The Truth about the Golden Dawn and Dues
There appears to be a vocal minority New Age Golden Dawn promoters who are under some abstract kind
of idea that a Golden Dawn Order should not charge dues of any kind.
People who live in the world and are involved in the area of higher education
understand the importance of providing as much support and back up for
the hungry student. Most Golden Dawn Orders do exactly this. Operating temples, web sites, Vaults for the Adepti, etc. actually cost a lot of money(
One main tenet of the classical Golden Dawn Order is to provides the serious
student with every opportunity for success.) No school is free. The historic
Golden Dawn from the very beginning was not free. A growing Hermetic Fraternity
with world-wide support must, of course, ask of its members a minimal dues structure.
Keep in mind a few important points:
1. No one was ever turned away from the Golden Dawn Order, now or
in the past, for inability to pay dues.
2. Members do not make a profit and neither does any Golden Dawn Order.
Even with the minimal dues that members contribute to their Order, dedicated
Order members pull money out of their own pockets to purchase printing,
equipment, computers, Temple furniture, etc. No one asks them to give
extra help, they do it because they love their Order and they want it
to be the best in the world.
Adepts also do a tremendous amount of research work remaining within
the sanctuary of the Order and not being shared with the uninitiated or
non-members who just collect information, but seldom do the Work.
3. As stated earlier, the Golden Dawn, from the beginning, had various
fees and dues.
The following is a brief summary and is documented in the book entitled The
Golden Dawn Companion, by R. A. Gilbert:
From the by-laws of the Isis-Urania Temple:
"Annual subscription (dues) shall be two-shillings and six pence
and shall be paid on or before the Assembly of the Vernal Equinox in each
year."
(The above does not include much other than membership.)
A subscribing member may purchase from the Cancellarius any of the
following:
Ritual of Neophyte - 5s 0p
Zelator - 5s 0p
Theoricus - 5s 0p
Practicus - 6s 0p
Philosophus - 7s 0p
Ceremony of the Equinox - 1s 6p
The Historical Lecture - 2s 6p
Lecture on Pillars - 2s 6p
Copies of other documents,
Lecture -- per folio, per 100 wds - 0s 2p
The insignia as follows may also be purchased:
Sash of Neophyte - 2s 6p
Zelator - 3s 0p
Theoricus - 3s 6p
Practicus - 4s 0p
Philosophus - 4s 6p
Note paper, stack with G.D. Crest - 0s 9p per quire
Envelope stamped with G.D. Crest per packet - 0s 6p
There were several other fees including Second Order Fees. The
point is clear, once and for all, that the Golden Dawn has always had
a dues structure. There is an old saying that if you pay
some one enough money to find a brown back, yellow spotted beetles in
your backyard, they will continue to find them even if they have them
imported. The same is true of criticism of Orders or any other fraternal
school for charging dues. If people want to criticize the Work we are
doing and the efforts many are making, they will find fault no matter
what is said.
Peace Profound.
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