To: alt.pagan
From: cor@cix.compulink.co.uk ("Crys Oregan")
Subject: Re: Lillian Yates and the Wiccan Charge
Date: Fri, 30 Sep 1994 20:34:28 GMT
Quoting: |Unknown

|Can anyone provide information (any at all!) on the following subjects
|(1) Lillian Yates.

|In 1941 she was  connected with co-masonry,and with Dion Fortune's
|circle.

Sorry, I've not heard of her. Any other info about her life. I have 
contact with a number of people who have done extensive research into 
Dion Fortune's life and if you wish me to pass on your query perhaps 
e-mail me and I'll pass it on to them.


|(2) Co-Masonry
|What is or was it?

My understanding (and some of the Masonic scholars out there may correct 
me)  is that Co-Masonry is a heretical off-shoot of Freemasonry 
originating in France that spread to England in the early 1900s. It 
differs from Freemasony as both men and women may be admitted. Both the 
rituals and degree system is open to women. Annie Besant did a great deal 
to organise the Co-Masonry movement. It is not a 'women only' 
organisation or social/fundraising only and has active lodges throughout 
England.  

According to Doreen Valiente both Gerald Gardner and partner 'Dafo' were 
co-Masons.


|(3) The Wiccan Charge
|What was the origin of this document?

As it exists today it is largely a 'cut & paste' document. The Charge was 
initailly written by Gerald Gardner inspired by (or ripped of from 
depending on how charitable you feel about his plagerism:) Crowley's  
Liber al vel Legis, the Gnostic Mass and Charles Geoffey  Leland's  
Aradia: the Gospel of the Witches (1899) when he compiled his original 
'Book of Shadows'. It was then re-written by Doreen Valiente when Gardner 
challenged: "well, if you think you can do any better - go ahead." She 
did - and it was  :-).

Teleute (cor@cix.compulink.co.uk)