Chapter XXIV

THE OBJECT OF THE EOSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP
THE OBJECT of the Rosier ucian 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 be- cause 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.
THE OBJECT OF THE ROSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP 181
Another great world transformation is coming, we know not when ; even the Christ confessed His ignor- ance 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 direc- tion 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
182 GLEANINGS OF A MYSTIC
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 greatei and even under the most favorable existing conditions progress must be slow, but if the aspirant will con- tinue 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 rarety, they bring results in a short time ; generally it requires years and even lives before the aspirant at- tains, 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 shew- bread gives us an important lesson germane to our present consideration. Students will remember that the ancient Israelites were commanded to bring the
THE OBJECT OF THE ROSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP 183
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 in- crease ; 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 op- portunities 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 re- ligious 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 Rosi- crucian scientific teaching and method, based upoD the deepest knowledge of spiritual facts whereby the aspirant is enabled to gain the maximum soul growth
184 GLEANINGS OF A MYSTIC
in each life, so that his spiritual advancement is accelerated beyond his very wildest dreams. There- fore 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 etche? 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 com- plete 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
THE OBJECT OF THE ROSICRUCIAN FELLOWSHIP 185
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 permis- sible 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 re- pentance ; 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
186 GLEANINGS OF A MYSTIC
from the altar where the sin offerings were burned. Is it any wonder that God took no delight in the sacri- fice 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 retrospec- tion 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. Fur- thermore, 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 concern- ing these teachings.
187
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.
wisely 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.
188 GLEANINGS OF A MYSTIC
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 vitel 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. , .
INDEX 189
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.
190 GLEANINGS OF A MYSTIC
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.
INDEX 191
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 il.
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.
192 GLEANINGS OF A MYSTIC
Jehovah (cont.) 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.
INDEX 193
Mind (cont.) given for discrimination 122.
link between spirit and matter 132. Minerals, assimilation impossible 82. Moderation in food 136. Mongols, descendents 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.
13
194 GLEANINGS OF A MYSTIC
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 13o.
INDEX 195
Service (cont.) 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, sec 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. Spiritiial 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.
196 GLEANINGS OF A MYSTIC
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 ISO. World change to come 181. Worry evil of 116.
You as pronoun 83.
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