History of the Order

Did that divine knowledge which constituted the supreme possession of the ancient Mysteries survive the destruction of their Temples? Is it yet accessible to humanity? Our answer to these questions is, "Yes." The Mystery Schools of antiquity provided their Initiates with various methods of experiencing the Light of the eternal Spirit.

If you describe yourself as a "seeker," then you have realized that there is a definite understanding and wisdom to be discovered regarding the Mysteries of Life. Certain uncanny circumstances and coincidences which have taken place in your life, have a discernible purpose and pattern, which has brought you to this moment and the reading of these words. The soul and guiding light of all Mystery traditions — ancient or modern, eastern or western — is the Inner School, sometimes referred to as "the Invisible College. The Inner School has manifested many outer vehicles for its expression throughout history, in much the same manner as your True Self has manifested countless bodies for incarnation.

The Fraternity of the Hidden Light is just such a vehicle for the Inner School. We are dedicated to the enlightened evolution of both the individual and the race, in accordance with the grand design of Nature. The Fraternity of the Hidden Light was founded a decade ago by Paul A. Clark and a handful of Initiates of high grade. The Mother Temple was established in Southern California (USA) with Dr. Clark as the Steward of the Order. The Fraternity was organized for the following three-fold purpose:

To act as a modern day repository of the Hermetic Arts as contained within the Tarot, Qabalah, Alchemy, Astrology and Magic, as well as to conduct on-going research into the Great Work;
To train its members for unselfish service to humanity, by providing a seeding ground for their growth and development through individual and group applications of the Wisdom teachings;
To promulgate the spiritual heritage of the Western Mystery Tradition in an effort to elevate the thought-life of humanity at-large, and bring about the Reign of Harmony on Earth.

The Fraternity of the Hidden Light (or Fraternitas L.V.X. Occulta) possesses a direct lineage to the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Shortly after the turn of the century, the Golden Dawn established a branch of itself in the United States of America. This Order was reconstituted under European dispensation and became the Rosicrucian Order of the Alpha et Omega in America. This Order had Temples in Philadelphia, Los Angeles and San Francisco, with the governing or Mother Temple in New York (Thoth-Hermes Temple #9).

A little over half a century ago, the Praemonstrator (or ruling Chief) of the Thoth-Hermes Temple, along with three other officers, re-organized and expanded the teachings of the Alpha et Omega and formed a new Mystery School operating under a New Age dispensation; to be a transitional Order bringing Humanity from the Piscean Age into the Aquarian Age — the Age of the Complete Human.

The founders of this new Order have since made their transitions. They have left the vestiges of a lofty tradition capable of infinite expansion by those who hold the "keys." The Fraternity of the Hidden Light is one of the inheritors of these "keys," and to it has fallen the task of expansion. The Canadian Distance Education Center is part of this mandate.

The Fraternity also has the unique opportunity to blend the three forms of expression through which the Mystery Tradition has been revealed to the world. The three forms or "Rays" are those of Power, Love, and Wisdom. The Order is endeavoring to unite these three great rays into a symmetrical triangle of inter-dependent spiritual support which will carry the Race through the next millennium. The "Hidden Light" in the Order's name refers to that mystical, hidden Light which is resident in all life - the Spirit within.

Mystery Schools of all Ages have employed elaborate methods to screen their students and test their integrity and dedication to the Great Work. At the same time, these methods were intended to give the student an understanding of and feeling for that particular school's approach to the Work of L.V.X.

The Fraternity of the Hidden Light is no different. The curriculum of the Fraternity is personally guided and consists of study, meditation and ritual. It's studies center primarily around the mystical Arts of Qabalah, Alchemy, Astrology, Magick, the Tarot and what may be called Occult Psychology. Meditation is used to bring about an in-depth understanding of the Tradition and to create in the Aspirant a personal communication link with the only true Teacher — one's own Higher Self. Rituals are used for numerous purposes; the most frequent purpose is an initiatory one. The rituals are aimed at invoking quantum changes in consciousness, leading toward a perception of the inner realities behind outward appearances. An important part of the curriculum is the application of the teachings toward healing. With the use of color and sound, a harmonizing and equilibrating energy is released by their work, for all those who are in need — be they student, friend or foe.

Since its inception, the Fraternity has experienced constant growth. Today, the Order has students and working Temples in nine countries, spanning five continents.