The Poet’s Prophecy Fulfilled

Abstract

After the great struggle of 1901 Yeats was, I think, never again so involved in affairs of the Order. But he remained an active member when the name was changed from Golden Dawn to Morgenröthe in June 1902.¹ Demon Est Deus Inversus and Festina Lente were included in the active list of ‘Lords & Ladies of the Portal 5=6’ which accompanied the Manifesto of 26 June 1902.² But Yeats must have been unhappy that several old and good friends were no longer active: among those who had ‘died or resigned during the past 18 months’ were five of the rebels who had fought so hard to legalise groups, and three of them had been intimate associates of Yeats for many years — Mrs Emery and Mr and Mrs Hunter. Yeats patched up the friendship with Mrs Emery, continuing to correspond with her until her death in 1917; but he was surely saddened at the changes in the Order, though he had helped to bring some of them about. He was deeply concerned over the bickering, disputes, and political manoeuvring in a religious society representing ideal brotherhood and dedicated to the quest for truth. But he remained in the Order, perhaps in part because he had been the prime mover in the struggles of 1900 and 1901 and in part because the Order meant so much to Uncle George Pollexfen.

From other Tarots I have done & these I come to this conclusion: Very shortly some terrible trouble will take place in the Bristol Temple (L.O.E.). The evil will appear there with redoubled force — F.R. will I think probably die — success will be abandoned — by L.O.E. & those supporting her & possibly the whole Order practically broken up. It also looks as if some final decision would be arrived at, probably for reconstruction, about the latter end of June. Very few will be left; probably all the Priests will resign & Dr. Hammond.

If this is true, then it is what you told me two years ago — ‘That this trouble was permitted so that the Order might be purified & only the earnest students left to carry on.’ It is very curious.

miss christina mary stoddart to yeats (21 March 1921)