492 lines
12 KiB
Plaintext
492 lines
12 KiB
Plaintext
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BAPHOMET XIø
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Liber LII
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{Book 52}
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Manifesto of
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the O.T.O.
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The Manifesto provides a concise summary of the various threads of
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initiatic tradition that make up the O.T.O.. It was first published
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from Boleskine circa 1912 E.V., and reprinted in The Equinox III(1)
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(Detroit: Universal, 1919).--H.B.
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Issued by Order: BAPHOMET XIø O.T.O., HIBERNIAE IONAE ET OMNIUM
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BRITANNIARUM, REX SUMMUS SANCTISSIMUS
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Peace, Tolerance, Truth; Salutation on All Points of the Triangle;
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Respect To the Order. To All Whom It May Concern: Greeting and Health.
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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
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1. The O.T.O. is a body of initiates in whose hands are concentrated
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the wisdom and the knowledge of the following bodies:
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m.
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a.
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The Gnostic Catholic Church.
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b.
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The Order of the Knights of the Holy Ghost.
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c.
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The Order of the Illuminati.
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d.
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The Order of the Temple (Knights Templar).
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e.
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The Order of the Knights of St. John.
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f.
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The Order of the Knights of Malta.
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g.
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The Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
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h.
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The Hidden Church of the Holy Graal.
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i.
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The Hermetic Brotherhood of Light.
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j.
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The Holy Order of Rose Croix of Heredom.
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k.
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The Order of the Holy Royal Arch of Enoch.
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l.
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The Antient and Primitive Rite of Masonry (33 degrees).
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m.
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The Rite of Memphis (97 degrees).
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n.
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The Rite of Mizraim (90 degrees).
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o.
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The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Masonry (33
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degrees).
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p.
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The Swedenborgian Rite of Masonry.
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q.
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The Order of the Martinists.
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r.
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The Order of the Sat Bhai, and many other orders of equal merit, if of
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less fame.
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It does not include the A...A..., with which august body it is,
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however, in close alliance.
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It does not in any way infringe the just privileges of duly authorized
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Masonic Bodies.
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2. The dispersion of the original secret wisdom having led to
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confusion, it was determined by the Chiefs of all these Orders to
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recombine and centralize their activities, even as white light,
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divided in a prism, may be recomposed.
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It embodies the whole of the secret knowledge of all Oriental Orders;
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and its chiefs are initiates of the highest rank, and recognized as
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such by all capable of such recognition in every country in the world.
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In more remote times, the constituent originating assemblies of the
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O.T.O. included such men as:
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Fohi
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Hippolytus
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Laotze
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Merlin
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Siddartha
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Arthur
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Krishna
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Titurel
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Tahuti
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Amfortas
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Ankh-f-n-khonsu
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Percivale
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Herakles
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Mosheh
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Orpheus
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Odysseus
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Vergilius
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Mohammed
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Catullus
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Hermes
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Martialis
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Pan
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Apollonius Tyanaeus
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Dante
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Simon Magus
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Carolus Magnus
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Manes
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William of Schyren
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Basilides
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Frederick of Hohenstaufen
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Valentinus
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Roger Bacon
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Bardesanes
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Jacobus Burgundus Molensis
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King Wu
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Ko Hsuen
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Christian Rosenkreutz
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Osiris
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Ulrich von Hutten
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Melchizedek
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Paracelsus
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Khem
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Michael Maier
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Menthu
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Jakob Boehme
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Johannes Dee
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Francis Bacon
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Sir Edward Kelly
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AndrŠa
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Thos. Vaughan
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Robertus de Fluctibus
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Elias Ashmole
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Chau
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Comte de Chazal
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Saturnus
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Sigismund Bacstrom
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Dionysus
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Molinos
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And recently:
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Wolfgang von Goethe
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Friedrich Nietzsche
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Sir Richard Payne Knight
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Hargrave Jennings
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Sir Richard Francis Burton
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Karl Kellner
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Forlong Dux
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Eliphas LŠvi
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Ludovicus Rex Bavariae
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Franz Hartmann
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Richard Wagner
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Cardinal Rampolla
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Ludwig von Fischer
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Papus (Dr. Encausse)
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The names of women members are never divulged.
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It is not lawful here to disclose the name of any living chief.
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It was Karl Kellner who revived the exoteric organization of the
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O.T.O. and initiated the plan now happily complete of bringing all
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occult bodies again under one governance.
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The letters O.T.O. represent the words Ordo Templi Orientis (Order of
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the Temple of the Orient, or Oriental Templars), but they have also a
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secret meaning for initiates.
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3. The Order is international, and has existing branches in every
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civilized country of the world.
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4. The aims of the O.T.O. can only be understood fully by its highest
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initiates; but it may be said openly that it teaches Hermetic Science
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or Occult Knowledge, the Pure and Holy Magick of Light, the Secrets of
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Mystic attainment, Yoga of all forms, Gnana Yoga, Raja Yoga, Bhakta
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Yoga and Hatha Yoga, and all other branches of the secret Wisdom of
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the Ancients.
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In its bosom repose the Great Mysteries; its brain has resolved all
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the problems of philosophy and of life.
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It possesses the secret of the Stone of the Wise, of the Elixir of
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Immortality, and of the Universal Medicine.
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Moreover, it possesses a Secret capable of realizing the world-old
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dream of the Brotherhood of Man.
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It also possesses in every important centre of population a hidden
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Retreat (Collegium ad Spiritum Sanctum) where members may conceal
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themselves in order to pursue the Great Work without hindrance.
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These houses are secret fortresses of Truth, Light, Power and Love,
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and their position is only disclosed under an oath of secrecy to those
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entitled to make use of them.
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They are also temples of true worship, specially consecrated by Nature
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to bring out of a man all that is best in him.
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5. The authority of the O.T.O. is concentrated in the O.H.O. (Outer
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Head of the Order), or Frater Superior. The name of the person
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occupying this office is never disclosed except to his immediate
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representatives.
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6. The Authority of the O.H.O. in all English-speaking countries is
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delegated by charter to the Most Holy, Most Illustrious, Most
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Illuminated, and Most Puissant Baphomet Xø Rex Summus Sanctissimus
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33ø, 90ø, 96ø, Past Grand Master of the United States of America,
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Grand Master of Ireland, Iona, and All the Britains, Grand Master of
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the Knights of the Holy Ghost, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Order
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of the Temple, Most Wise Sovereign of the Order of the Rosy Cross,
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Grand Zerubbabel of the Order of the Holy Royal Arch of Enoch, etc.
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etc. etc., National Grand Master General ad vitam of the O.T.O.
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7. The National Grand Master General ad vitam is assisted by two
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principal officers, the Grand Treasurer General and the Grand
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Secretary General.
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There are many other officers, but they do not concern those to whom
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the present manifesto is addressed.
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8. The whole of the Knowledge dispersed among the bodies mentioned in
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paragraph 2 has been sifted and concentrated in the following degrees.
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9. VIIIø
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Oø
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Minerval
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Iø
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M.
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IIø
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M. .
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IIIø
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M...
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P...M...
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IVø
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Companion of the Holy Royal Arch of Enoch.
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Prince of Jerusalem.
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Knight of the East and of the West.
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Vø
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Sovereign Prince of Rose Croix. (Knight of the Pelican and Eagle.)
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Member of the Senate of Knight Hermetic Philosophers,
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Knights of the Red Eagle.
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VIø
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Illustrious Knight (Templar) of the Order of Kadosch, and Companion of
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the Holy Graal.
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Grand Inquisitor Commander, Member of the Grand Tribunal.
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Prince of the Royal Secret.
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VIIø
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Very Illustrious Sovereign Grand Inspector General.
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Member of the Supreme Grand Council.
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VIIIø
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Perfect Pontiff of the Illuminati.
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IXø
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Initiate of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis.
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Xø
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Rex Summus Sanctissimus (Supreme and Most Holy King).
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9. Every man and woman that is of full age, free, and of good report,
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has an indefeasible right to the IIIø.
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Beyond this, admission is only granted by invitation from the
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governing body concerned.
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The O.T.O., although an Academia Masonica, is not a Masonic Body so
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far as the `secrets' are concerned in the sense in which that
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expression is usually understood; and therefore in no way conflicts
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with, or infringes the just privileges of, the United Grand Lodge of
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England, or any Grand Lodge in America or elsewhere which is
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recognized by it.
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10. Application for admission to the Order may be made personally at
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headquarters, between the hours of Ten A.M. and Twelve Noon on week-
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days, or by letter to the Grand Secretary General. In the former case,
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applicants should be provided with the Twenty Dollars entitling them
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to the Third Degree; in the latter, it should be enclosed with the
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application.
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The First Annual Subscription is payable on taking the Third Degree;
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if this is taken after June 30 in any year, only half the amount is
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due.
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Subscriptions of old members are due on January 1, but the Brother is
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considered in good standing, and he does not lose his rights, if it is
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paid by March 1. Should he fail to discharge his obligation by this
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date, he ceases ipso facto to be a member of the Order, but may be
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reinstated on paying arrears and Five Dollars extra. If his lapse
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extend to the next year following, he can only be reinstated under
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special conditions, and by the express consent in writing of the
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National Grand Master General ad vitam.
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11. The Constitution, Trust Deeds, Charters, Warrants and all other
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documents, are exhibited to candidates on their exaltation to the IVø,
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should they desire it.
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12. Besides the free certificate of membership, special diplomas for
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framing are granted to all members at a uniform price of Ten Dollars.
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Special diplomas of the IXø, Twenty-five Dollars.
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13. The privileges of members of the O.T.O. are very numerous. These
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are the principal:
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a. They have not only access to, but instruction in, the whole body of
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hidden knowledge preserved in the Sanctuary from the beginning of its
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manifestation.
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In the lower grades the final secrets are hinted and conveyed in
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symbol, beneath veil, and through sacrament.
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In this way the intelligence of the initiate is called into play, so
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that he who well uses the knowledge of the lower grades may be
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selected for invitation to the higher, where all things are declared
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openly.
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b. They become partakers of the current of Universal Life in Liberty,
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Beauty, Harmony, and Love which flames within the heart of the O.T.O.,
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and the Light of that august fraternity insensibly illuminates them
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ever more and more as they approach its central Sun.
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c. They meet those persons most complemental to their own natures, and
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find unexpected help and brotherhood in the whole world wherever they
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may travel.
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d. They obtain the right to sojourn in the secret houses of the
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O.T.O., permanently or for a greater or lesser period of the year
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according to their rank in the Order; or, in the case of those of the
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Fifth and lower degrees, are candidates for invitation to these
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houses.
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e. The Knowledge of the Preparation and Use of the Universal Medicine
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is restricted to members of the IXø; but it may be administered to
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members of the VIIIø and VIIø in special circumstances by favour of
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the National Grand Masters General, and even in particular emergency
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to members of lower degrees.
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f. In the Vø all members are pledged to bring immediate and perfect
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relief to all distress of mind, body, or estate, in which they may
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find any of their fellows of that degree. In the higher degrees the
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Bonds of Fraternity are still further strengthened. The Order thus
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affords a perfect system of insurance against every misfortune or
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accident of life.
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g. Members of the IXø become part proprietors of the Estates and Goods
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of the Order, so that the attainment of this degree implies a return
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with interest of the fees and subscriptions paid.
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h. The Order gives practical assistance in life to worthy members of
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even its lower degrees, so that, even if originally poor, they become
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well able to afford the comparatively high fees of the VIIø, VIIIø,
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and IXø. On exaltation to the IVø each Companion may file an account
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of his circumstances, and state in what direction he requires help.
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14. In selecting members for advancement, attention is paid to their
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devotion to the Order, to their intelligence in apprehending the
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nature of its teaching, to their zeal in spreading the principles of
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the Order so far as they themselves understand them, though always
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with the discretion inseparable from the due guarding of the secrets,
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and to all those qualities of courage, honour, and virtue without
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which man is not worthy of that name.
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15. The O.H.O. is only known to members of the VIIIø and IXø.
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The National Grand Master General ad vitam is not approachable as such
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by any person who has not reached the VIø.
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All communications should be addressed to the Grand Secretary General,
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and all cheques drawn in favour of the Grand Treasurer General.
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Issued by Order,
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L. Bathurst IXø Grand Secretary General
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