Order of the White Rose

The order of the White Rose was an esoteric Spiritualist organization that included elements of Rosicrucianism and mysticism not generally associated with Spiritualism. Its founder was Jesse Charles Fremont Grumbine (1861-1938), who created the order in the 1890s in Chicago. Around 1900 he moved to Boston, where he lived for many years. Then in 1921 he moved first to Cleveland, Ohio, and two years later to Portland, Oregon.

For Grumbine, there was a distinction between Universal Spirit and personal individual spirits. Universal Spirit does not exist as a deity outside of the universe, but as the radiant center from which spirits draw their life. Matter is the substance of form. Form defines and limits spirits, which are temporal, relative, and finite. Spiritualism reveals the spirit of God within each human spirit. By bringing evidence of survival of death and of disencarnate spirits, Spiritualism demonstrates the divinity of each spirit. Psychic abilities (clairvoyance, telepathy, healing, and prevision) are innate divine powers. Grumbine believed that the proper use and control of those powers could produce a divine manhood and womanhood.

The order was organized into two branches, the order of the Red Rose, an outer branch, and the order of the White Rose, its esoteric branch. Both branches were believed to lead members to the inner celestial branch of the order. Members were organized into chapters, though no information on the size of the order has survived. It published a number of books by Grumbine, an indication of at least some degree of success. There is no record of the order surviving Grumbine.

Sources:

Grumbine, J. C. F. Clairaudience. Boston: Order of the White Rose, 1911.

——. Clairvoyance. Boston: Order of the White Rose,1911.

——. Melchizedek; or, The Secret Doctrine of the Bible. Boston: Order of the White Rose, 1919.