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"The Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC) is one of the most important "Rosicrucian" organizations in the world. This Order presents itself as the authentic heir to the Rosicrucian tradition, announced in the famous manifestos of the seventeenth century: the Fama, the Confessio and the Chymical Wedding. In addition, AMORC published its own manifesto, the Positio Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis, in 2001, described by the Order as the "fourth R+C Torch". This suggests a close harmony between the doctrines of AMORC and those expressed in the original manifestos, a harmony that would justify the use of the epithet "Rosicrucian" for the Order - but does such an accord really exist? In cases where it fails in whole or in part, does one discover other similarities between the production of AMORC and the manifestos of the seventeenth century, which might justify this claimed kinship? In order to answer these questions, this article will draw a comparison between ideas concerning such themes as philosophia perennis, the Book of Nature, alchemy, Christianity, karma, and reincarnation in the Fama and in texts published by AMORC between 1917 and 1928. In addition, the original manifestos will also be compared, in terms of their literary genre, to two contemporary publications of AMORC: the Positio Fraternitatis and Rosicrucian History and Mysteries (2003). The Ancient and Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC) is one of the most important "Rosicrucian" organizations in the world. This Order presents itself as the authentic heir to the Rosicrucian tradition, announced in the famous manifestos of the seventeenth century: the Fama, the Confessio and the Chymical Wedding. In addition, AMORC published its own manifesto, the Positio Fraternitatis Rosae Crucis, in 2001, described by the Order as the "fourth R+C Torch". This suggests a close harmony between the doctrines of AMORC and those expressed in the original manifestos, a harmony that would justify the use of the epithet "Rosicrucian" for the Order - but does such an accord really exist? In cases where it fails in whole or in part, does one discover other similarities between the production of AMORC and the manifestos of the seventeenth century, which might justify this claimed kinship? In order to answer these questions, this article will draw a comparison between ideas concerning such themes as philosophia perennis, the Book of Nature, alchemy, Christianity, karma, and reincarnation in the Fama and in texts published by AMORC between 1917 and 1928. In addition, the original manifestos will also be compared, in terms of their literary genre, to two contemporary publications of AMORC: the Positio Fraternitatis and Rosicrucian History and Mysteries (2003)."
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