Theos-Talk Archives (October 2006 Message tt00166)

There is considerable debate in academic discussions about esotericism as
to what is a secret society and what is an esoteric society!
A spectrum can be developed from: existence open/ teachings open (eg the
TS) to existence open/ teachings secret (eg the Adyar ES, Co-Masonry) to
existence secret/teachings secret (eg ER).
I suppose a secret society, strictly speaking, is one the existence of
which is not publicly mentioned by its members (who may actually seek to
conceal its existence), which meets in secret, has secret teachings and
membership of which (as a result) can only be by invitation. The ER
clearly falls into this category.
The (Adyar) ES doesn’t, since there are TS websites describing it and its
meetings (although not the content of the meetings).
Freemasonry is hardly a secret society – apart from anything else its
buildings (like the one down the road from my house) are clearly labelled.
It is often described as a “society with secrets” and that is probably
true for the TS ES.
The Temple of the Rosy Cross fell into this category: its establishment
was announced in “The Vahan” but its secrets (including its rituals) were
not public.
The Leadbeater-derived World Mother movement clearly is a secret society:
its existence has not been made public, nor have its teachings.
An academic debate could be initiated (for those with otherwise empty
lives!) about whether a secret society ceases to be secret when someone
publishes the fact of its existence or its teachings.
However, I’ve never been particularly excited by such typologies, and am
happy to include groups that have secrets and groups that were secret in
my history. That the secrets the society has may be of no great interest
(as in the Adyar ES) or are accessible from other sources (like
Co-Masonry) presumably does not take away the excitement and status felt
by the members. Tracking down the secrets of most secret societies is
about 90% of the fun! Having found them, I am usually greatly disappointed
at their mundane and dreary quality.

Dr Gregory Tillett