Or Rosycrucians, were a sect or secret society in Germany, the history of which is now very obscure. They were supposed to be possessed of various knowledge and powers, natural and supernatural, beyond the reach of common men, such as the philosopher's stone, etc. An endeavour has been made to trace to them the origin of the modern Freemasons, but such a theory is erroneous. This 'Rosicrucian philosophy',' as it was sometimes called, spread widely over Europe, and its adherents became dreaded by governments as a secret society. Pope took his account of it from a little satirical dialogue, published at Paris by De Montfaucon, Abbé de Villars (Works, vol. xii), and entitled Le Comte de Gabalis.