Charles Robert Stansfeld Jones (/ˈstænsfiːld/ STANSS-feeld; 1886–1950), aka Frater Achad, was a Canadian occultist and ceremonial magician.
He was also an initiate of Ordo Templi Orientis, serving as the principal organizer for that order in British Columbia, Canada.
[1] Prior to joining the A∴A∴, he investigated Spiritualism, as recounted in the notes of his magical progress, "A Master of the Temple."
Jones continued his work under Crowley in the Outer Order of A∴A∴ until the former decided to "take 8=3, in case that is what the Master really needed," i.e. to claim the grade of Magister Templi in the Third Order, thus assisting Crowley's advancement to the further grade of Magus, by filling "the Master's" current position in the A∴A∴ hierarchy.
Nine months earlier he had been involved in a set of sex-magical operations with Sr. Hilarion (Jeanne Robert Foster) in an apparently unsuccessful effort to conceive a child.
"[2] Inspired by the fifth point of the Task of a Zelator in the A∴A∴ system, Jones sought from Crowley the authority to begin O.T.O.
The result was the first operation of the Mysteria Mystica Maxima degrees in North America, and the founding of British Columbia Lodge No.
Jones was not given the IX° until he demonstrated a knowledge of the Supreme Secret of the Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis in correspondence with Crowley.
Jones became Grand Treasurer General after Crowley removed George Macnie Cowie from the post in 1918.
Jones and the German initiate Heinrich Traenker were the Grand Masters who confirmed Crowley in his succession to the office of Outer Head of the O.T.O.
This group had been actively recruiting among Theosophists for a decade or more, and Jones was one of a number of prominent Thelemites who eventually joined.
involved one-to-one correspondence, with an elaborate set of rules regarding strict secrecy of instructions, envelopes-within-envelopes, purple typewriter ribbons, and special paperclips.
Aspirants were provided with typescript lectures ("sutras") on metaphysical topics, using idiosyncratic terms like "integrality" and "partitivity."
As Crowley became aware of the involvement of his followers, he likewise denounced the U.B., calling it a "swindle" in correspondence with Jones.
remain obscure, but it has been accused by Wilfred Talbot Smith, among others, of acting as a front for Roman Catholic infiltration of occult groups; and by former member Paul Foster Case of being inspired by the Bavarian Illuminati.
[citation needed] Mahaguru John P. Kowal told Martin Starr that its purpose was "to make men think".
[This quote needs a citation] In late 1917 Jones was arrested in a Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada hotel, where he had been behaving erratically.
This story, which Grant may have had directly from Crowley, is in all likelihood a confusion of the 1917 incident with the "insanity" of Jones' 1928 baptism and 1929 confirmation in the Roman Catholic Church.
According to Tony Stansfeld Jones, the parents held Catholic masses in their Deep Cove, North Vancouver home for many years, later holding them in a local community hall.