"The Martinist school of unknown philosophers founded by Martinez de Pasqually and continued by L. C. de Saint-Martin seems to have incorporated the last adepts of true initiation." -Eliphas Levi

Martinism is an esoteric system perpetuating a chain of Initiation which came through Martinez de Pasqually and Louis Claude de Saint-Martin, both Brothers of the Rose+Croix in the 18th century. The teachingis generally a system of philosophic thought, essentially a Christian Gnosis, which is chiefly based on the doctrinal tenets of a work called, "Treatise on the Reintegration of Beings into their original virtues, powers and qualities," written by Martinez de Pasqually. This work gives a particular interpretation of Creation, of the Hierarchy of Beings, of the Fall of Man and the way for Man to regain his original status in the scheme of things so as to be re-established in his initial state and privileges. Martinez de Pasqually considers Man to be in exile in this earthly existence and deprived of all his real powers. Man's main aim must be, therefore, to work at becoming restored to the condition that was his originally. This he can achieve by following a certain technique which constitutes the secret part of Martinez Pasqually's doctrine.

L. C. de Saint-Martin introduced a more contemplative character to Martinism. He moved away from the theurgic practices of his Teacher to find a more spiritual means to achieve the same result, thus he developed what is known in Martinist terminology the "Inner Way" of Reintegration.

The similarity between the names Martinez and Saint-Martin has led to much confusion as to whose followers were, and still are, MARTINISTS. The answer is quite simple: BOTH. Their respective followers share belief - the Divine Glory of Man's Origin - and the same aim: to regain that glorious Divinity. Only their methods vary, some following the technique of theurgic operations, the others that of inner guidance and illumination.

Part of the filiation dating back to both Martinez and Saint-Martin resides within the Rectified Scottish Rite that was founded by another pupil of Martinez and associate of Saint-Martin whose name was Jean-Baptiste Willermoz. Since the time of its creation, unifying elements of Martinez' doctrine with that of Templary (from the Templar Strict Observance, etc.), the RER has maintained activity without cease. In this sense, members of the Rectified Scottish Rite are also sometimes called Martinists, particularly in early histories.

There were individual students who continued the esoteric and theosophic philosophy and chain of initiation from teacher to student for several generation; then, in the 19th century, having received the transmission from two different lines, Gérard Encausse and Pierre-Augustin Chaboseau exchanged lineages and began the work of building an Order to preserve, maintain and promote Martinism. Thus was the origin of the Ordre Martiniste. Today there are many groups calling themselves Martinist Orders, a list of many of them can be found here. You may also contact us directly for more information since, as has been the common practice within the French Gnostic Tradition, we maintain activity in all three pillars, our Martinist Order being the Ordre Martiniste de Papus. The goal of the Ordre Martiniste de Papus is simple: to serve our Brothers and Sisters by offering them a path which can, if followed, lead them far along the path freely open to them, being an internal process, then opening their own avenues to attain the ultimate goal of the Martinist tradition: Reintegration.