The Mysterious Brown Casket (192? ).pdf

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Mysteri ons Brow n Casket





T H E M Y S T E R I O U S

B RO W N C A SK E T



The

M Y S T E R I O U S BROWN CASKET

Wherein the story of an ancicnt guild is

pactially rcvea lcd in languagc which the mind will realize and the inner man will come to undcrstand.



The M ysterious Brotvn Casket

It was in the center of the large librarytable when I first saw it.I had entered Berkley’s library unan-

nounced, just as was my custom of years.After the cióse of business, Berkley and Ifound much in common to discuss; thus theevening hours were passed intimately andpleasantly.

The little brown casket was new to me;yet I cannot say that this fact alone causedmy considerable interest in it. Its enviTon-

ment, if I may use the word, was strange.In a well-appointed library, and upon a richmahogany table, alone and seemingly alivewith a story, the oíd box really appealed toone's imagination. It was so out of place—there.

Berkley had just placed some papers inthe box as I entered, and the cover had notclosed tightly upon it. A few trinkets werebeside it and I felt, instinctively, that Berkley had hurriedly ended an examination of

the contents of the box as I approached thedoor.



His greetings were as usual, and the con-versation oponed with the common-place re-marks of the day and the weather; but as

I drew a chair beside his fireplace I noticedthat he remained near the table and seeraedto assume an attitude of guardianship over the casket.

I knew Berkley well. He had been an as-sociate of mine in severa1 business venturesand for twenty or more years we had beenlike brothers. Fo r the past year he hadgradually released his holdings in many com-panies and was retiring from active interestin the commercial world. Broad-minded, kind,

charitable and in no way given to extremeviews of any kind, one would class him asthe ordinary successful business man of theworld—well-read and versed in many sub- jec ts without prejudices or preferences. Th isis as I knew him; and I was very cióse toBerkley in many ways.

But the little brown casket aroused myinterest beyond reason. I tried to analyzethe curiosity which increased as we talked

for it seemed that he was avoiding anyreference to the box, and from him—or the

box!—carne the impression that I was in thepresence of a mystery.

I became uneasy. I moved my chair slight-

ly so that while talking I might rest my eyescasually upon the casket and the few trinketslying outside of it.

The document which protruded from thecasket was oíd and yellow. On one comerof it was a red seal, while hanging from itwas another seal, yellow in color and Egyp-tian in design. In front of the casket on thetable , was a gold cross, much like theChristian cross, but with a red coral rose inits center, while to the cross was attached

a gold chain. the ends of which were withinthe casket. A golden cord also extended fromthe casket and to this was attached an oddlooking symbol in the form of a bug of somekind. T he c asket itself was brown in colorwith green-tinted brass comers and bands.The lock, lying beside the box, was veryoíd and antiquated, while the thickness of thewood and the general design of the box sug-gested that it contained valuables from another land—a distant land.

The cross suggested that the box and itscontents pertained to some religious matters.



I had nevcr known Berkley to be deeplyinterested in religious subjects or to be activein matters of the church; and there was an

ancient air about the casket and its Egyptianseal, which suggested relies from some oídTemple. Th e ñame on the box, AM OR C.indicated nothing to me, and I could nolonger refrain from reference to the casketand the story it might tell.

“That is a strange looking box, you havethere, Berkley. Has it some story worthhearing?"

"Not especially. It s not very oíd, not veryvaluable, and—not very interesting,” he re-plied in a manner which was aggravatinglyevasive.

"But the cross," I began; "is it not thecross of some oíd monkish order or a religious sect? That rose on the cross seemsrather symbolical; in fact, I have seen reference to the Cross with a Rose in oíd writ-ings.”

“Yes, it is an oíd Symbol, but it has nothing to do with a monkish order or a religious sect in the sense you mean. Th e box

has been in my possession for many years,and tonight I was looking over its contents.

Just curiosity— and a little retrospection—personal reminiscences.”

His last words were meant to discourage

any further questioning. But I could notconceive of Berkley having any serious se-crets or mysteries in his life, and so I didquestion further.

“Has the Egyptian seal on the documentany connection with the symbolical cross?"

"Yes—that is, the cross as you see itthere. is a result of Egyptian mysticism."Berkley walked over to my side and seatedhimself in a large chair with the resignationof one who has said the last word, per-

formed the last act and now desires quietand peace. His attitude was new— or strange— to me. It was quite evident that he be-lieved the casket and its contents held nointerest for me. Because he was laboringunder this wrong impression, I determined tospeak further, even at the risk of displeas-ing him.

"See here, Berkley,” I began with an air ofinsistence. “That little casket with its story

interested me the moment I saw it. All thatyou have said has only added to my cur-



iosity, and your reference to EGYPTIANM Y ST IC ISM has touched a very respon-sive chord in me. Yo u have known me many

years and you have never heard me makeany reference to things mystical; I havenever permitted my personal beliefs and in-terests to reveal themselves in my businessaffairs. But for years I have been a deepand serious reader, a student of mysticisra.in its purer and more esoteric sense. Iknow that in Egypt there were many strangesects whose teachings were uncommon andwhose leaming was profound. Your secrecyis excellent and makes more worthy what-

ever story that casket contains. W hy notunburden your heart to me and let me dreamover the mysticism you liold so sacred?”

"But there is no story that I can tell you,"he insisted, with just a little too much ac-cent on the personal pronoun.

"The papers in that box pertain to certainoffices of certain rnen who are concemedwith a private movement of leaming. Theyare prívate and I couid not show them to

you if I so desired. The Cross—The RosyCross— is the symbol of this movement, and

the other object is an oíd Egyptian sealof one of the early mystics of this class.That explains the contents of the box fairlywell.”

Explainsí W as Berkley just trying totest me? Each sentence contained the essenceof a dozen questions left unanswered. Myinterest was beyond control now. I ani not given to deep interest in mysteries and psy-chological problems are not a hobby withme. But I have met men and women in manywalks of life who have manifested a veryunusual knowledge of many of nature’s fundamental laws and who seem to be aboveor beyond the influences of the supersti-tions of the day. Th ey radíate a person-ality which impresses one with the cer-tainty of their knowledge and the forcé ofthe power which that knowledge gives. Theyare happy, contented, successful in all affairs,enjoy pleasures beyond my conception andin many other ways classify themselves—unconsciously—as profound masters of somephilosophy not generally known. These Ihave always considered as mystics. for noother term applied so well. Th ey lived nodifferently than I, so far as worldly signs



would show, yet there was that strange dif-fercnce noticeable to one who is inwardlyaware of the possibility of secret develop-ment, mentally, physically, and spiritually.

“W as not the movement once known asthe Rosicrucian Brotherhood?” I began again.I believe I have read somewhere, of the

Brothers of the Rosy Cross, a secret sectof some kind possessing unusual knowledqein the middle ages."

“I am surprised to find you acquaintedwith that ñame. It is not unusual to findmany who have read of the oíd Brother-hood, but you—I never suspected you ofany interest in such matters.” Berkley leaned

back in his chair and assumed a more leni-ent attitude. It indicated that he was morewilling to answer questions.

"W as the knowledge of these Rosicruciansas profound as I have read?” I inquiredwith the hope of opening the subject in itsdeepest parts.

‘‘That depends upon what you have read.of course. But I may say that these oídRosicrucians were leamed men, not simplymystics. The Brotherhood consisted of men

and women of all walks of Ufe who had

been illuminated—that is, uncommonly ;n-formed or inspired. Philosophers, chemists.scientists, writers, musicians, physicians, andhumble workers were united in one secret

humanitarian movement for the purpose ofmutual study and advancement in the peculiar knowledge which they possessed collec-tively and individually. The more profoundtruths of nature were carefully guarded bythe deeply informed, for reasons which mustbe obvious; yet within this body of men andwomen all knowledge was dassified andsystematically given to those who wereanxious to know."

‘‘Did they posses faets which were un-

known outside of their brotherhood?”"Naturally. Thcre were no biases within

the Brotherhood and absolutely no incentivesfor the promulgation of unfounded doctrinesor false teachings. Th e truth and only thetruth was desired by each. and in the attain-ment of truth every error, every superstition,every belief, was eliminated by test anddemonstraron. The result gave fa et s andlatvs, and these in tum revealed unobservedlaws and hidden faets. Furthermore, thereare many ways, my friend, of so attuning



one’s self under proper conditions and inthe right environment, that through inspira-tion or intuition, there comes an inilux ofcosmic knowledge at times, beyond the con-

ception of the uninitiated."T he uninitiated? Th is Brotherhood con-sisted of the initiated. then?”

"Certainly, and only the initiated everknew of the existence of the Brotherhood orcould enjoy its privilegcs and its knowledge.Tha t seems logical, does it not? Have I notsaid this was a Brotherhood? Its reason forsecrecy was in the very fact that it desiredonly those who would come to it free fromworldlv ambitions and with the solé desireof KÑOWING and through knowing giveunto others that which would profít themmost. T o avoid the casual inquirer and pre-vent the idly curious from demanding ad-mission the Order has held itself secret andthoroughly autocratic.”

“ ‘Has held itself!' Do you mean to saythat the Brotherhood is still in existence? Iknow it once existed in many lands and in-cluded many prominent personages. Th is

I gathered from the numerous books on phil-

osophy, history of religions, early writings ofscientists, and the encyclopedias. But, I be-lieved the Order or Brotherhood passed outof existence hundreds of years ago.”

"Passed out of public existence, you shouldsay. In the middle ages secret societies at-tracted considerably more attention than theydo today, despite their efforts to remain secret. W he n, gradually, the worldly interestin secret societies became less and these societies succeeded in hiding themselves, the public thought them extinct — an idea whichnearly all these societies fostered in theminds of the public.”

"Then the Brotherhood stiJl conducts Ini-tiations?" I repeated.

"Ah, that I may not answer. Th e verypurpose for which the Brotherhood, as a secret Order, was designed would be defeatedif it were possible for the casual seeker tofind Initiation.”

"Then do you mean to say that in someway the more than casual inquirer may Iearnof the Brotherhood today?"

“That," he answered slowly, "is a ques-tion I cannot answer because I do not know



what you may mean by 'more than casualinquirer.' Th e real Rosicruc ian Brotherhoodmust be sought; the seeker must be sincerein his or her desi re, and the desi re itself

must be free from the taint of simple curi-osity. Th ere must be determination, reasonand unselfishness back of the incentive toknow. But, really , I do not see why youask me these questions. I cannot tell yousome things, other things I may not tell you.”

"I ask you these questions," I replied withcare to make myself understood to his innermind, “because your very reticence leads meto believe that you can guide me in searchfor light. I use the word ‘light’, now in itssymbolical sense for it is light that I seekwith all sinceríty. I do not know—ñor shall I try to leam—whether you are asscciatedwith this wonderful Brotherhood of leamedmen and women. I note from your remarlesthat women, too, have the privileges of thatBrotherhood and by this fact I identify itat once with descriptions I have read of thetruly ancient and welí reputed Brotherhoodof the Rose and Cross. But I also believedthat it was a religious sect as well as aleamed Order.”

In that you were mistaken, unless indeed,you use the word religious in a very broadsense. As I understand the work of thisancient Order it has been free from sectaria

anism. Men and women of all religious be^liefs have been active workers in the Order,but it did require the firm belief in A GODon the part of every candidate for admission.Its teachings established beyond all doubtthe existance of a God and ultimately madeGod a very cióse and understandable entity, not a particular being. Therefore, these mys-tics came to have a religious tendeney intheir worship or study of nature and nature’slaws which attuned them with mighty cosmicforces and spiritual inspiration. But this de-veloped in the individual; not through an y preachments or doctrines of the Order butthrough a gradual and conscious realizationof God as revealed in the laws they leamedand the forces they carne to master andcontrol.”

“You make me more anxious than ever to try to unite with such a grand and noblebody of students and workers. Did theBrotherhood really have its origin in Egypt?"



I askcd in the hope of learning of its head-quarters.

“Yes . in a sense. Th at little Bug' to which

you referred, attached to the cord in theCasket, is the cartouch oí that ruler of Egyptknown as Thothmes. the Heretic King. Hewas one of the traditional founders of thestrange secret and Jearned body which at-tempted to classify all knowledge and sopreserve it that future generations might addto and benefit by it. Th is was the origin ofthe Egyptian temple groups, out of whichgrew the Rosicrucian Brotherhood, or OrderRosae Crucis. Th e cartouch, there, is veryrare, and the seal engraved upon ít has bccn uscd to seal many very important documentsof the Order, even in more modera times."

“How does it come to be in your posses-sion?” I began, then added, “But if that isan unfair question, tell me if the Order con-tinued to meet as in the days of oíd.”

"I will not answer the fírst part of yourquestion, but I can answer your last question, although it does seem that I have saidall that should be said at this time.

"Evidently you have read how, in thedays of oíd, this body of men and women

met in Temples to study and listen to thediscourses of the philosophers and wise men.In the middle ages the Brotherhood was wellorganized so far as physical organization

was concerned, and it spread to nearJy alJciviiized lands. At one time the Brotherhoodnumbered millions of devout students andworkers. It was divided into groups whichexisted under various ñames, the better tohide, called Lodges in our modera language.The candidates were initiatcd after properexamination and preparation. There werevarious degrees to the advancement in thestudies, depending upon individual develop-ment and mastership. Th e ceremonies of the

various degrees and the ritual of all theconvocations were the most solemn and mostinspiring of all sacred services. The groupsmet in grottoes and garrets—whenever sec-recy and protection against intrusión was as-sured. Th e very high ideáis and strict morallaws of the Brotherhood protected it againstslander, and even its open enemies havenever uttered one word against its moralpractices or principies.

“The members knew each other by certain

signs or words. and were bound by certain21



obligations which neither you ñor I could orwould hesitate to have binding upon us—ñorupon our wives or daughters.”

"And have these convocations and assem-

blies of groups or Lodges ended?” I asked,hoping that the same question in anotherform would bring the answer I sought.

"The Brotherhood was organized for alltime, to quote the words of the founders,”he replied with an evident attempt tn veiithe true meaning of his words. " If theBrotherhood or Order survived the attacksof the middle ages, as you have read, doyou think that anything could bring aboutits decline or fall?"

It was my turn to answer a question; butI did not appear to recognize the duty andasked still another question of Berkley.

"You have spoken of the enemies of theBrotherhood. W hy should so noble andunselñsh a movement have enemies?” Myquestion brought to my mind an immediateanswer, but I preferred to hear what hewould say.

“It suffered,” he drawled out slowly, asthough displeased with so unnecessary aquestion, ‘‘not in spite of its good work and

good reputation, but because oí it. I doubtwhether today the Brotherhood would sufferin this way, though there are many alwaysready to attack that which is truly altruistic

and good. But in days gone by, superstitionsand false doctrines had too much at staketo permit them to be destroyed without aconcerted war against the light shining toobrightly. But all this has been well recordedin even the casual references to the Orderin the various encyclopedias. These recordsare untrue in many respects, for they havefallen into the error of stating that the Orderceased to exist hundreds of years ago —which is not the truth. But the brief history

of the Order as it existed, eliminating theguess at its origin—is fairly true. Let meurge you to read those records some time.Have I not said enough, now, about theOrder R. C.7 "

Berkley had said quite enough in the lastfew words. In my ears remained the soundof the words: "the error of stating that theOrder ceased to exist hundreds of years ago,which is not the truth.” He had answeredmy question—partly. It was evident, how-ever, that Berkley wished to end the dis-



course. I had several questions to answer,but resolved them into just one.

“May I ask, as a final question: How canI— or what shall I do. to get into touch

with someone who will place a hurable seeker,sincere and determined, in communicationwith the Order, if it now exists?”

"That I may not answer," began Berkley,and I felt that he meant to keep me utterlyin the dark. “But you may inquire of someone when that someone who may knowmakes himself known to you. I cannot tellyou who that may be, for I do not know. ñor do you know. At any hour of the dayyou may be face to face with some man orwoman who is an officer or member of theOrder you seek. As in the days of oíd, youmay meet hundreds in the course of a yearwho are within the secret body, yet theysay nothing or do nothing to reveal the factuntil they are sure that he who seeks is sincere. Mind you, I say that this is as it wasin the days of oíd. W he re such groupscould meet today in this country I cannotsay . I have met those who had in theirhomes— in their prívate studies or personallibraries—certain cymbols or trinkets which

prodaimed that they or their forefathers hadbeen members of this oíd Order. I have metphysicians, the most eminent in America,who have graduated or studied abroad and

who also entered the Order in France orGermany and there perfected themselves inthose laws which are taught in no universityor college, but which you or I or our wives,daughters or sons might easily master bydevoting four or five nights a month to studyin the lessons of the Order. Bu t these men,like others in many professions and trades,do not reveal their connections with theOrder unless there is a very good reason—devoid of personal aggrandizement—for do-

ing so. Therefore, you may have trouble infínding one who will tell you where you maygo to become acquainted with those faetswhich you seek.

“M y advice is this: Put your desires onpaper; commit yourself and express yourwishes, what you would like to know andwhy you want to know. W rite a letter insuch a fashion and mail it to the fírst personwhose ñame you may have given you as be-ing that of one who may know of the Order.Then you may receive further information.



The information you desire would have to becommunicated to you in black and white,and surely you would not ask anyone toput into writing the secrets which they have

unless you are willing to put into writingyour desires—your questions. Furthermore,you would not ask for the ñame and addressof an officer of such an austere, secret, andexclusive body unless you were willing togive your ñame and your address that youridentity, too, may be made known? Yourinquiry will not oblígate you to do more thanconsider the replies you receive as confiden-tial. Th at is reasonable, and fair, is it not?Come, my oíd friend, the greatest good andthe most wonderful knowledge and power inthe world is not easily and quickly imparted.None so received it and none will so im-part it. Th is is all I may say to you now.Question me again some other time—afteryou have contacted the aura of those whomay know what you wish to know.”

Berkley aróse from his chair and walkedover to the little brown casket. Slow ly and

almost reverently he lifted the lid and care-fully replaced the document with the long

seal which partly protruded from the box,then the Cross with the Rose and the Egyptian cartouch. He locked the cask et and de-posited the key in a little drawer of his

writing desk. Th e casket he placed in thesafe in the córner of his library.

“There are some things in this world, oídman,” he said with a slight tremor in hisvoice, “which are dearer than life itself to aman or woman. Life on this earth is just onebig, long opportunity. When opportunitiesare met and utilized for good, the remem-brances of the opportunities and the meanswhich revealed tne opportunities become sa-credly dear to one, while life itself is onlythe time and the place for the doing; andboth life and its opportunities come againand again. Th e one is made sweeter by theother."

I left him standing just where I saw himwhen I entered that evening. Th ere was a joy in his heart and a seriousness in hisvoice which vibrated a keen appreciation ofthe fullness of life on this earth. I knewthen why Berkley was such a tremendous

power in business and social affairs and whyeveryone who knew him felt that he w-as



truly a master—a master of self and self'sgreat forces in and about him. His pros-perity, freedom from material worries, powerto attract aJl goodness and the weaJth of theCosmic to his immediate needs, made hima Master of his fate.

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The Mysterious Brown Casket (192? ).pdf