The Order of Heptasophs was a fraternal organization established in New Orleans, Louisiana in April 1852. The name is derived from Greek roots meaning seven and wise and means the seven wise men. The Order was founded at New Orleans, April 6, 1852, by Alexander Leonard Saunders, and early members included ex-governors, ex-mayors, etc.[1]
The organization was originally called the "Seven Wise Men", and it may have been formed by graduates of the earlier Mystical Seven or Rainbow Society that were popular college fraternities in the South during this period. Albert Stevens noted at least a strong similarity in their rituals and nomenclature.[2]
The Heptasophs themselves elaborated an ornate pseudohistory dating back to 1104 BC and "the first Zoroaster". Allegedly the ancient King of Persia would select six Magi who were skilled in both statecraft and occult arts and they would meet in a cavern beneath the royal palace at Ispahan. This was also how princes were trained but they were only admitted "by merit". The philosophy of these "Seven Wise Men" directed the affairs of the Persian Empire until their overthrow by Muhammad in 638 AD.[3]
What is known is that after being "introduced" in New Orleans in April 1852, a Grand Conclave of Louisiana was set in June of that year and incorporated in 1854. A "Supreme Conclave", or organization embracing several states was organized in 1857 and had its first "communication" (convention).[4] The early growth of the organization was principally in the Southern states and it lost many members much of its influence during the Civil War. The group was always conservative with little effort being made to extend it into other areas.[5]
After the Civil War the group began to grow again and during the early 1870s experienced a rapid growth in membership, reaching a high point of 4,000. The depression of the mid-1870s checked its growth and led to a movement for a general death benefit (local conclaves were allowed to create benefit options, but there were not overall benefits). When the Supreme Conclave rejected this idea the zeta Conclave of Baltimore forced a schism leading to the creation of the Improved Order of Heptasophs. There was an intense rivalry between the two groups for a few years, but this died down after the older order adopted its own benefit plan in 1880[6]
During the 1870s, the Order became popular among some German Americans and was said to have spread to Germany by 1877.[7]
Organization
The order worked four degrees, the initiatory degree where the Persian pseudo-history is described, and three further degrees which illustrated the vicissitudes pursuing the course of duty. Also "[t]o satisfy the modern demand for a military feature" an optional uniformed rank was introduced. A life insurance branch, named the "endowment rank" was established in 1880 and was open to members in good standing who passed a medical exam. The amount paid was $300. Finally, there was the Heptsophian Mutual Benefit fund which gave aid to the widows, heir and assignees of the members, up to $500 on a 25 cent assessment. Wives of members were also eligible for membership in the Fund.[6]
Membership was open to white males over 18 who were of good moral character, believed in a Supreme Being, possessed a known reputable means of support, free from any mental or physical disability and were educated enough to fill out their own application. Each local conclave could set its own upper age limit. There was no female auxiliary.[6]
The organization was typical of the day with local Subordinate Conclaves, statewide Grand Conclaves and the Supreme Conclave at the top. Grand Conclaves were composed of Past Archons of Subordinate Conclaves and the Supreme Conclave composed of Past Grand Archons. At its height the group was present in 18 states, principally in the South.[8]
References
^Stevens, Albert C. Cyclopedia of Fraternities: A Compilation of Existing Authentic Information and the Results of Original Investigation as to the Origin, Derivation, Founders, Development, Aims, Emblems, Character, and Personnel of More Than Six Hundred Secret Societies in the United States E. B. Treat and Company, New York p.178
The Heptasoph. New Orleans : [s.n.], L.R. Simmons & Co.) 1869-?
Selected pamphlets
Constitution of the Order of S.W.M. for the government of the Grand Conclave of Louisiana, and subordinate conclaves under its jurisdiction. Also: The by-laws and rules of order of Alpha conclave No. 1, of the city of New Orleans. New Orleans, J. Beggs, 1855
Grand conclave work for the use of Grand conclaves of S.W.M. working in the English language. New Orleans, Printing of the Order, 1861
Tratado sobre la iniciacion y grados de la Orden De Los S.S. : traducida e impresa bajo la direccion de Anthony Sambola, grado 7, miembro del Supremo Conclave y Gran Jefe del Gran Conclave de la Luisiana Nueva Orleans : Imprenta de la Orden 1861
Traité sur l'initiation et les grades de l'ordre des sept sages, (S.W.M.) Nouvelle-Orleans : Imprimerie de L'Ordre, 1861
"Improved Order of Heptasophs". Phoenixmasonry, Inc. Retrieved 2007-02-20.
January 07, 2023
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The Order of Heptasophs was a fraternal organization established in New Orleans Louisiana in April 1852 The name is derived from Greek roots meaning seven and wise and means the seven wise men The Order was founded at New Orleans April 6 1852 by Alexander Leonard Saunders and early members included ex governors ex mayors etc 1 Contents 1 History 2 Organization 3 References 4 Publications 4 1 Serials 4 2 Selected pamphlets 5 See also 6 External linksHistory EditThe organization was originally called the Seven Wise Men and it may have been formed by graduates of the earlier Mystical Seven or Rainbow Society that were popular college fraternities in the South during this period Albert Stevens noted at least a strong similarity in their rituals and nomenclature 2 The Heptasophs themselves elaborated an ornate pseudohistory dating back to 1104 BC and the first Zoroaster Allegedly the ancient King of Persia would select six Magi who were skilled in both statecraft and occult arts and they would meet in a cavern beneath the royal palace at Ispahan This was also how princes were trained but they were only admitted by merit The philosophy of these Seven Wise Men directed the affairs of the Persian Empire until their overthrow by Muhammad in 638 AD 3 What is known is that after being introduced in New Orleans in April 1852 a Grand Conclave of Louisiana was set in June of that year and incorporated in 1854 A Supreme Conclave or organization embracing several states was organized in 1857 and had its first communication convention 4 The early growth of the organization was principally in the Southern states and it lost many members much of its influence during the Civil War The group was always conservative with little effort being made to extend it into other areas 5 After the Civil War the group began to grow again and during the early 1870s experienced a rapid growth in membership reaching a high point of 4 000 The depression of the mid 1870s checked its growth and led to a movement for a general death benefit local conclaves were allowed to create benefit options but there were not overall benefits When the Supreme Conclave rejected this idea the zeta Conclave of Baltimore forced a schism leading to the creation of the Improved Order of Heptasophs There was an intense rivalry between the two groups for a few years but this died down after the older order adopted its own benefit plan in 1880 6 During the 1870s the Order became popular among some German Americans and was said to have spread to Germany by 1877 7 Organization EditThe order worked four degrees the initiatory degree where the Persian pseudo history is described and three further degrees which illustrated the vicissitudes pursuing the course of duty Also t o satisfy the modern demand for a military feature an optional uniformed rank was introduced A life insurance branch named the endowment rank was established in 1880 and was open to members in good standing who passed a medical exam The amount paid was 300 Finally there was the Heptsophian Mutual Benefit fund which gave aid to the widows heir and assignees of the members up to 500 on a 25 cent assessment Wives of members were also eligible for membership in the Fund 6 Membership was open to white males over 18 who were of good moral character believed in a Supreme Being possessed a known reputable means of support free from any mental or physical disability and were educated enough to fill out their own application Each local conclave could set its own upper age limit There was no female auxiliary 6 The organization was typical of the day with local Subordinate Conclaves statewide Grand Conclaves and the Supreme Conclave at the top Grand Conclaves were composed of Past Archons of Subordinate Conclaves and the Supreme Conclave composed of Past Grand Archons At its height the group was present in 18 states principally in the South 8 References Edit Stevens Albert C Cyclopedia of Fraternities A Compilation of Existing Authentic Information and the Results of Original Investigation as to the Origin Derivation Founders Development Aims Emblems Character and Personnel of More Than Six Hundred Secret Societies in the United States E B Treat and Company New York p 178 Stevens pp 178 9 Stevens p 177 Stevens p 176 Stevens pp 179 80 a b c Stevens p 180 Harrison W Burton The history of Norfolk Virginia Norfolk Va Norfolk Virginian job print p 242 Stevens pp 176 180Publications EditSerials Edit The Heptasoph New Orleans s n L R Simmons amp Co 1869 Selected pamphlets Edit Constitution of the Order of S W M for the government of the Grand Conclave of Louisiana and subordinate conclaves under its jurisdiction Also The by laws and rules of order of Alpha conclave No 1 of the city of New Orleans New Orleans J Beggs 1855 Grand conclave work for the use of Grand conclaves of S W M working in the English language New Orleans Printing of the Order 1861 Tratado sobre la iniciacion y grados de la Orden De Los S S traducida e impresa bajo la direccion de Anthony Sambola grado 7 miembro del Supremo Conclave y Gran Jefe del Gran Conclave de la Luisiana Nueva Orleans Imprenta de la Orden 1861 Traite sur l initiation et les grades de l ordre des sept sages S W M Nouvelle Orleans Imprimerie de L Ordre 1861See also EditList of North American fraternal benefit ordersExternal links Edit Improved Order of Heptasophs Phoenixmasonry Inc Retrieved 2007 02 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Order of Heptasophs amp oldid 1043168339, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
