Papus
Papus was the pen name of Gérard Encausse (13 July 1865 – 25 October 1916), a French physician, occultist and organiser of the modern Martinist movement. He founded the journal L’Initiation in 1888 and later led a French Memphis-Misraïm organisation.[1][2]
Publishing and Martinism
Papus’s writings sought to bring several esoteric traditions into a common account. His early books included L’occultisme contemporain (1887) and Traité élémentaire de science occulte (1888). The BnF catalogue also records his writings on Louis-Claude de Saint-Martin, the figure after whom Martinism takes its name.[3]
In 1891 Papus and his associates established the first Supreme Council of the modern Martinist Order. L’Initiation provided a forum for occult philosophy, Masonic symbolism and related subjects, but the journal’s own history distinguishes it institutionally from the order.[4]
Masonic activity
Papus organised an international Masonic conference in Paris in 1908. Howe and Möller’s study of Theodor Reuss records that the participants accepted a warrant from Reuss for a French body working the Ancient and Primitive Rite of Memphis and Misraïm. This was outside the Grand Orient de France.[5]
Bricaud’s chronology names Papus as Grand Master under the charter of 24 June 1908, with Charles Détré (Teder) as deputy.[2] His Martinist leadership was a separate office.[5]
Reading Papus
His Martinésisme, Willermosisme, Martinisme et Franc-Maçonnerie (1899) sets out his interpretation of the relationships among those movements. It is a source for his own programme and historical claims, rather than an independent account of the order he helped establish.[6]
See also
References
- ↑ Bibliothèque nationale de France, authority record for Gérard Encausse (1865–1916).
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jean Bricaud, historical notes on Memphis-Misraïm (1933), updated by Constant Chevillon (1938), reproduced by L’Initiation as “Historique de Memphis-Misraïm”; an account written by leaders of the rite.
- ↑ Bibliothèque nationale de France, works catalogued under Papus (1865–1916).
- ↑ L’Initiation, “Historique de la Revue”, account of the journal and the Martinist Order.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Ellic Howe and Helmut Möller, “Theodor Reuss”, Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, transcription hosted by the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon; section on the 1908 Paris conference.
- ↑ Papus, Martinésisme, Willermosisme, Martinisme et Franc-Maçonnerie, 1899; historical text presented by L’Initiation.
Memphis-Misraïm: Overview · Misraïm · Memphis · History · Degrees and organisation · Egyptian symbolism · Organisations and recognition · Regalia and imagery · Sources and further reading
People: Bédarride brothers · Marconis de Nègre · John Yarker · Giuseppe Garibaldi · Papus · Jean Bricaud · Constant Chevillon · Robert Ambelain
Background: Hermeticism · Martinism · Masonic glossary · Comparison with related traditions