13: 978-159493-412-4

PUBLISHERS NOTE

The scanning, uploading, and distribution of this book via the Internet or via any other means without the permission of the publisher is illegal and punishable by law. Please purchase only authorized electronic editions, and do not participate in or encourage electronic piracy of copyrighted materials. Your support of the authors rights is appreciated.

This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents are either the products of the authors imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

Other Bella Books by Alex Marcoux

Back to Salem

Faades

About the Author

Alex Marcoux never aspired to be a writer, she wanted to be a police detective but her Leominister High School guidance counselor suggested she explore sciences, and soon found herself in the labs of General Foods working on the product development of Crystal Light Powdered Soft Drink. Something was missing in her life though, and after being stirred by Colorados Amendment 2 anti-gay and lesbian initiative she took her hand at writing her first novel, Faades , earning her a Rocky Mountain Fiction Writers Pen Award. Back to Salem , Alexs second novel was a Lambda Literary Award Finalist for Best Lesbian Mystery. Her third novel, A Matter of Degrees , was a Gaylactic Spectrum nominee for Best Novel and Golden Crown Literary Award Finalist for Speculative Fiction. All three of Alexs novels were initially published by The Haworth Press and followed by Bella Books. While writing A Matter of Degrees , Alex used the process revealed in her creativity and spirituality book, Lifesigns: Tapping the Power of Synchronicity, Serendipity and Miracles (Jenness Press 2012), to plot the controversial suspense thriller. Lifesigns won the 2013 Silver Medal in the Metaphysical category of the Living Now Book Awards.

Alex is an intuitive, inspirational speaker and student of various philosophies, including the Science of Mind and Spirit. She conducts workshops on creativity, inspirational writing and the Lifesign Process. Alex resides outside of Denver and is currently writing a couple novels, among other things. More information about Alex and her work can be found on www.AlexMarcoux.com .

For

Mom & Dad

Authors Note and Acknowledgements

When I write, I allow lifes events to inspire where my stories go and then somehow filter the information onto the pages. After reading this book Im sure youll wonder what events triggered me to ponder the ancient Egyptian mysteries, gardens of Sumer, Mary Magdalene, or the Knights Templar. You may even wonder what took me inside of Freemasonrys Blue Lodge and Scottish Rite. As a woman though, how could I?

For those of you who have followed my writing from Faades and Back to Salem , I thank you for continuing this journey with me, and it really has been a journey. As you have seen, my stories are a bit more complex than my earlier work. If your memory is good you will see the subtle connections between the characters of the three books. For those of you who arent familiar with my earlier work, thank you for hopping on board! Its not too late, because were really just getting started!

An endless list of authors work helped percolate this story onto the pages. They include Michael Baigent, William Bramley, Manly P. Hall, Richard Leigh, Henry Lincoln, Jim Marrs, and Zecharai Stitchin. The Masonic rituals dialogue is based upon excerpts posted on Saints Alive in Jesus website (www.saintsalive.com) which is provided by the Ex-Masons for Jesus and Ephesians 5:11, Inc. (http://www.ephesians5-11.org). I found The Deadly Deception by Jim Shaw and Tom McKenney helpful in capturing the essence of the ceremonies, as well as providing the lecture for the thirty-second degree. Books by Rosemary Clark and John Van Auken were helpful in depicting the ancient Egyptian rituals and customs.

Sincere thanks to everyone at The Haworth Press and Bella Books for making this book a reality. Thanks to my copy editor, Nancy Deisroth, who has been along for the ride since Faades . Over the years there have been endless drafts and enthusiastic volunteers who have read my work and provided valuable insight. Thank you Aggie, Janet, Joe, Kris, Michelle, Sandra, Sharon, Sherry, and Susan. Thanks Mom, for reading it and still loving me!

In every writers life there is a support system, a team of people cheering you on from the sideline. My support system changed dramatically while I wrote this story. There has been one voice, though, since the storys inception. One individual has walked by my side, held my hand when Ive needed it, and smiled for no reason other than he is with me. I hear his giggle in my head as I write this. I want to thank my son, Preston, for being with me since this storys maiden voyage.

This book took years to research, write, and rewrite. To say its a work of passion is an understatement. I cannot say that the theories expressed here are my beliefs, because my own develop as my journey unfolds. My hope is that A Matter of Degrees opens minds to other possibilities no matter how outrageous, improbable, or impossible they may seem, because we owe it to ourselves to seek Truth. But also, I hope you enjoy this tale!

A Matter of Degrees is not intended to be an anti-freemasonry book. My deepest apologies if I offend anyone. Its my belief that there are many paths to the one true Light and Freemasonry is a very unique approach.

P.S. If you are comfortable with your impression of the worlds existing systems, the banking system, the government, world religions, our historyeven humankind, do not read this book.

Prologue

Long before the region was called Iraq

before the ancient empires of Egypt, Greece, or Rome.

Even before the first ancient civilization of Sumer

there was E.DIN.

It was Enkis compassion for the slaves that altered his life, and the lives of humankind. He wanted something more for them. Why couldnt a select few be given the knowledge of eternal life? Enki pondered, as he verged upon his brothers sanctuary.

Apart from the sporadic swish caused by sand displaced beneath their sandals, there was silence. Pensively, Enki trekked onward with two guards on his heels. His half-brother, Enlil, had summoned him. Enki suspected that his activities from the previous evening had been exposed. This, he knew, would have infuriated his younger sibling. Considering the possibility, he understood what Enlil was capable of. As the supreme ruler of E.DIN, Enlil had the power to relegate Enkis status of second-in-command.