The mysterious Edinburgh secret society with a 'temple to the supernatural'
Not to be confused with the far right Greek political party, this Golden Dawn was a late 19th century occult order with a similar structure to the Freemasons and boasted influential figures like W.B Yeats, Bram Stoker and Arthur Conan Doyle among its members.
Initially established in London, the Amen-Ra Temple was founded in Edinburgh in 1893, possibly because of the city's history as a hotbed of spiritualism.
It was founded by John William Brodie-Innes, a lawyer who had risen up the ranks while practicing in London. He had already written extensively on occultism, although he remained an active member of the High Church, when he joined the Order with the Isis-Urania Temple as a Neophyte, the lowest level, in 1890. It would only take him three years to establish a temple of his own, where he took one of the highest positions in the Order of the Golden Dawn - Imperator.
READ MORE - Edinburgh woman sues charity and earns £8k compensation payout over 'holiday row'
READ MORE - When Edinburgh's worst-rated hotel was city's poshest and celebrities flocked
Hermeticism is a school of philosophical thought based on the supposed writings of the apocryphal Ancient Greek figure Hermes Trimestigus, with the idea that certain teachings are only passed down to the chosen few. In this case it was Anna Sprengel, a German countess whose identity was 'revealed' to one of the founders of the Order, Freemason William Westcott, through alleged ancient manuscripts. The two corresponded by letter to establish the rituals of the Order, although the Order would later claim that she and the other 'Secret Chiefs' of the Order communicated with the lower levels psychically. There is, in fact, no evidence to suggest that Sprengel even existed.
The exact details of the Golden Dawn's philosophies are hard to unpick - partly because the order was so clouded in secrecy that little concrete detail was ever available to outsiders, and partly because what is known is couched in impenetrable, official language.The Edinburgh temple was named after the Egyptian sun god - Egyptian and Ancient Greek mythology appear to have formed the basis of the Orders beliefs and worship along with astrology, tarot and alchemy.
It was something of a fad during the late Victorian period, where scientific advancements were counterbalanced by an increasing interest in the supernatural. Seances had become popular entertainment for people at all levels of society, Dracula would be published in 1897 and one of the Golden Dawn's most influential members, Pamela Colman Smith, would go on to design the archetypal Rider-Waite tarot deck. Society was essentially going through its goth phase.
While similar organisations like the Freemasons were men-only, the Golden Dawn was progressive in the sense that it was open to women. There were 48 people initiated into the Amen-Ra Temple between 1893 and 1897 - 28 men and 20 women, including mother and daughter Emily and Edith Drummond. They were from a wealthy background, and moved into the 'inner Second Order' - a more elite club within a club. They both wrote and published extensively on occultism at a time when women lacked similar access in traditional or academic media. It must have been appealing for intelligent women to have their thoughts and research taken seriously, even if said research does raise a few eyebrows.
The Golden Dawn was linked to a number of scandals, partly thanks to the heavy involvement of Aleister Crowley, who is often considered the founder of modern Satanism. Westcott, despite helping found the Order, resigned abruptly in 1897 after his double life came to public attention. In a move worthy of a Victorian prequel to The Thick of It, he left confidential occult documents in the back of a hansom cab. Given the choice between stepping away from the Order or giving up his high profile and lucrative career as a coroner, he chose the latter.
Brodie-Innes, on the other hand, stayed loyal to the Order and eventually became its president. He published several novels about witchcraft and magic, including The Devil's Mistress , about the real life alleged Scottish witch Isobel Gowdie.
It's unclear exactly where the Edinburgh temple was based - unlike the Freemasons, we do not have a public record of the society's history - but a diluted version of the Order still exists today. Perhaps they still practice in Edinburgh...
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Spectator
16 hours ago
- Spectator
What we could learn from Swiss bins
Every time I'm in Switzerland, where I grew up, I find myself madly squeezing as much rubbish as I can into a garbage bag. It's a delicate and messy task. In Switzerland, every bag of non-recyclable waste comes with a price tag – and it's expensive. You won't be surprised that the Swiss have perfected the art of recycling, aiming to minimise the amount that ends up in those pricey bags. The system is both simple and ruthless. Across Switzerland – except for the canton of Geneva – every household is required to use government-sanctioned bin bags for anything that can't be recycled. They're not your ordinary supermarket variety – these bags are sold at a premium to cover the cost of waste disposal. The less you throw away, the less you pay. The system encourages Swiss citizens to recycle as much as humanly possible. Plastic, glass, paper and organic waste all get sorted into their respective bins. What's left – only the true rubbish – goes into the bag. This approach has transformed waste disposal into a highly organised activity. Every commune and canton is in charge of managing waste, and they ensure that recycling is as accessible as possible. Most villages now have dedicated recycling centres, where you can drop off everything from batteries to broken electronics. The system has been in place for quite some years, pioneered in the 1990s in German-speaking cantons. Less waste – and a massive reduction in the amount of garbage being incinerated – has followed since the system was introduced. Swiss obsession with discipline comes into play. Each bag has a price – up to 2.50 Swiss francs (about £2.25) per bag depending on the size. The cost adds up quickly if you're not diligent. I find myself pressing down on the top of a bulging garbage bag, hoping the bag won't tear, and doing my best to avoid having to use a second one. And like any self-respecting Swiss, I do this with the acute awareness that my neighbours are likely doing the same – or at least watching me when I take the garbage out. Geneva is the only canton that hasn't implemented the system. And, as many Swiss would tell you, that's no surprise. Geneva is seen as the least disciplined canton – the outlier in a country where order and precision are prized. Geneva's stance boils down to local resistance against what is seen by some as an onerous burden. Now let's contrast this with London, where I have a flat. On collection days I am often shocked by the piles of rubbish strewn across my otherwise pristine street close to Notting Hill Gate. Black bags, supermarket bags, takeaway bags, boxes and loose refuse are dumped willy-nilly, waiting to be collected. There's little incentive to reduce the amount of waste, and recycling is patchy at best. Despite efforts to improve the system, the results can be inconsistent. Some neighbours conscientiously sort their recycling, while others throw everything in the same bag without a second thought. In London, unlike Switzerland, there's no financial penalty for being wasteful. The result is completely chaotic. The council does a brilliant job, but I can't help but feel that they're constantly catching up. The Swiss, on the other hand, have made waste management into an art form. And it's not just about the cost – it's about the cultural expectation. There's a collective discipline in play, where everyone is expected to do their part. It's unthinkable to ignore recycling or to dump everything into one bag. And while that level of scrutiny may seem stifling to some, it works. The system relies not only on financial incentives but also on a sense of civic duty. But perhaps more importantly, there's the fear of standing out as the one neighbour who isn't following the rules. For a system like this to work in the UK – or anywhere else, for that matter – you'd need more than just a price on garbage bags. You'd need the social infrastructure and discipline that comes with it. In Switzerland, each canton and commune plays a key role in making sure the system is seamless. Recycling centres are convenient and ubiquitous, and the rules are clear – and enforced. Doubtless such a system would not work as smoothly in Britain. While the financial incentive is certainly powerful, you'd need a shift in mindset. The Swiss aren't just motivated by the cost – they're motivated by the system itself. Squeezing as much as humanly possible into a single garbage bag has become part of the fabric of everyday life, as has separating out every last scrap of plastic and paper.
Scottish Sun
21 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Death of a duck-billed platypus gifted to Winston Churchill by Aussies finally uncovered
The animal's fate was covered up to avoid a public outcry FOR DUCK'S SAKE Death of a duck-billed platypus gifted to Winston Churchill by Aussies finally uncovered Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) THE truth over the death of a duck-billed platypus sent to Winston Churchill as a wartime gift has finally been uncovered. Researchers found the baby monotreme cooked to death on its long journey to Britain from Australia. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 The duck-billed platypus was plucked from a Melbourne river, nicknamed Winston and shipped off on a 45-day voyage Credit: Getty - Contributor Its fate was covered up to avoid a public outcry and when it leaked a few years later was blamed on shock from German U-boat attacks on the ship on which it was carried. The truth was uncovered by students who found the ship was never bombed — and the platypus succumbed to the 27C-plus heat as it crossed the equator. Researcher Ewan Cowan said: 'It's way easier to just shift the blame on the Germans, rather than say we weren't feeding it enough, or we weren't regulating its temperature correctly.' Australia, fearing the Japanese were moving ever closer, sent the platypus to curry favour with wartime PM Churchill in 1943. It was plucked from a Melbourne river, nicknamed Winston and shipped off on a 45-day voyage, pampered with 50,000 worms, duck-egg custard and even its own full-time minder. But after crossing the Panama Canal into the Atlantic, it was found dead in its purpose-built pen. The mission was hushed up while Winston was stuffed and shelved in Churchill's office. But Australian students got to the truth by trawling archives in Canberra and London. They found an interview with Winston's minder, who insisted the crossing was peaceful. Incredibly rare watch with historic inscription sells for eye-watering price
The Sun
a day ago
- The Sun
Is this Dracula's REAL tomb? Coffin of bloodthirsty ruler who inspired vampire ‘found'… and it's NOT in Transylvania
THE bloodthirsty ruler who inspired the Dracula legend was buried a thousand miles away from Romania, bombshell new research has claimed. Vlad the Impaler, also known as Vlad Dracula, was a notorious medieval tyrant who ruled over Wallachia, a region in modern-day Romania. 7 7 The despot, who earned his nickname for impaling his enemies on stakes in the ground and leaving them to die, was the inspiration behind Bram Stoker's novel Dracula. Vlad Dracula not only lends his name to the character, but the pair were also rulers over Transylvania, a region in Romania, and are known for their acts of cruelty. For centuries, it was believed the prince was buried in his homeland in the churches of Comana or Snagov near Bucharest after he was killed in battle at the end of December 1476. But excavations there have failed to find his remains, fuelling speculation about his death and final resting place. Now, historians claim Vlad was actually buried a thousand miles away, and not even in Romania. The team of researchers identified a tomb in Italy they believe could belong to the ruler. Historians have long speculated that he did not die in battle as was widely believed but fled to Naples with his daughter. After 10 years of research, the experts believe his tomb is at the Church of Santa Maria La Nova, in the Turbolo Chapel, in Naples. Professor Giuseppe Reale, the director of Santa Maria La Nova, told The Sun how the tomb features symbols related to Vlad and his ancestry - and they have finally translated mystery inscriptions. The inscription includes two key words - "Blad" - interpreted as a variant of the name "Vlad" - and "Balcani," the region where Vlad ruled in the 15th century. The letters B and V had the same sound in the Neopolitan dialect and were often interchangeable. The marble tomb is decorated with a knight's helmet crowned with a dragon's head - a symbol of the Order of the Dragon, a medieval society of which Vlad was a member, according to historians. Professor Reale said the text and symbols appears to be a "funeral eulogy" - and it mentions a possible date of death in November 20, 1480. The exact circumstances of Vlad's death have never been clear but it was previously thought he died in around 1477. Two sphinx-like statues also sit around the tomb - which researchers believe allude to the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes and Vlad's Romanian epithet - Țepeș. Bram Stoker himself - the author of Dracula - also lived in Naples in 1875 with his father. Born in 1431 in Transylvania, a mountainous region in modern-day Romania, Vlad the Impaler was ruler of Wallachia three times between 1448 and his death in 1476. He is considered one of the most important rulers - and a national hero of Romania. In a bloody battle in 1462, Vlad is said to have left a field filled with 23,844 impaled victims in a bid to stop enemies pursuing the Ottoman forces. 7 It comes as Vlad the Impaler's home is set to open to the public. Until five years ago, Poienari Castle in Curtea de Arge, Romania, had been left untouched for decades. Cornel Popescu, manager of Arges County Museum, said Poienari is the "true" castle of ruthless Vlad. The "impenetrable" fortress - perched on an 800m cliff - was home to the notorious ruler. Many believe Bran Castle - a national monument in Transylvania - is the castle that inspired the fictional bloodsucker. But Popescu said it has "no connection" to Vlad - a warlord with a taste for blood. He told The Sun: "Vlad the Impaler-Dracula reigned three times. "During the second reign, he built up only three monuments - the Comana and Snagov monasteries and Poienari castle. "Bran castle has no connection with Vlad the Impaler. He did not build that castle - it is only marketing for tourism. "The true castle of Vlad the Impaler is Poienari castle." Only accessible via 1,500 steps, Popescu said the Gothic fortress was never conquered by Vlad's enemies - despite several attempts. The fortress was rebuilt in 1459 when Vlad the Impaler used slaves to make bricks, cut stones and finish the construction in just a week. Surprisingly, the eerie landscapes of Transylvania became popular with King Charles in the nineties and he now visits every year and even has a holiday home there. 7 7 Who was Vlad the Impaler? VLAD Tepes, or Vlad the Impaler, is one of history's most murderous figures — and the inspiration for Count Dracula. The Romanian prince was behind countless acts of unspeakable barbarity and ruthlessness. His favourite method of murder was impalement — in which victims were lowered on to sharpened stakes, suffering an agonising death as their weight pulled them down. Vlad was born in late 1431. His father, also Vlad, was military governor of Transylvania and belonged to the Order of the Dragon, a band of knights whose duties included crusading against Turks. Vlad senior was given the surname Dracul because it means dragon in Romanian. Dracula is a diminutive form. At 11 the young Vlad was seized by Turks and spent six years in captivity in Turkey, during which time he grew into a monster without compassion. While he was away his father was overthrown as prince of the Romanian province of Wallachia and murdered, along with Vlad's older brother. At 25, Vlad killed his father's murderer Vladislav II and seized power. Thus began a six-year reign of terror. Vlad took revenge on those who helped topple his father by impaling the older ones and forcing the younger ones to march 50 miles to another town. There they were made to build him a fortress — and many died in the process. Vlad was a law and order fanatic. Petty criminals were impaled. Merchants who flouted trade laws were impaled. Pretty much anybody Vlad disliked was impaled. He considered all poor people thieves. Once, he invited a crowd of them to a feast at his court in Tirgoviste. When they had finished he had the hall locked and burned to the ground with them inside, saying they were scroungers. On another occasion he is said to have rounded up peasants and driven them off a cliff, beneath which he had placed row upon row of sharpened stakes. Once, two Turkish ambassadors came to his court. Asked to remove their turbans, they refused on religious grounds — so Vlad got his guards to nail them to the screaming Turks' skulls. Vlad had a particular hatred for Germans, and many of his worst atrocities are depicted in German propaganda printed on the newly invented press. One shows Vlad's most appalling act of savagery, which came in 1462 as his heavily-outnumbered army fled through Romania from Turkish invaders. Along the way Vlad torched his own villages and poisoned wells so the chasing Turks had nothing to eat or drink. At Tirgoviste, he impaled 20,000 Turkish prisoners and ate as he watched them die. The Turkish soldiers who found the 'Forest of the Impaled' were so distraught they gave up the chase and went home. Vlad is believed to have been assassinated in 1476 — but 400 years on his bloodthirsty deeds provided the inspiration for Dracula, a fictional character literally thirsty for blood. The ghoul first appeared in the 1897 novel Dracula by Irish writer Bram Stoker and has made dozens of movie appearances since.
