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(page 115 thru 130)
The first alarm was given by a discovery
of many dangerous publications which were secretly circulated;
several of these were traced back to the lodge Theodore,
of which Weishaupt was a member.
Friendly remonstrances were first made
by the Elector of Bavaria, on the subject,
but these abuses continuing,
he ordered a judicial inquiry into the proceedings of this lodge.
It was found that this, and several associated lodges,
were preparatory schools for another order of Masons,
who denominated themselves.
The Illuminated.
Several called Minervals, were said to belong to this order,
but the persons, by whom they were admitted, were unknown.
Some of these were privately examined by the Elector himself.
They said they were bound to secrecy;
but they assured the Elector, on their honor,
that the aim of the order was useful both to church and state.
This not relieving the public anxiety,
an order was published on the 22nd of June, 1784,
forbidding all secret assemblies,
and shutting up the Mason lodges.
The members of the lodge Theodore
distinguished themselves by a pointed opposition to this order;
reprobating the prohibition as cruel,
and continuing their meetings.
By a subsequent edict,
the order of the Illuminees was abolished,
and search was made, in the lodge Theodore,
for papers; none of importance, however, were found.
In 1785, four Professors of the Marianen Academy, viz.
Utschneider, Cosandey, Renner, and Grunberger, with some others,
who appear to have withdrawn from the order,
under a conviction of its evil tendency,
were summoned before a court of inquiry.
None of these had been admitted to the mysteries,
yet their evidence was alarming.
Their testimony agreed with what has been related
respecting the lower degrees,
and they further declared,
___ "that, in the lodges, sensual pleasures were advocated, and
___ self-murder justified, on epicurian and stoical principles;
___ that death was represented as an eternal sleep;
___ patriotism and loyalty were called narrow-minded prejudices,
incompatible with universal benevolence.
Nothing was so frequently discussed
as the propriety of employing, for a good purpose,
the means which the wicked employed for evil purposes."
These depositions, given separately, under oath,
and the signature of the deponents, were perfectly harmonious;
but the most offensive parts were denied by the Illuminees,
and much clamor was raised.
Weishaupt, however, was deprived of his Professor's chair,
and banished from Bavaria.
He went first to Regensburg,
and afterwards entered into the service of the Duke of Saxe Gotha,
whose name in the order was Timoleon. *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 85 to 89. Barruel's Memoirs, Vol IV. Chap. 7.
In 1786, a collection of original papers and correspondence,
was found in the house of counsellor Zwack;
and soon after, a much larger collection
in the castle of Sanderdorf, belonging to Barron Bassus.
This collection has been published, by order of the Elector,
under the title of "Original Writings."
From these papers, principally,
were taken the details respecting the code
and government of the Illuminees. *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 107. Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. III. p. 145.
Some extracts from the epistolary part of these writings
will now be presented to the reader,
more fully to bring into view the object of the order,
and the means adopted to attain this object.
Spartacus, writing to Cato,
on the subject of establishing a peculiar morality and religion,
fitted for the great body of mankind, says,
"But this is a ticklish project, and requires the utmost circumspection.
The squeamish will start at the sight of religious and poliltical novelties;
and they must be prepared for them.
We must be particularly careful about the books we recommend.
I shall confine them at first to moralists, and reasoning historians.
Robinet, Mirabeau, the Social System,
Natural Polity, the Philosophy of Nature,
and such works are reserved for our higher degrees.
At present they must not even be mentioned to our adepts,
and particularly Helvetius en Man."
The reader here sees a list
of the most anti-religious, atheistical productions,
and that they are reserved for the last mysteries.
"Marius," he adds, "an excellent man, must be dealt with.
His stomach, which cannot yet digest such strong food,
must acquire a better tone." *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 109. Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. p. 43.
But after all the cautious steps of the leader,
Knigge, in a letter to Zwack, expresses his apprehensions, that
"such a super-abundance of atheism
would betray the tendency of the sect too soon." *
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. Observations, p. 8
Brutus writes,
"Numenius (Count Kollowrath) now acquiesces
in the mortality of the soul,
but, I fear we shall lose Ludovicus Bavarus.
He told Spartacus that he was mistaken
when he thought that he had swallowed his stupid Masonry." *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 169.
Weishaupt, writing to Cato, an account of his degree of priests, says,
"One would almost imagine that this degree,
as I have managed it, is real Christianity.
In this sense, no man need be ashamed of being a Christian,
for I preserve the name,
and substitute reason." *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 119. Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. III. p. 144.
The Areopagites, though united in their object,
appear to have differed much
with respect to the best means of attaining it;
while some were fearful of alarming the adepts
by too hasty discoveries,
others were disgusted with the tedious slowness
of this process of deceit.
Minos (Baron Dittfurt) "wanted to introduce atheism at once,
and not go hedging in the manner they did;
affirming, it was easier to show at once
that atheism was friendly to society,
than to explain all their masonic Christianity,
which they were afterwards to show to be a bundle of lies." *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 135
Language cannot furnish a phrase, more descriptive than this,
of the nature of Illuminsim;
the whole system was "a bundle of lies,"
a plan of concealed falsehood and deception.
The means perfectly correspond
with the design of the projectors,
and sufficiently explain the nature of that design.
We have before been led to notice
the importance which these conspirators attribute to secret societies,
as the main spring of their destructive machinery.
While they are perpetually reminding each other,
that here lay their hopes of success,
it becomes us not to lose sight of this engine of mischief.
The following is an extract from a lecture,
which Weishaupt read to his adepts on this subject.
"When the object is an universal revolution,
all the members of these societies
must find means of governing invisibly,
and without any appearance of violence,
men of all stations, of all nations, and of every religion.
Insinuate the same spirit every where.
In silence, but with the greatest activity possible,
direct the scattered inhabitants of the earth toward the same point."
In proof of the importance of such a secret union,
he reasons thus:
"The slightest observation shews
that nothing will so much contribute
to increase the zeal of the members as secret union.
We see with what keeness and zeal
the frivolous business of Free Masonry is conducted
by persons knit together by the secrecy of their union." *
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. III. p. 18. Robison's Proofs, p. 93.
Among their plans of deception was found a scheme
"for a public literary academy,
to consist of two classes of men;
the one of men remarkable for their zeal in religion,
the other of profound Illuminees.
Each member to wear on his breast a medal with this inscription,
Religioni et Scientiis," (to religion and sciences.) *
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. Observation, p. 9
"And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light."
Spartacus, writing to Cato, says,
"There must not a single purpose come in sight that is ambiguous,
and that may betray our aims against religion and the state.
That we may be uncontrolled in our discourse,
let our pupils remark that the superiors enjoy great latitude in that respect;
that we sometimes speak in one way,
and sometimes in another,
only to sound the opinions of those we converse with."
This the pupil is told;
but he is not told that the real design is,
to secure a retreat, when they have incautiously gone too far;
and to render their real sentiments
impenetrable to their inferiors." *
* Ibid. Vol. III. p. 177. Robison's Proofs, p. 119.
Among the instructions which Weishaupt gives his disciples,
"he exhorts, and seriously admonishes those
who have the care of rare books or precioius manuscripts,
in the libraries of princes, nobles, and religious orders,
to take them for the benefit of those
to whom they would be more useful."
Sending a list of what he would have taken
from the library of the Carmes, he says,
"all these would be much greater use if they were in our hands.
What do those rascals do with all those books ?"
Writing to Cato on the same subject he says,
"Marius (keeper of the archives of the Electorate)
has ferreted out a noble document, which we have got.
He makes it, forsooth, a case of conscience.
How silly that; since only that is sin,
which is ultimately productive of mischief.
In this case, where the advantage far exceeds the disadvantage,
it is meritorious virtue." *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 110.
Barruels' Memoirs, Vol. III. p. 57.
But not satisfied with robbing mankind of their money and books,
he contrived as unjustly to pilfer their fame,
and appropriate to his order, their deserved reputation.
At one time his direction is,
"to endeavor to gain, or ruin every rising character."
At another, he gives the Regents the following instructions;
"It is very proper to make your inferiors believe,
without telling them the real state of the case,
that all other secret societies, particularly that of Free Masonry,
are secretly directed by us.
Or else, and it is really the fact, in some states,
that potent monarchs are governed by our order.
When any thing remarkable or important comes to pass,
hint that it originated with our order.
Should any person by his merit acquire a great reputation,
let it be generally understood that he is one of us." *
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. III. p. 204.
There was found in the hand writing of Zwack,
a project for a sisterhood.
It contains the following passages.
"It will be of great service,
and procure us much information and money,
and will suit charmingly many of our truest members,
who are lovers of the sex.
It should consist of two classes,
the virtuous, and the freer hearted;
they must not know each other,
and must be under the direction of men,
but without knowing it.
Proper books must be put into their hands,
and such (but secretly) as are flattering to their passions."
A list and description of eighty five young ladies of Manheim,
was found with this project.
Minos makes an offer of his wife, and his four daughters in law
to be the first adepts.
"The eldest," he says, "is excellent.
She is twenty four, has read much, is above all prejudices,
and in religion, thinks as I do."
It appears that the institution of a lodge
was attempted at Frankfort,
and a discourse, as delicate as the sentiments of such men could conceive,
was prepared for the occasion.
After much of the tortuous eloquence of Illuminism,
the orator thus addresses his fair assembly.
"Rejoice in the dawn of Illumination and freedom.
Nature at last enjoys her sacred never fading rights.
Long was her voice kept down by civil subordination;
but the days of your majority now draw nigh,
and you will no longer, under the authority of guardians,
account it a reproach to consider with enlightened eyes
the secret work shops of nature,
and to enjoy your work and duty."
Minos thought this very fine,
but it raised a terrible disturbance,
and broke up the assembly. *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 110, 137, 335.
Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. III. p. 24.
Among these papers was likewise
found the description of a strong box,
which, if forced open, would blow up and destroy the contents;
__ several receipts for procuring abortion;
__ a composition which blinds or kills when thrown in the face;
__ a method for filling a bed chamber with pestilential vapors;
__ the secret of taking off and imitating the impressions of seals,
so as to use them afterwards;
__ a collection of one hundred and thirty seals
of princes, nobles, clergymen, merchants, &c.
__ a receipt ad excitandum furorem uterinam;
__ a manuscript entitled, "Better than Horus,"
which contained all the blasphemies of atheism;
__ a dissertation on suicide :
__ also injunctions to all the superiors to learn to write with both hands;
__ and that they should use more than one cypher.
The reader, perhaps, will find it difficult to conceive
how this horrid artillery could be made conducive
to the ends which the order professed to have in view,
the advancement of religion, and social good.
The Illuminees have furnished us with a solution.
"This apparatus, they said, was with propriety
in the hands of counsellor Zwack
who was a judge of a criminal court,
and whose duty it was to know such things."
Admitting this, one thing still remains unaccounted for, viz.
how they come to be put with the papers of the Illuminees? *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 111, 112.
Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. p. 167.
In consequence of these discoveries,
some were deposed from offices they sustained,
and several banished.
Apologies, and partial representations of Illuminism were published,
and great was the outcry of cruelty
which resounded from all quarters;
while others, imputed the lenity of government on this occasion,
to the invisible influence which the order had gained
over the measures of the court. *
* Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. Chap. 8.
It appears that Illuminism had made a progress
proportionate to the zeal of the actors;
Bavaria alone is said to have contained about six hundred.
Three of the witnesses above declare,
"that while connected with the order,
they were several times informed
that it had extended to Italy, to Venice, to Austria, to Holland,
Saxony on the Rhine, and even to America."
In the original writings
several lodges in America are put on the list.
This was before 1786.
A report respecting the progress of the order in Greece (Bavaria,)
was found among the papers of Zwack, in his hand writing,
which presents an alarming view of the prevalence of Illuminism,
at a time when the public scarcely knew
that the order was in existence.
After mentioning a number of lodges,
under the direction of the Illuminees,
in several parts of the electorate,
it is noted,
"At Munich we have bought an house,
and have taken our measures so well,
that they even speak of us with esteem.
This is a great deal for this city.
We have a good museum of natural history,
and apparatus for experiments.
The garden is well occupied by botanic specimens,
and the whole has the appearance
of a society of zealous naturalists."
"The Dowager Duchess has set up her academy
entirely according to our plan.
All the Professors are of our order,
and all the pupils will be ours."
"On the recommendation of the brethren,
Pylades is made the ecclesiastical fiscal councellor,
and has the church money at his disposal.
By properly using this money,
we have already repaired the mal-administration
of _____, and of _____,
and have assisted more brethren under similar misfortunes."
"The brethren who are in orders
have all been provided with livings and curacies,
or with preceptor's places."
"All the German schools, and the benevolent societies,
are at last under our direction."
"We shall shortly be masters of the Bartholomew institution
for the education of young ecclesiastics.
By this means we shall be able to stock all Bavaria
with priests both clever and proper."
"We have at length got the remaining revenues of the Jesuits
under the control of the order.
This cost our senate some nights want of sleep." *
* Robison's Proofs, p. 155-159.
Barruel's Memoirs, Vol. IV. p. 161, 57-59.
This discovery very much disconcerted the plans of the Illuminees,
but it did not alter their habits or principles.
Under a new name, and with new agents,
we shall find them, in the following chapter,
pursuing the same object,
and we shall see the long train which infidelity has been preparing,
kindled into an explosion which has changed the face of Europe,
and been felt by remote nations.
He who habituates his mind to serious reflections,
and is suitably disposed to derive instruction
from the scenes around him,
will find means of improvement,
even among these disgusting objects.
He will at least, feel his inactivity in a worthy cause reproved,
by the labors, the zeal, the unremitting perseverance
of these agents of destruction;
for who can boast an equal engagedness,
a mind equally awake
to seize every opportunity and advantage,
for promoting the cause of religion and the good of society,
with what these men discover,
in laboring for the destruction of both?
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