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The Government of the O.T.O.F

"…with us Government is Service, and nothing else."

"This is the Constitution and Government of our Holy Order: by the study of its balance you may yourself come to the apprehension of how to rule your own life. For in true things, all are but images one of another; man is but a map of the universe, and society is but the same on a larger scale."

Liber 194 An Intimation with reference to the Constitution

How do you create and govern an Order whose members are dedicated to the principle of individual Liberty?

The structure of the Order is intended to answer this question, no matter how self reliant an individual is they do not exist in a vacuum, each is embedded to a greater or lesser extent in some form of Social structure. The ideal of the Order is the creation of a Society which grants the maximum amount of freedom, to the Maximum number of individuals within it, and it's structure is intended as a model or prototype of such a system.

We hold that each individual is sovereign over themselves, and fully self responsible. Yet an individual may freely vest aspects of their own sovereignty and responsibility, to another, for their own benefit, by participation in a collective endeavour, which is benefit to all parties concerned.

Such is the design of our system, the Oaths within the Order establish a contract between the individual and the Order as a whole, and establish a balance between the privileges and benefits of membership, and the commitments and duty's which it requires.

This contract must be made freely, with no coercion from any party concerned, hence we will have none but Free Men and Women in our Order.

The Government of the Order is based on a 'one head on the block' system, and the delegation of Authority and Responsibility on the basis of Contract. In each case, authority and decision making ability is balanced by an increase in service, responsibility, commitment and accountability.

By one head on the block we mean that one individual will accept responsibility for the formation of a body of the Order. Whether it be a Kingdom or a comparatively small Local body, when they do so they have authority over it, and the largest say on it's activities, provided such are in accord with the principles of the Order. Such an individual will then delegate their authority and responsibility to others. In this manner we combine the benefits of a centralised structure with a healthy degree of local autonomy.