AMORC and Race : A Representative of a US Headquartered Western Esoteric Order on its African Members in 1930
Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
AMORC and Race
A Representative of a US Headquartered Western Esoteric Order
on its
African Members in 1930
AMORC members at 2019 AMORC World Convention in Rome
From Rosicrucian Order AMORC Facebook page
Oluwatoyin Vincent Adepoju
I find the article below from a May 1930 edition of the magazine The Rosicrucian Digest of the US headquartered esoteric order the Ancient Mystical Order of the Rosy Cross ( AMORC) intriguing because of its tone, which I dont know how to characterize.
Reading this totally unselfconscious characterization of Black people admitted into fellowshipping with Caucasians in a spirit of recognition of mutual humanity, a spirit that has to be highlighted in a way that suggests it can't be taken for granted, takes one back to a very different time in world history, making this piece a powerfully resonant in relation to the increasing prominence of Black people in AMORC, particularly from the very Black Africa, described below as representing "a distant point, far from the centers of modern civilization".
I have added the images to compare and contrast with the essay.
The Digest is courtesy of Sauron385, the user name of someone who has loaded a rich cache of AMORC publications to the free document archive Scribd.
The Rosicrucian Digest May 1930
119-123/119-120
The Chatter Box
B y t h e L is t e n e r-In
Speaking of places in which Rosicrucianism has never reached, I am reminded of a photograph I saw the other day that was sent from the Gold Coast of Africa to our Secretary here.
I was surprised to learn that such a distant point, far from the centers of modern civilization, was one of the very ancient locations of early Rosicrucian activities.
The branch of the work there, held exclusively for the colored race of that coast, has been active for many years and the photograph sent to Headquarters was of the Supreme Council of the colored branch of Africa which showed a group of colored men in evening clothes and all with unquestioned intellect and culture stamped upon their countenances.
I do not know when I have seen such a group of highly evolved men of the colored race. The letters of fraternal greetings that have come to us at times from that section have always been couched in the finest language and express the utmost enthusiasm for the Rosicrucian work which they claim has been the only means of higher cultural education in that part of the country.
AMORC members at 2019 AMORC World Convention in Rome
From Rosicrucian Order AMORC Facebook page
Speaking of the colored race, I wonder how many of our members know that throughout the world there are many colored men and women, or men and women of the so-called black race, in the Rosicrucian Order.
In most countries these persons have branches or groups of their own because they can join in the studies with more freedom if they are able to attend group meetings composed wholly of their own race, and because they prefer to carry on their own propaganda among their own people in this manner.
AMORC members at 2019 AMORC World Convention in Rome
From Rosicrucian Order AMORC Facebook page
There is absolutely nothing in the Rosicrucian work which discriminates against the colored race or any race, and so far as their souls and psychic and mental selves are concerned, they are considered Rosicrucians on an equal basis with other races.
They, on the other hand, are timid about causing any strange feeling through their association with other members and, therefore, seek to be in their own distinctive branches. This consideration on their part indicates the evolution of their culture and psychic natures.
Usually, we find these persons very enthusiastic students, courteous, sincere, loyal, and greatly devoted to the ideals of the Rosicrucian Order.
AMORC members at 2019 AMORC World Convention in Rome
Many distinguished characters of the black race in America are members of our organization, and they not only hold very responsible positions, but are prominent in educational work, the theatre, music, and other intellectual occupations.
The Imperator has been working for some time on a magazine article dealing with the facts of the evolution of the colored race as revealed by the Rosicrucian teachings and I hope to see that article printed in our magazine very shortly.