Cameroon Hosted First AMORC English Convention

By James Achanyi-Fontem, Email:camlink99@gmail.com The Worthy Grand Master of the English language Jurisdiction of the Ancient Mystical Order of the Rose Cross, AMORC, for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Sven Johansson, undertook a work visit to Cameroon from the 22nd – 25th August, 2013.

During the stay of Sven Johansson in Cameroon, he held meetings in Buea, Douala before presiding over the first ever Cameroon English Rosicrucian Convention at the Yaoundé Congress Hall on the 24th and 25th August, 2013 under the theme: “Wellbeing – The Theory and Practice of Living.” Sven Johansson was accompanied during the trip to Cameroon by Nigerian born Kenneth Idiodi, who is the Grand Administrator for English Speaking West Africa. The English Grand Lodge of AMORC covers English speaking people residing in Europe, Russia, the states of the former Soviet Union, the Middle East, Africa, West Indian Ocean & South Atlantic Islands. Some 300 delegates attended the convention in Cameroon.

Within the theme of the convention, it would be noted that we all have within us an independent kernel of sentience and wisdom..., greater, more developed, more majestic and mature than anyone of us ever imagined possible. Used wisely, it leads us to ever greater expressions of the qualities we long for the most. These qualities consist of greater personal freedom, enhanced mental mobility, refinement of character, a more mature emotional and moral nature, elevated levels of consciousness and creativity, more exacting standards of personal discipline, a more penetrating understanding of the things we are working with, a more forgiving and compassionate nature, deeper and more permanent relationships, personal success in all endeavours we really care about, and finally one day..., a deep, indwelling sense of peace and tranquility, regardless of the outer conditions in which we live. When the human being’s innate wisdom is used incorrectly, or is abused in the pursuit of degrading purposes, the person becomes like so many people in our sorry world today feeling..., unhappy, unfulfilled, lacking in focus, distracted by ephemeral wants rather than fundamental needs, not understanding why they have so many unpleasant setbacks, and generally falling short of many of the good, wholesome things people truly aspire to. It would be noted that, very often the wisdom that most people seem pre-programmed with from birth, remains hidden and undiscovered throughout their life. This is hidden by the turmoil and distractions of worldly existence, unhappy relationships and financial worries, and shielded from discovery by the frantic pace of life. If only more people knew what they were missing..., what immense creativity, happiness and achievements they would see! Wellbeing is just one of the questions about life. Have you ever asked yourself questions like: Who am I? Why am I here? What is my purpose in life? In fact, is there even a purpose?

Most people have pondered such existential questions at one time or other, but few have found answers they can really believe. Most answers we hear nowadays are not credible, not reasonable, not rational. If they aren't couched in fundamentalist religious terms, they are usually out of the book of alien conspiracy theories. So it is understandable that few people care about such existential issues. Who after all has the time nowadays to ponder such things? Does it really matter whether we know the answers or not? For seekers of spiritual enlightenment, it certainly does..., and answers often come to them in moments of quietude as inspiring thoughts seemingly originating within themselves. Their conclusions may not be the final answer, but they are rational and believable; and for the remainder of their lives they carry their conclusions and the rationales behind them as anchor points to which they return again and again. And this is precisely what Rosicrucians do..., and wish many others could do too. For the really hard questions, those that are almost too hard to even ask, the honest response is and always has been silence..., no response. Silence is all we get when we ask questions we cannot adequately formulate meaningful answers. Silence has always been the most accurate answer we get to questions relating to who or what we actually are, for it is ultimately the deepest of all questions there is. The reality of our existence is one thing, and we all have our views on this; but the actuality of what we are, where this "thinking thing that is me" originates, where it is destined to go, and what it is supposed to be doing in life..., such questions can only be answered in part only, and the answers come to us usually only during periods of calmness and genuine inner silence. This too, Rosicrucians seek to teach. It is during the calmness and serenity of that inner silence that we can gain an appreciation of the true form of all existence, and ultimately learn how to ask the questions that really count. Full and final answers are seldom received, but partial answers that profoundly change our lives for the better and expand our appreciation of life and our place in it..., these will come regularly throughout life from then on. Realistically, it is only in moments of true inner silence that we learn how to connect with the boundless wisdom we already possess. Most of the time, it is hidden and out of reach to our outer self; yet it is already highly refined and merely waiting for a way to be put to good use. Every person has the innate ability to find their own deeply satisfying extraordinary answers to all questions they can formulate. Very few persons, however, know how to accomplish this. What is needed is a workable method of tapping into that personal innate wisdom, connecting with the deepest part of one's being..., and that is what Rosicrucians do for themselves, and teach others to do when sincerely asked. Mastering such methods requires a tried and tested system of inner development, and this is what the Rosicrucian Order provides for anyone truly. AMORC is well implanted worldwide with jurisidictions as follows: Croatian,Czech,Danish,Dutch,English (Americas),English (Australasia), English (Europe, M/East & Africa), Finnish,French, German, Greek, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Latvian, Norwegian, Polish, Portuguese, Russian, Slovak, Spanish (Americas excluded), Spanish (Americas only), Swedish Here is the full agenda of the first ever Rosicrucian Order, AMORC, English Convention in Cameroon

AMORC Cameroon Convention Agenda (22nd – 25th August, 2013) 22nd August – Hermes Chapter Buea 10.00 -11.45 Visit to Hermes Chapter Premises 12.05 -12.30 Council of Solace attunement Plotinus Lodge Douala, Bonaberi 4 Etages 19.00 -21.00 Convocation & Special Ritual Installation of the Temple Degree Initiation Team 23rd August 2013 16.00 16.45 Visit AMORC Domain in Yaoundé 17.30 -18.00 Preparation of Temple for the General Conventicle 18.15 -20.00 TMO General Conventicle 24th August 2013 Congress Hall Yaoundé 08.00 – 08.30 Registration 09.00 – 09.25 opening Ceremony 09.25 -10.20 “Wellbeing: The Theory of Living” (Part 1) 10.20 -10.30 Break 10.30 -11.25 “Wellbeing: The Theory of Living” (Part 2) 11.25- 12.05 Break& Temple Preparation for Council of Solace 12.05 -12.30 Council of Solace attunement 12.30 -14.00 Break 14.00 -14.55 “Wellbeing, The Practice of Living” (Part 1) 14.55 – 15.05 Break 15.05 -16.00 “Wellbeing, The Practice of Living” (Part 2) 16.00 -17.10 Break 17.10 -18.50 Pronaos Convocation 18.50 -21.00 Members meet to fraternise (Hall is closed) 25th August 2013 Congress Hall Yaoundé 08.00 -08.50 Registration 09.00 -10.40 Lodge Convocation 10.40 .12.05 Preparation for Council of Solace 12.05 -12.30 Council of Solace attunement 12.30 -13.10 Break 13.15 -13.45 R C Forum with members 13.45 -14.00 Closing remarks by Grand Councillor, Grand Administrator & GM End of Convention For more information, send a mail to : amorcencam@yahoo.com or call: +237 79022106