R. Swinburne Clymer

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Reuben Swinburne Clymer (November 25, 1878 - June 3, 1966) succeeded Edward H. Brown as Supreme Grand Master of Fraternitas Rosae Crucis in 1922, and served until his death, when he was succeeded by his son Emerson Myron Clymer. He had reached the rank of Grand Master in 1905.

The succession from Edward H Brown 'Eulis' to Clymer is questioned by many. Clymer's claim rested instead on having bought Randolph's archive from Randolph's widow, and he created his 'Fraternitas Rosae Crucis' in 1920, two years before Brown died. (Source: Fr Melchior 'Manifestations of the Neo-Rosicrucian Current')

Influenced by the writings of the 19th century occultist and sex magic practitioner, Paschal Beverly Randolph, he kept several of Randolph's books in print (sometimes in heavily edited form) through the middle of the 20th century,

A co-founder of FUDOFSI, which recognized the Fraternitas as the authentic Rosicrucian organization rather than AMORC, he tried to rekindle the organization after the death of leader Constant Chevillon in World War II. After the war he regarded the FRC as the world, rather than American, headquarters of Rosicrucianism.

In Brazil and in some other South American countries, the FRC merged with branches of Arnoldo Krumm-Heller's Fraternitas Rosicruciana Antiqua (FRA) to the extent that the two became indistinguishable.

Many FRA groups became disenchanted with Krumm-Heller's teachings, and the branches merged with the FRC no longer accepted the Law of Thelema.