Roy Wallis

The Aetherius Society: A Case Study in the Formation of a Mystagogic Congregation

Amuch underdeployed concept from Webers typologies of religious virtuosi has been that of the mystagogue. His own examples, as befitted his broad historical and comparative scope, were drawn from ancient or oriental sources. I have been unable to locate any systematic application of this concept in the literature since Weber, however, and thus a descriptive and analytical account of a more recent example may prove profitable. A new magico-religious group, the Aetherius Society, provides suitable raw material for the deployment of Webers concept. I engaged in participant observation with this group at a wide range of its lectures, services, pilgrimages and social gatherings in England over the course of some eighteen months and also systematically examined the literature of the society. This paper seeks to explore the emergence of the founder of the Aetherius Society, Dr. George King, as a mystagogue. Of particular interest is the manner in which he was able to secure a monopoly of the means of revelation and to overcome the constraints on institutionalisation which typically face movements founded on the systematic manifestation of charismatic gifts—e.g. pentecostalism or, more appositely, spiritualism. These aspects are explored in the context of a description of the Aetherius Society, its leadership and membership, and an analysis of the factors which led to its emergence, modified its development, and limit its appeal.^