founded by Martinez de Pasqualis, a Portuguese emigrant to France at
[217 vue 242] the end of the eighteenth century, who selected
individuals, some of them of prominent position, who seemed to him
adapted to the purpose and taught them by a severe, systematic, and
persistent discipline to develop their inner and hidden powers. To his
initiates Pasqualis applied the name "elect priests"." As he left the
system it had seven degrees^1 <#sdfootnote1sym>. After his death two of
his pupils, Jean Baptiste Willermoz and Louis Claude de Saint-Martin
(q.v.), assumed direction^2 <#sdfootnote2sym> of the order and reduced
the degrees to three^3 <#sdfootnote3sym>. Willermoz devoted his energies
to founding lodges; Saint-Martin applied himself to personal
development, and gave to the ritual the name of *the rectified rite^4
<#sdfootnote4sym> of St. Martin*. There are two parts in the order^5
<#sdfootnote5sym>: the inner or spiritual, open to those who become
adepts; and the exterior or practical and scientific, open to "men of
desire." The government is in five degrees: the supreme council located
at Paris, France; president. Dr. Gérard Encausse); inspectors, appointed
by the supreme council; delegates, appointed by the inspectors; lodges,
and groups. It differs from free-masonry in that it admits men and women
on equal footing; does not require fees for initiations, dues, or
instruction; aims to bring man into pristine relations with God; and it
receives orders from the unknown philosopher and thus depends from the
invisible world. It was introduced into America in the year 1894, the
government there being by an inspector- (inspectress-) general.
Margaret B. Peek^6 <#sdfootnote6sym> ✝
1 <#sdfootnote1anc>Le nombre de degrés semble avoir varié, toutefois on
considère généralement que l'ordre comptait 10 degrés.
2 <#sdfootnote2anc>Ils n'ont jamais présidé l'ordre de Martinès, lequel
avait désigné Caignet de Lester mort en 1778 qui désigne Las Casas
dernier grand maître (officiel) clôt les activités des 8 temples encore
actifs en 1781. Une activité coën persistera quelques temps, certains
émules pouvant revendiquer une succession, mais ni lcsm, ni Willermoz.
3 <#sdfootnote3anc>L'affirmation est de la responsabilité de Papus Teder
et s'imprime dans le rituel martiniste de 1912.
4 <#sdfootnote4anc>Ce n'est pas le Régime écossais rectifié de
Willermoz! est-ce un signe de plus sur la piste d'un rite écossais
réformé de Saint-martin... ? Les articles contiennent trop d'erreurs
pour être affirmatif!
5 <#sdfootnote5anc>Cela rappelle les distinctions des années 50 du 20e
siècle par Philippe Encausse et Ambelain, et l'ordre selon Papus.
6 <#sdfootnote6anc>Edouard Blitz was the "Souverain Délégate" for the
'Ordre Martiniste' in America; in 1902 Blitz broke with the Martinists
in France and founded the "AMERICAN RECTIFIED MARTINIST ORDER. Margaret
B.Peeke was chosen by the 'Supreme Council' to replace Blitz (it is said
Blitz do not want to be associated with a clandestine masonic order!
