venerable Order into which I wish to be admitted, that I acknowledge
my natural weakness and inability, and that I, with all my
possessions, rank, honours, and titles which I hold in political
society, am, at bottom, only a man; I can enjoy these things only
through my fellow-men, and through them also I may lose them. The
approbation and consideration of my fellow-men are indispensably
necessary, and I must try to maintain them by all my talents.
These I will never use to the prejudice of universal good, but
will oppose, with all my might, the enemies of the human race, and
of political society. I will embrace every opportunity of saving
mankind, by improving my understanding and my affections, and by
imparting all important knowledge, as the good and statutes of
this Order require of me. I bind myself to perpetual silence and
unshaken loyalty and submission to the Order, in the persons of
my Superiors; here making a faithful and complete surrender of my
private judgment, my own will, and every narrow-minded employment
of my power and influence. I pledge myself to account the good of
the Order as my own, and am ready to serve it with my fortune, my
honour, and my blood. Should I, through omission, neglect, passion,
or wickedness, behave contrary to this good of the Order, I subject
myself to what reproof or punishment my Superiors shall enjoin. The
friends and enemies of the Order shall be my friends and enemies;
and with respect to both I will conduct myself as directed by the
Order, and am ready, in every lawful way, to devote myself to its
increase and promotion, and therein to employ all my ability. All
this I promise, and protest, without secret reservation, according
to the intention of the Society which require from me this
engagement. This I do as I am, and as I hope to continue, a Man of
Honour."
A drawn sword is then pointed at his breast, and he is asked, Will
you be obedient to the commands of your Superiors? He is threatened
with unavoidable vengeance, from which no potentate can defend him,
if he should ever betray the Order. He is then asked, 1. What aim
does he wish the Order to have? 2. What means he would choose to
advance this aim? 3. Whom he wishes to keep out of the Order? 4.
What subjects he wishes not to be discussed in it?
Our candidate is now ILLUMINATUS MINOR. It is needless to narrate
the mummery of reception, and it is enough to say, that it nearly
resembles that of the _Masonic Chevalier du Soleil_, known to every
one much conversant in Masonry. Weishaupt's preparatory discourse
of reception is a piece of good composition, whether considered
as argumentative, (from topics indeed, that are very gratuitous
and fanciful,) or as a specimen of that declamation which was so
much practiced by Libanius and the other Sophists, and it gives a
distinct and captivating account of the professed aim of the Order.
The _Illuminatus Minor_ learns a good deal more of the Order, but
by very sparing morsels, under the same instructor. The task has
now become more delicate and difficult. The chief part of it is the
rooting out of prejudices in politics and religion; and Weishaupt
has shown much address in the method which he has employed. Not the
most hurtful, but the most easily refuted were the first subjects
of discussion, so that the pupil gets into the habits of victory;
and his reverence for the systems of either kind is diminished
when they are found to have harboured such untenable opinions. The
proceedings in the Eclectic Lodges of Masonry, and the harangues
of the Brother Orators, teemed with the boldest sentiments both in
politics and religion. Enlightening, and the triumph of reason,
had been the _ton_ of the country for some time past, and every
institution, civil and religious, had been the subject of the
most free criticism. Above all, the Cosmopolitism, imported from
France, where it had been the favourite topic of the enthusiastical
oeconomists, was now become a general theme of discussion in all
societies that had any pretensions to cultivation. It was a subject
of easy and agreeable declamation; and the Literati found in it a
subject admirably fitted for shewing their talents, and ingratiating
themselves with the young men of fortune, whose minds, unsuspicious
as yet and generous, were fired with the fair prospects set before
them of universal and attainable happiness. And the pupils of the
Illuminati were still more warmed by the thought that they were to
be the happy instruments of accomplishing all this. And though the
doctrines of universal liberty and equality, as imprescriptible
rights of man, might sometimes startle those who possessed the
advantage of fortune, there were thousands of younger sons, and of
men of talents without fortune, to whom these were agreeable sounds.
And we must particularly observe, that those who were now the
pupils were a set of picked subjects, whose characters and peculiar
biases were well known by their conduct during their noviciate
as Minervals. They were therefore such as, in all probability,
would not boggle at very free sentiments. We might rather expect
a partiality to doctrines which removed some restraints which
formerly checked them in the indulgence of youthful passions. Their
instructors, who have thus relieved their minds from several anxious
thoughts, must appear men of superior minds. This was a notion most
carefully inculcated; and they could see nothing to contradict
it; for, except their own Mentor, they knew none; they heard of
Superiors of different ranks, but never saw them; and the same
mode of instruction that was practised during their noviciate was
still retained. More particulars of the Order were slowly unfolded
to them, and they were taught that their Superiors were men of
distinguished talents, and were Superiors for this reason alone.
They were taught, that the great opportunities which the Superiors
had for observation, and their habits of continually occupying their
thoughts with the great objects of this Order, had enlarged their
views, even far beyond the narrow limits of nations and kingdoms,
which they hoped would one day coalesce into one great Society,
where consideration would attach to talents and worth alone, and
that pre-eminence in these would be invariably attended with all
the enjoyments of influence and power. And they were told that they
would gradually become acquainted with these great and venerable
Characters, as they advanced in the Order. In earnest of this, they
were made acquainted with one or two Superiors, and with several
Illuminati of their own rank. Also, to whet their zeal, they are now
made instructors of one or two Minervals, and report their progress
to their Superiors. They are given to understand that nothing can
so much recommend them as the success with which they perform this
task. It is declared to be the best evidence of their usefulness in
the great designs of the Order.
The baleful effects of general superstition, and even of any
peculiar religious prepossession, are now strongly inculcated,
and the discernment of the pupils in these matters is learned by
questions which are given them from time to time to discuss. These
are managed with delicacy and circumspection, that the timid may
not be alarmed. In like manner, the political doctrines of the
Order are inculcated with the utmost caution. After the mind of the
pupil has been warmed by the pictures of universal happiness, and
convinced that it is a possible thing to unite all the inhabitants
of the earth in one great society; and after it has been made out,
in some measure to the satisfaction of the pupil, that a great
addition of happiness would be gained by the abolition of national
distinctions and animosities; it may frequently be no hard task
to make him think that patriotism is a narrow-minded monopolising
sentiment, and even incompatible with the more enlarged views of the
Order; namely, the uniting the whole human race into one great and
happy society. Princes are a chief feature of national distinction.
Princes, therefore, may now be safely represented as unnecessary.
If so, loyalty to Princes loses much of its sacred character; and
the so frequent enforcing of it in our common political discussions
may now be easily made to appear a selfish maxim of rulers, by
which they may more easily enslave the people; and thus, it may at
last appear, that religion, the love of our particular country, and
loyalty to our Prince, should be resisted, if, by these partial or
narrow views, we prevent the accomplishment of that Cosmo-political
happiness which is continually held forth as the great object of
the Order. It is in this point of view that the terms of devotion
to the Order, which are inserted in the oath of admission, are
now explained. The authority of the ruling powers is therefore
represented as of inferior moral weight to that of the Order. "These
powers are despots, when they do not conduct themselves by its
principles; and it is therefore our duty to surround them with its
members, so that the profane may have no access to them. Thus we are
able most powerfully to promote its interests. If any person is more
disposed to listen to Princes than to the Order, he is not fit for
it, and must rise no higher. We must do our utmost to procure the
advancement of Illuminati into all important civil offices."
Accordingly the Order laboured in this with great zeal and success.
A correspondence was discovered, in which it is plain, that by
their influence, one of the greatest ecclesiastical dignities was
filled up in opposition to the right and authority of the Archbishop
of Spire, who is there represented as a tyrannical and bigoted
priest. They contrived to place their Members as tutors to the youth
of distinction. One of them, Baron Leuchtsenring, took the charge
of a young prince without any salary. They insinuated themselves
into all public offices, and particularly into courts of justice. In
like manner, the chairs in the University of Ingolstadt were (with
only two exceptions) occupied by Illuminati. "Rulers who are members
must be promoted through the ranks of the Order only in proportion
as they acknowledge the goodness of its great object, and manner of
procedure. Its object may be said to be the checking the tyranny of
princes, nobles, and priests, and establishing an universal equality
of condition and of religion." The pupil is now informed, "that
such a religion is contained in the Order, is the perfection of
Christianity, and will be imparted to him in due time."
These and other principles and maxims of the Order are partly
communicated by the verbal instruction of the Mentor, partly by
writings, which must be punctually returned, and partly read by the
pupil at the Mentor's house, (but without taking extracts,) in such
portions as he shall direct. The rescripts by the pupil must contain
discussions on these subjects, and anecdotes and descriptions of
living characters; and these must be zealously continued, as the
chief mean of advancement. All this while the pupil knows only his
Mentor, the Minervals, and a few others of his own rank. All mention
of degrees, or other business of the Order, must be carefully
avoided, even in the meetings with other members: "For the Order
wishes to be secret, and to work in silence; for thus it is better
secured from the oppression of the ruling powers, and because this
secrecy gives a greater zest to the whole."
This short account of the _Noviciate_, and of the lowest class of
illuminati, is all we can get from the authority of Mr. Weishaupt.
The higher degrees were not published by him. Many circumstances
appear suspicious, are certainly susceptible of different turns,
and may easily be pushed to very dangerous extremes. The accounts
given by the four professors confirm these suspicions. They declare
upon oath, that they make all these accusations in consequence of
what they heard in the meetings, and of what they knew of the Higher
Orders.
But since the time of the suppression by the Elector, discoveries
have been made which throw great light on the subject. A collection
of original papers and correspondence was found by searching the
house of one Zwack (a Member) in 1786. The following year a much
larger collection was found at the house of Baron Bassus; and since
that time Baron Knigge, the most active Member next to Weishaupt,
published an account of some of the higher degrees, which had been
formed by himself. A long while after this were published, _Neueste
Arbeitung des Spartacus und Philo in der Illuminaten Orden_, and
_Hohere Graden des Illum. Ordens_. These two works give an account
of the whole secret constitution of the Order, its various degrees,
the manner of conferring them, the instructions to the intrants, and
an explanation of the connection of the Order with Free Masonry, and
a critical history. We shall give some extracts from such of these
as have been published.
Weishaupt was the founder in 1776. In 1778 the number of Members
was considerably increased, and the Order was fully established.
The Members took antique names. Thus Weishaupt took the name of
Spartacus, the man who headed the insurrection of slaves, which in
Pompey's time kept Rome in terror and uproar for three years. Zwack
was called Cato. Knigge was Philo. Bassus was Hannibal. Hertel
was Marius. Marquis Constanza was Diomedes.--Nicolai, an eminent
and learned bookseller in Berlin, and author of several works of
reputation, took the name of Lucian, the great scoffer at all
religion. Another was Mahomet, &c. It is remarkable, that except
Cato and Socrates, we have not a name of any ancient who was eminent
as a teacher and practiser of virtue. On the contrary, they seem
to have affected the characters of the free-thinkers and turbulent
spirits of antiquity. In the same manner they gave ancient names to
the cities and countries of Europe. Munich was Athens, Vienna was
Rome, &c.
_Spartacus to Cato, Feb. 6, 1778._
"_Mon but est de faire valoir la raison._ As a subordinate
object I shall endeavour to gain security to ourselves, a
backing in case of misfortunes, and assistance from without. I
shall therefore press the cultivation of science, especially
such sciences as may have an influence on our reception in the
world, and may serve to remove obstacles out of the way. We
have to struggle with pedantry, with intolerance, with divines
and statesmen, and above all, princes and priests are in our
way. Men are unfit as they are, and must be formed; each class
must be the school of trial for the next. This will be tedious,
because it is hazardous. In the last classes I propose academics
under the direction of the Order. This will secure us the
adherence of the Literati. Science shall here be the lure.
Only those who are assuredly proper subjects shall be picked
out from among the inferior classes for the higher mysteries,
which contain the first principles and means of promoting a
happy life. No religionist must, on any account, be admitted
into these: For here we work at the discovery and extirpation
of superstition and prejudices. The instructions shall be so
conducted that each shall disclose what he thinks he conceals
within his own breast, what are his ruling propensities and
passions, and how far he has advanced in the command of himself.
This will answer all the purposes of auricular confession. And,
in particular, every person shall be made a spy on another and
on all around him. Nothing can escape our sight; by these means
we shall readily discover who are contented, and receive with
relish the peculiar state-doctrines and religious opinions that
are laid before them; and, at last, the trust-worthy alone will
be admitted to a participation of the whole maxims and political
constitution of the Order. In a council composed of such members
we shall labour at the contrivance of means to drive by degrees
the enemies of reason and of humanity out of the world, and to
establish a peculiar morality and religion fitted for the great
Society of Mankind.
"But this is a ticklish project, and requires the utmost
circumspection. The squeamish will start at the sight of
religious or political novelties; and they must be prepared
for them. We must be particularly careful about the books
which we recommend; I shall confine them at first to moralists
and reasoning historians. This will prepare for a patient
reception, in the higher classes, of works of a bolder
flight, such as Robinet's _Systeme de la Nature_--_Politique
Naturelle_--_Philosophie de la Nature_--_Systeme Social_--The
writings of Mirabaud, &c. Helvetius is fit only for the
strongest stomachs. If any one has a copy already, neither
praise nor find fault with him. Say nothing on such subjects to
intrants, for we don't know how they will be received--folks
are not yet prepared. Marius, an excellent man, must be dealt
with. His stomach, which cannot yet digest such strong food,
must acquire a better tone. The allegory on which I am to found
the mysteries of the Higher Orders is _the fire-worship of the
Magi_. We must have some worship, and none is so apposite. LET
THERE BE LIGHT, AND THERE SHALL BE LIGHT. This is my motto, and
is my fundamental principle. The degrees will be _Feuer Orden_,
_Parsen Orden_[4]; all very practicable. In the course through
these there will be no STA BENE (this is the answer given to one
who solicits preferment, and is refused). For I engage that none
shall enter this class who has not laid aside his prejudices. No
man is fit for our Order who is not a Brutus or a Catiline, and
is not ready to go every length.--Tell me how you like this?"
[4] This is evidently the _Mystere du Mithrus_ mentioned by
Barruel, in his History of Jacobinism, and had been carried
into France by Bede and Busche.
_Spartacus to Cato, March 1778._
"To collect unpublished works, and information from the archives
of States, will be a most useful service. We shall be able to
show in a very ridiculous light the claims of our despots.
Marius (keeper of the archives of the Electorate) has ferreted
out a noble document, which we have got. He makes it, forsooth,
a case of conscience--how silly that--since only that is _sin_
which is _ultimately_ productive of mischief. In this case,
where the advantage far exceeds the hurt, it is meritorious
virtue. It will do more good in our hands than by remaining for
1000 years on the dusty shelf."
There was found in the hand-writing of Zwack a project for a
Sisterhood, in subserviency to the designs of the Illuminati. In it
are the following passages:
"It will be of great service, and procure us both much information
_and money_, and will suit charmingly the taste of many of our
truest members, who are lovers of the sex. It should consist of two
classes, the virtuous and the freer hearted (i. e. those who fly
out of the common track of prudish manners); they must not know of
each other, and must be under the direction of men, but without
knowing it. Proper books must be put into their hands, and such (but
secretly) as are flattering to their passions."
There are, in the same hand-writing, Description of a strong
box, which, if forced open, shall blow up and destroy its
contents--Several receipts for procuring abortion--A composition
which blinds or kills when spurted in the face--A sheet, containing
a receipt for sympathetic ink--Tea for procuring abortion--_Herbæ
quae habent qualitatem deleteream_--A method for filling a
bed-chamber with pestilential vapours--How to take off impressions
of seals, so as to use them afterwards as seals--A collection of
some hundreds of such impressions, with a list of their owners,
princes, nobles, clergymen, merchants, &c.--A receipt _ad excitandum
furorem uterinum_,--A manuscript intitled, "Better than Horus."
It was afterwards printed and distributed at Leipzig fair, and
is an attack and bitter satire on all religion. This is in the
hand-writing of Ajax. As also a dissertation on suicide.--N. B. His
sister-in-law threw herself from the top of a tower. There was also
a set of portraits, or characters of eighty-five ladies in Munich;
with recommendations of some of them for members of a Lodge of
Sister Illuminatæ; also injunctions to all the Superiors to learn to
write with both hands; and that they should use more than one cypher.
Immediately after the publication of these writings, many defences
appeared. It was said that the dreadful medical apparatus were with
propriety in the hands of Counsellor Zwack, who was a judge of a
criminal court, and whose duty it was therefore to know such things.
The same excuse was offered for the collection of seals; but how
came these things to be put up with papers of the Illuminati, and
to be in the hand-writing of one of that Order? Weishaupt says,
"These things were not carried into effect--only spoken of, and
are justifiable when taken in proper connection." This however he
has not pointed out; but he appeals to the account of the Order,
which he had published at Regensburg, and in which neither these
things are to be found, nor any possibility of a connection by
which they may be justified. "All men," says he, "are subject to
errors, and the best man is he who best conceals them. I have never
been guilty of any such vices or follies: for proof, I appeal to
the whole tenor of my life, which my reputation, and my struggles
with hostile cabals, had brought completely into public view long
before the institution of this Order, without abating any thing of
that flattering regard which was paid to me by the first persons of
my country and its neighbourhood; a regard well evinced by their
confidence in me as the best instructor of their children." In some
of his private letters, we learn the means which he employed to
acquire this influence among the youth, and they are such as could
not fail. But we must not anticipate. "It is well known that I have
made the chair which I occupied in the university of Ingolstadt,
the resort of the first class of the German youth; whereas formerly
it had only brought round it the low-born practitioners in the
courts of law. I have gone through the whole circle of human
enquiry. I have exorcised spirits--raised ghosts--discovered
treasures--interrogated the Cabala--_hatte Loto gespielt_--I have
never transmuted metals."--(A very pretty and respectable circle
indeed, and what vulgar spirits would scarcely have included within
the pale of their curiosity.)--"The Tenor of my life has been the
opposite of every thing that is vile; and no man can lay any such
thing to my charge. I have reason to rejoice that these writings
have appeared; they are a vindication of the Order and of my
conduct. I can and must declare to God, and I do it now in the most
solemn manner, that in my whole life I never saw or heard of the so
much condemned secret writings; and in particular, respecting these
abominable means, such as poisoning, abortion, &c. was it ever known
to me in any case, that any of my friends or acquaintances ever
even thought of them, advised them, or made any use of them. I was
indeed always a schemer and projector, but never could engage much
in detail. My general plan is good, though in the detail there may
be faults. I had myself to form. In another situation, and in an
active station in life, I should have been keenly occupied, and the
founding an Order would never have come into my head. But I would
have executed much greater things, had not government always opposed
my exertions, and placed others in the situations which suited my
talents. It was the full conviction of this and of what could be
done, if every man were placed in the office for which he was fitted
by nature and a proper education, which first suggested to me the
plan of Illumination." Surely Mr. Weishaupt had a very serious
charge, the education of youth; and his encouragement in that charge
was the most flattering that an Illuminatus could wish for; because
he had brought round him the youth whose influence in society was
the greatest, and who would most of all contribute to the diffusing
good principles, and exciting to good conduct through the whole
state. "I did not," says he, "bring deism into Bavaria more than
into Rome. I found it here, in great vigour, more abounding than in
any of the neighbouring Protestant states. I am proud to be known to
the world as the founder of the Order of Illuminati; and I repeat my
wish to have for my epitaph,
"_Hic situs est Phæthon, currús auriga paterni,
Quem si non tenuit, magnis tamen excidit ausis_."
The second discovery of secret correspondence at Sandersdorff, the
seat of Baron Batz, (Hannibal,) contains still more interesting
facts.
_Spartacus to Cato._