As Yoga continued to persist as the central point of his interest, Serge, without discarding his responsibilities, public activities, or scientific investigations, slowly began to partake in various initiations within the science and ancient tradition of the Great
Rishis and
Yogis of
India and
Tibet. During 1944-1947 he composed various scientific organizations and held many conferences where he expounded upon his theories. In 1946, as President of the International Federation of Scientific Societies, he asked the French Government to financially sponsor a research expedition to study the ancient civilizations of South America; his request was denied. On November 12, 1947, Dr. Serge left Europe and traveled to the American Continent. He arrived at
New York City and established the first center for the
Universal Great Brotherhood. The Universal Great Brotherhood was created as a non-sectarian, and non-religious establishment, and all philosophies, religions, and cultures are studied with impartiality and preference is held towards none. After passing through
Guatemala, he arrived in
Caracas, Venezuela, on January 17, 1948 with the goal of establishing it the headquarters of the institution. Once the center for the
Universal Great Brotherhood in Caracas was well established, Dr. Serge found a beautiful spot in El Limón, Maracay, in the State of Aragua,
Venezuela where he decided to construct an
Ashram. Here he gratuitously offered an education to the public which encompassed the study and practice of ancient traditional teachings with the purpose of spiritual, artistic, and mental development. He also established an Initiatic College, Esoteric Center, and Study Center free of charge, as well as a
Meditation Center, and Yoga Institute together with Jose Manuel Estrada, co-founder. In Venezuela Serge met his first and most notable disciples and descendant masters: Jose Manuel Estrada, Juan Victor Mejias and Gil Colmenares ("Elder Brothers"). It is primarily these three disciples who are responsible for establishing the basic principles and structures of the Universal Great Brotherhood, which is a public institution, and the Supreme Order of Aquarius, which is the internal esoteric group that contains several streams and approaches to the establishment of these principles. In 1949, after a stay of 17 months in Venezuela, he traveled to New York to preside over the
International Peace Conference held in the month of June. [In New York, he separated from his wife and was taken to court by her, but they never actually got divorced]. From there he departed to
Asia through
Brussels and
France. He established a center for the
Universal Great Brotherhood in
Algiers, Africa and registered the
Universal Great Brotherhood, Dr. Serge Raynaud de la Ferrière Foundation with the
United Nations DPI (Department of Public Information) in 1949 and met his disciple David Juan Ferriz Olivares after that by letters. The Universal Great Brotherhood is a member of the
United Nations ECOSCOC (Economic and Social Council) and has Consultative Status as of the year 2000. == Pilgrimage==