Book VII—An Answer to Lewis White Book “D” and a Thorough

Exposé of His Fraudulent Scheme and Family Racket.
By Dr. R. SwinBurNE CLYMER
Library Edition
Published by THE ROSICRUCIAN FOUNDATION
(REGISTERED)
Beverly Hall * Quakertown, Pa.
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A Complete Answer
To
LEWIS’ WHITE BOOK “D”
Being
A THOROUGH EXPOSE OF HIS AMORC— A SPURIOUS R. C. ORDER
And FRATERNAL SWINDLE Operated as A FRAUDULENT SCHEME And
FAMILY RACKET
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INTRODUCTORY
In continuing our study of fraternal racketeering and spurious Rosicrucian Orders in America and in reviewing the fraudulent schemes, the devices of fraud and the artifices of swindlers con- nected therewith, we find that the simple confidence tricks of other days have given way to new brands and kinds of fraud. Those who sold green goods, gold bricks and fake lightning rods to our grandfathers would stand aghast and dumfounded at the elaborate fraudulent schemes of present-day swindlers.
As our civilization has become more complex, so, also, crimes in general have become more complicated in design and more cunning in execution. For that reason, many of them are much more difficult to detect and to successfully prosecute. There- fore, some of them, perhaps the worst of them, continue in opera- tion for long periods of time and claim countless victims without serious molestation.
This is particularly true of offenses and crimes, the gravamen of which is deceit, false pretense or fraud. Those who conceive a fraudulent scheme in these times invariably plan to come near enough to the truth, at least in appearance, to escape prosecution for misrepresentation and false pretense. They go to great lengths to create closely controlled corporations to cover their schemes with legal paraphernalia and to give to them the appearance of having the official sanction of the officers of the law who granted their charters; they outwardly simulate scrupulously and faithfully reputable and successful institutions to give to their schemes the plausible appearances of genuineness, and for the purpose of fra- ternal racketeering they select societies, orders and fraternities of high repute that are mystical, occult or secret in their nature and about which the greater number of people are ill advised and know but little, so that their schemes may be hidden in general ignorance and easy of operation because of the lack of knowledge of the many victims whom they would exploit.
However, if they have never been members of the secret order
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INTRODUCTORY
which they attempt to imitate and in whose names they carry on their fraudulent schemes, they are uninformed on essential facts and ignorant as to the basicznmature thereot. Pherefore, angcaae ignorance and as the result of their mistakes, too much propa- ganda and over-promotion, they invariably and eventually expose themselves, as in the present case of H. Spencer Lewis and his
fraudulent R. C. Order.
When exposed they resort to bold chicanery and dangerous ex- pediencies to hide their fraud, such as those used in White Book D, issued by Mr. Lewis in defense of his fraudulent scheme and con- sidered at length in this book. When caught they always flatter themselves that they can explain the whole matter to the entire satisfaction of official investigators and post office inspectors or to the prosecuting attorney. If indicted, they rely upon the presump- tion of innocence, hope to becloud the issues to create a doubt as to their guilt and believe that in any event they can convince the jury that they are victims of partisan persecution inspired by jealous rivals or of erroneous judgment and unfortunate circumstances.
Those who commit crimes of violence or who steal and rob out- right are usually taciturn; they hide their evil deeds and are non- communicative, whereas promoters and perpetrators of confidence games and fraudulent schemes are blessed with the “gift of gab”; they will talk glibly about their affairs, and with plausible explana- tions or cunning subterfuges they will readily undertake to dissipate all doubts as to the propriety of their shady business or as to the genuineness of their fabricated and spurious institutions. With them the explanation sufficient for the moment is expedient. There- fore, on different occasions they give different explanations, tell changing stories, make contradictory statements and suspicious claims, which upon investigation are found to be altogether false, and in this wise do they furnish the proof for their own conviction. Appropriate to the foregoing observations, the casual reader will find the contents of this book most interesting; the student of unique frauds and strange rackets will find it worthy of close study, and the official investigator will find it useful.
There should be some precincts too sacred for fraud to enter and some things too high and holy to be exploited. There are the religious instincts, the higher aspirations and the spiritual hopes of mankind. The noble impulses of brotherly love, the expansion
6
INTRODUCTORY
of fraternalism among men, the development of higher states of consciousness and the evolution of the spirit or soul growth should be above and beyond the scheming devices and dirty hands of crooks and villains. But—alas, it is not the case! Some of the worst trauds—some of the most accursed swindles—have been com- mitted in the name of religion, and the most nefarious exploitation of the good, the trustful and the innocent has been accomplished under the guise of brotherly love, mysticism, occultism or frater- nalism. Unfortunately, there are many of such cases. However, we shall make brief mention of only three in connection with the instant case under consideration.
John Fair New began his eventful career in New York City about the year 1909. He represented that he was of divine origin, a son of the Holy Ghost—greater in authority, majesty and power than was Moses, Elijah or John the Baptist—that the mantle of the ‘“‘Man of Galilee” had fallen upon him and that he had received the “‘keys to the kingdom of heaven.” He claimed to be a World Master and the founder of the “New” religion. In furtherance of his scheme he organized a mother church and subordinate churches; he made himself an archbishop and made bishops, preachers and dignitaries of various ranks out of his best-paying or most trusted victims; he incorporated universities and seminaries to teach his doctrines and the ‘“‘New”’ theology and sold scholarships, and in- corporated publishing companies and sold books. But he failed to comply with the laws of California in the organization of some of his corporations. In 1917 he was arrested at his San Francisco hheadquarters and convicted in the Federal Court for using the United States mails for fraudulent purposes. The conviction was affirmed by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals.‘ He made many false representations, but the grossest of them all was that he could transmit his alleged divine powers and infinite wisdom to others who paid the price or made donations sufficiently large te fully demonstrate that they were deeply interested in the work and ‘welfare of the “New” religion.
Arthur Crane was another ‘inspired’ crook. He claimed that he was possessed of divine inspiration and had the “‘Christ Power.” He pretended to cure all manner of diseases by the absent treat-
1 See Volume 245 of the Federal Reporter, page 710.
7
INTRODUCTORY
ment; that all the victim need do was to write to ‘“‘Dr.’’ Crane, appoint the hour when he or she would be ready for treatment and to “leave the rest to Arthur Crane.”’
“Dr. Crane wrote many books which he claimed answered all questions that troubled the doubting souls or perplexed minds of men and women. In those books which he sold to his victims he solved or pretended to solve all human problems and to free man- kind from all the ailments of the flesh and all the woes of the spirit to which mankind is subjected on this old earth and in this vale of tears. In 1919 he was arrested in California, tried and convicted of the fraudulent use of the mails. The conviction was afirmed by the United States Circuit Court of Appeals.’
The jury in each case could readily see that their schemes were fraudulent and that these self-styled modern prophets and “‘in- spired”’ saviors were plain, unvarnished crooks and promptly con- victed. The Circuit Court of Appeals made elaborate and careful reviews of their cases and held, notwithstanding the constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, that their schemes were elaborate devices of fraud and that they had used the United States mail as a means of obtaining money under false pretense in pursuance of grossly fraudulent schemes devised by them for that purpose.
In 1922 Matthew McBain’ Thomson was convicted in the United States District Court at Salt Lake City, Utah, as the perpetrator of one of the most unique and ingenious mail and Masonic frauds as ever was devised and perpetrated by any of the most daring and spectacular Masonic impostors in history.* We have given special consideration to this case in Part One of Chapter IV herein and elsewhere throughout this book.
Then came Harve Spencer Lewis, the successor of Thomson in fraternal fraud and racketeering, who for the past twenty years has been operating and so continues to operate a spurious hybrid Masonic-Rosicrucian scheme, fraudulently promoted with greater elaboration and carried on with unique artifices and devices far more extensive, complex and bafiling than his notorious predecessor
2 See Volume 259 of the Federal Reporter, page 480.
3 See The Thomson Masonic Fraud, by Isaac Blair Evans, who was the United States District Attorney in Utah when Thomson was tried and convicted. We are indebted to Mr. Evans for many of the facts and ideas set forth thus far in our introductory remarks. See introduction to his said book.
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INTRODUCTORY
in Masonic fraud. The Lewis scheme, now operated strictly as a private affair and as his family enterprise, is dealt with in consid- erable detail in this and the preceding volume.
This book, as originally planned, was to be a brief answer to Lewis’ White (?) Book D. It was not intended to exceed two hundred pages, with references only to the sources of authority and the proof of our statements. However, as we studied this crooked little book of great deception, of many stratagems and artifices and of much bombastic ballyhoo, issued in defense of a complicated fraudulent scheme and a nefarious swindle, it became more and more apparent that, to completely and satisfactorily answer the same, it would be necessary to thoroughly expose the fraudulent scheme and to point out in detail the many and varied artifices and devices used in its promotion, to show the cunning skullduggery and plausible chicanery employed in its operation and to demonstrate the hocus-pocus stratagems, the clap-trap subter- fuges, the wanton trickery and diabolical methods used for its -defense.
Therefore, it was determined, even at the cost of much delay and the undue expansion of this book, to conclusively establish all these matters and the facts of this case with competent evidence in the nature of fac-simile reproductions of unmutilated and un- deleted documentary proof; with the fac-simile reproduction of the ‘manufactured evidence, mutilated and deleted documents and spu- rious and misrepresented charters and warrants of alleged Rosicru- ‘cian authority employed by him to promote, perpetuate and defend his fraudulent scheme, all of which are shown to be snares and delusions and proof certain that it is an indefensible swindle; and ‘to establish the basic fraudulent nature of his scheme and its nefa- rious operation with verbatim quotations of published statements of his contradictory pretensions and groundless claims. All of -which has been conclusively established by proof which Mr. Lewis, -with all his cunning plausibility and expert dodging, cannot suc- -cessfully question or dispute.
Now, since the major portion of the proof of the fraudulent ‘nature and operation of this scheme has been supplied by the de- ‘signer and promoter of the swindle, much space has been used in the quotation and analysis of his claims and assertions made in court under oath or solemnly published to the world.
Y)
INTRODUCTORY
Therefore, the interested reader, the sincere investigator and the earnest seeker for truth—the whole truth and all the actuai facts— will appreciate our position and the strength of the case we have made, because we have made no charges and have made no asser- tions of fact without backing them up with the proof thereof, as shown by documents and printed material. Moreover, while we have set forth the documents in fac-simile and the printed matter in verbatim quotation, with our comments and suggestions as an aid to the reader and investigator—yet particular attention is directed to the fact that we have supplied the proof of the facts so as to en- able them to reach their own independent conclusions.
Although much evidence—indeed, sufficient proof—is set forth herein to establish conclusively that the AMORC, as conceived and operated by H. Spencer Lewis and his son Ralph, is a fraudulent scheme and a swindle extraordinary, yet only a small part of the evidence thereof available to prove it to be such has been pro- duced; only a few of the voluminous, contradictory claims and tell- tale statements of the Lewises have been quoted; only part of their tricks, subterfuges, stratagems, artifices and devices of fraud have been exposed; only the surface of their cunning methods and despicable practices has been uncovered, and only a few of the infinite number of their plausible falsehoods and utterly false pre- tensions have been run down; whereas, all of them can be shown to be untrue and absolutely fraudulent in intent and in fact; yet, never- theless, this work is an excellent brief of the facts which will prove most useful to independent and official investigators in securing all of the evidence of this despicable fraud, and it will point the way to secure and indicate the methods to be followed in obtaining overwhelming corroborative proof of the detestable nature and foul details of this deplorable and nefarious swindle.
We trust that our readers will carefully consider the personal foreword and review the preamble, which is intended to advise as to the general contents of the volume.
Particular attention is directed to Chapter I, in which the con- spiracy bugaboo is shown to be an overworked stratagem to hide and obscure an insidious fraudulent scheme. The manner in which the courts in California have been imposed upon and their findings and decrees have been used to justify and further promote a swin- dle is also shown with astounding verity. To get the full import of
10
INTRODUCTORY
the astounding manner in which the instruments of justice and the institutions of law have been abused and used to give prima facie ‘sanction to a fraud, the concluding portion of Chapter VII should be read in connection with the subject matter of the first chapter.
The various false issues, smoke-screen subterfuges, petty chi- canery, personal attacks and trumped-up counter-charges receive attention in Chapters II and III. In these chapters the indefensible and reprehensible methods employed to defend and perpetuate this fraudulent scheme have been just arraigned. However, the severity of the arraignment and the deserved condemnation of ‘such despicable trickery and base practices may cause the reader at first to feel a sympathy for a bold and unscrupulous fraternal racketeer that is not at all deserved. Therefore, may we suggest that the reader reserve judgment on these matters or, better yet, reserve the reading of these chapters until all others have been completed, whereupon it will be obvious that not one-half has been ‘said in severe condemnation as should have been said and that the arraignment is mild in comparison with acts and deeds which can- not be too severely condemned.
The diabolical scheme, as it was originally conceived and put into execution and the manner in which it has been continuously carried on as a fraternal racket and swindle since the year 1920, and off and on between the years 1915 to 1920, is stripped of all its camouflage and shown in its naked ugliness in Chapters IV, V and VI. The supplemental review of the stupid, false, improbable and impossible claims of Rosicrucian authority and of the irrecon- ilable, conflicting and contradictory statements concerning those claims and the authenticity of the spurious R. C. Order founded upon them, as set forth in Chapter V, shows beyond question and doubt that the scheme was conceived in fraud and that it has been operated as a swindle from the beginning.
Moreover, that which is most impressing and convincing, as -above pointed out, is that he who conceived the fraud and operated the swindle has furnished conclusive evidence to establish the -charge—verily, verily, out of his own mouth—by the issues of his -own pen, and from his own published statements comes the un- -deniable proof thereof.
No doubt, Masons and the Masonic Fraternity will be deeply 4nterested in learning of the dubious and cunning ways in which the
11
INTRODUCTORY
good report of Masons and the high standing and good name of their fraternity have been used to promote a fraternal swindle. Certainly, all Masons will keenly resent and emphatically condemn the misuse and abuse of Masonry, even though it is principally the misuse and abuse of Masonic Orders which they may regard as clandestine, because in the public eye the Masonic Fraternity enjoys a high standing. The average person knows and makes no dis- tinction between the regular and the clandestine Masonry, and the public at large is generally willing to accept anything or any plan as being good, wholesome and worthy if it appears to have Ma- sonic sanction or approval. Therefore, the misuse and abuse of the name of Masonry in connection with any crooked scheme or questionable affair not only works a fraud upon the public, but it is injurious to all Masons and highly detrimental to their frater- nity. Ihe manner in which the promoter of this fraudulent scheme and fraternal swindle has used Masons and Masonic symbols and has abused and misused Masonry and the way in which falsified, deleted and mutilated Masonic papers and documents have been used to further his ends and to serve his purposes is shown through- out this volume, particularly in Parts One, Two and Five of Chap- ter [V and in Chapter V. The promoter of this spurious Rosicru- cian Order and fraternal swindle even went so far as to have a court find that he had not been denied membership in the Masonic Fraternity when, in fact, such membership had been so denied. So much so has he used Masons and Masonry to promote and carry on this fraudulent Rosicrucian Order that the scheme is aptly and correctly designated and is, in fact, a Masonic-Rosicrucian swindle.
With high-pressure salesmanship, with nation-wide, bombastic advertising, with everflowing and highly gasified propaganda and much ballyhoo and with tons of promotional literature, all of which is contrary to the practices and ideals of Masonry and Rosi- crucianism, this scheme has been used as a contrivance to build a million-dollar fraternal racketeering concern. The royal revenues of this hierarchal racket are derived from initiation fees, monthly dues, the sale of mystical bunk in books, so-called occult and scien- tific lore in special courses or lectures, specially priced, and a full line of fraternal merchandise, but the most productive of these are mystical bunk and fraternal merchandise. Chapter VI deals with this unique merchandising mart conducted in the name of
17
INTRODUCTORY
brotherly love and for the alleged advancement of the race. In ‘this same chapter are revealed the cunning designs and artful trickery that were used for the conversion of this fraudulent scheme -and hierarchal commercial marketing concern into a family racket _by incorporating it as a membership and family corporation with- -out profit to anyone save his family and as a subterfuge to avoid the payment of taxes.
In some of the books in Volume I and in the first few chapters of this book in Volume II we spoke of this scheme as being a clever device of fraud and of its designer and promoter as being a clever artist in the swindling arts and a clever fraternal racketeer. How- ever, since we have reviewed, carefully studied and analyzed Mr. Lewis’ ignorant conception of a Rosicrucian Order; the curious or- ganization that he fabricated and set up pursuant thereto; the foolish and nonsensical things that he did to promote it; the strange “documents,” unique “charters’’ and “warrants” of alleged au- thority that he faked and procured or designed and manufactured, under which he has purported to work; the so-called universal, world and international non-existent councils and faked interna- tional congresses and conventions used as devices to furnish him with alleged authority, recognition and certificates of authenticity ; the false, ridiculous and impossible claims to Rosicrucian initiation and authority and Masonic recognition, approval, titles and honors that he has asserted; the infinite number of contradictory state- ments he has made and the many changing, repugnant and con- fiicting stories he has told concerning his alleged authority and relating to his fraudulent scheme and swindling devices; and last, but not least in base villainy, the wanton methods, the despicable chicanery, the manufactured evidence and deleted and mutilated “proof” that have been used in defense of this exposed swindle— indeed, we must say, after having considered all these matters, that we have made a grievous error and used the wrong word, and that there is nothing clever about the scheme, its promotion or operation.
It was conceived in gross ignorance of Rosicrucian affairs. It is a poor imitation of an R. C. Order, cunningly misrepresented, art- fully promoted, willfully operated, deliberately perpetuated in open defiance of the law and wantonly defended by the vilest methods and with the most unthinkable and detestable tactics.
13
INTRODUCTORY
Therefore, we respectfully submit for candid consideration that no thoughtful person can contemplate the use and publication of falsified evidence, DELETED papers and MUTILATED documents or false testimony in court. No careful person can examine the so- called “important Rosicrucian documents,” the self-made and spu- rious “‘charters” falsely represented to be warrants of Rosicrucian authority. No discriminating person can consider the false, fabu- lous and conflicting tales concerning international, world and uni- versal councils, congresses and conventions. No casual or careless person can read the many different false and contradictory claims of Rosicrucian authority. No one can witness the way in which the complete control and use of the concern has been reserved to the family. No one can review the gross misrepresentations, the end- less chicanery, the unscrupulous trickery and the numerous devices and artifices of fraud used to promote the scheme. In short, no one can read this work of two volumes without having the abiding feeling and firm conviction—indeed, without reaching the irresisti- ble conclusion—that the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis— the AMORC—is a spurious Rosicrucian Order; that it is a fraudu- lent scheme and that it is a nefarious fraternal swindle, operated as a family racket.
_ Now, inasmuch as this scheme, called the AMORC, is a gross fraud, the question naturally arises: Why has it been allowed to exist for a score or more of years in open violation of the law, to wax strong and grow into a million-dollar swindle? The answer is simple and apparent. Only high Rosicrucian initiates know all the facts and the whole truth about the Order. Even its neophytes, its general student bodies and those in the lower grades who have not been initiated into all its mysteries and have not become Rosicru- cians are not fully advised on all matters concerning the Fraternity, its true nature, its full status and real history. Therefore, the non- members—the public in general—are wholly uninformed, yet many have heard of the Rosicrucians. A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. The name itself, wrapped in mystery and con- jured with in fiction, becomes an alluring and intriguing artifice of fraud, and the many of little knowledge become the ready dupes and beguiled victims of exploitation.
Masonry—its general nature and affairs—is much better and more extensively known to the public in general. Masons make no
14
INTRODUCTORY
secret of their membership, but wear badges and insignia to pro- claim such membership; whereas, Rosicrucians seldom make known their connection with or membership in the Rosicrucian Fraternity. Yet, with Masonry generally known, Thomson carried on his no- torious fraud in the name of Masonry for twenty years before he was finally exposed and convicted. Therefore, with the Rosicru- cian Order less known, it has been less difficult, and Lewis could more readily carry this fraud in the name of the Rosicrucians and promote with alleged foreign Masonic “honors” and feigned Ma- sonic approval.
This swindle has existed because of lack of proper information and general knowledge and because the officers of the law could not see wherein the fraud lies. It mystified them; yet, perceiving that it was and is a crooked and suspicious scheme covered with badges of fraud, nevertheless, they did not know how or where to procure the evidence to prove the fraud that has been almost apparent— if not apparent—to them.
It has existed because no one who really knew wherein the fraud fay has definitely pointed it out or clearly defined it; because no one has taken the pains to run down the many fraudulent representa- tions and false pretense used to promote and to sustain it, and be- cause no one has taken the trouble or gone to the heavy expense to collect the evidence of the same—which exists in great abundance —and to thoroughly expose it. Knowing the truth concerning the Rosicrucians and the facts relating to the Order of the Rosy Cross and the Rosicrucian Brotherhood, we have assumed that burden, and herein we thoroughly expose this fraudulent scheme and family racket and point to the proof of this abominable swindle in this, our answer to Lewis’ White Book “D.”
15
PERSONAL FOREWORD
The second volume of The Rosicrucian Fraternity in America is a complete answer to a calumnious, unscrupulous and misleading booklet, recently issued by Mr. H. Spencer Lewis, the pseudo- Rosicrucian, clandestine Mason and mystic swindler, of San Jose, California, under the impressive title of White Book D, which if intended to be descriptive or indicative of its contents should have been entitled: BLAcK Book oF DECEPTION.
For several years I have been publishing warnings to all persons interested, seriously or otherwise, in the August Fraternity or the Order of the Rose Cross against the false claims of the aforesaid pseudo-Rosicrucian, who fabricated and launched a spurious Rosi- crucian organization in New York in 1915, with meager success, culminating in failure and collapse in 1918 after a raid of the New York police on his then National headquarters and his arrest, after which he retired into “silence” and nothing was heard of his spurious fabrication until 1920, when he appeared in San Fran- cisco, where, with the financial assistance of William Reisner, a sincere seeker after occult truths and a successful business man, and with the aid of the Rev. George R. Chambers, an Episcopalian minister and’ high Mason, who rewrote most of his lectures up to the sixth grade, he succeeded in reorganizing his so-called R. C. Order. However, his success was not marked, and in 1925 he associated himself with Mr. Ralph A. Wackerman of ‘Tampa, Florida, to which place he moved his headquarters. During the two years he remained in Florida, he greatly increased the mem- bership of his enterprise by a high-pressure nation-wide propa- ‘ganda campaign.’ As the result of a disagreement with his Florida sponsor, he moved his headquarters to San Jose, California. In 1928 he converted his spurious R. C. Order and fraudulent enter- prise into a family racket and fraudulently incorporated’ it as a
1 See Introduction to Book Three, Volume I, pp. 134 to 139, for a general descrip- tion of his activities.
2 See Chapter VI hereof, where the fraudulent incorporation of his family racket is fully treated.
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PE. RSONAE GE Omi Oka
college, with himself and members of his family as the Hierarchy of his exclusive mystic swindle.
It was not until after 1928 that this fraudulent R. C. Order and fraternal racket took on the serious proportions of a national menace. Since that time, as Supreme Grand Master, outer head and spokesman of the authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity in America, I have published several magazine articles, booklets and pamphlets denouncing the methods of this pseudo-Rosicrucian and his spurious and fraudulent enterprise carried on under the sacred symbol and holy name of the Rosy Cross. }
Last year I issued four booklets* that had wide circulation, deal- ing with this subject, republished as Books Two, Three, Four and Five in Volume I hereof, to which Mr. Lewis attempted to reply in his so-called White Book D, and although it purports to be a reply thereto it is a miserable subterfuge in lieu of a reply, as will clearly appear as the reader proceeds with this volume.
No one realizes or knows so well as Mr. Lewis that his so-called R. C. Order is spurious and fraudulent; that his fraternal family racket is a gigantic swindle, and that his so-called White Book D is a pure subterfuge, a book of cunning and deception and is not, in truth—even to the slightest degree—an answer to our charges or to similar charges made by many of his former members, all of whom he has attacked personally and impugned their motives in one way or another, as also appears in White Book D.
He has from time to time, in various ways, attacked me per- sonally, because he realized and knew full well that he could not in truth or in fact meet the charge of the spurious and fraudulent nature of his fabricated R. C. Order which he has converted into a huge racket and swindle. However, inasmuch as he was unable to meet the truth and the facts as set forth in our recent booklets and realizing that he had failed utterly to answer the same in his booklet of subterfuge and deception, he has, during the past few months, made the most insidious, nefarious, outrageous and mali- cious personal attacks on myself and family, through private cor- respondence and by a well-organized whispering campaign of his so-called militia and scandalmongers, with the wicked purpose of destroying one who accuses him justly, that he may save himself
3 My purpose and motive in issuing those booklets is fully stated in the Foreword to Book Four, Volume I, pp. 179 to 183, and need not be restated here, but should be kept in mind.
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PERSONAL: FOREWORD
and his swindling fraternal racket. Such low tactics and degraded practices are tacit admissions of guilt, that should speak eloquently and convincingly of his guilt to all upright and self-respecting men and women. Innocent men do not resort to such low and question- able methods. 7
I will not stoop to reply to those personal attacks. Even if they were true, he cannot justify his acts of fraud, his fraternal racket and his mystic swindle by pointing the finger of scorn at me or my family. Sufficient to say, however, that my personal conduct, although not claimed to be exemplary or perfect, has been—never- theless—upright and honorable. There has been no scandal con- nected with my family or my private life. I am well reputed in the community in which I have lived all my life. In addition to my connection with the Rose Cross, I belong to fraternal organi- zations to which I would not have been admitted if this were not true and from which I would have been promptly expelled if the slanderous charges were true as circulated by Mr. Lewis and his cohorts.
Although our files abound with material of a personal nature, relating to the private life and personal conduct of Mr. Lewis, I have never made a personal attack upon him.
I have only attacked his spurious and fraudulent fraternal enter- prise, his methods in connection therewith and his unscrupulous tactics. I have never said anything unkind of the ladies of his family. I have said that he is using his wife and daughter-in-law as dupes to further his fraudulent scheme and family racket by having them serve as trustees or directors of his Supreme Grand - Lodge Corporation and to do his bidding, which is true—abso- lutely true, but in justification of those good women, I must say that I doubt if they have any knowledge of the iniquitous nature of his racket. They have trusted him and he has misled them as he has thousands of others.
I have said, and repeat here for emphasis in connection here- with, that “‘we have no malice, we hold no personal grudge against him, notwithstanding his numerous vicious, unjustified personal attacks upon us. We do not attack him personally even if our vigorous attacks upon him may seem to be personal. We are fighting his shameful methods, his false pretenses and the infamous things for which he stands. We are fighting for principle—for right—for justice and honorable dealings and fair play among men.
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PERSONAL, GE ORE W ORD
WE ARE NOT FIGHTING MEN, BUT THE EVIL THAT MEN Do.’
Therefore, the public should not be misled or their attention diverted from his swindling enterprise by the personal attacks he is underhandedly making upon me and others who question or accuse him.
There is an outstanding device, constantly resorted to by Mr. Lewis, to prevent, and with many it does prevent, a fair and impar- tial consideration of the charges which I have made against him, to which particular attention is directed. It is this: He claims that these charges should not be seriously considered and cannot be true because, he says, they are made by a rival who is jealous of his success. Now, the truth is the truth, it matters not by whom it is declared. Let no one be misled by such a subterfuge, intended to prejudice the mind and to prevent a fair and serious considera- tion of the charges upon their merits. In no proper sense can there be rivalry between the real Rose Cross and a spurious R. C. enterprise such as he is operating. Certainly the authentic Order can never regard itself as the rival of a spurious imitation, wrong- fully using its name and usurping its prerogatives—and, most surely, no honest man is envious and jealous of the success achieved by chicanery and fraud. Honest Men are moved to express their disdain and condemnation of such because of their intuitive sense of right, honesty and justice.°
There are two other matters of a similar nature to which I desire to direct the particular attention of Librarians and Radio Program Managers. The Authentic Rosicrucian Order in America has never sought publicity or free advertisement, nor attempted to have publishers of reference books, dictionaries and encyclope- dias publish any facts or the truth about the real Rosicrucians or their activities. On the other hand, Mr. Lewis, the pretender, the charlatan, the fabricator, promoter and proprietor of a spurious Rosicrucian Order, has been busy in furnishing editors and pub- lishers of such publications false information, and by his cunning methods and plausible misrepresentations has succeeded in mis- leading the editors and publishers of the following highly regarded
#Volume' I, p. 183.
°> T ask and expect no one to blindly accept my statements as being true. However, in justice to themselves all interested parties should give fair consideration to the proof of the charges as presented in this work and make their own independent investigations with an open mind.
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Pak ON ATE FORE WiORD
publications and has induced them to make favorable mention of or to give their recognition to and approval of his swindling and fraudulent device, namely:
New Standard Year Book—1934.
Published by Funk and Wagnalls Company. Modern Encyclopedia.
Published by Wm. H. Wise & Co. Encyclopedia Britannica.
14th latest revised edition. Webster’s New International Dictionary.
Second Edition, published by G. & C. ‘Merriam Company. Doubleday Encyclopedia.
Published by Doubleday, Doran & Co., Inc. The Columbia Encyclopedia.
1935 Edition. The World Book Encyclopedia.
‘Published by W. F. Quarrie & Co.
The Progressive Reference Library. 1935 Edition, published by The Holst Publishing Company.
He has also attempted to mislead other editors and publishers of similar publications, but without success. Now, let us note how he is using the publications of the editors whom he has succeeded in misleading. On March 11, 1936, he forwarded a circular letter, on the letterhead of his spurious R. C. Order, over the signature of his son as “Secretary,” to the Chief Librarian of all the public libraries in this country, containing the following statements:
“Respected Librarian:
“The Rosicrucian Order, known throughout the world as AMORC, is a well-established and definitely organ- ized movement and has an enviable reputation. Aside from what it may say about itself, the following un- biased, unprejudiced sources of information refer to it favorably.”
Here is listed the publications above mentioned. The letter continues as follows:
“We understand, however, that an individual named
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R. Swinburne Clymer of Pennsylvania, who operates a small organization from his farm, has circulated a book- let which is being distributed among the leading public libraries of this country and Canada, defaming this or- ganization and its officers, the object being to have the libraries remove our official publication known as “The Rosicrucian Digest’ and our books.”
He was fearful that we would place Volume I of this work in the public libraries of the country and that the truth concerning the Authentic Order and his fraudulent enterprise might be gen- erally diffused. As a matter of fact, Volume I of this work has not been offered to public, fraternal, Masonic or other libraries for the reason that it was not complete. The completed work in Two Volumes will be presented, free of charge, to every public, fraternal and Masonic library in the land—however, not with the view of having removed therefrom ‘‘The Rosicrucian Digest” and other Lewis publications—but to make these volumes accessible to all interested persons, so that the facts concerning the real Rosi- crucian Order and the spurious one in America may be known to all who desire to know the truth.
The letter continues:
“We realize that chief librarians and library officials are not interested in controversies, but they do manifest a spirit of fair play. Therefore, we would appreciate it if, before acting on the libelous literature if it comes to your attention, you carefully read the enclosed booklet which reveals the calibre and character of the individual attacking this organization. You will note from a read- ing of the booklet that in the past he was severely rebuked and criticized for his conduct by the American Medical Association, and they also allege he was in- volved in a fraudulent ‘diploma mill’ closed by the
United States Post Office.”’
With this letter was enclosed White Book D, which is completely answered in this volume. I have also fully answered his misuse of the article published in 1923 in the Journal of the American Medical Association in a pamphlet entitled: “Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer Replies to ‘Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, The Mystic Swindler
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and the A.M.A. Article—Being an Exposé of His Attempted Mis- use of That Article as a Shield of and in Perpetuation of His Own Insidious Fraud.’’®
The letter concludes thus:
‘We only ask that we be given the opportunity to de- fend ourselves against this slander and libel, if it comes to your attention.”
It must occur, even to the casual reader and to the careless thinker, that if this publication is libelous, then the proper forum in which to try the issue of libel is a court of justice having juris- diction of such matters and not a librarian or librarians. Upon this particular question I shall have more to say. Clearly this is an attempt to forestall and prevent, if possible, the placing of this publication in the public libraries, upon the plea that it is libelous and thus to delay, hinder and prevent the truth and the facts becoming generally known. Surely the public librarians in this land of liberty, where the freedom of the press is guaranteed, can- not be so hoodwinked and will not be thus induced to exclude this work from the Public Libraries and assist in suppressing the truth.
The other matter referred to is a circular letter sent to all radio stations in the country, under date of March 26, 1936, on the letterhead of ‘The Rosicrucian Order (AMORC)”’ signed by his
son as “Secretary,” which is as follows:
“To the Program Manager: Bear oir:
“It has been called to our attention recently that many radio stations throughout the country are receiving in- quiries as to who the Rosicrucians are, and what their activities are. This is due to the fact that there are many programs on the air today dealing with philosophy, meta- physics, psychology, and kindred subjects, which mention the Rosicrucians.
‘Therefore, we take this opportunity of sending you two enclosed brochures for reference. One is entitled ‘Some Facts About the Rosicrucians,’ which definitely sets forth what the organization is, and what it is not. The
6 This pamphlet is available to all who desire it.
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other conveys a pictorial idea of the institution behind the organization. We ask that you kindly file same away for reference under the heading of ‘Rosicrucian’ or ‘Rosi- crucianism.’. Naturally the Rosicrucians are not a reli- gious Order, but a philosophical society.
‘If at any time we can provide you with further infor- mation about this Order for the benefit of your listeners, please do not hesitate in calling upon us.
‘Attached is a list of recognized authoritative refer- ence sources of an unbiased nature which refer to this world-wide organization. Its traditional origin dates back into antiquity.”
Enclosed with said letter was the list of publications above referred to and the pamphlets therein mentioned. ‘This is a fair sample of the clever, cunning, artful—yet insidious—methods em- ployed to prevent the dissemination of truthful information about the Rosicrucians and the Rose Cross Order and to secure the broadcasting of false information in aid of his spurious Rosicrucian Order and fraternal swindle.
Before publishing the facts contained in Volume I hereof I offered to join Mr. Lewis in a fair, dignified and secret hearing and complete investigation of our respective claims before a com- petent tribunal composed of high Masons learned in fraternal ’ customs, landmarks and laws and offered to abide the results thereof.’ He refused to join in a fair, full and complete investi- gation. This should be sufficient indication to all investigators and interested parties that his false claims and spurious Rosicrucian Order cannot stand the test of an honest, proper and genuine in- vestigation,
The gist of the charges I have made and now make against H. Spencer Lewis may be summarized as follows: that he was not initiated into the Order of the Rose Cross in France in 1909 and that he is not a Rosicrucian; that he received no rightful Rosicru- cian authority from the French or any French Rosicrucian Order to institute the order in this country in 1915, and even if an authentic Rosicrucian Order had granted such authority—which was not the case—he could not have rightfully exercised such au- thority because the Order existed-in this country at that time, prior
* See Book Three, Volme I, pp. 156 to 170.
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thereto since 1858 and at all times since; that he fabricated his so-called Rosicrucian Order; that it is spurious and in no sense a real Rosicrucian organization; that he has falsely represented and continues to represent it to be a Rosicrucian Order and the only real Rosicrucian Organization in America perpetuating the original or- ganization and its teachings, thereby perpetrating a continuing fraud by which thousands have been defrauded; that his various other claims of Rosicrucian authority from India, Egypt, Germany, Den- mark, Switzerland and the World Council or the International R. C. Council are all false and have been used by him for fraudulent purposes and as swindling devices; that in 1928 he converted his spurious and fraudulent Rose Cross Order into a Family Racket, since which time he has been wrongfully carrying on and conducting a fraternal racket, a fraudulent enterprise and a mystic swindle of nation-wide and gigantic proportions. Thus I indict Mr. Lewis, the pseudo-Rosicrucian and fraternal racketeer. I am prepared to prove this indictment and much more than here charged.
I am aware that these charges are libelous if untrue. Therefore, the most effective way for him to establish the falsity thereof is to bring a libel suit against me. I will not resort to any technical pleas, but will plead the truth in full justification thereof—thus will the issue be clear cut and a court of competent jurisdiction can then determine the truth or falsity of the charges that I make.*
I fully appreciate the fact that this question can not be finally settled by the publication of charges even with sustaining evidence on my part, and Lewis publishing his replies thereto, for two prin- cipal reasons: First, ninety-eight percent of the public are unin- formed upon the subject and are unable to determine the truth or the falsity of the charges. Second, Mr. Lewis is unscrupulous. He will make and publish any statement however false, if plausible, in reply thereto and will resort to any device or method however
-8 Inasmuch as Mr. Lewis knows that the charges I make are true, it is not at all likely that he will hazard a suit on the clear-cut issue of the truth or falsity of my charges as briefly outlined above. If this bold suggestion forces him to bring a suit against me it can be accurately predicted, based upon his underhanded methods and past performance, that he will seek every unfair advantage, do everything possible to prevent a fair and just decision on the merits, bring his suit upon immaterial issues, becloud the issues by cunning subterfuges, create every possible ambiguity and resort to all dilatory tactics known to the cleverest lawyer, so that he may make a grandstand play and thus save himself without facing the real issue. Such a suit as he will bring, if any, and if tried, will be decisive of no important or vital issue.
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unworthy and degrading to sustain himself and to perpetuate his fraudulent enterprise, even to the extent of publishing falsified or manufactured evidence and mutilated or deleted documents, as he did in his White Book D, as is fully demonstrated in this answer thereto. .
In publishing the facts about this extraordinary fraternal racket and the unique methods of its cunning promoter and proprietor, the following objects have been foremost. (a) To protect the good name of a holy and sacred institution. (b) So far as possible, to prevent sincere seekers of the Rosy Cross from being misled and defrauded. (c) To cause and to assist students of occultism and mysticism, as well as all interested parties, to make their own investigations. (d) To arouse in mystic, occult and fraternal cir- cles a righteous indignation against such racketeering in brotherly love and fraternalism, and cause the many thousands interested in mystic societies, occult orders and the various fraternities to make a public and insistent demand that the government and govern- mental agencies take necessary and proper action to protect the public against this notorious fraud and outrageous swindle. (e) And to emphatically and notably direct the attention of public off- cials, whose sworn and sacred duty it is to protect the citizens and inhabitants of this land against such frauds, to facts in the case, so that they may have no justifiable excuse for permitting such a swindle to exist, continue and prosper at the expense of thousands of victims—even though the wrong is cleverly and cunningly done under the disguise of fraternalism or brotherly love and committed with an air of mysticism that confuses, confounds and misleads high governmental officials as it has thousands of his victims.
If Mr. Lewis will accept my suggestion and bring a suit of libel against me without subterfuge, confusion or dilatory and unfair tactics, in federal or state courts of Pennsylvania, on the clear-cut issue that I have charged that his spurious Rosicrucian order is a fraud anda swindle, I will join the issue with him by pleading the truth of my charges and I will prove in court by competent and overwhelming evidence that his so-called Rosicrucian family racket is a fraud and swindle of the most malignant and pernicious type. With the assistance of attorneys who are members of the authentic Order in America who have volunteered their services and the au- thentic Rosicrucian Orders of Europe who have greatly assisted in collecting and securing the necessary evidence, I will make a judicial
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record that will leave no room for doubt in the minds of public officials that AMORC, the family racket of H. Spencer Lewis, is a vicious fraud and nation-wide, inter-state swindle. With such facts judicially established in a civil action, then surely the govern- ment will promptly take the necessary and proper steps to put an end to this fraternal racketeering. Will Mr. Lewis thus assist in the judicial determination of the truth of my charges?
Publication of this volume has been delayed until every witness, here and abroad, could be located to prove every essential fact and until original rare documents, known to exist, could be secured from Europe and elsewhere, some of which are reproduced herein, notably: Oriflamme, Jubilee Issue, 1912.
Grateful acknowledgment is made of the valuable assistance thus rendered by Rosicrucian Grand Masters of France and Europe with whom we maintain the most cordial relations. |
Assuming complete personal responsibility for every statement contained in this publication and vouching for the truth thereof, with this personal foreword I present this completed work, in two volumes, for the consideration and information of all concerned.
Truthfully and Fraternally submitted,
R. SWINBURNE CLYMER.
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We Have Heard the Other Side In the so-called White Book D we have The Other Side—the
defense of his fraudulent Rosicrucian Order, of his racketeering in brotherly love and fraternalism—as simulated, fabricated and falsified by H. Spencer Lewis. Herein it is weighed in the balances and found wanting—wholly wanting and devoid of truth or justi- fication. Herein we make an exhaustive analysis of White (?)