"The Unknown Philosopher"
acne...@gmail.com
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martinism
Martinism is a form of mystical or esoteric Christianity, which
envisions the figure of Christ as "The Repairer" who enables
individuals to attain an idealised state such as that in the Garden of
Eden before the Fall. As an informal practice, Martinism dates back to
late 18th Century France. In the late 19th Century it was established
in France and elsewhere as a formal order meeting in lodges. During
the 20th century there has also been a revival of some of the
practices which pre-date Martinism proper and which directly inspired
it.
Today, there are three separate concepts which come under the umbrella
of the general term "Martinism":
* Martinism itself - which is a Mystical tradition in which emphasis
is placed on Meditation. This was founded in the 18th Century by Louis-
Claude de Saint-Martin, and was formalised in 1888 by Augustin
Chaboseau and Gerard Encausse (aka Papus).
* The Elus-Cohens. This relies on Theurgy (i.e. Ritual Magic) to
attain the same ends as Martinism. The Elus-Cohens were founded by
Martinez De Pasqually, who was Saint-Martin's teacher. The original
Elus Cohens ceased to exist sometime in the late eighteenth or early
nineteenth century, but it was revived in the 20th century by Robert
Ambelain, and lives on today in various Martinist Orders, including
the branch reinstigated by Ambelain himself.
* The Scottish Rectified Rite or Chevaliers Bienfaisants De La Cité-
Sainte (CBCS). This was originally a Masonic rite, a reformed variant
of the Rite of Strict Observance which, in its highest degrees, uses
Masonic-type rituals to demonstrate the philosophy which underlies
both Martinism and the practices of the Elus-Cohens. The CBCS was
founded in the late 18th Century by Jean-Baptiste Willermoz, who was a
pupil of Martinez de Pasqually and a contemporary of Saint-Martin. The
CBCS has managed to survive as a continually practiced rite from its
founding until the present day, both as a purely masonic rite, and as
a detached rite which is also open for women.
Pre-Martinism: Martinez de Pasqually and the Elus Cohens
Jacques de Livron Joachim de la Tour de la Casa Martinez de Pasqually
was born in c. 1727 in Grenoble, France, and died in 1774 in Saint-
Domingue while dealing with profane business. Martinez de Pasqually
was active in Masonic organisations throughout France from the age of
28 onwards. In 1765 he established the Ordre des Chevelier Maçons Élus
Cohen de L’Univers (Order of Knight-Masons Elect Priests of the
Universe), which functioned as a regular Masonic obedience in France.
This order had three sets of degrees: the first were analogous to the
symbolic degrees of conventional Freemasonry. The second were
generally Masonic, though hinting at Pasqually's own secret doctrine.
The third set were blatantly magical: for example by using exorcisms
against evil in the world generally and in the individual
specifically. In the highest degree, the Reaux-Croix, the initiate was
taught to use Theurgy to contact spiritual realms beyond the physical.
[1]
De Pasqually put forth the philosophy underlying the work of the Elus
Cohens in his only book, Treatise on the Reintegration of Human Beings
which first uses the analogy of the Garden of Eden, and refers to
Christ as "The Repairer". The ultimate aim of the Elus Cohen was to
attain - whilst living - the Beatific Vision, through a series of
magical invocations and complex theurgic operations.
After Martinez de Pasqually's death, the Elus Cohens continued to
operate for some time: however divisions started to occur between
various temples, which became dormant during the first half of the
nineteenth century. The last-known surviving Elu-Cohen from the
original incarnation of the order, Destigny, died in 1868.
[edit] Louis-Claude De Saint-Martin
Louis Claude de Saint-Martin was born 1743 in Amboise, France and died
in 1803. He was originally a barrister before taking a commission in
the army at Bordeaux. Saint-Martin was initiated into the Elus-Cohens
in 1768 and was active in it for at least six years. Saint-Martin was
initiated into the Reaux-Croix, the highest degree of the Order, and
in 1770 became De Pasqually's secretary.
Saint-Martin became increasingly dissatisfied with the Elus-Cohens'
use of Theurgic ritual, feeling that it was far too sophisticated for
the desired end. Instead, he personally favoured inward contemplation,
or what he called "The Way of the Heart". Nevertheless, Saint-Martin
continued to acknowledge Martinez De Pasqually's influence on his own
system of thought. In addition, Saint-Martin drew much inspiration
from the work of Jakob Boehme..
In 1777, after failing to convince the Elus-Cohens to adopt a more
contemplative as opposed to theurgic practice, he cut-back his
involvement in the Order. He ceased all involvement in it in 1790.
Saint-Martin outlined his philosophy in several books, using the nom
de plume of "The Unknown Philosopher". These include:
* Of Errors and Truth, 1775
* Man, His True Nature & Ministry
* Aphorisms and Maxims.
* The Spiritual Ministry of Man.
* Ten Prayers.
* The Red Book.
* Theosophic Correspondence.
* Natural Table of the Correspondences between God, Man and the
Universe, 1782
There has been some controversy as to whether Saint-Martin himself
ever founded a formalised Order of Martinists himself. For example,
twentieth century Martinist Robert Ambelain at first believed that
Saint-Martin founded an actual order called the "Society of
Initiates"[4], but within a few years he had become disillusioned with
this and came to believe that the Society of Initiates had never
existed.[5] Others allege that Saint-Martin became involved in a pre-
existing society called the "Order of Unknown Philosophers"[6]. It
seems most probable however that although Saint-Martin did initiate
disciples after a fashion, this was done on an informal basis:
Martinism did not exist as an order per se until the efforts of Papus
and Chaboseau (vide infra).
[edit] Willermoz and the Scottish Rectified Rite
Jean-Baptiste Willermoz (born 1730, Lyon, France; died 1824 also at
Lyon), was initiated into Masonry at the age of 20 in a lodge which
operated under the auspices of the Strict Observance. He was initiated
into the Elus-Cohen in 1767, eventually attaining the highest degree
of the Order, and being named by De Pasqually as a "Superior Judge",
one of its senior-most officers.
Concerned about the dissension in the order after the death of De
Pasqually, Willermoz in 1778 together with two other Superior Judges
formulated the idea of creating two additional degrees for the
Auvergne Province of the Strict Observance, which exemplified the
philosophy, though not the theurgic practices, of the Elus Cohens,
whilst working in the Knight Templar-oriented milieu of the masonic
rite. The name of the rite was changed to Chevaliers Beneficient De La
Cité-Sainte (CBCS). The degree structure of the rite was thus:
1. Apprentice
2. Fellowcraft
3. Master
4. Maître Ecossais/Scotch Master
5. Ecuyer Novice/Squire Novice
6. C.B.C.S.
7. Chevalier-Profès/Professed Knight
8. Chevalier-Grand Profès/Grand Professed Knight
Having reformed the French branch of the order, Willermoz in 1782
succeeded in persuading the German mother-branch to adopt his reforms
- though not without meeting considerable opposition from other
branches of the Strict Observance, such as the Bavarian Illuminati of
Adam Weishaupt.
The French Revolution curtailed the activities of the CBCS in France,
although it was preserved in Switzerland. Today the CBCS, or "Scottish
Rectified Rite" (Rite Ecossais Rectifié) has six "grand priories"
throughout the world: Switzerland, U.S.A., France, England, Germany,
and Belgium.
The occultist A.E. Waite said of the Scottish Rectified Rite that he
"had come to see the Régime Ecossais et Rectifié as maintaining, more
than any other rite, the essence in ritual form of that secret
tradition that 'tells us not alone that the Soul "cometh from afar"
and that the Soul returns whence it came, but it delineates the Path
of Ascent'." It was, for him, truly the secret tradition in practice.
[7]
[edit] Papus and Chaboseau: the founding of the Martinist Order
The disciples of Saint-Martin spread the Doctrine of the Unknown
Philosopher in France, Germany, Denmark and above all in Russia. It
was through one of them, Henri Delaage, that in 1880 a brilliant young
Parisian doctor, Gerard Encausse (Later to be known as Papus), became
acquainted with the doctrines of Saint-Martin and decided to become
their champion. For this purpose, in 1884, together with some of his
associates, he established a Mystical Order which he called the Ordre
Martiniste or the Martinist Order.[8]
The founding of the Order came about when Encausse met August
Chaboseau in 1884. They discovered that they had both apparently
received Martinist initiation through two different chains of
succession which linked back to Saint-Martin and his original
disciples. 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.[9]
However, Encausse realised that there was a "missing link" in his own
chain of succession: he and Chaboseau therefore "swapped initiations"
in order to consolidate their lineages.
The Martinist Order which Papus founded was organised as a Lodge
system, which worked four degrees:
1. Associate
2. Mystic
3. Unknown Superior (S::I::/Supèrieur Inconnu)
4. Unknown Superior Initiator (S::I::I::/Supèrieur Inconnu
Initiateur)(Lodge/Heptad Master).
Of these, the first two introduce the Candidate to key Martinist
concepts, whilst the third supposedly confers the actual Initiation
which Saint-Martin gave to his original disciples. Martinists
generally believe that to be an authentic initiate, one must be able
to show a chain of Initiatic Succession which goes back to Saint-
Martin himself. However from Restivo: Martinist authenticity is not
contingent upon acceptance or initiation into a filiation or
succession of other Martinists as no personal initiation chain from
Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin exists in the sacramental manner of
ordination as culmination of mastery in an Initiatic order.
About the rituals themselves, the following general points may be
made:
* The mystical Christianity aspect of Martinism is emphasised by the
fact that all lodges are opened by invoking Yeheshuah (Hebrew: יהשוה)
i.e. the Tetragrammaton with the addition of the Hebrew letter Shin,
which was first suggested by Reuchlin as a Qabalistic way of spelling
Jesus.
* Despite the Lodge structure of Martinism, the rituals themselves do
not bear any resemblance to any of the symbolic degrees of
Freemasonry. The rituals have their own milieu of dramatic and
esoteric content: however it has been claimed that some of the rituals
are derived from the Egyptian Freemasonry of Cagliostro, and indeed
the Scottish Rectified Rite of Willermoz.[10]
* The rituals contain elements of Martinez De Pasqually's philosophy,
and passing references to the Qabalah, in addition to principles
derived from Saint-Martin's own teachings.
* The candidate at key points throughout the rituals is expected to
answer on his or her own initiative. He or she is constantly
encouraged to meditate on the symbolism presented.
* The rituals often rely on the element of surprise to reinforce the
points they make. It is thus inappropriate to go into further detail
about the content thereof.
From Restivo: During the period up to the Second World War, the I::L::
or S::I::IV degree was exceptionally added as an endorsement or rank
of distinction to the S::I::I:: degree for legates in new Martinist
jurisdictions to be Grand Masters eventually. Later branches of the
Martinist Order worked a fifth degree, I::L:: (Free Initiator/
Initiateur Libre), which conferred on the candidate the power to
initiate into all four degrees in person, not requiring lodge/heptad
group form, and to establish a new and independent Martinist Order or
act as legate/representative or Grand Master of same. For example, the
Rose†Croix Martinist Order (Ontario,Canada)[11]:
1. Associate
2. Mystic
3. Unknown Superior (S::I::/Supèrieur Inconnu)
4. Unknown Superior Initiator (S::I::I::/Supèrieur Inconnu
Initiateur)(Lodge/Heptad Master)
5. Free Initiator (I::L::/Initiateur Libre/S.I.IV) (Grand Officer/
Grand Initiator).
[edit] Modern Martinism
In 1905, Tsar Nicholas II of Russia invited Papus to Tsarskoïe Selo to
ask for advice on domestic difficulties he was facing with
revolutionaries. The First World War was disastrous for the Order.
Papus died on the battlefield while fulfilling his duties as a doctor
and many other leaders of the Order died too.
After the war, the Order was almost extinct and the surviving members
splintered into competing factions.
Many French Martinists gave credence to Karl Wilhelm Naundorff's
claims to the French throne. They joined the Synarchy movement and
formed the Ordre Martiniste et Synarchie (OM&S). In 1931 Augustin
Chaboseau got together with Victor-Emile Michelet and Lucien Chamuel
(the other two surviving members of the original Supreme Council of
1891) to bring new life to the Order that they had founded with Papus.
In order to emphasise the difference they felt between the traditional
Martinism they had to offer as founders of the original Martinist
Order and the many new groups that had sprung up, they gave the name
Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel (OMT) to their movement. Victor-Emile
Michelet was elected Grand Master and Augustin Chaboseau succeeded him
in 1939 until his death in 1946. Though he had received his Martinist
initiations in the OMS, AMORC Imperator Ralph Maxwell Lewis was asked
by the OMT in 1939 to bring Martinism to the U.S.A. and was given the
necessary charters and other documents.
The second World War was as disastrous for the Order in Europe as the
first. The Nazi regime suppressed all 'occult' groups and many
Martinists died in concentration camps. The OMT in Europe and its
American branch, the Traditional Martinist Order (TMO) still exists,
but are reserved exclusively for members of AMORC. Martinism is now
fast growing in popularity and with the advent of Internet many new
orders have grown worldwide.[12]
[edit] List of Martinist orders
* Ordine Martinista Antico e Tradizionale (OMAT)
* Ordre Reaux Croix (ORC), encompassing the three branches of
Martinism
* Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique (OMS), a synarchic order.
* Ordre Martiniste Opératif (OMO)
* Traditional Martinist Order (TMO), which operates under the aegis of
AMORC. This has attracted controversy from other Martinist groups, as
the TMO purports to offer a Self-initiation into Martinism
correspondence course. This is criticised by other Martinists on the
grounds that properly speaking, one can only receive the true
Martinist initiation in person from an initiator who has a chain of
succession linking back to Saint-Martin. However from Restivo: Yet
since initiation transpires between the individual and God alone in an
expansion of consciousness, as defined, personal initiation by laying
on of hands, anointing or group ritual is not a necessicity, but a
symbolic celebration only of what would have been established as a
prior act of enlightenment/initiation which is the culmination of the
recipient's preparedness, mentally and emotionally.
Note: AMORC states to members that Initiations can only be conferred
in Temples, but does offer a home study course, without initiations.
Thus explaining you will not experience Martinism in full.
* Ordre Martiniste de Papus (OM), started by Papus' son Philippe
Encausse.
* Ordre Martiniste des Pays-Bas (OMPB) , started by Maurice Warnon,
with the approval of Philippe Encausse for Dutch martinists who were
uncomfortable when the Gnostic Church was chosen as official church of
the French Martinist Order.
* British Martinist Order (BMO), which cooperates with Gary L.
Stewart's Order Militia Crucifera Evangelica (OMCE)
* Rose Croix Martinist Order (R+CMO), which claims to offer the fourth
Martinist degree and concentrates on theurgy.
* Ancient Martinist Order (AMO), which is an attempt to unify a number
of Martinist Orders under one structure.
* Martinist Order of Unknown Philosophers (MOUP), which follows the
Martinist traditions of the Chevillon-Chambellant lineage.
* Society of Intitiates or Société des Initiés is a loosely organized
assembly of S:I: (Free Initiators) who gather together for fellowship
and the promotion of the original ideals of Louis-Claude de Saint-
Martin.
* Martinist Order of the Knights of Christ or Ordre Martiniste Des
Chevaliers Du Christ
* The Hermetic Order of Martinists (HOM), which is an Order only open
to Master Masons who are also members of Societas Rosicruciana in
Anglia (SRIA)
* Rose†Croix Martinist Order (Ontario, Canada) Grand Master Mike
Restivo I::L::.>>
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brothersoft...@yahoo.co.uk
traditional Martinism, that is, as practised among small discreet
groups of sincere seekers, not Internet orders or the self-initiated
variety, may contact me on brothersoft...@yahoo.co.uk
V.O.V.