Theosophical Siftings

Christian Rosenkreuz and the Rosicrucians

Vol 6, No 15

Christian Rosenkreuz and the Rosicrucians

by William Wynn Westcott
Reprinted from "Theosophical Siftings" Volume 6 The Theosophical u!lishing Societ", #ngland

$ age %& T'#

Rosicrucians of mediae(al )erman" formed a group of m"stic philosophers, assem!ling, stud"ing and teaching in pri(ate the esoteric doctrines of religion, philosoph" and occult science, *hich their founder, Christian Rosenkreuz, had learned from the +ra!ian sages, *ho *ere in their turn the inheritors of the culture of +le,andria- This great cit" of #g"pt, a chief emporium of commerce and a centre of intellectual learning, flourished !efore the rise of the .mperial po*er of Rome, falling at length !efore the martial pro*ess of the Romans, *ho, ha(ing con/uered, took great pains to destro" the arts and sciences of the #g"pt the" had o(errun and su!dued 0 for the" seem to ha(e had a *holesome fear of those magical arts, *hich, as tradition had informed them, flourished in the Nile Valle"0 *hich same tradition is also familiar to #nglish people through our ac/uaintance *ith the !ook of )enesis, *hose reputed author *as taught in #g"pt all the science and arts he possessed, e(en as the 1i!le itself tells us, although the orthodo, are apt to slur o(er this assertion of the 2ld Testament narrati(e2ur present *orld has taken almost no notice of the Rosicrucian philosoph", nor until the last t*ent" "ears of an" m"sticism, and *hen it does condescend to stoop from its utilitarian and mone"3making occupations, it is onl" to condemn all such studies, root and !ranch, as *aste of time and loss of energ"The (er" name of "Christian Rosenkreuz", the founder of Rosicrucianism, *ould meet *ith hardl" an" sign of recognition in the !est social or the literar" circles of this countr"0 and "et the mere pu!lication in 1614 of a little pamphlet in )erman", narrating the mode of foundation and the aims of the Rosicrucian 2rder, made such a stir throughout #urope, that e(en toda" there are e,tant si, hundred tracts for and against the realit" and the bona fides of the doctrines of the 2rder0 *hich tracts *ere *ritten and printed in )erman" and 5rance alone, *ithin a hundred "ears of the issue of the original Fama Fraternitatis, or narrati(e of the esta!lishment of the societ" of C-R.n estimating the relati(e importance of so (oluminous a literature, *e must remem!er that the era 1666 31766 *as far different from the age in *hich *e li(e- The printing press, although a(aila!le to the fe* and rich, *as still a rarit", and the dail" ne*spaper had not !een thought of- [Page 4] Certainl" no !ook that has !een printed *ithin the last fift" "ears has created one tithe of the flutter, in the *orld of the learned, that *as caused !" this thirt"3three page 8atin pamphlet, pu!lished in )erman" in 1614The Reformation, *e must remem!er, had 9ust !ecome an accomplished fact0 it *as a s*eeping change that had affected a (ast tract of semi3ci(ilised countr", and perhaps some e,planation of the outcr" against Ros" Cross *as a form of protest against another possi!le attempt at the con(ersion of men, like the Reformation of Catholicism *hich had preceded it, and had, *hile making great impro(ements, greatl" unsettled men:s minds, and had shaken #uropean religious and social life to its foundations- The narrati(e, then, of Christian Rosenkreuz created a (erita!le intellectual panic among the learned, and it *as a ferment *hich did not complete its *ork for se(eral generations- That its effect *as on the *hole a age 1

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good one, need not !e dou!ted !" us, for *hate(er ma" !e the merits or demerits of Rosicrucianism as a s"stem of philosoph" or ethics, its promulgation certainl" tended to *iden men:s intellectual conceptions, to sho* that the pre(ailing standards and forms of religion *ere not the onl" possi!le forms of high spiritual thought and aspiration, and that e(en the time3e,pired formulae of #g"ptian culture *ere suscepti!le of a later de(elopment not *holl" unsuita!le, and not un*orth" of the attention of a later age;h" indeed should it not ha(e !een so, seeing that for 1566 "ears in #urope the nations had reposed in a state of apath" *ithout culture, had made almost no progress, and had !een hide3!ound !" the fetters of a religious esta!lishment *hich !oasted itself upon its e,clusi(eness, its control of all that )od ga(e or man could recei(e, and formulated and practised the dogma that there *as no re(elation !ut one < the 1i!le < and that the 1i!le *as unsuita!le to the people, *hose sole dut" *as to support a priesthood, from *hose personal attention and propitiation alone *as an" good to !e o!tainedSo long as (ast nations *ere taught that neither mind, nor intellect, nor man:s spiritual soul re/uired an" further culture, nor an" further enlightenment than could !e o!tained from listening to the reading of the onl" infalli!le !ook in a language not understood of the people0 it is eas" to percei(e *h" )erman" in 1666 *as !ehind +le,andria of the "ear 1, alike in culture, in science and in artReform of an" sort, ne* presentments of truth of an" kind, al*a"s stink in the nostrils of men *ho ha(e a (ested interest in maintaining things as the" are= and histor" has repeatedl" sho*n that e(en !eneficed ministers *ill stoop to misrepresentation and falsehood in order to sustain their o*n interests and )od gi(en rights, in their minds consonant *ith the right di(ine of >ings < another no* e,ploded superstitionSmall *onder then that the Fama Fraternitatis Crucis raised up a storm of passion, and that its follo*ers $ age 5& *ere assailed !" e(er" form of a!use and !" e(er" (ile epithet that the 1illingsgate of clerical intolerance of that da" could suppl"- 5or the clerg", !e it remem!ered, *ith the pupils of the clerg", *ere alone a!le to read and *rite, and it *as !ut the one man in a thousand *ho, ha(ing recei(ed education from orthodo, sources, dared to e,press an opinion of his o*n- 2f such a sort *ere the fe* defenders of Rosenkreuz, and their pamphlets are mostl" anon"mous, to a(oid open persecution, *hile the authors *ho *rote in condemnation signed their names in full *ith man" ecclesiastic titles- None of the minor clerg", *hate(er the" thought or felt in pri(ate, dared pu!lish an" defence of a teacher or school *hich conflicted *ith the dominant faith = a fe* e,alted clerics, riors and +!!ots, did, as . shall no dou!t !e reminded, !oth profess and practise 'ermetic science and alchem"0 !ut then an +!!ot < as he of Spanheim, . mean the nota!le Trithemius0 or a rior like Valentine0 or a 1ishop, like he of Ratis!on, +l!ertus ?agnus, *ere li(ing in safet" among a cro*d of retainers, and the 'ol" 5ather:s arm *as a long *a" off, and he did not unnecessaril" degrade a priest of high rank unless for contumac" to some personal order, < *hile on the other hand each one of ten thousand common parish priests could easil" !e ca9oled into a (isit to a neigh!ouring monaster" and there retained until released !" a merciful >arma.t seems to me that there is a parallelism, and . hope to !e a!le to sho* to "ou that there is an analog", and some points of resem!lance !et*een the appearance of Christian Rosenkreuz in )erman", and the coming of "our o*n '- -1- as a teacher !earing *itness to the light *ithin her, and !eing inspired !" kno*ledge gained in the #ast !" tra(el and initiation there= the differences !eing that in the former case the fe* thousand learned of all #urope *ere alone approached !" a printed manifesto, < *hile in our time the *hole nation is approached !" personal teaching, supplemented !" the use of the press8et us see then shortl" *hat is kno*n historicall" of this Rose Cross 2rder, *hose manifesto e,cited so great an interestage @

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The !ook Fama Fraternitatis narrates that a!out the "ears 1%7531456, there flourished a (er" learned man, *ho, ha(ing spent man" "ears in tra(el through the #ast, < +sia ?inor, Chaldea, +ra!ia and 5ez, < came again to #urope, and after a residence among the ?oors in Spain, returned to his nati(e State in )erman", full3filled *ith the 'ermetic Sciences and capa!le in magical arts, *hich kno*ledge he had ac/uired !" man" initiations in #astern lands- 'e adopted a co(ered m"stic name, as medie(al teachers mostl" did0 the name he took *as "Christian Rosenkreuz" or Christian Ros" Cross, or shortl" C- R-, *ith a Signum or Seal of a Rose on a cross formed of si, s/uares, such a cross as if closed up *ould form a cu!e'e settled in a certain retired place and dre* around him a select $ age 6& circle of friends and pupils *ho *ere ultimatel", after training, recei(ed !" him into the grades of m"stic initiation *hich he had himself collected+fter some "ears of tuition and elementar" practice these initiates set to *ork and !uilt, or caused to !e !uilt for themsel(es, a Temple or 8odge 'ouse, or 'ome0 the" called it "Domus Sancti Spiritus", the 'ouse of the di(ine spirit- 'ere the" settled and this *as their a!ode, stud" and la!orator"0 from thence the" issued forth in turn on deeds of merc" and of healing, and of teaching, and of o!ser(ation- 5rom this first circle there *ere formed other circles in succession, the elders teaching the 9uniors, and so *as the secret kno*ledge !oth preser(ed and e,tended- C- R- li(ed to a (er" ad(anced age, 166 "ears, and d"ing at last *as !uried, as had !een arranged !" him and the mem!ers of his inner circle, in a special (ault *ithin their domus or secret d*elling- Some form of em!alming *as used, and the (ault *as decorated *ith grand and !eautiful em!lems, designs and implements- The ?agus *as enclosed in a speciall" prepared tom!, and *as laid to rest *ith his o*n special consecrated insignia-- The (ault *as closed, and upon the door *as fi,ed a !razen plate, upon *hich *as engra(ed an inscription of a prophetic e,clamation of his o*n, that in 1@6 "ears after his death his tom! should !e re3opened and his doctrines, in a modified form, once more made pu!lic, and not onl" to a fe*, !ut to the learned in general0 this plate *as then co(ered up and the presence of the (ault /uite maskedThe mem!ers of C, R-:s inner circle appear to ha(e died off each in his turn, until at last there remained no one *ho could tell the secret of *here the great .nstructor la", and *here *as the secret cham!er of *hich all had heard, and *hich all *ere for!idden to seek- The !rothers *ere content to refrain from seeking0 trusting in the promise that a time should, come *hen, in the natural course of e(ents, C- Rshould rise again, or at least in the spirit, i.e-, his doctrines and fame should !e pu!lished- The 1@6 "ears passed a*a", and the order still flourished0 faithful initiates still studied, *atched and *aited, until the fateful hour *as struck on the clock of time, and in 15A4 the secret *as disco(ered. *ill read from the original *ork, in its earliest #nglish translation !" #ugenius hilalethes, that is, Thomas Vaughan, printed in 8ondon, 165@= < "The "ear follo*ing, after N- N- had performed his school right, and *as minded no* to tra(el, !eing for that purpose sufficientl" pro(ided *ith 5ortunatus: purse, he thought B!eing a good +rchitectC to alter something of this !uilding, and to make it more fit= in such rene*ing he lighted upon the ?emorial Ta!le, *hich *as cast of !rass, and containeth all the names of the !rethren, *ith some fe* other things0 this he *ould transfer in another more fitting (ault, for *here or *hen 5ra R- C- died, or in *hat countr" he *as !uried, *as !" our predecessors age %

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concealed and unkno*n to us- $ age 7& .n this Ta!let stuck a great nail some*hat strong, so that *hen he *as *ith force dra*n out, he took *ith him an indifferent !ig stone out of the thin *all, or plaster of the hidden door, and so unlocked for, unco(ered the door, *herefore *e did *ith 9o" and longing thro* do*n the rest of the *all, and cleared the door, upon *hich that *as *ritten in great letters, : ost CDD Annas patebo:, *ith the "ear of the 8ord under it0 therefore *e ga(e )od thanks, and let it rest that same night !ecause first *e *ould o(erlook our Rotam".n the morning follo*ing *e opened the door and there appeared to our sight a (ault of se(en sides and corners, e(er" side fi(e feet !road and the height of eight feet- +lthough the Sun ne(er shined in this Vault, ne(ertheless it *as enlightened !" another sun, *hich had learned this from the Sun, and *as situated in the upper part in the centre of the ceiling0 in the midst, instead of a tom! stone, *as a round altar co(ered o(er *ith a plate of !rass, and thereon this engra(en0 < +-C,R-C- Hoc universi compendium unius mihi sepulchrum feciERound a!out the first circle or !rim stoodJesus mihi omnia".n the middle *ere four figures, enclosed in circles, *hose circumscription *as= < 1- Nequaquam vacuumF No (oid e,ists @- Legis Jugum FThe "oke of the la* %- Libertas vangelii FThe li!ert" of the doctrine 4- Dei gloria intacta ! The unsullied glor" di(ine-

This is all clear and !right, as also the se(enth side and the t*o 'eptagoni ,so *e kneeled altogether do*n, and ga(e thanks to the sole *ise, sole might", and sole eternal )od, ;ho hath taught us more than all men:s *it could ha(e found out, praised !e 'is 'ol" Name- The Vault *as parted in three parts= the upper part or ceiling, the *all or side, the ground floor-" 2f the upper part, "ou shall understand no more of it, at this time !ut that it *as di(ided according to the se(en sides in the triangle, *hich *as in the !right centre0 !ut *hat therein is contained, "ou shall B)od *illingC, Bthat are desirous of our societ"C !ehold the same *ith "our o*n e"es, !ut e(er" side or *all is parted into ten s/uares- e(er" one *ith their se(eral figures and sentences, as the" are trul" sho*ed and set forth concentratum here in our !ook- No* as "et *e had not seen the dead !od" of our careful and *ise father0 *e therefore remo(ed the altar aside, there *e lifted up a strong plate of !rass and found a fair and *orth" !od" *hole and unconsumed as the same is here li(el" counterfeited *ith all the ornaments and attires0 in his hand he held a parchment 1ook, called T, the *hich, ne,t unto the 1i!le, is our greatest treasure, *hich ought to !e deli(ered to the censure of the *orld- +t the end of this !ook standeth this elogium, *hich then follo*s in 8atin < it ma" !e shortl" translated thus= < age 4

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":+ seed so*n in the !reast of .hesusEChristian Rose Cross, sprung from a no!le and famous )erman famil"- "he man of his age for the most su!tle imaginations and di(ine re(elations, and one of un*earied la!our in the search for hea(en:s m"steries and those also of humanit"0 he *as secretl" admitted to a more than Regal or .mperial )aza Bor treasure houseC during his 9ourne"s in +ra!ia and +frica, he instituted and !ecame the custodian for posterit" of these arts= he $ age A& formed the #inutum #umdum, *hich related the past, present and future- 'e li(ed more than a centur", and passed a*a", not of disease, !ut at the call of )od0 a*a" from the em!race and last kiss of his !rethren, and so returned to di(init"E'e *as a !elo(ed father, a (er" dear !rother, a most faithful teacher, and the most enduring friend:"E'e lies concealed here for 1@6 "earsGHnderneath this inscription there *ere fi(e signatures of mem!ers of the 5irst Circle, and three of the Second Circle". am not of those *ho scoff at all that seems at first sight impro!a!le, and to me this does seem a (er" impressi(e narrati(e- ?an" of "ou as Theosophists must see nothing *ildl" impro!a!le a!out it0 and it ma" seem to "ou *ithin the range of things possi!le0 !ut . admit that the truth of the narrati(e is not pro(en- No person as an entire outsider has e(er seen this em!almed !od", or this (ault, or this Domus sancti spiritus, *hich *as !uilt a!out 1466 and opened a!out 15A40 or at an" rate no nota!le man has asserted in print that he has seen it1ut *ould such an outsider !e at all likel" to see it I < at least not *ithout first mart"ring the 5ratres of the 2rder-1e 9ust to Rosicrucianism and its origin, and histor"0 ask "oursel(es *hat a!solute proof "ou ha(e of the fact of man" other historical e(ents0 proof . mean independent of the e(idence of those *ho had alread" con(inced themsel(es and of those *ho ha(e a personal o!9ect to ser(e in esta!lishing the truth of an" alleged occurrence < such as the death of Jesus !" crucifi,ion, the Tro9an ;ar, or of the striking incident in the con(ersion of Saul of Tarsus, or of the former e,istence of the haros of +le,andria+nd, on the other hand, of *hat (alue is negati(e e(idence in such a discussion- The fact that the *orks of Josephus ha(e no mention of Jesus *hich is not a forger", is no proof that a gentle, *ise and re(ered spiritual di(ine teacher did not preach in the time of the #mperor Ti!erius, in Jerusalem0 nor is the fact that neither 8ord 1acon, nor 5rederick the )reat, nor ope io Nono, nor Spinoza, nor 'u,le", has e(er asserted that he has seen the Vault of Christian Rosenkreuz an" reason for den"ing its e,istence in 14A4 or 1666, or at an" time since then. *ould undertake to o!tain in a *eek, in an" large to*n in #ngland, a thousand signatures to a document attesting that no li(ing Theosophist had e(er !een seen !" them, or to a document testif"ing that no e(idence e,isted *hich *ent to sho* that the Theosophists had a Sanctum in *hich rested the age 5

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ashes of their late re(ered teacher, in a room suffused *ith the peace *hich no* at length d*ells o(er the memor" of her character, at once so enthusiastic and so contemplati(e < and of her personalit", at once aggressi(e and so endearing-$ age K& Thousands of persons of culture, and hundreds of occultists and pseudo3occultists, could !e found *illing to testif" that the" *ere not in possession of an" e(idence that successors of "Ros" Cross the +dept" still e,ist in #ngland0 or that an" such a (ault e,ists here or an"*here else in #urope- Let that need not upset m" !elief, or "our !elief, if "ou hold it, that +dept Rosicrucians do still e,ist0 nor *ill it upset the fact that . ha(e met a person in this (er" 1la(atsk" 8odge B*ho *as kno*n to most of the elders in Theosoph" among "ouC *ho assured me of the truth of these assertions, and *ho claimed to ha(e seen such a (ault- Not that . am *eak enough, or so ignorant of human nature as to suppose, that an" statement of mine *ould make "ou !elie(e, nor do . *ant "ou to !elie(e this- Seeing is !elie(ing, and if "ou cannot see, "ou are not to !e !lamed, 1L ?#, for not !elie(ing= !ut take m" former case as to the Theosophical 'ead/uarters, of this assertion there are man" of "ou here present *ho, ha(ing seen, could testif" to its truth, and so, . suppose, do !elie(e, and so the gist of m" argument ma" come home to such of "ou- So much then for the 'istor" of the 2rder of the C- R-, first issued in 1616, and printed again and distri!uted in considera!le num!ers in 1614- + great outcr" arose at once and it is to !e o!ser(ed that the Fama issued alone in 1616, *as, *hen issued in 1614 in a re(ised form, !ound up *ith a second tract, the Confessio Fraternitatis- This is important, !ecause the t*o *orks (ar" e,ceedingl" as to matter and mannerThe former treats of the 14563A6 period of #urope, *hen Roman Catholicism *as unchallenged e,cept !" ?ohammedanism, and !" a fe* remaining descendants of the pagan philosophers, and !" 'ermetic pupils= *hile the Confessio, issued in 1614, and no dou!t then *ritten < !ut it is anon"mous, < appeared after the throes of the Reformation, and it is tinctured deepl" *ith the notions of 8uther, and *ith rotestant crudities= and so differs *idel" from the purel" 'ermetico3philosophic or )nostic3Christian form of the earlier *ork. ha(e no o!9ection to urge against the notion *hich has !een formulated !" #d*ard ?ac!ean among others, that the 5ama *as *ritten !" a true follo*er of Christian Rosenkreuz:s original 2rder, and that the latter *as *ritten !" Valentine +ndrea, a *ell3kno*n )erman theologian and m"stic *ho flourished at that time- 'e ma" ha(e !een a lo* grade initiate of the Rosicrucian 2rder and ha(e !een ordered to pu!lish this Confessio to temper the storm *hich had !een set up !" the first tract- This effect, ho*e(er, did not follo*, and the polemic fur" of the literati continued in full force for man", man" "ears?an" modern critics ha(e accepted this suggestion that +ndrea *rote the Confessio0 !ut the" err from *ant of stud", *ho sa" that !oth are from the same hand0 as *ell sa" that Jeremiah *rote the 1ook of #sther, so $ age 16& much also do the" differ in st"le, and in that case too, one is apologetic, and the other is histor" or fa!le, < at least a narrati(eSo much for the histor" of the founding of the 2rder, no* *hat is stated of the tenets I ;e must presume that an 2rder founded on a !asis of philosoph" gathered in +ra!ia and +frica *as not simpl" a Christian one- The claim also to magical po*er negati(es the idea that the doctrines *ere orthodo,0 and "et *e find a profession of Christianit" running through the (olume- ;e must remem!er that C- R- !egan life as a pupil in a cloister, and *as the associate in earl" life of monks= *e must !ear in mind that out of age 6

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#urope, in the #ast, Christianit" *as )nostic, and that the )nostics and Neo3 latonists, although to a Roman Catholic or rotestant decidedl" heretical, *ere "et inspired !" Christian ideals < although the" could not realize the accepted admi,ture of the )od and ?an in Christ, "et insisted on the Christ teaching of the ?an JesusSimilarl" so *e toda", ha(ing mostl" entered upon the #astern Theosoph" from a Christian education, still are largel" tinctured !" our !asic theolog" and still use Christian language and t"pes and s"m!ols in our ne* ideals of the higher principles of man and humanit"- 5or e,ample, read the Theosophic *orks of 1rothers >ingsland and 1rodie .nnes- 5or this reason, it seems to me, that this !ook, e,planator" of an #astern occultism "et using fre/uentl" Christian terms, must !e read as though the Christian allusions *ere to a )nostic and not to a Catholic Christ spirit and man Jesus0 for Jesus to the 'ermetist is the shortened form of Lehoshua, *hich title is formed of the letters of the >a!alistic Lod, 'eh, Van, 'eh, ha(ing interposed the letter Shin, the em!lem of the spark of the Mi(ine o(ershado*ing each human soul- This Lod 'eh Van 'e, the incommunica!le Name, !eing the origin of the common )od Name Jeho(ah, !ut to the >a!alist *as not the 9ealous )od of the Je*ish nation, !ut a gl"ph of the di(ine creati(e forces *hich emanate from the highest )od ideal, "et unmanifested and certainl" not indi(idualised+s to the tenets of the 2rder then- The Fama !egins *ith a tri!ute to the merc" and goodness of the ;ise and ?erciful )od, !" *hich a more perfect kno*ledge of t*o su!9ects is o!tained < Jesus Christ and Nature note these t*o < as of e/ual importance- )od is then thanked for the raising of some men *ho are a!le to !ring +rts to perfection0 and then finall" that man might understand his o*n no!leness and *orth, and *h" he is called ?icrocosmos < that is, . take it, man:s unlimited range of impro(ement and that he is a mirrored reflection of the ?acrocosm, the Mi(ine Hni(erse of ?anifestation?en are chided for adhering to short3sighted doctrines, as of +ristotle and )alen, *hen the greater Truth lies !efore them0 of those teachers it is added, that had the" !ut !een offered the kno*ledge $ age 11& of the Rosicrucian initiation the" *ould ha(e accepted it *ith much 9o".t is then e,plained that Christian Rosenkreuz on his return from his tra(els, offered to the learned the elements of his #astern lore0 he sho*ed them the errors of their church and ho* the *hole $hilosophia #oralis might -!e amended- 1ut it is added < "these things *ere to them a laughing matter, for !eing a ne* thing unto them the" feared that their )reat Name should !e lessened, if the" should no* !egin to ackno*ledge their man" "ears: errors, to *hich the" had gro*n accustomed, and *here*ith the" had gained them enough"That *as the secret, the secret of the failure of Christian Rosenkreuz to !ecome a pu!lic teacher, and such the reason *h" the idea occurred to him of founding a ne* 2rder *ho should *ork for a )eneral Reformation in silence and secrec", and undistur!ed !" the scoffs of a *orld either too ignorant or too self3seeking to !e taughtSome pages further on the general agreement of the mem!ers is gi(en-

age 7

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1- That no pu!lic profession of an" superior kno*ledge should !e made0 !ut that mem!ers should *hen a!le endea(our to cure the sick, and that gratis@- That the" should not make themsel(es conspicuous !" an" special garment or insignia, to the *orld%- That the" should "earl" meet in assem!l" and mutuall" instruct each other in the kno*ledge gained since last the" met4- That e(er" mem!er should select a *orth" person to succeed him as pupil5- That the letters C- R- should !e their mark, seal and character, e(er keeping them in mind of their 5ounder, and of the Christ spirit, and of the Rose of silence6- To keep the Societ" secret at least 166 "earsThis point *as certainl" *ell kept0 !ut after that time man" mem!ers did *rite themsel(es, no dou!t !" permission, as 5rater R- C-2ther references to their ideas and ha!its and unusual po*ers a!ound in the Fama- 5or instance, it is said, although the" could not li(e longer than the time appointed !" )od, "et *ere the" free from disease and pain- That 5rater J- 2, *as (er" e,pert in the >a!ala, the m"stic philosoph" of the Chaldee and 'e!re* initiates- That their !urial places should all !e kept secret, and the" claimed the possession of the art of em!almingThe" claim the kno*ledge of the secret of the #(er3!urning 8amp, *hich is so often referred to in the mediae(al occult authorsThe po*er of foresight, as sho*n !" the inscription on the Vault door.n the Vault *ere found, inter alia, "*onderful artificial Songs, these *e ma" take to !e *hat the #astern adepts called ?antrams, that is, $ age 1@& portions of language in a certain rh"thm for recitation in magical ceremoniesThe" condemned gold3making for profit and lu,ur" as accursed, calling transmutation !ut a arergon or side *ork+nd lastl" *e read in the 5ama= <

age A

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Christian Rosenkreuz and the Rosicrucians

Vol 6, No 15

"2ur philosoph" is not a ne* in(ention, !ut as +dam after his 5all recei(ed it, and as ?oses and Solomon used it, also she ought not to !e much dou!ted of or contradicted !" other opinions or meanings0 !ut seeing that Truth is al*a"s peaceful and !rief and al*a"s like herself and especiall" accorded !" *ith Jesus in omni parte and all mem!ers- +nd as he is the true .mage of the 5ather, so is she his image- .t shall not !e said that this is true onl" of philosoph", !ut true according to Theolog"- +nd *herein lato, +ristotle, "thagoras and others did hit the mark, and *herein ?oses, #noch and Solomon did e,cel, !ut especiall" in *hat that *onderful !ook the 1i!le agreeth- +ll that same concurreth and makes a sphere or glo!e *hose total parts are e/uidistant from the centre-" There follo*s the Confessio Fraternitatis, *ritten to the learned in #urope, and *hich is said to contain thirt"3se(en reasons of the purpose and intention of the Societ"- Curiousl" enough, that tract does not contain an" series of thirt"3se(en reasons, or thirt"3se(en paragraphs, !ut is a (er" discursi(e relation of the doctrines of the 5ratres- +s a *hole its tenets differ from those of the Fama, and are plainl" tinctured *ith ost3Reformation ideas, indeed *e find the ope called +ntichrist- So that it seems safe to decide that this tract is rather !" Valentine +ndrea, the rotestant Theologian, than !" men deepl" inspired !" the m"sticism and magic of a man raised to +deptship !" 2riental SagesTime *ill not permit of an" re(ie* of the Confessio, nor of an" glance at the li(es and *orks of those philosophers *ho ha(e since st"led themsel(es 5ratres of R- C-, so . hasten to conclude *ith a short summar", and *ith the analogies !et*een the origin of the 2rder of R- C- and the Theosophical Societ"+s a critic, then, of the Rosicrucians, (ie*ed from the standpoint of the Fama Fraternitatis < their o*n manifesto to the *orld, it seems that the 2rder *as essentiall" a !rotherhood of philosophers li(ing in a Christian countr", and professing a nominal Christianit" of )nostic t"pe, "et essentiall" a !and of students of 2riental lore and #astern magical arts, professing and practising >a!alah di(ination and the kno*ledge of the ultra3natural planes of !eing+s such the" had to encounter the rampant hostilit" of the orthodo," of their time, and hence needed to shroud themsel(es under an impenetra!le (eil of seclusion0 the" onl" appeared in pu!lic singl", and *ithout an" mark of their character0 and lastl", *hen a!road the" de(oted themsel(es first to charit" and healing, and then to the ac/uisition of more e,tended kno*ledge !" o!ser(ation and e,periment- $ age 1%& . am no* to point out certain resem!lances, possi!l" entirel" superficial, *hich seem to me to e,ist !et*een the narrati(e of Christian Rosenkreuz and the origin of the Theosophic propaganda8et no error !e made !" "ou as to *hat is here said= the Rosicrucian esta!lishment, admitting of no demonstration, ma" !e, if it seem good to "ou, regarded as a m"th- Theosoph" is to us a great fact- 1ut for m"self . studied ;estern m"sticism t*ent" "ears !efore . !ecame a pupil of this school, and . esteem it highl", and so for me it is no slight to Theosoph" to compare it to the *ork of Christian Rosenkreuz- . admit that the present *ork of the Theosophical Societ" is e,alted in its aim, and is !ecoming uni(ersal in its distri!ution, and so far e,cels the role of the ideal Rosicrucian, *hose zeal *as much more turned to personal de(elopment0 as such, ho*e(er, . am prepared to contend for the (alue of 'ermetic initiation0 !ut that is not !efore "ou this e(eningage K

Theosophical Siftings

Christian Rosenkreuz and the Rosicrucians

Vol 6, No 15

?" intention is the more admissi!le !ecause '- - 1- e(er declared that the school of learned men *ho instructed '#R to promulgate their doctrines, has !een in continuous e,istence for ages0 and that the" ha(e at se(eral times, nota!l" in the closing t*ent"3fi(e "ears of each centur", authorised and guided some effort at the spread of true occult philosoph"- Hntil the contrar" is pro(ed, it is admissi!le to argue that the legend of Christian Rosenkreuz narrates a minor displa" of this principle and practice0 that the attempt *as a failure is no proof of its un*orthiness, for '- - 1- repeatedl" said that her o*n promulgation of faith might easil" su!side into failure and insignificance, unless some great3hearted souls and enthusiastic pupils *ere strong enough to carr" it o(er the period of natural decadence. ha(e here to ask to !e allo*ed to sa" a fe* *ords of e,planation- . ha(e not come here tonight because . am a Theosophist0 !ut on the contrar", . ha(e !een asked to speak upon the Rosicrucians, !ecause . ha(e the pleasure to hold a high office in the Rosicrucian Societ" of #ngland, and so might reasona!l" !e supposed to ha(e studied the histor" of that 2rder- 1ut to a(oid misconception, . *ish to sa" that the Societ" of Rosicrucians in +nglia is a ?asonic 1od" < it is composed of 5reemasons *ho ha(e gathered themsel(es together to stud" the old Rosicrucian !ooks in the light of histor", and to trace the connection !et*een Rosicrucianism and the origins of 5reemasonr", a connection *hich has !een alleged to e,ist !" man" historians !elonging to the outer *orldThe mem!ers of this 2rder, as such, make no claim to !e in possession of the secret *isdom of the pupils of Christian Rosenkreuz, and . am (er" desirous that no one should lea(e *ith the impression that . speak as an"thing more than a critic of histor", or *ith the notion that . ha(e an" part or lot in a personal claim to magic arts. ask this fa(our of "ou all as referring to this lecture in con(ersation, $ age 14& !ecause e(en if . *ere a mem!er of the old Societ", and had an" po*ers !e"ond those "ou possess, . should not make pu!lic a claim to the possession of them0 !ecause . hold it at all times a!surd for an"one to la" claim to the possession of an" a!normal po*ers *hich he is not *illing to demonstrate, or is not a!le to sho* to the pu!lic, or at least to all *ho ask0 so that seeing the" might !elie(e, and !elie(ing understand?a" *e not then o!ser(e a parallel !et*een the promulgation of the doctrines of Christian Rosenkreuz and the esta!lishment of =the Theosophical Societ" and '- -1-:s inner group of studentsI .n each case the instruction in ?"stic hilosoph" came from the #ast in the former case from +sia ?inor, +ra!ia, +frica, arid nota!l" 5ez0 in the latter from .ndia, Ti!et, and #g"pt- .n each case the inspiration and actual founding of the 2rder is reall" due to one alone= in the former case !" a man, in the latter !" a *oman.n each case the 2rder appears to ha(e !een founded in the closing /uarter of a centur".n each case the .nitiator laid some part of his or her store of learning !efore the *orld, and in each, case the learning *as a Elaughing matter unto them", and the teacher *as a !utt for scorn and ridicule-

age 16

Theosophical Siftings

Christian Rosenkreuz and the Rosicrucians

Vol 6, No 15

.n each case the teaching is !ased upon a foundation of #thics and a high standard of moralit", and the suggestion is made that such a course of life ma% lead to a!normal or magical po*ers- .n each case, the teacher, disgusted *ith a (ain3glorious and h"pocritical *orld, fell !ack upon the formation of a select !and of pupils !ound together !" solemn contract, and stimulated !" enthusiasm.n each case, an earl" step *as the foundation of a home and special d*elling set apart for *ork, stud" and contemplation.n each case, the founder passes a*a" and is regarded !" sorro*ing pupils as dearest friend, most learned teacher, and !elo(ed chief, .n one case *e find the e,penditure of lo(ing care and skill in preser(ing the remains of the ?aster0 and in the other *e find an Hrn of +shes preser(ed !" lo(ing hands and placed in respectful pri(ac" in her o*n cham!er0 and lastl", as Christian Rosenkreuz0 left the prophetic, and perhaps allegorical assertion, to !e found !" his successors of the third generation, that he, or his name and doctrine, should re3 appear= e(en so did '- - 1-, as . understand, affirm that she *ould return, in another form indeed, !ut still the same #go, and indi(idual, in a stage still farther on in the path to full +deptshipLou *ill all, as Theosophists struggling to the light, hope that e(en as *e read that the pupils of Ros" Cross, 1@6 "ears after his death, sho*ed the (italit" of their 2rder, so ma" this 8odge founded !" "our great inspirer, '- - 1la(atsk", continue to flourish and e,tend until time shall !e no more *ith "ou-

age 11