T H E FELLOWSHIP

OF THE

ROSY CROSS

I - FIRST ORDER OF THE

IiOSY CROSS
O L D OF ACTION

PART

111.

H E SOLEMN FESTIVAL O F

T H E EQUINOX

PRIVATELY PRINTED
MCMXVI.

Cerfifi~d Cotzforrn?y with fhr .%rcl Docf,-inc in and h5wwltdgc o the ROSY CROSS. f
SACRAAIENTUM REGIS,

KEEPER OF THE SACRED MYSTERY.

liOSST CROSS.
TI-IE SOLI?MN CIiI~El3I~r\TIOiL' 01; TIIE

EQUINOX.

The awa~rgc~~tcut thc Tt'uqVc is sILcw~t ZIC the O$citzl of Dicrs,nnz of that Grade, ma' the Tcur)/c is opclzcd fjrc~vljr,z~izlcss this has h ~ v nC ~ I C I - C Z ~ O L I I L S C _f~i' r the ~ nhiissio~tf cz Nuvicc. u

THESOLEMN FESTIVAL

0x7

TI-IE

EQUINOX

AI(rsfcr o the Tc~u/~i~-.--l;t-;ltres Sol-ores of the 1-101 f ct and Glorious 01-dcr of tile Rosy Cross, i n virtue of th power to rnc c o m n ~ i t t c danct with thc gracc of your dcvou , assistnncc, ivc will proccctl lo cornn~c~not-atc sccul-rcnc thc E of thc Vcrtial (vl-1Autunl~inl) q u i n o s -

I-

Mastc~-f thc Tcuz/dc.-Auxiliary Fratcr Zclator, lift u~ o thc Lamp of your Office : a light shall shine upon our ways.

Mastcr o thc Tc~rzjle.-Thc Light of thc Lord shall lcad f us. . . . You havc m y com~nrrndto declarc thc Equinox. . . . I-Ie shall ordain a Lamp for His anointed. Frrrfcv ZcZntor.-Blcsscd bc thc Narnc of thc Lord, in thc Tcrnplc which is called by His Narnc and the Place of His Sanctuary. Uy t h e Holy and Incornmunicablc Word, and undcr thc ordinance of our I-Ionourablc hlastcr, I declarc thc Vcrnal (VCZ Autumnal) I~quinox.

f Jf~rsfcro the Tc~irpZc- I -I-Ic s l d l qucncll n o t the Latnp of Isrncl.

T h 11i~pci-du1~ C S~ W I I Lhis scctf, 'i~dichs ~ C ~ Z U C C I L I~S i the Thr-o~zcsf the Cclchmrlls iu the thrc Em.?.,brlt n l n Little o
~~LC i distnrz~ii)~.hi~z~l I I I . H ths Thro~rcs.
~ O L * S ~ / * ~ i ' < t l * ~ in C Z L ~ ; / ~ ~ ~qf C f t IC

THESOLEMN FESTIVAL

OF TIIE

EQUINOX

I ~ ~ r p c ~ ~ a i o t ~ . - - T h cprcscrvc our inhcritancc. 13y tlic 1,ol-d poivcr i n m c vcstcd as 1Cccpcr of tlic S;;nc~-cd hlystcry, I proclaim the revocation of the Tcmpoml l'assnro~d * * * + %

1l2nstc1- qf ihc 7'~11//li~.--'Tl~y Word is tlic Fountain of IYisdoni. Tlic 1Vn1-d shall prcscnrc Tlly cllildl-cn and tlie part of Tliinc inl1c1-itnncc for cvcr. Cotifit-~u Thou Thy \-Val-d up011 us.

jllustcu o the Tc~j~ic.-Let us sanctify with due worship f tlic Mystic Fcstival of the Equinox. Seal us at T h y Feasts, 0 Lord, in the House of Thy Foundation, the place of praise for T h y pcoplc. We havc set our House in ordcr ; the Altar and I-Iousc arc sanctified.

The Mnstcr o f tC'110ck-

t h Tcrjqh grizcs n bnttc~y o f

oat

Ahster o the Te~~~ple.-Light of tlic world without. f Shadow of thc world within.
Fratel- Zehto~*.-Darkness of material things. 12 igh t of the soul. Obscure

Master o the ircrjq/e.--Ol-icnt of the cosmic world. f Golden dawn of the spirit. Life and tlic Life of life. Gate of entrance.

Guitlc o the Ynlh.-Clear Iicight of tllc air. Stcl];lr f spaces. hlind n-hich t h e Lord hat11 movcd. S h e w u n t o u s T h y h i n d , 0 Lord.

THESOLEAIN FESTIVAL

0 : T I ~ EEQUINOX 1

I/z.'nr-dcr~ ihc 7i,i/rf/,.. LVa tc 1.s of t 11c ivor.Id nri thou t. elf !\'atel- of Lifc. T l ~ cSoul is a great scn. Pass over thc watcrs of thc Soul. Coiiic to us i n the gl-cat wntcrs.

F m t c r Zi-hfol-.-S I L E NC II I N TI-I E h.10 U T 11 O F T I - I l i A L M I G I I?'?: ONE.

I~~rpc~mtor~.-l;ratrcs Sororcs, in the union of body and ct mind, and with tlic My-stical Sign of thc Gt-adc, scck for tllc reconciliation that is within. I n tlic silcilce of tlic lips, my Urctlircn.

Fmtcr Thut-~$c~urs.-Sun~rncr'shcat and l~nrvest.Fcrvcnt zeal of dcsirc, kindled in thc Sons of thc Doctrine.

FI?~Z~CI+ t'lqtm-fits.-LZTi I Itcr's frost and cold.

slccp of Naturc. Slccp of tllc Divinc in man. Rain of Doctrine.

Iiestoi-ing Lifc-giving

THESOLEMN FESTIVAL

OF T H E

EQUINOX

Frtrfcr Aqlrnrilrs.-Gate of tlic Nortll. I-Iolincssis i ~ tllc i Gatc of Tliy Judgment. Sliciv u i ~ t o s Tliy S u n o f J cisticc. u

Afastcvof the Te?~r$Ze.--Fireof tlleworld witllout. IIoly Fire of the will. Fire of Divine Law. llaptise us with Holy Fire.

Fnztcr Zekztur.--Earth, wllicll i s the footstool of sl~il-it. Body, wliich the spirit clcanscs. Purify our cat-tlily pat-t.

between thc North and tlic South. Peace betwcen the times and seasons. Peace of the earthly part. Peace of the will in union. I am tlic reconciler bctween them.

Guitz2 o the Paths.--Pcace f

Frntcv ZcZ~ttur.-SILENCE TI-IE ALMIGHTY ONE.

I N TI-IIJ X.IOUTI1 01;

ro T I I ES0LII:MN FIZSTIVAL

OF

-rrm EQUINOX

ir~r//c~*~ttu~-.-~ratrcs ct Sororcs, in tIlc union of heart and will, a n d with tlic hlystical Sign of tlle Gradc, scck for thc ~ ~ C ~that is \\ritliin. I n t11c silcncc of tlle heal-t, my C C J(rct111-cn.

F~-(zicv Zclrrtu~-.-l3ocly, as the vehiclc of all.

I~~qerator.-Fratrcs ct Sororcs, in the union of the Soul and its purposc, and with thc Mystical Sign of thc Grade, scck for tlic Spirit that is within. I n the silcnce of the Soul, my 13rcthrcn.

Trre SOLEMN FESTIVAL

OF TrrE

EQUINOX

M[zsto* o i h fin~p/c.-lri t l ~ cX ; ~ I No f GOI), \ V l i o i:, f C my st]-ctlgtil,I scccivcd tllc \Valid of r11y Ofllcc. A t tllc scvocation of the l'ass\vosd * it x w * , I la): it doivn in 1)cncc. ( I I e GI-OSSLS 'Simscy.) 111 peace, i n tllnt I will slccp a n d 11.i11 rcst i l l tilc nicrcy of Tliy scsvicc, 111yIdol-d and illy G O I ) (Hc ha5 /aid his l V m t ( J (7~ro i~i.c/fhc A / / u r ( t ud hu.s ~ ~ ~ up ~ c n L t4c Lmnp qf fire. 11c hu/ds i L z ~ i f h hoIh hm/ds 2 7 ~fro~itqf 7 ) l'lcad with us, 0 Lord, i n our flcsii ; purge us ii it11 Thy Refining Fire.

ZVnrdert of the Tcmplc.--In thc Name of the Lord of Hosts, I reccivcd tlic Wand of m y Office. A t thc rcvocation of the Password w + + * x , I lap it down i n purity. (/Ac~~osscs /tiursc&) Thy counscl is a Tree of Lifc. Delivcr me by the strcngtlr of 'Thine Hands, that I may kccp tllc 'Mystery of Faith with a clean heart. ( H e hzs h i d his W a d ngairrst thc Altar nltd has tnkciz the GI@o Snci-af mental Wiire. He hofds i t with both h~titds fio~zto him.) in f Thinc are the Vials of Gold, and t l Golden Cups arc ~ ; Thinc. The Lord is thc l'ortion of my Cl~aiicc m y Cul, runnctli ovcr.

HE Y C ~ Z L ~ by S h70ui/~to the I'i/f(ws, ~ I

~/ZCIICC C ~ I ' I T C ~ to

lizs

Throne, whci*c kc s f a d s ir'~fi~urtt the Pcdcstd, f t ~ c i l l ~ of 1Vcst urtd lloldilrg ihc Czc/l i i z his hnu(ls.

r2

T I I ES O L E M N FIJSTIVAL

01; T I I E

EQUINOX

o ihc P~~i/ts.-111the N ~ r n cof AJIESSIAS the f l'rincc, I I-cccivccl tlic \\rand of 111y Ofiicc fos t l ~ c \vorli of ~.ccIcrnptioii,0 Losd, i n tlic Tcinplc of Tliy scl-vicc. A t thc rcvocntio~i of tlic l'nss~vord x s x s x , I lay it down in l)csfcct cli;~l-i ty. (Ih cm.ssrs ~ ~ I I L S C F I\Ty S C C ~ ~ I0C , ) . Lord, sllnll not clcpnt-t from t h i s T c t n p l c till t h e coming of thc I'cncc-ll'lnkcl-. ( H c htrs iczitC his 1 V m z l d crg(ri7~st Altar thc L Z I I ~ ~ T L cfhc Srrcr~u/zcnttrl ~ /L Rosc. Hc /ro/ds il wit15 both L i z f i t f I . ) T11c ~ n i n d \vIiic11 looks to Thcc is : KOSC L that 1111foldsl l Tliy Light. i
(1;! 7 11c

Fratel- Z~/ntor.--In t l l Namc of tllc I-Ioly and Bcautiful ~ Light. Light of thc mind and hcai-t, Light of the dcsiring Soul and tlic Holy Spirit i ~ : man, I rcccivcd m y Lamp and Wand. A t tlic 1-evocation of tlic Password * .r: x .K x , I lay down my Wa11d of Office. DO you, 0 Honpurable Guide, rcccivc this Sacccd Lamp and guard tllc firc thcrcof in thc Mystcry which wc are about to perform.

Glridi o the Ptrth.-This f Rose also shall pass through to you, and you shall rcccivc i t from m y hands, a sign of thc bond of union bctwccn t11c worlds above and below.

Gz~ideo f

~ / L C Ynt/~s.--In the

light of understanding the

Lord slinll lead His pcoplc.

TIIP;SOLEMN FESTIVAL

01; Trie

EQUINOX

13

Guitlc 17f thc P~zI/Is.-TIIc u11corrupt~d spletidour of the Law is thc brightness of Everlasting Light. 0 lii~ldlc Thy justice as a star.

Fmtcr Thrct-1j5cnns.-In the Namc of our fire of longing, I reccivcd thc Thuriblc of m y Office. A t the revocation of the Password x * + + + , I lay down the hallowing Vcsscl. (He n-osscs hiuts~lf.) 0 Lord, our souls shall burn as a perpetual inccnsc before Thce. ( H c hns h i d his ThuribCe holdi~tg it on the A ltar nlzd has taken 11/, 1/26 P-'ntcu o f /l~-ctrrl, i n his two hands.) Satisfy us with the Urcad of I-Icavcn, 0 Lord. Visit us in the giving of Bread.

Fmter Aq~nriirs.-In thc Name of the Watcr of Salvation, flowing from thc Tcrnple which is above, I t-cccivcd the Vesscl of m y Officc. A t the revocation of the Password * r .K k , i lay down the purifying Symbol. ( I l e ci-osscs hirrsscK) I liavc sccn that Watcr flowing ; thc soul

14 T I I ESOLEMN FESTIVAL

or; TIIE I Q U I K O S

11~t)cr(zt01: saw, as it wcrc, a sca of glass, mingled \vith -I firc. I n tlic Name of T h y Holy SI-IEKINAI-I and by tlic Whitc Ilosc of T h y mercy, come to us i n thc Baptism of tllc Spirit, 0 Lord. Kindlc us wit11 T h y Saving Firc. Be tlic Fire of T h y Zcal in Zion, that wc may do the will of our Father.

I~~rpcrcrtor.-The Kingdom of Earth is Thinc, and the Kingdom t o which wc arc callcd. 111thc Name of T h y Holy SI-IEKINAI-I and by thc union of rcd and wliitc in thc A1):sticnl I<osc of Iknig~lity, a\vakcn u s to thc life tliat is ctcl-tlnl. nlay Tliy kingdom bc dcclnrcd i n us. May it rcign i n our cartlily part, as i n thc Spirit which is Thine, from l~c~lccfortli for cvcr. So shalt Thou give u s from and day to day o u r Supcr-Substantial Uscad.

11tlpe1-[ztor-.-Thou didst call thc firmnrncnt 1 Jcaven. We psaisc Tllcc i n [lie f i r m a ~ n c ~ f tThy power. In the o~ Name of Thy Holy SHEKINAH, by tlie u n i o ~ l of J E H O V A H and ELOH IM, shew u n t o u s Tliy mind, 0 Lord. Give us the dcsirc thcrcof.

Guide o thc Ptzt/ts.-M y spirit Iias dcsccndcd into the f deep, 0 I,ord, a n d Iias fount1 Tlicc i l l llic rlasli r c g i o ~ ~ s .
My sl,it-it has gonc u p into tllc heights and has adored Thee in places of conccalnlent, before tlie Tlironc of Tliy Glol-y. A t tllc extre~nitics the univcssc and tllc end of of all the spnccs, I Iiavc known Tliy Holy I'rcsencc. I have

in thc Pnlncc at t l ~ cCcntrc. I an1 thc sclfk ~ i o \ ~ l i nspil-it-0 GOII, m y GOD-allti I 11avc rcaliscd g Tlicc in m y inmost being. 0 Lortf, Tliy Light is our scrvicc ; thc Ligllt is 7'11i11c nid c s t c l ~ d c d . Givc unto u s tllc Eclunl Light, T l ~ o u u n of o u r Souls. Give u n t o us the S Quintessc~itinl Light, to coml)lctc o u r l l u n ~ a n tiaturc. us Thou \Vho hast inaclc u s i n Tllinc imagc, r c ~ w m b c r by u that glorious likcncss. Dclivc~- s from the obscut-c night. ; S l ~ i l ~01-1 us from the zenith of T1iy I<[(nou~lcdgc sllcw c [Into 115 thc IJi>iou ~ v l ~ i ic lTliou. I x t us 1iL.c i l l T h y l ~ u t - c s ~ L i g l ~ t .,l * I l j - f~111L i ~ - I i ti,n '1.1))- lligli Lig11t [or cvcr.
~ O L I I T~ ec I h

In~/v~-(rfo~~.-O I-1011o~irabIchlastcr of the Tcnlple, the end of this timc is upon us, 2nd that whicli r c ~ n a i n s bc to
done thou shalt d o quiclily

I ~ r z ~ c ~ ~ ~ t ~ o r - . virtue of tile p o w c r it1 nlc vcsted, l --lSy proclaim the Kcstoration of tllc Ritc, and i c o n ~ n i u n i c a t c to you thc Sccrct Wold * + , to prcvail as a Tcmporal l'asswol-d d u r i n g ttiic casuing six molitl~s. May the grace

of its s n c r n m c ~ bc pourccl abundantly upon all. (A t/trusc.j ~t By virttic of the ponrcr i n mc vcstcd, I announce tliat tlic Solclnn Ccrcmonics of this Tcmplc will bc dischasgcd as sct forth hcrein.

/ ~ ~ ~ ~ c ~ - r r t o ~ * . - F et t r c s r a Sororcs of thc l;cllo\\~s!lip of tile Rosy Cross, bchold your klaster, thc I lonourablc FI-atcr S i g n u m Lucis (m/ 7~anrclicrCit/rJ), \\?llo has bccil I-cgiilai-1). i ~ ~ s t a l l cand cntl~roncd. 13y the power i n rnc v o t e d , T d proclxi~n11irn thc 1 2 c \ ~ a l c of XI!-stcrics a n ~ o l l g r you f o r tlle six months intervening between tlw Vernal and Autumnal Equinox ( i d vice ' I L ' I ~ ) , b c i q part of that tcn~posal pcriod through which wc arc Icd into thc Light. I-Iono~tritblc Frater Sig1lu111 Luck (ZCZ NOIILL-IJ (dhd). i n tile pi-cscl~ce of thc Sons a n d Daughters of your 'i'eniplc, I call upon you t o malie your confession.

Fratrcs ct Sorores of tlic Ordcr: Seeing that the wl~olc intcn tion of the Lesser Mysteries, or of External Initiation, is so to lead thc Soul-by the intcrvcntion of sytubol, cct-eattractim of ~ n n t t c r and clclivcrcd from tlic ;hsorl,tion tllci-ci~i, wl~crcbyit wallis i n s o l i i ~ ~ a ~ u b u l Ii~~owirlg w t isi~~, ~ whcncc it corncth nor wllitl~crit gocth : S c c i ~ i g also that, thus withdrawn, thc soul must bc brought, undcr true , direction, to thc study of Divinc T h i ~ l p tllnt it niny olfcr thc only clean oblation and ;~cccptablcsacrifice, wllicli is Lovc reacl~ing outw;i~-d ancl in\\-;~rd GOD, I I ~ ~ and t l ~ c to I I univct-sc : Now tllcl-cforc, I confess aild testify h i r c u n ~ o froin m y 1Ilronc in this T c ~ n p l c and I promise, so f'lr as ;
r

THE SOLEMN FESTIVAL OF

Trre

EQUINOX lg

i n me lies, to lcad you by thc IZitcs of tlic I;cllo~vsliil), faithfully conserved and cshibitcd with becoming rcvcrcncc, that througli sucli Love and sucli Sacrifice you Inay bc prcparcd i n due timc for the Gi-catcr hlysteries, the Supscl~c aild I ~ i t c s i o rI n i t iri t'1011.

Alcrstcr o the Ter~~pLc- -13y vir-tuc of thc polvcr to me f 1 committed, I procccd to invcst in)? Officcr-s.

Afoslcu o the Te111j!k-l3y f the power t o me conimitted, I ordain you Wardcn of this Temple until tlie ncxt festival of tlic 15lr1illos. I 1)t.ny that f i - o ~ r t o u r TIII-one n tllc Icnst y i you may Icaci tllc 1;ratr-cs ct Sororcs to t l ~ c Cull light of t l ~ end. I present you with your Wand of Office. Ma)- it symltolisc to J-ou and t o tlic Urcthrcn that GOD is known of the hcart.

l/lfm-de~c f ihc Tc~/z~fc.-Ii~ o tlic Narnc of tlie 1-orcl of + a , I rcccivc niy I\'alld of Hosts, and by the Word + Office and accept thc duties which it signifies as a Scr-v;ir~t of GOD and m y Urcthrcn in tlic Sacred lhncls of tile Or-dcr.

20

TIIESOIXfi'rN 17ESTIVAL OF

TIIE

EQUINOX

t l ~ cIYnnlc of MESSIAS tlic , I rcccivc my Wand of l'rincc, and by tlic \Yorci , Ofiicc and acccpt tllc duties 1vllic11 it signifies as ;i Scrvant of GOD atid n i y l~rctlirc~i.

GILL;JL' the i'rrf/rs.-In o f

. ...

AI~rstcrcfthe T c r ~ i j k - 1 3 y tllc powcr to nic committed,

1 ordain yoc~l'rocla~natorand Lucifcr of this Tclnplc until thc ncst Festival of tlic Equinox. I t is your p a r t to go bcforc thc I'ostulatits with thc torch of thc higher luniitiarics, uttct-ing t l ~ c ~~~~~~~~~ords of tllc day. T l ~ ; l ~ lljc ~ GOD, l i to riiy Urotlict-, fur tllc ad~nirablc ligllt wliich illumiriatcs our cartlily part. I prcscnt yo11 with your Waud of Office. May it symbolist to you and to t h c U r c t h r c n that perfect puriticatio~lof our l~uinnnity wliicll is attained it1 thc lifc of tllc Cross. 'licccivc also this Lamp, and scc that your ligl~t h i - n i q . is
fi-rzfcr- %clnI!ur.- I n thc Namc of thc Sccrct Light, and by thc \Vord + * , I 1-cccivc m y \Vand and Lamp,

. .

.+

THESOLEMN FESTIVAL

OF THE

EQUINOX

21

accepting the duties which they signify as a Servant of GOD and my Brethren.

Jfirstcr o ~ h c f Tcnpk-By the power to mc cornmittcd, I ordain you Thurificans of this Temple until t l ~ cncxt Fcstival of tlic Equinox, to wntcll ovcr tllc fircs of t l ~ c Tcmple and to perform the co~lsccrationsby fir-c. licmembcr tlic sweet odours of the Sanctuary and the savour of the Bcauty of thc Housc. I prcscnt you with the Thurible of your Oficc. Thanks be to GOD, my Brother, for that true iilceilse which llallows our lifc.

Fkztcr Thr~l-z~ca~ts. thc Name of our fires of longing, -111 and by the Word + + * +, I assume the Thurible of my Officc and acccpt the duties which it significs as a Servant of GOD and my Brethren.

the power to mc committed, I ordain you Aquarius of this Tcrnplc until t l ~ cnest Fcstival of thc Equinox, to watch ovcr tlic Cup of Clcansin= Water and to purify therewith tlie 131-etllrcn of all Grades and the Postular~ts. M a y you also in your own Soul be sprinkled as with hyssop and cleansed. May you I>c washed and madc wllitcr than snow. I prcscnt you with tIlc Lavacruin of your Officc. Thanks bc to GOD, rny I3rotllcr, for that Living Watcr which cleanses tlic whole Creation.

Master of the Tc119le.-By

22

THE SOLEMN FESTIVAL

OF TITE

EQUINOX

Fratev Aqzmrzils.-In the Name of the Waters of Salvation, and by the Word + + * , I receive the Lavacrum of m y Ofice and accept the duties wllich it signifies as a Servant of GOD and my 13rethren.

Muster o the T~vzple.-To order, ??'I-atrcs ct Sororcs. f M y I-Iouse is a I-Touse of Prayer.

Master of the TcrrzpZc.-Renew us, 0 Master of All, in the sanctity of Thy daily service. Fortify the Ritcs of this Temple with the prevention of Thy plenary Grace. Make it, we pray Thee, among things that testify below, a type of Thine Eternal Presence. Lift up our hearts therein. Uc unto us an Indwelling Spirit, a Glory in the midst thereof. So shall we encompass Tbine Altar, clothed in the undcrstanding of Thy Law, clothed in -a robe of splendour, which is the shewing forth of Thy Will within us. Call us, in fine, from the ministry of Thy Sacraments in the world of manifested things to the ineffable world of Thine union. ( And then trcrrri~gWe~tzwm-d, z~pZzYtcdWmzd.) Fratres with et Sorores, by the power to me committed, I proclaim that the Sun has entered ARIES (vel LIBRA), the sign of the Vernal (vel Autumnal) Equinox. Light from the Eternal and Glory of Everlasting Worship be with us for ever and ever.

C. WHITE,I'rintcr, 396. King's Road, Chelsea, S.W