Institute for
Sociology and the History of Ideas
Discussion: The Esoteric: Crossing Over
Responding to a 22 July 2020 article in a
British newspaper claiming in its title "The scientific PROOF that shows
reincarnation is REAL" we debunded this by
presenting a history of the
subject that could be complete without mention of H.B.
Blavatsky. Whereby
turning our gaze now to what was happening in France with as is excellently
covered in Julian Strube.
As Strube details in 1884 Blavatsky and Olcott on
March 12th traveled to Marseille and arrived in Paris on March 28th. However,
so Strube, many of the France members were at least skeptical, if not downright
hostile, towards the Mahatmas and the Orientalism (something that would also
later happen in the case of
Rudolf Steiner whose
soon to be wife Marie von Siever had been involved with the French section of
the TS.
This criticism found a high point with a Theosophical
member named Gérard Anaclet Vincent Encausse (1865 –1916), whose esoteric
pseudonyms were Papus and Tau Vincent, was a French physician, who next founded
the modern Martinist Order.
The following picture as published
in Julian Strube's dissertation shows Papus in his Martinist Lodge:
In particular the
disagreement over the proper definition of the term -initiate- sparked ongoing
polemics between Papus and Blavatsky in 1889 and 1890.
For Papus, an Initiate was a person who had begun the search for Esoteric
knowledge; for Blavatsky, the term applied only to those who had achieved the
highest level of spiritual mastery, a
group Papus called adepts (Examples of this can be seen in
"L 'Initiaiion", vol. 2, 1889: 192-199.. and
"La Revue Theosophique." vol. 1, no.2 (Apr.,
1889): 1-8).
The philosophy of the MARTINIST-ORDER is in
fact based upon the work of three different men, Martinez De Pasqually, Louis
Claude de Saint-Martin, and Jean Baptiste Willermoz. Therefore
I'll start with a (brief) profile on these 18th century
'Illuminaries' ;
MARTINEZ DE PASQUALLY (1727 - 1774/09/20), born as
(full name) Jacques de Livron Joachim de la Tour de la Casa Martinez de Pasqually . He had founded the ' Ordre des
Chevaliers Maçons Elus Cohens de l'Univers' (Order of Knight Masons, Elect
Priests of the Universe ) a.k.a. the' ELUS COHEN '. De
Pasqually's doctrine is expounded in his only work, "the Reintegration of
Beings". The book is a 'pseudo-commentary' on the 'Pentateuch' . De Pasqually's order was divided into three classes,
with a total of "9, 10, or 11 Degrees" (dependant on which set of
documents one studies), followed by a 'secret grade'. The 'Secret Grade'
contained the 'Réau- Croix' -degree (not to be confused with 'Rose-Croix'), in
which the initiate practised the art of Theurgy (magical invocation). After De
Pasqually's death in 1774 the 'Elus Cohen'-temples soon became dormant.
Sebastian de las Casas, the last Grand Master of the Elus Cohen, delivered the
archives of the order to the 'Philalèthes' (see "1870 RITE ANCIEN ET PRIMITIF
DE MEMPHIS-MISRAÏM" ). De Pasqually's teachings
and doctrine continued within the bosom of a small number of Kabbalistic
'Areopagoi' , composed of 9 Elus Cohens ('Elect
Priests'). One of the last known direct representatives of the original Elus
Cohen was a msr. Destigny, who died in 1868. The successors of the E.'.C.'. at the end of the 19th century were Bergeron,
Bréban-Salomon, Carl Michelsen ( Denmark) and Edouard
Blitz (USA). Blitz was also an initiate of the 'Chévaliers Bienfaisants de
la Cité Sainte' and the 'Memphis-Misraim Rite'. He was the direct
successor of Antoine Pont. The immediate successors in France were
Fugairon and Charles Détré (source-Fr.Roggemans).
According to Dr.Edouard Blitz in his manual
"Ritual and Monitor of the O.'.M.'., the
following rites were "entirely or partially derived from the Elus Cohen" :
- ILLUMINATI OF AVIGNON (Hermetic) ,
Dom Pernety 1766 - ILLUM. THEOSOPHISTS (Mystic), Chantanier 1767 - -
PHILALETHES (Occult) Savalette de Langes* 1773 - PRIMITIVE RITE OF
NARBONNE (Rosicrucian), 1780
* Savalette de Langes was also co-founder
of La Société Philantropique (1780), together with (amongst others) Louis
Claude de Saint-Martin.
LOUIS CLAUDE DE SAINT-MARTIN ( 01/18/1743
- 1803/10/13). Saint-Martin was initiated into Pasqually's ELUS COHEN
in october 1768 and towards the end of 1770 he becomes Martinez De Pasqually's
personal secretary. After De Pasqually's death Saint-Martin tries to convert
the Elus Cohen to his personal blend of Christian mysticism (through the years,
Saint-Martin gradually felt uneasy about the theurgical operations of the
rite). He failt to convert the rite, and decides to
leave the order. Meanwhile he publishes several works (his first book had been
published in 1775, Des Erreurs et de la Vérité (' Of Errors and Truth' , a book that was recommended by "the Initiated
Knights and Brothers of Asia" and used by the "Philalethes")
"and assumes the role of mentor and teacher" (source: Sar Ignatius).
It is not certain that Saint-Martin founded an order of any kind, however,
there's some evidence, if slight, found in private correspondences,
in which one finds references to the existence of a group called the
"Société des Initiées" (Society of Initiates, founded in 1785 by
Willermoz). The 'group' is also referred to as the "Société des
Intimes" (Society of Friends). According to leading French Martinist
researchers and authorities, such as the late Robert Ambelain and Robert
Amadou, the "Société des Intimes" referred to the Elus Cohen of which
Saint-Martin himself was a member. In a small booklet published by Gence,
"Notice biographique sur L. C. de Saint-Martin" it is stated that it
has never been the intention of L.C. de Saint-Martin to establish a rite,
order, cult or whatsoever. Cf. R. Amadou in his
portrait of L. C. de Saint-Martin, presents the following quote of Saint-Martin ; " Ma secte, c'est la Providence
; mes prosélytes, c'est moi ; mon culte,c'est la justice....", (freely transl.) "My
sect - it's called Providence, My < prosélyte>, it's me ; My Cult, it's Justice…".
Anyway, in both cases the group/society is represented
by the initials "S.I." ("Supérieur Inconnu"). The followers
of Saint-Martin (in various european countries, including Russia) met in small
circles, which were based on 'personal initiation' (the initiator employs the
biblical "laying on of hands" upon the initiate). According to Sar
Ignatius (R+C Martinist Order ) the ceremony comes
directly from an order called THE ORDER
OF UNKNOWN PHILOSOPHERS 1. Saint-Martin had used the ancient
order, thus Sar I., as a "blueprint" to create his 'circles',
sometimes referred to as the SOCIETY OF SAINT- MARTIN. The ceremony of the
'personal initiation' also included a ritual which was derived from the
EluThein's initiation conferrceremony also included a ritualior", S.'.I.'. Louis Claude de Saint-Martin died in 1803, "
leaving many disciples in several European countries. After his death, his
disciples carried on with the Transmission of the Initiation and with the
diffusion of the doctrine of the "Unknown Philosopher", the pseudonym
under which Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin published his books. They are
particularly active in France, in Germany, in Denmark, and in Russia. In 1821,
Initiations from person-to-person are known to Germany, Denmark, andar to the
1880's, groups of Initiators carry the Transmission everywhere, particularly in
Italy and Germany". (source: R+CMO, Sar Ignatius)
The following information on the possible existence of
a rite which was founded by Saint-Martin is derived from Jules Boucher's
"Du Martinisme et des Ordres MartinSaint-Martin founded"One cannot
prove the claim that Saint-Martin founded a group which had a 'form' and a
'structure', simply because the documented proof of such a claim does not
exist". But if he founded such a group, it must have been a 'true' Secret
Society, which kept no files and with members which were bound to an oath of
secrecy" (freely transl. )
Boucher continues with a reference to the works of Van
Rijnberk. Van Rijnberk, a Martinist and historian, refers to three different
texts which speak in favour of the assumption that there existed a group which
was founded by Saint-Martin :
"A passage from the "Souvenirs du Comte de
Gleichen" who reports Saint-Martin foundedtuted a small
School in Paris"
"An article of Varnhagen Von Ense, dated 1821, were it is stated that 'Saint-Martin had decided to found a Society which aims were of a purely spiritual
nature' "
"A letter, author unknown, addressed to Prof.
Köster, dated December 20, 1794. The letter speaks about Saint-Martin and the
members of his 'cercle intime', intimate circle. There
is talk of a 'Société de Saint-Martin', a Society which had a branch in
Strassbourg"
extract from
"Du Martinisme et des Ordres Martinistes", Chapter "Ordres et
Rites Martinistes", Jules Boucher, C) 1950
Antoine Faivre, professor at the Toulouse State
University and later at the famous ‘Sorbonne’, stated in his ‘Notes on
Martinism’ that Saint Martin’s movement was first started in Lyon as an Occult
Masonic Society, ‘le Rite Rectifié de Saint-Martin’.
JEAN-BAPTISTE WILLERMOZ (1730/10/07 - 1824/05/20)
was a pupil of Martinez De Pasqually. Willermoz had become a mason in 1750. In
1753 he founded a lodge called 'La Parfaite Amitié' ,
of which he became Master. In 1767 Willermoz meets Bacon De Chevalerie,
Deputy-Grandmaster of the 'Elus-Cohen'. Through this meeting Willermoz became
aware of the existence of a German Masonic order called
'Stricte Observance Templière'. Willermoz contacted the Stricte
Observance in 1772. In 1774 a lodge is founded in Lyon called "Loge
Ecossaise Rectifiée 'La Bienfaissance''. In 1777
Willermoz implemented the teachings of the 'Elus Cohen' within the rite of the
'Stricte Observance'. On a convention in 1d that the riteachings te in the
provence of Auvergne would go by the name of 'Chevaliers Bienfaisants de
la Cité Sainte' ; C.B.C.S.* The widow of
Joseph Pont assured the succession of Willermoz as she passed on the complete
archives of the C.'.B.'.C.'.S.'. to Cavarnier in 1893.
The rites of the C.B.C.S. were transmitted to the 'Grand Priory of Helvetia'
(Switzerland) . After 1945 the Rite returned to France
and was reactivated. In the Martinist rituals we can find traces of the Templar
tradition of the rite. Often, the influence of Willermoz on Martinism is
described as ' Willermozism'.
*the C.B.C.S. was included in
the Rite Ecossais Rectifié (R.E.R.)
Some sources state that Saint-Martin quickly became a
teaching force within the ranks of the THE ORDER OF
UNKNOWN PHILOSOPHERS. "Claiming connection with an ancient Order, dating
back to 1643 of a 'Rosicrucian character' and having Heinrich Khunrath,
Alexander Sethon, Sendivogius, and Boehme among its ranks, the Society of
Unknown Philosophers also linked itself to "Les Freres
d’ Orient" created in Constantinople in 1090. The
teachings of this society were conveyed from teacher to disciple and their
principle unifying form was the distinction of receiving "The
Initiation" which gave them the right to be known as "Unknown
Superiors" or "Superieurs Inconnus" or S.I. as it is written.
Saint-Martin's writings, under the pseudonym "The Unknown
Philosopher," made him quite in demand among European
aristocracy"
KABBALAH & THE HERMETIC TRADITION, Mark
Stavish http://www.hermetic.com/stavish/essays/kabbalah-hermetic.html .
Arthur Edward Waite - on Saint-Martin and a possible
affiliated organization at Saint-Martin's time in his book "a new
Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry" - presents the following information:
Waite explains there's been a Saint-Martin (circa 316-397 A.D.), who was Bishop
of Tours in 371, on which a masonic rite was based about 1770, the rite carried
the name of "Ecossais Rectifie de Saint-Martin". The rite arose
at the time at the "Lodge -or- Chapter of St.Theodore
of Metz". But, as Waite explains, the rite was based on the christian
legend of Saint-Martin, who was Bishop of Tours in the 4th century A.D., and
not on Louis Claude de S.M. Dr.Edouard Blitz, General Delegate of the Supreme
Council of the Martinist Order in the U.S.A. and successor of Antoine Pont's
E.'.C.'., also refers to the "Rectified Rite of Saint Martin" in the
'official' Martinist manual he wrote. The manual was called 'Ritual and Monitor
of the M:::O:::', and was published on April 2, 1896.
According to Blitz, the rite was established by Saint-Martin himself in 1767.
"The system of De Pasqually's Elus Cohen underwent a transformation by
Saint-Martin, and became the rectified Rite in 10 Degrees, classified in 2
Temples", thus Blitz. In 1782 Martin's Rite was introduced in Germany, according
to Blitz. The 10 degrees were transformed into 7 Degrees and the rite was known
in Germany as "Reformed Ecossism".
Papus, Chaboseau and the 'Ordre Martiniste'
As stated before, it has probably never been the
intention of Louis Claude de Saint-Martin to found an
actual order, but the continuation of the S.I. Initiation transmitted from
person to person would finally lead to the foundation of one of the most
prolific esoteric organizations of the western world,
the ORDE MARTINISTE or in English, THE MARTINIST ORDER. It was P.
Gaëtan Leymarie ( 1817 - 1901 ),
publisher of the periodical 'La Revue Spirite', who arranged a meeting in Paris
between Gérard Anaclet Encausse (07/13/1865 - 10/25/1916 )
aka Papus, and Pierre-Augustin Chaboseau (06/17/1868 - 01/21/1946). Leymarie
was a disciple of Allen Kardec (Leon Revail) . Kardec
had published in 1857 "Le Livre des Esprits", after which Kardec
became a household name in the world of Spiritism ( Kardec
is important mostly for his codification of the doctrine of spiritual progress
through reincarnation, a doctrine which influenced Blavatsky in her
Theosophical writings). Both students of medical science, Papus and Chaboseau discovered
that they both had received the S.I.-Martinist Initiation. In 1888 Papus and
Chaboseau exchanged Initiations to consolidate their lines of succession.
Gerard Encausse (Papus) had received his 'Initiation' from Henri Dellage, a few
weeks before Delaage's death in 1882. Pierre-Augustin Chaboseau was initiated
in 1886, at the age of twenty, by his aunt Amelie de Boise-Montmart. According
to Chaboseau the 'Initiation' consisted of an "oral transmission of a
particular teaching and a certain comprehension of the laws of the Universe and
of Spiritual life, which, in no case could be regarded as an Initiation in a
ritualistic form" The quote was found in Chaboseau's 'archive' by his son
Jean Chaboseau. (source : R.A. in
"L'Encyclopedie de la Franc-Maconnerie", ed. 2000)
LINES OF SUCCESSION
Pierre Augustin Chaboseau (1868-1946) : Initiated in 1886
Amélie de Boise-Mortmart*
Adolphe Desbarolles
Henri de la Touche
J.A. Hennequin
Abbé de Lanoüe ( +, 1820)
Louis Claude de Saint-Martin ( +,
1803)
Saint Martin was initiated by Baudry de Balzac in the
ELUS COHEN in 1768.
Gérard Anaclet Vincent Encausse (1865-1916) : Initiated
in 1882
Henri Delaage ( +, 1882)
- unknown -
Msr. Jean Antoine Chaptal ( +,
1832)
Louis Claude de Saint-Martin ( +,
1803)
A survey of the filiation of the "ORDRE
MARTINISTE" ;
Chaptal died in 1832, Delaage was born in 1825, it
seems unlikely that Chaptal had initiated Delaage at the age of seven!
http://pclaurent.free.fr/OM/Pages/OM-filiation.html
(courtesy of "Ordre Martiniste")
MARTINISM and the MARTINIST ORDER
"Martinism" is generally considered to be a
collective noun representing the followers of the 18th century French mystic
Louis Claude de Saint-Martin. It is in particular based
on the writings of this French mystic. Martinism has also a strong bond with
the Elus Cohen of Martinez De Pasqually, as a matter of fact the followers of
Martinez de Pasqually (1727-1774) are also known as 'Martinists'. Disciples of
De Pasqually follow the technique of theurgic operations, those of Saint-Martin
follow the method of inner guidance and illumination, which is known as the
"Inner way" or "Way of the Heart".
Both share the belief of the Divine Glory of Man's
Origin - and both have the same aim: to regain that glorious Divinity. In general Martinism is a system of philosophic tought, mainly
based on the doctrines of Martinez De Pasqually's.'La Réintegration des êtres /
Treatise on the Reintegration of Beings into their original virtues, powers and
qualities'. On the purpose and aim of the Martinist Order Papus wrote ;
"the Order, as a whole,
is especially a school of moral knighthood, endeavouring to develop the
spirituality of its members by the study of the invisible world and its laws,
by the exercise of devotion and the intellectual
assistance and by the creation in each spirit of an all the more solid faith as
it is based on observation and science"
To avoid any misunderstanding 'we' usually refer to
the followers of De Pasqually as "Martinezists".
"Martinism" is in essence a collection of five various rites, orders
and groups:
"L'Ordre
des Chevaliers Maçon Elus Cohens de l'Univers",
founded in 1758 by Martinez de Pasqually
"L'Ordre des Chevaliers Bienfaisants de
la Cité Sainte", founded in 1778 by Jean-Baptiste Willermoz,
belonging to the 'Higher Derees" of the
'Régime Ecossais Rectifié', or ' Rite Ecossais Rectifié'
(R.E.R. - "Scottish Rectified Rite")
"L'Ordre Martiniste des Elus-Cohens",
founded in 1768 by Martinez de Pasqually.
The friends and disciples of Louis Claude de
Saint-Martin, the "Unknown Philosopher".
"L'Ordre Martiniste", founded in 1887* by
Papus as 'L'Ordre des Sup�rieurs Inconnus'.
*other sources claim the year
1888.
Papus and Chaboseau decided to create an organization
that would serve as a centre of study of "Martinism' and as a means to propagate the Martinist teachings. At the same
time the Order propagated the study of symbolism, cults and mystical traditions
through an academy of Science, Art and Social Studies. The 'O:::M:::'
would establish a Hermetic school under the name of L' ECOLE HERMETIQUE (see
chapter "1896 Societe Alchimique de France"), which "through
Arabic, Sanskrit, Greek and Latin undertook studies of Hermetical prime-sources. Papus and his friends also strived towards
research into the Divine Sciences as revelation of the history of
humanity" (notes on "Martinism', source unknown*). There was an
emphasis on the study of Spiritism, Magnetism, Magic and Astrology (in theory
and practice) by means of "Scientific experiments". "The
reintegration of humanity should as religious subjects
through the minds of De Pasqually and Saint-Martin led onto an original purity.
Thus should the ancient Gnostic goal of a closeness
between Men and God be accomplished (notes*). 'Martinism' as formulated by
Papus and Chaboseau was meant to be a 'gateway' to Higher Degrees and
teachings. Papus also wanted to strive towards the 'unification of all occult
orders'; He shared this vision with men like John Yarker and Theodor Reuss.
These men were in communication with each other at the time, and there was a
'constant' interchange of documents, charters, and information between them.
According to Papus, the first personal Initiations (1) into the redefined
"Martinist Order" date back to 1884. The first Lodges were founded
between 1887 and 1890. Actually, the first Lodge was
founded by Papus, Josephin Peladan, and Stanislas De Guaita, and was probably
located at the "rue Pigalle" were Josephin
Peladan lived. The name ORDRE MARTINISTE turns up for the first time. In 1887.
The O.'.M.'. was a fusion of the "Ordre des Elus
Cohen" and the "Rectified Rite of Saint-Martin* ". As mentioned
before, in 1888 Papus and Chaboseau discovered that they were both initiated
into the S::I:: Degree. Together they redefined the
ORDRE MARTINISTE with Papus acting as its leader. In 1889 the first official
proclamation of the ORDRE MARTINISTE is published in the periodical
"L'Initiation". In 1891 the order was placed under a Supreme Council
of 12 members with Papus appointed as President for life and as Grand Master.
The idea of this Supreme Council was developed two years earlier and the
Council was originally called "Conseil Occulte des 12 de la Rose+Croix
". The 12 original members of the "Supr�me Conseil de L'Ordre
Martiniste" were:
Gerard Encausse (Papus), Augustin.Chaboseau, Stanislas
De Guaita, Lucien Chamuel, Francois-Charles Barlet, Paul Sedir (Yvon Leloup),
Paul Adam, Maurice Barres, Jules Lejay, Georges Montieres, Jaques Burget, and
Josephin Peladan.
The order was officially known as "l'Ordre des
Supérieurs Inconnus" ( 2), the Order of the
Unknown Superiors, comprising of three degrees. "Papus claimed to have
come into the possession of the original papers of de
Pasqually and to have been given authority in the Rite of Saint-Martin* by his
friend Henri Viscount Delaage, who claimed that his maternal grandfather had
been initiated into the order by Saint-Martin himself". (Ordre Martiniste
des Pays-Bas) The Martinist Order would soon establish branches all over Europe
and America, and was to become a primary focus for Papus …
see Waite's commentary on "The Rite of
Saint-Martin" in the beginning of the chapter on the M:::O:::
On the method of "personal Initiation" ; each member who'd received the S.I. Degree was
empowered to form a group, which was pledged solely to conceal the name of the
person from who he had received the Order on his own
part. The early rituals describe the method as follows: "The diffusion of
the Order is like cellular diffusion. One cell never shuts up another, except
for a very short period. The mother-cell divides or rather gives birth to
cellules, which themselves become 'mothers' in a very short space of time"
The O:::M::: was officially
called the "Ordre des Silencieux Inconnus" aka "Ordre
des S:::I::: , sometimes referred to as "Brethren
of the Six Points" (A.E.Waite in "a new
Encyclopeadia of Freemasonry" )
Gérard Anaclet Vincent Encausse ( Papus
)
1865 - 1916
Encausse's pseudonym "Papus" was taken from
the "Nuctemeron of Appolonius of Tyana" ,
which was published as a supplement to Eliphas Levi's "Dogme et Rituel de
la Haute Magie". "Papus" means "Physician" (of the
first hour), after the Egyptian genii of the healing arts. Papus was born in La
Coru�a, Spain on July 13, 1865, of a Spanish mother and a French father. His
family moved to Paris when Papus was four.
" As a young man, Encausse spent a great deal of
time at the Bibliothèque Nationale studying the Qabalah, the Tarot, the
sciences of magic and alchemy, and the writings of Eliphas Lévi ". Papus
also studied material which came from Charles Nodier, writer, occultist and
chief librarian of the famous Arsenal Library in 1824. In 1934 the library was
incorporated with the National Library. Papus became aquainted with a circle of
Gnostics, Rosicrucians, and 'older' Martinists, all students of the late
Eliphas Levi. "It was amidst this circle that Gerard Encausse was to make
acquaintance with HENRI DELAAGE, his initiator, who, in 1882, consecrated the
young Encausse with the name 'PAPUS S:::I:::' !"
("the Balzac of the Occult and the Russian Sphynx").
About his Initiation Papus' commented
:
"a few months before his death, Delaage wanted to
entrust 'the seed' which had been entrusted to him at one time; a simple gift
consisting of 2 letters and some dots, a summary of a doctrine of Initiation
and the 'Trinity' which had illuminated all the works of Delaage. But the
'Invisible One' was there, and its Light illuminated the responsibility
entrusted to me, to plant this spiritual Seed in soil where it can and will
develop" ("freely" transl. from the original in French)
After his study (1894) Papus starts to work as a physician and as head of the
laboratory of the "Hopital de la Charite de Paris"
. He had received his "Doctor of Medicine
degree" on July 7, 1894, upon submital of a
dissertation on Philosophical Anatomy.
At the same time he started a
career as a prolific author. Papus published 160 titles during his life (books,
articles etc.). In 1888 he received international recognition with his second
publication "Traité Elementaire de Science Occulte" (1). Around
1897-1898 Papus also became 'active' within the peace movement. He established
the "Union Idealiste Universelle", a kind of movement which was
inspired on Eliphas Lévi's "Catechism de
paix" ( ' Catechism of Peace' ).
Although Jollivet-Castelot ( Jollivet would later
become a member of the Communist party of France, until he was expelled) talked
about a membership of 30,000 intellectuals, many of these are unknown. The
Union strongly pleaded the Armenian cause at the time. During his life, Papus
was also involved in the publication of several journals, reviews etc. Besides
the earlier mentioned "la revue Théosophique" and the 'official'
Martinist review 'L'Initiation', there were the Le Voile D'Isis (1890, with
Détre as editor-1912-), 'Le Réveil Gnostique', 'Revue d'Hypnologie' , 'La
Gnose', "le Lotus" (TS) ,"Light of Paris" (Spiritualism),
"la Lumière d'Orient" (on the Islam and Turkey, just 2 editions), '
l'Hiram' ('Masonic'), and 'Mysteria' ( 1913, 'Mysteria' was the new name for
"l'Initiation" ). Several of the Martinist Order's jurisdictions
outside of France published their own Journals ;
1905, publication of the Martinist bulletin
"L'Isis" appears in Hungary.
1906, publication of the English version of
"L'Initiation" for England appears under the name of "INRI
".
1909, A Martinist newspaper appears in the United
States, called "Treshold"
1910, the official review "Isida " is
published in Russia.
"Le Voile D'Isis", Nov. 1890
first publication of "Le Voile d'Isis", the
official organ of the "Indépendant d'études Esoterique de Paris",
Wednesday, November 12, 1890.
Directeur; Papus- 29,
rue de Trévise . Rédacteur en Chef, Augustin
Chaboseau. Sécretaire de la Rédaction, L.Mauchel - 29,
rue de Trévis
His meeting with M Philippe from
Lyon upsets his vision of the world. From this time on Papus becomes the
propagator of Christian Mysticism and "the Way of the Heart", which
Saint-Martin called the "Inner Way" . The
core of this philosophy, as described by Papus, is published in Papus' The
Cardiac or Mystic Path '. Papus deals in this publication with the importance
of simplicity and the purification of body, soul and mind in one's spiritual
quest. Another text of Papus which reflects the philosophy of the 'Inner Way'
is appropriately called 'the Way of the Heart' ;
"I know a simple man who has never read a book and
who, nevertheless, can solve the trickiest problems of science better than
famous scientists. There are humble people without academic qualifications and
medical experience to whom heaven is so accessible that the sick are healed at their request and the wicked feel their hearts
melting in loving kindness at their contact".
A.Philippe Nizier
(1842-1905), who used magnetism as a healing-technique, attracted many
followers at the time (see Chapter "1850-1900 France"). Among them
were occultists like Papus, Marc Haven (Dr.Lalande),
Sedir, Phaneg etc. The influence of Maitre Philippe upon the Martinist Order of
Papus should not be underestimated! Within some modern-day Martinist Lodges
Maitre Philippe is venerated as one of the 'Unknown Superiors'. There are
Martinists who claim that 'Papus' was chosen to create the O:::M:::
, at the time when he became one of the companions of Philippe. Papus wrote a
text called "the Incarnation of the Elect" which is often referred to
as 'prove'. Here's the passage which refers to the 'group of Compagnions' ;
" And I was not allowed to write the mystery of
this incarnation when eleven elect passed by the sun to accompany him who came
deliberately back on Earth, and the eleven arrived at
the sun five years after half the century "
Papus wrote many articles on the ' healing-techniques'
of Maitre Philippe. The following phrase is an excerpt from an article by Papus and published in "L'Initiation", of certain
experiments on healing-methods of M.Philippe.
At the time of one of my last voyages, the Master
instructed me the following practise;
I had to "touch" the face of a young girl who had a sister who was
ill. The sick child was 2 kilometers away from her sister and me. By means of
"touch" and "concentration" the child was cured. This
treatment is generally known by many hypnotizers ....
Papus was known to the poor of the district around the
la rue de Savoie in Paris as the 'bon docteur', as Papus treated his patients, that is to say the poor and needy, for free.
When World War I broke out, Papus volunteered to help
the casualties. He enters the war as doctor and Head of an ambulance. Due to
his work in the notorious trenches at the front, he falls seriously ill and
Papus dies on October 25, 1916 at the "Hopital de
la Charite de Paris", the same hospital where he had started his career as
a physician. Papus was 51 when he died. Papus' method of treatment often
started with an observation of the patient's aura to support his diagnosis. Papus'
method of treatment evidently appealed to the Vital Life-Force of the patient.
Papus' classified diseases in three 'classes';
Diseases of the Body (fevers, traumas)
"Astral" Diseases (tuberculosis, cancer) , can be treated by Homoeopathy and Magnetism
Diseases of the 'Spirit' (epilepsy,
hysteria, madness), can be treated with the help of 'Magic'. According to
Papus this kind of disease has its root in "Evil",
and is therefore not subject to one's Kharma. Papus' first actual
teacher in the intellectual aspects of occultism was the Marquis Joseph
Alexandre Saint-Yves d'Alveydre (1842-1909). As stated in the "History of
the FUDOSI-Addendum series", Saint-Yves had inherited the papers of
Antoine Fabre d'Olivet (1768 *-1825), one of the great teachers of French
occultism. Papus was also a follower of Saint-Yves' concept of Synarchy (see
"F.U.D.O.S.I.- Addendum 7" and Chapter "1850-1900 France").
From these days on, Papus would always refer to d'Alveydre as his
"Intellectual teacher". Papus considered "Le Maitre Philippe'
(Philippe Nizier) as his "Spiritual Master" and Peter Davidson, whom
Papus called "one of the wisest of the Western Adepts", as his
'Practical Master'. Papus met Monsieur Phillippe (sometime about 1886-1887)
through his fiancee Mathilde. As stated in Part 5 of this 'series' :
At first, it seems that Papus suspected that Nizier
exercized "some illicit fascination" over her. When Papus tried to
defend her by occult means , the ritual actually backfired when he tried to attack Nizier.
"Papus says it was from this instant he recognized Phillippe as his
spiritual master (maitre spirituelle)".
Papus was also a great admirer of the works of Louis
Lucas, an alchemist and follower of Levi. Papus called himself a pupil of
Lucas. His brochure "L'Occultism Contemporain", published in 1887 was
dedicated to Lucas. In respect of Papus' Martinist affiliations I think it
would be interesting to know more about his relationship with the Italian
Martinist Giuliano Kremmerz (1861-1930). Kremmerz' school was supposedly based
on Martinism. His branch traces back to the 'school' of Eliphas
Levi, and is called "MARTINISMO NAPOLITANO'. Kremmerz (2) was an
'old' Martinist, and an acquaintance of Papus at the time. Many Martinists
suppose that Kremmerz exchanged initiations with Papus. According to Andres
Kibisa, an Italian Martinist, it would be strange if they did not exchange
their lineages. "They were friends, with Papus being in need to strengthen his main line of affiliation, and with
Kremmerz in possesion of a more trustable filiation, it seems to me very odd if
they did not exchange their lines of succession !", thus
Kibisa (Centro Studi Andrés Kimbisa ). Kibisa also
refers to another ancient Martinist filiation, the only one linked directly ( Kibisa's words) to De Pasqually. He refers to Lucien
Francois Jean-Maine (Tau Ogdoade-Orfeo I, - the whole history on Jean-Maine and
his organizations is quite controversial, for those who are interested, see
Peter R.Koenig's "O.T.O.A.-a Gnostic
Inflation" at : http://home.sunrise.ch/~prkoenig/otoa.htm
).
Maine's relatives were members of the original
Cohen-temple in Leogane, Haiti. After De Pasqually's death several members of
the Elus Cohen, together with some Masons and Templars, founded the
"Les Templiers Noires". Jeane-Maine spent some time in
Paris where he met Papus. It is said that he exchanged his M.M. filiations
(amongst others) with Papus, for which Jean-Maine received in return such
charters as the O.T.O. etc. "Is it possible that Papus, being aware of his
heritage, asked to get Jean-maine's line of succession ?".
In 1887 he was also introduced by a F.K. Gaborian into the company of Lady
Marie Caithness, Duchess of Pomar, and her circle. In 1882 the Duchess was
approached by Mdm Blavatsky, Colonel Olcott, and Annie Besant, to form the
French branch of the "THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY".
* some sources state
that D'Olivet was born in 1762.I d
(1) Some of Papus' titles and publications
;
Traité Elementaire de Science Occulte. Carré, 1888
Le Tarot des Bohémiens. Carré, 1889
Traité Méthodique de Science Occulte. Carré, 1891
La Science des Mages. Chamuel,1892
Qu´est-ce que l´Occultisme?
Chamuel, 1892
Traité Elémentaire de Magie Pratique, Chamuel, 1893
Les Arts Divinatoires. Chamuel, 1895
L´Almanach du Magiste, ed. 1895 and ed.1899.
La Magie et l´Hypnose. Chamuel,1897
L´Occultisme contemporain. Carré, 1901
Comment on lit dans les mains. Ollendorff, 1902 (2º ed.)
La Cabbale, Chacornac, 1903 (3º ed.)
Almanach de la Chance pour 1905
Le Tarot Divinatoire. Libr. Hermetique, 1909
Révisé Le Voile d´Isis (articles from 1891, publ.in
1909).
Ce que doit savoir un maitre Maçon. Ficher, 1910
La Réincarnation. Dorbon, 1912
Premiers Eléments de Lecture de la Langue
Hébraique.Dorbon 1913
Révisé L´Initiation (articles from 1891, publ. in 1914)
Ce que deviennent nos morts, La Sirene, 1918
ABC Illustré D´Occultisme, Dorbon, 1922 (6º ed.)
Traité Méthodique de Magie Pratique, Chacornac, 1924
La Science des Nombres. Chacornac, 1934
Traité Elémentaire d´Occultisme et d´Astrologie, Dangles,
1936
Papus in the back-room of the
"Librarie du Merveilleux", used for
Martinist activities around 1890 …
(2) Giuliano Kremmerz (1861-1930)
Kremmerz is the founder of the "ORDER
OF MYRIAM" and the "ORDINE OSIRIDEO EGIZIO"
(EGYPTIAN OSIRIAN ORDER). The "Order of Myriam"
( Fratellanza Terapeutico-Magica
di Myriam ) Was mainly a therapeutic school, the
OOE was an internal Order dedicated to spiritual and operative alchemy.
Although Kremmerz was a "notorious" occultist, Kremmerz has a lot of
interesting material to offer. Apparently, Kremmerz' first teacher was a
Pasquale de Servis, a.k.a. IZAR, and his teachings were based upon the
A.A.-SCALA DI NAPOLI system.
Papus and the Orders & Societies
THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY
At the age of 23, Papus became a member of the
"THEOSOPHICAL SOCIETY". "On October 25, 1887, Colonel Olcott
personally announced the election of Papus to the newly formed General Council
of the Theosophical Society at Adyar, India and as a propagator of Kiato
Buddhism for the 'T.S.' . Papus became a member of
Lodge-Isis, founded in July 1887 by Dramard and Gaboriau. In 1888, Papus would
already leave the T.S. He had justed helped co-founding Lodge-Hermes in October, 1888. Papus "officialy" resigned on May 19,
1890. According to many sources, his reason for leaving the T.S. being the
dislike of Papus of the Society's emphasis on Eastern
Occultism. Some sources even state that Blavatsky and Papus disrespected each
other! ( Christopher McIntosh). According to Papus'
son Dr.Philippe Encausse, his father had always held
Blavatsky in high esteem; see "the Balzac of the occult ….."
at: http://members.nbci.com/merlin_21/balzac.htm
But it is true that Papus considered Blavatsky's
Mahatma's not the sole depository of "Sacred Sience". Papus believed
in a tradition conserved in the ancient temples of ancient Egypt, thus Philippe
Encausse…
GROUPE INDEPENDANTE DES d'ETUDES ESOTERIQUES/ G.I.D.E.E.
Things startened to happen for Papus, in 1887 he was
also elected President of the "GROUPE INDEPENDANTE DES
d'ETUDES ESOTERIQUES".
This association attracted many popular mystics living
in France at the time. Its aim was to create 'Initiates'; men and women who'd
chosen to undertake the study of esoteric wisdom and occult science. "The
role of- the -Initiatic society," as Papus conceived it, was
to"encourage the student to create a personal doctrine of his own".
Many of the French occultists who were collectively
known as "LES COMPAGNONS DE LA HEIROPHONIE" were part of the
G.I.D.E.E. Included were men like Victor Michelet, Josephin Peladan, Paul
Sedir, Lucien Chamuel, Stanislas De Guaita, Albert Poisson, Ch.F.Bartlet (Alfred Foucheaux), Gary de Lacroze, Augustin
Chaboseau, Phaneg ( Descormiers, + 1946), Silva, Marc
Haven, Dr.Rozier, Jollivet-Castelot, etc. Many of them
were Theosophists, as well as initiated Martinists of one or other chain. Papus
was editor-chief at the time of a journal called "The Veil of Isis".
The "Veil of Isis" was published under the banner of the G.I.D.E.E.
(published once a month, between 1890 and 1898). In 1905 the review reappeared.
The review continued its publications until 1936 (Chief-editor Charnorac;
Charnorac became chief-editor in 1912, the review disappeared during 1914-1918, and reappeared again in 1920. In 1936 the
"Veil of Isis" changed its name to "études
traditionnelles".
Papus would describe the G.I.D.E.E. as the "Outer
court for a greater and higher Initiatic Order, comprising their recruits from
this outer and predominantly theosophically oriented association"
("The Balzac of the Occult …")
This statement of Papus shows
the obvious reason why his days in the T.S. would be short-lived. He left to
give way to full time concentration on the order that
would unite all Martinists. In an article of Papus,
published in the "Veil of Isis" of February,
1891, he stated that the G.I.D.E.E. was already "active" for a year,
with more then 350 members, a
headquarter, library and conference-room included. Other contemporary
members were men such as Polti, Colonel Rochas, Lemerle, Abel Haatan, Serge
Basset, etc. The G.I.D.E.E. had various branches in France and Belgium: For
instance, in Lyon, at 17 Rue de Sully, there was established the
"Fraternit� Lyonnaise et Catalane" (contact: Ely Steel). At
Brussels, Belgium, lodge KVMRIS represented i.a. the G.I.D.E.E. in Belgium.
There are sources which state that the G.I.D.E.E. was
established by Papus with the help of Saint-Yves d'Alveydre (see Chapter
"1888 -OKR+C"). Saint-Yves, according to some sources, also claimed
to be the Grand Master of the original Martinist Order (??). Whatever the truth
is, the collaboration of a man like Saint-Yves d'Alveydre would certainly have
attracted many "mystics" to the ranks of a new organization like the
"Groupe Independent des Etudes Esoterique". But it is a fact that
Saint-Yves has never held any membership of any occult organization, despite
the claims. He was never a member of the Martinist Order. It is claimed that
Saint-Yves d'Alveydre even rejected a honorary
membership into the Martinist Order which Papus had sended to him.
According to various sources (e.g.Koenig)
the G.I.D.E.E. also carried a succession of Fabre-Palaprat's "Order of the
Temple". Bernard-Raymond Fabre-Palaprat, a physician from Paris, had
"restored" the original Templar Order in 1804. The restoration was
supported by Napoleon Bonaparte. The G.I.D.E.E. ("Independent Group of
Esoteric Studies") was founded to develop research-centres
of occult siences. One of such branches or centres was for instance the G.'.M.'.E.'.I.'. , Groupe
Maconnique d'Etudes Initiatiques , which was headed by
Oswald Wirth. According to some, the G.I.D.E.E. was
later renamed "Ecole Hermetique", the Hermetic School, others state
that the "Ecole Hermetique" was established next (and afterwards) to
the G.I.D.E.E. The "Ecole Hermetique" later
allegedly developed into the "Université libre des hautes Etudes"
(Faculté des Sciences Hermétiques);. The university
was ment for the "aces" of the Martinist Order. Some of the
'professors" and lecturers who were appointed at the "faculty of
Hermetic Sciences" ; Paul Sédir, Serge Basset,
Siséra Rosabis, Dr.Rozier , Jollivet Castelot. The
Hermetic School was led by a 'council of improvement' which consisted of ;
Charles Barlet
Papus
Marc Haven
Victor Emile Michelet
Serge Basset
Paul Sédir
The graduated Hermetic students would continue their
studies in several Martinist Lodges in Paris ;
1) LE SPHINX. The Grand Lodge for general studies.
2) HERMANUBIS, led by Paul S�dir, studies the Mystic
and Eastern tradition.
3) VELL�DA, led by V-E Michelet, studies of French
Masonry and its Symbolism
4) SPHYNGE, reserved mainly for Artistic adaptations.
The following text is a translation of the article
"L'Ordre Martiniste a la belle époque" taken from the French website
of the Traitional Martinist Order. The article confirms the assumptionS made
earlier that the "Ecole Hermetique" and the "Faculté des
Sciences Hermétiques" were indeed continuations of the G.I.D.E.E..
"Papus wanted to renew the occidental esoterism : "As there are existing faculties where the
materialistic sciences can be studied, why would it not be possible to create
such a faculty where the esoteric sciences can be studied? " Thus he creates 'l’École Supérieure Libre des Sciences
Hermétiques', a group which gives courses and organizes lectures to promote the
values of occidental esoterism to the seeker. This 'exterior' circle of the
Martinist Order will be first known under the name 'le Groupe Indépendant
d'Etudes Esotériques' (G.I.D.E.E.), then as 'l'Ecole Hermétique' and 'la
Faculté des Sciences Hermétiques'. Many courses are presented (12 per month)
with subjects ranging from the kabbala, alchemy and the
tarot, to the history of hermetic philosophy .
The teachers are Papus, Sédir, Victor-Emile Michelet, Barlet, Augustijnse
Chaboseau, Sisera …. A special section is devoted to the oriental sciences
under the direction of Augustin Chaboseau (1). Another section, presided by
François Jollivet-Castelot, is devoted to alchemy - this is la Société
Alchimique de France"
(source: Ordre Martiniste
Traditionnel - Grande Heptade de la Juridiction Française)
It is common knowledge that Augustin Chaboseau was
very interested in Buddhism, an interest he shared with i.a. Harvey Spencer
Lewis of A.M.O.R.C / O.M.T. and which he maintained all his life.
In 1888 Papus and his friend Lucien Chamuel founded
the "Librarie du Merveilleux" and its monthly journal
"L'Initiation". Many Occultists contributed articles to the review,
some of the lesser known occultists were men such as
Villier de l'Isle-Adam, Catulle Mendés, Julien Lejay, Emile Goudeau, Jules Lermina,Eugéne Nus
Rodolphe Darzens, George Montiere, Aleph, el F.'.Bertrand, Bouvery, rené Caillié
George Delanne, Ely Star, Fabre des Essarts, G.Poirel, A.Robert, Rouxel, H.Sausse, G.Vitoux, Vurgey, and
many others� the review was "banned" by the Vatican in Rome in 1891
and was put on the Index. Another review of the G.I.D.E.E. was called
"l'Union Occulte de France", and was
published in Lyon.
The journal remained in publication until 1914, when
World War I broke out. Papus' son, Dr.Philippe
Encausse, reconstituted the "ORDRE MARTINISTE DE PAPUS" in 1952, and
revived the original journal again.
There exists today even an English version of
"L'Initiation" , obtainable on the following
address: : GERME (USA) - 4287-A Beltline
Road, # 330; Addison, TX 75001 � USA ; their first
edition, published in 2000, was for the most part a translation of the first
edition of the revived L'Initiation of Phillipe Encausse in Januari, 1953.
HERMETIC BROTHERHOOD OF LUXOR
Apparently, Papus was a member of the
" Fraternité Hermétique de Louxor', the French branch of
the "HERMETIC BROTHERHOOD OF LUXOR". The French branch was headed by
Francois Charles Barlet, who was also a member of the G.I.D.E.E. Certain
sources state that Barlet already knew Max Theon (founder of the "H.B.of L.") in 1871 when, supposedly together with
Blavatsky, they'd established the "SOCIETE SPIRITE"(1).
The "Societe Spirité" was an organization
which studied the teaching of the spiritist Alan Kardec (2 weeks after its
foundation the society would already be disbanded due thru 'difficulties' between Blavatsky and Theon). According
to the information given in Koenig's "Ein Leben fuer die Rose" (on
Krumm-Heller) Barlet was introduced to the 'H.B.of L.'
by Alexander Ayton. Ayton would later join the 'Golden Dawn'
. Barlet later joined Theon with his "MOUVEMENT COSMIQUE", an
organization which Theon founded around 1900. Barlet was the first editor of
the "Cosmic Review", which acted as "mouthpiece" for the
'movement'. Evidently, the H.B.of L. became extinct in
France in the final years of the 19th century in preparation for Theon's
'Cosmic Movement'. We know this from a statement made by Barlet in 1908
"... it (H.B. of L.) only ceased in order to pass on the succession to
another perfectly vital form".The statement was
made in a new magazine Barlet had started, called "L'Etoile D'Orient -
Revue de Hautes Etudes Psychiques". The first edition of Jan. 24, 1908 announced the establishment of the "Centre
Esoterique Oriental de France". The third edition of March 24 presented an
article written by Barlet, "Au Fondateur du Centre Esotérique Oriental de
Paris, Dr.Albert de Sarâk". The statement
regarding the filiation between the H.B. of L. and the "Mouvement
Cosmique" stems from the article.
1. The supposed connection between Blavatsky and Theon
in Blavatsky's 'Societe Spirité'' in Cairo, Egypt in 1871 is attributed to 'The
Mother' , a follower of Theon's 'Mouvement Cosmique' , based on her reminiscences of events which happened 50
years before. Furthermore, the involvement of Barlet in the 'Societe Spirité'
seems also unlikely. Barlet was one of the first members of the Theosophic
Society in France. René Guenon stated that Barlet hesitated to join the 'H.B.of L.', because of his membership in the Theosophic
Society. Barlet asked his initiator, Rev.W.A.Ayton, if
membership in the H.B.of L. was compatible with
Barlet's membership in the Theosophic Society. Ayton had joined the H.B.of L. in or about the year 1880. Barlet joined a few years
later in 1885...
In letters which were written in 1895 by Peter
Davidson (Papus' 'Practical Master', co- founder of
the 'H.B.of L.' with Max Theon) it becomes clear that
Davidson was a member of several orders, among which the "G.I.D.E.E.".
Davidson also represented the "ORDRE
MARTINISTE" during Davidson's 'American period', at the H.B.of L. colony in Georgia, USA. In 1889 two Frenchmen, René
Caillié ( 1831 - 1896 ) and
Albert Jounet ( 1863 - 1923), founded the
"FRATERNITE DE L'ETOILE" ("Fraternity of the Star"). Many
of their members were Martinists. The Order had a branch of some sort in the
USA, led by Peter Davidson, co-founder of the 'H.B.of
L.' The Order was 'baptized' "THE MORNING STAR". Apparently, the
order published a journal under the same name ("Morning
Star" 1), which acted as the 'official journal' of the 'Martinist
Order' of Papus for a short period of time….(source:
Marcel Roggemans, Belgium).
According to one source, the "FRATERNITE DE
L'ETOILE" sprang from circles within the "THEOSOPHIC SOCIETY". This
seems rather unlikely, because both Caillé and Jounet, two Christian
esotericists, had founded the fraternity "to counter the 'atheistic
neo-Buddhism' of the Theosophical Society". Caillé was also a member of
the H.B.of L.
Apparently, the "Fraternite de L'Etoile" was
dissolved officially at a (Theosophic?) conference in 1927 at the city of Ommen
in the Netherlands. There has been an unsuccessful attempt to revive the order
in 1982 (??).
The "HERMETIC BROTHERHOOD OF LUXOR" was an
occult school that taught pupils by correspondence. Papus wrote in his work
'Traité méthodique des sciences occultes' (Paris, 1903) :
"The HERMETIC BROTHERHOOD OF LUXOR instructs
their members by private correspondence, helping them in their studies and
exercizes on a personal basis. The organization has many members in Egypt,
India, Scotland, France and America…."
Another interesting aspect of the H.B.of
L. is its original intended relationship with the "Ordre Martiniste"
as foreseen by Papus. The following text is taken from an article written by
René Guenon, published in the journal "Le Voile d'Isis", in April
1925. The complete translated text of Guenon can be found in the excellent book
"The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, Initiatic and Historical Documents of
an Order of Practical Occultism", written by J.Godwin,
C.Chanel, and J.P.Deveney.
René Guenon, "F-Ch.Barlet
et les Sociétiés Initiatiques" , Le Voile d'Isis
30/64 (April 1925), 217-221 ...
"Towards the middle of 1888, Barlet resigned from
the Theosophic Society, after the dissension that had arisen within the Isis
Branch of Paris ... It was also at about this date that Papus began to organize
Martinism, and Barlet was one of the first people he called on to form his
Supreme Counsil. It was understood, at first, that Martinism's sole
purpose was to prepare its members for entry into an Order that could confer an
authentic initiation on those who showed themselves able to receive it. The Order
they had in view for this was none other then the H.B. of L., of which
Barlet had become the official representative for France.This is why Papus
wrote, in 1891: "Authentically occult societies still exist, possessing
the integral tradition; I call for witness one of the wisest of Western adepts,
my Practical Master, Peter Davidson" *. However, this project did not succeed, and they had to content themselves, for
Martinism's superior center, with the Kabbalistic Order of the Rose-Cross"
(Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose+Croix)
'Traité méthodique des sciences occultes' (Paris, 1903)
The journal was under the editorship of Peter
Davidson. The 'Morning Star' also represented the interests of the H.B. of L.
for a while. From 1905 onwards, the journal acted as a vehicle for Theon's
"Mouvement Cosmique" in the English speaking
world and as the official review of Davidson's Order, "THE ORDER OF THE
CROSS AND THE SERPENT", which Davidson had founded after the 'demise' of
the H.B. of L.
ORDRE KABBALISTIQUE DE LA ROSE+CROIX
In 1887 Saint-Yves d'Alveydre introduced Papus to the
Marquis Stanislas De Guaita (1860-1897). In 1888 De Guaita, J.Peladan,
Oswald Wirth, Papus and others would found the
"ORDRE KABBALISTIQUE DE LA ROSE-CROIX" ("officially" the
'OKR+C' was founded by Peladan and De Guaita). The OKR+C would later be
'incorporated' with the "ORDRE MARTINISTE". After the S.I. Degree the
Martinist would study the Kabbalah on a 'deeper level' within the
"OKR+C".
In 1888 things began to move concerning the
development of the "ORDRE MARTINISTE" as an organization. Especially
the "Congres Spirite et Spiritualiste" given in the lodgerooms of the
co-Masonic order "LE DROIT HUMAIN" in Paris proved to be a success
for Papus and his Martinist Order. The congress gathered both members of
established occult- and Masonic orders, as well as independent occultists from
all over Europe, America, and Australia. Apparently, In
1889 there were 27 Martinist Lodges in France, 33 in Germany, 36 in America,
and surprisingly 9 in Sweden (McIntosh). Finally, in 1891 the Martinist Order
was placed under a Supreme Counsil of 12 members with Papus appointed as
President for life and as Grand Master. When Stanislas De Guaita died in 1897,
Papus succeeded him as the OKR+C. Papus was the "Deluge General de L'Ordre
Kabbalistique de la Rose-Croix" until his death in 1916. According to René
Guenon it was Barlet who succeeded De Guaita, but Barlet was not interested in
the OKR+C. René Guenon speaks about the inactivity of the OKR+C after De
Guaita's death in 1897. Guenon states that F.Ch. Barlet succeeded De Guaita as
Grand Master of the OKR+C, and "although he had the title, he
never exercised its functions effectively. The order, in fact, had no further
regular meetings after the death of its founder. Later, when Papus was
thinking for a moment of reviving it, Barlet, who by now was not frequenting
any occultist groups, declared that he was completely uninterested in it; he
thought, and no doubt rightly, that such efforts, resting on no solid basis,
could only lead to further failures". René Guenon, "F-Ch.Barlet et les Sociétiés Initiatiques"
, Le Voile d'Isis 30/64 (April 1925), 217-221 ... as translated in
"The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor, Initiatic and Historical Documents of
an Order of Practical Occultism"
FRATERNITAS THÉSAURI LUCIS
Some sources state that Papus, Marc Haven and Sédir
founded a new organization to replace the O.K.R.C., the
mysterious Fraternitas Thésauri Lucis (F.T.L.). Unfortunately,
the Order, founded in 1897, enjoyed a short-lived existence. The F.T.L. is i.a.
mentioned in the 1939 edition of "Les Religions Nouvelles de Paris
- Parmi les sectes et les rites", written by Pierre Geyraud and first
published in 1937. Geyraud also states that the F.T.L. was founded around
1898. Geyraud is i.a. quoted in Christopher McIntosh's "Eliphas Levi
and the French Occult Revival"(1972). Paul Sédir stated the following in
his "Histoire des Rose+Croix" (1910): "we suppose that
the neophytes are put in touch with the Order in a way comparable to that
described in the rosicrucian poster placarded in Paris in 1623; the initiation
is very pure and essentially Christian."
Pierre Geyraud (1937): "This F.T.L. is
certainly surrounded by mystery! None the less I have been able to find out
that its present head is M.C., a friend of Barlet, who was the Grand
Master of the Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose+Croix; that it has a branch at
Bordeaux-called the Saint-Graal; and that it's
founder was …. Sédir himself!
(Geyraud quoted in "Eliphas Levi and the Occult
Revival")
The text of Geyraud implies that the
F.T.L., Fraternitas Thésauri Lucis ( Geyraud
only speaks of the F.T.L.), was active at the time of his investigations for
his book …
ÉGLISE GNOSTIQUE
In 1888, while working as archivist for the library of
Orleans in France, Jules Doinel discovered an original charter dated 1022,
which had been written by Canon Stephan of Orleans, a schoolmaster and
forerunner of the Cathars who taught Gnostic doctrines
( He was
burned for heresy that same year). Doinel had a vision
in which the "Aeon Jesus" appeared, 'He' charged Doinel with the work
of establishing a new church. Doinel was a "Grand Orient Freemason"
and a practicing Spiritist. "In May of 1890 (although specific dates vary)
Jules Doinel attended a séance of sorts in the oratorie of the ' Duchess of
Pomar (The Countess of Caithness)…. It appears that
the disembodied spirits of ancient Albigensians, joined by a heavenly voice,
laid spiritual hands on Doinel, creating him "Valentinus II, Bishop of the
Holy Assembly of the Paraclete and the Gnostic Church". Too
cut a long story short, the EGLISE GNOSTIQUE was founded by Jules Doinel in
1890. In 1892 Doinel consecrated Papus asTau Vincent, Bishop of Toulouse. Other
Martinists, such as Paul Sedir and Lucien Chamuel were also consecrated by
Doinel. These three men 'embodied' the 'nucleus' of the newly build Gnostic
Universal Church. "In 1908 a Gnostic schism occurred: the branch at Lyon
under Bricaud took yet another new name; 'Église Gnostique Catholique' (EGC).
Then it changed again becoming the EGLISE GNOSTIQUE
UNIVERSELLE (EGU). Meanwhile the original Paris Église Gnostique of Paris had
been taken over by Leon Champrenaud "Théophane" though it later
disintegrated under Paul Genty "Basilides" in 1926"
source: "Stranded Bishops: Ecclesia Gnostica
Catholica", by Peter-R. Koenig
http://www.cyberlink.ch/~koenig/bishops.htm
In 1911 the E.G.A. became the official church of the
"ORDRE MARTINISTE", the EGU was headed (since 1908) by Joannie
Bricaud, the Patriarch of the Gnostic Church. The EGU would later change its
name to "EGLISE GNOSTIQUE APOSTOLIQUE". (see Chapter "
1890 ECCLESIA GNOSTICA APOSTOLICA ").
HERMETIC ORDER OF THE GOLDEN DAWN
In March of 1895 (specific dates vary) Papus joined
the "Ahathoor Temple" of the "HERMETIC ORDER OF
THE GOLDEN DAWN" in Paris. Papus receives his initiation into
the Neophyte-Degree (0=0) on March 23 at the Temple 'Ahathoor no.7 '.
On May 21, 1892, the Matherses (Samuel Liddell MacGregor Mathers and Moina
Mathers / Mina Bergson) decided to leave London and moved to Paris. In Januari
1894, the "Ahathoor-Temple" is consecrated. One source (Hermetic Order
of the G.'.D.'. in Florida) states that Papus was a
member at the time of consecration. His membership of the G.'.D.'.
was short-lived, one year later he would leave the "Hermetic Order of the
Golden Dawn". In 1903 the G.'.D.'. of Mathers
changed its name to "ALPHA ET OMEGA", due to a schism within the
original order. After Mather died in 1918, Moina returned to London to
establish the "Alpha et Omega III -Temple".
Papus received his initiation from Moina Mathers ( membershipnumber 240 )
THE MARTINIST ORDER and the ORDER OF THE
ILLUMINATI
On May 9th, 1898
the Martinist Order under the leadership of Papus signed a treaty of alliance
with the "Illuminaten Orden" of Theodor Reuss from Germany.
In (probably) the fifties Papus' son, Philippe
Encausse Jr., published an article in "L'Initiation" which stated
that both orders formed a pact, which was ratified by the Aeropagus of the
Illuminati and the "board of directors" of the Supreme Council of the
Martinist Order, which unites "two of the more powerful Brotherhoods of
the Western Tradition". The official date of the pact was set on June 13,
1898.
Reuss would later incorporate (as he did with all
'his' organizations) the Order of the Illuminati within the framework of the
O.T.O.
L'ORDRE EUDIAQUE
The Order, a school for Magnetism, was founded by
Hector Durville in 1892. This school established a subdivision in Lyon in 1895
headed by Maitre Philippe (A.P. Nizier). Papus was the Vice-President of this
school. "The "ORDRE EUDIAQUE" had 7 Degrees which
included initiationrites and a theoretical exam for every Grade."
(France 1850-1900" - F.U.D.O.S.I. Orders & Societies, Part I).
PRIMITIVE AND ORIGINAL RITE OF FREEMASONRY, OR
SWEDENBORGIAN RITE
Well known French researcher Gerard Galtier confirms
that in 1901 Papus was chartered by John Yarker (Grand Hierophant of the M.'.M.'.) to open the "SWEDENBORGIAN LODGE -
I.N.R.I.". This warrant would be later renewed on
March 1906. According to yet another source, Papus established in 1906 contact
with "LOGE DU TEMPLE DE PERFECTION I.N.R.I.", which worked under the
"Grand Loge Swedenborgienne du Rite Primitif et Original des la
Franc-Maconnerie", as well as the "Loge Misraimite". Yarker
(Yarker's successor would be W.Wynn Wescott) was,
amongst others, head of the 'masonic' "SWEDENBORG -RITE", the Rite's
full name being "Primitive and Original Rite of Freemasonry, or
Swedenborgian Rite". The Rite of Swedenborg was an offshoot of "The
Illuminated Theosophists", the British branch of the French
"Illumin�es Theosophes". The Rite was
established at the end of the 18th century. Apparently, the rite was
reestablished around 1859.
In 1877 John Yarker developed the rite, together with
Francis George Irwin and Samuel Petty Leather. The "Rite of
Swedenborg" consisted of 3 degrees. The Non-masonic
part of the rite would develop into the "Church of Swedenborg".
According to Reuss' journal, the "Oriflamme"(Nº 0 of the Oriflamme,
supplement to Die Übersinnliche Welt, January 1902) Papus even belonged to the
"Sovereign Grand Lodge of England". It has always been a subject of discussion, whether Papus has ever been a member of
'regular' masonry or not. Besides the "Oriflamme-reference", I've
never seen other sources indicating that Papus was a 'regular' mason.
ANTIENT & PRIMITIVE RITE (MEMPHIS-MISRAIM)
According to Christopher McIntosh, Papus received his
initiation into the "Rite of Memphis-Mizraim" on the 12th of July
1899.
"He sought to fuse his Martinist order with the
various stratas of French mystical-occult masonry", thus McIntosh. Who actually initiated Papus into the M.M. McIntosh does not
tell. Dr.Philippe Encausse, Papus' son, claimed that
his father possessed two M.'.M.'. Charters came from
Italy, one of the documents dated March, 25, 1907.
However, nothing is known regarding the actual contents of the documents.
Another charter, presumably dated from 1906, came from
the ''Antiguo y Primitivo Rito Oriental de Memphis y Mizraïm' led by Villarino
del Villar, a descendant from Giambattista Pessina, successor of Garibaldi, who
had united the original "Rite of Misraim" with the "Rite of
Memphis" in 1882 (specific dates very)
In 1908, Papus, Charles Detre (aka 'Teder'), and
Victor Blanchard (Papus' secretary at the time- see "1934-1951
FUDOSI-Addendum 6 'Victor Blanchard') organized in Paris, France, an
international Masonic Conference, "The Masonic and Spiritualist
Congress"
('Congres Maconnique Spiritualiste'
) at the temple of the "DROIT HUMAIN". The main themes of the
congress were Spiritism, Magnetism, Spiritual Masonry and Esoteric
Christianity. Papus received a charter to constitute the "ANTIENT
& PRIMITIVE RITE OF FREEMASONRY" in France (more
precisely: "The Antient & Primitive Rite"). "The
constituting Letters Patent were sent to Berlin from England on June 24th; they
were signed (as 'Peregrinos') by Theodor Reuss, who had traveled to Paris for this
purpose. Grand Masters for France [on the 24th of June] were Gérard Encausse
"Papus" [33°, 90°, 96°} and Charles Détré "Teder" [33°,
97°, X°}. The Oriflamme for December 1909 also credits Détré with the 33°, 90°,
and 95°; The nomination of Papus as Grand Maitre National of the M.'.M.'. Displeased Rudolf Steiner, GM for Germany of the M.'.M.'. .Steiner apparently despised
Papus who he saw as a "Black Magician". One of the results of the
Masonic congress of 1908 was the establishment of a "Central Bureau"
which was called "Secrétariat de la Fédération Maçonnique
Universelle". According to a letter written by Joannie Bricaud, date 1921,
the charter which Papus and Detre received from Reuss did not grant them to found a "Sovereign Sanctuary" at the time. France
had to wait until 1919, when the Memphis-Misraim rite was revived after the war
of '14-'18. " The 'Humanidad' Mother-Lodge was revived at
Lyons by the 1908 [Reuss] warrant. Thus on the 10th of
September Brother Joanny Bricaud was granted a warrant [through Reuss] to
establish the French Sovereign Sanctuary of the MM [33°, 90°, 96°], and
likewise on the 30th of September activated the French foundation of a
"Supreme Grand Council of Confederated Rites, Early Grand Scottish Rite,
Memphis and Misraim, Royal Order of Scotland" etc " Joanny Bricaud:
Notes Historique sur le Rite Ancien et Primitiv de
Memphis-Misraim
Peter R.Koenig ; "the
Ordo Templi Orientis phenomenon"
It is stated on the website of the "O.M. des
Pays-Bas" that probably on the same occasion Reuss had conferred upon
Papus the X* of the O.T.O. for France (X*, 'REX SUMMUS SANCTISSIMUS', the grade
for all national Grand Masters of the O.T.O) and that Papus in turn assisted
Reuss in the formation of the O.T.O. Gnostic Catholic Church, as a child of the
"Eglise Gnostique de France. The information above credits T�der with
the X* of the O.T.O. This is confirmed on a charter
given to A.Krumm-Heller in 1908 by Reuss. Teder
(Charles Detre) co-signs as "Representante en France le Grand Maitre
General de l'Empire d'Allemagne" of the M.'.M.'. The source
of Papus' M.'.M.'. Charter is the 'Jubilee Edition' of
the Oriflamme, Schmiedeberg 1912, the official journal of Reuss' orders, at the
time (1912) mainly devoted to the O.T.O. ("ORDO TEMPLI ORIENTIS").
"The "Oriflamme" was published between
1902 and 1914, initially intended as the journal of two of his many inventions,
the 'Swedenborg Rite' and an order of Rosicrucians*. When these met with little
success, it became the magazine for members of the
AASR and MM, but by 1912 it was mainly devoted to the O.T.O." (Peter R.Koenig, "O.T.O.-FAQ" ).
* The order of rosicrucians was the SRIA
offshoot 'Societas Rosicruciana in Germania' which
existed from 7.7.1902 to 11.7.1907
A lodge that originally belonged to the "Spanish
Rite" became the Mother-Lodge of the French
branch of the "Antient and Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraim". This
lodge was named "Humanidad-Lodge", but as stated before, the French
branch was not yet an independent 'obedience'. Apparently, John Yarker, Grand
Hierophant of the M.M.rite, was not happy with Reuss
and Papus in France. According to Gerard Galtier in his book 'Ma�onnerie
Egyptienne' Yarker "nominated George Lagr�ze on Sept. 9, 1909 in their place". Lagr�ze (mystical nomen- Mikael ) apparently never made use of his charter until
August 15, 1944, when he appointed Robert Ambelain as a Delegate of
Memphis-Misraim (95)*
It is generally known that no Grand Lodge in France or
England would accept Papus as a Mason. The Grand Lodges ' feared' that Papus'
organization was a quasi-Masonic body of irregular Masonry, which was,
certainly at the end of the first decade of the 20th century, not totally
untrue. There has been a lot of speculation whether Papus was at any time a
member of regular Masonry, probably not. According to Fr. Roggemans
we know this from the archives of Papus himself, because there's no mention of
an 'official Initiation' into the three degrees of 'regular Masonry". The
Ordre Martiniste des Pays-Bas states that Papus was refused (around 1889) by
the Grand Lodge of France, because Papus was involved with Occultism. We've
seen so far that Papus received several charters for the "Antient and
Primitive rite of Memphis-Misraim". Apparently, almost all
of the French occultists at the time were convinced that Papus derived
his Memphis-Misraim authority from the "Spanish Sovereign Sanctuary of
Memphis-Misraim". In the book "I Riti Masonici di Misra�m e
Memphis", written by Gastone Ventura ( Aldebaran
) and translated into French by G�rard Galtier and Sophie Salbreux, the
writer states that most of these charters did not grant any authority at all.
It is the 'never-ending story' of the value of all those Masonic documents
which were sold at the right price at the time, especially with rites as Yarkers 'Antient and Primitive Rite", "Rite of
Cerneau" etc., and all the everlasting tales of disputes over
'legitimacy'. In 1910 Papus said the following about his own Masonic charters;
"In my conversations and correspondences with the
illustrious Brother Superior John Yarker, Supreme Head of the "Antient and
Primitive Rite of Masonry", with Doctor Wescott of the "Societas
Rosicruciana in Anglia", with Villarino del Villar, the illustrious
Spanish Mason ….. Many of the foreign Supreme Councils
have registered me among their Honorary members or as their representatives in
France, which I consider an honorrding the involvement of Martinists with
Masonry 'Sar Ignatius' states as follows:
"At the end of the (19th) century, the main
Masonic Obediences of France, particularly the Grand Orient, were predominately
humanistic and philosophical. On the fringes of mainline Masonry, were smaller Obediences of a more esoteric and spiritual
nature. Most contemporary Martinists were associated with one or more of those
Rites and High Grades"
In 1913 John Yarker, the 'Grand Hierophant" of
the M.'.M.'., died. Yarker had 'inherit'
the rite in 1902. His successor was Theodor Reuss from Germany (Oriflamme, July
1913, p. 2), Yarker's successor in England and Ireland was a Henry Meyer (33*,
90*, 96*). According to various sources Papus inherited Yarker's "Antient
& Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraim".
ROSE-CROIX D'ORIENT
Many Martinists claim that Papus seems to have been
involved in a lineage of genuine rosicrucian descendents. Some claim that this
lineage contained men like Charles Nodier (1), Eliphas Levi,
Count Golitzyn etc. This assertion seems rather doubtful. Anyway, Papus was one
of the premier members of the OKR+C, of which he would become its president in
1898. George Lagreze (Mikael) was initiated in the "ROSE-CROIX D'ORIENT"
by Démétrius Sémélas (Deon), co-founder of the "L'ORDRE DU LYS ET DE
L'AIGLE" ("Order of the Lily & the Eagle", see chapter
"1914-L'Ordre du Lys et de L'Aigle") in 1914. Lagreze initiated Papus
into the "Rose Croix d'Orient". According to Robert Ambelain, in his
introduction of the "Sacramentary of the Rose+Croix", "Dr.
Encausse (Papus) had received a lineage of them by a member of the Supreme
Council of the Martinist Order, who himself had received a lineage in the city
of Cairo (Egypt), before 1914. Inside Martinism of that era, no one else had
such a lineage, not even Teder (Papus' successor)." In Ambelain's
reference to Cairo, he's referring to the Martinist temple in the capitol city
of Egypt. Eugène Dupré, the leader of the Martinists in Egypt (around 1914),
allegedly was the founder (or: one of the founders) of 'Le Temple d'Essenie', the
Martinist Lodge in Cairo, founded in 1911. This Lodge allegedly had the
authority to establish lodges under its jurisdiction (source:
O.M.T./T.M.O.). Démétrius Platon Sémélas, a Greek Martinist who'd become a
member of the Egyptian Martinist Lodge at Cairo in 1911, founded the
‘Rose-Croix d’Oriënt’ shortly after. Sémélas claimed that ‘Rose-Croix d’Oriënt’
was founded in 1054 by a certain Photius, Patriarch of Constantinople (see
"Fudosi Orders & Societies - R+C d'Orient & L'Ordre du Lys et
de L'Aigle). When the first World War broke out many French Martinists from
abroad returned to France. Dupré was mobilized and Sémélas settled in
Paris where he became a close friend of Papus. According to the French T.M.O. , Papus and Sémélas pondered on the idea of replacing
the 'Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose-Croix' by the 'Rose-Croix
d’Oriënt’ as the inner order (Cercle intérieur) of the Martinist Order. As
we've seen before, the OKR+C almost went dormant after the death of Stanislas
de Guaita in 1897. The French T.M.O also claims that Démétrius P. Sémélas was
involved in the negotiations between the 'Ordre Martiniste' and the
masonic 'Rite Ecossais Rectifié', the Rectified Scottish Rite (see
also Page 28). It is claimed that Papus requested D.P. Sémélas to draw up a 'Protocol
of Agreement' between the Martinist Order and the Rectified Scottish Rite. The
T.M.O. claims that D. P. Sémélas had several conversations with a
certain Maxime Macaigne and Edouard de Ribaucourt (1865-1936), founder of
the 'Centre des Amis' Lodge (1910), of the 'Grande Loge Nationale Indépendante
et Régulière' (R.E.R.). The topic of these conversations was the creation of a
lodge that was acceptable to both the Martinist Order and the Rectified Rite of
E. de Ribaucourt. The death of Papus (October 25, 1916) prevented the possible
completion of these ideas.
Charles Nodier (1780-1844 )
said that he was already involved with a masonic rite called the
"Philadelphes" at a very young age. Supposedly, Nodier also had been
a member of the Jacobin Club. In the early 19th century (1802, probably) Nodier
wrote of his affiliation with a secret society he described as "Biblical
and Pythagorean". In 1803 he spent some months in jail after writing a
critical parody on Napoleon.After his imprisonment he
published a book called "La Peintre de Salzbourg, journal des emotions d'un
coeur souffrant, suivi des Meditations du cloitre". As a writer Nodier
published various titles but one of his most curious and influential works was
published anonymously; "A History of Secret Societies in the Army under
Napoleon". In this book Nodier does not clarify whether he is writing pure
fiction or pure fact. In any case, Nodier develops in disguised allegories, a
comprehensive philosophy of secret societies. According to Nodier, the
'supreme' secret society is called the "Philadelphes", but, as he
explains, an oath binds him to make them known under their real name. One of
the 'key-figures' Nodier speaks about is "Eliasin". Eliphas Levi
spoke also about 'the One who was to come that would be named Eliasi'n. In 1824
Charles Nodier was appointed Chief Librarian at the famous Arsenal Library.
"During his 20 years at the Arsenal Library he was able to supply a center
and rallying place to a knot of young literary men of greater individual talent
than himself - the so-called Romanticists of 1830- and to color their tastes
and work very decidedly with his own predilections" (
source: "Timeline of the Authentic Tradition; 1816-1825). He became
"the Source" for such young artists as Victor Hugo, Honoré de Balzac,
Dumas, Delacroix, Gerard de Nerval etc. many of these writers (Hugo, Balzac)
and painters were Martinists and members of "Hermetic-Rosicrucian
Circles" who drew heavily on the Hermetic tradition in their works.
Charles Nodier was assisted by Jean Baptiste Pitois, aka ' Paul Christian'.
Both men sorted the complete Arsenal library in the 1830's and claimed to have
made interesting discoveries daily. Also, Charles Nodier was elected a member
of "The Academy". Nodier was also in contact with Alphonse Louis
Constant, better known as Eliphas Levi. On Januari 27, 1844 ,
Charles Nodier died. Nodier is also listed as a Grand Master of the highly
controversial "Prieure de Sion". As stated earlier, The Arsenal
Library was incorporated in the National Library of Paris in 1934. The complete
original library is incorporated as a special Department of the Bibliothèque
Nationale in Paris ...
1891 ORDRE DES SUPÉRIEURS INCONNUS, Ordre des S:::I:::
- summary on the events
leading up to the foundation :
1884; Papus started to initiate candidates into
'Martinism'. In 1887 (specific dates vary +) Papus meets Chaboseau;
developments for a "Martinist organization" were realized. In 1887
the name "ORDRE MARTINISTE" turns up for the first time. Febr.,
1889, Official proclamation of the "ORDRE MARTINISTE", published in
the review
"l' Initiation". On September 9-16, 1889,
the 'CONGRÈS SPIRITE et SPIRITUALISTE INTERNATIONAL' was held in the 'rue Cadet
16, in Paris. On this congress Papus started with his
plans for the ACTUAL realization of "L' ORDRE MARTINISTE", as we know
the Order today. In 1889 there were already 27 Martinist-Lodges in France, 33
in Germany, 36 in America, and 9 in Sweden. In March,1891 a supreme council of
12 members was officially installed. Papus founded a Martinist order under the
name of "ORDRE DES SUPÉRIEURS INCONNUS" in three degrees
;
ASSOCIÉ
INITIÉ
ADEPTE
The title of the 3th grade, 'Adepte' is known since
the beginning of the 20th century as "SUPERIEUR INCONNU" The Order
added on a later date the 4th Degree, being the grade of "FREE ADEPT"
date (in 1911 the 4th degree appeared in "L'Initiation"); the 4th
degree is known today as "Free Initiator" or S.I.I. / S.I. IV
(sometimes also known as the Unknown Philosopher degree. + for the
most I've used dates as given by the "ORDRE MARTINISTE DE PAPUS", the
original order revived in 1952 by Papus' son, Dr.Philippe
Encausse Another source regarding the degrees of the O:::M::: is
Edouard Blitz' Martinist manual "Ritual and Monitor of the Martinist
Order". The manual was published on April 2, 1896
by the Supreme Counsil under Papus. The manual describes the Degree-system as follows :
"THE MARTINIST ORDER - MODERN RITE"
As practiced in France in 1887
First Temple :
ASSOCIATE (Philosophic)
INITIATE (Mystic)
S:::I:::
(Kabbalistic)
S:::I:::
(Administrative)
Second Temple
Vth Degree
Vith Degree
VIIth Degree
More information on the Degrees and the rituals is
given in the Chapter concerned. Source: "Ritual and Monitor of the M.'.O.'.", Dr.Edouard Blitz,
General Delegate of the Supreme Counsil of the Martinist Order of the U.S.A.,
1ST edit. April 2, 1896
According to Papus and Chaboseau, Louis Claude de
Saint-Martin had intended to establish a rite of seven degrees in 1780. These grades were; 1. Apprenti, 2. Compagnon, 3. Maître, 4. Maître
Parfait, 5. Elu, 6. Ecossais, 7. Sage. Finally
the degrees were reduced to three degrees; Associé, Initié, and Adepti. The
third degree eventually became the "S:::I:::",
"SUPERIEUR INCONNU" -degree.
As mentioned earlier on in this chapter, "Papus
claimed to have come into possession of the original papers of De Pasqually and
to have been given authority by his friend Henri Viscount Delaage, who claimed
that his maternal grandfather had been initiated into the order by Saint-Martin
himself, and who attempted to revive the order in 1887". (source;
"Ordre Martiniste des Pays-Bas"). The order mentioned here as being
the order of Saint-Martin, is the controversial "Rectified Rite of
Saint-Martin". The subject whether Saint-Martin
established a rite or not, has always been at all points debatable. Again, as
A.E.Waite states at the beginning of the chapter,
there existed a rite in the 18th century called
"Ecossais Rectifie de Saint-Martin". The rite arose at the
"Lodge -or- Chapter of St.Theodore of Metz".
But, as Waite explains, the rite was based on the christian legend of
Saint-Martin, Bishop of Tours. Allegedly there lived a man in the 4th century
A.D. in France also called Saint-Martin, which was used as a "historical
source" for a masonic body under the name of "Rectified Rite of
Saint-Martin" (A.E. Waite "a new Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry").
The Official installation of the first Martinist
Counsil, which consisted of 12 men, was proclaimed in March,
1891. These 12 men were all well known occultists, which knew each other from
other esoteric organizations they were involved with. Some of them belonged to
the " Fraternité Hermétique de Louxor' (Hbof L) and the"OKR+C",
others being Masons of different obediences, mostly Hermetic rites and High
Grades.
*except for Oswald Wirth all members of the
"Supréme Conseil de la Rose+Croix" (OKR+C) of 1891 were represented
in the Martinist council. I've already explained in a previous chapter that the
OKR+C was connected to the Martinist Order. After the Martinist S.I. degree most of the members joined the "Ordre
kabbalistique de la Rose+Croix" to increase their knowledge of the
Kabbalah.
Both Maurice Barrès and Joséphin Péladan soon left the
Martinist Counsil (Péladan for obvious reasons, see chapter
"1888-OKR+C"), and they were replaced by Marc Haven (Dr.Lalande) and Victor-Emile Michelet (1861-1938). Michelet
would later found the "ASSOCIATION DES AMIS DE
PÉLADAN" (1920 -1) and "ORDRE MARTINISTE TRADITIONNEL"
(1931 OMT/TMO).
In 1893 Pierre-Augustin Chaboseau surrendered his seat
in the Supreme Council of the Martinist Order. Chaboseau had been the
chief-editor of the review 'Le Voile d'Isis' and secretary of the editorship of
the review Psyché, after which he decided to distance himself from the
Martinist Order. It is stated that Chaboseau, who's been described as a man of
action, was not fascinated by the (speculative) work within the Order's lodges.
Chaboseau stated that "all knowledge is useless, useless and selfish, if
others cannot immediately benefit from this knowledge" (freely transl.
from the original French quote by Chaboseau: Toute connaissance, disait-il «
est inutile, vaine et égoïste, qui ne peut profiter immédiatement au bien des
autres » ). In 1893 he stopped attending the Order's lodge-meetings and became involved in propagating i.a.
emancipated ideas (through his writings). In the early 1900's he became a
member of the socialist movement. Unlike Papus, Chaboseau had been accepted by
the Grand Orient as a Freemason. Chaboseau was a member of the French lodge
'l'Action Socialiste' of the 'Grand Orient de France' (Apprentice, 1907) an later received the 3th degree at
the 'loge du Foyer Maçonnique'. He left this lodge in 1919 to become a member
of the co-masonic Order 'Le Droit Humain'. Out of respect, Chaboseau was never
replaced by Papus within the Supreme Council of the Martinist Order.
From the beginning the "ORDRE MARTINISTE"
proved to be internationally successful. It is generally known that Papus was a
skillful organizer and 'manager' in his time. Like the "THEOSOPHIC
SOCIETY" the Martinist Order had branches worldwide. In the 1890's the
order had lodges in cities like London (U.K., 2 Lodges), Brussels, Antwerp
(Belgium, 3 Lodges), Amsterdam, Muenich (Germany, 3 Lodges), Warschaw,
St.-Petersburg (Russia, 2 Lodges), Vienna, Rome, Barcelona (Spain, 3 Lodges),
New-York (USA, 37 Lodges), Quebec, Port Saïd, and countries like Panama, Cuba
(1), Italy (8), Egypt (1), Argentina (7), Sweden (9), Denmark (1), Bohemia (1),
Rumania (1), Switzerland (2), Tunesia (1), Colombia (1).
In 1896 Papus published -in a letter to Edouard Blitz
(dated June 26th ) the following list
of 'Protectors' or the 'Honorary Committee of International Directors' :
His Majesty King Oscar II
Her Majesty the Queen of Romania
Dr. Gérard
Encausse (Papus) - France
Dr. von
Hartman - Austria, Occultist
Dr,
Lehman-Hohenbert - Germany, Writer
Dr. Th. Schäfer - Germany, famous Mason
Edward Maisland - England, Mystic
Dr. Niels Sjobert - Sweden, Mystic FreeMason
Dr. Eugène
H. Schmitt - Hungary, Sociologist
H. A. Sabro - Norway, Journalist
Peter Davidson - United States, Mystic
Sylvestre C. Gould - United States, Scientist
Prof. Carl Michelsen - Denmark - Scientist
The following 'Martinist-memberlist' consists of the
order's most famous members who were involved in occultism during a period
otherwise known as the "La belle epoque";
Baron Spedalieri and Maria Rosa Tommasi (Italy),
George Montière, Stevenard, Caminade, Gary de Lacroze (also a member of
Péladan's "Ordre de la Rose-Croix Catholique et Esthetique du Temple et du
Graal"), George Vitoux, Mdm de Wolska, M.Letoquart (New York), Julius
Zeier and Gustav Meyrink (Lodge "Der Blauen Stern"), La Plata and
Girgois (Argentina), René Philipon (better known under his pseudonym Jean
Tabris), Emma Calvé (mistress of Jules Bois, honorary member), Marie-Anne de
Bovet, Alfredo Eymerich de Aldao (Spain), Peter Davidson (co-founder of the
"Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor"), Leopold Engel (Berlin, founder of
the "World League" in 1893, co-founder of 'Union of German
Occultists', co-leader "Ordo Illuminati"), Theodor Reuss (O.I, M.M.,
O.T.O.), Arnoldo Krumm-Heller ('active' in South-America,would later found the
F.R.A. ), Alphonso de Wallen, Carl Michelsen and Carl William Hansen (Denmark,
Hansen ,aka Ben Kadosh, Grand Master of the Danish Martinists incl. the Kabbalistic
Order of the Rose+Cross), Olga de Moussine-Puchkin, Levchine, Valerius
Mouraviev-Amurski, Mdm Golovine (adorer of Raspoutin, all members of the lodge
in St.Petersburg, Russia), Pierre Bardy, René Guénon, Demesthenos Verzato
(Egypt), Clément de Saint-Marq (Belgium, also a member of Péladan's order and
writer of i.a. "L'Eucharistie" ), Dr.Edouard Blitz ('Le Souverain
Délégate' of the U.S.A.)
source: Marcel Roggemans, Belgium
Other well known Martinists - Novikov, Sar Hieronymous
(Emile Dantinne), Eliphas Levi, A.E. Waite, H.P. Blavatsky, John Yarker, J.I.
Wedgwood, Victor Blanchard, Honor� Balzac, Pamela Coleman Smith, Margaret
Peeke, Czar Nicholas II of Russia, Emma Calve *, Harvey Spencer- and Ralph
M.Lewis, Jollivet-Castelot, Joannie (Jean) Bricaud, Constant Chevillon, Robert
Ambelain, Armand Toussaint, Robert Amadou, Jean Dubuis, Raymond Bernard, Emilio
Lorenzo, �
Rosa Emma Calve was a famous French singer and
was made a 'honorary member' of Papus' Ordre
Martiniste on November 11, 1892 in Paris. She was also
a friend of the priest Saunière (The "Rennes le Chateau" mystery) and
mistress of Jules Bois. The friendship between Emma and Saunière is considered
an "invention" of Pierre Plantard.The document Emma received (a
'Diplome d'Honneur' ) can be found at http://www.rennes-le-chateau.com/Anglais/Calve2.htm
- Rennes le Chateau -Emma Calve 'Superieur Inconnu' -
(1) the "ASSOCIATION DES AMIS DE PÉLADAN"
was founded in 1920 by Victor-Emile Michelet, as a 'circle of friends of
Péladan'. The association was not an order. Its purpose was to study the works
of Joséphin Péladan. Some of their members were ; Mdm
Péladan, Gabriel Boissy, Albert de Pouvourville, G.L.Tautain,
Edouard Willermoz, Maurice Venoize and Maurice Gallard. Speaking of Péladan, not unimportant to know is that Joséphin Péladan was the
Grand Master of the 'officially registered' "ORDER OF THE TEMPLE OF JERUZALEM",
founded by Jacques de Molay. De Molay's first successor was a
Jean-Marc de Larmeny (1314-1324). Péladan's presuccessor was H.M. Edward
VII, Prince of Wales and King of England (1873-1910). Péladan's successor was
H.M. Wilhelm II, Emperor of Germany (1910-1915). source: Marcel Roggemans,
Belgium. In 1893, the Martinists of Lyon received the complete archives of
J.B. Willermoz' C.B.C.S., 'Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cité Sainte', and the
archives of the ELUS COHEN temple of Lyon. Brother Cavarnier received the
archives from the widow of Joseph Pont, the latter being the successor of
Willermoz. " By the mediation of M. Elie Steel, a bookseller of Lyons,
Papus was placed in communication with Cavernier, and was enabled to copy the
principal documents". Papus regarded the gift as an event of major
importance. In 1908 Papus, with the help of Detre (Papus' secretary) and
Blanchard (secretary-general of the congress), organized the "The Masonic
and Spiritualist Congress" (' Congres Maconnique Spiritualiste' ) at the temple of the "DROIT HUMAIN" (French
co--Masonic order, 'Ordre Macon Mixte le Droit Humain'), as stated before. One
of the aims of the congress, in all probability, was to establish an
international federation of esoteric (masonic) rites and orders. Victor
Blanchard referred to it as "the first autonomous Congress of
Occultism" in his opening discourse. We know that Papus had a dream to
'unite all orders' under one 'Universal Rite', so to speak. Papus' dream was
never actually realized, due to the war which was at hand and his premature death.One of Papus' associates on the Congress, Theodor
Reuss from Germany, organized a 'World Congress of Freemasons' in Zurich during
the summer of 1920 which was analogous to the congress of 1908. Reuss' main
objective was also to establish an 'International Union of Freemasons' (which
-also- failed; see "1934-1951 F.U.D.O.S.I." and Peter R.Koenig's "Veritas Mystica Maxima or …" at http://www.cyberlink.ch/~koenig/consider.htm
In my notes on Reuss' 1920 congress there's a
reference (-Robert Vanloo) to Papus federation of orders, under the name of
"Federation Maconnique Universelle".
In 1907 Rene Guenon is initiated into Martinism. Rene
Guenon is recognized today as one of the great Christian mystics of the 20th
century. Before Guenon became a member of the "Ordre Martiniste", he
had taken several classes of one of Papus' organizations, probably the
"ECOLE HERMETIQUE". He was also initiated into the "Antient and
Primitive Rite of Memphis-Mizraim" at the "Humanidad-Lodge
204" on October 25, 1907. On April 10, 1908
Guenon was raised to the 3th degree of Master Mason.
Guenon was also ordained as a Bishop of the Gnostic Church as Tau
Paling�nius. He was consecrated somewhere between 1907 and 1910, the exact
date is unknown to me (probably 1909, see "1890 Eclessia Gnostica").
In 1908 on the ' Congres Maconnique Spiritualiste'
Guenon was one of the organization's members. Apparently
Guenon left the audience when Papus expressed the concept of reincarnation in
his openingspeech, because he considered this concept
a false notion. At the congress Guenon received the 30* (Knight Kadosh) and 90*
of the M.'.M.'. from Reuss. Guenon came in
conflict with Papus and his associates when Guenon and Victor Blanchard tried
to establish a Templar order, "Ordre du Temple Rénové" of which Guenon would be the Grand Commandeur and which
i.a. included the Bro. Blanchard and Marc Haven. On March 26, 1909, Papus
'forced' the Martinists to choose between Guenon's Templar order and the 'Ordre
Martiniste'. The order was short-lived, and Guenon and his followers broke with
Papus. Apparently, Blanchard 'broke' with Guenon ( note:
other sources state that this was not Victor Blanchard of the later 'Ordre
Martiniste & Synarchique') Guenon did not break with Masonry, on the
contrary. At the times, René Guenon was also a close
friend of Barlet, of whom Guenon received a considerable part of his knowledge
of the teachings of such orders as the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor and the
OKR+C. Barlet even entrusted Guenon with the insignia and documents of the
OKR+C, Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose+Croix. In 1925 Guenon meets a L.A.
Charbonneau-Lassay. Through Charbonneau-Lassay he comes in
contact with various isolated Christian-Hermetic groups (i.a. Fraternite
de Paraclete). In 1927 Guenon contacted the "FRATERNITE DES POLAIRES"
… (see Chapter "1908 – Fraternite des Polaires").
In 1911 Bricaud's "L'Eglise Gnostique
Universelle" became the "official" church of the Papus'
"Ordre Martiniste". The Supreme Council had issued a decree of
recognition. As mentioned before, The intention of the
"Ordre Martiniste", as founded by Papus and Chaboseau, was to act as
a preliminary order and gateway to Higher Degrees and teachings. We already
have seen that many Martinists, who'd received the S:::I:::
-degree, would join the OKR+C to study the Kabbalah and the Occult arts on a
higher level (as mentioned before, Papus originally had the 'Hermetic
Brotherhood of Luxor' in mind for the purpose). During Papus' lifetime there
existed Martinist Lodges which conferred 'Higher Degrees of a para-Masonic
character' (see "The Degrees and Rituals of the 'Ordre Martiniste'
"). Papus and his associates desired to return to the "veritable
Martinism of the 18th. century", in other words, a Martinist Order
consisting of 3 "exterior" Degrees, followed by Higher Degrees which
incorporated the "Elus Cohen", and the curriculum of the OKR+C, and
"Memphis-Misraim". Also incorporated was Joannie (Jean) Bricaud's
" L'Eglise Gnostique Universelle" as the official church of
the order. In 1914 Papus and Teder (C.Detre)
approached Dr.Ribeaucourt, Grand Master of the R.E.R.,
"Rite Ecossais Rectifié" (Scottish Rectified Rite). As
stated before, the R.E.R. included Willermoz' "C.B.C.S". , 'Chevaliers Bienfaisants de la Cité Sainte', which had
connections to Baron Von Hund's "Stricte Observance" (Willermoz had
implemented the teachings of the E.C. within the rite of "Stricte
Observance" in 1777).
They agreed with Ribeaucourt to create a Martinist
Grand Chapter, which would be composed exclusively of High Degree Masons. The
Martinist Grand Chapter would act as a "bridge" between the O:::M::: and the R.'.E.'.R.'.
Unfortunately for the M:::O:::
Grand Chapter, the war, the death of Papus in 1916, and especially the change
of Grand Mastership of the R.'.E.'.R.'., brought an
end to the initiative of Papus, Teder (Charles Détre), and Dr.Ribeaucourt
…
In 1914 Papus allegedly tried to establish connections
with the "L'ORDRE DU LYS ET DE L'AIGLE " ( 'the
Order of the Lily & the Eagle'. See also Page 21 ),
founded in Egypt by Maria Routchine-Dupre, also known as Dea, with the help of
Dimitri Sémélas-Déon. Eugéne Dupré was the head of the O:::M:::
in Egypt. Dimitri Sémélas (Déon) was the founder of the Rose-Croix d'Oriënt
(1912), and the initiator of Géorges Bogé de Lagrèze (see Chapter "1914
L'ORDRE DU LYS ET DE L'AIGLE").
Papus' whole life had been centered around the
development of the Martinist Order. He created an order, the "Ordre
Martiniste" ('L'Ordre des Supérieurs Inconnus' ),
he promoted
Martinism worldwide and kept the order united during
his lifetime. When Papus died in 1916, the unity of the order died with him … …
Charles Détre (Téder, 1855-1918) succeeded Papus as
Grand Master of the O:::M:::
Not much is known about the short of Téder's 'reign'.
We know that when Jean Bricaud succeeded Téder after his death in 1918 the
unity of the order really bursted. Still, the succession of Papus by Téder was
also disputed by several high-ranking Martinists. According to one source, in
"l'Encyclopédie de la Franc-Maconnerie, ED. 2000", Papus even seem to have wished that Ernest Loiselle, the Librarian of
the Supreme Council, would disband the Martinist Order!
Another 'curious' incident described in the
'l'Encyclopédie R.A.de la Franc-Maconnerie' , is the
appointment of Téder as Edouard Blitz's representative !
Blitz, who left the Martinist Order as Grand Master of the U.S.A., had founded
his own order in 1902 (see "the M.O. abroad- America"). According to
this source, Téder had also adapted Blitz' Rituals (1) in French before
succeeding as a G.M. of the "Ordre Martiniste". This source (R.A.)
does not mention the date of the supposed adaption of Blitz' rituals.
We know that the definitive rituals of the "Ordre
Martiniste" were attributed to Téder by Papus in 1911. According to some
sources Téder's version was based on the hand-written rituals of
François-Charles Barlet (see "The Degrees and Rituals of the 'Ordre
Martiniste' "). But it is almost certain that Téder adapted Blitz'
rituals.
Around 1912 Papus' authority shrank within the O*M*.
There had been many difficulties over the last couple of years within the Order
(Guenon, Papus' activities in Russia, etc.) and Papus decided to appoint
Charles Détre (Téder ) as head of the Supreme Council
(in Papus' name, so to speak or 'semi-official' ).
Apparently Téder started to work 'independently' from Papus.
It is claimed that Blitz had written new rituals for
the M:::O::: in, or around, 1901. These were the
rituals that Téder
supposedly adapted.
"But what caused the shrinking of Papus'
authority within the Order ?"
Without doubt, Papus was, and still is, seen as a
brilliant and great organizer who'd achieved in presenting the Martinist Order
as a coherent and structural international organization. But if we analyze the
period of Papus' reign ("officially" between 1891 and 1916) there's
no talk of a constant coherent Order doctrine and teachings.
The doctrines of the Order developed over time. In the 1890's Papus and his
associates were merely focused on creating an umbrella-organization
which included all the occult and esoteric currents of the Western Mystery
Tradition under the banner of the Martinist Order. At the time, Papus' main
interest was occultism (Kabbala, Symbolism, Magic etc.), later, after he met
Philippe de Lyon ('Maitre Philippe, 1849-1905), Papus' interest turned more
towards (Christian) mysticism. In short: The Martinist Order had to start from
scratch (in a manner of speaking), and grew steadily, along with its leaders.
In the beginning Papus established the 'Groupe Indipendant d'Etudes Esoteriques'
where occultism was studied, he declared that the G.I.D.E.E. was the outer
court of the Martinist Order. Later the G.I.D.E.E. became the 'Ecole
Hermetique', all signs of an organization in development. A fine example of
the, sometimes slow, developments within the Martinist Order is the corpus of
letters of Dr. Edouard Emanuel Blitz ((1860-1915)), the Sovereign National
Delegate for America, to Dr. G�rard Emcausse (Papus): For instance, Blitz
responding to a letter from Sédir, January 9, 1902, states:
"Finally, in ending this I tell you, that from
1896 or '97 I prayed, begged Papus not to compromise the whole Order by
creating some clandestine Masonic Rite; I prayed and begged him to send some
teachings for our members... we were promised everything, teachings, a copy of
the archives, new degrees, etc... but nothing was ever realized. We finally
concluded that the Order in France is a myth, that the Supreme Council ...
functions only in the astral... For my part, I hope that my initiates decide to
abandon this new Taxilian Order to permit me to pursue more serious matters.
If, however, [the Supreme Council] wants to give the Order a real, solid
base... my 'providential documents' will be put to use... in this whole affair,
I sought only to work for the good of the Order."
(Edouard Blitz & American Martinism / Scottish
Rite Research Society? transl. T.Vincent II)
As Papus' interests changed towards mysticism (after
1898), the Ordre Martiniste came to occupy an increasingly important place in
Papus' Occultist movement, "since the Christian illuminism it espoused
meshed quite well with its leader's new sensibility." ("The Esoteric:
Crossing Over" Institute for Sociology and the History of Ideas ). But several of the original dignitaries
alienated themselves from Papus and his Order. In 1907 Victor-Emile Michelet
retired from the Martinist Order and in 1910 Sédir, one of Papus' closest
associates, left the Martinist Order. Many members of the Martinist Order
joined the School of Magnetism of Henri Durville (see "Fudosi Orders &
Societies: 1850-1900 France").
In 1911 the Martinst Rituals of T�der are published;
in reality -as stated on Page 27 - the rituals were probably written by Edouard
Blitz. Blitz had written these rituals in 1900/1901 and had sended them in 1901
to Papus. In September 1912 the final edition of "L'Initiation" is
published, a triple-edition combining the issues of July, August and September
1912.
Papus apparently had a presentiment about the dark
clouds which gathered together above the horizon of
Europe. He 'prophecied' the forthcoming First World War in several writings of
his around 1912-1913. He became more and more involved with the issue of social
reformations, politics, and his views on this subject, of course, based on the
philosophy of his "Intellectual Master", St-Yves d'Alveydre… …
The original intention of Papus and his associates was
to create one central Order which unified all Occult orders in the spirit of
John Yarker and Theodor Reuss.
The Martinist Order Papus created with its 'original'
three degrees was ment as a preliminary order to "prepare its members for
entry into an Order that could confer an authentic initiation on those who
showed themselves able to receive it ". In 1888 the "Higher
Order", as foreseen by Papus, was the "Fraternit� Herm�tique de
Louxor", the H.B.of L. Eventuelly, for reasons
unknown to me, the "Higher Order" became the "Ordre
Kabbalistique de la Rose+Croix", the OKR+C.
In 1893 the Martinist Order had obtained the original
archives of Willermoz' C.B.C.S. and the archives of the "Elus Cohen"
of Lyon. Later on Papus also incorporated the
Memphis-Mizraim rite into his organization-system. The whole 'Rite' was connected with the L'Eglise Gnostique Universelle, the
Gnostic Church which acted as the official church of the "Ordre
Martiniste", thus creating a Martinist Order which had High Degrees of an
Occult character, which were connected with practical
Kabbalah and Esoteric Masonry... "The Martinist Order is an active
center for initiation. It was established with the purpose to disseminate
widely the teachings of Occultism, according to the ways of the Western
Christian tradition." (Papus).
At the end of his life Papus had created an order
which reminded of the Martinism of the 18th century, a
system which incorporated Occult High Degrees.
When Papus died the M*O* had more than 160 regular
Lodges worldwide. In 1918, when the smoke had cleared, the most important
figures from the 19th century occult movement were all gone;
Papus, Péladan, De Guaita …. "But the visions they had nurtured
remained…" In the eyes of the French visionairies humanity stood
at the dawn of a new period in time, a period which
awaited the long-expected Kingdom of the Paraclete ….
The M:::O::: Abroad
RUSSIA
In 1897 (July 30th )
Papus initiated Russian violinist Olga de Moussine-Pouchkine
("Hathor") into the Martinist "Supérieur Inconnu" degree. In 1899 Mme
de Moussine-Pouchkine is nominated as "Grand Maître de l'Ordre
Martiniste" for Russia.
In 1901 Papus visited Russia, accompanied by his
'spiritual teacher", Maitre de Philippe (Anthelme Philippe Nizier,
1842-1905) from Lyon. Together they visited Czar Nicolas II of Russia. In 1900,
supposedly, Maitre Philippe had already contacted Grand Duke Wladimir through
Papus. Whether Papus did initiate the Czar is not sure, because Martinism had
already been introduced in Russia by Prince Kourakine. Saint Martin's first
propagandist in the 18th century was Johann Georg Schwarz, who was born in Transylvania
and sought to reorient the Russian (masonic) lodges based on both the
Rosicrucian system and Saint-Martin's Lyons Reformation. Saint-Martin's
philosophy had been quit successful in Russia at the
time, due to Saint-Martin's affinity with the theosophical philosophy of Jacob
Böhme.
Kourakine had been initiated into Martinism by Louis
Claude de Saint-Martin, when Kourakine represented his country in France as a
diplomat. Kourakin introduced Martinism in Russia as the initiator of Nicolas
Ivanovitch Novikov ( 1744 - 1818 ).
Nicolai Novikov was a writer, publisher and dignitary of French Masonry and the
Rosicrucians (18th century German Gold-and Rosycross) in Russia.
Nevertheless it is
quite possible that Papus initiated the Czar into his "Ordre
Martiniste". According to James Webb in "the Occult
Establishment", Papus installed the Czar as the head of a Martinist Lodge.
Papus served the Czar and his wife, Czarina Alexandra, both as physician and
occult consultant. According to the "Ordre Martiniste des Pays-Bas"
Papus "allegedly conjured up the spirit of Alexandre III, Czar Nicholas'
father, who prophesied that the Czar would meet his downfall at the hand of
revolutionaires. Papus allegedly informed the Czar that he would be able to
magically avert Alexander's prophesy so long as he was alive (Czar Nicholas was
executed in 1917, 141 days after Papus' death). This story is muntrue, because
many sources state that at that time Papus was not even in Russia. There are no
entries in Papus' diary on the supposed conjuration. Marc Haven (Dr.Lalande), Papus' partner at the time even wrote an
official 'Dementi' ( denial ). Papus would revisit
Russia twice, in 1905 and 1906. "During their later correspondence, Papus
warned the Czar and his wife several times against the influence of Rasputin.
In 1910 Dr.Czinski is appointed Sovereign Delegate of
the Russian Martinist Order. The advisor of State, Gregoire Ottonovich de Mébés
presides over the opening of a new Lodge in St.Petersburg.
AMERICA
In America the Order was represented by Edouard Blitz,
the "Souverain Délégate" for the 'Ordre Martiniste'. Blitz was born
in Belgium and was a Jewish emigrant, descending from the 'old' Martinists.
Blitz was also an initiate of the 'Chévaliers Bienfaisants de
la Cité Sainte' and of 'Memphis-Misraim'. He was the direct successor
of the 'Elus Cohen', being the successors of Antoine Pont in America.On June
21, 1902 Blitz broke with the Martinists in France and
founded the "AMERICAN RECTIFIED MARTINIST ORDER". It
is said that Blitz did not want to be associated with a Martinist Order that
had 'changed' to a quasi-Masonic rite. On June 2, 1902
a General Convocation was held in Cleveland, Ohio, where an official
'Manifesto' was issued by Blitz' Council. The 'American Manifesto' referred,
amongst others, to certain hidden Grades within Blitz' Rite "which came
out of that marriage between Martinism and the Rite of the Strict
Observance", thus A.E.Waite in his 'Encyclopaedia
of Freemasonry". After the foundation of the "Ordre Martiniste"
with its three Degrees in 1891, through the years the O:::M:::
would develop into an order which also conferred higher degrees upon their
members. Being a 'regular' Mason himself, Blitz did not want to be associated
with an order that could be considered clandestine by regular, legitimate
Masonry. Blitz was replaced by Margaret B.Peeke,
chosen by the 'Supreme Council'. After the 'American Manifesto' was published,
the Supreme Counsil in Paris replied with an 'Edict from the East' published in
a periodical called "Star in the East". The Edict 'rectified' certain
decisions of the former President and his Delegates. Furthermore, there was an
official announcement regarding Peeke's authorization as 'Inspectrice Générale
de l'Ordre pour les Etats-Unis' (Inspectress-General). When Peeke died in 1908 she was replaced by the French Supreme Coucil with
François L. Gauthey of New York, with the title of Delegate General for the
USA. Gauthey received his diploma on 19 February 1909. Due to lack of assistance
from France, the American Martinist Order died out in the U.S.A. Blitz'
"American Rectified Martinist Order" was only accessible to Masons.
Both branches became extinct in the first decades of the 20th century. Blitz
proclaimed he held a direct lineage to De Pasqually and Saint-Martin, through
the R.E.R. (Régime Écossais Rectifié" or "Rectified Scottish System),
which included the C.B.C.S., and the "Ordre Interieure", which were
transmitted by the 'Grand Priory of Helvetia' in Geneva, Switzerland. According
to Papus' son, Philippe Encausse, Blitz died between 1920 and 1924. But we know
though Harold V.B. Voorhis -from a paper he delivered at the Annual Meeting of
the Grand College of Rites held in Washington, D.C. on 20 February 1943 - that
Blitz accurate date of Blitz'death was February 10, 1915. One
of the S.I.IV's (Martinist Initiator) from the Peeke
lineage was George Plummer (Herodotus), who was in touch with Dr.Edward Brown and his "Temple of the Rosy Cross"
from 1899 onwards, Brown being the successor of Pascal Beverly Randolph.
Plummer was also one of the leaders of Gould's restructured S.R.I.A. in 1912.
Plummer's successor as head of the S.R.I.A. in America was "Mother
Serena", also a S.I.IV from Peek's lineage. Another occultist which helped
introducing Martinism to America was, as mentioned
before, Peter Davidson of the Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor. Davidson
represented the "ORDRE MARTINISTE" during his 'American period' in
the H.B.of L. colony in Georgia, USA. He also
published a journal for the Fraternite de L'Etoile, of which Davidson was the
head of the American branch. Apparently this journal,
the "Morning Star", acted as the official journal of the Martinist
Order in America for a short period of time… As mentioned before, in 1909 the
official Martinist journal in America is called "Treshold ". Blitz
did not accept Davidson as a Martinist due to his activities and the H.B. of
L., which Blitz did not 'recognize', to put it mildly. Despite th efforts of
Blitz, and later Peeke as well as Gauthey, the Martinist Order died out in the
U.S.A. There was a constant lack of "documents necessary to faciliate the
operation of the Order", as Gauthey put it in a letter -dated
January 2, 1912 - addressed to Papus. All the material was in French (as
most still is today), no translations were made available to the English speaking communities overseas, in other words: The
Martinist Order in the U.S.A. did not have its teachings, its doctrines or
whatsoever. Like Blitz stated in a letter written to Papus, dated April 2,
1901:
"..aside from
the little summary of a ritual, I have never received the least
instruction"
~ AMERICAN MARTINIST ORDER ~
Copie of a circular distributed by Blitz addressed to
the American delegates in 1902:
Nevada, (Missouri) January 2, 1902.
Dear Sir and Brother,
The Supreme Council of the Martinist Order residing in
Paris, France, in its recent � REGLEMENT ADMINISTRATIF � for Lodges and
Delegations,
1) - Having laid down a plan of work, which the greatest majority of our Members
are unable to follow owing to certain obligations taken freely and voluntarily
in other Fraternities, thereby causing the entire Order to be confounded with
so-called c l a n d e s t i n e associations by persons unacquainted with our
work in America ;
2) - After repeated respectful remonstrances and final
ultimatum presented by the Sovereign-delegate-General for this continent
regarding the irregularity and illegal character of such dangerous and
dishonorable innovation, the President of the Supreme council of France,
speaking in behalf of that Assembly, having declared his unwillingness to amend
the said « REGLEMENT ADMINISTRATIF » so that our Brethren be permitted to act
honorably to themselves and the other institutions of which they share the rights
and benefits of membership; and
3) - The Grand Master, President of the said Supreme
Council, having threatened, in a private letter to his
Sovereign-Delegate-General, to dissolve all Martinist formation throughout the
World rather than to allow the America Branch to refuse recognition of the
Supreme Council of France, or declare its own independance ;
Therefore it is
deemed meet and proper that the undersigned should.
The Sovereign-Delegate-General, President of the Grand Council of America, does
herby call a GENERAL CONVOCATION of the Martinist Order in America to be held
in some central city in the United States (probably Cleveland, Ohio) the time
and place to be designated within next 30 days, after conferring by
correspondence with the different Martinist Lodges and Groups, such meeting
when convened to take such action in the premises as the seriousness of the
occasion and the honorable welfare of the Order in the Americas may require.
The undersigned would respectfully request that each Martinist formation send
one of its ablest members to such meeting to hear and discuss the situation
created by the arbitrary and unreasonable « Promulgation » of the Supreme
Council of France in its Rules and Regulations for Lodges and Delegations. Each
Martinist formation should be represented at this meeting so that each Group
may be told word of mouth of its own representative of the imperative. Still,
impossible regulations promulgated as above stated. Each lodge or group may be
informed by its own representative of the exact character and nature of the
requirements of said « Promulgation ».
When such MEETING shall have convened and the «
Promulgation » in its entirety laid before the Convocation, either one of two courses will be left open to us in this Country :
a) - Either forswear and perjure ourselves
who are affiliated with other honorable institutions, or
b) - Adept a set of resolutions, something like the following :
Resolved: The Grand Council of the Martinist Order in
America severs all affiliation with the Supreme Council of France and all
bodies placed under the same jurisdiction.
Resolved: The Grand Council of the Martinist
Order in America, under the title of « SOVEREIGN-GRAND-COUNCIL-GENERAL » as
heretefore, continues the administration of the Order, according to its
Statutes and Regulations.
Revolved: The Martinist Order placed under the
jurisdiction of the Sovereign Grand Council General, shall be known as the
« AMERICAN MARTINIST ORDER » to distinguish it from that placed under
any other obedience.
Dear Sir and Brother,
You are fraternally requested to cause the present
announcement to be read at you next regular meeting
and designate by vote of your lodge or group, the representative who, with
yourself or delegate, will represent your body at the General Convocation
which, in all probability, will be held in June 1902.
Very fraternally yours,
[signé] É. Blitz \
Sov Del Gen, Pres G C of A
ENGLAND
Not much is known of the English Martinists at the
time, except for some information A.E. Waite is giving in his book "A new
Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry" (about 1920). According to Waite, The
English Martinists broke with the Supreme Counsil in Paris for similar reasons
as Blitz's. This happened "during the course of 1902", thus Waite. An
"INDEPENDENT AND RECTIFIED RITE OF MARTINISM" was
'officially'constituted. The English "Rectified Rite" differed from
Blitz' Rectified Rite by the fact "that it sought no recognition in
Masonic circles and initiated both sexes. It remained, however, in full
sympathy with the Rectified Order, as this was being propagated in
America". The Rite made use of transmuted Rituals and was divided in Three Degrees ;
RITE OF DEDICATION
CEREMONY OF THE TRESHOLD
RITE OF ORDINATION or WARRANT
According to Waite, the English Rectified Rite
appeared not to be successful and seemed "to have fallen asleep ..."
Waite was, amongst others, a Martinist. He probably received his
"initiation" by communication. Later on in
his life, Waite went to Switzerland to receive initiation into the CBCS,
through the help of Edward Blitz, himself a CBCS initiate. According to the
introductory pamphlet of Trophimus' Rose-Croix Martinist Order (Greely,
Colorado) Dion Fortune was also associated to Martinism (
Dion Fortune, member of Mather's "Alpha & Omega", after
which she founded the "Society of Inner Light"). There's also some
'evidence' that William Wynn Wescott (S.R.I.A., one of the founders of the
"Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn) had received
the S.I. degree. The following text is from R.A. Gilbert's "William Wynn
Wescott and the Esoteric School of Masonic Research";
" A note of 1895 in John Yarker’s hand (now in
The Yarker Library at Maida Vale) refers to ‘the English version of the Order of
(Le Philosophe Inconnu) Louis Claude St. Martin in Three Grades ‘Ethical’
", Translated by W. W. Westcott 1880/1893 from mss. of 1778’. The note
adds that ‘Dr. W. W. Westcott, a member of the Three Grades of the ethical
Order of St. Martin, has permission to give them, without fee to anyone he
deems suitable’. This is clearly a reference to L’Ordre Martiniste, which was
founded in 1884 by the French occultist Papus (Dr. Gerard Encausse) and the
rituals of which were produced between 1887 and 1890. If Westcott was
translating Martinist texts in 1880 they were unlikely to have been
rituals" (R.A.Gilbert)
In Fr. Fiducius' article "La Venerable figura del
Maestro Papus" the writer states that Papus appointed a "Sovereign
General Delegate" among one of the members of a "Masonic
Organization" which had its seat in Manchester. The writer of course
refers to the circle around John Yarker. A "Principal Inspector" is
appointed in London and special delegates are appointed in Southampton,
Edinborough, Glasgow, Dublin, and Birmingham, thus Fr. Fiducius…
GERMANY
On May 9, 1898 a covenant was
signed which confirmed an alliance between the Martinist Order and the
Illuminati Order of Leopold Engel from Germany. One of the members of the I.O.
was Reuss. Both Reuss and Papus were members of the T.S. at the time. Other
famous members were Karl Kellner and Gustav Meyrink. Meyrink soon left after
some quarrels with Reuss �
On June 24, 1901 Papus
chartered Theodor Reuss as Grand Master for Germany. The title Reuss received
as Head of the German Martinists, was Inspecteur Spécial, I.'.M.'.
,the original warrant ;
Ordre Martinist
Theodor Reuss
Par la Présente Le F.'. Theodor Reuss de Berlin est
autorisé à Représenter L'ORDRE à titre de:
Inspecteur Spécial (I.'.M.'.)
avec siège à Berlin
[24 Juin 1901] [sign. Papus]
transl.;
Martinist Order
Theodor Reuss
"By these presents Brother Theodor Reuss of
Berlin is authorized to represent the ORDER under the
title of: Inspector General (I.M.) with his seat at Berlin... 24th of June 1901
... Papus."
It is said that Reuss used a visiting card during the
war (14-18) which described him as A.C.Reuss
"Honorary Professor at the High School for Applied Medical Science
(University of France)". Reuss probably referred to Papus' center for
Higher Learning, one the institutions Papus had
established. It seems that Papus' institutions for 'alternative' medical
science at the time were known abroad. Another German living in South-America, Arnoldo Krumm-Heller, contacted Papus in 1897
for advise. Krumm-Heller, 18 years of age at the time,
had discovered his abilities as a healer and a psychic at a young age. In 1906
he would take part in certain 'scent-experiments' under the leadership of Papus
in Paris. Papus made Krumm-Heller a 'Honorable Member' of the
'SUPREME CONSEIL d'INITIATION, ORDRE HUMANITAIRE ET SCIENTIFIQUE POUR LE
DEVELOPEMENT DES ETUDES ESOTERIQUE DE l'ORIENT'. On Januari 24, 1908 an announcement is published in the first edition of
Francois-Charles Barlet's spiritualistic journal "L'Etoile D'Orient - Revue
de Hautes Etudes Psychiques" regarding the foundation of "Centre
Esoterique Oriental de France". In 1908 Krumm-Heller apparently was
appointed one of the "Delegues Generaux de l'Ordre en Occident", as a
delegate for Germany in Paris. Barlet was the representative in France of a Albert de Sarâk, a well-known conjuror and swindler at the
time. De Sarâk headed the "CENTRE ESOTÉRIQUE ORIENTAL". In 1902 he
had founded the "Oriental Esoteric Center of the United States of America,
under Obedience to the Supreme Esoteric Council of the Initiates of
Tibet ". Krumm-Heller was already made a member of the
"Initiates of Tibet" in 1902. Barlet joined in 1907, becoming its
President for France. But Sarâk was under heavy attack from the esoteric
community. Both Barlet and Krumm-Heller left the disreputable organization at
the end of 1908. Krumm-Heller was initiated in the "Ordre Martiniste" but the date is unknown (between 1905-1910 probably).
It is stated that he was a Martinist (Membre Titulaire) of Lodge
"Hermanubis" , registernumber
192 .
Source; http://www.diax.ch/users/prkoenig/books/rose.htm
"Ein
Leben fuer die Rose" Peter R. Koenig
At the end of the first decade Krumm-Heller started to
establish Lodges in several countries of South-America
under the jurisdiction of Papus. Krumm-Heller was also a member of the OKR+C.
In 1927 he would found his own order, the
" Antique Ordo Rosea Crucis", which is known
today as the "FRATERNITAS ROSICRUCIANA ANTIQUA".
BOHEMIA
Baron Adolf Leonhardi von Platz, a member of
Parliament in the 1890's, asked papus in a letter for his approval to establish
a Martinist Lodge in Prague. The Baron represented an 'occult circle of
friends'. Many of these friends were already a member of Mdm Blavatsky's TS.
The Theosophic circle became Lodge no.12, "Der Blauen Stern" and in
1893 this Martinist Lodge already had eight S::I::
members, each S.I. leading a group of 10 up to 15 members. "Der Blauen
Stern" attracted many intellectuals interested in occultism, among which
such personalities as the authors Julius Zeyer and Gustav Meyrink, author of
various esoteric novels and mystic. At the time he was still a bankmanager. After being a member of many Rosicrucian,
Masonic, Martinist, and Theosophic societies, orders, and brotherhoods, he
finally became convinced that the "Truth" could not be found within
these organizations ("superficiality, theistic fanatics
!"). Still, he were to find within ones heart, thus Meyrink (see also chapter " 1923 ORDO
AUREAE & ROSAE CRUCIS"). The following text is a chapter from Karl
Weinfurter's "History of Occultism", published in 1932, which
documents the moment that Leonardi introduced "Martinism" to the
Theosophical "Inner circle" of Meyrink and company. Weinfurter had
been a member of a Martinist Lodge in Bohemia :
"And there during one visit in Prague baron
Leonhardi mentioned some delightful news, that we would be brought into one
French occult society. Of this we were overwhelmingly delighted
and we said so. Our task was to read the book by Mabell Colins "Light on
the Path" perhaps to understand it. It it is
rather mystical and intense and
I am to this day convinced, that it wouldn't have been
possible for us to have not understood it. We had a good German translation of
this, and we studied it. We debated about its contents and everyone spoke
differently. Leonardi was however content with our discussions,
and gave us an additional taskL we were to
study Goethe's text "Unterhaltungen deutscher Ausgewanderter" and
read the "fairy tale" in it. This "fairy tale" represents a
broad spectrum of symbols and its exegis is very difficult. Up until today
nobody knows for sure what this great German poet was trying to say. It was a
tough nut, but we simply listened and Leonhardi was content. Then began a
period of waiting. There were always explanations -- until once
day Meyrink held a telegram saying that the baron was coming and that we would
be initiated. We had already heard from the baron that we should each obtain a
golden chain from our necks. As it happened though my pocket was significantly
exhausted, and I was embarrassed. But lord
"R." a very sentimental and giving man gave me a chain. And then came
the celebratory meeting, which would be the "initiation."
The baron brought us a secret pass-word,
and a sign, which as is known, allows entry into all secret occult societies
and others, and then he told us that we were entering the order of the
"Unknown Philosopher." This name signifies an adept, or an initiate,
and is generally very well known in a variety of French occult orders. In the
end, we all held a small golden medal on which was in blue enamel decorated a six-pointed star and four specific letters. The
reader should recall, that before I wrote of clairvoiant attempts, Leonhardi
appeared in a sceance at Na Porici. I had then seen this very same symbol, that
the baron then carried from his neck. (p. 54)
And it was all. We never heard anything else about
this secret order. We never met any other members besides the baron, and nobody
ever knew if this order existed, or if it ever really existed. We later learned
that the baron, to amuse us, played a harmless trick on us. It is possible,
however, that he was actually a member of this order.
(Perhaps) We later didn't want to belong.
Subsequently, however, Leonardi recommended the
writings of John the Baptist Kerning, a German freemason, who carried in his
rituals and symbolic masonry a road and which was the
last European mystic who published for the public....".
Another interesting document, derived from Emanuel
Lesehrad's "In the Steps of Secret Societies", published in 1935,
gives a detailed description of the Lodge's ( Prague)
work in 1889. This document was distributed among the brothers (among the
members of the Prague-Lodge in 1899 were J.K.P.Drazdak,
Hauner, Posche (Emmanuelle), Paul Leppin, and K.Weinfurter).
Document ;
News of the movement S::I::
The Highest order set out on a tour of the work of the
lodges of its observers.
Whoever has any work, literary or from history, or
occult work (5-6 pages), send it to you initiator and
this delegation. Work for that will be set out at a conference in Paris.
Delegates from Kairo was invited to write
his memorandum about Babyst (a secret society in Persia) and Br.::
in San Francisco, to write a memorandum about secret societies in China, and also studies from
delegats in Annam and Senegal. The lord of Lusignan
brought the title of the protector "Union Idealist Universelle." the Lusignan family was always inclined and closely tied
with the Martinist movement.. Previous princes
supported Martinez de Pasqually as Claude de Saint-Martin.
BB:: work with
the in collective work and support among the SI order and bb masons of the
primitive rite or Swedenborg, a rite of Memphis and all right rites of
spiritualism, which work now with all organizations of R+C in Europe and in
America.
BB:: that is
on the other hand bb work on idealized French masonry that publish the
magazine, L'Accacia."
The Congress of Spiritists and spiritualists in 1900.
After S::I::. R+C+C.
there are
representatives, Papus, Sedir, Jollivet-Castelot, Ourdeck, Karl Nyssa, S.U.
Zanne. withe notes from the capable delagate,
Apollonius.
Because in May at first will
be worked the first place worked in lectures of the Hermetic faculty in May.
Later information will be distributed in later editions. BB::
shall not forget the support of the peace movement; if any brothers wish to
lecture sometime, they should write to the secretary Amis, who makes the
lecture calendar.
"Apollonius".
After Baron Leonardi brought Martinism to Bohemia in
1891(now Czechia ) and the first proper Lodge was
established in Budejovice (Budvar) in 1894, lodges were established in Prague
(1899), Brno, Olomouc (Olmutz), and Prerov. In 1924 a significant Martinist
Lodge was founded by Jan Rebik, Lodge Simeon. This Lodge was run by the poet
Emanuel of Lesehrad, and counted among its members the
most significant Czech Hermetic, Petr Kohout, aka Pierre de Lasenic. With
Constant Chevillon, the Martinist Lodge "Paragava" was founded in
1938. Lasenic's death and the Nazi-occupation resulted in the demise of the
Lodges. After Worl War II there were several attempts to renew the Martinist
activities in Czechia. But due to the Communist take over
these attempts failed. In 1975 a new attempt when I.Seguret
(O*M* de Paris ) came to Prague to participate in the lodges reconstruction. Still, the Czechs had to wait a
further ten years when there was finally a succesful attempt when "Lodge
Lasenic" was founded ( Milan Nakonecny, writer of
the book "Novodoby Hermetismus", published in 1992
). Also of interest is the foundation of a "Society of Czech
Hermeticists", named "Universalia" in 1920.
"Universalia" was active between the two World Wars. The association
was led by such men as J.S.Kminek, Jan Rebik and Dr.Jan Kefer, other prominent members were Pierre Lasenic
and Frantisec Kabelak. In 1989 the association was revived, since 1998 the name
is changed to "Univerzalia"…
( Most of the
information on "Bohemia" is translated from original works in the
Czech language by a "Hermeticist ", who's wish it is to stay
'anonymus' )
In 2001 Maurice Warnon of the "Ordre Martiniste
des Pays-Bas" (O*M* of the Netherlands) announced the foundation of a
Lodge in Czechia.
BELGIUM
The first Martinist Lodges in Belgium were founded in
1892. Brussels' first and main lodge was Lodge 'KVMRIS'. The Lodge was led by
Francis Vurgey and Nicolas Brossel, its President. Evidently the Lodge also
represented the Belgian branch of Papus' G.I.D.E.E. ( "Independent
Group of Esoteric Studies" ). According to
Koenig, the G.I.D.E.E. (its Belgian branch included) carried a line of
succession of Fabré-Palaprat's "Order of the Temple" (1). The
Templar-lineage is confirmed by several sources. As a matter of fact, some
state that the KVMRIS-Lodge was directly linked to Fabré-Palaprat's Templar
Order. After Fabré-Palaprat died in 1838, the neo-Templar Order slowly died out
under the direction of a small group of French and Belgian noblemen. According
to these sources, the Orthodox Templar order died out, but some sort of
'Primitive Christian Church' ("Johannites") attached to the
neo-templars continued its activities in secret. At first the members of the
"Order of the Temple" had professed the Roman Catholic religion.
Still, in or about the year 1814, Fabré-Palaprat had obtained possession of a
manuscript copy of a "spurious Gospel of St.John,
which is supposed to have been forged in the 15th century". Fabré-Palaprat
used the Gospel, together with an introduction and commentary called the
"Levitkon" which was said to have been written by Nicephorus, to
compose a liturgy. The Order established a religious rite called
"Johannism", or "Johannite Church". Their church propagated
the idea of an "alternative" Apolostic succession from John through
the Grand Masters of the Templars. When the "Order of the Temple" was
disbanded, the "Johannite Church" continued. It is said that out of
this church, which was led by French and Belgian noblemen, evolved a circle of
men which would finally establish Lodge KVMRIS. The Gnostic elements which
influenced the works of such lodge-members as Clement de Saint-Marcq were part
of the doctrine of the Johannite church. Papus payed
several visits to Brussels because of profession. On May 25, 1892
Papus was invited as a guest of the ULB university (
Université Libre de Bruxelles ) on a conference of Hypnosis. Three
days earlier, on May 22, Papus visited Lodge KVMRIS. Together with the
Lodge-members Papus payed a visit to the statue of Van
Helmont in Brussels (Jan Baptista Van Helmont, 1580-1644; Alchemist * ). After he visited the conference at the Université
Libre de Bruxelles, Papus visited the Antwerp Lodge 'VISCVM', which was led by
Rosport, on May 26. Papus returned on the same day to Brussels where he met the
mayor of the city, M.Buls.The Brussels Lodge 'KVMRIS'
was very active in the last decade of the 19th century, until Verguy sended in
his resignation to devote his time to personal research. Francis
Verguy was also a member of Peladan's "ORDRE DE LA ROSE-CROIX CATHOLIQUE
ET ESTHETIQUE DU TEMPLE ET DU GRAAL" and a friend of Emile Dantinne ('Sar
Hieronymus'). At the time of the 'decline' of the Brussels Lodge, a
new Lodge was established in Liége/Luik (near the Dutch- and German border in
the east of Belgium) under the authority of Fievet. This was Lodge 'POLLUX'.
Rosport, who led Lodge 'VISCVM', left Belgium and went to Congo (a Belgian
colony at the time). Rosport died on Januari 10, 1895. One of the 'Secretaries'
of Lodge 'KVMRIS' was Clément de Saint-Marcq (aka Georges Mickaël or Mikaël
d'Ams). Clément de Saint-Marcq was also a member of Peladan's Order ( 'Ordre de la Rose-Croix Catholique
du Temple et du Graal') and member of Doinel's Gnostic Church.
Saint-Marcq was a 'chevalier' ('Knight') in Peladan's order. In 1906
Saint-Marcq's Gnostic text " L'Eucharistie" was published (2), which
made a deep impression on Theodor Reuss. When Rosport left Lodge 'VISCVM' in
Antwerp, Saint-Marcq became his successor. Meanwhile, Lodge
'KVMRIS' was disbanded. The Martinist movement in Belgium started to decline,
soon many members would leave the order. Many of those who left joined the
"Theosophical Society", with the exception of
Fievet of Lodge 'POLLUX'. In 1912 a Armand Rombauts
received a charter from Papus' order to establish a Martinist-Lodge in Belgium.
Rombauts purpose was to immediately establish a 'Grand Loge Nationale de
Belgique' with the significant name "I.N.R.I.". Finally, in 1918
after the war was finished, The Martinist Order of Belgium came under the
responsibility of Rombauts. Rombauts would play a major role in the foundation
of the F.U.D.O.S.I. in 1934. http://users.pandora.be/marcel.roggemans/milko.htm ('1934-1951
F.U.D.O.S.I.)
* Jan Baptista Van Helmond, a Flemish
physician and Alchemist- follower of Paracelsus, was the first to postulate the
existence of gases distinct from air. This brilliant Belgian scientist also
showed that plants are composed only of water. His works were published exceptas Ortus Medicinae (his son).
At the time of the foundation of Palaprat's Templar
Order, there were many speculations on the origin of the order. Palaprat was
convinced that the order was a direct descendent of De Molay's original Templar
order. In "History of Freemasonry" (1882-1887), R.F.Gould
writes "It is immaterial whether the French 'Order of the Temple' is a
revival of 'La Petite Resurrection desTempliers,' -- a
licentious society established in 1682 -- or an offshoot of the lodge 'Les
Chevaliers de la Croix,' 1806......" Many modern-day 20th century
Templar-orders have a direct lineage to Palaprat's 'Order of the Temple' which
was originally founded in 1804.
"L'Eucharistie" by 'Chevalier'
Cl�ment de Saint-Marcq , published in 1906.
"The Eucharist' was considered by Theodor Reuss to contain the ultimate
secret of the OTO, "the traditional practice of the sacred spermatophagia,
glorified as being the sole method of seizing God, to unite with him, to live
in a saintly perfection. God is the universal soul " (adapted from
Saint-Marq). the complete text can be found at Peter Koenig's website
at: http://www.cyberlink.ch/~koenig/eucha.htm
There exists another edition of the text, most
probably the original version, the Pangenetor edition, dated Antwerp 1907 (this
date is supported by a reference to the pamphlet by Reuss in his "Parsifal
and the Unveiling of the Secret of the Graal"). The introduction of the
Pangenetor edition is written by Jean Mallinger
"In May 1934, in a philosophical group which I
was moderating at the time in Brussels, I officially invited a noteworthy
visitor, a speaker of talent and a distinguished humanist. It was the Chevalier
Clement de Saint-Marq, former Commander of the Place Forte d'Anvers (The
Fortification of Antwerp) and director of an important spiritualist society. He
forwarned us that the subject of his lecture was important, sensitive and most
certainly controversial; it would give rise to an exchange between resolutely contradictory
viewpoints. Such proved indeed to be the case, and each remained steadfast in
his opinions. The text of his expose' was published in
pamphlet form and we are publishing here below its
complelopment. It will evoke curiosity with all, anger with some
and prudent approbation with others. Here it is. We shall speak of it
again!"
Jean Mallinger, Esq.
Richard Jessel and Frater Y.V., Translation
Pangenetor Lodge Publications 1995
source: M.Evans/Malwgwyn
The Degrees and Rituals of the 'Ordre Martiniste' and
the
Martinist Seal
In March 1891 the SUPR�ME CONSEIL DE L'ORDRE
MARTINISTE was officially installed and a Martinist order under the name of
"ORDRE DES SUP�RIEURS INCONNUS" was founded.The
Martinist Order presented itself as "Order of Christian- or Spiritual
Knighthood ". The "ORDRE DES S.'. I.'. " consisted of three Degrees.
Whatever the truth is, there are no official documents
or papers which proves the existence of a historical
Martinist Order led by Louis Claude de Saint-Martin. All statements and 'proof'
regarding the 'original' Martinist Order of Saint-Martin rested on the
authority of Papus. Both Papus and Chaboseau claimed to be initiated as a
Martinist. Papus by Delaage, and Chaboseau by de Boise-Mortmart.
Papus stated regarding his "initiation" that
all that he ever received were some letters and some points. Papus evidently
refers to the S.'.I.'. , of
which he created the Martinist "Labarum ", a symbol comprised of the
letters S and I, an equilateral Cross, and six dots (2*3 dots)
Papus'Labarum
"a simple gift consisting of 2 letters and some
dots, a summary of a doctrine of Initiation and the 'Trinity' which had
illuminated all the works of Delaage"
THE LABARUM
"The opposition of the 2 Letters, and the
opposition of the 2 Triangles reveal to every perspicacious eye, the 2 Columns
in their active (letters) and their passive (points)
opposition; vertical and horizontal opposition; the key of
the symbolism of the Cross"
Papus speaks highly of his initiatior Delaage, who's,
to say the least, not well known in the occult circles of today. Henri Delaage
wrote several books of which "Doctrine des Sociétés Secrètes",
published in 1852, is probably the most well-known. Papus exchanged initiations
with Chaboseau, the reason being an uncertainty about one of the
"initiated" in the lineage of Papus (it was unknown who initiated
Henri Delaage). This statement was made by Chaboseau himself in an interview by
Gerard van Rijnberk, published in his book on Martinez de Pasqually.
When we take a look at what Pierre-Augustin Chaboseau
has to say about his Initiation into Martinism, it becomes clear that before
the existence of the "Ordre Martiniste" as founded by Papus, the
followers of Louis Claude de Saint-Martin did not make use of an elaborate
Initiation-ritual, as a matter of fact, there (probably) existed no such thing
as a written ritual including instructions etc. at all. Chaboseau on his
initiation by his aunt, Amélie de Boise-Mortmart ;
The Initiation consisted of an "oral transmission
of a particular teaching and a certain comprehension of the laws of the
Universe and of Spiritual life, which, in no case could be regarded as an
Initiation in a ritualistic form"
(Jean Chaboseau in "L'Encyclopedie de la
Franc-Maconnerie", ed. 2000)
Chaboseau is very clear in his statement when he says
that the 'initiation' "in no case could be regarded as an Initiation in a
ritualistic form". Furthermore, Chaboseau stated that most of the oral
teachings he (and Papus) received were written down in a notebook. These
teachings became the basis of the Associate-degree (1st degree)
of the O*M* (and, according to Elias Ibrahim, in the original French T*M*O*,
Ordre Martiniste Traditionelle, which was led by Chaboseau until he died in
1946). By the way, Jean Chaboseau (son of A.Chaboseau..) apparently stated, after the Supreme Council
voted against Jean Chaboseau's nomination as Grand Master of the Ordre
Martiniste Traditionnel in 1946, that his father's filiation through Am�lie
of Boisse-Mortemart did never exist !!! source: website "Les
Maitres Passes"
-'Groupements ou Ordres' at http://www.chez.com/crp/marti/groupordres.htm
Outside the Martinist order(s), Papus' Ordre
Martiniste is often looked upon as an independent established organization, and
not a continuation of the original Société des Intimes" (Society of
Friends), followers of Saint-Martin, and/or De Pasqually's "Elus
Cohen". Concerning "Martinezism" even most of the Martinist
Orders do not claim any filial authenticity. Famous French Martinist Robert
Amadou stated in his publication "Documents Martinistes"
:
"Nobody, to our knowledge, holds today the Cohen
succession, neither within any Order, nor in an individual way". One could
add to Amadou's statement that there is a "historical" connection
between the ELUS COHEN and the R.E.R. of today ("Régime Écossais
Rectifié" or "Rectified Scottish System").
"Because of the underlying Elu Kohen = Martinist
theory derived from DE PASQUALLY, the R.É.R. has always been
considered as ‘the other side of the Martinist mountain’, despite of its modern
masonic warrants (from Switzerland)".
Marc Jones "What is B.B.C.S.? What is
R.E.R."
We know that Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin did not
confer any degrees or use any system. He (probably) used a form of initiation
which is known as 'personal
Initiation'. Saint-Martin employed the biblical
"laying on of hands" upon the initiate.
"The only initiation which I preach and seek with
all the ardor of
my soul is that by which we may enter
into the heart of God and make God's
heart enter into us, there to
form an indissoluble marriage, which will
make us the friend, brother, and spouse of our Divine
Redeemer. There is no
other mystery to arrive at this holy initiation than
to go more and more
down into the depths of our being, and not let go
until we can bring forth
the living, vivifying root, because then all the fruit
which we ought to
bear,
according to our kind, will be produced within us and without us
naturally". LC de
Saint-Martin
The actual 'Initiation' did not employ any kind of
ritual or 'form'. It is generally believed that Saint-Martin performed a simple
personal initiation upon his disciples, nothing elaborate.
In Martinism this process is referred to as "transmission". But this
is something we presume, because there's no documental proof available
"that anything of this kind transpired, neither from the pen of
Saint-Martin nor from any of his admireres, who numbered in the thousands
throughout Europe" ("Martinist Initiation" by Sar Ignatius).
Supposedly, Saint-Martin's initiation conferred the quality of "Unknown
Superior", S.'.I. However, as mentioned earlier,
both Papus and Chaboseau stated that Louis Claude de Saint-Martin had intended
to establish a rite of seven degrees in 1780 (see"1891- Ordre des
Supérieur Inconnus"). Again, the claim rests solely on the authority of
both Papus and Chaboseau. When the Martinist Order was 'officially' established
in 1891, the "Ordre des S.'.I.'." comprised
three Degrees. There's some confusion about the actual "1891- title"
of the third Degree concerned. In general, the sources will present the
following names of the degrees ;
ASSOCIÉ
INITIÉ
ADEPTE
A.E. Waite's "Encyclopaedia of
Freemasonry" * presents the following degrees, in English ;
ASSOCIATE
INITIATED MARTINIST
INITIATOR
* At the time of publication, at the beginning of
the 20th century, Waite's "Encyclopaedia of Freemasonry" was sabled
down by the Masonic scholars for its 'inaccuraties', amongst others. A.E. Waite
was a member of the "Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn" and later
founded his own ( Christian-Kabbalastic) version of
it, the "Fellowship of the Rosy Cross". In 1902 he joined
Freemasonry. Waite wrote numerous books on Hermetic subjects and is considered
doubtful as a researcher by many of his 'colleagues'...
Another source is Edouard Blitz' "Ritual and
Monitor of the Martinist Order" of 1896. This publication was 'officially'
recommended "to the favor of the Brethren of the
Martinist Institution wherever dispersed" by the President and Secretary
of the Supreme Council of 1894 in Paris, Dr.Papus and
Jacques Burg. Therefore it's a valuable and reliable
historical referencebook concerning the Martinist rituals, symbolism, and
doctrines as used (probably) by the O*M* at the time. Blitz speaks of a
Martinist system of Degrees which through its history has been reduced into
"three essential" and "four accessory Degrees of
application". In his "Tableau of the transformations of the Martinist
Rite", Blitz refers to three Rites which preceded the "Martinist
Order- Modern Rite", as Blitz calls the O*M*. These rites were The Elus
Cohen of Pasqually (1750), the Rectified Rite of Saint-Martin (1767) and the
Refor'd Ecossism of Saint-Martin, as practiced in Germany 1782, thus Blitz.
Blitz' 3 'essential' Degrees are (as worked in France
in 1887) ;
ASSOCIATE (Philosophic)
INITIATE (Mystic)
S:::I:::
(Kabbalistic)
S:::I:::
(Administrative)
As one notices, Blitz also mentions the
"Administrative-Degree" (S:::I:::
-Administrative), as a side-degree. This was given to S.I.-members, who were
willing to help their Lodge on a 'administrative-level'.
The mentioning of the "S.I. Aministrative Degree" undermines (at
least on paper) the general assumption within the 'Martinist-movement' that the
'Administrative-Degree' did not exist at the time of Papus; "1975 12 20,
the administrative rank of S.I.G.I is removed, since it was not existing at the
time of Papus" ( 'Probationary Degree- text of instruction' 24 pages,
addressed to the M*O* of Chile by the President of the M*O* of Paris).
The first three degrees belonged to the "First
Temple". Blitz also refers to Degrees belonging to the "Second
Temple". This 'proves' that there already existed (again, at least on
paper) Higher Degrees within the "Ordre Martiniste", before the
foundation of the Supreme Council of the O.'.M.'.
These "accessory Degrees of application" were ;
Vth Degree
VIth Degree
VIIth Degree
Blitz does not 'name' them, he just refers to these
grades as the fifth, sixth, and seventh Degree. Could these degrees refer to
the grades of the "Fraternité Hermétique de Louxor", the H.B.of L. , as was Papus' original intention ? This is, of course, just a
speculation. It also could be a referrence to the "Elus-Cohen"
degrees, who knows (Blitz was, after all, the successor of the E.C. for
America).
The 'Martinist system of -essential- degrees', as
worked within the "Ordre Martiniste", is in fact one 'Initiation'
divided into three parts. As mentioned before, Saint-Martin only 'spoke' about
one initiation, the 'Sup�rieur Inconnu'.The first
two degrees are a 'preparation' for the third Degree, the S.I. -Degree.
According to Papus, "there is only one Degree, that of S.I." The aim
of the Martinist was (and is) to awaken the Conscience and finally achieving interior harmony. The method used within the 3 degrees of the O*M*, as mentioned before, was (and is)
known as "The Way of the Heart". More on this method can be found at :
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Temple/7105/heart.html
"Way of the Heart", a discourse on the
Martinist-Philosophic Method written by Papus.
After receiving the S.I. Degree the Martinist was
empowered to found a group. They were pledged solely to conceal the name of
their Initiator.
Another interesting historical document regarding the
Martinist Degrees at the time of Papus is the so-called "PROTOCOL OF THE
UNION OF MARTINIST ORDERS ", a document dated Sunday, the 28th day of October, 1962. The protocol announced the union of Philippe
Encausse's "O.M" (Ordre Martiniste) and Robert Ambelain's "Ordre
Martiniste des Elus-Cohens". It was officially signed by the two Grand
Masters, Encausse Jr. and Ambelain. Of particular interest is the refference in
the document to a certain volume of the official Martinist review
L�Initiation, dated 1911. Apparently, the review published the "General
Rules and Regulations of the Respected Lodge Melchisedech No. 208".
Melchisedech No.208 was the name of a Martinist Lodge in Paris at the time,
"under the direct dependence of Papus". Among the high officers were,
next to papus, men like " Teder, Targelius (Victor Blanchard), and
Librarius (Ernest Loiselle)", which conferred "upon all the acts and
decisions of this particular Lodge an official and incontestable
character". Apparently, this Lodge conferred also higher Degrees. These
degrees were connected with practical Kabbalism,
Christian Gnosis, and Spiritualist Masonry (Memphis-Misraim).
Lodge Melchisedech conferred the following Degrees
(1911):
- The "classical" Philosophic degrees of
Martinism
Associate
Initiate
Unknown Superior
Free Adept
The 4th grade, "Free Adept",
corresponds with the modern grade of "Free Initiator ", otherwise known
as S.I.I. or S.I. IV. It seems likely to presume that the ordinary S.I. was no
longer empowered to found a group on their own at the time …
Lodge "Melchisedech No.208" would later
(around 1911) become "Grand Lodge No.322". The degrees of the OKR+C
(Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose+Croix), "Bachelor",
"Master" and "Doctor" of Kabbala, were reserved only for
the high degrees of the Masonic Rite of Memphis-Mizraim (above the 33rd Degree).
The 'system of Degrees' of the O*M*, as practiced at Lodge Melchisedech No.208
in 1911, proved to be an elaborate- and intricate system (and pompous)
including Higher Degrees " of an infinitely more Occult character than
those usually known". The M.M. Degrees beneath the 33rd Degree
(equal to the Scottish Rite), "Secret Master" (4th), "Grand
Pontiff" or "Sublime Scottish" (19th) and "Sovereign Grand
Inspector General" (33rd), were equivalent to the Martinist degrees of
"Initiate", "Unknown Superior" and "Free Adept".
The document regarding Teder's Martinist Ritual of 1913 also refers to several
Elus Cohen Degrees equivalent to the Martinist Degrees Initiate and S.I. The
complete text of the document concerned can be found at:
http://www.icbl.hw.ac.uk/~bill/protocol.html
or at:
http://www.omeganexus.net/rcmo/protocol.htm
"THE PROTOCOL OF THE UNION OF MARTINIST
ORDERS" by
Mike Restivo (Sar Ignatius, Initiatèur Libre)
The Martinist Order is organized, in general, on the Lodge-system (the actual word "Lodge" can
be traced back to the days of the guilds in medieval Europe). This 'system' is
derived from Freemasonry, as we all know. As Sar Ignatius from the Rose+Croix
Martinist Order of Canada explains ;
"After having been found sincere and desirous of
study of the principles of the Order, a candidate successively progresses
through three Degrees or Grades: Associate, then Initiate, then Unknown
Superior. The education is given in person during meetings called Conventicles.
A simple ritual of opening and closing the group called a Heptad (7 members
minimum) or a Lodge (21 members minimum) is employed. Smaller groups called
Circles with a very simplified opening and closing ceremony,
permit less than the minimum to study the Martinist principles"
and; "The
Lodge system provides a psychological environment to encourage the perception
and appreciation of higher spiritual principles", thus Sar Ignatius in his
article "Martinist Initiation"
the complete text can be found at ;
http://www.omeganexus.net/rcmo/martinit.htm
this system
was also applied during the reign of Papus.
' The government of the Order is vested in three
bodies, named respectively, in the order of their rank, Supreme Council, Grand
Council, and Lodge'
' The authority of the Supreme Council, residing in
Paris, France, is absolute'
Source; Edouard Blitz 1896.
The M*O* did not pretend to have some sort of secret teachings at its disposal. It's
doctrine was based on Saint-Martin, Martinez de Pasqually, Boehme, and all the
theosophers, occultists and mystics who were inspired by them. It taught 'all
matters considered useful to its purpose, particularly
the doctrine of the universal Reintegration'.
The Martinist Rituals
Many sources state that at the beginning of Papus'
O*M* the rituals existed in outline only, "as certain heads of procedure,
and each initiator had the duty of amplifying them according to his/her best
lights", as one source states. As mentioned before, Chaboseau himself
stated that the initiation he had received in 1886 "in no case could be
regarded as an Initiation in a ritualistic form". It is generally assumed
that the followers of Louis Claude de Saint-Martin did not make use of an
elaborate Initiation-ritual. This is in contradiction to the assumption of
Papus, Blitz etc. that there existed a Martinist Order of Saint-Martin of 7
Degrees in the 18th century (Blitz speaks about 7 degrees
belonging to the 'First Temple' and another 3 degrees belonging to a 'Second
Temple' ), but, as stated a couple of times before, there exists no historical
proof for their claims. A.E. Waite states that "Between 1887 and 1890 he
(Papus) produced Rituals for the Order, arranged in three Degrees, which I have
praised on several occasions for their sincerity, simplicity and reserve in
respect of claims". Somewhere else in the same text Waite states that
"the mode adopted (initiation) was usually that which is known technically
as "communication," that is to say, personally and not in Lodge or
Temple. To my certain knowledge reception was arranged even by post".
THE FRENCH MYSTIC AND THE STORY OF MODERN MARTINISM,
by Arthur Edward Waite.
Another source, a Martinist Manual called
"Administrative and technical information for Lodge Officers" from
ICES provides the following information on the 'original' rituals, as used by
Papus in the 1890's. The actual text stems from Clive Culbertson S.I. from
Ulster and can be found on his website at:
http://freespace.virgin.net/clive.culbertson/martinism2.htm
" Martinism grew and spread under the guidance of
Papus. He added two degrees before the superior degree to serve as chambers of
instruction and probation. The first degree, that of associate is said to come
from Cagliostro's Egyptian Masonic Rite and the second degree, that of Mystic,
from Willermoz's Knights Beneficent of the Holy City (C.B.C.S)".
In a private correspondence
on the source of his information regarding the original rituals Clive stated :
"When we started our Heptad here in 91 (I think)
I got the manual "Administrative and technical information for Lodge
Officers" from ICES now ICOMS* in Barbados. The info was in a question and answer thing in there. The 3rd initiation
came from the Order of Unknown Philosophers and was divided into two parts,
half given at S.I. and the other half at P.I..As I understand it, the Order of
Unknown Philosopher's initiation is the actual initiation that the Martinist
Order was created to perpetuate and is it's raison
d'etre".
ICOMS (or ICOM) stands for
"International College of Martinist Studies". The
college (it's not an Order!) changed its name in course
of time to ICES / "International College
of Esoteric Studies", for more information, take
a look at their website at: http://www.orderofthegrail.org/ICES.html
The oldest document I've seen (until this day) about
the Martinist system of degrees and rituals is Blitz' "Ritual &
Monitor of the Martinist Order", which was published especially for the
"English speaking community" for the first time in 1896. The
recommendation written by Papus at the beginning of the book is dated December
1894.
The book is a manual for the functioning of a
Martinist Lodge including a complete outline of the rituals, the symbols used
and their meanings, the regulations of a set-up of a Martinist temple etc. The
rough outline of the rituals are similar
to the ones I've received (late 20th century) as a
member of the Ordre Martiniste des Pays-Bas. The major difference between the
1894 "versions" and the ones a Martinist will receive today is the
extensiveness of the rituals from 1894. Here's an excerpt from the 1894 'Initiation-Ritual'
of the first Degree, the 'Associate' degree, in which the 'dramatic feel' to
impress the candidate is illustrated ;
UNKNOWN BROTHER: "The Sun arises! As the shadows
of the night vanish, so let the veils that hide the Divine truth be torn away!
UNKNOWN PHIL.: (strikes three knocks slowly)
UNKNOWN BROTHER: (strikes three knocks slowly)
BRO.INITIATE: (strikes one knock)
The above dialogue is so timed that the Candidate
begins the 6th tour when seven knocks have been sounded.
Arriving at the station of Bro. Associate, the procession halts, and
Bro.Associate, plunging the right arm of the Candidate into a box filled with
sand, says:
" In the beginning God created the Heaven and the
Earth, and the Earth was without Form and Void".
Another interesting source is Kjetil Fjell from the
O.T.O. -researchgroup "Academia Masonica Borealis" in Norway. In his
article called "Rites mentioned in Liber 52" Kjetil tells us that the
Martinist rituals were originally developed by Stanislas De Guaita.
"The rituals originally developed by Guaita
focused on a Symbology of Light in which the number three played an important
role. In the first Grade, which was called La Affili�, the candidate was led
into a room in which three pillars with different colors were placed. Between
these pillars a huge candle was handed over. This Triad, in connection with the
number four (quatarnary)ond Grade (La Initi�), as well as in the Third Grade
(la Initiateur), be further harmonically developed. The Candidate would in
these Grades learn more about The Fall and the strengthening of humanity, as in
the teachings of Pasqually and Saint-Martin. In the highest Degree (The Third),
followed the -- -fusioning- between the Created and the Creator, as well as the
Unio Mystica of the elder Gnostics and Alchemists. The Initiate also saw the
masked men who silently pointed their swords at his chest. They wore an old
Egyptian headdress. The candidate had to sit down on a chair placed before a
white draped altar. On the altar was placed burning candles. In front of the
altar lay three carpets on which a Sphinx, Mask and a dagger was
embedded".
A.M.B. Kjetil Fjell "Rites mentioned in Liber
52"
http://www.oto.ritus52.html#R+C
When I compared Kjetil's information with Blitz'
"Ritual & Monitor of the M.O" I've found several similarities
between the two sources. For instance when Kjetil
states " The Candidate would in these Grades learn more about The Fall and
the strenghtening of humanity, as in the teachings of Pasqual and
Saint-Martin", One finds this doctrine throughout the whole story-line of the Initiation into the first degree as used
by Edouard Blitz. Kjell also refers to " the masked men who silently
pointed their swords at his (candidate) chest". In Blitz' "Ritual
& Monitor" we read on page 32 :
"Here the blindfold of the Candidate is raised and he beholds him, amidst red and green flames, the Brothers threatening him with their swords, some of them
wearing hideous masks (not grotesque); all seem ready to take the life of the
Candidate …"
"INITIATION -First Degree. Associate" 1896
I've found no traces of the (physical) three pillars
in the "Blitz-versions" in the first Degree, although they were
'present', symbolized by the three Cressets in Blitz' version
;
"In fine, the three Cressets, true flambeaux of
universal knowledge, symbolize also the three great Pillars of Kabbalah upon
which rests the Universe, intellectual and physical: Beauty, Strength, and
Wisdom"
"INITIATION -First Degree. Associate" 1896,
"DISCOURSE OF THE ORATOR" (Symbolism)
The Pillars are mentioned in the S.I. Initiation
Degree in the manual, were the two Columns are placed
on the platform situated in the Martinist temple. The Lodge-room was divided in three apartments in the 2nd and 3th Degree of Initiation. In the 2nd Degree
the first apartment was lighted, the other two were darkened. In the 3rd degree
the third apartment was darkened, the other two lightened …
As stated earlier, Papus apparently added two degrees
before the superior degree to serve as chambers of instruction and probation.
The "Ordre Martiniste" aka "Ordre Martinist de Paris"
provides the following information on the 'value' of the degrees (freely
transl. from French);
"The first Initiation which the O.M. transnmits
initially connects the elect member temporarily with
the Martinist chain. The first degree is a probational-degree. The second
Initiation is an initiation into a preparatory degree and the third connects a Brother or Sister finally to the Martinist égrégore and the
Martinist chain"
The main symbols used in the Martinist rituals and
workings are the Mask (symbol of Silence and Secrecy), Mantle (color -black,
symbol of Prudence), and the Universal Pentacle. The main
focus is placed on the symbolic Trinitarian structure with its ' three
points of Light' (as in many of the occult and mystic organizations). The three
Cressets symbolize i.a. the three 'pillars' and stand for 'God', 'man', and
'Nature'. The colors black, white and red ( the colors
used in Martinist symbolism) are refering to the classical Alchemical stages
Purification, Illumination and Union." When Papus and Novikov contributed
to the rituals of Martinism, they were trying to express the process of
illumination indirectly through the alchemical symbolism of black, white and
red. This refers to the classical stages of Purification, Illumination and
Union ( Elias Ibrahim ).
In the teachings of Martinez de Pasqually the three
colors black, white and red, refer to the symbols of
Matter in which the original Adam was clothed after his "Fall" ( source; Rituel de l'Apprenti Cohen ", Thory).
According to several French authorities on Martinism the use of the number
three as a key-symbol was copied from masonry by those who established the
Martinist Rite. The number three symbol in the Martinist rite is a
christianized version of its masonic source, reflecting the Christian Holy Trinity.
According to these French researchers the creators of the Martinist rituals
were not well acquainted with the original teachings of De Pasqually and
Saint-Martin, because the "Luminaries" of the original Elus Cohen
teachings were at least four, "a Perfect divine number, the three numbers
of Matter being 3, 6, and 9".
The rituals (as stated) are strongly influenced by
Masonry, especially Templarism. The influences from Templarism can be traced
back to Baron Karl Gotthelf von Hund's (1722-1766) STRIKTE OBSERVANCE (La
Stricte Observance Templi�re) through Willermoz' C.B.C.S. (see "short
profile on J.B.Willermoz" ).
The Martinist Order accepts (obviously) a
"creation-principle", which is symbolized by the Masonic abbreviation
A.'.L.'.G.'.D.'.G.'.A.'.D.'.L..'.U.'.
which stands for "A la Gloire du Grand Architect de L’Univers".
The definitive Rituals* of the "Ordre
Martiniste" were written by Téder in 1913, and according to some sources
Téder's version was based on the hand-written rituals of François-Charles
Barlet (Sar Anael, G.M. of the Spanish Martinist Order, founded in 1987. The
Spanish Order uses the Téder-version of 1913). Other sources (like R.A. in
their L'Encyclopedie de la Franc-Maconnerie, ed. 2000) state that Téder used
the rituals from Blitz (written in, or around, 1901)),
which seems to correspond with the actual truth. Copies of both rituals are
almost identical. Some Martinists claim that Téder's rituals were published
openly to make it impossible for those outside the Order,
to accuse the Martinists of Satanic work or Black magic. Allegedly, Téder's
rituals were never actually worked.
From 1913 on the order worked with four degrees which were named Associé,
Associé Initié, Superieur Inconnu, and Superieur Inconnu Initiateur. The
rituals were published by Dorbon-Aîné, and are
obtainable from a specialized book-shop.
source; Marcel Roggemans (from a
correspondence with Sar Anael from the Spanish OM*)
According to Philippe Telauges (from the "Fratres
Lucis" in South-America) it was Démétrius Platon Sémélas (dignitary of the
O*M* in Egypt 1911-1914, co-founder of the "L'Ordre du Lys et de
L'Aigle" in 1914, founder of the "Rose-Croix d'Orient"), who's
responsible for the written rituals (or, at least, parts of the rituals
concerned) of the 2nd and 3rd degree which
Sémélas transmitted to Papus, and later, to Chaboseau. Telauges also claims
that it was Démétrius (Dimitri) Sémélas who prepared and apparently wrote the S:::IV::: Degree. Also, the original rituals of the O*M*T of
Chaboseau were strongly influenced by the work (rituals and writings) of this
initiate. Telauges mentions the following sources of his claims:
a volume of the journal "L'Esprit des
choses" (date not mentioned) in which the 'authentic' ritual of the
"Initiatèur Libre" (Free Initiator) was published. Still,
it appears that the name of Sémélas was not mentioned in the
publication.
A volume of "L'Initiation" in which a
transcribed version of the S:::IV::: ritual was
published…
Sémélas' wriiten rituals were allegedly officially
aproved by Papus in May 1912. According to a text provided by the French
O.M.T./T.M.O. , the rituals of Démétrius P. Sémélas
were later adopted by the 'Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique' of Victor
Blanchard.
Téder’s Rituel de l’Ordre Martiniste 1913
U N I V E R S A L P E N T A C L E
The Seal of the O*M* is the the symbol of the
Universal Pentacle, the Hexagram in a Circle, together with the equilateral
Cross and the Hexagon. According to the O*M* it was designed by Saint-Martin to
explain the Universe. Here's what Blitz' manual has to say on its symbolism ;
Taken from "Ritual & Monitor of the O:::M::: ", 1896
" God, the First Principle of the Universe, is
represented by a Circle, Symbol of Eternity".
"The action of Eternity, passing from latent
power into Action, is symbolized by the mystic relation of the center to the
circumference; by the radius projected six times around the Circle, which
produces the Hexagon, emblemetical of the Six Periods of Creation".
"The central point forms the Seventh Period, that
of Rest". (The Center has attracted the upper triangle and the lower
triangle, both of which, reacting on one another, have
manifested Life -L.C. de Saint-Martin from his book "on Numbers")
"Let us remark that Nature, the Seal of Solomon
(represented by the two triangles- one Ascending, One Descending, the currents
of Involution and Evolution), does not reach God, but only the Creative Forces
emanating from Him. From the center of the Universe to God Himself (Circle) the
power of Man originates, uniting the effects of Divinity to the fatalism of
Nature in the Unity of his Free Will, symbolized by the Cross, uniting the
center of the Universe (Human Soul) to God Himself. This explains the most complete
synthetic figure the genius of Man ever discovered. It explains all the
mysteries of Nature, and is true as well in physics as in metaphysics; in
natural sciences as in theology; it is the seal that unites Reason and Faith,
Materialism and Spiritualism, Religion and Science" DISCOURSE OF THE
ORATOR, 3TH DEGREE
The following explanation is taken from Saint-Martin's
book "on Numbers" ;
"The natural Circle has shaped itself differently
from the geometrical circle. The center has attracted the upper triangle and
the lower triangle, both of which, reacting on one
another, have manifested Life.
It is then that the quadruple Man appeared. It would
be impossible to find this quadruple priciple in the circle without tracing
lost or superfluous lines, if we are limiting ourselves to mathematics methods.
Nature looses nothing: it
coordinates all parts of its works, the one with the
other. So, in the Circle regularly drawn by Nature, we can see the two
triangles, uniting to determine the emancipation of Man in the Universe and
Man's place about the divine center.
We can see [in the symbol of the Pantacle] that the
Light receives Life only by the reflections surging from the opposition that
the True receives from the False; that the Light receives it from the Darkness;
and that Life, in matter, always depends upon both actions. We see that the
fourfold Man embrases the six directions of the Universe, and that those [six]
regions, being bound two by two [in the triangles], the power of Man operates
within a triple fourfold in the location of his glory.
Here are manifested the laws of this superb knowledge,
of which the Chineese have left us some traces, I mean the knowledge of the
keou-kou. Man, by giving in to guilty incitations, has left the divine center,
where he was originally placed; but even though he has left it, the center is
still at its place, as it cannot be moved by any force at all. (Sedes tua in
seculum seculi. Ps. 14:7)
So, since Man has left his glorious post, it is the
Divinity that is ready to replace him and to operate for him, in the universe,
that same Power of which he has been dispossessed by his mistake. But when the
Divinity takes the place of Man, it is dressed in the same colors. It is
attached to the material regions, where Man was originally established. It is
impossible to appear at the center of this circle without being placed at the
midst of all those regions.
Here is what the study of the natural circle can
reveal to the intelligent eye. The figure represented, although imperfect, can
indicate the way.
LOUIS CLAUDE DE SAINT-MARTIN
MARTINIST HEADER
with Seal
as used by the Martinist Order(s)* around the
world
~ Après Papus le Martinisme est Mort ~
François Jollivet-Castelot (1874 -1937
)
Essai de Synthèse des Sciences Occultes
1928
The O*M* after 1916
The "original" order ended with Gérard
Encausse ( Papus ) in 1916. As mentioned earlier in
this text Papus even seem to have wished that Ernest
Loiselle would disband the Martinist Order! ( source, R.A. in "l'Encyclopédie de la Franc-Maconnerie,
ED. 2000" ). Papus had
appointed Loiselle as his moral legatee and his successor as the head of the
Martinist Order. Papus allegedly wanted to dissolve the original Martinist
Order and replace it with a complete new organization.
This Order would have thus taken the place of Martinism. The new Order, which
would be "a center of dissemination of High Esoteric Doctrines",
would have carried the name of ‘Ordre Universel de la Nouvelle Egypte’,
O.U.N.E.: ,
Whatever the truth is, Charles Détré (Téder) suceeded
Papus as Grand Master of the O*M*. From 1916 on the 'original' Martinist Order,
as founded by Papus and Chaboseau, would split up in several branches due to
disagreements, disputes over 'authorization' etc., between the members of the
original Supreme Coucil of 1891 (between those original members who were still
members of the Supreme Council in 1916, of course). When Téder wanted to
initiate only masons into the O*M*, many members protested
against his intentions.
Téder died in 1918 (September 26), just two years
after Papus' death (October 25, 1916). Generally it is
stated that two men actually could be considered as
the successor of Téder as G.M of the M*O*, Victor Blanchard and Jean Bricaud.
Blanchard was Téder's deputy. The whole story of Téder's succession can be
found in the "1934-1951 F.U.D.O.S.I." -series,
in "Addendum 6 -Victor Blanchard". The series is published on the
internet at :
http://users.pandora.be/marcel.roggemans/milko.htm#addenda
most of the information is derived from an article by
Elias Ibrahim, "Victor Blanchard - a brief Summary of his Life and his
Work", taken from the website of the "Ancient Martinist Order" at :
http://www.geocities.com/hiram_abyss/Victor_Blanchard.html
"in the absence of well established rules regarding the nomination or
succession of a Grand Master, it is impossible to say wether
Bricaud or Blanchard was the legitimate Grand Master". Whatever the truth
is, history tells us that Jean Bricaud became the successor of Téder as Grand
Master of the Martinist Order in 1918. When Charles Barlet was asked by one of
his pupils who the true successor of Téder was, he answered him that Martinism
was"a circle whose circumference was everywhere and the center nowhere ".
Robert Ambelain, "Le Martinisme" page 150. With Jean Bricaud acting
as Grand Master of the M*O* the unity of the order really bursted …
"Bricaud (born in 1881) already held a high
position within the O*M* at the end of the first decade of the 20th century.
In 1907 Bricaud, with the help of Papus and other Martinists, broke with the L’
Eglise Gnostique Universelle Catholique and founded, together with Papus and
Fugairon, the L’ECatholique Gnostique’ (see
"1890 -Ecclessia Gnostica .."). In 1908 the
church changed its name to the L’Eglise Gnostique Universelle’
, and in 1911 the L’Eglise Gnostique Universelle’ became the 'official
church' of the Martinist Order. Bricaud was also initiated into the
Memphis-Misraim rite and he was a disciple, like most
of the leading Martinists at the time, of Master Philippe. He studied the rites
of Willermoz and Pernety, the Elus Cohen, Stricte Observance, les Philalèthes,
and les Philadelphes. In 1911 he helped Téder and Edouard Blitz (1) in
developing "new ideas" with relation to the recruitment of members.
In 1914 Bricaud established a 'Martinist movement' based on the ideas of 1911.
These ideas were based on the rules of Willermoz and his successor, Antoine
Pont (Blitz was Pont's successor in the U.S.A., Téder and Fugairon were the
successors in France), which were the rules of the C.B.C.S., 'Chevaliers
Bienfaisants de la Cité Sainte', which included the rites of the Elus Cohen. In
1914 Téder appointed Bricaud Légat of the Order for the provence of Lyon
(Bricaud lived in Lyon). At the time (1914) Bricaud was Grand Master of the
Memphis-Misraim Rite, Vice-Chancellor of the Ordre Martiniste Rose Croix (?), Patriarch
of the église Gnostique Universelle, and président of the S.O.I., Société
Occultiste Internationale" (see "1916 L’Ordre Martiniste de Lyon) source ; articles from L'INITIATION 1952 up to 1958
Although Blitz had left the Martinist Order as Grand
Master of the U.S.A., after which he'd founded his own (masonic) Martinist-rite
in 1902 (see "the M.O. abroad- America"), he obviously did not sever
all his ties with France! Blitz apparently corresponded with men like Téder and
Bricaud, even after his 'withdrawal' from Papus' M*O*. On the other hand this seems quite plausible. Téder and Blitz were both
the heirs to Willermoz' legacy, and they both propagated a masonic requirement
about membership into the Martinist order. Another interesting subject for
discussion is R.A. 's remark in his book "L'Encyclopedie de la
Franc-Maconnerie, ed. 2000", where he states that Téder had adapted Blitz'
rituals (see "Ordre des S.I." and "Martinist Rituals…")
before succeeding Papus as Grand Master of the O*M*. As a matter of fact, it is
stated that Papus attributed the rituals he'd received from Blitz in 1901, to
Téder in 1912.
Martinist Lines of Succession
From 1918 onwards newly founded Martinist Orders
appeared on the international esoteric scene. These organizations can be traced
back through its line of Succession. In the beginning of the 20th century
there existed at least five different lines of succession.
The first Line was the lineof Papus and Chaboseau
which resulted in the O*M* of 1891 (the first Martinist Supreme Council was
installed). The second Line was a line of Succession which we will call the
"Russian Lineage".
The first Line (Papus, Chaboseau) had three different branches :
Téder ( Charles Henri Détré )
Victor Blanchard
Augustin Chaboseau
These three branches originated after Papus' death in
1916. Each branch had its lineage from which orders were formed. Today all
these different Martinist lineages recognize each other and all the different
martinist organizations maintain a close relationship with each other (except
for the T.M.O, the "Traditional Martinist Order" of A.M.O.R.C., which
does not recognize other Martinist orders ).
There were several other Lines of succession, which
resulted in new orders. To name a few - the Line of Edouard Blitz, and the Line
of Arnoldo Krumm-Heller (who initiated many Martinists in South-America
at the beginning of the 20th century). Of
course there are other (even older) "lineages" existing, like
for instance the "Italian Line" of Kremmerz. Still, it's almost
impossible to name them all (just think of all the so-called
"free-Martinists", who initiated new members into Martinism outside
of any organization).
Later in the 20th century another
lineage originated from Philippe Encausse, Papus' son. The big picture of the
Martinist Lines of succession is a complex structure of several different
lineages, which sometimes are entwined with each other.
But the most 'important' (originating in Papus' M*O*)
"Lines of succession" are ;
Gérard Encausse ( Papus ),
Charles Détré, Lucien Chamuel ( Mauchel ), Victor
Blanchard ( Sar Yésir ) ( Targelius ), Augustin Chaboseau, Georges Bogé de Lagrèze,
Robert Ambelain ( 1907 - 1997 ),
Gerard Kloppel and Ronald Capello ( USA )
Gérard Encausse ( Papus ),
Charles Henri Détré (Téder )( 1855 - 1918 ), Jean Bricaud 1881 - 1934 ),
Constant Chevillon (1880 - 1944 ), Charles-Henry
Dupont (1877 - 1961 ), Philippe Encausse (1906 - 1984 ), d’Irénée Séguret ( 1903 -
1992), Philippe Encausse, Emilio Lorenzo ( from1979 ).
Papus was GM from 1888 untill 1916, Charles Henri Détré ( Téder ) was GM from 1916 untill 1918, Jean Bricaud was GM
from 1918 untill 1934, Constant Chevillon was GM from 1934 untill 1944,
Charles-Henry Dupont was GM from 1944 untill 1958.
Gérard Encausse ( Papus ),
Charles Détré, Lucien Chamuel ( Mauchel ), Victor
Blanchard ( Sar Yésir ) ( Targelius ), Augustin Chaboseau, Georges Bogé de Lagrèze,
Harvey Spencer Lewis, Ralph M.Lewis, Orval Graves and
Cecile A. Poole, Gary Lee Stewart, Christian Bernard. (the
lineage of AMORC's T.M.O. and Gary Lee Stewart's B.M.O.
The successors of the T.M.O. were Victor Emile
Michelet, Augustin Chaboseau ( Sar Augustus
), Ralp Maxwell Lewis ( Sar Validivar
), Gary Lee Stewart and Christian Bernard ( Sar
Phenix ).- The "Russian Line"; they are
dealt with in a separate part of this text … Several members of the original
Supreme Council of Papus' Martinist Order would leave the M*O* and soon would found their own version of the Martinist Order. These
members were 'authorized' to found new Orders, because they had received the
S.I. Initiateur, the 4th degree. Others belonged to the
founding members, in the beginning of Papus' M*O* every member who had received
the initiation of the 3th Degree (S.I.) was
'authorized' to initiate new members into Martinism …
L’Ordre des Chevaliers Maçons Elus Cohens de l’Univers
This Seal was used by the reconstituted E.C. of 1943.
It was taken from the original Masonic Patent granted to Pasqually�s father
�.
The Order, in its whole, is above all a school of
moral chivalry, trying hard to develop spirituality in its members by the study
of the invisible world and its laws, by the exercise of devotion and of
intellectual assistance, and by the creation in each spirit of faith, all the more solid because it is based on observation and
science. Martinism derives directly from Christian Illuminism and has adopted
its principles. - Forming the l center of this living University, that will one
day recreate the marriage without division of Science and Faith, centers
epithet, Martinism tries to be worthy of this name by establishing superior
schools of
metaphysical and physiological science, disdainfully moved away from classical
teachings under the pretext that it is occult. - Our epoch of skepticism, of
adoration of the material world and of atheism, needed so badly a frank
Christian reaction, independent of all clergies, that in all the countries
where it has skepticism Martinism has saved many souls from doubt, despair and
suicide. It brought back to the comprehension of Christ many spirits that
certain clerical actions had moved away from Faith. - Not asking from its members any contribution, nor entrance fees into the Order, neither asking any regular tribute
from the Lodges to the Supreme Council, Martinism has remained faithful to its
spirit and origins by making material poverty its very first rule. - Martinists
want to be Christians, free from any clerical connection, and the accusations
of "Satanism" will just make them shrug their shoulders while asking
Heaven for mercy for those who slandered them unfairly. - Martinists do not
practice any magic, be it white or black. The study,
they pray and they forgive injustices. - Martinism
does not ask its members for any oaths of passive obedience, nor does practice
on them any dogma, be it materialistic or clerical, thus leaving them in the
perfect freedom of consciousness. - ... We simply remain fervent Knights,
enemies of violence and vengeance, resolute synarchists, opposed to any anarchy
from above or below, in a word, Martinists, as have been our glorious ancestors
Martines de Pasqually, Claude de Saint-Martin, and Willermoz!"
PAPUS
The essential freedom of the initiate
to pursue his own path of re-integration The
Martinist Order has had, since its earliest days, a syllabus of instruction and
certain fundamental symbols. Aside from these, each Initiator or Group
President has been free to instruct according to his understanding, and the
understanding and interest of his group. Thus, Martinism is a venue, rather
than a rigid curriculum, and this is as it should be, for the path of
re-integration is personal. Thus, some will work within one Order, some within
another, and some will work alone as free Martinists. This is as it has always
been.
Art. 6 of the landmarks of
MARTINISM
Sources
Arthur Edward Waite Saint-Martin The French Mystic
A.E. Waite A new Encyclopaedia of
Freemasonry, 1920's
R.A. L'Encyclopedie de la Franc-Maconnerie,
ed. 2000
Edouard Blitz Ritual and Monitor of the
Martinist Order, 1896 *
J.Godwin, C.Chanel, The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor,
Initiatic and Historical and J.P.Deveney Documents
of an Order of Practical Occultism, 1997
J.Godwin The Beginnings of Theosophy in France, 1989
Gerald Galtier Maçonnerie Egyptienne, Rose-Croix
et Neo-Chevalerie 1989
R.F.Gould History of
Freemasonry, 1882/1887
John
Yarker Arcane Schools , 1910
P.R.
Koenig Ein Leben fuer die Rose (on Krumm-Heller)
Victor-Emile Michelet Les Compagnons de la Hiérophanie: souvenirs du movement hermétiste à la fin du
XIX siècle
G.Phaneg Le Docteur Papus ( Paris, 1909 )
M.S.André,Chr.Beaufils Papus
- la Belle Epoque d'Occultisme, 1995
Dr.Philippe
Encausse Papus
Dr.Philippe
Encausse Le Maitre Philippe, de Lyon:
Thaumaturge et "Homme de Dieu"
L.C. de Saint-Martin des Nombres
Chr.McIntosh Eliphas Levi and the French
Occult Revival
Robert Amadou Documents Martinistes, 1979
Robert Ambelain Le Martinisme - Histoire et
doctrine
Documents, Articles
Dr.Carlos Raitzin René Guenon y las
Ordenes Esotericas
Teio Meedendorp Sar Mérodack-Joséphin Péladan en
het ideaal van de kunst
O*M* des Pays-Bas Rituelen en hun Symboliek ( brochure )
Internet
Fr.M Roggemans De Geschiedenis van de Occulte en Mystieke Broederschappen
http://users.pandora.be/marcel.roggemans/
"1934-1951 F.U.D.O.S.I."
http://users.pandora.be/marcel.roggemans/milko.htm
O*M* des Pays-Bas Docteur Gérard Encausse
http://kingsgarden.org/English/Organizations/OM.GB/papus
Apostolic Gnosis/E.G.A. the Balzac of the
Occult and the Russian Sphynx
http://members.nbci.com/merlin_21/balzac.htm
Golden Aeon The
French Rosicrucian Movement
http://www.vialarp.org/GD/background_7_french_rosicrucians.html
Canonbury Masonic Research Centre a Checklist
of some 'Neo-Rosicrucian' Manifestations
http://www.canonbury.ac.uk/library/lectures/neo_rosicrucian.htm
Canonbury Masonic Research Centre A basic
Historico-Chronological Model of the Western Hermetic Tradition, 1999
Trevor Stewart
http://www.canonbury.ac.uk/library/lectures/a_basic_historico.htm
Martinist Research-Site "Les Maîtres Passés"
http://www.chez.com/crp/menu.htm
History LCN, "Le Coeleuvre Noire"
http://members.tripod.com/~Ejiogbe/culebra.htm
