The Gnostic Catholic Church.
The Order of the Knights of the Holy Ghost.
The Order of the Illuminati.
The Order of the Temple (Knights Templar).
The Order of the Knights of St. John.
The Order of the Knights of Malta.
The Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
The Hidden Church of the Holy Graal.
The Hermetic Brotherhood of Luxor/Light
The Order was probably founded around 1881,and became public in 1884. It was also known as the Brotherhood of Eulis,and due to this term being mentioned as one of the inspirational sources for the Theosophical Society before it was established in 1875,some historians have been led to speculate on wether the Brotherhood may have existed prior to that date.
The Order was lead by Pascal Beverly Randolph(1825-1875) in the United States. A well known authority on the practice of Sexual magick, his Magnum Opus , The Magia Sexualis, taught the following theorems:
1)Sexuality is the basic dynamic power in Nature. 2) All powers forces of this world as well as in all other worlds in the past as well as in the present emnates from the Female Gods. 3) Men are the positive Poles of the manifestation of the Divine Revelation,women the negatve. 4) The Lingam(The male sexual organ) is positive,but the human brain is negative;in the same way is the Yoni(The female sexual organ) negative,and the female brain positive.
These theorems were also part of the teachings of the Brotherhood of Eulis. Randolph taught a form of sexual magic based on the tantric concepts of positions during sexual magical rituals.
The Order comprised three Grades which were susequently subdivided into three States or degrees, making a total of nine degrees in all. We may asume that the first degree was originally called The Grade of Eulis, named The Grade of Eros in the teaching manuscripts. We do not know the names of the Degrees of this Grade, but it seems likely that they may have been called "The Arairetic Arcanum" and the third "The Mystery of Isis".
The first grade of adeptship corresponded to the possibilities taught in the Exterior Circle, where Neophytes were admitted. The Neophyte thus obtained the powers of "the elemental spheres" of earth and "the astro-magnetic currents" controlling them. What may be accomplished in this grade were those of the present, embodied men of earth. After the adepts had supersseeded them, they useually went through a state of physical dissolution and went on to the level of the Second Grade. Perfect Humanity was therefore the ambition of the first Grade;in other words an entity who had transcended the sevnefold possibilities of the human state and developed the total range of human potentialities,namely: Intuition,Thought Transference,Clairvoyance and the power to "converse with spiritual intelligences" at will.
The Second Grade of Adeptship represented the Interior Circle of the Order,whose Adepts had power overt "the spiritual and etheral forces" of earth from the "magnetic zones of the astral world up to the etheral and spiritual spheres of disembodied humaint". It is the Adepts of this Interior Circle who communicated with,controlled and taught the members of the Exterior Circle.
The Orders descriptions of the Third Grade,comprising the 7th,8th and 9th Degress were thought of as deific, angelic, purely celestial, and beyond human comprehension.
The Brotherhood of Eulis expanded in Europe through the polish lady Maria de Naglowska, originally a Caucasian prinzess. In Britain, the order was headed by Reverend William Ayton,who also was a member of the Golden Dawn.
Pascal Beverley Randolph Bibliography:
Astoris
Dhoula
Bell
Magh
Thesor
Master Passion
After Death:Disembodied Man(1868)
Eulis
The First Revelation of Sex
Hermes Mercurius Trismegistus
The Mysteries of the Magnetic Universe
The New Mola
The Laws and principles of magnetism,Clairvoyance and Mediumism
Pre-Adamite Man
The Roscicrusian Dream Book and the Wonderful Story of Ravalette...being the Rosicrucian's Story(1887)
The Holy Order of Rose Croix of Heredom.
The Order of the Holy Royal Arch of Enoch.
The Antient and Primitive Rite of Masonry (33 degrees).
The Rite of Memphis.
The Rite of Memphis Lodge known as "Les disciples de Memphis" was established in Montauban in France on the 30th of April 1815 by the masons Samuel Honis, Gabriel Mathieu, Joseph Stephan Marconis, Baron Dumas, Marquis de Laoque and Hippoluyt Labrune. The first Grandmaster was Jaques Etienne Marconis. The Lodge was subsequently shut down by its members, but it evolved again in March 1838.
Organisation and Degrees:
The 1.Highest Council consisted of nine Grand Officers with the Hierophant;the Grand Maitre de la lumiËre at its front. The others, who are called "The White", carried names such as Lamas,Zerdust, Hellwell, Plist, Quetzalcattl, Ized and Hierostolist.
The 2. Highest Council was the Souverain Grand Conseil GËnËral with seven members. They all carried the name (opphyde). This Council decided over all applications for the Lodge, Chapter, Areopage and Conseils, and guided their work.
The 3. Highest Council was the CollËge Liturgique,and consisted of nine "enlightened ones". It was in charge of the teachings.
These three Supreme Councils made the front of the Rite of Memphis. Under its jurisdiction was the two lodges Les Disciples de Memphis and Osiris.
In 1849, the system was rectified, and 90 degrees were introduced. These were divided into three columns of 30 degrees.
The first Column taught The Morals,gave explanation of the Symbols, guided the Adepts towards love of humanity, taught the first part of the history of the Order as well asThe Science of Nature.
The Second Column taught Philosophy, the geometrical theorems of India,the Fables and the Myths of the Ancients,the Zendavesta,the Mana d'Harmasasha,the Vedas and so forth. The main purpose is research into the "Original Matters and Reasons" and the development of feelings for humanity as well as sympathy .
The Third Column taught the rest of the History of the Order, Higher Philosophy,taught the living,re-established Fire,the Great revelation of Light,studied the diverse Myths of the various ages as well as Theosophical studies.
At the top of the 90 degrees were as the 91°to the 93°the three Highest Councils:
91°:Grand CollËge conservateur des rites,
92°: the Souverian Grand Conseil
93°:le Temple mystique.
These three degrees were soon placed upon the five Grand-Councils,namely the:
91°Grand Tribunal
92°Grand CollËge Liturgique
93°Grand Conseil gËnËral
94°Temple mystique
95°Sanctuaire.
96°
97°
The Rite was established in England in 1850, New York and Australia in 1855. John Yarker received a Charter from the american H. J. Seymour in 1872.
In 1902 Theodor Reuss received a charter from John Yarker for this rite, and Yarker received in return an honorary IX°of the O.T.O. He used this rite together with the the shortened version Antient and Primitive Rite of Memphis, the Oriental Rite of Mizraim and Ancient & Accepted Scottish Rite to form to this date, the most complete High degree system ever offered within the circles of Masonry. However, problems with long-winded rituals and too many degrees, made it necessary to create rituals that unified coherently the mass of rituals at the disposal for the leaders of the O.T.O. This task was accomplished by Aleister Crowley on order from Theodor Reuss. The degrees of the above mentioned rites were and are to this day conferred within the degree-system of the O.T.O.
The Rite of Mizraim
Established by the mason Marc BËdaridde at the turn of the 19th century. Probably brought from Italy on the basis of Cagliostro's Egyptian masonry of 1791. The legend of Mizraim is based on the story of Menes a son of Chams,who was one of Noah's sons in the school of the Chalean Magii. He gave the neighbouring country the name Misraim,and as king of this country he established an institution which we today know as Misraims Freemasonry. he soon esetablished the mysteries of Isis and Osiris,Isis being the wife of Misraim. The idea is that all old and new mysteries ,their initiations and secret lore is an unbroken contuinitation of the misraimitic Masonry. The attempt to gain acceptance from the Grand orient failed ,but by 1818 , the Lodge L' arc-en-ciel became Motherlodge of the Rite. The Rite quiclky spread to Belgium and Switzerland,and in 1899 the Rite fused with the Rite of memphis in France. But Yarker had already in 1876 fused the two rites together in England.
The System of the Oriental Order of Misraim divided into four Series or Departments. To the first -the Symbolic -belonged the 1°to the 33°Grade. As in the AASR as well as in the OTO,The Rite of Misraim was a Unifiied order. Therefore it also consisted of the Scottish Grades found in the Blue masonry. In the Rituals of the Rite, the masonic heroes Hiram,Adonhiram and Tubalkain were adored.
The second "Philosophical" series (34°to 66°grade) worked with the Templartradition, while the third "mystical" series (67°-77°) and the fourth (78°90°) was called the hermetic-kabbalistic series,and dealt with the actual mysteries of the order.
If we look at some specific elements,we find in the 49th and 50th grade pointers towards Genesis. The Pillars of the Temple of Salomon -Jakin and Boaz, are here also symbols of the polar contrasts: Jakin being the active,positive,masculin,solar light-carrying pinciple of Day, while Boaz is the passive,negative,female,lunar and dark principle of the Night. On the unification of the two Pillars is created a third. In the 52. Grade -The Highest Commander of the Star -and in the 53. -the (opphyede) Philosopher ,and especially in the the grades 54 to 58, the neoplatonic "geist" and gnotic alchemy were taught. In the 67. to the 71. grade ,the initiate was taught the the maigic of the Jews, ie Kabbalh,Talmud and Apocryphical litterature and also arabic alchemy. In the 77.Grade the initiate had to lie on a Crucifix.
As mentioned above Theodor Reuss received in 1902 a charter for this rite from John Yarker and used it in his system of the O.T.O.
The Ancient and Accepted Scottish Rite of Masonry (33 degrees).
The Swedenborgian Rite of Masonry.
The Rite of Swedenborg was an offshot of The Illuminated Theosophists, which was the British branch of the French IlluminËes Theosophes. The Rite was established at the end of the 18th century. The Non-masonic part of the rite developed into the Church of Swedenborg.We know practically nothing of the Rite until 1859, when it was apparently reestablished. The Rite was subsequently developed in Manchester in 1877 by John Yarker, Francis George Irwin and Samuel Petty Leather. The Lodge named "Emanuel" and the Temple No.3 actually thus failed to gain any resonnance in Britain. Gerard Encausse(Papus) received a charter for France from John Yarker .
In the Primitive and Original Rite of Freemasonry, or Swedenborgian Rite, which was the Rite's full name in the Yarkerian System, only Mastermason's were allowed admittance to the Masterdegree. From the three symbolic dergrees one encountered in the 3.degree the Master Neophyte, then followed the Illuminated Theosophite, The Blue Brother and the Red Brother. The members of the highest degrees of the Rite had to be members of the Swedenborgian Church as well, which upheld a christian-gnostic and theosophical-spiritiststic faith.
The Church had five main concepts:
1)There is one God, consisting of a Divine Trinity in his soul (Creation, liberation and reincarnation of the World),while Christ in a Body of Light appears as God.
2)Only faith in God can direct mankind.
3) Evil people must be shun since they are the Devil.
4) Good Deeds must be done sice they are Gods Work and are of God.
5)The Good Deeds must be done by people who believe they originate from the Lord(God)
After thorough reforms, the Rite developed into a 10 Degree system. In four Steps, the Neophyte was refined into a "True Enligthened One".
1. Step: The Elementary Step, or Symbolic Masonry with the Grades Apprentice, Fellow Craft, and Master.
2.Step: The masonic studies of the Works of Swedenborg, Jacob Boehme, Pasquall, Pernet, Saint martin, Eliphas Levi and Guitas. At the end of the studies,the title "Chosen Master" was given.
3.Step: The masonry of the Illuminated, or Religious Step, had the Degrees:
Enlightened Apprentice, or Cohen-Apprentice(5°)
Enlightened Fellow Craft (6°)
Master,or Cohen master (7°)
4th Step:The Enlightened Brother of the Rose Cross or The Active Masonry with the Grades:
Apprentice of the R+C(8°)
Knight or Commander of the R+C ,or Enlightened Prince of the R+C(9°)
Knight of Kadosh,or Master Grand Arcitect(10°)
The leadership of the Rite and the Supreme Grand Lodge of Great Britain and Ireland lay in the hands of the Grand Master. Around 1885, William W. Westcott functioned as Grand Warden of the Rite, but around the turn of the century, John Yarker had integreted it into his own system.
The Martinist Order.
Ordre Martiniste was established in 1891. The following persons were members of "The Council of Twelve": Guaita, Encausse, Chaboseau, Yvon Le Loup(SËdir), BarrËs, Adam, PËladan, Barlet, MontiËre, Burget , Lejay and Lucien.
The goals of the Order was a impartial study of all symbols, cults and mystical traditions through an Academy of Science, Art and Social Studies. The hitherto uknown links between Nature and Humanity, Spritual Phenomena,Hypnosis, remote magical and theurgical Qualities should be revaealed by scientific experiments. The reintegration of humanity should as religious subjects through the minds of Pasquall and Saint Martin lead onto an original purity. Thus should the ancient gnostic goal of a closeness between Man and God be accomplished.
A heavy emphasis was laid on the study of the phenomena of Spritism, Magnetism, Magic and Astrology in theory and practice. The Order strived towards a unification of all occult orders in the sprit of Yarker in England and Reuss in Germany -an idea that naturally failed.
The Order established a School of Hermetics (l'Ecole hermËtique) which through the study of arabic, sanskrit, greek and latin undertook studies of hermetical prime-sources. Papus and his friends also strived towards research into the Divine Sciences as revelation of the history of Mankind.
The rituals originally developed by Guaita focused on a Symbology of Light in which the number three played an important role. In the first Grade, which was called La AffiliË, the candidate was lead into a room in which three pillars with different colours were placed. Between these pillars a huge candle was handed over. This Triad, in connection with the number four (quatarnity) would in the Second Grade (La InitiË), as well as in the Third Grade (la Initiateur), be further harmonically developed. The Candidate would in these Grades learn more about The Fall and the strenghtening of humanity ,as in the teachings of Pasqual and Saint-Martin. In the highest Degree (The Third), followed the -- -forsoning- between the Created and the Creator, as well as the Unio Mystica of the elder Gnostics and Alchemists. The Initiate also saw the masked men who silently pointed their swords at his chest. They wore an old Egyptian headdress. The candidate had to sit down on a chair placed before a whitedraped altar. On the altar was placed burning candles. In front of the altar lay three carpets on which a Sphinx, Mask and a dagger was embrodded.
The Third Grade of the Martinist Order corresponded with the First Grade of the Rose-Croix.Ordre.
In the Martinist Order there were given two ways of reaching the Spritual Goal: The Operative Way(magical), and the Way of the Heart, or mystcal way.
The Order of the Sat Bhai,
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