Anarchistbanjo's World

We continue the information contained in the “American Rosae Crucis” published in 1916 by Imperator H. Spencer Lewis.

The Growth of the Order

At the close of the first epoch of the Order’s history, ending with the transition of Amenhotep IV (Akhnaton) in 1350 BCE, there was but one Lodge, that which met in the Temple at El Amarna, and the Brothers and Sisters numbered four hundred and ten which included the Officers of the Lodge and the members of the Supreme High Council.

Plans had been made for years for the establishment of other Lodges in various countries but in those where a Lodge could have been established by one of the Egyptians who would have traveled there, war was raging and conditions were against any such institutions.

Greeks were coming to Egypt to study its philosophies and become acquainted with its learning. Many of them sought entrance into the Order but it appears from various Council Decisions that they were not admitted because of unpreparedness.

Fortunately in the Order at the time of the transition of Amenhotep IV was a sage named Hermes. So great was his learning and yet so mystical his many writings, purposely veiled so that they might be of value only to the future initiates, that the uninitiated minds of future years arose and acclaimed Hermes a MYTH and there are those today who try to establish his identity with that of the Egyptian god Thoth. However, it is the author’s pleasure to state now that which has never appeared in print before and which has perplexed investigators for centuries- the birthdate of Hermes- the thrice great man. He was born in Thebes, October 9th, 1399 BCE. He lived to the age of one hundred and fifty-two, dying in the Rosaecrucian Monastry at El Amarna, on March 22nd, 1247 BCE, and his mummy lies among others in a cachette in vicinity of El Amarna.

He was “thrice great” because he lived to attend the installation of Amenhotep IV as an R. C. Master, became Master himself upon the latter’s transition, and in 1249 BCE installed one Atonamen as Master of the Order.

It was at this time that Hermes completed his writings, especially the seven books and tablets which were found and brought to light in 400 CE, and which were upon diverse chemical and physical subjects.

It was finally decided that “no undue haste should be sanctioned in permitting the Brothers who have gone abroad to establish Lodges, but rather that those who travel here in search of the Light should be tried and those found qualified will be given the commission to return to their people and establish a Lodge in the name of the Order.”

It was in this wise the phrase “travel East for learning or Light” first came into use, for those who soon began to travel to Egypt came from the west.

About the year 1000 BCE there came to Egypt a character whose name is recorded as Saloman but who was identified in later years with Solomon.

We will speak more about Solomon in my next post!