Later they were held in isolation. That was unsuccessful. Groups of six were tried with moderate success. Finally, they were trained in pairs.
The eoi formed in those first sessions claimed thousands of members. When they were split up they lost contact for the most part, but when communications took off at the beginning of the 21st century, surviving eoi members were finally able to unite with their compatriots from around the World. Some of the alliances formed centuries ago were easily rekindled. There were some who had turned their knowledge to profit and gain and lost sight of the credos.
Even today, 2097, some of the most powerful men on the Planet are thought to have once been members of the eoi.
The credos developed over the years as a defense against the Great Peril. They were first used as affirmations in the early 1960s, when the eoi began to grow in numbers and understanding. It wasn't until 1994 that the credos were written down and passed among the membership. By the year 2020, they had been outlawed. Even collectors were forbidden from owning "the Cards" or wearing the "Colors". Of course, it only increased their value on the blackmarket and eoi t-shirts have been in fashion for decades.
BTW, eoi t-shirts are now available, but don't tell anyone where ya heard it.
Even informal ceremonies have been illegal forever, but in the late 20th century, the eoi ceremonies were vigorously attacked, even before the authorities had ever heard of them by name.