Stella Matutina
The Stella Matutina (Morning Star) was an initiatory
Origins
After a revolt of London Adepts against the then-head of the Order (
The Morgenrothe had a very short existence before it, too, schismed into two groups. Those who were most interested in Christian Mysticism (led by A.E. Waite) took over the remnants of
The outer order was changed by Dr. Felkin and other members of the Golden Dawn based in London.[1] Among others who helped form Stella Matutina was J.W. Brodie-Innes, though he soon made peace with Mathers and left for the Alpha et Omega.[2]
The first gesture of independence brought a committee of twelve to govern for a year. Further developments forced them to realise that this was far from satisfactory.[3] With pettiness and further dispute, they abandoned every reform and went back to the original scheme of appointing three chiefs to lead and govern them.[4]
While visiting New Zealand in 1912, Dr. Felkin issued a Warrant for the Smaragdum Thallasses Temple No. 49 (commonly referred to as
During the next few years, Felkin established Hermes Lodge in Bristol, the Secret College in London, and Merlin Lodge, also in London.[citation needed]
The Amoun Temple of the Stella Matutina in London closed its doors in 1919.
In 1933, Israel Regardie joined the Hermes Temple in Bristol,[7] and resigned from Amoun Temple in 1934, finding it, according to him, in a state of low morale and decay. Many of the original Golden Dawn's Knowledge Lectures had been "removed or heavily amended, largely because they were beyond the capacity of the chiefs."[8] These same chiefs claimed "extraordinarily exalted" grades, but Regardie found them lacking. As an example, he recounted that no one in the temple knew how to play Enochian chess, in fact the Order's chess set had never been used.[8] He constructed his own boards and he challenged his superiors in the Order to play: all refused with excuses.[8]
By 1939, Stella Matutina became largely dormant, although the Hermes Temple continued until 1970. Whare Ra in New Zealand continued until 1978.[2][9]
Asserting independence
From the very beginning, Felkin believed that the Order must in fact gain contact with the
At this point, according to Francis King, the chiefs of the Amoun Temple were addicted to mediumship and
There were two main astral entities contacted. The first group were Rosicrucian, in which at times the medium believed to be controlled by
Felkin was not satisfied with astral meetings as he wished for physical contact with the Secret Chiefs. From 1901 onwards, he traveled extensively in hoping to meet authentic Rosicrucians.[12] In 1906, he believed he had found what he was looking for: a professor, his adopted daughter, and another gentleman, all who he believed were in fact Rosicrucians. The professors' adopted daughter had claimed to be the niece of Anna Sprengel (the Secret Chief who authorised the founding of the original Golden Dawn), and also claimed that her aunt was a member of the same organization as herself.[13]
The purported Rosicrucian group which Felkin had made contact with was led by
Known members
- James Chapman-Taylor[citation needed]
- Robert Felkin – Frater Finem Respice: Imperator[citation needed]
- Dion Fortune – Deo, non-fortuna – writer and founder of the Society of the Inner Light[citation needed]
- E. Graham Howe – British psychiatrist who brought Eastern philosophy and psychotherapy to England[14]
- Israel Regardie – Frater Ad Maiorem Adonai Gloriam[citation needed]
- W. B. Yeats – Irish poet and winner of the Nobel Prize for Literature[citation needed]
See also
References
- ^ a b King (1989), p. 96.
- ^ a b c d Cicero & Cicero (2002).
- ^ Regardie (1993), p. 18.
- ^ Regardie (1993), p. 19.
- ^ a b c King (1989), p. 106.
- ^ a b c d King (1989), p. 127.
- ^ Regardie (1993), p. 208.
- ^ a b c King (1989), p. 154.
- ^ Gilbert (1986), p. [page needed].
- ^ a b King (1989), p. 97.
- ^ King (1989), p. 129.
- ^ King (1989), p. 98.
- ^ a b King (1989), p. 99.
- ^ Suster (1989), pp. 60–61, 67.
Works cited
- Cicero, Chic; Cicero, Tabatha (May 10, 2002). "Golden Dawn Time Line". Llewellyn Encyclopedia.
- Gilbert, R. A. (1986). Golden Dawn Companion. Aquarian Press. ISBN 0-85030-436-9.
- ISBN 1-85327-032-6.
- ISBN 1-56184-064-5.
- OCLC 19065172.