Another very similar sect arose in Belgium.
2. But the name of " Illuminati" was really first given to an association of Deists and Kcpublicans which was founded May 1, 1776, by Adam Wcishaujit, professor of canon law at the University of Ingolstadt. This " or- der," which, by its founder, was first called the Order of the PerfectibiUsts, was established on a masonic founda- tion like that of the organization of the Jesiuts. They announced as their aim to elevate mankind to the high- est possible degree of moral purity, and to lay the foun- dation for the reformation of the world by organizing an association of the best men to oppose the progress of moral evd. Practically, however, the " order" soon evinced tendencies dangerous alike to Church and State. In their opposition to religious and political Jesuitism, which at that time, in Roman Catholic Germany, im- posed unbearable restraints on the human mind, they aimed at nothing less than revolutionizing religion, abolishing Christianity in order to substitute reason in its place, deposing all civil powers, and establishing a nominal republican government. Weishaupt himself, however, was a very honorable man, actuated by the piurest motives, and zealous for the religious and polit- ical improvement of mankind. The most active disciple, through whose influence the society increased with ex- traordinary rapidity, was the baron Adolph von Knigge, who joined the Illuminati in 1780, The baron main- tained that Cliristianity was not so much a popular re- ligion as a system exclusively applicable to the elect, and that, introduced by the Jlystics, it had fomid its form of highest development in Freemasonry. Only a small number of the elect were allowed an insight into the ultimate object of tlie new organization, but the whole system was made profusely attractive to a certain class of minds by mysterious ceremonies and forms. The order aimed steadfastly at obtaining the control of the higher offices in Church and State ; and, although lib- erty and equality were proclaimed as its fundamental principles, it sought absolute supremacy. With a view to reach that end, AVeishaupt, who had himself been a Jesuit, finally made use of the same means by which the Jesuits had been so successful. Thus he sought to win over to his side all persons of any influence ; to surround rulers with members of the order; to make proselytes of men weak in mind but strong of purse, while at the same time he excluded such as, on ac- count of their pride or their strength of character, would be unlikely to prove pliant subjects, or whose want of discretion might injure the order. Strict, unquestioning, and blind obedience was made the first duty of every member ; every one was under the direct control of his immediate superiors, and knew, in fact, no other mem- bers of the order. Aside from this, each member was subject to a private supervision, which extended to the head of the society ; " and the Illuminati were soon in- volved in a system of mutual espionage, confession, and the lilve, essentially inconsistent with true freedom, but calculated to place the threatls all in one hand, by which the holy legion was to be led on, as it was imagined, to the benefaction of mankind." Only such persons as were distinguished for prudence, wisdom, complete ab- negation for self, and zeal for the interest of the society, were admitted to the higher degrees, wherein the mys- teries of the higher order were revealed to them, while those of the lower degrees hardly suspected their exist- ence. These mysteries related to reUgion, on which subject they were of the character of naturalism and free-thinking ; and to politics, in regard to which the aim was to replace monarchy by republicanism and so- cialism. An active correspondence was kept up be- tween the chiefs and the members of the order in the different districts where lodges were established. It was carried on by means of a cipher, generally of the usual figures ; but the higher orders also made use of IV.— 1 1
other signs. The months were designated by particu- lar names; thus January became Diiiith, February Ben- meh ; and Germany was called the Orient, Bavaria .1 chuia, Munich A thens. The order was represented V>y © , a lodge by '^. The letters addressed to a superior were marked Q. L., i. e. Quihus licet, to open the letter; if the letter was addressed to one of the higher chiefs, it was marked Soli; and if to one still superior, Primo. Each one of the Illuminati was, besides, known in the order by some particular name. Thus the founder went by the om- inous appellation of Spartacus ; Knigge by that of Philo, etc. The attractions which the order presented by its mysterious secret forms, and the extraordinary energy and Jesuitical acumen which the leaders brought to bear on their undertaking, soon swelled its niunbers, and, during its most prosperous period, the association con- sisted of over 2000 members, among them some of the most prominent names of Germany, and even princes, who, however, could only be initiated into the lower orders, as the higher mysteries of the order inculcated republicanism. The head-quarters of the order were in Bavaria, which, with Suabia and Franconia, formed the first province of the association in (iermauy, and it was not only established in all the principal cities of Germany, but also gained a foothold in France, Belgi- um, HoUand, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, and Italy.