?? Ordre des chevaliers Francs-maçons Elus Coens de l'Universelle Fraternité 2004 Martinist Order of New Zealand

L'Institut Eléazar

1992             C.I.R.E.M.                                                                                                                       Centre International de Recherches et d'Etudes Martiniste

Ordre Souverain des Chevaliers Martinistes et Elus Cohen de L’Univers

Orden Martinista / Orden de Templos Operativos

Charles Détré ( Téder ) succeeded Papus as Grand Master of the 'original' Martinist Order. Téder wanted to restrict membership into the order strictly for Master-Masons (3th Degree of Blue Masonry), preferably masons which belonged to the ‘Antient & Primitive Rite of Memphis-Mizraim’ (occult & hermetic Masonry). One of the consequences of Téder's decision would be that women were excluded from the order, a decision which was in violation with a fundamental precept of original Martinism (according to the teachings of Louis Claude de Saint-Martin). One has to understand that the O*M* at the time of Papus' death included a system of High Degrees, were the basic Martinist Degrees (up to S.I and S.I. Initiator) acted as a portal to the organization. The Order Téder -supposedly being an initiate of the Elus-Cohen himself - had in mind was much more focused upon the Theurgy of Martinez de Pasqually and High Degree Masonry. In 1917 Téder and Bricaud authorized members of the R.E.R. (Régime Écossais Rectifié" or "Rectified Scottish Rite") to attend Martinist Lodges (Chapters of High Degrees). A Masonic Lodge was founded under the obedience of the 'Grande Loge Nationale Indépendante et Régulière' of 1913, and properly installed in 1917 with the help of Martinists of the Rite National Espagnol (Spanish Rite). Apparently the lodge disappeared one year later. When Téder died in 1918, he was succeeded by Jean Bricaud. Jean (Joanny) Bricaud met Papus in 1899 and received his S.I. in 1903. Bricaud moved the headquarters from Paris to Lyon, Bricaud's residence. The Ordre Martiniste was renamed in ‘L’ORDRE MARTINISTE DE LYON’. Bricaud (1881-1934) took the order even closer to a Masonic basis. Female Martinists suddenly found themselves cut off from Martinist activity, as they once knew it… In 1919 Bricaud revived the ‘Humanidad-Lodge’ at Lyons in accordance with the 1908 -Reuss- Warrant (M.M. charter). Bricaud also activated the French Foundation of a ‘Supreme Grand Council of Confederated Rites’ (M.M. etc.) Many Martinists, including several members of the original Supreme Council from 1891, left the Order. According to some sources, Victor Blanchard (1878-1953) was to have become the successor of Charles Détre (Téder ) but he refused because of the Masonic requirement. It is known that Blanchard was the deputy of Téder. But as stated before, it's impossible to say who was the regular Grand Master, simply because there were no "well established rules regarding the nomination or succession" of a Grand Master within the O*M*. According to Robert Ambelain's book "Le Martinisme", published in 1946, Téder actually made fun of Bricaud. Furthermore, Ambelain (who re-founded the "Ordre Martiniste des Elus-Cohen" during the Second World War) stated that he had received information from witnesses at the time, claiming that Blanchard was the rightful Grand Master of the Martinists. Ambelain refers to an old Russian Martinist named Nicholas Choumitsky, a pupil of Charles Barlet at the time, from whom he had received the information. Choumitsky apparently had attended a meeting in (or about) 1919 at a café in Paris, between Bricaud and Blanchard. Bricaud showed a document which claimed that Téder had named him as his successor. "Blanchard became violently angry, and after examination of the document, the unanimous opinion was that it was not authentic. Bricaud left the impression on those attending of being superficial and lacking any depth" and "Afterwards Madame Detre (Teder's wife) told me that her husband could not have designated a successor since he wasn't at all intending to die!" ("Le Martinisme", Ambelain 1946 ). According to Robert Ambelain in his book, Bricaud merely referred to himself as Grand Master General of the Order …

The story on Téder’s succession has already been told in "Addendum 6- Victor Blanchard" of the series "1934-1951 F.U.D.O.S.I."  and is derived from the article "VICTOR BLANCHARD: A Brief Summary of his life and work" by Elias Ibrahim from the website of the "Ancient Martinist Order" 

As stated before, whatever the truth was, many Martinists left the O.M de Lyons, some of them joining Blanchard's order (which would become known as "Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique" in 1934), others went on as "Free Martinists" (without belonging to any organization), others would later join Augustin Chaboseau, Lucien Chamuel, and Victor-Emile Michelet, who would found ‘L’Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel’ in 1931 (many of the so-called "Free Martinists" would join this order). The successors of Charles Détre and Bricaud ( G.M. from 1919-1934) were ;

2. Charles-Henry Dupont (1944-1958) - Dupont disbanded the Order officially on December 14, 1958. The order of Lyons would merge into the "L'Ordre Martiniste (L’Ordre Martinist de Paris)", which was founded by Papus' son, Philippe Encausse, in 1960.

That women were accepted by the Lyon organization, certainly at the time when Constant Chevillon (1880-1944) was Grand Master, is proved by the following statement taken from the "True Face of French Masonry":

The O.M. DE LYON was also involved in the foundation of the F.U.D.O.F.S.I., a federation of Initiatic Orders established in 1939. For information on this federation, see "1934-1951 F.U.D.O.S.I.", Chapter(s) 6,7, and 8.

The OM&S was 'officially' founded on January 3, 1921 by Victor Blanchard (Sar Yésir, 1878-1953), although the Order was not yet known at the time of it's foundation as the OM&S (Although he already mentions the addition "Synarchique" in 1921, as we'll see later on in this text). The Order was "officially" proclaimed as the 'Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique' at the first convention of the F.U.D.O.S.I., held in Brussels, Belgium in August 1934 ( Blanchard was elected at the convention as "OM&S Universal Sovereign Grand Master"). The addition of Synarchique to the title of Blanchard's Martinist Order referred to the ideals of Synarchy, as developed by Saint-Yves d'Alveydre (see Addendum 7, "1934-1951-FUDOSI", Saint-Yves & Synarchy) Blanchard (member of Papus' Supreme Counsil and venerable member of Lodge Melchisech no 208, a lodge which conferred the higher Degrees), who was the rightful successor of Téder according to many sources, left the original Martinist Order because he, like many other Martinists, did not agree with the Masonic requirement. Therefore Blanchard gathered together several of the former Supreme Council Martinists "and the independent Martinists who did not adhere to or belong to the Masonic Martinist branch, forming a Martinist branch under the original constitution which had no Masonic qualifications and which Initiated men and women" ("A Martinist Treasury" by Trophimus, S.I.I.). In a way, Blanchard's OM&S was a continuation of Papus' O*M*, with its focus on the mystical side of Martinism, a method otherwise known within Martinism as "the way of the Heart". As stated in the previous chapter, both Blanchard and Jean Bricaud claimed to be sole and legal successor of Papus/Téder. Both men allegedly published several communiqués declaring that they were the legal successor of Papus in the review 'Le Voile d’Isis'. For example, the following text is an extract from a communiqué presented by Blanchard in the February-issue of 'Le Voile d’Isis' of 1921: "l’Ordre Martiniste ancien et primitif, dénommé légalement Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique, a repris officiellement ses travaux le 3 janvier 1921, et que sa première tenue a été consacrée à l’inauguration solennelle et rituelique du Suprême Collège de Synthèse Initiatique d’Occident."

Blanchard claims in this communiqué that "the ancient and primitif Martinist Order" (the Order of Papus) officially carried the name of 'The Martinist Order and Synarchy'. At the meeting concerned, Blanchard claimed that he'd presented the Charter that was granted to him by Papus and Téder to the attending Martinists. Blanchard stated that all Martinists were given the time until may 1, 1921 to recognize Blanchard as the Grand Master of the O*M*. Despite the bold claims of Blanchard, many Martinists choosed to stay independent as 'Free Martinists'. The OM&S initiated their members into the 4 "traditional" degrees (incl. S.I. IV*) of Papus. The Order adopted the Martinist rituals that were written by D. P. Sémélas (see 'History of the Martinist Order') and accepted by Papus in 1912. As a matter of fact, D. P. Sémélas and Eugène Dupré united with Victor Blanchard after the first World-War. Dupré allegedly founded in 1911 'LE TEMPLE d'ESSENIE', the Martinist Lodge in Cairo, Egypt. During the war both Sémélas and Dupré left Egypt for France. After the war D. P. Sémélas dedicated all of his time to the development of his order, 'L'Ordre du Lys et de l’Aigle'. He also continued his Martinist activities, together with Eugène Dupré, with the foundation of 'Groupe Indépendant d’Etudes Martinistes'. It was this group, G.I.E.M., that allegedly united forces with Blanchard. In January 1919 a Treaty of Alliance between 'L'Ordre du Lys et de l’Aigle' and Blanchard's Martinist Order was signed. But somehow the co-operation did not last long "due to Victor Blanchard's instability", thus the French sources. Whatever the truth, D. P. Sémélas and Eugène Dupré founded 'l’association Les Amis de Claude de Saint-Martin', a group which also included Papus' old associates Michelet, Chamuel, Béliard and Chaboseau. This association gave birth to the group ATHANOR, a group which was led by Michelet. Group Athanor was the forerunner of the Traitional Martinist Order/ 'Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel', officially founded in 1931. (see "1931 Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel')

As mentioned before, Victor Blanchard continued the activities of his own Martinist Order, which allegedly received some sort of official character in 1921. Blanchard's Order was not exactly succesful during the twenties, as a matter of fact, it seems that at the end of the 1920's Blanchard left his responsibilities as a Grand Master of the Order. Blanchard allegedly participated in the activities of 'La Fraternité des Polaires', the Polaire Brotherhood, that was 'officially re-constituted' in 1929. The Order was founded by Italian Cesare Accomani (Zam Bhotiva), although the 'official history' of the Order started some 20 years before, after the meeting between Mario Fille and a certain 'Father Julian' (see "1908 - La Fraternité des Polaires"). The Polaire Brotherhood had a temple at 36 Junot Avenue in Montmartre, Paris. This temple was later also used by Blanchard's Martinist Order. The OM & S did not have its own temple in Paris and Blanchard initiated its Martinist members in the temple of the Polaires. Blanchard was the Sovereign Grand Master of the Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique until his death in 1953 (March 14, 1953). Unlike many other Initiatic and fraternal organizations the OM&S could continue its esoteric activities during the Second World War because the order directed its activities to Switzerland (a "neutral" country), were the order was represented by the Senior Grand Master, Edouard Bertholet (Sar Alkmaion) and, before 1936, August Reichel. Blanchard was also one of the leading advocates of a federation of initiatic orders, which resulted, with Blanchard acting as one of the three imperators, in the foundation of the F.U.D.O.S.I. in Brussels, Belgium, in 1934. A couple of months before the first convention of the F.U.D.O.S.I. took place, Blanchard had installed a new Martinist lodge in Brussels. The installation of Lodge URIEL was the result of a meeting between Blanchard and Armand Rombauts (Rombauts had been chartered by Papus in 1912 to establish a Martinist Lodge, Lodge I.N.R.I.). In fact, the foundation of Lodge URIEL was a re-introduction of Martinism in Belgium.

Blanchard attended the 'Martinist-convention" (May, 1934) together with Lydie Martin and George Lagrèze. In August 1934, Blanchard would initiate Emile Dantinne, Harvey Spencer Lewis and other dignitaries of the F.U.D.O.S.I. into the OM & S. (see also "1931- O.M.T.*). The OM & S became a success through the foundation of the F.U.D.O.S.I. But in 1939 Blanchard was forced by the federation's Supreme Council to send in his resignation as Co-Imperator of the F.U.D.O.S.I., and he was also replaced in all of the other high offices he held within the federation (see Chapter 9 "1934-1951 F.U.D.O.S.I." and, in this series, see also "1931 Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel"). Blanchard had autoconsecrated himself as 'Universal Grand Master' of the Rose+Croix and all initiatic Orders due to the oracle he consulted within the 'Fraternité des Polaires', of which he was its President since 1933. Blanchard's autoconsecration was, naturally, the reason for his expulsion. The small membership of the OM & S diminished; Jeanne Guesdon and Georges Lagrèze, dignitaries of Blanchard's Martinist Order, both left and joined the Traditional Martinist Order of Chaboseau. The Traditional Martinist Order replaced the O.M. & S within the F.U.D.O.S.I. In 1946 the O.M. & S returned within the ranks of the F.U.D.O.S.I. until 1951 when the federation was officially dissolved by the Supreme Council. Around the years of the Second World War there existed another Martinist & Synarchy order which was a member of the F.U.D.O.S.I., the UNION SYNARCHIQUE DE POLOGNE, founded by Dr.Tarlo Mazinski in 1937. Not much is known to me about this 'side-branch', except that it was an independent organization. After the Second World War the F.U.D.O.S.I. wanted to merge the T.M.O, O.M.&S, and the two minor Martinist organizations which were affiliated to the federation, the SOCIÉTÉ d'ETUDES MARTINISTES and the UNION SYNARCHIQUE DE POLOGNE, into one united Martinist Order. This idea failed, except for the two minor organizations. Therefore it is very likely that i.a. the ‘Union Synarchique de Pologne’ (Synarchy Union of Poland) was included within the ranks of the Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique "on paper"(of course, this is just an assumption, not a 'historical fact' ! ). In reality, the 'Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique' did not resume organized activity in France. Unlike France, the O.M. & S allegedly continued its activities in Switzerland during and after the war. When Blanchard died in 1953, Bertholet was regognized as Souverain Grand-Maître of the O.M.&S. The Martinist Order and Synarchy has an official church, the ‘Église Gnostique Universelle’, also known as ‘L’Église Gnostique Apostolique’. Blanchard (Tau Targelius ) had been ordained by Jean Bricaud on May 15, 1918.

In 1958 Bertholet chartered Sar Sorath, who's later known as Sar Gulion (Louis Bentin), to establish a Grand Lodge for Great Britain and the overseas British territories, otherwise known as the Commonwealth. Counters Mike Restivo:

"Sar Gulion's charter clearly states that his Jurisdiction and authority is over "Angleterre" or England alone, not the Commonwealth.  Later, Sar Alkmaion offered to charter the Canadian O.M.&S., but loyalty to Bro. Bentin, who furnished the Canadian Jurisdiction with all necessary rituals and conventicle lessons, persuaded the Canadian Officers to decline Dr. Bertholet's offer.  The decline would have been a sentimental move that might have been regretted if the O.M.&S. under Sar Alkmaion did not die out after Dr. Bertholet's death."   

The Grand Inspector of the British Grand Lodge was Lawrence Ewels (..-1995), Sar Ra Bennu. The order in England was led by an inner committee known as the Sovereign Tribunal. Another famous member of the Order was Philip Ross Nichols, who acted as recorder of the London Grand Lodge and who was also one of the key figures in the revival of interest in Celtic Spirituality and Druidry. Ross Nichols (..-1990) was co-founder of the ‘Order of Bards,Ovates and Druids’ of which he became its Chief in 1964 (under the mystical nomen ‘Nuinn’). Another key-figure of the Order was Desmond Bourke, who founded the masonic ‘Universal Druidic Order’ in 1966. It seems that Druidism blends well with Martinism on the British Isles. Another famous O.M.& S member was the late Derek Bell, the Celtic Harpist of the famous Irish trad. band ‘The Chieftains’. The British Grand Lodge represents the main Jurisdiction of the O.M.&S. Despite the status of this Grand Lodge, all foreign jurisdictions are autonomous.

In that same year, 1958, Sar Sendivogious became the ‘Provincial Délégate for Canada' (Sar Sendigovius was the former Archivist of the English Grand Lodge).

In 1960 the Continental Jurisdictions reunited with the "Ordre Martiniste" of Papus' son, Gerard Encausse (in which we find also many former members of the T.M.O. who left after Ralph M. Lewis became Grand Master). The O.M.&S. still exists today, under its original name under different obediences in countries like Canada, U.S.A., Barbados, and England (England being the main jurisdiction under the leadership of Louis Bentin, Sar Gulion). Bentin died on June 30, 2003. In the 1990's Sar Gulion allegedly named his successor, a certain Mr. John Fitzpatrick. The following comment on the present-day situation of the O.M.& S /Britannic Grand Lodge stems from a message placed by Clive Culbertson on a Martinist E-group in 2003 : "As Martinism has changed much in Britain and Ireland,I'm not sure if Sar Gulion's named successor (Fitzpatrick) will be automatically given the job, even though he did single handedly keep Martinism alive in these islands through the 80s and much of the 90s.I think now there are almost none of the original members in the recently reformed London Lodge.Will be interesting." (Clive Culbertson, O.M.& S)

GREAT BRITAIN

CANADA

Sar Resurrectus ( Gordon Stuart ) - Chairman ( initiated by Pendleton ), Sar Sendivogius - Deputy Chairman/Inspector, Sar Petrus - Secretary/Archivist.

The Canadian branch was considered clandestine by the O.M.&S in England, "event though they are properly in possession of Initiatic authority" (fr.Melchior "Survey on modern Martinist Orders"). "The Canadians Brethren sent back their Provincial Charter to Louis Bentin before they received full Grand Lodge status and then went to France and received charters from other Martinist Bodies but they still continued to use the name Order Martinist et Synarchique. Peter Maydan who passed away some years ago also confirmed this to me. "He said Louis used to take ages to respond to letters and didn't send the rituals." (Martinism YahooGroups)

The Canadian branch made an alliance in 1973 with Roger Caro's ENA / EGLISE UNIVERSELLE DE LA NOUVELLE ALLIANCE of France, which was the 'outer' order for the FAR+C / FRERES AINES DE LA ROSE+CROIX, an Alchemical Order.

The Canadian branch of the O.M.&S, through its initiations into the S.I.I or S.I.IV Degree, the grade of Initiatèur Libre, enabled Mike Restivo (Sar Ignatius) to found the Rose†Croix Martinist Order (R.+C.M.O.) in 1982. It is claimed by some North-American sources that Restivo's organization is a 'one-man operation'.  Counters Restivo:

"Such claims are false and uninformed because personal information about membership is not revealed.   The R+CMO is a private lay Order incorporated in the Province of Ontario, Canada.  I created this Order faithful to the traditional principles of Martinism and Christian Mysticism, which Order does not infringe upon any other Martinist Order's teachings.

Proprietary material deposited to me and pledges/oaths made by myself have been conserved with respect to all of the Martinist Orders with which I have been and still am associated or a member." - Mike Restivo, Sar Ignatius, Grand Master, R+CMO

The O.M.&S (post 1960) maintained a close relationship with the other Martinist orders (with the exception of the T.M.O. under the jurisdiction of AMORC), especially with the O.M. in France. For example, the O.M.&S from England (the Lodge of London, "E*O*L*) organized a "tenue Initiatique" in Paris on October 23, 1971, were Maria Lorenzo is designated as an intermediary between the O.M. of Paris and the O.M.&S to maintain a close relationship between the two organizations. A conflict arose wiithin the Canadian branch, when the order found out that one of their Grand Masters was a member of the Traditional Martinist Order (AMORC). After Maydan was dismissed by the T*M*O* in 1973 he returned as GM of the Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique from Canada. "In the earlier 90's this Order still continues. A few years back Louis issued a new charter for Canada to brethren not happy with the old system and they continue to work in silence." (Martinism -YahooGroups).

The M*O*& S was chartered in 1990 in the United States under the sponsorship of the M*O*& S Grand Lodge of Britain. "The head of this Martinist body is Sar Eliakim of New York City. [1991]" ("a Martinist Treasury" by Trophimus, S.I.I.) The O.M.&S returned to France in 1975 and was led in 1995 by Grand Master Sar Gabriel.

'L’ORDRE MARTINISTE ET SYNARCHIQUE' IN THE WEST-INDIES

In September 1982 "a Brother, journeying from Barbados, West Indies" (source: I.C.E.S.) was initiated by Louis Bentin / Sar Gulion and he also received a charter to install " on the Ilse of Barbados in the West Indies, Lodges and Heptads of the Martinist Order that have been regularly authorized and warranted by the Sovereign Tribunal of the Britannic Grand Lodge." On November 12, 1982, Lodge Empress was inaugurated on the island. "Returning to London in September 1985, Sar Inspirator Lucis was again received by Sar Gulion who conferred upon him the Ordinations of the Elus-Cohen which he had himself received ( on October 6, 1960 Louis Bentin was ordained by Robert Ambelain into the Ordre Martiniste des Elus-Cohen *). To mark this occasion Sar Inspirator Lucis changed his Nomen Mysticum to Sar Savitar, on September 25, 1985. At this time discussions were held about the erection of the present Provincial Lodge of Barbados to the status of Sovereing Grand Lodge. This date has been fixed for Easter, 1986. [This has since come to pass.] (Source ; lecture from Liber two, Plane one of the ICES )

The following information on the "foundation of the Barbasos-group" is derived from the Masonic E-group "alt.freemasonry" and was posted by one of its members, a certain ‘Sar Draconis’ : "Martinist Order and Synarchy, Barbados. This group was formed by Bishop Guittans originally under Charter from the Brittanic Grand Lodge. According to the Brittanic Grand Lodge, Bishop Guittans was entrusted with many arcane manuscripts by the Brittanic Grand Lodge, with the explicit proviso and promise that he should keep them completely andunreservedly private, for his own use only. However, once in possession of these documents, he began to publish them publically incorrespondance courses. This remarkable Knowledge can still be obtained from ICOMS (Internation College of Martinist Studies) in Barbados. In additon, Barbados has Initiates in the U.S. Following his betrayal by publicizing previously unknown and private arcane material, Bishop Guitons was expelled from the Brittanic GrandLodge and he is no longer recognized by the parent group. His group, the Martinist Order and Synarchy, is now one of the major Martinist Groups in North America, including many sincere and devoted Christian mystical students who have been initiated therein. The legacy of Bishop Guitons will no doubt last many generations.The Barbados Order is not in fraternal relations with, nor is it recognized by, either the Brittanic Grand Lodge, or the Cadadian GrandLodge, of the Martinist Order and Synarchy."

puzzle make sense. The same can be said about the R+C of the Orient members

BRAZIL

'Grande Loja Nacional Brasileira'- In Brazil also works a Grand Lodge of OM&S. Louis Bentin gave a charter to a Brother in Brazil who had previously received a Charter from Barbados when Louis withdrew their charter on the grounds of commercialism. Recently (2003) the Grand Lodge of Brazil granted a work permission to a Lodge in Greece and other in Spain.

The Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel was founded on July 24, 1931. The order consisted of members who had revolted against Téder and Joanny (Jean) Bricaud and their blend of Masonic Martinism, and who did not recognize Victor Blanchard as a Grand Master of the Martinist order. It was Augustin Chaboseau's candidate for the Universal Sovereign Grand Master, Victor-Emile Michelet (1861-1938), who could not accept the election of Blanchard (1). Therefore Michelet founded the O.M.T.* in 1931, with Michelet as Grand Master and Augustin Chaboseau (1868-1946) as Deputy Grand Master. Together with Lucien Mauchel (Chamuel,…- 1936) they proclaimed that the O.M.T. was the one and only true heir of the original 'Ordre des S.I. / Ordre Martiniste' of 1891.

After the First World War (1914-1918) Chaboseau, Michelet and Chamuel allegedly joined the Martinist association founded by D. P. Sémélas and Eugène Dupré, 'l’Association Les Amis de Claude de Saint-Martin'. This association gave birth to the group Athanor, a Martinist group led by V.-E. Michelet. This group was the precursor of the Traditional Martinist Order. It was Jean Chaboseau, Augustin Chaboseau's son, who apparently suggested the idea to his father to -"officially"- unite the survivors (Chaboseau, Michelet, Chamuel) of the original 'Suprême Conseil' of 1891 and to reconstitute the original 'traditional' Order. Chaboseau was the co-founder of the Martinist Order, Michelet had been an important member of the 'faculty of Hermetic Sciences' and Master of Lodge 'Velléda', and Chamuel was the 'organisateur matériel' of the original Order (Chamuel co-established and managed the bookstore 'librairie du Merveilleux' during the 1890's). The Traditional Martinist Order pretended to represent the original Martinist Order, as established by Papus and Chaboseau. In the early years, the Order chose to 'work in silence' as a (relatively) discreet organization. The Order held its meetings at the (masonic) seat of the 'Grand Prieuré des Gaules' of Dr. Camille Savoire (Rite Ecossais Rectifié). Once in a while, the Order manifested itself through a group named Tau (groupe Tau), which published a bulletin of psychological and metaphysical studies and organized conventions at the Palais de la Mutualité in Paris. The O.M.T. also associated itself in the 1930's with the famous French review Atlantis, founded by Paul le Cour in 1926. It is claimed that Chaboseau was in reality the Occult Director of the original Martinist Order. Chamuel (Lucien Mauchel ) was also the Grand Master of the OKR+C, as successor to Charles Détre / Téder (there existed a parallel line of succession with Bricaud acting as G.M., the OKR+C -OKR+C GNOSTIQUE- affiliated to the Ordre Martiniste de Lyon. Victor Blanchar represented up to 1939 the OKR+C within the F.U.D.O.S.I. ). The masonic requirement of the Order under Téder and Bricaud was not the only objection Chaboseau had. Chaboseau also objected to the religious orientation of both Téder and Bricaud. The 'Eglisé Gnostique Universelle' (Gnostic Church) had become the 'official Martinist church in 1911, Chaboseau did not accept this decision. During his life, Chaboseau would never stop fighting for religious freedom. "Directly or indirectly, he initiated Martinists who would continue the fight for religious freedom; Jules Boucher (1948, Ordre Martiniste Rectifié), Gustave Lambert-Brahy (1968, O*M* Belge), Maurice Warnon (1975, O*M* de Pays-Bas)".

On Januari 12, 1938 (or 1939) Michelet dies. Chaboseau succeeded Michelet as Grand Master of the O.M.T.. The Supreme Council of the OTM/TMO (Conseil Suprême Traditionnel) in 1939 consisted of Pierre-Augustin Chaboseau, Jean Chaboseau

( Galaad, son of Augustin Chaboseau ), Octave Beliard and Georges Lagrèze. Both Beliard and Lagrèze (2) were initiated in a direct line to Papus (Lagrèze was initiated by Tedér on June 30, 1906 and had been a member of the Supreme Council under Papus since October 8, 1908) . In 1939 the OTM had developed into a fertile organization.

Source ; G.Galtier "Maçonnerie Egyptienne, Rose-Croix et Neo-Chevalerie" 1994

Gerard Galtier on Lagrèze and Martinism : " After the First World War Lagréze seems to have accepted the direction of Jean Bricaud at the head of the french occult Societies originating from Papus, seeing that he therefore possessed the title of Principal Inspector and Member of the Supreme Council of the Martinist Order of Lyons. Around 1933 he separated himself from Bricaud in order to ally himself with the Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique of Victor Blanchard where he became deputy Grand Master. In the same period he united with Rombauts and the other dissident Belgians who had also freed themselves from the supervision of Bricaud " . This text was kindly translated by Elias Ibrahim who further states ; "Bro. Lagréze was one of the great lights of Martinism and helped the tradition to survive into our times by eventually conveying his knowledge and wisdom to Bro Ambelain and Jeanne Guesdon and I believe also to some extent to Ralph Lewis" . I can personally add to his information that Lagréze indeed, together with Chaboseau, were in close contact at the time with first Harvey Spencer Lewis, and later Ralph Maxwell Lewis.

On July 14, 1938 Victor Blanchard of the OM & S had auto-consecrated himself as the Universal Grand Master of the Rose-Croix and of all the Initiatic Orders of the world. He sent a proclamation to each Grand Master of the F.U.D.O.S.I., which requested allegiance and recognition of his new dignity. One of the consequences of Blanchard's conviction was that he was expelled from the F.U.D.O.S.I. in 1939. The Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique was replaced at the 4^th convention of the federation by the Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel. Many members, including such high dignitaries as George Lagrèze and Jeanne Guesdon (Grand Secrétaire of AMORC-France), left the O.M. & S and went over to Chaboseau's Martinist Order. Two other high dignitaries of the federation, Imperators Emille Dantinne and Ralph Maxwell Lewis of AMORC, also left Blanchard's OM& S. In September 1939 Ralph Maxwell Lewis was initiated (subject to the approval of Chaboseau) by Lagrèze into the O.M.T. (S.I.and S.I.IV, the "Initiator-degree")) Harvey Spencer Lewis (A.M.O.R.C.), Ralph's father, had received a charter from Blanchard for the OM & S in the United States. The first Martinist temple which was established in California by Lewis was called "Louis Claude de Saint-Martin". Ralph had been intiated into the OM & S by Blanchard in 1936 (S.I.IV). In October 1939 Ralph Maxwell Lewis was appointed "Sovereign delegate and Regional Grand Master" of the O.T.M. by Lagrèze, for California and the United States. This way the Conseil Suprême Régional des Etats-Unis' was founded. The council consisted of 5 members : Ralph Maxwell Lewis, Cecil A. Poole, Orlando T. Perrotta, James R. Whitcomb and J. Duane Freeman. The Charter was requested by Ralph Maxwell Lewis and the request was addressed to Lagrèze, together with an application for the "regularization of Martinist Initiation" intended for the brothers Whitcomb, K.Brower, and the sisters Whitcomb, G.Lewis and M. Lewis. They all received the S.I. degree, except for Ralph M.Lewis, who also received the Degree of Initiator, S:::I:::IV. Under the umbrella of the Rosicrucian Order A.M.O.R.C. the Martinist Order (OMT/TMO) was introduced in America. During the Second World War the O.M.T. is officially put to sleep but two of its lodges, Athanor and Brocéliande, continued in secrecy (the other Parisian lodges at the time were Velleda and Hermanubis). The French Order maintained its contact with the Order in America. Ralph M.Lewis corresponded with Jeanne Guesdon, 'Grand Secrétaire' of both AMORC-France as well as the Traditional Martinist Order (she replaced Jean Chaboseau -who was mobilized- during the war ). Guesdon forewarded the correspondences to Georges Lagrèze, who had been forced to hide in Normandy and later in Angers, as she acted as a mediator between Lewis and Lagrèze. In June 1945, Augustin Chaboseau organized a 'reunion' to discuss the possibilities of the continuation of the 'Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel'. Part of the members are against an obediental structure of the organization and put their point of view to discussion. It is Georges Lagrèze who convinces the majority of the necessity of having an Obedience after which Chaboseau resurrects the French Obedience of the O.M.T.. Those who did not wish to work under the obedience reunited under the Martinists Robert Amadou, Paul Laugénie and Edouard Gesta (September 1945, foundation of the association 'Friends of Saint-Martin'). 'L’Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel' resumed work in France and abroad the Order is represented by Ralph M. Lewis, who is maintained by Chaboseau as a member of the 'Suprême Conseil International' and as 'Grand Maître Régional' for the United States of America. But problems within the Order were eventually inevitable, or so it seemed. Augustin Chaboseau died on January 2, 1946. In my essay, "F.U.D.O.S.I. 1934-1951", I've stated that Chaboseau was succeeded by Georges Lagrèze. Lagrèze died only three months later, on April 24^th ,1946. "Lagrèze died shortly after Chaboseau in April of that same year, and Jean Chaboseau succeeded Lagrèze as Grand Master of the TMO. Under normal circumstances he would have been chosen as his father's successor and as co-Imperator of the FUDOSI by the Supreme Council. But the 'Supreme Council' decided otherwise" as it is stated in Chapter 11 of the F.U.D.O.S.I.-series ("The 5^th Convention -1946"). When Augustin Chaboseau died in 1946 (and shortly after him Lagrèze) it was Jean Chaboseau, his son, who normally would have succeed his father as Grand Master of the O.M.T. It is noteworthy to know that Augustin Chaboseau was also one of the three Imperators of the F.U.D.O.S.I. In other words, Jean Chaboseau would also succeed his father as imperator, or not. The sources do not mention the issue at all.

"A few days after his death [Augustin Chaboseau] an election is held in which - in accordance to the wishes of Augstin Chaboseau - Jean Chaboseau is chosen as Grand Master. Jules Boucher, Grand Secretary of the Order, is of opinion that the latter is too young and simply not the right person for the office of Grand Master " - L'Après Guerre -

Besides, Boucher suspected that Jeanne Canudo (3), whom Jean Chaboseau wanted to appoint as a member of the Supreme Council, had been a member of the ‘Mouvement Synarchique d’Empire’, M.S.E.:

Jeanne Canudo was a member of the O.M.T. and of the pre-war 'La Fraternité des Polaires'. It is known that various members of the Polaire Brotherhood were interested in Synarchy. A central figure of the Synarchic movement was Vivian Postel du Mas, a member of i.a. the Polaires and the French Theosophical Society. Around 1936 Vivian Postel du Mas founded the Theosophical branch ‘Kurukshétra’. It is this branch that supposedly gave birth in 1937 to the Synarchist Empire Movement. Canudo denied the accusations made against her, in a letter addressed to Jean Chaboseau she wrote (freely transl.): [Jeanne Canudo]"I am acquainted with the philosophical aspect and the social philosophy of the subject [synarchy]. I’m ignorant to the conspiracy aspect, which "Conspiracy" is this?? Letter to Jean Chaboseau, dated January 9, 1946

Due to all the opposition he was faced with, Jean Chaboseau supposedly chose to stand down from the position of Grand Master. Because of their disapproval of Jean Chaboseau’s Grandmastership the Supreme Council decided to install a temporary Council of Regency to lead the Martinist Order. There's a rumour within esoteric private circles this was because Jean Chaboseau was homosexual - however there is no written documentation to support that. As stated in the first series, the members of the F.U.D.O.S.I. originally wanted to establish a Supreme Martinist Council which would be heading the two main orders ( OM&S -Blanchard had returned within the ranks of the federation - and TMO ) and the other participating Martinist Orders, "SOCIÉTÉ d'ÉTUDES MARTINISTES" and " UNION SYNARCHIQUE DE POLOGNE".

According to the French text of "La Mise en Péril" (‘Le Martinisme Moderne’, published by the O.M.T.), Jean Chaboseau wanted to disband the Order in 1947 for two reasons:

1. Jean Chaboseau felt that the leadership of the Order slipped from his hands, and

2. The publication of an article written by Octave Béliard that was published in ‘Cahiers de l’Homme-Esprit’ in December 1946. The article questioned the official lineages as presented by the founders of the Martinist Order, Papus and Augustin Chaboseau.

According to the O.M.T., these developments led to Jean Chaboseau’s decision to put the Order to sleep in 1947. As mentioned in the first part of the historical outline on the Martinist Order, Jean Chaboseau stated that his father's filiation (through Amélie of Boisse-Mortemart) did never exist. Chaboseau Junior supposedly made this statement after the Supreme Council voted against his nomination as Grand Master. The French texts of the O.M.T. (‘Le Martinisme Moderne’) makes no mention of the foundation of the Martinist ‘Council of Regency’ and the decisions made at the F.U.D.O.S.I. conventions of 1946 and 1947. The following account on the pre-war events is taken from my essay "F.U.D.O.S.I. 1934-1951" and presents a different view on the developments within the O.M.T. "First of all, the original plans the federation had for the unification of the Martinist organizations were not submitted for approval to the relevant Grand Masters. On the 1947 Convention the O.M.T. did not have a Grand Master and the G::M:: of the O.M.&S, Victor Blanchard, was (evidently) not present at the '47 Convention. At this convention, held in Paris, Ralph Maxwell Lewis was appointed Sovereign Grand Master of the Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel. As mentioned above, he was elected in absence of i.a. Victor Blanchard, head of the OM & S, the seat of Grand Master of the O.M.T. was vacant, because the federation had voted against Jean Chaboseau." As stated in Chapter 12 of the 1^st F.U.D.O.S.I.-series ;

1) The doubtful decision of his appointment as Grand Master , in which Lewis, as co-Imperator, played an ambiguous role, both judge as well as plaintiff .

The events of 1946 and 1947 caused a schism within the ranks of the O.M.T.. According to the essay "Le Martinisme Moderne" of the French ‘Traditional Martinist Order’ the schisms within the Order were mainly caused by the actions and decisions made of Jean Chaboseau. For instance, Jean Mallinger, Belgian high dignitary of the F.U.D.O.S.I., had problems with Jean Chaboseau’s relationship with the leaders of the French Theosophists. Mallinger suspected that the ‘Société Théosophique’ wanted to undermine the federation (F.U.D.O.S.I.). This was the main reason for the Belgian Martinists to denounce Jean Chaboseau’s nomination as Grand Master, thus the (current) O.M.T. The Belgian Martinists decided to continue their activities within the bosom of a newly founded Order, ‘L’Ordre Martiniste Universelle’, O.M.U. The ‘Universal Martinist Order’ was headed by René Rosart, the former Treasurer of the temporary ‘Council of Regency’. The O.M.T. continues by claiming that "Ralph M.Lewis disapproved of the schism and chose to stay loyal to his obligations to Jean Chaboseau." - L'Après Guerre, O.M.T. All this supposedly happened before 1947. There’s not much information available on the foundation of the O.M.U and its leader, René Rosart. But to claim that the Belgian Martinists left the O.M.T because of Jean Chaboseau’s position within the Order seems a bit short-sighted. Strangely enough, the text of "Le Martinisme Moderne" does not mention a single word regarding the decisions made by the F.U.D.O.S.I. on July 22, 1946 (i.a. the foundation of the Council of Regency). The minutes of the conclave were published by A.M.O.R.C., to which the O.M.T. belongs. It seems as if the decisions made by the F.U.D.O.S.I. in 1946 completely underminded Jean Chaboseau’s inherited authority over the Traditional Martinist Order. Nevertheless, Jean Chaboseau tried to disband the "Suprême Conseil de l'Ordre Martiniste", "but his motion (as a ' vote of no confidence' ) did not get the approval from the F.U.D.O.S.I." This implies that Jean Chaboseau still played a role within the whole story, despite the Council of Regency. With regard to the ‘Ordre Martiniste Universelle’ it is claimed that this Order never really developed into an active organization. René Rosart passed away in October 1948. It is stated that Dr. Edouard Bertholet ( Ordre Ancien et Mystique de la Rose+Croix – Switzerland, O.M.&S, Rose+Croix d’Orient ) "inherited" Rosart's Universal Martinist Order. Bertholet allegedly disbanded the O.M.U.

As stated before, another high dignitary of the Order, Jules Boucher, also left the Order and founded ‘L’Ordre Martiniste Rectifié’ in 1948. More on this Order later.

Other high dignitaries like Octave Béliard left the order and was probably later involved in the foundation of the ‘Ordre Martiniste de Papus’ in 1953. The O.M. de Papus was headed by Papus' son Philippe Encausse, of whom several sources claim that he also had been a one-time member of Chaboseau's O.M.T.. Other Martinists who left the O.T.M. at the time were men like Robert Chapelain, Pierre Levy, Ilhamar Strouvea and Gustave Tautin.

Returning to the subject of Ralph Maxwell Lewis' election as Grand Master of the ‘Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel’, it is clear that the approval came from the remains of the Supreme Council and the remains of the Council of Regency (consisting of Sar Leukios and Sar Puritia -Jeanne Guesdon, successively president and secretary of the Council of Regency and both high dignitaries of A.M.O.R.C.). When the F.U.D.O.S.I. was dissolved in 1951 the O.M.T. ceased to exist. The original American branch continued as the TRADITIONAL MARTINIST ORDER under the wings of A.M.O.R.C. (Antiquus Mysticusque Ordo Rosae Crucis) and was headed by the Sovereign Grand Master, Ralph Maxwell Lewis (1904-1987), who had separated the American delegation from the original order. Ralph M.Lewis claimed to be Augustin Chaboseau's rightful successor. The order ceased to exist as an independent order and was closely connected to A.M.O.R.C. In some jurisdictions of A.M.O.R.C. the T.M.O. (Traditional Martinist Order ) only admits high-degree (9^th ) A.M.O.R.C. members.

AMORC's TMO IN FRANCE - de L'Heptade "Abbé de la Noue"

Unlike the American T.M.O., the French branch (O.M.T.) allegedly was fully recognized in the 1960’s by the other French Orders. The following account on the French O.M.T. and its Grand Master at the time, Raymond Bernard, is derived from the Yahoo-Martinist E-forum where Fr.Melchior presented the following details:

"In San Jose, originally Martinism was proposed to members only when they reached the Ninth degree in AMORC and as you know there was especially the possibility of getting Martinism at home through correspondance. When I (Raymond Bernard) came back to France in 1959 as Grand Master and when I began to establish Martinism (TMO), I did not permit the process of correspondance Martinism.I established a material to be studied at home BUT without any initiation (just a form of personal ceremony preparing the study of intellectual subjects relative to Martinism, actually the Martinism San Jose monographs that I tranlated from English, but not the initiations themselves).", thus Bernard. Raymond Bernard was also on good terms with Philippe Encausse and ‘his’ French O.M.T. was at the time fully recognized by the other existing branches. Raymond Bernard continues:

"In Clermont-Ferrand, the Rosicrucian Convention was hold on October 28 1972 and the Martinist initiations refered above took place on the 27th. Any way the "Chambre de direction des Ordres Martinistes" presided chiefly by Philippe Encausse, Robert Ambelain and Robert Amadou (still a good friend of mine), recognized fully the TMO that I organized and that was continuously followed according the pure traditional rules thereafter by my son Christian and his co-workers. We recognized each others and according a formula we chose with Philippe Encausse, we maintained constantly "des relations de bon voisinage". Once in a great
Martinist meeting that took place in Paris within AMORC Philippe Encasusse and some Martinist officers of other Orders were invited and attended effectively."
The situation allegedly changed in the second half of the 1980’s when the French O.M.T. was conformed with the American T.M.O. In the 1960’s the O.M.T. thrived in France, one of its most succesful lodges was "Abbé de la Noue". The Heptad "Abbé de la Noue, no.22" was established in Paris around 1960. A Heptad is a Martinist Lodge within the Order. The Heptad was led by Julien Origas (Hugues de Payns, 1920-1983) who became a member of A.M.O.R.C. in 1951. In the following years he was involved with the Rosicrucian Lodge of A.M.O.R.C. at rue de la Condamine in Paris. Origas would later found the "Renewed Order of the Temple", ORT, of which he was its Grand Master until his death in 1983. In 1983 he was succeeded by Luc Jouret. Jouret was forced to leave the ORT within a year, taking half of the members with him. Together with Jo Di Mambro he then founded the "notorious" Order of the Solar Temple. Around 1968-1969 the Martinist Heptad comprised a small number of members which were led by seven officers. In 1966 another Heptad was established in the Paris area by Jean Dubuis (Sar Jean, see "1896 Societe Alchimique de France"). In the 1950's Dubuis had been a member of the "Lectorium Rosicrucianum". Unlike the Heptad of Origas, Dubuis' Heptad was very succesful, as was stated by Raymond Bernard (Sar Rosenkreutz, 1921 -..) who was the French Grand Master of A.M.O.R.C. at the time. In 1969 the two Heptads merged under the name of "Abbé de la Noue". Around this period the O.M.T counted more than twenty Heptads in France alone. Dubuis’ Heptad was a success with 120 members in its ranks (divided into 4 classes of 30 people). The Heptad also established a special class within its structure, known as the "2ème Cercle" (the 2^nd Circle), which studied and practised the Occult Arts. There existed two of these Occult Circles within the Heptad, increasing the total number up to 200 members. Under the charismatic leadership of Jean Dubuis the Heptad specialized in classes on Kabbalah, Tarot , Ceremonial Magic etc. Apparently the Kabbalah -classes were based on the 20^th century classic "The Mystical Kabbalah", written by Dion Fortune. The classes were supplemented with studies on the Zohar. Jean Dubuis' Martinist Heptad developed slowly towards a form of Martinism which approached the original order of Papus. Opposition arose within the ranks of A.M.O.R.C. Finally in 1974 Raymond Bernard replaced Dubuis by Pierre Crimetz ( see '1980 L’Ordre des Chevaliers Martinistes). Jean Dubuis left and founded in 1979 the "Association des Philosophes de la Nature", the Philosophers of Nature ( L.P.N. / P.O.N. , see also "1896 Societe Alchimique de France" ). The Traditional Martinist Order (after 1951) is structured on "Septa" and "Heptads" (made up of 7 officers). the Order is "led" in each jurisdiction by its "Grand Heptad" (connected to a Grand Lodge of A.M.O.R.C.) The initiations are conferred within the Heptads. Regarding the teachings, Trophimus in his book "a Martinist Treasurey", explains ; "The instruction papers are those of the Martinist Order and Synarchy which the TMO officers obtained when they were Initiated into the Martinist Order and Synarchy by Victor Blanchard in the 1930s. These MOS papers have been edited to reflect the non-magical philosophy of AMORC". The last sentence refers to the "Non Theurgical Methods" which are employed by the TMO. Regarding the TMO teachings and the O.M. & S, I’m not sure whether Trophimus' claim reflects the "truth" since Ralph M.Lewis also had the original material from Chaboseau's Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel at his disposal. According to several former TMO members the TMO lessons are indeed edited and much of the original information has been taken out. These members (from whom I received the information) became aware of this fact after they became a member of I.C.E.S., which publishes English translations of original French material derived from such orders as the O.M.T., O.M. & S, MEMPHIS-MIZRAIM, ELUS COHEN, OKR+C etc. AMORC's TMO provides a 'home-correspondence course' and is many times accused by other Martinists of ' illegal practises' such as postal initiations. Being a former AMORC-member myself, I know for sure (at least in the Dutch Jurisdiction) that every 'Home-Sanctum' member is obliged to undergo a "physical initiation" in a Lodge, at least with regard to the "First Temple Degree" (1^st Degree). If I'm not mistaken one is also obliged to take the last (the Ninth Temple Degree ) physically ("although I've heard of strange stories happening in the past of members taking the 9^th before the 1^st " ). The above mentioned obligations regarding initiation applies of course to the "Rosicrucian students" of A.M.O.R.C. I'm not familiar with the "regulations" within the TMO, but I presume that they are "compatible" with the A.M.O.R.C. regulations. After all, the Martinist method of 'personal initiation' (the initiator employs the biblical "laying on of hands" upon the initiate) is "the key" of a Martinist Initiation ritual. According to Fr.Melchior in his summary on Martinist Orders nearly all of the accusations have been proved wrong: "TMO does operate Septa & Heptads (temples), they DO initiate members physically (and not per mail), they DO possess the so-called Fourth degree of Unknown Philosophers, but the Degree of free Initiator is not given to many members (Ralph M.Lewis has withheld this degree from almost all its initiating officers)". The Traditional Martinist Order does not recognize the authority of any of the other Martinist Orders, it's the only Martinist Order refusing to admit Martinists from other Martinist Orders as visitors (something which -as we’ve seen- did not count for the French O.M.T under Raymond Bernard). TMO 's policy towards other Martinist organizations is rather "aggressive". For instance, when A.M.O.R.C. in the U.S.A. became aware of the existence of I.C.E.S. at Barbados "a very angry exchange of letters took place, with AMORC demanding that Barbados *cease & desist* " (information ; former U.S. member of TMO ). Although there are some indications that Christian Bernard attempted to have "his" TMO recognized by other Martinist bodies in Europe. T.M.O. / France publishes a periodical review called "Pantacle". The French OMT is led since 1993 by the Grand Maître Serge Toussaint. During the last decade the TMO expanded especially in Brazil. When Ralph Maxwell Lewis died in 1987 he was succeeded by Gary L. Stewart (1953-…) as Imperator of A.M.O.R.C. and Grand Master of the T.M.O. In 1990 Stewart was removed from the Imperatorship by the Board of Directors (Supreme Counsil) of A.M.O.R.C. However, these Board members failed to remember to remove Stewart from the office of Sovereign Grand Master of the TMO. Stewart re-established the TMO in America as the T.M.O.A., The ‘Traditional Martinist Order of America’. Gary L..Stewart received the "all-important 4^th Degree of Initiator" from Cecil Poole, who received this degree himself directly from Victor Blanchard of the O.M. &S. Apparently, the documentation of Stewart's initiation to the 4^th Degree was taken to Paris, along with other TMO material by Christian Bernard, president of A.M.O.R.C. Gary L..Stewart founded the BMO, British Martinist Order, in 1991 (allegedly) based upon an 'old' Russian Martinist Lineage (Golitzin)

LINES OF SUCCESSION OF THE O.M.T. / T.M.O. ;

In July 1951 Raymond Bernard, who was duly initiated by J Duane Freeman into A.M.O.R.C.(who received his initiation by H.S. Lewis), installed the OMT (Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel) within AMORC France. In 1987 Raymond retired, so the Martinist Line of succession ended here. Later on (1990), Orval Graves *was "dug out of retirement" to perform the 4^th Degree Initiator on Christian Bernard. This way Christian 'secured" a legitimate lineage, "assuming that his TMO-one had been compromised along the way", as Mark Stavish has put it (private email). Orval Graves received his Martinist Initiations back in the days of the F.U.D.O.S.I. meetings. Apparently, mr.Graves was initiated into the ‘Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique’…

* Orval Graves was AMORC's Librarian during the 1930's and 1940's. Graves started the famous AMORC-classes on ' Practical Alchemy' (see "1896 SOCIETE ALCHIMIQUE DE FRANCE " )

The second ' Line of Succession' involves Gary Lee Stewart (Imperator of the "Confraternitas Rosae Crucis" CR+C and GM of the B*M*O*), who was initiated by Cecil A. Poole. Poole held the all-important 4^th Degree of Initiator from Victor Blanchard of the OM &S. Stewart claims to hold the all-important 4^th Degree, which is probably correct since he is an installed Sovereign Grand Master. Stewart also claims to hold an ancient Russian lineage, which he received in Belgium in the 1970's ( the I.S. Milites Templi ? - a Templar order which has i.a. two Lodges in Belgium). The TMO is still active today, under the authority of G.M. Christian Bernard. The order even expanded during the last decade, specifically in Southern-American countries like Brazil. For instance, the HEPTADA MARTINISTA SÃO PAULO, established in 1994, initiated 740 members up to december, 2000. In Brazil the TMO was launched officially during the XI Convenção Nacional Rosacruz (11^th Rosicrucian National Convention), in October of 1986, by the Grand Master of the TMO at the time, Ralph Maxwell Lewis F.R.C., S.I. , L.I. The Grand Master of the Portuguese Jurisdiction at the time is Charles Vega Parucker F.R.C., S . I . L . I. The recent decision of the French authorities to 'categorize' A.M.O.R.C. as a 'sect' according to a new French law, probably also affected the French O.M.T. / TMO. It appears that the organization is going through a difficult phase, because no less than 7 Heptads were officially dissolved in January, 2001. The Heptads concerned ; "Raymond-Lulle": Nantes, "Swedenborg": Angers, "Saint-Yves d'Alveydre": Le Mans, "Adonai": Versailles, "Hugues de Payns": Chenove, "Michael", Béziers. The 7^th Heptad is not mentioned ( privat email ). There's a rumour within the French Martinist community this was done to prevent a possible schism of the Heptads.

G.E.R.M.E.

The "1990-Reorganization" within AMORC resulted in a schism (see Chapter "1915 A.M.O.R.C."). Many members left A.M.O.R.C. around that time, one of these being Dr.Onslow Wilson, a highly respected member of the Order, to some the "innovator of science and mysticism at AMORC" . Wilson already left AMORC at the time when Donna O'Neill was appointed GM of the English- speaking jurisdiction by Gary L.Stewart, so before the upheaval of 1990. Wilson had been i.a. the "Director of the Department of Instruction" of A.M.O.R.C. Wilson was involved with such organizations as CIRCES ("Centre International de Recherches Culturelles et Spirituelles"), Templar Research Institute TRI, founded by Raymond Bernard 1988, OSTI (Ordre Souverain du Temple Initiatique, founded by J.L.Marsan in 1966, later headed by R.Bernard), OPI, and OUM. Wilson i.a. headed the American departments of Bernard's chivalric orders, for instance, he was the Grand Commander of the United States of America for the 'Ordre Souverain du Temple Initiatique'. Wilson apparently established a new Martinist organization named "GROUPE d'ETUDES ET DE RECHERCHES MARTINISTE ET ESOTERIQUE"("GERME" ), "Group for the Study and Research of Martinism and Esotericism". Onslow Wilson received his initiation directly from Jacqueline Encausse, widow of Dr.Philippe Encausse, Papus' son. GERME is i.a. active in the United States. Onslow Wilson resides in Indiana, USA.. The English version of ‘L’Initiation’ is published since 2000 through Onslow Wilson’s organization

J. de Livron de la Tour de la Case Martinez de Pasqually (1767-1774), Caignet de Lestère (1774-1779), Sebastian de las Casas 1780, G.Z.W.J. 1807…

De Pasqually's teachings and doctrine continued within small groups of "Kabbalistic Aeropagoi". De Pasqually's teachings continued also among masonic rites as Willermoz' C.B.C.S. (Chevalier Bienfaisant de la Cité Sainte’ –‘Knight Beneficent of the Holy City’) and the R.E.R. (Régime Écossais Rectifié, Rectified Scottish Rite), a French templar rite based on Baron Von Hund's Stricte Observance (which includes the C.B.C.S.). At the end of the 19^th century the Elus Cohen were represented by men such as Bergeron, Bréban-Salomon, Carl Michelsen (Denmark) and Edouard Blitz (USA). "The immediate successors in France were Fugairon and Charles Détré" ( see profile of De Pasqually). Charles Détré (Téder) supposedly implemented the EC as higher grades. Bricaud succeeded Détré as Grand Master of the Martinist Order of Lyon (Ordre Martiniste-Martinéziste/ L’Ordre Martiniste de Lyon), which presided over the ORDER OF KNIGHT MASONS ELUS COHEN OF THE UNIVERSE, the E.C. The 'original' Martinist Order under Papus supposedly had implemented the EC within their system of Higher degrees. As we've seen before, the original O*M* worked towards a elaborated system of succeeding degrees, which were taken from several rites (Egyptian Masonry, OKR+C, E*C* etc.) I've stated before in an earlier chapter that "the document regarding Téder's Martinist Ritual of 1913 also refers to several Elus Cohen Degrees which were equivalent to the Martinist Degrees Initiate and S.I." It is not known to me if the EC (adapted) rituals were actually "worked" under Papus, but it seems likely that some form of Martinist Theurgy was performed. After all "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". As a masonic rite the Elus Cohen only admitted men (note ; several sources claim that De Pasqually worked on the construction of a particular initiation ritual for ladies of the order, in the year of his death, 1774). Despite the claims, the original Martinist Order did not have a direct lineage to the original ‘Ordre des Chevaliers Macons Elus-Cohen de l'Univers’. For instance, the claim that Téder transmitted the legal affiliation of the E.C. to Papus is simply not true. Some of the former named so-called ‘representatives’ of the E.C. were dignitaries of the C.B.C.S., ‘Chevalier Bienfaisant de la Cité Sainte’ (Edouard Blitz). And it is known that, as Robert Ambelain states in his "History & Doctrine of the Martinist Order"(1946), "all legitimate holders of this title (currently called ‘Knights Beneficent of the Holy City’) are in possession of the Sacramental Order of the Elus Cohen, formerly instigated by Don Martinez De Pasqually, if not in form, at least in ‘efficacy’. As we already known, in 1908 Téder and Papus organized a spiritual masonic congress in Paris, with the purpose of "re-attaching the new Martinist Order to High Grade Masonry." And later the Lyon Martinists superposed Martinism upon symbolic Freemasonry, which ment that only Master Masons were admitted to the Martinist Order. When Chevillon succeeded Bricaud in 1934 the Martinist neophytes received their masonic initiation through Memphis-Misraim. Initiation into the C.B.C.S. was transmitted by the ‘Grand Prieuré des Gaules’ which was led by Dr. Camille Savoire. But a theurgical Order which worked the Elus Cohen Rite was yet something else … On April 4, 1942 a Martinist, Robert Ambelain (Aurifer), initiates two new members, Phalgus (Jules Boucher) and Baphometos. They formed the first Martinist Triangle and established the first lodge, BETHELIOS. Paris was occupied and the Nazi's had prohibited all Order-activities, especially Masonry and other Initiatic Orders, Societies and Brotherhoods. All gatherings, publications etc. were forbidden by the Nazi's. The archives of the Orders were confiscated and often destroyed. During these years of prosecution and oppression several Martinists gradually worked on the reconstitution of the Order of the Elect Cohen, ‘L’ORDRE DES CHEVALIERS MACONS ELUS-COHEN DE L'UNIVERS’. Robert Ambelain (1907-1997) received his initiation from Henri Meslin de Champigny ( Harmonius ), probably in a temple of the ‘Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel’. One of the attending officers was Georges Bogé de Lagrèze (Mikael). Georges Lagrèze had been a member of Papus' Supreme Counsil and was its 'Inspecteur Principal'. With regard to Ambelain's initiation into Martinism it turns out that he received several parallel lines of initiation. It appears that Constant Chevillon gave a "strict order" in June 1939 to Paul Langénie to confer the first degree (Associé) of Martinism to Robert Ambelain. Ambelain's 'lines of Martinist filiation' were ;

"Our three occultists(Phalgus, Baphometos, and Aurifer) had among their connections many friends or correspondents who wished to move on from pure study to experimentation, from ‘speculative’work to ‘operative’work.The historic documentation on Martinez dePasqually and his disciples was taken up again. The Rituals were studied; ans a new ‘operative’ form was established, to take into account the modern epoch, the spirit (which was different from that of men of XVIII^th Century), but for all that in rigorous accord with the magic and Martinezist Tradition." - 1946 "History and Doctrine of the Martinist Order"- Robert Ambelain

On September 24, 1942 there already existed a number of eight groups, ‘Circles’. On April 4, 1943, the number in Paris had increased as far as eighteen Circles. On September 29, 1943, another seven groups had been founded … At the end of 1943 the circle was represented in cities like Calais, Lyon, Pontarlier and Nantes. On August 15, 1944, Lagrèze (Mikael) appointed Ambelain as a Delegate ( 95º ) of the Antient & Primitive Rite of Memphis-Misraim. Lagrèze had granted a charter to Ambelain which included the following Degrees ; 4, 12, 14, 18, 32 and 33 followed by the supplemental grades 66, 90 and 95, giving him the powers of Substitute Grand Master. Lagrèze's charter was based on a charter which he had received from John Yarker on September 9, 1909 ( 33º / 95º ). This charter was "confirmed" by Joanny (Jean) Bricaud. Lagrèze and Ambelain founded during the war the Egyptian M.'.M.'. Lodge (and its Chapter) ALEXANDRIE d’ÉGYPTE, which resided in Ambelain's home. (see chapter "1880 ANTIENT & PRIMITIVE RITE OF MEMPHIS-MISRAIM " ) Lagrèze also granted the 33^rd degree of the Scottish Rite to Ambelain. By obtaining the masonic powers the group enabled itself to constitute itself as a Martinezist branch (Elus Cohen). Ambelain formed a Scottish Triangle with the Bro. Andréas and Villanova. Georges Lagrèze was one of the prominent and leading characters of the 'occult community' at the time. Lagrèze i.a. possessed the grade of "Grand Profès" of Willermoz' C.B.C.S., and he became. the "Grand Master" of the ELUS COHEN (through the R.E.R., headed by Camille Savoir - successor of Willermoz- at the time). As mentioned earlier on, Lagrèze received the grade of "Grand Profès" in 1937 from several dignitaries from the Grand Prieure d'Helvetia (at Geneva, Switzerland). As Ambelain states in his 1946 publication on the history and doctrines of the Martinist Order:"Now, as we said, Brother Mikael possessed the lineage of ‘Grand Profès’ of J.B. Willermoz, and as such, that of the ‘Elus Cohen’ of Martinez de Pasqually."

On the third of September, 1943, the ORDRE DES CHEVALIERS MACONS ELUS-COHEN DE L'UNIVERS, the "Elus Cohen", was officially "reconstituted" with Lagrèze as Grand Master and Ambelain as its Deputy Grand Master. Lagrèze conferred all the mentioned degrees to Ambelain / Aurifer. Both men were consecrated into the "Eglise Gnostique Apostolique". "Arguing this transmission, Aurifer constituted two other Martinists and S:.I:.’s , similarly holders of this Episcopacy, as’Knight-Elect’ and ‘Réau-Croix’. Then he ordained the two other two S:.I:.’s who were also Masons simply as ‘Knights-Elect’. Thus, at the heart of the Martinist group born out of this war, a legitimate and regular ‘Cohen Temple’was founded." (Ambelain)

Several well known Martinists / High Degree Masons were part of Ambelain and Lagrèze's circle during the war, Jules Boucher (Phalgus), Robert Amadou (Ignifer), René Chambellant, Camille Savoire (R.E.R.) etc. Robert Ambelain states that Jules Boucher, Phalgus, and Baphometos both "refused to affiliate with Freemasonry." Robert Ambelain fails to mention that, in Boucher’s case anyway, that Boucher refused to affiliate to the masonic Order of Ambelain and Lagrèze. It is known that Boucher was initiated in 1943 in a clandestine lodge of the ‘Grande Loge de France’, Loge ‘L’Arche d’Alliance’. (see ‘Antient & Primitive Rite of MM, Chapter VII’). I can only guess at Boucher’s objection, but I suspect that he had the same objections against Ambelain as Jean Chaboseau. Jean Chaboseau openly questioned Robert Ambelain’s masonic authority. He i.a. reproached Georges de Lagrèze for his decision to confer the High Degrees of the M.M. to Robert Ambelain because Ambelain could not produce any evidence of approval into the third degree of Master-Mason. The constant quarrels between these two would finally result in Ambelain’s expulsion from the ‘Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel’ in 1945 (although the direct motive for expulsion had nothing to do with their quarrels, the tone was set). During the war Ambelain and his circle had constituted an Order which consisted of:

"Purifying diet, similar to that of the Levites of the Old Testament, and rituals of exorcism were employed against evil in the individual and collectively in the world." ( Mike Restivo )

The esoteric content of the third degree, Commander of the Orient (also known as ‘Grand Elu de Zorobabel’) was based on the Eleusin Mysteries, it prepared the candidate for the secret grade of Rèau-Croix.

The rituals of the Elus Cohen were very elobarate and time consuming, sometimes lasting up to six hours in length. DePasqually made use of a special Incence for all Elus Cohen rituals, which included "a number of hallucinogenic substances including the famous Fly Agaric mushroom spores ". The use of Incence in ritual creates a particular mood or vibration. There's a book written by René de Forrestier, "La Franc-macconnerie occultiste au 18e siecle et l'Ordre des Elus Coens" in which De Pasqually's ritual work is "reconstructed". Within the EC special attention is given at the equinoxes. The Theurgic work of a "Equinox Ritual" consists of an operation on five successive days for the Rèau-Croix in the months of March and September. De Pasqually used the Lunar-calendar, the most favourable time for 'Equinox Ritual work' lies between the 1^st Quarter and Full moon. The regulations of the Equinox-ritual;

Through Lagrèze Ambelain had obtained the 'files of Martinez De Pasqually '. These files included De Pasqually's handwritten text: " Traitè de la Rèintegration des Etres dans leurs preières propriètès, vertus et puissances spirituelles et divines", the handwritten Rituals and catechisms of the Order, and the correspondence between Pasqually and his followers, especially Jean-Baptiste Willermoz from Lyon. The rituals of the Elus Cohen came from various sources, which enabled the revived order to practise the operative form of Elus Cohen Theurgy. The order, as in the case of Détré and Blitz, did not accept women and was preserved solely for males. Ambelain always looked for possibilities to expand the order. One has to bear in mind that Ambelain led a federation of orders, including M.'.M.'. (Masonic), Gnostic and Rosicrucian organizations. In 1957 Ambelain co-operated with Joseph Isidore Grasser, a High degree Mason (90*) from Switzerland, in the foundation of the "International Martinist Association 'Les Stephanois' ", I.M.A. Les Stephanois, International Grand Lodge, Paris. The information on this co-operation is very meagre, except the I.M.A. was also affiliated to the M.'.M.'. Ambelain led the Ordre Martinste des Elus Cohen from April 1946 up to August 1967. On Monday August 14, 1967, Robert Ambelain ( Aurifer ) appoints Ivan Mosca ( Hermete ) as his successor. In 1958 the "Ordre Martiniste des Elus Cohen" united with Philippe Encausse's "L'Ordre Martiniste de Papus" and Henri Dupont's "L’Ordre Martiniste-Martinéziste de Lyon". In 1960 this federation gave birth to the "Ordre Martiniste" (L’Ordre Martinist de Paris ). The O.M. was divided into an interior- and exterior circle. Ambelain's Elus Cohen formed the "Interior circle' called ‘L’Ordre Martinste des Elus Cohen’. On August 14, 1967, the interior- and exterior circle of the O.M. de Paris was disbanded. Both orders continued independently from each other. On April 22, 1968 the Ordre Martiniste des Elus Cohen was disbanded. The decision was made after a plenary meeting of the Tribunal Souverain in Paris. On August 14, 1968, the Elus Cohen went dormant by official decree of the Souverain Grand Commandeur Ivan Mosca/Hermete. The ' line of succession' of the Ordre Martiniste des Elus Cohen from 1943 up to 1968 ; Georges Lagrèze ( Mikael, 1943-1946 ) - Robert Ambelain (Aurifer, 1946-1967 ) - Ivan Mosca ( Hermete, 1967-1968 ).

POST AMBELAIN EC                                                                                     

After the dissolution of the OMEC in 1968 the former members of the Elus Cohen (Cohen, or Coëns, is the French version the Hebrew word "Cohanim": a name for the highest class of priests in Jerusalem in biblical times) continued their Theurgical work on their own or in small groups. One of these groups, a small 'mixed' group of Elus Cohen in Nice, was led by René Chambellant (1907-1997?). His filiation is derived from a Canadian branch of the Elus Cohen (probably Sar Sendigovius' O.M.&S, which ‘inner order’ was the E*C*). Chambellant ( Tau Renatus ) claims a lineage derived from Constant Chevillon in 1936. Chambellant was also initiated by Ambelain in 1944 into the Elus Cohen. Chambellant also possesses the degree of Grand Profès of Willermoz' C.B.C.S. Today Chambellant's Elus Cohen is affiliated to a federation of Martinist- Templar Masonic orders in which we find the Ordre Martiniste S:::I:::, the Ordre Martiniste des C.B.C.S., Ordre Chevaliers Macons Elus Cohen de L'Univers …. ( see "1997 Ordre Martiniste S:::I::: / O.M. de Luxembourg") Robert Ambelain apparently refounded his Ordre Martiniste des Elus Cohen back in 1994 with Andre Mauer as Grand-Secretaire (1996). The Elus Cohen is also the ‘inner order’ of the present-day Ordre Martiniste et Synarchique. The Italian ‘Universal Martinist Order’ of Goivanni Aniel founded ‘L’Ordre Souverain des Chevaliers Martinistes et Elus Cohen de l’Univers’ (O.S.C.M.E.C.) in 2001. The headquarters of the O.S.C.M.E.C. is situated in Quebec, Canada.

Due to the new developments within the ‘Ordre Martiniste Traditionnel’ after the Second World War, many members left the O.T.M. One of these members who left the OTM was the Grand Secretary of the order, Jules Boucher ( Phalgus, 1902-1955). Boucher was initiated by Robert Ambelain on April 4, 1942. Boucher apparently also received an initiation by Augustin Chaboseau (date unknown). In 1922 Boucher started his occult carreer with Jean-Julien Champagne, who took Boucher and Eugène Canseliet on as students (Alchemy). This group of students would become known as ‘Les Frères d'Héliopolis’, the Brotherhood of Heliopolis. This brotherhood studied the works of the great Alchemists and was allegedly led by the legendary "Fulcanelli". This group, however, was limited to Champagne, Canseliet, Sauvage, Jules Boucher, and a couple of others. Champagne and Canseliet were both directly connected with Fulcanelli's book "Le Mystere des Cathedrals". Another group Boucher was involved with, was a group called Le Grand Lunaire. The Sigil of the Grand Lunaire was the Baphometis. According to Robert Ambelain the group was also involved in Black Magic. Besides Boucher, men like Champagne and René Schwaller de Lubicz were members at one time. Just for the record, when Jules Boucher left the Grand Lunaire the Gnostic Bishop of Lyon seems to have performed an exorcism on Boucher (Jean Rosselot, O.V. de L.Milosz , Paris 1955 ). In the beginning of the 40's Boucher published the "Manuel de Magie Practique" (Niclaus, 1941- Dervy 1953 new edition). Boucher also founded an association which promoted the restoration of traditionnal Occultism : L’ A.R.O.T.

L' A.R.O.T. "Association pour la Rénovation de l’Occultisme Traditionnel"