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STUDENT SUPPLIES Our Suggestion To You

- - - And By This Sign Shall They Be Known \ Y / E T H IN K in terms of pictures. O ur ideas are not composed ” of mere angles, straight lines, or cubes, but are tbe complete mental forms of things we have heard, seen, tasted, felt, or smelled. A thing need not always be seen in its entirety to suggest its com plete nature to us. O ne snowflake can convey the idea of a storm, a flag can signify the nation it represents, and the appearance of CHRISTMAS SEALS one uniformed police officer denotes the forces of law and order. O ne little sign or symbol, simple, even inconspicuous, can by (In C o lo n ) association bring to tbe fore of human consciousness a vast and I? These Rosicrucian Seals a re detailed mental picture of that which it represents. A handsome, about the size of a twenly-five- yet small, Christmas Seal often can arouse more curiosity by the cent piece, and beautifully imaginative picture it creates in the mind than a long letter or printed in red and embossed in persuasive argument. gold. Each Seal is gummed and Provoke thought about, and interest in. the Rosicrucian Order therefore easily attached to pack­ by affixing to your Christmas packages and envelopes containing ages or letters. The symbol and your Greeting Cards, one or more of the attractive Rosicrucian name of the Order are artis­ S e a ls. N eat and colorful, they draw the eye and focus the attention tically presented. They are eco­ on the name and symbol of the Order, and they may result in a nomically priced at direct inquiry about AMORC. Enhance the appearance of your Christmas mail with these seals, and at the same time further the Only 50^ name and purpose of AM ORC. Write for a package today. Send For Package of IOC your order and remittance to:

ROSICRUCIAN SUPPLY BUREAU SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U. S. A.

THE INSTITUTION BEHIND THIS ANNOUNCEMENT l/Ukcd Would Jlld - P lea P o d x a j ,?

Before the graven reminders of today's hosts of war dead, what words would a Christ utter to a stricken humanity? Two thou­ sand years ago, He symbolized by His birth, life, and death that, of mortal ambitions and final ends, one ideal must transcend them all—peace on earth and good will toward men. Was His philosophy incomplete? Did His message lack efficacy? Or, in­ stead, are the miseries of the hour bitter proof that there truly is no other way of life than the one that He and the prophets before Him proclaimed ? At all events, mankind has failed. How far have we come? What progressive changes have occurred, not in the world, but in the hearts of men in the passing of twenty centuries? By what right shall we rejoice this Christmas ? Let words of reflection and serious resolution this year be our Cfjnstmas Greetings THE AMORC STAFF The Mysterious Influence In The Air You Breathe!

T h e SOUL OF THE UNIVERSE is in the air you becomes not just an animated being but a "living breathe. Deposited in your blood with each in­ soul." Try this experiment, and ptoveaVital Life Force halation you take — is the intelligence that directs the exists in the air. When you ate in pain or despon­ course of the planets through the misty reaches of dent take a deep breath. Hold it as Jong as com­ space, and the strange phenomenon of life itself. fortable— then notice the momentary relief. What is it that causes your heart to beat, your lungs to expand and contract? What mind directs This Amazing Free Book the cells of your being, each in their purpose some Would you seriously like rn know how to draw upon this Intelligence of the Cosmic,with which the air is permeated? to create bone, others tissue and hair? What con­ You tan use it to awaken the creative powers of your mind, sciousness pervades these vibratory globules of life and and for making life an experience of achievement. Use the gives them awareness of their Cosmic function? coupon below for a free copy of the book, "The Mastery of Life.1' It tells how in the pTrvacy o fyour home you may Are you one o f the millions who have looked learn to use these simple, useful, natural laws. beyond yourself for some external Divine Power ot ------U S E THIS GIFT CO U PO N ------1 agency? Have you searched in vain for some outer l- i i Scribe S P. C The Rosicrucians (AMORC) ■ sign or word of Divine assurance when in doubt 1 Rusicrucian Park, San Jose, California * or in need? Now leatn of the unsuspected power that » J am sincerely interested in learning bow to use the myste- i f nous influences of rhe universe in the betterment of my life. i exists in every simple breath—and that becomes | Please send me a free copy of the book,“The Masteryof Life." part of you. The ancient Egyptians believed that the r l 1 NAME______‘ essence of life was borne on the wings of the air. The Bible proclaims that with the first breath man ADDRESS------[ Rviurnciani are NOT a religious organization i T H E ROSICRUCIANS (AMORC] SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U. S. A. '-irr?r rrrrrrciyrfrttrrrtTT

ROSICRUCIAN DIGEST COVERS THE WORLD THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL ROSICRUCIAN MAGA­ ZINE OF THE WORLD-WIDE ROSICRUCIAN ORDER

Vol. XX DECEMBER, 1942 No. II

Christmas Greetings (Frontispiece] 401 Thought of the Month: What of Tomorrow? 404 Soul Doctor 408 It Is Not The Outer Man 411 Journeys In The Esoteric: Part II 412 Behind The Mirror 416 What Do YOU Think? 418 Cosmic Politics 420 Cathedral Contacts: The Star In The East_ 423 The Moral Argument of Kant 425 A Philosophical View of Alchemy 427 Religion and the Mystic 431 The Vision of Perfection 433 Sanctum Musings: Peace 435 The Parable of fhe Exodus 436 Our New Curator (Illustration) 437

Subscription to the Rosicrucian Digest, Three Dollars per year. Single copies twenty-five cents. Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at San Jose, Cali­ fornia, under Section I 103 of the U. S. Postal Act of Oct. 3, 1917. Changes ot address must reach us by the tenth of the month preceding date of issue. Statements made in this publication are not the official expressions of the organization or its officers unless stated to be official communications. Published Monthly by the Supreme Council of THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDER—AMORC ROSICRUCIAN PARK SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA THE THOUGHT OF THE MONTH WHAT OF TOMORROW?

By THE IMPERATOR

The following is the last installment in a series of articles by Ralph M Lewis. F. R. C.. on the changes today's international involvement will produce In thp world in Ihe near future. He has projected an outline of the effects current events will have on nations and on the minds, lives, and custom s of the people who live in them. In presaging these events, he has used nothing more mysterious as an aid than a pencil, a world map. the immanent faeul ties of observation and abstraction, and an analysis of what he perceives to be the present trends. —EDITOR.

AN actual benefits poses of the conflict. It will perhaps be be derived from contended that the numerous purported war? Yes. History advantages derived from a major war is replete with nu­ would in all probability have emerged merous alleged anyway, in the progress of civilization. examples. It is re­ The principal advantage accruing from lated that the ex­ a war. not considering its tremendous tensive use of iron mental, physical, and material costs, is by the ancient the great acceleration given develop­ Assyrians in their ment in technical and other fields of implements of human enterprise. A five-year war. for war, after discov­ example, may advance certain sciences ering it among the and arts, both in their refinement and Hittites whom enlargement, from fifty years to a they invaded, caused that metal to be century. more generally used by Asiatic powers Such results are sometimes indirect for peaceful pursuits. The raids of the consequences of the stimulation of war. Kassite hordes an the Babylonians in At the end of a war many newly cre­ 2100 B. C. introduced the horse to that ated and expanded technological pro­ civilization. Likewise, the barbarian cesses can. with comparative ease, be Hyksos. a mysterious people, who converted into the manufacture of civi­ swept down on and conquered Egypt lian products and become of service to about 1700 B. C. brought horses with society. them and taught the Egyptians to do­ What then will be some of the ad­ mesticate them. The Moors who fought vantages spawned directly by this war? their way from North Africa into Spain, There are certain ones which are so ob­ again brought to Europe the ancient vious that they must be apparent to all culture of the East and of Greece, alert persons. Aviation is such an ex­ which had been stamped out by the de­ ample. Necessity, concerted effort, and cadent Romans. unlimited funds have revolutionized cer­ The It must be conceded that a tremen­ tain aeronautical theories literally over Rosicrucian dous price in human hlood. suffering, night, in contrast to a norma] peacetime and misery was paid for such benefits. development. The mourners of today s Digest In almost all instances the benefits re­ war dead will inherit this advantage December sulting from war were unexpected, and with their grief. There are. however, 1942 often most remote from the initial pur­ certain advantages, now in an inchoate [ 40-t ] stage, which will emerge, and of which artists, depicting future cities with many many persons are not aware. Some of street levels, one above the other, and these we will consider. edifices dwarfing our present skyscrap­ For the last two and one-half decades ers will never come to pass as a general in the United States, for example, the practice. The difficulty of evacuating congestion of population in certain such areas in any emergency must be areas, the now large cities, has been an all too apparent now to everyone. The increasingly alarming problem. For massacre that comes from a concen­ three fundamental reasons, the concern trated attack upon such areas, and their has been the effect of such congestion absolute dependence upon a remote upon the areas where it occurred: water supply easily destroyed are events A. Health— inadequate housing, the of history. Heretofore such cities have crowding out of light and air, in­ grown around a concentration of indus­ creasing noise level, with its ef­ tries, such as steel, railroad centers, fects upon the nervous systems, textile mills, machinery manufacturers, social contamination, and inef­ or seaports. The destruction of an area fectual control of disease. of this kind in war, or as the result of a B. Transportation—the snarling of natural catastrophe, seriously cripples transportation facilities, lack of a nation. easy ingress and egress from the Tomorrow will see an exodus from cities, with ever increasing toll of such areas under government sponsor­ life due to consequent accidents. ship and impetus. There will be a mass C. Supplies—the problem of supply­ transportation of families — those who ing such areas with essential sup­ desire to leave — under supervision of plies in abundance, such as food­ the state and by its expense to new re­ stuffs and fuel, the turnover for gions within the nations. The state will such production being almost con­ select such regions as are sources of stant. It was related by an au­ supply, raw materials, in fact. It will thority, but a few years ago, that encourage manufacturers to locate their the warehouse capacity for food plants in such regions, thereby relieving in New York City was sufficient transportation of the raw materials. For for but a forty-eight hour de­ an example, shipbuilding will be under­ mand, if all replenishments ceased. taken at numerous smaller seaports, as Remedial measures have been perfunc­ during the times of actual war. This tory and negative. This is not so will distribute this vital industry geo­ strange, even though the situation ap­ graphically. peared acute. Congestion of population W hat will be the aftermath of such raised land values and rents. The aver­ development? How will it affect the in­ age large property owner is neither a dividual? It will be highly salutary. It philanthropist, nor is he given to the will destroy the remnants of the spirit solution of sociological problems. There­ of sectionalism which still prevails in fore, his assistance is not forthcoming, various sections of every country. The and his influence politically is prodi­ citizenry will become far more cosmo­ gious. Obviously. Federal intervention politan. The urban dweller will be is not encouraged, and what is done brought into closer contact with the is often but a spectacular political rural family. They will know each gesture, to mitigate any criticism which other's problems. More important, they might exist. will learn to share each other’s ways of However, the war has brought the living. The distrust that the farmer has need for decentralization to the fore. A for the industrialist, and the latter's fre­ nation no longer will want to pride itself quent ignorance of the farmer's contri­ upon cities with buildings towering into bution to the welfare of the state, will the heavens, creating canyons of steel gradually disappear —• when they are into which thousands upon thousands neighbors. Patently, all of this will of persons are disgorged at certain make for greater political unity in the hours, jeopardizing each other's lives, congresses and parliaments of the world. especially in times of emergencies. The One of the major good effects en­ fantastic and imaginary drawings of gendered hy this decentralization of H o n population will be the stoppage of the be salvaged by the development of a exodus of manpower from the farms. result of the present war. The backbone of the average farmer's The more complex a government be­ labor has been his immediate family; comes, the more numerous are its func­ his sons, daughters, and sons-in-law are tions, its ramifications, such as its bu­ as a rule his most dependable workers. reaus and departments. The further, The small farm is mostly a family enter­ therefore, the individual citizen comes to prise. Its members become co-operators feel himself on its outer edge. Regard­ or partners. Once these farm boys were less of the fact that such a nation has not only isolated from the attractions of perhaps millions of government em­ the city by distance, but likewise by a ployes, the plebian citizen becomes con­ thorough lack of knowledge of urban scious of an estrangement between him­ life. The advent of the motion picture self and the heart of his government. and of the automobile ended this. The The many departments and agencies of former glamorized and publicized urban the nation seem to push him further life to the farm youth. The automobile and further away from that intimate made it possible to traverse the many association with the nucleus of the rul­ miles between the farm and the large ing power which perhaps he once en­ city within a reasonable time, and to joyed—or his fathers did. acquire the occasional experience of Often, even in a democracy, the living within the city. But it was just citizen believes that his voice in his too occasional. The result, therefore, government has become but a quantita­ has been a virtual hegira of youth from tive factor, that is, he but constitutes a the farms to the cities during the past numerical advantage, and that his true two decades. sentiments are not understood or ap­ The future decentralization of the preciated. This condition develops that mammoth cities, and the springing up attitude of mind of “the people and the of numerous medium-sized metropolises state,” instead of "we the state." Con­ in regions now mainly having naught sequently, the average citizen comes to but towns and villages, will put urban think that what rightly is his political attractions adjacent to the farm youth. or civil duty is but a concession which These young men and women will not he grants his government. In other need to glut metropolitan labor markets, words, he believes that in effect he is as unskilled hands. They are, in fact, doing the state (which seems to him a skilled agriculturists, but to the mills more or less separate entity from him­ and the urban trades, they become but self) a favor. Therefore, adversities, common labor. These youths, therefore, economic slumps, hard times, conditions will not need to remain on relief as they which he may not have the vision to see have, walking city streets, and crowded that he, as an individual, is responsible into dingy, dirty quarters, just so they for, he attributes solely to the state as may remain in the city to enjoy the apart from himself. questionable advantages which they In the United States of America, seek in it. In the future, they can and such an unfortunate condition reached will remain on the farms and become its peak during the depression years of efficient in scientific farming methods. the 30’s. The citizen, through the press The farm will become a worthy busi­ and over the radio and on the street, ness enterprise for them. was execrating his government for his They will do this, however, only plight, all of his ill affairs. The govern­ because they will be close enough to ment reacted to this sentiment by be­ cities which can provide urban pleasures ginning a public appeasement cam­ for their indulgence, as well as cultural paign. The state became, not the people, advantages. They will have the eco­ but instead an overindulgent parent of The nomic security of their farms, at least spoiled children. The people not only Rosicrucian being engaged in a work in which they demanded work, but support. A vast are thoroughly trained, with a whole­ difference exists between these two. It Digest some living environment, plus the easy is the difference between independence December access to the enjoyments of the metro­ and dependence. In effect, the attitude 1942 polis. The farm labor situation will thus of the average citizen was that this [ 406 ] mammoth thing, the government, must as a thing apart from himself. In the provide for all things—many of which future such plans cannot receive the the individual should have provided for same support they had in the last de­ himself directly. In fact, if he was un­ cade. The average citizen will say able to provide other than the essen­ about such proposals. Can we the tials. he should not have expected them people afford it?" Whereas, in the past, until he could. he was inclined to insist, "The state Initiative was at a low ebb in early should pay us. etc., etc." 1939. The costs for maintaining what The war will end for some time the the government provided the individual, era of extravagance, that extravagance and which he thought it was his right which the people demanded of their to demand, were being met mainly by governments. Individual initiative will large corporations. The individual’s return. Once again a man will make his payments were quite indirect, that is, own way in life. He will cease living hidden in slightly increasing prices of unconcernedly, and expecting that ulti­ commodities. In other words, he was mately the day will arrive when the conscious principally of the aid flowing state must provide for him, solely, be­ from his government to him. and little cause he has not prepared for such an from him flowing back to it. The pres­ eventuality himself. This one factor ent war has, by necessity, saddled its alone will make the tomorrow that is costs upon every individual. By the end coming a truly progressive period. The of 1943, the individual will once again United States of America, for example, be fully aware that he is the state, at was built upon self-reliance and self­ least, insofar as finances are concerned. sufficiency. It is only upon these qual­ Therefore, another beneficial result of ities that it can continue as a progres­ the present conflict will be the psycho­ sive nation. logical effect of its heavy taxation upon Whereas democracy is but a catch the individual. The people will awaken word to many persons today, in the to­ to the fact that they are truly the gov­ morrow, the average man will begin to ernment's pocketbooh. really understand its philosophical con­ What will this mean for the future? tent. He will come to realize that a Principally, the elimination of the in­ democratic nation is one where indiv­ troduction and extension of so many iduals create a political instrument to crackpot economic schemes, such as preserve the just exercise of their sep­ were common in the 30's. These were arate powers. The future success of a plans which offered the individual eco­ democracy depends upon the mass con­ nomic salvation at a minimum of his sciousness of justice had by its people, own effort, and at a tremendous cost to for in that lies the forebearance nece3- the government which he looked upon sary to assure an equality for all.

HIERARCHY MEDITATION PERIOD The Imperator requests all of the Fratres and Sorores of the Esoteric Hierarchy to unite in the special traditional meditation period on Thursday. December 17th. at an hour in their location equivalent to 8.-00 P. M. Pacific Wat Time. Investigate and find what hour it Is in your location when it Is 8:00 P. M. Pacific W ar Time in San ]ose, California. The purpose and nature of this period is known to those of the Hierarchy. Each Hier­ archy member who participates Is to make his or her customary report thereafter, direct to the Imperator. To avoid forgetting or omitting the period, mark the date now on your calendar, or put a reminder In a conspicuous place.

LOOK TOWARD YOUR FUTURE Have you been contemplating a change in your employment? Are you looking for not Just a temporary position, but one that has a degree of permanency? Do a pleasing en­ vironment and an outlet for your abilities, as well as fair play, constitute an inducement to you? If you are either a trained and experienced secretary, typist, stenographer, clerk, office manager, bookkeeper, or one thoroughly familiar with office systems and routines, apply bj! letter for a future consideration to the: Rosicrucian Personnel Director. Rosicru- clan Park, San Jose, California. Give details of your experience and education.

[4 0 7 ] Soul Doctor

By H a r v e y M i l e s , Grand Secretary

HO ever heard of pills or a manipulator of vertebrae and such a thing? other bones. He has advanced from the Doctors are medi­ "be-whiskered" dignity of 1850. Our cine men; they are family doctor of today has left the professional peo­ Smith Brothers category to smother in ple who adminis­ the ashes of the old worn-out and de­ ter drugs to sick moded practices. bodies. D o cto rs Yes, he has advanced to the sphere are also people of mystical art, and instead of trying to who make adjust­ cure the body of ills, pains, diseases, ments of bones, etc., he begins the study of the human stimulate the soul, and after discovering the general nerves, massage attitude of the mind, the doctor begins the muscles, and the treatment of his patient by helping rub the skin. him to eliminate the cause of his trouble A doctor also confines you to bed from its seat. Not all physicians have when things appear seriously wrong, risen to this category, but many have, when you need rest and quiet and no and before another twenty-five years excitement which disturbs the nervous pass all physicians will recognize the system, no intoxicants or heavy meals— truth and value of treating the mind just a simple diet to be prescribed by first and then letting the body adjust it­ one who understands all the functions self to mental rhythm. One must first of the anatomy. He also leaves some pick the fruit from the tree before it can pills after giving you inoculations of be dried for packing and consumption, serum, which is supposed to intercept so the new doctor of today must with­ the work of the microbe inside the draw the cause from the mind before body. If the first treatment fails, a sec­ the body can experience relief from ond is administered, then a third and pain. Removing the ailment from the so on until out of his hundreds of medi­ body without clearing the mind only cines he finds the one that makes you forestalls for the present, physical com­ well again. The doctor then says. ‘ You plications that are certain to manifest can get up now for a few minutes a later. day. then an hour, and then ultimately To support these contentions, aside The to work and business again.” from our own Rosicrucian doctrines, we The above conception of the doctor read in current literature that Drs. Bela Rosicruciatt was almost true a few years ago. but Mittlemann and Harold G. Wolff have Digest today, on the horizon of the new civili­ conducted experiments to prove sub­ December zation. we find the doctor is more than stantially that peptic ulcers are created 1942 an injector of serums and prescriber of by the mind. They claim that there is [ 408 ] a spectacular connection between the loss of time spent from business or posi­ state of mind and the gastric juices, tion. Healthy beings are happy beings, and that anger, fear, rages, mental ir­ and a harmonious state of mind pro­ ritations, anxieties, etc., affect the di­ vides individuals with the proper con­ gestive processes in such a way as to ditions for the investigation and study increase the volume of gastric secretions of the higher psychic and spiritual and cause excessive acidity. In other phases of life. words, our worries, aggravations, and Mental therapy has been a part of other inharmonious mental gymnastics the Rosicrucian teachings for ages, and disturb the balance of alkalinity and those who have practiced it have prov­ acids of the stomach. en, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the ef­ In so doing an unnatural condition is ficacy of mental adjustment. The inter­ established which provides a breeding esting thing is that we do not have to place for foreign bacteria, or creates confine mental effects to the stomach for unguarded spaces or areas within the the healing of ulcers. The mind does mucosa, which when irritated by pre­ not only affect that organ or gland of digested food causes injury, and peptic the body, but at your will it affects all ulcers begin. I quote from an article or any other part of the anatomy. All from Fortune: "Medical and surgical you need do to prove this is to center treatment is generally only incidental to your mind for a few moments on any the mental therapy more and more part of the body and you will soon dis­ widely applied today. Until the under­ cover unfamiliar reactions which are lying psychic causes of the trouble are soothing, comforting, and stimulating. remedied there can be little hope in the Since we know how the mind can affect chronic cases of doing much more than the stomach and other organs and dis­ easing the discomfort temporarily." Dr. turb their normal function, it is not dif­ Walter C. Alvarez, of the Mayo Clinic ficult to understand how fears, worries, says, “ If the patient is worrisome and and anxieties will bring upon us dis­ temperamental, operation is probably eases. low or high blood pressure, nerv­ useless." Statements like this from ous ailments, and other physical in­ physicians of modern nationally-known harmony. institutions are extremely encouraging, Is it hard for you to sense the feasi­ for it bears out postulations made by bility of /ear causing nervous disorders, mystical students of the past. anxieties causing an upset stomach, How well I recall Dr. H. Spencer bringing on indigestion, constipation, or Lewis, founder and late Imperator of other maladies of the intestinal region? AMORC, proclaiming back in 1921 Is it impossible for you to believe that that the majority of physical illnesses long unfulfilled desires could cause a were intimately associated with our disturbance of the finer and more sensi­ minds, and if we would realize that fact tive glands and organs of the body, and change our mental outlook, develop based upon the truth that we have al­ a more constructive attitude, and con­ ways taught and which our modern centrate our mental energy on our ills physicians have now conceded? I be­ with the will and determination to re­ lieve we can go a step further and say move all inharmonious vibrations from that our individual lives here on the our anatomy, we would all be experi­ earth are so affected by our mental at­ encing a life of physical perfection. titudes that the mind is responsible for Based upon the principle that a well the happiness, sorrow, or the state of body harbors a balanced mind and that physical and spiritual equilibrium we a sick body harbors a warped mind, the experience. I do not mean to imply by object of Dr. Lewis was to have all the these statements that a person cannot students and members of the Rosicru- become ill without first having a nega­ cian Order maintain a healthy physical tive mental attitude; on the contrary, vehicle by using mental power gener­ we know that everyone is subject to ated by soul. By so doing, Dr. Lewis contagious diseases. Should the health­ contended they would eliminate the iest man or woman inhale or take into financial burden of medicines, adjust­ the lungs contaminated air or absorb ments, hospitalization, as well as the into the system through normal pro- [ 409 ] cesses food or water that is not free She is establishing a psychic communi­ from destructive bacteria, he will ex­ cation between the two psychic systems perience illness. But the important thing —that is, the psychic system of the is that he hold the proper mental atti­ child or patient and herself. Although tude about it and use his mental power she may be unaware of it, Mrs. Kenney in helping to offset the destructive work is using a power far greater than the of the germs causing the illness. water-soaked blankets or exercise, it is There is another interesting phase of love. This is the Saul Doctor, healing that has come to my attention And what the world needs today is recently—'the new treatment work of more Soul Doctors. They would be a Mrs. Elizabeth Kenney in poliomyelitis, tremendous help in healing the wounds or infantile paralysis. It is revolution­ inflicted upon all peoples of the globe, ary in a sense—a reversal of the ortho­ and if they were really adept in the di­ dox methods which were to keep a pa­ rection of their psychic force, they could tient quiet, sometimes in casts, and ad­ take out by the roots the psychic or minister various medicines. The Ken­ mental cancers that have warped the ney treatment consists of wrapping the minds of some of the world's leaders patient in a wool blanket saturated with and directors of State affairs. hot water until the pain subsides, fol­ Divine Love is a manifestation of the lowed by the patient concentrating his mind; everyone can develop it and if mind on the muscles to try and flex he chooses he can use it to keep himself them. Mrs. Kenney’s object is to get well, improve his material station in life, the muscles to function normally by us­ help his friends and close kin. The ing the power of the mind to stimulate world needs it today, I believe, more them. She knows that if she can get than anything else. With sufficient of responsive action between mind and it in the world the war would stop to­ muscle that the patient is potentially morrow. peace would be declared at cured. once; and the flower of happiness would Recently I saw a photograph of Mrs. bloom again among all people upon the Kenney holding one of her three-year- face of the earth. Our song would then old patients. The child was standing be, “ Praise ye the Father” instead of, on a table facing Mrs. Kenney. She “ More ships to crush the enemy." held the youngster with one of her arms There would be no enemies for there around the child’s back while rubbing would be spiritual union among all or massaging his legs with the other. mankind. No student of mysticism could ever May our prayer ever be that the look at the photograph without know­ Great Light will soon come with the ing what was passing from the mind power to prevent for all time the useless and body of Mrs. Kenney to the child. pain, suffering, and misery that people Her facial expression radiates the per­ of the world are experiencing today; sonification of Divine Love, and through and in place of it there will be smiles, the direction of this great psychic force contentment, real joy and a brotherhood she is stimulating the aura and the of man that in the past was only a whole physical body of her patient. vague dream.

THE LAW OF THE ORDER What are your rights and privileges as a member of the AMORC? How Is the Order governed? Who are its administrative officers? What divisions are there in its operations and functions? What disposition can he made of its funds—are there safeguards estab­ lished for the preservation of them and the properties? Is there a central world power of The the Order—or are there separate jurisdictions? Ohtain the most from your membership by becoming familiar with the Constitution and Rosicrucian Statutes of the Grand Lodge of AMORC. It is your duty to know all of its provisions, Digest and to exercise your powers Obtain a copy at cost, only 15c. W e pay mailing charges. December Send your order to the Rosicrucian Supply Bureau, Rosicrucian Park. San Jose, California. 1942 [ 4 1 0 ] It Is Not The Outer Man

By F r a t e r J . W . P a u l s o n E R H A P S o u r type. Their lives were demonstrations views are never of Cosmic illumination and Cosmic Con­ wholly wrong nor sciousness. Bachs wife, Adele, wor­ entirely right: our shiped her husband for the beautiful motives never music he created and rendered. But pure but usually a Bach would not tolerate her praise, ex­ little mixed. Nev­ claiming: "Ach, I am only the channel ertheless, most ot for God’s music." Beethoven was even the time we try to more completely surrendered, not to his do our best. But art or music, but to God's Will. one thing is cer­ A university professor states that tain: the error will man has an apparently incurable de­ decrease exactly termination to attempt solutions of prob­ in proportion to lems without knowledge." Yes, the de­ our knowledge of and reliance upon the gree of knowledge makes a difference. intuition. It makes a difference not only in solving The still, small ovice within, that in­ problems but in the kind of life one ner urge—the intuition—is a part of the leads. As the speaker on the Temple infinite Divine Mind. As such it knows Square broadcast put it one Sunday: all things. It is always right; it knows The man who is to travel one thousand what is best. But man fails to heed that miles makes a different sort of prepara­ urge. Why? Because man is willful, tion for his journey than the man who man is stubborn. And man is not wise. is to travel only one mile." H is deliberations are based on ordinary An example of such a being is a sin­ objective considerations. Both his emo­ cere student, a frater who is building tions and rationalizing are often mis­ for a long and better journey. He tells taken for thinking. He thinks he can me that in this cycle of life, this jour­ do and accomplish whatever he wills to ney. the ordinary materialistic aims and do without consulting the subjective considerations do not seem to suffice. mind and intuition, or the Will of God. Because of a very conscious awareness Some highly evolved men do rely on of a purpose, a destiny, his life seems the urge tugging within. At times that to be a sort of conflict and compromise little segment or spark of the divine between necessary daily routine and the mind is in charge, in full command of things which must be done in order to their actions. Such men come to feel fulfill that destiny, he declares. The their identity with the universal divine higher goal, although definitely known purpose, lose many selfish and persona! to him. must be kept more or less as a desires, and feel themselves as instru­ secret while he pursues his daily work ments of the divine Force. Beethoven in business. Outwardly and by ordinary

and Bach were examples of this evolved (Concluded on Page 415) I g jo )

[ 411 ] Journeys In The Esoteric

B y R a l p h M . L e w i s , l m p e r a t o r

PA RT II

ONTRARY to Allah. Hinduism, on the other hand, popular miscon­ is a pantheistic mysticism: that is, it ception, true oc­ affirms that there is a God as a force cultism does not and a mind which does not exist in a seek to hide being, but permeates all things and is a knowledge, to part of everything, working in and make it secretive through it. W e see that these two re­ o r strange or ligions are at opposite extremes. mysterious. Rath­ Nanak. the founder of Sikhism, was er, occultism con­ born 1469 A. D. As a young boy, he cerns itself with argued with Mohammedan teachers seeking to reveal which he had. disputing some of the the unknown and principles which they were teaching. to unveil the mys­ As a young man, instead of entering terious, and if it is associated with se­ into the commercial life of his time, it is cretive things it does so only to bring said that he preferred meditation and them to light. Occultism is also not spent much time walking in the forest. necessarily a part of religion, nor is it It is related that on one occasion he had an element of mystical thought. Occult­ a great vision in which God came to ism may become a part of religion, but him. and he was advised by the Deity it is not religion. Many oriental religions to repeat God’s name frequently, and have included occultism, have lifted it he left, avowed to devote his life to a into their systems, but nevertheless that high purpose, but was nevertheless per­ does not make occultism a religious plexed by the experience. Some time doctrine, for no religion includes occult­ thereafter, when meditating upon this ism unless in its creed or system it con­ vision, there came to him as an ecstatic cerns itself with an investigation of the experience a message from God which psychical phenomena of man's nature is now one of the fundamental precepts and the acquisition of self-knowledge. of Sikhism. It was that there is no Mo­ Sikhism is an example of one of the hammedan, there is no Hindu, there is oriental religions which incorporated but one true God. The occultism. Sikhism strives to harmonize In the Granath, the Sikh Bible, writ­ Rosicrucian two great oriental religions which are ten mostly in Sanskrit. God is alleged hostile to each other, namely, Moham­ to be a power, a force which permeates Digest medanism and Hinduism. Mohamme­ all things. In this sense, it inclines to­ December danism is monotheism; it recognizes a ward Hinduism. But it is also stated 1942 single God. That God is known as that the Deity shall be referred to as

t 412] Sat Nam, the true God, and He shall these laws unless he turns his back be nameless. He shall not be called upon them, refuses to recognize them. Brahma or Allah, but just true God. There is also what is known as Man should not presume to know Him hermetic philosophy or Hermeticism, as by name. It is also declared that the it is called. W e should know something world as we perceive it objectively is an about it to orient ourselves better in our illusion, that we cannot truly know the studies. Hermeticism is often confused nature of the world, and therefore, with methods and practices intended to worldly knowledge is evanescent, un­ awaken the latent talents or powers reliable. The only true knowledge con­ which man has. which of course is oc­ sists in knowing God. in being absorbed cultism. And so, to many minds, oc­ into the Consciousness of God, which cultism and Hermeticism are identical, we might say amounts to attaining a which is not true. Hermeticism gener­ state of Cosmic Consciousness. Now ally means that wisdom, that gnosis, here is where Sikhism “borrowed" oc­ attributed to a character known as cultism, for it affirms that there are cer­ Hermes Trismegistus. But Hermetic tain psychic practices to which the in­ philosophy today is now eclectic. It dividual, the devotee, must resort be­ has borrowed and incorporated into it­ fore he can attain that absorption into self ancient doctrines. Neoplatonism, the God Consciousness, and that these Stoicism, Gnosticism, and elements of psychic practices are occult laws not Christianity, several of which never generally known or realized, and the had any place in original Hermeticism. devotee must learn these things. They There are some who say that there are taught by Sikh teachers known as never was such a character as Hermes Gurus. Trismegistus. There are others who Occultism is frequently confused, as proclaim that he lived before Plato, be­ we have said, with magic, and to better fore the Seven Sages of whom Thales orient ourselves it is advisable that we was one — even before Moses. How­ clearly distinguish it from magic. Magic ever, Hermes is the name which the affirms and requires a belief in inde­ Greeks ascribed to the Egyptian god or pendent agents, entities existing in the legendary character known as Thoth. universe. These entities are invisible in­ The title "Trismegistus" is the Greek telligences, according to magic, which for Thrice Great," or the Great Great are able to exert efficacies. Some of Great. Inscribed on the Rosetta Stone, them are beneficent influences, it is de­ in demotic writing, is the name of clared, others malevolent, and they are Thoth whom the Greeks called Hermes, said to reside in animate and inanimate and the statement that he was the Great things alike, namely, living things, and Great Great. The Egyptians charac­ stone and grains of sand have these terized him as a human figure with the magical properties or qualities. head of an ibis, that is, the head of an There is no unity of purpose between Egyptian bird that used to wade in the these magical intelligences. Each one marshes along the Nile. exercises its theurgical powers arbi­ The Greeks in their ancient writings trarily, according to the whims and said that Thoth, whom they called fancies attributed to that magical ele­ Hermes, was the principal source of all ment. Consequently, it is held that hu­ wisdom, a sort of fountain of knowl­ mans are at the mercy of these magical edge. They called him the father of powers, and the unfortunate believer in philosophy. The Egyptians in their an­ them is constantly obliged to invoke one cient writings referred to Thoth as the magical process against another to miti­ lord of books and said he was the in­ gate the forces he imagines they have, ventor of the science of numbers, name­ so that he can enjoy peace of mind. ly, mathematics, and that he taught But what of occultism? Occultism af­ men to speak, and moreover, he taught firms that there is but one system of them the demotic writing. The earliest laws existing throughout the universe, Egyptian writing was the hieroglyph, one great governing intelligence, and or picture writing, and it is said that all functioning constructively and cre­ Thoth taught the demotic writing or atively. Man is not at the mercy of script in the manner which we now ( 4 1 3 ] write so that man would have many Profane or general history, in all of signs for many things. Today, a mag­ its investigations, can disclose no reason nitude of literature is credited to Her- for Thoth and for Hermes being called meticism. There are quotations which the Thrice Illustrious or Thrice Great. say that he. Hermes, or Thoth, was the Rosicrucian records as we have them author of thousands of works, while here, which are a continuation and a reliable sources say that he wrote forty- perpetuation of that knowledge trans­ two books, and these had six sections, mitted to the Order from the Old one on astronomy, one on the science World, tell us that there actually was of writing, one on religion, etc. such a character as Hermes or Thoth. Manetho, great Egyptian historian of He was not a god but a great sage, and the 3rd Century B. C., and for some he was bom in Thebes, ancient capital time in the past thought to be a legen­ of Egypt, in 1399 B. C.. and he attain­ dary character whose works have since ed a great age. He received the appel­ been translated, was known significant­ lation Thrice Illustrious" because he ly as the Truth of Thoth, and as the participated in the organization of the First Priest of Thoth. which would great mystery school, had the experi­ mean that he was a teacher of the wis­ ence of seeing the illustrious Amen- dom of this great character. In the hotep IV initiated as a Great Grand writings of Manetho, we learn that he Master, and further, had the experience was commanded by Ptolemy Philadel- of seeing the work perpetuated by he phus, who presided over the great himself assisting in the initiation of the school of learning and library of an­ successor to Amenhotep IV. cient Alexandria, to collect the great Metaphysics is wrongly used by learning of the ancient Egyptians for many persons as a generic term to be that library, and that Manetho pre­ all-inclusive, to cover a number of sub­ sented to Philadelphus the sacred books jects which either should be under of Thoth, one of which is known as occultism, esoterism, Hermeticism, or "The Shepherd of Man,” and it is in­ some other branch of learning. It is teresting to note that a phrase in that well that we orient ourselves on what book anticipates a statement in the is metaphysics. The term was original­ Book of Genesis, namely, that God be­ ly coined or invented by Aristotle. This gat man equal to Himself. great encyclopedic mind realized that In the records in stone inscribed on it was necessary to classify the branch­ the monuments of Egypt, the tombs and es of human knowledge so that they temples, we find much reference to could be perused more easily, and this Hermes, or to Thoth as they called him. he set about to do, for which humanity and it is said that the principal seat of should be eternally grateful to him. He the school of Thoth where his wisdom assigned various names to these differ­ was taught was at Khemennu, which ent branches, many of which we per­ the Greeks later named Hermopolis, or petuate and still use today, such as literally translated, the city of Hermes. psychology, and the word physics, It is said that this school was a "place which at that time included all material on high ground" and it was where Ra, science. He even invented a method of the sun. first rested when it rose in the reasoning to assist in understanding. East. Now of course this is allegorical, This he called logic, a term we still use because these records further relate that for such a method. To metaphysics the school was a place of initiation for Aristotle gave the meaning: literally the mystery school candidates. During that which is beyond the physical, be­ such initiation, the candidates ascended yond the materia], in contradistinction the mountain of their inner nature, their to his classification of knowledge, which inner consciousness, and when they he called physics. The reached the top, the spiritual sun rested In antiquity and today, however, meta­ Rosicrucian upon them. In other words, when they physics is concerned with first causes. attained within themselves a state ot the primary beginnings of things. Now Digest Cosmic Consciousness, then they were the causes with which metaphysics is December bathed in illumination or spiritual un­ concerned are not pragmatic. They are 1942 derstanding. not material causes or mechanical causes [ 1 such as science investigates in examin­ called higher state. Science says, here ing a physical phenomenon. Rather, is how something functions. Meta­ they are rational causes, causes which physics seeks to know: why does it the mind conceives by processes of function as it does? reasoning. Metaphysics is A Priori What, then, is Rosicrucianism, of knowledge. It is a knowledge which which we are members and students? begins with the general, and by it seeks It is not any one of these—occultism, to explain the particular. It is a knowl­ Hermeticism, metaphysics, or mysti­ edge which starts in the mind, rather cism. It is all of them. Rosicrucians are than outside of it. a product of pure not specialists. They will not confine reasoning. or limit themselves to one branch of Perhaps we can better understand knowledge. Rosicrucians are true phi­ just what metaphysics may be by enum­ losophers in the sense that they are erating some of the topics with which seeking a unity of all knowledge. All it is concerned. Metaphysics has a that which is known to exist must great interest in the primary substance have a place, and it is trying to find of the universe. W hat is it from which the inter-relationship between things all things come? W hat is the under­ and ourselves, which is the end of lying cause beneath all phenomena? Rosicrucianism. What is the relationship between all In Rosicrucianism we seek to reunite things? Metaphysics embraces the topic man with the divine purpose. If we of ontology, the nature of being, what pursue just one aspect, we are going off is pure being? If everything is reduced at a tangent. W e must be drawn back to its fundamental state, can there be into the whole. So as Rosicrucians, any such thing as non-being or an ab­ avoid having any affection, any partic­ sence of it? ular love for a special by-path, or else Science, for example, recognizes evo­ you will get sidetracked on your climb lution and teaches it, and we. as Rosi- upward. Investigate all paths. That is crucians, recognize aspects of the doc­ why Rosicrucianism seeks to include all trine as well which are concerned with tried and tested branches of knowledge. natural laws. Science studies the man­ But be certain that you cause your in­ ner in which evolution functions. Meta­ quiry, whatever the direction in which physics, on the other hand, questions you move in your thinking, to converge into why should there be evolution, back again on the main trunk eventual­ what is the moving principle behind it, ly; otherwise you will be opposing our why should things develop successively philosophical purpose—the unity of all and relatedly from a simple to a so- knowledge.

V V V

IT IS NOT THE OUTER MAN (Continued from Page 411) standards of judgment his progress when there is a sudden demonstration seems very slow, sometimes discourag­ of inner growth, an outward manifesta­ ingly slow. Even his mother frankly tion of success and power. As God confessed recently how strange it seem­ wills, so be it. Light, Life and Love, ed to her that the one child in her fam­ these we must have more abundantly. ily who seemed most keen, wide-awake, Our light ought not be hidden. Let the and apt at learning should make such Soul express itself and manifest the slow progress in the business world, voice of the inner man. Only thus can and in his personal affairs. there be supreme happiness. As our But fortunately, it is not the outer Sovereign Grand Master Kiimalehto man but the man within that matters. stated in a recent article: “There is no And what that inner development is no nobler work than the fashioning of one can fully know except the one con­ Souls. There is no finer gift than a

cerned. However, there comes a day beautiful Soul.” fesljo) [4H] Behind The Mirror

By S o r o r E l o i s e L a v r i s c h e f f

E have all laughed around us, really do not exist as such: at the description for forms do not exist in Nature. of the kitten as he W e know, and Science admits, that sees himself in the all matter is composed of but one Sub­ mirror for the first stance, energy which is vibrating. The time. He sidles different rates of vibration reflect to our up warily, back different senses and in the mirror of our arched and fur minds we see the reflection and say, bristling. Closer “This is a rock"; "That is water"; or and closer he "There is a cloud in the sky." But in comes until, sur­ reality all that exists before us is Spirit prised, instead of Energy, God's own energy, vibrating another cat—he at different speeds. Because this energy touches only the forms a vibratory pattern in accordance glass. Then cautiously he peers around with the idea, the archtype, in the Mind the edge of the frame. And what does of the Creator, our Inner Soul Self, he find? Nothing! There is no other which is itself the Mind and Conscious­ cat! ness of God, recognizes in the reflection Yes, we have laughed at the antics the archetype. So it is that we build up of the kitten and its amazement at find­ in our minds the picture which is the ing no other cat behind the mirror. But world as it exists to us. what if we should stop to think that we Yes, we have laughed at the reaction are in Truth in exactly the same posi­ of the cat to its reflection, but we have tion. We, here on this Earth Plane, are not understood that we ourselves are actually standing before the mirror of reacting in exactly the same manner to our minds, and through the ages have our "earthly" reflection. To the kitten fallen into the error of thinking the the image in the mirror was another images we see reflected are real. cat. a creature with all the potentialities But it is true that the world we see of friend or enemy. Hence the bristling about us is only a reflection. As we fur. the arched back. W e, in the mirror stand before a mirror, we see the image of our objective minds, view the reflec­ we call "ourselves" against the back­ tion we call our body. W e allow it to ground of the room where we happen exist to us as something separate and The to be. W e accept the fact that there is apart, a distinct entity, capable of suf­ Rosicruciatt really no other person in the mirror, no fering all kinds of ills and evil fate. But other room in the glass. But we do not when the cat has left the front of the Digest accept the fact, or even stop to think, mirror, has the mirror changed? Has December that in the mirror of our minds what we the cat changed? No. only the reflec­ 1942 see as our outer body, the objects tion is missing. So, when we leave this [ 416 ] earth, what is changed? Cannot we So we have allowed ourselves to gaze meditate upon this and its great signifi­ into imperfect mirrors and see the One cance to us at this time? Perfect Substance, which is in Truth Our Inner Self, Soul (the Mind and reacting perfectly according to Divine Consciousness of God) together with Law. producing apparently hideous Spirit (the vibrating energy of which forms, crippled bodies, evil circum­ the Universe is composed) produces the stances all around. And not realizing mirror of our mind which we know as that they are but reflections, we sit in consciousness. It is the mirror in which despair before the mirror and bemoan the Creator planned to reflect to us here our fate. the perfection of the World Above: Arise! Clear the mirror! Know that AS A BO V E SO BELO W . But we in Truth there is only perfection. In have become so absorbed in the reflec­ Truth there is only the perfect You. tion, imperfect though it may be, that No matter what the mirror of your out­ we have forgotten the Truth—'that it is er mind may show, look behind the only a reflection, and as such is de­ mirror. The Idea of You in the Mind pendent upon the medium which re­ of the Creator cannot be less than flects— our minds. W e see the apparent perfect. Know this; dwell upon this evil about us and forget that in Truth — thought. The Idea of the perfect heart the One. the Absolute Good—there can or lung or other organs of your body be no evil. For Truth cannot be less can never be less than perfect, no matter than perfect. In Reality there is only what the reflection may be. The Idea the One Mind, the One Substance, the of the Perfect Body can never be less One Perfect Kingdom, which we should than perfect, no matter what the image learn to see in the mirror of our mind. in the outer world may be. Know this But if the mirror is imperfect, how and you clear the mirror of your mind can we see a perfect reflection? If the and the perfect reflection must come cat stands before a mirror which dis­ through. It is because it is only a re­ torts the light, it will see instead of an­ flection that it is so easy for the figure, other cat a hideous monster standing the form of the outer, to change. Be­ before it. But when the wiser cat comes cause our bodies are composed of this back from behind the mirror, he knows same vibrating energy which composes there is no monster there—there is only the Universe, because they are animated himself. with the One Vital Life Force which in­ W e go into the Fun House and fuses all Life, it is just as easy for us laugh ourselves into hysterics at the to reflect the Perfect Idea in the Mind grotesque figures in the Hall of Mirrors. of the Creator as the imperfect image Before one we are fat. Before another our objective mind has made. But it we are thin. This one bows our legs. cannot reflect two images at the same That one twists our body. And we en­ time—one perfect and one imperfect. joy the images because we know they We must then synchronize our ideas are not real! Stop!! Think! For this, with those of the Creator and watch for then, is the key to happiness and har­ the reflection to change. For by the mony in our earthly lives. All the forces Law, change it must. of Spirit which form the Universe about Our mind has truly created the world us were created for us to enjoy. All as it exists to us. Thoughts lower than Laws were set in action to create pat­ those of the Highest have created the terns which would reflect the beauty of reflection which we call the “ world the World Above. But, because they today." Mankind, before the warped, are Laws, they are inexorable. They contracted mirror of his mind, stands in must continue to operate, although Man fear, in anger, in agony, in despair. in his ignorance does not cooperate, But we must open our eyes. W e must causes actions and reactions in the Uni­ look with our inner eye beyond the ap­ verse which create that which he inter­ pearance to the Reality. W e must know prets as evil. And the more he looks at in Truth that Man is God's perfect the evil picture, the more the mirror of Creation, truly living in a perfect world his mind becomes warped and con­ now. All we must do for it to manifest tracted. (Concluded on Page 419) [ 4 1 7 ] What Do YOU Think? By F r a t e r C h a r l e s W o o d

VERY student of a man but, as far as that case is con­ mysticism knows cerned. he will live conscience-free the “ As a man thinks rest of his life because he doesn’t know so is he." Mary it, and therefore does not think about it, Pickford once Thus, we cause our own suffering or said, “ Nothing contentment by our thinking. can hurt you un­ Strange effects sometimes hampering, less you think a­ often disastrous, are caused by mistaken bout it," and we, beliefs, such as the belief that might is as Rosicrucians, right, that our economic systems and know that the life our religions that were handed down to we are living to­ us by our forefathers must be right. A day is the result little straight thinking will open up some of our past think­ real surprises. One may even contract ing, and that our thinking today is a so-called contagious disease by the building our future life, thought that he has been exposed to it I wonder how many of us ever realize when as a matter of fact he was not in the importance of the above statements? any way exposed; and think of the suf­ Here is an illustration I like to use to fering endured as the result of /ear of demonstrate that it is the thought and something that never otherwise affected not the act that affects us: the person and, in many cases, never Two men are riding in a car on a even existed. dark night and they run over a dark ob­ Thought, belief and faith are quite ject in the road. One goes back to see closely related. To think you can do what they hit and finds that they have something is to believe you can do it, killed a man and tells the driver so. and belief is faith. Now, without refer­ Now a similar case. Two men hit an ence to religious faith, I want to point object in the road and one goes back out right here that without faith you and finds that what they hit was only could not even lift your hand off the a sack of grain, but he tells the driver table. You have absolute faith that you he has killed a man. Now I am sure can do that, therefore you do it with you will all agree that the effect on both little or no effort. But if you can he drivers will be the same, yet one has made to believe that you can't do it— killed a man and the other has not but through the use of hypnotism or any The he thinks he has. Take a third case. other similar method—you will find it Rosicrucian Two men driving at night run over an impossible to lift that hand off the table. object in the road. One goes back and In contradistinction, men have been Digest discovers that they have killed a man known to lift many times their normal December but he tells the driver it was only a sack capacity to save the life of a loved one 1942 of grain. Now here the driver has killed pinned under a car or truck. Due to the [418] state of emotion the predominating unconscious by the blow, or was under thought was to lift that car. Not a wish the effect of an anesthetic, or if his or a hope but a conviction on the part mind could have been completely occu­ of the man that he must lift the car. pied by other thoughts he would not And he lifted this extra weight because have felt the pain because he would not for the moment he forgot his weakness, have thought of it. forgot that he couldn't lift such weights. Now we can go a step farther than His only thought was that he could and this. I know from my own experience must lift that car! —any any number of others will testi­ A lecturer recently used another good fy the same—that the physical cause or example of the connection between seat of the pain is changed by our faith and reality. He said, 'Suppose thinking, that the intensity or duration you were told that someone had died of the pain is increased by our thinking and left you a million dollars and all about it and eased or stopped by not you had to do to get this money would thinking about it. In many cases no be to write out the checks. If you had other cure is necessary. Just eliminate faith in the one who told you this you the thought of pain and nature will ef­ would, by writing out the check, accept fect the cure. Just recently I was able the money; but the chances are you to demonstrate this to myself in a way would not believe the story and would I will never forget. I was suffering with not write the checks and therefore fore­ a severe sore throat and headache, and go all that prosperity which only await­ although for me it is a very difficult ed your acceptance. task to concentrate my mind on some­ That statement of Mary Pickford's— thing pleasant while in pain, I was able that nothing can hurt you unless you to do this for a few minutes two differ­ think about it—may seem a rather broad ent times. Now, as stated before, we statement; but let us analyze it. Any­ cannot feel pain if not thinking about one who has made any study of psy­ it, but in this case I was much surprised chology knows that you cannot think of to find upon again becoming conscious more than one thing at a time. You may of myself that the pain did not return believe you do when you attempt to at once but only after about a half carry on a conversation while suffering minute of conscious thinking. Think, with a toothache, but it is an intermit- too, of the number of cases of headaches ent process of thinking of more than and other minor ills that have been one thing at a time. Your thoughts are cured, not through any effort on the jumping from one thing to another at part of the patient but by a sudden very brief intervals. It stands to reason change in thinking, by meeting some then that you don’t feel pain while cheerful friends or attending an inter­ thinking of something else. But here is esting movie. the question that often comes up. If one is struck suddenly we may say that he Thought, then, is power for either certainly felt that without thinking. But good or evil. Every physical act is pre­ that is just another case of misbelief. ceded by thought. Everything that man The truth of the matter is that the blow has built was preceded by thought. Our was not felt for a short interval of time thoughts not only affect our own lives, while the nerve carried the impulse to now and in the future, but through the the brain where it was interpreted as spoken word and the subtle radiation of pain and the pain became a thought. our thoughts we are affecting the lives Now, if at the time the person was of others. So, let us guard our thinking struck, he had been dead or rendered at all times.

V V V BEHIND THE MIRROR (Continued from Page 417) to us, is to change our mirror that it festation. Lo, the Kingdom of Heaven may be reflected. Behold God's perfect is at Hand: Behind the mirror of our ideas, then watch for the perfect mani- minds. [ 4 1 9 ] Cosmic Politics

By D r . H. S p e n c e r L e w i s , F. R. C., Ph. D.

(September, 1936, Rosicrucian Digest)

Many of the articles written by our late Tmperator, Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, are as deathless as time. That la. they are concerned with those laws and principles of life and living which are eternal, and thua never loae their efficacy or their Import, and are as helpful and as Inspiring -when read today afl they were -when they were written five, ten, fifteen, twenty or more years ago, and likewise will continue to be as helpful and as instructive in the future. For this reason, and for the reason that thousands of readers of the 'Rosicrucian Digest" have not read many of the earlier articles of our late Imperator. we are going to adopt the editorial policy or publishing in the "Rosicrucian Digest" each month one of his outstanding articles so that his thoughts will continue to reside within the pages of this publication.

T IS generally un­ pected all of our members to adopt our derstood by all of opinions as a matter of course, or as an our members and incident to their membership in the friends that our organization. organization does The mystic and the student of nat­ not deal in politi­ ural philosophy may be inclined to say cal matters to the that politics constitutes a field of activ­ extent of advising ity and study that is entirely outside of our members to his realm, but he forgets that the Cos­ support any one mic is very greatly interested in politics political party or and without a political scheme of some any one candidate kind the Cosmic could not carry out its for any office. So universal principles. In the course of far as political al­ many years I have noted with much liances are concerned, our organization satisfaction that in any complicated sit­ remains absolutely neutral and the only uations the Cosmic intervenes and se­ thought that any of us give to these lects or elects a person to a position matters is to try to determine which of who is best fitted to meet the crisis. In the various candidates for the many, fact, in the intervention of the Cosmic, many offices to be filled at each election as in instances where God intervenes are best qualified from a universal point to settle a much mooted point, we have The of view. W e may from time to time ex­ a distinct revelation of the political acu­ Rosicrucian press in this department of The Rosi­ men, the political understanding and crucian Digest" or in The Rosicrucian superior comprehension of things poli­ Digest Forum" some of our own personal tical here on earth. December views regarding candidates and politi­ The cyclic birth of a great avatar in 1942 cal principles, hut we have never ex­ each nation, the periodical rise of a [ 420 ] great leader to guide the thoughts of more or less universal hierarchy of men, and the powerful influence of a worldly rulers, and his actions, his de­ savior of man’s best interests through­ crees, his rulings, decisions, interpreta­ out the ages clearly points to a su­ tions and evolving ideas cannot be sep­ preme, divine, omnipotent comprehen­ arated from our universal interests. At sion of our needs, and a dependable in­ any hour of the day during his term of tervention on the part of God and the administration he may become an im­ Cosmic forces when we are in need of portant national figure or even an inter­ superior guidance. national influence. Certainly his influ­ This does not mean, however, that ence upon the people within his own each one of us should fail to study the city can become of nation-wide impor­ situations that have arisen from our tance. A President of the United States own worldly affairs. With the human is not only an administrator of the in­ error that is inevitable, we make mis­ terests of these United States alone, but takes from time to time, and these mis­ be becomes a part of the international takes must be corrected: and this lies scheme of administration and we must in our own hands to a great extent. In­ consider his qualifications to meet and asmuch as man has taken unto himself act with the international problems that the prerogative of creating laws for will rise along with the local ones. governing himself and his fellow be­ And in analyzing the individual we ings, and inasmuch as man has also as­ must not be guided by party ties and sumed a superior position in interpreting affiliations nor by his promises, no mat­ God's universal laws and applying them ter how sincerely and honestly they in a specific way, man has assumed a may be made before election. W e must responsibility that he cannot cast aside consider what his tendencies may be in or pass on to God and the Cosmic when future situations that are not anticipated he himself must work out the problem. or expected at the present time. We For this reason, if no other, each in­ must judge him not by what he wants dividual should give serious thought to to do or desires to do in the future but the selection of candidates for such of­ what he may be capable of doing under fices as control the administration of stress or in circumstances now un­ man-made laws and the interpretation known. It is probably true that the av­ of them. erage political candidate is anxious to Man can do his best in this regard give a better administration than his by keeping in mind the political attitude predecessor and tries to make his ad­ which must be that of the Cosmic. Cer­ ministration a monument to his integri­ tainly the Cosmic does not take into ty, goodness, honesty and creative pow­ consideration the religious, racial, or ers. But this desire, this honest intent, color distinctions which man has mag­ is not the most important thing that we nified to such artificial importance. In must consider. We must analyze his the sight of God all of the children on character, his abilities, bis methods of earth are of one human family, and re­ thinking and his fundamental apprecia­ gardless of race or color or religious tion of Cosmic and Universal laws. faith, our world problems are much Throughout the United States and alike and can be solved only by a com­ in many parts of North America and mon understanding and a common ap­ elsewhere in the world the next few plication of sensible interpretations of months will see the wildest possible ac­ fundamental principles. tivities in political circles. W e shall W e should, therefore, analyze each hear and read of contentions, argu­ political situation from its international ments. disparaging remarks regarding and universal point of view rather than one or the other of each classification of from its distinctly local point of view, candidates, and bombastic promises for and each candidate for office should not the future. There are millions of voters be analyzed from any limited, narrow, who will blindly vote for one or the or local situation. A mayor of a small other of the many candidates either city is not just a ruler or administrator with the belief that all are good or all of the interests within the confines of are bad, and any attempt to select one the city, but he becomes a member of a as better than the other is a waste of [421 ] time; or that it makes little difference mands that are righteous, reasonable, who is elected inasmuch as political in­ or fair — or especially of general good fluences, conniving and underhanded to all—political powers, political par­ scheming will control the candidate’s ties, political leaders are set at naught actions regardless of his claims. This and can accomplish nothing in the face is a wrong way to look at the matter, a of this decision on the part of the mind wrong way to vote inasmuch as it fos­ of man. ters the very situation that is so seri­ A man who is elected to office by the ously criticized. There have been can­ universal opinion of the vast majority didates in the past who have been of persons who believe and demand that elected to office on the basis of their he is to do the things that are right, is promises, and they have sacrificed their suddenly given from the Cosmic a future success and fame in remaining power to fulfill the demands of the steadfast to the promises made, and in public and is made fearful of any varia­ fulfilling their obligations regardless of tion of those demands. In such a case all pressure from the outside and all the public, who has established such an temptations. opinion and who has elected the man We can encourage men of fine char­ to office, must assume all responsibility acter and fine mind to take an interest of its judgment. This man is in a posi­ in political matters by showing in our tion to exert powerful influence and to manner of voting that we are using be master of his own fate in all political discrimination, that we are approaching senses just as he is master of his per­ the subject prayerfully, analytically and sonal life and must therefore assume Cosmically. the responsibility of his own acts. There is no greater power on earth of a mundane nature than that of pub­ Therefore, it is right and proper that lic opinion. It is a complementary and the members of our organization at­ secondary power to Cosmic law. If all tempting to work in harmony with uni­ human beings would unite at this time versal Cosmic laws should analyze the in a demand for universal peace by political situation of today and select thinking only of peace and of brotherly their candidates and vote for such per­ love and of universal prosperity and sons as they honestly believe will con­ happiness, not only would the thought form to Cosmic rules and give the pub­ of war be eliminated from the minds of lic the very best service possible. Part those who make wars possible, but even of our duty lies in attempting to make the reflection of this power of opinion worldly conditions proper in a national would affect the Cosmic laws, and uni­ or community sense, as well as in a versal peace would become an immedi­ private, social sense; for, after all, we ate and unchangeable condition. When are our brother s keeper in a wide inter­ public opinion in any locality or any pretation and a nation's Karma can nation centers itself upon certain de­ become a part of our own Karma.

AN AID TO YOUR MEMBERSHIP Until further notice, we are instituting a new policy which will be welcomed by many members who have previously requested a similar arrangement. All members who con­ tribute one year's dues may, at the time they forward one year s dues to the Grand Lodge, receive a one year subscription to "The Rosicrucian Forum." "The Rosicrucian Forum" is a private, confidential bimonthly magazine exclusively for active AMORC members. It is a valuable supplement to the Rosicrucian monographs and contains the Imperator s answers to questions submitted to him by many members. All "Rosicrucian Forum" subscribers rely upon this magazine to answer many questions which may arise in their minds in regard to the Interpretation of various phases of the teachings, as well as to how the principles can be practically applied to their daily lives. Now is your opportunity to arrange to have "The Rosicrucian Forum" reach you for The the next year by contributing your entire year's dues at one time and asking for this Rosicrucian special privilege which we can grant to you due to the saving made possible by your dues being received in one unit. If you have never examined a copy of "The Rosicrucian Digest Forum," a sample copy will be forwarded to you for the small sum of twenty cents post­ December paid. (For members only.) 1942 [ 422 ] The “Cathedral of the Soul" is a Cosmic meeting place for all minds of the most highly developed and spiritually advanced members and workers of the Rosicrucian Fraternity. It is a local point of Cosmic radiations and thought waves from which radiate vibrations of health, peace, happiness, and inner awakening. Various periods of the day are set aside when many thousands of minds are attuned with the Cathedral of the Soul, and others attuning with the Cathedral at the time will receive the benefit of the vibrations. Those who are not members of the organization may share in the unusual benefits as well as those who are members. The book called "Liber 777" describes the periods for various contacts with the Cathedral. Copies will be sent to persons who are not members if they address their requests for this book to Friar S. P. C.. care of AMORC Temple, San Jose, California, enclosing three cents in postage stamps. (Please state whether member or not—this is important.)

tMKaSOMMKMMMMMK

THE STAR IN THE EAST

EGARDLESS of ception of this slow progress will help what may be us to realize that Man is faced by many one's interpreta­ adjustments, and that the series of ad­ tion of the reli­ justments now taking place are not as gious significance futile as they might appear on the sur­ of Christinas or face. Reasonably accurate historical the scientific inter­ records reach back over four thousand pretation of the years before the Christian era. No Star of Bethle­ doubt at the half-way mark in that era hem. we still can of slightly less than two thousand years look upon this when conflicts existed between nations, symbol as an in­ and between men, there were those who dicator of a way believed that the civilization would per­ of life. W e look ish. W e can reasonably believe that a back upon Man's history as best we far greater future exists ahead of us know it and see that we have, since than existed ahead of them in those -LrLn-nj-|O the original Christmas, advanced only early times. about half as far in terms of years as The Star in the East has been a sym­ did the era of civilization which existed bol ever since the first Christmas of all prior to the birth of Christ. Our con­ of Man’s highest aspirations and de- w / [ 423 ] sires. To say that the ideals laid down Restrictions upon various commodities as Christian have failed is only to will limit the usual exchange of gifts. acknowledge Man's weakness in being Perhaps it is all for the good—perhaps unable to reach his ultimate aim or point this Christmas men and women will of advancement. The system has not turn more to the spirit of giving and to failed and, regardless of religious doc­ the ideals as represented by He whose trine. the ideals which are represented birthday we observe. By the restric­ in the spirit of Christmas will he those tions placed upon them by physical to which intelligent and progressive men limitations they will come to a better and women will continue to hold as an understanding of Christmas and the ultimate achievement. Therefore, the symbology of the Star of the East than Star in the East still shines—shines as they have ever had before. Enter, there­ a guide to direct those who may be fore, into the spirit and the ideal of the tempted to retain here within the physi­ occasion. Direct your thoughts of peace cal limitations of this earth all their and harmony to those near or far away. treasures. Life as a physical existence Attune yourself with the ideals repre­ can be dull, can be constantly beset with sented by the season rather than limit­ troubles and hostility, but life which is ing yourself to the actualities immedi­ lived for a higher purpose will find a ately at hand. Many are already fa­ broader basis of understanding and miliar with the Cathedra] of the Soul. interpretation. Those who are and those who wish to Christmas will be different this year become familiar will find great satisfac­ in many homes. There cannot help but tion in entering its portals to direct their hang over the usual festivities the actu­ constructive thinking unitedly toward alities of the present. Some homes, in the creation of a world in which the fact, many homes, will be touched by Christmas spirit in its highest idealistic the absence of one or more who have form will be the governing power on been a part of this annual observance. this planet.

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BUY UNITED STATES SAVINGS STAMPS AND BONDS

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THOUGHTS OF AN EVERYDAY MYSTIC

"From my lookout tower 1 watch the sun come up most every morning. Glorious! I salute the sun with Ra and a lew of the vowel sounds and words I have learned. I al­ ways get an answer back, and often the effect, the vihrations, the personality, or call it what you may, will stay with me all day. As my lookout duties concern all points of the compass. I usually make three rounds around it, and sing a triad of notes. This exercise surely has an exuherant effect upon my being. "At times, when ‘chasing smoke' and out of all communication. I often pick a blossom from a rare high-altitude flower, place it under my hat band, and breathe a thought to my wife, and very often she picks up the thought and I know that everything is well. 1 do not know if the vibrations of a flower help to carry a thought; I suspect that they do. "It is a lot of fun to look up into the sky and watch a cloud dissipate before your eyes—. Also, there is much consolation when isoleted to be able to get a message from a melody." —GLEN W. BAIRD. The Rosicrucian (Editor's Note: Prater Baird is a fire ranger in a large national park in the Western Digest United States. His duties place him in close proximity to the beauties and wondrous December manifestations of nature where everything virtually breathes the ma|esty of Cosmic law.) 1942 [424] The Moral Argument of Kant

B y R o g e r O . B a c o n , M . A., F. R . C .

N writing on the The criteria of Kant may best be moral argument understood by Rosicrucians as summed of Kant, it would up in the symbol of the superimposed be well to define triangles. The greatest good for the the term ''argu­ greatest number" is comprehended in ment" as employ­ the universal philosophy of Kant. ed herein. It must "Nothing in the whole world, or even not have the con­ outside of the world, can possibly be notation of con­ regarded as good without limitation ex­ troversy, nor will cept a good will." The intellectual gifts it be used as an of intelligence, sagacity and judgment, exposition of the and the qualities of courage, resolution fable in an epic and perseverance may be pernicious if poem. It means the will that directs them is not good. herein "criteria" and my paper will, Power, wealth, honor, good health and therefore, be an exposition of the moral contentment give rise to pride when the criteria or essentials of Kant. will is not good. "A good will would, If one likes to see a man’s life reflect­ therefore, seem to be the indispensable ed in his writings, he is bound to be dis­ condition without which no one is even concerted somewhat on studying the worthy to be happy." worldly existence of the author of the Critique of Pure Reason. Paradox is A good will is not merely well-wish­ the most frequently recurring thought ing, but it consists in the resolute em­ as one attempts to reconcile the man ployment of all the means within one's and his work, or attempts to replace his reach, and its intrinsic value is in no own criteria of moral judgment with way increased by success or lessened those of Kant. by failure. The moral criteria of Kant perhaps Reason falls short in securing enjoy­ had their source in the simple faith of ment and happiness for the intelligent his ancestors who were driven from man. Rather he may come to have a Scotland to Germany in the 17th Cen­ hatred of reason and to envy the less tury because of religious persecution. intelligent person who relies mainly on The criteria may represent in part the his natural impulses to tell him what to essentials of the heritage so dearly pre­ do and what to leave undone. One may served, Which brings us to the third even deny reason to have any value in paradox — in as many paragraphs — the attainment of happiness. Kant states that of giving the world these standards that life has a nobler end than happi­ in the glittering age of Frederick the ness and that the true vocation of rea­ Great. son is to attain that end.

f 42t ] Reason should produce a will which as to himself. And it would be seen at is good in itself and not merely good as once that, while one could certainly will a means to something else. This will is a lie, he would not will that lying should the highest good. Happiness is the sec­ become a universal law. If lying were ond and conditioned object. universal there would, properly speak­ To understand a will which is good ing, be no promises whatever. His prac­ in itself, it is necessary to examine duty, tice at once proves itself to be self­ which involves the idea of a good will destructive. as manifested under certain subjective Duty, then, consists in the obligation limitations and hindrances. to act from pure reverence for moral An action that is done from duty gets law. To this motive all others must give its moral value, not from the object it is way, for it is a condition of the will intended to secure, but from the maxim which is good in itself, and which has by which it is determined. It is all one a value with which nothing else is whether the end is attained or not. Un­ comparable. conditioned and moral value can lie The conception of duty is not derived only in the principle of the will, no mat­ from experience. Reason issues its com­ ter whether the object sought can be mands on its own authority without attained by the action or not No action caring in the least whether the actions which is done from duty can be deter­ of men have, as a matter of fact, been mined by a material principle, it can be done purely from the idea of duty. Per­ determined only by the formal principle fect disinterestedness in friendship for of all volition, itself is demanded of every man, al­ Duty is the obligation to act from though there may never have been a reverence for law, even at the sacrifice sincere friend; for perfect friendship is of all my natural inclinations. bound up in the idea of duty as duty, and belongs to the very idea of a rea­ The supreme good which we call moral can, therefore, be but the idea of son which determines the evil on a priori grounds, prior to all experience. the law in itself in so far as this idea No experience whatever led us to sup­ which determines the will and not any consequences which are expected follow. pose that laws of this apodictic charac­ ter are even possible. Only a rational being can have such Such a metaphysic of morality must an idea, and hence a man who acts from be entirely free from all admixture of the idea of the law is always morally empirical psychology, theology, physics good no matter whether the conse­ and hyper-physics, as well as all occult quences which he expects from his ac­ qualities. tion follow or not. Everything in nature acts in conform­ Now what must be the nature of a ity with law. Only a rational being has law, the idea of which is to determine the faculty of acting in conformity with the will even apart from the effects ex­ the idea of law, or from principle; only pected to follow and which is, there­ a rational being, in other words, has a fore, also entitled to be called good ab­ will. If the will of a rational being is solutely and without qualification? The not absolutely good, we conceive of it only principle of the will which remains as capable of being determined by ob­ is that of the conformity of actions to jective laws of reason, but not as by its universal law. In all cases he must act very nature necessarily obeying them. in such a way that he can at the same The idea that a certain principle is time will that his maxim should become objective and binding upon the will is a a universal Jaw. command of reason, and the statement M ay one. for instance, under the of the command as a formula is an im­ pressure of circumstances, make a prom­ perative. All imperatives are expressed ise which he has no intention of keep­ by the word “ought." In reference to The ing? One has only to ask himself the divine will or any other holy will, Rosicrucian whether it would satisfy that maxim to imperatives have no meaning, for here extricate himself from embarrassment the will is by its very nature necessar­ Digest by giving a false promise—if such an ily in harmony with the law and, there­ December action should have the force of a uni­ fore, “ ought" has no application to it. 1942 versal law. applying to others as well (Concluded on Page 430)

[ 426 1 A Philosophical View of Alchemy

By T h o r K h m a l e h t o , Sovereign Grand Master

HROUGHOUT appeared, purporting to have been writ­ the 15th and 16th ten by alchemists, but whose real au­ centuries, a wave thors were the clergy. Educated men o f interest in and thinking men who read this con­ Alchemy became glomeration of nonsense naturally be­ very prominent came disgusted, and so have our scien­ among the learn­ tists of today who have read some of ed men and pre­ these pamphlets. The system in vogue lates of the day. by the Jesuits to discredit men who pos­ If we realize that sibly would become a menace to the scientific knowl­ church’s teachings was a common prac­ edge of nature tice at that time. On the other hand, and natural phe­ there are some who discover in the al­ nomena were chemists only secret expounders of largely in infancy, and that superstition truth, who. under terms of chemistry, engendered by the materialistic religious hid their teachings from all but their beliefs enveloped or controlled the rea­ own kind, and not only never made a soning faculties of the majority of hu­ grain of gold, but never attempted it. man beings, it is not surprising, when nor were chemists at all. Many alchem­ the rumor became current that gold ists were advanced sages, who. not car­ could be made through artificial means, ing to be detected in working unauthor­ a great many learned men became in­ ized miracles in times when burning at terested and even tried to find out the stake was still in vogue, pretended everything about the mysterious process. to be smelting and distilling in the se­ Science knows today that gold can be clusion of their laboratories, while, in made—at great cost which is prohibi­ fact, they were only meditating and tive. The alchemists, however, claimed contemplating for the purpose of ac­ that they had a secret process for its quiring occult powers. Their writings, manufacture. which disclose nothing save an intent Accepting these things as facts, and to hide or confuse the casual reader, realizing the important repercussions are of small value without the secret such knowledge would have upon the key, which could not be understood multitude which the state and church without a thorough knowledge of astro­ tried to hold in bondage, we can read­ logy and the nature of the planets, and (§) ily understand that they bent all their mystic phraseology. Wuv, energies in an effort to discourage such No matter what our opinion may be practice. Printing had flourished for a about the alchemists of the Renaissance, long time, and it was used as a medium the indebtedness to alchemy is greater of destruction. Nonsensical pamphlets than we realize. In the first place, [4211 alchemy contributed many necessary for that which is below. Nature changes words to the vocabulary of science, according to an ideal. Gold is the per­ such as crucible, distillation, quintes­ fection of terrestrial substances, and it sence, and affinity. In the second place, is to produce gold that minerals evolve. they stumbled upon many discoveries The human body is the model of the that they did not seek. Science is thus animal kingdom, and living forms orient indebted to Gebir for the first sugges­ themselves in the direction of their ideal tion of corrosive sublimate, the red type. The emotional substance of the oxide of mercury, nitric acid, and nitrate soul strives, through the filter of the of silver: to Roger Bacon for the tele­ senses, to transform itself into spirit scope, the magic lantern and gunpow­ and return to unity with the divine. der; to Van Helmont for the properties The movements of Nature are governed of gas; to Paracelsus for laudanum. To by a single law. which is diverse in its him, medicine owes the idea of the clinic. manifestations but uniform in its es­ As in chemistry so in other sciences, sence. It was the discovery of this law the most important discoveries were that the alchemists sought. If there made by men who had marked taste for were many of them who discovered the alchemic theories. Kepler was guided mineral agent, fewer were able to find in his investigations by cabalistic con­ its application to the human body, and siderations. The search for gold and only a very few adepts knew of the youth was only one phase of alchemy. essential agent, the sublime heat of the Long before such things as animal mag­ soul, which fuses the emotions, con­ netism, hypnotism, telepathy, ventrilo­ sumes the prison of form and allows quism, and auto-suggestion had a name, entry into the higher world." the alchemists had discovered them. The most overwhelming proof of the Such terms as the philosopher's stone, truth of the mystic philosophy is that the elixir of youth, the transmutation of it links up every department of life and metals into gold had a symbolic and knowledge. A knowledge of funda­ spiritual significance. This knowledge mental principles compels us to study was carefully concealed because knowl­ nature, and science is thus born. These edge is a dangerous thing in the hands principles must be lived, and so we of selfish men. W e, of the twentieth have religion, ethics, and morality. century, ought to realize fully the truth Every phase of life and literature re­ of this statement when we see every veals the same message. In the light of sublime law of nature used for the de­ mysticism, philosophy, science, religion, struction of mankind. Let me quote music, architecture, literature, and art, from M agre’s book "Alchemists and all tell of the soul’s high destiny. Each Adepts." (Pages 199-200): tells it through a different medium. "History records many men who Each tells it equally well. have been able to make gold. But this To the mystic, his philosophy is his was only the first stage of the secret. guide; his map, his compass. It is to be­ The second gave the means of healing come part of his soul make-up. It is a physical illnesses through the same light to guide his feet. It is to be lived agent which produced transmutation. until no other way of life is possible. To reach this state, a higher intelligence His philosophy is not an intellectual and a more complete disinterestedness exercise or an abstraction. It is food for were necessary. The third state was his heart, his soul, his mind. The vari­ accessible only to very few. Just as the ous arts are channels from his soul to molecules of metals are transformed the oversoul. The medium is but an­ under great increase of temperature, so other design in the universal pattern on the emotional elements in human nature his trestle board. His philosophy, there­ undergo an increased intensity of vi­ fore, is equally cogently expressed in The brations which transform them and the pattern of verbal beauty of a poem, Rosicrucian make them spiritual. In this third stage, in the study of the conflict of personal­ the secret of the philosopher’s stone en­ ity and environment in the drama, in Digest abled a man’s soul to attain unity with the analysis of the souls in the novels, December the divine spirit. The laws of nature and in the straight-forward discourse 1942 are alike for that which is above and of a philosophical treatise. It is One f 428 ] Life, One Divine Power. One Destiny, reason about it and classify it. We do One Path. W e can find the Divine not notice all that we do and are. No message in the vision of Isaiah, in the creature is completely conscious.” law codes of Moses, in the Egyptian "Mind-consciousness is men's great­ Book of the Dead, in Plato’s Dialogues, est power for good or evil. A lowly in Shelley s Prometheus Unbound, in creature may employ an expedient not the poems of Wordsworth, in Browning recognized in civilized human life with­ and Tennyson. We can study the les­ out any evil motive. Evil is of the mind. sons of our Order. But the result should Having mind we do not need to depend be that we learn to see the truth every­ upon the instincts for choosing, but we where. in poetry, drama, art, and phi­ can choose according to a temporary losophy. And finally, the highest de­ standard or civilized expedient set up gree of development of all, we should by the mind." learn to find the truth within ourselves. “ Do not inquire if there is a God, or Our great goal is to be a channel of about a life beyond the grave. Of the God’s Wisdom and Love and Activity beginning and the end no one knows in a medium heightened to the degree anything, but this we know of the Now: of genius. W e will need no guide, no that if we be patient in the study of book, no instruction because we will things present, we shall in time know have attained the ability to be instructed things eternal. If you ask about Crea­ by Divinity Itself. tion, the answer is Now, for at this Spiritual principles remain the foun­ moment the world comes into being; dation of the world no matter how blind and if you ask about the Last Day, it is people may be. It is a great blessing Now, for at this moment the world that the doubts of materialism and athe­ passes away. As the sun rises in one ism do not assail our hearts. It is a great land, it sets in another." blessing that in this incarnation we have "Life is change, for Change is this: contacted the Rosicrucian Order and that the present moment is both begin­ the teachings of the Alchemists and ning and end. and that the world is ever Philosophers. It is a great blessing and becoming new, just as it is ever grow­ privilege that we can share, no matter ing old. For were there not Death in how small, in helping the constructive forces in the world. Birth, there could be no death, and were there not Birth in Death, there Such were the thoughts and aims of could be no Birth. That which is not the medieval alchemists. Of such con­ now can never come to pass in the fu­ sistency was the gold of human values ture. for past and future are hut an ex­ after having passed through the crucible pansion of the present, while the pres­ of fire of human suffering and trials. ent is the moving image of the Eternal." Such were the truths of the human al­ chemy that they endeavored to leave to “The wonder of Life is this: that in the generations to follow. To speak out every moment is the whole of Time and in those times of persecution was to a perpetual recreation of the world. willfully become a martyr, and there­ Recreation or Play. This is no mere fore, they left unto the printed and chance of words, for in play the act of written words the truths they had found making is more than the thing made. in their solitude. So, also, Life is more than the things I will quote a few alchemical aphor­ which it forms. If the forms of Life isms, picked up here and there in my were more than Life itself, this would reading. I am sorry that I cannot give be Death, for in each created thing its the names of the authors. Some are my work would come to an end. If the own translation or selection of words. flower did not die, the seeds would not You can judge for yourself their value be scattered: if man were immortal, he to you: would need no children to preserve his “The greatest of all facts is the fact kind. Truly, if forms were immortal, of consciousness. Apart from conscious­ Life would die, for Life is an everlast­ ness there is chaos. It is a general term ing recreation. This, then, is the glory for cognition of experience. Experience of Life: that it is forever going forward, becomes clearer in relation to how we nothing holding it, for all that is made [ *29 1 must pass away. In this is its freedom "Suffering is neither a curse nor a and its undying wonder.” blessing, save as a particular organism "From this we see that if we go for­ reacts to it. Asceticism and sensuality ward, holding fast to nothing, nothing are extreme reactions thereto. Flux is shall then hold us back from attain­ a fact, and the wise man realizes it. He ment. And if we ever recreate what we therefore, keeps an open mind as to have made, nothing shall weary us, ex­ values.’ Valuation is an arbitrary act cept it be ourselves." of the social mind." "Consciousness is a becoming.' That "Since all is a state of flux, 'self is of which we are conscious evolves only not a permanent, separative, entity. Apart from the community it would in so far as it is valuated. according as we value it or perceive its factual na­ have no value. But the community is a ture. The wise man realizes that apart totality which shall endure longer than the person. In so far as it is great, so from mind there is no valuation, there shall it longer endure and find an im­ is chaos. The mind builds out of ac­ portant place in the history of human cumulated experiences and the fancies derive therefrom." endeavor." "H e who would seek the greatest of "Our present existence is of the all earthly benedictions, the knowledge greatest importance. If we could re­ of all created good, and of the effectual member a previous incarnation, it would virtue which God has liberally implant­ be of a different person in different ed in stones, herbs, roots, seeds, ani­ circumstances." mals, plants, minerals, metals, and all "If there is a ‘universal mind,' it is things, must fling away every earthly only what doctors sometimes refer to as thought, hope only for freedom of heart, the unconscious, an impersonal concep­ and pray to God with the Greatest hu­ tion. It is not a God but an alteration mility. Thus, the aspiration after free­ in the forces of Nature'.” dom will soon be realized." V THE MORAL ARGUMENT OF K A N T (Continued from Page 426) All imperatives command either hypo­ regarded as an end. The imperative in thetically or categorically. A hypotheti­ this connection must be: Act so to use cal imperative commands a certain thing humanity—whether in your own person to be done, if something else which is or the person of another—as an end, willed is to be attained. A categorical never merely as a means. imperative is an act which in itself is A free will is the same thing as a will objectively necessary, without any ref­ that conforms to natural laws. Reason erence to another end. must, therefore, regard itself as the An action is essentially good if the author of its principles of action and as motive of the act is good, let the conse­ independent of all external influences. quences be what they may. This im­ Hence his practical reason is the will of perative may be called the imperative a rational being and it must be regard­ of morality. How is this imperative pos­ ed by itself also as free. The will of a sible? One should act in conformity rational being, in other words, can be with the maxim which he can will at the his own will only if he acts under the same time to be a universal law. The idea of freedom, and, therefore, this imperative of duty demands that one idea must in the practical sphere be act as if the maxim from which he acts ascribed all rational beings. were to become through his will a uni­ Without presupposing freedom, we versal law of nature. cannot conceive of ourselves as rational The This is necessary for rational beings, beings who are conscious of causality Rosicrucian for will is the faculty of determining to in respect to that action, that is, as en- act in accordance with the idea of cer­ lowed with will. All beings endowed Digest tain laws. Such a faculty can belong with reason and will must determine December only to a rational being. themselves to act under the idea of their 1942 Man in all his actions must also be freedom, { 430 ] Religion and the Mystic

By H a zel J. F o w le r , F. R . C .

ANY criticisms of nature as demonstrated by the chief of the church and the tribe. religion are being In these variations we find the Su­ expressed today: preme Excellence personalized as a far some to the effect distant Being of great dignity and bene­ that going to volence who may or may not grant our church is out of earthly petitions. date: others to the With the same breath in which we effect that the praise Him and petition Him to mani­ church provides fest His powers in our favor, we blame hut an empty Him for fire and flood, famine and cerem ony which greed, sickness and sorrow, war and touches no vital politics, most of which are entirely man­ spot in the lives made. If by chance we escape these and of its attendants: many to the effect other afflictions and degradations of that the church has utterly failed in its human existence we assume to be al­ obligation to humanity else the present ready in His favor and proceed to for­ world brutality could not be. get Him. The world is all right for us. While I am not an ardent church­ Why should we think beyond the mo­ goer, neither do I blame the church for mentary harmony? a responsibility of conduct which lies Such has been the roll of individual entirely within the individual. The religion in an evolving world until the church undeniably serves the symbolic present world-wide cycle of chaos and need of many. On the other hand, bas­ brutality has forced us into our mental ing the Ideal on the words and actions and spiritual strongholds. W e are now of the Master himself, religion is not a turning within ourselves for the answer matter of church attendance, rather of to the present confusion. We are ask­ individual exemplification of the beati­ ing of the inner mentor what part we tude of the Living Spirit. should have played in the great scheme When a person speaks outwardly of of things. Now we are swung back religion his true spiritual interpretation from levity and luxury to sobriety and is apt to be quickly isolated in favor of fundament. Our own little world has col­ the belief of his ancestral forbears. The lapsed in the midst of a conflict which Catholic interprets religion through the follows neither order nor principle. understanding of his priest: the Jew, The World Catastrophe is surcharg­ through the understanding of his rabbi; ed with a terrific leveling element, but the Protestant, through the understand­ as Whitman suggested of elevation — ing of his minister; and the primitive we but level that lift to pass and con­ through his obeisence to the gods of tinue beyond. It were pitiful indeed if [431 ] tliis were not so, if we learned no les­ of the expression of its substance and sons from the limiting circumstances in­ the preservation of its sacred heritage. cidental to our present estate. But this The process effective to the develop­ leveling and continuing beyond is a pro­ ment of the Christ Consciousness is the cess of evolution despite its attendant proper balance of the objective man and temporary reverses. It is the way plus the timely unfolding of the subjec­ of the macrocosm reflected in the tive man. It involves first the five physi­ microcosm. cal faculties which must be quickened A new meaning of religion gradually to a more alert objective receptivity. unfolding through the higher elements Then must follow sustained activity of is gaining a quickening and gratifying the subjective faculties which facilitates response. No longer can mind force a attunement with the source of our divin­ mountain range, a river, a desert, or ity. When these two sets of apparatus even the great expanses of ocean to function in harmony we are ready for the reception of something higher in the isolate the Brotherhood of Man. By great and tragic suffering we have scale. True religion is embodied in the something higher. learned that the cries of human souls sacrificed on far and bloody altars of Through science man has discovered greed and lust can be heard though our that the invisible around him is full of ears be padded against the sound. force and rhythm. He knows this be­ Something in the anguish of human cause by a system of mechanics he has souls pierces the invisible channel and been able to box some of the manifes­ our own hearts contract to a horror we tations of the unseen. His device is neither hear nor see through the physi­ super-excellent but this mechanical ac­ cal senses. quisition. the product of man's inven­ tive genius, may also be the medium of Something profound and innate dis­ his destruction. For radio, to cite one avows our acceptance of cruelty prac­ instrument, may save a thousand lives ticed upon the defenseless. It is no long­ and at the same moment send another er smart” to pick on or show up those thousand to their doom. Whether we less equipped for the venture of life. draw from the visible or from the in­ Rather in true Christ Spirit, though it visible world, we are dealing with pro­ be our Cross it is also our privilege to found magnetisms and these become effect the kindlier way of building life retro-radiant by virtue of the intention into an experience of beauty and friend­ which sponsors them. ship. This is the first initiation for the Brotherhood of Man. It is also the It is not too early to foresee how man first step in respecting religion as in­ can, by application of his two sets of dividual; for true worship is an innate faculties, build his body into a Temple attribute of the Soul which is responsi­ —a Royal Citadel—dor the reception of ble to hut one dictator — the Divine the most refined progressions. True re­ Consciousness. ligion is the Exalted W ay of the Soul, and therefore free of denominational in­ Much time will pass before wide and tervention. To some the Divine Atti­ final acceptance of Religion as the Su­ tude is expressed through forms of preme Excellence, the Essence of the Beauty; to others through forms of Christ Consciousness accelerating all Sacrifice; to many through forms of human beings to individual and uni­ Love, Research. Philanthropy, and so versal ascension. One cannot cut up on. The same forces which enervate the divine leaven and pass out pieces and consume contain likewise in their of it. It is an all-pervading energy. We magnitudes significant and beneficent do not need to fight over shares; each talismans to the infinite vistas. The re­ has his portion and the way we use sults of our use of these magnetisms The that original allotment is the difference depend upon our ability to absorb and Rosicrucian between our Light and our Darkness. prescribe the substance of our divine The first essential lies in our way of inheritance. By whatever way express­ Digest accepting this divinity; the second in ed. Religion is the affirmation of the December our method of adding to its capacity for Profound Process by which man tunes 1942 manifestation by proper understanding in and directs the Living Spirit.

[ 432] The Vision of Perfection By F r a t e r E. R. C o p e l a n d , J r.

VERY moment and graces. Consider that no high re­ that leaves you solve, trait or quality exists which is dissatisfied with too good for this mental “you." Cap­ yourself should ture every progressive thought, mood be cherished. and attribute: try each day to enrich the Why? Because image. Make this new vision a working your very dissat­ tool of your objective consciousness. isfaction springs Be literal with your image. Give it from the fountain your body, your posture, your facial and source of all characteristics. Recognize yourself when progress. Imagi­ you contemplate it. Recognize, but do nation. You have not limit. Let this new body rival in dreamed a waiting mold and form the classic lines of a dream. You have Grecian god; let it assume great but identified with yourself the vision of a perfect proportions and keep it geo­ higher ideal, a loftier purpose. Having graphically above and beyond so that sighted the higher plane, you would to regard it you will have to look up take wings and soar to it. and ahead. Let your new countenance Take those wings, and soar! shine with the beauty of sincerity, ten­ It is possible to improve your condi­ derness and love. Restore to it a child's tion. Perfection is comfortingly near at innocence. Let it mirror courage, de­ hand. It is even at this moment in the termination and nobility of purpose. state of becoming, as your highest Give to your image all the attributes dreams approach realization. Your lot you would like to have been born in life is to become as you conceived it. with. Let the body, form and attitude You were dissatisfied? You have dared of the vision bear witness to your high to dream? Begin, then, to realize your aspiration. dream. Now, endow your image with life. Whet your imagination to a chisel edge, and carefully fashion a mental When you walk lift your mind's eye sculpture of yourself. Bring into clear upward to your new other self. You focus a very vivid mental image of have created a being which is your own yourself, yourself as having already at­ potential self. Note the great joy of tained your goal, yourself in the state your new being. See the vital energy or condition you desire. Make a mental that electrifies your new body with working model of yourself as you will every movement. Swim, and see the inevitably become on the evolutionary long, true, rhythmic strokes that he plane to which you now aspire. Adorn takes. Play, and observe that he is tire­ this image as you would be adorned, less and all his movements are full of bestow upon it your wished-for gifts grace. Note the perfect back-hand he [433 ] wields on the tennis court . . . And here, under all circumstances, day in and day at last, is one who dances divinely. out. Are you timid? Do you lack self­ For business, this image of yourself confidence? Do you shrink in the pres­ will be graced with all the finer aspects ence of the rich, powerful, the worldly of your calling. Let it embody in your great? Meet them in your mind-self; chosen field the traditional attributes of no person is greater than he. Is ill- persons of great destiny, leaders in the health your problem? Then invest that present and the past. Let your image other "you” with robust health and be inspired to do always outstanding strength in abundance. work, and aspire ever to go forward. Now you have created the image. By everyone this you" is to be loved Hold it. Aspire to it. It has become and respected. your ideal, your objective. Become He is always perfectly groomed, worthy of it. Work by it! It is your never to be embarrassed by superficiali­ bogey, play by it. It is your guide, live ties. He is socially alert. He aspires to by it. Let it take possession. be faithful and useful to community and country. He knows how to conduct For this image is not a shadow, but himself in crises, small and great. He subtle substance. This new presence is quick to see the affliction of his was there from the beginning, awaiting neighbors, happiest when he serves. He your approach. While your mind was is great, noble, true and kind, diligent awakening, the mind of this being was and observant. He is slow to wrath, fathomless, eternal. Dressed and adorn­ fair in his appraisals, just in his judg­ ed before, its memory goes back thou­ ments. For you will fashion him thus. sands of years. Someday in a quiet You will fashion him with the back­ moment, if you regard your image in­ ground and character you must have in tently . . . it may speak to you. You order to bring about the desired im­ will be told of the things yet undone provement in yourself. Next, get down that widen the gulf between its station to the details. Exactly what was the and yours. And as each of these things occasion for your original dissatisfaction is accomplished, you will surely find with yourself? Did someone criticize that the beautiful vision has lifted you you? Did someone say of you. "Yes, a little nearer to his high place. Step by Jones is a fine fellow, but he has a nasty step, you will surely attain. For you temper"? Then your image must be have fulfilled the law. You have har­ notably blessed with an even temper, nessed the source of all strength, ambi­ and this especial trait must be viewed tion, aspiration and desire, you have from all angles, cultivated, emphasized, endowed it with new vitality, a higher valued as the image takes on maturity. object, a grander reach, and you have Does someone say of you, "He is emo­ succeeded in one of the most important tionally unstable”? Then let your image achievements toward the life of perfec­ become the epitome of perfect control, tion on earth.

FOR YOUR READING PLEASURE You may have the opportunity to enjoy and benefit by reading on interesting subjects which are contained in former Issues of the "Rosicrucian Digest” and the magazines that preceded it entitled "The Mystic Triangle," and "The American Rosae Crucis." In these magazines will be found articles on the history of Roslcrucianism—articles about famous Rosicrucian personalities, as well as the discussion of such interesting subjects as reincar­ nation, levitation, diet and health, and many others. Five copies of these magazines dating prior to 1937 will be sent postpaid for the economical price of One Dollar. The supply is limited—order now.

The TEMPLE INITIATIONS Rosicrucian Many Lodges and Chapters present the full temple initiations of various degrees, in which members may participate. Refer to the directory of Lodges and Chapters in the Digest back of this magazine. Each Lodge and Chapter that is listed with an asterisk (*) after December its name holds these initiations regularly. Communicate with the nearest Chapter of Lodge giving these initiations for full particulars. 1942 [ 434 ] ^1 SANCTUM MUSINGS

PEACE

By C ora B e r g , F. R. C.

HE candles flicker­ From the ranks of the seeking Souls ed and the fire came armies of men marching into the burned low. The ruddy inferno that enveloped the Angel. old priest drowsed The boom of the cannon was a clarion in the comfort and sounding the death toll of many. Those peace of his sur­ who lived cried out in agony, beseeching roundings. This the Deity for release from a living hell. w a s h is small Strife and dissension were rampant and world, his beauti­ Chaos reigned. ful world, around The fire burned on and the radiance and about him; it of the Angel was dimmed by the heavy was his world in cloak of burning brilliance. A black which to dream. figure appeared, looming larger and H e dreamed larger, striving to absorb her into the that the flickering points of the candle depths of his murkiness. The Prince of beams were jewels which were given to Darkness was loosed from oblivion! The light the paths of clamoring Souls who old priest shuddered at the sight before were searching for the Portal of the his eyes. Surely not this! There must Single Path, the Spiral that leads to be a Way. Heaven. The candle seemed to be a He thought of the Three Wise Men Torch of Divine Light that was held by who, so many years ago, journeyed the Angel of Peace who stands at the dreary miles to the birthplace of the Portal of the Spiral. Christ—the Prince of Peace, the people Farther into the depths of thought called Him. When they came to the the old priest drowsed, until he could cave, they approached the Holy Child see the Angel in all her purity of Per­ and their faces were covered by their hands lest the gaze of their eyes startle fection: and Grace and Contentment the Little One. Slowly they dropped were her handmaidens. He gazed en­ their hands to their breasts with arms raptured and the tranquillity of her crossed and looked at the Babe in awe ) soothed him. He prepared to approach and reverence. A Babe now but a her that he might touch the hem of her teacher of menl q garment when suddenly flames of fire Then the old priest prayed. He prayed || licked at her feet and a haze of smoke that the destroying fire of that inferno arose to cover the beauty of her Per­ be quenched, and his prayer rose as the s

fection. smoke of burning incense. The Angel ^ [43J] of Peace once more appeared and again rule the land nor the Prince of Dark­ was cloaked in the cleansing Rays from ness impose Force upon the people. the Torch of the Divine Light. At her He knew, then, that out of the cruci­ feet there stood magnificent edifices of ble of that inferno a New Order would learning, and Temples of State were come, crystalizing into reality the age- builded where men and women of all races worked together for the better­ old Truth that man is the Microcosm of ment of mankind and for the unity of the Macrocosm and together they com­ the Whole. Never again should Chaos pose the Whole.

V V V The Parable of the Exodus By F e l ic e A. B u r t o n , F. R. C. F T E R we have faith, dread of change, importunities of learned the prin­ friends who wish us to go their way, ciples of our be­ and the ever pressing cares of daily life. loved brother­ W e will not let go and listen to the hood. or of any spiritual, we will not obey the voice organization de­ within, until we have attained a spir­ voted to the evo­ itual heighth that will trust God even lution of man, in the face of the death of our material there comes a selves. time when we It is written “The first man Adam is must depart from of the earth, earthy, the second man is the material plane the Lord from heaven.” By and by the to seek the spir­ old life is swallowed up in the waters itual. to listen to of the past and we journey on in the the voice of God. Those of us who spiritual and find a joy there the ma­ have travelled on the path midway up terial man can never know. When we the mountain, look back and see our wander away we find bitterness and brothers enslaved in many ways, and sorrow, for there is no standing still: we can help. But first we must find the there must be loyalty or retrogression. great revelation of the will of God for W e walk by faith and obedience, with us in the silence of our hearts, and some trials and battles with our lesser realize that our past life and our present selves, and there are those ahead who situation peculiarly fit us for some defi­ will give us of their experience and nite work in behalf of our fellowmen. learning, all under the same Master, all W e can not work by opposition: we travelling the same road. can gain much by kindness and consid­ As we journey we build a picture of eration. In reverence and holiness we the temple of our God. In it we put our must seek God alone and listen to His treasures: the gold of our love, the voice, and then with what we are and jewels of our kindliness, our helpful­ what we have serve Him. By serving ness, our hope, the material of our Him we liberate the soul of God. everyday lives in helpfulness to others, The mind of the highly trained ma­ the incense of meditation and prayer, terial man will say, as once Pharaoh our good thoughts, our reverence, the said, “W hy should I ‘let you go'? I do purifying of our lives materially and not know your God. W hy should I re­ spiritually, our very souls. Through our lease your brothers?” And the burden vision we fulfill our mission and look The of the materia] world will seem to grow to others farther on the path for help Rosicruciati greater, and the possibility of escape and guidance as we seek “Holiness seem to grow less. Out of the resistance unto the Lord.” And so in our lives Digest of the materia] world to our advance­ become established the life and heart December ment come the plagues of indeci­ of the spiritual, which is for evermore 1942 sion. fear, ridicule, insecurity, lack of the Promised Land. [436 1 OUR NEW CURATOR Jay R. McCullough has assumed the responsible position of Curator of the Rosicrucian Egyptian. Oriental Museum, succeeding the late Kendal I. Brower. Above he is shown standing before the replica of the famed Ishtar Gate of Babylon, examining the cuneiform inscriptions on one of a number of Babylonian antiquities just acquired. The Rosicrucian Museum now contains the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities West of Chicago. Frater McCullough is a graduate of the University of Arizona, with a Degree of M. A. in Phi­ losophy. and a background study of Archaeology, thus being well qualified to assume his new duties ^Courfesi^ of the Rosicrucian Dit/cst ) Rainy Day Reading

FALL and WINTER (Inside dnjjO’imatlon Q COLD driving rain, wet streets and siip- iniormation—interesting lacts about subjects 4 4 pery highways have ane merit - they you have long been wanting to find time are conducive to the iull enjoyment oi good to investigate. The following are some of reading—in comiortable home surroundings. the simply expressed, fascinating topics ot Make your inside hours during the long fail the courses issued by the Reader's Research and winter evenings provide you with inside Academy.

THE MYSTEBY OF MIRACLES SOME MYSTICAL ADVENTURES What strange powers did the ancients possess? Are Do you al limes feel there is something beyond the miracles divine or natural phenomena? This tremendous, everyday lile which casts an influence over you? Would interesting problem is discussed from both the scienlilic you like 1o adventure into Ihe realm of psychic experi­ and mystical point of view (32 discourses.) ences and phenomena? Gratily your wishes with this course. (35 discourses.) NUMEROLOGY ARCANE COSMOLOGY What lies behind the veil? What will the morrow bring iorth? Can numerology provide the answer, or is Is the earth after all a cell with life on tts surface, it a pseudo science? A very enlightening course of when all other cells have Hie in their centers? 1b the earth a great ball, inside of which man lives? Here are reading. (16 discourses,) startling facts about aur earth not generally known. WE ARE HERE—WHY? (15 discourses,) Have you ever given serious thought to the above LIFE EVERLASTING queslian Are you iusi chaff to be blown about? This course is a rational, common sense presentation oi lads Can we prove by logic that life continues after death? Or is the concept but a loible of mankind? Learn in you can not deny, (39 discourses.) simple language what one of America’s greatest his­ torians ana philosophers had to say on this subject SUPERNATURAL M discourses ) Do you wonder if there is another world and whether it influences our lives here? Have you had strange LIFE’S MYSTERIES psychic experiences? li these topics interest you, read this enlightening course. (16 discourses.} Do you realize that each hour ol your life you stand upon Ihe brink of a chasm—the chasm of elernity? Are ■you satisfied to endure years of life in ignorance of its purpose? If you are a seeker, this series of discourses Subcribe to any one oi the courses above will be most satisfying to you. (18 discourses ) that you wish, by its title Two large dis­ courses will be sent to you monthly, post­ idle evening hours into adventures into the paid, tor the total nominal sum ol Fiity mental world. Cents per month. Discontinue whenever you please. You are privileged to transfer to Two Discourses Monthly another course at any time. There are no other obligations or requirements. Convert only 50c Month

^CDhe Reader’s Research Academy ROS1CRUCIAN PARK, SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U. S. A. T H E PURPOSES OF THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDER The Rosicruclan Order, existing In all civilized lands, Is a non-sectarian fraternal body of men and women devoted to the Investigation, study and practical application of natural and spiritual laws- The purpose of the or­ ganization Is to enable all to live In harmony with the creative, constructive Cosmic forces for the attainment of health, happiness and peace. The Order la internationally known as "AMORC" (an abbreviation), and the AMORC in America and all other lands constitutes the only form of Rosicruclan activities united in one body for a representation in the international fed eratlon. The AMORC does not sell Its teachings. 11 gives them freely to Member of affiliated members, together with many other benefits. For complete in­ "FU D O SI" formation about the benefits and advantages of Rosicruclan association write a letter to the address below, and ask for the free book "The Mastery (Federation Uni- of Life.” Address Scribe S. P. C., in care of verselle dea Ordrea el AMORC TEMPLK Societes Rosicruclan Park. San Jose, California. I . S. A. Inlt latlques) (Cable Address: ‘AMdRCO ’)

Supreme Executive for the Nnrih and South American Jurisdiction RALPH M. LEWIS, F. R. C. — Im perator DIRECTORY PRINCIPAL AMERICAN BRANCHES OF THE A. M. O R. C- The following are the principal chartered Rosicruclan Lodges and Chapters In the United States, its territories and possessions. The names and addresses of other American Branches will be given upon writ­ ten request. CALIFORNIA DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA Los Angeles: Thomas Jefferson Chapter. Mrs. M. Eloise Lav- Hermes Lodge, AMORC Temple. Mr. Gilbert N. rlscheff. Secretary, 1318 11th St.. N. W. Meetings Holloway, Sr., Master, Reading room and In­ Confederate Memorial Hall, 1322 Vermont Ave.. quiry office open daily except Sundays: 11 a. m. N. W., every F riday evening, 8 p. m. to 5 p. m. and 6 to 8 p. m .; Saturdays. 12 noon to 4 p. m., 148 No. Gramercy Place. MARYLAND O akland: Baltimore Oakland Minor Lodge.* Pacific Building, 16th Dr. Earl K. Myers. Master, 1917 Edmondson Ave.; and Jefferson Streets: Mr. Alfred W. Groesbeck. George M. Franko, Jr., Secretary. 1536 McKean Master: Mrs. Bernard D. Sllsby, Secretary. Con Avenue. Meetings 1st and 3rd Sundays of each vocations 1st and 3rd Sundays. 9 p. m. in W ig­ month at 8 p. m.. St. Paul Garden Hall Building. wam Hall: Library, Room 406. open afternoons, 806 8 St. Paul Street. 1 to 3:30, except Saturdays: Tuesday and Thure- day evenings, 7:30 to 9:30 p. m. Phone Hlgate 5996. FLORIDA Sacramento : Miami: Clement B. LeBrun Chapter * Mr. William Pop Mr. Charles F. Merrick, Master, 411 Sunset Dr.. per. Master. M eetings 1st and 3rd Fridays at P. O. Box 164, So. Miami, Tel. 4-5816: Mrs. R. E. 8 p. m., Friendship Hall. Odd Fellow's Building, Thornton, Secretary, P. O. Box 724, So. Miami. 9tn and K Streets. Meetings evei^ Sunday. 3:30 p. m. at Bern! Hotel, Long Reach: Biscayne Blvd. and N, E. 2nd Street. Long Beach Chapter. Mr. Wm. J. Flury, Secre­ tary, 2750 Cherry Avenue. Meetings every Tues­ MISSOURI day at 8 p. m.( Colonial Hall, 951 Locust Avenue. St. Louis : San Diego: Chapter Master. Mr. L. J. Smart, 1731 N. 48th San Diego Chapter. Mrs. J. C. Shults, Secretary, St. E. Si. Louis. Illinois, Telephone Bridge 4336: 1261 Law Street, Pacific Beach. Meetings 1st and Mrs. J. B. Reichert, Secretary. 3551 Victor Street 3rd Sundays at 4 p. m., Hard of Hearing League s (3rd fl. w ). St. Louis. Missouri. Regular convo­ Hall, 3849 Herbert Street. cations each Tuesday. 8 p. m. at 3008 So. Grand. Inquiry office open to public daily 2 tu 5 p. m.. COLORADO Monday and Thursday nights, 7 90 tn 9:30 p. m. D enver: Chapter Master. Mr. A. T. Streater, Secretary. NEW YORK Mrs. Louis F. Branch, 12 E. Bayaud. Meetings B uffalo: every Thursday. 8 p. m . Fraternal Building. Nth Chapter Secretary. Mrs. Sylvia Roman, 36 Syca­ and Glenarm Streets. more Street. Meetings 1st and 3rd Sundays, 7:3(J p. m.. Lafayette Hotel. >1 ASSACHUSETTS B o sto n : New York City : Johannes Kelpius Lodge. William A. Corey, Sec­ New York Chapter,* 260 W. 57th St. Mr. Walter retary. Temple and reading room, Suite 237. G. Kllngner. Master: Miss Beatrice Cass, Secre­ 739 Boylflton Street. Convocations for members tary. Mystical convocations each Wednesday eve­ Thursday evening and Sunday afternoon. Special ning at 8 p. m., and Sunday at 9 p. m., for all Convocations for all m em bers and for all degrees grades. Inquiry and reading rooms open week the second Monday of each m onth at 8 p. m. from days and Sundays, 1 to 8 p. m. September to June. Special sessions for the pub Me Sunday evenings at 7:45 p. m. Booker T. Washington Chapter. Mr. Philip D. Nelson, Secretary. 2(1 Spencer Place. Brooklyn ILLIN O IS Meetings every Sunday at 8:00 P m,. Y. M. C. A. Chapel, M l W. 135th St. Chicago: The Neferlitl Minor Lodge.* Mr. S. L. Levell, WASHINGTON Master: Mrs. Veronica Nichols, Secretary. Read­ ing room open daily, 12 to fi p. m., and 7:30 to S e a t tle : 10 D. m .; Sundays 2 to fi:90 p. m. only. Lakeview Chapter Master, Mr. Thomas W. Lee: Secretary. Blag., 116 So. Michigan Avenue. Rooms 408-9-10. Mr. W. F. Larimore. Meetings every Monday, Lecture eeaskma for ALL members every Tues­ 8 p. m., at 1322 E. Pine St. day night, 8 p. m . T acom a: Chicago (Colored) Chapter, No. 10. Mr. Roger Chapter Master, Mr. Milton A. Reinertson. 491 Thomas, Master, 2920 EJlia Avenue. Meetings 1st Broadway. Chapter meetings 1st and 9rd Tues­ and 9rd Fridays at 8 p. m., 12 W. Garfield Blvd., days, 7:45 p. m. In Aflfi Room, Masonic Temple, Hall B. 47 St. H elens Avenue. (Directory Continued on Next Page) MICIIIGAN OKLAHOMA Detroit: Oklahoma City : Thebes Chapter No. 336. Mr. William H. Hitch- Chapter Master, Mrs. Newman E. Johnstone; man, Master, 36193 CTuae Avenue, Tel. VErmont Miss Margaret E. Hill. Secretary. Meetings every 5-0956; Mrs. Dorothy C. Muttkowski, Secretary, Sunday. 7:30 p. m.. Room 318. Y. W. C. A. Bldg Tel. UNIveralty 1-3372. Meetings at the Detroit Federation of Women s Clubs Bldg., 4811 2nd Ave., every Tuesday. 8 p. m. OHIO Cleveland : MINNESOTA Mr. H arry A. Doherty, Master, 4864 E. 90th St.. St. Paul-MlnneapoliH: Garfield Heights; Miss Anne Rosenjack. Secre­ Essene Chapter. Mr. S. M. Pennlman, Master: tary, 12504 Rexford Avenue, Cleveland. Meetings Miss Ann B. Fisher, Secretary, 977 Goodrich Ave. every Friday at 8 p. m., Hotel Statler, St. Paul, Minnesota. Cincinnati: NEW JERSEY Mrs. Carl A. Hartsock, Master, Tel. Woodburn N ew ark : 8749; Mra. Em m a L. Ransick, Secretary, Tel Jefferson 1726. Meetings every Wednesday at H. Spencer Lewis Chapter. Mr. Edward Dudden, 7:30 p. m. Gilbert Hall, 2524 Gilbert Ave , W al­ Master. Meetings every Monday, 8:30 p. m., 37 nut Hills. Washington Street. PENNSYLVANIA D ayton: Philadelphia : Dr. J. H. Gibson, Master: Mrs. G. C. Hynes. Secretary. Phone Ma. 3933. Meetings every Wed Benjamin Franklin Chapter. Mr. Camp Ezell, ncsday. 7:30 p m., 56 E. 4th St., Rauh Hall. Master, 5722 Walnut St.: Mrs. Vienna G. Kaskey. Secretary, 4736 Baltimore Ave., Tel. BARIng 6912. Meetings for all m em bers every Sunday. 7:30 TEXAS p. m. at 219 So. Broad Street. Fort Worth: Pittsburgh : Chapter Master, Mrs. Ruth Page. 1420 Washing Ion Ave., Telephone 9 2702. Meetings every Fri­ First Penn. Lodge. Mr. Daniel Holecy. Master. day, 7:30 p. m.. at Elks Club. Parlor B. 512 W 227 Henderson St.. N. S. 4th Street. OREGON Portland : W ISCONSIN Portland Rose Chapter. Mrs. Florence Blltson. Milwaukee : Master, Tel. Oswego 22711; Mr. H. T. Herring­ Chapter Master. Mrs. Fred C. Bond; Mrs. Edwin ton. Secretary, Tel. TR-0428.. Meetings. 714 S W A. Falkowskl. Secretary. Meetings every Monday 11th Ave.. every Thursday, 8 p. m at 8 p m., 3431 W. Lisbon Avenue. UTAH Salt Lake City: INDIANA Mr. Herman R. Bangerter, Master. 3288 S. 2nd South Rend : West Street. Meetings In the Ivory Room, New- Chapter Master. Mr. Wilbur L. Kline. 1156 Fox house Hotel. 1st W ednesday of each Month at St.. S. E. Meetings every Sunday, 7:30 p m . 207 8:15 p. m. S. Main Street

Principal Canadian Branches and Foreign Jurisdictions The addresses of other foreign Grand Lodges, or the names and addresses of their representatives, will be given upon request. AUSTRALIA ENGLAND Sydney, N. S. W .: The AMORC Grand Lodge of Great Britain. Mr. Sydney Chapter. Mrs. Dora English. Secretary. Raymund Andrea, F. R. C., Grand Master. 34 650 Pacific Highway, Chatswood Bayswater Ave., Westbury Park. Bristol 6 EGYPT CANADA C airo: Toronto, Ontario: Cairo Information Bureau de la Rose Croix. J Mr. C. M. Platten, Master. Sessions 1st and 3rd Sapporta, Secretary, 27 Rue Sailmon Pacha. Sundays, 7:30 p. m., 10 Lansdowne Avenue. Heliopolis: Vancouver, British Columbia: The Grand Orient of AMORC, House of the Tem­ ple. M. A. Ramayvellm, F. R. C., Grand Secre­ Canadian Grand Lodge. AMORC. Mr. Charles A. tary, % Mr. Levy, 50 Rue Stefano Carrico. Master, 1067 W 7th Ave.: Mrs. D. L. Bolsover, Secretary, 876 13th Avenue, W., Phone MEXICO Fairmont 1440 Y. AMORC Temple, 878 Hornby Quetzalcoatl Lodge, Donceles 92. Desp. 12. Mex Street. Ico, D. F. Sra. Maria Lopez de Guzman, Master Sr. Maurlclo Leon, Secretary. Victoria, British Columbia: POLAND Victoria Lodge. Mr. Ernest MacGInnls. Master; Polish Grand Lodge of AMORC. Warsaw, Poland Secretary, Mra. V. Burrowa, Phone E-7716. In qulry office and reading room. 725 Courtney St. SWEDEN Grand Lodge Rosenkorset.’' Anton Svanlund, Winnipeg, Manitoba: F. R. C., Grand Master. Vastergatan 56, Malmo: Charles Dana Dean Chapter. 122a Phoenix Block. Inez Akesaon, Grand Lodge Secretary. Slottagatan Mr. Wm. Monro Glanvill. Master, 575 Dufferin 18, Malmo. Avenue. Sessions for all members on Wednesday. SWITZERLAND 7:45 p. m. throughout the year. AMORC Grand Lodge, 21 Ave. Dapples, L au­ sanne: Dr. Ed. Bertholet, F. R. C., Grand Master DENMARK 6 Blvd. Chamblandes, Pully-Lausanne; Pierre Copenhagen: Genillard, Grand Secretary, Surlac B. Mont Cholsl, Lausanne. The AMORC Grand Lodge of Denmark. Mr. Aruthur Sundstrup. Grand Master; Carll Ander­ DUTCH AND EAST INDIES sen, S. R C., Grand Secretary. Manogade 13th Dr. W. Th. van Stokkum, Grand Master; W. J. Strand. Vlsser, Secretary General. Gombel 33. Semarang Spanish-American Division Armando Font De La Jara, F. R. C., Deputy Grand Master Direct Inquiries regarding this division to the Spanish-American Division. Rostcruclan Park San Jose California. U. S. A JUNIOR ORDER OF TOBCH BEARERS A children s organization sponsored by the AMORC. For complete Information as to Its aims and benefits, address Secretary General, Junior Order, Rosicru- clan Park, San Jose, California. THE ROSICRUCIAN PRESS LTD PRINTED IN U 5 .A WHAT HAPPENED BEYOND THIS P O R T A L ?

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