Memoirs Of The Freemasons Of Naples.

secret societies in all those countries . Forster died at Paris some time afterwards . From this time Illuminism rolled on like a vast stream from the north to the south of Europe . Count de Seeabra , Minister of Portugal , organised it at Lisbon . KosciuskoMadolniskiand Droubrowski were the most

, , forward chiefs of the Illumines in Poland . In Holland , Schimmel-penning , Van Gocins , and Rusper Mayer , during many years Ambassador at Paris , were zealous Illuminati . In our own country this sect made little jirogress . The Masons despised them aud their actions ; but they

found a firm supporter in the Marquis of Lansdowne , who expended a large portion of his fortune in keeping himself acquainted with the political and moral movements of Europe . Home Tooke was also one of the initiated .

In Bavaria , M . de Mongelas was an ardent Illuminati . In Prussia , the system counted a great number of this sect ; amongst the most celebrated were Werner , and his Secretary , Beyme . The minister Haugwitz was also of the number , and a wealthy Prussian bookseller at Berlin , named Nicolai . The universities were under the special influence of

Illuminism . Those of Halle , Leipsic , Jena , Gottingen , Heidelberg , supplied the names of Weishaupt , Niedmayer , Ethardt , Schottzer , and Posselt , the publisher of the once celebrated journal , Walt Annalen . This republican publicist was so grieved , so annoyed , and disappointed in all his expectations and hopes on learning

that Buonaparte had ascended the imperial throne , that " he would not survive the French Republic ; " ancl in a fit of despair , terminated his existence , by throwing himself out of the window of his apartment . It is not to be wondered at , considering the formidable organisation of this and other secret societieswhich met

, solely for political purposes , that the Freemasons of Germany should take alarm , at the position in which they were placed by members of these societies , proclaiming themselves Masons ; and Robison and Barruel , attacking them , with their pen , endeavouring to prove that the Masons were the instigators of the movement .

A lodge was therefore held at Berlin , in which it was unanimously resolved to disown the brethren of any lodge who should hez * eafter be known to belong- to any secret political society ; and to expel any lodges under their superintendence who should favour such societies . Notwithstanding the fabrications with which Barruel and Robison calumniated the lodges of Germany ,

Freemasonry still flourished , and is still in the ascendantrespected by the most virtuous and scientific members of the community , and patronised by the most distinguished princes of the empire . There , at the present day , the qualifications for a Freemason are great andnumerous . No person "is initiated into the Order without the

consent of every member of the lodge ; and it frequently happens , that even a German is excluded by a single dissenting voice . On this account the lodges are now filled with jiersons of the first rank and respectability , everything being conducted with the greatest decorum and solemnity ; and au Englishman will obtain an

easier introduction to the nobility andliterati in a Freemason ' s lodge than in any other place , and will never repent having been initiated into the Order . *" We have thought it necessary to speak at this length of the Illuminati , because it is from their connexion with this societ y that the Freemasons in Naples were discountenanced , and disunited first from the Grand

Lodge of England , and afterwards form the Grand Lodge of Germany . * These political societies caused a revolutionary feeling to exist everywhere , and brought further persecutions to the Freemasons , of which we shall treat hereafter .

But to return to Naples : in thej r ear 1785 the country had become tranquil ; the miseries caused by the earthquake , disease , and death , had passed away ; already had towns and villages been built upon the ruins of the buried ones ; already had the fields become fertile , vineyards and orange-groves flourishing , and abounding with fruit ; whilst the Queen and the Ministers of State gave

encouragement to men of learning ; already had happiness taken the place of misery ; all nature seemed to smile in and around Naples . The Freemasons held their weekl y lodges without fear . Amongst their members were two of the principal MinistersCaracciolo and Galliani ; the minds of the

, people were greatly improved from the writings and lectures of Pagano and Confovti , both of whom were Masons , the latter being W . M . of one of the lodges . Academies , meetings , and even conversations all exercised their influence for the good of then * fellow creatures . The objects pursued by the Freemasons were the

study and investigation of science , mutually communicating lessons of morality , and practising the exercise of brotherly love ; praying that truth might prevail amongst them , and from thence be extended to society in general . It was now"that the secret emissaries of France and

Germany induced many of the brethren to join the Illuminists , Jacobins , or Carbonari ( for all were alike hi their doctrines ) , and , to the disgust of the firm and faithful Mason , politics were even introduced at their own lodge meetings . These facts being represented to the Grand Lodge of England , thay refused to acknowledge any member initiated at Naples . As we before

observed , one lodge only remained firm to their principles , and continued on the list of the Grand Lodge . The remainder attached themselves to the Grand Lodge of Germany . Freemasonry , however , flourished at Naples until the year 1790 for there were many hi gh and noble characters

, attached to this one remaining lodge . They practised all those acts of charity and benevolence which distinguished those in their early career , whose heroic virtue we have recorded in the Calabrese catastrophe . It was believed that the French Revolution , had been , caused by the secret societies in ItalyFranceand Germany , and

, , thus attention ivas drawn to the meetings of these societies in Naples . An edict was immediately issued , ordering the severest punishment upon all members of secret societies holding meetings , ancl rewards offered to any persons giving such information as should lead to their conviction .

Although a representation was made to the Queen that certain lodges of Freemasons were peaceabl y disposed , and never introduced political matters at their meetings , her Majesty , to whom all matters of importance were submitted , refused to exempt them from the Royal edict , and in this she was supported by General Actonan

, Englishman , who was all powerful at Naples at this time . The Government thought it necessary to provide open as well as secret measures for the internal security of the country . The police appointed a commissary in every rione of the city as inspector and judge , with sub-