Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1879-09-24
The Rosy Cross.

The mere mention of the word "Rosicru-
cian'' is still sufficient with many TO create
feeling of that awe, observation-disclosures
and mystery which our ancestors invariably
associated with dealings with the evil one.
That mysterious body or order, the Rosi-
crucian Philosophers, first founded by
Christian Rosencreutz, who died in 1854,
laid claim to the possession of divers Sc
crets, amongst others the possession OF the
philosophers stone. They communicated
with each other by means Of hieroglyphics
and were sworn, TO fidelity and secrecy, an
nouncing that the ancient Magi and Egyp-
tian philosophers taught the doctrines they
professed. In the second edition Of his
history of the ''ROsecrucians, their Kites
and MYSTERIES, " Mr.. Hargrave Jennings, so
well known for his research in matters OF
antiquity and folklore, says, sit may most
truly he asserted that no one can boast OF
having ever seen or known in any age any
supposed or suspected member of the
Roscrucian brotherhood in the flesh" The
author claims for his work that il is the
first impariiglly written explanatory his
tory of the alchcmical philosophers since
the davs of James |. and Charles l., but
he is careful 10 guard his readers against
identifying him personally with all the
opinions, religious or otherwise, which are
to be found in the book. He has rs he ad-
mits. put forward some of the opinions of
the Hermetic Brethren with the force and
warmth seemingly of his own conviction.
He desires TO be regarded simply as the
historian Of the R0sicrucians, or as an es-
savist upon their belief. As furnishing an
example Of the style of the work, the old
story related by DR.. Plot in the time OF
Charles IL, and reproduced by Mr.. Jen-
nings, may he quoted with reference to a
singular adventure in StaffOrdshire. A
countrymau employed at the close of q GER
tain day in digging a trench came upon an
immense stone in the centre of a field, and
by great labor succeeded in removing it,
BY Il singular combination of talent in this
individual, the old historian tells the reader
how man succeeds, by utilizing local
apr l.anctS in the shape of trees, il gaining
access To the cavern. Without following
him through all the dark and mysterious
passages he had 10 traverse in his curiosity,
no doubt unwittingly. after RoSicrucian re-
rearch, we take up the narrative: Still
the light s;reamed al distance, but still
there was no sound to interpret the mean
ing of the light or to display the character
of this mysterious place in which the coun-
tryman found himself entangled hopelessly
like knight of romance in an enchanted
world. The discoverer by this time stood
still with fear. But at last, summoning
courage, and recommending himself de
vouteGly to God, he determined TO com
plete his discovery. Above, he had been
working n no strange place; the field he
well knew, the woods were very familiar
10 him, and his own hamlet and his wife
and family were only few miles distant.
He now hastily, more in feaI than through
courage, nOiS.ly with his feet descended the
remainder Of the stairs, and the light grew
brighter and brighter as he approached,
until at last, al another tnrn, he came upon
& square chamber, built up of large hewn
and ancient stones. He stopped, silent
and awcstrGck. Here was a tagged pave
ment and somewhat lofty roof, gathering
up into Il centre in the grOins Of which
was a rose, carved eXquisitely in some dark
stone or in marble. But what was this
poor mans fright when, making another
sudden turn, from between the jambs and
from under the large archivolt Of a Gothic
stone portal, light streamed out over him
with ineXpressble brilliancy. shining over
everything, and lighting up the place with
brilliant radiance. like an intense golden
sunset lie started back. Then his limbs
shook and bent under him as he gazed with
terror at the figure Of a mau. whose face
was hidden, as he sat n q lious attitude
IN stone chair, reading IL great book,
with his elbow resting on a table ike q rec
tan-ular altar, in the hight Of large, an
cient irCn lamp, suspended by thick chain
10 the middle Of the roof. 4 CRY Of alarm,
which he could not suppress, escaped from
the scared dIScOverer, who invOluntarilv
advanced one pace, beside himself with
terror He was now within the illuminated
chamber. As his foot fell upon the stone.
the figure started bolt upright from his
seated position. Is if in awful astonishment.
He erected his hooded head, and showed
himself in anger about to question the in
trUder. Douatful if what he saw was real
ity, or whether he was not in some terrific
dream, the countryman advanced, without
being aware Of what he was doing, another
audaclous step. The hooded man now
thrust out a long arm, as if in warning
and in q moment the discOverer perceived
AlaAl Ills -4tllsa Will Ddt0D.
and that he pointed it as if tremendously
to forbid further approach. Nov, how
ever, the poor man, not being in q condi-
ton either to reason or to restrain himself,
with a cry, and in passion of fear, took a
third fatal step; and as his foot descended
on the groaning stone, which seemed tC
give way for a moment under him, the
dreadful man, or image, raised his arm
high like q machine, and with his trurcheor
struck prOdigious blow upon the lamp
shattering il into a thousand pieces, an,
leaving the place in utter darkness. Thi
was the end Of this terrifying adventure
There was a total silence now, far an,
near. Only lOEg, low roll Of thunder. O
noise similar 10 thunder, seemed to begil
from q distance and then to move witt
snatches, as if Taking turns; and it thel
rumbled suueniy to Sleep as if through un
known, inaccessible passages. What thes
were-h any assages-nObJdy ever fOunC
out. 1t was only suspected tnat this hid
den place referred in some way to tn
RosicrucianS. and that the mysterious pee
pie Of that famous order had there conceal
ed some Of their scientifics secrets. Tn
place in Staffordshire became afterwarc
famed as the scpulchre Of one of the brother
hood, whom. for want Of a more distinc
recognition or name, the people choose I
call 'Rosicrucius,' in general reference t
his order; and from the circumstance G
the lamp, and its sudden extinguishmen
by the figure that started up, it was SUP
posed that some RoSicrucian had determir
ed to inform posterity that he had penetrat
ed to the secret Of the making of the eve
burning lamps Of the ancients, though, ;
the moment that he displayed his know
edge, he took effectual means that no on
should reap any advantage from it,