The Rosicrucians.pdf

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The

R O S I C R U C I A N S

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The

ROSICRUCIANS

*

By

The Convert From Anglicanism

R e v . D r . L. R u m b l e , M.S.C.

*

For C opies Address

F a t h e r s R u m d l e a n d C a r t y

RA D I O RE P L I E S P RE S S

St. Paul, MinnesotaU. S. A.


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I M P R I M A T U R

^ JOANNES GREGORIUS MURRAY

Archiepiscopus Sancti Pauli

Paulopoli die 12a Januarii 1949

*

Copyright 1949

R A DI O R E P L I E S P R E S S

Printed in U. S. A.

Th e

R O S I C R U C I A N SBy The Convert From AngUcanism

Rev. Dr. L. Rumble, M.S.C.

*

INTRODUCTION

I recently had put into my hands a most attractivelyproduced and fascinating booklet entitled, Who andWhat Are the Rosicrucians? In a sub-title, the bookletoffers to place Facts at Your Fingertips. And, on theinside of the cover, we are told, This Is a ReferenceWork for Editors, Authors, Publishers, and ResearchWork ers. Add itional autho rity is lent to this little workby the statement that it was printed by the RosicrucianPress, Inc., San Jos, California, anc that it is Issuedby Permission of the Department of Publications, Supreme Grand Lodge, A.M.O.R.C.

A first glance through the pamphlet left me deeply

impressed by the quality of the product ion. I was filledwith admiration of the orderly and telling way in whichRosicrucian s introduce themselves to all iis readers. AndI was duly astonished by the profuse and beautiful illus-trations of their plant and its many departments at theirSan Jos Headquarters, in California.

It was impossible not to feel the appeal such a bookletwould have for multitudes of people, quite apart fromthe lavish promises and reassurances contained in thetext itself.


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ASTOUNDING STATISTICS

How widespread has been the success of that appeal isevident from the really remarkable statistics, showingthe extent of the Rosicrucian Foundations activities.

We are told that the number of readers of magazinesand newspapers in which AMORC advertisements appear

monthly equals the entile population of Turkey, or over17,500,000 persons.

As a result, incoming letters provide 7,000,000 wordsto be carefully scrutinized by the Reading Mail Department; bring more foreign money orders than are receivedby any other institution between San Francisco andLos Angeles; require in reply 7,120,000 sheets of letter-size stationery which, if laid end to end, would forma path of paper from New York City to Kansas City, or1.236 miles; involve a postage expenditure amountingto more than $50,000 annually. Moreover, AM OR C

forwards a greater number of packages, via Railway Express, than any other organization in Santa Clara Valley,whilst over 6,000,000 pieces of literature are mailed toall parts of the world annually.

All that is bot li arresting and stimula ting. T he figuresare almost astronomical. One may not think th at refer-ences to "the entire population of Turkey, or to apath of paper from New York City to Kansas City, or1.236 miles, afford any particular reason for confidencein Rosicrucianism. Bu t they do impress the imagin ation,and suggest that it might be worth ones while to look

into the teachings, and the claims, and the promises ofso remarkable an organization.

SEE LIFE AS IT IS!

Before looking more closely at the Who and Whatpamphlet, let us glance at some samples of the Rosi-crucian advertisements which appear in magazines andnewspapers read by over 17,500,000 people "month ly.

In Sydney, Australia, where the writer of this booklet

lives, the prominent headlines SEE L IFE AS IT IS appeared in one of the Sunday newspapers.

Cleverly, the advertisement began by hinting that thereader of it had hitherto been deprived of informationwhich should have been his. T he popular teachings ofschools and churches color your visin. T he truth isconcealed. T o suggest hunger is to crea te an appetite!

Then an appeal is made to every mans innate desire ofprivilege and superiority. R eal possibilities for youradvancement in life are kept for the few. A power greatenough to change your whole life is available, if youfind the key.

Who, on reading that, would not wish to find the key?But no intense and prolonged search is necessary. TheRosicrucian secret writings will give you the true pie-ture of life, and the mysterious forces that await yourcommand."

It is difficult to assess the concentrated allurement ofthose few words. T o be spared all effort, to be let intoa great and precious secret, to be granted access to mysterious realms where there are hitherto unknown forceswhich will be at your command as surely as if you hadbeen presented with Aladdins Lamp must prove irresistible to multitud es of readers. Th ink of what it means.You will find a different key to your personal problems.and a simple way to more abundant realization of yourdesires. Is it all a dream? No. For many centuries theRosicrucian systcm has created a new life with new possibilities for multitudes who are now happy and con

ten ted.These last words may leave a little uneasy those Chris-

tians who vaguely remember the declaration of theirDivine Master, I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.Are the Rosicrucians, with their offer of a new life, oTer-ing a new religin? Be reassured! T he advertisementconcludes with the emphatic assertion, "The Rosicrucians are NO T a religious organi zation. It is all per-fectly good, and perfectly harmlessgranted its truth.


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UNSEEN POWERS

In a rival Sunday newspaper there was another advertisement, with a picture of the heavens and the planets,and the challcnging question, Do Unseen Powers DirectOur Lives?

This advertisement is an appeal to our sense of the

weird and of the uncanny. Th ere are queer things thatdo make one wonder. So the Rosicrucians offer us a fewleading questions along the lines of the occult and mys-terious forces which seem to shape our lives, yet baffleus. Are the tales of strange human powers false? Canthe mysterious feats performed by the mystics of theOrie nt be explained away as only illusions? Is there anintangible bond with the universe beyond, which drawsmankind on? Does a mighty Cosmic intelligence fromthe reaches of space ebb and flow through the deep re-cesses of the mind, forming a river of wisdom which cancarry men and women to the heights of personal achieve-ment?

The answer being taken for granted, the reader isasked forthwith, "Have Yon Had These Experiences . . .that unmistakable feeling that you have taken the wrongcourse of action; that you have violated some inner, un-expressed, bctter judgment . . . the sudden realizationthat the silent whisperings of self are cautioning you tokeep your own counselnot to speak words on the tipof your tongue in the presence of others . . . that some-thing which pushes you forward when you hesitate, orrestrains you when you are apt to make a wrong move ..

Now is there anyone who has not had such experiences?Th e diagnosis fits everybody. T he symptoms are such thatall can recognize them. Th ey are the common lot ofevery mutable, sensitive, thinking human being. Anymovements of doubt or hesitancy, any vague fears, re-grets, or impulses will enable you to admit that yourcase is exactly thatl

Listen, then, to the startling revelation. The se urgesare the subtle influence which, when understood anddirected, has made thousands of men and women masters

of their lives. Th ere I S a source of intelligence withinyou as natural as your senses of sight and hearing, andmore dependable, which you are NOT using now!

Rut surely every human being knows that, over andabove the senses of sight and hearing, he has an intelligence! And one is using his intelligence whilst readingthis very advertisement of the Rosicrucians. or the words

themselves would be meaningless. Rut more than thatis intended.

COSMIC MIND

Challenge This Statem ent! we are urged. Dar theRosicrucians to reveal the functions of this Cosmic tnindand its great possibilities to you. Ta ke this infinite powerinto your partnersliip. You can use it in a rationa l andpractical way without interfcrence with your religiousbeliefs or personal aflairs.

So the Rosicrucians believe in a Cosmic mind of in

finite power . . . a mighty Cosmic intelligence fromthe reaches of space which ebbs and flows through thedeep recesses of the human mind, forming a wisdomwhich can carry men and women to the heights of personal achievem ent! T h at s pantheism, or its nothing.It implies a god to be identified with the universe,occupying space, and reduced to an ebbing and flowingphysical or psychic forc on a level with all other forcesof natural creation.

Yet again we are assured that we can be put in touchwith this pantheistic god of the Rosicrucians without any

interfcrence with our present religious beliefs! Rut whatif we believe in the One T ru e God? What if we are Chris-tians? T he R osicrucians must surely hope that we wontthink of that; or that we are so ignorant of our ownreligin that we tlont know what it nieans! One thingis certain. No one who is really a Chris tian could possiblyaccept Rosicrucianism. T o do so is to abandon Christian-ity for anothe r and different religin altogethcr. Th atwill bccome clear beyond doubt from a study of theRosicrucian Movement in itself.


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WH AT ARE THE ROSICRUCIANS?

The Rosicrucians describe themselves as The AncientMystical Order of the Rosy Cross, of which the initialletters A.M.O.R.C. are used as an abbreviation.

They claim to be a world-wide fraternal organization,devoted to the exposition of a system of mystical andmetaphysical philosophy, intended to guide the develop-ment of the inner consciousness.

One who becomes a member is taught the significanceand application of the Cosmic and natural laws in theuniverse around him, and in himself. It unites into onelivable philosophy, metaphysical idealism, and suchpractical sciences as physics, chemistry, biology, physi-ology, and psychology. It also seeks, by its educationalcampaign, to rid society of the enslaving inluence ofsuperstition.

So we are told in the splendidly produced prospectus,Wh o and Wha t Are the Rosicr ucians. Bu t the claimsare preposterous, and calculated to appeal only to thecredulous; whilst the professed aim to elimnate superstition is brazen insincerity in an organization whichwould collapse completely were it not for the superstitionof those who adopt and support its teachings.

On a par with its repudiation of superstition is itsclaim to be non-religious, and to conflict in no way withthe principies of the Christian religin. No one who hasan elementary knowledge of either Rosicrucianism or ofthe Christian religin could possibly be so deceived.Rosicrucianism is essentially religious, as we shall see.

And it is utterly opposed to the Christian religin.

EGYPTIAN BACKGROUND

The official brochure tells us that Traditionally, theRosicrucian Order traces its origin to the Mystery Schools ,or secret schools of learning established during the reignof Thu tmos e III, about 1500 B.C., in Egypt. Thou gh hedevoted himself to an investigation of the mysteriesinother words, natural phenom enaThutm ose I II still

clung to the ancient religions of the period. His descend-ent, Amenhotep IV, 1355 B.C., known as the heretic king,also became leader of the mystery schools; but, being ex-tremely progressive, he abolished the polytheistic religionsof the time to advance in their stead the worlds firstdoctrine of monotheism. Th e Rosicrucians look uponAmenhotep IV as their traditional Grand Master. p. 8.

Now all that is not historically accurate. Th e ancientEgyptian mysteries were not merely a study of naturalphenomena. or did the wor lds first devotion to a doctrine of monotheism orignate with Amenhotep IV. Butthat is by the way. Th e im portan t thing is the admissionthat Rosicrucianism claims to trace its teachings back tothe ancient mystery schools, which were the product ofEgypts pagan mythology.

From Egypt, contines our prospectus, the secretteachings of the brotherhood spread into Greece, andthence into Rom e. During the M iddle Ages they wereconcealed under a variety of different ames.

It is true, of course, that the pagan mystery religionsof ancient Greece and Rome absorbed and incorporatedmany ideas from the mythologies of both Persia andEgypt. And it is significant that the Rosicruc ians haveto admit that, in Christian times, those who held to suchpagan superstitions had to conceal their opinions, andpractice their fantastic and un-Christian rites in secret.If, therefore, these are the secret mysteries Rosicrucianswant to revive in these modern times, they stand self-condemned in the sight of all who retain any Christianbeliefs at all!

But let us leave this remte source of their teachings,and turn to the historical origin of the Rosicrucian Order.

HISTORICAL ORIGIN

Chronologically, the Who and What booklet tellsus, the Order is mentioned as far back as 1115 A.D.,in a book of the collection of Brother Omnis Mariar, inGermany. It rose to considerable prom inence during thesixteenth century when, following the invention of the


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printin^ press, a small pamphlet entitlecl 'The FamaFra termtat is was issued, and given wfide circu lation. Itwas said to have been written by a theologian, JohannValentine Andrea (1586-1654). Th e pamphlets werepart of a campaign for its revival.

Now in every age there have been secret societies. Butthe Rosicrucian Brotherhood cannot be traced back his-torically beyond Johann Valentine Andrea, even nomin-ally. I say even nominally, for the modern Ros icrucianOrder has no continuity as an organization with Andrea'sFraternity. It is an independent Society, founded cen-turies later, and claiming only to possess similar secretand mysterious teachings.

There is a legend that a certain Germn noblemannamed Christian Rosenkreuz (137 8-148 4), when travel-ing in the Middle East, was there initiated into Arabianmagic and other Oriental mysteries, which he determinedto blend with the Christian religin . On his return toGermany, he is said to have founded in 1408 a Frater

nity of the Rosy Cross, the members of which were todevote themselves to the study of the deepest forces ofnatu re in profound secrecy. All tha t is sheer legend.There is no proof that Christian Rosenkreuz ever existed.All we know is that, in 1614, a pamphlet entitled FamaFraternitatis Rosae Crucis was published at Cassel, inGermany, by Johann Valen tine Andrea. He claimed thatthe secret wisdom of Christian Rosenkreuz had beentransmitted by an anonymous Fraternity or Brotherhoodfor some two hundrcd years, and that he was the firstto make the Frater nity known by his pamphlet. T he

Rose and the Cross were chosen as symbols because theywere ancient symbols of occult societies, and because theywere included in the family arms of the Andrea house-hold.

The publication of the Fama was an open invitationto chosen souls to join the Fraternity, but under thepenalty of death for any disclosure of its secrets and activities. T he morbid propensity of the age for magic,weird and mysterious rituals, and secret societies led toan extensive membership, and the influence of Andreas

Fraternity became very considerable. Andrea himselfultimately renounced Rosicrucianism, and frequentlydenounced it as ridicu lous comedy and folly. Bu t he hadstarted something he could not stop. When Freemasonrywas founded as another secret society in 1717, it borrowedmuch from the Rosicrucians, above all from their ritual;and to this day there is, in the Scottish Rite of Freemasonry, a symbolic degree known as the Rosicrucian

Degree. But what is known as the Ro sicrucian O rderhas no connection with Freemasonry. It is a modern, independent organization, having a secret philosophy andritual of its own, modelled on those of AndreasFraternity.

The Foundation at Rosicrucian Park, San Jos, California, claims that the Order was first introduced intoAmerica in 1694, with a location at what is now Fair-mount Park, Philadelphia.

IS IT A RELIGION?

Under the above heading, the Who and What book-let says, The Rosicrucian Order is absolutely NOT areligious movement or sect. It is non-sectarian in everyrespect. As its membership is world-wide, it of courseincludes persons of every creed and denominadon, asdoes any other world-wide fraternity of a cultural nature.Many leading clergymen of Protestant denominations,rabbis, and priests are members; but the Order itself, inthe past and at present, is fr ee o f re lig ious alliances. Although its ethics adhere to the principies of Chris-tianity, it must not be considered a religious movementor a Christ ian sect. T he teachings and philosophicaldoctrines of the Order do not interfere with the religiousfreedom of its members. p. 5.

So it is that people with religious scruples are disarmed,and the simple deceived. For the truth is far otherwisethan stated. T he Ro sicrucian Order is a religious movement . It is not non-secta rian in every respect, for it is itself a sect, thriv ing like a parasite on a membership drawnfrom other sects. It is sheer pretense to suggest that it


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is no more than a fraternity of a merely cultural nature;and whilst it may be true that Protcstant clergymen and

Jew ish rabbis have been deceived into becoming Ros icrucians, it is certainly not true that any Catholic priestsin good standing with their Church are in any way asso-ciated with them.

As for its being free of religious alliances, that merelymeans that it is an independent religious organization.If it does not ask its recruits to break with other religious bodies to which they already belong, it is surelynot unaware that eventually they will more and morelose such faith as they have in other religions as theyprogress in Rosicrucian teachings and practices. Th eclaim that its ethics adhere to the principies of Cliris-tianity is negatived by its fundamental disregard of therequiremcnts of veracity.

In the Who and What propaganda booklet we aretold, The Rosicrucian Order is absolutely NOT a religious movement or sect. Rut in the EncyclopaediaBritannica, in his article on Rosicrucianism, theImperator himself, Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, writes, It isnon-sectarian, and in a broad sense, non-religious, inas-much as its teachings include the practical sciences to agreater extent than principies of religious thought.

So it is not non-religious after all, save only in a broadsense; and that, not because it omits religious teachings,but only because it includes other matter in addition tosuch teachings! Why this modification of the Rosicrucianattitude to religin? Is it that the Facts Put at OurFingertips by the propaganda booklet are not sufficientlyreliable for inclusin in the Encyclopaedia Britannica?If so, how can such dishonesty be reconciled with theethics of Christianity?

The truth is that Rosicrucianism is the revival of anancient heresy against which the early Christian Churchfought for its very life. Th is was the heresy of theGnostics, who also sought to blend pagan mythologywith Christian doctrines, under the pretence of attainingto a higher, secret, and mysterious wisdom, not to be

gained from the ordinary teachings of the Church. Butthe Church knew that their system meant the corruptionof the Christian revelation. Let us consider this aspectof the subject a little more deeply.

AN ANCIENT HERESY

The pagan world, into which Christianity was born,

was rife with all kinds of superstitious cults, philosophies,and mythologies. And there was in existence a secretconfraternity of knowing ones, called the Gnostics,who had built up a mysterious system of doctrines se-lected from all the current religions and philosophicaltheories of the East, ranging from the Mazdeism of Persiaand the legends of the gods of Greece and Rome, throughto the astrology and necromancy of Egypt.

There was an incessant groping and research into thechaotic wilderness of ancient wisdom, to find the realsecrets of the universe; and the Gnostics claimed to have

discovered the treasurc, and to be in possession of a secretknowledge and understanding of mysteries hidden fromthe ignorant. Thei r system consisted of all kinds of ab-struse and fantastic notions concerning the nature of theuniverse, and the destiny of the human soul; and, onthe practical side, of mysterious spells and rites of magicby which they said that the initiated could win powerand immortality. Astrology, necromancy, occultism,superstitious incantations, and all the other sorry producs of the immature mind were includcd in the Gnosticprogram.

They were, of course, right in declaring their doctrinesto be hidden and mysterious, for their doctrines wereundoubtedly incomprehensible to people with no morethan sound common sense in their heads. But there wasa fascination in the secrecy, and a subtle appeal to theoverweening pride of intellectuals in the claim to higherenlightenm ent. As a result, most intelligent pagansyielded to the Gnostic delusion, and loved to hint, incryptic ways, that they knew more than they could say.

When Christianity carne on the scene, the Gnostics


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relished the prospect of delving into yet another religin,which talked of God and man, and of a world beyondthis. Wh o knows what new treasures of knowledge theymight not gain from this Christian system, to add totheir store of hidden knowledge? Many of them, there-fore, became Christians. Rut the ir conversin could notbe called more than nominal. From the moment of theirbaptism, they claimcd to know more about Christ than

the Christians whose ranks they had joine d. They scoffcdat the idea that He had been a real man in Galilce.He had been, and was still a god, they claimed; but atmost He had taken on the semblance of a man. Hehad staged a series of apparitions solely in order tomanifest the hidden mysteries of the Reyond; and oncethis purpose was accomplished, He had ceased to manifest Himself on earth.

So these Gnostics turned the Masters sayings insideout, seeking ever deeper and more startling secrets withinthem. Th ey read into them whatever their fertile imag-

inations wished to find in them, and ridiculed theordinary teachings of the Christian Church . The yformed inner circles within the Church to cherish andpreserve the secrets they claimed to have discovered,and allowed a chosen elite to be initiated very solcmnlyinto small esoteric groups, and to take part in conferencesand mystcrious rites, concerning which only faint rumorsreached the outside world. W ithi n these groups therewere degrees and passwords and signs and emblemsallthe trappings which fascnate the ungrown mind to thisday.

CHRISTIAN OPPOSITIONThe Church was not slow to detect the danger of the

Gnostic movement within the ranks of Christians them-selves. From the very beginning Christia nity had incul-cated a horror of pagan religions, and the Apostles hadrefused to allow anyone associating with pagan religiousrites to go on partaking of the Tab le of the Lord. Th erewas felt to be an immeasurable gulf between the doctrines, liturgy, worship, secrets, and ceremonies of occultmythologies, and the religin of Christ.

Moreover, Christ carne to offer, not secrets and esotericdoctrines for a select few, but a Gospel to be preachedand taught to all nations in its full integrity, just as Fiehad taught it to the Apostles. He had bidden them togo, and to teach all nations all things whatsoever Ihave made known to you. So the Church, from thevery beginning, condemncd and excommunicated theGnostics, branding them as heretics, corruptors of dierevealed truth, and enemies of Christ.

Yet, writes Lewis Rrowne, in his book Since Calvary,one finds such things still being taught with flambovantsecretiveness by people who cali themselves Rosicrucians,or Speculative Freemasons, or even Theosophis ts. Usu-ally there is a queer gleam in the cyes of such people,a gleam which is said to be the light of esoteric wisdom,though it may really be the glint of paranoia. In ourday, however, it requires a somewhat maimed intelligence to believe that some secret fraternity of illuminatiis in possession of an ancient and mysterious inner

Knowledge as to the Reyond. p. 63.

ROSICRUCIAN TEACHINGS

The official, but deceptive booklet we have been con-sidering tells us that, as regards the teachings of Rosi-crucianism, An individual listing of the subjects included in the membership curriculum would be toolengthy for the space provided here.

Rut it generously gives some clue to them. In themain, it contines, it includes such topics as the

mysteries of time and space; the human consciousness;the nature of matter; perfecting the physical body; theefect of light, color, and sound upon the mind; theancient philosophies; the development of will; humanemotions, instincts, and their relation to personality;important discoveries in Rosicrucian chemistry andphysics; explanation of the phenomena of intuition, etc.

No hint is given that the treatment of this galaxy osubjects must necessarily trespass on the field of religin,and color or even distort ones understanding of Chris-


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tian doctrines. But, aware of the high-sounding natureof such extravagant claims, the booklet contents itselfwith saying, Highly speculative, fantastic, or improbablematter is not included in the teachings of the Rosi-crucians.

One cant help feeling that a guilty conscience dicta^edthat last sentence. For i t is very difficult to believe thatthe Rosicrucian oflicials do not know their doctrine to be

jus t what they have pretended to exc lud c, highly speculative, fantastic, and improba ble guesswork. What repu-table scientist would incorprate in any text-book theimportant discoveries of Rosicrucian chemistry andphysics?

But let us turn to the impact of Rosicrucianism uponreligious teachings, an aspect of the subject which thisbooklet omits to mention.

I have before me a book entitled, The RosicrucianCosmo-Conception, or Mystic Christianity. It isdescribed in a sub-title as, An Elementary Treatise

upon Mans Past Evolution, Present Constitution, andFuture Development. Th e author is Max Heindel; andthe book was published in 1920 by the InternationalFleadquarters of the Rosicrucian Fellowship at MountEcclesia, Oceanside, California.

It may be, of course, that the Mount Ecdesia Rosi-crucians are a rival body to the San Jos Rosicrucians.AMORC may regard Max Heindel as a schismatic be-cause he wont throw in his lot with them; or even per-haps as a heretic. Bu t that is not very important for thepurposes of this discussion. Th e poin t is that both

organizations claim possession of the RosicrucianSecrets; and Max Heindel has been led by Rosicrucian principies to an interpretation of Christianityw'hich is utterly un-Christian.

MYTHICAL NONSENSE

In dealing with God, Max Heindel speaks of aCosmic Root Substance, and tells us that From theRo ot of Exis tenceT he Abso luteproceeds the SupremeBeing, at the dawn of manifestation. Th is is TH EO NE . p. 181. Apart from the innate absurdities ofsuch a statement, it involves sheer pantheism. It makes

God an evolving part of the created universe. In fact,earlier, on p. 180, we are told, God is found in thehighest divisin of the seventh Cosmic Pla e! NoChristian for a moment could accept such teaching.

When discussing Christ and His Mission, MaxHeindel says, In the Christian Creed occurs this sentence: Jess Christ, the only-begotten Son of God. Th isis generally understood to mean that a certain personwho appeared in Palestine about 2,000 years ago, whois spoken of as Jess Christone separate individualwras the only-begotten Son of God. Th is is a great mis-

take. p. 374.Max Heindel then gives us as the truth the strangedoctrine that Christ and Jess were separate and distinctindividuis; that Jess was an ordinary man who hadlived in different circumstances, under various ames,in difTerent embo diments. In his present stage, he hadbeen educated by the Essenes. But the great Sun-spirit,Christ, entered into the then body of Jess with thelatters full and free consent, in order to make initiationinto the Rosicru cian mysteries possible for all men! Onthe death of Jess, the great Sun-spirit, Christ, securedadmission to the earth itself, and since that moment has

been its RegentI pp. 367-410.Th is is no mystical interpretation of Christianity. It

is mythical nonsense which, in the eyes of all w*ell-instructed Christians, amounts to sheer blasphemy.

On p. 403, Max Heindel refers to Christs youngerbrothers, the Archangels; and elsewhere tells us thatAngels are highly evolved human beings!

Human beings themselves he declares to be subjectto the Law of Consequcnce. Th is Law arranges that


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"a man is born at the time when the position of thebodies in the solar system will give the conditions neces-sary to his experience and advancement in the school oflife. p. 161. T he stars may therefore be called theClock of Destiny. p. 163. W e are even told that thetwelve signs of the Zodiac are twelve Creative Hier-archies!

After this excursin into astrology, we are introducedto the od re-incarnation theories of Indian philosophy;improved, of course, by Rosicru cian wisdom. Th ere isno transmigration of human souls into animals. Th eRosicrucian Law of Rebirth means that we becomere-incarnated only as better men, progressing alwaystowards our final evolution into Angels; when we, too,shall become creators.

On p. 400 we are toldthat no human beings needredemptio n and salvation by the precious blood ofChrist, as Christians havebeen led to believe; and, on

p. 402, that not all menneed salvation, even in theRosicrucian sense of the word.

Such is Mystic Christianity according to Rosicrucian Cosmo-Co nceptions. But what a travesty it all is!On p. 520 of his book, Max Heindel says frankly, TheOrder of Rosicrucians is not merely a secret society; itis one of the mystery schools, and the Brothers are Hiero-phants of the lesser Mysteries. Wo uld it not be better ifthey contented themselves with the claim to beHierophants, dropping all prctence to be Christians?

NOT ASTROLOGY

Despite Max Heindels description of the stars as theClock of Destiny, and his open support of astrologyas a branch of Rosicrucian science, AMORCs Whoand What propaganda booklet insists on p. 7 that TheRosicrucian Order does not teach, indorse, or practiceastrology', fortune telling, crystal-gazing, numerology, orany other past or present superstitions, or similar popularpseudo-scientific practices. Furtherm ore, it neithe r teach-

es, practices, or recommends spiritualism or hypno-tism. In the Encyclopaedia Britan nic a, the Impera-tor, Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, gi\es the same assurance inhis article on Rosicrucian ism. He declares that it hasconsistently tabooed the superstitious arts of the Orient,and does not include fortune-telling, necromancy, orspiritualism.

Yet, on p. 10, some of the faets placed at our finger-tips in the Who and What brochure concern thePlanetarium. Th e Rosicrucian Planetarium, located inRosicrucian Park, San Jos, California, and built at considerable cost, is one of the six planetariums in the UnitedStates. It is the only one entirely built and designed inAmerica. It is called Th e Th ea tre of the Sky, becauseit presents the greatest drama of all the ages, the mytho-logical traditions and Cosmic roles of the planets andstars, revealing their surprising astronomical mysteries,and giving young and od a clearer conception of the

wonders of the heavens.No one can object to the study of astronomy, or toany scientific aids towards obtaining a clearer conception of the wonders of the heavens. But scientificastronomy is left far behind in a Planetarium designedto present the greatest drama of all the ages, the mytho-logical traditions and Cosmic roles of the planets andstars. Mythological traditions canno t have for Christians the valu Rosicrucians attribute to them. Andwhat becomes of the Rosicruciaiwepudiation of astrology, in the light of statements about the Cosmic roles ofplanets and stars? Planets and stars have no more aCosmic role than have cabbages or camels.

And can any Christians admit that the mythologicaltraditions and Cosmic roles of the planets and stars"constitu te the greatest drama of all the ages? For aChristian, the Greatest Drama of all the ages was the lifeon earth of the Incarnate Son of God, Jess Christ, andHis redemptive death for the salvation of mankind.

But the effort to deceive credulous people into theadoption and support of Rosicrucianism does not stopthere.


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NO STRANGE PRACTICES OR RITES

The Who and What booklet, in its effort to disarmsuspicions concerning the true nature of Rosicrucianism,declares that it has no strange practices or rites.

Rosicrucianism, it says, makes no demands uponits members that would oblige them to conduct them-

selves in any manner that would bring them into publicridicule or condemnation. Th e members are not re-quired to dress, eat or act any differently than wouldbe expectcd of any intelligent and morally responsibleman or woman in the conduct of his or her ordinaryaffairs. T he members resort to no practices or riteswhich in any sense are injurious to health, family re-lationships, or moris.

The first thing that occurs to one on reading thesewords is astonishment that such an assurance should beneeded. W hat is there, in Rosicrucianism, which would

lead one to suspect that members might be expected tobehave differently from ordinary people who rejoice inintellige nce and moral responsibility? Th e very pro-testation is an admission of something queer about thewhole system.

But, secondly, the explanation strangely fails to coverthe proposed obje ction . It makes no reference to thesuperstitious religious rites, against which Christiansmust be particularly on their guard. Th e general state-ment that there is nothing which could bring membersinto public ridicule or condemnation is not enough.That would follow from the very nature of the Rosicrucian Order as a secret society. Are there any strangepractices or rites in secret? T h at is the vital question.

Now, on p. 19 of the official handbook, there is anillustration of The Supreme Temple, RosicrucianOrder, A.M .O .R.C . Bu t the very description of a build-ing as a tem ple connotes worship. And the inte riordesign of the building is obviously one of religious sig-nificance. Th ere is a central sanctuary, with a Mithraic-looking altar encompassed by four decorated pillars,the whole set-up intended to create a mystic atmosphere.

The official booklet describes it as a lodge-room, butgoes on to say that in it are conducted the impressiveand symbolic ritualistic convocation of the GrandLodge. No ma tter how they may wrap it up in words,however, the fact remains that the ceremonies conductedin this Supreme Temple are religious in character.Th ey are impressive because strange. And what are

symbolic ritua listic convocatio ns, if not rites? Yetwe are seriously asked to believe that Rosicrucianism in-volves no strange practices or rites!

Again, on p. 17 of the official booklet, there is the pie-ture of The Shrine of Amenhotep IV, Pharaoh ofEgypt. It is bui lt as a square-cut archway, leading to acolonnade of pillars bordering an open sun-lit pathwaywhich is possibly meant to suggest the roacl to wisdom.The arch itself is covered with Egyptian hieroglyphics,in honor of the mystic teachings of Amenhotep IV,vi pon whom the Rosicru cians have conferred the priv-

ileged title of traditional first Grand Master.Once more, however, a shrine is a religious term,implying a hallowed center of devotion and worship.It at once awakens the thought of prayers and of pil-grimages. or are our misgivings allayed by the description accompanying the illustration, This artisticstructure, ereeted on the grounds of Rosicrucian Park,commemorates the Initiation held by approximately ahundred Rosicrucian men ancPwomen in Karnak Temple, Egypt, in 1929.

Such admissions of ritual and worship in the midst

of ancient symbols of pagan mythology make it astound-ng that, on an earlier page in the same booklet, thecategorical statement could be made, The RosicrucianOrder is absolutely NOT a religious movement or sect.p. 5. Have the compilers of this brochu re no idea of themeaning of words? Or do they hope that at leastthe readers of the booklet will miss the real significanceof the movement they have been invited to join?


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CHRISTIAN VERDICT

What is the truth about Rosicrucianism? It is a modern revival of, or at least an imitation of the ancientpagan mystery religions. It is precisely what it so em-phatically denies itself to be, an occult, semi-theosophical,superstitious, thinly disguised form of astrology, blended

with strange practices and rites which do constitute it areligious movement or sect.

It may, not very innocently, describe itself as an inno-cent system of mystical and metaphysical philosophy,intended to guide the development of the inner con-sciousness. Bu t Christians have all the religious andspiritual guidance they need in the teachings of Christ,Our Lord. One who understands the Gospels, whomeditates their teachings, who has at his disposal thewisdom, experience, and advice of the Church Christestablished to safeguard His doctrines and precepts, one

who sincerely tries to put into practice the prescriptionsof the Gospels and of the Church of the ccnturiessucha one has no temptation to look elsewhere for religioustruth and spiritual guidance.

Certainly, no one who has any real understanding ofthe Christian religin, and loves Christ above all things,could have anything to do with Rosicru cianism. It isa system which hopes to secure recruits from amongstthe ranks of Christians who have drifted from any clearknowledge and realization of what the Christian religinreally means.

In conclusin, it must be said that, far from resultingin a more enlightened interpretation of Christianity,Rosicrucianism can result only in its perversin. It ap-peals to imagination, not to reason; to credulity, andnot to any genuine spirit of faith; to pride, and not tohumility; to self-assertion, not to reliance upon divinegrace. In a word, it is utterly un-Clnistian . And onlyone conclusin is possible. St. Pau ls horror of the ancient heathen mystery religions is the only atttude atrue Christian can atopt towards the Rosicrucian Sys-

tem, and similar outbreaks of humanitys morbid pro-pensity towards esoteric magic, secret so-called mysticalsocieties, and pagan mythology.

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