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MODERN ROSICRUCIAN SOCIETIES. 425
fesses that it is too wonderful for him, too high, and that
he cannot attain it. At the same time he hazards a new
definition of the much-abused term Eosicrucian, which he
believes to have been assumed by the Brotherhood not
because they sought light by the assistance of ros, dew, but
in rus, solitude, which is conclusive as to the philological
abilities of this "untaught speculator." By the year 1872,
the members seems to have discovered that their organ and
indeed their society had scarcely borne out its original
intention, for " the general body of members have done
"
little to promote the elucidation of Eosicrucian lore ; but,
in spite of resolutions to the contrary, matters continued in
much the same condition, though glowing expectations
were entertained on the initiation of one Frater Kenneth
Mackenzie VI ., a burning and a shining light of occultism,
somewhat concealed beneath the bushel of secresy.
gather from various casual statements that the balance of
opinion in the camp of the " Eosicrucian Brotherhood in
Anglia " is to the following effect That Andreas was in
some way connected with the authorship of the u Fama "
and " Confessio Fraternitatis," that the fraternity of
Christian Eosencreutz as described therein and in the
"Chymical Marriage" had no tangible existence,
I
but that
they gave rise to the philosophic sect of Eosicrucianism,
which name became, in the words of Thomas Vaughan, a
generic term, embracing every species of mystical pre-
tension.
This harmless association deserves a mild sympathy at
the hands of the students of occultism.
' '
It has not done much harm, nor yet much good ;
It might have done much better if it would. "
1 "Hours with the Mystics," ii., 104.