Harvey Spencer Lewis, the founder of AMORC, to increase membership
promised men that if they became members of AMORC then they would not have to
go to war. Something that attracted many individuals because at that time World
War II was unfolding.
It seems that Lewis had obtained an exoneration for the members of AMORC
from someone important (but since Lewis invented many lies I am not sure that
is true) but due to the numerous requests he received he was forced to inform
that he could no longer, and that is why the following notice appeared in his
magazine Cromaat B (February 1918):
«
IN REFERENCE TO EXEMPTION FROM WAR DUTY
Many of our Members are writing to us asking our co-operation in
securing exemption from war duty. There seems to be an impression that the
former provisions for exemption, outlined by the Provost Marshal General
(regarding exemption for non-believers in war), still holds weight with local
exemption boards. Let us assure our readers that such provisions are of no use
whatever at the present time. The local exemption boards see in to refuse to
consider that provision which the Imperator was assured last summer would be
effective.
Even our Supreme Grand Chaplain and our Supreme Grand Secretary, as well
as others, have been selected to serve in war, and cannot find any provision to
cover their conscientious objections. Many of our Members have chosen to serve
the country in non-destructive work, but refuse to do the work of a combatant.
We have done all we could to help our Members in their sincere desire to
refrain from taking the life of another, yet stronger desire to be loyal to the
country. Our Great Oath -binds us to regard our Flag with the greatest respect
and "never to be guilty of treason". Therefore, we are in a
predicament which only the kindly actions of the government can relieve. How
this will he, or if it will come about at all, remains to be seen.
In the meantime, we cannot do anything to help any Member avoid serving
the country, if selected. Refusal as a conscientious objector means
imprisonment or worse, and while many may choose the punishment rather than
bring the crime of destruction into their karmas, nevertheless, we cannot
advise in this regard, much as we would like to.
Peace is close at hand. This will
be the last great war, and a great lesson is being learned. If Universal Peace
and a stronger Universal Brotherhood come as a result of this world-wide
conflagration, then we shall discover that the Fire of the Crucible burns not
without good purpose. »
(p.33)
This promise to exempt AMORC
members from having to go to war later got Lewis into trouble as in June 1918
the Police Department of New York raided the AMORC building and arrested Lewis,
mainly on charges of scam that had been made against him, but also for making
this promise.
This was reported by The Sun
newspaper, which in June 18, 1918, wrote the following about this event:
«
DETECTIVES RAID A MYSTICAL CULT
H. Spencer Lewis, Leader of Rosicrucians, Arrested in
Lily Langtry Home
BOND FRAUD CHARGED
He Is Said Also to Have Suggested Means of Evading
Draft.
Three score or more men and women of
varying ages -the majority of the men within the draft age- were seated last
night in parallel rows in a room on an upper floor of what was the old Lily
Langtry home, and before that the Josie Mansfield residence, at 361 West
Twenty-third street.
Any one who had ever been received
in that room when the Jersey Lily was the chatelaine and who was there last
night would have been impressed with the changes that have taken place since.
They have been peculiarly impressed with the furnishings that were in evidence
last night when Detective Joseph Russo and four or five other men from the District
Attorney's office entered.
About 9 o'clock sixty or seventy men
and women were assembled in what was once Mrs. Langtry's drawing room. ... Inside,
in the drawing room, were assembled the members of the New York branch of the
so-called American Rosicrucians. A feeble light from three candles on a
triangular altar in the centre of the room was the only illumination. On a
raised dais at one end, clad in all the robes of his office as grand master and
imperator of the order in America, Brother H. Spencer Lewis, F.R.C., whatever
that means, was giving the regular weekly lecture to the members.
At the other end of the room in the
sombre setting of a cheap black screen stood a five foot wooden cross, with a
wreath of roses at its base. The furnishings were of the cheapest, and the
floor was uncovered except for a layer of dust. An unprotected heating flue
gaped in the middle of the floor; plaster was hanging from the walls and
ceiling, and the desk from which the Grand Imperator was delivering his lecture
on the alchemy of life was of the cheapest unvarnished pine.
Across the entrance to the room that
once boasted of double sliding doors there hung a cheap orange colored curtain,
through which the light from the three candles softly filtered to the hall
without. Downstairs one or two members, to whom the ceremony in the room above
was no mystery, occupied desks and were busy going through card index and
classifying applications for membership.
Then the officers came and in a
moment the whole place was in a tumult. Detective Russo with his aids entered
and were on the top floor before the bewildered Rosicrucians in the business
office knew what was coming off. A man was placed at the door, and Detective
Russo, thrusting aside the cheap orange colored curtains, stepped into the
dimly lighted lodge room, walked to the dais and announced to the assembled
members that everybody in the room was under arrest.
The Imperator attempted to
expostulate but was told to keep quiet and prepare to go to headquarters. He
quickly divested himself of his robes of office while his followers wondered
what is was all about and while other detectives went to phone for a patrol
wagon.
Lights Show Queer Scene
The Grand Imperator was in the midst
of an interpretation and delineation of some of the occult mysteries in the
unraveling of which he is regarded by his followers as a seer, when he was so
rudely interrupted. When the lights went up a queer scene greeted the officers'
eyes. The assembled men and women who had been absorbing the words of wisdom
from the lips of the seer presented and odd picture in the dilapidated room,
that was not only shorn of its once elaborate furnishings, but which showed
unmistakable evidences of long neglect.
Most of the people in the room were
of German, Scandinavian or Russian extraction. Most of the men were within the
draft age, although there were several older ones in the group. Several of the
women were well dressed and gave evidence of education and culture. Some of
them replied to the questions of the detectives in an unmistakable foreign
accent. But all of them expressed the greatest concern in what was to befall
the Grand Imperator.
After the detectives had questioned
them and served several with subpoenas two or three went to Police Headquarters
to await the arrival of Lewis. Others went to a nearby restaurant to await
developments. Meantime with the appearance of a police patrol wagon a crowd of
several thousand gathered in Twenty-third street curious to know whether it was
Assistant District Attorney Jim Smith instituting a Monday night raid by way of
change, or what kind of an affair was being staged.
Bond Fraud Charged
The raid followed information that
for several weeks has had the attention of the District Attorney's interest in
the case comes through the allegation that Lewis and his associates in the
so-called American Rosae Crucis were selling fraudulent 6 per cent gold bonds.
The interest of the Federal
authorities is in the allegation that Lewis and his associates were soliciting
membership in the order on the representation that such membership
automatically exempted men from the draft and gave them a legitimate right to
profess conscientious scruples against war.
. . .
In New York City the affairs of the
cult seemed to reach a crisis last Friday night. A.B. Brassard, Lewis's former
secretary, and the man who finally gave the District Attorney the information
on which he acted last night, became suspicious of the genuineness of the 6
percent bonds that Lewis sold to prospective members.
Brassard and some of his fellow
members went to the Twenty-third street headquarters Friday night and accused
Lewis in the presence of several other members of making suggestions by which
men of draft age could get exemption. Brassard's signature appears on some of
the bonds that Lewis sold. On Friday night, according to the story, he accused
Lewis of certain irregularities, including the violation of another Federal
statute.
. . .
Another failure of the case, and the
one that is most interesting the Federal authorities, is the statement that at
a recent meeting of the members of the organization Lewis is said to have
addressed his disciples as follows:
- "I hold in my hand a letter from President Wilson guaranteeing
exemption from the draft to members of the Rosicrucian Order in America."
At the headquarters of Local Board 158, where it was said certain of
Lewis's followers had claimed exemption on the ground of membership in the
order, officials were not able to trace the records of any such cases without
the names although the three members of the board said they recollected that
such claims had been advanced. ... »
(p.14)
~ * ~
And this is one more example of the manipulations that Spencer Lewis did
to have more followers.
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