AMORC'S FIRST ADVERTISEMENT

 

This is the first newspaper advertisement to promote AMORC that Harvey Spencer Lewis had just founded on February 1915 in New York. This article was published in The Globe newspaper on February 24, 1915, and the text reads as follows:

 

 

 

OLDEST FRATERNAL SOCIETY IN WORLD TO HAVE BRANCH HERE

 

Ancient and Mystical Order of Rosaea Crucis to Have American Lodge – Men and Women on Equal Footing – Cross Used Said to Antedate Christ by 1,700 Years – Many Distinguished Members.

 

Would you like greater peace of mind, greater control of emotion, ability to rise above the material conditions of life, capacity for greater physical and mental recreation, a better understanding of life, a deeper insight into its possibilities - in other words, to draw from life the best there is in it?

 

You would, of course, and so would your neighbor. Well, then, become members of the Ancient and Mystical Order of Rosaea Crucis, which is now organizing an American lodge.

 

The Rosaea Crucis is not to be confused with the Red Cross Society. There is nothing charitable or religious about it, despite the feet that the cross is its emblem. It is the "oldest fraternal and secret organization in the world," a prospectus states, and -uffragists please note– the first organization known in history where women were accepted on equal footing and were eligible to the highest office.

 

It has had, and still has, some distinguished members, among whom might be mentioned, according to the claims of the Rosicrucians, Napoleon, Henry II, of England, King Louis the Pious, Lord Bulwer Lytton, and Lord Bacon, Dr. Alexis Carrel of the Rockefeller Institute, who is now at Lyons directing surgical treatment for wounded French soldiers, and Marie Corelli, the novelist, are members of European lodges, it is claimed. An ex-president of the United States is also said to be a Rosicrucian.

 

 

 

Antedates Christ

 

Rosaea Crucis means rosy cross. The cross used by the Rosicrucians as a symbol antedates Christ by 1,700 years, they claim. Where the arms of the cross meet in the Rosicrucian symbol appears a half unfolded red rose. The symbol signifies that through the cross the members of die order unfold as does die rose.

 

The family of Thotmis IV, founded the order and built the temple of Kamak and other temples, and were instrumental in having stored in the pyramids and other safe places the emblems and signs of material sciences and accomplishments. Realizing that some day knowledge might be wiped out, the family of Thotmis decided to store in the pyramids philosophies and secrets which could not be transcribed or otherwise indicated to perpetuate them for "time eternal." Astrology, the Rosicrucians claim, was thus handed down through the ages, finally becoming the science of astronomy.

 

The order is fraternal, like the Masons, which the Rosicrucians claim, sprang from the order of Rosaea Crucis, the seventeenth degree of Masonry, it is claimed being an admission of its debt tothe Rosicrucians. Outgrowths of the Rosaea Crucis, it is stated, are the Knights of die Rosy Cross in England and the Societe Rosicruciana in France.

 

Rosicrucians in the United States have been dying for half a century to obtain the right to establish a lodge here, according to H. Spencer Lewis, American foundation president, of 130 Post Avenue, who is also president of the New York Institute of Psychical Research.

 

 

 

Jewels and Symbols

 

"After fifty years of pleading, negotiating, and preparation, the supreme authorities have granted the right to establish such a lodge," he said. "The supreme consuls in Egypt and India designated Mrs. May Banks-Stacey, widow of Colonel Stacey, U.S.A., to bring the jewels and symbols to this country. She also has the rosary used by the family of Thotmis about 1,500 B.C. The chain is made of skin, set with rubies, turquoises, amethysts, and other stones bearing weird hieroglyphics."

 

Mr. Lewis explained that Mrs. Banks-Stacey was a lineal descendant on her mother's side of Maty Stuart, and on her father's side of Cromwell. The qualifications for membership, as he explained them are:

 

Age, over twenty-one years, belief in a Supreme Deity, good moral character and habits, and belief in the philosophy of the Rosicracians. No one can become a member until he is invited, but one may apply for this privilege. The minute one becomes a member he or she realizes what a wonderful thing the Rosaea Crucis is, Mr. Lewis explained.

 

"When the initiates on entrance to the order pass through the threshold," he said, "they have a most wonderful revelation of what can be done in the science of spiritual and material things. They get their first convincing evidence of the Rosicrucian control of great natural phenomena.

 

"They must take an oath to hold sacred above all other things the innermost secrets and teachings of the order. They pledge themselves to accomplish at least one thing for the betterment of mankind before they die. It is a matter of mortal life and immortal life for them to reveal secrets. To break the pledge of the order invites all the disaster of life and condemns the soul and innermost man to all punishment hereafter."

 

 

 

No Oaths in Court

 

The Rosicrucians never take an oath in court. They make the sign of the cross. They don't believe in heaven or hell, as "Billy" Sunday expounds it. They believe with certain modifications in the theory of reincarnation. They have a marriage ceremony which is performed previous to the civil ceremony, a christening and funeral service of their own, said to be very impressive and beautiful.

 

The lodges hold monthly meetings at which the officers wear robes. The dues are nominal, the "great expenses of the order being furnished in an unknown and unusual manner." The question of finances never gives the lodges any concern, Mr. Lewis said. There are not sick benefits or insurance, but the members see to it that no one of their fellows is ever in want.

 

"Any one who doubts that Rosicrucians is not well founded," said Mr. Lewis in conclusion, "should go up to the Astor Library, there are thirty books on the subject there and a catalogue of some 360 books published in nine languages. There are also more than 300 manuscripts in the public libraries. There are between 5,000,000 and 6,000,000 members of the order."

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OBSERVATIONS

 

This article repeats the lies that Spencer Lewis made up about the Rosicrucians, and Mrs. Banks-Stacey is also mentioned, who was supposedly a great Rosicrucian initiate and the co-founder of AMORC, but that is false as I demonstrate in this other article (see link).