A Timeline of O.T.O. Succession After Crowley’s Death

For many years now there has been a great deal of confusion about the history of Ordo Templi Orientis after the death of Aleister Crowley. That confusion has frequently been deliberately compounded by various claimants to the Headship of the Order through the use of selective quotation, misquotation, misunderstanding, or simply out-and-out fraud. Remarkably rarely have claims been made with any proper supporting documentation, an omission that the following timeline will attempt to remedy.

I have concentrated here only on the period from 1941 to 1969, which contains the critical documents relating to the Crowley succession. I have built this timeline as much as possible directly from primary sources, and added my own commentary when necessary to point out significant passages, or to clarify important background details. I have also contributed a summary at the end giving my personal take on what the documents signify.

Disclaimer: I am currently a member of OTO, and have been for approximately 20 years.

Note on sources: I have attempted to verify all sources as closely as possible. Most material has been taken directly from the original manuscripts or copies with good provenance within the OTO archives. I have quoted the most important and contentious documents, and summarised some supporting materials.

I am indebted to Hymenaeus Beta, Bill Heidrick, Dr. Richard Kaczynski, Frank Kroener, Jon Randall, and Dionysus Rogers for their feedback and assistance.

Comments and additions are very welcome.

1941

Crowley-Karl Germer, Apr/May 1941:

Appointment of Germer as X° for the free German-speaking peoples and legate in USA.

[Crowley retained his position as X° for all English-speaking countries, but by appointing Germer his “legate” allowed Germer to act as his direct representative in the USA.]

Crowley-Germer, 18 July 1941:

Gives power of attorney to Germer & appoints him representative of OTO and A.’.A.’., answering only to Crowley.

Crowley-Germer, 24th November 1941:

1942

Crowley-Germer, 12th-14th March 1942:

I shall appoint you my successor as O.H.O. but on special terms. It is quite clear to me that a complete change in the structure of the Order, and in its methods, is necessary. The Secret is the basis, and you must select the proper people. You can take outsiders; but everyone who has anything to do with us at all must make a formal acceptance of AL and a formal renunciation of ideas denounced in AL 49-56, Cap. III. Then comes the New Social Order, on the lines laid down in the books LII, CI, CLXI, and CXCLV (See Equinox III. 1, pp 195–246) and same in Eqx. III.2 – this volume is not under my hand at the moment. The broad base of public association is the Gnostic Mass. I hope, before I die, to get this put on en grand tenue by trained screen artists, so as to have a “sealed pattern” for future reference. The other rituals will have to tail along as best they can. I feel doubtful whether the time will ever return when there is either need to use such methods, or leisure to cultivate them. Of course, the minor secrets in them have their special magical value, so that they will always maintain a certain use to certain types of mind. Also, the actual magical effect on the candidate may be of the greatest value to him, and the training and discipline are always useful. But as a means of propaganda they are absurdly slow, cumbersome and clumsy; the secrecy part of it is purely comic as long as there are any Gerald Yorkes in the world.

[Important points here:

1. Germer is clearly made O.H.O. of O.T.O. after Crowley’s death
2. New people should be initated to O.T.O. but must formally accept the Book of the Law
3. New social order to be based on the O.T.O. constitutional documents
4. Main public rite should be the Gnostic Mass
5. The initiation rituals are slow as propaganda, but have special magical value, and as the previous letter states “are a splendid basis for the practical teaching”.

Here we can see precisely how Crowley wanted O.T.O. run after his death. The last line appears to anticipate problems of secrecy in the age of the Internet.]

IN WITNESS whereof I have hereunto set my hand this nineteenth day of June one thousand nine hundred and forty-seven.

[The important part for O.T.O. here is the section dealing with his literary effects: “I GIVE AND BEQUEATH my books and writings and literary effects …to the Grand Treasurer General of the Ordo Templi Orientis …for the absolute use and benefit of said Order”. It is clear that he wants all of his literary effects (which would include copyrights) to go to O.T.O. and specifically names Germer’s address as where they should be sent.]

1948

Harris-Germer, 2 Jan 1948:

I think I am a member of the O.T.O.

I used to get the Word of the Equinox.

G.B.Gardiner, 282 Strathmoore Circle Memphis 12 Tenn. is head of the O.T.O. in Europe – Dr. W.B.Crow, 227 Glenfield Road Western Park Leicester has authority from A.C. to work the O.T.O. & the Gnostic Catholic Church. Would you write to him. also Noel Fitzgerald 24 Belsize Road N.W6. seems to have been asked to initiate Mr. Gardiner & may be a member.

Germer-Grant, 5th Oct 1948:

Germer sends Grant his IX° initiation certificate and paperwork, and it is countersigned by Gerald Yorke.

[Note that this means that Grant did not formally receive his IX° until after Crowley’s death.]

1950

Gardner-John Symonds, December 1950:

[Gardner appears to be referring to Harris’ letter to Germer in 1948. There’s no reason to doubt Gardner’s claim that Germer acknowledged him as running O.T.O. in Europe. Note that this goes both ways – Gardner also implicitly acknowledges that Germer is his superior and thus Head of O.T.O. internationally. The reference to people in Germany probably means Mellinger, who with working with the army of occupation as a translator and interrogator – I assume Germer had informed Gardner of Mellinger’s whereabouts by that time. ]

1951

Germer-Grant, 5th March 1951:

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

On the strength of the power vested in me by BAPHOMET, the late O.H.O. of the ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS, I hereby grant Fra. AOSSIC IX° O.T.O. (KENNETH GRANT) to constitute a camp of the above-named Order in the valley of London, England.

Love is the law, love under will.

Saturnus X° O.T.O.

New York, N.Y.

March 5, 1951

[Since Gardner is by now admitting he’s done nothing with O.T.O. in Europe, it seems that Germer is looking for alternatives, chartering Grant in the UK. By running the Camp Grant implicitly accepts Germer’s authority as having international authority over O.T.O. –  otherwise the Charter would be meaningless.]

Grant-Cecil Williamson, 16th May 1951

Your letter is rather startling. I shall have to clarify my position. I have nothing whatever to do with the G.D., neither do I want anything to do with it. I am authorized to operate the O.T.O. in England; this has nothing whatsoever to do with the G.D. – it is a totally different organisation with totally different aims.

Grant-Williamson, 25th June 1951

Many thanks for yours of the 22nd. It is very kind of you to offer to help us with regard to the O.T.O. What would really be of immense help in this direction is the printing of the enclosed Manifesto. Do you think you could do this for me? I am enclosing a copy of the O.T.O. sigil which should appear at the head of the Manifesto – in red or green, if possible. But please do not in any way add or subtract from what is written, either in regard to words or signs, as I am responsible to my own Superior in the Order for what appears under its Seal and in its Name.

…In this light must the Order be regarded by any who are willing seriously to consider its principles and its aims. I do not know what Dr. G. has said on the subject, but I must remind you that I am very exact in matters of occultism and would not make any statement I could not substantiate either historically or magically, so you must believe me what I say that what I have written above is virtually true if not actually apparent.

[Grant acknowledges that he has a Superior in the Order, and considering that this exchange is just a couple of months after getting his Charter from Germer, it’s obvious that this is who he is referring to. Some may find the second paragraph rather ironic in hindsight.]

Germer-Mellinger, 25th September 1951:

Germer-(Unknown Recipient), 25th September 1951:

Germer’s Will, 4th December 1951:

Application of Anita Bogert, 3rd April 1953:

Anita Bogert applies for initiation into O.T.O. in Switzerland. Sponsors are Anne-Marie Eschbach & Hans Metzger. Germer approves the initiation as Xº on May 19th. This shows that the Swiss O.T.O. had continued to fully function under Germer’s authority since 1951, and that they did not in any way consider themselves independent of the rest of O.T.O. It also shows that Germer was not at all opposed to initiating new members as has been sometimes suggested.

1955

Kenneth Grant – Manifesto of the New Isis Lodge:

…New Isis Lodge is in accord with the Master Therion (a Past Grand Master of O.T.O.); with the present Master S., who is World-Head of the O.T.O. in the Outer, and who operates in the United States of America;…

[The “Master S.” presumably refers to Saturnus, the motto of Karl Germer. This phrase appears to invalidate Grant’s later claim that he never accepted Germer as the international Head of O.T.O.]

Germer-Grant, 20th July 1955:

To Mr. Kenneth Grant

NOTIFICATION OF EXPULSION

Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

You are notified that the very small and limited authority I gave you at one time to establish a Camp of O.T.O. in the valley of London is withdrawn, and I formally expel you from membership in the Ordo Templi Orientis. You have grossly abused the trust that was placed in you. By printing and distributing a so-called “Manifesto” without my approval, and behind my back, you have shown lack of the sense of decency and for due authority.

By making false and misleading statements therein, printing outright lies, and generally sailing under false pretenses, you have shown moral and spiritual dishonesty and proved yourself utterly unworthy for leadership in a cause that is even slightly connected with an Order like the O.T.O., much less than with a cause like the Law of Thelema.

Love is the law, love under will.

Karl Germer X° and Frater Superior O.T.O.

Hampton N.J.

July 20, 1955

Germer-Noel Fitzgerald, 20th July 1955:

Hampton N.J.

P.O.Box 581

December 16, 1955

TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN.It has been reported to me that there are people in Great Britain who are operating in the name of the O.T.O. — ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS –. The sole authority for the English-speaking countries rests in the present Frater Superior of the O.T.O., Frater Saturnus, Karl Germer.

There is no one in Great Britain with a valid Charter of the O.T.O. in Great Britain, any activity under that title is therefore spurious.

I hereby appoint Mr. Noel Fitzgerald, London W.1. as my personal representative in matters of the O.T.O. for Great Britain – valid until revoked -; to report to me on any illegal claims or activities; meanwhile to take action as he deems advisable.

Karl Germer

Frater Superior O.T.O.

X° O.T.O.

[The language here is unambiguous. From this point on no-one in the U.K. holds a valid Charter to initiate new members or run a body of O.T.O. Noel Fitzgerald stays Germer’s representative until his death in 1958. At this time the only other O.T.O. members in the UK are Harris, Wilkinson, & Yorke, and after the deaths of the former all activity there ceases until the 1970s. Note that in both letters Germer clearly signs himself Frater Superior of O.T.O. making nonsense of some later claims that Germer never used said title.]

1962

Karl Germer dies on October 25th, 1962.

[His wife does not inform either Mellinger or McMurty of the death, even though Mellinger is named as co-executor of Germer’s Will. She does not pass on the O.T.O.’s property, instead holding on to it. She writes to Metzger and Germer’s A.A. student, Marcelo Motta, telling each of them that it was Germer’s wish that they be Head of O.T.O. This despite the fact that Sascha Germer herself was never a member of O.T.O! From this misinformation much confusion flows over the next decade.]

Known OTO members at the time of Germer’s death:

Europe

• Annemarie Aeshbach IX°
• Anita Borgert IX°
• Frederic Mellinger IX°
• Hermann Metzger IX°

UK

• Gerald Yorke (IX°?)

US

• Mildred Burlingame (IX°?)
• Ray Burlingame (IX°?)
• Louis Culling IX°
• Roy Leffingwell IX°
• Grady McMurtry IX°
• Georgia Schneider IX°
• Jean Schneider IX°
• Max Schneider IX°
• Phyllis Seckler (IX°?)
• Helen Parsons Smith (IX°?)
• Jane Wolfe IX°
• Gabriel Montenegro (III°?)

[This list is still incomplete – several Swiss members missing. I also have no information on which (if any) members were still active in the U.K.]

1963

[Metzger unilaterally attempts to proclaim himself O.H.O., in January, despite Mellinger being his initiator and the highest ranking O.T.O member in Europe, and despite there being several other IX° members active in the U.S.A. Mellinger finds out about it in September of this year when he gets a letter from Mrs. Germer’s lawyers.]

Mellinger-Gard Chisholm, 25th September 1963:

Dear Mr. Chisholm,

I received your letter of September 20, 1963, enclosing a copy of the Petition for Probate of Will in the above matter which Mrs. Germer intends to sign and file. You are asking for my criticism of the petition. Here it is:

For the following reasons, I must object to the statement in the petition: “The will was executed in all particulars…”

1) as you know, the Will states (regarding the property of the Order Ordo Templi Orientis) “that this is passed to the Heads of the Order” and that “Frederic Mellinger act as co-executioner {sic, the will states “executor”} of this part of the Will”.

2) Mrs.Germer decided – without asking for my opinion in this important matter pertaining to “this part of the Will”, nor contacting me at all – to accept Herr Metzger’s strange “Manifesto” (printed this spring) as gospel truth and to recognise him as “Grand Master X° of the Order and Sovereign Grand Master General”(sic!). Neither Mrs. Germer, nor Herr Metzger (who for the last six years had regularly treated me with mailing me his pamphlets, which shows that he well knew my address) notified me before March 28th 1963 of Karl Germer’s death (on October 25th, 1963) [sic, should be 1962], nor his sham “election” on Jan 6th 1963. My questions regarding Metzger’s authority to assume the above titles and his right to call a “convocation of Prince Patriarchs” to the village of Stein, Switzerland, for his “election” were never answered by either Mrs.Germer nor Metzger. Nor could I obtain an explanation about negotiations carried on between the two during the five months before they contacted me. They have thereby decidedly violated (and not “executed” as the Petition states) the Will of the deceased.

Karl Germer had never in his life met at all Herr Metzger. On June 25, 1951, he wrote me about M. having contacted him by letter, asked me “to advise that group”, and left it entirely to my judgment to give Metzger some instruction possibly leading “that young man” to some advancement in the Order.

Herr Metzger revealed to my mind – unintentionally, of course – wherefrom he derived the courage to claim the high office in the Order by a childish “coup d’etat”; namely, by printing on the front page of his sham “Manifesto” the following motto’s:

“To be or not to be, that is the question.” and “Hier stehe ich, ich kann nicht anders,” that brave word of Martin Luther. – Thereby he pointed unwittingly to the only authority he has to show for his dictatorial aspirations: his inflated Ego. But Mrs. Germer was duly impressed, and slyly nodded her assent, ignoring the “holy” (as she stated) but apparently uncomfortable Will of her late husband re my role as co- executioner.{sic}

Yours very truly

{signed} (Dr. Frederic Mellinger)

1966

Grant-Symonds, (date unknown):

[Note that here Grant specifically names Germer as Head of O.T.O. after Crowley’s death, and as being the source of Grant’s authority.]\

1969

McMurtry finally finds out about Germer’s death, nearly seven years after the event. Realising that O.T.O. now has no O.H.O. (as Crowley had foreseen might happen), he activates his letters of authorisation from Crowley and invites all surviving members of O.T.O. to work with him to rebuild the Order.

Summary

• Karl Germer
  • Made IX° by Crowley in 1925, and X° in 1941
  • Received several clear authorisations from Crowley naming him his successor as Head of O.T.O.
  • Every active O.T.O. member worldwide accepted his authority in writing during the 1950s
  • Indisputably international Head of O.T.O. after Crowley’s death
• Grady McMurty
  • Made IX° by Crowley in 1943
  • Received several letters from Crowley naming him as a possible successor to Germer
  • Received clear authorisation from Crowley to be his personal representative
  • Crowley’s authorisations were accepted by Germer as valid
  • Continued to work as Sovereign Grand Inspector General under Germer
• Frederic Mellinger
  • Date of IX° unknown, but certainly held it under Crowley
  • Received letter from Crowley naming him as a possible successor to Germer
  • Ran O.T.O. in Central Europe under Germer’s authority, initiating up to the IX°
  • Specifically rejected Metzger’s claim to be O.H.O. after Germer’s death
• Gerald Gardner
  • Was a VII° member under Crowley
  • Was chartered to run a Camp from 1947-1951
  • Tried to run O.T.O. in Europe after Crowley’s death, but gave up
• Kenneth Grant
  • Crowley mentions him once in his diary as a possible caretaker for the O.T.O. in England
  • Received IX° from Germer after Crowley’s death
  • Ran a local body in London from 1951-1955, initiating up to III° under Germer
  • Expelled from O.T.O. by Germer
• Hermann Metzger
  • Initiated to IX° by Mellinger under Germer’s authority
  • After Germer’s death claimed to be O.H.O. without contacting the other members of the Order outside Switzerland
  • His claim was dismissed by his immediate superior, Mellinger
• Marcelo Motta
  • Claimed to be a member of O.T.O. but had no authorisation to act as an officer of any type

It appears from all this that McMurtry’s letters of authorisation are the only valid claim to succession as Head of O.T.O. that anyone has produced to this date. None of the other claims are backed up by any of the documentation that we have available. It is quite remarkable that there are been so many claims and counter-claims over the past four decades based on no evidence whatsover, and that many of these claims have actually been taken seriously.