Society Ordo Templi Orientis

From Free Encyclopedia of Thelema

Founded by Marcelo Ramos Motta in 1978 e.v. in Brazil. The Society Ordo Templi Orientis (S.O.T.O) is described as a fraternal organization, incorporated as a church in 1978 after Motta reportedly had a falling-out with the three remaining contemporaries of the founder of O.T.O. (Aleister Crowley, 1875-1947) who had joined together and restarted O.T.O. in California after 1969. Prior to this, though, Phyllis Seckler (Soror Meral), one of the triumvirate that formed the Californian O.T.O. had written to Motta telling him that Germer's widow, Sascha Germer, had told her that Motta was the successor, something that Sascha had written to Motta as well shortly after Karl Germer had passed away. Sascha had written that Motta was "The Follower" and that these were "Karl's dying words", on October 30th, 1962 e.v.

As basis for the formation of S.O.T.O., Motta stated that he was elevated to the IX° by Karl Johannes Germer. He maintained that he was then introduced to the other members of the O.T.O. and introduced as such, including Grady McMurtry, Phyllis Seckler and the Burlingames. He was also acknowledged as a IX° by Kenneth Grant. Motta testified in a 1985 e.v. court case that he was never initiated into any degree but the IX°.

To affiliate with S.O.T.O., it was required to sign a "letter patent" (with the legal value of a contract) which demanded a payment of 1,000 times the annual salary of the candidate if they revealed anything considered secret. The "letter patent" served as the candidate's oath, binding the secrets to the order and making them liable should they be released, promising a far less penalty than most magickal oaths demanded by similar organizations. Also required were pictures of the candidate, a shot of the face in portrait and profile. The pictures were used to identify candidates more easily and also to keep them from trying to return under assumed identities should they resign or be expelled from the order.

By the laws of S.O.T.O., Motta should receive regularly the diaries kept by all the members. The diaries were reviewed at regular intervals to gauge whether or not the member was ready to pass to the next degree, a practice similar to the A.'.A.'. and commonly used amongst occult orders to gauge student progress. Another series of requirements were also to be fulfilled including the ownership of the building in which the Lodge was headquartered and full regalia for first degree initiations.

The S.O.T.O. dues structure is set at 5% of the member's monthly income. The way that the dues structure works from there is that the dues are allocated and saved for 3 months at the Lodge level. The Lodge keeps strict books on the money and where it is spent, including the keeping of receipts. At the quarterly mark of the Equinox or Solstice 5% of the Lodge level dues are sent to the Directory for their work in promoting the Order in their region. Twice a year these dues are sent to the Supervisor General or X* King or Queen of the Country in which the Directory operates for their use in promoting the S.O.T.O. nationally and internationally. Strict books are required and can be requested at any time by any member of the Order.

S.O.T.O. Today

The integrity of the group was held most by the strong personality of Marcelo Motta. After his death almost all Brazilian members spread and Motta's legacy was kept by three of his international followers. These three split the S.O.T.O. into three different groups, each one claiming to be not the only "true" Society O.T.O. but the only "true" Ordo Templi Orientis. These three groups are run by David Bersson (Frater Sphinx) of Pittsburgh, PA, Gabriel López de Rojas (Frater Prometeo), of Barcelona, Spain, and William Barden (Frater Thelema) of Melbourne, Australia.

Spun out of the S.O.T.O. is the Brazilian tradition of the Ordo Templi Orientis, which is predominate in its namesake country. The Brazilian tradition is unique in that it is a mix of not only Crowley and Motta but also includes the O.T.O. lineage of Kenneth Grant. A hallmark of this tradition is a decentralized hierarchical structure with some elements operating on a totally independent level, free from a centralized authority outside of its own Lodge.

References

• Thelemapedia (2005). Society Ordo Templi Orientis. Retrieved June 1, 2005.