A circular emblem printed in blue ink on a white paper label, pasted onto a red textured background. The circular border contains the Latin text "HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY" original: "PHILOSOPHIA · HERMETICA ·". The center of the emblem depicts a "pelican in her piety," showing the mother bird piercing her breast to feed three chicks in a nest with her blood.

HERMETIC PHILOSOPHY original: PHILOSOPHIA · HERMETICA ·

Lrm S?

SOME EARLY IDEAS ON ROSICRUCIANISM

By Right Worthy Brother Frater J. J. NOLAN, 8°.

When we consider the views expressed about the Rosicrucian movement shortly after it appeared, we must remember the conditions of that period. I believe the earliest date is 1612, although there are suggestions that some of the books published later were circulated in manuscript before that time. By 1612, the Reformation—which had achieved a greater success than its originators could have hoped—had begun to experience a reaction. Puritanism, which was harsh, unimaginative, and unforgiving, had developed out of the opposition sparked by the Reformation itself. Its leaders believed they had completely disposed of every kind of magic or supernatural belief that could be labeled as "superstitious." This, in itself, caused a counter-reaction that was, however, somewhat dangerous to admit openly. Shakespeare is perhaps the best example in this country of the reaction against the Puritanism of the days of Edward VI and the early years of Queen Elizabeth I’s reign. At the same time, he recognized the very obvious trend in English thought: there was no desire to abandon the supernatural entirely, but there was also no desire to return to the conditions that existed before the Reformation.

Regarding this country, we must consider that while the Reformation ended the influence of Anglo-Norman thought (which had been dominant for several centuries), it did not entirely replace it with the German original: Teutonic influence in which the Reformation itself had begun. However, there was admittedly a strong feeling against every kind of superstition because of the association of ideas. Superstition of any kind was regarded as part of a foreign influence against which England had very definitely set its face. To put it another way, religion and international politics had become more closely linked than ever before.

Therefore, when students and thinkers first heard the story of the magical revival of a faith acquired by a German who had died 130 years earlier, it was initially met with suspicion and even contempt. This story included his travels in the East among the Arabs and the Moors, complete with its collection of scented flowers, wonderful lights that never went out, bells, strange figures, and so on—all concealed in a secret place and guarded by those who called themselves "The Invisibles."