The Society Of The Rose Croix.*

THE SOCIETY OF THE ROSE CROIX . *

BT THE EDITOR . ( Continued from page 430 . J

AFTER this explanation of the origin of the fraternity of 'the Rose Croix , which appears to be the most probable one , we ought not to omit to mention the conjectures of those who think that this society was simply the effort of several intelligent persons desirous of placing themselves in communication one with the other , in order to labour , with a common programme , for the advancement of science and philosophyby mutuallcommunicating

, y their ideas . In this hypothesis the Rose Croix formed a sort of liberal Freemasonry . The very natural fear of exciting the suspicions of the spiritual and temporal powers would explain the care , the necessity in which the fraternity found itself of surrounding itself with mystery , of deeming itself invisible , and of having no place of meeting known to the public . In addition , they might hope that the strange conditions of the new society would attract

attention ancl interest for those sectaries , and would inspire , on more than one authority , the ambition of belonging to them . We know , besides , that many persons have taken the title of Rose Croix without being Rose Croix , while many Rose Croix have dispensed with the use of the name . f In addition , it is clear that the Rose Croix had no hesitation to inscribe officially on their registers those personages who seemed to them worthy of that honour .

Many philosophers or celebrated men found their names there without their knowledge ; from which it resulted that whilst more than one illustrious " savant " lent to the fraternity the support of his name and his glory , that fraternit y on the other hand suffered in public opinion from many unworthy persons with whom it had never fraternized . In true historic justice we must not judge it for its personality , but for its principles , which we are now about to make known to our readers .

The doctrine and the rule of conduct of the brethren of the Rose Croix are contained in the manifesto of which we have spoken , and in another little book , called "La Confession de Foi "— "The Confession of Faith" —which is annexed to the preceding work . Although it has never been possible to know exactly what was the grand secret of the Rose Croix kept hidden , it has been thought that it referred to these four points—the transmutation of

metals , the art of prolonging life during many ages , the knowledge of that which passes in distant places , and the application of the "Cabala " and the science of numbers for the discovery of the most hidden things . The number of the brethren of the Rose Croix was onl y four at the commencement of the fraternity , Rosenkreutz having only revealed his secret to three companionsoraccording- to othersto his three sons . Their number

, , , increasedsoon to eight . They were all celibates . These adept founders assembled in a chapel called that of the Hol y Spirit , and it was there that they imparted instructions ancl information to the newl y initiated . Once entered in the bosom of the fraternity , the brethren mutually vowed an inviolable fidelity , and engaged themselves by oath to keep their secret impenetrable for profanes .