Manly P Hall publications

Very important people 

Manly P. Hall

Hall was a Canadian-born American writer, lecturer, astrologer, and mystic (March 18, 1901 – August 29, 1990). Born in Peterborough, Ontario, Canada, he moved to the United States in his youth and spent most of his life in Los Angeles, California.

Over his 70-year career, Hall delivered thousands of lectures and authored over 150 volumes on philosophy, esoteric traditions, comparative religion, mysticism, and related subjects. His most famous and influential work is The Secret Teachings of All Ages(published in 1928 when he was 27), an encyclopedic overview of ancient wisdom traditions, symbolism, Freemasonry, Hermeticism, Rosicrucianism, Qabbalah, and more—often richly illustrated and still widely read today in esoteric circles.

In 1934, he founded the Philosophical Research Society (PRS) in Los Angeles, a nonprofit dedicated to studying world wisdom literature, philosophy, mysticism, and metaphysics. He served as its president until his death, and the organisation continues to exist (with a library, publications, and programs).

Hall was heavily influenced by esoteric and occult traditions, including Rosicrucian ideas (his mother was involved with the Rosicrucian Fellowship), and he wrote extensively on Freemasonry (e.g., The Lost Keys of Freemasonry in 1923). He later became a 33° Scottish Rite Mason.

His work remains popular among those interested in occult philosophy, self-improvement through ancient wisdom, and symbolic interpretations of religion and mythology. Many of his lectures are available online (audio/video), and books like The Secret Teachings of All Ages are still in print and studied. It can be downloaded free from online sources including our own free digital library.

The Secret Teachings of All Ages is a landmark work in esoteric literature, widely regarded as one of the most comprehensive encyclopedias of occult, mystical, and symbolic philosophy ever written.

The book was first self-published in 1928 when Hall was just 27 years old. He financed and produced a lavish limited edition (originally around 1,000 copies or so in a grand format), featuring intricate illustrations by artist J. Augustus Knapp (including 54 full-colour  plates in some editions) and elaborate design by printer John Henry Nash. The full subtitle captures its ambitious scope:

An Encyclopedic Outline of Masonic, Hermetic, Qabbalistic and Rosicrucian Symbolical Philosophy: Being an Interpretation of the Secret Teachings Concealed Within the Rituals, Allegories, and Mysteries of All Ages.

Hall drew from hundreds of sources across mythology, religion, philosophy, and the occult to argue that a universal, hidden wisdom tradition—often called the “perennial philosophy” or the secret doctrine—underlies many ancient and modern spiritual systems. He believed this esoteric knowledge was deliberately veiled in symbols, myths, and rituals to protect it from misuse, and that it had been preserved by mystery schools, secret societies, and initiated teachers throughout history.

Key Topics Covered

The book is massive (often 600–800+ pages depending on the edition) and organized into nearly 50 dense chapters. It explores:

•  Ancient mystery religions and secret societies (e.g., Eleusinian, Mithraic, Druidic, Gnostic)

•  Atlantis and lost civilizations

•  Hermes Trismegistus and Hermeticism

•  Pythagorean philosophy, mathematics, music, and color theory

•  Symbolism of the human body, animals, plants, stones, metals, and gems

•  The Zodiac, solar deities, and astrology

•  Alchemy, ceremonial magic, and the elements

•  The Qabbalah (Kabbalah), Rosicrucianism, and Freemasonry

•  Isis, the Bembine Table, and Egyptian mysteries

•  Interpretations of figures like Bacon (and theories linking him to Shakespeare), Islam’s esoteric side, and even American Indian symbolism

Each chapter is packed with historical references, symbolic analysis, and philosophical commentary, making it feel like a condensed library of arcane knowledge.

Style and Reception

Hall’s writing is eloquent, scholarly, and somewhat archaic in tone—dense but accessible for those interested in the subject. It’s not a beginner’s primer but a serious reference work that assumes curiosity about deeper mysteries. While hugely influential in 20th-century occult circles (often called a “codex” to esoteric traditions), it’s more of a synthesis and interpretation than rigorous academic history—some claims reflect early 20th-century scholarship or speculative ideas that later research has nuanced or challenged.

The book has remained continuously in print for nearly a century, with various editions:

•  Original 1928 oversized folio (rare and collectible)

•  Reader’s editions (more compact, affordable, often with black-and-white or selected color illustrations)

•  Deluxe reprints (e.g., Philosophical Research Society editions, Taschen facsimiles with restored artwork)

It’s available in public domain scans online (since the copyright wasn’t renewed), as audiobooks (some over 30 hours long), and in modern printings.

In short, The Secret Teachings of All Ages is Hall’s magnum opus—a timeless gateway into the symbolic and mystical undercurrents of human spirituality. If you’re drawn to the hidden dimensions of myth, religion, and philosophy, it’s considered essential reading, even if you approach it as a fascinating historical artifact rather than literal doctrine. Many readers return to it repeatedly as a reference.

While The Secret Teachings of All Ages (1928) remains his most famous and comprehensive work, here are some of his other notable and widely recognised books (roughly in chronological order of original publication where known):

•  The Initiates of the Flame (1922) — One of his earliest works, a short mystical treatise on inner enlightenment and the “flame” of spiritual knowledge.

•  The Ways of the Lonely Ones (1922) — Reflective essays on spiritual solitude and the path of the seeker.

•  The Lost Keys of Freemasonry (1923) — A classic in Masonic esoterica, exploring the symbolic and philosophical depths of Freemasonry (often subtitled The Secret of Hiram Abiff).

•  Melchizedek and the Mystery of Fire (1929) — A short but profound exploration of the biblical figure Melchizedek and fire symbolism in mystery traditions.

•  The Secret Destiny of America (1944, expanded editions later) — Perhaps his second-most popular book today; it discusses esoteric influences on America’s founding, including ideas about Atlantis, Freemasonry, and a “great plan” for the nation.

•  Lectures on Ancient Philosophy (1929/1930s, compiled) — A companion volume to The Secret Teachings, offering deeper philosophical insights into ancient wisdom schools.

•  Freemasonry of the Ancient Egyptians (1937) — Examines alleged connections between Egyptian mysteries and Masonic symbolism.

•  The Dionysian Artificers (1936) — Focuses on ancient Greek mystery cults and their influence on later esoteric traditions.

•  Masonic Orders of Fraternity (1950) — Discusses various Masonic rites and their philosophical underpinnings.

•  The Occult Anatomy of Man (various editions, originally 1920s–1930s) — Explores the symbolic and esoteric correspondences of the human body.

•  The Pineal Gland: The Eye of God (mid-20th century pamphlet/monograph) — A short work on the “third eye” and its mystical significance.

•  Magic: A Treatise on Natural Occultism (various reprints) — Covers practical and philosophical aspects of magic.

•  Collected Writings (multi-volume sets, e.g., Vol. I and II) — Compilations of essays, lectures, and shorter pieces on diverse esoteric topics.

•  Later works include titles like The Blessed Angels: A Monograph, Buddhism & Psychotherapy, The Adepts in the Eastern Esoteric Tradition series, and Great Books on Religion & Esoteric Philosophy (a bibliographic guide).

If you’re interested in diving deeper, the PRS website (prs.org) maintains a current catalog of his available works, and sites like Goodreads or archive.org have extensive lists and free scans of many public-domain titles. His output reflects a lifelong dedication to synthesizing and popularizing ancient wisdom for modern readers.