The other big Golden Dawn news this weekend is that it appears that Robert Zink (GH Frater PDR) has been expelled from the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn.
A couple of days ago, it seems that a new member forum was set up and invites were sent to EOGD members saying that it was the new members-only forum. Robert Zink responded saying that it was an unauthorized forum and not part of the EOGD, and that members should ignore it because it was probably a phishing campaign.
The truth seems to be that the new forum and the invites were a preemptive strike to try to wrestle control of the Outer Order membership away from Zink before the Adepti and Chiefs of the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn expelled Robert Zink, who controls the official sites (most of the assets and resources of the Order are in his personal control). I am basing this conclusion on the announcement that went up on various blogs and websites yesterday announcing that the Second Order of the Esoteric Order had voted to expel Robert Zink.
One can read the entire announcement here on the new Public Announcement blog for the EOGD.
And a couple of hours ago, the HOGD/A&O extended their hand in friendship to the EOGD Second Order who, as part of their expulsion notice of Zink, extended their hand to David Griffin.
As of this point, at least one Golden Dawn yahoo forum has declared the subject off-limits for discussion. I am expecting a couple of others to declare the same thing relatively quickly. They will be the smart ones.
Unfortunately, having seen events like this in other groups, I do not need a cracked crystal ball to know that it is going to get ugly. Robert Zink is going to fight back. I predict that he is going to expel those who expelled him. I predict that he is not going to hand over the Order's assets and website back to them. In fact, I think it is safe to say that he is going to fight for control of the Order's name. Lawyers are probably going to be involved.
And in fact, if I was in the group that expelled him, I would start thinking about changing the name of the Order. (Remember when it was HOMSI?) One of the charges against Zink is that he has damaged the reputation of the Order (and of the Golden Dawn tradition in general); one should ask themselves if it would not be better to start a clean slate.
As for my own position on this situation, I am undecided. I will probably continuing helping the individuals I want to help, and ignore those who I do not (in other words, the same policy I had before this event). As for Bast Temple's official position, I will learn that on Sunday.
I may or may not post updates to this drama---I will decide as events unfold (how boring I find events will probably be the determing factor---if it bores me, it will bore you).
Showing posts with label HOMSI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label HOMSI. Show all posts
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Saturday, January 9, 2010
Legalese induced coma
{I advise my loyal readers to skip to the final paragraph; it is all you really need to read here.}
Today I spent an hour hacking my way though some legal documents that got posted to the world wide web. And honestly, they almost put me into a coma. They made my day at jury selection look like a cakewalk.
I found these documents though a post that David Griffin did. I read them because I felt obligated to read them; nobody else in my lodge is going to bother reading them.
None of us got involved in Golden Dawn, nor any Golden Dawn-based group just so that we can read legal documents. Or at least, I hope none of us did. Then again, there are the writings of Waite...Crowley and Mathers are not much better...and I do know a couple of people who have read the Talmud. Well, I still hold out hope that none of us joined up to read legal documents.
And what did I learn that I did not already know? Just one thing. I am not completely wrong when I refer to Robert Zink's Order as the Hermetic Order of the Morning Star International (a habit I developed during my first encounter with its membership which feels like a century ago).
{Disclosure: I have never been a member of the HOMSI, nor have I ever been a member of Griffin's A&O.}
Reading the documents, I found myself thinking once again that the trademark dispute had nothing to do with esoterics, and everything to do with business.
Of course, let's be honest: My well of thinking is poisoned here. My father started a produce business under the name Farmland Produce. He had to change the name of the company because it was too close to the trademarked name of another company (does anyone really need me to give them a free plug?).
And my advice to anyone who choses to read these legal documents, Griffin's and Zink's postings, or anything else related to this dispute is to read it though the lenses of money making and business. Just presume that all statements are about increasing one's own ability to gain members while decreasing another person's ability to do the same. This statement is not completely true, but I feel that enourgh of the smoke and thunder is directed towards that purpose to justify the advice. {Disclosure: I am writer; part of my income comes from pageviews; do I need to say more?}
Correction notice: 13 January 2010: After reading a comment by VH Soror FSO, I decided to change "make money" to "gain members" in the previous paragraph. Reading her comment, I realized that the non-profit Orders are after members, and not money; hence the correction.
Today I spent an hour hacking my way though some legal documents that got posted to the world wide web. And honestly, they almost put me into a coma. They made my day at jury selection look like a cakewalk.
I found these documents though a post that David Griffin did. I read them because I felt obligated to read them; nobody else in my lodge is going to bother reading them.
None of us got involved in Golden Dawn, nor any Golden Dawn-based group just so that we can read legal documents. Or at least, I hope none of us did. Then again, there are the writings of Waite...Crowley and Mathers are not much better...and I do know a couple of people who have read the Talmud. Well, I still hold out hope that none of us joined up to read legal documents.
And what did I learn that I did not already know? Just one thing. I am not completely wrong when I refer to Robert Zink's Order as the Hermetic Order of the Morning Star International (a habit I developed during my first encounter with its membership which feels like a century ago).
{Disclosure: I have never been a member of the HOMSI, nor have I ever been a member of Griffin's A&O.}
Reading the documents, I found myself thinking once again that the trademark dispute had nothing to do with esoterics, and everything to do with business.
Of course, let's be honest: My well of thinking is poisoned here. My father started a produce business under the name Farmland Produce. He had to change the name of the company because it was too close to the trademarked name of another company (does anyone really need me to give them a free plug?).
And my advice to anyone who choses to read these legal documents, Griffin's and Zink's postings, or anything else related to this dispute is to read it though the lenses of money making and business. Just presume that all statements are about increasing one's own ability to gain members while decreasing another person's ability to do the same. This statement is not completely true, but I feel that enourgh of the smoke and thunder is directed towards that purpose to justify the advice. {Disclosure: I am writer; part of my income comes from pageviews; do I need to say more?}
Correction notice: 13 January 2010: After reading a comment by VH Soror FSO, I decided to change "make money" to "gain members" in the previous paragraph. Reading her comment, I realized that the non-profit Orders are after members, and not money; hence the correction.
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