Like other occultist organizations The Order of Restitution first gained popularity in the late 19th Century. Though never reaching the size of similar groups like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn they trafficked in similar ideologies: a marriage of esotericism and "scientific progress or modernity", while rejecting Christianity in a reflection of the larger secularization of society. They were founded in the United States not long before the Civil War.
The Order of Restitution’s stated goal was the restitution of ‘pure truth’ through practice and study of esoteric supernatural beliefs and practices generally outside the scope of religion or science, including phenomena like spiritualism, mysticism, extra-sensory perception, parapsychology, alchemy, and other so-called natural magics. Members were initiated by secret ritual and communications were often encoded.
Like the Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn they welcomed both men and women into their ranks, and also like the Golden Dawn they were a primarily white organization often using mistranslated or misapplied ‘rituals’ from other cultures, and their ranks were not without their share of nationalists or former Confederates. Though primarily based in New York, like many ‘secret’ organizations, it was an occupation of the wealthy.
The difference of course between other occultist groups and this is that the Order of Restitution stumbled upon something real.
The Hansen Writing Ball
The Echo first communicated itself in the discovery of a Hansen Writing Ball, an early prototype of the typewriter, that would type cryptic messages one line at a time each 67 days. Though difficult to understand or interpret the messages led in time to other discoveries of what the Restitution Agency would later label as anomalies. These original communications have been called The Echo Codex.
Rituals that would later become protocols began to develop around these discoveries, how to contain them, how to not be killed by them, the intricacies of each discovery, each new event. With evidence of the reality of their beliefs paradoxically membership shrank, perhaps due to the very real danger now being faced by members. But those who remained part of the Order were staunch and their presence across the United States in positions commercial, government, and social would prove immense benefit as the Order found itself lead to a home and a purpose.
Through the guidance of The Echo the Order of Restitution first purchased the land of Wendling, Oregon a largely abandoned former logging company town in 1948. The majority of the Order except for a few whose influence and positions seemed advantageous elsewhere were asked to move to Wendling. At the time this constituted around 156 individuals and their families.
The time in between the purchase in 1948 and the founding of the Restitution Agency in 1954 is classified history for 10a(c) clearance level only. But needless to say what little nearby locals could observe of the town certainly intrigued them, there was much work and effort to build out the neighborhoods, the lakeside area and general infrastructure. But perhaps the most remarkable change was the transformation of the old mill into the formidable Control and Management building or the CAM.
After 1954, the Order was dissolved. Members of the Order destroyed any evidence they had of the Order’s existence and most of its history is now relegated to footnotes in relation to other larger occultist groups or classified files within the CAM. Almost immediately the Restitution Agency received a sizable contract from the government. To most government employees and records they are merely listed as a private contractor as one might see defense contractors engaged with.
But their purpose remains the same, the restitution of that which reveals the ‘truth’ of the universe, the underside of the daylight. Ritual became protocol, intuition became procedure, spiritualist turned into pararesearcher, and the occult became anomaly. Over the years since their founding the Restitution Agency has continued its collection of the anomalous artifacts and even individuals, pursuing through research how to use these things to better crack open the universe.
Nowadays, the RA receives assignments for investigation through government contract. They send groups of field agents into the field to investigate, contain, and suppress information around anomalous activity. In case of emergency or tragedy, they also have teams of rangers prepared for combat and neutralization of anomalies. With sanitation crews to follow and make sure to clean up the mess. Back at home, researchers study anomalies, anomalies materials, theories, and anything else that might add to the understanding of the agency. While HR, Communications, and Legal teams keep everything under the radar. This is the Restitution Agency of today.