The Rosicrucians in America. The False vs. the True Order of the Rosy Cross, by Dr. Clymer

T H E R O S IC R U C IA N S THE R A N D O L P H FOUNDATION OF T H E

A U T H E N T I C O R D E R OF TH E ROSY

CROSS

IN A M E R I C A

A V

FERSUS

THE S P U R I O U S A N C IE N T A N D MYSTICAL ORDER ROSAE CRUCIS Fabricated by

H. SPENCER LEWIS Baron Munchausen of the Occult

A C rafty Challenge an d a Sincere Offer for a Genuine Investigation and W h at Became of It Of special interest to Rosicrucians, students of the m ystic and occult fraternal orders, Members of A . M . O. R . C. and rightminded men and women who believe in honor and a square deal

N ot

C o p y r ig h t e d

Perviission to copy granted. The courtesy of credit is requested.

The Rosicrucians in America THE FALSE V S.

THE TRU E O R D E R OF THE ROSY CROSS

H . Spencer Lew is, the Baron M unchausen of O ccult, recent fabricator of the spurious A . M . O. R. C . and fore­ most bunk artist of these times, issues a crafty challenge of public debate

to T h e Randolph Foundation of the authentic F ratern ity long established. H e is surprised to receive in return a sincere invitation to join the authentic order in a complete and genuine investigation as to a ll his claim s and the issues between the false and the true O rder

M r . L ew is could not— he dare not— submit to such a test. H is claim s are false, his O rder spurious and he knows it— so he ran aw ay

Some interesting correspondence and a few pertinent observa­ tions on the w ays and methods of a bunk artist

B y R.

S w in b u r n e

C ly m e r

A dditio nal copies a v a ila b le on application of all interested p arties, including m em bers of A .M .O .R .C .

Published by

THE

ROSICRUCIAN

FOUNDATION

Q uakertown . P e n n s y lv a n ia

INT R ODU CTIO N During the colonial days several Initiates of the August F r a ­ ternity, Order of the Rosy Cross, came to America— others, mem­ bers of the Council of the F raternity in the Old W orld, were sent with a mission. These Rosicrucians were active in pre-Revolutionary days and played an important and essential part in the success of the rebellion of the Colonies against the tyranny of King George III, in declaring our independence, in forming our Constitution and in establishing our Government, although in strict accord with the principles and ethics of the Fraternity, they did not let their Rosicrucian activities or associations become known to men. In 1773, an important year in the formative period of our Revo­ lutionary W a r, the first Council of the Order of the Rosy Cross in the New W o rld assembled in the City of Philadelphia.* This Council and its successors in office continued to function for about eighty-five years and until the first Grand Lodge was established in America in the years 1856 to 1858 by Dr. Randolph. Dr. P aschal Beverly Randolph, then the Supreme Grand M aste r of the Supreme Grand Dome of the Rosicrucians of France, estab­ lished the first Supreme Grand Lodge of the Order of the Rosy Cross in America and the Councils above mentioned which had been active since 1773 came under his jurisdiction as the First American Supreme Grand M aster. The Randolph Foundation of the authentic Order and Brother­ hood of the Rosicrucians has been active and working, through a completely organized and fully functioning Supreme Grand Lodge under lawful and regular succession of Supreme Grand M asters and Councils from that date ( 1858, the year of the completion of organization) to the present time. W e have given this brief recital of the activities of the Authen­ tic O rganization in America to show that all others purporting to be or claiming to be Rosicrucian Organizations are spurious or clandestine and exist without right or authority. T he August F raternity— the most secret of all secret societies, the most mystic of all mystical orders, and the most difficult to enter, '* See the m on o grap h , Brotherhood of the Rosy Cross.

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because of the carefully selected membership and the strict regu­ lations and requirements of its Neophytes— has always appealed with unusual interest to the curious and the gullible. T his situa­ tion presented golden opportunities and made it possible, also advantageous, for adventurers and pretenders to organize spuri­ ous, so-called Rosicrucian Orders. Since about the y e ar 1614 when the Grand F ratern ity first became known as the Rose Cross and by other Rosicrucian appella­ tions, pseudo-masters, mercenary pretenders and designing impos­ tors of the Old W o rld have instituted and carried on all kinds of spurious, so-called Rosicrucian organizations, who, for their own greedy profits and other ignoble purposes, gathered into their folds the curious and gullible— and, unfortunately, many earnest, though uninformed, seekers who were qualified for entrance into the Temple of the real and genuine Order. If the charlatans built a labyrinth around the Authentic O rder in the Old W orld where the August F raternity had its birth with the Renaissance and its marvelous growth during the Reformation and where its influence was so great, it is not at all strange and to be expected that pseudo-masters and rank pretenders should estab­ lish spurious orders under Rosicrucian names and appellations in the New W orld. On All Fools Day, in 1915, H arv e y Spencer Lewis, the Baron Munchausen of the Occult— the cleverest and most resourceful promoter, the most ingenious organizer, the most brazen impostor, and the most successful master fabricator of Spurious Orders of this generation— organized in the City of New Y ork a spurious order, for which he plagiarized a Rosicrucian name,* and launched it as the Ancient and M ystic Order of Rosae Crucis— A. M . O. R. C. It was not “ ancient,” having no actual history or antece­ dents prior to 1915; it was not “mystical” unless mystical means being deceptive, and it certainly was not of the Rosy Cross or in anywise a genuine or Authentic Rosicrucian Order. M r. Lewis originally declared that he had brought forth the aforesaid spurious R. C. Order of irregular birth by virtue of some sort of uncertain and undefined authority of some dubious F. R. C. or fictitious R. C. O R D E R in France. T he story, a bit thin, was not at all convincing and did not deceive many— at least not enough to make the enterprise a paying and going concern. H owever, a pro* See m onograph, The Right to the Exclusive Use of Rosicrucian Names.

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moter so resourceful would not let so small a trifle as proper authority trouble him— anyway, not much— he would try again. U nder date of September 20, 1916, he issued to himself a beauti­ ful seal adorned parchment containing some sort of baffling, mys­ terious and heretofore unknown hieroglyphics, entitled “P r o n u n z i a m e n t o F. R. C. N o . 9 8 7 6 0 1 in which he made the astounding announcement “that a separate jurisdiction of the Rosae Crucis Order had been established in America under Supreme Pontiff H igh Ancient Shekah El M o ria Ra of Memphis and that the official seal was being forwarded to the M o s t P e r f e c t M a s t e r P r o f u n d i s , H . Spencer Lewis, at New Y o rk.” (Italics ours.) Indeed and verily, that should have been sufficiently impressive to beguile and allure all the gullible victims in the land forthwith into the fold— but business was not so good— he struggled along until the night of June 17, 1918, when, it seems, the New York Police raided the inner s a n c t u m s a n c t o r u m of the M o s t P e r f e c t M a s t e r P r o f u n d i s , laid their unholy and profane hands upon P r o n u n z i a m e n t o F. R. C. N o . 987601 and took it with them, thereupon all his associates abandoned the enterprise and its M ost Perfect M aste r “ r e t i r e d in to s i l e n c e ” profundis, declaring that “ W e h a v e n e v e r c l a i m e d to h o l d an y w a r r a n t , c h a r t e r , -patent o r a u t h o r i t y f r o m an y f o r e i g n c o u n t r y . ” (Italics ours.) H owever, the silence was not so profound— well— not so pro­ found as might be desired for the sake of those sincere, true seek­ ers of the truth and the Rosy Cross who have been misled and drawn into the vicious net of this master schemer and concoctor of an altogether distorted, deformed monstrosity— which concoction he called A. M . O. R. C. to give it the deceptive appearance of being some sort of a Rosicrucian organization. W e next hear of M r. Lewis in 1920 in San Francisco, where he opened shop with the financial assistance of a successful candy manufacturer. Business improved somewhat, but it was nothing to speak of. It was there in the city of the Golden Gate that he confessed, by written “confessio,” by word of mouth and by his actions, to his close associates that he had no Rosicrucian Author­ ity and laid bare to them in glaring and unmistakable reality the complete plans of his monstrous scheme and its money-making possibilities, according to the report and written statements of the aforesaid candy manufacturer. Again his associates deserted him. Finding himself without financial assistance and things going wrong generally, he moved. 7

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H is next appearance was in T am pa, Florida, in the land of flow­ ers and romance, where Ponce de Leon sought the Fountain of Youth. Our M as te r designer and fabricator of spurious secret orders may not have drunk from that far-fam ed Fountain of Youth, but he did renew his hopes for the successful and immediate execution of his long-delayed plans-—in fact, ten years or more delayed— but patience or rather persistence is a virtue even unto wicked schemers and their vile plans. It was there, about the y e ar 1925, that he formed a partnership with another of mystic ten­ dencies and occult inclinations, who possessed considerable means, that is to say, c a s h — so essential to put into full swing and complete execution the aforesaid schemes and plans. W ith cash in hand and apparently a complete realization of his fondest hopes and wildest dreams also at hand, a replica, in a small way, of an ancient Egyptian Temple was constructed beneath and surrounded by date palms, somewhat similar to, but not exactly like, the Temples of the Initiate Priests of Ancient Egypt. With the ancient Egyptian Temple for scenery or as a back­ ground and with the aforesaid cash for practical utility and driving force, our Baron Munchausen of the Occult launched and let drive a campaign of high-powered advertising and the most cleverly designed organization salesmanship to organize a spurious Order Rosae Crucis, the like of which had never been known in Mystic, Occult and Fraternal Circles— and, of course, entirely contrary to, and in conflict with, the basic and elementary precepts of the Rose Cross and all Rosicrucians— but that was of little or no concern— the drive or campaign was a success— the organization was in progress in a big way— membership applications flowed to T am p a — simply rushed in, in goodly numbers. A t last, after ten long years or more of hoping, struggling, attempting, failing— A. M . O. R. C. was at last organized and established— a financial success, with sufficient working capital and the coffers so long empty were filled and bulging over with cash. There in T am pa the membership of A. M . O. R. C. expanded to undue proportions— the Baron was at the height of his power— at the pinnacle of his glory— he was wealthy and able to make his an­ nual, even semi-annual, pilgrimages to the East, to the ancient tem­ ples of his ancient and mystic order (hie) and confer with his own International Council which he also organized and planted abroad. But it was vain and fleeting glory— the success was too good to be true— on the last joint voyage of his partner, himself and

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their wives, he and his partner quarreled and fell out, because— well, that is another story of a personal nature and should not concern us here—-anyway, about the year 1927 he moved again, this time to San Jose, California-—-by no means penniless but with ample cash in pocket. In San Jose he reconstructed the replica of his Egyptian Temple, and started business on an entirely different basis. No more out­ siders or partners— he would be the s o l e authority and manager of the concern, so he appointed his son Ralph his Grand Secretary, constructed a printing plant and radio station and prepared for a bigger and better campaign for members. His efforts were not with­ out success; he built a fine home for himself and another for his son, Ralph, and then came dissension in the ranks, members became suspicious and began to ask serious and embarrassing questions— the largest lodge of a thousand members and its mas­ ter deserted— law suits followed and troubles— real, serious troubles—-began to disturb the peace and wreck the plans of the master fabricator of the spurious A. M . O. R.C. The end of his troubles are not yet and will not be until he hauls down his false colors and discontinues the wrongful use of Rosicrucian appella­ tions and also discontinues his aforesaid deceptive practices. W e have given this brief, breezy sketch of the Baron M unchau­ sen of the Occult to enable the reader to better understand and enjoy the contents of this booklet. W e have said, we have insisted and often reiterated that M r. Lewis is not a Rosicrucian; that he never had at any time any right or authority to organize or conduct any kind of a Rosicrucian Order or institution; that he fabricated A. M . O. R. C . ; that he took or stole a Rosicrucian name for it; that it is, therefore, a spurious and not a genuine Rose Cross O rder; that his methods are decep­ tive, his claims false, his practices destructive and in no sense Rosicrucian, but contrary to and in conflict with every true precept of genuine and noble Rosicrucianism and that he has deceived, defrauded and misled thousands of true, sincere, though unin­ formed, seekers of the Rosy Cross by leading them into A. M . O. R. C. under the belief that they were joining the authentic Rose Cross Order and that he could and would make them Rosicrucians. M r . Lewis has borne up pretty well— almost heroically— under the constant bombardment of these charges— at times when the truth has borne down upon him too hard and became unbearable, he devised schemes whereby he hoped to bluff his w ay out and from

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under— by boldly, but somewhat indiscreetly, issuing challenges to a public debate. Heine, in The Return Hom e— in his Pictures of T rav els, says: “ I call’d the devil, and he came, And with wonder his form I did closely scan; H e is not ugly, and is not lame, But really a handsome and charming man. A man in the prime of life is the devil, Obliging, a man of the world, and civil; A diplomatist too, w e l l skill’d in d e b a l e , He talks quite glibly of church and state.” So, even so, this shrewd, crafty, skillful, cunning, artful Baron Munchausen of the Occult would debate secret things in public places and would talk quite glibly about the Rosy Cross, holy orders and sacred institutions. H owever, when he proposed such a makeshift and subterfuge as a public debate to decide the issues raised, he did not anticipate that his challenge would bring forth an offe r and proposal for a real, genuine and complete investigation and final determination of all issues— and when, to his surprise and utter chagrin he received such a proposal, w h a t d i d h e d o ? H e did the only thing he could do— h e ran, like the sly fox that he is, and took to cover at the first mention of a real and genuine investigation. This booklet deals with M r . L ew is’ challenges to public debate and our counter-offer and proposal of a genuine and complete investigation, and the final determination of all issues as to the authenticity of the Randolph Foundation of the Rosy Cross in America and as to M r. L ew is’ false claims and his spurious, Ancient and M ystic Order Rosae Crucis. W e trust the interested reader will faithfully follow through and carefully consider the entire contents; it will surely leave the conviction in his mind that M r . L ew is’ claims are altogether false and that his fabricated A. M . O. R. C. is wholly spurious. The question may occur to the sincere student and investigator: W h y have we not tested the authenticity of the conflicting claims in the courts of the land? T here are other reasons; however, the following reason will be sufficient: T he courts are Public Forums, their proceedings are public and as a tribunal in which to try the issue as to which have and give the authentic secret teachings of the Rose Cross, the courts, although conducted in an orderly man­ 10

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ner, are but slightly less objectionable than a public debate, because in both forums and in either event it would mean the exposure of the secret work of the Authentic Fraternity. W e invite and' urge all interested students of the Occult, all sincere investigators and seekers of the Rosy Cross and especially all members of A M O R C to give careful attention to the contents of this booklet. F ratern a lly submitted, R. S w i n b u r n e C l y m e r .

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T h e B a r o n M u n c h a u s e n o f t h e O c c u l t — H is S p u r i o u s A . M . O. R. C . a n d H is C h a l l e n g e s of O p e n P u b l ic D eb a t e In 1928 we published a brochure entitled “T h e R o s i c r u c i a n s — W h a t t h e y ar e, and w h a t t h e y a r e n o t . ” A fte r briefly discussing the authentic Order, its origin, purpose, laws and principles, we made a few pertinent observations about certain clandestine Rosi­ crucian organizations then operating in America. W e did not mention M r. H. Spencer Lewis by name or A. M . O. R. C., the name of his spurious order which he was then, and is now, operat­ ing. The reference, however, was so pertinent and applied to him and his fabrication with such unmistakable force and deadly accu­ racy that M r. Lewis recognized it to be a reference to himself and his brain child, A. M . O. R. C., and on June 8, 1928, he issued to us a challenge to a public debate. The challenge as set forth in a letter to us of that date is in almost the same words and in sub­ stance is the same as the recent challenge contained in his letter to us of December 12, 1933, herein printed v e r b a t i m . W e ignored his first challenge to publicly debate the questions and issues involved, some of which cannot be publicly discussed, none of which can be settled by such methods. W hen he made that challenge, he was simply bluffing, as will fully and clearly appear as we proceed. M ost of all, he hoped and prayed that we would ignore or refuse his offer of public debate. T h a t such was his intention, as well as his hope, appears from the hide-bound restric­ tions he placed upon it by specifically stipulating that his challenge must be accepted “ u n d e r all o f t h e p r o v i s i o n s a b o v e s t a t e d , and w i t h n o e x c e p t i o n s . ” So, taking full advantage of our ignoring his challenge and our failure to then call his bluff, he published his letter, to which he appended the following note under a conspicu­ ous headline: “CHALLENGE NOT ACCEPTED N o t e . — The foregoing letter was mailed, r e g i s t e r e d , on June 8th, and reached M r. Clymer June 13th. Did M r. Clymer accept this opportunity to have the ‘whole 12

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wide w orld’ disprove his statements? Not at a ll! H e promptly returned the challenge marked ‘Refused.’ Once again he has shut the door against any methodical, public, sincere investigation o f his claims, even though he writes letters to newspapers and persons, and publishes many pamphlets, boastfully stating ‘we court the strict­ est investigation.’

Hence this booklet—our only method of bringing the facts before the public.” W e knew then, as we know now, that M r . Lewis was and is not a Rosicrucian; that he never possessed any Rosicrucian authority and that A. M . O. R. C., which he fabricated and launched in 1915, is wholly spurious and absolutely clandestine. W e knew and under­ stood his methods o f high-powered salesmanship, his clever p ropa­ ganda, deceptive advertising, appealing to every selfish instinct o f mankind, all o f which is contrary to every Rosicrucian law and principle. W e knew and esteemed him to be the cleverest p ro ­ moter, the most ingenious organizer and the most resourceful and inventive fab ricator o f spurious fra te rn a l orders that this genera­ tion has produced. W e knew o f his false and fabulous claims and that neither he nor his synthetic, fabricated and spurious A. M . O. R. C. could stand a real test. W e knew then, as we know now, that at the suggestion o f a r e a l test he would take the defensive, back and run. H e has always run from every real test, except where he could w orm , squirm, talk, bluff or pay his w ay out. W e should have called his bluff then as we have now, though we must, in candor, confess that we did not then know the Baron quite as well as we do now— he had not then completely won or fully estab­ lished his undisputed right to the title o f T h e B a r o n M u n c h a u ­ s e n o f t h e O c c u l t . H e had not then taken or maintained as many different, inconsistent or impossible positions or made as many false and groundless claims— and he had not grown so bold, at least not yet quite bold enough to openly declare himself the supreme Rosicrucian A u th o rity in Am erica and his spurious and clandestine ord er to be the Authentic Rosicrucian B roth erh ood — although he has, year by year, conferred upon himself many spe­ cial honors, titles and degrees and as by slow but steady accretion he has claimed m ore and more Rosicrucian rights and authority and has encroached more and more upon the rights o f the Authen­ tic and L egitim ate Order, he had not then, as recently, attempted

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to steal it lock, stock and barrel and to take it unto himself in its entirety. T h e B a r o n ’s S e co n d C h a l l e n g e — N ot S o S u c c e s s f u l — T h e T r i c k D id N o t W o r k In 1933 we published a n o th e r b o o k le t u n d e r the title o f “T he A u g u s t F r a t e r n i t y — -T h e A u t h e n t i c O r d e r of t h e R ose C ross F o u n d e d jn A m e r i c a in 1858 b y D r . P. B. R a n d o l p h , t h e R o s i c r u c i a n , and H . S p e n c e r L e w i s , t h e B a r o n M u n ­ c h a u s e n OF THE O c c u l t , ” in which w e m ad e a b r i e f r e v ie w o f one ch ap ter o f the synthetic, fictitious, so-called H i s t o r y o f the R ose C ro ss O r d e r b y H . Spencer L e w i s ; co rre c te d som e o f his g ro ss m isre p rese n ta tio n s and fa lse im plications and m ad e a f e w te llin g o b se rv atio n s on the m ethods o f the said B a r o n M u n c h a u se n o f the Occult and his spurious R osicrucian O r d e r , A . M . O. R. C., f a b r i ­ cated and b ro u g h t f o r t h by him in the y e a r 1915.

Now, inasmuch as M r . Lewis knows that he is not a Rosicru­ cian; that he is without any semblance of actual Rosicrucian Authority; that his order is spurious; that his so-called H isto ry of the Order is unauthentic and wholly fictitious and that his methods are un-Rosicrucian and unethical, he realized that he could not answer the facts or justify himself in print. In other words, to use rather undignified, but expressive slang, “his hand had been called and he was on the spot.” Did that stop him ? It would have been sufficient for most men under like and similar facts and circumstance, but not for the Baron Munchausen of the Occult, who is an adept at w riggling himself out of tight places, at bluffing his way out of a bad situation, and in hiding or obscuring the truth by directing attention away from the facts by raising false or im m a­ terial issues and arguing and talking about something else. H e is not only a good w riggler but also an expert jumper— he can jump from one proposition to another so quickly, make so m any ap p ar­ ently marvelous claims so fast, assert authority from so many different sources and from points so far distant that no one could possibly answer him in the allotted time of a joint debate in one evening or check the accuracy of his many statements and claims in so short a time-— so he knew if the worst came to the worst and his challenge was accepted, he might be able to save himself by employing all the crafty methods and deceptive tricks of a shrewd debater. T here is an art in public debating by which the true is 14

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made to appear false and the false is given the appearance of truth, to which art M r . Lewis is not a stranger. Besides, T he Baron Munchausen of the Occult is resourceful and most cunning in assuming the role of injured innocence and in turning accusations and positive proof of shameful guilt into sympathy, thus creating an avenue of escape for himself. By his dextrous art and adroit skill he created out of the genius and vision of his own mind A. M . O. R. C. in 1915 without author­ ity or right or even the slightest justification. By the excellence of his cunning craft and the extreme cleverness and endless variety of his “bag of tricks” he has sustained it and made it grow and pay by constant shifting of scenery and making of better promises and more enticing appeals to the curious, the gullible, the trustful, the credulous and the uninformed seekers of mystic and Occult lore. Even now in the face of complete exposure he would save him­ self and his spurious clandestine Order by the ingenuity of his cunning. H e will pull another life for “ t h e c a t ” from his “B ag of T ricks,” an old trick that worked once for him like magic— he will take another chance— maybe it will work again. He will boldly issue a challenge to joint public debate in the nature of a stinging rebuke to his accuser. H e will show his generosity and make it easy and cheap for his adversary— he will pay all expenses, hire the hall, advertise it in his own inimitable way, manage the affair and keep it under his control so that if there is a miscarriage of plans and the debate takes place he will have every advantage and will be in the position to turn it into a magnificent publicity stunt for A. M . O. R. C. to be broadcast far and near. But the debate must not take place— it is not so intended— the advantage of a refusal to debate with him outweighs all other possibilities— he will, of course, make the terms apparently fair, yet a b s o l u t e l y i m p o s s i b l e o f a c c e p t a n c e , and then, when his challenge is refused, as it must be, he will play his trump card : he will publish and broad­ cast the challenge and stress the refusal to show that there was no merit in our claims because, he will argue, we were afraid to meet him in public debate. H e will make much ado about it, the gullible will swallow it and he will save his face and incidentally secure additional members for his organization. It is a g reat trick, if it works— so, accordingly, he issued and we received his challenge for a joint public debate v e r b a t i m as follows:

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RADIO STATION! WOHTD

THE ROSICRUCIAN ORDER Known os "T H E A N C IE N T , M YS T IC ORDER R O S A E C R U C IS " 'throughout flic world A Non-Sectarian fraternity Devoted to the Involution and Study of the Higher Principle* of Life as Found Expreiicd in Mini and Nature

SUPREME TEMPLE F O R N O R T H A M E R IC A R OSICRU CIAN PARK

SAN JO SE . C A LIF O R N IA . U .S .A .

December 12, 1933 Lir. R. Swinburne Clymer Beverley Hall' Q u a k e rto w n ,

Penna.

Pear Sir: In your recent brochure, in which you take opportunity to criti­ cize ALORC, and condemn it as illegal, clandestine, and guilty of thievery and plagiarism, you issue a- challenge to the wnole wide world to disprove the statements contained therein. You have also stated in letters to newspapers, and to inquirers, that you courted the "strictest investigation.11 And, for several years, you have written letters to us stating tnat you would welcome an open Investigation of your claims for yourself, and your charges against us.Therefore, since you "gladly welcome tne opportunity to prove and fully demonstrate the' truth of my statements before any competent and impartial tribunal," we are taking you at your word, ana believe tnat you wi-11 not mind traveling a little distance and affording tne thou­ sands of seekers and inquirers an opportunity to hear you present your proofs of the charges you make against us, and at the same time, sup­ port- your claims and contentions of your alleged facts. Therefore, we hereby challenge you to a public debate under the following circumstances: Ho. 1— Tnat tne debate be a eld in the city of.Chicago, because of its central location in this country, and because it is less than naif way across ti.is country for you to journey. Or, because you are anxious to control all Rosicrucian activities in California, and have spent con­ siderable money in attempting to influence Californians in tneir under­ standing of your sole rights and authority, tne debate may take place in tne city of San Jose. You may cnoose eitner of t;:ese cities. ■no.. 2 — Tne hall, auditorium, tneatre, or otner public place for the ’debate is to be cnosen by us to accommodate a thousand persons, or what­ ever number v/e believe will attend, and we will pay the entire expenses for the rent of the hall for the night of the debate. No. 3— You are to argue in person for, and in behalf of your charges and contentions, and the writer of this letter will argue and speak in benalf of Ai-.ORC and present counter charges and defense.

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December.12, 1933

No. 4— You are to present for examination to any committees of the audience, or to any dependable, sincere investigator attending tne debate, all such letters, documents, records, or papers as will show your exclusive right to i,.aintain and operate the only true Rosicrucian Order in America; and you are to submit for 'similar ex­ amination all such papers, documents, or letters as will prove your charges of illegality and the clandestine nature of AliORC, and its alleged fraudulent activities in America. And you are to bring with you such books of your teaching's and lessons as will shov; that you have the genuine Rosicrucian teachings for sale or distribution through your organization. And, with the provision that you bring these things for examination and presentation, the AKORO will bring similar papers, documents, books, records, lessons, and so fort.a, for the purpose of disproving your contentious, and at the same time reveal the activities of your organization and tne points of your work, wiiich you have been careful to conceal from all public investi­ gation. Wo. 5— And you will permit your speeoh and argument, as well as my own, to be taken down in shorthand by a staff of efficient ste­ nographers whom we will provide, supplemented by any you wish to pro­ vide; and you will also permit your speeches in the debate, and during the entire session, to be broadcast by radio, published in the news­ papers, or recorded in public magazines. No. 6— And you will be willing to answer questions submitted by myself pn behalf of our organization, or submitted by persons who will attend the debate, just as I will be willing to answer similar cjuestions that are pertinent to tne issue. No. ?— Members of our organization, and members of your organiza­ tion shall have equal and first privilege in filling tne seats of the auditorium or hall for the debate. llo. 8— Tne debate to be neld on some week-day night, preferably on a Saturday evening, between the first of February and tne.first of i.iarch; and you may set tne date, which date, hov/ever, may have to be changed by mutual consent, when the time comes to find the proper hall and make an engagement with the lessee thereof. Ho. 9— You are to answer this challenge, and either affirm or deny your intention to comply therewitn, by tne first day of January, 1934. If you accept this challenge for a debate, under-all of tne provi­ sions above stated, and with no exceptions. we will advertise the de­ bate in a number of large public magazines of this country, and through many other channels of nation-wide publicity. Of course.it should be understood, and would be understood by every sane person, that the documents, papers, and proofs which you are to submit, and whicn we will submit, will be of a material, concrete form of matter tnat is tangible enough to be photographed and sensed by the oojective faculties of man; and tnat no spiritual evidence for spiritual

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Ur. H. Swinburne Clymer —

AND

T H E

3

A N S W E R

December 13, 1933

authority shall be considered tangible and definite in connection with the material rights and privileges you claim to possess as head of the only real Rosicrucian Order in this country. Yours very truly,

IilPSRATOR HSL:AA THE RO&CRUCIAN ORDER

R e tu rn in 5 days

S A N JO SE , C A L IF., U . S . A .

Mr.. R. Swinburne Clymer Beverley Hall Quakertown, Penna.

!$]'; jt'rr i(-vLn

18

A n A r t f u l S trategy A C l e v e r A t t e m p t to M a k e a Virtue o f S h a r p P r a c t i c e a n d Su btle Shrewdness T he gentleman errs, unwittingly, of course, when he states that we “issued a challenge to the whole wide world to disprove the statements” contained in our recent brochure, “ T iie A u g u s t F r a ­ t e r n i t y , O rd er of t h e R ose C ross in A m e r i c a and H . S p e n c e r L e w i s , T h e B a r o n M u n c h a u s e n o f t h e O c c u l t , ” although neither M r. Lewis nor anyone else can disprove the truth of the statements contained therein. T he Baron misrepresents us, in part, when he says that we have “ s l a t e d in l e t t e r s t o n e w s p a p e r s ” that we courted “ t h e s t r i c t e s t i n v e s t i g a t i o n . ” W e have never written letters to newspapers— that is a favorite method of propaganda employed by M r. Lewis. W e do not care to use it. However, we do court the strictest investigation of the proper kind and in a proper manner, which does not mean that we are willing to, or will any reasonable being expect us to, publicly expose the “points of our secret work or exhibit the private lessons of the Authentic Order to pseudo-mas­ ters of clandestine Rosicrucian Orders or to the curious seekers of Occult lore.” W h a t we did say in our recent brochure— we quote it v e r b a t i m — is : “ I have written that which follows because I know it to be t h e tru th. Let it be clearly understood that I assume full and complete responsibility for all statements made and will gladly welcome the opportunity to prove and fully demonstrate the truth of my statements before any c o m p e t e n t and i m p a r t i a l tribunal." W e said “an y c o m p e t e n t a n d i m p a r t i a l t ri bu n al ” and, of course, that is exactly what we meant and intended— certainly by no stretching of the imagination or clever circumvention or crafty stratagem can it be construed to mean a public debate, under such provisions and conditions as prescribed by M r. Lewis— such an offer and challenge m ay be stratagem — par excellence, but it begs the whole question and ignores all vital issues— it is, in truth and in fact, the worst kind of petty subterfuge— a clever device or skillful artifice used to escape just censure and to evade the real

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questions at issue. There are certain standard rules of public debate and certain courtesies due the p arty challenged— as well as certain well-defined rights and privileges to which the party challenged is alw ays entitled which were completely ignored by M r . Lewis. If we were disposed to debate such issues in public in joint dis­ cussions, we would not accept a challenge so manifestly unfair, with­ out modification. H a d we accepted we would have insisted upon our rights as the challenged p arty— all of which were designingly withheld in the foregoing challenge. L et the sincere and interested reader carefully note and thought­ fully analyze the requirements and stipulations of M r . Lewis, set forth in provisions numbered 4 and 6 of his challenge. H e requires that we present for examination to an y committee of the audience, or to a n y o n e attending the debate, all letters, documents, records and papers to show our exclusive right to maintain the only true Rosicrucian Order in America, and to show the clandestine nature of A. M . O. R. C. and its alleged fraudulent activities. This we could do. T here is abundant proof of the authenticity of the R an­ dolph Foundation of the Rose Cross Order in America, and of our exclusive right to maintain such authentic Order, and also proof in great abundance to establish the clandestine nature of A. M . O. R. C. and its fraudulent activities in Am erica. H owever, it would require considerably more time than one evening, or the three or four hours allotted to a joint debate, to submit, much less to properly consider, the evidence which will conclusively prove both proposi­ tions, viz., that ours is the authentic and A. M . O. R. C. is the clan­ destine Order. And, if the proof were so submitted, what assurance is there that the committee from the audience would be c o m p e t e n t and i m p a r t i a l f Since it is M r . L ew is’ debate, his own idea, just as A. M . O. R. C. is his own brain child, and since he proposes to have and to keep absolute control of it— just how would he select the committee from the audience to pass upon and judge our cre­ dentials and the evidence offered? You don’t suppose he would play a trick on us and “ fix” the committee in advance? T h a t is not likely— we would not tempt him by affording the opportunity. H e next requires that we bring all books (private unpublished books) of our teachings and (inner and secret) lessons as will show that we have the genuine Rosicrucian teachings; that we reveal our activities and the points of our work (secret activities and secret w ork) which have been, and of course always will be, care­ 20

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fully guarded and concealed from all public investigation— in brief, he requires that we, as Supreme Grand M aster, violate our solemn vows and sacred oath and publicly disclose and lay bare the pro­ found inner teachings of the Authentic Order. Further, he requires that we answer any question submitted by himself or any person who m ay attend the debate— that is, if we do not voluntarily dis­ close all desired information, he reserves the right to “dig in” and get the rest by prying with questions. T o be sure, a pseudo-master of a clandestine Rosicrucian Order with none of the true secrets, real mysteries and authentic teachings has nothing to lose and everything to gain by such an arrangement. A Rosicrucian Grand M as te r of the Authentic Order will not and cannot consent to such an unholy and impossible arrangement. None other than a pseudo-Rosicrucian would make such a proposal or desire the secret work exposed. It was not M r . L ew is’ intention to expose and reveal himself to be a pseudo-Rosicrucian. T h a t was entirely inadvertent and inci­ dental; his fixed design and real purpose were to prescribe such terms as would be impossible of acceptance; so as to thereby abso­ lutely insure himself against any possibility of our acceptance, and to avail himself of our refusal as an avenue of escape. The trick did not work. W e did not propose to let him get away so cun­ ningly and so easily. H e had proposed a makeshift of an investigation— that would settle no issue, one that would increase the controversy, further embitter the contestants and leave the earnest seeker of the true order still confused by the controversy— for which reason M r.L e w is desires to continue and increase the controversy. It enables him by deceptive methods and high pressure advertising and salesmanship to secure members from among the uninformed seekers of the real Rosicrucian Order. W e do not want to prolong the controversy— we want the issues settled once and for all tim e; therefore, we propose a full, complete and real investigation that would settle all controversy, determine every issue and decide which of the two organizations is authentic and which is clandestine. Accordingly on the 29th day of December we forwarded to M r . Lewis our answer by wire via W estern Union, which telegram or night letter was confirmed by our letter of the same date— in which the telegram is set forth v e r b a t i m , omitting only the address— the letter in full, v e r b a t i m , is as follows: 21

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J

J CLASS OF SERVICE prr.IRCD ^

NO.

CASHORCHG.V

CHECK

UNION

TIME FILED

r

s

NEWCOMB CARLTON, t

Sen d the following message, subject to the terns on hacl{ hereof, which are hereby agreed lo

19 S3 T a-Il^—S p e n c e r—L ew is-, S treet a n d N o. P la ce—

A M O R

-----------------------C.

O . ________________

S a n . . J o 3 Q - ^ - C a l i f o r n i a . _____________________________

,-Kcccipt -of.,your letter Deoember twelfth. is acknowledfled,5 under all conditions as-prescribed "by you^cannot. be accepted .Stov> IIp-::pvor^ I -understand-yo.ur challenge to neaii that yoa desire and Intend to propose a conplobe,Investigation of all natters in controversey between us bo be -made-'by-an.d-~ba£Qre an impartial and competent tribunal*therefore^ to that .extent .jantL.to bhat end I aeoept your challenge .Stop I will soon* subniib to you_a_oountor proposition

t i l l

ch,if acoepted and agreed to by you v;lll

-effectively and finall; settle all matters of controversoy between us as .well' as between your or^anizatjcn ant the authentic order.Stop Conflrnation hereof and letter follows, S e n d e r 's a d d ress f o r r e fe r e n c e

R. Swinburne Clymer

TH E Q U IC K E ST , SU R E ST A N D SA F E ST W A Y TO SE N D M O N EY IS B Y TE LE G RA PH OR CABLE

S e n d e r 's t c lc p h o r

F r a t e r n it a s R o s a e C r u c is T h e R o sicru cia n O rder, o r R osicru cia n B r o th e r h o o d

THE SEE B e v e r ly H all

Q u ak ertow n , P a.

“ December 29, 1933. H. S p e n c e r L e w is , San Jose, California. “ D ear S ir: “ I confirm my night letter to you of this date, word for word, as follow s: “M

r

.

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“ ‘Receipt of your letter December twelfth is acknowledged. Your challenge under all conditions as prescribed by you cannot be accepted. However, I understand your challenge to mean that you desire and intend to propose a complete investigation of all m atters in controversy between us to be made by and before an im partial and competent tribunal; therefore, to that extent and to that end I accept your challenge. I will soon submit to you a counter-proposition which, if accepted and agreed to by you, will effectively and finally settle all matters of controversy between us as well as between your organization and the authentic order. Confirmation hereof and letter follows. ‘R. S w i n b u r n e C l y m e r .’ “ I find myself in accord with your general idea that there should be the ‘strictest investigation’ of our conflicting claims concerning ourselves and our respective organizations of which you and I are the heads, as to our and their Rosicrucian practices, teachings, authenticity and authority, in order that all sincere seekers may know the truth and no longer be misled and deceived by false claims and misrepresentations. “ I repeat that I glad ly welcome the opportunity to prove and fully demonstrate before any c o m p e t e n t and i m p a r t i a l tribunal, the truth of all statements I have made concerning you and A. M . O. R. C. and others which I have not, but will make. “T he chief and fatal objection to your ‘challenge’ and the plan that you outline thereunder is, that it will not be decisive of or settle a single controversial issue. I will, within 30 days, make full reply to your letter of the 12th instant and submit for your consideration a detailed counter-proposition, as indicated in my telegram, that will effectively and finally settle all controverted questions and all points at issue between us. “Very truly yours, “ R. S w i n b u r n e C l y m e r , “ Grand M a s te r .”

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•PATRONS ARE REQUESTED TO FAVOR THE COMPANY B Y C R ITICISM AND SUGGESTION CONCERNING IT S SERVICE

WESTERN UNION

C l a s s o f S e r v ic e

T h is is a fu ll-ra tc T e le g ra m o r C a b le­ gram u n le ss its d e­ ferred c h a ra c te r is in ­ d ic a te d b y a su itab le sig n ab o v e o r p reced ­ in g t h e ad d ress.

•NEWCOMB CARLTON, r

WILLCVER. r

DL ° D ay L etter NM

N ight Metaage

NL ~ N ight Letter LCO “ D eferred C able NLT ■= C ab le N ight Letter W L T = W eek-End Letter

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T h e filin g tim e mi nlicrwn in llio dnto lino on full-n o tclccnu na and d a y lo ttvra. and th e tim e of receipt a t destination na nliown on a ll mcasagca, is STA N D A RD T IM E .

Received at

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v 8tIT!'ntn^ Otv\r?n A8TIS0

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F 81*35!enw U5WI8 DStilVWSI)

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F m -m, 1TO SW W O TI01J m .

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1814 FI

RETURN RECEIPT tieceiocd from the Postm aster the Registered or Insured Article^ the origin al number o f which appears on the face of^this Card-.

(Signature or name of addressee)

(Signaturo of addressee’s agent)

19^ J ^ r

Date of delioery

Form tiBJ 1

II. 8. OOVEBNI^NT I’M mIin tin g o r r i c «

W estern Union showed delivery of our telegram to M r . Lewis at 8.35 o’clock A. M . on December 30, 1933, receipt of which is

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also shown by his reply thereto hereinafter set forth. Our foregoing letter was forwarded to M r. Lewis by Registered A ir M a il on December 30, 1933. The returned registry card signed by his personal signature acknowledged receipt of same on J a n u a ry 2, 1934. M r. Lewis did not wait for the receipt of our letter of confirma­ tion. Lie would have nothing to do with a real investigation that would completely and finally settle all issues— and, as M r. Lewis fully realized, would also completely and finally settle him and his clandestine Order. T herefore, h e m a d e h a s t e to call of f all n e g o ­ tiatio ns . So, on Ja n u a ry 1, 1934, he dispatched to us his telegram, as fo llo w s:

• ■“27

IIO ^ S A H JG S E

C A L PF

1 215P

R C CLY!:'ER= QUAKERTO-"!! PEHN3

V'E REGRET TH AT YOU HAVE A G A I N REFUSED TO A^RE E TO OUR ACCEPTANCE OF THE CH ALLENG E YOU

ISSU E D

IM YOUR L A T E S T

rOOKLET

T I ’E ’7E HAVE A CC E P TE D YOU.R BO AS TE D CH ALLENG E EITHER

EVA: EN THE

I ".SUE OR A S IN

•i1? I ' M ' A L CH AL LEN G E STO P acceptakces letters

yw h

flaunted

I H I S CASE SOUGHT TO

co

YOU

-OD I.FY YOUR

V'E HAVE R E E " VERY L I B E R A L d e s ir e s

I S SECO'ID

IN OUR

.-'- a ’ a s p u b l i c a t i o n s o f o u r

"'Ei.iE i:c VS ALE-0* COL.OA V!t ARE NO'1 F I N A L L Y A'-'1- Ci'1 V I . E T E L Y

T:-IIUV)P:I " I T - . CONS!

of

SINCE

Till '

A! 10 EACH T H E

ANY ;" E ‘ :o r I AT IONS '71TH .YOU PEN

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I N S IN C E R E

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|p. OH | TE E V I PEN f TH AT YOU HAVE NEVER TR U LY T E S I R E D AN OPEN P U B L I C L>E;;ATE= »H SPENCER L E W I S .

25

A S e l f - E x e c u t e d P o rtrait of t h e B aron M u n c h a u s e n of t h e O c c u l t Is not this telegram a remarkable phototype and perfect model of its sender? Did ever mortal man draw a more perfect picture of himself or more completely demonstrate and emphasize his predominating traits than M r . Lewis has in this telegram ? It shows clearly the inner workings of his mind and reveals the shal­ low and insincere mask of all his petty scheming and bold designing. He is in a tight place— all his scheming has gone wrong. Instead of the expected and hoped-for refusal of his challenge to debate, he has received a proposal for a genuine and complete investiga­ tion that will ascertain and make known the full truth and nothing but the truth— that will ruin him and destroy A. M . O. R. C.— Great heavens-— he cannot accept that proposition. ITe cannot sub­ mit to such a test-— to a real test. W atch him squirm— see him wiggle— and how does he try to wiggle out? Lie says: “W e regret that you have again refused to agree to our acceptance of the challenge you issued in your latest booklet.” T h a t is a twister. H e uses 21 twisted words in a labored attempt to conceal the truth, to confuse and mislead the reader. L et us untwist his statement and get the facts straight. M r. Lewis has never accepted our proposition— let him call it a challenge— to give us an opportunity to prove the truth of our contentions before any c o m p e t e n t and i m p a r t i a l tribunal— and, moreover, he never will. W e did not challenge him to an open public debate; that was his idea, he challenged us— now he is ashamed of it and would saddle it on to us. W e are standing by our proposition. It is M r. Lewis that is on the run. H ow much do you suppose he really regrets our refusal to debate with him? Let us follow his telegram. H e further says: “T his is the sec­ ond time we have accepted your boasted challenge and each time you have either evaded the issue or, as in this case, sought to modify your original challenge.” Poor M r . L e w is! ITe would have you believe that we have mistreated him'— he seeks your sympathy. H e would have you believe it was us and not he who was squirming

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— how he would like to shift the blame! Unfortunately for him, the facts are that in both instances he issued the challenges for a public debate— in neither case did we accept his challenge. W e have not modified our original proposition— we are still standing on our original proposal as the reader may see for himself— it is clearly evident that it is M r. Lewis that is shifting and attempting to confuse. Then he s a y s : “Since we have been very liberal in our acceptance of your flaunted desires, as publications of our letters were (w ill) revealed (re v e a l), we are now finally and completely through with any negotiations with you pending toward any consideration of your insincere and shallow challenges.” Is that not a perfect picture of assumed injured innocence and righteous indignation? Yet he labors in vain to shift the blame or to justify himself. A fter much profound w iggling and twisting, he wiggles himself out of his own bad situation— and how? By simply declaring himself out and all bets off. In other words, he ran away— H E d a r e n o t S T A N D A R E A L T E S T — so he ran, and as he ran he declared us to be running from him. Did you ever sit in a fast-moving train looking out of the window when the whole country-side seemed to be mov­ ing aw ay from you? It was just an illusion, yet it very aptly illus­ trates M r. L ew is’ situation. H e has always been on the run and has always declared or intimated that others were running from him. And finally he says: “ It is quite evident that you have never truly desired an open public debate.” Yes— quite evident. This last statement contains the only true implications and correct state­ ment of fact contained in his telegram. W e never intend to join in public debate with M r. Lewis. W e have, we trust, set forth herein ample and sufficient reasons in justification of our course. Notwithstanding the foregoing telegram and M r. L ew is’ action in declaring all negotiations off, we desired to give him every oppor­ tunity to join in a real investigation before a committee or tribunal entirely capable and competent to judge and determine every issue, with ample authority to make full and complete investigation of all and every fact and, above all, a tribunal that is wholly impartial and without interest, except in doing justice— with full power to render a final judgment and decree binding on both parties. T h ere­ fore, accordingly, on Ja n u a ry 24, 1934, we forwarded to him by Registered M a il our promised counter-proposition and plan of investigation, v e r b a t i m , as follows:

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F r a t e r n it a s R o s a e C r u c is T h e R o sicru cia n O rder, o r R osicru cia n B r o th e rh o o d

THE SEE B e v e r ly H all

Q u ak ertoivn , P a.

LtJ a n u a r y 24, 1934. “ M r . H . S pencer L e w is,

San |ose, California. “ D ear S ir: “Supplementing our telegram and letter of December 29, 1933, and in accordance therewith, we make further reply to your letter of December 12, 1933, and submit herewith our counter-proposition and plan of investigation, which will afford you a fair and adequate opportunity to establish in a proper w ay your claims to Rosicrucian authenticity and authority, without exposing your secret work, and that will finally, effectively and conclusively settle all issues between us. “ Since you started your Rosicrucian organization, about the year 1915, without due w arrant of authority, we have maintained that you and your organization are clandestine; that we only possess the rightful authority, and that ours is the authentic Rosicrucian F r a ­ ternity, Brotherhood or Order. On the other hand, you have made the same claim for yourself and your organization. Both cannot be right. This controversy has grown to undue proportions. T o continue it will serve no good purpose. It should be settled. It is our sincere hope that it can be settled and ended. It is with this hope that we make this offer of settlement, without in the least degree receding from our position. “ It seems to us, that if you are acting in good faith, if your claims are well founded and can be proven, that you will accept our offer and regard the plan of inquiry as a golden opportunity to establish your Rosicrucian authority, authenticity and your exclusive right to establish and maintain the authentic Rosicrucian Fraternity, Order or Brotherhood in America. If you elect to evade the issue, to refuse a fair and proper investigation, and you are not willing to abide by the results of such an investigation, then how can you

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expect anyone to believe that there is a scintilla of merit or truth in your Rosicrucian claims? “W e also feel confident that all just, fair-minded, thoughtful persons will, at once, agree that the plan of investigation is fair, just and adequate, that it affords and offers to you a fortunate and genuine opportunity to prove and conclusively establish your claims, under a binding agreement on our part, that, if you do so establish your claims, you will have the exclusive right to carry on and main­ tain the only Rosicrucian organization in America, without further hindrance or criticism on our part, and that if you cannot stand a searching investigation and cannot establish the truth of your claims under this plan, then, that you should, sportsmanlike, confess the truth that you have no Rosicrucian authority, discontinue the use of the name, all Rosicrucian appellations and symbols in your work and conduct it honestly under a name, appellation and symbols that will mislead and deceive no one. “ M a n y sincere men and women, more or less interested in the occult sciences, have joined your organization, upon your repre­ sentation that it is the authentic Rosicrucian Order and Brother­ hood. M a n y of them still believe that they have received from you the true Rosicrucian teachings and inner work, and that they have become and are Rosicrucians. On the other hand, many other equally sincere and earnest seekers have joined our organization upon our representation that ours is the authentic F raternity and that we alone have and can give the true, authentic Rosicrucian teachings. In simple justice to our respective followers and also to the many interested seekers who desire to affiliate themselves with the Fraternity, yet do not because they are confused by our conflict­ ing claims— the issue should be and must be settled, once and for all time. “W e have courted and earnestly desired the strictest, most sweeping and complete investigation of our respective claims. W e have said many times, and here repeat, that we would gladly wel­ come the opportunity to prove and fully demonstrate our claims and the truth of all statements which we have made concerning you and your organization, before any i m p a r t i a l and c o m p e t e n t tribunal. W e mean exactly that. An impartial tribunal means one that is fair. A competent tribunal, in this case, means one capable and qualified to judge Rosicrucian evidence, to determine Rosicrucian authority and authenticity, that understands fraternal usage and law, and that can reach a correct conclusion and render true judg29

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ment. It also means one in which the rights of all parties will be fully protected and the secret w ork and inner teachings of the Authentic Order will not be exposed and its usefulness thereby destroyed, and that is as it should be, without re g ard to whethei it be your organization or ours, that is authentic. __ “You cannot meet or avoid meeting the foregoing proposition regard it as a challenge, if you like— by challenging us to meet you in joint debate, in the"manner as set forth in your letter of Decem­ ber 12, 1933, in public, before a mixed audience to be composed principally of our respective followers. Such an audience, 1 **■ tribunal, and if competent, would not be im partial. “Of course, you know and we know, as all are bound to know, if they reflect but slightly, that a public debate of the issues between us, because of the nature of the issues, would be a mere farce and productive of no good. It would be decisive of no issue and would not settle a single controversy at issue. On the other hand, it would permit of much bluffing, blustering, ballyhooing, the m aking of careless statements and the discussion of im m ateiial m atteis, that would confuse rather than enlighten those present. Do you desire that? W e do not. Do you want to confuse and confound. We do not. W e want the issues clearly defined and an ample opportunity to prove our assertions and also to give you the same opportunity to do likewise, in a proper manner, under protective due-guards, before an im partial and capable tribunal with the aln ity and authority to correctly, righteously and justly decide t le issues, and one whose findings and judgment will be decisive, b i l l ­ ing and final. “Let us keep in mind that the controversy between us and the issues involved concern our respective Rosicrucian pi actices, methods, teachings, authenticity and au th ority; that these issues cannot possibly be properly disposed of in two or three hours of public discussion, supplemented by documents to be hastily anc casually examined by ‘any committee of the audience, 01 any dependable, sincere investigator attending the debate’ that may or may not be impartial, competent, sincere or dependable. T o properly dispose of all of these issues, all statements and testi­ mony should be under the sanction of an oath and subject to i igid cross-examination; all documentary evidence should be given caieful examination and thoughtful consideration. T o conclusively establish the authenticity of the Randolph Rosicrucian foundation in America in 1858 and our Rosicrucian authority and authenticity

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may require the examination of many documents in corroboration of our statements or testimony; to show your many changing, con­ fusing claims and shifting positions to be without merit and to completely refute and disprove all your many different and diverse claims of foreign authority, will require the examination of many documents, the testimony of many witnesses in America and the depositions of many foreign witnesses abroad. A ll of this will require time, but if we are afforded the same opportunity, which we now offer to you, we are prepared to prove every claim we have m ade; to disprove and completely refute all your claims to Rosicru­ cian authenticity and authority. “It must be remembered that the authentic Rosicrucian F ra ­ ternity, Order or Brotherhood is a secret society; that its inner work is secret and ever has been, and is now closely guarded and fully protected by the sacred, binding oath of its members; that no mem­ ber who has prepared and proved himself worthy, who received the deeper and profound secrets and who, in reality, became a Rosicrucian, has ever violated his oath or exposed the real, deeper and profound secrets of the order— although it must be admitted that some neophytes have proven unworthy, have been false to their vows and have exposed some of the prelim inary and probationary work. However, this has not injured the Order. Therefore, it must appear to every reasonable creature, since one of the real and important questions at issue is the a u t h e n t i c i t y o f t h e s e c r e t w o r k — that the issues between us cannot possibly be discussed in public debate and that a real Rosicrucian cannot and will not answer pub­ licly an y questions that a n y b o d y may ask. “ If you are a real Rosicrucian and your organization has and imparts the real, authentic Rosicrucian work, I have not the right, nor the slightfcst desire to expose it and to destroy its usefulness. On the other hand, if ours is the Authentic Order, then, in all justice and fair play, you have no right to demand of us, as you did, that we appear in public and ‘reveal the activities of our organiza­ tion and the points of our w ork,’ which we have carefully con­ cealed from all public investigation. “All those who have the slightest understanding of fraternal laws and the elementary, fundamental principles upon which all genuine secret, fraternal or occult societies and orders are founded, will know and understand that they do not give undue publicity to their activities nor seek to secure members by high-pressure advertising or publicity stunts. T hey will, also, readily under­ 31

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stand that true and genuine Rosicrucians do not v u lgarly flaunt themselves before the curious and generally uninterested public in spectacular publicity stunts, by broadcasting a public debate over the air. This in itself, aside from all other reasons, is a valid and sufficient reason for our refusal to accept your challenge of public debate ‘under all of the provisions (as stated by you) and with no exceptions,’ although we are quite willing and anxious to have a real and proper investigation and to meet you on every issue, w ith­ out the slightest evasion or mental reservation. “W e believe that you will readily agree that there is no finer body of select men, of better general repute, of higher m oral and ethical standards than the M asons. T h ey are all bound by a sacred oath, which most of them understand and scrupulously respect. T hey are not only obligated to assist and protect other Masons, but to render justice Alike unto all men. It is only Masons of outstanding ability and fitness, of learning and under­ standing of fraternal law, of keen perceptive sense of right and justice and of tested honor, that are selected for membership on the Committee of M asonic or F ratern al Jurisprudence of the Grand Lodges of the respective M asonic jurisdictions. T herefore, men selected from said Committees are well qualified, fully equipped and most competent to pass upon the issues correctly and to justly decide all matters of controversy existing between us, and certainly they may be relied upon to be fair and im partial. W e believe that a tribunal composed of such men, so selected from said Comm it­ tees, would be an i m p a r t i a l and c o m p e t e n t tribunal. “W e have not approached, either directly or indirectly, any Grand M aster hereinafter referred to, or consulted with any Masons occupying official positions in any M asonic bodies. H o w ­ ever, we believe that the M asons hereinafter referred to will gladly render for us any service possible, upon our joint request. Therefore, we invite and urge you to join us in a request to the Grand M asters of the Grand Lodges (Blue L od ges) of the States of Califo rnia, Ohio and New York to each appoint a member from their Committee on Jurisprudence having the qualifications herein set forth and specified, to act as a tribunal, to determine, in the manner and upon the conditions as hereinafter set forth, all issues and all controversies now existing between us. “W e have suggested three members to constitute the tribunal, which we believe to be sufficient for all purposes. H ow ever, we are in no sense adverse to a tribunal composed of five or seven members, 32

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to be designated and appointed by the Grand M asters of four other Grand Lodges of any other States in the United States or by the I ligh Officer of any Grand Body of the higher degrees of Masonry, either of the Y ork or Scottish Rites, provided that such members, so designated and appointed, shall possess the qualifications herein prescribed and that no two members of the tribunal shall be from the same State. If you prefer a tribunal of five or seven members, you m ay designate the Masonic officers who may appoint such addi­ tional members of the Tribunal. “T he use of the word ‘parties’ herein shall be understood to mean yourself and your organization as one party, and myself and my organization, as the other party. “W e

pr o po se

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A G R E E M E N T AND S T IP U L A T E AS F O L L O W S:

“ 1. T h a t there shall be appointed, in the manner as above set forth, a Committee or Tribunal whose members shall be learned in Fraternal Jurisprudence, each of whom shall have been, or is now, a member of the Committee on Jurisprudence of the Grand Lodge or Grand Body whose Grand M aster, or High Officer shall appoint him. Provided, of course, that no person who has been or is now a member of the organizations of either party, and/or who has been associated with either party, and/or who entertains any prejudice against Rosicrucianism or Rosicrucians or the parties or either of them, and/or who has formed or expressed any opinion on the merits of the controversy between the parties shall be elig­ ible to serve on the Tribunal. The fact that some of the officers and members of either party are also Masons shall not in itself disqualify any M ason to serve as a member of said Tribunal. “2. T h a t each member of said Tribunal shall take and sub­ scribe to an oath to fairly and im partially try all issues submitted to them and to render true decisions on the facts, in accordance with justice and generally accepted fraternal law and practices and to keep secret and not to divulge any evidence produced before them. “ 3. T h a t we submit all issues and all matters of controversy between us to said Tribunal, which shall have full power and unlimited jurisdiction to try and determine all issues, to determine all questions of procedure and to make rules and regulations gov­ erning its hearings, the conduct of the parties, their counsel and the employees of the Tribunal. A m ajority of the Tribunal shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of all hearings necessary to 33

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be had before the Tribunal, and a m ajority of those present at any hearing may decide any question of procedure. . ()vif.evc? !. a m a" jority of the T ribunal shall be necessary to make the final findings of fact and to render final judgment. “4. T h a t the final findings o f fact and judgment o f the I nbunal, which findings and judgment must be in writing, shall be binding and conclusive on the parties.

“ 5. T h a t the parties shall equally advance all expenses of the Tribunal and, as soon as the members of the 1 nbunal ai e appointed, each party hereto shall deposit with the tem porary chan man the sum of One Thousand ($ 1 ,0 0 0 .0 0 ) D ollars, a total of Two Thou­ sand ( $2,000'.00) Dollars, to be used by him for the d efrayin g of the preliminary expenses of the first meeting of the T n b u n a . That the Tribunal, at its first meeting, shall estimate the probable cost and expenses of the hearings and shall give to each p arty notice thereof. T h ereafter each party shall pay to the Secretary- T reasurer of the Tribunal such sums from time to time as he shall determine and demand, and said funds so paid shall be used for the d efra yin g of all expenses of the investigation and the compensation pei diem and expenses of the members of the Tribunal. I he S e c ie ta iy Treasurer shall keep an accurate account of all moneys so received and disbursed. “ 6. T h a t IT. Spencer Lewis and R. Swinburne Clym er shall each secure from the corporations having title to the p io p e ity and assets of their respective organization their consent to entei into this contract and authority to bind them and their assets for the payment of all costs and expenses of the I ribunal and the investi­ gation as herein provided and they shall file ceitified copies of the resolution of the Board of Directors or I rustees of such authoi lty with the Secretary of the I ribunal at the time of the fii st meeting. The Tribunal shall determine the sufficiency of such authority and if insufficient shall require evidence of proper authoi ity to be filed. “ 7. T h a t the Tribunal shall determine the compensation to be paid to each member per day for each and every d ay such member shall use his time and services in connection with this investigation. It shall also determine the per diem allowance for each member of said Tribunal and shall pay out of said funds all expenses of each member upon his filing an account thereof with the SecretaryT reasurer. “ 8. T h a t the Tribunal shall employ competent reporters to take and transcribe all testimony, arguments of counsel and/or of

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the parties, which testimony when transcribed shall be available for the examination of the parties and/or their counsel. T hey shall also employ such experts as they deem necessary or advantageous in the performance of their duties for the purpose of the examination of any documents submitted or otherwise and accountants for the purpose of making the audits hereinafter provided for. “ 9. T h a t until the Tribunal shall hold its first meeting and organize, the member from the State of Ohio shall be temporary Chairm an and after each party has filed with him their respec­ tive specifications and answers, as herein provided, he shall call the first meeting of said Tribunal, to be held at some place to be designated by him, in a city centrally located in the United States. Before calling such meeting, however, he shall give each party hereto thirty days’ notice to be present and testify at such meeting. The Tribunal shall first organize by electing from its own member­ ship a Chairm an and a Secretary-Treasurer and shall prescribe such general rules for its procedure as it may deem necessary and adequate, and as soon as it shall have been organized, it shall pro­ ceed to hear the testimony of H . Spencer Lewis and R. Swinburne Clymer and such other witnesses as the parties tender, with all members, or a m ajority of the said members, present, and shall receive and file such documentary evidence as the parties desire to offer. “ 10. T h a t the Tribunal, acting through its Chairman, or Sec­ retary, as it m ay determine, may call such meetings of the Tribunal, with due notice to the parties, as it may from time to time deem to be necessary, such meetings to be held in a city centrally located in the United States. “ 11. T h a t the Tribunal shall apportion the United States into districts and designate a member to hold hearings therein to take the testimony of all witnesses tendered by either party, which designation m ay be changed from time to time to suit the conveni­ ence of the member previously designated. The Tribunal may also appoint any of its members to make personal and secret investigations in America of any claim made by either party, and also to travel abroad to fully investigate the claims of either party as to foreign Rosicrucian authority and their affiliations and con­ nections with other Authentic Rosicrucian bodies. And the reports and findings of such members, when made in writing and signed by them, shall be received and considered as evidence by the Tribunal. Provided, however, that either party m ay offer evidence in rebuttal 35

‘‘12. T h a t u on in his d!stn-ctdefS'gna,ted shal! h o l / h e ^ ' - 9 * ' ' ^ the member of the which may h Purpose of , ‘.1Ings m an Y city or cities said mem lip.e ? r ^ uceJ tanS 1t,Ic, and no spiritual evi“ H T h at e ^unal. C' ther Pa « 7 shall be received or written t e s h l C' ther Party h e r ^ questions to ( . ° ? °/ any witnesses ta ke the depositions or the same t** ,W)'tnesses and f o r ^ ^ r P ro p o u n d in g written ^ receL T of ^ ° ther Partv wh the and a copy t°ries, w h ic h Sf U ,quest,’ons to nro n ° S ,1ave tw enty days after tached thereto'-! be retui*ned w i t h a l WritlnS c r o s s - i n t e r r o g a t h e d i r e c t inter!C° Py t h e r e o f t o tll e . cross"m terrog ato ries atto a'iy office,- . ° f ator,es. Such' m ° n £ln al p a rty p r o p o u n d i n g w h e r e t h e w i t m " 10ri.z ed to a d m i n i s / m a y then f o r w a r d the same lst r a t i o n 0 f S. , ; ? S res' des, or is to h 7 w h i c h an s w e r s , c o u n t r i e s s h a l l ' ) ? * " ^ d c P °s ' t i o n . i f u Wltness and certified t o by ~°nsuls o r Cm 1 * b e f o r e 3n J ctePOSlt i o n s taken in f o r e i g n '« ¥ « * . and shaJf Kert,/!ed to ^ United States tories are not n ■Cei tl^lc a ti°n. p rr -e, t ’ ‘i n s l a t e d in to t h e English *'ded> the denfL v P° Unded within t,lat if c r o s s - i n t e r r o g a ^ t e r the dePosiy ° ” sha!! be taken ^ t^ enty. d ay s as above pro­ forward t h e sam T " ’S COrnP l e t e d 1C direct i n t e r r o g a t o r i e s . Hinal who shall C 'V ^ e£,stered M ^ * °® cer s^all i m m e d i a t e l y : r ' dcPositfo„ om" /»'' tte f e e ^ f ? ,h' S“ « a r y of the Trit ^ sa m e, w h e n m \ le officer t a t ; • person or officer taking 1 10 T r i b Unai t o wh*P eted’ to bis d r a f f d ™ ' ^ dePos,t'on m ay attach men,t of the d r a f t ° m, sa,d d e p o s i t i o n Upon t h e S e c r e t a r y o f at all hearings exr" COsts of rfer S V1. be d e l i v e r e d u p o n payS 1:1,1 be Paid o’u t o f ^ thf exP e n s e s o f tT ' tl° nSl B e s s e s ’ expenses e funds in . Parties an d t h e i r cou n se l, the hands o f the Secretary-Treas-

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urer for the purpose of paying the expenses of the hearing. 1115. T h a t neither party will rely on any technicality or plead any technical defense, such as legal rights under any statute of limitation, latches or negligence of the other party and that the Tribunal shall decide all issues wholly unhampered by technicali­ ties of any kind whatever. “ 16. T h a t the proceedings of the I ribunal shall be private anti secret. T h e secret work of each party, whether revealed by the testimony of witnesses or by documents, introduced into evidence, shall be fully protected by rules to be prescribed by the 1 ribunal and no part of the testimony or any document which may tend to reveal any part of the secret work of either party shall be copied, photographed, photostatted or otherwise reproduced. ^ No part of the proceedings shall be published, except the final findings ol fact and the final judgment of the Tribunal. Each party and theii counsel and all employees of the T ribunal shall bind themselves by a special oath not to reveal any part of the evidence or any part ol the proceedings to anyone. Neither party nor theii counsel shall make or receive copies of anv of the evidence. H owevei, they shall have free access to such evidence, to examine and study the same under the supervision of the Secretary who shall be the custodian thereof. “ 17. T h a t the parties shall have a right to appeal at all h e a l­ ings and proceedings in person and with their counsel oi by and through counsel and shall have the full and unrestricted light of cross-examination of witnesses. T he counsels appealing foi eithei Party need not be attorneys at law. However, they shall be mem­ bers in good standing of the respective organizations for which they shall appear before the Tribunal. “ 18. T h a t the Grand M asters or other M asonic Officers ap­ pointing the members of the Tribunal shall give each party notice ° f his appointment and that within 60 days after the 1 ribunal has been appointed each party hereto shall file with the tem poiaiy Chairman his specifications, setting forth his claims and all accusa­ tions and charges which he desires to make against the opposing Party and shall at the same time serve by Registered M ail a copy °f the same upon the opposing party, who shall have thiity days after the receipt of the same in which to file his answer thereto, and at the same time shall serve a copy thereof on the opposing p a ity bY Registered M a il. W hen the temporary Chairman has received the answer of each party, or when the time for the filing of same 37

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bunal f o r t h e ^ u r p o le o7oeUP° ” CaH t h ° fil'St meetinS of the T r i' evidence and shall mve e lg a n iz a tl° n and for the first hearing of and place where such h e ir i rty d ay s’ notice of the timC each party, that is to s a y " ! ^ u ’ whereuPon and whereat Lewis, shall appear and l l ' f C 'ym er and H ' SPenCel‘ documents as they desire to ') Wlth T ribunal such vided, however, that either n 1°' 'nt° evidencc> !t beinS Pro' at any subsequent time before^! reC? U t h c ° ther t0 teSt,fy “ 19. T h a t -ill ..I 2. the 1 ribunal.

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organizations may V T a l l V b v t h ' ^ members of thc respective they shall testify at any hen-I, the °PPoslte p arty to testify and the Tribunal held for t-ln* * ® designated before any member of rig h t to take the te s t:m ,:>U' P°fSe anc! eith e r p a r t y s h a ll h a ve the

opposite party at anv tim,- ; Y ° a tt°rney employed by the said attorney shall not ref ” C° nnectlon w it!> his or its affairs and lege, said privilege beinote?tl^y because of any legal privisaid attorneys being h^ e , I Y WU,Ved by the Parties hereto and any and all matters within ^ n