Almanach of the O.T.O.A.
by M. Bertiaux

Question- We ask if there is an authority for the claim of Bishop M. Lamparter to be S.G.M.A. of the O.T.O.A.?

Answer- The almanach does not recognize that Bishop Lamparter was consecrated S.G.M.A. of the O.T.O.A. This is based on the following documents:

1.) Document: February 20, 1976 Bertiaux appoints M. Lamparter as S.G. inspector general(33?) for the grand hierophant ( Bertiaux ) but he was invited to visit the U.S.A. To receive proper ritualistic initiation and consecration to the appropriate grade(33rd.) (rite A & P of M.M. Source).

2.) Document: November 6, 1981, letter of appointment of M. Lamparter as S.G.M. effective 1-1-1982 from Ken Ward. Note: Ken Ward was to take a year long retirement.

A.) M. Bertiaux was appointed by Ken Ward to be S.G.M.A., therefore leading to M. Lamparter's appointment as S.G.M.

B.) Ken Ward said that after a year of retirement, he would resume the position of S.G.M.A. in an advisory sense.

3.) Document: May 2, 1982- Ancient and Primitive Memphis-Misraim document of Nevio Viola to M. Lamparter, wherein Viola as the S.G.M.A. of the Rite of Memphis-Misraim (Misraim Order) gives to M. Lamparter authority to represent the Italian Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis of Italy in Spain as S.G.M. as well as the same for the Italian O.T.O. (O.T.O.I.) N. Viola's Italian Gnostic O.T.O.-independent of the O.T.O.A. and the major O.T.O. groups.

4.) Document: Pansophic document from N. Viola to M. Lamparter= May 2, 1982 wherein M. Lamparter is appointed as the G.M. of the O.T.O.A. in Spain, of the Pansophic Society, which is rank of G.M. in the Pansophic Society, an all inclusive union historically connected to ' 93 current orders'.

5.)Document: June 7, 1982= M. Lamparter to Nevio Viola, wherein Lamparter as S.G.M. of the O.T.O.A. recognizes Nevio Viola as the representative of the O.T.O.A. in Italy of Lamparter's jurisdiction.

6.)Document: February 28, 1983= letter from Nevio Viola to Lamparter, wherein M. Lamparter is addressed as S.G.M. of the O.T.O.A.

7.) Document- August 16, 1985= M. Lamparter as S.G.M. x? of the O.T.O.A. ,to Paolo Fogagnolo, in which Fogagnolo is appointed as general secretary of the O.T.O.A. .for Italy. Note = Lamparter states that M. Bertiaux is the S.G.M.A. of the O.T.O.A. , in the Inner Retreat in Chicago, USA., and that Bertiaux has supreme authority over all the Sovereign Sanctuaries of the Gnosis of the O.T.O.A.

8.)Document- September 8, 1989= from Courtney Willis as S.G.M. to Nevio Viola, in which C. Willis authorizes Nevio Viola to head the Italian O.T.O.A. under the direction of C. Willis.

9.)Document- Kunst-Opus IX- Strasburg, 1995= Article on L'ordo Templi Orientis Antiqua in which Joel Duez confirms that in 1994 he was consecrated in person to be the Grand Master of the O.T.O.A. for France and the French speaking countries by Michael Bertiaux.

QUESTION: Then where did Bishop Lamparter come by his belief he had been consecrated the S.G.M.A. of the O.T.O.A.?

ANSWER: The almanach believes that Bishop Manuel C. Lamparter arrived at his S.G.M.A. position from his Memphis-Misraim work with Nevio Viola (Document 3) and from his pansophic work with Nevio Viola (document 4) which led to Lamparter's development of a pansophic interpretation of the rank of S.G.M.A., rather than a Voudoun- Gnostic/O.T.O.A. interpretation of the rank.

QUESTION: Does Bishop Lamparter possess any O.T.O.A. authority from the consecration of Joel Duez by Michael Bertiaux in 1994?

ANSWER: It would not be possible for Bishop Lamparter to receive any authority in Spain from Joel Duez, because Duez's O.T.O.A. jurisdiction was restricted to France and French-speaking countries.

QUESTION: Therefore, how does the Almanach regard the claims of Bishop Lamparter?

ANSWER: The Almanach denies all claims of Bishop Lamparter. The Almanach of the O.T.O.A. ( Almanach de Bertiaux ) has determined that Courtney Willis is the consecrated Sovereign Grand Master Absolute of the O.T.O.A., absolutely.

By my authority as Hierophant and Master of the Almanach.

Michael P. Bertiaux
12/11/2005