Course XXVI - Teaching 15: Saint Germain and the Rosicrucian

Before the French Revolution, the Esoteric Orders finally are divided into two. Those of Rosicrucian type, entirely Hermetic, and followers of the Anointed King (Monarchy), and those more liberal, in favor of the popular movement and free thought. Saint-Germain is the last of these inaccessible Rosicrucian mystics.
In Casanova’s words, Saint-Germain, a mediocre physicist, was very charming, and also a Rosicrucian. Here is his description: “It was difficult to speak better than him. His tone was decisive, but so refined that never displeased. He was wise, and spoke perfectly the majority of languages, was a great musician, a great chemist, of pleasant figure and a master to get docility from all women”.
He speaks different languages, plays violin and clavichord to perfection (Rameau is astonished), and is a painter whose colors have such a shine that Letour and Van Loole often asked of him the secret without success.
According to Countess de Adhemar’s “Memories”, entitled “Souvenirs de Marie Antoinette” (Paris, 1821), the Count Saint-Germain renders important services in France to the King Louis XV; for twenty years, he is as much active in European Courts as in that of France, and is seen in different occasions and after long absences ever preserving the same aspect of a man at the age of 40. The same Countess tells about her deep impression, in 1821, when in her old age she sees the Count preserving the same aspect of a man at the age of 40, his fresh skin and young like when they saw him for the first time.
He is a great alchemist and knows how to crystallize in an artificial way the carbon, for as an Initiate he is aware of the science that transmutes metals.
But let us see the other side of the medal. Seemingly he is not only a man of the world. His science, glamour and power are useful for something more than to astonish people, and takes advantage of them for a far more serious plan.
Under the wise inspiration of Choiseul, France continues the politics of Louis XV, who is the first to understand the danger of an emerging Prusia. Now, England is in favor of Prusia. Saint-Germain tries to influence the King in favor of the English and offers to negotiate peace with England. Doubtless Louis XV, advised by Choiseul, understands his mistake and officially disapproves his agent. But Saint-Germain’s influence is so great that the King again listens at him and appoints him as a spy.
Why this great dilettante and alchemist works for the King of Prusia? The Rosicrucian will respond. The Count is a Rosicrucian and does his best to convince the King. We are told that by virtue of the mysterious disappearance of the Procurator Chatelot in 1780, Saint-Germain revealed to the Prefect of Police the secret of the enigma. Following his indication, they found the corpse. On this occasion, seemingly he stated to the King: “Become a Rosicrucian and I respond to your questions about how to solve this matter”. If so, the Crown of France could be saved and the King would be an Initiated King. Saint-Germain, as a Rosicrucian, is aware of numerous subjects, of the philosopher’s stone and of alchemical recipes.
Frightened by the turn of the events, Saint-Germain foretells day by day what is happening in the backstage. Marie Antoinette and the King are warned. Without success, Saint-Germain tries to counteract the advices of the courtesans, among them those of Maurepas, which would produce (and certainly produced) the events of 1793 and the bloody time of terror in France. Seemingly this time of terror, now considered, may be a necessary and sorrowful trial for a new France of principles of freedom, equality and fraternity eventually in force. But it is not exactly so. If it is something necessary, it is so just in the last moment of Louis XVI’s reign, by virtue of the state of things and the absence of any other solution. But if the King had paid attention to Saint-Germain’s advices, all this social change that France had to undergo by karma, would be carried out by means of an intelligent evolution, not by means of a violent revolution.
According to the Rosicrucian, later, the Count will come back to the public life in Europe, even though none knows under what name or aspect, and that at present he lives, in a physical body, at a castle of Hungary.
Chaltes Webster Leadbeater, a Rosicrucian member, tells how he met Saint-Germain in the Corzo of Roma, in 1901 and that on this occasion they conversed during one hour in Pinciano Park. We are told that this Initiate deals with the political situation in Europe and is in charge of spiritualistic world movements, ceremonially developed, like Masonry and very especially like Co-Masonry or Scotch Mixed Masonry that, world-wide extended, has its seat in Paris under the distinctive title of “The human right”, which should not be mistaken for the pseudo-Masonry called “by adoption”.