Alchemy Journal Vol.4 No.1

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Alchemy Journal Vol.4 No.1.
Volume 4 No. 1 Spring/Summer 2003
ARTICLES
History of Alchemy in America - Part 2
The Pelican - An Alchemical Poem
Ace of Swords: Seizing the Power of Discernment
FEATURES
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EDITORIAL
From the Editor
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 Alchemy Journal Vol.4 No.1.
The History of
Alchemy in
America -
Part 2
by
M.A.
The AMORC Period: Round One
Soon after its founding in 1915 in New York City, the Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, known simply as
AMORC, found itself in a variety of 'authenticity struggles' that would last until the present day. Behind
AMORC's growth and longevity, something many other organizations have publicly and privately
envied, was its claim to being the only authentic, authorized Rosicrucian body operating in America.
This claim to being the only one and true Rosicrucian body attracted not only disillusioned seekers
Alchemy Journal Vol.4 No.1.
from other organizations, but also attracted new members who felt comfort and security in the idea of
belonging to an organization that had not only 'traditional' roots in antiquity, but historical ones as well.
Fancy charters from Europe, stories of ancient initiations and the trials of seeking out the 'secret chiefs'
or "Unknown Superiors" of the Order's High Council in France added to the mystery and the attraction.
Yet, none of this would have been possible if it weren't for the keen and brilliant mind of the
organization’s founder, first Grand Master, and ultimately Imperator (
Emperor
), Harvey Spencer Lewis.
Born in Frenchtown, N.J. on November 25, 1883, Harvey Lewis developed the talents early in life
that would serve him as the single most important force in modern Rosicrucianism. Writing, painting,
public speaking, and a sense for the 'positive spin' helped him develop an early and lucrative career in
advertising. Then after a series of experiences, he abandoned his career in search of the Rosicrucian
Order in Europe, allegedly going to Toulouse, France,
[x] where his contacts were made. While much
is debated about the degree and genuine
ness of these contacts, it is clear that he believed that they
were genuine, and as such were the moving force behind his organization. After a false start in 1909,
AMORC finally got off the ground in 1915, and by 1917 had several Grand Lodges established in the
United States, along with other smaller bodies, where members would receive the teachings and
initiations in a strictly oral format. However, Harvey's love for the advertising world never left him, and
he developed and promoted AMORC like it was next best thing to sliced white bread. Adopting a
Masonic style lodge pattern and initiations from the 17th century Gold-and Rosy- Cross (of twelve
degrees, not ten), similar to that used by the Golden Dawn (Neophyte, Zelator, Practicus, etc.),
[xi] he
sin
gle handily mainstreamed esotericism and Rosicrucianism for the American public. With emphasis
on practicality, not abstract metaphysics or obtuse rituals, AMORC's membership grew. But that was
not all that sold AMORC, for Harvey and AMORC were one and the same. Harvey Lewis had a keenly
developed psychic sense, and was at the forefront of proving that what he was selling, the teachings of
AMORC, worked. To this end, he decided that it was time for the 'Big Show' and announced in 1916
that he was going to publicly transmute a base metal into gold using alchemical means. An article
describing the event was written by Harvey Spencer Lewis, using a nom de plume, and appeared in
the organization’s magazine, "The American Rosae Crucis", in July of that year. In summary, the
article stated the following:
On Thursday night, June 22, 1916, "a demonstration of the ancient art, or science, of transmutation"
was given to the officers and councilors of the Supreme Grand Lodge in New York City. Stating that
this was the first time that such a convocation was held in America, and very well could be the last for
some time to come, it was permissible for each Grand Master to demonstrate once in their lifetime and
term of office the process of transmutation.
It further stated that all of the laws necessary for such an accomplishment were clearly stated and
explained in the first four degrees of the Order. In preparation, fifteen members of the Fourth degree
drew at random a week earlier cards upon which were written the ingredients each was to individually
bring and that all of the ingredients were non-toxic, with the exception of the nitric acid used to test the
metal at the end of the demonstration, and easily obtainable. Each was to pledge secrecy and that
they were not to unite with the others the total of the ingredients on their own for at least three years
after the death of the Grand Master General, Harvey Spencer Lewis.
Dressed in regalia, but devoid of ritual, the procedure began after a brief introduction on the history
and theory of alchemy. In an attempt at objectivity, the article stated that, "In order to meet the
demand for one outside and disinterested witness, a representative of the
New York World's
editorial
department was invited."
The critical phase of the transmutation took exactly 'sixteen minutes' and resulted in second and
third degree burns to Lewis' hands. Examinations were made on zinc placed in the crucible to show
Alchemy Journal Vol.4 No.1.
that it was the matching half to the piece that was not used. The
World
's representative was invited to
examine the pieces as well, and to place his initial on them before the operation began to insure that
no slight of hand was involved. The article further stated that half of the metal was sent to "the
Supreme Council of the Order in France along with an official report" as well as the admonishment of
the unnamed journalist that while the experiment was fantastic, he is in no position to judge whether an
actual change took place. The transmuted piece of zinc and its unaffected matching half were left on
display and observed by "Newspapermen, editors and several scientists (who) have examined them
and gone away greatly perplexed."
[xii]
Unfortunately, much of the information in this article is hardly objective or even verifiable. While the
article has been reprinted several times, no photograph of the 'gold' produced, or replies from the
French Supreme Council, or even of the implied news article from the
New York World
, have been
produced along with it. If this had been all there was to AMORC's modern Rosicrucian alchemical
legacy, it would have been written off as a failed publicity stunt, and ended up as a footnote in the
development of American alchemy.
Despite the obvious questions regarding the article's validity, and complete historical accuracy, it
was reprinted by AMORC in the March 1942 edition of the "Rosicrucian Digest", the organization’s
magazine having changed its name sometime in the early 1930's. This edition also included a footnote
at the end of the article which advertised the availability of a 'home alchemy course' complete with
herbs, glassware, even a small oven!
[xiii] It also mentioned the 'extensive alchemical course given at
Rose+Croix University' which brings us to the second phase of AMORC's alchemy p
eriod.
The AMORC Period: Round Two
In the first part of the 1940's, AMORC's librarian and later Dean of the Order's Rose+Croix
University (RCU), Orval Graves, proposed a series of classes on practical laboratory alchemy. In
those early classes, the techniques of Paracelsus were generally followed, artificial stones were
created, and students would often take turns staying up throughout the night, to regulate the heart of
the furnaces for the herbal work. A great sense of harmony prevailed. Yet, not all of the results were
purely spiritual. According to Russell B. House, F.R.C., and (at the time of his writing) member of
AMORC's International Research Counsel, Frater Graves produced for him, at their meeting in June of
1989, several artificial stones alchemically manufactured during those early classes. Among the
collection was included a large artificial diamond grown by the late French Rosicrucian alchemist
F. Jollivet-Castelot. Castelot was among the leading practical alchemists in Europe at the turn of the
century. He was past President of the
Alchemical Society of France
(Societe Alchemique de France)
and editor of its journal,
La Rose+Croix
(The Rose+Cross).
[xiv] A photograph of Castelot in his
laboratory has been repeatedly reproduced by A
MORC in the front of its
Rosicrucian Manual
for its
members.
[xv]
Of those gems produced during the RCU days of the '40's, one topaz was declared by a gemologist
to be among the finest he had ever seen. In addition, Dr. A. Whaley, a member of the RCU faculty at
that time, reproduced what was then current government research on the manufacture of synthetic
precious stones, including diamonds. Aside from esoteric chemistry, the students of these classes
also had a little help from exoteric chemistry as well. The DuPont Company sent some samples of its
synthetic stones, and even revealed 'tricks of the trade'. The B&J Star Company of San Francisco lent
a hand, however, not all of its methods could be reproduced, as the furnaces at RCU were not
powerful enough.
During this time several articles appeared, and since have been reprinted, in
The Rosicrucian Digest
Alchemy Journal Vol.4 No.1.
regarding alchemy. Several by Orval Graves offer considerable insight into the purifying nature of fire
and its esoteric implications.
[xvi] Several f
rom a Hungarian Rosicrucian, Victor Scherbak of Budapest,
dealt with the mythological origins of alchemy, its relationship to Atlantis, Lemuria, and the creation
stories in
Genesis
.
[xvii]
[x]
Rosicrucian Questions and Answers with Complete History of
the Rosicrucian Order
by H.Spencer Lewis, F.R.C. Supreme
Grand Lodge of AMORC, San Jose, California. 1984. P. 16
photograph, p. 178.
[xi]
The Rosicrucian Manual
, Lovett Printing Co., Charleston, W.
V., 1928; and Supreme Grand Lodge AMORC, San Jose, Calif.,
1975.
[xii] An article published in the March 1926 edition of
The Mystic
Triangle
states: "When a demonstration of the transmutation
process was made officially by our Order in New York City a
number of years ago, a piece of zinc was so changed in its nature
that it looked like gold and stood the acid test of gold; in other
words it would have served the same purpose as gold. But the
transmuted piece of metal did not weight the same as gold would
weigh, and therefore in that regard it was not gold& .is no reason
for us believe that all artificial or transmuted gold must have the
same weight as gold, which as impurities not existing in the
other& .the& zinc weighed less, apparently after it had been
transmuted& than before." (p. 27) A similar statement is made by
Frater Albertus, in
The Alchemist of the Rocky Mountains
, page
123. However, here the gold is lighter by a mere fraction of its
original weight, making it still almost three times heavier than zinc.
[xiii] A second kit was later offered, without th
e oven and of lesser
quality in some respects. At some point in the 1980's this was
discontinued, and all that became available to members was a 22-
page lecture on basic water distillation techniques. The copy I
have has no date or copyright, and may date back to the original
alchemy classes during the 1940's.
[xiv]
The Alchemists
by M. Caron and S. Hutin. Translated from
French by Helen R. Lane. Grove Press, Inc. New York, New
York. 1961. P. 95.
[xv] An article appeared in the August 1926 edition of
The Mystic
Triangle
describing the chemical recipe used by Castelot to
artificially make gold. However, at the end of his letter he states,
"Undoubtedly, there was a loss of gold in the experiment just as
occurred in all my anterior attempts; because we know that
arsenic, antimony and tellurium carry away gold during their
fusion and volitilization." (p.130)
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