Emerald Tablet. Contained within the pages of these books, particularly Fama, is the story of an initiate who undergoes a spiritual revolution. The name of the initiate is given as Christian Rosenkreutz (also known as C.R.C.). There is no small amount of mystery concerning the origins and identity of C.R.C., and many say the entire story is simply to be taken allegorically. However, Rosenkreutz is commonly credited with being the founder of the original Rosicrucian Order. During his lifetime, the Order was said to consist of no more than eight members, all of whom dissipated after his death. The Order picked up again much later, upon the discovery of his tomb:
In the morning following, we opened the door, and there appeared to our sight a vault of seven sides and corners, every side five foot broad, and the height of eight foot. Although the sun never shined in this vault, nevertheless it was enlightened with another sun, which had learned this from the sun, and was situated in the upper part in the center of the ceiling. In the midst, instead of a tombstone, was a round altar covered over with a plate of brass, and thereon this engraven: “This is all clear and bright, as also the seven sides and the two Heptagoni: so we kneeled altogether down and gave thanks to the sole wise, sole mighty and sole eternal God, who hath taught us more than all men’s wits could have found out, praised be his holy name. This vault we parted in three parts, the upper part or ceiling, the wall or side, the ground or floor. Of the upper part you shall understand no more of it at this time, but that it was divided according to the seven sides in the triangle, which was in the bright center; but what therein is contained, you shall God willing (that are desirous of our society) behold the same with your own eyes; but every side or wall is parted into ten figures, every one with their several figures and sentences, as they are truly shown and set forth concentratum here in our book.”
—from Fama Fraternitatis
Rumors had it that the Emerald Tablet itself was amongst these texts in the tomb. It is theoretically possible that somehow C.R.C. could have come across it, or that the book copied someone else’s interpretation of the Emerald Tablet. It was also speculated that some of the texts belonged to other Alchemists such as John Dee:
Inside the tomb there were said to have been alchemical books with a quasi-political overtone, definitely favoring the court of Frederick V, the Elector Palatine. All this was disseminated as gospel in a kind of alchemical Protestant revival. Curiously, these texts, The Fama and The Confessio, had many doctrinal similarities to Dee’s Hieroglyphic Monad, so that it appears that Dee’s earlier work was used as the model for the Rosicrucian broadsheets by their authors.34
It is most likely that Rosenkreutz came upon Hermetic writings as a young boy living at a monastery. According to legend, Rosenkreutz was rescued by a monk from a fire that burned his family’s castle. The monk happened to be an Albigensian adept from Languedoc, and a specialist in Hermeticism. Rosenkreutz was brought up and educated in the monastery, and, with four other monks in the community, he formed a fraternal group determined to devote themselves to the search for truth.35 Later in his life, C.R.C. traveled to Arabia where he apparently studied with some Arabic alchemists, learning their deepest secrets.
From the Arabians C.R.C. also learned of the elemental peoples and how, with their aid, it was possible to gain admission to the ethereal world where dwelt the genii and Nature spirits. C.R.C. thus discovered that the magical creatures of the Arabian Nights Entertainment actually existed, though invisible to the ordinary mortal. C.R.C. became an adept n the gathering of medicinal herbs, the transmutation of metals, and the manufacture of precious gems by artificial means. Even the secret of the Elixir of Life and the Universal Panacea were communicated to him. Enriched thus beyond the dreams of Croesus, the Holy Master returned to Europe and there established a House of Wisdom which he called Domus Sancti Spiritus. This house he enveloped in clouds, it is said, so that men could not discover it. What are these “clouds,” however, but the rituals and symbols under which is concealed the Great Arcanum?36
The publications of these three works caused a huge stir in Europe. Alchemy was both popular and taboo during this time period, so people were looking for any information they could get their hands on. The third and last book in the Rosicrucian trilogy, The Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz, was infused with the srongest type of alchemical material which focused more on the soul’s evolution than the production of gold:
[It was] replete with rich allegorical details, as well as cosmological, alchemical, astrological, magical and chivalric symbols. As the allegory began, Rosenkreutz was preparing for the celebration. All manner of trials, ordeals, and strange initiation rites were put before him, but he triumphed over them in what can be seen as a spiritual progression . . . . He was invested with the chivalric Order of the Golden Stone, an apparent reference to the legendary philosophers’ stone, by means of which base substances could be turned into gold and silver. As in the earlier tracts, the author went to great lengths to indicate that the goal of Rosenkreutz, as well as all the others who received the Golden Stone, was a transmutation of the spirit and not the crasser sort of alchemy.37
Much like Christianity, Rosicrucianism has had many different groups who all have their own interpretations of the material. The differences between these organizations can be as pronounced as, say, the Catholic and the Episcopal churches. Some of these groups disseminate the information on a large scale, while others remain secretive and exclusive.
Ancient Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis (AMORC): This group is probably the most widely known, as they do the most advertising and invite all members of the public to join (who are over eighteen). AMORC touts itself as a worldwide mystical, philosophical, educational, humanitarian and fraternal organization devoted to the investigation, study and practical application of natural and spiritual laws.
Harvey Spencer Lewis (1883–1939) founded the organization in 1915 in America, bringing over the Rosicrucian philosophies he had learned while studying in Europe. He set up a Rosicrucian and Egyptian museum (still extant in San Jose, California). Lewis was an illustrator and worked in advertising, so it is no wonder that this particular group was so prolific in this area. Lewis was an extremely productive author and his books are generally available to this day.
AMORC has a special connection to the New Thought movement through William Walker Atkinson. There has been much controversy regarding the sources of some of Lewis’ material; some claim he plagiarized it from Atkinson. Under the pen name Magus Incogniti, Atkinson wrote The Secret Doctrine of the Rosiscrucians. Then Lewis slapped Atkinson with a lawsuit for revealing the secrets of the Order38 (though Lewis certainly revealed just as much information in his own works.) The Order that Lewis was referring to was the Rosicrucians, not AMORC. Atkinson had spent his entire life practicing law before his New Thought endeavors. Lewis did not win his lawsuit.
The Rosicrucian Fellowship: In 1909, a few years before AMORC came on the scene (and having no affiliation with it), a Rosicrucian brotherhood was founded in Oceanside California by Max Heindel. The Rosicrucian Fellowship conducted Spiritual Healing-Services and offered correspondence courses in Esoteric Christianity, Philosophy, Spiritual Astrology, and Bible Interpretation. In the fall of 1907, Heindel traveled to Germany, where he attended several lectures given by Rudolf Steiner, founder of the Anthroposophy movement (similar to Theosophy in intent, but with variants due to the personalities of Steiner and Blavatsky). Steiner was an avid student of Rosicrucianism, and even published his own version of The Chymical Wedding.39 Shortly after attending these lectures, Heindel claims he received his Rosicrucian initiation via an apparition who came to him in a vision. Heindel states in his writings that this entity identified himself as an Elder Brother of the Rosicrucian Order from 1313, and conferred upon him the most intricate secrets of the Order at this time. Additionally, according to Heindel, the Elder Brother gave him directions to an exclusive Rosicrucian temple located on the German border, which he traveled to, studying there with other Elder Brothers of the Rose Cross. The Rosicrucian Fellowship has no affiliation with any other
