The Illuminati;

Wo purpose to investigate the statements and tho charges brought against them in the works of two hostile authors , the one a foreigner , the other our own countryman . The idea of connecting his institution with Freemasonry did not exist in Weishaupt ' s mind at its formation , for it will be seen that the first steps have no Masonic bearing whatever ; but it seems

that imagining that union with au ancient and honoured institution would be favourable to the . promulgation of his scheme , he became a member of a Lodge in Munich , and in a short time his persuasive arguments induced many Masons to enlist into the new Order . He then contrived to interweave the three ancient symbolic degrees with Illuuiinismthe better by their means to get over the scruples of the

, more enli ghtened of those who became his followers . By his adversaries it is said that , as soon as the Masons witnessed the development of his "high degrees , " they saw their error , and one and all retreated ; while some , who had left the society in disgust at witnessing the disloyal and infidel precepts that were broached , betrayed its princij > les .

Upon learning the political tenets taught in its assemblies , the Elector of Bavaria ordered u judicial examination into the charges made against the Order , and the result was that the meetings were forbidden , and the society extinguished in his dominions . It , however , spread into other parts of Germany , and was introduced into France in 1787 ; the state of the public feeling in France at this period was favourable to the tenets of an institution like Illuminism , and it made rapid progress .

Although Professor Eobison and others have endeavoured to connect tho Illmninati with Freemasonry , certainly nowhere has it been established that there was ever any specific union or connexion with our noble Order . Events which occurred in France during the fever of the French revolution , cannot be received in evidence , all society and order having been overturned in that convulsion . It is

very clear that the institution had but a very brief existence in tho couutry of its birth , and that throughout Germany the Masonic Lodges were closed against its founder ; indeed several dissolved themselves , as ifc was said Lodges might by possibility harbour conspirators , and therefore they must remain closed till quieter times . Weishaupt himself , in recommending his scheme , speaks

disparagingly of all Masonry , but says ho has contrived a system , " inviting to Christians of every communion , which gradually frees them from all reli gious prejudices ; and which animates them by a great , a feasible , and speedy prospect of universal happiness , in a state of liberty , free from the obstacles which society , rank and riches continually throw in our way . " Certainly Freemasonry teaches

nothing of this sort . Doctrines even more alarming to the minds of those who reverence "the ri g ht divine for kings to govern wrong , " were promulgated iu France , and the causes of the revolution may at this day bo traced , not to such institutions as the Illuminati , but to