LIGHT OF EGYPT

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B y Sri. Hamatherio

T he Lig h t of Eg y pt
The Strange Story of the

ROSICRUCIANS
By S ri Ram atherio

LORD EDW ARD BULW ER LY TTON

an enthusiastic Brother of the O rder of Rosicrucians, described
it as: A n auguft fraternity most jealous of all secret so
cieties whose dodrines (hinted at by the earliest philoso
phers) are still a mystery to the greatest scholars not initiated.
Its members still prosecute their profound researches into
natural sciences and occult philosophy, and no monastic
order is so severe in the practice of moral precepts.

Privately Issued by Permission of The Department

of Publication of the American Minislraro for

The Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis

Jurisdiction of North. America
R O S IC R U C IA N S Q U A R E

TAMPA

OFFICIAL PUBLICATION

NO

SEVEN

FLORIDA

EX-CATHEDRA JANUARY 1927

Ql\)t H>!>mt)oltgm of tfje H>torp

It is the m ost astounding story of mystery, romance and religion ever
recorded in the annals of historical facts. I hesitate to attem pt its telling in
less than thousands of pages, and am reluctant to reduce its fascinating details
to mere recitals of gripping events.
T hirty-tw o hundred years have passed; nearly thirteen thousand genera
tions of civilization have left their indelible m ark upon the evolution of m ans
progress of attainm ent since the Rose and the Cross were united in this sub
lime symbol under which thousands today pursue their illuminated courses to
definite goals of success, power and inner peace.
I stand at the P o rtal of a great city and see through the open gates of
And,
secure in the knowledge th at eternally it shall be the haven of the seekers for
Light, Life and Love, I glance backward over the descending slopes of the
mountain. In m em orys sight I see the tram m eled lanes of the land below,
peopled with the searching souls and devoted hearts who found the Path and
paused in their glorious journey long enough to erect the Signs th at point the

gold the white city of the Holy Assembly of the G reat Brotherhood.

Way.
Pictured before me is the panoram a of the m aterialized dream of the Magi
of old, the inspiration of the Cosmic H osts and the labors of the true kindred.
Shall I turn again and describe only w hat I see within the sacred walls? Or
fix my view upon the story of the past?
The past is gone; but w hat sustaining encouragem ent we find in historys
precedents and through attainm ents tests and trials! I hear the call: Show us
the W ay! And to the humble I speak the w ords which only they will under
stand. It is the old, old story; Ad Rosam per Crucem, ad Crucem per
Rosam !
SRI. R A M A T H E R IO , Scribe.

COPYRIGHTED 1927 BY AMORC OF NORTH AMERICA

S IR F R A N C IS B AC O N . K. R. C.
IM P E R A T O R OF T H E R O S IC R U C IA N S IN T H E S E V E N T E E N T H

CENTURY

)t S tra n g e s>ta\:y of

tfje &ostcructan>

THE MYSTERY OF A TOMB

It is ju st three hundred and tw enty-three years ago, in the year 1604, that
a group of learned mystics in Cassel, Germany, opened a strange vault in which
they discovered a tomb, sealed and ensconsed with the strange symbols of the
Rosy Cross and the Triangle.
Upon opening the tomb with due reverence and w ith magical rites trans
mitted to them through m any generations of initiated forbears, they found the
silent resting place of the former founder of their secret fraternity. H ere they
saw by the mystic light that had remained undiminished for one hundred and
tw enty years, the well-preserved body of th at m ost m ysterious of all beings,
C. R. C.
Near him in this old cave, which had been a study, laboratory and sanc
tum, were treasures of knowledge in m anuscript form and m arvels of devices
for the dem onstration of natures m ost profound and secret laws.
P erform ing their long-practiced processes, the Brethren restored the invis
ible w ritings to perfect legibility, removed from the hands of C. R. C. the
sacred key and seal ring, and opened the ancient Brown Casket th at bore the
cartouche of a form er Pharaoh of Egypt. (1)

THE STRANGE CASKET

In the Casket were found the rituals and graded instructions as received
by C. R. C. while living the life of a Neophyte and Adept in the Secret M ystery
Temples of E gypt, am ended by the scores of m asters of destiny and wisdom
who had been associated with the F ratern ity in the period of his leadership.
One m anuscript, still fresh with the rare chemical with which it was w rit
ten, was to be published by the B rethren who made the predicted discovery,
and this was issued by them in pam phlet form under the title of Fam a F raternitatis. In accordance w ith instructions, it was addressed to T he learned in
general and the Governors of Europe.
Its story was so unique, so alluring and at the same time so appropriate
for the times and condition, th at its message spread rapidly and created the
greatest concern in every phase of human interest.
No literary masterpiece, no edict of state or ultim atum of potentate ever
aroused the interest, the approbation and condemnation, criticism and adm ira
tion of men and women in every walk of life as did this sim ple brochure, un
ostentatiously printed, conservatively worded, discreetly circulated and anony
mously authorized.
Church and State alike disputed, argued and denied it, while vieing in a t
tempts to refute it though unwillingly adm itting its im portant message. The
(1)
T h is c a r to u c h e is s t i l l u sed a s a m y s t ic sy m b o l b y th e R o s ic r u c ia n F r a t
e r n ity in it s lite r a tu r e an d on official d o cu m e n ts.

learned and unlearned rushed into print to explain its probable origin and im
mediate significance.
F or years it became the principal topic of conversation am ong the literati
and a certain means o f argum ent am ong the scientific. For many centuries
the Fam a was the m ystery o f all occult productions and was responsible for
the issuance of hundreds of profound books com m enting upon its relation to
the greatest o f all revolutions in the advancement of European civilization.
L IK E A S H A D O W O F T H E P A ST
Tlie opening of the tom b in Germany brought to the minds of many anti
quarians and students of O ccultism the picture of a similar incident in the ages
gone by. In fact, the German incident was at once likened to a shadow of the
past; for it was a precise and pre-determined replica of the El Amarna Revela
tion o f 1 2 9 0 A. D . In that year exactly three hundred and fourteen years
previous to the German Revelation a group o f seven advanced and carefully
elected mystics prepared to make the w orld acquainted with the existence of
the great Fraternity. For years they had labored with the preparations at the
secret headquarters o f the organization, located at T olosa in Gaul (n ow T o u
louse, in southern France), where the Fraternity had been silently directing
the w ork of reorganization throughout Europe, Asia and Africa.
The seven m ystics, representing the great pow ers o f Europe, proceeded to
the banks of the Nile under the leadership o f Friar R oger Bacon, the eminent
English philosopher and m ystic, whose writings and profound arcane know l
edge have again startled the w orld through recent translations.
A lo n g the Nile they found the mysterious stone marking the outer bound
aries o f the long forgotten City of the Sun, called Akhnaten, and built in
the twelfth century B. C. by Am enhotep IV , Pharaoh o f E gyp t and founder
o f E g yp ts secret schools o f arcane wisdom.
This mystic city the wonder of the ancient w orld and now, in the twen
tieth century A. D . a m odel of beauty and character w as built by the Pharaoh
as a permanent center for the secret Brotherhood, the M agi of the East. (2)
W hen the Brethren succeeded in locating the sealed vault amid the many
T em p le buildings and gardens, they proceeded to open the vault by the same
mystical formulas eventually used by the Brethren in 1604.
TH E K E Y TO T H E CASKET
In the vault they found a similar tom b, sealed with the emblems of the
Rose and Cross and Triangle, and within was the form of the great founder,
surrounded by books, papers, devices and sealed caskets. In his hand was
also found the Crux Ansata in gold, as pictured in the hands o f the ancient
Pharaoh in many o f the paintings on Egyptian walls to be seen to this day.
This K ey o f L ife, however, was in fact a secret key to the largest o f the
caskets, covered with hand-engraved gold and inlaid with precious stones.
U pon opening this casket they found records of its previous use by the
earlier groups w ho had used the charts, diagrams and parchments three hun
dred and fourteen years before when the tom b was sealed pending the end o f
the panic which unsettled civilization at the close o f the tenth century because
of the predicted end o f the w orld in the year one thousand. ( 3 ) Carefully re(2) The F raternity in A m erica recently provided financial means to an e x
ploration society to continue its excavations at this m ystic city and many rare
objects of art and m ystical w orship have been secured by the F raternity. H u n
dreds of maps and photographs of the ruins of the Temples, ho,mes and w ork
buildings of the m ystics have been made and the w ork is being continued by
scientists and artisans.
(3) M illions forsook their homes and abandoned all w orldly possessions and
interests at this time, and it w as one of the most tryin g tim es in the history
of civilization, fostered by crusades conducted in the na,me of the church.

moving every valuable paper, parchm ent, stone, m etal and papyru&, and leaving
only the body of the founder, in its excellently preserved condition, they sealed
the tomb again and, with appropriate rituals, closed the entrance to tomb and
vault and returned to Toulouse.

THE FIRST CRUSADERS

At Toulouse had been established for several centuries the center of the
Brethren of the Rosy Cross for continental Europe, and here great schools and
temples of mystic learning had been erected under the patronage and protec
tion of the Raymonds, Lords of Toulouse. ( 4 ) It was here that the great
Crusades had their origin, and from this city went forth one of these Lords,
Raym ond IV, with the greatest volunteer arm y of thousands, to save the Holy
City; and it was Raymond IV, L ord and Ruler of Toulouse, protector of the
mystics, sponsor of the broader education of humanity and defender of m anfs
inherent, divine right to know all truth, who succeeded in placing the Rosy
Cross banner on the Tow er of David in Jerusalem. And when the victorious
arm y chose him to be the new K ing of Jerusalem , he made the now famous
reply: 'I cannot wear a Crown of gold where the first K ing wore a Crown of
T horns.
Im m ediately following the return of the seven mystics to Toulouse a docu
ment was issued to the learned of Europe, revealing the existence of the an
cient arcane schools and their continued efforts as the Druids, Essenes (5) and
T herapauti of E gypt and the Orient. The docum ent further outlined the new
plans of the F raternity for the future and predicted the victory of the newer
teachings (then called heretical), w arning the world of the greater power over
natural laws about to be given to those who would come within the fold.

THE SPIRIT OF THE FUTURE

This ancient incident, like unto its successor in the year 1604, presaged
what would inevitably occur again in future periods of three hundred and four
teen years. (6) And so it came about that three hundred and fourteen years
after 1604, or twice three hundred and fourteen years after 1290, the F ratern ity
of the Rosicrucians was well established in the new world, with continental
headquarters in the United States as well as in all the countries of Europe, Asia
and Africa.
As the significant, symbolical year of 1918 approached, a great convention
of Rosicrucian mystics was decreed to be held in New Y ork City under the
patronage of the Supreme Council of the ancient headquarters in T oulouse and
with authority from the F raternity temples in E gypt and India. Prelim inary
to that Convention the foundation for the Great Revelation was laid in every
section of the N orth American Continent. Secret conclaves had been held,
delegates appointed, and a Supreme M aster and Im perator elected. (7)
T hen early in the year 1918, the three hundred and fourteenth year since
the Revelation in Germany, the official Legate of t'he Fraternity, H. Spencer
(4) T o u lo u se is s t il l c o n sid er ed th e m y s t ic c it y o f m od ern tim e s an d from
tim e to tim e in te r n a tio n a l c o n v e n tio n s o f th e R o s ic r u c ia n F r a te r n it y a re h eld
h ere in so m e o f th e old T em p le b u ild in g s .
(5) It w a s th e E s s e n e s e c tio n o f th e B r o th erh o o d , m e n tio n e d in S acred
W r itin g s, t h a t p la ced th e b od y o f th e M a ster J e s u s in o n e o f th e ir fa m o u s v a u lts
and to m b s a f te r u s in g th e a n c ie n t fo r m u la s fo r p r o te c tin g 1 it a g a in s t th e s lig h t
e s t d e g r e e o f d e te r io r a tio n . J e s u s w a s a m em b er o f th e E s s e n e s and stu d ie d in
E g y p t d u r in g h is y o u th , a s e x p la in e d in v a r io u s sa c red b o o k s o f th e E a s t.
(6 ) T h ree h u n d red an d fo u r te e n y e a r s is th e s p e c ia l c y c le for th e re tu r n to
D ow er o f a ll A v a ta r s or M a sters.
(7 ) T h e d e ta ils o f th e v a r io u s A m erica n o r g a n iz a tio n m e e t in g s an d th e
n a tio n a l a d o p tio n o f th e R o sic r u c ia n C o n stitu tio n , a f te r th e p u b lic a tio n o f an
o fficia l P r o n u n z ia m e n to fo r A m erica , h a v e a p p ea red in v a r io u s h is to r ic a l record s,
b o o k s o f th e F r a te r n it y in A m e r ic a an d o th e r p a r ts o f th e w o rld , and in m an y
la n g u a g e s .

Lewis, Fellow of the Rose Cross of France, began his journey to the V ault and
Tom b as had his predecessors in 1604 and 1290. Dr. Lewis had been initiated
into the F raternity in the Supreme Temple in the old district of Tolosa
(Toulouse) in 1909, from which F riar Bacon began his journey to the V ault in
Egypt.

H. S P E N C E R L E W I S , F. R. C. Ph. D.,
I M P E R A T O R OF T H E A M O R C OF N O R T H A M E R I C A
M E M B E R OF T H E S U P R E M E C O U N C IL OF T H E W OR LD
LEGATE OF T H E ORDE R OF FR AN CE

Empowered by the highest living authorities of the F raternity, Dr. Lewis

was to be the next potentate to unveil the work to the newer generations and
carry the responsibility of the periodic revival throughout the world. Proceed
ing from New York, with jewels, keys, formulas, and a very old map, and with
nine years' study of the secret instructions that he had received in Europe, he
w ent to the Pacific Coast, where the Revelation was to be made. His journey
was to the W est because of the activities of the F raternity under the direction
of his predecessors in the seventeenth century, when the last great Revelation
had been made.

THE FIRST ROSICRUCIANS IN THE OCCIDENT

T ow ard the close of the seventeenth century a group of Rosicrucian
m asters had proceeded to America and laid the foundation of the F ratern ity on
the eastern shores of the U nited States, as explained in a later p art of this
story. But, many years before this, when the earliest European explorers
were wending their way to the Pacific Coast, hunting for the land of g o ld /
as depicted in ancient m anuscripts, the Rosicrucian F raternity sent seven of
its highest initiates to the W est on a secret mission. T hey accompanied one
of the early Spanish exploration expeditions and carried with them many
caskets of rare devices, papers, jewels and a sealed sarcophagus. (8) These
things finally found a resting and hiding place on a small peninsular ju ttin g
into the Pacific, which is a mountainous p art of the ancient continent of
Lemuria, where temples and shrines of a forgotten mystic race have left in
effaceable evidence. (9)
In this quiet and peaceful place on the Pacific shore, a crude temple was
built of adobe, adjoining a cave described >on the maps they possessed. In the
cave the sarcophagus, jewels and documents were placed, and the entrance
closed to form a tomb and vault. In the crude temple services were held for
many years by the seven mystics who lived here, aw aiting the arrival of a boat
to take them back to Spain and France.
It was to this cave and the ruined temple that Dr. Lewis journeyed in
1918, perform ed the rituals and rites, followed the formulas, and brought
to light the w e l l - p r e s e r v e d b o d y of C. R. C. again. Thousands in Europe,
hundreds in America, and many in all lands awaited anxiously the announce
m ent that would be made in secret channels when the G reat L ight was re
vealed again to the world.

GREAT AMERICAN CONCLAVE

Dr. Lewis quietly returned to New York and prepared the translation
of the documents he brought back with him, and in other ways arranged for
the celebration of the Revelation at the Great Convention, which was held
in New Y ork in the summ er of 1918.
Several high representatives from Europe, delegates from the Supreme
Councils of France, India, England and Egypt, came to New Y ork and veri
fied the jewels, seals and ancient cartouche of Amenhotep IV, now in the pos
session of Dr. Lewis; and the Convention revealed to the world again that, in
accordance with the decree issued in E gypt in the tw elfth century, B. C.,
(8) T h e se j n y s t ic s a c c o m p a n ie d V iz c a in o in 1602 w h e n he la n d ed a t M on te
rey, C a lifo rn ia . T h e p ro p e r ty on th e P a cific C o a st c la im ed b y t h e s e M y stic s, an d
u sed b y th e m fo r th e ir first s e tt le m e n t, w a s d eed ed to th e AMORC in 1918 a f te r
h a v in g 1 b een h eld b y an In d ia n tr ib e fo r s e v e r a l c e n tu r ie s a s h o ly g r o u n d .
(9) L o c a l tr a d itio n s in C a lifo r n ia to d a y t e ll o f th e e x is te n c e o f th e s e de
sc e n d a n ts o f th e m y s tic o f L e m u ria , an d m a n y se c r e t s e t t le m e n t s a t th e p r e s e n t
tim e a re so u r c e s o f in e x h a u s tib le in q u ir y an d fr u s tr a te d in v e s t ig a t io n ; as, fo r
in s ta n c e , th e m y s te r io u s s e t t le m e n t and s t r a n g e b u ild in g s cla im ed to b e se e n a i
th e fo o t o f M ou n t S h a sta in N o rth ern C a lifo rn ia .

the L ight of E g y p t had passed to the land where the Eagle spreads its
wings. (10)
It will be recalled that when the tomb and vault were opened in Germany
in 1604 the Revelation was announced to the worldand especially to the
thousands who were awaiting: the factsthrough the issuance of a private
pam phlet entitled Fam a F raternitatis. And when the vault and tomb were
opened by Roger Bacon in 1290 the Revelation was followed by the issuance
of a similar docum ent bearing the same title.
So, in 1918, Dr. Lewis issued in A m erica a private docum ent to the
venerables in America and Europe, entitled Fam a F ratern itatis. I t was read
by the highest officers of the F raternity in various lands, signed by each, and
amended by a long personal statem ent on the part of each officer of the F ra ter
nity who sponsored or represented some jurisdiction or branch of the In tern a
tional organization. T hat document, dated in the year 1918 A. D. and 3271
R. C., is one of the most im portant papers of the F ratern ity throughout the
civilized w orld today.

THE MYSTERY OF C. R. C.
The Occidental world, unfamiliar with the tradition and m ysteries of the
O riental occultists and mystics, has asked the question: W ho is C. R. C.
and why these strange Revelations every three hundred and fourteen years?
T o explain the character of C. R. C., however, is somewhat difficult un
less one directs his words to the student of mysticism who can discern sev
eral of the great occult laws in the facts slightly veiled.
C. R. C. is the name of the founder of the F raternity. It is a name
given to him by the F raternity in honor of his great sacrifices and devotion
in behalf of humanity. In modern times the initials are exoterically interpreted
as meaning Christian R osenkreutz (the German for Christian Rosy Cross).
But this was not the precise m eaning of the initials as originally devised.

EGYPTIAN TRADITIONS
According to tradition, the mystics in the Egyptian school of the F ra
ternity had not only learned the methods of prolonging life to a great length,
but they evolved a method of preserving the physical body after transition so
th at it was not necessary to use the custom ary E gyptian methods and mum
mify it, but the body could be left lying in a natural-looking state, as though
asleep, with all the true coloring and aspects of a living body.
T h is art on the part of the Rosicrucians may be better understood or ap
preciated when I call the readers attention to the w ork in this direction of a
recent, modern Rosicrucian, living today in America and acknow ledged in
medical and scientific papers as an em inent scientist as well as a learned
m y s tic .

A few years ago he startled the scientific world with the announcem ent
that, through his study and laboratory experim ents with the secret principles
of the life force in the human body and the laws of vibration (as taught by the
Rosicrucians in their secret teachings), he had evolved a chemical which, if
injected into the human body, made the whole body transparent in less than
two hours, so that the inner parts could be seen. And this chemical also pre
served the body if injected soon after transition, and prevented any form
of decay or change.
This Rosicrucians inventions are being used today by many large m anu
facturers, for he has found ways of artificially producing and transm uting many
of natures products. There are a million homes in America todayand many
(10)
T h ere are m a n y a n c ie n t r e fe r e n c e s to th e E g y p t ia n p r e d ic tio n th a t in
a c e r ta in c y c le o f th e t w e n tie t h ce n tu r y , A. D ., th e m y s t ic lig h t o f th e s e c r e t
s c h o o ls o f th e O rien t w o u ld p a ss to th e O ccid en t, to th e la n d w h e r e th e E a g le
sp r e a d s it s w in g s . On so m e old m a p s th e A m erica n C o n tin e n t is th u s refe r r e d
to long- b e fo r e th e p r o fa n e w o rld e v e n th o u g h t of th e w e s te r n w o rld .

in other landsusing one of his very practical inventions as a rem arkable com
modity.
To return to C. R. C. again, I m ust remind the occult student of the sev
eral real facts of reincarnationnot the theoretical claims and superstitious
beliefs that are commonly associated with reincarnation as taught by other
movements. (11)

EGYPTS MYSTIC KING

A ccording to the Rosicrucian traditions, therefore, the original founder of

the F raternity, in its system atic form, was Amenhotep IV, the heretic^ K ing
of E gypt, or, as the Encyclopedists call him, the world's first great citizen.
A t his transition In 1350 B. C. his body was prepared and placed in state in a
tomb in his mystic city, and w ith it the seals, documents, and official papers
of the F raternity.
H is soul, his personality, passed on to the higher planes as C. R. C., to
await further reincarnation at certain special periods as decreed by the Cosmic.
In the year 908 B. C. the soul of C. R. C. was again occupying a physical
body on earth and its affairs brought it to the tomb w herein its old body was
lying in state. Discovering a familiarity w ith the papers, seals and devices
surrounding: the body, C. R. C. announced to the chiefs of the mystic schools
that he had found the abiding place of C. R. C. and produced the longsought for occult seals and keys. This brought to the w orld an immediate re
vival of the F ratern ity s activities, and history records the many startling events
of that period in behalf of m ans attainm ent over the obstacles and weaknesses
of ignorance.
T hereafter every three hundred and fourteen years the F ratern ity attem pted
to learn, through its channels of research in all lands, who was the probable
reincarnation of C. R. C., and, if found within the F ratern ity s ranks, to com
mission him to prepare for the next Revelation.
It is a rem arkable fact that so far the reincarnation of C. R. C. has been
found, in each period, within the active ranks of the organization and always
employed in its highest w ork with enthusiastic devotion. This would tend to
prove one of the mystical contentions that each of us, upon reincarnation in a
new body on earth, seeks to continue the w ork and interests interrupted by our
previous transition, and that we gradually find our way back to familiar
haunts, studies, hobbies and devotions.

THE GREAT MASTERS

T hus it was the soul of C. R. C., existing in a body known as Zoroaster,
who in 908 B. C. opened the vault and tom b in behalf of the F raternity.
Zoroaster was the Supreme M agus of the organization at th at time, and the
few histories of the Middle Ages that give his period of reign as between 500
and 600 B. C. are generally recognized as in error by later historians, who have
examined his docum entary writings. He contributed the wonderful mystical
w ritings of the Zend-Avesta to the arcane schools and is generally recognized
as one of the w orlds marvelous characters and great teachers.
Likewise, in late periods, the same soul of C. R. C , having been reincar
nated a num ber of times, was discovered again in the person of Roger
Bacon. (12) He had started life as a student of theology and the natural
sciences, and even advanced to membership in the Franciscan O rder of Monks
of the Roman Church. But his love of the natural sciences led him into the
Rosicrucian fold again, and his enthusiasm there was responsible for his re(11) T h e tr u e d o c tr in e o f r e in c a r n a tio n , a s s e c r e t ly t a u g h t b y th e R o s ic r u cia n s, is n o t in c o n s is te n t w it h th e C h r istia n d o c tr in e or o th e r S c r ip tu r a l w r it
in g s, a s a re m a n y o f th e r e in c a r n a tio n p r in c ip le s lo o s e ly t a u g h t b y so m e
m odern , f a n t a s t ic m o v e m e n ts.
(12) R o g e r B a c o n sh o u ld n o t be c o n fo u n d e d w it h S ir F r a n c is B acon , a la te r
R o sic r u c ia n . R o g e r B a c o n s g r e a t se c r e t, m y s t ic a l w r it in g s u n d er R o s ic r u c ia n
s e a ls h a v e b een r e c e n tly d isc o v e r e d an d t r a n s la te d an d th e sc ie n tific w o r ld n o w
p a y s h o m a g e to h im as a s c ie n t is t h u n d red s o f y e a r s in a d v a n c e or h is p eriod .

10

jection from the Church. H is mystical and scientific writings marvelous in

secret knowledge to this modern daymade him an eminent officer in the
Rosicrucian fraternity. The discovery of his real personality, however, brought
upon him the greater responsibility of m aking the periodic Revelation in
1920 B. C.
Then came the m ost notable of the Revelation Periods, that of 1604, when,
o,f all other times, the world was most anxious for the G reater L ight and sought
a sure relief from the creeds, dogmas, and superstitions of 'the day.

SIR FRANCIS BACON

A t a high council of the F raternity held in Toulouse, and later confirmed
at a special congress of the International chiefs of the organization at Basel,
Switzerland, it was decreed that, inasmuch as the reincarnation of C. R. C. had
been located once m ore within their ranks, he should be commissioned to make
the Revelation determ ined for 1604.
This man was Sir F rancis Bacon, L ord Chancellor of E ngland and a high
officer in the F raternity. F or years he had been at w ork pfoducing secret and
coded m anuscripts containing the wisdom of the ages as he acquired it through
the archives of the Rosicrucians. H e had also evolved a newer form of public
education, the play on the stage, and was engaged in w riting such plays under
the name of his principal actor, W illiam Shakespeare. (13)
H e was called to Germany, where the German D eputy M aster of the F ra t
ernity, John Valentine Andrea, arranged with a few others for the formal open
ing of the secret vault by Francis Bacon. This was followed, as we have said,
by the publication of the famous F am a and other books, with anonym ous or
fictitious names.
It was a coincidence th at on two occasions the soul of C. R. C. should be
found in the bodies of persons bearing the w orldly name of Bacon. But, after
all, inwardly they were the same personthe same soul.

THE SECRET OF THE FRATERNITY

In this brief resume of the history of the O rder of Rosicrucians we see the
peculiar secret of its existence. The seeker is always puzzled by the apparently
contradictory statem ents made by historians in encyclopedias and reference
books. Son^e state, with emphasis, th at after the F ratern ity came to life in
Germany in the seventeenth century it flourished for a hundred years or more
and then, in the height of its glory and splendor, passed out of existence for
ever. O thers say that the F raternity was not created as a new society in Ger
many but existed for ages. O thers claim that it has no existence today and
probably never had a tangible form. Y et in the sum m er of 1926 there was held
the forty-third International Congress of Rosicrucians in Europe, the sixtyfirst Rosicrucian Convention in Toulouse, and the forty-second Supreme Coun
cil Conclave in Switzerland, with delegates and legates from every part of the
world, representing seventeen complete jurisdictions, eleven Supreme Lodges
and Councils, and thirty-nine Grand Lodges, w ith powers derived from two
hundred other Rosicrucian Lodges and bodies throughout the world.
N ot in existence now? H ow strange the statem ent seems to those who
have been active members for at least tw enty of their forty years of life, and
to those whose parents and grandparents were m em bers for many generations.
And there is not a large city of the world where active, enthusiastic and de
voted Rosicrucians cannot be found, living successfully, happily, prosperously,
and in unusual peace and power, occupying high positions, pursuing every p ro
fession and leading in every walk of life.
(13)
W ith in th e p a s t te n y e a r s m a n y b o o k s h a v e b een w r it te n b y e m in e n t
S h a k e sp e a r ia n sc h o la r s sh ow in g- th e R o sic r u c ia n e m b le m s in th e d e c o r a tio n s and
w a t e r m a r k s o f th e o r ig in a l D lays.

11

As W alter Ramsay, w riter of banking and business reports, says: W her

ever you go in America or Europe and find a man or woman highly successful,
happy, contented and prosperous in life,^ w ith a personal power which seems
to puzzle friends and draw forth the envy of associates, there you find a
student of the arcane knowledge of the Rosicruciana true initiate and adept
of the F raternity.

AMERICAS FIRST ROSICRUCIANS

The first Rosicrucians to come to America and bring the E ight to this new
country were those who journeyed to the Pacific Coast early in the seventeenth
century and deposited there the body and docum ents of the last C. R. C. of
Europe.
But the first group of the F raternity to come to America and establish the
w ork came in a specially chartered boat in 1694. They left all parts of Europe
under the direction of the M aster Kelpius, in accordance with the plans made
by Sir Francis Bacon, the European Im perator of the F raternity, and published
in the secret book called The New A tlantis or the H ouse of Solomon.
They arrived at w hat is now known as Philadelphia and built many build
in g s , temples and schools and ,gave America its first knowledge of the secret
laws of nature. P arts of the original buildings still rem ain in Fairm ount Park,
and elsewhere, and America's historical records are replete w ith facts about
the excellent w ork accomplished by the F raternity in behalf of the freedom and
a d v a n c e m e n t of this c o u n tr y . (1 4 )
M any Americans prom inent in the early
history and foundation of this country were associated with this Great W ork;
such as Thom as Jefferson and Benjamin Franklin.
As one prom inent American newspaper man recently w rote: It is one of
the joys of A m ericas grow th as well as prides of her history to have had the
influence and power of the Rosicrucian F ratern ity . And years later, when
the F raternity made its public Revelation of its existence, the new spapers made
much favorable comment from coast to coast. F o r instance, the Pittsburgh
Leader said: This is a distinct honor which will be understood later on.

THE ROSICRUCIANS IN THE WORLD TODAY

In every civilized land the F raternity is in operation today, using the an
cient Latin name A N T IQ U U M ARCAN U M R U B E A E R O S A E E T
A U R E A E CRU CIS, or the abbreviated English form, Ancient and Mystical
O rder Rosae Crucis (A M O R C).
All of the Grand and local Lodges of the F ratern ity are affiliated with and
form an essential p art of the International Congress.
^ (14) M an y in te restin g - f a c t s r e g a r d in g 1 th e e a r ly A ,m erican R o s ic r u c ia n s and
th e ir in flu e n c e on A m erica n fo u n d a tio n s a re g iv e n in th e v e r y p r e c is e w r it in g s
o f W a tso n , A m e r ic a s m o st c a r e fu l a n a ly s t an d h isto r ia n . O ther fa c ts , record s,
d o cu m e n ts, an d r e lic s w ill be fo u n d in th e h is t o r ic a l m u seu m o f P h ila d e lp h ia .

12

The world is divided into definite jurisdictions and the largest of these
is that of N orth America, with its Supreme Council, Supreme M aster and Ad
m inistration Buildings located at Tam pa, Florida, after having been located
for a period of years in the E ast and then on the Pacific Coast.
The w ork of the O rder is still conducted along the traditional lines and
men and women of acceptable qualifications are adm itted to its m em bership by
invitation. (15)

THE SECRET ARCHIVES OF ROSICRUCIAN KNOWLEDGE

It is not strange that every seeker for true knowledge sooner or later
comes face to face with the fact that he m ust turn to the Archives of the Rosi
crucian F ratern ity for the more profound laws, principles and m anifestations
of natures secrets. It is a notable fact, testified to by every research student
along every line of specific instruction, that each avenue of search, each path
of enlightenm ent, and each source of unbiased knowledge brings the inquiring
mind to the original and inexhaustible goal of the Rosicrucian Mystics.
W hether we inquire into the true and tested principles of psychology, the
established and dependable laws of health and long life, the fundam entals of
religion and philosophy, or the attainm ent of m astership in lifes problem s, we
find that constant references, quotations and recom m endations by thousands
of eminent w riters in all ages bring us eventually to the secret teachings of the
Rosicrucian Mystics. There probably never was and never will be any other
single source and fountain of arcane, secret knowledge equal to the present
knowledge of this organization.

THE ORIGIN OF ROSICRUCIAN KNOWLEDGE

Since the dawn of civilization the true knowledge and wisdom of man has
been carefully preserved. How often we are astounded at the marvelous things
known to or accom plished by the ancients. How many times are we impressed
with the fact that the ancients possessed rare knowledge, far beyond the know l
edge of today, which we discern in small driblets of wisdom gathered from
their writings. It has been believed for ages that the wisdom, the rare, secret
knowledge possessed by the M aster minds of the past has been carefully pre
served. But by whom? and where?
In all ages there have been the fewthe specially learned and wise, the
M asters, the initiateswho have had access to the arcane, secret and vital prin
cip les o f all k n o w l e d g e , a n d these persons have carefully concealed such knowl
edge from the unw orthy, the evil-minded and the selfish. Such persons have
constituted the F raternity of illuminated ones and their organization has been
known by m any names but always under the direction of the G reat W hite
B r o t h e r h o o d . N o w w e find this k n o w l e d g e p r e s e r v e d a n d taught through the
channels of the Rosicrucian Order, the original conservator of such knowledge.

WHAT DID THE ROSICRUCIANS TEACH?

It is the general belief of all investigators of the Rosicrucian doctrines that
the m em bers of the F ratern ity were experts and m asters in the subjects of
the transm utation of base metals into pure gold, the prolonging of life, the im
mediate cure of disease, the perform ance of seeming miracles, the control of
natures forces, the m astership of lifes problems, and were directors of future
events, and they have always been credited with possessing the true sacred
knowledge of God, life, transition and imm ortality.
Many books and papers refer to the Rosicrucians as Alchemists and H er
metic Physicians. The truth of the m atter is that the Rosicrucians of all ages
(15)
It is an a n c ie n t p r a c tic e o f th e F r a te r n it y to in v ite d e sir a b le or sin c e r e
s e e k e r s to u n ite w ith th e m em b ers. F o r c e n tu r ie s in E u ro p e it h a s b een con
sid er ed a d is t in c t h on or to be in v ite d to com e w ith in th e r a n k s b y being- h an d ed
an a p n lic a tio n form .

not only devoted their time in laboratories to transm uting metals, but a greater
part of their time was spent in transm uting the baser elements of human na
ture into the pure gold of health, happiness and prosperity. This was their
higher form of alchemy. Their general teachings and activities were devoted
to overcoming the obstacles in life which kept progressive men and women
from attaining individual heights. Therefore their teachings include the secret
facts of nature about health; the source and nature of the vital force of life;
how it could be retained and increased, and how disease of all kinds m ight be
prevented or cured. T hey taught also the nature of m any of the strange uni
versal forces which surround man and which few even today suspect as ex
isting.

THE MENTAL POWERS OF THE ROSICRUCIANS

However, one needs to read only a few books about the Rosicrucians, such
as L ord L yttons Zanoni and Marie Correllis Life Everlasting, to see
that the greatest power developed by the Rosicrucians was the mental power
they were able to use over persons and even inanim ate things.
The Rosicrucians taughtesotericallythat every thing in the world,
from the sm allest cell in a living or non-living body to the rocks in distant
mountains, could be affected by an unsuspected mental power which can be
developed by their formulas. They pointed out how they could make them
selves invisible, or unseen, at one place, while visible at distant places; how
they could transm it thoughts or even m aterial things from one place to a more
distant place; they dem onstrated their ability to make people think and act
as they directed, and to have natures forces obey their wills. All the miracles
of ancient Babylon, Persia, India and the O rient generally they reduced to
simple processes. T hey sought to become m ighty in the power to foresee,
or see at distant places and in the future; to hold back the progress of unde
sirable conditions; or set into motion newer and more favorable conditions.
All this they taught each initiate to do for himself. They did not perform
miracles for one another except on rare occasions, for they taught that each
person possesses a power and a faculty to direct his own affairs more efficiently
t h a n a n y o n e else could do it for him. ( 16 )

THE TESTS OF HUNDREDS OF YEARS

As the ages passed the teachings of the Rosicrucians were tested by newer
knowledge at the hands of later mystics and Masters. From century to cen
tury the Rosicrucian teachings were amended, strengthened, improved and
widened in their scope until they now em brace knowledge in every scientific
field, in every art, profession, industry and business activity of modern times.

WHO THEY ARE TODAY

The Rosicrucians of today are practical men and women, occupying high
governm ental positions in every land, leaders in all forms of education, in
schools, colleges and universities. They include clergymen of every denomina
tiontheological leaders and eminent international authorities; physicians and
scientists of every high grade; lawyers, judges, bankers, musicians, artists, in
ventors and heads of big corporations; newspaper editors and owners; and men
and women in every humble walk of life who are more successful and pros
perous, happy and m asterful than the average person. No one is ever denied
(16)
In th is r eg a rd th e R o s ic r u c ia n s h a v e e v e r b een d iffe r e n t from th o s e
sc h o o ls or m o v e m e n ts w h ic h m e r e ly s t a t e w h a t can be d on e or h a s b een d on e by
th e p a s t M a ster s .
T h e R o s i c r u c i a n s te a c h e a c h m em b er p r e c is e ly h o w to
d e m o n s tr a te in d iv id u a lity , w h en and w h e r e req u ired b y p e r so n a l c o n d itio n s. It
is fo r th is rea so n t h a t t h e R o s ic r u c ia n s a r e ca lled p r a c tic a l and n o t s p e c u la tiv e
m y stic s.

14

admission because of lack of college or academic education. M oral character

and sincerity of desire are the only qualifications considered.
All agree in their enthusiastic com m ent upon this one point: The know l
edge given to them in their studies and through their connection with the F ra
ternity has enabled them to round out their own lives, and m ore efficiently
carry on their life work, in a m anner alm ost impossible w ithout the benefits
derived from the specialized knowledge they now possess.

THE GREAT WORK TODAY

Not only is the G reat W ork of the F ratern ity still carried on in Europe
and other lands, with annual International and National congresses to unify
the work throughout the world, but in America the organization is especially
systematized and well founded.
T he N orth American continent constitutes the largest single jurisdiction
of the F raternity which operates throughout the w orld under the name of
A M ORC. In the U nited States, Canada, Mexico and the dependencies ofi the
United States, there are College, U niversity and Lodge Branches, as w eir as
study groups in every im portant city and town, with m any reading rooms and
study halls always open to those who are associated with the work. N ational
conventions have been held in the U nited States and hundreds of new spaper
and magazine articles have appeared in the public press, within the last fifteen
years, referring to the unusual features offered by the Rosicrucian system of
education and evolution.

$art Ctoo
A N ational Lodge
For H om e Study Members
The N orth American Jurisdiction of the F ratern ity offers some special fea
tures to seekers not found in all the foreign Jurisdictions.
As will be understood from the statem ents on preceding pages, the w ork
of the organization in the past has always been carried on in Lodges under the
supervision of Grand Lodges. In such Lodges the accepted members were
adm itted into the O rder by an elaborate Initiation Ceremony, generally re
ferred to as Crossing the T hreshold. This ceremony, Egyptian in form and
with E gyptian costumes in E gyptian Tem ples of the Order, has been called
th e m o s t b e a u tifu l o f a ll c e r e m o n ie s c o m in g down to us from antiquity in its
pristine nature. It is never forgotten by any who pass through it. A fter such
Initiation the members of a Lodge m eet once a week in the Tem ple and re
ceive their weekly lessons from the M aster of the Tem ple who carries them
through a completely graded course of instruction week after week. Such lecture-sessions are in tiled Lodges and members are adm itted only upon present
ing the proper pass words and grips. Such Lodges are located in the principal
cities of N orth America.

A NEW PLAN FOR AMERICA

At one of the national conventions of the O rder held in this country the
Grand M aster of New Y ork presented a plan to the delegates for the establish
ment of a National Lodge which would invite members from any section of
the N orth American Jurisdiction who could not find it possible to attend the

sessions of a local Lodge.

The proposal was discussed and voted upon and finally adopted. I t per
mitted the Supreme Lodge of the O rder for N orth America to establish w hat
15

m ight be called a correspondence course of instruction in the teachings of the

F ratern ity upon a distinctly unique basis. The plan required several years to
evolve and today this plan is being adopted in many foreign jurisdictions.

PRIVATE CORRESPONDENCE INSTRUCTION

This plan of private instruction at home is so unique and so new to this
country that it m ust be explained so that it will not be com pared with the socalled correspondence courses issued by correspondence schools in America.
F irst of all it was recognized at once that such lessons as were to be sent
to nation-wide students could not be in printed form, for two excellent reasons:
first, the tim e-honored injunction against any of the lessons of the O rder in
any land being printed or issued in printed form ; secondly, the continued
changes, improvements, am endm ents and modern adaptations of the teachings,
would prevent their preparation in text-book or printed form of any perm anent
nature.
It is common for a correspondence school to send its students a set of te x t
books accompanied by m onthly printed reading lessons analyzing the various
chapters of the text-books. Year after year the same instruction, the same
books and pam phlets, are sent to the thousands of students. This is possible
in presenting such subjects as Law, English, M athem atics, H istory, or some of
the sciences. It would not do, could not do, in presenting the teachings of the
Rosicrucians; for such teachings are continually im proving in subject m atter,
application to human affairs and relation to recent discoveries by the M asters
of the Order.

HOW THE LESSONS ARE PREPARED

So the first principle insisted upon by the Im perator of the O rder was
that the lessons to be sent to the correspondence members m ust be specially
made and prepared from m onth to m onth to keep them up to the minute with
the teachings being presented in all the Lodges by the M asters in this country
and in other lands. T hat m eant trem endous work, great cost and a staff of
m aster teachers continually w orking upon the lessons.
It m ust be kept in mind that the Rosicrucian teachings have for ages been
in advance of general science as taught in other schools and colleges. Discov
eries announced from time to time by scientists outside of the O rder and given
to the world as startling discoveries, have been known to and taught by the
Rosicrucians for years. But the world moves, and if the Rosicrucian experts
in all fields of knowledge and investigation did not keep continually at their
work, the general knowledge of the world would soon catch up to the teach
ings of the Rosicrucians and the one big power of the O rder would soon
weaken.
It is because the O rder is able to keep its members educated in advance
of the public mind, and give its members knowledge which outsiders cannot
obtain, that it enables its Brothers and Sisters to overcome obstacles, meet
oncom ing conditions and prepare for future circumstances. The scientific
w orld outside of the O rder is just now trying to discover and evolve certain
principles regarding health, disease and the prolonging of life which Rosicru
cians have known and practiced for centuries. The same can be said regarding
new discoveries in the sciences, arts and professions.

HOW THE LESSONS ARE ISSUED

Therefore the Im perator appointed a staff to prepare and issue the corre
spondence lessons for those members who would be adm itted in the National
Lodge.
Such members were to be IN V IT E D to join by sending them, upon recom
mendation, an application blank. After the answers in this form were exam
16

ined and an investigation made of the applicants worthiness and sincerity, he

or she was to be notified to prepare for Initiation. A plan was finally adopt
ed, based upon an old Egyptian system used by the early Rosicrucians, whereby
such members made one room of their home a tem porary Lodge Room by
arranging the few small essentials in a certain way and using a special ritual
sent to them sealed and in secret form. By the use of this private ritual in
typewritten, personal form, the candidate initiated himself or herself at home
in the private sanctum called the Lodge. The many thousands in America
today who have used this ritualmen and women of all walks of life from the
highest positions in the country to humble w orkers in the homehave found
this home initiation one of the most astounding evidences of the psychic powers
possessed by the O rder, for at each initiation the w orthy candidate dis
covers that one of the M asters of the O rder or one of the highest soul expres
sions is present to assist and instruct. Thousands of letters on file prove that
this initiation is precisely w hat each applicant seeks and w hat the Rosicrucians
always taught was possible.
W hen a report of this initiation is sent to headquarters, it is examined and
the candidates requirem ents given careful attention. F rom then on he receives
each week, in sealed and protected envelopes, a special lesson of the Rosicrucian
teachings in typew ritten form.

NATURE OF THE LESSONS

Such lessons are not mere speculative statem ents or points of philosophy,
but carefully w ritten and edited explanations of laws, beginning with the funda
mental and simple ones, worded in language which any can understand and il
lustrated by analogies, examples, common references and everyday experiences.
Then several experiments are given to be practiced at convenient times through
out the week. In this way, week after week, m onth after month, special les
sons, always being revised and amended, are sent to each member covering the
whole system of private Rosicrucian teachings, developing faculties and powers
the member never realized he or she possessed.

STUDENTS PROGRESS GIVEN PERSONAL ATTENTION

Soon after passing through the prelim inary and foundation lessons which
enable the student to perform many rem arkable dem onstrations in his daily
affairs, his standing: is p a s s e d u p o n by several special instructors in consultation
with the M aster who has been directing his studies. If the student has made
the proper progress he is then assigned to a special high teacher for personal
g u id a n c e th e r e a fte r .

From that time onward the lessons sent to the student each week have a
personal touch. The student not only receives special personal letters from his
teacher, but the correspondence between them on points of special knowledge,
problem s in life and helps required by the student in the affairs of his life, con
stitute a personal help equalled only by membership in a Lodge where the
student meets his M aster weekly.
L etters and telegram s come daily to headquarters from students to their
teachers here asking for immediate and special help in illness, business prob
lems, help for others and guidance in times of perplexity. Such personal help
sent at once is one of the rem arkable points of service rendered by the O rder
to its members, and w ithout any fees for such service.
In this way the National Lodge perm its men and women in all walks of
life, and with iust ordinary school education, to have the full advantage of Rosi
crucian membership regardless of where they live.

tttrrilr ^.ttrertran ^ttrfe&tdfum

$ art W\)xtt
The Value of M embership in the Amorc
I t is no simple m atter t o present t o t h e seeker or investigator a true pic
ture revealing all the facts and minute details of so vast and vital an organiza
t i o n a s t h a t most popularly known as the Rosicrucian F raternity. A thousand
years ago the greatest m asters of thought and pen pictures found it. so. Sir
Francis Bacon, while international chief of the various continental Rosicrucian
organizations, found it necessary to write and have published a num ber of
b o o k s u n d e r distinctive t i t l e s , adequately t o reveal to the w orthy seeker the real
nature of the Fraternity.
L ord Bulwer L ytton resorted to a method typical of the means used before
and after his time and w rote a novel called Zanoni in which he cleverly re
v e a l e d t h e e x i s t e n c e , teachings and activities of the Rosicrucians of his day.
And we have had the w ritings from the pen of Marie Corelli, Shelly, Ains
w orth and others in which the Rosicrucians are mentioned frankly and their
beneficial teachings and endeavors beautifully expounded.
A thousand books in the past thousand years have mentioned the F raternity
or described the w ork of one or more of its great leaders. No organization in
the world, aside from the Essenes and T herapeuti of the H oly Land, has been
so generally known for ages and yet evaded the skill of the w riters pen to do
it justice. Perhaps this one feature alone is responsible for the classification of
the F ratern ity as a very secret society.

THOUSANDS ARE SEEKINGFEW ARE WORTHY

Thousands in every section of the world today are inquiring for and seek
ing after precisely w hat the A M O RC offers. W e know this from the letters
received daily from every part of the civilized world. Never before in the his
tory of civilization has there been such an aw akening to the higher things of
18

life, and never has there been such an universal call for association with those
who know and can reveal the many fundam ental principles., laws and forces
that make one man, or one woman, more healthy, successful, and happy than
another.
The A M O RC stands today, as did its ancient parent bodies, as one of the
most vital, constructive, re-creative forces in the w orld devoted to the personal
and national benefits of mankind. Because this is so, it has the endorsement,
enthusiastic support and happy co-operation of men and women in every walk
of life, in every profession, art and science, and in every civilized land of the
world, who have been found w orthy of admission.
Strangely, many of the modern encyclopedias continue to reprint the blind
or veiled history of the F raternity which appeared in Cham bers Encyclo
pedia m any years ago, when the organization was so secretly operated that it
was thought to have passed out of existence. A notable exceptionand there
are a num beris a recent edition wherein our present Imperator, or Chief E x
ecutive of the A M O RC, is mentioned as an authority on the subject and his
tory of the Rosicrucians.

FAMOUS ROSICRUCIANS
It appears as a notable fact that in every country where great strides were
made in civilization the historians of the time made reference to the evolution
ary effect of the Rosicrucians and their teachings upon the people as a prelim
inary step to the advances made. M any are the references also in books deal
ing with chemistry, medicine and surgery, music and astronom y, giving credit
to the profound knowledge of the Rosicrucians and the im portant effect of that
knowledge upon the advancement of these sciences.
To suggest even a partial list of the em inent characters who have been
notable figures in the F ratern ity would take m any m ore pages than I am
limited to in this book. Suffice it to say that the Rosicrucian F ratern ity traces
its real and traditional history so far back into the past ages that it is lost in
profound mystery, but ever sheds around it a glory of achievement for its
members and a wondrous light of attainm ent for the nations. Today the spirit
of their great w ork carries on throughout the world in the work of the
AMORC. W hat that work is and w hat it can mean to you will be explained
on the following pages.

THE PRESENT-DAY ROSICRUCIANSTHE AMORC

The AM ORC, as an international organization, is not a relic of the ancient
Rosicrucian Lodges. It is a logical, natural and systematic development and
continuation of the Rosicrucian principles and ideals as laid down in the past
by the greatest of the Rosicrucian leaders and evolved by the m aster-teachers
of the ages intervening.

WHY THE FRATERNITY GROWS

An illustration of the im portance of this fact may be seen in the comment
of thousands who have pursued the present-day teachings of the AM ORC,
which com ment may be summarized in the words of a form er high officer of
another school of philosophy and m etaphysics in A m erica: Man has evolved
in the past several hundred years through definite cycles and stages of mental
and spiritual aw akening and comprehension, ju st as he has advanced in
scientific achievement and attainm ent. Those thoughts, those principles and
those ideals which were vital and guiding to him five hundred or even one hun
dred years ago are obsolete now, some even impracticable. T h at school of
thought, that system of instruction, that course of practice in life which has
not evolved and advanced step by step with m an's evolution is passe today.
AM O RC is notable for its advancement and its foresight in keeping many
steps ahead of m ans present stage in civilization, so th at today the Rosicrucian
teachings and benefits offered by the A M O RC constitute a goal to approach,
an ideal to hold before usa true leadership to follow.
19

NOT THE TEACHINGS OF ONE PERSON

T here are systems of philosophical and higher-thought instruction in the
world today which were outlined or prepared by one or more founders, dis
coverers or leaderssystem s which were prophetic and ultra-m odern in their
daybut because the founders of such systeips made no provision for the
advancem ent of the teachings, or the gradual grow th and evolution of the
system, they stand today as m onum ents of good in the past but inadequate
and inefficient today.
T he child of today is taught in school, in high school and in special courses,
those subjects which were select and advanced subjects for the evolved adult
of a hundred years ago. To adhere to the philosophic or scientific teachings
of the ancients, no m atter how rem arkable they may have been in their day,
would be equivalent to teaching and prom ulgating dead languages as a vital
factor in our modern life.

MOST ADVANCED OF ALL TEACHINGS

The A M O RC of today preserves and presents in the m ost impressive and
helpful m anner every law and principle that was known to and used by the
ancient Rosicrucians and which made them famous as the forerunners of all
scientific, occult, metaphysical and practical schools making for m ans greater
grow th and development. Each year of the past five hundred years or more
has seen additions made to those fundam ental teachings. Each m onth of the
past hundred years has seen the ancient system of instruction and cooperative
benefits improved, modernized, and advanced.
D uring the past fifteen years the evolutionary grow th of the plan of
A M O RC has been phenomenal. In every field of endeavor, in every art, science
and domain of thought, A M O RC has taken great steps forw ard until today its
knowledge of certain laws of nature, activities of the human mind, powers of
personal forces, m anifestations of principles and possibilities of unsuspected
agencies, is far in advance of mans general evolution and greatly in the lead
of all other schools or movements.

A GLORIOUS ACHIEVEMENT
In other words, AM ORC, typifying the Rosicrucian spirit, represents to
day the very soul of the Rosicrucian F ratern ity of all agesthe m ost advanced
and practical guide or m ovem ent in m ans behalf. This has been no simple
achievement. No organization but th at which lives with the spirit of true
Rosicrucianismfearless, dauntless, and m ighty in its own pow erscould have
s u r v iv e d in the past decades the m any obstacles to grow th and the insistent
attacks of its natural enemiesthe enemies of all progress. None but the pres
ent Im perator of the A M ORC, H arve Spencer Lewis, F. R. C., Ph. D.,
could have accomplished the trem endous task set for him when he accepted
the obligation and duties of his office for the purpose of re-establishing the
F raternity in modern times as Bacon was commissioned to do in the seven
teenth century in Europe, and others before him.

THE DISTINCTIVE CHARACTER OF THE FRATERNITY

As one may sense from w hat has been said on the preceding pages, the
Rosicrucian F raternity ever was, and still is, a very distinctive body so far
as fraternal organizations go. In days gone by one of its outstanding features
was its recognition of the equality of the sexes: This does not seem exceptional
today, but in this F raternity women have A LW A Y S been eligible for every
office or station, and the organization points with pride to the fact th at it was
the first international organization to assist women to compete with men ef
ficiently in all arts and sciences. The wholesomeness and broadness ^of its
work perm its men and women to share alike in its benefits.
The absence of sex distinction has resulted in another impressive feature.
Men and their wives, m others, daughters and sons are found associated in the
studies and work. It is a delightful scene to witness couples and families of
from three to ten persons, young and old, attending lectures or class lessons
20

together ju st as they do church or theater, w ithout separation or disqualifica

tion because of sex!

TEACHINGS ARE NOT SPECULATIVE.

The next im portant distinction between this F ratern ity and other B roth
erhoods is due to its practical and operative nature. It is not and never has
been a speculative body or a school of theoretical philosophy. This state
m ent is not intended to be a criticism of those fraternal movements, schools,
or cults which deal exhaustively w ith speculative philosophies or m etaphysi
cal theories. I t is only because these things have a place in our lives that
the A M O RC of today devotes its time and efforts to those things which have
to do with the practical affairs of life H E R E and N O W !
Convinced of the im m ortality of the soul, and referring to this conviction
often in its teachings, it uses the law or laws which make the soul im m ortal
to aid the individual in attaining health and power on this plane of existence.
D em onstrating all the laws that relate to our existence in a spiritual, divine
and m etaphysical sense, the dem onstrations are made in such manner, and
accompanied by such lectures, as will enable the student to apply the same
laws in m eeting the obstacles, trials and tem ptations of this lifedaily and
hourly.

GUIDING THE SEEKER TO MASTERSHIP.

The obligations of each individual to God and His Decrees are not evaded
or minimized. But his further obligations to those dependent upon him, to
his fellow man and himself, are clearly pointed out and dem onstrated. Even
more than this, he is taught, carefully and step by step, how he may efficiently,
successfully and joyfully meet these earthly, material, practical obligations
and rise to power and mastership. Such practical w ork is the keynote of the
A M O RC teachings and practices.
The ancient Rosicrucians were popularly known as chemists, alchemists
and scientists, as well as hum anitarian workers. It is notable th at the m ost
advanced of them were not found in isolated habitations, living as hermits,
giving to the world nothing more than an illuminated book of inspiring phil
osophy. R ather were they found living in accessible places, adjoining labora
tories and schools, laboring with the problems of medicine, surgery, chemis
try, astronom y and sim ilar subjects.

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES.
True, much is said of their alchemy and the experim ents with the tran s
mutation of the base m etals into gold. But these experim ents were made
not for the purpose of securing w ealth alone, but to dem onstrate, prove
and discover various laws of N ature which have an im portant bearing upon
every phase of life. M any of the m odern sciences today trace valuable aids
to the practical work perform ed by these devoted workers.

SERVICE TO MEMBERS.
W herever civilization was in the m aking and progress in the arts, sciences,
literature and w ork-a-day activities was most evident, there the influence,
guidance^ and contributions of the Rosicrucians were most evident. Today
this distinctive feature of practicability is augm ented by the co-operative
service spirit which is emphasized in an unique m anner.
W ith m em bers in
every trade, profession, art and industry, and in every walk of life, located
in every large city and every fair-sized town in the U nited States, for example,
the close association, the mutual understanding, the universal pledge to render
s e r v ic e at every opportunity, results in a personal benefit to each member that
was not possible in the days of old. Thus we see th at from many angles
the A M O RC is a distinctive organization, but the following additional features
are im portant also.

NON-SECTARIAN AND TOLERANT.

The A M O RC is absolutely non-sectarian in its teachings and practices,
and free from sex and race limitations. It. recognizes the universality of the
21

together ju st as they do church or theater, without separation or disqualifica

tion because of sex!

TEACHINGS ARE NOT SPECULATIVE.

The next im portant distinction between this F ratern ity and other B roth
erhoods is due to its practical and operative nature. I t is not and never has
been a speculative body or a school of theoretical philosophy. This state
m ent is not intended to be a criticism of those fraternal movements, schools,
or cults which deal exhaustively w ith speculative philosophies or m etaphysi
cal theories. I t is only because these things have a place in our lives that
the A M O RC of today devotes its time and efforts to those things which have
to do with the practical affairs of life H E R E and N O W !
Convinced of the im m ortality of the soul, and referring to this conviction
often in its teachings, it uses the law or laws which make the soul im m ortal
to aid the individual in attaining health and power on this plane of existence.
D em onstrating all the laws that relate to our existence in a spiritual, divine
and m etaphysical sense, the dem onstrations are made in such m anner, and
accom panied by such lectures, as will enable the student to apply the same
laws in m eeting the obstacles, trials and tem ptations of this lifedaily and
hourly.

GUIDING THE SEEKER TO MASTERSHIP.

The obligations of each individual to God and His Decrees are not evaded
or minimized. B ut his further obligations to those dependent upon him, to
his fellow man and himself, are clearly pointed out and dem onstrated. Even
more than this, he is taught, carefully and step by step, how he may efficiently,
successfully and joyfully m eet these earthly, material, practical obligations
and rise to pow er and mastership. Such practical w ork is the keynote of the
A M O RC teachings and practices.
T he ancient Rosicrucians were popularly known as chemists, alchemists
and scientists, as well as hum anitarian workers. It is notable th at the most
advanced of them were not found in isolated habitations, living as hermits,
giving to the world nothing more than an illuminated book of inspiring phil
osophy. R ather were they found living in accessible places, adjoining labora
tories and schools, laboring with the problem s of medicine, surgery, chemis
try, astronom y and similar subjects.

PRACTICAL PRINCIPLES.
True, much is said of their alchemy and the experim ents with the tran s
m utation of the base m etals into gold. But these experim ents were made
not for the purpose of securing w ealth alone, but to dem onstrate, prove
and discover various laws of N ature which have an im portant bearing upon
every phase of life. M any of the modern sciences today trace valuable aids
to the practical w ork perform ed by these devoted w orkers.

SERVICE TO MEMBERS.
W herever civilization was in the making and progress in the arts, sciences,
literature and w ork-a-day activities was m ost evident, there the influence,
guidance and contributions of the Rosicrucians were m ost evident. Today
this distinctive feature of practicability is augm ented by the co-operative
service spirit which is emphasized in an unique m anner.
W ith m em bers in
every trade, profession, art and industry, and in every walk of life, located
in every large citv and every fair-sized town in the U nited States, for example,
the close association, the m utual understanding, the universal pledge to render
service at every opportunity, results in a personal benefit to each m em ber that
was not possible in the days of old. T hus we see th at from many angles
the A M O RC is a distinctive organization, but the following additional features
are im portant also.

NON-SECTARIAN AND TOLERANT.

The A M O R C is absolutely non-sectarian in its teachings and practices,
and free from sex and race lim itations. Tt. recognizes the universality of the
2!

brotherhood of mankind. It takes cognizance of the fact th at we are N O T

all created alike except in soul essence and Divine Consciousness; but this
very exception is the keynote of its broad, tolerant, and sym pathetic operations.

WHY W E ARE NOT EQUAL.

Some are born to learn and progress through following, while others are
born to develop certain abilities through leadership. Some are born to
achieve through serving, others are born to materialize the needs of many
through mastership. Some are born to attain power through poverty and
labor, others are born to suffer the responsibility or share the blessings of
wealth and leisure. The Rosicrucian F raternity seeks to make real leaders
of men and women and limits its membership only to those who are truly
worthy of leadership.

OVERCOMING OBSTACLES.
W hatever may be our station in life, some cause has made it so. But,
says the know ing Rosicrucian, these stations in life are to serve us, to teach
us; no constructive Law and no cruel hand of fate ordains that we shall not rise
above and evolve from the station in which we are born, and every law of
nature is at our command to serve us to learn the lesson of our present sit
uation and turn this into a stepping stone to rise higher. It is our duty to
lift our eyes higher; it is our bounden obligation to help each other on The
Path to health, success, and M astership.

NO SECTARIAN CREED.
W ith a universal brotherhood which has its devout students and workers
also in China, Japan, India, Persia and other O riental countries; with sincere
and enthusiastic men and women in countries of every creed and race, and
with every form or creed or religious belief, sectarian teachings would be im
possible. Any system of metaphysical, occult or mystical teaching based upon
sectarian principles cannot be universal and cannot, therefore, be Rosicrucian
in spirit.
A firm conviction of the existence of a Supreme Being, G reat A rchitect,
Divine Mind or O m nipotent intelligence, is absolutely necessary, however, on
the part of any applicant for membership in the AM ORC.

RELATION TO OTHER ROSICRUCIAN BODIES.

Because of the antiquity of the Fraternity, and because its name and sym
bol ever typified the spirit of profound research and arcane teachings, the
word R osicrucian has become synonymous w ith mystical and arcane. For
this reason the word has been freely used to designate teachings or discourses
that are uncommon and inspiring.

OTHER ORGANIZATIONS.
There are a few organizations in Europe and America and perhaps else
where which are simply select societies devoted to arcane research and which
use the term Rosicrucian or its equivalent to indicate to the seeker their

high standard of conduct.

Most of the organizations throughout the world using the name or symbol
of the ancient Rosicrucians are, however, w orthy and inspiring movements;
nearly all of them are allied in fraternal bonds with A M O RC, such as the
Grand Lodge of A M O RC of G reat Britain and those in Denmark, Holland,
Africa, China, India, Germany, Spain, Russia, Switzerland, and the E ast Indies^
others are branch bodies of the principal Grand Lodges in many cities and
lands.
22

$ a r t J fo u r

W hat the Fraternity Offers the Select Few

YOUR HOME A PRIVATE LODGE
T hrough the help that the A M O RC offers men and women who are
invited to ioin its ranks, the privacy of ones hom e may be utilized to bring
into dominent usefulness the mental, physical and psychic powers of man.
W ith simple lessons which begin at the fundamentals, all th at is strange
and potent in man, all that is m ighty and helpful around man, and all that is
m ajestic and creative in the universe, is made plain and practical for the man
or woman who would advance from the state of mere living to O M N IP O
T E N T M A S T E R S H IP .
The reading of booksno m atter how learned or suggestive or enticing
may be their titleswill not bring illumination, the understanding of na
tures secret laws and principles. Books were never written to reveal these
things. W hat is m ost earnestly sought and truly needed will not be found in
books made and sold for profit, for m oney and selfish gain. The greatest
truths, the vital truths, the practical, helpful truths, have never found their
way into the public print of popular books, except in the case of the Scriptures
and sacred w ritings. This was true in the days when the mystics, the philos
ophers and the religious devotees spent their lives compiling hand-w ritten
and illustrated m anuscript on parchm ent, when secrets were carved on stone
and m ystic laws were engraved on the papyri of Egypt. From , hand to hand,
from m outh to mouth, from paper to paper, through the secret channels of a
brotherhood, the great tru th s of all ages, the laws and principles discovered
yesterday and today will pass from those who know to those who deserve to
know; while the masses, caring little, seeking indifferently, unwilling to sac
rifice time or pleasure, live on and on in the lowly state of darkness and
superstition, happy in their folly perhaps, but enjoying none of the real
pleasures of life, receiving none of its true gifts, and constantly subject to the
evil that lies w aiting to prey upon them w ith ill-health, disease, misfortune,
poverty, oppression and ignominy.

ATTAINING HEALTH, PROSPERITY, HAPPINESS

These three elements are Gods privileges to manas a gift. But man
knows not how to accept th at which is offered. God and nature provide for
man being well bornw hen the parents live as nature seeks to instruct
and from the m om ent of birth H E A L T H , not disease, is m ans m ost natural
endowment from all the forces and elements of the universe.
P R O S P E R IT Y , too, is a natural acquisition, conform ing to all the ethical,
spiritual and beneficent laws of the universe. God made man in H is own
image, with the same faculties for perception, retention and reconstruction
which vitalize the creative powers of the universe. All nature prospers and en
joys the abundance of all th at exists, because nature is in harm ony w ith the
creative principle. Man alone, the highest creation of all, falls short of his
rightful and privileged possessions because he does not always know how to
live in harmony with all th at creates, masters, controls, attracts and retains.
P rosperity is the result of attraction, poverty the perfect m anifestation
of repulsion and negation. N ot only is it true that man is as he thinks, but he
enjoys and possesses th at which he attracts. L aboring to earn th at which
one desires is not the application of the laws of attraction; it is merely subtituting m ans crude method of exchanging labor for lifes essentials. To
deserve, either through labor, worthiness, sincerity of purpose, goodness of
motive or altruism of intention, is but the first step. The next step is to
23

attra c t to ones self that which is desired, and such attraction on the p art of
man is only possible when the inner self is perm itted to function, to m anifest
and direct the forces of the outer self.
Ju st as' the flower bends its body tow ard the sun, th at it may more effi
ciently attract the sunlight, ju st as the multi-colored pansy lifts its head
from the leaves of green to attract the adm iration and attention of the passer
by, so m ust the inner man, the mind within the soul, the heart within the
psychic body, lift itself above and beyond the com mon-place of life and at
tract, demand, and draw unto itself the abundance of this life, the riches of
existence and the wealth of the universe.
P rosperity in m aterial things is happiness, health, power to direct, power
to control, oow er to will and become; assuring success of venture, attain
m ent of ambitions, and the blotting out of all unhappiness, ill-health and
misfortunethis prosperity is m ans rightful, divine privilege, and naught but
m ans ignorance of laws and principles and misguided belief in the falsities of
lim iting creeds and dogmas keeps him from being P R O S P E R O U S in every
sense of the word.

THE ROSICRUCIAN WAY FOR THE SELECT.

Know the laws and principles! Study natures secret teachings! M aster
fates decrees which operate only with the unprepared, the undeveloped and
the unknowing. A ttune yourself with those who are successful and happy.
Co-operate with natures laws and revel in the power that comes into your
being with the dawn of each day and abides like an unseen guest in your home,
your office, your places of pleasure and meditation!
T he successful man dominates the situations as they arise, directs with
dynamic mind the course of his life in home, business and social affairs through
know ing the laws th at make possible a release of his inner powers and m eta
physical abilities.
T he brilliant woman is the woman who knows her possibilities, her dor
m ant faculties and psychic strength, and uses every magnetic, personal, sub
conscious, potent factor of her existence to raise herself to the suprem e m as
tership of worldly m atters.
Knowing means study and com prehensionand com prehension accom
panied with m editation brings illumination and the power to use the laws thus
studied.
Sitting in ones home, carefully examining the simple, P R IV A T E lessons
and testing the simple laws, one by one, is the process offered by the A M O RC
to those who seek this unusual m ethodmore efficient than the reading ofbooks which dare not tell the real facts, which never contain natures secret
laws and which are sold for any price you are willing to pay.
W ith lessons graded for each mastership, arranged in weekly subjects
and experiences, made practical with principles and laws to use every day and
in every waythis is the system the A M O RC uses to help those who would
make their home a sanctum of attunem ent, a home of private instruction, a
place of uplift, development and mastership.

THE TRUTH UNVEILED TO THE MEMBERS.

W ithout avoiding the facts that should be revealed, w ithout veiling the
truths so that none can com prehend, and w ithout flowery w ords or elegant
oratory which leave the student unacquainted with the fundam entals, the pri
vate, typew ritten, specially prepared lessons of the A M O RC are given to
its members, its students, in a m anner beyond description or realization un
less one has lived with them for a few weeks and found the great changes,
the wonderful powers that manifest in every affair of our earthly activities.
Remember, the A M O RC offers its carefully selected members not only
the method and the plan of developing secretly, privately and effectively, but
it offers its students all the advantages of association with those m aster minds
of the laws of nature, who have held the reputation of being the m ost highly
24

trained teachers, philosophers, scientists and workers in the uplift of the race
of manthe M ystics of the O rder Rosae Crucisthe B rethren of the Rosey
Cross.

HOW THE INSTRUCTIONS ARE GIVEN

The teachings, lessons and experim ents constituting the Correspondence
Instruction of the A M O RC are called the Tem ple L ectures. T hese have
been evolved through years of test and experience, improvement, additions,
modifications and extensions.

NO COLLEGE EDUCATION NECESSARY.

These Tem ple L ectures begin with the very fundam entals of natures
laws as they relate to man and the universe, and explain and make plain all
m ans secret powers, possibilities and potential activities. T he lessons are
carefully graded. No college, academic or even high school education is
necessary to understand the lessons, for they have been prepared by some
of the best educators in various lands for the purpose of m eeting the general
mind.

NO MEMORIZING REQUIRED.
Various educational boards have said th at the system employed by
A M O RC in teaching and instructing is the ideal system, for it does not re
quire memorizing, and through the examples, illustrations and experim ents
used the student comprehends and rem em bers w ithout the least effort. Mere
concentration upon the words being read and a few m om ents m editation upon
each principle or law makes them stand out in the mind and consciousness
for all time.

ARRANGED IN EASY STEPS.

T he Tem ple L ectures are arranged in Grades or Degrees, like unto
classes or grades in a school. Each grade starts w ith an initiation or sym
bolical ceremony to be perform ed in the home by the student w ithout any dif
ficulty. These Initiation Ceremonies are for the purpose of illustrating and
dram atizing some of the laws to be revealed in the lectures of that Grade.
Such ceremonies conform to the beautiful ceremonies held in our Tem ples
and are based upon the rituals used in the olden days to teach and illustrate
certain principles. A fter the ceremonial night there follows a series of week
ly lectures and experim ents, constituting a course of study for that grade.
The ceremonies can be perform ed very quietly and privately.
At the close of each series of the first three grades of lectures there is a
self-examination and a w ritten examination w ith answers to be sent to the
M aster of your class so that he can see wherein you have succeeded or failed
to grasp a clear understanding of each point and may send you additional in
formation. These examinations are easily passed if the lectures have been
properly readnot laboriously studied.
_The first three Grades constitute the preparatory ones in which the foun
dation for the whole w ork of the O rder is laid and give the student the basis
for starting a new and greater career in life.

THE HIGHER TEACHINGS.

U pon entrance into the F ourth Grade, the member receives his card
or certificate of universal m embership in the O rder and then he starts with
the higher teachings and the serious application of them in the M astership
of his problem s in life, reaching tow ard success, health, happiness and the
goal of his ambitions.
T here are three preparatory (and very im portant) Grades, consisting of
thirty-six to forty weekly lectures, weekly experim ents, daily tests and im
provements, with much additional reading m atter in the m onthly bulletin
(or m agazine) called The Mystic Triangle, and other m atter. Then begin
the nine higher grades, each having from tw enty to fifty weekly lectures and
special instructions.
25

MASTERY AT EACH STEP.

T here never was and never will be a m ore systematic, a more detailed
and complete course of personal-developm ent study than this. W hile it is true
that it takes three or more years to complete the whole course of three pre
liminary and nine higher grades, the student becomes a m aster of certain laws
and principles each week and before the first few m onths have passed he no
longer desires to hurry and go on more rapidly than the system provides. It
is not like a course of study which m ust be entirely finished before it may be
put into practical operation. M ost of our members discover the true value
and efficiency of the w ork after the first m onth of preparation and experiment,
and derive help from the very first lessons.

SIMPLICITY, SYSTEM, PRIVACY.

The graded lessons are mailed in sealed envelopes complete with every
aid, plan, suggestion or illustration necessary. Lessons are mailed each week
with a system and regularity that is pleasing and dependable. No one need
know w hat you are studying or w hat you are associated w ith unless you desire
to interest them.

A LODGE NIGHT AT HOME.

Members are asked to select one night of the week to be their Lodge
night at home. W hether it be every W ednesday night, every T hursday night
or every Friday night, thousands of other members in your own country will
be studying, practicing and experim enting in attunem ent with you. W e pre
fer that each m em ber select T hursday evening for his or her Lodge night at
home; for this is the Rosicrucian N ight throughout the w orld and it means
greater power through the m ultitudes who are thusly attuned. But any other
evening will do in case you find it necessary to change your selected weekly
Lodge N ight at home or in the privacy of a room elsewhere.

W HAT MEMBERSHIP WILL MEAN TO YOU.

T hrough m em bership in the A M O RC the seeker for L ight not only finds
that wonderful illumination and understanding of Gods laws which he or she
has sought in vain elsewhere, but there are m any other advantages.
Each mem ber holds a card of membership and possesses a Passw ord
and certain key words which will always guide, direct and sustain in the hour
of need or doubt.
Those who enter the Correspondence w ork of A M O RC will find them
selves in touch w ith thousands of other N eophytes at times and under condi
tions which cannot be explained in this book. Each will come to realize, un
derstand and feel that strange psychic attunem ent with the M asters which
has^ always united Rosicrucians and which passeth understanding of the un
initiated.
Each member has the additional privilege of visiting any branch Lodge,
of m eeting all regular Lodge Brothers and Sisters on an equal basis and of
enjoying all the exoteric benefits of this Order.
But undoubtedly the greatest benefit of all is that of sitting one night a
week in silence at home, following our simple instructions, and, by the Rosi
crucian simple process of attunem ent, becoming psychically and cosmically
attuned with all the members in the O rder who are in silent m editation and
concentration at the same time for fifteen m inutes or more.
Likewise during this period of weekly study and attunem ent m ost of the
regular R. C. Lodges of our O rder are holding Tem ple Convocations, and these,
added to the correspondence membership, make thousands of minds united in
love, power, sacredness, health, prosperity and Peace Profound.
It is during such weekly hours of m editation (according to secret instruc
tions) that the trials and troubles of life are softened, health regained, success
attained, prosperity and happiness attracted, w ith the hearts desires fulfilled
in proportion to the sincerity of desire and the w orthiness of the purpose.
26

These hours of m editationwhat Peace Profound! Unknown to others,

unsuspected by even advanced students outside of our O rder, yet yours most
surely if you deserve and prove worthy.

WHO MAY UNITE WITH AMORC BY INVITATION

Any man or woman over eighteen years of age (or a few years
younger by special dispensation) of any race or any religious belief, being free
from allegiance to any semi-political despot or any organization which limits
the freedom of m ans mind and inner development. Those Who know that
there is a Divine Mind ruling the universe, who are clean in thinking and
living, having never been guilty of treason in any country, nor engaged in any
unlawful occupation and anxious to become citizens of the Invincible Empire
of advanced w orkers and successful beings in Gods Vineyard, are eligible to
full membership in the A M O RC by invitation.

WHO MAY NOT UNITE WITH AMORC

Infidels, atheists, agnostics, fanatics of any kind, drones, political conspir
ators, objectors to law and order, bigots, the insincere, the frivolous, doubters,
idle investigators, spiritualistic m edium s (unless they abandon such prac
tices), prom oters or endorsers of questionable sex theories under the guise of
oriental instruction, conscientious (?) objectors to defending their country
or flag in times of em ergency or G overnm ental call, those seeking to buy
power or influence with money, or those whose moral code is weak or neg
ligible. All these, or any of them, cannot unite with the A M ORC regardless
of recommendations or inducements of any kind.

WHAT THE AMORC DOES NOT DEMAND

T he A M O RC is not a body of fanatics or extrem ists of any kind or class.
I t has in its ranks men and women of every school of therapeutics for instance,
including professors and international authorities in all the subjects of medi
cines, chemistry, botany, physiology, physics, and allied sciences. I t has mem
bers in every art, profession, trade, business, hobby, and avocation.
The A M O RC does not demand that its members shall become vegetarians
or eaters of raw foods; nor does it advocate the eating of flesh to the exclusion
of other foods. It teaches the true science of eating and perm its its members
to exercise personal rights in choosing w hat is best for the individual.
N either does the A M O RC demand that its mem bers support any anti
movement relating to dissection, vivisection, vaccination, or other practices
or systems.
No demand is made upon its members that they adopt any change in re
ligion, business or social m atters, except those which each m em ber finds are
best for his or her individual advancement.

SOME ROSICRUCIAN SYMBOLS

O
/V A

THE EGYPTIAN
CARTOUCHE

T H E R. C.
TRIA NGLE

THE
ROSY CR OS S

27

SEAL OF T H E
SUPREME COUNCIL

28

$ a r t jft b e
How You May Become a Member
READ VERY CAREFULLY
O nly properly admitted m em bers of the Fraternity may receive the com
plete instructions, courses, lessons, lectures, guides, helps and service o f the
Fraternity. The Rosicrucians do not permit their knowledge to be published
in books, never sell or loan their lessons or lectures or otherwise permit the
knowledge to c o m e jn to the hands o f the unworthy or those who might use the
pow ers and abilities for evil or selfish ends to the harm of others.
M embers of the Fraternity do not pay for any of the instruction. It is
given to them freely as a part of their membership along with all the many
benefits shared by all mem bers in all lands.
T o make plain exactly what membership in the Fraternity includes, we
will outline the follow in g benefits:
First, upon examination of the application blank and the acceptance into
membership of any applicant, he or she is notified o f this fact by a special
letter by the Supreme Secretary. This is follow ed by a special set of prelim
inary instructions which explain all the simple rules and regulations to be fo l
low ed in mastering each step of the wonderful work.
Secondly, the m em ber then receives the Secret D ocum ent Number One, in
which he is told how to conduct a simple but most illuminating initiation cere
mony in the quiet of some room at home on a night selected for the purpose.
This cerem ony reveals in one hour m ore startling facts of the laws of nature
than could be placed in several printed books and the member learns at once
the true relation he has with the real Masters of the Rosicrucian Fraternity.
This secret cerem ony has been perform ed by a hundred thousand persons in
Am erica and other lands and all pronounce it the m ost wonderful peace and
strength-giving- cerem ony as well as the m ost im portant revelation of natures
laws they have ever experienced.
Thirdly, after a report of this cerem ony, the mem ber is considered a duly
initiated and prepared student o f the secret laws and principles, and as such
possesses a M embership identification Card, number and Pass W brd.
Fourthly, from that m om ent he receives weekly the specially prepared
secret instructions, Tem ple Lectures and lessons, with daily and w eekly ex
periments and exercises which enable him to master each step easily and
properly. The lecture and lesson each week require one evening of the week
for study or reading (there being nothing to m em orize everything remains
in the mind through the unique method used by the Rosicrucians to teach its
laws), and the exercises and experiments require only a few minutes each
night, m orning or noontime, at the students convenience. These exercises and
experiments develop certain faculties from the very first lessons.
Fifthly, the lessons relate to lifes immediate problem s as well as the future
needs o f the student. T hey help the members to master the obstacles and over
com e conditions from the very start. N o -vague theories, no speculations about
conditions in the ethereal realms that have no bearing upon our present life,
but laws and principles that men and w om en must use here and now in very
practical ways.
Sixth, the m onthly private magazine called the M ystic Triangle is sent to
each member each month without additional fee. It contains the m onthly
calendar o f days and periods most successful for the accom plishm ent of certain
affairs, special instructions and lessons on general life problems, and the ques
29

tions and answers relating to new principles as well as reports from other
members and articles by leading persons in the country on what the R osicrucian w ork is doing for them.
Seventh, each m em ber is entitled to the many departmental services of
the Order, which includes help by correspondence and through the psychic
methods, as well as additional information by mail on points in the lectures,
quick advice on personal problem s, aids in health or other matters, without
any additional fees.
Eighth, the privilege of meeting with other members in the same locality
as soon as a certain stage of the w ork is reached where the members can com e
together once a week in our ow n Tem ples in various cities, or in special m eet
ing places for mutual discussion and help.
The graded, systematic lessons, lectures and experiments continue week
after w eek with special helps to make each member proficient, until the m em
ber com pletes the first grade. Then the member starts on the Second Grade,
and finally on the Third. A t the end o f the Third Grade the member has the
privilege o f selecting the special higher courses that lead to the most advanced
work ever given in metaphysics and occult knowledge.
F rom this point onward the member proceeds with the higher weekly les
sons grade after grade through the whole nine grades of the Tem ple W ork.
Thus the course of study is as com plete as any offered by the largest uni
versities so far as length of time and devotion to developm ent are concerned.
At the end of the Ninth Grade, or earlier in the work, students w ho desire
may enter the U N I V E R S I T Y of the Order and prepare for college degrees
and honors.
--------------------------^

--------------------------

THE FEES AND DUES

A s we have said, the Fraternity does not carry on its w ork by the sale
of books or the sale o f instruction. It is not primarily a school, but a Brother
hood with vast activities in addition to its courses of instruction. In fact its
great humanitarian w ork in behalf of its m em bers and others is supported by
the voluntary contributions o f its highest members A N D T H E G E N E R A L
C L E R IC A L E X P E N S E S A R E S U P P O R T E D B Y T H E S M A L L M O N T H
L Y D U E S F R O M A L L M E M B E R S AS A N O B L I G A T I O N O N T H E IR
PART.
The organization has purposely fixed the membership dues at the most
nominal figure possible so as to eliminate any feature of commercialism, and
you will agree with the Fraternity in this regard. In order that every mem ber
may uniform ally assist in defraying the actual clerical, postage and printing
expenses of the w ork of the Fraternity, the Supreme Council decided on a
minimum m onthly contribution from each mem ber in the form o f m onthly
dues. These have been fixed at T w o Dollars per month, payable on the first
o f each month at the Supreme Lodge.
The Registration Fee (w hich goes into the general propaganda funds to
assist in reaching other sincere seekers and w orthy inquirers) is set at Five
Dollars, payable with the Application for M embership.
There are no other Fees or assessments o f any kind.
A ll the foregoin g benefits, instructions, lessons, M agazine issues, corre
spondence helps and other offerings itemized above are included in the m em
bership dues o f T w o Dollars per month.
30

FINAL INSTRUCTIONS
VERY IMPORTANT
There are several ways in which this book may have com e into your
hands. The book is intended to be a private one, carefully and discreetly dis
tributed to only those w ho seem to be w orthy of admission into the Order.
It may have been handed to you by som eone w ho wishes you to realize
that there is som ething in life that may answer your desires and end your
quest. It may have been passed along to you by a friend or acquaintance w ho
feels that it will arouse an inquiry in your mind. T herefore there may be no
A pplication Blank or letter of invitation with the book, and in that case if you
feel interested you should write at once to the Supreme Secretary and ask for
an application form . If your inquiry appears to be sincere the Secretary will
invite you to file an application with him for investigation.
On the other hand you may have written to headquarters for this book
and it may com e to you by mail, or otherwise, accom panied by a letter and an
Application Blank. In such a case the letter will invite you to becom e a m em
ber. It is a direct invitation issued after your request has been properly con
sidered.
Also, some mem ber o f the fraternity may hand you this book and
an Application Blank and invite you to join with the Order.
H O W T O PR O C E ED
First: Fill out the Application Blank very carefully when you are ready
to file your Application. Bear in mind that Y O U A R E B E IN G IN V I T E D
and not solicited in the ordinary way as with correspondence schools or some
other m ovements. Y ou will not be urged from time to time with letters or
circular matter. The Fraternity does not resort to such methods to increase
its membership. The I N V I T A T I O N com es to you B U T O N C E and a record
of that fact is kept upon cards at headquarters. Some member may urge you
in a friendly way, but if you do not answer the official invitation you sim ply
shut the door and cancel the invitation. W e say this in the m ost kindly spirit.
T herefore, D O N O T 'L A Y T H IS I N V I T A T I O N A S ID E without w rit
ing a letter to the Supreme Secretary and telling him iust what you expect to
do. The safest w ay is to send your Application Blank at once and make sure
of your membership before the privilege is automatically withdrawn.
Second: H aving answered all the questions in the Application Blank, sign
it properly and enclose with it the Registration Fee o f Five Dollars. If for any
reason you cannot enclose the Registration Fee at once, be sure to send the
Application Blank and state why you do not enclose the Fee. Y our application
in such a case will be passed upon and you will be notified of your admission
or rejection. The pre-payment of the Fee W I L L S A V E Y O U M U C H T I M E
in starting with the work.
Third: Mail your Application Blank and Registration Fee prom ptly to
the Supreme Secretary. Register your letter if it contains cash and if you
send check or m oney order make it payable to A M O R C F U N D S .
Acknow ledgem ent should reach you within ten days or less. If you do
not hear from the Secretary in that time write him in detail. If your applica
tion is reiected for any reason whatsoever your Registration Fee will be re
turned to you with a frank explanation.
A D D R E S S A L L M A IL T O

AMORC
R o sic ru c ia n Square
T A M P A , F L O R I D A , U . S. A .

31

AMORC DIRECTORY
The follow ing national and international branches of the Rosicrucian Order throughout the world are affiliated with the Interna
tional Fraternity known from antiquity as A N T IQ U U M A R C A N U M
O R D IN E M R O SA E R U B E A E E T A U R E A E CRUCIS. The
organization is not affiliated or connected in any way with any other
society or with any cult or movement.
TH E NORTH AMERICAN JURISDICTION
(Including the United States, Dominion of Canada, Alaska, Mexico,
Guatamala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Republic of Panama,
the W est Indies, Low er California and all land under the protection
o f the United States of America.)
Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, F. R. C......................................................... ..
.................. .. .Dean of the University and Imperator of the Order
Ralph M. Lewis, K. R. C............................... Supreme Grand Secretary
Ralph A. Wackerman, F. R. C..............................................................
...................... Supreme Grand Master of the Order in N. America
Divisional Secretaries with Grand Lodges of the Order are
located in: New York C ity; Boston, Massachusetts; W aterbury,
Connecticut; Pittsburgh, Pa.; Tampa, Florida; San Antonio, Texas;
Arkansas City, Kansas; San Francisco, Calif.; Los Angeles, Calif.;
Vancouver, Canada; Montreal, Canada, and St. Louis, Mo.
Spanish-American Section, conducting the work of the Order in
English and Spanish, includes the Latin-American countries of North
and South America, with headquarters in Puerto Rico, and Grand
Lodges in M exico and other countries.
Chartered Branches exist in nearly every large city of the
United States.
FOREIGN JURISDICTIONS
Grand Lodges and their branches are in active operation in all
civilized lands, the most important Grand Lodges being located in
England, Denmark, Holland, France, Germany, Austria, Russia,
China, Japan, East Indies, Australia, Switzerland and India.
The College of the Order in the Orient is located in Madras
Presidency, South India.
Public Lectures and Free Reading Rooms
are to be found in many of the larger cities of the East and W est in
the United States. Addresses will be given upon application.
T o reach the Administration Halls and Supreme Lodge of the
Order in North America, address all mail as follow s:
AMORC, Rosicrucian Square, Tampa, Florida, U. S. A.
(International Cable address, A M O R C O . Private Long Dis
tance Bell Telephone number of the Supreme Secretary, H 27- 794,
Tampa, Florida.)
32

gratis
(6
Registered, U. S. Patent Office.

The matter contained in this book is officially issued

through the Supreme Council of AM O R C under the protec
tion of the above emblem, as are all the sealed, secret and
private lectures, lessons, diagrams, dissertations, scientific
postulations, philosophical discourses and academic studies of
the Fraternity. The above Symbols were duly registered
solely for the protection of the work of the Rosicrucian Order
in North America, and the A M O R C is the only Rosicrucian
organization authorized to use this Registered imprint and
symbols in the United States.