Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers 494262 221987592 2008-06-27T00:38:34Z Discospinster 82432 Reverted edits by [[Special:Contributions/70.162.0.192|70.162.0.192]] to last version by Juststardust (using [[WP:HG|Huggle]]) [[Image:Slmathers.jpg|frame|Samuel Liddell "MacGregor" Mathers, in [[Egypt]]ian costume, performs a ritual of [[Isis]] in the rites of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn|Golden Dawn]].]] '''Samuel Liddell''' (or '''Liddel''')''' "MacGregor" Mathers''', born as '''Samuel Liddell''' (January 8 or 11, 1854 &ndash; November 5 or 20, 1918), was one of the most influential figures in modern [[Occultism]]. He is primarily known as one of the founders of the [[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]], a [[ceremonial magic]] order of which offshoots still exist today. ==Early life== Samuel Liddell was born on [[January 8]] or [[January 11]], [[1854]] in [[Hackney Central|Hackney]], [[London]], [[England]]. His father, William M. Mathers, died while Samuel Liddell was still a boy. His mother, whose maiden name was Collins, died in 1885. He attended [[Bedford Grammar School]], subsequently working in [[Bournemouth]], [[Dorset]], as a clerk, before moving to London following the death of his mother. His wife was [[Moina Mathers]] (''née'' Mina Bergson), sister of the philosopher [[Henri Bergson]]. ==Lifestyle== Mathers was an [[eccentricity (behaviour)|eccentric]] whose chosen lifestyle was unusual in its time. He added the "MacGregor" surname as a claim to Highland [[Scotland|Scottish]] heritage, although there is little evidence of such in his family background. He was a practicing [[vegetarian]], or (according to some accounts) [[vegan]], an outspoken anti-[[vivisection]]ist, and a non-smoker. It is known that his main interests were [[Magic (paranormal)|magic]] and the theory of [[war]], his first book being a translation of a French military manual. ===Freemasonry=== Mathers was introduced to [[Freemasonry]] by a neighbour, [[Alchemy|alchemist]] Frederick Holland, and was initiated into Hengist Lodge No 195 on [[October 4]], [[1877]]. He was raised as a [[Master Mason]] on [[January 30]], [[1878]] and in 1882, the same year he demitted from Masonry,<ref> [http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/esoterica/mathers_m/mathers_m.html "Samuel Liddel MacGregor-Mathers"], accessed 17 Feb 2007.</ref> he was admitted to the Metropolitan College of the [[Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia]] as well as a number of ''fringe'' Masonic degrees. Working hard both for and in the SRIA he was awarded an honorary 8th Degree in 1886. He became Celebrant of Metropolitan College in 1891 and was appointed as Junior Substitute Magus of the SRIA in 1892, in which capacity he served until 1900. He left the order in 1903, having failed to repay money which he had borrowed.<ref>History of the SRIA, T M Greenshill, MBE, published 2003</ref> Upon the death of [[William Robert Woodman]] in 1891, Mathers assumed leadership of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. After a [[schism]] in 1900, Mathers formed a group called ''Alpha et Omega''.<ref> [http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/biography/esoterica/mathers_m/mathers_m.html "Samuel Liddel MacGregor-Mathers"], accessed 17 Feb 2007.</ref> ===Translations=== Mathers apparently knew how to read and translate a number of languages, including [[English language|English]], [[French language|French]], [[Latin]], [[Greek language|Greek]], [[Hebrew language|Hebrew]], [[Gaelic language|Gaelic]] and [[Coptic language|Coptic]]. His translations of such books as ''[[The Book of Abramelin|The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage]]'', ''[[The Kabbalah Unveiled]]'', ''[[Key of Solomon|The Key of Solomon The King]]'' and ''[[The Lesser Key of Solomon]]'', while probably justly criticized with respect to quality, were responsible for making what had been obscure and inaccessible material widely available to the non-academic English speaking world. They have had considerable influence on the development of occult and esoteric thought since their publication. In addition to many supporters, he had many enemies and critics. One of his most notable enemies was one time friend and pupil [[Aleister Crowley]], who portrayed Mathers as a villain named SRMD in his 1929 novel ''[[Moonchild (novel)|Moonchild]]''. According to Crowley's memoirs ''[[The Confessions of Aleister Crowley]]'', Mathers was in the habit of playing ostensible chess matches against various pagan gods. Mathers would set up the chessboard and seat himself behind the white pieces, with an empty chair opposite him. After making a move for himself, Mathers would then shade his eyes and peer towards the empty chair, waiting for his opponent to signal a move. Mathers would then move a black piece accordingly, then make his next move as white, and so forth. Crowley did not record who won. ==Death== Mathers died on [[November 5]] or [[November 20]], [[1918]]. The manner of his death is unknown; his [[death certificate]] lists no cause of death. Violet Firth ([[Dion Fortune]]) claimed his death was the result of the [[Spanish influenza]] of 1918. As few facts are known about Mathers's private life, verification of such claims is difficult. ==References== <references/> ==See also== *[[The Book of Abramelin]] *[[Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn]] *[[Hermeticism]] *[[Magic (paranormal)|Magic]] *[[Occultism]] *[[List of Occultists]] *[[List of spirituality-related topics]] *[[Mathers table]] *[[William Robert Woodman]] ==External links== *[http://www.kheper.net/topics/Hermeticism/Mathers.html Biography from Kheper.net] *[http://www.mystic-mysteries-magic.com/tradition_bio_mathers.htm Biography from the Esoteric Order of the Golden Dawn] *[http://www.hermeticgoldendawn.org/Documents/Bios/mathers.htm Biography from the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, Inc.] *[http://www.golden-dawn.org/truth_mathers.html The Truth about S.L. MacGregor Mathers] ===Works at the Internet Sacred Text Archive=== *[http://www.sacred-texts.com/grim/abr/index.htm The Book of the Sacred Magic of Abramelin the Mage] *[http://www.sacred-texts.com/jud/tku/index.htm The Kabbalah Unveiled] *[http://www.sacred-texts.com/grim/kos/index.htm The Key of Solomon The King] *[http://www.sacred-texts.com/grim/lks/index.htm The Lesser Key of Solomon] *[http://www.sacred-texts.com/tarot/mathers/index.htm The Tarot] ===Works in Spanish=== *[http://www.upasika.com/macgregor_mathers.htm Upasika Library] {{DEFAULTSORT:Mathers, Samuel Liddell MacGregor}} [[Category:1854 births]] [[Category:1918 deaths]] [[Category:English occult writers]] [[Category:English translators]] [[Category:Golden Dawn]] [[Category:Old Bedfordians]] [[de:Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers]] [[es:Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers]] [[fr:Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers]] [[it:Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers]] [[ja:マグレガー・メイザース]] [[no:Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers]] [[pl:McGregor Mathers]] [[pt:Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers]] [[ru:Матерс, Самуэль Лидделл]]