Irwin's spiritualist or scrying seances. His most interesting communicator was none other than Cagliostro. On Sunday 19 (Month omitted) 1873, Cagliostro told him that "the Crystal you have will be of little use. It is charged with an antagonistic principle." Cagliostro came again on 29 October 1873: "I am afraid that at present I cannot give you anything to be continuous." Thereafter between 31 October and 9 November Cagliostro communicated on four separate occasions and, according to Irwin's Spiritual Journal, dictated almost word for word the ritual which Howe presents in the form of the Narrative History of the Fratres Lucis. These Fratres Lucis can indeed be legitimate, as we come across them repeatedly.
3 January. Charter granted by Sovereign Sanctuary of Memphis, New York, to Great Britain.
23 February. Patent granted by Seymour to Yarker to establish the Sanctuary (A&P Rite) in Great Britain and Ireland. Yarker states "Further on the Constitution intimates that Egypt was the source of the Knowledge deposited in this system. But it apparently arose in France, went to Egypt, returning in 1815 with a wealth of esoteric lore, under the name of Disciples of Memphis." English Charter for A&P 33°95° in and for Great Britain and Ireland and in Scottish Rite was allied with the Supreme Grand Council 33, of the Cerneau Rite for the USA, of which Yarker was made honorary 33°.
25 February. Neudoerfl, Hungary. The lodge "Humanitas" was installed on 25 February 1872 in Neudoerfl, which today is in Austria, near Vienna Neustadt.
4 June. Yarker buys the permission to Introduce the Memphis Rite in England. Under his jurisdiction Memphis and Misraim came together (now called the Antient and Primitive Rite of Memphis and Misraim, or Memphis-Misraim, or MM). [Nb. If this is true reporting, then Yarker and Little advertised M&M for a year or so before having purchased the permission to advertise a Rite already considered to be irregular by the Orthodoxy.
29 June. Perhaps the most astonishing disclosure of all was the one published in The Freemason of 29 June 1872 signed 'Sp-ns-r [i.e., Sponsor], II". "It may be sufficient to say," he wrote, "that I have seen the true jewel of 'Apex" the jewel can be heard as well as seen." The jewel probably incorporated a small bell which tinkled.
The Royal Oriental Order of Sikha(Apex) and the Sat B'Hai, to give it its official title, was the brainchild of Captain James Henry Lawrence Archer, Indian Army, although Mackenzie did most of the donkey-work and received small thanks for his trouble. John Yarker briefly referred to the Order's founder and origins in The Arcane Schools, p. 242: "This is a Hindu Society organized by the Pundit of an Anglo-Indian regiment, and brought to this country, about the year 1872, by Captain J. H. Lawrence Archer." In Hindi the word Pundit or Pandit means a learned man, one versed in philosophy, religion and jurisprudence, alternatively a learned expert or teacher. In military usage it meant a native civilian who was employed to teach the British officers of Indian regiments the Hindi language and to read the Devanagri script. Nothing is known of the Pundit's Hindu Society or the nature of his notes, mss., etc..., which Archer brought to England and which Mackenzie in due course attempted to 'work up'. This is also the year which Yarker attributes to the foundation of the Order of Ishmael by Mackenzie.
July. Lytton's name did not appear as "Grand Patron" in The Rosicrucian until July 1872. Nobody informed him of the honour that had been bestowed upon him. Indeed, he does not appear to have known about it until the end of 1872 when, on 16 December, he wrote a letter of complaint to John Yarker. It is impossible to suggest why his Lordship should have written to Yarker, who was merely a leading member of the Society's Manchester College. Yarker, whose letters are notable for their acerbity, despatched an uncharacteristically apologetic reply, on 16 December. Lytton conveniently died on 18 January 1873, and the Society lost its involuntary Grand Patron.
5 October. Paris. Thevenot drafts his letter to the Very Illustrious Brother J. M. P. Montague, Grand Secretary of the Supreme Council of England. This letter concerns the activities of Harry J. Seymour and company, which are related above, under the heading 30 September 1871.
8 October. A Sovereign Sanctuary of the Rite was established in England by the American Grand Body, with Brother John Yarker as Grand Master, and now continues in constant work. "We (the English) took from them (the Americans) a charter for its (A&P Rite) degrees 33°-95° in and for Great Britain and Ireland and in the Scottish Rite allied ourselves with the Supreme Grand Council 33° (Cerneau) for the USA, of which the writer (John Yarker) was made honorary 33°, Representative of Amity. We had thus for long the Scottish Rite allied with Misraim, and now with Memphis... The constitution of the A&P Rite declares that Great Britain and Ireland derives from the Sovereign Sanctuary for the American Continent, which again derives its authority from the Sovereign Sanctuary of France, the College of Rites, and the Grand Orient of France. In America, authority was vested in Harry J. Seymour, by letters Patent granted to him by the Executive Chiefs in Paris in 1862. 10 years later, a patent and dispensation was granted by the Illustrious Sovereign Grand Master General, Harry J. Seymour, ro Most Illustrious Brother John Yarker, as Sovereign Grand Master General to establish the Sovereign Sanctuary for Great Britain and Ireland." After 1872, the Rite of Memphis was known as the Antient and Primitive Rite.
12 October. London. On this date, the correspondence between Thevenot, Montague, and Hervey, and their translations, appeared in London Freemason.
Mackenzie founds the Order of Ishmael. Its most interesting feature was that it was ruled over by 3 chiefs.
17 October. Mackenzie admitted to Grade of Zelator in the Metropolitan College of the SRIA. He immediately became active in the Society, giving regular lectures. He became Assistant Secretary General of SRIA. John Hervey was made an honorary member in October 1870.
November. Washington, D.C. The letter of Thevenot is printed in the November, 1872, issue of Mackey's National Freemason, Volume II, No. 2, pages 87 - 89.
21 December. Alexandria, Egypt. The Rite of Memphis revived on this date, when, with the sanction of the Khedive, S. A. Zola was elected and proclaimed G. M. of the Sanctuary of Memphis --- Grand National Orient of Egypt.
Mexico. It would seem as if the authority of Juarez alone held these Rites together, since at his death in 1872 -- although he was succeeded as President by his chief follower, Sebastian Lerdo de Tejeda, also a prominent Freemason -- dissensions arose, and they fell asunder, Alfredo Chavero becoming Grand Master of the Grand Orient, and Jose Maria Mateos of the National Grand Lodge.
Mazzini dies. (10 March 1872, Pisa, Italy)...[At least Trufax got that right. They probably had no choice, since it's in the EB.]
Japan institutes compulsory smallpox vaccination. Within 20 years 165,000 smallpox cases manifest themselves.
Horace Greeley writes about the "National" Bank Act, saying "by our money system we have nationalized a system of oppression not less cruel than the old system of chattel slavery."
In England, 87% of infants are vaccinated for smallpox. Over 19,000 die in England and Wales. (See 1925).
Rio Tinto Zinc company founded by Hugh Matheson with his uncles profits from opium trafficking and help from Schroder Bank in Germany, who would later fund Adoph Hitler in 1931.
10 January. Frankfurt. The English Lodge at Frankfurt, "Nascent Dawn", which had been the chief cause of the local declaration of independence, joined the Eclectic Union, entering at once into all the privileges of the other three Metropolitan Lodges.
18 January. Death of Edward Bulwer-Lytton, Involuntary Grand Patron of the SRIA.
23 March. In a letter to F. G. Irwin, Frederick Hockley complains about Mackenzie's intemperance.
24 April. The Rosicrucian Society's members experienced a more than usually entertaining evening on 24 April 1873 when Mackenzie, who had recently become an honorary member, read a paper describing his visit to Eliphas Levi in December 1861. To commemorate the event the Society thereupon elected Levi as an honorary foreign member. Mackenzie's text was forthwith published in The Rosicrucian. This version is the same as the MS., with one important exception. In the latter Mackenzie recalled that Levi "mentioned Sir Edward Bulwer-Lytton as a gentleman of versatile talents, but of little real knowledge in relation to the Cabala." This was now amended to read: "...he rendered a tribute to the versatile knowledge of Lord, then Sir Bulwer-Lytton, and returned to his favourite topic, the Cabbala upon which he dwelt with emphasis."
11 May. Schiltigheim, Alsace. Birth of Emile Hoffet.
28 August. During the summer and autumn of 1873 Cox' letters to Irwin contain allusions to the Ritual of the Knight of the Hermetic Cross. Irwin was translating it, probably from the French, and Cox offered to make a fair copy. He asked on 28 August if it had any connection with John Yarker's Antient and Primitive Rite of Masonry, and on 1 October if it was part of Yarker's Rite of Memphis. Irwin did not satisfy his curiosity...
November. Mackey's National Freemason, Vol. III, Number 3, pp. 117 - 122. "Zoroaster, or Zarathustra, and his Doctrines," by Albert Pike."The ancient Persians were conquered by and received their religion from the Medes, who were Aryan emigrants from Bactria. They called themselves, as the Ind-Aryans called themselves, simply "Arya;" but as Iran, from Airyana Vaêja, the name of the original country of both, came to be applied especially to Persia, I call the Bactro-Median branch of the race Irano-Aryans." Pike's translations of the Zend Avesta and the Gathas, and his analysis of the religion, language and history of the "Irano-Aryans," all precede the versions from the Oxford S.B.E. Series.
Max Theon, just 26, was made Grand Master of the H B of L, Peter Davidson was the Order's frontal Chief. Blavatsky, Olcott, Barlet, and others of the time were numbered on its rolls... Later the members of the TS would sever ties with the H B of L. Later, Davidson would migrate to the United States and set up a Community in Loudsville, Georgia. Davidson and Hargrave Jennings were long-time correspondents.+
Austria. Carl Kellner's first invention was made in 1873 at the age of 23, when he was an employee of his fatherly friend, the representative of the Austrian Council Eugen Hektor Baron von Zahony, who possessed a paper factory in Goerz in the then Austrian Friaul (today Italy). Kellner also was engaged in the scholarly education of the Baron's children. When Kellner made a mistake while working in the factory he discovered that heating wood in an solution of sulphite produces cellulose.
Neudoerfl (Hungary). According to Hartmann and the "oral History", Kellner (alias "Renatus") became a member of the freemasonic border-Lodge "Humanitas" in 1873 in Neudoerfl, then Hungary. Hartmann (alias "Emanuel") mentioned the place as "Neuhaeusl" in his obituary dated June 1905, printed in Reuss' Oriflamme. When Carl Kellner was admitted to the Lodge in 1873, the lodge was in heavy crisis. A lot of the brothers didn't agree with the Master of the Chair, Schneeberger.
Annie Besant obtains a separation from her husband, the Rev. Frank Besant. From this point on she becomes an ardent Freethinker. From 1874 to 1888 she worked in close association with Charles Bradlaugh, both in politics and in freethought propaganda, as a lecturer and writer of pamphlets over the signature of "Ajax." Her increasing tendency toward Socialism of the more revolutionary type occasioned a divergence between them after 1885, which was completed in 1889 by her adhesion to the Theosophical Society.
Dr. Wynn Westcott was a member of Brotherly Love Lodge No. 379, Yeovil, from 1873 to 1880.
Banking panic of 1873.
Early. The First Edition of Albert Mackey's Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry published. It replaced the former Lexicon of Freemasonry. It is noticed in the Mackey's National Freemason for March of 1874. The Reverend A. F. A. Woodford reviewed it in the Masonic Mirror in May. Copies were circulating in England by 12 October, when Mackenzie wrote in the first of his letters to Irwin: "I am engaged in preparing a new Masonic Cyclopaedia, of which you shall hear more ere long." It is likely that Mackey's book, which gave Mackenzie and John Hogg, his prospective publisher, the idea for a less compendious work for the British Market. (And one which included many interesting things which Mackey's left out.)
8 January. Mackenzie now became a regular contributor to The Rosicrucian. Hitherto its editorial contents had been almost unbelievably dull, and with the exception of his Eliphas Levi piece Mackenzie's articles were no better. One would never suppose that they could have been written by the "bright young man" that Mackenzie represented during the 1850s. He was appointed the Society's (SRIA's) Assistant Secretary General on 8 January 1874.
23 February. By this time, F. G. Irwin must have already vaguely hinted at the existence of a very secret affair called the Order of the Brothers of (Swastika) and implied that Benjamin Cox might be allowed to join it. This Order of the Brothers of (Swastika) is officially known as Fratres Lucis, and is said to go back to Venice, in the mid 15th Century. It is also said that the Fratres Lucis are a direct lineal descendant of the final manifestation of the Initiated Knights and Brothers of Asia in Europe, which, we have demonstrated, are connected to the original German Rosicrucian groups, and to the French R.C.
February - March. By this time Irwin must have already vaguely hinted at the existence of a very secret affair called the Order of the Brothers of (swastika symbol) and implied that Cox might be allowed to join it. "The one desire of my heart is to become a member of some Order wherein I may learn the mysteries of nature and truth so that I may not only benefit myself but that of my fellow men. I have, as you know, ever considered the knowledge of occult science the one sure and safe means whereby we can obtain truth and wisdom." He offered his payment for the deal; He sent a list of the degrees he had taken in Masonry, on the paper itself is scribbled the word "Useless." Cox wrote to Irwin to express his pleasure that he had been accepted as a candidate for the Order of (swastika symbol). By 28 March he was aware that Order was known as the Fratres Lucis. Furthermore he knew that Irwin had recently been in Paris and had allegedly met members of the Order there. "I am very glad to hear that you met with such a warm reception from members of the Order in Paris." The weeks passed by and the impatient Cox still knew little or nothing about the Order except its name.
14 July. Irwin states that it is difficult to believe that there were 27 Members of his Order of Swastika...just five years previously.
Autumn. Irwin in Paris at this time, visiting Eliphas Levi. When he returned to Bristol he applied to Mackenzie for information. Mackenzie replied on 23 October and was evasive. "I can give you very little information about the Hermetic Order of Egypt. Constant could have given you far more than I could -- he was one of my preceptors."
October. A prospectus issued at this time, Mackenzie's Cyclopaedia was to be issued in six half-crown parts, of 128 pages each. Publication was scheduled to begin in early 1875. Mackenzie hoped to receive permission to dedicate the work to the Prince of Wales...but when the bound volume was published it was dedicated to his uncle, John Hervey.
12 October. Mackenzie to Irwin: "I certainly have the lightest duties that ever fell to the lot of an Assistant Secretary as Dr. Woodman does all the work and I only write papers of more or less general interest."
23 October. Mackenzie to Irwin: "Can you be a peacemaker between us?(Mackenzie and Hockley) I am willing to do or say anything to that purpose." Hockley offered no olive branch. Embarrassed at the prospect of being publicly snubbed by Hockley at the Metropolitan College's meetings, and irritated by Little's vagaries, his letter of resignation from the Society was read at the Quarterly Convocation on 30 April 1875. "As to the Rite of Ishmael, presuming you to have taken the degree of Rose Croix, you would then begin to have glimmerings of it...the Rite has existed side by side with Freemasonry for thousands of years and forms a completion by working back to the Entered Apprentice degree...The ceremonies are of a most august nature and teach the invariability of God, His Providence, and the instability of man."
7 November. Mackenzie to Irwin: "As to the Order of Ishmael I will do what I can within the next few months but it is impossible to move in the matter until the spring - annual meetings only take place and properly speaking on the first of May. I may however as well inform you that I hold an official position in that body for England, and of course will be glad to forward your views...in your admission your Masonic rank will receive due recognition."
6 December. Mackenzie to Irwin: "We will talk about the Order of Ishmael when we meet -- several things have to be considered before the Obligation can be given, as portions of the Koran have to be taken as of authority. As however Saladin gave the Rite to Coeur de Lion we have good precedent for the admission of Christians."
Arthur Duke of Connaught and Leopold Duke of Albany were initiated this year, the former in the Prince of Wales Lodge, and the latter in the Apollo University Lodge.
The Prince of Wales having already the rank of a Past Grand Master of England, a deputation was appointed to interview him upon the acceptance of the office vacated by the Marquis of Ripon. At the meeting of the Grand Lodge in December 1874, it was reported that the Prince would accept the Grand Mastership, and would appoint the Earl of Carnarvon as pro-Grand Master, and Lord Skelmersdale as Deputy G. M. Accordingly the Prince was Installed Grand Master, with great pomp, at the Royal Albert Hall, South Kensington, on 28 April 1875, which was duly commemorated by a painting in oil, and an engraved copy of the same.
William Wynn Westcott was elected 53rd Imperator of the Freres Aines de la Rose-Croix, until 1892, when Mathers took over the helm, until 1898, and Rudolph Steiner, after him, for two years (1898 to 1900).
Alexandria, Egypt. S. A. Zola was further authorized to assume the title of Grand Hierophant. 97°, the Supreme Office of the Rite.
In 1874 Père Deschamps, after his exhaustive study of secret societies, thus propounded the question:
"We have now to ask ourselves whether there is anything but an identity of doctrines and personal communications between the members of the different sects, whether there is really a unity of direction which binds together all the secret societies, including Free Masonry. Here we touch on the most mysterious point of the action of secret societies, on that which these national Grand Orients who declare themselves independent of each other and sometimes even excommunicate each other conceal most carefully beneath a veil."
Finally Deschamps is led to the conclusion that there is "a secret council which directs all masonic societies," that there are "secret lairs where the chiefs of the sects agree together on their work of destruction."
Austria - Hungary. In 1874 two groups of dissatisfied brothers left "Humanitas" and founded new lodges ("Zukunft" and "Sokrates") in Pressburg (near Bratislava in Slowakia), then Hungary. It should be noted that in Masonic History, one of the earliest Masonic Lodges in this region was at Pressburg, and it was a Stricte-Obzervanz Lodge.
Edinburgh. The Duchess de Pomar, Lady Caithness, a young widow, was living in Caithness Castle. Following instructions received from Mary, Queen of Scots, in a dream, with only one attendant, she slipped out one midnight into a waiting cab and was driven to the chapel of Holyrood Castle. After a long and intimate conversation, the Queen informed Lady Caithness that she was her guardian angel and kissed her on the forehead. The Duchess took a solemn vow and consecrated the rest of her life to God.
The Ancient and Archaeological Order of Druids founded by Robert Wentworth Little, W. Hyde Pullen, Thomas Massa. Restricted to Masons. It is a study society for Ancient and Modern Druidism. Members include W. R. Woodman, George Kenning, Kenneth Mackenzie, E. H. Thiellay, S. Rosenthal. This organization is somehow connected to the Irish Republican Brotherhood, the Clan-na-Gael, the Phoenix Society of Skibbereen, and the Invincibles, according to Lady Queensborough.
Mackenzie joins A&P Rite, and is appointed Grand Annalist for the Province of Middlesex.
Civil marriage made compulsory in Germany.
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