In the early days of the Golden Dawn there was a significant distinction when it came to grades and roles in the Order. Back in the early days of 1888 when our Order was founded, the influence of British Masonry was extremely strong. S.L. MACGREGOR MATHERS WAS THE ONE HOLD OUT FOR ALLOWING WOMEN IN THE ORDER ON EQUAL STANDING WITH MEN. HE REFUSED TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH THE GOLDEN DAWN UNTIL THIS COMMITMENT WAS MADE. HIS DECISION TO STAND OUT FOR FEMININE RIGHTS WAS THE FIRST BIG BLOW TO EGO-BASED HIERARCHY.
Today, the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn continues to move in a direction where grades are simply a way of discovering what you have learned and what you need to know in your own personal transmigration within the Order and the Light.
IT IS ESSENTIAL THAT THE GOLDEN DAWN ORDERS AROUND THE WORLD DEVELOP A COMMUNITY WHEREBY WE VALUE THE NEOPHYTE AND MUCH AS THE ADEPT. BOTH ARE LIGHT WORKERS ON THE PATHWAY OF LIGHT. WHO ARE WE TO KNOW FOR CERTAIN WHO ARE THE MOST SPIRITUAL ADVANCED? AS A MATTER OF FACT, IN THE ESOTERIC ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN THIS IS NOT EVEN A QUESTION THAT IS ASKED. GRADES DO CARRY A GREAT PRIVILEGE AND I WILL SHARE THOSE IS A FEW SENTENCES EXACTLY WHAT THOSE PRIVILEGES ARE. YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO READ THIS IF YOU ARE AN ADEPT IN OUR ORDER OR ANY ORDER THAT PROVIDES A SPIRITUAL PATH.
I HOLD THE HIGHEST GRADE IN THE ORDER OF THE ESOTERIC ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN THROUGHOUT THE WORLD. YET, WITH ALL THIS I DO NOT BELIEVE THAT I HAVE ANY ADVANTAGE TO ADVANCE SPIRITUALLY OVER A NEOPHYTE. WE ARE ALL ON THIS BOAT TOGETHER AND WE WORK TOGETHER TO INVOKE LIGHT, AND HEAL THOSE WHO NEED HEALING AND TO INVOKE PEACE AND PROSPERITY IN OUR WORLD. ALL OF US CAN DO THIS; IT DOES NOT MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE IF YOU ARE THE CHIEF, OR SOMEONE BEGINNING THE MAGICAL WALK. WE NEED TO LOVE AND NURTURE EACH OTHER WITH THE SPIRIT OF LIGHT.
Now, there are those who worked very hard for their grade and place great value in it and believe it is some kind of magical privilege. Well to those Brethren here is the privilege it brings:
1. THE PRIVILEGE TO SERVE OTHERS WHO ARE LEARNING ABOUT THE MAGIC OF LIGHT
2. THE PRIVILEGE TO BUILD A TEMPLE AND PROVIDE A HAVEN FOR THOSE WHO WISH TO ESCAPE THE STORM OF THE NORMAL AND ENTER INTO THE WORLD OF LIGHT
3. THE PRIVILEGE TO SPEND HOURS HEALING OTHERS, TO BRING LIGHT TO THOSE WHO NEED IT
4. THE PRIVILEGE TO WRITE PAPERS AND DO LECTURES SO OTHERS CAN LEARN WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN GIVEN.
5. THE PRIVILEGE TO PROTECT THE INNOCENT.
6. THE PRIVILEGE TO INVOKE THE LIGHT OF PEACE INTO THE WORLD.
Fraters and Sorors, and future initiates of the Golden Dawn, WE ARE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER. I am no more, nor less that simply and happily your brother in Light.
I believe this year we as the Golden Dawn community which include SEVERAL GOLDEN DAWN ORDERS, can make great progress in the growth of invoking more Light into the world, more healing and peace. This Isis like growth needs to come an a place of urgency to invoke Light and Healing into your own life first, then life of others and those we who are called to the pathway of Light and a Golden Dawn Order.
WE NEED TO DO IT NOW. THIS IS OUR TIME. WE ARE THE SPARKS OF LIGHT IN THE WORLD THAT WE HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR.
On behalf of the Chiefs of the Second Order of the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn and our Adepts around the world, and those who have entrusted us with their magical development in the Outer, and those who work so hard to make this a special Order,
HAVE A MAGICAL NEW YEAR 2010.
770
G.H. Frater P.D.R.
Imperator General of the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn
Light in Extension
P.S. Here is a short list of other Golden Dawn Orders that I believe are on the pathway of Light and want to empower the individual and bring Light, Healing and Peace into the World. If I have excluded anyone it is only because I do not know them, or they have demonstrated opposite qualities.
1. HERMETIC ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN ( FLORIDA CORP ) TEMPLES AROUND THE WORLD.
2. ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN CANADA
3. OPEN SOURCE ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN
