Suggestions 1E have listed below, many interesting and helpful suggestions for our members; in fact the majority of the articles mentioned are those that have been requested from time to time by members, and therefore we have arranged to supply the demands with the following as economically as possible. ROSICRUCIAN EMBLEMS ‘Members desiring Rosicrucian emblems may obtain them from Headquar- ters. They are made of gold, beautifully inlaid with enamel, neat in size, and consist of the triangle surmounted by the Egyptian cross. Men's style em- lem with screw back, $2.00. Women’s style, with patent safety catch pin, $2.25. ATTRACTIVE SEALS ‘These Rosicrucian seals are about the size of a twenty-five cent piece, beautifully printed in red, and embossed in gold, having the symbol of the cross and rose on their face, and the words “AMORC, Rosicrucian Order, San Jose, California”. These seals can be used by members on letters or communications to friends or business acquaintances. If you would like to help spread the name of the organization to your friends, and at the same time have an attractive little seal for your stationery, we would suggest that you secure them at this holiday time. They may be had at the rate of fifty cents per hundred, or practically what they cost, postage paid by us. ROSICRUCIAN STATIONERY As previously mentioned, we have arranged with a large stationery house to supply us with boxes of fine stationery, consisting of twenty-four sheets and twenty-four envelopes of attractive blue broadcloth linen, Each sheet has a symbolic emblem with the words “AMORC, Rosicrucian Order,” printed upon it in artistic, old English type. These boxes will be'sent to our members, postage prepaid, for $1.25 a piece. This stationery is ideal for personal use, and is similar to the latest club or fraternity, stationery. (CONTINUED ON INSIDE OF BACK COVER)‘Poblished Monthly by Tus Surnsur Councit of AMORC Rosirucian Park, San Jose, Califorsia MARCH, 1929 Wie VOLUME Vit. No. 2 Contents ‘The Imperato’ Monthly Message Your Place Somewhere Withia the Universe of Solf_From “Tue Naw Ena Macizixe” Peace Profou cnn Bly Gannon A, GLENN Special Instructions to All Members "The New Year Celebration This Month____By Tum Trenton HOW TO ADDRESS LETTERS This is Very Important Amat adices your enveloes fn the tower cor ran ergonal letters fo the Hepertor should bs marked in the cones ‘Make checks and money orders payable only to "AMORG FUNDS Unless you notify: us withi er aman ol a magazine that you Dave aot ‘mperator's Secretary.”The Triangle Marci 1929 @Ghe Imperator’s cMonthly eMessage vvvvv INCE again, this month, the Order adds another year to its traditional history, and J once more the members of the North American juris- diction, in attunement with members throughout the ‘world in other branches and other lands, celebrate the Rosicrucian New Year. It is essentially a month of rejoicing and celebration, aside from the official ceremonies that are held in the lodges in the North American jur- isdiction. Looking back over the past, I find that itis just ten years ago this spring- time that the national headquarters of the organization moved from New York City to the Pacific Coast, and I believe that all of our members in every part of the country will agree Sia thet auch a rove Was a signiic cant and beneficial one. Of course it is true that had we remained in New ‘York City where we had been for many, many years, we might have had ‘more visitors and more guests at the national temple from the thickly oR ulated metropolitan area of New York and the nearby eastern cities, but cer- tainly we would never have had the many hundreds of visitors from all arts of the United States which we fave had_while located on the Ps Goast. “This may seem strange at Bist reading, but when you realize that mil- lions tour the United Statse every year, and most of them eventually reach some part of the Pacific Coast before returni home, and when you also realize that some of the principal at- {eres connecting Canada with Mexico pass through California, you will know Hist being! situated aa "we have been, on the main lines of the railroads that enter the West, we have been in a position to receive tourists from prac- Feally every state inthe United States, crery, prove ia Canada, and every Section’ of Mexico. “And in addition to this, the fact that the principal steamship lines from the Orient come to a port close to us has enabled us to have visitors from foreign lands which would never have reached us in New York. So our ten years here on the Pacific Coast, broken, of course, by two years of temporary residence in the south- eastern part of the country, has been Of benefit to the entire organization: and if each one of you will stop think for a moment, you will recall with what promptness, efficiency, and un- usual regularity your lectures have reached you, week after week, during these ten years. Our mail and tele- graph facilities are unusual. We prac- tically operate a branch of the post office right in our own building, be- cause of our mailing and cancellation machines, our mailing and sorting de- partments, and our methods of packin our mail into large mail bags, whic are carried by truck to the post office. These bags of mail are ready to be placed on the mail train without addi- tional sorting, handling, cancelling, oF examining, at the post office. ‘Tele- grams reach us with unusual prompt- ness, and are received by our tele- graphic clerk two or three minutes after they reach the Pacific Coast lines. It is not unusual or uncommon for us to have a telegram on our desks, written ‘out by our telegraphic cleck within ight or ten minutes after the telegram left an eastern city. The air mail ser- vice that passes right through San Jose and picks up our letters gives us an ditional facility that is not en- joyed in every city and town of the United States. Looking back an additional ten years, I find that it was in 1909 that T was busily engaged in making my pleas to the Order in Europe to per- mit the activities to become what they have now become on this North Amer- fcan continent. So it is really not only a month of celebration of a new year that makes the month of March, 1929, significant, but really the twentieth ai niversary of the beginning of the Re Thirty-Feurcrucian activities under my direction. ‘What a glorious celebration it is going to be! Not only will we be in Egypt at about the time this message is reach- ing you in the monthly magazine, but we will be participating in extraordi- nary privileges which will later prove of unusual benefit and help to every fone of our North American members. For this reason also, the year 1929 will be extremely significant. ‘As each month goes by, and the membership of the organization in- creases so abundantly, the great family of brothers and sisters enlarges and becomes not only a power in numbers but a power in the resulting co-opera- tion and concentration of mental, phy- sical, and spiritual forces. Week by ‘week, the increasing membership has forced an increase in the number of employees, the amount of equipment necessary to take care of the work, and an increase in the number of groups, chapters, and branches being automatic cally established in every part of this continent. The letters received each day are filled with thoughts of love and the true spirit of brotherhood. Let- ters of appreciation, thankfulness, good will, and voluntary’ pledges of lifelong devotion to our prin: i the great reward we find in our long hours of activities and dificult prob- lems, Next year it is my hope to once jain journey through the various parts. of this continent and. visit the principal branches, chapters, and groups, as I have done for many years. personally, and meet many of you and Speak to you. hope that’ when this next tour around the country is taken, 1 wil be able to take with me the mov- ing picture machine and not only the many rolls of film showing the pictures, that will be taken of this tour to Egypt, with all of the beautiful sights and un- usual scenes ‘which we, shall witness ut_moving pictures of the principal branches and lodges of our organiza- tion, the officers of them, and the sights to be seen in the cities where the branches are located, so that all of you will have a better comprehension of the unity of this Rosicrucian Order and its strength and power in the hearts and minds of s0 many thou- sands of devoted students and loyal workers. ‘And so my message to you this month is a message of inspiration, be- cause of the greatness of the work and the promise it holds for the future Every one of you are dear to me as a brother and sister, and it is my one great delight to know that through the ‘medium of the magazine, or through the medium of the lectures, I can speak to so many of you, answer your ques- tions, and give you that hope and con- solation, that practical help and advice, and that instruction and guidance for which you have been seeking for so ‘many years. Truly, all of us are greatly blessed by the privilege we have of being a part of the Rosicrucian Order in this country, and I find that the ‘same spirit of appreciation of the same prvlege is expressed in, hundreds, of tters which we receive from branches in other lands, which are happy in their work and happy to see the work progressing so extraordinarily well in the Western world. vvvvv SUGGESTIONS ‘The AMORC Supply Department has just prepared a litle booklet to go forth to every member. It is entitled “A Book of Suggestions.” It has been arranged for the purpose of acquainting each member with the little supplies that they may secure directly from headquarte cluded in this booklet, which each member Thirty Five Many new surprises are in- receive shortly.Sour Place in Ghe Great Scheme By The Supreme Secretary FOR DISCUSSION IN THE VARIOUS BRANCHES AND LODGES OF AMORC vvvvv S in all ages and at all times, the minority of the mass of ind administrative compell- ing force. Any recognized tate of civilization, known day, reached its degree of quasi-per- fection due to the impetus of the mi- nority. A moment's reflection will con- vince us of this statement, even though it may seem to be defamatory of our individual contribution to the condition of things as they are. Consider the common conveniences, so-alled, in the daily routine of ac- tivity—the telephone, radio, electric light, sewing machine, electric iron, heaters, automobile, washing machine, and so on. The geniuses of mechani- cal, electrical, political, artistic, and lit~ erary wisdom, who have contributed to our accepted needs for the last three centuries, are insignicant, in’ number in proportion to the teeming millions existing during their period of enter- prise. Why is this so? Have you ever given it any consideration? To reply that they are especially trained, edu- cated, and prepared, and, therefore, have had the seed planted from which these creations should naturally spring, is not a sufficient answer. Some of the greatest intellectual donators to philo- Sophy, science, art, and literature were not first given the advantage of spe- cialized training: and we know that some given the advantage have failed to produce the expectant results. This, condition has been a subject of debate by educators, sociologists, and last, but not least, psychologists. There is a phrase that is characteristic of their debates, it is: “Has the common stand- ard of individual contribution to civi- lization been increased?” The con- sensus of opinion by the majority of authorities is that the intelligence of the mass of the populace of any of our recognized leading nations today is only on a par with the mass of former populaces of heterogeneous civiliza- tions. This, indeed, is not highly com- plimentary to those of us who have had the self-satisfaction of considering our- selves a facsimile of the progression of the times. ‘What is the object of this discussion ‘and its Anal analysis? Just this: Many are constantly inquiring of themselves and others, “What is my mission in life?” We will endeavor to point the way to the solution of this ever-present problem, From the preceding discus- sion, you have been led to assume that ‘we are in a status of intelligence equal to that of the average Roman plebian of several thousand years ago. We ‘will now proceed to learn why this is claimed to be so. We will classify our sources of implied evidence: first, the sociologist’s explanation; second, the educator's explanation: third, the’ psy- chologist's explanation, and fourth, the Rosicrucian disposition of our problem. Sociologist's Version:— ‘Man in his most primitive state was known as the Neanderthal man of the early paleolithic age, that term applied to the time approximately fifty thou- sand years ago, during the first stage ‘of the cultivation of the earth's sur- face. A slight tax upon our imagina- tiom pictures him as a roamer of vast jungles and thicket. Existence in the face of natural difficulties was ex- tremely difficult. Man was solely a hunter; his food had to be gained by actual physical combat with other forms of life, Man was not alone the only hunter, however, as he was equal- ly preyed upon by various species of animal life much better equipped for the physical encounter. He was not an integral part of any group gathering or society, and dwelt completely alone Thirty Siewith the exception of a mate, Con- trary to romantic conception or por- trayal, he was instinctively a coward; but irrespective of the material dan- gers that surrounded him, the stimuli Of fear was from within. His religious conception, if we may take the liberty of calling it that, was animism. Now for a definition of animism. It is derived from the Latin word “anima” which means “soul.” To primitive man, everything was animated with a spirit, a soul, was alive, and possessed a con- sciousness. Trees, rocks, mountains, rivers, and animals, to him were all possessed of a spirit; they were an tity, similar to himself. Not peculiar to sodersinnd: map conceived that most everything around him was hostile to himself, and therefore desirous of an- nihilating him. A falling tree in his path, a boulder tumbling from a moun- tain ‘side, an undercurrent in a stream, a flash of lightning—all of these to primitive man were sufficient evidence of the intent of some omnipotent spirit, infused in the thing to destroy him. ‘Thus man's fst paramount obstacle up the scale of progress was fear. He claborated “many” weird incantations ‘and ceremonies in the attempt to ap- pease the believed existing hostile spir- its surrounding him. However, fear plays an important part in establishing the first rudiments of our civilization. Gradually, this fear brought into unity several members of the Buman race for the specie purpose cof attempting to overawe, by force numbers, some mythical evil spirit. The common’ bond established was fear. Fear added many other stones in the social structure, however; fear of death, the state unknown, brought about re- ligious significance and creeds. A trib- ute had to be paid to those whose spirits had gone hence. Weird vocal sounds resulted in chanting or hymns. ‘Those able to understand or appreciate the elements of the rhythm of sound were appointed chanters; and one who might be unfortunate enough to be mentally unbalanced, and therefore er- ratic in his actions, was considered for- tunate enough at that time to be ap- pointed a shaman or medicine man, and his itrationalism was considered a spe- Thirty Seven Gial possesion of a magical and super- natural power. The desire to preserve life in the face of all obstacles, and the fear of the loss of it, was another step in the progress of.’ civilization. Individuals were selected, because of their physical prowess, to encounter especially difficult hazards and to engage in battles with warring neighbors, this giving rise to a military force. We now have classes for groups of persons developing, name- ly: the priesthood, and their various so- ieties, and secondly, a military or militant class consisting of warriors. Eventually, necessity and the accu- mulative effect of natural results. pro- duced an outstanding personality, one ‘who, for various reasons, was obviously supreme in some sense. His distinc- tion might have made itself manifest in the priesthood or in the body of ‘warriors. ‘This supremacy or distinction was considered a result of an order of Providence. This chieftain, ;, ruler, as you wish, was ac- cepted: his words and deeds became the recognized order of things. Thus another social class arose—the political or the ruling body. This supreme in- dividual established courts, advisory bodies, and executive and administra- tive councils. It soon became evident that the inherent sense of justice in each individual was not alike. If jus- tice was to be administered alike in all instances, a system of principles repre- senting justice had to be established: and no judge, no matter how person- ally wise he may be, should decide cases, except according to a set stand- ard of principles. This fact resulted in a system of jurisprudence. ‘Warriors and rulers demanded cer- tain special implements and articles, different and of better quality than those used by the mass. Craftsman- ship developed, there were workers in stone and metal, and gradually men be- came engaged either in some trade or industry or agriculture. Each worker became a member of a distinct class of society, but each class, in turn, was a unit in the whole fabric of civilization. But was each new primitive citizen of this ever-growing society adding some- thing new individually? No, say sociol-The tic Teangle Mard 1929 ogists. They were mere parasites, being compelled by necessity fo perform cer- tain duties taught them. A few, a cer- tain few, anticipated, created, devel- oped, and added to the known knowl- edge. ‘The rest, the mass, accepted everything as a custom, a formality, a routine; they were drafted into the various classes by the governing ones of each class, and compensated for their time with the necessities of their existence. ‘Was the mass, then, subnormal, that is, below the intelligence of the organi- zers? No, again, But, their intelli jence was applied only in gaining more BF the. necessities of lifes and» when these were satisfled, means were de- veloped for securing luxuries. The mass never made a sacrifice, unless it would show a personal advantage or jain only to the individuals themselves. ‘The leaders were those who made the sacrifices in accomplishing some end, not for themselves, but for an ideal. ‘They contributed to the mass, society, civilization, and knowledge: the others, fas today, were being pulled along by their boot straps, taking, but giving nothing. Sociology says that the mass is the same today, in 1929. Do you think so? Do you comprehend the law jn this last paragraph Ask yourself these questions: Why do the minority only contribute to civilization? Why is the minority the important factor in our reaching a higher level? If the answer has not formed in your consciousness as yet, let us advance to the second source of our evidence, expounded by the educators. The Educator's Version:— First, the educator brings out a point of importance for discussion. It {s this: Extensive education doesnot mean intelligence, Is one who has spent several years in acquiring a spe- cifle training in a profession educated, ‘or intelligent, or both? Superiicially we would perhaps say both. tion, briefly defined, is the final result ‘of raining and instruction; it is also defined as the harmonious development of the faculties. ‘The constant record- ing of impressions, through training ‘and instruction, upon the brain is bound to develop the memory and perfect the ability to reason. It will result in the co-ordi of the fac- ulties. Tt will establish intelligence— but not intellect. We ordinarily under- stand intelligence to be, the ability to perceive, cognize, or understand. Fdu- Cation, therefore, will undoubtedly tend to develop intelligence, prepare one to grasp concrete problems, to classify impressions, and to fit them into the category of experiences of the past. But there is a distinction between in tellect and intelligence. Intellect is not the ability to recall impressions and to classify same into proper categories, nor to deal with concrete problems; it is vastly greater and much more vital. ‘When a new condition or circumstance arises, something of which you never acquired previous information, or can- rot recall an experience associated with it, but to which you must adjust your thinking—that requires not education, not specialization, but intellect. ‘The ability to consciously apply our mental processes in fathoming that which is new to the objective side of ourselves, calls for something that has not been acquired but is inherent, infused in us. To create and originate, to develop ‘new conceptions, to pioneer in fields full of strange experiences, to cope with these conditions as they arise, calls for intellect. Now the educators point out that the educational system of modern civi- lization is training the mind along spe- if lines. ‘Thousands are being pre- pared to practice established rules, to apply known principles, and thereby be compensated for their services in return, And they are using their ad- vanced education for the securing of the necessities of life, and, when these have been received, eventually luxuries. But, the educators continue, with the mass of trained minds being released from our universities and colleges, and introduced into the market of industry and commercialism, comparatively few possess the intellect to contribute to the advancement of civilization. The ma- jority follow established custom and formality. A few, a very few, make the sacrifice of time and effort in producing new achievements for an ideal of bene- fit to the majority. Have you grasped Thirty Eightthe law here, that specific education alone does not make the majority raise the pinnacle of civilization—that more than development of man's material mind is needed? fly consider Psychological Version:— ‘The constant exercise of our produces habit, the conscious decision fo repeatedly do a certain thing, re- sults in habit. The repetition of an act eventually results in habit. The sub- conscious mind accepts the continual suggestion from the brain as a law, and eventually we unconsciously perform that which at first necessitated decis- ion and the will to do. Climatic con- ditions, environment, "and _ heredity cause us to form certain well defined habits. There are others who respond to the same stimuli as ourselves, that i, there is a plural response, involun- tarily, from mankind, toward those at- tracted by the same interests and those who have formed similar habits. This is the basis, from a_ psychological standpoint, for individuals uniting into a form of society. It also results in classes. and distinctions. Individuals “soon become cognizant of their similar mental and moral con- stitutions, The fact that others believe as they believe, know as they know, is a compliment to their own ideas and ‘mannerisms, and causes them to select and prefer the association of those who respond to a common interest with them. Generation after generation of intermarriage among classes of certain temperaments and ideals produces a distinct type. This is a result of hered- ity. This distinct type will inevitably revert to the inherent nature of their class. Whole regions and sections have produced distinct classes which bore the physical as well as the mental characteristics of their domain. This is considered the foundation of the vari- fous races of mankind Psychology explains that the mass of these different races contributes slightly to the advancement of the hu- ‘man race, because of one fundamental principle, that principle being self-pres- ervation. ‘The various emotions, pas- sions, and desires of man, added to Thirty Wine the instability of his objective reason- ing, would have caused the human race to automatically exterminate itself in its early history, if not for the subtle and almighty desire to preserve the physical body. to carry on in the face ‘of apparently insurmountable obsta- cles, Every act, every deed, can be traced to the preparation, seemingly, for self-preservation. The building of large granaries, the cultivation of flelds, the economical tendency in affairs by the individual, and every form of ac- tivity pursued was consciously done because of this impelling urge of self- preservation to preserve. But it is to an extent a hindrance, one of the blocking points. Psychology states that the minority contributes to civilization only because they are the individuals who use their faculties for the building up of some- thing apart from their own needs, something that is not directly needed by them, Let us analyze this. It im- plies that the majority of us use all our God-given faculties for the purpose of gaining our own individual needs; and that our intelligence, our experience, is all used in the preservation of our- selves and our immediate families, and we, as a class, contribute nothing new to society a a whole. It also implies that our interests are confined to the satisfaction of our own desires; and that the few who realize that “a per- fect state of civilization is one where the least demand upon physical and mental energy for self-preservation is made" are the ones who carry us along to the higher things. Another law is involved in the above statement. Do you surmise it? ‘We now come to our conclusion and a resume. Why are there only a few in every age who advance the human race? The sociologist gave us this law: Only a few are willing to make the sacrifice of giving of time and effort for a purpose that will not be of material gain to themselves. Summing it up. our first law is: Be unselfish. The educator, in his ar- gument, evoived this law: Higher edu- Cation ‘and specific training alone are not sufficient to produce genius, intel- lect of the inner nature is required.The stic Tetangle Marc 1929 Summing up this statement, we have as our second law: Apply’ the inner consciousness. The psychological side aroused an interesting train of thoughts also, and a subsequent law, which is: That to plan our entire activity just so that we may be able to exist, be- cause of the urge of self-preservation, is truly just to exist, and not to know of life at all. Briefly, then, the third law is: Live to learn as well as to exist. As Rosicrucians, we will determine the application of these laws to our own problems. It is necessary that we devote a great deal of our time to various occupations, vocations, and professions, so that we may secure enough revenue to meet the ever cur- rent obligations. It is necessary that ve shall maintain this body of ours in the best physical state possible, be- use tig Divine in the sense thet the body is the result of natural laws, not man-made regulations. It is also ad- ble, whenever possible, that we se- gare al the instruction and material in- formation we can, to prepare us to be better fitted in our vocation. However, none of these material necessities give complete satisfaction to the soul, a peace and a feeling of having accom- lished something for our fellow man iat is why so many who are recog- nized as successes in the sense of ac- cumulating wealth, still feel that they are out of step with life, that their lives have been for naught. Tn attempting to prepare and com- prehend your mission in life, remember the first law: Unselfishness. If your ideal is one that is to be gratifying to ‘you alone, and it will be of no benefit to anyone but yourself and your im- mediate dependents, it is not a divinely inspired ideal or mission on this earth. If your contemplated mission will re- ward you, and at the same time do something for mankind or leave it that much better because of your deed, it is proper, it is your place in the scheme of things. You are a dual being, possessed of ‘a Divine consciousness, or a Soul con- sciousness. How often do you take the advantage of this most wonderful power? Reliance upon reason and ex- perience has not always solved your problems, you know that. Call into ac- tion the inner consciousness: it is the second law given in this essay. You should recall the third law. Realize that you are here, not merely to exist, not merely to have been born, but you are to contribute something, you are to leave an indelible impression in the mold of time. ‘The law of self-peeservation is for the material body. Do not make your mental and psychic self a slave to keep the body merely existing. Set time aside, even a few minutes each day, to give thought to the ideals you keep locked in the chamber of your soul. Bring them out, develop them, study your inner ideals, see their glorious, unselfish beauty. Your ideals are your mission in life. Ideals are the stuff of which sacrifices are made. Use these laws and come to the realization of your place in the sun. vvvvv NEW AMORC PUBLICATION IN SOUTH AMERICA ‘To those of you who are interested in reading Spanish, and who wish to re- ceive an interestingly prepared Spanish magazine, aside from the one that is is- sued by the Lodge in Porto Rico, we recommend that you secure a copy of the publication entitled “Lux,” published by the Lodge in Chile. The magazine is well prepared, and is really a credit to the work being conducted in that district by Brother: Riesle. Address your communication as follows: Publisher of “Lux,” Casilla 2498, Santiago, Chile, South America. FortyWaiting for Che eMaster By Raymund Andrea Grand Master, AMORC, Great Britain vvvvv IN the Ninth Grade we stand at the threshold of a great- er life. We await the Mas- ter who is to initiate us into divine cognition and a knowledge of our true mis- PAUUIMID sion on the path i ighly mystical grade there is cant pause and vast scope for con- templation. Looking back over the grades, it Seems as if we had gradually ended a great and narrowing stair- way, step by step, and now stand on the last stair, far away from the voices of earth, before the portals of the un- seen temple. Many have fallen away as the ascent grew steeper: the reward was too remote and the goal intangible. They fell away because they had not faith, and their portion will be a still continuing and unappeased hunger for that life which lies beyond the thres- hold which is approached in the Ninth Grade. ‘The pause and silence in the Ninth Grade constitute one of the greatest tests we have to meet on the path. ‘We may have done all in our power, and the Master has not appeared. I know not why: I only know that in many lives the fact is so. Yet I feel convinced that there are certain condi- tis te be met, certain work fo be ac- complished, which we may dimly ap- prehend but which the Master knows, absolutely and in detail, are necessary for us to meet and to accomplish be- fore we may share in his life. At this point we retain a firm footing through the exercise of an indomitable faith. T doubt whether one of us has come so far without realizing within, in one form or another, the strongest, reason for this faith in those things which re- main hidden to us just beyond the threshold. Those of us who have given the best part of our lives to the study and contemplation of higher things are seldom troubled with anxious question- Forty One ings as to the path we have chosen, the reward of our effort, or the ulti: mate goal. We live onward from day to day in confidence that such aspects of truth and revelations of the divine as we are ready to accept and fitted to receive will be lawfully unfolded to an aspiring consciousness, and that veil after veil will pass away as we live and serve in the world of men. And it is inconceivable that those who entered upon the study of the path for the rst time when they contacted the Order, passed through the grades un- derstandingly, and now stand with us in the mystical pause of the Ninth Grade, have not the inner assurance of a reward for their labor and a realiza- tion of expanding consciousness, Their ability to demonstrate objectively may fall be negligible: they may feel that they have little to show as a result of their study and meditation; yet experi- fence warrants us in saying that such objective demonstration is by no means the only criterion of progress. It is just at this point in his studies that so much depends, in my opinion, on a stu- dent having a fairly clear idea of his inner status on the path. If he were studying in a certain course at the university with the hope of graduatin for a specific profession, a time woul ultimately arrive when he would need to take thorough stock of himself be- fore presentation for examination to that end. He would need to gauge his weakness and his strength; he would submit to a_careful self-examination and exercise himself in every way for qualification. Is not his position in the Ninth Grade somewhat analogous to this? But here he is largely his own in- structor: he need entertain no fear of being “sent down” in the absence of certain qualifications. ‘The period of waiting may be prolonged, but there is no failure,