h. spencer lewis: an open letter to freemasons and rosicrucians

8/2/2019 H. Spencer Lewis: An Open Letter to Freemasons and Rosicrucians

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TAMPA MORNING TRIBUNE, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER

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Iti view of the fact that several former members of the AMORC, removed

group in Tampa, and to further their private aims are making charges t

are attempting to secure the endorsement of the Masonic Bodies of the ci

0tehmttacks"'I publish the following signed statement:

, attem pting to start. this new, . local

~ '■ K ‘‘Roalcruclan” i;r>up In this city, these - CK 's ev er a l, ex-mem birs of the nation-wide

>,!A l v Rosieruclan body lenown as AMORC,'have

,-Cmadd' serio us'charges’against me as chief

‘ executive^ of AwloRC and against the

organisat ion as a whole.^ >• •

*To arouie the Jus

populat on they* have principally charged th at

M A

the AJ£ ORC claI'm8 its4 Fi^ema oAry and Is othii

j f i j * •colijNui The facts weUhl | )> rai& of * - imal l New I

been pers isten tly claimix[j ■ with- Troema jonry.

lender the pretense

If to he associated with

rwise nailing under false

it this new “Rosicruclan”

York "society” has itself

g "intimate connection”

of protecting the right-

condem lation or the AMmont ai d condemnation

To protect the good

rttte same time to reveal

to the hundreds of our

This othor organlza

for some years a3 a

claims to be ^ charteredin England^

for i ts resea rche sin to

teachings, Its purpose

■ V -;

from the pretentions, of

unreasonable statemenl

CLAIMS “MA

. Ind igni ty of Tampa’s

ous intireste of Freemasonry—as though such

interests needed protection!—this new grouphopes to secure Masonic endorsement here of Its

particular form of Roddrucian work and officialORC, which high endorso-

they will use in a nation

wide c impaign, according to t hei r ingloriousth rea ts . . .

name of AMORC and atthe Insidiousness of the

campaign now under w*y, I present these facts

members and many hundreds of friends In this locality, solely in thespirit of fair play.

Ion has been operatingRosicruclan society In

America under the leadership’of Khei, and it alsobranch of a local society

We are not attem ptlig to criticise this society

Itoslcruclan and arcane

of .disseminatin g such

knowledge, or its tnetlio Is 6f arousing an interestIn Roslcrucianlsm, exc< pt as such methods in

clude statements whichwarranted.

In examining the ea

of the parent (Engllah>cioty we find in a tnk

,are misleading and un

fly propaganda litorature

tjody of this American so-_ _____ k'^wrlilexi . by the ir own

fhipreme Magus, fcublUhed te London In 1916, the

origin and purposes ofvlfo, society outlined In an

interes ting manner* \ • >•

After reviewing**!! the early historical references to various liantewnt Rosicruclan organlza-

" 50k. comes to the founding,an England. Wo read:

tions in Europe, thei;>bo)of this modern society p

“The name Rostcifui ton fcas su ffered grea tlyme:o, who falsely claiming

me&bArshlp, have mad!e exag gerated, false 'ands regarding the powers

and pos sessions of th& Ifratres of the Rosy Cross.’'Very true, Indeed!

SONIC' BIRTH

ba se ‘.for the collection and deposite of archaeo

logical and historical subjects pertaining to Freemasonry, secret societies In fleneral, and*lnterest*Ina provincial matter; to inspire a greater disposition to obtain historical truth; an d;to displaceerror; to bring to light much in relation to acertain class of scientists and scholars, and theresult oU their life labors, that were graduallydying away in the memories of men’." (Theemphasis in this paragraph is mine)*'

LIMITED TO FREEMASONS

If! we examine this parag raph'w e find a dis -,cropaincy between it and the official statement asto where Mr. Little secured his rituals andauthority; but the moat important points arethose to which I have given emphasis by blackface type. To resurrect and rehabilitate the remnant and outline of an old association In Germanyin order to croate a literary society, is NOT anofficial manner of establishing a Rosicruclan organization. But, to make such a society the basefor the collection of subjects pertaining to Freemasonry and secret societies in general, and toadd such Rosicruclan "forms, titles and numbersof the degrees* so far as m ight be subs ervient tohis purposes,” Is to confound Freemasonic research and study with a relationship to Rosi*crucian.

If this is not sufficient to show that the society started out solely to be a new attachmentto Freemasonry without any justification for itin the requirements of Freemasonry, let us seewhat happened a few years later. Wo read on-page 10 of an official book of this society, published in America, that other Lodges or “colleges”were established soon after 1879 and that by theestablishment of these branch bodies the societywas entitled to form its own high council of authority. This may be proper organization work,but note that this fine point is stated:

“Membership in these colleges was limited toFreemasons of the 32nd Degree; quarterly meetings were held and their sessions were devotedprincipally to a banquet, with an aftermath-of a .literary and philosophical nature,-.with'’little if any attempt* to exemplify the 'Ros icrucla n De

grees with tho philosophy, thdy embodied.”That does not sound like,Rosicruclan sessions •

with the traditional seriousness and sublimesacredness which constitute the very foundationof all true Itoslcruclan' conclaves. /But,.; It J stypical of tho sessions of'tho literary socleies of tha t day and of this day, .. Note, how eve r,'thatit w as.a society for F reem asons exclusively..' - *jSy

NO ROSICRUCLAN WORK,, -A further lndicktlon that the society thus

formed, and establishing branches of itself in, America, was noto rgan ized on Rosicruclan principles with Rosicruclan1authority, , is shown by.the w ords ,or this society In other pieces of itsown off lo la l l i terat ure. We note, for instance,that they did not permit women to unite withthem; and on page four of a book recently Issuedby them, as well as on page eleven of another

\pf flc lal pamp hle t, th ey st at e th at :

MA memb er of the Ma ssac huse tts College(lodge), in Boston, thoroly awake to the omission ,of tho real RoHlcruclan work, and having received-

the VIII Degree constituting him a ProvincialMagus of the Fraternity, engaged in special re-

rare'* work to rc-^nvvr tho or!?i??r) Kokartsbnusen

read such matter, let us take some of its more

recent l i tera ture and see what i t c la ims in un m is t ak ab le l an g u ag e ., . > > V >

CLAIMS TO BE MASONICPARENT . •.

In the last issue of its official quarterly,dated September, 1926, we read on the coverthat its teachings and findings are ' 'amplifiedthru its intimate connection with Ancient andMedieval Roslcrucianlsm, Freemasonry, Druid-Ism,” etc. Note that it says intimate connection!On the same page we find that it offers as oneof Its correspondence courses, to an y one, lessonson “Esoter ic Masonry. ’* In the same issue we

' read on page 140 these significant words:“First, Roslcrucianlsm Is not an appendage

of Freem asonry. The Rosicruclan. Fra ternity Isregarded by its members and by several of thebest Masonic historians and researchers, as theparen t source of Freem asonry. There are manyconditions that make this a plausible theory.

The Fraternity, today, In its Constitution, requires certain of Its High Council members to benot only Master Masons, but Masons of all degrees. How ever, even this is an Innovation of recent years.”

NOT TRUE ROSICRUCIAN1SMWe say that the above paragraph is sig

nificant because it attempts to foster the idea \ th a t R os lc ru ci an ls m Is -n ot m er el y af fi li at ed with

Freemasonry, but is recognized today as the. paren t body or guiding body of Freemasonry.

And the statem ent is m isleading because itattemp ts to associate the two. organizations andto make readers believe that the RosicruclanFr atern ity limits Its high coun cils. to Freemasons. Xhis Is probably, th e , case with thesociety we have been discussing. BUT IT IS,NOT TRUE OF THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDERTHROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Such claim s to M asonic vconne ction are. furth er emphasized by this Society of Roslcru-■ clan s'by the official statemen t. lt sent to Ha rt

m an’s 1925 Issue of a Directory of Occu lt andFra terna l Societies. There, on page 125, thisSociety,of Rosicruclans says of itself that its first;a ttem pt to establish a brancl\ of Its own

vJ in America in 1878 “was on Masonic lines/ ' and’~a$lhe elose of the article we read this: .; ^ J #,The /. Societas < Roilcruclana in America’.-

f '*Works in complete harm ony a nd close association with the Masonic Frateniity, and Constltu-tionil lyr its major officers are Masons of allRites and Degrees.’’ ,

WHAT IT TEACHESLet us turn now to another, book, the official .

text-book of th is •R osicruclan society, sold >bymail to anyone and purchasable-In book stores—a state of affairs that is Inconsistent with thetraditions of the true Rosicruclan order whichhas never published text books for the profanewith a claim that they contained its teachings—and in this book of “Funda me ntals” we find •

again and again the sta tement made that Free masonry of today In America and England isnot only associated with Roslcrucianlsm, but



Ov-To protect the good

41ie Mine time to m e a l

to the hundred* of ourdied* of friend* in th!

si irit of fair play.

name of AMORC and atthe insidiousness of the

ciiofpalgh now under way, I present these facte-members and many huri-

locality, solely in ihe

This other organlza

for somo years as a

A joeriea under tho Iead<

cliims to be a chartered

in England . j

Ion has been operating

Rosicruclan society in

[elrship of Khel, and it also

branch of a local society

We are not atUmptlij!for* its r esea rch es •into

teachings, its purpose

k? owledge, or it* metho

d o ty , we find in av

g to criticise this society

Itoslcruclan and arcane

of' 1disseminating such*

Is 6t afrouslng an interest

In Roslcrucianlsm,- exc< pt as su ch: methods In* ’-

cl ide statem ents which

warranted.

{are misleading and Un-.'

In examining the e* hy propaganda li terature

of the pare nt (Eng lish) to dy of this Am erican vs6-^■k' nftitten b yvtheir own

i 'st '

Supreme Magus, published to London lnl916(, tbe

origin and purposes, o lil i crSociety outlined'in an

Interesting m a n n e r * V , -, 7- >

After wvlow lngâ ilj the' early h istorical, referen ces , to various tianfefent Rosicr uclan organizations in Europe, the, hobk. come* to the founding

■ ‘ ‘ ‘ Ê ng lan d.': We road:

m^lbaîfaffered greatly:en».whd.,falsely claiming /exaggerated, false and7 regarding the powers,tres of the Rosy Cross."

- -of this modern society,

“The name Rosichufrom the pretentions,of mtimbdrthip, liave madur reaso nable statemfcnjacd possessions of thk lhrVery true, Indeed! :&4 K c9Ek .«v*

# '• • : *'y ’ ' < >*

CLAIMS “MASONIC'* BIRTH

Then 'we find how th is particular society was;

born and w hat claim* It makes. It is clearly*stated that the Society in England—the parentbody of the American Society—“was designed byRobert W entworth L itt le who rescued some ritualsfrom the store-room, of Freem asons' H all andKonneth R. H. Mackenzie, who had received Rosicruclan initiation in Austria, while living withCount Apponyi as an English tutor, and alsoAutho rity to jtorm an English M asonic RoslcniclanSociety.**, ; ; t.- .. i * \ , . •<;

Several Interesting points are involved In thisfllamlnating paragraph; which presents a verystrang e origin for any society. First, we shouldlike to know how it <jame about that tlieônlya’vallable Ro sicru clan iRitualu were located InFreemasons’ Hall in England! which place hasbeen the principal Masonic archives for manyyear*. ; Second,%wh at 'danfler surrou nded theseRitual* that they required such strenuous actionar* resc uing ? Thi rd, tyow is it possible fo r anAustrian Rosicruclan to authorise the establishment of an English MASONIC Rosicruclan So

c iety? V . • V ‘.V'’k ‘ l< l ’

BECOMES “UTERARY SOCIETY”Xf all this 1* not an Utempt to make it appear*

that the said Society wns a now form of Masonicstudy and work, then let u* read a l i t t le further.We find that one year jafter i t* foundation *withrescued rituals, the first Lodge or College of theSociety wa* opened. Mr. Little, referr ed to above,wo* It* Supreme Magus and William JamesHughan, the Masonic Historian, was one of the"Su bstitu te MagL” Nbw wo recall that, as aMasonic Historian, MrJ Hughan has an excellentreputation for precISenpss. and we recall that hew is one of the editor* of “History of Freemasonry,

. by Stil lson and Hug han” So we turn, for a moment, to see what Hughan permitted to be published In his history about thisWtoslcrucian Masonic Society, of which1he w as SI high officer andintlnutte associate. In Pa rt V., page 873, we read:

*The modern and present existing Society of Rosicruclan* was Instituted through the Inception and influence of Robert Wentworth Little, of iingland, who, in hi* searches in Germany, cameupon the remr ar te and outline of an otd asaocla-

which, h j re surrected and rehabilitated Inkr y organization, retainingambers of the degrees, *oervlen t to hi*, purpose*,

) as follows: to creatu *a

tlert, which, hj re«uriorder to creat j a Htenthe forms, tit es, and i U r: as m ight be ,eubwhich were d jfined to^b

.■ ■ ■' •y -'j-.

It It i< lit ucu *iifhd< nt a* uiuiir *Ut Ji n * :•. cloty started out solely to be n new attachmen tto Freemasonry without any justification for itin the requirements of Freemasonry, let us seewh at happened a few years later. Wo read on.pago 10 of an official book of thia society, published In America, that other Lodges or "colleges"were established soon after 1879 and that by thoestablishment of these branch bodies the societywas entitled to form its own high council of authority. This may be proper organization work,but note that this fine point is stated:

"Membership In these colleges was limited toFreemasons of the 32nd Degree; quarterly meetings were held and their sessions were devotedprincipally to a ban quet, with an aftermath- of aliterary and philosophical nature,- with' little If any attempt" to exem plify theN RosicrucIan;Degrees with the phildsophy thdy embodied.” ' u '

Th at does hot sound like .Rosicruclan sessions .•with, the ; traditional seriousness and sublime

' 8a,credness which cons titute' the ve ry foundationof a ll ’ true Rosicruclan' conclaves. But. , it . is

'"typical';of the sessions of* the litera ry so cieies Of .: thatây .and of this day j -. Note, however,* that Y;it wns.a socie ty for Freemasons-exclusively.. *y

; . v : 7 >c: M

’ NO ROSICRUCLAN WORK . ,«

A further indication that the society thus •.’formed, and establish ing bra nches of itself In. America, was no t organized on R osicruclan prin-

, clples vwlth Rosicruclan' auth ority, , is ‘shown -by.-the words, of this society In oth er pieces of i ts

* own official literatur e. Wo note, for instance,that they did not permit women to unite withthem; and on page four of a book recently Issuedby them, as well as on page eleven of anothero ff ic ia l pa m ph le t, the y s ta t e tha t: .. ( ‘ - , ..,•

VA memb er of the M assachuse tts College(lodge), In Boston, tlôroly awake to the omission .of the real Rosicruclan work, and having recelved-the VIII Degree constituting him a ProvincialMagus of the Fraternity, engaged In special research work to recover the original EckartshausenRituals of the Fraternity."

Thus we see that although tho society wasestablishing Rosicruclan lodges or "colleges" andwas conducting Its membern through degrees ashigh as the VIII and conferring upon them oneof the Rosicruclan titles which had been made"subservient" to their purposes, they admit having had' no real Rosicru clan Work, and one of

, the i r h ighest members engaged himsel f In thelabor' of recovering some Rituals p ossessed by adescendant of an early German RosicruclanLodge. Furth er on the samo page we read that i twas the ambition of this VIII Degree member to s

s undertake "the formation and Institution of abranch of the Fraternity that would devote Itself exclusively to the true Rosicruclan Art andOperations, and at the samo time opon its doorsto both sexes on a basis of true equality.",

NO »ROSICRUCIAN AUTHORITY

In other words this member hoped to secure. a proper auth ority and real sys tem of the Rosi

cruclan order for his American society, oven to

the extent of following the ancient Rosicruclanprlnclplo of admitting women, instead of limitingmembership to Freemasons. But, according to

. this same booklet, the transition of this memberprevented the fulfillment of hi* personal ambition.This setback in the pâna waa overcome by theofficers of the American society who proceeded toreorganize the ir almost ex tinct l i terary society onthe basis of "authority" given to them by thatconscientious member before his transition. Thus,the society in America today, aays the officialbook again, "is the outgrowth" of the old societyin the United States, "most of the Colleges(lodges) of which became either dormant, extinctor inoperative. .

Hero we see by their own admission that thepresent society, calling itself Rosicruclan, 1* anoutgrowth of the parent body's branchesfounded as a l i terary society, formed by Freemasons, for Freem asons and to stud y Free- *masonic and other "archaeological and historicalsubjoc ts . ’' V ■ 7 ' -•

Is It any bonder that persons reading suchliterature in their search for Roslcrucianlsm,believe tha t this society, using the nameRosicruclan and a symbol much like the ancient •one, , is a part of or in some way officiallyaffil iated with Freemason y l If you are onewho may a rgue tha t i t i s a l l ’ In the way you

N o r T R U E R O S IC R U C I A N I S M

We say that the above paragraph is significant because it attempts to foster the idea

. that R oslcrucianlsm is*not merely affil iated withFroomasonry, but is recognized1today as theparent body or guiding body of Freemasonry.And the s tatemen t is misleading because itattempts to associate the two. organization* andto make readers believe that the> RosicruclanFrate rnity l imits i ts high councils, to Freemasons. Tlhis Is probab ly, the . case w ith •thesociety we have been discussing. BUT IT IS,NOT TRUE OF THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDERTHR O UG H OU T TH E W O R LD . ' > - • .

Such claim s to <Masonic connection are. furth er emphasized, by this Society of Rosicru-■ clans 'by the official statemen t. 'l t sent to H art

man's 1925 issue of a Directory of Occult andFrate rna l Societies. There, on page 125, this

Society , of Ro sicruclan* s ay* of itse lf th at its .first;a ttem pt to establish a brancl\ of Its ownvj 'in America In 1878 "was on Masonic lines," and. a t 4he close of the article we read this: ^

vfc. ;fJr34!Th er•Socleta* f Rosicrucianav in America‘spworks in complete harmony and close associa

t ion with the Masonic Frateniity, and Constitu- 1

tio nil ly , its m ajor officers* are M asons of all, '*R ites and D egrees.” y < - * v , v* "

SUPREME HEADQUARTERS FOR NORTHS AMERICA

'■ .">§%'ROSICRU Cli .

X m C T E M P L E

Ml SQUARE;- MEMORIAI, BOULEVARD

WHAT IT TEACHES

Let us turn now to another book, the official k text-book of th is ’R osic ruc lan, soc ie ty , soldi bymalt to anyone arid purchasable lri book *tores•—a state of affair* th at Is inconsistent;w ith thet radi t ions of the t rue Rosic ruc lan order whichhas never publ i shed text books for the profanewi th a c laim th a t they, conta ined i t s teachings— .and In this book of "F unda men ta ls" we . f indaga in 'and aga in the s ta tement made tha t Eree-masonry of today in America and England* 1* ; ;not only asso ciated with Roslcrucianlsm, but

even more than this. Fo* Instanco, In the XIIICh apte r of th i* off icia l textbook, -whose au thoris given as Khel, the head of the Society, andwhose publication 1* authorised by the "HighCouncil" of the society, we read:

“ I t i s the teaching of the Brotherhood, tha tFreemasonry owes It* real origin to the Roslcru-clans." In other words, this Society teaches this

, claim to lta mem bers., Then on page 311, in the lame Chapter, we

find tha t a f te r the author has t r ied to showthat Masonry does not contain all the secretsand explanation of the •ymbolism of the Masons,the seeker 16 told he m ust go to th e R osicruclanteachings: This Is stated in these words:

"Since Masonry, the offspring, fails us inour search for the true exegesis, we must turnto Roslcrucianlsm, the parent."

A TERRIBLE EXAMPLESuch a misstatement of fact Is unfair both

to Freem asonry and Roslcrucianlsm. There Is

nothing in the true teachings of Roslcrucianlsmthat reveals the secrets or meanings of theFreemasonic symbdflsm or work from a Masonicpoint of view. Such a claim is Intended solelyto make Freemasons believe that if they havenot quickly and easily discerned all there Is todiscern In Freemasonry, they need only unitewith the Rosicruc lan society. It 1* ridiculou sand wi thout the s l ightes t warrant .

How does the society proceed to Il lustratesuch a point? We read on in the same Chapterof this official textbook. We approach an interesting point. The a uth or is offering h isRosicruclan explanation of the Maaonlo symbolism of the "House not made with hands." Wewonder what dare be said in public print onthis subject. We are assured, however, thatwh at follows was read before MetropolitanLodge No. 1, Ark M ariner Masons, New York .City, In 1918, and that by publishing it freelyto the wo rld—

"No Masonic Obligations have been violatedby this procedure and it Is hoped that this Instruction will be studied most carefulljr by a}lMadons to whom It may come, whether they aremembers of the R osicruc lan F ra te rni ty o r not . "

So, believing that what is to follow was approved by Masons and Is not prohibited by

\ 7

The PwMfa Is Always Welcome To Our Non*Sectarian Serp

■>



NG TRtBUNK, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1926

of the AMORC, removed for just cause, are forming aM‘R6siwucwti&

ims are making charges of fraud against the Order I represent,qand

e Masonic Bodies of the city and to claim such endorsement

tement:

read fuch matter, let us take some of Its more recent literature and see what it claims In un-mistal able .language.

C l a i m s t o b e m a s o n i c

PARENT

In tho last iasue of Its official quarterly,dated September, 1926, we read on the coverthat Its toachings and findings are "amplifiedthru Its Intimate connection with Ancient andMedieval RoMcruclanlsm, Freemasonry, Druld-ism," etc. Note that it says Intimate connection!On the same page we find that It offers as oneof Its correspondence courses, to any one, lessonson “Esoteric Masonry." In the same issue weread on page 140 these significant words:

"First, Roslcrucianlsm Is not an appendageof Freemasonry. Tho Rosicruclan. Fra ternity isregarded by its members and by several of thebest Masonic historians and researchers, as theparent source of Freemasonry. There are manyconditions that make this a plausible theory.The Fraternity, today, in Its Constitution, requires certain of Its High Council members to benot only Master Masons, but Masons of all degrees. However, even this is an innovation of recent years."

NOT TRUE ROSICRUCIANISM

We say that the above paragraph Is significant because it attempts to foster the ideatha t Roslcrucianlsm is*not merely affiliated w ithFreemasonry, but is recognised today as theparent body or guiding body of Freemasonry.And the statem ent is misleading because itattempts to associate thu two. organizations andto make readers believe that the RosicruclanFrate rnity limits Jts high councils, to Freemasons. This Is probfcbly. the case with thesociety we have been discussing. BUT IT ISNOT TRUE OF TH E ROSICRUCIAN O RDERTHROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

Such claims to Masonic connection arefurther emphasized by this Society of Roslcru-elan.s by tho official stat em ent .'it sent to Ha rtm an's 1925 iasue of a Directory of Occult andFra ternal Societies. There, on page 125, thisSoclcty of Roslcruclans says of Itself that its,firBt attempt to establish a branch of its ownin Amorica in 1878 "was on Masonic line s/’ andu,t.;lhe close of the article we re ad th is:

y:y$J«:Ther Societas . Rosicruclan*. in Am erica’""works in complete harmony and close associa

tion with the Masonic Fraternity, and Constitutionally , its major officers are Masons of allRites and Degrees."

WHAT IT TEACHESLet us turn now to another book, the official.

text-book of this -Ros icruclan society, so ld . bymall to anyone and purchasable in book stores•—a Btate of affairs tha t is inconsiste nt w ith thetraditions of the true Rosicruclan order whichhas never published text books for the profane

with a claim that they contained its teachings—and in this book of "Fundamentals” we findagain and a*raln tho statement made that Freo-

them as secret parts of their studies, we are astounded and shocked to discover that ,this$ au thor presents the ma t ter that w as.given In th e above Masonic lodge, in the form of sex-teach-ings! Can anything be furth er away frompuro Roslcrucianlsm and true Freemasonry?Actually, the columns before the Temple of Soloipon and the entrance way, are associatedwith sex matters In words that are too disgusting for us to ' think of using here and whichcould never enter a lecture or discussion connected with real Roslcruc ianlsm . , *

NONE WILL BELIEVE IT

How can Masons of today read such masterand believe that it is either Masonic or Rosicru- .clan? RosIcruclanlBm does not touch upon sexmatters anywhere In its thousands of lessons, inany of Its booklets, dltfcusslons* symbols or physiological treatises. It is this one outstandingfact that has made tho Rosicruclan teachings

notable In comparison with modern cults; andwe know the same thing can be said in regardto the teachings of Freemasonry.

Yet, here is an organization, a society, usingthe name Rosicruclan, claiming to be "intim ately connected" with and tho "parent" of Freemasonry, appealing to Freemason s in everybreath, limiting its high council membership toFreemasons and otherwise proclaiming an affiliation o r connection -with Masonic bodies, contrary to all Masonic principles and at the same >time offering as official teachings such things asare an insult to the intelligence of either Freemasons or Roslcruclans and unfit for polite discussion anywhere.

WHAT AMORC CLAIMSIn conclusion le t us call the re ade r’si attend

tion to what AMORC lias always said about theconnection of Roslcrucianlsm with Freemasonry.We knew, too, that some Masons might think that there was a connection between the Rose-Croix Degree of Freem asonry and the RoseCross of our Order. Hence wo tried in a veryclear-cut emphatic manner and in every piece of official propaganda literaturo, to state the truesituation.

In the first propaganda book Issued by theAMORC to be sent through the malls all overthe. United States, we said:

"When we say that tho Order (AMORC) hasabsolutely no connection with any branch of thoTheosophlcal Socltety, tho New Thought Move-5^ ^ment or Freemasonry, we do not mean to saysuch a, connection would be displeasing or detrl-.me ntal; but It is unnecessary—and Impossible!. , . In respect to all these movem ents wehave only the kin dest though ts a‘ud good

passed away and then Were revK timately connected" with;Freemasonry.

But, the tact remains that Uri§ bodies can be form ed In* only o ne ,* sorship and* guidance, by a CsuperlorJ body possessing and retaining the'anile: thorlty, ritual /, constitu tion anA/) as the pure teachings, FREE,WITH ANYTHING v.c i a n i s m . v|7 ,; ; :

The Rosicruclan Frater tlty 1 NOT the first and parent body 1n‘En rop *A lrtit is be lie ved onl y by* th os e ,whoV»la<J beM«T#’that*^ there was a person or character Haring thenam e?

. Christian Rosen kreus‘withou t realising that thlirK

was merely a pen-name used on some propa- , ganda books,* and m eans, when tr ansla ted .from' the German, "The Christian Ttdst Cross/f Order in Germany and Austria,'as In;other coun- ^S gl tries at different periods, ;was, founded; ok;:thority and approval from a superior bo d y ,'a n d '^ ' I that superior body of men—• real high council indeed— existed In Toulou se, France,_ for ’sev* eral 1Egypt

AUTHORITY FROM AN > ' >^| , INDIVIDUAL IMPOSSIBLE • ~ l |

To claim that any one person could go from ir England or! America to the home of a Rosicra* cian member in Austria or Germany and' there ,/|g p receive, at the hands of one paraon* Rosicruclan Initiation and Author ity to star t -an "English* Masonic Rosicruclan Society,0 aa this society England arid Amerlc»*claims, Is too absurd to argue. It inay make an appeal, under s» Ii * y ^ leading Impression, to sdme Freemasons, but not to many, in fact. If authority to organize new, ^ Jurisdiction of a n y anc ient . order could b« granted* in this way, what a meea there .wo uldbe in all society circles.

No, Rosi srucianism has absolutel^Mio conne<s

wishes."

_______ ,----tion with Freemasonry today, an d has no r had for hundreds of years, even though they tn ay ^ ^ g have cooperated in many w ay s,in yeara gone' by ■ 1

in England; and even though many Freemasons, vx ra i In Europe itoday are alio -Roslcrndlans, and*^ some of their conclaves are h eld . Jnvtha "Same7cities in the Same vacation period ot*tfce summer. In Am erica/at any.rate, the ^wo.bodlea have NEVER been associated o r affiliated, plte any ofithe claims and gre at $ * “this -literary" aoclefr

THE FACTS XBOl“■? ’*v MM'mAUTHC _

i ’T<i's. /' ' 1 ,v *>'r̂ VJPTi*The Rosicruc lan Order, known tytj .

as AMORC (or translations of this nam e) It not.', only separate from all other but Rosicruclan societies, but in its very first prtmunslamento

i)The book containing the above statement, on

page six, was distributed for many yeafrs whilewe had our headquarters in New York and SanFrancisco, and not less than 50,000 copies of such books, outlining the nature and purposes

•of the AMORC, were distributed.

On the same page, in tho same AMORC book,is this very definite statement: "Lest there bo

"• ' ■ > 1'* b« %?iown th at the

issued in this country It, proclaimed'Itself to be a separate and distinct organisation, and this;** proclamation was incorporate® in Ita Coastltu*^ tion when each of it* varlousiparagrapha wer^y adopted by the great national convention o C R ft f sicrucian Delegates from, all fter the United, * Sta te . , ; , -i

The U.&ORC in •America tdday Js; the -6

fcty,JRosicruclan' organization af fi l led -w ith* the,ternational Ibodies of Roslcn^ fins thronghen t:

.. ■ i r t onlv Hnwlffriictan ;twdT



1 40 1 1 L U L K U S lC U U C l A N iS M

Wo say that the above paragraph Is significant because it attempts to foster.the ideathat Roslcrucianlsm Is-not merely affiliated withFreemasonry, but is recognized today as theparent body or guiding body of Freemasonry.And the statem ent is misleading because itattempts to associate the two organizations andto mako readers believe that the ItoslcruclanFra ternity limits its high councils, to Freemasons. Xhls is probably, the , case w ith thesociety we have been discussing.. BUT IT IS/ NOT TRUE OF THE ROSICRUCIAN O RDERTHROUGHOUT TICE WORLD.

Such claims • to Masonic ■ connection are. fur ther emphasized ' by th lsSoc Iety of Roslcru-’ c lans by the off icia l s ta temen t/ i t sen t to H ar t

man's 1925 iasue of a Directory of Occult andFia terna l Societies. There, on page 125, thisSociety of Roslcruclans says of itself that its

fix at . attem pt to es tablish a branch of its own J in America in 1878 “was on Masonic lines/ ' and. at the close of the article we read this: ^

J4'The<- Socletas , Roslcruc lana. In Am erica' :"“ works in comp lete harmo ny and close associa

tion with the Masonic Fraternity, and Constitutionally, Its major officers are Masons of allRites and Degrees."

WHAT IT TEACHESLet us turn now to another book, the official,

text-book of this-Ro sicruclan society, sold „bymail to anyone and purchasable-in book stores—a state of affairs that is inconsistent with thetraditions of the true Rosicruclan order whichhas never published text books for the profanewith a claim that they contained its teachings— •and in this book of “Fundamentals” we findagain and again tho sta tement made that Free ,masonry of today in America and England isnot only associated with Roslcrucianlsm, buteven moro than this. For instanco, in the XIII

Chapter1of this official textbook, whose authoris given us Khel, the head of the Society, andwhose publication is authoriz ed by the “HighCouncil” of the society, we read:

“It is the teaching of the Brotherhood, thatFreemasonry owes its real origin to the Roslcru-cians.” In other words, this Society teaches thisclaim to its members.

Then on page 3 21, In tho sam e C hapter, wefiud that after tho author has tried to showthat Masonry does not contain all the secretsand explanation of the symbolism of the Masons,the seeker Is told he must go to the Rosicruclanteachings. This Is state d in these wordn:

“Since Masonry, the offspring, falls us inour soarch for the true exegesis, we must turnto Roslcrucianlsm, the parent.”

A TERRIBLE EXAMPLE

Such a minstatement of fact is unfair bothto Freemaso nry and Roslcrucianism. There Is

nothing in tho true teachings of Roslcrucianlsmthat reveals the secrets or meanings of theFreemasonic symbeftsm or work from a Masonicpoint of view. Such a claim is Intended solelyto make Freemasons believe that if they havenot quickly and easily discerned all there is todiscern in Freemasonry, they neod only unitewith the Rosicruclan society. It ip ridiculousand without the slightest warrant.

How does the society proceed to Illustratesuch a point? We read on in the same Chapterof this official textbook. We approach an interesting point. The a utho r is offering hisRoth ruclan explan ation of the Masonic symbolism of the “House not made with hands.” We .woncer what dare be said in public print onthis subject. We are assured, however, tha twhat follows was read before MetropolitanLodge No. 1, Ark Mariner Masons, New York City, In 1918, and that by publishing it freelyto tl e world—

“No Masonic Obligations have been violatedby tliis procedure and It it hoped that this Instruction will be studied most carefully by allMail< us to whom It may come, whether they aremembers of the Rosicruclan Fraternity or not/*

{o, believing that what Is to follow was ap-pro\;d by Masons and is not prohibited by

l i ‘ i l l i , I *t(! t ig ih ;• !{ s t l iUil la i . f jj ' t J i: j \ h

Freemasons und othorwlso proclaiming an atfIllation or connection with Masonic bodies, contrary to all Masonic principles and at the sametime offering as official teachings such things asare an insult to the Intelligence of either Freemasons or Roslcruclans and unfit for polite discussion anywhere.

WHAT AMORC CLAIMS

In "conclusion le t us call the read er’s* attendtion to what AMORC has always said about theconnection of Roslcrucianlsm with Freemasonry.We knew, too, that some Masons might think that there was a connection between the Rose-Croix Degree of Freema sonry and the RoseCross, of our Order. Hence wo tried in a veryclear-cut emphatic manner and in every piece of official propaganda literature, to state the truesituation.

in the first propaganda book Issued by theAMORC to be sent th roug h th e m alls all- overthe.United States, we said:

' *'Wtien we say that the Order (AMORC) hasabsolutely no connection with any branch of theThqospphical Socifety, the New Thought Move*;ment or Freemasonry, we do not mean to saysuch a correc tion would be displeasing or detrl- .mental; but it Is unnecessary—and impossible!. In respect to all these movements wehave only thd kindest thoughts and goodw i sh es .” . j

The book containing the above statement, onpage six, was distributed for many years whilewe had our headquarters in New York and SanFrancisco, and not less than 50,000 copies of such books, outlining the nature and purposes

•of the AMORC, were distributed. ;>

On the same page, in the same AMORC book,is this very definite statem ent: “Lest there boan y misunderstanding , le t i t be known that the .Ortfer. (AMORC) in America Is not affiliated Inatryj.way—nor a re Its Supreme O fficers—w ith

any other philosophical, scientific or occult organizat ion in Amer ica/’

There Is nothing indefinite or misleadinga bo ut t h at s ta te m en t. - . ; y

The first newspaper articles—some coveringa whole page, such as that in tho New York World Magazine Section for March^26th, 1916-—announcing the establishment of the Order InAmerica, distinctly state that the AMORC wasbeing sponsored solely by Rosicruclan bodies orauthorities of Europe and mentions no connection with any othor society.

When the tlmo came to prepare a new nationa l propaganda booklet because of the moveof the headquar ters to Tampa f rom San Fran cisco, the same precautions against misunderstanding wero taken. The new book, still Inuse, with thousands of copies distributed Inevery state of the United States and in all partsof Canada and Mexico, and with at least fivethousand copies distributed right here in Tampaitself, says in very plain language on page thirteen:

i w : fli p | f t I! I JTffRI CM! 3 T iP'S HRAmerica to the home o! a Ros&ro-England or ,

clan member in Austria or Germany and there receive, at the hand* of one person, Roslcrncian V---smInitiation and Authority to start,an “English <

Masonic Rosicruclan Society/' as this society In England and America claims, i t too absurd to argue. It fcnay make an appeal, under aleading impression, to some Freemason*, hnt to many, W fact. If authority to organize Jurisdiction! of any ancient . order could ̂granted* In ithis :way, wha t a mess there-W 0tttd,0s^ be in all society circles. > ‘• ■ ' i ; *<- .^ ;^ ar S§

No, Roslcrucianlsm has absolutely no eonnee- tion with Freemasonry today, and has nor had^Si-*-! for hundreds of years, even though they have cooperated in many ways-in years gon^ hy; i:^J Vin England, and even though many Freemasons In Europe today are a lso "Roslcrncians, some of th eir conclave s a re ‘held In the ’"lame cities In thb same vacation period 'o ut fit . Wim- mer. In America, at an?*jrate, jhfr

have NEVER been associated or' plte any of the claims and great, this

ny of the claims and great 1n«nnat!on* * literary" .ociefr

THE FACTSn ‘^ V ^ I A U T H C .

The Rosicruclan Order,'knStrrf fi as AMORC (or translations oft hi s -name )^ only separate from all ^ther rhnt fEoaicrnclan .societies, but in Itsvery firstpr^nunziamteW’J issued in this country lt/proclatoed£it»eIt to be a separate and distin ct ;Ofg‘ani iatib h^ |aiH pr" wproclamation was incorporated In'ItaVCOfti*1tion .when each of its various paragraph!^ adopted by the great national convention of Ro- VfyS? 1 sicruclan -Delegates fro m -all OVe^thC.̂ United States. • ■ • • .

The Al&ORC In • America t64a y l*.tlW f^ Rosicruclan organlzationafttlUtedjlvUh.tne tcrnatlonal bodies of Rosldrucianathrbiir" the world. I It ls- the only Roslcrncian b America having ^ receli^d^ ^

rlghts and \ ass is tancettom a con of Roslcruclans; .of f through the See of Tonioua*, .thejreco gnlie traditional : intern aU ona l^«* | f^® ^¥lJ ^ .... clanlsm for, many centuries. -,-.

Likewise the AMORC, In America, as la: rf0«- ens , of fo re ig n, lander, Cl ^ organization using the ol Titles, Degrees, ^

vtranslated, revised; ahd adapted from ce nt ur yto ;centuryproved by the various International K os icr na m # Congresses/ ?- '

:* Ameri ca adhering? t<£'“ keeping Itself clean* isex teachings, political a __ , _aff il iat ions , bearing, the a tt th o r i^ C o p n t , da.** Bellecaatle-klgne as Hierophant of the Interna^ tlonal council and hav ing the so l# . American r e p r e s en t a t io n ^ 4 h e ; r e C ^ * a d ^ i * i lr i n t e r n a l

• t lo na l R os ic ru cl an ;Con’g r a g a ^ ^ ^ ^ f ^ ^ ^ l - - 3 ( r ^We say: al l th is v ith hon orM diTe spisctâ a^1

wo havo. always sald,? to 41t«0tl

NO MASONIC CONNECTION '

“Just as tho AMORC has no physical relationsh ip with tho Freemasonic Order , even though-’ ithis body has every right to use the term Rose / Croix and the Rosy Cross symbol in its ScottishRites (as men tioned ora» page 5) even so theAMORC is not physically connected with som e^r £ of the o ther m ovements in Europe an d A mer- ; v>lea,” etc. Throug hout the book the statementis emphasized that AMORC is independent o fv ,âll other societies or organizations and onr lit-/^v*;erature , which has been translated in sevenlanguages and disseminated through the worldfor unany years, presents the same consistent

;claims. . .•In summarizing, then, let us repeat: There

may be a society in England using tho termRosicruclan, founded by some men as a Rosl-crucian Masonic Utorary society and having noreal Rosicruclan rituals or work, and having.some assistance from an Austr ian or G erm an ^- '

source throuj h an Individual. And it may bethat this English body, created without/.anyIntention of making It a pure Rosicruclan body, 1

chartered some branches in America which •

great sacrifice, to maintain tho Independtnco o f . RoBicruclanismandâtth^) wishes of other c and in-' ac<

. Thera iir^ many^hi zens in this dist ric t who are <vouch for the cleanness and "tivlti es of AMORC, hnt just I_____ ..

. tccted the Roslcrucfaja Symbols and the AMORC name with the dnly Regiitratloi^dfithit;Mn«^ltt" the United iState s;Pa ten t ‘Otfice* • andfpr oteeîd'j its or ganization form by,proper legal lucorpoi tion in many states; cou ntries and ;laads, »0?i AMORC wilivnse iu vast natlonal/«nd inti tional resources to protect1its ^ m e at th ii t The matter 1presented, on thls paf* wm .be ifte a :; national ahd in tem tlo na i fdlitrlhaUon» th^W flt^ Its own magazines in dm erentH conn trletv« “t hr ou gh t he ne wsp ap er *. T e l . r ^ ^ d l et U

are being received from all RosJxruciAn J

the sloganthe 're al facts, JU ln t̂heJ

>tth e order

(Signed) H. SPENCER LEWIS, Imj Ancient and Mystical

, T«mr.........

x ■ ■ - ' v : ■ ' ”Non&eeitarim Services* Sunday '



TAMPA MORNING TRIBUNE, WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 3, 1926PAGE THIRTEEN

An Open Letter to Freemasons and Rosicrucians:

In view of the fact that several former members of the AMORC, removed for just cause, are forming a “Rosicrucian” group in Tampa

, and to further their private aims are

making charges of fraud against the Order I represent, and are attempting to secure the endorsement o f the Masonic Bodies of the city and to claim such endorsement to further their attacks I publish the following signed statement:

In attempting to start this new, local “Rosicrucian” group in this city, theseseveral ex-members of the nation-wide Rosicrucian body known as AMORC,have made serious charges against me as chief executive of AMORC andagainst the organization as a whole.

To arouse the just indignity of Tampa’s population they have principallycharged that the AMORC claims itself to be associated with Freemasonry and isotherwise sailing under false colors. The facts are that this new “Rosicrucian”branch of a small New York “society” has itself been persistently claiming“intimate connection” with Freemasonry.

Under the pretense of protecting the righteous interests of Freemasonry - asthough such interests needed protection! - this new group hopes to secureMasonic endorsement here of its particular form of Rosicrucian work andofficial condemnation of the AMORC , which high endorsement andcondemnation they will use in a nationwide, according to their ingloriousthreats.

To protect the good name of AMORC and at the same time to reveal theinsidiousness of the campaign now under way, I present these facts to thehundreds of our members and many hundreds of friends in this locality, solelyin the spirit o f fair play.

This other organization has been operating for some years as a Rosicruciansociety in America under the leadership of Khei, and it also claims to be achartered branch of a local society in England.

We are not attempting to criticise this society for its researches intoRosicrucian and arcane teachings, its purpose of disseminating suchknowledge, or its methods o f arousing an interest in Rosicrucianism, except assuch methods include statements which are misleading and unwarranted.



In examining the early propaganda literature of the parent (English) body of this American society we find in a book written by their own Supreme Magus,published in London in 1916, the origin and purpose of this society outlined inan interesting d manner.

After reviewing all the early historical references to various ancientRosicrucian organizations in Europe, the book comes to the founding of thismodem society in England. We read:

“The name Rosicrucian has suffered greatly from the pretentions o f men, whofalsely claiming membership, have made exaggerated, false and unreasonablestatements regarding the powers and possessions of the Fratres of the RosyCross.” Very true, indeed!

CLAIMS “MASONIC” BIRTH

Then we find how this particular society was bom and what claims it makes.It is clearly stated that the Society in England—the parent body of the Americansociety—“was designed by Robert Wentworth Little who rescued some ritualsfrom the store-room of Freemasons’ Hall and Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie, whohad received Rosicrucian initiation in Austria, while living with Count Apponyias an English tutor, and also Authority to form an English Masonic RosicrucianSociety.

Several interesting points are involved in this illuminating paragraph whichpresents a very strange origin for any society. First, we should like to know howit came about that the only available Rosicrucian Rituals were located inFreemasons’ Hall in England, which place has been the principal Masonicarchives for many years. Second, what danger surrounded these Rituals thatthey required such strenuous action as rescuing? Third, how is it possible for anAustrian Rosicrucian to authorize the establishment of an English MASONICRosicrucian Society?

BECOMES “LITERARY SOCIETY”If all this is not an attempt to make it appear that the said Society was a new

form of Masonic study and work, then let us read a little further. We find thatone year after its foundation with rescued rituals, the first Lodge or College of the Society was opened, Mr. Little, referred to above, was its Supreme Magusand William James Hughan, the Masonic Historian, was one of the "SubstituteMagi.” Now we recall that, as a Masonic Historian, Mr. J Hughan has anexcellent reputation for preciseness, and we recall that he was one of the editorsof "History of Freemasonry, by Stillson and Hughan.” So we turn, for a moment, to see what Hughan permitted to be published in his history about thisRosicrucian Masonic Society, of which he was a high officer and intimateassociate. In Part V., page 873, we read:



“The modem and present existing Society of Rosicrucians was institutedthrough the inception and influence of Robert Wentworth Little, of England,who, in his searches in Germany, came upon the remnants and outline of an old association, which, he resurrected and rehabilitated in order to create a

literary organization, retaining the forms, titles, and numbers of the degrees, sofar as might be subservient to his purposes, which were defined to be asfollows: to create a base for the collection and deposit of archaeological andhistorical subjects pertaining to Freemasonry, secret societies in general, and interesting provincial matter; to inspire a greater disposition to obtainhistorical truth and to displace error; to bring to light much in relation to acertain class of scientists and scholars, and the result of their life labors, thatwere gradually dying away in the memories of men.” (The emphasis in thisparagraph is mine).

LIMITED TO FREEMASONSIf we examine this paragraph we find a discrepancy between it and theofficial statement as to where Mr. Little secured his rituals and authority; but themost important points are those to which I have given emphasis by blackfacetype. To resurrect and rehabilitate the remnant and outline of an old associationin Germany in order to create a literary society, is NOT an official manner of establishing a Rosicrucian organization. But, to make such a society the base forthe collection of subjects pertaining to Freemasonry and secret societies ingeneral, and to add such Rosicrucian “forms, titles and numbers of the degrees,so far as might be subservient to his purposes,” is to confound Freemasonic research and study with a relationship to Rosicrucian.

If this is not sufficient to show that the society started out solely to be a newattachment to Freemasonry without any justification for it in the requirements of Freemasonry, let us see what happened a few years later. We read on page 10 of an official book of this society, published in America, that other Lodges or"colleges" were established soon after 1879 and that by the establishment of these branch bodies the society was entitled to form its own high council of authority. This may be proper organization work, but note that this fine point isstated:"Membership in these colleges was limited to Freemasons of the 32nd Degree;quarterly meetings were held and their sessions were devoted principally to abanquet, with an aftermath-of a literary and philosophical nature, with little if any attempt to exemplify the Rosicrucian Degrees with the philosophy theyembodied.”

That does not sound like Rosicrucian sessions with the traditional seriousnessand sublime sacredness which constitute the very foundation of all true



Rosicrucian conclaves. But, it is typical of the sessions of the literary societiesof that day and of this day. Note, however, that it was a society for Freemasons

exclusively.

NO ROSICRUCIAN WORK

A further indication that the society thus formed, and establishing branchesof itself in America, was not organized on Rosicrucian principles withRosicrucian authority, is shown by the words of this society in other pieces of its own official literature. We note, for instance, that they did not permit womento unite with them; and on page four of a book recently issued by them, as wellas on page eleven of another official pamphlet, they state that:

“A member of the Massachusetts College (lodge), in Boston, thoroughly

awake to the omission , of the real Rosicrucian work, and having received theVIII Degree constituting him a Provincial Magus of the Fraternity, engaged inspecial research work to recover the original Eckartshausen Rituals of theFraternity.”

Thus we see that although the society was establishing Rosicrucian lodges or"colleges" and was conducting its member through degrees as high as the VIIIand conferring upon them one of the Rosicrucian titles which had been made“subservient” to their purposes, they admit having had no real RosicrucianWork, and one of their highest members engaged himself in the labor of recovering some Rituals possessed by a descendant of an early GermanRosicrucian Lodge. Further on the same page we read that it was the ambitionof this VTII Degree member to undertake “the formation and institution of abranch of the Fraternity that would devote itself exclusively to the trueRosicrucian Art and Operations, and at the same time open its doors to bothsexes on a basis of true equality."

NO ROSICRUCIAN AUTHORITY

In other words this member hoped to secure a proper authority and realsystem of the Rosicrucian order for his American society, even to the extent of following the ancient Rosicrucian principle of admitting women, instead of limiting membership to Freemasons. But, according to this same booklet, thetransition of this member prevented the fulfillment of his personal ambition.This setback in the plans was overcome by the officers o f the American societywho proceeded to reorganize their almost extinct literary society on the basis o f “authority” given to them by that conscientious member before his transition.



Thus, the society in America today, says the official book again, “is theoutgrowth” of the old society in the United States, “most of the Colleges(lodges) of which became either dormant, extinct or inoperative.

Here we see by their own admission that the present society, calling itself

Rosicrucian, is an outgrowth of the parent body’s branches founded as a literarysociety, formed by Freemasons, for Freemasons and to study Freemasonic andother "archaeological and historical subjects.”

Is it any wonder that persons reading such literature in their search forRosicrucianism, believe that this society, using the name Rosicrucian and asymbol much like the ancient one, is a part of or in some way officiallyaffiliated with Freemasonry? If you are one who may argue that it is all in theway you read such matter, let us take some of its more recent literature and seewhat it claims in unmistakable language.

CLAIMS TO BE MASONIC PARENT

In the last issue of its official quarterly, dated September, 1926, we read onthe cover that its teachings and findings are “amplified thru its intimateconnection with Ancient and Medieval Rosicrucianism, Freemasonry,Druidism,” etc. Note that it says intimate connection! On the same page we findthat it offers as one of its correspondence courses, to any one, lessons on“Esoteric Masonry.” In the same issue we read on page 140 these significantwords:

“First, Rosicrucianism is not an appendage of Freemasonry. The Rosicrucian,Fraternity is regarded by its members and by several of the best Masonichistorians and researchers, as the parent source of Freemasonry. There are manyconditions that make this a plausible theory. The Fraternity, today, in itsConstitution, requires certain of its High Council members to be not onlyMaster Masons, but Masons of all degrees. However, even this is an innovationof recent years."

NOT TRUE ROSICRUCIANISMWe say that the above paragraph is significant because it attempts to foster the

idea that Rosicrucianism is not merely affiliated with Freemasonry, but isrecognized today as the parent body or guiding body of Freemasonry. And thestatement is misleading because it attempts to associate the two organizationsand to make readers believe that the Rosicrucian Fraternity limits its highcouncils to Freemasons. This is probably the case with the society we have beendiscussing. BUT IT IS NOT TRUE OF THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDERTHROUGHOUT THE WORLD.



Such claims to Masonic connection are further emphasized by this Society of Rosicrucians by the official statement it sent to Hartman's 1925 issue of aDirectory of Occult and Fraternal Societies. There, on page 125, this Society of Rosicrucians says of itself that its first attempt to establish a branch of its ownin America in 1878 “was on Masonic lines,” and at the close of the article we

read this:“The Societas Rosicruciana in America” works in complete harmony and

close association with the Masonic Fraternity, and constitutionally, its majorofficers are Masons of all Rites and Degrees.”

WHAT IT TEACHESLet us turn now to another book, the official text-book of this Rosicrucian

society, sold by mail to anyone and purchasable in bookstores —a state of affairs that is inconsistent with the traditions of the true Rosicrucian order whichhas never published text books for the profane with a claim that they contained

its teachings— and in this book of “Fundamentals” we find again and again thestatement made that Freemasonry of today in America and England is not onlyassociated with Rosicrucianism, but even more than this. For instance, in theXIII Chapter o f this official textbook, whose author is given as Khei, the headof the Society, and whose publication is authorized by the “High Council” of the society, we read:

“It is the teaching of the Brotherhood, that Freemasonry owes its real originto the Rosicrucians.” In other words, this Society teaches this claim to itsmembers.

Then on page 321, in the same Chapter, we find that after the author has triedto show that Masonry does not contain all the secrets and explanation of thesymbolism of the Masons, the seeker is told he must go to the Rosicrucianteachings: This is stated in these words:

“Since Masonry, the offspring, fails us in our search for the true exegesis, we

must turn to Rosicrucianism, the parent.”

A TERRIBLE EXAMPLESuch a misstatement of fact is unfair both to Freemasonry and

Rosicrucianism. There is nothing in the true teaching of Rosicrucianism thatreveals the secrets or meanings of the Freemasonic symbolism or work from aMasonic point of view. Such a claim is intended solely to make Freemasonsbelieve that if they have not quickly and easily discerned all there is to discernin Freemasonry, they need only unite with the Rosicruclan society. It isridiculous and without the slightest warrant.

How does the society proceed to illustrate such a point? We read on in thesame Chapter of this official textbook. We approach an interesting point. Theauthor is offering his Rosicrucian explanation of the Masonic symbolism of the



“House not made with hands.” We wonder what dare be said in public print onthis subject. We are assured, however, that what follows was read beforeMetropolitan Lodge No. 1, Ark Mariner Masons, New York City, in 1918, andthat by publishing it freely to the world—“No Masonic Obligations have been violated by this procedure and it is hoped

that this Instruction will be studied most carefully by all Masons to whom itmay come, whether they are members of the Rosicrucian Fraternity or not.”So, believing that what is to follow was approved by Masons and I s notprohibited by them as secret parts of their studies, we are astounded andshocked to discover that this author presents the matter that was given in theabove Masonic lodge, in the form of sex-teachings! Can anything be furtheraway from pure Rosicrucianism and true Freemasonry? Actually, the columnsbefore the Temple of Solomon and the entrance way are associated with sexmatters in words that are too disgusting for us to think of using here and whichcould never enter a lecture or discussion connected with real Rosicrucianism.

NONE WILL BELIEVE IT

How can Masons of today read such matter and believe that it la eitherMasonic or Rosicrucian? Rosicrucianism does not touch upon sex mattersanywhere in its thousands of lessons, in any of its booklets, discussions,symbols or physiological treatises. It is this one outstanding fact that has madethe Rosicrucian teachings notable in comparison with modem cults: and weknow the same thing can be said in regard to the teachings of Freemasonry.

Yet, here is an organization, a society, using the name Rosicrucian, claimingto be "intimately connected" with and the "parent" of Freemasonry, appealing toFreemasons in every breath, limiting its high council membership toFreemasons and otherwise proclaiming an affiliation or connection with

Masonic bodies, contrary to all Masonic principles and at the same timeoffering as official teachings such things as are an insult to the intelligence of either Freemasons or Rosicrucians and unfit for polite discussion anywhere.

WHAT AMORC CLAIMS

In conclusion let us call the reader's attention to what AMORC has alwayssaid about the connection of Rosicrucianism with Freemasonry. We knew, too,that some Masons might think that there was a connection between the Rose-Croix Degree of Freemasonry and the Rose Cross of our Order. Hence we triedin every clear cut emphatic manner and in every piece of official propagandaliterature, to state the true situation.



In the first propaganda book issued by the AMORC to be sent through themails all over the United States, we said:

"When we say that the Order (AMORC) has absolutely no connection withany branch of the Theosophical Society, the New Thought Movement orFreemasonry, we do not mean to say such a connection would be displeasing or

detrimental; but it is unnecessary—and impossible! ... In respect to all thesemovements we have only the kindest thoughts and good wishes."The book containing the above statement, on page six, was distributed for

many years while we had our headquarters in New York and San Francisco, andnot less than 60,000 copies of such books, outlining the nature and purposes of the AMORC, were distributed.

On the same page, in the same AMORC book, is this very definite statement:"Lest there be any misunderstanding, let it be known that the Order (AMORC)in America is not affiliated in any way—nor are its Supreme Officers—withany other philosophical, scientific or occult organization in America."

There is nothing indefinite or misleading about that statement.The first newspaper articles—some covering a whole page, such as that inthe New York World Magazine Section for March, 26th, 1916— announcing theestablishment of the Order in America, distinctly state that the AMORC wasbeing sponsored solely by Rosicrucian bodies or authorities of Europe andmentions no connection with any other society.

When the time came to prepare a new national propaganda booklet becauseof the move of the headquarters to Tampa from San Francisco, the sameprecautions against misunderstanding were taken. The new book, still in use,with thousands of copies distributed in every state of the United States and in allparts of Canada and Mexico, and with at least five thousand copies distributedright here in Tampa itself, says in very plain language on page thirteen:

NO MASONIC CONNECTION"Just as the AMORC has no physical relationship with the Freemasonic

Order, even though., this body has every right to use the term Rose Croix andthe Rosy Cross symbol in its Scottish Rites (as mentioned on page 5) even sothe AMORC is not physically connected with some of the other movements inEurope and America," etc. Throughout the book the statement is emphasizedthat AMORC is independent of all other societies or organizations and our literature, which has been translated in seven languages and disseminated through

the world for many years, presents the same consistent claims.In summarizing, then, let us repeat: There may be a society in England using

the term Rosicrucian, founded by some men as a Rosicrucian Masonic literarysociety and having no real Rosicrucian rituals or work, and having someassistance from an Austrian or German source through an individual. And itmay be that this English body, created without any intention of making it a pure



Rosicrucian body, chartered some branches in America which passed away andthen were revived as being “intimately connected" with Freemasonry.

But, the fact remains that the Rosicrucian bodies can be formed in only oneway, by sponsorship and guidance by a superior Rosicrucian body possessingand retaining the ancient authority, ritual, constitution and system as well as the

pure teachings, FREE FROM ALLIANCE WITH ANYTHING BUT PUREROSICRUCIANISM.

The Rosicrucian Fraternity in Germany was NOT the first and parent body inEurope. That is believed only by those who also believe that there was a personor character having the name Christian Rosenkreuz without realizing that thiswas merely a pen-name used on some propaganda books, and means, whentranslated from the German, "Christian Rosy Cross." The Order in Germany andAustria, as in other countries at different periods, was founded on authority andapproval from a superior body, and that superior body of men— a real highcouncil indeed — existed in Toulouse, France, for several centuries after having

existed in India and Egypt.

AUTHORITY FROM AN INDIVIDUAL IMPOSSIBLE

To claim that any person could go from England or America to the home of aRosicrucian member in Austria or Germany and there receive, at the hands of one person, Rosicrucian Initiation and Authority to start an "English MasonicRosicrucian Society," as this society in England and America claims, is tooabsurd to argue. It may make an appeal, under a misleading impression, to someFreemasons, but not to many, in fact. If authority to organize new jurisdiction of

any ancient order could be granted in this way, what a mess there would be inall society circles.

No Rosicrucianism has absolutely no connection with Freemasonry today,and has not had for hundreds of years, even though they may have cooperated inmany ways in years gone by in England, and even though many Freemasons inEurope today are also Rosicrucians, and some of their conclaves are held in thesame cities in the same vacation period of the summer. In America, at any rate,the two bodies have NEVER been associated or affiliated, despite any of theclaims and great insinuations o f this "literary" society of Rosicrucians.

THE FACTS ABOUT THE AMORC AUTHORITY

The Rosicrucian Order, known internationally as AMORC (or translations of this name) is not only separate from all other but Rosicrucian societies, but in itsvery first pronunziamento issued in this country it proclaimed itself to be aseparate and distinct organization, and this proclamation was incorporated in its



Constitution when each of its various paragraphs were adopted by the greatnational convention of Rosicrucian Delegates from all over the United States.

The AMORC in America today is the only Rosicrucian organizationaffiliated with the international bodies of Rosicrucians throughout the world. Itis the only Rosicrucian body in America having received authority, power,

rights and assistance from a competent body of Rosicrucians of the ancientlineage and through the See of Toulouse, the recognized and traditionalInternational seat of true Rosicrucianism for many centuries.

Likewise the AMORC in America, as in dozens of foreign lands, is the onlyRosicrucian organization using the original and true Rituals, Titles, Degrees,symbols and secret work, as translated, revised and adapted from century tocentury under competent authority and approved by the various internationalRosicrucians Congresses. And it is the only such body in America adhering tothe true ancient traditions, keeping itself clean and wholesome, free from sexteachings, political arguments or misleading affiliations, bearing the authority of

Count de Bellecastle-Ligne as Hierophant of the international council andhaving the only American representation in the recent and past InternationalRosicrucian Congresses.

We say all this with honor and respect, as we have always said, to all otherorders and movements in America, especially the Freemasonic; and manyincidents in our work here in America have shown and proved that each one of us at headquarters has labored often at great sacrifice, to maintain theindependence of Rosicrucianism and at the same time the good wishes of everyother organization acting fairly and in accordance with facts.

* * *

There are many hundreds of reputable citizens in this district who are onlytoo happy to vouch for the cleanness and fairness of the activities of AMORC,but just as the AMORC protected the Rosicrucian Symbols as the AMORCname with the only Registration of this kind in the United States Patent Office,and protected its organization form by proper legal incorporation in many states,countries and lands, so the AMORC will use its vast national and internationalresources to protect its name at this time. The matter presented on this page willbe given national and international distribution through its own magazines indifferent countries and through the newspapers. Telegrams and letters are beingreceived from all Rosicrucian jurisdictions everywhere offering to assist in thisopen presentation of the real facts. As in the past, the slogan of the Order is“Soli Deo Gloria!”

(Signed) H. SPENCER LEWIS, Imperator for North America,Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC)

Tampa, Florida, November 1st, 1926



SUPREME HEADQUARTERS FOR NORTH AMERICA

AMORC TEMPLEROSICRUCIAN SQUARE - MEMORIAL BOULEVARD

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h. spencer lewis: an open letter to freemasons and rosicrucians

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