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The Authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity in the Americas and the Isles of the Sea
Welcome to the authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity that was first instituted in Germany in 1614. This Fraternity brought together into one organization the various associations of individuals previously known as the Hermetists, Pythagoreans, Magi, Platonists, Gnostics, Alchemists, and Paracelsians. The Rosicrucian Fraternity existed in America prior to the First American Revolution. In 1774, the great Council of Three (the Fraternity's ultimate governing body) was composed of Benjamin Franklin, George Clymer and Thomas Paine. Thomas Paine was later succeeded by Lafayette, who, like Benjamin Franklin, was a member of the Paris Rosicrucian lodge “Humanidad.” In 1842, the Great Council of Three was revitalized by the novelist, George Lippard, who rewrote the exoteric ritual, giving it a patriotic-Christian basis. During the Civil War this Great Council was composed of Paschel Beverly Randolph, General Ethan Allen Hitchcock and Abraham Lincoln. What are the fundamental teachings of the Rosicrucian Fraternity? The Fraternitas Rosae Crucis teaches that there is one God, the Creator and source of all. That within each of us is buried a particle of the Divine element, a Divine Spark, of and from God. This celestial spark is our soul. Furthermore, God gave us the gift of free will and the opportunity to either diminish or grow this tiny spark by our mode of life; by our thoughts, desires and actions. To develop this celestial soul spark, we must transmute (change) our lower nature and increase the feeling of love within our being. The end result of our efforts is to build this soul spark into a glorious, conscious Soul that forms a direct link between the individual and God. This state of spiritual development is termed Soul Consciousness or Soul Illumination. Illumination of the Soul is symbolized by the fully bloomed rose in the center of the cross of transmutation, the Rosy Cross. The mission of the Fraternitas Rosæ Crucis is to guide individuals, one by one, on the Path toward the ultimate of their Divine Inheritance, Soul Consciousness followed by God Consciousness. What is the character of a dedicated student of the Rosicrucian Fraternity? He or she, is one who, because of their physical, mental and spiritual attainment, is considered qualified as a member of the esoteric Rosicrucian Fraternity. The true Neophyte in the Fraternity is first of all a seeker after wisdom and an aspirant after the deepest truths knowable to humankind. This wisdom is not sought for selfish purposes, but to enable the individual to better help their fellow mortals; to better qualify the Neophyte to serve God and humanity, and thus be better able to aid their fellow humans in their struggle to raise themselves to higher levels. To help you to
further understand just what the Rosicrucian Fraternity is, it might help to
tell you what it is not. It is not a social lodge or organization.
Although students do have an opportunity to gather on Beverly Hall
grounds during teaching sessions called Convocations, these meetings are
for the spiritual development of the individual and not for
sociability. Nor is it only a center for the distribution of ancient
mystic knowledge. Although it does do this, but only in so far as it
helps the student's own personal Spiritual development. Likewise, it
does not confer spiritual degrees on its students by ritual
alone. Such rituals are only valid when they merely confirm a state of
Spiritual growth that the student has already earned by his or her own personal
efforts. If you desire further understanding of underlying philosophy and Arcane Teachings of this Ancient Spiritual Fraternity then click the link below or the Teachings tab above. |
P.O. Box 220