rosicrucian digest, january 1937

8/12/2019 Rosicrucian Digest, January 1937

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E V E R Y H O M E A T E M P L E

Sanctum Altar Cloth

1Ills. altar cloth is thirty eightinches; long and el ev, n and one-half inches wid e. 1lie em-hroidered sviuholi ism is of livecolors . red, yellow. pale pink.rose. and hlack. it is specially priced f . postage included . at

I lie wal ls o! your home form the temple of your ideals. Th eapartment skyscraper, the palatial manor, the rustic cottage on MainStreet, all house the ideals of their occu pant s. 1 he pictures on thewall, the hooks in the bookcase, and the selection of the furniture,indicate what the members of the family believe are the worthwhilethings of life. I he personal love of beauty, music, and nature, or thethrilling search for new knowledge, are reflected in the home and inthe things with which people surround themselves. I houghtlesshumans who live without purpose or an ideal, whose lives are a mazeof unrelated events, instil conf usion into their homes and they dw ellin disorder. I hey live in dreary, depressin g, prison-like environments:the home is to them but a temporary shelter from the more annoyingseverities of nature's elements.

Is one corner of your home dedicated to your dreams, ambitionsand highest ho pe s? I lave you a corner of your home that representsa cultural influence? Ha ve you set aside a nook for study or worshipa place to find guidance and the regeneration of your faith andcou rage ? Ma ke a corner your shrine, your temple of daily pre paration. where you may find renewed confiden ce in yourself. Beg in nowby obtai ning the Rosicr ucian Sanc tum Altar C loth, with its beautiful,mystic symb ology li is mad e of beau tiful wh ite silk broadcloth, andis lined with cambric , and has an attract ive lace edging. I he designis hand some ly embroidere d. It will greatly enh anc e the appe aran ceof your study or sanctu m. Begin the new year right, bv ordethis attractive article lor your home. VO L' R I EM PI JE .

Only $2.50 Each

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 I 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


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THE GAR R ET LAB OR ATORY OF AN ALC HEM ISTIn the heart of bustling, noisy Paris stands the solemn, attention-arresting residence of a famed mystic of nearly two centuries ago.

Its high stone wall and wrought-iron gates shut out the strange new wonder and preserve its air of mystery.On the super-imposed garret balcony the alchemist philosopher, Count Alessandro Cagliostro, hoisted from the cobblestone court

yard below his kegs of chemicals and boxes of instruments used in his secret alchemical experiments. Caglio stro, born in 1743,studied in the mystery schools of the Orient and later taught his knowledge to kings and potentates. Feared and hated for hiswealth and power, he was libeled, persecuted, and finally wrongly imprisoned for life.

(Filmed by AMORC Camera Expedition) (Courtesy of The Rosicrucian Digest.)


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d i r e c t Ozu T^ v es f A RE the tales of strange human powersfalse? Can the mysterious feats performed by the mystics ol the Orient be explained away a s only illusions? Is there anintangi ble bond w ith th e universe beyondwhich draws mankind on? Do es a mightyCosmic intelligence from the reaches of spaceebb and flow through the deep recesses of themind, forming a river of wisdom which cancarry men an d women to the hei ghts of personal achievement?

Have You Had These Experiences ?............ that unmistakable feeling that you havetaken the wrong course of action, that you haveviolated some inner, unexpressed, better judgment. Th e sudd en realization that the silentwhisperings of self are cautioning you to keepyour own counsel not to speak w ords on thetip of your tongue in the presence of another.T hat som ething which push es you forwardwhen you hesitate, or restrains you when youare apt to make a wrong move.

These urges are the subtle influence whichwhen understood and directed has made thousands of men and women masters of their lives.There IS a source of intelligence within you asnatural as your senses of sight and hearing, and

more dependable, which you are N O T usingnow! Cha llen ge this statemen t! Dare the Rosicrucians to reveal the functions of this Cosmicmind and its great possibilities to you.

Let This Free Book ExplainI ake this infinite power into your partnership.

You can use it in a rational and practical waywithout interference with your religious beliefsor personal affairs. Th e Rosicrucians, a worldwide philosophical movement, incite you to the coupon bel ow, now, today, an d obtain afree copy of the fascinating book, 1 he SecHeritage, which expl ains further.

---------------- USE THIS COUPON ----------------Scribe S. P. C.

The Rosicrucians. A M O R C . San Jose. California.

I am sincerely interested in knowing more aboutthis unseen, vila I lower which can be used in acquir- Iing the fullness and happiness of life. Please send me.without cost, the book. "The Secret Heritage." whichtells how to receive this information.

N a m e .................... .......................................................... . ...................

Address ............ ..................... .........................................

T he ROSICRUCIANS( A M O R C )

( I he Rosicrucians are N O T a religious organization.)


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I AdifeiratiTEI

t m u M i

I3 SSEH 33X 33

ROSICRUCIAN

DIGESTCOVERS THE WORLDTHE OFFICIAL INTERNATIONAL ROSICRUCIAN MAGA-ZINE O F T H E WORLD WIDE ROSICRUCIAN ORDER

Vol. XIV JA N U A R Y , 1937 No. 12

C O N T E N T S Page

The Garret Laboratory of An Alchemist(Frontispiece) .............................................. -.........441

The Thought of the Month: Standing By

Ou r Convictions ................................... 444Misconceptions .................. .................................. 446Important Warning ! ............................................. 450Cathedral Contacts 452The Village of the Devil (concluded) .......... 454Pages from the Past: Plotinus ................................. 460Orienta l Secrets for Health ................................ 464Ancient Symbolism ............ ... 468Summaries of Science ............................ 469Sanctum Musings: Imagination Our

Mental Alchemy ................................................. 473Windows of the East (Illustration) . ......................... 477

Subscription to The Rosicrucian Digest, Three Dollars peryear. Single copies twenty-five cents each.Entered as Second Class Matter at the Post Office at San

Jose, California, under the Act of August 24th, 1912.Changes of address must reach us by the tenth of the month

preceding date of issue.Statements made in this publication are not the official ex

pressions of the organization or its officers unless stated tobe official communications.

Published Monthly by the Supreme Council of

THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDERAMORCROSICRUCIAN PAR K SAN JOSE, CALI FORN IA


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TheRosicrucianDigestJanuary1937

p g v e s mT H E

THOUGHT OF THE MONTHSTANDING BY OUR CO NVIC TIO NS

H R O U G H O U Tthe past few monthsthe civilized worldhas had an aston-ishing example ofwhat it means foran individual tohave some definiteconvictions and tostand by themeven against thegreatest odds andat great sacrifices.Regardless of how

we view the personal affairs of a manwhile he was the Prince of Wales, andlater King, and regardless of whetherhis abdication was justified or contribu-tory to the best interests of his countryor himself, one outstanding fact mustbe admitted by all, and will go down inhistory as a magnificent example ofsteadfastness and sincerity.

The young King had certain convic-tions regarding his personal affairs andhis right as a citizen of the world tocreate his own destiny and to work outhis own life career. Just what these con-victions were we can only speculate.Those of us who may consider thewhole matter from a romantic point of

view will find renewed faith in the oldLatin proverb. Love conquers allthings!" Those of us who view the en-tire affair from the purely political pointof view may feel that he put personalinterests above and beyond the interestsof his country and his people and tooka purely selfish position in deciding theproblem.

But from any point of view, all of usmust admit that he demonstrated the

extreme attitude and the most admirablestand in harmony with his convictions.

Perhaps seldom in the life of any in-dividual was such great pressure broughtto bear to try and test the integrity andthe stability of an individuals convictions and honest determination. Cer -tainly seldom in the history of civiliza-tion has one individual been broughtface to face with the necessity of making such enormous sacrifices in order tokeep faith with his convictions.

All of us realize our own personaweaknesses and selfish interests to suchan extent that we frankly admit that wehardly would have blamed, and mostlikely would have excused, the King ihe had abandoned his plans and accepted the challenge of his country andgiven consideration to the threatenedsacrifices. W e would have said that ithe circumstances, and in considerationof the personal and national losses thatwould follow, it was better to haveabandoned our position and turned faceabout.

While the case is an outstanding oneand will go down in history as a mosremarkable illustration of personal willpower and firm conviction, we shouldthank God for the fact that it is not thesole example we have of noble or prominent individuals standing firmly by theirconvictions, nor of human beings beingwilling and ready to sacrifice everythingof a worldly power and worldly gloryto remain steadfast and walk in the pathof sincere faith.

The development of civilization, thegrowth and development of nations intheir progress toward culture, refinement. and universal brotherhood, is

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spotted with thousands of examples ofextreme sacrifices made in behalf offaith or in behalf of the individualsfirm convictions.

Of what value is faith unless itcreates in us certain convictions that areimmune to all of the outside pressureand influence that is born of an oppositepoint of view? Unless ones faith in Godand ones religion or system of worshipful devotion creates in him certain convictions that are unalterable and unchecked by opposition, threat, or personal challenge, it is a shallow faith,indeed. Unless ones faith in the integrity and soundness, goodness, andrighteousness of ones country has developed convictions that will not bemodified or set aside because of pressure

of any kind, one is not a real citizen noreven a tentative asset to the country.Unless ones faith in certain moral

and ethical principles has created andbuilt up certain convictions and standards in ones life, and unless these convictions are supported by every drop ofblood in our bodies in all circumstancesand under all conditions, one does nothave a real code of life, but merely aweak belief and an intangible hope.

The greatest of civilizations institutions have come into realization for thegood of all through the sacrifices andundying devotion to certain convictionson the part of those great lights amongmen who have kept the faith and will

ingly sacrificed even their lives in support of their convictions.

The lesson we can learn from thisgreat international incident is that if wefeel we are correct in our beliefs and

faith, we should turn the beliefs intoconvictions, and then stand by them,fight for them, and accept any sacrificesor any personal losses to maintain afirm stand in support of the convictions.

In this way only can we hope to attain the greatest heights. When we allow the threats of the multitude, thescoffing and sneering of the majority,the ridicule of the rabble, or even thethreats of an entire nation or empire, tocause us to turn our back upon suchconvictions, or when we allow thedoubts and questionings, the sarcasticcomments and the smiles of friends andrelatives and men of high position tochange our opinions and reverse ourconvictions, we become weaklings andtear down the very strongholds of ourcharacter, and open the doorway to adisastrous career.

The world needs stalwart supportersof their beliefs and convictions, and itencourages those who are traveling onthe very edge of vacillation and hesitancy of action, and helps us all torealize how truly our own destiny andfate lie in our hands, and how truly wecan be captains of our own ships in thisgreat sea of life.

V V V

R EAD T HE R O S 1 C R U C 1 A N F O R U M

s -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------$

AN EXPRESSION OF APPRECIATION

All the officers of AMORC, and especially the Imperator and Supreme Secretary,wish to thank every member for the holiday cards and birthday cards that were receivedat Headquarters. They came from every part of the world, as did special letters andcablegrams, making it impossible to acknowledge each one individually. But we do wantour members to know how sincerely we value and appreciate these kind tokens and goodthoughts and we wish every member the same amount of joy and happiness throughoutthe holidays and the coming year that has been wished for all of us.

SUPREME SECRETARY.

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MisconceptionsHOW THEY PREVENT PEACE AND HAPPINESS IN OUR LIVES

By T h o r K i i m a l e h t o , F. R. C., Acting Grand Master

N MY Conventiontalk, I pointed outthat one of thestumbling blocksin the path of stu-dents was the ab-sorption of ideasfrom other sys-tems of thought.It is difficult forthem, after havinglived for years in

the spirit of otherteachings, to enterthe different mental atmosphere of ourwork and to take the right attitude to-ward the aim and content of our systemof instruction. At this time I shall ex-patiate on this point. Although it mayseem destructive, it should be remem-bered that even the divine creative forceof the world has its constructive anddestructive aspect. In our desire to helpyou, we must not only build up rightideas, but we must be just as careful inuprooting faulty ideas that are certainto be obstacles to a safe and balanceddevelopment. Since it is difficult to havea sound conception of the range and aimof our studies unless all the nine gradesof work are completed, I in no wiseblame those of our students who, nothaving been with us very long, read intoour lessons ideas foreign to them.

In our course of study we give youthe tried and tested wisdom of the ages.

Our aim has always been the truth. Whave never been hampered, as religiouinstitutions, universities, and individuafrequently are, by national aspirationvested interests, or an inflexible creefrom which only limited deviation possible. If experience proved a conceto be true, we accepted it; otherwise, wrejected it. Our attitude and our methods are scientific. You should not surprised, therefore, in fact you shoulexpect, as you proceed through th

grades, to find it necessary to slough osome ideas, revise others, and even acept ideas entirely new to you. Youmind must be open to make the necessary changes, adjustments, and aditions.

If you try to hold on to both the olideas and the new, you will find youself in a dilemma. You will have to dpartmentalize your mind. In one corneyou will have one body of informationdear to you because you are accustometo it. In another corner you will havanother body of information irreconciable with the first one and making yofeel throughly uncomfortable. In ordenot to be torn by the conflict, you wiunconsciously begin to rationalize (psychology terms the process) yoholding of incompatible points of viewWhen you rationalize, you are simplbolstering your own point of view stead of seeking only what is true. Yowill eventually not permit your le

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hand to know what your right hand isdoing. While the principle is admirablein the giving of charity, it is indefensiblein building up an intelligent outlookupon life.

The time must come, if you are profiting at all from our course of instruction, when you will be compelled tochange your attitude toward sectariancreeds and schools of thought of limitedrange and outlook. You can recognizethe good that you originally derivedfrom them; you can see their value forSouls that have not found, or are notready for, the greater light. You canuse them as a channel for service to thecommunity, but in your mind you mustreadjust your whole scale of values.

I shall list a few of the ideas that arederived from other sources and thatRosicrucian students must eventuallydiscard. In the first place, many of ourstudents with an orthodox religiousbackground have a conception of Godthat is too personal and anthropomorphicto coincide with the Rosicrucian conception. God is a divine power, manifesting on earth through material phenomena and through human beings asinstruments. This power works throughuniversal law. By keeping in harmonywith this power you can make yourselfa channel for its flow. By learning thelaws that govern this universe you canutilize this power to a certain extent.The Rosicrucian philosophy cannot accept the idea of praying for personalneeds to a personal God, who maychange His laws at the vagaries of eachindividual.

Dont ask for divine guidance everystep of the way. Try to help yourself.There is plenty of good informationavailable on every subject for every-daypurposes. There are shoppers in the department stores to help you select yourclothes. There are excellent books toteach you how to keep house and howto cook. If you want a job, prepareyourself for a definite kind of work.Make every effort to find a positionyourself. It is legitimate to use every bitof influence that you have. W e shouldpermit our tastes, abilities, and talentsto guide us in life. W e should not askthe Cosmic to keep us well while weFour Hundred Forty-seven

ignore every physical requirement ofhealth. If you need rest, take it. If youneed sleep, you must get it. If you needfood or fresh air, you must have them.There is no sin in eating meat. It issometimes very essential, as it will increase the resistance and the magnetismof the body. Be well adjusted to yourenvironment. Let your religion be oneof kindly deeds. Do not worry aboutyour past incarnations. You will doyour work better today if you are nothampered with the memory of the deadhand of the past.

Above all, be yourself. Develop yourself as much as you can in the time allotted to you. Otherwise you are only amedium for other personalities and forother peoples ideas. The more developed and successful a personality youare, the better instrument can you be forgood and the better the Cosmic can useyou. Do not imagine that you live onthe psychic plane. Do not hope to converse with the Masters every minute ofyour life. They do not do that. Dontlet your phantasy run away with yoursense of proportion. You are here onearth and that is where you should stay.Keep your feet on the ground.

It is ridiculous to worship the heroesof books and prominent public figureswhen there are men in the family thatneed our help, our cooperation, and ourmoral support. Imaginary trials andtests are ridiculous. Life furnishes plentyof hardships, heartaches, and sorrows.Dont romanticize the Order or its officers. Th e aim of the Order is to helpyou five your life successfully, not toprovide an escape from your problems.The Order is not divine, and the officersare not gods. You only embarrass themwhen you take that childish attitude.They sometimes make mistakes. They

have different opinions and see theworld through the medium of their ownexperiences and temperaments. Theyhave all made mistakes in their ownlives and they have all suffered sorrowsand losses. Membership in the Orderwill not give you a magic alteration inyour appearance, your character, andyour personality, health, environment,and position in life. Your ambitions willnot materialize over night. The Order


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can only show you the way. These goodthings must be personally attainedthrough knowledge and effort. Behuman.

This world is the world of love andbeauty. It is a magnificent world of sunshine, trees, flowers, children, and loving human beings. W e can make it aparadise through sensible cooperationand determination. W e do not needpsychic experiences for that. Humanadventures are just as interesting. W edo not need psychic companions. Ourfriends, neighbors and relatives are sufficient on this earth. Most of us do notneed psychic powers. W e have not developed all our human talents andcapabilities. W e must learn to live inthis world. W e must learn to be efficientin our work. W e must master the laws

of nature. W e must learn to keep ourbodies in good condition. These are thetasks of most people today. We havenot learned all that ordinary human lifehas to teach us. W e still do not comprehend human nature in its complexity.W e still have not completely conqueredthe material world and subdued it. W estill have not learned world cooperation.

In the second place, we are absolutelyopposed to the policy of certain sectsof shutting our eyes to the evils of theworld and ignoring the distress in the

lives of other people and the lack ofharmony in our own lives. This is thepolicy of the ostrich that sticks its headin the sand. W e believe in facing conditions calmly and trying to overcomethem. The slums would never disappearfrom our cities if public-spirited citizensdid not get together and compel theirdemolition and the building of moresanitary dwellings. Franklin D. Roosevelt is our President today because thepeople elected him. Our teaching is thatGod works through human beings andthat human beings by their thought andaction can express the divine on earth.As the prophet said: W oe to thosewho cry 'Peace, Peace! when there isno peace.

In the third place, we are opposed tostudying the mind power merely for thepurpose of getting what you can out oflife. Those of you who have practicedthe principles for years know that there

are so many limitations to the use ofdivine power for personal ends that itis advisable not to employ it except inan extremity. As has been pointed outfrequently, God and the Cosmic knowbest what is good for us to get and havebut that fact should not deter us from

asking and seeking and petitioning Godand the Cosmic to obtain the desire ofour hearts.

There are many reasons why a certain lack exists in your life. Perhaps iis the spur that incites you to effort.Perhaps you owe a certain duty to certain people and therefore you are notfree to step out and take what you want.Perhaps you need the experience andthe knowledge to be gained from yourrestricted environment, not because ofKarma, but because that knowledge willhelp you become a better leader in yourcommunity or in your field of activity.If you do not even know that such amenace to decent business as a racketexists, how can you help eradicate ifrom your city? If you have neveheard of white slaves, how can you helpbreak up white-slave rings?

Poets and writers go out of their wayto gain the experiences in life at whichyou, perhaps, rebel. John Masefieldthe present poet-laureate of England,once worked in a bar-room in Yonkers,New York. The late Vachel Lindsaytramped through the South enchanginghis verses for a nights lodging. W alWhitman sought for bus drivers andferry pilots as a source of inspirationCarl Sandburg, author of the famoupoem, Chicago, worked at any meniatask that came his way. An outstandingexample of what a blessing hardshipcan be in the life of an individual is thecase of Charles Dickens. As a boy nine he worked in a shoe-blacking factory. His father was thrown into prisonfor debt. Th ese childhood experience

formed the content of his most powerful novels, and the laws of Englanwere actually changed as a result.

In the fourth place, we believe thathe purpose of prayers, affirmationsmeditation, and the reciting of Psalmsis psychological; to help put you into harmonious frame of mind, to help yougain emotional control, to help keep

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your vibrations high, to help keep yourattention directed to qualities youshould cultivate in yourself. You canachieve just as much peace and harmonyby listening to beautiful music, com

muning with nature, reading inspiringbooks, associating w i t h interestingpeople, and engaging in some form ofcreative work. The happiest people arethose who are very active in the community doing good wherever they canor who are completely absorbed in creative work. These people do not need tospend hours listening to inspirationalspeakers, nor waste hours reading allthe inspirational magazines on the market, because they themselves are an inspiration to others through the goodwork that they are doing.

In the fifth place, while we realize thefact that the Soul is more importantthan the body, and that the body is butthe instrument of the Soul to functionon the material plane, from a practicalpoint of view we emphasize knowledgeof and care of the body. If your healthis reliable, if your brain is developed, ifthe coordination of body and brain issmooth, your body will serve as a superior medium for the functioning of theSoul. As the mystics tell us, we are hereto develop a degree of heart, a degreeof mind, and a degree of will. Everynoble deed we do develops the heartevery bit of knowledge that we gain develops the min devery task that we setbefore us and accomplish develops thewill. W e could not develop heart, mind,or will without the medium of the body.An excellent knowledge of the mechanism of the body will repay us in goodhealth and high spirits. W e should cultivate as many good habits as possible.W hy should we scorn to make ourbodies attractive and efficient instruments for use in this world? Is a reasonnecessary? To quote Emerson in T heRhodora:

Tell them, dear, if eyes are madefor seeing,

Then beauty is its own excuse forbeing."

Sixthly, we emphasize communityservice. It is the duty of a Rosicrucianto be a force for good in his own circleand community just as far as he can. ItFour Hundred Forty-nine

is not sufficient to do a kind deedwherever you can. You must cultivatea world-view-point. You must realizethe dangerous limitations of being insular-minded or provincial in outlook.

You must have an intelligent understanding of local, national, and international current events. In a splendidbook, New Frontiers published onlytwo years ago, Henry A. Wallace, ourSecretary of Agriculture, points out thatthe one big obstacle to unprecedentedprosperity in this country is the complete ignorance of most of our people ofthe double entry bookkeeping relationship existing between the United Statesand the countries of Europe. Ourcitizens do not really understand thefundamental issues involved and thephysical facts behind our monetarypolicy, the tariff, and the question ofprivate and public ownership of basicindustries. Through knowledge, therefore, you can be a tremendous force forgood.

Lastly, we emphasize the developmentof our potentialities to the utmost. W epositively condemn crucifying the bodyor living an unworldly life, or being arecluse, hermit, or in any way separating ourselves from our fellow men. Veryfew of us have developed to the pointwhere we can dispense with the experiences that the world can still give us.No matter what our stage of development, the world certainly needs whatwe have to offer in service. If you havea talent, it is your duty to cultivate itand to use it for the enrichment of mankind. If you have the ability to makemoney justly, it is your duty to becomerich. The world certainly needs menwho can earn money ethically and distribute it among noble causes generously.

To sum up, a Rosicrucian is a leader,a thinker, and a doer. T o be as effectiveas he can in his sphere of service, heguards his health, trains his mind, anddevelops his latent abilities. He willserve for love of God and not for glory.He will serve in joy and not merely outof a sense of duty. Content with whatever sphere of service Karma permitshim, he will be a source of inspiration toall who know him, and through hisbeautiful character and self-effacing


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service he will point the way to thegreater Light.

The goal of our Order lies within theGarden of Truth. It is the purpose ofour Order to lead you along this pathand take you to the great portals of thatGarden and, if possible, help you to

cross the threshold and enter. Not untilwe are all within the Garden, where theflowers of Truth constantly bloom andthe weeds of Falsity have all been removed, will the Masters and Foundersof this Order be satisfied with theirwork. In the Garden of Tru th there areno purple flowers of personal opinion,

there are no yellow flowers of selfish desires, there are no blood-red flowers ofpassionate bias and self-deceptionjusthe blue and white spotless flowers oftruth and fact, purity and knowledgesymbolized. To attain that Garden wehave come together that we may jour

ney there together. Yet some of us feelthat we may be lonesome there withoutour favorite colored flowers and so wetake some seeds along with us on our

journey, to plant as we go on and ondropping them here and there and cherishing the familiar blossoms as childrenof our fancy.

V V V

Important Warning!DO NOT BE DECEIVED BY NEWSPAPER REPORTS

By T h e E g y p t i a n T o u r Se c r e t a r y

E H O PE that noneof our membersis being deceivedby the continuousp u b l i c a t i o n inAmerican newspapers and magazines of reportsand featured stories telling of thethreatening warc o n d i t i o n s inEurope and various parts of the

world. During the past six months wehave had a repetition of what occurredin the fall and winter of 1935, with newsitems telling us that almost hourly andcertainly within the week, the whole ofEurope would be plunged into a greatinternational war. Yet the fall andwinter of 1935-36 passed without anygeneral war, any new war, or anyserious conflict. Despite the newspaperpredictions throughout 1934 and 1935that resulted in the postponement ofmany tours through the Mediterranean,those who did not believe the stories

and sailed through the Mediterraneannever heard the shot of a single gun norsaw the least sign of conflict.

If you or any of your friends havebeen postponing joining with us on ourtour around the Mediterranean andthrough Egypt, Palestine, and othermystical lands early this coming winterbecause you have believed that newwars and warring conditions wouldbreak out in various parts of Europeand from points around the Mediterranean, you should give up your fearsat once and show that you have faith inthe Cosmic revelations and faith inhuman nature.

The people of Europe do not wanany more war and they are constantlynegotiating for more peace pacts, moi^peace agreements, and more peacefuconditions than they have had in pastyears. The few remaining war lords othe world and war profiteers are stillhoping that each can make anothertrillion dollar fortune by scaring someof the countries of Europe into warand then dragging the United States ofAmerica into it also. Newspapers and

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magazines are making money out of increased circulations resulting from constant war scares.

Our Supreme Secretary and his grouprecently went to Europe, as you know,in the midst of the very hours when thedirest of war conditions were being predicted in American newspapers andthey were told that it would be unsafefor them to enter some of the countriessurrounding the Mediterranean. Yetthey went, travelled safely, conveniently, comfortably, and were never endangered or inconvenienced one momentby any sign of war or any effect of war,and they saw no more soldiers in anyone of the Mediterranean countries thanwhat we see in the largest of our American cities during peace time.

The Rosicrucian tour is going to bebeautifully carried out unless some foolish country in Europe forces all steamships to cancel Mediterranean sailings.In such a case we will not even makethe start on the tour. But if we oncestart out from New York we are goingto have the most wonderful experiences,the most profitable, instructive, and in

spiring hours that are possible to becrowded into sixty golden days andnights.

You have seen that all of our predictions made in our yearly books of prophecy have been fulfilled. You haveseen how even now our predictions for1936 are being carried out in Europe.Can you not have faith with us in whatwe say about the coming year? If youwant to have the most economical tripthrough the finest parts of the mysticallands of the world more economicalthan such a tour will ever be in thefutureand with hundreds of enthusiastic members, there is still an opportunity for you to register and departwith us from New York on January 30on the Italian steamship RO MA. But

your request for reservations must be inour hands not later than January 15.Write or telegraph for tentative reservations and then interesting literaturewill be sent to you along with bulletinstelling you how to get ready for such atour. Address your communication tothe Egyptian Tour Secretary, C/oAMORC, San Jose, California.

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

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SPECIAL BULLETIN

We are sorry to state that both the mental and physical condition of our belovedGrand Master Dr. Clement Le Brun have relapsed to a former low state, and that allof our combined efforts have not succeeded in doing anything more than giving himtemporary improvement. The continuation of your prayers and good thoughts will helpus in keeping him aware of our love and good thoughts for him, if nothing else.

9_____________________________________________________________________________________$

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TO MEMBERS AND FRIENDS IN SWITZERLAND AND EUROPE

We wish to call attention to the fact that a very inspiring and illuminating lodge of theorganization is maintained in Switzerland and Lausanne. The Grand Master of Switzerland and the officers of the Lodge in Lausanne cordially invite all National AMORCmembers and all members of other jurisdictions and lodges to visit them and a cordialinvitation is extended to all seekers and enquirers for mystical truths to get in toucheither in person or by mail with the Grand Master or Grand Secretary and through themcontact others in a like mind who will aid them in enjoying many fine books in theAMORC library of Switzerland and in carrying on their researches and enquiries inthe most efficient manner. Address Dr. Ed. Bertholet, F. R. C., Grand Master, 6 Blvd.Chamblandes, Pully-Lausanne, Switzerland, or Frater Pierre Genillard, Grand Secretary,Surlac B, Mont Choisi, Lausanne, Switzerland.

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great value of the noontime prayer andopening their churches to such a program. Business men and women, youngand old, are finding it a sacred joy andCosmic need to drop into these churches

during their luncheon period and join insolemn thought and communion withGod.

W e see by the tendency in this direction that in another score of yearsprayer of a non-sectarian and universalCosmic nature will be directed to theGod of all beings, the Father of all beings, frequently and with more sincerityand with greater results than at anyother time in the past history of civilization.

There is nothing as restful to the Souland mind, and even to the body, as abrief period of complete relaxation whilethe worldly things of life are temporarily laid aside and even the objectiveconsciousness of a physical existence isovercome by the transcendental sensation of spiritual existence, and we findourselves unmindful of our worldlyposition, our worldly needs, our worldly problems. It is truly a tonic to theconsciousness and every living cell. Itbroadens the view-point of life, it encourages the desire to live in harmonywith Cosmic law, and divine principle.It cleanses our nature of human weaknesses. It supplants hate with love, intolerance with sympathetic understand

ing, revenge with forgiveness. When afew minutes are spent daily in such holycommunion in the privacy of ones home,or in the glorious and beautiful sanctums of the great outdoors, on the

mountainsides, or by the rivers edge,or on the lofty peak, or shaded nook,the consciousness is lifted up to theCathedral of the Soul. In this invisible,intangible cathedral existing in the unknown space and in the presence of theonly living God, we find that we are notonly in Soul contact with the consciousness of the Creator of all created beings, but in attunement with millions ofSouls who like ourselves know that Godexists everywhere, and that we may riseup to Him through the Cathedral of theSoul, which we may make our Holy ofHolies at any hour of the day in anyplace and under all conditions.

If you have not enjoyed this rich andbeautiful experience, whether memberor not, send for a copy of our free booklet Liber 777, and without any obligation whatsoever except to the God ofyour hearts, the Creator of the universe,become one with all mankind in worshipping and in finding spiritual wealthand peace, health and happiness. Begintoday to contact the Cathedral of theSoul and to commune with God as onewho is a child among the children oflight under the Fatherhood of God andin the universal brotherhood of man.

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WHAT WILL 1937 BRING FORTH?

Even since man has been conscious of the state of time and imagined a future moment,he has sought the answers to such questions as: What lies ahead of us? What pitfallscan we avoid? How may we prepare for eventualities? The philosophically mindedknow that the future of man, insofar as his activities are concerned, is made by man himself. Every act of the past, conscious or unconscious, is causative and finds its end insome result. What civilization, society and humanity began years ago may materializein a startling event next year, or a century hence, A cause responsible for a result amillennium ago will bring about the same end today. Predictions, therefore, which maybe based upon such sound methods of reasoning, investigation, and analysis are apt tobe accurate in nearly every instance. Such prognostications do not depend upon fantasiesor the weird interpretation of strange phenomena but rather upon scientific observationsand classification.

The Rosicrucian predictions issued annually in booklet form are of such a kind. Theirdegree of accuracy and dependability has won for them public confidence. One need onlyread the booklet, "1936 and Conflicts, issued in 1935, to see how startling were its predictions for the last year, including even the references to the past English monarch'smarriage.

The 1937 booklet will amaze you, will challenge your thought with its revelationsbased upon simple graphs and charts. Obtain free not only one copy for yourself, butas many as you need to give to friends and acquaintances. Order what you can use,and then USE W H AT YO U O RD ER. Enclose with your request a few stamps forpostage. (Foreign postage stamps cannot be used.) There is NO C HAR GE for thebooklets. Address: Rosicrucian Extension Department, San Jose, California.

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The Village of the DevilA STRANGE, FASCINATING STORY OF MYSTICAL

PRINCIPLES(Reprinted from the private records of Cromaat 1918)

By D r .

H.Sp e n c e r L e w is ,

F. R. C.C h a p t e r T w o

(Continued, from last month)

HEIR chateau, builtupon the rocks, andnow deserted, wasgiven the name ofPeek des Deux Vi e r g e s . Th i schateau becamefamous as the birthplace of a brotherof these two virgins, known as St.Fulcran, who wasat one time a bishop of Lodeve.

In the Life of St. Fulcran, Bishop of Lodeve, we find these facts set forth,and in a rare and precious manuscript,which was discovered at Campous,where many monks retired after theirexpulsion from the abbey of St. Guillem-du-Desert in 1790, and which is now

among the manuscripts possessed by M.Auguy de Vitry, of Gignac, France, wefind the following interesting facts:

There is a legend in a manuscriptregarding St. Guillaume, entitled Le Gallia Christiana Nov a Le Place Le 34, which states that the Two Virgins(Deux Vierges) were of the antiquefamily of Montpeyroux. One can stillsee, on the crater of a mountain, situated

on one side of Montpeyroux, a hermitage in ruins and some vestiges of thechateau where was born Saint Fulcranwho was its Lord. It was called theChateau des Deux Vierges because two sisters of the same Saint Fulcranwho lived in celibacy And One OWhom Is To This Day Known A sSaint ."

But before these two virgins retired tothe convent, they expressed their utterdisgust for earthly matters by renouncing all claim to their property.Their particular motive was to makebarren all that section of their propertywhich was within the precincts of theBlack Mountains.

But in doing this they realized thatthe many little villas situated thereinwould suffer and many would be deprived of their homes and lands. Con

sequently these two sisters decided tofound a large city where all who thenlived in the Black Mountains might havefree ground and the other necessities oflife. After careful consideration theyselected as the site for this new city twodivisions of their land situated on thebanks of the Lez, about ten miles fromthe Mediterranean Sea. These two sections they called Montpelier and Mon

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pelierette (from memory of the greatbald mountain Mont-Pele, which wassituated in the midst of the Black Mountains ).

These facts are verified by statementsto be found in Verdale s Records in thefollowing words:

"From all time there has been a well-founded tradition supported by thepublic archives, which states that twosisters founded the city of Montpelier.One possessed Montpellier and theother Montpellierette adjoining. Theywere of ancient nobility, for it is proventhat they were sisters of goodly SaintFulcran, one time beloved Bishop ofLodeve.

In the testament of this St. Fulcran,which may be found in the ancient archives of Lodeve, and which is dated:made on the 4th of February under thereign of Jesus Christ while hoping for aKing, he mentions these two sisters,and calls them Dames de Montpellier ,because, says the commentor, theywere responsible for the origin of thisvillage.

The two sisters demanded that acommission be appointed to govern thiscity and that it should be built, managedand maintained on progressive lines forthe general education and uplift of itsinhabitants. How well these plans succeeded may be seen by visiting the citytoday, and noting, as we shall do in afew minutes, the many historical sights.

Gradually every home in the BlackMountains was deserted; and, when theyear 1000 came and God did not visitthe earth or cause its destruction, thousands returned to France from the HolyLan d to begin life anew. Montpellier,with its strange boundary walls, becamethickly populated and by the middle ofthe 11th century all knowledge of theold villages in the Black Mountains, andespecially the village where lived theBrothers of the Devil, was forgotten andone part of France, once famous andinfamous, was lost in oblivion.

Chapter Three

Let us now continue our journey byleaving the station at Montpellier andwalking up the main street, Rue Ma~Four Hundred. Fifty-five

guelone. W e notice that modern Montpellier is a city of about 57,000 inhabitants, clean and cheerful and strangelywhite. This is due to the white limestone of the ground which lies pulver

ized upon the roads and streets andwhich the high winds keep constantlyblowing over the buildings made ofwhite rock. Th e appearance is like acity in a snow storm, for even the treesare always covered with this whitepowder and all the buildings are closelyblinded with shutters thus whitened.While the effect is pleasing, and coolingin the shade, it requires one to keep wellveiled when travelling, especially in automobiles; and in the sun it is anythingbut pleasing to stare into the reflectedglaze of white light.

The streets are short and crooked,narrow and roughly paved. Th e buildings are generally very old and if weturn into some of the alleys we findmany historical buildings being occupiedby industries of modern times, forMontpellier is still progressive and caresnaught for its antiquities.

On one side street or alley, unnamed,we can see the old Chateau de Aragon,where Dona Marie, Lady of Montpellier, lived and from which home she

emerged in stately robes to become theQueen of Aragon in 1200. It is interesting, as a typical experience, to enterthis old stone chateau. Its broad entrance, seen even in modern Frenchbuildings, designed to allow passage forhorses and carriages, is paved inside thebuilding with cobble-stones, and to oneside is a very narrow door leading tocircular stone stairs, about three feetwide, which give entrance to the variousstone rooms and halls. While the mainbuilding looks small from the outside,we find that inside the adjoining buildings are all connected with secret passages and in many of the secret andoddly closed rooms one may still seebeautifully carved mantles, doors andarches. Th is building, in 1909, whileworthy of preservation for visitors, wasoccupied by a wholesale grocer as astorehouse, and in one of the prisonrooms a coffee-roasting plant was inconstant operation, much to the disgustof the antique and history-loving visitor,while on two upper floors there were old


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Rosicrucian Lodge rooms which hadbeen used from 1843 to 1859 by aGrand Lodge of Montpellier.

At the end of Rue Maguelone is thePlace de la Comedie, adorned with thegraceful Fontaine des Trois-Graces, built in 1776 and which faces the

Theatre. At another part of the townwe see the Peyrou, a fine promenade andpark, and at the sides of the great railings of the Peyrou we see two stonegroups, strangely, yet eloquently, tellingthe tale of the two sisters who foundedthe city; one group represents Love Overcoming Strength, and the other,Strength Vanquished bu Love. At theend of the park is the famous Chateau dEau, constructed in 1753.

Let us now continue on our journeyto Millau, situated about 60 miles

distant from Montpellier on the leftbank of the river Tarn. Th is city wascalled Aemilianum Castrum by theRomans and is today a city of about16,500 inhabitants.

Here we enter the Canon du Tarn and the Black Mountains. As the nameindicates, the Canon of the Tarn is comparable with the celebrated Canyon ofColorado and is as wonderful in beauty,if not more wonderful in construction,than the former. It is the most curiousof the gorges produced in the Causses by the erosion of the streams duringthe glacial epoch in the Cevennes.

As we enter the Canon we notice thesheer rocks which rise to a height offrom 800 to 1100 feet and that the distance between their summits varies fromone-half to three-quarters of a mile.Here in this section are the original BlackMountains, formerly mentioned, and itis difficult to imagine anything moreweird and impressive. Gigantic ramparts and perpendicular cliffs at onetime overhang the River Tarn and inother places they retire in terracesformed of several strata of the limestoneand as varied in outline as they are inthose peculiar and delicate colors which

The seem to vie with each other in assumingRosicrucian stran9e markings; the rocks themselves

are shivered into a thousand differentshapes and there appears yellow limestone, black schistous mark and brownand pink dolmite.

DigestJanuary1937

In passing through the Canon, andespecially through the Black Mountainsection, we must take strange windingcourses in order to follow any semblanceof a path. At times we are upon somehigh and mighty ridge overlooking avast and bottomless valley; at othertimes we seem to be descending into thevery bowels of the earth and as the waygrows darker and the many small anduninviting caverns are brought to ournotice, we do not remember that thisplace was claimed as the domain of hisSatanic M ajesty. And, were it not forthe occasional spring, the few beautifully colored flowers and some vegetation and vines, we would feel that wewere passing through Jules Vernesvolcanic entrance to the center of theearth and immediately retrace our steps.

But we hasten on to the village ofPeyreleau, situated on the banks of theJonte, reaching there by way of modernpaths and easing our walk upon thebacks of mules. Here we prepare forour interesting journey to the strange,mysterious city of The Devil.

Chapter Four

In order properly to enjoy and appreciate our visit to the Village of TheDevil, we should spend at least twodays there, but since the village is unin

habited, it is necessary to spend thenights at Maubret, a hamlet severalmiles distant, which boasts of only a fewbeds and accommodations for but twoor three tourists at one time.

Nevertheless we prepare for onewhole day by taking the necessary provisions, food being unattainable enroute. It is necessary to dress comfortably, but suitably for mountain climbingand with as little luggage as possible.

There are several methods of transportation, each having its advantagesand disadvantages, but at Le Rozier,the village adjoining Peyreleau, we mayhire a carriage, seating three, for 15francs ($3) and proceed to Maubert, aride of two hours. Here we secure aguide and the question of transportationto the Village of The Devil is decidedaccording to the guide we select. M.Lavinne, the most popular of the two

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rival guides, possesses a typical Frenchmule-cart seating from two to four persons, and his enthusiastic arguments relative to the advantages of his guidanceand means of transportation are convincingly explained by as many gesturesas words, and it is amusing to see himhold up his hands in horror and derisionwhen mention is made of M. Robertwho possesses a few mules and wholikewise, though less strenuously, claimshis guidance and mule-ride the safestmeans of traversing the mountains.

If we are alone we accept the muleride, but if there are three or four of uswe are tempted to ride in the cart.About one-half mile distant we enterthe borders of the Village of the Devil,and before actually passing through itsstone Gates we ascend the mountainson the right, where there is situated theancient Citadel, formed of rocks, andwhere, it is said, the Devil and hisbrothers who sought to marry Bertheand Albane, sent forth their midnightsignals of fire and where the ghastly andvillainous consultations were held. Fromthis position we can overlook the city ingeneral and stop a few moments to consider the story of the discovery of thiscity.

As formerly stated, this village wasunknown to worldly history or researchuntil the year 1883. This will not appearstrange to those who have taken the

journey. Until after its discovery therewere no public guides to show the winding way, and the city of Mauber, if itmay be called a city, was then unbornand there was no inducement for anytourist no matter how keen his delightin mountain climbing, to pass throughthese black mountains without food orplace to rest.

But in 1833, Mons. L. de Malafosse,a Rosicrucian, whose chateau is nearMende, 35 miles distant, made the wonderful exploration of its location andcalled the attention of scientists to it.The matter greatly interested Mons. E.A. Martel of the French Alpine Club,who immediately visited the village anddrew a plan of its Streets and Boulevards ,.

The village is situated upon a plateauone and one-half miles square and itFour Hundred Fifty-seven

would seem that this plateau itself wasespecially created by nature for the solepurpose of supporting a village; for insuch a mountainous region a level plateau of such extent is remarkable andthere is no parallel to it in the whole ofEurope, except possibly the much smaller Bois De Paiolive.

Now, while Mons. de Malfosse madean explanation of its location and calledthe attention of scientists to its existence, I have ample proof that theVillage of the Devil and its surroundingValley of the Devil was known to a fewmystics and learned men many yearsbefore 1883; for I have in my possessiona rare record of the legends ofAuvergne in which mention is made of

the supposed council of the Devil andhis tv'o brothers as heretofore describedand giving an original sketch of thesedevils holding one of their midnightcouncils; and while this rare record,which was first brought to light in 1838,gives a few minor details as to what wasbelieved to exist in the Valley of theDevil, it does not attempt to give thecomplete story of the existence of thevillage and the romance connected withit.

Therefore, Mons. de Malfosse did

not discover an hitherto unknown village, but, rather, rediscovered what waspublicly and generally unknown. Toquote de Malfosse in his original report:W e cannot, without having seen it,form an idea of this collection of apparent ruins, where, by the side of rocksrepresenting gigantic monsters are facsimiles of imposing monuments. Thewhole entangled mass of streets, arches,passages and projecting cornices, sometimes intersecting one another at rightangles, as in a town laid out by line,sometimes form a crescent or square, isa veritable labyrinth of about 500 acres.Isolated rocks, in the shape of towers orpyramids, are more than 300 feet highand some of the Streets pass betweenrows of Edifices 100 to 200 feet high.The whole of this huge space is abandoned to complete solitude.

This description presents the picturewe see from the old citadel on its borders. Now let us descend the rock andenter the city itself by way of the mainstreet, called the Boulevard Diabolo.


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TheRosicruciattDigestJanuary1937

W e are at once impressed with thefact that no hand of man ever laid outthis city; for we cannot believe thatthere ever existed a brain so fertile infantastic creation and so weird in constructive detail, as the intelligence whichmust have guided the building or plan

ning of this strange city. And yet! Whocan say that nature alone, even in herwildest dreams and most deludingschemes, ever produced the mystifyingsights we now see? W e try to be logical,reasonable and sane in our conclusions,but we are haunted with the possibility,yes even probability, that some diabolicpower was manifesting itself when thiscity was built. The very atmosphere,heavy with the silence of dea^H and ladenwith the pallor of solitude, mystery,and forgotten life, makes us wh.sper inreverence. reverence for what W as and what Might Have Been. No revelryor mirth here and no heart that can helpbut feel that in this forsaken place Godand Devil, happiness and sorrow, loveand hatred, power and weakness, andlife and death meet upon the borderline.

The ground before us is level, smooth,and in some places actually presentinga stone surface, like a paved street. Oneither side rise high Buildings carved bythe mysterious hand into the semblanceof chateaus, forts, and cottages. W indows, broad and imposing, door-ways,passages and even balconies are in evidence and we cannot help wondering atthe strange sight of an occasional stoopor arch at some entrance and at the finely projecting cornices of the higherbuildings.

Walking through this main street wecome to what might be called a corner,for here we notice a cross street, atexactly right angles, and faced on eitherside by similar structures. Further onwe come to an imposing structure withan enormous entrance and we rightlyname this Hotel Du Villa, or City Hall;and with little stretch of the imaginationwe can picture the silent mysteriousfigures of the former inhabitants of thiscity walking slowly and dejectedly intoits court to plan the diabolical work accredited to them in the years 800 to1000 .

Further on we enter a Cirque orcircle, such as are so artistically built in

modern cities. W e are told that thiscircle, one of the smallest in the city, iscalled the Cirque Des Roquettes andthat its longer diameter is 1652 feet, theshorter diameter 650 feet and the walls380 feet high. As we gaze upon thissight we allow our minds to wander and

think of the legend of the Brothers ofthe Devil, who lived here and try topicture the use they may have made ofthis cirque. Were the many men andwomen who strangely disappeared intheir time brought here and put to anignominous death? Were the direst ofpestilence, plague, and suffering kindledhere, or were these brothers partly human after all and here worshipped amaster of some kind? The human mindis fickle, its paths of reasoning are oddly branched with byways of enticing illogical pictures and when awakened andalive with the subtle power of suggestion we imagine many things; this mayaccount for our sudden aversion to thiscirque; for, do we not see in the interiorgloom of this arena the transparent andluminous figures of men and women onbended knees begging for mercy andhelp? and cannot we hear the agonizingcries of children and the silencing groanof a life departing in agony while everywhere we see the dark crimson stain ofinnocent blood?

Horror fills our souls; we try to riseabove the power that grapples with ourreason, but we are held fast, captive inthe hands of the same unseen and unknown might that wielded the instrument which carved the fantastic sightsurrounding us.

W e turn to the Eas t and pass throughanother street unnamed but magnificentin its structures and passages coveredwith arches which darkened the unknown interiors of the courts; for whileone may boast of having entered thevarious caverns of the Cevennes, especially those of Roquefort, v/here the famous cheese is made, ahd at otherplaces where the environment may beas gloomy, still one would never attempt an entrance to the interior ofthese unknown courts and we are held,it seems, in iron bonds and our feet refuse the mental volition to trespass.

Before us we see the Cirque Du Lucwhich is similar in construction to theCirque just visited, but which at one

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time contained water. Now, however,as if to add to the forsaken, forlorn andcheerless aspect of the scene, the cirqueis dry and we cannot help feeling thatperhaps nature has refused to furnish to

this ungodly place one of its most bountiful, sustaining gifts.Near here are several Amats or pub

lic Squares and again we stop to question whether nature alone constructedthis village where there are so logicallyarranged and attractively located thesecircles and squares; and if further circumstantial evidence of this possibilitywe need only walk a short distance andview a perfectly proportioned Forum, inoutline and contour similar to thoseoften seen on the continent.

But perhaps the most weird and suggestive view of all is that of the Boule- vard Monument, where are locatedseventeen obelisks or monuments, ranging in height from 100 to 300 feet. Theystand at various open spaces betweenthe numerous castles and each is different in shape and, apparently, designedto express symbolically the incident inmemory of which they were erected.Of course, these are likewise morefreaks of nature, like the trembling rockin the near locality, which tremblesevery midnight so violently that onefears it may fall and injure the bystander. Yet, like the trembling rock, legendsays that these obelisks were erected bythe Devi] and his two brothers inmemory of the terrible plagues, wars,deaths and crimes planned and consummated by them.

As we stand here and view thesestrange monuments in the lifeless cityand note just outside of its boundaryline the beautiful vines, the arbutes andholly flourishing at the base of the ma jestic pines, and, raising our eyes see

the same blue sky, the same sun, and

the same spotless groups of clouds aspass over more cheerful and divinedwellings, we marvel at what thesestrange streets may have once been,what the buildings may have contained

and what the inhabitants of this Villageof the Devil may have done that Godand nature in evident chagrin, sorrowand repulsion, should have broughtdeath, barrenness, infamy and disconsolate gloom upon only one section ofthe world and this in the midst of fertileregions, surrounded by wondrous beauty, God-fearing people and progressive,active and religious nations.

Passing to the South we leave theVillage by one of its main entrancesconsisting of an arch typical of the

Roman Port and flanked on either sideby what may be called the VillageWall. W e stand for a few minutes ona slight elevation which affords anothergeneral view of the streets and buildings and it is only at this time that wefully realize that all we have seen, theremarkable structures, the Cirques, arenas, forums, amphitheatres, castles,obelisks, etc., were the result of somestrange freak of nature and that nohuman hand was concerned in thesmallest detail of the construction of thevillage; that even the imposing courts,the doorways and windows were madeby the action of water, wind and otherelements in ages gone by and when allthis part of the world was unknown toman.

Thus I leave you, my reader, on yourway back to Montpellier and the landof the living. Your journey has beensafe and interesting and we will rest awhile in Montpellier while you reviewthe wonders of the sights you have seenand I hasten on to my many other

duties.8 S>'

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, CHAPTER INVITES YOU

The Newark, New Jersey, Rosicrucian AMORC Chapter known as the H. SpencerLewis Chapter, invites all Rosicrucian AMORC members in that vicinity, or who arepassing through, to visit it, or to join with the members in their interesting activities. Meetings are held each Monday evening at 8:15 at 443 Broad Street, Newark, oppositethe Berwick Hotel, in the lodge room on the fourth floor. For further particulars, address Secretary, Mrs. Sylvia Kingsley, 31 Leo Place, Newark, New Jersey.

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; j Neoplatonic school.

PLOTINUSEach month we will present excerpts from the writings of famous thinkers and teachers

Of the past. These will give our readers an opportunity of knowing their lives through thepresentation of those writings which typify their thoughts. Occasionally such writingswill be presented through the translation or interpretation of other eminent authors of thepast. This month we present Plotinus, the most original and important philosopher of the

Plotinus was born in Lycopalis, Egyp t, 205 A. H., supposedly of Roman paren tage, butin keeping with his indifference of th ings human, being ashamed almost to live in abody, he never divulged his parentage. He believed the body to be only a faint imageof existence, therefore he never allowed his birthday to be celebrated, nor would he allowa painter or sculptor to perpetuate his features . To him his body was utterly contemptibleand therefore not worthy of a physicians care when ill; he ate sparingly and eliminatedmeat from his diet. He was twenty-eight year s old before philosophy semed to interesthim and while in Alexandria he found a congenial teacher in Ammonius Saccas. After tenyears of ardent study and work, he became the chief representative and author of thatschool with the reputation of being an independent thinker who developed his theories tothe fullest extent. In 242 he accompanied Emperor Gordlanus' expedition to Persia, wherehe hoped to devote himself to the philosophy of the Eas t. The emperor was assassin atedin Mesopotamia, however, and with some difficulty 1to Rome, where he spent the remainder of his life. There he opened a school which was

he escaped to Antioch. In 244 he wentattended by men and women of the highest circles. His instruction was mostly oral, for

Ji he seemed little interested in conserving his teachings; however, to his pupil. Porphyry,we owe the preservation of his scattered lectures and teachings. Plotinus died after a longillness at the age of sixty-six , in 270 A. D. He was a man of saintly character and veryattractive personality. He made no enemies and was reverenced by all who knew him.His philosophy tried to combine the systems of Anaxagoras, Parmenides, the Pythagoreans,Plato, Socrates, and the Stoa into one, and its influence upon modern philosophy isremarkable.

Below we give you excerpts from some of his teachings, which if carefully read willprove very interesting and instructive.

THE ONE IN ITSELF


HAT then will the one be; and whatnature will it possess? Or may wenot say that it isnot at all wonderful, it should notbe easy to tellwhat it is, sinceneither is it easyto tell what beingis, or what formis. But our knowledge is fixed in

forms. When, however, the soul directs

its attention to that which is formless,then being unable to comprehend thatwhich is not bounded, and as it wereimpressed with forms by a former of avarious nature, it falls from the apprehension of it, and is afraid it will possess(nothing from the view). Hence, it becomes weary in endeavours of this kind,and gladly descends from the surveyfrequently falling from all things, till itarrives at something sensible, and as itwere rests in a solid substance; just athe sight also, when wearied with theperception of small objects, eagerly converts itself to such as are large. When,

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however, the soul wishes to perceive byitself, and sees itself alone, then in con-sequence of being one with the objectof its perception, it does not think thatit yet possesses that which it investi-

gates, because it is not different fromthat which it investigates, because it isnot different from that which it intel-lectually perceives. At the same time,it is requisite that he should act in thismanner, who intends to philosophizeabout the one. Since, therefore, thatwhich we investigate is one, and wedirect our attention to the principle ofall things, to the good, and the first, weought not to be far removed from thenatures which are about the first ofthings, nor fall from them to the last ofall things, but proceeding to such as arefirst, we should elevate ourselves fromsensibles which have an ultimate sub-sistence. The soul, likewise, should forthis purpose be liberated from all vice,in consequence of hastening to the (vision of the) good; and should ascendto the principle which is in herself, andbecome one instead of many things, inorder that she may survey the principleof all things, and the one. Hence it isrequisite, that the soul of him whoascends to the good should then becomeintellect, and that he should commit hissoul to, and establish it in intellect, inorder, that what intellect sees, his soulmay vigilantly receive, and may throughintellect survey the one ; not employingany one of the senses, nor receiving anything from them, but with a pure in-tellect, and with the summit (and as itwere, flower) of intellect, beholding thatwhich is most pure. When, therefore,he who applies himself to the survey ofa thing of this kind, imagines that thereis either magnitude, or figure, or bulkabout this nature, he has not intellectfor the leader of the vision; because in-tellect is not naturally adapted to per-ceive things of this kind, but such anenergy is the energy of sense, and ofopinion following sense. But in orderto perceive the one, it is necessary toreceive from intellect a declaration ofwhat intellect is able to accomplish. In-tellect, however, is able to see eitherthings prior to itself, or things pertain-ing to itself, or things effected by itself.And the things contained in itself, arepure; but those prior to itself are still

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purer and more simple; or rather thismust be asserted of that which is priorto it. Hence, that which is prior to it, isnot intellect, but something more ex-cellent. For intellect is a certain one

among the number of being; but that isnot a certain one, but is prior to every-thing. Nor is it being for being has, asit were, the form of the one. But that isformless, and is even without intelligibleform. For the nature of the one beinggenerative of all things, is not any oneof them. Neither, therefore, is it a cer-tain thing, nor a quality, nor a quantity,nor intellect nor soul, nor that which ismoved nor again that which stands still.Nor is it in place, or in time; but is byitself uniform, or rather without form,being prior to all form, to motion andto permanency. For these subsist aboutbeing which also cause it to be multi-tudinous. Why, however, if it is notmoved, does it not stand still? Becauseit is necessary that one or both of theseshould subsist about being. And thatwhich stands still, stands still throughpermanency, and is not the same withit. Hence permanency is accidental toit, and it no longer remains simple. Forwhen we say that the one is the causeof all things, we do not predicate any-thing as an accident to it, but rather as

something which happens to us, becausewe possess something from it, the one in the meantime subsisting in itself. Itis necessary, however, when speakingaccurately of the one, neither to call itthat, nor this.

Emanation of Intellect and Soul From the One

How does intelligence see; whatdoes it see; and, in short, how does itsubsist; and how is it generated fromthe one, so that it may see? For now in-deed the soul perceives the necessity ofthe existence of these things. It desires,however, to understand this which is somuch spoken of by the wise men of anti-quity, viz. how from the one being suchas we have said it is, each thing has itssubsistence, whether it be multitude, orthe duad, or number; and why the one did not abide in itself, but so great amultitude flowed from it, as is seen tohave an existence, and which we think


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should be referred to the one. W e mustsay, therefore, as follows, invoking God himself, not with external speech, but with the soul itself, extending ourselves in prayer to him, since we shall then be able to pray to him properly, when we approach by ourselves alone to the alone. It is necessary, therefore, that the be-holder of him, being in himself as if inthe interior part of a temple, and quietlyabiding in an eminence beyond allthings, should survey the statues as itwere which are established outwardly,or rather that statue which first shinesforth to the view, and after the follow-ing manner behold that which is nat-urally adapted to beheld. With respectto everything that is moved, it is neces-sary there should be something to whichit is moved. For if there is nothing ofthis kind, we should not admit that it ismoved. But if any thing is generatedposterior to that which the movable na-ture tends, it is necessary that it shouldalways be generated in consequence ofthat prior cause being converted to it-self. Let, however, the generation whichis in time be now removed from us whoare discoursing about eternal beings.And if in the course of the discussionwe attribute generation to things whichexist eternally, let it be considered as in-dicative of cause and order. Hence,that which is from thence generated,must be said to be generated the causenot being moved. For if something wasgenerated in consequence of that causebeing moved, the thing generated afterthe motion would be the third, and notthe second from the cause. It is neces-sary, therefore, the cause being immov-able, that if any thing secondary sub-sists after it, this second nature shouldbe produced, without the cause eitherverging to it, or consulting, or in shortbeing moved. How, therefore, and whatis it necessary to conceive about that

abiding cause? W e must conceive asurrounding splendour, proceeding in-deed from this cause, but from it in apermanent state, like a light from thesun shining, and as it were runningaround it, and being generated from it,the cause itself always abiding in thesame immovable condition. All beings,likewise, as long as they remain, neces-sarily produce from their own essence,about themselves, and externally from

the power which is present with them,a nature whose hypostasis is suspendefrom them, and which is as it were animage of the archetype from which iproceeded. Thus fire emits from itseindeed heat, and snow not only retainscold within itself (but imparts it tother things). This, however, sucthings as are fragrant especially testifyFor as long as they exist, somethinproceeds from them, of which whateveis near them partakes. All such thinglikewise, as are now perfect generatbut that which is always perfect, alwaygenerates, and that which it produces iperpetual. It also generates somethinless than itself. What, therefore, is requisite to say of that which is moperfect? Shall we say that nothing proceeds from it; or rather that the greatest things posterior to it are its progenyBut the greatest thing posterior to itand the second, is intellect. For intellecsees it, and is in want of it alone. Bthis most perfect nature is not in wanof intellect. It is also necessary that ththing generated from that which ibetter than intellect, should be intellectAnd intellect is superior to all thingafter the first, because other things arposterior to it. Thus for instance, sois the reason of intellect, and a certaienergy of it, just as intellect of that firGod (who is beyond intellect). But threason of soul is indeed obscure. Fas it is the image of intellect, on this acount it is necessary that it should looto intellect. After the same manner alsoit is necessary that intellect should looto the highest God, in order that it maybe intellect. It sees him, however, noseparated from him, but because it after him, and there is nothing betweenas neither is there anything betweensoul and intellect. But everything desires its generator. This also it loveand especially when that which is gen

erated and the generator are aloneWhen, however, that which generateis the most excellent of things, the thinbegotten is necessarily present with it isuch a manner, as to be separated botherness alone.

But we say that intellect is the imagof this most excellent nature. For it necessary to speak more clearly. In thfirst place, indeed, it is necessary thintellect should in a certain respect b

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generated, and preserve (in itself) muchof its generator; and also that it shouldhave such a similitude to it, as light hasto the sun. Its generator, however, isnot intellect. How therefore did he generate intellect (so far as it is intellect)?May we not say, because intellect, byconversion, looks to him? But the visionitself is intellect. For that which apprehends another thing, is either sense orintellect. And sense indeed may be compared to a line but the other gnosticpowers of the soul to a circle. A circle,however, of this kind is as it werepartible. But this is not the case withintellect. Or may we not say that thisalso is one? But the one here is thepower of all things. Hence intelligence

surveys those things of which it is thepower, divided as it were from the power; for otherwise it would not be intellect. For intellect now possesses fromitself, a co-sensation as it were of thegreat extent of its power; in whichpower, its essence, consists. Intellect,therefore, through itself defines its ownbeing, by a power derived from him(i. e. from the first God), and perceivesthat essence is as it were one of theparts of and from him, and that it iscorroborated by him, and perfected by

and from him into essence. It sees,however, itself derived from thence, assomething which is as it were partiblefrom that which is impartible; and notonly itself, but life, and intellection, andall things, because the first God is nothing of all things. For on this account allthings are from him, because he is notdetained by a certain form. For he isone alone. And intellect, indeed, in theorder of beings is all things. But he onthis account is none of the things whichare in intellect; and all things which

have a subsistence among beings arederived from him. Hence also these areessences. For they are now definite,and each possesses as it were a form.Being, however, ought not to be surveyed in that which is as it were indefinite, but as fixed by bound and permanency. But permanency in intelligi-bles is circumscription and form, inwhich also they receive their hypostasis.This intellect, therefore, which deservesthe apellation of the most pure intellect,and which is of the genus of intelligibles,originates from no other source than thefirst principle. And being now generated, it generates together with itselfbeings, all the beauty of ideas, and allthe intelligible Gods....

"On this account all things are distributed by Plato in a triple order aboutthe king of all. For he says, that allthings are about the king of all; secondthings about that which is second andsuch as are third about that which ranksas the third. He also says that this kingis father of cause, denominating intellectcause. For with Plato, intellect is thedemiurgus. But he says that this causeproduced soul in that Crate r (mentionedby him in the Timaeus). The cause,however, being intellect, he says thatthe father is the good, and that whichis beyond intellect, and beyond essence.In many places, also, he calls being andintellect idea; so that from Plato we mayknow that intellect and idea are fromthe good, but soul from intellect... .

"It has been shown, however, as faras it is possible to demonstrate aboutthings of this kind, that it is requisiteto think that beyond being there is the one, such as reason wishes to unfold;that next to this, being and intellect subsist; and that, in the third place, followsthe nature of soul. . . .

THE CLASS WILL COME TO ORDER

Will you be among those present on Monday, June 21, in the Assembly Room of theRose-Croix University when the dean addresses the students, tells them what he expectsof them, and when they are assigned to their respective classes and prepare for theirinvestigations, studies and researches? Will you be one of those who will have a new vistaof life and the universe by spending interesting hours in the Rose-Croix University, experimenting with natures laws, seeking her secrets?

Why not join the happy throng that attends the Rose-Croix University session eachyear and profit by the few weeks of special study under competent instructors hereat Rosicrucian Park? It is not expensive nor difficult. Write now for full, interesting,free particulars. If you dreamed of attending a university and participating in itsprivileges, the Rose-Croix University offers you many such privileges and benefits.Address, Rose-Croix University, Rosicrucian Park, San Jose, California.


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Oriental Secrets For HealthAN OUTLINE OF THE LITTLE KNOWN SYSTEM USED IN

FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO PREVENT ILL HEALTH

AND OLD AGEBy T h e I m p e r a t o r

F W E could personalize the various principles andpractices of lifenow quite common, we could putupon a stage aplay or drama of

intense interestand considerableamusement.

If I could createcharacters representing the indi

viduals of the modern, Western Worldwho typify each of the motive and incentives for worldly existence, I wouldhave one character in the form of asickly-looking human being who spentall of his time ringing the doorbells ofthe homes and offices of physicians,ever looking for a miracle cure for somechronic trouble from which he has suffered for years, and always enslaved bythe idea that he is a greatly neglectedvictim of some incurable illness whichmay yet be cured by a surprising discovery and a simple remedy.

I would have another character representing the individual who constantlyseeks the attention, and especially theexamination and careful analysis of a

physician in the hope that some daysome doctor will verify the existence ofthe imaginary condition which the self-deluded patient carries as his cross. Heis constantly seeking the impossiblethe cure of an imaginary thing by meansof a very scientific and materialistic system of medicine.

Then I would have the character whobelieves that his illness and physical ailment is a very unique thing that canonly be cured by some astonishinglynew remedy found by a man outside ofthe medical profession, who has notbeen keeping his nose to the grindstonebut has experimented so extensivelythat at last he has found in the simplesands of the sea the worlds elixir andlife-giving balm. Th is type of persoanswers every medical quack advertisement and announcement that comes tohis attention and spends years of timeand every dollar of his income buyingsomething new with the hope that someday one spoonful of something unusualand different will turn back all time andinstantly make him young and healthyand ready to battle life and win.

Then I would have on this stage odrama a character representing thedoubter, the one who believes that nothing can ever cure him, and that nothing

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has ever cured anyone, and that all illness or suffering and pain is due toGods will, and any attempt throughany system to cure or alleviate physicalpain and suffering is an attempt to con

tradict Gods decisions, and supplantGod's intentions with our own.

Then I would also have a characterrepresenting another strange attitude,the man who believes that only by developing the muscles of the body untilthey stand out on the arms and limbslike the swollen segments of tissue ofsome larger animal, can health be maintained. He is a walking gymnast, andcan show you that he has more strengthin one finger than the average personhas in his entire body. He believes that

the only thing necessary to redeem theworld politically, socially, morally, andotherwise, is to put a full-size gymnasium in every home and make eachmember of the family an expert with thetrapeze, the parallel bars, the Indianclubs, the punching bag, the fencingsword, and other pieces of mechanicalequipment for exercise. He ignores thefact that world statistical records showthat such overdeveloped persons withsuch unusual strength in their musclesseldom live to be as old and healthy asthose who have used the gymnasiumonly occasionally but developed all ofthe body and not just certain parts of it.

I would also have a character representing the modern New Thoughtadept who walks around in our midstlooking as though he were awaiting theundertaker, and certainly in need ofsomething to keep him from slippinginto the grave very quickly, and whospends much of his time affirming thathe is perfectly well, and that there isnothing wrong with him except thethought in his mind. He thinks that allthe other characters are wrong and outof step, and that he is perfectly right,and therefore he consults no one abouthis ailments, gets no real diagnosis, advice. or form of treatment other thanwhat he reads in the affirmation bookswhich he buys at the bookstalls.

I would also have a character thatwould represent the modern uprising,youthful, progressive young man orwoman of today with their firmly fixedFour Hundred Sixty-five

ideas that all systems of therapeuticsand exercises are unnecessary, if you

just adop t the habits, customs, andmethods of thinking of the so-called Modern. He believes that if our

architecture were changed and we hadmodern-style buildings with futuristic decorations and furniture, and abandoned all of our so-called ancient ideasand practices, and ate anything, drankanything, and even too much of it attimes, smoked and gambled, slept at anyhour of the day always being careful tobe wide awake most of the night, andwere up-to-the-minute in all of the slangwise-cracking phrases, we would be absolutely healthy because we would beliving in accord with the ideas of thefuture race of man.

I would go on in this way and personalize each of the characters and philosophical ideas and theories of the human race of today, and have them argueand contend with one another in adrama of life that would portray precisely the conditions that we meet on allsides in our journey through life at the present time.

Then I would have a character comeupon the stage at the last moment anddramatically raise his hand before all

the others and say, Stop! All of youare wrong in your ideas, and I am thespirit of the past, the spirit of theOrient, whose people learned long agothe secrets of life, proper living, andwho tried to consistently practice theancient principles based on truth andfound the real secret to life and thesolving of its problems!"

I would have this character outlinethe great wisdom of the past, and pointout very convincingly how the spirit ofthe past could enter our modern times

and show us the foolishness in ourmodern methods of living. So often wehear the modern person physician,scientist, nurse, attorney, business man.and student remark that after all issaid and done the modernist may haveinvented great shortcuts and conveniences for the attainment of happiness,and the accumulation of health, but hehas never succeeded in completely doingaway with the fundamental knowledgethat leads to perfect health and com-


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plete happiness. These modern personsnever hesitate to assure the rest of usthat nothing of any value to us of todaycould possibly come out of the dark andmusty past of the Orient, nor could thegreat knowledge possessed by theancients be of any practical value to ustoday in any form. These personsespecially criticize any attempt on thepart of any school like our Rosicrucianorganization, or on the part of anygroup of researchers, to point out to ustoday any feature of ancient activitiesthat will serve us more efficiently thanthe things

rosicrucian digest, january 1937

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