At the beginning of 1916, Harvey Spencer
Lewis, the founder of AMORC, installed his first temple in a building located
at 70 West 87th street, in New York, but Lewis later moved the temple to
another part of the city, to the mansion located at 361 West 23rd street, which
had been the home of the famous singer Lily Langtry.
WHEN DID THAT HAPPEN?
Early in 1918, Lewis
announced that he intended to move his temple to larger premises, in his Cromaat B magazine (February 1918), he
wrote:
«
ANOTHER SUPREME GRAND LODGE PROBLEM
Once more the problem of moving the
Supreme Grand Temple and Executive Offices to larger spice confronts us. Last
year [1917] we tried to avoid the situation, because of the delay in work and
the tremendous cost involved. Therefore, we simply increased our space where we
were. This we can no longer do, and we really need four to five times the amount
of floor space we now have There is but one way our. We must have a large and
well appointed building —a real Temple— for our exclusive use.
What we have in mind will most surely
please our Members throughout America. We cannot —or rather will not— speak of
it now. Our purpose in making this brief reference to the moving, is to prepare
an excuse in the minds of many for a possible delay in answering letters and
doing many other things, long about the middle of March and into April.
Then we shall ask for donation —not
particularly of money, but of those little things which mean so much in an
Oriental Temple. Many have in storage or not in use, small Oriental or foreign
rugs, pictures, odd chairs and other pieces of furniture as well as draperies and
what-nots. These would not he missed, if sent to us, and we will then ask for
such things to help make the new Temple just what every visitor to it would
have it. Make an inventory of what you can send, and then let us know. Every
little antique or oddity will be greatly appreciated. »
(p.32-33)
HOW WAS THIS TEMPLE?
In this
regard Lewis in his brochure Cromaat E
wrote the following:
«
THE NEW SUPREME GRAND LODGE TEMPLE
At last we have secured our own permanent Supreme Temple. This is so
important to all our members throughout the North American Jurisdiction that it
is imperative they should be thoroughly conversant with all the details
regarding this most important National acquisition.
All our members know that since the establishment of our noble Order in
this jurisdiction the rapid growth has made it necessary to move our
headquarters several times, only to find after being settled a few months that
the space was not sufficient to permit us efficiently to perform the work. Therefore,
after the most matured consideration, it was decided to take steps which would
insure a permanent home for the Supreme Grand Lodge of sufficient size to take
care of the increasing demands for the next ten years, nr more.
Excellent location
After months of searching, we were unusually fortunate in locating a
most desirable site in an especially attractive environment and with a very
appropriate structure. This property is in the heart of the very old and
exclusive Chelsea District, one of the former landmarks of the aristocracy of
Manhattan Island. All of the Chelsea District is restricted property and the conveying
deeds contain covenants which forbid the erection of any business buildings or
the operation of any manufactory or trade in the structures or edifices in the
neighborhood.
For many years that district was the very center of the social and
ethical activities of New York City. In that neighborhood and in fact almost
adjoining our property are many fine residences of the Colonial and French
type. Just three short squares from our site is the old Chelsea Square, bounded
by 19th and 20th Streets and 9th and 10th Avenues. In the center of this
beautiful park is the General Theological Seminary, built by the Episcopal Church
in 1822.
The site we have selected is a plot fifty feet wide facing on the north
side of Twenty-Third Street with a depth of one hundred and forty-two and a
half feet, together with an exit on Twenty-Fourth Street by means of a driveway
of fifty-five feet long and eight feet wide. In other words the plot extends
into and occupies a large part of the adjoining property on Twenty-Fourth
Street and gives us the advantage of the building site on that street. This
also greatly enhances the value of the plot.
Twenty-Third Street is one of New York’s principal cross-town
thorough-fares. It is wider than most streets and is one of the main arteries
of transportation from the East to the West side of the Island. At the Western
terminal, just a few squares beyond our site, are the several ferries and
railroad offices of the Pennsylvania, Baltimore & Ohio, Erie, Central R. R.
of New Jersey and Lackawanna Lines, as well as the piers of the great trans-Atlantic
Steamship Companies.
Through Twenty-Third Street passes several trolley hues and at Ninth
Avenue, near our site, is the Ninth Avenue Elevated Railroad station. On Eighth
Avenue is a North and South trolley line connecting with all other lines and on
Seventh Avenue, just two short squares away, is the Twenty-Third Street station
of the new Seventh Avenue Subway, connecting with all oilier rapid transit
subway lines.
Thus, our new Temple will be easily reached from any part of the Greater
City or from any railroad entering New York from the East, West, North or
South, and we find it located among New York’s well-known structures, which arc
the Flatiron Building, Masonic Temple, Fifth Avenue Building, Metropolitan
Life Insurance Building and many others.
Description of this property
The building on the site is a French Villa. This was the feature which
attracted us so greatly to this particular place. W e cannot forget our love
for France and the debt we owe to her for the existence of our Order in
America. It seems especially appropriate that our Supreme Temple should be
located in a building so pure in French architecture and so typically “Français”
in its environment.
The photograph of the building, shown on a following page, reveals the
very pleasing and artistic garden in front of the building and the typically
French high railing facing the street. The building sets back forty-six feet
from this railing providing a drive way to the pretty porch and entrance.
The building is of red brick trimmed with grey stone and white marble. It
has three stories and high basement and there are seventeen large rooms and several
smaller rooms above the ground level. When it was designed spacious halls and
rooms were featured for within its walls was to reside the famous actress,
Lillian Langtry, and during her occupancy were held many social affairs
attended by the ultra-fashionable of America and the nobility of Europe.
Description of the interior
On entering the building, we note a beautiful wide hall running through
the center and the entire depth of the building, on either side of which,
facing the front, are large rooms which will be occupied as the Imperator's and
the Supreme Grand Secretary’s private offices respectively. In the rear of the
Imperator's office, there is a very attractive and comfortable Library with a wide
open fire-place, beamed ceiling, paneled walls, specially made bookcases and
parquet floor. Here will be found comfortable chairs, large tables and an
excellent collection of occult, philosophical and scientific books and
manuscripts.
In the roar of the Secretary's Office will be located the printing and
publishing department of the Order, and to the side of this, adjoining the
Secretary's office will be the Chemical, Physical and Biological Laboratories
with glass roof and tiled walls and floor. Adjoining the printing rooms there
will be an editorial and mailing room.
In the large basement will be the store-rooms, the photographic
dark-room, the mechanical workshop, the heating plant, etc.
A wide-stairway leading from the main entrance hall takes one to the
second floor where will be located the Supreme Grand Lodge Room. This will
extend East and West across the entire front of this floor. It will be
necessary to remove several partitions and to make many important alterations
in this part of the building, so that we may have a Lodge Room of exceptional
size and with many special appointments and appropriately decorated in the
style of Egyptian Temples.
Adjoining the Lodge Room, to the East, will be the Master's Retiring
Room and the HARMONIUM, a room designed for personal treatment work and
equipped with the most modern electrical devices and other facilities utilized
in our higher demonstrations. To the side of the Lodge Room, in the West, will
be the Chamber and the Antechamber used during the Initiations. These are to be
decorated in the style of Egyptian Grottos with long, dark, grotto-like, Temple
passageways connecting them, On this floor will also he located the New York
Grand Lodge Room, wherein will be held the sessions of that Lodge, the National
Lodge and other visiting bodies.
On the Third floor are a number of rooms which will be used for
treatments, electrical experiments, photographic work, study rooms, guest rooms
for out-of-town visitors, and the living quarters of the Guardian of the
Temple.
Members are asked to help purchase this property
Certainly this new Temple gives us a wonderfully complete edifice for
permanent possession, and, as the headquarters of the entire Order, it is the
neucleus of all the Lodges in this Jurisdiction and, therefore, becomes of
vital importance and interest to every Brother and Sister.
This property is valued by the City of New York in its tax assessments
at $66’000.00, The sale price has been $75’000.00 for several years, but
through the kindly endeavors of our Temple Committee, we have been able to
secure the property for two-thirds the asking price, this constituting one of
the most fortunate and favorable real estate bargains to be obtained in so
exclusive a section of New York.
In order to pay for the necessary alterations and decorations and to
raise the amount called for in the purchase contract, the American Supreme
Council after presenting their plans to various authorities have decided to
adopt three different forms of donations and to make an appeal to our members
throughout the jurisdiction by means of this monograph and through other
personal channels.
It must, of course, be understood by our members that the Order, since
its inception, has at no time had any features or elements of commercialism and
this fact is proven by the nominal initiation fee and dues maintained in all
jurisdictions. However, it is a recognized fact that for the proper propagating
of our noble work there must be some sort of revenue to pay for the rent,
literature, and the thousand and one expenses that are necessary to permit the
Order to increase its field of activities.
The very first necessity in our human sphere of life is a home, and this
is especially applicable to our Order. If it is to meet the great demand that
is being made upon it, there must be a neucleus from which will eminate
vibrations that will bring joy and peace to those who are so helplessly
floundering in the mire of ignorance or darkness. Therefore, is it not fitting
and, in fact, our bounden duty to humanity that we who have been fortunate enough
to have been permitted to Cross the Threshold, should take it upon ourselves to
supply this first great necessity of our noble Order?
It is a known fact that every member feels he or she must perform some
worthy deed during this incarnation. Brothers and Sisters, here is your
opportunity! Do not casually or lightly pass over this subject Reflect and
analyze the noble principle upon which our Order was founded — “Universal
Brotherhood” Is it an empty phrase to you? Or are you willing to strive to help
make it what it means?
It is a subject which demands your deepest consideration now, while humanity
is in the throes of a world conflict. Let us prepare for the great epoch which
past Masters have prophesied would begin with the year 1920. Already evidences
point to the fulfilling of this great promise, and Rosaecrucians throughout the
world look to America, as the mariner looks to a Beacon Light. Hence, let us
all stand united in this great cause and do that which our material conditions
permit.
The building must be placed in a condition which will be suitable for
our work and therefore considerable alterations will have to be made. For this
purpose one form of donation known as “Alteration Donations” has been
instituted and members who wish to help in this manner should so mark their
donation blanks
Another form will be the “Furnishing Donations”. This large and spacious
building must be decorated and such articles as draperies, furniture, rugs,
pictures, antiques and books will he gratefully appreciated.
The third form is the “Temple Fund Donations”. According to the terms of
our Purchase Contract, we must raise the sum of $50’000.00 by May 1st, 1919 and
to meet this obligation a systematic form of donating must be adopted;
therefore we suggest the daily thrift plan whereby each member will give a
stated sum each day for the next 365 days.
According to this if a member can give ten cents per day, for instance,
a blank should be filled out for $36.50 and sent to the Treasurer of the Fund
and on the first of each month thereafter a remittance of $3.00 should be sent
to the Fund. In this manner we will know just exactly what amount will be
donated to the Fund at the beginning of our campaign.
The money thus received will be deposited in the Pacific Bank of New
York in a separate account known as the Supreme Grand Lodge Temple Fund, with
the Imperator and Supreme Grand Secretary as Trustees. Of course less or more
than ten cents per clay may be donated. Some small personal sacrifices will
easily provide this small amount.
This is your Supreme Grand Lodge Temple, Brothers and Sisters. It is not
a Temple to some ancient or modern idol; it is not a tomb or monument to some
great king; nor is it a personal memorial to some Officer or Lodge of our
Order. It is to be owned by the whole Order in North America and by its members
collectively and individually.
From a monetary point of view, it is a remarkable investment. The
property is increasing in value and because of the restricted neighborhood the
plot of ground will prove an excellent asset should we ever desire to sell the
land and build a larger Temple elsewhere. But for many years to come the
present building will suffice and every dollar put into the property will yield
great returns to the Order, not so much in dollars and cents for the immediate
future, but in the increased membership, added prestige, greater service and
more efficient help to every Lodge and every member.
Brothers and Sisters make this your Temple, a great testimony to service
and unselfishness by first having it properly decorated and furnished and then
by having it fully paid. Address all donations to the “Treasurer of the Supreme
Grand Lodge Temple Fund.” No donations should be made anonymously, for we wish
to have a permanent record of every dollar received. But, if you desire, your
full name will be with held in the published list of donations, although there
is no reason for any one to request this. The Fund has just started and every
member in North America should feel it a duty as well as a privilege to give to
this Fund. The list of donations will be published in Cromaat each month.
THE TEMPLE COMMITTEE.
»
(p.43-49)
SPENCER LEWIS HAS PROBLEMS PAYING
THIS BUILDING
In order to
acquire this property, Lewis asked the members of AMORC for donations, but this
coincided with the fact that one of Lewis's closest associates, Mr. Alfred H. Saunders,
who had been editor of AMORC's magazine, The
American Rosae Crucis, learning of Lewis's quackery and shady dealings, he resigned
from all his positions and renounced his affiliation with AMORC.
Many members
of AMORC learning that Mr. Sanders, a man who had a great honesty reputation,
had left; they also decided to leave AMORC and the result was a significant
decrease in membership, which made it very difficult for Lewis to continue
paying the mortgage, and that is why he decided to issue bonds at 6% interest
with the excuse to undertake the works of the building and conditioning of the
new temple.
But as time
passed and the works and conditioning of the mansion and the temple were not
undertaken, the members began to worry and not receiving a satisfactory answer,
this caused discontent among many, which led several members to make a
complaint against Lewis which in turn led the police raided this property and
the arrest of Lewis.
These events
were published in the New York newspaper The
Sun on June 18, 1918 (link) and June 19, 1918 (link).
In the end
the charges were deemed insufficient and the indictment was withdrawn, but the
matter was never fully resolved. Lewis could not continue paying the mortgage
and he accepted the offer made by a confectioner industrialist named Willem Reisener
who became his protector and financed the transfer of AMORC to the city of San
Francisco in 1919.
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