Damaged internal minutes · facsimile and cautious transcript
Minutes of the Secret Areopagus of the VIII°
Annual Meeting held on Saturday, April 29, 2000 e.v. The original scans remain the primary evidence; the transcript is inserted only where the battered pixels still permit a defensible reading. Anything else would be occultism of the most modern kind: guessing with a keyboard.
Context
This page preserves three low-quality scans of the minutes of the Secret Areopagus of the VIII° of the so-called ‘Caliphate’. The document is dated April 29, 2000 e.v.; the prepared copy is dated June 26, 2000 e.v.
The page belongs with the older dossier on internal O.T.O. authority claims. In the 1985 minutes of the eleven IX°s, the ‘Caliph’ is explicitly not treated as the jure O.H.O. Nevertheless, the later claim to the O.H.O. and to the name ‘Caliphate’ appears in the 2004 bylaws; see the scan on this page.
Editorial handling
The scans are not beautified into false certainty. The facsimiles are shown first. The transcript follows as a readable aid, not as a notarised edition.
Facsimile scans
The following three images are retained as documentary plates. Their poor quality is part of the evidence, malheureusement.
Cautious transcript from the damaged scans
The scan is severely degraded. The transcript below is therefore conservative: missing or doubtful words are marked with angle brackets rather than silently repaired.
Scan 1
Minutes of the Secret Areopagus of the VIII°
of Ordo Templi Orientis
Annual Meeting held on Saturday, April 29, 2000 e.v.
Prepared by Fr. Aion ⟨reading uncertain⟩, Secretary General
June 26, 2000 e.v.
⟨Not approved?⟩
Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.
Call to order:
The meeting was called to order at 12:45 pm local time in New York City, NY, USA, with the following Epopts in attendance:
| William Breeze (Frater Superior) | Marcus M. Jungkurth (Secretary General) |
| Vere Chappell | Lon DuQuette |
| Kent Finne | Doug James |
| Tony Iannotti | Rodney Orpheus |
| Lynn Scriven | David Scriven |
| James Wasserman |
The following Epopts were present by proxy:
| Epopt | Proxy to |
|---|---|
| John Bonner | Marcus M. Jungkurth |
| Jerry Cornelius | Tony Iannotti |
| Constance DuQuette | Lon DuQuette |
| Gary Gage-Cox | William Breeze |
| Clive Harper | William Breeze |
| William E. Heidrick | Lisa Collins |
| Allen Miller | William Breeze |
| Norbert Strahl | Marcus M. Jungkurth |
| ⟨name illegible; begins An-⟩ | Lynn Scriven |
| Judy ⟨surname unclear⟩ | William Breeze |
The following members were not present in person or by proxy:
| Carl Abrahamsson | Kenneth Anger |
| James T. Graeb | Andrea Lacedonia |
| Sharon Morton | Phyllis Seckler |
| Helen Parsons Smith | Lola D. Wolfe |
The following guest attended:
Lisa Collins, Assistant TG (pp William E. Heidrick, Treasurer General).
1. Agenda Addition
1.1. Motion: to make the following addition to the agenda as an emergency issue pursuant to Bylaws Section ⟨illegible⟩.
Scan 2
⟨Continuation of 1.1 partly illegible.⟩ The text appears to refer to a published item in Red Flame, allegations concerning the O.T.O., and material placed on a website. The exact wording cannot be recovered from the scan without guesswork.
Moved by ⟨name unclear⟩. ⟨19? ayes, 1 abstention?⟩ Motion carried.
⟨Break, approximately 3 pm⟩
1.2. Motion:
Whereas Areopagus members are held to the highest standard of conduct, and do not enjoy immunity from the Order's regulations, it is resolved that in the case of an Areopagus member for whom disciplinary action may be warranted the Areopagus recommends to the Supreme Council that:
- it suspend the membership of the accused with due notice;
- it request that the Frater Superior appoint a Grand Tribunal Court of Inquiry composed of the member's peers drawn from the Areopagus, to investigate, render judgment and report to the Supreme Council and the Areopagus;
- it record the Grand Tribunal's decision and issue any necessary notices to implement the judgment;
- it include in any notification of judgment a statement of the rights and recourses of the parties under the bylaws, including appeal to the Areopagus.
Moved by L. Scriven. 20 ayes. Motion carried.
⟨Break 4:30-5 pm⟩
2. Treasurer's Report FY1999-2000 e.v.
2.1. Lisa Collins, Assistant Treasurer General, presents the Treasurer's Report FY1999-2000 e.v. ⟨subject to revision and correction⟩, on behalf of Brother William Heidrick, Treasurer General.
2.2. Ministerial allowance for Frater Superior.
Motion: that the TG allow a one-time moving/relocation expense of ⟨amount unclear; possibly US$ 8,000⟩ for the Frater Superior.
Moved by L. Scriven. 19 ayes, 1 abstention. Motion carried.
2.3. ⟨Discussion⟩. Ways of financing were discussed; proposals included the issuance of O.T.O. credit cards and use of frequent flyer miles.
3. Reports from the Frater Superior
3.1. ⟨illegible heading⟩
3.2. ⟨matters of legal advice?⟩
4. Changes to the International Bylaws
4.1. Governance of Guilds
Background (O.T.O. Bylaws):
Section 8.03 Governance of Guilds.
The Secret Areopagus shall from time to time designate the manner in which Guilds are opened, operated and dissolved, together with such other matters as may be applicable.
4.2. Motion to amend Section 8.03 of the bylaws as follows:
“The Areopagus issues and revokes charters, rights to use the name of the Order, and approves Guild bylaws.”
Moved by L. Scriven. 20 ayes. Motion carried.
4.3. ⟨Several guidelines and recommendations for guild formation are partly legible but not fully recoverable.⟩ Legible fragments include recommendations that proposals for Guild formation be constructive and comply with the bylaws; that a means of fostering and operating a Guild be established; and that dissolving guidelines for forming and operating a Guild be defined.
5. Definition of Good and Bad Report
The opening explanatory paragraph is badly damaged. It appears to distinguish “Good report” from “Bad report” and to discuss administrative measures such as suspension and expulsion. The proposed definition is partly legible:
- An otherwise member is to be given a letter stating that he is on notice for a specific period of time, not more than one year, for a specific reason. The letter may also state that specific local privileges are revoked for the duration of the notice.
- The letter must also specify any conditions which the recipient must meet to be returned to good report. If these conditions are not met, a report must be filed with the F.S.R. or appropriate authority.
- A reference to the O.C.C. is to be passed on to the Executive Council ⟨remaining words illegible⟩.
- The section on Bad Report in the handbooks must be revised accordingly.
6. Method of formation of the Areopagus agenda
⟨Most of this section is illegible.⟩ Legible fragments mention additions to the agenda; a review of bylaws or policy for last-minute additions with approval of members with quorum; and whether appointees should be identified on the agenda by name or as proposed motions.
Scan 3
6.4. whether tentative proposals should be submitted in advance of meetings for inclusion.
6.5. Discussions postponed until next Areopagus Meeting.
7. Revisit of the Psychology Guild Bylaws.
Motion: to accept the Bylaws of the Psychology Guild under the proviso that the following change is incorporated:
⟨Text partly illegible.⟩ A clause beginning “This Guild shall consist of a body of five (5) members” is to be changed to a clause referring to two or more members in order to comply with section 9.3, and must specify a majority of four-fifths instead of two-thirds.
The Areopagus appoints Marcus M. Jungkurth Mentor of the Psychology Guild.
Moved by L. Scriven. 20 ayes. Motion carried.
Adjournment
Meeting was adjourned at 9 pm.
Love is the law, love under will.
In the Bonds of the Order,
Fr. Aion ⟨degree unclear⟩, Secretary General
E-mail: aion@oto.de ⟨reading uncertain⟩
