Sir Francis Bacon, Lord St. Alban, Viscount Verulam
by Franz Hartmann, M.D.[1]
Translation from German by Robert Hutwohl
Translator’s note: An article in “Universal Masonry” claims Sir Francis Bacon founded the Rosicrucians and authored Shakespeare’s works. It suggests Bacon, an occultist and head of the “unknown philosophers,” used the pseudonym “Shakespeare” and was Elizabeth I’s son.
“Universal Masonry” (Chicago), a Masonic monthly magazine that deals especially with the occult and mystical side of Freemasonry, recently published an article about Sir Francis Bacon, Lord St. Alban, Viscount Verulam,[2] from which it is clear that this famous Chancellor and Reformer was the founder of the Order of the “Rosicrucian”[3] and the true author of the writings published under the name “Shakespeare.” It is no secret to those in the know that Bacon was an initiated, experienced occultist and the head of the then-existing brotherhood of “unknown philosophers.” The highest position in this brotherhood is occupied by the Rosicrucians, who are concerned with science, religion and literature, while the Freemasons were more involved in external work in relation to education, charitable institutions, etc. Of great interest is the study of the secret signs contained in Bacon’s writings, which show that the name Shakespeare was a pseudonym adopted by Bacon and that behind this the name “Verulam” (Verula spear, Shake-spear, spear shaker) was hidden. It is also mentioned that Bacon was a son of Elizabeth, Queen of England, who was secretly married to the Earl of Leicester before her coronation and during her imprisonment in the Tower.
[1] Sir Francis Bacon, Lord St. Alban, Viscount Verulam. By Franz Hartmann, M.D. Translation by Robert Hutwohl. Neue Lotusblüten 4, no. 5-6 (May June 1911), 181-182. [Translation from the German by Robert Hütwohl, ©2026]
[2] [R.H.—This is the first issue, which is not available. The second issue of Universal Masonry is available but the described article about Bacon is not part of that number.]
[3] [R.H.—There is also evidence that Christian Rosenkreutz founded the Rosicrucians during his lifetime. The website, wikipedia.org stated he was “possibly allegorical.” [See, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christian_Rosenkreuz ] Considering that theosophical literature considers him as a historical person and that he was a former incarnation of Count St. Germain, prior to his incarnation as Sir Francis Bacon. See Annie Besant’s, “On the Death of Rosenkreutz. From the Editor [Annie Besant] The Theosophist 29, no. 5 (February 1908), 387-388”, Rudolf Steiner, C. W. Leadbeater, Dr. Franz Hartmann, Max Heindel and others. Some who say Rosenkreutz was a later incarnation as Sir Francis Bacon may be correct as being one of many incarnations, at least going all the way back to his incarceration as St. Alban. In the article, The Origins of Modern Masonry. Introduction by C. Jinarājadāsa. Recorded by Rt. Rev. C. W. Leadbeater. Answered by Master the Comte de St. Germain. The Theosophist 54, no. 1 (October 1932), 57-61. In that article, it states, by C. W. Leadbeater: “Before this incarnation he was Francis Bacon, and before that the mysterious personality called Christian Rosenkreutz. It was the same Adept who earlier still was Roger Bacon the monk, whose experiments in chemistry and physics were precursors of the scientific development of later centuries. Among His activities are those in connection with the Ceremonial Ray. All Masonic activities throughout the world are being used by him for the dissemination of beneficent influences to humanity.”