February, 1955 Vol. XXV No. 4 Rosicrucian Forum A private publicatíon for members of AMORC Roland Ehrmann, F.R.C., Inspector General of the Union of South Africa. (See page 76) Page 74 THE ROSICRUCIAN FORUM Greetings! V V V FALSE IDEALISM Dear Fratres and Sor ores: the opposite sex, even though maritally There is considerable fantasy associated bound. Such an interest is physiological, not with the ideas of good and perfect. In the evilly inspired. The moral element enters first place, neither of these notions is abso­ not in attempting to deny such a natural lute; it is relative as to actual or imagined appreciation, but in recognizing one’s moral limitations in our behavior and environ­ obligation not to go beyond the sense of ap­ ment. The acmé of what I desire and con- preciation had. The same may be said of ceive to be pleasurable, either mental or the indulgence of any material or worldly physical, is both good and perfect. It is good thing which brings a healthy satisfaction because it is pleasurable. It is perfect if it and gratification both to the body and mental constitutes a superabundance, a fullness of interests. Without such satisfactions, life be- that goodness. If the good life means one’s comes a state of ennui, a drab monotonous being able to indulge one’s desires, then to existence with a stultification of most of the that person the perfect life would consist of faculties of the mind and without emotional such unrestricted constant indulgence. stimulus. Various theologies have often created an When some individual or thing is repre- impossible existence for mortals on earth be- sentative to us of our concept of the good, cause of their extreme and false idealism. noble or perfect, we are likely to actually They have conceived certain divine conduct, corrupt it in our enthusiasm and misapplied the behavior of the gods, as being transfer- idealism. Instead of applying reason to the able to mortal man. This theocracy or godly object of affection, respect or reverence, we life they imagined was often quite contrary resort to fancy, that is, uncontrolled imagery. to human nature. It was thought to oppose We are inclined to cloak such persons or the natural desires and appetites. This sort institutions in an unnatural behavior, to sur- of godly life often actually vilified the body round them with a kind of conduct or method as a contemptible and evil thing. In the of living that would actually be impossible ñame of divine goodness and perfection, it for them to achieve. Often we draw upon developed a religious asceticism that was fa- the legendary tales of gods, saints and holy natical. Those who were not destroyed by persons, which have descended to us. Some it, either in mind or body, were those who of these traditions are true in part, but most- secretly did not abide by its code and thus ly they are fictitious exaggerations of some were made hypocrites. incident. It must be realized that most of Consequently, though our moráis and these accounts of saints and godly persons ethics in the majority of instances in these are merely word of mouth. To emphasize times can stand repair, it is incumbent upon how these beings transcended the ways of us to be guided by the reasonable necessities most mortals, those who recounted the tales of our natural beings and of society. There carne to exaggerate, in their devotion, the are many things in which men indulge that habits and manner of living of these per- were once thought to be perverse and in- sonages. Many of the tales of the miraculous spired by evil entities. These we now know birth of great Oriental founders of religión —or should—are impulses of our own or- are sincere, but nevertheless unfounded fan- ganic being. They are motivations serving tasies. Psychologically, the desire was to the fundamental laws of life. If kept within remove these religious avatars, as much as certain disciplinary bounds—not repressed— possible, from the usual mortal circumstances they in no way detract from man’s spiritual and elevate them, thus giving them eminence or moral potentialities and attainments. It is in the mind of the worshipper. They could not evil for a man or a woman to admire not, it was believed, be born as other men or the physical attractiveness of a member of die in the same manner. At all times, too, FEBRUARY, 1955 Page 75 they must surmount, by defiance in most and, at the same time, come up to the ex- instances, natural law to which other men pectations of these members. We have, for submit and thus be almost constant per- example, fratres and sorores, who, by their formers of miracles. idealism, seek to transfer a phenomenal, There is also another psychological aspect superhuman memory upon the directors of in connection with these idealistic fantasies. membership correspondence. They will say We only deeply respect, admire—or fear— in a letter—or a personal interview—“You those qualities in another which excel or are will remember the problem I wrote you about extremes of our own character and per- four years ago last August.” Of course, the sonality. Let someone hand you a copy offrater, the Rosicrucian correspondent, will an essay originally written by a renowned frankly admit he cannot recall either the philosopher but which you have not read or letter or the problem. The inquiring mem- heard of previously. Let this person, who ber is chagrined and disillusioned that a di­ may be a neighbor, tell you that he wrote it. rector of correspondence must refer to the You will perhaps read it through; you may files for the matter in question. The fact that think it quite well done and compliment the latter explains that he is obliged to an- him. But you will rarely declare it profound swer dozens of letters, sometimesin one day, and of great philosophical import. On the is not accepted as the plausible explanation other hand, if you read the same material it should be. The idealism, though false, has in a textbook by the philosopher, who is caused the member to anticipate the im- known to you, you would be more deeply possible. impressed. It is because there are associated We speak of class masters in our studies. with the ñame of the philosopher the idea These Rosicrucians are members high in the of authority and the fantasy of exalted wis- degrees of the Order and have an excellent dom which, it is presumed, must transcend comprehension of the teachings. They are the ability of one less well known. not, however, perfect in the sense of the A person may often show little interest erroneous idealism by which they are sur­ in a painting of modern art by some ac- rounded by other members living at a dis- quaintance; he may even be mentally critical tance from Rosicrucian Park. They are not of it. Another painting, no more expressive perfect in the sense of having mastered every in symbolism, draftsmanship or color har- law and principie of the teachings. They mony, shown in a museum and proclaimed make mistakes, they have human weak- the work of a celebrated artist, will gain nesses, they become ill, they still must, and greater respect and sympathetic analysis. do, learn and evolve. These class masters The more one is thought to rise above us in are like all Rosicrucian students and in- any manner, the greater is our silent or ex- quirers into natural and Cosmic law. The pressed tribute to him. only true master or perfect being would be The officers of the Supreme and of the one whose understanding embraced the ab- Grand Lodge of the A.M.O.R.C. and the solute in all its omnipotence and omniscience. executives on our staff are often confronted Our very Rosicrucian teachings instruct us with this false idealism. They become un- that we strive for a greater evolution of these wittingly surrounded with an unnatural halo qualifications. When any consciousness has which neither fits them ñor is becoming. attained Cosmic perfection, its mortal em- The fantasies of some very sincere Rosicru- bodiment is no longer necessary—so why cians regarding their officers make it impos- expect the impossible from our humble but sible for these officers to lead a normal life sincere members of the staff? Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at San José, California, ' under Section 1103 of the U. S. Postal Act of Oct. 3, 1917. The Rosicrucian Forum is Published Six Times a Year (every other month) by the Department of Publication of the Supreme Council of A M O R C , at Rosicrucian Park, San José, California. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE $2.25 (16/1 sterling) ANNUALLY — FOR MEMBERS ONLY Page 76 THE ROSICRUCIAN FORUM We regret to say that this fantasy is so day, customary living, and a devotion to far extended to class masters at times by those principies which are both philosophical some members as to conceive that their class and mystical. Figuratively, these officers and numbers are but a mere exclusive handful. staff executives dwell on two planes, not just A class master is assigned to a section of one. They are here on earth living as intel- the teachings, perhaps one or more of the ligent, morally circumspect persons, loving neophyte degrees, or one or several of the and enjoying life, and yet striving toward higher degrees. This may mean that he is the mystical ideal of Cosmic consciousness.