I think the early witnesses, CTR especially were influenced, but not greatly. Mostly I think Russell just used the symbology because it looked cool and "ancient".
I think this is true. But what I want to know (and am researching) are his ties to Lord Rothschild and the B'nai B'rith associations. Did Lord Rothschild fund Russell in any way? Did any of Russell's family have freemason memberships? The Russell Trust is a legal organization that represents the skull and bones society, this is something easily discoverable. I believe this is the same Russell family C.T. is associated with. I'm trying to verify it.
I guess what I'm leaning to is that given what a Zionist Russell was, I could see him working with the Rothschilds and other so called "illuminati" families (the Russell's family being one of them) to implement their agendas, and in doing so implementing the freemason agenda as well, since the Rothschilds and others were all known freemasons. Get my drift?
Gitasatsanga,
One thing that confuses me is how and why the practice of Enochian magic is diabolical. I have to admit, when I read about the Knights Templars and Freemasonry their concept of a "Supreme Architect of the Universe" does not seem like such a bad thing. I mean, I personally believe all paths lead to God, hindu, buhddist, judiasm, new age, etc. This pretty much seems to be what Freemasonry and other secret orders are leading to. I mean, the Kabbalah is NOT a book of satan.
So how and where does Freemasonry which practices Enochian Magic go wrong? Obviously they're is something diabolical. Were the Knights Templars practicing it too?