My own claims to be considered as an exponent of true Occultism are
founded upon the following grounds: When quite young, in fact, before
I had attained my thirteenth year, I became acquainted with certain
parties who sought me out and professed a desire to observe the
somnambulic faculties for which I was then remarkable. I found my new
associates to be ladies and gentlemen, mostly persons of noble rank,
and during a period of several years, I, and many other young persons,
assisted at their sessions in the quality of somnambulists, or
mesmeric subjects. The persons I thus came into contact with were
representatives of many other countries than Great Britain. They
formed one of a number of secret societies, and all that I am
privileged to relate of them is, that they were students of the two
branches of Occultism hereafter to be described; that they claimed an
affiliation with societies derived from the ancient mysteries of
Egypt, Greece, and Judaea; that their beliefs and practices had been
concealed from the vulgar by cabalistic methods, and that though their
real origin and the purpose of their association had at times been
almost lost, it had revived, and been restored under many aspects.
They claimed that alchemy, mediaeval Rosicrucianism, and modern
Freemasonry were off-shoots of the original Cabala, and that during
the past 150 years new associations had been formed, and the parties
who had introduced me into their arcanum were a society in affiliation
with many others then in existence in different countries. These
persons, deeming that the intrusion into their ranks of unprepared
minds would be injurious to the harmony necessary for their studies,
carefully avoided assuming any position of prominence in reference to
the society, so that they might never be solicited to admit those
whose presence might be prejudicial. Indeed it was one of their
leading regulations never to permit the existence of the society to be
known or the members thereof named, until they passed from earth to
the higher life. It is in virtue of this last clause that I am at
liberty to say that Lord Lytton, the Earl of Stanhope, and Lieut.
Morrison (better known as "Zadkiel"), and the author of "Art Magic,"
belonged to this society.
I should have known but little of its principles and practices, as I
was simply what I should now call a clairvoyant, sought out by the
society for my gifts in this direction, had I not, in later years,
been instructed in the fundamentals of the society by the author of
"Art Magic." When modern spiritualism dawned upon the world, for
special reasons of my own, the fellows of my society gave me an
honorary release from every obligation I had entered into with them
except in the matter of secrecy. On that point I can never be released
and never seek to be; but in respect to the statements I am about to
make, my former associates,--deeming their publication might serve to
correct some of the erroneous opinions that are put into circulation
by individuals who arrogate to themselves a knowledge, of which they
have not the slightest iota,--not only sanction, but command me to
present to the candid inquirer the following brief definition of
genuine practical