Report #2381 (Addendum)
©1998 Daniel Harms

Lazarus

Then Jesus, again greatly disturbed, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone was lying against it. Jesus said, "Take away the stone"… When he had said this, he cried with a loud voice, "Lazarus, come out!" The dead man came out, his hands and feet bound with strips of cloth, and his face wrapped in a cloth. Jesus said to them, "Unbind him, and let him go."

John 11:38-39a, 43-44

Lazarus, the individual who was the recipient of Jesus' greatest miracle, was the brother of Mary and Martha and lived in the town of Bethany. Lazarus became sick and died soon after. Messengers were sent to Jesus, who said at first that Lazarus was only sleeping. When Jesus arrived, he called for the tomb to be opened, and a vast stench of death arose from within. Then Jesus called his name, and Lazarus came forth.

No doubt many have asked what knowledge Lazarus found on the other side. Most have been silent on that point, but the Order claims to have his words. When dead, Lazarus came before God, who bestowed upon him the mission of bringing about the healing of the world. This mission was only revealed to a select few, who since then have carried on the tradition.

After Jesus' death, tradition has it, Lazarus was put in a boat with Mary Magdalene and eventually came to Gaul, where he became their bishop. Later, Lazarus was beheaded during Domitian's persecution of the Christians. Some say his body was interred at Autun and his head at Marseilles, but the Greek Orthodox Church maintains that he is interred in Istanbul. A few members of the Order have attempted to track down subsequent legends of their founder, connecting him with the Green Knight of Arthurian Fame, but most of the Order believes that Lazarus' legacy is more important than the man himself.

History

The Order's origins supposedly date back to Lazarus himself, though the higher-ups have done little to substantiate this claim. The Order first appears on the historic record during the Crusades as a branch of the Hospitallers, a group of knights whose chief rivals were the infamous Templars. The Order was at first not a military brotherhood, but rather was renowned for its treatment of lepers. In 1254 it separated from the Hospitallers, and in 1265 all leper hospitals in the Holy Land were placed under its control. The Order soon expanded throughout Europe, with its main centers of power being Spain, the Barony of Boigny in France, and the Priory of Capua in Italy.

After two centuries, the Order went into decline; in addition, in spending their resources on pursuing their mission they lost much of their political influence. In 1489, the Pope re-combined the Order with the Hospitallers. Resistance to this act was strong, especially in France, where Charles VIII confirmed the status of the order and ignored the papal bull. In 1565, Pope Pius IV re-established the Order (even though its commander almost immediately tried to sell it back to the Hospitallers), and in 1572 combined it with the Order of Saint Maurice. The French group, however, remained separate and soon fell under the control of the French king. Both groups still survive as national orders of merit and charitable societies.

However, in 1493 several high-ranking members of the Order met in Rome to discuss their prospects for the future. They accepted the new mission of the order (see below), and made overtures to many of their former brethren. It was clear to these men that for the Order to carry out its mission, it must set itself apart from the petty games played by kings and churches. The Order went underground, making its presence felt through various front organizations which could carry out its divine purpose covertly without attracting attention to itself. In this way, the group was able to survive centuries of warfare and persecution. Their numbers remained small for some time, but its burgeoning numbers in the 20th century were seen as a sign of divine favor and a celestial mandate of sorts. Now the Order works in secret for the betterment of all humanity.

Purpose

Our mission is healing - healing ourselves, those around us, and the world itself. Ever since mankind's fall from grace in Eden, we have tilled the soil and hunted the beasts, maintaining the separation in order to maintain our selves. We have warred against each other and forgotten the commandments of the Most High. The demons desired that our separation from the original Unity should continue, and strew suffering, misery, strife, and death for thousands of years. We have pledged our lives and souls to the reunification and purification of All, that we may bring about the Promised Kingdom.

From the Charter of Saint Lazarus

In its mission to aid the cosmos on all levels, the Order has taken on a variety of tasks. Through the Ancient and Fraternal Lodge of Sextons, they carry out the revitalization and preservation of the American community. Their Light of Hope program brings education and medicine to the far corners of the world. Their largest front, Bethesda Pharmaceuticals, has done much to advance research into cancer and the other great killers of the twentieth century. The Order also maintains ties with the Holy See, the Red Cross, and charitable and religious societies around the globe, often aiding them in their relief efforts through the guise of corporate sponsorships and individual contributions. Most members depict this secrecy not as a sign of conspiracy, but rather as an exercise in humility.

All of these programs are in fact aimed at a single goal that is only made known to members. This goal is very close in nature to the Jewish concept of tikkun, or universal rectification. In making the world a better place, the Order brings it closer to the kingdom of God, and sets humanity as a whole one step nearer the Divine. Though the Order is certainly a religious one, it refrains from the judgmental tone taken by some of its faith. Its goal is unity and healing, not division and strife.

As part of this greater goal, the Order has been covertly investigating the occult and paranormal subjects through its Chapter. This is done for two reasons. First, much of what humanity considers as occult is the work of devils; even if these ceremonies do work, they were given by infernal forces to create schisms and heresies to drive humans apart and sow dissension to prevent their return to God. Second, some of these may be messages from God which might lead to revelations about the prophecies of the Bible which will allow modern individuals to understand its predictions for the future. To these ends, the Order often sends investigators, whether alone or in small groups, to look into such matters. In addition, it secretly finances half a dozen art and book collectors in Europe, who systematically purchase various books and items connected with the more dangerous aspects of the occult.

Membership

One may find the stereotypical Bible-quoting, cross-brandishing, wild-eyed clergyman within the Order's ranks, but they are few and far between. Most members of the Order are educated, quiet, intelligent, and discreet. Less than a quarter of them carry firearms regularly, preferring to think their way out of problems. Preferred professions include those in the medical fields, as well as private investigators, art appraisers, and booksellers. Almost all members are Catholic or ex-Catholic, though a few Protestants have been admitted as the Order expands throughout the world.

Investigation

The subjects of investigation for the Order range from alien abductions to lake monsters to psychic spoon-benders. However, the Order has traditionally given greater emphasis to those concepts which seem more connected to their own concept of the world - angel visitations, appearances of the Virgin Mary, demonic possession, and the like. Indeed, most of the other phenomena are often interpreted within these terms. (Still, this does not mean that their investigators do not operate well - they merely have certain biases.) The Order cannot possibly investigate every claim; priority is given to those events which seem to add new evidence to the overall picture.

The Order generally sends its agents out on their own or under the aegis of a front organization (a current favorite is ESPP, the European Society for Paranormal Phenomena). When in the field, investigators are expected to conduct themselves by the word of God, the laws of the country they are in, and standards of courtesy and etiquette. The only two exceptions to this are if the life of an Order member or innocent is in danger, or if an opportunity arises for the acquisition of mystic artifacts or books of demonic lore without risk to oneself or the Order. (The Order is used to handling the latter, and can usually get just about anything out of the country through legitimate channels.)

The Society typically provides its investigators with funds for transportation, lodging, and a small amount of personal equipment. It is possible to request items necessary for the successful completion of the investigation - such as large carboys of acid or a tanker truck full of sand - but a justification must be provided. Items such as drugs, heavy weaponry, and the like will not be supplied, and requests for them will be met with a stern reprimand. The Order may also provide aid to those incarcerated during an investigation - though this is contingent upon the members' actions. If the charge stems from government harassment or actions necessary for protecting innocent life, the Order can usually secure freedom within a week. However, if the person is imprisoned for unnecessary law-breaking in the course of the mission, the Order is likely to let them sit behind bars and cool down.

Headquarters

Somewhere in the Swiss Alps lies a former convent which now serves as the Order's headquarters. Most members are banned from the place, but rumor has it that white-robed sisters are still seen moving about outside, and that this mysterious group is the only ones allowed to deal directly with the Order's High Council.

Symbols

The Order has a number of different symbols connected with it, the two most important being the shovel and the green cross.

The shovel, members are told, is a symbol of planting and building, as well as putting to rest those who have passed on. To those involved in occult investigations, it also stands for the concealment of secrets which the order must carry out to make the world a safer place.

The cross of green is also significant for the Order. The cross stands for the selfless devotion to which each member is supposed to devote themselves, as well as the four corners of the earth to which they may travel to work for the greater good. Green is the color of life, and signifies that even within the shadow of death (the cross), shelter and healing exists for all.

A number of other symbols exist within the Order - a "lamb without blemish", "the preparation of the bride" and "the white becoming red" are often mentioned in higher-level documents, for example - but most of these are not explained to the members.

Recent Developments

Some lower-ranking individuals within the Order are debating the importance of the crusade against supernatural evil. These individuals point out that the funds spent on investigation, even though they only form a small fraction of the Order's budget, might be better spent on programs directly affecting the poor and afflicted. The Order's heads are fully behind these investigations, however, so it is likely their efforts within the organization are for naught.

Over the past years, a small quiet man "with the void in his eyes" has been seen during missions. Communication with him has never been achieved, and there is much speculation as to who he might be.

The recent action described in Part I has alerted the Order to the presence of an anti-supernatural element in the U. S. government. Twice since then, members investigating paranormal phenomenon have encountered government personnel looking into the same matter. As of now, the Order cautions against direct dealing with these individuals, but suggests treating such operatives as potential allies if necessary.