LLOYD'S WEEKLY NEWS

London, England

27 March 1910

SECRETS OF THE ROSICRUCIANS.

PROTEST AGAINST THE PUBLICATION OF MYSTERIES.

TWO CATS IN THE BAG.

That ancient and mysterious body, the Rosicrucian Order, or Society of the Rosy Cross, has produced a modern institution, dating from 1888, whose strange ritual and secrets were discussed in the Court of Appeal on Monday.

The veil was lifted by an appeal against an interim injunction granted by Mr. Justice Bucknill to prevent the issue of a magazine called “The Equinox,” which had begun to publish serially an account of the initiation ceremony of the Order. “The Equinox” is published half-yearly at the two equinoctial days in the year.

Count Liddell Macgregor [MacGregor Mathers], living at the Avenue, Beckenham, who objected to the publication of the article, described himself as founder of the modern order, in conjunction with the late Dr. W. R. Woodman and Dr. W. Wynn Westcott [William Wynn Westcott], and also as its chief. He was present in court—a man with long whitening hair well brushed back. He had obtained the interim injunction, against which appeal was now made.

The appeal was made by the defendant in the action, Mr. Aleister Crowley, editor of “The Equinox.” Mr. Crowley, said counsel, had been expelled from the Order. The third number of the magazine was to appear on Tuesday in this week. It had been urged that to publish an account of the initiation ceremony of the Order was a violation of a contract to maintain secrecy, and in violation of the count’s copyright in the proceedings of the Order.

Incidentally, it was stated that the reason there had been delay until the new number of the magazine had been printed and was on the eve of the issue, was that the count could not find the editor’s address. It had been at last discovered in Victoria street.

The count said in his affidavit that the Order was instituted for the study of “mystic philosophy and the mysteries of antiquity”; that the exclusive copyright of the rituals, ceremonies, and manuscripts of the Order was vested in him, and the expelled member proposed to publish them.

Temple of Solomon the King.

Aleister Crowley, the affidavit also said, became a duly qualified member, after signing the preliminary pledge form of secrecy, and made “a solemn obligation in open temple.” In the September issue of “The Equinox,” the affidavit continued, Mr. Crowley had violated the oath of secrecy by making disclosures of ritual in an article entitled “The Temple of Solomon the King,” and there was a chapter headed “The Neophyte.”

Lord Justice Fletcher Moulton asked for a copy of the September number. This was handed to his lordship, who perused with great interest an article headed “The Pillar of Cloud,” and passed it on to the other lords justices.

When counsel explained that the article was being serially published Lord Justice Vaughan Williams asked: Was it a romance? (Laughter.)

Counsel: I do not know, my lord, I cannot describe it. (Laughter.)

Proceeding, counsel submitted that there was no contract, neither was there any obligation on Mr. Crowley’s part to the count. As to rights infringed, those rights had not been identified.

Lord Justice Vaughan Williams understood that each member of the Order held all the other members under an implied contract not to disclose what took place at the meetings.

Sir F. Low, for the count, said that was the case put to the judge. There were no rules, but apparently there was a pledge of secrecy given.

The editor, his counsel declared, had prepared the articles from old books which were perfectly well known, and not from anything of which anybody possessed the copyright. If the publication of the next number of the magazine was stopped, the publication would practically be stopped altogether, because the subscribers would be scattered.

Are You a Mason?

Lord Justice Moulton: Anybody who knows anything about these societies knows that the ritual of most of them has been published.

Lord Justice Vaughan Williams: I have not observed any indication that you are, either of you, Masons. (Laughter.)

Sir F. Low: I don’t propose to give your lordship any, wither. (Laughter.) This society is in no way a Masonic society.

Lord Justice Farwell said he could understand the publication of a trade secret doing a person irreparable injury, but he could not see how any damage, irreparable or otherwise could be done by this publication.

Sir F. Low: If it is done it will be irreparable, because the cat will be out of the bag.

Lord Justice Vaughan Williams: But so much of the cat came out of the bag in September. (Laughter.)

Lord Justice Farwell: And I think it is a dead cat. (Laughter.)

Sir F. Low: Perhaps there is a second cat in the bag, my lord. (Renewed laughter.) The defendant is publishing the article as an act of revenge for having been expelled.

Lord Justice Vaughan Williams: I see the plaintiff says he is “the earthly chief” of the Order, and subject to the guidance of the “Spiritual” Order.

Lord Justice Farwell: What is the “Spiritual Order”? (Laughter.)

Sir F. Low: I cannot go into it, my lord. It is clear the spiritual head would not be answerable for costs. (Laughter)

None of the three judges expressed himself favourably to the count, in deciding to discharge the injunction. Lord Justice Vaughan Williams said he thought the appeal ought to succeed.

The count had delayed his action until just before the publication of the new number of the magazine, whereas he might have proceeded a month or six weeks ago, before the printing began. He did not decide, however, on that ground alone. He also thought the publication could do him no harm, in view of what had already appeared.

With this, Lord Justice Moulton and Lord Justice Farwell were in agreement. Their lordships according allowed the appeal and dissolved the injunction.