Well, we seem to have made someone in the Mystical Seven angry. To clear up some history for our audience and perhaps appease an irate spirit:

1. There are 2 M7s on campus. One is more or less the descendant of the Temple of the Wand from 1837. The other was formed in 1985. Both remain active.

2. In our posts, we try to consistently refer to these societies separately, as, respectively, old M7 and new M7. In this we have no choice, as we can’t go up to new M7 and say, “Hey guys, you’re making things really confusing when we blog about you. Can you change your name?” If you’re interested in questions of legitimacy, go to Olin and look at the Argus archives from the 90s, when the two groups were duking it out.

3. You may find that we sometimes refer to a Mr. Kylin. Kylin was in the class of 1984 and founded the new M7. He also runs The American Minerva, which has some publications from the original Cauldrons. We mention his name as a reference only. Unless you want me to unfurl a giant banner at the top of the page that says, “WESLEYING: REAL STUDENTS, REAL STUDENT LIFE, AND PS DON’T LISTEN TO ANYTHING KYLIN SAYS.”

4. For further reading regarding the M7(s), Benjamin Wyatt-Greene ’02 penned a thorough history that’s available here. You can also go to Special Collections and ask to see one of the first 19 Cauldrons; They are available for public viewing.

5. Finally, a while ago we speculated that the templum was to be renovated. Our anonymous Maraudin’ Mystic confirms,

– thanks for your concern, but the M7 templum renovation has been approved. the funny thing is that M7 has gotten stronger since the fire. oh well, it’ll be one hell of a grand opening party!

The Mystical 7 (as well as The Machine, the bastard child of Wesleyan’s own Theta Nu Epsilon) gets a shout-out in this sensationalist article about college secret soceties:

The world over has heard of Skull and Bones of Yale University. This elite secret society holds within its membership at least four U.S. Presidents. George W. Bush and Senator John Kerry are both members of Skull and Bones. This made the 2004 presidential election the first known election where two secret society members ran against each other. However, names like the Order of the Bull’s Blood, Mystical Seven Society, The Order of Gimghoul , Burning Spear, and Machine are less familiar. Make no mistake these too are powerful societies. The clear pronounceable difference between these organizations and Skull and Bones is that these secret societies were founded and continue to wield power at universities where ivy does not grow.
[…] If the average college freshman is expecting to step on a campus where he or she leaves behind the stereotypical high school cliques then most will be given a false sense of freedom. Most college students are unknowingly under the yoke of the definite yet predominantly silent hold university secret societies possess on what is popularly called college life.
[…] With the power of government, influence over tradition, and determination to plan the goings on at your local university know that elite secret societies participate in all these activities with only one goal – their ever advancing power. The aforementioned colleges and universities don’t immediately endear visions of prestige that one thinks of when Harvard or Yale is mentioned. However, like the members of Skull and Bones these secret societies members on public university campuses go on to powerful positions in local, state, and federal government, they become successful business men, and continue the ever connecting web of power.

Unknown to most Wesleyan undergraduates, the Mystical 7 are also responsible for repainting the Butts tunnels, tuition hikes, the $11 blueberries at Weshop, and setting North College on fire.

..Okay, so they actually did set North College on fire. As well as their own building. The Mystical 7: Recruiting the best and brightest pyromaniacs since 1837.

While the Mystical Seven originated here at Wesleyan with the Temple of the Wand, the society enjoyed some infamy with chapters in other schools, especially in the South. And while the two m7 factions at Wesleyan are still snuffling about all secret-like, at schools like Mizzou, the society is prospering and members are prominent.

…Maybe a little too prominent.

More pictures from the Mizzou m7 tap day can be found here.