Soc: Rosicr: In Anglia. " Rosicrucuanism. "

SOC : ROSICR : IN ANGLIA . " ROSICRUCUANISM . "

Au- luuiu / iirdl , Address , delivered uf the First Meetix ) of Ike York College , id York , 2 tik February I 8 S 0 , L < j tt . W . FUA . T . B . WjiYTJ-b'iKAO , Chief Ailepfc . . FKATIIES , —On the eve of addressing so distinguished a body of Masons as that I now seo assembled , I think I can scarcely b accuscd of affectation if I express somo measure of diffidence ; knowing so

well that there aro many of yon far better qualified to instruct than yonr Chief Adept . Still I feel no less that on tho occasion of the first meeting of the York College of Rosicrucians something is naturally expected from its leader , and on this account I have put together a few remarks which I trust will servo as somo introduction to the intelligent existence which seems to open before us .

Some thero aro present to-day , novices of our Order , and others who perhaps have not mado diligent inquiry into tho subject , who will in the ordinary course of thought ask—What is tho Society into which wo entered , and wh y is it called the Rosicrucian Society of England ? This opens up two questions— "Who aud what were the Rosicrucians , and yvho and what are tho Rosicrucians ? To tho first

of these it is b y no means easy to give a thoroughly satisfactory reply . There are thoso who aro prepared to maintain that tho Society of Rosicrucains was a myth . That the Order was mirolv imagiuarv .

horn and existing only in tho fanciful imaginations of a certain set of mediaival students who found the idea a convenient pivot on which to hingo their teachings , and a cloak beneath which to conceal their secret proceedings . Others thore aro who , whilst admitting the acttial existence of a secret Order of the name , believe that its philosophical aspect was purely a mask beneath which to hide complicated intrigues of a political nature , and who claim for its members some of the most eminent of tho scholars of Europe of the olden time-as Boccaccio and Dante . As for tho traditional historv

ot the Rosicrucians , the only writer who has pretended t , o afford us any insight into it is John Valentine Andrea , whoso Latin writings were very numerous , chiefly consisting of moral and occult treatises . Andrea was born in 1586 , aud died in 1654 . Ho wrote many books , and was a staunch advocate of Protestant principles or the ri- 'ht of private judgment . In 1614 ho published a work called Fawn , et Lonjessw Fraternitatis Rosea ; Crucis . which wont through Rnvm-n !

editions , and which professed to give an account of the origin ancl aims of tho Rosicrucian Society . It is manifest , as you will seo presently , that this history is almost entirely fabulous , but it is exceedingly ingenious , and well adapted to excite " that curiosity and cravin « for tho unknown and marvellous which at all times has characterised the human mind , aud especially about tho period at which Andrea wrote .

According to his story there lived once npon a timo a certain Christian Rossnkrenz , who was of good birth but poor , and who was compolled to enter n monastery at a very earl y age . When 16 years old lie set off on a pilgrimage with one of the monks to tho Ho ' ly Sepulchre . Arriving at Cyprus the monk fell ill and died , and Rosenkrenz had to pnrsno his journey alone . When ho rnnnWl -n „ mno „„ 0

ho stayed thore three years , pursuing with zeal the study of the occult sciences , which wero then taught by tho Ma- * i in that city who were known as tho "The Wise Men of the East . " From Damascus ho mado for Egypt , aud there further renewed his researches , and at last , having skirted the shores oftho Mediterranean , arrived at 1- ez , in Morocco , where his instrnntnrn m Tlnmn ^ na i , n

ordered him to reside . Here he staved two years , and then crossed over to fcpain , thence returning to Germany , where ho resolved to form a society for tbo preservation and prosecution of the sciences of which he had mado himself master . Ho therefore selected three monks of his convent , and , unr ' er vows of secrecy , imparted to them ms learning , which was to be committed to writing , in a mvstic

vocaoniary f „ tho use of future students . Tho science of medicine was one of tho branches of study included ; bnt so large became the number of applicants for relief that Rosenkreuz resolved to admit jour now members , which was done , and it was arranged that j two should remain in their House of the Holy Spirit fas it was called ) i

, " Christian , and the others should travel and acquire knowwage and dispense relief , bnt that all shonld assemble annually and mutually communicate ideas and results . Tho brethren woro not uistingnished by any peculiar garb , they practised tho healing art witDout any charge , and each one was required during his life to np . Point one to succeed him at his death . The letters E . G . were their ¦ tie and watchword , ancl it was arranged that the brotherhood should

At Z a hnrKlred years . At the age of 100 years Father Rosenkreuz died , ancl was buried by one two brethren who hnd remained with him , but the place of his ariai remained a secret to all tho rest , tho two carrying tho secret to tl gmve * ^' evel * theless the Society was continued , but unknown cue world , always maintaining its number of eight members . They

" rav r r trfu 1 ition nm ™ g them that at the end of 120 vcars the lin I - ^ ather Rosenkreuz was to be discovered , and the brotherhood ^ jongc r be kept secret fro m the world . About that timo the brethren romo " t ' nake SOr - ° ' tcrat ' 0113 in their buildings , and attempted to mscrih " 1 ° ainore fifcting situation tho memorial table , on which wore IDed the names of those who ha . d linen members nf Mm Frafnr .

driv « , P ' , vas of brass » "" d was fixec 1 to the wall by a nail incy ff " hrou " h its centre , bnt so firmly was it attached that , in taksecret l ™ 7 ' pnl ' £ ion of tho P la 9 ter was torn off > ant 1 disclosed a " writ r " Upon removing the rust on the door there appeared £ . ten in largo letters " Post OXX Annas Patebo " —After 120 years y will appear . They opened tho door , and discovered an heptagonal ai , lt , each of its seven sides being live feet wide and eight feet high .

Soc: Rosicr: In Anglia. " Rosicrucuanism. "

lt iva > lighted from an artiiicial situ iu the roof , and iu the middle of the floor there stood , instead of a tn « ib , a circular altar , on which was au inscription , stating that this apartment had been erected by Christian Koseuktvui' . as a model compendium of the universe . About the vault were other inscriptions , nt J < :. < ex ¦ mi ' ii oni-niu , "fiei / is j" -ii'm , l . ib ' -r ' iis Hrainielii , and so on , indicating the Christian character of

the builder . In each of the sides was a door opening into a closet , and in f ' ie « e closets they found many rare and valuable articles , such as tho liife (> f the Founder , the Vocabulary of Paracelsus , and the Seerets of the Order , together with bid ' s , mirrors , burning lamps , and other singular articles . On removing the altar and a brass plate beneath it , they came upon the body of Rosoukreuz in a perfect state of

preservation . Andrei's book created all the sensation he probably anticipated , and numbers of persons camo forward with a view to join this romantic society , which , however , they failed to discover , its existence being solely in tho brain of Andrea . Tho result , however , waa tho formation of moro than ono mystical brotherhood , claiming ancient

origin , aud amongst those who prominently belonged to English branches of them were Elias Ashmolo and Richard Fludd . Tho members professed to bo in search of lost secrets connected with alchemy and astrology , especially the Philosopher ' s Stone ( whatever that was ) , and tho art of making gold . In times when all secret working was dangerous , as being regarded by Church and Stato with

suspicion , it may havo been a very convenient blind to profess a search for that which , when found , would enrich mankind , and remove tho necessity for labour . Tho symbol of tho Rosicrucians was a rose upon a cross , tho rose being a symbol of secrecy , and tho cross of the light of knowledge . Tho history and objects of tho early Rosicrucians are , however ,

veiled in mystery , u"d > like Freemasonry , the theories advanced regarding them havo beeu very numerous . Between them aud the ancient Gnostics many similarities of emblems and ideas havo been found , and so somo havo assorted that their origin was to bo sought in tho history of that curious and powerful sect which flourished during the earlier days of Christianity , and whoso remains iu tho

form of amulets , (!; eim , marks , and altars aro so frequent in the ruins along tho shores of tlio Mediterranean . Amongst tho byegono writers on Rosicrucianism aro many names of note—Albertns Magnus ( Cologne ) , Alexander Ales ( Edinburgh ) , Arnold of Villanova , Roger Bacon , Thomas Chardock ( Salisbury ) , Dr . Fa Ik , Nostradamus , Florent do Villers , ancl many others . They

wero all voluminous authors , and wrote on hermetioism and tho occult sciences . It is much easier to reply to tho question—What is tho Rosicrucian Society of tho present day of which we havo the honour to bo a branch ? It may be very justly described as a Masonic Literary and Archaeological Association , having for its objects tho endeavour

to elucidate the history of Freemasonry aud to examine kindred questions and subjects . It is not a Masonic Order , having an entirely distinct and independent basis and foundation , but it is for evident reasons a sine qua non that its members should havo previously been received into tho Masonic fraternity . Tho Rosicruciau Society numbers in its ranks many of tho most intelligent

Masons of England , Scotland , Ireland , Europe , and America , for everywhere aro independent branches of the Order in fraternal connection with oach other . Of late it has spread considerably , and numbers in England some six or seven colleges , including tho Metropolitan College . The Supreme Magus in Angiitis tho M . W . Fra . Dr . Woodman cf Exeter . Tho Degrees of the system aro nine :

—1 , Zelator , Illnminattts or Junior ; 2 , xheoricns ; 3 , Praccicns ; 4 , Philosophus ; 5 , Ad- ptus , Junior or Minor ; 6 , Adepfcns , Senior or Major ; 7 , Adeptns Exemptns ; 8 , Magister Tempii ; and 9 , Magus . A college consists pf 36 members , the Chief Adept being of tho 8 th grade . There may be thon 2 of tho 7 th grade , 3 of tho Gth grade , 4 of the 5 th grade , 5 of the 4-th grade , 6 of tho 3 rd grade , 7 of tho

2 nd grade , and 8 of tho 1 st grade . After this number ( 3 fi ) aspirants can still bo admitted to tho first grade , but ( as in a Royal Arch Chapter exceeding 72 ) they are not actual voting members of the college when thirty-six of their elders aro preseut . Fratres , —I am very anxious that tho York College should carry out . faithfully the objects for which the Order was revived . Our heacli

quarters aro upon classic ground . We are meeting ou a spot . at which many writers havo supposed was a centre of working of the ancierctt Cnldces . We are surrounded by an atmosphere pregnant with memories of tho past . It is for tho sake of those memories , and for tho investigation of their origin , that we propose to meet together as a . college . Wc have amongst us Fratres who aro well able to

enlighten us on many points on which wo desire information . We are fortunate in numbering on our already long roll Masons of great erudition and knovvn in tho literary and working Masonic world . There is , perhaps , no Provincial College of the Order that has begun tinder fairer auspices than we have done this day . But I am very anxious that we should not rest upon onr oars .

Let us not content ourselves with having done well , but let us aim ever to bo advancing and improving . The field of labour which presents itself before us is large and varied . So many branches of knowledge arc open to ns that amougst ourselves we may each findsome special line in which to direct the channel of our thoughts and : studies . I hope each member will regard it as his positive duty , as a

member of this College , to render himself expert in some branch of Masonic study , so that he may , when his time comes , be prepared to enlighten his fellows when called on so to do . Ancl I would further ask you to be careful whom you propose for a participation in our knowledge . Remember that the acquisition of members is not our object . We do not desire to fill np onr ranks with drones and

dummies . Let each candidate introduced be one whom you have the best reasons for believing will not only be a credit to our society but will , by his talents , education , and energy , bo able to add to theknowledge of his companions . Thus aiming ancl working , wo cannot fail to become a beacon in the Order , and shed the light of intelli , gencc upon those Masonic circles with which wo come in contact .