Summary of Doctrine
The Church of the Rose and Cross draws the central inspiration
of its work from an intense faith in the Living Christ, believing
that the vitality of a Church gains in proportion as its members
not only commemorate a Christ Who lived two thousand years
ago, but strive also to serve as a vehicle for the Eternal Christ,
Who ever lives as a mighty spiritual Presence in the world, guiding
and sustaining His people. It accepts in the plain and literal
sense the marvellous promise of Christ when on earth: "Lo, I
am with you alway, even unto the consummation of the age"
(Matthew 28:20); or again: "Where two or three are
gathered together in My Name, there am I in the midst of them"
(Matthew 28:20).
The Church regards the Holy Scriptures,
the Creeds, and other Traditions of the Church as the vehicle
in which this teaching of the Christ has been handed down to
His followers. It deduces from them certain principles of belief
and conduct, which it regards as fundamental, true and sufficient
as a basis of right understanding and right conduct.
The following principles are a concise official statement
of what the Church has from its beginning unanimously held to be
such universal principles in nature which forms the only basis
of a rational universe, the creation or emanation of a universal
Deity who is the source and embodiment of Love, Compassion,
Immutable Law and Eternal Life. Inasmuch as the Church
welcomes to its membership all who are
seeking truth, it does not require its lay members to accept
this statement of doctrine; but the statement
is to be regarded as embodying the distinctive contribution of
the Church to Christian thought; and the Bishops
of the Church are prepared to accept as candidates for ordination
only those who find themselves in agreement with it.
I.
The existence of God, infinite, eternal, transcendent and immanent. He is the one essence from which
all forms of existence are derived. "In him we live and move and have our being." (Acts 17:28)
II.
The manifestation of God in the universe under a triplicity, called in the
Christian religion Father, Son and Holy Ghost: three Persons in One God, co-equal,
co-eternal; the Son "alone-born" of the Father. the Spirit proceeding from the Father
and the Son; the Father, the Source of all; the Son, "The Word
Who was made flesh and dwelt among us"; the Holy Spirit, the
Life-Giver, the Inspirer and Sanctifier.
III.
Man, made in the image of God, is himself divine in
essence—-a Spark of the divine Fire. Sharing God's nature, he
cannot cease to exist; therefore he is eternal and his future is
one whose glory and splendour have no limit.
IV.
Christ ever lives as a mighty spiritual presence in the world, guiding
and sustaining His people. The divinity, which was manifest in Him,
is gradually being unfolded in all of us, until each shall come "unto a
perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ"(Eph. 4:13).
V.
The world is the theatre of an ordered plan, according to which the spirit of man, by repeatedly expressing himself
in varying conditions of life and experience, continually unfolds his powers. This spiritual unfoldment takes place
under an inviolable law of cause and effect. "Whatsoever a man soweth that shall he also reap" (Gal. 6:7). His doings
in each physical incarnation largely determine his experience after death in the intermediate world (or world of purgation)
and the heavenly world, and greatly influence the circumstances of his next birth. Man is a link in a vast chain of life
extending from the highest to the lowest. As he helps those below him, so also he is helped by those who stand above him
on the ladder of life, receiving thus a free gift of grace. There is a communion of saints, just men made perfect (Heb 12:23)
or holy ones, who help mankind. There is a ministry of angels, who transmit God’s love and vitalizing energy to all parts of
His evolutionary scheme.
VI.
Man has etheical duties to himself and others. "Thou shalt love
the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy
soul and with all thy mind and with all thy strength.
This is the first and great commandment; and the second
is like unto it. Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.
On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."
It is the duty of man to learn to discern the divine Light
in himself and others--that Light "which lighteth every man
that cometh into the world" (St. John 1:9). : Because men
are sons of God they are brothers and inseparably linked together.
That which harms one harms the entire brotherhood. Hence a
man owes it as a duty to the God within himself and others:
first, to endeavour constantly to live up to the highest that is in
him, thereby enabling that God within himself to become more
perfectly manifest; and, secondly, to recognise the fact of the
brotherhood by constant effort towards unselfishness, love, consideration
and service to his fellows. Service of humanity and the sacrifice
of the lower self to the higher are laws of spiritual growth.
VII.
Christ instituted various sacraments in which an inward and spiritual grace is given to us through an outward and visible sign.
The Church of the Rose and Cross recognises and administers the seven traditional sacraments, which are: Baptism, Confirmation,
the Holy Eucharist, Absolution, Holy Unction, Holy Matrimony, and Holy Orders.
