Carl Kellner: Never a member of any Ordo Templi Orientis

Texts and Pictures
Compiled by Peter-R. Koenig

While it is true that both Kellner and Steiner knew Theodor Reuss personally and shared a mutual interest in yoga, attempting to elevate this shared interest into evidence identifying either Steiner or Kellner as progenitors of the O.T.O. is a leap unsupported by historical fact.

It was only after Kellner’s death in 1905 that Reuss began developing a study group that would eventually be named the O.T.O. Whether this group included yoga practitioners from Kellner’s private circle or members of the numerous para-Masonic organisations with which both Kellner and Reuss were affiliated is ultimately immaterial. None of this constitutes evidence that Kellner was the founder or even the inspiration for the O.T.O.

In fact, it was seven years after Kellner’s death that Theodor Reuss first published claims crediting him as co-founder of the O.T.O.

Translations and related early-years dossiers

Portuguese Kellner dossier

Tradução portuguesa: Carl Kellner: Jamais um membro de qualquer O.T.O.

O.T.O. early years

English version: O.T.O. — Early Years and Development.
Deutsche Version: Zur Geschichte des Ordo Templi Orientis.
Versione italiano: Ordo Templi Orientis — I primi anni e la sua evoluzione.
Traduction française: L’ancien O.T.O. et son évolution.
Traducción castellana: O.T.O. — Original y su Desarrollo.

What do we know about Carl Kellner?

On the right:

Carl Kellner and his original Baphomet of the pre-Ordo Templi Orientis Inner Triangle ≈ Eliphas Lévi’s talisman/seal.

Carl Kellner and the original Baphomet of the pre — Ordo Templi Orientis Inner Triangle — Eliphas Levi Talisman Seal

Sigrid Plutzar, Carl Kellner’s great-granddaughter: Dr. Carl Kellner — A Personal Reflection.

Deutsche Version: Dr. Carl Kellner — eine persönliche Betrachtung.

August Leisler speaks about his grandfather Carl Kellner, taped for Dr. Walter, Akademie der Wissenschaft, München; in German, 1976 (4:53 Auszug von insgesamt 35:30, circa 640 KB).

Carl Augustus Kellner Geburts- und Tauf-Schein Birth Certificate and Baptism Certificate — Carl Augustus Kellner’s Birth and Baptism Certificate

Carl Kellner Yoga pre-Ordo Templi Orientis Memphis Misraim Baphomet

Yoga, manuscripts, and Masonic material

Dr. Carl Kellner: Yoga. Eine Skizze über den psycho-physiologischen Teil der alten indischen Yogalehre. München 1896. [with handwritten annotations by Oscar Schlag that were a source for many researchers]

Extrait en français: Méthodes pour la Conduction au Yoga et l’acquisition du Yoga — 1896.

Carl Kellner: Reincarnationen [facsimile of the original handwriting] plus [transcript of the text]:

Carl Kellner: 16 slokas (third chapter of Patanjali’s Yoga-Sutra):

Carl Kellner’s Emblem of the Memphis- and Misraim Rite. Here on the cover of Leopold Engel’s magazine for the Order of Illuminates.
Carl Kellner: Einführung in den Esoterismus unseres Ordens der A. und A. Freimaurer. [1903]
Carl Kellner and Theodor Reuss: Das Geheimnis der Hochgrade unseres Ordens. [1903]
Manifesto 33°, 95°, RoseCroix and Johannis Logen [1903]
Short biography on Franz Hartmann.
Carl Kellner, Franz Hartmann, Theodor Reuss, Henry Klein: Amtliche Bekanntmachungen. [1903, AASR, MM]
Carl Kellner and Theodor Reuss: Deutsch: Von den Geheimnissen der okkulten Hochgrade unseres Ordens, 1904; Français: Des secrets des hauts degrés occultes de notre Ordre, 1904.

Maria Antoinette Delorme, marriage, postcards, and family images

Carl Kellner Maria Antoinette Delorme — Maria Antoinette Delorme

Carl Kellner Maria Antoinette Delorme Fides Matrimonii Heiratsurkunde marriage certificate — Fides Matrimonii / Heiratsurkunde / Marriage Certificate

Postcards from Carl Kellner to his wife Maria Antoinette Delorme:

Carl Kellner Maria Antoinette Delorme Yoga pre-Ordo Templi Orientis Memphis Misraim Baphomet

Houses and visual traces

Villa Hochwart / Hohe Warte, with the two sphinxes and Eliphas Lévi’s Baphomet on the roof gable in Vienna:

Carl Kellner Villa Hohe Warte pre-Ordo Templi Orientis Memphis Misraim Baphomet

Rote Villa in Hallein:

The Rote Villa today:

Illness, death certificates, notices, and grave details

Carl Kellner very ill:

Oriflamme Theodor Reuss Organ des Gross-Orient der Schottischen, 35°, Freimaurer & des Souveränen Sanktuarium 95.° in und für Deutschland. Carl Kellner — [Collage]

Carl Kellner’s Death Certificate:

Carl Kellner Totenschein Death Certificate

Todesanzeigen: Phil. Dr. Carl Kellner:

Volksfreund Carl Kellner Inneres Dreieck

English translation: Der Volksfreund: Funeral of Dr. Karl Kellner.

English translation: Der Volksfreund: Obituary and Biography of Dr. Karl Kellner.

Details of Carl Kellner’s grave in Hallein:

Carl Kellner Goldmacher Wiener Sonn- und Montags-Zeitung 1924

Biographical notes and later source clusters

Franz Hartmann and Emil Adriányi: Br.·.Dr. Carl Kellner.

Franz Hartmann: Dr. Karl Kellner, ein Opfer des Okkultismus.

From “Noch Mehr Materialien Zum O.T.O.”

Heinz Walter: Chronologische Biographie

Heinz Walter chronological biography of Carl Kellner — Chronologische Biographie

Heinz Walter: Synopsis

Biographical notes by Heinz Walter and August Leisler [excerpt]:

Biographical notes on Carl Kellner by Heinz Walter and August Leisler

Carl Kellner and the Technical University

August Leisler speaks about his grandfather Carl Kellner; in German, 1976 (4:53 Auszug von insgesamt 35:30, circa 640 KB).

Josef Dvorak: Carl Kellner [collected gossip and speculations about Kellner’s life, Franz Hartmann, Hatha Yoga and Baphomet].
Deutsche Version: Carl Kellner.
Türkçe çeviri: Carl Kellner.