Francis Bacon and his secret society - Grand Lodge of Colorado

224 FRANCIS BACON
Rosicrucians were to heal the sick, gratis. This seems to mean
that their work was, throughout, to be a labour of love. Not
for the sake of profit or of fame did they labour, but simply for
the love of God, and of man created in God's image. Truly
we believe that for this end the brothers Anthony and Francis
lived poor for many years, flinging into the common fund, for
publishing, etc., every penny which they could spare, after
defraying the most necessary expenses for themselves, and to
keep up appearances. We equally believe that their work has
never died out, but has been taken up in the same spirit by
numberless individuals and societies— now in full activity, and
recently mightily on the increase.
Rule 17 would account for the extraordinary impetus given in
Bacon's time to the building and endowing of libraries, schools,
colleges, hospitals, almshouses, theatres, etc. The names of many
such " fair houses, " munificently endowed, will rise to the minds of
all who are well acquainted with London and the two great universities.
Let the reader inquire into the history of Gresham
College, Sion College, and the splendid library attached to it;
Dulwich College, with its school, almshouses, and library, originally
intended to benefit poor actors; the Bancroft Hospital and
many other similar establishments; the library and other buildings
at Trinity College, Cambridge; the additions to the Bodleian
Library, Oxford, the library at Lambeth Palace, and the great
printing-houses established at both universities — he will
find
that be can never get away from Bacon and his friends. Either
we find Bacon suggesting the need or en6ouraging the performers,
or inspecting and approving the work, but himself, as a rule,
unrecognised in public documents; so with the societies. Hisportrait
alone hangs in the great library of the Royal Society. His
friends are all closely associated with the founding of the Arundel
Society, the Society of Antiquaries, the Camden Society, the
Ray Society, and, we think, with the Colleges of Surgeons and
Physicians;
but, as usual, although the names appear, in connection
with these and other institutions, of his intimate friends,
Bacon, the great instigator and promoter or them all, remains in
the background. It is sufficient to read of such institutions that