MASTER MONOGRAPH

NEOPHYTE SECTION
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ROSICRUCIAN ORDER
AMORC

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MonograPh MonograPh
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 THE CONCURRENCE
This Week's Consideration of a Famous Opinion
VVV
S The scientific postulations that marked the era of
the Renaissance carried no more noted theme than that
of Nicolaus Copernicus, Polish astronomer, ylro- irt
"De Revolutionibus Orbium Coelestium" established
the heliocentric (sun as center of the universe) view
of the planetary system, which slowly but surely revolutionized the
science oi astronomy.
^Th"
nomv. The u*"6.pi
e*c6rpi wbrk. It reflects the
below is taken frbm this work.
sagacity of these days'scientists rrrd discoveri-ng. Truth through
and their zeal for discoveri-ng- through car+
ful stuily and analyiis. This is the Rosicmcian approach which we hope to instill in
our students.
our

Now the earth is the place from which we obserue the reuolution of
the heauens and where ii is diiplaaed to our eges. This motion seems to
embrace the whole world, in fact,buerything-But that is outside of the earth,
with the single exception of the earth ilself . if one should admit that
the heauenslott"t. none of this motion, but thai the earth rotates from
west to eastiand if one should consider this seriousl7 ulth respect to the
seemingrisingand setting of the sun, of the moon and the stars; then one
would find tiat it is actiallu true. Since the heauens which contain and
retain'all things are the home of all things, it is not at once
comprehensible whg a motion"i**on is not rather ascribed to the thing con-
tained than to the iontaining; to the located rather than to the locating.
Whg are we not willing to acknowledge that the appearance-of a-daily
reuoluiion belongs to theheauens, its actualitg to the earth? The relation
is similar to thit of which Virgil's Aeneas sags: "We sail out of the
harbor, and the countries and cities recede." For when a ship is sailing
along quietly, euergthing which is outside of it will appear to those on
boaid io hai6 a *itioniorresponding to the mooemeni of the ship, and
the uoyagers are of the erroneous opinion,that they, with all that theg
haue with them are at rest. This can without doubt also applg to the
motion of the earth, and it mag appear as if the whole uniuerse were
reuoluing.
If one admits the motionle.ssness of the sun, and transfers the annual
reuolution from the sun to the earth, there would resuh, in the same
manner as actuallu obserued, the rising and setting of the constellations
and the f ixed stars, bg means of which theg become morning and euening
stars; and it will thus become apparent that also the lnltings and back-
ward and forward motion of the planets are not motions of these but of
the earth,-which lends them the appearance of being acttnl planetary
motions'
-NIC.LAUS ..,ERNICUS, r4*g-rs4g
Neophyte Section4MORC .The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER FIVE PAGE ONE

Respected Neophyte:
0nce again you have prepared for study and meditation. At this
very moment, Rosicrucians throughout the world like yourself are also
preparing to study or are studying the Rosicrucian teachings. At this
very hour as you sit and ponder over the important points of this
Iesson, there are thousands of other Fratres and Sorores thinking and
working with you. Throughout Lratin America, in cities of Central and
South America, there are members studying these same lessons in the
Spanish language at some corresponding hour during the day.
There are Rosicrucian Lrodges and Chapters conducting their meet-
ings in Europe, Africa, Australia, New Zealand, as weII as in many
cities of the United States and in Canada. In many countries of the
world, there are members of this organization carrying on their studies
in the manner similar to yours. Regardless of where our members may be
in the wor]d, whether it be in the temperate regions, in the tropics,
or in the Arctic, the different conditions under which our members live
have no bearing upon the sincerity, Iove, studiousness, and practical
application of these members in connection with their Rosicrucian
work.
to our lesson for the evening-as we have said, did you ever
Now
realize that during dreams you see things with all of the reality, with
aII of the depth of color, with aII the feeling and emotion with which
you see things when you are awake? Yet real as they may seem, they do not
have any existence outside your mind. You may close your eyelids and
press your fingers gently on your eyeballs and, in the dark fleld in
front of you, see flashes of colors, or fields of color, aII according
to how firmly you press your fingers. These colors, however, that may be
as clear and bright to you as any you have seen with your eyes open, do
not have any existence except in your mind. They have no existence out-
side your body. Yet these colors that you see in this way come through
the retina of the eye and along the optic nerve and to the brain center as
seeing, just as do the actual pictures that you see when your eyes
are open.
This one demonstration in ltseIf should prove to you that aII
impressions which go through the eye and are registered on the area
of the brain that pertains to seeing cannot be proved to have any
existence in reality. The things we see and touch and feel and deal
with in dreams to such an extent that they cause us to become
tired in our effort to deal with them and cause us to become
emotionally excited-6p611ssd wlth f ear or anger or bliss or
sadness-may not have any real existence in the world of
realit ies.
Neophyte Section4MORC The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER FIVE PAGE Tv/O

Our only obJect in pointing this out to you at this time ls to have
you bear in mind that we are rea1ly affected by our understanding
and interpretation of things within our consciousness" Have you ever
been chased by a ruffian or highwayman in a dream to such an extent
that you have run rapidly for many hundreds of feet, upstairs and down-
stairs, through rooms and out into the yard and along lanes, dodging
persons, trees, and obstacles such as chairs and tables until you are
tired, overheated, fearful and in terror, and then awakened to find
yourself in a perspiration and alI excited and even calling aloud for
help? If you have, then, you will realize that we can be just as
greatly affected, physically and mentally, by a thing that has no
existence in reality as we can by a thing that does really exist.
Therefore, u/e say again that not the actual existence of things but
our conscleusness of things is what affects us individually; our con-
sciousness of things constitutes the world of reality and the world of
reality is aII that is, after all, real to us individually.
THE COPERNICAN As proof of how aII of us may be deceived
THEORY OF THE UNIVERSE in our reasoning and building up of theories
and interpretations, from assuming that the
eye tetls nothing but the truth, Iet me give you another interesting
illustration that wiII awaken in your mind dozens of points of in-
vestigation and will probably afford you an opportunity for much
interesting discussion when you are with scientific persons. Un-
doubtedly you know that for a long time the mass of unenlightened
persons believed that the earth was flat. Thj.s was often based upon
some statemeht in sacred writings such as the reference to the four
corners of the earth, which was purely allegorical.
However, the world in general, and the scientific world of its
time, believed that the earth was flat. Various theories were taught
in the schools as absolute facts, explaining the occurrence of day
and night, sunrise and sunset, the phases of the moon, the effect of
the tides, the movements of clouds, and everything else. It was also
believed that the earth was the center of the universe. Then along
came a Iearned paper prepared by a man named Copernicus.
He claimed, as did his ancient predecessor, PtoIemy, that the earth
was round like a ball, and that we lived on the outside of it. Unlike his
predecessor he proclaimed the heliocentric theory of our solar system.
This means that the sun, not the earth, is the center of the system. He
explained that the sun caused day and night by the movement of the earth,
that this also explained the phases of the moon, and many other
interesting things that the popular mind promptly rejected.
But science gradually accepted these ideas, because it gave the
specutative minds a great opportunity for more speculation.
(See quotation from Copernicus, front cover of this monograph.)
Neophyte $ss1i6n--A MORC The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER FIVE PAGE THREE

The theory of Copernicus, as it was called, did explain a lot of

things that science had not been able to explain before. He is a wise
man, indeed, who can come forward with credible explanations of things
that have not been explained before. If his explanations wiII fit
the things that are accepted as well as explain things not previously
understood, then it is considered a perfect theory and is accepted as a
fact. 0f course, you and I and the real scientific mindwouldnot agree
with such a standard by which to test the truth of a theory, but it is
stiII the popular way and still the method accepted by many minds.
Copernicus, however, was really an exceptional scientist and he was
suspicious even of his own theory, because he said, in a preface, that
if any man were to challenge the truthfulness of the theory he
presented and demanded proof of any part of it, there was litt1e proof
that he could submit.
Copernicus, as a great mathematician, had worked for many years
on his theory and in 1500 he was called to Rome to take the Chair of
Mathematics there. He realized the influence of religion upon the
people and. also the principles of religion in their relation to
Cosmogony, and for this reason he delayed for many years the publish-
ing of his new theory. He knew that it would bring him the accusation
of heresy from the Roman Church, because, he said, ttff the earth is the
center of the universe and really the whole center of Godts creation,
then man on earth might weII be one of the greatest obJects of God's
care. But if my theory is right and the earth is but one of many
planets revolving in space, and not even the largest of them, and if
these others are also inhabited by men, then this earth upon which we
live and the men upon this earth may not be so important in God's
scheme.n Such an idea would upset the theories and statements of
the Church.
fn the face of such reasoning, he offered his theory sometime
after 1540. 0n May 24, L543, Just as his theory was being published
in book form for universal reading, he died. He had suffered under
all the attacks, criticisms, and punishment that the iIIiberal Church
and the narrow scientific world could heap upon him. The popularity of
his theory u/as due to its newness and simplicity. Ioday the Copernican
Iheory, as it is called, is being taught in the schools and universities
as a true Cosurogony, although its own originator reaLized that he could
present no absolute proof and it was condemned as inconsistent with
church doctrines at the time it was offered.
Now, his whole theory was based upon observations made by
the human eye, without telescope or instruments. Yfe say that in
many ways it illustrates most beautifully how many may be de-
ceived and how even science may at times be misled in inter-
preting what is seen by limitation of mind and instruments.
Neophyte Section-A MORC ,The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER FIVE PAGE FOUR

In comparatively recent times, this Copernican theory has been

attacked in principle even by one of the schools of orthodox science.
In 1919 a group of English scientists carefully photographed the stars
near the sun during a solar eclipse. A comparison of pictures taken
of the same region when the sun was distant showed that the stars
apparently had been shifted away from the sun during the eclipse in
accordance with the prediction of Professor Einstein. The amount of
the shift was equivalent to about L.75x at the edge of the sun's disk,
or far more than the largest stellar paralIax. Ihe importance of this
discovery was immediately recognized, at Ieast in part, since it was
the first proof that light does not travel in straight lines. The
deviation was small when interpreted according to Copernican ideas,
but the fact that there is a deviation calls into question the basic
Copernican assumption and the distances we assume the cosmic bodies
to be from the earth.
Ihis new theory and approach, which science at first was generally
reluctant to accept, is known as the curved-space theory. We do not
intend to go deeply into this matter at the present time. AlI we wlsh
to do is call your attention to the fact that observations made by the
eye, the human eye, and interpreted by the human consciousness, do not
prove the existence or actuality of anything or any effect.
EXPERIENCE If we can get our members into that frame of mind, into
AS KNOWTEDGE that analytical attitude where they wiIl not accept
anything upon hearsay or upon casual observslisi-psl
even our own teachings and lessons-but will insist upon individual
experience and real knowledge from within, rather than from without,
we shall have accomplished our great work in making real thlnkers, real
mystics, and real creators of facts out of our members, and that is
our principal purpose.
PART TWO

We have told you that all matter makes itself known to us through
vibrations. Think of music; is there anything which has as great an
influence upon the mind and soul-yes, even upon the physical nervous
systen-giving peace and contentment, or raising us to action with re-
newed energy? Yet music is nothing more or less than vibration. You
cannot see the vibrations of music with the ordinary eye. You cannot
taste or smell them. Wlth certain apparatus you can feel some of the
vibrations, but ordinarily they can only be heard. Music
vibrations would not seem to be material in nature; you
would not look upon them as being a form of matter; yet they
are made of the same energy as the vibrations which are in
aII matter.
Neophyte $661is6--AMORC The Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER FIVE PAGE FIVE

HOW MUSIC Now let us see what happens when music stirs the soul or
AFFECIS US body. First, the mind is aroused into realizati.on, a
consciousness of the music. If the music is martial, quiclt,
active, strong, and intended to arouse us, such as the music played
for soldiers, the nerves of the body feel the vibrations of the music
and each nerve and. nerve center in the body begins to vibrate faster
and faster until the whole system is aroused. As the music increases
and our nervous system becomes attuned to 1t, we find that the vibra-
tions of the music, and especially some notes, affect us so strongly
that we mentally and physically feel the effect of the music.
How is this possible? Have you ever thought of that? What is
it that passes through the air, into our systems, into our very hearts,
and makes our blood and nerves tingle with response? We cannot see
anything coming from the piano, the organ, the violln, and passing
through the air to us. Yet, even with our eyes closed we can hear and
feel the instruments giving forth sounds which affect us. A great law
is involved. The 1aw involving vibrations is the only law which ex-
plains how all this is possible. The vibrations of nusic travel
through the air and come to us, making impressions upon our nervous
systems and causing similar vibrations to travel through the nervous
syst em.

Now you ma! a5[-as some have asked-how do we know that the
vibrations travel to us, and how do we know some vibrations travel
faster than others? We wiII answer these questions for you and help
you to find your own proof.
Have you ever watched a man at
-Light reaches eye
a distance-say 500 feet-
Almost inslantaneously striking at something with a
f"/ (l86,000 miles per' second) hammer? Lret me explain what
you have seen and heard. As you
watched the man striking the
hammer, you noticed that you
( ( (((( HEARD the sound of the blow of
W(((kccca the hammer some litt1e tine after
\ Sound t,087 fr. a you SAIY the hammer strike. The
I
farther away the nan is, the
Ionger the time will be between
the striking of the hamner
which you see and the sound of the blow which you hear.
Ihat is because vibrations of light and sight travel faster
than the vibrations of sound. So, when the hammer strikes the
obJect, the vibrations of light travel so fast that you see
the stroke of the hammer before the sound vibrations reach you.
Neophyte 5..i1on AMORC-TheRosicrucianOrdet

NUMBER FIVE PAGE SIX

FIRST ATRIUM

when the near, the vibrations have so little space through

man 1s
you at almost the same time; but the
which to travel that they reachntraver,
to n the more the sight vibrations
farther the vibrations have
willgainonthesoundvibrationsintheirracetoyou.
I4re suppose that most of you wonder why we have been dwelling'
so
Iong and for so many lessons upon this subiect of vibrations' First'
becluse vibrations are a greai manifestation of SPIRIT going
and, second,
to study
b""ar."" beginning with the next monograph we are
THOUGHT VIBRATIONS.

when wedeal with the subject of SPIRIT later, You wiII find
that the vibrations of spirit help us produce strange phenomena'
During next week, think of tnougirlvibrations. - Thinlr what it will mean
when Jnce you know how to set such vibrations into motion and have
them travei forth into space and make impressions on some person or
thing.
May you exPerience Cosmic Peace.
FraternallY,
YOUR CIJASS MASTEB
Neophyte Section4 M O R C--rThe Rosicrucian Order

FIRST ATRIUM NUMBER FIVE PAGE SEVEN

The following questions should be answered to determine whether

or not you have properly read and understood recentlessons.
The answersto these questions ARE NoT to be mailed to the Grand Lodlge,
I. Can we know matter itself or is it Just the vibrations
of matter of which we become conscious?
2. Can things which register in our minds be nonexistent
outside ourselves?
5. What is the Copernican Theory?
 The Weekly Application
Whatsoeuer thou resoluest to do, do it quic\ly. Def er not till the
euening uthat the morning may accomplish.-UNro THre I GuNr

Have you ever heard the expression, "the clash of colors?" This means that vibra-
tions of the light spectrum, or the radiations of light in color given off by certain
objects, are irharmonious to each other. The difference between the rate of speed of
the vibrations of each is so extreme that instead of blending with and complementing
each other they oppose each other and cause a dissonance of color. Through the
sense of sight you detect these inharmonious vibrations, and they have a psygho-
logical effect on your emotions. They irritate, displease, and annoy you- This clash
of colors may be seen at times in wearing apparel, in the decoration of a room, or
even in , p"irrti.rg. These conditions, with which you are familiar only because of
their effect on yo,r, will, through your studies, become known to you as fundamental
causes, and you will learn how to correct and easily overcome them.
 Summary of This Monograph
VVV
Below is a summary of the important principles of this monograph. It contains the essential
statements which you should not forget. After you have careTully read t}le complete mono-
graph, try to-recali as many as you 6an of the important points you read. Thei read this
-this
summary and. see if you have forgotten any. Also lefer to summary during the ensuing
weel( to retresh your memory.

9 w" can be just as greatly affected, emotionally and physically, by things which
have no actual existence as we can by those things that do.

{I Copernicus evolved the heliocentric theory of the universe; that the earth and other
planets revolve around the sun.

{ aU matter is made known to us through vibrations.

$ Vibrations are the manifestation of spirit.