Agape Lodge

Part of a series on
Thelema
Unicursal hexagram
Holy Books and Stele The Book of the Law The Holy Books of Thelema The Stele of Revealing
Key figures Ankh-af-na-Khonsu François Rabelais Aleister Crowley Jane Wolfe Karl Germer Wilfred Talbot Smith Helen Parsons Smith Jack Parsons Phyllis Seckler Grady McMurtry Marjorie Cameron Sara Northrup Kenneth Grant Kenneth Anger Marcelo Ramos Motta James Lees Nema Andahadna Christopher Hyatt
Core concepts Abrahadabra Great Work True Will The Abyss Magick Qabalah Holy Guardian Angel Thoth Tarot Yoga Gnostic Mass The Aeon
Methods Banishing Body of light Bornless Ritual Cake of Light English Qaballa Enochian magic Goetia Mass of the Phoenix Night of Pan Sex magic Tree of life
Thelemic texts Aleister Crowley bibliography Kenneth Grant bibliography Marcelo Motta bibliography Thelemic texts
Organizations A∴A∴ O∴A∴A∴ Ecclesia Gnostica Catholica (EGC) Ordo Templi Orientis (OTO) Society Ordo Templi Orientis (SOTO) Thelemic Order of the Golden Dawn Typhonian Order (TOTO)
Deities Nuit Hadit Heru-ra-ha Aiwass Therion Babalon Baphomet Chaos Ma'at
Related topics Abbey of Thelema Abramelin oil Agape Lodge Boleskine House Choronzon Dianism Eroto-comatose lucidity Magical formulae Number of the beast Obeah and wanga Solar Lodge Stellar wisdom Table of magical correspondences The Beast & Whore of Babylon
v t e

The Agape Lodge was an American chapter of Ordo Templi Orientis founded in California in 1935 by Wilfred Talbot Smith. Following World War II, it was the sole surviving O.T.O. organization.^[1] The O.T.O. itself traced its origins back to Carl Kellner and underwent leadership changes until Aleister Crowley took over in 1925. In 1935, Smith established the Agape Lodge No. 2 in Hollywood, attracting initiates through advertising and hosting regular meetings, lectures, and social events, including a Gnostic Mass open to the public.

The lodge faced challenges in 1936 when Smith and another member faced consequences at their workplace due to their involvement, leading to a temporary shutdown of private ritual activities. The lodge experienced growth in 1939 with the initiation of Jack Parsons, a jet fuel engineer, and his wife Helen. However, tensions arose within the lodge, including a murder accusation in 1939, leading to negative publicity.

In 1941, conflicts intensified with the entry of Helen's sister Sara Northrup, who had an affair with Jack Parsons, causing a rift between sisters and further disrupting the lodge's harmony. The lodge moved to Pasadena in 1942 and faced scrutiny from law enforcement agencies due to allegations of a "black magic cult." Crowley and Karl Germer criticized Smith's leadership, leading to Jack Parsons taking over as the head of the lodge in 1942.

In 1945, L. Ron Hubbard became involved with the lodge, and a controversial business venture ensued in 1946, resulting in financial loss and legal disputes. Parsons, facing personal and financial turmoil, ultimately sold the Parsonage, and the Agape Lodge ceased regular meetings in 1949.