The Fraternity is generally known throughout the world as the Ancient Mystic Order of Rosae Crucis, often abbreviated to the initials "AMORC." It came to America first in 1694. It is non sectarian and in a broad sense non-religious, inasmuch as its teachings include the practical sciences to a greater extent than principles of religious thought. It has consistently tabooed the superstitious arts of the Orient and does not include fortune tell ing, necromancy, or spiritualism. Each jurisdiction is under the direction of an Imperator who has a supreme council as an ad visory board and establishes chartered lodges and chapters. All jurisdictions are united in a general international body through the appointment of one high officer as a member of the Interna tional Rosicrucian Council. This body constitutes the supreme advisory power of the world-wide organization.
The organization is not related to any other Fraternity despite the fact that there is a symbolical degree in the Scottish Rites of Freemasonry known as the "Rosicrucian Degree." Many Ma
sonic historians have shown that modern Freemasonry was out lined by men trained in Rosicrucian rituals, but the Rosicrucian Fraternity makes no claims in this regard. There are some Masonic-Rosicrucian societies, such as the Societas Rosicruciana en Anglia, with headquarters in London, composed exclusively of Freemasons, but these are not part of the International Rosi crucian Organization. Some students of Oriental philosophy have also used the word "Rosicrucian" as part of their title but these are not affiliated with the International organization.