Ed. note: The origins of O.T.O. lie in Austria where (it is said) our founding Frater Superior Carl Kellner resolved to found an Academia Masonica around 1895. But the real organizational birth of the Order came in 1902 with a charter issued to its founders by John Yarker, the head of the Antient and Primitive Rite of Memphis. The O.T.O.'s founders also received authorizations to work the Rite of Mizraim and the Cerneau Scottish Rite. They had a universalist vision of unifying and correlating all masonic rites under the Êgis of the O.T.O., which became a sort of inner order, and made the masonic 33°a prerequisite for membership in the O.T.O. proper. Although O.T.O. recognized and affiliated members from regular Craft,Royal Arch and Scottish Rite masonry, theYarker charters provided a basis for forming a complete synthesis under their sole authority. Just as all of these component rites had and have their own governing authorities in their regular forms, so did they in their irregular forms. It is confusing, but in the early days of our history the Antient and Primitive Rite, and other rites,were discussed and worked as if synonymous with O.T.O., even through their ultimate leadership was different. The higher O.T.O. degrees were rarely mentioned.
These independent masonic rites no doubt seemed perfectly suited to the purposes of the O.T.O.'s founders, but their continued existence was only due to the tremendous energy, endurance and influence of John Yarker, who battled with established masonry through most of his career. While alive, he managed to hold the interest of a small group of enthusiasts around the world-tiny by comparison to regular rites of masonry-but on his death his rites soon fell into terminal decline.
Coincidentally with Yarker's death theGrand Lodge of England (which governs I°-III°Craft masonry) seems to have adopted a more stringent policy concerning masonic regularity. The letters published here refer to an Grand Lodgecircular letter terming Co-masonry irregular or clandestine, both technical masonic terms that have serious implications formasons, as fraternal dealings with irregular or clandestine lodges can result in disfellowship. Crowley tried to interpret this as applying only to the Theosophical Co-masonry,[1] but this is unlikely, since Crowley and Reuss also admitted women, and derived their authority from the same source as the Theosophists.
Crowley quickly realized that the post-Yarker era meant change. He was not rebellious by reflex, at least where old British institutions were concerned. He undoubtedly believed O.T.O. had authority from Yarker to work the Antient and Primitive Rite's equivalent to the Craft degrees in England, but once made aware of the issue of regularity when having his own French masonic credentials declined,he was not defiant and on his own made changes to the O.T.O. to avoid conflict. He inserted notices into the last number of The Equinox to the effect that the O.T.O.did not infringe upon the just privileges of the Grand Lodge of England.
During WWI Crowley worked slightly revised English Craft rituals in America,but despite the absence of a central Grand Lodge, he met with objections frommasonic authorities. He then rewrote the O.T.O. rituals for I°- III°so that they no longer resembled Craft masonry degrees in language, theme or intent.
Thus the O.T.O. under Crowley, in English speaking countries (the Mysteria Mystica Maxima), long ago ceased to claim to "make" masons. Crowley eventually dropped any reference to the Rites of Memphis or Mizraim, and as shown laterin this issue, he telescoped their complex systems into the degree structure of the O.T.O. He also tacitly dropped the requirement in the O.T.O. Constitution that members be masons, but he would still, years later, award O.T.O. degrees by affiliation to masons, as is discussed in papers in the Equinox iii(1); although masonic authorities declined to recognize O.T.O.'s degrees, O.T.O. continued to recognize theirs. Even this last vestige of equivalence after Crowley's death, as the Mysteria Mystica Maxima rituals designed by Crowley have a very different intent,philosophy and initiatic import than their distant masonic ancestors. The situation on the Continent underReuss and others was different, as no central masonic authority with the standing ofthe English Grand Lodge had sole jurisdiction. The O.T.O. took root in German-speaking countries, but elsewhere the fact that O.T.O. did not emerge from its Memphis-Mizraim-Cerneau matrix meant that they shared the same fate. The O.T.O. thus died out in France, Spain and Italy.
The situtation with the O.T.O. and masonry today is somewhat different than in Crowley's time, but the spirit of fraternity and respect is the same. We have taken several steps to avoid even the appearance of infringement on masonic privileges. An increasing number of O.T.O. members are masons-many having taken their initiations in masonic lodge with The Book of the Law as the volume of the sacred law.These members feel no conflict with their masonic vows in being members of O.T.O.
Masonic rules and customs vary from country to country. In Continental countries we have had a Lodge Master invited to a master's meeting at the recognizedmasonic hall, and O.T.O. can count the Vice Grand Master of a major Grand Lodge as a member. We try to remain flexible and adaptable to these circumstances.
The aims of Freemasonry, formulated so long ago and cherished as landmarks,emphasize a nondogmatic and individual approach to the divine, without sect or religion. They teach that individual freedom is an inalienable right with implicit responsibilities, and that people can be ennobled by their own efforts, no matter how humble their origins. Those who argue (and some have and do) that Freemasonry is a relic of the Old on should study history, which clearly shows that,virtually alone among the institutions ofthe past, it was a harbinger of the New.
I should disclose that I am not a mason-I respectfully disagree with the masonic rule of not admitting women. [2] But I would encourage any O.T.O. member to join a lodge if that is their will.
The O.T.O. is evolving, and will in time become grow away from its masonic roots,as we have our own unique emphasis and mission. It is however vital that we first educate ourselves thoroughly in our doctrinal origins so that we do not, in our ignorance, change or abandon ideas and values we do not yet understand.-H.B.
Footnotes: 1 - So-called because it admits men and women indiscriminately, and different from Adoptive masonry, which has segregated lodges.
2 - I am aware that even Crowley held the exclusion of women to be necessary; seeConfessions, abr. ed., p. 696, where Crowley, in discussing the admission of womento the Craft III, remarks "They cannot. I,the fiercest of feminists, say so."
To Grantwood. [?] High Council. Societas Rosicruciana in America.
Dear Sir &Illustrious Brother,
I am very muchobliged by your letter of 15th March, just to hand. Ithank you very much for the []. I amhoping to write to Mr. V. on that subject in a short time. With regard to theNew SupremeCouncil I should explain that the realsecret to which all Masonry only formsa veil is in the keeping of the O.T.O. towhich our Supreme Council issubject,1 and as we are preliminary [?]we are supposed to be in friendly communication with most Worthy andIllustrious M[atthew] McB[lain]Thomson,2 with whom I have corresponded, and whose views enshrine a spirit of tolerance which is whollyadmirable. I have not thepleasure, however, ofknowing him personally, and I do notknow his exact position in reference tothe higher Degrees which I represent. Isuppose you will not be in England thissummer. There is some talk of me coming to N.Y. in the Fall, but it is quite inthe air. I should be glad if you wouldlet me know (of course, in strict confidence) your attitude with regard toBrother McB. Thomson. I do notknow the extent of his following, especially in New York. His address is [...].It might be worth your while to have aconversation with his representative inN.Y. with a view to cementing thebonds of fraternity between our various bodies.
2 To [Emil] Schaub3 [Basle, Switzerland]
Most Worshipful and Most Puissantand Very Dear Brother,
I am sorry that the advent of Easterhas prevented me replying earlier to your valued letter. I am sending you anappointment as our Gen. Representative and Correspondent, but I cannotarrange the matter of the NationalGovernment for the moment. I shall beobliged to divide Switzerland intothree Governments, or at least twoaccording to the language prevalent. It is, of course,quite impossible foranyone to work the Rites of Memphisand Mizraim.4 The object of theO.T.O. has been to consolidate thewhole of their knowledge as well asthat of the Ancient and Accepted Riteand of the Illuminati and many otherBodies of Initiates into a simple andcomprehensive system. In our Rite, wehave no multiplication of Officers andno speeches too long for the ordinarybusy man to get by heart in his sparetime. I shall beprepared to go thoroughlyinto this matter with you at a convenient occasion. If you are in London atany time, I should very much like tosee you, and to show you the arrangement of Chapters and Lodges by whichwe are enabled to work all theseDegrees, not only in decorum but insplendour, without that great expenditure of space which prevents practicalworking in so many cases. Please letme know your views at your earliest convenience.
3 To James Austin Davies. Sekondi.Gold Coast. [Ghana.]
We cannotcommunicate any secrets except by personal interview.5 We shallhope that you will call here on yournext visit to England and take Degrees.In the meantime, it will help you veryconsiderably if you study the publication (which we are sending you as apresent)6 and the books recommendedfor further study at the end of that book.
4 To [T. S.] Reelfs. [Geneva?]
Very Perfectand Puissant Prince andVery Dear Brother
I am very glad toget your letter. Iwill get the translations done here.What I want you to do is to communicate with Prof. Emil Schaub in Basleand explain the circumstances. TheGrand Master of the Rites of Memphisand Mizraim and Scottish [masonry in]Florence7 has given him authority inSwitzerland, but it seems to me, inview of the language question, that itwould be much better to divide Switzerland into two provinces, one forthose who speak French, and one forthose who speak German. Geneva andBasle are the capitals of such provincesand if you cannot come to some working arrangement with Prof. Schaub [inBasle] to divide the Kingdom betweenyou, I think it would be very easy toget some work done. I have written tohim, explaining my views, but notmentioning your name. I will write further in a few days as soon as I have settled the details and heard again fromProf. Schaub and I will expect to hearfrom you as well as from him.
5 To C.C. Williams, Los Angeles, Calif.
In answer to yoursof April 17 in reyour application for admission to the M.M.M. we refer you to the PresidentGeneral, Mr. [Matthew] McB[lain]Thomson, 356 Alto, Salt Lake City,Utah U.S.A. Please inform him that we have referred you to him.
To I. I. Exter. Amsterdam, Holland.
We can do nothing for you in re M.M.M. unless you come to London to take your Degrees. It is, however,the intention of our Most SupremePuissant and Illustrious Master to visitour Brother H.J. van Gimpel [?] in Amsterdam for the formation of a Lodge in Holland. We will keep you advised of this matter.
7 ToGrantwood. [?] The Most WorthySupreme Magus of the Societas Rosicruciana in America.8
MostIllustrious Knight and Very DearBrother,
You will forgivethe delay which hasarisen in replying to your letters, as Ihave been away in the country. Pleaseaccept my thanks for the honour youhave done me, and the diploma dulyreceived. The death of the Most Illustrious Brother John Yarker 33°, 90°,97°, leaves me the sole Custodian ofthe authority to work the Memphisand Mizraim Rites in Great Britainand Ireland; but as I think I told you ina previous letter, I am proposing toconcentrate the whole teaching of allthese Rites in the 10 degrees of O.T.O.and M.M.M. I am not certain whetheryou have seen the Preliminary Pamphlet which we have issued and whichI now beg to enclose a copy for yourkind acceptance.
I am mostillustrious knight andvery dear Brother,
8 To [T.S.] Reelfs. [Geneva?]
Care Frater,
Illness hasprevented me fromanswering your letter of the 8th Apriltill now. I have not heard from Professor Schaub but I have no doubt that hewill agree with me in time. I am glad tohear that you have four other people towork with you. In order to complywith the regulations two of these-and I suggest one lady and one gentleman- should I think be initiated byus or affiliated to us if they are alreadyMasons. The three of you should makejoint application for a Charter or warrant authorising you to work. If theyare not already Masons, it would be apity for them to have to come toEngland for it, and in that case youwould have to initiate them by yourown authority,9 which you can do assoon as you are a Member of the 33°10orvii° and I could if necessary make you an Hon[orary] Member of thatgrade which in any case it is desirablethat you should possess. The matterwhich troubles me is that I do not wishto exact heavy fees and I can give youthe Honorary degree as a compliment,though it is somewhat straining theRegulations. From your first two members we should have to charge the fullfees either of initiation or affiliation, ofwhich we send you a note. As soon asyou have a charter you can initiate oraffiliate others making your own scaleof charges, but they would have to signour pledge forms and you would beresponsible to send us a capitation feeof 25 francs for each person admittedup to the 3°. My experience suggeststhat you would find it best to work upto the 3rd degree only. The expenses ofestablishing a Lodge are extremelysmall. You could do it very well indeedfor 2 or 300 francs. In fact the furniture of our Lodge was constructedwith a view to making it easy to startnight Lodges. You only require [...]11[and a] volume of the Sacred Law,which you get from us at the cost of 1Guinea.12 I will however send you anauthorized French translation of thisbook which I suggest you should haveprinted and sold to your members andany others who may apply. You shouldbe able to derive some profit from thissource- altar, [...].13 I think I have nowexplained all thatis necessary for the moment and if yousee your way to go on, please signifythe same, when I will send you two pledge forms and a Hon. Diploma of our VII°. On the two forms being returned signed with the petition for a Charter, I will issue one. The cost of a Charter is 25 but you can arrange to pay for [it] in course of time out of thefees as you receive them. We find thatthe simplicity and completeness of thesystem, and the very small amount ofwork which its working requires fromits officers makes it extremely easy toget new candidates. Moreover Co-masonry is giving a great deal of dissatisfaction from various causes, andyou probably find a great number ofCo-masons are most anxious to cooperate. The establishment of the IV°14should therefore be possible for you inthe course of say 12 months, and Ithink you should spare no pains tohave your furniture as imposing as youfound it in London.
p.s. While my letter of yesterday wasbeing typed yours came to hand. If youare going to Basle you ought to be ableto settle it in a friendly men-of-the-world sort of fashion. It is purely aquestion of the practical convenienceof the work, and should lead to nofriction. No need to beg my pardon forgiving me trouble. I want you tounderstand that the more you writeand work, the better I am pleased.
9 Dear KathleenPritchard,
Thank you for yourletter and thebooklet which I will read when I havesome time. Do come to the Mass15tomorrow, Sunday night, at 9 o'clock,and bring Miss Robinson.
10 Thomas Jenkinson Heddle. AguePooce. Sam Thome. [?]16
Your letter of 5April to hand. Wecan enrol you as a Member for 4 guineas and 3 guineas subscription, onreceipt of which we will send you thepreliminary documents to sign, and ontheir return signed we will communicate to you instructions correspondingto the first four Degrees.17
11 To T. S. Reelfs. Florence.
I gotback to London only last night. I am sending you a few dozen copies of Part II of Book 4 for distribution and enclose herewith a letter ofintroduction to Dr. Frosoni.
12 To Dr.Frosoni. [Florence, Italy]
MostWorshipful and Most Illustrious
We pray you toreceive fraternallyMr. T. S. Reelfs, Puissant Prince ofRose Croix.18 He will inform you of theproposals which I wrote to him previous to my hearing that you hadappointed Professor Schaub in Switzerland. I trust you will agree with methat for the purposes of practical workit will be more convenient to have twoprovinces in Switzerland on account ofthe difficulty of language.
13 To Gerald Minchin.
Dear Sir andBrother,
I understand thatyou are not ingood standing and it is improper toresign until that matter is settled. Further, you of course mean that youresign from active participation. Youcannot resign from the thing itself;having taken the obligations, you arebound by them. Neither I nor anyoneelse has power to release you.
I am sorry thatyou did not see fit todisclose perfectly the nature of theintrigues which have been going onwhen appealed to. Information fromthe third person is never so satisfactory. However, all's well that ends well.Those who take obligations withoutthe slightest intention of keeping themare not usually a source of strength. Iam rather surprised, however, in viewof the very high-minded attitude whichyou took in the case of Sister H., andas you could not make any allowancesfor her, you must not expect others tomake much for you. Allowance, however, is being made on the ground ofyour general weaknesses and your temporary obsession.19
14 [James Thomas] Windram [Johannesburg, South Africa]20
Care Frater,
Thanks for thebank transfer dulyreceived and handed to the properquarter. You seem to have a good dealof tendency to cause your work toreflect upon the material plane. Itlooks as if you were wasting forcesomehow. I think rising on the planesis probably the first game to play. Youmust get your vision perfect. Harpocrates is a dear little god with a beautiful god form. I am sending you persame mail V° ritual:21 the others tofollow. Also the secrets and grades upto the xxxii°. By the way, Yarker'sdeath leaves me the sole authority ofScottish Memphis & Mizraim in thiscountry.
15 3June. To Don Isidore Villarino delVillar. Madrid.22 Puissant SovereignGrand Commander of the Rite ofMemphis.
MostIllustrious and very dear Brother,
The death of themost Puissant andmost Illustrious Brother John Yarker97° Grand Hierophant of the Rite,23has left me sole heir to his authority inthe country of which he was SovereignGrand Master Generalad vitam. Ittherefore becomes my duty to summonan electoral college24 for the purpose ofelecting a new Grand Hierophant 97°,and I have further much pleasure inproposing the election of Don Isadore96° to that post, not only because he isthe eldest in years of us all, but becauseof the distinguished services which hehas rendered to the Rite. My proposalis seconded by the most Illustrious andmost Puissant Brother Theodor Reuss,96°, the Sovereign Grand Master General of the German Empire. Shouldyou have any alternative propositionsto make I shall be pleased to receivethem and to lay them before our mostIllustrious and Puissant Brethren indue course.
16 To [Gerald] Minchin.
Dear Brother,
I have now accessto my files andfind that I did use the word obsession.25I did not however wish to imply it inany occult or mysterious sense. I wasmerely referring to the obvious factthat your letters, although written inyour own handwriting, had been dictated by another person. I am verysorry that this is an illegitimate use ofthe word, for as you know, I am agreat stickler for accuracy in English.
17 To De Jong. Java.
You are quiteright in saying thatthere is only one such order.26 In thenature of things there could not betwo. Nor have I any doubt that theTheosophical Society was founded bymembers of this Order. But it is impossible that these Masters should have sofar departed from every Rule as toadvertise in person Leadbeater27 as thecoming Christ. In the exceptional circumstances such a claim is worse thanridiculous. I will ask you to rememberthat H. P. B[lavatsky] gave no authority to Annie Besant to carry on herwork, and Annie Besant may beregarded as a usurper. The presentmovement of the Star in the East is certainly calculated to bring the wholeSociety into contempt. This is so obvious that to some minds deliberatetreachery appears the only explanation. Some of the immediate followersand friends28 of H.P.B. are at presentworking with him29 at the Headquarters of the O.T.O. and this is their considered opinion.
However this hasnothing to dowith your question. Though the WhiteBrotherhood is one, its members mayand do see fit to work in very differentmanners. It would be absurd to limittheir activities to purely religiousmovements. Why should they notinspire discoveries in science andachievements in all forms of art? Forall these tend to the uplifting ofhumanity.
18 27 June. To [William Henry] Quilliam.30
VeryIll[ustrious] and Very [Dear]Brother,
Yours of the 26th instant to hand. Iam sorry that you will be unable toattend at Manchester on Saturday, butI shall be pleased to meet your Illustrious son [Robert Quilliam] at the Midland Hotel at 1 o'clock on Saturday. Ishall try and see Very Ill. BrotherHigham31 privately before the meeting.
19 To Rev. Samuel Gasking.
Very Ill. andVery Dear Brother,
I hope you werenot unpleasantlysurprised by the line I found myselfobliged to take on Saturday withregard to Mr. Wedgwood. I am anextremely broadminded person andmasonically inclined towards laxity,and my objection on technical groundsmight have been overcome in anyother instance. I therefore think it rightfor me to explain to you what isbehind all this. A week or two ago Mr.Wedgwood boasted from the Chair ofthe Emulation Lodge of so-calledmasons that he had bought theA[ntient] and P[rimitive] R[ite] andthat the Rite should pass into thehands of Co-masons. This might havebeen passed over as being equivalent tothe extension of the Rite, if this wasall. But it goes much deeper. Co-masonry itself is being dragged into theworship of this coming Christ, whoappears to be a person of few wits andno morals, as you will see by theenclosed pamphlet, which pleasereturn as I have no copy;32 and concerning which I may mention that theCourt upheld the plaintiff's contention33 in every point, in spite of thefact that he is a very poor man whileMrs. Besant is spending money by thebucketful to better the ends of justice.She is very anxious to have somerespectable masonic authority to passthe impudent blasphemous claimsupon; and she took advantage of ourlate lamented Sov[ereign] G[rand]Master's great age to wheedle him intovarious courses of action which nomason could approve. I am sure therefore that you as a Christian clergymanno less than as a mason will see thenecessity of combating to the utmostthis insidious attempt to capture ourvenerable Rite for purposes alike sofoul and so ridiculous.
20 27 June. [Recipient unknown.]
Higham purportedto convoke aSov. San[ctuary] of the A[ncient] andP[rimitive] R[ite] at Manchester at 4o'clock on Saturday June 28. Messrs.Higham, Gasking, Crowley and Wedgwood were present. The various documents connected with the Conventionwere taken as read. It should howeverbe mentioned that they included twostrongly worded protests from VeryIllustrious Brothers Reuss and Quilliam against the illegality of the saidConvention.34 Very IllustriousBrother Crowleyraised his voice in protest against anybusiness being done at the meeting. Hefurther challenged the Brothers presentto prove that they were Masons, andMr. Wedgwood in doing this claimedauthority from a Co-masonic body so-called with which he is associated. Itwas, of course, impossible for the others to recognise this claim, as whateverregularity there may have been in Mr.Wedgwood's initiation, it was clearthat he had plenty of claim to be considered a mason, anda fortiori a member of the A. and P. Rite by hisconnection with the so-called Co-masonic Body. Very Illustrious BrotherCrowley thereupon further supportedhis first protest by leaving the Lodgecounting [?] on a general agreement ofthe Brothers present to disband themeeting. In other words Brother[Crowley's] protest was sustainedimmediately and Mr. Wedgwood'sname must consequently be effacedfrom the muster roll of the S[overeign]S[anctuary] of the A[ncient] and P[rimitive] R[ite] and all its subordinatebodies.
21 27 June. To Sir Edward Letchworth,Freemason's Hall. Great Queen Street,EC.
Dear Sir andRight Worshipful Brother,
I wish to appealto the fraternalBrothers of the Lodge of England inthe following circumstances. I wasmade a Master Mason 17 December1904 in Lodge 343 Anglo-Saxon inParis, working under the Grand Lodgeof France.35 My proposer was the Rev.I. L. Bowley, who I understand hasbeen the Provin[cial] Grand Officer inthe Oxford Province, and I fully understood from him that the Anglo-SaxonLodge was duly recognized by theGrand Lodge of England, and in factnumbers of admitted English masonshave attended the Lodge while on theother hand I have always been receivedwith the greatest fraternal welcome inmany Lodges both in England andIndia, and no question has been raisedas to my status except in the GrandChapter of the Royal Arch at Freemason's Hall. I must admit that at thattime I was annoyed by what seemed tome a narrow-minded view of masonry.As the Ritual of my initiation was thatin use all over England, and no suchalteration of landmarks had takenplace as that which has caused thebreach between the G[rand] Lodge ofEngland and the G[rand] Orient. And Ishall consequently prepare to supportthe G[rand] L[odge] of France in itsclaim to the validity of its initiations. Iam now, however, credibly informedthat recently the Grand Lodge ofFrance has tolerated and even recognized so-called co-masonry, and inthese circumstances I see no courseopen to me but to resign from thatLodge, not only on masonic grounds,but because so-called co-masonry ismerely a mask for the cult of"Alcoyne," which I have no hesitationin describing as the most impudentblasphemy and filthy fraud that hasever been attempted in the history ofthe world.
I write to assureyou of my thorough loyalty and allegiance to the principles of the Grand Lodge of England and I ask your fraternal kindness to make it as easy as possible for me to regularise my position.
22 27 June. To E.P. Denny. 55 BoulevardSuchet. Paris.
Dear Sir and Brother,
When I joinedLodge no. 343 I didso on the understanding that the Lodgewas in fraternal communication withthe [Grand] Lodge of England and notuntil last year did anything occur toarouse doubts on the subject. I nowunderstand that the G[rand] L[odge] ofEngland has never recognised ourLodge, and I further learn to myextreme surprise and horror that theGrande Loge de France has decided torecognise so-called Co-masonry, whichis merely a mask for the blasphemouscult of "Alcyone." It is of courseimpossible for me to have any furtherconnection with a Lodge which makesitself an accomplice in this filthy fraud,and I cannot believe that either yourself or any other of my brothers of theLodge 343 can have had any notion orcome any other decision. [?] I write toask you what is the intention of theLodge? Surely it would be possible fora unanimous petition of the Brothersof the Lodge to be sent to the G.L. ofEngland for incorporation. The onlydifficulty was apparently the CerneauRite, but I take it that the Grande Logede France had at one time at least somesort of claim to recognition byEngland. Recent developments haveforfeited any such claim, and no question of usurpation could possibly beraised.
I hope that youwill let me knowwithout delay what, if anything, isbeing done in the matter. I shall beover in Paris next Sunday for at least aweek and hope to have the pleasure ofan interview with you, but as I am incommunication with Sir E[dward]L[etchworth] on the same subject, Ishould like to have your reply before I leave London.
23 1July. To Richard Higham.
Dear Brother,
I am writing you unofficially toexpress a hope that you will not meetany opposition, as you hinted that youought to recognise the acts of the Convocation of which an official report is being sent you herewith.
The election ofBrother Meyer is inaccordance with Brother Yarker'sexpress wishes, who wrote me somelittle time back, and I think you willagree with having three thoroughlyactive and enthusiastic brothers determined to conserve the Rite besidesmyself. It is not likely that any otherConvocation that you might callwould come to any other result and Ihope that you will agree that it is notdesirable that they should do so. It willgive us all great pleasure to have yourcooperation in reviving the Rite whichthere now seems excellent hopes of doing.
24 The Minutes of the special Convocation of the S[overeign] S[anctuary] ofthe A[ncient] and Primitive Rite held at33 Avenue Studios, 76 Fulham Roadon Monday June 30th, 1913 at 5o'clock of the afternoon.36
PresentBrothers Reuss, [William H.]Quilliam, Meyer, Crowley.
The Brotherspresent having provedtheir right to sit, speak and vote,
Brother Quilliam called the Convocation to Order, and called upon BrotherCrowley to read the summons, a copyof which is here appended. This wasduly done. Brother Reuss proposedand Brother Crowley seconded thatBrother Meyer take the chair. BrotherMeyer having done so called uponBrother Crowley to read his report ofthe proceedings at Manchester. BrotherCrowley did so, and a copy of thesame is here appended. Brother Crowley remarked that no written protestagainst the present Convocation hadbeen received from any P[rince] P[atriarch].
Brother Quilliammoved that a letter of condolence should be sent to thewidow of the late S.G.M.G. [Yarker],which was agreed to.
It was approvedand adopted andmoved to be recorded in the minutes ofthe Convocation. The Election ofthe S.G.M.G. wasthen duly held as recorded above. TheMost Ill. Sov. G.M.G. then opened theConvocation as a Supreme Council ofSov. Grand Inspectors General of the33[rd] and last degree of the A[ncient and] A[ccepted] Scottish Rite, and hewas duly elected Most Puissant Sov.Grand Commander. He then openedthe meeting as an Absolute Grand Sov.of the 90th and last degree of the Oriental Rite of Mizraim, and was dulyelected as its Patriarch.
The Sov. G.M.General returnedthanks in an eloquent speech for hiselection, and conferred the degree ofP[rince] Patriarch Grand Conservatorof the Rite on Brothers Robert AhmedQuilliam 32°, 94°,37 and Leon EngersKennedy 30°, 90°. He further made thefollowing appointments: Bro. Crowley-Patriarch GrandAdministrator General. Bro. [WilliamHenry] Quilliam-Pat[riarch] Grand Keeper General ofthe Golden Book.38
25 2July. To [Richard] Higham.
Very Ill. andDear Brother,
I received yournotice of July 1 withregard to the meeting. You will seefrom other documents which I amsending you that my account differsfrom yours slightly. Mr. Wedgwooddid not object to my presence but onlyargued that if I were right in my contention that he was not entitled, I wasequally so on the ground that hismasonic authority was identical withmine.
26 2July. To Biberstein.
Dear Sir andBrother,
I was very pleasedto receive yourletter. I am sending you a copy ofBook4 parts 1 and 2 which I hope you willappreciate. You will learn from themwhat other books you need, andMessrs. Wieland of this address will bepleased to supply the same. [3 linesillegible.] We have a representative inN[ew] Y[ork] Mr. Gref [or Grief].
27 3July. To Robert Ahmed Quilliam.
Very Illustrious and Very Dear Brother,
I must apologiseto you for the confusion that took place on Saturday, butit was not my fault, except that I wascareless with regard to the source ofthe telegram which I received, andwhich I had thought had come fromyour father at Liverpool. This telegrammade me think that you would bearriving from Liverpool at 2.15 and Iconsequently went to meet the train.Hundreds of people with buttonholesgot out of that train, I suppose someholiday party, and made the search foryou nugatory. I went back to the Midland and learned to my amazementthat you couldn't wait any longer, butwould be back at 3, and you had notsaid where you were. Of course I wentback to the office at 3 and you neverturned up till I had to go to the meeting. From this telegram I further concluded that you would certainly not bein Manchester at 1 o'clock, and so Ileft no instructions with regard to mywhereabouts, but in point of fact Ilunched in the grill room of the hotel,and the failure of the hotel people tofind me reflects the greatest discreditupon their management. They further,of course, ought to have told me thatyou had left word where you were tobe found. I am very much amazed attheir stupidity, though as things turnedout it did not matter as it only took me10 inutes to break up the meeting.You will see that the new Sov[ereign]Grand Master Gen[eral] made me 33°95°, and I am very glad to be able tocongratulate you on your reaching thatdegree. I hope that youwill come and seeme next time you are in London.
28 4July. To Theodor Reuss.
Dear Merlin,
I enclose a copyof Gasking's letterwhich please return for filing. Thatmakes two of us in the workhouse. Iam writing to the executors of Yarker'sestate for information as to the property of the Rite, but not answering[Rev. Samuel] Gasking's letter. I thinkhe must be 33°, 95° all right, and if soone must send him an invitation. Itdoes not a bit matter because even ifHigham were against us, we are still ina majority in the Sanctuary. PersonallyI don't expect any real opposition.
p.s. Enclosed are the letters I proposesending with regard to the GrandLodge.
29 7July. To [?].
I understand fromLux Peto39 thatyou are willing to work with her. Igladly accept the offer and will be gladif you will report for duty at your earliest convenience. I am leaving Englandthis afternoon for 5 or 6 weeks at least.Will let you know my address when Iknow it myself.
30 1Sept. To J[ames] T[homas] Windram.[Johannesburg, South Africa.]
Care Frater,
I am just backfrom Moscow. I hadan excellent time. Got about a year'swork done in six weeks. I am hopingto see Yardley40 next week and willwrite again on that subject. I will nowanswer your letter of 30 June.
Thanks for thequotations fromU[nited] G[rand] L[odge] circular. Ithink they are only referring to Co-masons. I will talk over the wholequestion of Masonry with Yardley.You can have authority to work up tothe 5th degree [o.t.o.]. You don'tneed to get [permission from] Reuss. There was somequestion of theadmission of women to Scott[ish]Memphis and Mizraim and I havecome to the [decision] that it is notworth quarrelling about. Nobody intheir senses cares twopence about theseRites. My position now is thatO.T.O.in no way infringes on the privileges ofU[nited] G[rand] L[odge]. As you know the Rituals, though certainly insome respects similar, are entirely contrary in teaching. I think this attitude ought to avoid trouble. []
31 1Sept. To Mrs. Davies.
Dear SisterDavies,
Thanks for yourletter of 27 Augustwhich has just reached me. I got backlate on Saturday night. Brother Windram writes me to tell you that hewrote to your son but got no answer.Please fill in the papers for the candidates and send to headquarters withthe fees up to the III degree. I amafraid there is no chance of the SecondOfficer being present.41 She went toGlasgow last night and doesn't comeback till November, but we shallarrange something.
32 [n.d.]
The Mass of thePh[oenix] will becelebrated on Sunday at 9 p.m. the 7thSeptember.
33 1Sept. To [Richard] Higham.
I have nowreturned from Russiaand had hoped to find an answer to myletter of July 24. I am publishing thedetails of the whole affair within thenext few days.42 I do not know whetheryou have attended a Lodge meetingrecently but a circular has just beensent out by the United Grand Lodge ofGreat Britain warning brothers oncemore against so-called Co-masonspracticing in England and admittingwomen. I am most anxious to haveyour definite written guarantee thatyou will in no way recognise Mr.Wedgwood. The Antient and PrimitiveRite will in future have a monthlyorgan which will of course come underthe notice of Grand Lodge. I am mostanxious personally to keep on the bestof terms with Grand Lodge, and I shallhave no hesitation in recommendingthe Sov. Grand Master General to suspend any member of the Rite whoseattitude is doubtful until the approvalof Grand Lodge has been obtain ed.
34 1Sept. Executor of the late JohnYarker.
I have had noanswer to my letter ofJune 4 asking for an account of theproperty of the Antient and Prim[itive]Rite. I enclose for you a copy of theminutes of the Committee. No doubtyou will see that the successor of thelate John Yarker was regularly electedand that the property of the Rite mustbe handed over to him or his representatives. I do not propose to refer to certain information which has come tomy knowledge. I will only say that Iam instructed to commence legal proceedings unless satisfactory arrangements are made within the next fewdays.
35 4Sept. To I.C. van Netten.
I am so sorry tohave missed you. Igot back to London late on Saturdaynight and found your letter. I thoughtthere was just a possibility of reachingyou by telegram so I did so. I am hoping to see Mr. Reelfs sometime thismonth and I have no doubt that everything can be satisfactorily arranged.
36 4Sept. To [T. S.] Reelfs. [Florence.]
Care Frater,
I got back fromMoscow too late tocommunicate in time with Mr. [van]Netten. I expect to be either here or inParis during the next months at least,so I shall be able to meet you in oneplace or the other when you arrive.
37 [4] Sept. To Mrs. [Vittoria] Cremers.
Dear L[ux]P[eto],
It is the EnglishRosicrucian Symbols that I cannot find. I am alsounable to discover the silver SanctuaryLamp with gilt cherubs. It is rather animportant matter as that lamp formspart of the property of which you areone of the trustees. The stereos ofBook 4 were sent to N[ew] Y[ork] incartons with your written articles somelittle time before you came over. I amsorry to hear you have been so ill, andhope you are now quite well again andready to return to duty.
38 4Sept. To [?].43 [America.]
Care Frater,
I am very sorry tohave been awaywhen you came to England, as I verymuch wanted to see you about variousthings. I particular the question ofthose stereos. They were sent over toAmerica at the request of Mrs. Cremers before she left America, and Iunderstood from her that you wouldundertake her work while she was overhelping us. I need hardly say that wehad no wish to involve you in anyexpense and would gladly haverefunded you any sums which youmight have dispensed on our account.We are always glad if Brothers willmake sacrifices to help us but we donot expect and do not ask it. Atpresent I am faced with the alternativeof having these valuable platesdestroyed and I hope that you will takedelivery at once and save them. Assoon as I come over to America I willsee about having the book published,though I should certainly be very muchobliged if you would try and get a publisher to issue it. I think he would belikely to do so, as he would only be putto the cost of printing from the plates,and as I should be quite prepared toforego any royalties until he himselfhas recouped his expenses. I am sorryyou did not write to me and tell mehow you were getting on, as I am veryinterested in your progress. Please letme know your views as soon as possible.
39 8Sept. To Yardley.44 (Shanklin. I[sle]o[f] W[ight].)
Care Frater,
I am sorry to get your letter. You should obey your doctor. Surely your brother could read Equinox V aloud to you. I should be rather glad if you would give us not only part but all of your time as soon as possible. This business will have to be reorganized thoroughly and you are obviously the man to do it. Very busy, so no more.
Footnotes by Frater Superior Hymenaeus Beta:
1 This shows the O.T.O. VII° SupremeCouncil (Antient and Primitive Rite 33°) assubordinate to the O.T.O. VIII° Areopagusand IX° Sovereign Sanctuary.
2 Matthew McBlain Thomson was the mostactive leader in the Antient and PrimitiveRite in the United States, and held O.T.O.membership from Reuss (see his journalThe Universal Freemason). Unbeknownstto Crowley-who would have condemnedsuch activity-he began around 1915 tomarket masonic credentials by mail, fortunately without relying on his O.T.O./A&Pcredentials but rather an imaginary authority in Scotland. He was tried, convicted andjailed for fraud. See Isaac Blair Evans,TheThomson Masonic Fraud (Salt Lake City:privately printed, 1922).
3 Given variously in the typescript as Schaub,Schwab, and Schaube.
4 Owing to their number, length and complexity.
5 This shows that Crowley did not deal ininitiation-by-mail.
6 This was probably theManifesto of theM.M.M. in its (now rare) booklet form. 7 Dr. Frosoni; see letters11 and12. 8 I.e., the group led by Plummer, no relationto the English S.R.I.A. 9 This was before Crowley abandoned theauthority to "make Masons" that he thenbelieved the A. & P. Rite to possess. 10 Of the A. & P. Rite, not A.A.S.R. 11 A list of masonic properties is omitted here. 12 ProbablyQELHMA, privately printed in1909 and never publicly distributed. ItincludedThe Book of the Law. 13 Ibid. 14 Probably our present-day V°, as shown bythe early pledge-forms. The system was stillevolving at this stage, and the O.T.O. derivation from the Royal Arch (our present-day IV°) had not yet been added. 15 This refers to the Mass of the Phoenix(Liber 44). This letter appears in the May1913 series, and A.C. did not travel to Russia (whereLiber XV, the Gnostic Mass,was written) until July. 16 This address is illegible, but possible readings suggest India or Central America. 17 This is apparently a case of affiliation, notinitiation. 18 The transcript adds "V°" in parentheses,probably a later interpolation by Yorke. 19 This letter is interesting as it shows Crowley dealing personally with what appears tobe a bad report issue. 20 Windram, an accountant, was MercuriusX°, Viceroy for the O.T.O. in South Africa;in A.'.A.'.he was Fra. Semper Paratus. 21 Apparently by this time Crowley hadrevised the old IV° to create the V°. 22 Given inThe Oriflamme as J. Villarino delVillar 33° 90° 96°, head of the Antient andPrimitive Rite in Spain. His being considered for world head of the Rite shows thatits ultimate leadership was a separate question from that of O.T.O. (led by Reuss atthis time). It is not clear whether del Villarsucceeded Yarker directly. It is possible thatthe headship went to Gerard Encausse(Papus) after Yarker. Crowley gave the succession order as Yarkerp;Encaussep;del Villarp;Crowley in an unpublished letter toW.B. Crow dated June 21, 1944. 23 See Yarker's obituary inThe Equinoxi(10),pp. xixp;xxii. 24 Crowley's MS. notes from 1916 show thatthe Electoral College in the O.T.O. wasoriginally envisioned as electing the X°, buthe changed this inLiber 194. 25 See letter13. 26 Apparently a reference to the Great WhiteBrotherhood. 27 Probably an error for Krishnamurti. 28 Probably a reference to Franz Hartmann,who was an early Theosophical leader andlater a cofounder of O.T.O. 29 Probably a reference to Theodor Reuss. 30 Referred to inThe Oriflamme as Wm. Hy.Quilliam 30° 95°. Crowley refers to theelder Quilliam as X° of O.T.O. for Turkey(letter to W.B. Crow, Dec. 4, 1944). Hisson, Robert Ahmed Quilliam (see letter27), was also a member of the Antient andPrimitive Rite. 31 Richard Higham 33° 90° 95° served asGrand Chancellor General of the Antientand Primitive Rite for Great Britain andIreland under Yarker, and was, with HenryMeyer 33° 90° 95°, a member of itsSupreme Council. 32 I.e., the Alcyone-Krishnamurti case. See thelegal complaint reproduced inThe Equinoxi(10), pp. xxxip;xxxix. 33 For taking young Krishnamurti fromBesant's custody and returning him to hisfamily. 34 For Crowley's accounts seeConfessions, p.711, andEquinoxi(10). 35 SeeConfessions, p. 695. 36 This text, taken from the original shorthand notes, varies somewhat from thatpublished inThe Equinoxi(10), pp. xxiiip;xxiv. 37 The son of William H. Quilliam 33° 90°96°. Leon Engers Kennedy. Kennedy, Fra.T.A.T.K.T.A. in A\ A\, was a painterwhose portrait of Crowley as The MasterTherion appears inEquinox III(1). 38 Yorke notes "remainder of these minutesand some 12 pages are missing, havingbeen torn out. For the continuation see theaccount inThe Equinox. 39 Vittoria Cremers, who briefly served asGrand Secretary General of O.T.O. inEngland. SeeConfessions, pp. 690p;693. 40 L.B. Yardley, then in Britain, was by 1915 aVII° and the Grand Secretary General ofthe South African O.T.O. under Windram. 41 Leila Waddell, who was away touring Scotland with the Ragged Ragtime Girls. 42 Probably a reference to the bookletInMemoriam John Yarker, the contents ofwhich were reissued inThe Equinoxi(10). 43 This is possibly addressed to the New Yorkrepresentative ofo.t.o., Gref or Greif,mentioned in letter26. The letter appearsto refer to printing plates for an Americanedition ofBook 4. 44 See note to letter 30.
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