ROSICRUCIAN

2018 No. 1 Vol. 88, No. 1

 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM
Vol.88, No. 1, 2018

Contents
IMPERATOR’S ANNUAL MESSAGE 1

2018 REMAINING HIERARCHY DATES 24

ROSICRUCIAN NEW YEAR 3371 24
ROSE+CROIX JOURNAL 25
THE TRADITIONAL MARTINIST ORDER 25
BEQUESTS AND DONATIONS 26

A.M.O.R.C.

ROSICRUCIAN FORUM (ISSN #1077-4017) is published semi-annually by the Grand Lodge of the
English Language Jurisdiction, AMORC, Inc., at 1342 Naglee Ave., San Jose, CA 95126.
Copyright 2018 by the Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC, Inc.

Cover photo - Orion Nebula (NASA)

No. 1, 2018 Page 1

IMPERATOR’S ANNUAL MESSAGE

Year 2018
Dear Frater, dear Soror,
Under the Auspices of the Rose-Cross,
Salutem Punctis Trianguli!
How time flies! This expression is no doubt one which you have used
yourself, or that you hear on a daily basis. The same applies in my case,
and even more so today as I begin to write this letter. The weeks and
months that have passed by have for me seemed like nothing more than
a few hours, a condensed period of time, made up of lovely moments
filled with interesting discussions and wonderful discoveries, and also of
disappointments and sorrows, just like everybody else.
In common with many of you, the year 2017 was one that was marked
by numerous tragic events and so-called “natural” catastrophes affecting
our planet and its inhabitants, the responsibility for which lies entirely
with human beings. As a result of the fact that we are all psychically
interrelated and connected to one another, and that information travels
round the world in a few seconds, we are all affected by the misfortune
that strikes others, even thousands of miles away. An earthquake or terrorist
attack occurring somewhere far away and leaving many dead and injured
shakes us not only emotionally, but indeed physically. It is in moments
such as these, often more than in moments of joy, that we become aware
of Humanity’s oneness, and ponder on our origins, our present, and our
future.
When I say “we,” I am not only referring to thinkers, philosophers,
mystics, to the Rosicrucians that we are, but also to the millions of people
who at times − without intellectualizing it, without being able to put
words to what they are experiencing, without knowing how to explain it –
spontaneously and intensely feel such events, together with everything else
that makes up our human condition. Therefore, it is in the name of our
fraternal bonds and our oneness that I am going to set down a few words
on the activities that I shared with some of you during the year 2017.
Page 2 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

On January 12, we remembered the departure of our Imperator, frater

Ralph Maxwell Lewis, 30 years ago in 1987. Those who had the honor
of crossing paths with this great Rosicrucian recall him proudly and with
much affection.
In the same month, I returned to Miami, Florida, to carry out the
installation of frater José Botello to his office of Grand Master for the
Hispanic Jurisdiction. This event had been excellently organized by his
wife and our fratres and sorores from the Miami Lodge, and it also made
possible what was a wonderful gathering of Spanish-speakers and English-
speakers. Grand Master frater Hugo Casas, who for a number of years has
been giving his support to this Jurisdiction, made the journey there from
Spain.
Still in January, on a more personal note but one that is still
Rosicrucian, I attended the installation of my granddaughter, Violette, to
the office of Colombe. This installation followed that of another of my
granddaughters, Alice, at the end of 2016, and we are now eagerly awaiting
the next one, which is due to take place during the course of this year,
2018.
In March, it was the turn of frater Michiel Schillhorn Van Veen,
Grand Master of the Dutch Jurisdiction, to be traditionally installed
to his office. This ceremony took place in the city of The Hague, where
the headquarters of the Grand Lodge are located. This time I was joined
by frater Sven Johansson and frater Maximilian Neff, who had given
me valuable help the previous year, when the changes that had become
necessary in this Jurisdiction took place; by being present, they therefore
wanted to underline their support for the new Grand Master.
In the same month, I spent a few days in Egypt in the company of
fratres and sorores from the French-speaking Jurisdiction. While the
atmosphere remains tense in this region of the world, our Order is still
fortunate enough to be able to carry out certain activities there, and in
particular to have special access to the Sphinx and Pyramids, as well as to
various temples.
In April, we learned of the death of our Order’s former Administrator
No. 1, 2018 Page 3

in Poland, soror Maria Metzler. I was moved by this announcement, for

I knew our soror well, and she always remained a member of the French-
speaking Jurisdiction alongside her activities in Poland. It was thanks to her
that all the translations were carried out into Polish, and that the activities
in this country, modest though they still are, were developed.
In the month of May, I had the pleasure of seeing some Italian fratres
and sorores from the Verona region once again, when they came to visit the
Château d’Omonville. This was a little bit of Southern sunshine arriving in
Normandy, and we had a very pleasant time together.
In June and July, nothing in particular took place, other than dealing
with everyday business, and it was not until the month of August that I left
France once more, to go to the Democratic Republic of Congo where there
were over 700 members awaiting me.
Having celebrated fifty years of being a Rosicrucian in 2016, the
seventh day of the month of August marked the fortieth anniversary
of my installation to the office of Grand Master of the French-speaking
Jurisdiction, which took place during a World Convention held in Paris
in 1977, presided over by Imperator Ralph Maxwell Lewis. Some of you
who were lucky enough to be a part of this first worldwide gathering
held outside of Rosicrucian Park will remember this Convention, which
brought together almost 8,000 participants, and saw the holding of one
of the biggest banquets ever organized in the French capital, with 10,000
guests. I therefore recalled the month of August 1977 and the long months
of preparation that preceded it, as well as the hundreds of hours of work
and meetings that were required. But I was young then, and so was the
team around me. The outcome matched the efforts that had been put in,
and lived up to what we had hoped for.
At the beginning of September, I visited our Swedish fratres and
sorores in the small town of Onsala, where the Grand Lodge is located. I
was pleasantly surprised and delighted to find that the renovation work,
started several years ago now, was for the most part completed. This is a
peaceful, magnificent location. I took part in several business meetings, met
all our fratres and sorores who were there, and of course was able to have
Page 4 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

discussions with soror Live Söderlund, Grand Master of the Scandinavian

Jurisdiction. I enjoyed all of these proceedings, but the moment which
most moved me was meeting frater Irving Söderlund once more, who that
very month was celebrating his ninetieth birthday.
Next, I flew off for a Convention in Boston. This preceded the annual
meeting of the Supreme Grand Lodge in Lachute, Quebec, with all the
Administrators joining the Grand Masters this year. They each went into
their individual reports in great depth, and numerous points were looked
into. During this meeting, soror Live Söderlund, soror Julie Scott, frater
Hélio de Moraes e Marques, frater Sven Johansson, and frater Paul Panikian
had their terms of office renewed. This will be frater Panikian’s last term, as
he will then have reached the age limit for re-standing for office.
It was also decided that in alternate years, the Supreme Grand Lodge
meeting is going to be held at one of the Grand Lodges. This will enable the
Grand Masters and Administrators to visit all of the Rosicrucian locations
throughout the world. As it was I who put forward this proposal, which
was agreed to by a majority vote, I suggested that the 2018 meeting be
held in France. This 2017 meeting, held in the first week of October, was
followed immediately by a Convention organized by the French-speaking
Jurisdiction, to which I had been invited by Grand Master frater Serge
Toussaint. This took place in the city of Quebec. Our fratres and sorores
in Quebec are especially welcoming, and we shared some interesting and
pleasant hours in one another’s company. I was all the more pleased to
take part in this event since two of my grandchildren, who are studying in
Quebec, were present at it.
Things are going along quite nicely at the Rosicrucian Domain at
Lachute, with a number of Seminars and themed Retreats now taking place
there. Activities are even offered in languages other than French. Everyone
will be happy to come back here every other year, particularly as the time of
year chosen is during the renowned “Indian summer.”
Since I am speaking about Canada, I would like to mention, at this
early stage, the World Convention to be held in Montreal in 2023. This
will be held under the aegis of the French-speaking Jurisdiction. We shall
No. 1, 2018 Page 5

all be a few years older, but if it is said that traveling is good for the young,
perhaps it is also good for helping to keep us young. In the meantime,
though, we will of course be having our World Convention in Rome, in
August 2019.
A few days after my return to France, Grand Master frater Serge
Toussaint and I welcomed a group of American fratres and sorores who,
under the aegis of our Order and with Grand Master soror Julie Scott at
their head, were undertaking a lengthy journey through France, enabling
them to visit a number of places bursting with mysticism and noble
traditions. Their brief call to the Château d’Omonville brightened up
our autumn here in Normandy. Then it was time for me to leave again
for Egypt, where I joined some fratres and sorores from the Democratic
Republic of Congo, Brazil, and the Netherlands, along with Grand Masters
frater Hélio Marques and frater Michiel Schillhorn.
I would now like to speak with you about the activities of the various
Grand Lodges and Administrations.
In Poland, the year 2017 was notable for the departure of our soror
Maria Metzler, and with this a page in the history of this Administration
was turned. Another page now starts with the appointment − and then
installation, during the Supreme Grand Lodge meeting in Quebec − of the
new Administrator frater Lukasz Metzler, the son of our soror, who assisted
her over a number of years.
The number of members in this Administration is small, but constant,
and it is financially self-sufficient. Its founding statutes have opened
the way for new activities, which include the publishing of Rosicrucian
works. The fratres and sorores help where and when they can, and always
very enthusiastically, with the tasks connected with the distributing of
information and the promoting of books. Frater Lukasz Metzler is carrying
on in the tradition of soror Maria, and is being supported in his work
by the German Grand Master, frater Maximilian Neff, the collaboration
between this Grand Lodge and the Polish Administration having been
ongoing for a number of years. Fratres and sorores from Poland, and from
Lithuania as well, gather together at Mystical Days held in the springtime,
Page 6 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

at the Memorial Ceremony in the autumn, and on special occasions. These

are opportunities for them to exchange ideas, and talk about the future. A
special page for the Friends of AMORC has been set up on the website. I
wish our frater Metzler every success, and remain hopeful that the number
of members will increase.
With our Dutch fratres and sorores, things have progressed considerably
since the installation of the Grand Master, frater Michiel Schillhorn Van
Veen. During the weekend that our frater was installed to his office, further
mystical work took place, including a Martinist Conventicle led by myself.
The weekend also provided the opportunity for two Grand Councilors
and a Provincial Master to be installed. At around the same time, weekly
meditation courses also started at Groningen in Holland, and later on, in
November, two Regional Monitors were installed during a Mystical Day
held in the same town.
As you are all aware, in September, the island of Saint Martin was
ravaged by a dreadful hurricane, and this left the Dutch Grand Lodge
without any news of either its members or the Affiliated Body for a number
of weeks.
The Grand Master took part in an inaugural Regional Convention in
Zagreb, Croatia. As I frequently say to you, exchanges between countries
are something that we strongly encourage. Throughout the year, various
Initiations were conferred at the Lodge in The Hague, and also at the Lodge
in Paramibo, Surinam, the Dutch-speaking country in South America,
which celebrated its fifty-fifth anniversary in the month of October. The
Grand Master was present at this event, and used the opportunity to place
the capsule received during the World Convention at San Jose in 2015 into
the obelisk that stands in front of the Lodge Temple. This event received
positive coverage in the local media.
Surinam and Belgium are two regions of the Dutch Jurisdiction in
which the members are particularly active in making our Order known.
In the spring, a new Regional Monitor took up office in Belgium. Just as
in the Netherlands, where various events were presented in several towns
and cities, seminars and talks were held a number of times during the year
No. 1, 2018 Page 7

in Brussels, Belgium. Mystical tours of this magnificent European city

also enabled participants to learn about the esoteric aspects of the Grand-
Place, Basilica, and Mechelen Labyrinth. Remaining in Belgium, an
interactive musical journey into the “New Chymical Wedding of Christian
Rosenkreutz” took place in June at Anvers. And lastly, in October, the
Dutch-speaking members in Belgium held an Open Day at Oostkamp,
near Bruges.
The Affiliated Bodies on the islands of Aruba and Curaçao are still
active and stable, despite their not having many members.
Within this Grand Lodge, the system of online monographs created by
the members of the Administration in Hungary has undergone a lengthy
adaptation, and was finally put into operation at the end of the year. Efforts
are being made to reactivate the AMORC Academy (RCUI), and new
Official Lecturers are receiving training. The annual assembly of Grand
Lodge Officers and Affiliated Body Officers was also held in October.
As I mentioned at the beginning of this letter, while in Egypt I met
up with a group of our Dutch fratres and sorores whom frater Michiel
Schillhorn Van Veen was accompanying. I am rather pleased at the new
direction this Jurisdiction is taking, and hope that it will quickly benefit
from the positive effects of these changes.
In the Spanish-language Grand Lodge, the year 2017 got off to a good
start. Frater Hugo Casas was invited to the installation of the new Grand
Master of the Hispanic Jurisdiction, frater José Botello, and he therefore
joined me in Miami for this event. I asked frater Casas to continue in
his office as President of the Hispanic Grand Lodge, which he has now
held for seven years. This involves several meetings with the members of
the Management Board of this Grand Lodge, and a trip to Mexico in
September every year.
Throughout the year, the Jurisdiction’s Affiliated Bodies have carried
on with their activities. In the spring, the “Day of the Rose and the Book”
took place in Barcelona, enabling our Order to have a stand in one of the
city’s main streets. Here AMORC made itself known to passers-by through
its books, an activity that is always interesting and rewarding. Talks are
Page 8 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

also organized on a regular basis in Barcelona. The “Columbus” Lodge in

Madrid is very active, and puts on events involving non-members as often
as is possible, including by means of the Council of Solace ritual. This
Jurisdiction also has a Lodge on the island of Tenerife.
Lastly, the Spanish Grand Lodge is continuing to organize Silent
Retreats, a number of which are offered in French. Here again, this activity
enables the members of the Spanish Jurisdiction and the French-speaking
Jurisdiction to meet one another.
Having just referred to Spain, I will move straight on to the activities
of the Spanish Grand Lodge for the Americas, which Grand Master frater
José Botello is in charge of. This year has seen a revival, and frater Botello
is doing everything he can to resolve the numerous material problems that
his Jurisdiction had experienced in the past. He is being assisted in this
by a number of loyal and capable members. Numerous mystical activities
are on offer to the members, and overall there is a good atmosphere on
all fronts. This Jurisdiction is very spread out geographically, and includes
various countries. Many Rosicrucians in North America speak Spanish,
and belong to this Jurisdiction. This is why, for example, there is a Spanish-
speaking Lodge in Miami, Florida, as well as the English-speaking Lodge,
and it was here in Miami that I carried out the installation of our frater
Botello. During the few days I spent there, a number of Grand Councilors
were also installed. Similar ceremonies took place at other times of the year
in Panama and also Colombia. New lecturers received training both for
AMORC extension work and for the Rose+Croix University International
(RCUI). A number of Silent Retreats were held during 2017, including in
San Jose de Chiquitos in Bolivia, and at the Rosicrucian Domain of Silence
in Lachute, Canada.
Cuba comes under the Hispanic Jurisdiction. In previous letters, I have
had the opportunity of speaking with you at length about our activities on
this island, where loyal members put all of their energy into enabling their
compatriots to have access to the Rosicrucian teachings.
Many members gathered in October for the South America
Convention in Chile, and in November for the Central America
No. 1, 2018 Page 9

Convention in Costa Rica. On these occasions, the Grand Master gives

interviews on radio and TV. Lastly, frater Jose Botello went several times
for business meetings to the Grand Lodge in Leon, Mexico, where he also
celebrated Christmas with the Grand Lodge employees and members who
were present. He spares no effort, and is always willing to travel, deserving
great credit in this respect since he lives in the United States and, in
addition to holding office, has a very busy professional life. Fortunately, in
our Order there are no borders, and we are all Citizens of the World. In
general terms, the reports that come to me are encouraging, in spite of the
problems that some countries are undergoing economically and politically,
which unfortunately sometimes prevent our Order from functioning
smoothly.
As I am referring to the Hispanic Jurisdiction, I shall take the
opportunity to announce to you that I will be taking part in a Convention
in Mexico at the end of October 2018. I will be accompanied by fratres and
sorores from the French-speaking Jurisdiction, which is organizing a trip
for this occasion, just as it did a few years ago for a Convention in Chile,
which enabled those taking part to discover that magnificent country along
with the mysterious Easter Island.
In the Czech Republic and Slovakia, Grand Master frater Michal Eben
continues his activities. The Jurisdiction is stable, and in 2017 our frater
was delighted when 5 members from Tbilisi, Georgia, asked to receive
their Initiation into the First Temple Degree. This was a big challenge for
the Czech Initiation Team, since the whole of the ritual was conducted in
English.
The fifth National Convention took place in October, and among the
invited speakers were frater Claudio Mazzucco, Grand Master of the Italian
Jurisdiction, who was accompanied by ten or so members, and also frater
Raul Passos, a member from Brazil who now lives in Romania. The latter
is an experienced pianist and, much to the delight of the members, gave a
short recital. On the subject of Romania, I hope to soon be in a position
to announce some good news to you, since our Order is setting up in this
country, and activities will be organized there in the near future, I hope. I
shall be returning to this later in this letter, and more fully in the years to
Page 10 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

come, I also hope.

In Scandinavia, the completing of the renovations to the Grand Lodge’s
administrative building required a great deal of energy during 2017. The
fratres and sorores who took part in this work as volunteers have worked
magnificently, and I have been able to see the outcome for myself. The
building is a timber manor house that is several centuries old, and the work
began in 2012.
Having experienced the beginnings of this Grand Lodge and its
setting-up in this very beautiful site, I can appreciate the magnitude of
the efforts put in, first of all by frater Irving Söderlund, and then by the
current Grand Master soror Live Söderlund, together with the teams they
have been able to gather around themselves over all these years. If you have
the opportunity to go to the small town of Onsala, not far from the city
of Gothenburg, you will appreciate the atmosphere of this place, and the
strength of the vibrations that it gives off. The natural surroundings are part
of this positive effect. Like their Viking ancestors, the Scandinavians from
the distant Nordic lands are very interested in other countries and cultures.
Fortunately, this occurs nowadays in a way that is friendly and peaceful.
In 2017, the Scandinavian-language Grand Lodge held its Annual
Convention in the spring, before welcoming me for another major event in
the month of September. Most of the activities – Mystical Days, seminars,
etc. – are held in the Grand Lodge premises.
In February, frater Claudio Mazzucco came to Sweden, accompanied
by some members from Italy. This fraternal exchange provided an
opportunity for the Italian Grand Master, through the use of photo and
video, to give a presentation on his Grand Lodge − and most importantly
on the World Convention to be held in Rome in 2019.
In April, a group of Scandinavian fratres and sorores went to Hungary,
and it was their turn to be impressed by the work carried out by the
members of this Administration, which is led by frater Akos Ekes.
In July, some Open Days were organized, which was an opportunity
to welcome the Administrator from Finland, frater Ilkka Laaksonen. As
No. 1, 2018 Page 11

I mentioned earlier, it was in September that I visited the headquarters

of the Grand Lodge and formally opened the administrative building.
Frater Sven Johansson was also present for this. This visit gave me the
opportunity to see the publishing of two very positive articles about our
Order in local newspapers. For those of you who did not really know, the
Scandinavian Grand Lodge works in three languages: Danish, Norwegian,
and Swedish. This involves a tremendous amount of translating and
proofreading. Fortunately, soror Live Söderlund is able to count on the
support of volunteers in each of the countries concerned. Up until this
year, the Jurisdiction’s only permanent Temple was at the Grand Lodge,
and it was there that all the Temple Degree Initiations took place. In 2017,
for the first time, a First Temple Degree Initiation was conferred in Oslo,
Norway. Martinist activities remain centered on the Jurisdiction’s single
active Heptad, located at the Grand Lodge, and every year, three Martinist
weekends take place there. Considerable promotional work has also been
carried out, along with the setting up of the members-only website for
online study of the monographs. At the time of writing this letter, this site
is not yet active, but that should not be long coming, and I will be in a
position to speak to you about it again next year.
In Greece, the Pronaos at Thessalonika continues its activities
enthusiastically. Its premises are located in the city center, yet benefit from
a quiet environment in the evenings, when the Convocations and Forums
are held. In northeastern Greece, there are some members who would like
to reactivate an Atrium Group in the town of Alexandroupolis, which used
to exist a few years ago. At the moment, nothing has happened, but our
fratres and sorores remain hopeful.
In Athens, it has been possible, thanks to a loan from the Supreme
Grand Lodge, to buy premises that now house the Pronaos. Here too
regular activities take place. As there is no Lodge, an Initiation Team has
been formed to enable our fratres and sorores to be initiated into the
Temple Degrees; accordingly, the Second and Third Temple Degree
Initiations were conferred on twelve members at Thessalonika in October.
At the end of November, a talk was presented in Athens, with another one
in Alexandroupolis in December. The promotional work continues, and a
Page 12 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

new version of the Mastery of Life has been published. The translation work
is also continuing, and I give my most sincere thanks to the sorores and
fratres who are taking part in this. A video version of the History of the
Rosicrucians is also under preparation in Greek, and in all likelihood will
be available during the course of this year. The number of members is very
small, but is stable. Our Administrator, frater Iakovos Giannakopoulos,
is doing everything he possibly can for the development of AMORC in
Greece.
In the Japanese Grand Lodge, Grand Master frater Atsushi Honjo
wrote a newsletter at the beginning of the year entitled “Is what you are a
physical thing? Mysticism: a theory and practice aiming at happiness, for
Japanese people who prefer spirituality to religion.” This article was selected
and published on the website of one of the most important Japanese
Internet portals for newsletters. It was very well received by the public, even
reaching seventh position in the site’s weekly league table. The article is
available in Japanese at the URL: www.mag2.com/p/news/240187.
In the month of May, in collaboration with the Grand Lodge, the
“Validivar” Lodge in Tokyo organized a members-only event. The two-
day program enabled fratres and sorores to join together in the Council of
Solace ritual and Second and Third Temple Degree Initiations.
In the autumn, a mystical weekend took place at Hokkaido. This
choice of season gives those taking part the opportunity to appreciate all of
the forest’s multiple colors at this time of year. The Sapporo Pronaos and
Tokyo Lodge worked together to organize this event, which included a
Fourth Temple Degree Initiation for the first time in Japan.
Just like the previous year, 2017 saw the continued development
of Rosicrucian e-books in Japanese. Newsletters for the wider public are
also produced on a weekly basis, and the number of readers is steadily
growing. The Japanese Grand Lodge’s blog can be found at: www.amorc.
jp/blog. There are primarily three people behind these newsletters: the
Grand Master, who writes mainly on physics, psychology, and mysticism;
frater Mori Kazuhisa, lecturer and member of the Grand Lodge’s
Management Board, who writes about various works drawn from literature
No. 1, 2018 Page 13

worldwide; and frater Yamashita Katsuetsu, member of the Grand Lodge’s

Management Board, whose primary interest is Shintoism, and who writes
about its festivals and the implements used at these. The newsletters also
include translations of the articles written by the Grand Master of the
French-speaking Jurisdiction, frater Serge Toussaint. Japan has one Lodge,
one Pronaos, and three Atrium Groups.
In Australia, 2017 was a very active year, just like the preceding ones.
Conventions, mystical weekends, fraternal days, and Rose Croix Academy
(RCUI) seminars brought together fratres and sorores sometimes from all
over Australia, as was the case in February in Melbourne.
The months of September and October were given over to a special
program called “Open Door.” The aim of this program is to make our
Order known, and it leads to an increase in the number of requests for
membership.
Also in the autumn, the “Light” Chapter in Adelaide held a fraternal
day on the theme “Atlantis.” The theme of the Convention organized
by the Sydney Lodge in October was “The fabric of universal tapestry.”
During the same period, the “Harmony” Lodge in Melbourne organized a
mystical weekend dealing with “Myth and mystery.”
As I mentioned to you earlier on, Grand Master frater Paul Panikian,
who is still assisted by Adminstrator frater Robert Kogel, oversees all of
these activities.
Frater Vladimir Koptelov, General Administrator, has now been
supervising all of our Order’s activities in Russia for more than twenty-
five years. 2017 was a more positive year than the preceding one. The
number of members remains stable, and the financial situation has slightly
improved as the result of a fifty-percent increase in dues, this having
become absolutely necessary. The translation work is continuing, and a
number of books by Imperators Harvey Spencer Lewis and Ralph Maxwell
Lewis have been made available to the public on the Administration’s
website. The “Rosicrucian Almanac” magazine has now been put onto the
website as well, and there is also a section entitled “Rosicrucian Travels,”
which enables fratres and sorores to share photos they have taken while
Page 14 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

visiting mystical and traditional places in Russia, Europe, Nepal, Tibet, and
so on. With the help of frater Akos Ekes, Administrator for Hungary, it is
going to be possible to receive the monographs online, we hope in the near
future. As I have often mentioned to you, there is a great deal of teamwork
going on between the Administrations and Grand Lodges.
There are two Pronaoi in Russia, one in Moscow and the other in
Ekaterinburg. The Atrium Group in St Petersburg and the Pronaos in Riga
(the capital of Latvia) have had to reduce their activities, due to a lack of
members and the difficulty of renting premises; they both continue to
meet, however.
As is the case every year, Grand Master frater Serge Toussaint has given
me very little to put in my letter, and yet he is very active, as is the whole of
the Jurisdiction he is in charge of. This is because we have the opportunity
of discussing things very frequently. He continues his travels to the various
countries that make up the French-speaking Grand Lodge, and is always
full of new ideas. In an overall sense, I can say that everything is quite stable
and positive. I would, however, like to bring up a subject that is of great
concern to frater Toussaint: he is disappointed at the “half-heartedness”
of the French-speaking members when it comes to sharing the websites,
videos, blog, etc. with their non-member friends, despite the fact that
everything on offer is attractive and of high quality, and well worth passing
on. Very many fratres and sorores congratulate the Grand Master on his
blog, and yet they rarely share it with others, if at all! We know, however,
that they do pass on information where music, films, photos, items of
news, and numerous other things are concerned − but unfortunately not
in the case of AMORC. Such a pattern of behavior is no doubt typically
French, and in all probability has been reinforced by the “witch hunt” in
this country in years gone by. However, it is now necessary to move beyond
that, and be bold. Therefore, fratres and sorores of France and throughout
the world, I invite you to take part nonstop in the work of spreading
information about the Rosicrucian Fraternity through what are referred to
broadly as the social networks, or social media.
In Hungary, frater Akos Ekes is putting all of his energy into developing
No. 1, 2018 Page 15

our Order, and for him the biggest piece of news in 2017 was some
information that came to him from the French-speaking Grand Lodge:
there is proof that a certain Victor Scherbach was a member of AMORC
in the first half of the twentieth century; he was the brother of Maria
Szepes, who was herself considered the mother of modern Hungarian
mysticism. This discovery is a very valuable one for AMORC members in
this country, as there can be no doubt that the works of Maria Szepes were
greatly influenced by Rosicrucian mysticism.
In this Administration of our Order, the year began with an Officers’
meeting. Then, in March, the Twelfth Temple Degree Initiation was
conferred for the first time, in the Temple at Tata. In April, a Mystical Day
was held, and soror Live Söderlund came with a group of members from
the Scandinavian Jurisdiction. Seven Colombes took part in the celebration
dedicated to them in the month of May, and in June families and friends
were invited to the Meditation for Peace. The summer was given over to
building work, but there still remains a lot to be done. In general terms, it
should be noted that there continues to be a great deal of involvement on a
voluntary basis. The system of online monographs has been expanded, and
they are now available up to the Twelfth Temple Degree. The Hungarian
Administration has offered this system, free of charge, to all of the
Jurisdictions and Administrations.
As in Hungary, the Administration in Finland is stable. The work of
translating is continuing, and here too Administrator frater Ilkka Laaksonen
is able to count on several volunteers. In the summer, a mystical weekend,
in which non-members were able to take part, was held at Porvoo, on the
theme “Well-being of body and mind.”
The Pronaos in Helsinki and Atrium Group in Tampere continue their
monthly activities, as does the Initiation Team, which confers the Temple
Degree Initiations throughout the year. As well as the translating of the
monographs, which has now reached the Twelfth Temple Degree, all the
manuscripts of the Traditional Martinist Order have now been translated
for the first time.
In the United States, soror Julie Scott continues to direct the activities
Page 16 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

of the English-language Jurisdiction for the Americas from Rosicrucian

Park.
A large number of videos were posted online during 2017, including
a nine-part series on the traditions that helped form the Rosicrucian
teachings, from Atlantis to the nineteenth century. This series is entitled
“The Sacred History of the Rosicrucians,” and it can be viewed at: www.
youtube.com/rosicrucianTV.
The Rosicrucian Research Library has posted images and translations
of numerous rare books on the site: www.rosicrucianpark.org/research-
library.
The English Grand Lodge for the Americas also publishes the
Rose+Croix Journal, an online, transdisciplinary, peer-reviewed journal,
whose articles deal with subjects related to the sciences, history, the arts,
and spirituality. The articles are published in their original language, and
their summaries are always translated into five languages − English, French,
Spanish, Portuguese, and German. The Journal can be accessed at: www.
rosecroixjournal.org. Members throughout the world are encouraged to
take part in this publication as authors, translators, reviewers, proofreaders,
editors, graphic designers, and so on. If you are interested, please contact
the editorial team at the following address: editor@rosicrucian.org.
The eighth annual Colombe Convention was held at Rosicrucian
Park in June, providing these young girls with the opportunity to meet
one another and share their experiences with Colombes from around this
jurisdiction as well as from others, and to serve in a Convocation in the
Grand Temple. They were also offered an excursion to Carmel, California
in the company of the Grand Master, soror Julie Scott, so that they could
find out about the roots of the Rosicrucian Tradition in this region. It is
worth mentioning that this Convention enabled our Colombes to have
a very unusual experience – a “sleepover” in the Rosicrucian Egyptian
Museum, which I imagine was enjoyable and made an impression.
The year 2017 in the United States also saw a major exhibition
presented in New York, with “The Salon de la Rose+Croix” as its theme.
This was organized not by our Order, but by the famous Guggenheim
No. 1, 2018 Page 17

Museum, and thousands of New Yorkers and tourists were able to enjoy it
over a period of several months. I have received many positive reports from
members from a number of countries, including France, who came across
this exhibition by chance and were greatly moved by it.
In the month of October, some forty-seven members from the United
States, Canada, and the Caribbean took part in a mystical journey in
France, on the trail of the Cathar mysteries, Mary Magdalene, and the
Black Virgins. They also visited some important Rosicrucian sites in the
Toulouse area, and it was during this trip that I met them when they came
to the headquarters of the French-speaking Grand Lodge in Normandy.
In Italy, Grand Master frater Claudio Mazzucco is busy preparing
for the next World Convention, to be held in Rome in August 2019. As
well as this important work, there are the usual activities such as seminars,
talks, mystical weekends, Initiations, and so on. Weekends called “Mystical
Journeys” are proving very popular with the members, who have the
opportunity during them to visit highly interesting places connected
with the Esoteric Tradition, whether it be landmarks, museums, ancient
libraries, or villages packed with history. Special messages are prepared
for these occasions, and each weekend finishes with a Convocation.
Initiations into the First to the Twelfth Temple Degrees are regularly held
at the headquarters of the Italian Jurisdiction at Ornano. The Grand Lodge
building was slightly affected by an earthquake in the month of February,
and so work to strengthen it was immediately started.
A group of Italian fratres and sorores went to Sweden to take part in
an enjoyable and harmonious gathering with our Scandinavian fratres and
sorores. A similar trip took place in October when, at the invitation of
Grand Master frater Michal Eben, a group accompanied frater Mazzucco
to Prague, to take part in the Annual Convention for the Czech Republic
and Slovakia.
As you now know, we are setting up an Administration in Romania,
and this is being overseen by the Grand Master of the Italian Grand
Lodge. He is being supported logistically in this task by the Portuguese
Grand Lodge, via a member who works at the Grand Lodge in Brazil,
Page 18 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

frater Raul Passos. Frater Passos has agreed to leave his own country and
live with his family in Romania for as long as is required. He is a fluent
Romanian speaker, having studied for several years at the Academy of
Music in Bucharest. It is in this city that quarters have been rented to
provide premises for the Administration and for the activities of a Pronaos.
The translation of the monographs and important texts into Romanian has
commenced, and this means that the three Manifestoes published by our
Order, along with the Mastery of Life, are now available in this language.
The Order is starting to make itself known to the general public, and I
hope with all my heart that all our plans will be able to come to fruition.
You can follow how all this develops on the website amorc-romania.
org, and on facebook.com/AMORC.ROMANIA. If you know any
people in Romania, please make them aware of the presence of our Order
in this country.
After this digression concerning Romania, I would like to finish my
report on Italy by coming back to the organizing of the World Convention
in Rome, which as you already know, will be taking place from August 14
to 18, 2019. Registrations have already been received, showing the level
of interest that members all over the world have in this event. Here is the
address of the website for registration, which is available in five languages:
roma2019.amorc.it.
I know that a number of Grand Lodges have made plans for organizing
a pre-Convention or post-Convention trip based around this event.
I now come to the Portuguese-language Jurisdiction, whose
headquarters is in Curitiba, Brazil. Frater Hélio de Moraes e Marques is
still its Grand Master, and carries out all of his activities with great energy
and enthusiasm. This Grand Lodge has many commitments within civil
society, and also supports the United Nations’ sustainable development
objectives. Working groups are organized within the Grand Lodge on
various subjects such as health and well-being, responsible consumerism,
action for the climate, peace and justice. At the environmental level, within
the Grand Lodge itself, great effort is put into avoiding any waste and
limiting energy consumption. A tree nursery and organic vegetable garden
No. 1, 2018 Page 19

have been created, and the use of bicycles is also strongly recommended.
Naturally, paper is recycled, plastic glasses are no longer used, and so on.
I can only be delighted at all of these responsible actions that are being
promoted in this Grand Lodge.
The Grand Master spares no effort in promoting the growth of our
Order in Brazil, and everything that is done is aimed at consolidating
the good reputation of AMORC. As a result, Rose+Croix University
International (RCUI) has been recognized by the Brazilian Ministry of
Education. The achievements and plans in this respect are extremely
numerous, and I am therefore not going to list them all for you, but I
congratulate all those who are taking part in these programs.
The Grand Lodge also launched an inaugural amateur theatre
competition, which received twenty-six entries. The ten best plays are going
to be performed and compete for first prize, and the winner will see their
work put on stage at the Guaria Theatre for the Twenty-fifth Rosicrucian
National Convention in 2018.
As Angola comes under the Portuguese-language Jurisdiction, a
delegation of Officers went there to confer Initiations. Convocation rituals
were also conducted. This proved to be very positive, and has served to
strengthen our Order in this part of the world.
It is also worth noting that the Grand Lodge has begun the
construction of an additional building to house the extension to the
Rosicrucian Egyptology Museum and the Grand Heptad, and provide a
place for the RCUI to work, along with a shop for Rosicrucian goods and
articles.
During 2017, ten or so Regional Conventions took place, and also
several anniversaries of Lodges that have now been active for fifty years,
plus that of the Lodge in Sao Paulo, which was set up seventy years ago. In
addition, there were a number of mystical journeys, including one to Israel
and Jordan, another to the Azores taking in Santiago de Compostela in
Spain and Lisbon in Portugal, as well as another to Egypt. The consecration
of several Chapters also took place in Brazil, as well as that of a Heptad in
Portugal.
Page 20 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

Frater Sven Johansson, Grand Master for the English Jurisdiction

for Europe, the Middle East, and Africa, greatly impressed me with the
presentation he gave in September on his Grand Lodge and the work
that has been carried out in the last few years. His report, which had been
prepared for his visit to the Scandinavian Grand Lodge during this month,
was brought to life with photographs, and we were therefore able to admire
the magnificent manor house of Greenwood Gate in its different facets
and at different times of year. This Tudor-style building is located within
grounds that are abundant in wildlife, at the heart of the Ashdown Forest
in southeast England, and it is here in this Rosicrucian location that frater
Johansson continues to take on all of the activities connected with his
office of Grand Master. He carries out the maintenance of this building,
which, although magnificent, is a very costly one. Fortunately, the efforts
he puts into this are well worthwhile. This year, a member made a gift
that enabled an elevator to be installed, accessing the manor’s three stories.
This donation was both greatly appreciated and particularly helpful. Frater
Johansson travels a great deal, as his Jurisdiction is very spread out. Public
meetings are organized regularly in the United Kingdom, Ireland, South
Africa, and Cameroon. Social media is being increasingly developed at
the Grand Lodge, which is enabling our Order to make itself more widely
known. Several magazines are published throughout the year, for both
members and non-members. There are also of course the different Temple
Degree Initiations, Martinist activities, and fraternal gatherings over one or
two days, which are especially popular. In addition to his office of Grand
Master, as Vice-President of the Supreme Grand Lodge our frater gives
me valuable help in dealing with various documents throughout the year.
We have known each other for a number of decades, and it is enjoyable
working with him.
Remaining within the English Grand Lodge, I am now going to say a
few words to you about Nigeria, Cameroon, and Ghana. Frater Kenneth
Idiodi, Grand Administrator for Nigeria, took part once again this year in
the meeting of the Supreme Grand Lodge, as he is now an integral part of
its Board. The event of the year in 2017 was the Convention, organized in
Nigeria every four years. Grand Master frater Sven Johansson was present,
No. 1, 2018 Page 21

and the Orb was installed in the Administration’s Temple on this occasion.
The Orb symbolizes the bond that joins all of our Order’s Administrations
and Grand Lodges to one other, to the Supreme Grand Lodge, and to the
Imperator.
AMORC remains very active in Nigeria. Seminars and Conventions
are held regularly in different parts of the country. The annual meeting
of Affiliated Body Officers brings together around 400 participants every
year at the end of March. As I have already had the opportunity of telling
you in a previous letter, there is a distinctive feature in Nigeria, namely
the existence of an activity for sorores only, called the “Sisters of the Rose-
Cross.” Their gathering took place in October, immediately before the
Convention. The Torchbearers (for young people) generally meet in the
month of April.
One part of Cameroon is English-speaking, but close contact regularly
takes place with French-speaking members. Despite the political unrest that
surrounds the two languages, the fraternal links between these two parts of
Cameroon are strong within AMORC, as is the case in all the bilingual
countries in which our Order has a presence. This manner of behaving sets
an excellent example, which I would like to draw attention to.
In Ghana, our fratres and sorores often make long journeys to support
the Affiliated Bodies and take part in Convocations. They have great
difficulty in receiving their monographs through the postal services, and are
therefore able to borrow their Rosicrucian documents from the Lodge or
Chapter closest to them. There are five Affiliated Bodies in Ghana.
Having referred to working with our frater Johansson, the same applies
in the case of the Treasurer of the Supreme Grand Lodge and Grand
Master of the German-language Jurisdiction, frater Maximilian Neff. My
last visit to his Grand Lodge goes back to 2016, when I was able to admire
the way in which it is organized. Seven Lodges, three Chapters, twenty-
four Pronaoi, nine Atrium Groups, four Forum Groups, and five Heptads
enable the members of the German Jurisdiction to meet together. A new
Chapter has been set up in Osnabrück, in the north of Germany.
During the year 2017, some twenty seminars were organized, focusing
Page 22 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

particularly on the Rosicrucian teachings and the symbolism of the Rose-

Cross. Mystical Days have now been held regularly at the Grand Lodge for
three years. Frater Maximilian Neff also accompanies fratres and sorores on
excursions within Germany, fraternal events which are much enjoyed and
very popular.
The German-language Jurisdiction also oversees Croatia. The number
of members in this Administration located at Zagreb is stable. The Grand
Master makes regular visits to the Chapter in this city for Initiations and
Mystical Days, using them as an opportunity to give public talks. The
Traditional Martinist Order has been established in Croatia for three years,
and the opening of a Pronaos is planned at Rijeka on the Adriatic coast.
An inaugural South Slavic Regional Convention took place in September.
There is also an Atrium Group at Belgrade, in Serbia.
This is a brief summary of my own activities and those of our Order
throughout the world for the year 2017, and I think you will have
realized that in between my travels, I carry on with all the work related
to my office: contacting people, meetings, writing, answering mail, and
so on. In addition there are of course my so-called “profane” activities and
responsibilities, and my family life.
Normally I would end this letter on a mystical note, but I would like
to conclude simply with some words of thanks. Gratitude is in fact one
of the most important qualities, in my view. I would therefore like to
thank here those few members of our Order who, by repeatedly showing
great generosity, enable our Order to exist on the material plane: out of
discretion, and in order to respect the often anonymous principle of the
Law of AMRA, I am not going to name them, but they will recognize who
they are. I would like them to know that I am extremely grateful to them
for their generosity and trust. Their financial support is truly appreciated,
and good use is made of their donations.
I also give my thanks to all of you who − either through small
donations, or by means of your work or presence − are contributing to
the continuance of the activities of your Grand Lodge or Affiliated Body.
This support is vital and indispensable. It is not only the internationally
No. 1, 2018 Page 23

recognized charities and many diverse organizations, groups, and

foundations that need money in order to exist and carry out their projects.
The same applies to AMORC, which does not receive any governmental
aid or support from the press, or have any other means of making itself
known. Our Order can rely solely on the financial support of its members.
Please remember our Order, when you receive all types of appeals and
requests for donations, to which your good-heartedness would like to
respond. Please remember that our Fraternity is here too, and is counting
on a gesture on your part, even though it rarely comes “cap in hand” asking
for money, and never pesters.
As I like to share anecdotes and impressions with you, I would like
to give you an example of what troubles me, and astonishes me, in this
regard. Fratres and sorores regularly ask for help in paying their dues,
explaining that they prefer to help the Red Cross, the League Against
Cancer, or other similar organizations. They therefore think it right that
they should be exempted from paying their dues, because they are making
donations outside of AMORC or helping someone they know. They
reason as if AMORC were above material contingencies, and could carry
out its activities − printing and sending out monographs, employing staff,
maintaining its premises and computer hardware, and so on − simply by
magic, as if everything needed within AMORC ought to simply appear
through “the workings of the Holy Ghost.” As I was saying, the charitable
organizations I have just referred to are supported by all governments, by
the largest industrial companies, by thousands of personalities from the
artistic world, and so forth. Their media coverage is unlimited, and they are
exempt from all forms of taxation. This is not the case for AMORC, which
has only itself and its members’ dues to rely on. As those who are exempt
from paying dues are becoming more and more numerous, donations are
the only thing that can offset all the outgoings. I can assure you, fratres
and sorores, that knowing as I do the finances of all the Grand Lodges and
Administrations, there is no misuse of funds or unnecessary expenditures,
or anything like that. When there is the slightest suspicion of any such
thing, after checks have been carried out, measures are taken to set things
right.
Page 24 ROSICRUCIAN FORUM

Fratres and sorores, that is what I wanted to discuss with you in all
sincerity and in a clear manner, and I look forward to being in touch with
you again next year. Until then, take good care of yourselves, put into
application what you learn within our Order, and whatever unfortunate
events might occur in your life over the months to come, endeavor to
remain positive.
With my best wishes for Peace Profound,
Sincerely and fraternally,

Christian Bernard
Imperator

2018 Remaining Hierarchy Dates

Thursday, May 17
Thursday, August 16
Thursday, November 15
Rosicrucian members who have reached Monograph No. 1 of the
Twelfth Temple Degree receive instructions on how to perform a
special experiment on specific dates four times per year at 8 p.m.
local time. The remaining dates for 2018 are listed above.

CELEBRATE ROSICRUCIAN NEW YEAR 3371

AT ROSICRUCIAN PARK!
Tuesday, March 20
Meditation for Peace and Labyrinth Walk
Meet in the Peace Garden at 6 p.m.
The New Year Ceremony in the Grand Temple begins at 7 p.m.
Followed by the Imperator’s Universal Attunement Exercise.
All members are welcome and encouraged to participate!
No. 1, 2018 Page 25

The Rose+Croix Journal is an international, interdisciplinary,

transdisciplinary, peer-reviewed online journal that focuses on
topics that relate to the sciences, history, the arts, mysticism, and
spirituality, especially interdisciplinary topics and transdisciplinary
inquiries that traverse and lie beyond the limits of different fields
of study.
To read the current issue, to submit a paper, or to volunteer to serve
as an editor, translator, proofreader, or other member of this team,
please visit:
www.rosecroixjournal.org.

The Traditional Martinist Order

....... ......
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.....

.....
.. .......

.... .........
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....
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....... ......

The Traditional Martinist Order operates under the auspices

of the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC. Our Imperator is the
Sovereign Grand Master of the TMO, and our Grand Master
is the Grand Master of the TMO. The Traditional Martinist
Order offers initiations, as well as systematic and inspiring
studies conducted within a Temple, and a ritual followed by
open discussion among our members.
For more information and to apply for membership, please
visit:
www.martinists.org
 Bequests and Donations
Because of the transformative life experiences members have had
as a result of studying the monographs and applying the lessons
learned in their lives, many members want to remember the
Rosicrucian Order in their wills and make donations to the great
work of our beloved Order.

Bequests
Remembering the Rosicrucian Order in your will is a lasting way to
demonstrate your appreciation to the Order and to help the Order
continue its important contribution to the evolution of consciousness.

When your legal professional prepares your will, the legal name and
address to use are:

The Grand Lodge of the English Language Jurisdiction of the AMORC

1342 Naglee Avenue
San Jose CA 95126 USA

United States Federal Tax Identification Number: 94-1156620.

The Grand Lodge maintains a plaque in the Grand Temple at Rosicrucian

Park that honors members who remember the Order in their wills, trusts,
and/or insurance policies. In memory of these thoughtful gifts, the
names of members making bequests to the Grand Lodge are permanently
memorialized by being inscribed on this Grand Temple Plaque.

Donations
The easiest way to make a donation to the Order is by logging in to your
secure membership portal at https://amorc.customerhub.net or you can
mail your gift to the address above.

All donations are fully tax deductible, as allowed by the IRS tax code.
You may also donate stocks directly to the Order.

If you have any questions, please contact gmo@rosicrucian.org.

Thank you for helping the Rosicrucian Order to continue to
contribute to the evolution of consciousness and to perpetuate the
Rosicrucian teachings for generations to come!

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fiber using soy-based ink.