It is my pleasure to offer to you, my Brothers and Sisters of O.T.O., and Tahuti Lodge in particular, these scanned copies of THE SCRIBE: The Journal of Tahuti Lodge, O.T.O.
A total of eight issues were published between the Spring Equinox of 1994 e.v. and 2001 e.v. In my role as editor, it was a real labor of love putting these journals together and getting them out there -- and it was exciting too! Within these pages you will find some (at that time) unpublished writings of Aleister Crowley, and much in the way of original poetry, short stories, magical rituals, essays and artwork.
A few of my personal favorite submissions that I have found to be particularly instructive were those contributed by Fra. Abrasax (issues #1 -- "Sexo-Talismanic Magick" and #6 -- "Guide to Memorizing the Tarot"), Fra. Taceo (issues #3 through #5 -- "On the Magical Link" and issue #6 -- "Magick, Metaprogramming and Mythos") and Bro. Frank Allen's "The Magic of Tattooing"(issue #2) and his series of articles on Celtic Taoism which appeared in almost every issue.
To these Dear Brothers and to everyone who contributed to our Journal, I will remain forever thankful. Our success was a collective effort and it made the release of each issue a cause for celebration.
It is hard to believe that the first issue of THE SCRIBE was published over 13 years ago. Fra. Roncelin was the master of Tahuti Lodge at that time and I was his Secretary. We had tossed around the idea of putting together a magazine for awhile. There had been a previous newsletter, but nothing on the scale of what we were then considering.
Revisiting these issues after all these years I was also impressed by the editorials which we ran. They are of course topical for that period and reflect current events that were then taking place -- a snapshot of a moment of time.
For example, the editorials written by Fra. Roncelin in our premier issue (Spring 1994 e.v.) and Fra. Ad Veritatem (Spring 1995 e.v.) both reflect the injustice and horror that the U.S. government brought down upon a small religious group (described as a "cult" by the mass media) called the Branch Davidians. James Wasserman's essay "The Price of Freedom", appearing in issue #6, is especially poignant in this regard.
Fourteen years later, the events that took place in Waco, Texas in the Spring of 1993 e.v. has become almost insignificant, a curious footnote. History is indeed written by the victors. But when these early issues of THE SCRIBE were first released, the real story and chain of events that led up to that terrible incident was still fresh and raw on everyone's mind... at least on the minds of other groups considered "a cult" -- like the O.T.O.
On a happier note, these issues of THE SCRIBE also illustrates the chronology of the leadership transition within Tahuti Lodge. Issue #6 (Fall 1996 e.v.) had Fra. Roncelin's fond farewell address as he stepped down as Lodge master after nine years of service in that capacity. The following issue, in the Spring of 1997 e.v., introduced me as the new Lodge master -- having taking office the previous Fall. Unfortunately, taking over the leadership of a group as large and as active as Tahuti Lodge left me little time to continue working on THE SCRIBE and it remained dormant until the Spring of 2001 e.v. when Fra. Puck wrote his address as the new master of Tahuti Lodge; beginning his term in the Fall of 2000 e.v.
Well, I trust that this slice of history has pique your interest enough to download a few of these issues of THE SCRIBE for your perusal and enjoyment. I hope that you find in them as much value and teaching as I have over the years.