Martinism
Martinism is a form of Christian mysticism and esoteric Christianity concerned with the fall of the first man, his state of material privation from his divine source, and the process of his return, called 'Reintegration' or illumination.
As a mystical tradition, it was first transmitted through a masonic high-degree system established around 1740 in France by Martinez de Pasqually, and later propagated in different forms by his two students Louis Claude de Saint-Martin and Jean-Baptiste Willermoz.
The term Martinism applies to both this particular doctrine and the teachings of the reorganized "Martinist Order" founded in 1886 by Augustin Chaboseau and Gérard Encausse. It was not used at the tradition's inception in the 18th century. This confusing disambiguation has been a problem since the late 18th century, where the term Martinism was already used interchangeably between the teachings of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin and Martinez de Pasqually, and the works of the first being attributed to the latter. Regular transmission of Martinism to Augustin Chaboseau and Gérard Encausse still has to be documented.
The three branches of the tradition
Martinism can be divided into three forms through which it has been chronologically transmitted:- The Elus-Cohens or Elus Coëns. This was the first, and explicitly theurgical, way that 'reintegration' was to be attained. 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 19th 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. 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 friend 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 to women.
- The Martinism of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin, a mystical tradition in which emphasis is placed on meditation and inner spiritual alchemy. Saint-Martin disapproved of these teachings being called 'martinism' by his contemporaries, and instead explained it as a silent 'way of the heart' to attain reintegration. Saint-Martin most likely did not organize this path as an 'order', but gathered small circles of students around him, where he transmitted his teachings.
Martinezism: 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 l'Ordre des Chevaliers Maçons Élus Coëns de l'Univers, 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.
De Pasqually put forth the philosophy underlying the work of the Elus-Cohens in his only book, Treatise on the Reintegration of 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 19th century. The last-known surviving Elu-Cohen from the original incarnation of the order, Destigny, died in 1868.
Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin
was born in 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 the organization 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 too sophisticated for the desired end. Instead, he 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 Böhme.
In 1777, after failing to convince the Elus-Cohens to adopt a more contemplative practice, he cut back his involvement in the Order. He ceased all involvement 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
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- , 1782
Willermoz and the Scottish Rectified Rite
Jean-Baptiste Willermoz, 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 most senior officers.Concerned about dissent 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, while 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. The degree structure of the rite was thus:
- Apprentice
- Fellowcraft
- Master
- Maître Ecossais/Scotch Master
- Ecuyer Novice/Squire Novice
- C.B.C.S.
- Chevalier-Profès/Professed Knight
- Chevalier-Grand Profès/Grand Professed Knight
The French Revolution curtailed the activities of the CBCS in France although the rite was preserved in Switzerland. Today the CBCS, or "Scottish Rectified Rite" has several "great priories" throughout the world: Switzerland, USA., France, both the Waite's & Michael Herbert's Great Priories in England, Germany, Belgium, Spain, Portugal and Brazil, with prefectures and lodges of Saint Andrew as well as Rectified Craft lodges existing in many places from Italy to Brazil to Romania.
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, became acquainted with the doctrines of Saint-Martin. Subsequently, in 1884, together with some of his associates, he established a Mystical Order which he called the Ordre Martiniste or the Martinist Order.The founding of the Order came about when Encausse met Augustin Chaboseau in 1884. In parallel, Stanislas de Guaita, in association with Papus and Pierre-Augustin Chaboseau founded the Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose Croix in 1888. Papus and Chaboseau 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. However, Encausse realised that there was a "missing link" in his own chain of succession: he and Chaboseau therefore "swapped initiations" to consolidate their lineages.
The Martinist Order which Papus founded was organised as a Lodge system, which worked four degrees:
- Associate
- Mystic
- Unknown Superior
- Unknown Superior Initiator.
About the rituals themselves, the following general points may be made:
- The mystical Christianity of Martinism is emphasised by the fact that all lodges are opened by invoking Yeheshuah, 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 the symbolic degrees of Freemasonry. The rituals have their own milieu of dramatic and esoteric content. It has been claimed however that some of the rituals derived from the Egyptian Freemasonry of Cagliostro, and the Scottish Rectified Rite of Willermoz.
- 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.
- Associate
- Mystic
- Unknown Superior
- Unknown Superior Initiator
- Free Initiator .
Modern Martinism
René Guénon was himself initiated in the Martinist Order. In between 1906 and 1912, Guénon was a member of Martinist Lodges Humanidad and Melchissedec, and published articles in L'Initiation, Revue Indépendante des Hautes Etudes Martinistes. The Congrès Spiritualiste held in Paris on 7–10 June 1908, and organized by Papus, with the presence of Victor Blanchard, Paul Veux, Paul Chacornac, Theodor Reuss, and Charles Détré alias Teder took place at the peak of the collaboration between Guénon and Papus. However, the regularity of the Martinist Order was strongly questioned by Brother O. Pontet of the Grand Orient de France,. The creation by Guénon in 1909 of an Ordre du Temple within the premises of the Martinist Order, as well as his involvement in a Gnostic Church under the name Palingenius prompted the separation between Papus and Guénon.
Many French Martinists supported Karl Wilhelm Naundorff's claims to the French throne. They joined the Synarchy movement and formed the Ordre Martiniste et Synarchie under the leadership of Victor Blanchard. Both Imperators of The Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis, Ralph Maxwell Lewis and Harvey Spencer Lewis were initiated into the Martiniste et Synarchie. AMORC Imperator Harvey Spencer Lewis held the title of Grand Inspector for the Americas as well as Sovereign Grand Master Legate for the United States and was granted a charter to establish Lodges in the USA. Lewis later decided not to proceed with the OM&S plan for the USA due to the fact that Victor Blanchard was unable to produce all the required documentation. It turned out that the activities of the OM&S were limited to the transmission of various Martinist Initiations, and that the Order otherwise had no actual existence. There was no Martinist Lodge in Paris at the time and Victor Blanchard gave his initiations in the temple of the Fraternitae des Polaires.
In 1931 Augustin Chaboseau joined Victor-Emile Michelet and Lucien Chamuel to resuscitate the Order that they had founded with Papus. To emphasise the difference between traditional Martinism and the many new groups that had emerged, they named their movement the Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel. Victor-Emile Michelet was elected Grand Master and Augustin Chaboseau succeeded him in 1939 until his death in 1946. Imperator Ralph Maxwell Lewis was asked by the OMT in 1939 to bring Traditional Martinism to the U.S.A. Lewis was thus appointed Sovereign Legate and Regional Grand Master of the OMT and received the necessary charters and other documents required in order to proceed with the Order's expansion.
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 still exist. The TMO currently operates in almost every free country in the world under the protection of . Martinism is still growing in popularity, and with the advent of the Internet, many new orders and online groups expressing an interest in Martinism have emerged worldwide.
The Martinist Order founded by Papus in 1887 continues, and grows worldwide with Groups across Europe, Africa, the United States and the Middle East.
List of Martinist orders
- , this is the Original Martinist Order founded by Papus and its lineage continues through his son Philippe Encausse. The OM is the trunk of Martinism out of which many Martinist orders branched out throughout history. It is headquartered in Paris, France but has councils all over the world. This body works in North America under the Name Martinist Order- , under the supervision of a Grand Delegate and a chamber of direction consisting of grand officers. The Grand Delegate to the United States is appointed by the OM Sovereign Grand Master “Gabriel” who presides over the Supreme Council in France. OM admits seekers, men and women, of all faiths. It has presence in various countries.
- , which aspires to unify the various Martinist Orders under one structure. The Ancient Martinist Order came into existence on April 9, 2000, and was granted the right and justification to exist with the blessings of the Sovereign Grand Masters of the Orders Martiniste et Synarchique of Canada and Barbados; and from the authorized Delegates and “Initiateurs Libres” representing the Order Martiniste du Papus, the Ordre Martinste Initiatic Reformé, the Order Martiniste Chevaliers du Christ, and the Order of Elect Cohens. The Ancient Martinist Order operates bodies of traditional Martinist works in the United States, Russia, Mexico, and Australia.
- ), which continues with the accounts of Russian Martinism of Vladimir Alexeyevich Shmakov, Nikolai Ivanovich Novikov, Gregory Ottonovich Mebes, Valentin Tomberg, and others. The Order has lineage of Elus Cohens, as well as the lineage of the Martinist Order and Synarchy of Canada and the United States. The inclusive Lodge of the Order operates in the Russian Federation and in some EMEA countries.
- , which is an Order only open to Master Masons
- , which operates under the aegis of —in French.
- : Operates in English under the aegis of L'Ordre Martiniste, France
- - based in Sweden and concentrating on the Voie Cardiaque and chivalric traditions.
- Ordre Martiniste Opératif
- , 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.
- Ordre Martiniste Opérant - Created by well known Martinist, Joel Duez Vichery.
- .
- Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique, a synarchic order.
- is the remnant of Groupe Papus #12 of OM in Paris, operating in the United States since the 1950s under the direction of Roger Saint Victor Hérard and Philippe Encausse. OMNA preserves the traditional alliance between the Martinist Order and the Gnostic Church.
- , encompassing the three branches of Martinism
- Rectified+Chivalric Martinist Rite, Operates traditional Martinist Degrees, does not confer S.·.I.·.I.·., also works Élus Coëns and C.·.B.·.C.·.S.·.
- , which claims to offer the fourth Martinist degree and concentrates on theurgy.
- , Ontario Canada, +Mike Restivo, Sar Ignatius I::L::, Supreme Grand Master
- Rose+Croix Martinist Order Grand Master Mike Restivo I::L::.
- Society of Initiates or Société des Initiés is a loosely organized assembly of S:I: who gather together for fellowship and the promotion of the original ideals of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin.
- which operates the Voie Cardiaque and L'Ordre des Chevaliers Maçons Élus Coëns de l'Univers traditions.
- , which operates under the aegis of and its Rosicrucian Tradition—in English.
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