booknetsaWebster-secretSocietiesAndSubversiveMovements

who formed a band of charlatans who shamelessly exploited the credulity of their contemporaries," that the
Ba'al Shem Tob and Jacob Frank both had large followings, it is surely here that we may find the origin of
those mysterious magicians who spread themselves over Europe at this date.
It will at once be asked: " But what proof is there that any one of these Ba'al Shems or Cabalists was
connected with masonic or secret societies?" The answer is that the most important Ba'al Shem of the day,
known as " the Chief of all the Jews," is shown by documentary evidence to have been an initiate of Freemasonry
and in direct contact with the leaders of the secret societies. If then it is agreed that neither Saint-Germain
nor Cagliostro can be proved to have been Jews, here we have a man concerned in the movement,
more important than either, whose nationality admits of no doubt whatever.
This extraordinary personage, known as the " Ba'al Shem of London," was a Cabalistic Jew named
Hayyim Samuel Jacob Falk, also called Dr. Falk, Falc, de Falk, or Falkon, born in 1708, probably in Podolia.
The further fact that he was regarded by his fellow-Jews as an adherent of the Messiah Shabbethai Zebi
clearly shows his connexion with the Podolian Zoharites. Falk was thus not an isolated phenomenon, but a
member of one of the groups described in the foregoing pages. The following is a summary of the account
given of the Ba'al Shem of London in the Jewish Encyclopædia: Falk claimed to possess thaumaturgic
powers and to be able to discover hidden treasure. Archenholz (England und Italien, I. 249) recounts certain
marvels which he had seen performed by Falk in Brunswick and which he attributes to a special knowledge
of chemistry. In Westphalia at one time Falk was sentenced to be burned as a sorcerer, but escaped to England.
Here he was received with hospitality and rapidly gained fame as a Cabalist and worker of miracles.
Many stories of his powers were current. He would cause a small taper to remain alight for weeks; an incantation
would fill his cellar with coal; plate left with a pawnbroker would glide back into his house.
When a fire threatened to destroy the Great Synagogue, he averted the disaster by writing four Hebrew letters
on the pillars of the door.[28] [Obviously the Tetragrammaton.]
On his arrival in London in 1742 Falk appeared to be without means, but soon after he was seen to be in
possession of considerable wealth, living in a comfortable house in Wellclose Square, where he had his
private synagogue, whilst gold and silver plate adorned his table. His journal, still preserved in the library
of the United Synagogue, contains references to " mysterious journeyings " to and from Epping Forest, to
meetings, a meeting-chamber in the forest, and chests of gold there buried. It was said that on one occasion
when he was driving thither along Whitechapel Road, a back wheel of his carriage came off, which alarmed
the coachman, but Falk ordered him to drive on and the wheel followed the carriage all the way to the forest.
The stories of Falk's miraculous powers are too numerous to relate here, but a letter written by an enthusiastic
Jewish admirer, Sussman Shesnowzi, to his son in Poland will serve to show the reputation he enjoyed:
Hear, my beloved son, of the marvellous gifts entrusted to a son of man, who verily is not a man, a
light of the captivity... a holy light, a saintly man... who dwells at present in the great city of London. Albeit
I could not fully understand him on account of his volubility and his speaking as an inhabitant of Jerusalem....
His chamber is lighted by silver candlesticks on the walls, with a central eight-branched lamp made
of pure silver of beaten work. And albeit it contained oil to burn a day and a night it remained enkindled for
three weeks. On one occasion he abode in seclusion in his house for six weeks without meat and drink.
When at the conclusion of this period ten persons were summoned to enter, they found him seated on a sort
of throne, his head covered with a golden turban, a golden chain round his neck with a pendant silver star on
which sacred names were inscribed. Verily this man stands alone in his generation by reason of his knowledge
of holy mysteries. I cannot recount to you all the wonders he accomplishes. I am grateful, in that I am
found worthy to be received among those who dwell within the shadow of his wisdom.... I know that many
will believe my words, but others, who do not occupy themselves with mysteries, will laugh thereat. Therefore,
my son, be very circumspect, and show this only to wise and discreet men. For here in London this
matter has not been disclosed to anyone who does not belong to our Brotherhood.
The esteem in which Falk was held by the Jewish community, including the Chief Rabbi and the Rabbi
of the new Synagogue, appears to have roused the resentment of his co-religionist Emden, who denounced
him as a follower of the false Messiah and an exploiter of Christian credulity. Falk [he wrote in a letter to
Poland] had made his position by his pretence to be an adept in practical Cabala, by which means he professed
to be able to discover hidden treasures; by his pretensions he had entrapped a wealthy captain whose
fortune he had cheated him out of, so that he was reduced to depending on the Rabbi's charity, and yet, despite
this, wealthy Christians spend their money on him, whilst Falk spends his bounty on the men of his
Brotherhood so that they may spread his fame.
In general Falk appears to have displayed extreme caution in his relations with Christian seekers after
occult knowledge, for the Jewish Encyclopædia goes on to say: " Archenholz mentions a royal prince who
Nesta H. Webster — Secret Societies and Subversive Movements — Part I
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