Aleister Crowley issued a special authorisation to Grady Louis McMurtry, putting him in direct charge of all Californian O.T.O. operations and reforming the local O.T.O. group, pursuant to his report of 25 January 1946, but subject to the approval of Karl Germer — specifying that the authorisation was to be used only in an emergency.
22 March 1946, Crowley to McMurtry: "This is to authorize [McMurtry] to take charge of the whole work of the Order in California to reform the Organisation in pursuance to his report of Jan 25, 46 EV. subject to the approval of [Germer]. This authorization is to be used only in emergency.” Germer to McMurtry, 24.5.46: "I want you to be fully informed, as 666 holds you in charge of the Californian activities, with any steps you decide to be taken with my approval. Let us cooperate fully." Crowley to McMurtry, 10th April 1946: "I shall enclose with this letter the authorisation which you require. I think it is best to leave as much in your hands as possible, as you are more or less on the spot and appear to be full of youth and energy as ever. I will write the document required with my own fair hand.” Crowley's diary: "Wrote H.A. authority in U.S.A." [H.A. = Hymenaeus Alpha = Grady Louis McMurtry] Crowley expanded McMurtry's powers beyond California, appointing him on 11th April 1946 as his "personal representative in the United States of America, and his authority is to be considered as Ours, subject to the approval, revision, or veto” of Germer; Crowley signed this missive as O.H.O. 19 June 46, Crowley to Germer: "The only limitation on his power in California is that any decision which he takes is subject to revision or veto by yourself.” |
On August 6th 1977, McMurtry issued a ‘Notice of Nullification’, which stated: "I hereby renounce, destroy, nullify, set aside, dispose of, and cast into oblivion any and all documents, dispositions, dispensations and/or other articles of authorization to elect a Successor to me as Caliph signed by me before this date. This applies especially to one signed by me and dated August 20, 1976 e.v., in which Phyllis E. McMurtry, Helen Parsons Smith, Kristopher Gerard D***, and Lon Milo DuQuette were empowered, upon my death, to elect a Successor to fill the Office of Caliph for Aleister Crowley’s ordo templi orientis." |