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Do what thou wilt shall be the whole of the Law.

Golden Thread Membership Policy

Valley of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, 2022

(all policies are subject to change)

Golden Thread Oasis relies on the generosity of dues, event fees and donations to keep our temple doors open. Golden Thread membership is available to anyone who wishes to support the work of Golden Thread O.T.O.

Membership in Golden Thread does not include membership in O.T.O. or its associated bodies of E.G.C.* or M∴M∴M∴*. Golden Thread Membership is separate from E.G.C.* and M∴M∴M∴* membership and does not confer any status in those organizations. However, members of Golden Thread who are also members of M∴M∴M∴* are expected to be dues current with US Grand Lodge.

Dues

Dues Ranges and Membership Benefits

Local Dues -$31- $99 a month. This amount confers full membership with Golden Thread and waives the $5 fee for regular classes and rituals that is charged to nonmembers. Members also get the benefit of using the lending library with their dues payment.

In addition to the above, the following special dues categories are available:

• Library Membership – $11 a month. This is a special membership class for individuals who would like to take advantage of Golden Thread’s lending library. This category includes library privilege for checking out books. However, this membership does not confer full membership status including ritual and class fees.

• At Distance Dues -$11- $30 a month. This category is for “at-distance” members or members experiencing financial hardship. “At-distance” members are individuals who live further than 100 miles from Golden Thread, but still wish to support our local body. Hardship cases are determined on a case by case basis with the Treasurer.

• Foundational Dues are $100 or more. In addition to full membership status and library access, foundational members also have the opportunity to reserve the Golden Thread temple for personal rituals or events. The events must be in accord with the rules and regulations of Grand Lodge USA OTO. A request for use of Golden Thread space must be attended by at least one officer and must be submitted one month in advance and can not conflict with any scheduled events.

-Please note special events can incur additional fees and are not included in the membership levels above. A special event is defined as an event where Golden Thread is not covering the cost of hosting the event. (I.e. we need to cover the cost of renting a location or flying in a guest speaker.), or attendance at an initiation.

Dues are to be paid on the first Saturday of every month.

Dues payments can be made monthly, quarterly, or delivered in full.

-Family memberships are available for households with two or more members, see the Treasurer for more details.

-In addition to dues payment, library membership requires the member to read and agree to Golden Thread’s Library Policy.

Hardship cases

Hardship cases are taken on a case-to-case basis Members of GT need to communicate their Will during this period to maintain membership at the pledge level they have chosen. Each occurrence of Hardship is reviewed by one or both officers and resolution shall be communicated in a written agreement given to the individual who is asking for a period of hardship.

Termination of Membership

If an individual wishes to discontinue membership with Golden Thread they should inform the Treasurer and the local body master. An individual’s membership with Golden Thread can be discontinued at the discretion of the local body master.

United States Grand Lodge Requirements for dues

It is required of any member of Golden Thread who is also a member of O.T.O. USA to be current on their Grand Lodge dues to remain in good standing. Initiation fees of a Man of Earth Degree (Minerval though the Fourth Degree and P.I.) include one year of U.S.G.L. dues. Therefore, if you remain in a degree for more than a year, without taking an initiation you must directly send your dues to U.S.G.L. in accordance with the degree you hold.

Dues and fees for the Man of Earth degrees are listed at oto.usa.org/oto/dues-fees/

Members can inquire about their present U.S.G.L. dues status and make payments at treasury.oto.org/inquiry

If a member is not current with their US Grand Lodge dues they cannot participate in Golden Thread’s members only events (including M∴M∴M∴ initiations, or any officer role in E.G.C. activities).

Methods of payment to Golden Thread

Golden Thread does not accept checks or money orders. We will however accept cash, payment by PayPal, or in person card payments (processed through PayPal).

In-person payments can be made directly to the Treasurer (or officer who is working an event on behalf of the treasury).

PayPal payments will need to be submitted to the Treasurer at goldenthread.treasurer@oto-usa.org. You will need to add a description in the message field to indicate what the payment is for “MM/YYYY I am making a payment to Golden Thread for (initiation or dues or event fee)”. If the payment is for merchandise, please include a description of the item: “MM/YYYY Payment for 2 Large GT T shirts”.

Questions or Disputes

If a member has any questions about their current dues status or other Golden Thread related financial matters, they should contact the Treasurer via email to request information or ask a specific question. The Treasurer can provide a complete statement of the member’s financial activity within one week of the request.

If a member has concern or dispute regarding a financial matter, the member may contact the Treasurer to discuss or resolve the matter. If the Treasurer is unable to resolve the issue adequately, the member may contact the local body master to discuss the issue further. In cases of dispute, the local body master shall make the final determination regarding resolution of the issue.

U.S.G.L. is United State Grand Lodge of Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.). Which is the first of the great Old Æon orders to accept The Book of the Law, received by Aleister Crowley in 1904 EV. This book proclaims a New Æon in human thought, culture and religion. The Æon arises from a single supreme injunction: the Law of Thelema, which is Do what thou wilt.

U.S. Grand Lodge is the governing body of O.T.O. in the United States. It is the most populous and active branch of O.T.O., with many local bodies spread throughout the country.

M∴M∴M∴ is the Mystica Mysteria Maxima, the initiating body of the Ordo Templi Orientis. 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.

E.G.C. is Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica, the Gnostic Catholic Church, is the ecclesiastical arm of O.T.O. It confers sacraments including the eucharist of the Gnostic Mass, baptism, confirmation, and ordination. For more information speak with an officer of Golden Thread.

Love is the law, love under will.