Rosicrucian Digest, December 1937

8/12/2019 Rosicrucian Digest, December 1937

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CEMBER1937

pat cop*


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The Secret of Success

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Accommodates a year'smonographs. Is durable

and attractive. Has ahandy reference index.

Price $1.00 ea.

Only $2.50 fora lot of three.

The fundamental law of success vs order. Systematic

arrangement of your thoughts, your plans and your acts,

assures you against lost time. The greatest genius is at a

disadvantage if he is compelled to search for his imple-ments, pen, or brush when inspired. The student is equally

striving against odds if his monographs or lessons are

haphazardly filed, requiring a shuffling of pages, a sorting

of manuscripts, each time a point, principle, law, or fact

is sought. There is no greater torment than the tantalizing

thought that you possess the needed information, but just

cannot locate it. There is no wisdom so useless as that just

beyond recall. Why not begin today to file your mono-

graphs methodically? We have prepared a specially made,

serviceable and attractive lesson binder for this purpose.

This special binder will accommodate a year's monographs.

It is very attractive, and stamped in gold with the symbol

and name of the Order. It contains an index form for in-

dexing the subjects of your monographs for quick refer

ence, and is made of durable material.

T h e R O S I C R U C I A N S U P P L Y B U R E A UROSICRUCIAN PARK SAN JOSE, CALIFORNIA


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4

**

*

N J E AR LY i

^ ^ life that

wo thousand years ago a

a cause might live in the

Man gave His

hearts of men.

T h e A M O R C S t a r r

While peoples are divided in opinion as to the time

and nature ol His birth, and who shall be the inter-

preter o! His words, the need lor His cause confronts

them all. 1he exercise of indepe ndent thought. Iree

dom to seek happiness where one may without a vio-

lation of peace on earth, is what all rational men seek.

I hat end can be attained, so His cause exp ounded, only

through manifesting good will toward all men.

I hough theology, with its creeds and dogm as, may con-tuse His precepts, and historians may question the

incidents ol His life, no clearer solution to the problem

ol human strife has ever been given. ir ci. ristmas ac-

complishes nothing else than a pause in the mad rush

of human endeavor, during which men reflect upon the

omnipotence ol the Divinity, the brotherhood ol man.

and have a sympathetic understanding ol each other,

I lis ca us e wi II not h av e perish ed. If one can find no

other reason, let it at least be hallowed as a day of

communion among men.

W e exte nd to each an d every member and Iriend onthis occasion with the full import of its meaning . . .

Christmas Greetings


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T H E T E M P L E O F T H E S P H IN X

The Temple of the Sphinx, shown above, was one of many oblong valley-temples connected with the pyramids,on the plateau above, by long stone causeways. The granite blocks forming the rows of pillars shown here weighapproximately twenty tons each. In this temple many mystical ceremonies were conducted in ancient times. Fromhere processions began their trek to the Great Pyramid of Gizeh, seen inthe background.

(Courtesy o[ The Rosicrucian Digest.)


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The

Rosicruciati

Digest

December

1937

TOSTHE

THOUGHT OF THE MONTH"SHA LL WE GO TO WAR?"

By THE IMPERATOR4-rft

HE rapidly evolv-ing political con-ditions throughout

the world, and thea t t i t u d e of theAmerican Govern-ment and otherforms of govern-ment, in regard tothreatening warsand war activities,are being serious-ly d i scussed byour members in

the United States and elsewhere andare resulting in considerable corres-

pondence coming to us on this subject.I think it right, therefore, that we dis-

cuss this matter here and now because,as our new pamphlet containing thepredictions of 1938 will show, ourAmerican Government and country israpidly approaching the time when itwill participate in another war inforeign lands, or at least will participatein the strife and contention, and call forthe use of the Army and Navy.

I do not want to enter into an outlineof the predictions contained in the new

booklet, for all of you will receive a copyof it in due time, but I do want to antici-pate many of the letters that will bewritten to us.

The most general type of letter asksthis very definite question pertaining toour individual Karma: "If we are calledupon or permit ourselves to be drawninto the war as individual soldiers orfighters, is there any way we can pos-sibly avoid bringing upon ourselves un-fortunate Karma by joining such war-fare activities?

As I have said on many occasions, allRosicrucians everywhere in the worldare peace loving individuals and will

make any sacrifice in their personal livesand positions to prevent war and bringpeace not only in their own country, butamong any and all of the peoples andnations of the world. All real Rosicru-cians look upon war and the sheddingof blood as not only a horrible catastro-phe, a useless, senseless waste and de-struction of property, and a retrogessionof civilization, but as a fruitless methodof attaining or acquiring anything.The inevitable result of all warfare isthat even the victor is the loser. Look-

ing at it coolly and unemotionally andfree from any spiritual or mystical pointof view, nothing is really attained thatis constructive and beneficial by suchwanton destruction of life and property,and the setback in the progress of thesciences, arts , culture, morals , andethics is a horrible and terrible price topay for the supposed benefit that wouldaccrue from any kind of war. But onthe other hand, there is another angleto the entire matter and it behooves atrue Rosicrucian as a true citizen of his

country to view the matter from bothangles and both sides of the question.

Whether or not you as an individualbelieve in war, or want to go to war, orare willing to go to war and participatein bloodshed and the destruction ofproperty, is purely a personal matterthat cannot enter into your considera-tion of your duties or obligations toyour country, or the country in whichyou live. Next to your duty to God andto your fellow man is your duty to yourcountry, to the nation in which you are

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living, to the collective body of peopleswho represent your fellow citizens. Ifyou are living in any country and en-joying the benefits of its protection, thebenefits of its development, and the

blessings of the land, and the guidanceof its officials, you are duty bound torepay your country or the land in whichyou live, and the government whichprotects you, by obeying its official de-crees and participating in its official ac-tivities whether you personally believethey are right or wrong.

The proper time to determine whetheryour country is right or wrong in its at-titudes, in its principles, and in its activ-ities is when you are given an oppor-tunity to express your opinion by vote,

or when you assist in the making of itslaws and in the creation of its funda-mental constitutional laws and amend-ments. If you, through failure to vote, oran indifference in voting, are part of anation whose majority of individualcitizens approves of war and elects of-ficials and directors who approve ofwar, or who will institute war, then youare duty bound to comply with theconditions and accept the resultingKarma.

For a moment let us view it from the

other angle. Would it be fair for youto decide now in the face of possiblewar that you are not a part of the ma-jority, or part of the nation or country,because you have a different opinion re-garding war and do not want to partici-pate in war? Would it be fair for youto say that you are one with your coun-try in all of its blessings, in all of itspeaceful activities, and ready to accepteverything that you approve of, but thatwhen it comes to something you do notapprove of, you will isolate yourself and

let the other citizens do what you areunwilling to do? In other words is itfair for you to stay home and remain ina peaceful, inactive, nonpartisan atti-tude, and allow the other fellow to riskhis life, to shed the blood of another, toparticipate in war, and to do the thingsthat may bitterly arouse his antipathy,but to which he submits as a duty andobligation which he owes to hiscountry?

Your individual Karma is so closelyconnected with, or affected by the

Karma of the country in which you live,Four hundred five

that you cannot blow hot or cold onthat Karma and say it shall be onlygood Karma, or that you will give yourwholehearted support only to the thingsthat are pleasant and agreeable to you.

The time for you to make a distinctionbetween what you think is right andwrong, and to avoid being called intounpleasant or unfortunate duties is atthe 1 Hot box, or in the assistance ofthe f mation of national and internationa movements that will do awaywith .he wrong ideas, the errors ofthought, the causes of war and the mis-understanding and disagreements.

No nation is any stronger or anyweaker than the opinions of its people.No nation can do anything except with

the approval of the majority of itspeople. If all American, British, Japa-nese, Chinese, Italian, Russian, andGerman citizens determine unanimous-ly that they do not want any more war,there would be no officials, dictators,or rulers, who would dare to suggeststarting a war or participating in a war.

And if the majority of the people ineach country were in perfect agreementand accord regarding the ending of allwars, the small minority that seems towant war constantly, and to benefit bywar, or glorify war, would be afraid tomake even the slightest suggestion ofwar in the future.

In other words, the fault does not liewith the government, the rulers, or withluck or chance, or with Karma. Thefault lies right with each one of us andif throughout the peaceful years wemake no move and fail to use our mindpower to direct and control the laws ofour country to do away with war, thenit is too late when our nations begin to

plan war for us to crawl into convenientshells and raise the white flag and pro-claim ourselves conscientious objectors,spiritual beings, noncombatants, andeverything else that the average in-dividual deems himself when he refusesto participate in war. Instead of remain-ing silent objectors throughout thepeaceful years and becoming conscien-tious objectors only when war is athand, we should be conscientious anddetermined objectors from morninguntil night, and from one end of the

year to the other until war is so out-


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lawed in the human consciousness andin the statutes and laws of every coun-try, and in our plans and thoughts ofthe future, that the question of war willnever arise and there will never be anoccasion for men and women to decide

among themselves on which side theywill be or what attitude they will take.

In the Great W ar many hundreds ofour Rosicrucian members were active atthe front in the trenches, and battlefields, and also in the hospitals, and inengineering and constructive depart-ments, and we are proud to say, inmany departments that took care of thehumanitarian and rehabilitation activi-ties. There was a Rosicrucian memberwho sat in a private office in Washing-ton throughout the American participa-

tion in the war and acted as secret edi-tor of all of the war dispatches and warnews. It was also a Rosicrucian whoworked out some of the secret codesand ciphers that were used in helpingto prevent unexpected and horriblecatastrophies and disasters. It was aRosicrucian who used personal funds toimprove one of the most essential de-partments in one of the largest re-habilitation hospitals so that thousandsof injured soldiers might be able to earn

a livelihood again and be relieved fromsuffering and pain throughout the re-mainder of their lives. It was a Rosi-crucian who turned a vast estate into ahome and grounds for children whowere orphans as a result of the war.

I could tell many stories of the won-derful humanitarian activities of ourRosicrucian members throughout theW orld W ar. Yet every one of themwas ready, if called upon, to take uparms alongside of others, and assumethe responsibilities of his acts, and as-sume the Karmic debt of the nation inobeying the dictates of his country as agood and useful citizen.

As a good Rosicrucian you shouldpray, hope, and aspire for universalpeace and universal brotherhood, but

you should first prepare yourself tounderstand how to bring about uni-versal peace by creating universal loveand toleration in your own heart, andthen helping to spread it to the heartsof other human beings. But this duty asa Rosicrucian should not supplant theother great duty that of assisting inpreventing war by exercising yourprivilege as a citizen and a voter, ratherthan by shirking your duty or modify-ing that duty in time of war.

V V V

R E A D T H E R O S I C R U C I A N F O R U M

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1938 and FATE

What It Has in Store for You

TheRosicrucianDigestDecember1937

Are predictions and divinations possible? Can the human mind penetrate the veil ofthe future? Most certainly, yes! However, not by fantastic systems of prognosticationor fortune-telling, but by rational conclusions drawn froman analysis of Cosmic, eco

nomic, political, and human cycles of activity. When we throw a stone into the air, wecan predict with certainty that it will strike the earth within a certain definite time. Sucha prediction is the result of a knowledge of natural law.The Rosicrucian annual prophecies are renowned for their accuracy becausethey are

also the result of knowledge, a masterful interpretation of fundamental causes whoseresults are clearly discerned. Thousands each year eagerly demand these helpfulbrochures. 1938 and FATE,this years booklet of predictions, awaits your request for it.More than one copy will be sent you free if you can place themdirectly in the hands ofinterested, sincere personsnot merely casually distribute them.

Write for themtoday. There is no charge, but a few postage stamps will be appreciated. Address Rosicrucian Extension Department, Rosicrucian Park, San Jose, Calif.

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The Philosophers StoneA RECORD OF THE SECRET BOOK OF THE ALCHEMISTS

ByFr a t e r Raymo nd Li n d g r e n , F. R. C.

HE BOOK has abinding of copper,e n g r a v e d w i t hhieroglyphics andstrange symbols.Its pages are ofthe bark of treesand closely cover-ed with writing.Every 8th pagecontains a dia-grammystic keyto the text. Thereis an aura of rev-

erend antiquity about it, for this is TheBook of Abraham The Jew!

In it are the secrets of existenceoflife and death of transmutation ofmetalsof the soul. Where is it?

The story of this ancient manuscriptis an unfinished drama running throughthe centuries, with bearded alchemistsand secretive mystics as its actors, inscenes that are now tragic, again divine-ly gratifying, and at all times fas-

cinating to the seeker after truth.But let us dip back to about the mid-

dle of the 14th century, when the Bookfirst came out of the East and into thehands of a simple bookseller in Paris;one Nicolas Flamel. The life and worksof Flamel are not legendary, for docu-ments bearing evidence of his accom-plishments have been found.

Against the columns of SaintJacquela Boucherie, was his little bookstall,barely 2 by 2 1/& feet in measurement.But it soon grew causing him to move

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to a large house, where those whocopied and illuminated manuscriptscould work with him. At this timeNicolas Flamel married Pernelle, whoseintelligence and devotion were so greata help to him during his long life.

Even at this time, Flamel was some-what of a mystic. He knew that thesecret of the philosophers stone existedand he desired to find it. But not onlyfor the formulae that would enable himto turn base metals into gold; there

were other secrets more precious thatwould teach him transmutation of thesoul. But how could he, a poor Parisbookseller, ever contact the easternsages whom he was convinced pos-sessed this knowledge?

So strong was his desire, so constant,that one night he dreamed that anangel showed him the Book, admonish-ing him to look well upon it. Shortlythereafter, a ragged man came to hisshop with a book to sell. Flamel knew,the moment he saw it, that here at last

was the fulfilment of his dream. Heknew also that the Book comes only tothose who are meant to have it.

For 21 years Nicolas Flamel medi-tated and pondered the secret symbols.But he was without understanding.Much of the text was in ancient He-brew, so here too he was thwarted inhis efforts. There were at that time noJews in France to help him, for theyhad been banished, many flying toSpain, where they formed into com-munities of learned mystics.


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At the end of this score of yearsof concentration and disappointmentwhich was not long considering whatwas at stakeFlamel found he couldsafely go to Spain with the idea of contacting some of these learned Jews,

were he to adopt the clothes and habitsof a pilgrim. Th is he did, but the ex-hausting journey was a failure, until,weary and disappointed he turned hisface toward Paris and his belovedPernelle.

At Leon, the bookseller was bychance put in touch with a learned oldRabbi. Yes! He knew of the Book; hadbeen awaiting this moment all his life.The two worked through the night,zealously, inspired. But Flamel hadbrought only the pages containing acopy of the Hebrew text and a few ofthe symbols. Th ey must travel to Parisat once.

But Jews were not allowed in France.Very well. I will be converted, saidthe old Rabbi. With great haste theybegan their journey to Paris, but thefeeble old Jew died on the way. Flamelreturned alone, aware that the knowl-edge he now possessed would allow thecomplete translation of the Book.

After three years of intensive ap-

plication, the simple bookseller, hisresearch finished, changed half a poundof mercury into silver, then into gold.From this time on Nicolas Flamel wasrich, but all of the wealth he createdwas spent on charitable schemes suchas the building of hospitals, churchesand houses. He worked on at his shopand continued to live in a simple manneruntil his transition.

Pernelle died first and her husbandspent his last few years writing bookson alchemy. Then he followed Pernelle.

And what of The Book of AbrahamThe Jew? As soon as the death ofFlamel became known, almost every al-chemist in Europe made a pilgrimageto his massive tomb. As time passed,his house and shop, in fact any build-ing with which he had anything to do,was ransacked in search of the Bookand perhaps a few phials of the magicprojection powder, without which thetransmutation of metals was impossible.

But the truth is that the Manuscript,as well as a supply of the red projection

powder, had been entrusted to anephew of Flamel, and remained in thefamily for the following 200 years. Inthe reign of Louis XIII, robbers smash-ed into Flamel's tomb and, soon after,word went around that the coffin wasempty.

About this time a descendant ofFlamel foolishly used some of the pow-der in a public demonstration. Thusbegan a new act in our drama, for thefamous Cardinal Richelieu now tookpossession of the Book and tried hisbest to decipher and understand itsveiled contents. But he died unpos-sessed of its secrets, and the Bookagain disappeared.

But there is no doubt that it was copiedl One is known to have existed

in Milan, Italy in the 17th century. In1719, one Paul Lucas wrote a book onhis adventures in the Near East. Hetold of meeting a philosopher in Turkeywho was familiar with the story ofFlamel, and who had made the astound-ing assertion that both Flamel and hiswife were still alive in India. But it isimprobable that this was true, forNicolas Flamels philosophy welcomednatural death as a release.

About 1550 a manuscript which wasprobably a copy of the lost Book came

to light in a curious manner in Wales.A debarred lawyer named Talbotspent the night at an inn and the land-lord showed him an unintelligible oldbook. It had been found, he said, sev-eral years before, together with twoivory balls, in the grave of a CatholicBishop. Th e landlord called his chil-dren, who were even then playing withone of these mysterious ivory balls.

Talbot bought the book and ball forfive dollars, and took them to a friendwho was interested in hermetic science.

The ivory ball contained a red powderand they made gold at their first at-tempt. But the manuscript itself re-mained forever meaningless to them,and when the powder was exhaustedthey could make no more gold.

Lust for the yellow metal and theworldly riches it brings has doomedmany men down the centuries. Most ofthe alchemists who were able to probefor the philosophers stone and itsmeans and formulae for transmutationof metals, missed, or were entirely un-

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aware of, the sublime secrets it held forthe transmutation of the spirit.

Raymond Lulle made gold for Ed-ward III. Gustavus Adolphus ofSweden issued gold coins bearing a

special mark denoting their hermeticorigin. Wilhelm Leibnitz, famous phi-losopher, joined a body of Rosicruciansin Nuremberg, in pursuit of the philos-ophers stone. Elector Augustus ofSaxony, alchemist, left an immense for-tune. Till the end of the 18th centuryalchemists who valued their existencewere forced to practice the strictestsecrecy, for the persecutions and tor-tures inflicted on these fathers of all ourmodern science were horrible, beyondwriting.

But the secrets were not lost! Threeyears ago a business man and Rosicrucian, call him Mr. X, was attending asale at Sothebeys, the worldfamousauctioneers in Bond Street, London.The personal library and effects of theGrand Master of the Masonic Order ofFrance were being auctioned to thehighest bidder.

A flat, brown book, noted in the cata-logue as a copy of the breviary ofNicolas Flamel, was put up for sale.Mr. X felt suddenly that he must pos-sess that book. Bidding began . It

leaped stiffly skyward. A few earlyvoices dropped out. Higher soared thefigure. One opponent remained. Witha steady voice, Mr. X called out his lastoffer. Silence. Bang went the gavel,and the book was his.

It had cost him a preposterous price,but he knew better than to argue with

the hunch that had urged him to buy it.He took the book home and placed it ona shelf with some first editions and for-got about it. That was in 1934.

A few weeks ago Mr. X was in his

library and felt impelled to go to a shelfand take down this strange book; hehad forgotten what it was. Slowly hethumbed through the pages; noticedthat it was penned in the middle of the19th century in ancient French; noticedalso that it was in illuminated script,containing many drawings of alchemicalapparatus, in gold, silver and variousother colors. On the first page therewas a portrait, postage stamp size, ofNicolas Flamel.

Mr. X recognized also many secretsymbols, and as he had studied thisvery French years ago, saw that thetext was a translation of the cyphers, aswell as of secret alchemical signs usedin the middle ages to disguise theformulae of alchemists. But he was un-moved by this discovery, and replacingthe book, turned to other interests.

About a week later, a friend saidcasually, Have you read The ReturnOf The M agi? I think you would beinterested in it. Mr. X bought thebook that same day and opened it atrandom. His eyes fell, surprised, on

certain words which he quickly con-nected with the old manuscript in hislibrary.

Then suddenly, he realized why hehad been forced to purchase at so greata price, that strange book. It was acopy of The Book Of Abraham TheJew!

Q i a i i i i i i i i i ii i i i i a i i i i ii i i i i im i i i i ii m i i i i a i i ii i i i im m m i m i i m i i i i ii i i i n i i a m i m a a i i i a i i i i i i ii m i i i M i i i i m i i i i i i i 'i i i i ii i i i ii i i i a i i ii i i i a i l ii m i m i i i i ii N i i M m i i Qa .

TO OUR MEMBERS IN BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA

We wish to call the attention of all of our National Lodge members and other members E= to the fact that the Victoria Lodge of AMORC, located in Victoria, British Columbia, EI maintains a very interesting inquiry office, reading roomand library, at 725 Courtney \ Street. This library is open various evenings of the week and in the afternoons occasion- |E ally, and every courtesy and welcome is extended to our members to drop into the read- | ing roomand read, or bring friends and acquaintances there to contact the organization iE or make inquiries, secure literature, books, and other helpful matter. E

The Librarian is Mr. C. C. Bird, telephone number G-3757. Contact himif you wish |i to make any special arrangements to visit the library on special occasions. All members E! should feel at liberty to make this reading roomand library and inquiry office their official =E home. On certain evenings throughout each week and month there are special lectures EE and initiation ceremonies which members can arrange to attend. If you cannot telephone, = write and secure information regarding these special occasions.

Q n l i l ll l l l ll l i l....................................................................................................................... ..................................... ............. l i n n i n ...........l 11 III 111 ll 11.......................III11 l II tl 11........... ..

(6 \jinru-ui

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The "Cathedral of the Soul is a Cosmic meeting place for all minds of themost advanced and highly developed spiritual members and workers of theRosicrucian Fraternity. It is a focal point of Cosmic radiations and thoughtwaves from which radiate vibrations of health, peace, happiness, and innerawakening. Various periods of the day are set aside when many thousandsof minds are attuned with the Cathedral of the Soul, and others attuning withthe Cathedral at this time will receive the benefit of the vibrations. Those whoare not members of the organization may share in the unusual benefits as wellas those who are members. The book called "Liber 777 describes the periodsfor various contacts with the Cathedral. Copies will be sent to persons whoare not members if they address their requests for this book to Friar S. P. C.,care of AMORC Temple, San Jose, California, enclosing three cents in postagestamps. (Please state whether member or notthis is important.)

'juiimiiimHiiiimimmiiiimimiiiiiiiiiiiiimiiniiiMiiiiiiiimMiimiiii.........

A CATHEDRAL OF THE SOUL AMID THE TREES


E R E is the story ofwhat one goodBrother was in-spired by theG r e a t W h i t eBrotherhood to doto represent the

spirit of the Ca-thedral of theSoul on earth.

He was movedby the quotation,One is nearer toGods heart in a

garden .............. only God can make atree. He chose a spot on the side of ahill on his Highland Estate at Glencruitten, Scotland. Realizing that thismight be his last great spiritual act inthis incarnation, he decided to spend all

of his life's savings and give to futureposterity something that would sym-bolize the spirituality of the soul inmeditation, the principles of universalbrotherhood and love, and the sym-bolism of the Cross. He therefore sentto various parts of the Continent and

also to America for rare trees andshrubs, and engaged artists, artisansand landscape experts to assist him.Today this remarkable Cathedral visit-ed by tourists who come within a hun-dred miles of the location and hear ofit, and known to the mystics of alllands, is almost completed. It is knownthat he has spent practically fifteenthousand pounds of English money,equivalent to approximately seventyfivethousand dollars, and although he pass-ed away two years ago at the age of

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eighty and his ashes are buried near thealtar in the center of the Cathedral, hisgood wife is continuing the finishingtouches of the Cathedral and arrangingto have a permanent fund established to

maintain it for many years into thefuture.

This open air Cathedral of trees is inthe form of a huge cross with its sacredshrine in the center, representative, tous, of the spirit of the rose with theRosy Cross. The main or long sectionof the cross is two hundred and fiftyfeet long with the Nave inside of it onehundred and seventy feet long, whilethe two transepts or crosssections ofthe Cathedral are one hundred andeighty feet wide. The floor is carpeted

with different types of heath in mosaicdesign, with pink, yellow, white andpurple blooms. The outer wall is ofchestnut trees and the inner wall of limetrees, with pillars of yew trees. Most ofthe trees have already attained an im-pressive height, and it is anticipatedthat in a few years the trees will haveattained a height of fifty feet or moreand will cause this cathedral on the hill-side to stand out above everything elsein its vicinity.

One of our good members who visit-

ed it recently gives us the followingdescription:

On a spring morning, while the dewremained, the snares of spiders hungwith extreme craftiness between theborders, and on every strand of thespiderwebs were beads of dew. Throughthe trees representing the East Windowof this Cathedral, the sun came upthrough the mists into the clear blue.Soon its magnetic power had gainedmastery and had drunk away the dew.Then seemed to be the appointed time

for the emergence of many dragonfliesand butterflies. As the air became moreheated, the brimstone butterflynew-born and speckless^fluttered over thehedge and the daffodilcolored wingsconjured a vision of spring. It was notlong before the butterfliesblues, smallheaths and small coppers brought acharming animation to this enchantedplace. The finest of the dragonflies isnot more splendid than the butterflyfresh from the chrysalis. This Cathedral

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of trees has provided a sanctuary andthe comfort of a home for birds andmyriads of creatures.

The altar sent forth the golden rayof Love, for it was covered with coton

Easter. A golden tree in the center withfour dwarf juniper trees formed a mini-ature cross. One was tempted to lingerhere and partake of the mental stimu-lant provided by such a peaceful en-vironment, until the winds were upgathered and the breeze carried onwardthe summer clouds.

Finally lights and shadows cameover the scene as the sun set in peacefulsplendor. Its dying fires filled the West.And when the glory of the afterglowwas fastly ebbing, one could think only

of rest. A perfume of rarest incense offlowers floated throughout the Cathe-dral and the birds twittered; the swal-lows seemed to delight in skimmingover the magnificent natural carpet.Then the pipistrelle bats flittered in andout and vanished in the shadows. Thelark raised an organ note and then allbecame quiet, with perfect attunementwith the Cosmic.

The fountains of life are in this en-vironment, as a stream of evolutionflows through all things. There is thevoice of the fire and the spirit of thewinds, and the Light, Life and Love ofthe Sun, while a mist cloaks the far sideof the hill. The absolute stillness attimes helps one to appreciate the spir-itual power of the Cosmic and to senseand interpret the high vibrations, for inthis Cathedral one truly finds PeaceProfound.

Thus is described the beautifulCathedral of the Soul amid the trees inScotland. But such a Cathedral exists

also in the spiritual space above us inthe world of the heavens and the Cos-mic realm. If you would find peace andpower and happiness, attune yourselfwith this Cosmic Cathedral of the Soul.The booklet which we are glad to sendto you, entitled Liber 777. will tell youwithout any obligation, or without anyinterference with your religion or yourdaily duties, how your soul and mindmay find happiness in contact, medita-tion and prayer within the Cathedral ofthe Soul.


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The Truth About VitaminsSOME SURPRISING FACTS OF SPECIAL INTEREST

TO OUR MEMBERS

ByThe Impe r a t o r

NE OF the mostvaluable and fas-cinating contribu-tions to therapy inrecent years hasbeen the studyand investigationsof that mysteriouselement in lifeknown as vita-

mins. It has ledto the successfultreatment of manystrange and seri-

ous maladies and promises to revolu-tionize some of our long establishedideas and beliefs regarding the natureand cause of disease.

But like every other discovery or in-vestigation in the field of medicine, theearly announcements of the few im-portant facts that have been found inregard to this matter have been seizedby quacks and charlatans, by advertis-ing specialists and manufacturers ofpatent medicines and other patentedconcoctions, and today the word vita-mins is being grossly misused andcommercialized, and pretentious claimsthat are absurd and ridiculous are beingpresented to the public in the form ofpopular advertising. Already we hearabout vitamins in tooth powder, hairtonics, facial creams, face powders,food tablets, medicinal capsules, corncures, nail polishes, and what not.

Certain manufacturers claim, withoutthe least embarrassment to their con-sciences, that they are putting vitaminsA, B, C, D, E and F into various prep-arations which they claim are specificremedies or applications for variousthings, and to judge from the blandstatements made by these advertisers,one would think that the chemist hasonly to rush into his stockroom of na-

tures bountiful elements and grab abottle from the shelf marked VitaminA and sprinkle some of these vitaminsinto his tooth powder or his food tabletsor face cream, as one would add grainsof salt or small buckshot or some othersmall round pellets of great potency.Radio advertisers talk so glibly, so free-ly, so positively, and so convincinglyabout the existence of vitamins in this,that, and the other thing, and how youcan make miraculous and astoundingchanges in your body and your health,

the color of your eyes and texture ofyour skin, by simply using their prepar-ations, that many thousands of personsare tempted to believe that vitamins arethe most scientifically known, positivelyidentified, easily obtained and efficientlyapplied element of medicine that theworld has ever known.

Now the truth of the matter is thatno living human being has ever seen avitamin or knows what a vitamin is orwhat it is composed of, or where itpositively comes from or just how it

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lost weight and finally died. It wasfinally found, however, that the mys-terious and unknown elements thatwere of great importance in addition tocarbohydrates, proteins and fats, exist-ed in small amounts of milk. Later on,it was discovered that this same peculiarquality or mysterious element wasfound in substance extracted from theyolks of eggs or from butter or butter-milk. Still later on, it was found that inthe oils of some fish there existed thisstrange element. Th e Rosicrucian rec-ords state that those in our organizationworking upon this same problem dis-covered that the principal elements forthe correct chemical and vitalizing com-position of the body were those whichexisted in milk or products of milk,eggs, and certain creative oils in ani-

mals, all of which contained a creative,vitalizing element used by the motheranimal to feed and nurse its young.

I find nowhere in the scientific re-ports on the part of investigators out-side of our organization that they hadcome to this important conclusion orhad even given it any consideration. Itmeant that the real difference betweenthe form of food given by the motherfrom its own body to its young, as com-pared with other foods, consisted ofsome element that God and Nature pur-

posely created in the body of the motherto nourish, strengthen and protect itsyoung from disease.

This probably explains why so manyof the various forms of artificial foodsfor babies, advertised as substitutes formothers milk, have never been whollysuccessful except in two classes ofcases, namely, where a little of themothers milk could be given to thechild occasionally, though not enoughto completely nourish it, or where thechild was born so extraordinarily heal-

thy that the creative elements in itsbody, accumulated there prior to birth,carried it over through the importantand serious months of infant existenceafter birth, despite the lack of these ele-ments in the mothers milk. It probablyexplains, too, why the very best substi-tute for mothers milk is a form of moreor less raw milk or unpasteurized milkfrom a good and healthy animal, espec-ially a cow. But the danger to an infantin substituting raw milk for the unpas-

teurized milk of a cow lay in the factthat the milk from the same cow couldnot always be guaranteed, and the milkwas often too rich in other elements forproper digestion in the stomach and in-testines of the little child, and thereforehad to be diluted and treated in accord-ance with special formulas prepared byspecialists in infant feeding.

However, it gradually came aboutthat the scientists working upon thestudy and analysis of this unknown andmysterious vital element in certainfoods, gave a name to the thing theywere looking forthe thing they hadnever found and knew nothing about.This name for this vital element was theword "vitamin. At first they thoughtthere was only one such element, but astheir researches revealed that certain

physical conditions required certain dif-ferent types of food, they came to theconclusion that there were a number ofdifferent forms of this mysterious ele-ment, and so they created a classifica-tion of vitamins beginning with " A forthe first one, " B for the second one,and so on. Tod ay we have vitamins A,Bl , B2, C, D, and E. And if we donot watch out, the advertising special-ists and quacks will finish out the restof the alphabet and we will have life de-pending upon a series of letters that will

equal the Soviet and American systemsof governmental departments and feder-al activities.

The Rosicrucian research workers,however, did not allow themselves towander away from their early funda-mental principles of recognition of anelectronic, magnetic, Cosmic element inlife that was as important, if not moreimportant, than the purely chemical ele-ments of the earth, all of which alsohave in them many of the Cosmicenergies. Therefore, they decided that

this strange and unknown element infoods must be little cells of some kindcontaining electronic or Cosmic energy.They compared the invisible and un-known mysterious cells to little globulesof "N ou s. They did not adopt thisidea as a fact because they weresensible enough to know that "Nouscould not be confined to or within alittle cell. But they did believe that someCosmic energy penetrated and concen-trated itself within some certain ele-

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unless these food elements have beentreated by irradiation or the ultra violetrays. Th e B element is found mostly inyeast and in legumes. There is a fairamount of these two vitamins in greenvegetables, raw or uncooked, particular-ly in turnips, and none at all in fleshfoods or white bread. Vitamin C isfound mostly in fresh green vegetablesand in some fresh fruits, with none at allin lean meats. Vitamin E is found most-ly in fresh or cooked green vegetablesand in eggs and some forms of wheat,with none in fresh fruits. But only aphysician can tell you which vitamins

you need, and why and how. However,as I have already said, no one knowsexactly what a vitamin is, or preciselywhat it does, and it is something thatcannot be easily and truthfully addedto concoctions of all kinds for all pur-poses. So beware of foods and tabletsand other preparations which claim tobe rich in vitamins.The use of vitaminsand the talk about them has become soprofuse and so popular that like manyanother good thing that is still in theearliest stages of investigation, it is be-ing overdone and used as a means ofvery profitable commercialism.

How It All BeganRITUAL ACTS AT DOORS


CT )O O R S symbolized the passing from one world, state, or conditionto another, even in the earliest of times. Th e first ritual of the

door is believed to have begun when men lived in caves during the latestone age. In the protective environment of the cave, it was thought,the gods of good fortune dwelled, and no harm could befall those whowere safe within. Beyond the entrance of the cave lay the great outsideworld, menacing and unknown. When one passed through the portalto this outside world, he was immediately at war with all of its hostileinfluences. Th e hearth fires were usually built just within the outerstones of the entrance way. Frequently the ancestors of the family wereburied beneath them. The ancestral ghosts were thought to dwell inthe hearth fire itself, guarding the entrance and protecting those withinthe cave. Consequently, offerings were made to them at the cave en-

trance by all who wished admission, and thosewithin paid theirhomage to these

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WASHINGTON GLADDENEach month we will present excerpts from the writings of famous thinkers and teachers

of the past. These wil l g ive our readers an opportunity of knowing their lives through thepresentation of those writings which typ ify their thoughts. Occasionally such writings willbe presented through the translation or interpretation of other eminent authors of the past.This month we quote from the works of Washington Gladden, an American clergyman andessayist.

Washington Gladden was born at Pottsgrove, Pennsylvania on February 11, 1836. Hegraduated from Williams College in 1859 and a year later was ordained minister in theCongregational Church. He held a number of pastorates during hi3 career in addition toattaining fame as a writer and lecturer on social reforms.

Among the volumes which he had published were Plain Thoughts on the Art of L iving , Working-men and Their Employers, Tools and the Man," Social Facts and Forces,and Where Does the Sky Begin? We have chosen an excerpt appropriate to the holidayseason. j

THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

OME was seated

on her seven hills,ruling the world;E g y p t, Phenicia,Carthage, Greece,had bowed be-neath her yoke; allround the Medi-terranean her gal-leys ranged vic-torious; the Im-perial City wassmiting the skieswith the dazzling

splendor of her palaces, her baths, hertheatres, and her temples.

To this spot surely, of all others, theeyes of these heavenly messengers musthave been drawn. Here was focusedthe power, the knowledge, the wealthof the then known world; the existingcivilization culminated in Rome. Andwhat a spectacle it must have presentedto those pure beings as they hung aboveit, if by any keenness of vision theycould discern the manner of the dailylife of that people. The great mass of

Four hundred seventeen

population which they looked down

upon were slaves or paupers fed out ofthe spoils of conquered provinces; thecruelty, the perfidy, the tyranny ofthose who bore rule, the horrible sensu-ality and brutality of the patrician class-es, were almost beyond our compre-hension.

If you want to know what sight theangels saw, read the Satires of Juvenal;read Paul's Epistle to the Romans; readSienkiewiczs Quo Vadis. The Rome ofthese narrations was the sight theangels sawthe great spectacle whichthe human race of the first century hadto show to angels and men. The angelsmust have turned from it with blanchedfaces and drooping wings.

Over the rest of Europe their swiftglance took in, for the most part, onlyforests and rude heathen races. Ger-many, France, Holland, Belgium, Eng-land, were lands scarcely visited by thedawn of Civilization. Our own greatcontinent, in all its length and breadth,was not then a part of the known world;its inhabitants wereprobably even low-


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er in the scale of being than those thatgreeted Columbus.

Such was the world as the angels sawit nineteen centuries ago.

What would they see if they cameagain today? Much, doubtless, fromwhich they would fain turn their eyesawaypoverty, suffering, cruelty, ex-tortion, strife, greed, treacherya piti-ful array of human sin and misery. Andthey would not find that the promise oftheir earlier song had yet been ful-filled. Peace does not yet reign over allthe earth, nor is good will the sovereignrule among all men. They would find,I fear, that the meaning of the messagewhich they brought, and which theMessiah whom they announced so won-

derfully declared, has been sadly mis-understood by many who have tried torepeat it; that often by theological re-finements and controversies the sub-stance of it has been missed, and thesweetness of it sadly confused and

jangled. And yet, in spite of all this dis-appointment, the nineteen centurieshave brought forth upon the earthmany marvelous changes which theeyes of the angels would be quick todiscern. There is no city in Christen-

dom today, not one, which is not politi-cally, socially, economically, as muchbetter than Rome was then as light isbetter than darkness. Paris the Magni-ficent is a wicked city, but the angelscould tell you that Paris today is whiteand clean compared with Rome whenChrist was born. There is poverty andwretchedness in London and New Yorkand Chicago, but nothing like the uni-versal pauperism of that olden day.There is not a ruler of any great statein the world todaynor has there been

for many a daywho could be classedin monstrous wickedness with many ofthe emperors. Abdul the Damned, evenat the worst estimate of him, is an angelof light and a hero of chivalry comparedwith Nero or Caligula.

CRACKERBARREL PHILOSOPHY

DAM and Eve, sothe tale goes, beg a n w e a r i n gclothes for moralreasons. The ideacaught on, but gotahead of the rea-s o n s a n d e v e rsince you cannott e l l w h e t h e rclothes are strug-gling to go backto the first cause orget away from it.

Hats, so we are told, were first madeto shelter the head and keep the brainfrom becoming overheated, but today

they plainly prove how this race of ourshas advanced, for the peaked crownsnow do the duty, I suppose, of sheddingrain as well. You could not have ex-pected Eve to have known psychology,and so of course she did not wear apointed brim, but milady of todayshades her face and thinks she is coolwhile she exposes the top of her headthrough a net or wears a narrow criss-cross ribbon that suggests protection.It just goes to prove what educationcan do for you.

Morals have come a long way sinceEve. It seems that moods and fancieshave sort of affected them. One canwear this season a voluminous flowingblack velvet that has just the modesttouch, but next year it is apt to take akneelength accordion pleated to putover that restrained look. Morals justrefuse to be regimented. Sometimes it'sfullfashioned black silk stockings thatgive the necessary demureness, andthen again there is the simple soul whofinds nature quite pure as she is andgoes in for ankle sox. It kind of seemsthat Adam and Eve thought they wereone until the apple spoiled the happyillusion. But women can live down mis-

takes. Just look how slacks and thosefrilledwing collar and bow tie shirt-waists and tuxedo suitcoats are againputting over the idea that women arelike men or men like womenwhichis it?

For a long while women folks kindof got away from nature and the greatoutdoors of the old Garden of Eden.But they are on their way back accord-ing to the looks of last summers suntanbathing suits.Phillip Space.

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Along Civilizations TrailByRa l ph M. Lewis, K. R. C.

Editors Note:This is the ninth episode of a narrative by the Supreme Secretary relating the

experiences he and his party had in visiting mystic shrines and places in Europe and the ancientworld.

THE UNKNOWN CONDITIONS OF PALESTINE

URNING down asteep incline, weentered at the bot-tom a large flag-ged courtyard ,closed in on eitherside of us by amassive, sombre,

graniteblock wall.In front of us, thethird side of thecourtyard was afairly large edificeof the same de-

pressing hue. Th e natural gray of thestone had been darkened by years ofrain which had streaked the stone withblack. It reminded me, with its archedentrance reached by descending theflight of wellworn steps, of the Templeof Justice in Paris, former prison dur-

ing the French Revolution. Th is fort-resslike structure was the Church ofthe Holy Sepulchre. The authenticity ofthis purported tomb of the Christ ismuch disputed. Now lying in the centerof modern Jerusalem, it at one time was

just outside the walls of the city. TheChristian literature of the first threecenturies made absolutely no referenceto the empty tomb ; if it had beenknown in the past and venerated, itcertainly would have been destroyedso historians stateduring the destruc-tion of Jerusalem by Titus (70 A. D.)

Four hundred nineteen

and the great devastation of the BarKoklos Rebellion.

The Roman emperor, Hadrian, re-stored the city in 135 A. D., and erectedover the tomb a temple, dedicated tothe pagan goddess, Aphrodite. Twohundred years later, Macarius removedthe temple and found an ancient Jewish

tomb. Rock was cut away from thetomb and a circular building theAnastosiuswas built around it. Overthis was built the present medievalbuilding. That the tomb inside is theone located by Macarius is undisputable, but there is no proof, it is argued,that it was the Christ's tomb. Specula-tion runs high as to outside of justwhich gate of Jerusalem the Crucifixionactually took place, for that fact wouldassist in determining the site of theactual tomb.

The inside of the rotunda was dimlylighted by candles. On either side,against the walls, like concessions at anexposition, were the altars and accoutre-ments of the various Christian sectswhich have property rights in the build-ings and share the honor of preservingthe site. Even to one who might notbe strictly orthodox, and therefore notunduly sensitive, the ostentatious dis-play was offensive. Each sect had tried,not to make its shrine more dignified orsymbolic of the sanctity of the place,but more pretentious, just as a merchant


22/44


would, to dominate the attention ofpassersby. This obvious competitionwithin the confines of the sacred shrineitself has led to many disputes, cul-minating in bloodshed. How disil-lusioning, was our paramount thought

as we left the edifice, must a visit tothe place be to religious pilgrims!W e discussed the circumstances and

our impressions freely in the presenceof our guide, Sule, as we prepared totake photographs of the exterior. Hehad been attentively listening, for hesaid, Your views are different frommany who come to visit. To you, Goddoes not bestow blessings only uponthose who profess to know His ways,but as well upon those who followthem, whether they know they are His

ways or not.W e explained that we were notcreedists, feeling that we could under-stand God without reducing our under-standing to dogma. We further ex-plained that, in our opinion, the errorswhich existed in any religion were notin motive but in interpretation andapplication.

Precisely, he replied. And so Ishall express myself in my book.

You are writing a book? I queried,studying carefully his enigmatic face.

I am now a Christian, although I

am an Arab. I was a Mohammedan,and I feel qualified to make a compari-son between these two great faiths, andof this my book shall consist.

And is it possible that your bookmight bring greater harmony betweenyour people and the Jews? I asked,risking a challenging question.

If my question surprised him, his facedid not reveal it; but his eye held mine,as he replied in a deliberate manner,You are Americans, not involved inthe situation which exists here. I feel

that I can speak freely to you."This he did, giving us an understand-

ing of the turbulent state not obtainedfrom the others, whose views have beenmore publicized because of the means attheir disposal.

The conditions which exist in Pales-tine, he began, are not solely due toreligious differences between the Arabsand Jews, as many of the leading news-papers of the world would have theirreaders believe. W e have had as next

door neighbors for decades, Jews whodeal with us and we with them. Ourmutual respect has been heightened byfair dealings and an equal assumptionof social, political, and economic respon-sibilities. In the controversy that exists,

these Jews, our neighbors and ourfriends, support us. Palestine is a landwhich, even in your short stay, he con-tinued, his voice now quivering withemotion, you must have already ob-served is incapable of supporting agri-culturally a numerous people. With theexception of the Jordan Valley, a fertilestrip, it is nearly a barren land and re-quires a very hardy people to subsist onit. W e and the Jews who have beenestablished here are not selfish, but weknow that an influx of population will

bring ruin to all here who are now en-joying no more than lifes necessities.W e listened intently, impressed by hisearnestness.

Propaganda in England and inAmerica, and conditions in Germany,have encouraged thousands upon thou-sands of Jews to enter Palestine withthe belief that it was to become a newkingdom of Judaea, a land of affluence.This migration has been encouraged bycertain money interests that havebought worthless lands in Palestine andsold them, sight unseen, to the immi-grants before they left their homes inother lands. These newcomers aremostly not agriculturistsare even un-accustomed to manual labor. They arrivenearly destitute. A few weeks hardshipon the soil of Palestine proves to themthat they cannot support themselvesupon it, and being financially unable toreturn to their original homes, theymove into our cities and towns. They,by nature, are barterers, merchants, andthey set up numerous little stalls (onecannot call them sho ps) . They are

forced to live like cattle by circum-stance, and thus undersell by far therest of useven their own kind whohave been established here. This unfaircompetition reduces living standards,wages fall, business suffers, and we allstarve. Still they keep pouring in, to bein turn deceived.

Not a word of these conditionsreaches the outside world. The Britishpress and others continue to tell theworld at large how Palestine is fulfilling

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a prophecy of becoming a new kingdomof hope and prosperity for the Jews.W e have pleaded with England, whoexercises the Palestine mandate, to re-strict immigration and to establish a

quota for Palestine, allowing a limitednumber to enter annually. A numberthat new business, industry, and devel-opment can rightly assimilate. Th is hasbeen promised periodically, but stillthere is actually no quota in existence.A people can stand only so much de-privation; then the law of their beingcauses them to retaliate, to struggle forsurvival and for those little things whichmake life worth living. If , we reason-ed, we could paralyze transportationand all commerce in Palestine, we could

force the world to realize our despicablecircumstances.' W e no longer operatethe railroads; those that are operatedare done so by the British army. W epermit no trucking, manufacturing, orconducting of usual business.

This is very harsh and lawless youmay think, but we fight for life and thelives of our loved ones. Britain andother nations have great interests here.Their financial resources are affected bythese conditions. Pressure was broughtupon the British Parliament to establish

normalcy. W e have been threatenedbut have not complied with the de-mands. The military force has under-taken to operate mills and supervise in-stitutions. This display of force hascaused hatred, and my people have re-sorted to the same means. They harassBritain's troops. They prefer to bringabout a settlement by treaty and com-promise, but their pleas are met by acruel overriding by the military might.In the national treasury of Palestinethere was a small reserve sum of six

million dollars. W e are being penalizedfor our attempt at existence; the ex-pense of transporting troops, supplies,and war materials here from England tooppose us is being paid out of these re-serve funds. W e shall never surrenderor submit to such conditions! Ourpeople are used to these hills; they wereraised in them. Armed and in them,they can resist a trained and fullyequipped British force of fifty thousandtroops indefinitely.

America, he stated, apparently to

placate us if anything he had said mightFour hundred twenty-one

have offended, would surely be moreconsiderate of our needs. W e selectedher at the close of the World W ar toexercise the mandate over Palestine,but she refused.

Fortunately, I replied, for un-doubtedly she might have confrontedthe same conditions and how she wouldhave reacted to them one cannot truth-fully say. Is there, I asked, much lossof life?

Listen tonight, an hour after sunset.You will hear the crack of rifles fromvarious directions, he said with a glintin his eyes. The chattering reply youwill then hear is the machine guns ofthe British. When British troops rushone section, Arab snipers harass them

from another. W e do not like thesemethods, but our conduct is the cry ofa people in distress. W e have the moraland material support, he proudly add-ed, of all the Islamic peoples of Syria,Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, and Arabia.

The British are usually fair in theirdealings, I began.

He interrupted. I speak no con-demnation of the British people as awhole; they have been our friends.Those who have lived here before, andunderstand, have deplored their coun-

trys action and protested. But mercen-ary interests have stifled their pleadings,and the homeland knows not the truefacts.

W e had walked as we talked. Care-fully we plotted our campaign for thenext day. Bidding Sule good evening,we retired to our hotel. That eveningwe dined with the most prominentBritish officers stationed in Palestine, inthe simple, unpretentious dining salonof the hotel. A British officer of rank isa cultured gentleman; no matter how far

from his native land, he never relaxeshis customs, manners, or poise. Eachevening, though men only were present,every officer dressed for dinner in hisdinner jacket as meticulously as thoughvisiting some smart restaurant on theStrand with his lady.

An Englishman never permits him-self to become influenced by environ-ment and social conditions into whichhe is thrust. It can be said, that wher-ever an Englishman is, there is Eng-land. Th is reveals a most pure strain of

nationality. It does not mean superior


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ity, but rather a stronger allegiance toa chain of traditions. An American ismore easily swayed by environment andwill assimilate the customs and prac-tices about him quickly, sometimesgood, sometimes bad. For example

though the clocks of the hotel had ac-curate Palestine time, these officersgathered about the single radio receiverwhich the hotel afforded to secure Lon-don time by short wave, and then ad-justed their watches accordingly for thenumber of hours' difference betweenthat and the local time. W hat Americanwould set his time in Palestine by aNew York broadcast if he could haveobtained it from the local clocks? Suchis the influence tradition asserts on aBriton.

The brilliant sunlight of the nextmorning was encouraging. W e hadfeared it would be overcast, from theappearance of the skies in the evening.Our equipment was all prepared. W ecarried with us four magazines of film,representing several thousand feet, andall of the necessary shades and filtersand accessories for the successful oper-ation^we hopedof our equipment. Atwentyminute walk brought us to whathad originally been the outskirts of theancient city of Jerusalem. Before us was

an attractive towerlike churcha giftto the Roman Catholics of Jerusalem bythe former Kaiser Wilhelm of Germany.

Passing through a large gateway, weentered a pleasant garden, quiet andserene. Crossing this to the Gothicdoorway, we pulled on a weather-beaten rope hanging there and heardfrom the interior the distant tinklingof a small bell. A few seconds later, thedoor opened disclosing a pleasantfacedfather, middle aged, portly, wearingsandals and clerical garb. Our guide

explained to him in French our purposethat we desired to ascend to the topof the tower, which structure had thegreatest height in that vicinity, to photo-graph views of the surrounding terraine.It was rather an unusual request, thiswe realized. After studying us carefullyfor a moment or two, he kindly consent-ed. After winding our way to the topof a tower by means of a circular stonestairway, which permitted the passageof just one person at a time, we were re-

warded for our effort. There before uswas spread a goodly section of modernJerusalem. In the great distance couldbe seen a portion of the Dead Sea. (Seephotograph in June, 1937, issue of the Rosicrucian Digest. )

Slightly to our left was a hill, notgreat in height, but higher than the sur-rounding land. It was perfectly bare.At one time it was covered with olivetrees, and was, in fact, the Mt. ofOlives upon which had been located thehistorical Garden of Gethsemane. Turn -ing to our guide I stated, I presumethat the olive trees were removed cen-turies ago. To the contrary, he re-plied. The Mt. of Olives was coveredwith olive trees until during the worldwar, when Palestine was occupied and

dominated by Turkish forces. Due tothe embargo by British ships, the Turkswere not able to obtain coal to operatethe trains through Palestine, and beingbadly in need of fuel, the olive treeswere felled by the Turks and used tofire their locomotives.

Here again was another indication ofthe fact that war is no respecter oftraditions, historical sites or even sacredplaces. Being satisfied that we could getno better view than this, we spent con-siderable time filming the vista before

us. I was particularly impressed withthis little church. After departing fromthe tower, I entered the chapel. Itssimplicity was impressive, restful, aplace where one could quickly departin thought and feeling from the rest ofthe world. No lavishness, no attempteddisplay, just the cool, gray walls, theplain hardwood pews, the high altarbeautifully carved of teakwood. Highabove it some light filtered through astained glass window, forming a geo-metrical pattern on the mosaic floor andheightening the shadows on either side

of the chapel. But we had to hurryaway, for our time was limited.

From here we were to proceed to thehistorical town of Bethlehem. The onlytransportation was burros. Gettingastride these small animals we joggedthe entire distance of six miles along amodern highway to Bethlehem. Topassing troops in motor lorries, we musthave presented an amusing spectacle,but the only means of transportationwere these burros, with the exception of

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the military trucks and lorries. W e feltfortunate that we could go even by thismeans. W e were accustomed to horse-back riding, which we enjoy, but thereis a great difference in riding a horse

and a burro, as one soon learns. Thestride of the burro is shorter, morejerky and far more breathtaking. A rideof three or four miles by burro is asfatiguing to one not used to it, as a rideof several hours on horseback.

Midway we stopped at the Well ofthe Magi (see photograph February,1937 issue of the Rosicrucian Digest ).This well today is the same in appear-ance as it must have been in the time ofChrist and before. Back of it is a groveof olive trees. There have always been

olive trees there in the memory of theoldest inhabitants. The well is now dryand has been dry in the memory of theoldest inhabitants. There is no doubt asto its authenticity, for historical recordsas well as legend point to this well asthe common meeting and stopping placeof travellers and those going to and frofrom Jerusalem or Bethlehem. Caravansused to pass there, as well as those driv-ing their flocks from one section to an-other in search of new pastures. I wasdeeply impressed as I sat on the edge of

this well and thought of the brethren ofthe mystic schools who conversed herewhile refreshing themselves with thewells cool water.

Further on, we passed the round,silolike tomb of Rachael, another trulyauthenticated historic place althoughunimpressive along the same famoushighway. Rounding a bend in the road,we had a panorama of the hills sur-rounding Bethlehem, to which so muchreference is made in the New Testa-ment. W e could visualize the shepherds

there watching over their flocks. W ecould realize why, since the shepherdsplayed such a prominent part in the lifeof the people of that time, there were somany parables concerning their con-duct. It was simple for people to graspthe significance of such parables.

Lorry after lorry of troops and arm-ored cars passed us, hurrying to Bethle-hem. Once the highway over which thewise men travelled, those predicting thecoming of the Great Avatar, and theroad over which the Christ himself rode

and preached to the passersby of theFour hundred twenty-three

coming of a new era, it is now an av-enue for the quick moving of machineryof destruction and the armies of war.

W e were more impressed with ourentrance into Bethlehem than into Jeru-

salem. All streets were exceptionallytortuous, twisting, winding and rough,with cobble and flagstones. Hardly any-one in Western garb was to be seen.All were robed much like the picturesand paintings we have of the people ofBiblical times. W e were held up oc-casionally to let a herd of goats or aflock of sheep pass us by. Finally, thenarrow street on which we travelledopened into a wider thoroughfare andthere before us was the Church ofNativity, the birthplace of Christ. Im-

mediately before it was a large plaza,elevated just a few feet above the ap-proaching street. Like most all of theseancient buildings, it was not welcoming,but sombre, depressing, the very mas-siveness of the stone conveying the feel-ing of coldness and dreariness. Thewindows were small and slitlike. Theentrance into the church itself was solow that one had to bow his head toenter.

Most astounding to us, however, wasthe fact that the lorries which had been

passing us with troops and war supplieswere making this plaza before theChurch of the Nativity their destina-tion. This great space was to be used asa temporary barracks and storage areafor war materials. Stacked high werecartons, cases and bundles and theblack, ugly, large metal containers ofcrude oil and gasoline needed for themechanized equipment of the Britishtroops. Stacked alsoalmost in front ofthe very entrance into the Church of theNativitywere rifles. The troops stood

idly by awaiting further orders. M a-chine guns were mounted on the adja-cent wall, surveying the whole area asa protective means. A goodly portionof the Hebrew population stood by,curiously watching.

W e entered the Church and walkedfrom chamber to chamber. From thesevery chambers each Christmas morninga sermon is broadcast throughout theworld. In fact, ninety days later, dur-ing the greatest strife in Palestine, withall of these armaments about, a message

of peace and hope was issued to human


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ity. Fortunately, the listeners through-out the world could not see the condi-tions existing where this message orig-inated or they would perhaps have hadtheir faith in the message somewhatshaken.

W e were permitted to take picturesof this place, and found it extremelydifficult to avoid including moderntroops and war paraphernalia in thescenes of this holy site.

Returning once again to Jerusalem,and after visiting many other historicplaces about which there is dispute asto their authenticity, we were fortunatein being able to photograph the buildingwhich legend and tradition declare isthe place where the Last Supper ofChrist was held. Even most historians

are of the belief that this structure wasundoubtedly the original edifice. Strange,that this chamber which means so muchto Christians, to philosophers and mys-tics who are all somewhat in dispute asto the real purpose and object of theLast Supper, is now a MohammedanMosque. The Mohammedans them-selves confirm the legend that it is theplace where Christ's Last Supper washeld. They appreciate its sacredness toChristians. Everyone is permitted tovisit it. It is a long chamber about sixtyfeet in length and about forty feet inwidth, with two rows of rather stoutcolumns down the center. It has a verylow, arched ceiling and is dark, exceptfor two narrow windows at one end,

and which emit very little light, andcandles which are placed about thewall. The stone floor is covered, as isthe custom in mosques, with exquisiteand very old and valuable Orientalrugs. Unlike many of the other sites of

interest to tourists and Christian pil-grims, now controlled by Christian sects,no fees were asked for admission. Onecould make a contribution as he left butthe Mohammedans did not seem to ex-pect it, or ask for it. Th is contrast incustom was very noticeable to us, andcertainly complimentary to the Mo-hammedans.

We returned to the hotel just beforethe curfew hour. W e found a flurry ofexcitement. The high commissioner hadrequested additional troops for Pales-

tine. During the night before an attackhad been made upon his executive man-sion, and the rebellion was growing.Tomorrow we would begin our journeyaway from Palestine into the interior oflands populated by people thought byChristians to be heathens, even pagans,or at least enemies of that for whichChristianity stands. Had Christianityset such a marvelous example for themto aspire to? Had it succeeded as wellas one would imagine from the readingof its literature and its glowing terms ofpromise, when the birthplace of its

idealism and its greatest exponent weresteeped in war and bloodshed, andseething with hatred?

(To be continued)

R E A D T H E R O S I C R U C I A N F O R U M


f l H u i n n u iu u mn i u i u i mu u i mn mn n i i u n n mH i mi mi mm i i ii i in i in mn u m i ii i i mi mm u i n H n i ii mn i n i n n i i n imn m i i u mi i i mi u n n n > ^ j

j NOTICE TO MEMBERS

A thorough and comprehensive Seventh, Eighth, and Ninth Degree Index of Subjects | has just been completed, consisting of thirty-two pages of typewritten matter covering |

| every possible subject that one would wish to refer to or review in these three degrees. EE It is made available to members through the Rosicrucian Supply Bureau. The higher- E| degree members have been asking for this work for a considerable time and we are sure ;i you will find it an excellent help in referring to the subjects or any part of the study that |E needs extra time or special consideration. The price is $1.00 which covers the cost of jE labor, printing, paper, mailing, etc. E

The Neophyte Index which covers the three Neophyte degrees is twenty-five cents, |1 and the Postulant Index covering the first four Temple Degrees is fifty cents. The Fifth EE and Sixth Degree Index is not quite completed, but will be within the next four months. || The price will be fifty cents.

P i l i i m i m m n n i i n m i i n i n i H i i i n m i i ii i m i n i i i ii i ii i H H i M i w i i i m i i ii i iu i i i i n i i ii H i i i i i ii i ii i in i m u i i n i i i i in m m i i im i i n i i ii i ii i iH i H m m n i M i n i i i ii i ii p j

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Bach hour of the day flnd3 the men of science cloistered unostentatiously inlaboratories, investigating natures mysteries and extending the boundaries ofknowledge. The world at large, although prof iting by their labors, oftentimes isdeprived of the pleasure of reviewing their work, since general periodicals andpublications announce only those sensational discoveries which appeal to thepopular Imagination.

It is with pleasure, therefore, that we afford our readers a monthly summaryof some of these scientific researches, and briefly relate them to the ftosicrucianphilosophy and doctrines. To the Science Journal, unless otherwise specified,we give full credit for all matter which appears in quotations.

Nations Are Men

ATIONS fail men,because men ex-pect them to per-form in a super-human manner.Men cannot exact

from a nation acompound, the ele-ments of which itdoes not possess.Men squabble, lie,cheat and rob inthe smallest circlestha t cons t i tu te

their business, social and family lives,but demand that the conduct of a nationnever fall short of their highest vision-ary idealism. If the state were divinelyestablished and administered, the con-

trast between the conduct of men andwhat they sought in the state would notseem so inconsistent. It would be real-ized that men are not gods and there-fore do notlive the perfect life but couldat least seek it in the state. However,the minds and hands which fashion thestate, are of mortals stricken with all ofhumanitys ailments, mental, physicaland moral. W hy then, should we pre-sume that in pacts and plans enteredinto between nations, some alchemicalprocess is invoked which transforms the

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jealousies, treacheries and greed whicharise in personal agreements betweenmen, into frankness, honesty and un-selfishness?

One of the major issues of today inconflicting political philosophies iswhether the state is created for man, orman for the statewhether man is bornto serve an end which is the state, orthe state is organized by man for hiswelfare and at all times is under hissupervision. Both sides must admit thatthe state is a product of man. Either hecreates it, is its master and cooperateswith it, or he defines it as an ideal whichrepresents the purpose of man on earthand which he is bound to attain andserve, whether he wishes to or not.

In the first instance, it is quite obvious

that the state will reflect mans thinkingand doing. If he creates the state, hebuilds it of the materials of his own ex-periences. He is constantly tempted toemploy ways and means to make itserve him as an individual, rather thanas an integral part of society. He is in-clined to treat it like a community house,which he may be employed to erect. Inother words, to add a little somethinghere or there to the special quarters init which he is going occupy and whichothers may not enjoy. He often cannot


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resist misrepresenting the materials heputs into it, thus personally profiting atthe expense of the entire project. If hehas the opportunity to crowd out aneighbor, he does so, especially if by sodoing he can make demands on the

neighbor in exchange for conceding himan equal right. This state which he isbuilding, he thinks of as just a largerproject than a private business. It hasa greater number of members than acorporation, but is composed of men,and men think and act more or less alikein business. After all, in theory at least,they contend the idealism of business isnot much less than that of a state. Astate it is true, is not organized formonetary profit, but rather for the pur-suit of happiness, but then the profit ofbusiness, it is reasoned, is intended to

provide the free pursuit of happiness,so in the final end they are the same.

In business, ethics are the ribbonswith which business ideals are prettilytied. The ideals with their attractiveribbons are placed in a conspicuousplace, and are occasionally regardedwith upturned eyes, but the guide thatis followed closely in actual practice isthe laws of the state, which define whatshall or shall not be done and establisha penalty for disobedience. Closing atransaction just within the law,but way

out of bounds, insofar as the code ofethics is concerned, is quite justified inbusiness circles. It is explained that theethics and idealism transcend by farwhat is at present actually possible inbusiness, and that the law which is fol-lowed is founded upon the experienceof practice. Men contend that if theykeep within the law they are at leastnot slipping backward, and they maygradually, at some time in the distantfuture, reach that sublime height wherethey will conform to the noble code of

ethics. In like manner, if a nation isable to put over a pact that brings it aprofitable possession or concession with-out a flagrant violation of internationallaw, it is a success. The failure to con-form to the idealism on which the statewas founded, is explained away on thebasis that the pact was entered intoalong the lines of established law, andit is unfortunate if the law falls shortof the high plane of ideals.

On the other hand, if the state isconceived as the intended manner ofliving for men and as a thing whichmust have an existence, not for men,but in spite of them, there are thenestablished standards to which all living

is expected to conform. If it is furtherimagined that the state shall representand accomplish something which no in-telligent man could expect or want inlife, those who are responsible force itslaws on all men to further that falseend. If the creators of the ideals of sucha state are physically inferior, it is na-tural that their reaction be that the stateaccomplish by mass conquest and op-pression what they cannot do individ-ually. If they lack the intelligence andingenuity to acquire personal wealthand recognition, they demand that the

state do so, and thus they participate init indirectly at the sacrifice of the inter-ests of others of their own or foreignstates.

Man cannot make a perfect nation orexpect it to exhibit sterling qualities un-less the men of which it is composedare likewise sterling in thought andconduct. A house represents the con-cept of beauty of its buildera nationrepresents the inner convictions of itsstatesmen and people. Poverty, diseaseand hysteria influence the thought of

people. As an individual is affected psy-chologically by his physiological con-dition, so is a nation. It is time the il-lusion of expecting great things fromnations composed of sick peopleswhether that illness be physical, mentalor moralbe shattered. Until a nationas a people, not an intangible thingcalled a state, can cure their own familyills, rid themselves of local diseasesthat is, social disorders, labor and capi-tal fevers, political pollution and relig-ious intolerancenothing noble can be

expected of them when they act col-lectively as a state. Th at nations canbe diagnosed by the symptoms of theirpeople is explained interestingly byS. H. Kraines of the National Hospitalof Diseases of the Nervous System,Queens Square, London, from whom wequote below.

It has often been stated that theworld today is insane. When one looksupon the various nations racing madly

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toward the next war, toward the despot-ism that reigns over many countries, onthe selfinflicted poverty, on the maddesire not to cooperate with others, itis not strange that the world may be re-garded as mad.

Insanity, however, is a broad termwhich covers many different types ofpersonalities and many different typesof diseases. Even after a full study it isoften impossible to come to a definiteconclusion. Nevertheless, it is importantto make a diagnosis because upon thediagnosis depends the therapy.

Such a diagnosis is submitted in thefollowing analysis of the various coun-tries. There are many difficulties, manyobjections and much conflicting evi-dence to the following statements, butthey are submitted in an effort to arouseinterest, to stimulate the ideas and thecontroversy that is necessary in order tothrow light upon the events of the day.It is possible that there will be objec-tions; that is too bad. An individual orcountry must be able to look at itself, tolaugh at itself and to understand itselfas it is. Whenever a country or an in-dividual becomes too upset by criticism,then that person is basically unstable.The wellbalanced man is not affectedby criticism, except that it makes him

reflect and take into consideration theobjections which are offered to his per-sonality. It is with this hope that thefollowing statements are made.

The United States is suffering froma typical manicdepressive psychosis.In the manic phase, just as in the manicpatient, it is happy, elated, very active,dreaming great dreams, doing manythings beyond its capacity and speakingloudly of the success which it is achiev-ing. Such a manic attack reached itsclimax in the years before 1929. Fo l-

lowing the crash in 1929 came the de-pressive episode, and here again theanalogy between this depression andthe manicdepressive depression is strik-ing. In both instances is there a markedretardation, marked ebbing of energy,many complaints, inability to thinkthrough clearly, insomnia, bad dreams,fears, a poor appetite and a decline inthe birth rate. He needs to learn tosmooth out his swings.

France reminds me of an elderly,fearful spinster, gingerly treading her

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way, holding her skirts high, sufferingfrom an excessive emotionalism and ap-prehensiveness. She was born in theeighteenth century with violent laborpains and much hemorrhage. She is ex-cessively dependent on her brother,John Bull. She is of basically goodcharacter but unstable, is brilliant butunreliable.

Germany is going through a depres-sive phase with marked paranoid symp-toms. The depression has been chronic;the paranoid ideas have been coming ongradually in the last few years. Shefeels that other people are to blame forher own inadequacy. She accusesothers with the typical rationalizationused by paranoids for her inferior con-dition. She is, again like most para-

noids, eminently logical. She is ex-tremely capable and full of energy and,again like the paranoid patient, goesinto meticulous and infinitesimal detailto prove that she is right in her accusa-tions. Such persons are always potenti-ally very dangerous, because they pos-sess reason and great energy. It ishoped, however, that with the lifting ofthe depression the paranoid symptomswill tend to subside and trust in otherswill replace suspicion of others. Ger-many needs to learn to place less em-

phasis on intellect and to be more toler-ant of human emotions and errors.

Italy is really a feebleminded per-son who has seen others grow great,who envies them and feels that he toocan become a great person. The con-sequence has been much blowing of thehorn, beatings upon the chest, largestatements of the greatness of the in-dividual, without any real intellectualattempt, or for that matter ability, tobecome important. In such instances aspanking often does good; on the other

hand, it often leads to sulkiness. W hatis far more important for such a feeble-minded person is the need for his neigh-bors to put their foot down on anythingthat is wrong, while giving him greatpraise for what he does that is right, nomatter how small.

Japan is a small, dynamic, psycho-pathic personality with marked temperoutbursts and ideas of grandeur. Be-cause of its basic characteristics it an-tagonizes people and insists upon itsown way. Such persons are motivated


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by a single idea and will often perishrather than give it up. It will be a longtime before it will be content to governjust itself.

Russia is physically a strong youngman who has just passed through thethroes of puberty. There has been muchinternal conflict with emotional discord,unsettledness of purpose, vague idealsand dreams, reckless pursuit of a shad-owy goal without much consideration tothe practical obstacles. With the pass-ing from the stage of puberty into thestage of adolescence it begins to developmore and more sense. It is still, how-ever, far from leaving the impracticalidealism of the youth. Age may give itwisdom.

China reminds me of a middleaged, baldheaded man who once was

very fat but now has become gaunt andhas large hanging folds of skin. He isessentially lazy, calm, philosophical, andwould rather spend his days fishingthan working in the field. He is a kind-ly old soul who wishes to be left aloneand desires not to interfere with otherpeople. There are some signs, however,of his becoming very irritable at thepersistent stings given him by theirascible, small, psychopathic neighbor.He will lose his temper some day andchastise this neighbor. The irritationwill make a man out of him, so thatafter getting rid of it, he will settledown to a more organized and systema-tized life.

England is a solid, settled businessman who has just gone through a de-pression and has taken it like a man.However, because of his age, near thesixties, he is conservative, somewhat ap-prehensive, wishes to let things taketheir course, and does not desire to in-terfere with the ordinary plan of things.He has a large background of experi-ence, knew what it was to be the headof a large firm and still has many poten-tialities. It remains to be seen whetherage will get the better of him. He hasbecome too set in his ways and needsto change. He has many grownupsons, some of whom are stable, some ofwhom are unstable, but practically allof whom are wilful. These colonies takeafter their parent in some ways.

The only really normal countries in

this world today are Norway, Sweden,Denmark, Holland and Switzerland. Holland is a calm, placid, peaceful

man of middle age who goes his ownway, minding his own business, work-ing industriously, taking care that histoes are not particularly stepped on, butfree from any real hysteria.

Norway and Sweden similarly arehardworking clean citizens who wishonly to be let alone, to cooperate in thecommunity singing group and to be al-lowed to earn an

Documents

Rosicrucian Digest, December 1937