This book caught my attention because of the subtitle: “The Original American Illuminati Loge de Parfaits d’ Écosse ™- 1764”. That sounded like a reference to early ‘high degree’ Freemasonry in America. Connected to Rosicrucianity? In a way yes.
It is now generally accepted that this Rite of twentyfive “haut or hautes” or high degrees was compiled by Estienne Morin with help from Henry Francken, and these lessons are today titled “The Rites of the Royal Secret”.
Not entirely. Morin took his collection of degrees to America, where he tried to organise an Order of the Royal Secret. Francken translated the documents to English. These degrees would form the basis for the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite.
Mentz sets out to prove that this early high degree Freemasonry was somehow Rosicrucian. The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite does indeed have a “Knight Rose Croix” degree (the 18th), but there is no degree with that name in the Morin/Francken manuscript! The predecessor “Knights of White Eagle or Pelican” is there though and already as the 18th degree.
Masonic Rose Croix and The Orders of Rosicruciana / Rose Cross philosophies attempt to gather and harvest the most valuable, mystical, and “life expanding” philosophies that can allow individuals to grow on a spiritual and mental level.
I think even the most esoterically inclined Freemason sees this a bit differently.
Traditional Rosicrucian and Masonic teachings also include many mental exercises and for the practitioner.
I have read one or two (early) Masonic rituals, but I have never encountered any “mental exercises”. Also not in the Morin/Francken texts.
It seems that the author has heard of an early lodge of high degree Freemasonry and used the name to make his book more interesting. Knights Templar are dragged in, he calls the lodge “Societe des Illumines”, but fails to give any information about the lodge or its alleged workings. Also there is little traditional Rosicrucianity in the book.
After the introduction Mentz quickly goes into some sort of “positive thinking” type writing. The “law of attraction”; even the “Kybalion” is used. All kinds of ‘will yourself rich’ type of phrases and countless of exercises in which I miss every connection to either Rosicrucianity or Freemasonry. Towards the end the Confessio Fraternitatis is translated and that is about it.
In spite of all the writing that is not really my cup of tea, I would have hoped for at least a bit more of information about the “Lodge of Parfaits from 1764”, what texts they used, etc. Nothing of all that. The author has just pulled up a few vague references to present his own system.
2019, isbn 1794548661
