l'Ordre de la Rose Croix Catholicque, du Temple et du Graal

French Rosicrucian order founded in 1890 by Joséphin Péledan (1858-1918). Péladan had been one of the founders of l'Ordre Kabbalistique de la Rosecroix, but left because he found himself in unresolvable conflict with the other leaders over his religious faith. Péladan was a strict Roman Catholic and possessed a hope of bringing occultism back under the guidance of the church. Through his new order he hoped to carry out works of mercy that would lead members to prepare for the reign of the Holy Spirit.

Like previous groups, Péladan's order had three grades that he termed equerries, knights, and commanders. Commanders were assigned one of the sephiroth of the Kabbalistic Tree.

The order enjoyed some success during Péladan's life and he led it in assuming a role in cultural nurturance. Beginning in 1892 it sponsored a series of art exhibitions in Paris aimed at restoring the cult of the ideal, with an emphasis on beauty and tradition. The art displayed had a mystical or occult theme. Péladan also did much to promote Richard Wagner's music in France. Unfortunately, for the art world, the order died with Péladan's death immediately after the end of World War I.

Sources:

Aubrun, R. G. Péladan. Paris: Sansot, 1904.

McIntosh, Christopher. Éliphas Lévi and the French Occult Revival. New York: Samuel Weiser, 1972.

——. The Rose Cross Unveiled: The History, Mythology and Rituals of an Occult Order. Wellingborough, Northamptionshire, UK: Aquarian Press, 1980.

Péladan, Joséphin. Comment on devient mage. Paris, 1892.

——. La decadence esrhétique. Paris: Dalou, 1888.

——. Le Vice supreme. Paris: Labrairie de la Presse, Laurens, 1886.