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Encyclopedia of Ancient and Forbidden Secrets

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Abraham, The Jew: (Alchemist and magician, circa, 1400).

Comparatively few biographical facts are forthcoming concerning

this German Jew, who was at once alchemist, magician and

philosopher; and these few facts are mostly derived from a very

curious manuscript, now domiciled in the Archives of the

Bibliotheque de l'Arsenal, Paris, an institution rich in occult

documents. This manuscript is couched throughout in French, but

purports to be literally translated from Hebrew, and the style of the

handwriting indicates that the scribe lived at the beginning of the

eighteenth century, or possibly somewhat earlier.

work this consisting of some account of Abraham's youth and early

travels in search of wisdom, along with advice to the young man

aspiring to become skilled in occult arts. The second part, on the

other hand, is base on the documents which the Egyptian sage

handed the Jew, or at least on the confidences wherewith the

former favoured the latter; and it may be fairly accurately defined

as dealing with the first principles of magic in general, the titles of

some of the more important chapter being as follows: " How Many,

and what are the Classe of Veritable Magic ? " - What we Ought to

Take int Consideration before the Undertaking of the Operation, "

Concerning the Convocation of the Spirits, " and " I what Manner

we ought to Carry out the Operations.

A distinct illiteracy characterises the French script, the

punctuation being inaccurate, indeed frequently conspicuous by

its absence, but an actual description of the document must be

waived till later. Abraham was probably a native of Mayence,

having come thence after the exile of the Jews from Spain, and

appears to have been born in 1362. We find that his father, Simon

by name, was something of a seer and magician, and that the boy

accordingly commenced his occult studies under the parental

guidance, while at a later date he studied under one, Moses, whom

he himself describes as " indeed a good man, but entirely ignorant

of The True Mystery, and of The Veritable Magic."

Passing to the third and last part, this likewise is most derived

straight from Abra-Melin; and here the author eschewing

theoretical matter as far as possible, gives information about the

actual practice of magic. In the first place he tells how " To

procure divers Visions, - How one may retain the Familiar Spirits,

bound or free in whatsoever form, " and how " To excite Tempests,

while in one chapter he treats of raising the dead, anoth he devotes

to the topic of transforming oneself into " dive shapes and forms, "

and in further pages he descants o flying in the air, on demolishing

buildings, on discovering thefts, and on walking under the water.

Then he dilates o the Thaumaturgic healing of leprosy, dropsy,

paralysis and various more common ailments such as fever and se

sickness, while he offers intelligence on - How to be b loved by a

Woman, " and this he supplements by direction for commanding

the favour of popes, emperors, and oth influential people.

Leaving this preceptor, Abraham decided to glean knowledge by

travelling, and along with a friend called Samuel, a Bohemian, by

birth, he wandered through Austria and Hungary into Greece, and

thence penetrated to Constantinople, where he remained fully two

years. He is found next in Arabia, in those days a veritable centre

of mystic learning; and from Arabia he went to Palestine, whence

betimes he proceeded to Egypt. Here he had the good fortune to

make the acquaintance of Abra Melin , the famous Egyptian

philosopher, who, besides entrusting to him certain documents,

confided in him by word of mouth a number of invaluable secrets;

and armed thus, Abraham left Egypt for Europe, where eventually

he settled in Germany, some say at Wurzburg, but better

authorities posit Frankfurt.

Finally, he reverts to the question summoning visions, and his

penultimate chapter is titled, " How to cause Armed Men to

Appear, " while the concluding pages treat of evoking " Comedies,

Opera and all kinds of Music and Dances." It is by employing

Kabalistic squares of letters that a these things are to be achieved,

or at least, almost all them, and lack of space makes it impossible

to deal with the many different signs of this sort, whose use he

counsels.

Soon he was deep in alchemistic researches, but these did not

prevent him from espousing a wife, who appears to have been his

cousin Matilde Stein; and by her he had three daughters and also

two sons, the elder named Joseph and the younger Lamech.

It should be said, in justice to the author that he manifests little

selfishness, and seems to have striven after success in his craft

with a view to using for the benefit of mankind in general. His

writings are besides, a firm belief in that higher self existing in

man, and a keen desire to develop it.

He took great pains to instruct both of them in occul affairs, while,

on each of his three daughters, he settled a dowry of a hundred

thousand golden florins. This considerable sum, together with

other vast wealth, he claim to have gained by travelling as an

alchemist; and whateve the truth of this statement, he certainly

won great fame being summoned to perform acts of magic before

man rich and influential people, notably the Emperor Sigismun of

Germanv, the Bishop of Wurzburg, King Henry VI. of England, the

Duke of Bavaria, and Pope John XXIII

Abraxas: (or Abracax). The Basilidian (q.v., ) sect Gnostics, of the

second century, claimed Abraxas as the supreme god, and said

that Jesus Christ was only a phantom sent to earth by him. They

believed that his name contained great mysteries, as it was

composed of the se Greek letters which form the number 363,

which is also number of days in a year. Abraxas, they thought,

under his command 365 gods, to whom they attrib 365 virtues, one

for each day. The older Mythology placed him among the number

of Egyptian gods, demonologists have described him a - a demon,

with head of a king and with serpents forming his feet.

Represented on ancient amulets, with a whip in his. It is from his

name that the mystic word, Abracad (q.v.) is taken.

The remainder of Abraham's career is shrouded in mystery while

even the date of his death is uncertain, but it i commonly supposed

to have occurred about 1460. The curious manuscript cited above,

and from which the foregoing facts have been culled, is entitled

The Book the, Sacred Magic of Abra-Melin , as delivered by

Abraham the Jew unto his son Lamech. The volume was translated

around 1899 by one of the founders of the modern British Golden

Dawn, and long time Imperator of its Paris Lodge, MacGregor

(Samuel Liddell) Mathers.

Adepts: Adepts are men who after stern self-denial and by means

of consistent self-development, have fitted themselves to assist in

the ruling of the world. The means by which this position is

attained is said to be long and arduous, but in the end the

Successful one has fulfilled the purpose for which he was created

and transcends his fellows. The activities of Adepts are

multifarious, being concerned with the direction and guidance of

This title, however, is rather misleading, and not strictly accurate,

for Abra-Melin ha absolutely no hand in the opening part of the

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the activities of the rest of mankind. Their knowledge, like their

powers, say Theosophists, far exceeds that of man, and they can

control forces both in the spiritual and the physical realm, and are

said to be able to prolong their lives for centuries.

Agathodemon: A good demon, worshipped by the Egyptians under

the shape of a serpent with a human head. The dragons or flying

serpents venerated by the ancients were also called

Agathodemons, or good genies.

They are also known as the Great White Brotherhood, Great

Hermetic Order, Rishis, Rahats, or Mahatmas. Those who

earnestly desire to work for the betterment of the world may

become apprentices or chelas to Adepts, in which case the latter

are known as " masters, " but the apprentice must first have

practised self-denial and self-development in order to become

sufficiently worthy. The master imparts teaching and wisdom

otherwise unattainable, and helps the apprentice by communion

and inspiration. Madame Blavatsky (q.v.) alleged that she was the

apprentice of these masters, and claimed that they dwelt in the

Tibetan Mountains. The term Adept was also employed by

mediaeval magicians and alchemists to denote a master of their

sciences.

Agla: A kabalistic word used by the rabbis for the exorcisms of the

evil spirit. It is made up of the initial letters of the Hebrew words,

Athah gabor leolam, Ado-nai, meaning, " Thou art powerful and

eternal, Lord." Not only among the Jews was this word employed,

but among the more superstitious Christians it was a favourite

weapon with which to combat the evil one, even so late as the

sixteenth century. It is also to be found in many books on magic,

notablv in the Enchiridion of Pope Leo III.

Agrippa von Nettesheim, Henry Cornelius (1486-1535): Cornelius

Agrippa - A German soldier and physician, and an adept in

alchemy, astrology and magic. He was born at Cologne on the 14th

of September, 1486, and educated at the University of Cologne.

While still a youth he served under Maximilian 1. of Germany. In

the early 16 th century he lectured at the University of Dole, but a

charge of heresy brought against him by a monk named Catilinet

compelled him to leave Dole, and he resumed his former

occupation of soldier. In the following year he was sent on a

diplomatic mission to England, and on his return followed

Maximilian to Italy, where he passed seven years, now serving one

noble patron, now another. Thereafter he held a post at Metz,

returned to Cologne, practised medicine at Geneva, and was

appointed physician to Louise of Savoy, mother of Francis 1.; but,

on being given some task which he found irksome, he left the

service of his patroness and denounced her bitterly.

Adhab-Algal: The Mohammedan purgatory, where the wicked are

tormented by the dark angels Munkir and Nekir.

Adjuration: A formula of exorcism by which the evil spirit is

commanded, in the name of God, to do or say what the exorcist

requires of him.

Adonai: A Hebrew word signifying " the Lord, " and used by the

Hebrews when speaking or writing of Jehovah, the awful and

ineffable name of the God of Israel. The Jews entertained the

deepest awe for this incommunicable and mysterious name, and

this feeling led them to avoid pronouncing it and to the substitution

of the word Adonai for " Jehovah " in their sacred text. This custom

still prevails among the Jews, who attribute to the pronouncement

of the Holy Name the power of working miracles. The Jehovah of

the Israelites was their invisible protector and king, and no image

of him was made. He was worshipped according to his

commandments, with an observance of the ritual instituted through

Moses. The term " Jehovah " means. the revealed Absolute Deity, e

Manifest, Only, Personal, Holy Creator and Redeemer.

He then accepted a post offered him by Margaret, Duchess of

Savoy, Regent of the Netherlands. On her death he repaired to

Cologne and Bonn, and thence to France, where he was arrested

for some slighting mention of the Queen Mother, Louise of Savoy.

He was soon released, however, and died at Grenoble in 1535.

Agrippa was a man of great talent and varied attainments. He was

acquainted with eight languages, and was evidently a physician of

no mean ability, as well as a soldier and a theologian. He had,

moreover, many noble patrons. Yet, notwithstanding these

advantages, he never seemed to be free from misfortune;

persecution and financial difficulties dogged his footsteps, and in

Brussels he suffered imprisonment for debt.

Adoptive Masonry: Masonic societies which adopt women as

members. Early in the eighteenth century such societies were

established in France, and Speedily spread to other countries. One

of the first to "adopt" women were the Mopses. The Felicitaries

existed in 1742. The Fendeurs or Woodcutters were instituted in

1763 by Bauchaine, Master of a Parisian Lodge. It was modelled

on the Carbonari, and its popularity led to the establishment of

other lodges, notably the Fidelity, the Hatchet, etc. In 1774 the

Grand Orient in Lodge of France established a system of degrees

called the Rite of Adoption, and elected the Duchess of Bourbon as

Grand Mistress of France.

He himself was in a measure responsible for his. troubles. He was,

in fact, an adept in the gentle art of making enemies, and the

persecution of the monks with whom he frequently came into

conflict was bitter and increasing. His principal works were a

defence of magic, entitled De occulta philosophia , which was not

published until 1531, though it was written some twenty years

earlier, and a satirical attack on the scientific pretensions of his

day , De incertitudine et Vanitate Scientiarum et Artium atque

Excellentia Verbi Dei Declamatio , also published at Antwerp in

1531.

The rite has been generally adopted into Freemasonry, and various

degrees added from time to time, to the number of about twelve in

all. Latin and Greek mysteries were added to the rite by the

Ladies' Hospitallers of Mount Tabor. The greatest ladies in France

joined the French lodges of adoption. The Rite of Mizraim created

lodges for both sexes in 1818, 1821, 1838 and 1853, and the Rite

of Memphis in 1839. America founded the Rite of the Eastern Star

in five points. In these systems admission is generally confined to

the female relations of Masons. The Order of the Eastern Star and

that of Adoptive Masonry were attempted in Scotland, but without

success.

Ahnernerbe, S.S. – Reich Ancestral Heritage Office: Unlike other

states in which Occultists are accorded little respect, Nazi

Germany has made certain occult operations a part of the state,

while repressing others with strict brutality. The S.S. itself has a

network of Thule Society ritual which replaces Christian religion

for S.S. Officers. Based in Old Prussian Paganism, with Nordic

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colorings, the S.S. has its own rites, festivals, rituals and burial

customs. The “spiritual center” of the S.S. – dedicated entirely to

the development of these and other public rituals, is the Ancestral

Heritage Office.

continuity between the two extreme links of the chain -- the

Manichæans of the third, and the Cathari of the eleventh, century.

The Albigensians may also have some relation to the Arian Heresy,

which flourished in southern France in the fifth century, before it

was repressed by the Frankish King Clovis, the leader of the

Merovingian Dynasty. The Arians denied that Jesus was divine.

Reichsfuhrer S.S., Himmler, is an avid student of the occult. An SS

occult research department, the Ahnernerbe (Ancestral Heritage)

was established in 1935 with SS Colonel Wolfram von Sievers at

its head. Occult research took SS researchers as far afield as Tibet.

The name Albigenses, given to the Southern French sect by the

Council of Tours (1163) prevailed towards the end of the twelfth

century and was for a long time applied to all the heretics of the

south of France. They were also called Catharists (katharos, pure),

though in reality they were only a branch of the Catharistic

movement. The rise and spread of the new doctrine in southern

France was favoured by various circumstances, among which may

be mentioned: the fascination exercised by the readily-grasped

dualistic principle; the remnant of Jewish and Mohammedan

doctrinal elements; the wealth, leisure, and imaginative mind of

the inhabitants of Languedoc; their contempt for the Catholic

clergy, caused by the ignorance and the worldly, too frequently

scandalous, lives of the latter; the protection of an overwhelming

majority of the nobility, and the intimate local blending of national

aspirations and religious sentiment.

What the Albigensians are supposed to have believed

As soon as the Nazi movement had sufficient funds, it began to

organize a number of expeditions to Tibet and these succeeded one

another practically without interruption through the present day. It

is conjectured that the Nazis wish to find Shambala, an ancient

center of power which is said to be accessible through hidden

tunnels in Tibet.

The strongest influence on Hitler in this regard was Dietrich

Eckart (1868-1923). Most biographers have underestimated the

influence that Eckart exerted on Hitler. He was the wealthy

publisher and editor-in-chief of an anti-semitic journal which he

called In Plain German . Eckart was also a committed occultist and

a master of magic. As an initiate, Eckart belonged to the inner

circle of the Thule Society as well as other esoteric orders.

There can be no doubt that Eckart - who had been alerted to Hitler

by other Thulists - trained Hitler in techniques of self confidence,

self projection, persuasive oratory, body language and discursive

sophistry. With these tools, in a short period of time he was able to

move the obscure workers party from the club and beer hall

atmosphere to a mass movement. The emotion charged lay speaker

became an expert orator, capable of mesmerizing a vast audience.

Relatively little is known about the Albigensian beliefs, since the

sect was repressed, and most evidence destroyed. What is known

largely comes from their opponents. However some picture can be

drawn.

The Albigenses asserted the co-existence of two mutually opposed

principles, one good, the other evil. The former is the creator of the

spiritual, the latter of the material world. The bad principle is the

source of all evil; natural phenomena, either ordinary like the

growth of plants, or extraordinary as earthquakes, likewise oral

disorders (war), must be attributed to him. He created the human

body and is the author of sin, which springs from matter and not

from the spirit. The Old Testament must be either partly or

entirely ascribed to him; whereas the New Testament is the

revelation of the beneficent God. The latter is the creator of

human souls, which the bad principle imprisoned in material

bodies after he had deceived them into leaving the kingdom of

light. This earth is a place of punishment, the only hell that exists

for the human soul.

One should not underestimate occultism's influence on Hitler. His

subsequent rejection of Free Masons and esoteric movements, of

Theosophy, of Anthrosophy, does not necessarily mean otherwise.

Occult circles have long been known as covers for espionage and

influence peddling.

Akashic Record: the idea that all of the experiences and memories

of every living being are contained in the substance of the ether.

Advanced magicians develop the ability to recover details of past

events by "reading the Akashic Records."

Akiba: A Jewish rabbi of the first century, who, from being a

simple shepherd, became a learned scholar, spurred by the hope of

winning the hand of a young lady he greatly admired. The Jews say

that he was taught by the elemental spirits, that he was a conjurer,

and that, in his best days, he had as many as 24, 000 disciples. He

is said to be the author of a famous work, entitled, Yelzirah (q.v.,

On the Creation), which is by some ascribed to Abraham, and even

to Adam. It was first printed at Paris in 1552. The historic Akiba

was a formative influence on Judaism during the post-Diaspora

period.

Punishment, however, is not everlasting; for all souls, being

Divine in nature, must eventually be liberated. To accomplish this

deliverance God sent upon earth Jesus Christ, who, although very

perfect, like the Holy Ghost, is still a mere creature. The

Redeemer could not take on a genuine human body, because he

would thereby have come under the control of the evil principle.

His body was, therefore, of celestial essence, and with it He

penetrated the ear of Mary. It was only apparently that He was

born from her and only apparently that He suffered. His

redemption was not operative, but solely instructive. To enjoy its

benefits, one must become a member of the Church of Christ (the

Albigenses). Here below, it is not the Catholic sacraments but the

peculiar ceremony of the Albigenses known as the

consolamentum, or "consolation," that purifies the soul from all sin

and ensures its immediate return to heaven. The resurrection of

the body will not take place, since by its nature all flesh is evil.

Albagensianism: A neo-Manichæan (Gnostic) sect that flourished

in southern France in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries. Among

recent historians there is a pronounced tendency to look upon the

Cathari as the lineal descendants of the Manichæans. The

doctrine, organization, and liturgy of the former, in many points,

reproduce the doctrine, organization, and liturgy of the early

disciples of Manes. The successive appearance of the

Priscillianists, the Paulicians, and the Bogomili, representatives to

some extent of similar principles, fairly establishes the historical

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The dualism of the Albigenses was also the basis of their moral

teaching. Man, they taught, is a living contradiction. Hence, the

liberation of the soul from its captivity in the body is the true end

of our being. To attain this, suicide is commendable; it was

customary among them in the form of the endura (starvation). The

extinction of bodily life on the largest scale consistent with human

existence is also a perfect aim. As generation propagates the

slavery of the soul to the body, perpetual chastity should be

practiced. Matrimonial intercourse is unlawful; concubinage, being

of a less permanent nature, is preferable to marriage.

Abandonment of his wife by the husband, or vice versa, is

desirable. Generation was abhorred by the Albigenses even in the

animal kingdom. Consequently, abstention from all animal food,

except fish, was enjoined. Their belief in metempsychosis, or the

transmigration of souls, the result of their logical rejection of

purgatory, furnishes another explanation for the same abstinence.

To this practice they added long and rigorous fasts. The necessity

of absolute fidelity to the sect was strongly inculcated. War and

capital punishment were absolutely condemned.

by Innocent against him, promised under oath to banish the

dissidents from his dominions. The monk Fulco of Marseilles,

formerly a troubadour, now became Archbishop of Toulouse

(1205-31). Two Spaniards, Diego, Bishop of Osma and his

companion, Dominic Guzman (St. Dominic), returning from Rome,

visited the papal legates at Montpellier. By their advice, the

excessive outward splendour of Catholic preachers, which offended

the heretics, was replaced by apostolical austerity. Religious

disputations were renewed. St. Dominic, perceiving the great

advantages derived by his opponents from the cooperation of

women, founded (1206) at Pouille near Carcassonne a religious

congregation for women, whose object was the education of the

poorer girls of the nobility. Not long after this he laid the

foundation of the Dominican Order. Innocent III, in view of the

immense spread of the heresy, which infected over 1000 cities or

towns, called (1207) upon the King of France, as Suzerain of the

County of Toulouse, to use force. He renewed his appeal on

receiving news of the assassination of his legate, Peter of

Castelnau, a Cistercian monk (1208), which judging by

appearances, he attributed to Raymond VI. Numerous barons of

northern France, Germany, and Belgium joined the crusade, and

papal legates were put at the head of the expedition, Arnold, Abbot

of Citeaux, and two bishops. Raymond VI, still under the ban of

excommunication pronounced against him by Peter of Castelnau,

now offered to submit, was reconciled with the Church, and took

the field against his former friends. Roger, Viscount of Béziers,

was first attacked, and his principal fortresses, Béziers and

Carcassonne, were taken (1209).

History of the Albigensian Heresy

The contact of Christianity with the Oriental mind and Oriental

religions had produced several sects (Gnostics, Manichæans,

Paulicians, Bogomilae) whose doctrines were akin to the tenets of

the Albigenses. But the historical connection between the new

heretics and their predecessors cannot be clearly traced. In

France, where they were probably introduced by a woman from

Italy, the Neo-Manichæan doctrines were secretly diffused for

several years before they appeared, almost simultaneously, near

Toulouse and at the Synod of Orléans (1022). Those who proposed

them were even made to suffer the extreme penalty of death. The

Council of Arras (1025), Charroux, Dep. of Vienne (c. 1028), and

of Reims (1049) had to deal with the heresy. At that of Beauvais

(1114) the case of Neo-Manichæans in the Diocese of Soissons

was brought up, but was referred to the council shortly to be held

in the latter city. Petrobrusianism now familiarized the South with

some of the tenets of the Albigenses. Its condemnation by the

Council of Toulouse (1119) did not prevent the evil from

spreading. Pope Eugene III (1145-53) sent a legate, Cardinal

Alberic of Ostia, to Languedoc (1145), and St. Bernard seconded

the legate's efforts. But their preaching produced no lasting effect.

The Council of Reims (1148) excommunicated the protectors "of

the heretics of Gascony and Provence." That of Tours (1163)

decreed that the Albigenses should be imprisoned and their

property confiscated. A religious disputation was held (1165) at

Lombez, with the usual unsatisfactory result of such conferences.

The monstrous words: "Slay all; God will know His own," alleged

to have been uttered at the capture of Béziers, by the papal legate,

were never pronounced (Tamizey de Larroque, "Rev. des quest.

hist." 1866, I, 168-91). Simon of Monfort, Earl of Leicester, was

given control of the conquered territory and became the military

leader of the crusade. At the Council of Avignon (1209) Raymond

VI was again excommunicated for not fulfilling the conditions of

ecclesiastical reconciliation. He went in person to Rome, and the

Pope ordered an investigation. After fruitless attempts in the

Council of Arles (1211) at an agreement between the papal legates

and the Count of Toulouse, the latter left the council and prepared

to resist. He was declared an enemy of the Church and his

possessions were forfeited to whoever would conquer them. Lavaur,

Dep. of Tarn, fell in 1211, amid dreadful carnage, into the hands

of the crusaders. The latter, exasperated by the reported massacre

of 6,000 of their followers, spared neither age nor sex. The crusade

now degenerated into a war of conquest, and Innocent III, in spite

of his efforts, was powerless to bring the undertaking back to its

original purpose. Peter of Aragon, Raymond's brother-in-law,

interposed to obtain his forgiveness, but without success. He then

took up arms to defend him. The troops of Peter and of Simon of

Montfort met at Muret (1213). Peter was defeated and killed. The

allies of the fallen king were now so weakened that they offered to

submit. The Pope sent as his representative the Cardinal-Deacon

Peter of Santa Maria in Aquiro, who carried out only part of his

instructions, receiving indeed Raymond, the inhabitants of

Toulouse, and others back into the Church, but furthering at the

same time Simon's plans of conquest.

Two years later, the Albigenses held a general council at

Toulouse, their chief centre of activity. The Cardinal-Legate Peter

made another attempt at peaceful settlement (1178), but he was

received with derision. The Third General Council of the Lateran

(1179) renewed the previous severe measures and issued a

summons to use force against the heretics, who were plundering

and devastating Albi, Toulouse, and the vicinity. At the death

(1194) of the Catholic Count of Toulouse, Raymond V, his

succession fell to Raymond VI (1194-1222) who favoured the

heresy.

With the accession of Innocent III (1198) the work of conversion

and repression was taken up vigorously. In 1205-6 three events

augured well for the success of the efforts made in that direction.

Raymond VI, in face of the threatening military operations urged

This commander continued the war and was appointed by the

Council of Montpellier (1215) lord over all the acquired territory.

The Pope, informed that it was the only effectual means of

crushing the heresy, approved the choice. At the death of Simon

(1218), his son Amalric inherited his rights and continued the war

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with but little success. The territory was ultimately ceded almost

entirely by both Amalric and Raymond VII to the King of France,

while the Council of Toulouse (1229) entrusted the Inquisition,

which soon passed into the hands of the Dominicans (1233), with

the repression of Albigensianism. The heresy disappeared about

the end of the fourteenth century.

in Hanan, where he learned logic from a Christian physician.

Having far surpassed his fellow-scholars, he left Hanan and drifted

at last to Egypt. During his wanderings he came in contact with all

the most learned philosophers of his time, and himself wrote books

on philosophy, mathematics, astronomy, and other sciences,

besides acquiring proficiency in seventy languages.

Albigensian Practice

His treatise on music, proving the connection of sound with

atmospheric vibrations, and mocking the Pythagorean theory of the

music of the spheres, attained some celebrity. He gained the good-

will and patronage of the Sultan of Syria in a somewhat curious

fashion. While passing through Syria he visited the court of the

Sultan, who was at that moment surrounded by grave doctors and

astrologers, who were discussing abstruse scientific points with the

potentate. Alfarabi entered the presence of the Sultan in his

stained and dusty travelling attire (he had been on a pilgrimage to

Mecca), and when the prince bade him be seated, he, either

unaware of, or indifferent to the etiquette of court life, sat down

boldly on a corner of the royal sofa. The monarch, unused to such

an informal proceeding, spoke in a little-known tongue to a

courtier, and bade him remove the presumptuous philosopher.

The members of the sect were divided into two classes: The

"perfect" (perfecti) and the mere "believers" (credentes). The

"perfect" were those who had submitted to the initiation-rite

(consolamentum). They were few in number and were alone bound

to the observance of the above-described rigid moral law. While

the female members of this class did not travel, the men went, by

twos, from place to place, performing the ceremony of initiation.

The only bond that attached the "believers" to Albigensianism was

the promise to receive the consolamentum before death. They were

very numerous, could marry, wage war, etc., and generally

observed the ten commandments. Many remained "believers" for

years and were only initiated on their deathbed. If the illness did

not end fatally, starvation or poison prevented rather frequently

subsequent moral transgressions. In some instances the

reconsolatio was administered to those who, after initiation, had

relapsed into sin. The hierarchy consisted of bishops and deacons.

The existence of an Albigensian Pope is not universally admitted.

The bishops were chosen from among the "perfect." They had two

assistants, the older and the younger son (filius major and filius

minor), and were generally succeeded by the former. The

consolamentum, or ceremony of initiation, was a sort of spiritual

baptism, analogous in rite and equivalent in significance to several

of the Catholic sacraments (Baptism, Penance, Order). Its

reception, from which children were debarred, was, if possible,

preceded by careful religious study and penitential practices. In

this period of preparation, the candidates used ceremonies that

bore a striking resemblance to the ancient Christian

catechumenate. The essential rite of the consolamentum was the

imposition of hands. The engagement which the "believers" took to

be initiated before death was known as the convenenza (promise).

The latter, however, astonished him by replying in the same

language: "Sire, he who acts hastily, in haste repents." The Sultan,

becoming interested in his unconventional guest, questioned him

curiously, and learned of the seventy languages and other

accomplishments of Alfarabi. The sages who were present were

also astounded at his wide learning. When the prince called at

length for some music, Alfarabi accompanied the musicians on a

lute with such marvelous skill and grace that the entire company

was charmed. When he struck up a lively measure, the gravest

sages could not but dance to it. When he changed the melody to a

softer lilt, tears sparkled in every eye, and at last, with a gentle

lullaby, be put the court to sleep. The Sultan wished to keep such a

valuable philosopher about his court, and some say that Alfarabi

accepted his patronage and died peacefully in Syria. Others, again,

maintain that he informed the Sultan that he would never rest till

he had discovered the secret of the Philosophers' stone, which he

believed himself on the point of finding. These say that he set out,

but was attacked and killed by robbers in the woods of Syria.

Actions of the Church

Properly speaking, Albigensianism was not a Christian heresy but

an extra-Christian religion. Ecclesiastical authority, after

persuasion had failed, adopted a course of severe repression,

which led at times to regrettable excess. Simon of Montfort

intended well at first, but later used the pretext of religion to usurp

the territory of the Counts of Toulouse. The death penalty was,

indeed, inflicted too freely on the Albigenses, but it must be

remembered that the penal code of the time was considerably more

rigorous than ours, and the excesses were sometimes provoked.

Raymond VI and his successor, Raymond VII, were, when in

distress, ever ready to promise, but never to earnestly amend. Pope

Innocent III felt justtified in saying that the Albigenses were

"worse than the Saracens"; and still he counselled moderation and

disapproved of the selfish policy adopted by Simon of Montfort.

Almanach du Diable: An almanac containing some very curious

predictions for the years 1737 and 1738, which purported to be

published in the infernal regions. It is a satire against the

Jansenists, which was suppressed on account of some over-bold

predictions, and which has become very rare. The authorship was

ascribed to Quesnel, an ironmonger at Dijon. The Jansenists

replied with a pamphlet directed against the Jesuits, which was

also suppressed. It was entitled Almanac de Dieu , dedicated to M.

Carre de Montgeron, for the year 1738, and, in contradistinction to

the other, claimed satirically to be printed in heaven.

Alrunes: Female demons or sorceresses, the mothers of the Huns.

They took all sorts of shapes, but without changing their sex. The

name was given by the Germans to little statues of old sorceresses,

about a foot high. To these they attributed great virtues, honouring

them as the negroes. honour their fetishes; clothing-them richly,

housing them comfortably, and serving them with food and drink at

every meal. They believed that if these little images were neglected

they would cry out, a catastrophe which was to be avoided at all

costs, as it brought dire misfortunes upon the household. They may

have been mandrakes, and it was claimed for them that they could

foretell the future, answering by means of motions of the head, or

unintelligible words. They are still consulted in Norway.

Alfarabi: (d. 954.) An adept of remarkable gifts and an extensive

knowledge of all the sciences; born at Othrar (or, as it was then

called, Faral), in Asia Minor. His name was Abou-i~Zasr-

Mohammed-lbn-Tarkaw, but he received, from the town of his

birth, his better-known appellation of Farabi, or Alfayabi. Though

he was of Turkish extraction, a desire to perfect himself in Arabic,

led him to Bagdad, where he assiduously studied the Greek

philosophers under Abou Bachar Nlaltey. He next stayed for a time

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