ROSICRUCIAN D IGEST VOLUME 95 NUMBER 2 2017

Rosicrucian Park Celebrates 90 Years No. 2 - 2017 Vol. 95 - No. 2

Official Magazine of the Worldwide Rosicrucian Order ®

© 2017 Supreme Grand Lodge of the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Introduction 1 Crucis. All Rights Reserved.

This publication is provided for your Letter from the Imperator 3 personal, private use only, on an “as is” Christian Bernard, FRC basis, without warranty, and may not be used for any commercial purpose. No part of this publication may be The History of Rosicrucian Park 5 reproduced, distributed, displayed, or David Cherveny, FRC transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic, without the express Rosicrucian Park: Then and Now 17 written permission of the Supreme Grand Lodge. We Did It! 18 ROSICRUCIAN DIGEST (ISSN #0035-8339) is published two times Julie Scott, SRC per year for $12.00 per year, single copies $6.00, by the Grand Lodge of Reaching The Roof 25 the English Language Jurisdiction of H. Spencer Lewis, FRC the AMORC at 1342 Naglee Avenue, San Jose CA 95126. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Rosicrucian Grand Temple History 28 Digest at 1342 Naglee Avenue, San Jose CA 95126.

On the cover - Pythagoras statue at Rosicrucian Park

Printed on 100% recycled post-consumer fiber using soy-based ink. Introduction

There are special places in the world – glorious handiwork. Majestic forests look places that, because of their location down upon this beautiful valley, and in or the ambience surrounding them, are her bounteousness grow abundant fruits, recognized by many people as unique, vegetables, and wines that find their way high energy, and evoking of a special to the tables of every land. And, from the consciousness for those who visit. midst of these harmonious surroundings, Often these special places have become there reaches out another far-reaching even more imbued with extraordinary influence. It is an institution of culture vibrations and energies because of the and wisdom that has helped to benefit unusual feelings and expectations brought and shape the destiny of millions of men by their visitors. One such place is located and women. Hundreds of thousands of in a beautiful valley in California. people annually wend their way to this For ninety years, members of the place known as Rosicrucian Park. Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, have held Across the mists of time, through a special place in their hearts for a one- centuries of the rise and fall of civilizations, block-sized garden located in California’s certain individuals – the philosophers, Santa Clara Valley. This beautiful place artists, builders, healers, teachers, and is known as Rosicrucian Park; it is a leaders – the Lights of Humanity – have collection of Egyptian-style buildings carried forward civilization and learning set among tranquil and unique gardens. and refinement in the face of immense When H. Spencer Lewis established adversity, ignorance, and superstition. Rosicrucian Park in this valley, local people Over countless generations, in good affectionately called the area the “Valley times and in not so good times, these of Heart’s Delight.” individuals have carried forward the Great Nature is the master architect, the Work begun so long ago in the mystery creator of moods, and mixer of elements schools of Egypt. These are the Master to fashion her design. Beautiful Santa Clara Architects of civilization, and many of Valley, California, is a product of Nature’s them down through the ages have been

Page 1 affiliated with the Order Rosae Crucis, from all over the world, and the Park is the because the Rosicrucian Order has always destination of many Rosicrucian travelers been associated with the advancement worldwide. The Park’s outstanding of civilization and the unfoldment of Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum is consciousness. Like master architects they recognized worldwide for its important plan, and then they build. collection of artifacts, its magnificent H. Spencer Lewis, the founder and the ancient Egyptian architecture, and its first Imperator of the Rosicrucian Order contributions to Egyptology – all this was in the present cycle of the Order’s activity, dreamed, planned, and envisioned by H. was such an individual who dreamed Spencer Lewis! the dream of Rosicrucian Park, and The Park’s beautiful and inspiring then through his vision, hard work, and Rosicrucian Temple, with its authentic constant effort, and with the cooperation Egyptian Temple architecture and murals, and help of countless other Rosicrucians, is venerated by Rosicrucians worldwide made that dream come true! and has served as the model for other More than ninety years ago, H. Rosicrucian Temples built in other nations, Spencer Lewis had a dream. He visualized such as Brazil, Nigeria, and Mexico. Again, the establishment of beautiful Rosicrucian this Temple was visualized and planned by Park in San Jose, California, as the H. Spencer Lewis, although its eventual headquarters for the Rosicrucian Order, construction was carried out a decade AMORC. He envisioned the Park with after his transition. And Rosicrucian Park’s its authentic Egyptian-style buildings and beautiful Rosicrucian Peace Garden, splendid gardens as the spiritual home for dedicated in 2004, serves as a sanctuary of Rosicrucians throughout the world. Peace Profound and inspires Rosicrucians worldwide to work toward the higher ideals From the very beginning, of Peace and Harmony among all peoples – he referred to this special place as worthy ideals that H. Spencer Lewis had “Rosicrucian Park” – even when the first constantly put forth in his speeches and headquarters had consisted of only one writings. building in a city lot at the edge of town. But how did Rosicrucian Park come And when a skeptical member of about? How did the dream become the Order asked, “Why do you call this manifest? What is its story? small lot Rosicrucian Park?,” H. Spencer Lewis, in his customarily positive manner, You will learn that and more in this answered, “Because that is the way that I special issue of the Rosicrucian Digest see it will be in the future.” celebrating Rosicrucian Park’s ninetieth anniversary! The ninety years since that time have proven his vision to be true, and on the material, physical level, Rosicrucian Park has grown to encompass most of a large Image on page 1: The Akhnaton Shrine commemorates city block, while on the immaterial, spiritual the lives of AMORC’s founder and Imperator H. level, Rosicrucian Park is revered and has Spencer Lewis (1883 - 1939), Imperator Ralph M. inspired millions of seekers throughout the Lewis (1904 - 1987), and other devoted members world to find a higher path through life. and officers of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC. Rosicrucian members visit this shrine to meditate and Today, Rosicrucian Park annually Rosicrucian honor the memories of these dedicated Rosicrucians. Digest attracts hundreds of thousands of guests No. 2 2017 Page 2 Ordo Rosae Crucis

Under the Auspices of the Rose-Croix, Salutem Punctis Trianguli!

Dear Fratres, dear Sorores, My first visit to Rosicrucian Park dates back to 1966 when I was fourteen years old. It was on the occasion of a Rosicrucian Convention. Some members from the French language jurisdiction had taken this opportunity to travel and I had the good fortune to accompany them as a Torchbearer. In my youthful mind, it was not only Rosicrucian Park or California that I would discover, but America! The adventure and wonder lived up to my expectations. Immediately I became attached to this country and especially to Rosicrucian Park, which seemed to me to be very mysterious, as all the Egyptian decor made a great impression on me. At that time I was not familiar with Egypt, but only with France and a few neighboring countries. I will never forget this first visit to San Jose, especially since on my return home I decided to become a Rosicrucian. Not having yet reached the age to join the Order, I petitioned our lmperator, Frater Ralph Lewis, who agreed that I could cross the Threshold of our Order on the day that I would become fifteen years old. Therefore, I can say that my first visit to Rosicrucian Park marked the beginning of my Rosicrucian life. The following year, I had the greatest honor of being invited for a long stay in the home of Frater and Soror Lewis. Then, on several occasions, I had the opportunity to return to Rosicrucian Park for Conventions, both as a frater and as the Grand Master of the French language jurisdiction. When “destiny” called me to the office of Imperator, I was drawn to this historical place on numerous occasions, and often for some rather lengthy stays. It was in the Supreme Temple that my installation ceremony took place, surrounded by my wife and children, as well as some friends from France, and certainly by many fratres and sorores from San Jose. I look upon these and other such occasions in San Jose as most touching memories. For some years now, I have returned to the Park regularly, at least once a year, and it is always with much happiness that I stroll through the gardens and greet fratres and sorores who have always remained faithful to this place. Here I have known many friends and I have also lost many, since the time has come for them to complete their incarnation. Nonetheless, they are always in my heart, and whenever I am at Rosicrucian Park, I think of them once again. Sincerely and fraternally,

Christian Bernard Imperator

Page 3 Imperator H. Spencer Lewis at his desk, at Rosicrucian Park.

Imperator Ralph M. Lewis conversing with members during the 1982 Rosicrucian World Convention, at Rosicrucian Park.

Rosicrucian Digest Imperator Christian Bernard at Rosicrucian Park at the Opening Ceremony of the No. 2 2015 AMORC World Convention. 2017 Page 4 The history of Rosicrucian Park David Cherveny, FRC

This year marks the ninetieth year kaleidoscopic exposure to the cultural and of Rosicrucian Park as the focus of ethical development of Humanity. Rosicrucian activity in North America Since 1938, the Rosicrucian Research and around the world. The word, focus, Library has served the research needs of is a most apt description since, in the those who hunger for greater understanding households of ancient Rome, the hearth of the arts, sciences, philosophy, and other (focus in Latin) was the center of the more arcane subjects. Herein is found an home. Sacred to the goddess Vesta, whose amazing repository of resource material virtues had defined the sanctity, purity, ranging from rare, beautifully bound first and harmony of the ideal Roman family, editions to scrolls and videos. The Library the hearth provided warmth and light, and Staff gladly locate specific articles and it was the place where nourishment was reference works to assist your research prepared. In so many ways, Rosicrucian needs. Park has served the Rosicrucian Order The beautiful grounds of Rosicrucian and the San Jose community in these very Park provide an oasis of serenity in the capacities. midst of the frantic bustle of Silicon Valley. The Supreme Temple at Rosicrucian In the early days of pioneer settlement of Park1, dedicated on July 17, 1949, was Santa Clara Valley, it was known as the made possible by the generous donations “Valley of Heart’s Delight,” and perhaps a of Rosicrucians from all walks of life. portion of that magical place is preserved From that moment, it has embodied here for the pilgrim in need of the the very soul of Rosicrucian work and spiritual refreshment that these beautiful worship. It was a dream of H. Spencer surroundings can provide. Lewis to erect a temple that could There are other resources at accommodate all those who might wish Rosicrucian Park that are absolutely vital to attend Convocations and participate and, at times, all too invisible. These are in all aspects of Rosicrucian spiritual life. the volunteers and the donors. Stand in the Construction began when the material middle of the Park and look about you; shortages and rationing following World if it were not for the service and support War II had come to an end. Today, it is of legions of these unselfish benefactors home to the ritual life of the English from 1927 to the present, a very different, Grand Lodge for the Americas. Devoted subdivided scene might greet your eyes. Rosicrucians flock from around the world The very earth beneath your feet, the to visit this magnificent temple and, if statuary, much of the landscaping, and the possible, take their initiations within this striking architecture are all to some degree vibrant sacred space. the result of generous acts of service, The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, donations, and bequests. dedicated on November 26, 1966, is a living center of instruction and inspiration The artistry and craftsmanship of for Rosicrucian students, school children Rosicrucian members greet the eye on tours, and perennial students from wherever you turn your gaze in the Park. all walks of life. Special exhibits, tours, The stately sphinxes and the evocative lectures, workshops, and salons provide a sculpture “Coming and Going” by Frater

Page 5 1928 Convention at Rosicrucian Park. Photo in front of the original Administration Building.

Francis Bacon Auditorium and Radio Tower, 1930s. The original Rosicrucian Egyptian, efforts of those devoted to Rosicrucian Oriental Museum, 1930s. principles.

Erwin Winterholder, Swiss artist and Building AMORC Rosicrucian, occupy special niches in the The Park Evolves imagination of all those who have viewed these works of art. In designing the In its infancy, Rosicrucian Park stunning murals for the Grand Temple, consisted of a single lot that H. Spencer Soror Diana Bovee Salyer, a former Los Lewis had no compunction about Angeles County Museum staff artist, designating “Rosicrucian Park.” According fulfilled a unique volunteer opportunity. to the anecdotes of Frater Harvey Miles, When construction of the Temple interior Grand Secretary at the time when H. had been finished, the mural designs were Spencer Lewis was asked how he could scaled to the dimensions of the interior call a single lot a “Park”, he would reply, walls of the Temple, the outlines were “Because that is the way I see it will be applied, and many talented Rosicrucian in the future.” It was indeed amazing that volunteers participated directly in the the portion of the block that had been Rosicrucian coloration and decoration of this sacred acquired by the Order for accommodating Digest place. What began in 1927 continues to both the original AMORC Administration No. 2 Building and the Supreme Temple was 2017 evolve and attract the attention, energy, and Page 6 owned free and clear by the end of 1929! of AMORC enabled Navajo children to October of that year saw the stock market attend school. crash and the beginning of the Great Imagine for a moment that you are living Depression. in San Jose in the mid-1930s and raising It is humbling to contemplate what a family. The necessities of life are hard was accomplished at Rosicrucian Park in to come by and luxuries are non-existent. the depths of such devastating economic Yet, perhaps within walking distance, hardship. Consider the following: As there is a free museum, planetarium, and more of the city block was purchased, an auditorium where interesting lectures Francis Bacon Auditorium (the largest in and musical or dramatic offerings are San Jose for many years) was dedicated in regular events. These programs will enrich 1931, followed by the original Rosicrucian the memories and imaginations of your Egyptian and Oriental Museum in 1932, children for a lifetime. The setting for Rose-Croix these cultural events is a park where you University in 1934, can escape for a the Planetarium in while from the 1936, the Rose- hardships of the Croix Research mundane world Institute and and perhaps find Clinic in 1938, a peace of mind and the Research that helps you to Library in 1939. continue on. The Great public value of such a community projects had been center is undertaken at that inestimable. time under the aegis of the federal From the government, but Francis Bacon Auditorium in the 1930s. beginning of for a relatively small Frater Lewis’s work organization such under the auspices as AMORC to erect several monumental of the Rose Cross, Egypt had loomed large structures was just short of miraculous. for many reasons. At the first headquarters of the Order in New York City in 1915, he The opportunity to contribute to had used Egyptian motifs and designs in the works at the Park and to have one’s the interiors, and began to collect artifacts contribution acknowledged, no matter from “the Orient” through the generosity how modest, gave members a sense of of members. These were used appropriately partnership not only in the construction throughout the buildings and this continued of new buildings, but a sense of to be the case as the headquarters of the participation in the Great Work. The Order moved from New York City to San charitable organization of the Order at that Francisco in 1919. In 1921, the Imperator time, the Kepher-Ra Club, assisted local was contacted by the Egypt Exploration families in need, thus forging a link with Society of Boston, soliciting support for the community that would take on many the work of the Society and especially other forms. The outreach program of the their expeditions to Tell el-Amarna, site AMORC Sunshine Circle included part of of Pharaoh Akhnaton’s sacred city. Frater the Navajo Nation that was then ineligible Lewis enthusiastically supported their work for government assistance, and the efforts on behalf of the members of the Order Page 7 and, as a result, garnered a significant Rosicrucian Park. Rosicrucian programming portion of the support of the Society for was also aired on the very powerful the project. Los Angeles station KNX. This station In gratitude, the Egypt Exploration caught the attention of future members Society of Boston donated several artifacts throughout California, the Southwest, and from their finds, and these artifacts became the Pacific Northwest. When H. Spencer Lewis’s son, Ralph, was elected to succeed the nucleus of the collection of the Order. him, he continued to keep Rosicrucian and Frater Lewis gratefully created display community programming on the air. Even cases, both in his residence and outside his after the removal of the station and the office in the San Francisco headquarters of towers at the Park, San Jose radio station the Order to display these treasures, and KEEN broadcast local talent contests from judiciously and eagerly began to add to Francis Bacon Auditorium of Rosicrucian this incipient Egyptian collection through Park. The AMORC policy of using available his own purchases and the donations from technology to advantage has continued 2 members and friends. throughout the history of the Park. For several years, Frater Lewis had a The Spirit of the Park small image of the goddess Sekhmet on There has been a nearly tangible force his desk, which was at that of spirit at work in Rosicrucian time the only artifact in the Park from its very beginning. “collection.” When asked In an address entitled “H. by visitors what it was, the Spencer Lewis, the Man,” Imperator would reply, delivered to those attending the “This is the Rosicrucian 1957 Rosicrucian Rally at Saint Egyptian Museum!” This Pancras Town Hall in London, tiny 5.5-inch (13.9-cm) England, Frater Peter Falcone artifact now proudly bears brought to life images of the the catalog number “RC 1,” early days of Rosicrucian the first artifact in the largest Park with touching, intimate collection of authentic recollections. The events ancient Egyptian artifacts in recounted are a vivid portrayal western North America. H. Spencer Lewis with the of the late Imperator’s passion On the Air Rosicrucian Planetarium’s for members who would original star projector, which drop by after work several In its earliest days, he built, in 1936. times a week to assist Frater Rosicrucian Park boasted Lewis in assembling what two ninety-foot radio towers. would become the first American-built The AMORC station call letters were 6KZ, planetarium equipment in the United and broadcasting began on February 15, States, to be housed in the new planetarium 1928. Imperator H. Spencer Lewis, who at Rosicrucian Park. was an innovator in this burgeoning field As related by Frater Falcone, the of communication, presented regularly evening continued into the wee hours of scheduled broadcasts, including programs the morning with no sense of fatigue felt of live musical performances. In the early by any of the participants. 1930s, young radio aficionados who had nowhere to meet and discuss the exciting Another mid-1930s reminiscence Rosicrucian new technology found a haven at the tells of Frater Lewis announcing to his Digest companions that they would comprise No. 2 studio in the Administration Building of 2017 an orchestra to entertain the membership Page 8 at an upcoming Rosicrucian convention. achievement. There was no miniature It did not deter Frater Lewis in the scale dimension to Frater Lewis’s plan for least that he was the only accomplished the Rosicrucian Order or for Rosicrucian musician among the lot. To aid Frater Park. The opening paragraphs of the Falcone in playing the bass violin (an article explain the derivation of the title: instrument Frater Falcone knew nothing Not long ago a contractor about!), Frater Lewis reduced the notation started to build a home in the and the fingering to the corresponding mathematical essences and proceeded suburbs of this city, and I was to make numbered chalk marks on the interested in watching the care fret board of the bass, indicating which with which he constructed the of his fingers the numbers represented. foundation. It appeared to me that There were only three rehearsals before a very fine and attractive home was the performance at the opening of the to be built on the concrete walls, Rosicrucian Convention that year, and yet which he planned and constructed through Frater Lewis’s genius, the limited so carefully. program was well performed and the Shortly thereafter I met the music warmly received. contractor at a luncheon and The spirit that had continued in the Park asked him how his new house was after the transition of H. Spencer Lewis progressing, and was astonished was embodied in the accomplishments of to hear him say that he was just his son, Imperator Ralph M. Lewis. Rose- completing the roof. “Why,” said Croix University and the Research Library I, “you have reached the roof very had reached new levels of eminence and quickly.” excellence. The next paragraph describes the evolution of the Rosicrucian Egyptian “Yes,” replied the contractor, Museum into a world-class institution “you know when some persons during Ralph M. Lewis’s tenure. build, they plan a roof that is very close to the ground and it does not It took decades, but Ralph take much time or much effort to Lewis’s continuation of his build up from the foundation to father’s dream was finally realized the roof.”4 in November, 1966, as the doors opened to the largest display of If you’ve already guessed that Frater Egyptian artifacts in western Lewis was among those whose roofs are North America, and the only never near the ground but so far above such museum on the planet the ground, let his words – again from architecturally designed in the “Reaching the Roof ” – confirm your Egyptian revival style, and situated supposition. in an Egyptian-style park. Even I allowed my mentally-created the moving of the artifacts was structure to tower into the skies to personally and lovingly supervised enormous heights and I raised the by the Imperator.3 roof of the structure so high that “Reaching the Roof ” from where I stood in the picture In a 1930s Rosicrucian Digest article I could not see where it was nor entitled “Reaching the Roof,” H. Spencer what it looked like. In fact, I never Lewis declared his views on success and felt sure that there was a roof

Page 9 upon this mental structure or that Rebuilding AMORC a roof was even necessary, for it The War Years and After seemed to me that the only thing to consider was the making of the The war years at Rosicrucian Park were foundation so strong and the walls a time of intense activity. The massive rush so supported, that story after story to enlist in the Armed Services had created could be added to the building a diminished work force nationwide. In in its rising heights without limit response to this circumstance, Supreme and without fear of collapse or Grand Lodge officers at the Park picked weakness.5 up brooms, mops, and gardening tools to This unlimited visionary approach keep the buildings and grounds in apple- has been the driving and sustaining force pie order for the duration. To allow any animating Rosicrucian Park for the last deterioration of the premises would have ninety years. The principle of visualizing been a kind of a defeat and a disservice and still keeping oneself open to the to those who looked to this oasis as their inspirational touch of the hand of the spiritual home. Activities and programs Cosmic is in fact an exercise in humility. continued at Rosicrucian Park despite It could be expressed as cultivating the the irregularities imposed by the war on patience necessary to avoid reaching our American society. roof too soon. Rosicrucian Convocations and Good painting instructors advise the Initiations were held throughout World novice to resolve details slowly and patiently, War II, and the Order continued producing thus allowing intuition and inspiration the full complement of monographs, to play their part in the creative process. books, and magazines for distribution H. Spencer Lewis’s oil paintings and to Rosicrucian students at home and in watercolors, still to be found at the Park, the trenches (although the thinness of testify not only to his ability as a painter, the Rosicrucian Digest’s paper in the 1945 but also serve to demonstrate what can be issue attests to rigorous wartime paper accomplished when we believe not only in rationing). Conventions and Rose-Croix ourselves, but in something greater. University International courses (known When Ralph M. Lewis became as RCU in those days) continued to be Imperator after the transition of his held at the Park. In a preface to the 1944 amazing father in 1939, this unlimited edition of Hieroglyphs, the RCU yearbook, perspective was perpetuated and the Frater Cecil Poole wrote the following: further evolution of Rosicrucian Park If we want to be successful continued. An erudite and articulate mystic, in meeting the challenge of a Ralph Lewis had increased the wealth of complex environment, such as Rosicrucian literature and profoundly exists today, we find it increasingly enhanced the landscape of Rosicrucian necessary to draw not only on Park. During Ralph Lewis’s tenure, his our own experience, but upon the father’s hope to construct a new Supreme experience of those about us and Temple was realized in 1949, and a much- those who have preceded us.6 expanded Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum as Opportunities to put such exchanges Rosicrucian Digest we know it today became a reality in 1966. of experience into action did indeed No. 2 present themselves. 2017 Page 10 A Passion For Science

Clockwise from top left: A serviceman and his companion view the Science Museum’s Foucault Pendulum, 1940s; Star-struck youngsters eagerly anticipate the Planetarium’s next “Theater of the Sky” shows, early 1950s; Frater Erwin Watermeyer’s RCU Physics class, 1940s; The seismograph in the Planetarium’s Science Museum recorded California’s frequent earthquakes, 1950s.

Page 11 During the war years, numerous fratres eyes of the fascist regimes. In Europe, and sorores in military service had come literature and properties belonging to the through the San Francisco Bay Area, Order had been destroyed as casualties of and others had been stationed at nearby war or as intentional targets of repressive bases, affording them the opportunity to rule. Anticipating a time when the light visit Rosicrucian Park and attend RCU. of Rosicrucian learning could again burn One Rosicrucian Convention during more brightly, those courageous European those years included a special forum that fratres and sorores – the caretakers of the focused on members in military service. Order on the Continent – took the risk of These Rosicrucian students were able to contacting the Imperator in the only way relate how their studies possible. were enabling them to In the spring of adjust and to be flexible 1945, Imperator Lewis in dealing with the harsh attended the World realities of wartime Security Conference, military service. convened at the War Throughout the Memorial Opera House Rosicrucian Order, there on Van Ness Avenue was a consciousness of in San Francisco. This the necessity to serve conference of leaders those serving our nation. from around the world In Los Angeles, the gave birth to the United AMORC Hermes Lodge Nations. The war in had made its library and Europe ended May 7, social room available for 1945, and the Imperator twelve hours each day to immediately began Rosicrucian servicemen making arrangements and servicewomen and and “doing battle” with their friends, providing all the multinational a warm welcome Imperator Ralph M. Lewis, 1944. red tape that a trip to and refuge from the post-war Europe would exigencies of military entail. In the summer life. of 1946, the journey to Europe was Even before the end of World War II, finally possible. A heartwarming reunion appeals for Imperator Ralph M. Lewis’s in Paris with the European Legate, Soror presence in Europe had made their way Jeanne Guesdon, preceded the F.U.D.O.S.I. to Rosicrucian Park via the underground. Conclave in Brussels. (F.U.D.O.S.I., in Rosicrucian officers from the Continent had French, Fédération Universelle des Ordres greatly desired the rebuilding of the Order et Sociétés Initiatiques, or in Latin, Federatio following years of devastation. Considering Universalis Dirigens Ordines Societatesque the extremely sensitive and restrictive nature Initiationis, was a federation of Rosicrucian of communications among mystics in such and other mystical orders dedicated to perilous times where stray information perpetuating the initiatic traditions.) In her could be a matter of life or death, it is very book, Great Women Initiates, Soror Hélèn Rosicrucian significant that these messages were given Bernard recounts more events from the Digest priority. After all, the Rosicrucian Order remarkable life of Mademoiselle Guesdon. No. 2 and its teachings did not find favor in the Meetings with officers of several European 2017 Page 12 jurisdictions followed, and the groundwork palpable sense of reverence for the Divine for European reestablishment was begun. permeates these works that at first might On the home front, a tremendous relief seem an incongruity in such a rational effort on the part of AMORC affiliated format. Upon reflection, this makes bodies across America went into full swing perfect sense. Imperator Lewis had lived to assist Rosicrucians in Europe and in the through several periods of occult and Pacific region. mystical resurgence. Some of the practices Another very visible contributor to advocated during these times of revival the Park as we know it today was architect were at best questionable, and at worst Frater Earle C. Lewis, the talented harmful. Maintaining objectivity in one’s brother of Imperator Ralph Lewis. Earle studies was a tradition of Rosicrucian had served as architect for the Supreme study that Frater Lewis felt could not be Temple, the AMORC Administration overemphasized, and nearly all his books, Building, the Research Library, and the articles, and discourses make reference to Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. His this vital approach to enlightenment. powerful, monumental designs give the Frater Lewis communicated clearly Park its visual cohesion, a vital element of and succinctly, an all too rare quality in a esthetic unity. He was also, for many years, mystic, and his recorded discourses reveal the painting and sculpture instructor for a profound love of sharing what he had RCU. Even if one was not to achieve the learned. His capacity for clear, compelling master painter level of a da Vinci, a Cassatt, analogy was vast. The following excerpt or a Monet (at least in this incarnation), a gives a simple, yet powerful, clarification profound understanding and appreciation of the difference between knowledge and of the creative process was imparted to wisdom: every student who was fortunate enough to participate in one of his classes. Frater All knowledge does not stand Lewis held his painting classes in the open the test of time. True wisdom air, with the Park as part of the visual does. It is sagacious in meeting inspiration for his students – yet another circumstances and applying what inspiring role the Park has played. is known in the right manner. Time During his tenure as Imperator, proves or disproves decisions that Ralph M. Lewis was also responsible people make. The knowledge for a monument of a different kind. He that survives and continues to be had crafted a body of literature that is applicable when called upon is 7 outstanding in the history of mysticism. Wisdom. With unequaled clarity, he defined the It is humbling and inspiring to recall concept of “Rational Mystic” for the while relaxing on a bench in Rosicrucian twentieth century and perhaps for all time. Park that such powerful literature was The Sanctuary of Self, Through the Mind’s composed in this amazing setting. Eye, and The Conscious Interlude are but a few selections of the scholarly, yet never The Mysterious Mummy pedantic works that comprise the legacy In 1971, a landmark event took place that he bequeathed to Humanity. These at the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum works resonate with the mathematician when an unexpected visitor came to stay: and the physicist, as well as with the A mummy case had been purchased as Hermeticist. The necessity for humility part of the on-going acquisitions, and is imparted in terms that are practical. A the supposedly empty case was found to

Page 13 As yet unidentified, this mummy discovered in Usermontu’s coffin exhibits hallmarks of Nineteenth Dynasty mummification practices. Note the crossed arms and opened mouth. In the insert to the right, the pin joining the mummy’s femur and tibia demonstrates a sophisticated knowledge of joint articulation.

be occupied! This priceless find has been case and its companion, a Ptolemaic period the subject of continuing investigation as woman’s coffin, might have been destined to the actual identity of the mummy. This for a decorative and relatively anonymous research continues today. In the course of existence in an affluent Dallas suburb these investigations, an X-ray examination but for the quick action of a soror in revealed an iron pin in one leg, evidence Texas. She had contacted the Rosicrucian of an ancient repair, although it is still not Egyptian Museum and was instrumental in certain whether this repair had taken place securing the purchase of the cases. When after the transition of this person or is an the mummy cases arrived from England, example of ancient surgery.8 they went through Customs in Florida. There is indeed a certain amount of X-rays revealed that Usermontu’s case was mystery connected with the mummy found occupied! This complicated the Customs occupying the beautifully crafted coffin of processing and involved the police, since the priest Usermontu, who lived in Thebes it had to be established that the human in the Twenty-Sixth Dynasty (ca. 600 BCE). remains were not the result of a crime. The story begins with the rescue of artifacts The antiquity of the ancient stowaway was so that they might be properly conserved established, and even if it had been a case and displayed with the reverence due to of foul play, the likelihood of producing human funerary relics. The 1971 Neiman- witnesses was remote. The mummy cases Rosicrucian Digest Marcus Christmas Catalog offered a pair of and the unsuspected traveler were released No. 2 “His and Her” mummy cases. Usermontu’s to the care of the Rosicrucian Egyptian 2017 Page 14 Museum. portrait. Her coffin was acquired in 1980 Even after more recent examinations from Sotheby’s, the international art auction of the mummy had been performed and the house, thus effecting a long-delayed family pin discovered, ongoing scrutiny indicates reunion. The cases are of slightly different that the remains could conceivably be heights, yet the proportions, dimensions, those of a resident of the Nineteenth and placement of carvings, as well as the Dynasty, 600 years earlier than originally similar palette of hand-produced colors, suspected, thus making the presence of proclaim that these might be the work of the metal pin even more astounding. a single workshop or artisan. Step into the Museum for a moment Conventions Bring the World Together and let your eyes adjust to the cooler light. In August 1928, Rosicrucian Park Turn to the right, descend a short flight of hosted its first convention. More than twenty stairs, and approach the case that contains AMORC Conventions have been held at the remains of this, as yet unidentified, time traveler. Notice the crossed arms with Rosicrucian Park and in San Jose since manicured hands displaying nails dyed with then. Conventions include presentations, henna. The posture workshops, opportunities for fellowship, and the dye were and special particular features convocations to of the Nineteenth raise the level Dynasty and, as of Rosicrucian a rule, had been activities reserved for Royals. throughout the Based on criteria put world. forth in The Mummy The 1943 in Ancient Egypt, by Rosicrucian Aidan Dodson and Convention was Salima Ikram, former attended by a strong Rosicrucian Egyptian representation Museum Curator Lisa of American and Schwappach matched Allied military eight out of ten personnel. In that potential conditions time of world that were particular strife, discussions features of the and forums Nineteenth Dynasty 1964 AMORC International Convention. From left, Grand Councilor Frances Holland (Southern affirmed the value mummification California), Grand Councilor Harold P. Stevens of the Rosicrucian practices. Behind (Eastern Canada and Western New York), and teachings and you are two exquisite Convention Co-Chairperson Dr. Lonnie Edwards mummy cases of (currently Vice President of the English Grand Lodge principles as similar design. The for the Americas) at Rosicrucian Park. valuable means male mummy case was of dealing with the intended resting place of Usermontu, challenging circumstances, and a renewed and the adjacent coffin was that of a sense of dedication to the Order was kinswoman, probably a cousin. Her name forged while a deeper understanding of was Ta’awa Ta-sherit. Charm and beauty Rosicrucian purpose was conveyed to the still radiate from her masterfully carved community.

Page 15 In 2004, the AMORC World Peace Christian Bernard opened the time Conference was held in San Jose. More than capsule that H. Spencer Lewis had placed 2,000 members from 70 nations around the between the paws of the sphinx in front world participated in this AMORC World of the RCUI building in 1934. Imperator Convention dedicated to Peace. Along with Bernard then placed a time capsule in this many other memorable moments during the same location to be opened by a future convention, Imperator Christian Bernard generation of Rosicrucians. dedicated the Rosicrucian Peace Garden To be continued… – an educational garden authentic to the ______Eighteenth Dynasty of ancient Egypt. Footnotes In July 2010 hundreds of Rosicrucians 1. Currently the Grand Temple. and friends gathered at Rosicrucian Park for “Hidden in Plain Sight: The Influence 2. Armstrong, Steven, unpublished paper, 2001. of Western Esoteric Movements on 3. Ibid. Modern Thought,” a conference for 4. Lewis, H. Spencer, “Reaching the Roof,” scholars and practitioners sponsored by Rosicrucian Digest, Vol. X, No. 1, February, 1932, p. 4. the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC. 5. Ibid. The 2015 AMORC World Convention 6. Poole, Cecil A., Hieroglyphs, Rose-Croix was held at Rosicrucian Park, celebrating University, Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, 1944. the 100th anniversary of the founding 7. Lewis, Ralph M., “Why Does Man Reject of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC. Wisdom?” Rosicrucian Forum, Vol. 56, No. 5 Thousands of members participated in (April 1986), p. 99. this historic event, at which Imperator 8. Armstrong, Steven, unpublished paper, 2001.

Imperator H. Spencer Lewis installing the time Imperator Christian Bernard and Grand Master capsule in the sphinx in front of the RCU Build- Julie Scott installing the new time capsule, for Rosicrucian ing in 1934. future generations, in the same location during Digest the 2015 AMORC World Convention. No. 2 2017 Page 16 Then and Now Despite a decade of worldwide economic depression, H. Spencer Lewis’s vision of Rosicrucian Park, seen at left in an aerial photo in 1939, came to fruition. Beginning at the top center of the photo and moving clockwise, we see the Egyptian Obelisk (in its previous location), Planetarium, Park Portal, Francis Bacon Auditorium, AMORC Administration buildings (previous), and the Egyptian, Oriental Museum. A rounded section of the building (behind the Museum) contained the private office of Imperator H. Spencer Lewis, behind which can be seen the two radio broadcast towers of AMORC. In the center of Rosicrucian Park are the Plaza Fountain, Akhnaton Shrine, and Rose-Croix University Building – behind which is the just-completed Rosicrucian Research Library. Adjacent to the Library (left center side of photo) is a large vacant lot, the eventual site of the Grand Temple, constructed in 1949. As can be seen, in 1939, there were still a number of private homes occupying the city block that was rapidly becoming Rosicrucian Park. Imperator Ralph Lewis later purchased these homes and removed them.

Today’s verdant Rosicrucian Park, seen at right, is an oasis in San Jose, now the tenth largest city in the United States. Lush gardens and the coolness of shade trees welcome and refresh guests. The Grand Temple (1949, top left with solar panels and golden roof trim), the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum (1966, top center with solar panels on white roof), Administration Building (1971, right center), Peace Garden and Alchemy Garden (2004 and 2014 respectively, behind the Administration Building), Medicinal Native Plants Garden and Labyrinth (2015, left center) are all additions after 1939.

Page 17 WE DID IT!

Dear Fratres and Sorores, In 2002, on the occasion of the seventy-fifth anniversary of the founding of Rosicrucian Park, the Board of Directors of the English Grand Lodge announced the plans for the Future of Rosicrucian Park in a special issue of the Rosicrucian Digest. Some of the goals seemed formidable, however they were so important that we decided to include them all. Today, most of these goals, plus many more, have been achieved, thanks to the exceptional vision and commitment of our Board and the generosity of thousands of Rosicrucian members around North America and the Caribbean. The next few pages describe some of the extraordinary projects that we have all accomplished together. Thank you to everyone who has participated in the preservation and perpetuation of Rosicrucian Park. Your support has made all of this possible! I hope that each of you will visit or re-visit Rosicrucian Park soon, to experience its beauty and tranquility. We look forward to welcoming you! With sincere appreciation for your support and my warmest wishes for Peace Profound, Sincerely and fraternally,

Julie Scott Grand Master Rosicrucian Digest No. 2 2017 Page 18 Accessible to All that are ecologically adapted to fire are in the Fire Garden, along with plants with Since 2002, we have constructed red flowers, bark, berries, etc. and installed ramps, elevators, and lifts making the historic Rosicrucian Egyptian Alchemy is one of the mystical Museum and Planetarium, Francis traditions that greatly contributed to the Bacon Auditorium, and the Rosicrucian Rosicrucian Tradition and is studied by Research Library buildings accessible to Rosicrucian students. all. The gardens at Rosicrucian Park are also wheelchair accessible, including the Francis Bacon Alchemy Garden and the Peace Garden; Auditorium Renovation the Rosicrucian Labyrinth also has ground level borders providing guides for visually Built in 1931, Francis Bacon challenged guests. Auditorium was completely renovated in 2008, restoring its historic appearance and adding accessible restrooms, a chairlift, Alchemy Exhibit and a wheelchair ramp. In anticipation of the opening of the new Alchemy Museum at Rosicrucian Native Plants Gardens Park, the Rosicrucian Alchemy Exhibit (curated by Frater Dennis Hauck, Ph.D.) Rosicrucian Park has been organic features a journey through the seven stages since the year 2000 and since 2005 of the Alchemical process, a meditation more than 5,000 native plants have been chamber, and a full-size reproduction of planted, replacing water-hungry lawns. an Alchemist’s workshop. This has resulted in a savings of more than 10 million gallons of water per year! The cumulative financial savings of the Alchemy Garden Native Plants Gardens since 2005 to today The Alchemy Garden at Rosicrucian is $572,000. The yearly savings increases Park, dedicated in 2014, features four every year as water gets more expensive. elemental gardens, each representing one In 2017 alone the savings will be $63,000. of the primary elements of Alchemy – Please try this at home! Earth, Air, Fire, and Water. Each elemental garden culminates in a raised planter at the center of the garden, formed in the Net Zero Energy Status shape of the Alchemical symbol that Rosicrucian Park now produces represents that garden’s element. Each enough clean, renewable energy to meet planter contains plants associated with the its own annual energy consumption respective element, for use in the Alchemy requirements. In addition to updating the Laboratory. heating and air conditioning system in the All of the plants throughout the Museum, cool roofs were installed on the garden are native to northern California Grand Temple and Museum. or are drought-tolerant, and represent Becoming Net Zero Energy is characteristics of the respective alchemical challenging enough for new buildings elements, by showing the appropriate and almost unheard of for existing colors, characteristics, or ecological habitat buildings, especially the historic buildings associations. For example, native plants at Rosicrucian Park that were built as early

Page 19 as 1931. In fact, experts said for years beginning of the scientific inquiry that that this goal was impossible, however we continues to today. persisted. With this initiative, Rosicrucian This statue, installed in 2012, is an Park has reduced its energy consumption authorized reproduction of the original so substantially that it now meets 100 created by Nicholas Ikaris, which stands at percent of its energy needs with new the harbor of Pythagorio, Samos, Greece – efficient solar panels. The resulting energy the birthplace of Pythagoras. savings means that this project will pay for itself in thirteen years and the savings to the environment began immediately. Rainwater Harvesting This project harvests precious rainwater from several roofs to large Peace Pole hidden storage tanks, saving more than This beautiful hand-crafted monument 35,000 gallons of rainwater per year for displays “May Peace Prevail on Earth” irrigation use. in twelve languages. There are tens of thousands of Peace Poles planted in 180 countries around the world - all dedicated Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum as monuments to Peace. New Mobile App Each year the United Nations celebrates The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum September 21 as the International Day of recently released its new mobile app, Peace. Peacebuilders everywhere perform serving as a valuable resource for a powerful act of planetary acupuncture members, researchers, students, and the on this date by sending energy through general public. all the Peace Poles around the planet for a Global Attunement of Peace. Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum At Rosicrucian Park we also celebrate Renovation the Rosicrucian Day of Peace on the The Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum fourth Sunday of June each year. All are hosts 110,000 guests per year, including welcome. 26,000 sixth graders (California’s sixth grade social studies curriculum includes Pythagoras Statue ancient Egypt). In addition to making the Museum completely accessible to all guests Pythagoras (ca. 570 to 490 BCE) is (new ramp, chairlifts, and restrooms) and one of the most important philosophers upgrading the heating and air conditioning in the history of the Western world. system (the new cutting-edge system He deeply influenced astronomy, uses less than 10 percent of the energy cosmology, mathematics, and philosophy – that the previous system used), all of especially the Rosicrucian Tradition. The the galleries and artifact cases have been Pythagorean Way of Life serves as a model updated presenting the latest information of moral and ethical values that deeply regarding ancient Egypt. The museum resonate with the Rosicrucian Tradition. has also created Tour Expeditions for His study of the universe was inspired school groups, which are experiential by his desire to feel a closer connection journeys through the museum, and the Rosicrucian Digest with the Divine. This inquiry, initiated Junior Archaeologist Program for young No. 2 2,500 years ago, can rightly be called the people includes participatory workshops 2017 Page 20 culminating in a Night in the Museum every detail in the Rosicrucian Peace (sleepover) graduation ceremony. Garden, creating a truly educational and inspirational experience for guests at Rosicrucian Park. Rosicrucian Labyrinth Rosicrucians and friends celebrate The Rosicrucian Labyrinth, dedicated the Rosicrucian Day of Peace in the Peace in 2015, is based on the design of the Garden on the fourth Sunday of June each Chartres Labyrinth, which has inspired year. spiritual wayfarers for at least 800 years. Labyrinths around the world have been effective meditation tools for millennia. Rosicrucian Planetarium Renovation The paths of the Rosicrucian In 2003, the historic Rosicrucian Labyrinth are surrounded by native plants, Planetarium (built in 1936) was structurally which create the outline of the labyrinth renovated and updated. A Rosicrucian design. The paths were built sufficiently Welcome Center was also created in the wide so that guests in wheelchairs can lobby. This building of Moorish design easily navigate the turns. An oak grove, (honoring the important contributions sacred in many of the ancient mystery of the Arab astronomers) was the fifth traditions, surrounds the Labyrinth. planetarium built in the United States and This beautiful Labyrinth, accessible the first to house an American-made star to all and nestled within this sacred projector, designed and constructed by grove, provides the opportunity for the H. Spencer Lewis. Today complimentary hundreds of thousands of members and space shows are presented daily. guests who visit Rosicrucian Park each year to experience its tranquility in new and profound ways. It also demonstrates Rosicrucian Research Library the benefits of living in harmony with our The collection of the Rosicrucian environment and our natural resources – Research Library began in the early 1900s a principle at the core of the Rosicrucian with H. Spencer Lewis’s personal library, teachings and a practice especially which he bequeathed to the Research important at this time in humanity’s Library. The current building, envisioned history. by Imperator Ralph M. Lewis, was designed by his brother, architect Earle Lewis, and was constructed in 1939. Rosicrucian Peace Garden Dedicated to the pursuit of Rosicrucian During the 2004 AMORC World Peace knowledge, the Rosicrucian Research Conference, Imperator Christian Bernard Library contains a remarkable collection dedicated this beautiful educational garden, of books and other research materials on authentic to the Eighteenth Dynasty of most esoteric subjects, as well as cultural, ancient Egypt. It is based on examples scientific, and other fascinating material. of gardens from the remains of the city of Akhetaton, now called Amarna. The Rosicrucian members, visiting scholars, ancient Egyptians would relax in a garden students, and interested members of the like this next to their home – a garden public are welcome to study here. full of medicinal plants and beautiful and The Library staff recently completed fragrant flowers. an extensive inventory project and, with Thoughtful attention was given to the help of volunteers, is translating into Page 21 English and digitizing a number of rare most important works, including the books important in the Rosicrucian and Rosicrucian Manifestos of the early 1600s, Martinist traditions. rare books by Jacob Boehme, Michael Maier, Robert Fludd, Francis Bacon, The Rare Books Room, dedicated Isaac Newton, Louis-Claude de Saint- in 2015, displays some of the Library’s Martin, and other exceptional works.

At left, native poppy plants in the Earth element planter in the Alchemy Garden in front of the RCUI Building (future home of the Alchemy Museum).

Below, the Rosicrucian Manifestos in the Rosicrucian Research Library’s Rare Books Room.

At left, the opening of the Alchemy Exhibit with Frater Dennis Hauck, Ph.D., Curator of the Exhibit and of the new Alchemy Museum, which will be built when the funds are raised.

Rosicrucian Digest No. 2 2017 Page 22 New museum mobile app.

New 3D models of museum artifacts. To view the one above, visit: https://skfb.ly/68TZI

Net Zero Energy: The Grand Temple harnessing the energy of the sun with solar panels.

New wheelchair accessible entrance ramp to the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum.

Page 23 At left, Junior Archaeologists learning how to write hieroglyphs.

At right, hundreds of Rosicrucians and members of the community celebrated the Solar Eclipse in the Labyrinth at Rosicrucian Park on August 21, 2017.

At left, Imperator Christian Bernard dedicating the Rosicrucian Peace Garden during the 2004 AMORC World Peace Conference.

Rosicrucian Digest No. 2 2017 Page 24 Reaching The RooF H. Spencer Lewis, FRC Not long ago, a contractor started to often rise far beyond those who are ultra- build a home in the suburbs of this city, conservative and too careful. and I was interested in watching the care Of the two classes of individuals, with which he constructed the foundation. those who are extremely conservative or It appeared to me that a very fine and pessimistic, doubtful, skeptical, reserved, attractive home was to be built on the and hesitating are the losers in life’s great concrete walls which he planned and game. Such persons start out with self- constructed so carefully. imposed limitations, and it is seldom that Shortly thereafter I met the contractor they reach beyond those limitations. Those at a luncheon and asked him how his new who are overambitious, and who seem to house was progressing, and was astonished hitch their wagons to a star, and who think to hear him say that he was just completing that the sky is the limit, and that nothing the roof. “Why,” said I, “you have reached is beyond their capabilities are more apt the roof very quickly.” to achieve success and at least accomplish “Yes,” replied the contractor, “you something magnificent than those who are know when some persons build, they plan self-restrained. a roof that is very close to the ground and Meeting Obligations does not take much time or much effort to I have heard economists and some of build up from the foundation to the roof.” the most eminent financiers in America I could not help pondering over his say that the only way that young married rather philosophical statement because it couples or young persons individually contained a whole book full of thought. ever accumulate vast material holdings or Undoubtedly, one of the reasons why so become possessed of real material wealth many persons in the world today have is by getting into debt and by assuming not achieved a higher or greater place in large contracts and obligations, and then life is that they have too easily reached the being forced to meet them. They say that roof. In all of their plans, in all of their more homes have been acquired by young considerations, desires, and ambitions, couples who have plunged themselves into they visualized a roof that was very close the obligation of paying for a beautiful to the foundation, and after their structure home than by those who attempted to save was completed and the roof in place, their for it and buy such a home when sufficient building was lowly, humble, insignificant, funds were at hand. However true this and probably insufficient to represent their may be, I do know that the man or woman true possibilities in life. who mentally conceives and plans a great Truly, one can dream too vaguely, too structure or career in life and determines ambitiously, or too magnificently, and place to make good on these plans is the one the roof of one’s contemplated structure who generally succeeds in doing so. far beyond feasible heights, but it is very The greater the ambition, the greater seldom that the ones who do this fail to the enthusiasm and the desire to make reach an impressive height in their desire to good. The higher and more lofty the goal, reach the roof. They may fail to fulfill their the more determination is exerted to reach plans, but in their attempts to do so they it. Commonplace obstacles that deter and

Page 25 disparage the individual who is attempting plans a structure that will take a long time to reach only a mediocre place mean to complete and will have to be carried nothing to the one who has a great plan or on through all kinds of weather and an enormous idea to work out. diverse conditions and circumstances, has Stick With It! the foresight to see obstacles that delay the project for a few weeks or months Resorting again to the illustration as inconsequential in comparison to the of building a home, we can see that the time necessary to realize the goal, and is person who plans to build only a four- therefore unaffected by these obstacles to room bungalow, twelve to fourteen feet in any serious degree. height, and build it quickly with a limited amount of money and time, will become Building the Rosicrucian Order greatly discouraged in his or her efforts I remember well the plans for our own to complete such a building if on the day organization when it became apparent that I planned for laying the foundation the rain would have to work out most of the details pours upon the ground and continues to do for the development of so for a number of days the Rosicrucian activities until the ground is wet in America for the new and soggy. And after the cycle under my direction. rain is over, if there are I might have given much a few days of snow and thought to the possible freezing temperatures, delays, the inevitable then the builder will disappointments, and surely abandon plans the personal problems of going to work to that would confront start the home. If the me. Considering these, builder then meets with I might easily have a few disappointments arranged to construct in securing the right an organization that material or a sufficient would have had a good amount of capital, he foundation but a roof or she will probably be not too high above that discouraged completely, foundation. But instead and permanently abandon of doing this, I allowed the whole enterprise. my mentally-created Such a person in structure to tower into planning a small and the skies to enormous limited structure expects H. Spencer Lewis on “Reaching the heights, and I raised the to complete it within Roof”: “I allowed my mentally-created roof of the structure so structure to tower into the skies to enor- a very short time and high that from where I have it over with. Any mous heights…” symbolized by Rosicru- cian Park’s obelisk in the process of being stood in the picture I obstacles that delay the placed into position, 1937. could neither see where matter for weeks or it was nor what it looked months are equivalent to obstacles which like. In fact, I never felt sure that there was prevent the person from achieving his or a roof upon this mental structure or that Rosicrucian her end altogether. Digest a roof was even necessary, for it seemed No. 2 On the other hand, the builder who to me that the only thing to consider was 2017 Page 26 to make the foundation so strong and the new section of height accomplished in our walls so supported that story after story work. could be added to the building in its rising How different is all of this from heights without limit and without fear of the conservative, limited plan of those collapse or weakness. who hesitate and fear to build and plan The plans seemed to be beyond reason, magnificently! It is only through the and many were the serious warnings given to broadness of vision, through the unlimited me that I was undertaking too great a work, heights of our ambitions, and the very too great a structure to be accomplished in greatness of our ideals that we really lift a lifetime, or by any moderate-sized group ourselves up and beyond the commonplace. of individuals. Every possible or potential The Rosicrucian organization in America obstacle was carefully pointed out to me. As is planned to be in its present cycle just months and years passed, what it has been in each of most of these obstacles its previous cycles in this made their appearance in and other lands; namely, due form and due time. an unusual, distinctive, Every one of the predicted magnificent structure of interferences and hundreds unlimited and unrestricted unsuspected by even the heights of attainment. It wisest of builders likewise must not only battle its way presented themselves. But in attempting to rise above since the work was an the pull and influence of enormous one, the task a earthly matters as it reaches magnificent one, and the up into the heights of glory, structure so bewildering but it must push its way in all of its dimensions, H. Spencer Lewis through the clouds that the obstacles, difficulties, gather in the heights above problems, and delays were taken merely as the earth and often darken and obscure a matter of course and really spared us all the heavens beyond. It means work and in our efforts. sacrifice and a steadfastness of faith, as well as a determination to bear the burden of What the structure is today is a result the cross until the heights are reached, and of the great plans. Whether these plans then raise that cross upon the very pinnacle. will all be realized in my lifetime or not To those thousands of members and is immaterial. The very greatness of the readers who have expressed their joy and work has carried us on in its ponderous pride in being associated with the work and overwhelming vastness. We are also of this kind, let me urge that in their own hopelessly entangled in the scheme of lives they plan with the greater vision in things and we have no more fear of the mind and with the illimitable heights as ultimate being attained than we have of the true domain of their creating, and in our long and carefully laid foundation this way find the joy of reaching out and crumbling away. beyond the average and the commonplace True, we have not reached the roof into the unique and the exceptional. and it is not our ambition to reach the Do not be in such a hurry to reach the roof rapidly. The roof is still so far beyond roof of the structure that you will plan it us that we can only think of the work we too close to the earth. have to do on each rising level of each

Page 27 Grand Temple History

Almost from Rosicrucian Park’s financial status of the Order would make it inception in 1927 there was an AMORC possible. With the improvement in general temple in Rosicrucian Park. When the first conditions, the Board of Directors of the temple was erected in San Jose in the year Supreme Grand Lodge, being conscious 1928, for economic reasons it was located of the need of a new temple and of H. above the first floor of the Administration Spencer Lewis’s wishes in this regard, Building. It was not within the means of decided in favor of such a plan. the Order at that time to purchase separate A new temple, it was realized, must property on which to erect a temple. incorporate the traditional design – that Dedicated on December 2, 1928, the is, Egyptian architecture and the symbolic Supreme Temple, which duplicated the arrangement of the lodge rooms – and principal features of temples in Egypt, at the same time meet existing demands conformed to the traditional ritualistic for larger accommodations and greater requirements. H. Spencer Lewis created comfort. After many preliminary sketches, the artwork in the East. In beautifying the a request was made of Earle C. Lewis, (H. symbolic East he created a drama giving Spencer Lewis’s son who was a professional the viewer the impression of looking out architect), to execute the final structural and from a temple in Egypt upon a vista of architectural drawings for such a temple. the Nile with the He was likewise requested pyramids in the to prepare and design distance. The special all necessary interior lighting heightened fixtures, such as lighting, the dramatic effects, furniture, and so forth, and music filled the and to supervise color temple at various schemes, and the like. levels of sound In the interim, the depending upon what means for financing was to take place such a grand project within. The Grand Temple Shekinah. had to be considered. By the late 1930s, World War II had not AMORC’s membership had outgrown yet ended: the price of building materials this original small temple, and the Grand was inflated, as well as the cost of labor. Temple we see in Rosicrucian Park today Government restrictions had made it was already in the planning stages. World impossible to begin actual construction. It War II and scarcity of materials and funds was, however, thought to be a propitious had delayed the project, but in 1948 time to accumulate funds for the eventual construction began. building of the temple. Imperator H. Spencer Lewis had A special booklet, unique and attractive foreseen the need for a larger temple in design and presenting the plan for the before his transition on August 2, 1939. new Supreme Temple, was disseminated to He had desired to design and direct the the entire membership of the Rosicrucian Rosicrucian construction of such a building, as he jurisdiction in the year 1945. The booklet Digest had done formerly, at such a time as the solicited contributions from the members No. 2 2017 Page 28 for this important edifice. It likewise or sensed by humans. It serves promised that everyone so contributing in the human mind as a useful or would receive a certificate acknowledging his comforting intermediary between or her generosity. Further, each contributor humans in this material “world of was given a form to sign and return to the strife” and the supra-mundane, Supreme Grand Lodge. Assurance was causative forces, or higher spiritual given that such forms would be deposited energies toward which we reach for beneath a bronze plaque aid or reintegration. It on the occasion of the serves as a doorway, dedication of the Supreme a port of entry, or Temple and that these threshold through forms would remain there which we may enter in perpetuity. and experience contact Before continuing with the Divine and on with the fascinating may be touched by story of the new Supreme the powers emanating Temple, let’s explore the from that higher need and the desire for source. such a structure within the Each of us has Rosicrucian tradition. The made of our sanctuary, existence of a temple is a a core, a focal point, central focal point in the Grand Temple interior. an outward physical Rosicrucian teachings and expression denoting a on the Rosicrucian path. place of concentration According to Jay R. McCullough, who where we can visualize the infinite was a Rosicrucian and the Curator of the touching the so-called finite. In Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum back in greater or lesser degrees, we have those days: devised various rituals to bring Those who have attended activity and a feeling of participation a general convocation in a into the confines of our temple Rosicrucian lodge room are or sanctuary. These rituals, so we familiar with the oft-repeated believe, enable or aid us to invoke formula of which I am here or attune harmoniously with those submitting an excerpt: “We come forces or powers which we consider to this sacred place, made sacred greater than our self or humanity, by our thoughts and conduct….” and serve to give us a sense of Let these words be the central doing something about such forces theme behind every thought and instead of merely being aware of picture expressed in the following them or becoming inharmoniously paragraphs. engulfed by their imponderability. There is a basic, primary human Early humans probably first need for the establishment of a placed their sanctuaries on hilltops sanctuary, a holy place, an area or or situated them in a circular spot set aside for the purpose of clearing made in a forest near a contact with the highest aspirations, large tree. Sites where meteors forces, or power-concepts known had fallen and the locale of other

Page 29 spectacular and natural phenomena civilizations across time around also served as holy places, special the world. In the Western places. Soon there evolved a Hemisphere, the Toltecs, high on class of individuals who were the inner Mexican plateau, erected what might be called specialists immense pyramidal mounds of in dealing with supra-mundane rubble and masonry as heaven- powers and energies, the shamans reaching symbols topped with or medicine men and women. The their holy altar dedicated to the houses or special medicine places deities. The ancient Mayas built of these people would naturally their beautiful pyramids, topped take unto themselves the attributes with dual temples and crowned of the abode of the higher powers with filigree in stone, as their and those places became the expression of the urge to find a prototypes of temples. Later, place in which to meet the concept clans or orders of these sages of divinity.” were formed and established their In the Eastern Hemisphere, sanctuaries as retreats and training the ancient Babylonians’ square- centers for the initiates. based, pyramid-like, temple- An early example of this topped ziggurats rising as concept would be the underground miniature mountains from the kivas of the Pueblo Indians in Mesopotamian plains served as the American Southwest. Deep holy “mountains” erected out beneath the village plaza, these of their desire to reach beyond meeting places of the priestly themselves and touch the stars of orders are scenes of initiation, divinity. ritual, and ceremonial rites which The history of ancient Egyptian tell the story of creation, explain temples is well known to the humanity’s place in our spiritual majority of Rosicrucian students; and physical environment, and and the reasons for building the how human beings may make sanctuaries, pyramids, and holy advantageous use of that place places form a living chapter in the in achieving those various goals story of the Mystery Schools. It is toward which we aspire. well to note, however, that in Egypt, From the sipapu, or hole in the as in all other lands possessing a floor signifying our ascent into culture or civilization, the houses the upper world from the regions of the deities, the sanctuaries below, to the ladder leading to the where humans may retreat from village above, the kiva is a temple seeming chaos and attempt to find of initiation and a sanctuary made attunement, were made of the most holy by the thoughts and actions imperishable material obtainable morally native to and indigenous in the region. Palaces, homes, and with the sacred community. utility buildings were constructed of wood, sticks, wattle, or thatch— This quest for establishing but the temples, the holy places, sanctuaries or holy places for the sanctuaries were made as Rosicrucian communing with deities or the Digest substantial and as indestructible as sacred is found throughout No. 2 human ingenuity and the available 2017 Page 30 building materials would permit. of Hathor. In traveling up the Nile They were constructed to last for River and before reaching Thebes, ages, for they were considered as one comes upon this grand temple, contact points for eternity. facing more to the north than In each Rosicrucian Lodge northeast. The axis of the temple is throughout the world there may directed to a position which in early be found a sanctuary, a material times was held by the star Dubhe, expression which is the symbolic in the constellation of Ursa Major, heart of the Order, a place that and was called the Ox Thigh by stands for something far deeper Egyptians. It is now familiar to us which is made by human hands; as the Big Dipper. a temple rich in color and design, Originally built much earlier, and filled with meaningful symbols; the Dendera or Hathor Temple, a place of refuge and a point of was restored by Pepi I of the Sixth symbolic contact with the God of Dynasty, and again by Thutmose our innermost being and with our III of the Eighteenth Dynasty. brothers and sisters throughout the [The present structure is only the world. last one of several structures that As the Second World War came to stood here successively in ancient an end in the late summer of 1945, the times. The present temple dates actual construction of the new Supreme from the Ptolemaic Era and was Temple was delayed for three years, begun before the reign of Ptolemy waiting for improvement VIII. His name is in building materials and found in the crypts. the possible substantial The work continued lowering of costs. Finally, during the reigns of the Supreme Council of Ptolemy X, Ptolemy AMORC authorized the XI, Ptolemy XII, letting of contracts for Cleopatra VII, the construction of the and Julius Caesar. new temple. Their names are represented on In 1946, anticipating the temple’s rear the construction of the Statue of Pharaoh Thutmoses III at murals and in new Supreme Temple, Rosicrucian Park. several inscriptions. AMORC Grand Master Emperor Augustus and Director of the is also mentioned. Also, there Rosicrucian Planetarium, Rodman R. is an inscription stating that the Clayson, wrote an article for the Rosicrucian decoration of the outer walls was Digest about Egypt’s Temple of Dendera, finished in the second year of the which was dedicated to the goddess reign of Emperor Tiberius. Thus, Hathor. Describing this magnificent the temple as seen today was built temple, Frater Clayson wrote: from about 116 BCE to 34 CE.] The impressiveness of the Architecturally, Dendera is one monumental stately temples of of the most beautiful structures Egypt is perhaps revealed to best in Egypt, and perhaps it is worth advantage at the Dendera Temple noting that the temples which we

Page 31 see today are but restored shrines. Frater Clayson also pointed out in his There is no massive pylon in front 1946 article that the walls of the Dendera of this temple, and this clearly Temple are covered in bas-relief of once indicates that there was to be no brilliant colors that depict elaborate rituals obstruction of the light of the star and religious ceremonies which occurred Dubhe entering the colonnaded in the temple. Such inscriptions include the halls of Dendera. Like the Temple “Ritual of Dendera,” involving the whole of Karnak, Dendera stands within service as performed in the Two Lands of a spacious 1,000-foot square Upper and Lower Egypt. The mysterious enclosure of sun-dried brick. ritual had to do with Osiris rising from the dead and being protected by Isis, who was his The Temple of Dendera was built to be legendary wife. When it was built, Dendera astronomically aligned with the axis of the was dedicated to Hathor, and it included a temple aligned with the ascension and path shrine to Isis. Plutarch, Diodorus Siculus, and of a particular star. Many of the ancient other ancient authorities noted the synthesis Egyptian temples were astronomically of Isis and Hathor, especially in Hellenistic aligned with the setting or rising of the Sun times. Both the Isis and Hathor Mysteries on a particular day (such as the first day of had points of similarity in common with spring), or the declension of a particular many of the Ancient Mystery Schools. star at a specific time of the year in the Egyptian calendar. Within the brick wall-enclosure of Dendera’s Hathor Temple is the smaller In two corners of the roof of the Temple of Isis, the latter being built at Dendera Temple are shrines dedicated to right angles to Hathor and oriented to the mysteries of the death and resurrection Sirius, the bright, blue, blazing star seen in of Osiris, which can be seen depicted on the southeast. Sirius, long called the Dog their walls. The famous Zodiac of Dendera Star, was consecrated in Egypt to Anubis, occupied the ceiling of one of these shrines. who was the god of the In the nineteenth century dead and was symbolized the Zodiac was cut from as having a dog’s head. the ceiling and brought Isis Temple was one of to France where it is on seven temples oriented display in the Louvre to Sirius. Museum in Paris. Today, it has been replaced with Frater Clayson a plaster cast. also pointed out that the elaborate ceiling In his article, Frater decoration in the Clayson pointed out Dendera Temple’s Great that as visitors approach Hypostyle hall is entirely Dendera Temple from astronomical and is of the north, they will notice Zodiac of Dendera. special interest for its that over the temple’s astronomical decorations. entrance portals there is a Here he refers to the massive, overhanging entablature bearing famous square Zodiac of Dendera which a winged disk as the chief decoration. portrays star boats, decan stars, phases of The winged disk, of course, is one of the Rosicrucian the moon, and a scene showing the sun Digest prime symbols used by the Rosicrucian shining on the temple. This remarkable No. 2 Order today. zodiac is divided into seven bands. Band 2017 Page 32 one in the ceiling’s western section shows represented by the twelve boats of Horus. Nut, goddess of the heavens, in her usual Toward the end of his fascinating 1946 posture stretched across the sky and article Grand Master Clayson related the touching the world at the four cardinal Dendera Temple to the new temple that points, her slender body arching above, was about to be constructed in Rosicrucian forming the vault of heaven. The god Geb Park when he wrote: represents the earth. Beneath Nut are the We have elaborated six northern signs of the Egyptian Zodiac: at length on the beautiful temple Aries, the Ram (Amon); Taurus, the Bull at Dendera because it gives us (Apis); Gemini, the Twins (two sprouting an historical background for plants); Cancer, the Crab (Anubis); Leo, the new Supreme Temple to be the Lion (Osiris); and Virgo, the Virgin built in Rosicrucian Park…. All (Isis). At the other end of the ceiling in the Rosicrucians will be interested in seventh band is a similar representation of knowing that the new temple will Nut, stretching out across the sky above the be a modified exterior replica of remaining six signs of the Zodiac: Libra, the the Hathor Temple just described. Scales (Horus); Scorpio, the Scorpion (Sit- Fronted with majestic columns and Typhon); Sagittarius, the Archer (Sekhmet); elaborately decorated with colorful Capricorn, the Goat (Mendes); Aquarius, figures and designs representative the Water Carrier (Hapy or Shu); and Pisces, of Egyptian art, this splendid the Fishes (Nephthys). temple will be oriented to the The other five bands of the Great southeast. The bright star Sirius Hypostyle Hall Zodiac represent other may light the Rosicrucian Temple aspects of the astronomical calendar such portals as it did those of Dendera as the twelve hours of the night, the phases so long ago. of the moon, the course of the Sun during One of the Dendera Zodiacs the twelve hours of the day, the figures of will be reproduced within the the deities to whom each hour was sacred, Rosicrucian Supreme Temple etc. so that members may have an The entire design and layout of this appreciation of the original Zodiac ceiling zodiac is highly intricate, and and the astronomical knowledge of combined with the massive columns the early Egyptians at Dendera…. of the Great Hall, is very impressive. The Egyptian architecture of this It indicates the incredible depth with structure will blend in with the which the ancient Egyptians understood oriental designs of all the other astronomical concepts. wonderful buildings surrounded The signs of the Zodiac, such as the by green lawns at Rosicrucian fish, ram, bull, and twins, are outstanding Park. Very likely, visitors will see along with mythological processions of lofty, graceful palms standing as personages representing constellations guardians of the Supreme Temple in the Egyptian cosmogony. This Zodiac amid luxurious plants of tropic definitely associates Egyptian mythology climes and blooming lotus flowers, with astronomy. In the middle section of as did the devotees of the Hathor the square Zodiac is portrayed the Sun’s Temple. course in different parts of the day and of Hundreds of Rosicrucians the year. Twelve positions of the Sun are will be seated at one time in the

Page 33 183-foot-long temple as they come of the Coming Forth by Day) and depicting as to participate in the convocation well authentic scenes of the life, customs, devotionals of dissemination and and mythology of ancient Egypt. Diana perpetuation of truth and the laws Bovée Salyer, former staff artist of the Los of the Cosmic. In the profound Angeles County Museum, and a member of sanctity of this great temple there the Rosicrucian Order, was selected to direct will be a condition where the the staff of artists in this project. presence of the Divine or the On Sunday, July 17, 1949, at eleven cosmic forces may be invoked; such o’clock, a.m., Pacific Standard Time, the new will not be invoked by magical rites, Supreme Temple was dedicated. On that but by the sincere devotion of the occasion even Nature displayed her most individual in the temple and the favorable mood, for the day was brilliant domination of the spiritual self. but not excessively warm. Members from Thus, Grand Master Rodman R. within a radius of one hundred miles had Clayson anticipated the building, dedication, been invited. So that all might experience and opening of the new AMORC Supreme a convocation in the new temple on Temple to be opened in Rosicrucian Park! Dedication Day, arrangements were made for the conducting of three convocations. On August 20, 1948, Imperator Ralph The first, in the morning, was a dedicatory M. Lewis turned the first shovel full of soil one. The other two were usual temple on the site of the new temple, while other convocations with brief and officers of the Supreme and appropriate addresses by a Grand Lodges witnessed presiding master. the event. When the members Rosicrucian temples or entered the temple for the lodge rooms are in Egyptian dedication, it was dark, except architectural design for the for the murals on the north purpose of commemorating and south walls. The Shekinah the traditional origin of was dark as was also the East. the Rosicrucian Order in Further, the Shekinah was the mystery schools of bare of all the usual ritualistic ancient Egypt. In such accouterments. The guardians lodge temples, reminiscent instructed members to make of a past civilization, Imperator Ralph Maxwell Lewis. no salutation to the East Rosicrucians study the before being seated. There most recent disclosures was, in fact, no sacred lodge and revelations, both philosophical and as yet established. scientific, of natural and cosmic laws. The Imperator Ralph Lewis, who presided, architectural design of Rosicrucian temples gave the dedication address and directed and lodge rooms is also symbolic of the the ritual. He had told of the transition of continuous search for Light by humans down the previous temple, but had stated that its through the centuries. sacred elements were to be immortalized, to The walls of the temple are ornamented, have a new birth in this, the new Supreme as in antiquity, with exquisite murals in several Temple. He then stated that the processional, Rosicrucian colors designed after those in the Book of the which was about to begin, was traditional Digest No. 2 Dead (more accurately translated as the Book and was patterned after the one described 2017 Page 34 in the Corpus Hermeticus and in the records Chaplain explained the nature of each of of the Rosicrucian archives as well. these elements as, for example, sincerity, loyalty, compassion, and so forth. At the Imperator’s signal, the processional of officers, numbering over The final act was the consecration of fifty, entered in full and colorful regalia, led the temple by invoking the Divine Mind by torchbearers carrying lighted torches. The at the fifth point of the lodge, namely, the whole company of officers was chanting Shekinah. The Imperator, “Ad Rosam per Crucem” followed by the Supreme as it entered. Slowly they Colombe, approached the proceeded down the Shekinah. Ascending to the north and south sides of altar, he requested all to aid the temple, the two lines in hallowing the premises walking abreast of each by a concentration of their other. In accordance with spiritual selves, a projection the cosmological theme of their higher selves, to – that is, the ontological the Shekinah as a focal conception of the point. To assist in making universe – each of the Rosicrucian Grand Temple at night. the Shekinah the focus for four primal elements – their thoughts, he directed fire, air, water, and earth – were consecrated that the Supreme Colombe light a single and their esoteric meaning explained. taper upon the altar. The Imperator then For the occasion, sacred waters from commented that it was most appropriate the Nile, the Ganges, and the Indus rivers that the invocation or blessing upon this were brought from those faraway places to occasion – that is, the calling forth of the be used in the proper consecration of the cosmic power – be by the late Imperator, H. temple. The symbolism of the stations or Spencer Lewis. A recording of H. Spencer the orientation of the temple was explained Lewis’s voice, which had been made years by each of the officers assigned to such before, giving the invocation, was then stations. reproduced. Following the invocation and while the lighted taper was on the altar, The Colombes in their ritualistic white with the members directing their thoughts robes, emblematic of their office, entered in that direction, from out of the seeming in a processional to the Shekinah. Several space of the temple came the soft strains of their number ascended separately to of Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life. the Shekinah platform and then placed on the altar a sacred accouterment which had Upon returning to the East from been removed from the former temple, the Shekinah the Imperator called upon such as the candlesticks and the golden the Supreme Secretary, Frater Cecil A. orb. This depicted the continuation, the Poole, to address the assembly. Frater immortality of the spirit and soul of the Poole acknowledged the contributions old temple. The remaining Colombes, of the fratres and sorores throughout the individually, placed rose petals in the world. To comply with the promise of golden orb on the Shekinah to depict the the Order, he then requested the Grand intangible elements, those things not made Secretary, Harvey Miles, and the Grand of wood, stone, or any other substance, Treasurer, James R. Whitcomb, to bring which make up the soul of the Supreme to the Shekinah the old chest of the late Temple. As these were deposited, the Imperator, H. Spencer Lewis, with its

Page 35 symbolic designs, in which were all the scene with vivid and impressive realism. In forms signed by donors. These forms were solemn procession, the officers retired at ceremoniously placed in the platform of the sound of the great gong being struck the Shekinah. They were sealed within it twice, and the dedication was finished. It for posterity by the adjusting of a bronze was now an event in history. plate atop the aperture. This plate carries a The Temple, now called the Grand memorial tribute to the fraters and sorores Temple, has changed little in the sixty- for their kind aid. eight years since its creation. The Supreme Secretary then invited The walls of the Temple are decorated the Grand Master, Frater Rodman R. with beautiful murals, which are the work Clayson, to the East to address the of Rosicrucian artist Diana Boveé Salyer, assembly. Frater Clayson acknowledged former staff artist of the Los Angeles the many kind services of the fratres County Museum. The murals, based and sorores who had assisted in the final on tomb and temple paintings, depict preparation of the temple by the giving symbolical scenes meaningful both to of their skills and labor, most of them as Egyptologists and to Rosicrucian initiates. volunteers. The following is a description of The Imperator closed the convocation, the murals. Starting in the East, on the as the East, which has a diorama depicting south side of the Temple, we begin with a vista of the Nile and the golden cliffs a description of the first of the fifteen of the west bank opposite Luxor, showed murals: the sun gradually changing to a moonlit

1. Amenhotep IV, later known as Akhnaton, and his queen, Nefertiti, stand in the famous Window of Appearances. They are showering gifts upon their subjects. These gifts were to encourage the people in their magnificent cultural work being accomplished in the new city of Akhetaten, which was established by the young king. Akhnaton reigned about the years 1375-1350 BCE. 2. While the Egyptians were well aware of the concepts of perspective and foreshortening, they chose not to use them. They drew what must be there, rather than simply what the eye saw. They acknowledged, in this way, that the eye could be fooled, but the mind, hopefully, could not. This mural displays King Userhet and his mother examining beautiful flowers. The Egyptians did not show flowers grouped in the vase. They painted them rising above the vase, one above the other, so that all might be seen.

Rosicrucian Digest No. 2 1 2 2017 Page 36 3. The goddess Isis greets Pharaoh Rameses III in this mural. The pharaoh is the central figure and the small figure beside Rameses is his son. Rameses III lived about 1200 BCE. This design appears on the tomb of Amenherkhopshef. Note the formalized design of a feather attached to the staff carried by the young son. The feather symbolizes Maat, the ancient Egyptian word for Truth. 4. In the mural to the right of the Chaplain’s station is the mother goddess Isis, de- picted as raising from the dead Osiris, her brother-husband. According to tradition, once raised, or resurrected, Osiris lived again in the spiritual world. The Osirian rites of birth, death, and rebirth became the basis for later concepts of the resurrection of the dead, which have found their way into many religions still extant. This mural is found in the tomb of Nebamun near Thebes, the ancient capital of Egypt. 5. Kenro, a scribe, is shown playing a game of senet with his wife. Many games, such as backgammon, originated with the Egyptians. Some original game pieces may be seen in the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. The hieroglyphs read: “Rejoice – see great happiness. He possesses a house and has a wife, and he returns to his house every evening.” 6. Akhnaton is riding in his chariot in this mural. Note the natural posture of the king as he holds the reins and whip. Above him is seen the symbol of Ra or Aten, the sun, its rays reaching downward with hands at their ends. This depicts the creative divine power reaching earthward, bestowing life on all things and bringing forth living things from the earth.

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Page 37 7. The seventh, and last mural on the south wall shows bearers of gifts. They come bringing flowers, fruits, fowl, and cattle to Pharaoh. The original of this mural appears on the walls of the tomb of one Tjenro, who lived during the reign of Amenhotep II, about 3,500 years ago. You will note that most of these murals have on either side a beautiful pa- pyrus reed column with a lotus capital. These magnificent columns in our Grand Temple were designed after those in the ancient temples along the Nile. 8. On the Temple’s west wall, near the Matre’s station, we see a beautiful mural called “Laying-on-of-Hands” by its artist. It is designed after the description appearing in the June 1938, issue of the Rosicrucian Digest, showing how the divine essence of the deities, known as Sa, was said to be imparted by the high priest to those who knelt before him. The same form of laying-on of hands was used in conferring kingship. This mural was, therefore, taken indirectly from an Egyptian stele describing Queen Hatshepsut’s receiving from her father “the kingship of both banks of the river.” The incense burner held above the candidate closely resembles an ancient artifact in the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum. 9. Proceeding from the West to the north wall of the Temple, the first mural depicts the nobleman Kenro and his wife enjoying their garden. To show the fish in the garden pool, the ancient Egyptian artist depicted the pool in a vertical position, as though stand- ing on its side. The fish are then seen as if they were swimming alongside the wall. As before, this is to enable the artist to display the things that were in the pool, in this case, the fish. This scene appeared on the tomb wall of Neferonpe during the reign of Rameses II.

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Rosicrucian Digest No. 2 2017 9 Page 38 10. A noble is shown in the marshland of the Nile, hunting wild birds. His wife accom- panies him. In the lower portion may be seen a boat in which an attendant is seated. Note the clump of papyrus reeds behind the noble’s wife. Also, observe that the ends of the boat depict the lotus flower open and closed. The Egyptians loved to incorporate the beauties of nature in their art. In addition, the act of hunting wild birds helped to magically create Maat (meaning order, as in the opposite of chaos) and these scenes were often incorporated in tombs to give the owner this magical ability for all eternity. 11. The nobleman with his wife at his side is partaking of his daily meal. The articles of food are piled high, as though the table were turned on its side toward you. The ancient artist had not wanted his audience to overlook any object. Both husband and wife are enjoy- ing the fragrance of the open lotus flowers that they hold. These charming domestic scenes indicate the high degree of civilization reached by the ancient Egyptians. This is from a mural in the tomb of Djehuti in ancient Thebes. 12. The three girls in the center mural, perhaps representing the goddess Hathor, mis- tress of music, as indicated by their attire, are bearing fruit and flowers. One is carrying asis - trum in her hand. This is an oval musical instrument with three lateral rods attached. These rods are loose and rattle when they are shaken. The sistrum had a symbolic significance. It represented the protection given by the goddess Hathor to the youthful god Horus, when he was being hunted by Seth, the source of chaos. It was an instrument most often used by women in ritual. This scene is from the wall of a tomb dating from the reign of Thutmose I V.

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12 Page 39 13. In the mural to the right of the Chantress’s station, we see the goddess Isis. Wear- ing a headdress of horns and the solar disk, Isis is conducting Queen Nefertiri to the tomb. The goddess Isis was one of the sacred trinity of Osiris, Isis, and Horus. Her con- nection with the afterworld was prominent in Egyptian religion. Above the heads of the figures are inscriptions identifying Queen Nefertiri as “The Great Royal Wife, the Lady of the Two Lands, speaking in Truth (Maat).” 14. In the next mural, the young King Amenhotep II is seen on his nurse’s lap. The oval designs containing inscriptions above the child king and his nurse are known as car- touches. They are the personal seals of the king. A servant is arranging flowers, and there is fruit on the table for the young king. This design is from a mural in the tomb of Kenamun, which dates to about 3,500 years ago. 15. And, finally, in the last mural toward the East, on the north wall of our temple, the high priest Userhet is enjoying food in the cool of his garden. Seated next to him is his wife. An attendant is serving them. Of particular significance is the fact that the soul, or Ba, is shown as also partaking of food. The attendant holds the miniature figure that represents the souls of the priest and his wife.

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Rosicrucian Digest No. 2 15 2017 Page 40 Many years ago Rosicrucian author Jay attuned with, the God-princi- R. McCullough wrote of the esoteric signif- ple within us, and through un- icance of the temple. In his essay he wrote: selfish, unknown service to all We come into this physical manifest life we partake of the temple only at infrequent in- harmony which is the essence tervals, but our true being, our of cosmic law. divine self which is an individual All too often the mind segment of the Divine, lives is confused as to the precise constantly within the Sanctuary manner of worship, so in- of the Heart. tent upon the technique that And how shall we worship worship itself is forgotten. in our Temple of the Heart? The true way is simply to en- Perhaps all truly great things are ter the Temple of the Heart, really very simple, and true wor- without thought of begging, ship, divine communion, is a tru- bargaining, coercing, or of be- ly great thing. It is not a pattern ing “puffed up.” Enter as the of ritual, a series of words, or “dewdrop” enters the sea, and an involved set of mechanized then carry that spirit of inner techniques. True worship is the communion and attunement active, effective desire to be su- into every act of daily life, for premely conscious of, and at one worship is not complete with- with, the God of our innermost out unostentatious service and being, and to live harmoniously love. Thus, we may well be on with divine cosmic law. the way toward the attainment Through mystical medita- of Peace Profound within our tion we approach, and become own consciousness.

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