Third Degree Lesson 1 10162014

© 2014 Supreme Heptad of the Traditional Martinist Order 1014

TRADITIONAL MARTINIST ORDER

ORATORY SECTION

THIRD DEGREE LESSON ONE

"It is not the head which is necessary to advance in Truth; it is the heart."


© 2014 Supreme Heptad of the Traditional Martinist Order 1 1014

CONCURRENCE In concurrence with this monograph dedicated to the history of Martinism from the time of Papus to the present, we suggest that you read a piece of poetry written by Victor-Émile Michelet, who was a Grand Master of the Traditional Martinist Order from 1923 to 1938. The content and meaning of the poem clearly indicates the mystical aspirations of the author.

Silence

Thou shall not have a dwelling other than your heart; For on this Earth, where we are travellers, None will build their permanent home: Thou shall not have a dwelling other than your heart. Then, around her, in a fiery atmosphere, Sheds, surrounds and aspires all the rays born of the things she desires, Evoking silence and divine silence; The shape taken on by the first hypostasis, Obeying that which eagerly hopes for it, Will take you on the four wings of bliss. Inner life is made of silence. It is the castle whose foundation is silence. It is the flower of fire: silence is its vase, Silence is the vase in which you drink beauty. You, who pass by, certain, but shunted Between your real life, and your apparent life, Your real life, dark and passionate Like passion, thunder and death, Covers with a shadowy and dark veil the treasure Of the inner life, that measures Between your souls the best and the purest, So that nothing violates its deep mystery, And that it’s entire, absolute force, strives To erect the loom that the hands of silence Shall weave the fabric of your joy.”

Victor-Émile Michelet (1861-1931)



HISTORY OF MARTINISM From Papus to the Present

Dear Martinist,

I greet you before the Luminaries of the Traditional Martinist Order!

In the first monograph of the First Degree, the origin of Martinism in the eighteenth

century with Martinès de Pasqually and Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin was discussed at length. At the beginning of the Second Degree, this study was continued by showing how Martinism was perpetuated after the death of the Unknown Philosopher. We saw how Papus and Augustin Chaboseau restored strength and vitality to the Order by instituting the Supreme Council of the Martinist Order in July 1891. Now the moment has come to conclude this presentation of the history of our Order.

The First World War dealt a severe blow to the development of Martinism. It is during this dramatic period in history that Papus died on October 25, 1916. He had not arranged for a successor due to the fact that, since the beginning of the conflict, the Order had not been very active. This situation caused problems because soon after the end of the war, many Martinists presented themselves as Papus’ legitimate successors. In 1919, Jean Bricaud, a Martinist from Lyon, claimed the title of Grand Master of the Martinist Order. Bricaud alleged that one of the principal assistants to Papus, Charles Détré, also known as Teder, had succeeded Papus in 1916. Bricaud also declared that before his last breath on September 25, 1919, Teder appointed him as his successor to direct the Order. This appointment was made without any witnesses and was therefore held in doubt by many Martinists. Furthermore, it was contrary to the Martinist Tradition, which states that the Supreme Council must elect the Grand Master.

Jean Bricaud’s claims were even more suspect because Charles Détré had not been elected Grand Master of the Martinist Order and never pretended to have been. Fortunately, the few members of the Supreme Council who had survived the war, such as Augustin Chaboseau, Lucien Chamuel, and Victor-Émile Michelet, denounced this deception. In spite of this, Jean Bricaud gathered Martinists from Lyon around himself and created his own order. However, he changed the rituals in a Masonic direction to the extent that he gave birth to a hybrid Martinism that was only remotely related to what had been established by Papus and Augustin Chaboseau.



Before World War I, the Martinist Order had spread its activities to many countries. In Egypt, it had many Lodges, among which was the Essene Temple, located in Cairo. The Essene Temple was under the direction of Démétrius Platon Sémélas, an industrialist of Greek origin, and Eugene Dupré from France. In 1911, after a visit by Georges Lagrèze, Inspector of the Martinist Order, this Lodge obtained authorization to create Lodges under its direct authority. Thus on July 23, 1913, Eugene Dupré sent a charter, as well as all the necessary documents to establish a Martinist Lodge in the United States, to Harvey Spencer Lewis, founder of AMORC. Unfortunately, the war broke out and prevented this project from becoming a reality. It also forced Eugene Dupré to return to France to serve his country. As for Démétrius Platon Sémélas, he settled in Paris and quickly became acquainted with Papus. Grand Master Papus appreciated his abilities, and in 1915 he entrusted Sémélas with the mission of creating connections between the Martinist Order and other initiatory organizations. Unfortunately, the death of Papus prevented the realization of this project.

After the First World War, Eugene Dupré and Démétrius Platon Sémélas contacted Victor Blanchard, who had played an important role in the activities of the Martinist Order. Blanchard directed Melchizedek, one of the most prestigious pre-war Martinist Lodges in Paris. Some French Martinists saw him as an Initiate with the ability to lead the Order; others did not share the same view. Thus in May 1919, the survivors of the Supreme Council (Augustin Chaboseau, Lucien Chamuel, and Victor-Émile Michelet), assisted by Octave Béliard, Démétrius Platon Sémélas, and Eugene Dupré, decided to work in a different manner. Conscious of the problems brought about by the extension of the Order before the war, they chose to work in a more confidential way. They continued Martinist activities through a movement called The Friends of Claude de Saint-Martin, which a few months later took the name Martinist Order. This Order gave birth to the Brocéliande Lodge directed by Augustin Chaboseau, and to the Athanor Lodge under the leadership of Victor-Émile Michelet

In 1931, a decision was made to modify the name of the Order. To underline the

continuity of the Order, and to differentiate it from the movements that were improperly presented as a continuation of the movement founded by Papus, Jean Chaboseau suggested to his father, Augustin Chaboseau, that the adjective Traditional be added. Therefore on July 24, 1931, the Martinist Order became the Traditional Martinist Order and Augustin Chaboseau was elected Grand Master. In April 1932, Chaboseau asked that the responsibility of Grand Master be entrusted to Victor-Émile Michelet. Michelet was a renowned author, passionate about esotericism and literature, and friends with the greatest



writers of his time. Michelet had important responsibilities in the literary world. First, he was the president of the Poetry Society and the Baudelaire Society; in addition, he was a member of the Council of the Poetry Center and finally, was a high-ranking officer of the Poets’ Academy. It should be pointed out that Papus’ own son, Philippe Encausse, supported the Traditional Martinist Order. However, believing that the Order had too Masonic a connotation, he eventually left.

The relative discretion of the Traditional Martinist Order unfortunately left the field open for the few marginal Martinist groups that existed independently, such as Jean Bricaud’s group, which had spread widely, and that of Victor Blanchard. The latter also claimed to be Papus’ successor, and had created his own Order in November 1920. Out of respect for Saint-Yves d’Alveydre, Blanchard had called his Order the Martinist Order and Synarchy, also known as the General Association of Martinists and Synarchists. This Order remained quite marginal and it is mostly because of the creation of the Universal Federation of Initiatory Orders and Societies (F.U.D.O.S.I.) that this Order developed to a certain extent. In fact, the Martinists of Belgium, who had placed themselves under Jean Bricaud, eventually rejected Bricaud’s authority and in 1934 joined F.U.D.O.S.I. This Federation reunited some traditional Orders that wished to differentiate themselves from the many more or less serious movements that existed at that time.

Even though the Traditional Martinist Order was invited to join F.U.D.O.S.I., its leaders preferred to remain independent. The absence of the Traditional Martinist Order was to the advantage of the Martinist Order and Synarchy, which gained credibility through the support of the Federation. The F.U.D.O.S.I. was at that time directed by three Imperators: Harvey Spencer Lewis, representing American Rosicrucians; Émile Dantinne, representing European Rosicrucians; and Victor Blanchard, representing Martinism. Each had an initiatory name: Sar Alden for Harvey Spencer Lewis, Sar Hieronymus for Emile Dantinne, and Sar Yesir for Victor Blanchard. The F.U.D.O.S.I. held its first gathering in August 1934 in Brussels. Following this important meeting, Victor Blanchard transmitted Martinist initiations to the principal leaders of this Federation, and it is in this way that Harvey Spencer Lewis received the power to institute the activities of the Martinist and Synarchic Order in the United States of America.

Even though Victor Blanchard transmitted the initiations and the charters necessary to establish his Martinist Order in many countries, he appeared incapable of directing it, and of transmitting the teachings in an efficient manner. That is the reason why Georges Lagrèze, the Substitute Grand Master, was mandated by F.U.D.O.S.I. to reopen contact with



the Traditional Martinist Order. After the death of Victor-Émile Michelet in July 1938, Augustin Chaboseau became Grand Master. Conscious of what was at stake, he agreed to rejoin the F.U.D.O.S.I. After carefully investigating the situation, he transmitted new charters to the different jurisdictions of the Martinist Order and Synarchy, and regularized the initiations of the members. In this way, beginning in September 1939, all the Martinists of the F.U.D.O.S.I. came under the authority of the Traditional Martinist Order, placing them in the continuity of the Order founded by Papus. Harvey Spencer Lewis did not have the pleasure of seeing this project materialize, because on August 2, 1939, he passed the highest initiation and rejoined the eternal East. His successor, Ralph Maxwell Lewis, became the Grand Master of the Traditional Martinist Order for the United States of America. Unfortunately, the world was just then entering a terrible trial: the Second World War.

In August 1940, the French government published a decree forbidding initiatory organizations and ordering their dissolution. Their leaders were arrested. Augustin Chaboseau was interrogated many times, and some of his archives were seized. After the war in June 1945, he nevertheless worked to revive the activities of the Order. However, the Martinists who survived the war were greatly shaken by the trial they had undergone and showed little motivation for a revival. The death of Augustin Chaboseau a few months later on January 2, 1946 did not help the situation. A few days after the death of Chaboseau, an election was held for a new Grand Master, and it was his son, Jean Chaboseau, who was chosen for this position. The election was not unanimous. Jules Boucher, Grand Secretary of the Order, thought that Chaboseau was not only too young; he also did not have the proper temperament to take on this task. Boucher resigned from his position and attempted without success to create an independent group, the Rectified Martinist Order, which never really became active. The Martinists of Belgium did not trust Jean Chaboseau and became independent by creating the Universal Martinist Order, a movement that had a very short life.

Following the advice of Jeanne Guesdon, then Secretary of the French Jurisdiction of AMORC, Ralph Maxwell Lewis decided to give Jean Chaboseau a chance and remained faithful to the Traditional Martinist Order. Chaboseau tried to reactivate the Order, however he was overwhelmed by the task and by attacks from all sides. He resigned suddenly and, without asking the advice of the Supreme Council, caused the Order to fall dormant in 1947. This dormancy was immediately contested because the TMO statutes did not allow the Grand Master to make such a decision without first submitting it to the vote of the Supreme Council. The Order therefore stayed active in a few countries and then became dormant, except in the United States where Ralph Maxwell Lewis was able to maintain its activity.



Because of Lewis, the Traditional Martinist Order developed little by little under the successful sponsorship of the Ancient and Mystical Order Rosæ Crucis. With time, and in answer to the members’ wishes, the activities of the TMO were extended to the other jurisdictions of AMORC and thus the Traditional Martinist Order progressively developed an international structure. Today it is active in many countries under the supreme responsibility of Christian Bernard, Sovereign Grand Master.

One can see that the history of Martinism is complex. Some of the marginal movements mentioned in this monograph trace their lineage in a more or less regular manner. Thus the preceding remarks are not intended as judgments; they are simply made to demonstrate the fact that the Traditional Martinist Order is perfectly situated in the filiation of Papus and Augustin Chaboseau. Thus, the TMO constitutes a true traditional and authentic path for all those who wish to delve more deeply into Martinist Thought, as it has been perpetuated since Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin, our Venerated Master.

May you ever dwell in the Eternal Light of Divine Wisdom!


PRACTICAL APPLICATION

The Charter that Augustin Chaboseau, Grandmaster of the Traditional Martinist Order, transmitted to Ralph Maxwell Lewis in October 1939, giving him the power to govern the Order in the United States. In addition to Augustin Chaboseau, this charter was also signed by Jean Georges Chaboseau and Georges Lagrèze.


SUMMARY • The First World War dealt a severe blow to the development of Martinism. It is during

this dramatic period in history that on October 25, 1916 Papus died. • In 1919, Jean Bricaud claimed the title of Grand Master of the Martinist Order.

Augustin Chaboseau, Lucien Chamuel, and Victor-Émile Michelet, members of the Supreme Council who had survived the war, challenged this claim.

• On July 23, 1913, Eugene Dupré sent a charter as well as all the necessary documents to

establish a Martinist Lodge in the United States to Harvey Spencer Lewis, founder of AMORC. Sadly, the war broke out and prevented this project from becoming a reality.

• In May 1919, the survivors of the Supreme Council (Augustin Chaboseau, Lucien

Chamuel, and Victor-Émile Michelet), assisted by Octave Béliard, Démétrius Platon Sémélas, and Eugene Dupré, decided to continue Martinist activities through a movement called The Friends of Claude de Saint-Martin. A few months later the movement took the name Martinist Order.

• On July 24, 1931, the Martinist Order became the Traditional Martinist Order and

Augustin Chaboseau was elected Grand Master. In April 1932, Chaboseau asked that this responsibility be entrusted to Victor-Émile Michelet.

• Even though the Traditional Martinist Order was invited to join the F.U.D.O.S.I., its

leaders preferred to remain independent. The absence of the Traditional Martinist Order was to the advantage of the Martinist Order and Synarchy, which gained credibility through the support of the Federation.

• Beginning in September of 1939, all the Martinists of the F.U.D.O.S.I. came under the

authority of the Traditional Martinist Order, placing them in the continuity of the Order founded by Papus.

• In August 1940, the French government published a decree forbidding initiatory

organizations and ordering their dissolution. After World War II, Augustin Chaboseau worked to revive the activities of the Order; however, the Martinists who survived the war were greatly shaken by the trial they had undergone and showed little motivation for a revival.

• It is because of Ralph Maxwell Lewis that the Traditional Martinist Order developed

little by little under the successful sponsorship of the AMORC. • The Traditional Martinist Order is perfectly situated in the filiations of Papus and

Augustin Chaboseau. Thus, the TMO constitutes a true, traditional, and authentic path for all who wish to delve more deeply into Martinist Thought as it has been perpetuated since Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin, our Venerated Master.

Issued by the Grand Heptad of the English Speaking Jurisdiction Of the Traditional Martinist Order

1342 Naglee Avenue, San Jose, California 95191

This monograph is the copyright of the Supreme Grand Lodge of the Rosicrucian Order AMORC under the emblems appearing on the covers which are legally protected and ipso facto protect all engraved, printed, electronic, photocopied, photographed or typed copies of its covers and contents. It is not sold but loaned to the member as a privilege of membership. Legal title, ownership and right of ownership of this monograph are and remain those of the Supreme Grand Lodge of AMORC, to which it must be returned on simple demand. All matters covered in this monograph including symbols, titles and passwords, are strictly confidential and are communicated to the member for his or her sole and exclusive information. Any other use, or attempted use, may terminate active and regular affiliation with AMORC, which is the only organization, authorized to publish this monograph.

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Third Degree Lesson 1 10162014