Stanislas de Guaita was descended from a noble Italian
family who had settled in France.
He was born April 6, 1861 in the castle of Alteville.
He studied at the Liceo de Nancy
where he developed a natural propensity toward
the empirical sciences, excelling in chemistry,
in which he reached a level of true mastery for his time.
Over a the years he gravitated more toward
completion of the artistic and literary areas
that lead him into metaphysics and the study of Cabala.
Established in Paris while still a young man,
he lived in luxury at the prestigious address of
number 20
on the avenue Trudaine.
This home became a meeting place for many authors
and others interested in esoteric and mystical ideas.
His poems were very widely celebrated and in 1883
were published as "The Dark Muse"
and in 1885 as "The Mystic Rose",
both of which brought him much acclaim and great popularity.
His astute education,
and great preparation enabled him to found the
Cabalistic Order of the Rose Cross in 1888,
which brought together the most famous esoteric thinkers
of France, and later all of Europe,
among them Sar Peladan,
creator of the Rosicrucian Salons,
Papus (Dr. Gerard Encausse) the famous Rosicrucian
and President of the First Great Council of the
Traditional Martinist Order,
In the magazine "L´Initiation",
founded by Papus,
an article appearing in 1889 says of the Order founded
by Guaita:
"The distinctive sign of the members of the Supreme Council
of the Cabalistic Order of the Rose Cross
is the Hebrew letter Alef.
Besides this Superior Degree there are two others that
are reached through Initiation.
Every new member of this society takes an oath of obedience
to the directives of the Council declaring that,
although they are free to leave the society any time they
please, they will abide by the promise of keeping secret the teachings received from the Order.
They receive training in the Cabala and mystical subjects."
The Cabalistic Order of the Rose Cross conferred free university
degrees.
It also conferred the title of Doctor.
The first exam is recognized with the title of
Bachelor of Cabala,
the second with that of Graduate of Cabala,
and the third, conferred after an exam and presentation
of a thesis in which topics regarding the tradition are
addressed, is Doctor of the Cabala.
The first exam was based on general history of the
western tradition, especially the Rosicrucian,
on the knowledge of the Hebrew letters,
their nature and symbolism.
The second exam covered the general history of religious
traditions over the course of time,
focusing particularly on the unity of the various dogmas,
and the wide use of symbols, and understanding
of Hebrew and its nature.
The third exam was oral, and the students also completed
a written exam based on philosophical,
moral and mystical questions.
Stanislas de Guaita held in his house the most
complete private library of writings on metaphysical subjects, magic, and hidden sciences in general
that could be found anywhere in France in that century.
A copy of the catalog composed by his pupil René Philipon
and dated 1899,
is preserved in the archives of the Sovereign Headquarters
of the Rose Cross Order,
as is the original engraving that illustrates the cover
of this issue of the "Triangulo de Luz" and in which can be observed, in Stanislas de Guaita's tie, the symbol so well known
to Rosicrucians that in a certain degree,
it is worn on the symbolic collar during all ceremonial
functions.
It is undeniable that his brilliance and exhuberant
personality made Guaita an extremely popular individual.
His contributions to his belief system considered
outstanding.
He was at the forefront of the many mystical movements
active in the last part of the XIX century and established many of the principles for the XX century.
