On the Threshold of Sacred Mystery

8/3/2019 On the Threshold of Sacred Mystery

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7Ibe Ger t u~o~ t yf ao~tt ;ccrat~o~\ut tbe Ub r e s l ~ o I b rSacrcb fl)p$tcrp

for tbc IlUatcbers of rbe V ~ l y ouse

Go tbc Glory ~f XLbp R.\n~nc,O lLor3, 3113tbe inviolate sylc~ti \our f tbe Xosy Crose,

tbcougb GbrW our Zo r b wftbin.


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T!3;6ts b i b b c n Zife of the


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CVu t c t r e~ . -W lmn have you t l~e re


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ro THECEREMONY' 01: CONSECRATION ONHerald.-An earthly body wliich veils the spiritual

man and a Blessed Placc of thc Prcscncc.Watclw.--What do you seek at our hands ?Herald.-I ask you to sanctify the body, that we

may look upon that grcnt light wl~ichshines fromthe soul within.

Watcher.--What nianner of light, my Brother ?Herald.-l


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THE THRESHOLD OF SACRED MYSTERY r rzcnbroken stillness in the dark of dark . IC i s followedby a breathing of slow wzbsic, which rises by degreesto a very torrent of sound. A voice breaks i n sud-dedy O N the crest of the ~ i ~ u s i c . t chnfzts clearlyastd sweetly

THE HYMN O F THE SOUL I N U N I O N

I. The Peace of GOD is the Union : the Union isGOD with us.

11. There is no life but life, and that is Thou.111. Thine is the essence and Thine the growth there-

from.IV. The mercy of Thy Covenant is poured upon those

who love Tbec.V. In Thee and Thine Union we become ourselves

the Covenant.VI.. Make of us Thine in the Keeping, till Thine is

also Thou,VII . Unity of all the Unity and Oneness found witliin.

The silence. which follows is of certai~rnwments on&,and then anotkcr voice ordains the mode o/ corttem-fllatio?r on ,the Blessed Path of U n io n , giuirjg ittti-mations concerning it for the lc a d i* ~ ~ gf inwardthought.


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12 TIIECEREMON'IT or: CONSECRA'I'ION ox

The High Priest (vcl uli.us).-When vcils are on meand the clouds about me ; when the world clamoursand its spirit draws mc forth : then art Thou far away.I do not f e d Thee, and I scc Thcc not ; I do not knowTliec, whetllcr without or within. 1 am nothing andh aw nothing: my food is husks. The darkest sta tcof all is when the broken shells seem mcat from tileKing's Table. G 0 cities in the wastes of time,where is the City of GOD ? +E But if I abide inthe hiddenness, if I keep my soul in silcncc, if I putaway all the presenccs and forget the forms of thought :then am I aware of Thee. I hear Thee in the stillsmall voice, who have lost Thee amidst the thunders,in all this storm of words. CU Where the dark cloudshang out and the fire flaslles, Thou and the soul arelost. * The soul is high remembrance, remoteand vast and vague ; but it is expectation also. +In the great old duration, beyond the modes of change,my deeps were Thinc : 1 look t o find Thee there, fa rpast all lifc of sense. + But here in the House ofmy exile, hcrc in thc bonds of flesh, how did I knowof Thee, Master, or comc to rcmember Thec ? Howdid I hear Thec lirst ? As a child at the mother'sknee ? As a youth in the classes ? I t is very well.I n the Church, woc is nlc ? What Ritcs, whatwords of the preacher ? Were they not good andtruc ? .E What ways of missing the nlcssage ! I licardof Thee only without who know Thee only within,in thc one place of knowledge. 93 The awarenessbecomcs the Prcsencc, and Thou ar t That . 633 Whcrcshines Thy light ? Wllerc, Master, but within ? Notfroln witliout or any otherwhere : 0 Thou of allthings inward, far past the personal self. b 3 Thouthe beginning and Thou the end, through and beyond


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THE THRESHOLD OF SACRED MYSTERY 13the ages. tE Let us contenlplate in the heart, myBrethren, when the heart is still, when 3lie pulse ofoutward life is heard no inorc and timc suspcllds itsbeatings.

T h r c i s a l o ~ g - # a u s e f s il c~ tcc ,whic h grows i ~ tetcse-ttcss to a vibrnnt poiut , a d h ~ t nother ooice israised : t bcars true wi ln css O I Z thc Ros y Cross .

T h e Pvicstess of the I i i tc (vc l nlia).-On SacredTemples of the Threshold ; the pronnise of peace jnTcinplcs ; odoui-s about thc Temples ; words of sacredodours and tongues of incense ; Houses of Bcne-diction, Houses built of Praycr ; thc matter of Faithin Temples, a gate to high experience : behold, Itestify in thc Mystical Holy of Holies, the Sanctuaryaf speaking symbols and'the Rosy Cross. +I3 Accord-ing to the golden legend and the discovery of itsinwritten parable, tlic maxims of a Spiritual Mysterywere graven about the Altar, in the vault of a HiddenShrine. NEQUAQUAM VACUUM. There is novoid of distance between the dedicated soul and GOD.Consecrate your hearts in dedication, and GOD shallbc found within. LEGIS JUGUM : The bondageof the Old Law becomes the yoke of CHRIST.LIEERTAS EVANGEL11 : The liberty of thc Gospelis the freedom of the soul in union with the GreatTask-Master Who ordains the Law of Love. DEIGLORIA INTACTA: To the Glory of GOD in-violate, world without end in love. .E Conversionof all convci-sions, changc of change, s ta rs out of dustarising, making of all things new : U c ye transmutedthcrefoi-e from dead stones into Living PhilosophicalStoncs, sllining on everlasting hills, radiant on tlicMount of GOD,


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14 THECEREMONY OF CONSECRATION ONTllc fi~zuscof a ~rzo?rlc~rtollows : t i s greatly still a d

cn-#cctaut. A soicc o j victory +rocluiuts :TILCHigh Pr ic s t ( a d alizcs)--ORDO SANCTISSI-

RlUS ROSEB ET A U R E E CRUCIS.Thc Rose-Cross suspcndcd i.tt thc Dhck darktzess gives

forth it s Iight szcddc~dy. It appcars in ~ ~ z i d - a i r , dIltcrc i s a $ a s s i ~ t g f zm'lcd figures lrcneatl~ t, a?~zids ts~itoke f thuuiblcs .

The H i g h Priest.-Behold the Cross of Glory, th eRosy Cross, the sign without of GOD Who dwellswithin. The mighty cosmos of created thin& ismade without : nlakc Thou our world within. Wehave built all Telnplcs in Thy Holy Naine : buildThou the Cliurch within us. Abide and bless byTllinc iildwclling Presence.

At a batte ry o f o m knoc li -.,-kc H O L Y CON-GREGATION r iscs , w i t h t h c CELEBRANTSa t ~ d P O K E S M E N OF T H E 81 E, uhcresoevcvtlzey are placed i ~ tl t c T e ~ u p l e .

Thc HigIt Pvicst.-Tlic Trec of the Rosy Crossis CIIl'\IST ; thc Tree is Life ; the Tree is the Wordnladc flcsh : IMfiIANUEL, GOD is with us. It isalso the manifest state of our liurnanity ; and then theRosc signifies tllc Immanent Divinity, IW~ich wellswithin us, at once hidden and revealed. I bear mywitness further that tlic Rose is tlic soul in man ; andthen the glittering point of dew, as the jewel withintlic centre, is the inward and hidden Christhood.


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TXE THRESHOLD OF SACRED MYSTERY 15At a battery of one Knock -7-- Ihe seals are res~medby all. The Rose-Cross cortlimm to radiate in thedarkuess a,sd again the .music breathes. A voice

of sojig t d s of the Myst ic Rose.The Prieste~s of the Rife (vcl alia).-ROSA

AUl


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16 THECERERlONY OF CONSECRATION ON

A t tlcc cud of this Co~tte~uplntiunTIzc Nigh Priest.-Uy whom were you made a

8rother ?Hcrakd of the Rile (in llrc West).-By GOD and a

good fricnd : so help nlc. GOJI.Sfiolicswatt o f tlic Rite ( t r w s vcl nl,tcr).-May joy

and bcncdiction, thc power and lncrcy of GOD, bcwith us this day and for cvcr in the Place of DiviilcMystcry.

Secod Spokesmurr.-Into Thy hands, 0 Lord : inthc mercy of Thy hands abidc the souls of the choscnoncs.

Third Spoll.es~rta~t.-Sacred is hc who nlaintains inhis hcart sacredly this High and Sacred Doctrine.

Spokcs~uuttof thc Rite.-Bc with us I-lenceforth, 0Master, tlirougll all our ways of quest, as Thou art andwast from the beginning cven unto tlic pcrfcct end,thc endless end of being.

Sccom? Spokeszw~c.-Visit us iil the redemption ofThy I


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THE THRESHOLD or: SACRED MYSTERY 17U w A m d a Tew~~I i . - -T l~ypirit is in those who

love Thcc : give unto us Thinc HOLY SPIRIT..4?zcilla A1ia.-Crown the humble with wisdom:

marry us into pcrfcct union.The High Priest.-For us who arc Thine only set

open doors of entrance to Thine Eternal Prcsence,the Sccret Abodc of Thy Glory.

The Priesless of the Rile.-I testify concerning theway of the soul in love an d the term at tained therein.The reign of law is love, which rules. in all. Thcrc isone law alone, one rule and reign. &d love is love forever. Love is tile key and lovc the keeper of kcys,thc treasure within aqd the only lock which opens.'I'hc key of love is also the.key of tongues, the livingword within and t he word expressed. The kingdomjougllt without and iound within, the throne erectedthere, the sceptre a ~ dhc crown are Thine and Thou,0 Love, Kinghood and King in all. I preacli thisgospel in all my par ts of being.

Ancalla Una Templa.--The path of the life to cornis a Path of Love.

.4.tzcih Alia.-The lovc which dies for love is lovethat lives.

Avtcilla Umz.-The love whicll lives tlirougli deal11is love immortal.

Ancilla Alias--Give me everlasting titles, thelove that kills-


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The Priestess of the Rite.-0 School of W*isdom,School of Perfect Love : thereafter nothing dies, fordeath is dead.

Spokesman of tlzc Rite.--The pcrfcct pcacc is withthee : thou art the Peace of GOD, 0 Blessed MysticDeath !

Sccotzd S#oftcsr)mr.-Thy veils dissolved reveal thelife beyond.

Third Spolzcs~r!cr.iz.-Tllinc other names are vision,life in GOD, and aftcr this the Union.

Thc High Pricsl.-The Second Birth of Souls is aBirth in Lovc. I testify co~lccrning the beginningof all Mysteries and that which qualifies for all, theSecond Eirth of Souls. Lci us contemplate fltehiystcry of Lovc, and this abides with in us.

TILC ilcmc which follows i s l ikc the tlzvcsl~old of awodd of expeviemx behind the workd of symbols, a dat the clld this co?tte~)c~latiostissotvcs i . i r a7t orgal&rcvcrie, a suggestion of dccp things lzcnrd from theLegi~rniftg z the lteart, whcn the lzcart as stz'Il. TIzcnext thc7tte is of tltc Hiddcn Master a d he old foz:n-tlatio~tof the Rosy Cross.

Tltc High Priest.-The sacraments arc not thelifc, but its sacred signs and veils, The signs arcsilent only when thc soul is deaf. The wonder isnot in tllcir speaking but because so few can hear. @


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THE THRESHOLD OF SACRED MI'STERY 19There is flvit of life in symbols, for those who canpenetrate green thickets and enter the orchard be-hind. Till then we dwell in the precincts : we feedupon outward shells of images, and we drink theirwine. 0 deeper hunger and that other thirst ! '14Give me the-real presence in place of all the picturesand pallid portraits only drawn in thought. M'hatshall give life to the pictures, mind and speech in all ?Thought of the soul, thought in the deep soul, andGOD uplifting soul in thought within. + I havecrossed the threshold : I have ' arted embroideredcurtains : I have questioned oracles in speaking dark-ness, in the pregnant solitudes, in lone untroddenregions of the soul. Q I have opened a secret wallin my own house and have found a vault beyond. TheHidden Master of tho Rosy Cross spoke to my secretsoul. .E A light in the dark uplifted : I founda lamp therein, and it goes not out for ever. + .knew him of whom I had read in the old days, whenthe spirit of quest was on me, in tlie old traditionaltale of our Loving Father. He came unto me thenin the youth of thought, as a Son of 'the Spirit andBride born in the body of man, as CHRIST was bornin a stable. He led the inner life in a house of religion,a house of contemplation, even a house of thought. 43There is an Orient of the soul, and this may visitfrom on high : it is said that he travelled eastward.Was it not'the far East, the font and source andspring ? There is no other travelling which countsas such for those who. look to find the ends of being. t??Wc arc told that he came unto his own and that hisown received him, in the Hidden City. Was it notbuilt upon the Mountain, a high uplifted place ofholy mind ? Wllrn we strip oh' the crude veqtures,


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20 T H E CEREMONY' O F CONSECRATION OHwhich are those of outward ~ n y t h , t is found that hcwho came from the Ccntrc returned tllcreto anddrew tllcrcfrom. i Hc was given back unto thcworld in the yowcr of mission. He brought withhim from the Ccntrc that cspcricncc which is highdoctrine and an A r t of Life in GOD. I-ic came inthe power of teaching, as if again unto his own in thebond of outward things, and they heard him not.I3~it fcw heard him within, and hc built up hisBrothcrlloocl of thc Rosy Cross, as if a Chul-ch Invisibleand a Housc of the Holy Spirit. );E I say untoyou, Brethren, th at tllerc is the story of Christ onearth, in Palcstinc and its ~ o l ~ields, and tlm-c isthe MYSTICAL CHRIST within : two stories, oneat the root in the THEOSOPHIA of the Rosy Cross.And that of our Loving Fatllcr is also yours and minc :the Vault of his Housc is within us, and tllc Ccntrcis also tllcrc. I h a w lnadc unto myself a Sepul-chre : Lord Christ, arise tllerein. Thc I


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ZUE THRESHOLD OF SACRED RNSTERY 21

s t a d i r t g , wltilc the dcep sacratrzc~~laleaning i ssheiin forllt as follows :A S+o/ccsma?tof tlu Rite.-MYSTERIUM ROSEB

ET AURELE CRUCIS : CHRIST in manifestation,fddcn and cosmic CHRIST.

Sccorcd Spo?ces?irm.-MEA VICTORIA I N CIWCEROSEA : My Victory is in the 12osp Cross. Inl-mortal Life rcinoves the sting of death : Thou artou r Life, 0 Lord.

Third Spokcstrta~z.-CRUX CHRIST1 CORONACI-IlIISTIANORUM : Crown us in the part of ourinanifestation with thc fruits oi the work within.

The Pricstcss of llze liilc.-Tllc soul is a Roseawaiting consecration by the Spirit.Una At~iUa Tc;rtpli.--The 'Rose of our desire

bccoines the Holy Rose.A~tciUa Ah.-1Cosc of Jericho, Iiosc of Salem,

Rose of the world below, Rose of the Paradisc above :hide us in Thy sacrcd petals.

The Zigki of thc Rosy Cross is withdraw^^ aftcr flzcscwords, a d at a baitcry of om Ic~tock-.- hcivIscats aro rcsut~~ccly all .

Tlzc Yricstess of thc Rite (vcl a h ) The unknowncountry of our inward being becomcs the ICingdon~of GOD whcu tllc Guidc-who is Love witliin-brings us to the Holy Place and opens tlw door thereof,which Ieads to the Holy of Holies and the Presence


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22 T r r ~ EREMONY OF CONSECRATION ON,therein. The Guide is that which is said in an oldtraditiona1 story to lead the Scekcr of the Rosy Crossup a Adountaiil in the midst of the earth, lother-wise a t thc niiddlc placc of the world. I say untoyou that this Mountain is within and that it is foundat our own centrc. I t is a placc of many treasureswhich the world does not value, because they donot bear its marks 01- come out of its mints, as currentcoin accepted in its Houses of Exchange. It is saidto be cilcornpasscd by cruel beasts and raveningbirds, which are the evil passions within us-all thefalse desires. They are the lawless part of our naturein all the ways of life, the spirit of the world withinus which strives with the SPIRIT O F GOD. Buton the brink, as i t may be, of formless swamps ofbeing, in death and the shadow of death, we havererncmbered the promise of life-of life for evermoreand cver more of life. We have heard the voice ofthe Guide, a music which wakens the secret deeps ofsoul and thence evokes response. He has come atour bidding, has opened a door of the heart andentered to abide within. We have contemplated inthe heart because of him and have followed thc leadof Love, the lead which is Thine, 0 Lokd, for Love isThine and Thou. When the desire of i t has possessedus utterly, when thc night is very dark within, then ina great silence the quest begins for the Mountain.I t is reached a t midnight, the middle night of thcsoul, when all the passions are stilled, all images ofscnsc obscured. But that which devolves upon theScekcr is to call from his llcart on GOD, a voice up-raised in very dcey of soul : for now the end is nigh.The lion and the dragon, the eager birds of prey shallfly before that which is our Guard, as well as


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THE THRESHOLD, OF SACRED .MYSTERY 23Guide in Paths. I say unto you :. Believe and find.In a wind of the Spirit you shalI go up the HiddenMountain. All that is of dead stone in your natureshall be rent like rocks ; all that is perishable shallbe consumcd like earthly dross : there shall followa great calm. The dawn and the day-star shall riseon the Mount of GOD, and the place of the Treasureshall unveil. In the images of the old parablethat Treasure is a Highest Tincture, which might turnthe world to gold. But this is the Gold of GOD,according to another witness of the Rosy Cross, andthis transmutes the soul. 0 Fount of life and health,SPIRIT and PRESENCE of GOD : hereof is thePresence within, according to the picture-language,and such the Hidden Treasure of the Secret IM un-tain. The place of the Treasure in another modeof symbolism is a Temple on the Mountain-top,which is Earth of the World to Come and the Landof the Living. What Laws of GOD come forth fromthis sumxnit of Horeb to, those who cross, withLove their Guide, the arid wastes of Sinai ? Andwhat Transfiguration takes place on this MysticTabor ? The Rosy Cross bears witness t o the HighTincture, the Eternal Life thereof. That which iscalled the Mountain in this old speaking allegory isknown by other names in otlter types of legend. It isthe Spiritual Citadel which contains the Truc Stoneand Talisman.of Philosophers, a gift which remains toeternity, though all things else dissolve. I t is called theGlory of the World and Way oi Truth, the HiddenSacrament of the Rosy Cross and the only Path toLife, I t is also the True Elixir. But howeverwe multiply images, and tliere is a cloud of othersin the radiant lore of old, in reality it is one thing


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24 THE. EREMONY OF CONSECRATION OXonly-a statc of inward bcing attained in love. I t is1-cachcd by contemplation, when the soul eludes themethodical proccsscs of tlie past and buries itself inlove. I t cntcrs then into the grcat leality of being-which is it s own rcality-and finds its object in theheight of ungenerated self ; for therc and thus onlyis GOD within.

The Hcrald of t h c R i t c u ~ ~ v c i l sis Inrztcrn am.! thenupvising clcvalcs it i ~ zh.c ~lticldlcWc s t .Herald.-TIE deeps cxplorc thc height, but height

and dcep are one in lovc. T h c mind of ea rth unto thcSanctuary of Hidden Mind lifts up its pallid light.

T h e S am du ary i s ~ ~ u t d cimly visiblc aud the H i g hAltar. Thc Cdcbra~r t snrld Miuistcrs arc slzadowccl!v a g u d y fovllt.

Herald.-From the Court of the Tcnlplc to the HolyPlace, Master, command Tliy servants. Open theGate wllich Icads to the Holy of Holies. Thou hastgiven unto us service in quest : call us to serve inattainment at Thinc Inmost Shrine.

T h c lanlcm is veiled a d he E-ie~nUesumes his scat.Urta A ~z cil la Tc~w$li.--The records of cxpericnce,

the doctrines based tilereon, the great antique systenls,the inlmernorial faiths have taught u s from the begin-ning that GOD is witl~out but ill thc Mystery ofLove and this only is the autllentic findiilg of GOD-far and how far from the com~nonwear and tcar ofdevotional use and wont.


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THE THRESHOLD OF SACRED MYSTERY 25A?tcilla Alia .-HA BITA VIT I N NOBIS. He has

dwelt in us from the beginning, but it is not as in alocal habitation : it is as the self alone within.Altcilla U~za.--We hcar of Him only without, and

the records are a portrait everywhere of an absentperson.

Ancilla Al ia . - -We set up iniages ill all our Tenlples,and they are reproduced as images in the mind : notthese is He.

Anci lh Una.-And the stories of the Great Mastersarc those of inward realisations, which a re theirs andnot ours.

Amil la Al ia . -0 blcsscd lights upon tlic way,Christ-stories under many titles : the task is to maketliein ours, as all in truth arc His, sliadows or brightrcflcctions of the one great work of souls, and Hc tlieliead of the work.

The Priestess of the Rite,- -The one irrcpealable con-dition is a selfless state without, for this alone makesfree the secret path to reach the self within.The E l igh Priesl.-The Secrct Mountain is tlie Higher

Mind, MOWS RATIONABILIS indeed, as it is calledin tllc old chronicle concerning, SUMRIUM BONUhl,That which is abovc encompasses that whicli is bclowand ye t remains above, fulfilling and not destroying.It is the Mind which sccs by comprchension, the all-containing Mind, an uplifted mode a n d state, as thelogical understanding is another and lower mode.


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A Spokesman of thc Rite.--Raise us into EternalLife, 0 Naster, tllc statc of the Fixed S tom, which isgold in the soul of man.

Second Spokcs~itarll..-0 hard and stubborn flints,ground in thc mills of GOD, for the separation of goldwithin and hidden gems of price, the chrysolyth andjasper of the eternal foundation.

Third Spokcsni.nrlt.-'She 1)ivine Presence is hiddenin our natural manhood and revealed when this istransmuted by the work of Divine Alchemy.

Spokcsmw of thc Kite.-The transmutation is fromwithin in Spiritual Alchemy, unlike the work in thecrucible, as dreamed of old,

Second Sfiokesinan.-Thc hlystic Stone is within usand transnlutcs all things. The authentic affirmat ionis tllcrefore : Bchold, 1 make all tllings ncw.

Third Spokcs~ita~t.-But it is the soul above allthings which becoines Spiritual Gold.The High Priest.-These are the stages of the pro-

cess in the old parabolic terms : (I) Mortification, forthat which can die must die : being perishalzle, it isnot ours ; (2) the Black State, wlic11 is one of figura-tive death coinplctcd, and thesc two corrcspond i nofiicial theology to the work of an instrument whichis termed Sufficing Grace : for us it is a Grade ofLove ; ( 3 ) the White State, begotten by PlenaryGrace, or Divine Love raised to its Second Degree ;(4) The Red State, attained in the operation of Super-


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THE THRESHOLD OF SACRED MYSTEIC'I' 27Essential Grace, otheiwise the Third Grade wliich isthat of Transcending Love, yosscssing and possessedby GOD. In the Black State the evil body of desireis dead as such ; the White State is manifestation ofthe soul in its purity ; but the Red State is that ofthe Spirit in its splendour, and this is the CHIZIST-SPIRIT. It is the state of espousals and union, ofbeing redeemed by the Blood of CHRIST, for theBlood is the Life. Herein is the Great Mystery ofthe Sanctuary, which is the Second Advent, thereturn. of the PERSONAL CHRIST.

The Priestess of the Rite.-~inge Thou our hearts andmake us gold for Thee, that we in turn may tincture.

The High Priest.-TINCTURA CHRISTUS EST :our Medicine Thou.

Spokes?rta?t of the Rite.-A Saving Fire within, aFire of Hcaling. I testify on the yart of the Mastersthat there is a Golden Tincture which is called theCentre of Nature.

S e c o d Sfiokesman.--The Fire of Divine Love is theEternal Tincture of Souls.

Third Sfiokes.ilza~t.-0 Blessed Ineffable State, whichthe Masters called Philosophical from the first daysof our Mystery.

ThcPriestess of the Rite.-The Stone that the buildersrejected and all the wise of this wor.!A is set at thehead. of the - corner in the eternal .foundation, theKeystone of a Sacred Arch which sustains the worlds.


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28 T H E CEREMONS OF CONSECRATION ohrU n a A ltcilln Teq!di.-The First Stone, proved and

precious, thc Stone laid in Zion, a Living Stonc, hewnwithout hands from the Everlasting Hill and HiddenMount of GOD.

,4ftcilla Ah.-'l'he Lord is my Rock and illy Stonc :'I'hou, 0 Lord, m y Saviour.

Tllc High Priest.--PETRA AUTER4 CHIXISTUS :\\Jay and Truth and Life.

T h e H I G H PRIEST riscs in hi s plncc. TheH E R A L DO F T H E R I T E gives a Battery of one k ~ o c k - ~ ~a d dl1 preseut arc upstnndi?tg. T h e l ight abovethc Th ro ~t e s Kindled su dd cd y and the HI G HP R I E S T i s seen c lcarly, e levating a Cubic Stonewhic h ha s rcposed beside hint o n a pedestal. Avoice i?t the SamAuury cries : PETRA F U N D E -BAT M I H I R I V O S O L E I . The light is extilt-guislted, the HIGH P R I E S T reswttes Itis Tliro~tc,Thc Herald rcpcnts hi s Battery-' a d allpresetit arc scuted. r

Ther e follows Izcrco~t lzc pause of a fc70 mo~~fic~tts,S theficacc of C H R I S T I ~ t d w c l l i ? z g .

Tlzc Priestess of lltc Rite.--IN SILENT10 ET SPE :Silence of the indrawn Soul and hope of light therein.

U ~ l a A~xi l ln TcmPli.-ORINIA A13 UNO ETO M N I A A D U h 'U h f. Frorn GOD thou ar t andunto GOD sllalt thou rctum.

A~tciLZa Aliu.-UNUM S U N T OMNIA, PERQ U O D OhlNIA : the Sccret Doctrine rings its goldenchanges.


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THE THRESHOLD OF SACRED MYSTERY 29TjLc Nigh Priest.-DEUS VENDIT SUA D O N APRO LABORE : The Kingdoin of Heaven suffereth

violence, and this is the sense thercof. The wagesof GO11 are Eternal Life.A clcur bell sozt?lrls wii lt iu fhe Sanctzcury : The Rose-

Cros s givcs forth its light srd dctily. The HERALDO F THE R ITE is u j u t a v t d i ~ ~ g& speaks from I I ufar W e s t .

Herald.--EGliEDERE P E R VIAM CRUCIS :IN G I IED El


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30 THECEREMONY OF CONSECRATION ONHerald (fr.01n his pla.cc).-Thy day, 0 Lord : to the

dawn of the coming day and the joy of life therein.Tltc High Priest.-The Star of Morning rises : the

\Vex-k of Light bcgins. The Ileast of man is the. placeof the Morning Star : Shine, 0 Star of Life, evento the perfect day.Tlu Pvicstcss of Ihc Rib.--Shinc also, Rosy Cross,sthe type without of all thc grace within. I testify

that this Holy Temple is the Sanctuary of GOD, aSpiritual Palacc, a Sacrcd I'lacc, reserved to a HolyPriesthood.

Tlw High Priest.-The Oidei- is Elias Artista,Prophet and Faithful Witness of the Hidden Church.

Tltc Priestess of the Rite.-It tcstiiies here and nowto thc coming of tlle Blessed Kingdom : all thegreat things arc nigh.

T h e High Priest.-MAGNALIA DEI ET NATURB:Grace of the Lord witliin, Glory and Grace of Heart :Splendour of the outward Presencc ; all Naturc shinesin royal light of GOD.

l'hc Yricstcss of llzc fiite.-MYSTEICIARCHA DEI :the Signs without, the Portcnts scen within are Thine,0 Master. The omcns of two worlds bcspeak ThyPrescnce and bring Thy Gospel Tidings.

The H i ~ h riest.-An eye of the Soul looks in lo -wards things eternal and a n eye looks out on time.


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THE THRESHOLD OF SACRED MYSTERY 31The Pvicstess of the Rite.-The mortal eye is over-

whelmed with glory ; but thc soul abides thereinwhich is turned to Thee.

The High Priest.-It was said of old in the Recordsof the Rosy Cross that within us and not without isthat which we seek in our folly without instead ofwithin.

The Priestess of the Rite.-Make unto us a stillSabbath, and witliin us the Word shall speak.The High Priest.--That which is without comes

forth from the First Matter and returns thereto : thatwhich is within goes back to GOD, Who is it s Source.For ever and evermore, it is GOD and the soul only,the soul alone and GOD, a perpetual iniei-course,an unity in thc ground an d root. It is thereforeOMNIA SUNT RES UNA on the external plane,but EST UNA SOLA RES on the side of inwardreality.

Havi~tg zit away their respeclive Wands in the reststkcreof, the HIGH PRIEST and the PRIESTESSleave their TIzvottcs and mect at a middle +aid ofthe S a t ~ ~ t u a r y ,onu dislance behind thc Allar, Theystmzd side by side with faccs towards the West. TheCubic S low is in the I t a d s of the HIGH PRIEST.Thc High PricsL-All t l r i np arc oiw oldy.

?.h f i g l , Pr ics f . - l~~ .ocecd ingor1 oar111 f r o ~ ~ caoSubstance of the Wise.


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32 THECEREMONY OF CONSECRATION ON

The Pricstcss of the Rile.--And in Heaven froin oneGOD Almighty and Fathcr o f all.

Thc Higlt Priest,-In CHliIST revealed within.T h e Pvicstess of tlzc Rite.-The Higher Soul .

The Pricstcss of tli.c Rite.-Amen. 0 IncxprcssibleDeep o f Deity.

They pass by South to the Altar, $receded vespcctivciyby zhe Great Bawzcr o f tlzc Rosy Cross and that oft l z c N w vc~ t l yRose. T h e T H U R I F I C A N T E S attlzc Harm of the Altar lza~zd l ~ c m heir T /~ur ib les .They proceed i r b swcess iou to thc Altar, tlzc Ba~rlzcrBcarcrs facing East, st a littl e d is ta ~ tc c elzimi? tllcui.T h c H I G H P R I E S T dcfiosits t l ~ c grcat CubicSlorzc i n i ts place bd we c~ z hc small czcbes. H c pu,ts~ I Z C C I L S C bozlt the A l t a r, C U M S I G N O fb C R U C I S ,

Tlzc High Pricsl .-Thou W h o art first and o n l y ,froin and b e y o n d the aeons : to Thee in adoration ofthe soul , till all the soul is Thine.

H e ~ U Y ? L S ,cevtsigtg to ward s tlzc West-*--ad uvcrtlzc' Holy Congrcgalio?t.

Tl te High Priest.-The powers of the soul arc a ninccnse offer-cd b y tlic Inward Man as a sacrifice tohis Creator.

Hc gocs back by t l ~ e o rth l o his '-Tllro)te, pr ec d td 5ytlze Great B am ter. Tl tc PRIESTESS O F T H ER I T E Puts iuccrcse about tlzc ,W ar, CUM S I G N O -W - C R U C I S .


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Tlzc Priestess of the Kite.-AD MAJOREMKOSEB-+-CRUCIS GLORIAM.

Slzc turm, ccnsi.rtg towards Clze Wes-4%---and overtlzc Holy Congregatio?t.

. The Priestess of he Kite.-The Dew in the centre ofth e Rose is ROS FRUCTIFICANS, he Spirit whicjlis Lifc of Soul. SOL1 DEO HONOS ET GLORIA.

The PRIESTESS goes back by the North to lzer Throw,preceded by ihe Bamzer of the Heavedy Rose. Allrcsume their seats, within and without the Sanctuary.

Tltc Hzgh Priest.-The stability and equipoise of theuniverse arc tlie good pleasure of the Lord mademanifest.The Priestess of the Rite.-The seals of the Divine

Covcnant are imprinted on thc whole body of Nature.T h e Hzgh Priest.-Divinity is axchetypal and

Nature 1-cflccts Divinity, so that i t is one of GOD'Sgreat witnesses to tlie world of the soul within.

The Priestess of tltc Rite.-In this way the soul iseverywhere cncompasscd by the natural and super-natural mcaus of its inward return to GOD.

Tlw High ~rie;t.-~ll the rcflectcd lights lead usto the Truc Light.

The Pricstcss of the Rile.--Thc whole order of thecosmos moves with him who has takcn his heart inhis hands and has said; . I will go up to the Altar ofGOD.


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34 '1.11sCEREMONY OF CONSECRATION ONTIMHigh Priest.-Lct us therefore remember holi-

ness, that we may stand in the Prescnce of tlic Icing,Who reigns over the world within as well as the worldwithout.The Pvieslcss of tlw Rite.--Remember also the ever-

lasting kinship of the heart with th at which it desiresin the height.The High Priest.-Awaiting the high light of all,lct us bc faithful in tlic sxnall things, that we may be

worthy of our faith in the grcat.The Pricstcss of lire Rite.-GOD answers all souls

that call upon Him and is invoking continually fromwithin, that the soul may be turned and answer.The High Pvicsl.-The way of the SUMRfUM

UONUM is by thc sacrifice of that wl~ich mattersnothing to attain that which is All.

The Pricstcss of thc Xik-An All in all of heightand decp within, and GOD in all for ever.

The High Pr2'cst.-We havc left the carved gods,and dead idols of ihc gentiles, having heard of thatone thing wliicll abidcs in the life of the centre.

The Pricstcss o j tlzc Kite.-Wc have been satisfiedtoo long with a part who wcre meant for the whole.

Thc H i g h Pricsl .-Tile part is separation, t l ~ cwholeis union : our will is to the whole in Thee.

'The HERALD 01; THE RITE gizfesa Bai t cq l of oneKtzock- a j ld uprises .I-


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me THRESHOLD or: S A C S D NY'STERI! 35HeraM.-The first steps taken in the Path of Union

are taken by the will of man. *P There is one withinthe tllresl-iold who brings the will to servc, the willto walk among us, looking in these sacred precincts fora way of life in GOD.The High Priest.-The Pearl of Great Price ishidden, and the Path or Way of its Discovery demands

the whole man.Hcvald.--He has dwelt in the cities of this world ;

he has fared through the waste places : he seeks toabide in GOD.

The High Priest.-Pilgrim of outward life, what ofthe life within ?

The Postulal-tt (who i s proq5ted).-I: seek its waysthrough all my clouds of darkness.Tlzc High Priest.-What dwells within ?TIce Postulant (who is Pronlfited) -The Kingdom of

Heaven is thcrc, for the finding of those who know.The High priest.-who rules and reigns therein ?The Poslulant [who is $ronz$ttd) .-CHRIST Mystical,the Inward .CHRIST and Higher Soul of man. I

make an act of faith and look in GOD to see.The Priestess o f l h e Rile.-World without end. Amen.She has risea with the A N C I L L B T E M P I 2 a ~ z d

thcrcafler resumes her seat, also with ihcnt .


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38 THECE.REMONY OF CONSECRATION ONTlte High Priest.-The Order's GODSP.EED in itswork to the Glory of GOD i s pronounced upon this

Serving Brother.Thc Pvicsless 01hc Kite.-On the faith of perpetualsilencc, according to thc Covenant with GOD, may

GOD be with thee for ever in the Bonds of our HolySociety.

She rcturtzs to l~crThrom, escorted by the Bawey-Bcarers, who also resum thciv filnces. The HIGHPRIEST Proceeds by South rou~td he Altar, a d heUSHERS, dkspartin.g thcir Pnln~s ,go back to the?Vcsd. The POSTULANT rencaim art his knees,and the HIGH PRIEST draws to his side at theAltar.. ,4K others arc seated. The Sealed RITUALEis takcn by the HIGH PRIEST fv0l-r~ the ha~tdsqf thc POSTULANT and is elmatcd towards lhc-Easl.The Higl~Priest.-We lift up our Books without :

be Thou our Book within.It is now +laced o?a ihe Altar, a11.d thc hands of the

H IGH PRIEST arc cxle~idedabovc the POSTU-LANT.

The High Priest.-DEUS NOBISCUM : PAXPROFUNDA. The grca t purpose is within and theDivine Event : Seek therefore without no longerfor that which is within. Itcmenlber also that wchave to lose what the world prizes before we canattain the All. You carry much baggage, my Bro-ther ; but henceforth yau shall go lighter, i f yours isthe will to freedom.


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THE THRESHOLD OF SACRED i\lYSTERY 39Hc takes the TYaZZct of the POSTULANT nnd tur~~irzg

westward upholds it in the sight of the BelovedCongrcgnlion.The High Priest.--FlZATRES ET SOIIORES, we

know in the world without, according to the wisdomof its prince, that ever they prefer the robber, and sois the robber released to them and the CHRIST isorucified.

Hc takes out and exposes the inscribed contents suc-cessively artd thcrz casts them oft th e gvoulul.

I'k High Priest.-The lust of the flesh.; the lustof the eyes ; and the pride of life : ADORO TEDEVOTIE, LATENS LUCIFER.

He lifts up the et~tptyWallet.The High Priest.-They made of it a den of thieves ;

but in the sacramental power and grace of my HighOffice I have cast out the money-changers from thisnatural Temple of Humanity, t hat henceforth itmay bc a House of Prayer, for such is the House ofGOD.

He turm again to the Postuln~zt.The High Priest.--I give unto you unblemished

tokens of the life t o come within you. Say therefore,now and henceforward : ADORO TE DEVOTE,LATENS DEITAS.

l'kis i s rcpcalul by the PO S TU L AN T , and the whiteof white cubes o n tlte Altar arc plnccd ia th e Pilgrim'sM7a llet .


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40 TIIECEREMONY OF CONSECRATION ON

Tlze High Priest.-I pray that your natural man-hood may so be changed in GOD.The Wallet is huttg olz the lef t wrist of the P O S T U -LANT , w ho i s raisod fro m his k t ~ e e s , n d it is saidin so doing :

The High Priest.--Be thou a branch of that Treewhich GOD planted in Paradise,

T h i s is followed immediately by a voice raised z'lz thaSanc tuary .

A Spokesvwn o f the Rite.-It is written : Everytree which bringeth not forth good fruit shall be cutdown and cast into the fire.

Bu t t he a l lus ion i n t h i s c ase i s t o a n 0bserva .r~ce rac-tised by the Order under certain circu?~tstances,ndt lw ~m zx in t co~tcernit tg i t i s thcrc forc : ABSITOMEN. T h e POSTULANT is faced to theH I G H PRIEST, midwise at the Al tar .

T h e H i g l ~ r ie sl.-B y gi f t s from Heaven and not byarts of ear th or earthly mind be Heaven conceivedand known ; and in thy soul be earth as Heavenrevealed. By faithful scrvicc at the Sacred Gate thesoul is taught and finds perchance therein how othergates nlay open.

Tllcrcaftcr, a d both. Ocitlg tur41.d lu tltc W e s t :' I ' h H i g h Y t i c s t . - I i l W l X E S ET SORORES, in

the liberty and clection of our Sacred hlystcry, Igivc unto.you a Serving Brother of the Rosy Cross.


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THETNRESIICkD OF SACRED MYSTERY q rHe that is faithful and true shall receive a New Nameamong us. Meanwhile he is FRATER UNDECIS\IUS( v d n u m e w s a l i u s ) and is enrolled as such anlongthe Keepers of the Sacred Precincts.The U S H E R S 01; T H E R I T E come up 6y the

North, and the POSTULANT i s led to h is formerseat ZYL the West. The Bearer of the Great BantzcrProceeds b y South to the Altar alzd goes before theH I G H P R I E S T , who re turns t o h i s Throne itt theSan ctua ry, all u psta ~td ing herein to receive h im i ndue fornz, astd all resumiq their seats as he takeshi s own. There i s the pause of a brief period, a dit is l ike the heart i f&ts stillness, when the heartis hushcd in GOD. Id ntay ckose again in organnzusic , and the F I R S T SPOKESMAN 01;THERITE rises w ith upltyted ar m s and says in revcvepz-tial clearness :

Sfiokcsmun of the Rite.-The beginning and theend are GOD. Amen.

Thc Sealing Word of the Rile i s repeated by all in theSattctscary, an d he rcsuntes h is seat. T h e HERALDO F T H E RITE rises with. u Battery of onekjaock-.-t '

Herald df the Rite.-To the end therefore in Love,and this is the Higher Soul. . FRATRES ETS O R O R E S I N ORDINE ROSEE C R U C I S , I sayunto you h a t this Soul is CHRIST.

The Priesless of the Rite.-The means of livelihoodare means of Love in this our Life of the Mysteries.


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*I hc H ig h Yrie~! .-~l 'hc- outward quest3 bcccmc tbt .Que s t of Souls when doors like tlwsc arc opcmd :ti11 then indecd wc know no t what we do.


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[ I I .Spirit of' tlw cvsmic woi-lcl,Spirit of tllc Lord t l lc rc in ,

Abidc and bless.


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Tl~c igh Pricsf.--'Phe~-e is n o GOD but GOD , a n dHe i.; found within.


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46 THECEKENONY O F CONSECRATION ONThe High Priest.-But the Paradise above is that

which is supercclcstial and was said of old among usto be pIanted in thc Ncw Jerusalem. I t is spirit ofall things spiritual, and it is union in thc eternal state.

The Priestess of the Rite.-GOD in us, and we inGOD. Unto this last tllcrcfore, 0 Lord of All.

The S ~ ZC I L C C wlliclz JoZlows shodd bc as a state out ofspacc and lime, i?t whic?~ 1.0 dis l i~ tc t io~~xists.Tl~crcuficr tlzc voicc of thc H I GH PRIEST, whohas moved to a ar~tidcllc ioiut ~ I Ll ~ c a7tctuary, pro-claims i f c Izigl~ztplvted toms :

The High Priest.--Thc Spirit returns to GODWho gave it.

All present reszclm lhc f v scads, and the space of s&mewhich follows shalt be as t l~c realn of a tuonzentcortccr~tingaart Isle of Rcst. When this elzds thereis sung lo ils owt~mxsic

THE HIGH HYMN O F THE PRESENCE

I have passed through the ways without in thelight of thesc,

Amidst star-flowers, flowers of a bright star,The Herb of Silcnce and the Herb of Speech.

11.Voices of hills were round me, voiccs deep in vales ;Words which went over tllc cornfields ; paths

which found a voice ;Rain of the waters of music, liquor of sound,

liqucscence of perfect melody.


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111.The glory of all the glory, the joy of the life therein,Splendour of Solar days and starry nightsWere filled with runlours of Thee.

IV .I have seen the flight of stars and the quest-of

those who follow the Quest of Thee,The work of Thy stars in their leading and

planets in sacred vigils :1 know of Thine inward strange upliftings on

breaking through brush-wood and comingunawares to the sea.

v.A Spirit which is Thine in the river moves on throughvale and hill ;Thine is the strange communion of stream and sea,

when the stream is received by the ocean:The lapping waves of lake and river lisp intelligible

words. V I .The dew is Thy wealth flowing over and a wine of

fragrance ;The rain is a choir full of anthems, and these are

anthems of Thee :The leaves from their stalls make response in due

order ; and these responses are Thine.VII.

In language of fountains, light laughter of foun-tains, I hear of Thee :I t is Thou and Thou only in golden showers of

sunshine ;In secrets of moonlight Thou and only Thou.


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48 THE CEREMONY OF CONSECRATION ONVIII.

Tlle ways go further, the days move on :The rumour becomes a gospel, sounding above

and below,Over the land and sea, city and solitude.

IX.Wind-harps and ecfiocs, echoes about the Temple :I n Sacred Fanes which man has built for GOD,I heard Thy Word of Stillness behind the Altar.

X.Tlic words of power hove about Shrines and Temples ;The Shrines vibrate, the. white and gold of Taber-

naclesBreathe forth Thy presence.

XI.The silent nleasures between the beats of moments,Words in the secret ear, pledgcs of sacred words :They bear Thy witness all the days of life.

XII.Do I not witness also and Thou from within me

speak '!Shall I not find Thee therefore, if only I seek within,Behind the thought of the brain and love of the

human heart ?XIII.

It came about thus that while the whole worldsang

Of Thec and Thy Presence, I heard a n inwardvoiceBelow, as it were, the voices, a music within thelight.


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XIV.A Spirit of Truth from unplumbed deeps witllin,It joincd with the theme of that endless cosmic

anthemTile news of Thee in another world of being.

xv.I have heard Thee and seen Thee in mine own

Shrine and Temple,Where the one true Voice is Thine, the presence isonly Thou,And all that belongs to self bas died in the sacred

precincts. XVI.It is Thou for ever within : no part of all is mine,Except in the surface sense of the things that

pass.Praise unto the Great Reality : the Inward Self

is Thou.

The H E R A L D OF T H E R I T E gives a Battery of onek~ock- a d all present r ise up. H e goesrbejore the P O S T U L A N T , who i s brought agaitz tothe ,4ltar.

The High Priest.-TThe Hidden House of the HolyOne has neither bars nor locks. For those who waitupon the call, free ways are always open ; and forthose who are born in the Sanctuary the Temple iswith them ever in their daily ways. They do notcome in or go out : they abide therein, its incensealways round them and all its sacred chants. TheCandle of the Lord is with them, the Hidden Treasureand the Word of Life.


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Th e HIGH P R I E S T firocecds b y South lo the Altar.TItc H E R A L D OF T H E R I T E takes tlzc sealedRITUALE ROSE.% CRUC I S from the Altar and$resents it to i6i1i.zwith bo7ued Itead, snyi~zg:

The High Priest ( i n receiving it ) .- L IB E K V I T ECHRISTUS.

f ie t z ~ n r s Yeslward an.d ewlcibits it to thc Holy Con-gregation.

The High Priest.-The Book of Life in the liose.Thc P O S T U L A N T is turned about and directed to

kneel before him. Thc HIGH P R I E S T l ays thebook u p o ~ t i is lzead.

TIM High Priest.-To the manifestation withoutyou, my Erother, of the inward Christian Man.

H c l i f ts up the Book, and the H E R A L D raises theP O S T U L A N T .T h e High Priest.-MTe have received you this daywithin the Precincts of a Tcmplc which is dedicated

to thc Quest of GOD. Echind it therc is a Doorwhich opens on many paths leading to the GreaterMysteries, and within or behind these Mysteriesthere is a central place of all, which is that of DivineExperience.

Th e H E R A L D O F T H E R I T E places flze P O S T U -L A N T i ~ rhe South. H c i s so lurmd that he facesn great mirror i?wwcdiiilc(y licforc ilillt otr l h wall.


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THETHREI-IOLD OF SACRED MYSTERY 51The Nigh Priest.-Contemplate in this glass of

vision and behold the Temple of our Sacred Riteprolonged into the far distance. What intervenest o hinder the free prospect ? 1 say unto thee : I t isthine own image in the foreground of the picture.Think well in the heart hereon. It tells of thy workto come, that which is put into thy hands and whichnone can do but thou, the effacement of thy lowerpersonality in all its parts and modes : the desire ofthe flesh, the dedications of material mind and thewill in separation from GOD. Be it ever rememberedthat their conquest is the victory of Divine Love.When thou hast prevailed in this Holy War the MysticTemple within thee shall reflect the personal self nolonger, and in thine own Holy of Holies thou shaltbehold the Presence.

The F O S T U L A F T i s faced to the W est a d theN I G H PRIEST addresses the HOLY C O N -G R E G A T I O N .

The High Pried.-The valediction of this SacredCeremony looks for a day to come when we shall meeta t the Centre.

Thc H I G H P R I E S T r e ~ ~ u z i n st the Altar. TheU S H E R S OF T H E K I TE come up by the Norkha d fake charge of the P O S T U L A N T . A pro-ccssiort i s formed irt tlre Sautctgcary and passes bySouth to W est . I t is Icd by the H E R A L D , whomthe U S H E R S follow with the POSTULANT. It isbrought up by the P R I E S T E S S , who goes beforethe H I G H PRIEST wheti he joi?~s t at the +roperpoia!, ihc Bn,lncr-Bearus Oeilrg i r r ilrrir dur l a c e s .


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jz THECERERIONS oF CONSECRATION ON'flzc Doors arc o p em d by th.e WATCHER, and the

Corrtjnny fiasscs ozct, fo11owed Dy the Cottgregatio~zof the Rite.1 1 1 tltc Vcslibulc or uthcr pvecinct of the Temfile t hc

HIGH PR I E S T ltarads to the POSTULANT nbmnch of pallrl, olive or other sym3ola'cnl Tree, towhich a'tablct is attaclzcd. Hereon he is reqzcired towrite Itis itll .tzuucc,adding FRA TER UNDECINUS(vel ?turizerus alius). When this has hem done :

Thc High Priest.-Beloved Serving Brother of theRosy Cross and Keeper of its Sacred Precincts, thiscmblematical tokcn of your reception among us willnow bc dcpositcd in a cedar chest set apart for thepreservation of similar evidential objects ; and I trustthat it will rcmain there until tirnc immemorial. I nthe event of your resignation in good .standing andfor acceptable reasons, it will be reduced to ashes,for you will have ceased to be a branch of our mysticalTrce of Lifc, and those ashes will be placed in theirproper urn. But in case of your demission through neg-lect of the Order and its duties they will be returnedto earth, that you who have forgotten the Temple maybe forgotten in turn by us. I wish you perfect peaceamong us and light from GOD therein, rememberingthe Sacred Covenants.

Those who are proved i n this Prelimirutry Grade willfitzd the Veils of the Order lifted, that they nuzy pro-ceed further. Those who firodu.ce no warrants willremuin as Watchers of tltc Holy Housc, whether or?tot they way witness other Cerentoirial Observawesas spectators only. If and when those who pass oft


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T m THRESHOLD OF SACRED MYSTERY 53

erzter i fz to P l e ~ r y ossessioa of the Rite, they willfind tha t there i s a setrsc in which they have receivedcverythifzg, a s i9t far o f sunzmary or shadowed out-l ine , in this Cerentony of the Thresh old. Olt theother h an d, i f they go not further, in reality they wiUhave rcce ived no th i~q ,more especially if &re f is+tothing in the?~tsclaesby which they can be Zcdonward.

* Here ends theRitual of t h e -Rosy Cross, ap+oifzted for the fivesetttDecennium in the Grace of God and t o H i s Service . +

On the Threshold of Sacred Mystery

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