and

writes to an areopagite, or chief, concerning what he calls the Prieft's degree. "One would almost imagine that this degree, as I have managed it, is genuine Chriftianity; and that its end was to free the Jews from flavery. I fay that Free-Mafonry is concealed Christianity. My explanation of the hieroglyphicks at least proceeds on this fuppofition; and, as I explain things, no man need be ashamed of being a Chriftian. Indeed I afterwards throw away this name, and substitute reafon. But I affure you this is no fmall affair: a new religion, a new flate government, which so happily explain one and all of thefe fymbols, and combine them all in one degree. You may think that this is my chief work; but I have three other degrees, all different, for my clafs of higher myfteries, in comparison with which, this is but child's play; but thefe I keep for myself as General, to be bestowed by me only on the Benemeritiffimi. It is the key to history, to religion, and to every ftate government in the world.' "You cannot imagine what refpect and curiofity my Prieft's degree has raised and, which is wonderful, a famous Proteftant divine, who is now of the order, is perfuaded that the religion contained in it is the true fenfe of Chriftianity. O man, man! to what mayeft thou not be perfuaded! Who would ima

1

gine

gine that I was to be the founder of a new Religion ?»

Before the adept is admitted to the Priest's degree, a number of queftions are put to him, which he has been prepared to anfwer, by previous fteps of Illumination. The following are fome of the leading questions: "Do you think the prefent ftate of nations correfponds with the object for which man was placed upon earth? For example, do governments, civil affociations, or religion, attain the ends for which they were defigned? Do the sciences to which men apply furnish them with real lights? Are they conducive (as they ought to be) to real happiness?-Did there not formerly exift an order of things more fimple? What fort of an idea can you form of that antient ftate of the world?What means were ̈* beft to be employed for restoring mankind to that happy ftate? Should it be by public measures, by violent revolutions, or by any means that fhould infure fuccefs? Does not the Chriftian Religion in all its purity afford fome indications, does it not hint at fome state or happinefs fimilar to this? Does it not even prepare it? Is this holy and fimple religion really what different fects profefs it to be at this present day, or is it more perfect? Can this more per

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༈

fact

fect Christianity be known or taught? Could the world, fuch as it now is, fupport a stronger degree of light?-Must we not then filently and gradually remedy these disorders, before we can flatter ourselves with the re-establishment of the golden age? Meanwhile is it not advifable to diffeminate the truth in fecret focieties? Can we trace any fuch fecret doctrine in the antient schools of the fages, or in the allegorical leffons given by Jefus Christ, the Saviour and Liberator of mankind, to his moft intimate Difciples? Have you not observed a fort of gradual education in that art which you fee has been tranfmitted to our Order from the highest antiquity?”

It is with regret that I omit the initiatory Difcourfe of the Prefident ", the whole tendency of which is the total deftruction of all Religion, all Government, and all that the world has been accustomed to confider as morality; but which tendency is fo artfully concealed by the dazzling veil of fophiftry, that the prepoffeffed mind of the candidate does not eafily perceive it. The following extracts, however, will fully difplay its defign." The age of mankind is that of favage and un

firft

See Barruel, vol. iii. p. 164,

couth

1

couth nature. A family is the whole fociety: hunger and thirft eafily quenched, a shelter from the inclemency of the feafons, a woman, and after fatigue, reft, are then the only wants. At that period men enjoyed the two inestimable bleffings, equality and liberty: they enjoyed them to their utmoft extent.-As families multiplied, the means of fubfiftence began to fail; the Nomade (or roaming) life ceafed, and property started into exiftence ;-hence liberty was ruined in its foundation, and equality disappeared. Men then had paffed from their peaceable state' to the yoke of fervitude; Eden, that terreftrial Paradife, was loft to them.The fecret schools of Philofophy, which have been in all ages the archives of nature, and of the rights of man, fhall one day retrieve the fall of human nature, and princes and nations Shall difappear from the face of the earth, and that without violence.-Reafon fhall be the only book of laws, the fole code of man. This is one of our great myfteries. Attend to the demonftration of it, and learn how it has been tranfmitted down to us."-This we fhall fee prefently. We are to obferve, that the candidate is here informed, that fecret focieties are to effect this mighty change in the world without violence, Let us now notice the following inftructions in the fame difcourfe. M 3

Serve,

affift,

affift, and mutually fupport each other; augment our numbers; render yourselves at leaft independent, and leave to time and pofterity the care of doing the reft. When your num bers fhall be augmented to a certain degree, when you shall have acquired ftrength by your union, befitate no longer, but begin to render yourself powerful and formidable to the wicked [that is to fay, all who refift their plans]; the very circumftance of your being fufficiently numerous to talk of force, and that you really do talk of it, that circumftance alone makes the profane and wicked tremble. That they may not be overpowered by numbers, many will become good [like you] of themselves, and will join your party. You will [thus] foon acquire fufficient force to bind the hands of your opponents, to fubjugate them, and ftifle wickedness in embryo. Extend and multiply the children of light, until numbers and force shall throw power into our hands.' Is it poffible to avoid recalling the words of the Prophecy to our minds, "He fhall caufe them that dwell on the earth to make an image ?" But let us proceed.

The leffons by which it is declared men must be taught how to attain the grand object of

• These were the arts which effected the Revolution in Holland.