Ralph Maxwell Lewis

Ralph Maxwell Lewis (February 14, 1904 - January 12, 1987), the son of Harvey Spencer Lewis, was the Imperator of Rosicrucian organisation Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis (AMORC) from 1939 to 1987. In Fédération Universelle des Ordres et Sociétés Initiatiques, FUDOSI, he was known with the nomen mysticum Sar Validivar. He received his initiation in Martinism during the second convention of FUDOSI in September 1936. He is the author of a number of books regarding mysticism, most of them are available from the AMORC. Ralph Maxwell Lewis was born in New York City to 10:30 hours. His father, Harvey Spencer Lewis-first Imperator of AMORC for North and South America – was born in New Jersey and was of Gallic origin, being descended from Sir Robert Lewis, former American colonizers. His mother was born in Boston, Massachusetts
Ralph M. Lewis received his early education in the schools of New York and New Jersey Military Academy. In 1918 his family took up residence in San Francisco, California. In 1919, in this city, he began his studies of law and accounting. Ralph crossed the threshold of the order in February 6, 1921, by special permission, just eight days before completing 17 (seventeen) years. Spent by the various Degrees of order in the San Francisco Store, and began then to study, conscientious and systematically, the philosophical thought of all times. In March 28, 1923 married Gladys Natishna Hammer, which would be known to all Rosicrucians as Soror Gladys Lewis. In March 1924 he was elected Supreme Secretary of AMORC, and, later, with the transition of his father in August 2, 1939, was elected by the Board of Directors of the Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC Imperator of the order, a position he held until honorably his Great Initiation, in January 12, 1987.
In 1936 was initiated as a Rose-Croix Order Kabalistique and in the Traditional Martinist Order in Europe. In March 1940, Lewis was elected President of the International Supreme Council of the order Rosæ Crucis. Among the various awards he received the honorary degree of doctor of Literature by University of Andhra Research of India and the star and the cross of science, International Academic Council. Among the many activities of Lewis were the Foundation of the Grand Lodge of Brazil, in the summer of 1956, which, subsequently, Soror Maria a. Moura took over as Grand Master, and the restoration of AMORC in France in 1959, where he was installed the Frater Christian Bernard as Grand Master
Lewis built new buildings for the Rosicrucian Egyptian Museum in 1966.