THE KAMLOOPS STANDARD SENTINEL

Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada

23 September 1921

(page 7)

Founding Ordo Templi Orientis.

W.T. Smith in City in Connection

With Secret Order and Outlines It.

The general public is probably not aware of the arrival in Kamloops of a visitor in the person of W.T. Smith [Wilfred Talbot Smith] who is a guest of F. Page, on whose invitation, coupled with that of Messrs. Bergin, Jackson and several other citizens, Mr. Smith came with the object of starting a branch of the Ordo Templi Orientis.

Mr. Smith states that the O.T.O. is a body of initiates in whose hands are concentrated the wisdom of some twenty orders, some well known to the public at large, others of equal merit if of less fame. A list of these is given in one of the manifestoes along with the names of a large number of the fraternity.

Society's Objects.

Asked as to the aims and objects of the society, he said that it should primarily be understood that the O.T.O. was a serious and secret order, pledged to the high purpose of securing the liberty of the individual and his advancement in light, wisdom, understanding, knowledge and power, through beauty, courage and wit, on the foundation of universal brotherhood. But that also it was concerned with the more temporal affairs of humanity, and sought to improve the conditions of society in a more concrete way.

The principles laid down in various manifestoes, and other places, said Mr. Smith, were naturally too long to go into at this time, but upon perusal by any intelligent person they would be seen to contain the solution to many, if not all the present social problems faced with. In fact, that there was no human activity which the plans of the order had not taken into consideration.

Modest Tolerance

The Foundation being universal brotherhood, naturally one of the outstanding principles was tolerance in the broadest sense of the word. No matter what their views on religion, for instance, every man and woman of full age, free and of good report, was entitled to become a member of the order.

He also said that, apart from the fact that secrets of a deeply occult nature were revealed in the ceremonies of initiations into the various degrees, which were gradually made plainer as the brother advanced, there was an actual effect upon the individual to his general betterment of character and outlook on life.

It is understood that during organization some special concessions are being made in regard to fees and information may be obtained from him and the others whose names are mentioned.