Whare Ra
Encyclopedia
Whare Ra, is the name of the building which housed the New Zealand
branch of the Order of the Stella Matutina
. It was designed and made by one of New Zealand’s most famous architects, and a senior member of the Order, James Walter Chapman-Taylor
.
The foundations for the Order in New Zealand were laid by Reginald Gardiner, born in New South Wales, Australia, son of an Anglican vicar and brother of the Anglican vicar of St Luke's Church, Havelock North, who finally settled in New Zealand in 1907, settling in the village of Havelock North. He formed about him an artistic, cultural and spiritual group whose activities became known as the "Havelock Work
", and produced a publication called “The Forerunner”. The Havelock Work grew and in time the group became known as the Society of the Southern Cross.
In 1910, Revd. Father J. Fitzgerald travelled to New Zealand
on Church business, and was introduced to the group. He was suitably impressed, and prior to his return to Britain, promised to stay in touch and to do what he could to help. In due course he wrote that if further progress were to be made, that certain people of his acquaintance would need to come out from England. In 1912 Dr. Robert Felkin
, Chief of the Order of the Stella Matutina, arrived, assisted by his appointment as Inspector of the Australasian Colleges of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia
by William Wynn Westcott
, one of the original Chiefs of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
and Supreme Magus of the S.R.I.A.
Travelling with his wife and daughter, he initiated a group of members into the Order. A sizeable piece of land was donated, and a home for the Order constructed, which they named “Whare Ra”, or House of the Sun. It was in the basement of this house, that the large Temple was built. During their three month stay, sufficient members had been initiated to make a beginning, a trust had been set up to manage the monetary affairs of the Order, and the building commissioned and sufficiently advanced to enable its Consecration. Before leaving New Zealand to return to England, a Warrant was issued establishing the Smaragdum Thalasses Temple No. 49 of the Order of the Stella Matutina.
In 1916, at the invitation of the members of the New Zealand branch, and with the offer of life tenancy of “Whare Ra”, Dr Felkin and his family returned to New Zealand for good. He issued a new constitution for the Order of the Stella Matutina in the same year, informing members that the Mother Temple of the Order was now in New Zealand. The Order, governed by three ruling Chiefs, prospered under their leadership. By the time of the death of Dr Felkin in 1926, it had a very active membership and was well established – its membership included bishops, senior ranking military officers, members of Parliament, and local dignitaries and officials.
Mr Gardiner replaced Dr Felkin as a Greatly Honoured Chief of the Order, and with Mrs and Miss Felkin, ruled for a further stable period of 33 years. It was during this time that the Temple distanced itself from the affairs of the Stella Matutina in Britain, and renamed itself simply the Order of Smaragdum Thalasses. In 1959 Mr Gardiner and Mrs Felkin died, followed by Miss Felkin three years later.
By 1978 it was clear that Whare Ra was a spent force. On 24 August 1978 a letter was circulated to members announcing the closure:
Much to the regret of many esoteric historians they burnt most of the group's regalia, Temple furnishings and records. Fortunately some things survived, including the Temple's pillars, the two sphinxes which flanked either side of the dais steps, and many copies of the rituals and lectures were passed on and preserved.
Whare Ra is now in private hands, and has been registered as a category "I" protected building by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
branch of the Order of the Stella Matutina
Stella Matutina
The Stella Matutina was an initiatory magical order dedicated to the dissemination of the traditional teachings of the earlier Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Originally, the outer order of the Stella Matutina was known as Mystic Rose or Order of the M.R. in the Outer...
. It was designed and made by one of New Zealand’s most famous architects, and a senior member of the Order, James Walter Chapman-Taylor
James Walter Chapman-Taylor
James Walter Chapman-Taylor born London, England, Was known as one of New Zealandʼs most important domestic architects of his time bringing the Arts and Crafts Movement to New Zealand houses...
.
Whare Ra and the Stella Matutina in New Zealand
Havelock Work
The Havelock Work was an arts and spirituality movement in the small town of Havelock North, New Zealand, begun in 1907 by Reginald and Ruth Gardiner and Harold Large, and embraced by the whole town...
", and produced a publication called “The Forerunner”. The Havelock Work grew and in time the group became known as the Society of the Southern Cross.
In 1910, Revd. Father J. Fitzgerald travelled to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
on Church business, and was introduced to the group. He was suitably impressed, and prior to his return to Britain, promised to stay in touch and to do what he could to help. In due course he wrote that if further progress were to be made, that certain people of his acquaintance would need to come out from England. In 1912 Dr. Robert Felkin
Robert Felkin
Robert William Felkin was a medical missionary and explorer, a ceremonial magician and member of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn, a prolific author on Uganda and Central Africa, and early anthropologist, with an interest in ethno-medicine and tropical diseases.He was founder in 1903 of the...
, Chief of the Order of the Stella Matutina, arrived, assisted by his appointment as Inspector of the Australasian Colleges of the Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia
Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia
Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia is a Masonic esoteric Christian order formed by Robert Wentworth Little in 1865, although some sources acknowledge the date to be 1866-67. Members are confirmed from the ranks of subscribing Master Masons of a Grand Lodge in amity with United Grand Lodge of...
by William Wynn Westcott
William Wynn Westcott
William Wynn Westcott was a coroner, ceremonial magician, and Freemason born in Leamington, Warwickshire, England...
, one of the original Chiefs of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
The Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn was a magical order active in Great Britain during the late 19th and early 20th centuries, which practiced theurgy and spiritual development...
and Supreme Magus of the S.R.I.A.
Travelling with his wife and daughter, he initiated a group of members into the Order. A sizeable piece of land was donated, and a home for the Order constructed, which they named “Whare Ra”, or House of the Sun. It was in the basement of this house, that the large Temple was built. During their three month stay, sufficient members had been initiated to make a beginning, a trust had been set up to manage the monetary affairs of the Order, and the building commissioned and sufficiently advanced to enable its Consecration. Before leaving New Zealand to return to England, a Warrant was issued establishing the Smaragdum Thalasses Temple No. 49 of the Order of the Stella Matutina.
Mr Gardiner replaced Dr Felkin as a Greatly Honoured Chief of the Order, and with Mrs and Miss Felkin, ruled for a further stable period of 33 years. It was during this time that the Temple distanced itself from the affairs of the Stella Matutina in Britain, and renamed itself simply the Order of Smaragdum Thalasses. In 1959 Mr Gardiner and Mrs Felkin died, followed by Miss Felkin three years later.
By 1978 it was clear that Whare Ra was a spent force. On 24 August 1978 a letter was circulated to members announcing the closure:
- "Dear Fratres and Sorores,
- This letter is addressed to all members of the Order of S.T., including members of the Second Order.
- It is with great great regret that we write to inform you that the Temple is closing and there will be no Vernal Equinox Ceremony.
- Those of you who have been present at recent Equinox Ceremonies will surely have been aware, not only of the lack of numbers, but also the lack of power, in the Temple. Those who have read their annual reports can scarcely have failed to notice that no new members have been admitted since 1975. Indeed there have been no grade ceremonies at all for the last two years or more. ..."
Much to the regret of many esoteric historians they burnt most of the group's regalia, Temple furnishings and records. Fortunately some things survived, including the Temple's pillars, the two sphinxes which flanked either side of the dais steps, and many copies of the rituals and lectures were passed on and preserved.
Whare Ra is now in private hands, and has been registered as a category "I" protected building by the New Zealand Historic Places Trust.