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Harvey Spencer Lewis

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Harvey Spencer Lewis
Born(1883-11-25)November 25, 1883
Frenchtown, New Jersey, United States
DiedAugust 2, 1939(1939-08-02) (aged 55)
OrganizationAMORC
TitleImperator of AMORC
Term1915–1939
SuccessorRalph Maxwell Lewis
ChildrenRalph Maxwell Lewis

Harvey Spencer Lewis (November 25, 1883 – August 2, 1939), a Rosicrucian author, mystic and founder of AMORC. He lead AMORC as its first leader (imperator) from its creation in 1915 until his death.

Early life

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Lewis was born November 25 1883 in Frenchtown, New Jersey.[1] His parents were of Welsh and German ancestry.[1] Lewis was an advertising agent.[2]

Esotericism

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He had founded a group called the New York Institution for Psychical Research. In 1904 he founded the Rosicrucian Research Society.[2][3] The Ancient Mystical Order of the Rosy Cross (AMORC) was founded in 1915.[3][4] He founded the organization after a trip to France with his father, claiming that he had been initiated into Rosicrucianism and was given a mission to spread it there in what he called an "old tower" in Toulouse.[3][1] He presented this as a revival of the original, partially mythical and ancient Rosicrucian Order.[5]

Lewis affiliated with many occult groups, especially Aleister Crowley's Ordo Templi Orientis.[4] Following a 1916 split in the O.T.O., the schismatic German branch recognized AMORC, giving him a document to prove this. He was proud of receiving this document, despite differences in belief between the two organizations (AMORC did not practice sex magic).[4] While predominantly Rosicrucian, the works of Lewis also incorporate neo-Templar elements, having a particular interest in the 18th century revivalist order of Bernard-Raymond Fabré-Palaprat and the Knights Templar. Lewis had had some contact with neo-Templar figures and related European occultists, including Émile Dantinne.[5]

Lewis was interested in Egyptology, and founded the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in San Jose. It is located in Rosicrucian Park.[4]

Works

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In 1931, Lewis, under the pen name Wishar S[penle] Cerve, wrote a book (published by the Rosicrucians) about the hidden Lemurians of Mount Shasta that a bibliographic note on Mount Shasta described as "responsible for the legend's widespread popularity."[6][7] Lewis authored The Mystical Life of Jesus in 1929. The book is notable for defending a variant of the swoon hypothesis that Jesus survived his crucifixion. Lewis plagiarized entire chapters from The Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ by Levi H. Dowling.[4][8]

Death

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Front of Lewis's burial marker

Lewis died in 1939. He was succeeded as leader of AMORC by his son, Ralph Maxwell Lewis.[2][3]

Bibliography

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  • Rosicrucian Principles for the Home and Business (1929)
    • Explains portions of Rosicrucian teachings and philosophy as related to work and personal goals.
  • Rosicrucian Questions and Answers with Complete History of the Order
    • A two-part book: Part One gives the "traditional" history of the Rosicrucian Order, with names and works; Part Two answers common new member and prospective member questions.
  • The Mystical Life of Jesus
  • Lemuria, The Lost Continent Of the Pacific (1931), as Cerve, Wishar S.
  • The Secret Doctrines of Jesus
    • An explanation of many symbols, standards, and interpretations of the work of Jesus and the Twelve Apostles.
  • A Thousand Years of Yesterdays
    • A fictional story, explaining reincarnation as a man re-experiences past selves.
  • Self Mastery and Fate with the Cycles of Life
    • Relates the Cycles of Life system, similar in nature to biorhythm.
  • Rosicrucian Manual (1918, 1929 with reissues)
    • Explains the structure of AMORC and includes everything a new Rosicrucian should know.
  • Mansions of the Soul: The Cosmic Conception
    • Essays about Life, Death, the Afterlife, and Rebirth.
  • The Symbolic Prophecy of the Great Pyramid
    • Presents an interpretation of Egyptian symbology, with old and new ideas discussed.
  • Mental Poisoning
    • An examination of curses, hexes, and psychic manipulation.

References

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  1. ^ a b c Edighoffer 2005, p. 692.
  2. ^ a b c Chryssides 2006, pp. 30–31.
  3. ^ a b c d Introvigne 2004, p. 30.
  4. ^ a b c d e Melton 1987, p. 593.
  5. ^ a b Caillet 1997, p. 29.
  6. ^ Meisse 1993, p. 146.
  7. ^ Melton 1999, p. 332.
  8. ^ Chryssides 2006, pp. 37–38.
Sources
  • Caillet, Serge (1997). L'Ordre rénové du Temple: Aux racines du Temple solaire (in French). Dervy. ISBN 978-2-85076-924-5.
  • Chryssides, George D. (2006). "Aquarian Gospel of Jesus the Christ, The". The A to Z of New Religious Movements. The A to Z guide series. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-5588-5.
  • Edighoffer, Roland (2005). "Lewis, Harvey Spencer". In Hanegraaff, Wouter J.; Faivre, Antoine; Broek, R. van den; Brach, Jean-Pierre (eds.). Dictionary of Gnosis & Western Esotericism. Leiden; Boston: BRILL. ISBN 978-90-04-14371-5.
  • Introvigne, Massimo (2004). "AMORC". In Clarke, Peter (ed.). Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-49970-0.
  • Meisse, William C. (1993). "Legends: Lemuria". Mount Shasta: An Annotated Bibliography. College of the Siskiyous.
  • Melton, J. Gordon, ed. (1999). "LEWIS, Harvey Spencer". Religious Leaders of America: A Biographical Guide to Founders and Leaders of Religious Bodies, Churches, and Spiritual Groups in North America (2nd ed.). The Gale Group. ISBN 978-0-8103-8878-9. ISSN 1057-2961.
  • Melton, J. Gordon, ed. (1987). "Ancient and Mystical Order of the Rosae Crucis". The Encyclopedia of American Religions (2nd ed.). Gale Research. ISBN 978-0-8103-2133-5.

Further reading

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  • Serge Cailler, "L'affaire Spencer Lewis", Renaissance traditionnelle, n° 101/102, 1995, pp. 72-87
  • Robert Vanloo, Les rose-croix du nouveau monde. Aux sources du rosicrucianisme moderne, Paris, Claire Vigne, 1996.
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