Brother! Well Met!

BROTHER ! WELL MET !

I MUST ask my readers to allow me to transport them with me on my " magic carpet" ( see " Arabian Nights " ) to a great city , another country , and a past century ! Mirabeau was at the height of his power ancl popularity in Paris , though there were whispers heard ancl uncler-currents at work , as well as signs on the political horizon , which seemed to portend to the acute observer a " coming storm" accompanied with the entire loss of that " hantasy " of the " aura

, p popularis " which has lured so many mortals astray and has destroyed the living energies , the present utility , the lasting reputation of so many wellknown statesmen . At the moment I write , that is when the events of this " historiette " took place , the influence of Mirabeau was predominant , despite sundry rival aspirants for hearing and support ; his name and his opinions were in " high acclaim , " and if secretly not altogether hostile to the " Court , " he was

certainly greatly trusted b y the people . It was known , indeed , that he was a " roue" ancl a " sceptic , " or worse . All were aware that his health was enfeebled by excesses and his fortune shattered by extravagance , though it was as equally believed that he had found some easy method of replenishing his coffers ancl restoring the " equilibrium of his finances . " Still as a "Republican aristocrat " the cidevant " marquis "if not quitea " raraavis interris "

was considered by rejoicing revolutionists as a " king among men , " whose " words " all applauded , and to whose opinions all should bow . Mirabeau was an "Illumine , " though not a "Freemason , " as some have hastily alleged . He had , while in Germany , imbibed the principles of that mysterious ancl mischievous society which Weishaupt , a Roman Catholic Professor of Canon Law at Ingolstadthad foundedapparentlon a Jesuit and

, , y Masonic basis combined . Weishaupt himself , strongly suspected of being a Jesuit ( though , we believe , he never avowed his affiliation ) was not a Freemason when he first formed his society , though he was admitted subsequentl y into a lodge at Munich .

He soon , however , seems to have deserted Freemasonry proper entirely , but to have adapted certain Masonic "formulas" to the perfection of his destructive society and the propagation of its pernicious principles . For Illuminism was nothing more ancl nothing less , shortly stated , than "absolute republican revolutionism embodied , " the development of a " red socialism , " the subversion of all law , order , sanction , society , dominated , moreover , by that peculiar " lavour" of Jesuit subtletteachingand " radical iritualism" which

y , , sp , have been found in all lands , as well under a monarchy as a Republic , inimical to the true liberties of the subject , destructive of the claims of the supreme power , be that power what it may , antagonistic to the social ancl moral development of individual , family , ancl national life , opposed equally to patriotic aims and cosmopolitan unity . Indeed , no two systems can be more contrary or contrasted than Freemasonry aud Illuminism . The former is all " peace , " the

latter all " disorder ; " the former is destructive , the latter conservative in its non-political sense ; the former is full of fiery bitterness and anger , the latter abounding in brotherly love , toleration , and goodwill ; the former is revolutionary ancl subversive everywhere , the latter equally everywhere , obedient to the law , ancl respectful to authority . Mirabeau had introduced " Illuminism" into Paris , having a " delegation " from Weishaupt for that purpose , and was the leading and guiding spirit of that so-called " Lodge of Uluminati , " never , however , happily very powerful and