Anarchistbanjo's World

Now we will continue our exploration of “American Rosae Crucis” published in 1916 by Imperator H. Spencer Lewis.

Thutmose III saw that the Order had very definite principles, rules and modes of procedure, all of which have come down to us today without material change.

At the close of his reign in 1447 BCE there were 39 Brothers and Sisters in the Order and the meetings, which had become regular and systematic, were held in one of the halls of the Temple of Karnak, outside of which Thutmose III erected two obelisks bearing a record of his achievements.

Before his transition, Thutmose III made his son co-regent. Thus Amenhotep II took up his father’s work in the Order about the end of September 1448 BCE.

Amenhotep II ruled from 1448 BCE to 1420 BCE and he in turn was succeeded by his son Thutmose IV who ruled from 1420 BCE to 1411 BCE.

Amenhotep III, son of the preceding, occupied the throne from 1411 BCE to 1375 BCE and was the last of the truly powerful Pharaohs or emperors.

Upon the transition of Amenhotep III the Empire fell to his son Amenhotep IV, with whose history all Rosaecrucians are greatly concerned. He was the last Great Master in the family of the founders and the one to whom we owe the really wonderful philosophies and writings used so universally in all Lodge work throughout the world.

Amenhotep IV was born in the Royal Palace at Thebes, November 34th, 1378 BCE. He was only eleven years old in 1367 BCE when he was crowned and immediately began a career unequaled by any Pharaoh of Egypt.

HIs father, having been the Master of the Order for a number of years, built the great Temple of Luxor and dedicated it to the Order. The Order numbered 83 Brothers and 62 Sisters at this time and at the crowning of young Amenhotep IV, the Master of the Order was one Thehopset who remained in the office until 1365 BCE. Amenhotep’s installation as MASTER-BY-COUNCIL-DECREE occurred in the Temple of Luxor, April 9th, 1365 BCE, at sunset, in the presence of his bride and her parents.

Amenhotep IV being the only descendant it was deemed advisable that he marry as early as the customs then permitted in order that an heir to the throne could be assured. But though Amenhotep IV had a number of children, unfortunately they were daughters, and this proved disastrous to the Order as well as to the throne.

We have a little more to share about this great Master before we move on in this overview of the Order according to Imperator H. Spencer Lewis.