From the book
Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry
R. Swinburne Clymer · Diotimos Editions · 2026
Browse this book’s lexicon →Orientation
At a Glance
- The wordThe Great White Brotherhood is the spiritual hierarchy said to guide humanity and preserve a wisdom underlying its religious forms.
- In Ancient Mystic Oriental MasonryThe Foundation account assigns the Brotherhood guardianship of spiritual development.
- In this editionThe phrase follows the historical source.
- A place to readF.67: “115. "Begotten by that Spiritual Hierarchy — the Great White Brotherhood — in whose guardianship is” …
Meaning
The Great White Brotherhood is the spiritual hierarchy said to guide humanity and preserve a wisdom underlying its religious forms.
Use in the book
The Foundation account assigns the Brotherhood guardianship of spiritual development. An original note also connects the name with the eleventh degree of Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry. The final regulation makes it an authority above the Supreme Grand Master.
Places to read
- Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 67“115. "Begotten by that Spiritual Hierarchy — the Great White Brotherhood — in whose guardianship is the evolution of the human race, brought forth from them, They, the guardians of the” …
- Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 70… “error that might arise with regards to the Spiritual Hierarchy before mentioned, ** the guardians of the world's religions. It is from this Great Communion that the "World-Saviours have from time” …
- Foundations of Mystic Masonry · Block 80… “Atlantis — as the Mystic Brother or the Great White Circle. What is now the Fraternity of the Rosy Cross was recognized as the very highest of these Orders, by virtue” …
- Rules and Regulations · Block 29… “the reason that the Grand Hierophants and the Great White Brotherhood are above him in authority and he is always held accountable to them for anything that he may do.”
- Original Notes · 1907 p. 80“* Cooper-Oakley, "Masonry and Mysticism." **Known as the "Great White Brotherhood" and in Ancient Mystic Oriental Masonry as the 11th Degree. Students of the Supreme Initiation will see " The Beautiful” …
In this edition
The phrase follows the historical source. This entry does not extend the name to unrelated organizations or infer the identity of unnamed teachers.
Reading the argument
The transcendent hierarchy, a named grade, and a regulatory superior are different levels of reference. Their overlap explains the order's self-understanding but should not conceal the change from metaphysical teaching to institutional authority.
Great White Brotherhood
“Great White Brotherhood” — 3 occurrences in 3 text blocks: F.67; R.29; N.80.
Great White Circle
“Great White Circle” — 1 occurrence in 1 text block: F.80.
Spiritual Hierarchy
“Spiritual Hierarchy” — 3 occurrences in 3 text blocks: F.67, 70, 79.