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Romana’s Lemurian Fellowship: A Unique Approach to
Religion and Life By Chris Langton The Romona Sentinel, December
26, 1974, page 10, Section B One of the things that makes Ramona unique
is that it is the location for the world headquarters of the few thousand
followers of The Lemurian Philosophy. About five miles out of Ramona on Highway
67, the Lemurian Fellowship, a corporation set up for spreading the Lemurian
Philosophy, carries on its work quietly from a small complex of buildings on
its 60-acre site. Its work consists primarily of running a correspondence
school for teaching the Lemurian Philosophy to its students. The Lemurian Philosophy appears to be a
unique blend of religious, philosophical, ethical and historical elements.
Although it is not a religion in the orthodox sense, with regular services
and congregational programs and all the trappings of organized religion, its
teachings include a concept of God and His universal laws, and the
terminology of the philosophy reflects the influence of both eastern and
western religious concepts. Also evident in the teaching is the
mental discipline and basis on set principles found in philosophy, but with
the emphasis on practicality and applicability in an individual’s experience
found in ethics. In fact, students of the teaching say one of the main
advantages to the philosophy is its practicality in dealing with their lives. “With our philosophy, we try to get
people to approach the practical aspects of their lives, and to solve their
problems,” explains Reynolds G. Dennis, a member of the board of
governors of the Lemurian Fellowship and a student of the Lemurian Philosophy
for over 30 years. “People that are too idealistic have trouble with it.
We’re not a large organization, although we are world-wide, because we make
some pretty stringent demands on people’s lives. To put the principles of the
teachings to work requires asking people to make some sacrifices, getting
them to change habits, which is hard. But one of the joys of our work is to
see these principles work and enable students to solve their problems.” The principles of the Lemurian Teaching
were the revelation of Dr. Robert D. Stelle, who founded the Lemurian Fellowship
In 1936 in Chicago. Headquarters for the fellowship moved to Milwaukee for a
time, then to Chula Vista and finally In 1941 to Ramona, Dennis said, to get
away from the influence and pressure of the city to the quiet of the rural
area, yet still be close to the advantages a major city has to offer. The system of teachings founded by Dr.
Stelle is based on a cosmic hierarchy of existence, which involves
reincarnation and evolution of the Ego (the term in Lemurian lexicon for
one’s Identity) In a series of life experiences designed to teach one to
handle every aspect of existence and thus to advance toward perfection and
at-one-ment with God. Students say the principles incorporated in the
Lemurian Philosophy, when applied, will enable one to better handle these
experiences and to advance egoically. “We believe sincerely that man’s life and
affairs are governed by cosmic, natural, universal law, God’s law,” Dennis
said, in explaining the basis of the Lemurian teachings. “We’re committed to
obey the laws of nature, and when we go contrary to them we experience
unpleasant things, from which we learn.” “We will grow as we cooperate with these
natural laws. We believe the Ego progresses, not just through one lifetime,
and accumulates experience that will allow us to grow so we can master all
aspects of human life.” Dennis said individuals are at different
levels of egoic unfoldment or advancement, and that Dr. Stelle’s level of
advancement was such that he was receptive to the revelation of the Lemurian
Philosophy from the Elder Brothers, the Egos according to the Lemurian
Philosophy who have advanced far enough That they no longer need to
incarnate. The ultimate of the Lemurian teachings is for as many Egos as
possible to reach the level of advancement achieved by the Elder Brothers. The Lemurian
Philosophy has its historical basis in the Mukulian civilization, a
civilization that thrived on a continent named Mu claimed by followers of the
philosophy to have existed in the area of the Pacific Ocean, Like the lost
continent of Atlantis, this continent is said to have sunk into the ocean
during a time when its civilization was falling under the influence of
corruptive elements in the population. However, the Lemurian teaching holds
that records of that civilization were preserved and became the basis for the
civilization of Atlantis. Some of the records, scientific data,
thinking, art and culture of Atlantis and Mu was saved when Atlantis too was
submerged, Lemurian students contend, and It is part of this wealth of
knowledge that is passed along in the Lemurian Philosophy. The work of the
Fellowship in teaching the philosophy is done with the hope of preparing
students for a new age and a new society which will be the most advanced
human society of all time, and will incorporate all the good of the previous
civilizations of Mu and Atlantis, as preserved in the Lemurian Teaching. “Our Philosophy stems from the Mukulian
civilization, associated with the area where the Pacific Ocean is currently,”
Dennis said during an interview. “Evidence is being found more frequently
today of a highly advanced civilization that submerged in the Pacific area.” “When the continent submerged, all the
records and history of the civilization that grew out of it were preserved
and brought together by the Great Brotherhoods. Mu was engulfed with
selfishness and greed, which went against the laws of nature, and that is why
it was destroyed. If we follow the teaching and live in accord with these
laws, we can avoid such a catastrophe.” Dennis said the followers of the Lemurian
Philosophy are trying to take the good features of these lost civilizations
and build a new order and advanced human society from them. “That order is a long way off,” he said.
“What we’re trying to do here is to live enough of the philosophy to be an
example of what we teach. We have our short-comings, but we know we are w
working towards a goal. and that makes it easier to stay on the right path.” What the Lemurian followers teach Is
contained in 12 basic lessons, each of about 30,000 to 40,000 words, although
Dennis said these are presently being revised into more and shorter lessons.
These lessons are sent to students for a monthly tuition fee, and are
designed to train him step by step in the Lemurian Philosophy. The basics of the philosophy include
natural laws for balanced living, Dennis said, such as the Law of Action and
Reaction (Cause and Effect), Law of Precipitation, Law of Compensation, Law
of Correspondence and the Law of Transmutation, which can be applied to an
individual’s experience to help him solve his problems. Questionnaires are
included with each lesson to determine a student’s grasp of the teaching and
his ability to apply it to his life. Lessons cover such topics as the origin
of man, transition (death), reincarnation, karma, marriage and relationships,
health, the history of the Mukulian civilization, the Bible, the life of
Christ, the New Order and the twelve virtues, The twelve virtues; according
to Dennis, are most important to become a balanced individual. “We try to cultivate the 12 basic virtues
(sincerity, discrimination, precision, efficiency, patience, tolerance,
kindliness, charity, courage, forbearance, devotion and humility) to, achieve
a balanced character,” said Dennis. “We feel if we can balance each of the
virtues we can do a better job of living in accord with cosmic law.” Upon completion of the basic study in the
12 lessons, an advanced training course may be taken which Dennis said allows
the student to show a firmer grasp of the principles taught in the basic
course. Graduates of the advanced course are screened and about 90 per cent
of them are invited to join the student organization known as the Lemurian
Order. Membership in the Order is a mark of distinction to those who have
shown they are dedicated to building a foundation for the coming new society,
said Dennis. The Lemurian Fellowship receives only a
few hundred applications yearly for its correspondence course, Dennis said, and
of these perhaps 10 to 15 percent are accepted for the course. The
correspondence work is handled by four or five teachers at the Ramona
headquarters. Dennis said many people who begin the course embrace another
religion at the time, and continue to practice that religion while they study
the Lemurian Philosophy. “We have found that much an arrangement
is satisfactory for a time, and that it depends solely on the level of
advancement of the individual,” he said. “We don’t require that they stop
following another faith, although most people who continue with the
Philosophy find, as they get more involved with it and understand it, that
any other religion gradually loses its significance for them.” People come to the Lemurian Philosophy
from all backgrounds and all religions, said Dennis. The only thing
most have in common is their orientation towards practicality. “We have students from all backgrounds
and all religions,” Dennis said. “There’s no stereo-type for those who study
the Lemurian Philosophy, But all of them are practical people, which They
must be to be able to use the teaching. A desire to apply the rules of the
teaching is requisite for one to become a student.” Another aspect of the Lemurian
organization is the Lemurian Crafts, which Dennis described as an expression
of the Lemurian Philosophy in action, It is an effort by a handful of
students of the Lemurian Order to make artistic and useful products and
market them. The work is carried on at the
Fellowship’s other property in Ramona, a 200-acre site at the end of
Montecito Way. Their main product at this time is custom architectural
hardware, mostly door-pulls for businesses. These are made of aluminum, brass
and bronze, and designed and inlaid with semi-precious stones, marble, ceramic
tile and other materials. Dennis said the products are marketed
through a firm in St. Louis, and the proceeds go to help maintain the
Lemurian facility in Ramona. He said the work gives students an opportunity
to prove the effectiveness of the teaching in living and working together,
and gives them a feeling of being part of the Lemurian program. Although followers of the Lemurian
Philosophy claim it is a practical teaching, and can be used to achieve a
more balanced life. It has appealed to relatively few since the founding of
the Fellowship in 1936. Though the Lemurian Teaching is geared towards the
establishment of a new order in society, Dennis said the philosophy is not
for everybody, as the numbers of students indicate. “We don’t say it’s the last word,” said Dennis,” and it
may not be the answer for everybody right now. But it’s something to which
some of us want to devote our lives.” More detailed information on the Lemurian
Fellowship may he found in their latest brochure, which may he obtained by
writing to the Lemurian Fellowship, P, 0. Box 397, Ramona, Calif. 92065. |
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