Barthélemy Prosper Enfantin had become a member…
1829 CE
Barthélemy Prosper Enfantin had become a member of the secret society of the Carbonari While working as a cashier in the Caisse Hypothécaire in Paris in around 182.
Two years later, he had formed a friendship with Olinde Rodriguez, who had introduced him to the Comte de Saint-Simon, the founder of French socialism.
He had affiliated to Saint-Simon's version of utopian socialism, and, by 1829, he had become one of the acknowledged heads of the sect.
Rodrigues, the favored disciple of Saint-Simon, and Enfantin together had received Saint-Simon's last instructions before his death in 1825.
Their first step was to establish a journal, Le Producteur, but it was discontinued in 1826.
The sect, however, had begun to grow, and before the end of 1828, had meetings not only in Paris but in many provincial towns also.
Amand Bazard, who had in 1820 founded a society called Amis de la vérité corresponding to the Carbonari of Italy, gave a "complete exposition of the Saint-Simonian faith" in a long course of lectures at Paris, which were well attended.
His Exposition de la doctrine de St Simon (two volumes, 1828–1830), which is by far the best account of it, wins more adherents.
The second volume is chiefly by Enfantin, who along with Bazard stands at the head of the society, but who is superior in metaphysical power, and is prone to push his deductions to extremities.
Enfantin’s “Doctrine de St. Simon” spawns Saint-Simonism.