History and Legacy of the Rosicrucian Order Explained

Introduction

Despite being one of the oldest esoteric societies, the Rosicrucian Order remains one of the most mysterious and least well-known of the various groups that arose in Europe over the course of the second millennium. Although Rosicrucianism was one of the key influences on the development of Freemasonry, and has played an important role in the development of Western culture and society, its history, symbols, and legacy have frequently been overshadowed by more popular alchemical and metaphysical movements. For example, while most Americans know that many of the Founding Fathers were Freemasons, fewer likely know that the first governor of Connecticut was deeply interested in Rosicrucianism from an early age and was even a member of the British Royal Society, which itself grew out of the Rosicrucian-inspired Invisible College (Woodward 30, 262; Elliott & Daniels 207). In a sense, one could even suggest that the Rosicrucian Order may have had an even greater impact than its more well-known peers, precisely because its influence has gone unremarked.

Part of the reason for the Rosicrucian Order's relative mystery in the eyes of most of the public is the fact that the society's founding texts were themselves published anonymously, supposedly by members of the order who wanted to make themselves known over one hundred and fifty years after the society's original founding (Williamson 9–10). The founding texts of the Rosicrucian Order are the Fama Fraternitatis (full title: Fama fraternitatis Roseae Crucis oder Die Bruderschaft der Rosenkreuzer), the Confessio Fraternitatis (Confessio oder Bekenntnis der Societat und Bruderschaft Rosenkreuz), and the Chymical Wedding of Christian Rosenkreutz (Chymische Hochzeit Christiani Rosencreutz anno 1459), published in 1614, 1615, and 1616 respectively. As a result of clues in the first two books and the title of the third — which some scholars believe was written by a different author — the founder of the Rosicrucian Order is said to be one Christian Rosenkreuz, a European doctor who learned from notable mystical masters throughout the Middle East. Despite the fact that the texts themselves suggest that Rosenkreuz should be interpreted as an allegorical figure, there have been attempts to identify him with figures throughout history; as a consequence of his alchemical learning, he was supposedly capable of living an extraordinarily long life.

The mythology and practice inspired by the tales of Rosenkreuz's travels placed a sharp focus on the betterment of society as a whole through reform and, perhaps most notably, the administration of free medical services. These ideals resonated with more explicit and mainstream movements within Christianity at the time, while simultaneously introducing a fairly progressive vision into a conflicted Europe. The books were an immediate hit throughout Europe, and whether or not a secret society of Rosicrucians actually existed did not matter, because the idea alone was enough to ensure that interested individuals — and particularly doctors, philosophers, and aspiring alchemists — would spread the word of the Rosicrucian Order (Woodward 29–30).

Because Rosicrucianism was deeply connected to the study of alchemy and the natural sciences, leading thinkers were attracted to the movement. In turn, a number of scientists and scholars produced works over the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries that drew from Rosicrucian ideas. Furthermore, as the lodges of masons gradually organized themselves into the larger organization that would become the Freemasons, many of the movement's leading lights were familiar with and fond of Rosicrucianism, to the point that Freemasonry adopted many of the symbols and concepts first introduced by the Rosicrucian texts. Over time, public discussion of Rosicrucianism subsided as other organizations became more prominent and the natural sciences were increasingly divorced from alchemical and metaphysical concerns. Nevertheless, the legacy of Rosicrucianism lived on in literature and art, as well as in the lasting influence of the other movements and societies it inspired.

By examining the history of Rosicrucianism, its central mythologies and tenets, and its lasting legacy, one is able to see how the likely fictional tale of Christian Rosenkreuz's exploits across the Middle East and Europe came to inspire a serious form of philosophical, social, and spiritual inquiry that ultimately helped give rise to the European Enlightenment and modern science. Furthermore, by considering the Rosicrucian Order from the perspective of metaphysics, one can see how the Order helped pioneer a kind of spiritual or figurative journey, wherein enlightenment is not conceived of as a finite goal or endpoint, but rather is achieved through the performative act of the journey itself — a journey that specifically concerns itself with helping the sick and weak. Ultimately, while the visible influence of the Rosicrucian Order has waned in the centuries since its inception, its legacy continues to impact contemporary art, literature, and metaphysical philosophy.