From its rise Freemasonry appears as a kind of dark parody of the
Church of Christ. The names taken by its dignitaries, the form of its
hierarchy, the designations affected by its lodges and “obediences,” the
language of its rituals, all seem to be a kind of aping after the usages
of Christianity. When Saint Martin wished to spread his Illuminism
in France, he managed to have a meeting of deputy Masons from all the
lodges in that country. This was designated the “Convent of the Gauls;”
and Lyons the place of its meeting was called “The Holy City.” Weishaupt
had more extended views. He meant to reach all humanity by means of
Masonry, and looked for a “Convent” far more general than that of Lyons.
When, therefore, he had matured his plans for impregnating the Masonry
of the world with his infernal system, he began to cast about for
means to call that Convent. The Illuminism of Saint Martin was in full
sympathy with him, but it could not effect his purpose. What he wanted
was, that a kind of General Council of the Masonry extended at the time
throughout the earth, should be called together; and he hoped that, by
adroitly manipulating the representatives whom he knew would be sent
to it by the lodges of every nationality of Masons, his own Illuminism
might be adopted as a kind of high, arch, or hidden, Masonry, throughout
its entire extent. He succeeded in his design, and in 1781, under the
official convocation of the Duke of Brunswick, acting as Supreme Grand
Master, deputies from every country where Freemasonry existed were
summoned to meet at Wilhelmsbad in council. They came from every portion
of the British Empire; from the newly formed United States of America;
from all the nations of Continental Europe, every one of which, at that
period, had lodges; from the territories of the Grand Turk; and from
the Indian and Colonial possessions of France, Spain, Portugal, and
Holland. The principal and most numerous representatives were, however,
from Germany and France. Through the skilful agency of the notorious
Baron Knigg, and another still more astute adept of his, named Dittfort,
Weishaupt completely controlled this Council. He further caused measures
to be there concerted which in a few years led to the French Revolution,
and afterwards handed Germany over to the French revolutionary Generals
acting under the Girondins, the Jacobins, and the Directory. I would
wish, if time permitted, to enter at length into the proofs of this fact.
It will suffice, however, for my present purpose, to state, that more
than sufficient evidence of it was found by the Bavarian Government,
which had, some five years later, to suppress the Illuminati, and that
one of the members of the convent, the Count de Virene, was struck with
such horror at the depravity of the body, that he abandoned Illuminism
and became a fervent Catholic. He said to a friend:—“I will not tell
you the secrets which I bring, but I can say that a conspiracy is laid
so secret and so deep that it will be very difficult for monarchy and
religion not to succumb to it.” It may be also of use to remark that
many of the leaders of the French Revolution, and notably most of those
who lived through it, and profited by it, were deputy Masons sent from
various lodges in France to the Convent of Wilhelmsbad.