R. Swinburne Clymer

Who was R. Swinburne Clymer?

Reuben Swinburne Clymer, M.D., D.O. was an American Rosicrucian. He succeeded Edward Holmes Brown as Supreme Grand Master of the FRC in 1922, and served until his death in 1966, when he was succeeded by his son Emerson Myron Clymer. Reuben attained the rank of Grand Master in 1905.

The succession from Edward H. Brown to R. S. Clymer is questioned by many. Clymer's claim rested instead on having bought the literary estate and archives of Paschal Beverly Randolph from Randolph's widow Kate Randolph, and he created his 'Fraternitas Rosae Crucis' in 1920, two years before Brown died.

There are claims that Clymer only attained the second degree in Brown's Temple of the Rosy Cross, in Boston.

What is not disputed is that 'Eulis' was the holder of Randolph's lineage, and that 'Eulis' recognised the SRIA. The concordance is on the SRIA website. It is not clear whether the FRC can furnish a similar recognition.

Influenced by the writings of the 19th century occultist and sex magic practitioner Paschal Beverly Randolph, Clymer kept several of Randolph's books in print through the middle of the 20th century,