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Today, March 19th is the Rosicrucian New Year’s Celebration, year 3377. The full name is Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC). This organization’s United States Headquarters is in San Jose, California, a block away from my cousin. I have visited the outer complex, and have walked the outer gardens many times. The gardens are beautiful. The buildings are an Egyptian design. They have an Egyptian museum there, along with a planetarium. Have visited those, as well.
These first books were bought after visiting the museum. “Treasures of the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum, a book of postcards” 2003 has perhaps 30 postcards of various objects from the exhibits. Then I have pamplet “Women of the Nile” Rosecrutian Egyption Museum, 1999. I also have two statuettes bought at the museum.
Some say the place is unusual and weird. They call themselves a Cultural Organization. If you join them you will find: Spiritual Wisdom, Expanded Awareness, Sense of Connectedness, and Mastery of Life. I became curious, so started a collection of some of their books. I have perhaps twenty of their teachings and publications. Let me display a few.
First is Rosicrucian Questions and Answers, With a Complete History of the Rosicrucian Order” by H. Spenser Lewis”, published 1932. It is volume one of their library of books. It is an interesting book. The book’s first half goes through the history of Rosicrucians; that ancient Egyptians being in the order, specifically King Tutankhamen’s father, Amenhotep. Jesus was another believer, further down the line. (there are two volumes about him in the Rosicrucian library-he was a member, too.)
The next book is “The technique of the Disciple” by Raymond Andria, 1935. Volume 16 of their Books. This gives advice on disciples (neophytes) entering into the Rosicrucian order. The third book is “The Symbolic Prophecy of the Great Pyramid, By H. Spenser Lewis, 1948. It is volume 14 of their library. I also have a flyer advertising this book. This book has interesting questions about the Great Pyramid.
Next are a few pamphlets and flyers of the Rosecrucian order. “Rosicrucian Supply Bureau” 1980, is a catalog of things you can buy from the order. Much is by member only. Then I have four little flyers from “The Leisure Hour Series”. They were meant for study when you had an hour or so to read their ideals.
Last is “The Story of Learning” (1942?). This booklet explains the Rose-Croix University at the headquarters in San Jose. It also has an Application for Matriculation, to apply to go to school there. The three week program-eight hours a day, not including Sundays, would be $35. That would be about $662 today. Entrance fee was $2.
H. Spenser Lewis began the Rosecrucians in America in 1915. He moved to San Jose and set up the complex in 1927. His teachings were that there was another group in early America but that the Rosicrucians go through a-
“cycle of existence from birth to rebirth that was a cycle of 216 years. Of this cycle, the first 108 years was to be a period of outer, general activity, while the second period of 108 years was to be a period of concealed, silent activity, almost resembling complete dormancy. This period of inactivity was to be followed by another 108 years of outer activity, just as though a new order was born.”
This is all unusual to be sure. I am curious when they will go underground. Will it be 108 years from 1927? It was fun to research for these books and then put them into my perspective. There is another Rosicrucian order, as well.
The other organization in California was begun by Max Heindel, in 1909. The Rosicrucian Fellowship, in Oceanside California. I have three books of his, along with a bunch of astrological times charts for various years in astrology. The books, all by him are “The The Rosicrucian Philosophy Questions and Answers”, 1922; “Simpified Scientific Astrology” 1973, and “Complete Index of (his) Books” 1950.
I have a religious bookcase, that these Rosicrucian books reside. I have books from a lot of religions there. My Grandfather’s family were part of the original Zion families led by the minister John Alexander Dowie. He was an evangelist and faith healer. His church was the Christian Catholic Apostolic Church. His wife-my grandmother came from another faith, from Tennessee. Her Grandfather and uncle, were part of the initial group that formed the Church of God (Cleveland, Tennessee).
There will be an individual story on each of those organizations in the future-I have some great stories from their books, along with family histories. Until then, Happy New Year to the Rosicrucians. What did the group of Rosicrucians say in heaven? Halo, halo, halo.
Keep reading…whatever interests you.
Librarytomes 