11 pp, [1blank]. 1 vols. 8vo
1832 · [Paris
by (Saint-Simonianism)
[Paris: Imprimerie de Carpentier-Mericourt], 1832. 11 pp, [1blank]. 1 vols. 8vo. Disbound, leaves separating along spine, some discoloration and light marginal soiling, else a very good copy of this most unusual piece. 11 pp, [1blank]. 1 vols. 8vo. Free-love. Religious cult. Barthélemy Prosper Enfantin and Bazard were the supreme leaders and co-founders of the moral-religious movement based upon the ideas of Claude Henri de Rouvroy, Comte de Saint-Simon, the socialist philosopher. Dissention and disagreement split the two and their followers, Bazard taking those of political and philosophical inclinations while Enfantin, those interested in social and moral change. After this separation Enfantin's "cult" grew with numerous followers, declared a system of "free-love" as part of his doctrine and set forth on a quest for the "female Messiah" to be the mother of the new Savior (with himself representing God). His extravagances and the threat to the "public morality" brought him to the attention of the authorities, who in May of 1832 closed the halls of his sect. He retired to his estate with several disciples and continued to practice his views, he was again arrested in August, then tried and imprisoned. Following this he went to Egypt for two years and returned a changed man. While still holding his beliefs but recognizing that the world was not ready for his ideals he became a postmaster, then director of the Paris & Lyons railway.
(Inventory #: 22862)