The Sphinx's Lodge

Nestled in the Rose Garden neighborhood of San Jose, the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum stands as a remarkable fusion of physical and metaphysical history—and one with at least a passing connection to Freemasonry.

Home to one of the largest collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts in the country, the museum’s history is deeply intertwined with the vision of its founder, Harvey Spencer Lewis, and the fraternal order he led. Lewis (1883–1939), a self- proclaimed Egyptologist and esoteric scholar, was a writer, an archaeologist, and the founder of the Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC). Lewis professed to have access to kabbalistic knowledge that stretched back to the time of the pharaohs, which was codified into his order’s 12 degrees.

During his career, Lewis began collecting Egyptian artifacts, which became the foundation of the museum’s collection. In 1966, Lewis’s son, Ralph Maxwell Lewis, oversaw an expansion to the group’s San Jose headquarters, marking the beginning of what would evolve into the museum we now know.

Today, visitors can explore everything from a reconstructed rock-cut temple to displays of mummified human remains. There’s even an AI-powered bot that speaks in the voice of Thoth, the Egyptian god of writing, wisdom, and magic.

For many Masons, the terms “Rosicrucian” and “Rose Croix” may sound familiar, as they appear within various Masonic degrees. They are all based on the so-called Rosicrucian manifestos, which first appeared in 17th-century Germany. The third of these included the allegorical story of Christian Rosenkreuz, master of all useful knowledge, whose followers sought to recover his teachings for the benefit of humanity. Some interpreted these manifestos as a call for the reconciliation of science, art, and religion in pursuit of spiritual harmony, while others saw them as an invitation to join a secret and esoteric brotherhood. Figures like Lewis and the founders of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn used these writings, along with other occultist works, to shape their orders.

So, is there a connection between Masonry and the Rosicrucians? In the strictest sense, no. However, both are esoteric fraternal orders espousing many of the same principles. And in the sense that both work toward the betterment of their members and the world around them, you might say they each encourage you to stop and smell the roses.