Ralph Maxwell Lewis

Ralph Maxwell Lewis
Ralph Maxwell Lewis
Born	February 14, 1904; New York City, New York, United States
Died	January 12, 1987 (aged 82)
Organization	AMORC
Title	Imperator of AMORC
Term	1939–1987
Predecessor	Harvey Spencer Lewis
Successor	Gary L. Stewart
Father	Harvey Spencer Lewis

Ralph Maxwell Lewis (February 14, 1904 – January 12, 1987), was an American mystic and the second Imperator of the Rosicrucian organisation AMORC from 1939 to 1987. He is the author of a number of books regarding mysticism. His father, Harvey Spencer Lewis, was the first Imperator of AMORC.

Early life and education

Lewis was born to Harvey Spencer Lewis and Mollie Foldsmith Lewis February 14, 1904, in New York City.^[1] He received his early education in New York and the New Jersey Military Academy. In 1918, his family took up residence in San Francisco, California, where he began his studies of law and accounting in 1919.

AMORC

He formally joined AMORC in 1921.^[1] His father died in 1939. Following his death, Lewis became the leader (imperator).^[2]^[3] Lewis was elected.^[4]

In Fédération Universelle des Ordres et Sociétés Initiatiques, FUDOSI, he was known by the nomen mysticum (mystical name) "Sar Validivar" and received his initiation in Martinism during the second convention of FUDOSI in September 1936. In the same year, he was initiated as a Rose-Croix Order Kabalistique and in the Traditional Martinist Order in Europe. On August 2, 1939, he was elected by the Board of Directors of the Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC as Imperator of the order, a position he held until his Great Initiation, on January 12, 1987.

In March 1940, Lewis was elected President of the International Supreme Council of the order Rosæ Crucis. Among the awards he received in his lifetime was the honorary degree of doctor of literature from Andhra University in India,^{[citation needed]} and the star and the cross of science from the International Academic Council.^{[citation needed]}

He founded the Grand Lodge of Brazil, in the summer of 1956, and commissioned new buildings for the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in 1966.

Lewis would die January 12, 1987, succeeded by Gary L. Stewart.^[3]^[1]

Personal life

On March 28, 1923, he married Gladys Natishna Hammer, who was known to all Rosicrucians as Soror Gladys Lewis.

Bibliography

Cosmic Mission Fulfilled (1966)
- Biography of his father

References

^ ^a ^b ^c Melton 1999, p. 332.
^ Chryssides 2006, pp. 30–31.
^ ^a ^b Introvigne 2004, p. 30.
^ Melton 1999, p. 333.

Sources

Chryssides, George D. (2006). "Ancient Mystical Order of the Rosy Cross (AMORC)". The A to Z of New Religious Movements. The A to Z guide series. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. ISBN 978-0-8108-5588-5.
Introvigne, Massimo (2004). "AMORC". In Clarke, Peter (ed.). Encyclopedia of New Religious Movements. Routledge. ISBN 978-1-134-49970-0.
Melton, J. Gordon (1999). "LEWIS, Ralph M.". Religious Leaders of America: A Biographical Guide to Founders and Leaders of Religious Bodies, Churches, and Spiritual Groups in North America (2nd ed.). The Gale Group. ISBN 978-0-8103-8878-9. ISSN 1057-2961.