Chapter VI.

1 This salutation is fully set forth in quotation (13), supra.
Zak
AN ANSWER TO LEWIS WHITE Gs bCOOkKe a.
second propaganda booklet issued April 30, 1917, entitled Rosi- crucian Initiation, on page 17, and on the following page it is stated:
NATIONAL LODGE CHARTERED
(47) “In response to the general plea from thousands who seek Light, the Imperator granted to Knight Thor Kiimalehto, Grand Master of the New York jurisdiction, the following charter:
“ANCIENT AND MYSTICAL ORDER ROSAE CRUCIS OF THE UNITED STATES—AMERICA
“Possessing Power and Authority Derived from the Supreme Coun- cil of the World through the sponsor-
ship of the Grand Council of the Grand Lodge of France, Pronun- ziamento R. F. No. 987,432, Sept. 30, 1915, A. D.
SALUTATION ON ALL POINTS OF THE TRIANGLE* LIGHT LIFE LOVE
“T, the Imperator and Sovereign Pontiff R. C., hereby grant to THOR KIIMALEHTO
THIS CHARTER
in accordance with the Constitution of the Order in America and with the approval of the
AMERICAN SUPREME GRAND COUNCIL
“Wwhereby he is to establish and maintain a Lodge of this Order in strict conformity of the Constitution of the Order, the Rules of the American Supreme Council and the Pronunziamento of the Imperator in America, such lodge to be known as NATIONAL R>KC LODGE and located in City of New York.
“This charter is granted for a period of one year, renewable each year thereafter for 3 successive years, and is transferable or revokable on sixty days’ notice by the Master who granted this charter.
“Sealed and dated this 25th day of April in the year 1917 A. D., 32 (0 aR. aC [Masonic] H. Spencer Lewis, F. R. C., R. F. XII [Seal ] Imperator in U. S. A. H. Spencer Lewis, Supreme Grand Master.”
* This is a Masonic greeting of the Order of Memphis-Mizraim.
G22
FALSE CLAIMS OF R.>+C. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
“This charter permits Knight Kiimalehto to establish and main- tain a Lodge, National in scope and jurisdiction, for the Initiation, teaching and illuminating of Neophytes who live in cities or towns too remote from any of our present Lodges * * * and—the Char- ter? makes this National Lodge a legally chartered and sponsored Lodge of the Order in America under the patronage and guidance of the Most Worshipful Grand Master and Imperator, H. Spencer Lewis, F. R. C. [with a Masonic Title], whose kind and autocratic powers created and maintain this National Lodge.” (Rosicrucian
Initiation, 1917, p. 18.)
Much that would be of interest could be said concerning: this charter and matters connected with it. However, we must let that © pass for the present, only to note that this charter purports to have been issued under “‘Pronunziamento No. 987,432,” the bogus cer- tificate of sponsorship, and not under ‘“‘Pronunziamento No. 987,601,” the spurious certification of the action of the “High Lateran Council” held in Egypt, which indicates that he regarded his chance to get away with his scheme and device was better under his former spurious Pronunciamento than the latter. Both being spurious, he chose the one which to him seemed to be the most plausible.
In this second propaganda booklet (1917) we find him promot- ing his fabrication with another account of its establishment, as follows:
“The Order in America
(48) “Ever since the obelisk which stood outside the Rosicrucian Temple at Heliopolis, Egypt, was brought to America and erected with ‘Rose Croix’® ceremonies by the Masonic Order in Central Park, New York, occult students have been patiently awaiting the coming of the Order to America.*
“Being established in all other civilized countries, it was only
“Since he claimed that R. C. Lodges were created by sponsorship, we wonder why he went to the trouble to issue this charter.
® Again he connects Masonry to and with his promotion.
* At the head of this article is a sketch of “Cleopatra’s Needle” in Central Park, New York City. There was no connection between this event and the establishment of his spurious Order. However, it was good promotional propaganda for the gullible.
723
AN ANSWER*1O LEWIS’ WHITH) (2) 3b OCs
natural to expect the establishment of the Order in America.? But from France, England,’ Germany, Russia, Spain, Italy and Egypt came word that ‘when the time comes the Order will find its place in the land where the Eagle spreads its wings; but the time is not yet come.’
“Less than fifty years ago Rosicrucians visiting America from other lands brought the glad news that the year 1915 had been officially decreed as the year for the American establishment.’ There were then prophecies of a world war, of great European struggles and the need in 1915 of a newer center of Rosicrucian strength. The year 1915 became the expected year of Light for America.®
“It was not strange, then, that at the close of 1914° there appeared in the American occult world a certain strange mystic [H. Spencer Lewis, the BARON MUNCHAUSEN OF THE OCCULT], who sought among advanced thinkers in New York a few to whom he could confide the message he bore from France. Many who knew him discerned his strange actions, his deep study and mysterious prepara- tions [!] for nearly six years, and his previous activities in the world of occult science, psychic research and mystic unfoldment [!!] led them to expect a greater and more marvelous message than any that had come to America heretofore.* '
“Tt was no surprise, then, to learn in February, 1915,? that he—
5 The authentic Order was established in. America, of which fact he had full knowledge.
6 According to the statement—quotation (40)—the power of the English Lodge had been suspended. ‘Therefore, it is strange that word should come from England regarding the establishment of his so-called R. C. Order in America.
7 This is purely promotional propaganda. However, it is well to note that not- withstanding his repeated statements that his fabrication was “decreed” and “author- ized” to be established in 1915, yet he has also repeatedly asserted that it was estab- lished in 1909. See Volume JI, p. 198, and compare with other statements herein quoted.
8 But the authentic Order was established in America in 1858. See Books One, Two and Four of Volume I.
9 Here he put his first public efforts to introduce his fabrication at the close of 1914. Compare this with quotation (25).
1 This strange, fantastical and mysterious description of himself—picturing him- self as a most unusual being, of deep study—profound and mysterious—and of mys- tic unfoldment, with a most extraordinary message for America, while intended as promotional propaganda for his fraternal racket, it. was bait for the unwary but mystically inclined. It was, and is, a Badge of Fraud.
2 This is not consistent with his statement that he began his outward activities in the fall of 1913—quotation (25)—here he implies that it was not until February, 1915, that any one knew of his possession of the seals, jewels and devices.
124
PEP Cr AIMS, OF RonC. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
the present Imperator and Grand Master General of the Order in America—was in possession of certain seals, jewels, papers, docu- ments and manuscripts bearing the Rosaecrucian symbols, rituals and teachings and that through other messengers from Egypt, India and France had come powers and instructions to ‘establish and maintain’ in America the true Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis.” (Rosicrucian Initiation, 1917, p. 5. The italics are ours.)
Hs Often-Told Story
Many are the times he has told this story of the organization of his fabrication and the authority therefor. Each time he retells it the contradictions of its details tell a story within a story of the falsity of his story and reveal more and more the devices of his fraudulent promotion.
The first time he told this changing, contradictory and ridicu- lous story—quotation (7)—all of the necessary papers, jewels and sponsorship had been secured in France in 1909 for the organiza- tion of his fabrication in America in 1915. Here we are told that the powers and instructions to establish and maintain his spurious Order in America came through messengers from Egypt, India and France. Here for the first time he began to gather jewels, seals and devices from India for promotional purposes. Compare his statements here made with those in quotations (10), (16), (23), (25) and other and different versions of the same story to follow.
Continuing his promotional propaganda in the same article, he tells us of:
(49) “Calling together mine men and women who had spent their lives in occult research? (one of whom was the official messenger of the Order from India), the present Imperator, Most Worshipful Grand Master, H. Spencer Lewis, presented for examination the seals, jewels and papers he possessed and formally offered them for acceptation and adoption. After careful scrutiny, investigation and
3 It is recalled that when he made his great mistake in 1913—quotation (25) he called together “some especially advanced members of the New York Institute of Psychical Research’—these were the ones “who had spent their lives in occult re- search,” but they would have nothing to do with his fabrication. In his statement in quotation (27) the “nine men and women’ who became the organization com- mittee were those who had answered his advertisement in the New York Sunday Herald. ‘They were just men and women—no mention is made of their being ad- vanced occultists.
725
AN ANSWER TO LEWIS’ WHITEN@n) DB OOKw Ds
thought,‘ these nine men and women constituted themselves a foun- dation committee with the avowed purpose of assisting Mr. Lewis in carrying out his sworn obligations [!] to his superiors to establish the true [?] Order Rosae Crucis in America free from any commer- cial features, high in ideal, altruistic, unselfish and noble.®
“The news of this momentous decision spread to certain news- papers. Editors, scientists, Masonic® officers, physicians and students of American reputation took up the spreading of the Light that had come, with the result that like a blinding flash of lightning in the dark of the night, the glad tidings traveled from coast to coast.
“America with its hundreds of thousands of occult students and inquiring minds was ready for the great coming of this great school‘ of learning, and the presence in America of the ancient Rosaecrucian Jewel and Seal® (used by one of the founders in Egypt in 1500 B. C.) was sufficient to set into motion the mighty forces which, since 1915, have swept the work onward and onward in America until today the Order is a wonderful reality having the highest endorsement of the clergy of all denominations and creeds, educators, scientists and newspapers.” (Rosicrucian Initiation, 1917, p. 6. The italics are ours.)
This is a fine sample of the methods and typical of the falsified, inflated and exaggerated promotional propaganda which he used and still uses to promote this fraternal swindle. The magical pres- ence of his brass beetle—alleged to be an “‘ancient Rosicrucian jewel and seal’’—failed to set the right forces in motion, and his fra- ternal enterprise went on the rocks the following year, as we shall soon see. However, beginning in 1925 and continuing unto this day, with high-pressure salesmanship, false propaganda, such as above quoted, and intensified and persistent national advertising, he has spread his fraudulent enterprise and fraternal swindle from
4Note the stressing of the “examination and approval” of his authority—it is a Badge of Fraud.
5 As to his non-commercial and unselfish aims, see Chapter VI.
6 This is further evidence of his use of Masonry to promote his fraternal business. Note that he again uses the Masonic title of Most Worshipful Grand Master.
7 He affirms and also denies that his spurious Order is a school. We shall give this special consideration later on.
8’This was an Egyptian Beetle which he purchased in a curio shop in New York or had made. It was another of his contrivances and devices. How this brass beetle became a magic wand and swept into action such “mighty forces” is one of the great secrets of his fabrication. It would be ungracious for us to expose it. He tells how he came into possession of this “Cartouche seal” in quotations (49) and (50) and his fondness for beetles is shown on page 181, supra.
726
PAbor GlEAIMS OF Rik C. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
coast to coast and all over this fair land; as the result of which several thousands of well-meaning, uninformed, credulous or gulli- ble citizens of this country have been defrauded and swindled.
Business Very Bad Retiring Into Profound Silence
All the pufted-up and exaggerated promotional propaganda to the contrary notwithstanding, the project had not been a success. At the close of 1917 failure was so apparent that we find Lewis suspending the publication of his official organ, The American Rosae Crucis, and making an announcement preparatory to retir- ing from his ill-conceived and poorly designed Rose Cross Order with a view of redesigning and revamping it so as to be a better imitation of the real Rosicrucian Order. The announcement was as follows:
(50) ‘As 1918 enters into our consciousness we find the Order making its first move toward profound silence. We are about to retire to oblivion, as we predicted we would,? and carry on our work in a greater way than has been possible before. Not only will this magazine, as a public publication, cease with this issue, but other literature will be so edited and issued as to be more conservative, more secret and more silent. Membership into our Order will be far more difficult to acquire after January, 1918, than membership into any other secret organization,’ and all Secretaries and Masters in our Order will be notified of the new requirements for member- ship after that date.” (American Rosae Crucis, December, 1917, p. 249. The italics are ours. )
Judging from the propaganda literature herein reviewed, the reader no doubt will agree that it should have been more conserva- tive. But never unto this day has that prophecy been fulfilled. The literature of AMORC and its widespread advertising have been everything except conservative. See quotations (98) and (101).
However, the anticipated plan to retire into oblivion and pro- found silence was not put into immediate execution. Instead, there
® At no time prior to 1925 was his project a success. He expected it to collapse long before it did. He had prepared a way out for himself by predicting that it would retire into ultra-silence.
t This was an eleventh hour effort to secure a few more victims to help the des- perate financial situation which then existed.
72d
AN ANSWER TO LEWIY WHT ES Gb OOkKe 7.
was evolved another scheme early in 1918 to float a large issue of 6 per cent gold bonds to purchase a temple’ and to carry on the work. The bonds were issued, some of them were sold and money was used for various purposes. The temple was not purchased. This, among other things, resulted in his lodge room being raided by the District Attorney and the New York Police on Monday, June 17, 1918, and Mr. Lewis was placed under arrest.
Lewis Arrested in a Raid on the Supreme
Headquarters of AMORC
It was rather a spectacular raid and a notorious affair. All of the New York papers carried a full account of it. We shall briefly review the account published in the New York Sun, June 18, 1918. When the raid was made Lewis was holding a secret session of his lodge with about sixty or seventy men and women present—most of them were of German, Scandinavian and Russian extraction*— on the second floor of what was the Lilly Langtry home, and be- fore that the Josie Mansfield residence, at 361 West Twenty-third Street, New York City. With the outward appearance of distinc- tion, the place was described as being poorly furnished, with no covering upon the floors except a coat of dust. The Grand Impera- tor was in the midst of an interpretation of some of the occult mys- teries of his fabrication when the detectives rudely interrupted. The Imperator attempted to expostulate and asked Detective Russo: ‘‘Are you a Mason?” The report stated that “the interest of the Masonic officials was aroused by the representation of Lewis that he wasa Mason. Lewis is not a Mason.”’ He quickly divested himself of his robes of ofice and was taken to headquarters. It was said that the U. S. Government authorities were interested in the claim that Lewis had been soliciting members in his Order on the representation that such members were automatically exempt from the draft and gave them the right to profess conscientious scruples against war.* The charge upon which the raid and arrest
°’The proposed Temple is described and a plan of financing the purchase thereof is discussed in Cromaat, E., pp. 43 to 49—a Picture is shown on page 51.
3'These were the eminent professional and business people who had examined his “papers, jewels, seals and devices’ and had pronounced them genuine.
*In his Cromaat B, p. 33—a private publication for members, issued in winter
728
Peeoreerarvis OF RoC.“ AUTHORITY REVIEWED
were made was the selling of fraudulent bonds.
On the following day, June 19, 1918, the New York Sun pub- lished another article in connection with the arrest of Lewis, which we show in reduced fac-simile in our Reproduction No. 65 and which we quote verbatim, except the omission of the second and fourth headlines, as follows:
GRAND IMPERATOR, GRIEVED AT ARREST, SPENd: NIGH E IN A CELE
“Half a dozen detectives attached to the District Attorney’s office were examining effects, meaning sateen sashes, robes and other re- galia—taken in the raid of the headquarters of the so-called Ameri- can Order of the Rosae Crucis.
‘While they were still going over the papers, books and other paraphernalia of various kinds collected in the raid that was de- scribed exclusively in The Sun yesterday, H. Spencer Lewis, who had been variously described as the main works, the grand imper- ator, the most perfect master profundis and illustrious brother of the illuminati of the world, was explaining to The Sun that his arrest, detention and examination taken altogether comprised one of the greatest outrages ever perpetrated upon a real and regular Rosae ~rucian.
“Grand Imperator Lewis was arrested on Monday night in a spectacular raid on the headquarters of his organization in the old Lily Langtry house at 361 West Twenty-third Street. “Iwo or three dozen of his followers tried to get bail, but the Grand Im- perator had to spend the night in a cell.
“Gold Bonds Figure in Charge
“Lewis was arraigned yesterday in Jefferson Market Court before Magistrate Blau on a short affidavit sworn to by Detective-Lieu- tenant Joseph Russo, alleging suspicion of larceny of money through the sale of bonds of the so-called American Order of the Rosae Crucis. Lewis was later released under $5,000 for examination tomorrow.
“Lewis gave his name as Harvey S. Lewis, although he is known among the members of his cult as H. Spencer Lewis. The charge
.of 1917 and 1918, he says that the Imperator was assured last summer that conscien- ‘tious objections would exempt members. but that the local Draft Boards refuse such - claim; that it is of no use whatever, and that the Supreme Secretary and many others had been selected to serve in the war. He advised members that he could do nothing to help them avoid serving the country, if selected.
Woe.
AN ANSWER FO LEWIS’ WHITE (?) BOOK “D”
against him is based on statements of Miss Elizabeth Meeker, of 70. Fifth Avenue, who at one time was a member of Lewis’ organiza- tion, and who, when the financial affairs of the so-called order were somewhat strained, declares that she handed over a hundred-dollar bill, subsequently receiving one of the 6 per cent gold bonds of the Ancient and Mystic Order of Rosae Crucis.
“Miss Meeker explained yesterday that her contribution had been given without solicitation in October of 1916, that she received the bond with a receipt for the money paid, and that she had also received $6 interest. She admitted, however, that after attending several meetings of the organization she felt compelled to withdraw as a member.
“From his home in Flushing last night Lewis told a reporter for The Sun that at no time had his organization—the ancient and Mystical Order of Rosae Crucis—ever claimed to be operating as a branch of the Rosae Crucis organization in France. ‘We have never claimed to hold any warrant, charter, patent or authority from any foreign country, he said over the telephone.
“STUDIES OF THE OCCUR
“The allegations against Lewis are that he has disposed of several thousand dollars worth of bonds upon the representation that his organization was a recognized branch of a world-wide institution devoted to studies of the occult.
“Among the papers seized in Lewis’ desk on Monday night is a piece of parchment headed ‘Pronunziamento R. F. R. C. No. 987,601’. The document is adorned with a number of crude seals, dated Toulouse, France, September 20, 1916, and signed by one Jean Jordain. After the signature follow a series of hieroglyphics. In the body of the document addressed to Le Secretaire General, Thos. Kiumalehto, appears the announcement that a separate jurisdiction of the Rosae Crucis has been established in America under the supreme Pontiff High Ancient Shekah El Moria Ra of Memphis and that the official seal is being forwarded to the Most Perfect Mas- ter Profundis H. Spencer Lewis at New York.” (The Sun, New York, June 19, 1918. The italics are ours.)
Denied Foreign Connections and Authority
When faced with the charge of selling bonds under the false pre- tense that his spurious R. C. Order was a recognized branch of a world-wide institution, he very promptly and properly DENIED ALL FOREIGN CONNECTIONS. HE DENIED THAT HE HAD EVER CLAIMED
730
foe APN OF RoC. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
TO HOLD ANY WARRANT, CHARTER, PATENT OR AUTHORITY FROM ANY FOREIGN COUNTRY. That he held no such warrant or author- ity is true. To that extent his denial was justified. However, in the face of his claims which we have examined and others which we shall presently review, it does seem that he made a bold and dan- gerous move when he denied that he had ever made such claims. Perhaps after a night’s meditation in jail he concluded that the application of a little truth—a partial truth—would be the best way out. Therefore, he denied that he had ever made such claims so as to let the inference carry the truth, namely, that he possessed no authority. The article concludes as follows:
“Flonors for American Master
“In the February, 1916, number of the American Rosae Crucis, which is described on the first page as a monthly magazine devoted to science, philosophy and religion, a picture of Lewis in his robes of office appears, and in reference to him is this statement.
“But in 1909 our Master journeyed to France and England to complete his preparation for the Rosaecrucian work—which always seemed to be his goal—and he was given several honors and titles by the French R. C. Order. By agreement with the supreme coun- cil in France and Egypt the permission, long sought by scientists and earnest philosophical students, was given unto our Master to establish the R. C. Order in America in the year 1915.
“When he was arraigned in court yesterday Mark Ellison, coun- sel for Lewis, declared that the District Attorney had produced no proof to show that Lewis ever received a dollar in cash for the
bonds he is alleged to have sold.” (The Sun, New York, June 1901918.)
On June 23, 1918, the New York Sun carried an account of the dismissal of the above-mentioned charges for want of prosecution. The charges may or may not have been true. We do not know. We have Nor quoted the above account of the charges to show that they were true. We will proceed upon the theory that there was not sufficient evidence presented to the court to sustain them. We are directing attention to the arrest of Mr. Lewis and the notori- ous raid on his headquarters for an altogether DIFFERENT reason and purpose, as will presently appear.
Lou
AN ANSWER TO LEWIS = WEP Erb Oh
Had Another Court. Find That He Had Never Been Arrested
In July, 1933, after he had paid $15,000 to keep the truth from being proven in the case of AMORC vs. Smith in the manner as described in Chapter I hereof, he procured from the California court a judicial finding that:
“Tt is not true that H. Spencer Lewis was arrested in or during a raid of the lodge rooms of plaintiff order [AMORC] in New York City, or that H. Spencer Lewis has been arrested for larceny, or for evading the selective draft in the late war. ‘The Court finds that said H. Spencer Lewis has not been arrested at any time, any place, and for any cause whatsoever.’ (AMORC vs. Geo. L. Smith, Transcript on Appeal, page 363. “The italics are ours. )
Yes, indeed, he secured that finding of fact, judicially deter- mined by the court, and made it a part of the judicial records of the State of California, notwithstanding that there was not a scintilla of evidence before the court upon which to base the finding and despite the fact that the finding was contrary to the truth and abso- lutely false. It is true beyond all question that Lewis was arrested in a raid upon the lodge rooms of AMORC in New York City on Junest7P 19132
It is also true that he secured from the California court said false finding in the manner and under the scheme heretofore de- scribed (pp. 47 to 77, supra), to be used—as it actually was used for promotional purposes—to promote his family racket and fra- ternal swindle. This is clearly shown to be the case, inasmuch as a short time after he secured said false finding he published it in his propaganda booklet entitled Guilty, hereinbefore described (pp. 71 to 76, supra), a statement purporting to give a truthful version of the foregoing false finding, as follows:
(51) “The Court also found from the evidence® that neither the
> The police and court records of New York City show it to be true—besides there are many still living who know it to be true, and will so testify.
6 This refers to the Court in which the Case of AMORC ws. SmiTH was tried in California. There was no evidence before the Court upon the subjects set forth by Lewis in this quotation. See the Transcript on Appeal. It will also be noted that he does not quote the Court’s findings correctly, but grossly exaggerates and over- states them.
732
FALSE CLAIMS OF R.-kC. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
executive head nor any of the other officers of the plaintiff order, nor the order itself, had ever been involved in any illegal, immoral, or other unethical practices which resulted in court proceedings, arrests or unfavorable notoriety.” (Guilty pamphlet, p. 9. The italics are ours. )
A Base Scheme and Device The Court’s False Finding Used to Promote a Fraud
There is no disgrace, within the fact itself, in being arrested. It is not a proof of guilt. Many good men and true have been ar- rested who were innocent of the charge upon which they were arrested. Ir Mr. LEWIS WERE ENTIRELY INNOCENT OF THE CHARGE VAS LAID, HE SHOULD HAVE FELT NO TWINGE OF CON- SCIENCE, SINCE THE CHARGE UPON WHICH HE. WAS ARRESTED WAS DISMISSED. IT WAS NO DISGRACE FOR HIM TO HAVE BEEN ARRESTED IN NEw York City IN 1918, BUT IT WAS A SHAME AND DISGRACE FOR HIM TO OVERREACH A JUDGE OF A COURT OF JUS- TICE AND HAVE, OR EVEN PERMIT, A COURT IN CALIFORNIA TO FIND AND JUDICIALLY RECORD THE FOREGOING FALSE STATEMENT OF FACT. VERILY, IT WAS MORE THAN A SHAME AND DISGRACE FOR HIM TO USE THAT FALSE FINDING OF FACT AS PROPAGANDA TOS TROSPiEYS DAE EXISTENCE OF HIS FAMILY RACKET AND TO PRO- MOTE A FRATERNAL SWINDLE. WE SAY AGAIN, IT WAS A DISGRACE AND SCANDAL FOR HIM TO OVERREACH THE JUDGE TO SECURE THE FALSE FINDING, BUT IT WAS AND IS UNDESCRIBABLE CHI- CCANERY FOR HIM TO USE THE COURT AS A MEANS OF PERPETUAT- ING A FRAUD UPON THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA AND THESE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
The Right Perspective
To get the right perspective—the correct picture—and to better understand the claims which he made prior to 1918, the sudden change in his plans and claims made during the latter part of 1917, 1918 and the early part of 1919 and those made subsequent thereto, it is well for us to point out and for the reader to keep in mind that his fabrication began to fail financially and otherwise go to pieces in the winter of 1917. The scheme to finance it and to
733,
AN ANSWER “TO LEWis) WATE TCO
purchase a temple resulted in his arrest in June, 1918. He spent the latter part of 1918 in a heroic attempt to hold together his. Supreme Lodge in New York, but his leading members doubted and questioned his authority and the authenticity of his teachings. Failing to convince them, he wrote and published his Cromaat F, which he says he finished “while journeying to and back from a very pleasant vacation visit to Tampa, Florida, during the holiday season.” It was his special and personal message to his members in which he “Explains the Paramount Problems of Our Order.”’ In this publication he issued his challenge concerning the source of his teachings, which we quoted, published in fac-simile and dis- cussed in Volume I, page 280, et seq., and also published his article of “Introspection” about his new plans and ‘‘Temple of Alden,” which we quoted and discussed in Chapter III hereof (pp. 168 to 172, supra), to which the reader may refer in connection herewith.
The chaotic condition of his organization and the travail through which it was passing are clearly told by his statement in the same publication, as follows:
(52) “The 1918 Convention is passed and my thirty-fifth year has come to a close. Both the Order and myself have safely passed the most trying period of existence fraught with severe tests and experiences, designed to overthrow the one and bring oblivion and loss of power to the other. But, with thanks and appreciation for the love and loyalty as well as fairmindedness and discrimination of most of our members, and with honor to the autocratic power placed in my hands by my Brothers and Sisters,’ the Order is stronger in number of members and number of Lodges, and greater in power through the love and sacrifices of all who have suffered with me than it was last year. This is the answer to the machinations, the schemes, the ambitions, the falsehoods and the dishonorable attacks of our enemies.
“Several great lessons have been taught to us by the fire in the
7In quotation (29) he claimed that he possessed the “autocratic power” vested in him by the Masters, but did not desire to arbitrarily use it. Here he claims that his autocratic power was placed in his hands by his members. It is upon this claim of autocratic power that he bases the right of his family to become “the Order” and to make a family racket of AMORC, as we shall see in Chapter VI.
734
FALSE CLAIMS OF R.-&C. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
crucible as it burned during the past seven months. * * *” (Cro- maat F, page 5. The italics are ours.)
A Drastic Revision The Fabrication to Become More Like Rose Cross
Preparatory to revising his fabrication and making it more like a Rose Cross Order, in keeping with his “Introspection” above mentioned® and, as usual, in anticipation of his next move and the introduction of another spurious document of his own making, in closing his Cromaat F, he advises that:
(53) “The next issue of the Cromaat will contain, in addition to some very valuable instructions and information for our members, - a very important announcement bearing upon the Order and its relation to AMORC throughout the world. This official matter which comes to us too late to appear in proper form in this issue is a fitting climax to the Imperator’s annual message which appears in this issue, and is also a timely and valuable answer to the many questions which some have raised. It sets at rest, at once and for all time, the true status and relation of our Order in the North Ameri- can jurisdiction, and places beyond dispute and cavil those mooted points which no investigator—even of the highest Courts of this land—could competently, thoroughly and legally settle. It will bring to our Order that Peace and that Power that could come in no other way, and reveals what could not have been revealed until now, despite the demands and, shall I say, threats that have been made.” (Cromaat F, p. 26. The italics are ours.)
The “‘demands”’ referred to were the persistent demands of his vmembers that he show his authority and the authenticity of his Rosicrucian teachings. They had pointed out that his teachings were not the secret teachings of the Rosicrucians, but had been cop- ied from books.” ‘The forthcoming document was to be not only an answer to these demands, but it would “‘set at rest once and for all time the TRUE STATUS” of AMORC, which could not be settled in any other way and could not be revealed until then. We shall now consider the remarkable document with which he attempted to revise the plan of his fabrication, to prove its genuineness and to
8 For a quotation of this statement see pp. 169 to 171, supra. ° See Cromaat F, pp. 11-12, quoted and discussed in Volume I, pp. 169, ef seg.
73S
AN ANSWER TO LEWIS) WH TE? G2) sb OO 2s
fix its STATUS for all time. In ‘Special Issue,” Cromaat G, styled “An Official Communica-
tion from the R. C. Authorities to the Order in North America,” he reveals the following:
“Official Communication to the Order”
(54) “The following communication was officially delivered to the Imperator through the offices of the Hierophant R>C, and is officially published in this special issue of Cromaat by direction of the supreme authorities that all may know its contents and be duly and officially advised.
“On the pages following this communication will be found the Imperator’s comments on the matter contained therein. ‘These, too, shall be carefully read and studied.
“The term Pisces, Three Degrees, is the astrological’ date upon which the decrees contained in the communication were to become effective. It is equivalent to midnight, Saturday, February 22, 1919.
(Dated) “‘At the Third Vault, Near.the Lak Pisces, Three Degrees
“To H. Spencer Lewis, as he is Imperator :—
and the Supreme Council of AMORC.— “ Salutations :-—
“This epistle to you must of necessity be well and faithfully heeded:
“*(1) The duty having devolved upon us carefully inspecting the development of your Order in this country, and of testing by comparison and analogy its fitness to serve as a medium of inculcat- ing a proper knowledge of occult teaching, we have now come to the end of our watching and have taken counsel.
co 6
(2) Therefore, we have the direction to say these things, that
1 Here again he deals with astrology. In the spring of 1918 he issued Cromaat E, which purports to give “A Complete System of Cosmic Geomancy,” by Profundis XII, which purports to answer any question under, what appears to be, a strange mixture of astrology and numerology, and by which his members could read ‘The Universal Mind.” Yet, as we have noted before, he later denied that his fabrication taught Astrology.
2 An attempt to make the place of origin of this alleged communication very mys- terious. The “Third Vault” was Lewis’ last attempt to save his fabrication and his Supreme Grand Lodge from disintegration.
736
Pore eral vs, OP Re C. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
certain misapprehensions and misconceptions concerning the Status of your Order, arising undoubtedly from an honest purpose but by lack of certain indispensable facts,*® shall now and forever be caused to disappear and that perfect harmony shall come into being.
““(3) A. We have seen that there is believed by some that mem- bership in your Order, of itself with nothing more, will render possible admission to and fraternal communication with Lodges of what is commonly called the ORDER R>C as existent in Europe and other parts of the world. We say to you that while there is an existent ORDER R>KC it has no lodge system as such a term is commonly used,’ and that admission thereto by members of your Order, while possible, is not a matter of right to any, but rather a matter of selection by the ORDER R>KC in individual cases. To this end, therefore, we direct that all use of names, words, phrases or statements calculated to convey to present or future members of your Order ideas at variance with the foregoing shall, upon your receipt of this, be discontinued. This shall not prevent, however, your use of the Order title “ANcIENT AND MysticaL Orper
® The “lack of certain indispensable facts’ and ignorance of Rosicrucian essentials and fundamentals show his organization to ve a pure fabrication from the be- ginning.
*In his first propaganda booklet he announced: “The Order of Rosae Crucis in America extends to its Brothers and Sisters the welcome of all Rosaecrucian Lodges in the world. Its pass-words, grips, signs and symbols are the same; and a Brother or Sister in our Order will have no difficulty of entering the R. C. Lodges anyawhere in Europe, Japan or Australia, and even the weird R. C. grottos in Egypt, Africa and Asia” (Official Publication Number Two, AMORC, p. 14. Italics are ours). This caused trouble. Some of his members went abroad in search of these lodges, but found them not. This was his way out of his dilemma and his way of side-stepping his false representations. Later, after the reorganization of his en- terprise, he made the same false representation that members of AMORC could visit lodges in other parts of the world—but those who attempted to locate the foreign lodges of his alleged world-wide organization failed to find them because they did not exist. Hence, another explanation was in order and in The Mystic Triangle, December, 1928, pp 676 to 682, his son, Ralph, then the Supreme Secretary, in a long article, “explained” why no one could find such lodges in Europe. In this article he refused to give members letters to these alleged lodges or to tell them how or where they could be found. Hence, the long explanation.
5 Having modeled his fabrication after the Masonic lodge system in the United States with subordinate lodges and a Grand Lodge in each State, which system he told us had been approved by Mons. Jerome T. Verdier, Magi of the Supreme Council of France, in Toulouse—quotation (10)—but here we find him repudiating his own system and declaring that which is true, namely, that the Rosicrucians do not have a lodge system as the term is generally understood, and certainly not like the Masonic Lodge system which he used as a model for his spurious R. C. Order.
Pt
AN ANSWER TO LEWIS” WHITE, ebook
”
Rosagr Crucis, North American Jurisdiction,” nor the use of its
abbreviation, “AMORC.’®
‘Bl We have seen that there is a present danger that the material may overshadow the spiritual in the development of your Order. We say to you that this is a peril indeed, for, aside from the cramp- ing of spiritual growth, it is a direct departure from the traditions of our forbears, who were commanded to practice the virtue of hu- mility and who met and worked and studied in lonely and unpre- tentious chambers. To this end, therefore, we direct that there shall henceforward be no plans formulated in your Order or its Lodges calling for greater expenditures of money for meeting places or equipment beyond that which is modestly necessary’ for proper ritu- alistic and experimental work and the comfort of your members.
‘“““C. We have seen that secrecy in its true sense® is not used suffi- ciently with regard to the operations of the Order and the person- nel of its members. We say to you that this is a departure from es- tablished customs and traditions, for did not the Brother C. R. C. say: “Let there always be a veil between you and the world”? To this end, therefore, we direct that henceforward there shall be no public meetings held under the auspices of your Order; that outward signs and distinguishing marks upon your meeting places be abol- ished; that public mention of your Order shall no longer be pro- cured or countenanced’®; and that, while a member may, IF NECES- SARY, state or acknowledge his own affiliation with the Order, he shall not disclose to the outside world the identity of any other member. This shall not prevent the dissemination of the “Brown Casket” nor the publication of books, pamphlets or magazines for circulation among your members only.
‘“““T), We have seen that there are certain things missing in the ceremonial observances and lectures of your grades.! We say to you
6 He reserved the name which he made for his fabrication for future use.
7 Here the real truth concerning the authentic Rose Cross is hinted. It is a spir- itual entity and is not greatly concerned about imposing temples of “Gold and Stone.” See pp. 165 to 172 supra. However, Lewis has paid no attention to this advice which he gave himself. Since the reorganization of his fabrication, he has erected a mass of showy buildings in San Jose, which he “points to with pride” as the institution behind his advertisements—an institution which his former Grand Treasurer said in 1934 was dying for want of spiritual nourishment. See Volume I, p. 404. However, spirituality has never been the prime purpose and fundamental idea of his fabrication, as we shall see in Chapter VI.
8 Compare this with his statement in 1915, quotation (2).
9 Here Lewis set for himself an impossible task. His chief assets are his high- powered salesmanship, ostentatious show and advertising.
1’'This is an admission that he did not possess the true teachings of the Rose Cross.
738
FALSE CLAIMS OF R.&C. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
that, while all that you use is substantially in consonance with tradi- tional ceremony and teaching, yet completeness is essential. To this end, therefore, we direct you to receive and adopt such rituals or teachings as shall be from time to time transmitted to you through us.
““E. We have seen that your Imperator is unwisely attempting to carry on the double task of executive administrator and esoteric supervision.” We say to you that such a double responsibility jeopar- dizes the efficacy of his labors and, through that, the normal and healthful progress of your Order: To this end, therefore, we direct that the esoteric side of his functions, as modified only by paragraph D herein, shall alone remain to him, and that all matters of execu- tive detail, pclicy and administration hitherto in his control shall be alone in our control and under our supervision. Reference to these matters shall be made by him, or his Supreme Council through him, to us. We will disclose to him how we may be approached.
“““We have given these things forth that harmony and growth may come to you, in all wise, consistent with and not departing from the traditions we are bound to maintain and whose violations we may not countenance.
“ “Praying that V. of O. may be lifted for you, we give this under the hand and seal of one for all.
“SVE A Op 0) steel GRAY ana ees ““(Signed) Factor Luminis.’ “(Sealed with the official cords of Gold and Purple and with the ancient seal® of C....G....P....)” (Cromaat, Special Issue G, pp. 3, 4 and 5. The italics dre ours. )
Profundis Writes the Above Epistle to Himself And Mysteriously Delivers It to Himself in Person
With his organization rapidly disintegrating; with suspicion and dissension in the ranks; with his authority questioned and denied; confronted with the charge that his fabrication was wholly unlike a Rosicrucian Order and that it was not a part of a worldwide brotherhood; with the truth of these charges flashing full force
From the beginning to this day he has been adding new teachings and series of new lessons, none of which are Rosicrucian teachings.
2This grave error has been corrected. He is now the esoteric supervisor and the executive administration is in the hands of his family. See Chapter VI.
3 Note the sealing with the official cords and the ancient seal. These are modern devices used in the promotion of his fraternal racket. The importance which he attributed to them makes them Badges of Fraud.
139
AN ANSWER TO LEWIso WHILE? Gy ep OO ws
upon his consciousness in this dilemma, he determined to show the unfaithful and the doubting Thomases that he was in close touch with ultra-secret and superior authority of the hidden brotherhood, and through special instructions therefrom he would reform and remake his spurious R. C. Order so that it would be a better imi- tation of the real Order.
To accomplish this he wrote the foregoing letter to himself, “as he is Imperator,” and to the Supreme Council of AMORC, pur- porting to be from the secret vaults of the hidden brotherhood, even from the depths of the “third vault.” We shall not attempt to describe the mysterious way in which this unique epistle was delivered to him. We cannot improve on the description in his comments, as follows:
“The Imperator’s Comments
(55) “Lest there be any misapprehension of this communication, the Imperator feels that he should explain his understanding and in- terpretation of it.
“Tn the first place, the communication itself was delivered to the Supreme Grand Lodge by two messengers deputized to hand it to the Imperator in person. ‘The communication was sealed with the seal which appears on the document itself and was inclosed in a stout manila legal envelope. Where it came from was not indicated, and the messengers refused to give any information, merely indi- cating that they were the seventh step in the transmission of the communication between the writer of it and the final delivery.*
“But certain signs and phrases in the communication itself indicate clearly that it had its origin and inspiration in that office of the Rosicrucian Brotherhood’ which is superior in authority through- - out many jurisdictions and which can be approached only through certain secret channels. Other communications received before and after the receipt of this particular one indicate that a very definite channel of communication between the Imperator and the secret
*Seven steps between Lewis the schemer and Lewis the impostor seems to be a roundabout way for Lewis the charlatan to communicate with himself. In these days of modern rapid transportation and registered mail, the alleged use of such methods are suspicious—such a story is a Badge of Fraud.
'JTt is astounding how Lewis mixes, changes and uses Rosicrucian terms in strik- ing contradiction to suit his convenience. The Lewis family is now “the Order” with
all the power, and his paying members are now “the Brotherhood” with no rights or authority. See Chapter VI.
740
FALSE CEAIMS OF R.EC. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
chief of the Rosicrucian Fraternity throughout many lands is open and that further information and instructions will come as the oc- casion arises.°®
‘“’The coming of this communication caused no surprise. The im- perator and the few higher officers of our Order had been patiently expecting such a communication’ and were greatly relieved to have it in their hands at this time.” (Jd., p. 6. The italics are ours.)
Reveals His Own Scheme
From the above statements it is evident that it was his purpose, so clearly indicated, to use the foregoing fake communication as evidence of his close touch with and guidance by the Secret Chief of the Rosicrucian Fraternity to inspire confidence and as a device to promote his fraudulent R. C. Order. That it was a ruse pure and simple and that no “definite channel of communication’? had been established between himself and the Secret Chief of the Rosi- crucian Fraternity is shown by his repudiation of the idea that there is a secret chief of the Rosicrucians. See quotation (45).
That he intended to revise and revamp his fabrication in accord- ance with the foregoing fake communication to be more in keeping with the authentic Fraternity of the Rose Cross and to direct it from his Temple of Alden is shown by his further statement, as follows: | :
(56) “And now comes this communication, the first step toward rewarding the members who have been loyal. What the communi- cation really means is greater power and illumination and co-opera- tion for the members of our Order here and long-desired peace and rest for the Imperator. His illumination came with the tests and trials of last May and June;* his knowledge and instruction were
®°’Thus he prepared the way to prepare and deliver to himself other spurious docu- ments—but they were never delivered. The fabrication failed and this scheme was abandoned.
‘It was no surprise to Lewis. He wrote it and anticipated himself in his state- ments in Cromaat F, which preceded it. Read his previously published plans for his Temple of Alden (pp. 168 to 172, supra) and you have the inside story. He told all about it before he made the letter public. It is his typical method.
8 This is strange, VERY STRANGE! He told us in quotation (21) that in 1909 in old Toulouse he crossed the Threshold and was illuminated. Were he tells us that he was illuminated in May and June, 1918. ‘The stories of his illumination are as consistent as his various different and irreconcilable claims to Rosicrucian authority and the authenticity of his fraternal racket.
Jat
AN ANSWER TO LEWIS’ WHITE) @)) BOOKS Db]
given him before he undertook to organize the Order here; and well might he have been selfish and have held unto himself what he had acquired and have saved himself the persecutions and torment that have been his reward daily, if not hourly, since he began the task for the sake of others. So, the coming of the change in the Order now brings to him no great reward as it does to the members in whose behalf he has labored. The rest and peace he will find in some hours of contemplation in the future will be all that may come to him. With his future in the material world sacrificed on the rock of unselfish endeavor, with all the prospects of future accomplish- inents in the business and social world cast down into an abyss that he might fulfill a life-mission for others, he, a young man, must now retire that those for whom he labored may reap and enjoy the ideals he discovered for them.’” (Jd., p. 7. The italics are ours.)
Accordingly, in preparation for “‘the coming of the change in the Order’ and his retirement into silence to reside in his dream temple of Alden, he announced that after April 15, 1918, all mail to him should be addressed to the Secretary of the Imperator, AMORC, 739 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass. And so with this swan song he closed shop in New York on this first unsuccessful attempt to organ- ize his fraternal swindle.
We regret that space does not permit us to fully quote and com- ment upon Lewis’ comments on his fake communication, which covers seven closely printed pages in his Special Cromaat G. How- ever, we commend it to the careful consideration of the investiga- tor, since it contains much additional evidence of his fraudulent scheme and devices.
A Complete Repudiation of All Prior Claims
Shows All Prior Documents to Be Spurious
The writing and delivery to himself of the aforesaid faked com- munication, signed “Facror LuMINiIs,” and the publication thereof in Special Cromaat G, in which he made the startling reve- lation that his original knowledge, instructions and plans, under
®° However, this fake communication is not at all consistent with his alleged knowledge and instructions upon which he organized his fabrication. They cannot be reconciled.
1The manner in which he sacrificed himself and his worldly career that others should secure the benefits of the ideals which he discovered will be fully demon- strated in Chapter VI.
a2
Pio bmeClaAtvS OOK PC. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
which he fabricated, organized and operated his spurious R. C. Order for four years, were all wrong and a misconception of the true nature and functions of the real Rosicrucian Fraternity, was a complete repudiation of all his former claims which we have re- viewed. It is repugnant to similar claims which he made subsequent thereto and is still making. It shows all such claims to be false. Moreover, it shows that his aforesaid original papers, which he said he obtained in Toulouse, France; others that came to him so mysteriously from India and Egypt and the strange, crude Pronun- ciamento which he claimed and still claims to be the basis of his original Rosicrucian authority are spurious—mere devices for the promotion of his fraudulent R. C. Order and fraternal racket.
The writing of that faked communication is his written admis- sion that he possessed no Rosicrucian authority for the fabrication and organization of his spurious 4MORC, and the publication of itis his public confession that it is a swindle. He fully realizes this to be true, because, when confronted with said faked communica- tion signed by “Factor Luminis’” in the Federal District Court in San Francisco in February, 1936, he denied that he had issued Special Cromaat G containing such communication. However, an- other witness testified that Lewis or his organization had sent it to him as an AMORC publication, and Special Cromaat G was ad- mitted in evidence.” AND SO HIS FAKED COMMUNICATION STANDS TODAY A WRITTEN ADMISSION AND A PUBLIC CONFESSION OF THE FRAUDULENT NATURE OF HIS FAMILY RACKET.
Did Not Intend to Retire or to Be Silent
The faked communication from ‘‘Factor Luminis” and the issu- ance of Special Cromaat G were only a ruse to permit him to “‘save his face’ and to retire gracefully and with his own idea of vindica- tion from his failure in New York and at the same time permit him to reorganize his fraternal swindle in some form or other and to carry it on from headquarters to be established in another Ameri- can city. |
That such was the case, that he intended to continue his frater- nal fraud in one form or another, is shown by the fact and circum-
2See Reporter's Transcript of Evidence in case of Roy W. and A. E. Smith vs. AMORC, Lewis, et al., pp. 181 and 362.
743
AN ANSWER TO LEWIS” WHILE VG sbp@OKm es
stance that, at the same time he was preparing to leave his failure in New York, he prepared and on March 10, 1919, executed a Charter to be filed in California, incorporating the AMORC COLLEGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. This Charter was executed by the following incorporators: Harve S. Lewis, Max Leventhal, Frank B. Schanne, Willard Moore, Conrad H. Lind- stedt, all residing in New York City, and Frank T. Collins, D. O.; J.C. Anthony, M. D.; W. W. Fraser, M. D.; Edith W. Edmond- son, D. C.; Vincent Jones and George S. Baum, all residing in San Francisco, California. This Charter was filed with the County Clerk of San Francisco County on March 20, 1919, and in the office of the Secretary of the State of California on March 24, 1919.
The objects and purposes of said AMORC CottecE as set forth in said Charter are as follows:
“To create, establish, manage and maintain a college or colleges for the purpose of promoting and cultivating the study and teaching of and instruction in Practical Chemistry; Applied Psychology and Psycho-Analysis; Chiropractics, and the Principles of Osteopathy; Hygiene and Eugenics; Biology and Ontology; Comparative Reli- gions and Theology; Harmonics; Special Methods and Principles of Dietetics; Child culture and Training; as well as all or any other sciences or studies usually, or sometimes, prescribed in the curricu- lum of colleges, universities, seminaries or other institutions of learning; such teaching, instruction and study to be imparted and received either orally and in person or by written correspondence transmitted through the mails, or by both methods.”* (From a Cer- tified Copy of said. Charter—which is quoted in full pp. 413-414,
supra. ‘The italics are ours.)
The Charter also provided for the issuance of diplomas and honorary titles and degrees—a necessary and essential part of Lewis’ scheme. It did not provide, however, for the carrying on of a fraternal organization under a lodge system or otherwise. Per-
3JIn this connection it is interesting to observe that in a spirit of revenge and in retaliation for our exposure of his fraternal swindle set forth in Volume I in 1935 he circulated a defamatory article published in the 4. M. A. Journal in 1923, con- demning the author for being connected with a medical school teaching by mail in 1900 to 1905, when it was common practice and legal to do so. However, in 1919, fourteen years later, Lewis charters an institution to teach Osteopathy and Chiroprac- tics by mail, when it was not being done and illegal to do so. Some racketeers are strangely inconsistent. See our reply to the A. M. A. article and “DR.” Lewis, the Mystic Swindler.
744
FALSE CLAIMS OF R.«C. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
haps it was his then plan and intention to reorganize his fabri- cated R. C. Order as a school of “profound wisdom and advanced science.”
Although few of the subjects to be taught are Rosicrucian sub- jects, yet he incorporated it under the abbreviated name of his spu- rious R. C. Order, and it served as a vehicle and device to carry on and to perpetuate his original scheme.
Ais First Incorporation
In his first propaganda booklet he stated that there would be “established an American Rosaecrucian College, to be affiliated with the United R. C. Colleges of the World.’* Hence, the in- corporation of the AMORC College in 1919 was a part of his original scheme.
Although he stated that his fabrication would “operate under its Charter, signed by the Council,” by his Council shown in quota- tion (32) and would “exist legally under another Charter from the State of New York,’ and even though he often so stated and especially in Special Cromaat G, at page 8, that “The incorporation of the Supreme Grand Lodge of our Order under its full name’’— implying that it had been incorporated—“‘gives us all legal rights to the complete name, and AMORC is but the abbreviation of that name,’ yet the incorporation of the AMORC College in Califor- nia was the first corporate vehicle for his scheme. The Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC was not incorporated until November 15, 1928, and did not possess the legal right or power to operate a fraternal organization under a lodge system until its charter was amended on September 1, 1930, as we shall see in Chapter VI.
Back in Business with the Same Old Racket but With a Few New Devices
To be silent and not advertise his mystic wares was impossible for Mr. Lewis. He could not follow the prescription—quotation (54)—which he wrote in 1919 to cure the ills of his sick and de-
formed fabrication. It was contrary to his nature and repugnant
4 Official Publication Number Two, p. 15. 5 Official Publication Number Two, p. 11.
745
AN ANSWER TO, LEWIS” WHITE Ge bOO ks
to the nature of his fraternal enterprise and scheme. Bold subter- fuges, cunning stratagems, unique camouflages, artful hoaxes, subtle ruses, bewildering abstractions, crafty evasions, suppression of truth, plausible deception, falsification of records, mutilation of documents, unscrupulous designing and multifarious devices of fraud are his stock in trade, while bombastic claims, loud ballyhoo, constant promotional propaganda, ever-flowing publicity, ingenious display advertising and high-pressure salesmanship are his chief assets. Therefore, he could not and did not change his methods nor his racket. He sought someone who would finance a reorgani- zation of his project. He found Mr. William Riesener, who fur- nished the necessary financial assistance, as we have seen.* Hence in 1920 we find that Mr. Lewis had crossed the continent, opened up for business on the western coast, with new headquarters at 1255 Market Street, San Francisco, California, with a flock of new and allied organizations (see our Reproduction No. 66) and a number of new devices to carry on his original scheme.
In addition to the AMORC College which he incorporated be- fore he left New York for the purpose of continuing operation under his original scheme and fabrication, we find him doing busi- ness between 1920 and 1925 under the following names, so-called institutions, allied or subsidiary organizations, to wit: AMORC University, INc., which did not exist and was never incorporated; AMORC Movement; NaTionaL ROsAECRUCIAN LODGE, INC., which was not incorporated; THE ROSAECRUCIAN ORDER OF THE GREAT WHITE BROTHERHOOD, INC., which did not exist and was not a corporation;' FOREIGN LEGATION AND MINISTRARD; AMORC Rapio CHuRCH oF AMERICA and THE PRISTINE CHURCH OF THE RosE Cross, INc.,* which he incorporated on January 17, 1921. The various names of said organizations were shown on his current stationery and set forth in the letterhead which he then used, as shown in our Reproduction No. 66.
The reorganization proceeded slowly and under many difficulties other than financial. However, as has been the case since he first
6 Chapter II, p. 96, supra.
7 He began to use this name as a device about the time he received his spurious charter from the mythical Great White Brotherhood Lodge of Tibet, which we have discussed in length in Part Four of Chapter IV, pp. 426 to 434, supra.
8 See Chapter III, p. 146, supra.
746
Peel aiivisy OF RRC: AUTHORITY REVIEWED
launched his spurious R. C. Order back in 1915, his greatest dif_- culty has been and still is to establish his Rosicrucian authority and to secure an undisputed acceptance thereof. In the days of re- organization, as in the earlier days, many there were who ques- tioned his authority and the Rosicrucian authenticity of his fabri- cation. In an imprudent attempt to overcome this insurmountable difficulty, which he hoped to overcome by presumptuous and auda- cious boldness and positiveness of statement—so positive that none would dare to question or deny, in The Triangle, his then official organ, being issue No. 5, dated July 19, 1921—he issued an ulti-
matum and pronouncement as follows:
“Pronunziamento 7/7
“An Official Statement by the Imperator Regarding the Authority of the Order
“And they said unto Him, by what authority doest thou these things?’”’—Mark xi:28
(57) “That there may be no further desire on the part of in- quirers for definite statements as to the origin and authority of the AMORC in North America, and that the Supreme Officers may be relieved of the unnecessary correspondence incident to setting forth these facts, we are printing here in ‘black and white’ (as the saying goes—and as some think is quite in order) the following pre- cise, unveiled and signed facts:
“THE NAME ‘AMORC’
“This is an abbreviation of the name of the Order in North America and some other lands. Here in the United States the first Supreme Council of the Order decided to use the name? entirely in the English Language because we were informed that the laws of some states did not permit the incorporation of a body with a for- eign name. Hence the first name adopted was Ancient and Mys- tical Order of the Rose Cross, as appears on the first Charter issued by this first Council meeting. [Quotation 32] Later we learned that the Supreme Lodge could be incorporated with a Latin name so the name was partly changed to ANCIENT AND MysticaL OrpER RosaE Crucis. ‘The full and complete name of the Order in all Latin countries is ANTIQUAE ARCANAE OrpINIS RosaE RUBEAE ET AUREAE Crucis (abbreviated to A. A. O. R. R. A. C.), which
9 As to how and why the name was adopted, see Volume J, pp. 207 to 224.
fee
AN ANSWER TO LEWIS’ WHITE? (2) BGO kw.
may be liberally translated into “he Ancient and Arcane (secret or mystical) Order of the Red Rose and Golden Cross.’ We find this Latin form of the name is still used in India, Egypt, France, Spain, Japan, China, Russia and some other countries, whereas in England and the North American Continent the shorter English form is used, abbreviated into A. M. O. R. C., and in Denmark and East India and some other places the Latin form is slightly changed to fit the native language. The name as we use it here in America is the authorized form of the true name of the Order or Brotherhood of the Rosicrucians, which comes to us from antiq- uity. (In many foreign countries the Latin name of the Order is hidden under the initials A.A. or A.A., A.A. or sometimes A.A.A., based upon the repetition of the letter A in the Latin name.)”’ (The Triangle, July 19, 1921; p. 1... Phe ‘talacs sare
ours. )
The name which Lewis fabricated by wrongfully taking and using the term Rose Cross or Rosae Crucis and prefixing thereto — the words ‘‘Ancient and Mystical” is not and never was the true name of the Order, Fraternity or Brotherhood of the Rosicrucians. The name which he “adopted” for his spurious R. C. Order was his own invention, and the existence of a world-wide organization of like or similar name from which he received his alleged Rosi- crucian authority and which formed this so-called world or inter- national council was and is a myth of his own creation. Pronun- ciamento 777 continues as follows:
“The Authority for the Order
(58) “The A. M. O. R. C. in North America was started as a branch sponsored by the Supreme Executives or Hierophant of the ANTIQUAE ARCANAE OrDINIS Rosaz RuBEAE ET AUREAE CRUCIS of France. It remained such until after its organization here was completed, when it was made an independent body with a separate jurisdiction, but with full affiliation with all other separate juris- dictions of the A. A. O. R. R. A. C. throughout the world.1 The Supreme Hierophant who thus granted the rights and powers for the Order in America was Count Raynaud E. de Bellcastle-Ligne, who was also Imperator? of the Jurisdiction of AquiTanta, with
1 We have seen how it was made an independent Jurisdiction—by the spurious “Pronunziamento Number 987,601.” But see quotation (89).
2In quotation (7) he describes Raynaud E. de Bellcastle-Ligne as the “Grand
748
PALSE CLAIMS OF R.+hC. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
headquarters in Toulouse, France. This jurisdiction of AQUITANIA, as a jurisdiction of our Order, was created in the time of Charle- magne and the first lodge of our Order, eventually the Grand Lodge, held its opening convocation in the year 804 or 805 A. D. The first Grand Master was Frees and he received his authority through one Arnaud, a philosopher in Charlemagne’s School of the Palace, who journeyed to Egypt to secure the authority. The Grand Lodge and its powers continued through many generations and centuries up to and including the well-known Don Martinez de Pasqually de la Tour (the teacher and master of L. C. de Saint- Martin), who in 1754 revised the work of the Order and greatly enlarged the Jurisdiction to include all of France. (For details of the history of the Order in France see pages 21 and 22 of the March, 1916, issue of the American Rosae Crucis,* also Arthur E. Waite’s ‘Life of Louis Claude de Saint-Martin.’ )
“Count Bellecastle-Ligne and his predecessor as Imperator of the A. A. O. R. R. A. C. held documents and warrants bearing con- tinuous authority from the time of Arnaud and Frees, and under these patents the present Imperator of the Order in North America was empowered and authorized to proceed with the organization of the Order here, and was initiated into the Order under the author- ity of Bellecastle-Ligne and his associates in Toulouse, receiving the name ‘Profundis’ as Fratre, and also the Master’s jewel (Gold Rosy Cross), manuscripts, symbolical keys, some rare books, a cartouche-seal from Egypt, altar lamp, codes and a number of other secret articles.*
Master of the R. C. Order in France and its colonies.” In his book, Rosicrucian Ques- tions and Answers with Complete History of the Rosicrucian Order (1932 ed), at page 150 he describes him as the “Secretary of the International Council”, quotation (82). In quotation (23) he described him as the “Most Worshipful Grand Master of France.” Here he is also “Imperator” of the jurisdiction of Aquitania, an entirely new jurisdic- tion not mentioned by Lewis in his authentic history, 1916 edition, or the aforesaid his- tory book, 1932. It is also noted that here for the first time he became a Count. The ‘many different positions which Lewis makes this mythical personage fill leaves the impression that he is greatly overworking his myth.
3 We trust the investigator and serious student will carefully read his alleged “authentic” history of the Rosicrucian Order as published in the American Rosae Crucis in 1916, compare it with his alleged “complete” history now being sold in book form and carefully check his various statements therewith. We regret that we do not have the space to do so. However, no one should take seriously his so-called writings -on the history of the Rose Cross. They are merely fairy tales and farfetched fiction.
* Compare this with his statement in quotation (23). “The documents and the few jewels” there are here, “the Master’s jewel, manuscripts, symbolical keys, some rare -books, a cartouche-seal from Egypt, altar lamp, codes and a number of. secret articles.”
749
AN ANSWER JFOVLEWIS*" WHITE?) BOOKw ae
“The powers, papers and authority thus conferred upon our pres- ent Imperator were the first to have been conferred upon any Ameri- can citizen by the A. A. O. R. R. A. C., and no similar authority has been conferred upon any one else for America since then, despite the fact that just before, during and after the Imperator’s visit to Toulouse, France, six other American citizens, some of them high in official circles of American fraternal movements, were in France and even Toulouse for the same purpose. The failure of the mis- sion, the denial of their requests, is responsible for the organization in this country of a number of Rosicrucian movements, some of which are waiting for the transition of our present Imperator or for the failure of his work so that a possible opportunity to secure leadership and power in the Order may be seized. But the authority of one Imperator is not transmitted to another in this manner and our present Imperator’s successor was decreed some time ago.” (Jd., pp. 1-2. The italics are ours.)
We have seen that “The powers, papers and authority thus conferred upon our present Imperator” were mere delusions. That they were not powers and authority, only devices used for the fab- rication and promotion of a fraternal racket. Prior to 1921 he had received his “jewels, papers and sponsorship” from the Grand Lodge R. C. of France. In 1921 he had another vision—dreamed another dream—and it became the “Antiqua Arcanae Ordinis Rosae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis” of France. We suppose that it is true that ‘“‘no similar authority [!] has been conferred upon any- one else for America since then” by the A. A. O. R. R. A. C. The story of the extreme competition to which he was subjected in se- curing his “jewels, powers and authority” from the mythical R. C. Lodge of Toulouse is an after-thought and a pure fiction which he failed to include in his “complete and authentic history” of his fab- rication and his mythical world-wide organization. Neither six other Americans nor Lewis himself were in France in 1909 seeking Rosicrucian authority from a Rosicrucian Grand Lodge in Tou- louse. NO SUCH LODGE EXISTED IN TOULOUSE AT THAT TIME OR SINCE.
The failure of the “other six” to secure the ‘‘authority”’ which he secured (!) was not responsible for the organization in this coun- try of a number of Rosicrucian movements awaiting the transition or failure of Mr. Lewis so that they or some of them may secure leadership and power, because no organization using a Rosicrucian
750
FALSE CLAIMS OF R.»>—KC. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
appellation has been organized or instituted since he fabricated and launched his spurious R. C. Order.
His statement that his “successor was decreed some time ago” is repugnant to and cannot be reconciled with his 1930 claim of authority by “blood transfusion and family succession,’ which we discussed in Part Three of Chapter IV (pp. 353 to 358, supra). And then he proclaimed the genuineness of his fabrication, as follows:
““Genuineness of the Order
(59) “For the above reasons and for many others it is positively stated that the A. M. O. R. C. in North America, under the direc- tion of H. Spencer Lewis (Profundis) as Imperator, is the only Rosicrucian movement, order, fellowship, fraternity, Lodge, Group or what-not having the Rosicrucian authority descending from Egypt and India through the early founders of the Order and the Hiero- phant and Imperators of France, and retaining the ancient, abso- lutely original and secret traditions and powers of Amenhotep 1V (Akhnaton Pharaoh of Egypt), the traditional founder of the order’s mysteries and monotheistic teachings.” (Jd., p. 2. The italics are ours. )
The reasons above are insufficient. The absence of proof is most conspicuous. Bold and even positive statements cannot take the place of evidence of genuineness. On the contrary, every document to which he has pointed out as evidence of the genuineness of his fabrication has proven to be spurious.
Will the reader and official investigator take particular notice that here he claims that his fabrication possesses the only rightful Rosicrucian authority and the only genuine and original traditions and teachings of the authentic Rosicrucian Order in this country. Such is the false representation which he has continued to make and is making today. It is the essence and gravamen of his fraud and fraternal swindle.
Of his affiliations he said:
“A fiiliations (60) “The A. M. O. R. C. is affiliated—and connected with, in
fraternal relations with, acknowledged by, and in exchange with—
Tiss |
AN ANSWER TOVLEW IS. Wil T he (jab OO Ds
all other foreign Lodges or Jurisdictions of the Rosicrucians who hold and operate under the same powers, papers of authorities and patents as does the Order here in America. ‘These foreign branches of the Ancient Order include the Supreme Shrine® of the A. A. O. R. R. A. C. in Cairo, Egypt; the [//uminati® of the A. A. O. R. R. A. C. in Calcutta, India, and La Loge Supreme Rose Croix of France’ of the A. A. O. R. R. A. C. and ‘others, from the Grand Masters and Supreme Officers of which our Imperator holds letters and papers of fraternal relationship. Weare NOT affiliated with any other Rosicrucian society in this country or any other, nor with any fraternity, fellowship or movement using the word Rosicrucian.®
The Rosenkreutz Order in Germany was (and is) a branch of the A. AvO: RRO ALC?" 2. a hetitalicsarerourss)
Let us examine this involved statement with particular care. If his organization is afhliated only with those so-called Rosicrucians and lodges holding and operating under the same authority, papers, powers and patents as his organization, then the logical conse- quence is that those organizations with which he alleges affiliation are only fabrications and spurious like his own, inasmuch as it ap- pears conclusively that his authority, papers, powers and patents are spurious and are without force or effect—except as devices of
fraud.
Spurious organizations cannot prove their own genuineness or authenticity by correspondence with each other or by mutual recog- nition of one another. We have examined one of his letters of “recognition” (pp. 343 to 348, supra) from a member of his al- leged International Council and found it to be a delusion and a snare.
Here he expands his claims so as to include the genuine Rosicru- cian Fraternity, which had its origin in Germany about the year 1614, by making it a branch of his fantastical and mythical all- inclusive world-wide A. A. O. R. R. A. C. However, in 1933, when
> The headquarters of “El Moria Ra,” the Pontiff Supreme Perfect High Ancient Shekah, here becomes the “Supreme Shrine” of the A. A. O. R. R. A. C. in Cairo, Egypt—it has moved from Memphis.
6 Here he again acknowledges his affiliation with the J/luminati.
7 Here he gives us still another designation for the R. C. Lodge in France, where he was “initiated” and from whence came his “sponsorship”’—here it is “La Loge Supreme Rose Croix.” Is it his French way of describing it, or is it still another lodge with which he is afhliated”’—who knows?
8 His reasons for this are quoted and discussed in Volume I, pp. 207 to 224.
TS
PARES CEAIMS OF Re C. AUTHORITY -REVIEWED
he was making an attempt to connect his spurious organization with the original German jurisdiction, as we have seen (pp. 339 to 341, supra), he recognized the German Foundation as the ORIGINAL SOURCE of Rosicrucian authority and repudiated the foregoing statement.
Although here in 1921 he claimed the closest affiliation with and implied recognition by foreign lodges of an enormous worldwide and far-flung organization and had in 1915 represented to his mem- bers that they might visit and be received in Rosicrucian lodges all over the world. However, in 1917 he said:
(61) “Our Lodges throughout America are NOT branch lodges of any European society, order, organization or secret movement. Our Order here in North America is operating in an independent jurisdiction, with its own government, its own Supreme Council, its own ratified Constitution and with no allegiance to any individual or group except the Supreme Masters, whose laws are the traditional principles and ideals of this Order.” (American Rosae Crucis, Oc-
tober, 1917, p. 198. The italics are ours.)
)
Returning to his “Pronunziamento 777,
am 1921 that:
we find him declaring
“Membership
(62) “Membership in the AMORC of North America does NOT include membership in any FOREIGN lodge or branch of this Order any more than would membership in the French or Spanish Lodge of the Order include membership in the Indian or Egyptian Lodges. But membership in the A. M.O.R.C. of North America does include membership in the general Order of A. M. O. R. C. in all lands where it is established with the privilege of visiting and attending sessions after members here have reached a certain status, as has always been the custom.® Membership fees and dues paid to the A. M. O. R. C. of North America by any mem- ber are contributions solely to the support of the work in this coun- try and not for any rights or privileges in any international or foreign body. (The same principle holds in other secret and fraternal movements in the U.S. A.)” (Id., p. 2. The italics are ours.)
This statement is a trifle contradictory, if not confusing, yet
® Compare this with quotation (54), where it is declared that the general “Order” has no lodge system and that admission thereto is not a matter of right, etc.
153
AN ANSWER VIOULE WIS Ww Ties BOOK ID
typical of all of Lewis’ claims regarding his fabrication. Now “membership .n AMORC of North America does NOT include membership in any FOREIGN Lodge or branch of this Order.’ BUT MEMBERSHIP IN AMORC or Nortu AMERICA DOES INCLUDE MEMBERSHIP IN THE GENERAL ORDER' OF AMORC IN ALL LANDS WHERE IT IS ESTABLISHED WITH THE PRIVILEGE OF VISIT- ING AND ATTENDING SESSIONS.”
Now, if there is a “General Order,” it must be composed of all the so-called lodges or branches of “‘the Order,” and the general must contain the particular. But inasmuch as his fabrication only owes allegiance to the “Supreme Masters’ and is “NOT a branch lodge of any European organization or secret movement,” the won- der grows how membership in AMORC of North America could include membership in the ‘General Order of AMORC,” if such an Order should exist.
Continuing his “Pronunziamento 7/7,” again he tells the story of the establishment of his spurious R. C. Order, with a few changes in details, as follows:
“Establishment (63) “On February 8, 1915, the present Imperator of the Order
in North America called together nine men and women who were representatives of various schools of advanced thought in New York and with the Moon in Sagittarius and other signs indicating the nature of the meeting [yet he does not deal with astrology?] he presented to them his papers, powers, rights and authority, and so- licited their assistance in carrying out the decrees of the Masters. Committees were appointed to investigate all the claims, powers and authority the Imperator (then merely the official Legate of the Order) possessed and instructed to add to their committees other men and women in the city who were prepared to assist in the great work.
“The result of this meeting was that on the first day of April, 1915, a meeting of thirty men and women selected from over 100 who volunteered their assistance and moral support met and elected a temporary chairman and finally organized themselves into the First Supreme Council of the Order in America. This council,
1 Now he claims that membership in AMORC of North America does not include membership in the “Order’—and that the Lewis Hierarchy, himself and family omly- are members of “the Order.’ See Chapter VI.
154
PALE, CUAIMS OF RC. -AUTHORITY REVIEWED
acting under a pronunziamento issued by the Legate of the Order, issued the First American Charter, elected the Supreme Officers and created the first laws? and steps of procedure for the establishment of the Order in all States. This charter, signed and sealed, is one of our precious American documents.® ‘Thereafter branch Lodges were established and in the summer of 1917 a convention was called of all the Masters, officers and delegates of all Lodges of the Order in America, and at this first National Convention the proposed Con- stitution of the Order in North America was voted upon, section by section, and finally adopted in its present form, and the Imperator was officially declared the acknowledged Imperator in accordance with the Constitution.* All Lodges of our Order today operate under this Constitution.” (Jd., p. 2. The italics are ours.)
Referring back to his first statement shown in quotation (27), it will be observed that the nine ordinary men and women who came together as the result of a-newspaper advertisement, who were transformed by him into advanced occult researchers in quo- tation (49) in his 1921 pronunciamento, became “representatives of the various schools of advanced thought in New York’; that in 1921 he was carrying out the “decrees of the Masters,” whereas in 1915—-quotation (7)—he was acting under the sponsorship of Raynaud Emil de Bellecastle-Ligne, Grand Master of the R. C. Order in France; and that the ‘‘about thirty most active workers”’ who in his first statement—quotation (30)—wmet and constituted themselves the Supreme Council in the foregoing statement became “thirty men and women’ selected from over one hundred who vol- unteered their assistance and moral support.” It is interesting to observe how the story of the establishment of this fabrication varies as to its details and how it grows as it is told and retold by the imaginative Mr. Lewis. It is also interesting to note the im- portance which he attached to the examination of his papers, pow-
* Here it is shown that the self-created council created the first laws—however, most of the “creating” was done by Lewis.
’’This alleged charter is shown in quotation (32) by which he “chartered” his ~ spurious R. C. Order, has long since ceased to be precious.
4He had almost as much difficulty changing his title from the “Most Worshipful Grand Master General” to “Imperator” and having himself officially declared and acknowledged Imperator as he did in finally getting established.
5 However, in the American Rosae Crucis, October, 1917, p. 195, he stated that: “Our Order was founded here in America by twenty-two men and women of New
York, assembled on April 1, 1915.” See Volume I, p. 212, where this statement is quoted in full.
755
AN ANSWER TO_LEWIS’ WHITE (Gj BOOCKe.» =
ers, rights and authority—not to mention “jewels and seals’—by committees appointed to “investigate all the claims, powers and authority’ of the Imperator. Such emphasis is, as before stated, a
Badge of Fraud.
In the same pronunciamento he asserts his right to a Rosicru- cian name and symbols in this wise:
“Our Right to the Name and Symbols
(64) “After a complete search and official publication of the In- tention, the United States Government has granted to our Imperator through the Patent Office letters patent giving to him personally the sole right to use the name and term ANCIENT AND MystTICAL Orver Rosag Crucis, the several triangle symbols as used to desig- nate the Order, the symbol of the Rose Cross, the Cartouche sym- bols, and other symbols united to designate the official name or label of our Order’s teachings, lectures, diagrams, rituals, magazines, books, photographs, etc., in either printed or typewritten form. ‘This is the first patent protection that has been given by our Gov- ernment on such symbols or this name, and it will prevent the use of these symbols or names or even a simulation of them by any other person or movement other than our Imperator of our Order.” (Id., p. 3. The italics are ours.)
By, through and with this statement, the attempt is made to leave the false impression that the Government of the United States has granted to him and his spurious R. C. Order the exclu- sive right to use of a name designating his fabrication as a Rosae Crucis or Rose Cross Order and the exclusive use of the Rose Cross as a symbol. This statement is well calculated to leave such an impression and to deceive. It was willfully made with that in- tention. And that, notwithstanding, he had declared in 1917 that:
(65) “It must be remembered that the words Rosicrucian and Rosae Crucis or any form of the term CANNOT BE PAT- ENTED and have not been patented. ‘There is no law of the land limiting the use of the term in any way, but prior use, if established, may be used as a reason for asking for the exclusive right.” (4 meri- can Rosae Crucis, October, 1917, p. 197. The capital emphasis and italics are ours.—See also Volume I, p. 220.)
The “patent” to which he refers is a trademark shown in our Reproduction No. 71, in and by which it is shown that a certain
756
Pataca livisg OF Ree Co oAULHORITY REVIEWED “design, as illustrated and set forth therein, was registered by the “Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, of San Francisco, California,” as a “trademark for a monthly magazine and certain named publications.’’ Read the statement and the Declaration made and sworn to by Mr. Lewis, especially the parts thereof marked “‘b, c, d and e,’’ and it will be seen that his statement— quotation (64)—is well calculated to deceive and was so intended. The United States did Nor grant him letters patent, giving to him personally the exclusive right to use the name Ancient and Mysti- cal Order Rosae Crucis, the term Rosae Crucis or Rose Cross and “‘the symbols of the Rose Cross.’ It only granted him the right to use the “design” illustrated in the registration thereof in the Patent Office as a trademark to be used on CERTAIN PUBLICATIONS de- scribed in the part marked “b” in our said Reproduction No. 71.
He concluded the pronunciamento with a statement relating to other Rosicrucian movements then existing in this country, as follows:
“Other Movements
(66) “There are known to be seven different Rosicrucian move- ments—called societies, fellowships, fraternities and colleges—in the United States today. All are doing good work in the spread of uplift, helpful principles, but not one of them are patented or char- tered by or affliated with the AMORC or A. A. O. R. R. A. C., nor do they use the name which we use. And nothing said on this page should be taken as discreditable to them. We wish merely to define, clearly and without evasion, our position and our connection in regard to all other movements in this country and elsewhere.
“ “Jesus answered and said unto them: destroy this Temple and in three days I will raise it up?—John xi:19.
“Signed and sealed this 17th day of July, 1921, A. D. HAKVEN SPENCE RELL Wis. ho R..C..
Imperator, San Francisco, California.” (Id., p. 3. The italics are ours.)
At that time there did exist a Fellowship, known as the Rosicru- cian Fellowship, in no sense Rosicrucian except in name, founded in 1909 by Max Heindel, a disciple of Rudolph Steiner, the founder of a school of German mysticism which claimed no Rosicrucian connections or antecedents. Also a Rosicrucian society founded by
757
AN ANSWER TO LEWIS’ WHITE (?) BOOK DD
Rev. Dr. George W. Plummer, which was originally founded un- der the authority and with the sanction of the authentic Fraternity with restricted powers to promulgate Rosicrucian teachings within certain limitations. The society of Masonic Rosicrucianism, here- tofore discussed (p. 220, supra), was in existence. And then there existed the genuine, authentic Rosicrucian Order or Fraternity, which had continuously existed for more than fifty years, founded in 1858 by Dr. P. B. Randolph, whom Lewis conceded to be “ONE OF THE FOREMOST MEN OF THE ORDER WHO EVER LIVED IN THIS COUNTRY AND WAS AT ONE TIME GRAND MASTER OF THE R. C. LopGE IN FRaANcE.’”® All of which Lewis knew—and of which he was fully aware in 1915 at the time he launched his fabricated spu- rious R. C. Order in this country contrary to and in violation of universally known and accepted fraternal customs, landmarks and laws.
We agree that the Randolph Foundation of the Authentic Rose Cross Order in America was not “patented or chartered” by the AMORC or the Av A. O. R. R. A. C. or in any way affiliated there- with. We cannot refrain from again calling attention to the fact that his fabrication was not even “patented or chartered’’ by the AMORC or the A. A. O. R. R. A. C., as here intimated or claimed. As we have heretofore ascertained, his so-called patents or charters have proven to be entirely spurious, and the alleged non-existent
A. A. O. R. R. A. C. has turned out to be an allegorical myth.
In the days of 1921, when he was struggling to get his fabrica- tion reorganized, on its feet and on the way, he was careful not to create any unnecessary competition or opposition. Hence he spoke softly and kindly of “other movements.’’ However, since he has succeeded in a material and financial way and by his cunning and plausible, false representations has built his fraternal racket into a Miullion-Dollar Swindle; he has boldly and arrogantly asserted and falsely represented that his fabrication is the only authentic Rose Cross Order in America perpetuating the original Rosicrucian teachings—and this is the gravamen of his fraud.
5 See his statement in quotation (9).
758
PADOEMeLAIMS OF Rik C.-AUTHORITY REVIEWED
A New Type of Propaganda An Entirely New and Different Story
Following his ““Pronunziamento 777” in the same year of 1921, he issued a well-written and cleverly designed pamphlet entitled ‘‘777 —MAan TRIUMPHANT and the Mastery of Fate,” containing the ssecret Decalogue’ by H: Spencer Lewis, Ph.D., author of “A Thousand Years of Yesterdays,” Chancellor of AMORC College.
This cunningly designed promotional literature contained an en- tirely different type of false propaganda from that previously em- ployed. With a bewitching touch of mystery, with a bid to the curious and gullible, it made a strong material appeal to those who seek worldly goods and power. Addressed: ‘‘To You,” it opened with the statement: “This little book, with unpretentious cover and most pretentious title, is a personal message to every man and woman and especially to you—you who seek to know the power that some men have and which seems too subtle to be given a name —you who would have fortune smile and bring its abundant riches to your hand.”
This pamphlet, remarkable and unique in many respects, con- tained a new and entirely different account as to the origin of his fabricated and spurious R. C. Order, which became a part of his subsequent promotional propaganda, as we shall later see.
This entirely different story in its new dress is as follows:
“The AMORC Movement in America
(67) “Over two hundred and twenty-five years ago the founda- tion for the AMORC movement was laid in America. Today it represents the oldest educational movement of a scientific, religious, humanitarian nature on the North American continent.
“Leaving the European universities of learning, selected from va- rious centers of the movement in six countries, there gathered together in London between the years 1684 and 1694 those highly specialized masters and adepts in all the arts and sciences. Their purpose was to unite in one great sacrifice of personal interest and
759
AN. ANSWER TO: LEW 1S) Wi Es OO KD
with but one aim, the bringing of the Light, to journey to the New World and establish here the foundation of America’s first institu-, tion of metaphysical learning.
“Tn 1694 the group of selected masters and teachers, with their wives and children, set sail in their own chartered boat. “They had selected as necessary for their new institution men who were the most advanced in such subjects as: astronomy, medicine, physics, chemistry, botany, mathematics, languages, music, art, paper mak- ing, printing, bookbinding, architecture, building, engineering, theol- ogy, alchemy, metaphysics, hermetic arts, astrology,’ general manufac- ture, farming, milling, cloth making, and other trades involved in the founding and building of a community of homes and industry.
“In July of 1694 this group of humanitarians, leaving all that was dear and near and facing all that was new and harassing, set- tled outside of a district which now forms the city of Philadelphia.® The records they kept, the deeds of their holdings, their personal diaries, the books they printed, the records in various archives of our national government—all still extant and many of them in duplicate form or in photographic copy preserved in the archives of the AMORC movement—prove that no more wonderful demon- stration of unselfish service to humanity ever came to the shores of this country in its whole history than the coming of these brethren of the Rosy Cross.
“For one hundred and eight years—the period of their cycle of activity in each rebirth of the work, these teachers and workers added to their staff, built academies, schools, factories, mills and scientific laboratories. “Their buildings still remain, the monuments in stone and spiritual power have found their way into many states, and although for another period of one hundred and eight years they continued their work in silence and seclusion, they came forth again some years ago with a far greater scope of activity than in the past.
“Today the AMORC movement, the brotherhood of the Rosi- crucian teachers, the schools and study groups, the temples and col- leges of this enlightened work, are to be found throughout the North American continent from coast to coast and from the colds of Canada to the sunny climes of Mexico.” (Man Triumphant,
pp: 10-11.)
7 Here again he would connect his fabrication with a movement which he claims taught astrology—yet he denounces astrology as being non-Rosicrucian.
8'This refers to the migration of the German Pietists and other mystical religious sects who settled in Eastern Pennsylvania about the year 1694, which we discussed in Chapter II, pp. 84 to 87, supra.
760
Pye vis OF SR ©. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
Intolerably and Willfully False Plausibly and Cunningly Designed to Deceive
Seizing upon the presence of the German Pietists in Eastern Pennsylvania who had settled in the Valley of the Ephrata near Philadelphia in the year 1694, and basing his presumptuous claims upon the works of Mr. Julius F. Sachse, wherein he affirms, but fails to establish, that the secret Rites and Mysteries of the true Rosicrucian Philosophy flourished unmolested for years among said religious sects, and also upon the speculation of Mr. Arthur E. Waite in his historical work of The Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross, tending to give some color and support to said controverted and unsubstantial afirmation of Mr. Sachse, Mr. Lewis here at- tempts, under the catchword title of “The 4MORC Movement in America,” to give his spurious R. C. Order and fraternal racket an historical origin dating back into the early colonial days, thus claiming for his fabrication an early American origin, whereas, in fact, it does not antedate the year 1915.
We discussed this subject at some length in Chapter II (pp. 84 to 87, supra), hence it need not be further discussed in this connec- tion other than to note that he has at various times and is now using his alleged connection and the falsely asserted connection of his fabrication with an early American Rosicrucian Order, alleged to have been founded by the German Pietists near Philadelphia in 1694, as a fraudulent device for the promotion of his fraternal swindle. He is doing this, notwithstanding and in the face of the fact that in 1927 he unequivocally declared:
(68) “The Community of Rosicrucians to which you refer existed from 1694 to 1801 and THEN DISBANDED. * * * One hun- dred and eight years after 1801 the Imperator of our Order went to France and received authority to start again® the Rosicrucian work in America. And the result of his visit to Europe is the present Rosicrucian Order known as AMORC. BUT THE AMORC OF TODAY IS NOT A DESCENDANT OF THE GROUP THAT CAME TO AMERICA IN 1694. There is no other organization in this country that is a descendant of that first group in America. Any such claim is either misleading or you misunder-
® Compare this with quotation (7), wherein he states “for the year 1915 was the one designed centuries before for the Order to be born in America.”
761
AN ANSWER ‘TOCVLEW1S (WHILE) 3bOOke Ds
stood what was said.” (The Mystic Triangle, May, 1927, p. 109. The capitals and italics are ours.)
There was little likelihood of anyone misunderstanding what was said. His representation in quotation (66) above was clear and unequivocal. He represented that his spurious R. C. Order— “The AMORC Movement in America’’—is a continuation through active and silent periods of ‘‘the community of Rosicrucians” that existed in Eastern Pennsylvania from 1694. Of this there is no doubt and it cannot be questioned. Then, running his fabrication in reverse gear and himself in a hole, he denies with unequivocal positiveness that his AMORC movement is not a descendant of the community of Rosicrucians who came to America in 1694.
With this type of contradictory propaganda eloquently testify- ing to its own falseness, he has misled, overreached and swindled thousands of uninformed and credulous people. This type of fal- sified promotional propaganda is like Uncle Remus’ rabbit trap, which was open at both ends, “it cotches ’em goin’ or comin’ !”
AMORC College a Device of Fraud So Indicated by Numerous Conspicuous Badges of Fraud
His cunningly designed and altogether false propaganda, in- tended to sell his spurious R. C. Order and to promote his original fraternal swindle, continues and ends as follows:
(69) “Thus the AMORC Movement now presents itself to the American people. For a number of years it has worked with little publicity, building its foundations in every state and in most large cities and preparing the way? for the close of 1920 and the dawn of 1921, when the AMORC Movement was destined to once again reveal itself as the very soul of American advancement.
“As one eminent historian says in his comments regarding the early workers who came here at the very beginning of the building of America: “The history of these people forms a most romantic episode in the national history, and the influence they exerted in the
1 This quotation is fully set forth and reproduced in fac-cimile in Chapter II, p. 86, supra.
? We have seen in this chapter the manner in which it prepared “with little pub- licity’ for a number of years—from 1915. And its total collapse in 1918 indicates how well its foundations were laid in every State and most large cities. Such overdrawn statements are Badges of Fraud.
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FALSE CLAIMS OF R.»+&kC. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
early days of our (American) development extends down even to the present. day.’®
“If you seek the Light of Truth, if you would be free from the material shackles of fate and become a Master of the powers within you and the forces around you—then learn the laws, study the prin- ciples offered in the AMORC studies and unite with this progres- sive movement for the uplifting of humanity and the freedom of man’s soul and mind.*
“AMoRC COLLEGE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Is a National University of advanced learning, incorporated and char- tered by law to provide complete collegiate and academic courses in those subjects of greatest practical benefit to mankind, and to confer degrees and honors to those who complete its courses of study. ‘There is no other university or college like it in America. It was created. and chartered as a non-profit institution.” (Man Tri- umphant, p. 15. The italics are ours. )
The AMORC College of the United States of America never functioned except as a fraudulent device. It was not a National University of advanced learning. Even though it was chartered to provide complete academic courses, it failed to comply with the educational laws of the State of California and did not provide such courses. Nor did it supply the secret lectures to the members of “the Order.” ‘These were supplied through local lodges or by mail through the National Lodge. It was later abandoned or merged into his latest, more ambitious and high-sounding device, namely, The Rose Croix University of North America.’
New Headquarters Established Moves From Golden California to Sunny Florida
During the time he had his headquarters in San Francisco, from 1920 to 1925, he succeeded in reorganizing his fabricated R. C. ‘Order, although his success in establishing lodges throughout the country and securing members for his fraternal project was by no means a signal success.
° Quoting a statement which in no manner relates to his spurious AMORC move- ‘ment so as to connect with that which is true and substantial is a Badge of Fraud.
+The manner in which he developed it into a “progressive movement for the up- lifting of humanity” will appear in Chapter VI.
° This was referred to and discussed in Part One of Chapter IV, pp. 262 to 263, supra.
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AN ANSWER TO LEWIS’ WHITE (?) BOOK “D”
In 1925 he made a deal with Mr. Ralph A. Wackerman, of Tampa, Florida, now deceased, who furnished the land and funds for the erection of a supreme Temple on Rosicrucian Square in Tampa. Mr. Wackerman was appointed Supreme Grand Master of the Order in America and supplied additional funds for propa- ganda purposes.® Leaving the Grand Lodge of California in charge of Mr. William Reisener, in 1925 he moved his national head- quarters to Florida.
With himself as Dean of the University and Imperator-Rex of the Order; with his son, Ralph M. Lewis, as Supreme Grand Sec- retary and with a new sponsor and funds, he launched a high- pressure campaign for membership with the cunningly designed promotional propaganda and booklets based upon a sudden ex- pansion and enlargement of his false claims set forth in the most unique manner. With this new, expansive and cunningly designed false propaganda, parts of which we shall presently review, he achieved considerable success and began in 1926 to build his pres- ent million-dollar fraternal swindle.
The invigorating and balmy climate of Florida seems to have had a strange effect upon the docile Imperator, who in 1918 retired to his Temple of Alden. It made him most unusually bold and expanded his imagination beyond all proportion.. Accordingly in 1926 he issued a widely circulated propaganda booklet, with his picture therein and many of his assumed and spurious, high-sound- ing titles, wherein he claimed to be “the present Imperator-Rex of the AMORC throughout the world.’ The booklet bore the fasci- nating title of “Rosicrucian Illumination.” This booklet was signed by another of his nom-de-plumes, to wit, PRoruNpis XIII.
Imperator-Rex Harve Spencer Lewis, F.R.C., Ph.D.
In his aforesaid book of “Illumination” he became, according to his own account, the head of the Rosicrucian Fraternity, although © he had previously claimed and later declared that his fabrication was known ONLY as an Order—that was the one thing which dis- tinguished it from all other Rosicrucian movements. That his so-
°A brief sketch of Mr. Lewis’ activities from 1915 to 1935, showing the moving of his headquarters from place to place, is given in Book Three of Volume I, pp. 134 to 137, which may supply some details and connections which may not appear in this Chapter.
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Povo Cb Alvis) OF Roe C. AUTHORITY. REVIEWED
called R. C. Order was Nort affliated with any FRATERNITY calling itself Rosicrucian or a BROTHERHOOD."
After telling of how his fabrication had preserved and presented the laws, principles and teachings of the original—or, as he says, “ancient’’—Rosicrucians, he makes the claim of his own ‘‘Glorious Achievement,” as follows:
“A Glorious Achievement (70) “In other words, AMORC, typifying the Rosicrucian
spirit, represents today the very soul of the Rosicrucian fraternity of all ages—the most advanced and practical guide or movement in existence in man’s behalf. ‘This has been no simple achievement. No organization but that which lives with the spirit of true Rosi- crucianism—fearless, dauntless and mighty in its own powers—could have survived in the past decades the many obstacles to growth and the insistent attacks® of its natural enemies, the enemies of all prog- ress. None but the present Imperator-Rex [KING] OF THE AMORC THrRovuGHOUT THE WorLD, Harve Spencer Lewis, F. R. C., Ph.D., could have accomplished the tremendous task set for him when he accepted the obligation and the duties of his office for the
purpose of re-establishing the fraternity along the most modern este ae
“Continued Growth
“In 1918 another Convention with hundreds [?] of delegates and officers was held in New York City, and the Constitution was again examined and two unimportant amendments made to it. Since then AMORC has grown to unexpected power and membership, and the Supreme Council has become so large and of such an international nature that it is now known as the SUPREME COUNCIL OF THE Wortp with active members and Councilors in sixteen countries and representing the largest Rosicrucian membership the world has ever known.® In this way has the ancient spirit of the Fraternity reincarnated in a large body.
7See his statements quoted in Volume I, pp. 210, 211, 217 and 220. Also in quo- tations (55), (57), (60), (66), (88) and (89).
8 We presume that he is referring to the trouble which AMORC experienced in New York City during the years from 1917 to 1919, hereinbefore reviewed.
9 These are Mr. Lewis’ italics. 1[In his first claims, his fabrication was the oldest, most powerful Order in the
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AN ANSWER TO.LEWIS’ WHITE) (7) BOOK @]
“The Lodges of the Order
“Under the capable direction of the Imperator-Rex [King| Harve Spencer Lewis, F. R. C., Ph.D., AMORC has ESTABLISHED or affliated with Grand Lodges and Regular Lodges in all principal cities of the United States, Canada, Mexico, England, Australia, Europe, Africa, India and many Oriental countries and the West and East Indies. From northern points of Alaska and Siberia to Johannesburg in South Africa, the work of the Fraternity operat- ing under its AMORC Charter or Charters from its Supreme Council of the World? continues to grow.” (Rosicrucian Illumina- nation, pp. 6, 7 and 10. Except where noted, the italics are ours.)
The Truth Comes Out Serenely His World Councils of His Own Creation
Along with others, we have charged for some time that there have been and are no international, world or universal councils of which Lewis was or is a member or which conferred Rosicrucian authority upon him or capable of giving Rosicrucian recognition and authenticity to his spurious R. C. Order and fraternal swindle.
We have said that the only semblance of an international or- ganization of which AMORC is a part and which constitutes his so-called international or world Councils consists solely and only of so-called R. C. Orders which he has inspired or organized in other countries, working under his own spurious authority, some of which are mere paper organizations consisting of confederates, one or two persons, to give an appearance of many associated or- ganizations forming the ‘Supreme International Council,” and to write letters to Lewis—to make and supply the “proof” of its ex- istence.* In short, that he has created and fabricated his own world-wide organization and international council as he did his own
world with its millions of members. See quotations (17) and (6). Here by reason of his genius, since 1918 it has reincarnated in a large body.
?’The emphasis was placed on the “Supreme Council of the World” by his own italics.
3 Lewis introduced a dozen or more of such letters in evidence in the trial of the case of AMORC vs. GeorcEe L. SMITH in 1933, contending that such letters or cor- respondence were from members of his International Council and that such letters proved the existence of such council. We examined one of these letters at pages 334 to 339, supra.
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Pe veo beer VINMS OF RikeC. AUTHORITY REVIEWED
AMORC in North America. Here we have the proof of our charge supplied by Mr. Lewis.
In 1926, after he had succeeded in getting a few of his spurious organizations started in different countries, he became amazed at his own genius and exalted with his own achievement, which none save himself could have accomplished. Therefore, fearless, daunt- less and mighty in his own power, he declared himself the King of his own dominions—of his fabricated international R. C. Order; that is, Imperator-Rex of the AMORC throughout the World.
He tells us, since the convention held in New York City in 1918, when his organization broke to pieces, that his fabrication has had such an unexpected growth and his Supreme Council had become so large and of such an “international nature’ that it has become known as ‘“The Supreme Council of the World.’* That he has set up fabrications in sixteen countries, with active members or coun- cilors in each representing the largest membership the world has ever known, and that in this way the “ancient spirit’? of the Frater- nity ‘“‘reincarnated” in his fabrication.
In 1926 he had apparently abandoned his former claims and asserted his Rosicrucian authority by REINCARNATION OF THE ANCIENT SPIRIT OF THE FRATERNITY. Later, as we have seen,’ in 1930, he received his ancient authority by INOCULATION THROUGH BLOOD TRANSFUSION. The strange, unique, ingenious and resourceful means and methods of this fraternal racketeer are beyond understanding. However, one thing seems to be certain, which is that his claims are false and methods fraudulent.
How the International AMORC Was Created
We said that Mr. Lewis had created and fabricated the inter- national AMORC and that it was as spurious as his American fab- rication. Here he confirms our charge by telling us that “under the capable direction of the Imperator-Rex Harve Spencer Lewis,
4+This seems strange and contradictory. According to his previous statements in quotations (2), (35), (40) and (42) another non-existent council, which conferred authority upon him, was known as the “Supreme Council of the World.” But it is not strange. It simply shows that his claims of authority from such non-existent councils were false claims.