BOOK REVIEW - The Invisible History of the Rosicrucians
Mike
Inner Traditions ISBN: 978-1-59477-255-9 576 pgs Paperback $24.95
(U.S.)
Those who view Rosicrucianism solely as an occult topic will find
their perceptions being challenged al most from the first pages of
this well-written account. The documented history, although obscured
in some times and places, is discoverable for the most part. True,
there is an amount of mythic storytelling involved to a greater or
lesser degree, but the facts are there and Mr. Churton (a lecturer on
Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry at Exeter University [England]) has
pursued them doggedly.
There is a tendency today, fostered (in my opinion) by high-speed
everything, to want to skim though things to get to the conclusion.
This book is NOT amenable to such an attitude. The research behind it
is meticulous. It is laid out in exquisite detail. It bears a
thorough, close reading. Mr. Churton looks into all the circumstance
surrounding the appearance of the Fraternity, the individuals who
influenced its development, and the connections between the
Rosicrucian movement and the other popular secret societies � the
Freemasons and the Knights Templar.
He provides translations of numerous works not easily accessible to
the average reader and, while couched in language which may seem
obtuse to the modern reader, accurately portrays the appeal to the
intelligentsia of the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries.
Mr. Churton�s membership (as a �pe4rfected� Knight of the Rose Croix
and the Pelican [18th degree, Ancient and Accepted Rite]) in the
Masons opens doors for him and his readers. There are no mystic
revelations, simply good, solid scholarship, closely reasoned personal
conclusions, and a desire to render less obscure an important phase in
the development of the modern world.
This work contains short biographies of many of the individuals most
involved in the dissemination of Rosicrucian ideas and literature.
These add immeasurably to the understanding of the times in which
these ideas first found public expression. While not essential to the
book, they are valuable in and of themselves.
All of the commonly accepted stories revolving around Rosicrucianism
and Freemasonry are explored and dissected. Connections are made and
inferences drawn based on extensive explorations covering the entire
period of the rise of Rosicrucian thought. This exploration is
continued to the modern day on both sides of the Atlantic.
How you react to his assertion that the publication of the primary
Rosicrucian manifestos was an �imposture� or a game will say more
about your beliefs than his. Heaven knows that there have been
religious and philosophical movements motivated by fiction (think The
Church of All Worlds inspired by Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert
Heinlein and/or Scientology), as well as in response to a particular
religion or movement with no preceding basis for their existence
(think the Protestant Reformation).
He does not assert that the subsequent development of Rosicrucianism
was a game, merely that it was, and is, self-defined. Does it have
validity? You must determine that for yourself. He makes sure to
identify those instances when he is being less than serious, since he
is obviously aware of the tendency of some individuals to be
indiscriminate in their belief.
This work is eye-opening and, for those interested in the development
of the Rosicrucian beliefs, a valuable resource. While it is not for
everyone, it is definitely worth a look overall.