ANOVERVIEWOFTHEALCHEMICALANDMAGICALSYSTEM

OFTHEGOLDUNDROSENKREUZORDER

Copyright2007TommyWestlund

ReproducedimageisfromahandwrittenandhandcolourededitionoftheGeheimeFigurenderRosenkreuzer,
ausdem16tenund17tenJahrhundertfrom1785,showingtheMysteriumMagnumStudiumUniversali.(From
thearchiveofSodalitasRosae+Crucis&SolisAlati.)

Mostpeopleinterestedinthewesternhermetictraditiontodayknowthatthe18thcentury
GoldundRosenkreuzOrderwasahighdegreeMasonicOrderwithastrongemphasison
laboratoryalchemy.Whatisnotgenerallyknown,however,ishowthisworkwasconsidered
asapreparationforthemagicalandtheurgicalworkwhichtheytaughtintheirhigher
degrees,wherethefinalaimoftheirsystemwastobecomeaprophetinthesamestyleas
theoneswereadaboutintheOldandNewTestament.Theintentionofthisarticleisto
spreadsomelightontheseaspects,whileatthesametimegiveanoverviewofhowthe
Orderwasstructuredbypresentingitssystemasitwasbeingpresentedforitsmembers.
ThesourcematerialisfromtheoldSwedishlodgeoftheGoldundRosenkreuzOrder,which
containsawealthofmaterialhithertounpublished,andnowinthecustodyoftheSodalitas
Rosae+Crucis&SolisAlati.

SamuelRichtersOrder
ThefirstmentionoftheGoldundRosenkreuzOrderisfromthebeginningofthe18th
century,whenthenomenmysticumSincerusRenatus(SamuelRichter)publishedTheTrue
andCompletePreparationofthePhilosophersStoneoftheBrotherhoodfromtheOrderof
theGoldenandRosyCross.1ThereisstilldebatewhethertheOrderonlyexistedinhis
imaginationorifthereactuallywasanorganizedgroup,butregardlessofthat,ithada
strongimpactonwhatwouldhappenhalfacenturylater.2Theantipapaltoneofthe
Rosicrucianmanifestoshadgraduallyceasedduringthe17thcentury,andtheroleof
laboratoryalchemyhadincreased,tillthepointwhereitwasnowportrayedastheRoyal
path,andthusaddedGoldtotheRosyCross.(Themanifestosquiteharshlydismissed
laboratoryalchemy.)

Theinitiationfromthisperiodwasverysimple,andtookplaceatnightinachurch.The
candidatehadbeenpreparedforthreemonthsbyhissponsor,andmethisinitiatorforthe
firsttimeatthechurchaltar.Theinitiationconsistedofthreeparts;a)ceremonialactivities
(likethecuttingofhair,whichwaskeptbytheSuperioroftheOrder,andbloodletting),b)
theoath,andc)aprayer.Afterwards,thenewmemberreceived,understrictregulations,a
portionofthePhilosophersStone.Insummary,itwasveryfarfromthelaterMasonicstyled
ritualsandelaborateOrderstructure,butitsstatutessetanewstandardforthetimeto
come.However,anyclaimthatthereexistedalinkbetweenthisOrderandtheone
establishedsome50yearslater,apartfromthepublishedbook,ispresentlyveryunlikely,
althoughcertainlytherewereRosicrucianactivitiesgoingonaroundEurope.3

TheMostPraiseworthyOrderoftheGoldenRosyCross
Havingbeenmanifested(or,accordingtosome,revived)insouthernGermanyprobably
around175658,itswiftlyspreadacrossGermany,andeventuallyreachedcountrieslike
Poland,SwedenandRussia.Duringthisfirstperiod,memberswereneitherrequiredtobe
masonsnorChristians,andtheOrderemphasizedtheirconnectionwiththeoldTemplar
Knights.In1767,ageneralreformationtookplace,wherethegradestructuregrewfrom7to
9degreeswithamorebiblicallyorientedfocus,andtheorganizationwashighlydeveloped.
ItwasthenitbecameahighdegreeMasonicsystem,andinevengreatertermspromised
secretteachingstoanelite,andsotospeakbecameareligioussubstitute.Ithasquiteaptly
beendescribedastheosophicalmasonry.Tenyearslater,in1777,anothergeneral
reformationoccurred,andmostexistingmaterialtodayisfromthatperiod.

ThepurposeoftheOrderwastoregeneratemanbacktohisoriginaldignity(areborninthe
Biblicalsense),restoretheimageofGodonthissideoftheabyss,andwiththeaidofJesus
ChristfightagainstthedevilanddarknesswhilebuildingtheKingdomofLight,sothat
everythingfinallywillbeabletoreintegratebacktoitsoriginalcondition.Themeanstodo
sowastoteachthemembersintheartsofalchemy,magicandprophecy,throughan
elaboratedegreesystem.WhatisimportanttounderstandhereisthattheOrderwasvery
1

Die wahrhafte und volkommene Bereitung des philosophischen Steins der Brderschafft aus dem Orden des
Gulden und Rosen Kreutzes (1710).
2
Richter states in the foreword that he had been given the document from a Professor of the Art, and that only 9
Rosicrucians existed at that time.
3
A Rosicrucian circle was for example being operated in Sweden, which used the initiation ritual of Richter.
According to their documents, the members had now increased to 12. Thus, they did either not consider the Gold
und Rosenkreuz Order as legitimate Rosicrucians, or they were unaware of their presence.

influencedbytheosophy,andbelievedthatdiseasesanddeathwereanaturalresultof
originalSinandMansresultingFall.Alchemywasthusawayofremovingsinbyhealing
diseasesandprolonginglife,andaccomplishedperfectionofbody,soulandspirit.Onlythen
couldtherealmagicandtheurgybeworked,whichwillbeexemplifiedlateron.

ReproducedimageisfromthesecretinstructionsoftheGoldundRosenkreuzOrder,whichexplainshowthe
RoyalpathofAlchemyopensupthesevenseals.(FromthearchiveofSodalitasRosae+Crucis&SolisAlati.)

Lodgerituals
TheinitiationritualswereinfluencedbytheMasonicbluedegreerituals,andveryoften
soughttoexplainalchemicalmeaningsandsymbolismhiddentherein.Inaddition,theyeach
hadwhatwecancallapurifyingaspect.Eachdegreehadaspeciallodgeroomwithseveral
sections(colouredaccordingtoalchemicalstages),andduringaninitiation,abrothermight
havetovisitseveralroomsinordertoreceivecertainobjectsorinstructions,whichwere
thenbroughttotheroomofthegradehewasbeingreceivedinto,alldoneinceremonial
mannerwithquestions,passwordsandsigns.Thefollowingdescriptionoftheroomsand
theircontentsisfromtheinitiationritualofthePhilosophusgrade.

Thefirstroomhasagreentableandthreegreenchairs.Onthetablelaysabare
sword,aredstring,acupwithwine,andsomebread.Inthemiddleisacandle.The
chamberisguardedbymerelyoneJunior.
Thesecondroomhasatablecoveredwithseveralcoloursandfourchairscolouredin
thesameway.Onthetableare2candles,2strings,onewhiteandonered,2bare
swords,onecastpotcontainingrosewater,onehandbasinandoneserviette.The
roomisguardedbytwoTheoretici.
Thethirdroomhasfivechairsandatablecoveredingrey,onwhicharethreecandles,
threecords,onered,onewhiteandoneblack,andthreeswords.Itisguardedby
threePracticibrothers.
Thefourthroomhasatablecoveredinblack,onwhichmustbefourcandles,four
swords,theBookofConstitutions,aglobe,anincenseburner,aboxwithincense,
preparedofstorax,frankincense,gumtreeandmyrrh,asaltcellarineithergold,silver

orglass.Sixchairscoveredinblackareplacedaroundthetable.Twelvecandlesshine
onthewalls.Thebrothersaredressedinblack,carryingtheirOrderregalia,aprons
andswords.

ReproducedimageisfromthereceptionformulaofthefourthgradeoftheGoldundRosenkreuzOrder.(From
thearchiveofSodalitasRosae+Crucis&SolisAlati.)

TheDirectoroftheLodgeruledbythepoweroftheStaffofAaron,agreenandredash
wandinscribedwithagoldenAlphaandOmegaoneachend.Withthis,healsotouchedthe
candidatesoncertainpartsduringtheinitiations.

Apartfrominitiationsandinstructionceremonies,wherediscoursesonFreemasonry,
alchemy,theosophyandChristianKabbalahweredelivered,theyhadastronginclinefor
tablemeallodges,wherethemostimportantobjectwasthesaltcellarinthemiddleofthe
table,surroundedbythreecandles.Thecatechismofthegradewasalwaysrecitedduring
suchmeetings,wherenomorethanthreedisheswereallowedtobeserved.4

TobereceivedintotheOrder,thecandidatehadtobe30yearsold,atruemasterofthe
LightandthelostWord(i.e.MasterMason),andpossessingthevisiblesignsthereof,viz.
honour,commonsense,peacefulness,anddesireandappreciationforknowledge.Onhis
entranceintotheOrder,hisnamewaskabbalizedbytheDirectorortheMaster.Thiscould
eitherbeakabbalisticmodificationofhismundanename,orafewwordsmotto.

GradeStructure

1Juniorus
Thiswasastrictlytheoreticaldegree,whereonelearntabouttheoriginoftheFraternity
(whichwasfoundedbynootherthanthebiblicalAdam),andthatthethreedegreesof
Freemasonrywereestablishedasapreliminaryschoolforthehighersciences.Alchemical
interpretationsofthethreeMasonicdegreesweregiven,aswellasageneraldoctrine
4

As a German Order, they had regulations for more or less everything

concerningthefourelements.Thefouralchemicalstagesofnigredo,albedo,citrinitas,and
rubedo,foundonthetracingboard,weredescribedas:
First,theBlackColour,inPutrefactioorDecay
Second,theWhite,inAlbatioorPurification
Third,theYellow,inGradatio,orElevation
Fourth,theRed,intheperfectionoftheSupremeSecret
TheJuniorushadtolearnseveralpagesofalchemicalsymbolsandtheirmeanings,since
eachsignhadaspecifickabbalisticmeaningwhichwouldbeputtouseinthefourthgrade,
aswellasthemandatorycipher.(Eachgradehaditsspecificcipher).

2Theoretici
Alsoastrictlytheoreticaldegree,whichcarriedthemottoofthroughobservingnature,we
cometoknowGodandourselves.AnalchemicalinterpretationofGenesiswasgiven,as
wellasageneraldoctrineofcreationandallofitsinhabitants,andtherelationbetweenthe
macroandmicrocosm.Thefollowingexcerptisfromthatdoctrine,whichbrieflyexplains
mansthreefoldnatureandcomposition.

Man,whosebodyisfromthelowerElements,whoseSoulisfromtheMiddleHeaven,
andwhoseSpiritoriginatesfromGod,assumesinthiswaythehigher,thelowerand
themiddle,andisaninterferencefromtheVisibleandInvisibleWorldanditsmany
forces;however,hisnaturalinstitutionandorderisruinedsinceSinandits
subsequentcurse,andallhisthreepartsaresubjectedtomanydiseases.

Manandhisbody
Thebodyofmanisnotverydifferentfrommatterandthemoreperfectanimal
bodies,justmorebeautifulinformandprovidedwithtools,fittingforitssecret
condition.

TheSoul
Justliketheanimals,heownsasensualSoul,torulethebodyandtoformimagesof
thethingscomprehendedthroughtheSenses;thisforceofimagination,however,is
strongerinManthanintheanimals,sinceheisalsocapableofscatteringthe
comprehendedImages,andofthis,combineandformnewones.

TheSpirit
Butforemost,ManisgivenalivingSpirit,blownintothenostrils,andareasonable
Spirit,freeandpurefromallmatteranditsElements.ThisisaMirror,inwhichthe
mostremotethingsarebeingportrayedasbeingpresent,andwherethepastcanbe
retrieved.Buteventhisspiritualandsimplebeingcannotalonejudge,assumeand
discardtheconceptsreceivedbythesenses,butalsothroughitscontemplation
investigateSpiritual,andforthesensesincomprehensibleThings.Skillinthisis
Shrewdness.Hiswilldecidesaccordingtowhatisacknowledgedbyhisintelligence,as
goodorevil.Inaddition,GodhasgottheConscienceasaninnerwitnessandjudge,
wherebymanisconsciousofthatknowledgeandactions.Woeuntohimwhodoesnot
listentoitsvoice.

TheCreatorsintentionwiththiscompositionisthatthebodyshallbegovernedbythe
Soul,butthisshallagainbegovernedbythereasonableSpirit.IftheSouliscaptivated
bysensuality,andtheSpiritsubmitsitselftothatreign,thenthisorderisconverted
andthelivingdeadmanlosesallhispowerforhigherknowledge.If,however,the

SpiritunitesitselfwiththemostessentialloveofGodthroughrebirth,thenitcan
easily,throughtheaidofGod,releaseitselffromallearthlyImages,andthethereby
awakenedcravings.ItwillthenbeelevatedthroughtheMercifulSunRaysofChrist
andmadeintotheholySpiritualTemple,whichallowsittofeelandtastethepowerof
thecomingWorldwaitingtherein.

TheCarnalSoulanditsanimalandlowerforcesgrieveandbecomeidlewhenthe
reasonableSpiritelevatesitselftoGodandsubmitsbeforehismajesticThrone,to
receivetheDivineLight.

TheGoldenChainofHomerandtheworksofArnaldusdeVillaNovawerestudied,andalso
presentduringtheinitiation.

3Practici
Tobeadvancedintothethirddegree,thecandidatehadtocorrectlyunderstandtheThree
KingdomsofNaturewithitsPrincipals;theConcordantofthePhilosophers,aswellastheir
waysofManipulations,OvensandVessels.

Herereallaboratoryalchemybegan,whereonehadtolearnabouttheconditionsofa
laboratory,thenecessarypreparationstoPhilosophicalWork,andhowtopreparethe
RadicalandUniversalMenstruaofeachofthethreeKingdoms.Afteronehadprepared
those,theinstructionssaid:

Hereonehasthe4principalmenstrualtogether,whereeachandoneofthosehavein
themselvestheirThreeradicalPrinciplesopened,whence,byandthroughtheLapis
Mineralis,Vegetabilis,AnimalisandUniversaliscanbepreparedintheWetWay.And
eventhoughthesefourwatersareexternallyverydifferent,theyarenevertheless
internallymonotonous,andeveryBrothershallknow,thatineachsuchC,the4
ElementsareintheirConcordance,inwhichareC, B, D andE,butas3,Spiritus,
CorpusandAnima:G,FetH,alsoAlcale,AridumetVolatile,andthesearealso2,as
ManandWoman,AgensandPatiens,Net,whichbringsforth,nourishes,destroys
andagainbringsfortheverything.

ThealchemicalreceiptsofHowto,intheWetWay,preparetheMineral,Vegetable,Animal
andUniversalLapisfollowed.However,also7operationsintheDryWayweregivenand
workedwithinthisdegree.5WellingsmasterpieceOpusMagoCabbalisticumet
Theosophicumwasmandatoryreadingfromhereon.

4Philosophi
Thisgradewasacontinuationoflaboratoryalchemy,whereonelearntaboutthetrueimage
ofthephilosophical,animal,mineralandvegetableKingdoms.Thealchemicalrecipes
includedPreparationofRadicalMenstrua,PreparationoftheLapisMineralisaccordingto
theWetWay,CalcinatioandPutrefactioofGold,ResolutioandCoagulatioofGoldand
Howtoconstructaneverburningcandle(!).Biblicalreferencesweremadetoshowthe
importanceofthenumbers4and40,whichwereconsideredtohavehadagreat
significanceinthealchemicalwork,andwhichtheoperationsinthehigherdegreesutilized.
5

Preparation of Argentum Vivum, Preparation of Regulus, Preparation of Aviculuis, Animation of

Argentum Vivum through Aviculius, Aaation, Imhibition and Multiplicatio.


5Minores
HereoneencounteredChristianKabbalah,whichwas,however,mostlystudiedinrelationto
alchemy.6Thealchemicaloperations(10intotal)centeredonthemysteriesofthe
philosophicalSunandEarth,howtoprepareVitriolforthemineralwork,andworkwith
healingtinctures.Fromthisgradeandonwards,membersnolongerworkedtogetherwith
membersoflowergradesinalchemicaloperations,apartfromwhentheyinstructedthem.
AnimportantbookforthisgradewasKnorrvonRosenrothsKabbalaDenudata.

ReproducedimagedepictsareceptionintothefifthdegreeoftheGoldundRosenkreuzOrder.(Publishedby
Beyer,fromacopyinthearchiveofSodalitasRosae+Crucis&SolisAlati.)

6Majores
ThealchemicalworkfocusedondifferentpreparationsofphilosophicalSaltandhowto
coagulatetheStonefromphlegm.Sinceonewastaughthowtouseonesownstomachas
theAthanor,certainfoodrestrictionsetc.alsocameinthisdegree.TheDryWaywasfurther
elaboratedupon,inwhichonehadtoconstructtheMineralStone.Animportantstudywas
theSchlsselderWahrenWeisheitandDerCompassderWeisen.

The Gold und Rosenkreuz wasnt very much occupied with the study of Kabbalah, something which its
offspring and later rival, the Asiatic Brethren, had as prime focus.

ReproducedimageisfromthesecretinstructionsofthesixthgradeoftheGoldundRosenkreuzOrder.(From
thearchiveofSodalitasRosae+Crucis&SolisAlati.)

7AdeptiExempti
Thealchemicalworkfocusedonthemorningdew,howtopreparetheRedLionbyworking
withonesownblood,aswellasthemakingoftheStonesforallfourkingdomsandthe
muchrenownedPhilosophersStone.Incomparisonwiththeearlieralchemicalreceipts,the
preparationofthePhilosophersStonedidnotrequireasmuchmaterial,althoughthe
processtookseveralmonthsandhadtobepreparedalone.Theoperationwasbasedonthe
SplendorSolistreatise,andsummarizedinaSwedishversionoftheArcanaArcanorum.Thus
theAureumVellusbecameanimportantstudy.Magic(magianaturalis)washere
encounteredandworkedwithforthefirsttime.

8Magistri
Themagicalworkwasfurtherelaborated,whereonestudiedandworkedwiththeOpus
AstraleUniversalissimuminshort,howtheUniversalSpiritinfluencedtheEarthfromthe
Sun,theMoonandthevisibleplanets,andhowthiswasreflectedinsidemaninfluxesand
refluxes.Insummary,theworkconsistedofSolomonicstyledmagic.Thealchemicalwork
focusedontheElixirofLife.

9Magi
TheCrownofthesystemwastheUrim&Thumin,theSchemhamphorassystemandtowork
theurgyinwhattheycalledMagiaDivina.ThetrueimplicationoftheStoneoftheWisewas
given,aswillbeshownbelow.

Regardingtheartofmagic,theOrdertaughtthat:

Ourmagicisnotanyordinarymagic.Ourmagicisnotthenatural,forthatisunderstoodbyall
philosophers.Itisnotanyblackart,forthatisaworkbythedevilandnodevilcanstareintothe
eyesofoneofourmages.Itisnotsocalledwhitemagic,whichactionshappensthroughso
calledgoodspirit,whoyetaretooimpuretoshowthemselvesbeforeGod;butourmagicisthe
truedivinemagic,apower,throughwhichwe,justasMosesandElias,areinpersonalcontact
withGod,andbywhichwecantransmitourmutualmessagesthroughthespiritsthathavebeen
purifiedbyGodandwholiveinGod.WeareinpossessionofthetwomainqualitiesofJehovah,
viz.tocreateandannihilateallthingsinnature.JustasMoses,weareabletotransmutewater
intoblood;justasJoshua,wecanutilizesoundtotransformcitiesintodust.

Schemhamphoras
TheSchemhamphorassystemtheOrderworkedwithisbasedonthebookSemiphorasand
Schemhamphoras,publishedin1686.ItisatreatiseofSolomonicMagic,whereonelearns
howtocontactandcommunicatewiththeDivineanditsagentsinthesamemanneras
MosesandSolomondid.Memberswereassignedapersonalangel,withwhichtheywereto
establishcontact.Suchoperationsrequiredaspecificmagicalcircletracedonthefloor,
accordingtothenatureofonespersonalangelortheangelonewantedtoquestion/give
instructionsto(the10differentcirclesrelatedtothe10Sephiroth).Longseriesof
purificationsandprayersfollowedbeforetheactualconjurationcouldtakeplace.The
conjurationcouldbedoneinthreedifferentways,namely1stifthebeingwastoappearin
dreams,2ndifthebeingwastoappearwhenbeingawakeinthenight,and3rdifthebeing
wastoimmediatelyappearinphysicalforminfrontofthecircle.

Overall,theworkisquitesimilartotheoperationsoftheFrenchElusCohensystemof
Pasqually,albeitabitmoreeasytograsp.

MagiaDivina
Inthe9thdegree,membersweregivenamanuscriptcalledMagiaDivina,whichistoday
widelyknownastheAbramelinoperation.7Thisdescribesa6monthlongtheurgicalwork
whichaimsatreachingcontactandconversationwithonesHolyGuardianAngel.Afterthis
contacthasbeenestablished,oneevokesalegionofdemonicspiritswhichallhaveto
submitthemselvestothewillofthemagician,whoactsintheserviceofGodthemosthigh.

HavingbeenoriginallycomposedbyaJewnamedAbrahamvonWorms,thefirstchapter
describeshowhewastaughtthesystembyhismasterAbramelin,henceitsname.Inthe
GoldundRosenkreuzOrder,however,beingaChristianOrder,thatchapterwasremoved,
andthedocumentthusonlycontainedthetwochapterswithinstructionsandmagical
squares.Also,severalofthemoralimplicationsthatonefindsinthepublishedversionsare
completelyabsentfromtheinstructions,especiallywhenitcomestoJewishmoralityand
customs,whichinsomecasesarerewritteninamoreChristiantone.And,surpriseorno
surprise,allmagicalsquaresaredifferent;theyusuallyhavethesameheadingsand
descriptions,butapartfromafewoccasions,bearnosimilaritytothepublishedworks.
Addedarealsosomeverybeautifulanddetaileddrawingsofthesanctuary,itsaltarandthe
ritualdresstowear.

English translations have been published by Mathers, The Book of the Sacred Magic of AbraMelin the Mage
(2004) and most recently by Dehn, The Book of Abramelin: A New Translation (2006).

Urim&Thumin
ThemostsupremesecretwasthemostfabledUrim&Thumin8,whichwasdescribedasthe
knowledgeofthetriunesupernaturalLight,throughwhichonecouldinvestigatetheorigin,
past,presentandfutureofallthatis.Thisworkwasinfactacombinationofalchemyand
magic,whichproducedaskryingstone,consecratedtothesevenGreatWatchers.

ToconstructtheUrim&Thumin,onehadtopurifyeachofthesevenmetalsontheirspecific
dayandhour,andmixthemwithcertainingredients.Thefollowingnewmoon,theseven
metalsweremergedandcastintoaspecialform,uponwhichwereinscribedcertainmagical
characters,againaccordingtotheplanetaryhours.Then,onthefollowingFriday,twolarge
andfivesmallercrystalswereground,andenclosedwithgold.AstheSunnextenteredLeo,
oneplacedthefourStonesintheFireandmadetheStoneoftheWisewhicheverglows.
Thiswasplacedinthelargercrystal;

InthemiddleofthegreatCrystal,oneplacesthefourfouldLapisPhilosophorum;on
eachofthefoursides,oneplacesthefoursimpleStones,viz.theAnimal,Vegetable,
MineralandAstralStones.InthesmallovalaboveistheSacredFireoftheLord,with
whichtheChildrenofIsraelignitedtheSacrifice.

Touseit,oneneededacleanandisolatedchamber(wherenoonehadeatenordrunk),in
whichsevenchairswereplacedaroundacentraltable.Eachoneofthechairswastobe
markedwiththecharactersofitsplanet.TheUrimwasthentakenoutfromitscasetobe
placedonthetable,nexttotwoburningcandles.Meditations,incense,prayersandpsalms
followed,afterwhichthesevenoldestmemberssatdownonthechairs.Ifmorethanseven
memberswerepresent,theremainingoneshadtostandbehindthechairsandjustobserve
theceremony.Theseveneldersthenmeditatedinsilence,andlookedattheThumin.They
wouldthensee,ingreathumility,whattheydesiredtosee,knoworunderstandwhetherit
involvedthemacrocosmormicrocosm,angels,livingordeadpeople,situationsinthepast,
presentorfuturewhichresultedinaglowinglightbetweentheirfacesandtheThumin.
Duringandaftertheceremony,theywereonlyallowedtodiscusstheexperienceifitrelated
totheOrderanditsmembers.9Theceremonyendedwithprayers,replacementoftheUrim
andThumin,andextinguishingofthecandles,afterwhicheveryoneleftthechamber.

Insummary,the9thdegreewasaboutbecomingatruemageandprophet,which,however,
requiredphysicalandmoralregeneration,accomplishedthroughalchemyandmagic.
Perhapsduetotheadvancedalchemicalworkrequiredintheconstruction,anotherwayalso
existed

ARosicrucianchurch
InSwedenthereexistedasecretRosicrucianchurchcalledtheTheosophiaApostolicaRos
Cruc.ThisRosicruciantheosophicalsystemwasopenedtoafewelecthighdegree
membersoftheGoldundRosenkreuzOrder,andconsistedofthreeordinationspriest,
bishopandpatriarchwhichalsowerecalledthetrueinitiation.Ihave,asyet,notfound
8

In the Old Testament, it is described how the High Priest carried a breast plate containing the two stones of
Urim and Thumin, through which the Will of God was made known.
9
The instructions says that the chiefs of the Order used this method to control that the members lived a good and
God-fearing life, and no reception into the higher grades could take place until the member in question had thus
been approved of.

anytraceofthisoutsideofSweden,andthereisagoodpossibilitythatthesystemonly
existedthereandwascreatedbypeopleadherenttotheideasoftheSwedishmystic
EmanuelSwedenborg(16881772).

Thepurposeofthethreeordinationswastobringthecandidateintoconsciousandregular
contactwithhisHolyGuardianAngelandalignhimselfwiththespecificangelofthe
tradition,andthustobecomeatrueprophet,seeingandknowingthewaysoftheLord.For
thisreason,variousmagicalsealswereusedwhichthecandidateworkedwithonadaily
basisforseveralyears.Thecandidatewasnot,however,expectedtoperformmassesfor
otherpeopleunlesshealreadywasanofficiallyordainedpriest,whereforeitwasmoreofan
innerchurch.

ThelitanyusedintheordinationscomesfromtheSwedish(protestant)churchhandbookof
1693,butitsprofessionoffaithisuniqueandisprobablyinspiredbytheFrenchLglise
Constitutionelle.AwesterndialectofAramaicisusedintheordinations,thesamedialect
whichisalsousedintheSyrianPatriarchalChurchesofAntioch.Thevariousandbeautifully
engravedchurchimplements(fromchaliceandpatentoBishopandPatriarchwands)were
somethingthateachmemberhadtoconstructthemselves.

Despitethenameofthesystem,itisgenerallyspeakingmoreintheflavourofSwedenborg
thanoftheRosicruciantradition,albeitthetheosophicalaspectisthemajorinfluence.

CagliostroandtheArcanaArcanorm
Ascanbeseenfromtheabove,thereexistsagreatsimilaritybetweentheGoldund
RosenkreuzsystemandtheArcanaArcanorumofCagliostro.10Theybothworkedtoachieve
moralandphysicalregenerationthroughalchemyandmagic,wherethenumber40wasof
extremeimportance.Theoperationsconcernedtheesotericconceptswherebyonesought
reintegrationthrough4(Kingdomsandelements),1(HolyGuardianAngel),and7(planetary
angels).Andthereisinfactadirectconnectionbetweenthetwo,since,accordingtothe
historicalscholarKarlFrick,CagliostroisrumouredtohaveestablishedaRosenkreuzchapter
withthesamenameasthatoftheSwedishchapter.11RosicrucianscholarSusannakerman
hasalsobeenabletoconfirmthatCagliostrodidvisitSweden12,andIhavesincethenfound
lettersfromCagliostrowhereheexpoundsuponcertainalchemicaloperations,sentto
membersoftheSwedishlodge.

Summary
Sowithallthis,wecanseehowtheOrdersoughttopromotelaboratoryalchemyasa
preparationforthetruedivinemagic,andwiththesetwo,memberscouldbecome
prophets.Andforseveralyears,thiswasagreatsuccessthroughoutEurope.However,
nothinglastsforever,andinsteadofthemandatory10yearreformation(whichshouldhave
happenedin1787),theOrderslowlyfadedout,duetoinnerconflicts,alchemical
experimentswithfataloutcomes;UnknownSuperiorsthatnevercamewithevenmore
secretteachings,andouterconflictswiththeAsiaticBrethren,theIlluminatiandthe
10

See for example Denis Laboures De Cagliostro aux Arcana Arcanorum (1995).
See Fricks Licht und Finsternis II (1978).
12
Personal communication with the author (2003). kerman had found several letters in Swedish archives that
showed that Cagliostro had been here, with is usual grandiose style.
11

enlightenmentsceneasawhole.Intheendofthe18thcentury,thetermRosicrucian
becameasubstituteforcharlatan,imposerorjustgeneralignorance.However,itsteachings
anddoctrinehavecontinuedtoinfluenceandinspiregroupsandindividuals,whetherthese
knowabouttheirsourceornot.Thus,OrdersliketheOrderoftheKnightsandBrethrenofSt.
JohntheEvangelistfromAsiainEurope(AsiaticBrethren),theSocietasRosicrucianain
Anglia(S.R.I.A.),theGoldenDawnandRosaeRubeae&AureaeCrucis(G.D.,R.R.&A.C.),and
mostrecentlySodalitasRosae+Crucis&SolisAlati(S.R.C.&S.S.A)allindifferentwayswere
establishedtocontinueandperpetuatethelegacyoftheoldGoldundRosenkreuzOrder.
Andanimpressivelegacythatiswhichhopefullyhasbeenshownbythisarticle.

(AmuchmoreindepthstudyoftheOrderanditsdoctrineswillbepublishedwithinayear
orso,byIanCowburn,NickFarrellandTommyWestlund.)

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