aims, in another of another. The belief in gold making was, as
already mentioned, still alive at that period. But it was not only the
continuance of this conviction that caused belief in the alchemistic
secrets of the high degrees, but, as for instance, B. Kopp shows (Alch.
II, p. 13) it was a certain metaphysical need of the time.

It will have been noticed that with all recognition of its abuses I grant
to rosicrucianism, as it deserves, even its later forms, an ideal side. To
deny it were to falsify its true likeness. Only the important difference
must be noted between an idea and its advocates alchemy and the
alchemists, rosicrucianism and the rosicrucians. There are worthy and
unworthy advocates; among the alchemists they are called the adepts or
masters and the sloppers and sloppy workers. Since in our research we are
concerned with the hermetic science itself, not merely with the
misdirections undertaken in its name, we should not let ourselves be
involved in these. And as for us the spiritual result (alchemy,
rosicrucian thoughts, masonic symbolism, etc.) is primarily to be regarded
and not the single persons advocating it, the question is idle as to
whether the earliest rosicrucians had an organized union or not. It is
enough that the rosicrucians are created in the imagination, that this
imagination is fostered and that people live it out and make it real. It
amounts to the same thing for us, whether there were "so-called" or "real"
rosicrucians; the substance of their teaching lives and this substance,
which is evident in literature, was what I referred to when I said that
rosicrucianism is identical with higher alchemy or the hermetic or the
royal art. But I think the comparison holds true for the gold and
rose-cross societies also, for the spiritual scope of this new edition is
the same as that of the old order, except that, as in the fate of all
subtile things, it was misunderstood by the majority. There were not
lacking attempts to dissuade people from their errors. In the rosicrucian
notes to the "Kompass der Weisen" (edition of 1782), e.g., "Moreover the
object of our guiltless guild is not the making of gold.... Rather we
remove the erroneous opinion from them [the disciples] in so far as they
are infected with it, even on the first step of the temple of wisdom. They
are earnestly enjoined against these errors and that they must seek the
kingdom of God and his righteousness." Also through all kinds of re