ET IN ARCADIA EGO

[Lightfoot]

Our Secret Brotherhood also shares history with another Freemasonic group from "Terra Antigua".

They are known as the "Ordo Templi Orientis", or "O.T.O."

The early history of O.T.O. is difficult to trace reliably. It originated in Germany or Austria between 1895 and 1906. Its' apparent founder was Carl Kellner (probably with the German spelling Karl), a wealthy Austrian industrialist, in 1895 (although nothing verifiable is known of the Order until 1904).

Theodor Reuss (1855-1923) collaborated with Kellner in creating O.T.O., and succeeded him as head of O.T.O. after Kellner's death. Under Reuss, charters were given to occult brotherhoods in France, Denmark, Switzerland, the U.S.A. and Austria. There were nine degrees, of which the first six were Masonic.

In 1902, Reuss, along with Franz Hartmann and Henry Klein, purchased the right to perform the Rite of Memphis and Mizraim of Freemasonry, the authority of which was confirmed in 1904 and again in 1905. Although these rites are considered to be irregular, they, along with the Swedenborg Rite formed the core of the newly established Order.

Another "splinter" group of Freemasonry is believed to have been the precursor of the O.T.O., that being the "Grand Orient Lodge of Oriental Freemasonry" , founded in Paris prior to the French Revolution. Members of this Lodge were suspected of helping to foment the Revolution.

A Lodge Member, Camille desMoulins, has been documented as inciting the famous "storming of the Bastille". Other suspected Members of this Lodge were Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Jefferson of the Americas.

Our current Outer Head of the O.T.O. in Gallia is "St. Germain", named after an early O.T.O and Grand Orient Member.

St. Germain was a magician, alchemist and High-Order Mason who travelled extensively throughout Europe, spreading the Masonic Word and Mysteries.

"Frater Perdurabo" (aka Aliester Crowley) was also a significant force within the O.T.O.; and introduced the concept of "Thelema", or "Will" to the Order. He was however, more active and associated with the Argentum Astrum, previously described.

To this day, part of the Brotherhood of Light's rituals includes Frater Perdurabo's famous Invocation:

"Do what Thou wilt shall be the Whole of the Law!"

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<span style="font-family:Trebuchet Ms">Brotherhood of Light ~ Grenoble ~ Belfast



LVX|Cagliostro ~ LVX|Eye.of.Privas</span>