Harvey Spencer Lewis (November 25, 1883 – August 2, 1939), a Rosicrucian author, mystic and the founder of AMORC.

[3][4] He founded the organization after a trip to France with his father, claiming that he had been initiated into Rosicrucianism and was given a mission to spread it there in what he called an "old tower" in Toulouse.

He was proud of receiving this document, despite differences in belief between the two organizations (AMORC did not practice sex magic).

[4] While predominantly Rosicrucian, the works of Lewis also incorporate neo-Templar elements, having a particular interest in the 18th century revivalist order of Bernard-Raymond Fabré-Palaprat and the Knights Templar.

Lewis had had some contact with neo-Templar figures and related European occultists, including Émile Dantinne.