ASIATIC BRETHREN

Esotericism, Intolerance, and

Conspiracy
in the
Age of Enlightenment

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 Asiatic Brethren
! “We know that Satan’s emissaries are
coming there to work their mischief…we
know that a totally new and spurious order,
the Knights of the True Light, has been
created and is divided into the following
five grades: Novices of three, five and seven
years, Levites and Priests. All are said to be
conferred free of charge and performed
with acts of the blackest diabolic magic.”
Letter from Senior Members of the Rosicrucian/Freemason Alte schottische Loge
Friedrich zum goldenen Löwen (Old Scottish Lodge Friedrich at the Golden Lion) to
Duke Ferdinand von Braunschweig, Grand Master of the Strict Observance
regarding the Asiatic Brethren – 1782.
Ironically, both those condemning and Duke Ferdinand all later joined the Asiatic
Brethren.
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 Asiatic Brethren

The Signatstern – the

official journal of the
Asiatic Brethren,
published until 1810

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Master’s Carpet from the Signatstern

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Key Personalities
" Hans Heinrich, Baron Ecker von Eckhoffen, author (as Magister Pianco) of an attack on
the Gold-und-Rosenkreuzer from which he had been expelled) called “Der Rosenkreuzer
in seiner Blösse” (The Rosicrucians Exposed) which stressed the correct interpretation of
Hebrew script and called for Jewish-Christian solidarity.
" Hans Karl, Baron Ecker von Eckhoffen, wrote a pamphlet supporting the acceptance of
Jews into Freemasonry, under the pen name Karl Friedrich von Boscamps, (Lasopolski),
Werden und können Israeliten zu Freimaurer aufgenommen werden? (Will and can Jews be
accepted as Freemasons?)
" Baron Franz Thomas von Schönfeld, Order Archivist, author of many of the Order’s
rituals and a Sabbatian Kabbalist and member of the Frankist movement. Introduced many
of the Sabbatian and Kabbalistic aspects into the order. His real name was Moses
Dobruschka and he was later known as Junius Frey and became a Jacobin revolutionary,
but was accused of being associated with an accused Austrian spy and dies on the
guillotine in Paris during the Reign of Terror of the French Revolution, alongside Danton
and others.
" Ephraim Joseph Hirschfeld, another author of the Order’s rituals and its resident expert
on Hebrew. After a break with the Order and Ecker von Eckhoffen in Schleswig, (where he
was rescued from house arrest – imposed by his Lodge brothers – by Schönfeld/
Dobruschka), Hirschfeld, traveled, spending time with L.C. de St. Martin in Strasbourg.
This may have contributed to certain Martinist aspects of the Asiatic Brethren’s rituals.
" Franz Joseph Molitor, A direct student of Gnostic Philosopher Franz Xavier Von Baader.
(Baader was a student of de Pasqually). Foremost Christian Kabbalist of the era. Wrote
Philosophie der Geschichte (The Philosophy of History) 2000 page introduction to a further
work on the Metaphysics of the Kabbalah that was unfortunately never completed. Worked

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Origins
" First “formally" appeared in 1781 in Vienna
" Strongest presence in Hungary
" Influenced by the Gold- und –Rosenkreuzer
" Only open to Master Masons, from either St. John
Lodges (Christian Brethren) or Melchizedek (Jewish
Lodges)
! Other Names
" Ordo Rotae et Aurea Crucis (Order of the Wheel and
Golden Cross) - 1776
" Order of the Initiated Knights and Brethren of St.
John the Evangelist from Asia in Europe - 1780
" Fratres Lucis
" Ritter des Lichts

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Influences
" Rosicrucianism
" Hermeticism
" Kabbalists (Sabbatean and Lurianic)
" Gnosticism
" Freemasonry
" Works of Georg von Welling, author of the Opus Mago-
Cabbalisticum et Theosophicum (The Work of Magikal-
Kabbalism and Theosophy), 1735
" Sufism (via Sabbatean association with Bakktashi and other
Sufis.) Some examples: Some Sabbatean synagogues had
poetry by Rumi adorning the walls. Both the Sufis and
Sabbati proclaimed their “fana” (annihilation of being,
passing away in mystical union with the deity) by ecstatic
exclamations (Shat'hiyat in Arabic).

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Standards
" “The principles enjoined in all the laws are, uprightness,
philanthropy, brotherly fidelity, sympathy and
compassion for the suffering, silence, self-denial,
obedience, humility and modesty, circumspection and
watchfulness concerning heart and life, forgiveness of
enemies; in short, the highest possible perfection: of
oneself in one's position and calling, whether ruler or
subject, master or servant, stranger or citizen of the
State, father or husband, brother or son, friend,
companion or neighbor; in short, every brother of our
Order should be a worshipper of God, a reverer of Kings
and Princes, a good, obedient citizen, a faithful friend of
his brother. a benefactor of humanity, a noble-minded
investigator of the truth - in a word, an honorable man in
the strictest sense.” - Article VII, General Rules of the

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Philosophy
" Heavily influenced by Rosicrucian ideas and those of Georg von Welling
" Desired a more practical, syncretic study and application of the Kabbalah
" "This system accepts four creations:
! (I) the invisible creation, Aziloth, creation beyond time;
! (2) the first general visible creation, called Benia;
! (3) the Spirit-creation, Lezira;
! (4) the creation of the worlds, called Azia.
" The Endless One produced first homogeneous beings, the enlightened holy Spirits. In the
intelligible world ruled the Son of the Dawn, the first outpouring of the Endless in the
Illumined creation. He was so illuminated, that the rays of the majesty of the Endless
proceeded straight to Him and the whole spiritual world lay between the Endless and Him,
Around the Endless were grouped seven glorious Spirits, who received ever the first
outpourings of the Endless One, and who were the sole mediators through whom the
majesty of the Eternal was manifested.
" The Endless ruled over those creations which were called the creations of the holy Spirits.
But the Son of the Dawn ruled over millions unto the circles of the Sons of God .
" The Son of the Dawn understood that the seven all-powerful Spirits were the means
whereby the glory of the Endless was so solemnly manifested within Himself, and
manifested Itself again through Him through all the circles into the Endless, and the Son
of the Dawn understood that He and all His outpourings' were subject unto the Endless
One, because they bore within them the image of the majesty of the Eternal, without

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Engravings from the Opus Mago-Cabbalisticum et Theosophicum, illustrating the
creations described previously.

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Characteristics
! Unlike the Gold-und-Rosenkreuzer who concentrated on Hermeticism and
Alchemy, the Asiatic Brethren’s predominant areas of study was the
Kabbalah and Theurgy.
! All members took Hebrew names
! No fees were accepted, except to cover the cost of printing
! The Asiatic Brethren did incorporate influences from the Gold–und-
Rosenkreuzer, due to the influx of G&R members into the Asiatic Brethren:
! Terminology such as Aesch-Majim, or “fiery water”, viewed as the prime
substance of creation (represented by the six-pointed star or
“Signatstern.”
! The Fall of Lucifer, seen as the catalyst for the manifestation of the
material world and its separation, isolation from the spiritual.
! This “dualistic” view fits well with both Kabbalistic teachings and with the
spirit of the Christian-oriented ideas of Boehme and
! There is also a distinct Sabbatian Kabbalistic element in the Order’s
Rituals and Doctrines relative to the concepts of:
# “the separation of the thinking and unthinking lights in God, that is to
say the separation of the lights in which the thought of creation was
present, from those in which this intention was not and is not present.”

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Grades
! Seekers
! 14 months probation
! Lectures every 2 weeks,
! Attire - a round black hat with black feathers, a black cloak, a black ribbon, from
which was suspended a double triangle, a black sash adorned with three roses,
white gloves, and sword with a black tassel, and a double triangle embroidered on
the left side of the cloak.
! Sufferers
! 7 months probation
! Required to conduct research into physical science.
! Attire - a round black hat with black and white feathers, white gloves, white-lined
black cloaks with white collars, embroidered in gold double triangles, black sashes
with white edging and three rosettes and swords with black and white tassels. 
These are grades of tests and trials, study. Once members complete these
grades, they then can pass to the principle grades:
! Initiated Knight and Brother of St. John the Evangelist of Asia in Europe
! Attire - a round black hat with white, black, yellow, and red feathers, white gloves
with a red cross and four green roses, black cloaks with white linings and collars
and gold lace; a red cross with four green roses with a green shield in the center
with the monogram “M” and “A” was on the left breast of the cloak and was also

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Grades
! Wise Masters or Masters of Goodness
! Attire - a red hat with white, black, yellow, and red stripes, white gloves, decorated
with red crosses and green roses inside and out, a red cloak, with a green cross and
roses, with the monogram J and C embroidered in gold on a red background; a
badge of the same cross (made of gold and enameled in white, black, yellow, and
red) is worn on a green ribbon, edged with red, with three green roses; a sword with
a green and red tassel.
! Royal Priests or True Rosicrucians or the degree Melchizedek
! Attire - a hat in gold, rose, and green, with the brim turned up in front,
embroidered with the Tetragrammaton in gold, topped with white, red, yellow,
black, and green feathers; white gloves with green and red roses inside and out; a
long rose close-fitting undergarment with cuffs matching the hat, a sash – also in
the colors of the hat - worn around the waist, embroidered with three roses, one
white, one red, and the centre one of the sash colors; the stockings and shoes were
of rose silk. The cloak is similar to the hat, lined with green; on the left breast a
sunburst. The member wore a collar with links made up of shields, monograms of
M and A and J and C, and the representation of a tree, with a man on the right and a
woman, both covering the genitalia with one hand, while touching the tree with the
other. At the end of the chain were the Urim and Thummim (High Priest of Israel's
breast plate)were attached.
! All members adopted or were assigned Hebrew names, both for esoteric purposes

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Tracing Boards of the Asiatic Brethren

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Rosicrucians, Illuminati, and Kabbalists…oh my!
" The Age of Enlightenment provided a fertile ground for Speculative Masonry
and for the proliferation of other quasi-Masonic and Esoteric Orders. This
period was referred to as the “haskalah” by the Jews of Germany, Austria,
Poland, and Russia.
" Intolerance - Despite the forward-thinking characteristics of the
Enlightenment, mainstream Masonic groups in Continental Europe were still
restricted to professed Christians.
" Condemnation - The Asiatic Brethren were the first Esoteric Order to freely
admit Jewish members, as well as Armenians, Turks, Eastern Europeans. This
caused conflict between mainstream Masonic and Rosicrucian Orders and the
Asiatic Brethren.
" The first public presence of the Order, the Ordo Rotae et Aurea Crucis (Order of
the Wheel and Golden Cross) is viewed as a catalyst for Adam Weishaupt
founding the Illuminati, in reaction to the esoteric, versus political, orientation
of the ORAC.
" The relationship was not helped by the publishing, in 1803, of the “Die Bruder
St. Johannis des Evangelisten aus Asien in Europa oder die einzige wahre und
ächte Freimaurerei (The Brothers of St. John the Evangelist of Asia in Europe or
the Only True and Authentic Freemasonry).
" In 1785, Emperor Joseph II issued the Freimaurerapatent, restricting the
activities of Masonic bodies involved in alchemical and esoteric studies. The

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Rosicrucians, Illuminati, and Kabbalists…oh my! (cont.)
" Freemasons in Germany published an exposé of the Asiatic Brethren,
called “Der Asiate in seiner Blösse” (The Asian Brothers Exposed) ,
accusing them of many thing, including falsely claiming to have the true
secrets of Masonry and purposefully duping easily fooled Brothers.
" Conflict between the Rosicrucians (G&R) and the Illuminati – G&R accused
of being “anti-Enlightenment”; Illuminati persecuted by the leadership in
Bavaria. Many Rosicrucians actively supported the persecutions, but were
later shocked at the treatment the Illuminati received.
" Many members of the G&R move to the Asiatic Brethren
" The Kabbalistic views of the Asiatic Brethren subjected them to
condemnation by many leading Jewish/Rabbinical scholars.
" Within the Order, there was dissention about the status of Jewish
members.
" Hirschfeld, became involved in a legal battle when he sued Ecker for
payment of a debt. Ecker retaliated by claiming that Hirschfeld had
threatened his life. This issue continued to escalate, culminating with
Hirschfeld being placed under house arrest (by the members of the
order) and expelled from the order in a circular that accused him of
having gone too far in imposing Jewish kabbalistic elements on the
rituals.

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Influences on Esoteric Movements
" Golden Dawn – Many members of both the C&RC
and Asiatic Brethren later joined a Rosicrucian
Lodge in Frankfurt-am-Main, L'Aurore Naissante
(or "the Nascent Dawn")
" Memphis-Misraim
" Modern Rosicrucian Orders
" The Original OTO
" Societas Rosicrusiana in Anglia
" Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite (note some
of the ritual costumes)

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 Asiatic Brethren
! Asiatic Brethren and the 21st Century
" Groundswell of interest in esoteric and
philosophical studies and practices
" An effort to revive the Asiatic Brethren is
currently underway, involving reworked rituals,
modern approaches to study,
" Theurgy, Theoretical, and Practical Kabbalistic
studies, practices, discussions.

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 Asiatic Brethren
! What can we, as Freemasons, learn from
the Asiatic Brethren?
" In the Lodge
! Infighting, intolerance, and external condemnation is nothing new and
we have seen how destructive it is. We must counter it with Tolerance
and Education.
! We must be open to new ideas, not validating based on lineage, but
rather reviewing the ideas and philosophies on their own merit.
! We must guard the West Gate to ensure those seeking admission are
truly qualified and the goals of the Order and Lodge are understood
and supported.
! We must be ready to defend the need for expending effort in study,
learning, and knowledge, in the face of "instant gratification“,
protecting the key aspects of the Order – its standards, teachings,
rituals.

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 Asiatic Brethren
! What can we, as Freemasons, learn from
the Asiatic Brethren? (cont.)
" In our Lives
! We have chosen our paths – we must be dedicated on following them.
! We must be ready to both learn and teach – the sharing of knowledge
with those who are ready to receive it can be one our greatest
experiences and is its own reward.
! We must work for Unity, for Harmony, subjecting our own desires for
the good of the Order and for the Great Work.
! We must be willing to work for Knowledge, labor for Wisdom, struggle
for Self-Awareness. By doing this, Intolerance can never take root.
! When confronted by the Darkness of Ignorance, we must respond with
the Light of Knowledge; when encountering different paths, we must
choose to learn and not condemn.

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 Asiatic Brethren

We are the custodians of the Wisdom of

Ages; we are the inheritors of the Mysteries.
We must labor to preserve them, to support
them, to inculcate them into the psyche of
good men….or we, too, will fade from

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 Credits
I am deeply indebted to the following Brothers for their generous support and
assistance:
! Brother Loran Frazier – Editor of the New Hermetics Equinox Journal – for
allowing the preview of an upcoming article on this same topic.
! Brother Olen Rush – Student of the Kabbalah in several traditions and a
leading researcher into the Asiatic Brethren – for his insight, research, and
patience.
! Brother Darcy Kuntz – curator of the Golden Dawn research Trust – for his
invaluable manuscripts.

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