WHO WAS MRS. MAY BANKS-STACEY?

 

Spencer Lewis, the founder of AMORC, in his book Rosicrucian Manual put the photography above and wrote: “This is Mrs. May Banks-Stacey, co-founder and first Gran Matre in USA.”

 

And in others texts, Lewis added that this lady was also a deep student of the occultism for years, she had traveled much abroad in search for knowledge and had been initiated in many forms of Rosicrucian work. She was also the Delegate of the Order of India, a member of many lodges, and the person who gave very important documents and jewels to Lewis for the creation of AMORC.

 

We are therefore talking about someone very important in the history of AMORC.

 

But did that lady really exist?

 

The researcher David T. Rocks¹ published an article in the magazine Theosophical History, October 1996, p.144-150 (link) where he shows that this lady did exist, but she was not the great Rosicrucian occultist who traveled widely abroad as Lewis claimed, but was in reality the widow of a captain who lived humbly all his life in U.S.A. with the pension given to her by the U.S. government. ²

 

And below I transcribe his article:

 

 

~ * ~

 

Manly P. Hall (1901-1990) believed that Rosicrucians actually existed; however, he also wrote that “the whole subject of Rosicrucianism has been intensely complicated by misrepresentation and imposture.” ³ As one of the most invidious critics of Rosicrucianism in America, Hall was convinced that the claims of “a number of modern organizations” were utterly false.

 

Similarly, in his analysis of American Rosicrucianism Arthur Edward Waite (1857-1942) wrote that the Societas Rosicruciana in America “obviously has no tradition, no claim on the past and no knowledge thereof.” Moreover, he concluded that:

 

« It would serve no useful purpose to enlarge upon later foundations, like that of Dr. R. Swinburne Clymer, who seems to have assumed the mantle laid down by [P.B.] Randolph, or Max Heindel’s Rosicrucian Fellowship of California. They represent individual enterprises which have no roots in the past. » ⁴

 

And, in spite of the fact that Waite’s assessment of American Rosicrucian groups did not include Harvey Lewis’ enterprise, it cannot be inferred that Lewis’ claims of authenticity were any more valid than the claims of his rivals.

 

Harvey Spencer Lewis (1883-1939) was the founder of the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, established in New York City on April 1, 1915. Lewis introduced May Banks Stacey (1846-1918) as co-founder of his group in a biography written for the initial issue of AMORC’s ⁵ official organ, The American Rosae Crucis. ⁶ Approximately three years later, Lewis wrote a combination obituary-biography of Stacey together with a testimonial attributed to her in support of his claims. ⁷ Finally, in 1927, Lewis condensed the data in both biographies and incorporated the fragments into his autobiography, giving her some notoriety, albeit for his benefit. Lewis wrote that:

 

« He made his first contact with the work of the Rosicrucians through obtaining copies of the secret manuscripts of the first American Rosicrucians who established their headquarters near Philadelphia in 1694. A member of the English branch which sponsored the first movement in America, Mrs. Colonel May Banks Stacey, descendant of Oliver Cromwell and the D’Arcy’s of France, placed in his hands such papers as had been officially transmitted to her by the last of the first American Rosicrucians, with the Jewel and Key of authority received by her from the Grand Master of the Order in India while an officer of the work in that country. » ⁸

 

On the face of it, the gesture of including Mary Stacey in his autobiography seemed to be a strategy for the reinforcement of Lewis’ claim to Rosicrucian authenticity. Although Lewis publicized her as the organization’s co-founder, Stacey never signed the group’s original charter. ⁹ Moreover, evidence of Stacey’s membership in “the English branch which sponsored the first [Rosicrucian] movement in America” remains to be discovered. In any case, only Lewis and Stacey knew for certain the reasons for, and, the extent of their association. Therefore, a biographical sketch, supported by sources out- side of the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC), is essential to determine whether or not Mary Stacey could have functioned in the capacity ascribed to her by Lewis.

 

Mrs. Stacey was born Mary Henrietta Banks in July 1846, in Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania. The census of August 30, 1850 records Mary H. Banks, age 4, in the household of Thaddeus Banks. ¹⁰ The exact day of her birth remains to be discovered. Additionally, records relevant to her formal education have yet to be located.

 

However, available records disclose that her father was a Presbyterian ¹¹ and a Democrat. ¹² Also, Thaddeus Banks was a well known attorney in Hollidaysburg, who in 1862 served in the House of Representatives of Pennsylvania. ¹³ Furthermore, he was the son of Judge Ephraim Banks of Lewistown, Pennsylvania ¹⁴ and the grandson of James Banks Jr., a member of the State Legislature in 1790 ¹⁵, as well as a Major General in the Pennsylvania Militia during the War of 1812. ¹⁶

 

Mary’s earliest known immigrant ancestor, James Banks Sr., was born in Ayr, Scotland in 1732. ¹⁷ He and his wife Anna sailed for America and landed at Christiana Bridge, Delaware in 1755. From Delaware they went to New London Crossroads, Chester County, Pennsylvania, where they made their first home in this country. In 1756, James Banks Sr. enlisted and served two years in the Indian campaigns with Captain Clinton’s Volunteers, who incidentally were under the command of Colonel George Washington. In 1758, he enlisted in the army of General Forbes and marched against Fort Du Quesne in the French and Indian War. ¹⁸

 

Mary’s mother was Delia Cromwell Reynolds of Cecil County, Maryland, daughter of Reuben Reynolds and Henrietta Maria Cromwell. ¹⁹ In short, since Mary Banks was a fifth generation American on both sides of the family, her reported membership in an English branch of Rosicrucianism could serve only to obscure the issue of her origin. ²⁰

 

Meanwhile, Mary Henrietta Banks married Captain May Humphreys Stacey on December 9, 1869, at her father’s home in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania. The ceremony was performed by Reverend William Preston, Rector of Saint Andrew’s [Episcopal] Church of Pittsburgh. ²¹

 

Captain Stacey was an adventuresome choice as a husband. In 1857 he crossed the plains to California with Lieutenant Edward F. Beale, who was surveying a wagon route between Alberquerque, New Mexico, and the Colorado River. The only camels that ever crossed the continent were taken by Lt. Beale’s party. ²² After reaching California, May Stacey stayed for over a year, then returned home on a merchant ship via Calcutta and the Cape of Good Hope. In 1859 he was appointed Master’s Mate of the United States steamer Crusader. Soon afterwards, Stacey joined the United States Coast Survey steamer Corwin where he remained until his appointment as first lieutenant in the Union Army. ²³ He was promoted to captain Twelfth Infantry August 19, 1864 and was three times breveted for distinguished services. ²⁴

 

Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Captain May Stacey and his bride Mary became the parents of a daughter and two sons: Delia Van Dycke Stacey born at Hollidaysburg, November 9, 1870; Aubrey Banks Stacey, born at Angel Island, California, February 29, 1872; and, Edward Cecil Cromwell Stacey, born at Camp Halleck, Nevada, February 14, 1876. ²⁵

 

The Staceys were stationed at the most desolate outposts the Army had to offer between 1869 and 1882. According to data in his personnel file Captain Stacey served as commanding officer at the following posts: Fort Grant, Fort Lowell, Fort Mojave, and Fort Thomas, Arizona; Camp Reynolds on Angel Island and Fort Yuma, California; Camp Halleck and Fort McDermit, Nevada. Finally, the Staceys spent their last four Army years at Plattsburg Barracks, and Fort Ontario, New York. ²⁶ Captain Stacey died at Fort Ontario on February 12, 1886 from paralysis caused by the wounds he received in the Civil War. ²⁷ In a short time, May H. Stacey Post No. 586, Grand Army of the Republic was chartered in his honor at Oswego, New York. ²⁸

 

Captain Stacey was buried in Chester, Pennsylvania. Afterward, affidavits obtained by Mary Stacey to secure her widow’s pension indicated that she and her children lived with in-laws in Chester during the period 1886-1887, and with her sister’s family in Baltimore from 1887 to 1891. The report submitted to Congress by Mr. Brady of the committee on pensions stated that Captain Stacey’s death left Mrs. Stacey and three children in needy circumstances. ²⁹ Hence, the necessity of living with relatives was evident. Initially, her pension was $20.00 per month, plus $2.00 per month for each child under sixteen years of age. Three years later, the United States Senate approved a pension of $30.00 per month. ³⁰ Supplemented by financial assistance from her children, she lived on that amount for the remainder of her life.

 

Clearly, times were hard. From 1892 to 1897, Mary Stacey lived in a boarding house at 139 West 41st Street, New York City. Her landlord, Fred Stanley Betts, complained to the War Department that “Mrs. Stacey, the mother of Lieutenant Stacey was $450.00 in arrears for her board bill.” Betts wrote that “she and her son signed a note payable, then moved.” ³¹ Further proof of her sorry financial circumstances may be inferred from a letter written to President McKinley. Of her youngest son, she wrote:

 

-      “He is my main support. . . . I have no political influence, but I have given both my boys to the country. My eldest boy is in Cuba.” ³²

 

In another letter on behalf of her youngest son, Mary Stacey also revealed information about her personal life. On April 26, 1898, she wrote:

 

-      “I am the First Vice President of [the] New York Women’s Republican Association, and worked hard in the Presidential campaign. My son is a New York soldier, so I write to you as our Senator, begging you to use your influence with the President and Secretary of War, to appoint Sergeant Stacey as Second Lieutenant.” ³³

 

Also, February 25, 1898, a friend of the family, Thomas F. Reed, Surveyor of Customs, Port of New York, wrote to General Alger of the War Department on behalf of Sergeant Stacey. Likewise, his letter revealed information about Mary Stacey’s private life. Of Mrs. Stacey, he wrote:

 

-      “With the prominence and loyalty of his father we can add the distinguished and energetic life and labors of his mother Mrs. May Banks Stacey, who is engaged in duties on the rostrum, in our schools, and before societies, teaching the young those lessons of patriotism, which makes our Republic the great and growing power of the world.” ³⁴

 

Mary Stacey had been teaching at the Charlier Institute, a private school, on Sixth Avenue at Fifty-ninth Street, opposite Central Park. ³⁵ Her brother-in-law, Professor Elie Charlier was the founder of the Institute and a French Episcopal minister as well. Moreover, he was Jeannette Stacey’s husband.

 

Consequently, working for her in-laws proved beneficial for Mary Stacey. In addition to the extra income, she found plenty of time to actively campaign for Cromwell’s promotions. Eventually, her efforts were successful. Cromwell was appointed second lieutenant of Infantry at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, on July 15, 1898. ³⁶ During the Spanish American War, he distinguished himself in Puerto Rico and a few years later in the Philippines, ³⁷ while his older brother, Aubrey, never rose above the rank of Sergeant. ³⁸ The following extract is from one of Mary Stacey’s letters to Secretary of War, Elihu Root:

 

« You will see I am with the 19th U.S. Inf. Now at Camp Meade, [Middletown] Pa., with my son Cromwell, 1st Lt. but who has acted Captain all through the Porto Rican Campaign. You may have seen how he covered himself with glory by capturing the famous brigand [Estaban] Garcia. The New York papers [New York World, April 16, 1899] gave Cromwell’s picture and a full account taken from the Porto Rican papers, in which they said Lt. Stacey deserved great things for thus saving the lives and property of the people. »

 

Most important, Cromwell’s military service reports made it possible to accurately document his mother’s places of residence. ³⁹ Therefore, this information combined with the knowledge of her financial circumstances would seem to preclude the notion that Mary Stacey served as an officer of the Rosicrucian Order in India. In fact, existing records support the contention that her personal and financial circumstances made it all but impossible for her to travel anywhere other than from relative to relative.

 

Indeed, Mrs. Stacey prepared a holographic will while residing with her daughter in Atlantic City, New Jersey. She described the extent of her wealth as: “all personal property, viz., jewelry, clothes, bric-a-brack, books, mining shares, and whatever I may possess at death. . . . .” ⁴⁰

 

Mary Stacey died on January 21, 1918 ⁴¹, and her daughter filed the will at the Circuit Court of Cook County, Probate Division, on March 11, 1918. Assets in the estate were about $100.00. ⁴² Sexton’s records from Graceland Cemetery and Crematorium, 4001 North Clark Street, Chicago, Illinois, confirm that Mary Stacey was cremated and her ashes scattered.

 

_ _ _

 

On the whole, sources outside of the Rosicrucian Order (AMORC) pointedly suggest the following:

 

1) Although some of Mary Stacey’s relatives were wealthy, her immediate family lived modestly. And, in spite of hardships, Mary Stacey was always completely devoted to her family. When she died she was living with her daughter in Evanston, Illinois, and her youngest son Cromwell was stationed at nearby Fort Sheridan. It seems unlikely that she would have forsaken her children to embark upon an arduous and expensive journey to India. Consequently, evidence of Stacey’s service as an officer of the Rosicrucian Order in India remains to be discovered. Likewise, it is unclear how Mary Stacey could have been “a member of the English branch which sponsored the first [Rosicrucian] movement in America.”

 

2) Finally, Lewis benefitted from their relationship in ways that were obvious. In contrast, one can only speculate concerning the benefits to Mary Stacey. Therefore, the claims of Harvey Spencer Lewis pertaining to the degree of Stacey’s involvement with his organization must remain questionable. And, since that is the case, it would appear that Lewis’ claims of Rosicrucian authenticity were just as incredulous as the claims of his rivals.

 

 

 

 

 

 

NOTES

 

1. Mr. Rocks is a former member of AMORC and currently the head of Rocks and Associates (Orange, California). As a historian, he is the author of W.C. Fields — An Annotated Guide: Chronology, Bibliographies, Discography, Filmographies, Press Books, Cigarette Cards, Film Clips, and Impersonators (Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarlane, 1993). Mr. Rocks is also the author of two bibliographies of Orange County (California) history: “A Contribution Towards a Bibliography of Orange County, California, Local History, Together with a Checklist of the Publications of the Fine Arts Press of Santa Ana, California” (1971) and Orange County Local History, 1869-1971: A Preliminary Bibliography (1972).

 

2. Mrs. May (Banks) Stacey was Mary Henrietta Banks, the wife of May Humphreys Stacey. The reference to May Banks Stacey was a gender role stereotype whereby her identity was defined by the relationship to her husband.

 

3. Hall, Manly P. The Riddle of the Rosicrucians (Los Angeles: Philosophical Research Society, 1941), 2, 14-15.

 

4. Waite, Arthur Edward. The Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross (London: Rider & Co., 1924), 615-16.

 

5. AMORC is an acronym for the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis.

 

6. Lewis, H. Spencer. “Mrs. May Banks Stacey Matre, Rosae Crucis America.” The American Rosae Crucis. Vol. 1, No.1 (January, 1916): 16-17.

 

7. “The Supreme Matre Emeritus Raised to the Higher Realms.” Cromaat. D (1918): 26-27. [Editor’s note: D refers to vol. 4 of the issue.]

 

8. Rosicrucian Manual. AMORC. (Charleston, W. Va.: Lovett Printing Co., 1927), 13, 128. Lewis claimed that the German Pietists were the first American Rosicrucians. See Julius F. Sachse, The German Pietists of Provincial Pennsylvania, 1694-1708. (New York: AMS Press, 1970), iv, 37. Manly P. Hall, Codex Rosae Crucis. (Los Angeles: Philosophical Research Society, 1974), 33-38 contains a complete description of the so-called secret manuscripts of the first American Rosicrucians.

 

Mrs. Stacey fervently believed that she was a lineal descendant of Oliver Cromwell. However, famed genealogist Francis B. Culver was the first to discover the erroneous Cromwell connections. “Unfortunately, every Cromwell who emigrated to Maryland claimed descendance from the Protector, but, no one has proven a relationship.” Additionally, the eminent Maryland genealogist Harry Wright Newman, wrote that “after studying the foregoing [genealogical] outlines, it shows conclusively that the Maryland Cromwell’s are not descended from Oliver the Puritan, unless they be from his son and namesake, Oliver, who is supposed to have died without issue at the age of twenty-one.” See Newman’s Anne Arundel Gentry. A Genealogical History of Twenty-Two Pioneers of Anne Arundel County, Md., and their descendants. (n.p.: Maryland Pioneer Series, 1933), 4-5.

 

9. Lewis, Ralph M. Rosicrucian Documents (San Jose: Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC, Inc., 1975), 6. Photograph of the Pronunciamento [charter] issued and signed on the occasion of the first meeting of the American Supreme Council of the AMORC in New York City, April 1, 1915. Mary Stacey was not one of the several women who signed the document.

 

10. United States. Census. Schedule I. Hollidaysburg, Blair County, Pennsylvania. August 30, 1850. Family of Thaddeus Banks, House 53, Family 62, page 195.

 

11. Letter to the author from James M. Hanly, Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, Hollidaysburg, PA, dated 16 September 1985. “Thaddeus Banks united with this church in January 9, 1864. . . .”

 

12. Davis, Tarring S. and Lucille Shenk. A History of Blair County, Pennsylvania (Harrisburg: National Historical Association, 1931), II-168. “He [Thaddeus Banks] was the Democratic candidate for judge against Dean and Taylor in 1871, but was defeated.”

 

13. Wiley, Samuel T. and W. Scott Garner. Biographical and Portrait Cyclopedia of Blair County, Pennsylvania. (Chicago: Gresham Publishing Co., 1892), 92.

 

14. History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys, Embraced in the Counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. In Two Volumes. (Philadelphia: Everts, Peck & Richards, 1886), vol. I, 467-68.

 

Ephraim Banks was a native of Lost Creek Valley (now Juniata County); was born January 17, 1791. He came to Lewistown in 1817, and was appointed prothonotary of Mifflin County in 1818 by Governor Freedley. After studying law, was admitted to practice in 1823; was a member of the Legislature in 1826-7-8; a member of the Constitutional Convention in 1837; was elected auditor-general of the State in 1850, and re-elected in 1853. In 1866 he was elected associate judge of Mifflin County, which position he held at the time of his death, in January, 1871.

 

15. Jordan, John W. A History of the Juniata Valley and Its People. Volume I. Illustrated. (New York: Lewis Historical Publishing Co., 1913), 115.

 

16. Montgomery, Thomas Lynch. Pennsylvania Archives, Sixth Series. Volume VII. (Harrisburg: Harrisburg Publishing Co., State Printer, 1907),937. “A general return of the Militia of Pennsylvania for the year 1812. Names of Major Generals: James Banks.”

 

17. Note that James Banks Sr. was born 38 years after the German Pietists settled near Philadelphia.

 

18. History of that part of the Susquehanna and Juniata Valleys embraced in the Counties of Mifflin, Juniata, Perry, Union and Snyder in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I: 824-31. Note: Captain Clinton was also Banks’ landlord.

 

19. The Biographical Cyclopedia of Representative Men of Maryland and District of Columbia. (Baltimore: National Biographical Publishing Co., 1879), 556-57.

 

20. The English branch of AMORC was established in 1921. See the Rosicrucian Forum, 26-4 (February 1956): 95.

 

21. Stacey, Mary H. Affidavit of Marriage to May H. Stacey, dated February 26, 1886. Thomas Dees, Clerk of Orphan’s Court, Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania.

 

22. Fowler, Harlan D., Camels to California. (Stanford: Stanford University Press, 1950),46-67, 92-93. Also see Stacey, May Humphreys. Uncle Sam’s Camels: The Journal of May Humphreys Stacey, Supplemented by the Report of Edward Fitzgerald Beale, 1857-1858, edited by Lewis Burt Lesley. (Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press, 1929).

 

23. Martin, John Hill. Chester and It’s Vicinity, Delaware County in Pennsylvania; with Genealogical Sketches of Some Old Families. (Philadelphia: n.p., 1877), 47.

 

24. United States. Cong. House. Report on May H. Stacey by Mr. Brady from the committee on pensions. 49th Congress. 2nd Session. House Report 3694. January 20, 1887. Note: A brevet is a commission giving a military officer higher nominal rank than that for which he receives pay. However, such a commission, carries no right of command. It may be conferred by the President of the United States by and with the consent of the Senate upon officers of the Army and Marine Corps for distinguished conduct and public service in the presence of the enemy.

 

25. Stacey, Mary H. Affidavit of Birth and Baptism of Children of Captain and Mrs. Stacey, dated March 8, 1886. J. N. Shanafelt, City Recorder, City of Chester, Delaware County, Pennsylvania. All three of the Stacey children were baptized by Episcopal ministers.

 

26. United States. Adjutant General’ s Office. Personnel File 2930, May H. Stacey. 124 leaves.

 

27. United States. Cong. House. Report on May H. Stacey by Mr. Brady from the committee on pensions. 49th Congress. 2nd Session. House Report 3694. January 20, 1887.

 

28. Boyd’ s Oswego City Directory, 1895-96, 75. The original Post Charter and the membership register is in the archives of the New York State Library at Albany. Note: The Grand Army of the Republic was a Civil War veteran’s organization.

 

29. United States. Cong. House. Report on May H. Stacey by Mr. Brady, from the committee on pensions. 49th Congress. 2nd Session. House Report 3694. January 20, 1887.

 

30. United States. Cong. Senate. Report on May H. Stacey by Mr. Paddock from the committee on pensions. 50th Congress. 2nd Session. Report 2560. February 8, 1889.

 

31. Betts, Fred Stanley. Bills Owed by Mrs. May Banks Stacey since May 1, 1898. Letter to War Department, dated May 1, 1899. Betts wrote, “Since that date I have heard not a word from either of them, and it seems to me that I have been done out of my money, unless the department in some way induces Lieutenant Stacey to uphold the honor of a United States Army Officer by meeting his just obligations.”

 

32. Stacey, Mary H. Letter to President McKinley re: Promotion of Cromwell Stacey, dated [illegible], 1898. Her statement, “Again, Mr. President, I beg as a soldier’s widow, as a Grand Army woman, and as a Mason [?], for your help.” This is puzzling. Since women were not allowed into the fraternity proper, she may have meant a women’s masonic auxiliary, which would imply that Captain Stacey was a Mason. To be sure, she did not mean Co-Masonry because it was not established in America until 1903.

 

33. Stacey, May Banks. Letter to [New York] Senator concerning promotion of Cromwell Stacey. April 26, 1898. Name of Senator covered by transmittal notation to the Secretary of War.

 

34. Reed, Thomas F. Letter from Office of the Surveyor of Customs, Port of New York to General Russell A. Alger, War Department concerning Cromwell Stacey. February 25, 1898.

 

35. Eyre, Lawrence. Family Records of the Stacey Family and their Connections. (n.p., n.p., [1936]), 32-33.

 

36. Stacey, Cromwell. Oath of Office. July 15, 1898.

 

37. United States. Army. Headquarters Philippines Div., Manila, P. I. January 26, 1906. General Orders No. 6. Commendation of Cromwell Stacey.

 

38. United States. Army. Register of Enlistment, Aubrey B. Stacey. May 7, 1904, Entry 1487, page 188. May 22, 1908, Entry 1353, page 102. February 7, 1911, Entry 618, page 240.

 

39. United States. Adjutant General’s Office. Personnel File 9250, Cromwell Stacey. Microfilm, 1204 frames. Extracted from Officer’s Individual Service Report:

 

1898-1899 101 West 40th Street, New York City

1899-1902 137 West 67th Street, New York City

1902-1903 47 West 63rd Street, New York City

1903-1904 160 St. Charles Place, Atlantic City, NJ

1904-1905 816 11th Street, NW, Washington, DC

1906-1907 Hotel Fredonia, Washington, DC

1908-1910 160 St. Charles Place, Atlantic City, NJ

1911-1917 26 East 25th Street, Baltimore, MD

1917-1918 1003 Davis Street, Evanston, IL

 

40. Stacey, May Banks. The Last Will & Testament of May Banks Stacey, Atlantic City, New Jersey, February 16, 1904. I leaf.

 

41. Certificate of Death, State of Illinois, Bureau of Vital Statistics. Mary B. Stacey. Date of Death: January 21, 1918. Filed: February 5, 1918.

 

42. Naramore, Milton O. Attorney for Delia (Stacey) Muller. Letter to Bureau of Pensions, dated June 6, 1918. “There was no property left by the widow except a few personal effects contained in trunks which are in storage in New York City.”