ARTICLE I.
Section 1. Under the style and title: ANCIENT ORDER OF ORIENTAL
TEMPLARS, an organization, formerly known as: "The Hermetic Brotherhood
of Light", has been reorganized and reconstituted. This reconstituted
association is an international organization, and is hereinafter
referred to as the O.T.O.
ARTICLE II.
Section 1. The O.T.O. declares that Brotherhood of All Things
Created is a fact in Nature.
Section 2. The principle
purpose of the O.T.O. is to teach True Brotherhood, and to make it a
living power in the life of humanity.
Section 3. The subsidiary aims of the O.T.O. are: (a) to
spread the doctrines of Hermetic Science, and to initiate its members
in the Secret Doctrines of Hermetic Science, for which purpose its
members are as a preparatory measure initiated, passed and raised in
Masonry: (b) to establish and administer schools, lodges, etc.
where Hermetic Science is taught: (c) to build, establish,
found, manage and administer Homes, Colonies, Settlements, etc. where
initiated members may live according to the tenets of the O.T.O.
ARTICLE III.
Section 1. The O.T.O. is part of that great and universal
hermetic movement which has been active in all ages.
Section 2. Organizations throughout the world adopting this
Constitution become integral parts of the O.T.O. upon receipt of
official notification of their acceptance as such. All such joining
organizations to be subject to whatever conditions the authorities of
the O.T.O. may impose.
Section 3. The Central Office of the O.T.O. is at present in
Switzerland, but may be removed to any country.
ARTICLE IV.
Section 1. There shall be One Supreme Office in which shall be
vested paramount authority regarding all matters which concern the
welfare and administration of the O.T.O.
Section 2. The title of the person filling this office shall be
"Frater Superior and Outer Head of the Order", hereinafter referred to
as the "O.H.O."
Section 3. The person (male or female) filling this office shall
serve for life, or until his or her resignation.
Section 4. The person filling this office shall appoint his or
her successor.
ARTICLE V.
Section 1. The Frater Superior and Outer Head of the Order
(O.H.O.) shall be the Sole Executive Officer of the Order O.T.O.
Section 2. The Frater Superior and Outer Head of the Order
(O.H.O.) shall have the Sole power of filling all general offices by
appointing persons to occupy the same, and shall have the power of
removing any general officer at will.
Section 3. The Frater Superior and Outer Head of the Order
(O.H.O.) shall have power to declare the policy of the O.T.O., and to
direct and manage the affairs of the O.T.O.
Section 4. The Frater Superior and Outer Head of the Order
(O.H.O.) shall have the right to cancel or suspend the Charter of any
subordinate organization (lodge, chapter, senate, temple, home, school,
etc.) and shall also have the right to suspend or dissolve the
membership of any person whenever such action is, in his or her
opinion, for the interest of the O.T.O.
ARTICLE VI.
Section 1. There shall be an Advisory Council (Cabinet)
consisting of twelve members, inclusive of the O.H.O., who is the
ex-officio Chairman of the Cabinet.
Section 2. The duties of the Members of the Cabinet shall be to
aid the O.H.O. in promulgating and establishing the measures emanating
from that office.
Section 3. The Chairman of the Cabinet together with two members
thereof shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE VII.
Section 1. There shall be an Executive Committee of Three
(Supreme Council), whose duty shall be to administer the affairs of the
O.T.O. under the general supervision of the O.H.O.
Section 2. The Treasurer General, the Secretary General, and the
O.H.O. are the three ex-officio members of the Supreme Council and the
Executive Committee.
Section 3. All official acts of the Executive Committee (Supreme
Council) are void and of no effect when disapproved by the O.H.O.
ARTICLE VIII.
Section 1. Should any vacancy occur in the office of the O.H.O.,
the Cabinet shall have power to perform the duties of that office until
the successor to that office takes possession of the same.
ARTICLE IX.
Section 1. The O.H.O. shall be the Custodian of the Archives and
Library of the O.T.O.
Section 2. The O.H.O. may appoint agents for any purpose and
endow them with whatever powers he or she may elect to delegate under
his or her hand and seal.
ARTICLE X.
Section 1. There shall be a Finance Committee of Three, whose
duty shall be to raise money and direct the disbursement of same. The
Treasurer General is the ex-officio Chairman of this Committee.
Section 2. The official acts of this Finance Committee are
subject to the approval of the O.H.O. and are void and of no effect
when disapproved by the O.H.O.
Section 3. Every member is expected to contribute to the funds
of the O.T.O. according to his or her means, but the following Dues or
Fees, to be paid in advance by the members of the O.T.O. are fixed as
minimum contributions (as per Manifesto M.M.M. 1912).
Entrance Fee; Eight guineas, forty dollars, or 200 francs.
Subscriptions;
(a) Probationers: 2 sh.; 50 cents; 2 francs a month.
(b) Students 5 sh.; 1 dollars; or 6 francs a month.
(c) Initiates; 10 sh.; 2 dollars or 12 francs a month.
The O.H.O. has power to reduce these fees and dues in special cases.
For diplomas are charged:
(a) Students class; 50 sh.; 15 dollars; or 65 francs.
(b)
Initiates Class: Five guineas; 30 dollars; or 130 francs each.
Charters for Lodges of more than 10 members cost 25 guineas each
Charter or 100 dollars or 650 francs.
No money paid into the
Treasury of the O.T.O. can be reclaimed by either individual members or
lodges etc. under any pretext whatsoever.
ARTICLE XI.
Section 1. Any person of full age (male or female) who has
signed the preliminary pledge form, and has been approved by the O.H.O.
may become a member of the O.T.O.
Section 2. Every application for admission must be sent in
writing to the Central Office, whether the office be in Switzerland or
elsewhere, or to one of the authorized local organizations.
Section 3. The members of the O.T.O. are classified as:
(a) Probationers (embracing Theosophists etc.);
(b) Students or Lay Brothers (Masonic Members);
(c) Initiates or O.T.O. members proper.
For further particulars see synopsis of degrees of
the O.T.O. [ facsimile in Materialien
zum OTO, pages 22-23 ]
Section 4. Applications for diplomas and charters must be
accompanied by a remittance covering the statutory fees and dues. All
diplomas and charters must be issued under the hand and seal of the
O.H.O.
Section 5. Three or more members may apply for a Charter to form
a subordinate lodge or organization.
Section 6. No person may be a member of two lodges at the same
time.
ARTICLE XII.
Section 1. Every subordinate lodge or organization shall have
the right to conduct its own affairs according to its own wishes and
bye-laws, provided that its acts and bye-laws are not contrary to the
letter or the spirit of this Constitution.
Section 2. The Bye-Laws of subordinate organizations, lodges
etc. must be submitted for approval to the O.H.O., and are null and
void if disapproved by the O.H.O.
ARTICLE XIII.
Section 1. A Congress of the O.T.O. may be called by the O.H.O.
to assemble at such place and time as that officer may designate.
Section 2. Each subordinate organization, lodge, etc. shall be
entitled to ONE vote in the Congress for its first three members, and
one additional vote for each succeeding two members.
Section 3. The O.H.O. shall have power to prevent the discussion
of, or action on, any subject which in the judgement of that officer is
against the welfare of the O.T.O.
ARTICLE XIV.
Section 1. It shall be the duty of the Cabinet to provide
Bye-Laws for the O.T.O., and its subordinate organizations.
Section 2. No Bye-Laws shall become operative until approved by
the O.H.O.
ARTICLE XV.
Section 1. There shall be a Literary and Masonic Association
connected with the O.T.O. to be known as: The Esoteric Rosicrucians.
All its official publications shall be issued with the hermetic cypher:
-- "I. N. R. I."
There are at present two official organs:
"The Oriflamme" and "The Equinox."
Section 2. There shall be a department of the O.T.O. for the
purpose of teaching Hermetic Science, to be known as the "Hermetic
Science College."
Section 3. There shall be a department of the O.T.O. for the
purpose of doing practical humanitarian work in specially appointed
profess-houses to be known as the "Homes of the O.T.O."
ARTICLE XVI.
Section 1. There exist 4 different seals which are used by the
O.T.O. The respective symbolic meanings of these various seals will be
made known to the members in the course of their studies. One of these
seals is for the general use of the O.T.O.; and one, to be used
exclusively by the O.H.O., is called the Secret Seal (S.S.).
ARTICLE XVII.
Section 1. The Constitution may be amended by a three-fourth
vote of a Congress. But no amendment shall take effect and become law
until approved by the O.H.O.
In cases of emergency the O.H.O. has supreme power to amend this
Constitution by "Edict" under his hand and seal, which is to be
recorded in the Golden Book of the O.T.O.
ARTICLE XVIII.
Section 1. Initiates of at least ten years good standing may
apply for a six months' free residence in one of the established Homes.
Applications will be dealt with by rotation. The final decision for
granting a free residence to any applicant rests with the O.H.O.
ARTICLE XIX.
This Constitution was first proclaimed, published and issued under the
hand and seal of the O.H.O. in London (England) on January 22nd, A.D.
1906, Anno Ordinis 788, Anno V.L. 0,000,000,000.
This revised edition of the Constitution has been approved by me, and
is now issued under my hand and seal this twenty second day of January
A.D. 1917, Anno Ordinis 799, on Monte Verità, in the Republic of
Ticino (Switzerland).
Merlin, 33° 96° X°
Fra Superior and
Outer Head of the O.T.O.
Argosinus 33° 95° IX° |
Parçevale 33° 95° IX°
Qaestor |
Cancellarius
Profane address: Casella postale 16935, Lugano (Suisse).
I. N.
R. I.
Read about the "Asiatischen Brüder vom Rosenkreuz", the "mächtigen und weisen Orden der Ritter und Brüder des Lichts" - the source of Theodor Reuss' "Brotherhood of Light" which was in fact the "Brothers of Light".
To the Synopsis of Degrees
back to Theodor
Reuss' O.T.O. Rituals
The early years of the O.T.O.
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