THE PROTOCOL OF THE UNION OF MARTINIST ORDERS
by
Mike Restivo, Sar Ignatius, I :: L ::
[The following is a significant document in the
history of modern Martinism. Although dated over 30 years ago, and may not be
representative of today's circumstances, it nevertheless expresses significant
views concerning the Order, which are important to researchers of Western
Initiatic Traditions. My annotations are given in square brackets. Updates with
respect to subsequent developments to the present are solicited from
authoritative sources.]
The Martinist Order as founded by Dr. Gérard Encausse
(i.e. Papus) in 1891, was re-constituted on August 13, 1960, by the fusion of
the Martinist Order "of Papus", which was in full force and effect in
1952 [Philippe Encausee, the son of Papus, re-established it in 1951.] and the
Martinist Order of Lyon, [This was under the Grand Mastership of Henry Dupont]
whose first Sovereign Grand Master was in 1916, [This was he year of the death
of Papus.] the Very Illustrious and regretted Brother Charles Detre (i.e.
Teder). This Order, represented by its Sovereign Grand Master, the Very
Illustrious Philippe Encausee, son of Papus, will be known throughout this
protocol as "M.O." and
The Martinist Order of the Elect-Cohens, which issued from
the Traditional Martinist Order [i.e. of the Elus-Cohen of Martinez de
Pasqually], and of the Order of the Rose-Croix of the Orient, secretly
reconstituted in 1942, during the German occupation, and represented by its
sovereign Grand Master, the Very Illustrious Brother Robert Ambelain, will be
designated throughout this protocol as the "M.O.E.C.";
1) Whereas, in the minds of its promoters, the VV. II.
BB. [i.e. Very Illustrious Brothers] Robert Ambelain, Henry Dupont and Philippe
Encausse, the constitution of a Union of Martinist Orders in Paris, Sunday,
October 26, 1958, was, only a preliminary step toward a final unification which
all the constituent parties desired with all their hearts, although apparently
impossible of immediate realization; and
2) Whereas, in the minds of its promoters, the further
unification of the MM.OO. [i.e. Martinist Orders] was felt to be a necessary
return to the 18th Century Martinism of Tradition, as was clearly set out in
the doctrinal statements made by the first founders, both in print and in
writing; and
3) Whereas, it seems clear, from one of Papus' books,
published in 1895, entitled Martinez de Pasqually, that in addition to
the admiration Papus manifested throughout the book for the Master, his
statements, as contained on page 212, [ie. "The choice made of our centre
by the Invisible Masters to deposit the archives of the Order there, is a great
honour for us that we will continue to validate with our subsequent
improvement.] lead to the conclusion that he also intended to continue and
perpetuate the work of he who Papus often calls "le Maître"/"The
Master"; and
4) Whereas, in his other work entitled Louis-Claude
de Saint-Martin, published in 1902, it also seems clear that he intended to
perpetuate the teachings of the "Way of the Heart", a technique very
dear to Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin's heart, of which Papus' other writings on
this subject allow no doubt; and
5) Whereas, it seems clear, from a document found in
the archives of the M.O.E.C., that Papus was the only one of the Supreme
Council of the M.O. , whose filiations came directly from a branch of the
Rose-Croix, which was the common source of 18th Century Martinism, and of
Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin's particular movement known as the Rose-Croix of
the Orient; and
6) Whereas, it appears from the pages of 277 to 286 of
the Review L'Initiation, 1911, official organ of the Martinist Order,
that there existed at that time, a duly constituted Martinist Lodge bearing the
name of "Melchisedech" Number 208, of the Order, in the Orient of
Paris, which was under the direct dependence of Papus, who was President of the
Supreme Council of the Order and which had as officers, among other Bros. [i.e.
Brothers], also the RR. BB. [Respected Brothers] Teder, Targelius (Victor
Blanchard) [He, as Sar Yesir, was later to become Grand Master of the Martinist
Order and Synarchy in 1934.], and Librarius (Ernest Loiselle), all members of
the Supreme Council; and
7) Whereas, the presence of the V.I.B. Papus and the
VV.II.BB. Teder, Targelius, and Librarius, confers upon all the acts and
decisions of this particular Lodge an official and incontestable character; and
8) Whereas, Section 5, of the "General Rules and
Regulations of the Respected Lodge Melchisedech No. 208", shows that in
addition to the classical degrees of ordinary Martinism (Associate, Initiate,
Unknown Superior, Free Adept, the latter being the modern "Free
Initiator", known also as S.I.I. or S.I. IV), the said Lodge conferred
also higher degrees such as "Royal Initiate", "Perfect
Adept", "Sublime Commander"; [These quasi-Masonic offerings may
have contributed to the defection of American Martinists under Dr. Edouard
Blitz, who perceived an encroachment upon the purview of Freemasonry and did
not want to be associated with an Order that could be considered clandestine by
legitimate Freemasons. Bro. Bliz was replaced by Margaret Peeke in the remnant
of the U. S. Martinist Order which remained loyal to Papus.]
9) Whereas, the Kabbalistic Order of the Rose-Croix
had degrees which were equal to these higher degrees, which they called
"Bachelor", "Master" and "Doctor" of Kabbala, and
furthermore, as the same texts of L'Initiation of 1911, confirm that
these degrees were reserved only for the high degrees of the Masonic Rite of
Memphis-Mizraim (which degrees were above the 33rd) as it was stated on page
277 of the above mentioned publication of 1911, that those called "Secret
Master" (4th), "Grand Pontiff" or "Sublime Scottish"
(19th) and "Sovereign Grand Inspector General" (33rd), are equivalent
to the Martinist degrees of "Initiate", "Unknown Superior"
and "Free Adept" [respectively], conferred by the respected Lodge of
Melchisedech No. 208; and furthermore,
Whereas, the Ritual of the Martinist Order "of
Teder" [i.e. The Martinist Order of Lyon], which was approved by Papus,
the 3rd of August, 1913, states on page 53, that the "Associate"
degree is equivalent to that of "Perfect Master" - that the
"Initiate" degree is equivalent to that of the "Mason of the
Secret", "Apprentice Cohen", (pages 73 and 105) - the
"Unknown Superior Initiator" corresponds to the Masonic and Cohen
degree of "Grand Architect", all of which is in the reformed Scottish
[Rite] called "of Saint-Martin"; and
That not withstanding these facts, the desire of
Papus, and of his close collaborators, to return to a Martinism having a
"Martinezist" and para-Masonic character, is more than abundantly
demonstrated, thus perpetuating as much as was possible at that tme, the Rite
of the Knights Elect Cohens of the Universe, (Rite des Chevaliers Elus-Cohens
de l'Uunivers), founded by Don Martinez de Pasqualis; and
10) Whereas, it results from the foregoing, that the
Martinist Order, during Papus' lifetime, had high degrees of an infinitely more
Occult character than those usually known, high degrees usually connected with
practical Kabbalism and with the Christian Gnosis (see Protocol of the Alliance
with the Gnostic Church, of September 1893, pages 266 and 267 of the Review L'Initiation,
as well as to Spiritualist Masonry, it is thus clearly demonstrated that
realization of the desire manifested by Papus in 1895, to return to the
veritable Martinism of the 18th Ccntury was at a very advanced stage.
In consideration of the foregoing, the High
Constituant Authorities of the union of Martinist Orders, decide that:
Article 1
The Martinist Order, designated as the
"M.O.", and the Martinist Order of the Elect-Cohens, designated as
the "M.O.E.C.", form one and the same Order, as of Sunday, October
28, 1962, at 17 o'clock.
Article 2
The new Order thus constituted resumes and retains its
name of Martinist Order ("L'Ordre Martiniste") as a result of the
merging of the M.O. and the M.O.E.C.
Article 3
The said Martinist Order, shall retain its spiritual
and fraternal ties with the Gnostic Apostolic Universal Church (L'Eglise
Gnostique Apostolique Universelle), which was established by Papus and [Jules]
Doinel, in 1893, revised and brought up to date by V. I. And regretted Bro.
Jean Bricaud [He was Grand Master of the Martinist Order of Lyon after Teder's
death in 1918.], in agreement with the V.I. and regretted Bro. Papus in 1911,
(see, among other documents, also L'Initiation of August 1911, page
178).
Article 4
The Martinist Order shall retain with the Kabbalistic
Order of the Rose-Croix (L'Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rose-Croix) the same
traditional ties established during the lifetime of the VV.II. And regretted
Bros. Stanislas de Guaita and Papus. The said Kabbalistic Order of the
Rose-Croix, unlike the other iniitatic organisms, persists in conferring the
degrees of "Bachelor", "Master", and "Doctor"
"of Kabbalah" -- only to those who have attained and passed the 3rd
degree of "Unknown Superior" (S.I.).
Article 5
The Martinist Order is thus reconstituted and
subdivided into two initiatic organizations:
a) An Exterior Circle, called "Order of
Saint-Martin", which corresponds, on the one hand, to the old Martinist
Order, and on the other hand, to the ancient Exterior Order of the M.O.E.C.,
which includes members of both sexes, having the following degrees:
[1st Degree -] Associate
[2nd Degree -] Initiate
[3rd Degree -] Unknown Superior
[4th Degree -] Unknown Superior Free Initiator or
"S.I.I." or "S.I. IV",
The fourth degree is reserved only for males members
except in cases which have been previously submitted to the Board of Directors
of the Order (Chambre de Direction de L'Ordre). This is the classic Martinist
Order.
b) An Interior Circle, called "Order of
Elect-Cohens", corresponding to the ancient Interior Order of the M.O.E.C.,
comprising male members who have attained to the following degrees:
[1st degree -] Master Elect-Cohen
[2nd degree -] Knight of the Orient
[3rd Degree -] Commander of the Orient
[4th Degree -] Réaux-Croix
(Women are excluded from this Order.)
Article 6
The V. I. Bro. Philippe Encausse, with the title of
Sovereign Grand Master, will govern ad vitam, according to the usual custom,
the actual Constitution and General Regulations of the M.O., groups and
sub-groups (Martinist study circles) having degrees called "of
Saint-Martin";
The V. I. Bro. Robert Ambelain, with the title
Sovereign Grand Commander, shall govern, ad vitam, according to the usual
custom, the actual Constitutions and General Regulations governing the
Martinist Order of Elect-Cohens, Lodges of Perfection, and Martinist Chapters
having the following degrees: "Master Elect Cohen", "Knight of
the Orient", "Commander of the Orient", and
"Réaux-Croix".
Article 7
The new Martinist Order, organized along the same
lines as the Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite constituted of the Grand Lodge
of France and of the Supreme Council of the Scottish Rite, is composed of two
initiatic formations, two distinct branches, independent, one from the other,
but both attached to the one and the same Martinist Order, each having its
respective head, a "Sovereign Grand Master and a Sovereign Grand
Commander".
Article 8
A liaison organism, vested with the proper authority,
shall regulate and harmonize the function of these two groups. This organism is
the actual "Board of Directors" (Chambre de Direction) of the Union
of Martinist Orders. Internal regulations will establish the functions of the
said Board, which will be known as the Liaison Board.
Article 9
The Exterior Circle, known as "of
Saint-Martin", being ipso fact, the seminary and "nursery" of
the Interior Circle of "Elect-Cohens", shall transfer to the latter
such candidates as shall be picked from among their groups or sub-groups
(usually from Martinist study circles) who desire to have access to the
"high Grades" of the M.O.
Article 10
Each candidate thus transfered must present his
"curriculum vitae", giving account of his profane as well as his
initiatic background, together with a note from his superior hierarchy,
countersigned by the Sovereign Grand Master himself or the Assistant Grand
Master.
Article 11
Any member of the M.O. who is excluded from one of the
above memtioned duly constituted groups, is by the same fact excluded from the
other, except in special cases which have been previously brought before the
Liaison Board for discussion.
Article 12
The Exterior Circle, called "of
Saint-Martin", being the seminary of the Interior Circle, called "of
the Elect-Cohens", assures its members the double teaching of the
"Way of the Heart" and of the "Operative Way". The latter
includes, among others, also the study of Martinezist Theurgy, practical
Kabbala, and general Occultism. In no case shall an Exterior Circle transfer
for eventual access to Higher Grades, the candidature of a member who, by observation
or by experience, shows a unique interest in experiments incompatible with the
spirit of Martinism, totaly deprived of sincere Christian Faith, and who has
given proof of indifference regarding the techniques of the "Way of the
Heart" of Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin.
Article 13
The Interior Circle shall assure to the candidates,
through members of their "Lodges of Perfection" and
"Chapters", in complete and total brotherhood spirit, the necessary
teaching of the "Operative Way", through lectures, courses, etc.
Members of the M.O., having passed the first degrees "of
Saint-Martin" (Exterior Circle) and who desire to devote themselves only
to the "Way of the heart", shall in no case be excluded, because of
that, from such lectures, courses and teachings, etc. In fact, access to these
courses, as well as to other forms of teaching shall always be open to them
freely as to any other member.
Article
14
Upon the signature of these presents, the Exterior
Circle, known as "of Saint-Martin", in addition to the work now being
done in their Groups and sub-groups (The usual Martinist study circles), shall
resume and amplify the classical studies already in course during the time of
Papus, i. e. Christian Theosophy, Gnosis, Kabbala, Hermetic Philosophy,
Theurgy, etc.
Article 15
The M.O. is thus unified and crowned at the top by a
Supreme Organism which will function under the name "Sovereign Board of
Directors of the M.O." ("Souverain Directoire de L'Ordre
Martiniste"). This Board is composed of the actual Sovereign Grand Master,
and the Sovereign Grand commander, each assisted respectively by a
"Triangle" of Grand Officers, designated by each one. The
"Sovereign Board of Directors of the M.O." is therefore composed of
eigth members.
Article 16
All regulations of a secondary nature, as well as any
additional measures necessary to insure the application of the present
provisions, shall be completed in detail by the said Sovereign Board,
subsequently.
Executed in Paris, in two copies, Sunday, the 28th day
of October, 1962, signed and sealed by the two Grand Masters:
Doctor Philippe Encausse Robert Ambelain
"Jean"
"Aurifer"