For decades, while traveling to Oceanside, we have admired an ornate structure atop a hillside. Today, we decided to stop and have a history lesson. I can't believe it has taken us this long! I absolutely know we will be back.
Perched on the rim of a hill that overlooks the San Luis Rey River Valley, is the headquarters for the Rosicrucian Fellowship (1909). Organized by Max Heindel, the Fellowship is dedicated and devoted to the healing of the sick through spiritual astrology, which is approached as a science, that will one "day be used as a tool in helping those who are emotionally, mentally or physically ill".Trying to get the history as accurate as possible, I looked at its National Historic Landmark application which details its significance for Oceanside and beyond. I can't begin to understand all the teachings but I can appreciate the history and architecture, which surprised us immensely.According to the Fellowship's website, "The Rosicrucian Philosophy is entirely Christian, striving to make religion a living factor in the land and lead to Christ those who cannot find Him by faith alone. To accomplish this end we present a definite, logical and sequential teaching concerning the origin, evolution, and future development of the world and man, showing both the spiritual and scientific aspects: a teaching which makes no statements that are not supported by reason and logic. Our aim is to enable people to accept the Christian doctrines through the medium of esoteric knowledge."Located on 40 acres, there is much to explore here and the setting is spectacular. We even picnicked in the garden. It was peaceful and picturesque.The history of the Guest House, surprised me, too. The Sanitarium Building was begun in 1932. If building permit applications can be taken as a guide, hopes were high for sufficient funds to finish this building. Construction began in February, and by mid-summer, the shell of the building was finished. A lack of money delayed final completion, and it did not open until December 1938. By this time it was almost too late to tap the national interest in sanitaria (did you know there was a national interest in sanitaria?). The building was closed for remodeling in 1957 and reopened as a non-medical guest house, sometime later.
The last important building to be constructed on the site was the Healing Center, a cruciform building of stuccoed gypsum block, constructed in 1938. In addition to its cruciform shape, one of the main design elements in this building as well as the Ecclesia (Temple) and the Sanitarium (Guest House), is the use of a twelve-sided drum to symbolize the signs of the zodiac, other symbolic motifs are the rose, the cross, and the five-pointed star, all of which form the emblem of the organization.
Let's talk about what drew us here in the first place, The Temple (Ecclesia), which incorporates classical architectural elements symbolizing the elements of theosophy, astrology and Christianity, embodied in the ideas of Max Heindel. In addition, there are design elements believed to be associated with ancient city of Atlantis.The Ecclesia (1921) was realized from plans initially drawn in 1915. The structure is formed of a twelve-sided drum of reinforced concrete, supporting a dome upon which rests a twelve-sided cupola and finial. Multi-paned stained-glass windows are set into three arched openings on each side of the building with stained-glass fanlights in the arches. The front door is of carved wood, set in an arched doorway. The entrance is surmounted by a Neo-classical pediment and entablature resting on two Ionic columns.
"Please remain silent. Do not disturb the healing energy field. Thank you."As in all the solar temples, the Ecclesia portal is facing east (the rising sun). In front of the portal stand two palm trees. The portal is constituted by a triangular-shaped pediment upon two round columns. At the centre of the pediment, there is an equilateral triangle, symbol of Trinity, inscribed by "the eye of God."
This is the final statement on the National Historic Landmark application, "The Rosicrucian Fellowship Temple retains its original architectural integrity and its importance to the members of the Rosicrucian Fellowship. Beyond this, it is the most imposing structure on a prominent landmark in Oceanside. The undeveloped portion of the property is a steep hill cut with rocky ravines, and this fact would seem to serve as a guarantee that the Rosicrucian site is likely to remain as an undeveloped open space and a reminder of the early history of Oceanside."
“Life is a journey with almost limitless detours.”
― Ken Poirot
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