Alpha et Omega
Occult order born from the Golden Dawn schism.
The Alpha et Omega was an occult order that emerged from the fragmentation of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, co-founded by Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers in London in 1888. After a rebellion and scandal damaged the Golden Dawn's reputation, Mathers renamed his loyal branch to Alpha et Omega between 1903 and 1913, often abbreviated as A.O. and sometimes called the Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega. All its temples appear to have ceased operation by the Second World War.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1888 (as Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn); renamed Alpha et Omega between 1903 and 1913
- Founder
- Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers
- Abbreviation
- A.O.
- Alternative name
- Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega
- Dissolved
- By the Second World War
Facts from the source article.
Did You Know?
- The rituals of the Alpha et Omega remained secret until they were published in 2011.
- The name A.O. first appeared in a copy of a 0°=0□ Hall of the Neophytes ritual owned by Henry Kelf and dated 1905.
Origin
In 1900, Samuel Mathers, living in Paris, sent a letter to his London representative Florence Farr claiming that co-founder Wynn Westcott had forged communications with the Secret Chiefs. This led to a rebellion of adepts at Isis-Urania Temple No. 3, who expelled Mathers as Chief. The Horos scandal of 1901, involving con artists using Golden Dawn materials from Mathers for a sex scam, further defamed the order in court and press. Mathers dissolved the Golden Dawn in 1906 and founded the Alpha et Omega in Paris, though the name A.O. first appeared in a 1905 ritual copy owned by Henry Kelf.
Expansion
Elsa Barker, a poet and author, acted as Mathers' emissary to American A.O. temples. By 1913, Mathers presided over at least five temples: Isis-Urania No. 3 in London (with 23 Inner Order members), Ahathoor No. 7 in Paris, Amen-Ra No. 6 in Edinburgh, Thme No. 8 in Chicago, Thoth Hermes No. 9 in New York, and Neith No. 10 in New York.
Challenges and legacy
Notable members included Dion Fortune and Paul Foster Case. Dion Fortune, initiated in 1919, reached the grade of 2°=9□ and, with Moina Mathers' approval, created an outer court called the Christian Mystic Lodge of the Theosophical Society, later the Fraternity of Inner Light. In 1922, Fortune published the Esoteric Philosophy of Love and Marriage, which Moina Mathers deemed an unauthorized expose of secret teachings. Moina also grew concerned about Fortune's astral travel and trance messages from Masters of the Western Tradition, leading to Fortune's expulsion. Fortune then joined the Stella Matutina, attaining 5°=6□, while running her own occult school, later the Society of the Inner Light. Paul Foster Case was initiated into Thoth-Hermes Temple in 1918, became a Minor Adept in 1920, and after Michael Whitty's death served as Praemonstrator. Moina Mathers criticized him for discussing esoteric sexuality before outer order members, prompting his resignation. After questioning Enochian magic and other teachings, Case requested demission in 1921 but was expelled in 1922. He founded the Builders of the Adytum, initially the School of Ageless Wisdom, which moved away from some Golden Dawn and A.O. teachings.
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