H 'Ws * *»PP' i^. //^ si J-lOT^-—:^ — ^- - ^ LIBRA.RY OF THE 1 Theological Seminary, PRINCETON, N.J. Cane, L^^^C^S-i-w?'.... Shelf. fOj^ Book, } ^Wl: PROOFS OTA CONSPIRACY AGAINST ALL THE RELIGIONS AND GOVERNMENTS E U Pv O P E, CARRIED ON IN THE SECRET MEETINGS O F FREE MASONS, ILLUMINATI, READING SOCIETIES. COLLECTED FROM GOOD AUTHORITIES, By JOHN ROBISON, A. M. 7R0FKSS0K. OF NATURAL PH!'-OSOPHY, AND S2C?,:;TAS.Y TO THE ROYAL SOCIET'f OF EDINBURGH. NdTfi ilea res agiiur paries cu7n- proxiiniis ardct, THE FOURTH EDITION. TO WHICH 13 ADDED, A POSTSCRIPT. NElF-rORK: Printed by Gcoreo I'orman, No. 64, for Coir.elius^Davis, bL-okrai r, Nc. 94, V:a-.er-Street. 1798. TO THE RIGPIT HONORABLE WILLIAM WYNDHAM, SECRETARY AT WAR, &c. &c. Sec. SIR, IT was with great fatisfaHion that I learned from a "friend that you coincided with rat in the opinion^ that the information contained in this performance would make a ufeful impreffion on the minds of my Countrymen^ I*have prefumed to infcrihe it with your Name,, that I may publicly exprefs the pleafure which I ftlt^ when I found that neither a feparation for thirty ycars^ nor the prefjitre of the moji important hfnefs, had eff'aced your kind remembrance of a College Acquaintance^ or abated that obliging and polite attention with which you favored me in thofe early days of life. The friendfJiip of the accompliJJied and the worthy is the highejl honor ; and to him who is cut off, by want of health, from almofl every other enjoyment, it is an inejlz- mable bleffing. Accept, therefore, I pray, of r,:y grate- ful acknowledgements, and of my earneft wiflies for your Health, Profperity, and increafing Honor. With fentiments of the greatefi Efteem and Refpeci^ I am, SIR, Your-mnfi obedient, and mofl humble Servant, JOHN ROJBISOM. Edinburgh, 1 September ^i 1 797* J * OUODfi quis vera vitam rationc guhernet^ J) n)ttio3 gr ancles homini funt, vtvere parcc jEquo ammo : neque cnim ejl unquam penuria parv:^ At clarosfe homines voluerunt atque poientcs, ULjundamento jlahili fortuna 7nantret^ Et placidam pojjent opiiknti degere vitam : Neauicquam. — quoniam ad fummum Jucccdcrc honor en Ceriantes, iter infe/iumfecSre viai, £t tamen efimmo quafi fahnen dejicit iBos Jnvidia inter dum .contejnptim in Tartara tttra, » Ergo^ Regibus occifr:, fuhvcrfa jacehat Prijiina majefias Joliorim, etjceptra fupcrha ; Et capitis Jummi prceclarum mfigne, crueniim. Sub pedibus volgi magnuvi higebat hon'orem : Nam cupide conculcatur nimis ante metii{u7n. Res itaqe adfitmmamfa^cem, turbajque redibai, Jmpcrmmfibi cum acfummatum qidjque pcicbat. Lucretius, V. li53< INTRODUCTION. B E I N G at a friend's houfe in the country during fome part of the fumraer 1795, I there faw a volume of a German periodical work, called Religions Begeben- heiten, i. e. Religious Occurrences ; in which there was an account of the various fchifms in the Fraternity of Free Mafons, with frequent allufions to the origin and hiftory of that celebrated affociation. This account in- terefted me a good deal, becaufe, in my early life, I had taken fome part in the occupations (ihall I call them} of Free Mafonry ; and having chiefly frequented the Lodg- es on the Continent, I had learned many do6lrines, and feen many ceremonials, which have no place in the Am- ple fyftem of Free Mafonry which obtains in this coun- try. I had alfo remarked, that the whole was much more the objeft of reflexion and thought than I could remember it to have been among my acquaintances at home. There, I had feen a Mafon Lodge confidered merely as a pretext for paffing an hour or two in a fort of decent conviviality, not altogether void of fome ra- tional occupation. I had fometimes heard of differen- ces of do6trines or of ceremonies, but in terms which marked them as mere frivolities. But, on the Conti- 8 I N T R O D U C T I O N. ncnt. I found them matters of ferious concern and de- bate. Such too is the contagion of example, that I could not hinder myfelf from thinking one opinion bet- ter founded J or one Ritual more appoiite and fignificant, than another ; and I even felt fomethiiig like an anxiety for its being adopted, and a zeal for making it a general pra61ice. I had been initiated in a very fplendid Lodge ^t Liege, of which the Prince Biihop, his Trcfonciers, and the chief Noble (Te of the State, were members. I vifited the French Lodges at Valenciennes, at BrulTels, £t Aix-la-Chapelle, at Berlin, and Koningfberg ; and I picked up fome printed difcourfes delivered by the Bro- ther-orators of the Lodijes. At St. Peterfour^h I con- nccled myfelf with the Englifli Lodge, and occafionallv vifitcd the German and Ruffian Lodges held there. I found myfelf received with particular refpeft as a Scotch Mafon, and as an Eleve of the Lodge de la Parjaite In- iflligcnce at Liege. I v/as importuned by perfons of the f rft rank to puFfue my mafonic career through many deforces unknown.in this country. But all the fplendour and elegance that I fav/ could not conceal a frivolity in every part. It appeared a bafeiefs fabric, and I could not think of engaging in an occupation which would confurae much time, coft me a good deal of money and might perhaps exciie in me fome of that fanaticilm, or, at Icaft, enthufiafm that I law in others, and per- ceived to be void of any rational fupport. I therefore remained in the Enoiidi Lodge, contented' with the rank of Scotch MaRer, w'hich wts in a manner forced on me in a private Lodge of French Mafons, but- is not givent in the Englifli Lodge. My mafonic rank admitted me to a very elegant entertainment iti the female Logc de la F/ delete, where every ceremonial was compofed in the higheft degree of elegance, and e\ciy thing conduced with the molt delicate rcfpccl for our fair fillers, and INTRODUCTION. g the old fong of brotherly love was chanted in the moft refined ftrain of fentiment. I do not fuppofe that the Parifian Free Malbnry of forty-fi.ve degrees could give me more entertainment. I had profited fo much by it, that I had the honor of being appointed the Brother- orator. In this office I gave fuch fatisfa6lion, that a worthy Brother fent me at midnight a box, which he committed to my care, as a perfon far advanced in ma- fonic fcience, zealoufly attached to the order, and therefore a fit depofitary of important writings. I learn- ed next day that this gentleman had found it convenient to leave the empire in a hurry, but taking with him the funds of an eftablifhment of which her Imperial Majefly had made him the manager. I was defired to keep thefe writings till he fliould fee me again. I obeyed. About ten years afterward I faw the gentleman on the ftreet in Edinburgh, converfing with a foreigner. As I palled by him, I faluted him foftly in the Ruffian language ; but without flopping, or even looking him in the face. He coloured, but made no return. I endeavoured in vain to meet with him, intending to make a proper re- turn for much civility and kindnefs which I had received from him in his own country. I now conlidered the box as acceffible to myfelf, and opened it. I found it to contain all the degrees of the Far/ait Magon Ecoffbis, with the Rituals, Catechifms, and Inftrudions, and alfo four other degrees of Free Mafonry, as cultivated in the Parifian Lodges. I have kept them with all care, and mean to give them to ibme refpeftable Lodge. But as I am bound by no engage- ment of any kind, I hold myfelf as at liberty to make fuch ufe of them as may be ferviceable to the public, without enabling any uninitiated perfon to enter the Lodges of thefe degrees. B 10 INTRODUCTION. This acqiiifition might have roufed my former teViik for Mafonry, had it been merely dormant ; but, after fo long feparation from the Logc de ki Fidelite, the ma- fonic fpirit had evaporated. Some curiofity , however, re- mained, and fome wifh to trace this plaftic myftery to the pit from which the clay had been dug, which has been moulded into fo many different fliapes, " fome to ho- nor, and fome to difhonor." But my opportunities were now gone. I had given away (when in Ruffia) my volumes of difcourfes, and fom.e far-fetched and gratuitous hiftories, and nothing remained but the piti- ful work of Anderfon, and the Ma^onnerie Adonhira- Tiiique devoilee, which are in every one's hands. My curiofity was flrongly roufed by the accounts given in the Religions Begebenheiten. There I faw quotations without number; fyflems and fchifms of which I had never heard ; but what particularly flruck me, was a zeal and fanaticifm about w^hat I thought tri- fles, which afloniflied me. Men of rank and fortune, and engaged, in ferious and honorable public employ- ments, not only frequenting the Lodges of the cities where they refided, but journeying from one end of Germany or France to the other, to vifit new Lodges, or to learn new fecrets or new do8^rines. I faw con- ventions held at Wifmar, at Wifbad, at Kohlo, at Brunfwick, and at Willemfbad, confifting of fome hun- dreds of perfons of refpeftable ftations. I faw adven- turers coming to a city, profeffmg fome new fecret, and in a few days forming new Lodges, and inftrufting in a troublefome and expenfive manner hundreds of brethren. German Mafonry appeared a very ferious concern, and to be implicated with other fubje6ls with which 1 had never fufpefted it to have any connexion. I faw INTRODUCTION. it it much conncfted with many occurrences and fchifms in the Chriltian church ; I faw that the Jefuits had fe- veral times interfered in it ; and that mod of the excep- tionable innovations and difTentions had arifen about the time that the order of Loyola was fupprefled ; fo that it fhould feem, that thefe intriguing brethren had attempt- ed to mahitain their influence by the help of Free Ala- fonry. I faw it much difturbed by the myuical whims of J. Behmen and Swedenborg — by the fanatical and knavifli do6lrines of the modern Rofy crucians — by Ma- gicians — Magnetifers — Exorcills, &:c. And I obferv- ed that thefe different feels reprobated each other, as not only maintaining erroneous opinions, but even in- cukating opinions which were contrary to the eftablifn- ed religions of Germany, and contrary to the principles of the civil ellablifhments. At the fame time they charged each other with miftakes and corruptions, both in do6lrine and in praftice; and particularly with falfi- fication of the firil principles of Free Mafonry, and with ignorance of its origin and its hillory ; and they fup- ported thefe charges by authorities from many different books which were unknown to me. My curiofity w-as now greatly excited. I got from a much-refpetted friend many of the preceding volumes of the Religions Begebenheitm, in hopes of much infor- mation from the patient indultry of German erudition. This opened a new and very interefting fcene ; I was frequently fentback to England, from whence all agreed that Free Mafonry had been imported into Germany. I v/as frequently led into France and into Italy. There, and more remarkably in France, I found that the Lodges had become the haunts of many projeftors and fanatics, both in fcience, in religion, and in politics, who had availed themfelvcs of the fecrecy and the freedom of 12 INTRODUCTION. fpeech maintained in thefe meetings, to broacli their par^ ticular whims, or fufpicious doftrines, which, if piiblifh- ed to the world in the ufual manner, would have expofed the authors to ridicule, or to cenfure. Thefe projec- tors had contrived to tag their peculiar noftrums to the mummery of Mafonry, and were even allowed to twift the mafonic emblems and ceremonies to their purpofe ; fo that in their hands Free Mafonry became a thing to- tally unlike, and almoft in direB: oppofition to the fyf- tem (if it may get fuch a name) imported from England ; and feme Lodges had become fchools of irreligion and licentioufnefs. No nation in modern times has fo particularly turned its attention to the cultivation of every thing that is re- fined or ornamental as France, and it has long been the refort of all who hunt after entertainment in its moft re- fined form ; the French have come to confider thcm- felves as the inftrudors of the world in every thing that ornaments life, and feeling themfelves received as fuch, they have formed their manners accordingly — full of the moft condefcending complaifance to all who acknow- ledge their fuperiority. Delighted, in a high degree, with .this office, they have become zealous miffionaries of re- finement in every department of human purfuit, and have reduced their apoftolic employment to a fyftem, which they profecute with ardour and delight. This is not groundlefs declamation, but fober hiftorical truth. It was the profeffed aim (and it was a magnificent and wife aim) of the great Colbert, to make the court of Louis ^^IV. the fountain of human refinement, and Paris the Athens of Europe. We need only look at the plunder of Italy by the French array, to be convinced that their low-born generals and ftatefmen have in this refpcft the fame notions with the Colberts and the Richlieus. INTRODUCTION. 13 "FkTiow no fubje6: in which this aim at uiiiveiTal in-» fluence on the opinions of men, by holding themfelves forth as the models of excellence and elegance, is more clearly feen than in the care that they have been pieafed 10 take of Free. Mafonry. It feems indeed peculiarly fuited to the talents and tafte of that vain and ardent peo- ple. Bafelefs and frivolous, it admits of every form thiat Gallic refinement can invent, to recommend it to the young, the gay, the luxurious; that clafs of, fociety which alone deferves their care, becaufe, in one way or another, it leads all other clafles of fociety. It has accordingly happened, that the homely Free Mafonry imported from England has been totally chang- ed in every country of Europe, either by the impofmg afcendancy of French brethren, who are to be found every where, ready to inftruft the world ; or by the im- portation of the doftrines, and ceremonies, and orna- ments of the Parifian Lodges. Even England, the birth-place of Mafonry, has experienced the French in- novations; and all the repeated injunftions, admoniti- ons, and reproofs of the old Lodges, cannot prevent thofe in different parts of the kingdom frora admitting the French novelties, full of tinfel and glitter, and high- founding titles. Were this all, the harm would not be great. But long before good opportunities had occurred for fpread- ing the refinements on the iimple Free Mafonrj/ of Eng- land, the Lodges in France had become places of very ferious difcuffion, where opinions in morals, in religion, gnd in politics, had been promulgated and maintained with a freedom and a keennefs, of which we in this fa- vored land have no adequate notion, becaufe we are unacquainted with the refiraints, which, in other coun- 14 INTRODUCTION. tiies, are laid on ordinary converfation. In confe- quence of this, the French innovations in Free Mafonry were quickly followed in all parts of Europe, by the admiffion of fimilar difcuffions, although in direft oppo- fition to a (landing rule, and a declaration made to eve- ry newly received Brother, " that nothing touching the religion or government fhall ever be fpoken of in the Lodge." But the Lodges in other countries followed the example of France, and have frequently become the rendezvous of innovators in religion and politics, and other difturbers of the public peace. In Ihort, I have found that the covert of a Mafon Lodge had been em- ployed in every country for venting and propagating fentiments in religion and politics, that could not have circulated in public without expofing the author to great danger. I found, that this impunity had gradually en- couraged men of licentious principles to become more bold, and to teach doftrines fubverfive of all our notions of morality — of all our confidence in the moral govern- ment of the univerfe — of all our hopes of improvement in a future ftate of exiftence — and of all fatisfaftion and contentment with our prefent life, fo long aj we live in a ftate of civil fubordination. I have been able to trace tliefe attempts, made, through a courfe of fifty years, under the fpecious pretext of enlightening the v/orld by the torch of philofophy, and of difpelling the clouds of civil and religious fuperftition which keep the nations of Europe in darknefs and flavery. I have obferved thefe do9:rines gradually diffafing and mixing with all the dif- ferent fyftems of Free Mafonry; till, at laft, an As- sociation HAS BEEN FORMED for the cxprcfs pur- pofe of ROOTING OUT ALL THE RELIGIOUS ESTA- BLISHMENTS, AND OVERTURNING ALL THE EX- ISTING GOVERNMENTS OF Europe. I have feen this Aflbciation exerting itfelf zealoufly and fyltemati- INTRODUCTION. 15 cally, till it has become almoft irrefiftible : And I have ieen that the moft aftive leaders in the French Revolu- tion were members of this Aflbciation, and conduced their firft movements according to its principles, and by means of its inftruQions and affiftance, formally requejl- ed and obtained : And, lailly, I have feen that this Af- fociation ftill exifts, ftill works in fecret, and that not only feveral appearances among ourfelves Ihow that its emilTaries are endeavouring to propagate their deteftable doftrines among us, but that the Aflbciation has Lodges in Britain correfponding with the mother Lodge at Mu- nich ever fmce 1784. If all this were a matter of mere curiofity, and fuf- ceptible of no good ufe, it would have been better to have kept it to myfelf, than to difturb my neighbours with the knowledge of a ftate of things which they can- not amend. But if it fliall appear that the minds of my countrymen are mifled in the very fame manner as were thofe of our continental neighbours — if I cm\ fliow that the reafonings which make a very ftrong imprefiion on fome perfons in this country are the fame which ac- tually produced the dangerous aflbciation in Germany ; and that they had this unhappy influence folely becaufe they were thought to be fmcere, and the expreffions of the fentiments of the fpeakers — if I can fhow that this was all a cheat, and that the Leaders of this Aflbciation difbelieved every word that they uttered, and every doc- trine that they taught ; and that their real intention was to abolifli all religion, overturn every government, and make the world a general plunder and a wreck — if I can fhow, that the principles which the Founder and Lead- ers of this Aflbciation held forth as the perfeftion of hu- man virtue, and the mofl: powerful and efficacious for forming the minds of men, and making them good and 46 I N T R O D U C T I O N. happy, had no influence on the Founder and Leaders themrelves, and that they were, almoft without excep- tion, the moft in{%nifi''cant, worthlefs, and profligate of men; I cannot but think, that fuch information will make my countrymen hefitate a little, and receive with caution, and even diflruft, addreffes and inftruftions which flatter our felf-conceit, and which, by buoying tis up with the gay profpeQ of what is perhaps attainable by a change, may make us difcontented with our pre- fent condition, and forget that there never was a go- vernment on earth where the people of a great and lux- urious nation enjoyed fo much freedom and fecurity in the polfefTion of every thing that is dear and valu- able. When we fee that thefe boafled principles had not that effeft on the leaders which they afiert to be their na- tive, certain, and inevitable confequences, we will dif- truft the fine defcriptions of the happinefs that fhould refult^from fuch a change. And when we fee that the methods which were pra6lifed by this Affociation for the exprefs purpofe of breaking all the bands of fociety, Were employed folely in order that the leaders might rule the world with uncontroulable power, while all the reft, even of the alfociated, will be degraded in their own eflimation, corrupted in their principles, and employed as mere tools of the ambition oi ihtu unknown fup triors ; furely a free-born Briton will not hefitate to rejeft at once, and without any farther examination, a plan fo big with mifchief, fo difgraceful to its underling adherents, and fo uncertain in its iffue. Thefe hopes have induced me to lay before the pub- lic a fhort abftratl: of the information which I think I have received. It will be Ihort, but I hope fufficient INTRODUCTION. i> for eftablifhing the fa6l, that this deteflahle AJfociation ex- ijls, and its emijfaries are bufy among ourf elves. 1 was not contented with the quotations which I found in the Religions Begebenheiten, but procured from abroad fome of the chief writings from which they are taken. This both gave me confidence in the quotations from books which I could not procure, and furniflied me with more materials. Much, however, remains untold, richly deferving the attention of all thofe who feel themfelves difpofed to liften to the tales of a pofTible happinefs that may be enjoyed in a fociety where all the magiftrates are wife and juft, and all the people are honeft and kind. I hope that I am honeft and candid. I have been at all pains to give the true fenfe of the authors. My knowledge of the German language is but fcanty, but I have had the afliftance of friends whenever I was in doubt. In compreffmg into one paragraph what I have colle6led from many, I have, as much as I was able, iluck to the words of the author, and have been anxious to give his precife meaning. I doubt not but that I have fometimes failed, and will receive correction with deference. I entreat the reader not to expeft a piece of good literary compofition. I am very fenfible that it is far from it — it is written during bad health, when I am not at eafe — and I wifhed to conceal my name — but my motive is, without the fmalleft mixture of another, to do fome good in the only way I am able, and I think that what I fay will come with better grace, and be re- ceived with more confidence, than any anonymous pub- lication. Of thefe I am now moft heartily fick. I throw myfelf on my country with a free heart, and I bow with deference to its decifion. C i8 I N T R O D U G T I O N. The AfTociation of which I have been {peaking, is the Order of Illumin ati, founded in 1775, by Dr. Adam Weifhaupt, profeflbr of Canon law in die univerfitv of Ingolltadt, andabolifhed in 1786 by die Elector of Ba- varia, but revived immediately after, under another name, and in a different form, all over Germany. It -^as again dete6led, and feemingly broken up; but it had by this time taken fo deep root that it ftill fublifts without being detefted, and has fpread into all the coun- tries of Europe. It took its firft rife among the Free Mafons, but is totally different from Free Mafonry. It was not, however, the mere protedion gained by the fe- crecy of the Lodges that gave occaiion to it, but it arofe naturally from the corruptions that had gradually crept into that fraternity, the violence of the party -fpirit which pervaded it, and from the total uncertainty and dark- nefs that hangs over the whole of that my fterious Affoci- ;ation. It is neceffary, therefore, to give fome account -of the innovations that have been introduced into Free Mafonry from the time that it made its appearance on the continent of Europe as a myftical Society, poffef- fing fecrets different from thofe of the mechanical em- |}lQyraent who'fe name it affumed, and thus affording en- tertainment and occupation to perfons of all ranks and profeffions. It is by no means intended to give'a hiftory of Free Mafonry. This would lead to a very long dif- cuffion. The patient indullry of German erudition has been very ferioufly employed on this fubjeft, and many performances have been publiflied, of v/hich fome ac- count is given in the different volumes of the Religions Begebenhciten, particularly in thofe for 1779, 1785, and 1.786. It is evident, from the nature of the thing, that ihey cannot be very inftruBive to the public ; becaufe the obligation of fecrecy refpeCling the important mat- ters which are the very fubjeBs of debate, prevents the INTRODUCTION. 19 author from giving that full information that is required from an hiRorian ; and the writers have not, in general, been perfons qualified for the talk. Scanty erudition, credulity, and enthuliafm, appear in almoft all their writings ; and they have neither attempted to remove the heap of rubbifh with which Anderfon has difgraced his Corjlltutions of Free Mafonry (the bafis of mafonic hif- tory) nor to avail themfeives of informations which hif- tory really affords to a fober enquirer. Their Royal art mud never forfooth appear in a ftate of infancy or childhood, like all other human acquirements ; and therefore, when they cannot give proofs of its exiftence in a ftate of manhood, poflefled of all its myfterious treafures, they fuppofe what they do not fee, and fay that they are concealed by the oadi of fecrecy. Of fuch inftru6tion I can make no ufe, even if I were difpofed to write a hiftory of the Fraternity. I fhali content myfelf with an account of fuch particulars as are admitted by all the mafonic parties, and which illuftrate or confirm my general propofition, making fuch ufe of the accounts of the higher degrees in my pofleffion as I can, without admitting the profane into their Lodges. Being under no tie of fecrecy with regard to thefc, I am with-held by difcretion alone from pu.tting the public in poiTelBon of all their niyfteries. PROOFS O F A CONSPIRACY, &c. ^'t^ 'i I ~ CHAP. I. Schifms in Free Mafonry. A HERE is undoubtedly a dignity in the art of build- ing, or in archite6hire, which no other art poflefles, and this, "whether we confider it in its rudeft flate, occupied in raifing a hut, or as praftifed in a cultivated nation, in the ereftion of a magnificent and ornamented temple. As the arts in general improve in any nation, this jnuft always maintain its pre-eminence ; for it employs them all, and no man can be eminent as an architeB; who does ■not poffefs a confiderable knowledge of almoft every fcience and art already cultivated in his nation. His great works are undertakings of the mod ferious con- cern, conne6l him with the public, or with the rulers of the flate, and attach to him the pra6litioners of other artSj who are wholly occupied in executing his orders : 22 THE SCHISMS IN His works are the objefts of public attention, and are not the tranfient fpeftacles of the day, but hand down to pofterity his invention, his knowledge, and his tatte. No wonder then that he thinks highly of his profeffion, and that the public fhould acquiefce in his pretenfions, even when in fome degree extravagant. It is not at all furprifing, therefore, that the incor- porated architefts in all cultivated nations fhould arro- gate to themfelves a pre-eminence over the fimilar affo- ciations of other tradefmen. We find traces of this iw the remoteft antiquity. The Dionyfiacs of Alia Minor were undoubtedly an affociation of architefts and engi- neers, who had the exclufive privilege of building tem- ples, ftadia, and theatres, under the myfterious tutelage of Bacchus, and diftinguillied from the uninitiated or profane inhabitants by the fcience which they poffeiTed, and by many private figns and tokens, by which they recognized each other. This aflbciation came into Ionia from Syria, into which country it had come from Perfia, along with that flyle of architefture that we call Grecian. We are alfo certain that there was a fimilar trading affociation, during the dark ages, in Chriftian Europe, which monopolized the building of great churches and caftles, working under the patronage and prote£lion of the Sovereigns and Princes of Europe, and poffeding many privileges. Circumftances, which it would be tedious to enumerate and difcufs, continu- ed this affociation later in Britain than on the Confi- ncnt. But it is quite uncertain when and why perfons who were not builders by profeffion firfl: fought adrhiflion into this Fraternity. The firfl: diflin£l and unequivocal inflance that we have of this is the admiifioti of Mr. Afh- FREE MASONRY. 23 inole, the famous antiquary, in 1648, into a Lodge at Warrington, along with his father-in-law Colonel Main- waring. It is not improbable that the covert of fecrecy in thofe affemblies had made them courted by the Roy- alifts, as occafions of meeting. Nay, the Ritual of the Mailer's degree feems to have been formed, or perhaps twilled from its original inllitution, fo as to give an op- portunity of founding the political principles of the candidate, and of the whole Brethren prefent. For it bears fo eafy an adaptation to the death of the King, to the overturning of the venerable conllitution of the Englifh government of three orders by a mean demo- cracy, and its re-eflablifliment by the efforts of the loy- alifts, that this would ftart into every perfon's mind during the ceremonial, and could hardly fail to fhow, by the countenances and behaviour of the Brethren, how they were affefted. I recommend this hint to the con- fideration of the Brethren. I have met with many par- ticular fafts, which convince me that this ufe had been made of the meetings of Mafons, and that at this time the Jefuits interfered confiderably, infmuating them- felves into the Lodges, and contributing to encreafe that religious myfticifm that is to be obferved in all the cere- monies of the order. This fociety is well known to have put on every fliape, and to have made ufe of every mean that could promote the power and influence of the order. And we know that at this time they were by no means without hopes of re-ellablifliing the dominion qf the Church of Rome in England. Their fervices v/ere not fcrupled at by the diftrelfed Royalifts, even fucli as were Proteilants, while they were highly prized by the Sovereign. We alfo know that Charles IL was made a Mafon, and frequented the Lodges. It is not unlikely, that befides the amufement of a vacant hour, which was . always agreeable to him, he had pleafure in the meeting i4 THE SCHISMS IN with his loyal friends, and in the occupations of the Lodge, which recalled to his mind their attachment and fervices. His brother and fucceflbr James II. was of a more ferious and manly call of mind, and had little plea- fure in the frivolous ceremonies of Mafonry. He did not frequent the Lodges. But, by this time, they were the refort of many perfons who were not of the profef- fion, or members of the trading corporation. This circumflance, in all probability, produced the denomi* nations of F'ree and Accepted Mafons. A perfon who has the privilege of working at any incorporated trade, is faid to be ^Jrttman of that trade. Others were accepted as Brethren, and admitted to a kind of honora-^ ry freedom, as is the cafe in many other trades and in^ corporations, withjout having (as far as we can learn for certain) a legal title to earrj a livelihood by the exercife of it. The Lodges being in this manner frequented by per- fons of various profeffions, and in various ranks of civil fociety, it cannot be fuppofed that the employment in thofe meetings related entirely to the oltenfible prcfef- iion of Mafonry. We have no authentic information by which the public can form any opinion about it. It was not till fome years after this period that the Lodges made open profeffion of the cultivation of general bene- volence, and that the grand aim of the Fraternity was to enforce the exercife of all the focial virtues. It is not unlikely that this was an after thought. The political purpofes of the aifociation being once obtained, the converfation and occupations of the members muft take fome particular turn, in order to be generally accepta- ble. The eftablilhmcnt of a fund for the relief of un- fortunate Brethren did not take place till the very end of laft century ; and we may prefV.ir.c that it was brought FREE MASONRY. u$ about bv the warm recommendations of fome benevo- lent members, who would naturally enforce it by ad- dreffes to their alfembled Brethren. This is the pro- bable origin of thofe philanthropic difcourfes which w^ere delivered in the Lodges by one of the Brethren as an official tafk. Brotherly love was the general topic, and this, with great propriety, when we confider the ob- jeB: aimed at in thofe addrefies. Nor was this obje6l altogether a novelty. For while the manners of fociety were yet but rude, Brother Mafons, who were frequent- ly led by their employment far from home and from their friends, ftood in need of fuch helps, and might be greatly benefited by fuch an inftitution, which gave them introdu8:ion and citizenfliip wherever they went, and a right to fhare in the charitable contributions of Brethren t who were ftrangers to them. Other incorporated trades had fimilar provifions for their poor. But their poor were townfmen and neighbours, well known to them. There was more perfuafion neceffary in this Fraternity, where the objefts" of our immediate beneficence were not of our acquaintance. But when the Lodges con- fided of many who were not Mafons, and who had no particular claim to good offices from a ftranger, and their number might be great, it is evident that ftronger perfuaf.ons were now neceffary, and that every topic of philanthropy muft now be employed. When the funds became coafiderable, the elfeds naturally took the public eye, and recommended the Society to notice and refpeft. And now the Brethren were induced to dwell on the fame topic, to join in the commendations be- ftowed on the Society, and to fay that univerfal bene- ficence was the great aim of the Order. And this is all that could be faid in public, widiout infringing the obli- gation to fecrecy. The inquifitive are slways prving D 0^ THE SCHISMS IN And teazing, and this is the only point on which a Bro- ther is at liberty to fpeak. He will therefore do it with affe6lionate zeal, till perhaps he has heated his own fan- cy a little, and overlooks the inconfiftency of this uni- verfal beneficence and philanthropy with the exclufive and monopolizing fpirit of an AfTociation, which not only confines its benevolence to its own Members (like any other charitable afTociation) but hoards up in its bo- fom ineftimable fecrets, whofe natural tendency, they fay, is to form the heart to this generous and kind con- du6t, and infpire us with love to all mankind. The profane world cannot fee the beneficence of concealing from public view a principle or a motive which fo pow- erfully .induces a Mafon to be good and kind. The Brother fays that publicity would rob it of its force, and we muil take him at his word ; and our curiofity is fo much the more excited to learn what are the fecrets •which have fo fmgular a quality. Thus did the Fraternity conduQ themfelves, and thus were they confidered by the public, when it was carried over from England to the continent ; and here, it is to be particularly remarked, that all our Brethren abroad profefs to have received the Myftery of Free Mafonry from Britain. This is furely a puzzle in the hiftory ; and we muft leave it to others to reconcile this with the repeated alfertions in Anderfon's book of Conftitutions, " That the Fraternity exifted all over the world," and the numberlefs examples which he adduces of its exer- tions in other countries ; nay, with his repeated aCTer- tions, "that it frequently was near perifhing in Britain, and that our Princes were obliged to fend to France and other countries, for leading men, to reftore it to its for- mer energy among us." \Yc Hiall find by and by that FREE MASONRY. 2; this is not a point of mere hiftorical curiofity, but that much hinges on it. In the mean time, let us juft remember, that the ^lain tale of Brotherly love had been polifned up to proteflations of univerl'al benevolence, and had taken place of loyalty and attachment to the unfortunate Fa- mily of Stuart, which was now totally forgotten in the Englifli Lodges. The Revolution had taken place, and King James, with many of his moll zealous adherents, had taken refuge in France. But they took Free Mafonry with them to the conti- nent, where it was immediately received by the French, and w^as cultivated with great zeal in a manner fuited to the tafte and habits of that highly polifhed people. The Lodges in France naturally became the rendezvous of the^adhe rents to their baniihed King, and the means of carrying on a correfpondence with their friends in En- gland. At this time alfo the Jefuits took a more aftive hand in Free Mafonry than ever. They infmuated themfelves into the Englifh Lodges, where they were carefTcd by the Catholics, who panted after the re efta- bliihment of their faith, and tolerated by the Proteftant royalifts, who thought no concelfion too great a com- penfation for their fervices. At this time changes were made in fome of the mafonic fymbols, particularly in the tracing of the Lodge, which bear evident marks of .Jefuitical interference. It was in the Lodges held at St. Germain's diat the degree of Chevalier Mafon EcoJ'ois was added to the three symbolical degrees of Eiigliih Mafonry. The conftitution, as impoi^ted, appeared too coarfe for the rehned tafte of our nei<^hbours, and they muft make 28 The schisms in Mafonry more like the occupation of a gentleman. Therefore, the Englifh degrees of Apprentice, Fellow- craft, and Mafter, were c?i.\\ed fymbolical, and the whole Fraternity was eonfidered either as typical of fomething more elegant, or as a preparation for it. The degrees afterwards fuperadded to this leave us in doubt which of thefe views the French entertained of our Mafonry. But at all events, this rank of Scotch Knight was called the J? r/2 degree of the Alafon Parfait. There is a device belonging to this Lodge which deferves notice. A lion, wounded by an arrow, and efcaped from the (lake to which he had been bound, with the broken rope ftill about his neck, is reprefented lying at the mouth of a cave, and occupied with mathematical inftruments which are lying near him. A broken crown lies at the foot of the ftake. There can be little doubt but that this em- blem alludes to the dethronement, the captivity, the efcape, and the afylum of James II. and his hopes of re- efiablifhment by the help of the loyal Brethren. This emblem is worn as the cror^et of the Scotch Knidit. It is not very certain, however when this degree was added, whether immediately after King James's Abdication, or about the time of the attempt to fet his fon on the Britifli Throne. But it is certain, that in 1716, this and flill higher degrees of Mafonry were much in vogue in the Court of France. The refining genius of the French, and th^ir love of fliow, made the humble denominations of the Englifh Brethren difgufting ; and their pafTion for military rank, the only character that conneBed them with the Court of an abfolute monarch, made them adapt Free Mafonry to the fame fcale of public eftimation,- and invent ranks of Masons Chevaliers ornamented with titles, and ribbands, and ftars. Thefe were highly re- lidied by that vain people ; and the price of receptioii, which was very high, became a rich fund, that was gene- FREE masonry! ssg roufly applied to relieve the wants ofthe baniflied Biitifii and Irilh adherents of the unfortunate Family who had taken refuge among them. Three new degrees oi Novice, Eleve^ and Chevalier^ were foon added, and the Par- fait Ma^on had now feven receptions to go through, for each of which a handforae contribution was made. Af- terwards, when the firll beneficent purpofe of this con- tribution ceafed to exift, the finery that now glittered in all the Lodges made a (till more craving demand for re- ception-money, and ingenuity was fet to work to invent new baits for the Parfait Ma^on. More degrees of chi- valry were added, interfperfcd with degrees of Philo- fophe^ Pellerin, Clairvoyant, &:c. &:c. till fome Pari- lian Lodges had forty-five ranks of Mafonry, having fif- teen orders of chivalry. For a Knighthood, with a Ribband and a Star, was a bonne bouche, given at every third ftep. For a long while thefe degrees of chivalry proceeded on fome faint analogies with feveral orders of chivalry which had been erefted in Europe. All of thefe had fome reference to fome myftical do6lrines of the Chriftian Church, and were, in faft, contrivances ofthe Church of Rome for fecuringj and extendinsj her influence on the laymen of rank and fortune, whom flie retained in her fervice by thefe play-things. The Knights Templars of Jeruialera, and the Knights ofthe Defert, whofe office it was to protefcl pilgrims, and to defend the holy city^ afforded very apt models for Ma- fonic mimicry, becaufe the Temple of Solomon, and the Holy Sepulchre, always fhared the fame fate. Ma- ny contended do6lrines ofthe theologians had alfb their Clievaliers to defend them. In all this progrefTive mummery we fee much of the hand of the Jefuits, and it would feem that it was encou- raged by the church. But a thing happened which 8© ' THE SCHISMS IN might eafily have been forefeen. The Lodges had be- come familiar with this kind of invention ; the profefled objeftof many real Orders of Knighthood was often very whimfical, or very refmed and far-fetched, and it required all the finefle of the clergy to give it fome flight conne6iion with religion or morality. The Mafons, protected by their fecrecy, ventured to go farther. The declamations in the Lodges by the Brother orator, muft naturally refemble the compofitions of the ancient fo- phifts, and confift of wire-drawn diflertations on tiie fo- cial duties, where every thing is amplified and ftrained to hyperbole, in their far-fetched and fanciful explanations of the fymbols of Mafonry. Thus accuftomed to alle- gory, to fitlion, to fineffe, and to a fort of innocent hy- pocrify, by which they cajoled themfelves into a notioli that this child's-play had at bottom a ferious and impor- tant meaning, the zealous champions of Free Mafonry found no inclination to check this inventive fpirit or circumfcribe its flights. Under the prote6lion of Ma- fonic fecrecy, they planned fchemes of a difi^erent kind, and inilead of more Orders of Chivalry direfted againft the enemies of their faith, they formed aflbciations in oppofition to the ridiculous and oppreflfive ceremonies and fuperfi:itions of the church. There can be no doubt, that in thofe hidden aflemblies, a free communication of fentiment . was highly reliflied and much indulged. It was foon fufpected that fuch ufe was made of the covert of a Mafon Lodge ; and the church dreaded the confe- quences, and endeavored to fupprefs the Lodges. But in vain. And Vv'hen it was found, that even auricular confeflion, and the fpiritual threatnings of the church, could not make the Brethren break their oath of fecre- cy ; a full confidence in their fecurity made thefe free- thinking Brethren bring forward, with all the eagernefs of 31 miflionary, fuch fentiraents as they were afraid to FREE MASONRY. 33L hazard in ordinary fociety. This was long fufpecled ; but the rigours of the church only ferved to knit the Brethren more firmly together, and provoked them to a more eager exercile of their bold criticifms. The Lod-r ges became fchools of fcepticifm and infidelity, and th^ fpirit of converfion or profely tifm grew every day ftron- ger. Cardinal Dubois had before this time labourecj with all his might to corrupt the minds of the courtiers, by patronifmg, dire6lly and indireclly, all fceptics who were otherwife men of talents. He gave the young courtiers to underftand, that if he Ihould obtain the reins of government, they Ihould be. entirely freed froiiji the bigotry of ..Louis XIV. and the oppreflion of th^ church, and Ihould have the free indulgence of their in- clinations. His own plans were difappointed by his death; but the Regent Orleans was equally indulgent, ■and in a few years there was hardly a man in France who pretended to knowledge and reflection, who did not laugh at all religion. Amidil the almoft infinite number cf publications from the French preffes, there is hardly «. dozen to be found whofe author attempts to vindicate religion from the charges of univerfal fuperflition and falfehood. And it muft be acknowledged that little ellc was to be feen in the eftablifhed religion of the kiif^dom. The people found nothing in Chriftianity but a never- ceafing round of infignificant and troublefome ceremo- nies, which confumed their time, and furnillied a fund for fupporting a f6t of lordly and oppreffive dignitaries, who declared in the plainefl manner their own difiDelief of their religion, by their total difregard of common de- cency, by their continual refidence at court, and by ab- folute negleft, and even the mod haughty and oppref- five treatment, of the only part of their order that took any concern about the religious fentiments of the nation, namely, the Cures or parifh-priefts. The monks ap- 32 THE SCHISMS IN peared only as lazy drones ; but die parifii-priefts in- ftru6led the people, vifited the fick, reconciled the of- fender and the oft'ended, and M'ere the great mediators between the landlords and their vafiTals, an office which endeared tliem more to the people than all the other cir- cumRances of their profeflion. And it is remarkable, that in all the licentious writings and bitter fatyrical tales of the philofophic freethinkers, fuch as Voltaire, who never fails to have a taunting hit at the clergy, the Cure is generally an amiable perfonage, a charitable man, a friend to the poor a:tid unfortunate, a peace-maker, and a man of piety and worth. Yet thefe men were kept in a ftate of the mofh flavifli and cruel fubjedion by the higher orders of the clergy, and all hopes of advance- ment cut off. Rarely, hardly ever, does it happen, that a Cure becomes a Bifliop. Tlie Abbes ftep into every line of preferment. When fuch procedure. is ob- ferved by a whole nation, what opinion can be formed but that the whole is a vile cheat ? This however was the cafe in France, and therefore infidelity was almoft univerfal. Nor was this overftrained freedom or licen- tioufnefs confined to religious opinions. It was perhaps inore naturally directed to the reltraints arifing from civil fubonlination. The familiar name of Brother could not but tickle the fancy of thofe of inferior rank, when they found themfelves fet cheek by jowl with perfons whom they cannot approach out of doors but with cautious re- fped ; and while thefe men of rank have their pride lul- led a little, and perhaps their hearts a little foftened by the flang of fentimental declamation on the topic of Bro- therly love and Utopian felicity, the others begin to fancy the happy days arrived, and the light of philan- thropy beaming from the eaii and illuminating the .Lodg^. The Garret Pamphleteer enjoys his fancied au- thority as Senior ^Vardcn, and ccndufts with affection- FREE MASONRY. §3 ate folemnity the young nobleman, who pants for tl^e honor of Mafteriliip, and he praifes the 'trufty Brother who has guarded him in his perilous journies round the room. What topic of declamation can be more agree- able than the equality of the worthy Brethren ? and how naturally will the Brother Orator, in fupport of this fa- vorite topic, Aide into all the common-place pictures of human fociety, freed from all the anxieties attending civil diftin£lion, and palling their days in happy (impli- city and equality. From this ftate of the fancy, it is hardly a ftep to defcant on the propriety, the expedien- cy, and at laft, the juftice of this arrangement of civil fociety ; and in doing this, one cannot avoid taking no- tice of the great obftru6lions to human felicity which w^e fee in every quarter, proceeding from the abufes of thofe diftinftions of rank and fortune which have arifen in the world : and as the mifchiefs and horrors of fuperftition are topics of continual declamation to thofe who wifh to throw off the reftraints of religion ; fo the oppreffion of the rulers of this world, and the fufferings of talents and worth in inferior ftations, will be no lefs greedily liften- ed to by all whofe notions of morality are not very pure, and who would be glad to have the enjoyments of the wealthy without the trouble of labouring for them. Free Mafonry may be affirmed to have a natural ten- dency to foller fuch levelling wifhes ; and we cannot doubt but that great liberties are taken with thofe fub- je8;s in the Lodges, efpecially in countries where the diftinQions of rank and fortune are ftrongly expreffed and noticed. But it is not a matter of mere probability that the Ma- fon Lodges werethe feminaries of thefe libertine inftruc- tions. We have diftind proof pf it, even in forae of the £ 1^ THE SCHISMS IN French degrees. In the degree called the Chevaiilr de Soleil^ the wh^k inftru6lion is aimed againft the efta- blifhed religion of the kingdom. The profeired objetl is the emancipation from error, and the difcovery of truth. The infcription in the eaft is SageJJ^e^ that in the north is Liberie^ that in the fouth is Fermete, and in the Veft it is Caution ; terms which are very fignificant. The Trcs Venerable is Adam ; the Senior Warden '\% Truth, and all the Brethren are Children of Truth* The procefs of reception is very well contrived : the whole ritual is d-eCent and circumfpfe^^ and nothing oc"- turs "which can alarm the molt timid. Brother Truth is aflved, What is the hour ? He informs Father Adam, that among men it is the hour of darknefs, but that it is mid-day in the Lodge. The candidate is afl^ed, Why he has knocked at the door, and what is become of the eight companions (he is one of the ]£lus) ? He fays, that the world is in darknefs, and his companions and he have loft each other ; that RefjKrus, the flar of Europe, is obfcured by clouds of incenfe, offered up by fuperfti- tion to defpots, who have made themfelves gods, and have retired iato the inmoft recefies of their palaces, that they may not be recognifed to be men, while their priefts . are deceiving the people, and cauhng them to worfliip thefe divinities. This and many fimilar fentiments arc evident allufions to the pernicious doftrine of the book called Or/gine dit Defpotifme Oriental, where the religion of all countries is confidered as a there eihgine of ftate ; where it is declared that reafon is the only light which nature has given to man ; and that our anxiety about futurity has made us imagine endlefs torments in a future world ; and that princes, taking advantage of our weak- nefs, have taken the management of our hopes and fears, and direQed them fo as to fuit their ov,?n purpofes ; emancipation from the fear of death is declared the 1-REE MASONRY. S^ greated of all deliverances ; queftions are pot to 'the candidate, tending to dilcover whether and how far he jnay be traded, and what facrihces he is willing to make in i'earch after truth. * This fhape given to the plaftic myflevies of Mafonr-y was much reliihed, and in a very Ihort time thi,s new path was completely explored, and a new feries of de- grees was added to the lift, viz. the Novice, and the Elu .de la Verite, and the Suhlime PhiLofophe. In the pro- grcfs through thefe degrees, the Brethren muft forget that ihey have formerly been Chevaliers de I'Orient, Chevaliers de r Aiglcy when the fymbols were all ex- plained as typical of the Ufv and immortality brought to light by the gofpel. Indeed they are taught to clals this among the other clouds whith have been difpelled by the fun of reafon^ Ila'CIi in the Chevukrie dt /' Aigle there is a two-fold explanation given of the fymbols, by which a lively imagination may conceive the Vs^hole hif- tory and peculiar do^rines of the New Teftainent, as being typical of the final triumph of reafon and philofo- phy over error. And perhaps this degree is the very iiiil ftep in the plan of I l l u m i mat i o n . We are not to fuppofe that this was carried to extre- mity at once. But it is certain, that before 1743 it had become univerfalj and that the Lodges of Free Mafons had become the places fOr making profelytes to every itrange and obnoxious do£lrine.. Theurgy^ Cofmogonyj^ Cabala^ and many v.-himfical and myftical doctrines, which have been grafted on the di ft ingui flung tenets ai>d the pure morality of the |ews and ChriiUans, were fub jetts of frequent dircuffion in the Lodges. The celebr?. ted Chevalier Ram lay v»'as a zealous apoftle in this mif tan. Aifctlionarely attached to the family of Stuait, 3$ THE SCHISMS IN and to his native country, he had co-operated heartily with thofe who endeavoured to employ Mafonry in the fervice of the Pretender, and, availing himfelf of the pre-eminence given (at firft perhaps as a courtly com- pHment) to Scotch Mafonry, he laboured to ftiew that it exifted, and indeed arofe, during the Criifades, and that there really was either an order of chivalry whofe bufinefs it was to rebuild the Chriftian churches deftroy- ed by the Saracens ; or that a fraternity of Scotch Ma- fons were thus employed in the eaft, under the protec-. tion of the Knights of St. John of Jerufatem. He found fome fa8:s which M^ere thought fufficient grounds for fuch an opinion, fuch as the building of the college of thefe Knights in London, called the Temple, which was aftually done by the public Fraternity of Mafons who had been in the holy wars. It is chiefly to him that we are indebted for that rage for Mafonic chivalry which diflinguilhes the French Free Mafonry. Ramfay's An- gular religious opinions are well known, and his no lefs lingular enthufiafm. His eminent learning, his elegant talents, his amiable charafter, and particularly his efli- mation at court, gave great influence to every thing he faid on a fubjeft which was merely a matter of fafliion and amufement. Whoever has attended much to hu- man affairs, knows the eagernefs with which men propa- gate all lingular opinions, and the delight which attends their favorable reception. None arc more zealous than the apoftles of infidelity and atheifm. It is in human nature to catch with greedinefs any opportunity of doing what lies under general reftraint. And if our apprehen- fions are not completely quieted, in a cafe where our wiflies lead us fl;rongly to fome favorite but hazardous objed, we are confcious of a kind of felf-bullying. This naturally gets into our difcourfe, and in our eager- nefs to get the encouragement of joint adventurers, we FREE xMASONRY, 37 enforce our tenets with an energy, and even a violence, that is very inconfiftent with the fubjecl in hand. If I am an Atheift, and my neighbour a Theifl, there is furely nothing that Ihould make me violent in my endeavors to rid him of his error. Yet how violent were the people of this party in France. Thefe fafts and obfervations fully account for the zeal with which all this patch-work addition to the fim- , pie Free Mafonry of England was profecuted in France. It furprifes us, Britons, who areaccuftomed to confi- der the whole as a matter of amufement for young men, who are glad of any pretext for indulging in convivia- lity. We generally confider a man advanced in life with Icfs refpcft, if he (hows any ferious attachment to fuch .things. , But in France, the civil and religious reftraints on converfation made thefe fecret aflemblies very pre- cious ; and they were much frequented by men of let- ters, who there found an opportunity of exprelling in • fafety their diffatisfaftion with thofe reftraints, and with that inferiority of rank and condition to which they were fubjetled, and which appeared to themfelves fo inade- quate to their own talents and merits. The Avocats de Parlement, -the unbeneficed Abbes, the young men of no fortune, and the Joi-dijant philofophers, formed a numerous band, frequented the Lodges, and there dif- . culled every topic of religion and politics. Specimens of this occupation appeared from time to time in Collec- tions of Difcourfes delivered by the Frere Oratcur. I once had in my polleffion two volumes of thefe difcour- fes, which I now regret that I left in a Lodge on the continent, when my relifli for Free Mafonry had forfa- ken me. Or.e of thefe is adiicourfe by Brother Robi- net,. delivered in the. Lo^e; des Chevaliers Bienfaifants de la Sainic Cite at Lyons, at a vii'iiation bv the Gri.nd ^JS THE SCHISxMS INT Mafler the Due de Charires, afterwards Orleans and £"-. galite. In this difcourfe we have the germ and fiibuance of his noted work, the Syjlcme de la Nature, ou V Homme 'moral et phyfique. In another difcourfe, delivered by Brother Condorcet in the Loge des Ehilalethes at Straf- bourg, we have the outhnes of his poflhumous work, Le Progres de rEfprit humahi ; and in another, deh- Vered by Mirabeau in the Loge des Chevaliers Bienfai-^ Jants at Paris, we have a great deal of the levelling prin- ciples, and cofmopolitifm,"^ which he thundered from the tribunes of the National Afiembly. But the molt remarkable performances of this kind are, the Archives MyJlico-Hermetiques,2i.n6. the Des Erreurs, et de la VeritL The firft is confidered as an account hiftorical and dog- matical, of the procedure and fyftcm of the Loge des Chevaliers Bienfaifants at Lyons. This was the mod zealous and fyftematical of all the cofmopolitical Lod- ges in France. It worked long under the pati'onage of its Grand Mailer the Due de Chartres, afterwards Or- leans, and at lad Ph. Egalite. It fent out many affili- ated Lodges, which were erefted in various parts of the French dominions. The daughter Lodges at Paris,, Strafbourg, Lille, Thouloufe, took the additional title of Philalethei'. There arofe fome fchifms, as may he expefted, in an AiTociation where every man is encou- raged to broach and to propagate any the moft fingular opinion. Thele fchifms were continued with fome heat, but were in a great meafure repaired in Lodges which took the name o^ Amis reunis de la VeritL One of this denomination at Paris became very eminent. The mother Lodge at Lyons extended its correfpondence into Ger- inany, and other foreign countries, and fent conflitutions * Citi/enniip of the World, from the Greek words Cofm&St. «-orld, and Po/h, a citY. FREE MASONRY. S9 or fyflems, by which the Lodges condu8.ed their ope- rations. I have not been able to trace the fteps by which this Lodge acquired fuch an afcendency ; but I fee, that in 1769 and 1770, all the refined or philofophical Lodge* in Alface and Lorraine united, and in a convention at Lyons, formally put thernfelves under the patronage of this Lodge, cultivated a continual correfpondence, and confidered thernfelves as profeffmg one Mafonic Faith, fufficiently diftinguifhable from that of other Lodges. What this was we do not very diftinftly know. We can only infer it from fome hiltorical circumftances. One of its favorite daughters, the Lodge Theador von der guten Rath, at Munich, became fo remarkable ft>r difcourfes dangerous to church and ftate, that the Elec- tor of Bavaria, after repeated admonitions during a courfe of five or fix years, was obliged to fupprefs it in 1786. Another of its fuffragan Lodges at Regenfburgli became exceedingly obnoxious to the ftate, and occafi- oned fcveral commotions and infurreftions. Another, at Paris, gradually refined into the Jacobin club — And in the year 1791, the Lodges in Alface and Lorraine, with thofe of Spire and Worms, invited Cuftine into Germany, and delivered Mentz into his hands. When werefled on thefe hiftorical faBs, we get fomc 4<.ey to the better underftanding of the two performances which I mentioned as defcriptive of the opinions and occupations of this fed of Free Mafons. The Ar- chives Myjlico-Hermetiqncs exhibit a very ftrange mix- ture of Myfticifm, Theofophy, Cabaliftic whim, real Science, Fanaticifm, and Freethinking, both in religion and politics. They muft not be confidered as an account of any fettled fyft-emj but rather as annals pf the pro- 40 THE SCHISMS IN ceedings of the Lodge, and abftra6ls of die ftrang6 dottrines which made their fucceflive appearance in the Lodge. But if an intelligent and cautious reader examine them attentively, he will fee, that the book is the w^ork of one hand, and that all the wonders and oddities are caricatured, fo as to engrofs the general attention, while they alfo are twifted a litde, fo that in one way or another they accord with a general fpirit of licentioufnefs in morals, religion, and politics. Al- though every thing is expreifed decently, and with fome caution and moderation, atheifm, materialifm, and dif- content with civil fubordination, pervade the whole. It is a work of great art. By keeping the ridicule and the danger of fuperftitionand ignorance continually in view, the mind is captivated by the relief which free enquiry and communication of fentiment feems to fecure, and we are put oft our guard againft the rifk of delufion, to which we are expofed when our judgment is warped by our pafiions. The other book, " Des Erreurs et de la Verite," came from the fame fchool, and is a fort of holy fcripture, or at leaft a Talmud among the Free Mafons of France. It is intended only for the initiated, and is indeed a myf- tery to any other reader. But as it was intended for fpreading the favorite opinions of fome enthufiaftic Brethren, every thing is faid that does notdireflly be'tray the fecrets of the Order. It contains a fyftem of The- ofophy that has often appeared in the writings of philo- fophers, both in ancient and modern times. " All the intelligence and moral fentiment that appears in the uni- verfe, either direftly, as in the minds of men, or indireft- ly, as an inference from the marks of defign that we fee around us, fome of which fhow us that men have afted, and many more that fome other intelligence has adedj FREE MASONRY. 4i are conGdcred as parts or portions of a general mafs of intelligence which exifls in the univerfe, in the fame manner as matter exifls in it. This intelligence has an infcrutable connexion with the material part of the uni^ verfe, perhaps refembling the connexion, equally un- fearchable, that fubfifts between the mind and body of man ; and it may be confidered as the Soid of the World. It is this fubftance, the natural object of wonder and ref- pe6:, that men have called God, and have made the ob- jed of religious worfbip. In doing fo they have fallen into grofs miftakes, and have created for themfelves numberlefs unfounded hopes and fears, which have been . the fource of fuperftition and fanaticifm, the moft de- ftru6live plagues that have ever afllifted the human race. The Soul of Man is fcparated from the general mafs of intelligence by fome of the operations of nature, which we fliall never underftand, juft as water is raifed from the ground by evaporation, or taken up by the root of a plant. And as the water, after an unfearchable train of changes, in which it fometimes makes part of a flower, fometimes part of an animal, &c. is at laft reunited, in its original form, to the great mafs of wa- ters, ready to run over the fame circle again ; fo tlie Soul of Man, after performing its office, and exhibit- ing all that train of intelleftual phenomena that we call human life, is at laft fwallowed up in the great occaji of intelligence." The author then breaks out " Felix qui potuit rerum cognofcere caufas, Atque metus omr.es et inexorabile fatum Subjecit pedibus, ftrepitumque Aclierontrs avari.'* For he has now got to his afylum. This deity of his may be the objeft of wonder, like every thing great and incomprehcnfible, but not of worftiip. as the iporal F aH the schisms i>r Governor of the univerfe. The hopes are at an end, which reft on our notions of the immortahiy and indivi- duality of the hurhati foul, and on the encouragemenfe' ■\vhich religion holds forth to believe, that improvement of the mind in the courfe of this life, by the exercife of ■Wifdom and of virtuous difpofitions, is but the beginning of an endlefs progrefs in all that can give delight to the ratidnal and well-difpofed mind. No relation now fub- fifts between man and Deity that can Warm the heart. But, as this is contrary to fome natural propenfity in the human mind, which in all ages and nations has panted after fome connexion with Deity, the author ftrives to avail himfelf of fome cold principles of fymmetry in the "Works of nature, fome ill-fupported notions of propri- ety, and other fuch conhderations, to make this anima TkuTidi an objeft of love and refpeft. This is done in greater detail in another work. Tableau des rapports en- fre r Homme, Dieu, et rUnivers, which is undoubtedly by the fame hand. But the intelligent reader will rea- dily fee, that fuch incongruous things canhot be recon- ciled, and that we can expert nothing here but fophiftry. The author proceeds, in the next place, to confider man as related to man, and to trace out the path to hap- pinefs in this life. H^re we haVe the fame overftrained morality as in the other work, thd fafne univerfal bene- volence, the fame lamentations oVcr the miferable ftate of mankind, refulting fronfi the opprefiTion of the power- ful, the great ones of the earth, who have combined againfl; the happinefs of mankind, and have fucceeded, by debafing their minds, fo that they have become wil- ling flaves. This could not have been brought about without the affiftance of fuperftition. But the princes of this world enlilled into their fervice the pricfts, who exerted themfelves in darkening the imderltandings of men, and filled their minds with religious terrors. The FREE MASONRY. 43. altar became the chief pillar of the thrQne, and men were held in complete fubje6lion. Nothing can recover them from this abjeftftate but knowledge. While this difpels their fears, it will alfo fliow them their rights, and the way to attain them. It deferves particularly to be remarked, that this fyf- tem of opinions (if fuch an inconfiftent mafs of affertions can be called a fydem) bears a great refemblance to a performance of Toland's, publiflied in 1720, called Pantheijiicon, feu ^Celcbratio Sodalitii Socratici. It is an account of the principles of a Fraternity which he calls Socratica, and the Brothers Pantheiftae. They are fuppofed to hold a Lodge, and the author gives a ritual of the procedure in this Lodge ; the ceremonies of open- ing and (hutting of the Lodge, the admiflion of Mem- bers into its different degrees, Sec. Reafon is the Sun that illuminates the whole, and Liberty and Equality are the objcfts of their occupations. Wc fliall fee afterwards that this book was fondly pufii- ed into Germany, tranflated, commented, and mifre- prefented, fo as to take off the attention from the real fpirit of the book, which is intentionally wrapped up in cabala and enigma. Mirabeau was at much pains to procure it notice ; and it mufl therefore be confidered as a treafure of the cofmo-political opinions of the Affo- ciation of Chevaliers Bienfai/anti, FhilaUihes^ and Amis Reunis, who were called the im.proved Lodges, work- ing under the D. de Chartres — of thele there were 266 in 1784. This will be found a very important remark. Let it alfo be recolletled afterwards, that this Lodge of Lyons fent a deputy to a grand Convention in Germ.a- ny in 1772, viz. Mr. WiUeniiooz, and that the bulinei's 44, THE SCHISMS IN ■was thought of fuch importanccj that he remained there two years. The book Des Erreurs et de la Verite^ muft therefore be confidered as a claffical book of thefe opinions. We know that it originated in the Logc des Chev. Bien/aifants at Lyons. We know that this Lodge ftood as it were at the head of French Free Mafonry, and that the fi6ti- tious Order of Mafonic Knights Templars was formed in this Lodge, and was confidered as the model of all the reft of this mimic chivalry. They proceeded fo far in this mummery, as even to have the clerical tonfure. The Duke of Orleans, his fon, the Elector of Bavaria, and fome other German Princes, did not fcruple at this mummery in their own perfons. In all the Lodges of reception, the Brother Orator never failed to declaim on the topics of fuperftition, blind to the exhibition he was then making, or indifferent as to the vile hypocrify of it. We have, in the lifts of Orators and Office- bearers, many names of perfons, who have had an op- portunity at laft of proclaiming their fentiments in pub- lic. The Abbe Sieyes was of the Lodge of Philalethes at Paris, and alfo at Lyons. Lequinio, author of the moft profligate book that ever difgraced a prefs, the Prcjuges vaincus par la Ra?fo?if was warden in the Lodge Compatie So dale. Defpremenil, Bailly, Fau- chet, Maury, Mounier, were of the fame fyftem, though in different Lodges. They were called Martinifts. from a St. Martin, who formed a fchifm in the fyftem of the Chevaliers Bienfaijants^ of which we ha\e not any very precife account. Mercier gives fome account of it in his Tableau de Paris, and in his Annee 1888. The breach alarmed the Brethren, and occa honed great heats. But it was healed, and the Fraternity took the name of Mifa du Renis; which is an anagram of des Arv^is Rrdnis, FREE MASOJviRY. 4'5 The Bifiiop of Autun, the man fo bepraifed as the be- nevolent Citizen of the World, the friend of mankind and of good order, was Senior Warden of another Lodge at Paris, eftablifhed in 1786 (I think chiefly by Or- leans and himfelf) which afterwards became the Jacobin Club. In fhort, we may affert with confidence, that the Mafon Lodges in France were the hot-beds, where the feeds were foon, and tenderly reared, of all the per- nicious do6lrines which foon after choaked every moral or religious cultivation, and have made the Society worfe than a wafte, have made it a noifome marfli of hu- man corruption, filled with every rank and poifonous weed. Thefe Lodges were frequented by perfons of all ranks, and of every profeffion. The idle and the frivo- lous found amufement, and glittering things to tickle their fatiated fancies. There they became the dupes of the declamations of the crafty and licentious Abbes, and writers of every denomination. Mutual encouragement in the indulgence of hazardous thoughts and opinions which flatter our wilhes or propenfities is a lure which few minds can refift. I believe that moft men have felt this in fome period of their lives. I can find no other way of accounting for the company that I have fome- times feen in a Mafon Lodge. The Lodge de la Pdr- Jaite Intelligence 2ii Liege, contained, in December 1770, the Prince Bifliop, and the greatell part of his Chapter, and all the Office-bearers were dignitaries of the church ; yet a difcourfe given by the Brother Orato^r was as poig- nant a fatire on fuperftition and credulity, as if it had been written by Voltaire. It was under the aufpices of this Lodge that the colleftion of difcourfes, which I ineniioned above, was publiflied, and there is no fault found with Brother Robinet, nor Brother Condorcet. ,46 THE SCHISMS IX Indeed the Trefonciers of Liege were proverbial even Jn Brabant, for their Epicurifm in the moft extenfive fenfe of the word. Thus. was corruption fpread over^the kingdom under J the mafk of moral inftru6lion. For thefe difcourfes were .full of the moft refined and ftrained morality, and florid _ paintings of Utopian felicity, in a ftate where all are Brothers and citizens of the world. But alas ! thefe wire-drawn principles feem to have had little influenc^e on the hearts, even of thofe who could beft difplay their beauties. Read the tragedies of Voltaire, and fome of his grave performances in profe — What man is there who feems better to know his Mafter's will ? No man rcxpreffes with more propriety, with more exa6inefs, the feelings of a good mind. Nc man feems more fenfibJe of the immutable obligation of jullice and of truth. Yet this man, in his tranfa6lions with his book-fellers, with : the very men to whom he was immediately indebted for . his affluence and his fame, was repeatedly, nay, incef- fantly, guilty of the meaneft, the vileft tricks. When he fold a work for an enormous price to one book-feller , (even to Cramer, whom he really refpefted) he took cajre . that a furreptitious edition fliould appear in Holland, al- jnoft at the fame moment. Proof-flieets have been tra- ced from Fcrney to Amfterdam. When a friend pf Cramer's expoftulated with Voltaire on the injuftice of this conduB, he faid, grinning. Oh le bon Cramer — eh hien — il 7i'a que d'etre du parti — he may take a fliare — he will not give me a livre the lefs for the firft piece I offer him. Where fliall we fee more tendernefs, more honor, more love of every thing that is good and fair, than in Diderot's Pere dc Familk. — Yet this man did not fcruple to fell to the Emprefs of Ruflia an immenfe library, which he did notpoflefs. for an enormous pnce. FREE MASONRY. i^ having got her promife that it fiiould remain in his pof- feffion in Paris during his life. When her ambafiador wanted to fee it, after a year or two's payments, and the vifitation could be no longer ftaved off, Diderot was- obliged to fet off in a hurry, and run through all the- book-fellers fhops in Germany, to help him to fill his' empty fhelves. He had the good fortune to fave ap> pearances — but the trick took air, becaufe he had been' niggardly in his attention to the ambaffador's fecretary. This, however, did not hinder him from honoring his imperial pupil with a vifit. He expeded adoration, as the light of the world, and was indeed received by the Ruffian courtiers with all the childifli fondnefs that they feel for every Parifian mode. But they did not under- ftand him, and as he did not like to lofe money at play, they did not long court his company. He found his pupil too clearlighted. Ces philofophes, faid fhe, yb«/ bcaitx^ vus de loin ; mats de plus pres^ le diartiant parait tryjldl. He had contrived a poor ftory, by which he hoped to get his daughter married in parade, and porti- oned by her Majefly — but it was feen through, and h^l was difapfointed. When we fee the inefficacy of this refined humanity on thefe two apoflles of philofophical virtue, we fee ground for doubting of the propriety arid expediency of iruflirig entirely to it for the peace and happinefs of a ftate, and we fhould be on our guard when we liflcn to the florid fpeeches of the Brother Orator, and his con- gratulations on the emancipation from fuperftition and bppreffion, which will in a fhort time be effe6luated by Yhe Chevaliers Bienjaifanti, the Philahthes, ox ^.ny oiht'v (eel of cofmo-political Brethren. ' 48 THE SCHISMS IN 1 do not mean by all this to maintain, that the Mafon Lodges vere the Ible corrupters of the public mind in France. — No. — In all nations that have made much . progrefs in cultivation, there is a great tendency to cor- - ruption, and it requires all the vigilance and exertions of magiftrates, and of moral inftru6lors, to prevent the • fpreading of licentious principles and maxims of con- du6l. They arife naturally of themfelves, as weeds in a rich foil ; and, like weeds, they are pernicious, only becaufe they are, where they fhould not be, in a culti- vated field. Virtue is the cultivation of the human foul, and not the mere pofTcffion of good difpofitions ; all men have thefe, and occafionly exhibit them. But virtue fuppofes exertion ; and, as the hufbandman muft be incited to his laborious taflv by fome cogent motive, fo muft man be prompted to that exertion which is ne- ceflary on the part of every individual for the very ex- iflence of a great fociety : For man is indolent, and he is luxurious; he wiflies for enjoyment, and this with little trouble. The lefs fortunate envy the enjoyments of others, and repine at their own inability to obtain the like. They fee the idle in affluence. Few, even of good men, have the candour, nay, I may call it the wifdom, to think on the a6livity and the labour which had procured thefe comforts to the rich, or to their an- ceftors ; and to believe that they are idle only becaufe they are wealthy, but would be a6live if they were nee- dy. Such fpontaneous refle8.ions cannot be expelled in perfons who are engaged in unceafmg labour, to pro- cure a very moderate fhare (in their eftimation at leaftj of the comforts of lif6. Yet fuch reflexions w^ould, in the main, bejuft, and farely they would greatjy tend to quiet the miuds of the unfuccefsfuU FREE MASONRY. ^ This excellent purpofe may be greatly forwarded by a national eftablilhment for moral inftrii6tion and admo- nition ; and if the public inftru8;ors fliould add all the motives to virtuous moderation which are fuggefted by the confiderations of genuine religion, every advice would have a tenfold influence. Religious and moral inftruclions are therefore, in their own nature, unequi- vocal fupports to that moderate exertion of the authority ariiing from civil fubordination, which the mod refined philanthropift or cofmopolite acknowledges to be necef- fary for the very exiftence of a great and cultivated fo- ciety. I have never feen a fcheme of Utopian happinefs that did not contain fome fyftem of education, and I cannot conceive any fyftem of education of which mo- ral inftruftion is not a principal part. Such eftablifh- ments are di6lates of nature, and obtrude themfelves on the mind of every perfon who begins to form plans of civil union. And in all exifting focieties they have in- deed been formed, and are confidered as the greateft corrector and foother of thofe difcontents that are una- voidable in the minds of the unfuccefsful and the unfor- tunate. The magiftrate, therefore^ whofe profeffional habits lead him frequently to exert himfelf for the main- tenance of public peace, cannot but fee the advantages of fuch ftatcd remembrancers of our duty. He will therefore fupport and cherifti this public eftablifhment, which fo evidently affifts him in his beneficent and im- portant labours. Bat all the evils of fociety do not fpring from the dif- contents and the vices of the poor. The rich come in for a large and a confpicuous fliare. They frequently abufe their advantages. Pride and haughty behaviour ©ii their part rankle in the breaftsj and affed the tempers G *^ THE SCHISMS IN of their inferiors, already fretted by the hardfhips of their own condition. The rich alfo are luxurious ; and ar;e often needy. Grafpin^ at every mean of gratification, they are inattentive to the rights of inferiors whom thev .defpife, and, defpifing, opprefs. Perhaps their own fu- periority has been acquired by injuftice. .Perhaps mod fovereignties have been acquired by oppreffion. Prin- ces and Rulers are but men ; as fuch, they abufe many of their greateft bleffings. Obferving that religions hopes make the good refigned under the, hardfhips of the prefent fcene, and that its terrors frequently reftrain the bad ; they avail themfelves of thefe obfervations, and fupport religion as an engine of ftate, and a mean of their own fecurity. But they are not contented with its real advantages ; and they are much more afraid of the refentment and the crimes of the offended profligate, than of the murmurs of the fuffering worthy. There- fore they encourage fuperftition, and call to their aid the vices of the priellhood. The priefts are men of like palTions as other men, and it is no ground of peculiar blame that they alfo frequently yield to the temptations of their fituation. They are encouraged tp the indul- gence of the love of influence natural to all men, arid they heap terror upon terror, to fubdue the minds of men, and darken their underftandings. Thus, the moft honorable of all employments, the moral iriftruBion of the ftate, is degraded to a vile trade, and is praclifed with all the deceit and rapacity of any other trade ; and religion, from being the honor and the fafeguard of a nation, becomes its greateft difgrace and curfe. When a nation has fallen into this lamentable ftate, it is extremely difticult to reform. Although nothing would fo immediately and fo completely remove ^11 ground of complaint^ as the re-eftabJiihing private vir- FR£E masonry. J'i t^c, this is of all others the leaft likely to be adopted. The really worthy, who fee the mifchief where it really is, but who view this life as the fchool of improvement, and know that man is to be made perfeft through fuf- fering, are the lad perfons to complain. The worthlefs are the mod difcontented, the moft noify in their com- plaints, and the leaft fcrupulous about the means of re- drefs. Not to improve the nation, but to advance them- felves, they turn the attention to the abufes of power and influence. And they begin their attack where they think the place moft defencelefs, and where perhaps they expeft aftiftance from a difcontented garrifon. They attack fuperftition, and are not at all folicitous that true „ religion fhall not fuffer along with it. It is not, per- haps, with any direO: intention to ruin the ftate, but merely to obtain indulgence for themfelves, and the co- operation of the wealthy. They expeft to be liftened to by many who wifti for the fame indulgence ; and thus it is that religious free-thinking is generally the firft ftep of anarchy and revolution. For in a corrupted ftate, perfons of all ranks have the fame licentious wifhes, and if fuperftitious fear be really an ingredient of the human mind, it requires fome firuggle to fhake it off. No- thing is fo effeftual as mutual encouragement, and therefore all join againft prieftcraft ; even the rulers forget their intereft, which fhould lead them to fupport it. In fuch a ftate, the pure morality of true religioa vanifties from the fight. There is commonly no re- mains of it in the religion of the nation, and therefore all goes together. Perhaps there never was a nation where all thofe co- operating caufes had acquired greater ftrength than in France. Oppreflions of all kinds were at a height. The luxuries of life were enjoyed exclufively by the 'Q% THE SCHISMS IN upper clafles, and this in the higheft degree of reline- ment ; fo that the defires of the reft were whetted to the utmoft. Religion appeared in its worft form, and feem- ed calculated folely for procuring eftablifhments for the younger fons of the infolent and ufelefs nobleffe. The morals of the higher orders of the clergy and of the laity were equally corrupted. Thoufands of literary men were excluded by their ftation from all hopes of advance- ment to the more refpeftable offices in the church. Thefe vented their difcontents as far as there was fafety, and were encouraged by many of the upper claffes, who joined them in their fatires on the priefthood. The clergy oppofed them, it is true, hut feebly, becaufe they could not fupport their oppoi;tion by examples of their own virtuous behaviour, but were always obliged to have recourfe to the power of the church, the very objeft of hatred and difguft. . The whole nation became infidel, and when in a few inftances a worthy Cure ut- tered the fmall ftill voice of true religion, it was not heard amidft the general noife of fatire and reproach. The mifconduftof adminiftration, and the abufe of the public treafures, were every day growing more impu- dent and glaring, and expofed the government to con- tinual Criticifm. But it was ftill too powerful to fuffer this to proceed to extremities ; while therefore infidelity and loofe fentiments of morality pafted unpunifhed, it "was ftill very hazardous to publifti any thing againft the ilate. It was in this refpect chiefly, that the Mafon Lodges contributed to the diftemination of dangerous opinions, and they were employed for this purpofe all over the kingdom. This is not an afiertion hazarded merely on account of its probability. Abundant proof ■will appear by and by, that the moft turbulent charac- ters in the nation frequented the Lodges. We cannot doubt, but that under this covert they indulged ihdr FREE MA-SONRY: 55 fa6lious ■difpondons ; nay, we fhall find the greateft part of" the Lodges of France, converted, in the courfe of a very few weeks, into correfponding political focieties. But it is now time to turn our eyes to. the progrefs of Free Mafonry in Germany and the north of Europe ; there it took a more ferious turn. Free Mafonry was imported into Germany fomewhat later than into France. The firft German Lodge that we have any account of, is that at Cologne, erected in 1716, but very foon fup* prefled. Before the year 1725 there were many, both, in Proteftant and Catholic Germany. Thofe of Wetz- iar, Frankfort on the Mayne, Brunfwick, and Ham- burg, are the oldeft, and their priority is doubtful. All of them received their inflitution from England, and had patents from a mother Lodge in London. All ieem to have got the myllery through the fame channel, the banifhed friends of the Stuart family. Many of thefe were Catholics, and entered into the fervice of Auilria and the Catholic princes. The true hofpitality, that is no where more confpi- cuous than in the character of the Germans, made this inflitution a moft agreeable and ufeful paifport to thefe gentlemen ; and as many of them were in military (la- tions, and in garrifon, they found it a very eafy matter to fetup J^odges in all parts of Germany. Thefe af- forded a very agreeable paftime to the officers, who had little to occupy them, and were already accuilorned to a fubordination which did not affetl their vanity on ac- count of family cliftinftions. As the Eniign and thp General were equally gentleuKn, the allegory or play of univerfal Brotherhood was neither novel nor diigulting. Free Mafonry was then of the fimpleit form, conlilling of the three degrees of Apprentice, Fellow-cralt, and 54 THE SCHISMS IH MaPter. It is remarkable, that the Germans had been long accuftomed to the word, the fign, and the gripe of the Mafons, and fome other handicraft trades. In ma- ny parts of Germany there was a diftinftion of opera- tive Mafons into Wort-Maurers and Schrift-Maurers, The Wort-Maurers had no other proof to give of theii: having been regularly brought up to the trade of build- ers, but the word and figns ; the Schrift-Maurers had written indentures to fhew. There are extant and in force, borough-laws, enjoining the Maftersof Mafons to give employment to journeymen who had the proper words and fign. In particular it appears, that fome ci- ties had more extenlive privileges in this rcfpetl than others. The word given at Wetzlar, the feat of the great council of revifion for the empire, entitled the pof- felfor to work over the whole empire. We may infer from the proceffes and decifions in fome of thofe muni- cipal courts, that a mafter gave a word and token for each year's progrefs of his apprentice. He gave the ■word of the incorporated Imperial city or borough on which he depended, and alfo a v/ord peculiar to himfelf, by which all his own pupils could recognife each other. This mode of recognifance was probably the only docu- ment of education in old times, while writing was con- fined to a very fmall part of the community. When we refled on the nature of the German empire, a confe- deration of fmall independent dates, we fee that this profeffion cannot keep pace with the other mechanic arts, unlefs its pra£litioners arc inveited with greater privile- ges than others. Their great works exceed the ftrength of the immediate neighbourhood, and the workmen muft be brought together from a diftance. Their affo- ciation muft therefore be more cared for by the public. FREE MASONRY. 55 When Englifh Free Mafonry was carried into Ger- many, it was hofpitably received. It required little ef- fort to give it refpeftability, and to make it the occupa- tion of a gentleman, and its fecrets and myfteries were not fuch novelties as in France. It fpread rapidly, and the fimple topic of Brotherly love was fufficient for re- commending it to the honeft and hofpitable Germans. But it foon took a very different turn. The German charafter is the very oppofite of frivolity. It tends to ferioufnefs, and requires ferious occupation. The Ger- mans are eminent for their turn for inveftigation ; and perhaps they indulge this to excefs. We call them plodding and dull, becaufe we have little relifh for en- quiry for its own fake. But this is furely the occupa- tion of a rational nature, and defcrves any name butftu- pidity. At the fame time it mull be acknowledged, that the fpirit of enquiry requires regulation as much as any propenfity of the human mind. But it appears that the Germans are not nice in their choice of their objeds ; it appears that iingularity, and wonder, and difficulty of refearch, are to them irrefiftible recommendations and incitements. They haive always exhibited a ftrong hank- ering after every thing that is wonderful, or folemn, or terrible ; and in fpite of the great progrefs which men have made in the courie of thefe two laft centuries, in the knowledge of nature, a progrefs too in which we Ihould be very unjull if we did not acknowledge that the Germans have been generally in the foremoft ranks, the grofs abfurdities of magic, exorcifm, witchcraft, for- tune-telling, tranfmutation of metals, and univerfal me- dicine, have always had their zealous partizans, who have liftened with greedy ears to the nonfenfe and jargon of fanatics and cheats ; and though they every day faw examples of many who had been ruined or ren- deied ridiculous by their credulity, every new pietender 56' THE SCHISMS IN" to fecrets found numbers ready to liften to him, and to run over the fame courfe. Free MafonryjprofeffingmyfterieSjinftantly roufedall thefe people, and the Lodges appeared to the adventurers V'ho wanted to profit by the enthufiafm or the avarice of -their dupes, the fitteft places in the world for the fcene of their operations. The Rofycrucians were the firft who availed themfelves of the opportunity. This was not the Society which had appeared formerly under that name, and was now extinft ; but a fet of Alchymifts, pre- tenders to the tranfmutation of metals and the univerfal medicine, who, the better to inveigle their votaries, had mixed with their own tricks a good deal of the abfurd fupcrftitions of that fetl, in order to give a greater air of my fiery to the whole, to protract the time of inftrutiion, and to afford more room for evqfions, by making fo ma- ny difficult conditions neceffary for perfefting the grand work, that the unfortunate gull, W'ho had thrown away his time and his money, might believe diat the failure was owing to his own incapacity or unfitnefs for being the pofTelTor of the grand fecret. Thefe cheats found it convenient to make iMafonry one of their conditions, and by a fmall degree of art, perfuaded their pupils that they were the only true Mafons. Thefe Rofycrucian Lodges w^ere foon eflabliflred, and becam.e numerous, becaufe their myfteries were addreffed, both to the cu- riofity, the fenfuality, and the avarice of men. They became a veiy formidable band, adopting the conftitu- tion of the Jefuits, dividing the Fraternity into circles, each under the management of its own fuperior, known to the prefident, but unknown to the individuals of the Lodges. Thefe fuperiors were conne8:ed with each other in a w^ay known only to themfelves, and the whole vas under one General. At lead this is the account FREE MASONRY. 57 v.'hich they wifli to be believed. If it be juft, nothing but the abfurdity of the oftenfible motives of their occu- pations could have prevented this combination from carrying on fchemes big with hazard to the peace of the world. But the Rofycrucian Lodges have always been confidered by other Free Mafons as bad Societies, and as grofs fchifmatics. This did not hinder, however, their alchemical and medical fecrets from being frequently introduced into the Lodges of fimple Free Mafonry ; and in like manner, exorcifm, or ghoft-raifing, magic, and other grofs fuperftitions, were often held out in their meetings as attainable myfteries, which would be immenfe acquifitions to the Fraternity, without any ne- cefTity of admitting along with them the religious deliri- ums of the Rofycrucians. In 1743, a Baron Hunde, a gentleman of honorable chara6ler and independent fortune, was in Paris, and got acquainted with the Earl of Kilmarnock and fome other gentlemen who were about the Pretender, and learned from them that they had fome wonderful fecrets in their Lodges. He was admitted, through the medium of that nobleman, and of a Lord Clifford, and his Ma- fonic patent was figned George (faid to be the fignature of Kilmarnock). Hunde had attached himfelf to the fortunes of the Pretender, in hopes (as he fays himfelf) of rifmg in the world under his prote61ion. The migh- ty fecret was this. " When the Order of Knights Tem- plars was aboliflied by Philip the Fair, and cruelly per- fecutcd, fome worthy perfons efcaped, and took refuge . in the Highlands of Scotland, where they concealed . themfelves in caves. Thefe perfons poflefTed the true fecrets of Mafonry, which had always been in that Or- . der, having been acquired by the Knights, during their . , H 58- THE SCHISMS IN fervices in the Eaft, from the pilgrims whom they occa- fionally prote6led or delivered. The Chevaliers de la Rofe-Croix continued to have the fame duties as for- merly, though robbed of their emoluments. In fine, every true Mafon is a Knight Templar." It is very true that a clever fancy can accommodate the ritual of reception of the Chevalier de /' Epee, Sec. to fomething like the inftitution of the Knights Templars, and per- haps this explanation of young Zerobabel's pilgrimage, and of the rebuilding of the Temple by Ezra, is the moft fignificant explanation that has been given of the meagre fymbols of Free Mafonry. When Baron Hunde returned to Germany, he exhi- bited to fome friends his extenfive powers for propagat- ing this fyftem of Mafonry, and made a few Knights. But he was not very aftive. Probably the failure of the Pretender s attempt to recover the throne of his anceftors had put an end to Hunde's hopes of making a figure. In the mean time Free Mafonry was cultivated with zeal in Germany, and many adventurers found their ad- vantage in fupporting particular fchifms. But in 1756, or 1757, a complete revolution took place. The French officers who were prifoners at large in Berlin, undertook, with the aifurance' peculiar to their nation, to inftru6l the fimple Germans in every thing that embellifhes fociety. They faid, that the homefpun Free Mafonry, which had been imported from England, was fit only for the unpolifhed minds of the Britifii ; but that in France it had grown into an elegant fyftem, fit for the profeffion of Gendemen. Nay, they faid, that the Engliili were ignorant of true Mafonry, and poffefied nothing but the introdudion to it ; and even this was not underftood by them. When FREE MASONRY. 59 the ribbands and ftars, widi which the French had orna- mented the Order, were fhown to the Gernjans, they could not refift the enchantment. A Mr. Rofa, a French commifTary, brought from Paris a complete waggonr load of Mafonic ornaments, which were all diftributed before it had reached Berlin, and he was obliged to or- der another, to furniili the Lodges of that city. It be.- came for a while a mod profitable bufmefs to many French officers and commifiaries difperfed over Germa- ny, having nothing elfe to do. Fvery body gaped for inftruclion, and thefe kind teachers were always ready to beftow it. In half a year Free Mafonry underwent a complete revolution all over Germany, and Cheva- liers multiplied without number. The Rofaic fyftem was a gofpel to the Mafons, and the poor Britifh fyf- tem was defpifed. But the new Lodges of Berlin, as they had been the teachers of the whole empire, want- ed alfo to be the governors, and infilled on complete fubjeftion from all the others. This ftartled the Free Mafons at a diftance, and awaked them from their gol- den dreams. Now began a ftruggle for dominion and for independency. This made the old Lodges think a little about the whole affair. The refult of this was a coun- ter revolution. Though no man could pretend diat he underftood the true meaning of Free Mafonry, its ori- gin, its hiftory, or its real aim, all faw that the interpre- tations of their hieroglyphics, and the rituals of the new degrees imported from France, were quite gratuitous. It appeared, therefore, that the fafeft thing for them was an appeal to the birth-place of Mafonry. They fent to London for inftruclions. There they learned, that nodiing was acknowledged for genuine unibphifti- cated Mafonry but the three degrees ; and that the mo- ther Lodge of London alone could, by her inllruclions, prevent the moll dangerous fcihifjii^ and mnovations. 1^0 THE SCHISMS IN Many Lodges, therefore, applied for patents and in- ftru6lions. Patents were eadly made out, and molt willingly fent to the zealous Brethren ; and thefe were thankfully received and paid for. But inftru6lion was not fo eafy a matter. At that time we had nothing but the book of conftitutions, drawn up about 1720, by Anderfon and Defaguilliers, two perfons of little edu- cation, and of low manners, who had aimed at little miore than making a pretext, not altogether contempti- ble, for a convivial meeting. This, however, was re- ceived with refpeft. We are apt to fmile at grave men's being fatished with fuch coarfe and fcanty fare. But it was of ufe, merely becaufe it gave an oftenfible reafon for refilling the defpotifm of the Lodges of Berlin. Se- veral refpe6lable Lodges, particularly that of Frankfort on the Mayne, that of Brunfwick, that of Wetziar, and the Royal York of Berlin, reiblutely adhered to the lEnglifti fyftem, and denied themfelves all the enjoyment of the French degrees, rather than acknowledge the fu- premacy of the Rofaic Lodges of Berlin, About the year 1764 a new revolution took place. An adventurer, who called himfelf Johnfon, and paf- fed himfelf for an Englifhman, but who was really a German or Bohemian named Leucht, faid that he was ambaflador from the Chapter of Knights Templars at Old Aberdeen in Scodand, fent to teach the Germans •what was true Mafonry. He pretended to tranfmute metals, and fome of the Brethren declared that they had feen him do it repeatedly. This reached Baron Hunde and brought back all his former enthufiafm. There is fomething very dark in this part of the hiftory ; for in a little Johnfon told his partifans that the only point he had to inform them of was, that Baron Hunde was the Grand Mafter of the 7th province of Mafonry, which FREE MASONRY. 6i included the whole of Germany, and the royal domi- nions of Prufiia. He ftiov.'ed them a map of the Mafo- nic Empire arranged into provinces, each of which had diRinCTuifhinff emblems. Thefe are all taken from an old forgotten and infignificant book, Typotii Symbola Divina et Humana^ publillied in 1601. There is not the leaft trace in this book either of Mafonry or Temp- lars, and the emblems are taken out without the fmalleit ground of fele6lion. Some inconiillency with the for- mer magnificent promifes of Johnfon ftartlcd them at firft, but they acquiefced and fubmitted to Baron Hunde as Grand Mafter of Germany. Soon after Johnfon turned out to be a cheat, efcaped, was taken, and put in prifon, where he died. Yet this feems not to have ruined the credit of Baron Hunde. He ereited Lodges, gave a few fimple inftru6lions, all in the fyftem of En- glifh Mafonry, and promifed, that when they had ap- proved themfelves as good Mafons, he would then im- part the mighty fecret. After two or three years of no- viciate, a convention was held at Altenbcrg ; and he told them that his whole fecret was, that every true Ma- Jon was a Knight Templar. They were altonilhcd, and difappointed ; for they expefted in general that he would teach them the philofopher's (tone, or gholl-raiiing, or magic. After much difcontent, falling^ out, and dif- pute, many Lodges united in this fyftem, made fome- what moderate and palatable, under the name of the Strict Disciplinarians, .SYrzci^fji Obfervanz. It was acceptable to many, becaufe they iniilted that they were really Knights, properly confecrated, though with- out temporalities ; and they ferioufly fet themfelves about forming a fund which (hould fecure the order in a landed property and revenue, which would give them a refpeftable civil exiftence. Hunde declared that his whole ellatc fhould devolve on the Order. But the fa THE SCHISMS IN vexations which he afterwards met with, and his falling in love wuh a lady who prevailed on him to become Ro- man Catholic, made him alter this intention. The Or- der went on, however, and acquired confiderable cre- dit by the ferious regularity of their proceedings ; and, although in the mean time a new apolile of Myileries, a Dr. Zinzendoiff, one of the Strict Obfervanz, intro- duced a new fyftem, which he faid was from Sweden, diftmguiflied by fome of the myftical doarines of the Swedenborgh feci, and though this fyftem obtained the Royal patronage, and a National Lodge was eftabliflied at Berlin by patent, {till the Tempelorden, or Orden da Striclen Obfervanz, continued to be very refpeftable. The German gentry were better pleafed with a Grand Mafter of their own choohng, than with any impofed on them by authority. , During this flate of things, one Stark, a Proteftant divine, well known in Germany by his writings, made another trial of public faith. One Gugomos (a pri- vate gentleman, but who would pafs for fon to a King of Cyprus) and one Schropfer, keeper of a coffee- houfe at Nuremberg, drew crowds of Free Mafons around them, to learn ghoft-raihng, exorcifm, and al- chymy. Numbers came from a great diftance to Weif- bad to fee and learn thefe myfteries, and Free Mafonry was on the point of another revolution. Dr. Stark was an adept in all thefe things, and contended with Cagli- oitro in Coarland for the palm of fuperiority. He faw that this deception could not long ftand its ground. He therefore came forward, at a convention at Braunfch- weig in 1772, and faid to the Stria Difciplinarians or Templars, That he was of their Order, but of the fpi- ritual department, and was deputed by the Chapter of K— m— d— t in Scotland, where he was Chancellor pf FREE MASONRY, 63 the Congregation, and had the name of Archidemides, Eqiies ab Aquilafulva : That this Chapter had the fu- perintendance of the Order : That they alone could confecrate the Knights, or the unknown fuperiors; and that he was deputed to inflru6i them in the real princi- ples of the Order, and impart its ineftimable fecrets, which could not be known to Baron Hunde, as he would readily acknowledge when he fhould converfe with him. Johnfon, he faid, had been a cheat, and probably a murderer. He had got fome knowledge from papers which he muft have ftolen from a mifTio- nary, who had difappeared, and was probably killed. Gugomos and Schropfer mud have had fome hmilar in- formation ; and Schropfer had even deceived him for a tim.e. He was ready to execute his commiffion, upon their coming under the neceffary obligations of fecrccy and of fubmiffion. Hunde (whofe name in the Order was the Eques ab E'njc) acquiefced at once, and propo- fed a convention, with full powers to decide and accepr. But a, Schubart, a gentleman of charafler, M'ho was treafurer to the Templar Mafons, and had an employ- ment which crave him confiderable influence in the Or- der, ftrongly diffuaded them from fuch a meafure. The moft unqualified fubmiffion to unknown fuperiors, and to conditions equally unknown, was required previous to the fmalleft communication, or any knowledge of the powers which Archidemides had to treat with them. Many meetings were held, and m.any attempts were made to learn fomething of this fpiritual court, and of what they might expeO: from diem. Dr. Stark, Baron Weggenfak, Baron Von Raven, and fome others of his coadjutors in the Lodges at Koningfnerg in Pruffia, and at»Wifmar, were received into the Order. But in vain — nothing was obtained from thefc ghoflly Knights but fome infignificant ceremonials of rGceptions add 64 THE SCHISMS IN confccrations. Of this kind of novelties they were al- ready heartily fick ; and though they all panted after the expeftcd wonders, they were fo much frightened by the unconditional fubmifTion, that they could come to no agreement, and the fecrets of the Scotch Congre- gation of K — m — d — t ftill remain with Dr. Stark. They did, however, a fenhble thing; they fent a depu- tation to Old Aberdeen, to enquire after the caves where their venerable -my fteries where known, and their treafures were hid. They had, as they thought, me- rited fome more confidence ; for they had remitted an- nual contributions to thefe unknown fuperiors, to the amount of fome thoufands of rix-dollars. But alas, their ambafladors found the Free Mafons of Old Aber- deen ignorant of all this, and as eager to learn from the ambaffadors what was the tnie origin and meaning of Free Mafonry, of which they knew nothing but the limple tale of Old Hiram. This broke Stark's credit; but he ftill infifted on the reality of his commiffion, and faid that the Brethren at Aberdeen were indeed ignorant, but that he had never faid otherwife; their expeftations from that quarter had refted on the fcraps purloined by Johnfon. He reminded them of a thing well known to themfelves ; that one of them had been fent for by a dy- ing nobleman to receive papers on this fubjeft, and that his vifit having been delayed a few hours by an unavoid- able accident, he found all burnt but a fragment of a capitulary and a thing in cypher, part of which he (Dr. Stark) had explained to them. They had employed another gentleman, a H. Wachter, to make fimilar en- quiries in Italy, where Schropfer and others (even Hunde) had told them great fecrets were to be obtained from the Pretender's fecretary Approfi, and others. Wachter told them, th&t all this was a fi8ion, but that he had feen at Florence fome Brethren from the HoJy FREE MASONRY. 65 Land, who really pofleffed wonderful fecrets, which he was willing to impart, on proper conditions. Thefe, however, they could not accede to ; but they were cru- elly tortured by feeing Wachter, who had left Germa- ny in fober circumftances, now a man of great wealth and expence. He would not acknowledge that he had got the fecret of gold-making from the Afiatic Brethren; but faid that no man had any right to afl^ him how he had come by his fortune. It was enough that he be- haved honorably, and owed no man any thing. He broke off all connexions with them, and left them in great diftrefs about their Order, and panting after his fecrets. Rifum tcneatis amici. Stark, in revenge for the oppofition he had met with from Schubart, left no ftone unturned to hurt him with his Brethren, and fucceeded, fo that he left them in dif^ guft. Hunde died about this time. A book appeared, called. The Stumbling Block and Rock of Ojfence^ which betrayed (by their own confeflion) the whole fecrets of the Order of Templars, and foon made an end of it, as far as it went beyond the fimple Englifti Mafonry. Thus was the faith of Free Mafons quite unhinged in Germany. But the rage for myfteries and wonder was not in the leaft abated ; and the habits of thefe fecret af- femblies were becoming every day more craving. Dif- fenfion and fchifm was multiplying in every quarter ; and the Inllitution, inftead of being an incitement to mutual complaifance and Brotherly love, had become a fource of contention, and of bitter enmity. Not fatis- fied with defending the propriety of its own Inftitutions, each Syllem of Free Mafonry was bufy in enticing away thepartifans of other Syflems, fhut their Lodges againfi I fe THE SCHISMS IN each other, and proceeded even to viHfy and perfccute the adherents of every Syftem but their own. Thefe animofities arofe chiefly from the quarrels about precedency, and the arrogance (as it was thought) of the patent Lodge of Berlin, in pretending to have any authority in the other parts of the Empire. But thefe pretenfions were not the refult of mere vanity. The French importers of the new degrees, always true to the glory of their nation, hoped by this means to fe- cure the dependence even of this frivolous Society; per- haps they might forefee political ufes and benefits which might arife from it. One thing is worth notice : The French Lodges had all emanated from the great Confe- deration under the Duke de Chartres, and, even if we had no other proof, we might prefume that they would cultivate the fame principles that chara6lerifed that Seft. But we are certain that infidelity and laxity of moral principles were prevalent in the Rofaic Lodges, and that the obfervation of this corruption had offended many of the fober oldfafhioned Lodges, and was one great caufe of any check that w^as given to the brilliant Ma- fonry of France. It is the obfervation of this circum- ftance, in which they all refembled, and which foon ceafed to be a diftinftion, becaufe it pervaded the other Lodges, that induced me to expatiate more on this hif- tory of Free Mafonry in Germany, than may appear to my readers to be adequate to the importance of Free Mafonry in the general fubj eft-matter of thefe pages. But I hope that it will appear in the courfe of my nar- ration that I have not given it greater value than it de- ferves. About this very time there was a great revolution of the public mind in Germany, and fcepticifra, infidelity,. FREE MASONRY. Bf andirreligion, not only were prevalent in the minds and manners of the wealthy and luxurious, and of the pro^ fligate of lower ranks, but began to appear in the prd- du6lions of the prefs. Some circumftances, peculiar to Germany, occafioned thefe declenfrons from the former acquiefcence in the faith of their forefathers to become more uniform and remarkable than they would other- wife have been. The Confeffions of Germany are the Roman Catholic, the Lutheran (which they call Pro- teftant) and the Calvinift (which they call Reformed}. Thefe are profeffed in many fmall contiguous principa- lities, and there is hardly one of them in which all the three have not free exercife. The delire of making; profelytes is natural to all (erious profelfors of a rational faith, and was frequently exercifed. The Roman Ca- tholics are fuppofed by us to be particularly zealous ; and the Proteftants (Lutherans and Calvinilts) wem careful to oppofe them by every kind of argument, among which thofe of ridicule and reproach were not fpared. The Catholics accufed them of infidelity re- fpefting the fundamental doftrines of Chriftianity which they profeffed to believe, and even with refpeft to the ■doftrines of natural religion. This accufation was long very flightly fupported ; but, of late, by better proofs. The fpirit of free inquiry was the great boaft of the Pro- teftants, and their only fupport againft the Catholics, fecuring them both in their religious and civil rights. It was therefore fupported by their governments. It is not to be wondered at that it fhould be indulged toex- cefs, or improperly, even by ferious men, liable to er- ror, in their difputes with the Catholics. In the pro- grefs of this conteft, even their own ConfefTion did not efcape criticifm, and it was alferted that the Reforma- tion which thofe ConfelTions exprefs was not complete, i'urther Reformations were propofed. The Scriptures^ ^ THE SCHISMS LV the foundation of our faith, were examined by clergjf- men of very different capacities, difpofitions, and views, till by explaining, correding, allegorifing, and other- wife twifting the Bible, men's minds had hardly any thing left to reft on as a doftrine of revealed religion. This encoyraged others to go farther, and to fay that revela- tion was a folecifm, as plainly appeared by the irrecon- cileable differences among thefe Enlighteners (fo they were called) of the public, and that man had nothing to truft to but the diftates of natural reafon. Another fet of writers, proceeding from this as a point already fet- tled, profcribed all religion whatever, and openly taught the doftrines of materialifm and atheifm. Moft of thefe innovations were the work of Proteftant divines, from the caufes that I have mentioned. Teller, Semler, Eberhardt, Leffing, Bahrdt, Riem, and Shultz, had the chief hand in all thefe innovations. But no man contributed more than Nicholai, an eminent and learn- ed bookfeller in Berlin. He has been for many years the publiftier of a periodical work, called the General German Library (Algemcin deutfche Biblicdhck) confift- ing of original diflertations, and reviews of the writings of others. The great merit of this work, on account of many learned diflertations which appear in it, has pro- cured it great influence on that clafs of readers whofe lei- fure or capacity did not allow them a more profound kind of reading. This is the bulk of readers in every country. Nicholai gives a decided preference to the writings of the Enlighteners, and in his reviews treats them with particular notice, makes the public fully ac- quainted with their works, and makes the mofi: favora- ble comments ; whereas the performances of their oppo- nents, or more properly fpeaking, the defenders of the National Creeds, are negleBed, omitted, or barely men- tionedj or they are criticifcd with every feverity of ridi- FREE MASONRY. 69 ciile and reproach. He fell upoa a very fare method of rendering the orthodox v/riters difa^^reeabie to tke public, by reprefenting them as the abetters of fuperfti- tioR, and as fecret Jefuits. lie allerts, that the aboli- tion of the Order of Loyola is only apparent. The Brethren ftill retain their connc6tion, and mod part of their property, under the fecret patronage of Catholic Princes. They are, therefore, in every corner, in every habit and chara6ier, working with unwearied zeal for the reftoration of their empire. He raifed a general alarm, and made a journey through Germany, hunting for Jefuits, and for this purpofe, became Free Mafon and Rofycrucian, being introduced by his friends Ge- dicke and Biefler, clergymen, publifhers of the Berlin Monatfchrift, and molt zealous promoters of the new doctrines. This favor he has repaid at his return, by betraying the myfterics of the Lodges, and numberlefs falfehoods. His journey was publi Hied in feveral vo- lumes, and is full of frightful Jefuitifms. This man, as I have faid, found the greatefl fuccefs in his method of flandering the defenders of Bible-Chriflianity, by repre- fenting them as concealed Jefuits. But, not contented with open difcuffion, he long ago publilhed a fort of romance, called Sebaldus Noihanker, in which thefe di- vines are introduced under feigned names, and made as ridiculous and deleflable as poiTible. All this v*fas a good trading job ; for fceptical and free-thinking wri- tings have every where a good market ; and Nicholai was not only reviewer, but publiilier, having preli'es in different cities of the Empire. The immenfe literary manufa61:urc of Germany, far exceeding that of any na- tion of Europe, is carried on in a very particular way. The books go in fheets to the great fairs of Leipfic and Frankfort, nvice a-year. The book lellers. meet there, and fee at one glance the Rate of literature ; and having yo THE SCHISMS IM fpeculated and made their bargains, the books are in- itantly difperfed through every part of the Empire, and appear at once in all quarters. Although every Princi- pality has an officer for iicenfmg, it is impoffible to pre- vent the currency of a performance, although it may be prohibited ; for it is to be had by the carrier at three or four miles diflance in another Hate. By this mode of traffic, a plot may be formed, and a6lually has been formed, for giving any particular turn to the literature of the country. There is an excellent work printed at Bern by the author Heinzmann, a bookfeller, called, Appeal to my Country^ concerning a Combination ojWri- ters, and Bookfellers, to rule the Literature of Germany, end form the public mind into a contempt for the religion and civil efiablijhments of the Empire. It contains a hiftorical account of the publications in every branch of literature for about thirty years. The author fhows, in the moft convincing manner, that the prodigious change from the former fatisfaftion of the Germans on thofe fubjefts to their prefcnt difcontent and attacks from eve- ry quarter, is neither a fair picture of the prevailing fen- timents, nor has been the iimple operation of things, but the refult of a combination of tradin^r Infidels. o I have here fomewhat anticipated (for I hope to point out the fources of this combination,) becaufe it helps to explain or illuftrate the progrefs of infidelity and irreligion that I was fpeaking of. It was much ac- celerated by another circumftance. One Bafedow, a man of talents and learning, fet up, in the Principality of Anhalt-Deffau, a Pin lanthropin e, or academy of general education, on a plan extremely different from thofe of the Univerfities and Academies. By this ap- pellation, the founder hoped to make parents expe£l that much attention would be paid to the morals of the pu- FREE MASONRY. 5:1 piis } and indeed the programs or advertifements by which Bafcdow announced his inllitution to the public, defcribed it as the profefied feminary of praftical Ethics. Languages, fciences, and the ornamental exercifes, were here coniidered as mere acceffories, and the great aim was to form the young mind to the love of man- kind and of virtue, by a plan of moral education whick was very fpccious and unexceptionable. But there was a circumflance which greatly obftrufled the wide prof- pefts of the founder. How were the religious opinions of the youth to be cared for ? Catholics, Lutherans, and Calvinifts, were almofl: equally numerous in the adjoining Principahties ; and the exclufion of any two of thefe communions would prodigioufly limit the pro- pofed ufefulnefs of the inftitution. Bafedow was a man of talents, a good fcholar, and a perfuafive writer. He framed afet of rules, by v/hich the educatiorv Ihould be conduced, and which, he thought, fhould make every parent cafy ; and the plan is very judicious and manly. But none came but Lutherans, His zeal and intereil in the thing made him endeavour to interell others ; and he found this no hard matter. The people of condition, and all fenfible men, faw that it would be a very great advantage to the place, could they induce men to fend their children from all the neighbouring dates. What v/e wifh, we readily believe to be the truth ; and Bafe- dow's plan and reafonings appeared complete, and had the fupport of all claffes of men. The m©derate Cal- vinifts, after fome time, were not averfe from them, and the literary manufafture of Germany was foon very bu- fy in making pamphlets, defending, improving, attack- ing and reprobating the plans. Innumerable were the projects for moderating the diffeiTnces between the three Chriftian communions of Germany, and making it poflible for the members of them all, not only to li^ 72 TI-IE SCHISMS IN amicably among each other, and to worfhip God in the fame church, but even to communicate together. This attempt naturally gave rife to much fpeculation and re- finement; and the propofals for amendment of the for- mulas and the inftruftions from the pulpit were profe- tuted with fo much keennefs, that the ground-work, Chriiiianity, was refined and refined, till it vaniflied altogether, leaving Deifm, or Natural, or, as it was called, Philofophical Religion, in its place. I am not much miftaken as to hiftorical fa8:, when I fay, that the aftoniiliing change in religious doftrine which has taken place in Proteftant Germany within thefe lafl thirty years was chiefly occafioned by this fcheme of Bafedow's. The pre-difpoling caufes exifted, indeed, and were general and powerful, and the diforder had already broken out. But this fpecious and enticing objeft firll gave a title to Proteftant clergymen to put to their hand without rifle of being cenfured. Bafedow correBed, and corre6led again, but not one Catholic came to the Philanthropine. Jle Teems to have thought that the belt plan would be, to banifn all pofi- tive religion whatever, and that he would then be fure of Catholic fcholars. Cardinal Dubois was fo far right with refpeB. to the firfl Catholic pupil of the church. He had recommended a man of his own ftamp to Louis XIV. to fill fome important office. The monarch was aftonifiied, and told the Cardinal, that " that would never do, for the man was a Janfenift ; Eh ! que ncn, Sire,'' faid the Cardinal, ''• il nejl qu" Aihee ;" all was fafe, and the man got the priory. But though all was in vain, Bafedow's Philanthropine at Deffau got a high charafter. He piiblifhed many volumes on education that have much merit. FREE MASONRY. 73 ' It were well had this been all. But moft unfortu- nately, though moft naturally, writers of loofe moral principles and of wicked hearts were encouraged by the impunity which the fceptical writers experienced, and ventured to publifli things of the vileft tendency, inflam- ing the paflions and j uftifying licentious manners. Thefe maxims are congenial with irreligion and Atheifm, and the books found a quick market. It was chiefly in the Pruflian States that this w^ent on. The late King was, to fay the beft of him, a naturalift, and, holding this life for his all, gave full liberty to his fubje6ls to write what they plea fed, provided they did not touch on ftate matters. He declared, however, to a minifter of his court, long before his death, that " he was extremely forry that his indiff'erence had produced fuch effe6ls ; that he was fenfible it had greatly contributed to hurt the peace and mutual good treatment of his fubjefts;" and he faid, " that he would willingly give up the glory of his beft fought battle, to have the fatisfaftion of leav- ing his -^.eople in the fame ftate of peace and fatisfaftion with their religious eftablifliments, that he found them in at his acceflion to the throne." His fucceflbr Frede- rick William found that things had gone much too far, and determined to fupport the church eftabliftiment in the moft peremptory manner ; but at the fame time to allow perfed freedom of thinking and converfmg to the profeftbrs of every chriftian faith, provided it was en- joyed without difturbing the general peace, or any en- croachment on the rights of thofe already fupported by law. He publiflied an edi6l to this effeft, which is re- ally a model worthy of imitation in evtry country. This was the epoch of a ftrange revolution. It was at- tacked from all hands, and criticifms, fatires, flanders, threatenings, poured in from every quarter. The in- K ^4 THE SCHISMS IN dependency of the neighbouring ftates, and the mo- narch's not being a great favorite among feveral of his neighbours, permitied the publication of thefe pieces in the adjoining principalities, and it was impoffible to prevent their circulation even in the Pruffian States. His ediO: was called an unjuftifiable tyranny over the confciences of men ; the dogmas fupported by it, were called abfurd fuperftitions ; the King's private charader, and his opinions in religious matters, were treated with little /everence, nay, were ridiculed and fcandaloufly abufed. This field of difcuilion being thus thrown open, the writers did not confine themfelves to religious matters. After flatly denying that the prince of any country had the fmalleft right to prefcribe, or even di- reO. the faith of his fubjeQs, they extended their difcuf- fions to the rights of princes in general ; and now they fairly opened their trenches, and made an attack in form on the conftitutions of the German confederacy, and after the ufual approaches, they fet up the ftandard of univerfal citizenfliip on the very ridge of the glacis, and fummoned the fort to furrender. The moft daring of thefe attacks was a colleBion of anonymous letters on the conftitution of the Pruffian States. It was printed (or faid to be fo) at Utrecht ; but by comparing the faults of fome types with fome books printed in Berlin, it v/as fuppofed by all to be the produ6tion of one of Nicholai's preffes. It was thought to be the compofi- tion of Mirabeau. It is certain that he wrote a French tranflation, with a preface and notes, more impudent than the work itfelf. The monarch was declared to be a tyrant j the people are addreffed as a parcel of tame wretches crouching under oppreffion. The people of Silefia are reprefented as flill in a worfe condition, and are repeatedly called to roufe themfelves, and to rife up and aflert their rights. The King is told, that there is a FREE MASONRY. ^5 r combination of philofophers (conjuration) who are leagued together in defence of truth and reafon, and which no power can withftand ; that they are to be found in every country, and are conneBed by mutual and fo- lemn engagement, and will put in pratlice every mean of attack. Enlightening, inftru6lion, was the general cry among the writers. The triumph of reafon over error, the overthrow of fuperftition and flavifli fear, freedom from religious and political prejudices, and the eftablifhment of Hberty and equality, the natural and unalienable rights of man, were the topics of general de- clamation ; and it was openly maintained, that fecret fo- cieties, where the communication of fentiment fhould be free from every reltraint, was the mod effe6lual mean for inftruding and enlightening the world. And thus it appears, that Germany has experienced the fame gradual progrefs, from Religion to Atheifm, from decency to diflblutenefs, and from loyalty to re- bellion, which has had its courfe in France. And I muft now add, that this progrefs has been effefted in the fame manner, and by the fame means ; and that one of the chief means of fedu£lion has been the Lodges of the Free Mafons. The French, along with their numerous chevalcries, and ftars, and ribbands, had brought in the cuftom of haranguing in the Lodges, and as hu- man nature has aconliderable uniformity every where, the fame topics became favorite fubje8:s of declamation that had tickled the ear in France ; there were the lame corruptions of fentiments and manners among the luxu- rious or profligate, and the fame incitements to the ut- terance of thefe fentiments, wherever it could be done with fafety ; and I may fay, that the zealots in all thefe tracts of free-thinking were more ferious, more grave, and fanatical. Thefe are not afltrtions apriori. I can ^6 THE S.CHISMS IN produce proofs. There was a Baron Knigge refiding at that time in the neighbourhood of Frankfort, of whom I fhall afterwards have occafion frequently to fprak. This man was an enthufiaft in Mafonry from his youth, and had run througli every pofTible degree of it. He was diffatisfied with them all, and particularly with the frivolity of the French chivalry ; but he flill believed that Mafonry contained invaluable fecrets. He ima- gined that he faw a glimpfe of them in the cofmo-poli- tical and fceptical difcourfes in their Lodges ; he fat down to meditate on thefe, and foon coUeBed his thoughts, and found that thofe French orators v.'crc right without knowing it ; and that Mafonry was pure natu- ral religion and univerfal citizenfhip, and that this was alfo true Chriftianity. In this faith he immediately be- gan his career of Brotherly love, and publiflied three volumes of fermons ; the firft and third publifhed at Frankfort, and the fecond at Heidelberg, but without his name. Hepublifliedalfo a popular fyftem of reli- gion. In all thefe publications, of which there are ex- trafts in the Religions Begchenheiten^ Chriftianity is con- fidered as a mere allegory, or a Mafonic type of natu- ral religion ; the moral duties are fpun into the com- mon-place declamations of univerfal benevolence ; and the attention is continually direfted to the abfurdities flnd horrors of fupcrftition, the fufferings of the poor, the tvrannv and oppreffion of the great, the tricks of the priefts, and the indolent fimplicity and patience of the laity and of the common people. The happinefs of the patriarchal life, and fweets of univerfal equality and freedom, are the burden of every paragraph ; and the general tenor of the whole is to make men difcontented with their condition of civil fubordiuation,. and the re- ftraints of revealed religion. FREE MASONRY. 77 All the proceedings of Knigge in the Mafbnic fchifms fhow that he was a zealous apoftle of cofmo-politifra, and that he was continually deahng with people in the Lodges who were alfociated with him in ])ropagating thefe notions among the Brethren ; fo that we are cer- tain that fuch converfations were common in the Ger- man Lodges. When the reader con-iders all thefe circum (lances, he ■will abate of that furprife which naturally aiFeCls a Bri- ton, when he reads accounts of conventions for difcuf- fmg and lixing the dogmatic tenets of Free Mafonry. The perfeft freedom, civil and religious, which we en- joy in this happy country, being familiar to every man, we indulge it with calmncfs and moderation, and fecret affemblies hardly differ from the common meetings of friends and neighbours. We do not forget the expedi- ency of civil fubordination, and of thofe diRinfctions which arife from fecure pofTeffion of our rights, and the gradual accumulation of die comforts of life in the fami- lies of the fober and indullrious. Thefe have, by pru- dence and a refpeftable ccconomy, preferved the acqui- fitions of their anceftors. Every man feels in his own breaft the flrong call of nature to procure for hirafelf and his children, by every honed and commendable ex- ertion, the means of public confideration and refpeQ. No man is fo totally without fpirit, as not to think the better of his condition when he is come of creditable pa- rents, and has creditable conne6:ions ; and widiout think- ing that he is in any refped generous, he prefumcs that others have the fame fentim.ents, and therefore allows the moderate expreflion of them, without thinking it in- folence or hauglitinefs. All thefe things are familiar, are not thought of, and we enjoy them as we enjoy ordi- nary health, without perceiving it. But in the fame man- 78 THE SCHISxMS IN ner as a young man who has been long confined hy fick- nefs, exults in returning health, and is apt to riot in the enjoyment of what he fo diftinftly feels ; fo thofe who are under continual check in open fociety, feel this emancipation in thefe hidden afiemblies, and indulge with eagernefs in the expreffion of fentiments which in public they mud fmother within their own breaft. Such meetings, therefore, have a zeft that is very alluring, and they .are frequented with avidity. There is no coun- try in Europe where this kind of enjoyment is fo poig- nant as in Germany. Very infignificant principalities have the fame rank in the General Federation with very extenfive dominions. The internal conftitution of each petty ftate being modelled in nearly the fame manner, the official honors of their little courts become ludi- crous and even farcical. The Geheim Hofrath, the Hofmarefchal, and all the Kammerhers of a Prince, whofe dominions do not equal the eftates of many En- glifh Squires, caufe the whole to appear like the play of children, and muR give frequent occafion for difcontent and ridicule. Mafon Lodges even keep this alive. The fraternal equality profefied in them is very flattering to thofe who have not fucceeded in the fcramble for civil diflinQions. Such perfons become the moft zealous Mafons, and generally obtain the aclive offices in the Lodges, and have an opportunity of treating with au- thority perfons whom in public fociety they mult look up to with fome refpeO;. Thefe confiderations account, in fome meafure, for the importance which Free Mafonry has acquired in Germanv. For a long while the hopes of learning fome wonderful fecret made a German Baron think nothing of long and expenfive journics in queft of fome new degree. Of late, the cofmo-political doclrines encou- FREE MASONRY. 7^ raged and propagated in the Lodges, and feme hopes of producing a Revolution in fociety, by which men of ta- lents fhould obtain the management of public affairs, feem to be the caufe of ail the zeal with which the or- der is flill cheriihed and promoted. In a periodical work, publifhed at Neuwied, called Algemcin Zeitung der Freymaurercy^ we have the lift of the Lodges in 1782, with the names of the Office-bearers. Four- fifths of thefe are clergymen, profeffors, perfons having offices in the common-law courts, men of letters by trade, fuch as reviewers and journalills, and other pam- phleteers ; a clafs of men, who generally think that they have not attained that rank in fociety to which their ta- lents entitle them, and imagine that they could dif- charge the important offices of the ftate with reputation to themfelves and advantage to the pubhc. The miferable uncertainty and inftability of the Ma- fonic faith, which I defcribed above, was not akogedier theeffetlof mere chance, but hiid been greatly accelerated by the machinations of Baron Knigge, and fome other Cofmo-political Brethren whom he had called to his af- fiflance. Knigge had now formed a fcheme for uniting the whole Fraternity, for the purpofe of promoting his Utopian plan of univerfal benevolence in a ftate of li- berty and equality. He hoped to do this more readily by completing their embarraffment, and (hewing each fyftem how imfirm its foundation was, and how little chance it had of obtaining a general adherence. The Striken Ohfervanz had now completely loft its credit, by which it had hoped to get the better of all the reft, Knigge therefore propofed a plan to the Lodges of Frankfort and Wetzlar, by which all the fyftems might, in lome meafure, be united, or at leaft be brought to a ftate of mutual forbearance and intercourfe. He pro- 8o THE SCHISMS IN pofed that the Englifh (;vdem fliould be taken for the ground-work, and to receive albihd only thofe who had taken the three fymbolical degrees, as they were now generally called. After thus guarding this general point of faith, he propofed to allow the validity of every de- ii^ree or rank which fliould be received in any Lodge, or be made the chara6ier of any particular fyftem. Thefe Lodges, having iccured the adherence of feveral odiers, broughtabouta general convention at Willemfbadin ?Iai- nault, where every different fyftein fhpuld communi- cate its peculiar tenets. It w^as then hoped, that after an examination of them all, a conflitution might be formed, which comprehended every thing that was moft worthy of fele£tion, and therefore be far better than the ac- commodating fyliem already defcribed. By this he ho- ped to get his favorite fcheme introduced into the whole Order, and Free Mafons made zealous Citizens of the World. I believe he was fincere in thefe intentions, and had no intention to difturb the public peace. The convention was accordin-dy held, and lafled a long while, the deputies confuhing about the frivolities of Mafonry, with all the ferioufncfs of ftate-ambaffadors. But there was great Ihynefs in their communications ; and Knigge v;as making but fmall progrefs in his plan, when he met with another Mafon, the Marquis of Conlfanza, who in an inftant converted him, and changed all his meafures, by fhow'ing him that he (Knigge) was only doing by halves what was already accompliflied by another Soci- ety, which had carried it to its full extent. They im- mediately fct about undoing what he had been occupi- ed with, and heightened as much as they could the dif- fentions, already fufRciendy great, and, in the mean time, got the Lodges of Frankfort and Wetzlar, and fe- veral others, to unite, and pick out the befl of the things they had obtaiiied by the communications from the FREE MASONRY. 'Bi TOtTier fyftems, and they formed a plan of what they called, the EcleHic or Syncritic Mafonry of the United Lodges of Germany. They compofed a conftitution, ritual, and catechifm, which has merit, and is indeed the completeft body of Free Mafonry that we have. Such was the ftate of this celebrated and myfterious Fraternity in Germany in 1776. The fpirit of innova- tion had feized all the Brethren. No man could give a tolerable account of the origin, hiftory, or object of die Order, and it appeared to all as a loft or forgotten myftery. The fymbols feemed to be equally fufcepti- ble of every interpretation, and none of trhefc fc?med entitled to any decided preference. C H A K IL The Illuminati. 1 AM now arrived at ivhat I fhould cail the great epoch of Cofmo-politifm, the fcheme communicated to Baron Knigge by the Marchefe di Conjlanza. This obliges me to mention a remarkable Lodge of the Eclec- tic Mafonry, ere6led at Munich in Bavaria, in 1775, under the worfliipful Mafter, ProfefTor Baader. It was called The Lodge Theodore of Good Counfel. It had its conftitutional patent from the Royal York at Berlin, but had formed a particular fyftem of its own, by in- ftruftions from the Lege des Chevaliers Bienfaifants at Lyons, with which it kept up a correfpondence. This refpeB; to the Lodge at Lyons had arifen from the pre- ponderance acquired in general by the French party in the convention at Willemfbad. The deputies of the Rofaic Lodges, as well as the remains of the Templars, and StriBen Obfervanz, all looking up to this as the mo- ther Lodge of what they called the Grand Orient de la France^ confiding (in 1782) of 266 improved Lodges, united under the D. de Chartres. Accordingly the Lodge at Lyons fent Mr. Willermooz as deputy to this convention at Willemfbad. Refining gradually on the fimplc Britifh Mafonry, the Lodge had furmtd a fyltcm THE ILLUMINATE; 8^ of praftical morality, which it afferted to be the aim of genuine Mafonry, faying, that a true Mafon, and a man of upright heart and aftive virtue, are fynonymous charaders, and that the great aim of Free Mafonry is to promote the happinefs of mankind by every mean in our power. In purfuance of thefe principles, the Lodge Theodore profefiedly occupied itfelf with ceconomical, flatiflical, and political matters, and not only publifhed from time to time difcourfes on fuch fubje6ls by the Brother Orator, but the Members confidered themfelves as in duty bound to propagate and inculcate the fame do6lrines out of doors. Of the zealous members of the Lodge Theodore the molt confpicuous was Dr. Adam Weifhaupt, ProfeffoF of Canon Law in the univerhty of Ingolftadt. This perfon had been educated among the Jefuits; but the abolition of their order made him change his views, and from being their pupil, he became their moft bitter ene- my. He had acquired a high reputation in his profef- iion, and was attended not only by thofe intended for the prafiice in the law-courts, but alfo by the young gentlemen at large, in their courfe of general educati- on ; and he brought numbers from the neighbouring ftates to this univerlity, and gave a ton to the Ihudies of the place. He embraced with great keennefs this opt portunity of fpreading the favorite doctrines of the Lodge, and his auditory became the feminary of Cof- mo-politifm. The engaging piQures of the poflible fe- licity of a fociety where every office is held by a man of talents and virtue, and where every talent is fet in a place fitted for its exertion, forcibly catches the gene- rous and unfufpefting minds of youth, and in a Roman Catholic (late, far advanced in the habits of grofs fuper- ftition (a charader given to Bavaria by its neighbours} t4 THE ILLUMINATP. and abounding in monks and idle dignitaries, the op- portunities muft be frequent for obferving the inconli- derate dominion of the clergy, and the abjeft and indo- lent fubmiffion of the laity. Accordingly Profeffor Weifhaupt fays, in his Apology for Illuminatifm, that Deifm, Infidelity, and Atheifm are more prevalent in Bavaria than in any country he was acquainted with. Difcourfes, therefore, in which the abfurdity and hor- rors of fuperftition and fpiritual tyranny were ftrongly painted, could not fail of making a deep imprcflion'. And during this ftate of the minds of the auditory the tranfition to general infidelity and irreligion is fo eafy-, and fo inviting to fanguine youth, prompted perhaps by a latent wifh that the reftraints which religion impo- fes on the expeftants of a future ftate might be found", on enquiry, to be nothing but groundlefs terrors ; that I imagine it requires the mod anxious care of the public teacher to keep the minds of his audience impreffed with the reality and importance of the great truths of re- ligion, while he frees them from the fhackles of blind and abfurd fuperftition., I fear that this celebrated in- ftruftor had none of this anxiety, but was iatisfied with his great fuccefs in the laft part of this tafk, the eman- cipation of his young hearers from the terrors of fupcr- flition. I fuppofe alfo that this was the more agreeable to him, as it procured him the triumph over the Jefuits, with whom he had long itruggled for the diretiion of the univerfity. This was in 1777. Weifhaupt had long been fchem- ingthe eftablifhment of an Aifociation or Order, which, in time, fliould govern the world. In his firft fervour and high expetiations, he hinted to feveral Ex-Jefuits the probability of their recovering, under a new name,, the influence which they formerly poifelled, and of be- THE ILLUMINATI. 8$ ing again of great fervice to fociety, by dircfting the education of youth of diftinftion, now emancipated from all civil and religious prejudices. He prevailed on fome to join him, but they all retraced but two. After this difappointment Weifhaupt became the irapla-. cable enemy of the }cfuits ; and his fanguine temper madehnn frequently lay himfelf open to their piercing eye, and drew on him their kceneft refentment, and at laft made him the viftim of their enmity. The Lodge Theodore was the place where the above- mentioned doftrines were moft zcaiouOy propagated. But Weilliaupt's emiflaries had already procured the adherence of many other Lodges ; and the Ecl€6tic Ma- fonry had been brought into vogue chiefly by their ex- ertions at the Willemfbad convention. The Lodge Theodore was perhaps lefs guarded in its proceedings, for it became remarkable for the very bold fentiments in politics and religion which were frequently uttered in their harangues ; and its members were noted for their zeal in making profelytes. Many bitter pafquinades, fatires, and other offenhve pamphlets were in fecret cir- culation, and even larger works of very dangerous ten- dency, and feveral of them v/ere traced to that Lodge. The EleQor often expreffed his dilapprobation of fuch proceedings, and fent them kind meflages, deliringthem to be careful not to difturb the peace of the country, and particularly to recolleft the folemn declaration made to every entrant into the Fraternity of Free Mafons, " That no fubjeft of religion or politics fliall ever be touched on in the Lodge ;" a declaration which alone could have procured his permiflion of any fecret affem- bly whatever, and on the iincerity and honor of which he had reckoned when he gave his fantlion to their efta- biifliment. But repeated accounts of the fame kind in- 86 THE ILLUMINATI. ereafed the alarm, and the Elector ordered a judicial enquiry into the proceedings of the Lodge Theodore. It was then difcovered that this and feveral afTociated Lodges we'^e the nurfery or preparation-fchool for ano- ther Order of Mafons, who called themfelves the Illu- minated, and that the exprefs aim of this Order wa$ to abolifh Chriilianity, and overturn all civil govern^ ment. But the refult of the enquiry was very impcr- feci and unfatisfaftory. No lUuminati were to be found. They were unknown in the Lodge. Some of the members occafionally heard of certain candidates for illumination called Mi nervals, who were fome- times feen among them. But whether thefe had been admitted, or vho received them, was known only to themfelves. Some of thefe v/ere examined in private by the Eleftor himfelf. They laid that they were bound by honor to. fecrecy : But they afTured the Eleftor, on their honor, that the aim of the Order was in the high- eil degree praife -worthy, and ufeful both to church and ftate : But this could not allay the anxiety of the pro- fane public ; and it was repeatedly ftated to the Eletior, that members of the Lodge Theodore had unguardedly fpoken of this Order as one that in time mull rule the world. He therefore ilTued an order forbidding, dur- ing his pleafure, all fecret affemblies, and fhutting up the Mafon Lodges. It was not meant to be rigoroufly enforced, but was intended as a trial of the deference of thefe AfTociations for civil authority. The Lodge Theodore diftinguifhed itfelf by pointed oppolition, continuing its meetings ; and the members, out of doors, openly reprobated the prohibition as an abfurd and un- juiufiabie tyranny. THE ILLUMINATI. ^f . Irithe beginning of 1783, four profeflbrs of the Ma-i rianen Academy, founded by the widow of the late Eleftor, viz. Utfchneider, CofTandey, Renner, and Grunberger, with two others, were fummoned before the Court of Enquiry, and queftioned, on their alle- giance, refpe6ling the Order of the Illuminati. They acknowledged that they belonged to it, and when more clofely examined, they related feveral circumftances of its conflitution and principles. Their declarations werfe immediately publifhed, and w^ere very unfavorabk". The Order was faid to abjure Chriftianity, and to re-f fufe admifiion into the higher degrees to all who adher- ed to any of the three confeflions. Senfual pleafures were reftored to the rank they held in the Epicurean philofophy. Self-murder was jullified on Stoical jwin- ciples. In the Lodges death was declared an eternal •fleep ; patriotifm and loyalty were called narrow-mind- ed prejudices, and incompatible with univerfal benevo- lence ; continual declamations were made on liberty and equality as the unalienable rights of man. The baneful influence of accuraulated property was declared an in- furmountable obftacle to the happinefs of any nation whofe chief laws were framed for its protetlion and in- creafe. Nothing was fo frequently difcourfed of as the propriety of employing, for a good purpofe, the means which the wicked employed for evil purpofes j and it was taught, that the preponderancy of good in the ulti- mate refult confecrated every mean employed ; and that wifdom and. virtue confifted in properly determining, this balance. This appeared big with danger ; becaufe it appeared that nothing would be fcrupled at, if we could make it appear that the Order could derive advan- tage from it, becaufe the great objetl of the Order w^as held as fuperior to every conhderation. They con- cluded by. faying that the method of education made 88 THE ILLUMINATI. them all fpies on each other and on all around them. But all this was denied by the Illuminati. Some of them were {aid to be abfolutcly falfe ; and the reft were faid to be millakes. The apoftate profeiTors had ac- knowledged their ignorance of many things. Two of them were only Mmervals, another was an lUuminatus of the lowcft clafs, and the fourth was but one ftep far- ther advanced. Pamphlets appeared on both fides, with very little effect. The Eleclor called before him one of the fuperiors, a young nobleman, who denied thefe injurious charges, and faid that they were ready to lay before his Highnefs their whole archives and all confti- tutional papers. Notwithftanding all this, the government had receiv- ed fuch an impreffion of the dangerous tendency of the Order, that the Ele6lor ilfued another edift, forbidding all hidden aflemblies ; and a third, exprefsly abolifhing the Order of Illuminati. It w^as followed by a fearch after their papers. The Lodge Theodore was immedi- ately fearched, but none were to be found. They faid now that they had burnt them all, as of no ufe, fincc that Order was at an end. It was now^ difcovered, that Weifhaupt was the head and founder of the Order. He was deprived of his Profeffor's chair, and banifhcd from the Bavarian States ; but with a penfion of 800 florins, which he re- fufed. Pie went to Regenfburg, on the confines of Switzerland. Two Italians, the Marquis Conllanza and Marquis Savioli, were alfo banifhed, with equal penfions (about L. 4c) which they accepted. One Zwack, a counfellor, holding fome law -office, was alfo baniflicd. Others were iniprifoncd for fome lime. Weifhaupt went afterwards imp the fervice of the D. of THE ILLUMINATI; t^ Saxe Gotha, a perfon of a romantic turn of mind, an4 \vhom we fhall again meet with. Zwack went into the fervice of the Pr. de Salms, who foon after had fo great a hand in the difturbances in Holland. By deftroying the papers, all opportunity w^as loft fof authenticating the innocence and ufefalnefs of the Ori der. After much altercation and paper w^ar, Weif- haupt, now fafe in Regenfburg, publifhed an accouht of the Order, namely, (he account which was given to every Novice in a difcourfe read at his reception. To this Were added, the ftatutes and the rules of proceeding, as fkr as the degree of Illuminatus Aiinor, inclufive. This account he affirmed to be conform to the real pra8;ice of the Order. But this publication did by no means fa- tisfy the public mind. It differed exceedingly from the accounts given by the four profeflbrs. It made no mention of the higher degrees, which had been moft blamed by'theni. Belides, it was alleged, that it was all a fiftion, written in order to lull the fufpicions which liad been raifed (and this was found to be the cafe, exr cept in refpe6l of the very loweft degree.) The real conftitution was brought to light by degrees, and fhall be laid before the reader, in the order in which it was gradually difcovered, that we may the better judge of things not fully known by the condu8: of the leaders du- ring the detection. The firll account given by Weif- haupt is corre6l, as far as I fhall make ufe of it, and fliows cleajly the methods that were taken to recom- mend the Order to flrangers. The Order of I LLUM IN ATI appears as an accefTory to Free Mafonry. It is in the Lodges of Free Mafons that the Mmervals are found, and there they are pre- ■ M 0^. THE ILLUMINATI. pared for Illumination. They mult have previoufly obtained the three Englifli degrees. The founder fays more. He fays that his dodrines are the only true Free Mafonry. He was the chief promoter of the EcUBic Syjitm. This he urged as the beft method for gettmg information of all the explanations which have been gi- ven of the Mafonic Myfteries. He was alfo a StriB^ Obfervanz^ and an adept Rofycrucian. The refult of all his knowledge is worthy of particular remark, and Ihall therefore be given at large. " I declare," fays he, '' and I challenge all mankind to contradi6l my declaration, that no man can give any account of the Order of Free Mafonry, of its origin, of its hiftory, of its objeB, nor any explanation of its myfteries and fymbols, which does not leave the mind in total uncertainty on all thefe points. Every man is entitled, therefore, to give any explanation of the fym- bols, and any fyftem of the do6lrines, that he can ren- der palatable. Hence have fprung up that variety of fyftems which for twenty years have divided the Order. The fimple tale of the Englifh, and the fifty degrees of the French, and the Knights of Baron Hunde, are equally authentic, and have equally had the fupport of intelligent and zealous Brethren. Thefe fyftems are in faO; but one. They have all fprung from the Blue Lodge of Three degrees ; take thefe for their ftandard, and found on thefe all the improvements by which each fyftem is afterwards fuited to the particular objeQ; which it keeps in view. There is no man, nor fyftem, in the world, which can fhow by undoubted fucceftion that it ftiould ftand at the head of the Order. Our ignorance in this particular frets me. Do but confider our fliort liiftory of 120 years. — Who will fliow me the Mother Lodge ? Thofe of London we ha,ve difcovered to be THE ILLUMINAXrT ^r felf-ere6led in 1716. Afk for their archives. Theytel! you they were burnt. They have nothing but the wretched fophiftications of the Englifhman Anderfon, and the Frenchman Defaguilliers. Where is the Lodge of York, which pretends to the priority, with their King Bouden, and the archives that he brought from the Eaft ? Thefe too are all burnt. What is the Chap- ter of Old Aberdeen, and its Holy Clericate ? Did we not find it unknown, and the Mafon Lodges there the moft ignorant of all the ignorant, gaping for inftruBion from our deputies ? Did we not find the fame thing at London ? And have not their miffionaries been among us, prying into our myfteries, and eager to learn from us what is true Free Mafonry ? It is in vain, therefore, to appeal to judges; they are no where to be found; all claim for therafelves the fceptre of the Order ; all indeed are on an equal footing. They obtained follow- ers, not from their authenticity, but from their condu- civenefs to the end which they propofed, and from the importance of that end. It is by this fcale that we muft meafure the mad and wicked explanations of the Rofy- crucians, the Exorcifts, acid "Cabalifts. Thefe are re- jefted by all good Mafons, becaufe incompatible with focial happinefs. Only fuch fyftems as promote this are retained. But alas, they are all fadly deficient, be- caufe they leave us under the dominion of political and religious prejudices ; and they are as inefficient as the •fleepy dofe of an ordinary fermon. ^^ But I fiave contrived an explanation which has eve- ry advantage ; is inviting to Chriftians of every commu- nion ; gradually frees them from all religious prejudi- ces ; cultivates the focial virtues ; and animates them by a great, a feafible, and fpcedy profpe6t of univcrfal iappinefs, in a flats of liberty and moral equality, freed 9^ THE ILLUMINATL from the obftacles which fubordination, rank, and riches, continually throw in our way. My explanation is accu- rate, and complete, my means are efFeftual, and irre- fiflible. Our fecret Aflbciation works in a way that nothing can withfland, and manJJiall foon be free and happy. " This is the great obje8: held out by this Aflbciati- on : and the means of attaining it is Illumination, en- lightening the underftanding by the fun of reafon, which will difpel the clouds of fuperftition and of prejudice. The proficients in this Order are therefore juftly named the Illuminated. And of all Illumination which hu- man reafon can give, none is comparable to the difco- very of what we are, our nature, our obligations, what happinefs we are capable of, and what are the means of attaining it. In comparifon with this, the moft brilliant fciences are but amufements for the idle and luxurious. To fit man by Illumination for a6live virtue, to engage him to it by the ftrongeft motives, to render the attain- ment of it eafy and certain, by finding employment for every talent, and by placing every talent in its proper fphere of aBion, fo that all, without feeling any extra- ordinary effort, and in conjunftion with and completion of ordinary bufmefs, fhall urge forward, with united powers, the general tafl^. This indeed will be an em- ployment fuited to noble natures, grand in its views, and delightful in its exercife. " And what is this general obje8; ? The h appt x e s s OF THE HUMAN RACE. Is it uot diftrcffmg to a ge- nerous mind, after contemplating what human nature is capable of, to fee how little we enjoy ? When we look at this goodly world, and fee that every man may be happy, but that the happinefs of one depends on the THE ILLUMIMATI. 95 conduEl oranother ; when we fee the wicked fo powerful, and the good fo weak ; and that it is in vain to ftrive, fingly and alone, againft the general current of vice and oppreffion; the wiih naturally arifes in the mind, that it were poflible to form a durable combination of the moft worthy perfons, who Ihould w^ork together in re- moving the obftacles to human happinefs, become ter- rible to the wicked, and give their aid to all the good without diltintlion, and fhould by the mod powerful pieans, firft fetter, and by fettering, leilen vice ; mean$ which at the fame time Ihould promote virtue, by ren- dering the inclination to retlitude, hitherto too feeble, more powerful and engaging. Would not fuch an affo- ciation be a bleffing to the v/orld ? " But where are the proper perfons, the good, the generous, and the accomplilhed, to be found ? and how, and by what ftrong motives, are they to be indu- ced to engage in a tafk fo vaft, fo incelTant, fo difficult, and fo laborious ? This Affociation mull be gradual. There art fome fuch perfons to be foimd in every focie- ty. Such noble minds will be engaged by the heart- warming objeB;. The firft tafic of the Affociation muft therefore be to form the young members. As thefe multiply and advance, they become the apoftles of be- neficence, and the work is now on foot, and advances with a fpeed encreafing every day. The llighteft obfer- vation fliows that nothing w^ill fo mtich contribute to in- creafe the zeal of the members as fecret union. We fee with what keennefs and zeal the frivolous bufinefs of Free Mafonry is conducted, by perfons knit together by the fecrecy of their union. It is needlefs to enquire into the caufes of this zeal which fecrecy produces. It is an univerfal fa6l, confirmed by the hiftory of every age. Let this circumdance of our conititution there- 9*^ THE ILLUMINATI. fore be direfted to this noble purpofe, and then all the obje£lions urged againft it by jealous tyranny and af- frighted fuperftition will vanifh. The Order will thus work filently, and fecurely ; and though the generous benefaftors of the human race are thus deprived of the applaufe of the world, they have the noble pleafure of feeing their work profper in their hands." Such is the aim, and fuch are the hopes of the Order of the Illuminated. Let us now fee how thefe were to be accompliflied. We cannot judge precifeiy of this, becaufe the account given of the conftitution of the Or- der by its founder includes only the loweft degree, and even this is fufpefted to be fi6litious. The accounts given by the four Profeffors, even of this part of the Order, make a very different imprefTion on the mind, although they differ only in a few particulars. The only oftenfible members of the Order M'ere the Minervals. They were to be found only in the Lodges of Free Mafons. A candidate for admiffion muil make his wifti known to fome Minerval ; he reports it to a Superior, who, by a channel to be explained prefently, intimates it to the Council. No notice is farther taken of it for fome time. The candidate is carefully obfer- ved in filence, and if thought unfit for the Order, no notice is taken of his folicitation. But if otherwife, the candidate receives privately an invitation to a confer- ence. Here he meets with a perfon unknown to him, and, previous to all further conference, he is required to perufe and to fign the following oath. "I N. N. hereby bind myfelf, by mine honor and good name, forfwearing all mental refervation, never to revealj by hint, word, writing, or in any manner what- THE ILLUMINATL 95 ever, even to my moft trufted friend, any thing that Ihall now be faid or done to me refpefting my wifhed- for reception, and this wheth^^r my reception fliall fol- low or net ; I being previoufly affured that it Ihall con- tain nothing contrary to religion, the ftate, nor good manners. I promife, that I fhall make no intelligible extraft from any papers which fhall be fliewn me now or during my noviciate. All this I fwear, as I am, and as I hope to continue, a Man of Honor." The urbanity of this proteftation muft agreeably im- prefs the mind of a perfon who recolle6ls the dreadful im- precations which he made at his reception into the dif- ferent ranks of Free Mafonry. The candidate is then introduced to an Illuminatus Dirigens, whom perhaps he knows, and is told that this perfon is to be his future inftru6lor. There is now prefented to the candidate, what they call a table, in which he writes his name, place of birth, age, rank, place of refidence, profeflion, and favorite ftudies. He is then made to read feveral arti- cles of this table. It contains, ift. a very concife ac- count of the Order, its connection with Free Mafonry, and its great objeft, the promoting the happinefs of mankind by means of inftruBion and confirmation in virtuous principles. 2d. Several queftions relative to the Order. Among thefe are, " What advantages he hopes to derive from being a member ? What he moft particularly willies to learn ? What delicate queftions relative to the life, the profpe6ls, the duties of man, as an individual, and as a citizen, he wifties to have parti- cularly difcuffed to him ? In what refpefts he thinks he can be of ufe to the Order ? Who are his anceftors, re- lations, friends, correfpondents, or enemies ? Whom he thinks proper perfons to be received into the Order, or whom he thinks unfit for it, and the reafons for both ^ THE ILLUMINATI. opinions ?" To each of thefe queftions he muft give fome anfwer in writing. The Novice and his Mentor arc known only to each "ei{liaupt fays, " Thefe things w^ere not carried into efFe8: — only fpoken of, and are juftifiable when taken in proper connexion." This however he has not pointed out ; but he appeals to the account of the Order, which he had publilhed at Regenfburg, and in which neither thefe things are to be found, nor any poffibility of a connection by which they may be jufti- fied. " All men, fays he, are fubjeft to errors, and the beft man is he who beft conceals them. I have ne- ver been guilty of any fuch vices or follies : for proof, I appeal to the whole tenor of my life, which my repu- tation, and my ftruggles with hoftile cabals, had brought completely into public view long before the inftitution of this Order, without abating any thing of that flatter- ing regard which was paid to me by the firft perfons of my country and its neighbourhood ; a regard well evin- ced by their confidence in me as the beft inftru6lor of their children." In fome of his private letters, we learn the means v;hich he employed to acquire this influence among the youth, and they are fuch as could not fail. But we muft not anticipate. " It is w^ell known that I have made the chair which I occupied in the univerfity of Ingoiftadt, the refort of the firft clafs of the German youth ; whereas formerly it had only brought round it the low-born praftitioners in the courts of law\ I have gone through the whole circle of human enquiry. I have exorcifed fpirits — raifed ghofts — difcovered trea- THE ILLUMINATL 113 fares — interrogated the Cabala — hatt'e Loto g'efpielt — I have never tranfmuted metals." — (A very pretty and refpeftable circle indeed, and what vulgar fpirits would fcarcely have included within the pale of their curioli- ty.) ' " The tenor of my life has been the oppofite of every thing that is vile ; and no man can lay any fuch thing to my charge. I have reafon to rejoice that thefe writings have appeared ; they are k vindication of the Order and of my condu6l. I can, and muft declare to God, and I do it now in the moft folemn manner, that in my whole life I never faw or heard of the fo much condemned fecret writings ; and in particular, repe6t- iTJg thefe abominable means, fuch as poifoning, abor- tiofi, &c. was it ever known to me in any cafe, that any of my friends or acquaintances ever even thought of them, advifed them, or made any ufe of them. I was indeed always a fchemer and projector, but never could engage much in detail. My general plan is good, though in the detail there may be faults. I had myfelf to form. In another fituation, and in an aftive ftatid|i in life, 1 fliould have been keenly occupied, and tVfe founding an Order would never have come into my head. But I would have executed much greater things, had not government always oppofed my exertions, and placed others in the fituations which fuited my talents. It was the full convi8:ion of this, and of what could be done, if every man were placed in the office for which he was fitted by nature and a proper education, which ■firft fuggefted to me the plan of illumination." Surely Mr. Weifhaupt had a very ferious charge, the education of youth ; and his encouragement in that charge was the moft flattering that an lUuminatus could wifii for, be- caufe he had brought round him the youth whofe influ- ence i'ri fotiety was the greateil and v,'ho would moft of 114 THE ILLUMINATI. all contribute to the diffufing good principles, and ex- citing to good condu8; through the whole (late. " I did not," fays he, " bring deifm into Bavaria more than into Rome. I found it here, in great vigour, more abounding than in any of the neighbouring Prot'cftant Hates. I am proud to be known to the world as the founder of the Order of lUuminati ; and I repeat my wifh to have for my epitaph, *' Hie Jitus ejl Phaethon^ currus auriga pater7ii, " Quern fi non tenuity magnis tamen excidit aitjis." The f^ond difcovery of fecret correfpondence at SanderfdorJBF, the feat of Baron Batz (Hannibal) con- tains flill more interefling fa6ls. Spartacus to Cato. '' What {hall I do ? I am deprived of all help. So- crates, who would infill on being a man of confequence among us, and is really a man of talents, and of a right way of thinking, is eternally befotted. Auguftus is in the worft eftimation imaginable. Alcibiades fits the day long with the vintner's pretty v/ife, and there he fighs and pines. A few days ago, at Corinth, Tiberius at- tempted to ravifli the wife of Democides, and her huf- band came in upon them. Good heavens ! what Areo- pagitce I have got. When the worthy man Marcus Au- relius comes to Athens (Munich) what will he think ? What a meeting with diflblute immoral wretches, whore- mafters, liars, bankrupts, braggarts, and vain fools ! When he fees all this, what will he think ? He will be afliamed to enter into an Aflbciation," (obfcrve, Rea- der, that Spartacus writes this in Auguft 17 83, in the very time that he was trying to murder Cato's filler) " where THE ILLUxMINATI. 115 tlie chiefs raife the higheft expe6lations, and exhibit fuch a wretched example ; and all this from felf-will, from fenfuality. Am I not in the right — that this man — that any fuch worthy man — whofe name alone would give us the feleQion of all Germany — will declare that the whole province of Grecia (Bavaria) innocent and guilty, muft be excluded. I tell you, w^e may ftudy; and write, and toil till death. We may facrifice to the Order, our health, our fortune, and our reputation (alas the lofs!) and thefe Lords, following their own pleafures, will Avhore, cheat, fteal, and drive on like fhamelefs rafcals ; and yet muft be Areopagitcs, and interfere in every thing. Indeed, my dearelt friend, we have only en- fiaved ourfelves." In another part of this fine correfpondence, Diomedes iias had the good fortune to intercept a Q. L. (Quibus licet) in which it is faid, and fupported by proofs, that Cato had received 250 florins as a bribe for his fentence in his capacity as a judge in a criminal court; (the end had furely fanclified the means.) In another, a Miner- val complains of his Mentor for having by lies occafion- ed the difmiffion of aphyiician from a family, by which he obtained the cufiom of the houfe and free accefs, "vvhich favor he repaid by debauching the wife ; and he prays to be informed whether he may not get another Mentor, faying, that ahhough that man had always given him the moft excellent inftru^^ions, and he doubt- ed not would continue them, yet he felt a difguft at the hypocrify, which would certainly diminifli the impreffion of the moft falutary truths. (Is it not diftreffing to think, th-at this promifmg youth will by and l)y laugh at his former fim.plicity, and follow the fteps and not the ihftru6lions of his phyfician.) In another place, Spar- lacus writes to Marius (in confidence) that another Wor- ti6 THE ILLUMINATI. thy Brother, an Areopagittz;,. had. ftolen a gold and a fiK ver watch, and a ring, from Brutus (Savioli) and begs. Marius, in another letter, to try, while it was yet pof-. fible, to get the things reftored, becaufe the culprit wa,s, a moft excellent man (Vortrejjlich) and, of vaft ufe to the Order, having the direction of an eminent feminary of young gendemen ; and becaufe Savioli was much in good company, and did not much care for the Order, except in fo far as it gave him an opportunity of know- ing and leading fome of them, and of fleering his way at court. I cannot help inferting here, though not the mofl pro- per place, a part of a provincial report from Knigge, the man of the whole Areopagitce who fhows any thing like urbanity or gentlenefs of mind. " Of my whole colony (Weflphalia) the moft brilli- ant is Claudiopolis (Neuioied.) There they work, and, direft, and do wonders." If there ever was a fpot upon earth where men may be happy in a ftate of cultivated fociety, it was the, little principahty of Neuwied. I faw it in 1770. The town was neat, and the palace handfome and in good tafte ; all was clean. But the country was beyond conception delightful ; not a cottage that was out of re- pair, not a hedge out of order ; it had been the hobby (pardon me the word) of the Prince, who made it his daily employment to go through his principality regu- larly, and affift every houfeholder, of whatever coi;idi- tion, with his advice, and with his purfe ; and, when a freeholder could not of himfelf put things into a thriving condition, the Prince fent his workmen and did it for him. He endowed fchools for the common people, and THE ILLUMINATT. 117 two academies for- the gentry and the people of bufinefK^ He gave little portions to the daughters, arid prizes ta th^ well-behaving fans of the labouring people. Hu owr^houfehould was a pattern, of elegance and economy ;. his fons were fent to Paris to learn elegance, and 10 England to learn fcience and agriculture. In fhort, the whole was like a romance (and was indeed romantic.) I heard it fpoken of with a fmile at the table of the Bi~ ihop of Treves, at Ehrenbretllein, and was induced tO' Ice it next day as a curio fity : And yet even here, the fanaticifm of Kiiigge would. dillribute his poifon, and tell the blinded people, that drey were in a. Hate of iiu. and mifery, that their Prince was a defpot, and that they would never be happy till he was made to fly, and. till they were all made equal. They got their wifll ; the fwarm of French locufts fat down on Neuwied's beautiful fields in 1793, and en- trenched themlelves ; and in three months, Prince and farmers houfes, and cottages, and fchools, and acade- mies — all vanifhed; and all the fubjecls were made equal, and free (as they were exprefsly told by the French Ge- neral) to weep. Dlfcite jujiitiam moniii, et non temnere divos ! To proceed : Spartacits to Cato.' " By this plan we fliall direft all mankind. In this manner, and by the hmplefl means, we Ihall fetallin, motion and in flames. The occupations mud be fo al- lotted and contrived, thatv/iCma)', in fecret, influence all puhtical tranfatlions." N. B, This alludes to a part n8 THE ILLUMINATI. that is withheld from the public, becaufe it contained the allotment of the motl rebellious and profligate occu- pations to feveral perfons whofe common names could not be traced. " I have confidered," fays Spartacus, *' every thing, and fo prepared it, that if the Order fhould this day go to ruin, I fhall in a year re-eftablifli it more brilliant than ever." Accordingly it got up again in about this fpace of time, under the oame of the German Union, appearing in the form of Reading Societies. One of thefe was fet up in Zwack's houfe ; and this raifmg a fufpicion, a vifitation was made at Landfliut, and the firft fet of the private papers were found. The fcheme was, however, zealoufly pro- fecuted in other parts of Germany, as we fliall fee by and by. " Nor," continues Spartacus, " will it fignify though all fhould be betrayed and printed. I am fo cer- tain of fuccefs, in fpite of all obftacles (for the fprings are in every heart) that I am indifferent, though it fhould involve my life and my liberty. What ! Have thou- fands thrown away their lives about homoios and homoi- oujio^^ and fhall not this caufe warm even the heart of a coward ? But I have the art to draw advantage even from misfortune; and when you would think me funk to the bottom, I lliall rife with new vigour. Who would have thought, that a profefTor at Ingolftadt was to be- come the teacher of the profcflbrs of Gottingen, and of the greateft men in Germany ? ' Spartacus to Cato. " Send me back my degree of Illuminatu^ Minor ; it is the wonder of all men here (I may perhaps find time to give a tranflation of the difcourfe of reception, which contains all that can be faid of this Affociation to the public ;) as alfo the two laft fheets of my degree, which- THE ILLUMINATI. 119 is in the keeping of Marius, and Celfus, under 100 locks which contains my hiftory of the lives of the Pa- triarchs." N. B. Nothing very particular has beendif- covered of thefe lives of the Patriarchs. He fays, that there were above fixty fheets of it. To judge by the care taken of it, it muft be a favorite work, very ha- zardous, and very catching. In another letter to Cato, we have fome hints of the higher degrees, and concerning, a peculiar morality, and a popular religion, which the Order was one day to give the world. He fays, " There muft (a la Jefuite) not a fingle purpofe ever come in fight that is ambiguous, and that may betray our aims againft religion and the ftate^ One muft fpeak fometimes one way and fometimes ano- ther, but fo as never to contradict ourfelves, and fo that, with refpeft to our true way of thinking, we may be impenetrable. When our ftrongeft things chance to give oftence, they muft be explained as attempts to draw anfwers which difcover to us the fentiments of the perfon we converfe with." N. B. This did not always fucceed with him. Spartacus fays, fpeaking of the priefts degree, " One " would almoft imagine, that this degree, as I have ma- naged it, is genuine Chriftianity, and that its end was to free the Jews from (lavery. I fay, that Free Mafonry is concealed Chriftianity. My explanation of the hiero- glyphics, at leaft, proceeds on this fuppofition ; and as I explain things, no man need be alhamed of being a Chriftian. Indeed I afterwards throw away this name, and fubftitute Reafjn. But I aftiire you this is no fmall affair ; a new religion, and a new ftate-government, which fo happily explain one and all of thefe fymbols, and combines them in one degree, You may think that •-120 THE ILLUMINATI. this is my chief work ; but I have three other degrees, all different, i'ov my clafs c^ bigber iRyfleries, in com- parifon with which this is hut child's play ; but ihefe I keep for itiyfelf as General, to be beftowed by me only on the Bene^neritijfimi^'' (furely fiicli as Cato, his dear- eft friend, and the polTeffor of fuch pretty fecrets, as abortives, poifons, peftilential vapours, <&:c.) " The promoted may be Areopagites or not. Were you here I fliould give you this degree without hefitation. But it is too important to be intrufted to paper, or to be beftowed otherwife than from my own hand. It is the key to hiftory, to religion, and to every ftate-govern- ment in the world."* Spartacus proceeds, " There ftiall be but three copies for all Germany. You can't imagine what refpeCt and curiofity my prieft-degree has raifed ; and, which is wonderful, a famous Proteftant divine, who is now of the Order, is perfuaded that the religion contained in it is the true fenfe of Chriftianity. Oman, man! to WHAT MAY'sT thou NOT BE PERSUADED. Who would imagine that I was to be the founder of a nev religion." In this "fcheme of Mafonic Chriftianity, Spartacus and Philo laboured ferioufly together. Spartacus fent him the materials, and Philo Worked them up. It will therefore illuftrate this capital point of the conftitution of the Order, if we take Philo's account of it. * I obferve, in other parts ef his correfpb-ftdehce ■v^'here hefpeaks of this, feveral lingular phrafes, which are to be found in tWo books ; Ant'iquite devoilee par fes Ufages., and Or'igine du Dcfpotifme Oriental. Thefe contain indeed much of the maxims inculcated in the reception difcourfe of the degree Jllum'tnatus Minor. Indeed I have found, that Wei'maupt is much lefs an inventor than he is generally thought. THE ILLUMINATI. *2i Philo to Cato. " We muft confider the ruling propenfities of every^ age of the world. At prefent the cheats and tricks of the priefts have roufed all men againft them, and againfl: Chriftianity. But, at the fame time fuperftition and fa- naticifm rule with unlimited dominion, and the under- ilanding of man really feems to be going backwards. Our tafk, therefore, is doubled. We muft give fuch an account of things, that fanatics fhall not be alarmed, and that fhall, notwithftanding, excite a fpirit of free en- quiry. We muft not throw away the good with the bad, the child with the dirty water ; but we muft make the fecret doBrines of Chriftianitv be received as the fe- crets of genuine Free Mafonry. But farther, we have to deal with the defpotiftn of Princes. This increafes every day. But then, the fpirit of freedom breathes and fighs in every corner ; and, by the affiftance of hidden fchools ofwifdom, Liberty and Equality, the natural and im- prefcriptible rights of man, warm and glow in every breaft. We muft therefore unite thefe extremes. We proceed in this manner. " Jefus Chrift eftabliflied no new Religion ; he would only fet Religion and Reafon in their ancient rights. For this purpofe he would unite men in a com- mon bond. He v/ould fit them for this by fpreading a juft morality, by enlightening the underftanding, and by aiTifting the mind to fhake off all prejudices. He would teach all men, in the firft place, to govern themfelves. Rulers would then be needlefs, and equality and liberty would take place without any devolution, by the natural md gentle operation of* reafon arid expediency. This Q ■fL^% THE ILLUrvIINATL great Teacher allows himfelf to explain every part of the Bible in conformity to thefe purpofes ; and he for- bids all ^\^rangling among his fcholars, becaufe every man may there hnd a reafonable application to his pe- culiar do6lrines. Let this be true or falfe, it does not fignify. This vv'^as a fimple Religion, and it was fo far infpired ; but the minds of his hearers were not fitted for receiving thefe doctrines. I told you, fays he, but you could not bear it. Many therefore were called, but few were chofen. To thefe ele6i were cntrufted the moft important fecrets ; and even among them there were degrees of information. There was a feventy, and a twelve. All this was in the natural order of things, and according to the habits of the Jews, and indeed of all p.ntiquity. The Jewifh Theofophy was a myftery ; like the Elcufinian, or the Pythagorean, unfit for the vulgar. And thus the doQrines of Chriflianity were committed to the Adepti, in a Difciplina Arcani. , "Sty thefe they were maintained, like the Veftal Fire. They v/ere kept up, only in hidden focieties, who handed them down to pofterity ; and they are pow pofieffed by the genuine Free Mafons.*" N. B. This explains the origin of many anonymous pamphlets which appeared about this time in Germany, fliowing that Free Mafonry was Chriftianity. They have doubtlefs been the works of Spartacus and his par- tizans among the Ecleftic Mafons. Nicholai, the great apoftle of infidelity, had given very favorable reviews of thefe performances, an.d having always fliewn himfelf an advocate of fuch writers as depreciated Chriftianity, it was natural for him to take this opportunity of bringing it ftill lower in the opinion of the people. Spartacus therefore conceived a high opinion of the importance of gaining Nicholai to the Order. He had before this THE ILLUMINATI. ir^ gained Leuchtfenring, a hot-headed fanatic, who had fpied Jefuits in every* corner, and fet.Nicholai on his journey through Germany, to hunt them out. This man finding them equally hated by the Illuminati, was cafily gained, and was moft zealous in their caufe. He engaged Nicholai, and Spartacus exults exceedingly in the acquilition, faying, " that he was an unwearied champion, et qicidem contentijfimus." Of this man Phi- lo fays, " that he had fpread this Chriftianity into every corner of Germany. I have put meaning," fays Philo, *' to all thefe dark fymbols, and have prepared both de- grees, introducing beautiful ceremonies, which I have felefted from among thofe of the ancient communions, combined with thofe of the Rofaic Mafonry ; and now," fays he, " it will appear that zue are the only true Chriftians. We fhall now be in a condition to fay a few words to Priefts and Princes. I have fo contrived things, that I would admit even Popes and Kings, after the trials which I have prefixed 3 and they would be olad to be of the Order.'" o But how is all this to be reconciled with the plan of Illumination, which is to banifh Chriftianity altogether. Philo himfelf in many places fays, " that it is only a cloak, to prevent fqueamifli people from ftarting back." This is done pretty much in the fame way that was prac- tifed in the French Mafonry. In one of their degrees, the Mafter's degree is made typical of the death of Jefus Chrift, the preacher of Brotherly love. But, in the next ilep, the Chevalier du Soleil, it is Reat'on that has been dcftroyed and entombed, and the Mafter in this degree, the Si'Jjiime Fhilofopke, occafions the difcovcry of the place where the body is hid; Reafon riies again, and fu- perftition and tyranny difappear, and all bccoines clear ; man becomes free and happy. Let \1j hear Spartacus aq;ain/ 124 THE ILLUMINATI. Spartacus, in another place. '' Wemuft, ift. gradually explain away all our pre- paratory pious frauds. And when perfons of difcern- ment find fault, we muil defire them to confider the end of all our labour. This fanftifies our means, which at any rate are harmlefs, and have been ufeful, even in: this cafe, becaufe they procured us a patient hearing, •when otherwife men would have turned away from us like petted children. This will convince them of our fentiments in all the intervening points ; and our ambi- guous expreflions will then be interpreted into aij endea- vour to draw anfwers of any kind, which may fliow us the minds of our pupils. 2d. We muft unfold, from hiftory and other writings, the origin and fabrication of all religious lies whatever ; and then, ^. We give a critical hi (lory of the Order. But I cannot but laugh, when I think of the ready reception which all this has jnet with from the grave and learned divines of Germany and of England ; and I wonder how their William fail- ed when he attempted to ellablifli a Deiftical Woriliip in London (what can this mean ?*) for, I am certain, that it mufl have been moft acceptable to that learned and free people. But they had not the enlightening of our days." I may here remark, that Weifhaupt is pre- fuming too much on the ignorance of his friend, for there was a great deal of this enlightening in England at the time he fpeaks of, and if I am not miftakcn, even this celebrated Profeifor of Irreligion has borrowed moft of his fcheme from this kingdom. This to be fure is jiothing in our praife. But the Pamtheisticon of Tolaud refemhles WeiOiaupt's Illumination in every thing but its rebellion and its villany. Toland's Socra- tic Lodge is an elegant pattern for Weiiliaupt, and his * It means an attempt made by David WiUUimfi [Am ; EJ] THE ILLUMINATI, 125 Triumph of Reafon, his Philoiophic Happinefs, his God, or Anima Mi'Jidi, are all To like the harfh fyfleii^ of SpartacQs, that I am convinced that he has copiedi them, ftamping them with the roiighnefs of his own char ratier. But to go on ; Spartacus fays of the Engliih : " Their poet Pope made his Eifay on Man a fyftem of pure naturalifm, without knowing it, as Brother Chry^ fippus did with nny Prieft's Degree, and was equally aftonilhed when this was pointed out to him. Chryfip;- pus is religious, but not fuperftitious. Brother Luciaa (Nicholai, of whom I have already faid fo much) fays, that the grave ZoUkofer now allows that it would be ^ .very proper thing to eftablifh a Deidical Worfnip at Berlin. I am not afraid but things will go on very well. But Philo, who was entrtiiied with iraming the Prieft's 'Degree, has deftroyed it without any neceffity ; it would, forfooth, ftartle thofe who have a hankering for Religion. But I always told you that Philo is fanatical and prudifli. I gave him fine materials, and he has . fluffed it full of ceremonies and child's play, and as Mi- nos fays, c'eji jouer la religion. But all this may be correfted in the revifion by the Areopagiia:" N. B. I have already mentioned Baron Knigge*s converfion to Illuminatifm by the M. de Conftanza, whofe name in the Order was Diomedes. Knigge (henceforth Philo) was, next to Spartacus, the moft ferviceable man in the Order, and procured the greateft number of mevribers. It was chiefly by his exertions among the Mafons in the Protetlant countries, that the Edetlic Syjlnn was introduced, and afterwards brought under the dlrettion of the liluminaii. . This conquefl was owing entirely to his very extenfive connetlions among the Mafons. He travelled like a philofopher from city to cityj from Lodge to Lodge, and even 126 THE ILLUMINATI. fiom houfe to houfe, before his Illumination, trying to unite the Mafons, and he now went over the fame ground to extend the EcleBic Syjlem^ and to get the Lodges put under the direction of the Illuminati, by their choice of the Mafter and Wardens. By this the Order had an op- portunity of noticing the conduft of individuals ; and ■when they had found out their manner of thinking, and that they were fit for their purpofe, they never quitted them till they had gained them over to their party. We have feen, that he was by no means void of religious impreffions, and we often find him offended with the atheifm of Spartacus. Knigge wa^. at the fame time a man of the world, and had kept good company. Vv^'eif- haupt had pafled his life in the habits of a college. Therefore he knew Knigge's value, and communicated to him all his projefts, to be dreffed up by him for the" tafte of fociety. Philo was of a much more affedionate difpofition, with fomething of a devotional turn, and was fhocked at the hard indifference of Spartacus. Af- ter labouring four years with great zeal, he was provoJc- ed with the difingenuous tricks of Spartacus, and he broke off all conneftion with the Society in 1784, and fomc time after publifhed a declaration of all that he had done in it. This is a moft excellent account of the plan and principles of the Order (at leaft as he conceiv- ed it, for Spartacus had much deeper views) and fhows that the aim of it was to abolifli Chriftianity, and all the Itate-governments in Europe, and to eftablifh a great re - public. But it is full of romantic notions and cnthufi- aflic declamation, on the hackneyed topics of univerfal citizenfhip, and liberty and equality. Spartacus gave him line, and allowed him to work on, knowing that he could difcard him when he chofe. I fliall after this give fome extrafts from Fhilo's letters, from which the reader will fee the vile behaviour of Spartacus j and the THE ILLUMINATL 127 nature of his ultimate views. In the mean time we may proceed with the account of the principles of the fyftem. Spariacus to Catt), " Nothing would be more profitable to us than a right hiftory of mankind. DefpotiFm has robbed thera of their liberty. How can the weak obtain prote8:ion? Only by union ; but this is rare. Nothing can bring this about but hidden focieties. Hidden fchools of wif- dom are the means which will one day free men from their bonds. Thefe have in all ages been the archive^i of nature, and of the rights of men ; and by them lliaii human nature be raifcd from her fallen ftate. Princes and nations (hall vanilli from the earth. The human race will then become one family, and the world will be the dwelling of rational men. " Morality alone can do this. The head of every family will be what Abraham was, the patriarch, the prieft, and the unlettered lord of his family, and Reafon will be the code of laws to all mankind. This," fays Spartacus, " is our great secret. True, there may be fome difturbance ; but by and by the unequal wil! become equal ; and after the ftorm all will be calm. Can the unhappy confequences remain when the grounds of did'cnfion are removed ? Roufe yourfelves therefore, O men ! afifert your rights ; and then will Reafon rule with unperceived fway ; and all shall be happy.* '* Happy France ! Cradle of illumination, where die morning of Reafon has dawned, difpelling the clouds of Monarchy and Ghriftianity, where the babe has fucked the blood of the unenlight- ened, and Murder ! Fire ! Help ! has been the lullaby to fmg it to fleep. 128 THE ILLUMINATK ^ " Morality will perrorm all this ; and morality is ihd fruit of Illumination; duties and rights are reciprocaL Where Ociavias has no right, Cato o;ves him no duty. Illumination Ihews us our ridits, and Morality follows; that Morality which teaches us to be of age^ to he out of 'U)ardenjlii.p, to be full groxon^ and to walk without the leading-firings of pricjls and princes. " Jcfas of Nazareth, the Grand Matter of our Or- der, appeared at a tiroe when the world was in the utmoft diforder, and among a people who for ages had groaned under the yoke of bondage. He taught them the lef- fons of reafon. To be more efFeBivej he took in the aid of Religion — of opinions which were current — and, in a ver.y clever manner^ he combined his fecret do8rines with the popular religion, and widi the cuftoms which lay to iris hand. In thefe he wrapped up his le(ibns-»- h^ taught by parables. Never did any prophet lead men ib'^.ahly and fo fecurely along the road of liberty. lie lonccaled the precious meaning and confequences of his yorcirines ; but fully difclofed them to a chofen few. He fpcaks of a kingdom of the uprioht and faithful : his Father's kingdom, whofe children we alfo are. Let us only tjike Liberty and Equality as the great aim of his doclrines, and Morality as the way to attain it, and eve- ry thing in the New Teftaraent will be comprehenfible ;, end jefus will appear as the Redeemer of flaves. Man is fallen from the condition of Liberty and Equality, the STATE OF PURE NATURE. He is uudcr fubordi- nation and civil bondage, arifmg from the vices of man. This is the pall, and original sin. The k i n g - POM OF G^ACE is that reftoration which may be brought about by Illumination and ajuft Morality. This is the NEW BIRTH. When man lives under government, Jje is fallen, his worth is sone," and his nature tarniflicd. THE ILLUMINATI. 529 By fubduing our paflions, or limiting their cravings, we may recover a great deal of our original worth, and live in a ftate of grace. This is the redemption of men — this is accompiiflied by Morality -, and when this is fpread over the world, we have the kingdom of the just. " But alas ! the tafli of felf-formation was too hard Cor the fubjefts of the Roman empire, corrupted by every fpecies of profligacy. A chofen few received the doctrines in fecret, and they have been handed down to us (but frequently almoft buried under rubbifh of man's invention) by the Free Mafons. Thefe three conditions of human fociety areexprelTed by the rough, the fpiit and the poliflied Hone. The rough ftone, and the one that is fplit, exprefs our condition under ci- vil government ; rough by every fretting inequality of condition ; and fplit, fmce we are no longer one family; and are farther divided by differences of government, rank, property,- and religion ; but when reunited in one family, we are reprefented by the poliflied ftone. G. is Grace ; the Flaming Star is the Torch of Reafon. Thofe who poffefs this knowledge are indeed Illumi- N ATI. Hiram is our fiQitious Grand Mafter, flain for the REDEMPTION OF SLAVES ; tlic Niuc Maftcrs are the Founders of the Order. Free Mafonry is a Royal Art, inafmuch as it teaches us to walk without trammels, and to govern ourfelves." Reader, are you not curious to learn fomething of this all-powerful morality, fo operative on the heart of the truly illuminated — of this difciplina arcani, entufted on- ly to the chofen few, and handed down to ProfelTor Weifhaupt, to Spartacus, and his affociates, who havr cleared it of the rubbifh heaped on it by the dim-lighted R ,*30 THE ILLUMINATI. Mafons, and now beaming in its native luure on the ■minds of the Arecpagitis ? The teachers of ordinary Chriftianity have been labouring for almoft 2000 years, vith the New Teftament in their hands ; many of them .with great addrefs, and many, 1 believe, with honeft zeal. But alas ! they cannot produce fuch wonderful and certain effefts (for obferve, that Weifhaupt repeat- edly allures us that his means are certain) probably for Vv'ant of this difciplina arcarJ, of whofe efficacy fo much is faid. Moft fortunately, Spartacus has given us a brilliant fpecimen of the ethics which illuminated him- fclf on a trying occafion, where an ordinary Chriflian W'ould have been much perplexed, or would have taken a road v^'idely different from that of this illuiirious apof- de of light. And feeing that feveral of the Areopcgitx co-operated in the tranfaftion, and that it was carefully concealed from the profane and dim-fighted world, we can have no doubt but that it was condu6led accordincr o to the difciplina arcani of Illumination. 1 fliall give it in his own words . Spirtacus to Mariu^^ September ij^!^' " I am now in the moft embarrafTing fituation ; it robs me of all reft, and makes me unfit for every thing. I am in danger of lofmg at once my honor and my repu- tation, by which I have long had fuch influence. What think you — my fifter-in-law is with child. I have fent her to Euriphon, and am endeavouring to procure a marriage-licence from Rome. How much depends 011 this uncertainty — and there is not a moment to lofe. Should I fail, what is to be done ? What a return do I make by this to a perfon to whom I am fo much oblig- ed ! (we fhall fee^the probable meaning of this exclaraa- lion by and by.) W^e have tried every method in our THE ILLUMINATr. i^-t: power to dcflroy the child ; arid I hope (lie is determined on cverv thin^r — even d — . (Can this mean death ?) But alas! Euriphon is, I fear, too timid (alas! poor woman, thou art now under the difciplina arcani) and I- fee no other expedient. Could I be but afTured of the iilence of Cclfas (a. phyfician at Ino;old(ladt) he can re- lieve me, and he prowoijed me as much three years ago. Do fpeak to him., if you think he v;ill be (launch. I would not let Cato (his deareft friend, and his chief or only confidant in the fcheme of IHumination) know it yet, becaufe the affair in other reipefts requires his Vv'hole friendfhip. (Cato had all the pretty receipts.) Could you but help me out of this diftrefs, you would give me life, honor, and peace, and Jlrength to work- again in the great caufe. If you cannot, be afllircd I will venture on the mofl defperaie ftroke (poor fifter !) for it is fixed. — I will not lofe my honor. I cannot conceive what devil has made me to go aftray — vie who hdvs always been Jo careful onfuch occajions.. As yet all is quiet, and none know of it but you and Euriphon. Were it but time to undertake any thing — but alas ! \t is the fourth month. Thefe damned priefts too — for the adion is fo criminally accounted by them, and fcanda- iifes the blood. This makes the utmoil efforts and the moil dcfperate meafures abfolutely neceilary.'' It will throw fome light on this tranfatlion if v/e read a letter from Spartacus to Cato about this time. " One thiniT more, my deared friend—- Would it bs- a'^reeable to you to have me for a brother-in-law. If this fhould be agreeable, and if it can be brou:;ht about widiout prejudice to my honor, as I hope it may, I am not without hopes that the connection may take place. But in the mean time keep it a fecret, and only :,32 THE ILLUMINATL give me permifiion to enter into correfpondence on thc^ fubjeO; with the good lady, to whom I beg you will of- fer my refpe6lful compliments, and I will explain ray- felf more fully to you by word of mouth, and tell you my whole fituation. But I repeat it — the thing mull be- gone about with addrefs and caution. I would not for all the world deceive a perfon who certainly has not de- fer ved fo of me." What interpretation can be put on this ? Cato feems to be brother to the poor woman — he was unwittingly to furniih the drugs, and he was to be dealt with about confenting to a marriage, which could not be altogether agreeable to him, fince it required a dilpenfation, (he being already the iifter-in-law of Weifliaupt, either the fifter of his former wife, or the widow of a deceafed brother. Or perhaps Spartacus really wiflics to marry Cato's fifter, a different perfon from the poor woman in the ftraw ; and he conceals this adventure from his trufty friend Cato, till he fees what becomes of it. The child may perhaps be got rid of, and then Spartacus is a free man. There is a letter to Cato, thanking him for his friendfhip in the affair of the child^ — but it gives n6 light. I meet with another account, that the fifter of Zwack threw herfelf from the top of a tower, and beat out her brains. But it is not faid that it was an only iifter ; if it was, the probability is, that Spartacus had paid his addreifcs to her, and fucceeded, and that the fubfequent affair of his marriage with his fifter-in-law or fomething woiic, broke her heart. This feeras the befl account of the matter. For Hertel (Marius) writes t^ Zwack in November 1782 : "Spartacus is this day gone home, but has left his fifter-in-law pregnant behind, (this is from BalTus HofT.) About the new year he hopes to be made merry by a — — , v;ho will be before THE ILLUMrNATI. ig^ aU kings and princes — ^a young Spartaciis. Tlie Pope alio will refpeti liim, and legitimate him before the time." Now, vulgar Chriftian, compare this with the former declaration of Weilliaupt, in page 112, where he appeals to the tenor of his- former life, which had been fo feverc- iy fcrutinifed, without diiaaimlhing his high reputation and great influence, and hir, ignorance and abhorrence of all thofe things found 'm Cato's repoiit(M-ies. You fee this was a fufprife-H-he had formerly pro-ceeded cauti- dufly.— He is the befl man," fays Spartacus, ^' who beO, conceals his faults." — -He was difappointed by Celfus, who had prom.ijed him his ajjifiance on fiuh occajiom three years ago, during which time he had been bufy in " forming himfelf." How far he has advanced, ths reader may judge. One is curious to know what became of the poor wo- jjian : file was afterwards taken to the houfe of Baron Baff'us ; but here the foolilfi woman, for want of that courage which Illumination, and the bright profpeft of eternal lleep fhould have produced, took fright at the ■difciplina arcani,- left the houfe, and in the hidden fo- ■ciety of a midwife and nurfe brought forth a young Spartacus, who now lives to thank his father for his en- deavours to murder him. A " d'mned priejl^" the good Bifliop of Freyfingen, knowing the cogent reafons, pro- cured the difpenfation, and Spartacus was obliged, like another dim-fighted mortal, to marry her. The fcar,- dal was hufhed, and would not have been diicovcred had it not been for thefe private writings. But Spartacus fays (page 118) " that when yoa think him funk to the bottom, he will fpring up with double ■vigour." In a fubfcf^uem work called Short Amendment 134 THE ILLUxMINATL cj my Plan^ he fays, " If men were not habituated icr wicked manners, his letters would be their own juftifi- cation." He does not fay that he is without fault ; " but thev are faults of the underftanding — not of the heart. He had, firft of all, to forrahimfelf ; and this is a work of time." In the affair of his fifter-in-law he admits the fa8;s, and the attempts to deftroy the child ; " but this is far from proving any depravity of heart. In his con- dition, his honor at flake, whatelfe was left him to do ? His greatefl enemies, the Jefuits, have taught that in fuch a cafe it is lawful to make away with the child," and he quotes authorities from their books. "In the introductory faul.t he has the example of the beft of men. The fecond was its natural confequence, it was altogether involuntary, and, in the eye of aphilofophi- cal judge (I prefume of the Gallic School) who does not fquare himfelf by the harih letters of a biood-thirjiy lawgiver,, he has but a very trifling account to fettle. He had become a public teacher, and was greatly fol- lowed ; this example might have ruined many young men. The eyes of the Order alfo were fixed on him. The edifice refled on his credit ; had he fallen, he could no longer have been in a condition to treat the ^natters oj vir- tue Jo as to make a lajlmg imprejfion. It was chiefly his anxiety to fupport the credit of the Order which deter- mined him to take thi« ftep. It makes for him, but by no means againji him ; and the perfons who are moft in fault are the flavifli inquiiitors, who have publiflied the iranfaclion, in order to make his character more remark- able, and to hurt the Order through his perfon ; and they have not fcrupled, for this hellifti purpofe, to flir up a child againil its father ! ! !" I make no refletlions on this very remarkable, and highly ufeful fiery, but contejit myfelf with faying, that THE ILLUMINATI. 135 tl^sj unification by Weilhaupt (which I have been care- ful to give in his own words) is the greateft inftance of elFrontery and infuh on the fentiments of mankind that I have ever met with. We are all fuppofed as com- pletely corrupted as if we had lived under the full blaze of Illumination. In other places of this curious correfpondence we learn that Minos, and others of the Areopagitce, M-antcd to introduce Atheifm at once, and not go hedging in the manner they did; affirming it was eafier to {how at once that Atheifm was friendly to fociety, than to explain all their Mafonic Chriftianity, which they were afterwards to fhow to be a bundle of lies. Indeed this purpofe, of not only abolifliing Chriftianity, but all pofitive religion whatever, was Weifliaupt's favorite fcheme from the be- ginning. Before he canvaffed for his Order, in 1774, he publiflied a fiditious antivque, which he called Sidonii ApoUtnans Fragmenta^ to prepare (as be exprefsly fayvS in another place) mens minds for the doctrines of Rea- fon, which contains all the deteftable doctrines of Robi- net's Syjleme de la Nature. The publication of the fe- cond part was Itopped. Weifhaupt fays, in his Apo- logy FOR THE Illumin ATI, that before 1780 he had •retraced his opinions about Materialifm, and about the inexpediency of Princes. But this is falfe : Philo fays •exprefsly, that every thing remained on its original foot- ing in the whole praQice and dogmas of the Order when he quitted it in July 1784. All this was concealed, and even the abominable Malbnry, in the account of the Or- der which Weilhaupt publilhed at Regenfburg ; and it required the conftant efforts of Philo to prevent bars or flat Atheifm from being uniformly taught in their de- grees. He had told the council that Zeno would not be under a roof with a man who denj'ed the immortalitv ,^6 THE ILLUMiNATI. ©f tl:;? foul. He complains of Minoji's cramming irreli- cioa apwiTi tneir throats jn every meeting, and iays, that he frighten' chirrch-hiftory was probably very fcanty, or he trufted that the candidates would not be very nice in their exa- iflination of it, and he imagined that it would do wel^ enough, and " tickle fuch as had a religious hankering.'"' Spartacus diftiked it exceedingly — it did not accord' \vith his ferious conceptions, and he juilly calls it Joucr la Religion, The difcourfe of reception is to be found alfo in the fecret correfpondence [Nachtrag II. Ahthcilung^ p. 44). But it is needleis to infert it here. I have given the fub- ftance of this and of all the Cofmo-political declamati- ons already in the panegyric introduftion to the account of the procefs of education. And in Spartacus's letter, and in Philo's I have dven an abftraft of the introduc- tion to the explanation given in this degree of the fym- bols of Free Mafonry. With refpeft to the explanation i^tftlf, it is.as flovenly and wretched as can be imagined, and fliows that Spartacus trufted tq much more operar tivc principles in the human heart for the reception of his nonfenfe than the diftates of unbiaffed reafon. None but promifmg fubjeds were admitted thus far — fuch as •would not boggle ; and their principles were already fufficiently apparent to alTure him that they would be contented with any thing that made game of religion, and v;ould be diverted by the ferioufne-fs which a chance de.- votee might exhibit during thefe hlly caricatures of Chriftianity and Free Mafonry. But. there is cpnfidera- ble add'refs in the way that Spartacus prepares his pupils THE ILLUMINATI, 145 for leaving all this mummery fliown in its true colours, and overturned. " Examine, tead, think on thefe fymbols. There «re many things which one cannot find out without a guide nor even learn without inftruQion. They require ftudy and zeaL Should you in any future period think that you have conceived a clearer notion of them, that you have found a paved road, declare your difcoveries to your Superiors ; it is thus that you improve your mind ; they expeft this of you ; they know the true path * — but will not point it out — enough if they affift you in every approach to it, and warn you when you recede from it. They have even put things in your way to try your powers of leading yourfelf through the difficult irack of difcovery. In this procefs the weak head finds only child's play — the initiated finds objefts of thought which language cannot exprefs, and the thinking mind finds food for his faculties," By fuch forewarnings as ihefe Weifhaupt leaves room for any deviation, for any fentiment or opinion of the individual that he may after- wards choofe to encourage, and " to whifper in their ear (as he exprefles it) many things which he did not find it prudent to infert in a printed compend." But all the principles and aim of Spartacus and of his Order are moft diftindly feen in the third or Myftery Clafs. I proceed therefore to give fome account of iu By the Table it appears to have two degrees, the Leffcr and the Greater Myftcries, each of which have two de- partments, one relating chiefly to Religion and the other to Politics. The Prieft's degree contains, 1. An ImroduQion. 2. Further Accounts of the. Reception- int.o this degree. 3. X i^G THE ILLUMINATE What is called Inllruftion iii the Third Chamber, which the candidate mull read over. 4. The Ritual of Re;- ception. 5. Initruttioii for the Firft Degree of the Prieft's Clafs, called Injiruciio in Sctcntificis. 6. Ac- count of the Coiifecration of a Dean, the Superior of this Lower Ortler of Prieib. The Regent degree contains, 1. Direftions to the iProvincial concerning the difpenfation of this degree. 2. Ritual of Reception. 3. Syftem of DireQion for the whole Order. 4. Inftruclion for the whole Regent degree. 5. InftrufUon for the Prefects or Local Supe- liors. 6. Inftruttion for the Provincials. :, The .moft remarkable thing in the Prieft's degree is the Inftrutlion in the Third Chamber. It is to be found in the private correfpondence. ( Nachtrage Original Schriften 1787, 2d Abtheiiimg^ page 44.) There it has the title Difcourfe to the Illuminati Dirigenks, or Scotch Knights. In the critical hiftory, which is an- nexed to the 'Neucjie Arhcitung^xhQit is an acxount given of the reafon for this denomination ; and notice is taken of fome differences between the inIlru6lions here con> tained and that difcourfe. ' This inftru6lion begins with fore complaints of the^ IxDW condition of the'human race ; and the caufes are de- duced from religion and ftate-government. " Men ori- ginally led a patriarchal life, in which every father of a family was the fole lord of his houfe and his property, while he himfelf poflcflt^d general freedom and equlity. But they fuffered thcmielves to be oppreffed — gave ihemfclves up to civil iocieties, and formed ilates. Even by this they fell ; and this is the fall of man, by which f>tev were thfuft into upfpcakhblc niifcry. To gel out THE ILLUMINATI. i^f «r this ftate, to be freed and born again, tbcre is no. mother mean than the ufe of pure Reafon, by which a general nnorality may be eftablifhed, which will put mart in a condition to jrovern himfelf, regain his oriotinal' worth, and difpenfe with all political fupports, and par- ticularly with rulers. This can be done in no other way but by fccret aflbciations, which will by degrees, and in filence, poflefs themfelyes of the government of the States, and make ufe of thofe means for this purpofe which the wicked ufe for attainingriheir bafe ends. Prin- ces and Priefts are in particular, and kat" exochsn, the wicked, whofe hands we mufl tie up by means of thefe afibciations, if we cannot root them out altogether. " Kings are parents. The 'paternal power ceafes with the incapacity of the child ; and the father injures his child, if he pretends to retain his right beyond this pc'- riod. When a nation comes of age, their ftate of ward- foip is -at an end." Here follows a long declamation agalnfl patriotifm, as a narrow-minded principle when comparetl with true Cofmo-politifm. Nobles are reprefented as *•' a race df men that ferve not the nation but the Prince, whom a hint from the Sovereign (lirs up againft the nation, who are retained fervants and minifters of defpotifm, and the mean for oppreffing national liberty. Kings are accufed x)f a tacit convention, under the flattering appellation of the balance of power, to keep nations in fubjection. " The mean to regain P.eafon her rights — to raife li- berty from its afl>es— to rellore to man his original nghis ' — to produce the previous revolution in the miad-^f man — to obtain an eternal vi6lory over opprcfibrs — ami to work the redemption of mankind, is fecret ichools of 148 THE ILLUMINATf. •\v'ifdom. When the worthy have ftrengthened their af- fociation by numbers, they are fecure, and then they begin to become powerful, and terrible to the wicked, of whom many will, for fafety, amend themfelves — many will come over to our party, and we fhall bind the hands of the reft, and finally conquer them. Who- ever fpreads general illumination augments mutual fecu- rity ; illumination and fecurity make princes unneffary ; illumination performs this by creating an effeftive Mo- yality, and Morality makes a nation of full age fit to go- vern itfelf ; and fince it is not impoflible to produce a juft Morality, it is poflible to regain freedom for the world." " We mud therefore ftrengthen our band, and eRa- blifh a legion, which fhall reftore the rights of man, original liberty and independence.. « Jefus Chrift"— but I am fick of all this. The foK lowing queftions are put to the candidate ; 1. " Are our civil conditions in the world the dtd't- nations that feem to be the end of our nature, or the purpofes for which man was placed on this earth, -or are they not ? Do ftates, civil obligations, popular religion, fulfil the intentions of men who eftabliflicd them ? Do fecret aflTociations promote inftruftion and true human happinefs, or are they the children of neceflity, of tlic multifarious wants, of unnatural conditions, or the in- ventions of vain and cunning men ? ' 2. " What civil afTociation, what fcience do you think to the purpofc, and what arc not ?" THE ILLUMIMATX .149 3. '• Has there ever been any other in the world, is there no other more fimple condition, and what do yoa think of it ?" 4. " Does it appear poflible, after having gone through all the nonentities of our civil conrtitutions, to recover for once our firft fimplicity, and get back to this honor- able uniformity ?" 5. " How can one begin this noble attempt ; by means ©f open lupport, by forcible revolution, or by what other way ?" 6. " Does Chriftianity give us any hint to this pur- pofe ? does it not recognife fuch a bleiTed condition as once the lot of man, and asftill recoverable ?" 7. '* But is this holy religion the religion that is now profefTed by any fed on earth, or is it a better ?" 8. " Can we learn this religion — can the world, as it is, bear the light ? Do you think that it would be of Tervice, before numerous obftacles are removed, if we taught men this purified religion, fublime philofophy, and the ^rt of governing themfelvcs ? Or would not this hurt, by roufing the interefted paffions of men ha- bituated to prejudices, who would oppoie this as wick- fcd ?" g. " May it not be more advifable to do away thefc corruptions bit by bit, in filence, and for this purpofe to propagate thefe falulary and heart-confoling do^rines ip fecret ?" 10. " Do we not perceive traces of fuch a fecret doc- trine in the ancient fchools of philofpphy, in the doc t-o. THE ILLUMINATL trines and inftruftions of the Bible, which Chrift, the Redeemer and Liberator of the human race, gave to his trufty difciples ? Do yoii not obferve an edu cation, ~pro-. ceeding by fteps of this kind, handed down to us from liis time till the prefent ?" In the ceremonial of Reception, crowns and fceptres sre reprefented as tokens of human degradation. '• The plan of operation, by which our higher degrees a6l, muft work powerfully on the world, and mult give ano- ther turn to all our prefent conftitutions." Many other queftions are put to the pupil during his preparation, and his anfvvers are given in writing. Some of thefe refcr.ipts are to be found in tlie lecret correfpon- dence. Thus, " How far is the pofitioh true, that all thofe means may be u fed for a good purpofe which the wieked have employed for a bad?" And along with this queftion there is an injunQiori to take counfel from the opinions and conduQ: of the learned and wor- thy out of the fociety. In one of the anfvvers, the ex- ample of a great philofopher and Cofmo-polite is ad- duced, who betrayed a private correfpondence entrufted io him, for the fervice of freedom ; the cafe was Dr. .Franklin's. In another, the power of the Order was .<3xtended to the putting the individual to death ; and the rcafon given, was, that '-this power was allowed to all Sovereignties, for the good of the State, and therefore belonged to the Order, which was to govern the world." ^ " N. B. We mull acquire the direflion of educa- tion — of church-management — of the .profefforial chair, ,Tnd of the pulpit. We muft .bring our opinions int^o fafliion by every art — Ipread them among the people by the help of young writers. We muft preach the warm- eil concern for humanity, and make people indifferent THE ILLUMINATL 151 to an other relations. We mull take care that our wri- ters be well puffed, and (hat the Reviewers do not de- preciate them ; therefore we mud endeavour by every mean to gain over the Reviewers and Journalills ; and we muft alfo try to g^in the booklellers, who in tim« will fee that it is their intereft to fide with us." I conclude this account of the degree of Prefbyter with remarking, that there were two copies of it employ- ed occafionally. In one of them all the moft offenfivs things in refpeQ of church and ftate were left out. • In the Regent degree, the proceedings and inftruc- tions are conducted in the fame manner. Here, it is iaid, " We mail as much as poffible fefed for this de- gree perfons who are free, independent of all princes ; particularly fuch as have frequently declared themfelves difcontented with the ufu^linftitutions, and cheir wifties to fee a better government eftabliflied." Catching queftions are put to the candidate far this degree ; fuch as, • 1. " Would the Society be objeBionable which fliould (till the greater revolution of nature fhould be ripe) put monarchs and rulers out of the condition to do harm ; which in filence prevents the abufe of power, by furrounding the great with its members, and thus not only prevents their doing mifchief, but even makes them do good ?" 2. " Is not the objeftion unjuft, That fuch a Society may abufe its power. Do not our rulers frequently abufe their power, though we are filent ? This power i* nat io.iecure as in the hands of our Members, whooi 152 T^E ILLUMINATI. v/e train up \vith fo much care, and place about prince^ after mature deliberation and choice. If" any govern- ment can be harmlefs which is eredcd by man, liirely it mult be ours, which is founded on morality, fore-fight, talents, liberty, and virtue," <&:c. The candidate is prefented for reception in the cha- Tafter of a flave; and it is demanded of him what has brought him into thismoft miferablc of all conditions^. He anfwers — Society — the State — SubmifTivenefs — • Falfe Religion. A fl<^eleton is pointed out to him, at the feet of which are laid a Crown and a Sword. He is afked, whether that is the fkeleton of a King, a No- bleman, or a Beggar ? As he cannot decide, the Pre« fident of the meeting fays to him, " the charader of be- ing a Man is the only one that is of importance." In a long declamation on the hackneyed topics, we have here and there fome thoughts which have not yet come before us. " We muft allow the underlings to imagine (but with* out telling them the truth) that we direft all the Free Mafon Lodges, and eveii all other Orders, and that the greateft monarchs are under our guidance, which indeed is here and there the cafe. *' There is no way of influencing men fo powerfully as by means of the women. Thefe fhould therefore be our chief fludy ; we fhould infinuate ourfelves into their good opinion, give them hints of emancipation from the tyranny of public opinion, and of flanding up for ihemfelves ; it will be an immenfe relief to their enllav- ed minds to be freed from any one bond of refctaint, and it will fire them the mgre, and caufe them to work THE ILLUMINATL ^153 'for us with zeal, without knowing that they do fq- for ihey will only be indulging their own defire of perfonal admiration. " We mull win the common people in every corner. This will be obtained chiefly by means of the fchools, and by open, hearty behaviour, fliow, condefcenfion, popularity, and toleration of their jprejudices, which we ihall at leifure root out and difpel. . ' " If a writer publifhes any thing that attrafts notice, and is in itfelf juft, but does not accord with our plan, we muft endeavour to win him over, or decry hira. " A chief objeQof our care muft be to keep down that flavifh veneratiqn for princes which fo much difgra- ces all nations. Even in the joi-difant free England, the filly Monarch fays. We are gracioufly pleafed, and the more fimple people fay, Amen. Thefe men, com- monly very weak heads, are only the farther corrupted by this fervile flattery. But let us at once give an ex- ample of our fpirit by our behaviour with Princes > we muft avoid all familiarity — never entruft ourfelves to them — behave with precifion, but with civility, as to other men — fpeak of them on an equal footing — this will in time teach them that they are by nature men, if they have fenfe and fpirit, and that only by convention they are Lords. We muft afliduoufly collect; anecdotes, and the honorable and mean a6lions, both of the leaft and the greateft, and when their names occur in any records which are read in our meetings, let them ever be accompanied by thefe marks of their real worth. " The great ftrength of our Order lies in its conceal- ment ; let it never appear in any place in its own name, V • 154 THE I'LLUMINATI. but always covered by another name, and another oc- cupation. None is Jitter than the three lower degrees of Free Mafonry ; the public is accii/iomed to it, expeds lit- tle from it, and therefore takes little notice of it. Next to this, the form of a learned or literary fociety is beft fuited to our purpofe, and had Free Mafonry not exift- ed, this cover would have been employed ; and it may be much more than a cover, it may he a powerful engine in our hands. By efablifJiing reading focieties, and fub- fcription libraries, and taking theft under our direflion^ and fupplying them through our labours, we may turn the public mind which way ive will. In like manner we muft try to obtain an influence in the military academies (this may be of mighty confe- quence) the printing-houfes, bookfellers fhops, chapters, and in fliort in all offices which have any eflPe6t, either in forming, or in managing, or even in direfting the mind of man : painting and engraving are highly worth our care."* " Could our Prefeft (obferve it is to the Illuminati Regentes he is fpeaiking, whofe officers are PrefeMi) fill the judicatories of a ftate with our w^orthy members, he does all that man can do for the Order. It is better than to gain the Prince himfelf. Princes ffiould never get be- yond the Scotch knigthood. They cither never profe- cute any thing, or they twill every thing to their own advantage. * (They were flrongly fufpefted of having publirSed fome fcan* dalous caricatures, and fome very immoral prints.) They fctupled at no mean, hovi^ever bafe, for corrupting the nation. Mirabeau had done the fame thing at Berlin. By political caricatures and filthy prints, they corrupt even luch as canaot read. THE ILLUMINATf. 'Dt) " A Literary Society is the moft proper form for the introduftion of our Order into any ilate where we arc yet ftrangers." (Mark this !) " The power of the Order muft furely be turned to the advantage of its Members. All muft be afliiled. They muft be preferred to all perfons otherwife of equ^l merit. Money, fervices, honor, goods, and blood, muft Be expended for the fully proved Brethren, and the un- fortunate muft be reheved by the funds of the Society." As evidence that this was not only their inftruftions, but alfo their alhduous praftice, take the following report from the overfeer of Greece (Bavaria.) In Cato's hand-wriiing. " The number (about 600) of Members relates so Eavaria alone. " In Munich there is a welf-conftituted meeting of //- luminati Ma]ores,a. meeting of excellent Illuminati Mi- nores, a refpetlable Grand Lodge, and t\i!KD Minerval Affemblies. There is a Minerval Aftembly at Freyf- fmg, at Landlberg, at Burghaufen, at Stralburg, at Ingolftadt, and at laft at Regenfburg.'^ " At Munich we have bought a houfe, and by clever meafu-res have brought things fo far, that the citizens take no notice of it, and even fpeak of us with efteem. We can openly go to the houfe every day, and carpy on the buhnefs of the Lodge. This is a CTjcat deal for o o * In. this fmall turbulent city there were eleven fecret focietles of Malons, Rofycrucians, Clafr-voyants," &c. 156 THE ILLUMINATI. this city. In the houfe is a good mufeum of natural hiftory, and apparatus for experiments ; alfo a library which daily increafes. The garden is well occupied by botanic fpecimens, and the whole has the appearance of a fociety of zealous naturalifts. " We get all the literary journals. We take care, by well-timed pieces, to make the citizens and the Prin- ces a little more noticed'for certain little flips. We op- pofe the monks with all our might, and with great fuc- cefs. " The Lodge is conftituted entirely according to our fyftem, and has broken off entirely from Berlin, and we have nearly finilhed our tranfaciions with the Lodges of Poland, and fhail have them under our direction. " By the adivity of our Brethren, the Jefuits have been kept out of all the profelTorial chairs at Ingoliladt, and our friends prevail." " The Widow Duchefs has fet up her academy en- . tirely according to our plan, and we have all the Pro- feflbrs in the Order. Five of them are excellent, and the pupils will be prepared for us. " We have got Pylades put at the head of the Fife, and he has the church-money at his difpofal. By pro- perly ufing this money, we have been enabled to put our Brother 's houfehold in good order ; which he had deftroyed by*goingto the Jews. We have fup- ported more Brethren under fimilar misfortunes. *' Our Ghoftly Brethren have been very fortunate this laft year, for we have procured for them feverai good benefices, paiiHieSj Lutoilhipsj Sec. THE ILLUMINATL 157 *' Through our means Arminius and Cortez have gotten ProfefTorfhips, and many of our younger BreiK- ren have obtained Burfaries by our help. " We have been very fuccefsful againft the Jefuits, and brought things to fuch a bearing, that their reve- nues, fuch as the Miffion, the Golden Alms, the Ex- ercifes, and the Converfion Box, are now under the management of our friends. So are alfo their concerns in the univerfity and the German fchooi foundations. The application of all will be determined prefently, and we have fix members and four friends in the Court. This has coft our fenate fome nights want of flecp. " Two of our bed youths have got journies from the Court, and they will go to Vienna, where they will do us great fervice. " All the German Schools, and the Benevolent Soci- ety, are at laft under our direction. '' We have got feveral zealous members in the courts of juftice, and we are able to afford them pay, and other good additions. " Lately, we have got poffeflion of the Bartholomew Inftitution for young clergymen, having fecured all its fupporters. Through this we fliall be able to fupply Bavaria with fit priefts. " By a letter from Philo we learn, that one of the higheft dignities in the church was obtained for a zea- lous Illuminatus, in oppofition even to the authority and right of the Bifnop of Spire, who is repjeiented as a bigoited and tyrannical prieit." 158 THE ILLUMINATI. Such were the lefler myfteries of the Illuminati. But there remain the higher myfteries. The fyftem of thefe has not been printed, and the degrees were conferred only by Spartacus himfelf, from papers which he never entrufted to any perfon. They were only read to the "candidate, but no copy was taken. The pubhflier of the Neuejle Ar beitung {^d^ys that he has read them (fo fays Grollman.) He fays, " that in the flrft degree of Ma- gus or Philosophus, the doftrines are the fame with thofe of Spinoza, where all is material, God and the world are the fame thing, and all religion whatever is without foundation, and the contrivance of ambitious men." The fecond degree, or Rex, teaches, " tl>at every peafant, citizen, and houfeholder is a fovereign, as in the Patriarchal ftate, and that nations muft be brought back to that ftate, by whatever means are con- ducible — peaceably, if it can be done ; but, if not, then by force — for all fubordination muft vanifti from the face of the earth." The author fays further, that the German Union was, to his certam knowledge, the work of the Illuminati. The private correfpondence that has been publifhed is by no means the whole of what was difcovered at Landfliut and BafTus Hoft', and government got a great deal of ufeful information, which was concealed, both out of regard to the families of the perfons concerned, and alio that the reft might not know the utmoft extent of the difcovery, and be lefs on then' guard. A third colle£lion was found under the foundation of the houfe in which the Lodge Theodor von guten Rath had been held. But none of this has appeared. Enough furely has been difcovered to give the public a very juft idea of the defigns of the Society and its conneBions. THE ILLUMINATE 5^ Lodges were difcovered, and are mentioned in the private papers already publiflied, in the following places. Munich Ingolftadt Frankfort Echiladt Hanover Brunfwick Calbe Magdenburgh CaflTel Ofnabruck Weimar Upper Saxony (feveral) Auftria (14) Wellphalia (feveral) Heidelberg Mannheim Strafburgh (5) Spire Worms DuffeldorfF Cologne , Bonn (4) Livonia (many) Courland (many) Frankendahl Alface (many) \''ienna (4) America (feveral). N. B HcfTe (many) Buchenwerter Monpeliard Stutgard (3) Carlfruhe Anfpach Neuwied (2) Mcntz (2) Poland (jnany) Turin England (8) Scotland (2) Warfaw (2) Deuxponts Coufel Tre\'^s (2) Aix-la-Chappellc (2) Bartfchied Hahrenberg Switzerland (many) Rome Naples Ancona Florence France Halland (many) Drefden (4) This was before 178G. I have picked up the names of the following members, Spartacus Weifhaupt, Profelfor. i6o THE ILLUMINATI. rbilo, Amelius, Bayard, Diomedes, Cato, Pythagoras, Hannibal, Brutus, Lucian, Zoroafter, Confucius, Hermes Trifmegiftus, Knigge, Freyherr, i. c. Gentleman. Bode, F. H. Bufche, F. H. Conftanza, Marq. Zwack, Lawyer. Torring, Count. Kreitmaier, Prince. Utfchneider, ProfefTor. Coflandey, ProfefTor. Renner, ProfefTor. Grunberger, ProfefTor, Balderbufch, F. H. Lippert, Counfellor. Kundl, ditto. Bart, ditto. Leiberhauer, Priefl. Kundler, ProfefTor. Lowling, Profeffor. Vachency, Councellor, Morauflcy, Count. Hoffftetter, Surveyor of Roads. Strobl, Book Teller. Weflenrieder, ProfefTor^i Babo, ProfefTor. Baader, ProfefTor. Burzes, Priefl. Pfruntz, Priefl. BafTus, Baron. Savioli, Count. Nicholai, BookTeiler. Bahrdt, Clergyman. Baierhamer. Socher, School InTpeRor. THE ILLUMINATL 'i6i Dillis, Abb6. Sulla, MeggenhofF, Paymafter, Danzer, Canon. Braun, ditto. Fifcher, Magiftrate. Frauenberger, Baron. Kaltner, Lieutenant, Pythagoras, Drexl, Librarian, Marius, Hertel, Canon. Dachfel. Billing, Counfellor, Seefeld, Count. Gunflieim, ditto. Morgellan, ditto. Salad in, Ecker, ditto. Ow, Major. Werner, Counfellor. Cornelius Scipio, Berger, ditto. Wortz, Apothecary. Mauvillon, Colonel. Mirabeau, Count. Orleans, Duke. Hochinaer. Tycho Brahe, Gafpar, Merchant, Thales, Kapfinger. Attila, Sauer. Ludovicus Bavarusj Lofi. Shaftefbury, Steger. Coriolanus, Tropppnero, Zufchwartz, Timon, Michel. Tamerlane, Lange, Livius, BadorfFer. Cicero, Pfeft. Ajax J MaCfeahaufenj Count» W i6z ^THE ILLUMINATL I have not been able to find who perfonated Minos, Euriphon, Celfius, Mabamet, Hercules, Socrates, Phj- lippo Strozzi, Euclides, and fome others who have been uncommonly aQive in carrying forward the great caufe. The chief publications for giving us regular accounts of the whole (befides the original writings) are^ ^ 1. Grojfe Abficht des Illuminaten Or dens. 2. Nachirages f'^.J an denjelben, 3. Wcijliaupt's iviproved' Syjlcin, 4. Syjlem des Ilium. Ordens am dem Original-Schrif-' ten gczogcn. I may now be permitted to make a few refle61ions on the. accounts already given of this Order, which has fo diiiinflly concentrated the cafual and fcattered ef- forts of its prompters, th& Chevaliers Bienfaifants, the Philalethes^ and A'uiis Reunis of France, and carried on the fyftem of enlightening and reforming the world. The great aim profeffed bv the Order is to make 7nen happy : and the means prafelfed to be employed, as ih^ only and furely effe6live, is making them good ; and tliis is to be brought about by enlightening the mind, and freeing it from the dominion of fuperJ}.ition and prejudi- ces. This purpofe is effected by its producing a jiijl and Jleady morality. This done, and becoming uni- verfal, there can be little doubt but that the peace of fociety will be the confequence — that government, fub- ordination, and all- the difagr^eable coercions of civil governments will be unncceffary — and that fociety may go on peaceably in a ftate of perfecl liberty and equality. THE ILLUMINATT. i€3^ ■' IjiU furcly it requires no angel from heaven to tell us that if every man is virtuous, there will be no vice ; and. that there will be peace on earth, and good will be- tween man and man, whatever be the differences of rank and fortune ; fo that Liberty and Equality fcem noi to be the neccffary confcqucnces oF this juil Mora-' lity, nor necelTary requifrtes for this national happinefs. We may queftion,' therefore, whether the Illumination' Vk'hich makes this a neceffary condition is a clear and a' pure lighi. It may be a falfe glare, fhowing the object only on onp fide, tinged v.'ith partial colours thrown on it by neiglibouring objet'ts. We fee fo much wif- dom in the general plans of nature, that we are apt to' think that there is the fame in what relates to the human mind, and that the God of nature accompliii'ies his' plans in this as well as in other inilances. We are even" vhich he leaves them. Having got .them this length, they are declared to be fit, and he re- ceives them into the higher mylleries. But left they fhould ftill fhrink back, dazzled by the Pandemoniaii glare of Illumination which will now burft upon them, he exafts from them, for the firft time, a bond of perfe- verance. But, as Philo fays, there is little chance of tergiverfation. The life and honor of moft of the can- .didates are by this time in his hand. They have been long occupied in tl:ie vile and corrupting office of fpies on all around them, and they are found fit for their pre- fent honors, becaufe they have difcharged this office to his fatisfaftion, by the reports which they have given in, containing ftories of their neighbours, nay even of their jOwn gang. They may be ruined in the world by dif- clofing thefe, either privately or publicly. A man who .had once brought hirafelf into this perilous fitilation durft not go back. He might have been left indeed in any degree of Illumination : and, if Religion has not been quite eradicated from his mind, he muft be in that con- dition of painful anxiety and doubt that makes hira dcf- .pcrate, fit for the full operation of fanaiicifm, and he rnay be engaged in the caujc of God, ." to comniit ail kind of wickednefs with greedinefs." In this Itate of mind, a rnan fiiuts his eyes, and ruflies on. Had .Spartacus fuppofed that he was dealing with good men, his conduct would have been the leveife of all this,. iSS THE ILLUMINATL There is no occafion for this bond from a perfon con- vhicedofthe excellency of the Order. ButhekncW thera to be unprincipled, and that the higher myfleries were fo daring, that even fome of fuch men would ftart at them. But they mult not blab. Having thus got rid of Religion, Spartacus could ■\vith more fafety bring into view the great aim of all his efforts — to rule the world by means of his Order. As the immediate mean for attaining this, he holds out thb pro fpeft of freedom from civil fubordination. Perfeft Liberty and Equality are interwoven with every thing ; •and the flattering thought is continually kept up, that *' by the wife contrivance of this Order, the moft com- plete knowledge is obtained of the real worth of every perfon; the Order will, for its own fake, and therefore cirtainly, place every man in that fituation in which he can be moft effeftive. The pupils are convinced that the Order will rule the world. Every member there- fore becomes a ruler." We all think ourfelves qualified to rule. The difficult taflv is to obey with propriety ; but we are honeftly generous in our profpeBs of future command. It is therefore an alluring thought, both to good and bad men. By this lure the Order will fpread. If they are a8ive in inlinuating their members into of- fices, and in keeping out others (which the private cof- refponder.ce fhows to have been the cafe) they may have had frequent experience of their fuccefs in gaining ah miluence on the world. This mufl whet their zeal. If ^Vei{haupt was a fincere Cofmo-polite,he had the plea- f uie of feeing " his wor4s. profpering in his hands." It furely needs little argument now to prove, that the Order of -Ilkiminati had for its immediate objeftthe abolifliing of Chriilianity (at Icaft this was the intention THE ILLUMINATL 'i^ of the Founder) with the fole view of overturning the civil government, by introducing univerfal diflblutenefs and profligacy of manners, and then getting the aflift- ance of the corrupted fubjefts to overfet the throne. The whole condutl in the preparation and inftruftion of the Preftyter and Regens is directed to this point. Phi- lo fays, " I have been at unwearied pains to remove the fears of fome who imagine that our Superiors want to abolifh Chriftianity ; but by and by their prejudices will -wear off, and they will be more at their eafe. Were I to let them know that our General holds all Religion to ■be a lie, and ufes even Deifm, only to lead men by the nofe. — Were I to conned myfelf again with the Free Mafons, and tell them our defigns to ruin their Frater- nity by this circular letter (a letterto the Lodge in Cour- land) — Were I but to give the leaft hint to any. of thfc Princes of Greece (Bavaria) — No, my anger fliall not carry me fo far. — An Order forfooth, which in this manner abufes human nature — which will fubje6l men to a bondage more intolerable than Jefuitifm. — I could put it on a refpeftable footing, and the world would be ours. Should I mention our fundamental principles (even after all the pains I have been at to mitigate them) fo unqueftionably dangerous to the world, who would remain ? What lignifies the innocent ceremonies of the Prieft's degree, as I have compofed it, in comparifon with your maxim, that we may ufe for a good end thofe means which the wicked employ for a bafe purpofe ?" Brutus writes, " Numenius now acquiefces in the mortality of thfe foul ; but, I fear we fhall lofe Ludo- vicus Bavarus. He told Spartacus, that he was mif- taken when he thought that he had fwallowed his ftupid Mafonry. No, he faw the trick, and did not admire ^ij9 THE ILLUMINATI. the end that required it. I don't. know what to do ; a Sta bene would make him mad, and he will blow us all up. " The Order muft pofTefs the power of life and death in confequence of our Oath ; and with propriety, for the fame reafon, and by the fame right, that any go- vernment in the world polfefTes it : For the Order comes in their place, making them unneceffary. When things cannot be otherwife, and ruin would enfue if the AlTo- .ciation did not employ this mean, the Order muft, as well as public rulers, emplow it for the good of man- kind; therefore for its own prefervation. ( N. B. Ob- ferve here the cafuiftry.) Nor will the political confti- tutions fuffer by this, for there are always thoufands equally ready and able to fupply the place." We need not wonder that Diomedes told the Profef- fors, " that death, inevitable death, from which no po- tentate could proteft them, awaited every traitor of the Order ;" n.or that the French Convention propofed to take off the German Princes and Generals by fword or poifon, &:c. Spartacus might tickle the fancy of his Order with the notion of ruling the world ; but I imagine that his darling aim v»'as ruling the Order. The happinefs of mankind was, like Weifiiaupt's Chriftianity, a mere tool, a tool which the Regentes made a joke of. But Spar- tacus would rule the Regentes ; this he could not fo ea- lily accomphfh. His defpotifm was infupportable to nioft of them, and finally brought all to light. When he could not perfuade them by his own firmnefs, and in- deed by his fuperior wiidom and difmtereitedncfs in other refpefts. and his unwearied adivity, he employed THE ILLUMINATI. 171 jcfuitical tricks, caufing them to fall out with each other, fetting them as fpies on each other, and feparating any two that he faw attached to each other, by making the one a Mafter of the other ; and, in fhort, he left nothing undone that could fecure his uncontrouled command. This can fed Philo to quit the Order, and made Bajfm^ Von Torring^ Kreitmaier, and feveral other gentlemen, ceafe attending the meetings ; and it was their mutual diffentions which made them fpeak too freely in public, and call on themfelves fo much notice. At the time of the difcovery, the party of Weifhaupt confided chiefly of very mean people, devoted to him, and willing to ex- -ecute his orders, that by being his fervants, they might have the pleafure of commanding others. The ohjeBs, the undoubted obje6ls of this AfTociati- on, are furcly dangerous and deteftable ; viz. to over- turn the prefent conflitutions of the European States,- in order to introduce a chimera which the hiftory of man- kind fliows to be contrary to the nature of man. * Naiuram expcllasjurcd^ tamen ufquc recur ret. ' Suppofe it pofhble, and done in peace, it could not ftand, unlefs every principle of afctivity in the human mind be enthralled, all incitement to exertion and induf- try removed, and man brought into a condition incapa- ble of improvement ; and this at the expence of every thing that is valued by the beft of men — by mifcry and devaflution — by loofening all the bands of fociety. To talk of morality and virtue in conjun6lion with fuch Tchemes, is an infult to common fenfe ; diflolut-nefs of manners alone can brin? men to think of it. 47* THE ILLUMINATI. Is it not aftonifhing therefore, to hear people hi this country exprefs any regard for this inititution ? Is it not grieving to the heart to think that there are Lodges of Illunminated among us ? I think that nothing bids fairer for weaning our inconfiderate countrymen from having any connexion with them, than the faithful ac- count here given. I hope that there are few, very few of our countrymen, and none whom we call friend, who can think that an Order which pra6lifed fuch things can be any thing ejfe than a ruinous AfTociation, a gang of profligates. All their profeffions of the love of man- kind are vain ; nay, their Illumination rnufl: be a be- wildering blaze, and totally ineffe6lual for its purpofe, for it has had.no fach influence on the leaders of the band ; yet it feems quite adequate to the efiPefts it has produced ; for fuch are the charaBers of thofe who for- get God. If we in the next place attend to their mode of edu- cation, and examine it by thofe rulers of common fenfe that we apply in other cafes of condu6t, we fliall find it equally unpromifing. The fyftem of Illuminatifm is one of the explanations of Free Mafonry ; and it has gained many partifans. Thefe explanations reft their credit and their preference on their own merits. There is fomething in thernfelves, or in one of them as diilin- guiflied from another, which procures it the preference for its own fake. Therefore, to " give this Order any dependence on Free Mafonry, is to degrade the Order. To introduce a Mafonic Ritual into a manly inilitution is to degrade it to a frivolous amufement for great chil- dren. Men really exerting thernfelves to reform the world, antj qualified for the tafl;, muft have been dif- gulted with fuch occupations. They betray a frivolous conception of the tafl<. in which they are really engaged. THE ILLUiMINATl. 173 To iihagine that men engaged in the ftruggle and rival- fhip of life, under the iniluence of fehlfli, or mean, or impetuous paifions, are to be wheedled into candid fea- timents, or a generous conduft, as a fi-oward child may fometimes be made gentle and trafctable by a rattle or ^ humming-top, betrays a great ignorance of human na- ture, and an arrogant felf-conceit in thofe who can ima- gine that all but thcmfelves are babies. The further we proceed, the more do v/e fee of this want of xvifdom. The whole procedure of their inftrntiion luppofes fuch a complete furrender of freedom of thought, of com.moii knk^ and of common caution, that it feems impoffible •that it fhould not have alarmed every fcnlible mind. This indeed happened before the Order was feven years old. It was wife indeed to keep their Areopagitx ont of fight ; but who can be fo fdiy as to believe that their .unknown fuperiors were all and always faultlefs men. But had they been the men they were repreiented to be • — if I have any knowledge of my own heart, or any ca- pacity of drawing juft inferences from the condu6l of others, I am perfuaded that the knowing his fuperiors would have animated the pupil to exertion, that he might exhibit a pleahng fpeclacle to fuch intelligent and wor- thy judges. Did not the Stoics profefs themfelves to be encouraged in the fcheme of life, by the thought that the immortal Gods were looking on and paffing -their judgments on their manner of atting the part af- figned them ? But what abjefct fpirit will be contented with working, zealoufly working, for years, after a plan of which he is never to learn the full meaning. In fhort, the only knowledge that he can perceive is know- ledge in its word form, Cunning. Thismufl appear in the contrivances by which he will foon find that lie is kept in complete fubjettion. If he is a true and zea- lous Brother, he has put hanfelf in the power of his Su- 174 THE ILLUMINATI. periors by his refcripts, which they required of him oti pretence of their learning his own chara6ler, and of his iearning how to know the characters of other men. In thefe refcripts they have got his thoughts on many deh- cate points, and on the conducl of others. His Direc- tors may ruin him by betraying him ; and this without being feen in it. I fliould think that wife men would know (hat none but weak -or bad men would fubjed •themfelves to fuch a talk. They exclude the good, the manly, the only fit perfons for affifting them in their en- deavours to inform and to rule the world. Indeed I may fay that this exclufion is almoft made already by connecting the Order with Free Mafonry. Lodges are not the reforts of fuch men. They may fometimes be found there for an hour's relaxation. But thefe places are the haunts of the young, the thoughtlefs, the idle, the weak, the vain, or of dehgning Literati ; and ac- cordingly this is the condition of three-fourths of the II- iuminati whofe names are known to the public. I own that the reafons given to the pupil for prefcribing thefe taflvs are clever, and well adapted to produce their ef- fcft. During the flurry of reception, and the glow of expeftation, the danger may not be fufpetled ; but I hardlv imadnc that it will remain unperceived when the pupil fits down to write his firftleffon. Mafon Lodges, however, were the mofl likely places for finding and enliiling members. Young men, warmed by declama- tions teeming with the flimfy moral cant of Cofmo-po- liiifm, are in the proper frame of mind for this Illumi- nation. It nov.' appears alio, that the diffentions in P>ee Mafonry mufl have had great influence in promot- ing this fcheme of Weiihaupt's, which was, in many particulars, fo unpromiflng, becaufe it prefuppofes fuch a degradation of the ir-ind. But when the fchilmatics in Mafonry difputed with warmth, trifles cume to acquire THE ILLUMINATI. 175 unfpeakable importance. The hankering after wonder -was not in the lead abated by all the tricks which had been detefted, and the impoffibility of the wifiied-for difcovcry had never been demonftrated to perfons pre- pofrefTed in its favor. They itill choje to believe that the fymbols contained fome. important fecret; and hap- py will be the man who finds it out. The more frivo- lous the fymbols, the more does the heart cling to the myllery ; and, to a mind in this anxious ftate, Weif- haupt's proffer was enticing. He laid before them a fcheme which was fomewhat feafible, was magnificent, furpafling our conceptions, but at the fame time fuch as permitted us to expatiate on the fubjecl, and even to amplify it at pleafure in our imaginations without abfur- dity. It does not appear to me wonderful, therefore, that fo many were fafcinated till they became at laft re- gardlefs of the abfurdity and inconliltency of the means by which this fplendid objetl was to be attained. Heay .what Spartacus himfelf fays of hidden myfteries. " Of all the means I know to lead men, the mod effectual is a concealed myftery. The hankering of the mind is ir- •reliltible ; and if once a man has taken it into his head that there is a myftery in a thing, it is impoiTible to get ■it out, either by argument or experience. And then, we can fo change notions by merely changing a woid. What more contemptible than Janaticifm ; but call it .cnthujiafm ; then add the little word 7iohle^ and you may lead him over the world. Nor are we, in thefe bright day 8, a bit better than our fathers, who found the pardon of their fins myfieriouOy contained in a much greater fin, viz. leaving their family, and going bare- footed to Rome." Such being the employment, and fuch the difciples, fiiould we expert the fruits to be very precious ? No. 176 THE ILLUMINATI. The doflrines which were gradually unfolded were fuch as fuited thofe who continued in the Curfus Academiats, Thofe who did not, becaule they did not like them, got a Std bene ; they were not fit for advancements. The numbers however were great ; Spartacus boafted of 600 m Bavarja alone in 1783. We don't know many of them ; few of thofe we know were in the upper ranks of life ; and I can fee that it required much wheedling, and many letters of long worded German compliments from the proud Spartacus, to win even a young Baron or a Graf juft come of age. Men in an eafy fituation in life could not brook the employment of afpy, which is bafe, cowardly, and corrupting, and has in all ages and countries degraded the perfon who engages in it#> Can the perfon be called wife who thus enllaves himfelf? Such perfonsgive up the right of private judgment, and rely on their unknown Superiors with the blinded and moft abjecl confidence. P\ir their fakes, and to rivet ftill fafter their own fetters, they engage in the mofl cor- rupting of all employments — and for what ? — To learn fnmething more of an order, of which every degree ex- plodes the doQrine of a former one. Would it have hurt the young Illuminatus to have it explained to him all at once ? Would nol this fire his mind — when he fees widi the fame glance the great objeft, and the fiinefs of the means for attaining it ? Would not the exalted cha- raclers of the Superior, fo much excelling himfelf in ta- lents, and virtue, and happinefs (otherwife the Order is good for nothing) warm his heart, and fill him with emu- lation, fince he fees in them, that what is fo ftrongly preached to him is an attainable thing ? No, no — it is all a trick ; he mufl: be kept hke a child, amufcd with rattles, and flars, and ribands — and all tlic fatisfatlion he obtains is, like the Mafons. the fun of feeing others run- ning the famc.gauiujct. THE ILLUMINATI. 177 '■ \Veifiiaiipt acknowledges that the great influerAce of tlie Order may be abufed. Surely, in no way fo eafily or fo fatally as by corrupting or fedu6live leflbns in the beginning. The miftake or error of the pupil is undif- coverable bv himfelf (according to the genuine princi- ples of Illumination) for the pupil mull believe his Mentor to be infallible — with him alone he is connefted >" — his leffons only muft he learn. Who can tell him that he has gone wrong— or who can fet him right ? yet he certainly may be mifled. Here, therefore, there is confufion and deficiency* There mufl: be fome ftandard to which appeal can be made ; but thi's is inacceflible to all within the pale of the Order; it is therefore without this pale, and inde- pendent of the Order — and it is attainable only by aban- doning the Order. The Quibus Licet, the Primo, the Soli, can procure no light to the perfon who does not know that he has been led out of the right road to virtue and happinefs. The Superiors indeed draw much ufeful information from thefe reports, though they af- feft to ftand in no need of it, and they make a cruel return. All this is fo much out of the natural road of inflrudi- on, that, on this account alone, we may prefume that it. is wrong. We are generally fafe when we follow na- ture's plans. A child learns in his father's houfe, by feeing, and by imitating, and in common domeflic educa- tion, he gets much ufeful knowledge, and the chief habits which are afterwards to regulate his conduft. Example does almoft every thing ; and, with refped to what may be called living, as diftinguifhable from profelTion, fpe- culation and argumentative in{lru6iion are feldom em- *78 THE ILLUMINATJ; ployed, or of any ufe. The indifpenfablenefs of mutuaJ forbearance and obedience, for domeftic peace and hap- pinefs, foims moll of thefe habits ; and the child, under good parents, is kept in a fituation that makes virtue ea- lier than vice, and he becomes wife and good without any exprefs ftudy about the matter. But this Illumination plan is darknefs over all — it is too artificial- — and the topics, fi'om which counfel is to be drawn, cannot be taken from the peculiar views of the Order — for thefe are yet a fecret for the pupil — .and muft ever be a fecret for him while under tuition. They mud therefore be drawn from common fources, and the- Order is of no ufe ; all that can naturally be effeduated. by this Aflbciation is the forming, and aiTiduoufly fof- tering a narrow, Jewifli, corporation fpirit, totally op- pofite to the benevolent pretenfions of the Order. The pupil can fee nothing but this, that there is a fet of men> whom he does not know, who may acquire incontroula- ble power, and may peihaps make ufe of him, but for what purpofe, and in what way, he does not know ; how can he know that his endeavours are to make man hap^ pier, any other way than as he might have known it without having put this collar round his own neck ? Thefe reflections addrefs themfelves to all men who profefs to conduft themfelves by the principles and dic- tates of common fenfe and prudence, and who have the ordinary iliare of candour and good will to others. It requires no fmgular fenlibility of heart, nor great gene- rolity, to make fuch people think the doctrines and views of the lUuminati falfe, abfurd, foolifli, and ruin- ous. But I hope that I addrefs them to thoufands of my countrymen and friends, who have much higher no- tions of human nature, and who chcrifh with care .die THE ILLUAIINATT; V]^ ^rffeQions and the hopes that are fuited to a rational, a benevolent, and a high-minded being, capable of endlefs improvement. To thofe who enjoy the cheering confidence in the fbperin tendance and providence of God, who conlider thcmfelves as creatures whom he has made, and whorrt he cares for, as the fubjefts of his moral government, this Order mud appear with every character of falfe- hood and abfurdity on its countenance. What cam BE MORE IMPROBABLE than this, tbat He, whom we Jook up to as the contriver, the maker, and dire£lor, of this goodly frame of things, fhould have fo far miftaken his own plans, that this world of rational creatures fhould have fubfifted for thoufands of years, before a way could be found out, by which his intention of making men good and happy could be accomplifhed ; and that this method did not occur to the great Artift himfelf, nor even to the wifeft, and happieft, and beft men upon earth ; but to a few perfons at Munich in Bavaria, who had been trying to raife ghofts, to change lead into gold, to tell fortunes, or difcover treafures, but had failed in all their attempts ; men who had been engaged for years in every whim which charad^rifes a weak, a greedy, or a gloomy mind. Finding all thefe beyond their reach, they combined their powers, and, at once, found out this infinitely more important secret — for fecret it muft ftill be, otherwife not only the Deity, biit even thofe philofophers, will Hill be difappointod. Yet this is the doBrine that mufl be fwalTowcd by the Minervals and the Illimiinati Minorcs, to wlioin it is not yet fafe to difclofe the grand fecret, that there is no fuck juperintendance of Deity. At laft, however, when the pupil has conceived fuch exalted notions of the knu'vhich they fear may be unfit to be granted ; but whei^ fuch a comfort is held out to. them, with eager hearts^ they receive it — they blefs the kindnefs that granted it, and the hand that brings it,- — -Such amiable charaftexs have appeared in all ages, and in ail fituations of man- kind. They have not in all inilances been wife — oftei^ have they been precipitate, and have too readily catch- ed at any thing which pretended to give them the fo much wiflied-for affiftances ; and, unfortunately, there have been enthufiafts, or villains, who have taken ad, vantage of this univerfal wifli of anxious man ; and the world has been darkened by cheats, whq have mifrepre- fented God to mankind, have filled us with vain ter- rors, and have then quieted our fears by fines, and far crifices, and mortifications, and fervices, which they faid made more than amends for all our faults. Thus was our duty to our neighbour, to our own dignity^ and to oqr Maker and Parent, kept out of fight, and re- ligion no longer came in aid to our fenfe of right an4 wrong ; hut, on the contrary, by thefe fuperftitions it, opened the doors of heaven to the worthiefs and the wicked. — But I wifii not to fpeak of thefe men, hut of the good, the candid, the modest, the hvmble who know their failings, who love their duties, but wilh to know, to perceive, and to love them Hill more. Thefe fire they who thiuk and believe that " the Gofpel has THE ILLUMINATI. t% brought life and immortality to light," that is, within their reach. They think it worthy of the Father of maiir. kind, and they receive it with thankful hearts, admiring above all things the fimplicity of its morality, compre- hended in one ientence, " Do to another what you can reafonably wifh that another fliould do to you," and THAT PURITY OF THOUGHT AND MANNERS WHICH OlSTIN GU ISHES IT FROM ALL T H E S Y ST E M S O f M 0-» RAL INSTRUCTION THAT HxWE EVER BEEN OFFLR- ED TO MEN. Here ■ they find a ground of rehgnatioa under the troubles of life, and a lupport in the hour of death, quite fuited to the diffidence of their charafter. Such men are ready to grant that the Stoics were per- fons of noble and exalted minds, and that they had wor^ thy conceptions of the rank- of man in the fcalc of God's works ; but they confefs that they themfclves do not feel all that fupport from Stoical principles which man too frequently needs } and they fay that they are not fmgular in their opinions, but that the bulk of mankind are prevented, by their want of heroic fortitude, by their fituation, or their want of the opportunities of cul-r tivating their native ftrength of mind, from ever attain- ing this hearty fubmiffion to the v;ill of Deity, — They maintain, that the Stoics were hut a few, a very few, from ^mong many millions — and therefore //i^ir being fatisfied was but a trifle amidft die general difcontent,and fretting, and defpair. — Such men will moft certainly ftart back from this Illumination with horror and fright — from a Society which gives the' lie to their fondeft hopes, makes a fport of their grounds of hope, and of their deliverer; and which, after laughing at their credulity, bids them fliake off all religion whatever, and denies the exiRence of that Supreme Mind, the pattern of all excellence, who till now had filled their thoughts with admiration ^od love — from an Order which preteacls to free theia 190 THE ILLUMINATI. from fpiritual bondage, and then lays on theirnecks a load ten times more oppreiTive and intolerable, from which they have jio power of ever efcaping. Men of fenfe and virtue will fpurn at fuch a propofal ; and even the profligate, who trade with Deity, muft be fenhblc that they will be better off with their priefts, whom they know, and among whom they may make a feleftion of fuch as will with patience and gentlenefs clear up their doubts, calm their fears, and encourage their hopes. And all good men, all lovers of peace and of juflice, will abhor and reject the thought of overturning the pre- fent conftitution of things, faulty as it may be, merely in the endeavour to eilablifii another, which the vices of mankind may fubvert again in a twelvemonth. They muft fee, that in order to gain their point, the propofers have found it neceffary to deflroy the grounds of mora- lity, by permitting the moft wicked means for accom- plifliing any end that our fancy, warped by pafiion or in- tereft, may reprefent to us as of great importance. They fee, that inflead of morality, vice mult prevail, and that therefore there is no fecurity for the continuance of this Utopian felicity ; and, in the mean time, defolation and mifery mufl lay the world walie during the ftruggle, and half of thofe for whom we are flriving will be fv/ept from the face of the earth. We have but to look to France, where in eight years there have been more executions and fpoilations and diflrelfes of every kind by the pou- vcir revohiticnnaire, than can be found in the Idng re- cords of that defpotic monarchy. There is nothing in the whole conftitution of the Illu- o minati that ftrikes me with more horror than the propo- fals of Hercules and Minos to enlift the women in this ihocking warfare with all that " is good, and pure, and THE ILLUMINATL- 191 lo\^e]y^and of good report," They could not have fallen on any expedient that will be more elfeftual and fatal. If any of my countrywomen fiiall honor thcfe pages with a reading, I would call on them, in the mod: earneft manner, to confider this as an affair of the utmoft im- portance to themfelves. I would conjure them by the regard they have for their own dignity, and for their rank in focicty, to join againll thefe enemies of human nature, and profligate degraders of the fcx; and I would affurc them that the prefent ftateof things almoft putsitin their power to be the faviours of the world. But if they are reraifs, and yield to the feduftion, they will fall from that high ftate to which they have arifen in ChrKtiaa Europe, and again fink into that infignificancy or flave- ry in which the fex is found in all ages and countries out: of the hearing of Chriftianity. I hope tliat my countrywomen will confider this fo- lemn addrefs to them as a proof of the high eftcem in which I hold them. They will not be offended then if, in this feafon of alarm and anxiety, when I wifh to im- prefs their minds with a ferious truth, I fhail wave cere- mony which is always defigning, and fpeak of them in honcil but decent plainnc fs. Man is immerfed in luxury. Our accommodations are now fo numerous that every thing is pleafure. Even in very fober fituations in this highly cultivated Soci- ety, there is hardly a thing that remains in the form of a neceilary of life, or even of a mere conveniency — • every thing is ornamented — it muft not appear of ufe — it mufl appear as giving fome fenfible pleafure. I do not fay this by way of blaming — it is nature — -ma« is a refining creature, and our mofl boafled acquirements are but refmecients on our neceifary wants. Our hut 192 THE ILLUMINATI. becomes a palace, our blanket a fine drefs, aiid exit arts become fciences. This difcontent with the natiii-al condition of things, and this difpofition to refinement, is a charafteriftic of our fpecies, and is the great em- ployment of our lives. The direQion tvhich this pro- penfity chances to take in any age or nation, marks its character in the mofl: confpicuous and interefting raan- Ker. All have it in fome degree, and it is very con- ceivable that, in fome, it may conftitute the chief ob- jefcl of attention. If this be the cafe in any nations, it is furely mo{\ likclv to be fo in tho-fe where the accom- modations of life are the moft numerous — therefore in a rich and luxurious Ration. 1 may furely, without exaggeration or reproach, give that appellation to our own nation at this moment. If you do not go to the very lowefl: clafs of people, who muft labour all day, is it not the chief objed of all to procure perceptible jjlea- fure in one way or another ? The fober and bufy ftrug- gle in the thoughts and hopes of getting the means of en- joying the corfiforts o-f life without farther labour — and many have no other object than pleafure. Then let us refleft that it is woman that is to grace th^ whole — It is in nature, it is the very conftitution of man, that woman, and every thing conne6led with wo- man, muft appear as the ornament of life. That this mixes with every other focial fentiment, appears from the conduct of our fpecies in all ages and in every fitu- ation. This I prefume would be the cafe, even tho-ugh there were no qualities or talents in the fex to jullify it. Tliis fentiment refpcBing the fex is neceffary, in order to rear fo hclplefs, fo nice, and fo improveable a crea- ture as man ; without it, the long abiding tafi; could not be performed : — and I think that I may venture ta iay that it is performed in the different ft-ates of fociety THE iLLUMINAtl. i^ tieariy in proportion as this preparatory and indifpenfa* ble fentiment is in force* (3n the other hand, I think it no lefs evident that it is the defire of the women to be agreeable to the men, and that they will model themfelves according to what they think will pleafe; Without this adjuftment of fentiments by nature, nothing would go on. We ne- ver obferve any fuch want of fymmetry in the works o£ God. If, therefore, thofe who take the lead, and give the fafhion in fociety, were wife and virtuous^, 1 havtf tio doubt but that the women would fet the brightefl pattern of every thing that isexcellent. But if the meri are nice and faftidious fenfualifts, the women will be t-efined and elegant voluptuaries* There is no deficiency in the female mind, either iri talents or in difpofitions ; nor can we fay with certainty that there is any fubjeft of intelleftual or moral difcuf- fion in which women nave not excelled. If the delica- cy of their conftitutioUj and other phyfical caufes, al- low the female fex a fmaller fhare of forae mental pow- fers, they poflefs others in a fuperior degree^ which are ho lefs refpeBable in their own nature, and of as great importance to fociety. Inftead of defcanting at large on their powers of mind, and fupporting my aiTertions by the inftances of a Hypatia, a Schurman, a Zenobia, an Elifabethj &c. I may repeat the account given of the fex by a perfon of uncommon experience, who faw them without difguife, or any tfiotive that could lead them to play a feigned part. — Mr. Ledyard, who tra- verfed the greateft part of the world, for the mere in- dulgence of his tafte for obfervation of human nature j generally in Want, and often in extreme mifery. A *. 3^4 *i^HE ILLUMINATr. '• I have (fays he) always remarked that woraerr, kit all countries, are civil, obliging, tender, and humane ;. that they are ever inclined to be gay and cheerful, timor- ous and modeft ; and that they do not hefitate, like man, to perform a kind or generous aftion. — Not haughty, not arrogant, not fupercilious, they are full of courtefy, and fond of fociety — more liable in gene-; ral. to err than man, but in general, alfo, more virtu- ous, and performing more good aftions than he. To a- woman, whether civilized or favage, I never addrefl'ed myfelfin the language of decency and friendlhip, with- out receiving a decent and friendly anfwer — with man it has often been otherwife^ " In wandering over the barren plains of inhofpitable Denmark, through honeft Sv^reden, and frozen Lap- land, rude and churlifli Finland, unprincipled RufTia, and the wide fpread regions of the wandering Tartar — • if hungry, dry, cold,, wet, or lick, the women have ever been friendly to me, and uniformly fo ; and to add to this virtue (fo worthy of the appellation of benevo- lence) thefe a£lions have been performed in fo free and ib kind a manner, that if I was thirfty, I drank the fweeteft draught, and if hungry, I ate the coarfe meal with a double relilli." And thefe are they whom Weifiiaupt would corrupt ! - One of thefe, whom he had embraced with fondnefs, would he have murdered, to fave his honor, and qua- lify himfelf to preaci\ virtue ! But let us not be too fe- vere on Weifhaupt — let us wain ourfelves clear of all flain before we think of reprobating him. Are we not guilty in fome degree, when we do not cultivate in the women thefe powers of mind, and thofe difpofitions of heart, which would eq^ually dignify them in every fta- THE ILLUMINATI. 19^ tion as in thofe humble ranks in which Mr. Ledyard moft frequently faw them ? I cannot think that we do this. They are not only to grace the Vv'hole of cultivat- ed fociety, but it is in their faithful and affefilionate perfonal attachment that we are to find the fweeteft plca- furcs that life can give. Yet in all the fituations where the manner in which they are treated is not dilated by ■the ftern laws of neceffity, are they not trained up for mere amufement — are not ferious occupations confider- ed as a tafic which hurts their lovelinefs ? What is this but felfiflmefs, or as if they had no virtues worth cultivat- ing ? Their bujinefs is fuppofed to be the ornamenting themfelves, as if nature did not ditlate this to diem al- ready, with at lead as much force as is neceifary. Eve- ry thing is prefcribed to them becavfe it makes them, more lovely — even their moral ieiTons arc enforced by this ar- gument, and Mrfs Woolftoncroft is perfcftly right when fhe fays that the fine leffons given to young women by Fordyce or Rouffeau are nothing but felfifh and refined •vbluptuoufnef^. This advocate of her fex puts her fif- ters in the proper point of view, when (he tells them that they are, lik-e man, the fubjefts of God's moral go- vernment — like man, preparing themfelves for bound- lefs improvement in a better ftate of exiftence. Had fhe adhered, to this view of the matter, and kept it con- •ftantly irr fight, her book (vyhich doubtlefs contains ma-- iiy excellent things, highly deferving of tlieir ferious confideration) would have been a moii valuable work: She juft^ly obferves, that the virtues of the fex are great and refpeftable, but that in' our mad chace of pieafure, only pieafure, they are little thought of or attended to. Man trufts to his own uncontroulable power, or to the general goodnefs of the fex, that their virtues will ap- pear when we have occafion for them ; — " but we will lend for thefe fome other time i"- — Many noble difplays 196 ^ THE ILLtJMINATI. do they make of the moil difficult attainments, Such is the patient bearing up under misfortunes, which has no brilliancy to fupport it in the effort. This is more difficult than braving danger in an a6live and confpicu- ous fituation. How often is a woman left with a family and the ffiattered remains of a fortune, loft perhaps by .diffipatiqn or by indolence— and how feldom, how very feldom, do we fee woman flirink from the taflc, or dif- charge it with negligence ? Is it not therefore folly next to madnefs, not to be careful of this our greateft blef- iing — of things which fo nearly concern our peace— nor guard ourfelves, and thefe our beft companions and friends, from the effeds of this fatal Illumination ? It has indeed brought to. light what dreadful lengths men will go, when under the fanatical and dazzling glare of happinefs in a ftate of liberty and equality, and fpurred on by infatiable luxury, and not held in check by moral feelings and the reftraints of religion— and mark, reader, that the women have here alfo taken the cornplexion of the men, and have even gone beyond them. IF we have feen a Jon prefent hi.nfelf to the National Allembly of France, profeffing his fatisfa6lion with the execution of iiis father three days before, and declaring himfelf a true citizen, who prefers the nation to all other confidera- tions ; we have alfo feen, an the fame day, wives de- jiouncing their hufbands, and (O fliocking to human nature !) mothers denouncing their fons, as bad citizens and traitors,. Marjc too what return the women have met with far all their horrid fervices, where, to exprefs their fentiments of civifm and abhorrence of royalty, they threw away, the charaQer of their fex, and bit the amputated limbs of thei,r murdered countrymen.* Sure- * I fay this on the authority of a young gentleman, an emi- grant, who faw it, and who faid, that they were women, not of the dregs of the Palais lloyal, nor of infamous chai-a(^er, but well THE ILLUMINATI. 197 j^y thefe patriotic women merited that the rights of their lex (hould be coulidered in full council, and they were well entitled to a feat ; but there is not a lingle a6l of :their government in which the (ex is confidered as hav- ing any rights whatever, or that they are thiags to be cared for. Are not the accurfed fruits of Illumination to be fcen in the prefent humiliating condition of woman in France? pampered in every thing that can reduce them to tlie mere inftrument of animal plealure. In their prefent flate of national moderation (as they call it) and fecuri- ty, fee Madame Talien come into the public theatre, ac- companied by other btauhful women (I was about to have milrtamed them Ladies) laying aiidc ail modefty, and prefendng themfelves to the public view, with bared Jimbs, a la Saiivage^ as the alluring objetls of defire. I make no doubt but that this is a ferious matter, encourag- ed, nay, prompted by government. To keep the minds of the Parihans in the prefent fever of diifolute gaiety, they are at more expence from the national ireafury for the fupport of the fixty theatres, than all the penlions and honorary offices in Britain, three times told, amount tO;. .\Vas not their abominable farce in the church of Notre Dame a bait of the fam.e kind, in the true fpirit of Weifhaupt's Erotcrion ? 1 was pleafed to fee among the prielts of that folemni^y Mr, Brigonzi, an old acquaint- ance, formerly Machinijle (and excellent in his profciH- on) to the opera at tlif palace in St. Peterfburg. He was a moll zealfcjus Mafon, and Chevalier de 1 Orient ; and I knov/ that he went to Paris in the fame capacity of Machinijle d^ rOpera ; fo that I am next to certain drelTed. — I am forry to add, that the relation, accompanied with .looks of horror and difguft, only proypked a contemptuous fn^ile .from au illuminated Britiih Fair one. 193 T^HE ILLUMINATI. that this is the very man. But what will be the end of all this ? The fondlings of the wealthy will be pamper- ed in all the indulgences which faftidious voluptuoufnefs finds neceffary for varying or enhancing its pleafures ; but they will either be flighted as toys, or they will be im- mured ; and the companions of the poor will be drudg- es and {laves. i am fully perfuaded that it was the enthufiaftic ad- tniration of Grecian democracy that recommended ta the French nation the drefs a la Grecque^ which exhibits^ not the elegant, ornamented beauty, but the beautiful female, fully as well as Madame Talien's drefs a la Saw- ^oage. It was no doubt with the fame adherence ioferi- ■ous principle, that Mademoifelle Therouanne was moft beautifully dreffed a VAmazonne on the 5th of October 1789, when fhe turned the heads of fo many young of- ficers of the regiments at Verfailles. The Cvtherea, the hominum droumque voluptas, at the -cathedral of Notre Dame, was alfo dreffed a la Grccque ; and in this, and in much of the folemnities of that day, I recognized the tafte and invention of my old acquaintance Biigonzi. I recollefted the dreffes of our premiere id Jeconde Surveil- lantes in the Lege de la FidelitL There is a mofl evi- dent and characleriftic change in the whole fyflem of fe- male drefs in France. The Filles de l' Opera always gave the ton, and v;ere furely withheld by no rigid prin- ciple. They fometimes produced very extravagant and fantaflic forms, but thefe were almofl always in the flyle of the higheft ornament, and they truflcd, for the reft of the impreffion which they wifhed to make, to the fafci- nating expreffion of elegant movements. This indeed was wonderful, and hardly conceivable by any who have not feen a grand ballet performed by good aftors. I have fhed tears of the moft fnicere and tender furrow THE ILLUMINATL 199 during the exhibition of Antigone, fet to mulic by Tra- etta, and performed by Madame Meilcour and Sre To- reili, and Zantini. I can eafily conceive the impreflion to be ftili ftronger, though perhaps of another kind, when the former ftiperb drefles are changed for the expreffive fimplicity of the Grecian. I cannot help thinking that the female ornaments in the reft of Europe, and even among ourfelves, have lefs elegance fmce we loft the imprimatur of the French court. But fee how all this will terminate, when we fliall have brought the fex fc> low, and will not even wait for a Mahometan paradife. What can we expeft but fuch a diffolutenefs of man- ners, that the endearing ties of relation and family, and mutual confidence within doors, will be flighted, and will ceafe ; and every man muft ftand up for himfclf, fingle and alone, in perfeft equality, and full liberty to do whatever his own arm (but that alone) is able to accom- plifh. This is not the fuggeftion of prudifli fear, I think it is the natural courfe of things, and that France is ^t this moment giving to the world the fulleft proof of Weifhaupt's fagacity, and the judgment with which he has formed his plans. Can it tend to the improvement of our morals or fnanners to have our ladies frequent the gymnaftic theatres, and fee them decide, like the Roman matrons, on the merits of a naked gladiator or wreftler ? Have we not enough of this already with our vaulters and pofture-mafters, and fliould we admire any lady who had a rage for fuch fpeftacles ? Will it improve our tafte to have our rooms ornamented with fuch paintings and fculptures as filled the cenaculum, and the ftudy of the refined and elegant moralift Horace, who had the art — ridendo dicere veruvi ? Shall we be improved when fuch indulgences are thought compatible with fuch leftbns as he generally gives for the condud of life ? The pure MoxaUty of IlluminafifiO is now employed in ftrippin^ too THE ILLUMlNATf: Italy oral! thofe precious remains of ancient art arid voluptuoufnefs ; and Paris will ere long be the depofit and the refort of artifls from all nations, there to ftudy the works of ancient mailers, and to return from thence pandars of public corruption. The plan is mafterly, and the low-born Statefmen and Generals of France may irt this refped be fet on a level with a Colbert or a Conde.- But the confequences of this Gallic dominion ovef the minds of fallen man will be as dreadful as their do- minion over their lives and fortunes. Recollecl in what manner Spartacus propofed io corrupt his lifters (for we need not fpeak of the manner in which he expe6ted that this would promote his plan — this is abundantly plain.) It was by deftroying their moral fentiments, and their fentiments of religion. — ' Recollect what is the recommendation that the Atheift Minos gives of his ftep-daughters, when he fpeaks of them as proper perfons for the Lodge of Sifters. " They have got over all prejudices, and, in matters of re- ligion, they think as I do." Thefe profligates judged rightly that this affair required much caution, and that the iitmoft attention to decency, and even delicacy, muft be obferved in their rituals and ceremonies, otherwife they v.'ould be difgujied. This was judging fairly of the feel- ings of a female mind. But they judged falfely, and on- ly according to their own coarfe experience, when they attributed their difguft and their fears to coynefs. Coy- nefs is indeed the inftinQive attribute of the female. In voman it is very great, and it is perhaps the genuine fource of the dijgnjl of which the Illuminati were fufpi- cious. But they have been dim-fighted indeed, or very unfortunate in their acquaintance, if they never obferved any other fource of repugnance in the mind of woman to what is immoral or immodeft — if thev did not fee dif- THE ILLUMINATL sbi like— moral difapprobation. Do they mean to infinuate, that in that regard which modeft women exprefs in all their words and aftions, for what every one underftands "by the terms decency, modefty, filthinefs, obfcenity, they only fhow female coynefs ? Then are they very blind in- ftruftors. But they are not fo blind. The accomit given of the initiation of a young Sifter at Frankfort, under the feigned name Pfycharion^ fhows the moft fcru- pulous attention to the moral feelings of the fex ; and the confufion and difturbance which it occafioned among the ladies, after all their care, fhows, that when they thought all right and delicate, they had been but coarfe judges. Minos damns the ladies there, becaufe they are too free, too rich, too republican, and too wife, for be- ing led about by the nofe (this is his own exprefiion.) But Philo certainly thought more corredly of the fex in general, when he fays. Truth is a modeft girl : She maybe handed about like a lady, by good fenfe and good manners, but muft not be bullied and driven about like a ftrumpet. I would give the difcourfes or addrcf- fes which were made on that occafion to the different clafTes of the aflembly, girls, young ladies, wives, young men, and ftrangers, which are really well compofed and pretty, were they not fuch as would offend my fair countrywomen. The religious fentiments by which mortals are to be afTifted, even in the difcharge of their moral duties, and ftill more, the fentiments which are purely religious, and have no reference to any thing here, are precifely thofe which are mofl eafily excited in the mind of wo- man. Affetlion, admiration, filial reverence, are, if I miftake not exceedingly, thofe in which the women far furpafs the men ; and it is on this account that we ge- B b &OZ THE ILLUMINATI. ncrally find them {o much difpofed to devotion, whrefe is nothing but a fort of fond indulgence of thefe affec- tions without limit to the imagination. The enraptur-^ • ed devotee pours out her foul in expreflions of thefe feelings, iult as a fond mother mixes the careffes ^iven -to her child ^vi^h the moft extravagant expreiTions of love. The devotee even endeavours to excite higher degrees of thefe affe6lion.s, by expatiating on fuch cir- cumftances in the divine conduft with rei'jcft to man as Tiaturally awaken them ; and he does this without any fear of exceeding ; becaufe Infinite Wifdom and Good- nefs will always juftify the fentiment, and free the ex- prefiion of it from all charge of hyperbole or extrava- gance* I am convinced, therefore, that the female mind is. ■well adapted to cultivation by means of religion, and that their native foftnefs and kindnefs of heart will al- ways be fufEcient for procuring it a favorable reception fcom them. It is therefore with double regret that I fee any of them join in the arrogant pretenfions of our Illu- minated philofophers, who fee no need of fuch affiflan- ces for the knowledge and difcharge of their duties. There is nothing fo unlike that general modefty of thought, and that diffidence, which we are difpofed to think the chara6ler of the female mind. I am inclined to think, that fuch deviations from ihe general conduct of the fex are marks of a harflier character, of a heari that has lefs fenlibility, and i;5 on the whole lefs amiable than that of others ; yet it muft be owned that there are fome fuch among us. Much, if not the whole of this perverfion, has, I am perfuaded, been owing to the con- tagion of bad example in the men. They are made fa- miliar M'ith fuch expreflions — their firll horror is gone, and (would to heaven tlaat I tvct^ miflaken !) fome o£ THE ILLUMINAtl. 205 diem liave alircady wounded their confciences to fuch a degree, that they have fome reafon to wifh that rehgion may be without foundation. But I would call upon all, and theje women in parti- cular, to confider this matter in another light — as it may affeft themfelves in this life ; as it may afFe6l their rank and treatment in ordinary fociety. i would fay to them, that if the world fliaii once adopt the belief that this lif6 is our all, then, the true maxim of rational condu6: wili be, to " eat and to drink, fince to-morrow we are to die ;" and that when they have nothing to truli to but the fondnefs of the men, they will fooit find themfelves reduced to flavery. The crown which they now wear will fall from their heads, and they will no longer be the arbiters of what is lovely in human life. The empire of beauty is but lliort ; and even in republican France, it ivill not be many years that Madame Talien can fafci- nate the Parifian Theatre by the exhibition of her charms, Man is faftidious and changeable, and he is ftronger thah they, and can always take his own will with refpeO: t'o woman. At prefent he is Vv^ith-held by refpeft for her moral worth — and many are with-held by religion — and many more are with-held by public laws, which lav*s were fram.ed at a time when religious truths influenced the minds and the conduSl of men. When the fentimcnts of men change, they will not be fo foolifli as to keep in force laws which cramp their flrongeftde fnts. Then will: the rich have their Harems^ and the poor their drudges. Nay, it is not merely thecircumftance of woman's Ik- ing conhdered as the moral companion of man that gives the fex its empire among us. There is fomethiug of this to be obferved in all nations. Of all the diflinftionj Tivhich fet our fpecies above the ether feniient inhabit- $04 THE ILLUMINATL ants of this globe, making us as unlike to the beft of them as they are to a piece of inanimate matter, there is none more remarkable than the diflPerences obfervable in the appearances of thofe defires by v/hich the race i^ continued. As I obferved already, fuch a diftinBion is indifpenfably neceflary. There mull bea.moral con- jieftion, in order that the human fpecies may be a race of rational creatures, iraproveable, not only by the en- creafmg experience of the individual, but alfo by the he- ritable experience of the (ucceflive generations. It may be obferved between the folitary pairs in Labrador, where human nature ftarves, like the ftunted oak in the crevice of a baron rock ; and it is feen in the cultivated focieties of Europe, where our nature in a feries of ages becomes a majeilic tree. But, alas I with what diiier- ences of boughs and foliage ! Whatever may be thena-. live powers of mind in the poor but gentle Efquimaux, fhe can do nothing for the Ipecies but nurie a young one, who cannot run his race of life without inceifant end hard labour to keep foul and body together — here therefore her ftation in fociety can hardly have a name, becaufe there can hardly be faid that there is an aflToci- stion, except what is necellary for repelling the holHle attacks of Indians, who feem to hunt them without pro- vocation as the dog does the hare. In other parts of the •world, we fee that the confideration in which the fex is held, nearly follows the proportions of that aggregate of many different particulars, which we conhder as confti- tuting the cultivation of a fociety. We may perhaps err, and we probably do err, in our eftimation of thefe degrees, becaufe we are not perfectly acquainted with what is the real excellence of man. But as far as we can judge of it, I believe that my alfertion is acknowledged. On this authority, I might prefumo to fay, that it is m ChriPiian Europe that man has attained his hightH dc- THE ILLUMINATI. 205 gVee of cultivation — and it is undoubtedly here that the women have attained the highefl rank. 1 may even add, that it is in that part of Europe where the elfential and diftinguifhing doftrines of Chriltian morality are moft generally acknowledged and attended to by the laws of the country, that woman ads the highed part in general fociety. But here we mud be very careful how we form our notion, either of the fociety, or of the female rank — it is furely not from the two or three dozens who fill the higheft ranks in the (late. Their number is too fmall, and their fituation is too particular, to afford the proper average. Beiides, the lituation of the individu- als of this clafs in all countries is very much the fame — and in all it is very artificial — accordingly their charac- ter is fantaftical. Nor are we to take it from that clafs that is the moft numerous of all, the loweft clafs of foci- ety, for thefe are the labouring poor, whofe condu8; and occupations are fo much ditlated to them by the hard circumftances of their fituation, that fcarcely any thincr h left to their choice. The fituation of women of this clafs muft be nearly the fame in all nations. But thi-s clafs is Itill fufceptible of fome variety — and we fee it — and I think that even here there is a perceptible fuperi- ority of the female rank in thofe countries where the pureft Chriftianity prevails. We muft however take our meafures or proportions from a numerous clafs, but alfo a clafs in fomewhat of eafy circumftances, where moral fentiments call fome attention, and peribns hav^e fome choice in tl"U£ir conduct. And here, although I cannot pretend to have had many opportunities of obfer- vation, yet I have had fome. I can venture to fay that it is not in Ruffia, nor in Spain, that woman is, on the whole, the moft important as a member of the commu- nity. I would fay, that in Britain her important rights are more generally refpetted thati any where elfe. No 2o6 THE ILLUMINATI. where is a man's charaQer i'o much hurt by infidehtv — ► no where is it fo difficult to rub off the ftigma of baftar- dy, or to procure a decent reception or fociety for an improper connexion ; and I beheve it will readily be granted, that their fliare in fucceffions, their authority in all matters of domeftic truft, and even their opinions in what concerns life and manners, are fully more ref- peQed here than in any country. I have been of the opinion (and every obfervation that I have been able to make fmce I firft formed it con- firms me in it) that woman is indebted to Chrillianity alone for the high rank fhe holds in fociety. Look into the writings of antiquity — into the works of the Greek imd Latin poets — into the numberlefs panegyrics of the fex, to be found both in profe and verle-*— I can find little, very little indeed, where woman is treated with refpecl — there is no want of love, that is, of fondnefs, of beauty, of charms, of graces. But of w^oman as the equal of man, as a moral companion, travelling with him the road to felicity — as his advifer — his folace iri misfortune — as a pattern from which he may fometimes copy with advantage ; — of all this there is hardly a tracd. Woman is always mentioned as an objeCl of paffioii. Chaftity, modefty, fober-mindednefs, are all confider- ed in relation to this finglc point ; or fometimes as of importance in refpecl of ceconomy or domertic quiet. Recollect the famous fpeech of Metellus Numidicus to the Roman people, when, as Cenfor, be was recom- mending marriage.- " Si fine uxore poffemus Ouirites efie, omnes ea mo- leftia careremus. Sed quoniain ita natura tradidit, ut iiec cum illis commode, nee fine illis uilo modo vivi THE ILLUMINATL 207 polTet, faluti perpetuse potius quam brevi voluptaLi' conlulendum." Aid. Gdl. NoEi. Att. L 6. What does OVid, the great panegyrift of the fex, fay for his beloved daughter, whom he had praifed for her attrattions in various places of his Triflia and other com- pofitions ? He is writing her Epitaph — ^and the only thing he can fay of her as a rational creature is, that fiie is — Domifida — not a Gadabout. Search Apuleius, where you will find many female charaders in ahjlraclo — You will find that his little Photis v>'as nearcd to his heart, after all his philofophy. Nay, in his pretty (tory of Cupid and Pfyche, which the very wife will tell yoxjt, is a fine lelfon of moral philofophy, and a rcprefenta- tion of the operations of the intellectual and moral fa- culties of the human forul, a ftory which gave him the , fined opportunity, nay, almofl made it necefiary for him, to infcrt whatever can ornament the female cha- racler ; wliat is his Pfyche but a beautiful, fond, and filly girl; and what are the whole truits of any acquain- tance with the fex? — Pleafure. But why take more pains in the fearch ? — Look at their immortal goddclfcs — is there one amon^j them whom a wife man would fc- lec^ for a wife or a friend ? — I grant that a Lucretia is praifed — a Portia, an Arria, a Zenobia — but thefc are individual chara6ters — not rcpreientatiyes of the fex. The only Grecian ladies who made a figure by intellec- iaal talents, were your Afpafias, Sapphos, Phryne?, and other nymphs of this cafi, who had emerged from the general uifi^yiificance of the fex, by throwing away what we are acculiomed to call its greatell ornament. I third; that the firft: piece in which woman is piBured as a refp]|ttable charaQer. is the oldill novel that I aoa £-8 THE ILLUMINATE acquainted with, -u'ritten by a Chriftian Bifhop, Helio- dorus — I mcao the Adventures of Theagenes and Cha- riclea. I think that the Heroine is a greater chara61er than you will meet with in all the annals of antiquity. And it is worth while to obferve what was the effeQ; of this painting. The poor Bifhop had been depofed, and even excommunicated, for do6lrinal errors, and for drawing fuch a pi6lure of a heathen. The magiflrates of Antioch, the moll voluptuous and corrupted city of the Eait, wrote to the Emperor, telling him that this book had reformed the ladies of their city, where Julian the Emperor and his Sophifts had formerly preached in vain, and they therefore prayed that the good Bifliop might not be deprived of his mitre. — It is true, we read of Hvpatia, daughter of Theon, the mathematician at Alexandria, w?ho was a prodigy of excellence, and taught philofcphy, i. e. the art of leading a good and happy life, with great applaufc in the famous Alexan- drian fchool. — But llie alfo was in the times of Chrifti- anity, and was the intimate friend of Syncellusand other Chriftian Bifliops. It is undoubtedly Chriftianity that has fct woman on her throne, making her in every refpefl: the equal of man, bound to the lame duties, and candidate for the fame happinefs. Mark how woman is defcribcd by a ChrHlian poet, " Yet when I approach Ker lovclinefs, fo abfolute Ihe feems. And in herfclf complete, ib well to knov;- Her own, that what fhe wills to do or fay Seems wZ/Ty?, virtucufcjl, difireetejl^ hejl. Neither her outfide, form'd fo fair, So much delights rae, as thofe graceful ails^ "Th'/Jf. thc.'ifnTtd decencies lliai daily flovr THE ILLUMINATI, 3109 From all her -words and actions, mix'd with lovo And fweet compliance, which declare unfeign'd Union of mind, or in us both one fouh Aiid, to confummate all, Greatnefs of mind, and nohlenefs, their feat Build in her lovelieft, and create an awe About her, as a guard angslic plac' d." MjlTon* This is really moral painting, without any abatement of female charms. This is the natural confequence of that purity of heart, which is fo much inhfted on in the Chriltian mo- S'ality. In the inftrudions of the heathen philofophers, -it is either not mentioned at all, or at mod, it is recom- mended coldly, as a thing proper, and worthy of amind attentive to great things. — But, in Chriliianity, it is in- filled on as an indifpenfable duty, and enforced by ma- •ny arguments peculiar toitlelf. It is worthy of ohfervation, that the moft prominent - fuperftitions which have difhonored the Chriftianchurciv • es, have been the exceflive refinements which the en- thufiallic admiration of heroic purity has allowed the holy trade to introduce into the manufatlure of our ipi- ■ 'ritual fetters. Without this enthuliafm, cold expedi- ency would not 4iave been able' to make the Monadic vow fo general, nor have given us fuch numbers of con- vents. Thefe were generally founded by fuch enthuh- ads — the rulers indeed of the church tncouraged tliis to ■ the utmod, a.-, the beft levy for the fpivitual power — ^^but they could not enjoir^ fuch foundations. From the fame fource we may derive the chief iniiuence of auricular confeflion. When thefe were [irmly eit:Abli{hcd3 and C c BIO THE ILLUxMINATI. -were venerated, almofl all the other corruptions of Chriflianity followed of courfe. I may almoft add, that though it is here that Chriilianity has fuffered the mofl violent attacks, it is here that the place is mofl te- nable. — Nothing tends fo much to knit all the ties of fociety as the endearing connexions of family, and ■whatever tends to leffen our veneration for the marriage contraft, weakens them in the raoft effcQual manner. Purity of manners is its mod effeBual fupport, and pure thoughts are the only fources from which pure manners can flow. I readily grant that this veneration for perfonal purity was carried to an extravagant height, and that feveral very ridiculous fancies and cuftoms arofe from this. Romantic love, and chivalry^ are Itrong inftances of the ftrange vagaries of our imagina- tion, when carried along by this enthufiaftic admiration of female purity ; and fo unnatural and forced, that they could only be temporary fafhions. But I believe that, with all their ridicule, it would be a happy nation where this was the general creed and pra6lice. Nor can I help thinking a nation on its decline, when the domeftic connexions ceafe to be venerated, and the il- legitimate offspring of a nabob or a nobleman are re- ceived with eafe into good company. Nothing is more clear than that the defign of the II- luminati was to abolifh Chriilianity — and we now fee how effedual this would be for the corruption of the fair fex, a purpofe which they eagerly wiihed to gain, that they might corrupt the men. But if the women would retain the rank they now hold, they will be care- ful to prefervc in full force on their minds this religion, fo congenial to their difpofitionsj which nature has made alfeXionate and kind. THE ILLUMINATL 211 And with refpeft to the men, is it not egregious folly to encourage any thing that can tend to blaft our fweet- efl enjoyments ? Shall we not do this moll efFe£lually if we attempt to corrupt what nature will always make us conhder as the highell elegance of life ? The divinity of the Stoics was, " Mens fana in corpore fano" — but it is equally true, " Gratior ejl pulchro veniens e corpore virtus." If therefore, inftead of proFeffedly tainting what is of itfelf beautiful, we could really work it up to ** That fair form, which, wove in fancy's loom, " Floats in light vifions round the poet's head," and make woman a pattern of perfe8ion, we fhould undoubtedly add more to the heartfelt happinefs of life than by all the difcoveries of the lUuminati. See what was the effed of Theagenes and Chariclea. And we (liould remember that with the fate of wo- man that of man is indiffolubly knit. The voice of nature fpoke through our immortal bard, when he made Adam fay, « From thy ftats Mine never fhall be parted, blifs or woe." Should we fuffer the contagion to touch our fair part- ner, all is gone, and too late fliall we fay, " O faired of creation ! laft and befl Of all God's works, creature in whom excelled Whatever can to fig'it or thought be form'd, Holy^ d'lvlm, good, am'iajh, orf-jueet ! How art thou loft — and now to death devote ?■— And me with thee hafl; ruin'd ; for with the^ Certain my rtfolution is__ro die." CHAP. III. The German Union, HEN fiich a fermentation has been excited in the public mind, it cannot be fuppofed that the formal .fupprellion.of the Order of the llhiminati in Bavaria, and in the Duchy of Wirtemberg, by the reigning Prin- ces, would bring all to reft again. By no means. The minds of men were predifpofcd for a change by the reft- \q{s fpirit of fpeculation in every kind of enquiry, and ■the leaven had been carefully and {liilfully dilfeminated in every quarter of the empire, and even in foreign countries. Weiftiaupt faid, on good grounds, that " if the Order ftiould be difcovered and fupprcfied,he would reftore it with tenfold energy in a twelvemonth." F-ven an thofe Rates where it was formally aboliftied, nothing could hinder the enlifting new members, and carrying on all the purpofes of the Order. The Areopagitre might indeed be changed, and the feat of the direflion transferred to fome other place ; but the Minerval and his Mentor could meet as formerly, and a ride of a few miles into another Slate, would bring him to a Lodge, where the young would be amufed, and the more ad- vanced would be engaged in ferious niifchief. Weif- THE GERMAN UNIOR 213 haupt never liked childrens play. He indulged Philo in it, bscaufe he law him taken with fuch rattles ; but his own projects were dark and folemn, and it was a re- lief to him now to be freed from that mummery. He foon found the bent of the perfon's mind on whom he had fet his talons, and he fays, that " no man ever ei- caped him whom he thought it worth while to fecure." He had already hlled the lifts with enough of the young and gay, and when the prefent condition of the Order required fly and experienced heads, he no longer court- ed them by play-things. He commimicated the ranks and the inltrudions by a letter, without anv ceremony. The correfpondenee with Philo at the time of the breach with him fhows the fuperiority of Spartacus. Philo is in a rage, provoked to find a pitiful profeffor difcon- tented with the immenfe fervices which he had received from a gentleman of his rank, and treating him v.'ith authority, and with difmgenuity. — He tells Spartacus what ftill greater fervices he can do the Order, and that he can alfo ruin it with a breath. — But in the inidft of this rage, he propofes a thoufand modes of re- concilement. The fmallelt conceffion would make him hug Spartacus in his arms. But Spartacus is deaf to all his threats, and firm as a rock. Though he is con- fcious of his own vile conduQ:, he abates not in the imalleft point his abfolute authority — requires the moft implicit fubmiffion, which he favs " is due, not to him, but to the Order, and without which the Order muft immediately go to ruin." — He does not even deign to challenge Philo to do his worft, but allows him to go out of the Order without one angry word. This fhows his confidence in the energy of that fpirit of reftleis dif- content, and that hankering after reform which he had fo fuccefsfLilly Ipread abroad. 314 THE GERMAN UNIOK. This had indeed arifen to an unparalleled height, un* expected even by the feditious diemfelves. This ap- peared in a remarkable manner by the reception given lo the infamous letters on the conilitution of the Pruffi- an States. The general opinion was, that Mirabeau was the au- thor of the letters themfelves, and it was perfe6lly • un- derllood by every perfon, that the trandation into French was a joint contrivance of Mirabeau and Nicholai. I was afllired of this by the Britifli Minifter at that Court. There are fome blunders in refpeft of names, which an inhabitant of the country could hardly be guilty of, but are very conhftent with the felf-conceit and precipitan- cy of this Frenchman. — There are feveral inftances of the fame kind in two pieces, which are known for cer- tain to be his, viz. the Chronique Jcandaleufe and the Hijloire Jecrctte de la Ceur de Berlin. Thefe letters were in every hand, and were mentioned in every con- verfation, even in the Pruliian dominions — and in other places of the Empire thev were quoted, and praiied, and commented on, although fome of their contents were nothing fhort of rebellion. Mirabeau had a large portion of that felf-conceit which diftinguifhes his countrymen. He thought him- felf qualified not only for any high office in adminiftra- tion, but even for managing the whole affairs of the new King. He therefore endeavoured to obain fome poll of honor. But he was difappointed, and, in revenge, did every thing in his power to make thofe in adminif- tration the objeBs of public ridicule and reproach. His licentious and profligate manners were fuch as excluded him from the fociety of the people of the firil claiTes, whom it behoved to pay fome attention to perfonal dig- t THE GERMAN UNION*. 215 ,nity. His opinions were in the higheft degree corrupt- ed, and he openly profefled Atheifm. This m&de him peculiarly obnoxious to the King, who was determined to corretl the difturbances and difquiets which had ari- fen in the Pruffian ftates from the indifference of his predeceiTor iq thefe matters. Mirabeau therefore at- tached himfelf to a junto of writers and fcribblers, who had united in order to diffeminate licentious principles, both in refpeci of religion and of government. His wit and fancy were great, and he had not perhaps his equal for eloquent and biting fatire. He was therefore caref- fed by thefe writers as a moft valuable acquihtion to their Society. He took all this deference as his jult due ; and was fo confident in his powers, and fo fooliOi as to advife, and even to admonilh, the King. Highly obnoxious by fuch conduct, he was excluded from any chance of preferment, and was exceedingly out of hu- mour. In this ftate of mind he was in a fit frame for Illumination. Spartacus had been eyeing him for fome time, and at lad communicated this honor to him through the hitcrmedium of Mauvillon, another Frenchman, Lieutenant-Colonel in the fervice of the Duke of Brunf- wick. This perfon had been moil active during the formal exiftence of the Order, and had contributed much to its reception in the Proteftant ftates — he re- mained long concealed. Indeed his Illumination was not known till the invafion of Holland by the French rebels. Mauvillon then ftepped forth, avowed his principles, and recommended the example of the French to the Germans. This encouragement brought even Philo again on the ftage, notwithftanding his refentraent againit Spartacus, and his folemn declaration of having abjured all fiich focieties — Thefe, and a thoufand fuch fatts, fiiow that the feeds of licentious Cofmo-politilVn l^a^ tiiken deep root, aad thtit cutting down the crop 2i6 THE GERMAN UNIOIST. had by no means deftroyed the baneful plant — But this is not all — a new method of cultivation had been iri>^ vented, and immediately adopted, and it was now grow- ing over ail Europe in another form. I have already taken notice of the general perverfion of the public mind Vs'hich co-operated with the fchifms of Free Mafonry in procuring a liftening ear to Spartacus and his afibciates. It will not be doubted but that the ma- chinations of the lUuminati encreafed this, even among ■ thofe who did not enter into the Order. It was eafier to diminifii the refpeft for civil eftablifhm.ents in Ger- many than in almoft any other country. The frivolity of the ranks |ind court oflrices in the different confede- rated petty ftates, made it impolfible to combine dig- nity with the habits of a fcanty income. — It was ftill ea- fier to expofe to ridicule and reproach thofe numberlefs abufes which the folly and the vices of men had intro- duced into religion. The influence on the public mind which naturally attaches to the venerable office of a moral inftruftor, was prodigioufly diminiflied by the continual difputes of the Catholics and Proteftants, which were carried on with great heat in every little principality. The freedom of enquiry, which was fup- ported by the fiatc in Protcftant Germany, was terribly abufed (for what will the folly of man not abufe) and degenerated into a wanton licentioufnefs of thought, and •a rage for fpcculation and fcepticifm on every fubj eft whatever. The ftrugole, which was originally between the Catholics and the Proteltants, had changed, during the gradual progrefs of luxury and immorality, into a context between reafon and fuperftition. And in this conteft the denomination of fuperftition had been gra- dually extended to every doftrine v.hich profeffed to be of divinje revelation, •an4 reafon was decUredto bcj iox THE GERMAN UNIOI^. 217 Certain, the only way in which the Deity can inform the human mind. Some refpeftable Catholics had publilhed works fil- led with liberal ientiments. Thefe were reprefented as villanous machinations to inveigle Proteftants.- On the other hand, fome Proteftant divines had propofed to imitate this liberality by making conceflions v/hich might enable a good Catholic to live more at eafe among the Proteftants, and might even accelerate an union of faiths. This was hooted beyond meafure, as Jefuitical, and big with danger. While the fceptical junto, headed by the editors of the Deutfche Bihliothek and the Berlin Monatfchrifi, were recommending everjl^ pcribrmance that was hoftile to the eftabliflred faith of the country, Leuchtfenring was equally bufy, finding Jefuits in eve- ry corner, and went about with all the inquietude of a madman, picking up anecdotes. Zimmerman, the re- fpeftable phyfician of Frederick King of Pruffia, gives a diverting account of a vifit which he had by Leuchtfen- ring at Hanover, all trembling with fears of Jefuits, and wilhing to perfuade him that his life was in danger from, them. Nicholai was now on the hunt, and during thii crufade Philo laid hands on him, being introduced to his acquaintance hy Leuchtfenring, who was, by this time, cured of his zeal for Proteitantifm, and had be- come a difciple of Illumin-atifm. Philo had gained his good opinion by the violent attack which he had pub- liflied on the Jefuits and Rofycrucians by the^orders of Spartacus. — He had not far to go in gaining over Ni- cholai, who was at this time making a tour through the Lodges. The fparks of Illumination which he perceiv- ed in many of them pleafed him exceedingly, and he ve- ry cheerfully received the precious feciet from Philo, D d 2i8 THE GERMAN UNION. This acquifition to the Order was made in January 1782. Spartacus was delighted with it, conhdered Ni- cholai as a moft excellent champion, and gave him the name of Lucian, the great fcoiTer at all religion, as apt- ly expreffing his character. Nicholai, on his return to Berlin, publiflied many vo- lumes of his difcovcries. One would imagine that not a Jefuit had efcaped him. He mentions many flrangc fchifmatics, both in religion and in Mafonry — but he never once mentions an Illuminatus. — When they were firft checked, and before the difcovery of the fecret cor- refpondence, he defended them, and ftrongly reprobated the proceedings of the Eleftor of Bavaria, calling it vile perfecution — Nay, after the difcovery of the letters found in Zwack's houfe, he pcrfifted in his defence, vindicated the poircfTion of the abominable receipts, and highly extolled the charaQcr of Weifhaupt. — But when the difcovery of papers in the houfe of Batz informed the public that he himfelf had long been an Illuminatus, he was fadly put to it to reconcile his defence with any petentions to religion.* — Weifhaupt laved him from dif- grace, as he thought, by his publication of the fyftem of Illuminatifm — Nicholai then boldly faid that he knew no more of the Order than v;as contained in that book, that is, only the two firft degrees. '^' He impudently pretended that the papers containing the fyf- tem tod doiSrines of Illuminatifm^ cams to him at Berlin, from ai-i unknown hand. But no one believed him — it was inconfiftent with wliat is faid of him in the fecret correfpondence. He had faid the fame thing concerning the French tranflation of the Letters on the Conftitution of the Pruffian States, Fifty copies were found in his ware-houfe. He faid that they liad been fent from Strafburg, and that he had never fold one of tlicm. — Suppofmg bQth thefe aiTertions to be true, it appears that Nicholai was confi- dered as a very proper han^ for difperfing fuch poifon. THE GERMAN UNIOxV: 219- But before this, Nicholai had made to himfelf a mod formidable enemy. The hiftory of this conteft is curi- ous in itfelf, and gives us a ve:ry inftru6live picture of the machinations of that conjuration dts p/ulofophes^ or gang of fcribblers who were leagued againil the peace of the world. The reader will therefore find it to our pur- pofe. On the authority of a lady in Courland, a Count- ti's von der Recke, Nicholai had accufed Dr. Stark of Darmftadt (who made fuch a figure in Free Mafonry) of Jefuitifm, and of having even fubmitted to the tovfure. Stark was a moft refllefs fpirit — had gone through every myftcry in Germany, llluminatifra excepted, and had ferreted out many of Nicholai's hidden tranfaclions. He was alfo an unwearied book-maker, and dealt out' thcfe difcoveries by degrees, keeping the eye of the public continually upon Nicholai. He had fufpe6led his Illu- mination for fome time pad, and when the fecret came out, by Spartacus's letter, where he boafts of his acquifition, calling Nicholai a moft fturdy combatant, and faying that he was contentijf'imiis. Stark left no (tone luuurned, till he difcovered that Nicholai had been ini- tiated in all the horrid and moft profligate myfteries of Illuminatifm, and that Spartacus had at the very firft ejitrufted him with his moft darling fecrets, and advifed with him on many occafions.* * Of this wi liave complete proof in the private correfpondence. Philo, fpeakjng in one of his letters of the gradual change which was to be produced in the minds of their pupils from Chriflianity to Deij&n, fays, " Nicholai informs me, that even the pious Zolli- Jtofer has now been convinced that it would be proper to fet up a deiftical church in Berlin." It is in vain that Nicholai fiys that his knowledge of the Order was only ofwliat Weifhaupt hiid pub- liilied ; for Philo fays tliat that correfled {y9izm had not been in- troduced into itv/henhe quitted it in 1784. But Nicholai deferves ro credit— he is one of the moft fcandalous examples cfthe opera- tion of the principhs of TVc-ilhaupt. He proaarid admilliou into ^20 THE GERMAN UNION. This complete blading of his moral charaBer cowld not be patiently borne, and Nicholai was in his turn the bitter enemy of Stark, and, in the paroxyfras of his an- ger, publiflied every idle tale, although he was often obliged to contradi6l them in the next Review. In the courfe of this attack and defence, Dr. Stark difcovered the revival of the lUuminati, or at leaft a fociety which carried on the fame great work in a fomewhat different way. Dr. Stark had written a defence againft one of Nicho- lai's accufations, and wifhed to have it printed at Leip- zig. He therefore fent the manufcript to a friend, who refided there. This friend immediately propofed it to a moil improper perfon, Mr. Pott, who had written an anonymous commentary on the King of Prufiia's edift for the uniformity of religious worfliip in his dominions. This is one of the mod fhamelefs attacks on the efta- blifhcd faith" of the nation, and the authority and condu6t of the Prince, that can be imagined. Stark's friend was ignorant of this, and fpoke to Pott, as the partner of the great publiflier V/alther. They, without he(it2:ion, un- dertook the publifliing ; but when iix Vv^eeks had paflcd the Lodges of Free Mafons and Rofycrucians, merely to ad the difhonorable part cf a fpy, and he betrayed their fecrets as far as he could. In the appendix to the 7th volume of his journey, he declaims againft the Templar Mafons, Rofycrucians, and Jefuits, for their blind fubmiffion to unknown fuperiors, their fuperfti- tions, their prieftkoods, and their hafe principles — and yet had been five years in a fociety in which all thefe were carried to the greateft height. He remains true to the lUuminati alone, becaufe they had the fame objedl in view with himfelf and his atheiftical id- fociates. His defence of Proteftantifm is all a clieat ; and perhaps he may beconfidered as an enemy equally formidable with Weif- haupt him.felf. This is the reaioa v;hy he occupies fo many of thefe pages. THE GERMAN UNION. 221 over, Stark's friend found that it was not begun. Some exceptionable pafiages, which treated with difiepecil the religion ol" Realbn, were given as the caufe of delay; and he was told that the author had been written to about them, but had not yet returned ananfwer. This was af- terwards found to be falfe. Then a pafl'age in the pre- face was objecicd to, as treating roughly a lady in Cour- land, which Wakher could not print, becaufe he had connexions with that court. The author rnuft be en- treated to change his expre(i;ons. After another delay, paper was wanting. The MS. was withdrawn. Wal- ther now faid that he would print it immediately, and again got it into his hands, promifing to fend the fheets as they came from the prefs. Thefe not appearing for a long time, the agent made e^iquiry, and found that it was fciu to Michaclis at Halle, to be printed there. The agent immediately went thither, and found that it was printing with great alterations, another title, and a guide or key, in which the work was perverted and turned into ridicule by a Dr. Bahrdt, who refidcd in that neighbour- hood. An atiion of recovery and damages was imme- diately commenced at Leipzig, and after much conteft, an interdict was put on Michaclis's edition, and a proper edition was ordered immediately from Walther, with fe- curity that it fliould appear before Bahrdt's key. Yet when it was produced at the next fair, the bookfellers had been already fupplied with the i'purious edition; and as this was accompanied by the key, it was much more faleable ware, and completely fupplanted the other. This is furcly a flrong indance of the macliinations by which the Illuminati have attempted to deftroy the Li- berty of the Prefs, and the power they have to difcou- rage or fupprefs any thing that is not agreeable to the taile of the lilera;y junto. It was in the courfe of this 222 THE GERMAN UNION". tranfaftion that Dr. Stark's agent found people talking in the cofFee-houfes of Leipzig and Halle of the advan- tages of public libraries, and of libraries by fubfcrip- tion, in every town, where perforis could, at a fmall expence, fee what was palhng in the learned world. x\s he could not but acquicfce in thefe points, they who held this language began to talk of a general Aflbcia- tion, which fhould aCl in concert over all Germany, and make a full communication of its numerous literary produQions, by forming focieties for reading and in- IlruQ-ion, which fliould be regularly fupplied with eve- ry publication. Flying Iheets and pamphlets were af- terwards put into his hands, dating the great ufe of fuch an Aflbciation, and the effcft which it would fpeedily produce by enlightening the nation. By and by he learned that fuch an Aifociation did really exift, and that it was called the German union, for rooting out Superstition and Prejudices, and advanc- ing TRUE Christian iTY. On enquiry, however, lie found that this was to be a Secret Society, becaufe it had to combat prejudices which were fupported by the great of this world, and becaufe its aim v»'as to pro- mote that general information w^hich priefts and defpots dreaded above all things. This Aflbciation was acceffi- blc only through the reading focieties, and oaths of fe- crecy and fidelity were required. In Ihort, it appeared to be the old fong of the Illuminati. This difcovery was immediately annoimced to the public, in an anonymous publication in defence of Dr. Stark. It is fuppofed to be his own performance. It difclofes a fcene of complicated villany and folly, in which the Lady in Courland makes a very ftrange fi- gure. She appears to be a wild fanatic, deeply engag- ed in magic aed gholl-raiiingj and leagued with Nieh6- THE GERMAN UNION. 223 ki, Gedicke, and Biefter, againft Dr. Stark. Pie is very completely cleared of the fafts alledged againft him ; and his three male opponents appear void of all principle and enemies of all religion. Stark however •would, in Britain, be a very fingular chara61er, confi- dered as a clergyman. The frivolous fecrets of Mafon- ry have either engrolTed his whole mind, or he has la- boured in them as a lucrative trade, by which he took advantage of the folly of others. The conteft between Stark and the Triumvirate at Berlin engaged the public attention much more than we fi;iould imagine t!T5.t a thing of fo private a nature would do. But the charac- ters were very notorious j and it turned the attention of the public to thofe clandeftine attacks which were made in every quarter on the civil and religious eftablifhments. It was obvious to every perfon, that thefe reading foci- eties had all on a fudden become very numerous ; and the characters of thofe who patronifed them only increaf- ed the fufpicions which were now raifed. The hrfl work that fpcaks exprefsly of the German Union, is a very fenfible performance " On the Right cf Princes to dircB the Religion of their fiibj eels ^ The next is a curious work, a fort of narrative Dialogue on the CharaBers of Nicholai, Gedicke, and Biejler. It is chiefly occupied with the contell with Dr. Stark, but iij the 5th part, it treats particularly of the German Union. About the fame time appeared fomc farther account, in a book called Archives cf Fanaticifm and Hhniiinq.- tifm. But all thefe accounts are very flight and ur.fatis- fattory. The fulleft account is to be had in a work publifhed at Leipzig by Gofchen the bookfeller. It is entitled " More Notes than Text, or the Gerraan Union of XXI L^ a ncv^ Secret Scciciyforthe QoQd 0/ Mankind i" 224 THE GERMAN UNION. Leipzig, 1789. The publiflier fays, that it was fent him by an unknown hand, alid that he pubhfhed it with all fpeed, on account of the many mifchiefs which this Society (of which he had before heard feveral reports) ir-ight do to the world, and to the trade, if allowed to ro Oil workini^ in fecret. From this work, therefore, -we may form a notion of this redoubtable Society, and judge how^ far it is prafticable to prevent fuch fecret raa- thiiiations againft the peace and happinefs of mankind. There 'is another work, " Further Information con- cerning the German Union (Nahere Beleuchtung der Deutfche Union) alfo fli owing how ^ for a 7noderate price, one may become a Scotch Free Mafnn.'' Frankfort and Leipzig, 17B9. The author fays that he had all the pa- pers, in his hands ; whereas the author of More Notes than Text acknowledges the want of fome. But very little additional light is thrown on the fubje6l by this •work, and the firft is ftill the mofl inftruftive, and will chiefly be followed in the account which is now to be laid before the reader. The book More Notes than Text contains plans and letters, which the Twenty-two United Brethren have al- lowed to be given out, and of which the greatell part tvere printed, but w^ere entrulted only to allured mem- bers. No. I. is the firfl plan, printed on a fmgle quarto page, and is.addreffed, To all the Friends of Reafon, of Tridh,f and of Virtue. It is pretty well written, and ftatcs among other things, that " becaufe a great num- ber of perfons are labouring, with united effort, to bring Reafon under the yoke, and to prevent all inftruc- iion.it h therefore neceffdrv that there be a combination THE GERMAN UNION. 225 Vv'hich fliall work in oppofition to them, fo that man- kind may not fink anew into irrecoverable barbarifm, when Reafon and Virtue fliall have been completely fub- dued, overpowered by the reftraints which are put on our opinions." " For this noble purpofe a company of twenty-two perfons, public inftruQors, and men in private llations, have united themfelves, according to a plan which they have had under confideration for more than a year and a half, and which, in their opinion, con- tains a method that is fair, and irrefiftable by any human power, for promoting the enlightening and forming o£ mankind, and that will gradually remove all the obfta- cles which fuperftition fupported by force has hitherto put in the way." This addrefs is intended for an enliiling advertifement, and, after a few infignificant remarks on the Alfociation, a rix-dahler is required along with the fubfcription of ac- quiefcence in the plan, as a compenfation for the expen- ces attending this mode of intimation and confent. Whoever pays the rix-dahler, and declares his wifh to join the Aflbciation, receives in a few days No. II, which is a form of the Oath of fecrecy, alfo printed on a fingle 4to page. Having fubfcribed this, and given a full defignation of himfelf, he returns it agreeably to a certain addrefs ; and foon after, he gets No. III. print- ed on a 4to flieet. This number contains what is called the Second Plan, to which all the fubfequent plans and circular letters refer. A copy therefore of this will give us a pretty full and juft notion of the Order, and its mode of operation. It is entitled. E e 22(5 THE GERMAN UNIOM. The Plan cj the Twenty-Two, And begins with this declaration. " We have iinired, in order to accomplifii the aim of the exalted P^ounder of Chrin:ianity, viz. the enlightening of mankind, and the dethronement of fuperftition and fanaticifm, by means of a fecret fraternization of all who love the work of God. *' Our firft exertion, which has already been very ex.- tenfive, conlilts in this, that, by means of confidential perfons, we allow ourfelves to be announced every where as a Society united for the above-mentioned purpofe ; and we invite and admit into brotherhood with ourfelves every perfon who has a fenfe of the importance of this matter, and wifhes to apply to us and fee our plans. " We labour firll of all to draw into our Affociation all good and learned writers. * This we imagine will be the eafier obtained, as they mufl derive an evident ad- vantage from it. Next to fuch men, we feek to gain the .maflers and fecretaries of the Poft-ofRces, in order to fa- cilitate our correfpondence. " Befides thefe, we receive perfons of every conditiori and Ration, excepting princes and their miniilers. Their favorites, however, may be admitted, and may be ufeful by their influence in behalf of Truth and X'irtue. " When any perfon writes to us, we fend him an oath, by which he mull abjure all treachery or difcovery of the Aflociation, till circumflances Ihall make it proper for us to come forward and fliow ourfelves to the world. \yhen he fubfcribes the oath, he receives the plan, and if he finds this to be what latisfies his mind as a thing THE GERMAN UxVION. •2 2 7 good and honorable, he becomes our iViend only in fo far as he endeavours to gain over his friends and ac- quaintances. Thus we learn who are really our zealous friends, and our numbers incrcafe in a doable propor- tion. " This procedure is to continue till Providence fhall fo far blefs our endeavours, that we acquire an a8ive Brother and coadjutor in every place of note, where there is aiiy literary profefiion ; and for this purpofe we have a fecretary and proper oHice in the centre of the Aflbci- ation, where every thing is expedited, and all reports re- ceived. When this happy epoch arrives, we begin our fecoad operation," That is to fay, " We intirriate to all the Brotherhood in every quar- ter, on a certain day, itA^^ THE German Union has ■noio acquired a con/ijience, and we now divide the frater- nifed part of the nation into ten or twelve Provinces or Diocefes, each direfted by its Dioccfan at his office i and thefe are fo arranged in due fubordination, that all bufinefs comes into the Union-house as into the cen- tre of the whole. " Agreeably to this manner of proceeding there are two clalfes of the Brotherhood, the Ordinary^ and the Managing Brethren. The latter alone know the ajm of the Aifociation, and all the means for attaining it ; and they alone conftitute the Un ion, the n:iHie, and the connexion of which is not intended to be at ail conlpi- cuous in the world. " To this end the bufmefs takes a new extcrnrd form^ The Brethren, to wit, fpeak not of tlie Union in the pla. ces whore they rclidc, nor of a Soci-jiyj nor of enli>^hten- 228 THE GERMAN UNION. ing the people ; but they affemble, and acl together in every quarter, merely as a Literary Society, bring into it all the lovers of reading and of ufeful knowledge i and fuch in fafcl are the Ordinary Brethren, who only know that an Aflbciation exiils in their place of refir dence, for the encouragement of literary men, but by no means that it has any connexion with any other fimilar Society, and that they all conflitute one whole. But thefe Societies will naturally point out to the intelligent Brethren fuch perfons as are proper to be felefted for carrying forward the great work. For perfons of a fe- rious turn of mind are not mere loungers in fuch com- pany, but (how in their converfation the intereft they ta^e in real inftruBipn. And the call of their reading, "which mud not be checked in the beginning in the fmall- ell degree, although it may be gradually direfted to pro- per fubje6ls of information, will point out in the moft unequivocal manner their peculiar ways of thinking on the important fubjcfts connecled with our great objeft. Here, tiierefore, the a6Uve Brethren will obferve in fe- cret, and will feleO: thofe whom they think valuable ac- quifitions to the facred Union. They will invite fuch perfons to unite with themfelves in their endeavours to enlighten the reft of mankind, by calling their attention to profitable fubjefts of reading, and to proper books. ^Reading Societies, therefore, are to be formed in every quarter, and to be furniflied with proper books. In this provifion attention muft be paid to two things. The. tafte of the public muft be complied with, that the Soci- ety may have any e{fe6l at all in bringing men together v'ho are born for (bmewhat more than jufl to look about them. But the general tade may, and muft alfo be care- fully and ftvilfully direfted to fubjccls Uvdt will enlarge the comprehenfion, v»'ill fortify the heart, and, by habitu- ating the mind to novelty, and to fuccci^ful difcovery, THE GERMAN UNION. 12 both in phvfics and in morals, will hinder the timid from being Itartled at do6lrines and maxims which are hngu- lar, or perhaps oppohte to thofe which are current in or- dinary iociety. Commonly a man (peaks as if he thought he was uttering his own fentiments, while he is only echo- ing the general found. Our minds are dreffed in a pre- vailing fafhion as much as our bodies, and with (luff as little congenial to fentiment, as a piece of woollen cloth is to the human flcin. So carelefs and indolent are men, even in what they call ferious converlation. Till reflec- tion becomes a habit, what is really a thought ftartles, however fimple, and, if really uncommon, itaftonifhes and confounds. Nothing, therefore, can fo powerfully tend to the improvement of the human chara6ler, as well managed Reading Societies. " When thefe have been eflabliflied in different pla- ces, we mud endeavour to accomplifh the following in- termediate plans : 1. To introduce a general literary Ga-zette or Review, v.'hich,^ by uniting all the learned Brethren, and combining with judgment and addrefs all their talents, and lleadily proceeding according to a diftinft and precife plan, may in time fupplant every other Gazette, a thing which its intrinfic merit and com- prehenlive plan Vi/ill eahly accomplifli. 2. To felecl a fccretary for our Society, who Ihall have it in charge to conjmiilion the books wiiich they fhall felecl in confor- mity to the great aim of the Affociation, and who fhali undertake to coininiilion all other books for the curious? in his neighbourhood.- If there be a booki'cller in the place, who can be gained over and fworn into the So- ciety, it will be proper to choofe him for this office, hnce, as will be made more plain afterwards, the trade will gradually come into the plan, and fall mio the hands of the Union. C30 THE GERMAN UNION. " And now, every eye can perceive the progrefTive moral inilueiice which the Union will acquire on the na- -tion. Let us only conceive what fuperltition will lofe, and what inftruttion mult gain by this; when, i. In eve- ry Reading Society the books are felefted by our Frater- nity. 2. When we have confidential perfons in every quarter, who will make it their ferious concern to foread fuch performances as promote the enlightening of man- kind, and to introduce them even into every cottage. 3. When we have the loud voice of the public on our iide, and fmce we are able, either to fcout into the lliade all the fanatical writings which appear in the reviews that are commonly read, or to warn the public again ft them ; and, 0:1 the other hand, to bring into notice and recom- mend ihofe performances, alone which give light to the human mind. 4. When Vv'C by degrees bring the whole trade of bookfcUing into our hands (as the good writers w'ill bring all their performances into the market through our means) we fliall bring it about, that at laft the wri- ters who labour in the caufe of fuperftition and refiraint, will have neither a publilher nor readers. 5. When, laflly, by the fpreading of our Fraternity, all good hearts and fenfible men will adhere to us, and by our means will be put in a condition that enables them to work in filcnce upon all courts, families, and indivi_ duals in every quarter, and acquire an influence in the appointment of court-officers, llewards, fecretariesij pa- ii!h-pric(ls, public teachers, and private tutors. '- Remark, That we fnall fpeedily get the trade into ovir hands (which was formerly the aim of the affocia- tion called the GeleJirtenbuchhandlung) is conceivable by this, that every writer v.'ho unites with us immedi- ately acquires a triple number of readers, and finds fiiends in every place who promote the fale of his per- THE GERMAN UNION. 23.1 formance ; fo that his gain is increafed manifold, and confequently all will quit the bookfeliers, and accede to us by degrees. Had the above-named airociation been conftrucled in this manner, it would, long ere now, have been the only fliop in Germany." The book called Fuller Information^ Sec. gives a more particular account of the advantages held forih to the li- terary manufacturers of Germany by this Unionyc?- God's ■work. The clafs of literary Brothers, or writers by trade, v/as divided into Mejopolites^ Aldermen, Men, and Cadeti. The Mesopolites, or Metropolitans, are to be at- tached to the archive-office, and to be taken care of in the Union-Houfe, when in ftraits throwgh age or mis- fortune. They will be occupied in the department of the fciences or arts, which this Afibciation profcfies principally to cherilh. They are alfo Brethren of the third degree of Scotch Free Mafonrv, a qualification to be explained afterwards. The Uriion-Houfe is a baiU;- ing v/hich the oftenhble Founder of the Union profelfed to have acquired, or fpeedily to acquire at , through the favor and proteclion of a German Prince, who is not named. Aldermen are perfons who hold public offices, and are engaged to exercife their genius and talents in the fciences. Thefe alfo are Brothers of the third rank of Scotch Free Mafonry, and out of their number are the Diocefans and the Diredors of the Readin^^ Societies feletled. The members who are defigned fimply Me\, are Brothers of the iecond rank of Mafonry, and have alio a definite fcicntiftc occupaiion alTigncd them. 2^2 THE GERMAN UNION. The Cadets are writers who have not yet merited any particular honors, but have exhibited fufficient dif- pofitionsand talents for different kinds of Hterary ma- iiufadure. Every member is bound to bring the produ6lions of his genius to market through the Union. An Alderman receives for an original work 80 percent, of the returns, and 70 for a tranfjation. The member of the next clafs receives 60, and the Cadet 50. As to the expence of printing, the Alderman pays nothing, even though the work fhould lie on hand unfold ; but the Ma7i and the Cadet muft pay one half. Three months after publica- tion at the fairs an account is brought in, and after this? yearly, when and in what manner the author fliall defire. In every diocefe will be eUablifned at leafl one Read- ing Society, of which near 800 are propofed. To each of thefe will a copy of an Alderman s work be fent. The fame favor will be fiiown to a differtation by a Man, or by a Cadet, provided that the manufcript is documented by an Alderman, or formally approved by him upon ferious perufal. This impriviatur, which muft be con- ficlered as a powerful recommendation of the v.'ork, is to be publifhed in the General Review or Gazette. This is to be a vehicle of political as well as of literary news ; and it is hoped that, by its intrinfic worth, and the re- commendation of the members, it will foon fupplant all others. (With refpcft to affairs of the Union, a fort of cypher was to be employed in it. Each Diocefan was there defigned by a letter, of a fize that marked his rank, and each member by a number. It uas to appear week- ly, at the very fmall price of five ahd-tvv'cnty fhillings.} — But let us return to the plan. THE GERMAN UNION. S33 When every thing has been eftablifiied in the manner fet forth above, the Union will aflume the following re- publican form (the reader always recolleding that this is not to appear to the world, and to be known only to the managing Brethren.} Here, however, there is a great blank. The above- named (Icetch of this Conftitution did not come to the hands of the perfon who furniflied the bookfeller with the reft of the information* But we have other docu- ments which give fufficient information for our purpofe. In the mean time, let us juft take the papers as they ftand. No. tV. Contains a lifl; of the German Union, which the fender received in manufcript. Here we find many names which we fhould not have expeded, and mifs many that were much more likely to have been partners in this patriotic fcheme. There are feveral hundred names, but very few defignations; fo that it is difficult to point out the individuals to the public. Some how- ever are defigned, and the writer obferves that names are found, which, when applied to fome individuals whom he knows, accord furprihngly with the anecdotes that are to be feen in the private correfpondence of the Illu- minati, and in the romance called Materials for the Hif- tory of Socratifm (Illuminatifm.*j It is but adifagrec- * This, by the by, is a very curious and entertaining work, and, had the whole affair been better known in this country, would have been a much better antidote againft the baneful effefts of that Af- fociation than any thing that I can give to the public, being writ- ten with much acutenefs and knowledge of the human mind, and agreeably diverfiSed with anecdote and ironical exhibition of the af- feifted wifdcan and philanthropy of the knavifh Founder and his co« F f «34 'i'-^ GERMAN UNlO>?. iibic rcniaik, that the lid of the Union coiuain^i; the names of many public teachers, both from the pulpit^ and from the academic chair in all its degrees ; and among thefe are feveral whofe cyphers fhow that they have been aLtive hands. Some of thefe have in their, writings given evident proofs of their mifconception of the fimple truths, whether dogmatical or hiftorical, of revealed religion, or of their inclination to twift and ma-, nufaclure thera fo as to chime in with the religion and morality of the Sages of France. But it is more dillref- fmg to meet with unequivocal names of fome who pro- fefs in their writings to confider thefe fubjecls as an ho- nelt man fhould confider them, that is, according to the plain and common fenfe of the words ; whereas we have demondrative proofs that the German Uwion had the iliametrically oppoiite purpofe in view. The only fe- male in the lift is the Grafin von der Recke, the lady who o;ave Dr. Stark of Darmftadt fo much trouble about His Tonfure. This Lady, as we have already feen, could not occupy herfelf with the frivolities of drefs, flirtation, or domeftic cares. ''• Femina front e patet^ vir peBore." She was not pleafed however at finding her name in fuch a Plebein lift, and gave oath, along with Biefter at the centre, that Ihe was not of the Aflociation. I fee that the public was not fatisfied with this denial. The Lady has publiflied fome more fcandal againft Stark hnce that time, and takes no notice of it ; and there have appeared many accounts of very ferious litc_ rary connc8.ions between thefe two perfons and the man who was afterwards difcovered to be the chief agent of the Union. a'4jutors. If the prefent imperfed and defultory account lliall be- laund to intereft the public, I doubt not but that a tranflation of this ixcvel, and fom£ other fanciful performances ori tlic fuhj-;i"J,-- will be read- with entertainment aj:ad. profit. THE GERMAN UNlOxNT. 235 "No. V. is an important document. It is a letter ad- 'dreffed to the fworn members of the Union, reminding the beloved fellow-workers that " the bygone manage- ment of the buiinefs has been expenfive, and that the XXII. do not mean to make any particular charge for their own compenfation. But that it was necellary that all and each of the members fhould know precifely the obje6l of the Aflociation, and the way whith mature con- fideration had pointed out as the mod elfe&lual method of attaining this objeft. Then, and not till then, could the worthy members aft. by one plan, and confequently with united force. To accomplifli this purpofe, one of their number had compofed a I'reatife on In/i}"u&;io')i, and the vuans of -provioting it."* Tiiis work has ban revi- ■fed by the whoie number, and may be confidered as the refult of their decpeft. reflexion.. Tl>ey fay, that 'it Avould be a fignal misfortune fliould this Alfociation^ this undertaking, fo important for thehappinefs of mankind, be cramped in the very beginning of its brilliant pro- •grefs. They therefore propofc to print this v/ork, this. Holy Scripture of tlieir faith and prafrice, by fubfcrip- •tion. (They here give a fhort account of the work.) And they requeft the members to encourage the work 'by fubfcribing and by exerting more than their ufuai ac- tivity in procuring fubfcriptions, and iik recommending •the performance in the oewfpapers. Four perfons are named as Diocefans, who are to receive the money, which they beg m.ay be fpeedily advanced in order to purchafe paper, that the work may be rt ady for the fiiil -fair (Eaflcr 1788.) * Urler Avvv'^J..\-^v^o und dercn Bsfirdenwgs-M'lfic^, The Ot^Ij proper trantl.ition ofthLs word would be, clearing uj>,0" c;iiig'.h\-nir^^ IrJlrtiSllon feems the.fingle ■word diat comes ne.-u-ell to the pvccile aneanmg oLy^tifklarung^ but is not fyncnymoas. saS THE GERMAN UNION. No. VI. is a printed paper (as is No. V.) without date, farther recommending the Effay on Inftru6lion', No. VII. is in manufcript, without date. It is addref-. fed to " a worthy man," intimating that the like ai^e fent to others, to whom will alfo fpeedily be forwarded an improved plan, with a requeft to cancel or deftroy the for- mer contained in No, III, It is added, that the Union now contains, among many others, more than two hun- dred of the moft refpeftable perfons in Germany, of eve- ry rank and condition, and that in the courfe of the year (1788) a general lift will be fent, with a requeft that the receiver will point out fuch as he does not think worthy of perfect confidence. It concludes with another re- commgjidation of the book on Injiruclion, on the returns from which firft work of the German Union the fuppoxt of the fecretary's office is to depend. Accordingly No. VIII, contains this plan, but it is not entitled The Improved Plan. Such a denomination would have called in doubt the infallibility of the XXXI, It is therefore called the FrogreJJive (Vorlaufig) plan, a title which leaves room for every fubfequent change. It differs from the former only in fome unimportant cir- camftances. Some expreffions, which had given offence or raifed fufpicions, are foftened or cancelled. Two copies of this;, which we may call A and B, are given, differing alfo in fome circumftances. " The great aim of the German Union, is the good of mankind, which is to be attained only by means of mental Illumination (Auffklarung) and the dethroning of fanaticifm and moral defpotifm." Neither paper has the expreffion which immediately followed in the former plan, " that this had been the aim of the exalted Founder of Chriftianity." The paper A refers, on the prefent fub^ THE GERMAN UNION. 237 je61, to a clifTertation printed in 1787 without a name. On the Freedom of the Prejs, and its Lwiitation. This. is one of the mod licentious pieces that has been pub- lifhed on the fubjeft, not only enforcing the mod un~ qualified liberty of publifhing every thing a man pleafcs, but exemplifying it in the mod fcandalous manner ; li- belling charatlers of ev^ery fort, and perfons of every condition, and this frequently in the moft abufive lan- guage, and expreffions fo coarfe, as diewed the author to be either habituated to the coarfefl company, or de- termined to try boldly once for all, what the public eye can bear. The piece goes on : " The Union confidcrs it as a chief part of its fecret plan of operation, to include the trade of book felling in their circle. By getting hold of this, they have it in their power to encrealc the num- ber of writings which promote inilruclion, and to lelTer. that of thofe which mar it, fince the authors of the lat- ter will by degrees lofe both their publilhers and their readers. That the prefent bookfellers may do them no harm, they will by degrees draw in the greater part of them to unite wath them." — The literary nevv'fpaper is here ilrongly infilled on, and, in addition to what was faid in the former plan, it is faid, " that they will irp. elude political news, as of mighty influence oil >he pub- lic mind, and as a fubjeB: that merits the ciofeii atten- tion of the moral inftructor." For whaC||bM3Tin^ion is that mind fufceptible of, that is fo blinded^^ the preju- dice created and nurfed by the habits of civil fubordina- tion, that it worfliips ftupidity or wickednefs under a coronet, and neglects talents and virtue under the bear- fkin cap of the boor. We muft therefore reprefent po- litical tranfaBions, and public occurrences, not as they affetl that artificial and fantaltical creature of imagina- tion that we lee every where around us, wheeled about in a chariotj but as it aft'ects a man, rational, adivcj 23? THE GERMAN UNIOiY. .frccbornman. By thus Gripping the tranfaftion of all foreign circumftances, we fee it asit affefts, or ought to affect ourfelves. Be alTured that this new form of poli- ■tical intelligence will be highly interefting, and that the Gazette of the Union will foon fuperfede all others, and, of itfelf, will defray all our neceifary expences." This is followed by fome allufions to a fecret corref- pondence that is quick, unfufceptible of all difcovery or treachery, and attended with no expence, by which the bufinefs of die fecret plan (different from either of thofe communicated to the fivorn Brethren at large) is carried on, and which puts the nnembers in a condition to learn every thing that goes on in the world, for or againft their caufe, and aifo teaches them to know mankind, to gain an influence over all, and enables them, eitedually to promote their beft fubjecls into all offices. Sec. and fi- nally, from which every member, whether fiatefmen, merchant, or writer, can draw his own advantages. Some pafiages here and in another place, make me imagine that the Union hoped to get the command of the polt- offices, by having their Brethren in the direPiion. It is then faid, that " it is fuppofed tha^ the levy will be fufficiently numerous in the fpring of the enfuing year. Whe^i thidA|K place, a general fynod will be held, in ■which t^i^tm^ of fecret operations will be finally adjuft- ed, and accommodated to local circumRances, fo as to be digefted into^ law that will need no farther alteration. A proper perfon will fet off from this fynod, with full powers, to vifit every quarter where there arc fworn Brethren, and he will there eftablifli a Lodge after the ancient limple ritual, and will communicate verbally ti>e plan of fecret operation, a.nd certain inftru8ions, Thefe Lodges will then eftablilh a managmg fund or box. THE GERMAN UNION. 239 Each Lodge will alfo eilablifli a Reading Society, under tlie management of a bookfcllcr refiding in the place, or of" fome peiTon acquainted with the mechanical conduct of things of this nature. There mud alfo be a colletlor' and agent (Expediieur) fo that in a moment the Union will have its offices or coviptoirs in every quarter, through which it carries oijUhe trade of bookfelling,and guides the ebb and How of its correfpondence. And thus the wliole machine will be fet in motion, and its aclivi-ty is all di-; reBed from the centre." I remark, that here w-e have not that exclufion of Princes and minifters that was in the former plan ; (hey are not even mentioned. The exclusion in cxprefs terms could not but furprife people, and appear forae- w'hat fufuicicus. i. No. IX. is a printed circular letter to the fworn Bre- thren, and is fubfcribed " by their truly afTociated Bro- ther Barthels, Oberamtfman (t^.rft bailiff) for the King of PruiLa, at Halle on the Saai." In this letter the Brethern are informed that " the XXII. were wont to meet forr.etimes at Kaile, and' fometimes at Berlin. Biu, unavoidable circumllances oblige them not only to remain concealtdior fome time, but even to give up their relation to the Union, and withdraw thcmfelves from any fliare in its proceedings. Thefe circumllances arc but temporary, and will be completely explained in due time. They trufl. hov. c- vcr, that this neceffary (lep on their part will not abate the zeal andatlivity of men of noble minds, engaged ii¥ tjie caufe by the conviftion of their own hearts. They have therefore communicated to their wcvthy Brother Bahthels all neceffary informationsj and have uiuuii- 2.10 THE GERiMAN UNIONf.. rnQuily conferred on him the direflion of the fccretary's- office, and have provided him with every document and mean of carrying on the correipondence. He has de^ voted himfelf to the honorable office, giving up all other employments. They obfcrve that by this change in the manner of proceeding, the Affiociation is freed from an objetlion made with juftice to all oth^ fecret focieties? namely, that the members fubjetl themfelves to blind and unqualified fubmiffion to unknown iuperiors." — - " The Society is now in the hands of its own avowed members. Every thing will foon be arranged according to a con ilitu lion purely republican ; a Diocefan will be chofen, and will diretl in every province, and report to the centre every fecond month, and in{lru£lions and other informations will ifme in like manner from the centre. " If this plan fhall be approved of by the Affociafed, H. Barthels will tranfmit to all the Diocefes general lifts of the Union, and the Plan of Secret Operation, the refult of deep meditation of the XX 11. and admira- bly calculated for carrying on with irrefiftible effi^B their noble and patriotic plan. To flop all cabal, and put an citd to all flander and fufpicion, H. Barthels thinks it proper that the Union Ihall Sep forward, and declare it- feif to the world, and openly name fome of its moft ref- pectable members. The public muft however be in- formed onlv with refpetl to the exterior of the Society, for which purpofe he had written a flieet to be annexed as an appendix to the work, On Instruction, de- claring that to be the work of the Society, and a fuffici- ent indication of its moil honorable aim. He defires luch members as choofe to ffiare the honor with him, to fend him their names and proper defignations, that they may appear in that appendix. And, laftly, he requefts THE GERMAN UNION. ^41 tKem to inftruB: him, and co-operate with him, accord- ing to the concerted rules of the Union, in promoting the caufe of God and the happinefs of mankind." The Appendix now alluded to makes No. X. of the packet fent to the Bookfeller Gofchen of Leipzig, and is dated December 1788. It is alfo found in the book On Inftru^ion, Sec. printed at Leipzig in 1789, by ■Walther. Here, however, the Appendix is dated Ja- nuary 1789. This edition agrees in the main with that in the book from which I have made fuch copious ex-" trafts, but differs in fome particulars that are not un- worthy of remark. In the packet it is written, " The underjigned, as Member and Agent of the German Union., in order to reftify feveral miftakes and injurious flanders and accu- sations, thinks it neceffary that the public itfelf fhould judge of their objeft and condu8;." — Towards the end it is faid, " and all who have any doubts may apply to thole named below, and are invited to write to them.'* No names however are lubjoined.— -In the appendix to the book it is only faid, " the agent of the German U- nion, Sec and "perfons who wifh to be better informed inay write to the agent, under the addref?. To the Ger- man Union — under cover to the fliop of Walther, book- feller in Leipzig." — Here too there are no names, and it does not appear that any perfon has chofen to come from behind the curtain.* * V7alth.er is an eminent bookfeller, and carries on the bufmers of publifhing to a great extent, both at Leipzig and other places. He was the publiflier of the moll virulent attacks on the King of ' Pruffia's Edid on Religion, and was brought into much troubls; about the Commentary by Pott wiiich is mentioned above. He alfo publilhes many of the fceptical and licentious writings which have {q much diHurbed the peace cf Germauy. G g a42 THE GERMAN UNION. There has already been fo much faid about Enlight- ening, that the reader mud be almoft tired of it. He is affured in this performance that the Illumination propof- ed by the Union is not that of the Wolfenbuttle Frag- ments, nor that of Horus, nor that of Bahrdt. The ■Frcgments and Horus are books which aim direflly, and without any concealment, to deftroy the authority of eur Scriptures, either as^ hiftorical narrations or as reve- lations of the intentions of providence and of the future profpefts of man. The Theological writings o^ Bahrdt are grofs perverfions, both of the fenfe of the text, and of the moral inftru8;ions contained in it, and are per- haps the moft exceptionable performances on the fubje6i; They are ftigmatifed as abfurd, and coarfe, and indecent, even by the writers on the fame fide ; yet the work re- commended fo often, as containing the elements of that Illumination which the world has to expeft from the Union, not only coincides in its general principles with thefe performances, but is almoft an abftraft of fome of them, particularly of his Popular Religion, his Para- phrafe on the Sermon on the Mount, and his Morality OF Religion. We have alfo feen that the book on the Liberty of the Prefs is quoted and recommended as an elementary book. Nay, both the work on Inilru£li- on and that on the Liberty of the Prefs are now known to be Bahrdt's. But thefe principles, exceptionable as they may be,, are probably not the worft of the inftitution. We fee that the outjide alone of the Union is to be fhewn to the public. Barthels felicitates the public that there is no fubordination and blind obedience to unknown fuperi- ors ; yet, in the fame paragraph, he tells us that there is a fecret plan of operations, that is known only to the Centre, and the Confidential Brethroi. The authot o^ THE GERMAN UNION. 243 WuUer Information fays that he has this plan, and would print it, were he not reftrained by a promife.* He gives us enough however to fliow us that the higher myf- teries of the Union arc precifely the fame with thofe of the lUuminati. Chriftianity is exprefsly faid to have been a Myftical Alfociation, and its founder the Grand Mafter of a Lodge. The Apoilles, Peter, James,' John, and Andrew, were the Elect, and Brethren of the Third Degree, and initiated into all the myfleries. The remaining Apoftles were only of the Second De- gree ; and the Seventy-Two were of the Firft Degree.' •Into this degree ordinary Chriftians may be admitted, and prepared for further advancement. The great myf- tery is, that J C was a Naturalist, and taught the doClrine of a Supreme Mind, the Spe8ator,' but not the Governor of the World, pretty nearly in the fenfe of the Stoics. The Initiated Brethren were to be inftru6led by reading proper books. Thofe particularly recommended are Bafedozo's PraBical Knowledge^ Eber- hard's Apology for Socrates, Bahrdt's Apology for Rea- fon, SteinbaYdVs Syftem of Moral Education, Mein^r's Ancient Mjfieries, Bahrdt's Letters on the Bible, and Bahrdt's Completion of the Plan and Aim of J C . Thefe books are of the moft Antichriftian cha- rader, and fome of them aim at fhaking off all moral obligation whatever. Along with -thefe religious do6lrines, are inculcated the moll dangerous maxims of civil conduct. The del- potifm that is aimed at over the minds of men, and the machinations and intrigues for obtaining poffeflion of places of truft and influence, are equally alarming,, but- being perfedly fimilar to thofe of the Illumiiiati, it is needlefs to mention them. * This I find to be falfe, and the book a common joI>. 344 THE GERiMAN UNION. The chief intelligence that we get from this author is that the Centre of the Union is atahoufein the neigh- bourhood of Halle. It is a fort of tavern, in a vineyard immediately without the city. This was bought by Doctor Karl Friederich Bahrdt, and fitted up for the amufement of the Univerfity Students, He calls itBAHRDT's RuHE (Bahrdt's Repofe.) The au- thor thinks that this mud have been the wc«-k of the Af- fociation, becaufe Bahrdt had not a farthing, and was totally unable for fuch an undertakmg. He may how- ever have been the contriver of the inftitution. He has never affirmed or denied this in explicit terms ; nor has he ever faid who are the XXII coadjutors, Wucherer, an eminent bookfeller at Vienna, feems to have been one of the moil aftive hands, and in one year admitted near 200 members, among v/hom is his own fhoemaker. He has publiflied fome of the moll profligate pamphlets which have yet appeared in Germany. The publication of the lift of members alarmed the nation ; perfons were aftonifhed to find themfelves in every quarter in the midft of villains who were plotting againft the peace and happinefs of the country, and de- flroying every fentiment of religion, morality, or loyalty. Many perfons publilhed in the newfpapers and literary journals affirmations and proofs of the falfe infertion of their names. Some acknowledged that curiofity had made them enter the Alfociation, and even continue their correfpondence with the Centre, in order to learn fomething of what the Fraternity had in view, but de- clared that they had never taken any part in its proceed- ings. But, at the fame time, it is certain that many Reading Societies had been fct up, during thefe tranf. aflions, in every quarter of Germany, and that the of- tenfible managers were in general of very iufpicious cha- THE GERMAN UNION. 245 rasters, both as to morals and loyalty. The Union had aftually fct up a prefs of their own at Calbe, in the neighbourhood of Halberftadt. Every day there ap- peared ftronger proofs of a combination of the Journal- ilts, Reviewers, and even of the publifliers and book- fellers, to fupprefs the writings which appeared in de- fence of the civil and ecclelialtical conftitutions of the States of Germany. The extenhve literary manufa6liire of Germany is carried on in fuch a manner that it is im- poffible for any thing lefs than the joint operation of the whole federated powers to prevent this. The fpirit of free thinking and innovating in religious matters had been remarkably prevalent in the dominions of the King of Pruflia, having been much encouraged by the indif- ference of the late King. One of the vileft things pub^ lifhed on this occafion was an abominable farce, called the Religion EdiB:. This was traced to Bahrdt's Ruhe, and the Dottor was arrefled, and all his papers feized and ranfacked. The civil Magiflrate was glad of an opportunity of expifcating the German Union^ which common fame had alfo traced hither. The correfpon- dence was accordingly examined, and many difcoverici were made, which there was no occafion to communi- cate to the public, and the profecution of the bufinef'j of the Union was by this means Hopped. But the pcr- fons in high office at Berlin agree in faying that the Af fociation of writers and other turbulent perfons in Ger- many has been but very faintly hit by this blow, and is almoll as aftive as ever. The German Union appears a mean and precipitate Affociation. The Centre, the Archives, and the Secre- tary are contemptible. All the Archives that wer« found were the plans and lifts of the members and a par- cel of letters of correfpondence. The correlpondcnce S46 THE GERMAN UNION, ?ind other bufinefs was managed by an old man in fomc •very inferior office or judicatory, who lived at bed and board in Bahrdt's houfe for about fix fhillings a week, liaving a cheft of papers and a writing defic in the corner of the common room of the houfe. Bahrdt gives a long narration of his concern in the siiair, but we can put litde confidence in what he fays ; yet as we have no better authority, I fhall give a very ihoYt abltratl of it as follows. He faid, thai he learned Cofmo-poiitical Free Mafon- iry in England, when he was there getting pupils for his ^academy — but neglefted it on his return to Germany. Some time after his fettlement he was roufed by a viiit from a ftranger who pafled for an Englifiiman ; but whom he afterwards found to be a Dutch officer — (he :gives a defcription which bears confiderable refemblance to the Prince or General Salms who gave fo much dif- turbance to the States-General) — He was iViW more ex- cited by an anonymous letter giving him an account of a Society which was empioyed in the inftrutlion of man- l^ind, and a plan of their mode of operations, nearly the fame with that of No. 111. — He then fet up a Lodge of Free Mafonry on Cofmo-political principles, as a pre- paration for engaging in this great plan — he was flopped by the National Lodge, becaufe he had no patent from it. — This obliged him to work in fecret. — He met with a gentleman in a cofFce-houfe, who entreated him to go on, and promifed him great affifiance — this he got from lime to time, as he ftood mod in need of it, and he now found that he was working in concert with many pow- erful though unknown friends, each in his own circle. The plan of operation of the XXII was gradually un- folded to him, and he got folemn promifes of bemg THE GERM'AN UNIOM. S4g made acquainted widi his colleagues — But he now found,, that after he had fo effentially ferved their noble caufe, he \va.s dropped by them in the hour of danger, and thus was made the facrifice for the public good.. The lafi packet which he received was a req^ueft from a Friend to the Union to print two performances fen t him, with a promife of lOO dahlers for his trouble. — Thefe were the abominable farce called the Religion £di^, and fbme DilTertations on that Royal Proclamation. He then gives an account of his fyftem of Free Ma- fonry, not very different from Weifliaupt's Mafonic Chrillianity — and concludes with the following abliraO: of the advantages of the Union — Advancement of Sci- ence — A general intereft and concern for Arts' and Learning — Excitement of Talents — Check of Scribbling? — Good Education — Liberty — Equality — Hafpitality — Delivery of many from Misfortunes — Union of the Learned — and at lad — perhaps — Amen.. What the meaning of this enigmatical conclafion is we ean only guefs — and our eonjeftmes cannot be very fa- vorable. The narration, of which this is a very fhort index, is- abundantly entertaining; but the opinion' of the mo ft intelligent is, that it is in a great meafure fiBitious, and that the contrivance of the Union is moitly his own- Although it could not be legally provad that he was the author of the farce, every perfon in court was convinced that he was, and indeed it is perfe6lly in Bahrdt's verj? lingular manner. — This invalidates the whqle of his Ilo^ ry — and he afteiv/ards acknowledges the farce (at leait by implication} in feveral writing^s, and boalis ol iu 248 THE GERMAN UNION. For thefe reafons I have omitted the narration in de- tail. Some information, however, which I have re- ceived fince, feems to confirm his account, while it di- ininifhes its importance. I now find that the book call- ed Fuller Information is the performance of a clergyman ■called Schiitz, of the lowed clafs, and by no means of an eminent charafler — Another performance in the form ■of a dialogue between X, Y, and Z, giving nearly the fame account, is by Pott, the dear friend of Bahrdt and of his Union, and author of the Commentary on ihe Edift. Schutz got his materials from one Roper, an expelled ftudent of debauched morals, who fubfifted by copying and vending filthy raanufcripts. Bahrdt ■fays, that he found him naked and iiarving, and, out of pity, took him into his houfe, and employed him as an araanuenfis. Roper ftole the papers at various times, taking them with him to Leipzig, whither he went on pretence of ficknefs. At lafl Schutz and he went to Berlin together, and gave the information on which Bahrdt was put in prifon. In fliort they all appear to have been equally profligates and traitors to each other, and exhibit a dreadful, but I hope a ufeful picture of the influence of this Illumination which fo wonderfully fafcinates Germany. This is all the direft information that I can pick up of the founder and the proceedings of the German Uni- on. The projetl is coarfe, and palpably mean, aiming at the dahlers of dntry -money and of annual contribution, and at the publication and profitable fale of Dr. Bahrdt's books. . This circumftance gives it ftrong features of "its parentage. — Philo fpeaks of Bahrdt in his Final De- claration in terras of contempt and abhorrence. There is nothing ingenious, nothing new, nothing enticing, in the plans ; and the immediate purpofe of indulging the THE GERMAN UNION* 245 licentious tafte of the public comes fo frequently before the eye, that it bears all the marks of that groffnefs of mind, precipitancy, and impatient overfight that are to be found in all the voluminous writings of Dr. Bahrdt. — ■ Many in Germany, however, afcribe the Union to Weifliaupt, and fay that it is the Illuminati w^orking in another form. There is no denying that the principles, and even the manner of proceeding, are the fame in every elfential circumftance. Many paragraphs of the declamations circulated through Germany with the plans, are tranfcribed verbatim from Weifliaupt's Corr^^cd Syjlem of Illuminatifm. Much of the work On Injlruc-- tio7i, and the Means for promoting ii, is very nearly a copy of the fame work, blended with flovenly extracts from fome of his own writings — There is the fame feries of delufions from the beginning, as in Illuminatifm— -- Free Mafonry and Chriftianity are compounded — firll tvith marks of refpe6l — then Chrifliianity is twifted to a purpole foreign from it, but the fame with that aimed at by Weifliaupt — then it is thrown away altogether, and Natural Religion and Atheifm fubftituted for it — For no perfon will have a moment's hefitation in faying, that this is the creed of the author of the books On Inflruc- tion and On the Liberty of the Prefs. Nor can he doubt that the political principles are equally anarchical with thofe of the Illuminati. — The endeavours alfo to get pofleffion of public offices, of places of education — • of the public mind, by the Reading Societies, and by publications — are fo many tranfcripts from the Illumi- Tiati.—- Add to this, that Dr. Bahrdt was an lUuminatus — ■ and wrote the Better than Horus, at the command of Weifliaupt. — Nay, it is well known that Weifliaupt was twice or thrice at Eahrdt's Ruhe during thofe tranfa6ti- oi;is. and that he zealoufly promoted the formation of 'h h - S50 THE GERMAN UNIONv Reading Societies in feveral places. — But I am rathert of the opinion that Weilhaupt made thofe vifits in order to keep Dr. Bahrdt within fome bounds of decency, and to hinder him from hurting the caufe by his precipi- tancy, when fpurred on by the want of money. Weif- haupt could not work in fuch an unfliilful manner. But he would be very glad of fuch help as this coarfe tool could give him — and Bahrdt gave great help ; for, when he w^as imprifoned and his papers feized, his Archives, as he called them, fliewed that there were many Reading Societies which his projed had drawn together. The Pruffian States had above thirty, and thenumber of read- ers was aftonifhingly great — and it was found, diat the pernicious books had really found their way into every hut. Bahrdt, by defcending a (lory lower than Weif- hauptj has gjeatly increafed the number of his pupils. But, although I cannot confider the German Union a« a formal revival of the Order under another name, I mull hold thofe United^ and the members of thofe Read- ing Societies, as Illuminati and Mincrvals. I mufl even confider the Union as a part of Spartacus's work. The plans of Weifliaupt were partly carried into effeft in their different branches — they were pointed out, and the way to carry them on are diftinftly defcribed in the private correfpondence of the Order — It required little genius to attempt them in imitation. Bahrdt made the attempt, and in part fuccceded. Weilhaupt's hopes were well founded — The leaven was not only diftributed, but the management of the fermentation was now un- derftood, and it went on apace. It is to be remarked, that nothing was found among Bahrdt's papers to fupport the ftory he writes in his di- ary—no fuch correfpondcnces — but enouoh for deted- THE GERMAN UNION. 251; jng many of thcfe focieties. Many others however were found unconneQed with Bahrdt's Ruhe, not of better charafter, either as to Morality or Loyalty, and fome of them confiderable and -expenfivc; and many proofs were found of a combination to force the public to a certain way of thinking, by the management of the Re- views and Journa-Is. The extenfivc dealing? of Nicho- lai of Berlin gave liim great weight in the book-making trade, which in Germany furpafles all our conceptions. The catalogues of n€w writings in fheets, which are printed twice a-year for each of the fairs of Leipzig and Frankfort, would aftonifli a Britilh reader by the num- ber. The bookfellers meet there, and in one glance fee the whole republic of literature, and, like Roman fena- tors, decide the fentiments of diftant provinces. By thus feeing the whole together, their fpeculations are national, and they really have it in their power to give what turn they pleafe to the literature and to the fenti- ments of Germany. Still however they muft be induced by motives. The motive of a merchant is gain, and every objeft appears m his eye fomething by which mo- ney may be made. Therefore in a luxurious and volup- tuous nation, licentious and free-thinking books will abound. The writers fuggeft, and the bookfellers tbink -how the thing will tickle. Yet it mud not be inferred from the prevalence of fuch books, that fuoh is the com- mon fenfe of mankind, and that the writings are not the corrupters, but the corrtipted, or that they are what they ought to be, becaufe they pleafe the public. We need only pufh the matter to an extremity, and its caufe ap- pears plain. Filthy prints will always create a greater crowd before the fiiop window than the Iineft perform- ances of Woollet. Licentious books will be read with a fluttering eagernefs, as long as they are not univerfally permitted ; and pitiable will be tl>c (late of the natioa Ef^a THE GERMAN UNION. when their number makes them familiar and no longer entertaining. But although it mufl: be confefTed that great encou^ ragem.ent was given to the fceptical, infidel, and licen- tious writings in Germany, we fee that it was dill necef- fary to pra6life fedu6lion. The religioniji was made to expeO; fome engaging exhibition of his faith. The Ci^ tizen muft be told that his civil connexions are refpeBed, and will be improved ; and all are told that good man- ners or virtue is to be fupported. Man is fuppofed to be, in very effential circumftances, what he wilhes to be, and feels he ought to be ; and he is corrupted by means of falfehood and trick. The principles by which he is wheedled into wickednefs in the firfl inftance, are there- fore fuch as are really addrefTed to the general fentiments of mankind : thefe therefore fhould be coniidered as more expreffive of the public mind than thofe which he afterwards adopts, after this artificial education. There- fore Virtue, Patriotifm, Loyalty, Veneration for true and undefiled Religion, are really acknowledged by thofe corrupters to be the prevailing fentiments ; and they are good if this prevalence is to be the tell of worth. The mind that is otherwife affetled by them, and hypocriti- cally ufes them in order to get hold of the uninitiated, that he may in time be made to cherifii the contrary fen- timents, cannot be a good mind, notwithftanding any pre- tentions it may make to the love of mankind. No man, not Weifiiaupt himfelf, has made flronger profeffions of benevolence, of regard for the happinefs of mankind, and of every thing that is amiable, than Dr. 3ahrdt. It may not be ufelefs to enquire what effecl fuch principles have had on his ov.'n mind, and thofe of his chief coadjutors. Deceit of every kind is diihonor- THE GERMAN UNION. ^s^ able ; and the deceit that is profeffedly employed in the proceedings of the Union is no exception. No pious fraud whatever mull be ufed, and pure religion muft be ptefented to the view without all dirguifc. " The more fair Virtue's feen, the more fhe charms. *' Safe, plain, and eafy, are her artlefs ways. *' With face ered:, her eyes look ftrait before ; " For dauntlefs is her march, hei ftep fecure. " Not fo pale Fraud — now here (he turns, now there, *< Still feeking darker fhades, fecure in none, *' Looks often back, and wheeling round and round, *' Sinks headlong in the danger fhe would fhun.'* The mean motive of the Proteftant Sceptic is as in- Gonfiftent with our notions of honefty as with our noti- ons of honor ; and our fufpicions are juflly raifed of the charafter of Dr. Bahrdt and his affociates, even although we do not fuppofe that their aim is the total aboliffiing of religion. With propriety therefore may we make fome enquiry about their lives and conduct. Fortu- nately this is eafy in the prefent inftance. A man that has turned every eye upon himfelf can hardly efcape ob- fervation. But it is not fo eafy to get fair information. The peculiar fituation of Dr. Bahrdt, and the caufe be- tween him and the public, are of all others the moft pro- duflive of miflake, mifreprefentation, obloquy, and in. juftice. But even here we are fortunate. Many re- markable parts of his life are eftabliflied by the moft re- fpeclable teflimony, or by judicial evidences ; and, to make all fure, he has written his own life. I (hall infert nothing here that is not made out by the two lail modes of proof, refting nothing on the hrft, however refpeCta- ble the evidence may be. But I muft obferve, that his life was alfo written by his dear friend Pott, the partner £54 THE GERMAN UNION. of Wakher the bookfeller. The ftory of this publicati- on is curious, and it is inllru6live, ■ Bahrdt was in prifon,and in great poverty. He intend- ed to v/rite his own life, to be printed by Wakher, under a fiQitious name, and in this work he intended to in- dulge his fpleen and his diflike of all thofe who had of- fended him, and in particular all priefts, and rulers, and judges, who had given him fo much trouble. He knew that the ftrange, and many of them fcandalous anecdotes, with which he had fo liberally interlarded many of his former publications, would fet curiofity on tiptoe, and would procure a rapid fale as foon as the public Ihould guefs that it was his own performance, by tbe fmgular but fignificant name which the pretended author would affume. He had almoft agreed with Wal- ther for a thoufand dahlers (about L. 200) when he was imprifoned for being the author of the farce fo often named, and of the Commentary on the Religion Edi^, written by Pott, and for the proceedings of the German Union. He was refufed the ufe of pen and ink. He then applied to Pott, and found means to correfpond with him, and to give him part of his life already writ- ten, and materials for the reft, confiding of ftories, and anecdotes, and correfpondence. Pott fent him feveral Iheets, with which he was fo pleafcd, that they con- cluded a bargain. Bahrdt fays, that Pott was to have 400 copies, and that the reft was to go to the mainte- nance of Bahrdt and his family, confifting of his wife, daughter, a Chriftina and her children who lived with them, &c. Pott gives a different account, and the truth was different from both, but of little confequence to us. Bahrdt's papers had been feized, and fearched for evidence of his tranfaftions, but the ftrifteft atten- iion w^s paid to tbx precile points of the charge, and no THE GERMAN UNION. 255 paper was abftra£led which did not relate to thefe. All others were kept in a fealed room. Pott procured the removal of the feals, and got pofTeffion of them. Bahrdt fays, that his wife and daughter came to him in prifon, almoft ftarving, and told him that now that the room was opened, Pott had made an offer to write for their fupport, if he had the ufc of thefe papers— that this was the conclufion of the bargain, and that Pott took away all the papers. N. B, Pott was the aflbciate of Wal- ther, who had great confidence in him ( Anecdotcnbuch Jur meinen lieben Amtpjrilder, p. 400 J and had con- duced the bufmefs of Stark's book, as has been alrea- dy mentioned. No man was better known to Bahrdt, for they had long afted together as chief hands in the Union. He would therefore write the life of its foun- der con amore, and it might be expeQed to be a rare and tickling performance. And indeed it was. The firft part of it only was pubUflied at this time; and the narration reaches from the birth of the hero till his leav- ing Leipzig in 1768. The attention is kept fully awake, but the emotioris which fucceflively occupy the mind of the reader, are nothing but ftrong degrees of averfion, difguft, and horror. The figure fet up to- view is a monfter, clever indeed,, and capable of great things j but lod to truth, to virtue, and even to the afFeftation of common decency — In fliort, a fbamelefs profligate. — ■ Poor Bahrdt was aftonifhed — dared — but, having his wits about him, fav/ that this life would fell, and would alfo fell another. — "Without lofsof time, he faid that he would hold Pott to his bargain — but he reckoned without his hoft. " No, no," faid. Pott, " You are not the man I took you for--your correfpondence was put into my hands— I faw that you had deceived me, and it was my duty, as a man zuho loves truth above all things^ to hinder you from deceiving the world. I have not wcittea Ui^ 256 THE GERMAN UNION; book you defired me. I did not work for you, but for" niiyfelf — therefore you get not a grofchen." " Why, Sir,'^ faid Bahrdt " we both know that this v/ont do. Yoa and I have already tried it. You received Stark's inanufcript, to be printed by Walther — Walther and vou fent it hither to Michaelis, that 1 might fee it du- ^ <-' . ring the printing. I wrote an • illuftration and a key, ■Nvhich made the fellow very ridiculous, and they''^ were printed together, with one title page. You know' , that we were call in court. Walther was obliged to' print the v.'ork as Stark firft ordered, and we loft all our labour. So fnall you now, for I will commence an ac- tion this inftant, and let me fee with Vv'hat face you will defend yourfelf, within a few weeks of your laft appear- ance in court." Pott faid, '" You may try this. My work is already fold, and difperfed over all Germany — and I have no objeQion to begin yours to-morrow — believe me, it will fell." Bahrdt pondered — and rcfol- ved to write one himfelf. This is another fpecimen of the Union, Dr. Carl Friederich Bahrdt was born in 1741. His father was then a parifh-minifter, and afterwards- Profeflbr of Theology at Leipzig, where he died in 1775. The youth, when at College, enlifted in the Pruffian fcr-^ vice as a huflar, but was bought off by his father. He was M. A. in 1761. He became catechift in his father's church, was a popular preacher, and publifhed fermons in 1765, and fome controverfial writings, which did him honor — But he then began to indulge in conviviality, and in anonymous bafquinades, uncommonly bitter and offenfivc. No perfon was fafe — ProfefTors — -Magif-' trates — Clergymen — had his chief notice — alfo, ftudent^' —and even comrade^ and friends, (Bahrdt faysp taat THE GERMAN UNiOKr. 257 ttiefe things might cut to the quick, but they were all juft.) Unluckily his temperament was what the atomi- cal philofophers (who can explain every thing by aethers and vibrations) call fanguine. He therefore (his own ■word) was a paffionate admirer of the ladies. Coming home from fupper he frequently met a young Mifs in the way to his lodgings, neatly drefled in a rofe-colour- cd filk jacket and train, and a fable bonnet, collly, and like a lady. ' One evening (after fome old khenifh, as he fays) he faw the lady home; Some time after, the miftrefs of the houfe, Madam Godfchuflcy, came into his room, and faid that the poor maiden was pregnant. He could not help that' — but it was very unfortunate, and would ruin him if known.-^He therefore gave the old lady a bond for 200 dahlers) to be paid by inftal- ments of twenty -five.- — — " The girl was fenfible, and good, and as he had already paid for it, and her conver- fation was agreeable, he did notdifcontinue his acquaint- ance." A comrade one day told him., that one Bel, a magiftrate, whom he had lampooned, knew the affair, and would bring it into court, unlefs he immediately retriev- ed the bond. This bond was the only evidence, but it was enough. Neither Bahrdt nor his friend could raife the money. But they fell on another CQntrivance. They got Madam Godfchufky to meet them at another houfej. in order to receive the money. Bahrdt was in a clofet, and his comrade wore a fword. The woman could not be prevailed on to produce the bond tiU Bahrdt fliould arrive, and the money be put into, her hands, with a pre- fent to herfelf. The comrade tried to flutter her, and, drawing his fword, fhewed her how men fenced — made paffes at the wall-r-and then at her — but fhe was too firm -r-he then threw away his fword, and began t-o try to force the paper from her. She defended herfelf a good whilej . J i ;>58 THE GERMAN UNION. but at length he got the paper out of her pocket, tore it in. pieces, opened the clofet-door, and faid, "There you b — there is the honorable fellow whom you and your Vv'h — have bullied — but it is with me you have to do now, and you know that I can bring you to the gallaws." There wasa great fquabble to be fure, fays Bahrdt, but itended, and I thought all was now over. — But Mr. Bel had got word of it, and brought itinto court the very day that Bahrdt was to have made fome very reverend appearance at church.. In fhort, after many attempts of his poor father to lave him, he was obliged to fend in his gown and band, and to quit the place. It was fome comfort, however, that Ma- dam Godfchufky and the young Mifs did not fare much better. They were both imprifoned. Madam G. died fome time after of fome fhocking difeafe. The court- records give a very different account of the whole, and particularly of the fcuffle ; but Bahrdt's ftory is enough.. Bahrdt fays, that his father was fevere — but acknow- ledges that his own temperament was hafty (why does not his father's temperament excufe foraething ? Vibrati. unculoe will explain every thing or nothing.) " There- fore (again) I fometimes forgot myfelf. — One day I laid' a loaded piflol on the table, and told him that he fhould meet with that if he went on fo. B^it I was only feven- teen." Dr. BahrdtN was, of courfe, obliged to le?ve the place. His friekds, and Semler in particular, an emi- nent theological writer, who had formed a very favora- ble opinion of his uncommon talents, were afliduous in their endeavours to get an eilablifhment for him. But his high opinion of himfelf, his temper, impetuous, pre- cipitant, and overbearing, and a bitter fatirical habit which he had freely indulged in his outfet of life, raadei their endeavours very ineffectual. THE GERMAN UNION. '^59 At laft he got a profelT'orfiiip at Erlangen, then at Er- ^urth, and in 1771, at GieiTen. But in all thefe placea, he was no fooner fettled than he got into difputes with his colleagues and with the eilablifiied church, being a ftrenuous partizan of the innovations which were at- tempted to be made in the do6lrines of Chriftianity. In his anonymous publications, he did not truft to rational