establish a deistical worship in London; for I am certain it must have been ac ceptable to that learned and free people. But they had not the enlightening of our days." What the hiftory was to be which was to unfold the “ origin of all religious Ties," we may fee from the following fketch in a letter from Weishaupt. "Nothing would be more profitable to us than a right hiftory of mankind. Defpotifm has robbed them of their liberty. How can the weak obtain protection? Only by union; but this is rare. Nothing can bring this about but hidden focieties. There may be fome disturbance; but by and by the unequal will become equal; and after the ftorm all will be calm. CAN THE UNHAPPY CONSEQUENCES REMAIN, WHEN THE CAUSES OF DISSENTION ARE REMOVED ?

Rouse yourselves therefore, O men! affert your rights! and then will reafon rule with unperceived fway; and all shall be happy. Morality will perform all this; and morality is the fruit of Illumination; duties and rights are reciprocal. Where Octavius has no right, Cato owes bim no duty. Illumination fhews us our rights, and morality follows; that morality which teaches us to be of age, to be out

of

of wardship, to be full grown, and to walk without the leading-ftrings of kings and priests."

The pretended history of Masonry goes back to the deluge, recapitulates the pretended views of Chrift, the decline of Mafonry, and the honour referved to Illuminism, to preserve and revive thefe true and antient mysteries, and declares, that "the names of thofe to whom they owe the actual inftitution of the Order, will for ever remain unknown; the Chiefs who now govern not being Founders, and every document having been committed to the flames." In one of the claffes where Christ is represented as the enemy of fuperftitious obfervances, the affertor of reason and brotherly love, the candidate. takes an oath to "powerfully oppofe fuperftition, flander, and defpotifm: fo that, like a true fon of the Order, he may ferve the world, and follow the traces of the pure and true religion pointed out in the instructions and doctrines of Masonry, and faithfully report to the fuperiors the progress made therein.' The ceremonies of admiffion to another of the degrees, are a blafphemous imitation of the facrament of the Lord's Supper.

The

The Prefect, or Principal, after asking whether the knights are in the difpofition to partake of the love-feaft in earnest peace and contentment, takes the plate with bread, and fays, "Jefus of Nazareth, our Grand Master, in the night in which he was betrayed by his friends, perfecuted for his love for truth, imprifoned, and condemned to die, affembled his trusty brethren, to celebrate his laft love-feaft, which is fignified to us in many ways. He took bread, and brake it (breaking it), and bleffed it, and gave to his disciples, &c. This fhall be the work of our holy union ......Let each of you examine his heart, whether love reigns in it, and whether he, in full imitation of our Grand Mafter, is ready to lay down his life for his brethren. Thanks be to our Grand Mafter, who has appointed this feast as a memorial of his kindness, for the uniting of the hearts of those who love him. Go in peace, and bleffed be this new affociation which we have formed-Bleffed be ye who remain loyal and strive for the good caufe." In the Priest's degree the ceremonies are a mock ordination, followed by a communion of honey and milk, to reprefent the purity of the primitive age of the world, when men

fub

fubfifted by food which nature fapplied, unaffisted by the arts of civilized life.Such were the leffer myfteries, but there were higher for stronger ftomachs. In the first of these higher degrees the Magus, (the ceremonies of which are adapted to the fire worship of the Magi)" the doctrines are the fame as those of Spinoza, where all is material; God and the world are the fame thing; and all religion is fhown to be without foundation, and the contrivance of ambitious men." The fecond degree, or Rex, teaches" that every peasant, citizen, and houfholder, is a Sovereign, as in the patriarchal state; and that nations must be brought back to that ftate, by whatever means are conduciblepeaceably if it can be done; but if not, then by force-FOR ALL SUBORDINATION

MUST BE MADE TO VANISH FROM THE EARTH.

Thus, having by steps got rid of all Religion, the great aim of the fyftem is laid open, without the fear of any objection from those admitted into thefe mysteries. And thus it is proved beyond a doubt, that the Order of the Illuminati, following the fyftem of Voltaire, had for its immediate

VOL. II.

objects

objects the abolition of Christianity, and the deftruction of all Civil government.

Succefs of the Order of Illuminati.

A few words respecting the fuccefs of this Order, will at the fame time prove that the means employed to enfure it were exactly fimilar to thofe adopted by the affociation in France; and that it has been the inceffant labour of its Directors to introduce univerfal diffolutenefs and profligacy of manners, and then to make these corrupted fubjects inftrumental to the execution of their defigns.

At Munich they established their principal Lodge, under the appearance of a fociety of zealous Naturalifts. Lodges were scattered all over Germany. There were many in Poland, Switzerland, and Holland, fome in France and Italy, and in England, two in Scotland, and feveral in America. "All the German Schools, and the Benevolent Society, are at last under our direc