Solar Lodge

Solar Lodge was a secret society based on the Ordo Templi Orientis. The Lodge was established in 1962, and ceased to be viable in 1972, amid convictions of its members for child abuse.

Background

Around 1895, a rich, German industrialist named Karl Kellner founded a Templar-type group originally called The Hermetic Order of Light. This organization was intended to revive, study, practice, and pass on the secrets of the Knights Templar. By 1904, this was all grouped under the title of Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). Kellner died in 1905 and his successor was Theodore Reuss, who introduced such as Rudolph Steiner and Aleister Crowley.^{[citation needed]}

In 1922, Reuss resigned his leadership in the O.T.O. due to poor health and nominated Crowley as the new Head.^{[citation needed]}

In 1937, the O.T.O. was placed on Adolph Hitler's blacklist.^{[citation needed]} After World War II, Karl Germer ("Frater Saturnus"), a German Freemason who had been imprisoned in a Nazi concentration camp, was appointed by Crowley as the Grand Master and the activities of the O.T.O. were conducted at Agape Lodge in Pasadena, California.^{[citation needed]}

In 1949, Germer closed Agape Lodge "for a period of ten years", but refused to re-open it when the 10 years had elapsed.^{[citation needed]}

Revival

The Solar Lodge was founded by Ray Burlingame ("Frater Aquarius"), when he initiated Georgina "Jean" Brayton ("Soror Capricornus") into it, in 1962.^{[citation needed]} In 1965, shortly before his death, Burlingame instructed Brayton to initiate other people, which she did, expanding Solar Lodge in the 1960s to include over 50 members.^{[citation needed]} By 1967, the Lodge owned several mansions, a gas station, a bookstore, and a desert property known as Solar Ranch. In 1969, the Lodge ran a bookstore in Blythe, California; it operated Solar Ranch near Vidal, California; it owned a gas station in Vidal, with a cafe, motel, bar, house, and grocery. ^{[citation needed]}

In 1969, the members of the lodge were charged with mistreatment of the six-year-old son of one the members. Brayton and her husband fled custody, and engaged in a publicity campaign alleging a conspiracy against them by law enforcement officers and the courts. A few members went to jail for 6 months on a felony conviction, a few went to jail for 3 months on a misdemeanor conviction, and a few had their charges dismissed. When Brayton and her husband were arrested, she was convicted and sentenced to three years of probation along with a $500 fine. ^{[citation needed]}

Throughout the 1970’s, there were several persons claiming to be the head of the O.T.O., including Grady McMurtry, Marcello Motta, Kenneth Grant, and others. McMurtry eventually prevailed in United States District Court on July 10, 1985; he died two days later without hearing about his victory.^{[citation needed]}

The Family

A book called The Family written by Ed Sanders professed to expose the life and times of Charles Manson. It contained a chapter on Solar Lodge, and the text made connections between Manson and the O.T.O. The accuracy of the book is disputed. The book stated that Solar Lodge engaged in ceremonial sacrifices and other magical activities, and that Manson was a visitor or a member.^{[citation needed]}

References

Los Angeles Times, "Boy in the Box" headline. July 30, 1969.
[1] Mystic-History: (Uncopyrighted webpage - The History of Solar Lodge). ^{[unreliable source?]}
Inside the OTO - Outside the Law. Frater Shiva. Uncopyrighted historical material. 1974. ^{[unreliable source?]}