Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis
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The Rosicrucian Order, Ancient Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis (AMORC) is a worldwide mystical, Rosicrucian, educational, humanitarian and fraternal organization that was founded by Harvey Spencer Lewis in 1915. Membership is open to both men and women of the age of 18 or older. The organization does not endorse or discourage religion, nor does it qualify as a religious movement on its own right.
The name AMORC is an abbreviation for the Latin title Antiquus Mysticusque Ordo Rosæ Crucis. The organization's traditional and authentic Latin name is Antiquus Arcanus Ordo Rosæ Rubæa et Auræa Crucis (AAORRAC), which translates in English to Ancient and Secret Order of the Red Rose and the Golden Cross.
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[edit] Philosophy and Teachings of AMORC
The AMORC holds as part of its traditional history, that one branch of its teachings originated in the so-called mystery schools of Ancient Egypt. These schools were founded in 15th century BCE under the reign of the Egyptian Pharaoh Tuthmosis III. Students at these facilities studied a wide variety of mystical subjects focusing on the 'mysteries' of the Universe. One of the most famous pupils (and one still highly regarded by the AMORC) was the Pharaoh Akhenaten, who is best known for instituting one of the world's first monotheistic belief systems.[citation needed]
Other streams of tradition and teaching come to AMORC from many different areas of the ancient world. Important among its studies are the ideas of the major philosophers, traditional healing techniques, health, intuition, and the psychic consciousness. According to its publication, Mastery of Life, some other topics include:
- Material/Spiritual Alchemy
- Sacred Architecture
- Mystical Sounds
- Breathing Techniques
- Meditation
- Natural, Mystical, and Artificial Symbolism
- The Great Religious Movements
- Ideas of Pythagoras,Thales, Solon, Heraclitus, Democritus, et al.
- The Psychic Body
- The Mystery of Karma
- Reincarnation
- Traditional Rosicrucian healing techniques
[edit] Organization and structure
AMORC is a worldwide organization, established in the United States of America as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) public benefit corporation, with the specific and primary purpose of advancing the knowledge of its history, principles, and teachings for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes. It is financed mainly through fees paid by its members. Income is used by the organization to pay expenses, develop new programs, expand services, and carry out humanitarian work.
Grand Lodges
The organizational headquarters for different jurisdictions of the AMORC are designated as "Grand Lodges." The English-speaking Grand Lodge for the Americas is headquartered in Rosicrucian Park in San Jose, California. All Grand Lodges are governed by The Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC. The Supreme Grand Lodge is responsible for the worldwide coordination of AMORC, the establishment of new administrations, and the appointment of jurisdictions to Grand Lodges, usually based on language. This body consists of the Imperator, Grand Masters, and related executive officers.
Lodges, Chapters, Pronaoi, Atrium Groups
On a local level, members of AMORC often form smaller affiliated groups organized as Lodges, Chapters, Pronaoi, or Atrium Groups. These various titles differ according to the members of each body in regular attendance. Participation in these groups is optional, and participants retain compulsory membership with their respective Grand Lodge. Many of these groups charge additional dues to participants in order to cover expenses such as rent and mailings. Most affiliated bodies of the AMORC periodically offer Open Meetings or Lectures to which the general public is invited and welcome.
[edit] AMORC Leadership
From 1915 to 1990, the leadership of AMORC was entrusted to the Office of Imperator. This Office had a dual function: that of Imperator who was solely responsible for all doctrine and ritual of the Order; and that of Corporate President who sat at the head of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors were responsible for determining all corporate matters related to the organization. When AMORC reorganized in 1990, the dual function of the Office was merged into one position, that of President of the worldwide AMORC organization. However, internally, the President was still referred to by the traditional title of Imperator. In addition to the Imperator, each Grand Lodge has a Grand Master. The title of "Master" does not connotate any type of authority intellectual or otherwise over other members of AMORC and is not intended to imply a master/slave relationship. The term "master" itself most likely derives from the latin term magister, which is also in modern use to denote a graduate level degree in academia.
In 1990 there was a dispute over the leadership of the AMORC, which was then under the leadership of Imperator Gary L. Stewart. This move was prompted by allegations made by a few members of the Board Directors of financial wrongdoing on the part of Stewart. A lawsuit was filed and the subsequent out-of-court settlement in 1993 prompted a severing of any relationship between Stewart and AMORC. Christian Bernard had previously assumed Stewart's office after a vote of the Grand Lodge officers in April, 1990. An installation ritual was held at the then "Supreme Grand Lodge" temple in San Jose, California.
[edit] AMORC and New Organizations
The events of 1990 resulted in the firing of Imperator Stewart and his replacement with Christian Bernard, then Grand Master of France. After his installation, Bernard relocated the Supreme Grand Lodge from San Jose, CA to Quebec, Canada. This move was not welcomed by many American members. Since then several new Rosicrucian Organizations have been started. The "Ancient Rosae Crucis" in Dallas, Texas, led by Ashley McFadden and the Confraternity of the Rose Cross, led by former AMORC Imperator Stewart, which uses the older Spencerian version of the Order's monographs as opposed to the monographs currently used by AMORC. Stewart also founded the Order Militia Crucifera Evangelica, loosely based on the MCE (Militia Crucifera Evangelica) that was originally created by AMORC and the British Martinist Order which is entirely unrelated to the one sponsored by AMORC.
[edit] History
AMORC was founded by Harvey Spencer Lewis in 1915 and was represented by him in FUDOSI, a federation of independent esoteric orders. As is traditional, Lewis claimed (and is generally accepted) to have been regularly initiated into the Rosicrucian tradition in Europe, prior to the founding of AMORC. As part of this association, Lewis ultimately was given charters and authority to found AMORC as a Rosicrucian body in the United States. Beside his many European connections, Dr. H.S. Lewis also had a notable association with Mrs. May Banks-Stacy, one of the last successors to the original colony of Rosicrucians that settled in America during the late 17th century. By the end of the 1920's he was known for being acquainted with most of the then notables of the esoteric world.
The early AMORC headquarters were located in New York City, San Francisco and then Tampa. The headquarters moved to San Jose, California in 1927. Harvey Spencer Lewis died in 1939 and was succeeded in the office of Imperator by his son Ralph Maxwell Lewis who had previously served as Grand Secretary. Gary L. Stewart was appointed to the office of Imperator on the demise of Ralph Maxwell Lewis in 1987. Christian Bernard was elected to the office of Imperator in 1990.
World War II had a devastating impact on the membership of many esoteric groups, which were outlawed under the dictatorship of Adolf Hitler. Leadership figures in particular were frequently arrested, persecuted, or in some cases assassinated by the Gestapo. Still others were known to have died in concentration camps. AMORC, being protected by virtue of being in the United States underwent a dramatic period of growth during this time. After the destruction of the war ended, AMORC was then in a position to lend support to its battered sister organizations. Eventually many of these came to be absorbed under the administration of AMORC's leadership based in San Jose.
[edit] Publications
The AMORC is well known for its many publications, which include a magazine called the Rosicrucian Digest and an online academic periodical called the Rose-Croix Journal. The organization is also a prolific publisher of books which focus on topics such as Metaphysics, Mysticism, and Egyptology.
[edit] Rosicrucian Digest
The Rosicrucian Digest was first published in 1915 under the name Mystic Triangle. Now it is used as both a correspondence tool for members, and as an informational guide to the public.
In the United Kingdom it is named Rosicrucian Beacon and it is published quarterly by the "English speaking jurisdiction for Europe and Africa of the Rosicrucian Order AMORC." Other AMORC jurisdictions have similar publications.
[edit] Rosicrucian Forum
The Rosicrucian Forum is a private publication of Ancient Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis, available only to members, and sent to them via the postal service. At one time it was sent bi-monthly as a members only magazine, but now it is sent with the lessons in a much smaller size every 4 months.
[edit] Rose+Croix Journal
Launched in 2004, AMORC's Rose+Croix Journal is now in its second year of online publication. It is "an international, interdisciplinary, transdisciplinary, peer-reviewed online journal that focuses on topics that relate to the sciences, history, the arts, mysticism, and spirituality, especially interdisciplinary topics and transdisciplinary inquiries that traverse and lie beyond the limits of different fields of study. These topics may relate to any of the arts and sciences and/or to other emerging fields of human endeavor" (from the Rose+Croix Journal's About page). The Journal's Website also has a Resources section with the four Rosicrucian Manifestos, Secret Symbols of the Rosicrucians, Rosicrucian Documents, online editions of the Rosicrucian Digest, etc.
[edit] Mastery of Life
The Mastery of Life is a free introduction to the teachings of AMORC. It deals with many basic philosophical questions from the AMORC Rosicrucian perspective and gives an overview of the Order.
[edit] The Positio Fraternitatis Rosæ Crucis
The public presence of the Rosicrucians in Western Europe was famously made known through the publication of three manifestoes. Continuing this tradition, the AMORC introduced a fourth manifesto, the Positio Fraternitatis Rosæ Crucis at an AMORC convention in Sweden on August, 2001. The Positio offers AMORC's observations on problems in the modern world, along with proposed solutions. The piece is generally perceived as idealistic and written as a so-called Utopian Work, based on a concept first introduced by Sir Thomas More. This idea was later given a Rosicrucian twist in the book New Atlantis, by Sir Francis Bacon. Among the aspirations in the Positio are:
- Politicians are profoundly humanistic and strive to serve the common good;
- Economists manage state finances with discernment and in the interest of all;
- Scientists are spiritualistic and seek their inspiration in the Book of Nature;
- Artists are inspired and express the beauty and purity of the Divine Plan in their works;
- Physicians are motivated by love for their fellow-beings and treat both the soul and the body;
- Misery and poverty have vanished, for everyone has what he needs to live happily;
- Work is not regarded as a chore, but as a source of growth and well-being;
- Nature is considered to be the most beautiful temple of all, and animals are considered to be our brethren on the path of evolution;
- A World Government composed of the leaders of all nations, working in the interest of all humanity, has come into existence.
- Spirituality is an ideal and a way of life which springs forth from a Universal Religion, founded more upon the knowledge of divine laws than upon the belief in God;
- Human relations are founded upon love, friendship, and fraternity, so that the whole world lives in peace and harmony.
[edit] Conferences and Councils
AMORC often organises various conferences around the world, usually restricted only to members, and several councils of experts on various topics.
Rosicrucian World Conventions
In August 2001 the world convention took place in Göteborg, Sweden. The main theme of the convention was world peace and harmony. The convention was of significant importance to Rosicrucian history because Imperator Bernard presented the "Positio Fraternitatis Rosæ Crucis" to inform the public about AMORC's position on the current world situation.
In July 2004 The Rosicrucian World Peace Conference was held in San José, California, USA. Over 2000 Rosicrucians from 70 countries gathered with Imperator Christian Bernard, and North American Grand Master Julie Scott. The Imperator dedicated The Rosicrucian Park's newest institution, the Rosicrucian Peace Garden, designed according to examples from Egypt's 18th Dynasty by the Grand Master of the English Grand Lodge for Australia, New Zealand and Asia, Peter Bindon.
The next World Convention will take place in Berlin, Germany in 2007.
International Research Council
The International Research Council is a group of AMORC members who have expertise in several areas, including physics, biology, philosophy and music. According to the AMORC, the members of the International Research Council dedicate themselves to the advancement of their profession for the benefit of humanity.
Council of Solace
The Council of Solace is a group of Rosicrucians who meditate and pray daily on behalf of others. They offer free 24-hour metaphysical aid to people in need regardless of membership.
[edit] Headquarters
Around the world, each AMORC Grand Lodge has its own headquarters facilities. In North America, the headquarters of the English Grand Lodge for the Americas is The Rosicrucian Park in San José, California, USA, founded in 1927, which includes the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, the 5th Planetarium built in the USA (and the first to have a US-built star projector, made by Dr. Harvey Spencer Lewis himself), the Rosicrucian Peace Garden, Rosicrucian Research Library, Grand Temple, Administration Building, Fountain Plaza and Gardens.
[edit] Radio Programs
Harvey Spencer Lewis had a radio station broadcasting from his office at The Rosicrucian Park. The broadcasting began on February 15, 1928 and was powered by two 30 metre radio towers inside the park.
The radio towers have since been removed, but the AMORC continues to broadcast through the KEEN radio station.
[edit] Criticism
AMORC has become the target of some criticisms.
Conspiracy theorists have attempted to link AMORC, through persons once participant with the group as a possible co-conspirator and beneficiary of funds which vanished as part of the Order of the Solar Temple mass suicide in 1995. Theorists also believe this link ties in with the existence of NATO-organized secret armies in Europe (known as Operation Gladio). Former member of the World Council and former Grand Master of France, Raymond Bernard has refuted these allegations in an interview. When asked "What is the influence of the Secret Service in the traditional movements?," Bernard responded:
- I must be again very clear and categorical in my response on this subject. Never, at any time, has any contact whatsoever has been made with me in order to fulfill a mission of this sort, or that I do anything whatsoever in the service of an unspecified organ of information and, to be even more precise, I affirm clearly that at no time has there been any pressure, official, semi-official, or other request, which could, in any manner, make me suppose that one expected that I accomplish a mission for the information services or official services of any nature whatsoever...To claim otherwise would be an out and out lie, pure fabrication, pure calumny and pure slander!
Other Rosicrucian organizations, such as FUDOFSI and Fraternitas Rosæ Crucis have criticized AMORC's authenticity with the benefit of bolstering their own claims of authenticity.
Gary L. Stewart of the Confraternity of the Rose Cross believes that the nature of the modern AMORC is now different from Harvey Spencer Lewis's legacy. The same view is held by other organizations which started as splinter groups from AMORC after its 1990s corporate reorganization.
AMORC, like many other similar organizations, has been criticized by some Christian groups. The PanHellenic Parents Union has included the AMORC in a list of 422 organizations which considered as incompatible with the Eastern Orthodox tradition by the "7th Panorthodox Conference" of 1995 and its president Metropolite Hieronymus of Theba and Levadia.
Some theologians have tried to classify it as a secret society. For an example, see the ECWA case below.
ECWA
In 1984, the Evangelical Church of West Africa (ECWA) sought to outlaw AMORC in Nigeria. ECWA claimed that AMORC is a secret society and published relevant claims on its publications. AMORC filed a libel suit against ECWA and the Lower Court decided against ECWA and ordered the church to pay one million naira to AMORC in 1988. Then, the ECWA appealed against the court's decision. AMORC appealed to the Supreme Court and ECWA counter-appealed. The Supreme Court dismissed both appeals. In 1999 ECWA filed a new suit against AMORC, requesting from the Registrar General of CAC and the IG of Police to withdraw AMORC's registration certificate and seal its offices in Nigeria. ECWA also requested AMORC to be declared a secret society. The new ECWA's lawsuit was dismissed by the Supreme Court in June 2000.
[edit] See also
- Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
- The Rosicrucian Park in San Jose, CA, USA
- FUDOSI, federation of esoteric orders
- Traditional Martinist Order, Martinist order cooperating with AMORC
- Rosicrucian
- Esotericism
- Mysticism
- Occultism
- Freemasonry
- Martinism
- Secret society
- Spirituality
Other Rosicrucian Groups
- Confraternity of the Rose Cross, founded by Gary L. Stewart
- Mystical Order of the Temple of the Rosy Cross
- Fraternitas Rosae Crucis
- Societas Rosicruciana
[edit] References
- Raymond Bernard - Questions and Answers, (2006). Mysteries of the Tradition. Retrieved on February 14, 2006.
- Mastery of Life, (2006). Rosicrucian Order, AMORC. Retrieved on February 22, 2006.
[edit] External links
- Official AMORC International Web Site Directory
- AMORC English Grand Lodge for the Americas
- Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum
- Rose+Croix Journal
- 2004 World Peace Conference
- Council of Solace
- Read Mastery of Life in English
- Positio Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis (in English)
- Local AMORC Lodges, Chapters, Pronaoi & Atrium Groups in the USA, Canada and the Caribbean
- Traditional Martinist Order history and resources (in French)
- Rosicrucians from the Ross Institute
- Information from Occultopedia
