Grady Louis McMurtry (Frater Hymenaeus Alpha 777) has recently "passed away" and his illegitimate position as O.H.O. of the [Caliphate pseudo-] O.T.O. was for a time up for grabs.  (It is interesting to note that Grady apparently never had the nerve to call himself O.H.O. in print or in any public way although he did claim this title--thus he preferred the relatively meaningless title of "Caliph" in printed materials.)  Shortly after Grady's death a new "Caliph" was...elected?...and much to the irritation of William E. Heidrick he was not called to the office.  We believe Mr. Heidrick is still frothing at the mouth and babbling incoherently. 

It has been reported that the new "Caliph" is a New York resident (and thus the Grand Lodge will be moved from California to New York) and that he intends to call himself Hymenaeus Beta.  What most concerns us here is that this new "Caliph" wishes to remain anonymous and that he is backed by a group of individuals opposed to Mr. Heidrick.  Question:  Why does this new "Caliph" wish to remain anonymous?  Is he afraid of something?  Is he hiding for some reason?  For what purpose does he mask himself behind anonymity?  It sounds as if he were like Messrs. Grant and Motta who claim to be adepts and yet fear to publish pictures of themselves or other materials that they think may be used against them magically...adepts cowering?  Why this mystery?  Is it not said in the A.·.A.·. documents that "Mystery is the enemy of Truth"?  Already it seems as if the new "Caliph" is starting off on a very unthelemic foot--but perhaps I am wrong.  You may wish to write to him and ask these questions for yourself and the following address was given by a pseudo-o.t.o. run organization for the purpose of direct communication:  J.A.F., P.O. Box 766, New York 10116. 

And what of those individuals who backed this fellow to overthrow Mr. Heidrick and seize what little power there is in the pseudo-o.t.o.?  To me it sounds as if this new "Caliph" is nothing but a puppet whose strings are pulled by a handful of individuals who desire power but not the responsibility that goes with it.  Yet again, keep in mind, I may be wrong and perhaps time alone will reveal the truth of the matter. 

There is, however, something else to keep in mind.  It was Our Father Aleister Crowley who gave Grady his magical name and motto, namely Hymenaeus Alpha 777.  For an interesting point of view regarding Grady's magical name and number see TNN IV.3.  It is also interesting to note that A.C. added the Alpha to Hymenaeus, which would ordinarily come to the numeration of 776, to arrive at 777.  At first 777 seems a very "good" number, but there are things to consider--things such as the fact that 777 is the numeration of "The World of Shells" (OVLM HQLIPhVTh) as we are informed in SEPHER SEPHIROTH by Crowley.  Furthermore, 777 was first associated with Frater Achad (C. S. Jones) and perhaps by pinning this number on Grady, A.C. intended to imply that Grady like Jones before him was nothing but a presumptuous fool destined to "fall from grace".  It is certainly something to think about.  But what does this have to do with the new "Caliph"?  The numbers will tell. 

Hymenaeus Beta can have two numerations attached to it--one quite obvious and another somewhat more obscure.  Naturally Ymenaios B would come to the numeration of 778 which is also the numeration of Poneroy, defined in Liddell and Scott's Greek-English Lexicon as "causing pain or hardship...bad, worthless, villainous, knavish, wicked", while it is used in the New Testament (Mt. 5.13) and defined as "the Evil One".  If Beta is spelled out in full we have Ymenaios Beta which has the numeration of 1087, also the numeration of kakodaimonao, "to be tormented by an evil genius, be like one possessed." 

Gives one something more to think about, doesn't it!  Say...you don't think that the new "Caliph" is hiding behind a mask of anonymity from fear of little old me, do you? Nahhh.  If he is honest and sincere he has nothing to fear.  "If he be a King, thou canst not hurt him."  (CCXX II.59) 

What do you think? 

Fraternally yours, 
(Signed:  Kelly) 
Frater Keallach 93/676 (G.M.Kelly) 

[1997 E.V. NOTE:  Since the writing of the above, Hymenaeus Beta has been revealed to be one William "Bill" Breeze, formerly associated with the Kenneth Grant Typhonian pseudo-o.t.o, formerly associated with Marcelo Ramos Motta's S.O.T.O., finally finding his niche in the Caliphate pseudo-o.t.o. where he can exploit the works of Aleister Crowley and the loosely disorganized "membership" of the Caliphate gang, mostly incarcerated individuals and subscribers of The Magical Link who are called "Associate Members", whose paid dues and membership fees support him, enable him to travel all over the world--on "legitimate" O.T.O. business, I am sure--acquiring rare works of Crowleyana that are seldom seen by the membership and other aspirants, a scrap occasionally tossed from his banquet table to hopefully satisfy the membership and keep that money rolling in. 
  
     According to the latest issue of the Link received shortly before the time of this writing, "COMBINED ISSUE - VOL. IX, NO. 4-VOL. X, NO. 2 - WINTER 1995-SUMMER 1996 E.V.", the Frater Superior, i.e. Bill Breeze, can be reached at P.O. Box 684098, Austin, TX 78768-4098.  Of course, this and many Caliphate pseudo-o.t.o. addresses may change at a moment's notice before you even read this, lodges and camps, often composed of only one or two individuals, when more sometimes with transitory people coming and going all the time so that stability is never achieved, frequently popping into existence and then suddenly disappearing or being disbanded.  And if a member fails to pay dues, perhaps never paid them, or for that matter even dies, never fear! chances are that individual's name will remain on the membership lists to give the illusion of a great and ever-growing international organization.  -ED]