The Ordo Templi Orientis (O.T.O.), or Order of the Temple of the East, was founded in 1902 as a secret society of high-ranking Freemasons in Germany.  In 1922 Aleister Crowley assumed leadership of the O.T.O. and revised its rites to conform to the Law of Thelema.  Today the O.T.O. is active in 42 countries, with growing membership of over 3000 people....

(An O.T.O. handout)

The O.T.O. is a serious and secret Order, pledged to the high purpose of securing the Liberty of the Individual and his advancement in Light, Wisdom, Understanding, Knowledge and Power through Beauty, Courage and Wit on the Foundation of Universal Brotherhood....

In its bosom repose the Great Mysteries, its brain has resolved all the problems of philosophy and of life....

To join the Order is to ally yourself to the Royal Line and connect yourself to the Occult Current that has initiated every movement which has made for Man's advancement and illumination....

The candidate, through a series of initiations, is gradually led to a perception of the truths undreamt of by the profane.

FRATER RAMAKA 10°
An O.T.O. Prospectus

Is the O.T.O. a cult?

What is a cult?  Every cult can be defined as a group having all of the following five characteristics:
1.  It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members.
2.  It forms an elitist totalitarian society.
3.  Its founder/leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma.
4.  It believes "the end justifies the means" in order to solicit funds and recruit people.
5.  Its wealth does not benefit its members or society.

The Cult Information Center
Common Questions About the Cults

The O.T.O. actually doesn't appear to meet any of these criteria:

"1.  It uses psychological coercion to recruit, indoctrinate and retain its members."

The O.T.O. doesn't officially recruit, indoctrinate, or make efforts to retain its members:

Never permit the thought or will of any other Being to interfere with your own.

Be constantly vigilant to resent, and on the alert to resist, with unvanquished ardour and vehemence of passion unquenchable, every attempt of any other Being to influence you otherwise than by contributing new facts to your experience of the Universe, or by assisting you to reach a higher synthesis of Truth by the mode of passionate fusion....  (A, 7)

Abstain from all interference with other wills.

To seek to dominate or influence another is to seek to deform or destroy him; and he is a necessary part of one's own Universe, that is, of one's self.  (B, 3)

ALEISTER CROWLEY
Duty

Regarding recruiting, preaching, or proselytizing, foremost among O.T.O. guidelines is refraining from any implied or overt coercion of applicants.  Also, all are instructed to...

Convert not.

Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX ("The Book of the Law")
Cap. III, v. 42

Regarding indoctrination or dogma:

The experimenter is encouraged to use his own intelligence, and not to rely upon any other person or persons, however distinguished, even among ourselves....  (I, 6)

He must rely entirely upon himself, and credit nothing whatever but that which lies within his own knowledge and experience.  (VII, 7)

Liber E vel Exercitiorum sub figura IX

And regarding retaining its members or leaving the group, applicants are officially instructed that there is no stigma whatever attached to not proceeding or to withdrawing at any time.

"2.  It forms an elitist totalitarian society."

Officially, the O.T.O. is neither elitist nor totalitarian:

Refuse none.

Liber AL vel Legis sub figura CCXX ("The Book of the Law")
Cap. III, v. 42

There are ten principal degrees, and every man and woman of full age, free, and of good report has the indefeasible right to the first three....

The aims of the O.T.O. can only be understood by its highest initiates, but it may be said openly that it teaches all branches of the Secret Wisdom of the Ancients, and its plans embrace all the activities of human life and endeavor.

FRATER RAMAKA 10°
An O.T.O. Prospectus

"3.  Its founder/leader is self-appointed, dogmatic, messianic, not accountable and has charisma."

The current head of the O.T.O. was voted for:

Grady McMurtry ["Hymenaeus Alpha", the previous head] died in 1985, and in accordance with his wishes, his successor was elected by vote of the Sovereign Sanctuary of the Gnosis, the IX° membership of the O.T.O.

TAU APIRYON
"Mystery of Mystery:  A Primer of Thelemic Ecclesiastical Gnosticism"
(Red Flame:  A Thelemic Research Journal, Issue No. 2)
Part I, Chapter I:  History of the Gnostic Catholic Church, "The Modern E.G.C."

Regarding dogma (or potential messiah-hood), see point one above.

Concerning accountability as it relates to rank in the Order:

Authority and prestige in the Order are absolute, but while the lower grades give increase of privilege, the higher give increase of service.  Power in the Order depends, therefore, directly on the willingness to aid others.  Tolerance also is taught in the higher grades.

J.B. MASON
Liber CLXI:  Concerning the Law of Thelema

His or her potential charisma is inconsequent to the vast majority of members, to whom his or her civil identity and personality are officially secret:

It is not lawful here to disclose the name of any living chief.

L. BATHURST IX°
Liber LII:  Manifesto of the O.T.O.

"4.  It believes 'the end justifies the means' in order to solicit funds and recruit people."

The O.T.O. is a dues-collecting organization, whose dues are nominal and which reports its modest finances.  Regarding recruitment, see point one above.

Our secrets cannot be sold for money, but we give them free to every one capable to receive them.

FRANZ HARTMANN IX°
Mysteria Mystica Maxima:  First Instruction

"5.  Its wealth does not benefit its members or society."

The general privileges of membership are too several to detail here, but concerning the basic ones regarding "wealth" and its distribution among members:

But if you are poor?  If you have no property?  The O.T.O. still helps you.

J.B. MASON
Liber CLXI:  Concerning the Law of Thelema

But the Brother who is possessed of this world's goods should make it his business to watch the necessity of all those Brethren with whom he may be personally acquainted, anticipating their wants....

Liber CI:  An Open Letter to Those Who May Wish to Join the Order
Clause 2

The Treasurer-General of the O.T.O. is empowered to advance to you, without interest, up to the total amount of your fees and subscriptions.

J.B. MASON
Liber CLXI:  Concerning the Law of Thelema

Brethren of all grades may be invited to sojourn in the Profess-Houses of the Order....  (Clause 49)

In the higher degrees Brethren have the right to reside in our Profess-Houses for a portion of every year....  (Clause 51)

Members of the IX°...share among themselves the whole property of the Order according to the rules of that degree....  Indeed, the house of every Brother of this grade is, ipso facto, a Profess-House of the Order.  (Clause 52)

Liber CI:  An Open Letter to Those Who May Wish to Join the Order