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the true and indisputable facts concerning the abominable heresies of sorcery and witchcraft."24. Histoire de la Magie, p. 15.25. Mysteries of Magic, p. 221.26. A.E. Waite, The Real History of the Rosicrucians, p. 293.27. Histoire de la Magie, p. 266.28. John Yarker, The Arcane Schools, p. 205.29. Drach (De 1'Harmonie entre l'Église et la Synagogue, II. p. 30) says that Pico della Mirandola paid a Jew7,000 ducats for the Cabalistic MSS. fro which he drew his thesis.30. Jewish Encyclopædia, articles on Cabala and Reuchlin.31. Ibid., article on Cabala.32. The following résumé is taken from the recent reprint of the Fama and Confessio brought out by the "Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia," and printed by W.J. Parrett (Margate, 1923). The story, which, owing tothe extraordinary confusion of the text, is difficult to resume as a coherent narrative is given in the Fama;the dates are given in the Confessio.33. Incidentally Paracelsus was not born until 1493, that is to say nine years after Christian Rosenkreutz issupposed to have died.34. Nachtrag von weitern Originalschriften des Illuminatenordens, Part II. p. 148 (Munich, 1787).35. Mackey, Lexicon of Freemasonry, p. 265.36. Ibid., p. 150.37. Jewish Encyclopædia, article on Shabbethai Horowitz.38. Mirabeau, Histoire de la Monarchie Prussienne, V. 76.39. Lecouteulx, de Canteleu, Les Sectes et Sociétés Secrètes, p. 97.40. Eckert, La Franc-Maçonnerie dans sa véritable signification, II. 48.41. A.E. Waite, The Real History of the Rosicrucians, p. 216.42. " Tracté des Athéistes, Déistes, Illuminez d'Espagne et Nouveaux Prétendus Invisibles, dits de la Confrairiede la Croix-Rosaire, élevez depuis quelques années dans le Christianisme," forming the second partof the " Histoire Générale de Progrès et Décadence de l'Hérésie Moderne-A la suite du Premier " de M. Florimondde Raemond, Conseiller du Roy, etc.43. See G.M. Trevelyan, England under the Stuarts, pp. 32, 33, and James Howell, Familiar Letters (editionof 1753), pp. 49, 435. James Howell was clerk to the Privy Council of Charles I.44. Th.-Louis Latour, Princesses, Dames et Aventurières du Règne de Louis XIV, p. 278 (Eugne Figuire,Paris, 1923).45. Ibid., p. 297.46. Ibid., p. 306.47. Oeuvres complètes de Voltaire, Vol. XXI. p. 129 (1785 edition); Biographie Michaud, article on Glaser.48. This assertion finds confirmation in the Encyclopædia Britannica article on the Rosicrucians, whichstates: " In no sense are modern Rosicrucians derived from the Fraternity of the seventeenth century."49. Jewish Encyclopædia, article on the Cabala.Nesta H. Webster — Secret Societies and Subversive Movements — Part I— 57 —
CHAPTER VORIGINS OF FREEMASONRY" THE origin of Freemasonry," says a masonic writer of the eighteenth century, " is known to Freemasonsalone."(1) If this was once the case, it is so no longer, for, although the question would certainly appearto be one on which the initiated should be most qualified to speak, the fact is that no official theory on theorigin of Freemasonry exists; the great mass of the Freemasons do not know or care to know anything aboutthe history of their Order, whilst Masonic authorities are entirely disagreed on the matter. Dr. Mackey admitsthat " the origin and source whence first sprang the institution of Freemasonry has given rise to moredifference of opinion and discussion among masonic scholars than any other topic in the literature of the institution."(2)Nor is this ignorance maintained merely in books for the general public, since in those speciallyaddressed to the Craft and at discussions in lodges the same diversity of opinion prevails, and no decisiveconclusions appear to be reached. Thus Mr. Albert Churchward, a Freemason of the thirtieth degree,who deplores the small amount of interest taken in his matter by Masons in general, observes: Hitherto therehave been so many contradictory opinions and theories in the attempt to supply the origin and the reasonwhence, where, and why the Brotherhood of Freemasonry came into existence, and all the " different parts "and various rituals of the " different degrees." All that has been written on this has hitherto been theories,without any facts for their foundation.(3)In the absence, therefore, of any origin universally recognized by the Craft, it is surely open to the laymind to speculate on the matter and to draw conclusions from history as to which of the many explanationsput forward seems to supply the key to the mystery.According to the Royal Masonic Cyclopædia, no less than twelve theories have been advanced as to theorigins of the Order, namely, that Masonry derived: " (1) From the patriarchs. (2) From the mysteries of thepagans. (3) From the construction of Solomon's Temple. (4) From the Crusades. (5) From the Knights Templar.(6) From the Roman Collegia of Artificers. (7) From the operative masons of the middle ages. (8) Fromthe Rosicrucians of the sixteenth century. (9) From Oliver Cromwell. (10) From Prince Charles Stuart forpolitical purposes. (11) From Sir Christopher Wren, at the building of St. Paul's. (12) From Dr. Desaguliersand his friends in 1717."This enumeration is, however, misleading, for it implies that in one of these various theories the true originof Freemasonry may be found. In reality modern Freemasonry is a dual system, a blend of two distincttraditions-of operative masonry, that is to say the actual art of building, and of speculative theory on thegreat truths of life and death. As a well-known Freemason, the Count Goblet d'Alviella, has expressed it: "Speculative Masonry" (that is to say, the dual system we now know as Freemasonry) " is the legitimate offspringof a fruitful union between the professional guild of medival Masons and of a secret group of philosophicalAdepts, the first having furnished the form and the second the spirit."(4) In studying the origins ofthe present system we have therefore (1) to examine separately the history of each of these two traditions,and (2) to discover their point of junction.Operative MasonryBeginning with the first of these two traditions, we find that guilds of working masons existed in veryancient times. Without going back as far as ancient Egypt or Greece, which would be beyond the scope ofthe present work, the course of these associations may be traced throughout the history of Western Europefrom the beginning of the Christian era. According to certain masonic writers, the Druids originally camefrom Egypt and brought with them traditions relating to the art of building. The Culdees, who later on establishedschools and colleges in this country for the teaching of arts, sciences, and handicrafts, are said to havederived from the Druids.But a more probable source of inspiration in the art of building are the Romans, who established thefamous Collegia of architects referred to in the list of alternative theories given in the Masonic Cyclopædia.Advocates of the Roman Collegia origin of Freemasonry may be right as far as operative masonry is concerned,for it is to the period following on the Roman occupation of Britain that our masonic guilds can withthe greatest degree of certainty be traced. Owing to the importance the art of building now acquired it is saidthat many distinguished men, such as St. Alban, King Alfred, King Edwin, and King Athelstan werenumbered amongst its partons,(5) so that in time the guilds came to occupy the position of privileged bodiesand were known as " free corporations"; further that York was the first masonic centre in England, largelyunder the control of the Culdees, who at the same period exercised much influence over the Masonic Col-Nesta H. Webster — Secret Societies and Subversive Movements — Part I— 58 —
Page 2 and 3:
Nesta H. WebsterSecret Societies an
Page 4 and 5:
That the author was right in his de
Page 6 and 7:
1. Moniteur for the 14th Fructidor,
Page 8 and 9: and that " the priests did not shut
Page 10 and 11: Is the Cabala, then, as Gougenot de
Page 12 and 13: system of the Jewish hierarchy and
Page 14 and 15: traditions woven into a coherent na
Page 16 and 17: This passage would alone suffice to
Page 18 and 19: itive innocence of the garden of Ed
Page 20 and 21: 1. August le Plongeon, Sacred myste
Page 22 and 23: ah was not that of ' a light to lig
Page 24 and 25: 110. Matter, op. cit., II. 364.111.
Page 26 and 27: By means such as these the extraord
Page 28 and 29: policy. A system which, with no oth
Page 30 and 31: devoted his life to murder. Thus by
Page 32 and 33: CHAPTER IIITHE TEMPLARSIN the year
Page 34 and 35: nesses, says the official report, "
Page 36 and 37: As to the Pope, we have already see
Page 38 and 39: The Paulicians who flourished about
Page 40 and 41: regard to the miracles of Christ is
Page 42 and 43: ing homage to the powers of darknes
Page 44 and 45: 27. Ibid., p. 384.28. F. Funck-Bren
Page 46 and 47: CHAPTER IVTHREE CENTURIES OF OCCULT
Page 48 and 49: from this source. Indeed Eliphas L
Page 50 and 51: ment of physics by which the mystic
Page 52 and 53: It will be seen that, according to
Page 54 and 55: Moreover, towards the end of the ce
Page 56 and 57: existence to the world under the na
Page 60 and 61: legia in Scotland, at Kilwinning, M
Page 62 and 63: Apprentices, Fellow Crafts, and Mas
Page 64 and 65: Moreover, according to a masonic tr
Page 66 and 67: sider one more link in the chain of
Page 68 and 69: but more likely borrowed from the R
Page 70 and 71: 1. A Free Mason's answer to the Sus
Page 72 and 73: Les Sociétés Secrètes en Allemag
Page 74 and 75: ment, but in the transformation tha
Page 76 and 77: middle of the eighteenth century sp
Page 78 and 79: Freemasonry traced to the Crusades:
Page 80 and 81: Cross; and finally, that a degree o
Page 82 and 83: claimed to be not merely a part of
Page 84 and 85: 1. Histoire de la Monarchie Prussie
Page 86 and 87: 41. A.Q.C., XXXII. Part I. p. 17.42
Page 88 and 89: Convallium, von Haugwitz (Cabinet M
Page 90 and 91: thentic they were the work of Volta
Page 92 and 93: speech had reached the ears of Fred
Page 94 and 95: 1782 an English Freemason writes: "
Page 96 and 97: Contemporaries, however, take him l
Page 98 and 99: 25. Evidently a reference to the se
Page 100 and 101: CHAPTER IIXTHE JEWISH CABALISTSIT h
Page 102 and 103: Podolia, known as Ba'al Shem Tob, o
Page 104 and 105: applied to Falk in his quest for th
Page 106 and 107: und Falk: Gespräche für Freimaure
Page 108 and 109:
1. L'Antisémitisme, p. 335.2. Ibid
Page 110 and 111:
CHAPTER IXTHE BAVARIAN ILLUMINATITH
Page 112 and 113:
mancers, would authorize us in decl
Page 114 and 115:
merce by customs, excise duties, an
Page 116 and 117:
day.Weishaupt, however, admits hims
Page 118 and 119:
and the world the abode of reasonab
Page 120 and 121:
ing esteemed and " respectable " pe
Page 122 and 123:
mother dead ! Corpse, wedding, chri
Page 124 and 125:
way of duplicity and imposture.More
Page 126 and 127:
isted, whereat he gave me his word
Page 128 and 129:
100. It has several times been stat
Page 130 and 131:
But in the year before these events
Page 132 and 133:
terested in supporting the system o
Page 134 and 135:
Amongst these others were not only
Page 136 and 137:
attempt on the part of the Jews to
Page 138 and 139:
been and will be the authors of pre
Page 140 and 141:
ressorts]."Two years later, on Janu
Page 142 and 143:
derstood that there may be uniformi
Page 144 and 145:
ectory of the Carbonari and was led
Page 146 and 147:
1. Henri Martin, Histoire de France
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