The Hermetic Order of Arcanus Sanctum was an influencial secret occult society of the late 19th and 20th centuries. The founder was a Professor Anton Sevlinn who was a writer in London and also a ceremonial magician. Sevlinn was able to obtain a manuscript which contained a number of ancient rituals as well as a secret doctrine which is now referred to as "The Crimson Journal," It is also rumored that he was also able to obtain an ancient scroll which contained theoriginal latin translation of the emerald tablet. Sevlinn considered The Crimson Journal to be among his most prized possesions and he went to many extreme measures to ensure its safe keeping.

Sevlinn set up an independant lodge in England as well as the U.S. The Hermetic Order of Arcanus Sanctum was set up in both locations in early 1868. Its leaders were Sevlinn, Bowers and Dr. R.S. Rothchile. Sevlinn wanted the order to be a secret society, so he incorporated passwords and secret signs that only an initiated member would be able to recognize. It was his belief that the work of the order was so important that absolute secrecy was necessary. Members of the order felt that they were part of something elite and they dedicated themselves to an extremely deep degree. Sevlinns plan to keep the order secret must have worked ,because to this day not one of the secret passwords or signs of the order has surfaced to the outside world. The innermost workings of Arcanus Sanctum remain quite enigmatic.

Edward Bowers owned and operated a rare bookstore in London. He was well known and respected in many circles. It is believed by many that Bowers used his influence with powerful friends in order to obtain extremely rare books that Professor Sevlinn needed to futher his research of secret magical rituals. Bowers was very dedicated to the order and helped it from a financial standpoint as much as possible.

Dr. Rothchile was only a doctor by title and how he came about that title is the subject of much debate. One thing is certain though,  he was Sevlinns righthand man when it came to magical workings and this did not sit well with Bowers. Dr. Rothchile was considered a bit of a con-man and he used his skills quite frequently when it came too recruiting new members for Sevlinn. It would be reasonable too say that he had alot to do with the early success of the order.

Two hundred and twelve initiations took place during the orders heyday from 1868 to 1912. A hierarchy of 6 degrees was developed by Sevlinn in order to guage the level of knowledge of initiated members. Four secret houses were set up where various types of ceremonial magick were practiced. Advancement through the order was by initiation. Only the top students ever made it past the 4th degree. Sevlinn made certain that only the most dedicated initiates were able to obtain the secret doctrines of the 5th and 6th degrees.

In 1891 after a long sickness Sevlinn died. After much consideration Bowers and rothchile moved to Germany where another Arcanus Sanctum was set up. Both men believed it very important to carry on the work which Sevlinn had started. However, tension between the two kept progress to a minimum. Bowers never took well to Rothchiles methods of doing things and this continued to bridge a gap between them. 

Bowers was obsessed with ancient manuscripts and translated the emerald tablets of Thoth into english. Rothchile stole the translation from him and attempted to pass it off as his own. Rothchile was expelled from the order and his name was erased from the hall of records.

In 1896 Bowers claimed the 6th degree and title of Master Magus. Several members of the elder council disputed bowers claim to the title and the order split into several camps. It was not unto 1912 after the death of Bowers that a legitimate claim to the 6th degree was accepted by all members of the elder council. The magician claiming the title was Erin Ripley, a renowned chemist with a passionate interest in ceremonial magick.

Ripley resigned his title as head of the order in 1928. Ripley never gave a reason as to why he resigned,  but many believe it was to become a member of the freemasons. A young magician named Andre Carvelle was initiated into Arcanus Sanctum in 1930. His rise through the ranks was remarkable. In 1935 just five years after his initiation Carvelle went to America and claimed the 6th degree of Master Magus. The London Order rejected his claim. In 1936 Carvelle went back to London and tried to take control of the elder council, but failed.

Carvelle and M.L. Garette who was the highest ranking magician in the elder council had a falling out and they supposedly engaged in magical warfare. Garette was not willing to reconcile his differences with Carvelle and their fued continued for many months. Eventually both Carvelle and Garette were expelled from the London Order of Arcanus Sanctum.

Carvelle got even by moving to Germany and claiming the title of 6th degree. His claim was uncontested and he took full charge of all functions of the German order. Carvelle then proceeded to dismantle the order and reform it under another name "Hexakosioi Hexekonta Hex." Translated it means, "The foundation of the great work." 

Shawn Ottoman became head of the London order in 1941 and denounced the actions of the German Order for appointing Carvelle to the 6th degree. Ottoman was well respected in the order and much of the work he did during his time as Master Magus is considered to be a high point of the orders history. But his continued disapproval of Carvelles actions sparked a war that would eventually destroy everything that Ottoman had originally worked so hard to achieve. The Arcanus Sanctum split into several offshoot orders with various members of the original elder council supporting both Carvelle and Ottoman. In 1943 after the death of both Carvelle and Ottoman an initiated magician of the 4th degree named Ryan Seward III formed a master lodge of Arcanus Sanctum in Buffalo, NY. Eventually the different offshoots from the original Arcanus Sanctum faded and remaining members united under Seward and his Buffalo order.

During its peak the Hermetic order of Arcanus Sanctum possessed the greatest known repository of western magical knowledge. It is believed that the order still has possesion of several ancient scrolls that date back to the early 1500s. The order still exists today and actively initiates motivated magicians who seek to expand their magical knowledge. The order is rich in history and tradition and takes their role as a secret society guarding the ancient mysteries of western magick very seriously.