Men of Letters

Men of Letters are "preceptors, observers, beholders, chroniclers", of mysteries not easily explainable or known to men. They had knowledge of mysteries of the supernatural and many arcane arts like alchemy. They considered hunters to be a lower class to them. Thus, their order only shares its secrets to the most elite hunters they deem to be worthy.

Overview
The order was identified with the crest of the Aquarian Star, a six-pointed sign that represents great magic and power and was linked to the gates of Atlantis. The order was led by elders, who held their most protected secrets. Members of the order were ordained through the paternal line of their family. Despite the name of the order, members are not gender specific, as one of their initiates was female, although the majority of them were men.

History
Men of Letters had been active beginning an unspecified point in time. It was known that by 1958, they possessed a significant number of members, as well as weapons and locations that were powerful.

In 1958, two initiates Henry Winchester  and Josie Sands were sent to investigate events in St. Benovent Convent as part of their last test to be members of the order. The convent housed a nun murdered two victims before she threw herself from a tower. During Henry and Josie's investigation, it was revealed that they were dealing with a group of demons serving a Knight of Hell, Abaddon. The demons were possessing the nuns, and although Henry and Josie cast out a couple demons, the Knight of Hell quickly overpowered Henry. As Abaddon stated her intention to possess Henry to study the Men of Letters, Josie begged the knight to stop and offered herself as a vessel instead. Abaddon agreed and ordered the remaining demon to act dead. She convinced Henry that they successfully exorcized all the demons. Abaddon, while possessing Josie, also subtly threatened the surviving nuns to keep the ordeal quiet, thus preventing them from warning Henry of the truth.

Much of the order was destroyed by Abaddon during Josie and Henry's initiation on August 12, 1958. With the death of Henry Winchester and the only known surviving elder Larry Ganem, both at the hands of Abaddon in 2013, the order is extinct. The only other surviving member, rogue former Man Cuthbert Sinclair, was killed by Dean Winchester while hunting for The First Blade. Later, Henry gives Sam and Dean the key to the former Men of Letters headquarters, which the latter calls the 'batcave'. The headquarters could only be accessed by a special key.

Restoration and Resurgence
The order's headquarters, although unused, still functioned perfectly when the Winchester brothers visited it and used it as base of operations in uncovering more about the Men of Letters. Soon after, the two brothers identified a case involving bringing down some members of the Necromancer Nazi party known as the Thules. Similar to how Aaron Bass and his saboteur Golem took up the mantle to keep the Judah Initiative alive and active, Sam found an interest in the Men of Letters society and took up the throne as the next legacy, becoming the newest member of the formerly extinct Men of Letters. Additionally, Charlie Bradbury also expressed interest in becoming a woman of letters.

Structure
The order possessed a rating system for demonic possessions with a possession like that of The Exorcist being a Class Two Infernal Event. This system went up to at least Class Five and the order was interested in a new type of exorcism that could conceivably cure a demon. The first attempt failed, but Father Max Thompson eventually succeeded, though it is unknown if the order was aware as they only recorded the first failed attempt. Using the rating system, the order recorded every possession for hundreds of years up until their destruction.

Some spells used by the members were also classified according to ranks. For example, knowledge of the blood sigil cast by Henry Winchester is expected of high-level members.

Although considering Hunters below them, Men of Letters did share many of their characteristics and habits, such as keeping journals, and guarding secrets. Much like Hunters they also sometimes investigated supernatural events and phenomenon, using alias and impersonating officials. This sort of "Field work" was necessary for initiates to partake in before initiation.

Powers and abilities
Men of Letters were powerful humans who knew a great deal more about the supernatural than even veteran hunters. They had knowledge of ancient and powerful magic, including exorcism and time travel spells. One of the members, Henry Winchester, tapped into his own soul in order to power a spell. They also were aware of the existence of angels, something hunters only gained knowledge of during the ushering of the Apocalypse. Additionally, they knew of the existence of dragons, and Atlantis, among other things.

They seem to be ranked by Levels of supernatural knowledge that they have attained; the higher the level, the more powerful and experienced they are.

Up until Henry's death, they were in possession of 'the key to every object, scroll, spell ever collected in thousand years under one roof.' This key passed on to Henry's grandsons, Sam and Dean Winchester. The location of this 'supernatural mother lode' were revealed to Sam by Larry Ganem. He said that this place is 'the safest place on earth warded against any evil ever created.' This place was warded by former Men of Letters Master of Spells Cuthbert Sinclair who was so proficient at spells, he was made Master of Spells right after initiation.

Known members

 * Larry Ganem, elder, first blinded by Abaddon in 1958, then killed by her in 2013.
 * David Ackers, elder, killed by Abaddon.
 * Ted Bowen, elder, killed by Abaddon.
 * An Unnamed Elder, murdered by Abaddon.
 * Josie Sands, an initiate, possessed by Abaddon, killed with her in 2013.
 * Henry Winchester, an initiate, killed by Abaddon in 2013.
 * Henry Winchester's paternal ancestors.
 * Max Thompson, killed by Abaddon.
 * Albertus Magnus, described by Henry as 'the greatest alchemist of the 14th century'.
 * Frank Baum, father of Dorothy. Journeyed to Oz and wrote the Oz books to leave Dorothy clues on how to stop The Wicked Witch.
 * Peter Jenkins, possessed by The Wicked Witch and killed by James in 1935.
 * James Haggerty, researched Dorothy's disappearance until he retired. He also compiled On the Inner Workings of Angels.
 * Cuthbert Sinclair, spell master of the Men of Letters who went rogue in 1956. Killed by Dean Winchester with The First Blade.
 * Dean Winchester, became a legacy. Presently one of three members left.
 * Sam Winchester, became a legacy. Presently one of three members left.
 * Charlie Bradbury, helped the Winchesters in some circumstances and they consider her as a Woman of Letters. Presently in Oz.
 * Dorothy, A hunter & daughter of Frank Baum of the Men of Letters, helped the Winchesters killing the Wicked Witch, she and Dorothy went to Oz in order to continue fighting against the Witch's forces.