Editing Order of the Solar Temple (section)

=== Activities ===
[[File:The_Templar_Tradition_in_the_Age_of_Aquarius_cover.jpg|alt=Cover reads at the top The Templar Tradition in the Age of Aquarius. Reads at the bottom Gaetan Delaforge. In the middle of the cover is a painting of a grail on a checkered Knights Templar flag, with a night sky background.|thumb|Cover of ''[[The Templar Tradition in the Age of Aquarius]]'', produced to spread the OTS's belief|upright=.8]]The OTS was dually schismatic and a direct continuation of the original ORT, with occult-apocalyptic teachings descended from that of Jacques Breyer and Origas, which it tied to other apocalyptic concepts,{{sfn|Introvigne|2006|p=30}} and some [[white supremacist]] ideas from Origas.{{sfn|Introvigne|2006|p=33}} Breyer attempted to mediate the schism, suggesting the groups separate with goodwill; Breyer's mediation did not work and the OTS and the other branch of ORT grew to dislike one another. He suggested that Jouret and Di Mambro's group transfer to Canada to spread the movement.{{sfn|Introvigne|2000|p=146}}{{sfn|Clusel|Palmer|2020|p=222}} The ORT already had some Canadian administration in [[Trois-Rivières]] and [[Quebec City]], which were led by Robert Falardeau. To convince him to help them find land in Canada, Falardeau was given the title of "grand financier" by Jouret and Di Mambro.{{sfn|Clusel|Palmer|2020|p=222}} 

From then on, the group's most active locations were in French-speaking Europe and Quebec; from Quebec, the group intended to spread its influence to the United States, and began a translation project to make OTS ideas available to English speakers. This was mostly unsuccessful, as the OTS never had more than a few American members.{{sfn|Mayer|1999|p=177}} In the English speaking world, the OTS went by the names Order TS and Hermetica Fraternitas Templi Universali.{{sfn|Bogdan|2006|p=144}} In 1987, a member of the order using the pseudonym Gaetan Delaforge wrote ''[[The Templar Tradition in the Age of Aquarius]]'' in English to spread the order's Templar ideas into the United States. The book argues that the Templars survived to the modern day, and that the OTS was its ultimate successor, and was spread in occultist circles.{{sfn|Introvigne|2000|p=146}}{{sfn|Mayer|1999|p=194}}{{sfn|Introvigne|2006|p=28}}

In 1985, Di Mambro decided to set up a survival center in [[Canada]] in the event of [[Nuclear warfare|nuclear war]]. An estate, named Sacred Heart ({{Langx|fr|Sacré-Coeur}})  was purchased in [[Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade]], [[Quebec]], to create an organic farm.{{sfn|Clusel|Palmer|2020|p=224}} The organization set up several subsidiaries, both official and hidden, to finance these real estate purchases; Di Mambro made a profit by reselling his stakes in these purchases to members.{{sfn|Michaud|1996|p=33}} Di Mambro asked Tabachnik to draw up a series of writings to inspire him to rise in ranks within the order, called the Archées.{{sfn|Morath|Lemasson|2023a|loc=40:35–41:33}} Many of the Order's concepts and principles were inspired by these writings, third degree initiatory texts.{{sfn|Labelle|2006|p=162}} Written between 1984 and 1989, they were made up of 21 articles, each ranging from 15 to 20 pages.{{sfn|Labelle|2006|p=162}} They were considered difficult to understand even by members of the OTS.{{sfn|Labelle|2006|p=162}} In 1987, [[Camille Pilet]], then the worldwide sales director of the Swiss watch company [[Piaget SA]], officially joined the OTS.{{sfn|Bédat|Bouleau|Nicolas|1997|pp=152–153}} He donated several million Swiss francs to the order.{{sfn|Mayer|2014|p=40}} It is likely that Pilet's donations kept the group from going [[bankrupt]],{{sfn|Mayer|2014|p=40}} and were used by the OTS to buy properties.{{sfn|Bédat|Bouleau|Nicolas|2000|p=161}} He was the main financial provider of the OTS and the wealthiest businessman in the order.{{sfn|Hall|Schuyler|2000|p=146}}{{sfn|Bédat|Bouleau|Nicolas|1997|p=20}}{{sfn|Introvigne|2000|p=151}} 

The group reached its membership height in January 1989, with 442 members: 187 in Metropolitan France, 90 in Switzerland, 86 in Canada, 53 in Martinique, 16 in the US, and 10 in Spain, from which they gained more than $36,000 in monthly revenue overall.{{sfn|Mayer|1999|p=177}} Most members of the OTS had little contact with the leadership, and little or no idea of their violent plans.{{sfn|Mayer|2006b|p=97}} Some financially successful members individually donated amounts ranging from the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars to the group, to finance the "life centers"; however, some of the money was instead used to fund the leader's own travel expenses, and cost of living expenses for OTS members who did not have other support. The group began to have financial problems.{{sfn|Mayer|1999|p=177}}