THE ROSICRUCIANS.
(Vol. vii., p. 619.)
When Pope, in dedicating his Rape of the Lock to Mrs. Arabella Fermor, was desirous of putting within the reach of that lady the information which Mr. E. S. Taylor has sought through your pages, he wrote:
"The Rosicrucians are a people that I must bring you acquainted with. The best account of them I know is in a French book called Le Compte de Gabalis, which, both in its title and size, is so like a novel, that many of the fair sex have read it for one by mistake."—Dedicatory Letter to the Rape of the Lock.
This celebrated work was written by the Abbé Montfaucon de Villars, and published in 1670. "C'est une partie (says Voltaire, Siècle de Louis XIV.) de l'ancienne mythologie des Perses. L'auteur fut tué en 1675 d'un coup de pistolet. On dit que les sylphes l'avaient assassiné pour avoir révélé leurs mystères." In 1680, an English translation appeared (penes me), entitled:
"The Count of Gabalis; or the Extravagant Mysteries of the Cabalists, exposed in Five Pleasant Discourses on the Secret Sciences. Done into English by P. A. (Peter Ayres), Gent., with short Animadversions. London printed for B. M., printer to the Royal Society of the Sages at the Signe of the Rosy Crusian."
The original French work went through several editions: my own copy bears the imprint of Amsterdam, 1715, and has appended to it La Suite du Compte de Gabalis, ou Entretiens sur les Sciences secrètes, touchant la nouvelle Philosophie," &c.
So much in deference to Pope,—whose only object, however, was to make Mrs. Fermor acquainted with so much of Rosicrucianism as was necessary to the comprehension of the machinery of his poem. Mr. E. S. Taylor must go farther afield if he is desirous of "earning the vere adeptus," and becoming, like Butler's Ralpho—
For Mystic Learning wondrous able,
In magic Talisman and Cabal,
Whose primitive tradition reaches
As far as Adam's first green breeches;
Deep-sighted in Intelligences,
Ideas, Atoms, Influences;
And much of Terra-Incognita,
Th' intelligible world could say;
A deep Occult Philosopher,
As learned as the wild Irish are,
Or Sir Agrippa; for profound
And solid lying much renowned.
He Anthroposophus and Fludd,
And Jacob Behmen understood;
Knew many an amulet and charm,
That would do neither good nor harm;
In Rosy-Crucian lore as learned
As he that vere adeptus earned."
Hudibras, Part i. Canto 1.
These lines enumerate, in a scarcely satirical form, the objects and results of a study of Rosicrucianism, in so far as it differs from that of alchemy and the occult sciences. The history of the Rosicrucians,—or rather the inquiry as to whether actually existed at any time such a college or brotherhood, and, if so, to what degree of antiquity can it lay claim,—forms another and, perhaps, somewhat more profitable subject of attention. This question, however, having been fully discussed elsewhere, I will conclude by a catalogue raisonné of such books and essays (the most important of which are readily obtainable) as will enable your correspondent to acquire for himself the information he seeks.
Allgemeine und General Reformation der ganzen weiten Welt, beneben der Fama Fraternitatis, oder Enstehung der Brüderschaft des löblichen Ordens des Rosenkreutzes, &c. 8vo. Cassel, 1614. [Ascribed to John Valentine Andrea. In this pamphlet occurs the first mention of the society; no allusion being made to it in the works of Bacon, Paracelsus, Agrippa, &c. It was republished at Frankfort in 1617 under a somewhat different title. Appended to it is a tract entitled "Sendbrieff, oder Bericht an Alle welche von den neuen Brüderschafft des Ordens von Rosen-Creutz genannt etwas gelesen," &c. This work contains a full account of the origin and tenets of the brotherhood, and is the source whence modern writers have drawn their information. It called into existence a host of pamphlets for and against the very existence and tenets of the society.]
Histoire de la Philosophie Hermétique, accompagnée d'un Catalogue raisonné des Ecrivains de cette Science, par l'Abbé Lenglet du Fresnoy. 3 vols. 12mo. Paris, 1742.
Theomagia, or the Temple of Wisdom, containing the Occult Powers of the Angels of Astromancy in the Telesmatical Sculpture of the Persians and Ægyptians; the knowledge of the Rosie-Crucian Physick, and the Miraculous in Nature, &c., by John Heydon. 8vo. 1664. [The works of this enthusiast are extremely curious and rare. He is also the author of the following.]
The Wiseman's Crowne, or the Glory of the Rosie-Cross, &c.; with the Regie Lucis, and Holy Household of Rosie-Crucian Philosophers. 8vo. 1664.
Elhavarevna, or the English Physitian's Tutor in the Astrabolismes of Mettals Rosie-Crucian, Miraculous Sapphiric Medicines of the Sun and Moon, &c., all Harmoniously United, and Operated by Astromancy and Geomancy, in so Easie a Method that a Fine Lady may practise and compleat Incredible, Extraordinary Telesmes (and read her Gallant's devices without disturbing her fancy), and cure all Diseases in Yong and Old, whereunto is added Psonthonphancia, &c. 8vo. 1665.
Dictionnaire Infernal; ou Répertoire des Etres, Apparitions de la Magique, des Sciences occultes, Impostures, &c., par Collin de Plancy. 8vo. Paris, 1844.
To render this list more complete, a great number may be added, the titles of which will be found in the following essays, from which much information on the subject will be gained:—
New Curiosities of Literature. By George Soane, B.A. 2 vols. 8vo. London, 1849. [In vol. ii. p. 135. is an able and interesting essay entitled "Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry," in which the author, with considerable success, endeavours to show that Rosicrucianism had no existence before the sixteenth century, and is a mere elaboration of Paracelsian doctrines: and that Freemasonry is nothing more than an offspring from it, and has, consequently, no claim to the antiquity of which it boasts.]
Swift's Tale of a Tub. [In Section X. of this wonderful book will be found a caustic piece of satire on the futility of the Rosicrucian philosophy.]
Butler's Hudibras. [Grey's notes to part I., passim.]
Memoirs of Extraordinary Popular Delusions. By Charles Mackay, LL.D. 2 vols. 8vo. [In the section devoted to the Alchymists, is a carefully compiled account of the Rosicrucians.]
Chambers's Papers for the People, No. 33., vol. v., "Secret Societies of the Middle Ages."
Idem, No. 66., "Alchemy and the Alchemists."
The Guardian, No. 166.
The Spectator, No. 574.
Idem, No. 379. [This number contains Budgell's Legend of the Sepulchre of Rosicrucius.]
The Rosicrucian: a Novel. 3 vols. 8vo.
Zanoni. By Sir E. L. Bulwer.
After the slumber of a century, with new objects and regulations, Rosicrucianism (so to speak) was revived in the country of its birth.
A very curious volume was published fifty years ago, entitled Proofs of a Conspiracy against all the Religions and Governments of Europe, carried on in the secret meetings of Freemasons, Illuminati, and Reading Societies, by John Robinson, A.M., &c., 8vo., London, 1798. This volume is chiefly occupied by a history of the origin, proceedings, and objects of the Illuminati, a sect which had rendered important services to revolutionary interests, and laid the foundations of European propagandism. Much curious matter relative to this sect will also be found in George Sand's Comtesse de Rudolstadt, vol. ii.; upon, or just before, its extinction, a new political association was formed at Baden and Carlsruhe, under the auspices of Baron van Edelsheim, police minister of the Elector, under the title of Die Rosenkrietzer. This society was called into existence by a reactionary dread of that republicanism in politics, and atheism in morals, which seemed at that time to prey upon the vitals of European society. The society soon spread, and had its affiliations in various parts of Germany, giving such uneasiness to Buonaparte, to the accomplishment of whose projects it exercised an adverse influence, that he despatched a secret messenger for the purpose of obtaining information as to its projects and developments. He did everything in his power to destroy the association, which, however, survived, until his murder of Palm, the bookseller, for publishing the Geist der Zeit, seeming to call for a new and modified association, led to its extinction, and the creation of a new secret society, the celebrated Tungen-Bund, in its place.
It will be seen that in the foregoing I have confined myself to that part of your correspondent's Query which relates to "the Brethren of the Rosy-Cross." I have not ventured to allude to the Alchymists, or the writings of Paracelsus, his predecessors and followers, which form a library, and demand a catalogue for their mere enumeration. If Mr. E. S. Taylor, however, is desirous of farther information, and will favour me with his address, I shall be happy to assist his researches in Hermetic philosophy to the extent of my ability.
William Bates.
Birmingham.
The Society of Rosicrucians, or Rosecroix (whom Collier calls a sect of mountebanks), first started into existence in Germany in the seventeenth century. They laid claim to the possession of divers secrets, among which the philosopher's stone was the least. They never dared to appear publicly, and styled themselves The Invisible.
In 1622 they put forth the following advertisement:
"We, deputed by our College, the principal of the brethren of the Rosicrucians, to make our visible and invisible abode in this city, through the grace of the Most High; towards whom are turned the hearts of the just: we teach without books or notes, and speak the languages of the countries wherever we are, to draw men like ourselves from the error of death."
The Illuminati of Spain were a branch of this sect. In 1615 one John Bringeret printed a work in Germany containing two treatises, entitled The Manifesto and Confession of Faith of the Fraternity of the Rosicrucians in Germany.
H. C. K.
—— Rectory, Hereford.