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The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (G.D.)History
In 1888, three acquaintances, all Kabbalists, Freemasons, and Rosicrucians founded the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn (G.D.), with the intention of filling the gap left by the Theosophical Society, an organisation which had recently shifted to an Eastern orientation under the direction of Madame Blavatsky. The founders wanted the Order to be the guardian of the Western Esoteric Tradition, keeping its knowledge intact, while at the same time preparing and teaching the mysteries to those individuals who wished to learn.
To understand how the G.D. came into existence, some reference to the Cipher Manuscript, the document upon which the Rituals and Knowledge Lectures of the Order are based, is essential. One story tells us that sometime during the 1870s or 1880s, the Cipher Manuscript was discovered on a bookstall by Dr Woodman, but another, the one most favoured, is that in 1887 Westcott was given some sixty pages of a manuscript, written in cipher, by a Reverend A.F.A. Woodford, an elderly Mason who, it was claimed, got the manuscript from ‘a dealer in curios’. The manuscript, which certainly appeared to be old, was deciphered by Westcott using the cipher found in Abbot Johann Trithemius’ book Polygraphiae. It turned out to be a series of five ritual outlines of an occult Order, which Westcott expanded into full working grade rituals from Neophyte (0°=0°) through to Philosophus (4°=7°). In addition to the five rituals, the manuscript contained details of the true attribution of the Tarot trumps, something which had been sought for centuries and which clarified many inconsistencies. Upon completion of this work, Westcott asked Mathers and Woodman to join him as chiefs of his new Order. Yet another tale relating to the Cipher Manuscript is that it proved beyond the combined powers of the two eminent doctors to decipher, although it is reputed that Florence Farr (1860-1917), also known as Mrs Emery, said that a child could have done it. They called on the assistance of Mathers, not only a scholar, but a Mason and magician of considerable distinction who successfully 'deciphered’ the manuscript, after which he was invited to join the Order.
The Origin of the Cipher Manuscript
The most widely accepted belief is that it was written by Kenneth Mackenzie (1833 – 1886), the author of The Royal Masonic Encyclopedia and a leading member of the SRIA. Mackenzie had known Eliphas Lévi (1810 – 1875), and was a friend of Frederick Holland, another high-grade Mason. A leading G.D. historian, R.A. Gilbert, suspects that Holland founded the Hermanoubis Temple, a Golden Dawn prototype, in 1883. This group was known as the Society of Eight. Mackenzie wrote the ritual outlines for Holland's Order in the Cipher Manuscript, but the group never became fully established and Westcott acquired the papers after Mackenzie’s death. The Cipher Manuscript - The Original Folios Copies of each of the original folios can be viewed below as a slide show. Please wait a few seconds between each display.
Giving Credulity to the OrderWestcott, having a strong Masonic background, was certainly familiar with the notion of organisation through hierarchy, and because Masonic lodges required a legitimate charter from the Grand Lodge to function, he undoubtedly felt the need to provide evidence that the G.D. had some provenance, and that it was not something created out of thin air. In other words, he needed ‘proof’ that the G.D. had some legitimate hierarchical succession from a distant authority. Since no such authority existed, Westcott fabricated it to ensure he could attract other Freemasons and genuine occultists to the new Order.As a consequence, an additional paper, also written in cipher, was inserted into the manuscript by 'someone' – this someone being more than likely Westcott himself. This additional paper was in the form of a letter containing the credentials and address of a woman in Germany called Fräulein Anna Sprengel (Soror Sapiens Dominabitur Astris (SDA)). According to Westcott, he wrote to Fräulein Sprengel who informed him she was an Adept of an occult Order known as Die Goldene Dammerung, or the Golden Dawn. Through a 'series of letters' she ‘authorised’ Westcott to establish a temple in England and gave him permission to sign her name on any document deemed necessary. In the spring of 1888, Westcott produced a Charter of Warrant for the Isis-Urania Temple of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn in London. While it is generally agreed that the Cipher Manuscript was genuine, it is almost certain that Westcott concocted the story about Anna Sprengel and her letters. By making her a high-ranking official in an obscure German Order, Westcott gave her not only authority and credulity, but above all, made her unreachable. Once the mysterious Soror SDA had served her purpose, she conveniently ‘died’ and thus could no longer be contacted.
Progression of the OrderBy the end of 1888, the Isis-Urania Temple was well established and had thirty-two members, nine women and twenty-three men. In that same year, two more temples were founded, the Osiris Temple in Weston-Super-Mare, which remained active until 1895, and the Horus Temple in Bradford, active until 1900. The Amen-Ra Temple, in Edinburgh, came into being in 1893.During its formative years from 1888 to 1891, the G.D. was primarily a teaching order performing the initiation ceremonies of its Outer Order, its members simply learning the basics of Kabbalah, Astrology, alchemical symbolism, Geomancy, and Tarot. No magic was practised in these lower grades with the exception of the Lesser Banishing Ritual of the Pentagram. By late 1891, the Isis-Urania Temple had in excess of eighty initiates, while other temples probably had a couple of dozen. Dr Woodman died in 1891, following which Mathers allegedly ‘forced’ Dr Westcott's retirement from active leadership of the Order by planting several occult manuscripts belonging to the Order inside a London cab in a case showing Westcott's address. A coroner who was an active member of a secret occult society would certainly not have met with approval! Around the same time, Mathers finalised a ritual for the 5°=6° (the Adeptus Minor grade), the first grade of the Second or Inner Order of the Ordo Roseae Rubeae et Aureae Crucis (R.R. et A.C.), or the Order of the Rose of Ruby and the Cross of Gold. With the creation of a functional Second Order, Mathers had successfully accomplished a restructuring of the Order and became its primary Chief. The 5°=6° ritual was based upon the legend behind Christian Rosenkreuz, the supposed 'founder' of the Rosicrucian Order. About 120 years after his 'death', some members of that Order came across his hidden tomb, a seven-sided room inscribed with elaborate symbolism, each wall being eight feet high by five feet wide. In the centre of the room a circular altar stood over a sarcophagus in which lay their founder's perfectly preserved body. Mathers and his wife Moina created the Vault of the Adepti, a highly-detailed full-sized version of Rosenkreuz’s tomb, which displayed the strong Rosicrucian element woven into the G.D.’s Inner Order. Moina Mathers was not only an accomplished artist, gifted clairvoyant, and her husband's personal scryer, but a long-time friend of Annie Horniman (1860 – 1937) who was subsidising Mathers. Moina's visionary experiences may well have influenced her husband’s writing of the Second Order rituals and grade work. She also painted most of the wall decorations, god-forms, and temple furnishings for the Isis-Urania Temple. Although an examination was of primary importance, admission to the Second Order could only be gained by invitation. The work of the Second Order was much more extensive than that of the First. Whereas the latter was basically theoretical, the former put that theory into practice, with members being required to fashion and consecrate several magical implements. Mathers also created a curriculum and a series of eight examinations which eventually led to the sub-grade of Theoricus Adeptus Minor. Few members ever had the time or will to complete the necessary grade work and all of the eight examinations, but those who did could rightly profess to have obtained a complete education in most facets of Western Hermetic Magick.
Mathers wanted sole command of the G.D., but he was not trusted by other influential members. He arranged a meeting with three of its Adepts in the Bois de Boulogne, where he was confirmed in the supreme and sole authority, i.e. as the Visible Head of the Order. Those adepts had to sign a pledge of personal obedience to Mathers as a pre-condition to their own advancement in the Order. However, their dissatisfaction continued when that promised advancement did not happen and they began to suspect that Mathers had no additional knowledge to impart. In the meantime, Mathers had found the manuscript of Abramelin the Mage in the library of the Arsenal in Paris and had begun to work on its translation. There was very little practical way of getting around Paris in those days, so because Mathers was living quite some distance from the Arsenal in a suburb known as Auteuil, he used to travel by bicycle. Unfortunately, he had so many accidents that he felt compelled to go on foot. Aleister Crowley tells us, "There is always occult opposition to the publication of important documents.” Misfortunes of every kind followed him wherever he went. Despite being an expert magician and using the Greater Key of Solomon to great effect, he had not foreseen that Abramelin was an altogether more advanced proposition. It was ‘like a man, accustomed to handling gunpowder, suddenly being supplied with dynamite without being aware of the difference'. Despite these mishaps and setbacks, he persisted and eventually published the translated manuscript.
The Eventual Breakup of the Order
In the meantime, the Second Order Adepts in London were becoming more and more restless. This required swift action from Mathers. In the autumn of 1896, he sent each one a copy of a manifesto demanding complete obedience to him on everything related to the First and Second Orders, to which everyone other than Horniman submitted. This resulted in her immediate expulsion from the Order by Mathers, an act which shocked many of the members and only served to fuel their discontent. A major crisis occurred in February 1900. Mathers was still running the Order from Paris but had become out of touch with the English temples. Florence Farr had grown tired of his personal quirks and domineering behaviour. In a letter to Mathers, she suggested the Order should be dissolved. He suspected this was part of a plot to bring back Westcott to replace him as Head of the Order. Consequently, Mathers revealed to her the fact that the letters from Fräulein Sprengel had been forged by Westcott; this revelation shook the London temple to its foundations. What surprised them even more was, despite this exposure, Westcott declined to provide any explanation or even try to defend himself against the accusations. To make matters even worse, Crowley had now completed the work necessary to advance to the Second Order in the grade of Adeptus Minor thanks to the help he had received from a Second Order Adept by the name of Allan Bennett. Bennett was a brilliant magician and considered to be second only to Mathers. The London controllers of the Order, Florence Farr and William Butler Yeats in particular (who disliked the 'demonic upstart' intensely – the feelings were mutual), refused to advance him. Crowley, although annoyed, was not overly concerned. He went immediately to Paris where Mathers, now in desperate need of a staunch ally in the G.D., was immediately entered into the highest level of the second rank, "Adeptus Exemptus." The London chapter requested evidence and reasoning behind Crowley's promotion; Mathers declined and dismissed the chapter as an official part of the Golden Dawn. In response, the London chapter renounced Mathers as their leader. This act only further outraged the fractious London members.
In the ensuing confusion, Yeats assumed control and became Imperator of the Isis-Urania Temple. The committee attempted to restructure the Order along more democratic lines, the result being even greater confusion. In the meantime, Annie Horniman had been reinstated into the Order, but to her dismay she discovered many of the rituals had been tampered with, and the examination system had been virtually abandoned. What was even worse, in her opinion, was when she discovered some of the Adepts, including Florence Farr, had formed a separate 'secret group' without the approval of Yeats and the other Adepts. This group, called the ‘Sphere’, was specialising in astral visualisation, astral travelling and communications with ‘Masters’. Horniman began to argue with nearly everyone in the Order. Although Yeats tried to maintain peace, he failed and resigned from office in February 1901. You can read Crowley's version of the events leading to the breakup of the Order by clicking HERE. To download his diary entries covering this period click HERE.
Another significant blow to the Order now appeared on the horizon. This problem went by the name of Madame Horos. Mr and Mrs Horos were two con-artists who had somehow managed to convince Mathers that ‘Madame’ was actually the real Anna Sprengel (this was despite the fact that he had already informed the London members that the foundation of the Order was fraudulent). Although fooled for a while, as soon as he became suspicious the dubious couple stole some copies of the G.D.’s rituals and fled to London where they set up their own Order, The Order of Theocratic Unity which, unbeknown to its members, featured fraud, extortion, and sex. Mr Horos was eventually arrested for rape. When charged by the authorities, the Horoses claimed to be the leaders of the G.D. The result was that many of the most arcane secrets of the Order were made public, the initiation rituals being printed in the London newspapers. The Order was scandalised by the whole episode and began to disintegrate.
Mathers subsequently renamed the Ahathoor branch of the G.D. whose members remained loyal to his leadership to ‘Alpha et Omega’ (A.O.). According to differing sources it was sometime between 1901 and 1913 when Mathers changed the name. In addition to the Paris temple, Mathers' supporters established three A.O. temples in London and one in Edinburgh. There was also a hybrid group known as the Cromlech Temple, a joint effort created by the Edinburgh A.O. Temple and some Anglican clergymen. The Bradford and Weston-super-Mare temples had remained loyal to Mathers, but their numbers were insignificant. Edward Berridge (c.1843-1923) was appointed as his representative, and he had begun to work the ceremonies and rites of the G.D. in West London by 1903. Historical evidence shows there were twenty-three members of a flourishing Second Order under Berridge-Mathers by 1913.
Some individuals who were initiated into the A.O. Temples were to go on to establish their own magical orders. Dion Fortune, a student of psychology, left in 1922 to form the Fraternity of the Inner Light. Paul Foster Case would later create his own organisation, the Builders of the Adytum.
Meanwhile, Dr Felkin established the Smaragdum Thalasses Temple of the Stella-Matutina in New Zealand in 1912. The New Zealand Order became known by the Maori name of Whare Ra or ‘The House of the Sun’. Back in England, Felkin established three more temples of the Stella-Matutina in 1916, the Hermes Lodge in Bristol, the Merlin Lodge, and the Secret College in London. The primary focus of Felkin’s group was on astral travelling. Unfortunately, Felkin’s abilities as the leader of a magical Order were somewhat lacking compared with Mathers; he went searching all over Europe for the Secret Chiefs of the Order in physical form.
Unfortunately, the Stella-Matutina was dying a slow death. The leaders of the group were claiming to hold highly exalted grades with little understanding of the basic material. Many of the Knowledge Lectures had been changed or dropped altogether. In 1937, Regardie made a decision to publish the Order's lectures and rituals in his book, The Complete Golden Dawn System of Magic, thus ensuring the teachings would not be lost forever. The Adepts of both the Stella-Matutina and the A.O. were unable to deal with this very different approach to secrecy now that most of their arcane teachings were in the public domain. In the following years, most temples of the A.O. and the Stella-Matutina (with the exception of an offshoot temple in New Zealand) ceased all group work.
N.B. In 1990, a new organisation by the name of The Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn was formed. Click HERE for further details.
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The History Lecture - Golden Dawn by V.H. Frater Sapere Aude (Dr William Wynn Westcott)
He and the theologian, Valentine Andrea, have left us, in the works published about 1614, an account of the exoteric arrangements of the Rosicrucian Society. It seems likely it was Andrea who published in 1614 the Fama Fraternitatis, or Theory of the Society, which must have been derived from the old records of the pupils of Christian Rosenkreuz. But even this arrival of mysticism was a new development of the older wisdom of the Qabalistic Rabbis and of that very ancient secret knowledge of the magic of the Egyptians into which Moses had been initiated. Through the Qabalah, indeed, Europe became possessed of the ancient Wisdom more than from any one other source, for the Hebrews were taught at one time by the Egyptians and later by the Chaldees of Babylon. It is a curious fact that the classic nations, the Greeks and Romans, have handed down to us but slight glimpses of the Ancient Magic, and this is more notable because Greece succeeded to the mastership of Egypt, and Rome to the Empire of both the Greeks and Jews. Greece did indeed succeed to a share in the mysteries of the Egyptians for the Eleusinian Mysteries were copies of the ancient ceremonies of Isis, Osiris and Serapis; but they lacked true magic. And further, the classic writings contain but faint glimpses of even the Eleusinian Mysteries, and these disclose the fact that the pupils were partly ignorant of the true mysteries, a notable example of which is seen in the use of the words Konx Om Pax, of which they knew not the meaning, the words being the Greek imitation or translation of really ancient Egyptian words, whose meanings has been kept secret for centuries. Hence the 0=0 Grade is found to possess Egyptian characteristics and symbolism and the Higher Grades will reveal the source of much of the culture and illustrate the language of Eliphas Lévi, through whose Adeptship the study of occultism has been popularised. The First Order is a group of four grades of which Neophytes are admissible when approved by the G.D. Chiefs after showing themselves possessed of sufficient aptitude and knowledge. Beyond the above, there are three grades of Adeptship forming the Second Order. These have the power of selecting Candidates, initiating students into the lower grades and their Chiefs have, in addition, the power of issuing warrants of Temples such as that of Isis-Urania. But the highest of all in this ancient scheme are the Great Rulers of the whole system who severally sustain and govern the Third Order, which includes three Magic Titles of Honor and Supremacy. These represent the Supernal Triad of the Sephiroth and are shrouded and unapproachable to the profane and to all others but the Chiefs of the Adepts. In case of a vacancy in this Order, the Chief most learned Adept obtains by decree the well-earned award. The scheme of the G.D. then is formed upon the type of the Decad of the Sephiroth, the ten Emanations of Deity as figured in the Qabalah whose professors were illuminated by the higher magic of the ancient world. The grades of the First Order will be found to be Hebrew in design and tendency; and inasmuch as the influx of time brought on the revelation of the Christos, the Tiphareth, the Beauty of Microprosopus, Christian design is reflected in the higher degrees. The Neophyte Grade and the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Grades, which this present Isis-Urania Temple is authorized to confer after due examination and approval, possess rituals and secrets which have been received from the G.D. Chief Adepts and these are placed in our hands to use in the tuition of pupils in the ancient methods of this Order. This Temple (Isis-Urania) was consecrated as a successor to Hermanoubis No. 2 which had ceased to exist owing to the death of all its Chiefs. The Temple No. 1 of Licht, Liebe, Libra is a group of Continental mystics who have not been in the habit of performing ceremonies in open lodge, but have conferred the grades chiefly in privacy and in the presence of two or three members, so there is no accurate record of name and rank of all these members. Soon after the formation of Temple No. 3, permission was granted for the consecration of Osiris Temple No. 4 at Weston-Super-Mare under rule of V.H. Frater "Crux dat Salubrem" and the West of England has been assigned to him as a province. Almost at the same time, the Horus Temple No. 5 under the rule of V.H. Frater "Vote Vita Mea" was also consecrated at Bradford in Yorkshire. These three Temples have members also in the United States, Hindustan, Palestine, Denmark, etc. The name of the Order in various languages is:
Reference may now be made to the Society which was reconstructed by Robert Wentworth Little, student of the mysteries. This Society, which has branches in England, Scotland and the United States, is allied with the G.D. It perpetuated one form of Rosicrucian initiation which was conferred 100 years ago in England and which was mentioned by Godfrey Higgins in his work The Anacalypsis, or an Attempt to Withdraw the Veil of the Saitic Isis. Fratre Little was a student of the school of Lévi and also an eminent Freemason, and the Rosicrucian Society as revised by him was made by intention and permission essentially masonic, thus severing all connection with those Adepts who have not been Craftsmen, as Basil Valentine, Artephus, Nicolas Flamel, Jacob Behmen and Robert Fludd. The Rosicrucian Society in the same manner fails to recognize any worth for occult research in women. This is also an innovation or the scheme of the Ancient Mysteries in many of which, notably those of Isis priestesses and virgin prophetesses, were prominent ministers. Note specifically, that there are several instances in the ancient M.S. of our Order, which are written in cypher, where reference is made to the fratres and sorores, the words "her or him" occur showing that in olden time, as at the present day, women rose to high rank and attainment in the secret knowledge of the Order. Mention may be suitably made to Pernelle, the wife and fellow-worker of Nicolas Flamel, of Martine Berthereau, companion of Baron Jean de Chatelet who died about 1645 and of the widow lady afterwards symbolized by him as Sophia (Heavenly Wisdom), fellow student and inspirer of John Georg Gichtel who died about 1700. The occultists of today cannot need to be reminded of the great Hermetists and Theosophists of recent times: of D. Anna Kingsford, who was indeed illuminated by the Sun of Light; of Madame Blavatsky, leader of the T.S. No occult student, however wide apart his own favoured path of wisdom, could fail to recognize in her a master mind in a woman's frame. I cannot fail to express the lament which followed the passing of Dr William Robert Woodman, for many years known as the supreme Magus of the Society Ros. in Anglia which is exoteric in its outer grades but whose concerns are regulated by an inner circle of Adepti who still hold the secrets of the R.:. C.:. and its masonic society. The eastern school of Theosophy and Occultism and our own Hermetic Society of the G.D. are fraternities of students whose predecessors must have come from the same stock of magi as the scientific priests of a remote antiquity. The two Societies, different in modes of teaching and in language, are allied by mutual understanding and respect, and their aim is similar. Be assured that the Order of the G.D. can show the way to much secret knowledge and spiritual progress and lead true and patient students who can Will, Dare, Learn and Be Silent to the Summum Bonum, True Wisdom, and Perfect Happiness." Return to top of page. |
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Structure & Grades Within the OrderFirst Order
Second Order
Third Order
The First Order Grades were related to the four Classical Elements of Earth, Air, Water, and Fire, respectively. An aspirant to each grade received instruction on the metaphysical meaning of each of these Elements, and had to pass a written examination and demonstrate certain skills to receive admission to that grade. The Portal Grade was the initiation ritual for admittance to the Second Order. The circle of existing Adepts from the Second Order had to consent to allow an aspirant to join the Second Order. The Second Order was not, properly, part of the Golden Dawn, but a separate Order in its own right, and known as the R.R. et A.C. This Second Order directed the teachings of the First Order, and was the governing force behind that Order. After passing the Portal, the aspirant was instructed in the techniques of practical magick. When another examination was passed, and the other Adepts consented, the aspirant attained the grade of Adeptus Minor (5°=6°). There were also four sub-Grades of instruction for the Adeptus Minor, again relating to the four Outer Order grades. Return to top of page. |
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Major Events in Chronological OrderThe major events during the history of the original Golden Dawn have been reproduced below. Should you notice any errors or omissions, please contact us.
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Some Members of the Golden Dawn, their Magical Mottos & TemplesMagical mottos are the magical nicknames, noms de plume, or pseudonyms (normally in Latin) taken by various individuals in magical organisations, the motto generally being adopted upon initiation into the neophyte grade of the organisation. These members were known by, and often referred to in many publications by their mottos. Users of magical mottos typically referred to each other in their capacity as initiates as Frater (men) or Soror (women), Latin for brother and sister respectively, followed by the initials of their magical mottos.We would genuinely appreciate any help from anyone who can confirm the temples/branches to which the people shown below belonged. Nine original Golden Dawn temples were founded before the Order broke into factions around 1900; some say there were eleven, although the first two listed are considered to be fictional:
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In SummaryThe prime mover of the Golden Dawn was without doubt Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers. He was responsible for the cohesion of the structure of the Order, as well as its rituals and whole system of magic. Mathers was a flamboyant character (some say 'odd') with a romantic leaning to all things Celtic, even changing his name to incorporate ‘MacGregor’ to claim descendency from the Scottish Clan. He wore full highland dress, including dirks in his socks, and a sporran. It was no doubt his confidence and charm that led to the Order’s growing popularity among society at the time.Despite the eventual break-up of the Golden Dawn, it must be noted that the contribution made to the Western Magical Tradition by its three founding members is outstanding. Between them they merged Kabbalah, alchemy, Tarot, astrology, divination, numerology, Masonic symbolism and Ritual Magic into one coherent system which continues to influence occult organisations today. Mathers adapted Eliphas Lévi's system of magick and traced the 'ancestry' of the Golden Dawn to the Rosicrucians and beyond to Ancient Egypt. Return to top of page. |
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The primary creator of the G.D., the man whose brainchild it actually was, was Dr William Wynn Westcott (1848 – 1925), a physician and London coroner interested in occultism. Westcott was a Master Mason and the Secretary General of the 
Dr Woodman was a retired physician, and also a member of the SRIA. He had an excellent understanding of 
Whatever the truth relating to its discovery and translation, the debate continues as to the origin of the Cipher Manuscript. Some scholars are of the opinion that Westcott created it, while others consider it was either written by Lord Edward Bulwer-Lytton (1803 – 1873), the author of an occult novel called Zanoni, A Strange Story, or else by Frederick Hockley (1809 – 1885), a famous 
In the spring of 1892, the Mathers moved to Paris on a permanent basis and founded the Ahathoor Temple, leaving Florence Farr (an actress, a feminist and the lover of both George Bernard Shaw and William Butler Yeats) as the Head of the Order in England. The Ahathoor Temple continued to thrive until 1896, during which time three American temples were chartered, in Boston, Philadelphia, and Chicago.
Aleister Crowley joined the G.D. in November 1898 and took his membership seriously, advancing quickly through its lower grades (its rituals have been printed in The Equinox, Vol. I, Nos. II and III). He took the magical motto Perdurabo (Latin for 'I Will Endure') and was taught the secret signs, handshake and steps of the Order. He was entrusted with some ‘priceless secrets’ including the 
Troubles within the G.D. began in 1895 when Mathers’ relationship with his financier, Annie Horniman, started to deteriorate. She was the daughter of an affluent tea importer and became a close friend of Moina Mathers when the two attended art school together. After their move to Paris, Horniman continued to support the Mathers financially with a generous subsidy, but in return she expected him to dedicate all of his time to promoting the Order. Although he was a very talented magician, Mathers was also an eccentric (some go so far as to say he was mad), as well as being a demanding and autocratic Chief. In early 1896, a disagreement between Horniman and Mathers over the matter of his taking time away from his responsibilities resulted in Mathers accusing her of trying to undermine his authority. She in turn withdrew her much needed financial support.
The Second Order Adepts in London formed a committee to investigate the allegations of the fraudulent founding of the Order In April 1900, Mathers annulled the committee, and sent Crowley to London as his emissary to take possession of the Second Order’s private rooms and implements. Crowley dutifully went with Elaine Simpson (Soror Donorum Dei Dispensatio Fidelis ), who had also sided with Mathers, and attempted to obtain possession of the Order's property on behalf of Mathers. The result of this was a ‘battle’ at the door of the London temple at 36 Blythe Road. Crowley, who had bought a property in Scotland and who was now masquerading as the Laird of Boleskine, appeared at the door in mask, sword and full Highland dress. Yeats, who had got wind of this, confronted him at the door and called the police to sort matters out. Crowley wanted the police to evict the London lodge while Yeats wanted Crowley arrested as an interloper. The upshot was that Crowley was expelled from the Isis-Urania Temple of the Golden Dawn.
Florence Farr resigned from the Order, which changed its name to the Hermetic Society of the Morgenrothe. A small group of initiates gave their allegiance to Mathers. What remained of the original Isis-Urania Temple was taken over by Arthur Edward Waite (1857 - 1942), a mystic, occultist, and prolific writer (of poor quality according to Crowley) who had studied several branches of esoteric wisdom. Many of the remaining members joined Waite’s group. However, Waite did not care for magic, mysticism being more to his taste, so in his new Order, The Independent and Rectified Rite, he reduced the emphasis on Ritual Magic in favour of his preferred mystical path. The more magically inclined members of the original Order, including Dr Robert William Felkin (1858-1922) and John William Brodie-Innes (1848 – 1923), formed the Stella-Matutina, Felkin’s main temple in London being known as Amoun. Brodie-Innes continued to operate the Amen-Ra temple in Edinburgh, eventually reaching the conclusion that the revolt was unjustified. By 1908, he and Mathers were in accord.
In the 1930s, Israel Regardie (1907 – 1985) arrived upon the scene. Regardie, who had been Aleister Crowley’s secretary between 1928 and 1930, had written a book on magic called The Tree of Life in 1932, and had earlier published a study of the Kabbalah, A Garden of Pomegranates. These books caused quite a stir in the temples of both the Stella-Matutina and the A.O. Regardie joined the Hermes Temple of the Stella-Matutina in 1933 and became an Adept in 1934.
"The Order of the G.D. in the Outer is a Hermetic Society whose members are taught the principles of Occult Science and the Magic of Hermes. During the early part of the second half of the 19th century, several adepti and chiefs of this order in France and England died, and their deaths caused a temporarily dormant condition of Temple work. Prominent among these were Eliphas Lévi, Ragon, Kenneth R. H. Mackenzie, author of the Masonic Encyclopedia and Frederick Hockley, possessed of crystal vision whose M.S.S. we highly esteemed. These and other adepti received their knowledge and power from predecessors of greater imminence and have handed down to us this doctrine and system of Theosophy and Hermetic Science of the Higher Alchemy from a series of practical investigations whose origin is traced to the Fratres Rosae Crucis of Germany, which association was founded by
