The Golden and Rosy Cross Worn by International Golden Dawn Imperator, David Griffin

David Griffin - G.H. Frater Lux Ex Septentrionis

Golden Dawn International Imperator

Since the recent YouTube release of 13 videos from the Golden Dawn's 100 year Alpha et Omega Jubileum in Paris, there has been a great deal of interest about the cross I wear in the photo above.

Certain misinformed (or perhaps even ill intentioned) individuals have repeatedly and erroneously suggested I am wearing a German Iron or perhaps even Nazi cross.

As is so often the case, the truth in this instance even is more fabulous than the rumors people spread based on malice or mere ignorance.
In reality, I wear a cross of pure 24k gold, enameled red, that derives directly from the 18th Century German Rosicrucian Order known as the Gold und Rosenkreutz. There have been many variants of this same cross down through history. Here are a just few of them:

The Gold und Rosenkreutz Order, the Rosicrucian predecessor of the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn is, in fact, the source of origin of entire grade system of the Golden Dawn, as well as the mystic numbers of the grades, mystic titles, symbols, etc.

This same Golden and Rosy Cross has been worn by our elder Adepts of the Gold und Rosenkreutz Order, at least since the general reformation of 1777. Looking through the Tableau of the Gold und Rosenkreutz Order (from the reformation of 1763), as published by Magister Pianco in his Der Rosenkreuzer in seiner Bloesse, there is a column appended that describes the "signs" of the Grades. Looking at the Grades of Adeptus Major, Adeptus Exemptus and Magister Templi you will find the following signet of the Grade: "A Cross of Gold enameled Red." Here we have a clear reference of this symbol being in use by Rosicrucian initiates even as early as in 1763.

Considering that many of the names of Golden Dawn grades, mystic titles, etc., derive directly from the Gold und Rosenkreutz order, one can even argue that this cross is actually the prototype or "source of origin" of the Rose Cross lamen later adapted by the Golden Dawn's Second Order, the R.R. et A.C., and worn by its Adepts until today. This cross thus is an important symbol of the Rosicrucian lineage of the Golden Dawn that descends from the Gold und Rosenkreutz order, through the Asiatic Brethren, and the Frankfurt lodge "Zur Goldenen Morgonroethe" in Germany.

Although the historical origins of this Golden and Rosy Cross are to be found in the Rosicrucian Gold und Rosenkreutz order of 18th Century Germany, its mythical history extends much farther back in time. Here is the legend of this cross, as told in one of the unpublished initiation rituals of the Gold und Rosenkreutz Order:

At the beginning of our Christian era, there lived in Egypt a great initiate named Ormus; called Ormesius by the Greeks. Ormus was a priest of Serapis in the city of Alexandria and an initiate of the Hermetic mysteries. Ormesius forsaw the rise of Christianity, and thus was converted to the new religion by St. Mark in AD 44. To ensure the survival and transmission of the Royal Art, Ormus stripped the mysteries their Egyptian trappings, and re-veiled them in the symbols and rites of the new religion. To preserve the initiatic transmission as well, Ormesius founded a Hermetic mystery school called the ”Fraternity of the Sages of Light,” known to initiates through the centuries as the the Ordo Ormesius, or the Order of Ormus.

The Order has manifested to the outer world under many names and has undergone many transformations. In 1111, it was known as the Alliance of Magical Brothers. In 1222, following the defeat of the Crusaders in Jerusalem and the expulsion of Christians from the holy land, the surviving members of the order disbursed across the world. Thus the light of our fraternity was carried to France where the Knights Templar were formed by Hugues de Payns with the aid of the Alliance. Thus the red cross of our order became the primary emblem of the Knights Templar, who provided the spiritual implulse for a new Crusade to retake the holy land.

In 1314, when when the Knights Templar were supressed in France, the last Grand Master, Jaques de Molay, sent his nephew, the Count of Beaujeu, into the Templar crypt in Paris, to recover a chest filled with the esoteric secrets of the order. These documents were dispatched with an envoy of knights to Scotland, where they arrived in 1333, and were later used to lay the spiritual foundations for Freemasonry. Time and again across the centuries, our order has manifested and been known by many names. In 1444. It was known as the Order of the Cross, in 1555 as the Order the Rosy Cross, and in 1666 as the Brothers of the Golden Cross, and 1777 as the Order of the Golden and Rosy Cross.

From the earliest times, initiates of our order have recognized one another by the primary ensignia of our order: an enameled red cross made of purest gold and worn over the heart of the Adept. This red cross of our order became the primary emblem of the both Knights Templar and the Golden Rosicrucians. Legend has it this cross was originally drawn with the blood of Christ upon a white shield by Joseph of Arimathea, and that this shield was carried by Galahad on the Grail quest.

This same cross has also been worn by numerous Templar Rites in Freemasonry, including the Strict Observance and the Scottish Templars. It is still worn today by high grade members of the Swedish Rite of Freemasonry, to which I additionally belong, and in which I hold the IX degree.
P.S. - I just noticed that Sincerus Renatus also just also wrote an excellent article about this same cross. As it contains valuable additional information, I suggest that you also read this article here.

Sub Umbra Alarum Tuarum, Yeheshua
David Griffin
G.H. Frater Lux Ex Septentrionis
Imperator Ordinis, Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn
Rosicrucian Order of Alpha et Omega

"Ex Deo Nascimur.
In Yeheshua Morimur.
Per Sanctum Spiritum Reviviscimus"