MacGregor Mathers's Final Address

The V.H. Soror "Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum" [Moina Mathers] 5=6, Praemonstratrix, announced that the Supreme Chief of the Order, the Greatly Honored Frater "S'Rioghail Mo Dhream" [MacGregor Mathers] 5=6, Imperator, "Deo Duce Comite Ferro" 7=4, had departed from his terrestial body, during the night of Tuesday, November 19 to Wednesday, November 20 to the minute [midnight], but that spiritually, he shall be with us always.

In his last moments he instructed that the V.H. Soror, "Vestigia Nulla Retrorsum" 5=6 Praemonstrix, "In Rosae Rubeae et in Aureae Crucis, Victoria Mea" 7=4, in conjunction with the V.H. Frater "Sub Spe" [John Brodie-Innes] 5=6, "Fidei Tenax" 7=4, and the V.H. Frater "Resurgam" [Edmund Berridge] 5=6, "In Spiritu Sancto" 7=4, to see that nothing might interrupt the Work of the Order, and to see that the Tradition would always be observed.

He named as his Successor and as Supreme Chief of the Order, representing the Secret Chiefs, the V.H. Frater "Sub Spe," "Fidei Tenax" 7=4.

He wished that you all might continue your Work within this Order, just as if he were yet present among us in his physical body. He had reason to believe that he would be able to guide and to protect you, from the Spiritual Plane where he now is. He asks that you should keep intact the official Instruction of the Order, knowing that he received it in a direct line from the most pure Rosicrucian source, even though these Mysteries are found somewhat modified in their exterior form, for reasons of Tribe and Culture.

For you who aspire to become Adepts, he insists above all on the importance of the spirit of Brotherhood, which is essential in a mystical asociation, because the least discord could permit the Evil Forces to gain a foothold among us. And by "Brotherhood" he understands not only submission to the letter, but also to the spirit of our Obligation; because among the most important points about which we must be aware there are those things which could afford entrance to the adverse forces -- in particular, we refer to intolerance and sterile discussions between members. We should assemble in our Temple, for our Work, on a Ground of complete neutrality and perfect Harmony, even if in private life, our relations with certain Fraters or Sorors might not be as entirely harmonious or as mutually amicable as would be desired. The goal of all our efforts is to arrive at a strong and harmonious synthesis. And to this aim we shall most rapidly and completely attain by melding all our individual virtues and abilities, so that we function together as a single homogeneous unit.

Thus so, our G.H. Chief asks above all else that you cultivate tolerance, and that sympathy which flows naturally, sympathy for your immediate circle, and sympathy for all of Nature -- because with what does the Adept work, if it is not with Nature and her Forces? He must enter into contact with the Forces, serving and assisting them. And the Forces certainly won't obey a stranger to them, when they submit but uneasily even to one who knows them well. They will only submit to one who can understand their nature, who can "sympathize" with them, and to one who can just so, in rising to a higher plane, rule them. Of such a one, it is only to him who can elevate himself to a higher plane than the Forces, who can comprehend the Forces in their interior nature -- who, in a word, shall "sympathize" with them. And he shall attain the most absolute Harmony, the most perfect communion with all things -- he shall understand the true Charity, which is a ray borrowed from that Universal Light itself. And such a one shall repeat with the fullest of verities this saying of the Adept: "I am He who is robed in a body of flesh, but in whom doth shine the Spirit of the Gods. [Translated from the French by Robert Word.]