reuben swinburne clymer - master ship the divine law

8/6/2019 Reuben Swinburne Clymer - Master Ship the Divine Law

1/134

Mastership: Te Divine Law 1949

A ull explanation o the Laws governing the inner

development necessary to attain to Philosophic Initiation orMastership together with a detailed account o the Priests o

th or the Priesthood o Melchizedek.

Rev. R. Swinburne Clymer, M.D.

Director General: Church o Illumination, Supreme GrandMaster o the International Conederation o Initiates, Supreme

Grand Master o the Merged Occult FraternitiesComprising:

CONENS

Forward

Prologue1. Initiation2. Vibrations - Teir Power and Inuence3. Mans Magnetic or Attractive Forces4. Evil - Te Cause and the Remedy5. Te Law o Compensation6. Te Why o Suering7. Soul Illumination vs. Destructive Negativism8. Unailing Protection Trough Divine Law9. Te New Freedom

10. Te Law o Faithulness11. You! Your Soul!12. How Can We Know God?13. Te AEth Forces or Fires14. Te AEth and Its Sublime PossibilitiesEpilogue - Te Priesthood Ater the Order o MelchizedekAddendum

e Priesthood of th e Rosicrucian Order

e Secret Schools e Hermetic BrotherhoodIlluminat American Fraternitas Ros Crucis

Temple of the Rosy Cross e Order of the MagiSons o Isis and Osiris


2/134

Troughout all o the vast Arcane, Occult and Esoteric literatureruns the thread or theme o a Secret Doctrine and the GreaterMysteries. e Bible itself is far from free of this same sugges-tion. Te lie and Ministry o the Nazarene is built upon this

idea, and the very basis o his teachings is the secret or Dou-ble Doctrine; one or the greater mass, the multitude; while theother is or the ew; or those who made themselves the select -Gods chosen people; the theme, assurance or promise o whichwas, and is:

o you it is given to know the mysteries o the Kingdom oHeaven, to others it is not so given. - Matt. 13:11

When he made this statement as variously recorded by thedisciples, he was speaking only to the ew; hence only to the ewis it given to know this secret o the kingdom. All the others, the

vast majority, are taught in parables, and herein is the Arcanumo his teachings and his mission; the Secret or Double Doctrine.I we believe that religion, or more correctly, the Scriptures

which teach man the Laws and his duties to himsel, to God andto his ellow man, were coexistent with man himsel, then wend in the very beginning of the Bible, Genisis 14:18, one of thegreatest o all the Mysteries.

Te Greater Mysteries and the Secret Doctrine throughouttime were based on this reerence to Melchizedek, High Priest toGod and His kingdom o righteousness, an Arcanum whollyneglected or evaded by orthodoxy, but so vital and so eternalthat the centuries have not dimmed its importance, but greatlyand gradually brought it more and more to the ore.

Tough this Priesthood o Melchizedek is, insoar as we canlearn from the Biblical text, the only one established according

to the dictates o God, It has been let entirely to the AncientMysteries, the Greater Mysteries, and later Arcanum and Ini-tiatory Fraternities to keep its Light alive. Tis is unquestion-ably due to the act that it is only or the ew, to those who are

seeking the Kingdom o Heaven, because it demands so muchmore rom those who seek to enter that Kingdom or know itsmysteries than rom others. Only the comparatively ew now, asin the time o the Nazarene, are willing to listen and to ollowthrough.

No one is able to say how long the Priesthood ater the Ordero Melchizedek existed as such ater its establishment accord-ing to Genesis. is Priesthood, clearly indicated by the Bibli-cal text, was that o the Holy Ghost, or Holy Grail, hence thePriesthood o Light or Fire.

It required sacrices made by re, not o animals or othersubstances, but o the evils within man. We can readily trace thisPriesthood to the time o Moses who became an Initiate o thatPriesthood ater he had served suciently and had become so puri-ed that this Holy Ghost, the Grail, appeared to him rom out othe burning bush, and he became Gods chosen leader o the people,as Melchizedek, Priest o Righteousness, had been beore him . Tisis not Occult literature or reasoning, but profoundly Biblical.

Te next great age o the teachings o Melchizedek, King oSalem, was during the time o the Initiatory Orders o Egypt when in her glory. O these Orders, their Lesser and GreaterMysteries, and the Secret Doctrines taught, so much has beenwritten that nothing need be said here.

We ignore time and nd ourselves in another age; the pre-Christian and into the rst century. Here we entered into a re-

FOREWORD


3/134

awakening o the Priesthood o Melchizedek in the teachings othe true Gnostic athers and their Gnosis, an Arcanum o theselect ew who were willing to so live that they might experiencethe awakening o the Christos within themselves. those who did so

live, who succeeded in nding the light o the Holy Ghost, becametheknowers, hence the Gnostics, the rst Christo-ians.

o these the Gnostic Initiates might have said as truthullyas did the Nazarene to his close associates: o you, the ewwho have listened and obeyed, the Kingdom o Heaven has beenopened; the others who would not ollow the laws can be taughtonly in parables and symbolism.

Te Gnostics and their Secret Doctrine and Arcane were com-pelled to enter into the silence. While they were in process odoing this, one humbly born took up their banner, and, as a

descendant o Abraham, like him, became a Priest ater the Or-der o Melchizedek. He taught these Secret Doctrines; the sameArcamum o Light or the Holy Ghost, and like the Gnostics,boldly proclaimed that to only the very ew was given the secreto the Kingdom o Heaven.

Tese ew were the Chosen People o God; a peculiar peopleindeed, because they, rom among the many, were willing to livethe regenerative lie and experience the second birth so necessaryi the eyes were to be opened to spiritual things.

Again there is a period o outer silence. During this time wereborn the Acarnum Fraternities working in silence or centuries,but teaching these same Greater Mysteries and Secret Doctrinesto the ew ready to accept and obey.

Te Mysteries and Secret Doctrines o the Initiates now be-came the Arcane Science and continued to be taught in their

pristine purity by the authentic Secret Schools.In our Prologue we have attempted to give a running ac-

count beginning with the work o Melchizedek, High Priest a-ter the Order o Melchizedek, up to and including the work o

the Priesthood o th or Light, the two appellations being usedinterchangeably.

Following the Prologue are chapters dealing with the DivineLaws which explain mans duty to God, to himsel and to hisellow man. Tese Divine Laws must be obeyed i we seek tobecome all that we may be i we willingly comply with the Law.Tese Laws are so plainly interpreted that all may readily under-stand and put them into practice.

It is admitted that in a world o selshness this practice maybe more or less dicult; nevertheless, nothing is prohibited man

which is really or his welare.Moreover, it cannot be contradicted that whoever seeks to beone o a peculiar people, one o Gods chosen people, mustobey these Laws, otherwise the mysteries o the Kingdom oHeaven cannot be revealed to them, nor can the gates o Lightbe opened to the Soul.

Tis book is not literature as such, because no continuity isattempted. Its purpose is to teach the Law that will lead manrom mortality into Immortality. One paragraph may have noconnection with the one preceding or ollowing it. It is, in intentand purpose, a Book of Laws.

Finally, and to make the book o greater value to those in-terested in the Arcanum o the Initiatory Fraternities, we haveadded an Epilogue. Tis Epilogue is based on a secret manu-script which belonged to one o the Grand Masters o an outer


4/134

court o the Fraternitas Rosae Crucis and released by him to hisInitiate members. We are personally responsible or its interpre-tation and the notes.

In the hope that our eorts will be o help to those seeking theLight and the goal o mans existence, we remain,

Sincerely,

R. Swinburne Clymer

Te SeeBeverly HallQuakertown, Pennsylvania

March 25, 1949

Te present text is addressed particularly to the millions who aretruly seeking or the spirit which is hidden within religion. Gen-erally, this Spiritis not ound in what is termed the orthodoxteaching o the churches, and because this appeal is to a special

class, we eel at liberty to express ourselves without reservation;interpreting the Divine Law as it has been taught to us.

When we entered the Path leading to the portals o the AugustFraternity late in the nineteenth century, there were active inAmerica a number o branches o the Ancient Mysteries. Amongthe most Arcane were the Rosicrucians; the h Priesthood; TeHermetics (Phelon); Te Magi with its PriestsoMelchizedek,and the Illuminatae Americana.

Te general public was little inormed concerning the intentand teachings o the Ancient Mysteries. Occasionally members

o one or the other o these Fraternities published a book orwrote an article which appeared in some journal or magazine.Among the most prominent o the American writers were: Pas-chal Beverly Randolph, Freeman B. Dowd, Peter Davidson, J.C.Street, Alexander Wilder, M.D., Paul yner and a ew others.

In 1903, at the time o our Ordination to the Priesthoodwithin the Campbellite Church and assuming a humble partin this special eld o labor, little or no change had taken placeduring the previous century.

Late in 1903 we saw the publication o our rst book, TePhilosophy o Fire. Tis was shortly ollowed byTe Rosicrucians;Teir eachings, and other volumes, all o them dealing with thePhilosophical teachings o the Ancient or Philosophical Initi-ates.1

1. For a detailed denition o the term Philosophic Initiate, see Te Book o Rosiscruci, (3vols)Philosophical Publishing Company, Quakertown, Penna.

PROLOGUE


5/134

Within a ew years these publications became widely known andwere accepted as authoritative throughout the world; when lo,organizations sprang up like mushrooms, overnight. Most othese, without authority or authentic direction, assumed titles

and insignia belonging exclusively to Fraternities able to tracetheir lineage to centuries beore the Christian era. Tis in nowiseprevented pseudo-initiates rom claiming these names or them-selves and using them or their own selsh purposes. Among thenames assumed was that o the Magi.

Te Apostolic descension o the Priesthood o the Magi, thatof Melchizedek, dates beyond the year 4255 B.C. e Magiwere ages old when the Nazarene was born and it is recordedthat they visited him and acknowledged him as the new inter-preter o the Law.

In the Priesthood o the Magi, a neophyte was never allowedto be present, or take part in any Initiatory rites, until he hadattained to what is now known as Philosophic Initiation.

Later, these Mysteries, in one orm or another, were taught inthe Secret Schools o Greece, India, Persia, Trace, Scandinavia,the Celtic and other nations.

In Egypt, during the years o her glory, no one could be aPriest, or occupy a State position, unless he was a PhilosophicInitiate. In the Egyptian Mysteries were taught and made mani-est, as a result o the sel-eort by the Neophytes, the Unity oGod, the Immortality o the Soul, and the bringing into Con-scious maniestation o the Flame o the individual Soul. Fromthe rst dawn o spiritual consciousness in man, all who soughtknowledge o the powers and potentialities o the Soul, and theLight that dwells in the Soul, entered these schools o the Sacred

Priesthood.On entering, they were bound by a most sacred and solemn

obligation not to divulge any o the teachings to the proane,and to do all in their power to protect the secret writings, thus

preventing them rom alling into the hands o the unprepared.Tis system has in nowise changed even to the present day.

Te present Priesthood o Melchizedek (Church o Illumina-tion) is directly descended rom the Ancient Schools o the Mys-teries via the Order o the Magi which became one with the Fra-ternitas Rosae Crucis at the time when various authentic groupsmerged under the new name. Its teachings are based upon de-monstrable truths. Its interpretation o the Divine Law has notdeviated one jot or tittle. Te teachings harmonize with thoseo the rst Church o the Christian era, the Gnostic. Ages have

proven to the Initiates that the teachings could not be changedand still harmonize with the Law. Te training o Neophytestoday is identical with that o the past ages. I instructions areaithully ollowed and in the right spirit, Illumination or SoulConsciousness is a certain result.

Te solemn obligation is as essential today as during the darkages. Why?

Because all power is dangerous in unprepared or unscrupuloushands. No two Aspirants who enter the portals o the school arealike in their nature or needs. What is to the welare o one isdangerous and destructive to the other.

Te training and development in the Mysteries or Arcane isindividual. Te method which will ree one body rom diseaseand bring the Soul into Illumination may result in the destruc-tion o the body and Soul o another.


6/134

It is well said that: One mans meat is another mans poison.is is equally true of the meat, which, in Biblical sense, is aspiritual ood or man. Te method which will transmute oneseeker rom a state o degradation to the highest spirituality may

arouse unworthy inclinations in another.Tese are but a very ew o the reasons why a most solemn

obligation is compulsory upon all seeking entrance into the por-tals o the August Fraternity. He who, in any manner o orm,proves recreant to his sacred vows will bring damnation uponhis Soul itsel.

Te Priesthood which existed even in the wilderness, in whichMoses was taught and trained, most active in Egypt during herglory, unctioned both beore and ater the birth o the Naza-rene. It was the Priesthood o the Magi, and o the Gnostics - the

Wise Men, or knowers. Tese men o Melchizedek are older thanany written record possessed by men. Tis is clearly indicatedby the writer of Hebrews. Before there were records, these meno Melchizedek were active. No one ever possessed authority, orcan now possess authority, except those who entered, or nowenter, its portals in a natural and legitimate manner; who took,or take, the prescribed obligation, and who were, or are, trainedand Ordained by this Fraternity o Initiates.

Tat the Priesthood o Melchizedek existed long beorethe Christian era is clearly indicated in the Biblical narrative.Chapter Five o Hebrews, tells us:

HEBREWS - Chapter Five Interpreted

1. For every high priest taken rom among men is ordainedor men in things pertaining to God, that he may oer both gitsand sacrices or sins.

Tis saying: ordained or men in things pertaining to God,tells in no uncertain terms that such priest must be ully in-structed in an understanding o the Law - not mere dogmas - sothey in turn may not only instruct, but guide men in the path

they should ollow; avoiding the commission o sin, thereby es-caping the suering which is the penalty or transgressing theDivine Law.

Tese priests must be procient in several things: (1) have aull Knowledge o the Law, (2) be able to instruct men in the Lawso God, and a third requisite is: (3) possess the strength and man-hood to ulll their priestly duty, and not be persuaded aside byorce, infuence, power, or those possessed o infuence, power or inhigh position.

2. Who can have compassion on the ignorant, and on them

that are out o the way; or that he himsel also is compassedwith inrmity.

Te priest must be o such a nature that he will eel compassionor the ignorant who continually commit sin because o theirlack i understanding, and or all who live out o the Way, be-cause they are not ully inormed o the penalty they must payor their waywardness.All this he must do or two reasons: (a) his eeling o compassionor his ellow men who are both ignorant and weak; and (b) herecognizes that he, though being a priest, is also man, with at

least some o the weaknesses o the carnal man.3. And by reason hereo he ought, as or the people, so also

or himsel, to oer or sins.

Priest though he is, he must be strong enough and honestenough to recognize when he is guilty o an inraction o the


7/134

Law, and he must make retribution or himselas he teaches oth-ers to do so. Being a priest does not exempt him from the Law;on the contrary, his greater knowledge o the Law imposes uponhim the greater responsibility.

4. And no man taketh this honour unto himsel, but he thatis called o God, as was Aaron.

Because one selects himself to become a High Priest, or is calledo God to such oce, is no excuse or pride. Te higher theoce and the arther one has advanced in the Mysteries o thePriesthood o Melchizedek, the greater need there is or hum-bleness and thankulness, or permission to be a servant in theservices o god. Tis is made plain in the ollowing verse:

5. So also Christ glories not himsel to be made an highpriest; but he that said unto him, Tou art my Son, today have

I begotten thee.

Is the Bible accepted as truth? As the word of God? If so, thenwe are here inormed in no uncertain terms that ater his proba-tion the Nazarene did become a High Priest ater the Order oMelchizedek.

Concurrently with his reception into this high oce, he alsowas recognized by God as His Son. Becoming a high priest, i.e.,one who serves God in the capacity o a leader and a preacher tothose less inormed or less advanced than himsel.

6. As he saith also in another place, Tou art a priest oreverater the order o Melchizedek.

It was not man who ordained the Nazarene into the Priesthoodo Melchizedek, but God. aught in the Divine Law, and hav-ing attained Soul Consciousness as a result o his own blameless

lie and eorts, the Nazarene became a priest ater the Order oMelchizedek. His conrmation or ordination was but the recog-nition o the success o his eorts.

7. Who in the days o his esh, when he had oered up

prayers and supplications with strong crying and tears unto himthat was able to save him rom death, and was heard in that heeared;

8. Tough he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by thethings which he suered;

Even though man has attained to Sonship with the Father andbecome one o the gods, nevertheless, he still is o the esh,despite Ordination into the Priesthood o Melchizedek. Prayersare necessary to continue in the spirit, and remain obedient tothe Law.

Te Nazarene, ater he had been accepted by his Father ashis Son, nevertheless recognized that there were still weaknesseso the esh. He not only prayed or himsel, but requested hisdisciples to do likewise, so that he might possess the strength toresist sin in the orm o temptation; illustrating the truth o hisown saying: When ye stand, take heed lest ye all.

9. And being made perect, he became the author o eternalsalvation unto all them that obey him;

10. Called o God an high priest ater the order Melchizedek.

Te correct interpretation is: Ater becoming, i.e., making him-sel perect as a result o his own obedience to the Law, he pos-sessed the knowledge which enabled him to instruct others inthe Path o Lie which is eternal salvation.

As a result o obedience to Divine Law, the gaining o knowl-


8/134

edge, and attaining Consciousness o his Sonship with the Fa-ther, he was called,i.e., became, a high priest ater the Ordero Melchizedek. Tis is an Arcane Law and so recognized by theSecret Schools.

11. O whom we have many things to say, and hard to beuttered, seeing ye are dull o hearing.

Ye are dull o hearing. Te proane, those who have not livedthe Lie who have reused to obey the Law, and have not attainedto Soul or Christic Consciousness, cannot possibly comprehendthe real meaning o Christic Consciousness.

Naturally, they are dull o hearing, unable to understand, andcannot know what it actually means to have become, or to havebeen Ordained, a High Priest ater the Order o Melchizedek.

Nevertheless, i they will obey the law as ormulated, they,

also, will ultimately become Illuminated and attain to the sameConsciousness as have these High Priests o Melchizedek.

It is all in the willingness to obey; seeking to come into thespirit o the Christos and the attainment o Christhood. Tedoor is open or all to accept and enter.

12. For when or the time ye ought to be teachers, ye haveneed that one teach you again which be the rst principles o theoracles o God; and are become such as have need o milk, andnot o strong meat.

A great, all-embracing Law is here described. he that would be

served must rst be wholeheartedly willing to serve, that he maylearn the duties o a servant.

Tis is a lesson or all to learn. Tey who would be teachersand guides, even Priests o Melchizedek, must rst be willingto humbly kneel at the eet o one who has so served and been

taught, that he in turn may teach.Tese must live so that they will recognize the oracle, the voice

o God, and be perectly willing in spirit, to both listen and obeythat voice which is the Law. Tey must rst sup the milk be-

cause milk is the ood o the young in wisdom, and the weak.As time passes, and they gain wisdom and become strong,

they may partake o meat, become trulyMen and eat oMan-hoodsood. It is truly said:

13. For every one that useth milk is unskillul in the word orighteousness: or he is a babe.

14. But strong meat belongeth to them that are of full age,even those who by reason o use have their senses exercised todiscern both good and evil.

Tose who have not lived according to the Law are weak because

they are still living in darkness, i.e., ignorance; ignorance is al-ways weakness. Tey are still under the letter o the Law. Tespirit, or Mysteries, cannot be given to them until they acceptand obey the Law, and as a result, become one with the Law.

Strong meat, i.e., knowledge and wisdom, ollowed by Con-sciousness o Sonship, is only or those who live in the spirit odesire and obedience. Teir senses have become claried andthey can discern, that, see clearly. they have become able to sepa-rate the good rom the evil; throwing aside the evil and livingaccording to the Law o goodness.

Tis is admittedly a double doctrine. It cannot be otherwise.Giving the Mysteries to the ignorant or nonunderstandingwould be like throwing pearls beore swine. Te Nazarene ex-pressedly taught:

It is given unto you (the understanding) to know the mysteries


9/134

o the Kingdom o Heaven; but to them (the ignorant) it is notgiven. Matt. 13:11.

Tis urther explains the need o obligations or sacred vows. Teweak are not ready or strong meat; to attempt to explain the

Mysteries to them would be as pearls thrown beore swine, orthe kingdom o heaven revealed to those unprepared accordingto the Laws here taught.

Tis Mystery o Melchizedek is mighty. Few other than Philo-sophic Initiates have had the courage to wrestle with it, lest theybe alsely accused or ace deeat. Te writer never hesitated, incommon parlance, to call a spade a spade. Everything he wroteagrees ully with the teachings o the Greater Mysteries.

Tis is especially true relative to those who have made greatprogress toward regeneration and Soul enlightenment, or Illu-

mination, and have then orsaken the path or the world and itsillusions. His cleavage between these, and those who continueaithul, is wide and all embracing, as so clearly shown in Chap-ter Six o Hebrews:

HEBREWS - Chapter six Interpreted

4. For it is impossible or those who were once enlightened,and have tasted o the heavenly git, and were made partakers othe Holy Ghost.

Here the word impossible is used in the text. Tis would indi-cate an actual impossibility. Te translators erred in their inter-

pretation. Te original indicates that it is almost impossible.Tis also agrees with the writer who said that it is as

impossible or a rich man to enter the Kingdom o Heaven asit is or a camel to pass through the eye o a needle (becausethe thoughts o the rich man are on his possessions and not on

spiritual things), but it does not say that it is impossible.For those who have once been enlightened and tasted o the

heavenly gits, has reerence, in the language o the Initiated orEnlightened, to those who have ound within themselves the

spiritual Light or light rom heaven, i.e., the Holy Ghost orHoly Light.

Tis is in perect harmony with the teachings o all Philo-sophic Initiates, even though the terms used are slightly dier-ent. Tose who resurrect the buried Christos within themselves,have attained to the enlightenment.

Tey have tasted o the heavenly (spiritual) gits, and are par-takers o the Holy Ghost, because Illumination is not possiblewithout rst nding this Light within. He who denies this de-nies his God.

5. And have tasted the good word o God, and the powers othe world to come.

6. I they shall all away, to renew them again unto repent-ance: seeing they cruciy to themselves the Son o God aresh,and put him to an open shame.

Tey who have once entered the Path and progressed so ar as toglimpse the Light which is rom heaven, and within themselves,and have learned but a small part o the Wisdom or which Solo-mon so ardently prayed, and then prove recreant, will nd it armore dicult to reenter the Path, than it was in the beginning

o their quest, yet will nd no peace unless they do so.In this we nd the original teachings o the Ancient Priest-

hood as well as o the Gnostic Church, and the more modernChurch of Illumination. Consider this Biblical statement: isis an hard saying; who can hear it? (who can willingly accept


10/134

it?) - John 6:60

8. But that which beareth thorns and briers is rejected, and isnigh unto cursing; whose end is to be burned.

Tose who bear thorns and briers are those who reuse to ac-

cept the dictates o the Divine Law. Tey continue to sin, thatis, continue evilly and contrary to the actual welare o them-selves and others. Tey reuse to make the necessary eort tond the Divine within themselves; the Path toward REgenera-tion and the enlightenment; the tasting o the heavenly gitswhich come to those who are partakers o the Holy Ghost.

Tere is no qualication to this statement. Te end o these isto be burned, that is , to be destroyed. Te Lawis.

9. But, beloved, we are persuaded better things of you, andthings that accompany salvation, though we thus speak.

Te beloved are those who, contrary to the ormer, have ac-cepted the Law and are trying to live within the Law. Tese shallnd salvation, that is, REgeneration. Tey will receive the bet-ter things in lie and be saved rom much others must suer.

10. For God is not unrighteous to orget your work and la-bour o love which ye have shewed toward his name, in that yehave ministered to the saints, and so minister.

Te key to this promise is in the use o the statement: Yourworks and labour o love. All that is done in love is rom the

heart.It is a spiritual work; a Godly work, and its impression is uponthe Soul within. Such work o love is a message to heaven; thework itsel is a prayer; and that prayer reaches the Godhead andis then reected back upon the individual Soul, helping in its

awakening and sanctication, or Illumination.Only that which is done in Love is recorded in the Lambs

book o Lie and is to our credit at the day o our accounting.

11. And we (the Priesthood o Melchizedek) desire that every

one o you do shew the same diligence to the ull assurance ohope unto the end:

12. Tat ye be not slothul, but ollowers o them whothrough aith and patience inherit the promises.(a) Sloth, that is , ailure to do the things that should be done,when they should be done, and the way they should be done,and (b) impatience, oten due to lack o aith or a sucientlystrong desire, are the cause o ailure and prevent the sons omen rom inheriting the good things promised by the Law, orGod, to those who continue in the way and overcome.

Many who are irresponsible, dishonest, insincere, or who donot wish to assume the responsibilities necessary to obtain thingsdesired, oten excuse themselves by saying that one should notswear, take a vow or make an oath. Tis is oset by the ollow-ing verse:

13. For when God made a promise to Abraham, because hecould swear by none greater, he swear by himsel.

Men swear, vow or take oath upon their heart and Soul, by God,who is greater than they. Tere was none greater than God andGod was willing to swear upon His own absoluteness. Tere is

no qualication o this statement and we must accept it in itsfullness or deny the truthfulness of the Bible.

14. Saying, Surely blessing I will bless thee, and multiplyingI will multiply thee.


11/134

15. And so, ater he had patiently endured, he obtained thepromise.

Here, in these ew words, mankind is given a mighty truth. Hu-manity as a whole, in this year o 1949, should ponder and take

this saying to heart, making o it the oundation o lie.In doing this, men ree themselves rom the yoke binding

them to slavery, and obtain the promise, that is, the reward ortheir action.

Ater he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise,i.e., his reward or payment. In this year onon-grace, men uni-versally are making every eort conceivable to obtain rst, and iso inclined, make eort or give service. Still the world has beenled astray, into illusion and delusion, by being given worldlysubstance without rst having earned or become worthy, and

ottimes without even a promise o laboring or it or repaying.In doing this they are, in common parlance, being subsidized,

which, in ordinary language, means that they are becomingslaves to the givers. By following this plan they are weakeningthemselves to a degree that will nally not even permit them toght or right living and a return to reedom.

Tis is wholly contrary to the Divine Law and Gods promiseto man, through Abraham. All the world will suer when the re-action takes place as it surely will, and then men will curse Godand men or things o which they alone are guilty. Ater one has

patiently endured, i.e., labored and made eort, the promise,the reward or payment, will accrue to him, in righteousness andwith blessings.

16. For men verily swear by the greater: and an oath or con-rmation is to them an end o all strie.

An oath may be a neccessity to obtain, or be admitted into,that which is desired. When such an oath is conrmed by ul-llment, then the Law is ullled and the blessings, reward orbenet will be obtained.

17. Wherein God, willing more abundantly to shew untothe heirs o promise the immutability o his counsel, conrmedit by an oath.

God, or the Lord, did not or a moment hesitate to take uponHimsel the oath, or He knew that He would ulll it, just as heknew that he would shower good things - blessings - upon thosewho did likewise, showing by their eorts and works, that theheart, not cratiness, dictated the oath.

18. Tat by two immutable things, in which it was impossi-ble or God to lie, we might have a strong consolation, who have

ed or reuge to lay hold upon the hope set beore us:

19. Which hope we have as an anchor o the Soul, both sureand steadast, and which entereth into that within the veil;

20. Whither the forerunner is for us entered, even Jesus,made an high Priest or ever ater Te Order o Medchizedek.

Te Nazarene, because he ullled the Law and misled none,sought only or that which was already his, because he had earnedit, was thereby made a high priest o the Order o Melchizedek.All men may become priests who ollow his example and do like

wise, and in no other way than by a ull acceptance o the Law.HEBREWS - Chapter Seven - Interpreted

1. For this Melchizedek, king o Salem, Priest o the mosthigh God, who met Abraham returning rom the slaughter othe kings, and blessed him.


12/134

Te slaughter o the kings has reerence to all men in highplaces possessed o authority and power, who misuse their po-sition to sel-glory, sel-benet, or to be acclaimed, instead oworking or the welare o all, even though the course they pur-

sue may temporarily be unpopular. Tis is why egomaniacs, whobecame almost legendary in their power, all rom their highplaces and their lies history is one o dishonor.

2. o whom also Abraham gave a tenth part o all; rst beingby interpretation King o righteousness, and ater that also Kingo Salem, which is King o Peace.

Te practice o tithing is today continued by numerous o thesmaller religious denominations. Among these people there havebeen no paupers, even during the greatest depressions. It haslikewise been made maniest that those who also possessed the

spirit o tithing, and who do so and give in the spirit o love,never thinking o it as a sacrice, are the most successul andortunate in the aairs o lie. In the Great Work there are thosewho do this o their own ree Will and accord, and coness thatthey received maniold blessings.

3. Without ather, without mother, without descent, havingneither beginning o days, nor end o lie; but made like untothe Son o God; abideth a priest continually.

Proane history tells us nothing o Melchizedek; Arcane recordsdo: Melchizedek, the Divinity, personated as the Holy Spirit,

or Divine Light dwelling within every human Soul, awaitingawakening, and which i awakened, is being prepared or itshighest orders o estate, becoming a perpetual priest (teacherand guide) at the divine Altar, where, as in the Holy o Holies orinnermost Sanctuary, the pure white Light o the Soul burns as

an Ineable Fire and with inextinguishable glory.

4. Now consider how great this man was, unto whom eventhe patriarch Abraham gave the tenth o the spoils (tenth o allhis income).

5. And verily they that are o the sons o Levi, who receivethe oce o the priesthood, have a commandment to take tithes,o the people according to the law, that is, o their brethren,though they came out o the loins o Abraham:

6. But he whose descent is not counted from them receivedtithes o Abraham, and blessed him that had the promises.

7. And without all contradiction the less is blessed o thebetter.

8. And here men that die receive tithes; but there he receiveth

them, o whom it was witnessed that he liveth.9. And as I may so say, Levi also, who received tithes, pay

tithes in Abraham.

10. For he was yet in the loins o his ather, when Melchizedekmet him.

11. I thereore perection were by the Levitical priesthood(or under it the people received the Law),what urther need was there that another priest should arise ater the order oMelchizedek, and not be called ater the order o Aaron,

12. For the priesthood being changed, there is made o ne-

cessity a change also in the law.Tis does not mean an actual change in the Law, the Law beingeternal and unchanging, but a new interpretation suitable to theneeds o the time and the people.


13/134

13. For he o whom these things are spoken pertaineth toanother trib (another people), o which no man gave attendanceat the altar (did not serve God according to the Law).

14. For it is evident that our Lord (the Nazarene) sprang out

of Juda; of which tribe Moses spake nothing concerning priest-hood.

15. And it is yet ar more evident; or that ater the similitudeo Melchizedek there ariseth another priest.

16. Who is made, not ater the law o a carnal command-ment, but ater the power o an endless lie.

17. For he testieth. Tou art a priest or ever ater the Ordero Melchizedek.

e only Order or Priesthood spoken of in the Bible as being

without time - orever, is the Order o Melchizedek. It is ound-ed upon the Law itsel. Its basis is God and the human Soul thathas been awakened by REgeneration into Illumination or Con-sciousness, having been reborn in the spirit, as it was previouslyinto the esh.

18. For there is verily a disannulling o the commandmentgoing beore or the weaknesses and unprotableness thereo.

Tat which does not serve its intended purpose is automati-cally discarded. Tat which is not made use o becomes inertand dies. Tis is the story o the talents. It is an eternal verity.Use, application, creates strength and greater lie; misuse createsweakness, and weakness ends in death.

19. For the law made nothing perect, but the bringing in oa better hope did; by the which we draw nigh unto God.

Te Soul came to earth without knowledge o good and evil.

It came that it might learn to know - become Gnostic. In itsknowledge and the application o knowledge toward good, itgrows Godward.

In its attainment o Light it perects itsel and thereby be-

comes a Son o God, one o the gods. Verily, God said; nothingis made perect, but it becometh perect in the ulllment o theLaw.20. And inasmuch as not without an oath he was made priest:

21. (For those priests were made without and oath; but thiswith an oath by him that said unto him, Te Lord sware andwill not repent, Tou art a priest or ever ater the Order oMelchizedek.

PSALM 110

4. Te Lord hath sworn, and will not repent, Tou art a

priest or ever ater the Order o Melchizedek.Te Lord did not hesitate to swear, or take oath binding Himselto His word, but men, unwilling to bind themselves to theirword and assume binding obligations, reuse to do so under theexcuse that it is sinul to take oath, thereby setting themselvesup above the Lord.

Te Lord does not repent, i.e., nd excuses or not ulllingHis promises. Once His Word is given, He does not retract; andmen doing so, dey both God and His Law.

Te Priesthood o Melchizedek was not temporary but or-

ever; to last as long as there remained one priest who did his bestto obey the Divine Law and ulll the duties imposed upon himby his oath o oce.

Te Priesthood o Melchizedek, now under the auspices othe Church o Illumination, continues today to unction as it


14/134

has or past centuries under the Order o the Magi. All sincereseekers may enter its portals i they are prepared and willing toassume the obligation required.

Te instructions and training are complete in detail and are

advanced to meet the requirements o the individual Aspirant.Ordination to the Priesthood is conerred onlyupon those ullyand truly prepared and who are willing to assume ull respon-sibility or their obedience, service and behavior in their highoce.

We are ully aware that there is a race which claims to beGods chosen people; that there are religious denominationswho claim to be the only true church. We do not quarrel witheither.

Accepting the Biblical statement as true, the Priesthood of

Melchizedek might readily claim to be the only true, God-Or-dained Church, whose Priests shall sit in judgment i we are tobelieve the Psalmist:

PSALM 110

5. Te Lord at thy right hand (o the Priest o Melchizedek)shall strike through kings in the day o his wrath (when Hecomes to judgment).

6. He shall judge among the heathen (those who reuse toaccept and obey His Laws), he shall ll the places with the deadbodies (judgment come upon those who by continued disobedi-

ence have destroyed the Soul); he shall wound the heads overmany countries (eliminate those in high position who betraytheir oce and their people).

7. He shall drink o the brook in the way: thereore shall helit up the head.

Is there actually a chosen people? Is there an one only church? Isthe Priesthood o Melchizedek truly Gods only Priesthood andthe Members o the Church o Illumination Gods only chil-dren?

ruth is indeed a hard saying, but those who are sincere intheir endeavor to teach mankind the truth must meet truth aceto ace and proclaim it, though it be in condemnation o them-selves.

Tere are Gods chosen people. Tese are those who actu-ally make every eort to obey Gods Law; who try with all theirmight, to live in the spirit o the Law; who do all in their powerto attain the second birth; that o the spirit, in order to bringthe hidden Christos and the Consciousness o the Christ intomaniestation. Tey neither interere with, nor condemn others,

but are ever ready to help them. Tese are Gods chosen people.Is there one only true Church o God? Tere is a church oGod. It is that Church and its Priesthood which is ever readyand willing to teach mankind the Law. It does not consider itsown saety in condemning evil wherever it maniests itsel. Itcannot be bribed by an oer o power or riches. It is ever willingto help all humanity irrespective o creed, color or nationality.It condemns all injustice whether in high or low places, andupholds exact justice tempered with mercy. Tat is the Churcho God; its Priests are Gods husbandmen. Te Priesthood oMelchizedek was so ordained. Does it ulll its Divine destiny?

Its works must be its judgment.Te Church o Illumination does not proselyte or a ormal

membership. Anyone may become an adherent. All that is nec-essary is or one to believe and have whole-hearted aith in its


15/134

interpretation and be possessed o a keen desire or truth and therestoration o righteousness.

o become an adherent o the Church o Illumination doesnot require o anyone to withdraw rom his or her church ali-

ations, but it does demand o them that they be seekers ater theSecond birth, and the attainment oRegeneration.

Te Church o Illumination has several basic tenets whichmust be adhered to: It expects its adherents to stand rmly orthe basic truths inculcated; the rm conviction that it is possibleor mortality to put on Immortality; the equally strong con-viction that or Americans, the American Constitution is basi-cally the work o God; that the right belonging to every humancreature come rom God and not the State, i.e., that the State iscreated or the people, and not the people or the State; the inal-

ienable rights o the possession o personal property, and nally,mans personal responsibility or all his acts.Te Church o Illumination does not possess a ormal mem-

bership list, hence cannot be made an instrument or political orother purposes; nevertheless it is enabled to contact its adherentsalmost at a moments notice.

Gods chosen people are those who, in loving spirit, obeyHis Law. His Priests are those who uphold and ulll the Law.


16/134

Philosophic Initiation has as its aim a ourold purpose whichmust be attained i the Neophyte is to be ully successul.

First: During the process, growth or progress, all the innerpotential orces o the entire complex being - o body, mind and

Soul - must be aroused. Te ultimate must be attained on eachplane o being; assuring a ull measure o health, strength, suc-cess and power in the true sense. Tis permits rendering serviceto humanity generally.

Second: Either beore, or during, the process there must resultthe birth o one dominant desire. Tis desire must constantlyburn with an unquenchable re within the mind and the, asyet, dormant Soul o the aspirant. It must enthrall him to sucha degree that he will nd no rest unless he is active in makingevery eort or the attainment o the inspired or aspired ideal.

Tird: Te concentration or centralization o all potentialorces within the entire being gives the individual the necessarystrength, patience and ortitude to work incessantly toward theulllment or the desire.

Forth: (a) Tere must be desire and eort toward the awaken-ing, and the Illumination o the Christos or the Soul Center. (b)Te establishing o contact, i.e., contracting an alliance with oneo the Hierarchical Centers o activity.

o this end the Neophyte must learn to Obey, to Know, toWill, to Dare, and yet remain Silent. He must recognize the tru-ism that in silence there is strength.

It is only natural that there should be misconceptions andmisgivings relative to this subject in the minds o those towhom it is comparatively new. o anticipate diculties whichwill present themselves to searching, questioning minds, and to

oer clear explanations regarding them, is the purpose o thiswork. Many erroneous impressions exist among Neophytes, as isproven by the questions constantly asked concerning Initiation,especially its esoteric or Arcane eatures.

Little inormation has been given the reading public on theesoterics o true Initiation, although numerous books on thesubject are available to the seeker. Many o these treatises are olittle practical value. Some o them are actually harmul becausethey becloud the problems involved and requently encourageoccult, and especially psychic, practices, which tend toward neg-ativity o mind and the exact opposite o the requirements orattaining to Philosophic Initiation.

Initiation deals primarily with the process o inner spiritualgrowth - a gradual awakening o the Christos or Soul! - and the

attainment of Soul Consciousness. In Biblical language this isthe rebirth, or the second birth, that o the spirit and, once at-tained, brings with it every good and desirable thing.

A rational presentation o this problem must be based on theoundation o mental clarity and physical health; strength omind and body, vigor and virility, and a superior orce and alert-ness o the discriminative aculties. Any system which disregardsthe body and its unctions tends toward mental apathy; is dan-gerous and must be avoided.

Misconceptions are all too prevalent regarding the place andunction o Will power. Te general, the almost universal, im-

pression is that Will power can be developed by all, irrespectiveo an inborn desire and the energy to carry out the purpose othe desire. Tis is a great allacy.

However much one might wish to accomplish a special work,

1. INIIAION


17/134

i the desire toward that end is not suciently strong, i theactor is not ready, aye, anxious, to give up all else in the accom-plishment o the one desire, and i this one desire is not potentenough to induce every mental and physical activity necessary to

bring it about, then ailure is certain.Will power is always based on desire, because desire is always

the activating and governing principal. Desire is comparable tolove. Where love is strong, even the certainty o death cannotintervene with its dictates.

Higher, or spiritual, development admittedly demands thecultivation o a masterul Will. Much stress is thereore laid onthis part o the Great Work. Simple, sane, reasonable methodsmust be ollowed in its development. Te methods best suitedto the purpose are actually so simple that they are oten ignored,

and the means so continusously present that their power is otenoverlooked. In the process o Philosophical Initiation and in thecultivation o the Will, the Divine Law is:

Do that which is to be done, iresspective o how menial itmay be. Do it when it should be done; the way it should be done,without repugnance. I it is something usually disliked, do itwith a willingness to accomplish a useul duty, ending with theeeling o satisaction that it was well done and your duty andmission, thereore a means to an end.

Equal stress must be placed on the importance o directingthe Will into channels of obedience to the Divine Ideal. Besides

the actors already mentioned, there are still others important inthe development o a superior Will and the power that accom-panies it: First, the quality o truth, that is, knowledge concern-ing the laws o right-ness and goodness. Secondly, the quality o

impartial love and good-will in every department o Gods crea-tion. o merely possess a strong Will is in itsel not particularlydesirable. It may merely end in mulish stubbornness.

A strong Will becomes a prized possession only as it is prompt-

ed and guided by the light o true understanding and made radi-ant in the warmth and love o goodness in heart. In this eld oactivity, goodness based on reasonableness and sanity alone ispower and becomes creative. A careully guided Will-power anda correct understanding o the laws governing lie, vitalized bykindly justice and the genial rays o love and goodness, are prooagainst irrational and destructive tendencies.

Based on an irresistible incentive which nothing can turnaside, a Masterul Will set in motion to accomplish a desir-able and constructive purpose brings you the knowledge and

the power necessary or any desired accomplishment. Tis Lawbased on the principle which removes all erroneous impressionsdealing with the development o the Will.

As a result o the reading o works dealing with mind or men-tal power, there are great multitudes who think that by enteringupon a course o Will culture they can develop sucient powerto overcome any and all deects o mind and body, while givinglittle or no thought to the Soul.

Such overcoming is impossible by means o sheer Will orce,without consideration o ones mode o thinking, living, hygi-enic surroundings and preparation or that which he wishes to

accomplish.All too many - there is a multitude - take up mind study

and mental culture with the sole thought that here is a meansto an end without the necessity o laboring or making physical


18/134

eort to achieve their desires. Tey have become hypnotized bythe slogan: Mindis All, or Tink and Be Rich. Tey actuallybelieve that to sit and think, and will, will bring riches pouringinto their laps.

Tis is an illusion and a delusion. Te awakening is usuallysad, and this oten comes only ater they have become so in-ert that they no longer possess the energy to make a real eortto achieve success by means o the two-edged sword that neverails: Will and Eort(work).

It has been our experience, during orty-ve years as physicianand teacher, that many a ailure and great disaster is wrought byan irrational system o developing the Will. In most instancesthose who suer are themselves to blame. Tey are governed byan ignoble sel-interest; the age-old delusion that it is possible to

obtain something or nothing; ignoring the act that perect ex-change is the Law; that he who obtains or accepts that which hehas not earned is a robber and a thie, and every-thing so gainedwill ultimately be taken rom him. Te greatest Philosophic In-titate o all pronounced it as a Law:

Only the laborer is worthy o his hire.

Tis means that no man can honestly receive until he has oeredsomething in return or that which he desires.

Partially or erroneously instructed students ancy that it is pos-sible to develop such superior power o mind and Will that, by

means o mental gymnastics alone, they may correct every un-satisactory condition o lie. Tey believe that by mental orceand Will power exclusively they can build health o body andgain sucient strength or the maintenance o health, which isso essential to Occult science.

Tey think that by means o thought orces sent out, and vigor-ous direction o the Will, without the development o a pleas-ing personality, they may meet with lasting success in businessor social aairs; and that, by mere aith and the armation:

money wants me, or money is coming to me, they can sendout orces which will return with all the money necessary tomeet their requirements.

Tese ideas, it is true, are assiduously cultivated by many au-thors. Such belies are erroneous in the extreme. Tey are irra-tional. Tey are as dishonest as is the mind o a man who boldlyenters the house o another and steals the things he want.

Te development o a healthy, rational and powerul mind,and a strong, masterul Will, is well-nigh impossible withouta oundation o physical health, strength and vitality. Mental

orce and power o Will are dependent on physical energy; onbrain and nerve health and energy. All o these conditions are inturn the result o attention to hygiene, physical exercise, rationalthinking, wholesome desire and, above all, proper ood.

All too many will deny this statement, but would readily agreewith us were it possible or them to witness, as have we, themental and physical wrecks resulting rom irrational systems omental training and inane psychic practices.

Sheer orce o Will in itsel cannot, except possibly momen-tarily, control thoughts, guide accurate judgment and directbusiness propositions o huge proportions. It cannot exert stren-

uous physical eort in the perormance o manual labor, unlessthe body is prepared and supplied with nutritious ood adaptedto individual requirements and to ones particular occupation oractivity.


19/134

Neither is mere concentration o thought on a business enter-prise or a money-making scheme sucient to assure permanentsuccess. Just as partaking of alcoholic stimulants may give a sem-blance o brilliancy o mind, or bring activity to even a dying

body or a short period o time, so may Will power alone sustainsuper-activity or a time, but it is sel destructive and deeats itsown ends.

Mark well the requirements to attain and maintain physi-cal health, strength and vigor. First o all, the mind and Willmust be directed toward attaining accurate knowledge o theLaws underlying physical health, strength and vigor. Secondly, thisKnowledge must be directed into channels o useulness; all in har-mony with the Law. o attain success in business, the mind andthe Will must be directed toward mastering the laws underly-ing commercial enterprises. Tere must be proper and completepreparation or the business in mind.

Ater all this, the Will must be strong enough to direct andhold the desire to attain success; reusing to become impatient,indolent, inert or careless, because success is slow in appearing.It is at this critical point that the Will is o paramount impor-tance.

Spiritual Laws, the Laws dealing with the Christos or Soul oMan, are in perect harmony with the so called natural laws. Tenatural world is a prototype o the spiritual world. Te abletso Hermes the Law giver plainly state:

As above, so below;as below, so above.

Because of this Law, any functioning of mental forces and of theWill which violates natural law likewise violates the Divine or

Spiritual Law and is to be avoided.Te wise armer, sower o the seed and reaper o the harvest,

is ully aware that the buying o good seed and casting it to theour winds is not sucient or a good harvest. On the contrary,

his rst thought is toprepare the soil into which the seed is to besown. Tis must be done in a proper manner; recognizing, as hedoes, that poor soil or unprepared soil will be certain to yield apoor crop.

Even ater the soil is well prepared, good seeds obtained andsown at the right time, any experienced armer knows that theremust be proper and regular cultivation i the yield is to be asexpected.

Tus it is with the wise and sincere Neophyte. His rst en-deavor is to gain a ull understanding o the Law so that he willbe ully inormed on every phase o the subject. He does thisin identically the same manner as the student in medicine, orlaw, or any other important proession, careully and thorough-ly studies his texts. Having gained this knowledge, he proceedsto prepare the body, cleansing it o impurities and urnishingit with the oods required to build a strong, physical, nervous,mental system. How can he expect to develop mental vigor anda strong Will i the vehicle lacks proper preparation?

We might just as reasonably expect the gasoline engine togive perect satisaction with its cylinders coated with carbon,spark plug points hal-worn out and lled with soot, water and

dust in the gasoline, lubricating oil dirty and worn out and airintake poorly adjusted. Te gasoline engine is in every respectpatterned ater man. Te same care is required o the body oman i it is to unction properly and as eciently as the engine.


20/134

It is common knowledge that the ordinary business man andbrain worker who is not at all interested in spiritual aairs suersgreatly rom nerve exhaustion when little or no attention is giv-en to his nourishment, rest, breathing, recreation and exercise. It

is equally certain that the sensitive system o the Neophyte willbe aected i these important things are neglected; his organismbeing peculiarly sensitive and his imagination especially alert.

Higher occultism, or the Arcane, aims at spiritual or Philo-sophic Initiation. Tis is neither erratic nor irrational. Such Ini-tiation embraces the establishment or an equilibrium or balancebetween body, mind and soul. It includes a well-rounded devel-opment o mans ourold nature: body, mind, spirit (the lie orvital orces) and the Soul. Te human being in all its partsmusthave equal consideration and attention.

We are amiliar with the many who deny the actual exist-ence o the material and the body, claiming it to be illusion anddelusion, but who nevertheless live like gluttons to satisy anabnormal physical appetite, and make every eort to obtain andaccumulate material riches to satisy their desire or possessions,which are also o a physical nature.

Tey are enmeshed by a smug, allacious delusion which theycall aith. We do not hope or proess to reach them. We arelaboring only or the many rational, reasonable seekers or bet-ter things and a higher lie, who are ready and willing to beinstructed and directed in the Way o Lie: in what we term the

Great Work.Te Neophyte should give rst and most careul considera-

tion to his physical being, providing it with the best ood andrecreation or its improvement. A natural, rational system o

living is to be adopted and aithully adhered to. Tis will innowise interere with his usual occupation or his daily pursuitsamong men. Te purpose o Arcane or higher inner develop-ment is, indeed, to make man ar more ecient in all practical

aairs, and to help him live a more useul lie o service both tohimsel and to his ellow men.

An almost universal misconception is that which associatesthe Arcane, or Philosophical Initiation, with subtle orms ohypnotism, psychicism, spiritualism, spirit control or phenom-ena and kindred phases o psychical experiences, all o which arebased on negativism.

Soul development or Philosophic Initiation, the awakeningo the Christos within and bringing him into maniestation, hasnothing whatever to do with any o these belies or practices.Te principles o the Arcane are radically and undamentallyopposed to every phase o abnormal maniestation. Initiationresults rom a continuous eort toward development. it deals withthe awakening o the subconscious sel, or bringing the christos intoconsciousness. it is the second or spiritual birth: mortality putting onimmortality. Te methods ollowed on the path leading to Philo-sophic Initiation guard eectively against every orm o nega-tive, tendencies. Tey repudiate all manner o practices whichinterere with the Neophytes individual independence or man-hood; his sel-control and personal responsibility; accentuatingall o these to the highest point.

At no time do these methods leave the impression that man,either in a sleeping or waking state, is to be inuenced by disem-bodied entities on any plane o existence.

Exception is made to the higher spiritual Hierarchies or


21/134

principalities spoken o in sacred literature. Tese the Neophyteis to contact or the purpose o orming an alliance later in hisprogress toward development. Tey will be o help to him,provided such help will not interere with his normal and

natural growth. Philosophic Initiation guards against hypnoticinuences; guards against all other evil inuences and discouragesphenomena-seeking tendencies and the inclination to dependupon others rather than on ones own individual eorts.

Te underlying principles and the methods ollowed in trueinitiation are distinctly positive, constructive, upliting and arecalculated to develop sel-control under all conditions and sel-mastery in every department o the individual being. Te posi-tive power o thought, desire and Will is ully taught.

No claim is made that the mind, or the Will, can endow inertsubstances with lie-giving power or any length o time; nor isthe doctrine endorsed that any orce or power can be projectedcontrary to natural laws. Tere is insistence that the masteruland eective Will depends on the ability to work in harmonywith natural and spiritual laws ater gaining a ull knowledge othese laws.

Tere is no pretense that mere thought attitude in and o itselis ever sucient to lit man out o undesirable and into avorableenvironments. Eort alone brings about the result. Te laboreris being paid.

Te Neophyte is taught to recognize that the aim o lie is

service: that eciency and ecacy demand sel-knowledge, sel-improvement and sel-development beoreman is able to trulyserve others. In the system o Soul awakening, in which the Au-gust Fraternity is engaged, we not only advocate the adage o the

ancient Priest Initiates, Know Tysel, but also give deniteinstructions, by the application o which man may come into anunderstanding o himsel, his weaknesses as well as his strength.

Te Neophyte is instructed to hold his desires and Will in an

active, positive, alert state during all o his activities. He musthave particular regard or the body as the vehicle through whichthe Divine orces operate and unction, a healthy body and analert, sel-controlled mind being requisites to attainment andadvancement.

Te Philosophic Initiation is encumbered neither by ads norpet ancies. He is not biased, but always endeavors to keep reerom sel-opinions not ounded on act. He seeks the oundationo being; to recognize the good wherever ound, whether it bein riend or oe, and welcomes everything tending to make menand women better, stronger and ree rom all things undesirable.He reuses to be bound to any special creed or the reason thathe has no concern with either creeds or dogmas.

His mission is to rst help himsel, and having succeeded inthis, to then help his ellow man to awaken to a comprehensiono his almost unlimited possibilities and opportunities, and torecognize himsel as a symbol, an embodiment, o the universalwhole.

Only as man gains an understanding o his own creative pow-ers, his weaknesses and his strength, can he attain to the status oa Philosophic Initiate. I he is able to realize that he, as a little

universe, a Microcosm, is actually a reection o the larger uni-verse, the Macrocosm, then he can become initiated into a ullunderstanding o his Oneness with God, who isAll.

Tere is much misconception regarding the manner o living


22/134

and system o training while on the path to attainment o Philo-sophic Initiation. Many are under the impression that rigid andaustere demands are made, and that painul sel-denial is neces-sary in diet, exercise and the pleasures o lie. Tese ideas are

based on ignorance. Nothing is required o the Neophyte exceptthat which is or his own temporal and eternal welare.Respecting diet, a preponderance o Philosophic Initiates,

among them many long-experienced physicians, maintain thatthe natural and proper diet or man excludes the warm-bloodedmeats, because o the content o disease, toxins and ureas; nev-ertheless, these men are not radical. Climate, occupation, tem-perament, physical conditions and ancestral inheritance mustbe taken into account. Here, as elsewhere, circumstances altercases.

Tere are instances where the organism o an individual mayor a period o time require animal protein1, but in such in-dividual cases the person under consideration would hardly bephysically or mentally t to proceed with the Great Work. Terst essential is to establish mental and physical balance, or whatwe term health.

In some countries, notably China, India, Japan and a numbero smaller countries, a diet o rice and sh is almost universal.Tese appear to urnish sucient nourishment to both bodyand mind, building great physical endurance, nerve orce andmental alertness.

In this connection we must bear in mind two important ac-tors; First, in these countries, rice and sh are the two principal

1. A protein cell is just a protein cell to the physical system. It does not matter whether this isobtained rom an animal product, a warm-blooded animal, or rom one o the many sea oodsor the legumes.

ood products; the rice growing under the same sun underwhich live the people consuming it. It is endowed with the samevibrations or vital orces which give lie to the people. Second,or long centuries the natives o these particular countries have

known no other ood. Teir organisms are adjusted or the di-gestion and absorption o these oods and building them intobodily structure and vital orce.

When, as requently happens, these people migrate to anotherand dierent climate and remain there or any length o time,they may nd it necessary to make a change in their diet; other-wise, their physical and mental eciency would be greatly low-ered, though this may be in part psychological, because o theirassociation with those who subsist on a greater variety o ood.

In countries directly under the tropical sun the people livechiey on the ruits so easily obtained, notably the banana. Onthis ood the natives develop a strength and endurance whichis totally unknown to the consumers o meat. Te same princi-ple operates here: the banana and other ruits grown where thepeople live and endowed with the same vibratory or vital orcesthey themselves possess; consequently, they contain the neces-sary constructive and lie-producing elements.

Tose who live in the extreme cold, like the Eskimos, liveprincipally on at, because o the heat-producing elements. Teywould quickly weaken and die i orced to subsist or rice, sh,bananas2 and ruit.

2. Te banana properly prepared, is a ood as rich, i not richer in protein than meat.


23/134

Te school o Initiates regards the non-meat diet as ideal, naturaland normal, and or a period o time during training a necessaryone. I oreathers and athers have been ravenous meat eaters,it is generally unwise or anyone to suddenly discontinue warm-

blooded meat entirely. Te habit should be overcome gradually,substituting natural oods that contain identical elements essen-tial or nerve, brain, muscle and bone until one nds that hissystem no longer requires meat.

Te Neophyte entering the path should become acquaintedwith all o these things. It is or this reason that he should studytexts which will amiliarize him with the natural laws govern-ing his being. He should also seek the personal instruction andguidance o one who has traveled the path and is blessed witha vast und o knowledge and great experience. I the seeker at-tempts to ollow general instructions only he may meet withmany disappointments. o avoid ailure, the Neophyte requirespersonal instruction, guidance and protection adapted to hisparticular needs.

In respect to physical exercise, the Neophyte may be letlargely to his own inclination. Everyone must necessarily takea certain amount o calisthenics, NO because o his desire tobecome a Philosophic Initiate, but to establish health; build upenergy and a plentiul supply o vitality or endurance; all neces-sary to be at peace and succeed in lie.

What o the general pleasures o lie? Do the Philosophic Ini-

tiates and members o the August Fraternity teach the idea thata long, wry ace, sans joy, sans laughter and the denial o the in-nocent pleasures o lie are conducive to spiritual advancement?Do they orbid the sports and games o the eld, the opera and

music hall, the many orms o recreation men delight in? Mostassuredly not!

Nothing which is benecial is denied either to the Neophyteor the Initiate; nor is there the least inclination to be exacting

and Pharisaical in regard to what constitutes innocent pleas-ures. Tere is but one principle or guidance: nothing mustbe indulged in that is liable to bring pain, sorrow, harm or losseither to sel or another. Tat is the only law that governs.

Te long ace o sel-righteousness, the countenance o cantand creed, has no place in the Arcane o higher Occult. Man ispermitted to enjoy lie in any way he pleases so long as it is notat the expense o his well-being or the welare o another; hence,the social dinner, the banquet, the opera, the games o amuse-ment, the association o men and women, healthul sports oevery description are not orbidden, but are rather to be encour-aged.

All amusement must be ree rom everything that is liable tocause sorrow, pain, regret or loss to any human being. None othe essentials o true happiness are orbidden. On the contrary,the Neophyte is taught to seek those things which bring happi-ness and well-being to himsel and others. Peace and happinessare the birthright o every living Soul, but they must rst beearned. Te act that humanity does not possess them is theproo o selshness on the one hand and weakness on the other.Both should be eliminated.

Te word Law, as used by Philosophic Initiates and in thetexts o the Fraternity, does not reer to manmade rules, regula-tions and arbitrary decrees and dictates, but to the Divine atsgiven unto men by their Creator or the government oall men.


24/134

Details regarding Divine Law are observed by the individual ac-cording to his enlightened interpretation. It is necessary, how-ever, to call attention to the negative operation o the DivineLaw, so that by contrast the positive becomes clearer and more

orceul.By knowing the eects of the negative application of DivineLaw we can constantly be on guard and thus protect ourselvesagainst its reactions.

Philosophic Initiation presupposes its possessor as havingound the White Chalice o God, the Holy Grail, the heart othe Fire - tongue o the Ineable Light.

It equally signies the nding o the Lost Word o the Mys-teries o which the Alchemists, the Magi and other Initiates havewritten so much. It is the nding o the Christos within thetemple which isMan.He who has attained to Consciousness has also ound the DivineLight burning upon the Alter. He has succeeded in puriying hisheart so that it throbs with love or humanity, is ree rom criti-cism o others.

Te Initiate has learned the lesson the old Masters taught thatHe who knows all orgives all. Te Nazarene phrased this di-erently. Forgive them or they know not what they do

One o the attainments aimed at by Initiation is the art orighteous judgment - a judgment that neither censures norcondemns.

I you have the Will to obey and do, then it will be well oryou to enter the Path o Philosophic Initiation.


25/134

Tose who seek to advance themselves through the science andart which Soul development oers must o necessity amiliarizethemselves thoroughly with the laws underlying and governingthe method o procedure. Vibrations operate in every depart-

ment o lie and on every plane o the universe. Tere can beneither lie nor maniestation o any kind without the activityo vibrations. At the moment we are concerned more especiallywith the laws which govern thought vibration in its relation toSoul development and all that this embraces.

Every thought, every desire, every act creates or sets into mo-tion certain vibrations. Mind is the creator o thought. Te bodymaniests that thought by means o action. Te maniestationnaturally harmonizes with the ideal or spirit o the thought, bethis good or bad; that is, constructive or destructive.

Te laws governing here, like the laws o nature and thoseo the spirit or Soul, are impartial, impersonal and absolute intheir operation. Tese laws cannot be catalogued as either goodor bad, but their unctioning admits o two distinct phases omaniestation: their expression is in one or the other o two op-posites. o state the idea dierently, these laws are directed inone or the other o two channels governed by the spirit or natureo thought or desire.

Man designates these active maniestations o vibrations asgood or evil, benecent or destructive, in accordance with theeect both on the thinker and in the world o action. Te di-

rection o the channel through which the vibrations maniestdetermines the result o the activity, whether constructive or thereverse.

In reality, there are only two avenues through which lie

2. VIBRATIONS - THEIR POWER AND INFLUENCE

maniests itsel. On all planes o being, lie is limited to thetwo channels o expression, each o which admits o an almostinnite variety o shade and tint, o tone and color degree andtype.

Tus is wisely provided relie rom monotony and room orstimulus. When all shades and gradations o thought and eelingare subjected to analysis, they are ound to represent one o twophases - either love and good will or hatred and maliciousness.

Love and her handmaiden, service, reect the general attitudeo mind back o all healthul, constructive, positive, stimulat-ing, cheering, hopeul types o mental action. Malice and thedog-in-the-manger attitude in some shade o degree pervadesall negative, destructive, poisonous, gloomy, despondent, heavy,oreboding types o thought. o the one class belong optimismand good cheer; to the other, pessimism and gloom, with its de-pressing inuence. Te one is constructive and upbuilding; theother, destructive and disintegrating.

Te type o thought determines the character o its vibration.All vibration indicates action by means o a wave-like circulatorymovement. Te vibratory law necessitates a return wave to thesource whence the impetus originated. Te outgoing wave andreturn wave are eatures o every vibration, regardless o charac-ter. Te return wave is the reactionary inuence o thought ordeed.

Vibrations vary in both quality and rapidity. Some are light,

pure, rened, ethereal in their nature and rapid o movement,while others are coarse, heavy, dull and somber, and sluggish,clogging, tortuous movement.

Tose characterized by renement, brightness, lightness and


26/134

rapidity originate in love and kindness. Te heavy, sluggish,clogging, poisonous vibrations are the result o thoughts o hateand malice.

Vibratory orces are dual in their eects: First, they proound-

ly inuence the individual in whose mind the thoughts or eel-ings originate. Secondly, they may leave permanent impressionsupon others.

In a general way, those who are reached by the thought waveor vibratory orce may (we again use that term) be aected bythis thought atmosphere or aura, but only i: (a) they entertainthe same type o thoughts or eelings, or (b) i they are negativeand thereore open to such inuences. It is possible or suchpersons to be aected in a very positive manner.

Te remedy against this evil inuence is: (a) to be ree romsuch tendencies, and (b) close the mind, by an eort o the Will(strongly Willing), against any such orces or inuences; thusthey will not nd lodgment in the mind and being.

Te most marked impression o such thoughts and the result-ant vibrations are upon the person who originates and harborsthem.

Upon the creator o the evil thought, or the originator oequally undesirable desires, the inuence is twoold: he is im-mediately impressed by the thought or desire as it enters themind, and, again, by the return or reaction o these thoughtsand desires. Biblically stated:

Man reaps as he sows.

It is comparable to holding a most poisonous snake to your ownbosom.

Te thoughts man thinks, the desires to which he gives birth,

always return to him heavily laden with ruits o their own na-ture. In common parlance:

Chickens come home to roost.

No greater truth was ever written or spoken.

Here is a more or less crude illustration o this Law. I we areactuated by thoughts and motives (eelings) o love and kind-ness, such an attitude will automatically and without personaleort create vibrations in harmony with the original thoughts.Tese vibrations will immediately permeate the entire being, en-veloping it with an aura o light and lie.

Tese positive vibrations will elevate the inner spiritual sel tothe level o the original vibrations. Tey will distribute healthand strength radiations throughout the entire being and raise itsactivities to a higher state o lie.

Tese vibratory waves also leave the body, and, travelingthrough space, contact other vibrations (orm others o like na-ture), the contact adding to their strength, yet drawing awayrom them in an eort to ulll their original mission. In thecourse o their existence the cycle o their activity is completedby returning to their creator. Te positive, helpul vibrations re-turn to their creators laden with lie-giving, health-giving, suc-cess and happiness-bringing power. Te Law being dual, it isequally true that evil thoughts and desires will act in like man-ner, but conversely.

I an individual directs evil thoughts toward any particularperson, the vibrations set into motion will seek out and reachthat individual. I the mind is receptive, i the thoughts and de-sires he entertains are o like nature, then he will automaticallyand unconsciously receive these thoughts sent to him. Tey will


27/134

reinorce his own thoughts, doing greater evil, and the com-bined vibrations o evil will then return to the one rst sendingthem out.

On the contrary, thought waves o love, kindness, hope, cour-

age and good will create vibrations o like orces. When these vi-brations leave their creator they depart on a mission o love andkindness, the nature o the original thought. On reaching thoseopen to these thoughts, the vibrations will awaken them andbe a stimulus to healthul, successul, optimistic ideas, helpingthem to well-being, happiness and success; then, to completethe cycle, return to their creator, bringing with them accumu-lated orces or good.

Vibrations created by gloomy eelings, ears, suspicions, mal-ice and the like will be depressive and lower the health and suc-cess vibrations. Te positive mind, by constructive and enno-bling thoughts, can so raise its vibrations that it will dissipateand eliminate all disease and ailure-producing vibrations.

It is not really necessary to specically direct your thoughts toanother. Your mental attitude, i habitual and intense, whethero good will and benevolence or resentul and malevolent towardanother, creates and sets into motion vibratory waves which willnd their way to the object o the thought. I such a person is olike mental attitude, these waves will nd lodgment; otherwisethey will return to the creator or sender heavily laden with crea-tive or destructive power, as the case may be.

elegraphy is patterned ater mans mental activity. A generatorcreates the current, the operator transmitting the message. Manis within himsel a complete transmitter. Te mind, includingthe thoughts and desires, is the generator which creates the

vibrations or wave currents. Te desires and eelings act as theoperator and send orth or release the waves. Man is at one andthe same time the generator, transmitter and receiver, thoughthis is something he seldom realizes. He sends orth, requently

unconsciously, releases - the vibrations created by his mentalattitude. He receives, on there return, these vibrations, plusthose released by others to which he is attuned.

Te great Protecting Law is: Nothing can reach man to whichhe is not attuned by his own thoughts, eelings and desires. Imans mental attitude is negative, passive, indierent or de-spondent, his whole being is in a perect state to receive heavy,sluggish, depressing vibrations rom others and be governed bythem. I man is mentally positive, alert and optimistic, he willreceive only invigorating, rened, elevating thought vibrations.Tese will be registered on his entire being and be an incen-tive to action in harmony with these positive vibratory orcesreceived.

All this is comparable to the radio, which is only able to re-ceive waves to which it is properly attuned. Te radio receivesthese waves whether they be harmonious, as, or instance, a greatopera; or inharmonious, such as a crime report.

An understanding o the Laws o Vibration in relation tothought, desire, and more especially, eeling, will do muchtoward developing an incentive toward the cultivation o normal, wholesome, elevating thought habits. Tis understanding

becomes an urge and stimulus toward making every eort tostrengthen the Will power to resist giving way to low thoughts which create low or disease and ailure-creating vibrations.Once you understand the cycles or vibrations, you will quickly


28/134

recognize that the thought attitude is largely a matter o habit,which in turn may become Will power, or desire, crystallizedinto a denite tendency.

I Will power has unconsciously lapsed into a negative, in-

dierent attitude concerning the aairs o lie and action, withthe thoughts driting into undesirable and depressing channels,there is every reason or exerting strenuous, positive, persistenteort to improve this mental laxity, which really amounts to anillness or disease.

Te development o a correct, wholesome, creative, construc-tive thought activity is a actor o the utmost importance in thestudy and practice o the Arcane; in the eort toward Soul de-velopment and the attainment o Soul Consciousness. Even amediocre understanding o the Laws o vibration will readilyexplain why so much stress is laid on the necessity o cultivatinghealthy thinking and a masterul Will.

It will also be recognized by such a study that the legitimateunction o Will power is so to control and guide the thoughtavenues o activity to attract only good to onesel and others.

It must be recognized that while our kindly thought orceshave a wholesome eect upon others, their reaction doubly ben-ets us. Au contraire, i out mental activity is harmul to others,it is thrice destructive to us i we are guilty o such activity.

I we are thoroughly convinced o the harmulness o all un-desirable thoughts, rst upon onesel and then upon others,

then we have taken a long step toward sel-mastery. Tis leadsus to a comprehension o the absolute necessity o consciouslymaking every eort to cultivate only habits o positive, health-ul, elevating and constructive thoughts.

Te absolute act that the greatest orce and inuence o allthought is elt by the thinker himsel cannot be too oten repeat-ed. Te thinker experiences, perhaps unconsciously, both theimmediate eect and the reactionary results. Te entire system

o the thinker is at all times permeated by the vibratory orces ohis mental attitude. Sooner or later he reaps the consequences ohis thinking as these thought waves return to their originator. Tesower o wheat shall (will) reap a harvest o wheat, while he whosows tares will reap as he has sown.

Tose who are governed by the strong habit o unwholesomethoughts and mental impressions must awaken to this act andcall a halt to the destructive habits. Tey must become con-vinced o the harmul inuence their destructive thoughts andeelings have on their physical health, and in their reaction onthe mental alertness, and consequently, on all aairs o lie, ir-respective o what these may be. Unkind thoughts, even thoughjustied, ill-will, censure o the acts o others; prejudgment, de-pressive moods, a sense o sel-injury and sel-condemnation,even though this last be justied, ll the individual with heavyvibrations and depress the entire being to an unhealthy con-dition, which, i continued, brings illness and ailure. Physicalvitality is lowered, normal unctioning o the body becomes im-possible; mental vision is beclouded and wise judgment is inter-ered with. In truth and act, the entire organism - mind, bodyspirit and the Soul itsel - is literally poisoned by such a negative,

non-constructive mental attitude. Te immediate inuence isalways harmul; the reactionary eects - the return wave o thevibratory orces created - are doubly injurious and destructive.

A knowledge and understanding o the harmulness o un-


29/134

constructive thinking should arouse everyone to a determinedand persistent eort to overcome the habit itsel and all ten-dency toward negative thoughts.

A ull understanding o the Laws o Vibration places and al-

most unlimited power into your hands and oers you a mul-titude o new opportunities or good. Such a power is a two-edged sword. o pervert this knowledge to unholy or selsh use,regardless o the welare o others, is oten a great temptationand must be rigorously avoided.

Te mere knowledge o the penalty brought about by the re-action o such selshness should prevent us rom any attempt tomisuse this or any other Godly or Spiritual power.

o insure our saety against danger, it is necessary to establishin our consciousness the conviction that all lie is interwovenand interdependent. Mankind is one amily. Tere is a link thatbinds together all the members o the household. What trulyuplits and benets one tends to do likewise or all others.

Whatever has a tendency to work detriment or injury to an-other will surely reect harmully upon the one originating andharboring the evil. o establish a desire or the well-being o all,a longing or the highest good o the mass, will insure discretionin making denite use o thought power. Our intention or mo-tive is the eature that gives color and character to the thoughtand determines its eect. In cultivating the qualities o a power-ul Soul we must recognize the unity and the solidarity o lie,

and also have supreme regard or the Law o Love and Service toall mankind. Each must do his duty in every respect and render just compensation or every benet which the vibratory lawsgrant.

Te Law o vibration has led many astray and these in turn havetaught erroneous ideas. oo many have oolishly concluded thatsheer mental orce and power o Will alone could be so directedto do ones bidding, regardless o personal eort which must be

in harmony with the creative law and irrespective o the price oattainment.In the rst bright ashes o a new view o truth it is natural

to orm hasty conclusions. Many have ancied that by simplydirecting mental energy and by setting thought waves into vi-bration they could obtain whatever they desired, even withoutmaking ull and just returns or value received1. It may be pos-sible in a ew instances to do this, but it is by no means advis-able. Such eats call or abnormal training and an unair andillegitimate use o the Law o Attraction. Such an endeavor isa violation o natures law o justice, which demands givin

reuben swinburne clymer - master ship the divine law

Documents