FUDOSI

FUDOSI or FUDOESI (Fédération Universelle des Ordres et Sociétés Initiatiques in French, Federatio Universalis Dirigens Ordines Societatesque Initiationis in Latin), founded on August 14, 1934, in Brussels (Belgium), was a federation of autonomous esoteric orders and societies.

Background

FUDOSI was an attempt to create a federation of all true mystical orders and protect themselves and the people from frauds. Its mission was "to protect the sacred liturgies, rites and doctrines of the traditional initiatory Orders from being appropriated and profaned by clandestine organizations" (FUDOSI journal, November 1946)".

AMORC (Ancient Mystical Order Rosae Crucis) was approved by FUDOSI. There was always a close cooperation between AMORC and FUDOSI.

SAR, a title which means "Son of Ra" or "Son Altesse Royale" (His Royal Highness), was attached to all dignitaries of FUDOSI.

FUDOSI finally dissolved in 1951 after disagreements between its members.

There was also a similar organization, hostile to FUDOSI, named FUDOFSI.

The Nature of FUDOSI

In the following quote you can read more information about the nature of FUDOSI:

"Some persons, whose minds have not as yet received sufficient light, have been wondering why it was necessary to gather in a Universal Federation. The Initiatique Orders and Societies, which, in their own field of work, enjoy the most absolute and complete freedom and perfect autonomy and independence. To this query we may reply that, more than in anything else, it is the initiatique work that the greatest vigilance is indispensable and that a strict and active international discipline must be exercised. We must acknowledge and regret, that there exist many false prophets and a number of so-called initiates who use, for selfish and tyrannical purposes of domination, the pretext of initiation to thrust themselves on, and exploit, gullible and sincere persons. It was high time to warn the public against these false leaders and against noxious doctrines which they taught to trusting souls. In each country, each authentic and regular Order knows its imitators and such false prophets. It was necessary to watch these clandestine movements, to expose these impostors or instruments of hidden and unavowed forces, in all countries, wherever they be operating, and thus avoid any confusion between the regular and authentic Orders and false Organizations that are harmful or that give teachings that have nothing to do with the Universal Tradition and Esoterism. And also it was necessary that the authentic Orders be careful in selecting their members and their officers and in maintaining their adepts and students on the right path of the true doctrines, obliging them to follow a strict line of discipline, rational, sincere and conscientious work, so as to avoid radical teachings and heterodoxy. This immense work which was intended to protect the Orders against their inner and outer enemies has been successfully carried on by the F.U.D.O.S.I. and is now going on." ("F.U.D.O.S.I., the." 1946 San Jose, AMORC)"

Leadership and Organisation

After the first organised convention in 1934, 12 Members were chosen to form the Supreme Council, led by 3 Imperators:
* Sar Hieronymus (Emile Dantinne) Imperator of Europe
* Sar Alden (Harvey Spencer Lewis) Imperator of the American continent
* Sar Yesir (Victor Blanchard) Imperator of Eastern Europe.

H. S. Lewis (Sar Alden) created the symbol of FUDOSI.

In 1946 a member of FUDOSI named Andre Cordonnier became one of its Imperators.

After H. S. Lewis' death in 1939, his son Ralph Maxwell Lewis became one of the three Imperators of FUDOSI and his name was Sar Validivar.

Associated Organisations

Here is a list of the orders and societies represented on the first FUDOSI convention of 1934:
* ORDRE DE LA ROSE+CROIX UNIVERSELLE (Sar Hieronymus)
* ORDRE DE LA ROSE+CROIX UNIVERSITAIRE (Sar Hieronymus, Sar Elgrim)
* ORDRE KABBALISTIQUE DE LA ROSE+CROIX (Sar Yesir representing Lucien Mauchel)
* CONFRERIE DES FRERES ILLUMINES DE LA ROSE+CROIX (Sar Amertis)
* A.M.O.R.C. U.S.A. (Sar Alden, Sar Emmanuel, Sar Iohannes)
* MILITIA CRUCIFERA EVANGELICA (Sar Alden)
* ORDRE ANCIEN ET MYSTIQUE DE LA ROSE+CROIX AMORC-Switzerland (Sar Amertis representing sar Alkmaion)
* SOCIETE ALCHIMIQUE DE FRANCE (Sar Amertis)
* ORDRE DES SAMARITAINS INCONNUS (Sar Amertis)
* ORDRE HERMETISTE TETRAMEGISTE ET MYSTIQUE or ORDRE PYTHAGORICIEN (Sar Succus, Sar Helios)
* ORDRE MARTINISTE ET SYNARCHIQUE (Sar Yesir)
* FRATERNITE DES POLAIRES (Sar Yesir)
* ORDRE MACONNIQUE ORIENTAL DE MEMPHIS-MIZRAIM STRICTE OBSERVANCE (Sar Iohannes, Sar Ludovicus)
* CO-MASONIC ORDER OF MEMPHIS-MIZRAIM (Sar Laya, Sar Fulgur)
* L'EGLISE GNOSTIQUE UNIVERSELLE (Tau Targelius = Victor Blanchard)

ORDRE MACONNIQUE ORIENTAL DE MEMPHIS-MISRAIM (STRICTE OBSERVANCE) and the MIXED ORDER OF MEMPHIS-MIZRAIM, the only Masonic organizations associated with FUDOSI, were expelled according to a decision taken by the three Imperators (Lewis, Dantinne, Blanchard) on August 1, 1935.

Position of the FUDOSI towards Masonry

A document by FUDOSI titled "Rapport sur les ordres et sociétés initiatiques. 12/10/1941", written by FUDOSI Imperator Emille Dantinne, states with regard to Freemasonry:

"In 1934, at the time of the foundation of the F.U.D.O.S.I., Freemasonry was condemned by the attending Orders as an atheistic organization and no Masonic Order would be admitted to the federation. One exception was made in favour of the Antient Rite of Memphis-Misraim, which was recognized as a spiritual Order not recognized by the other Masonic Obediences."

But the admission turned out to be an error. Later in the document we read:

"... no collaboration is possible between the F.U.D.O.S.I. and any masonic rite or order. In 1935, the leaders of the F.U.D.O.S.I. excluded the only masonic order within their ranks. They even forced their members to break all their ties to masonry, under penalty of exclusion (with the exception of Mr.Wittemans, who remained a member of a masonic organization)."

It is unknown whether these views were exclusive to Emille Dantinne or held by more FUDOSI members. Emille Dantinne wrote many questionable documents, including statements against the Jews and Democracy. It is said that he was strongly opposed to the Liberal movement. However, similar rumors exist about Harvey Spencer Lewis.

The End of FUDOSI

After the end of the 8th convention (August 14, 1951) FUDOSI dissolved after strong disagreements between Emile Dantinne and Ralph M. Lewis. The 8th convention ended after Ralph M. Lewis criticized Jean Mallinger (Sar Elgrim), a FUDOSI dignitary, for having a "problem" with AMORC for its admission of Afro-American members. The three Imperators signed an official document that marked the end of FUDOSI. [http://www.hermetics.org/fudosi.html]

References

*Bogaard, Milko. [http://www.hermetics.org/fudosi.html F.U.D.O.S.I.]

External links

* http://www.hermetics.org/fudosi.html