rosicrucian digest, november 1937

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"Self-Destruction"; Along Civilization's Trail: Strife in the Holy Land; Pages from the Past: Thomas Carlyle; God and Nature; Why Will War Never End?; Building a Personal Philosophy: Part II; Self-Mastership; Popular Fallacies About the Pyramids; and many more...

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Page 1: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

B vember

Page 2: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

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STUDENT’SLESSONBINDER

Accommodates a year's monographs. Is durable and attractive. Has a handy reference index.

Price $1.00 ea.Only $2.50 for a lot of three.

The Secret of Success

T h e fu n d am e n ta l law o f su ccess is o rd er . S y ste m atic

a rran gem en t o f y o u r th ou gh ts, y o u r p la n s an d y o u r ac ts ,

a ssu re s y ou ag a in st lost tim e. T h e g re a te st gen iu s is a t a

d isa d v an tag e i f he is com pelled to search fo r h is im ple-

m ents, pen , o r b ru sh w hen in sp ired . T h e stu d e n t is e q u ally

str iv in g ag a in st od d s i f h is m o n o grap h s o r lesson s are

h ap h azard ly filed, re q u ir in g a shuffling o f p ag es, a so rtin g

o f m an u scrip ts , each tim e a p o in t, p r in c ip le , law , o r fac t

is sou gh t. T h e re is no g re a te r to rm en t than the tan ta liz in g

th ou gh t th at y ou p ossess the needed in fo rm atio n , b u t just

can n o t locate it. T h e re is no w isdom so useless as th a t just

beyon d recall. W h y not begin to d ay to file y o u r m ono-

g rap h s m eth od ica lly ? W e h ave p re p are d a sp ec ia lly m ade,

serv iceab le an d a ttrac tiv e lesson b in d er fo r th is p u rp ose .

T h is sp ec ia l b in d er w ill accom m o date a y e a r 's m on ograph s.

It is very a ttrac tiv e , an d stam p ed in go ld w ith the sym bol

an d n am e o f the O rd e r . It c o n ta in s an in dex fo rm fo r in ­

d e x in g the su b je c ts o f y o u r m on ograph s fo r qu ick r e fe r ­

ence, an d is m ade o f d u rab le m ateria l.

T h e R O S I C R U C I A N S U P P L Y B U R E A UR O S 1 C R U C I A N P A R K S A N J O S E C A L I F O R N I A

Page 3: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

A N C I E N T S P L E N D O R

Of ancient Roman conquest, government, cruelty and depravity, we read and hear much. Paralleling their extension of material might and power was their keen appreciation of the beautiful as expressed in painting, sculpturing, and exquisite architecture; but of this we see and hear little. Though the Romans con­tributed no new design or important idea to the Greek art and culture which they inherited, their love of it and their faithful reproduction of its examples made it possible for Western Europe to have the advantage of it during a time of decadence when there were no artists capable of creating anything to equal it.

The above is a photograph of a painting which hangs in a Roman art gallery, depicting the reconstruction of the once magnificent Roman Forum. If this Forum existed today, in the same condition, it would be a great tribute to any modem architect, sculptor, or builder.

(Courtesy of The Rosicrucian Digest.)

Page 4: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

With Your Thinking!' 'R Y I T S O M E T I M E . C o n ce n tra te in ten tly

u pon an o th er person seated in a room w ith

you , w ith o u t h is n o tic in g it. O b serv e him grad- u a lly becom e restless an d finally tu rn an d look in

y o u r d irection . S im p le— yet it is a positive dem-

onstration th at th ou gh t gen era te s a m ental en ergy w hich can be p ro jec ted from y o u r m ind to the

con sciou sn ess o f an o th er. D o y ou realize how

m uch o f y o u r su ccess an d h ap p in e ss in life de- pen d s u pon y o u r in flu en cin g o th ers? Is it not

im p o rtan t to y o u to h av e o th ers u n d e rstan d y ou r

po in t o f v iew — to be recep tive to y o u r p rop osa ls?

H o w m an y tim es have y ou w ish ed th ere w ere som e w ay you cou ld im press an o th er fav o rab ly

get across to him or her your ideas? T h a t

th ou gh ts can be tran sm itted , received , an d under-

stood by oth ers is n ow sc ien tifica lly dem on strab le .

T h e ta le s o f m iracu lo u s accom plish m en ts o f m ind by the an c ien ts a re n o w know n to be fa c t— n ot

fab le . T h e m ethod w h ereby th ese th in gs can be

intentionally, not acc id en ta lly , accom plish ed h as

been a secret lon g cherished by the R o sic ru c ian s— one o f the schools o f an c ien t w isdom ex istin g

th ro u gh o u t the w orld . T o th ou san d s every w h ere , fo r cen tu ries, the R o sic ru c ia n s h av e p riv a te ly

tau g h t this n early -lo st a r t o f the p ractica l use o f m ind pow er.

T h i s Free B o o k P o i n t s O u t t h e W a yThe Rosicrucians (not a religious organization)

invite you to explore the powers of your mind. Their sensible, simple suggestions have caused intelligent men and women to soar to new heights of accomplishment. They will show you how to use your natural forces and talents to do things you now think are beyond your ability. Use the coupon below and send for a copy of the fascinating sealed free book, “ The Secret Heritage,” which explains how you may receive this unique wisdom and benefit by its application to your daily affairs.

The R O S I C R U C I A N S( A M O R C )

Scribe S. P. C.R osicrucian O roi'R, AMORC Rosierucian Park, San Jose, Calif.

Kindly send me a free copy of the book, “ The Secret Heritage." 1 am interested in learning how I may re­ceive instructions about the full use of my natural powers.

Name................. .............................. .

Address.... ...........................................(The Rosicrucians are NOT a

religious organization.)

Page 5: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

fiQEEESznnti

Batm -w int

ROSICRUCIANDIGESTCO VERS THE W O RLD

THE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL ROSICRUCIAN MAGA­ZINE OF THE WORLD-WIDE ROSICRUCIAN ORDER

Vol. XV. NOVEMBER, 1937 No. 10

Ancient Splendor (Frontispiece) 361The Thought of the Month: "Self-Destruction" 364 Along Civilization's Trail: Strife in the Holy Land.. 368 Pages from the Past: Thomas Carlyle 374God and Nature 375Cathedral Contacts: The Cathedral on the Sea 376 W hy W ill W ar Never End? 378Summaries of Science: Earth Made to

Order for Him? 381Building a Personal Philosophy: Part II 383Common Misconceptions 387Sanctum Musings: Self-Mastership 390Popular Fallacies About the Pyramids 394Cosmic Consciousness (Illustration) 397

Subscription to The Rosicruoian Digest. T hree D ollars per year. Single copies twenty-five cents each.

E ntered as Second Class M aster a t the Post Office a t San Jose, California, under the Act of August 24th, 1912.

Changes of address m ust reach us by the ten th of the m onth preceding date of issue.

Statem ents m ade in th is publication are not the official ex­pressions of the organization or its officers unless stated to be official comm unications.

Published Monthly by the Supreme Council ofTHE R O S IC R U C IA N ORDER— A M O R C

ROSICRUCIAN PARK SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA

T

Page 6: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

TheRosicrucianD igestNovember1937

T H E

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH"SELF-DESTRUCTION"

V E R Y o c c u l t i s t a n d s t u d e n t o f u n i v e r s a l l a w s k n o w s th a t o n e o f th e s u r e s t w a y s o f d e s t r o y i n g o n e 's fu tu r e p o s s ib i l i t ie s a n d b r in g in g a n ­n ih ila t io n a n d s u f ­fe r in g a n d s o r r o w to a n in d iv id u a l , a g r o u p o f in d iv id ­u a l s , o r a n a t io n o f in d iv id u a ls , is

fo r th a t in d iv id u a l o r g r o u p o r n a t io n to im p o s e u p o n h u m a n ity a n y r e s t r ic t io n s o r l im ita t io n s to th e u n iv e r s a l la w o f th e fr e e e x e r c i s e o f h u m a n r ig h t s a n d s p i r ­itu a l d e v e lo p m e n t .

E v e r y in d iv id u a l h a s th e C o s m ic , u n iv e r s a l . G o d - g iv e n r ig h t to liv e a n d e n jo y th e b l e s s in g s o f l i f e a n d to in te r ­p r e t a n d c o m p r e h e n d th e s p ir i t u a l l a w s o f th e u n iv e r s e a n d a t t u n e h im s e l f w ith th em a n d w ith G o d . S u c h r ig h t s a n d p r iv i le g e s in c lu d e , o f c o u r s e , th e fu r th e r r ig h t to w o r s h ip G o d in th e l ig h t o f su c h in te r p r e ta t io n a n d c o m p r e h e n s io n a n d to g iv e th e s o u l o f e a c h in d iv id u a l a n o p p o r tu n i ty to e x p a n d a n d u n fo ld a n d to in d u lg e in su c h p r a c t ic e s , c u s ­to m s , h a b it s a n d in d u lg e n c e s a s b r in g p e a c e a n d h a p p in e s s to th e s o u l , i l lu m i­n a t io n a n d c o n te n tm e n t to th e m in d , n o u r is h m e n t a n d h e a lth to th e b o d y .

W h e n a n y in d iv id u a l— r e g a r d l e s s o f a n y c la im s to te m p o r a l o r s p ir i t u a l a u ­t h o r i t y —a t t e m p t s to r e s t r ic t o r r e s t r a in su c h r ig h t s a n d p r iv i le g e s o f a n y h u m a n b e in g o r g r o u p o f h u m a n b e in g s , h e b r in g s u p o n h im s e l f a n d u p o n th e w o r ld ly f a c t o r s a n d c o n d it io n s u n d e r

h is c o n tr o l , n o t th e w r a th o f G o d o r th e w r a th o f th e C o s m ic , b u t th e in e v it­a b le o p e r a t io n o f l a w s w h ic h h e h a s s e t in to m o tio n , r e s u l t in g in a s t a y o f a ll p r o g r e s s , a r e t r o g r e s s io n o f a l l d e v e lo p ­m e n t, a n d u lt im a te d e s t r u c t io n a n d c a la m ity .

L o o k in g b a c k th r o u g h th e h is to r y o f th e a g e s , it is a n e a s y m a t te r to t r a c e th e m a n i fe s t a t io n o f th is fa c t in th e in ­d iv id u a l r e c o r d o f n a t io n s o r o f c o u n ­t r ie s o f p e o p le s w h e r e a n attempt has b e e n m a d e to r e s t r ic t r e l ig io u s a n d s p i r ­itu a l w o r s h ip a n d d e v e lo p m e n t . E v i ­d e n t ly , o n e s u r e w a y fo r a k in g o r a q u e e n , a r u le r o r a p o te n t a te , to b r in g a n n ih i la t io n o r r e t r o g r e s s io n , d e f e a t a n d lo s s o f p r e s t ig e a n d p o w e r to th e n a t io n u n d e r h is c o n tr o l a n d d ir e c t io n , h a s b e e n to in te r fe r e w ith th e s e r e l ig io u s r ig h t s a n d p r iv i l e g e s a n d to r e s t r a in o r r e s t r ic t th e o th e r G o d - g iv e n b le s s in g s o f life . N o t a s in g le nation w h ich h a s in d u lg e d in su c h r e s t r ic t io n s in th e p a s t c e n tu r ie s h a s a v o id e d su c h c a la m ity , a n d h a s b e e n a b le to r e tr ie v e it s p o w e r a n d r e v iv e it s e x i s t e n c e o n ly b y a b a n ­d o n in g th e u n fo r tu n e a n d u n fa ir r e ­s t r ic t io n s a n d r e s to r in g to it s p e o p le th e p r iv i le g e s w h ic h it h a d ta k e n a w a y fro m th e m .

T o d a y w e fin d th r o u g h o u t th e w o r ld m a n y n o ta b le , a s t o n is h in g a n d r e g r e t ­t a b le e x a m p le s o f th e fa i lu r e to r e a l iz e th e o p e r a t io n o f th e C o s m ic l a w s in th is r e g a r d .

In p a r t s o f E u r o p e to d a y , v a r io u s n a ­t io n s o f p e o p le s a n d r a c e s d e v o t e d to the practice o f certain religious rights o r th e in d u lg e n c e in c e r ta in s p ir i tu a l p r iv i le g e s , a r e h a v in g th e s e p r iv i le g e s r e s t r ic t e d o r c o m p le te ly r e s t r a in e d , a n d

Three hundred sixty-four

Page 7: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

th e ir m in d s a n d s o u l s to r m e n te d b y e v i­d e n c e s o f in to le r a n c e a n d r e l ig io u s a n d r a c ia l p e r s e c u t io n . T h e f a t e o f th e se c o u n tr ie s is in e v i ta b le . T h e y m a y se e m to p r o s p e r a n d s u c c e e d , a n d to b u i ld u p o r c r e a te n e w p o w e r , n e w e n e r g y , n e w m a te r ia l in t e g r i t y fo r a tim e , b u t th e h a n d w r it in g o n th e w a l l is p e r f e c t ly p la in , a n d th e C o s m ic L a w is a l w a y s fu lf il le d .

T a k e , fo r e x a m p le , th e s u f fe r in g th a t is b e in g p la c e d u p o n th e J e w s in v a r io u s p a r t s o f E u r o p e a n d A s i a , f ir s t , b e c a u s e o f th e ir r a c i a l in h e r ita n c e , a n d s e c o n d ly b e c a u s e o f th e ir r e l ig io u s p r e fe r e n c e s . T h e h i s t o r y o f th e J e w s is f r a u g h t w ith th e m o s t o u t s t a n d in g e x a m p le s o f r e ­l ig io u s a n d r a c ia l p e r s e c u t io n th a t th e w o r ld h a s e v e r k n o w n . T o d a y th e y a r e p r a c t ic a l ly a r a c e w ith o u t a c o u n t r y a n d w ith o u t a f la g . C e n t u r y a f t e r c e n tu r y th e y h a v e b e e n c h a s e d o r fo r c e d to m o v e fro m la n d to l a n d , fro m d is t r i c t to d is t r ic t , w ith a l l o f th e ir d iv in e r ig h t s a n d p r iv i le g e s w h o l ly ig n o r e d , a n d w ith a fo rm o f h a t r e d c r e a t e d a g a i n s t th e m th a t is a s u n w a r r a n t e d , a s u n d e s e r v e d , a n d a s u n w o r th y o f th e d ig n i t ie s o f th e h u m a n c o n s c io u s n e s s a s a n y t h in g th a t th e w o r ld h a s e v e r w i t n e s s e d . T h e c o n ­s t a n t p o in t in g o u t o f th e s in s a n d e r r o r s o f s o m e o f th e J e w s , a s b e in g ty p ic a l o f a l l o f th e m , th e e x p lo i t a t io n o f th e w e a k n e s s e s o f s o m e in th e ir r a c e a s b e ­in g u n iv e r s a l a m o n g a l l o f th e m , is a s u n r e a s o n a b le a n d i l lo g ic a l a s a n y fo rm o f p r o p a g a n d a t h a t th e h u m a n m in d h a s b e e n a s k e d to a c c e p t .

T h a t th e r e a r e e r r o r s in th e l iv e s o f J e w s , t h a t s o m e o f th e m a r e s in fu l o r d e c e it fu l o r g iv e n to b u s i n e s s a n d p o l i­t ic a l p r a c t ic e s t h a t a r e q u e s t io n a b le , is u n d o u b t e d ly t ru e . B u t a r e th e s e l iv in g e x a m p le s o f s in a n d e r r o r , d e c e it a n d f r a u d , a n y m o re n u m e r o u s a m o n g th o s e o f th e J e w is h r a c e th a n a m o n g th o s e o f th e G e n t i le , o r a n y m o r e n u m e r o u s a m o n g th e J e w s th a n a m o n g th e M o ­h a m m e d a n s , th e B u d d h i s t s , th e R o m a n C a t h o l i c s , th e P r o t e s t a n t s , o r e v e n th e h e a th e n s ? A n d a c a r e f u l s t u d y o f th e h i s t o r y o f th e J e w s p la in ly r e v e a l s to th e u n b ia s e d , u n p r e ju d ic e d m in d th a t th e a t t i t u d e o f m a n y n a t io n s a n d m a n y r e l ig io n s t o w a r d th e J e w s h a s fo r c e d th e m , a s a m a t te r o f s e l f - p r o t e c t io n a n d s e l f - p r e s e r v a t io n , a s in d iv id u a ls a n d a s a r a c e , to a n t ic ip a t e a l l th e t r ic k e r y , a l l

Three hundred sixty-five

th e d e c e it , a l l th e f r a u d , a n d a l l th e m e a n s o f in s id io u s p e r s e c u t io n o n th e p a r t o f o th e r r a c e s a n d o th e r r e l ig io n s , a n d to m e e t th is w ith c o u n te r - d e c e i t , c o u n t e r - f r a u d , a n d c o u n te r - e r r o r s . T h e n a t u r a l in s t in c t d e v e lo p e d fro m th e G o d - g iv e n r ig h t to l iv e a n d e n jo y th e p r iv i le g e o f l i f e a n d to f ig h t fo r th a t w h ic h is a n in a l ie n a b le r ig h t , i s a c k n o w l­e d g e d b y l a w to b e a p e r f e c t ly p r o p e r a n d l e g a l d e f e n s e fo r m a n y in f r a c t io n s o f th e h u m a n c o d e o f l ife . A lt h o u g h o u r g e n e r a l c o u r t s o f l a w a n d o u r c o d e s o f l i f e f o r b id m u r d e r o r th e t a k in g o f a n ­o th e r p e r s o n ’s l i f e , w e d o c o n d o n e it a n d f o r g iv e it w h e n it is m o t iv a te d b y s e l f - p r e s e r v a t io n a n d c o m m itte d a s th e l a s t r e s o r t in th e p r o c e s s o f s e l f - d e f e n s e .

W h e n a l a r g e n a t io n o f p e o p le s w h o h a v e c o n t r ib u te d s o g r e a t l y to th e s u c ­c e s s a n d h a p p in e s s o f c iv il iz a t io n , to th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f i t s a r t a n d l i t e r a tu r e , to th e c r e a t io n o f c it ie s a n d to w n s , to th e f o s t e r in g o f s p ir i t u a l id e a l s , to th e d e ­f e n s e o f c iv il iz a t io n i t s e l f , is c o n s t a n t ly s u b je c t e d to th e m a c h in a t io n s o f th e s e c r e t a c t iv it ie s , p u b lic r e s t r ic t io n s , p o l i­t ic a l p e r s e c u t io n s , a n d th e d e f e a t o f it s n a t u r a l r ig h t s , it is b o u n d to d e v e lo p in th e h e a r t s a n d m in d s o f s u c h a n a t io n o f p e o p le s th e d e te r m in a t io n to s u r v iv e a n d to c o n q u e r a n d a t l e a s t p r e s e r v e it­s e l f b y a n y m e a n s o r m e th o d s th a t w ill p r o v e e ff ic ie n t . In o th e r w o r d s , th e a t ­t i tu d e o f t h o s e w h o b r in g p e r s e c u t io n u p o n su c h a r a c e o r c l a s s o f p e o p le is a c h a l le n g e to th e m a n d n o t o n ly a n in ­v i ta t io n b u t a d ir e c t c a u s e fo r s u c h re - t a l i a n t o r s e l f - p r o t e c t iv e a n d c o u n te r ­a c t iv it ie s a s th e n a t io n m a y d e c id e u p o n .

I f th e J e w s a t a n y t im e in th e p a s t h i s to r y , o r a t th e p r e s e n t t im e in a n y c o u n tr y o r a n y p a r t o f th e w o r ld , a r e in s id io u s ly a n d s e c r e t ly p la n n in g to s t r e n g th e n th e ir n a t io n , o r i f in d iv id u a l J e w s o r g r o u p s o f J e w s a r e p r iv a t e ly a n d s y s t e m a t i c a l ly a t t e m p t in g to g a in g r e a t e r t e m p o r a l , f in a n c ia l o r r e l ig io u s p o w e r , th e y a r e o n ly d o in g w h a t th e r e s t o f th e w o r ld h a s fo r c e d th e m to d o a n d h a s m a d e it n e c e s s a r y fo r th e m to d o .

A f t e r a l l , th e C h r i s t i a n s , to o , a t v a r i ­o u s t im e s h a v e s u f f e r e d h o r r ib le p e r s e ­c u t io n s , a n d it is d o u b t fu l i f th e J e w s o r th e R o m a n C a t h o l i c s , th e B u d d h i s t s o r th e M o h a m m e d a n s , o r a n y o r g a n iz e d g r o u p o f h e a th e n s , s o - c a l l e d , h a v e e v e r

Page 8: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

r e s o r t e d to th e s e c r e t , h id d e n , u n d e r ­c o v e r c a m p a ig n s o f s e l f - p r o t e c t io n a n d r e t a l i a t io n th a t th e C h r i s t i a n s r e s o r t e d to in p a s t c e n tu r ie s ; a n d e v e n t o d a y th e r e a r e p a r t s o f th e w o r ld w h e r e th e C h r i s t i a n s h a v e to r e s o r t to e v e r y m e th o d o f p o l i t ic a l d ip lo m a c y , h u m a n d e c e p t io n , a n d a c t u a l w a r f a r e to p r e ­s e r v e th e ir r i g h t s a n d p r iv i le g e s . W i t h ­o u t a n y in te n t io n o f b e in g s p e c i f i c a l ly c r i t ic a l o r i r r e v e r e n t ia l in m y lo v e fo r th e id e a l s o f C h r i s t ia n i t y , I m u s t a d m it -— a n d s o m u s t y o u — th a t m o re h o r r ib le w a r s a n d fo r m s o f p e r s e c u t io n h a v e a t t im e s b e e n c o n d u c te d b y , s u p p o r t e d b y , a n d in d u lg e d in b y C h r i s t ia n d e n o m in a ­t io n s , th a n b y a n y o th e r r e l ig io u s s e c t , e x c e p t p o s s i b ly s o m e o f th e o ld e r o r ie n ­ta l o r s o - c a l l e d h e a th e n s e c t s .

B u t th e R o m a n C a t h o l i c s , to o , h a v e h a d th e ir s h a r e — a n d s t i l l h a v e i t — o f r e l ig io u s p e r s e c u t io n a n d u n fa ir r e s t r a in t a n d r e s t r ic t io n . E v e n in o u r e n l ig h te n e d c o u n t r y o f A m e r ic a , a n d in o th e r e n ­l ig h te n e d c o u n tr ie s , th e re is a t th is v e r y h o u r a c o n t in u a t io n o f th e a g e - o l d c o n ­t e s t b e tw e e n R o m a n C a th o l ic i s m a n d o th e r r e l ig io n s o r o th e r s e c t s o f th e C h r i s t i a n r e l ig io n . In e v e r y p o l it ic a l c a m p a ig n , in e v e r y n a t io n - w id e m o v e ­m e n t o f a p o l i t ic a l , f in a n c ia l o r s o c ia l n a tu r e , in d iv id u a ls a n d g r o u p s o f in ­d iv id u a l s a r e s u r e to in je c t th e r e l ig io u s q u e s t io n , a n d if it is n o t th e J e w s w h o a r e p a in t e d a s a h o r r ib le e x a m p le o f s e e k e r s fo r p o l i t ic a l a n d s o c ia l c o n tr o l , it is th e R o m a n C a t h o l i c s . Y e t h e re a g a in w e fin d n o t m e r e ly a n a t io n o f p e o p le , b u t n a t io n s o f p e o p le s , a l l o f o n e C h r i s t ia n , s e c t a r i a n r e l ig io n , w h o h a v e c o n tr ib u te d m a g n if ic e n t ly to th e a r t a n d l i t e r a tu r e , th e a r c h i te c tu r e a n d th e fin e a r t s , th e s p ir i tu a l a n d th e p h y s i ­c a l d e v e lo p m e n t o f c iv il iz a t io n , fo r w h ic h a l l n a t io n s a n d a l l r e l ig io n s s h o u ld b e a p p r e c ia t iv e a n d n e v e r fo r g e t th e m .

T h eRosicrucianD igestN ovem ber1937

A n d in p a r t s o f th e N e a r E a s t w e fin d th e A r a b s a n d o th e r n a t io n s o r d iv i s io n s o f n a t io n s b e in g p e r s e c u te d a n d r e l ig io u s ly to r m e n te d b e c a u s e o f a d is t in c t io n in s o c ia l c l a s s o r r e l ig io u s c l a s s .

W h i le th e r e p o r t s fro m G e r m a n y r e ­g a r d i n g th e p e r s e c u t io n o f th e J e w s a n d c e r ta in o th e r r e l ig io u s , s o c ia l , e th ic a l o r m o r a l m o v e m e n ts a r e u n d o u b t e d ly e x ­

a g g e r a t e d in o u r m o d e r n n e w s p a p e r s , a n d in p r o p a g a n d a b o o k le t s a n d p a m ­p h le t s , th e f a c t d o e s r e m a in th a t th e J e w s in G e r m a n y , a n d o th e r c l a s s e s o f in d iv id u a ls , h a v e b e e n to r m e n te d to th e p o in t o f s u f f e r in g th e f ir e s o f h e ll b e ­c a u s e o f th e d ic t a t e s o f o n e m a n o r a s m a l l g r o u p o f m e n , b a s e d u p o n th e ir p e r s o n a l o p in io n s a n d p r e ju d ic e s . A l l th e w o r ld w o u ld l ik e to s e e th e G e r m a n n a t io n a n d th e G e r m a n c o u n t r y c o m e b a c k to it s o w n fo r m e r p o l i t ic a l s t r e n g th a n d s o c i a l h a p p in e s s a n d h u m a n in ­te g r i t y . T h e q u ic k m a n n e r in w h ic h A m e r ic a a n d th e o th e r n a t io n s w h ic h w e r e a t w a r w ith G e r m a n y d u r in g th e p e r io d fro m 1 9 1 4 to 1 9 1 8 la id a s i d e th e ir t e m p o r a r y e n m ity a n d e x t e n d e d th e h a n d o f fe l lo w s h ip a n d g o o d w ill to G e r m a n y , p r o v e d th a t n e ith e r r e l ig io n n o r r a c ia l d is t in c t io n s h a d a n y p la c e in th e fu n d a m e n ta l c a u s e o f th e w a r .

T o d a y th e G e r m a n c it iz e n o r th e G e r m a n - A m e r ic a n c it iz e n h a s a k in d ly a n d b r o th e r ly p la c e in th e h e a r t s o f A m e r ic a n s a n d m o s t o f th e c iv i l iz e d w o r ld . B u t G e r m a n y ’s g r o w t h a n d d e ­v e lo p m e n t to a p o in t a n d p la c e in th e w o r ld w h ic h s h e o c c u p ie d p r e v io u s ly , o r to a g r e a t e r p la c e , is b e in g f r u s t r a t e d , s u r e ly a n d d e f in i te ly , a n d n o t to o s lo w ­ly , b y th e p r e s e n t u n f o r t u n a t e a n d u n ­f a i r r e s t r ic t io n s a n d r e s t r a in t s p la c e d n o t o n ly u p o n th e J e w s b u t u p o n m a n y o th e r g r o u p s a n d d iv is io n s o f h e r p e o p le . T h i s a t t i t u d e o n th e p a r t o f th e G e r m a n g o v e r n m e n t is g r a d u a l l y s p e l l ­in g d o o m a n d d e f e a t to th e n a t io n a s a w h o le , a n d it is m o r e fo r th is r e a s o n t h a t t h o u s a n d s u p o n t h o u s a n d s o f G e r ­m a n s , b o th J e w s a n d G e n t i le s — a n d R o m a n C a t h o l i c s — a r e e v a c u a t in g G e r ­m a n y a n d g o in g to o th e r p a r t s o f th e w o r ld , th a n ju s t b e c a u s e o f th e p e r s e c u ­t io n s o f th e J e w s a lo n e .

W e b e l ie v e t h a t R u s s i a , a p p r o a c h in g th e d a r k n e s s o f th e O b s c u r e N i g h t o u t o f w h ic h it c o u ld n e v e r h a v e c o m e in to a G o ld e n D a w n , r e a l iz e d th a t it h a d t a k e n th e o n e s u r e w a y to d e f e a t a l l o f i t s a m b it io n s a n d to d e s t r o y it s p r o s p e r i t y a n d p o w e r , a n d t h e r e fo r e w ith d r e w s o m e o f it s r e l ig io u s r e s t r ic ­t io n s a n d h a s s h o w n s o m e lit t le d e g r e e o f to le r a t io n in r e c e n t m o n th s to w a r d th o s e w h o m it fo r m e r ly p e r s e c u t e d a n d p r o s e c u t e d f o r d i f fe r e n c e s o f o p in io n . B u t n e v e r t h e le s s , R u s s i a c r e a t e d fo r it­

Three hundred sixty-six

Page 9: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

s e l f , in th e p r o c e s s o f d e s t r o y in g c h u r c h ­e s , t e m p le s , s y n a g o g u e s , a n d c a t h e d r a l s , a n d in r e s t r ic t in g r e l ig io u s f r e e d o m , a K a r m ic c o n d it io n fo r w h ic h it m u s t m a k e c o m p e n s a t io n s o m e d a y , a n d u n til t h a t c o m p e n s a t io n is m a d e , R u s s i a c a n n e v e r b e c o m e th e g r e a t p o w e r th a t e v e n it s m o s t a m b it io u s le a d e r s a n d d ir e c to r s a r e s t r iv in g to c r e a te . F o r th is r e a s o n , R u s s i a m u s t e x p e c t th r o u g h o u t it s n a ­tio n a n d in a l l o f it s p o l i t ic a l a c t iv it ie s , th e s a m e d e g r e e o f s u f f e r in g a n d s o r ­ro w , in th e n e a r fu tu r e , a s it h a s p u t u p o n its p e o p le in th e r e c e n t p a s t . T h e s c a le s m u s t b e b a la n c e d , a n d a d j u s t ­m e n t m a d e , b e f o r e R u s s i a — o r a n y o th e r c o u n t r y — c a n b e r e b o r n a n d b e g in a n e w a c o n s t r u c t iv e a n d h a p p y l ife .

W e m a y p r a y fo r u n iv e r s a l p e a c e , a n d w e m a y s t r iv e to in v e n t e v e r y p o l i ­t ic a l a n d s o c i a l s c h e m e to b r in g a b o u t a c lo s e r u n d e r s t a n d in g o f th e p o l i t ic a l i s ­s u e s a n d th e e c o n o m ic p r o b le m s o f th e d if fe r e n t c o u n tr ie s , in th e b e l ie f t h a t if th e s e th in g s a r e s o lv e d o r a c c o m p l i s h e d in c o n te n tm e n t a n d m u tu a l a g r e e m e n t w e w ill e l im in a te th e c a u s e o f w a r . B u t it is u s e le s s to p r a y to G o d to b r in g p e a c e in to th e h e a r t o f m a n w h i le m a n c o n t in u e s to b e in to le r a n t o f th e q u a l i ty o f b lo o d a n d th e n a t u r e o f r e l ig io n in th e b o d ie s a n d s o u l s o f o th e r in ­d iv id u a l s . F r o m th e t im e o f th e e a r l ie s t p e r s e c u t io n s o f th e p r ie s t h o o d in E g y p t , u p to th is v e r y h o u r , r e l ig io u s in to le r ­

a n c e a n d r a c i a l in c o m p a t ib i l i ty h a v e b e e n th e tw o o u t s t a n d in g c a u s e s o f m o re w a r , m o re l o s s o f h u m a n li fe , m o re d e s t r u c t io n o f p r o p e r ty , m o re ru in a t io n o f c o u n t r ie s , a n d m o re r e s t r a in t in th e p r o g r e s s a n d d e v e lo p m e n t o f c iv i l iz a ­tio n , th a n a n y o th e r tw o f a c t o r s , d e s p i t e th e a r g u m e n t o f e c o n o m is t s a n d s o c i a l ­is t s w h o c la im th a t th e la b o r in g c o n d i­t io n s a n d th e p o w e r o f c a p i t a l a r e th e p r in c ip a l c a u s e s o f h u m a n s u f fe r in g a n d u n h a p p in e s s .

T h e r e c a n b e n o p e a c e , p o l i t ic a l ly , s o c i a l ly , m e n ta l ly , o r s p ir i t u a l ly , u n til th e h u m a n b r o th e r h o o d o f m a n is e s t a b ­l i s h e d u p o n th e b a s i s o f e q u a l r ig h t s , e q u a l p r iv i le g e s , a n d e q u a l b l e s s in g s to a l l o f G o d ' s c h ild r e n . In th e e y e s o f G o d , th e re is n o d is t in c t io n b e tw e e n J e w a n d G e n t i le , R o m a n C a t h o l i c a n d P r o t e s t a n t , M o h a m m e d a n o r B u d d h is t o r e v e n th e h e a th e n . A l l a r e c r e a t e d in th e im a g e o f G o d , a n d in s o m e s t a g e o f th e s e l f - s a m e p r o c e s s o f h u m a n a n d s p ir i t u a l e v o lu t io n . U n t i l w e , th e e le ­m e n ts o f th is u n iv e r s a l K in g d o m o f G o d , h a v e th e s a m e to le r a n c e , th e s a m e lo v e , th e s a m e m e r c y , a n d m a n i f e s t it t o w a r d o n e a n o th e r a s G o d m a n i f e s t s it t o w a r d u s , th e r e c a n b e n o u n iv e r s a l p e a c e . A n d a n y n a t io n o r d ic t a t o r o f a n a t io n , r u le r o r k in g , w h o is u n m in d fu l o f th is la w , o r v io la t e s th is p r in c ip le , is b r in g in g in e v i ta b le d o o m a n d d i s a s t e r to h im s e l f a n d to h is p e o p le . I t is th e o n e s u r e w a y o f " s e l f - d e s t r u c t i o n . ”

V V V

N E W E N G L A N D R O S I C R U C I A N B R O A D C A S T

Our members and friends in New England will be pleased to learn that beginning with Tuesday, October 26, at 8:30 p. m., Eastern Standard Time, we will broadcast a series of interesting programs over Radio Station W A A B in Boston, Massachusetts, which operates on a frequency of 1410 kilocycles. These broadcasts, which will be heard each week on the same day and hour, are linked together under the title, "The Mysteries of Life.” Each program is a complete discourse on one of the problems which men and women confront in their daily lives and tells how it can be overcome. In addition to being instructive, these programs are highly entertaining, and are aug­mented by a splendid musical arrangement.

To encourage the continuance of such broadcasts, we ask each of you not only to listen yourself, but have as many friends and acquaintances as possible—who have not already had Rosicrucian literature or who are not thoroughly familiar with what Rosicrucianism is—listen with you or in their own homes. Let us help to bring these discourses of enlightenment to thousands of persons. The broadcasts, of course, are strictly non-sectarian and therefore can be enjoyed by every listener who is interested in the higher and more important things of life. So that you will not forget, enter the above date and the hour of the first broadcast on your calendar or in your memo book.

jThree hundred sixty-seven

Page 10: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

T h eR osicrucianD igestN ovem ber1937

Along Civilization’s TrailBy R a l p h M. L e w is , K. R. C.

Editor’s Note:—This is the eighth episode of a narrative by the Supreme Secretary relating the experiences he and his party had in visiting mystic shrines and places in Europe and the ancient world.

STRIFE IN THE HOLY LAND

s io n s o n ly b e c a u s e th e y a r e n o t p o s s ib le o f a c t u a l i t y u n d e r e x i s t in g c ir c u m ­s t a n c e s ? T h e i l lu s io n e x i s t s n o t in th e ir w o r t h in e s s b u t in th e b e l ie f t h a t th e y a r e p o s s ib le o f a t t a in m e n t in o u r o w n lifetimes.

T h e E g y p t i a n p r e s s s u b s t a n t i a t e d th e d ir e w a r n in g o f th e r a i l r o a d r e p r e s e n t a ­t iv e s . A r t ic l e s to ld o f t r o o p m o v e m e n ts in P a le s t in e , o f th e c o n c e n tr a t io n o f a r m e d f o r c e s in J e r u s a le m , o f p i l la g in g a n d A r a b a t r o c i t i e s . A s w e r o d e th r o u g h th e n ig h t , lo o k in g u p a t th e d a r k b lu e c a n o p y o v e r h e a d w ith it s s c in t i l la t in g s p e c k s , th e t a l e s o f w a r a n d b lo o d s h e d s e e m e d f a n t a s t i c a n d d i s t a n t , l ik e a h o r r ib le d r e a m w h e n o n e a w a k e n s in a ro o m b a t h e d in w a r m , c o u r a g e - g iv in g s u n l ig h t . “ T h e p r e s s e x a g g e r a t e s , " w a s o u r s e l f - e n c o u r a g in g t h o u g h t a s w e s e t t l e d d o w n fo r a m o n o t o n o u s r a i lw a y jo u r n e y o f a n ig h t a n d a d a y .

K a n t a r a a t l a s t ! W e r o s e s t i f f ly a f t e r o u r jo u r n e y o f s e v e r a l h o u r s , s h o o k th e d e s e r t d u s t fro m o u r c lo th in g , fe e l in g m u c h a s th e N o m a d m u s t fe e l w h o p u s h e s h is w a y a c r o s s th e d e s e r t w a s t e s o n th e b a c k o f a c a m e l. H e r e w a s r e ­l ie f ; w e w e r e to f e r r y a c r o s s th e c e le ­b r a t e d S u e z C a n a l , p o in t o f in te r n a t io n ­a l c o n t r o v e r s y . T h e c o o ln e s s o f th e w a t e r w o u ld b e r e f r e s h in g . W e — F r a t e r s B r o w e r a n d S h ib le y a n d I — j u g g l e d o u r l u g g a g e th r o u g h th e o p e n c o m p a r tm e n t w in d o w s to ja b b e r in g ,

Three hundred sixty-eight

A R in J e r u s a le m ! T h e la n d w h e r e

t h e P r i n c e o f P e a c e h a d e x ­p o u n d e d H is m e s ­s a g e o f h o p e fo r h u m a n ity w a s n o w r i d d e n b y r i o t s a n d b u r n in g w ith th e f la m e s o f h a t ­r e d ! N e a r l y tw e n ­ty c e n tu r ie s a g o , f r o m t h e s a m e la n d , w e n t fo r th

th e d o c t r in e th a t a b r o th e r h o o d o f m a n , a n d g o o d w ill o n e a r th t o w a r d a l l , w o u ld b e th e h ig h e s t m a n i fe s t a t io n o f th e d iv in e in m a n ’s n a tu r e . T o d a y th e a u th o r i t ie s in C a i r o w a r n e d u s t h a t w e w o u ld e n te r P a le s t in e a n d J e r u s a le m a t o u r o w n r is k , fo r th e p o p u la c e w e r e a l ig n e d a g a i n s t e a c h o th e r . R a c i a l a n d r e l ig io u s p r e ju d ic e s h a d s w e p t a l l b a r ­r ie r s o f r e a s o n a n d t r a d i t io n a w a y .

W e th o u g h t , a s w e d e te r m in e d ly s ig n e d p a p e r s r e l e a s in g th e a u th o r it ie s fro m r e s p o n s ib i l i t y fo r a n y p o s s ib le in -' ju r y to o u r p e r s o n s in P a le s t in e , th a t it is r e m a r k a b le h o w w e ll r e l ig io n h a s s u r ­v iv e d in th e f a c e o f th is b lu n t r e a l i ty , p r o m is in g p e a c e , lo v e a n d c o m p a s s io n in a w o r ld w h e r e o n e v e r y s id e r e a l i ty p o r t r a y s e n v y , g r e e d , je a lo u s y , a n d s t r i f e . S t i l l th e i l lu s io n g o e s o n . B u t th e n , a r e n o t m a n y w o r t h y id e a ls il lu -

Page 11: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

fe z z e d , n a t iv e p o r t e r s w h o e a g e r ly seized it and fought among themselves fo r th e p r iv i le g e o f c a r r y in g th e p ie c e s a n d e a r n in g a s m a ll f e e in c o m p e n s a t io n .

A q u e e r s p e c t a c le g r e e t e d o u r s ig h t a s w e t r a i le d b e h in d o u r p o r t e r s . T h e S u e z a t th is p o in t w a s e x c e e d in g ly n a r ­ro w a n d u n im p r e s s iv e . I t s w id th s e e m e d to u s n o t g r e a t e r th a n m a n y o f th e p r in ­c ip a l ir r ig a t io n c a n a l s o f W e s t e r n U n ite d S t a t e s . E x c e p t fo r th r e e lo w - w a t t a g e f lo o d l ig h t s m o u n te d o n s le n d e r , o b l iq u e ly f a s t e n e d p o le s , w h ic h c a s t s m a ll c ir c le s o f a y e l lo w h a z e o n th e s l u g g i s h l y m o v in g w a t e r , th e c a n a l w a s in k y b la c k a n d f r e e fro m e v e n th e o u t ­lin e o f a n y c r a f t . P a r a d i n g d o w n a r ic k e ty p la n k r a m p , w e w a lk e d o n b o a r d th e " f e r r y .” T h e f e r r y w a s like a c o n ­t in u a t io n o f th e r a m p ; th e f lo o r in g c o n ­s i s t e d o f r o u g h p la n k s , f a s t e n e d w ith h a n d - w r o u g h t n a i l s , p r o t r u d in g in m a n y p la c e s , o v e r w h ic h p a s s e n g e r s s tu m b le d . T h e o n ly s u p p o r t o n e i th e r s id e w a s a r a i l in g , m u c h l ik e a c r u d e fe n c e b u t h a v ­in g o n ly a to p b a r . T h e f e r r y h a d n e ith e r p r o w n o r s t e r n . I t w a s , in f a c t , b u t a r a f t s o m e th ir ty - f iv e fe e t in le n g th a n d tw e n ty - f iv e f e e t in w id th . T h e p a s ­s e n g e r s c r o w d e d a g a i n s t th e r a i l in g s to p e r m it th e lu m b e r in g t r u c k th e c e n te r .

W h i le h u m a n ity a n d v e h ic le s w e r e b e in g c o m p r e s s e d in to th e s m a ll a r e a , w e lo o k e d a t o u r fe l lo w p a s s e n g e r s . W e fe lt c o n s p ic u o u s ; o u r g a r b w a s s o s t r ic t ly W e s t e r n . N o t a n o t h e r o f th e p e r s p ir in g g r o u p w a s a t t i r e d in a l ik e m a n n e r . O n m y r ig h t s t o o d a s w a r t h y n a t iv e w o m a n , w ith s h in y b r a s s e a r r i n g s a n d v o lu m in o u s s k i r t o f b r i l l i a n t h u e s . A s t r ip e d s h a w l d r a p e d h e r h e a d a n d p a r t l y s h a d e d h e r d a r t in g e y e s . O n m y l e f t w a s a B e d o u in , A r a b N o m a d , w e a r ­in g l e a th e r s a n d a l s e a c h w ith i t s s u p ­p o r t in g th o n g t ig h t ly d r a w n b e tw e e n th e l a r g e a n d n e x t to e s o f h is b r o a d fe e t . C o v e r in g h is g a u n t f r a m e w a s a n a w n in g - l ik e l in e n r o b e , a n d h a n g in g fro m h is b l a c k r o p e b e l t w a s a d ir k , th e s c a b b a r d o f w h ic h w a s in la id w ith m o th e r - o f - p e a r l , c a u s in g it to sh im m e r w ith r e f le c te d l ig h t . H e , a n d m a n y o f h is k in d w h o c r o w d e d u s , w e r e a p p a r e n t ­ly o b l iv io u s to o u r p r e s e n c e . T h e y d w e lt o n th o u g h t s n o t a g r e e a b l e , fo r th e ir f a c e s w e r e d is t o r t e d b y s c o w ls . “N o n e to o p le a s a n t c o m p a n y ,” I th o u g h t a s I

Three hundred sixty-nine

r e c o l le c te d t a l e s o f h a t r e d w h ich th e A r a b s w e r e s a i d to h a r b o r fo r u s O c c i ­d e n t a l s a t th is tim e .

T h e p le a s in g c o o ln e s s o f th e a i r w a s m it ig a t e d b y th e r a v e n o u s m o s q u i to e s , a n d th e p e r n ic io u s s t i c k y b la c k flie s . W e fe l t fu r th e r u n c o m fo r ta b le , f o r w e w e r e a w a r e t h a t w e w e r e n o w b e c o m in g o b je c t s o f e x c e p t io n a l c u r io s i t y to s e v e r a l .

I t w a s b u t a m a t t e r o f m o m e n ts b e ­f o r e w e h a d c r o s s e d th e S u e z a n d w e r e a b o a r d th e s l e e p e r w h ic h w a s to t a k e u s in to P a le s t in e . A s I l a y l i s t e n in g to th e h ig h - p i t c h e d s h r i e k — r a t h e r th a n w h is t le — o f o u r e n g in e a s w e s p e d a c r o s s th e P e n in s u la o f S in a i , I th o u g h t o f i t s a n c ie n t c o p p e r m in e s . F o r c e n tu r ie s th e s e g r e a t m in e s h a d p r o v id e d th e p h a r a o h s w ith th e m e ta l s o b a d l y n e e d ­e d fo r im p le m e n ts a n d w e a p o n s a l ik e . A l l th e p e o p le s o f th e th e n - k n o w n w o r ld b a r t e r e d fo r th is E g y p t i a n c o p ­p e r . N o o n e k n o w s h o w a n d w h e n o r e w a s f ir s t d i s c o v e r e d , b u t it is th o u g h t to h a v e b e e n f ir s t fo u n d o n th is p e n in s u la in th e d im p a s t . S o m e p r e h is to r ic E g y p t i a n — p e r h a p s a l a t e s t o n e - a g e t r a v e le r — fo u n d o n e m o r n in g , g l i s t e n in g in th e s t i l l - w a r m a s h e s o f h is fire , o n e o r m o re b e a d s o f m e ta l w h ic h h a d g o n e th r o u g h th e p r o c e s s o f s m e lt in g in th e r o a r in g f la m e s o f th e n ig h t b e f o r e . R e ­p e a t e d f in d in g s o f th e s e b e a d s in th e r e m n a n t s o f th e f ire o n th is p e n in s u la c a u s e d h im a n d h is c o m p a n io n s to e x ­p e r im e n t w ith h e a t in g th e lo o s e surface s to n e . S u c h e x p e r im e n ta t io n r e s u l t e d in e v e n t u a l ly le a r n in g h o w to c r u d e ly e x ­t r a c t th e m e ta l fro m th e o re . W i t h t h a t s im p le d i s c o v e r y , th e w o r ld a d v a n c e d t r e m e n d o u s ly . N e w a c c o m p li s h m e n t s w e r e p o s s ib le , f o r th e a g e o f m e ta l h a d a r r iv e d !

W e r o s e e a r ly to g r e e t th e r i s in g su n t in t in g th e d i s t a n t E a s t e r n h ills a d e l i ­c a t e s h a d e o f p in k . T h e l a n d w a s d e s o ­l a te , l ik e o u r B a d L a n d s o f N e v a d a — t a b le - l ik e , h a r d p a c k e d w ith t u f t s o f p a r c h e d v e g e t a t io n , w ith a s p r in k lin g o f r o u n d p e b b le s , a l it t le l a r g e r th a n c o m ­m e r c ia l g r a v e l . N o t a s ig n o f l i f e w a s a p p a r e n t . T h i s v i s t a d id n o t c o m p le m e n t o u r g l a m o r o u s c o n c e p t o f w h a t th e H o ly L a n d s h o u ld b e . T h e u n in te r e s t in g v ie w tu r n e d o u r a t t e n t io n to o u r r e a d in g m a t ­te r , b y w h ic h w e h o p e d to b r e a k th e m o n o t o n y o f th e r id e .

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TheRosicrucianDigestNovember1937

O u r a t t e n t io n s o m e t im e la t e r w a s d r a w n fro m o u r b o o k s to th e o u t s id e a g a in b y a s u d d e n s lo w in g o f th e t r a in 's s p e e d to a c r a w l . T h e h ills w e r e n o w c lo s e r — v e r y n e a r , in f a c t — a n d o n b o th s id e s o f u s . W e w e r e t r a v e l in g th r o u g h a n a r r o w v a l le y . T h e f lo o r o f th e v a l l e y w a s c o v e r e d b y s h o r t g r a s s s tu b b le , s t i l l b r o w n is h in h u e . T h e r e b e f o r e u s w a s w h a t w e h a d e x p e c t e d to s e e in P a l e s ­t in e — a flo c k o f s h e e p a n d h e r d o f g o a t s b e in g d r iv e n b y a n o d d in g S e m e t ic , r id in g a s t r i d e a s m a ll , t r o t t in g b u r r o . T h e b a r e f e e t o f th e s h e p h e r d n e a r ly d r a g g e d in th e d u s t ; it lo o k e d a s th o u g h , i f h e s t o o d u p r ig h t , f e e t o n th e g r o u n d , th e b u r r o c o u ld h a v e p a s s e d e a s i ly b e ­tw e e n h is s t r a d d l e d l e g s . A s w e lo o k e d , m o r e f lo c k s c a m e in to e v id e n c e , s o m e d e s c e n d in g fro m n e a r b y h i l l s . A l l s e e m e d to b e c o n v e r g in g .

S o s lo w ly h a d w e b e e n t r a v e l in g fo r s e v e r a l m in u te s , t h a t th e h a l t o f th e t r a in w a s h a r d ly n o t ic e a b le . H e r e w a s th e f i r s t s t o p w e h a d m a d e d u r in g th e d a y . W e le f t o u r c o m p a r tm e n t to c r o w d in th e a i s l e o f th e c a r , a n d le a n e d f a r o u t o f th e lo w e r e d w in d o w s . P a r a l le l w ith th e t r a c k , fo r a b o u t th e l e n g th o f tw o c a r s , s t r e t c h e d a b o a r d p la t fo r m , o p e n to th e s k y . A h u n d r e d y a r d s b a c k o f it w e r e e ig h t o r te n te n t s , s o m e w h a t s q u a t t i e r th a n o u r A m e r ic a n I n d ia n t e p e e s a n d l e s s g r a c e f u l , o f a b l a c k m a ­te r ia l w h ic h w e la t e r le a r n e d w a s t a n ­n e d g o a t s k in . A l i g n e d in f r o n t w e r e s m a ll c h ild r e n in th e c u s t o m a r y t a t t e r e d c lo th in g o f th e E a s t , s o m e p a r t ly n a k e d ; b u t u n lik e th e c h ild r e n o f th e E g y p t i a n f e l la h s , th e s e w e r e q u ie t , a n d a lm o s t m o t io n le s s . N e a r th e m w e r e g r o u p s o f a d u l t s , e i th e r a s t r i d e b u r r o s o r s i t t in g o n th e ir h a u n c h e s .

L o u d v o ic e s a n d th e c la t t e r o f h e a v y b o o t s o n th e p la t f o r m c a u s e d u s to tu r n o u r h e a d s in th e d ir e c t io n o f th e r e a r o f th e t r a in . T h e r e w e r e tw o s o l d i e r s — B r i t i s h to m m ie s . T h e y w o r e th e r e g u l a ­tio n t r o p ic a l u n ifo r m o f th e B r i t i s h s o l d i e r — k h a k i s h o r t s a n d sh ir t , h ig h s o c k s , t r e n c h s h o e s , a n d t a n c o r k h e l­m e t. E a c h h a d , s lu n g a c r o s s h is b a c k , a n a u t o m a t ic r i f le w ith b a y o n e t a f f tx e d . T h e m e n th e m s e lv e s p a r t i c u la r ly a t ­t r a c te d o u r a t t e n t io n . T h e y w e r e , in f a c t , b o y s ; n e ith e r o f th e l a d s w a s o v e r n in e te e n a t th e u tm o s t — f r e s h - f a c e d , b r ig h t e y e d , th e k in d o f y o u t h f u l , in ­

te l l ig e n t f a c e y o u s e e in a c o l le g e s p o r t s e v e n t a n d lit t le e x p e c t to f in d in a m ili­t a r y e x p e d i t io n o f th is k in d .

A n in c id e n t o c c u r r e d in th e fe w m in ­u te s o f o u r s t a y w h ic h c a u s e d u s to lo s e a d m ir a t io n fo r th e m a n d th e ir s u p e r io r s . P e r h a p s it w a s e x c e p t io n a l ; a t l e a s t , w e h o p e d s o . A n A r a b l a d , a b o u t s ix t e e n o r s e v e n te e n , s a u n t e r e d o v e r to th e p la t f o r m , w ith r a g g e d tu r b a n , l e g s a n d fe e t b a r e . U p o n h is a p p r o a c h , th e y o u n g to m m ie s s t o p p e d th e ir b a n te r in g a n d w a t c h e d h im . A s s o o n a s h e s t e p ­p e d u p o n th e p la t fo r m th e y w e r e u p o n h im . E a c h g r a b b in g o n e o f h is a r m s , th e y p u lle d h im in o p p o s i t e d ir e c t io n s , th e n s h o v e d h im s o v io le n t ly t o w a r d e a c h o th e r th a t h e n e a r ly fe ll. H e w a s f in a l ly p u s h e d o ff th e p la t fo r m . O n e th e n s t r u c k h im w ith h is o p e n h a n d a c r o s s th e h e a d , a s h e v a in ly t r ie d to p r o te c t h e a d a n d s h o u ld e r s w ith h is a r m s . R e t r e a t in g , h e n e v e r o n c e o f f e r e d r e s i s t a n c e . T h e o th e r r a n a f t e r h im , k ic k in g h im a s h e f le d . W e w e r e a s t o u n d e d . W h y th is b r u t a l i t y ? T h e A r a b b o y h a d s a i d o r d o n e n o th in g . A s s u m in g t h a t h is p r e s e n c e w a s a m e n ­a c e to th e t r a in b e c a u s e o f d a n g e r o f s a b o t a g e , c o u ld th e y n o t h a v e o r d e r e d h im a w a y , e n f o r c in g th e ir o r d e r s w ith th e p r e s e n c e o f th e ir w e a p o n s ? W a s G r e a t B r i t a in c o u n te n a n c in g s u c h c o n ­d u c t o n th e p a r t o f h e r t r o o p s ? O r w e r e th e s e , a s th e ir y o u th in d ic a te d , ju s t r a w t r o o p s u n ju s t l y d i s p l a y in g th e ir n e w a u t h o r i t y a n d m ig h t? S u c h a c t io n s , w h a t e v e r th e ir c a u s e , w o u ld o n ly b r e e d fu r th e r h a t r e d a n d d if f ic u lty in P a l e s ­t in e fo r B r i t a in , w e th o u g h t .

W e r o d e o n in s i le n c e fo r n e a r ly a n ­o th e r h o u r a t a s n a i l - l ik e s p e e d . T h e n e x t s t o p w a s a t L y d a — a l a r g e r p l a t ­fo r m , c r o w d e d a s th e p r e v io u s o n e , h a v ­in g a p a r t i a l r a in - s h e d d o w n th e c e n te r . T h e h i l l s h a d c lo s e d in o n u s . L y d a w a s a ju n c t io n p o in t ; o u r t r a in w a s to g o to H a i f a a n d th e s e a ; w e m u s t c h a n g e h e r e fo r J e r u s a le m . N o p o r t e r s c la m o r e d a t th e w in d o w s fo r o u r b a g g a g e . A f t e r q u ite s o m e l a b o r , w e u n lo a d e d o u r a s ­s o r t m e n t o f tw e n t y - o n e p ie c e s , in c lu d ­in g th e d e l ic a t e c in e m a e q u ip m e n t , in to a p ile o n th e p la t fo r m . O u r J e r u s a le m tr a in h a d n o t y e t a r r iv e d . W e lo o k e d a b o u t u s . W e w e r e in a n a r m e d c a m p , it w o u ld se e m . O n e e n d o f th e n a r r o w , r o u g h s h e d w a s s u p p o r t e d b y a d d it io n a l

Three hundred seventy

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p o s t s , a n d o n to p o f it, b e h in d a r a m ­p a r t o f s a n d b a g s , a m a c h in e g u n w a s m o u n te d , a n d b e h in d it s a t tw o a le r t to m m ie s — a b o u t th e s a m e a g e a s th o s e w e h a d p r e v io u s ly s e e n . F r o m th e ir p o s i t io n th e y c o m m a n d e d fu ll v ie w o f th e r o c k y c lif f s w h ic h f r o w n e d d o w n u p o n u s . a n d th e y w e r e a le r t , w a tc h in g fo r A r a b s n ip e r s th a t h a d b e e n h a r a s ­s in g th e r a i l r o a d c r e w s . T h e p la t fo r m w a s c r o w d e d w ith t r o o p s c a r r y in g fu ll e q u ip m e n t, w a i t in g a s w e w e r e fo r th e t ra in to J e r u s a le m . A d r o n e o v e r h e a d c a u s e d u s to lo o k u p w a r d . T h e r e a lo n e p la n e — a s c o u t — c ir c le d h ig h o v e r th e d e p o t a n d a d ja c e n t h ills , r e a d y to s ig n a l th e t r o o p s b e lo w o f a n y A r a b m o v e ­m e n t in th e ir d ir e c t io n . W e s c a n n e d th e c le f t s in th e s c a r r e d h i l l s . T h e r e w a s n o l i fe v i s ib le ; y e t w e h a d th e u n e a s y f e e l ­in g t h a t e y e s fro m th e d a r k s h a d o w s o f th e h i l l s id e s w a t c h e d o u r m o v e m e n ts , p e r h a p s s ig h t in g a t u s a l o n g r i f le s th e y h e s i t a t e d to fire a t th e m o m e n t.

T h e P ie r c in g s h r ie k o f th e d u m p y e n g in e , p u l l in g r ic k e t y w o o d e n c a r s to ­w a r d u s , w a s a w e lc o m e r e l ie f . O u r p a r t y w a s s e p a r a t e d ; w e w e r e a l l f o r ­tu n a te to f in d s p a c e o n b o a r d . T h i s w a s a t r o o p t r a in , a n d p a s s e n g e r s — o f w h ic h w e w e r e th e o n ly o n e s — w e r e in c id e n ta l , a n d th e ir c o m fo r t n o t c o n s id e r e d . T h e t r o o p s w e r e a l l in g o o d h u m o r ; th e y h a d ju s t a r r iv e d o n th e t r a n s p o r t fro m E n g l a n d , a n d w e r e o n th e ir w a y fro m H a i f a to v a r io u s z o n e s in th e t r o u b le a r e a in th e v ic in i ty o f J e r u s a le m a n d B e th le h e m . N o n e w a s o v e r tw e n t y - o n e , o r s o it s e e m e d , w ith th e e x c e p t io n o f th e o f f ic e r s . W e l e a r n e d t h a t th e y o u t h ­f u ln e s s o f th e t r o o p s w a s d u e to th e f a c t th a t E n g l a n d h a s fo u n d t h a t m e n o v e r tw e n ty - f iv e y e a r s o f a g e d o n o t , u n le s s th e y h a v e l iv e d fo r s o m e le n g th o f tim e in th e t r o p ic s , r e a d i ly a d j u s t th e m s e lv e s to e x t r e m e s in te m p e r a tu r e .

In th e a i s l e s o u t s id e o f th e c o m p a r t ­m e n ts in e a c h c a r w e r e s t a t io n e d fo u r m e n , r if le s r e a d y a n d a t r e s t o n w in d o w b a r s , a s th e y p e e r e d in to th e h i l l s fo r s i g n s o f A r a b h o s t i l i t ie s t o w a r d th e t r a in . O n a s h a r p b e n d I s a w , th r o u g h o u r o p e n w in d o w ( t h r o u g h w h ic h d u s t a n d c in d e r s p o u r e d ) a g a s o l in e t r u c k t r a v e l in g o n th e r a i l s a b o u t a h u n d r e d f e e t in a d v a n c e o f o u r e n g in e . O n it w a s m o u n te d a r a th e r h e a v y - c a l ib r e m a ­c h in e g u n , a n d th re e a r m e d to m m ie s

Three hundred seventy-one

s t o o d b y . T h i s , w e le a r n e d , r a n in a d ­v a n c e o f th e t r a in to w a r d o ff a t t a c k s o n it a n d to s ig h t a n y d a m a g e d r a i l s o r b r i d g e s in te n d e d to d e r a i l th e tr a in , w h ic h h a d b e e n th e r e c e n t p r a c t ic e in th e s e c a n y o n s .

T h e v ic io u s n e s s o f th e r o c k y h ills th r o u g h w h ic h w e w e r e w in d in g w a s f in a l ly b r o k e n b y p a t c h e s o f v e g e t a t io n . W e w e r e n e a r in g J e r u s a le m . T h e s l o p ­in g s id e s o f th e h i l l s w e r e n o w t e r r a c e d e v e r y te n o r tw e lv e f e e t , w ith th r e e - fo o t w a l l s m a d e o f i r r e g u la r s t o n e s p lu c k e d fro m th e s u r r o u n d in g s u r f a c e . B e tw e e n e a c h w a l l a n d th e o n e a b o v e w a s a th in v e n e e r o f s o i l ; in th e s e r im s o f s o i l g r e w th e g r a p e s o f P a le s t in e , a n d m u c h o f th e g r a in a n d t r u c k w h ic h th e H o ly L a n d d e p e n d e d u p o n . In B ib l ic a l t im e s th e p e a s a n t o f P a le s t in e fo u n d th e th in c o a t in g o f s o i l o n th e r o c k y c l i f f s h a r d ­ly s u f f ic ie n t fo r h is a c t u a l n e e d s ; c e n ­tu r ie s o f r a in f a l l h a d w a s h e d n e a r ly a l l th e r e m a in in g s o i l a w a y . T h e l a n d in th is v ic in i ty w o u ld h a v e b e e n c o m p le te ­ly im p o v e r is h e d b u t fo r th e s e s to n e re - t a in in g - w a l l s b u i lt a s a l a s t p r o te c t iv e measure. H a r d y Hebrew w o m e n tu r n e d fr o m th e ir t a s k o f h a n d - c u l t iv a t io n to s t a r e a t th e t r a in o f s in g in g a r m e d m e n th a t p a s s e d . W e w o n d e r e d a s w e lo o k ­e d a t th e ir so le m n , w e a t h e r - b e a t e n , d u ll f a c e s , w h e th e r th e y s a w in th e s e t r o o p s n e w h o p e o r fu r th e r d i s a s t e r fo r th e ir l a n d a n d r a c e .

W e s w u n g s u d d e n ly fro m th e o p e n c o u n t r y in to th e y a r d s o f J e r u s a l e m ’s o n ly d e p o t . C r o w d s o n th e p la t fo r m c h e e r e d th e t r o o p s w h o d e t r a in e d w ith th e l ig h t - h e a r t e d s p ir i t o f a c r o w d o f S u n d a y e x c u r s io n i s t s . O u r o n ly c o n ­v e y a n c e w a s a n o ld p r iv a t e c a r ; th e A r a b t a x i d r iv e r s w e r e o n s t r ik e a s w e r e a l l o th e r A r a b e m p lo y e e s . T h e J e w s d a r e d n o t s u p p la n t th e m o r o p e r a t e th e ir c o m p e t it iv e e n t e r p r i s e s fo r f e a r o f A r a b r e p r i s a l s , w h ic h m e a n t b lo o d s h e d fo r b o th s id e s . In c o n s e q u e n c e , a l l s h o p s , f a c t o r ie s , m ills , b a n k s , a n d in ­d u s t r ia l p l a c e s w e r e c lo s e d a n d h a d b e e n fo r m o n th s . H u n g e r a n d d i s e a s e w e r e r a m p a n t , a n d te n s io n w a s g r o w in g s t r o n g e r . O u t b u r s t s w e r e f r e q u e n t , l o s s o f l i f e c o n s id e r a b le .

A s w e s p e d a t f i f ty m ile s a n h o u r a lo n g o n e o f th e m a in t h o r o u g h f a r e s w ith a y o u n g H e b r e w a t th e w h e e l , w h o

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TheRosicrucianDigestNovember1937

fu r t iv e ly g l a n c e d t o w a r d th e b o a r d e d s h o p w in d o w s o n h i s l e f t a n d r ig h t , w e s t u d ie d th e b u i ld in g s a s b e s t w e c o u ld . T h e i r f r o n t s w e r e p l a s t e r e d a n d w h i t e ­w a s h e d , w h ic h m a d e th e m g le a m in th e h o t a f t e r n o o n s u n . T h e y r o s e to a h e ig h t o f tw o o r th r e e s t o r ie s . M a n y h a d d o m e - l ik e r o o f s a n d m in a r e t - l ik e to w e r s , r e v e a l in g th e M o o r i s h a n d B y ­z a n t in e in f lu e n c e . O t h e r s h a d r e d h a n d ­m a d e tile a n d w r o u g h t - ir o n b a lc o n ie s , u p o n w h ic h o r d in a r i ly d o o r s o p e n e d b u t w h ic h w e r e n o w b o a r d e d c lo s e d . T h i s s t r e e t w a s m a c a d a m iz e d , b u t s id e s t r e e t s , o f w h ic h w e h a d b u t f le e t in g g l im p s e s , w e r e c o b b le - s t o n e d , n a r r o w , c r u d e .

O u r d e s t in a t io n , o n e o f th e m o s t p r o m in e n t h o te ls in Je r u s a le m , w a s g r a t i f y in g ly m o d e r n . A f t e r a n e x c e p ­t io n a l ly a p p e t iz in g a n d w e ll s e r v e d m e a l, w e r e t i r e d . S e v e r a l t im e s I w a s a w a k e n e d d u r in g th e n ig h t b y r u m b lin g , in d i s t in c t v o ic e s a n d th e th u d o f f e e t b e lo w in th e c o r r id o r s a n d u p o n th e s t r e e t b e n e a th m y w in d o w . F a t i g u e o v e r c a m e c u r io s i ty , a n d I w o u ld l a p s e a g a in in to s le e p . In th e m o r n in g w e d is c o v e r e d th a t n ig h t h a d b r o u g h t a b o u t a s t a r t l in g t r a n s f o r m a t io n o f o u r h o s t e l ­r y . I t h a d b e e n c o n v e r te d in to a m ili­t a r y h e a d q u a r t e r s fo r th e h ig h s t a f f o f th e B r i t i s h P a le s t in e e x p e d i t io n a r y fo r c e . U n i f o r m e d a r m y m e s s e n g e r s w e r e r u n n in g u p th e b r o a d s t a i r c a s e b e a r in g s id e a r m s . H ig h r a n k in g o f f ic e r s stood or sat in g r o u p s in the main f o y e r , t a lk in g in lo w v o ic e s . A l l th e r o o m s w e r e o c c u p ie d b y th e m il it a r y s t a f f , a n d w o u ld b e , w ith th e e x c e p t io n o f th o s e h e ld b y o u r p a r t y . A n in d ic a t io n o f th e s e r i o u s n e s s o f e v e n t s w a s th e lo w s a n d ­b a g r a m p a r t o n th e s id e w a lk im m e d ia te ­ly in f r o n t o f th e m a in e n tr a n c e , b e h in d w h ic h a s e n t r y p a t r o l le d . W e w e r e a l ­lo w e d f r e e e x i t a n d e n tr y , b u t m u s t r e ­tu rn b e fo r e 8 :0 0 p . m . o r b e b a r r e d fro m e n tr y . E a c h t im e w e d e s ir e d a d m it ­t a n c e , w e h a d to s e c u r e th e p e r m is s io n o f th e a r m e d s e n t r y .

T u r n in g th e c o r n e r to c r o s s th e s t r e e t to s e c u r e th e s e r v ic e s o f a g u id e w h o s e n a m e h a d b e e n g iv e n u s , w e s a w d ir e c t ­ly b e n e a th th e b a lc o n y o f o u r r o o m s tw o a r m o r e d t r u c k s b e a r in g o n e - p o u n d c a n ­n o n s a n d r e g u la t io n m a c h in e g u n s . T h e s e w e r e r io t c a r s w h ic h p a t r o l l e d th e s t r e e t s a t n ig h t a n d r u s h e d to a r e a s o f

d i s t u r b a n c e u n til th e a r r iv a l o f th e in ­f a n t r y . A s t a t e o f w a r t r u ly e x is t e d ,

“ W i l l w e b e a l lo w e d to film e v e n th e h is to r ic a n d m y s t ic a l p la c e s u n d e r su c h c o n d i t io n s ? " a s k e d F r a t e r B r o w e r , p u t ­t in g in to w o r d s m y o w n th o u g h t s .

“ P r o b a b l y n o t , ” w a s m y p e s s im is t ic r e p ly .

B y a p p o in tm e n t , a r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f th e o f f ic e o f th e A m e r ic a n E x p r e s s C o m p a n y m e t u s , a n d a f t e r g r e e t in g u s h e s a i d , “ O u r o f f ic e i s c lo s e d a n d a l l o r d in a r y b u s i n e s s is s u s p e n d e d . I t is a s p e c i a l c o n c e s s io n th a t I m e e t y o u h e r e . I c a n n o t a s s u r e y o u a n y s u c c e s s in y o u r e n te r p r i s e , f o r th e H ig h B r i t i s h C o m ­m is s io n e r o f J e r u s a le m h a s d e c la r e d th e c i ty u n d e r m a r t ia l l a w .”

“ S h a l l w e s e e k to o b ta in p e r m is s io n to t a k e o u r c in e m a p ic t u r e s ? ” I a s k e d .

“ S u c h c h a n n e ls o f a u t h o r i t y d o n o t e x i s t a t p r e s e n t , ” h e s a i d . “ I w o u ld s u g ­g e s t t h a t y o u p r o c e e d a s u s u a l u n le s s o r d e r e d to c e a s e b y th e m il i t a r y a u ­t h o r i t i e s .”

I s u d d e n ly b e c a m e a w a r e o f s o m e o n e s t a n d i n g c lo s e b e h in d m e . S o m e w h a t s t a r t le d , I tu r n e d q u ic k ly to lo o k in to th e f a c e o f a n A r a b , b o w in g g r a c io u s ly to m e . H e w a s a t t i r e d n a t t i ly in a b u s i ­n e s s s u i t s u c h a s a n y y o u n g A m e r ic a n o r E n g l i s h m a n m ig h t w e a r . T h e o n ly to u c h o f th e O r ie n t a l in h is a t t i r e w a s h is t a r b o u s h ( f e z ) . H e w a s a y o u n g m a n o f th ir ty - f iv e . P a r t i c u l a r l y im p r e s ­s iv e w e r e h is l a r g e , e x p r e s s iv e e y e s a n d h i s e x c e p t io n a l ly f a i r s k in fo r o n e o f h is r a c e . T h e e x t e n t o f h is l a v i s h b o w a n d h is g e n ia l sm ile c a u s e d m e in v o lu n ta r i ly to b o w s l ig h t ly in r e tu r n . N o t ic in g o u r c o n f u s io n , th e A m e r ic a n E x p r e s s r e p r e ­s e n t a t iv e s t e p p e d f o r w a r d a n d in t r o ­d u c e d u s ; h e w a s to b e o u r g u id e . W e s h a l l c a l l h im “ S u l e . ” w h ic h is n o t h is t r u e n a m e . N o t a p le a s a n t p r o s p e c t , I c o n t e m p la t e d ; a n A r a b g u id e , a n d w e A m e r i c a n s — th e n e x t to b e in g E n g l i s h in th e m in d s o f m o s t o f th e p e o p le s o f th e le v a n t , a n d th e E n g l i s h w e r e f a r fro m b e in g in f a v o r w ith th e A r a b s a t t h a t t im e .

M y m u s in g w a s in te r r u p te d b y h is q u e s t io n , “ S h a l l w e p r o c e e d o n o u r jo u r n e y a t o n c e ? ”

B e f o r e I c o u ld r e p ly , th e A m e r ic a n E x p r e s s r e p r e s e n t a t iv e w a s b id d in g u s f a r e w e l l a n d h a s t i ly r e t i r in g . T u r n in g to S u le , I a n s w e r e d w ith a q u e s t io n ,

Three hundred seventy-two

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“ S h a l l w e t a k e o u r c in e m a e q u ip m e n t w ith u s n o w , o r ju s t o u r s t i l l c a m e r a s ? ”

“ L e t u s in v e s t i g a t e th e s i t e s n o w . T h e r e f o r e , t a k e y o u r s t i l l c a m e r a s ; t o ­m o r r o w , th e c in e m a ,” h e s a i d in h is c h a r m in g a c c e n t .

In l e s s th a n h a l f a n h o u r w e w e r e o ff . S u le h a d e n g a g e d tw o r o b u s t A r a b p o r t e r s to c a r r y o u r G r a p h l e x , t r ip o d , p la t e s , a n d o th e r p a r a p h e r n a l i a . N o a u to m o b i le s b e in g a v a i l a b le , w e w a lk e d , fe e l in g q u ite u n c o m fo r ta b le in th e h o t s u n . T h e h e a t d i s c o u r a g e d u n n e c e s s a r y c o n v e r s a t io n . O u r c o m m e n t s w e r e in m o n o s y l la b le s .

W e s t o p p e d b e f o r e o n e o f J e r u s a l e m 's h i s to r ic a l a n d m a s s iv e t r ip le g a t e s — n o w b u t a g r e a t s t o n e a r c h w a y th r o u g h w h ic h p e d e s t r ia n s a n d p a c k b u r r o s a l ik e t r e a d . E v e r y w h e r e s h o p w in d o w s w e r e b o a r d e d , c r e a t in g a d e p r e s s in g a t m o s ­p h e r e , im p r e s s in g o n e w ith th e f a c t t h a t d a n g e r lu r k e d n e a r a t h a n d o r w a s e x ­p e c t e d m o m e n ta r i ly . N a t i v e s s t o o d id ly , le a n in g a g a i n s t s h o p f r o n t s o r b u i ld in g s .

T o u s th e y a l l s e e m e d to b e A r a b s , s o le m n , u n e x p r e s s iv e , s t a r in g in to s p a c e . S o m e s lo w ly tu r n e d th e ir h e a d s a n d lo o k e d a f t e r u s . B e g g a r b o y s r a n u p to u s h o ld in g o u t d ir t y h a n d s , c h a t te r in g in A r a b i c , s o m e p r o f fe r in g c a k e s fo r s a l e in f i lth y s t r a w b a s k e t s w h ic h h a d b e e n s i t t in g o n th e c u r b s o f th e g u t te r , a n d o v e r w h ic h flie s h o v e r e d , m a n y a l ­r e a d y c o v e r in g th e w a r e s . T h e w h o le s c e n e w a s , h o w e v e r , p ic tu r e s q u e : th e r e m a in in g p o r t io n s o f th e o n c e g r e a t w a l l s o f K in g D a v i d 's te m p le ; th e a l l e y ­l ik e s t r e e t s ; th e r o o f s o f h o u s e s o n e i th e r s id e , l e a n in g u n til th e y n e a r ly to u c h e d , a s th o u g h s u p p o r t in g e a c h o th e r in th e ir a g e o f n e a r - c o l la p s e . B u r r o s w e r e th e o n ly m e a n s o f c o n v e y ­a n c e , w a lk in g p a t ie n t ly , th e ir e a r s f la p ­p in g , flie s b u z z in g a b o u t th e ir h e a d s , t r u d g in g u n d e r s w a y in g , c ru e l b u r d e n s . T h e c o m m e r c ia l l i f e o f th e c ity , h o w ­e v e r , w a s o b v io u s ly p a r a l y z e d , a n d th e r e w e r e n o to u r i s t s , n o o u t s id e r s b u t o u r s e lv e s .

(To be continued)

V V V

SPECIAL NOTICE TO ALL HIGH DEGREE MEMBERS AND TO THE HIERARCHY

You are invited to participate in an international, mystical, spiritual, birthday party on the occasion of the anniversary of the Imerpator’s birthday on next Thanksgiving Day (November 25). Arrangements have been made with Frater Michaud of England for a mystical ceremony to be conducted in the famous London rendezvous. (For a description of this beautiful rendezvous see pages 24, 25, and 26 of the August, 1937, issue of the Rosicrucian Forum.) Members are invited to retire to their sanctums, or some other place of quiet and peace, a few minutes before the hour that this ceremony is to start in London in cooperation with the Imperator in California. The ceremony will begin at 11:00 P. M. Greenwich Time, or London Standard Time, on Thanksgiving Day, November 25. In the United States this will be equivalent to 3:00 P. M. on the afternoon of the same day Pacific Standard Time; to 4:00 P. M. Mountain Standard Time; to 5:00 P. M. Central Standard Time; to 6:00 P. M. Eastern Standard Time. The time in Canada, Mexico, and other parts of the world which will be equivalent to 11:00 P. M. Greenwich Time, can be determined by a little investigation, using 11:00 P. M. Greenwich Time as a basis.

The ceremony will last fifteen minutes. It will start with the burning of mystical in­cense, and the playing on the violin by Frater Michaud, with piano accompaniment, of the British National Anthem. This will be followed by our beautiful theme song, "Ah, Sweet Mystery of Life.” The third selection on the violin will remain unnamed, but will be especially selected for this occasion. Both the Imperator and Frater Michaud will at­tempt during the fifteen minutes of the ceremony to project this music and incense and the entire vibrations of the ceremony to our higher members, or those who can attune themselves with this period. This will constitute the largest international psychic audi­ence that we have ever arranged, and the officers of our foreign jurisdictions will co­operate. Any reports regarding this ceremony are to be sent very briefly to the Secretary to the Imperator at Rosicrucian Park, San Jose, California, with the words, "Birthday Ceremony" written at the top of the sheet of letter paper.

i<<*<<<<<i<i<i<i<*i<<<i<iiiiiiiii<<<ii<i<i<<i<

. iThree hundred seventy-three

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y w w w w y r w w w w w w w w w ^ vw 'ir w ^r ' w y r w w w w w ^ 'w w w w w w v w r ' w w w w ^ y r 'V'Tr-'

THOMAS CARLYLEEach m onth we will present excerpts from the w ritin g s of fam ous th in k ers and teachers

of the past. These will give our readers an opportunity of know ing th e ir lives through the

Eresentatlon of those w ritings which typify th eir thoughts. Occasionally such w ritings will e presented through the translation or in terp reta tio n of o th er em inent authors of the past.

T his m onth we present Thomas Carlyle, the Scottish essayist, critic and historian.Carlyle was born a t Ecclefechan in 1795. A fter com pleting his education a t E dinburgh—

which he entered a t fourteen—he spent several years as tu to r and schoolm aster, m eanwhile having entered himself as a Student of D ivinity. However, a fte r two years of preparation for the m inistry of the K irk of Scotland, to which his fa th er had destined him, Carlyle de­cided th a t he was unsuited to the calling. D uring the follow ing two years, which he spent as a private tutor, he began his literary work.

Two years a fte r his m arriage to Jan e W elsh m onetary difficulties forced them to move to a dreary country estate belonging to Jan e 's m other. D uring the six y ears which they spent there Carlyle perform ed most of his best literary work, including “ S artor R esartus. F inally they moved to London and took a house in Chelsea where they spent the rem ainder of th e ir lives. H is first work w ritten here was “The French R evolution” (a fourth of the ms3. of which w as accidentally burned and had to be rew ritten ). T his w as n ot a financial success, but the series of lectures which he delivered in the next few years, the books which followed (including the popular “ Crom w ell"), the controversial L atter-D ay Pam ­phlets, and his new position as a figure in Society, sta rted his fortunes on an upw ard trend. T his continued during the twelve years he spent w ritin g "F rederick the G reat” and he was thus enabled to refuse D israeli's offer of an honorary order and pension. H e lin­gered for eight years a fte r his im portant literary work was finished, passing on a t the age of eighty-five.

The follow ing quotations on N ature and H eroism are taken from C arlyle's essay on “ Mohammed and M oham medanism.”

T heR osicrucianD igestN ovem ber1937

W I L L a l l o w a t h i n g to s t r u g g l e fo r i t s e l f i n th is w o r l d , w ith a n y s w o r d o r to n g u e o r i m p l e m e n t it h a s , o r c a n l a y h o ld o f . W e w ill le t it p r e a c h , a n d p a m p h le te e r , a n d f ig h t , a n d to t h e u t t e r m o s t b e s t i r it ­s e l f , a n d d o , b e a k a n d c la w s , w h a t ­

s o e v e r is in it ; v e r y s u r e th a t it w ill , in th e lo n g - r u n , c o n q u e r n o th in g w h ic h d o e s n o t d e s e r v e to b e c o n q u e r e d . W h a t is b e t t e r th a n i t s e l f , it c a n n o t p u t a w a y , b u t o n ly w h a t i s w o r s e . In th is g r e a t D u e l , N a t u r e h e r s e l f is u m p ire , a n d c a n d o n o w r o n g : th e th in g w h ic h is d e e p e s t - r o o t e d in N a t u r e , w h a t w e

c a l l truest, t h a t th in g a n d n o t th e o th e r w ill b e fo u n d g r o w in g a t l a s t .

H e r e h o w e v e r ,— w e a r e to r e m e m b e r w h a t a n u m p ir e N a t u r e i s ; w h a t a g r e a t n e s s , c o m p o s u r e o f d e p th a n d to l­e r a n c e th e r e is in h e r . Y o u t a k e w h e a t to c a s t in to th e E a r t h ' s b o s o m : y o u r w h e a t m a y b e m ix e d w ith c h a f f , c h o p ­p e d s t r a w , b a r n - s w e e p i n g s , d u s t a n d a l l im a g in a b le r u b b is h ; n o m a t te r : y o u c a s t it in to th e k in d ju s t E a r t h ; s h e g r o w s th e w h e a t , — th e w h o le r u b b is h s h e s i le n t ly a b s o r b s , s h r o u d s it in , s a y s n o th in g o f th e r u b b is h . T h e y e l lo w w h e a t is g r o w in g th e r e ; th e g o o d E a r t h is s i l e n t a b o u t a l l th e r e s t ,— h a s s i le n t ly tu r n e d a l l th e r e s t to s o m e b e n e f it to o , a n d m a k e s n o c o m p la in t a b o u t it! S o e v e r y w h e r e in N a t u r e ! S h e i s t r u e a n d n o t a lie ; a n d y e t s o g r e a t , a n d ju s t , a n d m o th e r ly in h e r t r u th . S h e r e q u ir e s o f a th in g o n ly t h a t it be g e n u in e o f h e a r t ;

Three hundred seventy-four

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s h e w ill p r o t e c t it i f s o ; w ill n o t , i f n o t s o . T h e r e is a s o u l o f tru th in a l l th e t h in g s s h e e v e r g a v e h a r b o r to . A l a s , is n o t th is th e h i s t o r y o f a l l h ig h e s t T r u t h that c o m e s o r e v e r c a m e in to th e w o r ld ? T h e body o f th e m a l l is im p e r fe c t io n , a n e le m e n t o f l ig h t in d a r k n e s s : to u s th e y h a v e to c o m e e m b o d ie d in m e re L o g ic , in s o m e m e r e ly scientific T h e o r e m o f th e U n i v e r s e ; w h ic h cannot b e c o m p le te ; w h ic h c a n n o t b u t b e f o u n d , o n e d a y , in c o m p le te , e r r o n e o u s , a n d s o d ie a n d d i s a p p e a r . T h e b o d y o f a l l T r u t h d ie s ; a n d y e t in a l l , I s a y , th e re is a s o u l w h ic h n e v e r d ie s ; w h ic h in n e w a n d e v e r - n o b le r e m b o d im e n t l iv e s im m o r ta l a s m a n h im se lf ! I t is th e w a y w ith N a ­tu re . T h e g e n u in e e s s e n c e o f T r u t h n e v e r d ie s . T h a t it b e g e n u in e , a v o ic e fro m th e g r e a t D e e p o f N a t u r e , th e r e is th e p o in t a t N a t u r e ’s ju d g m e n t s e a t . W h a t we c a l l p u r e o r im p u r e , is n o t w ith h e r th e f in a l q u e s t io n . N o t h o w m u c h c h a f f is in y o u ; b u t w h e th e r y o u h a v e a n y w h e a t . P u r e ? I m ig h t s a y to m a n y a m a n : Y e s , y o u a r e p u r e ; p u r e e n o u g h ; b u t y o u a r e c h a f f , — in s in c e r e h y p o t h e s i s , h e a r s a y , fo r m a l i t y ; y o u n e v e r w e r e in c o n t a c t w ith th e g r e a t

h e a r t o f th e U n i v e r s e a t a l l ; y o u a r e

p r o p e r ly n e ith e r p u r e n o r im p u r e ; y o u a r e n o th in g , N a t u r e h a s n o b u s in e s s w ith y o u . ”

‘ ‘ I t is a c a lu m n y o n m e n to s a y th a t th e y a r e r o u s e d to h e r o ic a c t io n b y e a s e , h o p e o f p le a s u r e , r e c o m p e n s e ,—- s u g a r ­p lu m s o f a n y k in d , in th is w o r ld o r th e n e x t ! In th e m e a n e s t m o r ta l th e r e l ie s s o m e th in g n o b le r . T h e p o o r s w e a r in g s o ld ie r , h ir e d to b e s h o t , h a s h is ‘ ‘h o n o r o f a s o l d ie r , ” d if fe r e n t fro m d r i l l - r e g u la ­t io n s a n d th e s h i l l in g a d a y . I t is n o t to t a s t e s w e e t t h in g s , b u t to d o n o b le a n d t r u e th in g s , a n d v in d ic a t e h im s e l f u n d e r G o d ’s H e a v e n a s a g o d - m a d e M a n , t h a t th e p o o r e s t s o n o f A d a m d im ly lo n g s . S h o w h im th e w a y o f d o in g th a t , th e d u l l e s t d a y d r u d g e k in d le s in to a h e r o . T h e y w r o n g m a n g r e a t l y w h o s a y h e i s to b e s e d u c e d b y e a s e . D i f f ic u l ty , a b n e g a t io n , m a r ty r d o m , d e a th a r e th e allurements t h a t a c t o n th e h e a r t o f m a n . K in d le th e in n e r g e n ia l l i f e o f h im , y o u h a v e a fla m e t h a t b u r n s u p a ll lo w e r c o n s id e r a t io n s . N o t h a p p in e s s , b u t s o m e th in g h ig h e r : o n e s e e s th is e v e n in th e f r iv o lo u s c l a s s e s , w ith th e ir ‘ ‘p o in t o f h o n o r ” a n d th e l ik e . N o t b y f la t t e r in g o u r a p p e t i t e s : n o , b y a w a k e n ­in g th e H e r o ic th a t s lu m b e r s in e v e r y h e a r t , c a n a n y R e l ig io n g a in fo l lo w e r s .

V V V

God and NatureBy C ianis V . T ortig, F. R. C.

H a v e y o u h e a r d th e T e a c h e r a n s w e r w h e n th e S e e k e r q u e s t io n s in th e C h a m b e r s o f th e M in d ?

“ W h a t is th e d i f fe r e n c e b e tw e e n G o d a n d N a t u r e ? ” a s k s th e S e e k e r w ith in . A n d th e t e a c h e r s o u n d l e s s l y a n s w e r s :

‘ ‘ G o d is th e In fin ite , s o u r c e l e s s P o w e r , M in d , a n d E n e r g y fro m w h ic h a l l t h in g s s p r in g . ‘ N a t u r e ’ i s a s e r i e s o f e m a n a t io n s o r m a n i f e s t a t io n s o f G o d fo r m in g ‘n a t ­u r a l L a w s ' w h ic h a r e m o r e n e a r ly w ith in th e s c o p e o f m a n ’s c o m p r e h e n s io n ; a n d w h ic h h e m a y s e n s e i f h e f a i l s to c o m p r e h e n d .

“ G o d is th e U n iv e r s e . N a t u r e i s a s e t o f in s t r u m e n t s w ith w h ic h th e s t u d e n t a t t e m p t s to m e a s u r e o r c l a s s i f y th e U n i v e r s e .

‘ ‘ G o d is th e g r e a t M a t h e m a t ic i a n . N a t u r e is th e s e t o f t a b le s o f m u lt ip l ic a t io n , e tc ., w h ic h H e g iv e s h is c h i ld r e n t h a t t h e y m a y t a k e th e f ir s t s t e p s t o w a r d a c o m ­p r e h e n s io n o f h i s r e a s o n in g .

‘ ‘G o d is a K in g . N a t u r e is a l i s t o f m a n d a t e s s e n t to th e s u b je c t s w h o m a y n e v e r s e e H im .

“ G o d is th e F i r s t I n v e n to r . N a t u r e i s a s e t o f b r i e f v e i le d n o t e s w h ic h H e h a s le f t , a n d t h r o u g h w h ic h w e t r y to u n d e r s t a n d s o m e o f H i s s im p le s t in v e n t io n s .”

T h e s e a r e th e t h in g s th e T e a c h e r r e v e a l s to th e S e e k e r w h e n th e y w a lk to g e t h e r a lo n g th e p a t h s o f th e m in d .

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The "Cathedral of the Soul” Is a Cosmic meeting place for all minds of the most advanced and highly developed spiritual members and workers of the Roslcrudan Fraternity. It Is a focal point of Cosmic radiations and thought waves from which radiate vibrations of health, peace, happiness, and Inner awakening. Various periods of the day are set aside when many thousands of minds are attuned with the Cathedral of the Soul, and others attuning with the Cathedral at this time will receive the benefit of the vibrations. Those who are not members of the organization may share in the unusual benefits as well as those who are members. The book called "Liber 777” describes the periods for various contacts with the Cathedral. Copies will be sent to persons who are not members by addressing their request for this book to Friar S. P. C., care of AMORC Temple, San Jose, California, enclosing three cents In postage stamps. (Please state whether member or not—this is important.)

1

3!

THE CATHEDRAL ON THE SEA

N O U R r e t u r n fro m E u r o p e th is s p r in g , w e fo u n d t h a t o n th e l a r g e o c e a n l in e r th e re w a s a p la c e s e t a p a r t in th e c e n te r o f t h e s h i p f o r w h a t w a s c a l le d a “ c h a p e l . " I t w a s l i k e a s e p a r a t e b u i ld in g o r te m p le , tw o s t o r ie s h ig h , w i t h a b a l c o n y

The a n d w ith a g r o u n d f lo o r s e a t i n g c a p a c i t y

Rosicrucian f o r s e v e r a l h u n d r e d in d iv id u a ls , w ith

Digest f ix e d p e w s o r s e a t s , a m a g n if ic e n t a l t a r ,November s t a i n e d - g l a s s w in d o w s , a n d a l l o f th e

1937 a p p u r t e n a n c e s a n d a p p o in t m e n t s o f a

b e a u t i f u l c h u r c h . C e r t a in o f th e a p ­p o in tm e n t s m a d e it v e r y e v id e n t th a t th e c h a p e l c o u ld r e a d i ly a n d c o n v e n ie n t ly b e u s e d f o r R o m a n C a t h o l i c s e r v ic e s , a n d in f a c t , e v e r y m o r n in g th e r e w a s R o m a n C a t h o l i c m a s s c o n d u c te d in a l l o f th e b e a u t i f u l a n d s y m b o l ic a l r i tu a l o f th e R o m a n C h u r c h , w ith a p r o p e r ly g o w n e d p r ie s t a n d a l t a r b o y s . A n d o n S u n d a y m o r n in g th e r e w a s a s p e c ia l m a s s a t a l it t le l a t e r h o u r . I fo u n d t h a t a t th e s e R o m a n C a t h o l i c s e r v i c e s m a n y P r o t e s t a n t s a n d e v e n s o m e J e w s p a r t i c i ­p a t e d in th e h o l in e s s o f th e h o u r a n d th e s p ir i t u a l v ib r a t io n s o f th e p la c e b y s i t t in g q u ie t ly in th e b a lc o n y , n o t o n ly o b s e r v in g th e c e r e m o n y b e in g c o n d u c t ­e d o n th e g r o u n d f lo o r a n d a t th e a l t a r , b u t a c t u a l l y e n jo y in g th e r e l ig io u s v ib r a t io n s .

Three hundred seventy-six

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B u t t h r o u g h o u t th e d a y a n d in th e e v e n in g , w ith all o f th e m a n y joyous, a m u s in g , in s t r u c t iv e a n d o th e r fo r m s o f e n te r t a in m e n t a n d p a s t im e t h a t a r e p o s ­s ib le o n a l a r g e s h ip w ith i t s g y m n a s iu m , o u t d o o r s w im m in g p o o l , s h o o t in g g a l ­le r y , d e c k g a m e s , d a n c e s , m o v in g p ic ­tu r e s a n d o th e r th in g s , th e r e w e r e in ­d iv id u a l s a n d g r o u p s o f in d iv id u a ls w h o q u ie t ly s l ip p e d in to th is c h a p e l a n d r e ­m a in e d th e r e in p r a y e r a n d m e d ita t io n fo r f r o m te n m in u te s to a h a l f h o u r . O n s u c h o c c a s io n s th e a l t a r a p p o in t m e n t s w e r e c lo s e d u p a n d th e r e w a s n o th in g o f a s p e c ia l n a t u r e v i s ib le in th e c h u rc h to g iv e it th e d is t in c t io n o f a R o m a n C a th o l ic , P r o t e s t a n t , o r e v e n o f a J e w ­ish te m p le . I t b e c a m e , in f a c t , in th e h e a r t s a n d m in d s o f t h o s e w h o p a r t i c i ­p a t e d in th e s e s i le n t , p r iv a t e p e r io d s o f s p i r i t u a l a t t u n e m e n t , a C a t h e d r a l o f th e S o u l o n th e H ig h S e a s .

A n d th e r e i s s o m e th in g a b o u t th e h o u r s s p e n t o n th e H ig h S e a s t h a t b r in g s s t r o n g ly to th e h e a r t a n d v e r y d e f in ite ly to th e m in d o f m a n th e f a c t t h a t th e r e i s a G o d , a n d t h a t th e s o u l h u n g e r s f o r c o m m u n io n w ith th is G o d a n d fo r a n o p p o r t u n i t y to e x p r e s s a p ­p r e c ia t io n a n d t h a n k f u ln e s s fo r a l l th a t l i f e g iv e s u s . W h e n o n e i s o u t in th e c e n te r o f th e g r e a t o c e a n o n e s e e m s to fe e l m o r e th a n a t a n y o th e r t im e , n o t th e s m a l ln e s s o f m a n , n o t th e u n im p o r t ­a n c e o f m a n , b u t th e g r e a t n e s s o f m a n 's s o u l . T h e r e s e e m s to b e a n e a r n e s s o f th e h e a v e n s a n d o f th e s p i r i t u a l r e a lm a n d o f th e C o s m ic K in g d o m . M a n s e e m s to f e e l a n d h e a r a c r y f r o m a b o v e , p le a d in g w ith h im a n d u r g in g h im to

s a c r i f ic e a fe w m in u te s o f h is p h y s ic a l a n d mental h a p p in e s s to in d u lg e in c o m m u n io n a n d s p ir i t u a l m e d ita t io n . A n d th e c h a p e l o n th e b o a t b e c o m e s n o n - s e c t a r ia n a n d c r e e d le s s . I t is a p la c e to w o r s h ip G o d w ith o u t d i s t in c ­tio n o f d o g m a o r s e c t a r i a n id e a l s . In it o n e f o r g e t s a l l o th e r r e l ig io u s th o u g h t s e x c e p t t h a t h e re i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y in s i le n c e a n d im p r e s s iv e s p ir i t u a l v i b r a ­t io n s to le t th e s o u l l i f t i t s e l f u p a n d b e o n e w ith G o d a n d H i s D iv in e C o n ­s c io u s n e s s . M a n y w h o w e n t in to th a t c h a p e l d u r in g th e v o y a g e o f th e sh ip fo r p r iv a t e , s i le n t p r a y e r , s e ld o m g o a r o u n d th e c o m e r to e n te r a n y c h u rc h in th e ir o w n n e ig h b o r h o o d s . S o m e fe lt im p e lle d to m a k e a d e c is io n th a t a f t e r r e a c h in g th e ir h o m e c it ie s o r to w n s th e y w o u ld v i s i t s o m e c h u rc h r e g u l a r l y a n d in d u lg e m o r e f r e q u e n t ly in th is o n e p r a c t ic e t h a t b r i n g s m o r e p e a c e , m o re h a p p in e s s , m o re c o n te n tm e n t a n d p o w e r to th e s o u l a n d b o d y , th a n a n y o n e o th e r th in g .

Y o u , to o , c a n h a v e a C a t h e d r a l o f th e S o u l in y o u r h o m e , a s in y o u r c h u rc h , o r a s o n th e H ig h S e a s . I f y o u d o n o t k n o w th e s u b l im e a n d t r a n s c e n d e n t a l p le a s u r e a n d h a p p in e s s o f s u c h s p ir i t u a l in d u lg e n c e a s th is , b e s u r e to r e a d th e l i t t le b o o k le t w e o ffe r , e n t i t le d “ L ib e r 7 7 7 , ” a n d b r in g in to y o u r l i fe th e o n e th in g t h a t m a y b e m o s t l a c k in g , th e o n e th in g t h a t m a y m e a n m o re to y o u n o w a n d in th e fu tu r e , a n d to y o u r c h ild r e n a n d y o u r h o m e life , a n d e v e n to y o u r b u s i n e s s , th a n a n y o f th e o th e r g r e a t p a n a c e a s t h a t a r e o f fe r e d b y th e w o r ld .

mmmmmmmmmm»

ROSICRUCIAN CHRISTMAS GREETING CARDSIt is not more costly to give a distinctive Christmas folder. Therefore, why not send

one that is unique, allegorical, and mystical in its message? We have prepared some very attractive Christmas folders. Though they are not distinctly Rosicrucian, yet they have that subde mystical phraseology and symbolism which can be appreciated by those who understand such things, and will be equally as attractive to those who do not. They are of two colors, and embossed in gold, and are worded appropriately. They also contain an attractive, inconspicuous symbol of the Order. There is an en­velope to match each Christmas folder. They can be had at the reasonable price of 6 for 80, or $1.30 for one dozen. We pay postage on the shipment to you. Orders for less than six cannot be accepted. Order NOW and have your order given prompt attention. Do not wait until the Christmas congestion of the mails. Address the Rosicrucian Supply Bureau, San Jose, California.

£&££££££££mm

Three hundred seventy-seven

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TheR osier ucian D igest N ovem ber 1937

Why Will War Never End?By C o lo n el R. L. B u sh , F. R. C .

H E t it le o f th is a r ­t i c l e m a y s e e m p e s s i m i s t i c a n d , p e r h a p s , d i s p l e a s ­i n g . O p t i m i s t s , p a c i f i s t s , a n d o th e r s i n c e r e a d v o c a t e s o f p e a c e , m a y o b ­je c t , a n d a s k th e r e a s o n fo r th is d is - c o u r a g i n g v ie w , w h e n t h e y h a v e p l a n s r e a d y t o b r in g p e a c e to a l l .

B u t in s t e a d o f d i s c u s s in g th e f i tn e s s o f th e t it le , le t u s t a k e a g e n e r a l g l a n c e o v e r th e r a c e l i f e o f m a n fr o m th e b e ­g in n in g , a n d s e e w h y th e r e h a v e b e e n w a r s , a n d w h a t l a w s h a v e o p e r a t e d to b r in g th e m a b o u t . B e f o r e s t a r t in g th e s u r v e y , le t u s r e c o g n iz e th e e x is t e n c e o f th e g r e a t c o s m ic l a w s o f E v o lu t io n , S e l f - p r e s e r v a t io n a n d th e S u r v i v a l o f th e F i t t e s t . T h e s e l a w s a r e u n iv e r s a l , a p p ly in g to e v e r y fo rm o f l i f e f r o m th e lo w e s t to th e h ig h e s t . U n d e r th e m th e s t r u g g l e fo r e x i s t e n c e h a s g o n e o n s in c e th e b e g in n in g , a n d it w ill c o n t in u e to th e e n d .

W h e n w e f ir s t l e a r n o f M a n , in th e d u s k p r e c e d in g th e d a w n o f h i s to r y , w e f in d h im l iv in g l ik e a n a n im a l , a m o n g th e a n im a ls , p r e y in g u p o n th e m fo r fo o d a n d c lo th in g , a n d l iv in g in c a v e s o r o th e r n a t u r a l s h e l t e r . T h e l a w o f s e l f - p r e s e r v a t io n k e p t h im c o n s t a n t ly s e e k in g , a n d f ig h t in g fo r , f o o d a n d o th e r n e c e s s i t ie s . H e l iv e d in a c o n s t a n t s t r u g g l e w ith w e a th e r , s a v a g e b e a s t s ,

a n d r iv a l t r ib e s o f m a n k in d . G o o d h u n t in g g r o u n d s w e r e v i t a l n e c e s s i t ie s , a n d m a n y b a t t l e s w e r e f o u g h t o v e r th e m . W h e n g a m e b e c a m e s c a r c e , n e w lo c a l i t i e s h a d to b e fo u n d to e n s u r e a n a d e q u a t e fo o d s u p p ly . A n d i f th e n e w la n d w a s o c c u p ie d , w a r f o l lo w e d to d e ­te r m in e w h o s h o u ld h o ld it.

A s m a n g r a d u a l l y r o s e a b o v e th e le v e l o f th e b e a s t , l e a r n in g m a n y th in g s — th e u s e o f w e a p o n s , to o ls , f ire , e t c .— h e s t i l l l iv e d u n d e r th e s a m e l a w s a n d h is c o n f l ic t s c o n t in u e d . A s h e a d v a n c e d in in te l l ig e n c e a n d a b i l i t y , h i s m o d e o f l i f e b e c a m e m o r e s e t t le d . H e le a r n e d s o m e th in g o f a g r i c u l t u r e to c h a n g e a n d in c r e a s e h is f o o d s u p p ly . H e d o m e s t i ­c a t e d a n im a ls , a n d h a d h is f lo c k s a n d h e r d s , in s t e a d o f h u n t in g h is m e a t . H e b u i l t h o u s e s , a n d m a d e v a r io u s a r t ic le s f o r u s e a n d c o m fo r t . H i s n e e d s g r e w w ith th e p o s s ib i l i t ie s o f s u p p l y , a n d , l e a r n in g t h a t o th e r g r o u p s in v a r io u s p l a c e s h a d t h in g s h e n e e d e d — m e ta ls , c lo th , f o o d s , s p ic e s , a n d a l l m a n n e r o f d e s i r a b le p r o d u c t s , h e e s t a b l i s h e d a s y s ­te m o f b a r t e r . A n d th e r e s u l t in g t r a d e - r o u t e s in t r o d u c e d a n e w c a u s e fo r w a r .

S o v a lu a b le w e r e th e c a r g o e s o f th e c a r a v a n s a n d s h ip s t r a v e r s in g th e s e t r a d e r o u te s , t h a t th e y b e c a m e p r iz e s to b e t a k e n b y a n y o n e w h o h a d th e p o w e r . G r e a t w a s th e r iv a l r y fo r th e p o s s e s s i o n o r c o n tr o l o f th e s e l in e s o f s u p p l y . I f w e s e a r c h c a r e f u l ly in to th e u n d e r ly in g c a u s e s o f w a r , ig n o r in g th e o f t e n t r iv ia l “ c a u s e s ” g iv e n b y h i s t o r i a n s , w e f in d t h a t in th e b a c k g r o u n d , o f t e n u n r e c o g ­n iz e d , i s th is q u e s t io n o f t r a d e - r o u t e s .

Three hundred seventy-eight

Page 21: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

C o v e t o u s n e s s , je a l o u s y a n d h a t r e d a r e a m o n g th e p a s s i o n s th e y a r o u s e , l e a d in g to c o n s t a n t s t r i f e .

T h e g e n e r a l p r in c ip le o f a c t io n in these problems is best expressed by the f a m il ia r c o u p le t :

“L e t h im t a k e w h o h a s th e p o w e r ,A n d le t h im k e e p w h o c a n . ”A n o t h e r f r u i t fu l c a u s e fo r w a r is

fo u n d in th e m ig r a t io n s t h r o u g h o u t h i s ­to r y . T h e s e m a y b e d u e to d e s i r e f o r a d v e n t u r e , to g r e e d fo r g o ld o r p o w e r , to d i s p la c e m e n t b y s t r o n g e r r a c e s , o r to c l im a t ic c h a n g e s . W h e n , in th e c o u r s e o f th e a g e s , a c h a n g e o f c l im a te d im in ­is h e s th e f o o d s u p p ly , m a n m u s t m o v e to a m o r e f a v o r a b le lo c a l i t y . T h i s m o v e w ill b e r e s e n t e d b y th e in h a b i t a n t s o f th e n e w p la c e , a n d w a r w ill fo l lo w u n til th e w e a k e r r a c e is d r iv e n o u t , o r a b s o r b e d .

M i g r a t i o n s , s u c h a s w e r e f o r c e d b y th e e x te n s io n o f th e A r c t ic ic e - c a p o v e r p a r t s o f N o r t h A m e r ic a , r e s u l t e d in a g e n e r a l s h i f t in g o f p o p u la t io n , a c c o m ­p a n ie d b y c o n t in u a l w a r s . T h e g r e a t m o v e m e n t o f th e A r y a n r a c e s f r o m th e c e n t r a l p la t e a u o f A s i a in to I n d ia , P e r s i a , E u r o p e , a n d A m e r ic a , h a s b e e n th e c a u s e o f m il le n n iu m s o f s t r u g g l e , a n d th e e n d is n o t y e t .

A s th e k in g d o m s o f e a r t h a r e a p p o r ­t io n e d a m o n g th e n a t io n s a c c o r d in g to th e ir s t r e n g t h , a n d a b i l i t y to g e t a n d to h o ld , th e r e i s a lu ll in th e c o n flic t , a n d l i f e g o e s o n in c o m p a r a t iv e p e a c e fo r a tim e . B u t , o n e d a y , a v i g o r o u s , p ro lif ic p e o p le f in d s i t s b o u n d a r ie s to o c r a m p e d , i t s f o o d s u p p l y in a d e q u a t e fo r it s c r o w d e d p e o p le , a n d s o m e r e a d ju s t m e n t i s im p e r a t iv e . I f a n e ig h b o r in g l e s s - p r o g r e s s i v e n a t io n h a s m o r e l a n d th a n it c a n , o r w ill , u s e , th e c r o w d e d p e o p le w ill p r o b a b ly a r g u e t h a t t h e y a r e e n ­t i t le d to s u p p l y th e ir n e e d s o y t a k in g w h a t is n o t b e in g u s e d . M e r e o c c u ­p a n c y , w ith o u t u s e , th e y s a y , d o e s n o t ju s t i f y h o ld in g l a n d n e e d e d b y o t h e r s .

W e h a v e a n in s t a n c e o f th is in o u r I n d ia n t r o u b le s . T h e w e a k r e d r a c e h a d v a s t t e r r i to r y w h ic h w a s u s e d o n ly fo r h u n t in g , a n d a l i t t le p r im it iv e a g r i c u l ­tu re . T h e la n d n e c e s s a r y to s u p p o r t o n e I n d ia n fa m ily w o u ld p r o v id e f o r a h u n ­d r e d w h ite o n e s . T h e l a t t e r n e e d e d s u c h la n d , a n d th e y w e r e a b le a n d w i l l in g to u s e it to it s fu l l c a p a c i t y . U n d e r s u c h c o n d it io n s , th e l a w s o f S u p p l y a n d D e ­m a n d b r o u g h t th e in e v i t a b le r e s u l t , -

Three hundred seventy-nine

a n d th e w e a k h a d to y ie ld to th e s t r o n g . M a n y t r e a t ie s w e r e m a d e w ith th e I n ­d ia n s to p r o t e c t th e ir r i g h t s , b u t th e g o v e r n m e n t c o u ld n o t e n fo r c e th e m . T h e p e o p le w e r e l a n d - h u n g r y , so they w e n t in , a n d to o k it in s p i t e o f t r e a t ie s . U n ju s t ? Y e s , n o d o u b t it is , f r o m th e l im ite d p o in t o f v ie w o f th e lo s e r . B u t b e h in d it a r e th e r a c i a l t r e n d s a n d th e f u n d a m e n t a l l a w s o f n a t u r e t h a t o v e r ­r id e a l l m a n - m a d e l a w s .

W e c a n f in d a p a r a l l e l to th is in G e o lo g y . C o n s id e r c o n d it io n s fo u n d in th e c o o l in g , s h r in k in g s t r a t a o f th e e a r t h ’s c r u s t . D u e to v a r io u s c a u s e s , s t r e s s e s a m o n g th e s t r a t a a p p e a r , a n d g r o w u n til th e b r e a k in g p o in t i s r e a c h ­e d . T h e n w e h a v e e a r t h q u a k e s , e r u p ­t io n s , a n d v a r io u s c a la m it ie s in c id e n ta l to th e p r o c e s s o f r e a d ju s t m e n t . A f t e r th is th e r e i s u s u a l l y q u ie t f o r a tim e , u n til n e w s t r a i n s d e v e lo p a n d a n e w c y c le b e g in s .

A s im i la r c o n d it io n e x i s t s a m o n g th e n a t io n s c o n f in e d w ith in b o u n d a r ie s to o n a r r o w f o r th e ir n e e d s . T h e y e x p e r i ­e n c e s t r e s s e s d u e to s h o r t a g e o f fo o d , e x c e s s p o p u la t io n , u n e m p lo y m e n t , a n d s o o n , u n til th e s t r a in b e c o m e s u n b e a r ­a b le , a n d a c r i s i s c o m e s , — e x p a n d o r p e r i s h — w h ic h m e a n s w a r .

T h i s h a s h a p p e n e d m a n y t im e s in th e p a s t , a n d it is h a p p e n in g t o d a y ,— n o t­a b ly in J a p a n , I t a ly , a n d G e r m a n y . T h e s e n a t io n s a r e c a l le d I m p e r ia l i s t ic , a n d a r e a c c u s e d o f v io la t in g t r e a t ie s , a n d o f e n d a n g e r in g th e p e a c e o f th e w o r ld . A l l o f w h ic h i s n o d o u b t t ru e . B u t — th e r e m a y b e so m e th in g to b e s a i d in d e f e n s e , n o t o f th e ir m e th o d s b u t m o t iv e . A c a r e f u l a n a ly s i s o f c o n d it io n s m ig h t , a n d p r o b a b ly w o u ld , d i s c lo s e th e a c t io n o f s o m e o f th e s e f o r c e s b e y o n d h u m a n c o n tr o l .

R e m e d ie s a v a i l a b le in fo r m e r t im e s , s u c h a s m o v in g to n e w , u n o c c u p ie d , o r l e s s c r o w d e d l a n d s h a r d ly a p p ly t o d a y , w ith m o s t o f th e h a b i t a b le l a n d a l r e a d y d iv id e d a m o n g th e n a t io n s . S o w h e n th e s t r e s s e s o f g r o w th b e c o m e to o g r e a t , w h a t w ill h a p p e n ? S o m e s o lu t io n must b e fo u n d . B u t w h e r e ?

L a w s a n d t r e a t ie s a r e p o w e r le s s to c o n tr o l s u c h fo r c e s . W e c a n n o t s u p ­p r e s s n a t u r a l t e n d e n c ie s b y la w . C o u n t ­l e s s l a w s h a v e b e e n e n a c t e d a g a i n s t c r im e , b u t c r im e g o e s s t e a d i ly o n , p e r ­h a p s w o r s e th a n e v e r b e f o r e . W e t r ie d

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TheRosicrucianD igestN ovem ber1937

to c o n tr o l th e n a t io n a l th ir s t b y la w , b u t it c o u ld n o t b e d o n e .

M a n d id n o t m a k e th e C o s m ic l a w s th a t u n d e r l ie th e c o n d it io n s w h ic h p r o ­d u c e w a r , a n d h e c a n n o t c h a n g e o r s u p ­p r e s s th e m . H e c a n o n ly a d a p t h im s e l f to th e m , r e a l iz in g t h a t t h e y a r e w o r k in g t o g e t h e r f o r g o o d . H e c a n , a n d m u s t , d o a l l in h is p o w e r to l e s s e n th e h o r r o r a n d d e s t r u c t io n o f w a r w h e n it c o m e s , w h ile h e u s e s e v e r y p o s s ib le m e a n s t o ­w a r d p e a c e f u l a d ju s t m e n t s to r e l ie v e th e te n s io n b e f o r e th e c r a s h .

T h e h i s t o r y o f M a n i s a s t o r y o f s to r m a n d s t r e s s . Y e t it is l e s s s o th a n in th e o ld d a y s ; — a n d m a y b e V i r g i l w a s in p a r t a s e e r , w h e n , lo o k in g f o r w a r d to a d im ly s e e n , f a r - o f f t im e , h e s a n g : — “ T h e n s h a l l th e h a r s h a g e s g r o w m ild , w a r s b e in g p u t a s i d e . ” Y e t w e h a v e n o r e a s o n to b e l ie v e th a t th e s t r u g g l e o n e a r th i s to c e a s e w h o lly . A s s a i d b e f o r e , it w ill g o o n a m o n g p la n t s a n d a n im a ls . A n d w h y s h o u ld m a n b e a n e x c e p t io n to u n iv e r s a l la w ?

W h a t d o e s it a l l m e a n ? I s it t h a t th e s t r u g g l e i s th e p r e o r d a in e d la w o f l i f e ? I s it o n ly b y th is r u g g e d p a th t h a t w e m a y a t t a in th e h ig h e s t e x c e l le n c e ? M a n m u s t l iv e h is l i f e o n e a r th u n d e r th e in ­e x o r a b le c o n d it io n s o f th e s e l a w s . A n d a s h e h o ld s to h is fa i th in a n o v e r - r u l in g a n d a l l - w i s e G o d , h e m u s t b e l ie v e t h a t s o m e h o w it i s b e t t e r s o , a n d t h a t th e b a t t le a n d th e s t r e s s a r e s t e p p in g - s t o n e s to a h ig h e r ty p e o f b e in g . T h i s m u c h s h o u ld b e c le a r , — t h a t th e s t r u g g l e o f th e a g e s is th e w o r k s h o p in w h ic h is th e m a k in g o f M a n .

T h e e l im in a t io n o f w a r c a n b e a c ­c o m p li s h e d o n ly b y th e s lo w p r o c e s s o f e d u c a t io n a n d d e v e lo p m e n t . W e c a n n o t c h a n g e o u r c h a r a c t e r s o v e r n ig h t . In h is b o o k , T h e D a w n o f C o n s c ie n c e , P r o f . B r e a s t e d s t r e s s e s th e u r g e n t n e e d , in th is c o u n t r y , o f character a b o v e a l l e l s e . W h a t h e c a l l s th e A g e o f C h a r ­a c t e r b e g a n s e v e r a l t h o u s a n d y e a r s a g o , a n d it is o n ly j u s t s t a r t e d . W e n e e d to d ir e c t th e e d u c a t io n o f y o u th w ith s p e c ia l e m p h a s i s o n th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f c h a r a c t e r , h o n e s ty , h o n o r , s e n s e o f d u ty , r e s p e c t fo r la w , c o n s id e r a t io n f o r th e r i g h t s o f o th e r s , a n d s o o n . L e t u s h a v e l e s s o f “ W h a t d o I g e t o u t o f i t ? ” , a n d m o re o f “ L o r d , w h a t w o u ld s t T h o u h a v e m e to d o ? ”

T h e t r a in in g o f th e in d iv id u a l m u s t b e g in a t h o m e . B r e a s t e d s a y s , “ T h e r e i s o n e s u p r e m e h u m a n r e la t io n s h ip , t h a t w h ic h h a s c r e a t e d th e h o m e , a n d m a d e th e f a m ily f i r e s id e th e s o u r c e o u t o f w h ic h m a n ’s h ig h e s t q u a l i t i e s h a v e g r o w n u p to t r a n s f o r m th e w o r ld . A s h i s t o r ic a l f a c t , it i s to th e f a m ily l i fe t h a t w e o w e th e g r e a t e s t d e b t w h ic h m in d o f m a n c a n c o n c e iv e .”

I n s u c h h o m e s w i l l g r o w u p m in d s w h o s e in f lu e n c e w ill s p r e a d l ik e th e l e a v e n t h a t w a s h id in th e m e a s u r e s o f m e a l “ u n til th e w h o le w a s le a v e n e d .” A f e w f a m il ie s w ill fo rm a g r o u p w ith a p o w e r t h a t w ill b e fe l t in th e c o m ­m u n ity . A s th e s e g r o u p s in c r e a s e in n u m b e r s a n d p o w e r , th e y w ill fo rm c e n t e r s o f t h o u g h t fo r c e f r o m w h ic h w ill g o o u t th e c r e a t iv e m in d - p o w e r w h o s e in f lu e n c e w ill b e e n o r m o u s .

A s R o s i c r u c ia n s w e h a v e le a r n e d h o w to u s e th e c r e a t iv e p o w e r o f th e m in d , a n d w e k n o w th e e f fe c t o f th e r e in ­f o r c e d e n e r g y o f th e m a s s - m in d w h e n p r o p e r ly d ir e c te d . O u r in f lu e n c e a s a n o r g a n iz a t io n a n d a s in d iv id u a ls s h o u ld b e d ir e c te d to th is e n d , n o t b y t r y in g to c h a n g e th e C o s m ic l a w s , b u t b y d ir e c t ­in g a n d c h a n g in g th e fo r m o f th e ir m a n i f e s t a t io n . A n d , s o m e d a y , th e w o r ld w ill m o r e f u l ly r e c o g n iz e th e t r u e B r o t h e r h o o d o f M a n , a n d w i ll b e m o re v i t a l ly in t e r e s t e d in a p p ly i n g to a l l M a n k in d th e G o ld e n R u le , a n d th e d iv in e in ju n c t io n to lo v e o u r n e ig h b o r s a s o u r s e lv e s .

A s B r e a s t e d s a y s , “ T h e p r o c e s s o f h u m a n a d v a n c e i s s t i l l g o in g o n . T h e p o s s ib i l i t i e s o f i t s f u tu r e a r e unlimited.” . . . . “ J u s t a s th e l ig h t o f c h a r a c t e r o n c e d a w n e d in a d a r k n e s s w h ic h h a d n e v e r k n o w n s u c h a l ig h t b e f o r e , s o th e r e is n o r e a s o n to d o u b t th e g r o w th o f t h a t l ig h t to il lu m in e r e a lm s o f b e in g th a t s t i l l l ie a l l u n r e a l i z e d in th e u n fa th o m e d a g e s t o w a r d w h ic h o u r l im ite d v i s io n o f t o d a y lo o k s o u t , b u t d o e s n o t s e e . ”

I t w ill t a k e lo n g to r e a c h th is h a p p y s t a t e ; it m a y b e c e n tu r ie s ; it m a y b e e o n s . B u t i f th e s e e d b e c a r e f u l ly a n d p r a y e r f u l l y s o w n a n d te n d e d , in d u e t im e “ w e s h a l l r e a p i f w e f a in t n o t . ” “ T h o * th e to il a n d th e s t r i f e a r e h e a v y ,

A n d s o r e , s in c e th e w o r ld b e g a n ;A n d th e s t r e s s , a n d th e b a t t l in g c e a s e

n o t ,Y e t , th e e n d is T h e M a k in g o f M a n . ”

Three hundred eighty

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Each hour of the day flnda the men of science cloistered unostentatiously in laboratories, investigating n a tu re 's m ysteries and extending the boundaries of knowledge. The world a t large, although profiting by th eir labors, oftentim es is deprived of the pleasure of review ing th eir w ork, since general periodicals and publications announce only those sensational discoveries which appeal to the popular im agination.

I t is w ith pleasure, therefore, th a t we afTord o u r readers a m onthly sum m ary of some of these scientific researches, and briefly relate them to the Rosicruclan philosophy and doctrines. To the Science Jo u rn al, unless otherw ise specified, we give full credit for all m atte r w hich appears in quotations.

Earth Made to Order for Him?

T I S n o t s t r a n g e t h a t a n c ie n t m a n b e l i e v e d h e h a d fo u n d in th e p r in ­c ip a l p h e n o m e n a o f e a r t h a n d th e C o s m o s , p r o o f t h a t a l l t h i n g s w e r e c r e a t e d f o r h is s p e c ia l b e n e f it , a n d t h a t th e e a r th a l o n e w a s t o b e t e n a n t e d b y h is k in d . T h e l a w o f

l i f e , s e l f - p r e s e r v a t io n , w h i c h c a u s e s e v e r y p r o t o p la s m , e a c h m in u te c e ll , e v e r y l iv in g th in g , to r e p e l in f lu e n c e s w h ic h w o u ld b r in g a b o u t it s e x t in c t io n , is r e s p o n s ib le fo r th is e g o t i s t i c a l v ie w . T h i s in s t in c t iv e u r g e to l iv e , w h e n a n a ly z e d b y a r e a s o n in g b e in g , e n ­g e n d e r s th e c o n c e p t t h a t e x is t e n c e i t ­s e l f , a n d th e d e s i r e to c o n t in u e to e x is t , g iv e s o n e the right to do so. T h i s c o n ­c lu s io n fo l lo w s s u c h a r g u m e n t s a s , “ I h a v e n o t a s k e d fo r l i f e , b u t h a v in g it , I h a v e a r ig h t to p r e s e r v e it a n d e n jo y i t . ’ '

M a n , o f c o u r s e , o b s e r v e d in o th e r l iv in g th in g s , m a m m a ls , b i r d s , r e p t i le s a n d fish , th e r e a c t io n to th is s a m e u r g e , a n d t h a t e a c h l iv in g th in g f o u g h t fo r d o m in a t io n . B u t c o n c o m it a n t w ith m a n 's

a c t u a l s u p r e m a c y o v e r th e m a m m a ls , w a s th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f th e in te lle c t b y w h ic h h e c o u ld a p p r e c ia t e th e f a c u l t y b y w h ic h h e m a d e h is c o n q u e s t . B y c o m p a r is o n , h e w a s a b le to d i s c e r n t h a t h e a lo n e p o s s e s s e d th is u n iq u e a t t r ib u te to su c h a d e g r e e . T h i s g a v e h im s u p e r ­io r i ty th e n , n o t a lo n e in a c c o m p li s h m e n t , b u t in b e in g e n d o w e d w ith th e m e a n s b y w h ic h th e a c c o m p li s h m e n t w a s m a d e p o s s ib le . O u r b e l ie f s s h a p e th e n a t u r e o f o u r in q u ir ie s , a n d m a n y t im e s u n f o r ­tu n a t e ly c o lo r th e tru th . In e a c h m a n i­f e s t a t io n o f n a t u r e m a n s o u g h t o n ly t h a t w h ic h w o u ld c o n firm h is c o n v ic t io n o f h is s p e c ia l im p o r ta n c e in th e u n iv e r s e . T o ju s t i f y h im s e l f , h is e a r l y c o s m o lo g i­c a l th e o r ie s d e p ic te d th e e a r th o n w h ic h h e l iv e d a s e i th e r th e c e n te r o f th e u n i­v e r s e , o r th e l a r g e s t o f a l l o f th e C o s m ic b o d ie s , b e c a u s e it w a s h is h a b it a t .

F o r c e n tu r ie s th e s e c o n c e p t s d e f ie d s c ie n t if ic f in d in g s to th e c o n t r a r y , a n d e v e n m a n y m e t a p h y s ic a l a b s t r a c t io n s , b e c a u s e o f th e s t r e n g t h o f th e s u p p o r t th e y r e c e iv e d fro m r e l ig io n . W i t h th e in e v i t a b le f a l l o f d o g m a t is m , a n d th e a d v a n c e o f r a t io n a l i s m , m a n ’s o p in io n d e p r e c i a t e d th e p la c e o f th e e a r t h in th e C o s m ic s c h e m e . I t to o k a b a c k s e a t in i t s r i g h t f u l o r d e r w ith th e r e s t o f th e p la n e t s . T h a t l i fe , l ik e a l l o th e r m a n i-

Three hundred eighty-one

Page 24: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

T h eR osicrucianD igestN ovem ber1937

f e s t a t io n s , w a s p a r t o f a u n iv e r s a l , C o s ­m ic o r d e r , w a s g e n e r a l ly a c c e p t e d .

F u r t h e r , th e th e o r y t h a t th e e a r t h a lo n e w a s s e le c t e d b y D iv in e D e c r e e a s th e th e a t r e o f m a n ’s a c t iv i t ie s , w a s d e ­n o u n c e d a s t h e o lo g ic a l s u p p o s i t io n , u n ­s u p p o r t e d b y a n y e x a m p le to b e fo u n d in n a t u r e . J u s t a s c e r t a in c h e m ic a l c o m ­p o u n d s o f w h ic h n a t u r e ’s fo r m s a r e c o m p o s e d , c o u ld s u c c e s s f u l l y b e p r o ­d u c e d in th e t e s t tu b e o f th e l a b o r a t o r y , s o a l s o it w a s th o u g h t t h a t l i f e c o u ld b e p r o d u c e d w h e r e v e r th e c o n d it io n s it r e ­q u ir e s e x i s t e d . M a n w a s n o e x c e p t io n . I f th e o th e r p la n e t s a f f o r d e d c o n d it io n s l ik e t h o s e o f th e e a r th — w h ic h it w a s th o u g h t a s f i r s t th e y m u s t — th e n , a n d g iv e n t im e , m a n c o u ld a l s o e x i s t th e re . T h e f a c t t h a t it w a s e v e n tu a l ly r e a l iz e d t h a t th e o th e r b o d ie s in s p a c e d id n o t h a v e c o n d i t io n s w h ic h d u p l ic a t e d o u r s , a n d t h a t a h u m a n o n th e m c o u ld n o t b e a s w e a r e , d id n o t d i s c o u r a g e th e s e th in k e r s a n d s p e c u la t o r s . T h e i r r e p ly to s u c h f in d in g s w a s , “ M u s t m a n e l s e ­w h e r e e x a c t l y r e s e m b le th e m a n o f e a r th in f o r m ? ” “ M a y n o t l i f e e l s e w h e r e —- a s d o l iv in g th in g s o n e a r t h — h a v e a d a p t e d i t s e l f to a n e n t ir e ly d if fe r e n t e n v ir o n ­m e n t? ” “ M a y n o t m a n e ls e w h e r e b e a n in te l l ig e n c e e q u a l to o u r s , y e t p h y s i ­o lo g ic a l ly d i f f e r e n t ? ”

T h e f a c t t h a t o u r e a r th m a n u n d e r n o c ir c u m s t a n c e s c o u ld t o le r a t e th e e x ­t r e m e s o f c l im a t ic a n d a tm o s p h e r ic c o n ­d it io n s o f th e o th e r p la n e t s , d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t l i f e w h ic h m a y h a v e c o m e to th o s e g lo b e s in th e h e a v e n s e o n s a g o , d id n o t d e v e lo p p h y s ic a l a n d o r g a n ic c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s to r e s i s t th e g r a d u a l c h a n g e s it c o n f r o n te d . I t i s th e in te ll i­g e n c e o f a h u m a n , th e y c o n te n d , w h ic h d is t in g u i s h e s h im a s s u c h , a s m u c h a s h is p h y s ic a l s t r u c tu r e . C o n s e q u e n t ly , h u m a n in te l l ig e n c e m ig h t d w e ll o n th e p la n e t s a n d b e c o n f in e d in a fo rm u n ­l ik e a n y t h in g e a r t h m a n h a s e v e r s e e n .

W it h in th e l a s t c e n tu r y , s c ie n c e h a s s c o f f e d a t th e s e v ie w s a n d a t l i f e in a n y fo rm e x i s t in g o u t s id e o f th e f a v o r a b le e n v ir o n m e n t o f e a r t h . L i f e , b io lo g ic a l ly s p e a k in g , i s in n e e d o f c e r t a in f a c t o r s , w h e th e r it i s in th e c o m p le x fo rm o f m a n , o r th e s im p le a m o e b a . I f th e s e a r e a b s e n t , th e m y s t e r io u s l i fe fo r c e d i s a p ­p e a r s . W e n o w a p p a r e n t l y h a v e c o m ­p le t e d th e c y c le o f b e l ie f t h a t th e u n i­v e r s e i s in h a b it e d b y h u m a n s . W e h a v e

r e tu r n e d a g a i n to th e th e o r y t h a t th e e a r th a lo n e s h e l t e r s m a n , a l th o u g h w e s t i l l c l in g f a s t to th e b e l ie f t h a t p o s s ib ly s im p le b a c t e r ia m a y e x i s t o n s o m e o f th e p la n e t s . I n s t e a d o f r e l ig io n n o w f o s t e r in g th is v ie w o f th e im p o r ta n c e o f e a r th to m a n , a s in th e p a s t , a t th is t im e it is s p o n s o r e d b y s c ie n c e . O n th e o th e r h a n d , i f it is t r u e t h a t th e e a r th a lo n e p o s s e s s e s l i fe , th is u n iq u e s i t u a t io n w ill th e n u p s e t s o m e v e r y r a t io n a l m e t a ­p h y s ic a l th e o r ie s to th e c o n t r a r y . I s it p o s s i b le t h a t in te l l ig e n c e s c a n e x i s t w ith o u t fo r m , a n d w ith o u t a l i f e e n e r g y , a s w e k n o w it , a n d t h a t th e y m ig h t r e ­s id e o n o u r n e ig h b o r in g p la n e t s ?

T h a t s c ie n c e i s g iv in g th is h ig h ly in ­t r ig u in g a n d s p e c u la t iv e s u b je c t th o u g h t , is in d ic a t e d b y P r o f e s s o r N e v i l V i n c e n t S i d g w i c k ’s a d d r e s s b e f o r e th e S c ie n c e A s s o c i a t io n r e c e n t ly . P r o f e s s o r S i d g - w ic k i s o f th e U n i v e r s i t y o f O x f o r d f a c u l t y . H e d e c la r e d t h a t o u t o f th e p o s s ib le b i l l io n - d e g r e e r a n g e o f te m p e r ­a t u r e w h ic h c a n e x i s t f r o m th e c o ld e s t d e p t h s o f in t e r s t e l l a r s p a c e to th e c e n ­t e r s o f f la m in g s t a r s , c h e m ic a l m o le c u le s — a n d t h e r e fo r e l i f e — c a n e x i s t o n ly b e ­tw e e n 6 ,0 0 0 d e g r e e s a b s o lu t e , t e m p e r a ­tu r e s l ik e th o s e o f th e s u r f a c e o f th e s u n , a n d th e t e m p e r a tu r e o f l iq u id a i r a t 1 0 0 d e g r e e s a b o v e a b s o lu t e z e r o . A c t u ­a l ly , 6 ,0 0 0 d e g r e e t e m p e r a tu r e s a r e tw ic e a s h o t a s e le c t r ic a r c s , m a d e b y m a n , a n d f a r a b o v e th o s e t e m p e r a tu r e s t h a t c a n s u p p o r t l i fe . G r e a t e s t t e m p e r a ­tu r e r e s t r ic t io n o f l i f e is th e n e c e s s i t y t h a t o r g a n i s m s h a v e to h a v e s o m e l iq u id to a c t a s a lu b r ic a n t . W a t e r is th a t lu b r ic a n t , s o l i fe c a n n o t e x i s t w h e r e th e t e m p e r a t u r e i s c o n s i s t e n t ly b e lo w it s f r e e z in g p o in t o r h o t t e r th a n it s b o i l in g p o in t , a r a n g e o f 1 0 0 d e g r e e s C e n t i ­g r a d e . O t h e r r e s t r ic t io n s o n l i fe a r e th a t it m u s t o c c u r o n th e s u r f a c e s o f p la n e t s i f r a d i a n t e n e r g y is to b e u t i l iz e d . A l s o it w ill h a v e to o c c u r o n a p la n e t o f ju s t th e r i g h t s iz e . I f th e p la n e t i s to o s m a ll , l ik e th e m o o n , a l l i t s a t m o s p h e r e w ill f ly a w a y in to s p a c e ; i f th e p la n e t is to o h e a v y i t k e e p s to o m u c h o f i t s a t m o s ­p h e r e . T h e th ic k c lo u d s p r e v e n t th e p la n e t f r o m g e t t in g th e r a d i a n t e n e r g y f r o m i t s p a r e n t s t a r a n d it i s to o c o ld to p e r m it l i f e . O f th e p la n e t s o f th e s o l a r

(Concluded on Page 389)Three hundred eighty-two

Page 25: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

Building a Personal PhilosophyBy T h e S u p r e m e S ecretary

Part II.

O W w e a d v a n c e to w h a t i s th e e x ­te r n a l . H o w s e p a ­r a t e is m a n fro m th e w o r l d a b o u t h im — th e w o r ld o f t h in g s , th e w o r ld o f h is e v e r y d a y ? I s m a n a b s o lu t e ly s e p a r a t e a n d a p a r t f r o m it? W e k n o w s c ie n c e h a s p r o v e n t h a t th e c h e m ic a l i n g r e d i e n t s o f

m a n 's b o d y a r e f o u n d a n d d o e x i s t in o th e r t h in g s a b o u t u s ; s o w e h a v e a n a f ­f in ity w ith th e p h y s ic a l w o r ld in s o f a r a s o u r b o d ie s a r e c o n c e r n e d , a n d w e k n o w th e y a r e n o t u n iq u e a n d d is t in c t in th e s e n s e t h a t th e y c o n t a in p r o p e r t i e s a n d q u a l i t ie s n o t to b e fo u n d e l s e w h e r e in th e e x t e r n a l w o r ld . T h e n , i f o u r b o d ie s a r e e x a c t l y th e s a m e a s m a n y o th e r e le ­m e n ts o r c o n ta in e le m e n t s e x a c t l y th e s a m e a s m a y b e fo u n d in th e w o r ld a b o u t u s , h o w i s it t h a t w e d e f in e th is w o r ld o f t h in g s a s n o t b e in g o u r b o d ie s ? In o th e r w o r d s , i f th e r e a r e c e r t a in c h e m ic a l e le m e n t s t h a t h a v e e x is t e n c e th e s a m e a s o u r b o d ie s , w h y d o w e n o t a l s o c a l l th e m o u r b o d ie s ? I s it n o t b e ­c a u s e o f th e f a c t t h a t th r o u g h s o m e s t r a n g e a t t r ib u t e o r fu n c t io n o f o u r n a ­tu re , w e a r e a b le to p e r c e iv e t h r o u g h s e n s a t io n , th e s e t h in g s o f th e w o r ld o n th e o n e h a n d a n d ourselves o n tke o th e r ?

W e fin d , th e r e fo r e , th e r e is a d u a l i t y o f p e r c e p t io n . T h e r e m a y b e a s a m e ­n e s s i n s o f a r a s th e e le m e n t s o f o u r b o d y a r e c o n c e r n e d a n d th e e le m e n t s o f th e th in g s a r o u n d u s , but we do have a r e a l ­iz a t io n o r c o m p r e h e n s io n o f th e la t t e r a s n o t b e in g a p a r t o f u s . T h e n , i f t h a t i s s o , a r e w e s e p a r a t e ly c r e a t e d — t h a t i s , a r e w e a s p o n t a n e o u s c r e a t io n th a t c a m e in to e x is t e n c e a s m a n ? D o w e w is h to b e l ie v e th a t , o r d o w e w is h to b e l ie v e t h a t th e re a r e tw o k in d s o f m a t te r , a n i ­m a te a n d in a n im a te . O n e fo r m o f m a t ­te r , th e a n im a te i s s o d e s ig n a t e d b e c a u s e it s e e m s to h a v e c e r t a in q u a l i t i e s o r f u n c t io n s w h ic h th e in a n im a t e m a t te r d o e s n o t h a v e . D o w e p r e f e r to b e l ie v e t h a t m a n is a m o r e c o m p le x fo r m o f l iv ­in g t h in g s o r o f a n im a te m a t t e r ? W e f in d s im p le c e l l s a n d m a r in e o r g a n i s m s e x i s t in g s id e b y s id e w ith m a n . D o e s t h a t m e a n t h a t th e s e c e l l s a n d s im p le o r g a n i s m s h a v e t h r o u g h a g e s e v o lv e d in to m a n , a n d th a t th e p r o c e s s o f e v o lv ­in g in to m a n is s t i l l g o in g o n a r o u n d u s c o n s t a n t ly ? T h i s w e m u s t a n s w e r to o u r s e lv e s .

S h a l l w e r a t h e r t a k e th e v ie w t h a t th e a n c ie n t S t o i c s to o k ? M in d , t h e y s a i d , is th e c a u s e o f a l l , m in d p e r m e a t e s a l l th in g s , a n d th e fu n c t io n s o f m a n a r e n o t d i s t in c t ly s e p a r a t e in th e u n iv e r s e f r o m th e fu n c t io n s o f a lo w ly r o c k o r a b l a d e o f g r a s s . T h e fu n c t io n s o f e v e r y ­th in g a r e th e r e s u l t o f th e s a m e in te ll i­g e n c e , th e s a m e p n e u m a , a s th e y c a l le d it , b u t m a n i f e s t d i f f e r e n t ly a c c o r d in g to

Three hundred eighty-three

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th e s c a l e o f th e ir d e v e lo p m e n t . In in ­a n im a te m a t te r , r o c k s , s t o n e s a n d s a n d , a n d in th e e le m e n t s , a t o m s a n d m o le ­c u le s , th is p n e u m a , th is in te l l ig e n c e , m a n i f e s t s a s c e r t a in l a w s o r a s th e o r d e r o f m a t te r w h ic h b e c o m e s k n o w n to u s a s th e p h e n o m e n a o f magnetism, co­hesion a n d adhesion. A n d in th e m o r e c o m p le x fo r m s o f m a t te r , in l iv in g th in g s , in man f o r e x a m p le , th is s a m e o r d e r , th is s a m e in te l l ig e n c e m a n i f e s t s a s m in d a n d a s in te l l ig e n c e .

A r e w e to b e l ie v e th e n , t h a t m a n ’s f a c u l t ie s a r e n o t u n iq u e , b u t h a v e c o m e to h im f r o m th e t h in g s o u t o f w h ic h h e h a s e v o lv e d ? S h a l l w e a c c e p t th e e v o ­lu t io n a r y p r in c ip le s o f A r i s t o t le ? S h a l l w e s a y t h a t a l l l iv in g t h in g s h a v e s o u l , b u t t h a t th e s o u l o f e a c h lo w e r th in g b e ­c o m e s th e a t t r ib u t e s o f th e b o d y o f th e n e x t h ig h e r th in g in th e s c a le ? A r i s t o t l e s a i d t h a t p la n t s h a v e s o u l s , t h a t th e s o u l o f a p la n t i s i t s fu n c t io n s o f nutrition a n d reproduction, t h a t th e s o u l o f a n a n im a l i s i t s fu n c t io n s o f locomotion, th e a b i l i t y to m o v e i t s e l f a t w ill , a n d sensa­tion. B u t th e a n im a l h a s n o t l o s t i t s lo w e r s o u l , th e p la n t s o u l , f o r it to o h a s t h e fu n c t io n s o f n u tr i t io n a n d r e p r o d u c t io n .

T h e n w h a t o f m a n ? A r i s t o t le s a y s in m a n a r e fo u n d a l l o f th e s o u l s o f th e lo w e r l iv in g t h in g s — in o th e r w o r d s , their functions. In m a n th e y b e c o m e in ­s t e a d o f s o u l m e r e ly th e fu n c t io n s o f h is b o d y , f o r m a n h a s th e fu n c t io n s o f th e p la n t , n u tr i t io n a n d r e p r o d u c t io n , th e fu n c t io n s o f th e a n im a l , s e n s a t io n a n d lo c o m o t io n , b u t h e h a s h is o w n u n iq u e fu n c t io n o r s o u l , s a y s A r i s t o t le , a n d t h a t i s reason. S o w e m u s t c o n s id e r t h e s e t h in g s c a r e f u l ly w h e n w e th in k o f th e e x t e r n a l w o r ld , a n d o u r r e la t io n to it in fo r m in g o u r p e r s o n a l p h i lo s o p h y .

TheRosicrucianD igestNovember1937

N o w , a s to man himself, the third p o in t o f o u r t r iu n e s t a t e . I s h e im ­m o r ta l? W e c a n q u ic k ly s a y y e s , b u t m o s t o f u s w o u ld s a y s o o n ly b e c a u s e o f c u s to m , h a b i t a n d t r a d i t io n , b e c a u s e fo r c e n tu r ie s w e h a v e b e e n t a u g h t b y r e ­l ig io u s in s t i tu t io n s a n d s o c ie t ie s a n d b y p h i lo s o p h ic a l d i s c o u r s e s t h a t m a n h a s a s o u l , a n d w e h a v e c o m e to a c c e p t th e b e l ie f t h a t h e h a s . We must not, i f w e a r e to b e f a i r to o u r s e lv e s , e s t a b l i s h a p e r s o n a l p h i lo s o p h y b a s e d o n t r a d i t io n ­a l a n d c u s t o m a r y b e l ie f s b u t r a t h e r r e ­

s o r t o n ly to o u r p e r s o n a l e x p e r ie n c e s , r e a s o n in g a n d a n a l y s i s . S o w e s a y , “W h a t o f m a n c o u ld b e im m o r ta l ? ”

S t r a n g e , th e m o r e w e th in k a b o u t it. th e m o r e w e h a v e to a g r e e w ith P la t o a n d s a y t h a t l i f e i t s e l f is im m o r ta l , fo r l i f e im m o r ta l iz e s i t s e l f th r o u g h r e p r o ­d u c t io n , t h r o u g h p e r p e t u a t in g th e g e n u s o r k in d a n d a s w e b r in g fo r th o f f s p r in g a n d p e r p e t u a t e o u r k in d , w e a r e im ­m o r ta l iz in g l i f e . A l t h o u g h w e a s in ­d iv id u a l s m a y d ie , y e t o u r k in d c o n ­t in u e s , b e c a u s e o f r e p r o d u c t io n , a n d th u s w e h a v e im m o r ta l iz e d l i fe . B u t m o s t o f th e r e l ig io u s a n d p h i lo s o p h ic a l d o c t r in e s c o n c e r n e d w ith im m o r ta l i ty a r e n o t r e f e r r in g to l i fe i t s e l f , o r to th e b o d y , b u t to th e in d iv id u a l . T h e y r e f e r to s e l f a n d what of self?

S e l f is t h a t r e a l iz a t io n t h a t y o u a r e s e p a r a t e a n d a p a r t f r o m a n y o th e r b e ­in g . I t i s th a t s t r a n g e k n o w le d g e o f s e l f e x is t e n c e . I t i s t h a t f a c u l t y t h a t y o u h a v e w h e n y o u a r e a lo n e in a d a r k roo im — w h e n y o u c a n n o t s e e , o r e v e n i f it w e r e a l s o im p o s s ib le fo r y o u to h e a r , t a s t e , f e e l o r s m e ll — o f a w a r e n e s s o f y o u r s e l f . T h e r e f o r e , i s t h a t k n o w le d g e o f s e l f p e r p e t u a t e d ? D o e s it c o n t in u e to e x i s t a f t e r th e b o d y ? T h a t i s th e p r o b le m o f im m o r ta l i t y . E p ic u r u s , th e a n c ie n t G r e e k p h i lo s o p h e r s a i d t h a t where we are, death is not. H e m e a n t b y t h a t t h a t w h e n w e a r e c o n s c io u s o f o u r s e l v e s , d e a t h d o e s n o t e x i s t a t th a t t im e to u s , o r w e w o u ld n o t h a v e th a t c o n s c i o u s n e s s o f s e l f . H e a l s o s a i d where death is we are not. In o th e r w o r d s , w h e r e d e a t h e x i s t s , th e r e is n o c o n s c io u s n e s s o r n o k n o w le d g e o f s e l f . W h a t w e w a n t to k n o w th e n , in c o n s id ­e r in g im m o r ta l i t y is , w h e n d e a th d o e s c o m e , a r e w e n o t? In o th e r w o r d s , d o e s s e l f a l s o d ie , o r i s i t im m o r ta l iz e d ?

P r e s u m in g n o w t h a t y o u h a v e g iv e n s a t i s f a c t o r y a n s w e r s to th e q u e s t io n s , w h a t i s th e n a t u r e o f m a n , th e n a t u r e o f th e e x t e r n a l w o r ld a n d y o u r r e la t io n s h ip to it, a n d th e c a u s e o f a l l , y o u s t i l l a r e f a c e d w ith th e q u e s t io n , “ W h a t is th e f in a l e n d ; why l i f e ; why m a n ? ” W e c a n ­n o t b e d u ll o r s t u p id e n o u g h to c o n t in u e ju s t to a c c e p t l i f e w ith o u t k n o w in g w h y w e a r e a c c e p t in g it, to d r i f t a l o n g w ith th e t im e s , w ith o u t k n o w in g w h y w e c o n t in u e to d r i f t a n d b e s a t i s f i e d to d o s o . I t w o u ld b e l ik e th e m a n w h o a p ­

Three hundred eighty-four

Page 27: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

p r o a c h e d th e t ic k e t s e l le r a t a r a i l r o a d d e p o t w in d o w a n d s t a t e d , “ I w a n t a r a i l r o a d t i c k e t .” A n d w h e n h e w a s a s k e d w h e r e to , h e s a i d , “ I d o n ’ t k n o w ; I ju s t w a n t to t r a v e l a n d I d o n o t k n o w w h e re , h o w o r w h y , I ju s t w a n t to g o . ” I t w a s a n id io t ic a n s w e r , b u t th e r e a r e m a n y w h o a r e l iv in g l iv e s t h a t a r e just as id io t ic . T h e y h a v e b e e n g iv e n a l i f e w h ic h th e y d id n o t a s k fo r , a n d a r e p e r ­fe c t ly c o n te n t to a c c e p t it a n d to g o a lo n g w ith it, w ith o u t h a v in g a n y k n o w le d g e o f w h a t it is a n d w h y th e y liv e a t a l l .

T o g e t th e fu l le s t e n jo y m e n t o u t o f l i fe , o n e m u s t fe e l t h a t h e h a s b e e n g iv e n l i fe to s e r v e a c e r t a in e n d , to a c ­c o m p lish s o m e th in g , th a t h e i s a n im p le ­m e n t o r to o l. C e r t a i n l y n o o n e w o u ld t r a m p a lo n g th e r o a d c a r r y in g a n a x e , a h e a v y , t w o - b la d e d a x e , j u s t b e c a u s e it h a d b e e n g iv e n to h im , w ith o u t f ir s t k n o w in g i t s p u r p o s e o r fu n c t io n a n d s e c o n d , w h e th e r h e c o u ld u s e it , a n d th ird , w h e th e r h e w a n t e d it ; y e t m a n y a r e c a r r y in g l i f e ’s v i c i s s i t u d e s , th e b u r ­d e n o f i t s m a n y u n f a v o r a b le e x p e r ie n c e s in th e s a m e w a y , w ith o u t k n o w in g w h y , w ith o u t e v e n t r y in g to fo r m s o m e o p in ­io n a s to w h y . I t i s th is t r a m p in g a lo n g w ith th e a x e o n th e s h o u ld e r , in o th e r w o r d s d r i f t in g in a n o n - u n d e r s t a n d a b le s t a t e , t h a t c a u s e s u n n e c e s s a r y m is f o r ­tu n e a n d g r ie f .

W e m u s t c o n c lu d e , a s d id m o s t o f th e a n c ie n t p h i lo s o p h e r s a n d a s d o th e l e a d ­e r s o f m a n y o f o u r m o d e r n s c h o o l s o f th o u g h t , t h a t th e e n d a n d p u r p o s e o f l i f e a s f a r a s m a n is c o n c e r n e d , is thorough happiness, a n d h a p p in e s s c a n o n ly b e in te r p r e te d a s p le a s u r e ; b u t u n ­f o r t u n a t e ly to o m a n y p e r s o n s in te r p r e t t h a t p le a s u r e a s m e a n in g p h y s ic a l p l e a s ­u r e s t r i c t ly , th e g r a t i f ic a t io n o f p h y s ic a l s e n s e s . P h y s i c a l p le a s u r e s a r e i l lu s io n - a r y , t r a n s ie n t — th e y a r e negative. P h y s i c a l p le a s u r e s a r e n o t p le a s u r e s w h ic h a r e s o u g h t for in th e ir o w n r ig h t . A t f ir s t h a n d , th is d o e s n o t s e e m t r u e , b u t it is c o r r e c t . P h y s i c a l p le a s u r e s a r e t h o s e w h ic h c a n o n ly a r i s e fro m th e d o ­in g a w a y w ith s o m e ir r i t a t io n , d e s ir e , a p p e t i t e o r a n n o y a n c e . P h y s i c a l p l e a s ­u r e s a r e p r o v o k e d , a n d a r i s e w h e n w e r e tu r n fro m a n a b n o r m a l to a n o r m a l s t a t e o r c o n d it io n .

P h y s i c a l p le a s u r e s o r negative o n e s , E p ic u r u s s a i d , a r e l ik e th o s e t h a t c o m e

Three hundred eighty-five

f r o m th e s c r a t c h in g o f a n itc h . Y o u f ir s t m u s t h a v e th e itc h b e f o r e y o u c a n h a v e th e p le a s u r e o f s c r a t c h in g it. T h e y a r e n o t l a s t i n g , a n d th e lo n g e r th e itch is s c r a t c h e d , th e l e s s th e p le a s u r e , a n d th e o n ly w a y y o u c a n in c r e a s e th e in ­t e n s i t y o f su c h a p le a s u r e i s to m a k e th e itc h quite severe and the more f r e q u e n t ­ly y o u s c r a t c h , th e l e s s th e itc h r e tu r n s , a n d , t h e r e fo r e , th e l e s s th e p le a s u r e . T h a t is w h y w e fin d s o m a n y p e r s o n s w ith j a d e d a p p e t i t e s , w h o fin d l i fe d u ll a n d m o n o t o n o u s . T h e y h a v e s c r a t c h e d e v e r y itc h th e y h a v e a n d th e r e a r e n o m o r e p h y s ic a l p le a s u r e s le f t . L i f e b e ­c o m e s d u ll a n d in s ip id .

P l e a s u r e s w h ic h a r e s o u g h t fo r th e ir o w n s a k e s , n o t to r e m o v e a n itch o r ir ­r i t a t io n o r a c r a v in g o r d e s ir e , n e v e r g r o w d u ll . T h o s e p le a s u r e s a r e th e positive p le a s u r e s o f th e m in d . I f w e c r e a t e in th e m in d a n id e a l , s o m e th in g w e w a n t to a c c o m p li s h , s e t a g o a l , w h a t e v e r it m a y b e , in m u s ic , a r t , th e b u i ld in g u p o f a b u s i n e s s o r a n in s t i tu ­tio n , o r th e b u i ld in g u p o f o u r f a m ily , o r th e b r in g in g in to th e w o r ld o f c h ild r e n w h o m w e w is h to b e a n a s s e t to h u m a n ­i t y — t h o s e p le a s u r e s a r e n e v e r d im m e d b e c a u s e a s w e a p p r o a c h th e id e a l , th e id e a l g r a d u a l l y c h a n g e s a n d t r a n s c e n d s it s fo r m e r s e l f . S u c h id e a l s a r e a l w a y s ju s t a s t e p a b o v e u s , a n d th u s w e a r e a l ­w a y s d r a w n to th e m . W e a l w a y s gain p le a s u r e in t r y in g to r e a l iz e a n id e a l b e ­c a u s e w e n e v e r q u ite c a t c h u p w ith it. T h u s th e m e n ta l p le a s u r e s a r e th e b e s t .

P l a t o s a i d t h a t th e o n ly w a y m a n c a n te ll w h ic h p le a s u r e s a r e th e b e s t , th o s e o f th e b o d y o r t h o s e o f th e m in d , i s b y in d u lg in g in b o th . A s c h o la r o r s tu d e n t , h e s t a t e d , h a s k n o w le d g e o f b o th . H e n a t u r a l ly h a s k n o w le d g e o f th e p h y s ic a l p le a s u r e s , b e c a u s e h e is a h u m a n b e in g , b u t h e h a s a l s o k n o w le d g e o f th e p l e a s ­u r e s o f th e m in d . T h u s h e is th e b e s t ju d g e . A m a n w h o h a s e x p e r ie n c e d o n ly th e p h y s ic a l p le a s u r e s c a n n o t b e a ju d g e b e c a u s e h e h a s n o t e x p e r ie n c e d th o s e o f th e m in d . T h u s w e m u s t s a y t h a t o u r f in a l e n d in l i f e s e e m s to b e to b e c o m e th o r o u g h ly c o n s c io u s o f o u r s u r r o u n d ­in g s , t h o r o u g h ly f a m il ia r w ith th e m a n d t r y in g to h a r m o n iz e o u r e x is t e n c e w ith th e o r d e r o f th e u n iv e r s e . W e s h o u ld t r y to u n d e r s t a n d o u r d u t y a n d o b l i g a ­t io n to s o c ie t y a n d to o u r fe l lo w m a n .

Page 28: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

T h eRosicrucianD igestN ovem ber1937

W e w ill th e n g a in p le a s u r e f r o m o u r a c ­c o m p li s h m e n t s , fro m o u r c r e a t iv e a c t iv i ­t ie s , a n d f in d r e a l h a p p in e s s , w h ic h is th e g r e a t e s t th in g l i fe c a n a f f o r d u s .

T h e r e a r e c e r t a in d a n g e r s , h o w e v e r , in th e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a p e r s o n a l p h i lo ­s o p h y . B e s u r e t h a t th e p h i lo s o p h y y o u a d o p t is yours p e r s o n a l l y — th e n b e l ie v e in it a n d b e c o n v in c e d t h a t y o u a r e r ig h t . A lo n g th e s e l in e s I w o u ld l ik e to s t a t e a n e x p e r ie n c e I r e c e n t ly h a d . A y o u n g m a n w h o is q u ite p h i lo s o p h ic a l ly m in d e d a n d h a s a v e r y e x c e l le n t m in d a n d s p le n d id p o w e r s o f r e a s o n in g , w a s p r e ­p a r in g fo r a p h i lo s o p h y e x a m in a t io n in o n e o f th e u n iv e r s i t ie s in th is v ic in ity . O n s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s fo r a fe w w e e k s b e f o r e th e e x a m in a t io n , w e h a d lo n g d i s c u s s io n s w h ic h I th o r o u g h ly e n jo y e d . O n e n ig h t ju s t a b o u t th re e o r fo u r d a y s b e f o r e h e w a s a c t u a l l y to t a k e h is e x ­a m in a t io n , h e c a m e to m e a n d s t a t e d , “ W e l l , I h a v e f i lle d o n e o f th e r e q u ir e ­m e n ts o f th e e x a m in a t io n . I h a v e p r e ­p a r e d a th e s i s o n m y p e r s o n a l p h i lo s o ­p h y . I w a n t to r e a d it to y o u . " In h is t h e s i s h e e x p la in e d w h a t h e th o u g h t w a s th e c a u s e o f th e u n iv e r s e , w h a t h e th o u g h t r e a l i t y c o n s i s t e d o f , w h e th e r r e a l i t y w a s in fin ite o r fin ite , w h e th e r m a n w o u ld e v e r c o m e to p e r c e iv e m o r e o f th e u n iv e r s e th a n h e n o w p e r c e iv e s , r a t h e r th a n m e r e ly c o m b in in g a n d r e ­c o m b in in g th e e x p e r ie n c e s h e h a s . I t w a s v e r y c o g e n t , b u t a f t e r h e f in ish e d r e a d in g it to m e , h e s t a t e d , “ Y o u k n o w , I a l s o w o n d e r w h e th e r it c o u ld b e t h i s . ” T h e n h e w o u ld t a k e c e r t a in p a r a g r a p h s o u t o f h is t h e s i s a n d s a y , “ N o w th is I b e l ie v e c o u ld a l s o b e c o n s id e r e d in th is l ig h t . ” T h e n h e w e n t o n a n a ly z in g h is t h e s i s s u b s t i t u t in g o th e r o p in io n s a n d c o n c lu s io n s .

H e s u b m it te d th e th e s i s to th e p r o ­f e s s o r o f h is c l a s s , a n d a fe w d a y s l a t e r s a w m e a n d s t a t e d , “ W e l l , I g o t a ‘ B ’ a n d I th o u g h t I w o u ld g e t a n 'A ' . ” I a s k e d h im w h y h e r e c e iv e d o n ly a “ B ” a n d h e s a i d , “ W e l l , th e p r o f e s s o r s t a t e d t h a t it w a s n o t m y p e r s o n a l p h i lo s o p h y a n d t h a t i f it h a d b e e n , n o m a t t e r w h e th e r a n y o n e e l s e a g r e e d w ith it o r n o t , h e w o u ld h a v e g iv e n m e a n 'A ' b e ­c a u s e m y lo g ic w a s a b s o lu t e ly s o u n d a n d t h e r e fo r e , m y p h i lo s o p h y w o u ld p e r h a p s b e a s s o u n d a s a n y o th e r s t u ­d e n t ’s . H o w e v e r , ” h e c o n t in u e d , “ a t th e c o n c lu s io n o f m y t h e s i s I w e n t o n to

s t a t e t h a t I th o u g h t c e r t a in p a r t s o f m y a r g u m e n t c o u ld b e c h a n g e d , o r o th e r a r g u m e n t s g iv e n , a n d th e r e fo r e th e p r o ­f e s s o r s t a t e d t h a t it w a s n o t m y tru e p h i lo s o p h y , a s lo n g a s I w a s a b le to c r i t ic iz e it a n d fin d lo o p h o le s in it, o r o f fe r a s u b s t i t u t io n o f i d e a s . ”

W h a t th e p r o f e s s o r s a i d is t ru e . Y o u r p h i lo s o p h y m u s t b e r e p r e s e n t a t iv e o f y o u r c o m p le te th o u g h t o n a s u b je c t . N o id e a i s y o u r s o le , c o m p le te id e a o n a n y ­th in g , i f y o u c a n h a v e a n o th e r o n th e s a m e s u b je c t . T h e r e f o r e , b e c o n v in c e d t h a t y o u r p h i lo s o p h y , w h a t e v e r it m a y b e , r e p r e s e n t s y o u r c o m p le te t h o u g h t o n th e s u b je c t a n d y o u r o n ly t h o u g h t o n it.

A l s o b e w a r e o f in to le r a n c e . S o m e ­t im e s w h e n w e a r e c o n v in c e d t h a t w e a r e r ig h t , w e a r e s o s t r o n g in o u r c o n ­v ic t io n s a n d fa i th t h a t w e s u p p r e s s o u r r e a s o n , a n d w ill n o t l is te n to th e a r g u ­m e n ts o f o t h e r s a n d w ill n o t e v e n a c ­c e p t th e f a c t s w h ic h w ill r e fu t e o u r o p in io n s . T h a t is in to le r a n c e . I n to le r ­a n c e d o e s n o t u s u a l l y a r i s e fro m m a lic e o r th e w is h to o p p o s e a n o th e r , b u t it d o e s u s u a l l y a r i s e f r o m o v e r - z e a lo u s - n e s s , o v e r - e n t h u s ia s m to th e p o in t w h e r e w e n o lo n g e r a r e o p e n m in d e d .

R e m e m b e r t h a t a l t h o u g h y o u r p h i lo s ­o p h y i s a n in d iv id u a l th in g , b o r n o u t o f y o u r o w n m in d , r e a s o n a n d e x p e r ie n c e s , it is b e s t t h a t , b e f o r e y o u s e t a b o u t to e s t a b l i s h it , y o u m a k e a t h o r o u g h s t u d y o f th e p r e v io u s l e a d in g th o u g h t . Y o u a r e a p t to f in d t h a t w h a t y o u h o ld a s a n o r ig in a l th o u g h t o f y o u r o w n , s o u n d a n d r e a s o n a b le , w a s e x p o u n d e d tw o th o u ­s a n d y e a r s a g o b y a g r e a t th in k e r , a n d fo u n d , p e r h a p s in th e l a s t tw o h u n d r e d y e a r s , w ith th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f s c ie n c e a n d g r e a t e r v i s io n , to b e f a l s e : a n d th e s h a t t e r in g o f y o u r i l lu s io n is a p t to h a v e a v e r y s e r io u s e f fe c t o n y o u r l i fe .

I f y o u m a k e e v e n a c u r s o r y s t u d y o f th e p h i lo s o p h ie s a n d th e d e v e lo p m e n t o f t h o u g h t in th e p a s t , y o u w ill n o t m a k e s u c h a m is ta k e . Y o u w ill b e g in w h e r e t h e y l e f t o f f . F o r in s t a n c e , i f y o u d id n o t s t u d y g e o g r a p h y a n d h i s to r y t o d a y , y o u w o u ld b e a p t to b e l ie v e ju s t a s m a n y o f th e a n c ie n t s d id , a s y o u lo o k e d o u t to s e a a n d s a w th e h o r iz o n , t h a t i t w a s a n e d g e o f th e e a r t h a n d i f m a n a p p r o a c h e d to o c lo s e ly , h e w o u ld b e a p t to f a l l o f f ; a n d s u c h r e a s o n in g o n y o u r p a r t w o u ld s o a f f e c t y o u r fu tu r e a c t iv i t y a n d c o n d u c t t h a t y o u m ig h t d i s ­

Three hundred eighty-six

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c o v e r y o u r m is t a k e to o la t e in l i f e to t a k e a d v a n t a g e o f th e t ru th a b o u t th e s h a p e o f o u r e a r th . S o y o u s t u d y g e o ­g r a p h y a n d le a r n t h a t th e e a r t h is n o t f la t , a n d th a t w e c a n n o t f a l l o f f o f a n

e d g e . H a v i n g t h a t k n o w le d g e to s t a r t w ith , y o u b u i ld fro m th e r e o n . S o k e e p th e s e f e w t h o u g h t s in m in d w h e n y o u b e g in to b u i ld a p e r s o n a l p h i lo s o p h y o f l ife .

V V V

Common MisconceptionsBy T hor Kjim a l e h t o , Sovereign Grand Master

H R O U G H O U T m y tw e n t y y e a r s in th e O r d e r I h a v e d i s c o v e r e d th a t o n e o f th e c h ie f o b s t a c l e s t o t h e p r o g r e s s o f t h e s t u d e n t i s a m is ­u n d e r s t a n d in g o f th e s p ir i t a n d p u r ­p o s e o f o u r O r d e r . O u r s t u d e n t s h a v e b e e n c o n n e c t e d w ith e v e r y t y p e o f

m y s t ic a n d o c c u lt o r g a n iz a t io n . T h e y h a v e r e a d w id e ly in th e l i t e r a tu r e o f th e s u b je c t . M a n y h a v e n o t h a d s u f f ic ie n t sc ie n tif ic t r a in in g to k n o w w h a t c o n s t i ­tu te s p r o o f a n d w h a t c o n s t i tu te s a f a c t o r a f a l l a c y . T h e y h a v e a c c e p t e d w h a t th e y h a v e r e a d in in s p i r a t io n a l m a g a ­z in e s , a n d w h a t th e y h a v e h e a r d fro m in s p i r a t io n a l le c t u r e s , in th e s a m e u n ­c r it ic a l w a y in w h ic h th e y fo r m e r ly a p ­p r o a c h e d r e l ig io u s d o g m a . T h e y e n te r th e O r d e r , in m a n y c a s e s , w ith a w r o n g p o in t o f v ie w a n d w ith m a n y m is c o n c e p ­t io n s , a s to fu n d a m e n ta l p r in c ip le s , w h ich c a n n o t b e c le a r e d u p u n til th e e n tir e c o u r s e o f s t u d y is c o m p le te d .

M e r e ly to m a s te r th e n in e g r a d e s o f s t u d y in te l le c tu a l ly is in su f f ic ie n t . O n ly p a r t o f th e w o r k h a s b e e n a c c o m p li s h e d . F i r s t o f a l l , th e c o n c e p t s m u s t b e t r a n s ­la te d in to te r m s o f d a i l y l iv in g . O f w h a t u s e a r e r u le s o f g r a m m a r u n le s s th e y a c t u a l ly h e lp y o u to s p e a k a n d w r i te c o r r e c t ly ? O f w h a t u s e is it to m a s t e r th e s t e p s o f a n e x p e r im e n t in c h e m is t r y o r p h y s ic s u n le s s y o u c a n a c t u a l ly d e m o n s t r a te it in th e l a b o r a ­to r y ? B o th in s c ie n c e a n d in th e a r t s th e in te l le c tu a l m a s t e r y o f id e a s i s b u t

Three hundred eighty-seven

th e f ir s t s t e p . It i s n o t e n o u g h fo r a d ie t i t ia n to k n o w f o o d v a lu e s a n d fo o d c o m b in a t io n s . H e o r s h e m u s t k n o w h o w to p r e p a r e fo o d . I t is n o t e n o u g h fo r th e v io l in is t to k n o w th e h i s t o r y o f m u s ic , th e l iv e s o f g r e a t m u s ic ia n s , a n d th e la w s o f h a r m o n y . H e m u s t a c t u a l ly k n o w h o w to p la y th e v io lin .

T h e m a s t e r y o f a n a r t , o r s c ie n c e , d e ­m a n d s s e r io u s in te r e s t , c o n c e n t r a te d a t ­te n t io n , a n d a te rr if ic a m o u n t o f d r u d g ­e r y . T h e d r u d g e r y , h o w e v e r , i s n o t w ith o u t it s c o m p e n s a t io n . T h e r e is a s o l id s a t i s f a c t i o n in h o ld in g y o u r s e l f to a g iv e n t a s k , in g r a d u a l l y c o r r e la t in g th e o r y a n d p r a c t ic e , in s lo w ly a t t a in in g sk ill in a te c h n iq u e th a t y o u w a n t to m a s te r .

T h e t im e e le m e n t , to o , is im p o r ta n t . T h e f ir s t y e a r o f a n y s t u d y , w h e th e r s c ie n c e , l a n g u a g e , a r t , o r m a th e m a t ic s , is p u r e ly in t r o d u c to r y a n d e le m e n ta r y . T h e s u c c e e d in g y e a r s g iv e a d d e d k n o w l­e d g e a n d a c e r ta in a m o u n t o f sk i l l . B u t it is th e s t u d e n t w h o h a s c o m p le te d th e c o u r s e o f s t u d y , w h o is in a p o s i t io n to t e s t th e p r in c ip le s in e v e r y p o s s ib le c o m ­b in a t io n o f c ir c u m s ta n c e s , w h o c a n d o c r e a t iv e w o r k . T o p la y w ith id e a s , to t r y n e w c o m b in a t io n s , to d o c r e a t iv e w o r k , m e a n s th a t th e p r in c ip le s h a v e b e e n t h o r o u g h ly a b s o r b e d a n d th e t e c h ­n iq u e h a s b e c o m e s e c o n d n a tu r e . T h e a r t i s t o n th e v io l in c a n p la y w ith in s p i r ­e d in te r p r e ta t io n b e c a u s e h e h a s c o m ­p le t e ly m a s t e r e d b o th th e s c o r e a n d th e in s t r u m e n t .

P e o p le a r e a w a r e o f th e f a c t th a t it t a k e s t im e to m a s t e r a m u s ic a l in s t r u ­m e n t o r a fo r e ig n l a n g u a g e , b u t th e y a r e n o t y e t a w a r e o f th e f a c t th a t th e s a m e th in g h o ld s t r u e o f a n e w w a y o f th in k ­in g a n d l iv in g . I t i s n o t e n o u g h to l is te n

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TheRosicrucianDigestNovember1937

to in s p i r a t io n a l s p e a k e r s , i t i s n o t e n o u g h to r e a d in s p i r a t io n a l m a g a z in e s a n d b o o k s , it is n o t e n o u g h e v e n to s t u d y th e R o s ic r u c ia n le s s o n s . Y o u m u s t le a r n b y d o in g . Y o u m u s t le a r n h o w p r in c ip le s w o r k o u t b y o b s e r v in g th e c o n s e q u e n c e s o f y o u r o w n a c t io n s a n d th o s e o f y o u r fe l lo w m e n . Y o u m u s t b e p a t ie n t . Y o u m u s t a d o p t th e lo n g - r a n g e v ie w a n d k n o w th a t c o n s e q u e n c e s a r e c e r ta in e v e n th o u g h n o t im m e d ia te .

T h e a m o u n t o f m is in fo r m a t io n in o c ­c u lt a n d m y s t ic l i t e r a tu r e is u n b e l ie v ­a b le . T h e a v e r a g e s tu d e n t h a s a b s o l u t e ­ly n o w a y o f d is t in g u is h in g b e tw e e n f a c t a n d fa n c y . T h e w r i t e r s o f o c c u lt f ic t io n h a v e e ith e r n o t k n o w n w h e r e f a c t e n d s a n d f a n c y b e g in s , o r h a v e n o t b e e n a b le to m a k e e v id e n t to th e r e a d e r th e d e f ­in ite l in e o f d e m a r c a t io n . W h i l e w e r e a l iz e th e g o o d t h a t in s p i r a t io n a l o r ­g a n iz a t io n s e v e r y w h e r e a r e a c c o m p l i s h ­in g b y t e a c h in g p e o p le a n e w o u t lo o k o n l ife , w e fe e l t h a t th e O r d e r s h o u ld s t a t e p la in ly a n d b lu n t ly w h a t it a c c e p t s a n d w h a t it c a n n o t a c c e p t o f th e o c c u lt a n d m y s t ic id e a s a f lo a t t o d a y . O n e o f th e s e id e a s is a b o u t th e M a s t e r s .

MastersS e v e r a l o c c u lt o r g a n iz a t io n s h a v e a d ­

v a n c e d p e c u lia r th e o r ie s a b o u t s p ir i tu a l M a s t e r s w h o d ir e c te d e v e r y h u m a n b e ­in g , a n d h u m a n a f f a i r s in g e n e r a l . O t h e r s h a v e c la im e d th a t a M a s t e r h a d b e e n b o r n in th e f le sh — a s e c o n d M e s ­s ia h . T h e M e s s i a h in q u e s t io n , w h o h a d b e e n a d v e r t i s e d fo r s e v e r a l y e a r s a n d fo r w h o s e s u p p o r t t h o u s a n d s o f d o l la r s h a d b e e n c o l le c te d , e m p h a t ic a l ly d e n ie d su c h M a s t e r s h i p a n d fu r th e r m o r e d i s ­c la im e d a n y k n o w le d g e o f b o o k s p u b ­l is h e d a n d c ir c u la te d u n d e r h is n a m e a s a u th o r .

W e h a v e r e a d o f g r o u p s o r g a n iz e d fo r th e s p e c ia l p u r p o s e o f g o in g to I n d ia — w h ic h s e e m s to b e th e p l a y ­g r o u n d o f th e M a s t e r s , b o th in a n d o u t o f th e f le sh , n o tw it h s t a n d in g it s m is e r ­a b le s o c ia l a n d e c o n o m ic c o n d it io n — a n d o f th e w o n d e r s d o n e b y th e s e M a s t e r s fo r th e b e n e f it o f th e in v e s t i g a t o r s . O u r o b je c t io n to s u c h t a l e s is th a t M a s t e r s a n d A v a t a r s lik e J e s u s a n d B u d d h a w o u ld n o t d e m o n s t r a te in th e p h y s ic a l b o d y a n d s p e a k to a fe w in q u is i t iv e p e r s o n s fo r th e s o le p u r p o s e o f c o n ­v in c in g th e m o f th e p o s s ib i l i t y o f th e

l i f e h e r e a f t e r . F u r th e r m o r e , w e d e m a n d p r o o f th a t s u c h h a p p e n in g s a r e m o re th a n m e re d r e a m s .

T h e tru th o f th e m a t t e r i s th a t th e re a r e “ m in is te r in g s p i r i t s s e n t fo r th to d o s e r v ic e ” a s th e B ib le s a y s , b u t o n ly v e r y s e ld o m a n d in e x t r e m e c a s e s d o th e se M a s t e r s c o n ta c t h u m a n s . A t n o t im e is th e in d iv id u a l f r e e w ill in te r fe r e d w ith , a n d s u c h c o n t a c t s o c c u r o n ly in th e p s y c h ic s p h e r e .

PlanesY o u a l s o h e a r a n d r e a d m u c h o f d i f ­

fe r e n t p la n e s , su c h a s th e a s t r a l p la n e , th e p s y c h ic p la n e , th e s p ir i t u a l p la n e , a n d a n in d e fin ite n u m b e r o f p la n e s . S o m e s c h o o l s a n d w r i t e r s t r y to c r e a te th e im p r e s s io n th a t th e re a r e a n u m b e r o f p la n e s b e tw e e n th e e a r th a n d th e s p i r i t u a l k in g d o m o n w h ic h p e r s o n s c a n d w e ll c o n s c io u s ly f r o m tim e to tim e , a n d c a r r y on m a n y fo r m s o f p s y c h ic e x p r e s ­s io n s . In r e a l i ty , th e re a r e o n ly tw o c la s s i f i c a t io n s , th e earth p la n e a n d th e Cosmic p la n e . T h e y a r e n o t r e a l ly p la n e s u p o n w h ic h th e s o u l o f m a n , w h ile in th e b o d y , c a n liv e , o r to w h ic h th e s o u l o f m a n jo u r n e y s a f t e r t r a n s it io n a n d c a r r ie s o n a lo n g p e r io d o f e x i s t ­e n c e , b u t th e y a r e s im p ly d iv i s io n s o f s p ir i tu a l u n fo ld m e n t , a n d th e r e fo r e e n ­t ir e ly d if fe r e n t f ro m th e k in d o f p la n e s th a t th e s e o th e r o r g a n iz a t io n s ta lk a b o u t . P r o b a b l y a b e t t e r w o r d w o u ld b e “ s e c t io n s ” to d e s c r ib e th e d iv is io n s o f th e C o s m ic C o n s c i o u s n e s s a n d th e D iv in e C o n s c i o u s n e s s o f th e s p ir i tu a l k in g d o m .

BodiesW e n o w c o m e to th e th ird m is c o n ­

c e p t io n , n a m e ly : b o d ie s . W e h e a r o f a s t r a l b o d y , p s y c h ic b o d y , a to m ic b o d y , a n d s p ir i t b o d y ; a n d y o u n a t u r a l ly w o n ­d e r , a s I h a v e , h o w m a n y b o d ie s a r e th e r e to a h u m a n b e in g ? T h e O r d e r d o e s n o t r e c o g n iz e m o r e th a n o n e b o d y — th e p h y s ic a l b o d y — a n d a s t a t e o f b e ­in g w h ic h is n o t m a te r ia l a n d l im ite d w h ic h w e c a l l S o u l . Y o u m u s t r e a l iz e th a t w h e n w e s p e a k o f th e s o u l o f m a n o r th e s o u l o f th e u n iv e r s e , w e d o n o t r e f e r to th e p s y c h ic b o d y o f a n y in ­d iv id u a l p e r s o n , b u t w h e n w e s p e a k o f th e p s y c h ic b o d y o f m a n w e m e a n to in ­c lu d e a l l th e d iv in e e s s e n c e s a n d s p i r ­i t u a l i t y w h ic h a r e a t t r ib u t e d to th e so u l . T h e s o u l o r th e p s y c h ic m a n c o n s i s t s o f

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v ib r a t io n s o n ly a s a m u s ic a l c h o r d , th e e s s e n c e o f w h ic h m a y a t t im e s a s s u m e a c o u n t e r p a r t o f th e m a te r ia l b e in g .

I f y o u h a v e a c le a r a n d d e fin ite u n d e r s t a n d in g o f th e m e a n in g o f ma­terial a n d immaterial it w ill b e v e r y m u ch e a s i e r fo r y o u to s e p a r a t e th e w h e a t fro m th e c h a f f in y o u r r e a d in g s . B y m a te r ia l w e m u s t c o n c e iv e s o m e ­th in g c o n c r e te w h ic h is l im ite d , h a v in g fo r m - e x is t e n c e . B y im m a te r ia l w e r e a l ­iz e so m e th in g th a t is u n lim ite d a n d in ­d e fin ite , h a v in g n o fo rm a n d n o t l im ite d b y s p a c e o r tim e . J u s t a b e in g , a n e x i s t ­e n c e , s o m e th in g th a t s im p ly is , l ik e a m u s ic a l c o m p o s it io n , a n o p e r a , a s o n g , e tc . A s o n g , o r a c o m p o s it io n l ik e “ N e a r e r M y G o d , to T h e e ’ ’ e x i s t s in d e ­p e n d e n t o f tim e a n d p la c e , a n d c a n o n ly b e r e a l iz e d a n d r e c o g n iz e d b y u s w h e n w e h a v e th e m e d iu m fo r e x p r e s s io n , a s a m u s ic a l in s tru m e n t .

T h e b o d y is m a te r ia l ; th e S o u l is im ­m a te r ia l , a n d l im ite d o n ly b y th e b o d y . In o th e r w o r d s , th e in s t r u m e n t o r th e v e s s e l l im its th e im m a te r ia l fo r c e — th e S o u l . A s s o o n a s y o u c o n c e iv e o f a n y ­th in g t h a t is d i f fe r e n t fro m s o m e th in g e l s e it b e c o m e s d e fin ite , c o n c r e te , a n d m u s t b e m a te r ia l .

W i t h in o u r o w n b e in g th e re i s a l a r g e d e g r e e o f th e c o n s c io u s n e s s o f G o d a n d th e D iv in e E s s e n c e th a t is d is t r ib u te d th r o u g h o u t th e u n iv e r s e . T h i s f a c t d o e s n o t m a k e y o u G o d , o r a G o d . a n y m o r e th a n a d r o p o f w a t e r c a n b e c o n s id e r e d a s th e o c e a n .

T o o m a n y o n th e p a th h a v e th e id e a th a t th e g r e a t g o a l o f o u r q u e s t l ie s in s o m e s t r a n g e m y s t ic c o n d it io n t h a t is o u t s id e o f o u r s e lv e s . T h e y fe e l th a t u n ­le s s th e y l i f t th e m s e lv e s u p fro m th is e a r th p la n e th e r e is n o p o s s ib i l i t y o f c o m in g in to a t tu n e m e n t w ith a n im a g in ­a r y C o s m ic p la n e . T h i s is a s e r io u s m is ­ta k e . It is a l l w ith in y o u . S o m a n y h a v e a n id e a th a t a R o s ic r u c ia n s h o u ld s p e n d th e l a r g e s t p a r t o f h is d a y th in k in g , m e d it a t in g , p r a c t ic in g e x e r c i s e s a n d l iv ­

in g a p e c u lia r l i fe o f s o l i t u d e , a n d d o in g a l l k in d s o f “ h o c u s - p o c u s . ” T h e s e id e a s a r e d e r iv e d fro m th e E a s t a n d b r o u g h t o u t b y w r i t e r s a n d s p e a k e r s w h o s a y th a t u n le s s w e s i t a l l d a y o n a b o a r d o f n a i l s o r b r o k e n g l a s s , o r s i t fo ld e d u p w ith c r i s s - c r o s s l im b s in a c o r n e r a n d th in k o f n o th in g e l s e th a n th e “ w h a t n e s s o f th e n o t h in g ” w e w ill n e v e r b e h a p p y .

N o w a p e r f e c t ly n a t u r a l , n o rm a l, h e a l th y , h a p p y R o s ic r u c ia n i s o n e w h o g iv e s ju s t a s m u c h a t t e n t io n e v e r y d a y to h is d u t ie s , h is o b l ig a t io n s , th e n e c e s ­s i t ie s a n d p le a s u r e s o f life , h is b u s in e s s , h is s o c ia l a f f a i r s , h is p r o m o tio n o f e d u ­c a t io n , a n d o th e r c o n s t r u c t iv e th in g s o f l i fe , a s h e g iv e s to h is o w n p e r s o n a l s t u d ie s . F i r s t a n d fo r e m o s t , a b o v e e v e r y th in g e ls e , c o m e p r o p e r e a t in g , p r o p e r d r in k in g , a n d p r o p e r s le e p in g . B u t th e b o d y a l s o n e e d s e x e r c i s e lik e w a lk in g a n d b r e a th in g . Y o u c a n n o t b e h e a l th y s i t t in g c r o s s - le g g e d in th e c o r ­n e r o f y o u r s a n c tu m w ith in c e n se b u r n ­in g a n d th e a i r fo u l fo r h o u r s . A fe w m in u te s o f p r o p e r in c e n s e b u r n in g is su f f ic ie n t d u r in g m e d ita t io n , b u t y o u a l s o n e e d f r e s h a i r a n d p le n ty o f it. G o o d h e a l th y a i r f r o m o u t d o o r s w ith s u n sh in in g is im p o r ta n t to p r o p e r a d ­ju s tm e n t o f th e b o d y . A n d th e n a g a in , th e s p ir i t a n d s o u l o f a n in d iv id u a l s h o u ld h a v e a s m u c h l a u g h t e r a n d s u n ­s h in e in it a s it h a s s e r io u s th o u g h t s , p r a y e r , a n d m e d ita t io n . A g o o d h e a l th y la u g h a n d in n o c e n t fu n c o n tr ib u te a s m u c h to th e h a r m o n y a n d p o i s e o f th e b o d y , m in d , a n d th e so u l , a s a n y th in g e l s e t h a t c a n b e d o n e . T h e r e is a b s o lu t e ­ly n o h a rm in a t t e n d in g c o n c e r t s , m o v ­in g p ic tu r e s , d a n c e s , p a r t i e s a n d o th e r t h in g s th a t p le a s e th e m in d a n d c h a n g e th e t r e n d o f t h o u g h t s a n d h e lp u s to g e t a b a la n c e d c o n ta c t w ith o th e r p e o p le . N o r is it n e c e s s a r y fo r th e m y s t ic to p r a c t ic e e v e r y d a y a ll o f th e e x e r c i s e s th a t h a v e b e e n t a u g h t h im . O n c e m o re I s a y “ K e e p y o u r fe e t o n th e g r o u n d .” B e p r a c t ic a l a n d r e a s o n a b le .

V V V

S U M M A R I E S O F S C I E N C E

(Continued from Page 382)s y s te m P r o f e s s o r S id g w ic k p o in te d o u t th a t “ T h e m o o n is m u c h to o s m a l l fo r l i f e to b e p o s s ib le ; M e r c u r y i s p r o b a b ly to o s m a ll a n d to o h o t ; J u p i t e r a n d th e

o u te r p la n e t s to o c o ld . T h e o n ly p la c e s in th e s o l a r s y s t e m w h e r e l i fe is p o s ­s ib le s e e m to b e th e e a r th a n d o u r tw o n e ig h b o r s , M a r s a n d V e n u s . ”

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TheRosicrucianD igestNovember1937

SANCTUM MUSINGS

MASTERSHIP

By Et h e l C. Borden , F. R. C.

H E s u b j e c t o f M a s t e r s h i p — P e r ­s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p — is a lm o s t a n in ­e x h a u s t i b l e o n e : W h a t c o n s t i tu te s M a s t e r s h i p , h o w to a t t a in it, a n d w h a t is v e r y im ­p o r ta n t , — w h a t M a s t e r s h i p is n o t. I n d e e d , m u ch c a n b e s a i d a b o u t it. M a s t e r s a n d M a s ­

te r s h ip a r e tw o s u b je c t s w h ic h a r e g r e a t l y m is u n d e r s to o d . T h e w o r d s th e m ­s e lv e s a r e o f te n m is u s e d a n d a b u s e d . W e s h a l l n o t u n d e r t a k e to d i s c u s s th e “ M a s t e r s ” o r th e u n d e r s t a n d i n g — p e r ­h a p s w e m ig h t b e t t e r s a y , “ m is u n d e r ­s t a n d i n g ” — th a t m a n y h a v e c o n c e r n in g th e p o s s ib i l i t y o f c o n ta c t in g th e M a s t e r s o r c o m in g u n d e r th e ir d ir e c t g u id a n c e , b u t s h a l l c o n fin e o u r s e lv e s to “ P e r s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p . ”

I b e l ie v e th e a v e r a g e h ig h s c h o o l s t u ­d e n t , a n d m a n y a c h ild o f g r a m m a r s c h o o l a g e , h a s a b e t t e r u n d e r s t a n d in g o f th e w o r d “ M a s t e r s h i p ” th a n m o s t a d u l t s . B u t th e s e s a m e s c h o o l c h ild r e n m a y g r o w u p in to a d u l t s w h o w ill a l s o h a v e th e w r o n g id e a o f M a s t e r s h i p — w h a t c o n s t i t u t e s P e r s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p . A s a d u l t s , m a n y o f u s h a v e lo s t s i g h t o f w h a t w e le a r n e d d u r in g o u r s c h o o l d a y s a b o u t m a s te r in g v a r io u s s u b je c t s . D u r ­

in g th o s e s c h o o l d a y s w e le a r n e d th a t th e o n ly w a y to m a s t e r m a th e m a t ic a l p r o b le m s w a s to f i r s t le a r n th e r u le s p e r t a in in g to m a th e m a t ic s a n d th e n a p p ly th o s e r u le s to th e p r o b le m s — to k e e p e v e r l a s t in g ly a t it u n til n o p r o b le m in m a th e m a t ic s m ig h t b e p r e s e n t e d to u s w h ic h w e c o u ld n o t s o lv e .

T o b e c o m e a m a s t e r m u s ic ia n o n e m u s t le a r n a l l a b o u t th e r u le s p e r t a in in g to h a r m o n y a s w e ll a s th e b e s t m e th o d s o f o b ta in in g th e t e c h n iq u e o f m u s ic a l e x p r e s s io n . W e k n o w th a t th e s a m e th in g a p p l i e s to th e m a s t e r s h ip o f a n y o f th e a r t s a n d s c ie n c e s .

In th in k in g o f P e r s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p in th e l a r g e r s e n s e , w e m ig h t s a y th a t L I F E is a s c h o o l th r o u g h w h ic h e a c h in d iv id u a l m u s t p a s s in o r d e r to le a r n th e r u le s , th e fu n d a m e n ta l p r in c ip le s o f l iv in g th r o u g h d a i ly p e r s o n a l e x p e r i ­e n c e , p lu s a n a p p l ic a t io n o f th e k n o w l­e d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d in g g a in e d b y s y s ­te m a t ic s t u d y , o b s e r v a t io n , a n d a c t u a l c o n t a c t w ith c o n d it io n s a n d l i fe a s it is l iv e d b y o th e r s .

M a n y a c q u ir e th e f a l s e id e a th a t to a t t a in P e r s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p it is n e c e s ­s a r y to r e t i r e to s o m e s e c lu d e d p la c e . T h e y lo n g to g iv e u p th e w o r ld a n d w o r ld ly c o n t a c t s a n d e n te r s o m e m o n a ­s t e r y o r l iv e a lo n e in th e m o u n ta in s o r w o o d s . T h e y w a n t to h id e a w a y fro m “ th in g s o f th e f le s h ” w h e r e th e y m a y n e v e r m e e t t e m p ta t io n , w h e r e th e y m a y b e a lo n e to c o m m u n e w ith n a t u r e a n d

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m e d i ta te b y th e h o u r , th in k in g t h a t in th a t w a y th e y m a y a t t a in M a s t e r s h i p . M a s t e r s h i p o f w h a t ?

T o ru n a w a y fro m L i f e ’s p r o b le m s a n d t e m p t a t io n s ; to c u t o n e 's s e l f o f f fro m a l l s o c ia l c o n ta c t ; to a v o id a l l s o - c a l le d e v il a n d w o r ld ly th in g s , is n o t m a s t e r in g th em .

T h e g r e a t e s t M a s t e r o f a l l , J e s u s th e C h r i s t , w h o m w e k n o w to h a v e a t t a in e d c o m p le te m a s te r s h ip a n d i l lu m in a t io n , d id n o t ru n a w a y fro m l ife . H e s p e n t m a n y y e a r s o f H i s l i f e in th e v e r y th ic k o f th in g s . H e to o k p a r t in m a n y s o c i a l g a t h e r in g s a n d w a s s u b je c t e d to a l l th e te m p t a t io n s a n d p r o b le m s o f l i f e t h a t a s s a i l u s t o d a y , fo r a f t e r a l l , h u m a n e x ­p e r ie n c e h a s b e e n m o re o r l e s s th e s a m e t h r o u g h o u t th e a g e s . J e s u s a t t a in e d p e r s o n a l m a s t e r s h ip b y o v e r c o m in g — c o n q u e r in g th e t e m p t a t io n s a n d t r i a l s o f l i f e a n d b y a p p ly i n g w h a t h e h a d l e a r n ­e d th r o u g h s t u d y a n d a t t u n e m e n t w ith U n i v e r s a l M in d — n o t b y h id in g a w a y in s o m e m o u n ta in r e t r e a t o r s e c r e t m o n a s t e r y . I t is a l s o u n d e r s t o o d o f c o u r s e , t h a t th is g r e a t M a s t e r h a d s p e n t m a n y p r e v io u s c y c le s in e v o lv in g a n d p e r f e c t in g th e S o u l P e r s o n a l i t y .

O n e w h o h a s n e v e r b e e n te m p te d to b e c o m e in t o x ic a t e d , fo r in s t a n c e , a n d th e n r e s i s t e d a n d o v e r c o m e t h a t t e m p t a ­tio n , c a n n o t b o a s t o f h a v in g m a s t e r e d d r u n k e n n e s s . B u t h e w h o h a s t a s t e d th e c u p , h a s fo u n d it p l e a s in g to th e s e n s e s , a n d h a s b e e n t e m p t e d to d r a in it to th e d r e g s , b u t k n e w th e d ir e e f fe c t o f d r u n k ­e n n e s s , b e c a u s e o f p r e v io u s e x p e r ie n c e p e r h a p s , o r th r o u g h o b s e r v a t i o n — s a w th e d a n g e r s o f in d u lg e n c e , a n d p u t it a s i d e —overcame th e d e s ir e , resisted th e t e m p t a t io n — th a t o n e h a s to a d e g r e e a t t a in e d m a s t e r s h i p — m a s t e r s h ip o f s e l f .

I f y o u h a v e h a d a n u n p le a s a n t d i s ­p o s i t io n , a q u ic k te m p e r ; o r i f y o u h a v e h a d a n in fe r io r i ty c o m p le x o r h a v e b e e n e x t r e m e ly se l f ish a n d fe lt s u p e r io r to y o u r fe l lo w m a n , b u t h a v e o v e r c o m e th e s e p e r s o n a l c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s ; i f a f t e r c a r e f u l s e l f a n a ly s i s , o r t h r o u g h e x p e r i ­e n c e y o u h a v e d is c o v e r e d th e s e o r o th e r u n d e s ir a b le q u a l i t i e s in y o u r p e r s o n a l i t y a n d h a v e c o r r e c te d th e m — y o u a l s o h a v e a t t a in e d m a s t e r s h ip to a d e g r e e .

I f y o u h a v e fo u n d y o u r l i fe h a n d i­c a p p e d b e c a u s e o f i l ln e s s o r a c r ip p le d c o n d it io n , w h ic h a p p a r e n t l y is d u e to n o

Three hundred ninety-one

f a u l t o f y o u r s a s f a r a s th e p r e s e n t c y c le is c o n c e r n e d , b u t h a v e b r a v e ly f a c e d th e s i t u a t io n , d o in g e v e r y th in g in y o u r p o w e r to fin d th e c a u s e o f th e p h y s ic a l h a n d ic a p , a n d in s p i t e o f it h a v e m a in ta in e d a h o p e fu l , c h e e r fu l a t ­t i tu d e , th e r e b y g a in in g p a t ie n c e a n d a s w e e t n e s s a n d m e llo w n e s s o f s o u l a n d s p ir i t th a t r a d i a t e s i t s e l f to a l l w h o c o m e in c o n ta c t w ith y o u — y o u h a v e in ­d e e d a t t a in e d a fin e d e g r e e o f m a s t e r ­s h ip ! T r u l y o n e o f th e f i r s t r e q u is i t e s o f c o m p le te m a s t e r s h ip i s : T O B EM A S T E R O F O N E S E L F .

T h o s e w h o h a v e c o m e t h r o u g h y e a r s o f s t r u g g l e fo r a b a r e e x is t e n c e , y e a r s f ille d w ith la c k a n d in m a n y c a s e s e v e n d ir e w a n t , b u t h a v e k e p t th e ir h e a d s , c o u r a g e o u s ly f a c in g th e fu tu r e , w ith a b ­s o lu t e c o n f id e n c e in th e c r e a t iv e fo r c e s b a c k o f th e u n iv e r s e ; r e a l iz in g th a t e v e r y th in g is s u b je c t to c h a n g e , t h a t n o m a t te r w h a t th e c o n d it io n m a y b e , it w ill c h a n g e — M U S T c h a n g e ; t h o s e w h o h a v e a firm b e l ie f in G o d a n d H i s d iv in e la w s a n d p r in c ip le s k n o w in g t h a t th e s e l a w s a r e ju s t , a n d th a t th e y a r e n o t h e re b y a c c id e n t in th e p o s i t io n o r c o n d it io n w h ic h m a y e x is t , b u t th a t th e re is a g r e a t p la n g o v e r n in g th e u n iv e r s e a n d th a t th e la w o f C a u s e a n d E f f e c t is e v e r o p e r a t in g , k n o w in g a l s o t h a t th e y h a v e im p o r ta n t p a r t s in th e P la n ; th o s e w h o h a v e d o n e a l l th e s e th in g s , o r a n y p a r t o f th e m , a r e a t t a in in g M a s t e r s h i p .

I f y o u c a n liv e o n e d a y a t a t im e , a l ­w a y s r e m e m b e r in g to g iv e t h a n k s to G o d a n d H i s C o s m ic l a w s fo r y o u r b l e s s in g s , b e in g n o t u n d u ly c o n c e r n e d a b o u t th e fu tu r e , n o t p e r m it t in g y o u r ­s e l f to b e f e a r f u l o f w h a t th e fu tu r e m a y b r in g , y o u a r e w e ll o n y o u r w a y t o w a r d M a s t e r s h i p . T h i s d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t w e s h o u ld d o n o th in g a b o u t im p r o v in g o u r c o n d it io n s o r th a t w e s h o u ld n o t p la n c o n s t r u c t iv e ly fo r th e fu tu r e , b u t a t th e s a m e t im e w e s h o u ld p e r fo r m th e t a s k th a t w e fin d a t h a n d g r a c io u s ly , ju s t a s th o u g h w e k n e w it w e r e to b e o u r l a s t o p p o r tu n i ty in th is l i fe .

A l l th r o u g h th e R o s i c r u c ia n m o n o ­g r a p h s a n d l i t e r a tu r e y o u a r e u r g e d a n d in s t r u c te d h o w to c r e a t e a n d a t t r a c t to y o u r s e l f y o u r id e a l s a n d d e s i r e s . W e d o n o t c la im t h a t R o s ic r u c ia n i s m is th e o n ly s c h o o l o r p a th b y w h ic h o n e m a y a t t a in P e r s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p . S o m e h a v e b e e n

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T h eRosicrucianD igestN ovem ber1937

a b le to o v e r c o m e th e p r o b le m o f s u p p l y o r ill h e a lth th r o u g h s t u d y in g a n d f o l ­lo w in g th e t e a c h in g s o f o n e o f th e p o p u ­la r c h u r c h e s o f th e d a y . O t h e r s h a v e o v e r c o m e th e f e a r o f d e a th o r h a v e fo u n d p e a c e o f m in d a n d c o n te n tm e n t th r o u g h fo l lo w in g th e r u le s l a id d o w n b y s o m e o th e r c h u r c h o r s c h o o l o f P h i lo s o p h y .

O n th e o th e r h a n d th e M a s t e r J e s u s s a i d “ B u t r a t h e r s e e k y e f ir s t th e K i n g ­d o m o f G o d a n d a l l th e s e t h in g s s h a l l b e a d d e d u n to y o u . " T h e H o ly S c r i p ­t u r e s a l s o te ll u s th a t “ T h e K in g d o m o f G o d is w i t h in .”

M a n y h a v e l o s t s i g h t o f , o r d o n o t e v e n k n o w o f , th is in n e r k in g d o m . B e ­c a u s e o f y e a r s , a n d n o d o u b t — in s o m e i n s t a n c e s — c e n tu r ie s , o f f a u l t y o b je c t iv e t r a in in g , a n d l iv in g e n t ir e ly in th e o b ­je c t iv e , th e p o w e r s o f th e K in g d o m W it h in h a v e b e c o m e d o r m a n t a n d p e r ­h a p s a l l b u t d e a d . B e f o r e o n e c a n a t ­ta in p e r s o n a l m a s t e r s h ip it is n e c e s s a r y to a w a k e n th is in n e r s e l f ; to b e c o m e a t ­tu n e d w ith th e K in g d o m o f G o d W i t h ­in ; to c o n s c ie n t io u s ly c o m m u n e w ith th e G o d o f o u r H e a r t s .

S in c e w e s o th o r o u g h ly b e l ie v e th a t th e r e i s n o s u c h th in g a s a lo s t s o u l , t h a t e a c h s o u l s e g m e n t is d e f in ite ly e v o lv in g o r u n fo ld in g a n d t h a t e v e n t u a l ­ly e a c h s h a l l r e a c h p e r fe c t io n , c o m p le te M a s t e r s h i p , it f o l lo w s t h a t e v e n th o u g h o n e w e r e to m a k e n o c o n s c io u s e f fo r t t o w a r d im p r o v e m e n t— to w a r d P e r s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p in a n y g iv e n c y c le o f e x i s t ­e n c e , th e v e r y f a c t t h a t o n e h a s l i f e — m u s t m e e t c e r t a in e x p e r ie n c e s in l i fe , im p lie s th e a c q u is i t io n o f k n o w le d g e a n d u n d e r s t a n d in g , to a d e g r e e , th r o u g h th e s e e x p e r ie n c e s . T h e a c c u m u la t e d k n o w le d g e , th e d e g r e e o f m a s t e r s h ip a t ­t a in e d b y p r e v io u s p e r s o n a l i t ie s in o u r p a s t l iv e s , l ie s th e re , w ith in o u r s e lv e s , in th is p r e s e n t c y c le o f e x i s t e n c e . A l l o f th is s t o r e d - u p k n o w le d g e h a s b e c o m e p a r t o f o u r S o u l F o r c e a n d it r e m a in s o n ly fo r u s to p e r m it t h a t S o u l F o r c e to b r e a k th r o u g h a n d m a n i f e s t i t s e l f in o u r p r e s e n t p e r s o n a l i t ie s . T h e b a r r ie r s t h a t c o n fin e th is fo r c e m a y b e b r o k e n d o w n b y a c o n s c io u s e f fo r t o n o u r p a r t to d e ­v e lo p th e p r e s e n t p e r s o n a l i t y . T h i s c a n b e s t b e d o n e b y f o r g e t t in g s e l f ; lo s in g th e o u te r , o b je c t iv e s e l f in s e r v ic e fo r o t h e r s — b y m a k in g a d e f in ite e f fo r t n o t o n ly to c u lt iv a te o r d e v e lo p a s t r o n g ,

u s e f u l p e r s o n a l i t y in th is c y c le , b u t a l s o to p e r m it th e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s o f p r e v i ­o u s p e r s o n a l i t ie s to s h in e fo r th a n d m a k e th e m s e lv e s o f u s e to m a n k in d in th is l ife .

R ig h t h e r e w e m ig h t e n te r in to a d i s ­c u s s io n o f th e a w a k e n in g o f C o s m ic C o n s c i o u s n e s s , b u t th a t i s a s u b je c t fo r a l e n g t h y d i s c o u r s e i t s e l f . S u f f ic e it to s a y t h a t th e a w a k e n in g o f C o s m ic C o n ­s c io u s n e s s m a y b e in d ic a t e d b y a s u d ­d e n u r g e o r d e s ir e to t a k e u p th e s t u d y o f o n e o f th e A r t s o r S c ie n c e s , b u t b e ­c a u s e o f th e b u s in e s s o f l iv in g o r e n v ir ­o n m e n t , y o u h a v e n o t h a d th e o p p o r ­tu n ity to in d u lg e . O n th e o th e r h a n d th e s u b je c t m a y h a v e h a d n o in te r e s t fo r y o u u p to th e p r e s e n t m o m e n t. T h i s u r g e m a y in d ic a t e th e a w a k e n in g o f a t a le n t w h ic h s o m e p r e v io u s p e r s o n a l i t y o f y o u r s o u l h a s p e r f e c t e d to s o m e d e ­g r e e . Y o u s h o u ld , b y a l l m e a n s , d o w h a t y o u c a n to a d d to th e s t o r e d u p k n o w le d g e o r e x p e r ie n c e a l r e a d y a t ­t a in e d . D o n o t a l lo w y o u r s e l f to b e b o u n d o r l im ite d b y T im e o r S p a c e . R e a l iz e t h a t y o u h a v e e te r n i ty in w h ic h to p e r f e c t a l l th e p o s s ib i l i t i e s o f y o u r s o u l a n d t h a t i f y o u d o n o t s u c c e e d in a c c o m p l i s h in g y o u r d r e a m s e n t ir e ly in th is l i fe , y o u w ill h a v e e o n s o f t im e in w h ic h to d o it.

S o m e m a y fe e l t h a t th is id e a m a y te n d to d e s t r o y a m b it io n o r le s s e n o n e ’s e f fo r t s to a t t a in n o w . N o t a t a l l . b u t o n th e c o n t r a r y , th e a b s e n c e o f a n x ie t y ; th e r e a l iz a t io n t h a t n o th in g is e v e r lo s t , a n d fr e e d o m fro m th e f e a r o f n o t h a v ­in g e n o u g h time in w h ic h to a c c o m p li s h o u r d e s i r e s a n d a m b i t io n s , e n a b le s u s to a c c o m p l i s h a g r e a t d e a l m o r e w ith l e s s w e a r a n d t e a r c a u s e d b y a n x ie t y a n d s t r a in .

T h o s e w h o a r e ju s t b e g in n in g to f o l ­lo w th e R o s i c r u c ia n P a t h — o r to fo l lo w s o m e d e f in ite s y s t e m a t i c o u t l in e o f p r o g r e s s t o w a r d P e r s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p — I u r g e to k e e p e v e r l a s t in g ly a t it. D o n o t w a s t e t im e in id le d r e a m s o f w h a t M a s t e r s h i p m a y b r in g o r e n a b le y o u to a c c o m p l i s h , b u t th in k r a th e r o f th e a c ­c o m p li s h m e n t s w h ic h w ill b r in g M a s ­te r s h ip . A n d r e m e m b e r , th a t w h a t e v e r th e d e g r e e o f P e r s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p y o u m a y a t t a in in th is c y c le , it w ill b e c a r ­r ie d w ith y o u a n d w ill b e a d d e d to th e S o u l F o r c e e v o lv e d in y o u r p r e v io u s l iv e s b y p r e v io u s p e r s o n a l i t ie s , r e a d y to

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b e d r a w n u p o n a n d r a d i a t e d in y o u r n e x t c y c le o f l ife .

T h i s S o u l F o r c e , th is T e c h n iq u e o f th e M a s t e r , w ill b e u s e d b y th e U n s e e n M a s t e r s fo r th e g o o d o f H u m a n ity , i f y o u w ill p la c e y o u r s e l f in th e ir h a n d s a n d d o e v e r y th in g in y o u r p o w e r to m a k e y o u r s e l f w o r t h y to b e u s e d a s a n in s t r u m e n t fo r g o o d . S o m e o f o u r F r a t r e s a n d S o r o r e s k n o w t h a t in th e a d v a n c e d d e g r e e s o f th e O r d e r y o u a r e to ld h o w y o u m a y c h o o s e a n d g r e a t l y in flu e n c e y o u r n e x t in c a r n a t io n . W h a t

a w o n d r o u s th in g is G o d ' s c r e a t io n c a l le d M a n !

H o w g r a t e f u l w e s h o u ld b e th a t w e a r e l iv in g in a t im e a n d c o u n t r y w h e r e th is s y s t e m a t i c in s t r u c t io n , a v a i l a b le th r o u g h th e R o s ic r u c ia n O r d e r , m a y b e r e c e iv e d s o f r e e ly a n d o p e n ly ; th a t w e m a y h a v e th is a s s i s t a n c e in a w a k e n in g a n d c o n t a c t in g th e la t e n t t a l e n t s a n d p o w e r s , th e S o u l F o r c e a l r e a d y d e ­v e lo p e d — t h a t K in g d o m W it h in — a n d th u s f in a l ly a t t a in c o m p le te P e r s o n a l M a s t e r s h i p !

V V V

• R E A D T H E R O S I C R U C I A N F O R U M •

How It All Began . . .

C R O S S - R O A D S H R I N E S

f f l l y f 'O D E R N c r o s s - r o a d s a n d h ig h w a y s h r in e s to b e fo u n d in v a r io u s

s e c t io n s o f th e w o r ld o w e th e ir o r ig in to th e a n c ie n t R o m a n b e l ie f th a t c r o s s - r o a d s w e r e th e s p e c ia l r e s o r t s o f d e m o n s . T h e R o m a n p e a s a n t , to in s u r e p r o te c t io n o f h is c r o p , m a d e a p r o c e s s io n a r o u n d h is l a n d , p r a y in g to M a r s to s u b d u e th e d e m o n s o f r a v a g e , s to r m , a n d d r o u g h t . T h e d e m o n s , d r iv e n fro m th e t i lle d la n d , w e r e t h o u g h t th e n to h o v e r a b o u t th e c r o s s - r o a d s , a v e n g in g th e m s e lv e s u p o n a l l t r a v e le r s a n d p a r t i c u la r ly in fe c t in g th e m w ith fe v e r . A l l th e s u r r o u n d in g s o f

th e c r o s s - r o a d s w e r e b e l ie v e d to b e a f fe c te d b y th e ir s u p e r n a t u r a l p o w e r s a s w e ll.

R o m a n s o ld ie r s w o u ld b o il f r o g s — b e ­l ie v e d to m a k e th e m im m u n e to th e

e f f ic a c y o f th e d e m o n s — a t a c r o s s w a y p o s t . P l in y , a n c ie n t

h i s to r ia n , w r o t e t h a t t r a v e le r s

w h o w e r e c o n f u s e d o r w h o lo s t th e ir w a y a t c r o s s ­

r o a d s w e r e u n d e r th e

s p e l l o f th e s e e v il

d e m o n s .

Three hundred ninety-three

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T h eRosicrucianD igestNovember1937

Popular Fallacies About the PyramidsSOME COMMENTS ON A RECENT ARTICLE DEALING

WITH THIS SUBJECTBy T h e Im perator

N T H E lit t le m a g ­a z in e c a l le d Sci­ence Digest lor th e m o n t h o f J u l y , th e re a p p e a r e d a b r i e f a r t i c le d e a l ­in g w ith th e p o p u ­la r f a l l a c ie s a b o u t th e P y r a m i d s , r e p ­r e s e n t e d t o b e f r o m a l e c t u r e g iv e n a t th e U n i ­v e r s i t y o f C h i c a ­g o b y D r . G e o r g

S t e in d o r f o f th e U n iv e r s i t y o f L e ip z ig .B e c a u s e o f th e p o p u la r i t y o f th is l i t t le

m a g a z in e a n d i t s h a n d y fo rm fo r r e a d ­in g , th is p a r t i c u la r a r t ic le a b o u t th e P y r a m i d s w ill n o d o u b t a t t r a c t th e a t ­te n t io n o f m a n y t h o u s a n d s o f p e r s o n s w h o h a v e b e c o m e v i t a l ly in te r e s te d in th e m y s t e r y o f th e G r e a t P y r a m id . U n ­d o u b t e d ly m a n y o f o u r m e m b e r s a n d r e a d e r s o f The Rosicrucian Digest h a v e s e e n th e a r t ic le a n d r e a d it, o r h e a r d a b o u t it, a n d fo r th is r e a s o n I w ish to m a k e s o m e c o m m e n t s o n th e s t a t e m e n t s m a d e b y D r . G e o r g S t e in d o r f a n d s e t o u r r e a d e r s s t r a i g h t in r e g a r d to th e f a c t s .

In th e f ir s t p la c e , n o o n e s h o u ld b e s u r p r i s e d t h a t e v e r y fe w m o n th s th r o u g h ­o u t th e p a s t y e a r s , a n d e v e n in th e p r e s ­e n t tim e , s o m e a r t ic le h a s a p p e a r e d in th e p o p u la r m a g a z in e s o r n e w s p a p e r s d e n y in g th e m y s t e r io u s a t t r ib u t e s , c o n ­d it io n s , a n d f e a t u r e s o f th e G r e a t P y r a ­m id . F o r v a r io u s g o o d r e a s o n s in th e

p a s t c e n tu r ie s it w a s d e e m e d p r o p e r a n d e s s e n t i a l b y g o v e r n m e n t o f f ic ia l s a n d s c ie n t i s t s , a s w e ll a s b y m a n y o f th e m y s t ic s o f E g y p t , to d e n y t h a t th e r e w a s a n y m y s t e r y a b o u t th e P y r a m id , a n d to d e n y th a t it w a s a n y t h in g o th e r th a n a c o m m o n b u r ia l to m b , a n d w ith n o o th e r s p e c ia l q u a l i t i e s e x c e p t i t s s iz e a n d u n iq u e e n t r a n c e w a y . T h e p u r p o s e o f th e s e d e n ia l s a n d th e r e a s o n fo r t r y in g to p r e v e n t th e p o p u la c e o f th e w o r ld fro m b e c o m in g a c q u a in t e d w ith th e r e a l f a c t s , w a s p r o b a b ly to s a v e th e P y r a m id i t s e l f fro m c o n t in u e d in t r u s io n a n d c o n t in u e d in te r fe r e n c e w ith s e c r e t in v e s t i g a t io n s t h a t w e r e b e in g c a r r i e d o n . B u t th e s e r e a s o n s n o lo n g e r e x i s t a n d it w o u ld se e m to b e u s e l e s s in t h e s e m o d e rn t im e s to c o n t in u e th e d e n ia l s a n d to p r e ­te n d t h a t th e r e a r e n o m y s te r ie s a s s o ­c ia t e d w ith th e s o - c a l l e d P y r a m id o f C h e o p s .

T a k i n g th e s t a t e m e n t s m a d e b y D r . S t e in d o r f in h is le c tu r e , a n d a n a ly z in g th e m in th e l ig h t o f w h a t w a s c la im e d fo r th e P y r a m id fo r m a n y c e n tu r ie s , a n d w h a t h a s b e e n fo u n d in m o d e r n t im e s , it w o u ld se e m th a t e i th e r D r . S t e in d o r f is i g n o r a n t o f th e r e a l f a c t s , o r is o n c e m o r e a t t e m p t in g to a d d h is t e s t im o n y to th a t o f th o s e w h o h a v e t r ie d to p r e ­v e n t th e tru th fro m b e in g k n o w n .

H e s a y s , f i r s t o f a l l , th a t th e s o - c a l le d s e c r e t s a n d m y s t e r y a n d m y s t ic a l e le ­m e n ts a n d q u a l i t ie s t h a t h a v e b e e n a s ­s ig n e d to th e G r e a t P y r a m id " a r e w ith ­o u t th e s l ig h t e s t f o u n d a t io n .” T h a t is a

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v e r y b r o a d s t a t e m e n t fo r a n y o n e to m a k e . T r a d i t i o n s a n d w i d e s p r e a d r e ­p o r t s , a n d th e m a n y h u n d r e d s o f t r e a t i s ­e s t h a t h a v e b e e n w r i t te n a b o u t th e m y s te r io u s e le m e n t s o f th e P y r a m id m u st h a v e s o m e fo u n d a t io n in s o m e ­th in g , so m e w h e r e . T o s a y t h a t s o m u c h a s h a s b e e n w r i t te n a n d i l lu s t r a t e d a b o u t th e G r e a t P y r a m id , h a s n o fo u n ­d a t io n a t a l l , im m e d ia te ly c h a l le n g e s th e in te ll ig e n c e o f m illio n s o f p e r s o n s w h o h a v e v i s i t e d th e e n v ir o n s o f th e P y r a m id a n d w h o p e r h a p s m a y h a v e s e e n n o th ­in g m o re th a n th e o u t s id e o f it. A n d a s fo r t h o s e m a n y h u n d r e d s o f t h o u s a n d s w h o h a v e m a d e c lo s e r e x a m in a t io n s , a n d th e m a n y h u n d r e d s w h o h a v e b e e n in s id e o f it, th e y k n o w a t o n c e th a t th e s t a t e m e n t s m a d e b y D r . S t e in d o r f a r e n o t c o r r e c t .

H e r e f e r s to th e m a n y th e o r e t ic a l g u e s s e s a n d w e ir d t r a d i t io n a l e x p la n a ­t io n s th a t w e r e m a d e b y th e C h r i s t i a n s in th e M id d le A g e s , a n d b y e a r ly v i s i t o r s to th e to m b , a n d r i g h t ly e x ­p la in s th a t a l l o f th e ir f a n t a s t i c a s s u m p ­t io n s w e r e e r r o n e o u s . B u t to w a n t u s to a s s u m e o r b e l ie v e t h a t b e c a u s e t h e s e e x ­p la n a t io n s a n d m y s t e r io u s s t o r ie s o f th e M id d le A g e s a r e n o w k n o w n to b e a b ­s u r d , w e s h o u ld c o n s id e r a l l o f th e m o r e m o d e r n e x p la n a t io n s a s a b s u r d a l s o , is r id ic u lo u s . D u r in g th e M i d d l e A g e s th e P y r a m id w a s n o t e x p lo r e d o n th e in ­s id e , a n d m e a s u r e m e n t s h a d n o t b e e n ta k e n , n o r d id w e h a v e th e h is to r ic a l r e c o r d s a n d o th e r f a c t s w h ic h w e n o w p o s s e s s . I t is because o f o u r k n o w le d g e o f th e in s id e o f th e P y r a m id t h a t w e k n o w h o w w r o n g w e r e th e e a r ly C h r i s t i a n s a n d o t h e r s in o f f e r in g th e ir m a n y w e ir d e x p la n a t io n s fo r th e p u r ­p o s e o f th e P y r a m id a n d it s n a t u r e . B u t th e f a c t th a t a s f a r b a c k a s w e c a n t r a c e in th is h i s to r y o f th e m y s t e r y o f th e P y r a m id it h a s b e e n c o n s id e r e d s o m e th in g m o re o r d if fe r e n t th a n o n e o f th e m a n y k in g ly to m b s , in d ic a t e s t h a t th e r e h a s a l w a y s b e e n s o m e th in g a b o u t th e P y r a m id t h a t d i s t in g u i s h e s it fro m th e o th e r a n d s m a l le r p y r a m id s a n d fro m th e m a n y to m b s .

O f c o u r s e , m a n y o f th e p y r a m id s h a d b e e n b u i lt f o r th e p u r p o s e o f c o n ta in in g th e m u m m y o r b o d y o f a k in g o r p r in c e , a n d m a n y o th e r k in d s o f to m b s h a d b e e n b u i lt fo r t h a t p u r p o s e . B u t s in c e a ll o f th e s e o th e r s h a v e b e e n c a r e f u l ly

Three hundred ninety-five

e x p lo r e d a n d e x a m in e d a n d m e a s u r e d a n d p h o t o g r a p h e d , w e n o w k n o w a s a p o s i t iv e f a c t th a t th e G r e a t P y r a m id o f C h e o p s is u n lik e a n y o f th e o th e r s , e v e n in it s e x te r io r , a s w e ll a s i t s in ­te r io r . N o t a s in g le o th e r k in g ly to m b in E g y p t , e i th e r o f a n u n d e r g r o u n d n a ­tu re o r p y r a m id fo rm a b o v e th e g r o u n d , is l ik e th e G r e a t P y r a m id in it s c o n ­s t r u c t io n , a n d p a r t i c u la r ly in it s in te r io r a r r a n g e m e n t . T h e r e a r e s o m a n y f e a ­t u r e s in th e fo rm o f p a s s a g e w a y s , s t r a n g e c h a m b e r s , a n d d e c o r a t iv e a n d a r c h i t e c t u r a l a t t r ib u t e s to b e fo u n d in th e G r e a t P y r a m id th a t a r e u n lik e a n y ­th in g e l s e to b e fo u n d in th e to m b s o f E g y p t , o r p e r h a p s e l s e w h e r e in th e w o r ld , th a t o n e n a t u r a l ly a s k s , “ W h y w a s th e P y r a m id o f C h e o p s o r th e G r e a t P y r a m id b u i lt s o d i f f e r e n t ly ? ” T h i s p o in t is e n t ir e ly ig n o r e d b y D r . S t e in d o r f , a n d h is a r t i c le a s s u m e s t h a t th e re is n o d if fe r e n c e fro m o th e r k in g ly to m b s , a n d th a t a l l o f t h o s e w h o th in k it is d i f fe r e n t a r e s im p ly m is ta k e n .

O f c o u r s e , it is t ru e th a t t h o u s a n d s o f p e r s o n s m a y v i s i t th e e n v ir o n s a n d l o c a ­tio n o f th e G r e a t P y r a m id , a n d th e n s e e th e o th e r s m a l le r p y r a m id s in E g y p t , a n d lo o k in g a t th e m c a s u a l l y in s t e a d o f th r o u g h th e e y e s o f a n a r c h it e c t , m y s t ic , o r p h i lo s o p h e r , c o m e to th e c o n c lu s io n th a t a p y r a m id is a p y r a m id , a n d a l l a r e a l ik e a n d a l l o f th e m a r e to m b s . T h e a r c h i t e c t v i s i t in g E g y p t r e a d i ly d i s c o v ­e r s th e d if fe r e n c e in s t y le a n d c o n s t r u c ­tio n . T h e b u i ld e r fa m il ia r w ith c o n s t r u c ­tio n p r in c ip le s n o t ic e s t h o s e d i f fe r e n c e s th a t d i s t in g u is h th e G r e a t P y r a m id fro m th e o t h e r s , a n d w h ic h in v o lv e sc ie n t if ic a n d e n g in e e r in g p r o b le m s t h a t a r e a l ­m o s t b e y o n d c o m p r e h e n s io n . T h e m y s ­tic a n d th e p h ilo s o p h e r a f t e r v i s i t in g th e in te r io r o f th e G r e a t P y r a m id a r e im ­p r e s s e d im m e d ia te ly w ith th e s y m b o l ­ism , a r r a n g e m e n t o f th e p a s s a g e w a y s , n u m b e r o f c h a m b e r s , a n d th e ir d e c o r a ­t io n s a n d a r c h i t e c tu r a l f e a t u r e s . P e r ­h a p s D r . S t e in d o r f h a s v ie w e d th e p y ­r a m id s o le ly t h r o u g h th e e y e s o f o u te r a p p e a r a n c e s w ith o u t a n a ly z in g it fro m a n y p a r t i c u la r v ie w p o in t .

D r . S t e in d o r f ig n o r e s a l s o th e f a c t th a t , a l t h o u g h o n ly in r e c e n t y e a r s h a v e e x c a v a t io n s r e v e a le d th e f a c t t h a t th e r e w e r e te m p le s a n d p a s s a g e w a y s u n d e r ­g r o u n d a d jo in in g a n d l e a d in g to th e P y r a m id , a n d th a t th e s e h a v e b e e n c a l l ­

Page 38: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

e d u n e x p e c t e d a n d a s t o n i s h in g d i s c o v ­e r ie s , th e m y s t ic a l l i t e r a tu r e fo r m a n y a g e s h a s p r o c la im e d a n d s t a t e d p o s i t iv e ­ly t h a t s u c h u n d e r g r o u n d t e m p le s a n d p a s s a g e w a y s d id e x is t . A n d th is m y s ­t ic a l l i t e r a tu r e g a v e e x c e l le n t d e s c r ip ­t io n s o f w h a t th e s e u n d e r g r o u n d p a s ­s a g e w a y s a n d te m p le s c o n ta in e d , a n d h o w th e y w e r e a r r a n g e d s y m b o l ic a l ly , a n d h a d a l c o v e s in w h ic h s y m b o l ic a l f ig u r e s w e r e p la c e d . R e c e n t e x c a v a t io n s h a v e p r o v e d a l l o f th is to b e tru e , a n d th e s e r e c e n t e x c a v a t io n s h a v e fo r c e d m a n y o f th e e x p lo r e r s to a d m it t h a t th e y o n ly a d d to th e m y s te r y o f th e P y r a m id fo r n o s u c h u n d e r g r o u n d p a s ­s a g e w a y s , a lc o v e s , a n d a d jo in in g c h a m ­b e r s a n d te m p le s h a v e e v e r b e e n fo u n d in c o n n e c t io n w ith o th e r to m b s o f th e k in g s , n o r w e r e th e y a n e c e s s a r y p a r t o f a n y to m b , a n d c o u ld n o t h a v e b e e n u s e d in c o n n e c t io n w ith a n y fu n e r a l c e r e m o n y .

T h o s e o f u s w h o r e c e n t ly v i s i t e d th e G r e a t P y r a m id a n d v i s i t e d th e a d jo i n ­in g te m p le s th a t h a v e r e c e n t ly b e e n e x ­c a v a t e d , a n d s a w s o m e o f th e s y m b o l ic a l s t a t u e s a n d f ig u r e s t a k e n fro m th e a l ­c o v e s a l o n g t h o s e p a s s a g e w a y s , a n d a s c e n d e d in to th e P y r a m id a n d v i s i t e d e v e r y ro o m , c h a m b e r , a n d p a s s a g e w a y fro m b e lo w th e b a s e o f th e P y r a m id to th e c e n te r o f th e P y r a m id , k n o w p o s i t iv e ly t h a t a l l o f th e m y s te r io u s s y m b o l is m o f th e a n c i e n t m y s t ic b r o t h e r h o o d s w a s v e r y d e f in ite ly c a r ­r ie d o u t a n d e x c e l le n t ly r e p r e s e n te d in a m a n n e r to r e v e a l th e n a t u r e a n d p u r p o s e o f th e P y r a m id s to th o s e w h o c o u ld u n d e r s t a n d a n d c o n c e a l it fro m t h o s e w h o c o u ld n o t u n d e r s t a n d it. C e r ­ta in it is th a t th e g r o u p o f m e n a n d w o m e n o n o u r r e c e n t R o s ic r u c ia n T o u r w h o w e r e e s p e c ia l ly e le c te d a n d p e r ­

m it te d to v i s i t th e in te r io r o f th e P y r a m id o n a s p e c ia l o c c a s io n , c o u ld n o t a n d w ill n o t a c c e p t D r . S t e i n d o r f ’s c o n c lu s io n s .

I t is s t i l l f o r b id d e n to d e s c r ib e e v e r y ­th in g t h a t is to b e fo u n d in s id e o f th a t P y r a m id . B u t o n e v i s i t u n d e r th e p r o p e r g u a r d ia n s h ip a n d g u id a n c e b y a n y m e m b e r o f o u r o r g a n iz a t io n , o r a s im i la r m y s t ic a l o r g a n iz a t io n , w ill c o n v in c e th e o b s e r v e r t h a t th e G r e a t P y r a m id is n o t l ik e a n y o f th e o th e r to m b s o r b u r ia l p l a c e s in E g y p t , a n d th a t it h a s f e a t u r e s in th e w a y o f c h a m b e r s , p a s s a g e w a y s , a l c o v e s , a n d d e c o r a t io n s th a t h a v e n o b e a r in g u p o n th e s y s t e m s u s e d fo r th e p r e s e r v a t io n o f a b o d y o r th e b u r ia l o f a b o d y , o r fo r th e r i tu a l i s t i c c e r e m o n y t h a t w a s a l w a y s a s s o c i a t e d w ith th e m e r e b u r ia l o f a k in g o r p r in c e ly p o t e n ­ta t e . S o d o n o t b e d e c e iv e d b y D r . S t e i n d o r f ' s d e n ia l s a n d a f f i r m a t iv e s t a t e m e n t s . E v e n a f t e r o u r m e m b e r s o f th e t o u r in g p a r t y h a d v i s i t e d th e P y r a ­m id s a n d k n e w w h a t w a s in s id e , th e y w e r e to ld b y o f f i c ia l s a n d o th e r s in E g y p t t h a t “ th e r e is n o th in g m y s te r io u s w ith in th e P y r a m i d , ” a n d t h a t th e y s h o u ld r e f r a in fro m e x p la in in g w h a t th e y h a d s e e n , o r w h a t th e y k n e w . T h u s th e o ld s t a t e m e n t s r e g a r d i n g th e P y r a ­m id w h ic h d e n ie d i t s m y s t e r io u s n a t u r e , a r e c o n s t a n t ly b e in g r e i t e r a t e d o f f ic ia l ly in E g y p t fo r th e p u r p o s e o f d e c e iv in g th e p u b lic . T h e r e a l n a t iv e s o f E g y p t , th e r e a l r u le r s a n d d e s c e n d a n t s o f th e p u r e b lo o d o f E g y p t a r e a s t o n i s h e d a t th is a t t i t u d e , a n d th e y a r e p r o u d o f th e P y r a m id a s th e y a r e ju s t l y p r o u d o f e v e r y p a r t o f E g y p t , a n d a r e o n ly a -

w a i t in g th e d a y w h e n th e tru th a b o u t

E g y p t s h a l l b e e s t a b l i s h e d a n d th e s e fo o l i s h d e n ia l s a n d e r r o n e o u s s t a t e m e n t s

s h a l l b e d is c o n t in u e d .

• R E A D T H E R O S I C R U C I A N F O R U M •

T h eRosicrucianD igestNovember1937

A N E W F E A T U R E

Beginning in this issue of "The Rosicrucian Digest,” you will find a new feature en­titled "HOW IT ALL BEGAN." Each month in this new department you will find an illustrated, concise explanation of how one of our prevalent customs came into existence. The history and origin of our daily practices and rites is unknown to most of us, and proves to be exceptionally interesting.

Many things which we solemnly do today had their beginnings in ludicrous incidents of the past. Others were born out of superstition and ignorance.

We hope you will find this monthly feature entertaining as well as instructive.

Three hundred ninety-six

Page 39: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

C O S M I C C O N S C I O U S N E S S

The above photographic reproduction of a medieval master's painting, now in Rome, depicts the in­spired knowledge and inner guidance—Cosmic Consciousness—that comes to one who devotes a time to meditation and attunement with the Divine Intelligence permeating the universe. One does not need to retire to a mountain fastness or a grotto or cave to be alone with self; oneness with the Infinite comes with a freedom from worldly interests, thoughts and distractions. This state can be attained in the comfort and privacy of ones own home. The so-called creative ideas and masterful accomplishments of progres­sive men and women of today are founded upon that inspiration that comes to them as an influx of In­finite wdsdom when their objective consciousnesses are made properly receptive.

(Courtesy of The Rosierucian Digest.)

Page 40: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

SECRET DOCTRINES OF JESU S

Cl message that neOel leached the people !DOES the Bible actually contain the unadulterated words of

Jesus the Christ? Do you know that from 325 A. D. until 1870 A. D„ twenty ecclesiastical or church council meetings were held, in which m a n alone decided upon the context of the Bible— what it should contain? Self-appointed judges in the four Lateran Councils expurgated and changed the sacred writings to please themselves. The great Master's p e r so n a l doctrines, of the utmost, vital importance to every man and woman, were buried in unex­plained passages and parables. "The Secret Doctrines of Jesus." by Dr. H. Spencer Lewis, eminent author of "The Mystical Life of Jesus." for the first time reveals these hidden truths. Startling, fascinating, this new book should be in every thinker’s hands. It is beautifully bound, illustrated, of large size, and the price, including postage, is only $2.50 per copy.

ROSICRUCIAN SUPPLY BUREAURosicrudan Park, San Jose, California

*

Page 41: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

T H E P U R P O S E S O F

T H E R O S I C R U C I A N O R D E R

Member of “FUDOSI”

(F ederation Uni- verselles des

O rdres e t Societes

Tnitiatiques)

The Rosicrucian Order, existing in all civilized lands, is a non-sectarian, fraternal body of men and women devoted to the investigation, study, and practical application of natural and spiritual laws. The purpose of the organi­zation is to enable all to live in harm ony w ith the creative, constructive. Cosmic forces for the a tta inm ent of health, happiness, and Peace.

The O rder is internationally known as AMORC (an abbreviation), and the AM ORC in America, and all o th er lands, c o n s titu te s the only form of R osi­crucian activities united in one body having representation in the in tern a­tional federation. The AMORC does not sell its teachings, but gives them freely to all affiliated m embers, together with many o ther benefits.

In q u irers seeking to know the history, purposes, and practical benefits that they may receive from Rosicrucian association, are invited to send for the free book, "The Secret H eritag e.” Address, F ria r S. P. C., care of

AMORC TEMPLERosicrucian Park, San Jose, California, U. S. A.

(Cable Address: "AMORCO” Radio Station W 6HTB)

Officials of the J\[orth and South American JurisdictionThis Jurisdiction includes all countries of North, Central and South America and all land under

the protection of the United States of America.H. SPENCER LEW IS. F. R. C.. Ph. D.RALPH M. LEW IS. F. R. C....................THOR KIIM ALEHTO. F. R. C........HARVEY MILES. F. R. C........................HARRY L. SHIBLEY. F. R. C...............M ERRITT GORDON. F. R. C.................

............................ Im perator

...........Supreme Secretary-Sovereign Grand M aster.............. Grand T reasurerD irector of Publications .Regional Grand M aster

S P A N I S H - A M E R I C A N D I V I S I O NARMANDO FONT DE LA JARA, F.R.C.. Deputy Grand Master: CECIL A. POOLE. F.R.C.,

Secretary-General. Direct inquiries regarding this division to the Secretary-General, Rosicrucian Park, San Jose, California, U. S. A.

Junior Order of Torch Bearers (sponsored by AMORC). F o r complete inform ation as to its aim s and benefits address General Secretary. G rand C hapter, Rosicrucian P ark , San Jose, California.

The following principal branches are District Headquarters of AMORCLos Angeles, California:

Hermes Lodge, AMORC Temple. Mr. Paul Deputy, Master. Reading Room and Inquiry office open daily, 10 a. m. to 5 p. m. and 7:30 p. m. to 9 p. m. except Sundays. 148 N. Gramercy Place.

New York City, New York:New York Chapter, Rooms 35-36. 711 8th Ave., cor. 8th Ave. and 45th Street. Mr. Joseph Weed, Master: Martha L. Mullins, Secretary. Inquiry and reading rooms open week days and Sundays, 1 to 8 p. m.Booker T. Washington Chapter. Dr. Horace I. Hamlett. Master, 491 Classon Avenue. Brooklyn: Ida F. Johnson. Secretary, 286McDonough St.. Brooklyn. Meetings every second and fourth Sunday at 8 p. m„ Y. M. C. A. Chapel. 180 W. 135th Street. Inquirers call: Prospect 9-1079.

Detroit, Michigan:Thebes Chapter No. 336. Mrs. Pearl Anna Tifft, Master: Mr. Ernest Cheyne, Secre­tary. Meetings at the Detroit Federation of Women’s Clubs, 4811 2nd Avenue, every Tuesday, 8 p. m. Inquirers call dial phone Townsend 6-2967.

San Francisco, California:Francis Bacon Lodge, 1655 Polk Street: Mr. Elmer Lee Brown, Master. Mystical convocations for all members every 2nd and 4th Monday, 8 p. m. Office and reading room open Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 7 to 9 p.m.

Reading, Pennsylvania:Reading Chapter. Mr. Geo. Osman. Master: Mr. R. K. Gumpf, Secretary. Meeting every 1st and 3rd Friday, 8:00 p. m., Washington Hall, 904 Washington Street.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:Benjamin Franklin Chapter of AMORC: Mr. H. Baker Churchill, Master; Mr. George M. Stewart, Secretary, 617 Arch Street. Meetings for all members every second and fourth Sunday, 7:30 p. m. at the Universal Peace Institute, 219 S. Broad Street, 2nd floor (over Horn & Hardart's).

Birmingham, Alabama:Birmingham Chapter. Convocation for all grades, each Friday night, 7:30 p. m„ Lodge room, Tutwilder Hotel. Mr. Edgar D. Finch. Master, 1129 S. 16th Ave., or C. C. Berry, Secretary, 721 S. 85th Street.

Pittsburg, Pennsylvania:Penn. First Lodge. Mary S. Green, Master; 610 Arch Street.

Boston, Massachusetts:The Marie Clemens Lodge. Mr. Pierpont F. De Lesdernier, Master: Temple and reading Rooms, 739 Boylston St., Telephone Ken- more 9398.

Chicago, Illinois:Chicago Chapter No. 9. Fred D. Wedge, Master: Miss Sue Lister, Secretary. Tele­phone Randolph 9848. Reading Room open afternoons and evenings. Sundays 2 to 5 only. Lakeview Bldg., 116 S. Michigan Ave.. Rooms 408-9-10. Lecture sessions for ALL members every Tuesday night, 8:00 p. m. Chicago (Colored) Chapter No. 10. Dr. Katie B. Howard, Master: Nehemiah Dennis, Secretary. Meetings every Wednesday night at 8 o'clock, Y. M. C. A., 3763 So. Wabash Avenue.

(Directory Continued on Next Page)

Page 42: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

Washington, D. C.:

Thomas Jefferson Chapter. Richard D. Ames, Master. Meetings Confederate Memorial Hall, 1322 Vermont Ave. N. W., every Fri­day evening, 8:00 p. m. Secretary, Mrs. Gladys Short, 901 Butternut St.

Seattle, Washington:

AMORC Chapter 586. Mr. C. R. Cleaver, Master; Mr. Geo. Peterson, Secretary. 311-14 Lowman Bldg., between 1st and 2nd Aves., on Cherry Street. Reading room open week days 11 a. m. to 4:30 p. m. Visitors welcome. Chapter meetings each Monday. 8:00 p. m.

Portland, Oregon:Portland Rose Chapter. Mrs. Emma Strick­land, Master; Phone Ga. 8445. Information Tues. evening, 7 to 9, 405 Orpheum Bldg. Chapter meets Thursday 8.00 p. m. at 714 S. W. 11th Ave.

Newark, New Jersey:H. Spencer Lewis Chapter. John Wieder- kehr. Master. Meeting every Monday, 8:15 p. m., 37 Washington St.

St. Louis, Missouri:St., Louis Chapter. Douglas M. Bryden Master. Melbourne Hotel, Grand Avenue and Lindell Blvd. Meetings first and third Tuesday of each month, 8 p. m.

Other Chartered Chapters and Lodges of the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC) will be found in most large cities and towns of North America. Address of local representatives given on request.

P R I N C I P A L C A N A D I A N B R A N C H E S

Victoria, British Columbia:Victoria Lodge. Mr. George A. Melville, Master. Inquiry Office and Reading Room, 725 Courtney Street. Librarian, Mr. C. C. Bird, Phone G3757.

Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada:Charles Dana Dean Chapter. Mr. Ronald S. Scarth. Master, 834 Grosvenor Avenue. Session for all members every Sunday at 2:45 p. m., 204 Kensington Building.

Edmonton, Alberta:Mr. T. Goss, Master. 9533 Jasper Ave. E.

Toronto, Ontario, Canada:Mr. E. Charlton, Master. Sessions 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, 7:00 p. m., No. 10 Lansdowne Ave.

Vancouver, British Columbia:Canadian Grand Lodge, AMORC. Mr. E. A. Burnett, Master; Miss Mabylee Deacon, Secretary, AMORC Temple, 878 Hornby Street.

A F E W O F T H E F O R E I G N J U R I S D I C T I O N S

Scandinavian Countries:The AMORC Grand Lodge of Denmark. Mr. Arthur Sundstrup, Grand Master; Carli Andersen, S. R. C., Grand Secretary. Mano- gade 13th Strand, Copenhagen, Denmark.

Sweden:Grand Lodge "Rosenkorset." Anton Svan- lund, F. R. C., Grand Master. Jerusalems- gatan, 6, Malmo.

Holland:De Rozekruisers Orde; Groot-Lodge der Nederlanden. J. Coops, Gr. Sect., Hunze- straat 141, Amsterdam.

France:Dr. Hans Gruter. Grand Master. Mile. Jeanne Guesdon. Secretary. 56 Rue Gam- betta, Villeneuve Saint Georges (Seine & Oise).

Switzerland:AMORC, Grand Lodge, 21 Ave. Dapples, Lausanne; Dr. Ed. Bertholet, F. R. C., Grand Master, 6 Blvd. Chamblandes, Pully-Lau- sanne; Pierre Genillard, Grand Secty., Surlac B, Mont Choisi, Lausanne.

China:The United Grand Lodge of China. P. O. Box 513, Shanghai, China.

New ZealandAuckland Chapter AMORC. Mr. J. O. Anderson. Master, 317 Victoria Arcade Bldg., Shortland St., City Auckland.

England:The AMORC Grand Lodge of Great Britain. Mr. Raymund Andrea, F. R. C., Grand Master, 34 Baywater Ave.. Westbury Park, Bristol 6.

Dutch and East Indies:Dr. W. Th. van Stokkum. Grand Master; W. J. Visser, Secretary-General. Karang- tempel 10 Semarang, Java.

Egypt:The Grand Orient of AMORC. House of the Temple, M. A. Ramayvelim, F. R. C., Grand Secretary, 26, Avenue Ismalia, Heliopolis. Cairo Information Bureau de la Rose Croix. J. Sapporta. Secretary. 27 Rue Salimon Pacha, Cairo.

Africa:The Grand Lodge of the Gold Coast, AMORC. Mr. Wiliam Okai, Grand Master. P. O. Box 424 Accra. Gold Coast, West Africa.

The addresses of other foreign Grand Lodges and secretaries will be furnished on application.

TH E R O S I C R U C I A N P R E S S , LTD . P R I N T E D I N U . S . A .

Page 43: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

of the DEVILA SATANIC PLAYGROUND! A twisted,

tangled mass of stone, like the jagged fangs of some fiendish creature of imagina- tion — dark, foreboding. Hewn out of the scowling walls, but not by the hands of man, were cathedrals, castles, and weird edifices. Ghastly sighs and uncanny cries rent the air. Were souls of men imprisoned here? Was this a Hades upon earth? Did demons incarnate dwell here?

Legends recount these strange tales of this Village of the Devil. Its mention struck terror in the hearts of the natives. This strangest of all mystical places was investigated by a prominent mystic. His findings are startling—his revelations a fascinating, true tale.

F R E E . . .His intriguing experience is yours without cost

in manuscript form. To every new six months’ sub­scriber to The Rosicrucian Digest, it will be mailed at once. You need only send your six months' sub­scription at the usual rate of only $1.50 to the address below, and you will receive in addition to the six issues of this magazine, this special discourse, “ The Village of the Devil.”

T h e R O S I C R U C I A N D I G E S TRosicrucian Park, San Jose, C alifornia

Page 44: Rosicrucian Digest, November 1937

<rRgsicnician LibraryT he follow ing books a re a few of sev era l recom m ended becau se of th e special k n ow ledge th e y

co n ta in , n o t to be found in o u r te a c h in g s an d n o t a v a ila b le e lsew here. C a ta lo g u e of all p u b lica­tio n s free upon re q u e st.

V olum e n . R O S IC R U C IA N P R IN C IP L E S F O R T H E H O M E A N D B U S IN E S S .

A very practical book dealing w ith the solution of health, financial, and business problem s in the home and office, well printed and bound in red silk, stam ped with gold. Price. $2.25 per copy, postpaid.

V olum e m . T H E M Y ST IC A L L IF E O F JE S U S .

A rare account of the Cosmic preparation, b irth , secret studies, mission, crucifixion, and later life of the Great M aster, from the records of the Essene and Rosicrucian Brotherhoods. A book that is dem anded in foreign lands as the most talked about revelation of Jesus ever made. Over 300 pages, beautifully illustrated , bound in purple silk, stam ped in gold. Price, $2.50 per copy, postpaid.

V olum e V. "U N T O T H E E I G R A N T . . .”

A strange book prepared from a secret m anuscript found in the m onastery of Tibet. I t is filled w ith the most sublime teachings of the ancient M asters of the F a r East. The book has had many editions. Well printed w ith attractive cover. Price, $1.25 per copy, postpaid.

V olum e VI. A T H O U S A N D Y E A R S O F Y E S T E R D A Y S .A beautiful story of reincarnation and m ystic lessons. T his unusual book has been tran sla ted and sold in

many languages and universally endorsed. Well prin ted and bound w ith a ttractive cover. Price, $1.00 per copy, postpaid.

V olum e V II. S E L F M A ST ER Y A N D F A T E , W IT H T H E C Y C L ES O F L IF E .

A new and astounding system of determ ining your fortunate and unfortunate hours, weeks, m onths, and years throughout your life. No m athem atics required. B etter than any system of num erology or astrology. Bound in silk, stam ped in gold. Price, $2.25 per copy, postpaid.

V olum e V III. T H E R O S IC R U C IA N M A N U A L .

Most complete outline of the rules, regulations and operations of lodges and student work of the O rder with many in teresting articles, biographies, explanations, and complete dictionary of Rosicrucian term s and words. Very completely illustrated . A necessity to every stu d en t who wishes to progress rapidly, and a guide to aii seekers. Well printed and bound in silk, stam ped w ith gold. Price, $2.35 per copy, postpaid.

V olum e X I. M A N S IO N S O F T H E SO U L, T H E COSM IC C O N C E P T IO N .

The complete doctrines of reincarnation explained. T his book m akes reincarnation easily understood. Well illustrated , bound in silk, stam ped in gold, ex tra large. Price, $2.35 per copy, postpaid.

V olum e X II. L E M U R IA — T H E L O ST C O N T IN E N T O F T H E P A C IF IC .

The revelation of an ancient and long forgotten M ystic civilization. F ascinating and in triguing. Learn how these people came to be sw ept from the earth . Know of th eir vast knowledge, much of which is lost to m an­kind today. Well printed and bound, illustrated with ch arts and maps. Price. $2.30 per copy, postpaid.

V olum e XIV. T H E SY M BO LIC P R O P H E C Y O F T H E G R E A T P Y R A M ID .

The m ystery and prophecy of the Great Pyram id revealed. The latest and best book on this intriguing subject. Price, $2.25 per copy, postpaid.

Send ill orders for books, with remittance, direct to ROSICRUCIAN SUPPLY BUREAU, Rosicrucian Park, San Jose, California.

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