. I . N . R . I .
CONSTITUTION
of the
ANCIENT
Order of Oriental Templars.
. O . T . O .
Ancient Order of Oriental Templars
CONSTITUTION.
ARTICLE I.
SECTION I. Under the style and title: ANCIENT ORDER OF ORIENTAL
TEMPLARS, an organization, formerly known as "The Hermetic Brotherhood
of Light," has been re-organized and re-constituted. This
re-constituted association is an international organization, and is
hereinafter referred to as the "O.T.O."
ARTICLE II.
SECTION I. The O.T.O. declares that Brotherhood of ALL THINGS CREATED
is a Fact in Nature.
SECTION II. The principal purpose of the O.T.O. is to teach Brotherhood
and to make it a living power in the life of humanity.
SECTION III. The subsidiary aims of the O.T.O. are: (a) to spread the
knowledge of Hermetic Science, and to initiate its members in the
Secret Doctrines of Hermetic Science; (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., wherein initiated members may live according to the tenets of the
O.T.O.
ARTICLE III.
SECTION I. The O.T.O. is part of that great and universal hermetic
movement which has been active in all ages.
SECTION II. 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 III. The Central Office of the O.T.O. is at present in England,
but may be removed to any other country.
ARTICLE IV.
SECTION I. There shall be one Supreme Office of the O.T.O. in which
shall be vested paramount authority regarding all matters which concern
the welfare and administration of the O.T.O.
SECTION II. 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 III. The person (male or female) filling this Office shall
serve for life, or until his or her resignation.
SECTION IV. The person filling this Office shall appoint his or her
successor.
ARTICLE V.
SECTION I. 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 II. 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 III. 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 IV. 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, 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 I. There shall be an Executive Council (Cabinet) consisting of
twelve members, inclusive of the O.H.O., who is the ex-officio Chairman
of the Cabinet.
SECTION II. 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 III. The Chairman of the Cabinet, together with two members
thereof shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
ARTICLE VII.
SECTION I. 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 II. The Treasurer General, the Secretary General, and the
O.H.O., are the three ex-officio members of the Supreme Council and
Executive Committee.
SECTION III. 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 I. Should any vacancy occur in the Supreme Office of the
O.T.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 I. The O.H.O. shall be the Custodian of the Archives and
Library of the O.T.O.
SECTION II. 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 I. 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 II. 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 III. 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 by the members of the O.T.O., are fixed as minimum
contributions:--
Entrance Fee: Twenty shilling each candidate.
Subscriptions:
(a) Probationers: One shilling per month.
(b) Students: Two shillings per month.
(c) Initiates; Five shillings per month.
Diplomas:
(a) Probationers: Ten shillings each.
(b) Students: Twenty-five shillings each.
(c) Initiates: Fifty shillings each.
Charters: For Lodges of more than Ten Members, Five Pounds sterling
each Charter. No money paid into the Treasury of the O.T.O. can be
reclaimed by either individual members or lodges.
ARTICLE XI.
SECTION I. Any person of full age (male or female) who has signed the
preliminary pledge form and has been approved of by the O.H.O. may
become a member of the O.T.O.
SECTION II. Every application for admission must be sent in writing to
the Central Office whether in England or elsewhere or to one of the
authorized local organizations.
SECTION III. The members of the O.T.O. are classified as (a) Initiates,
(b) Students, (c) Probationers. Every member has a right to apply for a
diploma of membership.
SECTION IV. Application 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 V. Three or more members may apply for a charter to form a
subordinate lodge or organization.
SECTION VI. No person may be a member of two Lodges at the same
time.
ARTICLE XII.
SECTION I. 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 II. The bye-laws of subordinate organizations, lodges, etc.
must be submitted for approval to the O.H.O. and are null and void
unless approved by the O.H.O.
ARTICLE XIII.
SECTION I. 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 II. 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 ten members.
SECTION III. The O.H.O. shall have power to prevent the discussion of,
or action on, any subject which in the judgment of that officer is
against the welfare of the O.T.O.
ARTICLE XIV.
SECTION I. It shall be the duty of the Cabinet to provide Bye-laws for
the O.T.O. and its subordinate organizations.
SECTION II. No Bye-laws shall become operative until approved by the
O.H.O.
ARTICLE XV.
SECTION I. 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 ."
SECTION II. 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 III. There shall be a department of the O.T.O. for the purpose
of doing practical humanitarian work, to be known as the "HOMES OF THE
ORDER OF ORIENTAL TEMPLARS"
ARTICLE XVI.
SECTION I. Four different seals which are used by the O.T.O. Specimens
of these four seals are printed at the head and in the text of this
instrument. The respective symbolic meanings of these various seals
will be made known to the members in the course of their studies.
Besides these four seals for the general use of the O.T.O.; there
exists also a Secret Seal (S.S.), to be used exclusively by the
O.H.O.
ARTICLE XVII.
SECTION I. This Constitution may be amended by a three-fourth vote of a
Congress. But no amendments shall take effect and become law until
approved by the O.H.O.
ARTICLE XVIII.
SECTION I. 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 decision for granting
a free residence to any applicant rests with the O.H.O.
Above Constitution has been approved of by me, and is now issued under
my hand and seal.
London,
January 22nd. AD 1906. Anno Ordinis. 0,000,000,000.
Fra. Superior
and Outer Head, O.T.O. . I .
N . R . I .
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