Fraternitas Saturni

Did You Know?

• The Fraternitas Saturni was founded in the wake of the 1925 Weida Conference, which was meant to consolidate Aleister Crowley's claims as Outer Head of the O.T.O. and the expected World Teacher.
• The degree system was expanded to 33 degrees in 1960; the initials of the 33° degree (Gradus Ordinis Templi Orientis Saturni) match the lodge's egregore name, GOTOS.

History

The Fraternitas Saturni was founded in the wake of the so-called "Weida Conference" in 1925. It succeeded the "Collegium Pansophicum, Orient Berlin" (Pansophic Lodge), a Rosicrucian magical order founded by Heinrich Tränker. The Weida Conference was meant to consolidate Aleister Crowley's claims to be the Outer Head of Ordo Templi Orientis and the expected World Teacher. The conference consisted of Crowley's entourage of Leah Hirsig, Dorothy Olsen, and Norman Mudd and the members of Tränker's Pansophic Lodge. Tränker had served as a X° National Grand Master of the German O.T.O. under Theodor Reuss up until Reuss' death. Also attending were the notable film pioneer Albin Grau and Gregor A. Gregorius. The conference was not smooth; Tränker withdrew his support of Crowley, leading to a schism between brothers who disagreed with Crowley and those who accepted Crowley's Law of Thelema, including Gregorius and Grau. The Pansophic Lodge was officially closed in 1926. Those brothers who accepted Crowley's teachings joined Grosche in founding the Fraternitas Saturni - but without Albin Grau. At Easter 1928, the Fraternitas Saturni was officially founded in Berlin. The Lodge made a formal acceptance of The Book of the Law but would not answer to Crowley. The FS still thought of him as an important teacher and included the Law of Thelema in most of its teachings, while divorcing itself from direct contact with him. The emphasis of the FS lies more on astrological and Luciferian teachings, rather than on Qabalah and Tarot. In 1936, the Fraternitas Saturni was prohibited by the Nazi regime. Gregorius as well as other leaders emigrated to avoid imprisonment, but in the course of the war Grosche was arrested for a year by the Nazi government. After WWII, the order was reactivated from Riesa in East Germany and later from Berlin. By 1957 lodges existed in Düsseldorf, Hamburg, Frankfurt and Stuttgart, with the Grand Lodge in Berlin. In 1960 the FS had about 100 members. In 1962 internal problems led to the expulsion of several members. After Grosche's death in 1964, confusion over the Grandmaster position led to a schism between the Frankfurt lodge and the main body. In 1969 the two separate groups were reunified.

Structure

Originally, there existed eight degrees within the Fraternitas Saturni, not including the Novice (a candidate) and the Grandmaster (a position held by a single master of the highest degree). A new member of the Pronaos held the degree of Neophyt (Apprentice), the second degree was Gradus Mercurii (Journeyman), followed by Gradus Solis (Master). The first degree in the second order of R + C was Gradus Pentalphae, followed by Gradus Sigilli Salomonis and Magus Heptagrammatos. The third order, S. S. G., was formed by Templarius, Gnosticus and Magister Aquarius. The system was changed in 1960, expanded to 33 degrees: Gradus Mercurii became 8°, Gradus Solis became 12°, Gradus Pentalphae became 18°. Templarius was renamed Princeps Arcani (24°) and a new degree of Magister Templarius (31°) was installed. In the 1950s, the first two degrees were theoretical. The first degree attained by work was Gradus Mercurii (8°), requiring basic understanding of esoteric principles and a written essay. The second degree attained by work was Gradus Solis (12°), requiring deeper understanding of lodge ritual and two essays, qualifying the initiate to lead a lodge. Another important degree was Frater (4°), which contained an oath of lifelong commitment; this was later changed and the vow was made part of Gradus Solis. After 1960, Gradus Solis marked the member as part of the inner order, the Grand-Lodge Fraternitas Saturni. Much speculation surrounds Gradus Pentalphae (18°), centered on tantric mysticism and sex magic, but many faked documents make verification difficult. The initials of the degree Gradus Ordinis Templi Orientis Saturni (33°) are similar to the name of the egregore of the lodge - GOTOS.

Current lodges

The Fraternitas Saturni became a legal organisation, registered as "Fraternitas Saturni, e.v." in 1957. On its 75th anniversary (2003), the lodge incorporated another order of the so-called "Immanuel-succession", the "Grand-Lodge Gregor A. Gregorius". This unification effectively doubled the size of its membership. The Fraternitas Saturni claims to have working lodges in Germany, Austria and Switzerland. It is, beside incorporating new attempts on magic, still working on its traditional roots and enhancing the concept of "Saturn-Magic" as the center of its work.