Chapter XXIV

THE OBJECT OF THE ROSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP The object of the Rosicrucian Fellowship has been clearly stated in our literature, as have the means whereby it is hoped to attain the end in view, but in response to requests for a succinct summary we devote this chapter to that subject. The world is God’s training school. During the past we have learned to build different vehicles, among others the physical body. By this work we are promoted from class to class, each with its particular scope of consciousness. We evolved eyes that we might see, ears that we might hear, and other organs that we might taste, smell, and feel. But not all egos were promoted at every step. When the mist in the air at the time of Atlantis condensed and filled the basins of the earth with oceans of water, driving men to the highlands, many perished by asphyxiation because they had not evolved lungs. They could not pass through the portal of the rainbow, which was, so to speak, the entrance gate to the new age with its dry atmospheric conditions. Another great world transformation is coming, we know not when; even the Christ confessed His ignorance of the day and the hour; but He warned us that the day would come as a thief in the night, and He prophesied that the conditions in the world would then be similar to those prevailing in the days of Noah; they were living then in carefree enjoyment of life when suddenly the floodgates of heaven were opened, and death and destruction spread before them. Christ told us that it is possible to take the kingdom of God by storm and attain to the consciousness and conditions there prevailing. But Paul informs us that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; he states that we have a soul body (_soma psuchicon_—1 Cor. 15: 44), and that we shall meet the Lord _in the air_ when He comes. This soul body is therefore as necessary to entrance into the new age of the kingdom of God, as a body equipped with lungs was to the Atlanteans who desired to enter into the age in which we are now living. Therefore it is necessary that we make our calling and election sure by preparing the _Golden Wedding Garment_, the soul body, which alone can secure our admission to the mystic marriage. The multitude is slowly moving in the right direction as led by the different churches, but there is an ever growing class that, so to speak, feels the wings of the soul body sprouting, people who feel an inner urge to take the kingdom of God by storm. Though unaware of any definite ideal, they sense a greater truth and a more certain light than those which the Church radiates; they are tired of parables and long to learn the underlying facts at the very feet of Christ. The Rosicrucian Fellowship was started for the purpose of reaching this class, to show them the way to illumination, to help them build their soul body and evolve the soul powers which will enable them to enter consciously into the kingdom of God and obtain first-hand knowledge. This is a large undertaking, none greater and even under the most favorable existing conditions progress must be slow, but if the aspirant will continue with patient perseverance in well doing, it can be done. The methods are definite, scientific, and religious; they have been originated by the Western School of the Rosicrucian Order, and are therefore specially suited to the western people. Sometimes, but very rarely, they bring results in a short time; generally it requires years and even lives before the aspirant attains, but the following system will in the end bring all to their hearts’ desire. The Tabernacle in the Wilderness was a symbolic representation of the way to God, and, as Paul says, held a shadow of better things to come. Everything in it had its spiritual meaning. The table of shewbread gives us an important lesson germane to our present consideration. Students will remember that the ancient Israelites were commanded to bring the shewbread to the tabernacle at stated intervals. The grain from which this was made was given them by God but they must prepare the soil in which it was to grow, they must plant and cultivate, they must weed and water, so as to secure the greatest possible increase; they must harvest and thresh, grind and bake, ere they had the loaves which they brought to the tabernacle as _bread to shew_ for their toil. Similarly, God gives to all the grain of opportunity to serve, but it is our duty to cultivate these opportunities and nurse and nourish them in the soil of loving kindness so that they may bring a great increase. We must always bear in mind the words of Christ that He came to minister and to serve. Therefore anyone aspiring to follow in His steps and to be great in the kingdom of God must ever be on the lookout for opportunities to serve his fellows. Each day must be filled as full as possible with kind and considerate deeds, for they are the warp and woof of which the _golden wedding garment_ is woven. Without these “works” no amount of prayer, fasting, or other religious exercises will avail. It is useless to repair to the temple without this _bread to shew_ that we have really worked in the Master’s service. The foregoing is also the teaching of the exoteric churches; but the following is the exclusively Rosicrucian scientific teaching and method, based upon the deepest knowledge of spiritual facts whereby the aspirant is enabled to gain the maximum soul growth in each life, so that his spiritual advancement is accelerated beyond his very wildest dreams. Therefore this is the most important spiritual teaching that has been given to man in modern times, and no one who tries honestly to follow this simple method can fail to be enormously benefited: Ether is the medium of transmission of light, that which etches a picture on the photographic film. It permeates the air, and with every breath we draw from birth to death ether enters our system and etches a picture of our surroundings and actions on a little atom in the heart. Thus each carries with him a complete record of his life, which is assimilated after death. Expiation of the evil deeds causes pain and anguish in purgatory. These are thus transmuted to conscience to prevent repetition of the same mistakes in succeeding lives: the good deeds are transmuted to love and benevolence. Instead of waiting for this post-mortem transmutation of the shewbread of life, the aspirant who desires to take heaven by storm may assimilate the fruits of each day after retiring and before going to sleep by running over the deeds done. The events of the day are considered in reverse order, so that that which happened in the evening is taken first, then the happenings of the afternoon, forenoon, and morning. This is important for it conforms to the way the life panorama acts after death, taking first the events just prior to death, last the events of infancy. The object is to show the effects and then refer them to their antecedent causes. In this retrospection it will do the aspirant no good to run over the events of the day and mildly blame himself where he did wrong—he is usually sure enough to praise himself sufficiently for his good deeds. But he must remember the altar of burnt offerings where the sacrifices for sin were offered. They were first rubbed with salt and then placed on the altar to be consumed by a divinely enkindled fire. Anyone knows what an intense pain is caused when salt is rubbed into a wound, and this rubbing with salt is symbolic of the pain the aspirant must feel for his wrongdoing. Now mark that it was not permissible to place the sacrifice on the altar until it had been thus rubbed with salt. God would not accept it before, but _when it had been salted it was consumed by a fire kindled by God Himself_. This tells us that unless we have washed our evil deeds of the day in the salt of our tears and heartfelt contrition, God will not accept our sacrifice of repentance; but when we have really repented, our sins will be washed away and our recording atom will be clean as the driven snow. With respect to our good deeds we may remember that there were two little piles of frankincense on the top of the shewbread. These were offered upon the altar of incense, where the smoke ascended as a sweet savor to the Lord, so different from the nauseating stench that went up from the altar where the sin offerings were burned. Is it any wonder that God took no delight in the sacrifice of bulls and calves, but delighted in a contrite heart and a repentant spirit? It is this spiritual aromatic extract of our good deeds that builds our soul body. By the ordinary natural process it takes about one-third as many years in our post-mortem existence as we lived in the body, to reap what we have sowed. But when an aspirant has assimilated the fruits of life by faithful retrospection at the end of each day, he is free as soon as he leaves the body and may use the years spent by others in purgatory and the first heaven as he pleases. Furthermore, as he needs neither food, shelter, nor sleep, he may spend twenty-four hours a day doing good. Thus he has practically as many years of service and soul growth after death as the number of his earth life; and being trained and schooled in this work his attainments are probably greater than could be made in a number of lives lived in the ordinary way. To aid deserving aspirants, still deeper and more definite teachings are given by the Elder Brothers through the Rosicrucian Fellowship. Students who feel the inner urge may ask for information concerning these teachings. Index Abel, man of Lemuria, 23. Action, desirability of, 16. Action, good, required for soul body, 183. A. D. M., red earth, 78. Adam, a Polarian, 22. Airships of Atlantis, 71. Albumen not needed by spiritual, 24. Alcohol, action, 83. Altar of sacrifice, 96. America, the melting pot, 112. Angels, humanity of Moon Period, 50. lived in etheric world, 50. guided man, 32. Anglo-Saxons, pioneers of race, 75. Animals ruled by group spirits, 108. Aquarian Age, science to rule in, 82. six hundred years until, 81. teacher of, 76. Arche-Tektons, Initiates are, 103. Ark, airship of Atlantis, 71. Aryan Age, invaders of, 80. Aryana, national segregation of, 70. Assimilation of life experiences, 184. Asteroids, remnants of Moons, 60. Astrology, value of in marriage, 53. Atlantis, destruction of, 180. Atlantean epoch, the nadir of materiality, 9. Atlanteans aspire to light, 95. divinely guided, 69. Atlantis, airships of, 71. atmosphere of, 69. man becomes man in, 25. peaceful conditions of, 86. Atmosphere, changes of, 180. Attainment, method of, 171. Baptism, soul’s urge for higher life, 55. Black Brothers, increase evil, 106. Black Magic, frequent practice of, 101. golden, wedding garment protects against, 106. practices of, 103. Blood hound, follows invisible emanation, 104. Born of water and spirit, 80. Brain gained at sacrifice of creative force, 32. Breathing exercises, danger of, 9. use of, 10. Brotherhood, all members of, 44. Cain, a Hyperborean, 23. Candles, tallow, attract elementals, 106. Causation, 177. Children, training of, 127. Chosen people, 95. Christ, annual coming of, 171. bodily presence of the Father, 98. forgiveness of, 57. Inhabits central sun, 58. man a Christ-in-the-making, 158. mission of, 47, 87. power of, 158, 159. preservation, principle of, 168. sacrifice of, 98. Christ, _see also_ Earth Spirit. Civilization, evolution of, 111. Communication with dead, 113. Communion, points to age to come, 55. worthy celebration of, 31. Conscience gained in purgatory, 184. Consciousness result of war between vital and desire bodies, 49. Conservation of strength, 122. Contentment lengthens life, 51. Contrition, importance of, 185. Conversion and Initiation, 12. inner experience, 13. Converts, making of, 132. Courage, 91. Creation, principle of Jehovah, 168. Creative hierarchies guide man, 22. Crystalloids aid in evolving vital body, 88. Dead, communication with, 113. Death, care of body after, 134. conquest of, 56. price of consciousness, 50. Dense body, care of after death, 134. crystallized state of, 47. raising vibrations of, 10. restoration of in sleep, 128. spiritualization of, 74. under laws of nature, 57. Desire body, control of, 128. destroys dense body, 49. gained in Lemuria, 23. reaction of man’s acts, 25. Dietetics, albumen not needed by spiritual, 24. legumes not needed by advanced, 24. Diplomacy and force, 119. Dissolution the Father’s power, 168. Divine hierarchies work upon man, 22. Divine leaders abolish religious errors, 46. Divine spirit and physical body, 132. Earth conditions cramp humanity, 99. crystallization of due to man, 32. Earth Spirit body and blood, 31. Earth Spirit, _see also_ Christ. Earthly goods, use of, 117. Easter, Christ’s liberation, 160. vital, force of, 161. Effort brings opportunities, 15. Ego chooses work of life, 64. Egotism, protection from, 19. Elder Brothers hierophants of western wisdom teaching, 173. high status of, 173. not mercenary, 20. transmute evil, 105. Elementals inhaled with incense, 106. Emancipation, God’s purpose, 162. Environment chosen by ego, 64, 122. power of, 74. Epochs, changes of, 77. Ether etches pictures on seed atom, 184. medium of transmission of light, 184. new element, 71. Evolution, 177. Evolution of man, 35. path of spiral, 14. Exercises: Breathing practices, 9, 10. Experience, a grindstone, 63. Extreme unction, 56. Faculties, evolution of, 177. Fall, unchastity, 62. Family, duty to, 127. Father, The, dissolution principle of, 168. highest Initiate of Saturn Period, 58. inhabits spiritual sun, 58. Finger nails used in Black Magic, 103. Flesh, eating of, difficult to digest, 90. material progress result of, 23, 86, 92. necessitated by materialism, 23. sins of, 90. Flood, sun in Cancer, 78. Food, significance of, 22. Forgiveness of Christ, 57. Free Will, 22. of Initiate in choice of environment, 64. in Atlantis, 25. Galilee, melting pot, 74. Gill clefts replaced by lungs, 24. Gills of early Atlantis, 70. Glass of water in Black Magic, 104. God, immanence of, 161. Golden wedding garment, _see_ Soul Body. Good Friday, 153. Gospels formulae of Initiation, 64. Grace and forgiveness of sin, 34. Grail, _see_, Holy Grail. Group Spirit, 108. Hair used in Black Magic, 103. Healing, Rosicrucian method of, 103. Help, practical, 133. Hierarchies, service of, 135. still active, 166. Hindu breathing exercises, 73. Holy Grail, many orders constitute, 105. two forces of, 105. Holy Spirit, _see_ Jehovah. Human spirit and desire body, 132. Humanity, salvation of, 160. slowly progressing, 14. Hyperborea, generation in, 49. Hyperborean epoch, man plantlike in, 22. vital body gained in, 22. Hypnotism, danger of, 107. I as pronoun, 83. Inactivity causes straggling, 16. Incense, Black Forces use, 106. Inequalities, harmonizing of, 178. Initiates, arche-tektons, 103. bodies of, immaculately conceived, 64. choose own life work, 64. purity of, 64. may be women, 67. Initiation, changes life, 13. confers authority, 13. free, 13. inner experience, 12. money cannot buy, 11. requirements for, 20. spiritual process, 11. spiritualizes vital body, 67. through spiritual exercises, 11. tribulation leads to, 63. Initiation fee, impossibility of, 20. Inner vision opened, 136. Intellectual conception of life, 175. Intensity of feeling, 19. Jehovah, creation principle of, 168. dwells in physical sun, 58. highest Initiate of Moon Period, 58. race spirit of the Jews, 110. regent of various moons, 58. warder of creative forces, 56. Jesus race body of, 74. Judgment, Sun in Libra, 156. Justice of life, 175. with mercy, 33. Knowledge, necessity for, 131. Larynx gained at sacrifice of creative force, 32. Law, knowledge of, 131. Law of Consequence given to Atlanteans, 26. Laws of nature and destiny, 25. Legumes not needed by advanced, 24. Lemurian epoch, desire body gained in, 23. Life Spirit and vital body, 132. Light, Atlanteans aspire to, 95. symbol of God, 167. Living church within, 124. Lords of Mercury, stragglers of past, 59. Lords of Venus, stragglers of past, 59. Lord’s Supper, _see_ communion. Lost souls, 58. Love endlessly born, 169. keynote of coming age, 80. of souls, 53. transcends sex, 51. Lucifer spirits cause body’s crystallization, 32. Lungs related to spirits’ freedom, 24. Man becomes man in Atlantis, 25. mineral-like in Polarian Epoch, 88. Marriage necessitated by disintegration and death, 49. sacrament of, 55. transcends sex, 51. Materialism, predominance of, 163. Matter, limitation of causes self-confidence, 22. Materialization, varieties of, 102. Meat non-permanent as food, 82. Meat eating, _see_ Flesh eating. Michael, race spirit, 111. Milk aid in evolving desire body, 89. given in Lemuria, 23. Mind, effect of meat upon, 93. given during Atlantean epoch, 22. given for discrimination, 122. link between spirit and matter, 132. Minerals, assimilation impossible, 82. Moderation in food, 136. Mongols, descendants of Atlanteans, 75. Moons, discipline stragglers, 59. physical vehicles of Jehovah, 172. tumors of universe, 60. Moses led followers through water, 26. Motive, importance of, 101. Mysteries, soul body teaches, 136. Mystery schools furnish higher teaching, 8. Nationalism must pass, 112. Nations, rise and fall of, 110. Negroes, descendants of Lemurians, 75. New Galilee, 135. New heaven and new earth, _see_ Aquarian Age. New race, 75. Niebelungen ring, 42. Nimrod, Atlantean king, 22. Noah, 27. Noise, evil effects of, 125. stirs desire bodies, 126. Nucleus in magic practices, 103. Orthodoxy, arguments of, 46. Panorama etched into desire body, 133. Passion, crystallizing power of, 32. Periodic flow of earth, 62. Philosophy, hidden meaning in, 135. Physical body, _see_ Dense body. Pioneers the active workers, 16. two classes of, 17. Pisces, creed and dogma of, 81. Planet, body of Great Spirit, 156. evolution of, 41. orbit of, 156. Poise, necessity for, 125. Polarian had only dense body, 88. Polarian epoch, dense body in, 22. mineral-like state of man in, 22. Polygamy, 66. Possession cures desire, 93. Post mortem experience, 15. Post mortem state, 16. Preservation, Christ principle, 168. Progress, impossible to unworthy, 150. Proselyting unnecessary, 132. Providence of God, 120. Purity, redemption of, 35. Race spirits cause racial characteristics, 109. high ideals of, 110. Racial characteristics, 109. Rainbow, advent of, 27. emblem of diversity, 70. entrance to new age, 180. gates to promised land, 69. Reconciliation, desirability of, 119. Recording angels give religions, 7. Religion, happiness from, 126. Religion given by Recording Angels, 7. suited to nations, 8. Religious errors, not long permitted, 46. Responsibility not to be shirked, 127. Resurrection, Easter Sun symbolizes, 163. Retrospection, good gained by, 184. importance of, 18. Rhine Gold, 42. Rosicrucian messengers, 11. Sacrament, Hebrew derivation of, 55. importance of, 38. Sacrifice, evolution result of, 97. soul growth from, 165. Sanctuary, inner, 124. Saints, 17. Salt, 185. Science becomes religious, 40. to rule Aquarian Age, 82. Seances, danger of, 107. Seasons symbolize diversity, 70. Self-Sacrifice, advancement from, 38. of Christ, 100. Selfishness bane of race, 43. Separation of sexes, 32. Service builds soul body, 135. essential in life, 135. the policy that pays, 118. redemption of stragglers, 59. Sexes, separation of, 32. Silence, great help in soul growth, 126. Sin must be expiated, 57. Sixth sense, 178. Sleep, work during gains soul growth, 129. Solar system body of God, 59. Son, _see_ Christ. Sorrow, keynote of Buddhism, 57. Soul amalgamates with spirit, 96. Soul body, 54. from seed, 73. light of teaches man, 136. of new age, 181. methods of building, 80. protects against Black Magic, 106. wedding garment of new age, 80. Soul growth dissolves crystallized bodies, 96. helps in, 126. method of, 17. Sound, effect of, 124. Spinal nerves, animal twenty-eight pairs of, 61. man thirty-one pairs of, 61. Spirit orbit of, 156. Spiritual forces, ebb and flow of, 61. Spiritual sight result of war, 112. Spiritual world, time non-existent, 169. Spring and Earth Spirit, 31. Stellar ray, 64. Strength, conservation of, 122. Sugar beneficial effects of, 83. cure of alcoholism by, 84. Sun ascends at Easter, 165. in Cancer, the flood, 78. invisible vehicle of God, 172. visible vehicle of Christ, 172. Tact, value of, 119. Talents of ego, 15. Teacher of New Age, 76. Temple, way to shown, 136. Thought breaks down tissue, 23. Time, non-existent in spiritual world, 169. Tolerance for our families, 137. Tree of knowledge, 32. Tribulation prepares for Initiation, 63. Trinity, mystery of, 167. Unfoldment, three stages of, 55. Universal solvent, 168. Vegetarianism, advantages of, 91. Vegetarian needs no alcohol, 91. Virgin spirits enmeshed in matter as egos, 132. self-consciousness attained by, 22. Vital body charges body with energy, 132. constructive energy of, 49. evolved by Hyperborean, 22, 88. medium of occult growth, 9. spiritualized by Initiation, 67. stores up power, 128. vehicle of love, 51. War, spiritual aspects of, 123. spiritual intensity of, 104. spiritual sight result of, 112. Water, Noah and Moses led followers through, 26. used in Black Magic, 104. Wedding garment, _see_ Soul Body. Western Initiates more advanced, 8. Western Mystery Teaching Christian, 47. White Magic, unselfish, 102. Wine, given in Atlantis, 26. self-assertion from drinking, 86. stimulates spirit of man, 27. Word, cosmic meaning of, 155. Workers, the pioneers, 16. World, God’s training school, 180. World change to come, 181. Worry, evil of, 116. You as pronoun, 83. ―――――――――――――――――――――――――― Rays From the Rose Cross THE ROSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP MAGAZINE A Monthly Magazine of MYSTIC LIGHT Subscription $2.00 per year _General Contents_ _The Mystic Light Department_ is devoted to articles on Occultism, Mystic Masonry, Esoteric Christianity and similar spiritual subjects. _The Question Department_ is designed to give further light upon the various subjects dealt with in the different departments. _The Astral Ray Department_ gives Cosmic Light on life’s problems. So far as space permits horoscopes of subscribers’ children are read each month. These readings show the hidden faults and talents to help the parents bring out the best in their charges. Vocational Readings for young men and women are given to show them the sphere in the world’s work for which they are best fitted. _Studies in the Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception._ Our Origin, Evolution and Ultimate Destiny are religiously, reasonably and scientifically explained in this department. _Children’s Department._ Stories for the children. _Nutrition and Health._ In this department articles on health and diet teach how to build bodies wisely and well. _The Rosy Cross Healing Circle._ Its meetings and their results. ―――――――――――――――――――――――――― The Rosicrucian Cosmo-Conception _Seventh Edition_ 600 pp. cloth Price $2.00, postfree. This remarkable book by Max Heindel marks an entirely new departure in mystic literature. For the first time in history the _Western Wisdom Teaching_ concerning Life and Being which the Rosicrucians have guarded for centuries, is here given by an authorized messenger, for it is held that the world is ready to receive this advanced science of the soul, the religious philosophy of the Aquarian Age, now at hand. The existing soul-hunger and the satisfying nature of the Rosicrucian teachings are equally well attested by the phenomenal sale of this great book, and many thousands of letters received by the author from grateful students located all over the world, who testify that they there found what they have long sought elsewhere in vain. We give herewith some headings of chapters and subdivisions as a slight indication of what is contained in this mine of mystic light and knowledge.