Antiquity unveiled. Ancient voices from the spirit realms disclose the most startling revelations, proving Christianity to be of heathen origin ..
Roberts, Jonathan M., 1821-1888
\m >M>{ I IK II w mm i|ih|i|i • 1 1|< iH"Hii ' li T llltlll* I'^mn r Digitized by tine Internet Arciiive in 2007 witii funding from IVIicrosoft Corporation littp://www.arcli ive.org/details/antiquityunveileOOrobeiala ANTIQUITY UNVEILED. ANCIENT VOICES FROM THE SPIRIT REALMS DISCLOSE THE MOST STARTLING REVELATIONS, PROVING CHRISTJANJTY TO BE OK HEATHEN ORIGIN. Truth crushed by Priests shall rise again. SECOND EDITION. PHILADELPHIA: ORIENTAL PUBLISHING CO., 1894. Copyright, 1892, ORIENTAL PUBLISHING COMPANY. Philadelphia. /SO/ . JV7- nq^^ DKDICATION. One who loved Truth more than the commendation of men, left on record as a legacy to the human race, a sentiment, at once so truly religious, broad and elevating, that we quote his lines in this connection: "Tlie world is my country, To do good my religion." — Paine. With the same broad and philanthropic spirit which inspired the above we dedicate this work to the world. ■^^ ILLUSTRATIONS. J M. Roberts, Esq., . . Frontispiece Apollonius. — The Nazarexe, . . .14 Symbols of the CRUcrFiED Lamb axd the Crucified Man, . . . KiO BuRN'ixo OF the Condemned Books, . . 401 Prometheus Bound, (Whose Tkaokdy was THE Prototype OF the Crtcifixion of the Christian Jesus,) . . . 515 CONTENTS. PAGE Preface, 3 Introductory, . 11 Apollonius, the Nazarene, The Jesus of the Christians, 14 Apollonius of TYANA,the Nazarene. — Bom A. D. 2, died A. D. 99 — His history and teachings appropriated to formulate Christianity — The original gospels of the New Testament brought from India, 1 7 Damis, the pupil of Apollonius. — The Epistles of Timothy written to Damis — India the source of Christianity, ... 35 Deva Bodhisatoua, a Buddhist Prophet. — The original gospels as understood by the Hindoos — Received from spirit sources through Bodhisatoua as a medium, ..... 48 Plotinus. — The testimony of Ulphilas, Apollonius, Vespasian, Deva Bodhisatoua and others confirmed — The scriptures of Buddhism and their relation to Christianity, ... 57 Pope Gregory VII. — His reason for destroying the library of the Palatine Apollo — The manuscripts contained therein would prove the non-existence of Jesus Christ, .... 59 EuTHALlus, a Greek Theologian. — The teachings of Apollonius of Tyana mutilated to make good the Christian scheme — Eutha- lius substitutes Paul and the Christ idea for Apollonius and Chrishna in these wTitings — The Acts of the Apostles, Pauline and Catholic epistles divided by him into verses, . 61 PoTAMON, the great Alexandrian Reformer. — His attempt to purify the existing religions leads to exile — The Eclectic School of Philosophy — The teachings of Potamon drawn upon to fabricate Christianity, ...... 64 Vespasian, a Roman Emperor. — No such person among the Jews as Jesus of Nazareth — The books of the Jews — Disease produced by spirits — Apollonius a great medium, . . 79 Herodes Agrippa II, King of Judea. — The true version of the trial of Paul before Agrippa as given in Acts, ... 82 Pliny the Younger. — His letter to Trajan referred to the Esse- nes and not to the Christians — The word Christians a forgery, 87 VI CONTENTS. Origen. — Christianity and Paganism identical — The narratives PAGE relating to the person Jesus Christ derived from the Greek and Egyptian god makers, ....... 89 Flavius Josephus, a Jewish Historian. — The reference to Jesus of Nazareth fraudulently interpolated by some Christian copier of his history — No such person as Jesus of Nazareth existed in the time of Josephus, ...... 91 Vflavius Philostratus, biographer of Apollonius of Tyana. — / ^ The non-existence of the Christian religion in his day — Apollonius worshiped in Rome as the saviour of men — Every effort made by Popes and Emperors to destroy the history of Apollonius, ......... 94 COSMAS Indicopleustes, the great Antiquarian. — The symbols or keys of the Christian religion found on the Adulian marble — Fraudulent plates being manufactured by excavators to sup- port the Old Testament, loo Jean Jacques Barthelemy, a French Scholar. — The modem Christian religion under the form of symbolic worship writ- ten upon all the temples and tombs of antiquity,. loi Henry Salt, an eminent English Traveller. — All historic religions have their origin in the Sun — Blinded by Christianity while on earth,. 104 M. Servillius Nonianus, a Roman Consul. — The Christian Jesus none other than the Chrishna of the Hindoos — No Christians nor Christianity in the time of Nero, A. D. 45 to 68,. , 108 Ptolemy Philadelphus. — The Alexandrian Library — Where the principal parts of the creeds and tenets of all religious systems were obtained, ....... 109 Pontius Pilate, Procurator of Judea. — He knew nothing of the Jesus of the Christians — Jesus Onanias a robber, tried before him and crucified by the Roman soldiers — This testimony positively corroborated in our own times,. 112 Cyrillus Luchar, a Greek Patriarch. — The Alexandrian manu- script— The infamy of Christianity — Millions of ruined souls in the after-life because of its teachings — Christianity not from the Jews but from the Greeks, 114 QUINTILLIAN. — Denies the existence of Jesus Christ — The cross has been the symbol of various religions ever since the days of Rameses n of Egypt, 118 Julius Lucius Florus, a Roman Historian. — The spirit of pro- gress buried beneath Christianity — Jesus and his so-called apostles not known in Rome A. D. 125, .... 120 CONTEXTS. VII Urban VIII, a Roman Pontiff. Marcion, the Father of Christianity. — The Pauline Epistles ap- FACE propriated by Marcion — He changes them — The description of Paul interpolated to disguise the identity of their author, Apollonius of Tyana, ........ 154 LuciAN, a Greek Satirist. — The insignificant measures used to formdlale the Christian Gospels — The St. Luke of the Gos- pels— Apollonius the Apollos of the Greeks — The original works of Lucian mutilated — Who St. Paul and St. Mark were, 157 CoxsTANTINUS PoGONATUS. — The sixth council of Constantinople A. D. 680 — Prometheus of the Greeks adopted to represent Jesus Christ — Lamb worship changed to man worship — Lamb worship a relic of paganism — The edict prohibiting the worship of the lamb on the cross,. 160 CONSTANTINE THE Great. — Fettered by the truth — The Budd- histic gospels mingled with the teachings of Potamon,. 162 Epaphroditus, a Latin Grammarian. — ^Josephus a member of the Ancient Order of the Initiated — Why Josephus did not mention Apollonius in his history,. 163 F. NiGlDlus FiGULUS. — Connection of astrology with Christianity, 166 Vellius Paterculus. — The Signs of the Zodiac the key to all religions, .......... 167 Gregory, bishop of Neo-Caesarea. — Apollonius worshiped in the Temple of Apollo — Valuable manuscripts destroyed by Eusebius, .......... 169 Ummidius Quadratus, Governor of Syria. — The feast of the unleavened bread a blood purifying ceremony — The carefully concealed secrets of the Essenes — Travels in India,. 170 C. Cornelius Tacitus, a Roman Historian. — The Essenian Brotherhood — Spirit manifestations — Never heard of the Christian Jesus nor of Christianity,. 1 73 Manetho, an Egyptian Priest. — The god Osiris of the Egyptians — Materialization as understood by the ancients — The Sun personified, the revered saviour of all nations,. 175 Varro, a Roman Writer. — The celebrated literature of the ancients destroyed by the Christian hierarchy — His " Key to Ancient Religions " destroyed by order of Constantine the Great,. 177 Ignatius o^ Antioch, Patriarch of the Essenes. — Apollonius of Tyana investigated the religion of the Essenes — The sacred writings of the Essenes blended with those Apollonius received from India, ........ 179 Titus Livius, a Roman Historian. — The birth, life, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ as portrayed in the annual passage of the Sun through the constellations of the Zodiac, 181 CONTENTS. IX Q. Veranius. — The God of the Britons identical with the God of page the Christians — The idea of being saved by a man born of a virgin, established among barbarous people centuries before the Christian era, ........ 183 Porphyry, a so-called Heathen Philosopher. — None of the early Christian Fathers, so-called, were Christians in reality — The gods of all religions have arisen out of astronomy and astrology, .......... 185 Marcantonio De Dominis, a Heresiarch. — The old Roman gods, re-chiselled by the sculptors, are the Apostles of the Christian religion — The vestments of the Roman Catholic priesthood copied from the priests of Apollo,. 187 Sejanus, the favorite of Tiberius. — New light on the story of the crucifixion — The obliterated portion of the Alexandrian Codex 189 Aloysius Lilius, an Italian Savant. — The connection of the life of the so-called Jesus Christ with the gods of antiquity — The doctrines of the Christian Trinity based on the Pagan Trinity, 191 Pompaeius Saturninus. — The secret meeting of the Sons of the Sun or the Initiated — Ancient Spiritualism,. 193 Carra. — The inscriptions on the Adulian Marble relate to the life and miracles of Apollonius of Tyana,. 195 Clement Alexandrinus. — His writings mutilated by Eusebius — interesting revelations concerning the Christian cross — The Council of Alexandria 197 Hermogenes, the Essenian rival of St. Paul. — Astronomy the key to the Book of Revelation — To understand the symbolism of Christianity read the stars, 200 Jean Sylvain Bailly. — ^Vhat can be found at Ancient Tyre — An important book, ........ 203 Cardinal C^sar Baronius, Librarian of the Vatican. — The Hindoo god Chrishna, in reality the Christ of the Christians — Sworn to eternal secrecy, ...... 205 RUFUs QuiNTius CuRTius. — The Jewish legends borrowed from Persian mythologies — The breast plate of Josephus,. 207 M. Atilius Regulus. — The Greek and Roman religions copies of the Egyptian religion of Osiris or the sun personified,. 210 Robert II, of France. — The Great Infinite has marked out no set of religious rules for men to be governed by — The effect of too much religious belief — All pictures of Jesus Christ copies of those of Apollonius of Tyana,. 212 Pythagoras, the Samian Sage. Ammonius Saccas, the pupil of Potamon. — The Book of Reve- PAGE lation written under spirit control by Apollonius — Christian- ity known under the name of Gnosticism, .... 218 Galerius, a Roman Emperor. — Why Diocletian issued his famous edict against the Christians,. 222 George Deyverdxjn. — The Last Supper taken from the Eleusi- nian Mysteries — (Jibbons' book, " .^neas, The Lawgiver of the Eleusinian Mysteries," destroyed by the clergy,. 225 Heinrich E. G. Paulus. — The Gospel of St. Matthew — A remarkable communication, ...... 226 Sigebert Havercamp. — The writings of Damis in existence as late as the Eighteenth Century, ...... 230 Charles De Brosses. — The worship of the Fetish gods — Chris- tianity a mixture of all preceding religions,. 332 Christian Thomasius, Jurist and Philosopher. — Luther knew that Jesus Christ was a myth but dared not acknowledge it — The true cause of Materialism in Germany,. 235 Saturninus, the Essenian Philosopher. — The founder of Gnos- ticism— The story of Jesus of Nazareth, and the Christian Scriptures the mixed systems of Brahmanic, Buddhistic, Jewish, Essenian and Gnostic teachings — Apollonius heals by the laying on of hands, ....... 237 Cardinal Robert Bellarmine. — Compelled to testify by the disappointed hopes of millions who believed and trusted in Christianity — Refers to the portrait of Apollonius — All should know who the real Jesus was, ..... 242 Hormisdas, a Roman Catholic Pontiff. — Destruction of the Pauline Epistles — Eusebius a scoundrel — Jesus Christ wor- shiped in the form of a lamb — Romanism is Paganism changed into Christianity, ....... 244 Appian, a Roman Historian. — His writings destroyed by the Christians — The Hindoo Chrishna changed into the Greek Christos, 246 John Fidknza, St. Bonaventura. — The doctrines of Apollonius in the hands of the Maronite Priests on Mt. Lebanon, SyTia, 250 Annius ok Vitkrho, a learned Dominican Friar — Startling rev- elations— The manuscripts saved from the Alexandrian library — The key to the old Egyptian manuscripts found at the entrance of the ancient temple of Apollo at Rome,. 252 Mi/.RAIM, the Chaldaic king of Egypt. — The worship of the Egyptians — The signs of the Zodiac — New facts in history — Mizraim the name of a king and not the name of a country as claimed by historians, ....... 256 CONTENTS. XI EuxENUS, a Pythagorean Philosopher. Amei.U's, a disciple of Plotinus. — Why Eclecticism was checked PAGE in its infancy — Pagan priests preferred to see their ceremo- nies continued through the Catholic church rather than have them become obsolete, ....... 302 Strabo, Historian and Geographer. — "If the records of the past had been allowed to stand there would be no Christianity to-day" — Confirmatory proof that the portrait of the Nazarenc is a true representation of Apollonius, .... 306 PURAOTES, King of Taxila. — The visit of Apollonius to India — Receives the sacred Testament of The Mountain of Light Circle from larchus — Light upon the Book of Matthew — Millions of spirits would rather cease to exist than that these revelations should come to mankind,. 311 John Frederick Gronovius, Critic of the Seventeenth Cen- tury.— The works of Pliny, Livy and Sallust, very much changed in order to conceal the real origin of Christianity — Confirmatory proof in regard to the forgery of Pliny's letter, 315 Abulpharagius, bishop of Guba. — Christianity essentially the Sun Worship taught at Babylon by Zoroaster — The Jesuits supporting the opposition to the truth as revealed from the spirit world, 317 MiNUClus Felix, a Montanist Patriarch. — Where civilization originated — Christianity an outgrowth of Buddhism — Sun Worship and Egj'ptian Osirianism one and the same thing,. 319 Griesbach. — Zodiacal interpretation of all religions — The five ancient Testaments — The incorrect translation of the Greek Testament, 321 Haico, the great Armenian King. — The Jewish legend of the Tower of Babel disposed of in an effective manner — The Old Testament belonged to the Armenian people and not to the Jews — The secret chambers of the Pyramids of Ethiopia,. 324 Montanus, the Phrygian Ecstatic. — The teachings of Montan- ism — Their books the canons of Buddhism — Materialization in ancient times, ........ 330 Akiisa, a Jewish Rabbi. — Chronological forgeries resorted to in order to make the Jewish religion appear ancient,. ^23 Lucii'S Appuleius, a Satirist. — The difTerence between the teachings of Apollonius and Potamon — The Greek and Egyptian divinities identical with older gods,. 338 ARDii.tJA Babekra, miscalled in history King Asoka. — Buddhism not an oft' shoot of Brahmanism— Primitive Buddhism merely amoral philosophy — Why the council of Asoka was called — Asoka the name of a place, not of a king — The CONTKNTS. Severus, Patriarch of Antioch. — The Monophysites — The attempt page to make Ilesus Christos a Jew, 424 Agabus. — The folly of religion as a means to spirit happiness — Mediums used to propagate the Apollonian system of religion, 425 John Bidule, an English Theologian. — The persecutions order- ed by the Christian churches responsible for the overthrow oftheirpower — Persecuted fordenyingthetruth of the Trinity, 427 St. Francis Df, Sales, a Bishop of (leneva. — A defiant spirit — All proof in the hands of the Catholic church — The priests have hidden their tracks well — His challenge accepted,. 429 Silas or Sii.van'US, a Disciple of Apollonius of Tyana. — Inter- esting facts concerning the systems of Apollonius and Chrestus — New light on the Scriptures — Marcion and Lucian appropriated the theological labors of Apollonius,. 430 Frumentius, an Abyssinian Bishop. — The Ethiopia version of Christosism — The founders of Christianity claim the solar Christos of Frumentius to be identical with their Jesus Christ, 439 Chrestus, the rival of Apollonius. — The subject of the disputed passage in Suetonius, not Jesus Christ but Chrestus — The teachings of Chrestus, ....... 441 Aro.n.\mar. — The difficulties attending spirit intercourse — The Council of Nabojwlassar — The first Talmud — No Targunis of the books of Daniel, Ezran and Nehemiah — Targums of those books would have shown their Chaldean origin,. 454 St. Declan, an ancient Sun Worshiper. — St. Patrick a sun wor- shiper— The round towers of Ireland — The literature of the Druids destroyed, ........ 457 Leonardi Bruni, Papal Secretary. — The forgeries in the secret archives of the Vatican — Mutilations by Eusebius — The destruction of documents by Popes Celestine and Gregor)-,. 461 St. Dominic De Gtv.MAX. — The Catholicism of spirit life — The persecution of the Albigenses, ...... 474 Louis the Pious, King of France. — The mystic teachings of Dionysius the Areopagite — Jupitcrean-Christosisni,. 475 Celestine III, a Rom-in PontitT. — Suppressed manuscripts — What can be found in the library at Florence,. 485 M. COCCKIUS NervA, Emperor of Rome. — Fifteen other gods besides the Hindoo Saviour Christos worshiped at Rome — History of them all based upon an immaculate conception, 487 Innocent III, Pope of Rome — An unwilling witness — TTie mu- tilation of the Alexandrian manuscript — The missin<^ leaves — The psychology of spirits U:>eJ to lead mortals astray,. 490 COXTENTS. XV Albertus Magnus. — Astrology furnishes the key to show who page the real Jesus was — A pathetic statement, .... 498 Socrates Scholasticus, an Ecclesiastical Historian. — The communion service taken from the Eleusinian mysteries — Bacchus the god of wine, Ceres the god of corn — Where proof of the truth of these communications can be found,. 5qo Gabinus, Roman Governor of Judea. — History of the Jews a mixture of the traditions of the Chaldeans and Armenians — Abraham a Chaldean, 5°3 AriANUS. — The teachings of spirits in the Sixteenth Century — A pupil of Paracelsus, ....... 5°5 Marcellinus. — The doctrines of the Trinity — State policy, not religious impulse caused Constantine to adopt Hesus Christos — Relation of Gymnosophism and Eclecticism to Christianity, 507 Lactantius. — The doctrine of the Trinity in existence in India 1600 years before the Christian era — An important commu- nication showing the identity of Christianity and paganism, 513 Hermas, an Apostolic Father. — His suffering in spirit life — The Greek myth Prometheus the prototype of the Christian Jesus — The honor ofthe founders of Christianity impeached,. 515 Iamblicus, a Syrian Philosopher. — Th^ Sun the central object of the Christian theology — The concealed key,. 517 Belzoni. — Symbols ofthe Christian religion found on the Tombs of Ancient Thebes, ........ 518 Ammonius the Peripatetic, an Alexandrian Philosopher. — Religious symbols — History of Jesus a re-deification of older gods,. 4 520 Anastasius, Librarian of the Vatican. — No evidence to show that Jesus Christ ever existed — The pictures of Jesus taken from those of Apollonius — The Christian religion the out- growth of the teachings of the Alexandrian schools,. 522 Jonathan Ben Uz/.iel, one of the Writers of the Targums. — Moses a creation of Jewish priests — The legends and tra- ditions of the Jewish people extend no further than Ezra the Scribe — Jewish and Chaldean history identical — Every man and woman their own redeemer,. 524 Saadias-Gaon. Charles Hardwick, an English Theologian. — India not the page mother of civiHzation nor the originator of all religions, , 530 Mesrop or Mesrob, an Armenian Theologian. — The Testament of Apoiionius of Tyana — The Coptic or Egyptian version of the Scriptures — Apoiionius worshiped as a god, . . 533 Paulinus, Archbishop of York. — His mutilation of the Scriptures — In spirit life he finds Jesus Christ to be Apoiionius of Tyana — lie copied after Eusebius, ..... 543 St. Germain — The original gospels written in the Syriac- Hebraic tongue — Copied into the Armenian tongue by Moses Chorensis — The Maronite monks of Mount Lebanon have valuable manuscrij ts in their possession, . . . 545 MoNTACUXr:. — The Druid worship of the God Hesus prevailed as late as the Fourteenth Century, ..... 547 Francis Anthony Fi.emming, a Roman Catholic Priest. — St. Patrick not a Christian but a Dmid priest, . . . . 550 Jacob Capo, an Architect. — The stones of pagan temples con verted into Christian churches — The statue of Hesus of the Celtic Druids mounted in a church at Florence — The statues of Jesus and his twelve Apostles are pagan gods re-carved and modified to suit Christian requirements, . . . 552 J. S. Semler. — Dying gods of virgins bom, a mythical idea isoro years old — Corroborative evidence to be found in the encyclopivdias of the Chinese and Japanese nations, . . 553 Cardinal Sanct.\ DeCaro. — Interesting account of the original gospels — When the first bible was printed all marginal notes on manuscript were dropped except those manufactured by the priests — The Samaritan copy of Ignatius of Antioch, . 556 Pope Nicholas IV. — The difliculty of communicating in the English tongue — The opixjsilion of spirits — The twelve apos- tles of St. Peter's in Rome copied from the twelve gods transix)rted from Olympus to Rome in the days of the Emjxiror Hadrian — Terrible conflict in spirit life, . . 56* Zoroaster. — Startling disclosures — The Jewish Book of D.miel contains the actual earthly experiences of Zoroaster — Zoroaster, not Daniel thrust into the lion's den — His works apjiroprialed by the Jews — The Book of Revelation and the Book of Daniel open up the secrets of antiquity when propt-rly interpreted and understood — A description of the ancient religions — Confounded in history with the elder Zoroaster — The <lisputed (juestion " Who was the Darius mentioned in the lUjok of Daniel," settled at last— Correc- tions m.ule ill history, .....••• 5^5 TRIBUTE TO J. M. ROBERTS, ESQ. Oh, faithful soldier of the liight, Whose buckler is an honest soul ! The sword of Truth in lustre bright Gleams in thy hand. Still onward roll The waves of battle. Yet the shafts of Hate Are vain ; before the radiant shield That guards thee still. Thy glorious fate Will be to conquer - not to yield One inch of ground to adverse force — But, marching on to triumph high, O'er Error prostrate -left with no resource Whil'st thou can banded hosts defy, Knowing that Right shall yet succeed, And thou, oh soldier staunch and true, Shalt reap reward for every deed And word of faith. For such thy due. And in thy spirit home shall shine Thy record fair, inscribed by angel hands, Who to thee bring influx of light divine. January 14th, iSSj. FORESTER GORDON. The above lines were inscribed to one whose lamp of mortal life went out while he battled for the truth. None were more vatiant or fearless in its defense. He could suffer, but never yield to wrong, for his soul was cast in the mold from which martyrs are born. lie fell on the field of battle, full armored and face to the foe, leaving others to grasp Truth's standard, close up the ranks and press on to victory. MEMOIR OF JONATHAN M. ROBERTS. ESQ. It is only natural that the readers of this volume should desire to know something of the life and characteristics of the individual whose intellectual labors contributed so mucli to its value. That earnestness and sincerity were marked elements of his character, no one could doubt who heard him speak or read the lines from his pen. To illustrate, we quote the follow- ing from one of his editorials: "Dear friends and patrons, it is true that we have not known what rest or recreation was, during the daily and nightly vigils which we have been forced to keep, but what of that? Who is there that is worthy to serve Truth who is not willing to forget self in the grander purpose of contributing to the common good of mankind?" His was a life full of usefulness, and his good deeds were many. When his great soul had outgrown its mortal surroundings and tlie measure of his earthly life was filled, he passed on to other fields of labor in the spheres beyond, leaving this Morld better for his having lived in it. Jonathan M. Roberts, Esq., was born in Montgomery Co., Penna., December, 1821, and was a man of fine education as well as marked ability. He studied law and practiced it for some j-ears, from wiiich he retired previous to his taking up the editorial pen. Prior to the war, he wivs an active Abolitionist, and being a man of strong temperament and positive convict ions, he became one of the leaders of that party. Subsequently h« became an active Republican, and spoke effectively during several campaigns. About 1873 lie was convinced of the trutli of Spiritualism through receiving communications from his father, who, when in earth life, was prominent in National airairs, and a member of the U. S. Senate. In 1878 Mr. U()l>erts started Mind and Matter, a weekly journal, devoted to t'he interests of Spiritualism and as its able editor gained a well earned reputation as a journalist and writer. He was a great student in ancient religious history, and made extensive researches therein, prompted by tiie revelations received from many anciiMit and modern spirits. Tlius amidst liis untiring ialxtrs for thegood of otliers, he passed tospirit life February 28, 1888, ;it Ills iiome ill iJurlingtoh, N. J., in the'i7tli year of his age. COMPILER'S PREFACE. IN SUBMITTING to the reader Antiquity Unveiled it is with a feeling of assurance that its contents will answer this all important and oft repeated question — Is Christianity as known and taught in the western world, a divinely inspired religion, or an offspring of still more ancient religions? Every unprejudiced student knows, that notwithstanding the many claims made by Christian writers as to the origin of Christianity, it still remains simply a formidable religious system whose source is buried in the debris of remote antiquity. The revelations contained in Antiquity Unveiled are des- tined to unearth and solve all the great mysteries surrounding the origin of the Christian religion, for the unlearned and student alike. It appears from the testimony set forth in the following pages that fragments of teachings, forms and dogmas were gathered from various religious systems that were extant previous to tlie so-called Christian era and gradually moulded into what is known and taught as Christianity, the formu- lators of this system employing every means to disguise its pagan origin. This work contains a series of messages from occult sources bearing upon Oriental religious, and their relation to Cliristianity, with comments thereon by the late J. M. Roberts, Esq. The following is a brief account of the man- ner in which these messages were received. On March 26th, 1880, Mr. Roberts, then editor of Mind and Matter, received a communication througli the medium from Potamon the founder of Eclecticism, which was the beginning of the series. This was followed by others upon the same subject until the entire series was finished in 1886. All were published in a weekly journal as received. They contain in a small space a vast amount of knowledge pertaining to the religious history of mankind which before this unfoldment, was unknown to tlie world. It is these revelations of such great import to every individual that we place before our readers. 4 PREFACE. The object of publishing these important and startling revelations is not only because they are of universal interest, but to preserve them to the world as well as meet the popular demand of progressive minds in every clime. The corroborative evidence embraced therein demonstrates con- clusively that Apollonius of Tyana was the Jesus of Naza- reth, the so-called Saviour of the Christian Scriptures. This great teacher now returns to earth, and inspires a medium through whom he explains the mj'steries which have sur- rounded the origin of so-called Christianity. These facts being so highly important, it seems imperative that they should be widely disseminated ; tlierefore we have concluded to issue them in a volume entitled Antiquity Unveii.kd, The work would have been published by Mr. Roberts in book form, had he remained in earth life a few years longer and received the encouragement and support he was entitled to in view of the great work he was called upon to fulfill for the enlightenment of mankind. We can not hojie to compile the work so completely and ably as Mr. Roberts would have done, he being fully prepared with all the details, as well as possessing marked ability and wonderful adaptation for such a task. The only thing which now seems possible in view of the demise of Mr. Roberts, is to insert the the communications in the order they were re- ceived as far as practical,* and as much of his comments as the size of the volume will admit. These will rest upon their merits as bearing upon the religious history of the world. The work will at least be suggestive of thought, and cause many minds to look below the surface of the present religious teachings. A considerable number of publications have been brought to the attention of the reading world heretofore by able authors and scholars upon the subject of ancient religions. These works, however, have been based upon what history of past ages has not been destroyed and is now accessible, and such researches as could be made at a time so remote from the age in which these religions had their origin. Other works have been published within the last twelve *Many of these spirit witnesses could not deliver their te^timony in the order arranged by the spirit yuides of the medium, for the reason that Conditions were unfavorable. PBEFACE. 5 years, whose authors have had the opportunity to draw facts and data from these communications and comments, whicli have been in print since 1880, and tlierefore accessible as sources of information upon the subject since that date. While it is gratifying to Itnow that other writers have seen their value and importance, it is only just to the authors of these spirit messages, as well as to Mr. Roberts, in view of his exhaustive labors in this field of research, that we accord them due credit by placing on record the time when they were first received and published. This work differs from all others preceding it from the fact that it is dependent upon history only so far as to identify the individuals giving the communications, and to bring to notice collateral facts bearing upon their testimony.* Instead of the conflicting statements of history, we have the cor- roborative testimony from spirit life of those who were con- spicuous in the ancient history of our world. Some of these distinguished individuals were the leading lights in the propagation of the ancient religions from which the teach- ings of Christianity were borrowed. Others of their number lived at and subsequent to the date of the Christian era, and testify definitely as to the part they acted in the origination and promotion of Christianity, as formulated from ancient religions. Many of these witnesses now return and contradict the assertions of Christian writers, viz : that they taught and up- held Christianity while on earth. Others testify that they have learned in spirit life the fallacy of the teachings of Christianity. Still others testify, as they did in earth life, that they knew the teachings of Christianity were not in accord with truth, but were composed of fragments gathered from the decayed religions of the past, and moulded by skillful minds into the shape best suited for their purpose ; after which all traces of their ancient origin were destroyed as far as possible, that they might appear as a direct inspiration from God. Hence we cannot expect to find the root of the Christian religion at the comparatively recent date <^f eighteen hundred yeare ago, but back through the dim vista of the Oriental ages. Many of these spirit witnesses it appears, fearing for their lives, withheld the truth while on *It is clearly proven in these pages that history has been so mutilated by eliminations, forgery and interpolation in the interests of Christianity, as to render it unreliable and misleading in the extreme. 6 PREFACE. earth, but return and divulge it now. A few of them, only, were unwilling witnesses, who finally yielded to the force of truth and rendered their testimony. We know of none more competent to testify upon these vital questions than those who were the religious teacliers at the periods before mentioned. Some of our readers may discredit the source of these commu- nications, but this does not dispose of tiie subject-matter. Tlic testimony remains, backed up not only by the trutii which underlies it, but by the collateral facts of history. Tiierefore whatever the source, tliis mass of evidence nnist be met, if at all, on the basis of that logic and reason to which the subject is entitled. Others without due consideration, or the ability to comprehend tlie great and interesting questions Involved, may consider the work a fiction. If so regarded, it must be admitted that it is a fiction of such ponderous proportions as to be unequalled in tlie field of romance. On the other hand, if it bears the scrutiny of the reasonable mind and proves to be gen- erally true it must then be conceded that the pages of tliis volume chronicle the most wonderful and startling revelations given to the world in any century of its history. Though Mr. Roberts was a well-read man of great intelligence, he had heard of but very few of the authors of thesx3 spirit com- munications until they introduced themselves to him tlirough the medium. He was, therefore, greatly surprised at receiving sucli startling historical disclosures, and found it necessary to continually refer to encyclop.-cdias, biograpliical dictionaries, etc., in order to establish their identity, and obtain as much evidence as possible of the correctness of their statements. This required the labor and research of years. Many of the his- torical sketches of these spirits had to be translated from otiier languages into English, and in cases where there were no historical records extant, their statements had to be tested by the light of collateral evidence. In these revelations are pointed out many instances wliere historical records liave been so mutilated by Cliristiau writers and others in the interests of Cliristianity that they are entirely unreliable as true liistorical records. Reference is given in connection with each com- munication where historical evidence may be found, that the critical reader may search for himself. From the fact that translation was necessary in so many instances, the idea is pre- cluded, which some might entertain, that tlie medium could PREFACE. 7 have originated these communications. Even if he had been a great scholar and equal to the task of translation, there remains to be accounted for the many corrections made, the missing links furnished, as well as the masterly manner in which some of these ancient scholars expose the mutilations of history and settle questions that have caused much controversy among historical writers. No scholar living on earth at the present day, however learned, unaided by spirit intelligence, could thus have laid bare the facts in this connection, and certainly not one who, as an individual, was a marked illustration of how the ignorant and unlettered are chosen by the "powers that be" to confound the wise. Tlae spirit messages are given verbatim as received, but the biographical references are inserted in a few instances only, as it would make the volume too large. For a similar reason the comments of Mr. Roberts are only partially included. Enough of the latter, however, are given, to show the reader how deeply he entered into this vast subject, and also give him some idea of the labor required to consummate this work. At many of these sittings other individuals, in company ■with Mr. Roberts, were present, hence there is no lack of evidence that the communications were received through the medium and carefully recorded. During the time these interviews were in progress, many questions were put to the spirits which were suggested by their statements. These were answered with a promptness and facility which proved their ability to elucidate any point bearing upon the subject under consideration. Some readers of this work, not knowing the essential facts connected with its history, and moved by their prejudices, born of a false education, may attempt to make it appear that the contents were produced through collusion between Mr. Roberts and the medium regardless of their misleading effects. No greater mistake could be made. From the evidence herein set forth, it appears that too much collusion has already been practiced by the Church authorities in the past for the good of mankind, the evil of which seems now in a fair way to be cor- rected by witnesses from whose testimony there can be no appeal. In regard to Mr. Roberts, no shadow of suspicion could reflect upon hiiri as to collusion in this matter, for he was 8 PREFACR known to be a man of the highest integrity, whose record would bear examination even by his opponents. His ability scholarly attainments, intelligence and earnestness, evinced in his exhaustive labors upon this subject to discover the truth, are apparent throughout the entire work. Those who are unfamiliar with this mode of spirit intercourse, will scarcely comprehend the difficulties to be surmounted before these spirits were able to accomplish their self-imposed task. It seems marvelous to those who understand the laws governing these manifestations, that these spirits should be able to return and deliver so coherently this vast array of evidence, while controlling a physical organism so unlike their own ethereal organism. The consistency with which these individuals who lived on earth, not only in the remote ages of antiquity, but down through the centuries, present their testimony, every vital part in coherence with the other, is among the most remarkable events in the history of our world. In this instance the difficulties were largely aug- mented by the presence of a great opjx)sing force from the spirit side, composed of those who from the very inception of the Christian religion have been engaged in promulgating its teachings, borrowed from heathen mythology and galvanized with the name and sentimentalism of Christianity. These spirit enemies of trutli evidently knew that the result of these revelations reaching the world meant annihilation of the power they had gained, therefore every obstacle they could control was placed in the way to prevent their transmission.* These witnesses were mostly the learned men of their time, embracing rulers, prophets and historians. They step to the front in the Nineteenth Century to reflect light on history's pages, by pointing out the criminal errors caused by interpolation and elimination, thus showing how the records of the past have been mutilated and the truth misrepresented ♦This condition of affairs, in relation to opposing spirits in the interests of Christianity, may seem very strange to those who have not had experience in that direction, but the truth of it hxs been demonstrated to an extent which renders doubt impossible It must be self-evident to our readers that the millions of defenders of Christianity, who have passed to spirit life, would not permit an attempt to be made to elucidate the falsity of their religious teachings without making a most strenuous effort to prevent it. We refer more esjiecially to the leaders in the cause of Christianity, whose power over the people it affects. PREFACE. 9 for selfish ends. In doing this they have fearlessly laid bare the parts where personal ambition has prompted changes for- eign to the truth and misleading to mankind. The light they bring includes not only what they acquired on earth, but also tlie clearer knowledge gained in spirit life. Now, in view of the many opposing factions in the religious world, each claiming to be right, many minds have doubtless questioned why this testimony as to the truth concerning the great religious questions wliich so agitate the human mind has been deferred so long? Why, if the lines of communication were open between the two worlds, the philosophers, teachers and learned men of old, who are in touch with these matters of such vast importance have not returned ere this to dissi- pate the fearful delusions which envelop humanity? To close readers of the history of man's spiritual unfoldment, it must be evident that these revelations were brought to the attention of the world as soon as the state of man's growth enabled him to comprehend and embrace them. That the great and good in the spirit realms have been struggling for centuries through adverse conditions to consummate this great task, no unprejudiced reader can doubt. That they have failed many times in the past is equally true, consequently all efforts in that direction had to be abandoned from time to time until man had progressed to a condition which rendered success possible. Destiny, it appears, awarded that period to the latter part of the Nineteenth Century. We need not apologize to our readers for the length of the preface. On a subject of such vast importance, with so many points to be considered, even the space we have taken does not afford scone to embrace them all. PREFACE TO SECOND EDITION. WHEN public attention was first called to Antiquity Unv^eiled, we were uncertain whether the people had reached a point in human progress where they could accept its revelations. Bitter opposition was expected from tliose who were in sympathy with the Christian religion, as well as from man^' others who had not the courage to probe deeply for truth on heathen or Ciiristian ground. But we were not prepared for such an eager demand for the book from people of all classes. Even from far off India, a call was received for a large number of copies, a sequel to the interest manifested by Eastern scholars who attended the Parliament of Religions. On every hand was manifested a desire for more light upon the religious questions which cause so much agitation in the church as well as beyond its pale. The light that dissipated the darkness surrounding the real origin and pro- mulgation of the world's leading religions, was found radiating from the pages of Antiquity Unveiled, where was also found the solution of the many vexed (luestions tliat have ba filed the scholar as well as the unlearned, for many centuries. Recently new and important information bearing upon the remarkable claims of this work, has come to hand from the land of the Orient, wiiich should not be overlooked, and to which we shall refer later. The World's Parliament of Religions held in Chicago in 1893, was tiie opportunity of tl^e Nineteenth Century for the study of comparative religions. Tliis important event was in PREFACE. 11 the line of evolution and has done much to establish the truth as to the origin, promulgation and ethical status of the religions of the world. It made it possible for scholars from all quarters of the globe to participate in this unprecedented religious assembly and throw light upon the various religions, and especially upon the Christian religion as viewed from their standpoint. The testimony of some of these scholars has done much to support the claims of Antiquity Unveiled. The real purpose of this great religious gathering was to convince the world of the originality and superiority of the Christian religion, but it resulted in bringing to the Western world through the scholars from the East, the knowledge that Christianity is simply the offspring of religions more ancient than itself. HOW SCHOLARS SUSTAIN THE CLAIMS OF "ANTIQUITY UNVEILED." The following is a quotation from a paper read at the Parlia- ment of Religions, by Prof. Goodspeed, entitled, What THE DE.\D religions HAVE BEQUEATHED TO THE LIVING: " Formerly it was customary to find little that was original in any religion. All was borrowed. The tendency to-day is reactionary, and the originality of great systems is greatly exaggerated. * * * Many a shrine of Christianity is a transformation of a local altar of heathendom. There is no more important and no more intricate work lying in the sphere of comparative religions than an analysis of existing faiths with a view to the recovery of the bequests of preceding systems. While much has been done the errors and extravagances of scholars in many instances should teach caution. We must pass over a large portion of this great field. Attention should be called to the wide range of materials in the realm of Christianity alone. To her treasury, bequests of usage and ritual have come from all the dead past. From Teutonic and Celtic faiths, from the Cultus of Rome, and the worsliip and the thought of Greece, contributions can still be pointed out in the complex structure." Rabbi Schindler, of Boston, the eminent Biblical scholar in writing of Antiquity Unveiled, says: "I have read the book with a great deal of pleasure, but it would be impossible for me to express my thouglits concerning it in a few lines. There is so much to be said about it, that it would take many pages to express it, and to do this I have not 12 PREFACE. the time. However, permit me to touch upon a few points. The purpose for which the book seems to have been written, lias long ceased to be a pressing want, because all who even super- ficially have read history, know that tiie Christian religion has developed from Jewish and Pagan sources, and that tlie supposed author of it was a mytii. It is well known that tljere is no contemporary evidence in regard to him, tliat if he lias lived he was not known at all, and has not been a great ideal of a man which Unitarians wish to make of him. Tliat people do not speak out what they think, and do not conform at once with their better knowledge is due to their unwilling- ness to pose as martyrs. Tiiey let things go as they please and keep their opinions to themselves." The foregoing is an extract from a brief review of the work by this very able writer. Henry Frank, a leading liberal writer and scholar, August 26, 1893, writes: "Antiquity Unveiled is one of the most interesting books it ever fell to my lot to enjoy. I therefore, take the first opportunity to express the effect which the remarkable book is having on me, as I suppose you would like to know. In the first place let me say that the treatise itself is tlie most absorbing of anything on the subject, I have yet come across, not even excepting the writings of Max Muller. Mr. Roberts has certainly given us in a comparatively small space, a most surprising quantity of information, and I would at once recommend it as a handy compendium on the general subject of the origin of all religions. Tlius far, I refer only to the actual historical citations with which this work abounds." G. W. Hkown, M. D. Author of "Researches in Oriental History," writes : " Having travelled over the entire liistorical ground with diligent care, I find the positions taken in your book mainly true." When the attention of Laksiimi Narain, of Lahore, India, who took part in the Parliament of Religions, was called to Antiquity Unveiled ho said that the scholars of India knew that the teachings contained in the gospels originally came from India, but was surprised that the fact was known and published in this country. He was deeply interested in the work, taking a copy to India with him. He said he would bring it before the religious societies that he represented in his native land, and he believed its intluence and the information contained therein, would do much to break the PREFACE. 13 effect of the teachings of Christian missionaries, who were misleading the uneducated classes. ViRCHAND A. Gandhi, of Bombay, India, one of the chief exponents of the Jain religion at the Parliament of Religions, in speaking of India, his native land, said, " I, like my friend, Mr. Mozoomdar and otliers, come to you from India, the MOTHER OF RELIGIONS. " Mohammed Alexander Webb in speaking of the effects of the Christian religion in India, said: "Christianity makes no progress in India among the intelligent classes because the intelligent Hindoo is conversant with the principles of all religions, while the Christian only knows his own imperfectly, consequently none of the people listen to the Christian mis- sionaries, but the ignorant classes." Maharajah of Kapurthala, the head of the Sikh branch of Hindoo religion, while on his late visit to this country, in a reported interview as to Cliristlanity, said : "No high class Hindoo will accept Christianity since tliere is notlilng to commend it to him for acceptance. If he is an educated man, he knows how pure a system of ethics is contained in his own religion and is satisfied with that. If antiquity is to be reverenced, tlien his own philosophy is far superior to that offered by Christian missionaries. He can compare — weigh — judge — examine — test— and finally he is forced to conclude that divested of its external covering the Christian religion owes its origin to tlie great philosophies of his native land." WiLLARD J. Hull, of Buffalo, N. Y., in writing of Antiq- uity Unveiled, says : " Probably no book ever compiled con- taining an array of testimony calculated to prove a given charge, has been so astounding in its affirmations or produced a more profound consideration than the work before me. It is indeed, a momentous undertaking to charge and prove tiie spurious origin of a religious system claiming prescience and exclusiveness. Yet this is the burden of Antiquity Unveiled. 