The Martinism, which we are interested in, is the theosophic system of Saint Martin, as his writings make us discover. The word "Martinism" has different meanings.

The Martinists are the members of a Martinist Order created by Gérard ENCAUSSE PAPUS in 1887.

Thanks to the Order, the spiritualistic ideas gained a precious ground during a period when Materialism was about to triumph. Martinism enables you to realize possibilities of altruism, saves you from doubt; it tries to develop the spirituality of its members. Self-denial, intellectual assistance, the creation of an accepted faith are the Martinist's problems.

The objective of the Martinist Order is the Reintegration of beings: the aim is to reconstitute the "Man-Spirit" by the evolution of the "Man of Desire", through the state of "New Man". The teaching of the Order proposes an alchemical work respectful of its members and families.

Martinism is a society of men and women of good will; they are neither saints nor beings on the way to perfection. They come to share what they are and would like to be inside a group; they do not feel concerned by goods, wealth, power or glory. The Order does not impose any oath of passive obedience, any dogma; it enables men and women of desire to understand the symbols, the rituals; it encourages the fervent and moves the weak away.

Papus invents the Martinist Order in 1887. He becomes Grand Master and the Supreme Counsel of the Martinist Order meets for the first time in 1891

After his death in 1916, the Martinist Movement lost its unity and part of its efficiency, whatever the personalities of the "Grand Masters" of the different groups.

The impression remains delicate in all those discussions around the regularity of the followers of Papus.

Saint Martin died in 1803 without having founded an order; it is said: the initiations were transmitted individually on criteria of merit and personal work. He left us a disciple (Gilbert), books, manuscripts, friends whom he loved to advise. Gilbert was a man of good will, a man of order but he was not really qualified to perpetuate the trend concretely. The initiation is said to be transmitted by Abbey de la Noue, the Marchioness Amélie de Boisse-Mortemart, Delaage...

In 1953, the N°1 of the Review announces the Order open to men and women of good will: an initiatic movement, it has a philosophical and mystical doctrine, a method of work both for individuals and groups, a line of inspiration on which each intelligence must work at its own level.

We consider ourselves as the knights of spiritual values. Within human limits, we should show a spirit of understanding and solidarity.

The grade of S I is the only degree given to members who deserve it. Only this grade will confer the right and power to initiate, according to the tradition.

For the rest, the Order is composed of simple adherents (or associate members) and initiates.

The woman is the complement of man and therefore his equal.

The Martinist freely accepts to follow a line of behaviour that will make individual and collective improvement possible.

In our days, the Martinist Order has a juridical form governed by the 1901 Act on non-profit making associations. It is open to men and women of good will. Every serious application is examined carefully. Age, knowledge, money are outshined by qualities of the heart. We demand from the candidate what good sense demands from any person who wants to live in a group. Our doors are narrow at the entrance, wide open to get out.

Neither a sect nor a new religion, we gather to discover the values of an initiatic rite, which dates back to:

- Martines de Pasqually who died in Saint Domingue in 1774;

- Louis-Claude de Saint Martin who died in Aulnaye in 1803;

- Papus (Doctor Gérard Encausse) who died in Paris in 1916.

Our initiation is given in three stages. We form Associates; Associates Initiates; Unknown Superiors.

The Martinist Order is based at 5-7 rue de La Chapelle, 75018 Paris. The present President has been in charge since 1979 when the son of Papus, Doctor Philippe Encausse confided his succession to his care.

Our groups are made up of persons who hall from different backgrounds. Everyone can find a place in our assemblies.

Our meetings permit realizations that would be impossible to isolated individuals or even to a group of persons who could not meet up around a regular initiatic tradition. We do not ask you what you believe in or what you think: we listen to the message of your heart.

We understand how you have been moulded, how you have let circumstances form you; we give you the necessary weapons to become what you can be. We are less interested in your opinion than in the way you became certain that you were right. We offer our personal light and processes. You become more capable of knowing yourself, understanding the others, accepting and free to refuse.

The work in a Group is exacting: it is organized in a precise ritual, the symbolism of which is based on a confirmed tradition.

The thought of Louis-Claude de Saint Martin is made accessible; the symbolism of the ritual is explained. Everyone can tell the others of his own research; questions, remarks, commentaries, exchanges are fraternal and respectful of opinions. We open our hearts and souls. We pray.

A11 the participants work on three levels: body, heart and soul; they awaken Love, True Nature, Wisdom which make Action possible.

According to Papus, the study of the composition of man enables the Unknown Superior in this world to develop the bodies that constitute him, to improve his eggregore. Thus, he improves the collective eggregore of his groups, family, society and, very ambitious, ultimate aim, the eggregore of the Universe.

The Order is built by its members and by the spiritual entities that dedicate themselves to inspire our actions and boost our possibilities. The ritual permits to create a link between the visible members of the Order and the naturally invisible members.

An Initiatic Society, Martinism dispenses knowledge on three levels: Associate, Initiate, Unknown Superior; because to learn, you must work and no one learns to read, write or count in a single day.

The way of Martinism is universal (rites, symbols, tradition) and personal at the same time (the Martinist does not accept anything that he has not experienced, understood or freely accepted through his own capacities and work.)

The Martinist feels that his presence is necessary in the Temple, for both himself and the others; he desires to accede to the technique of spiritual alchemy that the Order will gradually put at his disposal so that he may remain conscious, and accept changes; the groups he is a member. Profession, friends, family... must not be disturbed by his admission; however, they should feel a change.

He endeavours to know what the Order tries to make him live.

He endeavours to question his intense experiences.

He endeavours to put into practice what he receives in his DAILY LIFE. Each day brings a stone to the inner temple that he builds. When he is free, the Associate works on the documents that were officially left at his disposal and confided to his honour. The Associate must be straight with himself, with his social groups, with the Order, he is respectful of human laws...

We respect the efforts of those who do not spare their time, health or money to allow the development of the Martinist values.

We pay tribute to the activities of other Martinist Orders either synarchic, traditional, Initiatic, rectified, of Lyon, which have enabled or which enable the sincere seekers to find elements that were necessary to them, even for a brief period.

We fight for the triumph of Love, Beauty and Good...

Each Associate can concentrate on a particular study corresponding to his possibilities. He can start a series of research on the comprehension of the rites and symbols, or on the texts by Louis-Claude de Saint Martin, Papus, and Sedir...

For those who find it impossible to study, the way of the living works and devotion remains, firstly to oneself, secondly to one’s family, thirdly to the others, finally to God.

Altruism is very important.

Families are sometimes worried as far as the admission of a person in our Order is concerned; they must know and understand that he who is admitted among us must respect his former choices; our door is shallow and narrow for those who wish to enter, it is wide open for all of those who wish to leave us (we simply ask to motivate departure, this making returns easier.) There is no question of abandoning a partner, children... Excessive expenses for or inside the Order is also out of the question.

The Martinist is a free individual.

The Martinists respect the thought of others.

They are submitted to no taboo.

They are freely linked to humanity and nature.

They become aware of the sacred - aspect of nature when they work in fraternity to consecrate the earth and their initiatic activity to Reintegration through the way of inner light and the quest of Grail.

In a ritual assembly, only the Martinists are accepted; the initiations are received according to merit; time, seniority have no value; a Martinist remains discreet either to ask or give; base problems of finance are forbidden in our temples; a Martinist is more governed by good sense, generosity, fraternity, love than by regulations or the Martinist Law.

On the first day of each month, at 9 p.m, time of Paris, wherever a Martinist can be, either on his own or in society, he discreetly connects himself to his Temple by thought; in spirit, he gets unified with all the Martinists spread out all over the world; he prays in public in a split second, without people around him noticing what he does. He also can pray as he feels the need, if he is on his own.

He can be connected to the Martinist Chain, every morning at eight and every evening at nine.