History & Principles

It's History

Declaration of Principles

It's History

To trace the origin of THE CHURCH OF LIGHT, recourse must be made to tradition. Pseudo-occultists and charlatans are only too ready to appropriate a name and use it to deceive the unwary. Hence a name and boasted lineage mean nothing in such matters. When genuine they rest upon secret tradition. And such documentary evidence as can be submitted for the genuine may easily be imitated by the spurious.

The only safe criterion of the genuineness of any' esoteric teaching Is the amount and accuracy of the information contained therein. The Brotherhood of Light lessons are now accessible to all. We welcome investigation with a view to proving their value. The lineage here given is not to claim infallibility or to prove authority but to disclaim any originality in the ideas set forth beyond their method of presentation. Upon the prima facie evidence these lessons contain as expositors of THE RELIGION OF THE STARS The Church of Light is well content to rest all its claims.

According to our traditions, in the year 2,440 BC a group separated from the Theocracy of Egypt, and through all subsequent times, as a secret order, the name of which translated into English means The Brotherhood of Light, has been perpetuated, and has exerted a beneficial influence upon western civilization.

To this school we are indebted for the foundation of every science upon which rests, and which alone makes possible, modern civilization.

The Greek philosophers, Thales, Pythagoras, Plato, Eudoxus, and a score of others famed for learning that might be mentioned received initiation directly at the hands of the Egyptian members of the fraternity.

At a later date this venerable order gave the impetus to learning in Alexandria, which made that city so justly famous. And it was one of The Brotherhood of Light, the noble Hypatia, who, after the decline of the colleges in that city, was the last to withstand the onslaughts of superstitious ignorance, and died endeavoring to spread the light of ancient wisdom.

It was The Brotherhood of Light who preserved the taper of learning from complete extinction during the dark ages, and who were responsible for kindling with it the fires of science and philosophy in Europe, even in the face of ruthless persecution.

The most ancient teachings in the world are those of THE RELIGION OF THE STARS. They have been handed down to custodians from prehistoric times, and were the doctrines taught and accepted in the School of the Magi in ancient Chaldea and Egypt. The Masters of this school penetrated the inmost recesses of nature, grasped her arcane secrets, and made her forces subservient to the will of man. At no later date have the occult sciences and the laws of spiritual advancement been so well understood in their practical aspect.

In later ages, to preserve this knowledge for posterity and at the same time to keep it from the hands of a fast degenerating priesthood, the masters of this ancient religion and science became a secret organization. No one was initiated into The Brotherhood of Light, thus formed, until they proved mental and moral fitness to receive such priceless wisdom.

The Brotherhood of Light not only has persisted as such on the inner planes, but the line of succession has been kept alive, although at times it became exceedingly thin, also on the physical plane.

C.C. Zain (Elbert Benjamine), after two years largely devoted to occult studies and the development of his psychic faculties, contacted The Brotherhood of Light in the year 1900, and commenced his studies under its tutelage.

In the spring of 1909, he was called upon to take a trip for the purpose of being made the successor of one of the council of three who conducted the affairs of the organization on the physical plane. The one he succeeded had passed to the next life.

At this meeting, attended by himself and the two other members of the council, he was given considerable information. The two other members of the council convinced him that it was imperative for some member or members to prepare a complete system of occult education by which the dawning Aquarian Age might become conversant with THE RELIGION OF THE STARS.

At that time he shrank from their suggestion that he, being still young, while they were well along in years, should undertake this task. Yet during the year following this trip, the circumstances of his life changed markedly. He became closely associated with members of The Brotherhood of Light on the inner plane. They succeeded in doing what the council on the physical plane had failed to do. In the spring of 1910 he gave a definite and irrevocable promise he would write the 21 courses of lessons on the 21 branches of occult science, and that he would reestablish THE RELIGION OF THE STARS on earth.

In this work he has had the cooperation of the older members of the organization on the physical plane, and has constantly been guided and directed by teachers of The Brotherhood of Light on the inner planes.

The five years following the giving of his promise to The Brotherhood were spent in preparation. In May 1915, he came to Los Angeles, started classes, wrote The Outline of Initiation, and gradually began building a membership. The World War was raging, and he was instructed not to open membership to the public at large until the war was over. The first public class officially gathered under the auspices of The Brotherhood of Light was held Armistice Day, Nov. 11, 1918.

Work on the preparation of The Brotherhood of Light lessons was started March 21, 1914. The final lesson on the 21 Courses of 210 lessons was completed Feb. 20, 1934. By 1950, the 21 BofL Courses appeared as 210 printed booklets as well as in 23 bound books.

In order to carry out its objective of reestablishing THE RELIGION OF THE STARS on earth, The Brotherhood of Light was incorporated as The Church of Light, on November 2, 1932, 9:55 a.m. PST, at Los Angeles. The three founders of The Church of Light were Elbert Benjamine (C. C. Zain), who served as President until his demise November 18, 1951; Elizabeth D. Benjamine, who served as Secretary-Treasurer until her passing in 1942; and Fred H. Skinner, who served as Vice President until his demise in 1940.

The Church of Light was incorporated to teach, practice, and disseminate The Religion of The Stars, as set forth in the 21 courses of lessons covering each of the 21 branches of occult science, as written by C. C. Zain under the auspices of The Brotherhood of Light.

The Lessons are each complete, and the courses are so arranged that those having made no previous study of such subjects may advance by easy steps to a complete mastery of the most difficult subjects. At the same time the information is so condensed that no useless reading is required; and is of such a nature that the most advanced occult teacher will receive new light from every lesson from the first.

Those not Members as well as Members may purchase one or all of the lessons embraced in any course. Members, however, are given additional privileges. When a course has been studied with the aid of the question sheet furnished with each lesson, the Member is furnished with a set of Final Examination Questions covering the entire course. The answers to the Final Examination should be sent to The Church of Light headquarters where it will be audited based upon a pass/fail system.

Every Member passing the final examination on a course is advanced one degree in Membership in The Church of Light and is awarded a diploma showing the degree of Membership attained, and given a Private Manuscript corresponding to the number of the degree to which he/she has attained. Any Member who successfully passes all 21 Final Examinations receives a HERMETICIAN certificate.

The Private Manuscript for each degree is indicated in the List of Lessons. These Private Manuscripts are SOLD TO NO ONE, and can only be obtained by passing the requirements of the degrees to which they belong. They contain information of value that it is unwise to impart to those who have not shown mental and spiritual worthiness to receive such information.

Declaration of Principles

The Church of Light is a religious altruistic association. We consider all humankind brothers and sisters in the higher sense, and utilize our resources, both occult and physical, for their benefit. Our members work on all planes and in every sphere of life, ministering unto the needy. We recognize the call of distress and extend the helping hand. It is our endeavor to lighten the burdens and increase the happiness of all with whom we come in contact.

We teach the cultivation of soul attributes in the evolution of the individual from man to angel. In this development we believe there should be simultaneous progress and expression on the three planes of existence: physical, mental and spiritual. In addition to theorists the world requires practical and unselfish workers inspired by a growing spirituality to relieve physical suffering, to enlighten the ignorant, and to bring hope to those in despair.

In life nothing is worth while but unselfish effort. To labor ceaselessly for the benefit of the needy is to live the Life of the Spirit. Every opportunity to assist another should be grasped as a blessing and considered as such. Not along one channel only, but through every avenue of human endeavor available for such work, should the energies be directed.

There cannot be Two Orders of Truth in the universe. Therefore, we deny that there is any antagonism between true Science and true Religion. We accept but one book as infallible in interpreting the Will of Deity. That is the Book of Nature. We worship but one Religion, which is also a Science. It is Nature's Laws.

Our members are under no obligation to accept our teachings. We encourage them to investigate all existing religious and occult organizations, and we desire that in every way they may broaden their minds and increase the range of their knowledge, exoteric and esoteric.

We desire no one to accept anything upon authority. Our teachings will bear the searchlight of analysis, and we encourage the student to make critical comparison, not only with all other teachings, but also with nature, who presides as judge in the court of final appeal, and is the arbiter of all our destinies.

Put all things to these tests: Is it Good? Is it True? Some day, as the result of deeper thought and wider experience you will be ready to accept ideas that you now lay aside as doubtful. Just as in the past, if you are a progressive soul, you have discarded certain beliefs that you once firmly held to make room for those that are now the mold of your endeavor.

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