proofs of a conspirancy

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The Tennis Court Oath, by Jacques Louis David [!"# $%ub&ic Domain'ma(e).

Proofs

of aConsp

iracy

by John

Robison

[1798]

Contents *tart +eadin(

John +obison $!"-/0) 1as a *cottish scientist, 1ho &ate in &i2e 1rote the one o2 thede2initive studies o2 the Bavarian '&&uminati. 3e 1as a contem4orary and co&&aborator1ith James 5att, 1ith 1hom he 1orked on an ear&y steam car, contributor to the !"!6ncy&o4edia Britannica, 4ro2essor o2 4hi&oso4hy at the 7niversity o2 6dinbur(h, and

inventor o2 the siren.

A&thou(h +obison 1as very much an advocate o2 science and rationa&ism, in &ater &i2e,disi&&usioned by the 8rench +evo&ution, he became an ardent monarchist. 'n this 1ork,

Proofs of a Conspiracy, +obison &aid the (round1ork 2or modern cons4iracy theoristsby im4&icatin( the Bavarian '&&uminati as res4onsib&e 2or the e9cesses o2 the 8rench+evo&ution. The Bavarian '&&uminati, a rationa&ist secret society, 1as 2ounded by Adam5eishau4t in !!: in 1hat is today ;ermany. They had an inner core o2 true be&ievers,1ho secret&y he&d radica& atheist, anti-monarchist and 4ossib&y 4roto-2eminist vie1s, atthat time considered beyond the 4a&e. They recruited by in2i&tratin( the numerous $andother1ise beni(n) 8reemasonic (rou4s 1hich 1ere active at the time on the continent.


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CARRI#& ON

IN "# S#CR# '##INGS

OF

FR## 'ASONS% I!!$'INAI,

AN&

READING SOCIETIES,

COLLECTED FROM GOOD AUTHORITIES,

(Y JO"N RO(ISON% A) ')

PROF#SSOR OF NA$RA! P"I!OSOP"Y% AN& S#CR#ARY O "# ROYA!SOCI#Y OF #&IN($RG")

Nam tua res agitur paries cum pro%imo ardet.

THE FOURTH EDITION.

O *"IC" IS A&&% A POSSCRIP)

N#*+YOR,-

Prin./0 an0 So0 by G/or2/ For3an% No) 45% *a./r+S.r//.%

b/.6//n Co/n.i/s an0 .h/ O0+Sip)

[1798]

C&ick to en&ar(eTit&e %a(e

*canned at sacred-te9ts.com,


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C&ick to en&ar(eDedication and 64i(ram

' have 4reserved the ori(ina& ty4o(ra4hy in the dedication and e4i(ram, but the ty4o(ra4hy has beenmodernized in the rest o2 the te9t.--JB3

TO T36 +';3T 3O


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G7OD i quis verH vitam ratione (ubernet,DivitiI (randes homini unt, vivere 4arc

Kquo anima neque enim et unquam 4enuria 4arvi,At c&aros e homines vo&urunt atque 4otentes,7t 2undamento tabi&i 2ortuna maneres,

6t 4&acidam 4oent o4u&enti de(ere vitam


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They reach them, envy &ike the thunderbo&tAt times 1i&& smite, O hur&in( head&on( do1nTo murkiest Tartarus, in scornF

And there2ore kin(s 1ere s&ain,

And 4ristine ma@esty o2 (o&den thronesAnd hau(hty sce4tres &ay oerturned in dustFAnd cro1ns, so s4&endid on the soverei(n heads,*oon b&oody under the 4ro&etarian 2eet,;roaned 2or their (&ories (one-2or erst oer-muchDreaded, therea2ter 1ith more (reedy zestTram4&ed beneath the rabb&e hee&. Thus thin(sDo1n to the vi&est &ees o2 bra1&in( mobs*uccumbed, 1hi&st each man sou(ht unto himse&2Dominion and su4remacy.

$Lucretius, De +erum


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+e&i(ious OccurrencesF in 1hich there 1as an account o2 the various schisms in the8raternity o2 8ree =asons, 1ith 2requent a&&usions to the ori(in and history o2 thatce&ebrated association. This account interested me a (ood dea&, because, in my ear&y&i2e, ' had taken some 4art in the occu4ations $sha&& ' ca&& them) o2 8ree =asonryF andhavin( chie2&y 2requented the Lod(es on the Continent, ' had &earned many doctrines,

and seen many ceremonia&s, 1hich have no 4&ace in the sim4&e system o2 8ree =asonry1hich obtains in this country. ' had a&so remarked, that the 1ho&e 1as much more theob@ect o2 re2&ection and thou(ht than ' cou&d remember it to have been amon( myacquaintances at home. There, ' had seen a =ason Lod(e considered mere&y as a 4rete9t2or 4assin( an hour or t1o in a 2ort o2 decent convivia&ity, not a&to(ether void o2 somerationa& occu4ation. ' had sometimes heard o2 di22erences o2 doctrines or o2 ceremonies,

but in terms 1hich marked them as mere 2rivo&ities. But, on the Continent, ' 2ound themmatters o2 serious concern and debate. *uch too is the conta(ion o2 e9am4&e, that 'cou&d not hinder myse&2 2rom thinkin( one o4inion better 2ounded, or one +itua& morea44osite and si(ni2icant, than anotherF and ' even 2e&t somethin( &ike an an9iety 2or its

bein( ado4ted, and a zea& 2or makin( it a (enera& 4ractice. ' had been initiated in a very

s4&endid Lod(e at Lie(e, o2 1hich the %rince Bisho4, his Tre2onciers, and the chie2


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4.

much civi&ity and kindness 1hich ' had received 2rom him in his o1n country.

' no1 considered the bo9 as accessib&e to myse&2, and o4ened it. ' 2ound it to contain a&&the de(rees o2 theParfait Ma+on cossois, 1ith the +itua&s, Catechisms, and'nstructions, and a&so 2our other de(rees o2 8ree =asonry, as cu&tivated in the %arisianLod(es. ' have ke4t them 1ith a&& care, and mean to (ive them to some res4ectab&eLod(e. But as ' am bound by no en(a(ement o2 any kind, ' ho&d myse&2 as at &iberty tomake such use o2 them as may be serviceab&e to the 4ub&ic, 1ithout enab&in( anyuninitiated 4erson to enter the Lod(es o2 these de(rees.

This acquisition mi(ht have roused my 2ormer re&ish 2or =asonry, had it been mere&ydormantF but, a2ter so &on( se4aration 2rom the(oge de la )id*lit*, the masonic s4irit

had eva4orated. *ome curiosity, ho1ever, remained, and some 1ish to trace this 4&asticmystery to the 4it 2rom 1hich the c&ay had been du(, 1hich has been mou&ded into somany di22erent sha4es, Rsome to honor, and some to dishonor.R But my o44ortunities1ere no1 (one. ' had (iven a1ay $1hen in +ussia) my vo&umes o2 discourses, andsome 2ar-2etched and (ratuitous histories, and nothin( remained but the 4iti2u& 1ork o2Anderson, and theMa+onnerie donhirami.ue d*voil*e, 1hich are in every one>s hands.

=y curiosity 1as stron(&y roused by the accounts (iven in the&eligions Begebenheiten.There ' sa1 quotations 1ithout numberF systems and schisms o2 1hich ' had never

heardF but 1hat 4articu&ar&y struck me, 1as a zea& and 2anaticism about 1hat ' thou(httri2&es, 1hich astonished me. =en o2 rank and 2ortune, and en(a(ed in serious andhonorab&e 4ub&ic em4&oyments, not on&y 2requentin( the Lod(es o2 the cities 1here theyresided, but @ourneyin( 2rom one end o2 ;ermany or 8rance to the other, to visit ne1Lod(es, or to &earn ne1 secrets or ne1 doctrines. ' sa1 conventions he&d at 5ismar, at5isbad, at Poh&o, at Bruns1ick, and at 5i&&emsbad, consistin( o2 some hundreds o2

4ersons o2 res4ectab&e stations. ' sa1 adventurers comin( to a city, 4ro2essin( some ne1secret, and in a 2e1 days 2ormin( ne1 Lod(es, and instructin( in a troub&esome ande94ensive manner hundreds o2 brethren.

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;erman =asonry a44eared a very serious concern, and to be im4&icated 1ith othersub@ects 1ith 1hich ' had never sus4ected it to have any connection. ' sa1 it muchconnected 1ith many occurrences and schisms in the Christian churchF ' sa1 that theJesuits had severa& times inter2ered in itF and that most o2 the e9ce4tionab&e innovationsand dissentions had arisen about the time that the order o2(oyola1as su44ressedF sothat it shou&d seem, that these intri(uin( brethren had attem4ted to maintain theirin2&uence by the he&4 o2 8ree =asonry. ' sa1 it much disturbed by the mystica& 1himso2 J. Behmen and *1edenbor(--by the 2anatica& and knavish doctrines o2 the modern+osycrucians--by =a(icians--=a(netisers--69orcists, Ec. And ' observed that thesedi22erent sects re4robated each other, as not on&y maintainin( erroneous o4inions, but

even incu&catin( o4inions 1hich 1ere contrary to the estab&ished re&i(ions o2 ;ermany,and contrary to the 4rinci4&es o2 the civi& estab&ishments. At the same time they char(ed


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each other 1ith mistakes and corru4tions, both in doctrine and in 4racticeF and4articu&ar&y 1ith 2a&si2ication o2 the 2irst 4rinci4&es o2 8ree =asonry, and 1ith i(noranceo2 its ori(in and its historyF and they su44orted these char(es by authorities 2rom manydi22erent books 1hich 1ere unkno1n to me.

=y curiosity 1as no1 (reat&y e9cited. ' (ot 2rom a much-res4ected 2riend many o2 the4recedin( vo&umes o2 the&eligions Begebenheiten, in ho4es o2 much in2ormation 2romthe 4atient industry o2 ;erman erudition. This o4ened a ne1 and very interestin( sceneF' 1as 2requent&y sent back to 6n(&and, 2rom 1hence a&& a(reed that 8ree =asonry had

been im4orted into ;ermany. ' 1as 2requent&y &ed into 8rance and into 'ta&y. There, andmore remarkab&y in 8rance, ' 2ound that the Lod(es had become the haunts o2 many

4ro@ectors and 2anatics, both in science, in re&i(ion, and in 4o&itics, 1ho had avai&edthemse&ves o2 the secrecy and the 2reedom o2 s4eech maintained in these meetin(s, to

broach their 4articu&ar 1hims, or sus4icious doctrines, 1hich, i2 4ub&ished to the 1or&d

in the usua& manner, 1ou&d have e94osed the authors to ridicu&e, or to censure. These4ro@ectors had contrived to ta( their 4ecu&iar nostrums to the mummery o2 =asonry, and1ere even a&&o1ed to t1ist the masonic emb&ems and ceremonies to

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their 4ur4oseF so that in their hands 8ree =asonry became a thin( tota&&y un&ike, anda&most in direct o44osition to the system $i2 it may (et such a name) im4orted 2rom6n(&andF and some Lod(es had become schoo&s o2 irre&i(ion and &icentiousness.


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the youn(, the (ay, the &u9uriousF that c&ass o2 society 1hich a&one deserves their care,because, in one 1ay or another, it &eads a&& other c&asses o2 society.

't has accordin(&y ha44ened, that the home&y 8ree =asonry im4orted 2rom 6n(&and hasbeen tota&&y chan(ed in every country o2 6uro4e, either by the im4osin( ascendancy

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o2 8rench brethren, 1ho are to be 2ound every 1here, ready to instruct the 1or&dF or bythe im4ortation o2 the doctrines, and ceremonies, and ornaments o2 the %arisian Lod(es.6ven 6n(&and, the birth-4&ace o2 =asonry, has e94erienced the 8rench innovationsF anda&& the re4eated in@unctions, admonitions, and re4roo2s o2 the o&d Lod(es, cannot

4revent those in di22erent 4arts o2 the kin(dom 2rom admittin( the 8rench nove&ties, 2u&&o2 tinse& and (&itter, and hi(h-soundin( tit&es.

5ere this a&&, the harm 1ou&d not be (reat. But &on( be2ore (ood o44ortunities hadoccurred 2or s4readin( the re2inements on the sim4&e 8ree =asonry o2 6n(&and, theLod(es in 8rance had become 4&aces o2 very serious discussion, 1here o4inions inmora&s, in re&i(ion, and in 4o&itics, had been 4romu&(ated and maintained 1ith a2reedom and a keenness, o2 1hich 1e in this 2avored &and have no adequate notion,

because 1e are unacquainted 1ith the restraints, 1hich, in other countries, are &aid onordinary conversation. 'n consequence o2 this, the 8rench innovations in 8ree =asonry1ere quick&y 2o&&o1ed in a&& 4arts o2 6uro4e, by the admission o2 simi&ar discussions,a&thou(h in direct o44osition to a standin( ru&e, and a dec&aration made to every ne1&yreceived Brother, Rthat nothin( touchin( the re&i(ion or (overnment sha&& ever be

s4oken o2 in the Lod(e.R But the Lod(es in other countries 2o&&o1ed the e9am4&e o28rance, and have 2requent&y become the rendezvous o2 innovators in re&i(ion and

4o&itics, and other disturbers o2 the 4ub&ic 4eace. 'n short, ' have 2ound that the covert o2a =ason Lod(e had been em4&oyed in every country 2or ventin( and 4ro4a(atin(sentiments in re&i(ion and 4o&itics, that cou&d not have circu&ated in 4ub&ic 1ithoute94osin( the author to (reat dan(er. ' 2ound, that this im4unity had (radua&&yencoura(ed men o2 &icentious 4rinci4&es to become more bo&d, and to teach doctrinessubversive o2 a&& our notions o2 mora&ity--o2 a&& our con2idence in the mora& (overnmento2 the universe--o2 a&& our ho4es o2 im4rovement in a 2uture state o2 e9istence--and o2a&& satis2action and contentment 1ith our 4resent &i2e, so &on( as 1e &ive in a state o2civi& subordination. ' have been ab&e to trace these attem4ts, made, throu(h a course o22i2ty years, under the s4ecious 4rete9t o2 en&i(htenin( the 1or&d by the torch o2

4hi&oso4hy, and o2 dis4e&&in( the c&ouds o2

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civi& and re&i(ious su4erstition 1hich kee4 the nations o2 6uro4e in darkness ands&avery. ' have observed these doctrines (radua&&y di22usin( and mi9in( 1ith a&& thedi22erent systems o2 8ree =asonryF ti&&, at &ast, A< A**OC'AT'O< 3A* B66s sin(u&ar re&i(ious o4inions are 1e&&kno1n, and his no &ess sin(u&ar enthusiasm. 3is eminent &earnin(, his e&e(ant ta&ents,his amiab&e character, and 4articu&ar&y his estimation at court, (ave (reat in2&uence toevery thin( he said on a sub@ect 1hich 1as mere&y a matter o2 2ashion and amusement.5hoever has attended much to human a22airs, kno1s the ea(erness 1ith 1hich men

4ro4a(ate a&& sin(u&ar o4inions, and the de&i(ht 1hich attends their 2avorab&e rece4tion.


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there 2ound an o44ortunity o2 e94ressin( in sa2ety their dissatis2action 1ith thoserestraints, and 1ith that in2eriority o2 rank and condition to 1hich they 1ere sub@ected,and 1hich a44eared to themse&ves so inadequate to their o1n ta&ents and merits. The

vocats de Parlement, the unbene2iced Abb?s, the youn( men o2 no 2ortune, and thesoi-disant4hi&oso4hers, 2ormed a numerous band, 2requented the Lod(es, and there

discussed every to4ic o2 re&i(ion and 4o&itics. *4ecimens o2 this occu4ation a44eared2rom time to time in Co&&ections o2 Discourses de&ivered by the)rere 8rateur. ' oncehad in my 4ossession t1o vo&umes o2 these discourses, 1hich ' no1 re(ret that ' &e2t ina Lod(e on the continent, 1hen my re&ish 2or 8ree =asonry had 2orsaken me. One o2these is a discourse by Brother +obinet, de&ivered in the(oge des Chevaliers

Bienfaisants de la 4ainte Cit*at Lyons, at a visitation by the ;rand =aster the9uc deChartres, a2ter1ards 8rleansand3galit*. 'n this discourse 1e have the (erm andsubstance o2 his noted 1ork, the 4ysteme de la Nature, ou l:Homme moral et physi.ue.'n another discourse, de&ivered by Brother Condorcet in the(oge des Philalethesat*trasbour(, 1e have the out&ines o2 his 4osthumous 1ork,(e Progr;s de l:3sprithumain2and in another, de&ivered by =irabeau in the(oge des Chevaliers Bienfaisants

at %aris, 1e have a (reat dea& o2 the &eve&&in( 4rinci4&es, and cosmo4o&itism,W1hich hethundered 2rom

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the tribunes o2 the


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occasioned severa& commotions and insurrections. Another, at %aris, (radua&&y re2inedinto the Jacobin c&ub--And in the year !", the Lod(es in A&sace and Lorraine, 1ith

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those o2 *4ire and 5orms, invited Custine into ;ermany, and de&ivered =entz into hishands.

5hen 1e re2&ect on these historica& 2acts, 1e (et some key to the better understandin(o2 the t1o 4er2ormances 1hich ' mentioned as descri4tive o2 the o4inions andoccu4ations o2 this sect o2 8ree =asons. Therchives Mystico-Hermeti.uese9hibit avery stran(e mi9ture o2 =ysticism, Theoso4hy, Caba&istic 1him, rea& *cience,8anaticism, and 8reethinkin(, both in re&i(ion and 4o&itics. They must not be consideredas an account o2 any sett&ed system, but rather as anna&s o2 the 4roceedin(s o2 the

Lod(e, and abstracts o2 the stran(e doctrines 1hich made their successive a44earance inthe Lod(e. But i2 an inte&&i(ent and cautious reader e9amine them attentive&y, he 1i&&see, that the book is the 1ork o2 one hand, and that a&& the 1onders and oddities arecaricatured, so as to en(ross the (enera& attention, 1hi&e they a&so are t1isted a &itt&e, sothat in one 1ay or another they accord 1ith a (enera& s4irit o2 &icentiousness in mora&s,re&i(ion, and 4o&itics. A&thou(h every thin( is e94ressed decent&y, and 1ith somecaution and moderation, atheism, materia&ism, and discontent 1ith civi& subordination,

4ervade the 1ho&e. 't is a 1ork o2 (reat art. By kee4in( the ridicu&e and the dan(er o2su4erstition and i(norance continua&&y in vie1, the mind is ca4tivated by the re&ie21hich 2ree enquiry and communication o2 sentiment seems to secure, and 1e are 4ut o22our (uard a(ainst the risk o2 de&usion, to 1hich 1e are e94osed 1hen our @ud(ment is

1ar4ed by our 4assions.

The other book, RDes 6rreurs et de &a Nerit?,R came 2rom the same schoo&, and is a sorto2 ho&y scri4ture, or at &east a Ta&mud amon( the 8ree =asons o2 8rance. 't is intendedon&y 2or the initiated, and is indeed a mystery to any other reader. But as it 1as intended2or s4readin( the 2avorite o4inions o2 some enthusiastic Brethren, every thin( is saidthat does not direct&y betray the secrets o2 the Order. 't contains a system o2 Theoso4hythat has o2ten a44eared in the 1ritin(s o2 4hi&oso4hers, both in ancient and moderntimes. RA&& the inte&&i(ence and mora& sentiment that a44ears in the universe, eitherdirect&y, as in the minds o2 men, or indirect&y, as an in2erence 2rom the marks o2 desi(nthat 1e see around us, some o2 1hich sho1

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us that men have acted, and many more that some other inte&&i(ence has acted, areconsidered as 4arts or 4ortions o2 a (enera& mass o2 inte&&i(ence 1hich e9ists in theuniverse, in the same manner as matter e9ists in it. This inte&&i(ence has an inscrutab&econnection 1ith the materia& 4art o2 the universe, 4erha4s resemb&in( the conne9ion,equa&&y unsearchab&e, that subsists bet1een the mind and body o2 manF and it may beconsidered as the 4oul of the


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number&ess un2ounded ho4es and 2ears, 1hich have been the source o2 su4erstition and2anaticism, the most destructive 4&a(ues that have ever a22&icted the human race. The*ou& o2 =an is se4arated 2rom the (enera& mass o2 inte&&i(ence by some o2 theo4erations o2 nature, 1hich 1e sha&& never understand, @ust as 1ater is raised 2rom the(round by eva4oration, or taken u4 by the root o2 a 4&ant. And as the 1ater, a2ter an

unsearchab&e train o2 chan(es, in 1hich it sometimes makes 4art o2 a 2&o1er, sometimes4art o2 an anima&, Ec. is at &ast reunited, in its ori(ina& 2orm, to the (reat mass o2 1aters,ready to run over the same circ&e a(ainF so the *ou& o2 =an, a2ter 4er2ormin( its o22ice,and e9hibitin( a&& that train o2 inte&&ectua& 4henomena that 1e ca&& human &i2e, is at &asts1a&&o1ed u4 in the (reat ocean o2 inte&&i(ence.R The author then breaks out

R8e&i9 qui 4otuit rerum co(noscere causas,Atque metus omnes et ine9orabi&e 2atum*ub@ecit 4edibus, stre4itumque Acherontis avari.R

8or he has no1 (ot to his asy&um. This deity o2 his may be the ob@ect o2 1onder, &ike

every thin( (reat and incom4rehensib&e, but not o2 1orshi4, as the mora& ;overnor o2the universe. The ho4es are at an end, 1hich rest on our notions o2 the immorta&ity andindividua&ity o2 the human sou&, and on the encoura(ement 1hich re&i(ion ho&ds 2orth to

be&ieve, that im4rovement o2 the mind in the course o2 this &i2e, by the e9ercise o21isdom and o2 virtuous dis4ositions, is but the be(innin( o2 an end&ess 4ro(ress in a&&that can (ive de&i(ht to the rationa& and 1e&&-dis4osed mind.


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4er2ormance o2 To&and>s, 4ub&ished in !/, ca&&edPantheisticon, seu Celebratio4odalitii 4ocratici. 't is an account o2 the 4rinci4&es o2 a 8raternity 1hich he ca&&s*ocratica, and the Brothers %antheistI. They are su44osed to ho&d a Lod(e, and theauthor (ives a ritua& o2 the 4rocedure in this Lod(eF the ceremonies o2 o4enin( andshuttin( o2 the Lod(e, the admission o2 =embers into its di22erent de(rees, Ec. +eason

is the *un that i&&uminates the 1ho&e, and Liberty and 6qua&ity are the ob@ects o2 theiroccu4ations.

4.

5e sha&& see a2ter1ards that this book 1as 2ond&y 4ushed into ;ermany, trans&ated,commented, and misre4resented, so as to take o22 the attention 2rom the rea& s4irit o2 the

book, 1hich is intentiona&&y 1ra44ed u4 in caba&a and eni(ma. =irabeau 1as at much4ains to 4rocure it noticeF and it must there2ore be considered as a treasure o2 thecosmo-4o&itica& o4inions o2 the Association o2 Chevaliers Bienfaisants,Philalethes, and

mis &eunis, 1ho 1ere ca&&ed the im4roved Lod(es, 1orkin( under the D. de Chartres--

o2 these there 1ere :: in !S. This 1i&& be 2ound a very im4ortant remark. Let it a&sobe reco&&ected a2ter1ards, that this Lod(e o2 Lyons sent a de4uty to a (rand Conventionin ;ermany in !!, viz. =r. 5i&&ermooz, and that the business 1as thou(ht o2 suchim4ortance, that he remained there t1o years.

The book9es 3rreurs et de la 6erit*, must there2ore be considered as a c&assica& booko2 these o4inions. 5e kno1 that it ori(inated in the(oge des Chev' BienfaisantsatLyons. 5e kno1 that this Lod(e stood as it 1ere at the head o2 8rench 8ree =asonry,and that the 2ictitious Order o2 =asonic Pni(hts Tem4&ars 1as 2ormed in this Lod(e,

and 1as considered as the mode& o2 a&& the rest o2 this mimic chiva&ry. They 4roceededso 2ar in this mummery, as even to have the c&erica& tonsure. The Duke o2 Or&eans, hisson, the 6&ector o2 Bavaria, and some other ;erman %rinces, did not scru4&e at thismummery in their o1n 4ersons. 'n a&& the Lod(es o2 rece4tion, the Brother Orator never2ai&ed to dec&aim on the to4ics o2 su4erstition, b&ind to the e9hibition he 1as thenmakin(, or indi22erent as to the vi&e hy4ocrisy o2 it. 5e have, in the &ists o2 Orators andO22ice-bearers, many names o2 4ersons, 1ho have had an o44ortunity at &ast o2

4roc&aimin( their sentiments in 4ub&ic. The Abb? *ieyes 1as o2 the Lod(e o2 %hi&a&ethesat %aris, and a&so at Lyons. Lequinio, author o2 the most 4ro2&i(ate book that everdis(raced a 4ress, thePre>uges vaincus par la &aison, 1as 1arden in the Lod(eCompacte 4ociale. Des4remeni&, Bai&&y, 8auchet, =aury, =ounier, 1ere o2 the same

system, thou(h in di22erent Lod(es. They 1ere ca&&ed =artinists, 2rom a *t. =artin, 1ho2ormed a schism in the system o2 the Chevaliers Bienfaisants, o2 1hich 1e have not anyvery 4recise account. =ercier, (ives some account o2 it in his 5ableau de Paris, and inhisnn*e.

4. "

[4ara(ra4h continues#The breach a&armed the Brethren, and occasioned (reat heats. But it 1ashea&ed, and the 8raternity took the name o2Misa du &enis, 1hich is an ana(ram o2 des

mis &eunis. The Bisho4 o2 Autun, the man so be4raised as the benevo&ent Citizen o2the 5or&d, the 2riend o2 mankind and o2 (ood order, 1as *enior 5arden o2 another

Lod(e at %aris, estab&ished in !: $' think chie2&y by Or&eans and himse&2) 1hicha2ter1ards became the Jacobin C&ub. 'n short, 1e may assert 1ith con2idence, that the


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=ason Lod(es in 8rance 1ere the hot-beds, 1here the seeds 1ere soon, and tender&yreared, o2 a&& the 4ernicious doctrines 1hich soon a2ter choaked every mora& or re&i(iouscu&tivation, and have made the *ociety 1orse than a 1aste, have made it a noisomemarsh o2 human corru4tion, 2i&&ed 1ith every rank and 4oisonous 1eed.

These Lod(es 1ere 2requented by 4ersons o2 a&& ranks, and o2 every 4ro2ession. The id&eand the 2rivo&ous 2ound amusement, and (&itterin( thin(s to tick&e their satiated 2ancies.There they became the du4es o2 the dec&amations o2 the cra2ty and &icentious Abb?s, and1riters o2 every denomination. =utua& encoura(ement in the indu&(ence o2 hazardousthou(hts and o4inions 1hich 2&atter our 1ishes or 4ro4ensities is a &ure 1hich 2e1minds can resist. ' be&ieve that most men have 2e&t this in some 4eriod o2 their &ives. 'can 2ind no other 1ay o2 accountin( 2or the com4any that ' have sometimes seen in a=ason Lod(e. The Lod(e de la Parfaite Intelligenceat Lie(e, contained, in December!!/, the %rince Bisho4, and the (reatest 4art o2 his Cha4ter, and a&& the O22ice-bearers

1ere di(nitaries o2 the churchF yet a discourse (iven by the Brother Orator 1as as4oi(nant a satire on su4erstition and credu&ity, as i2 it had been 1ritten by No&taire. 't1as under the aus4ices o2 this Lod(e that this co&&ection o2 discourses, 1hich 'mentioned above, 1as 4ub&ished, and there is no 2au&t 2ound 1ith Brother +obinetF norBrother Condorcet. 'ndeed the Tre2onciers o2 Lie(e 1ere 4roverbia& even in Brabant, 2ortheir 64icurism in the most e9tensive sense o2 the 1ord.

Thus 1as corru4tion s4read over the kin(dom under the mask o2 mora& instruction. 8orthese discourses 1ere 2u&& o2 the most re2ined and strained mora&ity, and 2&orid 4aintin(so2 7to4ian 2e&icity, in a state 1here a&& are Brothers

4. /

and citizens o2 the 1or&d. But a&asX these 1ire-dra1n 4rinci4&es seem to have had &itt&ein2&uence on the hearts, even o2 those 1ho cou&d best dis4&ay their beauties. +ead thetra(edies o2 No&taire, and some o2 his (rave 4er2ormances in 4rose--5hat man is there1ho seems better to kno1 his =aster>s 1i&&V


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This e9ce&&ent 4ur4ose may be (reat&y 2or1arded by a nationa& estab&ishment 2or mora&instruction and admonitionF and i2 the 4ub&ic instructors shou&d add a&& the motives tovirtuous moderation 1hich are su((ested by the considerations o2 (enuine re&i(ion,

every advice 1ou&d have a ten2o&d in2&uence. +e&i(ious and mora& instructions arethere2ore, in their o1n nature, unequivoca& su44orts to that moderate e9ertion o2 theauthority arisin( 2rom civi& subordination, 1hich the most re2ined 4hi&anthro4ist orcosmo4o&ite ackno1&ed(es to be necessary 2or the very e9istence o2 a (reat andcu&tivated society. ' have never seen a scheme o2 7to4ian ha44iness that did not containsome system o2 education, and ' cannot conceive any system o2 education o2 1hichmora& instruction is not a 4rinci4a& 4art. *uch estab&ishments are dictates o2 nature, andobtrude themse&ves on the mind o2 every 4erson 1ho be(ins to 2orm 4&ans o2 civi&union. And in a&& e9istin( societies they have indeed been 2ormed, and are considered asthe (reatest corrector and soother o2 those discontents that are unavoidab&e in the mindso2 the unsuccess2u& and the un2ortunate. The ma(istrate, there2ore, 1hose 4ro2essiona&

habits &ead him 2requent&y to e9ert himse&2 2or the maintenance o2 4ub&ic 4eace, cannotbut see the advanta(es o2 such stated remembrancers o2 our duty. 3e 1i&& there2oresu44ort and cherish this 4ub&ic estab&ishment, 1hich so evident&y assists him in his

bene2icent and im4ortant &abours.

But a&& the evi&s o2 society do not s4rin( 2rom the discontents and the vices o2 the 4oor.The rich come in 2or a &ar(e and a cons4icuous share. They 2requent&y abuse theiradvanta(es. %ride and hau(hty behaviour on their 4art rank&e in the breasts, and a22ectthe tem4ers o2 their in2eriors, a&ready 2retted by the hardshi4s o2 their o1n condition.The rich a&so are &u9uriousF and are o2ten needy. ;ras4in( at every mean o2(rati2ication, they are inattentive to the ri(hts o2 in2eriors 1hom they des4ise, and,des4isin(, o44ress. %erha4s their o1n su4eriority has been acquired by in@ustice.%erha4s most soverei(nties have been acquired by o44ression. %rinces and +u&ers are

but menF as such, they abuse many o2 their (reatest b&essin(s. Observin( that

4.

re&i(ious ho4es make the (ood resi(ned under the hardshi4s o2 the 4resent scene, andthat its terrors 2requent&y restrain the badF they avai& themse&ves o2 these observations,and su44ort re&i(ion as an en(ine o2 state, and a mean o2 their o1n security. But they arenot contented 1ith its rea& advanta(esF and they are much more a2raid o2 the resentmentand the crimes o2 the o22ended 4ro2&i(ate, than o2 the murmurs o2 the su22erin( 1orthy.There2ore they encoura(e su4erstition, and ca&& to their aid the vices o2 the 4riesthood.The 4riests are men o2 &ike 4assions as other men, and it is no (round o2 4ecu&iar b&amethat they a&so 2requent&y yie&d to the tem4tations o2 their situation. They are encoura(edto the indu&(ence o2 the &ove o2 in2&uence natura& to a&& men, and they hea4 terror u4onterror, to subdue the minds o2 men, and darken their understandin(s. Thus, the mosthonorab&e o2 a&& em4&oyments, the mora& instruction o2 the state, is de(raded to a vi&etrade, and is 4ractised 1ith a&& the deceit and ra4acity o2 any other tradeF and re&i(ion,2rom bein( the honor and the sa2e(uard o2 a nation, becomes its (reatest dis(race and

curse.


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5hen a nation has 2a&&en into this &amentab&e state, it is e9treme&y di22icu&t to re2orm.A&thou(h nothin( 1ou&d so immediate&y and so com4&ete&y remove a&& (round o2com4&aint, as the re-estab&ishin( 4rivate virtue, this is o2 a&& others the &east &ike&y to beado4ted., The rea&&y 1orthy, 1ho see the mischie2 1here it rea&&y is, but 1ho vie1 this&i2e as the schoo& o2 im4rovement, and kno1 that man is to be made 4er2ect throu(h

su22erin(, are the &ast 4ersons to com4&ain. The 1orth&ess are the most discontented, themost noisy in their com4&aints, and the &east scru4u&ous about the means o2 redress.


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dan(erous o4inions, and they 1ere em4&oyed 2or this 4ur4ose a&& over the kin(dom.This is not an assertion hazarded mere&y on account o2 its 4robabi&ity. Abundant 4roo21i&& a44ear by and by, that the most turbu&ent characters in the nation 2requented theLod(es. 5e cannot doubt, but that under this covert they indu&(ed their 2actiousdis4ositionsF nay, 1e sha&& 2ind the (reatest 4art o2 the Lod(es o2 8rance, converted, in

the course o2 a very 2e1 1eeks, into corres4ondin( 4o&itica& societies.

But it is no1 time to turn our eyes to the 4ro(ress o2 8ree =asonry in ;ermany and thenorth o2 6uro4eF there it took a more serious turn. 8ree =asonry 1as im4orted into;ermany some1hat &ater than into 8rance. The 2irst ;erman Lod(e that 1e have anyaccount o2, is that at Co&o(ne, erected in !:, but very soon su44ressed. Be2ore theyear !0 there 1ere many, both in %rotestant and Catho&ic ;ermany. Those o2 5etz&ar,8rank2ort on the =ayne, Bruns1ick, and 3ambur(, are the o&dest, and their 4riority isdoubt2u&. A&& o2 them received their institution 2rom 6n(&and, and had 4atents 2rom a

mother Lod(e in London. A&& seem to have (ot the mystery throu(h the same channe&,the banished 2riends o2 the *tuart 2ami&y. =any o2 these 1ere Catho&ics, and entered intothe service o2 Austria and the Catho&ic 4rinces.

The true hos4ita&ity, that is no 1here more cons4icuous than in the character o2 the;ermans, made this institution a most a(reeab&e and use2u& 4ass4ort to these (ent&emenFand as many o2 them 1ere in mi&itary stations, and in (arrison, they 2ound it a very easymatter to set u4 Lod(es in a&& 4arts o2 ;ermany. These a22orded a very a(reeab&e

4astime to the o22icers, 1ho had &itt&e to occu4y them, and 1ere a&ready accustomed to asubordination 1hich did not a22ect their vanity on account o2 2ami&y distinctions. As the6nsi(n and the ;enera& 1ere equa&&y (ent&emen, the a&&e(ory or 4&ay o2 universa&Brotherhood 1as neither nove& nor dis(ustin(. 8ree =asonry 1as then o2 the sim4&est2orm, consistin( o2 the three de(rees o2 A44rentice, 8e&&o1-cra2t, and =aster. 't isremarkab&e, that the ;ermans had been &on( accustomed to the 1ord, the si(n, and the(ri4e o2 the =asons, and some other handicra2t trades. 'n many 4arts o2 ;ermany there1as a distinction o2 o4erative

4. :

[4ara(ra4h continues#=asons into 5ort-=aurers and *chri2t-=aurers. The 5ort-=aurers hadno other 4roo2 to (ive o2 their havin( been re(u&ar&y brou(ht u4 to the trade o2 bui&ders,

but the 1ord and si(nsF the *chri2t-=aurers had 1ritten indentures to she1. There aree9tant and in 2orce, borou(h-&a1s, en@oinin( the =asters o2 =asons to (ive em4&oymentto @ourneymen 1ho had the 4ro4er 1ords and si(n. 'n 4articu&ar it a44ears, that somecities had more e9tensive 4rivi&e(es in this res4ect than others. The 1ord (iven at5etz&ar, the 2eat o2 the (reat counci& o2 revision 2or the em4ire, entit&ed the 4ossessor to1ork over the 1ho&e em4ire. 5e may in2er 2rom the 4rocesses and decisions in some o2those munici4a& courts, that a master (ave a 1ord and token 2or each year>s 4ro(ress o2his a44rentice. 3e (ave the 1ord o2 the incor4orated 'm4eria& city or borou(h on 1hichhe de4ended, and a&so a 1ord 4ecu&iar to himse&2, by 1hich a&& his o1n 4u4i&s cou&d

reco(nise each other. This mode o2 reco(nisance 1as 4robab&y the on&y document o2education in o&d times, 1hi&e 1ritin( 1as con2ined to a very sma&& 4art o2 thecommunity. 5hen 1e re2&ect on the nature o2 the ;erman em4ire, a con2ederation o2


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sma&& inde4endent states, 1e see that this 4ro2ession cannot kee4 4ace 1ith the othermechanic arts, un&ess its 4ractitioners are invested 1ith (reater 4rivi&e(es than others.Their (reat 1orks e9ceed the stren(th o2 the immediate nei(hbourhood, and the1orkmen must be brou(ht to(ether 2rom a distance. Their association must there2ore bemore cared 2or by the 4ub&ic.

5hen 6n(&ish 8ree =asonry 1as carried into ;ermany, it 1as hos4itab&y received. 'trequired &itt&e e22ort to (ive it res4ectabi&ity, and to make it the occu4ation o2 a(ent&eman, and its secrets and mysteries 1ere not such nove&ties as in 8rance. 't s4readra4id&y, and the sim4&e to4ic o2 Brother&y &ove 1as su22icient 2or recommendin( it to thehonest and hos4itab&e ;ermans. But it soon took a very di22erent turn. The ;ermancharacter is the very o44osite o2 2rivo&ity. 't tends to seriousness, and requires seriousoccu4ation. The ;ermans are eminent 2or their turn 2or investi(ationF and 4erha4s theyindu&(e this to e9cess. 5e ca&& them 4&oddin( and du&&, because 1e have &itt&e re&ish 2orenquiry 2or its o1n sake. But this is sure&y the occu4ation o2 a rationa& nature, anddeserves any name but stu4idity. At the same time it must be ackno1&ed(ed, that

4. !

the s4irit o2 enquiry requires re(u&ation as much as any 4ro4ensity o2 the human mind.But it a44ears that the ;ermans are not nice in their choice o2 their ob@ectsF it a44earsthat sin(u&arity, and 1onder, and di22icu&ty o2 research, are to them irresistib&erecommendations and incitements. They have a&1ays e9hibited a stron( hankerin( a2terevery thin( that is 1onder2u&, or so&emn, or terrib&eF and in s4ite o2 the (reat 4ro(ress1hich men have made in the course o2 these t1o &ast centuries, in the kno1&ed(e o2nature, a 4ro(ress too in 1hich 1e shou&d be very un@ust i2 1e did not ackno1&ed(e thatthe ;ermans have been (enera&&y in the 2oremost ranks, the (ross absurdities o2 ma(ic,

e9orcism, 1itchcra2t, 2ortune-te&&in(, transmutation o2 meta&s, and universa& medicine,have a&1ays had their zea&ous 4artizans, 1ho have &istened 1ith (reedy ears to thenonsense and @ar(on o2 2anatics and cheatsF and thou(h they every day sa1 e9am4&es o2many 1ho had been ruined or rendered ridicu&ous by their credu&ity, every ne1

4retender to secrets 2ound numbers ready to &isten to him, and to run over the samecourse.

8ree =asonry, 4ro2essin( mysteries, instant&y roused a&& these 4eo4&e, and the Lod(esa44eared to the adventurers 1ho 1anted to 4ro2it by the enthusiasm or the avarice o2their du4es, the 2ittest 4&aces in the 1or&d 2or the scene o2 their o4erations. The+osycrucians 1ere the 2irst 1ho avai&ed themse&ves o2 the o44ortunity. This 1as not the*ociety 1hich had a44eared 2ormer&y under that name, and 1as no1 e9tinctF but a set o2A&chymists, 4retenders to the transmutation o2 meta&s and the universa& medicine, 1ho,the better to invei(&e their votaries, had mi9ed 1ith their o1n tricks a (ood dea& o2 theabsurd su4erstitions o2 that sect, in order to (ive a (reater air o2 mystery to the 1ho&e, to

4rotract the time o2 instruction, and to a22ord more room 2or evasions, by makin( somany di22icu&t conditions necessary 2or 4er2ectin( the (rand 1ork, that the un2ortunate(u&&, 1ho had thro1n a1ay his time and his money, mi(ht be&ieve that the 2ai&ure 1aso1in( to his o1n inca4acity or un2itness 2or bein( the 4ossessor o2 the (rand secret.

These cheats 2ound it convenient to make =asonry one o2 their conditions, and by asma&& de(ree o2 art, 4ersuaded their 4u4i&s that they 1ere the on&y true =asons. These+osycrucian Lod(es 1ere soon estab&ished,


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4.

and became numerous, because their mysteries 1ere addressed, both to the curiosity, thesensua&ity, and the avarice o2 men. They became a very 2ormidab&e band, ado4tin( theconstitution o2 the Jesuits, dividin( the 8raternity into circ&es, each under the

mana(ement o2 its o1n su4erior, kno1n to the 4resident, but unkno1n to the individua&so2 the Lod(es. These su4eriors 1ere connected 1ith each other in a 1ay kno1n on&y tothemse&ves, and the 1ho&e 1as under one ;enera&. At &east this is the account 1hichthey 1ish to be be&ieved. '2 it be @ust, nothin( but the absurdity o2 the ostensib&e motiveso2 their occu4ations cou&d have 4revented this combination 2rom carryin( on schemes

bi( 1ith hazard to the 4eace o2 the 1or&d. But the +osycrucian Lod(es have a&1aysbeen considered by other 8ree =asons as bad *ocieties, and as (ross schismatics. Thisdid not hinder, ho1ever, their a&chemica& and medica& secrets 2rom bein( 2requent&yintroduced into the Lod(es o2 sim4&e 8ree =asonryF and in &ike manner, e9orcism, or(host-raisin(, ma(ic, and other (ross su4erstitions, 1ere o2ten he&d out in their meetin(sas attainab&e mysteries, 1hich 1ou&d be immense acquisitions to the 8raternity, 1ithout

any necessity o2 admittin( a&on( 1ith them the re&i(ious de&iriums o2 the +osycrucians.

'n !S, a Baron 3unde, a (ent&eman o2 honorab&e character and inde4endent 2ortune,1as in %aris, and (ot acquainted 1ith the 6ar& o2 Pi&marnock and some other (ent&emen1ho 1ere about the %retender, and &earned 2rom them that they had some 1onder2u&secrets in their Lod(es. 3e 1as admitted, throu(h the medium o2 that nob&eman, and o2a Lord C&i22ord, and his =asonic 4atent 1as si(ned ?eorge$said to be the si(nature o2Pi&marnock). 3unde had attached himse&2 to the 2ortunes o2 the %retender, in ho4es $ashe says himse&2) o2 risin( in the 1or&d under his 4rotection. The mi(hty secret 1as this.

R5hen the Order o2 Pni(hts Tem4&ars 1as abo&ished by %hi&i4 the 8air, and crue&&y4ersecuted, some 1orthy 4ersons esca4ed, and took re2u(e in the 3i(h&ands o2 *cot&and,1here they concea&ed themse&ves in caves. These 4ersons 4ossessed the true secrets o2=asonry, 1hich had a&1ays been in that Order, havin( been acquired by the Pni(hts,durin( their services in the east, 2rom the 4i&(rims 1hom they occasiona&&y 4rotected orde&ivered. The Chevaliers de la &ose-Croi%continued

4. "

to have the same duties as 2ormer&y, thou(h robbed o2 their emo&uments. 'n 2ine, everytrue =ason is a Pni(ht Tem4&ar.R 't is very true that a c&ever 2ancy can accommodate

the ritua& o2 rece4tion o2 the Chevalier de l:3p*e, Ec. to somethin( &ike the institutiono2 the Pni(hts Tem4&ars, and 4erha4s this e94&anation o2 youn( Yerobabe&>s 4i&(rima(e,and o2 the rebui&din( o2 the Tem4&e by 6zra, is the most si(ni2icant e94&anation that has

been (iven o2 the mea(re symbo&s o2 8ree =asonry.

5hen Baron 3unde returned to ;ermany, he e9hibited to some 2riends his e9tensive4o1ers 2or 4ro4a(atin( this system o2 =asonry, and made a 2e1 Pni(hts. But he 1asnot very active. %robab&y the 2ai&ure o2 the %retender>s attem4t to recover the throne o2his ancestors had 4ut an end to 3unde>s ho4es o2 makin( a 2i(ure. 'n the mean time 8ree

=asonry 1as cu&tivated 1ith zea& in ;ermany, and many adventurers 2ound theiradvanta(e in su44ortin( 4articu&ar schisms.


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But in !0:, or !0!, a com4&ete revo&ution took 4&ace. The 8rench o22icers 1ho 1ere4risoners at &ar(e in Ber&in, undertook, 1ith the assurance 4ecu&iar to their nation, toinstruct the sim4&e ;ermans in every thin( that embe&&ishes society. They said, that the

homes4un 8ree =asonry, 1hich had been im4orted 2rom 6n(&and, 1as 2it on&y 2or theun4o&ished minds o2 the BritishF but that in 8rance it had (ro1n into an e&e(ant system,2it 2or the 4ro2ession o2 ;ent&emen.


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About the year !:S a ne1 revo&ution took 4&ace. An adventurer, 1ho ca&&ed himse&2Johnson, and 4assed himse&2 2or an 6n(&ishman, but 1ho 1as rea&&y a ;erman orBohemian

4. S

named Leucht, said that he 1as ambassador 2rom the Cha4ter o2 Pni(hts Tem4&ars atO&d Aberdeen in *cot&and, sent to teach the ;ermans 1hat 1as true =asonry. 3e

4retended to transmute meta&s, and some o2 the Brethren dec&ared that they had seenhim do it re4eated&y. This reached Baron 3unde and brou(ht back a&& his 2ormerenthusiasm. There is somethin( very dark in this 4art o2 the historyF 2or in a &itt&eJohnson to&d his 4artisans that the on&y 4oint he had to in2orm them o2 1as, that Baron3unde 1as the ;rand =aster o2 the !th 4rovince o2 =asonry, 1hich inc&uded the 1ho&eo2 ;ermany, and the roya& dominions o2 %russia. 3e sho1ed them a ma4 o2 the =asonic6m4ire arran(ed into 4rovinces, each o2 1hich had distin(uishin( emb&ems. These area&& taken 2rom an o&d 2or(otten and insi(ni2icant book, 5ypotii 4ymbola 9ivina et

Humana, 4ub&ished in :/. There is not the &east trace in this book either o2 =asonryor Tem4&ars, and the emb&ems are taken out 1ithout the sma&&est (round o2 se&ection.*ome inconsistency 1ith the 2ormer ma(ni2icent 4romises o2 Johnson start&ed them at2irst, but they acquiesced and submitted to Baron 3unde as ;rand =aster o2 ;ermany.*oon a2ter Johnson turned out to be a cheat, esca4ed, 1as taken, and 4ut in 4rison,1here he died. et this seems not to have ruined the credit o2 Baron 3unde. 3e erectedLod(es, (ave a 2e1 sim4&e instructions, a&& in the system o2 6n(&ish =asonry, and

4romised, that 1hen they had a44roved themse&ves as (ood =asons, he 1ou&d thenim4art the mi(hty secret. A2ter t1o or three years o2 noviciate, a convention 1as he&d atA&tenber(F and he to&d them that his 1ho&e secret 1as, that every true Mason /as a

@night 5emplar. They 1ere astonished, and disa44ointedF 2or they e94ected in (enera&

that he 1ou&d teach them the 4hi&oso4her>s stone, or (host-raisin(, or ma(ic. A2ter muchdiscontent, 2a&&in( out, and dis4ute, many Lod(es united in this system, made some1hatmoderate and 4a&atab&e, under the name o2 the *T+'CT D'*C'%L'


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Durin( this state o2 thin(s, one *tark, a %rotestant divine, 1e&& kno1n in ;ermany byhis 1ritin(s, made another tria& o2 4ub&ic 2aith. One ;u(omos $a 4rivate (ent&eman, but1ho 1ou&d 4ass 2or son to a Pin( o2 Cy4rus) and one *chro42er, kee4er o2 a co22ee-house at


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4. SS

them o2 a thin( 1e&& kno1n to themse&vesF that one o2 them had been sent 2or by a dyin(nob&eman to receive 4a4ers on this sub@ect, and that his visit havin( been de&ayed a 2e1hours by an unavoidab&e accident, he 2ound a&& burnt but a 2ra(ment o2 a ca4itu&ary and

a thin( in cy4her, 4art o2 1hich he $Dr. *tark) had e94&ained to them. They hadem4&oyed another (ent&eman, a 3. 5achter, to make simi&ar enquiries in 'ta&y, 1here*chro42er and others $even 3unde) had to&d them (reat secrets 1ere to be obtained 2romthe %retender>s secretary A44rosi, and others. 5achter to&d them, that a&& this 1as a2iction, but that he had seen at 8&orence some Brethren 2rom the 3o&y Land, 1ho rea&&y

4ossessed 1onder2u& secrets, 1hich he 1as 1i&&in( to im4art, on 4ro4er conditions.These, ho1ever, they cou&d not accede toF but they 1ere crue&&y tortured by seein(5achter, 1ho had &e2t ;ermany in sober circumstances, no1 a man o2 (reat 1ea&th ande94ence. 3e 1ou&d not ackno1&ed(e that he had (ot the secret o2 (o&d-makin( 2rom theAsiatic BrethrenF but said that no man had any ri(ht to ask him ho1 he had come by his2ortune. 't 1as enou(h that he behaved honorab&y, and o1ed no man any thin(. 3e

broke o22 a&& connections 1ith them, and &e2t them in (reat distress about their Order,and 4antin( a2ter his secrets.&isum teneatis amici.

*tark, in reven(e 2or the o44osition he had met 1ith 2rom *chubart, &e2t no stoneunturned to hurt him 1ith his Brethren, and succeeded, so that he &e2t them in dis(ust.3unde died about this time. A book a44eared, ca&&ed, 5he 4tumbling Bloc0 and &oc0 of8ffence, 1hich betrayed $by their o1n con2ession) the 1ho&e secrets o2 the Order o2Tem4&ars, and soon made an end o2 it, as 2ar as it 1ent beyond the sim4&e 6n(&ish=asonry.

Thus 1as the 2aith o2 8ree =asons quite unhin(ed in ;ermany. But the ra(e 2ormysteries and 1onder 1as not in the &east abatedF and the habits o2 these secretassemb&ies 1ere becomin( every day more cravin(. Dissension and schism 1asmu&ti4&yin( in every quarterF and the 'nstitution, instead o2 bein( an incitement tomutua& com4&aisance and Brother&y &ove, had become a source o2 contention, and o2

bitter enmity.


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mi(ht 2oresee 4o&itica& uses and bene2its 1hich mi(ht arise 2rom it. One thin( is 1orthnotice The 8rench Lod(es had a&& emanated 2rom the (reat Con2ederation under theDuke de Chartres, and, even i2 1e had no other 4roo2, 1e mi(ht 4resume that they1ou&d cu&tivate the same 4rinci4&es that characterised that *ect. But 1e are certain thatin2ide&ity and &a9ity o2 mora& 4rinci4&es 1ere 4reva&ent in the +osaic Lod(es, and that

the observation o2 this corru4tion had o22ended many o2 the sober, o&d2ashioned Lod(es,and 1as one (reat cause o2 any check that 1as (iven to the bri&&iant =asonry o2 8rance.'t is the observation o2 this circumstance, in 1hich they a&& resemb&ed, and 1hich soonceased to be a distinction, because it 4ervaded the other Lod(es, that induced me toe94atiate more on this history o2 8ree =asonry in ;ermany, than may a44ear to myreaders to be adequate to the im4ortance o2 8ree =asonry in the (enera& sub@ect-mattero2 these 4a(es. But ' ho4e that it 1i&& a44ear in the course o2 my narration that ' havenot (iven it (reater va&ue than it deserves.

About this very time there 1as a (reat revo&ution o2 the 4ub&ic mind in ;ermany, andsce4ticism, in2ide&ity and irre&i(ion, not on&y 1ere 4reva&ent in the minds and mannerso2 the 1ea&thy and &u9urious, and o2 the 4ro2&i(ate o2 &o1er ranks, but be(an to a44earin the 4roductions o2 the 4ress. *ome circumstances, 4ecu&iar to ;ermany, occasionedthese dec&ensions 2rom the 2ormer acquiescence in the 2aith o2 their 2ore2athers to

become more uni2orm and remarkab&e than they 1ou&d other1ise have been. TheCon2essions o2 ;ermany are the +oman Catho&ic, the Lutheran

4. S:

[4ara(ra4h continues#$1hich they ca&& %rotestant) and the Ca&vinist $1hich they ca&& +e2ormed).

These are 4ro2essed in many sma&& conti(uous 4rinci4a&ities, and there is hard&y one o2them in 1hich a&& the three have not 2ree e9ercise. The desire o2 makin( 4rose&ytes isnatura& to a&& serious 4ro2essors o2 a rationa& 2aith, and 1as 2requent&y e9ercised. The+oman Catho&ics are su44osed by us to be 4articu&ar&y zea&ousF and the %rotestants$Lutherans and Ca&vinists) 1ere care2u& to o44ose them by every kind o2 ar(ument,amon( 1hich those o2 ridicu&e and re4roach 1ere not s4ared. The Catho&ics accusedthem o2 in2ide&ity res4ectin( the 2undamenta& doctrines o2 Christianity 1hich they

4ro2essed to be&ieve, and even 1ith res4ect to the doctrines o2 natura& re&i(ion. Thisaccusation 1as &on( very s&i(ht&y su44ortedF but, o2 &ate, by better 4roo2s. The s4irit o22ree inquiry 1as the (reat boast o2 the %rotestants, and their on&y su44ort a(ainst theCatho&ics, securin( them both in their re&i(ious and civi& ri(hts. 't 1as there2ore

su44orted by their (overnments. 't is not to be 1ondered at that it shou&d be indu&(ed toe9cess, or im4ro4er&y, even by serious men, &iab&e to error, in their dis4utes 1ith theCatho&ics. 'n the 4ro(ress o2 this contest, even their o1n Con2ession did not esca4ecriticism, and it 1as asserted that the +e2ormation 1hich those Con2essions e94ress 1asnot com4&ete. 8urther +e2ormations 1ere 4ro4osed. The *cri4tures, the 2oundation o2our 2aith, 1ere e9amined by c&er(ymen o2 very di22erent ca4acities, dis4ositions, andvie1s, ti&& by e94&ainin(, correctin(, a&&e(orisin(, and other1ise t1istin( the Bib&e,men>s minds had hard&y any thin( &e2t to rest on as a doctrine o2 revea&ed re&i(ion. Thisencoura(ed others to (o 2arther, and to say that reve&ation 1as a so&ecism, as 4&ain&ya44eared by the irreconci&eab&e di22erences amon( these 6n&i(hteners $so they 1ereca&&ed) o2 the 4ub&ic, and that man had nothin( to trust to but the dictates o2 natura&reason. Another set o2 1riters, 4roceedin( 2rom this as a 4oint a&ready sett&ed,

4roscribed a&& re&i(ion 1hatever, and o4en&y tau(ht the doctrines o2 materia&ism and


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atheism. =ost o2 those innovations 1ere the 1ork o2 %rotestant divines, 2rom the causesthat ' have mentioned. Te&&er, *em&er, 6berhardt, Le22in(, Bahrdt, +iem, and *hu&tz, hadthe chie2 hand in a&& these innovations. But no man contributed more than


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't contains a historica& account o2 the 4ub&ications in every branch o2 &iterature 2or aboutthirty years. The author sho1s, in the most convincin( manner, that the 4rodi(iouschan(e 2rom the 2ormer satis2action o2 the ;ermans on those sub@ects to their 4resentdiscontent and attacks 2rom every quarter, is neither a 2air 4icture o2 the 4revai&in(sentiments, nor has been the sim4&e o4eration o2 thin(s, but the resu&t o2 a combination

o2 tradin( 'n2ide&s.

' have here some1hat antici4ated $2or ' ho4e to 4oint out the sources o2 thiscombination,) because it he&4s to e94&ain or i&&ustrate the 4ro(ress o2 in2ide&ity andirre&i(ion that ' 1as s4eakin( o2. 't 1as much acce&erated by another circumstance. One

Basedo/, a man o2 ta&ents and &earnin(, set u4, in the %rinci4a&ity o2 Anha&t-Dessau, a%3'LA


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2irst (ave a tit&e to %rotestant c&er(ymen to 4ut to their hand 1ithout risk o2 bein(censured.

Basedo1 corrected, and corrected a(ain, but not one Catho&ic came to the%hi&anthro4ine. 3e seems to have thou(ht that the best 4&an 1ou&d be, to banish a&&

4ositive re&i(ion 1hatever, and that he 1ou&d then be sure o2 Catho&ic scho&ars. Cardina&Dubois 1as so 2ar ri(ht 1ith res4ect to the 2irst Catho&ic 4u4i& o2 the church. 3e hadrecommended a man o2 his o1n stam4 to Louis 'N. to 2i&& some im4ortant o22ice. Themonarch 1as astonished, and to&d the Cardina&, that Rthat 1ou&d never do, 2or the man1as a JansenistF3h .ue non, 4ire,R said the Cardina&, Ril n:est .u: th*e2R a&& 1as sa2e,and the man (ot the 4riory. But thou(h a&& 1as in vain, Basedo1>s %hi&anthro4ine atDessau (ot a hi(h character. 3e 4ub&ished many vo&umes on education that have much

merit.

't 1ere 1e&& had this been a&&. But most un2ortunate&y, thou(h most natura&&y, 1riters o2&oose mora& 4rinci4&es and o2 1icked hearts 1ere encoura(ed by the im4unity 1hich thesce4tica& 1riters e94erienced, and ventured to 4ub&ish thin(s o2 the vi&est tendency,in2&amin( the 4assions and @usti2yin( &icentious manners. These ma9ims are con(enia&1ith irre&i(ion and Atheism, and the books 2ound a quick market. 't 1as chie2&y in the%russian *tates that this 1ent on. The &ate Pin( 1as, to say the best o2 him, a natura&ist,and, ho&din( this &i2e 2or his a&&, (ave 2u&& &iberty to his sub@ects to 1rite 1hat they

4&eased, 4rovided they did not touch on state matters. 3e dec&ared, ho1ever, to aminister o2 his court, &on( be2ore his death, that Rhe 1as e9treme&y sorry that hisindi22erence had 4roduced such e22ectsF that he 1as sensib&e it had (reat&y contributed tohurt the 4eace and mutua& (ood treatment o2 his sub@ectsFR and he said, Rthat he 1ou&d1i&&in(&y (ive u4 the (&ory o2 his best 2ou(ht batt&e, to have the satis2action o2 &eavin(his 4eo4&e in the same state o2 4eace and satis2action 1ith their re&i(ious estab&ishments,that he 2ound them in at his accession to the throne.R 3is successor 8rederick 5i&&iam2ound that thin(s had (one much too 2ar, and determined to su44ort the churchestab&ishment in the most 4erem4tory mannerF but at the same time to a&&o1 4er2ect2reedom o2 thinkin( and conversin( to the 4ro2essors o2 every christian

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2aith, 4rovided it 1as en@oyed 1ithout disturbin( the (enera& 4eace, or anyencroachment on the ri(hts o2 those a&ready su44orted by &a1. 3e 4ub&ished an edict tothis e22ect, 1hich is rea&&y a mode& 1orthy o2 imitation in every country. This 1as thee4och o2 a stran(e revo&ution. 't 1as attacked 2rom a&& hands, and criticisms, satires,s&anders, threatenin(s, 4oured in 2rom every quarter. The inde4endency o2 thenei(hbourin( states, and the monarch>s not bein( a (reat 2avorite amon( severa& o2 hisnei(hbours, 4ermitted the 4ub&ication o2 these 4ieces in the ad@oinin( 4rinci4a&ities, andit 1as im4ossib&e to 4revent their circu&ation even in the %russian *tates. 3is edict 1asca&&ed an un@usti2iab&e tyranny over the consciences o2 menF the do(mas su44orted by it,

1ere ca&&ed absurd su4erstitionsF the Pin(>s 4rivate character, and his o4inions inre&i(ious matters, 1ere treated 1ith &itt&e reverence, nay, 1ere ridicu&ed and


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scanda&ous&y abused. This 2ie&d o2 discussion bein( thus thro1n o4en, the 1riters didnot con2ine themse&ves to re&i(ious matters. A2ter 2&at&y denyin( that the 4rince o2 anycountry had the sma&&est ri(ht to 4rescribe, or even direct the 2aith o2 his sub@ects, theye9tended their discussions to the ri(hts o2 4rinces in (enera&F and no1 they 2air&y o4enedtheir trenches, and made an attack in 2orm on the constitutions o2 the ;erman

con2ederacy, and a2ter the usua& a44roaches, they set u4 the standard o2 universa&citizenshi4 on the very rid(e o2 the (&acis, and summoned the 2ort to surrender. Themost darin( o2 these attacks 1as a co&&ection o2 anonymous &etters on the constitution o2the %russian *tates. 't 1as 4rinted $or said to be so) at 7trechtF but by com4arin( the2au&ts o2 some ty4es 1ith some books 4rinted in Ber&in, it 1as su44osed by a&& to be the

4roduction o2 one o2 s 4resses. 't 1as thou(ht to be the com4osition o2=irabeau. 't is certain that he 1rote a 8rench trans&ation, 1ith a 4re2ace and notes, moreim4udent than the 1ork itse&2. The monarch 1as dec&ared to be a tyrantF the 4eo4&e areaddressed as a 4arce& o2 tame 1retches crouchin( under o44ression. The 4eo4&e o2*i&esia are re4resented as sti&& in a 1orse condition, and are re4eated&y ca&&ed to rousethemse&ves, and to rise u4 and assert their ri(hts. The Pin( is to&d, that there is a

combination o2 4hi&oso4hers $con>uration) 1ho are &ea(ued to(ether in de2ence o2 truthand reason, and 1hich no 4o1er can 1ithstandF that they are to be 2ound in everycountry,

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and are connected by mutua& and so&emn en(a(ement, and 1i&& 4ut in 4ractice everymean o2 attack. 6n&i(htenin(, instruction, 1as the (enera& cry amon( the 1riters. Thetrium4h o2 reason over error, the overthro1 o2 su4erstition and s&avish 2ear, 2reedom2rom re&i(ious and 4o&itica& 4re@udices, and the estab&ishment o2 &iberty and equa&ity, thenatura& and una&ienab&e ri(hts o2 man, 1ere the to4ics o2 (enera& dec&amationF and it

1as o4en&y maintained, that secret societies, 1here the communication o2 sentimentshou&d be 2ree 2rom every restraint, 1as the most e22ectua& mean 2or instructin( anden&i(htenin( the 1or&d.

And thus it a44ears, that ;ermany has e94erienced the same (radua& 4ro(ress, 2rom+e&i(ion to Atheism, 2rom decency to disso&uteness, and 2rom &oya&ty to rebe&&ion,1hich has had its course in 8rance. And ' must no1 add, that this 4ro(ress has beene22ected in the same manner, and by the same meansF and that one o2 the chie2 means o2seduction has been the Lod(es o2 the 8ree =asons. The 8rench, a&on( 1ith their

numerous cheva&eries, and stars, and ribbands, had brou(ht in the custom o2 haran(uin(in the Lod(es, and as human nature has a considerab&e uni2ormity every 1here, thesame to4ics became 2avorite sub@ects o2 dec&amation that had tick&ed the ear in 8ranceFthere 1ere the same corru4tions o2 sentiments and manners amon( the &u9urious or

4ro2&i(ate, and the same incitements to the utterance o2 these sentiments, 1herever itcou&d be done 1ith sa2etyF and ' may say, that the zea&ots in a&& these tracts o2 2ree-thinkin( 1ere more serious, more (rave, and 2anatica&. These are not assertions apriori.' can 4roduce 4roo2s. There 1as a Baron Pni((e residin( at that time in thenei(hbourhood o2 8rank2ort, o2 1hom ' sha&& a2ter1ards have occasion 2requent&y tos4eak. This man 1as an enthusiast in =asonry 2rom his youth, and had run throu(hevery 4ossib&e de(ree o2 it. 3e 1as dissatis2ied 1ith them a&&, and 4articu&ar&y 1ith the2rivo&ity o2 the 8rench chiva&ryF but he sti&& be&ieved that =asonry contained inva&uab&esecrets. 3e ima(ined that he sa1 a (&im4se o2 them in the cosmo-4o&itica& and sce4tica&


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discourses in their Lod(esF he sat do1n to meditate on these, and soon co&&ected histhou(hts, and 2ound that those 8rench orators 1ere ri(ht 1ithout knockin( itF and that=asonry 1as 4ure natura& re&i(ion and universa& citizenshi4, and that this 1as

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a&so true Christianity. 'n this 2aith he immediate&y be(an his career o2 Brother&y &ove,and 4ub&ished three vo&umes o2 sermonsF the 2irst and third 4ub&ished at 8rank2ort, andthe second at 3eide&ber(, but 1ithout his name. 3e 4ub&ished a&so a 4o4u&ar system o2re&i(ion. 'n a&& these 4ub&ications, o2 1hich there are e9tracts in the&eligions

Begebenheiten, Christianity is considered as a mere a&&e(ory, or a =asonic ty4e o2natura& re&i(ionF the mora& duties are s4un into the common-4&ace dec&amations o2universa& benevo&enceF and the attention is continua&&y directed to the absurdities andhorrors o2 su4erstition, the su22erin(s o2 the 4oor, the tyranny and o44ression o2 the(reat, the tricks o2 the 4riests, and the indo&ent sim4&icity and 4atience o2 the &aity and o2the common 4eo4&e. The ha44iness o2 the 4atriarcha& &i2e, and s1eets o2 universa&

equa&ity and 2reedom, are the burden o2 every 4ara(ra4hF and the (enera& tenor o2 the1ho&e is to make men discontented 1ith their condition o2 civi& subordination, and therestraints o2 revea&ed re&i(ion.

A&& the 4roceedin(s o2 Pni((e in the =asonic schisms sho1 that he 1as a zea&ousa4ost&e o2 cosmo-4o&itism, and that he 1as continua&&y dea&in( 1ith 4eo4&e in theLod(es 1ho 1ere associated 1ith him in 4ro4a(atin( these notions amon( the BrethrenFso that 1e are certain that such conversations 1ere common in the ;erman Lod(es.

5hen the reader considers a&& these circumstances, he 1i&& abate o2 that sur4rise 1hichnatura&&y a22ects a Briton, 1hen he reads accounts o2 conventions 2or discussin( and2i9in( the do(matic tenets o2 8ree =asonry. The 4er2ect 2reedom, civi& and re&i(ious,1hich 1e en@oy in this ha44y country, bein( 2ami&iar to every man, 1e indu&(e it 1ithca&mness and moderation, and secret assemb&ies hard&y di22er 2rom the commonmeetin(s o2 2riends and nei(hbours. 5e do not 2or(et the e94ediency o2 civi&subordination, and o2 those distinctions 1hich arise 2rom secure 4ossession o2 ourri(hts, and the (radua& accumu&ation o2 the com2orts o2 &i2e in the 2ami&ies o2 the soberand industrious. These have, by 4rudence and a res4ectab&e Zconomy, 4reserved theacquisitions o2 their ancestors. 6very man 2ee&s in his o1n breast the stron( ca&& o2nature to 4rocure 2or himse&2 and his chi&dren, by every honest and commendab&ee9ertion, the means o2 4ub&ic consideration and res4ect.


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the en@oyment o2 1hat he so distinct&y 2ee&sF so those 1ho are under continua& check ino4en society, 2ee& this emanci4ation in these hidden assemb&ies, and indu&(e 1ithea(erness in the e94ression o2 sentiments 1hich in 4ub&ic they must smother 1ithintheir o1n breast. *uch meetin(s, there2ore, have a zest that is very a&&urin(, and they are2requented 1ith avidity. There is no country in 6uro4e 1here this kind o2 en@oyment is

so 4oi(nant as in ;ermany. Nery insi(ni2icant 4rinci4a&ities have the same rank in the;enera& 8ederation 1ith very e9tensive dominions. The interna& constitution o2 each4etty state bein( mode&&ed in near&y the same manner, the o22icia& honors o2 their &itt&ecourts become &udicrous and even 2arcica&. The ;eheim 3o2rath, the 3o2marescha&, anda&& the Pammerhers o2 a %rince, 1hose dominions do not equa& the estates o2 many6n(&ish *quires, cause the 1ho&e to a44ear &ike the 4&ay o2 chi&dren, and must (ive2requent occasion 2or discontent and ridicu&e, =ason Lod(es even kee4 this a&ive. The2raterna& equa&ity 4ro2essed in them is very 2&atterin( to those 1ho have not succeededin the scramb&e 2or civi& distinctions. *uch 4ersons become the most zea&ous =asons,and (enera&&y obtain the active o22ices in the Lod(es, and have an o44ortunity o2treatin( 1ith authority 4ersons 1hom in 4ub&ic society they must &ook u4 to 1ith some

res4ect.

These considerations account, in some measure, 2or the im4ortance 1hich 8ree =asonryhas acquired in ;ermany. 8or a &on( 1hi&e the ho4es o2 &earnin( some 1onder2u& secretmade a ;erman Baron think nothin( o2 &on( and e94ensive @ournies in quest o2 somene1 de(ree. O2 &ate, the cosmo-4o&itica& doctrines encoura(ed and 4ro4a(ated in theLod(es, and some ho4es o2 4roducin( a +evo&ution

4. 00

in society, by 1hich men o2 ta&ents shou&d obtain the mana(ement o2 4ub&ic a22airs,seem to be the cause o2 a&& the zea& 1ith 1hich the order is sti&& cherished and 4romoted.'n a 4eriodica& 1ork, 4ub&ished at


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2orbearance and intercourse. 3e 4ro4osed that the 6n(&ish system shou&d be taken 2orthe (round-1ork, and to receive a&& and on&y those 1ho had taken the three symbo&ica&de(rees, as they 1ere no1 (enera&&y ca&&ed. A2ter thus (uardin( this (enera& 4oint o22aith, he 4ro4osed to a&&o1 the va&idity o2 every de(ree or rank 1hich shou&d bereceived in any Lod(e, or be made the character o2 any 4articu&ar system. These

Lod(es, havin( secured the adherence o2 severa& others, brou(ht about a (enera&convention at 5i&&emsbad in 3ainau&t, 1here every di22erent system shou&dcommunicate its 4ecu&iar tenets. 't 1as then ho4ed, that a2ter an e9amination o2 them

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a&&, a constitution mi(ht be 2ormed, 1hich com4rehended every thin( that 1as most1orthy o2 se&ection, and there2ore be 2ar better than the accommodatin( system a&readydescribed. By this he ho4ed to (et his 2avorite scheme introduced into the 1ho&e Order,and 8ree =asons made zea&ous Citizens o2 the 5or&d. ' be&ieve he 1as sincere in theseintentions, and had no intention to disturb the 4ub&ic 4eace. The convention 1as

accordin(&y he&d, and &asted a &on( 1hi&e, the de4uties consu&tin( about the 2rivo&ities o2=asonry, 1ith a&& the seriousness o2 state-ambassadors. But there 1as a (reat shyness intheir communicationsF and Pni((e 1as makin( but sma&& 4ro(ress in his 4&an, 1hen hemet 1ith another =ason, the =arquis o2 Constanza, 1ho in an instant converted him,and chan(ed a&& his measures, by sho1in( him that he $Pni((e) 1as on&y doin( byha&ves 1hat 1as a&ready accom4&ished by another *ociety, 1hich had carried it to its2u&& e9tent. They immediate&y set about undoin( 1hat he had been occu4ied 1ith, andhei(htened as much as they cou&d the dissentions, a&ready su22icient&y (reat, and, in themean time, (ot the Lod(es o2 8rank2ort and 5etz&ar, and severa& others, to unite, and

4ick out the best o2 the thin(s they had obtained by the communications 2rom the othersystems, and they 2ormed a 4&an o2 1hat they ca&&ed, the3clecticor 4yncritic Masonry

of the =nited (odges of ?ermany. They com4osed a constitution, ritua&, and catechism,1hich has merit, and is indeed the com4&etest body o2 8ree =asonry that 1e have.

*uch 1as the state o2 this ce&ebrated and mysterious 8raternity in ;ermany in !!:. Thes4irit o2 innovation had seized a&& the Brethren.


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CHAP. II.

The Illuminati.

' A= no1 arrived at 1hat ' shou&d ca&& the (reat e4och o2 Cosmo-4o&itism, the schemecommunicated to Baron Pni((e by theMarchese di ConstanAa. This ob&i(es me tomention a remarkab&e Lod(e o2 the 6c&ectic =asonry, erected at =unich in Bavaria, in!!0, under the 1orshi42u& =aster, %ro2essor Baader. 't 1as ca&&ed 5he (odge 5heodoreof ?ood Counsel. 't had its constitutiona& 4atent 2rom the +oya& ork at Ber&in, but had2ormed a 4articu&ar system o2 its o1n, by instructions 2rom the(oge des Chevaliers

Bienfaisantsat Lyons, 1ith 1hich it ke4t u4 a corres4ondence. This res4ect to theLod(e at Lyons had arisen 2rom the 4re4onderance acquired in (enera& by the 8rench

4arty in the convention at 5i&&emstad. The de4uties o2 the +osaic Lod(es, as 1e&& as theremains o2 the Tem4&ars, and 4tricten 8bservanA, a&& &ookin( u4 to this as the motherLod(e o2 1hat they ca&&ed the ?rand 8rient de la )rance, consistin( $in !) o2 ::im4roved Lod(es, united under the9' de Chartres. Accordin(&y the Lod(e at Lyonssent =r. 5i&&ermooz as de4uty to this convention at 5i&&emsbad. +e2inin( (radua&&y onthe sim4&e British =asonry, the Lod(e had 2ormed a system o2 4ractica& mora&ity, 1hichit asserted to be the aim o2 (enuine =asonry, sayin(, that a true =ason, and a man o2u4ri(ht heart and active virtue, are synonymous characters, and that the (reat aim o28ree =asonry is to 4romote the ha44iness o2 mankind by every mean in our 4o1er. 'n

4ursuance o2 these 4rinci4&es, the Lod(e Theodore 4ro2essed&y occu4ied itse&2 1ithZconomica&, statistica&, and 4o&itica& matters, and not on&y 4ub&ished 2rom time to time

discourses on such sub@ects by the Brother Orator, but the =embers consideredthemse&ves as in duty bound to 4ro4a(ate and incu&cate the same doctrines out o2 doors.

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O2 the zea&ous members o2 the Lod(e Theodore the most cons4icuous 1as Dr. Adam5eishau4t, %ro2essor o2 Canon La1 in the university o2 'n(o&stadt. This 4erson had

been educated amon( the JesuitsF but the abo&ition o2 their order made him chan(e hisvie1s, and 2rom bein( their 4u4i&, he became their most bitter enemy. 3e had acquired ahi(h re4utation in his 4ro2ession, and 1as attended not on&y by those intended 2or the

4ractice in the &a1-courts, but a&so by the youn( (ent&emen at &ar(e, in their course o2

(enera& educationF and he brou(ht numbers 2rom the nei(hbourin( states to thisuniversity, and (ave a ton to the studies o2 the 4&ace. 3e embraced 1ith (reat keennessthis o44ortunity o2 s4readin( the 2avorite doctrines o2 the Lod(e, and his auditory

became the seminary o2 Cosmo4o&itism. The en(a(in( 4ictures o2 the 4ossib&e 2e&icityo2 a society 1here every o22ice is he&d by a man o2 ta&ents and virtue, and 1here everyta&ent is set in a 4&ace 2itted 2or its e9ertion, 2orcib&y catches the (enerous andunsus4ectin( minds o2 youth, and in a +oman Catho&ic state, 2ar advanced in the habitso2 (ross su4erstition $a character (iven to Bavaria by its nei(hbours) and aboundin( inmonks and id&e di(nitaries, the o44ortunities must be 2requent 2or observin( theinconsiderate dominion o2 the c&er(y, and the ab@ect and indo&ent submission o2 the &aity.Accordin(&y %ro2essor 5eishau4t says, in his A4o&o(y 2or '&&uminatism, that Deism,

'n2ide&ity, and Atheism are more 4reva&ent in Bavaria than in any country he 1asacquainted 1ith. Discourses, there2ore, in 1hich the absurdity and horrors o2


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su4erstition and s4iritua& tyranny 1ere stron(&y 4ainted, cou&d not 2ai& o2 makin( a dee4im4ression. And durin( this state o2 the minds o2 the auditory the transition to (enera&in2ide&ity and irre&i(ion is so easy, and so invitin( to san(uine youth, 4rom4ted 4erha4s

by a &atent 1ish that the restraints 1hich re&i(ion im4oses on the e94ectants o2 a 2uturestate mi(ht be 2ound, on enquiry, to be nothin( but (round&ess terrorsF that ' ima(ine it

requires the most an9ious care o2 the 4ub&ic teacher to kee4 the minds o2 his audienceim4ressed 1ith the rea&ity and im4ortance o2 the (reat truths o2 re&i(ion, 1hi&e he 2reesthem 2rom the shack&es o2 b&ind and absurd su4erstition. ' 2ear that this ce&ebratedinstructor had none o2 this an9iety, but 1as satis2ied 1ith his (reat success in the &ast

4art o2 this task, the emanci4ation o2 his youn( hearers 2rom the terrors o2

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su4erstition. ' su44ose a&so that this 1as the more a(reeab&e to him, as it 4rocured himthe trium4h over the Jesuits, 1ith 1hom he had &on( stru((&ed 2or the direction o2 theuniversity.

This 1as in !!!. 5eishau4t had &on( been schemin( the estab&ishment o2 anAssociation or Order, 1hich, in time, shou&d (overn the 1or&d. 'n his 2irst 2ervour andhi(h e94ectations, he hinted to severa& 69-Jesuits the 4robabi&ity o2 their recoverin(,under a ne1 name, the in2&uence 1hich they 2ormer&y 4ossessed, and o2 bein( a(ain o2(reat service to society, by directin( the education o2 youth o2 distinction, no1emanci4ated 2rom a&& civi& and re&i(ious 4re@udices. 3e 4revai&ed on some to @oin him,

but they a&& retracted but t1o. A2ter this disa44ointment 5eishau4t became theim4&acab&e enemy o2 the JesuitsF and his san(uine tem4er made him 2requent&y &ay

himse&2 o4en to their 4iercin( eye, and dre1 on him their keenest resentment, and at &astmade him the victim o2 their enmity.

The Lod(e Theodore 1as the 4&ace 1here the above-mentioned doctrines 1ere mostzea&ous&y 4ro4a(ated. But 5eishau4t>s emissaries had a&ready 4rocured the adherence o2many other Lod(esF and the 6c&ectic =asonry had been brou(ht into vo(ue chie2&y bytheir e9ertions at the 5i&&emsbad convention. The Lod(e Theodore 1as 4erha4s &ess(uarded in its 4roceedin(s, 2or it became remarkab&e 2or the very bo&d sentiments in

4o&itics and re&i(ion 1hich 1ere 2requent&y uttered in their haran(uesF and its members1ere noted 2or their zea& in makin( 4rose&ytes. =any bitter 4asquinades, satires, andother o22ensive 4am4h&ets 1ere in secret circu&ation, and even &ar(er 1orks o2 verydan(erous tendency, and severa& o2 them 1ere traced to that Lod(e. The 6&ector o2tene94ressed his disa44robation o2 such 4roceedin(s, and sent them kind messa(es,desirin( them to be care2u& not to disturb the 4eace o2 the country, and 4articu&ar&y toreco&&ect the so&emn dec&aration made to every entrant into the 8raternity o2 8ree=asons, RThat no sub@ect o2 re&i(ion or 4o&itics sha&& ever be touched on in the Lod(eFRa dec&aration 1hich a&one cou&d have 4rocured his 4ermission o2 any secret assemb&y1hatever, and on the sincerity and honor o2 1hich he had reckoned 1hen he (ave hissanction to their estab&ishment. But re4eated accounts

4. :/


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o2 the same kind increased the a&arm, and the 6&ector ordered a @udicia& enquiry into the4roceedin(s o2 the Lod(e Theodore.

't 1as then discovered that this and severa& associated Lod(es 1ere the nursery or4re4aration-schoo& 2or another Order o2 =asons, 1ho ca&&ed themse&ves the'LL7='


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as su4erior to every consideration. They conc&uded by sayin( that the method o2education made them a&& s4ies on each other and on a&& around them. But a&& this 1asdenied by the '&&uminati. *ome o2 them 1ere said to be abso&ute&y 2a&seF and the rest1ere said to be mistakes. The a4ostate 4ro2essors had ackno1&ed(ed their i(norance o2many thin(s. T1o o2 them 1ere on&y =inerva&s, another 1as an '&&uminatus o2 the

&o1est c&ass, and the 2ourth 1as but one ste4 2arther advanced. %am4h&ets a44eared onboth sides, 1ith very &itt&e e22ect. The 6&ector ca&&ed be2ore him one o2 the su4eriors, ayoun( nob&eman, 1ho denied these in@urious char(es, and said that they 1ere ready to&ay be2ore his 3i(hness their 1ho&e archives and a&& constitutiona& 4a4ers.


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The Order o2 'LL7='


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o2 4o&itica& and re&i(ious 4re@udiceF and they are as ine22icient as the s&ee4y dose o2 anordinary sermon.

RBut ' have contrived an e94&anation 1hich has every advanta(eF is invitin( toChristians o2 every communionF (radua&&y 2rees them 2rom a&& re&i(ious 4re@udicesFcu&tivates the socia& virtuesF and animates them by a (reat, a 2easib&e, andspeedy

4ros4ect o2 universa& ha44iness, in a state o2 &iberty and mora& equa&ity, 2reed 2rom theobstac&es 1hich subordination, rank, and riches, continua&&y thro1 in our 1ay. =ye94&anation is accurate, and com4&ete, my means are e22ectua&, and irresistib&e. Oursecret Association 1orks in a 1ay that nothin( can 1ithstand, and man shall soon be

free and happy.

RThis is the (reat ob@ect he&d out by this Association and the means o2 attainin( it is'&&umination, en&i(htenin( the understandin( by the sun o2 reason, 1hich 1i&& dis4e& thec&ouds o2 su4erstition and o2 4re@udice. The 4ro2icients in this Order are there2ore @ust&ynamed the '&&uminated. And o2 a&& '&&umination 1hich human reason can (ive, none iscom4arab&e to the discovery o2 1hat 1e are, our nature, our ob&i(ations, 1hat ha44iness1e are ca4ab&e o2, and 1hat are the means o2 attainin( it. 'n com4arison 1ith this, themost bri&&iant sciences are but amusements 2or the id&e and &u9urious. To 2it man by'&&umination 2or active virtue, to en(a(e him to it by the stron(est motives, to render the

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attainment o2 it easy and certain, by 2indin( em4&oyment 2or every ta&ent, and by 4&acin(every ta&ent in its 4ro4er s4here o2 action, so that a&&, 1ithout 2ee&in( any e9traordinarye22ort, and in con@unction 1ith and com4&etion o2 ordinary business, sha&& ur(e 2or1ard,1ith united 4o1ers, the (enera& task. This indeed 1i&& be an em4&oyment suited to nob&enatures, (rand in its vie1s, and de&i(ht2u& in its e9ercise.

RAnd 1hat is this (enera& ob@ectV T36 3A%%'


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RBut 1here are the 4ro4er 4ersons, the (ood, the (enerous, and the accom4&ished, to be2oundV and ho1, and by 1hat stron( motives, are they to be induced to en(a(e in a taskso vast, so incessant, so di22icu&t, and so &aboriousV This Association must be (radua&.There are some such 4ersons to be 2ound in every society. *uch nob&e minds 1i&& been(a(ed by the heart-1armin( ob@ect. The 2irst task o2 the Association must there2ore be

to 2orm the youn( members. As these mu&ti4&y and advance, they become the a4ost&es o2bene2icence, and the 1ork is no1 on 2oot, and advances 1ith a s4eed encreasin( everyday. The s&i(htest observation sho1s that nothin( 1i&& so much contribute to increasethe zea& o2 the members as secret union. 5e see 1ith 1hat keenness and zea& the2rivo&ous business o2 8ree

4. ::

[4ara(ra4h continues#=asonry is conducted, by 4ersons knit to(ether by the secrecy o2 theirunion. 't is need&ess to enquire into the causes o2 this zea& 1hich secrecy 4roduces. 't isan universa& 2act, con2irmed by the history o2 every a(e. Let this circumstance o2 our

constitution there2ore be directed to this nob&e 4ur4ose, and then a&& the ob@ections ur(eda(ainst it by @ea&ous tyranny and a22ri(hted su4erstition 1i&& vanish. The Order 1i&& thus1ork si&ent&y, and secure&yF and thou(h the (enerous bene2actors o2 the human race arethus de4rived o2 the a44&ause o2 the 1or&d, they have the nob&e 4&easure o2 seein( their1ork 4ros4er in their hands.R

*uch is the aim, and such are the ho4es o2 the Order o2 the '&&uminated. Let us no1 seeho1 these 1ere to be accom4&ished. 5e cannot @ud(e 4recise&y o2 this, because theaccount (iven o2 the constitution o2 the Order by its 2ounder inc&udes on&y the &o1est

de(ree, and even this is sus4ected to be 2ictitious. The accounts (iven by the 2our%ro2essors, even o2 this 4art o2 the Order, make a very di22erent im4ression on the mind,a&thou(h they di22er on&y in a 2e1 4articu&ars.

The on&y ostensib&e members o2 the Order 1ere the =inerva&s. They 1ere to be 2oundon&y in the Lod(es o2 8ree =asons. A candidate 2or admission must make his 1ishkno1n to some =inerva&F he re4orts it to a *u4erior, 1ho, by a channe& to be e94&ained

4resent&y, intimates it to the Counci&.


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4. :!

no inte&&i(ib&e e9tract 2rom any 4a4ers 1hich sha&& be she1n me no1 or durin( mynoviciate. A&& this ' s1ear, as ' am, and as ' ho4e to continue, a =an o2 3onor.R

The urbanity o2 this 4rotestation must a(reeab&y im4ress the mind o2 a 4erson 1horeco&&ects the dread2u& im4recations 1hich he made at his rece4tion into the di22erentranks o2 8ree =asonry. The candidate is then introduced to anIlluminates 9irigens,1hom 4erha4s he kno1s, and is to&d that this 4erson is to be his 2uture instructor. Thereis no1 4resented to the candidate, 1hat they ca&& a tab&e, in 1hich he 1rites his name,

4&ace o2 birth, . a(e, rank, 4&ace o2 residence, 4ro2ession, and 2avorite studies. 3e is thenmade to read severa& artic&es o2 this tab&e. 't contains, st. a very concise account o2 theOrder, its connection 1ith 8ree =asonry, and its (reat ob@ect, the 4romotin( theha44iness o2 mankind by means o2 instruction and con2irmation in virtuous 4rinci4&es.

d. *evera& questions re&ative to the Order. Amon( these are, R5hat advanta(es heho4es to derive 2rom bein( a memberV 5hat he most 4articu&ar&y 1ishes to &earnV 5hatde&icate questions re&ative to the &i2e, the 4ros4ects, the duties o2 man, as an individua&,and as a citizen, he 1ishes to have 4articu&ar&y discussed to himV 'n 1hat res4ects hethinks he can be o2 use to the OrderV 5ho are his ancestors, re&ations, 2riends,corres4ondents, or enemiesV 5hom he thinks 4ro4er 4ersons to be received into theOrder, or 1hom he thinks un2it 2or it, and the reasons 2or both o4inions. To each o2 thesequestions he must (ive some ans1er in 1ritin(.

The


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account o2 his o1n conduct on occasions 1here he doubted o2 its 4ro4rietyF someaccount o2 his 2riendshi4s, o2 his di22erences o2 o4inion, and o2 his conduct on suchoccasions. 8rom such re&ations the *u4erior &earns his manner o2 thinkin( and @ud(in(,and those 4ro4ensities 1hich require his chie2 attention.

3avin( made the candidate acquainted 1ith himse&2, he is a44rised that the Order is nota s4ecu&ative, but an active association, en(a(ed in doin( (ood to others. Thekno1&ed(e o2 human character is there2ore o2 a&& others the most im4ortant. This isacquired on&y by observation, assisted by the instructions o2 his teacher. Characters inhistory are 4ro4osed to him 2or observation, and his o4inion is required. A2ter this he isdirected to &ook around him, and to notice the conduct o2 other menF and 4art o2 his1eek&y rescri4ts must consist o2 accounts o2 a&& interestin( occurrences in hisnei(hbourhood, 1hether o2 a 4ub&ic or 4rivate nature. Cossandey, one o2 the 2our%ro2essors, (ives a 4articu&ar account o2 the instructions re&atin( to this kind o2 science.

RThe


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&etters he may mention 1hatever he thinks conducive to the advancement o2 the OrderFhe may in2orm the *u4eriors ho1 his instructor behaves to himF i2 assiduous or remiss,indu&(ent or severe. The *u4eriors are en@oined by the stron(est motives to convey these&etters 1herever addressed.


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mi(ht, the enemies o2 the human race, and o2 4o&itica& society. ' 1i&& embrace everyo44ortunity o2 savin( mankind, by im4rovin( my understandin( and my a22ections, and

by im4artin( a&& im4ortant kno1&ed(e, as the (ood and statutes o2 this Order require o2me. ' bind myse&2 to 4er4etua& si&ence and unshaken &oya&ty and submission to theOrder, in the 4ersons o2 my *u4eriorsF here makin( a 2aith2u& and com4&ete surrender o2

my 4rivate @ud(ment, my o1n 1i&&, and every narro1-minded em4&oyment o2 my 4o1erand in2&uence. ' 4&ed(e myse&2 to account the (o d o2 the Order as my o1n, and amready to serve it 1ith my 2ortune, my honor, and my b&ood. *hou&d ', throu(h omission,ne(&ect, 4assion, or 1ickedness, behave contrary to this (ood o2 the Order, ' sub@ectmyse&2 to 1hat re4roo2 or 4unishment my *u4eriors sha&& en@oin. The 2riends andenemies o2 the Order sha&& be my 2riends and enemiesF and 1ith res4ect to both ' 1i&&conduct myse&2 as directed by th

proofs of a conspirancy

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