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MODERN ROSICRUCIAN SOCIETIES. 423
man's hand was against his brother, and when such com-
binations were necessary to protect the weak against the
strong."
These objects appear to have been fulfilled in a very
desultory manner, so far, at least, as the organ of the asso-
ciation is concerned. Eeports of Masonic meetings, long
serial stories of an occult character, and somewhat feeble
poetry by supreme magi and worthy fratres, permanently
occupied a large proportion of an exceedingly limited space
for a period of ten years.
In 1871 the society informed its members that it was
entirely non-masonic in character, with the sole exception
that every aspirant was required to belong to the masonic
Brotherhood. The assigned reason is the numerous points
of resemblance between the secrets of Rosicrucians and
Freemasons. The object of the association was then stated
to be purely literary and antiquarian, and the promulgation
of a new masonic rite was by no means intended.
" The
society is at present composed of 144 Fratres, and is ruled
over by three brethren, who have attained to the ninth
degree, or Supreme Magus. Seventy-two of these compose
the London College, and thirty-six is the statutory number
of each of the two subordinate colleges " at Bristol and
Manchester. Every College, excepting the Metropolitan,
was restricted in 1877 to thirty-six subscribing members,
exclusive of those of the ninth grade ; the following numbers
being permitted in each grade :
1. Magister Templi . or VIII .
2. Adeptus Exemptus . or VII .
3. . . Adeptus Major or VI.
4. Adeptus Minor . . or V.
5. . . Philosophus
or IV.