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RIKB: OTO and UROTO

To: alt.magick.tyagi,alt.magick.order,alt.magick,talk.religion.misc,alt.thelema
From: tyaginator 
Subject: RIKB: OTO and UROTO
Date: Thu, 29 Nov 2001 08:56:10 GMT

[posted to thelema93-l@yahoogroups.com by "Rikb" ]

93!

>  I am outside of the whole order thing pretty much, so I am not
>  familiar with most of the group dynamics/politics people
> discuss.  In the face of my fear that certain discussions will be
> encouraged by any references to them, I have to know what the
> difference is between the UROTO and the Caliphate.

     It's pretty simple, really. "Caliphate" refers to the OTO as
reconstituted by Hymenaus Alpha, Grady L. McMurtry, after the death of
Crowley's appointed successor, Karl Germer. Crowley had written Germer a few
letters in which he had given McMurtry broad powers over OTO matters in
California subject to Germer's approval. He also expressed in these letters
his feeling that McMurtry would make a good successor (or "Caliph") to
Germer, who he felt would be a custodian at best. It turned out Crowley was
right about Germer, who eventually suspended all initiations and
concentrated on publishing. Many people dispute that Crowley's letters gave
McMurtry authority to assume headship of OTO after Germer -- hence some of
the dispute over legitimacy.

     Now, UR-OTO is a whole different matter. It's a loose confederation of
groups, all of whom claim some descent from or relation to OTO -- some use
Crowley's OTO rituals, some use Reuss' rituals, maybe there are some other
groups in there, like Fraternitas Saturni groups that derive very dubiously
from OTO (I don't know the exact extent of the membership). It was only
formed in the last year or so. Some of the groups under the aegis of UR-OTO
(most of them in fact, as far as I can tell) are led by former members of
the Caliphate who either left or were expelled. The motives and modus
operandi of the people in UR-OTO vary widely, I assume, but there's a
feeling by many Caliphate members that it's just sour grapes. Some members
of UR-OTO have had a hand in very publicly distributing the rituals, degree
papers, and internal documents of the Caliphate OTO, not to mention taking
every tenuous opportunity to attempt to embarrass and defame them. I should
mention that my own sympathies are with the Caliphate (which I accept as the
only legitimate OTO for what that's worth), so my view may be biased.

93 93/93
RIKB
http://www.horusset.com/RIKB

EOF

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