THE REVIVAL OP ALCHEMY. 211 



objects are to be accomplished as follows: "The association proposes 

 to assist in reviving the unitary doctrines of chemistry : First, by group- 

 ing the efforts of isolated workers by means of ' L'Hyperchimie ; ' second, 

 by furnishing them the aid of advanced students; third, by supplying 

 so far as possible books and apparatus to its members. Eesearches of 

 the members, when approved by the masters, should be forwarded in 

 duplicate to the secretary -general; one will be printed in 'L'Hyper- 

 chimie,' and the other will be preserved in the archives of the associa- 

 tion for the benefit of members, who can secure it on demand." " Can- 

 didates for admission must pass an examination in, first, the theory 

 and history of alchemy, and, second, the elements of physics and of 

 chemistry (without mathematics). A diploma from a normal, poly- 

 technic, or industrial school will be accepted in place of No. 2." 



The affairs of the association are controlled by the secretary- general, 

 F. Jollivet-Castelot (of Douai), assisted by seven councilors, who hold 

 an annual meeting. There are at present (July, 1897) two honorary 

 members — Oamille Flammarion, the popular writer on astronomy, and 

 August Strindberg, a Swede residing in Austria, author of several 

 hermetic essays. There are two other classes of members, masters 

 (maitres), who are chosen from the ordinary members of the council 

 after an examination of their writings; and ordinary members (mem- 

 bres adherents), of which the number is unlimited. Modest dues entitle 

 the members to the organ of the association, ' L'Hyperchimie,' a monthly 

 review of alchemy and hermetism founded in 1896. 



The councilors of the Alchemical Association have combined with 

 the active members of the other societies named to establish a Univer- 

 site Libre des Hautes Etudes. At present this includes three faculties : 



1. Faculte des Sciences Hermetiques, of which the Association Alchi- 

 mique forms a section. The director of this faculty is Dr. G. Encausse, 

 and the course of instruction embraces the study of the Tarot, alchem- 

 ical philosophy and practice, occultism, mysticism, Hebrew, etc. The 

 curriculum leading to the ''baccalaureat-en-Kabbale" is under the 

 supervision of the group of esoteric students, while candidates for the 

 degrees of master and doctor are under the direction of the Martin ist 

 Order. 



2. Faculte des Sciences Magnetiques, represented by the Ecole de 

 Magnetisme de Paris, and under the direction of M. Durville. It has 

 branches at Lyons, Bordeaux, and other cities. 



3. Faculte Spirite, comprising several sections of spiritism. 



Each faculty preserves complete independence, being "united only 

 by moral bonds destined to hasten expansion of the rational spiritual- 

 iwstic movement." 



The nature of the instruction given at this university will appear in 

 the review of the philosophy of its promoters. 



The leading spirits in these secret societies and in this university are 

 as follows: F. Jollivet-Castelot, secretary- general of the Alchemical 



