Value of Spiritual Lineage

One value of lineage is giving confidence to outsiders looking to join.  Being aware of who is part of a lineage and feeling that you want to follow in their footsteps gives an organization credibility - at least on the surface.


It is known that George Washington, Ben Franklin and Mozart were Masons.  Perhaps they were members for reasons other than spiritual, but if individuals one respects are members, it gives one hope the system has value.


Paul Foster Case has always been my favored writer, and so I was drawn to the organizations he created and inspired.  My time with Builders of the Adytum and Fraternity of the Hidden Light were of great significance to my development and I still feel part of that Tradition, even though I am not currently active.


If lineage does have value and the Initiate discounts it, they may draw very little if anything from it but will in time recognize its value.  


What kind of value might strong lineage (meaning, individuals whom one respects and have contributed to the tradition in a significant way) have?

• Providing the organization with a good public reputation
• Suggests that a candidate will have experienced and capable mentors
• Provides a more powerful group mind
• Provides a greater reservoir of Current for group rituals and personal practice

If lineage does not have objective value an Initiate could still draw subjective value from it.  In such a case, the benefit to having  [your favored Adept(s) here] in one's lineage could:

• be a motivator 
• give a feeling of belonging
• give a sense of carrying on a tradition given to one by those one respects
• draw more current because the Initiate believes it does and thereby support their practice

These could be important props in the magical development of the Initiate until such point as they reach beyond to deeper sources of Current.