THE FIRST TEMPLE OF AMORC

 

 

 

It was a building located in New York at 70 West 87th street, and about this property Harvey Spencer Lewis, the founder of AMORC, reported in his magazine The American Rosae Crucis, February 1916, that he was looking for a property to install his temple there:

 

« Plans are being considered again for a permanent Headquarter in New York City, in which to house the American Rosicrucian Library, the Grand Lodge, the National Executive Offices, the R. C. Laboratories and possibly the R. C. College. The difficulty seems to be in the matter of location. A large building is necessary and this must be conveniently located to all means of transit. It is hoped that by the beginning of the R. C. New Year on March 21, a place will have been found and made ready for the Annual Dinner and appointment of new Officers. »

(p.28)

 

 

 

 

Later in his magazine The American Rosae Crucis, March 1916, Lewis wrote:

 

«

 

FIRST ROSAECRUCIAN TEMPLE IN U. S. A.

 

The Home of the Grand Lodge in New York City

 

At last America has its own Rosae-crutian Temple! In these few words are expressed the realization of a century of dreams and a life-time of hopes. Embodied in one material monument are the plans and prospects of the entire Rosae-crucian movement in the United States. This fine building is not only the home of the Grand Lodge, but the very pyramid of the order of America.

 

It is with considerable pride that we illustrate and describe this Temple. Situated in the heart of New York City-in the select residential district, remote from business and commercialism-it has an ideal environment.

 

Its outward appearance is dignified and rather symbolical. The lower part of the building is of brown stone while the upper part is of red brick. It has five stories and is topped with the significant triangle, as shown in accompanying illustration.

 

The first floor, approached by a wide·sweeping stailway, contains a wide reception hall from which one may enter the Executive Office or the Grand Lodge Temple. The Executive Office is richly furnished and here will be found the desks of the Imperator, the Secretary General, the Prelate and Editor of the American Rosae Crucis.

 

Adjoining this is the Reception and Music Room where every facility for a quiet talk and hour or two of music and reading will be afforded to every visitor. Then, in the rear of the floor is the Temple, large and convenient, with its triangular platform and Altar and the other articles of all Lodge equipment. This Temple is decorated in Red with Black Woodwork and Panels, and beautifully illuminated with electric lights at the sides of the room nod in the centre of the ceiling.

 

There is a small alcove adjoining the Temple which provides room {or the experimental electrical equipment and the Wireless Telegraph Station belonging to the Grand Lodge. In the rear of the Temple is the chemical, physical and electrical laboratory for the conduct of Rosaecrucian researches and the testing of certain laws and principles.

 

On the Second Floor to the front is the Grand Lodge Library and Rest Room. This will be the largest Rosaecrucian Library in America as soon as all the books are installed and all are received from those who have been with holding their contributions of books until such a Library was established.

 

On the Third Floor, in the rear, there is an open-air summer garden for recreation and study. On the fourth floor there is one room being planned as a photographic experimental laboratory for work along special lines which are occupying the attention of Rosaecrucians in many lands.

 

In addition to these rooms there are a number of guest chambers occupied by those in' charge of the Temple and by a few who are in sympathy with our work.

 

All in all this is .a Temple of which every Rosaecrucian will be proud. We shall be glad to have members of our Order from any city visit us at any time and enjoy our rooms and the facilities for study and pleasure afforded in every possible way. Likewise we shall be pleased to receive donation from our friends of pictures and antiquities.

 

»

(p.9)

 

 

 

Later in 1918, Lewis moved the AMORC temple to the mansion located at 361 West 23rd Street, which had been the home of the famous American singer Lily Langtry.