Types of membership

There are three types of membership offered through William Blake Lodge: W.B.L. membership, E.G.C. membership and M.M.M. membership. All are forms of O.T.O. membership.

William Blake Lodge (W.B.L.) membership is available to every man and woman who is free, at least 18 years old, and of good report. W.B.L. membership is limited to William Blake Lodge, a duly designated & chartered Local Body of U.S. Grand Lodge, O.T.O. W.B.L. membership is obtained by the submission of an Application of Membership and is maintained by the prompt payment of William Blake Lodge Dues.

Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (E.G.C.) membership is open to any person at least 11 years old. Baptism does not confer Lay Membership. Lay Membership in E.G.C. is conferred by the Ceremony of Confirmation, which must be preceded by the Ceremony of Baptism. Lay Membership conveys no authority or special privileges within E.G.C. Confirmation is open to any person who has been baptized and who has attained the age of puberty. Baptism or confirmation for any person less than 18 years of age requires the prior written consent of the custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Baptism and confirmation are public ceremonies.

Mysteria Mystica Maxima (M.M.M.) membership requires a physical ceremony conducted by a chartered initiator and performed under the auspices of an O.T.O. local body, such as William Blake Lodge. Initiate (M.M.M.) membership is available to every man and woman who is free, at least 18 years old, and of good report. The introductory initiation into the O.T.O. is known as the "Minerval" or 0°.

"Good report" is established through the sponsorship of two I° or higher initiate (M.M.M.) members of O.T.O. Prospective sponsors will generally want to get to know you before signing your application, which may involve your attendance with them at several local body events, or time spent with them privately.

M.M.M. Initiation

The structure of O.T.O., like that of Freemasonry and the ancient mystery schools, is based on a staged series of initiations or degrees. In the rituals of these degrees, O.T.O. seeks to instruct the individual by allegory and symbol in the profound mysteries of nature, and thereby to assist each initiate in discovering his or her own true identity.

Initiate membership is subdivided by degree. There are a total of 21 initiate degrees in O.T.O., including thirteen numbered degrees and eight un-numbered, intermediate degrees or sub-degrees. The degrees of O.T.O. are divided into three Grades or "Triads": the Hermit, the Lover, and the Man of Earth, as follows:

	0°	Minerval No minimum time in degreeMinimum 18 years old, no exceptions
	I°	Man and Brother Woman and Sister Minimum 9 months in degreeMinimum 18 years old, no exceptions
	II°	Magician Minimum 1 year in degreeMinimum 21 years old
	III°	Master Magician Minimum 1 year in degreeMinimum 22 years old
	IV°	Perfect Magician and companion of the Holy Royal Arch of Enoch No minimum time in degreeMinimum 23 years old
	P.I.	Perfect Initiate, or Prince of Jerusalem Admission to proceeding degrees by invitation onlyMinimum 23 years old
Outside all Triads		Knight of the East and West Admission to this & proceeding degrees by invitation onlyMinimum 23 years old
	V°	Sovereign Prince Rose-Croix, and Knight of the Pelican and Eagle
		Knight of the Red Eagle, and Member of the Senate of Knight Hermetic Philosophers
	VI°	Illustrious Knight (Templar) of the Order of Kadosch, and Companion of the Holy Graal
		Grand Inquisitor Commander, and Member of the Grand Tribunal
		Prince of the Royal Secret
	VII°	Theoreticus, and Very Illustrious Sovereign Grand Inspector General
		Magus of Light, and Bishop of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica
		Grandmaster of Light, and Inspector of Rites and Degrees
	VIII°	Perfect Pontiff of the Illuminati
		Epopt of the Illuminati
	IX°	Initiate of the Sanctuary of the Gnosis
	X°	Rex Summus Sanctissimus
	XI°	Initiate of the Eleventh Degree (This degree is technical, and has no relation to the general plan of the Order)
	XII°	Frater Superior, and Outer Head of the Order

The Minerval Degree (0°) is an introductory Initiate degree in which the aspirant is considered an "honored guest" of O.T.O. rather than a full member. The Minerval degree is designed to allow the aspirant to decide whether or not to pursue full membership, and to allow potential sponsors the opportunity to decide whether to support the aspirant's application for full membership. Minervals may begin preliminary novitiate training under an E.G.C. Bishop towards ultimate ordination to the Diaconate and/or Priesthood in Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, but they are not eligible for ordination or for service as an officer of a Local Body.

The First Degree (I°) bestows full membership upon the initiate. A First Degree initiate may retire from active participation in O.T.O., but the spiritual link forged between the initiate and the Order during the ceremony of the First Degree will remain throughout the initiate's life. An initiate of the Second Degree is eligible for ordination as a deacon of Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica.

Beyond the degree of P.I., advancement is by invitation only. Initiates of the intermediate degree of Knight of the East and West (K.E.W.) are eligible for formal ordination to the Priesthood in Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica. Episcopal consecration in Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica is conferred as part of the Seventh Degree. The Tenth Degree (X°) is held by the National Grand Master General of O.T.O. in a particular country.

The Man of Earth degrees follow a pattern based on the symbolism of the Chakras and the stages of Kundalini Yoga; and represent, in dramatic form, the Individual's Path in Eternity. In the 0°, the Ego, a wandering God, is attracted to the Solar System. In the I°, the Child experiences Birth. In the II°, the Man or Woman experiences Life. The III° represents the Death of the individual, and the IV° represents the world beyond Death, the glorified state of the Initiate. In the P.I. Degree, the Initiate symbolically achieves ultimate Perfection (Completion), and the entire cycle is withdrawn into Annihilation.

Of these Events or Stations upon the Path, all but the II° represent single critical experiences. We, however, are concerned mostly with the varied experiences of Life. All subsequent degrees are therefore elaborations of the II°, a progressive instruction in how to live, since in a single ceremony it is hardly possible to sketch, even in the briefest outline, the Teaching of Initiates with regard to Life.

The V° - IX° rituals and teachings are therefore instructions to the Initiate in the Mastery of Life; there is instruction in Hermetic Philosophy, Qabalah, Magick and Yoga, all aimed at preparing the Initiate for the revelation and application of one Supreme Secret.

Every man and woman of full age (18 or more years old), free, and of good report, has an indefeasible right to the first three degrees of O.T.O. (but not according to any particular time schedule). These "first three degrees" actually include all the degrees in the Man of Earth Triad (the Minerval is considered a prologue to the First Degree, and the Fourth and P.I. Degrees are considered pendants to the Third Degree).

Progress of the O.T.O. initiate toward the Fourth and P.I.; Degrees is usually a matter of years. A certain amount of time is usually required to allow full maturation of the effects of the O.T.O. initiations, although under some circumstances the Minerval and First Degrees may be taken on the same occasion.

Membership in E.G.C.

There are three recognized subclasses of Church membership, the Clergy (Clerical membership), the Laity (Lay membership) and Bishops in Amity (Advisory membership). The Clergy is composed of the Father (or Mother) of the Church (also known as the Patriarch or Matriarch), the Primate, the Bishops, the Priests and Priestesses, and the Deacons.

The Clergy: The Patriarchate

The Father (or Mother) of the Church, also known as the Sovereign Patriarch or Sovereign Matriarch, is the O.H.O. of O.T.O. All official rites and ceremonies used within E.G.C. are subject to the approval of the Patriarch. The Patriarch has the sole authority to suspend, revoke, and reinstate the recognition of any person's clerical status as Bishop, Priest, Priestess or Deacon within E.G.C., and any person's Clerical or Advisory membership in E.G.C. The Patriarch has the authority to approve texts to be used in celebrations of the Gnostic Mass by Priests and Priestesses of E.G.C., modify the Gnostic Mass to suit special functions and occasions, to set guidelines for its proper performance, and to issue guidelines for the preparation of the eucharistic elements.

At this time, the Patriarch is Frater Superior Hymenaeus Beta, Caliph and Acting O.H.O. of O.T.O.

The Clergy: The Primacy

The Primate, or Presiding Bishop, is the National Grand Master General X°. The Primate shall in general supervise and control the affairs of E.G.C. within the U.S.A., subject to the ultimate authority of the Patriarch.

At this time, the Primate of E.G.C. within the U.S.A. is Sabazius X°, National Grand Master General of the U.S. Grand Lodge of O.T.O. Frater Superior Hymenaeus Beta has delegated, in full, his duties and authority within E.G.C. to Sabazius X° for exercise within the U.S.A. The actions and decisions of the Primate are subject to modification or reversal by the Patriarch upon appeal by any Bishop within the U.S.A.

The Clergy: The Episcopate

Bishops have the power and authority within E.G.C. to celebrate the Gnostic Mass; to ordain Priests, Priestesses and Deacons of E.G.C.; and to perform baptisms, confirmations, marriages and last rites, in accordance with local laws.

Full Bishops within E.G.C. must be Sovereign Grand Inspectors General VII° of O.T.O. There are a number of Bishops of E.G.C. who were consecrated prior to the institution of this requirement, and who are not yet Sovereign Grand Inspectors General of O.T.O. Such Bishops are known as Auxiliary Bishops, and their authority is similar to that of E.G.C. Priests and Priestesses, along with any additional authority specifically given to them by the Patriarch or the Primate.

Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops of E.G.C. have the responsibility of serving as official representatives of E.G.C. within O.T.O. Any public celebration of the Gnostic Mass which involves the participation of a recognized Bishop or Auxiliary Bishop of E.G.C. as an officer is by definition an official O.T.O. event and is subject to all the policies of O.T.O. regarding official O.T.O. events.

The term "Bishop" does not carry the same meaning within E.G.C. as it does in Christian Churches or in the so-called "Wandering Bishops" tradition. Possession of a valid and documented Apostolic Succession does not make one a Bishop of E.G.C.; neither is a Christian Apostolic Succession necessary to the Bishops of E.G.C.

Gnostic Bishops of the Doinel Succession assume a Mystic Name prefaced by the Greek letter "T" or "Tau" upon their consecration. Bishops and Auxiliary Bishops of E.G.C. who wish to emphasize this part of their spiritual heritage may, at their option, follow this tradition. However, the Double Tau is reserved for use by the Patriarch and the Primate.

The Clergy: The Priesthood

The Priesthood of E.G.C. includes both Priests and Priestesses. Priests and Priestesses have the Sacerdotal power and authority to celebrate the Gnostic Mass as representatives of E.G.C. within O.T.O. A Bishop may also delegate to them the authority to ordain Deacons and perform baptisms, confirmations and last rites; and, in certain cases, to perform weddings. Priests and Priestesses are expected to coordinate their work with a Bishop.

Priests and Priestesses within E.G.C. must be Initiate members in good standing of at least the Knight of the East and West (KEW) degree. Their ordination must be reported to and recorded by the Grand Secretary General and the Ecclesiastical Secretary. They must be Lay members in E.G.C. prior to their ordination. The Primate may allow lay members to take on limited duties and authority of the Priesthood under the supervision of a Bishop.

Priests and Priestesses of E.G.C. have the responsibility of serving as official representatives of E.G.C. within O.T.O. Any public celebration of the Gnostic Mass which involves the participation of a recognized Priest or Priestess of E.G.C. as an officer is by definition an official O.T.O. event and is subject to all the policies of O.T.O. regarding official O.T.O. events.

The Clergy: The Diaconate

The Deacons of E.G.C. are ordained assistants to the Priests and Priestesses. Deacons within E.G.C. must be Initiate members in good standing of at least Second Degree (First Degree with the permission of the Primate); and their ordination must be recorded by the Grand Secretary General and the Ecclesiastical Secretary. Prior to their ordination, they must have been accorded Lay membership in E.G.C.

At this time, Deacons have the power and authority only to assist recognized Priests and Priestesses of E.G.C. in the performance of their duties. They are not considered as official representatives of E.G.C.

The Novitiate

Initiate members of any degree who have been accorded Lay membership in E.G.C. may undergo a period of Novitiate training under the supervision of a Bishop, to prepare them for ordination as Priest, Priestess or Deacon. Such Initiate members may participate in the celebration of the Gnostic Mass as Novice Priests, Priestesses and Deacons.

Novice status is not formally recognized by the Order, and is not included in the Order's records.

The Laity

Lay Membership in E.G.C. is conferred by the ceremony of confirmation, which must be preceded by the ceremony of baptism. Lay Membership conveys no authority or special privileges within E.G.C. The Patriarch may, from time to time, modify or waive the ceremonial requirements for Lay membership in E.G.C.

Baptism is open to any person at least 11 years old. Baptism does not confer Lay Membership. Confirmation is open to any person who has been baptized and who has attained the age of puberty. Baptism or confirmation for any person less than 18 years of age requires the prior written consent of the custodial parent(s) or legal guardian(s). Baptism and confirmation are public ceremonies.

Bishops in Amity

Bishops from affiliated or distant branches of the Gnostic Church with or without an historical connection with O.T.O. may affiliate with O.T.O. upon mutual recognition. Such Bishops shall affiliate as Advisory members of E.G.C., and shall be known as "Bishops in Amity."

Advisory membership in E.G.C. confers no clerical authority within E.G.C.