A M agazine Issued by A u th ority of the Rosicrucian Fraternity and Devoted to Mysticism, Oc cultism and the WelU Being o f Man.

VOLUM E 5 May-June 1932 to May 'June 1941 R. Swinburne Clymcr. Editor

P u b lis h e d b y T h e P h ilo so p h ic a l P u b lish in g C o m p an y B e v e rly H a ll Q u a k e rto w n , P e n n sy lv a n ia

In t r o d u c t o r y
By
J oseph

F.

O lder

The present volume is rich in so-called new truths. The story of The Ansaireth in Syria is particularly interesting because it contains much that is new to many students and also because Dr. Paschal Beverly Randolph, former Supreme Grand M aster of the August Fraternity, lived in Syria for a time, where he was permitted to study the Ansaireth Mys teries which he later brought to America. Under the title of The Secret Schools there is a short de scription of the leading authentic occult schools throughout the centuries. Here the reader is permitted to quickly learn the outstanding characteristics of the teachings offered under a variety of names from the dawn of history to the present time. The Painter and His World is an allegory which imparts really great spiritual truths to the student who is able to read between the lines, recognize the symbolism and find the Law of Life in all its fullness and beauty. I t is rarely that treasured truth like this appears in print. A close study and repeated readings will bring a rich reward in added occult knowledge and the ability to recognize the working of Gods law in the life and experience of every man and woman on the face of the earth. There is another activity which is of vital interest to stu dents of truth and Divine law. I t will find a welcome in the hearts of all fair dealing and truth-loving men and women. P art Two of this volume describes some of the methods used by an organization styling itself as A. M. 0 . R. C. in an effort to discredit the authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity and wrong fully appropriating to its own use not only the name, but also

vi

INTRODUCTORY

the insignia, while having not a single shred of the authentic teachings, which are highly religious and Soulual. On the basis of Divine law, if a man permits another to kill him, then he is guilty of two sins. He commits suicide because he does not defend himself. He also commits the sin of omis sion, because he contributes to the crime of murder, taking part in the murder of himself. This law equally applies to Fraternities. If the authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity permitted another to steal its name and symbols without resisting, its officers would be partners in the theft, committing the sin of omission in not defending itself. In this instance the name and symbols have wrongfully been appropriated. There is also the attem pt to murder the au thentic Fraternity by claiming the fraudulent to be authentic. In bringing the truth before the public the authentic Frater nity is defending its life and property. I t is observing the D i vine Law by protecting itself and its valuable possessions. There is also a report of the manner in which this spurious Rosicrucian organization is selfishly and regardless of personal honor and conscience using its own members and the public libraries throughout the United States in an unethical manner to secure publicity for A. M. O. R. C .by unauthorized insertion of advertising leaflets into the books of public libraries, as also in books on the shelves of book stores. Librarians throughout the nation know that this work is go ing on, yet have not found a law or method by which this obnoxious and disconcerting activity can be stopped. As long ago as about 1933-1934 the writer personally talked to several A. M. 0 . R. C. members who performed this work on request from the California headquarters. In each instance, the members confessed a feeling of guilt, a knowledge of unethical activity, a recognition of an act simi

INTRODUCTORY

vii

lar to that of a sneak-thief, because of the underhanded work. I t was an activity to which the inner Soul rebelled, but per formed dutifully as a submission to the unprincipled orders coming from a man supposed to be a master among men. T hat the work is wrong and against all spiritual laws is proven by the fact that it must be performed in secret, per formed with sly glances to the side to make certain that no one is looking, that the individual is not detected in his or her nefarious work. This, however, is only part of the story. W hat can be the feeling and the reaction of the conscience of those who go to libraries for the sole purpose of stealing books, or taking books out of the library with the intention of never returning them; reporting them lost, and if forced to make amends, pay for the books rather than permit the public to learn the truth about an organization whose first activity consisted in stealing a name and the symbols belonging to an authentic organization? The facts are plainly stated. The proofs cannot be disputed. I t is truth to which the public has a right. I t is the activity of an organization falsely claiming to be Rosicrucian. I t reports a nefarious activity by which the A. M. O. R. C. convicts it self of sailing under false colors. For centuries the Rosicrucian Fraternity has taught the high est spiritual laws available to man and therefore could not and would not stoop to such underhanded methods to advertise it self and to keep truthful knowledge from the public through the use of methods which discredit the organization using them. As life itself is both glorious and painful, positive and nega tive, so this volume brings you much that you will treasure throughout life, and what there is of the negative is reported so th at you may the better recognize t r u t h .

PART TWO
Volume Five

THE CONFEDERATION OR FRATERNITY OF INITIATES

OR La Federation Universelle des Ordres, Societes et Fraternites des Initites

The facts herein stated are not an Accusation, but justified self-defense and the Refutation of false accusations knowingly and deliberately made.

H e w h o p e rm its a w ro n g , w h e n able a n d in p o sitio n to p re v e n t or re fu te it, is as g u ilty as th e one c o m m ittin g i t .

T
he

o sic r u c ia n

aw

he

o n f e d e r a t io n rders

of

In it ia t e O

The Confederation of Initiate Orders is known as La Federation Universelle des Ordres, Societcs et Fraternites des Initites. 1( is the outgrowth of a legitimate desire for closer association on the part of the many and various authentic Occult, Mystic and nonMasonic Initiatory Orders and Fraternities throughout the world. The effort to bring about such an organization was first started in 1904 by Sidney H. Beard, then Grand Master of the Order of the Golden Age 1 and editor of the Herald of the Golden Age. Progress was slow, as no such movement had ever before been attempted. During 1909, the effort so far as it had then progressed, resulted in the formation and Incorpora tion of the Royal Fraternity Association, so named because the leading spirit was a citizen of Great Britain, a monarchy. This Association continued active until 1929, when it was merged with the then organized International Confederation. Until 1908 the only known and active Rosicrucian Organiza tion in the United States was known as the Randolph Founda tion.- Occultists and Mystics with an inclination to research work can readily verify this.- Beginning with the year 1908 several spurious organizations calling themselves Rosicrucian
T h e M a n ife s to issued b y the 111. B ro th e r B eard an d pub lish ed in th e H era ld o f th e G o ld en A ge in th e y e a r 1001 w ill be fo u n d in T he R o sic ru c ia n s; T h e ir T eachings. 2 F o r co m p lete, d o c u m e n ta l in fo rm a tio n see Vols. I a n d I I of the R o sicru cia n F ra te r n ity in A m erica. C lym er.

TH E IN ITIA TES

came into existence. This resulted in much confusion, due to the fact that these new organizations defied the Landmarks of the Ancient Fraternity by advertising their wares. Among the boldest and most persistent of the charlatans a term designating those who establish spurious bodies and organizations without proper or legitimate authority was H. Spencer Lewis, the object of the present sketch. He persistently and consistently accused the Supreme Grand M aster of the original and legitimate Fraternity of all the things of which he himself was guilty, not alone as regards the Rosicrucian F ra ternity in America, but also of the Confederation of Initiates. T hat the facts may be more easily presented we herein re produce two pages from the May, 1939, issue of his publica tion, T h e R o s i c r u c i a n D i g e s t . All the im portant false charges are numbered in the reproduction. Our answers are in the text which follows the reproduction. Necessarily and for want of space, our answers must be brief. However, those de siring more detailed information will find this in the two vol umes: The Rosicrucian Fraternity in America. (1) It is an age-old custom for the thief to run and cry Thief! T h i e f ! in order to throw pursuers off the track and this is most applicable in the present instance. Please bear in mind that up to the year 1908 no organization existed in the United States which used the name Rosy Cross, Brother hood of the Rosy Cross, Rosicrucian or any other Rosicru cian name,3 except the Randolph Foundation. It was n o t
In 1934, M r. L ew is, d r u n k w ith p o w er because he h a d been able to b u ild a p o w e rfu l o rg a n iz a tio n w ith o u t an y a u th o r ity w h a te v e r, a t te m p te d to legitim atize his clandestine o rg a n iz a tio n b y an effo rt to re g ister th e n am e in th e S ta te of P e n n sy lv a n ia an d a t th e sam e tim e p ro v e th a t th e R a n d o lp h F o u n d a tio n , ac tiv e as it h a d b een in th e U n ite d S tates fo r m o re th a n sev en ty -fiv e y ears, h a d no r ig h t to th e nam e. H e w as ig n o b ly d efeated in th is a tte m p t; his n am es w ere refu sed re g istra tio n , w hile all of th e title s a n d n am es of th e R a n d o lp h F o u n d a tio n w ere reg-

AND TH E PEOPLE P. U. D. O. S. I. Reports Growth Of Affiliated Orders

m y s t e r y s c h o o l s -to d a g $ * ji& * S ? c m t m o v e m e n t s , w h o -w e re p re se rv in g o f fin - s a g e s o f i h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c w jg a n o n d in r o a d s i o t a t * r e a lm o f fa y z h tijm ^ s r r tQ M e t a p h y s i c s b e i n g m a d e i w c h a i l a t a n s . / k r tfn o u s g r o u p s c lo t h e d th e m s e lv e s V ith tw m e s % a n d r if l e s w h ic h s i m u l a t e d . o r w e r e i d e n t i c a l t o . th o s e o f t h e h o n o r a b l e a n d a u t h e n t i c o r d e r s . y f T 'h e y f a b r i c a t e d s i m i l a r , o r a p p r o p r i a t e d in t h e i r e n t i r e t y , s y u v * h o l s t o v /h iv i; t h e y h a d n o t i g h t l e g a l o r m o r a l.,. T h e t e a c h i n g s w h ic h th e s e d e c e p t i v e g r o u p s d i s

to r ia n s . a n d th o se w h o w e r e M a s t e r s o f I n c u n a b u la e x a m i n e d a il d o c u m e n t s p r e s e n t e d b y th e r e s p e c t iv e o r g a n i z a t io n s - o ffic e rs . f h e e v e n t u a l li s t o f t h e a l l i e d ' o r g a n i z a t i o n s w a s : O r d r e d e la R o s e - C r o ix U n iv e r s ita ir e ; O r d r e d e la ' \ M 0 1 v (.: O r d r e O c c u h ts te d e H e r m e s T r i s m e g i s t u s ; O r d r e M a r t im - :t e ; C o n f r a t e r n ite d e s F r e r e s Illu m in e s d e i.i R o - . e - C r o t x ; O r d r e d e s S a m a r i t a i n s I n e o n n u s ; O r d r e K a b b a h s - a q u e d e la R o s e - C r o ix : S o c ie t e A lc h e m iq tu h a m e ; l .a R o s e - C r o ix In te rie u r e c t I n v is ib le : 1 P o lriii e s : O r d r e N a t i o n a l d e s D r u i d c s ;; C la ir r t in o t c d e lla I t a h a : S o c . I t a l i a n o d i P s ic h io lo q ia :! C o n a B r u d e r sc h a f t: F g lh w Q n o sttq u e U n iv c r s e lle f a n d O r d r e B ia h m a n iq ite R u ss e .

U R IN G

t h e l a s t t h r e e d e c a d e s i h e j m t f e t s o |j$ f > e

T h e F e d e r a t i o n a d o p t e d th e n a m e , c o n s i s t e n t w it h s e m i n a t e d w e r e m a i n l y g a r b l e d , p e r s o n a l l i d e a s w h i c h ' v ' i t s p u r p o s e , o f F e d e r a tio n U n iv c rse lle d e s O r d r e s w e r e o f t e n e x t r e m e l y h a r m f u l t o tlie s t u d e n t a u d c i S < K 1<C<::-: b .M t t a t i q u e s .'' t h e i n i t i a l s o f w h i c h g i v e U 8 w it h o u t fo u n d a t io n in f a c t . fth e a b b r e v i a t ' d f o r m o f " F . U . P . O . S . I . " A s e a r l y a s 1 9 0 S , ^ 5 T S n g k 4 t j o u r n a l i s t . i q Z u r i c h . S w i t z e r l a n d , s e n t a b u lle tin to fifte e n o r m o r e o c c u lt a n d m y s t ic a l o r d e r s o f th e w o r ld , in v itin g th e m to p a r t i c i p a t e in a C o n g r e s s f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f f o r m m g a n a l lie d o r g a n i z a t io n to p r o t e c t th e tr u t h s w h ic h , t h e y r e p r e s e n t e d . F i n a l l y in 1 9 2 1 1 9 2 7 . a n d 1 9 .il. i t s u ff i c e s to s a y th a t th e .* A . M . O . R . C . . w it h i t s lo d g e s a n d 1 r w a s th e o n h f o r g a n i z a t i o n / N o r t h a r i d S o u t h A m e r i c a , u s i n g t h e n a m e " K o s ic r m . t a n ." w h ic h w a s a c c e p t e d in t o th e 'f id e r n lio n , m d th is b e c a u s e o f it s d o c u m e n t s o f

o g n i t i o n b y a n d a f filia t io n w it h th e a u t h o r i z e d O r d e r t h r o u g h o u t th e w o r ld , T h e r e u p o n t h e F c d c r v a r io u s N a tio n a l a n d In te rn a tio n a l C o n g r e s s e s w e r e a tto tv : t h e A . M . O . R . C . c h a r t e r s a n d d o c t i h e l d in E u r o p e , a n d w a y s a n d m e a n s o f b r in g i n g a F e d e r a t i o n in t o a c o m p le t e a n d p e r f e c t r e a l iz a t i o n ^ - ' m e n o .y jf fu r t h e r le c o g n it io n s i g n e d b y th e e le c t e d w e r e a d a p t e d . P u r i . n a - t h e s n m t n e r r j f O m e e i s t f t h e F . U . 1) . O . S . 1. a n d l e a d e r s o f i t s a l lie d b o d ie s . / V * T T S 5 . / 9 W l 7"'"'fh T re w a s h e l d t h e u l t i m a t e N s I / 1 \ 1 \ \ I "i o rg a n isa tio n m e e t in g o f th e in t e r n a tio u a l F e d e r a tio n . T h e C o n g r e s s w a s ji e } j jn B r u s s e l s . B e l g i u m , d u r i n g t h e T h e F e d e r a t io n r e p o r t s g r o w th , a n d th a t th e o r d e r s o f w h i c h if i:: c o m p r i s e d h a v e , t o a g r e a t m e a s u r e , b e e n a b l e to s t e m th e r is i n g t id e o f c la n d e s t in is m . a n d f u r t h e r th a t th e y a r c a c t iv e l y c o o p e r a t i n g w it h A . M . O . !v. t l i r o u g h o u t t h e w o r l d in i t s c a m p a i g n .

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w e e k o f A u g u s t M - 1 8 . O n lif th o s e o r g a n i z a t i o n s w i t h a n e s t a b l i s h e d re-c o r d e d , r e c o g n iz e d h is t o r ic a l b u c k / grou n d , an d w h ic h h a d i n i t i a t i o n s / ^ w h ic h h a d t o C o s m i c a n d s p M & t m , u n fo ld m en t w e re in c lu d e d + ( $ p e c ia l c o m m it te e s : c o m p o s e d o f ju r i s t s > h is

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p rem e S r c w .ti v o f A . M. O . R. ' -ipp*--*' - th ird frotr. Icfi in from .

I'v.i W iu.-H J.m i, O ftie ia l V tiito rin n <A $fC R w ir n u i.ii ! O r d e r J-'iu . "f M )} . O . ,V J." T>-.Icj;.hc, a n d m w d i s f o f dr ifcljpvm ,V i..a / I n ' :< le n t lii v o r v < *>>.. in p a rf , o f O r ; I j tvit u t.li hv "l> .* : h t d i r m u i i:i->nnhij> w h ic h r i s V K .w r i tilt: ::nd :\>r >>h!' riv* o f E g y p t.

TH E IN ITIA TES

International Secretary Warns Against FALSE Rosicrucian Confederation

H E N th e.organ isation of the F . U . D . O . S . I. w a s com pleted, an d m any o rgan ization s w ere righ tly rejected, or not ad m itted ecau se their q u a l -b ifications sh o w ed them to have no h istorical or legal background com m ensurate with the title s and n am es jthey assum ed 'th ese organ ization s set-a b o u t to try jto d isq u alify not on ly the a g e-o ld and h onorable societies of, w hich the "E. U . D . O . S. J." w a s co m . p osed . but to d efam e its officers a s w e ll. In oth er Kvords. not h avin g a n y stan din g or recogn ition them s e lv e s , or a n y docu m en tary proof th ereof, th ese jspurious m ovem en ts found it n ecessary to try a n d idiscredit the " p . U . D . O . S . J T h e first an d m ost ch ildish claim , and o n e very, prom inently ad van ced b y a small s e lf-s ty le d Ros^

T h e R oH krucinn T e c n p lc in S o c c a K a , J v , W e th crh jjjd * I Jn d ic , j-. ty p ic a l o f A . M .O . R . C T e m p le s th r o u g h o u t th e ' w o rld , w hich a r e u n ifo r m in arr a n g e m e n t. s ig n ify in g a u n ity o f u r g a n h a iio n o f A . M . O . R , C in e v e ry ju r is d ic tio n .

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j_ T h e facts arc th at n early 20 0 p erson s w e r e actu ally in atten dan ce at the C o n g re ss at B ru ssels, B elgium ,

wi its arhurs. ! h ese d ocu m en ts ace n o w in tn c archives o f A . M . O . R . C . an d th e re sp e ctiv e ord ers.

* w f o n t t ' M bv Aosc ptociit. a ttesujj

N e s tM h e lead er o f th is paritcu lar p seu d o R osicru cian group^iwho w a s strivin g so hard to give h is recognized b o d y re cogn ition, and w h o assu m es for differen t m ood s a n d p u rposes d ifferent title s and n am es, en d eavored to b elittle the ch aracter and em in en ce, o f th e officers o f th e E. U . D . C>. S . I . S u ch a ctivities, h ow ever, w e re a ls o ab surd and th e ch a rg e s e a s ily proven false.

N O W th e p rotagon ist o f th is p seu d o R osicrucian fin din g it im p ossib le to d eter th e a ctiv itie s o f IX D . O . S. I ," an d h avin g the u rgen t n eed CONvSE1L INT!;RNATiONAL c claim s to E uropean au th ority a n d fon n d ai a recent trip to P aris o rg a n ised w h at he w t . v riu A w c c - m o m : n htbtrnational Confederation of thv R oxkru i tjsiocrcei. i!>q: % a recen t letter, th e origin al o f w h ich is in , ft , w itfc & >> ou r this illu sion ist w rites, in part, o f h is a c t iv e iliir Wallejf a t jtftttj (bttiiWitfc, liu- mill} m w w fjw S . w vecinjiif liie a w i / n t V r*u rv .H o et W ^n ry u H an * pn-M iualiuj ties w lu fe o n a sh o rt v isit to E n g la n d a n d F ran ce: tW tru e of, t& Svi-U*a } W ; a u& "I h ave ju st returned from E urope \yherc a m eetin g jBi'iltfi Jltr.ii-MMJ.ii.ii'u ilnV JS itrv , w nfJtw *1 o f the In ternation al C on fed eration w a s held in P aris, rt iikr-H e& t/ti & SiM & M fla&r *,. ? a tries?*. L . ^ r d .a |jclj;s.4 i^ 3 ^ d 4 iX J ^ m any E urop ean O i-gantea tions." On the oi /1 rr~ lu t/T d ^H Q 7 o n ^i^^ the Im p erator o f E urope, an d Era ter Jean M a m n g e r, an iOtMmi, lv."Wh.ww :,ifovU-w&^tntr. A vp cot o f th e B elgian C ou rt and S ecr eta r y o f the *< * ? *r.M itu ***:,iditt/.-.Fijv+f'nef,u.* . T - JX 1). O . S . 1. , w r ite the Im perator o f A . M . O . R. C . o f this Jurisdiction, th rough the C orresp on din g s'S e cre ta r y o f Erancc. th at ofB c/ally th ey have n o k n o w le d g e o f a n y such International Confederation of the Rosicrucian.'.. o r o f its m eeting in P aris, or its purported sign in g o f A rticles, h i e sse n c e , h ow ever, th ey state that jf su ch a meeting' w a s h old it w a s clandestine, and a n y articles w h ich th o se a tten d in g T h e sig n e d a n d denied M nnifvnuv im w d hv th e F . U . D . O . ad op ted an d sig n e d h ave n o more le g a l w e ig h t w ith S . I .' d e c la r in g d>e A . M . O . R . C . to be " t h e o n ly .w tlinrizv d th e R osicr u c ia n :. O r d e r th rou gh out the w o r ld than s ec to r o f th e A n c iejjt F ra te r n ity o f R o -tim ic ia h s 'p c rp ^ tu atiiiff' the mere blank paper upon w h ich th ey w ere w ritten . th e tr u e tr a d itio n s o f th e R . C . in N o rth an d S m ith A m t ric.i. A w arning is given to b ew a r e o f .-inch fraudulent I he fu H -i;d onum.-ii o f de M atiifejito i* avnilaW c fo r inspveto n b y a n y m fin h c r at a n y o l th e A M O R C C o n v e n tio n s. documents and unrecognised Rosicntckm conclaves,.

'J rtUttX. O iiMftU r U * fU T X

AND TH E PEOPLE
u n t il

1915 that Mr. Lewis organized his clandestine, spurious and illegitimate 1 organization, and it will be readily under stood that the terms Charlatan, Spurious, and Fabri cated rightfully belong to him who makes these charges, ac cusing another for his own sins. (2) The symbols used up to 1921 by the Rosicrucian activi ties of the Randolph Foundation were those which had adorned the books, documents and lessons of the Fraternity since its foundation in America beginning with 18S6. No change had been made in them because they were the recognized and au thentic symbolic representations not only of the Grand Mas ters, but also of the era of the Fraternity and of the Great Work under these Grand Masters. It was Mr. Lewis who fab ricated a wholly new, unknown, non-symbolic design for the emblem of his A. M. O. R. C.3 It was only after the passing of the Supreme Grand Master, Edward H. Brown, and his Coun cil of Three th at Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer, as the succeeding Supreme Grand Master of the entire Fraternity began the use of the insignia of his own House,0 while also, according to Rosi crucian Landmarks and usage, he continued the use of the symbolism of the Randolph Foundation. (3) Contrary in every respect and detail to this accusation, the Randolph Foundation in all its activities has not used in
iste re d b y th e S e cretary of th e C o m m o n w ea lth . F o r a com plete h isto ry o f th is a tte m p t a t gross u su rp a tio n , F acsim iles of certificates of re g istra tio n , see V olum e O ne, T h e R osicrucian F ra te rn ity in A m erica. ' T h e use of these te rm s m a y suggest an a tte m p t to b esm ear th e c h a r a c te r of th e perso n u n d e r discussion. T h is is n o t so. T h e te rm s desig n a te d p ro p e rly a p p ly to asso ciatio n s, fra te rn itie s a n d o rg an izatio n s o p er a tin g w ith o u t bona fide a u th o r ity . O u r w hole a tte m p t will be to sta te p la in , re a d ily p ro v e n fa c ts fo r w hich th ere is d o c u m e n ta ry evidence open to legally a u th o riz e d in v estig ato rs. 5 See b o th V olum es O ne a n d T w o of T h e R osicrucian F ra te rn ity in A m e ric a f o r fu lly illu stra te d p ro o f of th e facts. See R a v a le tte , th e R osicrucian S to r y , pages 47-54, pu b lish ed a f te r the w o rld m e e tin g in P a ris of th e U n iv ersal C o n fed eratio n .

10

TH E IN ITIA TES

structions that were either garbled, personal or contrary to the Landmarks of the Fraternitas Rosce Cruris. No change what soever, except the editing to modern phraseology, had been made since the foundation of the Fraternitas Rosa; Cruris in 1614. Such instructions as had been added in an effort to sim plify or make easier the Great Work were plainly so marked in order that error or misunderstanding would be impossible. On the contrary, Mr. Lewis has been guilty of appropriating the greater part of certain rare or out-of-print occult books and issuing this information as lessons belonging to A. M. O. R. C. The proof of this fact is open to all who desire to in vestigate.7 (4) This is both truth and falsehood. By using the date 1908, Mr. Lewis apparently implies that because he in later years claimed his organization had its beginning in 1908 he was also associated with such a movement. Both implications are false. It is true that an attem pt was made in Europe to form a world-wide organization; not by an English journalist, but by an English editor and we are happy to be able to name him. He was Sidney H. Beard, Editor of the Herald, oj the Golden Af e; not in the year 1908, but in 1904, shortly after he issued Ihe Manifesto which first appeared in his magazine The 11era'd of the Golden Age. Formation of an Association of Orders and Fraternities was accomplished in America in 1909. (5) Mr. Lewis and his satellites d:d hold a meeting in Brus sels in 1934, but he was just five years late in the, to use his own words, Spuriou(s) group(s) clothe(d) themselves with names and titles which simulated, or were identical to, those of the honorable and authentic order(s), because in 1929 the members of the Randolph Foundation of Orders, Temples,
7 C o m p lete re p ro d u c tio n s of b o o k s a n d lessons w ill be f o u n d in V ol um e T w o of T h e R o sicru cia n F ra te r n ity in A m erica.

] V lT >

0 r) 9 J

C om m onw ealth of P ennsylvania D ep artm en t of S tate

OFFICE of the SECRETARY of the COMMONWEALTH

Harrisburg,
P e n n s y lv a n ia , ss:

_ .6. 1939_______
th is

I DO HEREBY CERTIFY, T h a t a o a r e f u l s e a r c h o f t h e r e c o r d s i n o ffic e d isclo se s th e

CONFEDERATION OR FHATRHITY OF IN ITI AT ES " Ju ly 24, 19T:9, i n c o m p l i a n c e w i t h t h e

(not in c o rp o ra te d )

reg istered

r e q u i r e r i e n t s o f An - ^c t o f t h e G e n e r a l A s s e m b l y o f t h e Co mm on we alt h o f P en n sy lv an ia e n t i t l e d t e c t i o n of nam es, orders, title s fAn A c t t o p r o v i d e f o r t h e r e g i s t r a t i o n or desig n a tio n s of asso c ia tio n s, and p r o

so cie tie s,

fo u n d atio n s,

fed era tio n s,

o r g a n i z a t i o n s an d c o r p o r a t i o n s 1 6 t h d a y o f May A. D . 1 9 23

o f th e f i r s t

o l a s s approved th e

IN TEST I MON Y WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hari'l and caused the seal of the Secretary's Office to be affixed, the day and year above written.

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Societies and Fraternities, had formed an International Or ganization and Registered in the State oj Pennsylvania, the title C o n f e d e r a t i o n o r F r a t e r n i t y o f I n i t i a t e s , i.e., I he International Confederation: La Federation Universelle des Ordres, Societes et Fraternities, and it is readily apparent that his Federation Universelle des Ordres et Societies Initiatigues is a gross fabrication of the worst kind and he stands guilty of the very thing for which he accuses R. Swinburne Clymer, Supreme Grand Master of the authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity. (6) This statement is wholly contrary to the truth as veri fied by investigation. Practically all of the organizations named were spurious and organized for the express purpose of forming an organization for which even the name was appro priated. The proof of this statement will be offered as we proceed. The Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose-C.roix is one of the oldest of Rosicrucian Organizations in France, the Or dre Martiniste has a most fair record, the Supreme Grand Master of both is F r a . . Chevillon, who openly denounced Mr. Lewis and his clandestine activities." (7) The manner in which these charters and documents were manufactured would be unbelievable were actual proofs lacking. Mr. Lewis fails to mention that the F. U. D. O. S. I. did not have as its foundation even a fraudulent Rosicrucian organization, but was launched on a hastily constituted M a sonic Rite of Mizraim and Memphis, and with the help of a Co-Masonic body.9 In many of the European countries the Rite of Memphis, if Legitimately constituted, is recognized as legitimate. Here in America, Masonry does not so recognize the Rite and classes it as clandestine, illegal and fraudulent. The authority used in
See F acsim ile of certificatio n or re g istra tio n herein. See V o lum e T w o , T h e R osicrucian F r a te r n ity in A m erica fo r r e p r o d u ced d o c u m e n ta ry p ro o fs of these sta te m e n ts.

An d

the

peo ple

13

the formation of the F. U. D. O. S. L was not that of a legiti mate European Rite, but, as stated, of a hastily formed clan destine Rite which had no foundation in fact and never was recognized by any of the European Masonic bodies.10 (8) Mr. Lewis, throughout his career of fabrication and self-clothing, as he terms it, has been consistent in his claims that the Headquarters of the authentic Randolph Foundation were located on a farm in Pennsylvania. Undoubtedly thou sands of people at one period of his activities did believe that these Headquarters consisted of an old farm house and a barn. Since the publication of The Rosicrucian Fraternity in Amer ica with photographs of many of the buildings, he no longer finds it so easy to mislead others in this respect; but despite this he continues to publish and republish this falsehood. (9) This is another falsehood. We never made the claim that such a meeting had not been held in Brussels, but we did claim, and we still claim, that it was wholly clandestine; with out any legitimate authority; was not Rosicrucian in charac ter; that it was based on the fabricated authority of a pseudoMasonic fraudulent Rite of Memphis which itself had no exist ence and equally clandestine Co-Masonic bodies, and that it was, and still is, the fabrication of one man who also was re sponsible for the documents and their manufacture and their use at that meeting. Moreover, as already stated, the name was only a slight variation of the one registered in the United States five years before and filed in every country in the world under Copyright treaty.1 1 (10) Despite the fact that with all his influence in certain quarters, all his financial power, Mr. Lewis could not succeed
10 See V o lum e T w o , T h e R o sicru cia n F ra te rn ity in A m erica fo r re p ro d u c tio n of d o c u m e n ta ry p ro o fs of these sta te m e n ts. 1 See V o lu m es O ne an d T w o of T h e R osicrucian F ra te rn ity in A m erica 1 a n d C e rtific a te of re g istra tio n re p ro d u c e d th erein .

14

TH E IN ITIA TES

in obtaining recognition for the name of his organization in the State of Pennsylvania, and that regardless of his efforts to the contrary, the names and insignia of the Randolph Foundation were recognized and registered.11 However, ignoring these facts, Mr. Lewis continues, five years later, to dub the Ran dolph Foundation as pseudo-Rosicrucian. Published records and documents, however, leave no doubt regarding the real ownership of the name and insignia. (11) The meeting of the International Confederation in Paris, France, is history. There is nothing secret, mysterious or hidden. The signatories to the Confederation are of men and Orders still active. Unlike the F. U. D. O. S. I., the Grand Master of the authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity could not boast of the friendship of M ussolini1 and those high in power in 2 Germany, as did Mr. Lewis. P art of its Fama was published in the Congressional Record 1 for all to read and may be had 3 by all who are interested. (12) Evidently, as with the Nazarene, there are also traitors in our organization. The letter mentioned by Mr. Lewis was released only to Acolytes and Neophytes of the Fraternity and apparently one of these is a friend of our critic. Such a thing, though regrettable, is something unavoidable in an age which considers money as a god. (13) It would have been much better had Mr. Lewis re frained from naming Hieronymus. The name does not add luster to any movement, as all will readily understand who will give a little study to the said gentlemans history.11 This Hieronymus is referred to as the Imperator of Europe. There could be no such office or Officer for the reason that Mr.
See R a v a le tte , T h e R osicrucian S to r y , pages 27-31. 1 C ongressional R eco rd , M a y 29, 1939; Vol. 84, N o . 106, p age 8917. 3 See T h e R osicrucian F ra te r n ity in A m erica.

AND TH E PEOPLE

IS

Lewis and A. M. O. R. C. never had even a shred of legitimate authority. It is also a fact that no one could have conferred authority upon him to establish the Rose Cross anywhere in Europe for the one good reason that long before Mr. Lewis became active, the Fraternity had been established in every country in Europe, and it is a Rosicrucian Law, as it is a Masonic Law, that wherever the Fraternity is active, no other Order of the same or similar name may attempt to function.

art

wo

The extraordinary efforts which Mr. Lewis is willing to make in order to bolster up his clandestine 1'. U. D. 0 . S. 1. and in his attem pt to destroy the legitimate organization (International Confederation) whose name he usurped is further indicated by the letter herein reproduced, which he mailed to all Grand Secretaries of Grand Lodges throughout the United States and other countries, de spite the fact that he had been refused any further Rights of Masonry in America after having received the first degree. On his return home from Europe in 1939, R. Swinburne Clymer, Supreme Grand M aster of the authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity, at once proceeded to prepare for issue in ancient form the Second Fama Fraternitas of the Fraternitas Rosa; Crucis, the first having been prepared and issued by the F ra ternity in 1614. Publication of this Second Fama was com pleted in July of the same year. The printed and bound cop ies, together with a letter bearing the date of August 2, 1932, were forwarded to the Grand Secretary of every Grand Lodge of Masonry throughout the world. Evidently one of these forwarded the Fama and the accom panying letter to A. M. 0 . R. C., because shortly thereafter, on September 18, 1939, A. M. O. R. C. issued and mailed a letter to the Grand Secretaries, as herein reproduced with comments. (1) In the opening paragraph Mr. Lewis is true to form in that he refers to our operating a Rosicrucian Organization on a farm. This statement has been made so often that its un truthfulness has been well established; first, because almost all of those vitally interested have visited headquarters, and, sec-

AND TH E PEOPLE

17

T H E R O SIC R U C IA N ORDER
K n o w n as " T H E A N C I E N T , M Y S T I C O R D E R R O S A E C R U C I S " th ro u g h o u t the w orld

SUPREME TEMPLE FOR N O R TH A N D S O U T H AM ER IC A

ROSICRUCIAN PARK SAN JOSE. CALIFORNIA. U .S .A .

S eptem ber 18 , 1939

G ran d Lodge # F . & A. M . D e a r G rand S e c r e t a r y : You h a v e a l r e a d y r e c e i v e d , o r u n d o u b t e d l y w i l l r e c e i v e , S * f r o m o n e , R. S w i n b u r n e C ly m e r who p u r p o r t s t o c o n d u c t o r o p e r a t e a n a u t h e n t i c R o s i c r u c i a n O r g a n i z a t i o n from a far m ^ in P e n n s y l v a n i a a m onograph t i t l e d ; " Th e S e c o n d Fama F r a t e r n i t a s F o r a New Age B e g i n n i n g I n Th e T w e n t i e t h C e n t u r y , " It I s accom panied by a l e t t e r b e a rin g the t i t l e :

"La F e d e r a t i o n A n l v e r s e l l e d e e O r d e r s , S o cle tes e t F ra te frrite s des I n it io s ." Th e o b j e c t o f t h i s m o n o g r a p h a n d l e t t e r a p p e a r s t o Im p l y t h a t h e , o r h i s R o s i c r u c i a n movement, i s a s s o c i a t e d w i t h a c o n f e d e r a tio n o f reco g n ized , e s ta b lis h e d p h ilo s o p h ic a l, o c c u lt, m y stical and I n i t i a t o r y O r d e r s i n E u ro p e , t h u s g i v i n g h i m s e l f an a u t h e n t i c background. P le a s e b e a d v i s e d , how ever, t h a t th e r e - h a s been such / F e d e r a t i o n i n E u ro p e e x i s t i n g f o r a g r e a t number o f y e a r s . / a n d a c t i v e a t t h e p r e s e n t t i m e , known a s t h e "FUDOSI" ( F e d e r a l ; t i o n U n iv e rs e lle des O rdres e t S o c le te s I n l t l a t l q u e s ) / T h i s F e d e r a t i o n th e a u t h e n t i c re c o g n i z e d body r e f u s e d t o / a c c e n t i n t o i t s m e m b e r s h i p M r. C ly m e r o r h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n , ^ a s h e h a d , a n d h a s , no R o s i c r u c i a n c o n n e c tio n s o r b ackground re c o g n iz e d b y th e m a s h a v i n g m e r i t . T h i s O r g a n i z a t i o n Th e A . M . O . R . C . w h ic h i s w o r l d w i d e , i s , h o w e v e r , o n e o f t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n s o f t h e "FUDOSI"; c o n s e q u e n t l y M r . C l y m e r a t f i r s t b e g a n a t i r a d e a g a i n s t t h e " F U D 0 8I ", c l a i m i n g i t f a l s e , o f no c o n s e q u e n c e , a n d o f no i m p o r t a n c e . N ot s u c c e e d in g by t h a t m ethod, i n th e l i t e r a t u r e w hich he d i s t r i b u t e d to Masons and o t h e r s , h e th e n l a s t s p r i n g w e n t t o

ROSICRUCIAN PARK

THE IN STITU TIO N BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION

18
Page 2

T H E IN ITIA TE S

E u ro p e . T h ere h e c l a i m s he m et w ith t h i s unknown c o n f e d e r a t i o n and s ig n e d many im p o r ta n t a r t i c l e s an d d o c u m e n ts, a p p a r e n t l y to g i v e h i m s e l f an E u ro p e a n R o s i c r u c i a n b a c k g r o u n d . A c tu a lly , h o w e v e r, th e "FUDOSI" th e r e c o g n iz e d and e s t a b l i s h e d l e a e r a t i o n d e c l a r e s in o f f i c i a l d o c u m e n ts and In c o r r e s p o n d e n c e , w hich we h a v e , t h a t th e c o n f e d e r a t i o n w h ich Mr. C lym er now c la im s he I s a p a r t o f , an d from w hich he c l a i m s to h av e r e c e iv e d a r t i c l e s , i s unknown to them , and i f i t d o e s h av e an e x i s t e n c e an y a r t i c l e s w hich t h o s e a t t e n d i n g a d o p t e d and s i g n e d h av e no more l e g a l w e ig h t w it h th e t r u e R o s i c r u c i a n O rd e r th a n th e mere b la n k p a p e r upon w hich th e y w ere w r i t t e n . T h is mono g r a p h , t h e r e f o r e , w h ich Mr. C lym er a l r e a d y h a s , o r w i l l , se n d t o you i s o b v i o u s l y in te n d e d t o I m p r e s s M a so n ic G ran d L o d g e s w ith th e a u t h o r i t y and b a c k g ro u n d o f h i s o r g a n i z a t i o n , b a s e d upon t h i s p u r p o r t e d c o n f e d e r a t i o n in E u ro p e . T h is com m unica t i o n I s In te n d e d t o a d v i s e you t h a t su c h a c o n f e d e r a t i o n a s Mr. Clym er exp ou n d s h a s no l e g a l s t a t u s and no s t a n d i n g w ith th e "F U D O S I"i and th e r e c o g n iz e d h o n o r a b le f r a t e r n i t i e s o f E u ro p e w hich a t e i t s members
~He t a k e t h i s o p p o r t u n i t y o f a t t a c h i n g h e r e w it h an i s s u e o f o u r m on thly p u b l i c a t i o n o f l a s t May. In t h e c e n t e r s u p p l e ment you w i l l s e e an a r t i o l e o f w a r n in g in w h ich i t i s p r e d i c t e d t h a t Mr. Clym er w ould a t te m p t to e s t a b l i s h o r c la im some su c h c o n f e d e r a t i o n a s he h a s , an d w hich w ould h av e a te n d e n cy to l e a d p e r s o n s t o b e l i e v e h i s O r g a n iz a t io n h ad r e c o g n i t i o n b y th e h o n o r a b le f r a t e r n i t i e s a b r o a d .

SUPREME SECRETARY

CAP:MR_l

ond, those not able to visit headquarters have requested and received literature showing the actual photographs of the build ings at the Quakertown, Pa., headquarters. (2) Probably the greatest and most vicious falsehood of which Mr. Lewis, A. M. O. R. C., and all those associated with him have ever been guilty is implied in this statement. From the very beginning of Mr. Lewiss activities the true Fraternity

AND TH E PEOPLE

19

has repeatedly pointed out the impossibility of Mr. Lewis ever having obtained authority to establish a Rosicrucian body in America from anjr authentic organization anywhere on earth, because the Landmarks of the Fraternity forbid even the at tem pt to do such a thing wherever the Order exists. If A. M. O. R. C. or anyone connected therewith can pro duce any letter, request or statement that the Supreme Grand M aster or any other person officially connected with the au thentic organizationthe Randolph Foundationrequested affiliation, membership in, or recognition by A. M. 0 . R. C. or F. U. D. O. S. I., the Supreme Grand Master of the true Rosi crucian Fraternity will deliver to A. M. O. R. C. all the au thority he possesses, as also all property belonging to the F ra ternity. The statement made in this letter is utterly and maliciously false. (3) This certainly is true. As already mentioned, The In ternational Confederation of Initiates and Initiate Orders is non-Masonic, and has no connection whatever with Masonry, while F. U. D. O. S. I. was based on the self-organized Rite of M izraim and M em phis1 and Co-Masonic bodies wholly taboo by American Masonry. The Confederation cannot have stand ing with such a clandestine body, has never requested it, and has consistently pointed out its illegitimacy. (4) The signatures to the Fama disprove this accusation and on the contrary show that in Europe, Central and South America every legitimate Rosicrucian organization is a member of the Confederation. The entire letter implies that both our letter to the Grand
1 A c o m p le te h isto ry , w ith d o cu m en ts show ing th e w hole p lan an d m e th o d of fa b ric a tio n of b o th th e clandestine R ite of M iz raim a n d M e m p h is, th e A ssociation of C o -M a so n ry (fem ale M a so n ry ) an d th e fin al o rg a n iz a tio n of F . U . D . O. S. I. b y these o rg an izatio n s is given in V o lu m e T w o , T h e R o sicru cia n F r a te r n ity in A m erica, pages 235-280.

20

T H E IN ITIA TES

Secretaries and the Fama have been more or less a tirade against A. M. O. R. C. and F. U. D. O. S. I. To disprove this we reproduce herewith the letter of August 2, 1939. This will show that neither was mentioned in any manner whatever and that the letter itself was a dignified communication between Brother and Brother.

AND TH E PEOPLE

21

i, a Iu i K i R j m o r t n n i v e R s e i i J i e

Aes OROReS,SOCI0P0S 5* FBITOlfflfdB des 1011108

' A P r iv a te a t\d /lu t l\o r a t i\le C o rr\n \V ir\icatio r\F ron\ ll\e (} rai\d E a s t a r \d S o V ir c e o /a l l R p sic ru c i& i\L ic |l\t

li/ lL Iv

quaKertovJry.Pa.

A u g u s t 2 , 1939 D r .E .A r tu r o A lardo Grand S e c r e t a r y S a i n t Dominque D ear S i r and B r o th e r : I t i s my f i r m b e l i e f , b a s e d on e x p e r i e n c e c o v e r i n g more t h a n t h i r t y y e a r s , t h a t i n a l l f r a t e r n a l a f f a i r s , w h e t h e r M a s o n i c o r o t h e r w i s e , Masons a s w e l l a s t h e p u b l i c g e n e r a l l y h a v e a n a b i d i n g f a i t h t h a t t h e S e c r e t a r y o f a Gr and M as on ic bo dy i s i n t o u c h w i t h an d c a p a b l e o f s u p p l y i n g i n f o r m a t i o n n o t o p e n t o t h e g e n e r a l p u b l i c a n d o b t a i n a b l e fr o m no o t h e r s o u r c e . F o r t h i s r e a s o n , a n d b e c a u s e we know t h a t many Masons a r e s e e k i n g r e l i a b l e a n d a u t h e n t i c i n f o r m a t i o n on e s o t e r i c s u b j e c t s , t h i s p r a n d Body ( n o n - M a s o n i c ) t h r o u g h me, i s f o r w a r d i n g t o y o u u n d e r s e p a r a t e c o v e r , a Mo nograph j u s t i s s u e d an d d e a l in g w i t h t h e R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y and a l l i e d b o d ie s a c t i v e u n d e r t h e name o f t h e U n i v e r s a l F e d e r a t i o n o f O r d e r s , S o c i e t i e s and F r a t e r n i t i e s o f I n i t i a t i o n . I r e q u e s t your k in d indulgence a n d a s k t h a t yo u g i v e t h i s p u b l i c a t i o n c a r e f u l r e a d i n g an d t h e n f i l e i t f o r f u t u r e r e f e r e n c e i n o r d e r t h a t s h o u l d y ou be a p p e a l e d t o f o r i n f o r m a t i o n o n t h e s e s u b j e c t s y ou may r e f e r t o i t . The o r g a n i z a t i o n s w h i c h f o r m t h e m e m b er s h ip o f t h i s C o n f e d e r a t i o n a l l w or k u n d e r a u t h e n t i c a u t h o r i t y a n d c o m p e t e n t ju ris d ic tio n . I n no i n s t a n c e i s t h e r e a n y c l a i m t o M as o n ic c o n n e c t i o n i n a s f a r a s t n e R o s i c r u c i a n s an d t h e i r a c t i v i t i e s are concerned. T h i s i s made c l e a r i n t h e M on og rap h. T hanking you m ost s i n c e r e l y f o r y o u r k in d c o n s i d e r a t i o n . F ratern ally Su preme G ra nd Maste; La F e d e r a t i o n U n i v e r s e l l e <res O r d r e s . S o cie tes e t F r a te r n ite s des I n i t i e s

R . S . C . G .C .

c_

art

hree

During February, March and April of 1941, Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer, Supreme Grand M aster of the International Confederation of Initiate Orders, visited the countries of South America to induct formally the authentic established Rosicrucian Organizations into full membership into the Confederation, all of which is part of the published history of the Confederation. A full re port can be found in the Revised Second Fama. Shortly after Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer returned from Eu rope, Mr. Lewis, in his June, 1941, issue of Rosicrucian Digest, published another of his utterly misleading articles under the heading of AMORC Is Imitated Again. This one and onehalf page article is herewith reproduced so that no one can be accused of misquoting. Our notes and comments follow. (1) This is almost an exact copy of the statement in the first article and was fully answered. (2) We request that the reader carefully note and bear in mind throughout the study of this article that Mr. Lewis, as Imperator, here italicized the phrase The First public declara tion, etc. This appeared in the November, 1934, issue of I he Rosicrucian Digest. Next refer to the reproduction of the certificate of registration of the Confederation or Fraternity of Initiates which was made in 1929, f i v e y e a r s b e f o r e the f a b r ic a t io n of F. U. D. O. S. I. As previously stated, this name was thereafter registered in every country of the Copyright treaty. Since the certificate of the Confederation of Initiates was registered five years before F. U. D. O. S. I.

AND T H E PEOPLE

23

AMORC Is Imitated Again

B E W A R E O F T H E S E M IS L E A D IN G A C T IV IT IE S
By T h e Im p erato r
i n g i t s q u a r te r s o n a fa r m in E a s t e r n U n i t e d S t a t e s w e n t to P a r i s , a n d u p o n h is r e tu r n , s t a t e d t h a t h e h a d p a r tic i p a t e d in th e f o r m a tio n o f w h a t h e s t y l e d intern a tio n a l fe d a n international co nfederation o f R o sieration o f a r c a n e , crucians. S u b s e q u e n t c o r r e s p o n d e n c e in itia t iq u e , a n d w h i c h w e h a d w i t h th e E u r o p e a n R o s i m y s t ic a l O rd ers c r u c ia n d ig n it a r ie s o f th e R o s e - C r o i x a n d s o c ie t ie s h a v a n d o ff ic e r s o f t h e F . U . D . O . S . I., i n g au th e n tic h i s c o p i e s o f w h ic h a r e n o w in o u r file s , to r y , a n d w h i c h b r o u g h t fo r th th e s t a t e m e n t fr o m th em b e a r s th e title t h a t i f s u c h a c o n f e d e r a t io n w a s fo r m e d F e d e r a tio n U n i in 1 9 3 9 , it h a d n o c o n n c c t io n w i t h th e v e r s e lle d e s O rd a u t h e n t i c f e d e r a t io n , o r F . U . D . O . S . I. r e s e t S o c i e t e s I n it ia t iq u e s , t h e i n it ia ls a n d w a s n o t a p p r o v e d b y th e a r c a n e s o o f w h i c h q iv e u s t h e a b b r e v i a t e d fo r m c i e t i e s , a n d c o n s e q u e n t l y in e v e r y r e s p e c t m u s t b e c l a n d e s t i n e . T h i s th e n o f F . U . D . O . S . I. T h e p la n fo r t h is w as D IS C O V E R Y N U M B E R O N E . fe d e r a tio n w a s c o n c e iv e d , a s w e h a v e D IS C O V E R Y N U M B E R T W O e x p l a i n e d a t o t h e r ti m e s , in 1 9 0 8 . P r e w a s th a t th is in d iv id u a l h a s s i n c e fo r m li m i n a r y c o n g r e s s e s w e r e h e ld in E u r o p e in t h e y e a r s 1 9 2 1 , 1 9 2 7 , a n d 1 9 3 1 . D u r 2 e d o r h a d fo r m e d , o r p a r t ic ip a t e d in th e i n g t h e s u m m e r o f 1 9 3 4 , th e u lt im a t e o r - " f o r m a t i o n o f a n o r g a n i z a t i o n w h ic h h e g a n iz a t i o n m e e t i n g w a s h e l d in B r u s tbr-ms U n i v e r s a l F e d e r a t i o n o f I n it ia s e ls , B e lg iu m . D r . H . S p e n c e r L e w is, tiq u e ^ O tt^ e r s , F r a t e r n it ie s , a n d S o c i e t i e s . H e r e N j i e n , is a d a r i n g a n d m o s t th e n I m p er a to r o f A M O R C , r e p r e s e n t fla g r a n t c o p y i n ^ > q o t o n ly in s p ir it b u t e d t h e o n l y A m e r i c a n R o s ic r u c ia n s o a l m o s t in id e n t ic a l w O T tk ^ a n d title , o f c ie t y o r O r d e r a t th e c o n c la v e . O n ly t h e o r ig in a l F . U . D . O . S T T r ^ T h c o b s u c h m y s t ic a l, p h i l o s o p h i c a l , a n d o c c u l t v i o u s s i m i l a r i t y c o u ld o n l y b e in t e n d e d o r g a n iz a tio n s w h ic h had e s ta b lis h e d s t o r ic a l b a c k g r o u n d s w e r e in v it e d a n d V t o c a u s e c o n f u s i o n . I t is , o f c o u r s e , a ^ i perriTrHccTto a f f il i a t e w i t h th e f e d- e r a t i o n / k in d o f fla tt e r y , th is im it a t io n , b u t o n e th a t n o o n e e v e r w e lc o m e s * - * // firstirjublic declaration in A m e r i V E R Y R o s ic r u c ia n m e m b er o f A M O R C i s q u ite w e ll a w a r e o f th a t

The Rosicrucian Digest June

1941

5 ta b lis h m e n t o f t h e f e d e r a tio n a n d it s n a m e a n d in i t i a l s . F . U . D . O . x S . I ., w a s m a d e in t h e N o v e m b e r , 1 9 3 4 jK s s u e o f T h e R o s i c r u c ia n D i g e s t . F I V E Y E A R S L A T E R , in f a c t in th e S p r in g o f 1 9 3 9 , t h e p r o t a g o n i s t o f a p u r p o r t e d s m a ll R o s i c r u c ia n g r o u p h a v -

D IS C O V E R Y N U M B E R T H R E E , w h i c h k n o w l e d g e h a s b e e n in o u r p o s s e s s i o n n o w f o r s e v e r a l w e e k s , is t h a t in M a r c h o f t h is y e a r , t h is s e l f - s t y l e d G r a n d M a s t e r o f a p u r p o r te d R o s ic r u c ia n F r a t e r n i t y v i s it e d s e v e r a l c o u n tr ie s o f S o u t h A m e r ic a , p r i n c i p a l l y C h ile .

[ 190]

24

T H E IN ITIA TES

w here th e publisher of an astrological fuse the several tho u sa n d S panishalm anac an d other literatu re h as becom e t 's p e a k in g A M O R C m em bers in C e n tral his deputy. T h is dep u ty has issued a n ^ an d S outh A m erica. T h is, then, is ju st is circulating w hat is claim ed to ^b e a an o th er attem p t a t copying A M O R C second Fam a F raternitatis. / ^ n o t h e r activity. am azing fact is th at actually a second W e take this o p p o rtu n ity an d this F a m a w a s p r e v i o u s l y i s s u e d b y is our purpose in bringing this to your A M O R C , in other w ords, in Septem ber, attention to w arn th a t unless the 1930, under the a u th o rity of the late initials A . M . O . R. C . are found in an y D r. H . Spencer Lewis, as Im perator, in litera tu re o r announcem ents issued as association w i t h t h e R ose-C roix of R osicrucian o r pu rp o rtin g to com e from E urope. So consequently, eleven years a federation of R osicrucian o r arcan e after A M O R C this p rotagonist trails m etaphysical societies, th a t such have along in his im itative style. no connection w ith the International H is deputy in Chile h as also en C ongress of the R osicrucian O rd e r, and velopes w hich b ear the stam ped phrase, are n o t recognized b y the E uro p ean F ratern id ad R osa-C ruz en la Am erica " F ed eratio n or the F . U . D . O. S. I. R e ^ m em ber, then, the initials A . M . del S u r, literally translated, m eanij are the key to th e auth en ticitv ^ 5 r the Rosicrucian F ra te rn ity in South ca. Since A M O R C has fo r^ e ^ rs , under literature, advertisem ents, A^mnouncethe authority an d c h a f ^ f o f the Rose- m ents, booklets, o r pam phlets w hich Croix of EuropejriSeen assigned the ju r m ay come to y o u r atten tio n . isdiction of South Am erica for extend P erh ap s those w ho im itate th a t w hich ing the authentic Rosicrucian activities, A M O R C h as created or rep re sen ts or this sudden issuance of literature pur has p ut into effect for years, a re u n porting to come from a Rosicrucian aw are of the maxim, " H e w h o copies is F ra tern ity of South Am erica m ight con limited to the m ind of a n o th e r.il.

was organized, it refutes every possible claim made by the Imperator regarding the true International organization. The Imperator then proceeds in his usual fashion of telling about a small Rosicrucian (here he correctly calls the group Rosicrucian ) group on a small farm in Eastern Pennsylvania, which requires no further refutation as the falsity of the charges can readily be disproved by anyone visiting head quarters. (3) For once in his colorful life the Im perator speaks the truth, but the truth is exactly the opposite of the implication. Ihere is a flagrant copying, both of spirit and words and titles, but it was F. U. D. 0 . S. I. and n o t The International Confederation which did the copying. I t is they who are the imitators.

AND T H E PEOPLE

25

(4) Admittedly, imitation is the highest kind of flattery, but when it is imitation of things most sacred, of things which deal with the Soul, the highest in man, and which leads to de basement and loss of faith by sincere seekers, it becomes crimi nal and without justification. (5) This so-called Second Fama issued by A. M. 0 . R. C. is fully discredited in The Rosicrucian Fraternity in America. (6) As in America, A. M. O. R. C. did establish in a num ber of South American countries branches of its clandestine organization, despite the fact that the Rose Cross had been established there for many years by Crum Heller and continued active. According to the Ancient Landmarks no Rosicrucian organization, even if legitimate, may establish itself in any country where the Order already exists. Therefore, any Lodges or activities which A. M. O. R. C. established are without rights and necessarily clandestine. For the information of the Imperator and all connected with A . M. O. R . C ., let it be emphatically stated that Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer, Supreme Grand Master of the authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity, d i d n o t g o t o S o u t h A m e r i c a t o
e s t a b l is h th e

R ,

o sy

C ro ss

in

any

country

w here

the

but to induct into the Confederation such Or ders as had previously been legitimately established and con tinued active. The Confederation is for the purpose of associating, for one common purpose, all authentic organizations engaged in eso teric or spiritual work into one harmonious whole; not pri marily to establish the Rose Cross. However, where no legiti mate Rosicrucian organization exists, all possible aid is given to the establishment of such a Fraternity. This was done in Chile. (7) This one word Advertisement is the key to the entire
O rder
e x is t e d

26

T H E IN ITIA TES

situation. The authentic, legitimate Rosicrucian Fraternity, as is Masonry, is forever and completely forbidden to advertise. Its Ancient Landmarks prohibit it now, have always prohibited it in the past. By their advertising shall ye know them. (8) We agree with the Imperator and for that reason A. M. O. R. C. never offered Soul teachings to its followers except those which were first prepared, produced or issued by the authentic Fraternity, the Fraternitas Rosa: Crucis.

HITLERISM IN AMERICA
cS JS a IU V

Books Removed From Public Libraries to Be Destroyed by Selfish Interests

A L

id e s p r e a d

m p o s it io n

on

ib r a r ia n s

hroughout

A m e r ic a

ti'SlU SV Public Libraries, Without Permission of Librarians, Deliberately Used as Publicity Agencies for Promotion of Fraudulent Clandestine Organization

TH E IN ITIA TES

it l e r ism

in

m e r ic a

Hitlers destruction oj books which in any way interfered with his regime is repeated in free, democratic America. When the people of America were informed, through newspapers, magazines and public speak ers, of the destruction of books by the arch-ego tist Hitler, they stood aghast; condemnation of this act was universal, and rightly so. The good people of a free democracy could not conceive of the possibility of such a thing taking place here in America, yet within a very short time thereafter it actually did take place, as we shall show. T o digress for a moment, the volume of which this report forms a part, together with the reproduced documents and other direct information, prove beyond a doubt that an organi zation variously known as T h e R o s i c r u c i a n s , The Brother hood of the Rosy Cross, T h e T e m p l e o f t h e R o s y C r o s s , T h e O r d e r o f t h e R o s i c r u c i a n s and other appellations, has existed and been active in America since 1774, and that by their own writings, prominent men, men active in science and literature, professed affiliation and were active in its interest. Furthermore, these official publications show that, like M a sonry, but one such organization is legitimately permitted to exist in any one country. Any other organization attempting to establish itself under the same or similar title is classified under the law as clandestine, illegitimate and fraudulent. No such attem pt had been made by any organization until about 1909. Then in 1915,1 one H. Spencer Lewis felt that the
1 F o r c o m p le te in fo rm a tio n a n d re p ro d u c tio n of original d o cu m en ts a n d p u b lic a tio n s, see T h e R o sicru cia n F ra te rn ity in A m erica.

30

T H E IN ITIA TES

time was propitious for such a move and without right or au thentic authority organized such a clandestine body. The authentic Fraternity, generally known as The Randolph Foundation, was well known in all Occult circles because thou sands of books dealing with the Rosicrucians had been written and published by Randolph, Hotchkiss, Dowd, Tyner, Street, Clymer and others and, as was natural, many letters were re ceived by the Supreme Grand M aster inquiring whether the Lewis organization, known as the A. M. O. R. C., was legiti mate. To all these we gave a frank and honest reply. Our reaction did not please Mr. Lewis and in order to justify and defend himself he began to villify us and defame the authen tic organization. Previous to these public attacks upon us, one Thor Kiimalehto, a henchman and coworker with Lewis, wrote us the fol lowing letter on an A. M. O. R. C. letterhead: The Philosophical Publishing Co., Allentown, Pa. Gentlemen: The pamphlet, The Divine Spark, was placed in my hands and although it did not tell me personally anything more than I previously knew, I want to express my sin cere appreciation of the clearness of expression, its abso lute truthfulness (italics ours) and its concise form. I take it this comes from the pen of Clymer, and I want to convey to him the message that R X C is being estab" N o te th e sta te m e n t Is being estab lish ed . A p ro o f th a t th is c la n d estin e o rg an izatio n w as th e n o n ly in fo rm a tio n . T h o r K iim a le h to w as th e chosen an d au th o rized se c re ta ry a n d his s ta te m e n t m u st be acce p te d as fa c t. M r. L ew is later trie d to sh o w t h a t he b egan o p e ra tio n in 1908. t h i s le tte r effectively d isp ro v es h is claim . T h e le tte r w as w ritte n on J a n u a r y 25, 1916.

AND TH E PEOPLE

31

lished 2 here in the U. S., and Lodges will be formed 3 all over the country the old and true Order. We need lit erature and welcome 1 such as Clymer and I am in a position to sell books and pamphlets to members. You may send me your catalog and wholesale prices. Yours
T
hor

iim a l e h t o

RXC. We answered this A. M. O. R. C. letter as follows on Janu ary 28, 1916. January 28, 1916 Thor Kiimalehto Brooklyn, N. Y. D ear Sir: Your letter has been received and noted. Pleased to learn that you like the booklet so well. At noon I mailed you two booklets, one of these marked, and I now call your attention to a few facts: 1st. Do you know that the Rose Cross was founded in America more than 60 years ago; that continually since th at time booklets, books, and MSS. have been issued by the Order? 2nd. Do you know that it has been working ever since; th at it has members throughout the United States, many
3 T h is s ta te m e n t is p o sitiv e t h a t lodges w ill be fo rm e d n o t t h a t h a v e b e e n f o e m e d all o v e r th e c o u n try , a f t e r th e d a te on w hich th e le tte r w as w r itte n , n a m e ly , J a n u a r y 25, 1016. 1 L a te r L e w is a tte m p te d to m a k e h is fo llo w ers believe th a t I h a d a t te m p te d to b eco m e a m em b er, associate m yself w ith th em , etc. T h is e ffe ctiv e ly p ro v e s t h a t m y c o -o p e ra tio n h a d been req u ested . M y re a c tio n w ill be n o te d in th e a n s w e r to th is le tte r w ritte n to m e b y th e se c re ta ry of th e th e n fo rm in g A. M . O. R . C.

they

32

T H E IN ITIA TES of whom are teachers, lawyers, physicians, statesmen, etc.? 3rd. Are you aware of the fact that but one Order of a given name can (may) exist in this country? T hat we (for instance) have no right to go to another country where the R. X. exists, and that no second Order can be founded here for the very good reason that such would not be Rosicrucian, would not possess Rosicrucian teach ings, and would possess no authority, being fraudulent on the face of it. I call your attention to these facts, as the knowledge may save you a great deal of trouble in the future. We hold the original Charter for this country. Our Lodges have been open, our Convocations attended by the mem bers, and, as is natural, these members come to us for con firmation as to whether an R. X. Lodge is under our Charter or is fraudulent. You are late in conveying any message to me, seeing that the original Charter has been in my hands since 1895, that the original papers are in my possession, that I have organized two Convocations and that I have taught many personally. I certainly wish you success in any good work that you may do, but why not, if you are an Occultist, be sincere and, if you evolve a system of teaching, give it a name oj its own? I have the honor to be Very truly yours, R.
Sw
in b u r n e

lym er

Master of the Order.5 In Duplicate. Second copy for attorney.

AND TH E PEOPLE

33

In order to justify himself Mr. Lewis attacked us from time to time, but it was not until 1932 that Mr. Lewis went to the extreme length in attempting to connect us with what he called a conspiracy to ruin his organization through the activity of M r. George L. Smith, a former A. M. 0 . R. C. member. The fact that we did not know Mr. Smith at the time the action began was a clear indication to us showing the extent to which Mr. Lewis would go in an effort to secure recognition for his fraudulent organization. It effectively warned us that the time had come to fully protect ourselves and the Fraternity from the machinations of those who had unlawfully usurped its name. Having connections with every authentic Initiatory organi zation in Europe, we placed into their hands the detailed in formation of what was taking place and requested that they furnish us with the original documents disproving practically every charge and every claim Mr. Lewis had ever made against us, and at the same time prove all our charges against him. W h i l e w e w e r e c o l l e c t i n g t h i s e v i d e n c e , Mr. L e w i s i s s u e d h i s b o o k l e t Audi Alteram Partem, i.e., H e a r t h e O t h e r S i d e . We
th e n m a d e th is th e b a s is fo r t h e tw o -v o lu m e w o rk : T
c r u c ia n h e

o s i

r a t e r n it y

in

Am

e r ic a .

T h is w o rk w a s c o m p le te d L e t th e

in

1938

and

c o p ie s

o ffe re d

to

th e p u b lic lib ra rie s .

re a d e r b e a r in m in d t h a t it w a s lis h e d and

Mr.

L e w is w h o t i t l e d , p u b
ear the

e x te n s iv e ly c ir c u la te d h is H

O t h e r S id e

b o o k le t a n d p la c e d i t in to th e lib ra rie s . lib ra rie s , b e c a u s e

w e b e l ie v e s id e s , the

We

d id n o t p r o t e s t to
have the r ig h t ,

peo ple

and sh o u ld h ea r bo th

b u t w h en o u r an sw er a p p e a re d ,

Mr.

L e w is f a c e d a b o u t a n d b e c a m e a s e c o n d H i t l e r in h is a c

tiv ity to d e s tro y b o o k s. T h ese le tte r s a n d o th e rs p u b lish ed in T h e R o s e C r o s s O r d e r are in th e A rch iv es of th e F r a te r n ity a n d open to inspection to a n y au th o rized official of th e G o v e rn m e n t.

34

TH E IN ITIA TES
A lm o s t im m e d ia te ly a f te r th e v o lu m e s o f T
h e

o s ic r u c ia n

r a t e r n it y

in

A m e r ic a

had

been

a c c e p te d

by

lib ra rie s ,
and

A. M. O. R. C.
d e s t r u c t io n

b e c a m e s u p e r a c t i v e in t h e
t h e se bo ok s.

s u p p r e s s io n

of

T h e firs t in tim a tio n w e h a d o f

th is w a s th e r e c e ip t o f th e le t t e r f ro m o n e o f th e lib r a r ia n s to

Mr. R a l p h Lewis h a d m a i l e d i t . On receiving this letter, issued and circulated over the sig nature of Mr. Ralph Lewis, we at once wrote to this librarian, asking him if he would kindly give us an expression of his reaction. This he did and we herewith reproduce it. Names of library and librarian are withheld, as it is not our desire to embarrass any innocent person, but this letter, like everything reproduced herein, is in the Archives of the Fraternity and open to inspection to any person properly authorized.
w hom

AND TH E PEOPLE

35
F e b . 24, 1638.

D r. R. Sw inburne C lym er, B e v e rly H a l l , Q uakertcm n, P a . Aa you a sk in y o u r l e t t e r o f th e 22nd f o r a n e x p r e s s i o n o f o p i n io n onth m a t e r i a l w hich I fo rw ard ed to y o u , I s h a l l s e t down h e re some th o u g h ts t h a t have o c c u rre d to me i n t h i s c o n n e c tio n . 1 . As a l o g i c a l p r e lim in a r y to any a c t i o n , a l i b r a r i a n sh o u ld make a c a r e f u l s tu d y o f the two volumes o f y o u r w ork; "The R o slc fru o ia n F r a t e r n i t y i n A m erio a," and such an e x a m in a tio n would amply r e f u t e th e claim s made i n th e l e t t e r to l i b r a r i a n s . 2 . I t i s n o t o n ly a n i n s u l t to th e i n t e l l i g e n c e o f l i b r a r i a n s t o a tte m p t t o ooeroe them i n to s u p p re s s in g y o u r b o o k s, b u t su c h an a c t i o n i s d i r e c t l y opposed t o th e A m erican p r i n c i p l e o f freedom o f sp eeo h , a s w e ll a s b e in g m o st u n w o rth y o f a n o r g a n iz a t i o n c la im in g t o be th e tr u e R o a ic r u o ia n o r d e r , w hich i s founded upon b ro th e rh o o d , o h a r i t y and to le r a n o e ^ 3 . I d o u b t w h e th e r a l i b r a r i a n , once h a v in g a co e p te d and c a ta lo g u e d y o u r books f o r th e f r e e u se o f t h e p u b lio , h a s a n y r i g h t t o remove th e n from c i r c u l a t i o n o e r t a i n l y I sh o u ld n o t d a re make su c h a n a tt e m p t . 4 . Though l i b r a r i a n s , a s a o l a s s , may n o t be f a m i l ia r w ith o c c u l t la w s , o r d in a r y o b s e r v a tio n and e x p e rie n c e should o r e a t e s u s p ic i o n o f a s o - c a l l e d R o s io ru c ia n F r a t e r n i t y whose l i t e r a t u r e so o b v io u s ly p l a c e s th e em phasis upon form , w ith i t a taw d ry i m i t a t i o n s o f th e g ra n d e u r o f Thebes a n d K am ak, i t s p a in t e d h i e r o g l y p h i o a , and i t s pompous " I m p e r a to r ." 8 . I n a w o rld o f sham and p r e te n o e , t h i s i s o n ly a p a r t o f t h e g r.e a t c o n f l i c t t h a t i s on betw een shadow and s u b a t a n o e ; r e a l and c o u n t e r f e i t . , Aa P a t a n j a l i sa y s i n hiB T oga S u t r a s : "W here th e r e is l i g h t , th e r e i s a l s o sh a d o w ... th a b a s t a r d v e s tu r e and th e b a s ta r d powers o f psychism a re e a s i l y a t t a i n e d ; y e t , eVen when a t t a i n e d , th e y a r e a d e lu s i o n , and th e v e r y e sse n ce of u n r e a l i t y . " I b e li e v e t h a t th e above w i l l d e a r l y d e f in e my p o s i t i o n , ftnd I a s s u r e y o u , D r. Clym er, o f my f u l l m o ral su p p o rt aa w e l l a s n y d e s i r e t o a id you o th e rw is e i n e v e ry way i n my power* S in o e r e ly y o u rs , My d e a r D r. Clym er:

36

TH E IN ITIA TES

Again calling attention to the fact that M r. Lewis had issued and widely circulated his H e a r t h e O t h e r S t d e , to which T h e R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y i n A m e r i c a was the answer, and we here reproduce the letter issued, after copies of these books had been placed in such libraries where the librarians had ex pressed a willingness to receive them. Let it be repeated that we made no effort whatever to keep his booklet out of any library or from being circulated in the mail. We were perfectly willing that the American people should be the judge. Our an swers to the charges made will follow the reproduction.

AND TH E PEOPLE
A M

37

T H E R O SIC R U C IA N ORDER
K n o w n 01 " T H E A N C I E N T , M Y S T I C O R D E R R 0 5 A E C R U C I S " th rou g h o u t ih e w orld

SUPREME TEMPLE FOR N O R T H A N D S O U T H AM ER IC A

ROSICRUCIAN PARK SAN JOSE. CALIFORNIA. U .S .A .

F e b r u a r y 1 2 , 1 93 8

Chief L i b r a r i a n P u b lic L i b r a r y
R espected L i b r a r i a n :

W b e l i e v e t h a t we a r e J u s t i f i e d in assuming t h a t your connection s e w ith t h e p u b l i c l i b r a r y of your c i t y w arra nt our b rin g in g before your a t t e n t i o n a r a t h e r s e r i o u s m a t t e r . A Reuben Swinburne Clymer, of Quakertown, Pennsy lvania , o f f e r s to s h ip to p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s two volumes of a book w r i t t e n by h im self, hoping t h a t they w i l l be used f o r g e n e r a l r e f e r e n c e and p o s s ib ly general c ir c u la tio n . These books a r e e n t i t l e d , The Rosicr ucian F r a t e r n i t y i n America. They a r e l a r g e , bulky books, and from the t i t l e g iv e n above, which a p pears stamped on the back of the books, and from t h e i r s i z e , they would ap p e a r to be i n s t r u c t i v e , educa t i o n a l , and h i s t o r i c a l i n v alue and of b e n e f i t to r e s e a r c h workers and th o se se a r c h in g f o r f a c t s i n connection w ith p h i l o s o p h i c a l and e d u c a t i o n a l movements o f the Middle Ages and the p r e s e n t time. / But we a r e f i l i n g t h e fo llo w in g p r o t e s t with you on the b a s i s t h a t t h e s e ^TW volumes by Mr. Clymer a r e n e i t h e r h i s t o r i c a l re c o r d s, nor o e d u c a t i o n a l , i n s t r u c t i v e , nor of v alu e to any r e s e a r c h worker, I n a s much as th ey c o n s t i t u t e wholly and s o l e l y an a t t a c k upon the Rosl-r c r u c i a n Order in America and in Europe.-A The R osicrucian Order ' th ro ug h ou t t h e w o rld , known as AMORC, has been in e x i s te n c e f o r ^ many c e n t u r i e s and has had a s p o t l e s s r e p u t a t i o n ^ i t is' a reco g n ized and d e f i n i t e f r a t e r n i t y , f r e e from p o l i t i c a l , s o c i a l , r e lig io u s , or other d e s tru c tiv e or c r i t i c a l a ttitu d e s . W re fe r e you to t h e F o u r t e e n t h E d it i o n o f t h e Encyclopedia B r l t a n n l c a under the s u b j e c t o f R o s l c r u c l a n l s m , W ebster1s New I n t e r n a t i o n a l Dic t i o n a r y (Un abrid ged), th e New S tandar d En cy clop ed ia, and many o ther e n c y c lo p e d ia s and d i c t i o n a r i e s which give a t r u e and a c c u r a t e h i s to r y of t h e R o s i c r u c i a n Order known as AM ORC. (See the enclosed b o o k l e t e n t i t l e d , " R e c o g n i t i o n . " ) 3 This man Clymer h as been i s s u i n g pamphlets and b o o k l e t s a t t a c k i n g ^ the R o s i c r u c i a n Order f o r n e a r l y twenty y e a r s ,/a n 3 ~ a number~"Sf~his a t t a c k s have r each ed v a r i o u s c o u r t s in C a l i f o r n i a , in c lu d in g the F ed eral C ourt and S u p e r i o r Cou rts. He has even been mentioned by us in a s u i t f o r l i b e l and a d e c i s i o n render ed by a S u p erio r Court i n which he was s p e c i f i c a l l y named as one of the c o n s p i r a t o r s , and

ROSICRUCIAN PARK

THE IN S TITU TIO N BEHIND THE ORGANIZATION

38

TH E IN ITIA TES

Chief L ib r a r i a n 2

February

1 2 , 1938

t h e d e c i s i o n f o r b a d e h i s c o n t i n u i n g t o i s s u e h i s M r a r r l l u s pamph i l e t s and l i b e l o u s m a t t e r p e r t a i n i n g t o AMORC. ^ a v o l d m a l l s I n c a r r y i n g on h i s s c u r r i l o u s cam p aig n, n e h a s p r i n t e d x n eae two l a r g e volumes and i s s h i p p i n g them by e x p r e s s t o p u b l i c l y b r a r i e s w i t h t h e hope t h a t t h e l i b r a r i e s w i l l a c c e p t t t j e m - ' i p m p u t them i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n o r i n t h e r e f e r e n c e r o o m s . ^ r c h a s p l a c e a a t i t l e on t h e back o f t h e s e books t h a t t e n d s t o make t h e l i b r a r i a n s b e lie v e they c o n s t it u t e a h i s t o r y o f th e R o s ic ru c ia n F r a t e r n i t y i n Amer ica. Even a c a s u a l e x a m i n a t i o n o f t h e t i t l e p a g e s ox e second volume of t h e s e books p l a i n l y r e v e a l s t h a t i t i s an a t t a c K and an expose and a c r i t i c i s m . Over n i n e t y p e r c e n t o f t h e m a t t e r c o n t a i n e d i n t h e s e volumes i s n o t o n l y d e s t r u c t i v e and h i g h l y U f O I t g l T x b u t so a b s o l u t e l y f a l s e a n d a b s u r d a s t o b e th o r o u g h ly ^ m i l a i S T i f c r A In f a c t , ev e r y one o f t h e f a l s e c h a r g e s w hich he nu^.es i n t h e s e books h a s a l r e a d y been r e v i e w e d by t h e f o l l o w i n g d e p a r ments o f t h e s t a t e and c o u n t r y : The U n i t e d S t a t e s P o s t O f f i c e d e p a r t m e n t , t h e D epartm ent o f J u s t i c e , t h e I n t e r n a l Revenue D e p a r t ment, t h e F e d e r a l Trade Commission, t h e F e d e r a 3^ _ C o u t _ o f _ _ C d i j ^ r n i a ^ . and v a r i o u s S u p e r i o r C o u r ts o f C a l i f o r n i a . c a s e , p a r t m e n t s o f the Government h ave g i v e n o u r o r g a n i z a t i o n a c l e a n . D i n o f h e a l t h , and i n e v e r y c o u r t c a s e we have had a d e c i s i o n i n o u r favor, q We t h e r e f o r e p r o t e s t a g a i n s t t h e s e b o o k s by Mr. Clymer b e i n g p l a c e d i n yo u r l i b r a r y and p u t i n t o c i r c u l a t i o n i f he o r h i s r e p r e s e n t a t i v e o f f e r s t h e m / ^ I t would mean t h a t y o u r l i b r a r y an d good o f f i c e s would b e u se d t o c a r r y on h i s campaign i n a manner t o a v o i d u s e o f t h e ma i l and t o a v o i d r e s p o n s i b i l i t y on h i s p a r t . A s u i t a g a i n s t him would b r i n g no r e s u l t s Inasmuch a s h e h a s no money t o p ay f o r dam a g e s o r c o u r t c o s t s , an d an i n j u n c t i o n a g a i n s t h i s I s s u i n g a n y more books would be evaded by i s s u i n g t h e books u n d e r f i c t i t i o u s names <xnd h a v i n g p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s c i r c u l a t e t h e m . \p W a r e n o t a s k i n g you o r y o u r l i b r a r y t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n an y p l a n of e defen se o r to cooperate w ith us in o ur p la n s o f d e f e n s e . Our o r g a n i z a t i o n i s to o w e l l known and t o o w e l l e s t a b l i s h e d t o n eed any f u r t h e r defense a f t e r a l l of th e o f f i c i a l I n v e s t i g a t i o n s t h a t have been made a s o u t l i n e d ab o ve. But we do n o t f e e l t h a t you a n d y o u r l i b r a r y w ant t o be a p a r t y t o an y s u c h cam paign o f m a l i c i o u s n e s s , a . inasmuch a s t h e books a r e b e i n g o f f e r e d u n d e r a f a l s e p r e t e n s e 01 h i s t o r i c a l v a l u e , and s o l e l y f o r t h e p u r p o s e o f f u r t h e r i n g a c o n s p i r a c y o r a m a l i c i o u s a t t a c k , I am s u r e you w i l l u s e y o u r o f f i c i a l connections w ith th e l i b r a r y to see t h a t th e books a r e r e s e n t o r o f f e r e d , and t h a t s i m i l a r bo o ks I s s u e d b y him w i l l be r e j e c t e d h e r e a f t e r ___ I may say i n p a s s i n g t h a t i n many s t a t e s and many c i t i e s , l i b r a r i a n s have a l r e a d y r e j e c t e d t h e s e books o f t h e i r own a c c o r d a f t e r ex am in i n g them. You have o t h e r good b o ok s i n y o u r l i b r a r y d e a l i n g w i t h . K o s i c r u c i a n i s m , d a t i n g b ack t o r e p r i n t s o f e a r l y bo o ks and p e r h a p s

AND T H E PEOPLE
C h ief L ib r a r ia n 3

39
F e b r u a r y 1 2 , 1938

some o l d b o o k s , a n d e v e r y l a r g e l i b r a r y i n t h e c o u n t r y h a s a number o f books d e a l i n g w ith th e e a r l y h i s t o r y and p h ilo so p h y of th e R o sicru o ian s \\ , V T h e s e two b o o k s b y Mr. C ly m e r , h o w e v e r , a n d a l l o\f h i s o t h e r pamph l e t s a n d b o o k s o f v i l i f i c a t i o n , a r e o f no v a l u e ir\ t h e c a t e g o r y o f R o s i c r u c i a n i s m e x c e p t t o c a r r y on a n u n f a i r a t t a c k y a n d u t i l i z e t h e p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s t o f u r t h e r h i s own e n d s . He f r e q u e n t l y r e f e r s t o h i m s e l f a n d h i s p u b l i s h i n g o r g a n i z a t i o n a s The P h i l o s o p h i c a l Pub l i s h i n g Company, a l s o a s R o s i c r u c i a n B r o t h e r h o o d , a s The B e v e r l y H a l l C o r p o r a t i o n , and num erous o t h e r t i t l e s . H i s a d d r e s s , h o w ev er, i s Q u a k e r t o w n . P e n n s y l v a n i a , a n d t h e t i t l e o f t h e b o o k s , we r e p e a t , i s The R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y i n A m e r i c a . I s h o u l d b e g l a d t o h a v e you l e t me know w h a t y o u r l i b r a r y d e c i d e s to do a b o u t t h i s m a t t e r . T h e r e a r e h u n d r e d s o f good a nd r e s p e c t e d i n d i v i d u a l s l i v i n g i n a n d a r o u n d y o u r c i t y who a r e members o f t h i s R o s i c r u c i a n O r d e r , AMORC,^and who h a v e b e e n much c o n c e r n e d a b o u t th e p o s s i b i l i t y o f th e s e m a lic io u s books b e in g c i r c u l a t e d through your lib ra ry . They b e l i e v V a s we d o , t h a t I t i s s i m p l y a m a t t e r o f b e in g p r o p e r l y Inform ed as to t h e i r r e a l n a tu re . Any f u r t h e r i n f o r m a t i o n y ou d \ s l r e r e g a r d i n g t h i s m a t t e r w i l l b e g la d y s e n t to you. y* Y ours v e ry t r u l y

RML:MK (Enc. )

OUR REPLY (1) These books are instructive, educational and historical and of unquestioned value to both the student and the research worker for the reason that therein will be found an almost com plete history of both the authentic organization dating from 1614 to the present time, and the documentary history of the formation and activities of the clandestine organization. The books issued by us, T h e R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y i n A m e r i c a , contain much of the Fraternitys exoteric teachings, e x -

40
TREM ELY RARE

TH E IN ITIA TES
DOCUM ENTS FROM TH E EU R O PEA N O RDERS,

which, had they not been placed into our hands, would have been destroyed by the hordes of Hitler and no longer to be had. These reproduced documents are of untold value to the millions interested in the esoteric. They cannot defame any person or organization unless that person or organization has defamed himself or itself by the acts which necessitated their publication. The reproduction is merely historical. (2) An utterly false statement. The entire literature is sued by A. M. 0 . R. C. and the letter by its first secretary, which is published herein, offer unquestioned proof that A. M. O. R. C. began its existence no earlier than 1916 and that it could not possibly have had a spotless reputation for many centuries. Its reputation for truth is about as spotless as is the leopard. It may be said in all honesty 1 that, almost without exception, 5 every claim of legitimacy written or published by M r. Lewis and the A. M. O. R. C. is just about as truthful as this claim of his. (3) Mr. Lewis has made much of his recognitions, and leaflets publishing such recognitions have been issued, cir culated and placed within the covers of books in libraries by the hundreds of thousands. Our space is limited, but let us give an example of how these recognitions are secured. To do this effectively and without bias, we herewith reproduce a letter written to one who sought the information.7
This person is not now, and never was, a m em ber of the R andolph fo u n d a tio n , the Fraternitas Rosa; Crucis or any of its activities. The name of the person to w hom this letter was addressed is deleted lo avoid embarrassm ent. This person never was, and is n o t now , a m em ber of any of the R andolph Foundation activities.

AND T H E PEOPLE

41

Funk &WagnaIIs Com pany

55 4 -5 6 0 F o u r tk A v e n n c , N e w York, N . Y

E ditorial R o o m s o f T h e N e w S ta n d a rd D ictionaries
THE NEW STANDARD UNABRIDCED THE PRACTICAL STANDARD Till! DESK STANDARD THE NEW COMPREHENSIVE STANDARD . THE CONCISE STANDARD C h a r l e s E a r l e F u n k , L i t t . D . , E d ito r

A p r i l 5 . 1939.

Your l e t t e r o f March 3 0 th , add res se d t o Mr. George W. J o n e s , J r . , has been r e f e r r e d t o me f o r r e p l y . The d e f i n i t i o n o f the ter m R o s ic ru s ia n a p p e a r in g i n th e c u r r e n t e d i t i o n s o f o u r s e r i e s o f Standa rd d i c t i o n a r i e s was besed on m a t e r i a l s u p p l i ed by t h e S e c r e t a r y o f t h e R o s i c r u c i a n Order (Amorcj a t San J o s e , U al l i' o rn ia . The e n c lo s e d pamphlet i n d i c a t e s t h e i r ap p r o v a l o f o u r d e s c r i p t i o n o f t h e i r o r g a n i z a t i o n , t h e b a s ic f a c t s o f which a r e c o n t a in e d i n th e d e f i n i t i o n app earing in our d ic tio n a rie s. Very t r u l y yo u rs ,

C har le s E a r le Funk

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TH E IN ITIA TES

(4) This is not a correct statement. Such books and book lets were not attacks, but the a n s w e r s t o a t t a c k s u p o n u s m a d e b y M r. L e w i s a n d A. M. O. R. C. He whose character is attacked and who fails to defend it is l a c k i n g i n c h a r
a c t e r

(5 )

Mr.

L e w is

m ade

and

p r in te d

th is

s ta te m e n t

so

fre

q u e n t l y t h a t , l ik e t h e f i s h e r m a n a n d h i s s t o r y , h e u n d o u b t e d l y h a s tr ie d to m a k e h im s e lf b e lie v e it. f u l l y i n t h e tw o v o l u m e s , T h e A m e ric a .

We

h a v e a n s w e re d th is F ra te rn ity in

R o s ic ru c ia n

We h e r e r e p e a t , h o w e v e r , t h a t a t t h e t i m e M r. L e w i s a n d A. M. O. R. C. s t a r t e d h i s l i b e l s u i t w e d i d n o t k n o w G e o r g e L. S m i t h a n d we have never in any way been served in such a suit. M o r e o v e r , t h o s e d e s i r i n g i n f o r m a t i o n o f h o w t h e d e c i s i o n r e s u l t e d , a n d t h e a m o u n t p a i d b y Mr. L e w i s t o t h e s a i d G e o r g e L. S m i t h , w ill f i n d t h e f u l l s o r d i d d e t a i l s i n t h e
tw o v o l u m e s m e n t i o n e d .

(6) An utterly false statement. It is here emphatically stated that n o t a s i n g l e s e t o f t h e s e b o o k s w e r e m a i l e d

o r e x p r e s s e d to a n y l ib r a r ia n o r a n y l ib r a r y u n l e s s w e

F IR S T
t h e s e

R E C E IV E D

LETTER

FRO M

TH E

L IB R A R IA N

S T A T IN G

THAT

b o o k s w e r e a c c e p t a b l e . Every such letter is on file. It is not wholly true that these sets were shipped by express. Within certain zones the sets were shipped by express because the cost was less. In all other instances, to Canada, Mexico, and all foreign countries, the books were mailed. (7) It is freely admitted that the material is critical, but there is not a single false or misleading statement in these books unless it is a reproduction of something said or printed by Mr. Lewis, A. M. O. R. C., or those engaged in fabricating and advertising A. M. O. R. C. or the F. U. D. O. S. I.

(8) This is admittedly an important question. We do not here have the space to answer it. Moreover, it has been com

AND T H E PEOPLE

43

pletely and in the minutest detail answered in T h e R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y i n A m e r i c a to which we refer you.s (9) The reader should note this carefully, because later on we will show the extraordinary, unethical, un-American, H it lerite steps taken by M r. Lewis and the A. M. O. R. C. to keep these books out of libraries or get them out if already there. When M r. Lewis and A . M. O . R. C. supplied public libra ries with his H e a r t h e O t h e r S id e , together with thousands of leaflets, defaming us, we made no protest because, being A m e r i c a n , we felt that the public had a right to know both sides of the question, being capable of judging for themselves. Moreover, what are public libraries for if not to supply the public with books on all questions, pro and con? In another letter, which will be herein reproduced and in the reproduction of instructions to his Commissioners, we will show that no organization, business house or publisher ever attempted to go to nearly the length M r. Lewis and A . M. O . R. C. did to keep this knowledge from the public. (10) This is fully covered in our answer to a letter received from the Trustee of a library in New Hampshire, which we reproduce. (11) How weak must be the foundation of an organization or a society that cannot bear the light of day and must ask public officials to hide or destroy all evidence that might be incriminating or to its disadvantage! These statements and requests remind one of the bully in school who would pounce with extreme brutality on those weaker than himself but being faced by one of equal strength would run to his parents or the teacher for protection. He who has nothing to hide need fear nothing and if his wares are worthy, anything that is said
8 S tu d e n ts and research w orkers unable to obtain these books for their stu d y m ay request the lib rarian in th eir vicinity to obtain them for the library. T hey will be supplied w ith o u t cost to the library.

44

TH E IN ITIA TES

about them is an advertisement. We welcome investigation. We suggest the study of the Lewis publications and comparing their contents with our literature. We likewise welcome criticism because this reveals weaknesses if present. We do not fear ac cusations because this offers us an opportunity to reveal the truth. Mr. Lewis and A. M. O. R. C. know full well their in ability to defend the falsehoods published and circulated, there fore they must destroy. Hitler was in a like position. He knew full well that the books in the public libraries would reveal the falsity of his position and teachings, therefore the destruction of books on that 10th day of May, 1933.
(1 2 ) I t w as n o t w e w ho m a d e th e u n fa ir a tta c k .
ear the

I t w as M r.

L e w i s in h i s b o o k l e t , H c a lls a n u n f a ir a t t a c k

O t h e r S id e .

T h a t w h ic h h e

was the answer.

A ll o f v o l u m e t w o is O t h e r S id e . C o u ld

d e v o te d to th e r e p ro d u c tio n o f h is H

ear t h e

w e h a v e r e p r o d u c e d t h e s e in t h e b o o k

had they not previously

been published and circulated?

b e fo re M r . L e w is w a s b o r n . o f th e a c tu a l tr u th

W e a n s w e re d th e s e a c c u s a tio n s

a n d a tta c k s w ith d o c u m e n ts fro m E u r o p e d a tin g b a c k to y e a r s W e u se d th e d o c u m e n ts a s p ro o f th e a u g u st F ra te rn ity and its

re la tiv e to

fo u n d a tio n a n d p h ilo s o p h y .
h is

We did not attack.

F
r a t e r n it y ear t h e

W e a n sw e re d
in

a tta c k .

H ad T

he

o s ic r u c ia n

A m e r ic a

b e e n p u b lis h e d f irs t a n d h is H

ther

S id e t h e r e a f t e r ,
ear the

th e n h e m ig h t a c c u s e u s o f th e a t ta c k , b u t H

ther

S id e w a s n o t o n ly p u b l i s h e d f ir s t, b u t p l a c e d in e v e r y p u b l i c l i b r a r y w illin g t o a c c e p t i t , a n d i n a d d i t i o n t o t h i s , i t w a s w i d e l y c i r c u l a t e d b y h is h e n c h m e n a n d t h e m e m b e r s o f

A. M. O . R. C . (13) In many instances this was true. W hat these members were requested to do and what they did will be shown in the reproduction of a letter of instructions issued by A. M. O. R. C.

On March 10, 1938, we received a letter from the librarian

AND T H E PEOPLE

45

of the public library of one of the larger cities. This letter is here reproduced, together with our answer. Nothing would be gained by giving either the name of the city or that of the librarian. The letter and the copy of our answer are kept intact in our Archives and are at the command of any properly author ized person attached to any Department of the Government.
M arch 8 ,1 9 3 8 . K r . R .R . C l y m e r , R o s i c r u c i a n F o u n d a t io n , B e v e r ly H a ll, Q u ak e rto w n ,P e n n . D e a r M r .C ly m e r :
A ll books are ordered subject 10 collation. All b ill, must be rendered in duplicate and one copy certified to by a written or typed and visaed statement as follows: " I hereby certify that the within account it correct and has not been paid."

We h a v e j u s t B o sic m c ia n

r e c e i v e d a l e t t e r from filin g

th e

O rd e r a t Sa n J o s e , C a l i f o r n i a ,

a p ro te st

a g a i n s t y o u r tw o v o lu m e s THE ROSICRUCIAN FRATERNITY IN AMERICA, What i s b a c k o f t h i s l e t t e r ? e h a v e s e n t y o u r books a lo n g to be c a ta lo g u e d , is. V e ry t r u l y y o u r s , and w onder w hat t h e t r o u b l e

OUR ANSWER March 11, 1938 D ear M r.................. T hank you for your letter of the eighth wherein you inform us of the protest received from the Rosicrucian Order, San Jose, California, against placing the two vol umes of T h e R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y i n A m e r ic a into the library.

46

TH E IN ITIA TES You ask: What is back of this letter? Simply this: Mr. Lewis does not wish the information contained in these books to become public. We feel that you should be fully informed and, having a copy of the said letter before us we will answer it in detail, but first of all let us call your attention to this fact: You will no doubt find on the shelves of your library a copy of R o s i c r u c i a n Q u e s t i o n s a n d A n s w e r s by Mr. Lewis." If you will read this book you will find that it is mostly a diatribe against myself and Dr. Randolph, who founded the authentic Rose Cross in 1856. We did not ask you to refuse this book because this is America and we feel that people should be permitted to know both sides. Moreover, truth must ultimately prevail. A s f a r b a c k a s M a r c h 11, 1936, M r . L e w i s f e a r e d w e
m ig h t p u b lis h th e f a c ts a n d w a r n e d lib r a r ia n s a g a in s t u s. S ee p a g e

21,

V o l u m e tw o , T h e R o s i c r u c i a n

F ra te rn ity

in A m e ric a . o r p rio r te m p te d re c o rd s

I t is u t t e r l y f a l s e t o s a y t h a t a t t h a t t i m e , w e p la c e d any any lite ra tu r e , in to or even a t

th e r e to , to of

p la c e your

lite ra tu re ,

lib ra rie s th e th is th is

lib ra ry

w i ll p r o b a b l y h is o w n

s u b s ta n tia te fe a rs a n d in

s ta te m e n t.

H e s im p ly v o ic e d to

u n e th ic a l m a n n e r s o u g h t g ra p h tw o of th e

in flu e n c e lib r a r ia n s . books

P a ra

l e t t e r : 10 T h e s e

are

h is to ric a l;

th e y g iv e a n a lm o s t c o m p le te h is to r y , b a s e d o n p u b lis h e d w o rk s a n d d o c u m e n ts o f th e A u th e n tic O rd e r. T h e y a ls o

g iv e th e h is to r y o f th e L e w is o r g a n iz a tio n b a s e d o n t h e i r . . A s p rev iously sta te d , in stea d o f h id in g falseh o o d s p u b lish e d , w e call th e light of d a y so t h a t th e y m a y be re fu te d . W e d id n o t so i i i (i.ra r a n . t destro y th a t w h o lly u n tr u th f u l an d m alicio u s b o o k , l .o th e rs m ig h t n o t see it, b u t re q u e ste d h im to re a d it so t h a t th e ](jac t s m ig h t be revealed a n d th e t r u th m ad e k n o w n . R e p ro d u c tio n of th e A. M . 0 . R . C. le tte r d a te d F e b r u a ry 12, 1938.

AND TH E PEOPLE
ow n

47

p u b l i s h e d w o r k s . Moreover, they contain repro ductions of documents obtained from the European or ganizations; documents extremely rare and to be had only through these organizations in Europe. Besides this, they give the entire philosophical basis upon which the original Fraternity was founded. Paragraph three of the letter: I t is true that the Rosi crucian Fraternity was founded several centuries ago but th at was the authentic body. The A. M. O. R. C. was or ganized no earlier than 1916. To prove this we refer you to pages beginning 198 of volume one and 648 of volume two.11 You will find that he (M r. Lewis) tells one hun dred and one different stories of the founding of his or ganization. Please remember these stories are w o r d f o r w o r d from his own publications. W hat is the reason for this? The authentic organization was founded in America as a separate body in 1856. By 1915 more than 500,000 books had been published and sold and the Fraternity was well known. Mr. Lewis, then in New Thought, saw his opportunity to establish a new organization, illegally taking the name of an organization already in existence. Ever since then he has been forced to justify himself for this unethical, and in many states, as in Pennsylvania, unlawful acts. His present effort is to prevent these facts from becoming known. Paragraph four of the letter: Here he indicates libel. If there is libel, then he himselj is the guilty one since every word relative to himself and his organization is based on his own published statements as made in Court when defending himself in various actions. The proofs that most of his statements are false are based on documents

1 Also see T h o r K iim alehtos letter to the w riter. 1

48

TH E IN ITIA TES obtained from the Order in Europe and which are repro duced verbatim. Paragraph four of the letter: In reference to the ship ping of books. These books were shipped by express be cause the transportation costs in zones three, four, five and six were much less than by mail. If any librarian questions this he may return the books by express and we will gladly reship them by mail.12 Paragraph four of the letter relative to the falsity of statements: Every statement in the books is based entirely on published works issued by the authentic Fraternity and on the writings of Mr. Lewis himself. In fact, they are verbatim, with the title and date of publication given. When based on statements made in Court, page of tran script is given. Paragraph five of the letter: This is the most note worthy of all his statements. When a person or Corpora tion files suit for libel it is naturally for the purpose of ob taining a favorable decision. If the person sued is too poor to defend himself, then naturally the suit is more easily won. Therefore, if we are too poor to defend ourselves, and if the books are libelous, it would be a simple matter for Mr. Lewis to win and no one would be foolish enough to defy a Court injunction. Therefore, if his statement were true, everything would be in his favor. But please consider this: The cost of obtaining the material from E u rope and the publication of the two volumes was more than $15,000.00. Is it reasonable to suppose that an organiza tion able to accomplish this much would not be in a posi tion to defend itself? The fact is, Mr. Lewis dare not start

T o all o th e r zones, C a n ad a, M exico, E u ro p e , C e n tra l a n d S o u th A m erica th e b o oks w ere fo rw a rd e d b y m ail.

AND T H E PEOPLE

49

such a suit because it would quickly prove the falsity of his own claims. Paragraph six of the letter: This is utterly false. At the time M r. Lewis wrote the letter, not a single library had rejected these books. Since his letter, one, just one, library has done so. On the other hand, we are receiving so many requests from libraries since he mailed the letter that 500 more sets are at this time being bound for distribution to libraries. Paragraph seven of the letter: Mr. Lewis failed to state that he tried, with the help of the best legal talent pro curable, to prevent us from filing and protecting the au thentic body in this State, while at the same time trying to get protection for his own. He failed miserably. Our Or ganizations applications were filed and legalized, whereas his applications were rejected. Seepages 191, 192, 193 and 194 of volume one, T h e R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y i n
A m erica.

We regret taking so much of your time but we feel that we should give you the facts of the matter. Sincerely yours, The Rosicrucian Foundation, By R. S w i n b u r n e C l y m e r .

After receiving the aforesaid letter from the librarian in Michigan, on June 18, 1940, we also received a letter from one of the Trustees of a library in New Hampshire. This we reproduce, only deleting the name and town, for reasons previ ously stated. Immediately following the reproduction, we re print our answer.

so

T H E IN ITIA TES

June 1 8 , 194 0 . D r. R. S . Clymer, Quakertown, P a. Dear S i r : I am one of the board o f t r u s t e e s o f the L ac o n ia P u b lic L ib r a r y and a sh o rt time ago th e l i b r a r y r e c e iv e d from you two n ic e ly bound volum es r e l a t i n g t o th e R o sJjK 'u cian F r a t e r n ity in A m erica. Not lon g a f t e r th e re c e ip t^ ^ rf t h e s e book3 one o f the t r u s t e e s o f the l i b r a r y r e c e i v p a a lo n g l e t t e r from San J o s e , C a l. s l g 1ed by th e R o sle T u c ian Orjiey-^ . AMORC, C e c il A. P o o le , Supreme S e c r e t a r y . <M iong o t h t f r t h i n g s A h is l e t t e r s t a t e d th a t the w r ite r w ished _to b r in g b e fo r e >i>ur board a r a th e r s e r io u s m a tte r ; t h a t twcf volum es o f your book-^iad been sh ipped by e x p r e s s f t o the L ac o n ia P u b lic L ib r a r y f o r geftfcr^l r e fe r e n c e , and p o s s i b l y g e n e ra l c i r c u l a t i o n . The w r i t e r > t a t e d t h a t 3 a id books a r e n e ith e r h i s t o r i c a l r e c o r d , / e d u c a tio n a l, i n s t r u c t i v e o r o f v alu e t o th e r e s e a r c h w ork er, ^ 3 they c o n s iste d s o l e l j'- 'o f ;a n a t t a c k upon the R o s ic r u c ia n Order^v in America and in Europe?}. The w r ite r re q u e ste d t h a t th e L acon ia P u b lic L ib r a r y r e j e c t your books and not a l low them to be amoiig the volum es o f the l i b r a r y . < Among oth er t h in g s t h i s l e t t e r s t a t e s th a t you have been sued fo r ilB e T X b y the C a l i f o r n i a o rd e r and a d e c is io n ren d ered by i t s Supreme Court a g a in s t you; th a t you have been p ro h ib i t e d from u sin g the U. S . m a lls in c a r ry in g on your campaign/rfrnff'' t h a t t h e r e fo r e you a r e sh ip p in g the books by E x p r e s s .^ The l e t t e r a l s o claim s tha t every one o f the f a l s e c h a rg e s whTcE you make in th e s e books have been review ed by th e fo llo w in g departm ents o f s t a t e and county: The U. S . P o st O ffic e Departm ent; th e Department o f J u s t i c e ; the I n t e r n a l Revenue Department, th e F e d e r a l Trade Commission, th e F e d e r a l C o u r t ^ o f C a lif o r n ia and v a r io u s S u p e r io r C ou rts o f C a l i f o r n l a j^ - - ^ / th a t in every c a s e th e d epartm en ts o f the Government ,y^Snd I presume i t i s claim ed th e c o u r ts , -ilgve g iv e n d e c i s i o n s a g a i n s t you. y v " --------

Of course a g e n e ra l statem en t l i k e t h i s d o e s n ot amount to very much and some tim e ago I wrote t o C a l i f o r n i a to the Supreme S e c r e t a r y o f the AM ORC f o r s p e c i f i c d a ta a s to th e s e c o u rt and f e d e r a l c a s e s 3 0 th a t I co u ld , from the C le rk s o f th e p ro p e r C o u rts, and the p ro p e r o f f i c i a l o f the Government d e p a rtm e n ts, v e r if y th e se s ta te m e n ts, J a i t a s y e t I have not r e c e iv e d a r e p ly t o my l e t t e r . ^

AND T H E PEOPLE
'v r. 3 . c . # 2.

51

B r i e f l y , w i l l / o u k i n d l y In fo rm me an d th e u n d e r ly i n g t h i s a n a re n t lo n g c o n te s t be . t g j h a ve C a l i f o r n i a o r d e r , (tand a l s o w h e th e r t h e a , ngt y 0u in so r e f e r r e d to re g a rd in g d e c is io n s rendered 0 m an y c o u r t a n d f e d e r a l c a s e s i s t r u e A re t h e r e e n t i r e l y d i s t i n c t and s e p a r a te r g o f t h e AMORC i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , o r a r e t h y tie u n d e r o n e s u p r e m e h e a d ? . , Y ours t r u l y , ^

+ /-> +v>p 1*68.1 r s & s o n

nQge(j t 0

OUR REPLY September 3, 1940 D ear Mr. . . I sincerely regret that your most kind letter of the eight eenth of June has so long remained unanswered. When your letter reached me we were in the midst of the fourth session of the weekly Convocations held at Headquarters each year during the months of May, June and July. Im mediately after the meetings closed here, a Convocation, scheduled the previous March, was held in Newark, New Jersey, and following this, a preliminary meeting of the International Confederation of Initiatory Fraternities was held in Montreal, Quebec. In addition to this, personal correspondence had to have prompt attention and certain hours given to my practice as a Specialist in Endocrinology. Now, however, I will set aside all my other duties and an swer you as fully as I possibly can. (1) I regret, of course, that you did not send me a copy of the letter received by you from Cecil A. Poole, Supreme Secretary of A. M. O. R. C., San Jose, California. How ever, I have a fair idea of its contents, as numerous libra rians have either mailed us copies, or the original letters

TH E IN ITIA TES received by them and all of these are, I presume, similar in content, if not actually alike. (2) Mr. Poole lays considerable stress, as did H. Spen cer and Ralph Lewis before him, on the fact that the sets of T h e R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y i n A m e r i c a are shipped to libraries by express, and implies that this is done in order to avoid suits for libel. All the statements that have been made by these writers are wholly and deliberately misleading. These are the actual facts readily verified. When we first started to supply these books to libraries throughout the world, the present exceedingly low postal rates covering books were not in effect, and beyond a cer tain zone it was much cheaper to send books by express. Due entirely to this fact, books were shipped by mail to all points within the first four zones, to Canada and points in Europe, South and Central America; while beyond the first four zones they were shipped by express. Since the reduc tion in rates on books, all sets, without exception, have gone forward by mail. There is no exception to this rule except when librarians request otherwise. There never was a thought of avoiding libel suits. We should have wel comed these because they would have permitted us to place before the Courts all of the original records in our possession. (3) The writers have made it a point to state that these books are neither historical records, educational, in structive or of value to research workers. W hat are the facts? To offer but a few pertinent illustrations, we refer you to page 31, volume one, where you will find a report of the first World Council of the Rosy Cross in America, held in the year 1774. Those wholly ignorant of the true facts made the statement that no such Council existed and that

AND T H E PEOPLE

S3

the report was a figment of the imagination; that A. M. O. R. C. held the first actual authority, and, as claimed by them, this work started in 1909. They are wholly un aware th at George Lippard, who first published the repoit of the Council, reorganized the Council in 1844 and that the degree of the Rosy Cross has been conferred yearly, with out intermission, up to the present day and was so con ferred in M ay of this year, at a meeting I personally attended. N ext refer to page 225, volume one, and beginning with th at page you will find a verbatim reprint of the first Rosi crucian Manifesto issued in America. This is exceedingly valuable, because it appeared in the first edition of the book Ravalette, by Paschal Beverly Randolph, the First Supreme Grand M aster of the Fraternity. The book was first pub lished in 1871 and is now exceedingly rare. I'or this leason alone, these books are historical and of value to reseat ch workers. Next, refer to pages 225 to 266, volume one. You will here find a dastardly attem pt to wrest from us rights and privileges we had long established and which were nevei before questioned. As already indicated, the Rose Cross became active in America prior to 1774. It held its first Great Council in Philadelphia in 1774. In 1844 the Supreme Council was reconstituted and the ritual of the Rose Cross degree fully exemplified. This has been continued ever since. In 1856 the Order itself was founded the Council must always exist before the Order may be instituted. In 1904 American headquarters were moved to Pennsylvania. During all of those years it was the only organization using the name Rose Cross or Rosicrucians in any of its variations. Dur ing these m any years many books were published by the

T H E IN ITIA TES Fraternity, so that the names Rose Cross or Rosicrucian were familiar to all Occult students. In 1915, under pre tense of having received a Charter from Toulouse, France proven utterly false by us when we made a special trip to Europe, including FranceH. Spencer Lewis organized a spurious body and called it A. M. O. R. C. Time after time he tried to ignore both our existence and authority by referring to us as the little order of the farm. However, the question was not settled and became so persistent that in 1934 he attempted to prevent us from registering several Rosicrucian appellations in Pennsyl vania as required by our State laws, and attem pted to reg ister his own instead by making the claim that A. M. O. R. C. was the legitimate Order while we were spurious. He employed the best legal talent to be obtained and dur ing many hearings promised to appear or to send his charters. He never did either and in January, 1935, registration of all his names was refused, while all of our names were hied by the Department. Read especially pages 251 to 267 inclusive, volume one. It was, as we stated, a dastardly attem pt to wrest from us that which was rightly ours and use it for himself. He jailed utterly and for this reason he does not want, cannot afford, to have these books, which do give history, in the public libraries of the nation. (4) These books are historical for two reasons: 1. They give, verbatim, practically all of the Manifestoes issued by ourThe Randolph Foundation of the Rose Crossmany of which could not be procured irrespective of the sum one might be willing to pay for them. 2. They include all, in so far as we can learn, of the official publications issued by A. M. O. R. C., and as these are most decidedly contradictory, it is questionable whether the most per

AND T H E PEOPLE

SS

sistent investigator could find all of these publications. These books are therefore invaluable to the research worker and should be in the library of every man inter ested in the subject. (5) I t is utterly untrue that these books are an attack on the Rosicrucian Order in Europe and America. A study will prove to anyone undertaking it that, in each instance, I personally was first attacked by H. Spencer Lewis and the material in the books is the answer. In many instances it was necessary for us to call upon the legitimate Oideis of Europe, many of them centuries old, for original docu ments to refute the charges made. In some instances we personally contacted these Orders and had interviews with their Grand Masters. In not a single instance was such assistance refused us. We did not attack any Order eithei in Europe or America. We answered Mr. Lewis after he attacked, defamed and tried to defraud us by attempting to have our rights denied us. (6) We have never, to the best of our knowledge, been sued for libel. We say advisedly to the best of 0111 knowledge, because we have never been cited, served 01 notified that any libel suit against us had been staited or was then pending. It is true that a suit for libel was started against former members of A. M. O. R. C., but when the case went to trial all names but one were dropped from the indictment. (7) I t is wholly untrue that we have been prohibited from using the United States mails in carrying on our campaign and are therefore shipping the books by ex press. We have been doing business from our present ad dress since early in 1908, or more than thirty years, and there never has been any interference whatever with our

TH E IN ITIA TES mails. This is true not only in so far as these two volumes are concerned, but in every other respect. (8) The demand for these volumes by libraries in America and other countries has increased within the last year and all sets are mailed unless otherwise requested. The Post Office Department has never in any way inter fered nor has it suggested that we do not so forward them. (9) We have absolutely no knowledge that the D epart ment of Justice, the Internal Revenue Department, the Federal Trade Commission or that any Court has either investigated our work or rendered a decision against us. It would appear to us that if any such investigations had taken place we would know of it and if a decision had been rendered against us our mails would have been in terfered with. Surely, were this true, then the Postmaster at the point where we do business would know of it and any investigator could quickly learn the truth of the matter. (10) No Court, in so far as we know, has ever ren dered a decision against us. Had there been such a de cision, surely our business would have been interfered with in one way or another. (11) The contest has been more or less one-sided. Whenever we were approached for information as to the legitimacy of A. M. 0 . R. C., we have made the frank statement that the organization is without legitimate authority, therefore clandestine; that a legitimate organi zation has long existed, issued many texts within a period of one hundred years, become well known to students and that H. Spencer Lewis traded on this fact. We have not at any time attacked Mr. Lewis; all we have done is to an swer the attacks made against us. A study of the books will readily verify this.

AND T H E PEOPLE

57

(12) As already stated, there has been no interference by any court, whether Federal or otherwise, with our busi ness during the thirty-six years of continued activity. (13) The F raternity of Rosicrucians, Order of the Rose Cross, has existed in America since 1774. No offi cial belonging to it has ever been connected with A. M. O. R. C. A. M. O. R. C. is an entirely separate organization and, we claim, has no legitimate existence but trades on the name long established by the authentic Brotherhood. This F raternity has no connection whatever with the M asonic F raternity though its ancient landmarks are in m any respects the same, as, for instance, it may not ad vertise, nor may its members wear insignias or garb indi cating membership. It is a thoroughly ethical body, is philosophical, religious and fraternal. I tru st I have answered all of your questions and I would be both happy and willing to answer any further questions you may wish to ask. T hanking you for your patience, Sincerely yours, R. S w i n b u r n e C l y m e r . Supreme Grand Master

he

on spira c y in

to

estroy

ooks

P u blic L ibraries

Worthy Followers of the Iiitler Method ( On or about March 2, 1938, a member of A. M. O. R' C. who had also been a Commissioner of or for A. M. O. R. C. received a communication which first made him gasp and then begin an investigation which ended by his severing all connections with the group. This communication we herewith reproduce. It is a glaring example of things that happen, not in Germany, Japan or Italy, but right here in free America. COMMENTS The fact that this communication was multigraphed is a fair indication of the copies mailed and the number of Commis sioners instructed to deliberately, unjustly, and with destruc tive intent, remove books from public libraries. In so far as we can learn, never before was there planned and carried out such a conspiracy to unrighteously destroy material that might en lighten the people by acquainting them with a fraud being committed. There are no words strong enough to condemn such vandalism and the greater pity is, there is no law to stop or to punish the perpetrators of such an unholy act. (1) Here we have a positive statement that at least one Commissioner in each district was ordered to carry out the instructions given. (2) Certainly if they crucified (that is, destroyed) the

AND T H E PEOPLE
A MATTER OF IMPORTANCE

59

T h i s co m m u n ic a tio n i s b e i n g s e n t t o on ly o n e \ . D i s t r i c t Obmmissloner i n e a c h c i t y , even i n t h o s e c i t i e s where t h e r e may be more /than one. I t i s n o t s u r p r i s i n g o r u n u s u a l t h a t a p r o g r e s s i v e a c t i v i t y or m ovement, o r s o m e th i n g w hich i s s p i r i t u a l o r p h i l o s o p h i c a l i n n a t u r e , should be the s u b je c t of a tta c k . They c r u c i f i e d Chr ist,/ <an d manY o t h e r g r e a t a v a t a r s g a v e t h e i r l i v e s b e c a u s e t h e y d a r e d to s t a n d f o r a p r i n c i p l e , o r d a r e d t o o p p o s e t h e en em ies o f l i f e . The R o s i c r u c i a n o r g a n i z a t i o n h a s b e e n a t t a c k e d and oppose d a number o f t im es f o r s e l f i s h r e a s o n s an d h a s s u r v i v e d . P a r t i c u l a r l y I n r e c e n t y e a r s i t has been a t t a c k e d by a n i n d i v i d u a l by t h e name o f R. Swinburne Clymer, o f whom y ou h a v e p e r h a p s h e a r d , and who p u r p o r t s t o o p e r a t e a sm a ll R o s i c r u c i a n o r g a n i z a t i o n f ro m h i s f a rm i n P e n n s y l v a n i a . He h a s n o t been s u c c e s s f u l i n stemm ing t h e g r o w t h o r adv an ce m e nt o f t h e t e a c h i n g s of t h e Order i n a n y way, b u t t h e r e a r e t h i n g s w hich he d oes a t ti m e s to which we c a n n o t c l o s e o u r e y e s , i n a l l f a i r n e s s t o t h e O r d e r ' s t r a d i t i o n s and in te g rity . * He h a s i s s u e d two b o o k s r e c e n t l y , u n d e r t h e g u i s e o f R o s i c r u c l a n lsm , e n t i t l e d " The R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y In A m erica", volumes I and I I T h e s e , fro m t h e i r t l y t l e , wou ld I m p re s s a p e r s o n as b e i n g i n s t r u c t i v e a nd d e a l i n g w i t h t h e \ R o s i c r u c l a n p h i l o s o p h y ; y e t t h e r e i s nau gh t of t h a t n a t u r e i n them. \ They a r e , i n s t e a d , m a l i c i o u s , v i l i f y i n g , s c u r r i l o us l i t e r a t u r e , a t t a c k i n g AMORC,its o f f l e e r s , members and a n y t h i n g to do w i t h t h e p a s t o r p r e s e n t a c t i v i t y o f t h e O rd er. This man was a t one t im e named a s a c o n s p i r a t o r i n a c o u r t a c t i o n in C a l i f o r n i a , i n w h i c h c o u r t a c t i o n AMORC was v i c t o r i o u s . 4

j(*

Now t h e s e b'ooks a r e b e i n g s e n t t o p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s w i t h t h e hope t h a t t h e y w i l l b e p u t i n t o o i r c u l a t l o n , an d r e a d e r s w i l l c o n t a c t them a nd n o t b e a b l e t o l e a r n t h e t r u e c irp u m s t a n c e s.. Whenever t h e s e books a p p e a r i n a p u b l i c l i b r a r y , we i m m e d i a t e l y fidvise t h e l i b r a r i a n o f the c o n t e n t s o f t h e b o o k s a n d r e q u e s t t h e l i b r a r i a n and o f f i c i a l s t o c a r e f u l l y exam ine them, and n o t e t h e co n te n ts ,^ v a n d t h e r e s u l t i s t h a t they h a v e b e e n rem oved i m m e d i a t e l y i n many o f t h e l e a d i n g l i b r a r i e s th r o u g h o u t N o r t h A m e r i c a . K W w an t you t o be a l e r t in y ou r s e a r c h f o r t h e m , -* e Make I t a p o i n t t o go t o y o u r p u b l i c l i b r a r y t h i s week and l o o k In th e i n d e x f i l e s u n d e r t h e s u b j e c t o f R o s i c r u c i a n o r R o s l c r u c i a n l s m . t o se e i f you f i n d a n y b o o k s b y t h e ab ov e name. Some o f you have a l r e a d y d o n e t h i s f o r u s , an d we t h a n k you. I f you f i n d t h e s e bCoks l i s t e d t h e r e s e e I f t h e y a r e a v a i l a b l e on t h e s h e l v e s ; a n d I f you a b n o t f i n d them l i s t e d , a s k t h e l i b r a r i a n i f they a r e t h e r e . I f t h e y k r e , l e t u s know, o r i f t h e y a r e n o t l i s t e d , a l s o l e t u s know. We w l i l \ t e l l you w h at you can do t o f u r t h e r a s s i s t u s i n h a v i n g them r e m o v e d , r b u t a t l e a s t make t h i s i n v e s t i g a t i o n f o r u s. Then, a month l a t e r , make i t a g a i n , a nd a month l a t e r once a g a i n . Kind l y k e e p y o u r f i n d i n g s c o n f i d e n t i a l ; r e p o r t o n l y to t h e Grand Lodge, We t h a n k y ou f o r y o u r k i n d p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n t h e s e m a t t e r s . W ith a l l g o od w i s h e s f o r P eace P r o f o u n d , S i n c e r e l y an d f r a t e r n a l l y , CAP:FH-L D e p a r t m e n t o f E x te n s i o n

60

T H E IN IT IA T E S

Christ, then A. M. 0 . R. C. has taken every step, and made every effort, in the most reprehensible manner possible, to de stroy the evidence exposing their nefarious activity, their clan destine, unauthorized organization. Again the shoe fits the other foot. It is not we who destroy because these publica tions were neither more nor less than the answer to charges made and accusations hurled at us. I t is A. M. O. R. C. that is the crucifier. They do not stop at the assassination of char acter, but follow through with the destruction of books which, once placed in and accepted by libraries, b e l o n g t o t h e
p e o p le .

(3) This has been fully answered herein and needs no fur ther comment. I t is the same old stereotyped accusation so often made by Mr. Lewis and A. M. O. R. C. (4) How that case was handled and the ultim ate results, even to the payment of some $15,000 t o t h e m a n s u e d , is fully explained in T h e R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y i n A m e r i c a , by documentary reproductions and extracts from the testi mony given at the trial. (5) Herein has been reproduced the three-page letter mailed to librarians, together with our answer. Further comment is not necessary. (6) Up to the present time, only one library, th at of Orange, N. J., whose letter we reproduce, removed the books from their library. As a m atter of fact, the librarian had never placed them in circulation. If A. M. O. R. C. has evidence that other librarians did so and will send such letters to us, we will gladly reproduce and circulate them.

AND TH E PEOPLE
O R A N G E FREE L IB R A R Y

61

O R A N G E , N . J.

J o h n B. F o c c , L ib r a r ia n

F e b r u a r y 2 5 , 1938

D r . R e u b en S . C ly m er B e v e rly H all Q uakertow n, Penn. D e a r D r . C ly m e r: Because o f th e c o n tr o v e r s i a l n a tu re o f your tw o vo lu m e s e t t h e " R o s i c r u c i a n F r a t e r n i t y i n A m e r i c a ! i t d o e s n o t seem a d v i s a b l e f o r u s t o p l a c e i t on o u r s h e l v e s . When I a u t h o r i z e d you t o s e n d u s t h e s e t f r e e o f c h a r g e t o be p l a c e d on o u r s h e l v e s , I h a d t h e i d e a t h a t i t was o f an e d u c a tio n a l or h i s t o r ic a l n a tu re . L ib ra rie s, o f c o u r s e , c an n o t be i n t e r e s t e d i n c o n t r o v e r s i a l d i f f i c u l t i e s of v ario u s o rg a n iz atio n s. W i l l you k i n d l y a d v i s e me a s t o t h e d i s p o s a l y o u c a r e t o make o f t h e s e t y o u s e n t u s . I f you s o a u t h o r i z e u s we s h a l l r e t u r n i t t o you e x p r e s s c o lle c t. Y o urs v e r y t r ^ l y , y u

L ib ra ria n JB F:EL

The unfairness of this librarian is in the fact that though he refuses to place these books in the library, because he thinks them controversial difficulties, yet after this rejection, he continued to keep on the shelves of the library such books as

62

T H E IN IT IA T E S

the history by Mr. Lewis, which is almost as a whole de voted to defamations and utter falsehoods relative to both Dr. Randolph and the writer hereof. These Lewis books cer tainly a r e controversial in every respect. (7) These words are not underlined by us, but by M r. Poole, the writer of the letter. I t is a command that the Com missioner be on the alert in his search for these books. W h y ? (8) The intent and purpose of this letter, these instructions, this search, is for the purpose of h a v i n g t h e m r e m o v e d . How' is this to be done? Here is how.

The letter reproduced was received by the Commissioner about February 3, 1938. On February 5, 1938, this Commis sioner received a night letter which read: About Clymers booksget possession at once. Get names and addresses of Library Association. You can get this at Main Library. Send to Supreme Secretary, air mail. Thank you for your cooperation. Keep books until you hear from us. The Commissioner confesses: Like all enthusiastic Rosi crucians ? at that time, I did his bidding, but had little ground to stand on when it came to a show-down at the library headquarters. I wrote him and told him that as long as your books were in the Library of Congress, they could not be re moved from our library. The only reply I received was that this was being attended to, but that it would take time. I now understand that they have failed in their endeavor. Did any of the Commissioners succeed in the nefarious plot to deliberately lift books from public libraries so that they might be placed into the hands of A. M. O. R. C.? Unfortu-

AND TH E PEOPLE

63

nately, many did, as the reproduction of the many letters from librarians will show.

September 9* 1938 Mr. R. S . Clymer* R o s ic r u c ia n F o u n d a tio n , Q uakertow n, P e n n s y lv a n ia . % d ea r Mr. C lym en In March we w r o te a sk in g you fo r a s e t o f y o u r book nThe R o sic r u c ia n F r a te r n ity in A m erica i n two v o lu m es, w hich you very k in d ly s e n t u s . We p la c e d t h i s s e t in our s p e c i a l * * * * c o lle c tio n t o p r o t e c t i t from c a s u a l t h e f t . H owever, th e copy which you gave u s h a s b een t a k e n , p rob ab ly by f a c t i o n a l o p p o n en ts and we a r e u n a b le t o o b ta in i t s r e tu r n . We hope you can c o n s id e r g iv in g u s a n o th e r copy t o r e p la c e t h e s e t w hich i s now m i s s i n g , a s we r e g r e t l e t t i n g them be s u c c e s s f u l i n d e p r iv in g t h e community o f a c c e s s t o your fa cts* Very t r u l y y o u r s .

64
the in it ia t e s

August 15# 1938

Quakertown
Dear Sirs;

set of "flosic^iyUiVery generously sent a complimentary . to our library r &n raternity in .America" two volumes, This set was taker we were very grateful indeed. Possible for you t Ut a Patron d lost. Would it be circulation deM r.t S6nd Us m o t h e r set for use in our We sliall .be most 1 this request can be granted
O 3 -1

81 u l

Very truly yours,

' tei leading the above reproductions, refer back to the t urt paragraph of the Poole letter, A M a t t e r o f I m p o r t a n c e . Study this as a whole, then more carefully the last sen tence of this paragraph: Some of you have already done this jor us, and we thank you. 1 In this short statem ent you will have the answer to: What s ecome of the hundreds of books taken from the public raries and lost by those who obtained them ? i \ C ^dve a|s< 1eceived many letters from patrons of libraries ) f n'C f f 's mdtter and, in closing, will give extracts from a tew of them:

AND T H E PEOPLE March 2, 1938 Dr. R. S. Clymer The Rosicrucian Foundation Quakertown, Pa. Dear Sir: w, D
th f* f n r m a l ) (' V t i / n v 1(11] i n 1"111T11.

to torward another set tor me either to me, or direct to . . . The request was complied with and altogethei thiee were lost in this library. . . . , Washington April 13, 1939 Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer Quakertown, Pa. M rs. . . . is writing you regarding the theft of the two volumes, The Rosicrucian Fraternity in America, which were placed in the public library in . . . about a year ago.

66

TH E IN ITIA TES f ,j / - made inquiry for volume two and the librarian iei t at both volumes had been stolen recently. I an C " * ^. ver- much to replace these books at once and S v I S .llle ^ - ou can send a few volumes that our mem v bers will make up the money to reimburse you. r nce this theft has shown up, I cannot but wonder how leaciing this act might extend, as I understand you ave supplied many libraries throughout the country. Set anc^ even a third, was supplied a t the expense of foundation and we understand every one was lost.

. . , C a lifo rn ia

3/18/40

I went over to the . . . Library on Saturday. There was no card under your name in the index. I told the libra rian that 1 had previously read some of your books there, but noticed none was cataloged a t present. She advised that evidently the books were lost or stolen which necessi tated the removal of the card. . . . However, if I remember correctly, about a year ago another librarian there told me that some of your books had been removed because of many complaints by the fol lowers of Lewis, who claimed that your books unjustly attacked their religious leader. Due to the peculiar circumstances in this case, a local Rep resentative investigated and found th at the first set had been taken out by a woman who later reported:

AND T H E PEOPLE

67 . . . , Calif. July 10, 1938

Dr. R. S. Clymer Quakertown, Pa. I received your welcome letters of June 10th and June 17th, and the books destined for the public library a cou ple days later; but not until July 8th was I enabled to get in touch with the Chief Librarian of all branches of public libraries in . . She received me kindly and listened to my Attorney at Law speech in behalf of the Rosicrucian Foundation and accepted the books with the remark (q u o te): What 18 the use to place these books on the library shelves be cause these A. M. O. R. C. people will again find a way to get away with them ? So I suggested that they should he placed in the Reference Room from which these books cannot be taken. Also, she told me that she had found out that the woman who had borrowed these books the last time and who lost them later and paid for them was sent from A. M. O. R. C. A second set was placed in this library and evidently this set ad been removed as per instructions of A. M. O. R. C.see letter reproduced.

. . , Texas August 27, 1938 Rosicrucian Foundation Quakertown, Pa. . . . Today the librarian of the Main Library told me they received a letter from the A. M. O. R. C. more (or

68

T H E IN ITIA TES less) excoriating the library for receiving the books for circulation. As I have no connection whatever with the library (ex cept as one who holds a card for books), I can do nothing about it. I wish you would please write the librarian and corroborate my statements th at the Randolph Foundation or Rosicrucian Fraternity is the genuine and the A. M. O. R. C. the counterfeit. I want your books to remain in circulation so th at the patrons will know which is O. K. I dont think Lewis should be allowed to dictate in the matter.

Later we had another letter from this same party who stated : February 25, 1939 Rosicrucian Foundation Quakertown, Pa. Have just learned today that the books you sent to the Main Library here had been taken out by a lady and kept the full two weeks, then renewed for two weeks more, and then when notified to bring them in, because others wanted to see them, came in and reported them as lost. Am reporting merely the fact that your books are gone, as you indicated had happened elsewhere.

. . . , N. Mex. 1 /1 /4 0 Mrs. . . . informed me that all your books and every thing pertaining to the School have been removed from the public library. Can they do this legally? The books

AND T H E PEOPLE

69

you sent to the library at . . . (a large city) were taken from the shelves because there was so much complaint made there. I asked for information and they gave it to me. It was the A. M. O. R. C. students |see A. M .0. R. C. letter of instructions to Commissioners] who caused the books to be removed. All of the letters from which we quoted or which have been reproduced are in the Archives of the Fratenity and are open for inspection by any authorized agent of the Department of Justice or other Governmental Agency.

U sin g
t o a n d

Pu b l ic Lib r a r ie s

A d v e r t i s e A . M . O. It s

R.

C .

Pu b l i c a t i o n

Possibly the most contemptible, grossly unjust to every American, most unethical practice of which anyone may be guilty, and of which no reputable organization or concern would be guilty is the use of books in libraries throughout America to advertise A. M. O. R. C. All that we might say would prove nothing, therefore we herewith reproduce a letter issued and mailed by A. M. O. R. C. to all its members. COMMENTS 1. The underlining of words, sentences and phrases through out the letter is not our work. We are reproducing the letter just as received from one who had formerly been not only a member, but a Commissioner for A. M. O. R. C. After the expose he himself investigated the truth of the statements made in the books and then withdrew. 2. This is no more the truth than almost all that M r. Lewis senior and junior have written and published relative to both A. M. O. R. C. or the authentic Fraternity. We did not write to either our members or our cohorts but directly to the libra rians, asking whether or not they desired a set of the books for their library. If they requested the books, we mailed them ; if not, the matter was dropped. 3. Mr. Lewis must have a very poor opinion of the intelli-

AND TH E PEOPLE

71

4
A M R C

T H E R O SIC R U C IA N ORDER
Known as "THE ANCIENT. MYSTIC ORDER ROSAE CRUCIS" throughout the world
SU P R E M E T E M P LE F O R N O R T H A N D S O U T H A M E R IC A ROSICRUCIAN PARK SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA, U .S .A .

S e p t e m b e r 2 9 , 1937

An U rgent
R equest R e s p e c t e d Member:

I t I s n o t a n y t h i n g new t h a t t h e R o s i c r u c i a n O r d e r , AMORC, s h o u l d be a t ta c k e d . I t I s n o t even s t r a n g e t h a t an o r g a n i z a ti o n c a rry in g o n a s c o n s t r u c t i v e a n d g o o d w o rk a s t h e O r d e r h a s i n t h e p a s t and p r e s e n t s h o u ld b e s u b j e c t to m allgnm ent and v i t r i o l i c d efam atio n . E v e ry o r g a n i z a t i o n w h ic h t a k e s a p o s i t i o n o p p o s in g d a r k n e s s , w hich u p s e ts s e l f i s h i n t e r e s t s and m is r e p r e s e n ta tio n s of I n d iv id u a ls or g r o u p s , i s bound t o b e s u b j e c t to such a t t a c k s . I f th e g r e a t M aster J e s u s was c r u c i f i e d , i f o t h e r g r e a t a v a t a r s , p h i l o s o p h e r s , e d u c a to r s , h a v e b e e n b u r n e d a t t h e s t a k e , t o r t u r e d , m e rely b e c au se th ey f u r t h e r e d t h e i n t e r e s t s o f h u m a n i t y , i s i t s t r a n g e t h a t AMORC, a t t e m p t i n g t o d o t h e sa m e k i n d o f w o r k , ' s h o u l d a l s o b e s u b j e c t t o t h e s e same co n d itio n s? H o w e v e r , we h a v e w e a t h e r e d a l l p r e v i o u s a t t a c k s t h r o u g h t h e a g e s b e c a u s e o f t h e l o y a l a n d d e v o t e d s u p p o r t o f t h e me mbers who com pose t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . / R e c e n t l y a s m a l l o r g a n i z a t i o n , w ith w hich w e\have had c o n s i d e r a b l e d i f f i c u l t y i n t h e p a s t , and w hich p u r p o r t s to \ b e R o s ic r u c ia n , a n d w h o s e h e a d q u a r t e r s i s l o c a t e d on a s m a l l f a r m i n P e n n y s i v a n i a , h a s i s s u e d a b o o k q u i t e v o l u m i n o u s i n s i z e , a n d e n t i t l e d , THE ROSI CRUCIAN _FRATERNITY IN AMERICAT b y R. S to in b u r n C l j j n f i r - k w h i c h e n t i r e b o o k I s d e v o t e d t o "nof H l n g e l s e b u t a n a t t a c k u p o n t h e R o s i c r u c i a n O r d e r , AMORC, a n d a m a l i c i o u s a t t a c k up o n i t s o f f i c e r s . The b o o k c o n t a i n s n o t h i n g c o n s t r u c t i v e , I s n o t d e v o te d to th e t e a c h i n g s and p r i n c i p l e s o f R o s l c r u c i a n i s m , and i s , a s I h a v e s a i d a b o v e , J u s t an a t t a c k , s e e m in g ly an a t t e m p t to r u i n th e o r g a n i z a ti o n i f I t c o u ld , and t o c a s t d o u b t and s u s p i c i o n upon i t . Tire i n d i v i d u a l who i s i s s u i n g t h i s b o o k h a s w r i t t e n t o p e r s o n s h i s c o h o r t s t o t r y a n d make e v e r y a t t e m p t t o h a v e t h e b o o k p l a c e d i n p u b l i c V l i b r a r i e s , p r i n c i p a l l i b r a r i e s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , and e ls e w h e re ,X u n d e r th e g u is e t h a t i t i s a c o n s t r u c t i v e book d e a l i n g w ith R o slcru c ian ism . You w i l l n o t e f r o m i t s t i t l e t h a t i t w o u ld a p p e a r t o b e an o f f i c i a l book o f th e R o s ic ru c ia n s d e a lin g w ith w o rth w h ile , n o b le te a c h in g s of th e O rder. Yet th e m inute th e r e a d e r opens t h e b o o k , h e f i n d s i t h a s n a u g h t t o do w i t h t h e t e a c h i n g s , b u t i s d e s t r u c t i v e I n e v e r y s e n s e a n d i s a d i r e c t a t t a c k u p o n AMORC. If t h e t i t l e w e r e o f a n a t u r e t h a t w o u l d i n d i c a t e t h a t i t was a n a t t a c k ,
ATTENTION PLEASEt ___________________________________________________________________ _ ____________________________________ When replying print your name and complete addreu at (lie lop of your letter and Rive your Key Number and Decree. Be certain to addreu your letter, to the proper department (or they will receive quicker attention. So a, to aMure attention to all member,' letter,, queatiotu ,hould pnly lo t> Roaicrucian iludlf,, Ilie practice of RoticrucUmam, the velfare of the ttudenl and the welfare or the pro^tcx of the organiiation. >

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most p u b l i c l i b r a r i e s would n o t a c c e p t t h e b ook; b u t t h e t i t l e h a s b een v e i l e d t o make i t a p p e a r -as so m e th i n g e l s e , g.nd t h u s i t w l l ^ bp l i s t e d w i t h R o s i c r u c i a n b o ok s i n t h e l i b r a r i e s , an d t h o s e s e e k i n g w o rthwhile'' th i n g s ' a o o u t t h e TTflBxcruclan p h i l o s o p h y w i l l I n n o c e n t l y s e c u r e t h e book and be t r e a t e d ^ t o ^ t i r T s - s c l I r r l T ^ T r s ^ a t t a c k up on AMORC. L i b r a r i a n s t h e m s e l v e s h a v e n o t t h e t im e t o r e a d b o o ks t o d e t e r m i n e w h e t h e r t h e y a r e what t h e i r t i t l e s r e p r e s e n t them t o b o ; a n d s o , a s I h ave s i a d , they w i l l be duped i n t o l i s t i n g t h e bo o k a n d c l a s s i f y i n g i t u n d e r "R o s l c r u c l a n l s m . 11____ Now, h e r e i s how you can h e l p : Take t h e e n c l o s e d l i t t l e p r i n t e d s l i p s ; e;o t o v o u r p u b l i c l i b r a r y , r e f e r - t o t n e l r f l i e s . u n d e r TTlg su bj e c t oT~ ~ o~ srcruclan 1 o r ^ o si.ci*Uclanigm, 1 an d 66 11' t h e AbUTTe ffK 1 1 book i s l i s t e d , i t i s su p po sed "to b e Volume I I . bv t h p t t . l t l p . If o n ly Volume I i s l i s t e d , l o c a t e i t on t h e s h e l v e s a nd t h e n p l a c e t h e s e l e a f l e t l n s l d f t - t h e book a f t e r t h e f l r ^ t , f.p_n n^gp.q. Thus t h e I n n o c e n t r e a d e r who s e c u r e s i t may have t h e o p p o r t u n i t y o f o b t a i n i n g from AkC-RC THE OTHER SIDE OF THE STORY. D i s t r i b u t e t h e l e a f l e t s i n t h e b o o k , do n o t p l a c e them a l l t o g e t h e r . P l a c e e a c h o ne I n t o th e book, c l o s e t o t h e b i n d i n g , so t h a t i t w i l l n o t f a l l o u t . Of c o u r s e , i f b o t h Volume I an d Volume I I a r e a v a i l a b l e i n t h e l i b r a r y , p l a c e t h e l e a f l e t s IN BOTH VOLUMES.^Be s u r e , h o w e v e r , t h a t you g e t t h e b o o k s t h a t have e x a c t l y t h e t l t l e ' ^ o w n a b o v e . I f n e i t h e r volume i s a v a i l a b l e when you c a l l t h e f i r s t t i m e , p l e a s e c a l l b a c k a t t h e l i b r a r y two weeks from y o u r f i r s t v i s i t , b e c a u s e by t h a t t i m e i t may be a v a i l a b l e . So a s n o t t o o v e r l o o k y o u r second v i s i t , mark i t on y o u r c a l e n d a r . I f , f o r a n y r e a s o n , you h a v e n o t t h e t im e t o p e r f o r m t h i s v e r y h e l p f u l a nd n e c e s s a r y l i t t l e s e r v i c e t o t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n , p l e a s e a d v i s e u s a t o n c e J u s t by p o s t c a r d so t h a t we may s e l e c t some o t h e r F r a t e r o r S o r o r , a s i t m u s t n o t b e o v e r looked./'* I f you h a v e a c c o m p l i s h e d I t , k i n d l y l e t u s know t h a t you h av e, b y ^ J u s t a p o s t c a r d . Hoping you r e a l i z e t h e I m p o r t a n c e o f t h i s n e c e s s a r y d e f e n c e i n t h e I n t e r e s t o f t h e O r d e r , . w i t h a l l good w i s h e s f o r P e a c e P r o f o u n d ,

RML:MJ

gence possessed by librarians and seems unaware of the fact that books of this nature, before being accepted, listed and placed in the library, must undergo a thoroughly close exami nation. If these volumes are misnamed then there never has been a Rosicrucian book, because no book ever issued repro-

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duced as many Rosicrucian documents as will be found in these two volumes and these documents were collected from many parts of the world. 4. This request requires no comment. Form your own con clusion. If the m atter rested here it might be ignored but throughout America A. M. O. R. C. leaflets were placed, and are now being placed in all books that show signs of being used. Excerpts from one or two of hundreds of letters received will be sufficient: November 20, 1938 Dear Brother Clymer: Attached hereto you will find one of fourteen leaflets (all alike) found scattered through the two volumes of your Rosicrucian Fraternity in America, placed therein no doubt by some of A. M. O. R. C.s propagandists. Thought that you might be interested. Fraternally, W. M. T h o m p s o n , Thompsons Book Store, Dayton, Ohio. Seattle, Wash., June 26, 1942 Dear Dr. Clymer: M r. . . . and Mrs. . . . were over from . . . Sunday and told us that A. M. O. R. C. had placed leaflets in your books in the library. However, now the books are being carefully watched. The reason for this letter is that I am sure that it is being done extensively. Yesterday while I was in a de

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TH E IN ITIA TES partment store I picked up the book: How Japan In tends to Win the W ar, and very neatly tucked away in the center was the enclosed circular (Hear the Other Side). (Signature)

Investigation has shown that the various A. M. O. R. C. leaflets will be found in books of various types in almost all of the public libraries of America. If you think this is an over-statement, go into your public library and investigate. Try Clymer publications first, then call the librarians at tention to this infamous abuse of the liberty. S. The instructions are both specific and detailed. This is being done by an organization calling itself Rosicrucian. If this is Rosicrucianism, then we admit we know nothing of Rosicrucian philosophy and practice. With this we rest our case and willingly permit the public to judge. Sincerely yours, R.
S w in b u r n e C ly m e r.