(ARTWORK BY FRA.'.121.)
Frederick Charles Loveday (commonly known as Raoul Loveday) died on February 16th, 1923 e.v., from drinking contaminated stream water nearby the Abbey of Thelema in Cefalu, Sicily. His was the first Thelemic funeral of the New Aeon, conducted of course by Aleister Crowley, in spite of the fact that he was also very ill at the time.
Raoul Loveday was so much more than just an unfortunate disciple. Leah Hirsig, the sixth Scarlet Woman, equal to the Prince-Priest in Thelemic authority and greater in power (vide "L", 1:15), wrote in her diary (vide entry for Oct.2nd, 1924) that Loveday was her first magical child. Crowley himself wrote the following of Loveday, aka Fra.'.Aud, in "The Confessions of Aleister Crowley" (pp.904-5):
"A brilliant boy, just down from Oxford, where he had distinguished himself by his attainments in history, had long wished to meet me. For over two years, he had studied my magical writings with the utmost enthusiasm and intelligence. His character was extarordinary. He possessed every qualification for becoming a Magician of the first rank. I designed him from the first interview to be my magical heir.This was the man I had needed for the last ten years, a man with every gift that a Magus might need, and already prepared for initiation by practically complete knowledge, not only of the elements but of the essence of Magick."
Just a year prior to his death, Raoul Loveday had the following poem published in "Oxford Poetry", 1922. It was a grim portent of the ill fate to come.
A SONG OF TOWN
"SING now of London
At fall of dusk;
A summer dragonfly-
Crept from the husk.
Dragonfly, on whose wing
Run golden wires;
So, down a street pavement,
Lamps throw their fires.
Dragonfly, whose wing is pricked
By many a spark;
Electric eyes of taxis
Bright through the dark.
Dragonfly, whose life is
Cold and brief as dew,
Drone now for London dusk,
Soon dead too."
Dead, but not forgotten. We remember Raoul Loveday, Thelemic Saint, whose great destiny was not cancelled but merely postponed awhile.
Suggested ebooks:
Parker Ryan - The Necronomicon Mythos According To LovecraftFrater Hoor - A Thelemic Calendar
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