Almost 120 years after his death, the body of Father Christian Rosenkreuz was discovered perfectly preserved in a seven-sided vault. So runs the part of the legend concerning the birth of the Fraternity of the Rosy Cross, with its mysterious founder Christian Rosenkreuz, forerunner of the many "Secret Masters" who have had such a profound influence on the course of Western esoteric tradition. Alchemy, Freemasonry, the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, and important literary works have all been enriched by the legend and symbolism of Rosicrucianism. McIntosh chronicles the obscure and often elusive history of this secret order, giving Rosicrucian scholars an excellent resource work. He pays special attention to the role of Free-masonry in preserving the Rosicrucian ideal, and pursues his research through the 18th and 19th centuries.