SecretSocieties

and

SubversiveMovements
by

NestaWebster

SecretSocietiesandSubversiveMovements
byNestaWebster

FairbornePublishing
TheColchesterCollection
www.colchestercollection.com

Summary
SecretSocietiesandSubversiveMovementsistheseminalworkincreatingaunifiedconspiracy
theoryanddoesamasterfuljobinweavingthevariousstrandstogethertoshowthatallofthe
secretsocieties haveidenticalrootsandgoals.Meaningthattheyallservethesamemaster:
powerfulJewishinterests.

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TableofContents
Preface.....................................................................5
PartI:

ThePast......13

Chapter1

TheAncientSecretTradition......................................................14

Chapter2

TheRevoltAgainstIslam.........................................................42

Chapter3

TheTemplars..................................................................56

Chapter4

ThreeCenturiesofOccultism......................................................79

Chapter5

TheOriginsofFreemasonry.......................................................102

Chapter6

TheGrandLodgeEra............................................................125

Chapter7

GermanTemplarismandFrenchIlluminism..........................................148

Chapter8

TheJewishCabalists............................................................170

Chapter9

TheBavarianIlluminati..........................................................187

Chapter10

TheClimax....................................................................214

PartII:

ThePresent......249

Chapter11

ModernFreemasonry............................................................250

Chapter12

SecretSocietiesinEngland.......................................................271

Chapter13

OpenSubversiveMovements......................................................303

Chapter14

PanGermanism.................................................................324

Chapter15

TheRealJewishPeril............................................................342

Conclusion...................................................................373
AppendixA
JewishEvidenceontheTalmud....................................................377

AppendixB
TheProtocolsoftheLearnedEldersofZion..........................................379

EndNotes...................................................................386

Preface
ItisamatterofsomeregrettomethatIhavebeensofarunabletocontinue
theseriesofstudiesontheFrenchRevolutionofwhichTheChevalierde
Boufflers and TheFrenchRevolution,aStudyinDemocracy formedthe
firsttwovolumes.ButthestateoftheworldattheendoftheGreatWar
seemedtodemandanenquiryintothepresentphaseoftherevolutionary
movement,hencemyattempttofollowitscourseuptomoderntimesin
WorldRevolution.AndnowbeforereturningtothatfirstcataclysmIhave
feltimpelledtodevoteonemorebooktotheRevolutionasawholeby
goingthistimefurtherbackintothepastandattemptingtotraceitsorigins
fromthefirstcenturyoftheChristianera.Foritisonlybytakingageneral
surveyofthemovementthatitispossibletounderstandthecausesofany
particular phase of its existence. The French Revolution did not arise
merelyoutofconditionsorideaspeculiartotheeighteenthcentury,northe
BolshevistRevolutionoutofpoliticalandsocialconditionsinRussiaorthe
teaching of Karl Marx. Both these explosions were produced by forces
which, making use of popular suffering and discontent, had long been
gathering strength for an onslaught not only on Christianity, but on all
socialandmoralorder.
Itisofimmensesignificancetonoticewithwhatresentmentthispointof
viewismetincertainquarters.WhenIfirstbegantowriteonrevolutiona
wellknownLondonpublishersaidtome,"Rememberthatifyoutakean
antirevolutionarylineyouwillhavethewholeliteraryworldagainstyou."
This appeared to me extraordinary. Why should the literary world
sympathizewithamovementwhichfromtheFrenchRevolutiononwards
hasalwaysbeendirectedagainstliterature,art,andscience,andhasopenly
proclaimed its aim to exalt the manual workers over the intelligentsia?
"Writersmustbeproscribedasthemostdangerousenemiesofthepeople,"
said Robespierre; his colleague Dumas said all clever men should be
guillotined. "The system of persecution against men of talents was
organized....TheycriedoutinthesectionsofParis,'Bewareofthatmanfor

hehaswrittenabook!'"1 Preciselythesamepolicyhasbeenfollowedin
Russia. Under Moderate Socialism in Germany the professors, not the
"people,"arestarvingingarrets. Yetthewholepress of our countryis
permeatedwithsubversiveinfluences.Notmerelyinpartisanworks,butin
manualsofhistoryorliteratureforuseinSchools,Burkeisreproachedfor
warning us against the French Revolution and Carlyle's panegyric is
applauded.Andwhilsteverysliponthepartofanantirevolutionarywriter
isseizedonbythecriticsandheldupasanexampleofthewhole,themost
glaringerrorsnotonlyofconclusionsbutoffactspassunchallengedifthey
happentobecommittedbyapartisanofthemovement.Theprinciplelaid
down by Collot d'Herbois still holds good: "Tout est permis pour
quiconqueagitdanslesensdelarvolution."
AllthiswasunknowntomewhenIfirstembarkedonmywork.Iknew
thatFrenchwritersofthepasthaddistortedfactstosuittheirownpolitical
views,thataconspiracyofhistoryisstilldirectedbycertaininfluencesin
themasoniclodgesandtheSorbonne;Ididnotknowthatthisconspiracy
wasbeingcarriedoninthiscountry.Thereforethepublisher'swarningdid
not daunt me. If I was wrong either in my conclusions or facts I was
preparedtobechallenged.Shouldnotyearsoflaborioushistoricalresearch
meeteitherwithrecognitionorwithreasonedandscholarlyrefutation?But
although my book received a great many generous and appreciative
reviewsinthepress,criticismswhichwerehostiletookaformwhichIhad
neveranticipated.Notasinglehonestattemptwasmadetorefuteeithermy
French Revolution or World Revolution by the usual methods of
controversy;statementsfoundedondocumentaryevidenceweremetwith
flatcontradictionunsupportedbyashredofcounterevidence.Ingeneral
theplanadoptedwasnottodisprove,buttodiscreditbymeansofflagrant
misquotations,byattributingtomeviewsIhadneverexpressed,orevenby
meansofoffensivepersonalities.Itwillsurelybeadmittedthatthismethod
ofattackisunparalleledinanyothersphereofliterarycontroversy.
Itisinterestingtonoticethatpreciselythesamelinewasadoptedahundred
yearsagowithregardtoProfessorRobisonandtheAbbBarruel,whose
worksonthesecretcausesoftheFrenchRevolutioncreatedanimmense
sensationintheirday.Thelegitimatecriticismsthatmighthavebeenmade
ontheirworkfindnoplaceinthediatribeslevelledagainstthem;their
enemies content themselves merely with calumnies and abuse. A
contemporaryAmericanwriter,SethPayson,thusdescribesthemethods

employedtodiscreditthem:
Thetestimonyof Professor RobisonandAbbBarruelwoulddoubtless
have been considered as ample in any case which did not interest the
prejudicesandpassionsofmenagainstthem.Thescurrilityandodiumwith
whichtheyhavebeenloadedisperfectlynatural,andwhatthenatureof
their testimony would have led one to expect. Men will endeavour to
invalidatethatevidencewhichtendstounveiltheirdarkdesigns:andit
cannot be expected that those who believe that "the end sanctifies the
means"willbeveryscrupulousastotheirmeasures.Certainlyhewasnot
who invented the following character and arbitrarily applied it to Dr.
Robison,whichmighthavebeenappliedwithasmuchproprietytoany
otherpersoninEuropeorAmerica.Thecharacterherereferredto,istaken
fromtheAmericanMercury,printedatHartford,September26,1799,by
E.Babcock.Inthispaper,onthepretendedauthorityofProfessorEbeling,
wearetold"thatRobisonhadlivedtoofastforhisincome,andtosupply
deficiencieshadundertakentoalterabankbill,thathewasdetectedand
fled to France; that having been expelled the Lodge in Edinburgh, he
appliedinFranceforthesecondgrade,butwasrefused;thathemadethe
sameattemptinGermanyandafterwardsinRussia,butneversucceeded;
and from this entertained the bitterest hatred to masonry; and after
wanderingaboutEuropefortwoyears,bywritingtoSecretaryDundas,and
presentingacopyofhisbook,which,itwasjudged,wouldanswercertain
purposes of the ministry, the prosecution against him was stopped, the
Professor returned in triumph to his country, and now lives upon a
handsomepension,insteadofsufferingthefateofhispredecessorDodd."2
PaysongoesontoquoteawriterinTheNationalIntelligencerofJanuary
1801, who styles himself a "friend to truth" and speaks of Professor
Robisonas"amandistinguishedbyabjectdependenceonaparty,bythe
base crimes of forgery and adultery, and by frequent paroxysms of
insanity."Mouniergoesfurtherstill,andinhispamphlet Del'influence
attribueauxPhilosophes,...Francsmaonset...Illumins,etc.,inspired
bytheIlluminatusBode,quotesastorythatRobisonsufferedfromaform
ofinsanitywhichconsistedinhisbelievingthattheposteriorportionofhis
bodywasmadeofglass!3
Insupportofallthisfarragoofnonsensethereisofcoursenofoundationof
truth;Robisonwasawellknownsavantwholivedsaneandrespectedto

theendofhisdays.OnhisdeathWattwroteofhim:"Hewasamanofthe
clearestheadandthemostscienceofanybodyIhaveeverknown." 4John
Playfair,inapaperreadbeforetheRoyalSocietyofEdinburghin1815,
whilst criticizing his Proofs of a Conspiracythough at the same time
admittinghehadhimselfneverhadaccesstothedocumentsRobisonhad
consulted!paidthefollowingtributetohischaracteranderudition:
Hisrangeinsciencewasmostextensive;hewasfamiliarwiththewhole
circleoftheaccuratesciences....Nothingcanaddtotheesteemwhichthey
[i.e."thosewhowerepersonallyacquaintedwithhim"]feltforhistalents
andworthortotherespectinwhichtheynowholdhismemory.5
Nevertheless,theliescirculatedagainstbothRobisonandBarruelwerenot
withouteffect.ThirteenyearslaterwefindanotherAmerican,thistimea
Freemason,confessing"withshameandgriefandindignation"thathehad
beencarriedawayby"thefloodofvituperationpoureduponBarrueland
Robisonduringthepastthirtyyears,"thatthetitlepagesoftheirworks
"werefearfultohim,"andthatalthough"wishingcalmlyandcandidlyto
investigatethecharacterofFreemasonryherefusedformonthstoopen
theirbooks."Yetwhenin1827hereadthemforthefirsttimehewas
astonished to find that they showed "a manifest tendency towards
Freemasonry."BothBarruelandRobison,henowrealized,were"learned
men,candidmen,loversoftheircountry,whohadareverencefortruthand
religion. They give the reasons for their opinions, they quote their
authorities,namingtheauthorandpage,likehonestpeople;theybothhada
wishtorescueBritishMasonryfromthecondemnationandfellowshipof
continentalMasonryandappeartobesincerelyactuatedbythedesireof
doinggoodbygivingtheirlabourstothepublic."6
ThattheauthorwasrighthereinhisdescriptionofBarruel'sattitudeto
FreemasonryisshownbyBarruel'sownwordsonthesubject:
Englandaboveallisfullofthoseuprightmen,excellentcitizens,menof
everykindandineveryconditionoflife,whocountitanhonourtobe
masons, and who are distinguished from other men only by ties which
seemtostrengthenthoseofbenevolenceandfraternalcharity.Itisnotthe
fearofoffendinganationamongstwhichIhavefoundarefugewhich
promptsmetomakethisexception.Gratitudewouldprevailwithmeover
allsuchterrorsandIshouldsayinthemidstofLondon:"Englandislost,

shewillnotescapetheFrenchRevolutionifthemasoniclodgesresemble
those I have to unveil. I would even say more: government and all
ChristianitywouldlongagohavebeenlostinEnglandifonecouldsuppose
itsFreemasonstobeinitiatedintothelastmysteriesofthesect."7
InanotherpassageBarruelobservesthatMasonryinEnglandis"asociety
composedofgoodcitizensingeneralwhosechiefobjectistohelpeach
otherbyprinciplesofequalitywhichforthemisnothingelsebutuniversal
fraternity."8 And again: "Let us admire it [the wisdom of England] for
havingknownhowtomakearealsourceofbenefittotheStateoutofthose
samemysterieswhichelsewhereconcealaprofoundconspiracyagainstthe
Stateandreligion."9
TheonlycriticismBritishFreemasonsmaymakeonthisverdictisthat
Barruel regards Masonry as a system which originally contained an
elementofdangerthathasbeeneliminatedinEnglandwhilsttheyregardit
as a system originally innocuous into which a dangerous element was
inserted on the Continent. Thus according to the former conception
Freemasonrymightbecomparedtooneofthebrassshellcasesbrought
back from the battlefields of France and converted into a flowerpot
holder,whilstaccordingtothelatteritresemblesaninnocentbrassflower
potholderwhichhasbeenusedasareceptacleforexplosives.Thefactis
that,asIshallendeavourtoshowinthecourseofthisbook,Freemasonry
beingacompositesystemthereissomejustificationforboththesetheories.
In either case it will be seen that Continental Masonry alone stands
condemned.
TheplanofrepresentingRobisonandBarruelastheenemiesofBritish
Masonrycanthereforeonlyberegardedasamethodfordiscreditingthem
intheeyesofBritishFreemasons,andconsequentlyforbringingthelatter
overtothesideoftheirantagonists.Exactlythesamemethodofattackhas
been directed against those of us who during the last few years have
attempted to warn the world of the secret forces working to destroy
civilization; in my own case even the plan of accusing me of having
attacked British Masonry has been adopted without the shadow of a
foundation. From the beginning I have always differentiated between
British and Grand Orient Masonry, and have numbered high British
Masonsamongstmyfriends.

Butwhatisthemainchargebroughtagainstus?LikeRobisonandBarruel,
weareaccusedofraisingafalsealarm,ofcreatingabogey,orofbeingthe
victimsofanobsession.Uptoapointthisiscomprehensible.Whilstonthe
Continenttheimportanceofsecretsocietiesistakenasamatterofcourse
and the libraries of foreign capitals teem with books on the question,
peopleinthiscountryreallyimaginethatsecretsocietiesarethingsofthe
pastarticlestothiseffectappearedquiterecentlyintwoleadingLondon
newspaperswhilstpracticallynothingofanyvaluehasbeenwrittenabout
theminourlanguageduringthelasthundredyears.Henceideasthatare
commonplacesontheContinenthereappearsensationalandextravagant.
ThemindoftheEnglishmandoesnotreadilyacceptanythinghecannotsee
or even sometimes anything he can see which is unprecedented in his
experience,sothatliketheWestAmericanfarmer,confrontedforthefirst
timebythesightofagiraffe,hisimpulseistocryoutangrily:"Idon't
believeit!"
Butwhilstmakingallallowanceforhonestignoranceandincredulity,itis
impossiblenottorecognizeacertainmethodinthemannerinwhichthe
cryof"obsession"or"bogey"israised.Foritwillbenoticedthatpeople
whospecializeonothersubjectsarenotdescribedas"obsessed."Wedid
nothear,forexample,thatthelateProfessorEinsteinhadRelativity"onthe
brain"becausehewroteandlecturedexclusivelyonthisquestion,nordo
wehearitsuggestedthatMr.HowardCarterisobsessedwiththeideaof
TutankhamenandthatitwouldbewellifheweretosetoutfortheSouth
Polebywayofachange.Again,allthosewhowarntheworldconcerning
eventualities they conceive to be a danger are not accused of creating
bogeys.ThusalthoughLordRobertswasdenouncedasascaremongerfor
urgingthecountrytopreparefordefenceagainstadesignopenlyavowed
by Germany both in speech and print, and in 1921 the Duke of
Northumberlandwasdeclaredthevictimofadelusionforbelievinginthe
existenceofaplotagainsttheBritishEmpirewhichhadbeenproclaimedin
athousandrevolutionaryharanguesandpamphlets.Peoplewho,without
botheringtoproduceashredofdocumentaryevidence,hadsoundedthe
alarmonthemenaceof"FrenchImperialism"andassertedthatourformer
Allieswereengagedinbuildingavastfleetofaeroplanesinordertoattack
ourcoasts.Theywerenotheldtobeeitherscaremongersorinsane.Onthe
contrary,althoughsomeofthesesamepeoplewereprovedbyeventsto
havebeencompletelywrongintheirprognosticationsatthebeginningof

the Great War, they are still regarded as oracles and sometimes even
describedas"thinkingforhalfEurope."
AnotherinstanceofthiskindmaybecitedinthecaseofMr.JohnSpargo,
authorofasmallbookentitledTheJewandAmericanIdeals.Onpage37
ofthisworkMr.Spargoinrefutingtheaccusationsbroughtagainstthe
Jewsobserves:
Beliefinwidespreadconspiraciesdirectedagainstindividualsorthestateis
probablythecommonestformassumedbythehumanmindwhenitloses
itsbalanceanditssenseofproportion.
Yet on page 6 Mr. Spargo declares that when visiting this country in
SeptemberandOctober1920:
I found in England great nationwide organizations, obviously well
financed,devotedtothesinisterpurposeofcreatingantiJewishfeelingand
sentiment.Ifoundspecialarticlesininfluentialnewspapersdevotedtothe
sameevilpurpose.Ifoundatatleastonejournal,obviouslywellfinanced
again,exclusivelydevotedtothefosteringofsuspicion,fear,andhatred
againsttheJew...andinthebookstoresIdiscoveredawholelibraryof
booksdevotedtothesameend.
Itwillbeseenthenthatabeliefinwidespreadconspiraciesisnotalwaysto
be regarded as a sign of loss of mental balance, even when these
conspiraciesremaincompletelyinvisibletothegeneralpublic.Forthoseof
uswhowereinLondonduringtheperiodofMr.Spargo'svisitsawnothing
ofthethingsheheredescribes.Where,weask,werethese"greatnation
wideorganizations"strivingtocreateantiJewishsentiments?Whatwere
theirnames?Bywhomweretheyled?Itistrue,however,thattherewere
nationwideorganizationsinexistencehereatthisdateinstitutedforthe
purpose ofcombatingBolshevism. IsantiBolshevism thensynonymous
with"antiSemitism"?10 Thisistheconclusiontowhichoneisinevitably
led.Foritwillbenoticedthatanyonewhoattemptstoexposethesecret
forcesbehindtherevolutionarymovement,whetherhementionsJewsin
thisconnexionorevenifhegoesoutofhiswaytoexoneratethem,will
incurthehostilityoftheJewsandtheirfriendsandwillstillbedescribedas
"antiSemite."Therealizationofthisfacthasledmeparticularlytoinclude
theJewsinthestudyofsecretsocieties.
TheobjectofthepresentbookisthereforetocarryfurthertheenquiryI

beganin WorldRevolution,bytracingthecourseofrevolutionaryideas
throughsecretsocietiesfromtheearliesttimes,indicatingtherleofthe
Jewsonlywhereitistobeclearlydetected,butnotseekingtoimplicate
themwheregoodevidenceisnotforthcoming.ForthisreasonIshallnot
base assertions on merely "antiSemite" works, but principally on the
writingsoftheJewsthemselves.Inthesamewaywithregardtosecret
societiesIshallrelyasfaraspossibleonthedocumentsandadmissionsof
theirmembers,onwhichpointIhavebeenabletocollectagreatdealof
freshdataentirelycorroboratingmyformerthesis.Itshouldbeunderstood
thatIdonotproposetogiveacompletehistoryofsecretsocieties,butonly
ofsecretsocietiesintheirrelationtotherevolutionarymovement.Ishall
thereforenotattempttodescribethetheoriesofoccultismnortoenquire
intothesecretsofFreemasonry,butsimplytorelatethehistoryofthese
systemsinordertoshowthemannerinwhichtheyhavebeenutilizedfora
subversivepurpose.IfIthenfailtoconvincetheincredulousthatsecret
forcesofrevolutionexist,itwillnotbeforwantofevidence.

Part I:
The Past

Chapter 1:

The Ancient Secret Tradition

TheEastisthecradleofsecretsocieties.Forwhateverendtheymayhave
beenemployed,theinspirationandmethodsofmostofthosemysterious
associationswhichhaveplayedsoimportantapartbehindthescenesofthe
world'shistorywillbefoundtohaveemanatedfromthelandswherethe
first recorded acts of the great human drama were played outEgypt,
Babylon,Syria,andPersia.OntheonehandEasternmysticism,onthe
other Oriental love of intrigue, framed the systems later on to be
transportedtotheWestwithresultssotremendousandfarreaching.
Inthestudyofsecretsocietieswehavethenadoublelinetofollowthe
courseofassociationsenvelopingthemselvesinsecrecyforthepursuitof
esotericknowledge,andthoseusingmysteryandsecrecyforanulterior
and,usually,apoliticalpurpose.
Butesotericismagainpresentsadualaspect.Here,asineveryphaseof
earthlylife,thereisthe reversdelamdaillewhiteandblack,lightand
darkness,theHeavenandHellofthehumanmind.Thequestforhidden
knowledge may end with initiation into divine truths or into dark and
abominable cults. Who knows with what forces he may be brought in
contactbeyondtheveil?Initiationwhichleadstomakinguseofspiritual
forces,whethergoodorevil,isthereforecapableofraisingmantogreater
heights or of degrading him to lower depths than he could ever have
reachedbyremainingonthepurelyphysicalplane.Andwhenmenthus
unitethemselvesinassociations,acollectiveforceisgeneratedwhichmay
exerciseimmenseinfluenceovertheworldaround.Hencetheimportance
ofsecretsocieties.
Letitbesaidonceandforall,secretsocietieshavenotalwaysbeenformed
for evil purposes. On the contrary, many have arisen from the highest
aspirations of the human mindthe desire for a knowledge of eternal
verities.Theevilarisingfromsuchsystemshasusuallyconsistedinthe

perversionofprinciplesthatoncewerepureandholy.IfIdonotinsist
furtheronthispoint,itisbecauseavastliteraturehasalreadybeendevoted
tothesubject,sothatitneedonlybetouchedonbrieflyhere.
Now, from the earliest times groups of Initiates or "Wise Men" have
existed,claimingtobeinpossessionofesotericdoctrinesknownasthe
"Mysteries,"incapableofapprehensionbythevulgar,andrelatingtothe
originandendofman,thelifeofthesoulafterdeath,andthenatureofGod
or the gods. It is this exclusive attitude which constitutes the essential
differencebetweentheInitiatesoftheancientworldandthegreatTeachers
ofreligionwithwhommodernoccultistsseektoconfoundthem.Forwhilst
religious leaders such as Buddha and Mohammed sought for divine
knowledgeinorder that theymightimpartittotheworld,theInitiates
believedthatsacredmysteriesshouldnotberevealedtotheprofanebut
shouldremainexclusivelyintheirownkeeping,althoughthedesirefor
initiation might spring from the highest aspiration, the gratification,
whetherrealorimaginary,ofthisdesireoftenledtospiritualarroganceand
abominabletyranny,resultinginthefearfultrials,thetorturesphysicaland
mental,endingevenattimesindeath,towhichtheneophytewassubjected
byhissuperiors.
The Mysteries
Accordingtoatheorycurrentinoccultandmasoniccircles,certainideas
were common to all the more important "Mysteries," thus forming a
continuoustraditionhandeddownthroughsucceedinggroupsofInitiatesof
differentagesandcountries.Amongsttheseideasissaidtohavebeenthe
conceptionoftheunityof God.Whilsttothemultitudeitwas deemed
advisabletopreachpolytheism,sinceonlyinthismannercouldtheplural
aspects of the Divine be apprehended by the multitude, the Initiates
themselvesbelievedintheexistenceofoneSupremeBeing,theCreatorof
the Universe, pervading and governing all things, Le Plongeon, whose
objectistoshowanaffinitybetweenthesacredMysteriesoftheMayas
andoftheEgyptians,Chaldeans,andGreeks,assertsthat"Theideaofa
soleandomnipotentDeity,whocreatedallthings,seemstohavebeenthe
universalbeliefinearlyages,amongstallthenationsthathadreacheda
highdegreeofcivilization.ThiswasthedoctrineoftheEgyptianpriests."11
The same writer goes on to say that the "doctrine of a Supreme Deity
composedofthreepartsdistinctfromeachother,yetformingone,was

universallyprevalentamongthecivilizednationsofAmerica,Asia,andthe
Egyptians,"andthatthepriestsandlearnedmenofEgypt,Chaldea,India,
orChina"...keptitaprofoundsecretandimparteditonlytoafewselect
among those initiated in the sacred mysteries." 12 This view has been
expressedbymanyotherwriters,yetlackshistoricalproof.
ThatmonotheismexistedinEgyptbeforethedaysofMosesis,however,
certain.AdolfErmanassertsthat"eveninearlytimestheeducatedclass"
believedallthedeitiesoftheEgyptianreligiontobeidenticalandthat"the
priestsdidnotshuttheireyestothisdoctrine,butstrovetograsptheideaof
the one God, divided into different persons by poesy and myth.... The
priesthood,however,hadnotthecouragetotakethefinalstep,todoaway
withthosedistinctionswhichtheydeclaredtobeimmaterial,andtoadore
theoneGodundertheonename." 13 ItwaslefttoAmenhotepIV,later
known as Ikhnaton, to proclaim this doctrine openly to the people.
ProfessorBreastedhasdescribedthehymnsofpraisetotheSunGodwhich
IkhnatonhimselfwroteonthewallsoftheAmarnatombchapels:
Theyshowusthesimplicityandbeautyoftheyoungking'sfaithinthesole
God.HehadgainedthebeliefthatoneGodcreatednotonlyallthelower
creatures but also all races of men, both Egyptians and foreigners.
Moreover,thekingsawinhisGodakindlyFather,whomaintainedallhis
creatures byhisgoodness.... Inalltheprogress of menwhichwehave
followedthroughthousandsofyears,noonehadeverbeforecaughtsucha
visionofthegreatFatherofall.14
MaynotthereasonwhyIkhnatonwaslaterdescribedasa"heretic"bethat
he violated the code of the priestly hierarchy by revealing this secret
doctrinetotheprofane?Hence,too,perhapsthenecessity inwhichthe
Kingfoundhimselfofsuppressingthepriesthood,whichbypersistingin
itsexclusiveattitudekeptwhatheperceivedtobethetruthfromtheminds
ofthepeople.
TheearliestEuropeancentreoftheMysteriesappearstohavebeenGreece,
wheretheEleusinianMysteriesexistedataveryearlydate.Pythagoras,
whowasborninSamosabout582B.C.,spentsomeyearsinEgypt,where
he was initiated into the Mysteries of Isis. After his return to Greece,
PythagorasissaidtohavebeeninitiatedintotheEleusinianMysteriesand
attemptedtofoundasecretsocietyinSamos;butthisprovingunsuccessful,

hejourneyedontoCrotonainItaly,wherehecollectedaroundhimagreat
numberofdisciplesandfinallyestablishedhissect.Thiswasdividedinto
twoclassesofInitiatesthefirstadmittedonlyintotheexotericdoctrines
of themaster,withwhomtheywerenotallowedtospeakuntilaftera
periodoffiveyears'probation;thesecondconsistingoftherealInitiates,to
whom all the mysteries of the esoteric doctrines of Pythagoras were
unfolded. This course of instruction, given, after the manner of the
Egyptians, by means of images and symbols, began with geometrical
science,inwhichPythagorasduringhisstayinEgypthadbecomeanadept,
andledupfinallytoabstrusespeculationsconcerningthetransmigrationof
thesoulandthenatureofGod,whowasrepresentedundertheconception
of a Universal Mind diffused through all things. It is, however, as the
precursorofsecretsocietiesformedlaterintheWestofEuropethatthe
sect of Pythagoras enters into the scope of this book. Early masonic
tradition traces Freemasonry partly to Pythagoras, who is said to have
travelledinEngland,andthereiscertainlysomereasontobelievethathis
geometricalideasenteredintothesystemoftheoperativeguildsofmasons.
The Jewish Cabala15
AccordingtoFabred'Olivet,Moses,who"waslearnedinallthewisdomof
the Egyptians," drew from the Egyptian Mysteries a part of the oral
traditionwhichwashandeddownthroughtheleadersoftheIsraelites. 16
Thatsuchanoraltradition,distinctfromthewrittenwordembodiedinthe
Pentateuch,diddescendfromMosesandthatitwaslatercommittedto
writing in the Talmud and the Cabala is the opinion of many Jewish
writers.17
ThefirstformoftheTalmud,calledtheMischna,appearedinaboutthe
secondorthirdcenturyA.D.;alittlelateracommentarywasaddedunder
thenameoftheGemara.ThesetwoworkscomposetheJerusalemTalmud,
whichwasrevisedinthethirdtothefifthcentury[A].Thislatereditionwas
namedtheBabylonianTalmudandistheonenowinuse.
The Talmud relates mainly to the affairs of everyday lifethe laws of
buying and selling, of making contractsalso to external religious
observances,onallofwhichthemostmeticulousdetailsaregiven.Asa
Jewishwriterhasexpressedit:
...theoddestrabbinicalconceitsareelaboratedthroughmanyvolumeswith

thefinestdialectic,andthemostabsurdquestionsarediscussedwiththe
highesteffortsofintellectualpower;forexample,howmanywhitehairs
mayaredcowhave,andyetremainaredcow;whatsortofscabsrequire
thisorthatpurification;whetheralouseorafleamaybekilledonthe
Sabbaththefirstbeingallowed,whilethesecondisadeadlysin;whether
theslaughterofananimaloughttobeexecutedattheneckorthetail;
whetherthehighpriestputonhisshirtorhishosefirst;whethertheJabam,
thatis,thebrotherofamanwhodiedchildless,beingrequiredbylawto
marrythewidow,isrelievedfromhisobligationifhefallsoffaroofand
sticksinthemire.18
ButitisintheCabala,aHebrewwordsignifying"reception,"thatistosay
"adoctrineorallyreceived,"thatthespeculativeandphilosophicalorrather
thetheosophicaldoctrinesofIsraelaretobefound.Thesearecontainedin
twobooks,theSepherYetzirahandtheZohar.
TheSepherYetzirah,orBookoftheCreation,isdescribedbyEdersheimas
"amonologueonthepartofAbraham,inwhich,bythecontemplationof
allthatisaroundhim,heultimatelyarrivesattheconclusionoftheunityof
God"19;butsincethisprocessisaccomplishedbyanarrangementofthe
Divine Emanations under the name of the Ten Sephiroths, and in the
permutationofnumeralsandofthelettersoftheHebrewalphabet,itwould
certainlyconveynosuchideanorprobablyindeedanyideaatalltothe
minduninitiatedintoCabalisticsystems.TheSepherYetzirahisinfact
admittedly a work of extraordinary obscurity 20 and almost certainly of
extremeantiquity.MonsieurPaulVulliaud,inhisexhaustiveworkonthe
Cabalarecentlypublished,21saysthatitsdatehasbeenplacedasearlyas
thesixthcenturybeforeChristandaslateasthetenthcenturyA.D.,but
thatitisatanyrateolderthantheTalmudisshownbythefactthatinthe
TalmudtheRabbisaredescribedasstudyingitformagicalpurposes. 22The
SepherYetzirahisalsosaidtobetheworkreferredtointheKoranunder
thenameofthe"BookofAbraham."23
The immense compilation known as the SepherHaZohar, or Book of
Light, is, however, of greater importance to the study of Cabalistic
philosophy.AccordingtotheZoharitself,the"MysteriesofWisdom"were
impartedtoAdambyGodwhilsthewasstillintheGardenofEden,inthe
formofabookdeliveredbytheangelRazael.FromAdamthebookpassed

ontoSeth,thentoEnoch,toNoah,toAbraham,andlatertoMoses,oneof
its principal exponents.24 Other Jewish writers declare, however, that
MosesreceiveditforthefirsttimeonMountSinaiandcommunicateditto
theSeventyElders,bywhomitwashandeddowntoDavidandSolomon,
thentoEzraandNehemiah,andfinallytotheRabbisoftheearlyChristian
era.25
UntilthisdatetheZoharhadremainedapurelyoraltradition,butnowfor
thefirsttimeitissaidtohavebeenwrittendownbythedisciplesofSimon
benJochai.TheTalmudrelatesthatfortwelveyearstheRabbiSimonand
hissonEliezerconcealedthemselvesinacavern,where,sittinginthesand
uptotheirnecks,theymeditatedonthesacredlawandwerefrequently
visitedbytheprophetElias.26 Inthisway,Jewishlegendadds,thegreat
bookoftheZoharwascomposedandcommittedtowritingbytheRabbi's
sonEliezerandhissecretarytheRabbiAbba.27
ThefirstdateatwhichtheZoharisdefinitelyknowntohaveappearedis
theendofthethirteenthcentury,whenitwascommittedtowritingbya
SpanishJew,MosesdeLeon,who,accordingtoDr.Ginsburg,saidhehad
discoveredandreproducedtheoriginaldocumentofSimonbenJochai;his
wife and daughter, however, declared that he had composed it all
himself.28 Whichisthetruth?Jewishopinionisstronglydividedonthis
question,onebodymaintainingthattheZoharisthecomparativelymodern
workofMosesdeLeon,theotherdeclaringittobeofextremeantiquity.
M.Vulliaud,whohascollatedalltheseviewsinthecourseofsomefifty
pages,shows thatalthoughthenameZohar mighthaveoriginatedwith
MosesdeLeon,theideasitembodiedwerefarolderthanthethirteenth
century. How, he asks pertinently, would it have been possible for the
RabbisoftheMiddleAgestohavebeendeceivedintoacceptingasan
ancient document a work that was of completely modern origin? 29
ObviouslytheZoharwasnotthecompositionofMosesdeLeon,buta
compilationmadebyhimfromvariousdocumentsdatingfromveryearly
times.Moreover,asM.Vulliaudgoesontoexplain,thosewhodenyits
antiquityaretheantiCabalists,headedbyGraetz,whoseobjectistoprove
theCabala tobeatvariancewithorthodoxJudaism. TheodoreReinach
goessofarastodeclaretheCabalatobe"asubtlepoisonwhichentersinto
theveinsofJudaismandwhollyinfestsit";SalomonReinachcallsit"one
oftheworstaberrationsofthehumanmind."30Thisview,manyastudent

oftheCabalawillhardlydispute,buttosaythatitisforeigntoJudaismis
another matter. The fact is that the main ideas of the Zohar find
confirmationintheTalmud.Asthe JewishEncyclopdia observes,"the
CabalaisnotreallyinoppositiontotheTalmud,"and"manyTalmudic
Jews havesupportedandcontributedtoit." 31 AdolpheFranckdoesnot
hesitatetodescribeitas"theheartandlifeofJudaism." 32 "Thegreater
number of the most eminent Rabbis of the seventeenth and eighteenth
centuriesbelievedfirmlyinthesacrednessoftheZoharandtheinfallibility
ofitsteaching."33
ThequestionoftheantiquityoftheCabalaisthereforeinrealitylargelya
matterofnames.ThatamysticaltraditionexistedamongsttheJewsfrom
remoteantiquitywillhardlybedeniedbyanyone 34;itistherefore,asM.
Vulliaud observes, "only a matter of knowing at what moment Jewish
mysticismtookthenameofCabala."35Edersheimassertsthat
Itisundeniablethat,alreadyatthetimeofJesusChrist,thereexistedan
assemblage of doctrines and speculations that were carefully concealed
fromthemultitude.Theywerenotevenrevealedtoordinaryscholars,for
fearofleadingthemtowardshereticalideas.Thiskindborethenameof
Kabbalah,andastheterm(ofKabbalah,toreceive,transmit)indicates,it
represented the spiritual traditions transmitted from the earliest ages,
althoughmingledinthecourseoftimewithimpureorforeignelements.36
IstheCabala,then,asGougenotdesMousseauxasserts, olderthanthe
Jewishrace,alegacyhandeddownfromthefirstpatriarchsoftheworld? 37
Wemustadmitthishypothesistobeincapableofproof,yetitisonethat
hasfoundsomuchfavourwithstudentsofocculttraditionsthatitcannot
beignored.TheJewishCabalaitselfsupportsitbytracingitsdescentfrom
thepatriarchsAdam,Noah,Enoch,andAbrahamwholivedbeforethe
Jews as a separate race came into existence. Eliphas Lvi accepts this
genealogy, and relates that "the Holy Cabala" was the tradition of the
children of Seth carried out of Chaldea by Abraham, who was "the
inheritorofthesecretsofEnochandthefatherofinitiationinIsrael."38
Accordingtothistheory,whichwefindagainpropoundedbytheAmerican
Freemason, Dr. Mackey,39 there was, besides the divine Cabala of the
children of Seth, the magical Cabala of the children of Cain, which

descended to the Sabeists, or starworshippers, of Chaldea, adepts in

astrologyandnecromancy.Sorcery,asweknow,hadbeenpractisedbythe
CanaanitesbeforetheoccupationofPalestinebytheIsraelites;EgyptIndia,
and Greece also had their soothsayers and diviners. In spite of the
imprecations against sorcery contained in the law of Moses, the Jews,
disregardingthesewarnings,caughtthecontagionandmingledthesacred
traditiontheyhadinheritedwithmagicalideaspartlyborrowedfromother
racesandpartlyoftheirowndevising.Atthesametimethespeculative
sideoftheJewishCabalaborrowedfromthephilosophyofthePersian
Magi,oftheNeoPlatonists, 40andoftheNeoPythagoreans.Thereis,then,
somejustificationfortheantiCabalists'contentionthatwhatweknowto
dayastheCabalaisnotofpurelyJewishorigin.
GougenotdesMousseaux,whohadmadeaprofoundstudyofoccultism,
assertsthattherewerethereforetwoCabalas:theancientsacredtradition
handed down from the first patriarchs of the human race; and the evil
Cabala, wherein this sacred tradition was mingled by the Rabbis with
barbaricsuperstitions,combinedwiththeirownimaginingsandhenceforth
markedwiththeirseal.41Thisviewalsofindsexpressionintheremarkable
workoftheconvertedJewDrach,whorefersto
Theancient andtrueCabala,which...wedistinguishfromthemodern
Cabala,false,condemnable,andcondemnedbytheHolySee,theworkof
theRabbis,whohavealsofalsifiedandpervertedtheTalmudictradition.
ThedoctorsoftheSynagoguetraceitbacktoMoses,whilstatthesame
timeadmittingthattheprincipaltruthsitcontainswerethoseknownby
revelationtothefirstpatriarchsoftheworld.42
Further on Drach quotes the statement of Sixtus of Sienna, another
convertedJewandaDominican,protectedbyPiusV:
SincebythedecreeoftheHolyRomanInquisitionallbooksappertaining
totheCabalahavelatelybeencondemned,onemustknowthattheCabala
isdouble;thatoneistrue,theotherfalse.Thetrueandpiousoneisthat
which...elucidatesthesecretmysteriesoftheholylawaccordingtothe
principleofanagogy(i.e.figurativeinterpretation).ThisCabalatherefore
theChurchhasnevercondemned.ThefalseandimpiousCabalaisacertain
mendacious kind of Jewish tradition, full of innumerable vanities and
falsehoods,differingbutlittlefromnecromancy.Thiskindofsuperstition,

therefore,improperlycalledCabala,theChurchwithinthelastfewyears
hasdeservedlycondemned.43
The modern Jewish Cabala presents a dual aspecttheoretical and
practical;theformerconcernedwiththeosophicalspeculations,thelatter
with magical practices. It would be impossible here to give an idea of
CabalistictheosophywithitsextraordinaryimaginingsontheSephiroths,
theattributesandfunctionsofgoodandbadangels,dissertationsonthe
natureofdemons,andminutedetailsontheappearanceofGodunderthe
nameoftheAncientofAncients,fromwhosehead400,000worldsreceive
thelight."Thelengthofthisfacefromthetopoftheheadisthreehundred
andseventytimestenthousandworlds.Itiscalledthe'LongFace,'forsuch
isthenameoftheAncientofAncients."44Thedescriptionofthehairand
beardalonebelongingtothisgiganticcountenanceoccupiesalargeplace
intheZoharictreatise,IdraRaba.45
AccordingtotheCabala,everyletterintheScripturescontainsamystery
only to be solved by the initiated. 46 By means of this system of
interpretationpassagesoftheOldTestamentareshowntobearmeanings
totally unapparent to the ordinary reader. Thus the Zohar explains that
Noahwaslamedforlifebythebiteofalionwhilsthewasintheark, 47the
adventures of Jonah inside the whale are related with an extraordinary
wealth of imagination,48 whilst the beautiful story of Elisha and the
Shunnamitewomanistravestiedinthemostgrotesquemanner.49
InthepracticalCabalathismethodof"decoding"isreducedtoatheurgic
ormagicalsysteminwhichthehealingofdiseasesplaysanimportantpart
and is effected by means of the mystical arrangement of numbers and
letters,bythepronunciationoftheIneffableName,bytheuseofamulets
and talismans, or by compounds supposed to contain certain occult
properties.
Alltheseideasderivedfromveryancientcults;eventheartofworking
miraclesbytheuseoftheDivineName,whichaftertheappropriationof
theCabalabytheJewsbecametheparticularpracticeofJewishmiracle
workers,appearstohaveoriginatedinChaldea. 50Norcantheinsistenceon
the Chosen People theory, which forms the basis of all Talmudic and
Cabalistic writings, be regarded as of purely Jewish origin; the ancient
Egyptianslikewisebelievedthemselvestobe"thepeculiarpeoplespecially

lovedbythegods."51 ButinthehandsoftheJewsthisbeliefbecamea
pretensiontotheexclusiveenjoymentofdivinefavour.Accordingtothe
Zohar,"allIsraeliteswillhaveapartinthefutureworld," 52andonarrival
therewillnotbehandedoverlikethe goyim (ornonJewishraces)tothe
handsoftheangelDoumaandsentdowntoHell.53Indeedthegoyimare
evendeniedhumanattributes.ThustheZoharagainexplainsthatthewords
oftheScripture"JehovahElohimmademan"meanthatHemadeIsrael. 54
The seventeenthcentury Rabbinical treatise Emek ha Melek observes:
"OurRabbisofblessedmemoryhavesaid:'YeJewsaremenbecauseofthe
soul yehavefrom theSupremeMan(i.e.God).Butthenationsof the
world are not styled men because they have not, from the Holy and
Supreme Man, the Neschama (or glorious soul), but they have the
Nephesch(soul)fromAdamBelial,thatisthemaliciousandunnecessary
man,calledSammael,theSupremeDevil.'"55
Inconformitywiththisexclusiveattitudetowardstherestofthehuman
race,theMessianicideawhichformsthedominatingthemeoftheCabala
ismadetoservepurelyJewishinterests.Yetinitsoriginsthisideawas
possiblynotJewish.Itissaidbybelieversinanancientsecrettradition
commontootherracesbesidestheJews,thatapartofthistraditionrelated
toapastGoldenAgewhenmanwasfreefromcareandevilnonexistent,
tothesubsequentfallofManandthelossofthisprimitivefelicity,and
finallytoarevelationreceivedfromHeavenforetellingthereparationof
thislossandthecomingofaRedeemerwhoshouldsavetheworldand
restoretheGoldenAge.AccordingtoDrach:
ThetraditionofaManGodwhoshouldpresentHimselfastheteacherand
liberatorofthefallenhumanracewasconstantlytaughtamongstallthe
enlightenednationsoftheglobe. Vetusetconstansopinio,asSuetonius
says.Itisofalltimesandofallplaces.56
AndDrachgoesontoquotetheevidenceofVolney,whohadtravelledin
theEastanddeclaredthat
The sacred and mythological traditions of earlier times had spread
throughoutallAsiathebeliefinagreatMediatorwhowastocome,ofa
futureSaviour,King,God,Conqueror,andLegislator whowouldbring
backtheGoldenAgetoearthanddelivermenfromtheempireofevil.57

Allthatcanbesaidwithanydegreeofcertaintywithregardtothisbeliefis
thatitdidexistamongsttheZoroastriansofPersiaaswellasamongstthe
Jews.D'Herbelot,quotingAbulfaraj,showsthatfivehundredyearsbefore
Christ,Zerdascht,theleaderoftheZoroastrians,predictedthecomingof
theMessiah,atwhosebirthastarwouldappear.Healsotoldhisdisciples
thattheMessiahwouldbebornofavirgin,thattheywouldbethefirstto
hearofHim,andthattheyshouldbringHimgifts.58
Drachbelievesthatthistraditionwastaughtintheancientsynagogue, 59
thusexplainingthewordsofSt.PaulthatuntotheJews"werecommitted
theoraclesofGod"60:
Thisoraldoctrine,whichistheCabala,hadforitsobjectthemostsublime
truths of the Faith which it brought back incessantly to the promised
Redeemer,thefoundationofthewholesystemoftheancienttradition.61
DrachfurtherassertsthatthedoctrineoftheTrinityformedapartofthis
tradition:
Whoever has familiarized himself with that which was taught by the
ancientdoctorsoftheSynagogue,particularlythosewholivedbeforethe
coming of the Saviour, knows that the Trinity in one God was a truth
admittedamongstthemfromtheearliesttimes.62
M.VulliaudpointsoutthatGraetzadmitstheexistenceofthisideainthe
Zohar:"Iteventaughtcertaindoctrineswhichappearedfavourabletothe
ChristiandogmaoftheTrinity!"Andagain:"Itisincontestablethatthe
ZoharmakesallusionstothebeliefsintheTrinityandtheIncarnation." 63
M.Vulliaudadds:"TheideaoftheTrinitymustthereforeplayanimportant
part in the Cabala, since it has been possible to affirm that 'the
characteristicoftheZoharanditsparticularconceptionisitsattachmentto
theprincipleoftheTrinity,'"64andfurtherquotesEdersheimassayingthat
"a great part of the explanation given in the writings of the Cabalists
resemblesinasurprisingmannerthehighesttruthsofChristianity." 65 It
wouldappear,then,thatcertainremnantsoftheancientsecrettradition
lingered on in the Cabala. The Jewish Encyclopdia, perhaps
unintentionally, endorses this opinion, since in deriding the sixteenth
centuryChristianCabalistsforassertingthattheCabalacontainedtracesof
Christianity, it goes on to say that what appears to be Christian in the

Cabalaisonlyancientesotericdoctrine.66 Here,then,wehaveitonthe
authorityofmodernJewishscholarsthattheancientsecrettraditionwasin
harmonywithChristianteaching.Butintheteachingofthelatersynagogue
thephilosophyoftheearliersageswasnarroweddowntosuittheexclusive
systemoftheJewishhierarchy,andtheancienthopeofaRedeemerwho
should restore Man to the state of felicity he had lost at the Fall was
transformedintotheideaofsalvationfortheJewsalone 67underthegis
ofatriumphantandevenanavengingMessiah. 68ItisthisMessianicdream
perpetuatedinthemodernCabalawhichnineteenhundredyearsagothe
adventofChristonearthcametodisturb.
The Coming of the Redeemer
ThefactthatmanyChristiandoctrines,suchastheconceptionofaTrinity,
themiraculousbirthandmurderofaDeity,hadfoundaplaceinearlier
religionshasfrequentlybeenusedasanargumenttoshowthatthestoryof
Christwasmerelyanewversionofvariousancientlegends,thoseofAttis,
Adonis, or of Osiris, and that consequently the Christian religion is
foundedonamyth.TheanswertothisisthattheexistenceofChriston
earthisanhistoricfactwhichnoseriousauthorityhaseverdenied.The
attempts of such writers as Drews and J.M. Robertson to establish the
theory of the "ChristMyth," which find an echo in the utterances of
Socialistorators,69 havebeenmetwithsomuchablecriticismastoneed
nofurtherrefutation.SirJamesFrazer,whowillcertainlynotbeaccusedof
bigotedorthodoxy,observesinthisconnexion:
ThedoubtswhichhavebeencastonthehistoricalrealityofJesusare,in
myjudgement,unworthyofseriousattention....Todissolvethefounderof
Christianityintoamyth,assomewoulddo,ishardlylessabsurdthanit
wouldbetodothesameforMohammed,Luther,andCalvin.70
May not the fact that certain circumstances in the life of Christ were
foreshadowedbyearlierreligionsindicate,asEliphasLviobserves,that
theancientshadanintuitionofChristianmysteries?71
To those therefore who had adhered to the ancient tradition, Christ
appearedasthefulfilmentofaprophecyasoldastheworld.Thusthewise
mencamefromafartoworshiptheBabeofBethlehem,andwhentheysaw
HisstarintheEasttheyrejoicedwithexceedinggreatjoy.InChristthey

hailednotonlyHimwhowasbornKingoftheJews,buttheSaviourofthe
wholehumanrace.72
Inthelightofthisgreathope,thatwondrousnightinBethlehemisseenin
allitssublimity.Throughouttheagestheseershadlookedforthecoming
oftheRedeemer,andlo!Hewashere;butitwasnottothemightyin
Israel,totheHighPriestsandtheScribes,thatHisbirthwasannounced,
buttohumbleshepherdswatchingtheirflocksbynight.Andthesemenof
simplefaith,hearingfromtheangels"thegoodtidingsofgreatjoy"thata
Saviour,"ChristtheLord"wasborn,wentwithhastetoseethebabelying
inthemanger,andreturned"glorifyingandpraisingGod."Soalsotothe
devoutinIsrael,toSimeonandtoAnnatheprophetess,thegreatevent
appeared in its universal significance, and Simeon, departing in peace,
knewthathiseyeshadseenthesalvationthatwastobe"alighttolighten
theGentiles"aswellasthegloryofthepeopleofIsrael.
ButtotheJews,inwhosehandstheancienttraditionhadbeenturnedtothe
exclusiveadvantageoftheJewishrace,totheRabbis,whohad,moreover,
constituted themselves the sole guardians within this nation of the said
tradition,themannerofitsfulfilmentwasnecessarilyabhorrent.Insteadof
aresplendentMessiahwhoshouldbepresentedbythemtothepeople,a
SaviourwasbornamongstthepeoplethemselvesandbroughttoJerusalem
tobepresentedtotheLord;aSaviourmoreoverwho,astimewenton,
impartedHisdivinemessagetothepoorandhumbleanddeclaredthatHis
Kingdomwasnotofthisworld.ThiswasclearlywhatMarymeantwhen
she said that God had "scattered the proud in the imagination of their
hearts,"thatHehad"putdownthemightyfromtheirseats,andexalted
themoflowdegree."ChristwasthereforedoublyhatefultotheJewish
hierarchy in that He attacked the privilege of the race to which they
belongedbythrowingopenthedoortoallmankind,andtheprivilegeofthe
castetowhichtheybelongedbyrevealingsacreddoctrinestotheprofane
anddestroyingtheirclaimtoexclusiveknowledge.
Unlessviewedfromthisaspect,neithertheantagonismdisplayedbythe
ScribesandPhariseestowardsourLordnorthedenunciationsHeuttered
againstthemcanbeproperlyunderstood."Woeuntoyou,Lawyers!forye
havetakenawaythekeyofknowledge:yeenterednotinyourselves,and
them that were entering in ye hindered.... Woe unto you, Scribes and
Pharisees,hypocrites!foryeshutupthekingdomofheavenagainstmen:
toryeneithergoinyourselves,neithersufferyethemthatareenteringto

goin."WhatdidChristmeanbythekeyofknowledge?Clearlythesacred
tradition which, as Drach explains, foreshadowed the doctrines of
Christianity.73ItwastheRabbiswhopervertedthattradition,andthus"the
guilt of these perfidious Doctors consisted in their concealing from the
peoplethetraditionalexplanationofthesacredbooksbymeansofwhich
theywouldhavebeenabletorecognizetheMessiahinthepersonofJesus
Christ."74 Manyofthepeople,however,didrecognizeHim;indeed,the
multitudeacclaimedHim,spreadingtheirgarmentsbeforeHimandcrying,
"HosannatotheSonofDavid!BlessedisHethatcomethinthenameof
theLord!"WriterswhohavecitedthechoiceofBarabbasintheplaceof
Christasaninstanceofmisguidedpopularjudgement,overlookthefact
thatthischoicewasnotspontaneous;itwastheChiefPriestswhodelivered
Christ"fromenvy"andwho"movedthepeoplethatPilateshouldrather
release unto them Barabbas." Then the people obediently cried out,
"CrucifyHim!"
SoalsoitwastheRabbiswho,afterhidingfromthepeoplethemeaningof
thesacredtraditionatthemomentofitsfulfilment,afterwardspoisoned
thatsamestreamforfuturegenerations.AbominablecalumniesonChrist
andChristianityoccurnotonlyintheCabalabutintheearliereditionsof
theTalmud.Inthese,saysBarclay
OurLordandSaviouris"thatone,""suchaone,""afool,""theleper,""the
deceiverofIsrael,"etc.EffortsaremadetoprovethatHeisthesonof
JosephPandirabeforehismarriagewithMary.Hismiraclesareattributed
tosorcery,thesecret ofwhichHebroughtinaslitinHisfleshoutof
Egypt.Heissaidtohavebeenfirststonedandthenhangedontheeveof
thePassover.Hisdisciplesarecalledhereticsandopprobriousnames.They
areaccusedofimmoralpractices,andtheNewTestamentiscalledasinful
book.Thereferencestothesesubjectsmanifestthemostbitteraversionand
hatred.75
OnemightlookinvainforpassagessuchastheseinEnglishorFrench
translations of the Talmud, for the reason that no complete translation
exists in these languages. This fact is of great significance. Whilst the
sacredbooksofeveryotherimportantreligionhavebeenrenderedintoour
owntongueandareopentoeveryonetostudy,thebookthatformsthe
foundationofmodernJudaismisclosedtothegeneralpublic.Wecanread
EnglishtranslationsoftheKoran,oftheDhammapada,oftheSuttaNipata,

of the Zend Avesta, of the Shu King, of the Laws of Manu, of the
Bhagavadgita,butwecannotreadtheTalmud.InthelongseriesofSacred
BooksoftheEasttheTalmudfindsnoplace.Allthatisaccessibletothe
ordinaryreaderconsists,ononehand,inexpurgatedversionsorjudicious
selectionsbyJewishandproJewishcompilers,and,ontheotherhand,in
"antiSemitic" publications on which it would be dangerous to place
reliance. The principal English translation by Rodkinson is very
incomplete,andthefoliosarenowhereindicated,sothatitisimpossibleto
lookupapassage.76TheFrenchtranslationbyJeandePauly[B]professes
to present the entire text of the Venetian Talmud of 1520, but it does
nothingofthekind.77Thetranslator,inthePreface,infactadmitsthathe
hasleftout"sterilediscussions"andhasthroughoutattemptedtotonedown
"thebrutalityofcertainexpressionswhichoffendourears."Thisofcourse
affordshiminfinitelatitude,sothatallpassageslikelytoprovedispleasing
to the "Hbraisants," to whom his work is particularly dedicated, are
discreetly expunged. Jean de Pauly's translation of the Cabala appears,
however,tobecomplete.78 Butafairandhonestrenderingofthewhole
TalmudintoEnglishorFrenchstillremainstobemade.
Moreover, even the Hebrew scholar is obliged to exercise some
discriminationifhedesirestoconsulttheTalmudinitsoriginalform.For
by the sixteenth century, when the study of Hebrew became general
amongst Christians, the antisocial and antiChristian tendencies of the
TalmudattractedtheattentionoftheCensor,andintheBleTalmudof
1581 the most obnoxious passages and the entire treatise Abodah Zara
weresuppressed.79
IntheCracoweditionof1604thatfollowed,thesepassageswererestored
bytheJews, aproceedingwhicharousedsomuchindignationamongst
ChristianstudentsofHebrewthattheJewsbecamealarmed.Accordinglya
Jewishsynod,assembledinPolandin1631,orderedtheoffendingpassages
tobeexpungedagain,butaccordingtoDrachtobereplacedbycircles
whichtheRabbisweretofillinorallywhengivinginstructiontoyoung
Jews.80AfterthatdatetheTalmudwasforatimecarefullybowdlerized,so
thatinordertodiscoveritsoriginalformitisadvisabletogobacktothe
VenetianTalmudof1520beforeanyomissionsweremade,ortoconsulta
modernedition.FornowthattheJewsnolongerfeartheChristians,these
passagesareallsaidtohavebeenreplacedandnoattemptismade,asin

the Middle Ages, to prove that they do not refer to the Founder of
Christianity.81
Thus the Jewish Encyclopdia admits that Jewish legends concerning
Jesus are found in the Talmud and Midrash and in "the life of Jesus
(ToledotYeshu)thatoriginatedintheMiddleAges.Itisthetendencyofall
thesesourcestobelittlethepersonofJesusbyascribingtoHimillegitimate
birth,magic,andashamefuldeath."82
Thelastworkmentioned,theToledotYeshu,ortheSepherToldosJeschu,
described here as originating in the Middle Ages, probably belongs in
reality to a much earlier period. Eliphas Lvi asserts that "the Sepher
Toldos,towhichtheJewsattributeagreatantiquityandwhichtheyhid
fromtheChristianswithsuchprecautionsthatthisbookwasforalong
whileunfindable,isquotedforthefirsttimebyRaymondMartinofthe
OrderofthePreachingBrotherstowardstheendofthethirteenthcentury....
ThisbookwasevidentlywrittenbyaRabbiinitiatedintothemysteriesof
the Cabala."83 Whether then the Toledot Yeshu had existed for many
centuriesbeforeitwasfirstbroughttolightorwhetheritwasacollection
ofJewishtraditionswovenintoacoherentnarrativebyathirteenthcentury
Rabbi,theideasitcontainscanbetracedbackatleastasfarasthesecond
centuryoftheChristianera.Origen,whointhemiddleofthethirdcentury
wrote his reply to the attack of Celsus on Christianity, refers to a
scandalousstorycloselyresemblingtheToledotYeshu,whichCelsus,who
livedtowardstheendofthesecondcentury,hadquotedontheauthorityof
aJew.84Itisevident,therefore,thatthelegenditcontainshadlongbeen
currentinJewishcircles,butthebookitselfdidnotcomeintothehandsof
ChristiansuntilitwastranslatedintoLatinbyRaymondMartin.Lateron
LuthersummarizeditinGermanunderthenameofSchemHamphorasch;
Wagenseilin1681andHuldrichin1705publishedLatintranslations. 85It
isalsotobefoundinFrenchinGustaveBrunei'sEvangilesApocryphes.
However repugnant it is to transcribe any portion of this blasphemous
work,itsmainoutlinemustbegivenhereinordertotracethesubsequent
courseoftheantiChristiansecrettraditioninwhich,asweshallsee,ithas
been perpetuated up to our own day. Briefly, then, the Toledot Yeshu
relates with the most indecent details that Miriam, a hairdresser of
Bethlehem,86affiancedtoayoungmannamedJochanan,wasseducedbya
libertine,JosephPantherorPandira,andgavebirthtoasonwhomshe

namedJohosuahorJeschu.AccordingtotheTalmudicauthorsoftheSota
andtheSanhedrim,JeschuwastakenduringhisboyhoodtoEgypt,where
hewasinitiatedintothesecretdoctrinesofthepriests,andonhisreturnto
Palestinegavehimselfuptothepracticeofmagic.87TheToledotYeshu,
however,goesontosaythatonreachingmanhoodJeschulearntthesecret
of his illegitimacy, on account of which he was driven out of the
SynagogueandtookrefugeforatimeinGalilee.Now,therewasinthe
Temple a stone on which was engraved the Tetragrammaton or Schem
Hamphorasch,thatistosay,theIneffableNameofGod;thisstonehad
beenfoundbyKingDavidwhenthefoundationsoftheTemplewerebeing
preparedandwasdepositedbyhimintheHolyofHolies.Jeschu,knowing
this,camefromGalileeand,penetratingintotheHolyofHolies,readthe
Ineffable Name, which he transcribed on to a piece of parchment and
concealedinanincisionunderhisskin.Bythismeanshewasabletowork
miraclesandtopersuadethepeoplethathewasthesonofGodforetoldby
Isaiah.WiththeaidofJudas,theSagesoftheSynagoguesucceededin
capturingJeschu,whowasthenledbeforetheGreatandLittleSanhedrim,
bywhomhewascondemnedtobestonedtodeathandfinallyhanged.
SuchisthestoryofChristaccordingtotheJewishCabalists,whichshould
be compared not only with the Christian tradition but with that of the
Moslems. It is perhaps not sufficiently known that the Koran, whilst
denying the divinity of Christ and also the fact of His crucifixion, 88
neverthelessindignantlydenouncestheinfamouslegendsconcerningHim
perpetuatedbytheJews,andconfirmsinbeautifullanguagethestoryofthe
Annunciation and the doctrine of the Miraculous Conception. 89
"Rememberwhentheangelssaid,'OMary!verilyhathGodchosenthee
andpurifiedthee,and chosenthee abovethewomenof theworlds.' ...
Rememberwhentheangelssaid,'OMary!verilyGodannouncethtothee
theWordfromHim:HisnameshallbeMessiah,JesusthesonofMary,
illustriousinthisworld,andinthenext,andoneofthosewhohavenear
accesstoGod.'"
TheMotherofJesusisshowntohavebeenpureandtohave"kepther
maidenhood"90; it was the Jews who spoke against Mary "a grievous
calumny."91 Jesus Himself is described as "strengthened with the Holy
Spirit,"andtheJewsarereproachedforrejecting"theApostleofGod,"92to
whomwasgiven"theEvangelwithitsguidanceandlightconfirmatoryof

theprecedingLaw."93
ThusduringthecenturiesthatsawthebirthofChristianity,althoughother
nonChristianforcesarrayedthemselvesagainstthenewfaith,itwasleftto
theJewstoinaugurateacampaignofvilificationagainstthepersonofits
Founder,whomMoslemstothisdayrevereasoneofthegreatteachersof
theworld.94
The Essenes
AsubtlerdevicefordiscreditingChristianityandunderminingbeliefinthe
divine character of our Lord has been adopted by modern writers,
principallyJewish,whosetouttoprovethatHebelongedtothesectofthe
Essenes,acommunityofasceticsholdingallgoodsincommon,whichhad
existedinPalestinebeforethebirthofChrist.ThustheJewishhistorian
Graetz declares that Jesus simply appropriated to himself the essential
featuresofEssenism,andthatprimitiveChristianitywas"nothingbutan
offshootofEssenism."95TheChristianJewDr.Ginsburgpartiallyendorses
thisviewinasmallpamphlet96 containingmostoftheevidencethathas
beenbroughtforwardonthesubject,andhimselfexpressestheopinionthat
"itwillhardlybedoubtedthatourSaviourHimselfbelongedtothisholy
brotherhood."97 SoafterrepresentingChristasamagicianintheToledot
YeshuandtheTalmud,JewishtraditionseekstoexplainHismiraculous
worksasthoseofamerehealeranideathatweshallfinddescendingright
throughthesecretsocietiestothisday.Ofcourseifthisweretrue,ifthe
miraclesofChristweresimplyduetoaknowledgeofnaturallawsandHis
doctrinesweretheoutcomeofasect,thewholetheoryofHisdivinepower
andmissionfallstotheground.Thisiswhyitisessentialtoexposethe
fallaciesandeventhebadfaithonwhichtheattempttoidentifyHimwith
theEssenesisbased.
Now,wehaveonlytostudytheGospelscarefullyinordertorealizethat
theteachingsofChristweretotallydifferentfromthosepeculiartothe
Essenes.98Christdidnotliveinafraternity,but,asDr.Ginsburghimself
points out, associated with publicans and sinners. The Essenes did not
frequent the Temple and Christ was there frequently. The Essenes
disapprovedofwineandmarriage,whilstChristsanctionedmarriageby
HispresenceattheweddingofCanainGalileeandthereturnedwaterinto
wine.Afurtherpoint,themostconclusiveofall,Dr.Ginsburgignores,

namely,thatoneoftheprincipaltraitsoftheEsseneswhichdistinguished
them from theother Jewish sects of their day was their disapproval of
ointment, which they regarded as defiling, whilst Christ not only
commended the woman who brought the precious jar of ointment, but
reproached Simon for the omission: "My head with oil thou didst not
anoint:butthiswomanhathanointedMyfeetwithointment."Itisobvious
thatifChristhadbeenanEssenebuthaddepartedfromHisusualcustom
onthisoccasionoutofdeferencetothewoman'sfeelings,hewouldhave
understoodwhySimonhadnotofferedHimthesameattention,andatany
rateSimonwouldhaveexcusedhimselfonthesegrounds.Further,ifHis
disciples had been Essenes, would they not have protested against this
violationoftheirprinciples,insteadofmerelyobjectingthattheointment
wasoftoocostlyakind?
ButitisinattributingtoChristtheCommunisticdoctrinesoftheEssenes
that Dr. Ginsburg's conclusions are the most misleadinga point of
particularimportanceinviewofthefactthatitisonthisfalsehypothesis
thatsocalled"ChristianSocialism"hasbeenbuiltup."TheEssenes,"he
writes,"hadallthingsincommon,andappointedoneofthebrethrenas
stewardtomanagethecommonbag;sotheprimitiveChristians(Actsii.
44,45,iv.324;Johnxii.6,xiii.29)."Itisperfectlytruethat,asthefirst
referencetotheActstestifies,someoftheprimitiveChristiansafterthe
death of Christ formed themselves into a body having all things in
common, but there is not the slightest evidence that Christ and His
disciplesfollowedthisprinciple.ThesolitarypassagesintheGospelofSt.
John, which are all that Dr. Ginsburg can quote in support of this
contention, may have referred to an almsbag or a fund for certain
expenses,nottoacommonpoolofallmonetarywealth.Stilllessisthere
anyevidencethatChristadvocatedCommunismtotheworldingeneral.
Whentheyoungmanhavinggreatpossessionsaskedwhatheshoulddoto
inheriteternallife,Christtoldhimtofollowthecommandments,butonthe
young man asking what more he could do, answered: "If thou wilt be
perfectgoandsellthatthouhastandgivetothepoor."Renunciationbut
notthepoolingofallwealthwasthusacounselofperfectionforthefew
whodesiredtodevotetheirlivestoGod,asmonksandnunshavealways
done,andborenorelationtotheCommunisticsystemoftheEssenes.
Dr.Ginsburggoesontosay:"Essenismputallitsmembersonthesame
level, forbidding the exercise of authority of one over the other and

enjoiningmutualservice;soChrist(Matt.xx.258;Markix.357,x.425).
Essenismcommandeditsdisciplestocallnomanmasterupontheearth;so
Christ(Matt.xxiii.810)."Asamatteroffact,Christstronglyupheldthe
exerciseofauthority,notonlyintheoftquotedpassage,"RendertoCsar
thethingsthatareCsar's,"butinHisapprovaloftheCenturion'sspeech:
"Iamamanunderauthority,havingsoldiersunderme:andIsaytothis
man,Go,andhegoeth;andtoanother,Come,andhecometh;andtomy
servant, Do this, and he doeth it." Everywhere Christ commends the
faithful servant and enjoins obedience to masters. If we look up the
referencetotheGospelofSt.MatthewwhereDr.GinsburgsaysthatChrist
commandedHisdisciplestocallnomanmasteronearth,weshallfindthat
hehasnotonlypervertedthesenseofthepassagebutreversedtheorderof
thewords,which,followingonadenunciationoftheJewishRabbis,runs
thus:"ButbenotyecalledRabbi:foroneisyourmaster,evenChrist,and
allyearebrethren....Neitherbeyecalledmasters:foroneisyourmaster,
evenChrist.Buthethatisgreatestamongyoushallbeyourservant."The
apostlesweretherefore,neverorderedtocallnomanmaster,butnottobe
calledmasterthemselves.Moreover,ifwerefertotheGreektext,weshall
seethatthiswasmeantinaspiritualandnotasocialsense.Thewordfor
"master"heregivenisinthefirstverse ,i.e.teacher,inthe
second, literally guide, and the word is servant is
.Whenmastersandservantsinthesocialsensearereferredto
intheGospels,thewordemployedformasteris andforservant
.Dr.Ginsburgshouldhavebeenawareofthisdistinctionandthat
thepassageinquestionhadthereforenobearingonhisargument.Asa
matteroffactitwouldappearthatsomeoftheapostleskeptservants,since
Christcommendsthemforexactingstrictattentiontoduty:
Whichofyou,havingaservantploughingorfeedingcattle,willsayunto
himbyandby,whenheiscomefromthefield,Goandsitdowntomeat?
Andwillnotrathersayuntohim,MakereadywherewithImaysup,and
girdthyself,andserveme,tillIhaveeatenanddrunken;andafterwards
thoushalteatanddrink?Dothhethankthatservantbecausehedidthe
thingsthatwerecommandedtohim?Itrownot.99
ThispassagewouldalonesufficetoshowthatChristandHisapostlesdid
not inhabit communities where all were equal, but followed the usual
practices of the social system under which they lived, though adopting

certainrules,suchastakingonlyonegarmentandcarryingnomoneywhen
theywentonjourneys.Thoseresemblancesbetweentheteachingofthe
EssenesandtheSermonontheMountwhichDr.Ginsburgindicatesrefer
nottothecustomsofasect,buttogeneralpreceptsforhumanconduct
humility,meekness,charity,andsoforth.
AtthesametimeitisclearthatiftheEssenesingeneralconformedto
someoftheprincipleslaiddownbyChrist,certainoftheirdoctrineswere
completelyatvariancewiththoseofChristandofprimitiveChristians,in
particulartheircustomofprayingtotherisingsunandtheirdisbeliefinthe
resurrection of the body.100 St. Paul denounces asceticism, the cardinal
doctrineoftheEssenes,inunmeasuredterms,warningthebrethrenthat"in
thelattertimessomeshalldepartfromthefaith,givingheedtoseducing
spirits,anddoctrinesofdevils,...forbiddingtomarry,andcommandingto
abstain from meats, which God hath created to be received with
thanksgivingofthemwhichbelieveandknowthetruth.Foreverycreature
of God is good, and nothing to be refused, if it be received with
thanksgiving...Ifthouputthebrethreninremembranceofthesethings,
thoushaltbeagoodministerofJesusChrist."
Thiswouldsuggest thatcertainEsseneanideashadcreptintoChristian
communitiesandwereregardedbythosewhorememberedChrist'strue
teachingasadangerousperversion.
TheEsseneswerethereforenotChristians,butasecretsociety,practising
fourdegreesofinitiation,andboundbyterribleoathsnottodivulgethe
sacred mysteries confided to them. And what were those mysteries but
thoseoftheJewishsecrettraditionwhichwenowknowastheCabala?Dr.
Ginsburg throws an important light on Essenism when, in one passage
alone,hereferstotheobligationoftheEssenes"nottodivulgethesecret
doctrinestoanyone,...carefullytopreservethebooksbelongingtotheir
sect and the names of the angels or the mysteries connected with the
TetragrammatonandtheothernamesofGodandtheangels,comprisedin
the theosophy as well as with the cosmogony which also played so
important apart amongtheJewish mystics andtheKabbalists." 101 The
truthisclearlythattheEsseneswereCabalists,thoughdoubtlessCabalists
ofasuperiorkind.TheCabaltheypossessedverypossiblydescendedfrom
preChristiantimesandhadremaineduncontaminatedbytheantiChristian
strainintroducedintoitbytheRabbisafterthedeathofChrist.102

TheEssenesareofimportancetothesubjectofthisbookasthefirstofthe
secretsocietiesfromwhichadirectlineoftraditioncanbetraceduptothe
presentday.ButifinthispeacefulcommunitynoactuallyantiChristian
influenceistobediscerned,thesamecannotbesaidofthesucceeding
pseudoChristiansectswhich,whilstprofessingChristianity,mingledwith
ChristiandoctrinesthepoisonofthepervertedCabala,mainsourceofthe
errorswhichhenceforthrenttheChristianChurchintwain.
The Gnostics
The first school of thought to create a schism in Christianity was the
collectionofsectsknownunderthegenericnameofGnosticism.Inits
purer forms Gnosticism aimed at supplementing faith by knowledge of
eternalveritiesandatgivingawidermeaningtoChristianitybylinkingit
upwithearlierfaiths."Thebeliefthatthedivinityhadbeenmanifestedin
thereligiousinstitutionsofallnations"103 thusledtotheconceptionofa
sortofuniversalreligioncontainingthedivineelementsofall.
Gnosticism,however,astheJewishEncyclopdiapointsout,"wasJewish
incharacterlongbeforeitbecameChristian." 104M.MatterindicatesSyria
andPalestineasitscradleandAlexandriaasthecentrebywhichitwas
influencedatthetimeofitsalliancewithChristianity.Thisinfluenceagain
was predominantly Jewish. Philo and Aristobulus, the leading Jewish
philosophersofAlexandria,"whollyattachedtotheancientreligionoftheir
fathers,bothresolvedtoadornitwiththespoilsofothersystemsandto
open to Judaism the way to immense conquests." 105 This method of
borrowing from other races and religions those ideas useful for their
purposehasalwaysbeenthecustomoftheJews.TheCabala,aswehave
seen,wasmadeupoftheseheterogeneouselements.Anditisherewefind
theprincipalprogenitorofGnosticism.TheFreemasonRagongivesthe
clue in the words: "The Cabala is the key of the occult sciences. The
GnosticswerebornoftheCabalists."106
FortheCabalawasmucholderthantheGnostics.Modernhistorianswho
dateitmerelyfromthepublicationoftheZoharbyMosesdeLeoninthe
thirteenth century or from the school of Luria in the sixteenth century
obscurethismostimportantfactwhichJewishsavantshavealwaysclearly,
recognized.107 The JewishEncyclopdia,whilstdenyingthecertaintyof
connexionbetweenGnosticismandtheCabala,neverthelessadmitsthatthe

investigations of the antiCabalist Graetz "must be resumed on a new

basis,"anditgoesontoshowthat"itwasAlexandriaofthefirstcentury,or
earlier,withherstrangecomminglingofEgyptian,Chaldean,Judean,and
Greek culture which furnished soil and seeds for that mystic
philosophy."108ButsinceAlexandriawasatthesameperiodthehomeof
Gnosticism,whichwasformedfromthesameelementsenumeratedhere,
theconnexionbetweenthetwosystemsisclearlyevident.M.Matteris
therefore right in saying that Gnosticism was not a defection from
Christianity, but a combination of systems into which a few Christian
elements were introduced. The result of Gnosticism was thus not to
christianizetheCabala,buttocabalizeChristianitybyminglingitspure
and simple teaching with theosophy and even magic. The Jewish
Encyclopdiaquotestheopinionthat"thecentraldoctrineofGnosticism
amovementcloselyconnectedwithJewishmysticismwasnothingelse
thantheattempttoliberatethesoulanduniteitwithGod";butasthiswas
apparently to be effected "through the employment of mysteries,
incantations,namesofangels,"etc.,itwillbeseenhowwidelyeventhis
phaseofGnosticismdiffersfromChristianityandidentifiesitselfwiththe
magicalCabalaoftheJews.
Indeed,themangenerallyrecognizedasthefounderofGnosticism,aJew
commonlyknownasSimonMagus,wasnotonlyaCabalistmysticbut
avowedly a magician, who with a band of Jews, including his master
Dositheus and his disciples Menander and Cerinthus, instituted a
priesthoodoftheMysteriesandpractisedoccultartsandexorcisms. 109 It
was this Simon of whom we read in the Acts of the Apostles that he
"bewitchedthepeopleofSamaria,givingoutthathimselfwassomegreat
one:towhomtheyallgaveheedfromtheleasttothegreatest,saying,This
manisthegreatpowerofGod,"andwhosoughttopurchasethepowerof
the laying on of hands with money. Simon, indeed, crazed by his
incantations and ecstasies, developed megalomania in an acute form,
arrogatingtohimselfdivinehonoursandaspiringtotheadorationofthe
wholeworld.Accordingtoacontemporarylegend,heeventuallybecame
sorcerertoNeroandendedhislifeinRome.110
TheprevalenceofsorceryamongsttheJewsduringthefirstcenturyofthe
ChristianeraisshownbyotherpassagesintheActsoftheApostles;in
Paphos the "false prophet," a Jew, whose surname was BarJesus,
otherwiseknownas"Elymasthesorcerer,"opposedtheteachingofSt.Paul

and brought on himself the imprecation: "O full of all subtlety and all
mischief,thouchildofthedevil,thouenemyofallrighteousness,wiltthou
notceasetoperverttherightwaysoftheLord?"
Perversion is the keynote of all the debased forms of Gnosticism.
AccordingtoEliphasLvi,certainoftheGnosticsintroducedintotheir
ritesthatprofanationofChristianmysterieswhichwastoformthebasisof
blackmagicintheMiddleAges.111Theglorificationofevil,whichplays
soimportantapartinthemodernrevolutionarymovement,constitutedthe
creedoftheOphites,whoworshippedtheSerpent()becausehehad
revoltedagainstJehovah,towhomtheyreferredundertheCabalisticterm
ofthe"demiurgus,"112andstillmoreoftheCainites,socalledfromtheir
cultofCain,whom,withDathanandAbiram,theinhabitantsofSodom
andGomorrah,andfinallyJudasIscariot,theyregardedasnoblevictimsof
thedemiurgus.113 Animatedbyhatredofallsocialandmoralorder,the
Cainites"calleduponallmentodestroytheworksofGodandtocommit
everykindofinfamy."114
These men were therefore not only the enemies of Christianity but of
orthodoxJudaism,sinceitwasagainsttheJehovahoftheJewsthattheir
hatredwasparticularlydirected.AnotherGnosticsect,theCarpocratians,
followersofCarpocratesofAlexandriaandhissonEpiphanuswhodied
fromhisdebaucheriesandwasveneratedasagod 115likewiseregardedall
writtenlaws,ChristianorMosaic,withcontemptandrecognizedonlythe
orknowledgegiventothegreatmenofeverynationPlatoand
Pythagoras,MosesandChristwhich"freesonefromallthatthevulgar
callreligion"and"makesmanequaltoGod."116
SointheCarpocratiansofthesecondcenturywefindalreadythetendency
towardsthatdeificationofhumanitywhichformsthesupremedoctrineof
thesecretsocietiesandofthevisionarySocialistsofourday.Thewarnow
beginsbetweenthetwocontendingprinciples:theChristianconceptionof
manreachinguptoGodandthesecretsocietyconceptionofmanasGod,
needingnorevelationfromonhighandnoguidancebutthelawofhisown
nature.Andsincethatnatureisinitselfdivine,allthatspringsfromitis
praiseworthy, and those acts usually regarded as sins are not to be
condemned.BythislineofreasoningtheCarpocratiansarrivedatmuchthe
sameconclusionsasmodernCommunistswithregardtotheidealsocial
system.ThusEpiphanusheldthatsinceNatureherselfrevealstheprinciple

of the community and the unity of all things, human laws which are
contrary to this law of Nature are so many culpable infractions of the
legitimateorderofthings.Beforetheselawswereimposedonhumanity
everythingwasincommonland,goods,andwomen.Accordingtocertain
contemporaries, the Carpocratians returned to this primitive system by
institutingthecommunityofwomenandindulgingineverykindoflicence.
ThefurtherGnosticsectofAntitacts,followingthissamecultofhuman
nature,taughtrevoltagainstallpositivereligionandlawsandthenecessity
forgratifyingtheflesh;theAdamitesofNorthAfrica,goingastepfurther
inthereturntoNature,castoffallclothingattheirreligiousservicessoas
torepresenttheprimitiveinnocenceofthegardenofEdenaprecedent
followedbytheAdamitesofGermanyinthefifteenthcentury.117
These Gnostics, says Eliphas Lvi, under the pretext of "spiritualizing
matter,materializedthespiritinthemostrevoltingways....Rebelstothe
hierarchicorder,...theywishedtosubstitutethemysticallicenceofsensual
passionstowiseChristiansobrietyandobediencetolaws....Enemiesofthe
family,theywishedtoproducesterilitybyincreasingdebauchery."118
BywayofsystematicallypervertingthedoctrinesoftheChristianfaiththe
GnosticsclaimedtopossessthetrueversionsoftheGospels,andprofessed
beliefinthesetotheexclusionofalltheothers. 119ThustheEbioniteshad
theirowncorruptedversionoftheGospelofSt.Matthewfoundedonthe
"Gospel of the Hebrews," known earlier to the Jewish Christians; the
MarcosianshadtheirversionofSt.Luke,theCainitestheirown"Gospelof
Judas,"andtheValentinianstheir"GospelofSt.John."Asweshallsee
later, the Gospel of St. John is the one that throughout the war on
Christianityhasbeenspeciallychosenforthepurposeofperversion.
Ofcoursethisspiritofperversionwasnothingnew;manycenturiesearlier
theprophetIsaiahhaddenounceditinthewords:"Woeuntothemthatcall
evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for
darkness!" But the role of the Gnostics was to reduce perversion to a
system by binding men together into sects working under the guise of
enlightenment in order to obscure all recognized ideas of morality and
religion.Itisthiswhichconstitutestheirimportanceinthehistoryofsecret
societies.
WhethertheGnosticsthemselvescanbedescribedasasecretsociety,or
ratherasaramificationofsecretsocieties,isopentoquestion.M.Matter,

quotinganumberofthirdcenturywriters,showsthepossibilitythatthey
hadmysteriesandinitiations;theChurchFathersdefinitelyassertedthisto
be the case.120 According to Tertullian, the Valentinians continued, or
rather perverted, the mysteries of Eleusis, out of which they made a
"sanctuaryofprostitution."121
The Valentinians are known to have divided their members into three
classesthePneumatics,thePsychics,andtheHylics(i.e.materialists);the
Basilideans are also said to have possessed secret doctrines known to
hardlyoneinathousandofthesect.FromallthisM.Matterconcludes
that:
1. The Gnostics professed to hold by means of tradition a secret
doctrine superior to that contained in the public writings of the
apostles.
2. Thattheydidnotcommunicatethisdoctrinetoeveryone....
3. Thattheycommunicateditbymeansofemblemsandsymbols,as
theDiagramoftheOphitesproves.
4. Thatinthesecommunicationstheyimitatedtheritesandtrialsofthe
mysteriesofEleusis.122
Thisclaimtothepossessionofasecretoraltradition,whetherknownunder
thenameoforofCabala,confirmstheconceptionoftheGnostics
asCabalistsandshowshowfartheyhaddepartedfromChristianteaching.
Forifonlyinthisideaof"onedoctrinefortheignorantandanotherforthe
initiated,"theGnosticshadrestoredtheverysystemwhichChristianityhad
cometodestroy.123
Manicheism
WhilstwehaveseentheGnosticsectsworkingformoreorlesssubversive
purposesundertheguiseofesotericdoctrines,wefindintheManicheans
of Persia, who followed a century later, a sect embodying the same
tendenciesandapproachingstillnearertosecretsocietyorganization.
CubricusorCorbicius,thefounderofManicheism,wasborninBabylonia
abouttheyearA.D.216.Whilststillachildheissaidtohavebeenbought
asaslavebyarichwidowofCtesiphon,wholiberatedhimandonher
death left him great wealth. According to another storyfor the whole

historyofManesrestsonlegendsheinheritedfromaricholdwomanthe
booksofaSaracennamedScythianusonthewisdomoftheEgyptians.
Combiningthedoctrinesthesebookscontainedwithideasborrowedfrom
Zoroastrianism, Gnosticism, and Christianity, and also with certain
additions of his own, he elaborated a philosophic system which he
proceededtoteach.CubricusthenchangedhisnametoManiorManesand
proclaimedhimselftheParacletepromisedbyJesusChrist.Hisfollowers
weredividedintotwoclassestheoutercircleofhearersorcombatants,
and the inner circle of teachers or ascetics described as the Elect. As
evidenceoftheirresemblancewithFreemasons,ithasbeensaidthatthe
Manicheansmadeuseofsecretsigns,grips,andpasswords,thatowingto
thecircumstancesoftheirmaster'sadoptiontheycalledManes"thesonof
thewidow"andthemselves"thechildrenofthewidow,"butthisisnot
clearly proved. One of their customs is, however, interesting in this
connexion.Accordingtolegend,Manesundertooktocurethesonofthe
KingofPersiawhohadfallenill,buttheprincedied,whereuponManes
wasflayedalivebyorderofthekingandhiscorpsehangedupatthecity
gate.Everyyearafterthis,onGoodFriday,theManicheanscarriedouta
mourningceremonyknownastheBemaaroundthecatafalqueofManes,
whoserealsufferingstheywerewonttocontrastwiththeunrealsufferings
ofChrist.
ThefundamentaldoctrineofManicheismisDualismthatistosay,the
existenceoftwoopposingprinciplesintheworld,lightanddarkness,good
andevilfounded,however,notontheChristianconceptionofthisidea,
but on the Zoroastrian conception of Ormuzd and Ahriman, and so
perverted and mingled with Cabalistic superstitions that it met with as
vehementdenunciationbyPersianpriestsasbyChristianFathers.Thus,
accordingtothedoctrineofManes,allmatterisabsoluteevil,theprinciple
ofeviliseternal,humanityitselfisofSatanicorigin,andthefirsthuman
beings,AdamandEve,arerepresentedastheoffspringofdevils. 124Much
thesameideamaybefoundintheJewishCabala,whereitissaidthat
Adam, after other abominable practices, cohabited with female devils
whilst Eve consoled herself with male devils, so that whole races of
demonswerebornintotheworld.Eveisalsoaccusedofcohabitingwith
theSerpent.125IntheYalkutShimoniitisalsorelatedthatduringthe130
yearsthatAdamlivedapartfromEve,"hebegatagenerationofdevils,
spirits,andhobgoblins."126Manicheandemonologythuspavedthewayfor

theplacationofthepowersofdarknesspractisedbytheEuchitesattheend
ofthefourthcenturyandlaterbythePaulicians,theBogomils,andthe
Luciferians.
SoitisinGnosticismandManicheismthatwefindevidenceofthefirst
attempts to pervert Christianity. The very fact that all such have been
condemnedbytheChurchas"heresies"hastendedtoenlistsympathyin
theirfavour,yetevenEliphasLvirecognizesthatheretheactionofthe
Churchwasright,forthe"monstrousgnosisofManes"wasadesecration
notonlyofChristiandoctrinesbutofpreChristiansacredtraditions.

Chapter 2:

The Revolt Against Islam

Wehavefollowedtheeffortsofsubversivesectshithertodirectedagainst
ChristianityandorthodoxJudaism;weshallnowseethisattempt,reduced
by gradual stages to a working system of extraordinary efficiency,
organizedforthepurposeofunderminingallmoralandreligiousbeliefsin
themindsofMoslems.Inthemiddleoftheseventhcenturyanimmense
schismwascreatedinIslambytherivaladvocatesofsuccessorstothe
Prophet,theorthodoxIslamitesknownbythenameofSunnisadheringto
theelected Khalifas Abu Bakr,Omar, andOthman, whilst theparty of
revolt,knownastheShiahs,claimedtheKhalifateforthedescendantsof
Mohammed through Ali, son of AbuTalib and husband of Fatima, the
Prophet'sdaughter.Thisdivisionendedinopenwarfare;Aliwasfinally
assassinated,hiseldersonHasonwaspoisonedinMedina,hisyoungerson
Husain fell at the battle of Kerbela fighting against the supporters of
Othman.ThedeathsofHasanandHusainarestillmournedyearlybythe
ShiahsattheMoharram.
The Ismailis
TheShiahsthemselvessplitagainoverthequestionofAli'ssuccessorsinto
fourfactions,thefourthofwhichdividedagainintotwofurthersects.Both
oftheseretainedtheirallegiancetothedescendantsofAliasfarasJafar
asSadik,butwhilstoneparty,knownastheImamiasorIsnaAsharias(i.e.
theTwelvers),supportedthesuccessionthroughhisyoungersonMusato
thetwelfthImanMohammed, sonof Askeri,theIsmailis (or Seveners)
adheredtoIsmail,theeldersonofJafarasSadik.
Choice of Sunnis
Abu
Omar

Bakr

(1st

Khalifa)

632
634

Othman
Ali

644

Choice of Shiahs
AbdulMuttalib

Abdullah

MOHAMMED

A.D.

570632

Fatima

married

Ali

Abu

Tlib
ALI (4th Sunni and 1st Shiah Khalifa murdered in Kufa)

(2)

Hasan

poisoned

A.D.

680
(3) Husain killed at battle of Kerbela A.D. 680

(4)

Ali

II

(5)

Mohammed

(6)

JafarasSadik

Choice

of

ISMAILIS

(7)

Ismail

Mohammed disappeared
circ. 770

Choice of IMAMIAS or ISNAASHARIAS

(7)

Abu'I

Hasan

Musa

(8)

Ali

III

(9)

Abu

Jafar

Mohammed

(10)

Ali

(11) Abu Mohammed al Askari

(12)MohammedalMahdi
SHIAHS

ISMAILIS

circ.

A.D.

770
BATINIS (founded by Abdullah ibn Maymn) circ. A.D. 872
FATIMITES (under Ubeidallah 1st Fatimite Khalifa) A.D. 909

Fatimite Khalifas of Egypt A.D. 977

HAKIM 6th Fatimite Khalifa A.D. 996

Founds

DarulHikmat

A.D.

1004
ASSASSINS (under Hasan Saba) A.D. 1090

DRUSES (under Hazza) circ. A.D. 1021

KARMATHITES(underHamdanKarmath)A.D.896

The Successors of the Prophet

TheabovetableshowstherivallinesofKhalifasonthelefttheelected
successors,choiceoftheSunnis;ontherightthelinealdescendants,choice
oftheShiahs.Thefigureatthesideofeachnameindicatesthenumberin
successionoftheKhalifamentioned.Thetableinsetshowsthesectsto
whichthedisputesoverthesuccessiongavebirth.
Sofar,however,inspiteofdivisions,nobodyofShiahshadeverdeviated
fromthefundamentaldoctrinesofIslamism,butmerelyclaimedthatthese
hadbeenhandeddownthroughadifferentlinefromthatrecognizedbythe
Sunnis.TheearliestIsmailis,whoformedthemselvesintoapartyatabout
thetimeofthedeathofMohammed,sonofIsmail(i.e.circ.A.D.770),still
remainedbelievers,declaringonlythatthetrueteachingoftheProphethad
descended to Mohammed, who was not dead but would return in the
fullnessoftimeandthathewastheMahdiwhomMoslemsmustawait.But
in about A.D. 873 an intriguer of extraordinary subtlety succeeded in
capturingthemovement,which,hithertomerelyschismatic,nowbecame
definitelysubversive,notonlyofIslamism,butofallreligiousbelief.
Thisman,AbdullahibnMaymn,thesonofalearnedandfreethinking
doctorinSouthernPersia,broughtupinthedoctrinesofGnosticDualism
andprofoundlyversedinallreligions,wasinreality,likehisfather,apure
materialist.ByprofessingadherencetothecreedoforthodoxShiism,and
proclaiming a knowledge of the mystic doctrines which the Ismailis
believed to have descended through Ismail to his son Mohammed,
AbdullahsucceededinplacinghimselfattheheadoftheIsmailis.
His advocacy of Ismail was thus merely a mask, his real aim being
materialism,whichhenowproceededtomakeintoasystembyfoundinga
sectknownastheBatiniswithsevendegreesofinitiation.Dozyhasgiven
thefollowingdescriptionofthisamazingproject:
Tolinktogetherintoonebodythevanquishedandtheconquerors;tounite
intheformofavastsecretsocietywithmanydegreesofinitiationfree
thinkerswhoregardedreligiononlyasacurbforthepeopleandbigotsof
allsects;tomaketoolsofbelieversinordertogivepowertosceptics;to
induceconquerorstooverturntheempirestheyhadfounded;tobuildupa
party,numerous,compact,anddisciplined,whichinduetimewouldgive
thethrone,ifnottohimself,atleasttohisdescendants,suchwasAbdullah
ibnMaymn'sgeneralaimanextraordinaryconceptionwhichheworked

outwithmarvelloustact,incomparableskill,andaprofoundknowledgeof
thehumanheart.Themeanswhichheadoptedweredevisedwithdiabolical
cunning....
Itwas...notamongtheShiitesthathesoughthistruesupporters,but
among the Ghebers, the Manicheans, the pagans of Harran, and the
studentsofGreekphilosophy;onthelastalonecouldherely,tothemalone
could he gradually unfold the final mystery, and reveal that Imams,
religions,andmoralitywerenothingbutanimpostureandanabsurdity.
Therestofmankindthe"asses,"asAbdullahcalledthemwereincapable
of understanding such doctrines. But to gain his end he by no means
disdainedtheir aid; onthecontrary,hesolicitedit,buthetookcareto
initiatedevout andlowlysoulsonlyinthefirstgrades of thesect. His
missionaries,whowereinculcatedwiththeideathattheirfirstdutywasto
concealtheirtruesentimentsandadaptthemselvestotheviewsoftheir
auditors,appearedinmanyguises,andspoke,asitwere,inadifferent
language to each class. They won over the ignorant vulgar by feats of
legerdemain which passed for miracles, or excited their curiosity by
enigmaticaldiscourse.Inthepresenceofthedevouttheyassumedthemask
of virtueandpiety.Withmysticstheyweremystical,andunfoldedthe
innermeaningsofphenomena,orexplainedallegoriesandthefigurative
senseoftheallegoriesthemselves....
Bymeanssuchasthesetheextraordinaryresultwasbroughtaboutthata
multitudeofmenofdiversebeliefswereallworkingtogetherforanobject
knownonlytoafewofthem....128
I quote this passage at length because it is of immense importance in
throwingalightontheorganizationofmodernsecretsocieties.Itdoesnot
matter what the end may be, whether political, social, or religious, the
systemremainsthesamethesettinginmotionofavastnumberofpeople
andmakingthemworkinacauseunknowntothem.Thatthiswasthe
methodadoptedbyWeishauptinorganizingtheIlluminatiandthatitcame
tohimfromtheEastwillbeshownlateron.Weshallnowseehowthe
systemofthephilosopherAbdullahpavedthewayforbloodshedbythe
mostterriblesecttheworldhadeverseen.

The Karmathites
ThefirstopenactsofviolenceresultingfromthedoctrinesofAbdullah
werecarriedoutbytheKarmathites,anewdevelopmentoftheIsmailis.
AmongstthemanyDaissentoutbytheleaderwhichincludedhisson
AhmedandAhmed'ssonwastheDaiHoseinAhwazi,Abdullah'senvoy
toIrakinPersia,whoinitiatedacertainHamdansurnamedKarmathinto
thesecretsofthesect.Karmath,whowasabornintriguerandbelievedin
nothing,becametheleaderoftheKarmathitesinArabia,whereanumber
of Arabs were soon enlisted in the society. With extraordinary skill he
succeededinpersuadingthesedupestomakeoveralltheirmoneytohim,
firstbymeansofsmallcontributions,laterbylargersums,untilatlasthe
convincedthemoftheadvantagesofabolishingallprivatepropertyand
establishing the system of the community of goods and wives. This
principlewasenforcedbythepassageoftheKoran:"Rememberthegrace
ofGodinthatwhilstyouwereenemies,Hehasunitedyourhearts,sothat
byHisgraceyouhavebecomebrothers...."DeSacythustransscribesthe
methodsemployedasgivenbythehistorianNowairi:
WhenKarmathhadsucceededinestablishingallthis,andeveryonehad
agreedtoconformtoit,heorderedtheDaistoassembleallthewomenona
certainnightsothattheyshouldminglepromiscuouslywithallthemen.
This,hesaid,wasperfectionandthelastdegreeoffriendshipandfraternal
union.Oftenahusbandledhiswifeandpresentedherhimselftooneofhis
brotherswhenthatgavehimpleasure.Whenhe(Karmath)sawthathehad
become absolute master of their minds, had assured himself of their
obedience,andfoundoutthedegreeoftheirintelligenceanddiscernment,
he began to lead them quite astray. He put before them arguments
borrowedfromthedoctrinesoftheDualists.Theyfellineasilywithallthat
heproposed,andthenhetookawayfromthemallreligionandreleased
themfromallthosedutiesofpiety,devotion,andthefearofGodthathe
prescribedfortheminthebeginning.Hepermittedthempillage,andevery
sortofimmorallicence,andtaughtthemtothrowofftheyokeofprayer,
fasting, and other precepts. He taught them that they were held by no
obligations,andthattheycouldpillagethegoodsandshedthebloodof
theiradversarieswithimpunity,thattheknowledgeofthemasteroftruthto
whomhehadcalledthemtooktheplaceofeverythingelse,andthatwith
thisknowledgetheyneednolongerfearsinorpunishment.

AstheresultoftheseteachingstheKarmathitesrapidlybecameabandof
brigands, pillaging and massacring all those who opposed them and
spreadingterrorthroughoutallthesurroundingdistricts.
Peaceful fraternity was thus turned into a wild lust for conquest; the
KarmathitessucceededindominatingagreatpartofArabiaandthemouth
oftheEuphrates,andinA.D.920extendedtheirravageswestwards.They
tookpossessionoftheholycityofMecca,inthedefenceofwhich30,000
Moslemsfell."Forawholecentury,"saysvonHammer,"thepernicious
doctrines of Karmath raged with fire and sword in the very bosom of
Islamism,untilthewidespreadconflagrationwasextinguishedinblood."
But in proclaiming themselves revolutionaries the Karmathites had
departedfromtheplanlaiddownbytheoriginatoroftheircreed,Abdullah
ibnMaymn,whichhadconsistednotinactsofopenviolencebutina
secret doctrine which should lead to the gradual undermining of all
religiousfaithandaconditionofmentalanarchyratherthanofmaterial
chaos.Forviolence,asalways,hadproducedcounterviolence,anditwas
thus that while the Karmathites were rushing to their own destruction
throughaseriesofbloodyconflicts,anotherbranchoftheIsmailiswere
quietly reorganizing their forces more in conformity with the original
methodoftheirfounder.TheseweretheFatimites,socalledfromtheir
professedbeliefthatthedoctrineoftheProphethaddescendedfromAli,
husbandofFatima,Mohammed'sdaughter.Whilstlessextremethanthe
Karmathites, or than their predecessor Abdullah ibn Maymn, the
Fatimites, according to the historian Makrizi, adopted the method of
instillingdoubtsintothemindsofbelieversandaimedatthesubstitutionof
anaturalforarevealedreligion.Indeed,aftertheestablishmentoftheir
power in Egypt, it is difficult to distinguish any appreciable degree of
difference in the character of their teaching from the anarchic code of
AbdullahandhismoreviolentexponentKarmath.
The Fatimites
ThefounderoftheFatimitedynastyoftheKhalifaswasoneUbeidallah,
knownastheMahdi,accusedofJewishancestrybyhisadversariesthe
Abbasides,whodeclaredapparentlywithouttruththathewasthesonor
grandsonofAhmed,sonofAdbullahibnMaymn,byaJewess.Underthe
fourth Fatimite Khalifa Egypt fell into the power of the dynasty, and,
beforelong,biweeklyassemblages ofbothmenandwomenknownas

"societiesofwisdom"wereinstitutedinCairo.In1004theseacquireda
greaterimportancebytheestablishmentoftheDarulHikmat,ortheHouse
ofKnowledge,bythesixthKhalifaHakim,whowasraisedtoadeityafter
hisdeathandisworshippedtothisdaybytheDruses.Underthedirection
oftheDarulHikmatorGrandLodgeofCairo,theFatimitescontinuedthe
planofAbdullahibnMaymn's secretsocietywiththeadditionoftwo
moredegrees,makingnineinall.Theirmethodofenlistingproselytesand
systemofinitiationwhich,asClaudioJannetpointsout,"areabsolutely
thosewhich Weishaupt,thefounder of the Illuminati,prescribed tothe
'Insinuating Brothers'"129were transcribed by the fourteenthcentury
historianNowairiinadescriptionthatmaybebrieflysummarizedthus130:
Theproselyteswerebroadlydividedintotwoclasses,thelearnedandthe
ignorant.TheDaiwastoagreewiththeformer,applaudinghiswisdom,
andtoimpressthelatterwithhisownknowledgebyaskinghimperplexing
questionsontheKoran.ThusininitiatinghimintothefirstdegreetheDai
assumedanairofprofundityandexplainedthatreligiousdoctrineswere
tooabstrusefortheordinarymind,butmustbeinterpretedbymenwho,
liketheDais,hadaspecialknowledgeofthisscience.Theinitiatewas
boundtoabsolutesecrecyconcerningthetruthstoberevealedtohimand
obliged to pay in advance for these revelations. In order to pique his
curiosity,theDaiwouldsuddenlystopshortinthemiddleofadiscourse,
andshouldthenovicefinallydeclinetopaytherequiredsum,hewasleftin
astateofbewildermentwhichinspiredhimwiththedesiretoknowmore.
Intheseconddegreetheinitiatewaspersuadedthatallhisformerteachers
werewrongandthathemustplacehisconfidencesolelyinthoseImams
endowedwithauthorityfromGod;inthethirdhelearntthattheseImams
werethoseoftheIsmailis,seveninnumberendingwithMohammed,son
ofIsmail,incontradistinctiontothetwelveImamsoftheImamiaswho
supportedtheclaimsofIsmail'sbrotherMusa;inthefourthhewastoldthat
theprophetsprecedingtheImamsdescendingfromAliwerealsosevenin
numbernamely Adam, Noah, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, the first
Mohammed,andfinallyMohammedsonofIsmail.
Sofar,then,nothingwassaidtotheinitiateincontradictiontothebroad
tenets of orthodox Islamism. But with the fifth degree the process of
undermininghisreligionbegan,hewasnowtoldtorejecttraditionandto
disregardthepreceptsofMohammed;inthesixthhewastaughtthatall

religiousobservancesprayer,fasting,etc.wereonlyemblematic,thatin
fact all these things weredevices tokeep thecommon herdof men in
subordination;inthesevenththedoctrinesofDualism,ofagreateranda
lesserdeity,wereintroducedandtheunityofGodfundamentaldoctrineof
Islamismwasdestroyed;intheeighthagreatvaguenesswasexpressedon
theattributesofthefirstandgreatestofthesedeities,anditwaspointedout
that real prophets were those who concerned themselves with practical
matterspoliticalinstitutionsandgoodformsofgovernment;finally,inthe
ninth,theadeptwasshownthatallreligiousteachingwasallegoricaland
thatreligiouspreceptsneedonlybeobservedinsofarasitisnecessaryto
maintainorder,butthemanwhounderstandsthetruthmaydisregardall
such doctrines. Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and the other prophets were
thereforeonlyteacherswhohadprofitedbythelessonsofphilosophy.All
beliefinrevealedreligionwasthusdestroyed.Itwillbeseenthenthatin
the last degrees the whole teaching of the first five was reversed and
thereforeshowntobeafraud.Fraudinfactconstitutedthesystemofthe
society; in the instructions to the Dais every artifice is described for
enlistingproselytesbymisrepresentation:Jewsweretobewonbyspeaking
illofChristians,ChristiansbyspeakingillofJewsandMoslems alike,
SunnisbyreferringwithrespecttotheorthodoxKhalifasAbuBakrand
OmarandcriticizingAliandhisdescendants.Aboveall,carewastobe
takennottoputbeforeproselytesdoctrinesthatmightrevoltthem,butto
makethemadvancestepbystep.Bythesemeanstheywouldbereadyto
obeyanycommands.Astheinstructionsexpressit:
Ifyouweretogivetheordertowhoeveritmightbetotakefromhimall
thatheholdsmostprecious,aboveallhismoney,hewouldopposenoneof
your orders,andif deathsurprisedhimhewouldleaveyouallthathe
possessesinhiswillandmakeyouhisheir.Hewillthinkthatinthewhole
worldhecannotfindamanmoreworthythanyou.
Suchwasthegreatsecretsocietywhichwastoformthemodelforthe
Illuminatioftheeighteenthcentury,towhomthesummaryofvonHammer
mightwithequaltruthapply:
To believe nothing and to dare all was, in two words, the sum of this
system,whichannihilatedeveryprincipleofreligionandmorality,andhad
nootherobjectthantoexecuteambitiousdesignswithsuitableministers,
who, daring all and knowing nothing, since they consider everything a

cheatandnothingforbidden,arethebesttoolsofaninfernalpolicy.A
systemwhich,withnootheraimthanthegratificationofaninsatiablelust
for domination, instead of seeking the highest of human objects,
precipitatesitselfintotheabyss,andmanglingitself,isburiedamidstthe
ruins of thrones and altars, the wreck of national happiness, and the
universalexecrationofmankind.131
The Druses
TheterribleGrandLodgeofCairobeforelongbecamethecentreofanew
andextraordinarycult.HakimsixthFatimiteKhalifaandfounderofthe
DarulHikmatamonsteroftyrannyandcrimewhosereigncanonlybe
comparedtothatofCaligulaorNerowasnowraisedtotheplaceofa
divinitybyoneIsmailDarazi,aTurkwhoin1016announcedinamosque
inCairothattheKhalifashouldbemadeanobjectofworship.Hakim,who
"believed that divine reason was incarnate in him," four years later
proclaimedhimselfadeity,andthecultwasfinallyestablishedbyoneof
hisviziers,thePersianmysticHamzaibnAli.Hakim'scruelties,however,
hadsooutragedthepeopleofEgyptthatayearlaterhewasmurderedbya
bandofmalcontents,led,itissaid,byhissister,whoafterwardsconcealed
his bodya circumstance which gave his followers the opportunity to
declarethatthedivinityhadmerelyvanishedinordertotestthefaithof
believers, but would reappear in time and punish apostates. This belief
becamethedoctrineoftheDrusesofLebanon,whomDarazihadwonover
totheworshipofHakim.
Itisunnecessarytoenterintothedetailsofthisstrangereligion,whichstill
persiststodayintherangeofLebanon;sufficeittosaythat,althoughthe
outcomeoftheIsmailis,theDrusesdonotappeartohaveembracedthe
materialismofAbdullahibnMaymn,buttohavegraftedonaprimitive
formofNatureworshipandofSabeismtheavowedbeliefoftheIsmailisin
thedynastyofAliandhissuccessors,andbeyondthisanabstruse,esoteric
creedconcerningthenatureoftheSupremeDeity.Godtheydeclaretobe
"UniversalReason,"whomanifestsHimselfbyaseriesof"avatars."Hakim
wasthelastofthedivineembodiments,and"whenevilandmiseryhave
increasedtothepredestinedheighthewillagainappear,toconquerthe
worldandtomakehisreligionsupreme."
Itis,however,asasecretsocietythattheDrusesenterintothescopeofthis

book,fortheirorganizationpresentsseveralanalogieswiththatwhichwe
now know as "masonic." Instead of the nine degrees instituted by the
Lodge of Cairo, the Druses are divided into only threeProfanes,
Aspirants,andWisetowhomtheirdoctrinesaregraduallyunfoldedunder
seal of the strictest secrecy, to ensure which signs and passwords are
employedafterthemannerofFreemasonry.Acertaindegreeofduplicity
appearstoenterintotheirscheme,muchresemblingthatenjoinedtothe
IsmailiDaiswhenenlistingproselytesbelongingtootherreligions:thusin
talking to Mohammedans, the Druses profess to be followers of the
Prophet;withChristians,theypretendtoholdthedoctrinesofChristianity,
anattitudetheydefendonthescorethatitisunlawfultorevealthesecret
dogmasoftheircreedtoa"Black,"orunbeliever.
TheDrusesareinthehabitofholdingmeetingswhere,asintheDarul
Hikmat, both men and women assemble and religious and political
questionsarediscussed;theuninitiated,however,areallowedtoexercise
noinfluenceondecisions,whicharereachedbytheinnercircle,towhich
onlythe"Wise"areadmitted.Theresemblancebetweenthisorganization
andthatofGrandOrientFreemasonryisclearlyapparent.TheDrusesalso
havemodesof recognitionwhicharecommontoFreemasonry,andM.
AchilleLaurenthasobserved:"TheformulaorcatechismoftheDruses
resemblesthatoftheFreemasons;onecanlearnitonlyfromtheAkals(or
Akels=Intelligent,asmallgroupofhigherinitiates),whoonlyrevealits
mysteriesafterhavingsubjectedonetotestsandmadeonetaketerrible
oaths."
IshallreferagainlaterinthisbooktotheaffinitybetweentheDrusesand
FreemasonsoftheGrandOrient.
The Assassins
ItwillbeseenthattheDruses,distinguishingthemselvesfromotherIsmaili
sectsbytheirworshipofHakim,yetretaininggenuinereligiousbeliefs,
hadnotcarriedontheatheisticaltraditionofAbdullahibnMaymnandof
the Grand Lodge of Cairo. But this tradition was to find in 1090 an
exponentinthePersianHasanSaba,anativeofKhorasan,thesonofAli,a
strictShiah,who,findinghimselfsuspectedofhereticalideas,endedby
declaring himself a Sunni. Hasan, brought up in this atmosphere of
duplicity,wasthereforewellfittedtoplaytheMachiavellianrleofan
IsmailiDai.

VonHammerregardsHasanasamightygenius,oneofasplendidtriad,of
whichthetwootherswerehisschoolfellowsthepoetOmarKhayymand
NizamulMulk,GrandVizierundertheSeljukSultan,MalikShah.Hasan,
havingthroughtheprotectionofNizamulMulksecuredtitlesandrevenues
andfinallyrisentoofficeattheCourtoftheSultan,attemptedtosupplant
hisbenefactorandeventuallyretiredindisgrace,vowingvengeanceagainst
theSultanandvizier.AtthisjunctureheencounteredseveralIsmailis,one
ofwhom,aDainamedMumin,finallyconvertedhimtotheprinciplesof
hissect,andHasan,declaringhimselfnowtobeaconvincedadherentof
theFatimiteKhalifas,journedtoCairo,wherehewasreceivedwithhonour
by the Dar ul Hikmat and also by the Khalifa Mustansir, to whom he
becamecounsellor.Buthisintriguesoncemoreinvolvinghimindisgrace,
hefledtoAleppoandlaidthefoundationsofhisnewsect.Afterenlisting
proselytesinBagdad,Ispahan,Khusistan,andDamaghan,hesucceededin
obtainingbystrategythefortressofAlamutinPersiaontheCaspianSea,
wherehecompletedtheplansforhisgreatsecretsocietywhichwasto
becomeforeverinfamousunderthenameoftheHashishiyn,orAssassins.
UnderthepretenceofbeliefinthedoctrinesofIslamandalsoofadherence
totheIsmaililineofsuccessionfromtheProphet,HasanSabanowsetout
topavehiswaytopower,andinordertoachievethisendadoptedthesame
methodasAbdullahibnMaymn.ButtheterribleefficiencyofHasan's
society consisted in the fact that a system of physical force was now
organizedinamannerundreamtofbyhispredecessor.AsvonHammer
hasobservedinanadmirablepassage:
Opinionsarepowerless,solongastheyonlyconfusethebrain,without
armingthehand.Scepticismandfreethinking,aslongastheyoccupied
onlythemindsoftheindolentandphilosophical,havecausedtheruinof
no throne, for which purpose religious and political fanaticism are the
strongestleversinthehandsofnations.Itisnothingtotheambitiousman
whatpeoplebelieve,butitiseverythingtoknowhowhemayturnthemfor
theexecutionofhisprojects.132
Thus,asinthecaseoftheFrenchRevolution,"whosefirstmovers,"von
Hammeralsoobserves,"werethetoolsorleadersofsecretsocieties,"it
was not mere theory but the method of enlisting numerous dupes and
placing weapons in their hands that brought about the "Terror" of the
Assassins six centuries before that of their spiritual descendants, the

Jacobinsof1793.
TakingashisgroundworktheorganizationoftheGrandLodgeofCairo,
Hasanreducedtheninedegreestotheiroriginalnumberofseven,butthese
nowreceivedadefinitenomenclature,andincludednotonlyrealinitiates
butactiveagents.
Descendingdownwards,thedegreesoftheAssassinswerethusasfollows:
first,theGrandMaster,knownastheShaikhalJabalor"OldManofthe
Mountain"owing to the fact that the Order always possessed itself of
castlesinmountainousregions;second,theDailKebirorGrandPriors;
third,thefullyinitiatedDais,religiousnunciosandpoliticalemissaries;
fourth,theRafiqsorassociates,intrainingforthehigherdegrees;fifth,the
Fadaisor"devoted,"whoundertooktodeliverthesecretblowonwhich
theirsuperiorshaddecided;sixth,theLasiqus,orlawbrothers;andlastly
the"commonpeople,"whoweretobesimplyblindinstruments.If the
equivalents to the words "Dai," "Rafiqs," and "Fadais" given by von
Hammer and Dr. Bussell as "Master Masons," "Fellow Crafts," and
"Entered Apprentices" are accepted, an interesting analogy with the
degreesofFreemasonryisprovided.
Designsagainstreligionwere,ofcourse,notadmittedbytheOrder;"strict
uniformitytoIslamwasdemandedfromallthelowerrankofuninitiated,
buttheadeptwastaughttoseethroughthedeceptionof'faithandworks.'
He believed in nothing and recognized that all acts or means were
indifferentandthe(secular)endalonetobeconsidered."133
Thusthefinalobjectwasdominationbyafewmenconsumedwiththelust
ofpower"underthecloakofreligionandpiety,"andthemethodbywhich
thiswastobeestablishedwasthewholesaleassassinationofthosewho
opposedthem.
InordertostimulatetheenergyoftheFadais,whowererequiredtocarry
outthesecrimes,thesuperiorsoftheOrderhadrecoursetoaningenious
system of delusion. Throughout the territory occupied by the Assassins
were exquisite gardens with fruit trees, bowers of roses, and sparkling
streams.HerewerearrangedluxuriousrestingplaceswithPersiancarpets
andsoftdivans,aroundwhichhoveredblackeyed"houris"bearingwinein
gold and silver drinkingvessels, whilst soft music mingled with the
murmuring water and the song of birds. The young man whom the
AssassinsdesiredtotrainforacareerofcrimewasintroducedtotheGrand

Master of the Order and intoxicated with haschischhence the name

"Hashishiyn"appliedtothesect,fromwhichthewordassassinisderived.
Underthebriefspellofunconsciousnessinducedbythisseductivedrugthe
prospectiveFadaiwasthencarriedintothegarden,whereonawakinghe
believedhimselftobeinParadise.Afterenjoyingallitsdelightshewas
given a fresh dose of the opiate, and, once more unconscious, was
transportedbacktothepresenceoftheGrandMaster,whoassuredhimthat
hehadneverlefthissidebuthadmerelyexperiencedaforetasteofthe
Paradise that awaited him if he obeyed the orders of his chiefs. The
neophyte, thus spurred on by the belief that he was carrying out the
commands of the Prophet, who would reward him with eternal bliss,
eagerlyenteredintotheschemeslaiddownforhimanddevotedhislifeto
murder.ThusbythelureofParadisetheAssassinsenlistedinstrumentsfor
their criminal workandestablished asystem of organizedmurderona
basis of religious fervour. "'Nothing is true and all is allowed' was the
groundoftheirsecretdoctrine,which,however,beingimpartedbuttofew
andconcealedundertheveilofthemostausterereligionismandpiety,
restrainedthemindundertheyokeofblindobedience." 134Totheoutside
world all this remained a profound mystery; fidelity to Islam was
proclaimedasthefundamentaldoctrineofthesect,andwhentheenvoyof
SultanSajarwassenttocollectinformationonthereligiousbeliefsofthe
Orderhewasmetwiththeassurance:"WebelieveintheunityofGod,and
considerthatonlyastruewisdomwhichaccordswithHiswordandthe
commandsoftheprophet."
VonHammer,answeringthepossiblecontentionthat,asinthecaseofthe
TemplarsandtheBavarianIlluminati,thesemethodsofdeceptionmightbe
declared a calumny on the Order, points out that in the case of the
Assassins no possible doubt existed, for their secret doctrines were
eventuallyrevealedbytheleadersthemselves,firstbyHasanII,thethird
successorofHasanSaba,andlaterbyJalaluddinHasan,whopublicly
anathematized the founders of the sect and ordered the burning of the
booksthat containedtheir designs againstreligionaproceedingwhich,
however, appears to have been a strategical manoeuvre for restoring
confidence in the Order and enabling him to continue the work of
subversionandcrime.AveritableReignofTerrorwasthusestablished
throughouttheEast;theRafiqsandFadais"spreadthemselvesintroops
overthewholeofAsiaanddarkenedthefaceoftheearth";and"inthe

annals of the Assassins is found the chronological enumeration of

celebratedmenofallnationswhohavefallenthevictimsoftheIsmailis,to
thejoyoftheirmurderersandthesorrowoftheworld."135
Inevitablythislongandsystematicindulgenceinbloodlustrecoiledonthe
headsoftheleaders,andtheAssassins,liketheTerroristsofFrance,ended
by turning on each other. The Old Man of the Mountain himself was
murderedbyhisbrotherinlawandhissonMohammed;Mohammed,in
histurn,whilst"aimingatthelifeofhissonJalaluddin,wasanticipated
byhimwithpoison,whichmurderwasagainavengedbypoison,"sothat
from"HasantheIlluminator"downtothelastofhislinetheGrandMasters
fellbythehandsoftheirnextofkin,and"poisonandthedaggerprepared
thegravewhichtheOrderhadopenedforsomany." 136Finallyin1250the
conqueringhordesoftheMongolManguKhansweptawaythedynastyof
theAssassins.
But,althoughasreigningpowerstheAssassinsandFatimitesceasedto
exist,thesectsfromwhichtheyderivedhavecontinueduptothepresent
day;stilleveryyearatthecelebrationoftheMoharramtheShiahsbeat
theirbreastsandbesprinklethemselveswithblood,callingaloudonthe
martyredheroesHasanandHusain;theDrusesoftheLebanonstillawait
the return of Hakim, and in that inscrutable East, the cradle of all the
mysteries,theprofoundestEuropeanadeptofsecretsocietyintriguemay
findhimselfoutdistancedbypastmastersintheartinwhichhebelieved
himselfproficient.
ThesectofHasanSabawasthesuprememodelonwhichallsystemsof
organizedmurderworkingthroughfanaticism,suchastheCarbonariand
theIrishRepublicanBrotherhood,werebased,andthesigns,thesymbols,
theinitiations,oftheGrandLodgeofCairoformedthegroundworkforthe
greatsecretsocietiesofEurope.
HowcamethissystemtobetransportedtotheWest?Bywhatchanneldid
the ideas of these succeeding Eastern sects penetrate to the Christian
world?Inordertoanswerthisquestionwemustturntothehistoryofthe
Crusades.

Chapter 3:

The Templars
Intheyear1118nineteenyearsafterthefirstcrusadehadendedwiththe
defeat of the Moslems, the capture of Antioch and Jerusalem, and the
instalmentofGodefroideBouillonaskingofthelattercityabandofnine
French gentilshommes,ledbyHuguesdePayensandGodefroideSaint
Omer,formedthemselvesintoanOrderfortheprotectionofpilgrimstothe
HolySepulchre.BaldwinII,whoatthismomentsucceededtothethroneof
Jerusalem, presented them witha house near the site of the Temple of
SolomonhencethenameofKnightsTemplarunderwhichtheywereto
become famous. In 1128 the Order was sanctioned by the Council of
TroyesandbythePope,andarulewasdrawnupbySt.Bernardunder
whichtheKnightsTemplarwereboundbythevowsofpoverty,chastity,
andobedience.
But although the Templars distinguished themselves by many deeds of
valour,theregulationthattheyweretolivesolelyonalmsledtodonations
soenormousthat,abandoningtheirvowofpoverty,theyspreadthemselves
overEurope,andbytheendofthetwelfthcenturyhadbecomearichand
powerfulbody.ThemottothattheOrderhadinscribeduponitsbanner,
"Nonnobis,Domine,sednominituodagloriam,"waslikewiseforgotten,
for, their faith waxing cold, they gave themselves up to pride and
ostentation.Thus,asaneighteenthcenturymasonicwriterhasexpressedit:
Thewar,whichforthegreaternumberofwarriorsofgoodfaithprovedthe
source of weariness, of losses and misfortunes, became for them (the
Templars)onlytheopportunityforbootyandaggrandizement,andifthey
distinguished themselves by a few brilliant actions, their motive soon
ceasedtobeamatterofdoubtwhentheywereseentoenrichthemselves
evenwiththespoilsoftheconfederates, toincreasetheircreditbythe
extentofthenewpossessionstheyhadacquired,tocarryarrogancetothe
pointofrivallingcrownedprincesinpompandgrandeur,torefusetheiraid

against the enemiesof thefaith,asthehistoryof Saladintestifies,and

finallytoallythemselveswiththathorribleandsanguinaryprincenamed
theOldManoftheMountain,PrinceoftheAssassins.137
Thetruthofthelastaccusationis,however,opentoquestion.Foratime,at
anyrate,theTemplarshadbeenatwarwiththeAssassins.Whenin1152
theAssassinsmurderedRaymond,ComtedeTripoli,theTemplarsentered
theirterritoryandforcedthemtosignatreatybywhichtheyweretopaya
yearlytributeof12,000goldpiecesinexpiationofthecrime.Someyears
latertheOldManoftheMountainsentanambassadortoAmaury,Kingof
Jerusalem, to tell him privately that if the Templars would forgo the
paymentofthistributeheandhisfollowerswouldembracetheChristian
faith. Amaury accepted, offering at the same time to compensate the
Templars,butsomeoftheKnightsassassinatedtheambassadorbeforehe
couldreturntohismaster.WhenaskedforreparationstheGrandMaster
threwtheblameonaneviloneeyedKnightnamedGautierdeMaisnil.138
Itisevident,therefore,thattherelationsbetweentheTemplarsandthe
Assassinswereatfirstfarfromamicable;nevertheless,itappearsprobable
thatlateronanunderstandingwasbroughtaboutbetweenthem.Bothon
this charge and on that of treachery towards the Christian armies, Dr.
Bussell'simpartialviewofthequestionmaybequoted:
When in 1149 the Emperor Conrad III failed before Damascus, the
Templarswerebelievedtohaveasecretunderstandingwiththegarrisonof
thatcity;...in1154theyweresaidtohavesold,for60,000goldpieces,a
princeofEgyptwhohadwishedtobecomeaChristian;hewastakenhome
tosuffercertaindeathatthehandsofhisfanaticalfamily.In1166Amaury,
KingofJerusalem,hangedtwelvemembersoftheOrderforbetrayinga
fortresstoNureddin.
AndDr.Bussellgoesontosaythatitcannotbedisputedthattheyhad
"long and important dealings" with the Assassins "and were therefore
suspected (not unfairly) of imbibing their precepts and following their
principles."139
BytheendofthethirteenthcenturytheTemplarshadbecomesuspect,not
onlyintheeyesoftheclergy,butofthegeneralpublic."Amongstthe
common people," one of their latest apologists admits, "vague rumours
circulated. They talked of the covetousness and want of scruple of the

Knights, of their passion for aggrandizement and their rapacity. Their

haughtyinsolencewasproverbial.Drinkinghabitswereattributedtothem;
thesayingwasalreadyinuse'todrinklikeaTemplar.'TheoldGerman
wordTempelhausindicatedahouseofillfame."140
ThesamerumourshadreachedClementVevenbeforehisaccessiontothe
papalthronein1305,141 andinthissameyearhesummonedtheGrand
MasteroftheOrder,JacquesduMolay,toreturntoFrancefromtheisland
of Cyprus, where he was assembling fresh forces to avenge the recent
reversesoftheChristianarmies.
DuMolayarrivedinFrancewithsixtyotherKnightsTemplarand150,000
goldflorins,aswellasalargequantityofsilverthattheOrderhadamassed
intheEast.142
ThePopenowsethimselftomakeenquiriesconcerningthechargesof
"unspeakableapostasyagainstGod,detestableidolatry,execrablevice,and
manyheresies"thathadbeen"secretlyintimated"tohim.But,toquotehis
ownwords:
Becauseitdidnotseemlikelynorcrediblethatmenofsuchreligionwho
werebelievedoftentoshedtheirbloodandfrequentlyexposetheirpersons
totheperilofdeathforChrist'sname,andwhoshowedsuchgreatand
manysignsofdevotionbothindivineofficesaswellasinfasts,asinother
devotionalobservances,shouldbesoforgetfuloftheirsalvationastodo
thesethings,wewereunwilling...togiveeartothiskindofinsinuation...
(hujusmodi insinuacioni ac delacioni ipsorum ... aurem noluimus
inclinare).143
TheKingofFrance,PhilippeleBel,whohadhithertobeenthefriendof
the Templars, now became alarmed and urged the Pope to take action
against them; but beforethePopewasabletofindoutmoreaboutthe
matter,theKingtookthelawintohisownhandsandhadalltheTemplars
inFrancearrestedonOctober13,1307.Thefollowingchargeswerethey
wereexamined:
1. The ceremony of initiation into their Order was accompanied by
insultstotheCross,thedenialofChrist,andgrossobscenities.
2. Theadorationofanidolwhichwassaidtobetheimageofthetrue
God.

3. TheomissionofthewordsofconsecrationatMass.
4. The right that the lay chiefs arrogated to themselves of giving
absolution.
5. Theauthorizationofunnaturalvice.
ToalltheseinfamiesagreatnumberoftheKnights,includingJacquesdu
Molay,confessedinalmostpreciselythesameterms;attheiradmission
intotheOrder,theysaid,theyhadbeenshownthecrossonwhichwasthe
figureofChrist,andhadbeenaskedwhethertheybelievedinHim;when
theyansweredyes,theyweretoldinsomecasesthatthiswaswrong(dixit
sibi quod male credebat),144 because He was not God, He was a false
prophet(quiafalsusprophetaerat,neceratDeus).145 Someaddedthat
theywerethenshownanidolorabeardedheadwhichtheyweretoldto
worship146;oneaddedthatthiswasofsuch"aterribleaspectthatitseemed
tohimtobethefaceofsomedevil,calledinFrench unmauf,andthat
wheneverhesawithewassoovercomewithfearthathecouldhardlylook
atitwithoutfearandtrembling."147Allwhoconfesseddeclaredthatthey
had been ordered to spit on the crucifix, and very many that they had
received the injunction to commit obscenities and to practise unnatural
vice.Somesaidthatontheirrefusaltocarryouttheseorderstheyhadbeen
threatened withimprisonment, evenperpetualimprisonment; afewsaid
they had actually been incarcerated148; one declared that he had been
terrorized,seizedbythethroat,andthreatenedwithdeath.149
Since,however,anumberoftheseconfessionsweremadeundertorture,it
ismoreimportant toconsider theevidenceprovidedbythetrialofthe
KnightsatthehandsofthePope,wherethismethodwasnotemployed.
Now,atthetimetheTemplarswerearrested,ClementV.,deeplyresenting
theKing'sinterferencewithanOrderwhichexistedentirelyunderpapal
jurisdiction,wroteinthestrongesttermsofremonstrancetoPhilippeleBel
urgingtheirrelease,andevenaftertheirtrial,neithertheconfessionsofthe
KnightsnortheangryexpostulationsoftheKingcouldpersuadehimto
believeintheirguilt.150 ButasthescandalconcerningtheTemplarswas
increasing,heconsentedtoreceiveinprivateaudience"acertainKnightof
theOrder,ofgreatnobilityandheldbythesaidOrderinnoslightesteem,"
whotestifiedtotheabominationsthattookplaceonthereceptionofthe
Brethren,thespittingonthecross,andotherthingswhichwerenotlawful

nor,humanlyspeaking,decent.151
The Pope then decided to hold an examination of seventytwo French
KnightsatPoictiersinordertodiscoverwhethertheconfessionsmadeby
them before the Inquisitor at Paris could be substantiated, and at this
examination, conducted without torture or pressure of any kind in the
presence of the Pope himself, the witnesses declared on oath that they
wouldtell"thefullandpuretruth."Theythenmadeconfessionswhich
werecommittedtowritingintheirpresence,andthesebeingafterwards
read aloud to them, they expressly and willingly approved them
(perseverantes in illis eas expresse et sponte, prout recitate fuerunt
approbarunt).152
Besidesthis,anexaminationoftheGrandMaster,JacquesduMolay,and
thePreceptorsoftheOrderwasheldinthepresenceof"threeCardinals
andfourpublicnotariesandmanyothergoodmen."Thesewitnesses,says
theofficialreport,"havingswornwiththeirhandsontheGospelofGod"
(adsanctadeievangeliaabiiscorporalitertacta)that
theywouldonalltheaforesaidthingsspeakthepureandfulltruth,they,
separately, freely, and spontaneously, without any coercion and fear,
deposedandconfessedamongotherthings,thedenialofChristandspitting
uponthecrosswhentheywerereceivedintotheOrderoftheTemple.And
someofthem(deposedandconfessed)thatunderthesameform,namely,
withdenialofChristandspittingonthecross,theyhadreceivedmany
BrothersintotheOrder.Someofthemtooconfessedcertainotherhorrible
anddisgustingthingsonwhichwearesilent....Besidesthis,theysaidand
confessed that those things which are contained in the confessions and
depositions of heretical depravity which they made lately before the
Inquisitor(ofParis)weretrue.
Theirconfessions,beingagaincommittedtowriting,wereapprovedbythe
witnesses, who then with bended knees and many tears asked for and
obtainedabsolution.153
ThePope,however,stillrefusedtotakeactionagainstthewholeOrder
merelybecausetheMasterandBrethrenaroundhimhad"gravelysinned,"
anditwasdecidedtoholdapapalcommissioninParis.Thefirstsitting
tookplaceinNovember1309,whentheGrandMasterand231Knights
weresummonedbeforethepontificalcommissioners."Thisenquiry,"says

Michelet,"wasconductedslowly,withmuchconsiderationandgentleness
(avec beaucoup de mnagement et de douceur) by high ecclesiastical
dignitaries,anarchbishop,severalbishops,etc." 154Butalthoughanumber
oftheKnights,includingtheGrandMaster,nowretractedtheiradmissions,
somedamningconfessionswereagainforthcoming.
Itisimpossiblewithinthescopeofthisbooktofollowthemanytrialsof
theTemplarsthattookplaceindifferentcountriesinItaly,atRavenna,
Pisa, Bologna, and Florence, where torture was not employed and
blasphemieswereadmitted,155orinGermany,wheretorturewasemployed
butnoconfessionsweremadeandaverdictwasgiveninfavourofthe
Order.AfewdetailsconcerningthetrialinEnglandmay,however,beof
interest.
IthasgenerallybeenheldthattorturewasnotappliedinEnglandowingto
thehumanityofEdwardII,whoatfirstabsolutelyrefusedtolistentoany
accusationsagainsttheOrder.156OnDecember10,1307,hehadwrittento
thePopeintheseterms:
And because the said Master or Brethren constant in the purity of the
Catholic faith have been frequently commended by us, and by all our
kingdom, both in their life and morals, we are unable to believe in
suspiciousstoriesofthiskinduntilweknowwithgreatercertaintyabout
thesethings.
We, therefore, pity from our souls the suffering and losses of the Sd.
Masterandbrethren,whichtheysufferinconsequenceofsuchinfamy,and
we supplicate most affectionately your Sanctity if it please you, that
consideringwithfavour suited tothegoodcharacter of theMaster and
brethren,youmaydeemfittomeetwithmoreindulgencethedetractions,
calumniesandchargesbycertainenviousandevildisposedpersons,who
endeavourtoturntheirgooddeedsintoworksofperversenessopposedto
divineteaching;untilthesaidchargesattributedtothemshallhavebeen
brought legally before you or your representatives here and more fully
proved.157
EdwardIIalsowroteinthesametermstotheKingsofPortugal,Castile,
Aragon,andSicily.Buttwoyearslater,afterClementVhadhimselfheard
theconfessionsoftheOrder,andaPapalBullhadbeenissueddeclaring

that"theunspeakablewickednessesandabominablecrimesofnotorious
heresy"hadnow"cometotheknowledgeofalmosteveryone,"EdwardII
was persuaded to arrest the Templars and order their examination.
AccordingtoMr.Castle,whoseinterestingtreatisewequotehere,theKing
wouldnotallowtorturetobeemployed,withtheresultthattheKnights
denied all charges; but later, it is said, he allowed himself to be
overpersuaded,and"tortureappearstohavebeenappliedononeortwo
occasions,"158withtheresultthatthreeKnightsconfessedtoallandwere
givenabsolution.159 AtSouthwark,however,"aconsiderablenumberof
brethren"admittedthat"theyhadbeenstronglyaccusedofthecrimesof
negationandspitting,theydidnotsaytheywereguiltybutthattheycould
not purge themselves ... and therefore they abjured these and all other
heresies."160 Evidence was also given against the Order by outside
witnesses,andthesamestoriesofintimidationattheceremonyofreception
weretold.161Atanyrate,theresultoftheinvestigationwasnotaltogether
satisfactory, and the Templars were finally suppressed in England as
elsewherebytheCouncilofViennein1312.
InFrancemorerigorousmeasureswereadoptedandfiftyfourKnightswho
hadretractedtheirconfessionswereburntatthestakeas"relapsedheretics"
onMay12,1310.Fouryearslater,onMarch14,1314,theGrandMaster,
JacquesduMolay,sufferedthesamefate.
Now,howevermuchwemustexecratethebarbarityofthissentenceas
alsothecrueltiesthathadprecededitthisisnoreasonwhyweshould
admit the claim of the Order to noble martyrdom put forward by the
historianswhohaveespousedtheircause.ThecharacteroftheTemplarsis
notrehabilitatedbycondemningtheconductoftheKingandPope.Yetthis
isthelineofargumentusuallyadoptedbythedefendersoftheOrder.Thus
thetwomaincontentionsonwhichtheybasetheirdefenceare,firstly,that
the confessions of the Knights were made under torture, therefore they
mustberegardedasnullandvoid;and,secondly,thatthewholeaffairwas
aplotconcertedbetweentheKingandPopeinordertoobtainpossession
oftheTemplars'riches.Letusexaminethesecontentionsinturn.
Inthefirstplace,aswehaveseen,allconfessionswerenotmadeunder
torture.Noone,asfarasIamaware,disputesMichelet'sassertionthatthe
enquiry before the Papal Commission in Paris, at which a number of
Knights adhered to the statements they had made to the Pope, was

conducted without pressure of any kind. But further, the fact that
confessionsaremadeundertorturedoesnotnecessarilyinvalidatethemas
evidence. Guy Fawkes also confessed under torture, yet it is never
suggestedthatthewholestoryoftheGunpowderPlotwasamyth.Torture,
howevermuchwemaycondemnit,hasfrequentlyprovedtheonlymethod
forovercomingtheintimidationexercisedoverthemindofaconspirator;a
manboundbytheterribleobligationsof aconfederacyandfearingthe
vengeanceofhisfellowconspiratorswillnotreadilyyieldtopersuasion,
butonlytoforce.If,then,someoftheTemplarswereterrorizedbytorture,
orevenbythefearoftorture,itmustnotbeforgottenthatterrorismwas
exercisedbybothsides.FewwilldenythattheKnightswereboundby
oaths of secrecy, so that on one hand they were threatened with the
vengeanceoftheOrderiftheybetrayeditssecrets,andontheotherfaced
withtortureiftheyrefusedtoconfess.Thustheyfoundthemselvesbetween
the devil and the deep sea. It was therefore not a case of a mild and
unoffendingOrdermeetingwithbrutaltreatmentatthehandsofauthority,
butofthevictimsofaterribleautocracybeingdeliveredintothehandsof
anotherautocracy.
Moreover,dotheconfessionsoftheKnightsappeartobetheoutcomeof
pureimaginationsuchasmenundertheinfluenceoftorturemightdevise?
It is certainly difficult to believe that the accounts of the ceremony of
initiation given in detail by men in different countries, all closely
resemblingeachother,yetrelatedindifferentphraseology,couldbepure
inventions.Hadthevictimsbeendriventoinventtheywouldsurelyhave
contradictedeachother,havecriedoutintheiragonythatallkindsofwild
andfantasticriteshadtakenplaceinordertosatisfythedemandsoftheir
interlocutors.But no,eachappearstobedescribingthesameceremony
more or less completely, with characteristic touches that indicate the
personalityofthespeaker,andinthemainallthestoriestally.
ThefurthercontentionthatthecaseagainsttheTemplarswasmanufactured
bytheKingandPopewithaviewtoobtainingtheirwealthisentirely
disprovedbyfacts.ThelatestFrenchhistorianofmedivalFrance,whilst
expressingdisbeliefintheguiltoftheTemplars,characterizesthiscounter
accusationas"puerile.""PhilippeleBel,"writesM.FunckBrentano,"has
neverbeenunderstood;fromthebeginningpeoplehavenotbeenjustto
him. This young prince was one of the greatest kings and the noblest
charactersthathaveappearedinhistory."162

Withoutcarryingappreciationsofar,onemustneverthelessaccordtoM.
FunckBrentano's statement offactstheattentionitmerits.Philippehas
been blamed for debasing the coin of the realm; in reality he merely
orderedittobemixedwithalloyasanecessarymeasureafterthewarwith
England,163 preciselyasowncoinagewasdebasedinconsequenceofthe
recentwar.Thiswasdonequiteopenlyandthecoinagewasrestoredatthe
earliest opportunity. Intensely national, his policy of attacking the
Lombards, exiling the Jews, and suppressing the Templars, however
regrettablethemethodsbywhichitwascarriedout,resultedinimmense
benefits to France; M. FunckBrentano has graphically described the
prosperityofthewholecountryduringtheearlyfourteenthcenturythe
increaseofpopulation,flourishingagricultureandindustry."InProvence
and Languedoc one meets swineherds who have vineyards; simple
cowherdswhohavetownhouses."164
TheattitudeofPhilippeleBeltowardstheTemplarsmustbeviewedinthis
lightruthlesssuppressionofanybodyofpeoplewhointerferedwiththe
prosperity of France. His action was not that of arbitrary authority; he
"proceeded," says M. FunckBrentano, "by means of an appeal to the
people.InhisnameNogaret(theChancellor)spoketotheParisiansinthe
garden of the Palace (October 13, 1307). Popular assemblies were
convoked all over France";165 "the Parliament of Tours, with hardly a
dissentientvote,declaredtheTemplarsworthyofdeath.TheUniversityof
Parisgavetheweightoftheirjudgementastothefullnessandauthenticity
oftheconfessions."166Evenassumingthatthesebodieswereactuatedby
thesameservilityasthatwhichhasbeenattributedtothePope,howarewe
toexplainthefactthatthetrialoftheOrderarousednooppositionamong
thefarfromdocilepeopleofParis?IftheTemplarshadindeed,asthey
professed,beenleadingnobleanduprightlives,devotingthemselvestothe
careofthepoor,onemightsurelyexpecttheirarresttobefollowedby
popularrisings.Butthereappearstohavebeennosignofthis.
AstothePope,wehavealreadyseenthatfromtheoutsethehadshown
himself extremely reluctant to condemn the Order, and no satisfactory
explanation isgiven of his change of attitude except that he wished to
pleasetheKing.Asfarashisowninterestswereconcerned,itisobvious
thathecouldhavenothingtogainbypublishingtotheworldascandalthat
mustinevitablybringopprobriumontheChurch.Hislamentationstothis

effectinthefamousBull167 clearlyshowthatherecognizedthisdanger
andthereforedesiredatallcoststocleartheaccusedKnights,ifevidence
couldbeobtainedintheirfavour.ItwasonlywhentheTemplarsmade
damningadmissionsinhispresencethathewasobligedtoabandontheir
defence.168Yetwearetoldthathedidthisoutofbasecompliancewiththe
wishesofPhilippeleBel.
PhilippeleBellisthusrepresentedasthearchvillainofthewholepiece,
throughsevenlongyearshoundingdownablamelessOrderfromwhom
uptotheverymomentoftheirarresthehadrepeatedlyreceivedloansof
moneysolelywiththeobjectofappropriatingtheirwealth.Yetafterall
wefindthatthepropertyoftheTemplarswasnotappropriatedbytheKing,
butwasgivenbyhimtotheKnightsofSt.JohnofJerusalem!
WhatwasthefateoftheTemplars'goods?PhilippeleBeldecidedthatthey
shouldbehandedovertotheHospitallers.ClementVstatesthattheOrders
givenbytheKingonthissubjectwereexecuted.Eventhedomainofthe
TempleinParis...uptotheeveoftheRevolutionwasthepropertyofthe
KnightsofSt.JohnofJerusalem.Theroyaltreasurykeptforitselfcertain
sumsforthecostsofthetrial.Thesehadbeenimmense.169
ThesefactsinnowaydaunttheantagonistsofPhilippe,whowearenow
assuredagainwithoutanyproofwhateverwasoverruledbythePopein
thismatter.Butsettingallmoralityaside,asamerequestionofpolicy,isit
likely that the King would have deprived himself of his most valuable
financialsupportersandgonetotheimmensetroubleofbringingthemto
trial without first assuring himself that he would benefit by the affair?
Wouldhe,inotherwords,havekilledthegoosethatlaidthegoldeneggs
without any guarantee that the body of the goose would remain in his
possession?Again,if,aswearetold,thePopesuppressedtheOrdersoas
to please the King, why should he have thwarted him over the whole
purpose the King had in view? Might we not expect indignant
remonstrancesfromPhilippeatthusbeingbaulkedofthebootyhehad
toiledsolongtogain?But,onthecontrary,wefindhimcompletelyin
agreementwiththePopeonthissubject.InNovember1309ClementV
distinctlystatedthat"PhilippetheIllustrious,KingofFrance,"towhomthe
factsconcerningtheTemplarshadbeentold,was"notpromptedbyavarice
sincehedesiredtokeeporappropriateforhimselfnopartoftheproperty
oftheTemplars,butliberallyanddevotedlyleftthemtousandtheChurch

tobeadministered,"etc.170
ThusthewholetheoryconcerningtheobjectforwhichtheTemplarswere
suppressedfallstothegroundatheorywhichonexaminationisseentobe
builtupentirelyontheplanofimputingmotiveswithoutanyjustification
infacts.TheKingactedfromcupidity,thePopefromservility,andthe
Templars confessed from fear of tortureon these pure hypotheses
defendersoftheOrderbasetheirarguments.
Thetruthis,farmoreprobably,thatiftheKinghadanyadditionalreason
forsuppressingtheTemplarsitwasnotenvyoftheirwealthbutfearofthe
immensepowertheirwealthconferred;theOrderdaredeventodefythe
King and to refuse to pay taxes. The Temple in fact constituted an
imperiuminimperio thatthreatenednotonlytheroyalauthoritybutthe
wholesocialsystem.171AnimportantlightisthrownonthesituationbyM.
FunckBrentanointhispassage:
AstheTemplarshadhousesinallcountries,theypractisedthefinancial
operationsoftheinternationalbanksofourtimes;theywereacquainted
withlettersofchange,orderspayableatsight,theyinstituteddividendsand
annuitiesondepositedcapital,advancedfunds,lentoncredit,controlled
private accounts, undertook to raise taxes for the lay and ecclesiastical
seigneurs.172
Throughtheirproficiencyinthesemattersacquiredverypossiblyfromthe
JewsofAlexandriawhomtheymusthavemetintheEasttheTemplars
hadbecomethe"internationalfinanciers"and"internationalcapitalists"of
theirday;hadtheynotbeensuppressed,alltheevilsnowdenouncedby
Socialistsaspeculiartothesystemtheydescribeas"Capitalism"trusts,
monopolies,and"corners"wouldinallprobabilityhavebeeninaugurated
duringthecourseofthefourteenthcenturyinafarworseformthanatthe
presentday,sincenolegislationexistedtoprotectthecommunityatlarge.
The feudal system, as Marx and Engels perceived, was the principal
obstacletoexploitationbyafinancialautocracy.173
Moreover,itisbynomeansimprobablethatthisorderofthingswould
have been brought about by the violent overthrow of the French
monarchyindeed, of all monarchies; the Templars, "those terrible
conspirators," says Eliphas Lvi, "threatened the whole world with an
immenserevolution."174

Here perhaps we may find the reason why this band of dissolute and
rapacious nobles has enlisted the passionate sympathy of democratic
writers.Foritwillbenoticedthatthesesamewriterswhoattributethe
King'scondemnationoftheOrdertoenvyoftheirwealthneverapplythis
argument tothedemagoguesoftheeighteenthcenturyandsuggestthat
theiraccusationsagainstthenoblesofFrancewereinspiredbycupidity,
norwouldtheyeveradmitthatanysuchmotivemayenterintothediatribes
againstprivateownersofwealthtoday.TheTemplarsthusremaintheonly
bodyofcapitalists,withtheexceptionoftheJews,tobenotonlypardoned
fortheirrichesbutexaltedasnoblevictimsofprejudiceandenvy.Isit
merelybecausetheTemplarsweretheenemiesofmonarchy?Orisitthat
theworldrevolution,whilstattackingprivateownersofproperty,hasnever
beenopposedtoInternationalFinance,particularlywhencombinedwith
antiChristiantendencies?
ItisthecontinueddefenceoftheTemplarswhich,tothepresentwriter,
appears the most convincing evidence against them. For even if one
believestheminnocentofthecrimeslaidtotheircharge,howisitpossible
toadmirethemintheirlaterstages?Thefactthatcannotbedeniedisthat
theywerefalsetotheirobligations;thattheytookthevowofpovertyand
thengrewnotonlyrichbutarrogant;thattheytookthevowofchastityand
became notoriously immoral.175 Are all these things then condoned
becausetheTemplarsformedalinkinthechainofworldrevolution?
At this distance of time the guilt or innocence of the Templars will
probably never be conclusively established either way; on the mass of
conflictingevidencebequeathedtousbyhistorynoonecanpronouncea
finaljudgement.
Withoutattemptingtodigmatizeonthequestion,Iwouldsuggestthatthe
realtruthmaybethattheKnightswerebothinnocentandguilty,thatisto
say,thatacertainnumber wereinitiatedintothesecretdoctrineof the
Order whilst the majority remained throughout in ignorance. Thus
accordingtotheevidenceofStephendeStapelbrugge,anEnglishKnight,
"thereweretwomodesofreception,onelawfulandgoodandtheother
contrarytotheFaith."176Thiswouldaccountforthefactthatsomeofthe
accuseddeclinedtoconfessevenunderthegreatestpressure.Thesemay
reallyhaveknownnothingoftherealdoctrinesoftheOrder,whichwere
confidedorallyonlytothosewhomthesuperiorsregardedasunlikelytobe

revoltedbythem.Suchhavealwaysbeenthemethodsofsecretsocieties,
fromtheIsmailisonward.
ThistheoryofadoubledoctrineisputforwardbyLoiseleur,whoobserves:
IfweconsultthestatutesoftheOrderoftheTempleastheyhavecome
downtous,weshallcertainlydiscoverthereisnothingthatjustifiesthe
strangeandabominablepracticesrevealedattheInquiry.But...besidesthe
publicrule,hadnottheOrderanotherone,whethertraditionalorwritten,
authorizingorevenprescribingthesepracticesasecretrule,revealedonly
totheinitiates?177
EliphasLvialsoexoneratesthemajorityoftheTemplarsfromcomplicity
ineitherantimonarchicalorantireligiousdesigns:
ThesetendencieswereenvelopedinprofoundmysteryandtheOrdermade
anoutwardprofessionof themostperfectorthodoxy.TheChiefsalone
knewwhithertheyweregoing;therestfollowedunsuspectingly.178
What,then,wastheTemplarheresy?Onthispointwefindavarietyof
opinions.AccordingtoWilcke,Ranke,andWeberitwas"theunitarian
deismofIslam"179;LecouteulxdeCanteleuthinks,however,itwasderived
fromhereticalIslamicsources,andrelatesthatwhilstinPalestine,oneof
theKnights,GuillaumedeMontbard,wasinitiatedbytheOldManofthe
Mountain in a cave of Mount Lebanon.180 That a certain resemblance
existedbetweentheTemplarsandtheAssassinshasbeenindicatedbyvon
Hammer,181andfurtheremphasizedbytheFreemasonClavel:
Orientalhistoriansshowus,atdifferentperiods,theOrderoftheTemplars
maintainingintimaterelationswiththatoftheAssassins,andtheyinsiston
theaffinitythatexistedbetweenthetwoassociations.Theyremarkthat
theyhadadoptedthesamecolours,whiteandred;thattheyhadthesame
organization,thesamehierarchyofdegrees,thoseoffedavi,refik,anddai
inonecorrespondingtothoseofnovice,professed,andknightintheother;
thatbothconspiredfortheruinofthereligionstheyprofessedinpublic,
andthatfinallybothpossessednumerouscastles,theformerinAsia,the
latterinEurope.182
Butinspiteoftheseoutwardresemblancesitdoesnotappearfromthe
confessionsoftheKnightsthatthesecretdoctrineoftheTemplarswasthat

of the Assassins or of any Ismaili sect by which, in accordance with

orthodox Islamism, Jesus was openly held up as a prophet, although,
secretly,indifferencetoallreligionwasinculcated.TheTemplars,asfaras
canbediscovered,wereantiChristiandeists;Loiseleurconsidersthattheir
ideas were derived from Gnostic or Manichean dualistsCathari,
Paulicians,ormoreparticularlyBogomils,ofwhichabriefaccountmust
begivenhere.
The Paulicians, who flourished about the seventh century A.D., bore a
resemblance to the Cainites and Ophites in their detestation of the
Demiurgus and in the corruption of their morals. Later, in the ninth
century,theBogomils,whosenamesignifiesinSlavonic"friendsofGod"
andwhohadmigratedfromNorthernSyriaandMesopotamiatotheBalkan
Peninsula, particularly Thrace, appeared as a further development of
Manicheandualism.Theirdoctrinemaybesummarizedthus:
God,theSupremeFather,hastwosons,theelderSatanael,theyounger
Jesus.ToSatanael,whosatontherighthandofGod,belongedtherightof
governingthecelestialworld,but,filledwithpride,herebelledagainsthis
FatherandfellfromHeaven.Then,aidedbythecompanionsofhisfall,he
createdthevisibleworld,imageofthecelestial,havingliketheotherits
sun, moon, and stars, and last he created man and the serpent which
becamehisminister.LaterChristcametoearthinordertoshowmenthe
waytoHeaven,butHisdeathwasineffectual,forevenbydescendinginto
HellHecouldnotwrestthepowerfromSatanael,i.e.Satan.
This belief in the impotence of Christ and the necessity therefore for
placatingSatan,notonly"thePrinceofthisworld,"butitscreator,ledto
the further doctrine that Satan, being allpowerful, should be adored.
NicetasChoniates,aByzantinehistorianofthetwelfthcentury,described
the followers of this cult as "Satanists," because "considering Satan
powerfultheyworshippedhimlesthemightdothemharm";subsequently
theywereknownasLuciferians,theirdoctrine(asstatedbyNeuss and
Vitoduranus)beingthatLuciferwasunjustlydrivenoutofHeaven,that
onedayhewillascendthereagainandberestoredtohisformergloryand
powerinthecelestialworld.
TheBogomilsandLuciferianswerethuscloselyakin,butwhilsttheformer
dividedtheirworshipbetweenGodandHistwosons,thelatterworshipped
Luciferonly,regardingthematerialworldashisworkandholdingthatby

indulgingthefleshtheywerepropitiatingtheirDemonCreator.Itwassaid
thatablackcat,thesymbolofSatan,figuredintheirceremoniesasan
objectofworship,alsothatattheirhorriblenocturnalorgiessacrificesof
childrenweremadeandtheirbloodusedformakingtheEucharisticbread
ofthesect.183
ThustheTemplarsrecognizeatthesametimeagoodgod,incommunicable
tomanandconsequentlywithoutsymbolicrepresentation,andabadgod,
towhomtheygivethefeaturesofanidoloffearfulaspect.184
Theirmostferventworshipwasaddressedtothisgodofevil,whoalone
couldenrichthem."TheysaidwiththeLuciferians:'TheeldersonofGod,
SatanaelorLuciferalonehasarighttothehomageofmortals;Jesushis
youngerbrotherdoesnotdeservethishonour.'"185
Althoughweshallnotfindtheseideassoclearlydefinedintheconfessions
oftheKnights,somecolourislenttothistheorybythosewhorelatedthat
the reason given to them for not believing in Christ was "that He was
nothing,He was a false prophet andof novalue, andthat they should
believeintheHigherGodofHeavenwhocouldsavethem." 186According
toLoiseleur,theidoltheyweretaughttoworship,thebeardedheadknown
to history as Baphomet, represented "the inferior god, organizer and
dominatorofthematerialworld,authorofgoodandevilherebelow,him
bywhomevilwasintroducedintocreation."187
TheetymologyofthewordBaphometisdifficulttodiscover;Raynouard
saysitoriginatedwithtwowitnessesheardatCarcassonnewhospokeof
"FiguraBaflometi,"andsuggeststhatitwasacorruptionof"Mohammed,"
whomtheInquisitorswishedtomaketheKnightsconfesstheyweretaught
toadore.188ButthissurmisewithregardtotheintentionsoftheInquisitors
seemshighlyimprobable,sincetheymusthavebeenwellawarethat,as
Wilckepointsout,theMoslemsforbidallidols. 189ForthisreasonWilcke
concludesthattheMohammedanismoftheTemplarswascombinedwith
Cabalismandthattheiridolwasinrealitythemacroprosopos,orheadof
theAncientofAncients,representedasanoldmanwithalongbeard,or
sometimesasthreeheadsinone,whichhasalreadybeenreferredtounder
thenameoftheLongFaceinthefirstchapterofthisbookatheorywhich
wouldagreewithEliphasLvi'sassertionthattheTemplarswere"initiated
intothemysteriousdoctrinesoftheCabala." 190ButLvigoesontodefine

this teaching under the name of Johannism. It is here that we reach a

furthertheorywithregardtothesecretdoctrineoftheTemplarsthemost
importantofall,sinceitemanatesfrommasonicandneoTemplarsources
thuseffectuallydisposingofthecontentionthatthechargebroughtagainst
theOrderofapostasyfromtheCatholicfaithissolelytheinventionof
Catholicwriters.
In1842theFreemasonRagonrelatedthattheTemplarslearntfromthe
"initiatesoftheEast"acertainJudaicdoctrinewhichwasattributedtoSt.
JohntheApostle;therefore"theyrenouncedthereligionofSt.Peter"and
becameJohannites.191EliphasLviexpressesthesameopinion.
Now,thesestatementsareapparentlyfoundedonalegendwhichwasfirst
publishedearlyinthenineteenthcentury,whenanassociationcallingitself
theOrdreduTempleandclaimingdirectdescentfromtheoriginalTemplar
Order published two works, the Manuel des Chevaliers de l'Ordre du
Templein1811,andtheLvitikonin1831,togetherwithaversionofthe
GospelofSt.JohndifferingfromtheVulgate.Thesebooks,whichappear
tohavebeenprintedonlyforprivatecirculationamongstthemembersand
are now extremely rare, relate that the Order of the Temple had never
ceasedtoexistsincethedaysofJacquesduMolay,whoappointedJacques
deLarmniehissuccessorinoffice,andfromthattimeonwardsalineof
GrandMastershadsucceededeachotherwithoutabreakuptotheendof
the eighteenth century, when it ceased for a brief period but was
reinstitutedunderanewGrandMaster,FabrPalaprat,in1804.Besides
publishing the list of all Grand Masters, known as the "Charter of
Larmenius," said to have been preserved in the secret archives of the
Temple, these works also reproduce another document drawn from the
same repository describing the origins of the Order. This manuscript,
writteninGreekonparchment,dated1154,purportstobepartlytaken
fromafifthcenturyMS.andrelatesthatHuguesdePayens,firstGrand
MasteroftheTemplars,wasinitiatedin1118thatistosay,intheyearthe
Orderwasfoundedintothereligiousdoctrineof"thePrimitiveChristian
Church"byitsSovereignPontiffandPatriarch,Theoclet,sixtiethindirect
successionfromSt.JohntheApostle.ThehistoryofthePrimitiveChurch
isthengivenasfollows:
Moses was initiated in Egypt. Profoundly versed in the physical,
theological, and metaphysical mysteries of the priests, he knew how to
profitbythesesoastosurmountthepoweroftheMagesanddeliverhis

companions.Aaron,hisbrother,andthechiefsoftheHebrewsbecamethe
depositariesofhisdoctrine....TheSonofGodafterwardsappearedonthe
sceneoftheworld....HewasbroughtupattheschoolofAlexandria....
Imbued witha spirit wholly divine,endowed with themost astounding
qualities(dispositions),hewasabletoreachallthedegreesofEgyptian
initiation. On his return to Jerusalem, he presented himself before the
chiefs of the Synagogue.... Jesus Christ, directing the fruit of his lofty
meditationstowardsuniversalcivilizationandthehappinessoftheworld,
renttheveilwhichconcealedthetruthfromthepeoples.Hepreachedthe
loveofGod,theloveofone'sneighbour,andequalitybeforethecommon
Fatherofallmen....
Jesus conferred evangelical initiation on his apostles and disciples. He
transmittedhisspirittothem,dividedthemintoseveralordersafterthe
practiceofJohn,thebeloveddisciple,theapostleoffraternallove,whom
hehadinstitutedSovereignPontiffandPatriarch....
HerewehavethewholeCabalisticlegendofasecretdoctrinedescending
from Moses, of Christ as an Egyptian initiate and founder of a secret
orderatheory,ofcourse,absolutelydestructiveofbeliefinHisdivinity.
ThelegendoftheOrdreduTemplegoesontosay:
Up to about the year 1118 (i.e. the year the Order of the Temple was
founded)themysteriesandthehierarchicOrderoftheinitiationofEgypt,
transmitted to the Jews by Moses, then to the Christians by J.C., were
religiously preserved by the successors of St. John the Apostle. These
mysteries and initiations, regenerated by the evangelical initiation (or
baptism), were a sacred trust which the simplicity of the primitive and
unchangingmoralityofthe BrothersoftheEast hadpreservedfromall
adulteration....
TheChristians,persecutedbytheinfidels,appreciatingthecourageand
pietyofthesebravecrusaders,who,withtheswordinonehandandthe
crossintheother,flewtothedefenceoftheholyplaces,and,aboveall,
doingstrikingjusticetothevirtuesandtheardentcharityofHuguesde
Payens, held it their duty to confide to hands so pure the treasures of
knowledgeacquiredthroughoutsomanycenturies,sanctifiedbythecross,
thedogmaandthemoralityoftheManGod.Hugueswasinvestedwiththe
Apostolic Patriarchal power and placed in the legitimate order of the

successorsofSt.Johntheapostleortheevangelist.
SuchistheoriginofthefoundationoftheOrderoftheTempleandofthe
fusioninthisOrderofthedifferentkindsofinitiationoftheChristiansof
theEastdesignatedunderthetitleofPrimitiveChristiansorJohannites.
It will be seen at once that all this story is subtly subversive of true
Christianity,andthattheappellationofChristiansappliedtotheJohannites
is an imposture. Indeed Fabr Palaprat, Grand Master of the Ordre du
Temple in 1804, who in his book on the Templars repeats the story
contained in the Lvitikon and the Manuel des Chevaliers du Temple,
whilst making the same profession of "primitive Christian" doctrines
descendingfromSt.JohnthroughTheocletandHuguesdePayenstothe
Orderoverwhichhepresides,goesontosaythatthesecretdoctrineofthe
Templars"wasessentiallycontrarytothecanonsoftheChurchofRome
andthatitisprincipallytothisfactthatonemustattributethepersecution
ofwhichhistoryhaspreservedthememory." 192ThebeliefofthePrimitive
Christians,andconsequentlythattheTemplars,withregardtothemiracles
ofChrististhatHe"didormayhavedoneextraordinaryormiraculous
things," and that since "God can do things incomprehensible to human
intelligence,"thePrimitiveChurchvenerates"alltheactsofChristasthey
aredescribedintheGospel,whetheritconsidersthemasactsofhuman
scienceorwhetherasactsofdivinepower."193 Beliefinthedivinityof
Christisthusleftanopenquestion,andthesameattitudeismaintained
towardstheResurrection,ofwhichthestoryisomittedintheGospelofSt.
JohnpossessedbytheOrder.FabrPalapratfurtheradmitsthatthegravest
accusationsbroughtagainsttheTemplarswerefoundedonfactswhichhe
attemptstoexplainawayinthefollowingmanner:
The Templars having in 1307 carefully abstracted all the manuscripts
composing the secret archives of the Order from the search made by
authority, and these authentic manuscripts having been preciously
preservedsincethatperiod,wehavetodaythecertaintythattheKnights
enduredagreatnumberofreligiousandmoraltrialsbeforereachingthe
different degrees of initiation: thus, for example, the recipient might
receivetheinjunctionunderpainofdeathtotrampleonthecrucifixorto
worshipanidol,butifheyieldedtotheterrorwhichtheysoughttoinspire
inhimhewasdeclaredunworthyofbeingadmittedtothehighergradesof

the Order. One can imagine in this way how beings, too feeble or too
immoraltoendurethetrialsofinitiation,mayhaveaccusedtheTemplars
ofgivingthemselvesuptoinfamouspracticesandofhavingsuperstitious
beliefs.
ItiscertainlynotsurprisingthatanOrderwhichgavesuchinjunctionsas
these,forwhateverpurpose,shouldhavebecometheobjectofsuspicion.
Eliphas Lvi,who,likeRagon, accepts thestatements of the Ordre du
Templeconcerningthe"Johannite"originoftheTemplars'secretdoctrine,
is,however,notdeceivedbytheseprofessionsofChristianity,andboldly
assertsthattheSovereignPontiffTheocletinitiatedHuguesdePayens"into
themysteriesandhopesofhispretendedChurch,heluredhimbytheideas
ofsacerdotalsovereigntyandsupremeroyalty,heindicatedhimfinallyas
hissuccessor.SotheOrderoftheKnightsoftheTemplewasstainedfrom
its origin with schism and conspiracy against Kings."194 Further, Lvi
relatesthattherealstorytoldtoinitiatesconcerningChristwasnoother
thantheinfamousToledotYeshudescribedinthefirstchapterofthisbook,
and which the Johannites dared to attribute to St. John. 195 This would
accordwiththeconfessionoftheCatalonianKnightTemplar,Galcerandus
deTeus,whostatedthattheformofabsolutionintheOrderwas:"Ipray
GodthatHemaypardonyoursinsasHepardonedSt.MaryMagdalene
andthethiefonthecross";butthewitnesswentontoexplain:
BythethiefofwhichtheheadoftheChapterspeaks,ismeant,accordingto
ourstatutes,thatJesusorChristwhowascrucifiedbytheJewsbecausehe
wasnotGod,andyethesaidhewasGodandtheKingoftheJews,which
was an outrage to the true God who is in Heaven. When Jesus, a few
momentsbeforehisdeath,hadhissidepiercedbythelanceofLonginus,
herepentedofhavingcalledhimselfGodandKingoftheJewsandhe
askedpardonofthetrueGod;thenthetrueGodpardonedhim.Itisthus
thatweapplytothecrucifiedChristthesewords:"asGodpardonedthe
thiefonthecross."196
Raynouard, who quotes this deposition, stigmatizes it as "singular and
extravagant";M.Matteragreesthatitisdoubtlessextravagant,butthat"it
merits attention. There was a whole system there, which was not the
inventionofGalcerant."197 EliphasLviprovidesthecluetothatsystem
andtothereasonwhyChristwasdescribedasathief,byindicatingthe

CabalisticlegendwhereinHewasdescribedashaving stolen thesacred

NamefromtheHolyofHolies.ElsewhereheexplainsthattheJohannites
"madethemselvesouttobetheonlypeopleinitiatedintothetruemysteries
ofthereligionoftheSaviour.Theyprofessedtoknowtherealhistoryof
JesusChrist,andbyadoptingpartofJewishtraditionsandthestoriesofthe
Talmud,theymadeoutthatthefactsrelatedintheGospels"thatistosay,
the Gospels accepted by the orthodox Church"were only allegories of
whichSt.Johngivesthekey."198
But it istimetopass fromlegend tofacts. For thewhole storyof the
initiation of the Templars by the "Johannites" rests principally on the
documentsproducedbytheOrdreduTemplein1811.Accordingtothe
Abbs Grgoire and Mnter the authenticity and antiquity of these
documents are beyond dispute. Grgoire, referring to the parchment
manuscriptofthe Lvitikon andGospelofSt.John,saysthat"Hellenists
versed in paleography believe this manuscript to be of the thirteenth
century, others declare it to be earlier and to go back to the eleventh
century."199 Matter,ontheotherhand,quotingMnter'sopinionthatthe
manuscripts in the archives of the modern Templars date from the
thirteenthcentury,observesthatthisisallatissueoferrorsandthatthe
critics,includingthelearnedProfessorThiloofHalle,haverecognizedthat
themanuscriptinquestion,farfrombelongingtothethirteenthcentury,
datesfromthebeginningoftheeighteenth.Fromthearrangementofthe
chapters of theGospel, M. Matter arrives atthe conclusion that it was
intended to accompany the ceremonies of some masonic or secret
society.200Weshallreturntothispossibilityinalaterchapter.
TheantiquityofthemanuscriptcontainingthehistoryoftheTemplarsthus
remains an open question on which no one can pronounce an opinion
withouthavingseentheoriginal.Inorder,then,tojudgeoftheprobability
ofthestorythatthismanuscriptcontaineditisnecessarytoconsultthe
factsofhistoryandtodiscoverwhatproofcanbefoundthatanysuchsect
astheJohannitesexistedatthetimeoftheCrusadesorearlier.Certainly
noneisknowntohavebeencalledbythisnameorbyoneresemblingit
before1622,whensomePortuguesemonksreportedtheexistenceofasect
whomtheydescribedas"ChristiansofSt.John"inhabitingthebanksofthe
Euphrates.Theappellationappears,however,tohavebeenwronglyapplied
by the monks, for the sectarians in question, variously known as the
Mandans,Mandaites,Sabians,Nazoreans,etc.,calledthemselvesManda

Iyahi,thatistosay,thedisciples,orratherthewisemen,ofJohn,theword
manda beingderivedfromtheChaldeanword manda,correspondingto
theGreekwordorwisdom.201Themultiplicityofnamesgivento
theMandansarisesapparentlyfromthefactthatintheirdealingswith
othercommunitiestheytookthenameofSabians,whilsttheycalledthe
wise and learned amongst themselves Nazoreans. 202 The sect formerly
inhabitedthebanksoftheJordan,butwasdrivenoutbytheMoslems,who
forced them to retire to Mesopotamia and Babylonia, where they
particularlyaffectedtheneighbourhoodofriversinordertobeabletocarry
outtheirpeculiarbaptismalrites.203
TherecanbenodoubtthatthedoctrinesoftheMandansdoresemblethe
descriptionoftheJohanniteheresyasgivenbyEliphasLvi,thoughnotby
theOrdreduTemple,inthattheMandansprofessedtobethedisciplesof
St.JohntheBaptist,however,nottheApostlebutwereatthesametime
theenemiesofJesusChrist.AccordingtotheMandans' BookofJohn
(Sidrad'Yahya),Yahya,thatistosay,St.John,baptizedmyriadsofmen
duringfortyyearsintheJordan.Byamistakeorinresponsetoawritten
mandatefromheavensaying,"Yahya,baptizetheliarintheJordan"he
baptizedthefalseprophetYishuMeshiha(theMessiahJesus),sonofthe
devilRuhaKadishta.204Thesameideaisfoundinanotherbookofthesect,
calledthe"BookofAdam,"whichrepresentsJesusastheperverterofSt.
John'sdoctrineandthedisseminatorofiniquityandperfidythroughoutthe
world.205TheresemblancebetweenallthisandthelegendsoftheTalmud,
the Cabala, and the Toledot Yeshu is at once apparent; moreover, the
Mandans claim for the "Book of Adam" the same origin as the Jews
claimedfortheCabala,namely,thatitwasdeliveredtoAdambyGod
throughthehandsoftheangelRazael.206Thisbook,knowntoscholarsas
theCodexNasarus,isdescribedbyMnteras"asortofmosaicwithout
order,withoutmethod,whereonefindsmentionedNoah,Abraham,Moses,
Solomon,theTempleofJerusalem,St.JohntheBaptist,JesusChrist,the
Christians,andMohammed."M.Matter,whilstdenyinganyproofofthe
TemplarsuccessionfromtheMandans,neverthelessgivesgoodreason
for believing that the sect itself existed from the first centuries of the
Christianeraandthatitsbooksdatedfromtheeighthcentury 207;further
thattheseMandansorNazoreansnottobeconfoundedwiththepre
Christian Nazarites or Christian Nazareneswere Jews who revered St.

JohntheBaptist astheprophetofancientMosaism,butregardedJesus
ChristasafalseMessiahsentbythepowersofdarkness. 208ModernJewish
opinion confirms this affirmation of Judaic inspiration and agrees with
MatterindescribingtheMandansasGnostics:"Theirsacredbooksarein
anAramaicdialect,whichhascloseaffinitieswiththatoftheTalmudof
Babylon." The Jewish influence is distinctly visible in the Mandan
religion."ItisessentiallyofthetypeofancientGnosticism,tracesofwhich
arefoundintheTalmud,theMidrash,andinamodifiedformthelater
Cabala."209
Itmaythenberegardedascertainthatasectexistedlongbeforethetimeof
theCrusadescorrespondingtothedescriptionoftheJohannitesgivenby
Eliphas Lvi in that it was Cabalistic, antiChristian, yet professedly
foundedonthedoctrinesofoneoftheSt.Johns.Whetheritwasbythis
sectthattheTemplarswereindoctrinatedmustremainanopenquestion.
M.Matterobjectsthattheevidencelackingtosuchaconclusionliesinthe
factthattheTemplarsexpressednoparticularreverenceforSt.John;but
LoiseleurassertsthattheTemplarsdidprefertheGospelofSt.Johntothat
oftheotherevangelists,andthatmodernmasoniclodgesclaimingdescent
fromtheTemplarspossessaspecialversionofthisGospelsaidtohave
been copied from the original on Mount Athos. 210 It is also said that
"Baphomets"werepreservedinthemasoniclodgesofHungary,wherea
debasedformofMasonry,knownasJohanniteMasonry,survivestothis
day.IftheTemplarheresywasthatoftheJohannites,theheadinquestion
mightpossiblyrepresentthatofJohntheBaptist,whichwouldaccordwith
the theory that the word Baphomet was derived from Greek words
signifyingbaptismofwisdom.Thiswould,moreover,notbeincompatible
with Loiseleur's theory of an affinity between the Templars and the
Bogomils,fortheBogomilsalsopossessedtheirownversionoftheGospel
ofSt.John,whichtheyplacedontheheadsoftheirneophytesduringthe
ceremonyofinitiation,211givingasthereasonforthe'Ipeculiarveneration
theyprofessedforitsauthorthattheyregardedSt.Johnastheservantof
theJewishGodSatanael.212EliphasLvievengoessofarastoaccusethe
TemplarsoffollowingtheoccultpracticesoftheLuciferians,whocarried
thedoctrinesoftheBogomilstothepointofpayinghomagetothepowers
ofdarkness:
Letusdeclarefortheedificationofthevulgar...andforthegreaterglory

oftheChurchwhichhaspersecutedtheTemplars,burnedthemagicians
andexcommunicatedtheFreeMasons,etc.,letussayboldlyandloudly,
that all the initiates of the occult sciences ... have adored, do and will
alwaysadorethatwhichissignifiedbythisfrightfulsymbol[theSabbatic
goat].213Yes,inourprofoundconviction,theGrandMastersoftheOrder
oftheTemplarsadoredBaphometandcausedhimtobeadoredbytheir
initiates.214
It will be seen, then, that the accusation of heresy brought against the
TemplarsdoesnotemanatesolelyfromtheCatholicChurch,butalsofrom
thesecretsocieties.EvenourFreemasons,who,forreasonsIshallshow
later,havegenerallydefendedtheOrder,arenowwillingtoadmitthat
there was a very real case against them. Thus Dr. Ranking, who has
devotedmanyyearsofstudytothequestion,hasarrivedattheconclusion
thatJohannismistherealcluetotheTemplarheresy.Inaveryinteresting
paper published in the masonic journal Ars Quatuor Coronatorum, he
observesthat"therecordoftheTemplarsinPalestineisonelongtaleof
intrigueandtreacheryonthepartoftheOrder,"andfinally:
That from the very commencement of Christianity there has been
transmitted through the centuries a body of doctrine incompatible with
ChristianityinthevariousofficialChurches....Thatthebodiesteaching
thesedoctrinesprofessedtodosoontheauthorityofSt.John,towhom,as
they claimed, the true secrets had been committed by the Founder of
Christianity.ThatduringtheMiddleAgesthemainsupportoftheGnostic
bodiesandthemainrepositoryofthisknowledgewastheSocietyofthe
Templars.215
WhatistheexplanationofthischoiceofSt.Johnforthepropagationof
antiChristiandoctrineswhichweshallfindcontinuinguptothepresent
day?Whatelsethanthemethodofperversionwhichinitsextremeform
becomesSatanism,andconsistsinalwaysselectingthemostsacredthings
forthepurposeofdesecration?PreciselythenbecausetheGospelofSt.
JohnistheoneofallthefourwhichmostinsistsonthedivinityofChrist,
theoccultantiChristiansectshavehabituallymadeitthebasisoftheir
rites.

Chapter 4:

Three Centuries of Occultism

Ithasbeenshownintheforegoingchaptersthatfromveryearlytimes
occultsectshadexistedfortwopurposesesotericandpolitical.Whilstthe
Manicheans, the early Ismailis, the Bogomils, and the Luciferians had
concernedthemselvesmainlywithreligiousoresotericdoctrines,thelater
Ismailis, the Fatimites, the Karmathites, and Templars had combined
secrecyandoccultriteswiththepoliticalaimofdomination.Weshallfind
thisdoubletraditionrunningthroughallthesecretsocietymovementupto
thepresentday.
The Dualist doctrines attributed to the Templars were not, however,
confinedtothisOrderinEurope,buthadbeen,aswehaveseen,those
professedbytheBogomilsandalsobytheCathari,whospreadwestwards
from Bulgaria and Bosnia to France. It was owing to their sojourn in
Bulgaria that the Cathari gained the popular nickname of "Bulgars" or
"Bourgres,"signifyingthoseaddictedtounnaturalvice.Onesectionofthe
CathariintheSouthofFrancebecameknownafter1180astheAlbigenses,
thuscalledfromthetownofAlbi,althoughtheirheadquarterswerereally
inToulouse.Christiansonlyinname,theyadheredinsecrettotheGnostic
andManicheandoctrinesoftheearlierCathari,whichtheywouldappearto
havecombinedwithJohannism,since,likethisEasternsect,theyclaimed
topossesstheirownGospelofSt.John.216
Althoughnotstrictlyasecretsociety,theAlbigensesweredividedafterthe
secretsocietysystemintoinitiatesandsemiinitiates.Theformer,fewin
number,knownasthePerfecti,ledinappearanceanausterelife,refraining
frommeatandprofessingabhorrenceofoathsoroflying.Themysteryin
whichtheyenvelopedthemselveswonforthemtheadoringreverenceof
the Credentes, who formed the great majority of the sect and gave
themselvesuptoeveryvice,tousury,brigandage,andperjury,andwhilst
describing marriage as prostitution, condoning incest and all forms of

licence.217 The Credentes,whowereprobablynotfullyinitiatedintothe

Dualistdoctrinesoftheirsuperiors,lookedtothemforsalvationthrough
thelayingonofhandsaccordingtothesystemoftheManicheans.
ItwasamongstthenoblesofLanguedocthattheAlbigensesfoundtheir
principal support. This "Juda of France," as it has been called, was
peopled by a medley of mixed races, Iberian, Gallic, Roman, and
Semitic.218 The nobles, very different from the "ignorant and pious
chivalryoftheNorth,"hadlostallrespectfortheirtraditions."Therewere
few who in going back did not encounter some Saracen or Jewish
grandmotherintheirgenealogy."219Moreover,manyhadbroughtbackto
EuropethelaxityofmoralstheyhadcontractedduringtheCrusades.The
ComtedeCommingespractisedpolygamy,and,accordingtoecclesiastical
chronicles,RaymondVI,ComtedeToulouse,oneofthemostardentofthe
Albigense Credentes,hadhisharem.220 TheAlbigensianmovementhas
been falsely represented as a protest merely against the tyranny of the
ChurchofRome;inrealityitwasarisingagainstthefundamentaldoctrines
of Christianitymore than this, against all principles of religion and
morality.ForwhilstsomeofthesectopenlydeclaredthattheJewishlaw
waspreferabletothatoftheChristians, 221 tootherstheGodoftheOld
Testamentwasasabhorrentasthe"falseChrist"whosufferedatGolgotha;
theoldhatredoftheGnosticsandManicheans for thedemiurguslived
again in these rebels against the social order. Forerunners of the
seventeenthcentury Libertines and eighteenthcentury Illuminati, the
Albigensenobles,underthepretextoffightingthepriesthood,stroveto
throwoffalltherestraintstheChurchimposed.
InevitablythedisordersthattookplacethroughouttheSouthofFranceled
toreprisals,andtheAlbigensesweresuppressedwithallthecrueltyofthe
ageafactwhichhasaffordedhistorianstheopportunitytoexaltthemas
noblemartyrs,victimsofecclesiasticaldespotism.Butagain,asinthecase
oftheTemplars,thefactthattheywerepersecuteddoesnotprovethem
innocentofthecrimeslaidtotheircharge.
Satanism
At the beginning of the fourteenth century another development of
Dualism,farmorehorriblethantheManicheanheresyoftheAlbigenses,
begantomakeitselffelt.ThiswasthecultofSatanism,orblackmagic.

Thesubjectisonethatmustbeapproachedwithextremecaution,owingto
thefactthatononehandmuchthathasbeenwrittenaboutitistheresultof
medival superstition, which sees in every departure from the Roman
CatholicFaiththedirectinterventionoftheEvilOne,whilstontheother
handtheconspiracyofhistory,whichdenies intoto theexistenceofthe
OccultPower,discreditsallrevelationsonthisquestion,fromwhatever
sourcetheyemanate,astheoutcomeofhystericalimagination. 222 Thisis
renderedalltheeasiersincethesubjectbyitsamazingextravagancelends
itselftoridicule.
Itis,however,idletodenythatthecultofevilhasalwaysexisted;the
invocationofthepowersofdarknesswaspractisedintheearliestdaysof
thehumanraceand,aftertheChristianera,founditsexpression,aswe
haveseen,intheCainites,theEuchites,andtheLuciferians.Thesearenot
surmises,butactualfactsofhistory.Towardstheendofthetwelfthcentury
LuciferianismspreadeastwardsthroughStyria,theTyrol,andBohemia,
evenasfarasBrandenburg;bythebeginningofthethirteenthcenturyit
hadinvadedwesternGermany,andinthefourteenthcenturyreachedits
zenithinthatcountry,asalsoinItalyandFrance.Theculthadnowreached
afurtherstageinitsdevelopment,anditwasnotthemerepropitiationof
SatanaelastheprinceofthisworldpractisedbytheLuciferians,butactual
Satanismtheloveofevilforthesakeofevilwhichformedthedoctrine
ofthesect knowninItalyas lavecchiareligione orthe"oldreligion."
Sorcery was adopted as a profession, and witches, not, as is popularly
supposed,sporadicgrowths,weretrainedinschoolsofmagictopractise
theirart.ThesefactsshouldberememberedwhentheChurchisblamedfor
theviolenceitdisplayedagainstwitchcraftitwasnotindividuals,buta
systemwhichitsetouttodestroy.
The essence of Satanism is desecration. In the ceremonies for infernal
evocationdescribedbyEliphasLviweread:"Itisrequisitetoprofanethe
ceremoniesofthereligiononebelongstoandtotrampleitsholiestsymbols
under foot."223 This practice found a climax in desecrating the Holy
Sacrament.Theconsecratedwaferwasgivenasfoodtomice,toads,and
pigs,ordeniedinunspeakableways.ArevoltingdescriptionoftheBlack
Mass may be found in Huysmans's book Lbas. It is unnecessary to
transcribetheloathsomedetailshere.Sufficeit,then,toshowthatthiscult
hadaveryrealexistence,andifanyfurtherdoubtremainsonthematter,
the life of Gilles de Rais supplies documentary evidence of the visible

resultsofblackmagicintheMiddleAges.
GillesdeRaiswasbornatMachecoulinBrittanyabouttheyear1404.The
firstperiodofhislifewasglorious;thecompanionandguideofJeanne
d'Arc,hebecameMarchalofFranceanddistinguishedhimselfbymany
deeds of valour. But after dissipating his immense fortune, largely on
Churchceremoniescarriedoutwiththewildestextravagance,hewasledto
studyalchemy,partlybycuriosityandpartlyasameansforrestoringhis
shattered fortunes. Hearing that Germany and Italy were the countries
where alchemy flourished, he enlisted Italians in his service and was
graduallydrawnintothefurtherregionofmagic.AccordingtoHuysmans,
GillesdeRaishadremaineduntilthismomentaChristianmysticunderthe
influence of Jeanne d'Arc, but after her deathpossibly in despairhe
offeredhimselftothepowersofdarkness.EvokersofSatannowflockedto
himfromeveryside,amongstthemPrelati,anItalian,bynomeanstheold
and wrinkled sorcerer of tradition, but a young and attractive man of
charmingmanners.ForitwasfromItalythatcamethemostskilfuladepts
intheartofalchemy,astrology,magic,andinfernalevocation,whospread
themselvesoverEurope,particularlyFrance.Undertheinfluenceofthese
initiators Gilles de Rais signed a letter to the devil in a meadow near
Machecoulaskinghimfor"knowledge,power,andriches,"andofferingin
exchangeanythingthatmightbeaskedofhimwiththeexceptionofhislife
orhissoul.Butinspiteofthisappealandofapactsignedwiththebloodof
thewriter,noSatanicapparitionswereforthcoming.
Itwasthenthat,becomingstillmoredesperate,GillesdeRaishadrecourse
totheabominationsforwhichhisnamehasremainedinfamousstillmore
frightful invocations, loathsome debaucheries, perverted vice in every
form,Sadiccruelties,horriblesacrifices,and,finally,holocaustsoflittle
boysandgirlscollectedbyhisagentsinthesurroundingcountryandputto
deathwiththemostinhumantortures.Duringtheyears143240literally
hundredsofchildrendisappeared.Manyofthenamesoftheunhappylittle
victimswerepreservedintherecordsoftheperiod.GillesdeRaismetwith
awelldeservedend:in1440hewashangedandburnt.Sofarhedoesnot
appear to have found a panegyrist to place him in the ranks of noble
martyrs.
Itwill,ofcourse,beurgedthatthecrimesheredescribedwerethoseofa
criminallunaticandnottobeattributedtoanyoccultcause;theanswerto
thisisthatGilleswasnotanisolatedunit,butoneofagroupofoccultists

whocannotallhavebeenmad.Moreover,itwasonlyafterhisinvocation
oftheEvilOnethathedevelopedthesemonstrousproclivities.Soalsohis
eighteenthcentury replica, the Marquis de Sade, combined with his
abominationsanimpassionedhatredoftheChristianreligion.
What is the explanation of this craze for magic in Western Europe?
DeschampspointstotheCabala,"thatscienceofdemoniacalarts,ofwhich
the Jews were the initiators," and undoubtedly in any comprehensive
review of the question the influence of the Jewish Cabalists cannot be
ignored.InSpain,Portugal,Provence,andItalytheJewsbythefifteenth
centuryhadbecomeapower;asearlyas1450theyhadpenetratedintothe
intellectualcirclesofFlorence,anditwasalsoinItalythat,acenturylater,
themodernCabalisticschoolwasinauguratedbyIsaacLuria(153372),
whosedoctrineswereorganizedintoapracticalsystembytheHasidimof
Eastern Europe for the writing of amulets, the conjuration of devils,
mystical jugglerywithnumbersandletters,etc.224 Italyinthefifteenth
centurywasthusacentrefromwhichCabalisticinfluencesradiated,andit
maybethattheItalianswhoindoctrinatedGillesdeRaishaddrawntheir
inspirationfromthissource.IndeedEliphasLvi,whocertainlycannotbe
accused of "AntiSemitism," declares that "the Jews, the most faithful
trusteesofthesecretoftheCabala,werealmostalwaysthereatmastersof
magicintheMiddleAges,"225 andsuggeststhatGillesdeRaistookhis
monstrousrecipesforusingthebloodofmurderedchildren"fromsomeof
thoseoldHebrew grimoires (booksonmagic),which,iftheyhadbeen
known,wouldhavesufficedtoholduptheJewstotheexecrationofthe
wholeearth."226Voltaire,inhisHenriade,likewiseattributesthemagical
bloodritespractisedinthesixteenthcenturytoJewishinspiration:
Dans l'ombre de la nuit, sous une vote obscure,
Le silence conduit leui assemble impure.
A la ple lueur d'un magique flambeau
S'lve un vil autel dress sur un tombeau.
C'est l que des deux rois on plaa les images,
Objets de leur terreur, objets de leurs outrages.
Leurs sacrilges mains out ml sur l'autel
A des noms infernaux le nom de l'ternel.
Sur ces murs tnbreux des lances sont ranges,
Dans des vases de sang leurs pointes sont plonges;
Appareil menaant de leur mystre affreux.

Le prtre de ce temple est un de ces Hbreux

Qui, proscrits sur la terre et citoyens du monde,
Portent de mers en mers leur misre profonde,
Et, d'un antique ramas de superstitions,
Outremplidslongtempstouteslesnations,etc.
Voltaireaddsinafootnote:"ItwasordinarilyJewsthatweremadeuseof
formagicaloperations.Thisancientsuperstitioncomesfromthesecretsof
the Cabala, of which the Jews called themselves the sole depositaries.
CatherinedeMedicis,theMarchald'Ancre,andmanyothersemployed
Jewsforthesespells."
ThischargeofblackmagicrecursallthroughthehistoryofEuropefrom
theearliesttimes.TheJewsareaccusedofpoisoningwells,ofpractising
ritualmurder,ofusingstolenchurchpropertyforpurposesofdesecration,
etc.Nodoubt thereentersintoallthisagreatamountof exaggeration,
inspired by popular prejudice and medival superstition. Yet, whilst
condeming the persecution to which the Jews were subjected on this
account,itmustbeadmittedthattheylaidthemselvesopentosuspicionby
theirrealaddictiontomagicalarts.Ifignorantsuperstitionisfoundonthe
sideofthepersecutors,stillmoreamazingsuperstitionisfoundontheside
ofthepersecuted.DemonologyinEuropewasinfactessentiallyaJewish
science,foralthoughabeliefinevilspiritsexistedfromtheearliesttimes
and has always continued to exist amongst primitive races, and also
amongsttheignorantclassesincivilizedcountries,itwasmainlythrough
theJewsthatthesedarksuperstitionswereimportedtotheWest,where
they persisted not merely amongst the lower strata of the Jewish
population, but formed an essential part of Jewish tradition. Thus the
Talmudsays:
Iftheeyecouldperceivethedemonsthatpeopletheuniverse,existence
wouldbeimpossible.Thedemonsaremorenumerousthanweare:they
surroundusonallsidesliketrenchesdugroundvineyards.Everyoneofus
has a thousand on his left hand and ten thousand on his right. The
discomfortenduredbythosewhoattendrabbinicalconferences...comes
fromthedemonsminglingwithmeninthesecircumstances.Besides,the
fatigueonefeelsinone'skneesinwalkingcomesfromthedemonsthatone
knocksupagainstateverystep.IftheclothingoftheRabbiswearsoutso
quickly, it is again because the demons rub up against them. Whoever

wantstoconvincehimselfoftheirpresencehasonlytosurroundhisbed
withsiftedcindersandthenextmorninghewillseetheimprintsofcocks'
feet.227
Thesametreatisegoesontogivedirectionsforseeingdemonsbyburning
portionsofablackcatandplacingtheashesinone'seye:"thenatonceone
perceivesthedemons."TheTalmudalsoexplainsthatdevilsparticularly
inhabitthewaterspoutsonhousesandarefondofdrinkingoutofwater
jugs,thereforeit is advisabletopour alittlewater outof ajugbefore
drinking,soastogetridoftheuncleanpart.228
TheseideasreceivedafreshimpetusfromthepublicationoftheZohar,
which,aJewishwritertellsus,"fromthefourteenthcenturyheldalmost
unbroken sway over the minds of the majority of the Jews. In it the
Talmudic legends concerning the existence and activity of the shedhim
(demons) are repeated and amplified, and a hierarchy of demons was
established corresponding to the heavenly hierarchy.... Manasseh [ben
Israel]'s Nishmat Hayim is full of information concerning belief in
demons.... Even the scholarly and learned Rabbis of the seventeenth
centuryclungtothebelief."229
Here,then,itisnotacaseofignorantpeasantsevolvingfantasticvisions
fromtheirownscaredimaginations,butoftheRabbis,theacknowledged
leaders of a race claiming civilized traditions and a high order of
intelligence,deliberatelyinculcatingintheirdisciplestheperpetualfearof
demoniacalinfluences.Howmuchofthisfearcommunicateditselftothe
Gentilepopulation?Itisatanyrateacuriouscoincidencetonoticethe
resemblancesbetweensocalledpopularsuperstitionsandthewritingsof
theRabbis.Forexample,thevileconfessionsmadebothbyScotchand
French peasant women accused of witchcraft concerning the nocturnal
visitspaidthembymaledevils230findanexactcounterpartinpassagesof
theCabala,whereitissaidthat"thedemonsarebothmaleandfemale,and
they also endeavour to consort with human beingsa conception from
which arises the belief in incubi and succub."231 Thus, on Jewish
authority,welearntheJudaicoriginofthisstrangedelusion.
Itisclearlytothesamesourcethatwemaytracethemagicalformulfor
thehealingofdiseasescurrentatthesameperiod.Fromtheearliesttimes
theJewshadspecializedinmedicine,andmanyroyalpersonagesinsisted

on employing Jewish doctors,232 some of whom may have acquired

medicalknowledgeofahighorder.TheJewishwriterMargoliouthdwells
onthisfactwithsomecomplacency,andgoesontocontrastthescientific
methodsoftheHebrewdoctorswiththequackeriesofthemonks:
Inspiteofthereportscirculatedbythemonks,thattheJewsweresorcerers
(inconsequenceoftheirsuperiormedicalskill),Christianpatientswould
frequent the houses of the Jewish physicians in preference to the
monasteries,wherecureswerepretendedtohavebeeneffectedbysome
extraordinaryrelics,suchasthenailsofSt.Augustine,theextremityofSt.
Peter'ssecondtoe,...etc.Itneedhardlybeaddedthatthecureseffectedby
the Jewish physicians were more numerous than those by the monkish
impostors.233
Yet in reality the grotesque remedies which Margoliouth attributes to
Christian superstition appear to have been partly derived from Jewish
sources. The author of a further article on Magic in Hastings'
Encyclopdia goesontosaythatthemagicalformulhandeddownin
Latininancientmedicalwritingsandusedbythemonksweremainlyof
Easternorigin,derivedfromBabylonish,Egyptian,andJewishmagic.The
monkstherefore"playedmerelyanintermediaterle."234Indeed,ifweturn
totheTalmudweshallfindcuresrecommendednolessabsurdthanthose
whichMargoliouthderides.Forexample:
Theeggsofagrasshopperasaremedyfortoothache,thetoothofafoxasa
remedyforsleep,viz.thetoothofalivefoxtopreventsleepandofadead
onetocausesleep,thenailfromthegallowswhereamanwashanged,asa
remedyforswelling.235
Astrongly"proSemite"writerquotesanumberofJewishmedicalwritings
oftheeighteenthcentury,republishedaslateastheendofthenineteenth,
whichshowthepersistenceofthesemagicalformulamongsttheJews.
Most of these are too loathsome to transcribe; but some of the more
innocuousareasfollows:"Forepilepsykillacockandletitputrefy.""In
ordertoprotectyourselffromallevils,girdyourselfwiththeropewith
whichacriminalhasbeenhung."Bloodofdifferentkindsalsoplaysan
importantpart:"Fox'sbloodandwolf'sbloodaregoodforstoneinthe
bladder,ram'sbloodforcolic,weaselbloodforscrofula,"etc.thesetobe
externallyapplied.236

ButtoreturntoSatanism.Whoeverwerethesecretinspirersofmagical
anddiabolicalpracticesduringthefourteenthtotheeighteenthcenturies,
the evidence of the existence of Satanism during this long period is
overwhelming and rests on the actual facts of history. Details quite as
extravagant and revolting as those contained in the works of Eliphas
Lvi237 or in Huysmans's Lbas are given in documentary form by
Margaret Alice Murray in her singularly passionless work relating
principallytothewitchesofScotland.238
Thecultofevilisarealitybywhatevermeanswemayseektoexplainit.
Eliphas Lvi, whilst denying the existence of Satan "as a superior
personalityandpower,"admitsthisfundamentaltruth:"Evilexists;itis
impossible to doubt it.We can dogood or evil. Thereare beings who
knowinglyandvoluntarilydoevil."239Therearealsobeingswholoveevil.
Lvihasadmirablydescribedthespiritthatanimatessuchbeingsinhis
definitionofblackmagic:
Black magic is really but a combination of sacrileges and murders
graduatedwithaviewtothepermanentperversionofthehumanwilland
therealizationinalivingmanofthemonstrousphantomofthefiend.Itis,
therefore, properly speaking, the religion of the devil, the worship of
darkness,thehatredofgoodnessexaggeratedtothepointofparoxysm;itis
theincarnationofdeathandthepermanentcreationofhell.240
TheMiddleAges,whichdepictedthedevilfleeingfromholywater,were
notperhapsquitesobenightedasoursuperiormodernculturehasledusto
suppose. For that "hatred of goodness exaggerated to the point of
paroxysm,"thatimpulsetodesecrateanddefilewhichformsthebasisof
blackmagicandhasmanifesteditselfinsuccessivephasesoftheworld
revolution, springs from fear. So by their very hatred the powers of
darkness proclaim the existence of the powers of light and their own
impotence.Inthecryofthedemoniac:"WhathavewetodowithThee,
JesusofNazareth?artThoucometodestroyus?IknowTheewhoThou
art,theHolyOneofGod,"dowenotheartheunwillingtributeofthe
vanquishedtothevictorinthemightyconflictbetweengood;andevil?
The Rosicrucians
In dealing with the question of Magic it is necessary to realize that

althoughtotheworldingeneralthewordissynonymouswithnecromancy,
itdoesnotbearthissignificanceinthelanguageofoccultism,particularly
theoccultismofthesixteenthandseventeenthcenturies.Magicatthisdate
was a term employed to cover many branches of investigation which
RobertFludd,theEnglishRosicrucian,classifiedundervariousheadings,
ofwhichthefirstthreeareasfollows:(1)"NaturalMagic,...thatmost
occultandsecretdepartmentofphysicsbywhichthemysticalpropertiesof
naturalsubstancesareextracted";(2)MathematicalMagic,whichenables
adepts in the art to "construct marvellous machines by means of their
geometrical knowledge "; whilst (3) Venefic Magic "is familiar with
potions,philtres,andwithvariouspreparationsofpoisons."241
Itisobviousthatallthesehavenowpassedintotherealmsofscienceand
are no longer regarded as magical arts; but the further categories
enumerated by Fludd and comprised under the general heading of
Necromantic Magic retain the popular sense of the term. These are
described as (i) Goetic, which consists in "diabolical commerce with
unclean spirits, in rites of criminal curiosity, in illicit songs and
invocations,andintheevocationofthesoulsofthedead";(2)Maleficent,
whichistheadjurationofthedevilsbythevirtueofDivineNames;and(3)
Theurgic,purporting"tobegovernedbygoodangelsandtheDivineWill,
butitswondersaremostfrequentlyperformedbyevilspirits,whoassume
thenamesofGodandoftheangels."(4)"Thelastspeciesofmagicisthe
Thaumaturgic, begetting illusory phenomena; by this art the Magi
producedtheirphantomsandothermarvels."Tothislistmightbeadded
CelestialMagic,orknowledgedealingwiththeinfluenceoftheheavenly
bodies,onwhichastrologyisbased.
Theformsofmagicdealtwithintheprecedingpartofthischapterbelong
therefore to the second half of these categories, that is to say, to
Necromantic Magic. But at the same period another movement was
gradually taking shape which concerned itself with the first category
enumeratedabove,thatistosay,thesecretpropertiesofnaturalsubstances.
A man whose methods appear to have approached to the modern
conception of scientific research was Theophrastus Bombastus von
Hohenheim,commonlyknownasParacelsus,thesonofaGermandoctor,
bornabout1493,whoduringhistravelsintheEastissaidtohaveacquired
aknowledgeofsomesecretdoctrinewhichheafterwardselaboratedintoa
systemforthehealingofdiseases.Althoughhisideaswerethusdoubtless

drawn from someof thesame sources asthose fromwhichtheJewish

Cabaladescended,ParacelsusdoesnotappeartohavebeenaCabalist,but
a scientist of no mean order, and, as an isolated thinker, apparently
connectedwithnosecretassociation,doesnotenterfurtherintothescope
ofthiswork.
Paracelsus must thereforenotbeidentifiedwiththeschoolofsocalled
"ChristianCabalists,"who,fromRaymondLulli,the"doctorilluminatus"
ofthethirteenthcentury,onward,drewtheirinspirationfromtheCabalaof
theJews.Thisisnottosaythattheinfluenceunderwhichtheyfellwas
whollypernicious,for,justascertainJewsappeartohaveacquiredsome
real medical skill, so also they appear to have possessed some real
knowledgeofnaturalscience,inheritedperhapsfromtheancienttraditions
oftheEastorderivedfromthewritingsofHippocrates,Galen,andotherof
thegreatGreekphysiciansandasyetunknowntoEurope.ThusEliphas
LvirelatesthattheRabbiJechiel,aCabalisticJewprotectedbySt.Louis,
possessed the secret of everburning lamps,242 claimed later by the
Rosicrucians,whichsuggeststhepossibilitythatsomekindofluminous
gasorelectriclightmayhavebeenknowntotheJews.Inalchemythey
weretheacknowledgedleaders;themostnotedalchemistofthefourteenth
century,NicholasFlamel,discoveredthesecretoftheartfromthebookof
"Abraham the Jew, Prince, Priest, Levite, Astrologer,and Philosopher,"
andthisactual bookissaidtohavepassed laterintothepossessionof
CardinalRichelieu.243
ItwaslikewisefromaFlorentineJew,AlemanusorDatylus,thatPicodella
Mirandola, the fifteenthcentury mystic, received instructions in the
Cabala244 and imagined that he had discovered in it the doctrines of
Christianity. This delighted Pope Sixtus IV, who thereupon ordered
Cabalistic writings to be translated into Latin for the use of divinity
students.AtthesametimetheCabalawasintroducedintoGermanyby
Reuchlin,whohadlearntHebrewfromtheRabbiJacobb.JechielLoans,
courtphysiciantoFrederickIII,andin1494publishedaCabalistictreatise
De Verbo Mirifico, showing that all wisdom and true philosophy are
derivedfromtheHebrews.Considerablealarmappears,however,tohave
been created by the spread of Rabbinical literature, and in 1509 a Jew
converted to Christianity, named Pfefferkorn, persuaded the Emperor
MaximilianItoburnallJewishbooksexcepttheOldTestament.Reuchlin,
consultedonthismatter,advisedonlythedestructionoftheToledotYeshu

andoftheSepherNizzachonbytheRabbiLipmann,becausetheseworks
"werefullofblasphemiesagainstChristandagainsttheChristianreligion,"
buturgedthepreservationoftherest.InthisdefenceofJewishliteraturehe
wassupportedbytheDukeofBavaria,whoappointedhimprofessorat
Ingoldstadt,butwasstronglycondemnedbytheDominicansofCologne.In
replytotheirattacksReuchlinlaunchedhisdefence DeArteCabalistica,
glorifying the Cabala, of which the "central doctrine for him was the
Messianologyaroundwhichallitsotherdoctrinesgroupedthemselves." 245
His whole philosophical system, as he himself admitted, was in fact
entirely Cabalistic, and his views were shared by his contemporary
CorneliusAgrippaofNettesheim.Asaresultoftheseteachingsacrazefor
CabalismspreadamongstChristianprelates,statesmen,andwarriors,anda
number of Christian thinkers took up the doctrines of the Cabala and
"essayedtoworkthemoverintheirownway."AthanasiusKircherand
Knorr, Baron von Rosenroth, author of the Kabbala Denudata, in the
course of the seventeenth century "endeavoured to spread the Cabala
amongtheChristiansbytranslatingCabalisticworkswhichtheyregarded
asmostancientwisdom.""Mostofthem,"theJewishEncyclopdiagoes
ontoobservederisively,"heldtheabsurdideathattheCabalacontained
proofsofthetruthofChristianity....MuchthatappearsChristian[inthe
Cabala]is,infact,nothingbutthelogicaldevelopmentofcertainancient
esotericdoctrines."246
TheRosicruciansappeartohavebeentheoutcomebothofthisCabalistic
movementandoftheteachingsofParacelsus.Theearliestintimationof
theirexistencewasgiveninaseriesofpamphletswhichappearedatthe
beginningoftheseventeenthcentury.Thefirstofthese,entitledtheFama
Fraternitatis;oraDiscoveryoftheFraternityofthemostLaudableOrder
of the Rosy Cross, was published at Cassel in 1614 and the Confessio
Fraternitatis early in the following year. These contain what may be
described as the "Grand Legend" of Rosicrucianism, which has been
repeatedwithslightvariationsuptothepresentday.Briefly,thisstoryisas
follows247:
"ThemostgodlyandhighlyilluminatedFather,ourbrotherC.R.,"thatisto
say, Christian Rosenkreutz, "a German, the chief and original of our
Fraternity,"wasbornin1378,andsomesixteenyearslatertravelledtothe
EastwithaBrotherP.A.L.,whohaddeterminedtogototheHolyLand.
On reaching Cyprus, Brother P.A.L. died and "so never came to

Jerusalem."BrotherC.R.,however,havingbecomeacquaintedwithcertain
WiseMenof"DamascoinArabia,"andbeheldwhatgreatwondersthey
wrought,wentonalonetoDamasco.HeretheWiseMenreceivedhim,and
hethensethimselftostudyPhysickandMathematicsandtotranslatethe
Book M into Latin. After three years he went to Egypt, whence he
journeyedontoFez,where"hedidgetacquaintancewiththosewhoare
called the Elementary inhabitants, who revealed to him many of their
secrets....OfthoseofFezheoftendidconfessthattheirMagiawasnot
altogetherpureandalsothattheirCabalawasdefiledwiththeirreligion,
butnotwithstandingheknewhowtomakegooduseofthesame."After
twoyearsBrotherC.R.departedthecityFezandsailedawaywithmany
costly things into Spain, where he conferred with the learned men and
being"readybountifullytoimpartallhisartsandsecrets"showedthem
amongstotherthingshow"theremightbeasocietyinEuropewhichmight
have gold, silver, and precious stones sufficient for them to bestow on
kingsfortheirnecessaryusesandlawfulpurposes...."
ChristianRosenkreutzthenreturnedtoGermany,where"thereisnowadays
no want of learned men, Magicians, Cabalists, Physicians, and
Philosophers." Herehe"buildedhimself afittingandneathabitationin
whichheruminatedhisvoyageandphilosophyandreducedthemtogether
inatruememorial."Attheendoffiveyears'meditationthere"cameagain
intohismindthewishedforReformation:accordinglyhechosesomefew
adjoynedwithhim,"theBrethrenG.V.,I.A.,andI.O.thelastofwhom
"wasveryexpertandwelllearnedinCabalaashisbookHwitnesseth"to
formacircleofinitiates."AfterthismannerbegantheFraternityofthe
Rosy Cross." Five other Brethren were afterwards added, all Germans
except I.A., and these eight constituted his new building called Sancti
Spiritus.Thefollowingagreementwasthendrawnup:
First,thatnoneofthemshouldprofessanyotherthingthantocurethesick,
andthatgratis.Second,noneoftheposterityshouldbeconstrainedtowear
onecertainkindofhabit,butthereintofollowthecustomofthecountry.
Third,thateveryyear,uponthedayC.,theyshouldmeettogetheratthe
house Sancti Spiritus, or write the cause of his absence. Fourth, every
Brother should look about for a worthy person who, after his decease,
mightsucceedhim.Fifth,thewordC.R.shouldbetheirseal,mark,and
character.Sixth,theFraternityshouldremainsecretonehundredyears.

FinallyBrotherC.R.died,butwhereandwhen,orinwhatcountryhewas
buried,remainedasecret.Thedate,however,isgenerallygivenas1484.In
1604 the Brethren who then constituted the inner circle of the Order
discoveredadooronwhichwaswritteninlargeletters
Post120AnnosPatebo.
Onopeningthedooravaultwasdisclosedtoview,wherebeneathabrass
tablet the body of Christian Rosenkreutz was found, "whole and
unconsumed,"withallhis"ornamentsandattires,"andholdinginhishand
the parchment "I" which "next unto the Bible is our greatest treasure,"
whilstbesidehimlayanumberofbooks,amongstotherstheVocabulario
ofParacelsus,who,however,theFamaobserves,earlier"wasnoneofour
Fraternity."248
The Brethren now knew that after a time there would be "a general
reformationbothofdivineandhumanthings."Whiledeclaringtheirbelief
intheChristianfaith,theFamagoesontoexplainthat:
OurPhilosophyisnotanewinvention,butasAdamafterhisfallhath
receiveditandasMosesandSolomonusedit,...whereinPlato,Aristotle,
Pythagoras, and others did hit the mark and wherein Enoch, Abraham,
Moses,Solomon,didexcel,butespeciallywherewiththatwonderfulBook
theBibleagreeth.
It will be seen that, accordingto this Manifesto, Rosicrucianism was a
combination of the ancient secret tradition handed down from the
patriarchsthroughthephilosophersofGreeceandofthefirstCabalaofthe
Jews.
The"GrandLegend"ofRosicrucianismrests,however,onnohistorical
evidence;thereis,infact,nottheleastreasontosupposethatanysuch
personasChristianRosenkreutzeverexisted.TheIlluminatusvonKnigge
intheeighteenthcenturyassertedthat:
ItisnowrecognizedamongstenlightenedmenthatnorealRosicrucians
haveexisted,butthatthewholeofwhatiscontainedintheFamaandthe
UniversalReformationoftheWorld[anotherRosicrucianpamphletwhich
appearedinthesameyear]wasonlyasubtleallegoryofValentineAndrea,
of which afterwards partly deceivers (such as the Jesuits) and partly
visionariesmadeuseinordertorealizethisdream.249

What, then, was the origin of the name RoseCross? According to one
Rosicruciantradition,theword"Rose" doesnotderivefromtheflower
depictedontheRosicruciancross,butfromtheLatinwordros,signifying
"dew,"whichwassupposedtobethemostpowerfulsolventofgold,whilst
crux,thecross,wasthechemicalhieroglyphicfor"light."250Itissaidthat
theRosicruciansinterpretedtheinitialsonthecrossINRIbythesentence
"IgneNitrumRorisInvenitur."251Supposingthisderivationtobecorrect,it
would be interesting to know whether any connexion could be traced
between the first appearance of the word Rosie Cross in the Fama
Fraternitatisatthedateof1614andthecabalistictreatiseofthecelebrated
RabbiofPrague,ShabbethaiSheftelHorowitz,entitledShefaTal,thatisto
say,"TheEffusionof Dew,"whichappearedin1612. 252 Althoughthis
book has often been reprinted, no copy is to be found in the British
Museum,soIamunabletopursuethislineofenquiryfurther.Asimpler
explanationmaybethattheRosyCrossderivedfromtheRedCrossofthe
Templars. Mirabeau, who as a Freemason and an Illuminatus was in a
position to discover many facts about the secret societies of Germany
during his stay in the country, definitely asserts that "the Rose Croix
Masons of the seventeenth century were only the ancient Order of the
Templarssecretlyperpetuated."253
LecouteulxdeCanteleuismoreexplicit:
InFrancetheKnights(Templar)wholefttheOrder,henceforthhidden,and
sotospeakunknown,formedtheOrderoftheFlamingStarandofthe
RoseCroix,whichinthefifteenthcenturyspreaditselfinBohemiaand
Silesia.EveryGrandofficeroftheseOrdershadallhislifetoweartheRed
CrossandtorepeateverydaytheprayerofSt.Bernard.254
Eckertstatesthattheritual,symbols,andnamesoftheRoseCroixwere
borrowedfromtheTemplars,andthattheOrderwasdividedintoseven
degrees, according to the seven days of creation, at the same time
signifying that their "principal aim was that of the mysterious, the
investigationofBeingandoftheforcesofnature."255
TheRosicrucianKennethMackenzie,inhisMasonicCyclopdia,appears
tosuggestthesamepossibilityofTemplarorigin.Undertheheadingof
Rosicrucians he refers enigmatically to an invisible fraternity that has
existed from very ancient times, as early as the days of the Crusades,

"bound by solemn obligations of impenetrable secrecy," and joining

togetherinworkforhumanityandto"glorifythegood."Atvariousperiods
ofhistorythisbodyhasemergedintoasortoftemporarylight;butitstrue
namehasnevertranspiredandisonlyknowntotheinnermostadeptsand
rulers of thesociety. "The Rosicrucians of the sixteenthcenturyfinally
disappearedandreenteredthisinvisiblefraternity"fromwhichtheyhad
presumablyemerged.Whetheranysuchbodyreallyexistedorwhetherthe
above account is simply an attempt at mystification devised to excite
curiosity,theincredulousmayquestion.Thewriterhereobservesthatit
wouldbeindiscreettosaymore,butelsewherehethrowsoutahintthat
mayhavesomebearingonthematter,forinhisarticleontheTemplarshe
saysthatafterthesuppressionoftheOrderitwasrevivedinamoresecret
form and subsists to the present day. This would exactly accord with
Mirabeau's statement that the Rosicrucians were only the Order of the
Templarssecretlyperpetuated.Moreover,asweshallseelater,according
toalegendpreservedbytheRoyalOrderofScotland,thedegreeofthe
Rosy Cross had been instituted by that Order in conjunction with the
Templarsin1314,anditwouldcertainlybearemarkablecoincidencethat
amanbearingthenameofRosenkreutzshouldhappentohaveinaugurated
asociety,founded,liketheTemplars,onEasternsecretdoctrinesduring
thecourseofthesamecentury,withoutanyconnexionexistingbetweenthe
two.
Iwouldsuggest,then,thatChristianRosenkreutzwasapurelymythical
personage,andthatthewholelegendconcerninghistravelswasinvented
todisguisetherealsourceswhencetheRosicruciansderivedtheirsystem,
whichwouldappeartohavebeenacompoundofancientesotericdoctrines,
of Arabian and Syrian magic, and of Jewish Cabalism, partly inherited
fromtheTemplarsbutreinforcedbydirectcontactwithCabalisticJewsin
Germany.TheRoseCroix,saysMirabeau,"wereamystical,Cabalistic,
theological, and magical sect," and Rosicrucianism thus became in the
seventeenthcenturythegenerictitlebywhicheverythingofthenatureof
Cabalism, Theosophy, Alchemy, Astrology, and Mysticism was
designated.Forthisreasonithasbeensaidthattheycannotberegardedas
thedescendantsoftheTemplars.Mr.Waite,inreferringto"thealleged
connexion between the Templars and the Brethren of the Rosy Cross,"
observes:
TheTemplarswerenotalchemists,theyhadnoscientificpretensions,and

theirsecret,sofarasitcanbeascertained,wasareligioussecretofananti
Christiankind.TheRosicrucians,ontheotherhand,werepreeminentlya
learnedsocietyandtheywerealsoaChristiansect.256
The fact that the Templars do not appear to have practised alchemy is
beside the point; it is not pretended that the Rosicrucians followed the
Templarsineveryparticular,butthattheyweretheinheritorsofasecret
traditionpassedontothembytheearlierOrder.Moreover,thattheywerea
learnedsociety,orevenasocietyatall,isnotatallcertain,fortheywould
appear to have possessed no organization like the Templars or the
Freemasons, but to have consisted rather of isolated occultists bound
togetherbysometieofsecretknowledgeconcerningnaturalphenomena.
Thissecrecywasnodoubtnecessaryataperiodwhenscientificresearch
wasliabletoberegardedassorcery,butwhethertheRosicruciansreally
accomplishedanythingisextremelydoubtful.Theyaresaidtohavebeen
alchemists; but did they ever succeed in transmuting metals? They are
describedaslearned,yetdothepamphletsemanatingfromtheFraternity
betray any proof of superior knowledge? "The Chymical Marriage of
ChristianRosenkreutz,"whichappearedin1616,certainlyappearstobe
thepurestnonsensemagicalimaginingsofthemostpuerilekind;andMr.
WaitehimselfobservesthatthepublicationoftheFamaandtheConfessio
FraternitaliswillnotaddnewlustretotheRosicrucianreputations:
WeareaccustomedtoregardtheadeptsoftheRosyCrossasbeingsof
sublime elevationand preternatural physical powers, masters of Nature,
monarchsoftheintellectualworld....Buthereintheirownacknowledged
manifestos they avow themselves a mere theosophical offshoot of the
Lutheran heresy, acknowledging the spiritual supremacy of a temporal
prince,andcallingthePopeantiChrist....Wefindthemintemperatein
theirlanguage,rabidintheirreligiousprejudices,andinsteadoftowering
giantlikeabovetheintellectualaverageoftheirage,weseethembuffeted
bythesamepassionsandidentifiedwithallopinionsofthemenbywhom
theywereenvironed.Thevoicewhichaddressesusbehindthemystical
maskoftheRoseCroixdoesnotcomefromanintellectualthrone....
SomuchfortheRosicruciansasa"learnedsociety."
What,then,oftheirclaimtobeaChristianbody?TheRosicrucianstudent
of the Cabala, Julius Sperber, in his Echo of the Divinely Illuminated

FraternityoftheAdmirableOrderoftheR.C. (1615),hasindicatedthe
placeassignedtoChristbytheRosicrucians.InDeQuincey'swords:
HavingmaintainedtheprobabilityoftheRosicrucianpretensionsonthe
ground that such magnalia Dei had from the creation downwards been
confidedtothekeepingofafewindividualsagreeablytowhichheaffirms
thatAdamwasthefirstRosicrucianoftheOldTestamentandSimeonthe
lasthe goes on to ask whether the Gospel put an end to the secret
tradition?Bynomeans,heanswers:Christestablishedanew"collegeof
magic"amongHisdisciples,andthegreatermysterieswererevealedtoSt.
JohnandSt.Paul.
JohnYarker,quotingthispassage,adds:"This,BrotherFindelpointsout,
wasaclaimoftheCarpocratianGnostics";itwasalso,aswehaveseen,a
partoftheJohannitetraditionwhichissaidtohavebeenimpartedtothe
Templars.WeshallfindthesameideaofChristasan"initiate"runningall
throughthesecretsocietiesuptothepresentday.
ThesedoctrinesnotunnaturallybroughtontheRosicruciansthesuspicion
ofbeinganantiChristianbody.Thewriterofacontemporarypamphlet
publishedin1624,declaresthat"thisfraternityisastratagemoftheJews
andCabalisticHebrews,inwhosephilosophy,saysPicdelaMirandole,all
thingsare...asifhiddeninthemajestyoftruthoras...inverysacred
Mysteries."257
Another work, Examination of the Unknown and Novel Cabala of the
BrethrenoftheRoseCross,agreeswiththeassertionthatthechiefofthis
"execrablecollegeisSatan,thatitsfirstruleisdenialofGod,blasphemy
againstthemostsimpleandundividedTrinity,tramplingonthemysteries
oftheredemption,spittinginthefaceofthemotherofGodandofallthe
saints."Thesectisfurtheraccusedofcompactswiththedevil,sacrificesof
children, of cherishing toads, making poisonous powders, dancing with
fiends,etc.
Now, although all this would appear to be quite incompatible with the
characteroftheRosicruciansasfarasitisknown,wehavealreadyseen
thatthepracticesheredescribedwerebynomeansimaginary;inthissame
seventeenthcentury,whenthefameoftheRosicrucianswasfirstnoised
abroad,blackmagicwasstill,asinthedaysofGillesdeRais,ahorrible
reality,notonlyinFrancebutinEngland,Scotland,andGermany,where

sorcerersofbothsexeswerecontinuallyputtodeath.258Howevermuchwe
maydeplorethemethodsemployedagainstthesepeopleorquestionthe
supernaturaloriginoftheircult,itwouldbeidletodenythatthecultitself
existed.
Moreover, towards the end of the century it assumed in France a very
tangibleformintheseriesofmysteriousdramasknownasthe"Affairedes
Poisons,"ofwhichthefirstacttookplacein1666,whenthecelebrated
Marquise de Brinvilliers embarked on her amazing career of crime in
collaborationwithherloverSainteCroix.Thisextraordinarywoman,who
fortenyearsmadeahobbyoftryingtheeffectsofvariousslowpoisonson
hernearestrelations,therebycausingthedeathofherfatherandbrothers,
mightappeartohavebeenmerelyanisolatedcriminaloftheabnormaltype
but for the sequel to her exploits in the epidemic of poisoning which
followed and during twenty years kept Paris in a state of terror. The
investigationsofthepolicefinallyledtothediscoveryofawholebandof
magiciansandalchemists"avastramificationofmalefactorscoveringall
France"whospecializedintheartofpoisoningwithoutfearofdetection.
Concerning all these sorcerers, alchemists, compounders of magical
powdersandphiltres,frightfulrumourscirculated,"pactswiththedevil
were talked of, sacrifices of newborn babies, incantations, sacrilegious
Masses and other practices as disquieting as they were lugubrious." 259
Even the King's mistress, Madame de Montespan, is said to have had
recoursetoblackMassesinordertoretaintheroyalfavourthroughthe
agencyofthecelebratedsorceressLaVoisin,withwhomshewaslater
implicatedinanaccusationofhavingattemptedthelifeoftheKing.
Alltheextraordinarydetailsoftheseeventshaverecentlybeendescribedin
thebookofMadameLatour,wheretheintimateconnexionbetweenthe
poisonersandthemagiciansisshown.Intheopinionofcontemporaries,
thesewerenotisolatedindividuals:
"Theirmethodsweretoocertain,theirexecutionofcrimetooskilfuland
tooeasyforthemnottohavebelonged,eitherdirectlyorindirectly,toa
wholeorganizationof criminalswhopreparedtheway,andstudiedthe
methodofgivingtocrimetheappearanceofillness,offorming,inaword,
aschool."260
Theauthoroftheworkherequoteddrawsaninterestingparallelbetween

thisorganizationandthemoderntrafficincocaine,andgoesontodescribe
thethreedegreesintowhichitwasdivided:firstly,theHeads,cultivated
and intelligent men, who understood chemistry, physics, and nearly all
useful sciences, "invisible counsellors but supreme, without whom the
sorcerersanddivinerswouldhavebeenpowerless";secondly,thevisible
magicians employing mysterious processes, complicated rites and
terrifyingceremonies;andthirdly,thecrowdofnoblesandplebeianswho
flockedtothedoorsofthesorcerersandfilledtheirpocketsinreturnfor
magicpotions,philtres,and,incertaincases,insidiouspoisons.ThusLa
Voisinmustbeplacedinthesecondcategory;"inspiteofherluxury,her
profits, and her fame," she "is only a subaltern agent in this vast
organizationofcriminals.Shedependsentirelyforhergreatenterpriseson
theintellectualchiefsofthecorporation...."261
Whoweretheseintellectualchiefs?ThemanwhofirstinitiatedMadamede
Brinvilliers' lover SainteCroix into the art of poisoning was an Italian
namedExiliorEggidi;buttherealinitiatefromwhomEggidiandanother
Italian poisoner had learnt their secrets is said to have been Glaser,
variouslydescribedasaGermanoraSwisschemist,whofollowedthe
principlesofParacelsusandoccupiedthepostofphysiciantotheKingand
theDucd'Orlans.262Thisman,aboutwhosehistorylittleisknown,might
thus have been a kind of Rosicrucian. For since, as has been said, the
intellectualchiefsfromwhomthepoisonersderivedtheirinspirationwere
men versed in chemistry, in science, in physics, and the treatment of
diseases,andsince,further,theyincludedalchemistsandpeopleprofessing
tobeinpossessionofthePhilosopher'sStone,theirresemblancewiththe
Rosicruciansisatonceapparent.Indeed,inturningbacktothebranchesof
magic enumerated by the Rosicrucian Robert Fludd, we find not only
Natural Magic, "that most occult and secret department of physics by
whichthemysticalpropertiesofnaturalsubstancesareextracted,"butalso
VeneficMagic,which"isfamiliarwithpotions,philtres,andwithvarious
preparationsofpoisons."
The art of poisoning was therefore known to the Rosicrucians, and,
althoughthereisnoreasontosupposeitwaseverpractisedbytheheadsof
theFraternity,itispossiblethattheinspirersofthepoisonersmayhave
beenpervertedRosicrucians,thatistosay,studentsofthoseportionsofthe
Cabalarelatingtomagicbothofthenecromanticandveneficvarieties,who
turnedthe scientificknowledgewhichtheFraternityof theRosy Cross

usedforhealingtoapreciselyoppositeanddeadlypurpose.Thiswould
explainthefactthatcontemporariesliketheauthoroftheExaminationof
theUnknownandNovelCabalaoftheBrethrenoftheRoseCrossshould
identifythesebrethrenwiththemagiciansandbelievethemtobeguiltyof
practices deriving from the same source as Rosicrucian knowledgethe
CabalaoftheJews.Theirmodernadmirerswould,ofcourse,declarethat
theywerethepolesasunder,thedifferencebeingbetweenwhiteandblack
magic.Huysmans,however,scoffsatthisdistinctionandsaystheuseof
theterm"whitemagic"wasaruseoftheRoseCroix.
But of the real doctrines of the Rosicrucians no one can speak with
certainty.ThewholestoryoftheFraternityiswrappedinmystery.Mystery
wasavowedlytheessenceoftheirsystem;theiridentity,theiraims,their
doctrines,aresaidtohavebeenkeptaprofoundsecretfromtheworld.
IndeeditissaidthatnorealRosicrucianeverallowedhimselftobeknown
assuch.Asaresultofthissystematicmethodofconcealment,scepticson
theonehandhavedeclaredtheRosicrucianstohavebeencharlatansand
impostorsorhavedeniedtheirveryexistence,whilstontheotherhand
romancershaveexaltedthemasdepositariesofsupernaturalwisdom.The
question is further obscured by the fact that most accounts of the
Fraternityas, for example, those of Eliphas Lvi, Hargrave Jennings,
Kenneth Mackenzie, Mr. A.E. Waite, Dr. Wynn Westcott, and Mr.
CadburyJonesaretheworkofmenclaimingorbelievingthemselvesto
beinitiatedintoRosicrucianismorotheroccultsystemsofakindrednature
and as such in possession of peculiar and exclusive knowledge. This
pretensionmayatoncebedismissedasanabsurdity;nothingiseasierthan
for anyone to make a compound out of Jewish Cabalism and Eastern
theosophyandtolabelitRosicrucianism,butnoproofwhateverexistsof
any affiliation between the selfstyled Rosicrucians of today and the
seventeenthcentury"BrothersoftheRosyCross."263
InspiteofMr.Wake'sclaim,"TheRealHistoryoftheRosicrucians"still
remainstobewritten,atanyrateintheEnglishlanguage.Thebookhehas
publishedunderthisnameismerelyasuperficialstudyofthequestion
largelycomposedofreprintsofRosicrucianpamphletsaccessibletoany
student. Mr. Wigston and Mrs. Pott merely echo Mr. Waite. Thus
everythingthat hasbeen published hithertoconsists intherepetitionof
Rosicrucianlegendsorinunsubstantiatedtheorizingsontheirdoctrines.
What we need are facts. We want to know who were the early

Rosicrucians,whentheFraternityoriginated,andwhatwereitsrealaims.
These researches must be made, not by an occultist weaving his own
theoriesintothesubject,butbyahistorianfreefromanyprejudicesforor
againsttheOrder,capableofweighingevidenceandbringingajudicial
mindtobearonthematerialtobefoundinthelibrariesoftheContinent
notablytheBibliothquedel'ArsenalinParis.Suchaworkwouldbea
valuablecontributiontothehistoryofsecretsocietiesinourcountry.
But if theContinental Brethrenof the RoseCroixform buta shadowy
groupof"Invisibles"whoseidentityyetremainsamystery,theEnglish
adeptsoftheOrderstandforthinthelightofdayas,philosopherswell
known to their age and country. That Francis Bacon was initiated into
RosicrucianismisnowrecognizedbyFreemasons,butamoredefinitelink
with the Rosicrucians of the Continent was Robert Fludd, who after
travellingfor sixyearsinFrance,Germany,Italy,andSpainwherehe
formedconnexionswithJewishCabalists264wasvisitedbytheGerman
JewRosicrucianMichelMaierdoctortotheEmperorRudolfbywhom
heappearstohavebeeninitiatedintofurthermysteries.
In 1616 Fludd published his Tractatus Apologeticus, defending the
Rosicrucians against the charges of "detestable magic and diabolical
superstition"broughtagainstthembyLibavius.TwelveyearslaterFludd
wasattackedbyFatherMersenne,towhomareplywasmade"byFluddor
afriendofFludd's"containingafurtherdefenceoftheOrder."TheBook,"
saysMr.Waite,"treatsofthenobleartofmagic,thefoundationandnature
oftheCabala,theessenceofveritablealchemy,andoftheCausaFratrum
RosaeCrucis.ItidentifiesthepalaceorhomeoftheRosicrucianswiththe
ScripturalHouseofWisdom."
InfurtherworksbyEnglishwriterstheEasternoriginoftheFraternityis
insisted on. Thus Thomas Vaughan, known as Eugenius Philalethes,
writinginpraiseoftheRosicruciansin1652,saysthat"theirknowledgeat
firstwasnotpurchasedbytheirowndisquisitions,fortheyreceiveditfrom
theArabians,amongstwhomitremainedasthemonumentandlegacyof
the Children of the East. Nor is this at all improbable, for the Eastern
countrieshavebeenalwaysfamousformagicalandsecretsocieties."
Another apologist of the Rosicrucians, John Heydon, who travelled in
Egypt,Persia,andArabia,isdescribedbyacontemporaryashavingbeen
in"manystrangeplacesamongtheRosieCruciansandattheircastles,holy

houses,temples,sepulchres,sacrifices."Heydonhimself,whilstdeclaring
thatheisnotaRosicrucian,saysthatheknowsmembersoftheFraternity
anditssecrets,thattheyaresonsofMoses,andthat"thisRosieCrucian
PhysickorMedicine,IhappilyandunexpectedlyalightuponinArabia."
These references to castles, temples, sacrifices, encountered in Egypt,
Persia, and Arabia inevitably recall memories of both Templars and
Ismailis.Istherenoconnexionbetween"theInvisibleMountainsofthe
Brethren" referred to elsewhere by Heydon and the Mountains of the
AssassinsandtheFreemasons?betweentheScriptural"HouseofWisdom"
andtheDarulHikmatorGrandLodgeofCairo,themodelforWestern
masoniclodges?
Itisastheprecursorsofthecrisiswhicharosein1717thattheEnglish
Rosicrucians oftheseventeenthcenturyareof supremeimportance.No
longerneedweconcernourselveswithshadowyBrethrenlayingdubious
claimtosupernaturalwisdom,butwithaconcreteassociationofprofessed
Initiates proclaiming their existence to the world under the name of
Freemasonry.

Chapter 5:

The Origins of Freemasonry

"The origin of Freemasonry," says a masonic writer of the eighteenth
century,"isknowntoFreemasonsalone." 265Ifthiswasoncethecase,itis
sonolonger,for,althoughthequestionwouldcertainlyappeartobeoneon
whichtheinitiatedshouldbemostqualifiedtospeak,thefactisthatno
officialtheoryontheoriginofFreemasonryexists;thegreatmassofthe
Freemasonsdo not knoworcaretoknowanythingaboutthehistoryof
theirOrder,whilstMasonicauthoritiesareentirelydisagreedonthematter.
Dr. Mackey admits that "the origin and source whence first sprang the
institutionofFreemasonryhasgivenrisetomoredifferenceofopinionand
discussionamongmasonicscholarsthananyothertopicintheliteratureof
theinstitution."266Noristhisignorancemaintainedmerelyinbooksforthe
general public, since in those specially addressed to the Craft and at
discussions in lodges the same diversity of opinion prevails, and no
decisiveconclusionsappeartobereached.ThusMr.AlbertChurchward,a
Freemason of the thirtieth degree, who deplores the small amount of
interesttakeninthismatterbyMasonsingeneral,observes:
Hithertotherehavebeensomanycontradictoryopinionsandtheoriesin
theattempttosupplytheoriginandthereasonwhence,where,andwhythe
Brotherhood of Freemasonrycame into existence, and allthe "different
parts" and various rituals of the "different degrees." All that has been
written on this has hitherto been theories, without any facts for their
fundation.267
Intheabsence,therefore,ofanyoriginuniversallyrecognizedbytheCraft,
itissurelyopentothelaymindtospeculateonthematterandtodraw
conclusionsfromhistoryastowhichofthemanyexplanationsputforward
seemstosupplythekeytothemystery.
AccordingtotheRoyalMasonicCyclopdia,nolessthantwelvetheories

havebeenadvancedastotheoriginsoftheOrder,namely,thatMasonry
derived:
"(1)Fromthepatriarchs.(2)Fromthemysteriesofthepagans.(3)From
theconstructionofSolomon'sTemple,(4)FromtheCrusades.(5)Fromthe
KnightsTemplar.(6)FromtheRomanCollegiaofArtificers.(7)Fromthe
operativemasonsoftheMiddleAges.(8)FromtheRosicruciansofthe
sixteenthcentury.(9)FromOliverCromwell.(10)FromPrinceCharles
Stuart for political purposes. (11) From Sir Christopher Wren, at the
buildingofSt.Paul's.(12)FromDr.Desaguliersandhisfriendsin1717."
Thisenumerationis,however,misleading,foritimpliesthatinoneofthese
varioustheoriesthetrueoriginofFreemasonrymaybefound.Inreality
modernFreemasonryisadualsystem,ablendoftwodistincttraditionsof
operative masonry, that is to say the actual art of building, and of
speculativetheoryonthegreattruthsoflifeanddeath.Asawellknown
Freemason, the Count Goblet d'Alviella, has expressed it: "Speculative
Masonry"(thatistosay,thedualsystemwenowknowasFreemasonry)
"is thelegitimate offspring of afruitfulunion between theprofessional
guildofmedivalMasonsandofasecretgroupofphilosophicalAdepts,
the first having furnished the form and the second the spirit." 268 In
studyingtheoriginsofthepresentsystemwehavetherefore(1)toexamine
separatelythehistoryofeachofthesetwotraditions,and(2)todiscover
theirpointofjunction.
Operative Masonry
Beginning with the first of these two traditions, we find that guilds of
workingmasonsexistedinveryancienttimes.Withoutgoingbackasfaras
ancientEgyptorGreece,whichwouldbebeyondthescopeofthepresent
work,thecourseoftheseassociationsmaybetracedthroughoutthehistory
ofWesternEuropefromthebeginningoftheChristianera.Accordingto
certain masonic writers, the Druids originally came from Egypt and
broughtwiththemtraditionsrelatingtotheartofbuilding.The Culdees,
who later on established schools and colleges in this country for the
teachingofarts,sciences,andhandicrafts,aresaidtohavederivedfromthe
Druids.
Butamoreprobablesourceofinspirationintheartofbuildingarethe
Romans,whoestablishedthefamouscollegiaofarchitectsreferredtoin

thelistofalternativetheoriesgivenintheMasonicCyclopdia.Advocates
of the Roman Collegia origin of Freemasonry might be right as far as
operativemasonryisconcerned,foritistotheperiodfollowingonthe
RomanoccupationofBritainthatourmasonicguildscanwiththegreatest
degreeofcertaintybetraced.Owingtotheimportancetheartofbuilding
nowacquireditissaidthatmanydistinguishedmen,suchasSt.Alban,
KingAlfred,KingEdwin,andKingAthelstan,werenumberedamongstits
patrons,269 so that in time the guilds came to occupy the position of
privilegedbodiesandwereknownas"freecorporations";furtherthatYork
wasthefirstmasoniccentreinEngland,largelyunderthecontrolofthe
Culdees, who at the same period exercised much influence over the
MasonicCollegiainScotland,atKilwinning,Melrose,andAberdeen.270
Butitmustberememberedthatallthisisspeculation.Nodocumentary
evidencehaseverbeenproducedtoprovetheexistenceofmasonicguilds
beforethefamousYorkcharterof A.D.936,andeventhedateofthis
documentisdoubtful.OnlywiththeperiodofGothicarchitecturedowe
reachfirmground.That guildsofworkingmasonsknowninFranceas
"Compagnonnages"andinGermanyas"Steinmetzen"didthenformclose
corporationsandpossiblypossesssecretsconnectedwiththeirprofessionis
more than probable. That, in consequence of their skill in building the
magnificent cathedrals of this period, they now came to occupy a
privilegedpositionseemsfairlycertain.
TheAbbGrandidier,writingfromStrasbourgin1778,tracesthewhole
system of Freemasonry from these German guilds: "This muchvaunted
SocietyofFreemasonsisnothingbutaservileimitationofanancientand
useful confrrie of real masons whose headquarters was formerly at
StrasbourgandofwhichtheconstitutionwasconfirmedbytheEmperor
Maximilianin1498."271
Asfarasitispossibletodiscoverfromthescantydocumentaryevidence
the fourteenth, fifteenth, and sixteenth centuries provide, the same
privilegesappeartohavebeenaccordedtotheguildsofworkingmasonsin
EnglandandScotland,which,althoughpresidedoverbypowerfulnobles
and apparently on occasion admitting members from outside the Craft,
remainedessentiallyoperativebodies.Neverthelesswefindtheassemblies
ofMasonssuppressedbyActofParliamentinthebeginningofthereignof
HenryVI,andlateronanarmedforcesentbyQueenElizabethtobreakup

theAnnualGrandLodgeatYork.Itispossiblethatthefraternitymerelyby
the secrecy with which it was surrounded excited the suspicions of
authority, for nothing could be more lawabiding than its published
statutes.Masonsweretobe"truementoGodandtheHolyChurch,"also
tothemastersthattheyserved.Theyweretobehonestintheirmannerof
life and "to do no villainy whereby the Craft or the Science may be
slandered."272
Yet the seventeenthcentury writer Plot, in his Natural History of
Staffordshire, expresses some suspicion with regard to the secrets of
Freemasonry.Thatthesecouldnotbemerelytradesecretsrelatingtothe
art of building, but that already some speculative element had been
introducedtothelodges,seemsthemoreprobablefromthefactthatbythe
middleoftheseventeenthcenturynotonlynoblepatronsheadedtheCraft,
butordinarygentlemenentirelyunconnectedwithbuildingwerereceived
intothefraternity.ThewellknownentryinthediaryofEliasAshmole
underthedateofOctober16,1646,clearlyprovesthisfact:"Iwasmadea
FreemasonatWarringtoninLancashirewithCol.HenryMainwaringof
Karticham[?]inCheshire.ThenamesofthosethatwerethenoftheLodge,
Mr.Rich.Penket,Warden,Mr.JamesCollier,Mr.Rich.Sankey,Henry
Littler, John Ellam, Rich. Ellam and Hugh Brewer." 273 "It is now
ascertained,"saysYarker,"thatthemajorityofthememberspresentwere
notoperativemasons."274
Again,in1682AshmolerelatesthatheattendedameetingheldatMason
HallinLondon,wherewithanumberofothergentlemenhewasadmitted
into"theFellowshipoftheFreemasons,"thatistosay,intothesecond
degree.Wehavethenclearproofthatalreadyintheseventeenthcentury
Freemasonryhadceasedtobeanassociationcomposedexclusivelyofmen
concernedwithbuilding,althougheminentarchitectsrankedhighinthe
Order;InigoJonesissaidtohavebeenGrandMasterunderJamesI,and
SirChristopherWrentohaveoccupiedthesamepositionfromabout1685
to1702.Butitwasnotuntil1703thattheLodgeofSt.PaulinLondon
officiallyannounced"thattheprivilegesofMasonryshouldnolongerbe
restrictedtooperativeMasons,butextendedtomenofvariousprofessions,
providedtheywereregularlyapprovedandinitiatedintotheOrder."275
Thiswasfollowedin1717bythegreatcoupd'tatwhenGrandLodgewas
founded,andSpeculativeMasonry,whichwenowknowasFreemasonry,

was established on a settled basis with a ritual, rules, and constitution

drawnupindueform.Itisatthisimportantdatethattheofficialhistoryof
Freemasonrybegins.
ButbeforepursuingthecourseoftheOrderthroughwhatisknownasthe
"GrandLodgeEra,"itisnecessarytogobackandenquireintotheorigins
ofthephilosophythatwasnowcombinedwiththesystemofoperative
masonry.Thisisthepointonwhichopinionsaredividedandtowhichthe
varioustheoriessummarizedinthe MasonicCyclopcdia relate.Letus
examineeachoftheseinturn.
Speculative Masonry
AccordingtocertainscepticsconcerningthemysteriesofFreemasonry,the
systeminauguratedin1717hadnoexistencebeforethatdate,but"was
devised,promulgated,andpalmedupontheworldbyDr.Desaguliers,Dr.
Anderson,andothers,whothenfoundedtheGrandLodgeofEngland."Mr.
Paton,inanadmirablelittlepamphlet,276 hasshown thefutilityof this
contention and also the injustice of representing the founders of Grand
Lodgeasperpetratingsogrossadeception.
This1717theoryascribestomenofthehighestcharactertheinventionofa
systemofmereimposture....Itwasbroughtforwardwithpretensionswhich
itsframersknewtobefalsepretensionsofhighantiquity;whereas...ithad
newlybeeninventedintheirstudies.Isthislikely?Orisitreasonableto
ascribesuchconducttohonourablemen,withoutevenassigningaprobable
motiveforit?
Wehaveindeedonlytostudymasonicritualwhichisopentoeveryoneto
readin order to arrive at the same conclusion, that there could be no
motiveforthisimposture,andfurtherthatthesetwoclergymencannotbe
supposedtohaveevolvedthewholethingoutoftheirheads.Obviously
somemovementofakindrednaturemusthaveleduptothiscrisis.And
since Elias Ashmole's diary clearly proves that a ceremony of masonic
initiationhadexistedintheprecedingcentury,itissurelyonlyreasonable
to conclude that Drs. Anderson and Desaguliers revised but did not
originatetheritualandconstitutionsdrawnupbythem.
Now,althoughtheritualofFreemasonryiscouchedinmodernandbyno
meansclassicalEnglish,theideasrunningthroughitcertainlybeartraces

ofextremeantiquity.ThecentralideaofFreemasonryconcerningaloss
whichhasbefallenmanandthehopeofitsultimaterecoveryisinfactno
otherthantheancientsecrettraditiondescribedinthefirstchapterofthis
book.CertainmasonicwritersindeedascribetoFreemasonrypreciselythe
samegenealogyasthatoftheearlyCabala,declaringthatitdescended
fromAdamandthefirstpatriarchsofthehumanrace,andthencethrough
groups of Wise Men amongst the Egyptians, Chaldeans, Persians, and
Greeks.277 Mr. Albert Churchward insists particularly on the Egyptian
originofthespeculativeelementinFreemasonry:"BrotherGouldandother
Freemasonswillneverunderstandthemeaningandoriginofoursacred
tenetstilltheyhavestudiedandunlockedthemysteriesofthepast."This
studywillthenrevealthefactthat"theDruids,theGymnosophistsofIndia,
theMagiofPersia,andtheChaldeansofAssyriahadallthesamereligious
ritesandceremoniesaspractisedbytheirpriestswhowereinitiatedtotheir
Order,andthattheseweresolemnlysworntokeepthedoctrinesaprofound
secret from the rest of mankind. All these flowed from one source
Egypt."278
Mr.ChurchwardfurtherquotesthespeechoftheRev.Dr.WilliamDoddat
theopeningofamasonictemplein1794,whotracedFreemasonryfrom
"thefirstastronomersontheplainsofChaldea,thewiseandmystickings
and priests of Egypt, the sages of Greece and philosophers of Rome,"
etc.279
ButhowdidthesetraditionsdescendtothemasonsoftheWest?According
toalargebodyofmasonicopinioninthiscountrywhichrecognizesonlya
singlesourceofinspirationtothesystemwenowknowasFreemasonry,
thespeculativeaswellastheoperativetraditionsoftheOrderdescended
fromthebuildingguildsandwereimportedtoEnglandbymeansofthe
Roman Collegia. Mr.Churchward, however,strongly dissents fromthis
view:
InthenewandrevisededitionofthePerfectCeremonies,accordingtoour
E. working, a theory is given that Freemasonry originated from certain
guildsofworkmenwhicharewellknowninhistoryasthe"RomanCollege
of Artificers." There is no foundation of fact for such a theory.
Freemasonryisnow,andalwayswas,anEschatology,asmaybeprovedby
thewholeofoursigns,symbols,andwords,andourrituals.280

ButwhatMr.Churchwardfailstoexplainishowthiseschatologyreached
theworkingmasons;moreoverwhy,ifasheasserts,itderivedfromEgypt,
Assyria,India,andPersia,Freemasonrynolongerbearsthestampofthese
countries.ForalthoughvestigesofSabeismmaybefoundinthedecoration
ofthelodges,andbriefreferencestothemysteriesofEgyptandPhnicia,
tothesecretteachingofPythagoras,toEuclid,andtoPlatointheRitual
andinstructionsoftheCraftdegreesneverthelesstheforminwhichthe
ancienttraditionisclothed,thephraseologyandpasswordsemployed,are
neitherEgyptian,Chaldean,Greek,norPersian,butJudaic.Thusalthough
someportionoftheancientsecrettraditionmayhavepenetratedtoGreat
BritainthroughtheDruidsortheRomansversedintheloreofGreeceand
EgyptanotherchannelforitsintroductionwasclearlytheCabalaofthe
Jews. Certain masonic writers recognize this double tradition, the one
descendingfromEgypt,Chaldea,andGreece,theotherfromtheIsraelites,
andassertthatitisfromthelattersourcetheirsystemisderived. 281 For
after tracing its origin from Adam, Noah, Enoch, and Abraham, they
proceed to show its line of descent through Moses, David, and
Solomon282descentfromSolomonisinfactofficiallyrecognizedbythe
Craftandformsapartoftheinstructionstocandidatesforinitiationinto
thefirstdegree.But,aswehavealreadyseen,thisistheprecisegenealogy
attributedtotheCabalabytheJews.Moreover,modernFreemasonryis
entirelybuiltupontheSolomonic,orrathertheHiramiclegend.Forthe
sakeofreadersunfamiliarwiththeritualofFreemasonryabriefrsumof
this"GrandLegend"mustbegivenhere.
Solomon,whenbuildingtheTemple,employedtheservicesofacertain
artificer in brass, named Hiram, the son of a widow of the tribe of
Naphthali,whowassent tohimbyHiram,KingofTyre.Somuchwe
knowfromtheBookofKings,butthemasoniclegendgoesontorelate
thatHiram,thewidow'sson,referredtoasHiramAbiff,anddescribedas
the masterbuilder, met with an untimely end. For the purpose of
preserving order the masons working on the Temple were divided into
threeclasses,EnteredApprentices,FellowCrafts,andMasterMasons,the
first two distinguished by different passwords and grips and paid at
differentratesofwages,thelastconsistingonlyofthreepersonsSolomon
himself, Hiram King of Tyre, who had provided him with wood and
precious stones and Hiram Abiff. Now, before the completion of the
Temple fifteen of the Fellow Crafts conspired together to find out the

secretsoftheMasterMasonsandresolvedtowaylayHiramAbiffatthe
dooroftheTemple.
Atthelastmomenttwelveofthefifteendrewback,buttheremainingthree
carriedoutthefelldesign,andafterthreateningHiraminvaininorderto
obtainthesecrets,killedhimwiththreeblowsonthehead,deliveredby
eachinturn.TheythenconveyedthebodyawayandburieditonMount
Moriah in Jerusalem. Solomon, informed of the disappearance of the
masterbuilder,sentoutfifteenFellowCraftstoseekforhim;fiveofthese,
havingarrivedatthemountain,noticedaplacewheretheearthhadbeen
disturbedandtherediscoveredthebodyofHiram.Leavingabranchof
acaciatomarkthespot,theyreturnedwiththeirstorytoSolomon,who
orderedthemtogoandexhumethebodyanorderthatwasimmediately
carriedout.
The murder and exhumation, or "raising," of Hiram, accompanied by
extraordinarylamentations,formtheclimaxofCraftMasonry;andwhenit
isrememberedthatinallprobabilitynosuch,tragedyevertookplace,that
possiblynooneknownasHiramAbiffeverexisted, 283thewholestorycan
onlyberegardedasthesurvivalofsomeancientcultrelatingnottoan
actualevent,buttoanesotericdoctrine.Alegendandaceremonyofthis
kindisindeedtobefoundinmanyearliermythologies;thestoryofthe
murderofHiramhadbeenforeshadowedbytheEgyptianlegendofthe
murderofOsirisandthequestforhisbodybyIsis,whilstthelamentations
aroundthetombofHiramhadacounterpartinthemourningceremonies
forOsirisandAdonisboth,likeHiram,subsequently"raised"andlater
oninthat whichtookplacearoundthecatafalqueof Manes, who,like
Hiram,wasbarbarouslyputtodeathandissaidtohavebeenknowntothe
Manicheans as"thesonof thewidow."Butintheformgiventoitby
FreemasonrythelegendispurelyJudaic,andwouldthereforeappearto
havederivedfromtheJudaicversionoftheancienttradition.Thepillarsof
the Temple, Jachin and Boaz, which play so important a part in Craft
Masonry,aresymbolswhichoccurintheJewishCabala,wheretheyare
described as two of the ten Sephiroths. 284 A writer of the eighteenth
century, referring to "fyve curiosities" he has discovered in Scotland,
describesoneas
TheMasonword,whichtho'somemakeaMisterieofit,Iwillnotconceal
alittleofwhatIknow.ItislykeaRabbinicalTraditioninwayofComment

onJachinandBoaz,theTwoPillarserectedinSolomon'sTemplewithane
AdditiondelyveredfromHandtoHand,bywhichtheyknowandbecome
familiaronewithanother.285
This is precisely the system by which the Cabala was handed down
amongsttheJews.TheJewishEncyclopdialendscolourtothetheoryof
Cabalistic transmission by suggesting that the story of Hiram "may
possibly trace back to the Rabbinic legend concerning the Temple of
Solomon,"that"whilealltheworkmenwerekilledsothattheyshouldnot
build another temple devoted to idolatry, Hiram himself was raised to
HeavenlikeEnoch."286
HowdidthisRabbiniclegendfinditswayintoFreemasonry?Advocatesof
theRomanCollegiatheoryexplainitinthefollowingmanner.
AfterthebuildingoftheTempleofSolomonthemasonswhohadbeen
engaged in the work were dispersed and a number made their way to
Europe,sometoMarseilles,someperhapstoRome,wheretheymayhave
introduced Judaic legends to the Collegia, whichthen passed onto the
ComaciniMastersoftheseventhcenturyandfromthesetothemedival
workingguildsofEngland,France,andGermany.Itissaidthatduringthe
Middle Ages a story concerning the Temple of Solomon was current
amongstthecompagnonnagesofFrance.Inoneofthesegroups,knownas
"thechildrenofSolomon,"thelegendofHiramappearstohaveexisted
muchinitspresent form; accordingtoanother groupthevictimof the
murderwasnotHiramAbiff,butoneofhiscompanionsnamedMatre
Jacques, who, whilst engaged with Hiram on the construction of the
Temple,methisdeathatthehandsoffivewickedFellowCrafts,instigated
byasixth,thePreSoubise.287
Butthedateatwhichthislegendoriginatedisunknown.Clavelthinksthat
the"Hebraicmysteries"existedasearlyastheRomanCollegia,whichhe
describesaslargelyJudaized288;Yarkerexpressespreciselytheopposite
view:"ItisnotsodifficulttoconnectFreemasonrywiththeCollegia;the
difficultyliesinattributingJewishtraditionstotheCollegia,andwesayon
theevidenceoftheoldestchargesthatsuchtraditionshadnoexistencein
Saxontimes."289 Again:"Sofarasthiscountryisconcerned,weknow
nothingfromdocumentsofaMasonrydatingfromSolomon'sTempleuntil
aftertheCrusades,whentheconstitutionbelievedtohavebeensanctioned

by King Athelstan gradually underwent a change." 290 In a discussion

which took place recently at the Quatuor Coronati Lodge the Hiramic
legendcouldonlybetracedbackandthenwithoutabsolutecertaintyto
thefourteenthcentury,whichwouldcoincidewiththedateindicatedby
Yarker.291
Uptothisperiodtheloreofthemasonicguildsappearstohavecontained
onlytheexotericdoctrinesofEgyptandGreecewhichmayhavereached
themthroughtheRomanCollegia,whilstthetraditionsof Masonry are
traced from Adam, Jabal, Tubal Cain, from Nimrod and the Tower of
Babel, with Hermes and Pythagoras as their more immediate
progenitors.292Thesedoctrineswereevidentlyinthemaingeometricalor
technical,andinnosenseCabalistic.Thereisthereforesomejustification
for Eckert's statement that "the JudeoChristian mysteries were not yet
introducedintothemasoniccorporations;nowherecanwefindtheleast
trace of them.Nowheredowe findanyclassification, noteventhatof
masters, fellowcrafts, and apprentices. We observe no symbol of the
TempleofSolomon;alltheirsymbolismrelatestomasoniclaboursandtoa
fewphilosophicalmaximsofmorality."293ThedateatwhichEckert,like
Yarker,placestheintroductionoftheseJudaicelementsisthetimeofthe
Crusades.
ButwhilstrecognizingthatmodernCraftMasonryislargelyfoundedon
theCabala,itisnecessarytodistinguishbetweenthedifferentCabalas.For
bythisdatenolessthanthreeCabalasappeartohaveexisted:firstly,the
ancientsecrettraditionofthepatriarchshandeddownfromtheEgyptians
throughtheGreeksandRomans,andpossiblythroughtheRomanCollegia
to the Craft Masons of Britain; secondly, the Jewish version of this
tradition, the first Cabala of the Jews, in no way incompatible with
Christianity,descendingfromMoses,DavidandSolomontotheEssenes
andthemoreenlightenedJews;andthirdly,thepervertedCabala,mingled
bytheRabbiswithmagic,barbaricsuperstitions,andafterthedeathof
ChristwithantiChristianlegends.
WhateverCabalisticelementswereintroducedintoCraftMasonryatthe
time of the Crusades appear to have belonged to the second of these
traditions,theunpervertedCabalaoftheJews,knowntotheEssenes.There
are, in fact, striking resemblances betwen Freemasonry and Essenism
degrees of initiation, oaths of secrecy, the wearing of the apron, and a

certainmasonicsign;whilsttotheSabeisttraditionsoftheEssenesmay
perhapsbetracedthesolarandstellarsymbolismofthelodges. 294 The
Hiramiclegendmayhavebelongedtothesametradition.
The Templar Tradition
If then no documentary evidence can be brought forward to show that
either the Solomonic legend or any traces of Judaic symbolism and
traditionsexistedeitherinthemonumentsoftheperiodorintheritualof
the masons before the fourteenth century, it is surely reasonable to
recognizetheplausibilityofthecontentionputforwardbyagreatnumber
ofmasonicwritersparticularlyontheContinentthattheJudaicelements
penetratedintoMasonrybymeansoftheTemplars. 295 TheTemplars,as
wehavealreadyseen,hadtakentheirnamefromtheTempleofSolomonin
Jerusalem.Whatthenmorelikelythanthatduringthetimetheyhadlived
theretheyhadlearnttheRabbinicallegendsconnectedwiththeTemple?
AccordingtoGeorgeSand,whowasdeeplyversedinthehistoryofsecret
societies,theHiramiclegendwasadoptedbytheTemplarsassymbolicof
the destruction of their Order. "They wept over their impotence in the
personofHiram.Thewordlostandrecoveredistheirempire...." 296 The
FreemasonRagonlikewisedeclaresthatthecatastrophetheylamentedwas
thecatastrophethatdestroyedtheirOrder.297 Further,theGrandMaster
whosefatetheydeploredwasJacquesduMolay.Herethenwehavetwo
bodies in France at the same period, the Templars and the
compagnonnages, both possessing a legend concerning the Temple of
SolomonandbothmourningaMatreJacqueswhohadbeenbarbarously
puttodeath.IfweacceptthepossibilitythattheHiramiclegendexisted
amongst the masons before the Crusades, how are we to explain this
extraordinarycoincidence?ItiscertainlyeasiertobelievethattheJudaic
traditionswereintroducedtothemasonsbytheTemplarsandgraftedonto
the ancient lore that the masonic guilds had inherited from the Roman
Collegia.
That some connexion existed between the Templars and the working
masonsisindicatedbythenewinfluencethatenteredintobuildingatthis
period. A modern Freemason comparing "the beautifully designed and
deepcutmarksofthetrueGothicperiod,saycirca11501350,"with"the
carelessandroughlyexecutedmarks,manyofthemmerescratches,oflater

periods," points out that "the Knights Templars rose and fell with that
wonderfuldevelopmentofarchitecture."Thesamewritergoesontoshow
thatsomeofthemostimportantmasonicsymbols,theequilateraltriangle
andtheMason'ssquaresurmountingtwopillars,camethroughfromGothic
times.298Yarkerassertsthatthelevel,theflamingstar,andtheTaucross
whichhavesincepassedintothesymbolismofFreemasonrymaybetraced
totheKnightsTemplar,asalsothefivepointedstarinSalisburyCathedral,
thedoubletriangleinWestminsterAbbey,JachinandBoaz,thecircleand
thepentagoninthemasonryofthefourteenthcentury.Yarkerciteslater,in
1556,theeyeandcrescent moon,thethreestarsandtheladderoffive
steps,asfurtherevidencesofTemplarinfluence. 299 "TheTemplarswere
large builders, and Jacques du Molay alleged the zeal of his Order in
decoratingchurchesintheprocessagainsthimin1310;hencethealleged
connexionofTemplaryandFreemasonryisboundtohaveasubstratumof
truth."300
Moreover, according to a masonic tradition, an alliance definitely took
placebetweentheTemplarsandthemasonicguildsatthisperiod.During
theproceedingstakenagainsttheOrderoftheTempleinFranceitissaid
thatPierred'AumontandsevenotherKnightsescapedtoScotlandinthe
guiseofworkingmasonsandlandedintheIslandofMull.OnSt.John's
Day,1307,theyheldtheirfirstchapter.RobertBrucethentookthemunder
his protection, and seven years later they fought under his standard at
Bannockburn against Edward II, who had suppressed their Order in
England.Afterthisbattle,whichtookplaceonSt.JohntheBaptist'sDayin
summer(June24),RobertBruceissaidtohaveinstitutedtheRoyalOrder
of H.R.M. (Heredom) and Knights of the R.S.Y.C.S. (Rosy Cross). 301
These two degrees now constitute the Royal Order of Scotland, and it
seemsnotimprobablethatinrealitytheywerebroughttoScotlandbythe
Templars.Thus,accordingtooneoftheearlywritersonFreemasonry,the
degreeoftheRoseCroixoriginatedwiththeTemplarsinPalestineasearly
as1188302;whilsttheEasternoriginofthewordHeredom,supposedto
derivefromamythicalmountainonanislandsouthoftheHebrides 303
wheretheCuldeespractisedtheirrites,isindicatedbyanothereighteenth
centurywriter,whotracesittoaJewishsource. 304 Inthissameyearof
1314RobertBruceissaidtohaveunitedtheTemplarsandtheRoyalOrder
ofH.R.M.withtheguildsofworkingmasons,whohadalsofoughtinhis

army,atthefamousLodgeofKilwinning,foundedin1286, 305whichnow
added to its name that of Heredom and became the chief seat of the
Order.306 Scotlandwasessentiallyahomeofoperativemasonry,and,in
viewoftheTemplar'sprowessintheartofbuilding,whatmorenatural
thanthatthetwobodiesshouldenterintoanalliance?AlreadyinEngland
the Temple is said between 1155 and 1199 to have administered the
Craft.307 It is thus at Heredom of Kilwinning, "the Holy House of
Masonry""MotherKilwinning,"asitisstillknowntoFreemasonsthata
speculativeelementofafreshkindmayhavefounditswayintothelodges.
Is it not here, then, that we may see that "fruitful union between the
professionalguildofmedivalmasonsandasecretgroupofphilosophical
Adepts"alludedtobyCountGobletd'AviellaanddescribedbyMr.Waite
inthefollowingwords:
Themysteryofthebuildingguildswhateveritmaybeheldtohavebeen
wasthat of asimple,unpolished,pious,andutilitariandevice;andthis
daughter of Nature, in the absence of all intention on her own part,
underwent,orwascoercedintooneofthestrangestmarriageswhichhas
beencelebratedinocculthistory.Itsohappenedthatherparticularform
andfigurelentitselftosuchaunion,etc.308?
Mr.Waitewithhisusualvaguenessdoesnotexplainwhenandwherethis
marriagetookplace,buttheaccountwouldcertainlyapplytothealliance
betweentheTemplarsandScottishguildsofworkingmasons,which,aswe
have seen, is admitted by masonic authorities, and presents exactly the
conditionsdescribed,theTemplarsbeingpeculiarlyfittedbytheirinitiation
intothelegendconcerningthebuildingoftheTempleofSolomontoco
operatewiththemasons,andthemasonsbeingpreparedbytheirpartial
initiation into ancient mysteries to receive the fresh influx of Eastern
traditionfromtheTemplars.
A further indication of the Templar influence in Craft Masonry is the
system of degrees and initiations. The names of Entered Apprentice,
FellowCraft,andMasterMasonaresaidtohavederivedfromScotland, 309
andtheanalogybetweentheseandthedegreesoftheAssassinshasalready
beenshown.Indeed,theresemblancebetweentheouterorganizationof
Freemasonryandthesystem oftheIsmailisisshown bymanywriters.
ThusDr.Bussellobserves:"Nodoubttogetherwithsomeknowledgeof

geometryregardedasanesoterictradesecret,manysymbolstodaycurrent
didpassdownfromveryprimitivetimes.Butamorecertainmodelwasthe
GrandLodgeoftheIsmailisinCairo"thatistosaytheDarulHikmat. 310
SyedAmeerAlialsoexpressestheopinionthat"Makrisi'saccountofthe
differentdegreesofinitiationadoptedinthislodgeformsaninvaluable
recordofFreemasonry.Infact,thelodgeatCairobecamethemodelofall
theLodgescreatedafterwardsinChristendom."311Mr.BernardSpringett,
aFreemason,quotingthispassage,adds:"InthislastassertionIammyself
greatlyinagreement."312
Itissurelythereforelegitimatetosurmisethatthissystempenetratedto
Craft Masonry through the Templars, whose connexion with the
Assassinsoffshoot of the DarulHikmatwas a matter of common
knowledge.
ThequestionoftheTemplarsuccessioninFreemasonryformsperhapsthe
mostcontroversialpointinthewholehistoryoftheRomanCollegiatheory,
ContinentalMasonsmoregenerallyacceptingit,andevengloryinginit. 313
Mackey,inhisLexiconofFreemasonry,thussumsupthematter:
TheconnexionbetweentheKnightsTemplarandtheFreemasonshasbeen
repeatedlyassertedbytheenemiesofbothinstitutions,andhasoftenbeen
admitted by their friends. Lawrie, on this subject, holds the following
language: "We know that the Knights Templar not only possessed the
mysteries but performed the ceremonies and inculcated the duties of
Freemasons,"andheattributesthedissolutionoftheOrdertothediscovery
oftheirbeingFreemasonsandtheirassemblinginsecrettopractisethe
ritesoftheOrder.314
This explains why Freemasons have always shown indulgence to the
Templars.
ItwasaboveallFreemasonry[saysFindel],whichbecauseitfalselyheld
itselftobeadaughterofTemplarismtookthegreatestpainstorepresent
theOrderoftheTemplarsasinnocentandthereforefreefromallmystery.
For this purpose not only legends and unhistorical facts were brought
forward,butmanuvreswerealsoresortedtoinordertosuppressthetruth.
ThemasonicreverersoftheTempleOrderboughtupthewholeeditionof
theActesduProcsofMoldenhawer,becausethisshowedtheguiltofthe
Order; only a few copies reached the booksellers.... Already several

decades before ... the Freemasons in their unhistorical efforts had been
guiltyofrealforgery.DupuyhadpublishedhisHistoryoftheTrialofthe
Templars asearlyas 1654inParis, for whichhehad madeuseof the
originaloftheActesduProcs,accordingtowhichtheguiltoftheOrder
leaves no room for doubt.... But when in the middle of the eighteenth
century several branches of Freemasonry wished to recall the Templar
Orderintobeing,theworkofDupuywasnaturallyverydispleasing.Ithad
alreadybeencurrentamongstthepublicforahundredyears,soitcouldno
longerbebought;thereforetheyfalsifiedit.315
Accordinglyin1751areprintofDupuy'sworkappearedwiththeaddition
ofanumberofnotesandremarksandmutilatedinsuchawayastoprove
nottheguiltbuttheinnocenceoftheTemplars.
Now,althoughBritishMasonryhasplayednopartintheseintrigues,the
questionoftheTemplarsuccessionhasbeenveryinadequatelydealtwith
bythemasonicwritersofourcountry.Asaruletheyhaveadoptedoneof
two courseseither they have persistently denied connexion with the
Templars or they have represented them as a blameless and cruelly
malignedOrder.Butinrealityneitheroftheseexpedientsisnecessaryto
savethehonourofBritishMasonry,fornoteventhebitterestenemyof
MasonryhaseversuggestedthatBritishmasonshaveadoptedanyportion
oftheTemplarheresy.TheKnightswhofledtoScotlandmayhavebeen
perfectlyinnocentofthechargesbroughtagainsttheirOrder;indeed,there
is good reason to believe this was the case. Thus the Manuel des
Chevaliers de l'Ordre du Temple relates the incident in the following
manner:
After the death of Jacques du Molay, some Scottish Templars having
becomeapostates, at theinstigationof RobertBrucerangedthemselves
underthebannersofanewOrder 316institutedbythisprinceandinwhich
thereceptionswerebasedonthoseoftheOrderoftheTemple.Itisthere
thatwemustseektheoriginofScottishMasonryandeventhatoftheother
masonicrites.TheScottishTemplarswereexcommunicatedin1324by
Larmenius,whodeclaredthemtobeTemplidesertoresandtheKnightsof
St.John of Jerusalem, Dominiorum Militi spoliatores,placed for ever
outsidethepaleoftheTemple: ExtragirumTempli,nuncetinfuturum,
volo,dicoetjubeo.Asimilaranathemahassincebeenlaunchedbyseveral
Grand Masters against Templars who were rebellious to legitimate

authority.FromtheschismthatwasintroducedintoScotlandanumberof
sectstookbirth.317
ThisaccountformsacompleteexonerationoftheScottishTemplars;as
apostatesfromthebogusChristianChurchandthedoctrinesofJohannism
theyshowedthemselvesloyaltothetrueChurchandtotheChristianfaith
asformulatedinthepublishedstatutesoftheirOrder.Whattheyappear,
then,tohaveintroducedtoMasonrywastheirmannerofreception,thatis
to say their outer forms and organization, and possibly certain Eastern
esoteric doctrines and Judaic legends concerning the building of the
Temple of Solomon in no way incompatible with the teaching of
Christianity.
Itwillbenoticed,moreover,thatinthebanpassedbytheOrdreduTemple
ontheScottishTemplarstheKnightsofSt.JohnofJerusalemarealso
included.ThisisafurthertributetotheorthodoxyoftheScottishKnights.
FortotheKnightsofSt.JohnofJerusalemtowhomtheTemplarproperty
wasgivennosuspicionofheresyhadeverattached.Afterthesuppression
of the Order of the Temple in 1312 a number of the Knights joined
themselvestotheKnightsofSt.JohnofJerusalem,bywhomtheTemplar
systemappearstohavebeenpurgedofitshereticalelements.Asweshall
seelater,thesameprocessissaidtohavebeencarriedoutbytheRoyal
Order of Scotland, All this suggests that the Templars had imported a
secretdoctrinefromtheEastwhichwascapableeitherofaChristianoran
antiChristianinterpretation,thatthroughtheirconnexionwiththeRoyal
OrderofScotlandandtheKnightsofSt.JohnofJerusalemthisChristian
interpretation was preserved, and finally that it was this pure doctrine
whichpassedintoFreemasonry.Accordingtoearlymasonicauthorities,
theadoptionofthetwoSt.JohnsasthepatronsaintsofMasonryarose,not
from Johannism, but from the alliance between the Templars and the
KnightsofSt.JohnofJerusalem.318
ItisimportanttorememberthatthetheoryoftheTemplarconnexionwith
FreemasonrywasheldbytheContinentalFreemasonsoftheeighteenth
century,who,livingatthetimetheOrderwasreconstitutedonitspresent
basis,wereclearlyinabetterpositiontoknowitsoriginsthanwewhoare
separatedfromthatdatebyadistanceoftwohundredyears.Butsincetheir
testimonyfirstcomestolightattheperiodoftheupperdegrees,inwhich
theTemplarinfluenceismoreclearlyvisiblethaninCraftMasonry,itmust

bereservedforalaterchapter.Beforepassingontothisfurtherstageinthe
historyoftheCraft,itisnecessarytoconsideronemorelinkinthechainof
themasonictraditionthe"HolyVehm."
The Vehmgerichts319
Thesedreadtribunals,saidtohavebeenestablishedbyCharlemagnein
772320inWestphalia,hadfortheiravowedobjecttheestablishmentoflaw
and order amidst the unsettled and even anarchic conditions that then
reignedinGermany.Butbydegreesthepowerarrogatedtoitselfbythe
"HolyVehm"becamesoformidablethatsucceedingemperorswereunable
tocontrolitsworkingsandfoundthemselvesforcedtobecomeinitiates
from motives of selfprotection. During the twelfth century the
Vehmgerichts,bytheircontinualexecutions,hadcreatedaveritable"Red
Terror,"sothattheEastofGermanywasknownastheRedLand.In1371,
says Lecouteulx de Canteleu, a fresh impetus was given to the "Holy
Vehm"byanumberoftheKnightsTemplarwho,onthedissolutionof
theirOrder,hadfoundtheirwaytoGermanyandnowsoughtadmissionto
theSecretTribunals.321HowmuchofTemplarlorepassedintothehandof
the Vehmgerichts it is impossible to know, but there is certainly a
resemblancebetweenthemethodsofinitiationandintimidationemployed
bytheVehmsandthosedescribedbycertainoftheTemplars,stillmore
betweentheceremonyoftheVehmsandtheritualofFreemasonry.
ThusthemembersoftheVehms,knownastheWissende(orEnlightened),
weredividedintothreedegreesofinitiation:theFreeJudges,theveritable
FreeJudges,andtheHolyJudgesoftheSecretTribunal.Thecandidatefor
initiationwasledblindfoldbeforethedreadTribunal,presidedoverbya
Stuhlherr(ormasterofthechair)orhissubstitute,aFreigraf,withasword
andbranchofwillowathisside.Theinitiatewasthenboundbyaterrible
oathnottorevealthesecretsofthe"HolyVehm,"towarnnooneofdanger
threatening them by its decrees, to denounce anyone, whether father,
mother, brother, sister, friend, or relation, if such a one had been
condemnedbytheTribunal.Afterthishewasgiventhepasswordandgrip
by which the confederates recognized each other. In the event of his
turning traitor or revealing the secrets confided to him his eyes were
bandaged, his hands tiedbehind his back, andhis tongue was tornout
throughthebackofhisneck,afterwhichhewashangedbythefeettillhe
wasdead,withthesolemnimprecationthathisbodyshouldbegivenasa

preytothebirdsoftheair.
Itisdifficulttobelievethatthepointsofresemblancewithmodernmasonic
ritual322whichmayherebediscernedcanbeamerematterofcoincidence,
yetitwouldbeequallyunreasonabletotracetheoriginsofFreemasonryto
theVehmgerichts.Clearlybothderivedfromacommonsource,eitherthe
oldpagantraditionsonwhichtheearlyVehmswerefoundedorthesystem
of the Templars. The latter seems the more probable for two reasons:
firstly, on account of the resemblance between the methods of the
VehmgerichtsandtheAssassins,whichwouldbeexplainediftheTemplars
formedtheconnectinglink;andsecondly,thefactthatincontemporary
documentsthemembersoftheSecretTribunalswerefrequentlyreferredto
underthenameofRoseCroix.323Now,since,aswehaveseen,thedegree
oftheRosyCrossissaidtohavebeenbroughttoEuropebytheTemplars,
thiswouldaccountforthepersistenceofthenameintheVehmgerichtsas
wellasintheRosicruciansoftheseventeenthcentury,whoaresaidtohave
continued the Templar tradition. Thus Templarism and Rosicrucianism
appear to have been always closely connected, a fact which is not
surprisingsincebothderivefromacommonsourcethetraditionsofthe
nearEast.
This brings us to an alternative theory concerning the channel through
whichEasterndoctrines,andparticularlyCabalism,foundtheirwayinto
Freemasonry.Foritmustbeadmittedthatoneobstacletothecomplete
acceptanceofthetheoryoftheTemplarsuccession exists,namely,that
although the Judaic element cannot be traced further back than the
Crusades,neithercanitwithcertaintybepronouncedtohavecomeinto
existenceduringthethreecenturiesthatfollowedafter.Indeed,beforethe
publication of Anderson's "Constitutions" in 1723 there is no definite
evidencethattheSolomoniclegendhadbeenincorporatedintotheritualof
British Masonry. So although the possession of the legend by the
compagnonnages oftheMiddleAgeswouldtendtoproveitsantiquity,
thereisalwaysthepossibilitythatitwasintroducedbysomelaterbodyof
adeptsthantheTemplars.Accordingtothepartisansofafurthertheory,
theseadeptsweretheRosicrucians.
Rosicrucian Origin
OneoftheearliestandmosteminentprecursorsofFreemasonryissaidto

havebeenFrancisBacon.Aswehavealreadyseen,Baconisrecognizedto
have been a Rosicrucian, and that the secret philosophical doctrine he
professedwascloselyakintoFreemasonryisclearlyapparentinhisNew
Atlantis. The reference to the "Wise Men of the Society of Solomon's
House" cannot be a mere coincidence. The choice of Atlantisthe
legendaryislandsupposedtohavebeensubmergedbytheAtlanticOcean
intheremotepastwouldsuggestthatBaconhadsomeknowledgeofa
secrettraditiondescendingfromtheearliestpatriarchsofthehumanrace,
whom,likethemodernwriterLePlongeon,heimaginedtohaveinhabited
theWesternhemisphereandtohavebeenthepredecessorsoftheEgyptian
initiates.LePlongeon,however,placesthisearlyseatofthemysteriesstill
further West than the Atlantic Ocean, in the region of Mayax and
Yucatan.324
Baconfurtherrelatesthatthistraditionwaspreservedinitspureformby
certainoftheJews, who,whilstacceptingtheCabala,rejecteditsanti
Christiantendencies.ThusinthisislandofBensalemthereareJews"ofa
fardifferingdispositionfromtheJewsinotherparts.Forwhereastheyhate
thenameofChrist,andhaveasecretinbredrancouragainstthepeople
amongstwhomtheylive;thesecontrariwisegiveuntoourSaviourmany
highattributes,"butatthesametimetheybelieve"thatMosesbyasecret
CabalaordainedthelawsofBensalemwhichtheynowuse,andthatwhen
theMessiahshouldcomeandsitonHisthroneatJerusalem,theKingof
BensalemshouldsitatHisfeet,whereasotherkingsshouldkeepatagreat
distance." This passage is of particular interest as showing that Bacon
recognizedthedivergencebetweentheancientsecrettraditiondescending
fromMosesandthepervertedJewishCabalaoftheRabbis,andthathewas
perfectlyawareofthetendencyevenamongthebestofJewstoturnthe
formertotheadvantageoftheMessianicdreams.
Mrs.Pott,whoinher FrancisBaconandhisSecretSociety setsoutto
prove that Bacon was the founder of Rosicrucianism and Freemasonry,
ignoresalltheprevioushistoryofthesecrettradition.Baconwasnotthe
originatorbuttheinheritoroftheideasonwhichboththesesocietieswere
founded.AndthefurthercontentionthatBaconwasatthesametimethe
authorofthegreatestdramasintheEnglishlanguageandofTheChymical
Marriage of Christian Rosengreutz is manifestly absurd. Nevertheless,
Bacon'sinfluenceamongsttheRosicruciansisapparent;Heydon'sVoyage
totheLandoftheRosicruciansisinfactamereplagiarismofBacon'sNew

Atlantis.
Mrs.PottseemstoimaginethatbyproclaimingBacontohavebeenthe
founderorevenamemberoftheOrderofFreemasonrysheisrevealinga
greatmasonicsecretwhichFreemasonshaveconspiredtokeepdark.But
whyshouldtheCraftdesiretodisownsoillustriousaprogenitororseekto
concealhisconnexionwiththeOrderifanysuchexisted?Findel,indeed,
franklyadmitsthatthe NewAtlantis containedunmistakableallusionsto
FreemasonryandthatBaconcontributedtoitsfinaltransformation. 325This
was doubtless brought about largely by the English Rosicrucians who
followed after. To suggest then that Freemasonry originated with the
Rosicrucians is to ignore the previous history of the secret tradition.
Rosicrucianism was not the beginning but a link in the long chain
connecting Freemasonry with far earlier secret associations. The
resemblance between the two Orders admits of no denial. Thus Yarker
writes:"ThesymbolictracingoftheRosicrucianswasaSquareTemple
approachedbysevensteps...herealsowefindthetwopillarsofHermes,
the fivepointed star, sun and moon, compasses, square and triangle."
Yarkerfurtherobservesthat"evenWrenwasmoreorless astudentof
Hermeticism,andifwehadafulllistofFreemasonsandRosicrucianswe
should probably be surprised at the numbers who belonged to both
systems."326
ProfessorBhleemphaticallystatesthat"Freemasonryisneithermorenor
less than Rosicrucianism as modified by those who transplanted it into
England." Chambers, who published his famous Cyclopdia in 1728,
observes: "Some who are no friends to Freemasonry, make the present
flourishingsocietyofFreemasonsabranchof Rosicrucians,orratherthe
Rosicruciansthemselvesunderanewnameorrelation,viz.asretainersto
building.AnditiscertaintherearesomeFreemasonswhohaveallthe
charactersofRosicrucians."
TheconnexionbetweenFreemasonryandRosicrucianismis,however,a
question hardly less controversial than that of the connexion between
FreemasonryandTemplarism.
Dr.Mackeyviolentlydisputesthetheory."TheRosicrucians,"hewrites,
"as this brief history indicates, had no connexion whatever with the
masonicfraternity.Notwithstandingthisfact,Barruel,themostmalignant
ofourrevilers,withacharacteristicspiritofmisrepresentation,attempted

to identify the two institutions."327 But the aforesaid "brief history"

indicatesnothingofthekind,andthereferencetoBarruelasamalignant
reviler for suggesting a connexion, which, as we have seen, many
Freemasonsadmit,showsonwhichsidethis"spiritofmisrepresentation"
exists.Itisinteresting,however,tonotethatintheeyesofcertainmasonic
writersconnexionwiththeRosicruciansisregardedashighlydiscreditable;
thefraternitywouldthusappeartohavebeenlessblamelessthanwehave
beentaughttobelieve.Mr.Waiteisequallyconcernedwithprovingthat
there"isnotraceableconnexionbetweenMasonryandRosicrucianism,"
andhegoesontoexplainthatFreemasonrywasneveralearnedsociety,
that it never laid claim to "any transcendental secrets of alchemy and
magic,ortoanyskillinmedicine,"etc.328
ThetruthmayliebetweentheopposingcontentionsofProf.Bhleandhis
two masonic antagonists. The Freemasons were clearly, for the reasons
givenbyMr.Waite,notamerecontinuationoftheRosicrucians,butmore
likelyborrowedfromtheRosicruciansapartoftheirsystemandsymbols
whichtheyadaptedtotheirownpurpose.Moreover,theincontrovertible
factisthatinthelistofEnglishFreemasonsandRosicrucianswefindmen
who belonged to both Orders and amongst these two who contributed
largelytotheconstitutionsofEnglishFreemasonry.
The first of these is Robert Fludd, whom Mr. Waite describes as "the
centralfigureofRosicrucianliterature,...anintellectualgiant,...amanof
immense erudition, of exalted mind, and, to judge by his writings, of
extremepersonalsanctity.Ennemoserdescribeshimasoneofthemost
distinguisheddisciplesofParacelsus...." 329Yarkeraddsthisclue:"In1630
wefindFludd,thechiefoftheRosicrucians,usingarchitecturallanguage,
andthereisproofthathisSocietywasdividedintodegrees,andfromthe
fact that the Masons' Company of London had a copy of the Masonic
Charges'presentedbyMr.fflood'wemaysupposethathewasaFreemason
before1620."330
AstillmoreimportantlinkisEliasAshmole,theantiquary,astrologer,and
alchemist,founderoftheAshmoleanMuseumatOxford,whowasbornin
1617.AnavowedRosicrucian,andaswehaveseen,alsoaFreemason,
AshmoledisplayedgreatenergyinreconstitutingtheCraft;heissaidto
haveperfecteditsorganization,tohaveaddedtoitfurthermysticsymbols,
andaccordingtoRagon,itwashewhodrewuptheritualoftheexisting

three Craft degreesEntered Apprentice, FellowCraft, and Master

MasonwhichwasadoptedbyGrandLodgein1717.Whencedidthese
fresh inspirations come but from the Rosicrucians? For, as Ragon also
informsus,intheyearthatAshmolewasreceivedintoFreemasonrythe
RosicruciansheldtheirmeetinginthesameroomatMasonHall!331
How,then,canitbesaidthattherewas"notraceableconnexionbetween
Freemasonry and Rosicrucianism?" and why should it be the part of a
"malignantreviler"toconnectthem?ItisnotsuggestedthatRosicrucians,
such as Fludd or Ashmole, imported any magical elements into
Freemasonry,butsimplythesystemandsymbolsoftheRoseCroixwitha
certaindegreeofesotericlearning.ThatRosicrucianismformsanimportant
linkinthechainofthesecrettraditionisthereforeundeniable.
The Seventeenth-Century Rabbis
Thereis,however,athirdchannelthroughwhichtheJudaiclegendsof
FreemasonrymayhavepenetratedtotheCraft,namely,theRabbisofthe
seventeenthcentury.TheJewishwriterBernardLazarehasdeclaredthat
"there were Jews around the cradle of Freemasonry," 332 and if this
statementisappliedtotheperiodprecedingtheinstitutionofGrandLodge
in1717itcertainlyfindsconfirmationinfact.Thusitissaidthatinthe
precedingcenturythecoatofarmsnowusedbyGrandLodgehadbeen
designedbyanAmsterdamJew,JacobJehudaLeonTemplo,colleagueof
Cromwell'sfriendtheCabalist,ManassehbenIsrael.333 ToquoteJewish
authority onthis question, Mr. Lucien Wolf writes thatTemplo"had a
monomaniafor...everythingrelatingtotheTempleofSolomonandthe
TabernacleoftheWilderness.Heconstructedgiganticmodelsofboththese
edifices."334 TheseheexhibitedinLondon,whichhevisitedin1675and
earlier, and it seems not unreasonable to conclude that this may have
providedafreshsourceofinspirationtotheFreemasonswhoframedthe
masonicritualsomefortyyearslater.Atanyrate,themasoniccoatofarms
stillusedbyGrandLodgeofEnglandisundoubtedlyofJewishdesign.
"This coat," says Mr. Lucien Wolf, "is entirely composed of Jewish
symbols,"andis"anattempttodisplayheraldicallythevariousformsof
theCherubimpicturedtousinthesecondvisionofEzekielanOx,aMan,
aLion,andanEagleandthusbelongstothehighestandmostmystical
domainofHebrewsymbolism."335

Inotherwords,thisvision,knowntotheJewsasthe"Mercaba," 336belongs
totheCabala,whereaparticularinterpretationisplacedoneachfigureso
astoprovideanesotericmeaningnotperceptibletotheuninitiated. 337The
masoniccoatofarmsisthusentirelyCabalistic;asisalsothesealonthe
diplomasofCraftMasonry,whereanotherCabalisticfigure,thatofaman
andwomancombined,isreproduced.338
OftheJewishinfluenceinMasonryafter1717Ishallspeaklater.
Tosumup,then,theoriginsofthesystemwenowknowasFreemasonry
arenottobefoundinonesourcealone.Thetwelvealternativesources
enumeratedintheMasonicCyclopdiaandquotedatthebeginningofthis
chaptermayallhavecontributedtoitsformation.ThusOperativeMasonry
mayhavedescendedfromtheRomanCollegiaandthroughtheoperative
masonsoftheMiddleAges,whilstSpeculativeMasonrymayhavederived
from the patriarchs and the mysteries of the pagans. But the source of
inspirationwhichadmitsofnodenialistheJewishCabala.Whetherthis
penetrated to our country through the Roman Collegia, the
compagnonnages,theTemplars,theRosicrucians,orthroughtheJewsof
the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries, whose activities behind the
scenesofFreemasonryweshallseelater,isamatterofspeculation.The
factremainsthatwhentheritualandconstitutionsofMasonryweredrawn
up in 1717, although certain fragments of the ancient Egyptian and
Pythagorean doctrines were retained, the Judaic version of the secret
traditionwastheoneselectedbythefoundersofGrandLodgeonwhichto
builduptheirsystem.

Chapter 6:

The Grand Lodge Era

WhateverweretheoriginsoftheOrderwenowknowasFreemasonry,itis
clear that during the century preceding its reorganization under Grand
LodgeofLondonthesecretsystemofbindingmentogetherforacommon
purpose,basedonEasternesotericdoctrines,hadbeenanticipatedbythe
Rosicrucians. Was this secret system employed, however by any other
body of men? It is certainly easy to imagine how in this momentous
seventeenth century, when men of all opinions were coalescing against
opposing forcesLutherans combining against the Papacy, Catholics
rallyingtheirforcesagainstinvadingProtestantism,Republicansplottingin
favourofCromwell,RoyalistsintheirturnplottingtorestoretheStuarts,
finallyRoyalistsplottingagainsteachotheronbehalfofrivaldynastiesan
organizationofthiskind,enablingonetoworksecretlyforacauseandto
set invisibly vast numbers of human beings in motion, might prove
invaluabletoanyparty.
Thus,accordingtocertainmasonicwritersontheContinent,thesystem
usedbytheRosicruciansintheirfightagainst"Popery"wasalsoemployed
bytheJesuitsforadirectlyoppositepurpose.Inthemanuscriptsofthe
PrinceofHessepublishedbyLecouteulxdeCanteleuitisdeclaredthatin
1714 the Jesuits used the mysteries of the RoseCroix. Mirabeau also
relates that "theJesuits profitedbytheinternaltroublesof thereignof
Charles I to possess themselves of the symbols, the allegories, and the
carpets(tapis)oftheRoseCroixmasons,whowereonlytheancientorder
oftheTemplarssecretlyperpetuated.Itmaybeseenbymeansofwhat
imperceptibleinnovationstheysucceededinsubstitutingtheircatechismto
theinstructionoftheTemplars."339
OtherContinentalwritersagainassertthatCromwell,thearchopponentof
theCatholicChurch,was"ahigherinitiateofmasonicmysteries,"andused
thesystemforhisownelevationtopower340;further,thathefoundhimself

outdistancedbytheLevellers;thatthissect,whosenamecertainlysuggests
masonicinspiration,adoptedforitssymbolsthesquareandcompass, 341
andinitsclaimofrealequalitythreatenedthesupremacyoftheusurper.
Finally,EliasAshmole,theRosicrucianRoyalist,issaidtohaveturnedthe
masonic system against Cromwell, so that towards the end of the
seventeenthcenturytheOrderralliedtotheStuartcause.342
Butallthisispurespeculationrestingonnobasisofknownfacts.The
accusationthattheJesuitsusedthesystemoftheRoseCroixasacoverto
political intrigues is referred to by the Rosicrucian Eliphas Lvi as the
outcomeofignorance,which"refutesitself."Itissignificanttonoticethat
itemanatesmainlyfromGermanyandfromtheIlluminati;thePrinceof
Hesse was a member of the Stricte Observance and Mirabeau an
Illuminatusatthetimehewrotethepassage quotedabove.Thatinthe
seventeenthcenturycertainJesuitsplayedthepartofpoliticalintriguersI
supposetheirwarmestfriendswillhardlydeny,butthattheyemployedany
secretormasonicsystemseemstomeperfectlyincapableofproof.Ishall
returntothispointlater,however,inconnexionwiththeIlluminati.
As to Cromwell, the only circumstance that lends any colour to the
possibilityofhisconnexionwithFreemasonryishisknownfriendshipfor
ManassehbenIsrael,thecolleagueoftheRabbiTemplowhodesignedthe
coatofarms later adopted by Grand Lodge. If, therefore, the Jews of
Amsterdam were a source of inspiration to the Freemasons of the
seventeenthcentury,itisnotimpossiblethatCromwellmayhavebeenthe
channelthroughwhichthisinfluencefirstpenetrated.
InthematteroftheStuartsweare,however,onfirmgroundwithregardto
Freemasonry.Thatthelodgesattheendoftheseventeenthcenturywere
Royalistiscertain,andthereseemsgoodreasontobelievethat,whenthe
revolutionof1688dividedtheRoyalistcause,theJacobiteswhofledto
FrancewithJamesIItookFreemasonrywiththem.343Withthehelpofthe
French they established lodges in which, it is said, masonic rites and
symbolswereusedtopromotethecauseoftheStuarts.Thusthelandof
promise signified Great Britain, Jerusalem stood for London, and the
murderofHiramrepresentedtheexecutionofCharlesI.344
Meanwhile Freemasonry in England did not continue to adhere to the
StuartcauseasithaddoneunderthegisofEliasAshmole,andby1717is
saidtohavebecomeHanoverian.

Fromthisimportantdatetheofficialhistoryofthepresentsystemmaybe
saidtobegin;hithertoeverythingrestsonstraydocuments,ofwhichthe
authenticity is frequently doubtful, and which provide no continuous
historyoftheOrder.In1717forthefirsttimeFreemasonrywasestablished
onasettledbasisandintheprocessunderwentafundamentalchange.So
far it would seem to have retained an operative element, but in the
transformationthatnowtookplacethiswasentirelyeliminated,andthe
wholeOrderwas transformedintoamiddleandupperclass speculative
body. This coup d'tat, already suggested in 1703, took place in 1716,
whenfourLondonlodgesofFreemasonsmettogetherattheAppleTree
TaverninCharlesStreet,CoventGarden,"andhavingputintothechairthe
oldest Master Mason (now the Master of a lodge), they constituted
themselvesaGrandLodge, protempore,indueform."OnSt.Johnthe
Baptist'sDay,June24ofthenextyear,theannualassemblyandbanquet
wereheldattheGooseandGridironinSt.Paul'sChurchyard,whenMr.
AntonySayerwaselectedGrandMasterandinvestedwithallthebadgesof
office.345
Itisevidentfromtheaboveaccountthatalreadyin1717thespeculative
elementsmusthavepredominatedinthelodges,otherwisewemightexpect
tofindtheoperativemasonstakingsomepartintheseproceedingsand
expressingtheiropinionastowhethertheirassociationshouldpassunder
thecontrolofmenentirelyunconnectedwiththeCraft.Butno,theleaders
ofthenewmovementallappeartohavebelongedtothemiddleclass,nor
fromthismomentdoeithermasonsorarchitectsseemtohaveplayedany
prominentpartinFreemasonry.
Butthepointthatofficialhistorydoesnotattempttoelucidateisthereason
forthisdecision.WhyshouldtheFreemasons of Londonwhetherthey
wereatthisdateaspeculativeoronlyasemispeculativeassociationhave
suddenly recognized the necessity of establishing a Grand Lodge and
drawing up a ritual and "Constitution"? It is evident, then, that some
circumstancesmusthavearisenwhichledthemtotakethisimportantstep.
Iwouldsuggestthatthefollowingmaybethesolutiontotheproblem.
Freemasonry,aswehaveseen,wasasystemthatcouldbeemployedinany
causeandhadnowcometobeusedbyintriguersofeverykindandnot
onlybyintriguers,butbymerelyconvivialbodies,"jollyBrotherhoodsof
theBottle,"whomodelledthemselvesonmasonicassociations. 346Butthe

honestcitizensofLondonwhometandfeastedattheGooseandGridiron
were clearly not intriguers, they were neither Royalist nor Republican
plotters, neither Catholic nor Lutheran fanatics, neither alchemists nor
magicians,norcanitbesupposedthattheyweresimplyrevellers.Ifthey
werepolitical,theywerecertainlynotsupportersoftheStuarts;onthe
contrary,theyweregenerallyreportedtohavebeenHanoverianintheir
sympathies,indeedDr.BussellgoessofarastosaythatGrandLodgewas
institutedtosupporttheHanoveriandynasty. 347Itwouldbeperhapsnearer
thetruthtoconcludethatiftheywereHanoverianitwasbecausetheywere
constitutional,andtheHanoveriandynastyhavingnowbeenestablished
theywishedtoavoidfurtherchanges.Inaword,then,theyweresimply
menofpeace,anxioustoputanendtodissensions,who,seeingthesystem
ofMasonryutilizedforthepurposeofpromotingdiscord,determinedto
wrestitfromthehandsofpoliticalintriguersandrestoreittoitsoriginal
character of brotherhood, though not of brotherhood between working
masonsonly,butbetweenmendrawnfromallclassesandprofessions.By
founding a Grand Lodge in London and drawing up a ritual and
"Constitutions,"theyhopedtopreventtheperversionoftheirsignsand
symbolsandtoestablishtheOrderonasettledbasis.
AccordingtoNicolaithispacificpurposehadalreadyanimatedEnglish
Freemasons under the Grand Mastership of Sir Christopher Wren: "Its
principalobjectfromthisperiodwastomoderatethereligioushatredsso
terribleinEnglandduringthereignofJamesIIandtotryandestablish
somekindofconcordorfraternity,byweakeningasfaraspossiblethe
antagonismsarisingfromthedifferencesofreligions,ranks,andinterests."
An eighteenthcentury manuscript of the Prince of Hesse quoted by
LecouteulxdeCanteleuexpressestheviewthatin1717"themysteriesof
Freemasonry were reformed and purified in England of all political
tendencies."
Inthematterofreligion,CraftMasonryadoptedanequallynonsectarian
attitude.Thefirst"Constitutions"oftheOrder,drawnupbyDr.Anderson
in1723,containthefollowingparagraph:
ConcerningGodandReligionAMasonisobliged,byhistenure,toobey
themoralLaw;andifherightlyunderstandstheArt,hewillneverbea
stupidAtheist,noranirreligiousLibertine.ButthoughinancientTimes
Masons were charged in every Country to be of the Religion of that
CountryorNation,whateveritwas,yet,'tisnowthoughtmoreexpedient

onlytoobligethemtothatReligioninwhichallmenagree,leavingtheir
particularOpinionstothemselves;thatistobegoodMenandtrue,orMen
ofHonourandHonesty,bywhateverDenominationsorPersuasionsthey
maybedistinguish'd;wherebyMasonrybecomestheCentreofUnionand
theMeansofConciliatingtrueFriendshipamongPersonsthatmusthave
remainedataperpetualDistance.
Thephrase"thatReligioninwhichallmenagree"hasbeencensuredby
Catholic writers as advocating a universal religion in the place of
Christianity.Butthisbynomeansfollows.TheideaissurelythatMasons
shouldbemenadheringtothatlawofrightandwrongcommontoall
religiousfaiths.CraftMasonrymaythusbedescribedasDeistincharacter,
butnotintheacceptedsenseofthewordwhichimpliestherejectionof
Christiandoctrines.IfFreemasonryhadbeenDeistinthissensemightwe
notexpecttofindsomeconnexionbetweenthefoundersofGrandLodge
and the school of DeistsToland, Bolingbroke, Woolston, Hume, and
otherswhichflourishedpreciselyatthisperiod?Mightnotsomeanalogy
be detected between the organization of the Order and the Sodalities
describedinToland's Pantheisticon,publishedin1720?ButofthisIcan
findnotracewhatever.TheprincipalfoundersofGrandLodgewere,aswe
have seen, clergymen,both engaged inpreaching Christian doctrines at
theirrespectivechurches.348 Itissurelythereforereasonabletoconclude
thatFreemasonryatthetimeofitsreorganizationin1717wasDeisticonly
insofarthatitinvitedmentomeettogetheronthecommongroundofa
belief in God. Moreover, some of the early English rituals contain
distinctlyChristianelements.Thusbothin JachinandBoaz (1762)and
HiramortheGrandMasterKeytotheDoorofbothAntientandModern
FreemasonrybyaMemberoftheRoyalArch(1766)wefindprayersinthe
lodgesconcludingwiththenameofChrist.Thesepassageswerereplaced
muchlaterbypurelyDeisticformulasundertheGrandMastershipofthe
freethinkingDukeofSussexin1813.
Butinspiteofitsinnocuouscharacter,Freemasonry,merelybyreasonof
itssecrecy,soonbegantoexcitealarminthepublicmind.Asearlyas1724
a work entitled The Grand Mystery of the Freemasons Discovered had
provokedanangryremonstrancefromtheCraft 349;andwhentheFrench
edictagainsttheOrderwaspassed,alettersigned"Jachin"appearedinThe
Gentleman'sMagazine declaringthe"Freemasons whohavelatelybeen

suppressednotonlyinFrancebutinHolland"tobe"adangerousRaceof
Men":
NoGovernmentoughttosuffersuchclandestineAssemblieswherePlots
againsttheStatemaybecarriedon,underthePretenceofBrotherlyLove
andgoodFellowship.
Thewriter,evidentlyunawareofpossibleTemplartraditions,goesonto
observethatthesentinelplacedatthedoorofthelodgewithadrawnsword
inhishand"isnottheonlymarkoftheirbeingamilitaryOrder";and
suggeststhatthetitleofGrandMasteristakeninimitationoftheKnights
ofMalta."Jachin,"moreover,scentsaPopishplot:
TheynotonlyadmitTurks,Jews,Infidels,butevenJacobites,nonjurors
andPapiststhemselves...howcanwebesurethatthosePersonswhoare
knowntobewellaffected,areletintoalltheirMysteries?Theymakeno
scrupletoacknowledgethatthereisaDistinctionbetweenPrenticesand
MasterMasonsandwhoknowswhethertheymaynothaveanhigherOrder
ofCabalists,whokeeptheGrandSecretofallentirelytothemselves?350
LateroninFrance,theAbbPraupublishedhissatiresonFreemasonry,
LeSecretdesFrancsMaons(1742),L'OrdredesFrancsMaonstrahiet
le Secret des Mopses rvl, (1745), and Les FrancsMaons crass
(1746)351 andinabout1761anotherEnglishwritersaidtobeaMason
broughtdownatorrentofinvectiveonhisheadbythepublicationofthe
ritualoftheCraftDegreesunderthenameofJachinandBoaz.352
Itmustbeadmittedthatfromallthiscontroversynopartyemergesina
verycharitablelight,CatholicsandProtestantsalikeindulginginsarcasms
and reckless accusations against Freemasonry, the Freemasons retorting
withfarfrombrotherlyforbearance. 353But,again,onemustrememberthat
allthesemenwereoftheirageanagewhichseenthroughtheeyesof
Hogarth would certainly not appear to have been distinguished for
delicacy.Itshouldbenoted,however,whenonereadsinmasonicworksof
the "persecutions" to which Freemasonry has been subjected, that
aggressionwasnotconfinedonlytotheonesideintheconflict;moreover,
thattheFreemasonsatthisperiodweredividedamongstthemselvesand
expressedwithregardtoopposinggroupsmuchthesamesuspicionsthat
nonMasonsexpressedwithregardtotheOrderasawhole.Fortheyears

followingafterthesuppressionofMasonryinFranceweremarkedbythe
most important development in the history of the modern Orderthe
inaugurationoftheAdditionalDegrees.
The Additional Degrees
Theoriginandinspirationoftheadditionaldegreeshasprovokedhardly
lesscontroversyinmasoniccirclesthantheoriginofMasonryitself.It
shouldbeexplainedthatCraftMasonry,orBlueMasonrythatistosay,
thefirst threedegrees of EnteredApprentice, FellowCraft,andMaster
Mason of which I have attempted to trace the historywere the only
degreesrecognizedbyGrandLodgeatthetimeofitsfoundationin1717
andstillformthebasisofallformsofmodernMasonry.Onthisfoundation
wereerected,somewherebetween1740and1743,thedegreeoftheRoyal
ArchandthefirstoftheseriesofupperdegreesnowknownastheScottish
RiteorastheAncientandAcceptedRite.Theacceptanceorrejectionof
this superstructure has always formed a subject of violent controversy
betweenMasons,onebodyaffirmingthatCraftMasonryistheonlytrue
andgenuineMasonry,theotherdeclaringthattherealobjectofMasonryis
onlytobefoundinthehigherdegrees.Itwasthiscontroversy,centring
round the Royal Arch degree, that about the middle of the eighteenth
centurysplitMasonryintoopposingcampsofAncientsandModerns,the
Ancients declaring that the R.A. was "the Root, Heart, and Marrow of
Freemasonry,"354 the Moderns rejecting it. Although worked by the
Ancients from 1756 onwards, this degree was definitely repudiated by
GrandLodgein1792,355 andonlyin1813was officiallyreceivedinto
EnglishFreemasonry.
TheR.A.degree,whichissaidneverthelesstobecontainedinembryoin
the 1723 Book of Constitutions,356 is purely Judaica glorification of
IsraelandcommemoratingthebuildingofthesecondTemple.Thatitwas
derivedfromtheJewishCabalaseemsprobable,andYarker,commenting
onthephraseinthe Gentleman'sMagazine quotedabove"Whoknows
whetherthey(theFreemasons)havenotahigherorderofCabalists,who
keeptheGrandSecretofallentirelytothemselves"observes:"Itlooks
verylikeanintimationoftheRoyalArchdegree," 357 andelsewherehe
statesthat"theRoyalArchdegree,whenithadtheThreeVeils,musthave
beenthework,evenifbyinstruction,ofaCabalisticJewabout1740,and

from this time we may expect to find a secret tradition grafted upon
Anderson'ssystem."358
Preciselyinthissameyearof1740Mr.Waitesaysthat"anitinerantpedlar
oftheRoyalArchdegreeissaidtohavepropagateditinIreland,claiming
thatitwaspractisedatYorkandLondon,"359 andin1744acertainDr.
Dassigny wrote that the minds of the Dublin brethren had been lately
disturbedaboutRoyalArchMasonryowingtotheactivitiesinDublinof"a
numberoftradersorhuckstersinpretendedMasonry,"whomthewriter
connectswith"Italians"orthe"ItalicOrder."
A Freemason quoting this passage in a recent discussion on the upper
degrees expresses the opinion that these hucksters were "Jacobite
emissariesdisguisedundertheformofapretendedMasonry,"andthat"by
ItaliansandItalianOrderheintendsareferencetotheCourtofKingJames
III,i.e.theOldPretenderatRome,andtotheEcossais(Italic)Orderof
Masonry."360Itismuchmorelikelythathehadreferredtoanothersource
ofmasonicinstructioninItalywhichIshallindicateinalaterchapter.
ButpreciselyatthemomentwhenitissuggestedthattheJacobiteswere
intriguingtointroducetheRoyalArchdegreeintoMasonrytheyarealso
said to have been engaged in elaborating the "Scottish Rite." Let us
examinethiscontention.
Freemasonry in France
The foundation of Grand Lodge in London had been followed by the
inaugurationof Masonic LodgesontheContinentin1721atMons, in
1725 in Paris, in 1728 at Madrid, in 1731 at The Hague, in 1733 at
Hamburg, etc. Several of these received their warrant from the Grand
LodgeofEngland.ButthiswasnotthecasewiththeGrandLodgeofParis,
whichdidnotreceiveawarranttill1743.
The men who founded this lodge, far from being nonpolitical, were
JacobiteleadersengagedinactiveschemesfortherestorationoftheStuart
dynasty.Theleaderofthegroup,CharlesRadcliffe,hadbeenimprisoned
withhisbrother,theillfatedLordDerwentwaterwhowasexecuted on
TowerHillin1716.CharleshadsucceededinescapingfromNewgateand
madehiswaytoFrance,whereheassumedthetitleofLordDerwentwater,
althoughtheEarldomhadceasedtoexistunderthebillofattainderagainst

his brother.361 It was this Lord Derwentwaterafterwards executed for

takingpartinthe1745rebellionwhowithseveralotherJacobitesissaid
tohavefoundedtheGrandLodgeofParisin1725,andhimselftohave
becomeGrandMaster.
TheJacobitecharacteroftheParislodgeisnotamatterofdispute.Mr.
Gouldrelatesthat"thecolleaguesofLordDerwentwaterarestatedtohave
beenaChevalierMaskeline,aSquireHeguerty,andothers,allpartisansof
the Stuarts."362 But he goes on to contest the theory that they used
Freemasonry in the Stuart cause, which he regards as amounting to a
chargeofbadfaith.Thisissurelyunreasonable.ThefoundersofGrand
LodgeinParisdidnotderivefromGrandLodgeinLondon,fromwhich
theyheldnowarrant,363but,aswehaveseen,tooktheirFreemasonrywith
themtoFrancebeforeGrandLodgeofLondonwasinstituted;theywere
thereforeinnowayboundbyitsregulations.AnduntiltheConstitutionsof
Anderson were published in 1723 no rule had been laid down that the
Lodgesshouldbenonpolitical.IntheolddaysFreemasonryhadalways
beenRoyalist,asweseefromtheancientchargesthatmembersshouldbe
"trueliegemenoftheKing";andiftheadherentsofJamesEdwardsawin
himtheirrightfulsovereign,theymayhaveconceivedthattheywereusing
Freemasonryforalawfulpurposeinadaptingittohiscause.Soalthough
we may applaud the decision of the London Freemasons to purge
Freemasonry of political tendencies and transform it into a harmonious
systemofbrotherhood,wecannotaccusetheJacobitesinFranceofbad
faithinnotconformingtoadecisioninwhichtheyhadtakennopartandin
establishinglodgesontheirownlines.
Unfortunately,however,astoofrequentlyhappenswhenmenformsecret
confederaciesforawhollyhonourablepurpose,theirrankswerepenetrated
byconfederatesofanotherkind.Ithasbeensaidinanearlierchapterthat,
accordingtothedocumentsproducedbytheOrdreduTempleintheearly
partofthenineteenthcentury,theTemplarshadneverceasedtoexistin
spiteoftheirofficialsuppressionin1312,andthatalineofGrandMasters
hadsucceededeachotherinunbrokensuccessionfromJacquesduMolay
totheDucdeCossBrissac,whowaskilledin1792.TheGrandMaster
appointedin1705isstatedtohavebeenPhilippe,Ducd'Orlans,laterthe
Regent.Mr.Waitehasexpressedtheopinionthatallthiswasaninvention
of the late eighteenth century, and that the Charter of Larmenius was
fabricated at this date though not published until 1811 by the revived

OrdreduTemple undertheGrandMaster,FabrPalaprat.Butevidence
points to a contrary conclusion. M. Matter, who, as we have seen,
disbelievesthestoryofthe OrdreduTemple andtheauthenticityofthe
CharterofLarmeniusinsofarasitprofessestobeagenuinefourteenth
centurydocument,neverthelessassertsthatthesavantswhohaveexamined
itdeclareittodatefromtheearlypartoftheeighteenthcentury,atwhich
periodMatterbelievestheGospelofSt.JohnusedbytheOrdertohave
beenarrangedsoas"toaccompanytheceremoniesofsomemasonicor
secretsociety."Now,itwasabout1740thatarevivalofTemplarismtook
placeinFranceandGermany;wecannotthereforedoubtthatifMatteris
right in this hypothesis, the secret society in question was that of the
Templars,whethertheyexistedaslinealdescendantsofthetwelfthcentury
OrderormerelyasarevivalofthatOrder.TheexistenceoftheGerman
TemplarsatthisdateunderthenameoftheStricteObservance(whichwe
shalldealwithinafurtherchapter)isindeedafactdisputedbynoone;but
thattherewasalsoanOrdreduTempleinFranceattheverybeginningof
theeighteenthcenturymustberegardedashighlyprobable.Dr.Mackey,
JohnYarker,andLecouteulxdeCanteleu(who,owingtohispossessionof
Templardocuments,hadexclusivesourcesofinformation)alldeclarethis
tohavebeenthecaseandaccepttheCharterofLarmeniusasauthentic."It
isquitecertain,"saysYarker,"thattherewasatthisperiodinFrancean
OrdreduTemple,withacharterfromJohnMarkLarmenius,whoclaimed
appointment from Jacques du Molay. Philippe of Orlans accepted the
GrandMastershipin1705andsignedtheStatutes."364
Without, however, necessarily accepting the Charter of Larmenius as
authenticletusexaminetheprobabilityofthisassertionwithregardtothe
Ducd'Orlans.
AmongsttheJacobitessupportingLordDerwentwaterattheGrandLodge
of Paris was a certain Andrew Michael Ramsay, known as Chevalier
Ramsay, who was born at Ayr near the famous Lodge of Kilwinning,
wheretheTemplarsaresaidtohaveformedtheiralliancewiththemasons
in1314.In1710RamsaywasconvertedtotheRomanCatholicfaithby
Fnelonandin1724becametutortothesonsofthePretenderatRome.
Mr.GouldhasrelatedthatduringhisstayinFrance,Ramsayhadformeda
friendship with the Regent, Philippe, Duc d'Orlans, who was Grand
Masterofthe OrdredeSaintLazare,institutedduringtheCrusadesasa
body of Hospitallers devoting themselves to the care of the lepers and

whichin1608hadbeenjoinedtothe OrdreduMontCarmel.Itseems
probablefromallaccountsthatRamsaywasaChevalierofthisOrder,but
hecannothavebeenadmittedintoitbytheDucd'Orlans,fortheGrand
MasteroftheOrdredeSaintLazarewasnottheDucd'Orlansbutthe
MarquisdeDangeau,who,onhisdeathin1720,wassucceededbytheson
oftheRegent,theDucdeChartres. 365 If,then,Ramsaywasadmittedto
anyOrderbytheRegent,itwassurelytheOrdreduTemple,ofwhichthe
RegentissaidtohavebeentheGrandMasteratthisdate.
Now,theinfamouscharacteroftheDucd'Orlansisamatterofcommon
knowledge; moreover, during the Regencythat period of impiety and
moraldissolutionhithertounparalleledinthehistoryofFrancethechiefof
council was the Duc de Bourbon, who later placed his mistress the
MarquisedePrieandthefinancierParisDuverneyattheheadofaffairs,
thus creating a scandal of such magnitude that he was exiled in 1726
throughtheinfluenceofCardinalFleury.ThisDucdeBourbonin1737is
saidtohavebecomeGrandMasteroftheTemple."Itwasthus,"observes
deCanteleu,"thatthesetwoGrandMastersoftheTempledegradedthe
royalauthorityandceaselesslyincreasedhatredagainstthegovernment."
ItwouldthereforeseemstrangethatamansouprightasRamsayappearsto
havebeen,whohadmoreoverbutrecentlybeenconvertedtotheCatholic
Church, should have formed a friendship with the dissolute Regent of
France,unlesstherehadbeensomebondbetweenthem.Butherewehave
apossibleexplanationTemplarism.DoubtlessduringRamsay'syouthat
KilwinningmanyTemplartraditionshadcometohisknowledge,andifin
FrancehefoundhimselfbefriendedbytheGrandMaster himself,what
wonderthatheshouldhaveenteredintoanalliancewhichresultedinhis
admission to an Order he had been accustomed to revere and which,
moreover, was represented to him as the fons et origo of the masonic
brotherhoodtowhichhealsobelonged?ItisthusthatwefindRamsayin
theveryyearthattheDucdeBourbonissaidtohavebeenmadeGrand
MasteroftheTempleartlesslywritingtoCardinalFleuryaskinghimto
extendhisprotectiontothesocietyofFreemasonsinParisandenclosinga
copyofthespeechwhichhewastodeliveronthefollowingday,March
21, 1737. It is in this famous oration that for the first time we find
FreemasonrytracedtotheCrusades:
AtthetimeoftheCrusadesinPalestinemanyprinces,lords,andcitizens
associatedthemselves,andvowedtorestoretheTempleoftheChristiansin

the Holy Land, and to employ themselves in bringing back their

architecturetoitsfirstinstitution.Theyagreeduponseveralancientsigns
andsymbolicwordsdrawnfromthewellofreligioninordertorecognize
themselves amongst the heathens and Saracens. These signs and words
were only communicated to those who promised solemnly, and even
sometimes at the foot of the altar, never to reveal them. This sacred
promisewasthereforenotanexecrableoath,asithasbeencalled,buta
respectable bond to unite Christians of all nationalities into one
confraternity.SometimeafterwardsourOrderformedanintimateunion
withtheKnightsofSt.JohnofJerusalem.FromthattimeourLodgestook
thenameofLodgesofSt.John.366
This speech of Ramsay's has raised a storm of controversy amongst
Freemasonsbecauseitcontainsaverydecidedhintofaconnexionbetween
TemplarismandFreemasonry.Mr.Tuckett,inthepaperreferredtoabove,
points out that only the Knights of St. John of Jerusalem are here
mentioned,367butRamsaydistinctlyspeaksof"ourOrder"formingaunion
withtheKnightsofSt.JohnofJerusalem,andweknowthattheTemplars
dideventuallyformsuchaunion.ThefactthatRamsaydoesnotmention
theTemplarsbynameadmitsofaveryplausibleexplanation.Itmustbe
remembered that, as Mr. Gould has shown, a copy of the oration was
enclosedbyRamsayinhislettertoCardinalFleuryappealingforroyal
protectiontobeextendedtoFreemasonry;itisthereforehardlylikelythat
hewouldhaveproclaimedaconnexionbetweentheOrderhewasanxious
topresentinthemostfavourablelightandonewhichhadformerlybeen
suppressedbyKingandPope.Moreover,iftheCharterofLarmeniusisto
bebelieved,thenewlyelectedGrandMasteroftheTemplewastheDucde
Bourbon,whohadalreadyincurredtheCardinal'sdispleasure.Obviously,
therefore,Templarinfluencewaskeptinthebackground.Thisisnotto
implybadfaithonthepartofRamsay,whodoubtlessheldtheOrderof
Templarstobewhollypraiseworthy;buthecouldnotexpecttheKingor
Cardinaltosharehisview,andthereforehelditmoreprudenttorefertothe
progenitors of Freemasonry under the vague description of a crusading
body.Ramsay'swellmeanteffortmet,however,withnosuccess.Whether
on account of this unlucky reference by which the Cardinal may have
detectedTemplarinfluenceorforsomeotherreason,theappealforroyal
protection was not only refused, but the new Order, which hitherto
Catholicshadbeenallowedtoenter,wasnowprohibitedbyRoyaledict.In

thefollowingyear,1738,thePope,ClementXII,issuedabull,InEminenti,
banningFreemasonryandexcommunicatingCatholicswhotookpartinit.
Butthisprohibitionappearstohavebeenwithouteffect,forFreemasonry
notonlyprosperedbutsoonbegantomanufacturenewdegrees.Andinthe
masonic literature of the following thirty years the Templar tradition
becomesstillmoreclearlyapparent.ThustheChevalierdeBrageina
wellknownpamphlet,ofwhichthefirsteditionissaidtohaveappearedin
1747,368givesthefollowingaccountoftheoriginsofFreemasonry:
ThisOrderwasinstitutedbyGodefroideBouilloninPalestinein1330, 369
afterthedecadenceoftheChristianarmies,andwasonlycommunicatedto
theFrenchMasonssometimeafterandtoaverysmallnumber,asareward
for the obliging services they rendered to several of our English and
ScottishKnights,fromwhomtrueMasonryistaken.TheirMetropolitan
LodgeissituatedontheMountainofHeredomwherethefirstLodgewas
heldinEuropeandwhichexistsinallitssplendour.TheGeneralCouncilis
stillheldthereanditisthesealoftheSovereignGrandMasterinoffice.
ThismountainissituatedbetweentheWestandNorthofScotlandatsixty
milesfromEdinburgh.
Apartfromthehistoricalconfusionofthefirstsentence,thispassageisof
interest as evidence that the theory of a connexion between certain
crusadingKnightsandtheLodgeofHeredomofKilwinningwascurrentas
early as 1747. The Baron Tschoudy in his toile Flamboyante, which
appearedin1766,saysthatthecrusadingoriginofFreemasonryistheone
officiallytaughtinthelodges,wherecandidatesforinitiationaretoldthat
severalKnightswhohadsetforthtorescuetheholyplacesofPalestine
fromtheSaracens"formedanassociationunderthenameofFreeMasons,
thus indicating that their principal desire was the reconstruction of the
TempleofSolomon,"that,further,theyadoptedcertainsigns,grips,and
passwords as a defence against the Saracens, and finally that "our
Society...fraternizedonthefootingofanOrderwiththeKnightsofSt.
JohnofJerusalem,fromwhichitisapparentthattheFreemasonsborrowed
the custom of regarding St. John as the patron of the whole Order in
general."370 Afterthecrusades"theMasonskepttheirritesandmethods
andinthiswayperpetuatedtheroyalartbyestablishinglodges,firstin
England,theninScotland,"etc.371

In this account, therefore, Freemasonry is represented as having been

institutedforthedefenceofChristiandoctrines.DeBrageexpressesthe
sameviewandexplainsthattheobjectoftheseCrusadersinthusbinding
themselves together was to protect their lives against the Saracens by
envelopingtheirsacreddoctrinesinaveilofmystery.Forthispurposethey
made use of Jewish symbolism, which they invested with a Christian
meaning.ThustheTempleofSolomonwasusedtodenotetheChurchof
Christ,theboughofacaciasignifiedtheCross,thesquareandthecompass
theunionbetweentheOldandNewTestaments,etc.So"themysteriesof
Masonrywereintheirprinciple,andarestill,nothingelsethanthoseofthe
Christianreligion."372
BaronTschoudy,however,declaresthatallthisstopsshortofthetruth,that
FreemasonryoriginatedlongbeforetheCrusadesinPalestine,andthatthe
real"ancestors, fathers,authorsof theMasons, thoseillustriousmenof
whomIwillnotsaythedatenorbetraythesecret,"werea"disciplined
body" whom Tschoudy describes by the name of "the Knights of the
AuroraandPalestine."After"thealmosttotaldestructionoftheJewish
people" these "Knights" had always hoped to regain possession of the
domains of their fathers and to rebuild the Temple, and they carefully
preserved their "regulations and particular liturgy," together with a
"sublimetreatise"whichwastheobjectoftheircontinualstudyandoftheir
philosophicalspeculations.Tschoudyfurtherrelatesthattheywerestudents
ofthe"occultsciences,"ofwhichalchemyformedapart,andthattheyhad
"abjuredtheprinciplesoftheJewishreligioninordertofollowthelightsof
theChristianfaith."AtthetimeoftheCrusadestheKnightsofPalestine
cameoutfromthedesertoftheThebad,wheretheyhadremainedhidden,
and joined to themselves some of the crusaders who had remained in
Jerusalem.Declaringthattheywerethedescendantsofthemasonswho
had worked on the Temple of Solomon, they professed to concern
themselveswith"speculativearchitecure,"whichservedtodisguiseamore
gloriouspointofview.FromthistimetheytookthenameofFreeMasons,
presentedthemselvesunderthistitletothecrusadingarmiesandassembled
undertheirbanners.373
Itwouldofcoursebeabsurdtoregardanyoftheforegoingaccountsas
historicalfacts;theimportantpointisthattheytendtoprovethefallacyof
supposingthattheJohanniteTemplartheoryoriginatedwiththerevived
OrdreduTemple,sinceonecorrespondingtoitsocloselywascurrentin

themiddleoftheprecedingcentury.Itistruethatintheseearlieraccounts
the actual words "Johannite" and "Templar" do not occur, but the
resemblancebetweenthesectofJewsprofessingtheChristianfaithbut
possessinga"particularliturgy"anda"sublimetreatise"apparentlysome
earlyformoftheCabaladealingwithoccultscience,andtheMandans
orJohanniteswiththeirCabalistic"BookofAdam,"theirBookofJohn,
andtheirritual,isatonceapparent.Further,theallusionstotheconnexion
betweentheKnightswhohadbeenindoctrinatedintheHolyLandandthe
ScottishlodgescoincidesexactlywiththeTemplartradition,publishednot
only by the Ordre du Temple but handed down in the Royal Order of
Scotland.
Fromallthisthefollowingfactsstandout:(1)thatwhilstBritishCraft
Masonrytraceditsorigintotheoperativeguildsofmasons,theFreemasons
ofFrancefrom1737onwardsplacedtheoriginoftheOrderincrusading
chivalry;(2)thatitwasamongsttheseFreemasonsthattheupperdegrees
knownastheScottishRitearose;and(3)that,asweshallnowsee,these
degreesclearlysuggestTemplarinspiration.
Theearliestformoftheupperdegreesappearstohavebeentheonegiven
bydeBrage,asfollows:
1. ParfaitMaonlu.
2. ludePerignan.
3. ludesQuinze.
4. PetitArchitecte.
5. GrandArchitecte.
6. Chevalierdel'peetdeRoseCroix.
7. NoachiteouChevalierPrussien.
Thefirstofthesetomakeitsappearanceisbelievedtohavebeentheone
hereassignedtothesixthplace.ThisdegreeknowninmodernMasonryas
"PrinceoftheRoseCroixofHeredomorKnightofthePelicanandEagle"
becametheeighteenthandthemostimportantdegreeinwhatwaslater
calledtheScottishRite,oratthepresenttimeinEnglandtheAncientand
AcceptedRite.
WhywasthisRitecalledScottish?"Itcannotbetoostronglyinsistedon,"
saysMr.Gould,"thatallScottishMasonryhasnothingwhatevertodowith
theGrandLodgeofScotland,nor,withonepossibleexceptionthatofthe
RoyalOrderofScotlanddiditeveroriginateinthatcountry." 374 Butin

thecaseoftheRoseCroixdegreethereissurelysomejustificationforthe
term in legend, if not in proven fact, for, as we have already seen,
accordingtothetraditionoftheRoyalOrderofScotlandthisdegreehad
been contained in it since the fourteenth century, when the degrees of
H.R.M. (Heredom) and R.S.Y.C.S. (Rosy Cross) are said to have been
instituted by Robert Bruce in collaboration with the Templars after the
battleofBannockburn.Dr.MackeyisoneofthefewMasonswhoadmit
thisprobableaffiliation,andinreferringtothetraditionoftheRoyalOrder
of Scotland observes: "From that Order it seems to us by no means
improbablethatthepresentdegreeofRoseCroixdeHeredommayhave
takenitsorigin."375
But the RoseCroix degree, like the Templar tradition from which it
appearstohavedescended,iscapableofadualinterpretation,orratherofa
multipleinterpretation,fornodegreeinMasonryhasbeensubjecttoso
many variations. That on the Continent it had descended through the
Rosicruciansinanalchemicalformseemsmorethanprobable.Itwould
certainlybedifficulttobelievethatadegreeofR.S.Y.C.S.wasimported
fromtheEastandincorporatedintheRoyalOrderofScotlandin1314;that
byamerecoincidenceamannamedChristianRosenkreutzwasaccording
to the Rosicrucian legendborn in the same century and transmitted a
secretdoctrinehehaddiscoveredintheEasttotheseventeenthcentury
BrethrenoftheRosyCross;andfinally,thatadegreeoftheRoseCroix
wasfoundedincirc.1741withoutanyconnexionexistingbetweenthese
succeedingmovements.Evenifwedenydirectaffiliation,wemustsurely
admitacommonsourceofinspirationproducing,ifnotacontinuation,at
anyrateaperiodicrevivalofthesameideas.Dr.Oliverindeedadmits
affiliationbetweentheseventeenthcenturyfraternityandtheeighteenth
centurydegree,andafterpointingoutthatthefirstindicationoftheRose
CroixdegreeappearsintheFamaFraternitatisin1613,goesontosay:
Itwasknownmuchsooner,althoughnotprobablyasadegreeinMasonry,
for it existed as a cabalistic science from the earliest times in Egypt,
Greece,andRome,aswellasamongsttheJewsandMoorsintimesmore
recent,andinourowncountrythenamesofRogerBacon,Fludd,Ashmole,
andmanyothersarefoundinitslistofadepts.376
Dr. Mackey, quoting this passage, observes that "Oliver confounds the
masonicRoseCroixwiththealchemicalRosicrucians,"andproceedsto

give an account of the RoseCroix degree as worked in England and

America, which he truly describes as "in the strictest sense a Christian
degree."377 ButthepointDr.Mackeyoverlooksisthatthisisonlyone
versionofthedegree,which,asweshallseelater,hasbeenandstillis
workedinaverydifferentmannerontheContinent.
It is, however, certain that the version of the RoseCroix degree first
adopted by the Freemasons of France in about 1741 was not only so
ChristianbutsoCatholicincharacterastohavegivenrisetothebeliefthat
itwasdevisedbytheJesuitsinordertocounteracttheattacksofwhich
Catholicismwastheobject.378 InapaperontheAdditionalDegreesMr.
J.S.Tuckettwrites:
Thereisundeniableevidencethatintheir earliestforms theEcossaisor
ScotsDegreeswereRomanCatholic;IhaveaMS.RitualinFrenchofwhat
I believe to be the original Chev. de l'Aigle or SPDRC
(SouverainPrincedeRoseCroix)andinittheNewLawisdeclaredtobe
"lafoyCatholique,"andtheBaronTschoudyinhisL'toileFlamboyante
of1766describesthesameDegreeas"leCatholicismemisengrade"(Vol.
I.p.114).IsuggestthatEcossaisorScotsMasonrywasintendedtobea
RomanCatholicaswellasaStuartformofFreemasonry,inwhichnone
butthosedevotedtobothRestorationsweretobeadmitted.379
Butisitnecessarytoreadthispoliticalintentionintothedegree?Ifthe
traditionoftheRoyalOrderofScotlandistobebelieved,theideaofthe
RoseCroixdegreewasfarolderthantheStuartcause,anddatedbackto
Bannockburn,whenthedegreeofHeredomwithwhichitwascoupledwas
institutedinorder"tocorrecttheerrorsandreformtheabuseswhichhad
creptinamongthethreedegreesofSt.John'sMasonry,"andtoprovidea
"Christianized form of the Third Degree," "purified of the dross of
paganism and even of Judaism."380 Whether the antiquity attributed to
thesedegreescanbeprovedornot,itcertainlyappearsprobablethatthe
legendoftheRoyalOrderofScotlandhadsomefoundationinfact,and
therefore that the ideas embodied in the eighteenthcentury RoseCroix
degreemayhavebeendrawnfromthestoreofthatOrderandbroughtby
theJacobitestoFrance.Atthesametimethereisnoevidenceinsupportof
thestatement madebycertainContinentalwriters thatRamsay actually
institutedthisoranyoftheupperdegrees.Onthecontrary,inhisOration
he expressly states that Freemasonry is composed of the Craft degrees

only:
We have amongst us three kinds of brothers: Novices or Apprentices,
FellowsorProfessedBrothers,MastersorPerfectedBrethren.Tothefirst
areexplainedthemoralvirtues;tothesecondtheheroicvirtues;tothelast
theChristianvirtues....
ItmightbesaidthenthattheRoseCroixdegreewashereforeshadowedin
theMasters'degree,inthatthelatterdefinitelyinculcatedChristianity.This
wouldbeperfectlyinaccordwithRamsay'spointofviewassetforthinhis
accountofhisconversionbyFnelon.WhenhefirstmettheArchbishopof
Cambraiin1710,RamsayrelatesthathehadlostfaithinallChristiansects
andhadresolvedto"takerefugeinawiseDeismlimitedtorespectforthe
Divinity and for the immutable ideas of pure virtue," but that his
conversationwithFnelonledhimtoaccepttheCatholicfaith.Andhe
goesontoshowthat"MonsieurdeCambraiturnedAtheistsintoDeists,
DeistsintoChristians,andChristiansintoCatholicsbyasequenceofideas
fullofenlightenmentandfeeling."381
Might not this be the process whichRamsay aimed atintroducinginto
Freemasonrythe process which in fact does form part of the masonic
system in England today, where the Atheist must become, at least by
profession,aDeistbeforehecanbeadmittedtotheCraftDegrees,whilst
the RoseCroix degree is reserved solely for those who profess the
Christianfaith?Suchwasundoubtedlytheideaofthemenwhointroduced
theRoseCroixdegreeintoFrance;andRagon,whogivesanaccountof
this "Ancien RoseCroix Francais"which is almost identical with the
degree now worked in England, but long since abandoned in France
objectstoitontheveryscoreofitsChristiancharacter.382
InthisrespecttheRoseCroixamongstalltheupperdegreesintroducedto
Franceinthemiddleoftheeighteenthcenturystandsalone,anditalone
canwithanyprobabilitybeattributedtoScottishJacobiteinspiration.It
wasnot,infact,untilthreeorfouryearsafterLordDerwentwaterorhis
mysterious successor Lord Harnouester383 had resigned the Grand
MastershipinfavouroftheDucd'Antinin1738thattheadditionaldegrees
werefirstheardof,anditwasnotuntileightyearsaftertheStuartcause
hadreceiveditsdeathblowatCulloden,thatistosay,in1754,thatthe
RiteofPerfectioninwhichthesocalledScotsDegreeswereincorporated

wasdrawnupinthefollowingform:
Rite of Perfection
1. EnteredApprentice.
2. FellowCraft.
3. MasterMason.
4. SecretMaster.
5. PerfectMaster.
6. IntimateSecretary.
7. IntendantoftheBuildings.
8. ProvostandJudge.
9. ElectofNine.
10.ElectofFifteen.
11.ChiefoftheTwelveTribes.
12.GrandMasterArchitect.
13.KnightoftheNinthArch.
14.AncientGrandElect.
15.KnightoftheSword.
16.PrinceofJerusalem.
17.KnightoftheEastandWest.
18.RoseCroixKnight.
19.GrandPontiff.
20.GrandPatriarch.
21.GrandMasteroftheKeyofMasonry.
22.PrinceofLibanusorKnightoftheRoyalAxe.
23.SovereignPrinceAdept.
24.CommanderoftheBlackandWhiteEagle.
25.CommanderoftheRoyalSecret.384
Wehaveonlytoglanceatthenomenclatureofthelasttwentytwoofthese
degreestoseethatonthebasisofmereoperativeMasonrytherehasbeen
builtupasystemcomposedoftwoelements:crusadingchivalryandJudaic
tradition.WhatelseisthisbutTemplarism?EvenMr.Gould,usuallyso
reticentonTemplarinfluence,admitsitatthisperiod:
InFrance...someoftheScotslodgeswouldappeartohaveveryearly
manufactured new degrees, connecting these very distinguished Scots
MasonswiththeKnightsTemplar,andthusgivenrisetothesubsequent
floodofTemplarism.Theearliestof allaresupposed tohavebeenthe

Masons of Lyons who invented the Kadosch degree, representing the

vengeanceoftheTemplars,in1741.Fromthattimenewritesmultipliedin
FranceandGermany,butallthoseofFrenchorigincontainKnightly,and
almost all, Templar grades. In every case the connecting link was
composedofoneormoreScotsdegrees.385
ThenameKadoschherementionedisaHebrewwordsignifying"holy"or
"consecrated," which in the Cabala is found in conjunction with the
Tetragrammaton.386 The degree is said to have developed from that of
GrandElect,387 oneofthethree"degreesofvengeance"celebratingwith
sanguinaryrealismtheavengingofthemurderofHiram.Butinitsfinal
form of Knight Kadoschlater to become the thirtieth degree of the
"Ancient andAcceptedScottishRite"theHiramiclegendwaschanged
intothehistoryoftheTemplarswithJacquesduMolayasthevictim.388So
the reprobation of attack on authority personified by the masterbuilder
becomesapprobationofattackonauthorityinthepersonoftheKingof
France.
Theintroductionoftheupperdegreeswiththeirpoliticaland,lateron,anti
Christian tendencies thus marked a complete departure from the
fundamentalprincipleofFreemasonrythat"nothingconcerningthereligion
orgovernmentshalleverbespokenofinthelodge."Forthisreasonthey
havebeenassailed notonlybyantimasonicwritersbutbyFreemasons
themselves.389 To represent Barruel and Robison as the enemies of
Freemasonryisthereforeabsolutelyfalse;neitherofthesemendenounced
CraftMasonryaspractisedinEngland,butonlythesuperstructureerected
ontheContinent.BarruelindeedincursthereproachesofMounierforhis
championshipofEnglishFreemasons:
Hevauntstheirrespectforreligiousopinionandforauthority.Whenhe
speaksofFreemasonsingeneraltheyareimpious,rebellioussuccessorsof
theTemplarsandAlbigenses,butallthoseofEnglandareinnocent.More
thanthis,alltheEnteredApprentices,FellowCrafts,andMasterMasonsin
allpartsoftheworldareinnocent;thereareonlyguiltyonesinthehigher
degrees,whicharenotessentialtotheinstitutionandaresoughtbyasmall
numberofpeople.390
InthisopinionofBarruel'sagreatnumberofMasonicwritersconcur
Clavel,Ragon,Rebold,Thory,Findel,andotherstoonumeroustomention;

allindicateCraftMasonryastheonlytruekindandtheupperdegreesas
constitutingadangertotheOrder.Rebold,whogivesalistofthesewriters,
quotes a masonic publication, authorized by the Grand Orient and the
SupremeCouncilofFrance,inwhichitissaidthat"fromalltheserites
thereresultthemostfoolishconceptions,...themostabsurdlegends,...the
mostextravagantsystems,themostimmoralprinciples,andthosethemost
dangerous for the peace and preservation of States," and that therefore
except thefirst threedegrees of Masonry,whicharereallyancientand
universal,everythingis"chimera,extravagance,futility,andlies." 391 Did
BarruelandRobisoneverusestrongerlanguagethanthis?
To attribute the perversion of Masonry to Jacobite influence would be
absurd. How could it be supposed that either Ramsay or Lord
Derwentwater (whodiedas adevoutCatholic onthescaffoldin1746)
couldhavebeenconcernedinanattempttounderminetheCatholicfaithor
the monarchy of France? I would suggest, then, that the term "Scots
Masonry"becamesimplyaveilforTemplarismTemplarism,moreover,of
averydifferentkindtothatfromwhichtheoriginaldegreeoftheRose
Croix was derived. It was this socalled Scots Masonry that, after the
resignationofLordDerwentwater,"boldlycameforwardandclaimedtobe
notmerelyapartofMasonrybuttherealMasonry,possessedofsuperior
knowledgeandentitledtogreaterprivilegesandtherighttoruleoverthe
ordinary, i.e. Craft Masonry."392 The Grand Lodge of France seems,
however,tohaverealizedthedangerofsubmittingtothedominationofthe
Templarelement,andonthedeathoftheDucd'Antinandhisreplacement
bytheComtedeClermontin1743,signifieditsadherencetoEnglishCraft
Masonry by proclaiming itself Grande Loge Anglaise de France and
reissuedthe"Constitutions"ofAnderson,firstpublishedin1723,withthe
injunctionthattheScotsMastersshouldbeplacedonthesamelevelasthe
simpleApprenticesandFellowCraftsandallowedtowearnobadgesof
distinction.393
Grand Lodge of England appears to have been reassured by this
proclamationastothecharacterofFrenchFreemasonry,fornow,in1743,
itatlastdeliveredawarranttoGrandLodgeofFrance.Yetinrealityitwas
fromthismomentthatFrenchFreemasonrydegeneratedthemostrapidly.
TheOrderwassooninvadedbyintriguers.Thiswasrenderedalltheeasier
bytheapathyoftheComtedeClermont,appointedGrandMasterin1743,
who seems to have taken little interest in the Order and employed a

substituteinthepersonofadancingmasternamedLacorne,amanoflow
characterthroughwhoseinfluencethelodgesfellintoastateofanarchy.
Freemasonry was thus divided into warring factions: Lacorne and the
crowd of lowclass supporters who had followed him into the lodges
foundedaGrandLodgeoftheirown(GrandeLogeLacorne),andin1756
the original Freemasons again attempted to make Craft Masonry the
national Masonry of France by deleting the word "Anglaise" from the
appellationofGrandLodge,andrenamingit"GrandLogeNationalede
France."Butmanylodgesstillcontinuetoworktheadditionaldegrees.
Therivalrybetweenthetwogroupsbecamesoviolentthatin1767the
governmentintervenedandcloseddownGrandLodge.
TheTemplargrouphad,however,formedtwoseparateassociations,the
"KnightsoftheEast"(1756)andthe"CounciloftheEmperorsoftheEast
and West" (1758). In 1761 a Jew named Stephen Morin was sent to
America by the "Emperors" armed with a warrant from the Duc de
Clermont and Grand Lodge of Paris and bearing the sonorous title of
"GrandElectPerfectandSublimeMaster,"withorderstoestablishaLodge
inthatcountry.In1766hewasaccusedinGrandLodgeof"propagating
strangeandmonstrousdoctrines"andhispatentofGrandInspectorwas
withdrawn.394 Morin,however,hadsucceededinestablishingtheRiteof
Perfection.SixteenInspectors,nearlyallJews,werenowappointed.These
included Isaac Iong, Isaac de Costa, Moses Hayes, B. Spitser, Moses
Cohen,AbrahamJacobs,andHymanLong.
Meanwhile in France the closing of Grand Lodge had not prevented
meetingsofLacorne'sgroup,which,onthedeathoftheDucdeClermont
in1772,institutedthe"GrandOrient"withtheDucdeChartresthefuture
"Philippe galit"as GrandMaster.TheGrandOrienttheninvitedthe
GrandeLogetorevokethedecreeofexpulsionandunitewithit,andthis
offerbeingaccepted,therevolutionarypartyinevitablycarriedallbeforeit,
andtheDucdeChartreswasdeclaredGrandMasterofallthecouncils,
chapters, and Scotch lodges of France. 395 In 1782 the "Council of
Emperors"andthe"KnightsoftheEast"combinedtoformthe"Grand
Chapitre Gnral de France," which in 1786 joined up with the Grand
Orient.Thevictoryoftherevolutionarypartywasthencomplete.
Itisnecessarytoenterintoallthesetediousdetailsinordertounderstand
thenatureofthefactionsgroupedtogetherunderthebannerofMasonryat

thisperiod.TheMartinistPapusattributestherevolutionaryinfluencesthat
nowprevailedinthelodgestotheirinvasionbytheTemplars,andgoeson
toexplainthatthiswasowingtoachangethathadtakenplaceintheOrdre
duTemple.UndertheGrandMastershipoftheRegentandhissuccessor
theDucdeBourbon,therevolutionaryelementsamongsttheTemplarshad
hadfullplay,butfrom1741onwardstheGrandMastersoftheOrderwere
supportersofthemonarchy.WhentheRevolutioncame,theDucdeCoss
Brissac, whohadbeen GrandMaster since 1776,perishedamongst the
defendersofthethrone.Itwasthusthatbythemiddleofthecenturythe
Order of the Temple ceased to be a revolutionary force, and the
discontentedelementsithadcontained,nolongerabletofindinitarefuge,
threwthemselvesintoFreemasonry,andenteringthehigherdegreesturned
them to their subversive purpose. According to Papus, Lacorne was a
memberoftheTemplargroup,andthedissensionsthattookplacewere
principallyafightbetweentheexTemplarsandthegenuineFreemasons
whichendedinthetriumphoftheformer:
Victorious rebels thus founded the Grand Orient of France. So a
contemporaryMasonisabletowrite:"Itisnotexcessivetosaythatthe
masonic revolution of 1773 was the prelude and the precursor of the
Revolutionof1789."Whatmustbewellobservedisthesecretactionofthe
Brothers of the Templar Rite. It is they who are the real fomentors of
revolution,theothersareonlydocileagents.396
ButallthisattributesthebanefulinfluenceofTemplarismtotheFrench
Templarsalone,andtheexistenceofsuchabodyrestsonnoabsolutely
certainevidence.Whatiscertainandadmitsofnodenialonthepartofany
historian,istheinaugurationofaTemplarOrderinGermanyatthevery
momentwhenthesocalledScottishdegreeswereintroducedintoFrench
Masonry.Weshallnowreturnto1738andfolloweventsthatweretaking
placeatthisimportantmomentbeyondtheRhine.

Chapter 7:

German Templarism and French

Illuminism
TheyearafterRamsay'sorationthatistosayin1738Frederick,Crown
PrinceofPrussia,thefutureFredericktheGreat,whofortwoyearshad
been carrying on a correspondence with Voltaire, suddenly evinced a
curiositytoknowthesecretsofFreemasonrywhichhehadhithertoderided
as"Kinderspiel,"andaccordinglywentthroughahastyinitiationduringthe
nightofAugust1415,whilstpassingthroughBrunswick.397
Theceremonytookplacenotatamasoniclodge,butatahotel,inthe
presence of a deputation summoned by the Graf von LippeBckeburg
from Grand Lodge of Hamburg for the occasion. It is evident that
something of an unusual kind must have occurred to necessitate these
speedyandmakeshiftarrangements.Carlyle,inhisaccountoftheepisode,
endeavourstopassitoffasa"verytriflingcircumstance"areasonthe
moreforregardingitasofthehighestimportancesinceweknownowfrom
factsthathaverecentlycometolighthowcarefullyCarlylewasspoonfed
byPotsdamwhilstwritinghisbookonFredericktheGreat.398
But let us follow Frederick's masonic career. In June 1740, after his
accessiontothethrone,hisinterestinMasonryhadclearlynotwaned,for
wefindhimpresidingoveralodgeatCharlottenburg,wherehereceived
intotheOrdertwoofhisbrothers,hisbrotherinlaw,andDukeFrederick
WilliamofHolsteinBeck.AthisdesiretheBarondeBielfeldandhisprivy
councillorJordanfoundedalodgeatBerlin,the"ThreeGlobes,"whichby
1746hadnolessthanfourteenlodgesunderitsjurisdiction.
Inthissameyearof1740Voltaire,inresponsetourgentinvitations,paid
hisfirstvisittoFredericktheGreatinGermany.Voltaireisusuallysaidnot
tohaveyetbecomeaMason,andthedateofhisinitiationissupposedto
havebeen1778,whenhewasreceivedintothe LogedesNeufSoeurs in

Paris.Butthisbynomeansprecludesthepossibilitythathehadbelonged
toanothermasonicOrderatanearlierdate.Atanyrate,Voltaire'svisitto
Germanywasfollowedbytworemarkableeventsinthemasonicworldof
France.Thefirstofthesewastheinstitutionoftheadditionaldegrees;the
secondperhapsnotwhollyunconnectedwiththefirstwasthearrivalin
Paris of a masonic delegate from Germany named von Marschall, who
brought with him instructions for a new or rather a revived Order of
Templarism,inwhichheattemptedtointerestPrinceCharlesEdwardand
hisfollowers.
VonMarschallwasfollowedabouttwoyearslaterbyBaronvonHunt,
whohadbeeninitiatedin1741intothethreedegreesofCraftMasonryin
GermanyandnowcametoconsecratealodgeinParis.Accordingtovon
Hundt'sownaccount,hewasthenreceivedintotheOrderoftheTempleby
an unknown Knight of the Red Plume, in the presence of Lord
Kilmarnock,399 and was presented as a distinguished Brother to Prince
CharlesEdward,whomheimaginedtobeGrandMasteroftheOrder. 400
But all this was afterwards shown to be a pure frabrication, for Prince
CharlesEdwarddenedallknowledgeoftheaffair,andvonHundthimself
admittedlaterthathedidnotknowthenameofthelodgeorchapterin
whichhewasreceived,butthathewasdirectedfrom"ahiddencentre"and
byUnknownSuperiors,whoseidentityhewasboundnottoreveal. 401 In
realityitappearsthatvonHundt'saccountwasexactlytheoppositeofthe
truth,402andthatitwasvonHundtwho,secondingvonMarschall'seffort,
triedtoenrolPrinceCharlesEdwardinthenewGermanOrderbyassuring
himthathecouldraisepowerfulsupportfortheStuartcauseunderthe
coverofreorganizingtheTemplarOrder,ofwhichheclaimedtopossess
thetruesecretshandeddownfromtheKnightsofthefourteenthcentury.
BywayoffurtherrehabilitatingtheOrder,vonHundtdeclaredthatallthe
accusationsbroughtagainstitbyPhilippeleBelandthePopewerebased
onfalsechargesmanufacturedbytworecreantKnightsnamedNoffodei
andFlorianasarevengeforhavingbeendeprivedoftheircommandsby
the Order in consequence of certain crimes they had committed. 403
AccordingtoLecouteulxdeCanteleu,vonHundteventuallysucceeded
afterthedefeatofCullodeninpersuadingPrinceCharlesEdwardtoenter
hisOrder.Butthisisextremelydoubtful.Atanyrate,whenin1751von
HundtofficiallyfoundedhisnewTemplarOrderunderthenameofthe
StricteObservance,theunfortunateCharlesEdwardplayednopartatallin

the scheme. As Mr. Gould has truly observed, "no trace of Jacobite
intrigueseverblendedwiththeteachingoftheStricteObservance."404
The Order of the Stricte Observance was in reality a purely German
association composed of men drawn entirely from the intellectual and
aristocraticclasses,and,inimitationofthechivalricOrdersofthepast,
knowntoeachotherunderknightlytitles.ThusPrinceCharlesofHesse
becameEquesaLeoneResurgente,DukeFerdinandofBrunswickEquesa
Victoria, the Prussian minister von Bischoffswerder Eques a Grypho,
BarondeWachterEquesaCeraso,ChristianBode(CouncillorofLegation
inSaxeGotha)EquesaLilioConvallium,vonHaugwitz(CabinetMinister
ofFredericktheGreat)EquesaMonteSancto,etc.
ButaccordingtothedeclarationsoftheOrdertheofficialleaders,Knights
oftheMoon,theStar,theGoldenSun,oroftheSacredMountain,were
simplyfigureheads;therealleaders,knownasthe"UnknownSuperiors,"
remainedinthebackground,unadornedbytitlesofchivalrybutexercising
supremejurisdictionovertheOrder.Thesystemhadbeenforeshadowedby
the"Invisibles"ofseventeenthcenturyRosicrucianism;butnow,insteadof
anintangiblegroupwhoseveryexistencewasonlyknownvaguelytothe
world, there appeared in the light of day a powerful organization led
apparentlybymenofinfluenceandpositionyetsecretlydirectedbyhidden
chiefs.405Mirabeauhasdescribedtheadventofthesemysteriousdirectors
inthefollowingpassage:
Inabout1756thereappeared,asiftheyhadcomeoutoftheground,men
sent,theysaid,byunknownsuperiors,andarmedwithpowerstoreform
theorder[ofFreemasonry]andreestablishitinitsancientpurity.Oneof
thesemissionaries,namedJohnston,cametoWeimarandJena,wherehe
establishedhimself.Hewasreceivedinthebestwayintheworldbythe
brothers[Freemasons],whowereluredbythehopeofgreatsecrets,of
importantdiscoverieswhichwerenevermadeknowntothem.406
Now,inthemanuscriptsofthePrinceofHessepublishedbyLecouteulxde
Canteleu it is said that this man Johnston, or rather Johnson, who
proclaimedhimselftobe"GrandPrioroftheOrder,"wasaJewnamed
LeichtorLeucht.407 GouldsaysthathisrealnamewaseitherLeuchtor
Becker, but that he professed to be an Englishman, although unable to
speaktheEnglishlanguage,hencehisassumptionofthenameJohnson. 408

Mr. Gould has described Johnson as a "consummate rogue and an

unmitigated vagabond ... of almost repulsive demeanour and of no
education,butgiftedwithboundlessimpudenceandlowcunning."Indeed,
von Hundt himself, after enlisting Johnson's services, found him too
dangerousanddeclaredhimtobeanadventurer.Johnsonwasthereupon
arrestedbyvonHundt'sfriendthecouncillorvonPritsch,andthrowninto
thecastleofWartburg,wheresuddendeathendedhiscareer.
It is, however, improbable that Mirabeau could be right in indicating
Johnsonasoneofthe"UnknownSuperiors,"whoweredoubtlessmenof
vasterconceptionsthanthisadventurerappearstohavebeen.Moreover,
the manner of his end clearly proves that he occupied a subordinate
positionintheStricteObservance.
Here,then,wehaveaverycurioussequenceofeventswhichitmaybewell
torecapitulatebrieflyinordertoappreciatetheirfullsignificance:
Oration of Chevalier Ramsay indicating Templar origin of
1737.
Freemasonry,butmakingnomentionofupperdegrees.
Ducd'AntinbecomesGrandMasterofFrenchFreemasonryinthe
1738.
placeofLord"Harnouester."
Frederick, Crown Prince of Prussia, initiated into Masonry at
1738.
Brunswick.
1740.VoltairepayshisfirstvisittoFrederick,nowKing.
BaronvonMarschall arrivesinPariswithaplanforrevivingthe
1741.
TemplarOrder.
Templar degrees first heard of in France under name of "Scots
Masonry."
ArrivalinFranceofBaronvonHundtwithfreshplansforreviving
1743.
theTemplarOrder.
DegreeofKnightKadoschcelebratingvengeanceofTemplarssaidto
havebeeninstitutedatLyons.
1750.VoltairegoestospendthreeyearswithFrederick.
1751.TemplarOrderoftheStricteObservancefoundedbyvonHundt.
1754.RiteofPerfection(earlyformofScottishRite)foundedinFrance.
1761.FrederickacknowledgedheadofScottishRite.
MorinsenttofoundRiteofPerfectioninAmerica.

1762.GrandMasonicConstitutionsratifiedinBerlin.409
It will be seen then that what Mr. Gould describes as "the flood of
Templarism," which both he and Mr. Tuckett attribute to the socalled
ScotsMasons,410correspondspreciselywiththedeclineofJacobiteandthe
rise of German influence. Would it not therefore appear probable that,
except in the case of the RoseCroix degree, the authors of the upper
degreeswerenotScotsmennorJacobites,thatScotsMasonrywasaterm
used to cover not merely Templarism but more especially German
Templarism,andthattherealauthorandinspirerofthemovementwas
FredericktheGreat?No,itissignificanttofindthatinthehistoryofthe
OrdreduTemple,publishedatthebeginningofthenineteenthcentury,
FredericktheGreatiscitedasoneofthemostdistinguishedmembersof
this Order in the past,411 and the Abb Grgoire adds that he was
"consecrated"atRemersberg(Rheinsberg?)in1738,thatistosayinthe
sameyearthathewasinitiatedintoMasonryatBrunswick. 412 Thereis
thereforeadefinitereasonforconnectingFrederickwithTemplarismat
thisdate.
Iwouldsuggest,then,thatthetruthabouttheTemplarsuccessionmaybe
foundinoneofthetwofollowingtheories:
1.ThatthedocumentsproducedbytheOrdreduTempleinthenineteenth
century,includingtheCharterofLarmenius,weregenuine;thattheOrder
hadneverceasedtoexistsincethedaysoftheCrusades;thattheTemplar
heresywasJohannism,butthatthiswasnotheldbytheTemplarswho
escaped to Scotland; that the RoseCroix degree in its purely Christian
form was introduced by the Scottish Templars to Scotland and four
hundredyearslaterbroughtbyRamsaytoFrance;thattheMasterofthe
TempleatthisdatewastheRegent,PhilippeDucd'Orlans,asstatedinthe
CharterofLarmenius.Finally,thatafterthis,freshTemplardegreeswere
introducedfromGermanybyvonHundt,actingonbehalfofFrederickthe
Great.
2.ThatthedocumentsproducedbytheOrdreduTempleinthenineteenth
centurywere,asM.Matterdeclares,earlyeighteenthcenturyfabrications;
that although, in view of the tradition preserved in the Royal Order of
Scotland, there appears to be good reason to believe the story of the
ScottishTemplarsandtheoriginoftheRoseCroixdegree,therestofthe
history of the Templars, including the Charter of Larmenius, was an

invention of the "Concealed Superiors" of the Stricte Observance in

Germany,andthatthemostimportantofthese"ConcealedSuperiors"were
FredericktheGreatandVoltaire.
Ishallnotattempttodecidewhichofthesetwotheoriesiscorrect;allthatI
domaintainisthatineithercasethepreponderatingrleinTemplarismat
this crisis was played by Frederick the Great, probably with the co
operation of Voltaire, who in his Essai sur les Murs championed the
cause of the Templars. Let us follow the reasons for arriving at this
conclusion.
Ramsay'sorationin1737connectingFreemasonrywiththeTemplarsmay
wellhavecometotheearsofFrederickandsuggestedtohimtheideaof
usingMasonryasacoverforhisintrigueshencehishastyinitiationat
Brunswick.Butinordertoacquireinfluenceinasecretsocietyitisalways
necessary to establish a claim to superior knowledge, and Templarism
seemedtoprovideafruitfulsourceofinspiration.Forthispurposenew
lightmustbethrownontheOrder.Now,therewasprobablynoonebetter
qualifiedthanVoltaire,withhisknowledgeoftheancientandmedieval
worldandhatredoftheCatholicChurch,toundertaketheconstructionofa
historical romance subversive of the Catholic faithhence the urgent
summonstothephilosophertovisitFrederick.WecanimagineVoltaire
delvingamongsttherecordsofthepastinordertoreconstructtheTemplar
heresy.ThiswasclearlyGnostic,andtheMandansorChristiansofSt.
Johnmaywellhaveappearedtopresenttherequiredcharacteristics.Ifit
couldbeshownthathereinJohannismtrue"primitiveChristianity"wasto
befound,whatablowforthe"infme"!Askilfulforgercouldeasilybe
foundtofabricatethedocumentssaidtohavebeenpreservedinthesecret
archives of the Order. Further we find von Marschall arriving in the
followingyearinFrancetoreorganizetheTemplars,andvonHundtlater
claimingtobeinpossessionofthetruesecretsoftheOrderhandeddown
fromthefourteenthcentury.Thatsomedocumentsbearingonthisquestion
wereeitherdiscoveredorfabricatedunderthedirectionofFrederickthe
Greatseemsthemoreprobablefromtheexistenceofamasonictraditionto
this effect. Thus Dr. Oliver quotes a Report of the Grand Inspectors
Generalinthenineteenthcenturystatingthat:
DuringtheCrusades,atwhich27,000Masonswerepresent,somemasonic
MSS.ofgreatimportancewerediscoveredamongthedescendantsofthe
ancientJews,andthatothervaluabledocumentswerefoundatdifferent

periodsdowntotheyearofLight5557(i.e.1553),atwhichtimearecord
cametolightinSyriancharacters,relatingtothemostremoteantiquity,
andfromwhichitwouldappearthattheworldismanythousandyears
older than given by the Mosaic account. Few of these characters were
translated till the reign of our illustrious and most enlightened Brother
FrederickII,KingofPrussia,whosewellknownzealfortheCraftwasthe
causeofsomuchimprovementintheSocietyoverwhichhecondescended
topreside.413
I suggest, then, that the documents here referred to and containing the
secretsclaimedbyvonHundtmayhavebeentheonesafterwardspublished
bytheOrdreduTempleinthenineteenthcentury,andthatifunauthentic
theyweretheworkofVoltaire,aidedprobablybyaJewcapableofforging
Syriacmanuscripts.ThatJohnsonwastheJewinquestionseemsprobable,
sinceFindeldefinitelyassertsthatthehistoryofthecontinuationofthe
OrderofKnightsTemplarwashiswork.414Frederick,asweknow,wasin
thehabitofemployingJewstocarryoutshadytransactions,andhemay
wellhaveusedJohnsontoforgedocumentsasheusedEphraimtocoin
falsemoneyforhim.Itwouldbefurtherquiteinkeepingwithhispolicyto
getridofthemanassoonashehadservedhispurpose,lestheshould
betrayhissecrets.
Atanyrate,whateverwerethemethodsemployedbyFredericktheGreat
forobtainingcontroloverMasonry,thefruitfulresultsofthat"verytrifling
circumstance," his initiation at Brunswick, become more and more
apparentasthecenturyadvances.Thuswhenin1786theRiteofPerfection
was reorganized and rechristened the "Ancient and Accepted Scottish
Rite"alwaysthesameScottishcoverforPrussianism!itissaidtohave
beenFrederickwhoconductedoperations,drewupthenewConstitutions
oftheOrder,andrearrangedthedegreessoastobringthetotalnumberup
tothirtythree415,asfollows:
0. PrinceofMercy.
1. SovereignCommanderoftheTemple.
2. KnightoftheSun.
3. GrandScotchKnightofSt.Andrew.
4. GrandElectKnightofKadosch.
5. GrandInspectorInquisitorCommander.
6. SublimePrinceoftheRoyalSecret.

7. SovereignGrandInspectorGeneral.
InthelastfourdegreesFredericktheGreatandPrussiaplayanimportant
part;inthethirtiethdegreeofKnightKadosch,largelymodelledonthe
Vehmgerichts,theKnightswearTeutoniccrosses,thethroneissurmounted
bythedoubleheadedeagleofPrussia,andthePresident,whoiscalled
ThricePuissantGrandMaster,representsFrederickhimself;inthethirty
second degree of Sublime Prince of the Royal Secret, Frederick is
describedastheheadofContinentalFreemasonry;inthethirtythirddegree
ofSovereignGrandInspectorGeneralthejewelisagainthedoubleheaded
eagle,andtheSovereignGrandCommanderisFrederick,whoatthetime
this degree was instituted figured with Philippe, Duc d'Orlans, Grand
MasteroftheGrandOrient,ashislieutenant.Themostimportantofthese
innovationswasthethirtyseconddegree,whichwasinrealityasystem
ratherthanadegreeforbringingtogethertheMasonsofallcountriesunder
one headhence the immense power acquired by Frederick. By 1786
FrenchMasonrywasthusentirelyPrussianizedandFrederickhadindeed
become the idol of Masonry everywhere. Yet probably no one ever
despisedFreemasonrymoreprofoundly.AstheAmericanMasonAlbert
Pikeshrewdlyobserved:
There is no doubt that Frederick came to the conclusion that the great
pretensions ofMasonryinthebluedegreesweremerelyimaginaryand
deceptive.HeridiculedtheOrder,andthoughtitsceremoniesmerechild's
play;andsomeofhissayingstothateffecthavebeenpreserved.Itdoesnot
atallfollowthathemightnotatalaterdayhavefounditpolitictoput
himselfattheheadofanOrderthathadbecomeapower....416
Itisnotwithoutsignificancetofindthatintheyearfollowingtheofficial
foundation of the Stricte Observance, that is to say in 1752, Lord
Holdernesse, in a letter to the British Ambassador in Paris, Lord
Albemarle,headed"Verysecret,"speaksof"theinfluencewhichtheKing
ofPrussiahasoflateobtainedoveralltheFrenchCouncils";andafew
weekslaterLordAlbemarlerefersto"thegreatinfluenceofthePrussian
CourtovertheFrenchCouncilsbywhichtheyaresoblindedasnottobe
abletojudgeforthemselves."417
ButitistimetoturntoanothersphereofactivitywhichMasonryopened
outtotheambitionsofFrederick.

The making of the Encyclopdie, which even those writers the most
sceptical with regard to secret influences behind the revolutionary
movement admit to have contributed towards the final cataclysm, is a
questiononwhichofficialhistoryhasthrownbutlittlelight.Accordingto
the authorized version of the storyas related, for example, in Lord
Morley's work on the Encyclopdiststhe plan of translating Ephraim
Chambers's Cyclopdia,whichhadappearedin1728,wassuggestedto
Diderot"somefifteenyearslater"byaFrenchbooksellernamedLeBreton.
Diderot's"fertileandenergeticintelligencetransformedthescheme....It
wasresolvedtomakeChambers'sworkamerestartingpointforanew
enterprise of far wider scope." We then go on to read of the financial
difficultiesthatnowbesetthepublisher,oftheembarrassmentofDiderot,
who"felthimselfunequaltothetaskofarrangingandsupervisingevery
department of a new book that was to include the whole circle of the
sciences,"ofthefortunateenlistingofd'Alembertasacollaborator,and
laterofmenbelongingtoallkindsofprofessions,"allunitedinaworkthat
wasasusefulasitwaslaborious,withoutanyviewofinterest...without
any common understanding and agreement," further, of the cruel
persecutionsencounteredatthehandsoftheJesuits,"whohadexpectedat
least to have control of the articles on theology," and finally of the
tyrannicalsuppressionofthegreatworkonaccountoftheantiChristian
tendenciesthesesamearticlesdisplayed.418
Nowforafurtherlightonthematter.
InthefamousspeechoftheChevalierRamsayalreadyquoted,whichwas
deliveredatGrandLodgeofParisin1737,thefollowingpassageoccurs:
ThefourthqualityrequiredinourOrderisthetasteforusefulsciencesand
theliberalarts.Thus,theOrderexactsofeachofyoutocontribute,byhis
protection,liberality,orlabour,toavastworkforwhichnoacademycan
suffice,becauseallthesesocietiesbeingcomposedofaverysmallnumber
ofmen,theirworkcannotembraceanobjectsoextended.AlltheGrand
MastersinGermany,England,Italy,andelsewhereexhortallthelearned
menandalltheartisansoftheFraternitytounitetofurnishthematerials
for a Universal Dictionary of all the liberal arts and useful sciences;
excepting only theology and politics. The work has already been
commencedinLondon,andbymeansoftheunionsofourbrothersitmay
becarriedtoaconclusioninafewyears.419

So after all it was no enterprising bookseller, no brilliantly inspired

philosopher,whoconceivedtheideaofthe Encyclopdie,butapowerful
internationalorganizationabletoemploytheservicesofmorementhanall
theacademiescouldsupply,whichdevisedtheschemeatleastsixyears
beforethedateatwhichitissaidtohaveoccurredtoDiderot.Thusthe
whole story as usually told to us would appear to be a complete
fabricationstruggling publishers, toiling littrateurs carrying out their
superhumantaskas"independentmenofletters"withoutthepatronageof
thegreatwhichLordMorleypointsoutas"oneofthemostimportant
facts in the history of the Encyclopdia"writers of all kinds bound
together by no "common understanding or agreement," are all seen in
reality to have been closely associated as "artisans of the Fraternity"
carryingouttheordersoftheirsuperiors.
The Encyclopdie was therefore essentially a Masonic publication, and
Papus,whilsterroneouslyattributingthefamousorationandconsequently
the plan of the Encyclopdie to the inspiration of the Duc d'Antin,
emphasizestheimportanceofthisfact.Thus,hewrites:
TheRevolutionmanifestsitselfbytwostages:1st.Intellectualrevolution,
bythepublicationoftheEncyclopdie,duetoFrenchFreemasonryunder
the high inspiration of the Duc d'Antin. 2nd. Occult revolution in the
Lodges,dueingreatparttothemembersoftheTemplarRiteandexecuted
byagroupofexpelledFreemasonsafterwardsamnestied.420
The masonic authorship of the Encyclopdie and the consequent
disseminationofrevolutionarydoctrineshasremainednomatterofdoubt
totheFreemasonsofFrance;onthecontrary,theygloryinthefact.Atthe
congressoftheGrandOrientin1904theFreemasonBonnetdeclared:
IntheeighteenthcenturythegloriouslineofEncyclopdistsformedinour
templesaferventaudiencewhichwasthenaloneininvokingtheradiant
deviceasyetunknowntothecrowd:"Liberty,Equality,Fraternity."The
revolutionary seed quickly germinated amidst this lite. Our illustrious
Freemasons d'Alembert, Diderot, Helvtius, d'Holbach, Voltaire,
Condorcet,completedtheevolutionofmindsandpreparedthenewera.
And,whentheBastillefell,Freemasonryhadthesupremehonourofgiving
tohumanitythecharter(i.e.theDeclarationoftheRightsofMan)whichit
hadelaboratedwithdevotion.(Applause.)

Thischarter,theoratorwentontosay,wastheworkoftheFreemason
Lafayette,andwasadoptedbytheConstituentAssembly,ofwhichmore
than300memberswereFreemasons.
Butinusingthelodgestosowtheseedsofrevolution,theEncyclopdists
betrayednotonlythecauseofmonarchybutofMasonryaswell.Itwillbe
noticedthat,inconformitywithtruemasonicprinciples,Ramsay inhis
orationexpresslystatedthattheencyclopdiawastoconcernitselfwith
theliberalartsandsciences 421 andthattheologyandpoliticsweretobe
excludedfromthecontemplatedscheme.How,then,diditcometopass
thatthesewereeventuallythetwosubjectstowhichtheEncyclopdists
devotedthegreatest attention,sothattheirworkbecameprincipallyan
attack on Church and monarchy? If Papus was right in attributing this
revolutionarytendencytothe Encyclopdie fromthetimeofthefamous
oration,thenRamsaycouldonlybesetdownastheprofoundesthypocrite
orasthemouthpieceofhypocritesprofessingintentionstheveryreverseof
theirrealdesigns.Afarmoreprobableexplanationseemstobethatduring
theintervalbetweenRamsay'sspeechandthedatewhentheEncyclopdie
wasbeguninearnest,theschemeunderwentachange.Itwillbenoticed
that the year of 1746, when Diderot and d'Alembert are said to have
embarked on their task, coincided with the decadence of French
FreemasonryundertheComtedeClermontandtheinvasionofthelodges
by the subversive elements; thus the project propounded with the best
intentionsbytheFreemasonsof1737wasfilchedbytheirrevolutionary
successorsandturnedtoadiametricallyoppositepurpose.
ButitisnottothedancingmasterLacorneandhismiddleclassfollowing
thatwecanattributetheefficiencywithwhichnotonlytheEncyclopdie
but a host of minor revolutionary publications were circulated all over
France.FredericktheGreathadseenhisopportunity.IfIamrightinmy
surmise that Ramsay's speech had reached the ears of Frederick, the
prospectoftheEncyclopdiecontainedthereinmaywellhaveappearedto
himamagnificentmethodforobtainingafootingintheintellectualcircles
of France; hence then, doubtless, an additional reason for his hasty
initiation into Masonry, his summons to Voltaire, and his subsequent
overturestoDiderotandd'Alembert,who,bythetimethefirstvolumeof
the Encyclopdie appearedin1751,hadbothbeenmademembersofthe
Royal Academy of Prussia. In the following year Frederick offered
d'AlembertthepresidencyoftheAcademyinplaceofMaupertuis,anoffer

which was refused; but in 1755 and again in 1763 d'Alembert visited
FrederickinGermanyandreceivedhispensionregularlyfromBerlin.Itis
thereforenotsurprisingthatwhentheEncyclopdiehadreachedtheletter
P,itincluded,inanunsignedarticleonPrussia,apanegyriconthevirtues
andthetalentsoftheillustriousmonarchwhopresidedoverthedestiniesof
thatfavouredcountry.
TheartofFredericktheGreat,asofhissuccessorsonthethroneofthe
Hohenzollerns,wastomakeuseofeverymovementthatcouldfurtherthe
design of Prussian supremacy. He used the Freemasons as he used the
philosophersandasheusedtheJews,tocarryouthisgreatschemethe
destructionoftheFrenchmonarchyandofthealliancebetweenFranceand
Austria.WhilstthroughhisrepresentativesattheCourtofFrancehewas
abletocreatediscordbetweenVersaillesandViennaandbringdiscrediton
MarieAntoinette,throughhisalliesinthemasoniclodgesandinthesecret
societies he was able to reach the people of France. The gold and the
printing presses of Frederick the Great were added to those of the
Orlanistes for the circulation of seditious literature throughout the
provinces.422
So as the century advanced the association founded by Royalists and
Catholics was turned into an engine of destruction by revolutionary
intriguers;theritesandsymbolsweregraduallypervertedtoanenddirectly
opposedtothatforwhichtheyhadbeeninstituted,andthetwodegreesof
RoseCroixandKnightKadoschcametosymbolizerespectivelywaron
religionandwaronthemonarchyofFrance.
It is no orthodox Catholic but an occultist and Rosicrucian who thus
describestherleofMasonryintheRevolution:
Masonryhasnotonlybeenprofanedbutithasbeenservedasacoverand
pretextfortheplotsofanarchy,bytheoccultinfluenceoftheavengersof
JacquesduMolayandthecontinuersoftheschismaticworkoftheTemple.
InsteadofavengingthedeathofHiram,theyhaveavengedhisassassins.
Theanarchistshavetakentheplumbline,thesquare,andthemalletand
havewrittenonthemliberty,equality,fraternity.Thatistosay,libertyfor
envyings,equalityindegradation,fraternityfordestruction.Thosearethe
men whom the Church has justly condemned and that she will always
condemn.423

But it is time to turn to another masonic power which meanwhile had

enteredthelists,theMartinistesorFrenchIllumins.
French Illuminism
WhilstFredericktheGreat,theFreemasons,theEncyclopdists,andthe
OrlanisteswereworkingonthematerialplanetounderminetheChurch
andmonarchyinFrance,anotherculthadarisenwhichbythemiddleofthe
century succeeded in insinuating itself into the lodges. This was a
recrudescence of the old craze for occultism, which now spread like
wildfirealloverEuropefromBordeauxtoSt.Petersburg.Duringthereign
of Anna of Courland (173040) the Russian Court was permeated with
superstition,andprofessionalmagiciansandcharlatansofeverykindwere
encouraged. The upper classes of Germany in the eighteenth century
proved equally susceptible to the attractions of the supernatural, and
princesdesirousoflonglifeorgreaterpowereagerlypursuedthequestof
thePhilosopher'sStone,the"ElixirofLife,"andevokedspiritsunderthe
directionofoccultistsintheirservice.
In France occultism, reduced to a system, adopted the outer forms of
Masonryasacovertothepropagationofitsdoctrines.Itwasin1754that
MartinesdePasqually(orPaschalis),aRoseCroixMason, 424foundedhis
OrderoflusCohens(ElectedPriests),knownlaterastheMartinistesor
theFrenchIllumins.AlthoughbroughtupintheChristianfaith,Pasqually
hasbeenfrequentlydescribedasaJew.TheBarondeGleichen,himselfa
MartinisteandamemberoftheAmisRunis, 425throwsaninterestinglight
onthematterinthispassage:"PasqualiswasoriginallySpanish,perhapsof
theJewishrace,sincehisdisciplesinheritedfromhimalargenumberof
Jewishmanuscripts."426
It was "thisCabalistic sect,"427 theMartinistes, which nowbecamethe
thirdgreatmasonicpowerinFrance.
TheriteoftheMartinisteswasbroadlydividedintotwoclasses,inthefirst
of which was represented the fall of man and in the second his final
restorationa further variation on the masonic theme of a loss and a
recovery.AfterthefirstthreeCraftdegreescametheCohendegreesofthe
sameApprentice Cohen, Fellow Craft Cohen, and Master Cohenthen
thoseofGrandArchitect,GrandElectofZerubbabelorKnightoftheEast:
but above these were concealed degrees leading up to the RoseCroix,

whichformedthecapstoneoftheedifice.428Pasquallyfirstestablishedhis
riteatMarseilles,Toulouse,andBordeaux,theninParis,andbeforelong
MartinistelodgesspreadalloverFrancewiththecentreatLyonsunderthe
direction of Willermoz, a prosperous merchant living there. From this
moment other occult Orders sprang up in all directions. In 1760 Dom
Pernettifoundedhissectof"Illuminsd'Avignon"inthatcity,declaring
himself a high initiate of Freemasonry and teaching the doctrines of
Swedenborg. Later a certain Chastanier founded the "Illumins
Thosophes,"amodifiedversionofPernetti'srite;andin1783theMarquis
deThomstartedapurifiedvarietyofSwedenborgianismunderthename
of"RiteofSwedenborg."
Beneathalltheseoccultsectsonecommonsourceofinspirationistobe
foundthepervertedandmagicalCabalaoftheJews,thatconglomeration
of wild theosophical imaginings and barbaric superstitions founded on
ancient pagan cults and added to throughout seventeen centuries by
succeeding generations of Jewish occultists. 429 This influence is
particularlytobedetectedinthevariousformsoftheRoseCroixdegree,
whichinnearlyalltheseassociationsformsthehighestandmostsecret
degree.Theritualof"theeminentOrderoftheKnightsoftheBlackEagle
orSovereignsoftheRoseCroix,"asecretandunpublisheddocumentof
theeighteenthcentury,whichdiffersentirelyfromthepublishedrituals,
explainsthatnoonecanattaintoknowledgeofthehigherscienceswithout
the "Clavicules de Salomon," of which the real secrets were never
committedtoprintandwhichissaidtocontainthewholeofCabalistic
science.430 The catechism of this same degree deals mainly with the
transmutationofmetals,thePhilosopher'sStone,etc.
IntheRiteofPerfectionasworkedinFranceandAmericathisCabalistic
influence is shown in those degrees known under the name of the
"IneffableDegrees," derived fromtheJewish belief inthemysterythat
surroundstheIneflableNameofGod.AccordingtothecustomoftheJews,
thesacrednameJehovahorJahve,composedofthefourlettersyod,he,
vau,he,whichformedtheTetragrammaton,wasnevertobepronouncedby
theprofane,whowereobligedtosubstituteforittheword"Adonai."The
Tetragrammaton might only be uttered once a year on the Day of
AtonementbytheHighPriestintheHolyofHoliesamidthesoundof
trumpetsandcymbals,whichpreventedthepeoplefromhearingit.Itis
saidthatinconsequenceofthepeoplethusrefrainingfromitsutterance,

the true pronunciation of the name was at last lost. The Jews further
believed that the Tetragrammaton was possessed of unbounded powers.
"He who pronounces it shakes heaven and earth and inspires the very
angels with astonishment and terror."431 The Ineffable Name thus
conferred miraculous gifts; it was engraved on the rod of Moses and
enabledhimtoperformwonders,justas,accordingtotheToledotYeshu,it
conferredthesamepowersonChrist.
ThissuperstitionwasclearlyapartofRosicruciantradition,forthesymbol
oftheTetragrammatonwithinatriangle,adoptedbythemasoniclodges,
figuresinFludd'sCabalisticsystem.432 Inthe"Ineffabledegrees"itwas
invested with all the mystic awe by which it is surrounded in Jewish
theology, and, according to early American working: "Brothers and
CompanionsofthesedegreesreceivedthenameofGodasitwasrevealed
toEnochandweresworntopronounceitbutonceintheirlives."
InthealchemicalversionoftheRoseCroixdegreereferredtoabovethe
IneffableNameisactuallyinvestedwithmagicalpowersasintheJewish
Cabala. Ragon, after describing the Jewish ceremony when the word
JehovahwaspronouncedbytheHighPriestintheHolyofHolies,goeson
tosaythat"Schemhammphorasch,"anothertermfortheTetragrammaton,
formsthesacredwordofaScotchdegree,andthatthisbeliefinitsmystic
properties"willbefoundattheheadoftheinstructionsforthethirddegree
oftheKnightoftheBlackEagle,calledRoseCroix,"thus:
Q.WhatisthemostpowerfulnameofGodonthepentaculum?
A.Adonai.
Q.Whatisitspower?
A.TomovetheUniverse.
That one of the Knights who had the good fortune to pronounce it
cabalisticallywouldhaveathisdisposalthepowersthatinhabitthefour
elementsandthecelestialspirits,andwouldpossessallthevirtuespossible
toman.433
ThatthisformoftheRoseCroixwasofpurelyJewishoriginisthusclearly
evident.IntheaddresstothecandidateforinitiationintotheRoseCroix

degreeattheLodgeofthe"ContratSocial"itisstated:
Thisdegree,whichincludesanOrderofPerfectMasons,wasbroughtto
lightbyBrotherR.,whotookitfromtheKabbalistictreasureoftheDoctor
andRabbiNamuth,chiefofthesynagogueofLeydeninHolland,whohad
preserveditsprecioussecretsanditscostume,bothofwhichweshallseein
thesameorderinwhichheplacedtheminhismysteriousTalmud.434
Now, we know that in the eighteenth century a society of Rosicrucian
magicianshadbeeninstitutedinFlorencewhichwasbelievedtodateback
tothefifteenthcenturyandtohavebeenpartly,ifnotwhollycomposedof
Orientals,asweshallseeinthenextchapter;butitseemsprobablethatthis
sect, whilst secretly inspiring the RoseCroix masons, was itself either
nameless or concealed under a disguise. Thus in 1782 an English
Freemasonwrites:"IhavefoundsomerathercuriousMSS.inAlgiersin
HebrewrelatingtothesocietyoftheRosicrucians,whichexistsatpresent
underanothernamewiththesameforms.Ihope,moreovertobeadmitted
totheirknowledge."435
It has frequently been argued that Jews can have played no part in
Freemasonryatthisperiodsincetheythemselveswerenotadmittedtothe
lodges.Butthisisbynomeanscertain;inthearticlefromTheGentleman's
Magazine already quotedit is stated thatJews areadmitted; de Luchet
furtherquotestheinstanceofDavidMosesHertzreceivedinaLondon
lodgein1787;andtheauthorof LesFrancMasonscrass,publishedin
1746, states that he has seen three Jews received into a lodge at
Amsterdam.Inthe"MelchisedeckLodges"oftheContinentnonChristians
wereopenlyadmitted,andhereagaintheRoseCroixdegreeoccupiesthe
mostimportantplace.ThehighestdegreesofthisriteweretheInitiated
BrothersofAsia,theMastersoftheWise,andtheRoyalPriests,otherwise
knownasthedegreeofMelchisedeckorthetrueBrothersoftheRose
Croix.
ThisOrder,usuallydescribedastheAsiaticBrethren,ofwhichthecentre
wasinViennaandtheleaderacertainBaronvonEckhoffen,issaidtohave
beenacontinuationofthe"BrothersoftheGoldenandRosyCross,"a
revival of the seventeenthcentury Rosicrucians organized in 1710 by a
Saxonpriest,SamuelRichter,knownasSincerusRenatus.Therealorigins
oftheAsiaticBrethrenare,however,obscureandlittleliteratureonthe

subjectistobefoundinthiscountry.436Theirfurthertitleof"theKnights
andBrethrenofSt.JohntheEvangelist"suggestsJohanniteinspirationand
wasclearlyanimposture,sincetheyincludedJews,Turks,Persians,and
Armenians.DeLuchet,whoasacontemporarywasinapositiontoacquire
firsthandinformation,thusdescribestheorganizationoftheOrder,which,
itwillbeseen,wasentirelyJudaic."Thesuperiordirectioniscalledthe
smallandconstantSanhedrimofEurope.Thenamesofthoseemployedby
whichtheyconcealthemselvesfromtheirinferiorsareHebrew.Thesigns
of the third principal degree (i.e. the RoseCroix) are Urim and
Thummim....TheOrderhasthetruesecretsandtheexplanations,moral
and physical, of the hierogyphics of the very venerable Order of
Freemasonry."437 The initiate had to swear absolute submission and
unswerving obedience to the laws of the Order and to follow its laws
implicitlytotheendofhislife,withoutaskingbywhomtheyweregivenor
whencetheycame.
"Who,"asksdeLuchet,"gavetotheOrderthesesocalledsecrets?Thatis
thegreatandinsidiousquestionforthesecretsocieties.ButtheInitiatewho
remains,andmustremaineternallyintheOrder,neverfindsthisout,he
darenotevenaskit,hemustpromisenevertoaskit.Inthiswaythosewho
participateinthesecretsoftheOrderremaintheMasters."
Again, as in the Stricte Observance, the same system of "Concealed
Superiors"thesameblindobediencetounknowndirectors!
UndertheguidanceofthesevarioussectsofIlluminsawaveofoccultism
sweptoverFrance,andlodgeseverywherebecamecentresofinstructionon
theCabala,magic,divination,alchemy,andtheosophy438;masonicrites
degeneratedintoceremoniesfortheevocationofspiritswomen,whowere
nowadmittedtotheseassemblies,screamed,fainted,fellintoconvulsions,
andlentthemselvestoexperimentsofthemosthorriblekind.439
BymeansoftheseoccultpracticestheIlluminsintimebecamethethird
great masonic power in France, and the rival Orders perceived the
expediencyofjoiningforces.Accordinglyin1771anamalgamationofall
themasonicgroupswaseffectedatthenewlodgeoftheAmisRunis.
ThefounderofthislodgewasSavalettedeLanges,KeeperoftheRoyal
Treasury, Grand Officer of the Grand Orient, and a high initiate of
Masonry"versedinallmysteries,inallthelodges,andinalltheplots."In

ordertounitethemhemadehislodgeamixtureofallsophistic,Martiniste,
andmasonicsystems,"andasabaittothearistocracyorganizedballsand
concertsatwhichtheadepts,maleandfemale,dancedandfeasted,orsang
ofthebeautiesoftheirlibertyandequality,littleknowingthatabovethem
wasasecretcommitteewhichwasarrangingtoextendthisequalitybeyond
thelodgetorankandfortune,tocastlesandtocottages,tomarquessesand
bourgeois"alike.440
AfurtherdevelopmentoftheAmisRuniswastheRiteofthePhilalthes,
compounded by Savalette de Langes in 1773 out of Swedenborgian,
Martiniste,andRosicrucianmysteries,intowhichthehigherinitiatesofthe
Amis RunisCourt de Gebelin, the Prince de Hesse, Condorcet, the
VicomtedeTavannes,Willermoz,andotherswereinitiated.Amodified
formofthisritewasinstitutedatNarbonnein1780underthenameof
"Free and Accepted Masons du Rit Primitif," the English nomenclature
beingadopted(accordingtoClavel)inordertomakeitappearthattherite
emanatedfromEngland.Inrealityitsfounder,theMarquisdeChefdebien
d'Armisson,amemberoftheGrandOrientandoftheAmisRunis,drew
hisinspirationfromcertainGermanFreemasonswithwhomhemaintained
throughout close relations and who were presumably members of the
Stricte Observance, since Chefdebien was a member of this Order, in
whichheborethetitleof"EquesaCapiteGaleato."Thecorrespondence
that passed between Chefdebien and Salvalette de Langes, recently
discoveredandpublishedinFrance,isoneofthemostilluminatingrecords
of the masonic ramifications in existence before the Revolution ever
broughttolight.441Tojudgebythetoneoftheseletters,theleadersofthe
RitPrimitifwouldappeartohavebeenlawabidingandloyalgentlemen
devoted to the Catholic religion, yet in their passion for new forms of
Masonryandthirstforoccultlorereadytoassociatethemselveswithevery
kindofadventurerandcharlatanwhomightbeabletoinitiatetheminto
further mysteries. In the curious notes drawn up by Savalette for the
guidanceoftheMarquisdeChefdebienwecatchaglimpseofthepower
behindthephilosophers of the salons andthe aristocratic adeptsof the
lodgestheprofessionalmagiciansandmenofmystery;andbehindthese
againtheconcealeddirectorsofthesecretsocieties,therealinitiates.
The Magicians
The part played by magicians during the period preceding the French

Revolutionisofcourseamatterofcommonknowledgeandhasneverbeen
disputed by official history. But like the schools of philosophers this
suddencropofmagiciansisalwaysrepresentedasasporadicgrowthcalled
intobeingbytheidleandcurioussocietyoftheday.Theimportantpointto
realizeisthatjustasthephilosopherswereallFreemasons,theprincipal
magicians were not only Freemasons but members of occult secret
societies.Itisthereforenotasisolatedcharlatansbutasagentsofsome
hiddenpowerthatwemustregardthemenwhomwewillnowpassina
rapidsurvey.
OneofthefirsttoappearinthefieldwasSchroepfer,acoffeehousekeeper
ofLeipzig,whodeclaredthatnoonecouldbeatrueFreemasonwithout
practising magic. Accordingly he proclaimed himself the "reformer of
Freemasonry,"andsetupalodgeinhisownhousewitharitebasedonthe
RoseCroixdegreeforthepurposeofevokingspirits.Themeetingstook
placeatdeadofnight,whenbymeansofcarefullyarrangedlights,magic
mirrors, and possibly of electricity, Schroepfer contrived to produce
apparitionswhichhisdisciplesundertheinfluenceofstrongpunchtook
tobevisitorsfromtheotherworld.442IntheendSchroepfer,drivencrazy
byhisownincantations,blewouthisbrainsinagardennearLeipzig.
AccordingtoLecouteulxdeCanteleu,itwasSchroepferwhoindoctrinated
thefamous"ComtedeSaintGermain""TheMaster"ofourmodernco
masoniclodges.Theidentityofthismysteriouspersonagehasneverbeen
established443;bysomecontemporarieshewassaidtobeanaturalsonof
theKingofPortugal,byothersthesonofaJewandaPolishPrincess.The
Duc de Choiseul on being asked whether he knew the origin of Saint
Germainreplied:"Nodoubtweknowit,heisthesonofaPortugueseJew
whoexploitsthecredulityofthetownandCourt." 444 In1780arumour
wentroundthathisfatherwasaJewofBordeaux,butaccordingtothe
Souvenirs of theMarquise deCrquy theBarondeBreteuildiscovered
from the archives of his Ministry that the pretended Comte de Saint
GermainwasthesonofaJewishdoctorofStrasburg,thathisrealname
wasDanielWolf,andthathewasbornin1704. 445 Thegeneralopinion
thusappearstohavebeeninfavourofhisJewishancestry.
SaintGermanseemsfirsttohavebeenheardofinGermanyabout1740,
wherehismarvellouspowersattractedtheattentionoftheMarchalde
BelleIsle,who,alwaysthereadydupeofcharlatans,broughthimback

withhimtotheCourtofFrance,wherehespeedilygainedthefavourof
MadamedePompadour.TheMarquisebeforelongpresentedhimtothe
King,whograntedhimanapartmentatChambordand,enchantedbyhis
brilliantwit,frequentlyspentlongeveningsinconversationwithhiminthe
rooms of Madame de Pompadour. Meanwhile his invention of flat
bottomedboatsfortheinvasionofEnglandraisedhimstillhigherinthe
estimationoftheMarchaldeBelleIsle.In1761wehearofhimasliving
ingreatsplendourinHollandandgivingoutthathehadreachedtheageof
seventyfour,thoughappearingtobeonlyfifty;ifthiswereso,hemust
havebeenninetysevenatthetimeofhisdeathin1784atSchleswig.But
this feat of longevity is far from satisfying his modern admirers, who
declarethatSaintGermaindidnotdiein1784,butisstillalivetodayin
somecornerofEasternEurope.Thisisinaccordancewiththetheory,said
tohavebeencirculatedbySaintGermainhimself,thatbytheeighteenth
centuryhehadpassedthroughseveralincarnationsandthatthelastonehad
continuedfor1,500years.Barruel,however,explainsthatSaintGermain
inthusreferringtohisagespokeinmasoniclanguage,inwhichamanwho
hastakenthefirstdegreeissaidtobethreeyearsold,afterthesecondfive,
orthethirdseven,sothatbymeansofthehugeincreasethehigherdegrees
conferreditmightbequitepossibleforanexaltedadepttoattaintheageof
1,500.
SaintGermain has been represented by modern writersnot only those
whocomposehisfollowingasapersonofextraordinaryattainments,a
sort of superman towering over the minor magicians of his day.
Contemporaries,however,takehimlessseriouslyandrepresenthimrather
as an expert charlatan whom the wits of the salons made the butt of
pleasantries.Hisprincipalimportancetothesubjectofthisbookconsists,
however, in his influence on the secret societies. According to the
Mmoiresauthentiquespourservirl'histoireduComtedeCagliostro,
SaintGermainwasthe"GrandMasterofFreemasonry," 446 anditwashe
whoinitiatedCagliostrointothemysteriesofEgyptianmasonry.
Joseph Balsamo, born in 1743, who assumed the name of Comte de
Cagliostro,asamagicianfareclipsedhismaster.LikeSaintGermain,he
wasgenerallyreputedtobeaJewthesonofPietroBalsamo,aSicilian
tradesman of Jewish origin447and he made no secret of his arden
admirationfortheJewishrace.Afterthedeathofhisparentsheescaped
fromthemonasteryinwhichhehadbeenplacedatPalermoandjoined

himselftoamanknownasAltotas,saidtohavebeenanArmenian,with
whomhetravelledtoGreeceandEgypt 448.Cagliostro'stravelslatertook
himtoPolandandGermany,wherehewasinitiatedintoFreemasonry 449,
andfinallytoFrance;butitwasinEnglandthathehimselfdeclaredthathe
elaborated his famous "Egyptian Rite," which he founded officially in
1782. According to his own account, this rite was derived from a
manuscript by a certain George Coftonwhose identity has never been
discoveredwhichheboughtbychanceinLondon450.Yarker,however,
expresses the opinion that "the rite of Cagliostro was clearly that of
Pasqually,"andthatifheacquireditfromamanuscriptinLondonitwould
indicate that Pasquilly had disciples in that city. A far more probable
explanationisthatCagliostroderivedhisEgyptianmasonryfromthesame
sourceasthatonwhichPasquallyhaddrawnforhisOrderofMartinistes,
namelytheCabala,andthatitwasnotfromasinglemanuscriptbutfrom
aneminentJewishCabalistinLondonthathetookhisinstructions.Who
this may have been we shall soon see. At any rate, in a contemporary
account of Cagliostro wefindhim described as "a doctor initiatedinto
Cabalistic art" and a RoseCroix; but after founding his own rite he
acquired the name of Grand Copht, that is to say, Supreme Head of
EgyptianMasonry,anewbranchthathewishedtograftontooldEuropean
Freemasonry.451Weshallreturntohisfurthermasonicadventureslater.
In a superior category to SaintGerman and Cagliostro was the famous
SwabiandoctorMesmer,whohasgivenhisnametoanimportantbranchof
naturalscience.Inabout1780Mesmerannouncedhisgreatdiscoveryof
"animalmagnetism,theprincipleoflifeinallorganizedbeings,thesoulof
allthatbreathes."ButiftodayMesmerismhascometoberegardedas
almostsynonymouswithhypnotismandinnowayabranchofoccultism,
Mesmerhimselfstirringthefluidinhismagicbucket,aroundwhichhis
disciples wept, slept, fell into trances or convulsions, raved or
prophesied452earnednotunnaturallythereputationofacharlatan.The
Freemasons,eagertodiscoverthesecretofthemagicbucket,hastenedto
enrolhimintheirOrder,andMesmerwasreceivedintothePrimitiveRite
ofFreeandAcceptedMasonsin1785.453
Spaceforbidsadescriptionoftheminormagicianswhoflourishedatthis
periodof Schroeder,founderin1776ofachapterof"TrueandAncient
RoseCroix Masons," practising certain magical, theosophical, and

alchemicaldegrees;of Gassner,workerofmiraclesintheneighbourhood
ofRatisbonne;of"theJewLeon,"oneofabandofcharlatanswhomade
largesumsofmoneywithmagicmirrorsinwhichtheimaginativewere
abletoseetheirabsentfriends,andwhowasfinallybanishedfromFrance
by the police,all these and many others exploited the credulity and
curiosityoftheupperclassesbothinFranceandGermanybetweenthe
yearsof1740and1790.DeLuchet,writingbeforetheFrenchRevolution,
describesthepartplayedintheirmysteriesbythesoulofaCabalisticJew
namedGablidonewhohadlivedbeforeChrist,andwhopredictedthat"in
theyear1800therewillbe,onourglobe,averyremarkablerevolution,and
therewillbenootherreligionbutthatofthepatriarchs."454
HowarewetoaccountforthisextraordinarywaveofCabalisminWestern
Europe?Bywhomwasitinspired?If,asJewishwritersassureus,neither
Marlines Pasqually, SaintGermain, Cagliostro, nor any of the visible
occultistsor magicians wereJews, theproblemonlybecomesthemore
insoluble.WecannotbelievethatSanhedrims,Hebrewhieroglyphics,the
contemplationoftheTetragrammaton,andotherCabalisticritesoriginated
in the brains of French and German aristocrats, philosophers, and
Freemasons.Letusturn,then,toeventstakingplaceatthismomentinthe
worldofJewryandseewhetherthesemayprovidesomeclue.

Chapter 8:

The Jewish Cabalists

IthasbeenshownintheprecedingchaptersthattheJewishCabalaplayed
an important part in the occult and antiChristian sects from the very
beginningoftheChristianera.Thetimehasnowcometoenquirewhatpart
Jewish influence played meanwhile in revolutions. Merely to ask the
questionistobringononeselftheaccusationof"antiSemitism,"yetthe
JewishwriterBernardLazarehasshownthefalsenessofthischarge:
This[hewrites]iswhatmustseparatetheimpartialhistorianfromanti
Semitism.TheantiSemitesays:"TheJewisthepreparer,themachinator,
thechiefengineerofrevolutions";theimpartialhistorianconfineshimself
tostudyingthepartwhichtheJew,consideringhisspirit,hischaracter,the
natureofhisphilosophy,andhisreligion,mayhavetakeninrevolutionary
processesandmovements.455
Lazarehimselfexpressestheopinion,however,that
ThecomplaintoftheantiSemitesseemstobefounded:theJewhasthe
revolutionaryspirit;consciouslyornotheisanagentofrevolution.Yetthe
complaintcomplicatesitself,forantiSemitismaccusestheJewsofbeing
thecauseofrevolutions.Letusexaminewhatthisaccusationisworth....456
In the light of our present knowledge it would certainly be absurd to
ascribetotheJewstheauthorshipoftheconspiracyofCatilineorofthe
Gracchi,therisingofJackStrawandWatTyler,JackCade'srebellion,the
jacqueriesofFrance,orthePeasants'WarsinGermany,althoughhistorical
researchmayleadintimetothediscoveryofcertainoccultinfluencesnot
necessarily Jewishbehind the European insurrections here referred to.
Moreover, apart from grievances or other causes of rebellion, the
revolutionaryspirithasalwaysexistedindependentlyoftheJews.Inall
timesandinallcountriestherehavebeenmenborntomaketroubleasthe

sparksflyupward.
Nevertheless,inmodernrevolutionsthepartplayedbytheJewscannotbe
ignored,andtheinfluencetheyhaveexercisedwillbeseenonexamination
tohavebeentwofoldfinancialandoccult.ThroughouttheMiddleAgesit
isassorcerersandusurersthattheyincurthereproachesoftheChristian
world,anditisstillinthesamerole,underthemoremoderntermsof
magicians and loanmongers, that we detect their presence behind the
scenes of revolution from the seventeenth century onward. Wherever
moneywastobemadeoutofsocialorpoliticalupheavals,wealthyJews
havebeenfoundtobackthewinningside;andwherevertheChristianraces
have turned against their own institutions, Jewish Rabbis, philosophers,
professors, and occultists have lent them their support. It was not then
necessarilythatJewscreatedthesemovements,buttheyknewhowtomake
useofthemfortheirownends.
It is thus that in the Great Rebellion we find them not amongst the
IronsidesofCromwellorthemembersofhisStateCouncil,butfurnishing
moneyandinformationtotheinsurgents,actingasarmycontractors,loan
mongers, and superspiesor to use the more euphonious term of Mr.
LucienWolf,as"politicalintelligencers"ofextraordinaryefficiency.Thus
Mr. Lucien Wolf, in referring to Carvajal, "the great Jew of the
Commonwealth,"explainsthat"thewideramificationsofhiscommercial
transactionsandhisrelationswithotherCryptoJewsallovertheworld
placedhiminanunrivalledpositiontoobtainnewsoftheenemiesofthe
Commonwealth."457
It is obvious that a "secret service" of this kind rendered the Jews a
formidable hidden power, the more so since their very existence was
frequently unknown to the rest of the population around them. This
precautionwasnecessarybecauseJewswerenotsupposedtoexistatthat
dateinEngland.In1290EdwardIhadexpelledthemall,andforthreeand
ahalfcenturiestheyhadremainedinexile;theCryptoJewsorMarranos
who had come over from Spain contrived, however, to remain in the
countrybyskilfullytakingthecolouroftheirsurroundings.Mr.Wolfgoes
on to observe that Jewish services were regularly held in the secret
Synagogue,but"inpublicCarvajalandhisfriendsfollowedthepracticeof
thesecretJewsinSpainandPortugal,passingasRomanCatholicsand
regularly attending mass in the Spanish Ambassador's chapel."458 But

whenwarbetweenEnglandandSpainrenderedthisexpedientinadvisable,
the Marranos threw off the disguise of Christianity and proclaimed
themselvesfollowersoftheJewishfaith.
Now,justatthisperiodtheMessianicerawasgenerallybelievedbythe
Jews to be approaching, and it appears to have occurred to them that
Cromwell might be fitted to the part. Consequently emissaries were
despatched to search the archives of Cambridge in order to discover
whethertheProtectorcouldpossiblybeofJewishdescent. 459 Thisquest
proving fruitless, the Cabalist Rabbi of Amsterdam, Manasseh ben
Israel,460addressedapetitiontoCromwellforthereadmissionoftheJews
toEngland,inwhichheadroitlyinsistedontheretributionthatovertakes
thosewhoafflictthepeopleofIsraelandtherewardsthatawaitthosewho
"cherish"them.TheseargumentswerenotwithouteffectonCromwell,
who entertained the same superstition, and although he is said to have
declined the Jews' offer to buy St. Paul's Cathedral and the Bodleian
Librarybecauseheconsideredthe500,000theyofferedinadequate, 461he
exertedeveryefforttoobtaintheirreadmissiontothecountry.Inthishe
encounteredviolentopposition,anditseemsthatJewswerenotpermitted
toreturninlargenumbers,oratanyratetoenjoyfullrightsandprivileges,
untilaftertheaccessionofCharlesII,whoinhisturnhadenlistedtheir
financialaid.462Later,in1688,theJewsofAmsterdamhelpedwiththeir
credittheexpeditionofWilliamofOrangeagainstJamesII;theformerin
returnbroughtmanyJewswithhimtoEngland.SoaJewishwriterisable
toboastthat"aMonarchreignedwhowasindebtedtoHebrewgoldforhis
royaldiadem."463
Inallthisitisimpossibletofollowanyconsecutivepoliticalplan;therle
oftheJewsseemstohavebeentosupportnocauseconsistentlybutto
obtainafootingineverycamp,tobackanyventurethatofferedachanceof
profit. Yet mingled with these material designs were still their ancient
Messianic dreams. It is curious to note that the same Messianic idea
pervadedtheLevellers,therebelsoftheCommonwealth;suchphrasesas
"Let Israel go free," "Israel's restoration is now beginning," recur
frequentlyintheliteratureofthesect.GerardWinstanley,oneofthetwo
principalleaders,addressedanepistleto"theTwelveTribesofIsraelthat
arecircumcisedinheartandscatteredthroughalltheNationsoftheEarth,"
andpromisedthem"DavidtheirKingthattheyhavebeenwaitingfor."The

otherleaderofthemovement,bynameEverard,infactdeclared,when
summonedbeforetheLordFairfaxatWhitehall,that"hewasoftheraceof
theJews."464ItistruethattheLevellerswerebyprofessionChristian,but
afterthemanneroftheBavarianIlluminatiandoftheChristianSocialists
twocenturieslater,claimingChristastheauthoroftheirCommunisticand
equalitariandoctrines: "For Jesus Christ,theSaviourof allMen,isthe
greatest,first,andtruestLevellerthateverwasspokenofintheworld."
The Levellers are said to have derived originally from the German
Anabaptists;butClaudioJannet,quotingGermanauthorities,showsthat
therewereJewsamongsttheAnabaptists."Theywerecarriedawaybytheir
hatred of the name of Christian and imagined that their dreams of the
restoration of the kingdom of Israel would be realized amidst the
conflagration."465Whetherthiswassoornot,itisclearthatbythemiddle
oftheseventeenthcenturythemysticalideasofJudaismhadpenetrated
intoallpartsofEurope.WastherethensomeCabalisticcentrefromwhich
theyradiated?Letusturnoureyeseastwardandweshallsee.
SincethesixteenthcenturythegreatmassofJewryhadsettledinPoland,
andasuccessionofmiracleworkersknownbythenameofZaddikimor
Ba'alShemshadarisen.Thelatterword,whichsignifies"Masterofthe
Name,"originatedwiththeGermanPolishJewsandwasderivedfromthe
Cabalistic belief in the miraculous use of the sacred name of Jehovah,
knownastheTetragrammaton.
According to Cabalistic traditions, certain Jews of peculiar sanctity or
knowledgewereablewithimpunitytomakeuseoftheDivineName.A
Ba'alShemwasthereforeonewhohadacquiredthispowerandemployed
itinwritingamulets,invokingspirits,andprescribingcuresforvarious
diseases.PolandandparticularlyPodoliawhichhadnotyetbeencededto
RussiabecamethusacentreofCabalismwhereaseriesofextraordinary
movements of a mystical kind followed each other. In 1666, when the
Messianicerawasstillbelievedtobeapproaching,thewholeJewishworld
wasconvulsedbythesuddenappearanceofShabbethaiZebi,thesonofa
poulterer in Smyrna named Mordecai, who proclaimed himself the
promised Messiah andralliedto his supporta huge following not only
amongsttheJewsofPalestine,Egypt,andEasternEurope,buteventhe
hardheadedJewsoftheContinentalbourses. 466SamuelPepysinhisDiary
referstothebetsmadeamongsttheJewsinLondononthechancesof"a
certainpersonnowinSmyrna"beingacclaimedKingoftheWorldandthe

trueMessiah.467
Shabbethai,whowasanexpertCabalistandhadthetemeritytoutterthe
IneffableNameJehovah,wassaidtobepossessedofmarvellouspowers,
hisskinexudedexquisiteperfume,heindulgedperpetuallyinseabathing
andlivedinastateofchronicecstasy.ThepretensionsofShabbethai,who
tookthetitleof"KingoftheKingsoftheEarth,"splitJewryintwo;many
Rabbislaunchedimprecationsagainsthim,andthosewhohadbelievedin
himwerebitterlydisillusionedwhen,challengedbytheSultantoprovehis
claimtobetheMessiahbyallowingpoisonedarrowstobeshotathim,he
suddenly renounced the Jewish faith and proclaimed himself a
Mohammedan.Hisconversion,however,appearedtobeonlypartial,for
"attimeshewouldassumetherleofapiousMohammedanandrevile
Judaism;atothershewouldenterintorelationswithJewsasoneoftheir
ownfaith."468 BythismeansheretainedtheallegiancebothofMoslems
andofJews.ButtheRabbis,alarmedforthecauseofJudaism,succeeded
inobtaininghisincarcerationbytheSultaninacastlenearBelgrade,where
hediedofcolicin1676.469
This prosaic ending to the career of the Messiah did not, however,
altogetherextinguishtheenthusiasmofhisfollowers,andtheShabbethan
movementcontinuedintothenextcentury.InPolandCabalismbrokeout
with renewed energy; fresh Zaddikim and Ba'al Shems arose, the most
notedofthesebeingIsraelofPodolia,knownasBa'alShemTob,orbythe
initiallettersofthisname,Besht,whofoundedhissectofHasidimin1740.
Besht,whilstopposingbigotedRabbinismandclaimingtheZoharashis
inspiration,didnot,however,adherestrictlytothedoctrineoftheCabala
that the universe was an emanation of God, but evolved a form of
Pantheism,declaringthatthewholeuniversewasGod,thatevenevilexists
inGodsinceevilisnotbadinitselfbutonlyinitsrelationtoMan;sin
thereforehasnopositiveexistence.470 AsaresultthefollowersofBesht,
callingthemselvesthe"NewSaints,"andathisdeathnumberingnoless
than40,000,threwasidenotonlythepreceptsoftheTalmud,butallthe
restraintsofmoralityandevendecency.471
AnotherBa'alShemofthesameperiodwasHeilprin,aliasJoelBenUriof
Satanov,who,likeIsraelofPodolia,professedtoperformmiraclesbythe
useoftheDivineNameandcollectedaroundhimmanypupils,who,onthe
death of their master, "formed a band of charlatans and shamelessly

exploitedthecredulityoftheircontemporaries."472
ButthemostimportantoftheseCabalisticgroupswasthatoftheFrankists,
whoweresometimesknownastheZoharistsortheIlluminated, 473 from
theiradherencetotheZoharorbookofLight,orintheirbirthplacePodolia
astheShabbethanZebists,fromtheirallegiancetothefalseMessiahofthe
preceding centurya heresy that had been "kept alive in secret circles
whichhadsomethingakintoamasonicorganization." 474 Thefounderof
this sect was Jacob Frank, a brandy distiller profoundly versed in the
doctrines of the Cabala, who in 1755 collected around him a large
following in Podolia and lived in a style of oriental magnificence,
maintainedbyvastwealthofwhichnooneeverdiscoveredthesource.The
persecution to which he was subjected by the Rabbis led the Catholic
clergy to champion his cause, whereupon Frank threw himself on the
mercyoftheBishopofKaminick,andpubliclyburnttheTalmud,declaring
thatherecognizedonlytheZohar,which,healleged,admittedthedoctrine
oftheTrinity.ThustheZoharists"claimedthattheyregardedtheMessiah
Deliverer as one of the three divinities, but failed to state that by the
Messiah they meant Shabbethai Zebi."475 The Bishop was apparently
deceivedbythismanoeuvre,andin1759theZoharitesdeclaredthemselves
convertedtoChristianity,andwerebaptized,includingFrankhimself,who
tookthenameofJoseph."TheinsincerityoftheFrankistssoonbecame
apparent, however, for they continued to intermarry only among
themselvesandheldFrankinreverence,callinghim'TheHolyMaster.'" 476
Itsoonbecameevidentthat,whilstopenlyembracingtheCatholicfaith,
they had in reality retained their secret Judaism. 477 Moreover, it was
discoveredthatFrankendeavouredtopassasaMohammedaninTurkey;
"hewasthereforearrestedinWarsawanddeliveredtotheChurchtribunal
onthechargeoffeignedconversiontoChristianityandthespreadingofa
perniciousheresy."478Unlikehispredecessorinapostasy,ShabbethaiZebi,
Frank,however,cametonountimelyend,butafterhisreleasefromprison
continuedtopreyonthecredulityofChristiansandfrequentlytravelledto
Viennawithhisdaughter,Eve,whosucceededindupingthepiousMaria
Theresa.Butherealso"thesectarianplansofFrankwerefoundout," 479
andhewasobligedtoleaveAustria.FinallyhesettledatOffenbachand
supportedbyliberalsubsidiesfromtheotherJews,heresumedhisformer
splendour480

witharetinueofseveral hundredbeautifulJewishyouthofbothsexes;
cartscontainingtreasurewerereportedtobeperpetuallybroughtintohim,
chiefly from Polandhe went out daily in great state to perform his
devotionsintheopenfieldherodeinachariotdrawnbynoblehorses;ten
ortwelveHulansinredorgreenuniform,glitteringwithgold,byhisside,
withpikesintheirhandsandcrestsontheircaps,eagles,orstags,orthe
sunandmoon....Hisfollowersbelievedhimimmortal,butin1791hedied;
hisburialwasassplendidashismodeofliving800personsfollowedhim
tothegrave.481
Now,itisimpossibletostudythecareersofthesemagiciansinPolandand
Germany without being reminded of their counterparts in France. The
familylikenessbetweenthe"BaronvonOffenbach,"the"ComtedeSaint
Germain"andthe"ComtedeCagliostro"isatonceapparent.Allclaimed
toperformmiracles,alllivedwithextraordinarymagnificenceonwealth
derivedfromanunknownsource,onewascertainlyaJew,theothertwo
werebelievedtobeJews,andallwereknowntobeCabalists.Moreover,
allthreespentmanyyearsinGermany,anditwaswhilstFrankwasliving
asBaronvonOffenbachclosetoFrankfurtthatCagliostrowasreceived
intotheOrderoftheStricteObservanceinasubterraneanchamberafew
milesfromthatcity.Earlierinhiscareerhewasknowntohavevisited
Poland,whenceFrankderived.Arewetobelievethatallthesemen,so
strangelyalikeintheircareers,livingatthesametimeandinthesame
places,weretotallyunconnected?Itisamerecoincidencethatthisgroup
ofJewishCabalistmiracleworkersshouldhaveexistedinGermanyand
Polandat theprecise moment thatthe Cabalist magicians sprangup in
France? Is it again a coincidence that Martines Pasqually founded his
"Kabbalistic sect" of Illumins in 1754 and Jacob Frank his sect of
Zoharites(orIlluminated)in1755?
Moreover,whenweknowfrompurelyJewishsourcesthattheBa'alShem
Heilprin had many pupils "who formed a band of charlatans who
shamelesslyexploitedthecredulityoftheircontemporaries,"thattheBa'al
ShemTobandJacobFrankbothhadlargefollowings,itissurelyherethat
we may find the origin of those mysterious magicians who spread
themselvesoverEuropeatthisdate.
Itwillatoncebeasked:"ButwhatproofistherethatanyoneoftheseBa'al
ShemsorCabalistswasconnectedwithmasonicorsecretsocieties?"The

answeristhatthemostimportantBa'alShemoftheday,knownas"the
ChiefofalltheJews,"isshownbydocumentaryevidencetohavebeenan
initiateofFreemasonryandindirectcontactwiththeleadersofthesecret
societies.IfthenitisagreedthatneitherSaintGermainnorCagliostrocan
be proved to have been Jews, here we have a man concerned in the
movement, more important than either, whose nationality admits of no
doubtwhatever.
Thisextraordinarypersonage,knownasthe"Ba'alShemofLondon,"wasa
CabalisticJewnamedHayyimSamuelJacobFalk,alsocalledDr.Falk,
Falc,deFalk,orFalkon,bornin1708,probablyinPodolia.Thefurtherfact
thathewasregardedbyhisfellowJewsasanadherentoftheMessiah
ShabbethaiZebiclearlyshowshisconnexionwiththePodolianZoharites.
Falkwasthusnotanisolatedphenomenon,butamemberofoneofthe
groupsdescribedintheforegoingpages.Thefollowingisasummaryofthe
accountgivenoftheBa'alShemofLondonintheJewishEncyclopedia:
Falkclaimedtopossessthaumaturgicpowersandtobeabletodiscover
hiddentreasure.Archenholz(EnglandundItalien,I.249)recountscertain
marvelswhichhehadseenperformedbyFalkinBrunswickandwhichhe
attributestoaspecialknowledgeofchemistry.InWestphaliaatonetime
Falkwassentencedtobeburnedasasorcerer,butescapedtoEngland.
HerehewasreceivedwithhospitalityandrapidlygainedfameasaCabalist
andworkerofmiracles.Manystoriesofhispowerswerecurrent.Hewould
causeasmalltapertoremainalightforweeks;anincantationwouldfillhis
cellarwithcoal;plateleftwithapawnbrokerwouldglidebackintohis
house.WhenafirethreatenedtodestroytheGreatSynagogue,heaverted
thedisasterbywritingfourHebrewlettersonthepillarsofthedoor. 482
[ObviouslytheTetragrammaton.]
OnhisarrivalinLondonin1742Falkappearedtobewithoutmeans,but
soonafterhewasseentobeinpossessionofconsiderablewealth,livingin
a comfortable house in Wellclose Square, where he had his private
synagogue,whilstgoldandsilverplateadornedhistable.HisJournal,still
preservedinthelibraryoftheUnitedSynagogue,containsreferencesto
"mysterious journeyings" to and from Epping Forest, to meetings, a
meetingchamberintheforest,andchestsofgoldthereburied.Itwassaid
thatononeoccasionwhenhewasdrivingthitheralongWhitechapelRoad,
abackwheelofhiscarriagecameoff,whichalarmedthecoachman,but

Falkorderedhimtodriveonandthewheelfollowedthecarriageallthe
waytotheforest.
ThestoriesofFalk'smiraculouspowersaretoonumeroustorelatehere,
butaletterwrittenbyanenthusiasticJewishadmirer,SussmanShesnowzi,
tohissoninPolandwillservetoshowthereputationheenjoyed:
Hear,mybelovedson,ofthemarvellousgiftsentrustedtoasonofman,
whoverilyisnotaman,alightofthecaptivity...aholylight,asaintly
man...whodwellsatpresentinthegreatcityofLondon.AlbeitIcouldnot
fullyunderstandhimonaccountofhisvolubilityandhisspeakingasan
inhabitantofJerusalem....Hischamberislightedbysilvercandlestickson
thewalls,withacentraleightbranchedlampmadeofpuresilverofbeaten
work.Andalbeititcontainedoiltoburnadayandanightitremained
enkindledforthreeweeks.Ononeoccasionheabodeinseclusioninhis
houseforsixweekswithoutmeatanddrink.Whenattheconclusionofthis
periodtenpersonsweresummonedtoenter,theyfoundhimseatedona
sortofthrone,hisheadcoveredwithagoldenturban,agoldenchainround
hisneckwithapendantsilverstaronwhichsacrednameswereinscribed.
Verilythismanstandsaloneinhisgenerationbyreasonofhisknowledge
ofholymysteries.Icannotrecounttoyouallthewondersheaccomplishes.
Iamgrateful,inthatIamfoundworthytobereceivedamongthosewho
dwellwithintheshadowofhiswisdom....Iknowthatmanywillbelieve
mywords,butothers,whodonotoccupythemselveswithmysteries,will
laughthereat.Therefore,myson,beverycircumspect,andshowthisonly
towiseanddiscreetmen.ForhereinLondonthismasterhasnotbeen
disclosedtoanyonewhodoesnotbelongtoourBrotherhood.
TheesteeminwhichFalkwasheldbytheJewishcommunity,including
theChiefRabbi andtheRabbiofthenewSynagogue,appearstohave
rousedtheresentmentofhiscoreligionistEmden,whodenouncedhimasa
followerofthefalseMessiahandanexploiterofChristiancredulity.
Falk[hewroteinalettertoPoland]hadmadehispositionbyhispretence
tobeanadeptinpracticalCabala,bywhichmeansheprofessedtobeable
todiscoverhiddentreasures;byhispretensionshehadentrappedawealthy
captainwhosefortunehehadcheatedhimoutof,sothathewasreducedto
dependingontheRabbi'scharity,andyet,despitethis,wealthyChristians
spendtheirmoneyonhim,whilstFalkspendshisbountyonthemenofhis
Brotherhoodsothattheymayspreadhisfame.

IngeneralFalkappearstohavedisplayedextremecautioninhisrelations
with Christian seekers after occult knowledge, for the Jewish
Encyclopdia goesontosay:"Archenholzmentionsaroyalprincewho
appliedtoFalkinhisquestforthephilosopher'sstone,butwasdenied
admittance."NeverthelessHayyumAzulaimentions(Ma'galTob,p.13b):
ThatwheninParisin1778hewastoldbytheMarchesadeCronathatthe
Ba'alShemofLondonhadtaughthertheCabala.Falkseemsalsotohave
been on intimate terms with that strange adventurer Baron Theodor de
Neuhoff.... Falk's principal friends were the London bankers Aaron
Goldsmidandhisson.483Pawnbrokingandsuccessfulspeculationenabled
him to acquire a considerable fortune. He left large sums of money to
charity, and the overseers of the United Synagogue in London still
distributeannuallycertainpaymentsleftbyhimforthepoor.
NothingofallthiswouldleadonetosupposethatFalkcouldberegarded
inthelightofablackmagician;itisthereforesurprisingtofindDr.Adler
observingthatahorribleaccountofaJewishCabalistinTheGentleman's
Magazine forSeptember1762"obviouslyreferstoDr.Falk,thoughhis
nameisnotmentioned."484Thismanisdescribedas"achristenedJewand
thebiggestrogueandvillaininalltheworld,"who"hadbeenimprisoned
everywhere and banished out of all countries in Germany, and also
sometimespubliclywhipped,sothathisbacklostalltheoldskin,and
became new again, and yet left never off from his villainies, but grew
alwaysworse."ThewritergoesontorelatethattheCabalistofferedto
teach him certain mysteries, but explained that before entering on any
"experimentsofthesaidgodlymysteries,wemustfirstavoidallchurches
andplacesofworshippingasunclean";hethenboundhisinitiatebyavery
strongoathandproceededtotellhimthathemuststealaHebrewBible
fromaProtestantandalsoprocure"onepoundofbloodoutoftheveinsof
anhonestProtestant."TheinitiatethereuponrobbedaProtestantofallhis
effects,buthadhimselfbledofaboutthreequartersofapoundofblood,
whichhegavetothemagician.Hethusdescribestheceremonythattook
place:
Thenthenextnightabout11o'clock,webothwentintothegardenofmy
own,andthecabalistputacross,taintedwithmyblood,ineachcornerof
thegarden,andinthemiddleofthegardenathreefoldcircle...inthefirst
circlewerewrittenallthenamesofGodinHebrew;inthesecondallthe

namesoftheangels;andinthethirdthefirstchapteroftheholyGospelof
St.John,anditwasallwrittenwithmyblood.
The cruelties then performed by the Cabalist on a hegoat are too
loathsome to transcribe. The whole story, indeed, appears a farrago of
nonsenseandwouldnotbeworthquotingbutforthefactthatitappearsto
betakenseriouslybyDr.AdlerasadescriptionofthegreatBa'alShem.
ThedeathofFalktookplaceonApril17,1782,andtheepitaphonhis
grave in the cemetery at Globe Road, Mile End, "bears witness to his
excellenciesandorthodoxy":"Hereisinterred...theagedandhonourable
man,agreatpersonagewhocamefromtheEast,anaccomplishedsage,an
adeptinCabbalah....Hisnamewasknowntotheendsoftheearthand
distantisles,"etc.
Thisthenissurelytheportraitof amostremarkablepersonage,aman
knownforhispowersinEngland,France,andGermany,visitedbyaroyal
princeinsearchofthephilosopher'sstone,andacclaimedbyoneofhis
ownraceasstandingaloneinhisgenerationbyreasonofhisknowledge,
yet whilst SaintGermain and Cagliostro figure in every account of
eighteenthcenturymagicians,itisonlyinexclusivelyJudaicormasonic
works,notintendedforthegeneralpublic,thatweshallfindanyreference
to Falk. Have we not here striking evidence of the truth of M. Andr
Baron'sdictum:"Rememberthattheconstantruleofthesecretsocietiesis
thattherealauthorsnevershowthemselves"?
Itwillnowbeasked:whatproofistherethatFalkisconnectedwithany
masonic or secret societies? True, in the accounts given by the Jewish
Encyclopdia,thewordFreemasonryisnotoncementioned.Butinthe
curiousportraitofthegreatBa'alShemappended,weseehimholdingin
hishandthepairofcompasses,andbeforehim,onthetableatwhichheis
seated,thedoubletriangleorSealofSolomonknownamongstJewsas"the
ShieldofDavid,"whichformsanimportantembleminMasonry.
Moreover,itissignificanttofindinthe RoyalMasonicEncyclopdiaby
the Rosicrucian Kenneth Mackenzie that a long and detailed article is
devotedtoFalk,thoughagainwithoutanyreferencetohisconnexionwith
Freemasonry.Maywenotconcludethatincertaininnermasoniccirclesthe
importance of Falk is recognized but must not be revealed to the
uninitiated?Mr.GordonHills,intheabovequotedpapercontributedtothe
ArsQuatuorCoronatorum,indulgesinsomeinnocentspeculationastothe

partFalkmayhaveplayedinthemasonicmovement."If,"heobserves,
"JewishBrethrendidintroduceCabalisticallearningintothesocalledHigh
Degrees,herewehaveone,who,ifaMason,wouldhavebeeneminently
qualifiedtodoso."
FalkindedwasfarmorethanaMason,hewasahighinitiatethesupreme
oracle to which the secret societies applied for guidance. All this was
disclosed a few years ago in the correspondence between Savalette de
LangesandtheMarquisdeChefdebienreferredtointhepreviouschapter.
ThusinthedossiersoftheleadingoccultistssuppliedbySavalettewefind
thefollowingnoteontheBa'alShemofLondon:
ThisDoctorFalkisknowntomanyGermans.Heisaveryextraordinary
manfromeverypointofview.SomepeoplebelievehimtobetheChiefof
alltheJewsandattributetopurelypoliticalschemesallthatismarvellous
andsingularinhislifeandconduct.Heisreferredtoinaverycurious
manner,andasaRoseCroixintheMemoirsoftheChevalierdeRampsow
(i.e.Rentzov).HehashadadventureswiththeMarchaldeRichelieu,great
seekerofthePhilosophers'Stone.HehadastrangehistorywiththePrince
deRohanGumneandtheChevalierdeLuxembourgrelatingtoLouis
XV,whosedeathheforetold.Heisalmostinaccessible.Inallthesectsof
savantsinsecretscienceshepassesasasuperiorman.Heisatpresentin
England.TheBarondeGleichencangivegoodinformationabouthim.Try
togetmoreatFrankfurt.485
Again,innotesonotherpersonagesthenameofFalkrecurswiththesame
insistenceonhisimportanceasahighinitiate:
Leman,pupilofFalk....TheBarondeGleichen...intimatelyconnected
withWecter[Waechter]andWakenfeldt....HeknowsFalk....TheBaronde
Waldenfels...is,accordingtowhatIknowfromtheBarondeGleichen,the
princesofDaimstadt,...andothers,themostinterestingmanforyouand
me to know. If we made his acquaintance, he could give us the best
informationonallthemostinterestingobjectsofinstiuction.Heknows
FalkandWecter.
PrinceLouisd'Haimstadt...isalsoamemberoftheAmisRunis,12and
inchargeoftheDirectories.HeworkedinhisyouthwithaJewwhomhe
believestobetaughtbyFalk....486

Here,then,behindtheorganizationoftheStricteObservance,oftheAmis
Runis,andthePhilalthes,wecatchaglimpseatlastofoneofthosereal
initiateswhoseidentityhasbeensocarefullykeptdark.ForFalk,aswesee
inthesenotes,wasnotanisolatedsage;hehadpupils,andtobeoneof
thesewastobeadmittedtotheinnermysteries.WasCagliostrooneof
theseadepts?Isitherewemayseektheexplanationofthe"EgyptianRite"
devisedbyhiminLondon,andofhischancediscoveryonabookstallin
that city of a Cabalistic document by the mysterious "George Cofton,"
whoseidentityhasneverbeenrevealed?Iwouldsuggestthatthewhole
storyofthebookstallwasafableandthatitwasnotfromanymanuscript,
butfromFalk,thatCagliostroreceivedhisdirections.ThusCagliostro'srite
wasinrealityconcealedCabalism.
ThatFalkwasonlyoneofseveralConcealedSuperiorsisfurthersuggested
bytheintriguingcorrespondenceofSavalettedeLanges."Schroeder,"we
read,"hadforhismasteranoldmanofSuabia,"bywhomtheBaronde
WaechterwasalsosaidtohavebeeninstructedinMasonry,andtohave
becomeoneofthemostimportantinitiatesofGermany.Accordinglyde
Waechter was despatched by his Order to Florence in order to make
enquiriesonfurthersecretsandoncertainfamoustreasuresaboutwhich
Schroepfer,theBarondeHundt,andothers,hadheardthatAprosi,the
secretary of the Pretender, could give them information. Waechter,
however,wrotetosaythatalltheyhadbeentoldonthelatterpointwas
fabulous,butthathehadmetinFlorencecertain"BrothersoftheHoly
Land,"whohadinitiatedhimintomarvelloussecrets;oneinparticularwho
isdescribedas"amanwhoisnotaEuropean"had"perfectlyinstructed
him."Moreover,deWaechter,whohadsetforthpoor,returnedloadedwith
riches attributed byhis fellowmasons tothe "Asiatic Brethren" hehad
frequentedinFlorencewhopossessedtheartofmakinggold. 487 Iwould
suggestthenthatthesewerethemembersofthe"ItalianOrder"referredto
byMr.Tuckett,which,likeSchroepferanddeHundt,heimaginedtohave
beenconnectedwiththeJacobites.
Butallthesesecretsourcesofinstructionarewrappedinmystery.Whilst
SaintGermainandCagliostrowhoisreferredtointhiscorrespondencein
termsoflightderisionemergeintothelimelight,therealinitiatesremain
concealedinthebackground.Falk"isalmostinaccessible!"Yetonemore
almost forgotten document of the period may throw some light on the
importantpartheplayedbehindthescenesinMasonry.

ItmayberememberedthatArchenholzhadspokenofcertainmarvelshe
hadseenperformedbyFalkinBrunswick.Now,in1770theGermanpoet
GottholdEphraimLessingwasmadelibrariantotheDukeofBrunswickin
thatcity.ThefameofFalkmaythenhavereachedhisears.Atanyratein
1771 Lessing, after having mocked at Freemasonry, was initiated in a
masoniclodgeatHamburg,andin1778hepublishednotonlyhisfamous
masonicdramaNathanderWeise,inwhichtheJewofJerusalemisshown
in admirable contrast to the Christians and Mohammedans, but he also
wrotefivedialoguesonFreemasonrywhichhededicatedtotheDukeof
Brunswick,GrandMasterofalltheGermanLodges,andwhichheentitled
"ErnstundFalk:GesprchefurFreimaurer."488
Lessing's friendship with Moses Mendelssohn has led to the popular
theory, unsupported however by any real evidence, that the Jewish
philosopherofBerlinprovidedtheinspirationforthecharacterofNathan,
but might it not equally have been provided by the miracleworker of
Brunswick?However,inthecaseofthedialogueslessroomisleftfor
doubt. Falk is mentioned by name and represented as initiated into the
highest mysteries of Freemasonry. This is of course not explained by
Lessing'scommentators,whogivenocluetohisidentity. 489 Itisevident
thatLessingcommittedanenormousblunderinthuslettingsoimportanta
catoutofthebag,forafterthepublicationofthefirstthreedialoguesand
whilstthelasttwowerecirculatingprivatelyinmanuscriptamongstthe
Freemasons, an order from the Duke of Brunswick forbade their
publicationasdangerous.Inspiteofthisprohibition,therestoftheseries
wasprinted,howeverwithoutLessing'spermission,in1870withapreface
byanunknownpersondescribinghimselfasanonmason.
The dialogues between Ernst and Falk throw a curious light on the
influencesatworkbehindFreemasonryatthisperiodandgainimmensely
ininterestwhentheidentityofthetwomeninquestionisunderstood.Thus
Ernst,bywhomLessingevidentlyrepresentshimself,isatthebeginning
notaFreemason,and,whilstsittingwithFalkinawood,questionsthehigh
initiate on the aims of the Order. Falk explains that Freemasonry has
alwaysexisted,butnotunderthisname.Itsrealpurposehasneverbeen
revealed.Onthesurfaceitappearstobeapurelyphilanthropicassociation,
butinrealityphilanthropyformsnopartofitsscheme,itsobjectbeingto
bringaboutastateofthingswhichwillrenderphilanthropyunnecessary.
(Was man gemeinlich gute Thaten zu nennen pflegt entbehrlich zu

machen.)AsanillustrationFalkpointstoanantheapatthefootofthetree
beneathwhichthetwomenareseated."Why,"heasks,"shouldnothuman
beingsexistwithoutgovernmentliketheantsorbees?"Falkthengoeson
todescribehisideaofaUniversalState,orratherafederationofStates,in
which men will no longer be divided by national, social, or religious
prejudices,andwheregreaterequalitywillexist.
AttheendofthethirddialogueanintervaloccursduringwhichErnstgoes
away and becomes a Freemason, but on his return expresses his
disappointment to Falk at finding many Freemasons engaged in such
futilitiesasalchemyortheevocationofspirits.Othersagainseektorevive
the***.FalkrepliesthatalthoughthegreatsecretsofFreemasonrycannot
berevealedbyanymanevenifhewishedit,onething,however,hasbeen
keptdarkwhichshouldnowbemadepublic,andthisistherelationship
between the Freemasons and the * * *. "The * * * were in fact the
Freemasonsoftheirtime."Itseemsprobablefromthecontextandfrom
Falk'sreferencestoSirChristopherWrenasthefounderofthemodern
Order,thattheasterisksdenotetheRosicrucians.
The most interesting point of these dialogues is, however, the hint
continually thrown out by Falk that there is something behind
Freemasonry,somethingfarolderandfarwiderinitsaimsthantheOrder
nowknownbythisnamethemodernFreemasonsareforthemostpart
only"playingatit."Thus,whenErnstcomplainsthattrueequalityhasnot
beenattainedinthelodgessinceJewsarenotadmitted,Falkobservesthat
hehimselfdoesnotattendthem,thattrueFreemasonrydoesnotexistin
outward forms"A lodge bears the same relation to Freemasonry as a
churchtobelief."Inotherwords,therealinitiatesdonotappearuponthe
scene. Here then we see the role of the "Concealed Superiors." What
wonder that Lessing's dialogues were considered too dangerous for
publication!
Moreover,inFalk'sconceptionoftheidealsocialorderandhisindictment
of what hecalls"bourgeoissociety"wefindthecluetomovementsof
immenseimportance.Hasnotthesystemoftheantheaporthebeehive
proved, as I have pointed out elsewhere, the model on which modern
Anarchists,fromProudhononwards,haveformedtheirschemes forthe
reorganizationofhumanlife?Hasnottheideaofthe"WorldState,""The
UniversalRepublic"becomethewarcryoftheInternationalistSocialists,
theGrandOrientMasons,theTheosophists,andtheworldrevolutionaries

ofourownday?
WasFalk,then,arevolutionary?Thisagainwillbedisputed.Falkmay
havebeenaCabalist,aFreemason,ahighinitiate,butwhatproofisthere
thathehadanyconnexionwiththeleadersoftheFrenchRevolution?Let
usturnagaintotheJewishEncyclopdia:
Falk ... is ... believed to have given the Duc d'Orlans, to ensure his
successiontothethrone,atalismanconsistingofaring,whichPhilippe
EgalitbeforemountingthescaffoldissaidtohavesenttoaJewess,Juliet
Goudchaux,whopasseditontohisson,subsequentlyLouisPhilippe.
TheBarondeGleichen,who"knewFalc,"referstoatalismanoflapis
lazuli which the Due d'Orleans had received in England from "the
celebratedFalkScheck,firstRabbioftheJews,"andsaysthatacertain
occultist, Madame de la Croix, imagined she had destroyed it by "the
powerofprayer."Butthetheoryofitssurvivalisfurtherconfirmedbythe
informationsuppliedfromJewishsourcestoMr.GordonHills,whostates
thatFalkwas"intouchwiththeFrenchCourtinthepersonof 'Prince
Emanuel,'490whomhedescribesasaservantoftheKingofFrance,"and
addsthatthetalismanicringwhichhegavetotheDued'Orleans"isstillin
thepossessionofthefamily,havingpassedtoKingLouisPhilippeand
thencetotheComtedeParis."491
Onefact,then,loomsoutofthedarknessthatenvelopsthesecretpower
behindtheOrlanistconspiracy,onefactofsupremeimportance,andbased
moreover onpurelyJewish evidence:theDukewas intouchwithFalk
wheninLondonandFalksupportedhisschemeofusurpation.Thusbehind
thearchconspiratoroftherevolutionstood"theChiefofalltheJews."Isit
hereperhaps,inFalk's"chestsofgold,"thatwemightfindthesourceof
someofthoseloansraisedinLondonbytheDued'Orlanstofinancethe
riotsoftheRevolution,soabsurdlydescribedas"l'ordePitt"?
The direct connexion between the attack on the French monarchy and
Jewish circlesinLondonisfurther shown bythecurious sequel tothe
GordonRiots.In1780thehalfwittedLordGeorgeGordon(asaJewish
writerdescribeshim),theheadofthesocalled"Protestant"mob,marched
ontheHouseofCommonstoprotestagainstthebillforthereliefofRoman
Catholicdisabilitiesandthenproceededtocarryouthisplanofburning
downLondon.Duringthefivedays'riotingthatensued,propertytothe

amountof180,000wasdestroyed.Afterthis"thescionoftheducalhouse
ofGordonprovedthedurabilityofhisloveforProtestantismbyprofessing
the Hebrew faith," and was received with the highest honours into the
Synagogue.ThesameJewishwriter,whohasdescribedhimearlierashalf
witted,quotesthispanegyriconhisorthodoxy:"Hewasveryregularinhis
Jewish observances; every morning he was seen with the philacteries
betweenhiseyes,andoppositehisheart....HisSaturday'sbreadwasbaked
accordingtothemanneroftheJews,hiswinewasJewish,hismeatwas
Jewish,andhewasthebestJewinthecongregationofIsrael."Anditwas
immediately after his conversion to Judaism that he published in The
PublicAdvertiser thelibelagainstMarieAntoinettewhichbroughtabout
hisimprisonmentinNewgate.492
Now we know that Lord George Gordon met Cagliostro in London in
1786.493 Isitnotprobablethattheauthorofthescurrilouspamphletand
themagicianconcernedintheattackontheQueen'shonourthroughthe
AffairoftheNecklaceoneaJewbyprofession,theothersaidtobeaJew
by racemay have had some connexion with Philippe Egalit's Jewish
supporter,themiracleworkerofWellcloseSquare?
But already a vaster genius than Falk or Cagliostro, than Pasqually or
SavalettedeLanges,hadarisen,who,gatheringintohishandsthethreads
ofalltheconspiracies,wasabletoweavethemtogetherintoagigantic
schemeforthedestructionofFranceandoftheworld.

Chapter 9:

The Bavarian Illuminati

Thequestion of the system towhichIshall henceforthrefer simply as
Illuminism is of such immense importance to an understanding of the
modernrevolutionarymovementthat,althoughIhavealreadydescribedit
indetailinWorldRevolution,itisnecessarytodevoteafurtherchapterto
ithereinordertoanswertheobjectionsmadeagainstmyformeraccountof
theOrderandalsotoshowitsconnexionwithearliersecretsocieties.
Now, the main contentions of those writers who, either consciously or
unconsciously,attempttomisleadthepubliconthetruenatureandreal
existenceofIlluminismare:
Firstly, that the case against Illuminism rests solely on the works of
Robison,andofBarruelandlaterCatholicauthorities.
Secondly,thatallthesewritersmisinterpretedormisquotedtheIlluminati,
whoshouldbejudgedonlybytheirownworks.
Thirdly,thatinrealitytheIlluminatiwereperfectlyinnocuousandeven
praiseworthy.
Fourthly,thattheyareofnoimportance,sincetheyceasedtoexistin1786.
InthepresentchapterIproposethereforetoanswerallthesecontentionsin
turnandatthesametimetomakefurtherexaminationintotheoriginsof
theOrder.
Origins of the Illuminati
ThatWeishauptwasnottheoriginatorofthesystemhenamedIlluminism
willbealreadyapparenttoeveryreaderofthepresentwork;ithasneeded,
in fact, all the foregoing chapters to trace the source of Weishaupt's
doctrinesthroughoutthehistoryoftheworld.Fromtheseitwillbeevident
thatmenaimingattheoverthrowoftheexistingsocialorderandofall

accepted religion had existed from the earliest times, and that in the
Cainites,theCarpocratians,theManichns,theBatinis,theFatimites,and
the Karmathites many of Weishaupt's ideas had already been
foreshadowed.TotheManichans,infact,theword"Illuminati"maybe
traced"glorianturManichisedecaeloilluminatos."494
ItisinthesectofAbdullahibnMaymnthatwemustseekthemodelfor
Weishaupt's system of organization. Thus de Sacy has described in the
followingwordsthemannerofenlistingproselytesbytheIsmailis:
Theyproceededtotheadmissionandinitiationofnewproselytesonlyby
degreesandwithgreat reserve;for,asthesect hadatthesame timea
politicalobjectandambitions,itsinterestwasabovealltohaveagreat
number of partisans in all places and in all classes of society. It was
necessarythereforetosuitthemselvestothecharacter,thetemperament,
andtheprejudicesofthegreaternumber;whatonerevealedtosomewould
haverevoltedothersandalienatedforeverspiritslessboldandconsciences
moreeasilyalarmed.495
ThispassageexactlydescribesthemethodslaiddownbyWeishauptforhis
"Insinuating Brothers"the necessity of proceeding with caution in the
enlistingofadepts,ofnotrevealingtothenovicedoctrinesthatmightbe
likelytorevolt him,of"speakingsometimes inoneway,sometimesin
another,sothatone'srealpurposeshouldremainimpenetrable"tomembers
oftheinferiorgrades.
How did these Oriental methods penetrate to the Bavarian professor?
Accordingtocertainwriters,throughtheJesuits.ThefactthatWeishaupt
hadbeenbroughtupbythisOrderhasprovidedtheenemiesoftheJesuits
withtheargumentthattheywerethesecretinspirersoftheIlluminati.Mr.
Gould,indeed,hasattributedmostoftheerrorsofthelattertothissource;
Weishaupt,hewrites,incurred"theimplacableenmityoftheJesuits,to
whoseintrigueshewasincessantly exposed."496 Inrealitypreciselythe
opposite was the case, for, as we shall see, it was Weishaupt who
perpetually intrigued against the Jesuits. That Weishaupt did, however,
drawtoacertainextentonJesuitmethodsoftrainingisrecognizedevenby
Barruel, himself a Jesuit, who, quoting Mirabeau, says that Weishaupt
"admiredaboveallthoselaws,thatrgimeoftheJesuits,which,underone
head,mademendispersedovertheuniversetendtowardsthesamegoal;he

feltthatonecouldimitatetheirmethodswhilstholdingviewsdiametrically
opposed."497Andagain,ontheevidenceofMirabeau,deLuchet,andvon
Knigge, Barruel says elsewhere: "It is here that Weishaupt appears
speciallytohavewishedtoassimilatethergimeofthesecttothatofthe
religiousordersand,aboveall,thatoftheJesuits,bythetotalabandonment
oftheirownwillandjudgementwhichhedemandsofhisadepts..."But
Barruel goes on to show "the enormous difference that is to be found
betweenreligiousobedienceandIlluministobedience."Ineveryreligious
ordermenknowthatthevoiceoftheirconscienceandoftheirGodiseven
moretobeobeyedthanthatoftheirsuperiors.
Thereisnotasingleonewho,intheeventthathissuperiorsshouldorder
himtodothingscontrarytothedutiesofaChristianorofagoodman,
wouldnot seeanexceptiontobemadetotheobediencewhichhehas
sworn.Thisexceptionisoftenexpressedandalwaysclearlyannouncedin
allreligiousinstitutions;itisaboveallformalandpositivelyrepeatedmany
timesinthatoftheJesuits.Theyareorderedtoobeytheirsuperiors,butit
isintheeventthattheyseenosininobeying,ubinoncernereturpeccatum
(ConstitutiondesJesuites,part3,chapterI,parag.2,vol.i., ditionde
Prague).498
Indeed,implicitobedienceandthetotalsurrenderofone'sownwilland
judgementformsthefoundationofallmilitarydiscipline;"theirsnotto
reasonwhy,theirsnottomakereply"iseverywhererecognizedastheduty
ofsoldiers.TheJesuitsbeinginasenseamilitaryOrder,acknowledginga
General at their head, are bound by the same obligation. Weishaupt's
system was something totally different. For whilst all soldiers and all
Jesuits,whenobeyingtheirsuperiors,arewellawareofthegoaltowards
whichtheyaretending,Weishaupt'sfollowerswereenlistedbythemost
subtlemethodsofdeceptionandledontowardsagoalentirelyunknownto
them.Itisthisthat,asweshallseelater,constitutesthewholedifference
between honest and dishonest secret societies. The fact is that the
accusation of Jesuit intrigue behind secret societies has emanated
principallyfromthesecretsocietiesthemselvesandwouldappeartohave
beenadeviceadoptedbythemtocovertheirowntracks.Nogoodevidence
haseverbeenbroughtforwardinsupportoftheircontention.TheJesuits,
unliketheTemplarsandtheIlluminati,weresimplysuppressedin1773
without the formality of a trial, and were therefore never given the

opportunitytoanswerthechargesbroughtagainstthem,nor,asinthecase
of these other Orders, were their secret statutesif any such existed
brought to light. The only document ever produced in proof of these
accusationswasthe"MonitaSecreta,"longsinceshowntobeaforgery.At
any rate, the correspondence of the Illuminati provides their best
exoneration.TheMarquis deLuchet,whowasnofriendoftheJesuits,
shows the absurdity of confounding their aims with those of either the
FreemasonsortheIlluminati,anddescribesallthreeasanimatedbywholly
differentpurposes.499
Inallthesequestionsitisnecessarytoseekamotive.Ihavenopersonal
interestindefendingtheJesuits,butIask:whatmotivecouldtheJesuits
haveinformingorsupportingaconspiracydirectedagainstallthronesand
altars?IthasbeenansweredmethattheJesuitsatthisperiodcarednothing
forthronesandaltars,butonlyfortemporalpower;yetevenacceptingthis
unwarrantable hypothesishow was this power to be exercised except
throughthronesandaltars?WasitnotthroughprincesandtheChurchthat
theJesuitshadbeenabletobringtheirinfluencetobearonaffairsofstate?
InanirreligiousRepublic,aseventsafterwardsproved,thepowerofthe
wholeclergywasboundtobedestroyed.Thetruthisthen,that,farfrom
abettingtheIlluminati,theJesuitsweretheirmostformidableopponents,
theonlybodyofmensufficientlylearned,astute,andwellorganizedto
outwittheschemesofWeishaupt.InsuppressingtheJesuitsitispossible
thattheOldRgimeremovedtheonlybarriercapableofresistingthetide
ofrevolution.
Weishauptindeed,asweknow,detestedtheJesuits, 500andtookfromthem
onlycertainmethodsofdiscipline,ofensuringobedienceorofacquiring
influenceoverthemindsofhisdisciples;hisaimswereentirelydifferent.
Where,then,didWeishauptfindhisimmediateinspiration?Itisherethat
BarruelandLecouteulxdeCanteleuprovideacluenottobediscoveredin
other sources. In 1771, they relate, a certain Jutland merchant named
Klmer,whohadspentmanyyearsinEgypt,returnedtoEuropeinsearch
ofconvertstoasecretdoctrinefoundedonManichismthathehadlearnt
in the East. On his way to France he stopped at Malta, where he met
Cagliostroandnearlybroughtaboutaninsurrectionamongstthepeople.
KlmerwasthereforedrivenoutoftheislandbytheKnightsofMaltaand
betook himself to Avignon and Lyons. Here he made a few disciples

amongsttheIlluminsandinthesameyearwentontoGermany,wherehe
encounteredWeishauptandinitiatedhimintoallthemysteriesofhissecret
doctrine.AccordingtoBarruel,Weishauptthenspentfiveyearsthinking
outhissystem,whichhefoundedunderthenameofIlluminationMay1,
1776,andassumedthe"illuminated"nameof"Spartacus."
Klmerremainsthemostmysteriousofallthemysterymenofhisday;at
firstsightoneisinclinedtowonderwhetherhemaynothavebeenanother
oftheCabalisticJewsactingasthesecretinspirersofthemagicianswho
appeared in the limelight. The name Klmer might easily have been a
corruption of the wellknown Jewish name Calmer. Lecouteulx de
Canteleu, however, suggests that Klmer was identical with Altolas,
described by Figuier as "this universal genius, almost divine, of whom
Cagliostrohasspokentouswithsomuchrespectandadmiration.This
Altotas was not an imaginary personage. The Inquisition of Rome has
collected many proofs of his existence without having been able to
discoverwhenitbeganorended,forAltotasdisappears,orrathervanishes
likeameteor,which,accordingtothepoeticfancyofromancers,would
authorize us in declaring him immortal." 501 It is curious to notice that
modernoccultists,whilstattributingsomuchimportancetoSaintGermain
and the legend of his immortality, make no mention of Altotas, who
appearstohavebeenagreatdealmoreremarkable.But,again,wemust
remember:"Itistheunvaryingruleofsecretsocietiesthattherealauthors
nevershowthemselves."If,then,KlmerwasthesamepersonasAltotas,
hewouldappearnottohavebeenaJeworaCabalist,butaninitiateof
some Near Eastern secret societypossibly an Ismaili. Lecouteulx de
CanteleudescribesAltotasasanArmenian,andsaysthathissystemwas
derivedfromthoseofEgypt,Syria,andPersia.Thiswouldaccordwith
Barruel'sstatementthatKlmercamefromEgypt,andthathisideaswere
foundedonManichism.
Itwouldbenecessarytosetthesestatementsasideasonlythetheoriesof
BarruelorLecouteulx,wereitnotthatthewritingsoftheIlluminatibetray
theinfluenceofsomesectakintoManichism.Thus"Spartacus"writesto
"Cato"thatheisthinkingof"warminguptheoldsystemoftheGhebers
andParsees,"502 anditwillberememberedthattheGheberswereoneof
thesectsinwhichDozyrelatesthatAbdullahibnMaymnfoundhistrue
supporters.LaterWeishauptgoesontoexplainthat

TheallegoryinwhichtheMysteriesandHigherGradesmustbeclothedis
FireWorshipandthewholephilosophyofZoroasteroroftheoldParsees
whonowadaysonlyremaininIndia;thereforeinthefurtherdegreesthe
Order is called "Fire Worship" (Feuerdienst), the "Fire Order," or the
"PersianOrder"thatis,somethingmagnificentbeyondallexpectation.503
AtthesametimethePersiancalendarwasadoptedbytheIlluminati.504
ItisevidentthatthispretenceofZoroastrianismwasaspurehumbugas
Weishaupt'slaterpretenceofChristianity;ofthetruedoctrinesofZoroaster
heshowsnoconceptionnordoesheinsistfurtheronthepoint;butthe
abovepassagewouldcertainlylendcolourtothetheorythathissystemwas
partlyfoundedonManichism,thatistosay,onpervertedZoroastrianism,
imparted to him by a man from the East, and that the methods of the
BatinisandFatimitesmayhavebeencommunicatedtohimthroughthe
samechannel.Hencetheextraordinaryresemblancebetweenhisplanof
organization and that of Abdullah ibn Maymn, which consisted in
politicalintriguingratherthaninesotericspeculation.ThusinWeishaupt's
systemthephraseologyofJudaism,theCabalisticlegendsofFreemasonry,
themysticalimaginingsoftheMartinistes,playatfirstnopartatall.Forall
forms of "theosophy," occultism, spiritualism, and magic Weishaupt
expressesnothingbutcontempt,andtheRoseCroixmasonsarebracketed
withtheJesuitsbytheIlluminatiasenemiesitisnecessarytooutwitat
every turn.505 Consequently no degree of RoseCroix finds a place in
Weishaupt'ssystem,asinalltheothermasonicordersofthedaywhich
drewtheirinfluencefromEasternorCabalisticsources.
It is true that "Mysteries" play a great part in the phraseology of the
Order"Greater and Lesser Mysteries," borrowed from ancient Egypt
whilstthehigherinitiatesaredecoratedwithsuchtitlesas"Epopte"and
"Hierophant,"takenfromtheEleusinianMysteries.YetWeishaupt'sown
theoriesappeartobearnorelationwhatevertotheseancientcults.Onthe
contrary, the more we penetrate into his system, the more apparent it
becomesthatalltheformulasheemployswhichderivefromanyreligious
sourcewhetherPersian,Egyptian,orChristianmerelyservetodisguisea
purelymaterialpurpose,aplanfordestroyingtheexistingorderofsociety.
ThusallthatwasreallyancientinIlluminismwasthedestructivespiritthat
animateditandalsothemethodoforganizationithadimportedfromthe
East.Illuminismthereforemarksanentirelynewdepartureinthehistoryof

Europeansecretsocieties.Weishaupthimselfindicatesthisasoneofthe
greatsecretsoftheOrder."Aboveall,"hewritesto"Cato"(aliasZwack),
"guardtheoriginandthenoveltyof inthemostcarefulway." 506"The
greatestmystery,"hesaysagain,"mustbethatthethingisnew;thefewer
whoknowthisthebetter....NotoneoftheEichstadtersknowsthisbut
wouldliveordieforitthatthethingisasoldasMethuselah."507
Thispretenceofhavingdiscoveredsomefundofancientwisdomisthe
invariableruseofsecretsocietyadepts;theonethingneveradmittedisthe
identity of the individuals from whom one is receiving direction.
Weishaupthimselfdeclaresthathehasgotitalloutofbooksbymeansof
arduousandunremittinglabour."Whatitcostsmetoread,study,think,
write,crossout,andrewrite!"hecomplainstoMariusandCato. 508Thus,
accordingtoWeishauptthewholesystemistheworkofhisownunaided
genius,andthesupremedirectionremainsinhishandsalone.Againand
againheinsistsonthispointinhiscorrespondence.
Ifthiswereindeedthecase,Weishauptinviewoftheefficiencyachieved
bytheOrdermusthavebeenageniusofthefirstwater,anditisdifficult
to understand why so remarkable a man should not have distinguished
himselfonotherlines,buthaveremainedalmostunknowntoposterity.It
wouldthereforeappearpossiblethatWeishaupt,althoughundoubtedlya
man of immense organizing capacity and endowed with extraofdinary
subtlety, was not in reality the sole author of Illuminism, butone of a
group,which,recognizinghistalentsandthevalueofhisuntiringactivity,
placedthedirectioninhishands.Letusexaminethishypothesisinthelight
ofadocumentwhichwasunknowntomewhenIwrotemyformeraccount
oftheIlluminati.
BarruelhaspointedoutthatthegreaterrorofRobisonwastodescribe
IlluminismasarisingoutofFreemasonry,sinceWeishauptdidnotbecome
aFreemasonuntilafterhehadfoundedhisOrder.ItistruethatWeishaupt
was not officially received into Freemasonry until 1777, when he was
initiatedintothefirstdegreeattheLodge"TheodoredeBonConseil,"at
Munich. From this time we find him continually occupied in trying to
discovermoreaboutthesecretsofFreemasonry,whilsthimselfclaiming
superiorknowledge.
Butatthesametimeitisbynomeanscertainthataninnercircleofthe
LodgeTheodoremaynothavebeenfirstinthefieldandWeishauptallthe

whileanunconsciousagent.Averycuriouslightisthrownonthisquestion
bytheMmoiresofMirabeau.
Now,inTheFrenchRevolutionandagaininWorldRevolutionIquotedthe
generallyreceivedopinionthatMirabeau,whowasalreadyaFreemason,
wasreceivedintotheOrderoftheIlluminatiduringhisvisittoBerlinin
1786.TothisMr.Waitereplied:"AllthatissaidaboutMirabeau,hisvisit
toBerlin,andhisplotto'illuminize'FrenchFreemasonry,maybedisposed
ofinonesentence:thereisnoevidencetoshowthatMirabeaueverbecame
a Mason. The province of Barruel was to colour everything...." 509 Mr.
Waite'sstatementmayalsobedisposedofinonesentence:itisapure
invention.TheprovinceofMr.Waiteistodenyeverythinginconvenientto
him.TheevidencethatMirabeauwasaFreemasondoesnotrestonBarruel
alone. M. Barthou, in his Life of Mirabeau, refers to it as a matter of
common knowledge, and relates that a paper was found at Mirabeau's
house describing a new Order to be grafted on Freemasonry. This
documentwillbefoundinitsentiretyintheMmoiresofMirabeau,where
itisstatedthat:
MirabeauhadearlyenteredanassociationofFreemasonry.Thisaffiliation
had accredited him to a Dutch lodge, and it seems that, either
spontaneously or in response to a request, he thought of proposing an
organizationofwhichwepossesstheplan,writtennotbyhishand....but
bythehandofacopyistwhomMirabeauhadattachedtohimself....This
workappearstohavebeenthatofMirabeau;allhisopinions,hisprinciples,
andhisstylewillbefoundhere.510
Thesameworkgoesontoprintthedocumentinfull,whichisheaded:
"MemoirconcerninganintimateassociationtobeestablishedintheOrder
ofFreemasonrysoastobringitbacktoitstrueprinciplesandtomakeit
reallytendtothegoodofhumanity,drawnupbytheF.Mi,atpresent
namedArcesilas,in1776."
AsthisMemoiristoolongtoreproduceinfullhere,M.Barthou'srsum
willservetogiveanideaofitscontents511:
He[Mirabeau]wasaFreemasonfromhisyouth.Therewasfoundamongst
hispapers,writtenbythehandofacopyist,aninternationalorganizationof
Freemasonry, which no doubt he dictated in Amsterdam. This project
containsonthesolidarityofmen,onthebenefitsofinstruction,andonthe

"correctionofthesystemofgovernmentsandoflegislations"viewsvery
superior to those of "The Essay on Despotism" (1772). The mind of
Mirabeauhadripened.Thedutieshetracesoutforthe"brothersofthe
highergrade"constituteevenawholeplanofreformswhichresemblevery
much in certain parts the work accomplished later by the Constituent
[Assembly]:suppressionofservitudesonthelandandtherightsofmain
morte, abolition of the corves, of working guilds and of matrises
[freedomofcompanies],ofcustomsandexciseduties,thediminutionof
taxation,libertyofreligiousopinionsandofthepress,thedisappearanceof
specialjurisdiction.Inordertoorganize,todevelopandarriveathisend,
Mirabeau invokes the example of the Jesuits: "We have quite contrary
views,"hesays,"thatofenlighteningmen,ofmakingthemfreeandhappy,
but we must and we can do this by the same means, and who should
preventusdoingforgoodwhattheJesuitshavedoneforevil?"512
NowinthisMemoirMirabeaumakesnomentionofWeishaupt,butinhis
HistoiredelaMonarchicPrussienne hegivesaeulogisticaccountofthe
Bavarian Illuminati, referring to Weishaupt by name, and showing the
OrdertohavearisenoutofFreemasonry.Itwillbeseenthatthisaccount
correspondspointbypointwiththeMemoirhehadhimselfmadeoutin
1776,thatistosay,intheveryyearthatIlluminismwasfounded:
TheLodgeTheodoredeBonConseilatMunich,wheretherewereafew
menwithbrainsandhearts,wastiredofbeingtossedaboutbythevain
promisesandquarrelsofMasonry.Theheadsresolvedtograftontotheir
branchanothersecretassociationtowhichtheygavethenameoftheOrder
oftheIllumins.TheymodelleditontheSocietyofJesus,whilstproposing
tothemselvesviewsdiametricallyopposed.
MirabeauthengoesontosaythatthegreatobjectoftheOrderwasthe
ameliorationofthepresentsystemofgovernmentandlegislation,thatone
ofitsfundamentalruleswastoadmit"noprincewhateverhisvirtues," 513
thatitproposedtoabolish
Theslaveryofthepeasants,theservitudeofmentothesoil,therightsof
mainmorteandallthecustomsandprivilegeswhichabasehumanity,the
corvesundertheconditionofanequitableequivalent,allthecorporations,
allthematrises,alltheburdensimposedonindustryandcommerceby
customs,exciseduties,andtaxes...toprocureauniversaltolerationforall

religiousopinions...totakeawayallthearmsofsuperstition,tofavourthe
libertyofthepress,etc.514
FromallthisweseethenthatMirabeaudidnotbecomeanIlluminatusin
1786asIhadsupposedbeforethisdocumentwasknowntome,buthad
beenintheOrderfromthebeginningapparentlyasoneofitsfounders,first
underthe"Illuminated"nameofArcesilasandlaterunderthatofLeonidas.
TheMemoirfoundathishousewasthusnootherthantheprogrammeof
the Illuminati evolved by him in collaboration with an inner ring of
FreemasonsbelongingtotheLodgeTheodore.Thecorrespondenceofthe
Illuminati infact containsseveral references toaninner ringunder the
nameof"thesecretchapteroftheLodgeofSt.Theodore,"which,afterhis
initiation into Masonry, Weishaupt indicates the necessity of bringing
entirelyunderthecontrolofIlluminism.ItisprobablethatWeishauptwas
intouchwiththissecretchapterbeforehisformaladmissiontothelodge.
Whether,then,theideasofIlluminismaroseinthissecret,chapterofthe
Lodge Theodore independently of Weishaupt, or whether they were
impartedbyWeishaupttotheLodgeTheodoreafterthedirectionshadbeen
givenhimbyKlmer,itisimpossibletoknow;butineithercasethere
wouldbesomejustificationforRobison'sassertionthatIlluminismarose
out of Freemasonry, or rather that it took birth amongst a group of
FreemasonswhoseaimswerenotthoseoftheOrderingeneral.
Whatweretheseaims?Aplanofsocialandpolitical"reform"which,asM.
Barthoupointsout,muchresembledtheworkaccomplishedlaterbythe
ConstituentAssemblyinFrance.Thisadmissionisofgreatimportance;in
otherwords,theprogrammecarriedoutbytheConstituentAssemblyin
1789hadbeenlargelyformulatedinalodgeofGermanFreemasonswho
formedthenucleusoftheIlluminati,in1776.Andyetwearetoldthat
IlluminismhadnoinfluenceontheFrenchRevolution!
Itwillbeobjectedthatthereformshereindicatedwerewhollyadmirable.
True,theabolitionofthe corve,of mainmorte,andofservitudeswere
measuresthatmetwiththeapprovalofallrightmindedmen,includingthe
KingofFrancehimself.Butwhatoftheabolitionofthe"workingguilds"
and"allthecorporations,"thatistosay,the"tradeunions"oftheperiod,
whichwascarriedoutbytheinfamousLoiChapelierin1791,adecreethat
is now generally recognized as one of the strangest anomalies of the
Revolution?Again,towhoseinterestwasittodoawaywiththecustoms

and excise duties of France? To establish the absolute and unfettered

libertyofthepressandreligiousopinions?Thebenefitsthesemeasures
might be expected to confer on the French people were certainly
problematical,buttherecouldbenodoubtoftheirutilitytomenwho,like
Frederick the Great, wished to ruin France and to break the Franco
Austrian alliance by the unrestricted circulation of libels against Marie
Antoinette,who,likeMirabeau,hopedtobringaboutarevolution,orwho,
like Voltaire, wished to remove all obstacles to the spread of an anti
Christianpropaganda.
ItisthereforebynomeansimpossiblethatWeishauptwasatfirsttheagent
of more experienced conspirators, whose purely political aims were
disguised under a plan of social reform, and who saw in the Bavarian
professoracleverorganizertobeemployedincarryingouttheirdesigns.
Whetherthiswassoornot,thefactremainsthatfromthetimeWeishaupt
assumed control of the Order the plan of "social reform" described by
Mirabeauvanishesentirely,fornotaworddowefindinthewritingsofthe
Illuminati about any pretended scheme for ameliorating the lot of the
people,andIlluminismbecomessimplyaschemeofanarchicphilosophy.
The French historian Henri Martin has thus admirably summed up the
systemelaboratedby"Spartacus":
Weishaupt had made into an absolute theory the misanthropic gibes
[boutades] of Rousseau at the invention of property and society, and
without taking into account the statement so distinctly formulated by
Rousseau ontheimpossibilityofsuppressingpropertyandsocietyonce
they had been established, he proposed as the end of Illuminism the
abolitionofproperty,socialauthority,ofnationality,andthereturnofthe
humanracetothehappystateinwhichitformedonlyasinglefamily
withoutartificialneeds,withoutuselesssciences,everyfatherbeingpriest
andmagistrate.Priestofweknownotwhatreligion,forinspiteoftheir
frequent invocationsof theGodof Nature,manyindicationsleadusto
concludethatWeishaupthad,likeDiderotandd'Holbach,nootherGod
thanNatureherself.FromhisdoctrinewouldnaturallyfollowtheGerman
ultraHegelianismandthesystemofanarchyrecentlydevelopedinFrance,
ofwhichthephysiognomysuggestsaforeignorigin.515
ThissummaryoftheaimsoftheIlluminati,whichabsolutelycorroborates
theviewofBarruelandRobison,isconfirmedindetailbytheSocialist

FreethinkerofthenineteenthcenturyLouisBlanc,whoinhisremarkable
chapteronthe"RvolutionnairesMystiques"referstoWeishauptas"One
oftheprofoundestconspiratorswhohaveeverexisted."516 GeorgeSand
also, Socialist and intime of the Freemasons, wrote of "the European
conspiracy of Illuminism" and the immense influence exercised by the
secret societies of "mystic Germany." To say, then, that Barruel and
RobisonwerealoneinproclaimingthedangerofIlluminismissimplya
deliberate perversion of the truth, and it is difficult to understand why
EnglishFreemasonsshouldhaveallowedthemselvestobemisledonthis
question.
ThustheMasonicCyclopdiaobservesthattheIlluminati"were,asarule,
menofthestrictestmoralityandhumanity,andtheideastheysoughtto
instilwerethosewhichhavefounduniversalacceptanceinourowntimes."
Preston,inhisIllustrationsofMasonry,alsodoeshisbesttoglossoverthe
faultsoftheOrder,andeven"thehistorianofFreemasonry"devotestoits
founderthisastoundingapology.AfterdescribingWeishauptasthevictim
ofJesuitintrigue,Mr.Gouldgoesontosay:
Heconceivedtheideaofcombatinghisfoeswiththeirownweapons,and
formingasocietyofyoungmen,enthusiasticinthecauseofhumanity,who
shouldgraduallybetrainedtoworkasonemantooneendthedestruction
ofevilandtheenhancementofgoodinthisworld.Unfortunatelyhehad
unconsciouslyimbibedthatmostperniciousdoctrinethattheendjustifies
themeans,andhiswholeplanrevealstheeffectsofhisyouthfulteaching....
Themanhimselfwaswithoutguile,ignorantofmen,knowingthemonly
bybooks,alearnedprofessor,anenthusiastwhotookawrongcourseinall
innocence,andthefaultsofhisheadhavebeenheavilyvisiteduponhis
memoryinspiteoftherarequalitiesofhisheart.517
OnecanonlyconcludethattheseextraordinaryexonerationsofanOrder
bitterlyhostiletothetrueaimsofMasonryproceedfromignoranceofthe
realnatureofIlluminism.Inordertojudgeofthisitisonlynecessaryto
consultthewritingsoftheIlluminatithemselves,whicharecontainedin
thefollowingworks:
1.EinigeOriginalschriftendesIlluminatenordens(Munich,1787).
2.NachtragvonweiternOriginalschriften,etc.(Munich,1787).
3. Die neuesten Arbeiten des Spartacus und Philo in dem Illuminaten

Orden(Munich,1794).
AlltheseconsistinthecorrespondenceandpapersoftheOrderwhichwere
seizedbytheBavarianGovernmentatthehousesoftwoofthemembers,
ZwackandBassus,andpublishedbyorderoftheElector.Theauthenticity
of these documents has never been denied even by the Illuminati
themselves; Weishaupt, in his published defence, endeavoured only to
explainawaythemostincriminatingpassages.Thepublishers,moreover,
were careful to state at the beginning of the first volume: "Those who
mighthaveanydoubtsontheauthenticityofthiscollectionmaypresent
themselves at the Secret Archives here, where, on request, the original
documentswillbelaidbeforethem."Thisprecautionrenderedalldispute
impossible.
Setting Barruel and Robison entirely aside, we shall now see from the
evidenceoftheirownwritings,howfartheIlluminaticanberegardedasa
praiseworthyandcruellymalignedOrder.Letusbeginwiththeirattitude
towardsFreemasonry.
Illuminism and Freemasonry
FromthemomentofWeishaupt'sadmissionintoFreemasonryhiswhole
conductwasaviolationoftheMasoniccode.Insteadofproceedingafter
therecognizedmannerbysuccessivestagesofinitiation,hesethimselfto
findoutfurthersecretsbyunderhandmethodsandthentoturnthemtothe
advantage of his own system. Thus about a year after his initiation he
writestoCato(aliasZwack):"Ihavesucceededinobtainingaprofound
glimpseintothesecretoftheFreemasons.Iknowtheirwholeaimandshall
impartitallattherighttimeinoneofthehigherdegrees."518
Cato is then deputed to make further discoveries through an Italian
Freemason,theAbbMarotti,whichherecordstriumphantlyinhisdiary:
Interview withthe AbbMarotti onthe question of Masonry, when he
explainedtomethewholesecret,whichisfoundedonoldreligionand
Church history, and imparted to me all the higher degrees up to the
Scottish.InformedSpartacusofthis.519
Spartacus,however,unimpressedbythiscommunication,replieddrily:
WhetheryouknowtheaimofMasonryIdoubt.Ihavemyselfincludedan

insightintothisstructureinmyplan,butreserveditforlaterdegrees.520
Weishauptthendecidesthatallilluminated"Areopagites"shalltakethe
firstthreedegreesofFreemasonry521;butfurther:
Thatweshallhaveamasoniclodgeofourown.Thatweshallregardthis
asournurserygarden.ThattosomeoftheseMasonsweshallnotatonce
revealthatwehavesomethingmorethantheMasonshave.Thatatevery
opportunityweshallcoverourselveswiththis[Masonry]....Allthosewho
arenotsuitedtotheworkshallremaininthemasonicLodgeandadvance
inthatwithoutknowinganythingofthefurthersystem.522
We shall find this plan of an inner secret circle concealed within
Freemasonrypersistinguptoourownday.
Weishaupt, however, admits himself puzzled with regard to the past of
Masonry,andurges"Porcius"tofindoutmoreonthisquestionfromthe
AbbMarotti:
Seewhetherthroughhimyoucandiscovertherealhistory,origin,andthe
firstfoundersofMasonry,foronthisaloneIamstillundecided.523
Butitisin"Philo,"theBaronvonKnigge,aFreemasonandmemberofthe
StrideObservance,inwhichhewasknownastheEquesaCygno,that
Weishaupt finds his most efficient investigator. Thus "Philo" writes to
"Spartacus":
IhavenowfoundinCasselthebestman,onwhomIcannotcongratulate
ourselvesenough:heisMauvillon,GrandMasterofoneoftheRoyalYork
Lodges.Sowithhimwehavethewholelodgeinourhands.Hehasalso
gotfromtherealltheirmiserabledegrees[Erhatauchvondortausalle
ihreelendenGrade].524
NowonderthatWeishauptthereuponexclaimsjoyfully:"Philodoesmore
than we all expected, and he is the man who alone will carry it all
through."525 Weishaupt then occupies himself in trying to get a
"Constitution" from London, evidently without success, and also in
wrestingtheLodgeTheodoreinMunichfromthecontrolofBerlininorder
tosubstitutehisowndomination,sothat"thewholesecretchapterwillbe
subjectedtoour,leaveeverythingtoit,andawaitfurtherdegreesfromit

alone."526
InallthisWeishauptshowshimselfnotonlyanintriguerbutacharlatan,
inventingmysteriesanddegreestoimposeonthecredulityofhisfollowers.
"Themysteries,orsocalledsecrettruths,arethefinestofall,"hewritesto
PhilipoStrozzi,"andgivememuchtrouble."
If he is, however, a particularly industrious coordinator [Sammler],
observer, worker, he becomes a Priest.... If there are amongst these
[Priests]highspeculativeintellects,theybecomeMagi.Thesecollectand
put in order the higher philosophical system and work at the People's
Religion,whichtheOrderwillnextgivetotheworld.Shouldthesehigh
geniusesalsobefittoruletheworld,theybecomeRegents.Thisisthelast
degree.553
Philo (the Baron von Knigge) also throws an interesting light on the
religious designs of the Illuminati. In a letter to Cato he explains the
necessityofdevisingasystemthatwillsatisfyfanaticsandfreethinkers
alike:"Soastoworkonboththeseclassesofmenandunitethem,wemust
find an explanation to the Christian religion ... make this the secret of
Freemasonryandturnittoourpurpose."554Philocontinues:
Wesaythen:Jesuswishedtointroducenonewreligion,butonlytorestore
naturalreligionandreasontotheiroldrights.Therebyhewishedtounite
meninagreatuniversal association,andthroughthespreadofawiser
morality,enlightenment,andthecombatingofallprejudicestomakethem
capableofgoverningthemselves;sothesecretmeaningofhisteachingwas
toleadmenwithoutrevolutiontouniversallibertyandequality.Thereare
manypassagesintheBiblewhichcanbemadeuseofandexplained,and
soallquarrellingbetweenthesectsceasesifonecanfindareasonable
meaningintheteachingofJesusbeittrueornot.As,however,thissimple
religionwasafterwardsdistorted,soweretheseteachingsimpartedtous
through Disciplinam Arcani and finally through Freemasonry, and all
masonic hieroglyphics can be explained with this object. Spartacus has
collectedverygooddataforthisandIhavemyselfaddedtothem,...andso
Ihavegotbothdegreesready....Nowthereforethatpeopleseethatweare
theonlyrealandtrueChristians,wecansayawordmoreagainstpriests
andprinces,butIhavesomanagedthatafterprevioustestsIcanreceive
pontiffsandkingsinthisdegree.InthehigherMysterieswemustthen(a)
disclosethepiousfraudand(b)revealfromallwritingstheoriginofall

religiousliesandtheirconnexion....555
So admirably did this ruse succeed that we find Spartacus writing
triumphantly:
YoucannotimaginewhatconsiderationandsensationourPriest'sdegreeis
arousing.ThemostwonderfulthingisthatgreatProtestantandreformed
theologianswhobelongto [Illuminism]stillbelievethatthereligious
teachingimpartedinitcontainsthetrueandgenuinespiritoftheChristian
religion.Oh!men,ofwhatcannotyoubepersuaded?IneverthoughtthatI
shouldbecomethefounderofanewreligion.556
It is on the "illuminized" clergy and professors that Weishaupt counts
principallyfortheworkoftheOrder.
ThroughtheinfluenceoftheBrothers[hewrites],theJesuitshavebeen
removed from all professorships, and the University of Ingoldstadt has
beenquitecleansedofthem....557
ThusthewayisclearedforWeishaupt'sadepts.
TheInstituteofCadetsalsocomesunderthecontroloftheOrder:
AlltheprofessorsaremembersoftheIlluminati,...sowillallthepupils
becomedisciplesofIlluminism.558
Further:
We have provided our clerical members with good benefices, parishes,
posts at Court. Through our influence Arminius and Cortez have been
made

professors

at

Ephesus.

TheGermanschoolsarequiteunder[theinfluenceof] andnowonly
membershavechargeofthem.Thecharitableassociationisalsodirected
by.
SoonweshalldrawovertousthewholeBartholomewInstituteforyoung
clergymen;thepreparationshavealreadybeenmadeandtheprospectsare
verygood,bythismeansweshallbeabletoprovidethewholeofBavaria
withproperpriests.559

ButreligionandFreemasonryarenottheonlymeansbywhichIlluminism
canbespread.
We must consider [says Weishaupt], how we can begin to work under
anotherform.Ifonlytheaimisachieved,itdoesnotmatterunderwhat
coverittakesplace,andacoverisalwaysnecessary.Forinconcealment
liesagreat partofour strength.Forthisreasonwemustalwayscover
ourselves with the name of another society. The lodges that are under
Freemasonry are in the meantime the most suitable cloak for our high
purpose,becausetheworldisalreadyaccustomedtoexpectnothinggreat
from them which merits attention.... As in the spiritual Orders of the
RomanChurch,religionwas,alas!onlyapretence,somustourOrderalso
inanoblerwaytrytoconcealitselfbehindalearnedsocietyorsomething
ofthekind....Asocietyconcealedinthismannercannotbeworkedagainst.
Incaseofaprosecutionoroftreasonthesuperiorscannotbediscovered....
Weshallbeshroudedinimpenetrabledarknessfromspiesandemissaries
ofothersocieties.560
InordertogiveagoodappearancetotheOrder,Weishauptparticularly
indicatesthenecessityforenlistingesteemedand"respectable"persons, 561
butaboveallyoungmenwhomheregardsasthemostlikelysubjects."I
cannotusemenastheyare,"heobserves,"butImustfirstformthem." 562
Youthnaturallylendsitselfbesttothisprocess."Seekthesocietyofyoung
people,"WeishauptwritestoAjax,"watchthem,andifoneofthempleases
you, lay your hand on him."563 "Seek out young and already skilful
people....Ourpeoplemustbeengaging,enterprising,intriguing,andadroit.
Aboveallthefirst."564
Ifpossibletheyshouldalso begoodlooking"beautifulpeople, cteris
paribus...."
Suchpeoplehavegenerallygentlemanners,atenderheart,andare,when
wellpractisedinotherthings,ofthegreatestuseinundertakings,fortheir
first glance attracts; but their spirit n'a pas la profondeur des
physiognomiessombres.Theyare,however,alsolessdisposedtoriotsand
disturbancesthanthedarkerphysiognomies.Thatiswhyonemustknow
howtouseone'speople.Aboveall,thehigh,soulfuleyepleasesmeand
thefree,openbrow.565

WiththesenovicestheadeptofIlluminismistoproceedslowly,talking
backwardsandforwards:
Onemustspeak,firstinoneway,theninanother,soasnottocommit
oneself and to make one's real way of thinking impenetrable to one's
inferiors.566
Weishaupt also insists on the importance of exciting the candidate's
curiosityandthendrawingbackagain,afterthemanneroftheFatimite
dais:
Ihavenofaulttofindwithyour[methodsof]reception["Spartacus"writes
to"Cato"],exceptthattheyaretooquick....Youshouldproceedgradually
inaroundaboutwaybymeansofsuspenseandexpectations,soasfirstto
arouseindefinite,vaguecuriosity,andthenwhenthecandidatedeclares
himself,presenttheobject,whichhewillthenseizewithbothhands.567
Bythismeanshisvanitywillalsobeflattered,becauseonewillarousethe
pleasureof"knowingsomethingwhicheveryonedoesnotknow,andabout
whichthegreaterpartoftheworldisgropingindarkness."568
Forthesamereasonthecandidatemustbeimpressedwiththeimportance
ofsecret societiesandtheparttheyhaveplayedinthedestiniesofthe
world:
OneillustratesthisbytheOrderoftheJesuits,oftheFreemasons,bythe
secretassociationsoftheancients,oneassertsthatalleventsintheworld
occur from a hundred secret springs and causes, to which secret
associationsaboveallbelong;onearousesthepleasureofquiet,hidden
powerandofinsightintohiddensecrets.569
Atthispointoneistobeginto"showglimpsesandtoletfallhereandthere
remarksthatmaybeinterpretedintwoways,"soastobringthecandidate
tothepointofsaying:"IfIhadthechancetoentersuchanassociation,I
wouldgointoitatonce.""Thesediscourses,"saysWeishaupt,"aretobe
oftenrepeated."570
Inthediscourseofreceptiontothe"IlluminatusDirigens,"theappealto
loveofpowerplaysthemostimportantpart:
Do you realize sufficiently what it means to ruleto rule in a secret

Society?Notonlyoverthelesserormoreimportantofthepopulace,but
overthebestmen,overmenofallranks,nations,andreligions,torule
withoutexternalforce,tounitethemindissolubly,tobreatheonespiritand
soul into them, men distributed over all parts of the world?... 571 And
finally,doyouknowwhatsecretsocietiesare?whataplacetheyoccupyin
the great kingdom of the world's events? Do you really think they are
unimportant,transitoryappearances?572etc.
Buttheadmissionofpoliticalaimsisreservedonlyforthehighergradesof
theOrder."Withthebeginner,"saysWeishaupt,"wemustbecarefulabout
booksonreligionandtheState.Ihavereservedtheseinmyplanforthe
higher degrees."573 Accordingly the discourse to the "Minerval" is
expresslydesignedtoputhimoffthetrack.Thustheinitiatoristosayto
him:
After two years' reflection, experience, intercourse, reading of the
graduatedwritingsandinformation,youwillnecessarilyhaveformedthe
ideathatthefinalaimofourSocietyisnothinglessthantowinpowerand
riches, tounderminesecular or religious government,andtoobtainthe
masteryoftheworld,andsoon.IfyouhaverepresentedourSocietyto
yourselffromthispointofvieworhaveentereditinthisexpectation,you
havemightilydeceivedyourself....574
Theinitiator,withoutinformingtheMinervaloftherealaimoftheSociety,
thengoesontosaythatheisnowfreetoleaveitifhewishes.Bythis
means the leaders were able to eliminate ambitious people who might
becometheirrivalstopowerandtoformtheirranksoutofmenwhowould
submittobeledblindlyonwardbyunseendirectors."Mycircumstances
necessitate,"SpartacuswritestoCato,"thatIshouldremainhiddenfrom
most of the members as long as I live. I am obliged to do everything
throughfiveorsixpersons."575 Socarefullywasthissecretguardedthat
untilthepapersoftheIlluminatiwereseizedin1786nooneoutsidethis
innercircleknewthatWeishauptwastheheadoftheOrder.Yetifweare
tobelievehisownassertions,hehadbeenthroughoutinsupremecontrol.
Againandagainhe impresses onhis intimes thenecessity for unityof
commandintheOrder:"Onemustshowhoweasyitwouldbeforone
cleverheadtodirecthundredsandthousandsofmen," 576andheillustrates
thissystembythetablereproducedonthenextpage,towhichheappends

thefollowingexplanation:
IhavetwoimmediatelybelowmeintowhomIbreathemywholespirit,
andeachofthesetwohasagaintwoothers,andsoon.InthiswayIcanset
athousandmeninmotionandonfireinthesimplestmanner,andinthis
wayonemustimpartordersandoperateonpolitics.577
Thus,asinthecaseofAbdullahibnMaymn'ssociety,"theextraordinary
resultwasbroughtaboutthatamultitudeofmenofdiversbeliefswereall
workingtogetherforanobjectknownonlytoafewofthem."
EnoughhasnowbeenquotedfromthecorrespondenceoftheIlluminatito
showtheiraimsandmethodsaccordingtotheirownadmissions.Weshall
nowseehowfartheirapologistsarejustifiedindescribingthemas"menof
the strictest morality and humanity."578 Doubtless there were many
excellent people in the outer ranks of the Order, but this is not the
contention of Mr. Gould, who expressly states that "all the prominent
members of this association were estimable men both in public and in
privatelife."Thesefurtherextractsfromtheircorrespondencemaybeleft
tospeakforthemselves.
Character of the Illuminati
InJune1782Weishauptwritesto"Cato"asfollows:
Oh, in politics and morality you are far behind, my gentlemen. Judge
furtherif suchamanasMarcusAurelius579 findsouthowwretchedit
[Illuminism]appearsinAthens[Munich];whatacollectionof immoral
men,ofwhoremongers,liars,debtors,boasters,andvainfoolstheyhave
amongstthem.Ifhesawallthat,whatdoyousupposethemanwould
think?Wouldhenotbeashamedtofindhimselfinsuchanassociation,in
whichtheleadersarousethegreatestexpectationsandcarryoutthebest
planinsuchamiserablemanner?Andallthisoutofcaprice,expediency,
etc.JudgewhetherIamnotright. 580[Illustration:DiagramofWeishapt's
System. From Nachtrag von weitern Originalschriften der
Illuminatensekte,p.32.Mnchen,1787.]FromThebes[Freysing]Ihear
fatalnews;theyhavereceivedintothelodgethescandalofthewholetown,
the dissolute debtor Propertius, who is trumpeted abroad by the whole
"personnel" of Athens [Munich], Thebes and Erzerum [Eichstadt]; D.
also[Pg234]appearstobeabadman.Socrateswhowouldbeacapital

man[einCapitalMann]iscontinuallydrunk,Augustusintheworstrepute,
andAlcibiadessitsthewholedaywiththeinnkeeper'swifesighingand
pining:TiberiustriedinCorinthtorapethesisterofDemocedesandthe
husbandcamein.InHeaven'sname,whataretheseforAreopagites!We
upperones,write,readandworkourselvestodeath,offerto ourhealth,
fameandfortune,whilstthesegentlemenindulgetheirweaknesses,goa
whoring,causescandalsandyetareAreopagitesandwanttoknowabout
everything.581ConcerningArminiustherearegreatcomplaints....Heisan
unbearable,obstinate,arrogant,vainfool!582 LetCelsus,Marius,Scipio,
andAjaxdowhattheywill...noonedoesussomuchharmasCelsus,no
oneislesstobereasonedwiththanCelsus,andperhapsfewcouldhave
beensomuchusetousasCelsus....Mariusisobstinateandcanseeno
great plan, Scipio is negligent, and of Ajax I will not speak at all....
Confuciusisworthverylittle:heistooinquisitiveandaterriblechatterer
[eingrausamerSchwatzer].583Agrippamustbequitestruckoffourlist,for
therumourgoesround...thathehasstolenagoldandsilverwatchtogether
witharingfromourbestfellowworkerSulla.584
It will doubtless be suggested at this point that all these letters merely
portraytheloftyidealistsorrowingoverthefrailtiesofhiserringdisciples,
butletushear what Weishaupt hastosayabouthimself.Inaletterto
Marius(Hertel)hewrites:
Andnowinthestrictestconfidence,amatternearmyheart,whichrobsme
ofallrest,makesmeincapableofanythinganddrivesmetodespair.I
standindangeroflosingmyhonourandmyreputationwhichgavemeso
much power over our people. Think, my sisterinlaw is expecting a
child.585 IhaveforthispurposesenttoEuriphoninAthenstosolicitthe
marriagelicenceandPromotorialfromRome,youseehowmuchdepends
onthisandthatnotimemustbelost;everyminuteisprecious.Butifthe
dispensationdoesnotarrive,whatshallIdo?HowshallImakeamendsto
thepersonsinceIaloneamtoblame?Wehavealreadytriedseveralways
togetridofthechild;sheherselfwasresolvedforanything.ButEuriphon
istootimidandyetIseenootherexpedient,ifIcouldensurethesilenceof
Celsushecouldhelpmeandindeedhealreadypromisedmethisthree
yearsago....586Ifyoucanhelpmeoutofthisdilemma,youwillgiveme
backlife,honour,peaceandpowertowork....Idonotknowwhatdevilled
me astray, I who always in these circumstances took extreme

precautions.587
AlittlelaterWeishauptwritesagain:
Allfatalitieshappentomeatthesametime.Nowthereismymotherdead!
Corpse,wedding,christeningallinashorttime,oneonthetopoftheother.
Whatawonderfulmixup[mischmasch]!588
SomuchforwhatMr.Gouldcallsthe"rarequalities"ofWeishaupt'sheart.
LetusnowlistentothetestimonyofWeishaupt'sprincipalcoadjutor,Philo
(theBaronvonKnigge),towhomthe"historianofFreemasonry"refersas
"a lovable enthusiast." In all subversive associations, whether open or
secret,directedbymenwhoaimatpower,amomentiscertaintoarrive
whentheambitionsoftheleaderscomeintoconflict.Thisisthehistoryof
everyrevolutionaryorganizationduringthelast150years.Itwaswhenthe
inevitableclimaxhadbeenreachedbetweenWeishauptandKniggethat
"Philo"wroteto"themostlovingCato"inthefollowingterms:
ItisnotMahomedandA.whoaresomuchtoblameformybreakwith
Spartacus,astheJesuiticalconductofthismanwhichhassooftenturned
usagainsteachotherinordertoruledespoticallyovermen,who,ifthey
havenotperhapssucharichimaginationashimself,alsodonotpossessso
muchcutenessandcunning,etc.589
InafurtherletterPhilogoesontoenumeratetheserviceshehasrendered
toWeishauptinthepast:
At the bidding of Spartacus I have written against exJesuits and
Rosicrucians,persecutedpeoplewhoneverdidmeanyharm,thrownthe
StricteObservanceintoconfusion,drawnthebestamongstthemtous,told
themoftheworthinessof ,ofitspower,itsage,theexcellenceofits
Chiefs, the blamelessness of its higher leaders, the importance of its
knowledge,andgivengreatideasoftheuprightnessofitsviews;those
amongstuswhoarenowworkingsoactivelyforusbutclingmuchto
religiousness [sehranReligiosittkleben]andwhofearedourintention
wastospreadDeism,IhavesoughttopersuadethatthehigherSuperiors
hadnothinglessthanthisintention.Gradually,however,IshallworkitasI
please[nachundnachwirkeichdockwasichwill].IfInowwereto...give
ahinttotheJesuitsandRosicruciansastowhoispersecutingthem...ifI
weretomakeknown(toafewpeople)theJesuiticalcharacteroftheman

wholeadsperhapsallofusbythenose,usesusforhisambitiousschemes,
sacrificesusasoftenashisobstinacyrequires,[ifIweretomakeknownto
them]whattheyhavetofearfromsuchaman,fromsuchamachinebehind
whichperhapsJesuitsmaybeconcealedormightconcealthemselves;ifI
weretoassurethosewhoseekforsecretsthattheyhavenothingtoexpect;
ifIweretoconfidetothosewhoholdreligiondear,theprinciplesofthe
General;...ifIweretodrawtheattentionofthelodgestoanassociation
behind which the Illuminati are concealed; if I were again to associate
myself with princes and Freemasons ... but I shrink from the thought,
vengeancewillnotcarrymesofar....590
WehavenowseenenoughoftheaimsandmethodsoftheIlluminatiand
thetruecharactersoftheirleadersfromtheirownadmissions.Tomakethe
case complete it would be necessary also to give a rsum of the
confessions made by the exIlluminati, the four professors Cosandey,
Grnberger, Utzschneider, and Renner, as also of the further published
worksoftheIlluminatibutspaceandtimeforbid.Whatisneededisa
complete book on the subject, consisting of translations of the most
importantpassagesinallthecontemporaryGermanpublications.
Fromtheextractsgivenabove,canit,however,beseriouslycontendedthat
Barruel or Robison exaggerated the guilt of the Order? Do my literal
translationsdiffermateriallyinsensefromthetranslationsandoccasional
paraphrasesgivenbythemuchabusedcouple?
Eventhosecontemporaries,MounierandthememberoftheIlluminati591
whosetouttorefuteBarruelandLombarddeLangres,merelyprovide
furtherconfirmationoftheirviews.ThusMounierisobligedtoconfessthat
therealdesignofIlluminismwas"toundermineallcivilorder," 592 and
"AncienIllumin"assertsinlanguagenolessforciblethanBarruel'sown
thatWeishaupt"madeacodeofMachiavellism,"thathismethodwas"a
profoundperversity,flatteringeverythingthatwasbaseandrancorousin
humannatureinordertoarriveathisends,"thathewasnotinspiredby"a
wisespiritofreform"butbya"fanaticalenmityinimicaltoallauthorityon
earth."Theonlyessentialpointsonwhichtheopposingpartiesdifferisthat
whilstMounierand"AncienIllumin"denytheinfluenceoftheIlluminati
ontheFrenchRevolutionandmaintainthattheyceasedtoexistin1786,
Barruel and Lombard de Langres present them as the inspirers of the
JacobinsanddeclarethemtobestillactiveaftertheRevolutionhadended.

Thatonthispoint,atanyrate,thelatterwereright,weshallseeinafurther
chapter.
Thegreatquestionthatpresents itself afterstudyingthewritingsofthe
Illuminatiis:whatwasthemotivepowerbehindtheOrder?Ifweadmitthe
possibilitythatFredericktheGreatandtheStricteObservance,working
throughaninnercircleofFreemasonsattheLodgeSt.Theodore,mayhave
provided the first impetus and that Klmer initiated Weishaupt into
Oriental methods of organization, the source of inspiration from which
Weishaupt subsequently drew his anarchic philosophy still remains
obscure.IthasfrequentlybeensuggestedthathisrealinspirerswereJews,
and the Jewish writer Bernard Lazare definitely states that "there were
Jews,CabalisticJews,aroundWeishaupt."593AwriterinLaVieilleFrance
wentsofarastodesignatetheseJewsasMosesMendelssohn,Wessely,
and the bankers Itzig, Friedlander, and Meyer. But no documentary
evidence has ever been produced in support of these statements. It is
thereforenecessarytoexaminetheminthelightofprobability.
Now,asIhavealreadyshown,thetheosophicalideasoftheCabalaplayno
partinthesystemofIlluminism;theonlytraceofCabalismtobefound
amongstthepapersoftheOrderisalistofrecipesforprocuringabortion,
formakingaphrodisiacs,AquaToffana,pestilentialvapours,etc.,headed
"CabalaMajor."594Itispossible,then,thattheIlluminatimayhavelearnt
something of "veneficmagic" and theuse of certain naturalsubstances
fromJewishCabalists;atthesametimeJewsappeartohavebeenonlyin
rarecasesadmittedtotheOrder.Everythingindeedtendstoprovethat
Weishauptandhisfirstcoadjutors,ZwackandMassenhausen,werepure
Germans. Nevertheless there is between the ideas of Weishaupt and of
Lessing's "Falk" a distinct resemblance; both in the writings of the
IlluminatiandinLessing'sDialogueswefindthesameveinofironywith
regardtoFreemasonry,thesamedesignthatitshouldbereplacedbya
more effectual system,595the same denunciations of the existing social
orderandofbourgeoissociety,thesametheorythat"menshouldbeself
governing,"thesameplanofobliteratingalldistinctionsbetweennations,
eventhesamesimileofthebeehiveasappliedtohumanlife 596which,asI
haveshownelsewhere,waslateronadoptedbytheanarchistProudhon.It
may,however,legitimatelybeurgedthattheseideas werethose of the
innermasoniccircletowhichbothLessingandWeishauptbelonged,and

that,thoughplacedinthemouthofFalk,theywereinnosenseJudaic.
ButLessingwasalsothefriendandadmirerofMosesMendelssohn,who
has been suggested as one of Weishaupt's inspirers. Now, at first sight
nothing seems more improbable than that an orthodox Jew such as
Mendelssohnshouldhaveaccordedanysympathytotheanarchicscheme
of Weishaupt. Nevertheless, certain of Weishaupt's doctrines are not
incompatiblewiththeprinciplesoforthodoxJudaism.Thus,forexample,
Weishaupt'stheorysostrangelyatvariancewithhisdenunciationsofthe
familysystemthatasaresultofIlluminism"theheadofeveryfamilywill
bewhatAbrahamwas,thepatriarch,thepriest,andtheunfetteredlordof
hisfamily,andReasonwillbetheonlycodeofMan," 597 isessentiallya
Jewishconception.
Itwillbeobjectedthatthepatriarchalsystemasconceivedbyorthodox
JewscouldbynomeansincludethereligionofReasonasadvocatedby
Weishaupt.Itmustnot,however,beforgottenthattotheJewishmindthe
human race presents a dual aspect, being divided into two distinct
categoriestheprivilegedracetowhomthepromisesofGodweremade,
andthegreatmassofhumanitywhichremainsoutsidethepale.Whilst
strictadherencetothecommandsoftheTalmudandthelawsofMosesis
expectedoftheformer,themostindefiniteofreligiouscreedssufficesfor
thenationsexcludedfromtheprivilegesthatJewishbirthconfers.Itwas
thusthatMosesMendelssohnwrotetothepastorLavater,whohadsought
towinhimovertoChristianity:
Pursuant to the principles of my religion, I am not to seek to convert
anyone who is not born according to our laws. This proneness to
conversion,theoriginofwhichsomewouldfaintackontotheJewish
religion, is, nevertheless, diametrically opposed to it. Our rabbis
unanimouslyteachthatthewrittenandorallawswhichformconjointlyour
revealedreligionareobligatoryonournationonly."Mosescommandedus
alaw,eventheinheritanceofthecongregationofJacob."Webelievethat
allothernationsoftheearthhavebeendirectedbyGodtoadheretothe
lawsofnature,andtothereligionofthepatriarchs.Thosewhoregulate
their lives according to the precepts of this religion of nature and of
reason598arecalledvirtuousmenofothernationsandarethechildrenof
eternalsalvation.599 OurrabbisaresoremotefromProselytomania,that
theyenjoinustodissuade,byforcibleremonstrances,everyonewhocomes

forwardtobeconverted.(TheTalmudsays..."proselytesareannoyingto
Israellikeascab.")600
Butwasnotthis"religionofnatureandofreason"thepreciseconception
ofWeishaupt?
Whether,then,Weishaupt wasdirectlyinspiredbyMendelssohnorany
otherJewmustremainforthepresentanopenquestion.ButtheJewish
connexions of certain other Illuminati cannot be disputed. The most
importantofthesewasMirabeau,whoarrivedinBerlinjustafterthedeath
ofMendelssohnandwaswelcomedbyhisdisciplesintheJewishsalonof
Henrietta Herz. It was these Jews, "ardent supporters of the French
Revolution"601atitsoutset,whoprevailedonMirabeautowritehisgreat
apologyfortheirraceundertheformofapanegyricofMendelssohn.
Tosumup,IdonotsofarseeinIlluminismaJewishconspiracytodestroy
Christianity,butratheramovementfindingitsprincipaldynamicforcein
theancientspiritofrevoltagainsttheexistingsocialandmoralorder,aided
andabettedperhapsbyJewswhosawinitasystemthatmightbeturnedto
their own advantage. Meanwhile, Illuminism made use of every other
movementthatcouldserveitspurpose.AsthecontemporarydeLuchethas
expressedit:
ThesystemoftheIlluminsisnottoembracethedogmasofasect,butto
turnallerrorstoitsadvantage,toconcentrateinitselfeverythingthatmen
haveinventedinthewayofduplicityandimposture.
Morethanthis,Illuminismwasnotonlytheassemblageofallerrors,ofall
ruses,ofallsubtletiesofatheoretickind,itwasalsoanassemblageofall
practical methods for rousing men to action. For in the words of von
HammerontheAssassins,thatcannotbetoooftenrepeated:
Opinions are powerless so long as they onlyconfuse the brain without
armingthehand.Scepticismandfreethinkingaslongastheyoccupied
onlythemindsoftheindolentandphilosophicalhavecausedtheruinofno
throne....Itisnothingtotheambitiousmanwhatpeoplebelieve,butitis
everythingtoknowhowhemayturnthemfortheexecutionofhisprojects.
ThiswaswhatWeishauptsoadmirablyunderstood;heknewhowtotake
fromeveryassociation,pastandpresent,theportionsherequiredandto
weld them all into a working system of terrible efficiencythe

disintegratingdoctrines oftheGnosticsandManicheans, of themodern

philosophers and Encyclopdists, the methods of the Ismailis and the
Assassins,thedisciplineoftheJesuitsandTemplars,theorganizationand
secrecyoftheFreemasons,thephilosophyofMachiavelli,themysteryof
theRosicruciansheknewmoreover,howtoenlisttherightelementsinall
existingassociationsaswellasisolatedindividualsandturnthemtohis
purpose.SointhearmyoftheIlluminatiwefindmenofeveryshadeof
thought,fromthepoetGoethe602 tothemeanestintriguerloftyidealists,
social reformers, visionaries, and at the same time the ambitious, the
rancorous, and the disgruntled, men swayed by lust or embittered by
grievances,allthesedifferingintheiraimsyetbyWeishaupt'sadmirable
systemofwatertightcompartmentsprecludedfromaknowledgeofthese
differencesandallmarching,unconsciouslyornot,towardsthesamegoal.
Although this was not the invention of Weishaupt but had been
foreshadowedmanycenturiesearlierintheEast,itwasWeishaupt,sofar
asweknow,whoreducedittoaworkingsystemfortheWestasystem
whichhasbeenadheredtobysucceedinggroupsofworldrevolutionaries
uptothepresentday.ItisforthisreasonthatIhavequotedatlengththe
writingsoftheIlluminatialltheruses,allthehypocrisy,allthesubtle
methodsofcamouflagewhichcharacterizedtheOrderwillbefoundagain
intheinsidiouspropagandabothofthemodernsecretsocietiesandthe
openrevolutionaryorganizationswhoseobjectistosubvertallorder,all
morality,andallreligion.
Imaintain,therefore,withgreaterconvictionthanevertheimportanceof
Illuminisminthehistoryofworldrevolution.Butforthiscoordinationof
methodsthephilosophersandEncyclopdistsmighthavegoneonforever
inveighingagainstthronesandaltars,theMartinistesevokingspirits,the
magicians weaving spells, the Freemasons declaiming on universal
brotherhoodnoneofthesewouldhave"armedthehand"anddriventhe
infuriatedmobsintothestreetsofParis;itwasnotuntiltheemissariesof
Weishaupt formed an alliance with the Orlaniste leaders that vague
subversivetheorybecameactiverevolution.

Chapter 10:

The Climax
ThefirstMasonicbodywithwhichtheIlluminatiformedanalliancewas
the Stricte Observance, to which the Illuminati Knigge and Bode both
belonged.CagliostrohadalsobeeninitiatedintotheStricteObservance
nearFrankfurtandwasnowemployedasagentofthecombinedorder.
Accordingtohisownconfessionhismission"wastoworksoastoturn
FreemasonryinthedirectionofWeishaupt'sprojects";andthefundshe
drewuponwerethoseoftheIlluminati. 603 Cagliostroalsoformedalink
withtheMartinistes,whosedoctrines,thoughderidedbyWeishaupt,were
usefultohisplaninattractingbytheirmysticalcharacterthosewhowould
havebeenrepelledbythecynicismoftheIlluminati.AccordingtoBarruel,
itwastheMartinisteswhofollowinginthefootstepsoftheRosicrucians
had suggested to Weishaupt the device of presenting Christ as an
"Illuminatus" which had led to such triumphant results amongst the
Protestantclergy.
ButifWeishauptmadeuseofthevariousmasonicassociations,theyon
theiraccountfoundinhimavaluableally.Thefactisthatbythistimeboth
FrenchandGermanFreemasonswereverymuchatseawithregardtothe
wholesubject ofMasonryandneededsomeonetogiveapointtotheir
deliberations.ThusattheCongressofWilhelmsbadconvenedonJuly16,
1782,andattendedbyrepresentativesofmasonicbodiesfromalloverthe
world,thefirstquestionpropoundedbytheGrandMasteroftheTemplars
(i.e.theStricteObservance)was:"WhatistherealobjectoftheOrderand
itstrue origin?"So,says Mirabeau inrelatingthisincident, "this same
GrandMasterandallhisassistantshadworkedformorethantwentyyears
withincredibleardouratathingofwhichtheyknewneithertherealobject
northeorigin."604
TwoyearslatertheFreemasonsofFrancedonotappeartohavebeenany
less in the dark on this matter, for we find them writing to General

Rainsford, one of the English Masons who had been present at the
CongressofWilhelmsbad,asfollows:
SinceyousaythatMasonryhasneverexperiencedanyvariationinitsaim,
doyouthenknowwithcertaintywhatthisuniqueobjectis?Isitusefulfor
the happiness of mankind?... Tell us if it is of an historical, political,
hermetical, or scientific nature?... Moral, social, or religious?... Are the
traditionsoralorwritten?605
But Weishaupt had a very definite object in view, which was to gain
controlofallFreemasonry,andthoughhehimselfwasnotpresentatthe
Congress,hiscoadjutorKnigge,whohadbeentravellingaboutGermany
proclaiming himself the reformer of Freemasonry, presented himself at
Wilhelmsbad,armedwithfullauthorityfromWeishaupt,andsucceededin
enrollinganumberofmagistrates,savants,ecclesiastics,andministersof
stateasIlluminatiandinallyinghimselfwiththedeputiesofSaintMartin
andWillermoz.Vanquishedbythispowerfulrival,theStricteObservance
ceasedtemporarilytoexistandIlluminismwasleftinpossessionofthe
field.
OnFebruary15,1785,afurthercongresstookplaceinParis,convenedthis
timebythePhilalthes,atwhichtheIlluminatiBode(aliasAmelius)and
theBarondeBusche(aliasBayard)werepresent,alsoithasbeenstated
the "magician" Cagliostro, the magnetiser Mesmer, the Cabalist
Duchanteau, and of course the leaders of the Philalthes, Savalette de
Langes, who was elected President, the Marquis de Chefdebien, and a
numberofGermanmembersofthesameOrder.Thiscongressledtono
verypracticalresults,andafurtherandmoresecretonewasconvenedin
thefollowingyearatFrankfurt,whereaGrandLodgehadbeenestablished
in1783.It washerethat thedeaths of LouisXVIandGustavus IIIof
Swedenaresaidtohavebeendecreed.
Butalreadyinthissameyearof1785thefirstactoftherevolutionary
dramahadbeenplayedout.Thefamous"AffairoftheNecklace"cannever
beunderstoodinthepagesofofficialhistory;onlyanexaminationofthe
mechanismprovidedbythesecretsocietiescanexplainthatextraordinary
episode, which, inthe opinionof Napoleon, contributed morethan any
othercausetotheexplosionof1789.InitsdoubleattackonChurchand
Monarchy the Affair of the Necklace fulfilled the purpose of both
FredericktheGreatandoftheIlluminati.Cagliostro,weknow,received

bothmoneyandinstructionsfromtheOrderforcarryingouttheplot,and
afterithadendedinhisownandtheCardinaldeRohan'sexonerationand
exile, we find him embarking on fresh secretsociety work in London,
wherehearrivedinNovemberofthesameyear.Announcinghimselfasthe
Count Sutkowski, member of a society at Avignon, he "visited the
Swedenborgians at their Theosophical Society meeting in rooms in the
MiddleTempleanddisplayed minuteacquaintance withtheir doctrines,
whilst claiming a superior knowledge."606 According to a generally
receivedopinion,Cagliostrowastheauthorofamysteriousproclamation
whichappearedatthismomentintheMorningHeraldinthecypherofthe
RoseCroix.607
Butintheyearbeforetheseeventsanextraordinarythinghadhappened.
AnevangelistpreacherandIlluminatusnamedLanzehadbeensentinJuly
1785asanemissaryoftheIlluminatitoSilesia,butonhisjourneyhewas
struckdownbylightning.TheinstructionsoftheOrderwerefoundonhim,
andasaresultitsintrigueswereconclusivelyrevealedtotheGovernment
of Bavaria.608 A searching enquiry followed, the houses of Zwack and
Bassus were raided, and it was then that the documents and other
incriminatingevidencereferredtointheprecedingchapterofthisbook
wereseizedandmadepublicunderthenameofTheOriginalWritingsof
theOrderoftheIlluminati(1787).Butbeforethistheevidenceoffourex
Illuminati, professors of Munich, was published in two separate
volumes.609
ThediabolicalnatureofIlluminismnowremainednolongeramatterof
doubt,andtheOrderwasofficiallysuppressed.TheopponentsofBarruel
andRobisonthereforedeclarethatIlluminismcamefinallytoanend.We
shallseelaterbydocumentaryevidencethatitneverceasedtoexist,and
thattwentyfiveyearslaternotonlytheIlluminatibutWeishaupthimself
werestillasactiveaseverbehindthescenesinFreemasonry.
But for the present we must follow its course from the moment of its
apparentextinctionin1786.Thiscoursecanbetracednotonlythroughthe
"GermanUnion,"whichisbelievedtohavebeenareorganizationofthe
originalIlluminati,butthroughthesecretsocietiesofFrance.Illuminismin
realityislessanOrderthanaprinciple,andaprinciplewhichcanwork
betterundercoverofsomethingelse.Weishaupthimselfhadlaiddownthe
preceptthattheworkofIlluminismcouldbestbeconducted"underother

names and other occupations," and henceforth we shall always find it

carriedonbythisskilfulsystemofcamouflage.
Thefirstcoveradoptedwasthelodgeofthe"AmisRunis"inParis,with
which,aswehavealreadyseen,theIlluminatihadestablishedrelations.
Butnowin1787adefinitealliancewaseffectedbytheaforementioned
Illuminati,BodeandBusche,whoinresponsetoaninvitationfromthe
secretcommitteeofthelodgearrivedinParisinFebruaryofthisyear.Here
theyfoundtheoldIlluminatusMirabeauwhowithTalleyrandhadbeen
largelyinstrumentalinsummoningtheseGermanBrothersand,according
toGustaveBord,610twoimportantmembersoftheStricteObservance,the
Marquis de Chefdebien d'Armisson (Eques a Capite Galeato) and an
Austrian,theComteLeopolddeKollowrathKrakowski(EquesabAquila
Fulgente)whoalsobelongedtoWeishaupt'sOrderofIlluminatiinwhich
heborethepseudonymofNumenius.
ItisimportantheretorecognizethepeculiarpartplayedbytheLodgeof
theAmisRunis.WhilsttheLogedesNeufSoeurswaslargelycomposedof
middleclassrevolutionariessuchasBrissot,Danton,CamilleDesmoulins,
and Champfort, and the Loge de la Candeur of aristocratic
revolutionariesLafayette as well as the Orlanistes, the Marquis de
Sillery,theDucd'Aiguillon,theMarquisdeCustine,andtheLamethsthe
LogeduContratSocial wasmainlycomposedofhonestvisionarieswho
entertained no revolutionary projects but, according to Barruel, were
stronglyRoyalist.Therleofthe"AmisRunis"wastocollecttogetherthe
subversivesfromallotherlodgesPhilalthes,RoseCroix,membersofthe
LogedesNeufSoursandoftheLogedelaCandeurandofthemostsecret
committeesoftheGrandOrient,aswellasdeputiesfromtheIlluminsin
theprovinces.Here,then,atthelodgeintheRuedelaSordire,underthe
direction of Savalette de Langes, were to be found the disciples of
Weishaupt,ofSwedenborg,andofSaintMartin,aswellasthepractical
makersofrevolutiontheagitatorsanddemagoguesof1789.
TheinfluenceofGermanIlluminismonalltheseheterogeneouselements
wasenormous.Fromthismoment,saysafurtherBavarianreportofthe
matter,acompletechangetookplaceintheOrderofthe"AmisRunis."
Hithertoonlyvaguelysubversive,theChevaliersBienfaisantsbecamethe
ChevaliersMalfaisants,theAmisRunisbecametheEnnemisRunis.The
arrivalofthetwoGermans,BodeandBusche,gavethefinishingtouchto
the conspiracy. "The avowed object of their journey was to obtain

informationaboutmagnetism,whichwasjustthenmakingagreatstir,"but
inreality,"takenupwiththegiganticplanoftheirOrder,"theirrealaim
wastomakeproselytes.Itwillbeseenthatthefollowingpassageexactly
confirmstheaccountgivenbyBarruel:
AstheLodgeoftheAmisRuniscollectedtogethereverythingthatcould
befoundoutfromallothermasonicsystemsintheworld,sothewaywas
soonpavedthereforIlluminism.Itwasalsonotlongbeforethislodge
together with all those that depended on it was impregnated with
Illuminism.Theformersystemofallthesewasasifwipedout,sothat
fromthistimeonwardstheframeworkofthePhilalthesquitedisappeared
and in the place of the former Cabalisticmagical extravagance
[Schwrmerei]cameinthephilosophicalpolitical.611
It was therefore not Martinism, Cabalism, or Freemasonry that in
themselves provided the real revolutionary force. Many nonilluminized
Freemasons,asBarruelhimselfdeclares,remainedloyaltothethroneand
altar,andassoonasthemonarchywasseentobeindangertheRoyalist
BrothersoftheContratSocialboldlysummonedthelodgestocoalescein
defenceofKingandConstitution;evensomeoftheupperMasons,whoin
thedegreeofKnightKadoschhadswornhatredtothePopeandBourbon
monarchy,ralliedlikewisetotheroyalcause."TheFrenchspirittriumphed
overthemasonicspiritinthegreaternumberoftheBrothers.Opinionsas
wellasheartswerestillfortheKing."Itneededthedevastatingdoctrines
of Weishaupt to undermine this spirit and to turn the "degrees of
vengeance"fromvainceremonialintoterriblefact.
If, then, it is said that the Revolution was prepared in the lodges of
Freemasonsand many French Masons have boasted of the factlet it
always be added that it was Illuminized Freemasonry that made the
Revolution,andthattheMasonswhoacclaimitareilluminizedMasons,
inheritorsofthesametraditionintroducedintothelodgesofFrancein1787
bythedisciplesofWeishaupt,"patriarchoftheJacobins."
ManyoftheFreemasonsofFrancein1787werethusnotconsciousallies
oftheIlluminati.AccordingtoCadetdeGassicourt,therewereinallthe
lodgesonlytwentysevenrealinitiates;therestwerelargelydupeswho
knewlittleornothingofthesourcewhencethefreshinfluenceamongthem
derived. The amazing feature of the whole situation is that the most
enthusiasticsupportersofthemovementweremenbelongingtotheupper

classesandeventotheroyalfamiliesofEurope.Acontemporaryrelates
thatnolessthanthirtyprincesreigningandnonreigninghadtakenunder
theirprotectionaconfederationfromwhichtheystoodtoloseeverything
andhadbecomesoimbuedbyitsprinciplesthattheywereinaccessibleto
reason.612 Intoxicatedbytheflatterylavishedonthembythepriestsof
Illuminism, they adopted a religion of which they understood nothing.
Weishaupt,ofcourse,hadtakencarethatnoneoftheseroyaldupesshould
beinitiated intothe real aims of the Order, andat first adhered to the
original plan of excluding them altogether; but the value of their co
operationsoon became apparent andby asupreme ironyit was witha
GrandDukethathehimselftookrefuge.
Butifthegreatmajorityofprincesandnobleswerestrickenwithblindness
atthiscrisis,afewfarseeingspiritsrecognizedthedangerandwarnedthe
world of the impending disaster. In 1787 Cardinal Caprara, Apostolic
NuncioatVienna,addressedaconfidentialmemoirtothePope,inwhich
hepointedoutthattheactivitiescarriedoninGermanybythedifferent
sectsofIllumins,ofPerfectibilists,ofFreemasons,etc.,wereincreasing.
The danger is approaching, for from all these senseless dreams of
Illuminism, of Swedenborgianism, or of Freemasonry a frightful reality
willemerge.Visionarieshavetheirtime;therevolutiontheyforebodewill
haveitstimealso.613
A more amazing prophecy, however, was the Essai sur la Secte des
Illumins,bytheMarquisdeLuchet,614aLiberalnoblewhoplayedsome
part in the revolutionary movement, yet who nevertheless realized the
dangersofIlluminism.Thus,asearlyas1789,beforetheRevolutionhad
reallydeveloped,deLuchetutteredthesewordsofwarning:
Deluded people ... learn that there exists a conspiracy in favour of
despotism against liberty, of incapacity against talent, of vice against
virtue, of ignorance against enlightenment.... This society aims at
governingtheworld....Itsobjectisuniversaldomination.Thisplanmay
seemextraordinary,incredibleyes,butnotchimerical...nosuchcalamity
haseveryetafflictedtheworld.
DeLuchetthengoesontoforetellpreciselytheeventsthatweretotake
placethreeandfouryearslater;hedescribesthepositionofakingwhohas
to recognize masters above himself and to authorize their "abominable

rgime," to become the plaything of an ambitious and fanatical horde

whichhastakenpossessionofhiswill.
Seehimcondemnedtoservethepassionsofallthatsurroundhim...to
raisedegradedmentopower,toprostitutehisjudgementbychoicesthat
dishonourhisprudence....
AllthiswasexactlyfulfilledduringthereignoftheGirondinministryof
1792.Thecampaignofdestructioncarriedoutinthesummerof1793is
thusforetold:
WedonotmeantosaythatthecountrywheretheIlluminsreignwill
ceasetoexist,butitwillfallintosuchadegreeofhumiliationthatitwill
no longer count in politics, that the population will diminish, that the
inhabitantswhoresisttheinclinationtopassintoaforeignlandwillno
longerenjoythehappinessofconsideration,northecharmsofsociety,nor
thegiftsofcommerce.
AnddeLuchetendswiththisdespairingappealtothepowersofEurope:
Mastersoftheworld,castyoureyesonadesolatedmultitude,listentotheir
cries,theirtears,theirhopes.Amotherasksyoutorestoreherson,awife
herhusband,yourcitiesforthefineartsthathavefledfromthem,the
countryforcitizens,thefieldsforcultivators,religionforformsofworship,
andNatureforbeingsofwhichsheisworthy.
FiveyearsafterthesewordswerewrittenthecountrysideofFrancewas
desolate, art and commerce were destroyed, and women following the
tumbrilthatcarriedFouquierTinvilletotheguillotinecriedout:"Giveme
backmybrother,myson,myhusband!"Sowasthisamazingprophecy
fulfilled.Yetnotonewordhashistorytosayonthesubject!Thewarning
ofdeLuchethasfallenondeafearsamongstposterityasamongstthemen
ofhisownday.
DeLuchethimselfrecognizestheobstacletohisobtainingahearing:there
are too many "passions interested in supporting the system of the
Illumins," too many deluded rulers imagining themselves enlightened
readytoprecipitatetheirpeopleintotheabyss,whilst"theheadsofthe
Order will never relinquish the authority they have acquired nor the
treasureattheirdisposal."InvaindeLuchetappealstotheFreemasonsto
savetheirOrderfromtheinvadingsect."Woulditnotbepossible,"he

asks, "to direct the Freemasons themselves against the Illumins by

showingthemthatwhilsttheyareworkingtomaintainharmonyinsociety,
thoseothersareeverywheresowingseedsofdiscord"andpreparingthe
ultimatedestructionoftheirOrder?Sofaritisnottoolate;ifonlymenwill
believe in the danger it may be averted: "from the moment they are
convinced,thenecessaryblowisdealttothesect."OtherwisedeLuchet
prophesies"aseriesofcalamitiesofwhichtheendislostinthedarknessof
time, ... a subterranean fire smouldering eternally and breaking forth
periodically in violent and devastating explosions." What words could
betterdescribethehistoryofthelast150years?
The Essai sur la Sects des Illumins is one of the most extraordinary
documentsofhistoryandatthesametimeoneofthemostmysterious.
WhyitshouldhavebeenwrittenbytheMarquisdeLuchet,whoissaidto
havecollaboratedwithMirabeauinthe GaleriedePortraits publishedin
the following year, why it should have been appended to Mirabeau's
Histoire Secrte de la Cour de Berlin, and accordingly attributed to
Mirabeauhimself,whyBarruelshouldhavedenounceditasdustthrownin
theeyesofthepublic,althoughitentirelycorroboratedhisownpointof
view, are questions to which I can find no reply. That is was written
seriouslyandinallgoodfaithitisimpossibletodoubt;whilstthefactthat
itappearedbefore,insteadofafter,theeventsdescribed,rendersiteven
morevaluableevidenceoftherealityoftheconspiracythanBarruel'sown
admirable work. What Barruel saw, de Luchet foresaw with equal
clearness.AstotherleofMirabeauatthiscrisis,wecanonlyhazardan
explanationonthescoreofhishabitualinconsistency.Atonemomenthe
wasseekinginterviewswiththeKing'sministersinordertowarnthemof
thecomingdanger,atthenexthewasenergeticallystirringupinsurrection.
It isthereforenotimpossiblethathemayhaveencourageddeLuchet's
exposureoftheconspiracy,althoughmeanwhilehehimselfhadentered
intotheschemeofdestruction.Indeed,accordingtoapamphletpublished
in 1791 entitled Mystres de la Conspiration,615 the whole plan of
revolution was found amongst his papers. The editor of this brochure
explainsthatthedocumentheremadepublic,calledCroquisouProjetde
RvolutiondeMonsieurdeMirabeau,wasseizedatthehouseofMadame
Lejai,thewifeofMirabeau's publisher,onOctober 6,1789.Beginning
withadiatribeagainsttheFrenchmonarchy,thedocumentgoesontosay
that "in order to triumph over this hydraheaded monster these are my

ideas":
Wemustoverthrowallorder,suppressalllaws,annulallpower,andleave
thepeopleinanarchy.Thelawsweestablishwillnotperhapsbeinforceat
once,butatanyrate,havinggivenbackthepowertothepeople,theywill
resist for the sake of their liberty which they will believe they are
preserving.Wemustcaresstheirvanity,flattertheirhopes,promisethem
happiness after our work has been in operation; we must elude their
capricesandtheirsystemsatwill,forthepeopleaslegislatorsarevery
dangerous,theyonlyestablish laws whichcoincidewiththeir passions,
theirwantofknowledgewouldbesidesonlygivebirthtoabuses.Butasthe
people are a lever which legislators can move at their will, we must
necessarilyusethemasasupport,andrenderhatefultothemeverythingwe
wishtodestroyandsowillusionsintheirpath;wemustalsobuyallthe
mercenarypenswhichpropagateourmethodsandwhichwillinstructthe
peopleconcerningtheirenemieswhomweattack.Theclergy,beingthe
mostpowerfulthroughpublicopinion,canonlybedestroyedbyridiculing
religion, rendering its ministers odious, and only representing them as
hypocriticalmonsters,forMahometinordertoestablishhisreligionfirst
defamedthepaganismwhichtheArabs,theSarmathes,andtheScythians
professed.Libelsmustateverymomentshowfreshtracesofhatredagainst
theclergy.Toexaggeratetheirriches,tomakethesinsofanindividual
appeartobecommontoall,toattributetothemallvices;calumny,murder,
irreligion, sacrilege, all is permitted in times of revolution. We must
degradethenoblesseandattributeittoanodiousorigin,establishagermof
equalitywhichcanneverexistbutwhichwillflatterthepeople;[wemust]
immolatethemostobstinate,burnanddestroytheirpropertyinorderto
intimidatetherest,sothatifwecannotentirelydestroythisprejudicewe
canweakenitandthepeoplewillavengetheirvanityandtheirjealousyby
alltheexcesseswhichwillbringthemtosubmission.
Afterdescribinghowthesoldiersaretobeseducedfromtheirallegiance,
andthemagistratesrepresentedtothepeopleasdespots,"sincethepeople,
brutalandignorant,onlyseetheevilandneverthegoodofthings,"the
writerexplainstheymustbegivenonlylimitedpowerinthemunicipalities.
Letusbewareaboveallofgivingthemtoomuchforce;theirdespotismis
toodangerous,wemustflatterthepeoplebygratuitousjustice,promise
themagreatdiminutionintaxesandamoreequaldivision,moreextension

infortunes,andlesshumiliation.Thesephantasies[vertiges]willfanaticise
thepeople,whowillflattenoutallresistance.Whatmatterthevictimsand
their numbers? spoliations, destructions, burnings, and all the necessary
effects of a revolution? nothing must be sacred and we can say with
Machiavelli:"Whatmatterthemeansaslongasonearrivesattheend?"
WereallthesetheideasofMirabeau,orwerethey,liketheotherdocument
of the Illuminati found amongst his papers, the programme of a
conspiracy?Iinclinetothelattertheory.Theplanofcampaignwas,atany
rate,theonefollowedoutbytheconspirators,asChamfort,thefriendand
confidantofMirabeau,admittedinhisconversationwithMarmontel:
Thenationisagreatherdthatonlythinksofbrowsing,andwithgood
sheepdogstheshepherdscanleaditastheyplease....Moneyandthehope
ofplunderareallpowerfulwiththepeople....Mirabeaucheerfullyasserts
thatwith100louisonecanmakequiteagoodriot.616
Anothercontemporarythusdescribesthemethodsoftheleaders:
Mirabeau,intheexuberanceofanorgy,criedoneday:"Thatcanaillewell
deservestohaveusforlegislators!"Theseprofessionsoffaith,aswesee,
arenotatalldemocratic;thesectusesthepopulaceasrevolutionfodder
[chairrvolution],asprimematerialforbrigandage,afterwhichitseizes
thegoldandabandonsgenerationstotorture.Itisveritablythecodeof
hell.617
Itisthis"codeofhell"setforthinthe"ProjetdeRvolution"thatweshall
findrepeatedinsucceedingdocumentsthroughoutthelasthundredyears
inthecorrespondenceofthe"AltaVendita,"intheDialoguesauxEnfers
entre Machiavel et Montesquieu by Maurice Joly, in the Revolutionary
CatechismofBakunin,intheProtocolsoftheEldersofZion,andinthe
writingsoftheRussianBolshevikstoday.
Whatever doubts may be cast on the authenticity of any of these
documents,theindisputablefactthusremainsthatasearlyas1789this
Machiavellianplanof engineeringrevolutionandusingthepeopleasa
lever for raising a tyrannical minority to power, had been formulated;
further,thatthemethodsdescribedinthisearliest"Protocol"havebeen
carriedoutaccordingtoplanfromthatdaytothis.Andineveryoutbreak
ofthesocialrevolutiontheauthorsofthemovementhavebeenknownto

beconnectedwithsecretsocieties.
ItwasAdrienDuport,authorofthe"GreatFear"thatspreadoverFranceon
July22,1789,Duport,theinnerinitiateofthesecretsocieties,"holdingin
hishandsallthethreadsofthemasonicconspiracy,"whoonMay21,1790,
set forth before the Committee of Propaganda the vast scheme of
destruction.
M.deMirabeauhaswellestablishedthefactthatthefortunaterevolution
whichhastakenplaceinFrancemustandwillbeforallthepeoplesof
EuropetheawakeningoflibertyandforKingsthesleepofdeath.
ButDuportgoesontoexplainthatwhilstMirabeauthinksitadvisableat
presentnottoconcernthemselveswithanythingoutsideFrance,hehimself
believesthatthetriumphoftheFrenchRevolutionmustleadinevitablyto
"theruinofallthrones...Thereforewemusthastenamongourneighbours
thesamerevolutionthatisgoingoninFrance."618
TheplanofilluminizedFreemasonrywasthusnothinglessthanworld
revolution.
Itisnecessaryheretoreplytoacriticwhosuggestedthatinemphasizing
therleofthesecretsocietiesin WorldRevolution Ihadabandonedmy
formerthesisoftheOrlanisteconspiracy.IwishthereforetostatethatIdo
notretractonewordIwrotein TheFrenchRevolution ontheOrlaniste
conspiracy, I merely supply a further explanation of its efficiency by
enlarging on the aid it received from the party I referred to as the
Subversivesoutcome of the masonic lodges. It was because the
Orlanistesheldthewholemasonicorganizationattheirdisposalthatthey
were able to carry out their plans with such extraordinary skill and
thoroughness, and because they had at their back men bent solely on
destructionthattheycouldenlistafollowingwhichwouldnothaverallied
toamereschemeofusurpation.EvenMontjoie,whosawintheRevolution
principally the work of the Duc d'Orlans, indicates in a very curious
passageofalaterworktheexistenceofthestilldarkerintriguebehindthe
conspiracyhehadspenthisenergiesinunveiling:
Iwillnotexaminewhetherthiswickedprince,thinkinghewasactinginhis
personalinterests,wasnotmovedbythatinvisiblehandwhichseemsto
havecreatedalltheeventsofourrevolutioninordertoleadustowardsa
goalthatwedonotseeatpresent,butwhichIthinkweshallseebefore

long.619
Unfortunately,afterthismysteriousutteranceMontjoieneveragainreturns
tothesubject.
At the beginning of the Revolution, Orlanism and Freemasonry thus
formedaunitedbody.AccordingtoLombarddeLangres:
Francein1789countedmorethan2,000lodgesaffiliatedtotheGrand
Orient;thenumberofadeptswasmorethan100,000.Thefirsteventsof
1789 were only Masonry in action. All the revolutionaries of the
ConstituentAssemblywereinitiatedintothethirddegree.Weplaceinthis
classtheDucd'Orlans,Valence,Syllery,Laclos,Siyes,Ption,Menou,
Biron, Montesquieu, Fauchet, Condorcet, Lafayette, Mirabeau, Garat,
Rabaud,DuboisCranc,Thibaud,Larochefoucauld,andothers.620
AmongsttheseotherswerenotonlytheBrissotins,whoformedthenucleus
of the Girondin party, but the men of the TerrorMarat, Robespierre,
Danton,andDesmoulins.
Itwasthesefiercerelements,truedisciplesoftheIlluminati,whowereto
sweepawaythevisionaryMasonsdreamingofequalityandbrotherhood.
Following the precedent set by Weishaupt, classical pseudonyms were
adoptedbytheseleadersoftheJacobins,thusChaumettewasknownas
Anaxagoras, Clootz as Anacharsis, Danton as Horace, Lacroix as
Publicola, and Ronsin as Scaevola 621; again, after the manner of the
Illuminati,thenamesoftownswerechangedandarevolutionarycalendar
wasadopted.TheredcapandloosehairaffectedbytheJacobinsappear
alsotohavebeenforeshadowedinthelodgesoftheIlluminati.622
Yet faithfully as the Terrorists carried out the plan of the Illuminati, it
would seem that they themselves were not initiated into the innermost
secretsoftheconspiracy.BehindtheConvention,behindtheclubs,behind
theRevolutionaryTribunal,thereexisted,saysLombarddeLangres,that
"most secret convention [convention scrtissime] which directed
everythingafterMay31,anoccultandterriblepowerofwhichtheother
Convention became the slave and which was composed of the prime
initiates of Illuminism. This power was above Robespierre and the
committees of the government, ... it was this occult power which
appropriatedtoitselfthetreasuresofthenationanddistributedthemtothe

brothersandfriendswhohadhelpedonthegreatwork."623
What was the aim of this occult power? Was it merely the plan of
destructionthathadoriginatedinthebrainofaBavarianprofessortwenty
yearsearlier,orwasitsomethingfarolder,aliveandterribleforcethathad
laindormantthroughthecenturies,thatWeishauptandhisallieshadnot
created but only loosed upon the world? The Reign of Terror, like the
outbreakofSatanismintheMiddleAges,canbeexplainedbynomaterial
causestheorgyofhatred,lust,andcrueltydirectednotonlyagainstthe
rich but still more against the poor and defenceless, the destruction of
science, art, and beauty, the desecration of the churches, the organized
campaignagainstallthatwasnoble,allthatwassacred,allthathumanity
holdsdear,whatwasthisbutSatanism?
IndesecratingthechurchesandstampingonthecrucifixestheJacobinshad
infactfollowedthepreciseformulaofblackmagic:"Forthepurposeof
infernal evocation ... it is requisite ... to profane the ceremonies of the
religiontowhichone belongsandtotrampleitsholiest symbolsunder
foot."624Itwasthisthatformedthepreludetothe"GreatTerror,"when,to
thosewholivedthroughit,itseemedthatFrancelayundertheswayofthe
powersofdarkness.
Sointhe"greatshipwreckofcivilization,"asacontemporaryhasdescribed
it,theprojectsoftheCabalists,theGnostics,andthesecretsocietieswhich
fornearlyeighteencenturieshadsappedthefoundationsofChristianity
foundtheirfulfilment.DowenotdetectanechooftheToledotYeshuin
theblasphemiesoftheMarquisdeSadeconcerning"theJewishslave"and
"theadulterouswoman,thecourtesanofGalilee?"Andintheimprecations
ofMarat'sworshippers,"Christwasafalseprophet!"arepetitionofthe
secretdoctrineattributedtotheTemplars:"JesusisnotthetrueGod;Heis
afalseprophet;Hewasnotcrucifiedforthesalvationofhumanity,butfor
Hisownmisdeeds"? Aretheseresemblancesaccidental,oraretheythe
outcomeofacontinuousplotagainsttheChristianfaith?
What,then,wastherleofJewsintheRevolution?Inthisconnexionitis
necessarytounderstandthesituationoftheJewsinFranceatthisperiod.
AfterthedecreeofbanishmentissuedbyCharlesVIin1394,Jewry,asa
body,hadceasedtoexist;buttowardstheendofthefifteenthcenturya
certainnumberofJews,drivenoutofSpainandPortugal,wereallowedto
settle in Bordeaux. These Spanish and Portuguese Jews, known as

Sephardim,appearedtoacquiesceintheChristianreligionandwerenot
officiallyregardedasJews,butenjoyedconsiderableprivilegesconferred
on them by Henri II. It was not until the beginning of the eighteenth
century, during the Regency, that Jews began to reappear in Paris.
Meanwhile,theannexationofAlsaceattheendofthepreviouscenturyhad
addedtothepopulationofFrancetheGermanJewsofthatprovinceknown
astheAshkenazim.
ItisimportanttodistinguishbetweenthesetworacesofJewsindiscussing
thequestionofJewish emancipationatthetimeof theRevolution.For
whilst the Sephardim had shown themselves good citizens and were
thereforesubjecttonopersecutions,theAshkenazimbytheirextortionate
usuryandoppressionshadmadethemselvesdetestedbythepeople,sothat
rigorouslawswereenforcedtorestraintheirrapacity.Thediscussionsthat
raged in the National Assembly on the subject of the Jewish question
relatedthereforemainlytotheJewsofAlsace.Already,in1784,theJews
ofBordeauxhadbeenaccordedfurtherconcessionsbyLouisXVI;in1776
allPortugueseJewshadbeengivenreligiouslibertyandthepermissionto
inhabit all parts of the kingdom. The decree of January 28, 1790,
conferringontheJewsofBordeauxtherightsofFrenchcitizens,putthe
finishingtouchtothisschemeofliberation.Buttheproposaltoextendthis
privilege to the Jews of Alsace evoked a storm of controversy in the
AssemblyandalsoviolentinsurrectionsamongsttheAlsatianpeasants.It
wasthusonbehalfofthepeoplethatseveraldeputiesprotestedagainstthe
decree. "The Jews," said the Abb Maury, "have traversed seventeen
centuries without mingling with other nations. They have never done
anythingbuttradewithmoney,theyhavebeenthescourgeofagricultural
provinces,notoneofthemhasknownhowtoennoblehishandsbyguiding
the plough." And he went on to point out that the Jews "must not be
persecuted,theymustbeprotectedasindividualsandnotasFrenchmen,
sincetheycannotbecitizens....Whateveryoudo,theywillalwaysremain
foreignersinourmidst."
Monseigneur de la Fare, Bishop of Nancy, adopted the same line of
argument:
Theymustbeaccordedprotection,safety,liberty;butshouldweadmitinto
the family a tribe that is foreign to it, that turns its eyes unceasingly
towardsacommoncountry,thataspirestoabandonthelandthatbearsit?...
My cahierordersmetoprotestagainstthemotionthathasbeenmadeto

you. The interest of the Jews themselves necessitates this protest. The
people have a horror of them; they are often in Alsace the victims of
popularrisings.625
In all this, as will be seen, there is no question of persecution, but of
precautionsagainstaracethatwilfullyisolatesitselffromtherestofthe
communityinordertopursueitsowninterestsandadvantages.TheJews
of Bordeaux indeed recognized the odium that the German Jews were
calculatedtobringontheJewishcause,andinanaddresstotheAssembly
onJanuary22,1790,dissociatedthemselvesfromtheaggressiveclaimsof
theAshkenazim:
WedaretobelievethatourconditioninFrancewouldnottodaybeopen
todiscussionifcertaindemandsoftheJewsofAlsace,Lorraine,andthe
TroisEvchs[i.e.Metz,Toul,andVerdun]hadnotcausedaconfusionof
ideaswhichappearstoreflectonus.Wedonotyetknowexactlywhat
thesedemandsare,buttojudgebythepublicpaperstheyappeartobe
rather extraordinary since these Jews aspire to live in France under a
special rgime,tohavelawspeculiartothemselves,andtoconstitutea
classofcitizensseparatedfromalltheothers.Asforus,ourconditionin
Francehaslongsincebeensettled.WehavebeennaturalizedFrenchsince
1550;wepossessallkindsofproperties,andweenjoytheunlimitedright
to acquire estates. We have neither laws, tribunals, nor officers of our
own626
InadoptingthisattitudetheSephardimcreatedaprecedentwhich,ifithad
beenfollowedhenceforthconsistentlybytheircoreligionists,mighthave
gonefartoallayprejudiceagainsttheJewishrace.Itwasthesolidarity
generallypresentedbytheJewstowardstherestofthecommunitywhich
excited alarm in the minds of French citizens. Thirty years earlier the
merchantsofParis,inapetitionagainsttheadmissionoftheJewstotheir
corporations,indicatedbyanadmirablesimilethedangerthissolidarity
offeredtofreecommerce.
The French merchant carries on his commerce alone; each commercial
houseisinawayisolated,whilsttheJews areparticlesofquicksilver,
whichattheleastslantruntogetherintoablock.627
Butinspiteofallprotests,thedecreeemancipatingtheJewsofAlsacewas

passed in September 1791, and hymns of praise were sung in the

synagogues.
WhatpartwasactuallyplayedbytheJewsinthetumultsoftheRevolution
itisimpossibletodetermine,forthereasonthattheyareseldomdesignated
assuchinthewritingsof contemporaries.OnthispointJewish writers
appeartobebetterinformedthantherestoftheworld,forMonsieurLon
Kahn in his panegyric on the part played by his coreligionists in the
Revolution628findsJewswhereevenDrumontfailedtodetectthem.Thus
wereadthatitwasaJew,Rosenthal,whoheadedthelegionknownbyhis
name,whichwassentagainstLaVendebuttooktoflight,629andwhich
wasthesubjectofcomplaintwhenemployedtoguardtheRoyalFamilyat
the Temple630; that amongst those who worked most energetically to
deprive the clergy of their goods was a Jewish exoldclothes seller,
ZalkindHourwitz;thatitwasaJewnamedLangwhomurderedthreeout
ofthefiveSwissguardsatthefootofthestaircaseintheTuilerieson
August10631;thatJewswereimplicatedinthetheftofthecrownjewelson
September16,1792,andonenamedLyrewasexecutedinconsequence;
thatitwasClootzandtheJewPereyra,andnot,asIhadstated,Hbert,
Chaumette,andMomoro,whowenttotheArchbishopGobelinNovember
1793andinducedhimbymeansofthreatstoabjuretheChristianfaith.632
AllthesefactswereunknowntomewhenIwrotemyaccountofthese
events;itwillbeseenthenthat,farfromexaggeratingtherleoftheJews
inTheFrenchRevolution,Iverymuchunderratedit.Indeedthequestionof
theircomplicityhadnotoccurredtomeatallwhenIwrotethisbook,and
the only Jew to whom I referred was Ephramsent to France by the
Illuminati Frederick William II and Bischoffswerderwhom M. Kahn
indicatesasplayinganevenmoreimportantpartthanIhadassignedto
him.
But illuminating as these incidents may be, it is yet open to question
whethertheyproveanyconcertedattemptonthepartoftheJewstobring
abouttheoverthrowoftheFrenchmonarchyandtheCatholicreligion.Itis
true, nevertheless, that they themselves boasted of their revolutionary
ardour.InanaddresspresentingtheirclaimsbeforetheNationalAssembly
in1789,theydeclare:
RegeneratorsoftheFrenchEmpire,youwouldnotwishthatweshould
cease to be citizens, since for already six months we have assiduously

performedall dutiesassuch,andtherecompense forthezealwehave

shown in accelerating the revolution will not be to condemn us to
participateinnoneofitsadvantagesnowthatithasbeenconsummated....
Nosseigneurs, we are all very good citizens, and in this memorable
revolutionwedaretosaythatthereisnotoneofuswhohasnotproved
himself.633
Inalltheseactivities,however,religiousfeelingappearstohaveplayedan
entirelysubordinatepart;theJews,ashasbeensaid,werefreebeforethe
Revolutiontocarryontheritesoftheirfaith.Andwhenthegreatanti
religiouscampaignbegan,manyofthementeredwholeheartedlyintothe
attack on all religious faiths, their own included. Thus on the 21st
Brumaire,whilsttheFeastsofReasonweretakingplaceinthechurchesof
Paris, we find "a deputation of Israelites" presenting themselves at the
National Assembly and "depositing on the bosom of the Mountain the
ornaments of which they had stripped a little temple they had in the
FaubourgSaintGermain."Atthesamemoment
ArevolutionarycommitteeoftheRunionbringstothegeneralcouncil
crosses, suns, chalices, copes, and quantities of other ornaments of
worship,andamemberofthiscommitteeobservesthatseveralofthese
effectsbelongtoindividualsoftheJewishrace.Aministerofthereligion
ofMoses,Abraham,andJacobasksinthenameofhiscoreligioniststhat
thesaideffectsshouldnotberegardedasbelongingtosuchandsucha
sect,...thiscitizenisnamedBenjaminJacob....Anothermemberofthe
samecommitteepayshomagetothepatrioticzealofthecitizensheretofore
Jews,...almostallhaveforestalledthewishoftherevolutionarycommittee
bythemselvesbringingtheirreliquariesandornaments,amongstothersthe
famouscopesaidtohavebelongedtoMoses.634
Onthe20thFrimaireat"theTempleofLiberty,"formerlythechurchofthe
Benedictines,"thecitizenAlexandreLambertfils,aJewbroughtupinthe
prejudicesoftheJewishreligion,"utteredaviolentharangueagainstall
religions:
I will prove to you, citizens, that all forms of worship are impostures
equally degrading to man and to divinities; I will not prove it by
philosophy,Idonotknowit,butonlybythelightofreason.

AfterdenouncingtheiniquitiesofboththeCatholicandProtestantfaiths,
Lambert demonstrates "the absurdities of the Jewish religion, of this
domineeringreligion";hethundersagainstMoses"governingasimpleand
agrarianpeoplelikeallcleverimpostors,"against"theservilerespectofthe
Jewsfortheirkings...theablutionsofwomen,"etc.Finallyhedeclares:
Thebadfaith,citizens,ofwhichtheJewishnationisaccused doesnot
comefromthemselvesbutfromtheirpriests.Theirreligion,whichwould
allowthemonlytolendtothoseoftheirnationat5percent.,tellsthemto
takealltheycanfromCatholics;itisevenhallowedasacustominour
morningprayerstosolicitGod'shelpincatchingoutaChristian.Thereis
more,citizens,anditistheclimaxofabomination:ifanymistakeismade
incommercebetweenJews,theyareorderedtomakereparation;butifon
100louisaChristianshouldhavepaid25toomuch,oneisnotboundto
returnthemtohim.Whatanabomination!Whatahorror!Andwheredoes
thatallcomefrombutfromtheRabbis?Whohaveexcitedproscriptions
againstus?Ourpriests!Ah,citizens,morethananythingintheworldwe
mustabjureareligionwhich,...bysubjectingustoirksomeandservile
practices,makesitimpossibleforustobegoodcitizens.635
TheencouragementaccordedbytheJewstotheFrenchRevolutionappears
thustohavebeenpromptednotbyreligiousfanaticismbutbyadesirefor
nationaladvantage.Thattheygainedimmenselybytheoverthrowofthe
Old Order is undeniable, for apart from the legislation passed on their
behalfintheNationalAssembly,thedisorderofthefinancesin1796was
suchthat,asM.LeonKahntellsus,acontemporaryjournalenquired:"Has
the Revolution then been only a financial scheme? a speculation of
bankers?"636WeknowfromPrudhommetowhatracethefinancierswho
principallyprofitedbythisdisorderbelonged.637
ButiftherleoftheJewsintheRevolutionremainsobscuretherecanbe
nodoubtofthepartplayedbythesecretsocietiesintherevoltagainstall
religion,allmorallaws,andsocialorder,whichhadbeenreducedtoa
systeminthecouncilsoftheIlluminati.
ItwasthisconspiracythatreasserteditselfintheBabouvisterisingof1796
which was directly inspired by the secret societies. After the death of
Babeuf,hisfriendandinspirerBuonarottiwiththeaidofMarat'sbrother
foundedamasoniclodge,the AmisSincres,whichwasaffiliatedtothe

Philadelphes,atGeneva,andas"DiacreMobile"ofthe"OrderofSublime
andPerfectMasons"createdthreenewsecretdegrees,inwhichthedevice
of theRoseCroixI.N.R.I.wasinterpretedassignifying"Justum necare
regesinjustos."638
Theparttobeassignedtoeachintrigueinpreparingtheworldmovement
ofwhichtheFrenchRevolutionwasthefirstexpressionisaquestionon
whichnoonecanspeakwithcertainty.But,asatthepresentmoment,the
compositenatureofthismovementmustneverbelosttosight.Largely
perhapstheworkofFredericktheGreat,itisprobablethatbutforthe
Orlanistes the plot against the French monarchy might have come to
nought; whilst again, but for his position at the head of illuminized
Freemasonry it is doubtful whether the Duc d'Orlans could have
commanded the forces of revolution. Further, how far the movement,
which, like the modern Bolshevist conspiracy, appears to have had
unlimitedfundsatitsdisposal,wasfinancedbytheJewsyetremainstobe
discovered. Hitherto only the first steps have been taken towards
elucidatingthetruthabouttheFrenchRevolution.
In the opinion of an early nineteenthcentury writer the sect which
engineeredtheFrenchRevolutionwasabsolutelyinternational:
TheauthorsoftheRevolutionarenotmoreFrenchthanGerman,Italian,
English,etc.Theyformaparticularnationwhichtookbirthandhasgrown
inthedarkness,inthemidstofallcivilizednations,withtheobjectof
subjectingthemtoitsdomination.639
ItiscurioustofindalmostpreciselythesameideaexpressedbytheDuke
ofBrunswick,formerlythe"EquesaVictoria"oftheStricteObservance,
"Aaron"oftheIlluminati,andGrandMasterofGermanFreemasonry,who,
whetherbecausetheRevolutionhaddoneitsworkindestroyingtheFrench
monarchyandnowthreatenedthesecurityofGermany,orwhetherbecause
hewasgenuinelydisillusionedintheOrderstowhichhehadbelonged,
issuedaManifestotoallthelodgesin1794,declaringthatinviewofthe
wayinwhichMasonryhadbeenpenetratedbythisgreatsectthewhole
Ordermustbetemporarilysuppressed.Itisessentialtoquoteapartofthis
importantdocumentverbatim:
Amidst the universal storm produced by the present revolutions in the
politicalandmoralworld,atthisperiodofsupremeilluminationandof

profoundblindness,itwouldbeacrimeagainsttruthandhumanitytoleave
anylongershroudedinaveilthingsthatcanprovidetheonlykeytopast
andfutureevents,thingsthatshouldshowtothousandsofmenwhetherthe
paththeyhavebeenmadetofollowisthepathoffollyorofwisdom.Ithas
to do with you, VV. FF. of all degrees and of all secret systems. The
curtainmustatlastbedrawnaside,sothatyourblindedeyesmayseethat
lightyouhaveeversoughtinvain,butofwhichyouhaveonlycaughta
few deceptive rays.... We have raised our building under the wings of
darkness; ... the darkness is dispelled, and a light more terrifying than
darknessitselfstrikessuddenlyonoursight.Weseeouredificecrumbling
andcoveringthegroundwithruins;weseedestructionthatourhandscan
nolongerarrest.Andthatiswhywesendawaythebuildersfromtheir
workshops.Withalastblowofthehammerweoverthrowthecolumnsof
salaries.Weleavethetempledeserted,andwebequeathitasagreatwork
toposteritywhichshallraiseitagainonitsruinsandbringittocompletion.
Brunswickthengoesontoexplainwhathasbroughtabouttheruinofthe
Order,namely,theinfiltrationofFreemasonrybysecretconspirators:
Agreatsectarosewhich,takingforitsmottothegoodandthehappinessof
man,workedinthedarknessoftheconspiracytomakethehappinessof
humanityapreyforitself.Thissectisknowntoeveryone:itsbrothersare
known no less than its name. It is they who have undermined the
foundationsoftheOrdertothepointofcompleteoverthrow;itisbythem
thatallhumanityhasbeenpoisonedandledastrayforseveralgenerations.
Thefermentthatreignsamongstthepeoplesistheirwork.Theyfounded
theplansoftheirinsatiableambitiononthepoliticalprideofnations.Their
foundersarrangedtointroducethisprideintotheheadsof thepeoples.
Theybeganbycastingodiumonreligion....Theyinventedtherightsof
manwhichitisimpossibletodiscovereveninthebookofNature,andthey
urged the people to wrest from their princes the recognition of these
supposedrights.Theplantheyhadformedforbreakingallsocialtiesand
ofdestroyingallorderwasrevealedinalltheirspeechesandacts.They
deluged the world with a multitude of publications; they recruited
apprenticesof everyrankandineveryposition;theydeludedthemost
perspicaciousmenbyfalselyallegingdifferentintentions.Theysowedin
theheartsofyouththeseedofcovetousness,andtheyexciteditwiththe
baitofthemostinsatiablepassions.Indomitablepride,thirstofpower,such
weretheonlymotivesofthissect:theirmastershadnothinglessinview

thanthethronesoftheearth,andthegovernmentofthenationswastobe
directedbytheirnocturnalclubs.Thisiswhathasbeendoneandisstill
beingdone.Butwenoticethatprincesandpeopleareunawarehowandby
whatmeansthisisbeingaccomplished.Thatiswhywesaytotheminall
frankness:ThemisuseofourOrder,themisunderstandingofoursecret,
hasproducedallthepoliticalandmoraltroubleswithwhichtheworldis
filledtoday.Youwhohavebeeninitiated,youmustjoinyourselveswith
us in raising your voices, so as to teach peoples and princes that the
sectarians, theapostates of our Order,havealonebeen andwillbethe
authors of present and future revolutions. We must assure princes and
peoples,onourhonourandourduty,thatourassociationisinnoway
guiltyoftheseevils.Butinorderthatourattestationsshouldhaveforceand
meritbelief,wemustmakeforprincesandpeopleacompletesacrifice;so
astocutouttotherootstheabuseanderror,wemustfromthismoment
dissolve the whole Order. This is why we destroy and annihilate it
completelyforthetime; wewillpreservethefoundationsfor posterity,
whichwillclearthemwhenhumanity,inbettertimes,canderivesome
benefitfromourholyalliance.640
Thus,intheopinionoftheGrandMasterofGermanFreemasonry,asecret
sectworkingwithinFreemasonryhadbroughtabouttheFrenchRevolution
andwouldbethecauseofallfuturerevolutions.Weshallnowpursuethe
courseofthissectafterthefirstupheavalhadended.
Three years after the Duke of Brunswick issued his Manifesto to the
lodges,thebooksofBarruel,Robison,andothersappeared,layingbarethe
wholeconspiracy.Ithasbeensaidthatallthesebooks"fellflat." 641Thisis
directlycontrarytothetruth.Barruel'sbookwentintonolessthaneight
editions, and I have described elsewhere the alarm that his work and
Robison's excited inAmerica. InEnglandtheyledtotheverytangible
resultthatalawwaspassedbytheEnglishParliamentin1799prohibiting
allsecretsocietieswiththeexceptionofFreemasonry.
Itisevident,then,thattheBritishGovernmentrecognizedthecontinued
existenceoftheseassociationsandthedangertheypresentedtotheworld.
ThisfactshouldbeborneinmindwhenweareassuredthatBarrueland
Robisonhadconjuredupabogeywhichmetwithnoseriousattentionfrom
responsiblemen.ForthemainpurposeofBarruel'sbookistoshowthatnot
onlyhadIlluminismandGrandOrientMasonrycontributedlargelytothe

FrenchRevolution,butthatthreeyearsafterthatfirstexplosiontheywere
stillasactiveasever.Thisisthegreatpointwhichthechampionsofthe
"bogey"theoryaremost anxioustorefute."TheBavarianOrder of the
Illuminati,"wroteMr.Waite,"wasfoundedbyAdamWeishauptin1776,
anditwassuppressedbytheElectorofBavariain1789....Thosewhosay
that'itwascontinuedinmoresecretforms'haveneverproducedoneitem
of real evidence."642 Now, as we have seen, the Illuminati were not
suppressedbytheElectorofBavariain1789,butin1786firsterrorofMr.
Waite. But more extraordinary confusion of mind is displayed in his
EncyclopdiaofFreemasonry,where,inaMasonicChronology,hegives,
thistimeunderthedateof1784,"SuppressionoftheIlluminati,"butunder
1793:"J.J.C.BodejoinedtheIlluminatiunderWeishaupt."Atamatterof
fact,thiswastheyearBodedied.Theseexampleswillservetoshowthe
reliance that can be placed on Mr. Waite's statement concerning the
Illuminati.
WeshallnowseethatnotonlytheIlluminatibutWeishaupthimselfstill
continuedtointriguelongaftertheFrenchRevolutionhadended.
DirectlytheReignofTerrorwasover,themasoniclodges,whichduring
theRevolutionhadbeenreplacedbytheclubs,begantoreopen,andbythe
beginningofthenineteenthcenturywereinamoreflourishingcondition
thaneverbefore."ItwasthemostbrilliantepochofMasonry,"wrotethe
Freemason Bazot in his History of Freemasonry. Nearly 1,200 lodges
existedinFranceundertheEmpire;generals,magistrates,artists,savants,
andnotabilitiesineverylinewereinitiatedintotheOrder. 643 Themost
eminentofthesewasPrinceCambacrs,proGrandMasteroftheGrand
Orient.
ItisinthemidstofthisperiodthatwefindWeishauptoncemoreatwork
behind the scenes of Freemasonry. Thus in the remarkable masonic
correspondencepublishedbyM.BenjaminFabreinhis EquesaCapite
Galeatoof which, as has already been pointed out, the authenticity is
admitted by eminent British Freemasonsa letter is reproduced from
Pyron,representativeinParisoftheGrandOrientofItaly,totheMarquis
de Chefdebien, dated September 9, 1808, in which it is stated that "a
memberofthesectofBav."hasaskedforinformationonacertainpointof
ritual.
OnDecember29,1808,Pyronwritesagain:"Bythewords'sectofB....'I

meantW....";andonDecember3,1809,putsthematterquiteplainly:"The
other word remaining at the end of my pen refers enigmatically to
Weis=pt."
So,asM.Fabrepointsout:
ThereisnolongeranydoubtthatitisaquestionhereofWeishaupt,andyet
oneobservesthathisnameisnotyetwritteninallitsletters.Itmustbe
admittedherethatPyrontookgreatprecautionswhenitwasamatterof
Weishaupt! And one is led to ask what could be the extraordinary
importanceoftherleplayedatthismomentintheFreemasonryofthe
FirstEmpirebythisWeishaupt,whowassupposedtohavebeenoutside
themasonicmovementsinceIlluminismwasbroughttotrialin1786!644
ButtheMarquisdeChefdebienentertainednoillusionsaboutWeishaupt,
whoseintrigueshehadalwaysopposed,andinaletterdatedMay12,1806,
to the Freemason Roettiers, who had referred to the danger of isolated
masoniclodges,heasks:
In good faith, very reverend brother, is it in isolated lodges that the
atrociousconspiracyofPhilippe[theDucd'Orlans]andRobespierrewas
formed?Isitfromisolatedlodgesthatthoseprominentmencameforth,
who, assembled at the Htel de Ville, stirred up revolt, devastation,
assassination? And is it not in the lodges bound together, coand sub
ordinated, that the monster Weishaupt established his tests and had his
horribleprinciplesprepared?645
If, then, as M. Gustave Bord asserts, the Marquis de Chefdebien had
himselfbelongedtotheIlluminatibeforetheRevolution,hereisindeed
IlluministevidenceinsupportofBarruel!Yetdisillusionedasthe"Equesa
CapiteGaleato"appearstohavebeenwithregardtoIlluminism,hestill
retained his allegiance to Freemasonry. This would tend to prove that,
howeversubversivethedoctrinesoftheGrandOrientmayhavebeenand
indeed undoubtedly wereit was not Freemasonry itself but Illuminism
whichorganizedthemovementofwhichtheFrenchRevolutionwasthe
firstmanifestation.AsMonsignorDillonhasexpressedit:
HadWeishauptnotlived,Masonrymighthaveceasedtobeapowerafter
thereactionconsequentontheFrenchRevolution.Hegaveitaformand
characterwhichcausedittooutlivethatreaction,toenergizetothepresent

day, and which will cause it to advance until its final conflict with
Christianity must determine whether Christ or Satan shall reign on this
earthtotheend.646
IftothewordMasonryweaddGrandOrientthatistosay,theMasonry
notofGreatBritain,butoftheContinentweshallbestillnearertothe
truth.
IntheearlypartofthenineteenthcenturyIlluminismwasthusasmuch
aliveasever.JosephdeMaistre,writingatthisperiod,constantlyrefersto
the danger it presents to Europe. Is it not also to Illuminism that a
mysteriouspassageinarecentworkofM.Lentrerefers?Inthecourseof
conversationwiththefriendsofthefalseDauphinHervagault.Monsignor
deSavineissaidtohave"madeallusionsinprudentandalmostterrified
termstosomeinternationalsect...apowersuperiortoallothers...which
hasarmsandeyeseverywhereandwhichgovernsEuropetoday."647
WheninWorldRevolutionIassertedthatduringtheperiodthatNapoleon
heldthereinsofpowerthedevastatingfireofIlluminismwastemporarily
extinguished, I wrote without knowledge of some important documents
whichprovethatIlluminismcontinuedwithoutbreakfromthedateofits
foundation all through the period of the Empire. So far, then, from
overstatingthecase bysayingthatIlluminismdidnotceasein1786,I
understateditbysuggestingthatitceasedevenforthisbriefinterval.The
documents in which this evidence is to be found are referred to by
LombarddeLangres,who,writingin1820,observesthattheJacobinswere
invisiblefromthe18thBrumaireuntil1813,andgoesontosay:
Here the sect disappears; we find to guide us during this period only
uncertainnotions,scatteredfragments;theplotsofIlluminismlieburiedin
theboxesoftheImperialpolice.
Butthecontentsoftheseboxesnolongerlieburied;transportedtothe
ArchivesNationales,thedocumentsinwhichtheintriguesofIlluminism
arelaidbarehaveatlastbeengiventothepublic.Heretherecanbeno
question of imaginative abbs, Scotch professors, or American divines
conjuringupabogeytoalarmtheworld;thesedryofficialreportsprepared
forthevigilanteyeoftheEmperor,never intendedandneverusedfor
publication, relate calmly and dispassionately what the writers have
themselves heard and observed concerning the danger that Illuminism

presentstoallformsofsettledgovernment.
The author of the most detailed report648 is one Franois Charles de
Berckheim,specialcommissionerofpoliceatMayencetowardstheendof
the Empire, who as a Freemason is naturally not disposed to prejudice
against secret societies. In October 1810 he writes, however, that his
attentionhasbeendrawntotheIlluminatibyapamphletwhichhasjust
fallenintohishands,namelythe EssaisurlaSectedesIllumins,which,
likemanycontemporaries,heattributesoriginallytoMirabeau.Hethen
goesontoaskwhetherthesectstillexists,andifsowhetheritisindeed
"anassociationoffrightfulscoundrelswhoaim,asMirabeauassuresus,at
theoverthrowofalllawandallmorality,atreplacingvirtuebycrimein
everyactofhumanlife."Further,heaskswhetherbothsectsofIllumins
have now combined in one and what are their present projects.
ConversationswithotherFreemasonsfurtherincreaseBerckheim'sanxiety
onthesubject;oneofthebestinformedobservestohim:"Iknowagreat
deal,enoughatanyratetobeconvincedthattheIlluminshavevowedthe
overthrow of monarchic governments and of all authority on the same
basis."
Berckheimthereuponsetsouttomakeenquiries,withtheresultthatheis
abletostatethattheIlluminshaveinitiatesalloverEurope,thattheyhave
spared no efforts to introduce their principles into the lodges, and "to
spreadadoctrinesubversiveofallsettledgovernment...underthepretext
oftheregenerationofsocialmoralityandtheameliorationofthelotand
conditionofmenbymeansoflawsfoundedonprinciplesandsentiments
unknown hitherto and contained only in the heads of the leaders."
"Illuminism,"hedeclares,"isbecomingagreatandformidablepower,and
Ifear,inmyconscience,thatkingsandpeopleswillhavemuchtosuffer
fromitunlessforesightandprudencebreakitsfrightfulmechanism[ses
affreuxrestorts]."
Two years later, on January 16, 1813, Berckheim writes again to the
MinisterofPolice:
Monseigneur,theywritetomefromHeidelberg...thatagreatnumberof
initiates into the mysteries of Illuminism are to be found there. These
gentlemenwearasasignofrecognitionagoldringonthethirdfingerof
thelefthand;onthebackofthisringthereisalittlerose,inthemiddleof
thisroseisanalmostimperceptibledint;bypressingthiswiththepointofa

pinonetouchesaspring,bythismeansthetwogoldcirclesaredetached.
Ontheinsideofthefirstofthesecirclesisthedevice:"BeGermanasyou
oughttobe";ontheinsideofthesecondofthesecirclesareengravedthe
words"ProPatria."
SubversiveastheideasoftheIlluminatimightbe,theywerethereforenot
subversive of German patriotism. We shall find this apparent paradox
runningallthroughtheIlluministmovementtothepresentday.
In 1814 Berckheim drew up his great report on the secret societies of
Germany, which is of so much importance in throwing a light on the
workings of the modern revolutionary movement, that extracts must be
given here at length.649 His testimony gains greater weight from the
vagueness he displays on the origins of Illuminism and the role it had
playedbeforetheFrenchRevolution;itisevident,therefore,thathehad
not taken his ideas from Robison or Barruelto whom he never once
refersbutfrominformationgleanedonthespotinGermany.Theopening
paragraphsfinallyrefutethefallacyconcerningtheextinctionofthesectin
1786.
The oldest and most dangerous association is that which is generally
known under the denomination of the Illumins and of which the
foundationgoesbacktowardsthemiddleofthelastcentury.Bavariawas
itscradle;itissaidthatithadforfoundersseveralchiefsoftheOrderofthe
Jesuits;butthisopinion,advancedperhapsatrandom,isfoundedonlyon
uncertainpremises;inanycase,inashorttimeitmaderapidprogress,and
theBavarianGovernmentrecognizedthenecessityofemployingmethods
ofrepressionagainstitandevenofdrivingawayseveraloftheprincipal
sectaries.Butitcouldnoteradicatethegermoftheevil.TheIlluminswho
remained in Bavaria, obliged to wrap themselves in darkness so as to
escapetheeyeofauthority,becameonlythemoreformidable:therigorous
measuresofwhichtheyweretheobject,adornedbythetitleofpersecution,
gainedthemnewproselytes,whilstthebanishedmemberswenttocarrythe
principles of the Association into other States. Thus in a few years
IlluminismmultiplieditshotbedsallthroughthesouthofGermany,andas
aconsequenceinSaxony,inPrussia,inSweden,andeveninRussia.The
reveries of the Pietists have long been confounded with those of the
Illumins.Thiserrormayarisefromthedenominationofthesect,whichat
firstsuggeststheideaofapurelyreligiousfanaticismandofmysticforms

whichitwasobligedtotakeatitsbirthinordertoconcealitsprinciples
andprojects;buttheAssociationalwayshadapoliticaltendency.Ifitstill
retainssomemystictraits,itisinordertosupportitselfatneedbythe
powerofreligiousfanaticism,andweshallseeinwhatfollowshowwellit
knowstoturnthistoaccount.ThedoctrineofIlluminismissubversiveof
everykindofmonarchy;unlimitedliberty,absolutelevellingdown,suchis
thefundamentaldogmaofthesect;tobreakthetiesthatbindtheSovereign
tothecitizenofastate,thatistheobjectofallitsefforts.Nodoubtsomeof
theprincipalchiefs,amongstwhomarenumberedmendistinguishedfor
theirfortune,theirbirth,andthedignitieswithwhichtheyareinvested,are
notthedupesofthesedemagogicdreams:theyhopetofindinthepopular
emotionstheystirupthemeansofseizingthereignsofpower,oratany
rateofincreasingtheirwealthandtheircredit;butthecrowdofadepts
believeinitreligiously,and,inordertoreachthegoalshowntothem,they
maintain incessantly a hostile attitude towards sovereigns. Thus the
Illumins hailedwithenthusiasmtheideasthatprevailedinFrancefrom
1789 to 1804. Perhaps they were not foreign to the intrigues which
preparedtheexplosionsof1789andthefollowingyears;butiftheydidnot
takeanactivepartinthesemanoeuvres,itisatleastbeyonddoubtthatthey
openly applauded the systems which resulted from them; that the
Republican armies when they penetrated into Germany found in these
sectariansauxiliariesthemoredangerousforthesovereignsoftheinvaded
statesinthattheyinspirednodistrust,andwecansaywithassurancethat
morethanonegeneraloftheRepublicowedapartofitssuccesstohis
understandingwiththeIllumins.Itwouldbeamistakeifoneconfounded
IlluminismwithFreemasonry.Thesetwoassociations,inspiteofthepoints
ofresemblancetheymaypossessinthemysterywithwhichtheysurround
themselves,intheteststhatprecedeinitiation,andinothermattersofform,
areabsolutelydistinctandhavenokindofconnexionwitheachother.The
lodgesoftheScottishRitenumber,itistrue,afewIlluminsamongstthe
Masonsofthehigherdegrees,buttheseadeptsareverycarefulnottobe
knownassuchtotheirbrothersinMasonryortomanifestideasthatwould
betraytheirsecret.
Berckheim then goes on to describe the subtle methods by which the
Illuminatinowmaintaintheirexistence;learningwisdomfromtheevents
of1786,theirorganizationiscarriedoninvisibly,soastodefytheeyeof
authority:

ItwasthoughtforalongwhilethattheassociationhadaGrandMastership,
thatistosay,acentrepointfromwhichradiatedalltheimpulsionsgivento
thisgreatbody,andthisprimarymotivepowerwassoughtforsuccessively
inallthecapitalsoftheNorth,inParisandeveninRome.Thiserrorgave
birth to another opinion no less fallacious: it was supposed that there
existed in the principal towns lodges where initiations were made and
whichreceiveddirectlytheinstructionsemanatingfromtheheadquartersof
theSociety.IfsuchhadbeentheorganizationofIlluminism,itwouldnot
solonghaveescapedtheinvestigationsofwhichitwastheobject:these
meetings, necessarily thronged and frequent, requiring besides, like
masoniclodges,appropriatepremises,wouldhavearousedtheattentionof
magistrates:itwouldnothavebeendifficulttointroducefalsebrothers,
who,directedandprotectedbyauthority,wouldsoonhavepenetratedthe
secretsofthesect.ThisiswhatIhavegatheredmostdefinitelyonthe
Association of the Illumins: First I would point out that by the word
hotbeds [foyers] I did not mean to designate points of meeting for the
adepts,placeswheretheyholdassemblies,butonlylocalitieswherethe
Associationcountsagreatnumberofpartisans,who,whilstlivingisolated
inappearance,exchangeideas,haveanunderstandingwitheachother,and
advancetogethertowardsthesamegoal.TheAssociationhad,itistrue,
assembliesatitsbirthwherereceptions[i.e.initiations]tookplace,butthe
dangers which resulted from these made them feel the necessity of
abandoningthem.Itwassettledthateachinitiatedadeptshouldhavethe
rightwithoutthehelpofanyoneelsetoinitiateallthosewho,afterthe
usualtests,seemedtohimworthy.Thecatechismofthesectiscomposed
ofaverysmallnumberofarticleswhichmightevenbereducedtothis
singleprinciple:"Toarmtheopinionofthepeoplesagainstsovereignsand
toworkbyeverymethodforthefallofmonarchicgovernmentsinorderto
foundintheirplacesystemsofabsoluteindependence."Everythingthat
cantendtowardsthisobjectisinthespiritoftheAssociation....Initiations
arenotaccompanied,asinMasonry,byphantasmagorictrials,...butthey
areprecededbylongmoraltestswhichguaranteeinthesafestwaythe
fidelityofthecatechumen;oaths,amixtureofallthatismostsacredin
religion,threatsandimprecationsagainsttraitors,nothingthatcanstagger
theimaginationisspared;buttheonlyengagementintowhichtherecipient
entersistopropagatetheprincipleswithwhichhehasbeenimbued,to
maintaininviolablesecrecyonallthatpertainstotheassociation,andto
workwithallhismighttoincreasethenumberofproselytes.Itwillno

doubtseemastonishingthattherecanbetheleastaccordintheassociation,
and that men bound together by no physical tie and who live at great
distancesfromeachothercancommunicatetheirideastoeachother,make
plansofconduct,andgivegroundsoffeartoGovernments;butthereexists
aninvisiblechainwhichbindstogetherallthescatteredmembersofthe
association.Hereareafewlinks:Alltheadeptslivinginthesametown
usuallyknoweachother,unlessthepopulationofthetownorthenumber
oftheadeptsistooconsiderable.Inthislastcasetheyaredividedinto
severalgroups,whoareallintouchwitheachotherbymeansofmembers
oftheassociationwhompersonalrelationsbindtotwoorseveralgroupsat
atime.Thesegroupsareagainsubdividedintosomanyprivatecoteries
which the difference of rank, of fortune, of character, tastes, etc., may
necessitate: they are always small, sometimes composed of five or six
individuals,whomeetfrequentlyundervariouspretexts,sometimesatthe
house of one member, sometimes at that of another; literature, art,
amusementsofallkindsaretheapparentobjectofthesemeetings,anditis
nevertheless in these confabulations [conciliabules] that the adepts
communicatetheirprivateviewstoeachother,agreeonmethods,receive
thedirectionsthattheintermediariesbringthem,andcommunicatetheir
ownideastothesesameintermediaries,whothengoontopropagatethem
inothercoteries.Itwillbeunderstoodthattheremaybeuniformityinthe
march of all these separated groups, and that one day may suffice to
communicatethesameimpulsetoallthequartersofalargetown....These
arethemethodsbywhichtheIllumins,withoutanyapparentorganization,
withoutsettledleaders,agreetogetherfromthebanksoftheRhinetothose
oftheNeva,fromtheBaltictotheDardanelles,andadvancecontinually
towardsthesamegoal,withoutleavinganytracethatmightcompromise
the interests of the association or even bring suspicion on any of its
members;themostactivepolicewouldfailbeforesuchacombination....
AstheprincipalforceoftheIlluminsliesinthepowerofopinions,they
havesetthemselvesoutfromthebeginningtomakeproselytesamongstthe
menwhothroughtheirprofessionexerciseadirectinfluenceonminds,
suchas littrateurs,savants,andaboveallprofessors.Thelatterintheir
chairs,theformerintheirwritings,propagatetheprinciplesofthesectby
disguisingthepoisonthattheycirculateunderathousanddifferentforms.
Thesegerms,oftenimperceptibletotheeyesofthevulgar,areafterwards
developed by the adepts of the Societies they frequent, and the most
obscure wording is thus brought to the understanding of the least

discerning.ItisaboveallintheUniversitiesthatIlluminismhasalways
found and always will find numerous recruits. Those professors who
belongtotheAssociationsetoutfromthefirsttostudythecharacterof
their pupils. If a student gives evidence of a vigorous mind, an ardent
imagination,thesectariesatoncegetholdofhim,theysoundinhisearsthe
wordsDespotismTyrannyRightsofthePeople,etc.,etc.Beforehecan
evenattachanymeaningtothesewords,asheadvancesinage,reading
chosen for him, conversations skilfully arranged, develop the germs
deposited in his youthful brain; soon his imagination ferments, history,
traditionsoffabuloustimes,allaremadeuseoftocarryhisexaltationto
thehighestpoint,andbeforeevenhehasbeentoldofasecretAssociation,
tocontributetothefallofasovereignappearstohiseyesthenoblestand
mostmeritoriousact....Atlast,whenhehasbeencompletelycaptivated,
whenseveralyearsoftestingguaranteetothesocietyinviolablesecrecy
andabsolutedevotion,itismadeknowntohimthatmillionsofindividuals
distributedinalltheStatesofEuropesharehissentimentsandhishopes,
thatasecretlinkbindsfirmlyallthescatteredmembersofthisimmense
family,andthatthereformshedesiressoardentlymustsoonerorlater
come about. This propaganda is rendered the easier by the existing
associationsofstudentswhomeettogetherforthestudyofliterature,for
fencing, gaming, or even mere debauchery. The Illumins insinuate
themselves into all these circles and turn them into hotbeds for the
propagationoftheirprinciples.Such,then,istheAssociation'scontinual
modeofprogressionfromitsoriginsuntilthepresentmoment;itisby
conveyingfromchildhoodthegermofpoisonintothehighestclassesof
society,infeedingthemindsofstudentsonideasdiametricallyopposedto
thatorderofthingsunderwhichtheyhavetolive,inbreakingthetiesthat
bindthemtosovereigns,thatIlluminismhasrecruitedthelargestnumber
ofadepts,calledbythestatetowhichtheywereborntobethemainstaysof
the Throne and of a system which would ensure them honours and
privileges. Amongst the proselytes of this last class there are some no
doubt whom political events, the favour of the prince or other
circumstances, detach from the Association; but the number of these
desertersisnecessarilyverylimited:andeventhentheydarenotspeak
openlyagainsttheiroldassociates,whetherbecausetheyareindreadof
privatevengeancesorwhetherbecause,knowingtherealpowerofthesect,
theywanttokeeppathsofreconciliationopentothemselves;oftenindeed
theyaresofetteredbythepledgestheyhavepersonallygiventhattheyfind

itnecessarynotonlytoconsidertheinterestsofthesect,buttoserveit
indirectly,althoughtheirnewcircumstancesdemandthecontrary....
BerckheimthenproceedstoshowthatthosewritersonIlluminismwere
mistaken who declared that political assassinations were definitely
commandedbytheOrder:
There is more than exaggeration in this accusation; those who put it
forward,morezealousinstrikinganeffectthaninseekingthetruth,may
have concluded, not without probability, that men who surrounded
themselveswithprofoundmystery,whopropagatedadoctrineabsolutely
subversiveofanykindofmonarchy,dreamtonlyoftheassassinationof
sovereigns;butexperiencehasshown(andallthedocumentsderivedfrom
theleastsuspectsourcesconfirmthis)thattheIlluminscountagreatdeal
more on the power of opinion than on assassination; the regicide
committed on Gustavus III is perhaps the only crime of this kind that
Illuminismhasdaredtoattempt,ifindeeditisreallyprovedthatthiscrime
was its work; moreover, if assassination had been, as it is said, the
fundamentalpointinitsdoctrine,mightwenotsupposethatotherregicides
wouldhavebeenattemptedinGermanyduringthecourseoftheFrench
Revolution,especiallywhentheRepublicanarmiesoccupiedthecountry?
Thesectwouldbemuchlessformidableifthiswereitsdoctrine,ontheone
handbecauseitwouldinspireinmostoftheIlluminsafeelingofhorror
whichwouldtriumphevenoverthefearofvengeance,ontheotherhand
becauseplotsandconspiraciesalwaysleavesometraceswhichguidethe
authoritiestothefootstepsoftheprimeinstigators;andbesides,itisthe
nature of things that out of twenty plots directed against sovereigns,
nineteen come to light before they have reached the point of maturity
necessarytotheirexecution.TheIllumins'lineofmarchismoreprudent,
moreskilful,andconsequentlymoredangerous;insteadofrevoltingthe
imaginationbyideasofregicide,theyaffectthemostgeneroussentiments:
declamations on the unhappy state of the people, on the selfishness of
courtiers,onmeasuresofadministration,onallactsofauthoritythatmay
offerapretexttodeclamationsasacontrasttotheseductivepicturesofthe
felicitythatawaitsthenationsunderthesystemstheywishtoestablish,
suchistheirmannerofprocedure,particularlyinprivate.Morecircumspect
intheirwritings,theyusuallydisguise thepoisontheydarenotproffer
openlyunder obscuremetaphysics or more or less ingenious allegories.
OftenindeedtextsfromHolyWritserveasanenvelopeandvehiclefor

thesebanefulinsinuations....
Bythiscontinuousandinsidiousformofpropagandatheimaginationofthe
adeptsissoworkedonthatifacrisisarises,theyarereadyto,carryoutthe
mostdaringprojects.
AnotherAssociationcloselyresemblingthe Illumins,Berckheimreports,
is known as the Idealists, whose system is founded on the doctrine of
perfectibility;thesekindredsects"agreeinseeinginthewordsofHoly
Scripture the pledge of universal regeneration, of an absolute levelling
down,anditisinthisspiritthatthesectariansinterpretthesacredbooks."
Berckheim further confirms the assertion I made in World Revolution
contested, as usual, by a reviewer without a shred of evidence to the
contrarythattheTugendbundderivedfromtheIlluminati."TheLeagueof
Virtue,"hewrites,"wasdirectedbythesecondarychiefsoftheIllumins....
In1810theFriendsofVirtueweresoidentifiedwiththeIlluminsinthe
NorthofGermanythatnolineofdemarcationwasseenbetweenthem."
Butitistimetoturntothetestimonyofanotherwitnessontheactivitiesof
the secret societies which is likewise to be found at the Archives
Nationales.650 This consists of a document transmitted by the Court of
ViennatotheGovernmentofFranceaftertheRestoration,andcontainsthe
interrogatoryofacertainWittDoehring,anephewoftheBarond'Eckstein,
who,aftertakingpartinsecretsocietyintrigues,wassummonedbeforethe
judgeAbel at BayreuthinFebruary,1824.Amongstsecret associations
recently existing in Germany, the witness asserted, were the
"Independents"andthe"Absolutes";thelatter"adoredinRobespierretheir
most perfect ideal, so that the crimes committed during the French
RevolutionbythismonsterandtheMontagnardsoftheConventionwerein
theireyes,inaccordancewiththeirmoralsystem,heroicactionsennobled
andsanctifiedbytheiraim."Thesamedocumentgoesontoexplainwhyso
many combustible elements had failed to produce an explosion in
Germany:
ThethingthatseemedthegreatobstacletotheplansoftheIndependents...
was what they called the servile character and the doglike fidelity
[Hundestreue]oftheGermanpeople,thatistosay,thatattachmentinnate
andfirmlyimpressedontheirmindswithouteventheaidofreasonwhich
thatexcellentpeopleeverywherebearstowardsitsprinces.

AtravellerinGermanyduringtheyear1795admirablysummedupthe
matterinthesewords:
TheGermansareinthisrespect[ofdemocracy]themostcuriouspeoplein
theworld...thecoldandsober temperamentoftheGermans andtheir
tranquilimaginationenablethemtocombinethemostdaringopinionswith
the most servile conduct. That will explain to you ... why so much
combustiblematerialaccumulatingforsomanyyearsbeneaththepolitical
edifice of Germany has not yet damaged it. Most of the princes,
accustomedtoseetheirmenofletterssoconstantlyfreeintheirwritings
andsoconstantlyslavishintheirhearts,havenotthoughtitnecessaryto
useseverityagainstthissheeplikeherdofmodernGracchiandBrutuses.
Someofthem[theprinces]haveevenwithoutdifficultyadoptedpartof
theiropinions,andIlluminismhavingdoubtlessbeenpresentedtothemas
perfection,thecomplementofphilosophy,theywereeasilypersuadedtobe
initiatedintoit.Butgreatcarewastakennottoletthemknowmorethan
theinterestsofthesectdemanded.651
ItwasthusthatIlluminism,unabletoprovokeablazeinthehomeofits
birth,spread,asbeforetheFrenchRevolution,toamoreinflammableLatin
racethistimetheItalians.SixyearsafterhisinterrogatoryatBeyreuth,
WittDoehringpublishedhisbookonthesecretsocietiesofFranceand
Italy, in which he now realized he had played the part of dupe, and
incidentallyconfirmsthestatementIhavepreviouslyquoted,thattheAlta
VenditawasafurtherdevelopmentoftheIlluminati.
Thisinfamousassociation,withwhichIhavedealtatlengthelsewhere, 652
constitutedtheSupremeDirectoryoftheCarbonariandwasledbyagroup
ofItaliannoblemen,amongstwhomaprince,"theprofoundestofinitiates,
waschargedasInspectorGeneraloftheOrder"topropagateitsprinciples
throughout the North of Europe. "He had received from the hands of
Kingge[i.e.Knigge,theallyofWeishaupt?]thecahiersofthelastthree
degrees." But these were of course unknown to the great majority of
Carbonari,whoenteredtheassociationinallgoodfaith.WittDoehring
thenshowshowfaithfullythesystemofWeishauptwascarriedoutbythe
AltaVendita.Inthethreefirstdegrees,heexplains
ItisstillaquestionofthemoralityofChristianityandevenoftheChurch,
for which those who wish to be received must promise to sacrifice
themselves.Theinitiatesimagine,accordingtothisformula,thattheobject

oftheassociationissomethinghighandnoble,thatitistheOrderofthose
whodesireapurermoralityandastrongerpiety,theindependenceandthe
unityoftheircountry.OnecannotthereforejudgetheCarbonarienmasse;
thereareexcellentmenamongstthem....Buteverythingchangesafterone
hastakenthethreedegrees.Alreadyinthefourth,inthatoftheApostoli,
onepromisestooverthrowallmonarchies,andespeciallythekingsofthe
raceoftheBourbons.Butitisonlyintheseventhandlastdegree,reached
byfew,thatrevelationsgofurther.Atlasttheveilistorncompletelyforthe
PrincipiSummoPatriarcho.ThenonelearnsthattheaimoftheCarbonari
isjustthesameasthatoftheIllumins.Thisdegree,inwhichamanisat
the same time prince and bishop, coincides with the Homo Rex of the
latter. The initiate vows the ruin of all religion and of all positive
government,whetherdespoticordemocratic;murder,poison,perjury,are
allattheirdisposal.Whodoesnotrememberthatonthesuppressionofthe
Illumins was found, amongst other poisons, a tinctura ad abortum
faciendum.ThesummomaestrolaughsatthezealofthemassofCarbonari
whohavesacrificedthemselvesforthelibertyandindependenceofItaly,
neitheronenortheotherbeingforhimagoalbutamethod.653
WittDoehring,whohadhimselfreachedthedegreeofP.S.P.,thereupon
declaresthat,havingtakenhisvowsunderamisapprehension,heholds
himselftobereleasedfromhisobligationsandconceivesithisdutyto
warnsociety."Thefearsthatassailgovernmentsareonlytoowellfounded.
ThesoilofEuropeisvolcanic."654
It is unnecessary to go over the ground already traversed in World
Revolutionbyrelatingthehistoryofthesuccessiveeruptionswhichproved
thetruthofWittDoehring'swarning.Thepointtoemphasizeagainisthat
every one of these eruptions can be traced to the work of the secret
societies, and that, as in the eighteenth century, most of the prominent
revolutionarieswereknowntobeconnectedwithsomesecretassociation.
According to the plan laid down by Weishaupt, Freemasonry was
habituallyadoptedasacover.ThusLouis AmisdelaVrit,numbering
BazardandBuchezamongstBlanc,himselfaFreemason,speaksofalodge
named the its founders, "in which the solemn puerilities of the Grand
Orientonlyservedtomaskpoliticalaction." 655Bakunin,companionofthe
FreemasonProudhon,656 "thefatherofAnarchy,"makesuseofprecisely
thesameexpression.Freemasonry,heexplains,isnottobetakenseriously,

but"mayserveasamask"and"asameansofpreparingsomethingquite
different."657
IhavequotedelsewherethestatementoftheSocialistMalonthat"Bakunin
wasadiscipleofWeishaupt,"andthatoftheAnarchistKropotkinethat
betweenBakunin'ssecretsocietytheAllianceSocialeDmocratiqueand
thesecretsocietiesof1795therewasadirectaffiliation;Ihavequotedthe
assertion of Malon that "Communism was handed down in the dark
throughthesecretsocieties"ofthenineteenthcentury;Ihavequotedalso
thecongratulationsaddressedbyLamartineandtheFreemasonCrmieux
totheFreemasonsofFrancein1848ontheirshareinthisrevolutionasin
thatof1789;Ihaveshownthattheorganizationofthislateroutbreakby
thesecretsocietiesisnotamatterofsurmise,butafactadmittedbyall
wellinformed historians and by the members of the secret societies
themselves.
So,too,intheeventsoftheCommune,andinthefoundingoftheFirst
Internationale,theroleofFreemasonryandthesecretsocietiesisnoless
apparent.TheFreemasonsofFrancehaveindeedalwaysboastedoftheir
shareinpoliticalandsocialupheavals.Thusin1874,Malapert,oratorof
theSupremeCounciloftheAncientandAcceptedScottishRite,wentso
farastosay:"IntheeighteenthcenturyFreemasonrywassowidespread
throughouttheworldthatonecansaythatsincethatepochnothinghas
beendonewithoutitsconsent."
ThesecrethistoryofEuropeduringthelasttwohundredyearsyetremains
tobewritten.Untilviewedinthelightofthe dessousdescartes,many
events that have taken place during this period must remain for ever
incomprehensible.
Butitistimetoleavethepastandconsiderthesecretforcesatworkinthe
worldtoday.

Part II:
The Present

Chapter 11:

Modern Freemasonry
In the foregoing portion of this book we have followed the history of
Freemasonry in the past and the various interpretations that have been
placedonitsritesandceremonies.Thequestionnowarises:whatisthe
roleofFreemasonrytoday?
Thefundamentalerrorofmostwritersonthisquestion,whetherMasonic
orantiMasonic,istorepresentallFreemasonsasholdingacommonbelief
andanimatedbyacommonpurpose.Thusononehandthepanegyricsby
FreemasonsontheirOrderasawhole,andontheotherhandthesweeping
condemnationsoftheOrderbytheCatholicChurch,areequallyatfault.
ThetruthisthatFreemasonryinagenericsense issimplyasystemof
binding men together for any given purpose, since it is obvious that
allegoriesandsymbols,likethexandyofalgebra,canbeinterpretedina
hundreddifferentmanners.Twopillarsmaybesaidtorepresentstrength
andstability,ormanandwoman,orlightanddarkness,oranyothertwo
thingsweplease.AtrianglemaysignifytheTrinity,orLiberty,Equality,
andFraternity,oranyothertriad.Tosaythatanyofthesesymbolshavean
absolutemeaningisabsurd.
The allegories of Freemasonry are equally capable of various
interpretations.ThebuildingoftheTempleofSolomonmaysignifythe
progressofanyundertakingandHiramthevictimofitsopponents.Soalso
with regard to the "secret tradition" of Freemasonry concerning "a loss
whichhasbefallenhumanity"658 anditsultimaterecovery.Anybodyof
peopleworkingforanobjectmaybesaidtohaveexperiencedalossandto
aimatitsrecovery.
In the same way the whole organization of Freemasonry, the plan of
admittingcandidatestosuccessivedegreesofinitiation,ofbindingthemto
secrecy byfearful oaths,is onethatcanbeemployedfor anypurpose,

social, political, philanthropic, or religious, for promoting that which is

goodorfordisseminatingthatwhichisevil.Itmaybeusedtodefenda
throneortooverthrowit,toprotectreligionortodestroyit,tomaintainlaw
andorderortocreateanarchy.
Now,therewas,aswehaveseen,fromthebeginning,besidesthewritten
charges,an oraltraditioninMasonry,afterthemanneroftheCabala,on
whichtheguidanceofthesocietydepended.Thetruecharacterofanyform
ofFreemasonryisthusnottobejudgedonlybyitsprintedritual,butbythe
oral instruction of the initiates and the interpretations placed on the
symbols and ritual. Naturally these interpretations vary in different
countriesandatdifferentperiods.FreemasonryisdescribedinitsRitualas
"a peculiar system of morality, veiled in allegory and illustrated by
symbols."Butwhatcodeofmorality?InstudyingthehistoryoftheOrder
weshallfindthatthesamecodewasbynomeanscommontoallmasonic
bodies,norisittoday.Somemaintainaveryhighstandardofmorals;
othersappeartopossessnostandardatall.Mr.Waiteobservesthat"the
twodoctrinesoftheunityofGodandtheimmortalityofthesoulconstitute
'thephilosophyofFreemasonry.'"659Butthesedoctrinesarebynomeans
essentialtotheexistenceofFreemasonry;theGrandOrienthasrenounced
both,butitstillranksasFreemasonry.
M.PaulNourrissonisthereforeperfectlyrightinsaying:"Thereareas
many Masonries as countries; there is no such thing as universal
Masonry."660Broadly,however,modernFreemasonrymaybedividedinto
twokinds:thevarietyworkedintheBritishEmpire,inAmerica,Holland,
Sweden, Denmark, etc., and Grand Orient Masonry, which prevails in
CatholiccountriesandofwhichthemostimportantcentreistheGrand
OrientofParis.
Continental Masonry
ThefactthatMasonryinProtestantcountriesisneitherrevolutionarynor
antireligious is frequently used by Catholic writers to show that
Protestantism identifies itself with the aims of Masonry, and by
FreemasonstoprovethatthetyrannyoftheChurchofRomehasdriven
MasonryintoanattitudehostiletoChurchandState.Thepointoverlooked
inboththesecontentionsistheessentialdifferenceinthecharacterofthe
twokindsofMasonry.IftheGrandOrienthadadheredtothefundamental

principleofBritishMasonrynottoconcernitselfwithreligionorpolitics,
thereisnoreasonwhyitshouldhavecomeintoconflictwiththeChurch.
Butitsduplicityonthispointisapparent.Thusinoneofitsearliermanuals
itdeclares,likeBritishMasonry,thatit"neverinterfereswithquestionsof
governmentorofcivilandreligiouslegislation,andthatwhilstmakingits
membersparticipateintheperfectingofallsciences,itpositivelyexcepts
inthelodgestwoofthemostbeautiful,politicsandtheology,becausethese
twosciencesdividemenandnationswhichMasonryconstantlytendsto
unite."661 But on a further page of the same manual from which this
quotationistakenwefinditstatedthatMasonryissimply"thepolitical
applicationofChristianity."662Indeed,duringthelastfiftyyearstheGrand
Orienthasthrownoffthemaskandopenlydeclareditselftobepoliticalin
itsaims.InOctober1887theVenerableBro Blancsaidinadiscourse
whichwasprintedforthelodges:
You recognise with me, my brothers, the necessity for Freemasonry to
becomeavastandpowerfulpoliticalandsocialsocietyhavingadecisive
influenceontheresolutionsoftheRepublicangovernment.663
Andin1890theFreemasonFernandMauricedeclared"thatnothingshould
happeninFrancewithoutthehiddenactionofFreemasonry,"and"ifthe
Masonschoosetoorganize,intenyears'timenooneinFrancewillbeable
tomoveoutsideus(personnenebougeraplusenFranceendehorsde
nous)."664
This is the despotic power which the Grand Orient has established in
oppositiontobothChurchandGovernment.
Moreover,GrandOrientmasonryisnotonlypoliticalbutsubversiveinits
political aims. Instead of the peaceful trilogy of British masonry,
"Brotherlylove,relief,andtruth,"ithasthroughoutadheredtotheformula
whichoriginatedintheMasoniclodgesofFranceandbecamethewarcry
of the Revolution: "Liberty, Equality, Fraternity." "It is the law of
equality,"saysRagon,"thathasalwaysendearedMasonrytotheFrench,"
and"aslongasequalityreallyexistsonlyinthelodges,Masonrywillbe
preservedinFrance."665TheaimofGrandOrientMasonryisthustobring
aboutuniversalequalityasformulatedbyRobespierreandBabeuf.Inthe
matteroflibertywereadfurtherthatasmenareallbynaturefreetheold
fallacyofRousseauandoftheDeclarationoftheRightsofMantherefore

"nooneisnecessarilysubjectedtoanothernorhastherighttorulehim." 666
The revolutionary expresses the same idea in the phrase that "no man
shouldhaveamaster."Finally,byfraternityGrandOrientMasonrydenotes
theabolitionofallnationalfeeling.
It is to Masonry [Ragon says again] that we owe the affiliation of all
classesofsociety,italonecouldbringaboutthisfusionwhichfromits
midsthaspassedintothelifeofthepeoples.Italonecouldpromulgatethat
humanitarian law of which the rising activity, tending to a great social
uniformity,leads to thefusion of races, of different classes, of morals,
codes, customs, languages, fashions, money, and measures. Its virtuous
propagandawillbecomethehumanitarianlawofallconsciences.667
ThepolicyoftheGrandOrientisthusavowedlyInternationalSocialism.
IndeedinafurtherpassageRagonplainlyindicatesthisfact:
Everygenerousreform,everysocialbenefitderivesfromit,andifthese
surviveitisbecauseMasonrylendsthemitssupport.Thisphenomenonis
dueonlytothepowerofitsorganization.Thepastbelongstoitandthe
futurecannotescapefromit.Byitsimmenseleverofassociationitaloneis
abletorealizebyaproductivecommunion(communiongnratrice)that
greatandbeautifulsocialunityconceivedbyJaurez,SaintSimon,Owen,
Fourier.IfMasonswishit,thegenerousconceptionsofthesephilanthropic
thinkerswillceasetobevainUtopias.668
Whoarethephilanthropicthinkersenumeratedherebutthemenderisively
described by Karl Marx as the "Utopian Socialists" of the nineteenth
century?UtopianSocialismisthussimplytheopenandvisibleexpression
of Grand Orient Freemasonry. Moreover, these Utopian Socialists were
almostwithoutexceptionFreemasonsormembersofothersecretsocieties.
TheFreemasonClavelconfirmstheforegoingaccountbyRagon.Thus,
likeRagon,hequotes,theprincipleexpressedinaritualfortheinitiationof
aMasterMason:
ItisexpresslyforbiddentoMasonstodiscussamongstthemselves,either
inthelodgeoroutsideit,religiousandpoliticalmatters,thesediscussions
havingusuallytheeffectofcreatingdiscordwhereformerlypeace,union,
andfraternityreigned.Thismasoniclawadmitsofnoexceptions.669

ButClavelalsogoesontosay:
Toeffaceamongstmenthedistinctionsofcolour,rank,creed,opinions,
country;toannihilatefanaticism,and...thescourgeofwar;inaword,to
make of the whole human race one and the same family united by
affection,bydevotion,byworkandknowledge:that,mybrother,isthe
greatworkwhichFreemasonryhasundertaken,etc.670
UptoapointmanyaBritishFreemasonreadingthesepassageswilldeclare
himself completely in accord with the sentiments expressed.
Humanitarianism, the obliteration of class distinctions, fraternization
betweenmenofallraces,conditions,andreligiouscreeds,enterofcourse
largelyintothespiritofBritishMasonry,butformsimplythebasison
whichMasonsmeettogetherinthelodgesandnotapoliticalsystemtobe
imposedontheworldingeneral.
BritishMasonrythusmakesnoattempttointerferewiththeexistingsocial
system orformofGovernment;theessence ofitsteachingisthateach
memberoftheFraternityshouldseektoreformhimselfandnotsociety.In
aword,individualregenerationtakestheplaceofthesocialreorganization
advocated by the Grand Orient under the influence of Illuminism. The
formulaofthe"UnitedStatesofEurope"andofthe"UniversalRepublic"
firstproclaimedbytheIlluminatus,AnacharsisClootz, 671 haslongbeen
thesloganoftheFrenchlodges.672
Inthematterofreligion,GrandOrientMasonryhasentirelydepartedfrom
theprinciplelaiddownbytheBritishlodges.IftheCatholicChurchhas
shownitselfhostiletoMasonry,itmustberememberedthatinCatholic
countries Masonry has shown itself militantly antiCatholic.
"Freemasonry,"oneofitsmodernoratorsdeclared,"istheantiChurch,the
antiCatholicism, the Church of Heresy (la contre Eglise, le contre
Catholicisme,l'Eglisedel'Hrsie)."673 The Bulletin oftheGrandOrient
in 1885 officially declared: "We Freemasons must pursue the definite
demolitionofCatholicism."
But the Grand Orient goes further than this and attacks all forms of
religion. Thus, as has been said, those "ancient landmarks" of British
Masonry, belief in the Great Architect of the Universe and in the
immortalityofthesoul,hadneverformedanintegralpartofitssystem,and
itwasonlyin1849thatforthefirsttime"itwasdistinctlyformulatedthat

thebasisofFreemasonryisabeliefinGodandintheimmortalityofthe
soul,andthesolidarityofHumanity."ButinSeptember1877thefirstpart
of this formula was deleted, all allusions to the Great Architect were
omitted, and the statute now reads: "Its basis is absolute liberty of
conscienceandthesolidarityofHumanity."674BritishFreemasonry,which
doesnotadmitlibertyofconscienceinthesenseofAtheism,butdemands
thateveryMasonshouldprofessbeliefinsomeformofreligionandwhich
insists that the Volume of the Sacred Lawin England the Bible, in
MohammedancountriestheKoran,andsoonshouldbeplacedonthe
tableinitslodges,thereuponbrokeoffallrelationswiththeGrandOrient.
InMarch1878thefollowingresolutionwaspassedunanimously:
That the Grand Lodge, whilst always anxious to receive in the most
fraternalspirittheBrethrenofanyforeignGrandLodgewhoseproceedings
areconductedaccordingtotheAncientLandmarksoftheOrder,ofwhicha
beliefinT.G.A.O.T.U.isthefirstandmostimportant,cannotrecognizeas
"trueandgenuine"Brethrenanywhohavebeeninitiatedinlodgeswhich
eitherdenyorignorethatbelief.675
TheGrandOrient,saysM.CopinAlbancelli,notcontentwithrenouncing
the Great Architect whose glory it had celebrated on every possible
occasion and whose praises had been incessantly sung in its lodges,
demanded of its initiates that they should declare themselves to be
absolutelyconvincedthattheGreatArchitectwasnothingbutamyth. 676
Morethanthis,violentantireligioustiradeshavebeenpermittedandeven
applauded in the lodges. Thus in 1902 the Freemason Delpech in his
discourseatamasonicbanquetutteredthesewords:
ThetriumphoftheGalileanhaslastedtwentycenturies;heisdyinginhis
turn. The mysterious voice which once on the mountains of Epirus
announcedthedeathofPan,todayannouncesthedeathofthedeceiver
Godwhohadpromisedaneraofjusticeandpeacetothosewhoshould
believeinhim.Theillusionhaslastedverylong;thelyingGodinhisturn
disappears;hegoestorejoininthedustofagestheotherdivinitiesofIndia,
Egypt, Greece, and Rome, who saw so many deluded creatures throw
themselvesatthefoodoftheiraltars.Freemasons,wearepleasedtostate
thatwearenotunconcernedwiththisruinoffalseprophets.TheRoman
Church,foundedontheGalileanmyth,begantodeclinerapidlyontheday
whenthemasonicassociationwasconstituted.Fromthepoliticalpointof

viewFreemasonshaveoftenvaried.ButinalltimesFreemasonryhasstood
firmonthisprinciple:waronallsuperstitions,waronallfanaticism.677
Howisitpossibletoreconcilethisattitudetowardsreligioningeneraland
ChristianityinparticularwiththefactthattheGrandOrientstillworksthe
RoseCroixdegree?Thisdegreewhich,aswehaveseen,wasfirstdevised
(whether in Scotland or in France) to give a Christian meaning to
MasonrywasonlyincorporatedintoBritishFreemasonryin1846andin
ourcountryhasretaineditsoriginalcharacter.Itsritual,centringarounda
lostword,signifiesthattheOldTestamentdispensationhascometoanend
with the Crucifixion, and is so strongly Christian that no Jew,
Mohammedan, or other nonChristian can be admitted to it. Moreover,
sincethisdegree,knownastheeighteenthdegree,formsinrealitythefirst
degreeoftheAncientandAcceptedRite,asworkedinthiscountry,non
ChristiansareexcludedfromthewholeofthisRiteandcanonlytakethe
degreesofRoyalArch,MarkMason,RoyalArkMariner,andfinallyRoyal
SelectandSuperExcellentMaster.ConsequentlythethirtythreeMasons
ofthethirtythirddegreewhocomposetheSupremeCouncilwhichdirects
the Ancient and Accepted Rite are necessarily professing Christians.
Exactly the opposite is the case in France; the RoseCroix, worked by
professingatheistsandJews,canonlybeparodyofChristianmysteries.
Now, it is essential to realize that in France the antimasonic camp is
dividedinto twoparties. Whilst themajorityof Catholic writers regard
Freemasonryitselfasthesourceofallevil"theSynagogueofSatan"
more impartial investigators have pronounced the opinion that it is not
FreemasonryevenoftheGrandOrientvarietybutsomethingconcealed
behindFreemasonrywhichconstitutestheprincipaldanger.Thisviewis
expressedbyM.CopinAlbancelli,whosebookLePouvoiroccultecontre
laFranceisoftheutmostimportancetoanunderstandingofthemasonic
danger, for here there can be no question of Catholic prejudice or of
imaginaryaccusationsmadebyastrangertoMasonry.M.CopinAlbancelli
entered the Grand Orient as an agnostic and has never returned to the
bosomoftheChurch;yetasaFrenchman,apatriot,andabelieverinlaw,
morality,andChristianethicshefoundhimself obliged,aftersixyears'
experienceinthelodgesandafterattainingthedegreeofRoseCroix,to
leave Freemasonry and, further, to denounce it. From what he himself
heardandobservedM.CopinAlbancellideclarestheGrandOrienttobe

antipatriotic, subversive of all morality and religious belief, and an

immensedangertoFrance.
Butfurtherthanthis,M.CopinAlbancellideclarestheGrandOrienttobea
systemofdeceptionbywhichmembersareenlistedinacauseunknownto
themselves;eventheinitiatesoftheupperdegreesarenotallawareofthe
realaimoftheOrderorofthepowerbehindit.M.CopinAlbancellithus
arrivesattheconclusionthattherearethreeFreemasonriesoneabovethe
other:(i)BlueMasonry(i.e.thethreeCraftDegrees),inwhichnoneofthe
real secrets are revealed tothemembers andwhichserves merelyas a
sortingground for selecting likely subjects; (2) the Upper Degrees, in
whichmost ofthemembers,whilstimaginingthemselves tohavebeen
initiatedintothewholesecretoftheOrderand"burstingwithimportance"
over their imaginary rle of leaders, are only admitted to a partial
knowledgeofthegoaltowhichtheyaretending;and(3)theinnercircle,
"the true masters," those who conceal themselves behind highgrade
Masonry.Admissiontothisinnercirclemaybe,moreover,notamatterof
degrees. "Whilst in the lower Masonries the adepts are obliged to pass
throughallthedegreesoftheestablishedhierarchy,theupperandinvisible
Freemasonry is certainly recruited not only amongst the thirtythree
degreesbutinallthegroupsofupperdegreeMasonry,andperhapsevenin
certain exceptional cases outside these."678 This inner and invisible
Freemasonryistoalargeextentinternational.
ThemostilluminatingpassageinthewholeofM.CopinAlbancelli'sbook
iswherehedescribesanexperiencethatbefellhimafterhehadtakenthe
degreeofRoseCroix.Itwasthenthatoneofhissuperiorstookhimaside
andaddressedhiminthefollowingterms:
"YourealizethepowerwhichFreemasonryhasatitsdisposal.Wecansay
thatweholdFrance.Itisnotbecauseofournumbers,sincethereareonly
25,000Freemasonsinthiscountry[thiswasin1889].Norisitbecausewe
arethebrains,foryouhavebeenabletojudgeoftheintellectualmediocrity
of the greater number of these 25,000 Freemasons. We hold France
because we are organized and the only people who are organized. But
aboveall,weholdFrancebecausewehaveanaim,thisaimisunknown;as
itisunknown,noobstaclecanbeputinitsway;andfinally,asnoobstacle
is put up, the way is wide open before us. This is logical, is it not?"
"Absolutely." "Good. But what would you say of an association which
instead of consisting of 25,000 nonentities as in Freemasonry, were

composedof,say,onlyathousandindividuals,butathousandindividuals
recruitedinthemannerthatIwilltellyou."
AndtheFreemasonwentontoexplainthewayinwhichsuchindividuals
were selected, the months and years of observation, of supervision, to
whichtheyweresubjected,soastoformabodyofpickedmeninside
Freemasonrycapableofdirectingitsoperations.
"Youcanimaginethepoweratthecommandofsuchanassociation?""An
associationthusselectedwoulddoanythingitchose.Itcouldpossessthe
worldifitpleased."
Thereuponthehigheradept,afteraskingforafurtherpromiseofsecrecy,
declared:
"Well,inexchangeforthispromise,BrotherCopin,Iamauthorizedtolet
youknowthatthisassociationexistsandthat,further,Iamauthorizedto
introduceyouintoit."679
ItwasthenthatMonsieurCopinAlbancelliunderstoodthatthepointto
whichtheconversationwasleadingupwasnot,ashehadatfirstsupposed,
aninvitationtotakethenextstepinFreemasonrythethirtiethdegreeof
Knight Kadoschbut to enter through a sidedoor into an association
concealedwithinFreemasonryandforwhichthevisibleorganizationofthe
latterservedmerelyasacover.Averycuriousresemblancewillherebe
noticedbetweenthemethodofsoundingM.CopinAlbancelliandthatof
theIlluminatusCatointhematterofSavioli,describedinapassagealready
quoted:
NowthatheisaMasonIhave...takenupthegeneralplanofour,andas
thispleasedhimIsaidthatsuchathingreallyexisted,whereathegaveme
hiswordthathewouldenterit.
M.CopinAlbancelli,however,didnotgivehiswordthathewouldenterit,
but,onthecontrary,checkedfurtherrevelationsbydeclaringthathewould
leaveFreemasonry.
Thisexperiencehadaffordedhimaglimpseof"aworldexistingbehindthe
masonicworld,moresecretthanit,unsuspectedbyitasbytheoutside
world."680Freemasonry,then,"canonlybethehalflitantechamberofthe
realsecretsociety.Thatisthetruth." 681 "Thereexiststhennecessarilya

permanent directing Power. We cannot see that Power, therefore it is

occult."682
ForsometimeM.CopinAlbancelliconcludedthisPowertobe"theJewish
power,"andelaboratedtheideainafurtherwork 683;butthewarhasled
himtodevelophistheoriesinyetanotherbook,whichwillshortlyappear.
That the lodges of the Grand Orient are largely controlled by Jews is,
however, certain, and that they are centres of political propaganda is
equallyundeniable.Wehaveonlytoglanceatthefollowingextractssome
of which are reproduced on the opposite pagefrom the programme of
debatesintheBulletinoftheGrandOrientforJune5,1922,torecognize
thattheideastheypropagatearesimplythoseofInternationalSocialism:
Loge "Union et France": Lecture du Rapport de notre T C F
Chardard sur "L'Exploitation des richesses nationales au profit de la
collectivit."
Loge "Les Rnovateurs": "Exploitation des Richesses nationales et des
grossesEntreprisesanprofitdelacollectivit."ConfrencedenotreF
Goldschmidt,Oratadjointsurlammequestion.
[Illustration:Newspaperclippings]
Loge"LesZlsPhilanthropes":"LaTransformationdelaSocitActuelle
s'imposetelle?"ConfrenceparleTCFEdmondCottin.
Loge "PaixTravailSolidarit": "Rle de la FrancMaonnerie dans la
politiqueactuelle"parleF F Loge"LesTrinitaires":"LeSocialisme
Franais" par le T Ill. F Elie May. Ten Collective des L
"EmmanuelArago"&"lesCoeursUnisindivisibles":"Commentpropager
notreIdalMaonniquedansleMondeprofane."ConfrenceparleF
Jahia,delaRLIsisMonthyon.Loge"IsisMonthyonetConscienceet
Volont":"LaTerreuretlePrilFascisteenItalie,leFascismeetlaF
Ma Italienne,"impressionsdenotreF Mazzini,deretour,aprsun
sjourprolongenItalie.
ItwillbeseenbythelastoftheseextractsthatGrandOrientMasonryisthe
enemyofFascismo,whichsavedItalyinherhourofperil.Indeed,the
ItalianMasonspassedaresolutionwhichwasdirectlyopposedtoFascist
views,especiallywithregardtothereligiouspolicyofMussolini,whohas

restoredthecrucifixtotheschoolsandreligiousteachingtothecurriculum.
TheFascist GiornalediRoma declaredthattheprinciplesannouncedby
theMasonsinthisresolutionwerethosewhichthreatenedtosubmergethe
Stateandnation.ConsequentlyMussolinideclaredthatFascistimusteither
leavetheirlodgesorleaveFascismo.684
InBelgium Freemasonryhastakenthesamepoliticalandantireligious
course. In 1856 the directing committee of the Belgian Grand Orient
declared:"Notonlyisittherightbutthedutyofthelodgestosupervisethe
actionsinpubliclifeofthoseamongstitsmemberswhomithasplacedin
politicalposts,therighttodemandexplanations...." 685Whenin1866ata
funeral ceremonyinhonour of thedeceased KingLeopoldItheGrand
OrientofBelgiumdisplayedthemaxim,"Thesoulwhichhasemanated
from God is immortal," the Freemasons of Louvain entered a violent
protestonthegroundthat"FreethinkinghadbeenadmittedbytheBelgian
lodgesin1864asitsfundamentalprinciple,"andthattheGrandOrienthad
thereforeviolatedtheconvictionsofitsmembers.686
InSpainandPortugalFreemasonryhasplayednotmerelyasubversivebut
an actively revolutionary and sanguinary rle. The anarchist Ferrer,
intimatelyconcernedwithaplottomurdertheKingofSpain,wasatthe
same moment entrusted with negotiations between the Grand Orient of
FranceandtheGrandLodgeofCatalonia. 687 Thesemurderousschemes,
frustratedinSpain,met,however,inPortugalwithcompletesuccess.The
Portuguese revolutions from 1910 to 1921 were organized under the
direction of Freemasonry and the secret society of Carbonarios. The
assassinationofKingCarlosandhiseldersonhadbeenpreparedbythe
same secret organizations. In 1908 a pamphlet modelled on the libels
publishedagainstMarieAntoinettewasdirectedagainstQueenAmlieand
her husband. A month later the assassination took place. Amongst the
leadersofthenewRepublicwasMagalhaesLima,GrandMasterofthe
GrandOrientofPortugal.688
Theauthorshipofthesedisorderswas,infact,soclearlyrecognizedthat
honestFreemasonsforsookthelodges.AnEnglishMason,unawareofthe
truecharacterofPortugueseFreemasonry,wheninLisboninAugust1919,
madehimselfknowntoseveralmoderatePortugueseMasons,who,while
gladtowelcomehimasabrother,refusedtotakehimtoalodge,declaring
that they had severed all connection with Masonry since it had passed

underthecontrolofassassins.Theyalsoaddedthattheassassinationof
Seor Paes, the President in December 1918, was the work of certain
Portugueselodges.AspecialmeetinghadpreviouslybeenheldinParisin
conjunctionwiththeGrandOrientofFrance,atwhichithadbeendecided
that Paes was to be removed. This decision reached, the earliest
opportunity of putting it into force was soughtwith fatal results. The
assassinwasimprisonedinthePenitentiarybutliberatedbytherevolution
of1921,andnoattempthasbeenmadetorecapturehim.ThemurderofDr.
AntonioGranjoinOctober1921wastracedtothesameagency.Inthe
pocketofthemurderedmanwasfoundadocumentfromthe"Lodgeof
LibertyandJustice"(!)warninghimofthedecisiontakenagainsthimfor
havingorderedthepolicetoprotecttheBritishtramwaycompany.689
The present Portuguese Government, indeed, makes no secret of its
masoniccharacterandprintsthesquareandcompassonitsbanknotes.
But whilst in Spain and Portugal Freemasonry manifested itself in
Anarchist outrages, in the east of Europe the lodges, largely under the
controlofJews,followedthelineofMarxianSocialism.Afterthefallof
the Bela Kun rgime in Hungary a raid on the lodges brought to light
documentsclearlyrevealingthefactthattheideasofSocialismhadbeen
disseminatedbytheFreemasons.Thusintheminutesofmeetingsitwas
recordedthatonNovember16,1906,Dr.KalloshadaddressedtheGyor
LodgeonSocialist ideals."Theidealworldwhichwecallthemasonic
world,"he declared,"will bealsoa Socialist worldandthereligionof
FreemasonryisthatofSocialismaswell."Dr.Kallosthenproceededto
acquaintthememberswiththetheoriesofMarxandEngels,showingthat
nohelpwastobefoundinUtopias,astheinterestsoftheproletarianswere
inabsoluteconflictwiththoseofotherclasses,andthesedifferencescould
onlybesettledbyinternationalclasswarfare.Neverthelesswiththatfearof
the proletariat which has always characterized the democrats of
revolutionary Freemasonry, Dr. Kallos declared later that "the social
revolutionmusttakeplacewithoutbloodshed." 690TheKarolyirgimewas
thedirectoutcomeoftheseillusions,andasinallrevolutionspavedthe
wayforthemoreviolentelements.
Still further east in Europe the lodges, though revolutionary, instead of
following the International Socialist line of Hungarian Freemasonry,
exhibitedapoliticalandnationalistcharacter.TheYoungTurkmovement

originatedinthemasonic lodges of Salonicaunder thedirectionof the

GrandOrientofItaly,whichlatercontributedtothesuccessofMustapha
Kemal.Moreover,asweapproachtheNearEast,cradleofthemasonic
system,wefindtheSemiticinfluencenotonlyoftheJewsbutofother
Semiteracesdirectingthelodges.InTurkey,inEgypt,inSyrianow,asa
thousandyearsago,thesamesecretsocietieswhichinspiredtheTemplars
haveneverceasedtoexist,andinthisminglingoftheEastandWestitis
possiblethattheGrandOrientmaydrawreinforcementfromthosesources
whenceitdrewitssystemanditsname.
Amongst the strange survivals of early Eastern sects are the Druses of
Lebanon,whomightindeedbedescribedastheFreemasonsoftheEast;
their outer organization closely resembles that of the Craft Degrees in
Western Masonry, yet such is their power of secrecy that few if any
Europeanshaveeversucceededindiscoveringthesecretdoctrines.That
their tendency is largely political admits of little doubt; in fact men
intimatelyacquaintedwiththeNearEasthavedeclaredthattheinfluence
theyexerciseoverthepoliticsofthatregionisasfarreachingasthatofthe
GrandOrientovertheaffairsofEuropeandthattheyformthebreeding
groundofallpoliticalideasandchanges.Thoughsmallinnumbersthis
mysterioussocietyiscomposedofpastmastersinthegameofintrigue,
who,whilstplayingapparentlyaminorpartatpoliticalmeetings,secretor
otherwise, or even remaining completely silent, contrive to influence
decisionswithstartlingresults.
British Masonry
WeshallnowconsiderthefurtherwaysinwhichBritishMasonrydiffers
fromtheGrandOrient.
Inthefirstplace,whilstworkingthesamedegrees,itsrituals,formulas,and
ceremonies,asalsotheinterpretationitplacesonwordsandsymbols,are
differentinmanyessentialpoints.
Secondly,BritishMasonryisessentiallyanhonestinstitution.Whereasin
theGrandOrienttheinitiateisledthroughamazeofceremoniestowardsa
goalunknowntohimwhichhemaydiscovertoolatetobeotherthanhe
supposed,theBritishinitiate,althoughadmittedbygradualstagestothe
mysteriesoftheCraft,knowsneverthelessfromthebeginningthegeneral
aimoftheOrder.

Thirdly,BritishMasonryisprimarilyphilanthropicandthesumsitdevotes
to charitable purposes are immense. Since the war the three principal
masoniccharitieshavecollectedannuallyover300,000.
ButthepointtobeemphasizedhereisthatBritishMasonryisstrictlynon
political, not merely in theory but in practice, and that it enforces this
principleoneveryoccasion.ThusbeforetherecentGeneralElection,the
ReportoftheBoardofGeneralPurposes,drawnupbyGrandLodgeon
December5,1923,recalledtothenoticeoftheCraftthat"'allsubjectsofa
politicalnaturearestrictlyexcludedfromdiscussioninmasonicmeetings,'
this being in accordance with longestablished masonic tradition ... it
followsfromthisthatMasonrymustnotbeusedforanypersonalorparty
purposeinconnexionwithanelection."Itfurtheremphasizedthedistinct
caution"thatanyattempttobringtheCraftintotheelectioneeringarena
wouldbetreatedasaseriousmasonicoffence."
AtthesametimeafreshinjunctionwasmadewithregardtotheGrand
OrientofFrance:
AsrecognitionwaswithdrawnfromthatbodybytheUnitedGrandLodge
ofEnglandin1878,...itisconsiderednecessarytowarnallmembersof
our lodges that they cannot visit any lodge under the obedience of a
jurisdiction unrecognized by the United Grand Lodge of England; and
furtherthatunderRule150oftheBookofConstitutions,theycannotadmit
visitorstherefrom.
For the reasons given at the beginning of this section British Masonry
standsrigidlyalooffromallattemptstocreateaninternationalsystemof
Masonry.TheideawasfirstsuggestedattheMasonicCongressofParisin
1889,convenedtocelebratethecentenaryofthefirstFrenchRevolution,
butledtonothingverydefiniteuntiltheCongressofGenevainSeptember
1902,atwhichthedelegatesofthirtyfourlodges,GrandLodges,Grand
Orients, and Supreme Councils were present, and a proposal was
unanimously adopted "tending towards the creation of an International
BureauforMasonicAffairs,"towhichtwentyPowers,mostlyEuropeans,
gavetheiradherence.BrotherDesmons,oftheGrandOrientofFrance,in
anafterdinnerspeechdeclaredittohavebeenalways"thedreamofhis
life"that"alldemocraciesshouldmeetandunderstandoneanotherinsuch
awayasonedaytoformtheUniversalRepublic."691

Accordingtotheofficialreportoftheproceedings,"therepresentativesof
Belgium, Holland, France, Germany, England, Spain, Italy, and
Switzerlandgreetedwithmuchfeelingthedawnofthisnewera."Thesame
Reportgoesontoobservethat
Itisaltogetheramistake...tobelievethatFreemasonrydoesnotattackthe
defectsofsuchandsuchaState,andthatconsequentlyitremainsastranger
topartystrifeandthetendenciesofthetimes.
Andagain:
Freemasonryhasimposeduponitselfataskamission.Itisaquestionof
nothinglessthantherebuildingofsocietyonanentirelynewbasis,which
shallbemoreinaccordancewiththepresentconditionsofthemeansof
communication, of situation, and production, as well as of a reform of
right,ofacompleterenewaloftheprincipleofexistence,especiallyofthe
principleofcommunityandoftherelationsofmenamongoneanother.
TheReportherequotedis,however,inaccurateinoneimportantparticular.
NoEnglishdelegateswerepresentattheGenevaCongressoronanyother
occasionofthekind.TherewasadelegatefromAdelaidewhospokea
gooddeal,buttheChairmanspecificallymentionedEnglandastakingno
part in the movement. Later on, in a Report of the Board of General
PurposestoGrandLodgeonMarch2,1921,aletterfromLordAmpthill,
proGrandMaster,appears,declininganinvitationfromtheSwissGrand
LodgeAlpina toBritish Freemasons toattend anInternationalMasonic
Congress in Geneva and quoting the following letter from the Grand
Secretaryasanearlierprecedentforthisrefusal:
Iamdirectedtostate,inreplytotheinvitationtoattendanInternational
MasonicConferenceinSwitzerlandduringthecomingautumn,thatthe
UnitedGrandLodgeofEnglandwillbeunabletosendrepresentativeson
the occasion. It never participates in a Masonic gathering in which are
treated as an open question what it has always held to be ancient and
essentialLandmarksoftheCraft,thesebeinganexpressbeliefintheGreat
ArchitectoftheUniverse,andanobligatoryrecognitionoftheVolumeof
theSacredLaw.Itsrefusal toremaininfraternalassociation withsuch
Sovereign Jurisdictions as have repudiated or made light of these
Landmarks has long been upon record, and its resolve in this regard
remainsunshaken.

LordAmpthillthenwentontosay:
Afurtherconsequenceofcertainhappeningsofthewaristomakemore
firmourresolvetokeep,asfarasinuslies,Freemasonrystrictlyaway
fromparticipationinpolitics,eithernationalorinternational.Thisattitude
of aloofness from necessarily controversial affairs of State, on which
Brethren can legitimately and most properly differ, has ever been
maintained by our Grand Lodge since it was first convened in 1717.
Becauseofthis,itheldalooffromsuchinternationalconferencesaswere
summonedduringthewar;andnevermorethannowhasthenecessityfor
the maintenance of this attitude been felt by British Freemasons.... For
these reasons, the invitation to participate in the proposed International
Conference of Freemasons at Geneva cannot be accepted. Such an
assemblymightbetermedinformal,butinevitablyitwouldberegardedas
openingadoortocompromiseonthosethingswhichthisGrandLodgehas
alwaysheldtobeessentials.SuchacompromiseEnglishFreemasonrywill
nevercontemplate.Ontheseessentials wetakethefirmstandwehave
alwaysdone;wecannotdetractfromfullrecognitionoftheGreatArchitect
oftheUniverse,andweshallcontinuetoforbidtheintroductionofpolitical
discussionintoourLodges.
BritishMasonryhasthustakenafirmstandagainsttheGrandOrient.Butit
is regrettable that views so admirably expressed should be confined to
masonic correspondence and not made more apparent to the world in
general.OntheContinent,outsidemasoniccircles,thedifferencebetween
BritishMasonryandtheGrandOrientvarietyis not sufficientlyknown,
andthereticenceofleadingBritishMasonsonthissubjecthasnotonly
played into the hands of the intractable antiMasons, who declare all
Masonry to be harmful, but has strengthened the position of the
revolutionarieswhouseMasonry for asubversive purpose.Thusinthe
Portuguese revolution of 1920 the Masons of that country who were
directing the movement sheltered themselves behind the good name of
England."Howcanyouaccusethelodgesofbeingmurderclubs,"they
saidtothepeople,"whenMasonryisdirectedbyEnglandandhadKing
EdwardforitsGrandMaster?"
However ludicrous all this may seem to the British public, yet for the
honourofourcountrysuchaccusationsshouldnotremainunrefuted.A
witnessofthedisordersthattookplaceinPortugaldeclaredtothepresent

writerthatifonlyGrandLodgeofEnglandwouldhavepublishedanotice
in the Continental press disassociating itself from the Grand Orient in
generalandfromPortugueseFreemasonryinparticular,thepowerofthe
revolutionarieswouldhavebeenimmenselyweakenedandtheantiBritish
andproGermanpropagandathencirculatinginthecountrydefeated.But
British Freemasonry preferred to maintain an attitude of aloofness,
contentingitselfwithissuingperiodicalwarningsagainsttheGrandOrient
privatelytothelodges.
ThispolicyhasdonemuchtodamagenotonlythegoodnameofEngland
butofBritishMasonryintheeyesoftheoutsideworld,andparticularlyin
thoseofRomanCatholics,whichisthemoreregrettablesinceFreemasonry
andtheRomanCatholicChurcharetheonlytwoorganizedbodiesinthis
country which really exercise discipline over their members and forbid
themtobelongtosubversivesecretsocieties;hencetheyprovidethetwo
strongestbulwarksagainsttheoccultforcesofrevolution.Forthisreason,
asweshallseelater,theyarethetwobodieswhicharethemostfearedby
therecruitingagentsofthesesocieties.
ButinthecaseofFreemasonrythefactisunfortunatelytoolittleknownto
the world in general. As a singularly broadminded Jesuit has recently
expressedit:
TheanticlericalandrevolutionaryactivitiesofContinentalFreemasonry
did not begin when the Grand Orient finally abolished God. During a
centuryandmoretheseevilforceshadbeenatwork.NeverthelessEnglish
Masonsonlyshruggedtheirshouldersandlookedanotherway,thoughthe
truecharacterofforeignMasonrywasbroughttotheirnoticeinsuchbooks
asthatofJohnRobison,ProofsofaConspiracyagainstalltheReligions
andGovernmentsofEurope....Nodoubt[thesamewritersaysagain]there
hasbeenattimesadeplorableamountofexaggerationamongContinental
Catholicsinattributingallthemoralandsocialevilsoftheworldtothe
insidiousworkingsofFreemasonry....ButsolongasEnglishFreemasons
resolutelyaverttheirgazefromtheantireligiousandantisocialactivities
of their Continental brethren there can be no hope of any better
understanding.692
Itisimpossibletodenythetruthofthesestrictures.Ashasalreadybeen
pointedoutinthecourseofthisbook,BritishFreemasonshavefrequently
not only ignored Robison's warning but vilified him as the enemy of

Masonry,althoughheneverattackedtheirOrderbutonlytheperverted
systemsoftheContinent;toooftenalsotheyhaveexoneratedthemost
dangeroussecretsocieties,notablytheIlluminati,because,apparentlyfrom
a mistaken sense of loyalty, they conceive it their duty to defend any
associationofamasoniccharacter.Thisissimplysuicidal.BritishMasonry
hasnobittererenemiesthanthesecretsocietiesworkingforsubversion,
which,fromtheIlluminationwards,havealwaysregardedhonestMasonry
withcontemptanduseditsdoctrinesforanulteriorpurpose.
Itiseasytoseehowthesedoctrinesmaybepervertedtoanenddirectly
opposedtothatwhichBritishMasonshaveinview.Thus,forexample,the
ideaofthebrotherhoodofmaninthesenseofloveforallhumanityisthe
essence of Christianity"Be kindly affectioned one to another with
brotherlylove;inhonourpreferringoneanother."Inadopting"brotherly
love"as apart of their sacred trilogy British Masons adopt an entirely
Christianstandpoint.Butifbythebrotherhoodofmanismeantthatmenof
everyraceareequallyrelatedandthatthereforeoneowesthesamedutyto
foreigners as to one's fellowcountrymen it is obvious that all national
feelingmustvanish.TheBritishFreemasondoesnot,ofcourse,interpret
thetheoryinthismanner;hecannotseriouslyregardhimselfasthebrother
oftheBambutepygmyorthePolynesiancannibal,thusheusestheterm
merelyinavagueandtheoreticalsense.
What indeed does the word "brother" literally mean? If we consult the
dictionaryweshallseeitdefinedas"amalebornofthesameparents;
anyone closely united with or resembling one another; associated in
commoninterests,occupation,"etc.Itisthereforeobviouslyabsurdtosay
thatmenofsuchdifferentracesasthosereferredtoarebrothers;theyare
notbornofthesamekindofparents,theyarenotunitedintheiraims,they
do not remotely resemble one another, and they are not associated in
commoninterests and occupations.Thoughthese happentobeextreme
cases,thereareneverthelessessentialdifferencesbetweenmenofthesame
zone andclimate. The Englishman andthe Frenchman are not brothers
becausetheydonotseelifefromthesamepointofview,butthatisno
reasonwhytheyshouldnotbecloseallies.
Thebrotherhoodofman,iftakenliterally,isthereforeamisleadingterm,
norissucharelationshipnecessarytothepeaceoftheworld.Cainand
Abelwerenotbetterfriends,forbeingbrothers.DavidandJonathan,onthe
other hand, were not brothers but devoted friends. In striving after

universalbrotherhoodinaliteralsense,Freemasonsarethereforepursuing
achimera.
Themostdangerousfallacytowhichdemocracy,undertheinfluenceof
IlluminizedFreemasonry,hassuccumbedisthatpeacebetweennationscan
be brought about by means of Internationalism, that is to say, by the
destructionofnationalfeeling.Yetamanisnotmorelikelytoliveatpeace
with his neighbours because he is devoid of natural affection; on the
contrary,thegoodbrother,thedevotedfather,ismostlikelytobecomethe
faithfulfriend.Permanentpeacebetweennationswillprobablyneverbe
ensured,buttheonlybasisonwhichsuchasituationcanconceivablybe
establishedisthebasisofsaneNationalismanunderstandingbetweenthe
patrioticandvirileelementsineverycountrywhich,becausetheyvalue
theirownlibertiesandreveretheirowntraditions,areabletorespectthose
ofothernations.Internationalismisanunderstandingbetweenthedecadent
elementsineachcountrytheconscientiousobjectors,thedrawingroom
Socialists, the visionarieswho shirk the realities of life and, as the
SocialistKarlKautskyinadescriptionofIdealistshasadmirablyexpressed
it,"seeonlydifferencesofopinionandmisapprehensionwherethereare
actuallyirreconcilableantagonisms."ThisiswhyattimesofcrisisIdealists
areofall menthemost dangerousandPacifiststhegreatpromotersof
wars. Understanding between nations is wholly desirable, but the
destruction of the national spirit everywhere can only lead to the
weakeningofallcountrieswherethisprocesstakesplaceandthetriumph
ofthenationswhorefusetoacceptthesameprinciple.
ItwillperhapsbeansweredthatFreemasonsdonotbelieveinthedoctrine
ofbrotherhoodbetweenallmen,butonlybetweenMasonsofallraces.But
thismayleadnolesstonationaldisintegrationifitcreatesanationwithin
each nation, an international fraternity independent of the countries to
whichitsmembersbelong.Thelogicaloutcomeofthismaybethataman
willrefusetofightforhiscountryagainsthisbrotherMasonsitiswhat
hashappenedinFrance.TheGrandOrientwasbeforetherecentwarthe
great breedinggroundofantipatriotism,whereallschemesfornational
defencewerediscouraged.Before1870thesamethingtookplace,andit
wasinthemasoniclodgesthatGermanyfoundhermostvaluableallies.
Inthesamewaythedoctrineoftheperfectibilityofhumannaturelends
itselftoperversion.Nothingcouldbemoredesirablethanthatmanshould
striveafterperfection.DidnotChristenjoinHisdisciples:"Beyetherefore

perfect, even as your Father which is in Heaven is perfect"? Man is

thereforeactinginaccordancewithChristianprinciplesinseekingafter
divine perfection. But when he comes to believe that he has already
attainedithemakesofhimselfagod."IfIjustifymyself,"saidJob,"mine
ownmouthshallcondemnme;ifIsayIamperfect,itshallalsoproveme
perverse."AndSt.John:"Ifwesaywehavenosin,wedeceiveourselves,
andthetruthisnotinus."Morethanthis,ifweseekperfectioninothers
wedeceiveourselvesequallyandmakegodsofmen.Thisispreciselythe
conclusion at whichpervertedFreemasonry andthe forms of Socialism
derivingfromitarrive.Humannature,theysay,isitselfdivine;whatneed
thenforotherdivinities?TheCatholicChurchisconsequentlyquiteright
indeclaringthatthedoctrineoftheperfectibilityofhumannatureleadsto
thedeificationofhumanityinthatitputshumanityintheplaceofGod.
The Grand Orient, which definitely accepts this doctrine, has therefore
logicallyerasedthenameoftheGreatArchitectoftheUniversefromits
ritualandhasbecomeanassociationofFreethinkersandAtheists.
Isitnecessarytopointoutthefollyaswellasthecrimeofthisdelusion
theludicrousinconsequenceofmenwhodivinizehumanityyetrevilewhat
theycall"society"?Alltheevilsoftheworld,theydeclare,arenottobe
foundinnaturebutin"manmadelaws,"intheinstitutionsof"society."
Yetwhatissocietybuttheoutcomeofhumanwills,ofhumanaspirations?
Societymaybe,andnodoubtis,inneedofreformation,butarenotits
imperfectionsthecreationofimperfectbeings?Itistruethattodaythe
worldisinastateofchaos,industrialchaos,politicalchaos,socialchaos,
religiouschaos.Everywheremenarelosingfaithinthecausestheyare
supposed to represent; authority questions its own right to govern,
democracyisrentwithdivisions,therulingclassesareabdicatinginfavour
ofunscrupulousdemagogues,theministersofreligionbartertheirfaithfor
popularity.
Andwhathasbroughttheworldtothispass?Humanity!Humanity,that
allwise, allvirtuous abstraction that needs no light from Heaven.
HumanitythatwastotaketheplaceofGod!Ifevertherewasamomentin
the history of the world when the futility of this pretension should be
apparentitisthepresentmoment.Alltheills,alltheconfusion,whatare
theybuttheoutcomeofhumanerrorandof humanpassions? Itisnot
Capitalismthathasfailed,noryetDemocracy,noryetevenSocialismasa
principle,itisnotmonarchythathasbrokendown,norRepublicanism,nor

againreligion;itishumanitythathasbrokendown.TheillsofCapitalism
arise from the egoism of individual capitalists; Socialism has failed
because,asRobertOwendiscovered,theidle,thequarrelsome,theselfish
havepreventeditssuccess.Ifmenwereperfect,Socialismmightsucceed,
but so might any other system. A perfect capitalist would love his
employeeashimself,justasaperfectSocialistwouldbewillingtowork
forthecommongood.Itistheimperfectionsofhumannaturethatprevent,
andwillalwaysprevent,anysystemfrombeingperfect.Therewillnever
be a Millennium of man's making. Only the application of Christian
principlestohumanconductcanbringaboutabetterorderofthings.
Grand Orient Masonry, in deifying human nature, thus not only builds
uponthesand,butbyitsrejectionofallreligiontakesawaythesolehope
of human progress. Meanwhile, by the support it lends to Socialism it
encouragestheclasswarinsteadofthebrotherhoodbetweenmenofall
ranksandconditionswhichitprofessestoadvocate.BritishFreemasonry,
ontheotherhand,whilstnotinterpretingbrotherhoodinapoliticalsense,
neverthelesscontributestosocialpeace.Attheannualconferenceofthe
LabourPartyin1923aproposalwasmadebytheextremesectionthat"any
personwhoisaFreemasonshouldbeexcludedfromanykindofoffice,"it
beingsuggestedthat"incaseswhereanunderstandinghasbeenreached
betweenTradeUnionleadersandemployers,thuspreventingorlimiting
industrial trouble, the secret has been the bond of Freemasonry." 693
Whetherthiswasthecaseornot,BritishMasonry,bytakingitsstandon
patriotismandrespectforreligion,necessarilytendstounitemenofall
classes and therefore offers a formidable bulwark against the forces of
revolution.AnyattacksonBritishMasonryasatpresentconstitutedand
directedarethereforeabsolutelyopposedtotheinterestsofthecountry.
ButatthesametimeitbehovesMasonstobewareoftheinsidiousattempts
thatarebeingmadebyirregularsecretsocietiestoinfiltratetheCraftand
pervert its true principles. The present satisfactory condition of
FreemasonryinEnglandisowingnotonlytoitsestablishedstatutes,butto
thecharacterofthemenwhocontrolitmenwhoarenot,asineighteenth
century France, mere figureheads, but the real directors of the Order.
Shouldthecontroleverpassintothewronghandsandtheagentsofsecret
societiessucceedincapturinganumberofthelodges,thisgreatstabilizing
forcemightbecomeagiganticengineofdestruction.Howinsidiouslythese
effortsarebeingmadeweshallseeinthenextchapter.

Chapter 12:

Secret Societies in England

WehaveseenthatfromtheIlluminationwardssubversivesocietieshave
alwayssoughtrecruitsamongstorthodoxFreemasons.Thereasonforthis
isobvious:notonlydothedoctrinesofFreemasonrylendthemselvesto
perversion,butthetrainingprovidedintheLodgesmakesanadmirable
preparationforinitiationintoothersecretsystems.Themanwhohaslearnt
tomaintainsilenceevenonwhatmayappeartohimastrivialities,whois
willingtosubmittomystification,toasknoquestions,andtorecognizethe
authorityofsuperiorswhomheisinnowaylegallyobligedtoobey,who
has,moreover,becomeimbuedwiththeespritdecorpswhichbindshimto
hisfellowmembersinacommoncause,isnaturallyabettersubjectforthe
secret society adept than the free lance who is liable to assert his
independenceatanymoment.Perhapsthemostimportantfactor,however,
isthenatureofthemasonicoaths.Theseterriblepenalties,whichmany
Freemasonsthemselvesregretasasurvivalofbarbarismandwhichhavein
fact been abolished in the higher degrees, have done much to create
prejudiceagainstFreemasonry,whilstatthesametimetheyprovidean
additional incentive to outside intriguers. In the opinion of M. Copin
Albancelli,theabolitionoftheoathwouldgofartopreventpenetrationof
BritishMasonrybythesecretsocieties.
Now,bytheirobligationsBritishFreemasonsareforbiddentojointhese
irregularsocieties,notonlybecausetheirprinciplesareinconflictwith
thoseoforthodoxMasonry,butbecauseinmostcasestheyadmitwomen.
AccordingtotherulingofGrandLodge,"anymemberworkingunderthe
English Jurisdiction ... violates his Obligation by being present at or
assistinginassemblies professingtobeMasonicwhichareattendedby
women."WarningstothiseffecthavebeenfrequentlygivenintheLodges;
onSeptember3,1919,theBoardofGeneralPurposesissuedthefollowing
report:

TheBoard'sattentionisbeingincreasinglydrawntosedulousendeavours
whicharebeingmadebycertainbodiesunrecognizedasMasonicbythe
UnitedGrand Lodge of England, toinduce Freemasons to joinin their
assemblies. As all such bodies which admit women to membership are
clandestineandirregular,itisnecessarytocautionBrethrenagainstbeing
inadvertentlyledtoviolatetheirObligationbybecomingmembersofthem
orattendingtheirmeetings.GrandLodge,nineyearssince,approvedthe
actionoftheBoardinsuspendingfromallMasonicrightsandprivileges
twoBrethrenwhohadcontumaciouslyfailedtoexplainthegraveMasonic
irregularitytowhichattentionisnowagaincalled;anditisearnestlyhoped
that no occasion will arise for having again to institute disciplinary
proceedingsofalikekind.
TheideaofwomenMasonsis,ofcourse,notanewone.Asearlyas1730
lodgesforwomenaresaidtohaveexistedinFrance,andtowardstheend
ofthecenturyseveralexcellentwomen,suchastheDuchessedeBourbon
andthePrincessedeLamballe,playedaleadingpartintheOrder.Butthis
Maonnerie d'Adoption, as it was called, retained a purely convivial
character;ashamceremonial,withsymbols,passwords,andaritual,was
devisedasaconsolationtothemembersfortheirexclusionfromthereal
lodges.Thesemummerieswere,asRagonobserves,"onlythepretextsfor
assemblies;therealobjectswerethebanquetandtheball,whichweretheir
inevitableaccompaniments."694
Butthisprecedent,inauguratedasasocietypastimeandaccompaniedby
allthefrivolityoftheage,pavedthewayforWeishaupt'stwoclassesof
women members, who, although never initiated into the secrets of the
Order,weretoactasusefultools"directedbymenwithoutknowingit."
Forthispurposetheyweretobedividedintotwoclasses,the"virtuous"to
playthepartoffigureheadsordecoys,andthe"freerhearted,"whowereto
carryouttherealdesignsoftheOrder.
ThesameplanwasadoptednearlyahundredyearslaterbyWeishaupt's
discipleBakunin,who,however,didadmitwomenasactualinitiatesinto
hissecretsociety,theAllianceSocialeDmocratique,but,likeWeishaupt,
dividedthemintoclasses.Thesixthcategoryofpeopletobeemployedin
theworkofsocialrevolutionisthusdescribedinhisprogramme:
Thesixthcategoryisveryimportant.Theyarethewomen,whomustbe
divided into three classes: the first, frivolous women, without mind or

heart, which we must use in the same manner as the third and fourth
categoriesofmen[i.e.by"gettingholdoftheirdirtysecretsandmaking
themourslaves"];thesecond,theardent,devotedandcapablewomen,but
whoarenotoursbecausetheyhavenotreachedapracticalrevolutionary
understanding,withoutphrasewemustmakeuseoftheselikethemenof
the fifth category [i.e. by "drawing them incessantly into practical and
perilousmanifestations,whichwillresultinmakingthemajorityofthem
disappearwhilemakingsomeofthemgenuinerevolutionaries"];finally,
thewomenwhoareentirelywithus,thatistosaycompletelyinitiatedand
havingacceptedourprogrammeinitsentirety.Weoughttoconsiderthem
as the most precious of our treasures, without whose help we can do
nothing.695
ThefirstandonlywomantobeadmittedintorealMasonry,ifsuchaterm
canbeappliedtosoheterogeneousasystem,wasMariaDeraismes,an
ardent French Feminist celebrated for her political speeches and
electioneering campaigns in the district of Pontoise and for twentyfive
yearstheacknowledgedleaderoftheanticlericalandFeministparty. 696In
1882MariaDeraismeswasinitiatedintoFreemasonrybythemembersof
the Lodge Les Libres Penseurs, deriving from the Grande Loge
SymboliquecossaiseandsituatedatPecqintheDepartmentofSeineet
Oise. The proceeding being, however, entirely unconstitutional, Maria
Deraismes'sinitiationwasdeclaredbytheGrandeLogetobenullandvoid
and the Lodge Les Libres Penseurs was disgraced.697 But some years
afterwards Dr. George Martin, an enthusiastic advocate of votes for
women,collaboratedwithMariaDeraismesinfoundingthe Maonnerie
Mixte at the first lodge of the Order named "Le Droit Humain." The
SuprmeConseilUniverselMixtewasfoundedin1899.
TheMaonnerieMixtewaspoliticalandinnowaytheosophicaloroccult,
anditsprogramme,likethatoftheGrandOrient,wasUtopianSocialism,
whilstbyitsinsistenceonthesupremacyofreasonitdefinitelyproclaimed
itsantagonismtoallrevealedreligion.ThusintheinvolvedlanguageofDr.
GeorgeMartinhimself:
TheOrdreMaonniqueMixteInternationaleisthefirstmixed,philosophic,
progressive, and philanthropic Masonic Power to be organized and
constituted in the world, placed above all the prooccupations of the
philosophicalorreligiousideaswhichmaybeprofessedbythosewhoask

tobecomemembers....TheOrderwishestointerestitselfprincipallyinthe
vitalinterestsofthehumanbeingonearth;itwishesabovealltostudyin
itsTemplesthemeansforrealizingPeacebetweenallnationsandsocial
Justicewhichwillenableallhumanbeingstoenjoyduringtheirlivesthe
greatest possible sum of moral felicity and of material wellbeing....
Claiming no divine revelation and loudly affirming that it is only an
emanationofhumanreason,thisfraternalinstitutionisnotdogmatic,itis
rationalist.698
Into this materialist and political club, erected under the guise of
Freemasonry,enteredAnnieBesantwithallthestrangeconglomerationof
EasterndoctrinesnowknownasTheosophy.
Theosophy
Beforeenteringonthisquestionitisnecessarytomakemyownposition
clear.AlthoughIshouldmuchprefernottointroduceapersonalnoteinto
thediscussion,IfeelthatnothingIsaywillcarryanyweightifitappearsto
beanexpressionofopinionbyonewhohasneverconsideredreligious
doctrinesfromanythingbuttheorthodoxChristianpointofview.Ishould
explain,then,thatIhaveknownTheosophistsfrommyearlyyouth,thatI
havetravelledinIndia,Ceylon,Burma,andJapanandseenmuchtoadmire
inthegreatreligionsoftheEast.IdonotbelievethatGodhasrevealed
Himselftooneportionofmankindaloneandthatduringonlythelast1,900
yearsoftheworld'shistory;Idonotacceptthedoctrinethatallthemillions
ofhumanbeingswhohaveneverheardofChristareplungedinspiritual
darkness; I believe that behind all religions founded on a law of
righteousnessthereliesadivineandcentraltruth,thatIkhnaton,Mosesand
Isaiah,SocratesandEpictetus,MarcusAurelius,Buddha,Zoroaster,and
Mohammedwereall teachers whointerpreted tomentheaspect of the
divineasithadbeenvouchsafedtothemandwhichinharmonywiththe
supremerevelationgiventomanbyJesusChrist.
This conception of an affinity between all great religious faiths was
beautifullyexpressedbyanoldMohammedantoafriendofthepresent
writerwithwhomhestoodwatchingaHinduprocessionpassthroughan
Indianvillage.InanswertotheEnglishman'senquiry,"Whatdoyouthink
ofthis?"theMohammedanreplied:
"Ah,sahib,wecannottell.Weknowofthreeroadsupthehillofendeavour

to the gates of Paradisethe way of Mousa [Moses], the way of Issa

[Jesus],andthewayofMahmoud,andtheremaybeotherroadsofwhich
youandIknownothing.IwasborninthewayofMahmoud,andIbelieve
ittobethebestandtheeasiesttofollow,andyouwereborninthewayof
Issa.AndofthisIamverysure:thatifyouwillfollowyourguideonyour
roadandIfollowmyguideonmyroad,whenwehaveclimbedthehillof
endeavour,weshallsaluteoneanotheragainatthegatesofParadise."
If,then,inthefollowingpagesIattempttoshowtheerrorsofTheosophy,
itisnotbecauseIdonotrecognizethatthereismuchthatisgoodand
beautifulintheancientreligionsfromwhichitprofessestoderive.
ButwhatisTheosophy?Theword,aswehavealreadyseen,wasusedin
theeighteenthcenturytodenotethetheoryoftheMartinists;itwasknown
two centuries earlier when Haselmeyer in 1612 wrote of "the laudable
FraternityoftheTheosophistsoftheRosyCross."AccordingtoColonel
Olcott, who with Madame Blavatsky founded the modern Theosophical
Society in New York in 1875, the word was discovered by one of the
members "in turning over the leaves of a Dictionary" and forthwith
unanimouslyadopted.699 MadameBlavatskyhadarrivedinAmericatwo
yearsearlier,beforewhichdatesheprofessedtohavebeeninitiatedinto
certainesotericdoctrinesinThibet.Monsieur Gunon,whowriteswith
insideknowledgeofthemovement,indicates,however,theexistenceof
concealedsuperiorsontheContinentofEuropebywhomshewasinreality
directed.
Whatisverysignificant...isthatMadameBlavatskyin1875wrotethis:"I
havebeensentfromParistoAmericainordertoverifyphenomenaand
theirrealityandtoshowthedeceptionoftheSpiritualisttheory."Sentby
whom? Later she will say: by the "Mahatmas"; but then there was no
questionofthem,andbesidesitwasinParisthatshereceivedhermission,
andnotinIndiaorinThibet.700
Elsewhere Monsieur Gunon observes that it is very doubtful whether
MadameBlavatskywaseverinThibetatall.Theseobviousattemptsat
concealmentleadMonsieurGunonthereforetotheconclusionthatinthe
backgroundofTheosophythereexistedamysteriouscentreofdirection,
that Madame Blavatsky was simply "an instrument in the hands of
individualsoroccultgroupsshelteringbehindherpersonality,"andthat

"thosewho believeshe invented everything,thatshe dideverythingby

herselfandonherowninitiative,areasmuchmistakenasthosewho,on
the contrary, believe her affirmations concerning her relations with the
pretendedMahatmas."701
There is some reason to believe that the people under whom Madame
BlavatskywasworkingatthisdateinPariswereSerapisBeyandTuiti
Bey, who belonged to "the Egyptian Brothers." This might answer M.
Gunon's question: "By whom was she sent to America?" But another
passagefromMadameBlavatsky'swritings,onthepersonofChrist,that
M.Gunonquoteslater,indicatesafurthersourceofinspiration:"Forme,
Jesus Christ,thatistosaytheManGodoftheChristians,copyofthe
Avatarsofallcountries,oftheHinduChrishnaasoftheEgyptianHorus,
wasneverahistoricalpersonage."HencethestoryofHislifewasmerely
anallegoryfoundedontheexistenceof"apersonagenamedJehoshuaborn
atLud."ButelsewheresheassertedthatJesusmayhavelivedduringthe
Christian era or a century earlier "as the Sepher Toldoth Jehoshua
indicates" (my italics). And Madame Blavatsky went on to say of the
savantswhodenythehistoricalvalueofthislegend,thatthey
eitherlieortalknonsense.ItisourMasterswhoaffirmit[myitalics].Ifthe
historyofJehoshuaorJesusBenPanderaisfalse,thenthewholeofthe
Talmud,thewholeoftheJewishcanonlaw,isfalse.Itwasthediscipleof
JehoshuaBenParachia,thefifthPresidentoftheSanhedrimsinceEzra,
whorewrotetheBible....ThisstoryismuchtruerthanthatoftheNew
Testament,ofwhichhistorydoesnotsayaword.702
WhoweretheMasterswhoseauthorityMadameBlavatskyhereinvokes?
Clearly not the TransHimalayan Brotherhood to whom she habitually
refersbythisterm,andwhocancertainlynotbesuspectedofaffirmingthe
authenticityoftheToldothYeshu.Itisevident,then,thattherewereother
"Masters"fromwhomMadameBlavatskyreceivedthisteaching,andthat
thoseothermasterswereCabalists.
ThesameJudaicinfluenceappearsmorestronglyinabookpublishedby
the Theosophical Society in 1903, where the Talmud and the Toledot
Yeshu are quoted at great length and the Christians are derided for
resentingtheattacksontheirfaithcontainedinthesebooks,whilsttheJews
arerepresentedasinnocent,persecutedvictims.Onepassagewillsufficeto
giveanideaoftheauthor'spointofview:

TheChrist[saidthemystics]wasborn"ofavirgin";theunwittingbeliever
inJesusasthehistoricalMessiahintheexclusiveJewishsense,andinhis
being the SonofGod,nayGodHimself,incourseoftimeassertedthat
Marywasthatvirgin;whereuponRabbinicallogic,whichinthiscasewas
simpleandcommonlogic,metthisextravagancebythenaturalretortthat,
seeing that his paternity was unacknowledged, Jesus was therefore
illegitimate,abastard[mamzer].703
Itisobviously,then,lessfromThibetanMahatmas,HinduSwamis,Sikh
Gurus,orEgyptianBrothersthanfromJewishCabaliststhattheseleaders
ofTheosophyhaveborrowedtheirideasonJesusChrist.AstheJewish
writer Adolphe Franck has truly observed: "Ds qu'il est question de
thosophie,onestsrdevoirapparatrelaKabbale."704Andhegoesonto
show the direct influence of Cabalism on the modern Theosophical
Society.
Mrs. Besant, without endorsing the worst blasphemies of the Toledot
Yeshu,neverthelessreflectedthisandotherJudaictraditionsinherbook
EsotericChristianity,wheresherelatedthatJesuswasbroughtupamongst
theEssenes,andthatlaterHewenttoEgypt,whereHebecameaninitiate
ofthegreatesotericlodgethatistosay,theGreatWhiteLodgefrom
whichallgreatreligionsderive.Itwillbeseenthatthisisonlyaversionof
theoldstoryoftheTalmudistsandCabalists,perpetuatedbytheGnostics,
the Rosicrucians, and the nineteenthcentury Ordre du Temple.705 But
accordingtooneofMrs.Besant'sTheosophicalantagonists,herdoctrine
"restsonaperpetualequivocation,"andwhilstallowingtheEnglishpublic
tobelievethatwhenshespokeofthecomingChristshereferredtothe
Christ of the Gospels, she stated to her intimates what Mr. Leadbeater
taughtinhisbook TheInnerLife,namely,thattheChristoftheGospels
neverexisted,butwasaninventionofthemonksofthesecondcentury. 706
Itshouldbeunderstood,however,thatinthelanguageoftheTheosophists,
ledbyMrs.Besant andMr.Leadbeater,Jesusand"theChrist"aretwo
separateanddistinctindividualities,andthatwhentheynowspeakof"the
Christ"theyrefertosomeonelivinginabungalowintheHimalayaswith
whom Mr. Leadbeater has interviews to arrange about his approaching
advent.707 Portraits of this person have been distributed amongst the
membersof"TheStarintheEast,"anOrderfoundedatBenaresin1911by
Mr.LeadbeaterandJ.Krishnamurtiforthepurposeofpreparingtheworld

forthecomingoftheGreatTeacher.
But it is time to return to the alliance between Theosophy and the
MaonnerieMixte.WhetherMrs.Besant,whohadbegunhercareerasa
Freethinker,retainedsomelingeringbeliefinherearliercreedatthetime
she entered into relations with the Order, or whether she saw in this
materialisticsocietyavaluableconcreteorganizationforthedissemination
ofhernewesoterictheories,itisimpossibletoknow.Atanyrate,sherose
rapidly through the succeeding degrees and became before long Vice
PresidentoftheSuprmeConseil,whichappointedheritsnationaldelegate
toGreatBritain.ItwasinthiscapacitythatshefoundedtheEnglishbranch
oftheOrderunderthenameofCoMasonry(thatis,admittingbothsexes)
at the Lodge "Human Duty" in London, which was consecrated on
September26,1902,andlaterfoundedanotherlodgeatAdyarinIndia,
named"TheRisingSun."ThenumberoflodgesontheGrandRollofCo
Masonry,includingthoseabroad,isnowsaidtobenolessthan442.
CoMasonry thus receives a twofold direction, for whilst remaining in
constant correspondence with the Suprme Conseil Universel Mixte,
situatedat5RueJulesBretoninParisandpresidedoverbytheGrand
MasterPiron,withMadameAmlieGdalje,thirtythirddegree,asGrand
SecretaryGeneral, it receives further instructions from "the V Ill
Bro Annie Besant 33" at Adyar. In order not to shock the
susceptibilitiesofEnglishadeptswhomightberepelledbytherationalist
tendenciesoftheMaonnerieMixte,Mrs.Besanthas,however,borrowed
theformulasofBritishMasonrytogetherwithitscustomofplacingthe
V.S.L.onthetableinthelodges.Theseconflictingdoctrinesareblendedin
anamusingmanneronthecertificatesoftheOrder,whereatthetopwe
findtheFrenchmottoandinitials:
Libert galit Fraternit L G D L'H (i.e. la gloire de
l'Humanit)
andbelow,forthebenefitofEnglishmembers,theinitialsoftheBritish
masonic device, that does not of course appear on the diplomas of the
French Order, which, like the Grand Orient, has rejected the Great
Architect:
T T G O T G A O T U (TothegloryoftheGreat
ArchitectoftheUniverse).

Our CoMasons therefore enjoy the advantage of being able to choose

whether they shall render glory to God or to Humanity. That the two
devicesaresomewhatincompatibledoesnotappeartostriketheEnglish
initiates,nordotheyprobablyrealizetheimposturepractisedonthemby
thefurtherwordingofthecertificate,which,afterannouncinginimposing
capitals"ToallMasonsdispersedoverbothHemispheres,Greeting,"goes
ontosay"Wethereforerecommendhim(orher)assuchtoallFreemasons
oftheGlobe,requestingthemtorecognizehim(orher)inalltherightsand
privileges attached to this Degree, as we will do to all presenting
themselvesundersimilarcircumstances."
Now, any British Mason will see at a glance that all this is a false
pretension.NoorderofMasonrycanrecommenditsmembersforrights
andprivilegesto"alltheFreemasonsoftheworld,"forthesimplereason
that,ashasbeensaid,thereisnosuchthingas"UniversalMasonry,"so
that even Grand Lodge of Englandthe most important Lodge in the
worldcouldnot,ifitwould,accordtherightofentryforitsmembersinto
Continentallodges.AsanEnglishMasonrecentlyexpressedit:
TheimpressionamongnonMasonsgenerallyappearstobethataBritish
orIrishmemberoftheCraftisabletoenteramasoniclodgeinanypartof
theworldandtakepartinitsdeliberationsandproceedings.Tothisbelief
anunqualifieddenialmayatoncebegiven.Normayamemberofalodge
underanyJurisdictionnotincommunionwiththeGrandLodgesofthe
UnitedKingdombereceivedasavisitororasaJoiningMemberinany
subsidiarylodgeoftheGrandLodgesofEngland,Ireland,orScotland.708
ButforCoMasonrytomakethisclaimisevenmoreridiculous,sinceat
thetimewhentheabovequoteddiplomawasdrawnupCoMasonryandits
parent,theMaonnerieMixte,werenotrecognizedbyanyotherorderof
Masonryexceptthe"DroitHumain,"anditisnotonlyunrecognizedbut
utterlyrepudiatedbyGrandLodgeofEngland.TheBritishMason,infact,
doesnotrecognizetheCoMasonasaMasonatall,andwouldviolatehis
obligationsbydiscussingmasonicsecretswithhimorher,sothatthereis
nomannerinwhichtheCoMasoncouldbeaccordedmasonicrightsand
privilegesbyBritishMasons.Inorder,further,tokeepuptheillusioninthe
mindsofitsmembersthattheyaregenuineMasons,CoMasonry,inits
quarterlyorgan,TheCoMason,iscarefultoincludemasonicnewsrelating
toBritishMasonryasifitformedoneandthesameorder.

WithregardtotheGrandOrient,anequallytortuouspolicywaspursued.
Aswehavealreadyseen,theGrandeLogedisgracedthelodgethathad
admittedMariaDeraismesanddidnotofficiallyrecognizetheMaonnerie
Mixte.TheritualadoptedbythelatterOrderwas,however,notthatof
British Masonry, and in most CoMasonic Lodges the ritual employed
containsvariationsderivedfromtheGrandOrient709;indeedtheGrand
OrientcharacterofCoMasonryhasalwaysbeengenerallyrecognizedin
masoniccircles.Thisbeingso,IpointedoutinWorldRevolutionthatCo
Masonry derives from the Grand Orient, but I received the following
protestfromawomanCoMason:
Are you aware that for twenty years the Grand Orient has refused to
recognize it [CoMasonry] as a legitimate body, just as the English
OrthodoxMasonsdonow?Also,wearedistinctlytoldbeforejoiningthat
weshallnotberecognizedbythatbody.Also,wehavenothingtodowith
Illuminati, or with Germany. As the Grand Orient have eliminated the
Deity,itisratheradreadfulthingtoaMasontobeconnectedinanyway
withthatOrder,andIcannotimagineaworsethingcouldbesaidaboutus.
ThisletterwasdatedMarch6,1922,andonthe19thofthepreceding
monthofFebruaryanalliancebetweentheGrandOrientandCoMasonry
hadbeenfinallycelebratedattheGrandTempleoftheDroitHumainin
Paris!WefindareportofthisceremonyintheCoMasonforthefollowing
April.Itisevident,therefore,thatmemberswhowerelikelytoberepelled
bytheideaofconnexionwiththeGrandOrientwereassuredthatnosuch
connexion existed. But when this covert liaison developed into official
recognitionalthoughthisdidnotincludetherightofentrytothelodgesof
theGrandOrientforwomenmembersthetriumphantmannerinwhichthe
greateventwasannouncedintheCoMasonsuggeststhatthemajorityof
memberswerelikelytofeelnothingbutsatisfactionatassociationwiththe
Order that "had eliminated the Deity." It is true that a few members
protested, and by this time CoMasonry was too completely under the
controlofMrs.Besantforanyfactiontoquestionherdictates.Moreover,
theoppositionhadbeenweakenedbyaschismwhichtookplaceinthe
Order in 1908, when a number of members who objected to the
introductionofEasternoccultismintoMasonryandlikewisedisapproved
oftheGrandOrient,formedthemselvesintoaseparatebodyunderMrs.
HalseyandDr.GeikieCobb,workingonlytheCraftDegreesaccordingto

theGrandLodgeofEngland.
IthasbeenshownbythisbriefrsumthatCoMasonryisahybridsystem
deriving from two conflicting sourcesthe political and rationalist
doctrinesofthe MaonnerieMixte andtheEasternoccultismofMadame
BlavatskyandMrs.Besant.
As a professing Buddhist, Madame Blavatsky consistently dissociated
herself from any schemes of material welfare. Thus in the early
ConstitutionoftheTheosophicalSocietyitisstated:
"The Society repudiates all interference on its behalf with the
Governmentalrelationsofanynationorcommunity,confiningitsattention
exclusivelytothematterssetforthinthepresentdocument."710
These matters relate to the study of Occult Sciences. Again Madame
BlavatskyherselfwroteintheTheosophist:
Unconcernedaboutpolitics:hostiletotheinsanedreamsofSocialismand
Communism,whichitabhorsasbotharebutdisguisedconspiraciesof
brutalforceandselfishness againsthonestlabour;theSocietycaresbut
littleabout theoutwardhumanmanagementofthematerialworld.The
wholeofitsaspirationsaredirectedtowardstheocculttruthsofthevisible
andinvisibleworlds.711
Itwillbeseenthatthisdeclarationisdiametricallyopposedtothatofthe
MaonnerieMixte.Nevertheless,MadameBlavatskysofardepartedfrom
her purely occult programme after her arrival in India in 1879 as to
reconstructthesocietyonthebasisof"UniversalBrotherhood."Thisidea
wascompletelyabsentfromherfirstscheme;"theBrotherhoodplankinthe
Society'sfutureplatform,"wrotehercoadjutorColonelOlcott,"wasnot
thoughtof."712Itwasoverthisplank,however,thatMrs.Besantwasable
to walk to the Supreme Council of the Maonnerie Mixte, and adding
LibertyandEqualitytotheprincipleofFraternitytoestablishCoMasonry
onadefinitelypoliticalbasisasapreparationfortheSocialistdoctrinesher
teacherhad"abhorred."
InthematterofesotericdoctrinesMrs.Besantagaindepartedfromthepath
laid down by Madame Blavatsky, whose aim had been to rehabilitate
BuddhisminIndia,representingtheteachingsofGautamaBuddhaasan
advance on Hinduism.713 Mrs. Besant, however, came to regard the

doctrinesoftheBrahminsasthepurerfaith.YetitwasneitherBuddhism
norHinduisminapureformthatsheintroducedtotheCoMasonsofthe
West, but an occult system of her own devising, wherein Mahatmas,
Swamis, and Gurus were incongruously mingled with the charlatans of
eighteenthcenturyFrance.ThusintheCoMasonic lodgeswefind"the
King"inscribedovertheGrandMaster'schairintheEast,intheNorththe
emptychairof"theMaster"towhich,untilrecently,allmemberswere
requiredtobowinpassingandoveritapicture,veiledinsomelodges,of
thesamemysteriouspersonage.Shouldtheneophyteenquire,"Whoisthe
King?"hemaybetoldthatheistheKingwhoistocomefromIndia
whether he is identical with the young Hindu Krishnamurti adopted by
Mrs.Besantin1909isnotclearwhilstthequestion"WhoistheMaster?"
will probably be met with the reply that he is "the Master of all true
Freemasonsthroughouttheworld,"whichtheenquirertakestomeanthe
headofthereligiontowhichhehappenstobelongChrist,Mohammed,or
another.Butinthethirddegreetheastonishinginformationisconfided
withanappearanceofgreatsecrecythatheisnootherthanthefamous
ComtedeSaintGermain,whodidnotreallydiein1784,butisstillalive
todayinHungaryunderthenameofRagocsky.Inyetahigherdegree,
however,theinitiatemaybetoldthattheMasterisinrealityPrinceEugene
ofAustria.
It would be superfluous to describe in detail the wild nonsense that
composes the creed of CoMasonry, since a long series of articles was
recentlydevotedtothesubject in ThePatriot andcanbeconsulted by
anyone who desires information concerning its ceremonies and the
personneldirectingit.714Sufficeittosayherethatitscourse,likethatof
mostsecretsocieties,hasbeenmarkedbyviolentdissensionsamongstthe
memberstheBlavatskyitespassionately denouncingtheBesantites and
theBesantitesproclaimingthedivineinfallibilityoftheirleaderwhilstat
thesametimescandalsofapeculiarlyunsavourykindhavebeenbroughtto
light.Thisfact hasindeedcreatedaseriousschism intheranksof the
Theosophists,whichshowsthatanumberofperfectlyharmlesspeopleare
tobefoundamongstthem.Yetthepeculiarrecurrenceofsuchscandalsin
thehistoryofsecretsocietiesleadsoneinevitablytowonderhowfarthese
aretoberegardedasmerelydeplorableaccidentsorastheresultsofsecret
society methods and of occult teaching. That the men against whom
chargesofsexualperversionwerebroughtwerenotisolatedexamplesof

thesetendenciesisshownbyacuriousadmissiononthepartofoneof
MadameBlavatsky's"chelas,"ordisciples,whorelates:
IwasapupilofH.P.B.beforeMrs.BesantjoinedtheT.S.andsawher
expeloneofhermostgiftedandvaluedworkersfromtheEsotericSection
foroffencesagainsttheoccultandmorallaw,similartothosewithwhich
Mr.Leadbeater'snamehasnowbeenassociatedfornearlytwentyyears.
H.P.B.wasalwaysextremelystrictonthisparticularpoint,andmany[my
itals.]wouldbeaspirantsforchelashipwererefusedonthisoneground
alone,whileotherswhohadbeenaccepted"onprobation"failedalmost
immediatelyafterwards.715
It would appear, then, that these deplorable proclivities are peculiarly
prevalentamongstaspirantstoTheosophicalknowledge.
ItisunnecessarytoenlargeatlengthonMrs.Besant'sconnexionwiththe
seditiouselementsinthiscountryandinIndia,sincethesehavefrequently
beenreferredtointhepress.ItistruethattheTheosophicalSociety,like
theGrandOrient,disavowsallpoliticalintentionsandprofessestowork
onlyforspiritualdevelopment,buttheleadersappeartoconsiderthata
radicalchangemusttakeplaceintheexistingsocialsystembeforetrue
spiritualdevelopmentcanbeattained.Thatthischangewouldlieinthe
direction of Socialism is suggested by the fact that a group of leading
Theosophists, including Mrs. Besant, were discovered in 1919 to be
holdingalargenumberofsharesintheVictoriaHousePrintingCompany,
whichwasfinancingtheDailyHeraldatthatdate716;indeed,Mrs.Besant
in her lectures on Liberty, Equality, Fraternity, at the Queen's Hall in
Octoberofthesameyear,clearlyindicatedSocialismasthesystemofthe
comingNewEra.717Sincethenthe"ActionLodge"hasbeenfoundedwith
theobjectofcarrying"Theosophicalidealsandconceptionsintoallfields
of human activity"718from which the political field appears not to be
excluded,sincethislodgehasbeenknowntocooperatewiththepromoters
ofapoliticalmeetingontheIndianquestion. 719Itisinterestingtonotice
thataleadingmemberofthe"ActionLodge,"andalsoofthe"Orderofthe
Star intheEast,"was recentlyreported inthe press tohave beenlong
connected with the Labour Party and to have notified her intention of
standingforitinParliament.
This is, of course, not to say that all Theosophists are Socialists. The

Theosophical Society of America, in an admirable series of articles 720

discussingthetheoryofworldrevolutionsetforthinmybooks,pointedout
that:
Thepupilsofthepowersofevilwork...untiringlytothwarteveryreal
advanceofthehumanrace,topulldownwhatevercivilizationpainfully
builds,thatmakesforlightandtruedevelopmentandspiritualgrowth....It
wouldnotbedifficulttosuggestreasonswhythesepupilsandcoworkers
of the powers of darkness choose the chief clauses of their creed:
Internationalism,Communism,thedestructionofthehigherclassthrough
thedespotic ruleof thelowestclass, thecorruptionof familylife. The
attackonreligionhardlyneedscomment.
It will be seen, then, that Socialism and Internationalism are not an
essential part of Theosophical teaching, and that the more enlightened
Theosophists recognize the danger of these destructive doctrines. At a
Special Convention in England on April 6 of this year, seven Lodges
enteredaprotestagainstrecentdeparturesfromtheoriginalpolicyofthe
Society.AmongsttheresolutionsputforwardwasoneurgingthePresident
(Mrs.Besant)toestablishatribunal"toinvestigatemattersaffectingthe
goodnameoftheSociety,andtheconductofcertainmembers";thiswas
lostby"anoverwhelmingmajority."Anotherresolutionregrettedthat"the
Administration,theMagazine,andtheinfluenceoftheSocietyhavebeen
usedforcontroversialpoliticalendsandsectarianreligiouspropaganda."
Unhappilytheseresolutionswerenotmetinthefraternalspiritthatmight
beexpectedfromaSocietysettingouttoestablishUniversalBrotherhood
andwerestigmatizedinaproposedamendmentas"destructivemotions...
atvariancewiththeobjectsforwhichtheSocietystands."Thisclausein
theamendment waslost byasmallmajority,butaverylargemajority
supportedthefurtherclausesinwhichtheSpecialConventionaffirmed"its
completeconfidenceintheadministrationoftheSocietyanditsbeloved
andreveredPresidentDr.AnnieBesant,thechosenleaderofwhomitis
justlyproud,"andsent"itscordialgreetingstoBishopLeadbeater,F.T.S.,"
thankinghim"forhisinvaluableworkandhisunswervingdevotiontothe
causeofTheosophyandtheserviceoftheTheosophicalSociety."
Thereare,then,acertainnumberofTheosophistsinthiscountrywhohave
thecourageandpublicspirittoprotestagainsttheuseoftheSocietyfor
politicalendsandagainstinfractionsofthemoralcodewhichtheybelieve

certain members to have committed. But this party unfortunately

constitutesonlyasmallminority;therestarepreparedtorenderblindand
unquestioningobediencetothedictatesofMrs.BesantandMr.Leadbeater.
InthisrespecttheTheosophicalSocietyfollowstheusualplanofsecret
societies.Foralthoughnotnominallyasecretsocietyitisoneineffect,
beingcomposed of outer andinner circles andabsolutelycontrolledby
supreme directors. The inner circle, known as the Esoteric Section, or
rathertheEasternSchoolofTheosophyusuallyreferredtoastheE.S.is
inrealityasecretsociety,consistinginitsturnofthreefurthercircles,the
innermostcomposedoftheMahatmasorMastersoftheWhiteLodge,the
secondoftheAcceptedPupilsorInitiates,andthethirdoftheLearnersor
ordinary members. The E.S. and CoMasonry thus compose two secret
societieswithintheopenordercontrolledbypeoplewhoarefrequently
members of both. Whether even these higher initiates are really in the
secretisanotherquestion.Dr.WellervanHookwhoissaidtohavebeen
alsoa Rosicrucianand animportantmember of the GrandOrientonce
crypticallyobservedthat"Theosophyisnotthehierarchy,"implyingthatit
wasonlypartofaworldorganization,anddarklyhintingthatifitdidnot
carryouttheworkallottedtoit,theRosicrucianswouldtakecontrol.That
thisismorethanprobableweshallseelater.
TheouterranksoftheTheosophicalSocietyseemtobelargelycomposed
of harmless enthusiasts who imagine that they are receiving genuine
instruction in the religions and occult doctrines of the East. That the
teachingoftheE.S.wouldnotbetakenseriouslybyanyrealOrientalist
andthattheycouldlearnfarmorebystudyingtheworksofrecognized
authoritiesonthesesubjectsataUniversityorattheBritishMuseumdoes
notoccurtothemforamoment.Norwouldthisfulfilthepurposeofthe
leaders.FortheTheosophicalSocietyisnotastudygroup,butessentiallya
propagandist societywhichaimsatsubstitutingforthepureandsimple
teaching of Christianity the amazing compound of Eastern superstition,
Cabalism,andeighteenthcenturycharlatanismwhichMrs.Besantandher
coadjutorshavedevised.YetevenwerethedoctrinesofMrs.Besantthose
of true Buddhism or of Brahmanism, to what extent are they likely to
benefit Western civilization? Setting the question of Christianity aside,
experienceshowsthattheattempttoorientalizeOccidentalsmayproveno
less disastrous than the attempt to occidentalize Orientals, and that to
transportEasternmysticismtotheWestistovulgarizeitandtoproducea

debasedformofoccultismthatfrequentlyendsinmoraldeteriorationor
mental derangement.721 I attribute the scandals that have taken place
amongstTheosophistsdirectlytothiscause.
Butitistimetoturntoanothersocietyinwhichthisdebasedoccultism
playsastillmoreimportantpart.
Rosicrucianism
Atthepresenttime,asintheeighteenthcentury,theterm"Rosicrucianism"
is used to cover a number of associations differing in their aims and
doctrines.
The first of these societies to be founded in England was the Societas
RosicrucianainAnglia,foundedin1867byRobertWentworthLittleon
instructions received from abroad. Only Master Masons are admitteda
procedurenotcondemnedbyGrandLodgeofEngland,whichregardsthe
S.R.I.A.asaperfectlyinnocuousbody.Althoughneitherpolicalnoranti
Christian,but,onthecontrary,containingdistinctlyChristianelementsand
claimingtodescendfromChristianRosenkreutzaclaimwhichmustbe
dismissed as an absurditythe S.R.I.A. is nevertheless largely
Cabalistic,722 dealing with the forces of Nature, alchemy, etc. If its
progenitorsarereallytobetracedfurtherbackthantheRosicruciansofthe
nineteenth centuryRagon, Eliphas Lvi, and Kenneth Mackenziethey
must be sought amongst certain esoteric Masons in Hungary and also
amongst theFrenchMartinistes, whoseritualsdoubtlessderivedfroma
kindredsource.ItwillberememberedthatMarlinesPasquallybequeathed
to his disciples a large number of Jewish manuscripts which were
presumablypreservedinthearchivesoftheMartinisteLodgeatLyons.
TheOrderofMartinisteshasneverceasedtoexist,andthePresidentofthe
SuprmeConseil,Dr.GrardEncausse,wellknownas"Papus,"anavowed
Cabalist,onlydiedin1916.TothesearchivesanotherfamousCabalist,the
renegade Abb, Alphonse Louis Constant, who assumed the name of
EliphasLvi,maywellhavehadaccess.ItissaidthatoneofEliphasLvi's
mostdistinguisheddisciples,theoccultistBaronSpedalieriofMarseilles,
wasamemberofthe"GrandLodgeofSolitaryBrethrenoftheMountain,"
an"IlluminedBrotheroftheAncientRestoredOrderofManicheans,"a
high member of the Grand Orient, and also a "High Illuminate of the
Martinistes."Beforehisdeathin1875EliphasLviannouncedthatin1879

anewpoliticalandreligious"universalKingdom"wouldbeestablished,
andthatitwouldbepossessedby"himwhowouldhavethekeysofthe
East."ThemanuscriptcontainingthisprophecywaspassedonbyBaron
SpedalieritoEdwardMaitland,whoinhisturngaveittoaleadingmember
ofS.R.I.A.,bywhomitwaspublishedinEnglish.723
But, as we have already seen, the principal centre of Cabalism was in
Eastern Europe, whilst Germany was the principal home of
Rosicrucianism,anditwasfromthesedirectionsthat,afewyearslater,a
newRosicrucianOrderinEnglandderiveditsinspiration.Itiscuriousto
noticethattheeightiesofthelastcenturyweremarkedbyasimultaneous
recrudescenceofsecretsocietiesandofSocialistorganizations.In1880
Leopold Engel reorganized Weishaupt's Order of Illuminati, which,
accordingtoM.Gunon,playedthenceforth"anextremelysuspectpolitical
rle,"andsoonafterthisin1884itissaidthatastrangeincidenttookplace
inLondon.TheRev.A.F.A.Woodford,aFM,happenedtobeturning
overthecontentsofasecondhandbookstallinFarringdonStreetwhenhe
cameuponsomecypherMSS.,attachedtowhichwasaletterinGerman
sayingthatifthefinderweretocommunicatewithSapiensDominabatur
Astris,c/oFrauleinAnnaSprengel,inGermany,hewouldreceivefurther
interestinginformation.
This,atanyrate,isthestorytoldtoinitiatesoftheOrderwhichcametobe
foundedaccordingtotheinstructionsgiveninthecypher.Butwhenwe
rememberthatpreciselythesamestorywastoldbyCagliostroconcerning
hisdiscoveryofaMS.inLondonbythemysteriousGeorgeCoftonon
whichhehadfoundedhisEgyptianrite,webegintowonderwhetherthe
placingofaMS.inaspotwhereitiscertaintobediscoveredbyprecisely
thepeoplequalifiedtodecipheritformsoneofthetraditionalmethodsof
secretsociety adepts for extending their sphere of influence without
betrayingtheiridentityorrevealingthecentreofdirection.
Inthiscaseitcertainlysucceededadmirably,forbyafortunatecoincidence
the clergyman who found the cypher MSS. was acquainted with two
prominentmembersoftheS.I.R.A.,Dr.WynnWestcottandDr.Woodman,
towhomhetookthedocuments,andbyafurtherfortunatecoincidenceone
ofthemhappenedtobetheverypersontowhomEliphasLvi'sprophecy
hadbeengiven;ThesetwomenwhonowassumedthepseudonymsofS.A.
(SapereAude) andM.E.V.(Magnus est Veritas), were ablepartiallyto
decipherthemanuscript;S.A.,withtheassistanceofaGerman,thenwrote

to S.D.A. c/o Fraulein Anna Sprengel, saying that he and a friend had
finishedthedecipheringandthattheydesiredfurtherinformation.Inreply
theyweretoldtoelaboratethenotes,andthatifdiligenttheywouldbe
allowedtoformanelementarybranchoftheRosicrucianOrderinEngland.
FinallyS.D.A.wrotetoS.A.authorisinghimtosignher(orhis?)nameto
anywarrantordocumentnecessaryfortheconstitutionofanOrder,and
promisinglateronfurtherritualsandadvancedteachingsifthepreliminary
Orderprovedsuccessful.S.A.andM.E.V.nowcalledintheaidofathird
member of the S.I.R.A., Macgregor Mathers, henceforth known as
D.D.C.F.(DeoDuceComiteFerro),who,havingmoretimeathisdisposal,
wasable,bymeansoflongandarduouslabour,toelaboratetheritualsin
Masonicstyle.OnMarch8,1888,awarrantwasthendrawnupaccording
tothedesigngiveninthecypherMSS.andwassignedbyS.A.forS.D.A.,
byM.E.V.andD.D.C.F.,allthreehavingreceivedthehonorarygradeof7
4fromS.D.A.soastoenablethemtoactasChiefoftheNewTemple.Itis
interestingtonotethatwhilsttheinstructionsinthecypherMSS.werein
EnglishandGerman,thenamenowgiventothenewOrder"TheGolden
Dawn,"wasaccompaniedbyitsequivalentinHebrew"ChebrethZerech
aurBokher"thatistosay"TheCompanionsoftheRisingLightofthe
Morning."Amongsttheinstructionswefind:"AvoidRomanCatholicsbut
withpity";alsothesedirectionsconcerningtheObligation:
ThecandidateaskingforLightistakentotheAltarandforcedtotakean
Obligationtosecrecyunderpenaltyofexpulsionanddeathorpalsyfrom
hostilecurrentofwill.
FromthesubsequentcorrespondenceoftheOrderitisseenthatthisso
called"punitivecurrent"wasactuallydirectedbytheChiefsagainstthose
whorebelled.
AlthoughthemembersoftheGoldenDawnlaterbecamelinkedupwith
the"EsotericMasons"inGermany,neithertheorganizationnortheritual
oftheOrderaremasonic,butratherMartinisteandCabalistic.Foramidst
all the confused phraseology of the Order, the phrases and symbols
borrowedfromEgyptian,Greek,orHindumythology,onedetectsthereal
basisofthewholesystemtheJewishCabala,inwhichallthethreeChiefs
were,orbecame,experts.Mathersinfacttranslatedthefamousbookof
AbrahamtheJewfromFrenchintoEnglishwithexplanatorynotes,and
WynnWestcotttranslatedtheSepherYetzirahfromHebrew.Lectureswere

given to the society on such subjects as the Tarot Cards, Geomantic

Talismans,andtheSchemhamphoraschorTetragrammaton.
TheOrderwasatfirstabsolutelygovernedbythethreeChiefs,butaftera
timeowing to the death of Woodman and the resignation of Wynn
WestcottMathersbecametheSoleChiefandprofessedtohaveobtained
furtherinstructionsfromtheHiddenChiefsthroughhiswifeasisterof
Bergsonby means of clairvoyance and clairaudience. But the real
directorsoftheOrderwereinGermanyandknownasthe"Hiddenand
Secret Chiefs of the Third Order." A curious resemblance will here be
notedwiththe"ConcealedSuperiors"bywhommembersofthe Stricte
Observanceintheeighteenthcenturydeclaredthemselvestobecontrolled.
WhothesemenwereatthetimetheOrderwasfoundedremainsamystery
notonlytotheoutsideworldbuteventotheEnglishinitiatesthemselves.
TheidentityofSapiensDominabaturAstrisappearsnevertohavebeen
established,norwasanythingmoreheardaboutthestillmoremysterious
AnnaSprengeluntilherdeathinanobscureGermanvillagewasreported
in1893.Indeed,oneofthemostactivemembersoftheOrder,Dr.Robert
Felkin,M.D.,knownasF.R.(FinemRespice),laterdeclaredthat,although
hehadvisitedfivetemplesoftheOrderinGermanyandAustria,hehad
beenunabletogetintotouchwiththeHiddenChiefs,ortodiscoverhow
theoriginalMSS.cameintothehandsoftheclergymanwhohandedthem
toWynnWestcottandWoodman.AccordingtoFelkin'sstatement,allthat
he had been able to find out was that the MSS. were the notes of
ceremonies made by a man who had been initiated into a Lodge in
Germany,andthatthetemplefromwhichtheyoriginatedwas"aspecial
temple"workingontheCabalatreeliketheEnglishbranchoftheOrder.
Further,hewastoldthatnoneofthe"bigThree"whofoundedtheGolden
DawninEnglandwererealRosicruciansatall.
The confusion of ideas which mustinevitably result when,as in secret
societies or revolutionary organizations, a number of people are being
blindly led by hidden directors, naturally brought about dissensions
amongstthemembers,whomutuallyaccusedeachotherofignoranceof
therealaimsoftheOrder.ThustheLondonLodgeendedbybreakingwith
Mathers, who was in Paris, on account of his arrogance in claiming
supremepowerthroughthemysteryoftheHiddenChiefs,andaftertwo
yearsofunsettledgovernment,in1902electedthreenewchiefsDr.Felkin
(F.R.=FinemRespice),Bullock,asolicitor(L.O.=LevaviOculos)who

resigned at the end of the year, and Brodie Innes (S.S.Sub Spe). But
although Mathers had been repudiated, his teachings were retained as
emanatingfromtheHiddenChiefs.
Two years earlier a dramatic incident had occurred. In a very sinister
personage,AleisterCrowley,hadbeenintroducedintotheOrderonthe
recommendation of A. E. Waite (S.R. = Sacramentum Regis) the well
known mystical writer. A man of many aliases, Crowley followed the
precedentofthe"ComtedeSaintGermain,"the"ComtedeCagliostro,"
andthe"BaronvonOffenbach"byennoblinghimselfandmasquerading
undervarioustitlesinturn,suchas"CountSvareff,""LordBoleskine,"
"Baron Rosenkreutz," but usually known in the Order as "P" for
"Perdurabo."
Crowley,whowasaCabalist,hadwrittenabookonGoeticMagicand
soonafterbecomingamemberofthe"GoldenDawn"settoworkwith
another "Frater" on magical experiments, including evocations, the
consecration and use of talismans, divination, alchemy, etc. In 1900
CrowleyhadjoinedMathersinPariswherethelatterandhiswifewere
livingundertheassumednamesofthe"ComteandComtesseofGlenstrae"
andengagedinrevivingthemysteriesofIsisattheBodinireTheatre.In
thistasktheywerejoinedbyanextraordinarylady,thenotoriousMadame
Horos(aliastheSwami)whoclaimedtobetherealandauthenticSapiens
DominabaturAstris.Crowleydescribedheras"averystoutwomanand
veryfair"and"avampireofremarkablepower;"Mathersdeclaredhertobe
"probably the most powerful medium living," but later, in a letter to
anothermemberofthe"GoldenDawn"observed:"Ibelieveherandher
accomplicestobeemissariesofaverypowerful secretoccultorder who
havebeentryingfor yearstobreakupother Orders andespecially my
work."Incidentallythislady,whoprovedtobeafalseS.D.A.,endedby
startinganOrderincollaborationwithherhusband,inwhichitwassaid
that certain rituals of the Golden Dawn were adapted to an immoral
purpose,withtheresultthatthecouplewerebroughttotrialandfinally
condemnedtopenalservitude.
Whether owing to this disturbing experience, or because, as Crowley
declared,hehad"imprudentlyattractedtohimselfforcesofeviltoogreat
and terrible for him to withstand, presumably Abramelin demons,"
Mathers'reasonbegantototter.Thisthenwasthesituationatthetimeof
hisrupturewiththeOrder,andthedramaticincidentreferredtowasthe

suddenappearanceofCrowleyinLondon,who,whetheractingasMathers'
envoyoronhisowninitiative,brokeintothepremisesoftheOrder,witha
black mask over his face, a plaid shawl thrown over his shoulders, an
enormousgold(orgilt)crossonhisbreast,andadaggerathisside,forthe
purpose of taking over possession. This attempt was baffled with the
prosaic aid of the police and Crowley was expelled from the Order.
Eventually,however,hesucceededinobtainingpossessionofsomeofthe
ritualsandotherdocumentsoftheGoldenDawn,whichheproceededto
publishintheorganofanewOrderofhisown.Thismagazine,containing
amixtureofdebasedCabalismandvulgarblasphemies,interspersedwith
panegyricsonhaschishforCrowleycombinedwithsexualperversionan
addictiontodrugswhichmightappeartoexpressonlytheravingsofa
maniac.Buteccentricityhasoftenprovidedthebestcloakfordarkdesigns,
andtheoutbreakofwarprovedthattherewasamethodinthemadnessof
the man whom the authorities persisted in regarding merely as an
irresponsibledegenerateofanonpoliticalkind.Toquotethepressreport
ofhisexploitsafterthisdate:
InNovember1914CrowleywenttotheUnitedStates,whereheentered
intocloserelationswiththeproGermanpropagandists.HeeditedtheNew
York International, a German propagandist paper run by the notorious
GeorgeSilvesterViereck,andpublished,amongotherthings,anobscene
attackontheKingandaglorificationoftheKaiser.Crowleyranoccultism
asasideline,andseemstohavebeenknownasthe"PurplePriest."Later
onhepubliclydestroyedhisBritishpassportbeforetheStatuteofLiberty,
declaredinfavour oftheIrishRepublican cause, andmadeatheatrical
declarationof"war"onEngland....DuringhisstayinAmericaCrowley
was associated with a body known as the "Secret Revolutionary
Committee"whichwasworkingfortheestablishmentofanIrishRepublic.
HeisknownalsoasthewriterofadefeatestmanifestocirculatedinFrance
in1915.
ButtoreturntotheGoldenDawn.In1903asplitoccurredintheOrder.
A.E.Waite,anearlymemberofit,secededfromitwithanumberofother
membersandcarriedoffwithhimthenameof"GoldenDawn,"alsothe
vaultandotherpropertyoftheOrder.TheoriginalOrderthentookthe
nameof"StellaMatutina,"withDr.FelkinasChief.
IntheprecedingyearthemembersoftheLondonLodgehadagainbelieved

thattheywereintouchwiththe HiddenThirdOrder andrevivedtheir

effortstocommunicatewiththeSecretChiefsinGermany.Thisstateof
uncertaintycontinuedtillabout1910,whenFelkinandMeakinsetforthfor
Germany,wheretheysucceededinmeetingseveralmembersoftheThird
Order,whoprofessedtobe"trueandgenuineRosicrucians"andtoknowof
AnnaSprengelandthestartingoftheOrderinEngland.Theywerenot,it
wasbelieved,theSecretandHiddenChiefs,butmoreprobablyEsoteric
Masons oftheGrandOrient.TheseFratres,however,toldthemthatin
ordertoformadefiniteethericlinkbetweenthemselvesandtheOrderin
GreatBritain,itwouldbenecessaryforaBritishFratertobeundertheir
instruction for a year. Accordingly Meakin remained in Germany for
specialtraining,sothathemightactasthe"ethericlink"betweenthetwo
countries. After a pilgrimage to the Near East, closely following the
itinerary of Christian Rosenkreutz, Meakin returned to Germany, and it
appearstohavebeennowthathewasabletogetintotouchwithacertain
highadeptofoccultscience.
This remarkable personage, Rudolf Steiner, had earlier belonged to the
Theosophical Society,andithasbeensuggestedthatatsomeperiodhe
mayhavebeenconnectedwiththerevivedIlluminatiofLeopoldEngel.
Thereiscertainlysomereasontobelievethatatonepointinhiscareerhe
came into touch with men who were carrying on the teachings of
Weishaupt,thechiefofwhomwasthePresidentofagroupofPanGerman
secretsocieties,anditseemsnotimprobablethatthemysteriousS.D.A.,
underwhosedirectionstheGoldenDawnwasfounded,mightbelocatedin
thiscircle.
Afewyearsbeforethewar,Steiner,whilststillaTheosophist,starteda
societyofhisown,theAnthroposophicalSociety,anameborrowedfrom
the work of the XVIIth century Rosicrucian, Thomas Vaughan,
"Anthroposophica Magica." The ostensible leader of Rosicrucianism in
GermanywasDr.FranzHartmann,founderofthe"OrderoftheEsoteric
RoseCroix."AlthoughinsomewayconnectedwithEngel'sIlluminatiand
moredefinitelywiththeTheosophicalSociety,Hartmannwasbelievedto
beagenuineChristianmystic.Steineralsomadethesameprofession,and
it seems probable that he formed one of the group of mysterious
personages,includingbesidesGrandOrientMasons,BaronvonKnigge,
great grandson of Weishaupt's coadjutor "Philo," who met together in
secretconferenceatIngoldstadtwherethefirstLodgeoftheIlluminatihad

been founded in 1776, and decided to revive Illuminism on Christian

mysticlinesusedinaveryelasticsenseamongstoccultists.Atthesame
time Steiner introduces into his teaching a strong vein of Gnosticism,
Luciferianism, Johannism, and Grand Orient Masonry, whilst reserving
Rosicrucianismforhishigherinitiates.Onthislastpointheisextremely
reticent,preferringtocallhisteaching"occultscience,"sinceherecognizes
that"realRosicruciansneverproclaimthemselvesassuch";itistherefore
onlyintheinnercircleofhissociety,onwhichnoinformationisgivento
thepublicandintowhichmembersareadmittedbymuchthesameforms
of initiation as those used by the Grand Orient, that Rosicrucianism is
mentioned.SomeofSteiner'simitatorsinTheRosicrucianFellowshipat
Oceanside, California, however, openly profess what they call
Rosicrucianism and at the same time claim superior knowledge on the
subjectofMasonry.Thusinabookbytheleaderofthisgroupwefindit
solemnlystatedthataccordingtoMaxHeindl,Evecohabitedwithserpents
inthegardenofEden,thatCainwastheoffspringofherunionwith"the
Lucifer Spirit Samael," and that from this "divine progenitor" the most
virile portion of the human race descended, the rest being merely the
"progenyofhumanparents."Readersofthepresentworkwillrecognize
thisasnotthelegendofMasonrybutoftheJewishCabalawhichhasbeen
alreadyquotedinthiscontext.724WhetherthisalsoformspartofSteiner's
teachingitisimpossibletosay,sincehisrealdoctrinesareknownonlyto
hisinnercircle;evensomeofhisadmirersamongsttheSteinerMatutina,
whilstconsultinghimasanoracle,arenotadmittedtothesecretsofhis
gradesofinitiationandhavebeenunabletosucceedinobtainingfromhim
a charter. Meanwhile they themselves do not disclose to the neophytes
whom they seek to win over that they are members of any secret
association.ThisisquiteinaccordancewiththemethodsofWeishaupt's
"InsinuatingBrothers."
The result of what Steiner calls "occult science" is thus described in a
strikingpassageofoneofhisownworks:
"This is the change which the occult student observes coming over
himselfthat there is no longer a connection between a thought and a
feelingorafeelingandavolition,exceptwhenhecreatestheconnection
himself. No impulse drives him from thought to action if he does not
voluntarilyharbourit.Hecannowstandcompletelywithoutfeelingbefore
anobjectwhich,beforehistraining,wouldhavefilledhimwithglowing

loveorviolenthatred;hecanlikewiseremainactionlessbeforeathought
whichheretoforewouldhavespurredhimtoactionasifbyitself,"etc.
I can imagine no clearer expos of the dangers of occultism than this.
Weishaupthadsaid:"IcannotusemenasIfindthem;Imustformthem."
Dr.Steinershowshowthistransformationcanbeaccomplished.Underthe
influenceofsocalledocculttraining,whichisinrealitysimplypowerful
suggestion,allaman'snativeimpulsesandinhibitivespringsofactionmay
bebroken;thepupiloftheoccultistwillnolongerreacttotheconceptions
of beauty or ugliness, of right or wrong, which, unknown to himself,
formedthelawofhisbeing.Thusnotonlyhisconsciousdeedsbuthissub
consciousprocessespassunderthecontrolofanother.Ifthisisindeedthe
methodemployedbyDr.Steinerandhisadeptstherewouldcertainlyseem
tobesomejustificationfortheverdictofM.RobertKuentzthat"Steiner
has devised occult exercises which render the mind incapable (rendent
l'espritananti),thatheattackstheindividualbyderanginghisfaculties(il
dtraquelesfacults)."725
WhatistherealmotivepowerbehindsuchsocietiesastheStellaMatutina
andagainbehindSteiner?Thisremainsamystery,notonlytotheoutside
worldbuttothe"initiates"themselves.ThequestoftheHiddenChiefs,
undertakenbyoneintrepidpilgrimafteranother,seemstohaveendedonly
infurthermeetingswithSteiner.Yethopespringseternalinthebreastof
theaspirantafteroccultknowledge,andastralmessagesspurredtheFratres
to further efforts. One of these contained the exhortation: "Go on with
Steiner,whichisnottheultimateendofsearch,andwewillcomeinto
contactwithmanyseriousstudentswhowillleadustotherealmasterof
theOrder,whowillbesooverpoweringlyimpressiveastoleavenoroom
fordoubt."
AcuriousanalogywithCoMasonrywillherebeobserved.Forwhilstthe
veiledpictureoftheCoMasoniclodgesissaidtorepresent"theMaster"in
thepersonofRagocskyorsomeotherpersonageinAustriaorHungary,so
itislikewiseinAustriaandGermanythatthemembersofStellaMatutina
seektheirHiddenChiefsandthe"realMaster"oftheirOrder.Moreover,
whilst the CoMasons await the coming of the great "World Teacher,"
King,orMessiahin1926,itisalsoin1926thattheStellaMatutinaexpect
ChristianRosenkreutztoappearagain.726Therearemanyotherpointsof
resemblancebetweenthephraseologyofthetwoOrders,as,forexample,

the idea of the "Astral Light," "the Great White Lodge," and also "the
GREATWORK"bywhichbothOrdersdenotethesupremeobjectoftheir
aspirations"theunionoftheEastandtheWest."Itisthereforeimpossible
nottosuspectthat,althoughthemembersofCoMasonryandoftheStella
MatutinaimaginetheirrespectiveOrderstobeentirelyunconnectedand
indeedappeartobehardlyawareofeachother'sexistence,theremaybe
neverthelesssomepointofjunctioninthebackgroundandevenacommon
centreofdirection.
Inthisconnexionitisinterestingtonoticethepoliticaltendenciesofthe
societiesinquestion.AlthoughtheoutcomeoftheMaonnerieMixte,and
nominallyunderthejurisdictionofheadquartersinParis,CoMasonrydoes
notappeartobeproFrenchinitssympathies.Onthecontrary,theCo
masoniclodgesinthiscountry,asalsotheheadlodgeintheRueJules
Breton,seemtohaveadoptedthatformofuniversalbrotherhoodwhich
principallyredoundstothebenefitofGermany.
The Stella Matutina, whilst professing to be solely concerned in occult
scienceandwarningitsmembersagainstCoMasonryonaccountofthe
political tendencies of thelatter, isnevertheless still more imbuedwith
Germaninfluence,since,aswehaveseen,ithaseversinceitfirstcame
intoexistencebeensecretlyunderGermanydirection.Indeed,duringthe
warthisinfluencebecamesoapparentthatcertainpatrioticmembers,who
hadenteredthesocietyinallgoodfaithwiththeideaofstudyingoccult
science,raisedanenergeticprotestandaschismtookplace.Thus,justasin
thecaseofCoMasonry,themoreclearsightedrecognizedtheimprudence
ofplacingthemselvesunderforeigncontrol.Thatthiswasnoimaginary
dangerisshownbyacorrespondencewhichhadtakenplacesomeyears
earlierandhasrecentlybeenbroughttolight.Itwillberememberedthat
thegreataimofWeishauptandtheIlluminatioftheeighteenthcenturywas
toobtaincontroloverallexistingmasonicandoccultOrders,Thisalso
becamethedreamofRudolfSteinerandhisalliesinothercountries,whose
planwastoformwhattheycalledan"InternationalBund."Theideaofan
InternationalBureauforMasonicAffairshadalready,aswehaveseen,
been started in Switzerland; this was the same idea applied to occult
groups,sothatallsuchsocietiesasRosicrucianism,Theosophywithits
various ramifications of CoMasonry, etc., Hermetic Orders, isolated
occultists, and so on, were to be placed under German control. The
audacityoftheproposalseemstohavebeentoomuchevenforsomeofthe

mostinternationallymindedmembersoftheStellaMatutina,andinthe
discussionthattookplaceitwaspointedoutthatadmirableasthescheme
mightbe,therewasneverthelesssomeBritishspiritamongsttheseOrders
to be reckoned with. Even Mrs. Besant's followers, headed by the Co
Masons,describedasagroupwhich"attractsalargenumberofidlewomen
whohaveleisuretotakealittleoccultismwiththeirafternoontea,"might
be liable to ask, "Who are these Germans to interfere?" But the real
obstacletosuccesswasheldtobeBritishFreemasonry,towhichacertain
number of students of occultscience, includingall themembers of the
S.R.I.A.,belonged."EnglishMasonry,"itwasremarked,"boaststheGrand
Lodgeof1717,theMotherLodgeoftheWorld.Theyareaproud,jealous,
autocraticbody.CoMasonryderivesfromtheGrandOrientofFrance,an
illegitimatebodyaccordingtoEnglishruling.NoEnglishMasoncanwork
withCoMasons....IftheEnglishGrandLodgehearsofanythingcalled
'Esoteric Masonry' derived from such sources, under chiefs once T.S.
[TheosophicalSociety]members,underaheadinBerlin,itwillnotenquire
whoDr.Steinerisorwhatisthenatureofhiswork,itwillsimplysay,'No
EnglishMasonsoftheFreeandAcceptedMasonsmayjoinanySociety
working pseudoMasonic rites, i.e. no one of ordinary accepted
Freemasonry can attend any meetings or attend any grades in this
illegitimate body.' Finis!... If a lodge of the Continental Order is to be
established in England, Dr. Steiner will be faced with the Masonic
difficulty.Thisisreallyserious...."727
HerethenisoneofthefinesttributeseverpaidtoBritishMasonry,forit
showsthatasatpresent constitutedandcontrolleditprovidesthemost
formidable barrier against the infiltration of this country by alien or
subversivesecretsocieties.ThustheFreemasonsandtheRomanCatholics
are recognized as the principal obstacles to success. The Freemasons,
however,woulddowelltorealizetheattemptsthataremadetobreakdown
thisresistancebytraitorsintheMasoniccamp,who,afterviolatingtheir
obligationsbybelongingtoanirregular secretsociety,actasrecruiting
agents in the lodges. For the author of these remarks was a British
Freemasonwho,incollusionwithaforeignadept,proposedtopenetrate
Freemasonrybytheprocessknowninrevolutionarylanguageas"boring
fromwithin."Toquotehisownwords,"Theymustbegotatfromwithin,
notfromwithout."Thiswastobeaccomplishedinvariouswaysbyadepts
of the Continental Order getting themselves initiated into orthodox

Masonry and then spreading their own doctrines in the lodges, or by

enlisting recruits amongst orthodox Masons and using them as
propagandistsamongtheirbrotherMasons.Itwasalsosuggestedthatin
ordernottorousesuspicionitwouldbebettertoavoidthename"Esoteric
Masonry,"toadoptoneoftheritualsusedinEngland,andtoemployas
"officers"a"mixedgroup"drawnfromvarioussecretsocieties.Thisplan
hasbeencarriedoutwithconsiderablesuccess,andatarecentconference
heldbyahighContinentaladeptunderthemostdistinguishedpatronage,it
wasinterestingtonoticethevarioussecretsocietiesrepresentedbycertain
ofthepromoters,whoofcoursetothegeneralpublicappearedtobemerely
isolatedindividualsinterestedinphilosophicalspeculation.Butitistimeto
passontothequestionofyetanothersecretassociation,foramongstthose
presentattheConferencereferredtoweremembersofthegroupClart.
Thissociety,ofwhichthenameaswellasitsavowedaimsaresingularly
reminiscentofIlluminism,wasfirstheardofinFranceandwasledbymen
who carried on active antipatriotic propaganda throughout the war.
AmongstthesewasHenriBarbusse,authorof LeFeu,adefeatestnovel
whichwasreceivedwithacclamationsfrom"illuminated"reviewersinthe
pressofthiscountry.YetalthoughoutwardlyaFrenchorganization,the
realinspirationandteachingofClartisessentiallyGermanJewishanda
greatnumberofJewsaretobefoundamongstitsmembers,particularlyin
Central Europe. At the inaugural meeting of the Austrian group it was
stated that 80 per cent. of those present were of the Jewish race. The
keynoteof Clart isInternationalismabolitionofnationality,destruction
offrontiers,andpacifismorratherthesubstitutionofclasswarfareforwar
betweennations.Forthispurposeitiswillingtomakeuseofallsubversive
doctrines,towhateverschoolofthoughttheymaybelong.Hence,although
thecreedoftheleadersisprofessedlySocialism,theyreadilycooperate
withSyndicalists,Anarchists,orrevolutionariesofanybrand,carryingon
propagandainTradeUnionsandvariousworkers'organizations;someare
secretlyintheranksoftheCommunists.Infactmembersof Charthave
succeededinpenetratingintoalmosteverysubversivegroup,evenasfar
afieldasNewZealand,wherethesocietyhasanagencyinWellingtonand
disseminatesthemostviolentrevolutionaryteachingandliterature.
Butwhilstthusmakinguseofthe"proletariat"tofurtheritsends,thepoint
ofviewofClartisfundamentallyundemocraticfortherealgrievancesof
theworkersithasnouseatall.Theplanofthisgroupwhowererecently

describedintheFrenchpressas"thefinestspecimensofcannibalssmeared
withhumanitarianism(lesplusbeauxspcimensdecannibalesbarbouills
d'humanitairerie)"is to constitute a sort of International Hierarchy of
IntellectualSocialists,whoseinfluenceistomakeitselfinvisiblyfeltin
literary, educational, and artistic circles all over the world. For the
members of Clart are as careful as were the adepts of Weishaupt to
preserve their incognito and not to be known as "Illuminati." Thus the
publicinourowncountryandelsewhere,readingthediatribesofcertain
wellknown authors against the existing order of society, may vaguely
wonder why men living amidst all the amenities of civilization should
desireitsdestruction,butdonotdreamthatallthisisnottheoutcomeofan
individual brain but propaganda put out by a company which, having
largelyprimedsuchwriterswithideas,isable,owingtothehighposition
ofmanyofitsleadingmembersanditsinfluencewiththeliteraryworld,to
ensurethesuccessofanypublicationthatwillfurtheritsends.
TheorganizationofClartthusapproximatesmorenearly,tothesystemof
Weishaupt than that of the other societies described in this chapter.
Althoughinthestrictestsenseasecretsociety,itisinnosenseoccultand
therefore possesses no ritual of its own, but, like the earlier Illuminati,
recognizes the utility of working through Freemasonry. Clart, in fact,
forms an adjunct of the Grand Orient and owns a lodge under its
jurisdictioninParis.Itwouldbeinteresting,however,toknowwhetherthe
ideaofthealliancewiththeGrandOrientoccurredasanafterthoughttothe
Clart grouporwhethertheoriginalinspirationof Clart emanatedfrom
aninnercircleoftheGrandOrient.Weshallreturntothequestionofthis
innercircleinalaterchapter.
Such,then,aretheprincipalsecretsocietiesatworkinGreatBritain,but
amongst minor secret or semisecret movements may be mentioned the
strange sect the Faithists, said to have some affinity with the Druses,
inhabiting a singularly unromantic London suburb, whose "Ancient
Founder"istheauthorofaseriesoftractsurgingmannottobemisledby
falseGods,buttoworship"JehovihtheCreatoronly,"andatthesametime
advocatingnationalizationasacureforallsocialills;oragainTheInstitute
for the Harmonious Development of Man at Fontainebleau, led by
Gurdjieff and Uspenski which combines esoteric meditation with an
extremelymeagredietandstrenuousmanuallabour.Itisinteresting,bythe
way,tonoticethattheartofmovementknownasEurhythmynottobe

confoundedwiththesystemofM.DalcrozewhichisknowninEngland
onlyasEurhythmicsformsanimportantpartofthecurriculumofthelast
society,asalsoofHerrSteiner'sOrder,oftheStellaMatutina,andofthe
RussianBolsheviks.728
Theonequestionthatpresentsitselftothejudicialmindafterexaminingall
thesemovements,isinevitably:Aretheyofanyrealimportance?Cana
fewhundreds,oreventhousands,ofmenandwomen,drawnlargelyby
curiosityorwantofoccupationintosocietiesofwhichtheverynamesare
hardlyknowntothegeneralpublic,exerciseanyinfluenceontheworldat
large?Itwouldcertainlybeanerrortooverestimatethepowerthateachof
thesesocietiesindividuallycanwield;todosowouldbe,infact,toplay
intothehandsoftheleaders,whoseplan,fromWeishauptonwards,has
always been to represent themselves as directing the destinies of the
universe.Thisclaimtopoweristhebaitlaidforneophytes,whoaremade
to believe that "the Order will one day rule the world." But, whilst
recognizing the folly of this pretension, we should be mistaken in
underratingtheirimportance,forthereasonthattheyprovideevidenceofa
largerorganizationinthebackground.TheStellaMatutinamaybeonlyan
obscure Fraternity, even the Theosophical Society with all its
ramifications729maynotbeofgreatimportanceinitself,butwillanyone
withaknowledgeofEuropeanaffairsseriouslymaintainthattheGrand
Orientisasmallorunimportantorganization?Andhavewenotseenthat
investigationsintothesmallersecretsocietiesfrequentlyleadbacktothis
greatermasonicpower?Secretsocietiesareofimportance,becausethey
are,moreover,symptomatic,andalsobecause,althoughtheworkactually
carriedoutintheirlodgesorcouncilsmaybeofatrivialcharacter,theyare
ablebythepowerofassociationandthecollectiveforcetheygenerateto
influencepublicopinionandtofloatideasintheoutsideworldwhichmay
havefarreachingconsequences.
Atanyrate,thefactthattheyexistfinallydisposesofthecontentionthat
secretsocietiesofasubversiveandevenofanabominablekindarethings
ofthepast.Theseamazingcults,thesestrangepervertedriteswhichwe
associatewiththedarkages,aregoingonaroundustoday.Illuminism,
Cabalism,andevenSatanismarestillrealities.In1908MonsieurCopin
Albancellistatedthatcircumstanceshadaffordedhimtheproofthat
certainMasonicsocietiesexistwhichareSatanic,notinthesensethatthe

devilcomestopresideattheirmeetings,asthatromancerofaLeoTaxil
pretended,butinthattheirinitiatesprofessthecultofLucifer.Theyadore
himasthetrueGod,andtheyareanimatedbyanimplacablehatredagainst
the Christian God, whom they declare to be an impostor. They have a
formulawhichsumsuptheirstateofmind;itisnolonger:"Tothegloryof
theGreatArchitectoftheUniverse,"asinthetwolowerMasonries;itis
GEAALHHHADMMM,whichmeans
"GloireetAmourLucifer!Haine!haine!haine!anDieumaudit!maudit!
maudit!" (Glory and Love for Lucifer! Hatred! hatred! hatred! to God,
accursed,accursed,accursed!)Itisprofessedinthesesocietiesthatallthat
theChristianGodcommandsisdisagreeabletoLucifer;thatallthatHe
forbidsis,onthecontrary,agreeabletoLucifer;thatinconsequenceone
mustdoallthattheChristianGodforbidsandthatonemustshunlikefire
allthatHecommands.Irepeatthatwithregardtoallthat,Ihavetheproofs
undermyhand.Ihavereadandstudiedhundredsofdocumentsrelatingto
oneofthesesocieties,documentsthatIhavenotpermissiontopublishand
which emanate from the members, men and women, of the group in
question.730
IdonotsaythatanysocietyinEnglandconsciouslypracticesthiscultof
Satan,butItoohaveseendozensofdocumentsrelatingtooccultgroupsin
thiscountrywhichpractiseritesandevocationsthatleadtoillness,moral
perversion,mentalderangement,andeveninsomecasestodeath.Ihave
heard from the lips of initiates themselves accounts of the terrible
experiencesthroughwhichtheyhavepassed;somehaveevenurgedmeto
bringthematterbeforetheattentionoftheauthorities.Butunfortunatelyno
departmentexistsfortheinvestigationofsubversivemovements.Yetsince
allthesemovementsareintimatelyconnectedwithrevolutionaryagitation
theyarewellworththeattentionofGovernmentsthatdesiretoprotectlaw,
order,andpublicmorality.Thefactisthattheveryextravaganceoftheir
doctrines and practices seems to ensure their immunity. Nevertheless,
whetherthepoweratworkbehindthemisofthekindweareaccustomedto
call"supernatural,"orwhetheritismerelytheoutcomeofthehumanmind,
therecanbenodoubtofitspotencyforevilandofitsverydefiniteeffects
intheobliterationofallsenseoftruthandinsexualperversion.
IntheopinionofaninitiatewhobelongedforyearstotheStellaMatutina,
thedynamicforceemployedknownas"Kundalini"issimplyanelectro

magneticforce,ofwhichthesexforceisapart,onwhichtheadeptsknow
howtoplay,and"theunseenhandbehindalltheseemingSpiritismof
these Orders is a system of very subtle and cunning hypnotism and
suggestion." Further, the aim of this group like that of all subversive
Esoteric Orders, is, by means of such processes as eurhythmics,
meditations,symbols,ceremonies,andformulas,toawakenthisforceand
produce false "Illumination" for the purpose of obtaining "Spiritual
Seership," which is at most clairvoyance, clairaudience, etc. The
ceremonies of the Order are hypnotic, and by suggestion create the
necessary mental and astral atmosphere, hypnotize and prepare the
memberstobethewillingtoolsinthehandsofthecontrollingadepts.The
same initiate has communicated to me the following conclusions
concerning the group in question, with the permission to quote them
verbatim:
Ihavebeenconvincedthatwe,asanOrder,havecomeunderthepowerof
someveryeviloccultOrder,profoundlyversedinsciencebothoccultand
otherwise,thoughnotinfallible,theirmethodsbeingBlackMagic,thatisto
say,electromagneticpower,hypnotism,andpowerfulsuggestion.Weare
convincedthattheOrderisbeingcontrolledbysomeSUNOrderafterthe
natureoftheIlluminati,ifnotbythatOrderitself.Thereasonwhythey
(the leaders of all such Orders) insisted so much uponthe Churchand
Sacrament,especiallybeforetheinitiation,is,Ithink,forthesamereason
as the use of the consecrated Host in Black Magic. The Christian
consecrationandtheuseofthesacramentsrendersthebuildingorperson
more powerful as a material basis for black magic even as in white
magic"for the Great Good or the Great Evil." When the initiation is
accomplished and the domination of the person complete, there is no
furtherneedforChurchorSacrament.WearetoldattheInitiation:"There
isnothingincompatiblewithyourcivil,moral,orreligiousdutiesinthis
obligation."WenowareconvincedthatthisOrderiscontraryabsolutelyto
ourcivil,moral,andreligiousduties;whichbeingso,ourobligationsare
null and void. We are told that all that has taken place in Russia and
elsewhere is due to these International Occult Forces set in motion by
SubversiveEsotericLodges.Yetitisknownthatwehaveseveralbranches
ofthesesameEsotericMasonicLodgescarryingontheirdeadlyworkin
our midst.England,aswellas Europe,seems tobedriftingalongina
hypnoticsleep,andevenoursoundestpoliticiansseemparalysedandall

thattheyattemptisturnedtofoolishness.Istherenooneinauthoritywho
understandsthesethingsandrealizesthedangerbothtothecountryandto
individualsfromtheseforcesworkingfordisruptionandworldrevolution?
How in the face of these declarations, coming from those inside the
movement,cananyonemaintainthatIlluminismisdeadandthatsecret
societiespresentnodangertoChristiancivilization?

Chapter 13:

Open Subversive Movements

Althoughthescepticalreaderwhohasreachedthisstageofthepresent
workwillperhapsbewillingtoadmitthatsomeconnexionmaybetraced
betweenhiddenforcesandopensubversivemovements,theobjectionhe
willstillraiseagainstthegeneralthesisheresetforthwillprobablybe
expressedsomewhatinthefollowingmanner:
"Itisquitepossiblethatsecretsocietiesandotherunseenagenciesmay
have played a part in revolutions, but to attribute the continued revolt
against the existing social order to these causes is absurd. Poverty,
unemployment, inadequate housing, and above all the inequalities of
humanlifearequitesufficienttoproducearevolutionaryspiritwithoutthe
aidofsecretinstigators.Socialrevolutionissimplyarisingofthe'have
nots'againstthe'haves,'andrequiresnofurthercausetoexplainit."
Letitbeatonceadmittedthattheinjusticeshereenumeratedarereal.The
working classes throughout the nineteenth century had very genuine
reasons for complaints. Wages were far too low, the rich sometimes
showedthemselvesindifferenttothesufferingsofthepoor,employersof
labouroftenmadeprofitsoutofallproportiontotheremunerationpaidto
theworkers.Nor,inspiteoftheimmensereformsintroducedduringthe
lasthundredyears,haveallthesegrievancesbeenredressed.Theslumsof
our great cities still constitute a blot upon our civilization. Profiteering
sincethebeginningofthewarhasbeenmoreflagrantthanever."Rings"
and combines provide fabulous wealth for individuals or groups at the
expense of vast numbers of consumers. And in all classes of the
community,justasbeforetheFrenchRevolution,peoplefeastanddance
whilstothersliveontheborderlineofstarvation.
But let us see how far the Socialist movement can be regarded as the
spontaneous revolt of the "people" against this condition of things.
DividingthepeopleafterthemannerofMarxintothenonrevolutionary

andthe"revolutionaryproletariat,"weshallfindthattheformercategory,
byfarthelarger,combineswithastrongrespectfortraditionaperfectly
reasonable desire for social reform. Briefly it asks for adequate wages,
decent housing, and a fair share of the good things of life. For State
interferenceintheaffairsofeverydaylifeitfeelsnothingbutabhorrence.
TheidealofCommunismasformulatedbyLenin,wherein"thegettingof
foodandclothingshallbenolongeraprivateaffair,"731wouldmeetwith
stronger opposition from working menand still more from working
women,towhom"shopping"isasthebreathoflifethanfromanyother
sectionofthepopulation.EvensuchapparentlybenignSocialistschemes
as"communaldiningrooms"or"communalkitchens"appeallesstothe
workingclassmentalitythantotheupperclassmindthatdevisesthem.
Turningtothe"revolutionaryproletariat,"weshallfindthisindividualistic
instinctquiteasstronglydeveloped.ItisnottheSocialistideaofplacingall
wealthandpropertyinthehandsoftheState,buttheAnarchistplanof
"expropriation," of plunder on a gigantic scale for the benefit of the
revolutionarymasses,whichreallyappealstothedisgruntledportionofthe
proletariat. The Socialist intellectual may write of the beauties of
nationalization,ofthejoyofworkingforthecommongoodwithouthope
ofpersonalgain;therevolutinaryworkingmanseesnothingtoattracthim
inallthis.Questionhimonhisideasofsocialtransformation,andhewill
generally express himself in favour of some method by which he will
acquiresomethinghehasnotgot;hedoesnotwanttoseetherichman's
motorcarsocializedbytheStatehewantstodriveaboutinithimself.The
revolutionary working man is thus in reality not a Socialist but an
Anarchistatheart.Norinsomecasesisthisunnatural.Thatthemanwho
enjoysnoneofthegoodthingsoflifeshouldwishtosnatchhissharemust
at least appear comprehensible. What is not comprehensible is that he
should wish to renounce all hope of ever possessing anything. Modern
Socialistpropagandistsareverywellawareofthisattitudeoftheworking
classestowardstheirschemes,andthereforethataslongastheyexplainthe
realprogrammetheymeantoputintooperation,whichisnothingbutthe
workhousesystemonagiganticscale,theycanmeetwithnosuccess.Asa
lifelong Socialist has frequently observed to me, "Socialism has never
beenaworkingclassmovement;itwasalwaysweofthemiddleorupper
classeswhosoughttoinstiltheprinciplesofSocialismintothemindsof
workingmen."Mr.Hyndman'scandidconfessionsofthefailurestoenlist

thesympathiesevenofslumdwellersinhisschemesofsocialregeneration
bearoutthistestimony.
LesshonestSocialistoratorsastheresultoflongexperiencehavetherefore
adoptedthemoreeffectualpolicyofappealingtothepredatoryinstinctsof
thecrowd.FromBabeufonwards,Socialismhasonlybeenabletomake
headwaybyborrowingthelanguageofAnarchyinordertoblastitswayto
power.
Socialismisthusessentiallyasystemofdeceptiondevisedbymiddleclass
theoristsandinnosenseapopularcreed.Hadtherevolutionarymovement
ofthepast150yearsreallyproceededfromthepeople,itwouldinevitably
have followed the line laid down by one of the two sections of the
proletariatindicatedabove,thatistosay,itwouldeitherhavetakenthe
form of a continuous and increasing agitation for social reforms which
would have enlisted the sympathy of all rightthinking men and must
thereforeintheendhaveprovedirresistible,oritwouldhavefollowedthe
lineofAnarchy,organizingbrigandageonalargerandyetlargerscale,
until, all owners of wealth having been exterminated and their
expropriatorsintheirturnexterminatedbytheirfellows,theworldwould
havebeenreducedtoadepopulateddesert.
Buttheworldrevolutionhasfollowedneitheroftheselines.Alwaysthe
opponentofsanesocialreformswhichSocialistsderideas"melioration"or
as futile attempts to shore up an obsolete system, it has consistently
disassociateditselffromsuchmenasLordShaftesbury,whodidmoreto
better the conditions of the working classes than anyone who has ever
lived.Anarchy,ontheotherhand,hasbeenusedbythemmerelyasa
meanstoanend;forgenuinerevolutionarysentimenttheyhavenouseat
all.InRussiatheAnarchistsbecamethefirstobjectsofSovietvengeance.
ThecynicalattitudeofSocialiststowardstherevolutionaryproletariatwas
illustratedbyMr.BernardShaw,whoinDecember1919openlyboasted
thathehadhelpedtoorganizetherailwaystrike, 732 andtwoyearslater
wroteabouttheminers'strikeinthefollowingterms:
ASocialistStatewouldnottoleratesuchanattackonthecommunityasa
strike for a moment. If a Trade Union attempted such a thing, the old
CapitalistlawagainstTradeUnionsasconspiracieswouldbereenacted
within twentyfour hours and put ruthlessly into execution. Such a
monstrosityastherecentcoalstrike,duringwhichthecoalminersspentall

their savings in damaging their neighbours and wrecking the national

industries, would be impossible under Socialism. It was miserably
defeated,asitdeservedtobe.733
Now, if this had been written by the Duke of Northumberland in the
NationalReviewinsteadofbyMr.BernardShawinthe LabourMonthly,
onecanimaginetheoutcrytherewouldhavebeenintheSocialistpress.
Buttheleadersofwhatiscalleddemocracymayalwaysusewhatlanguage
they please in speaking of the people. "Our peasants," Maxim Gorky
openlydeclared,"arebrutalanddebased,hardlyhuman.Ihatethem." 734It
willbenoticedthatindescriptionsoftheFrenchRevolutionreferencesto
thesavageriesofthepeopleareneverresentedbytheLiberalorSocialist
press;thepersonsoftheleadersalonearesacred.Itisclearlynotthecause
ofdemocracybutofdemagogythatthesechampionsof"liberty"areoutto
defend.
Theworldrevolutionisthereforenotapopularmovementbutaconspiracy
toimposeonthepeopleasystemdirectlyopposedtotheirrealdemands
andaspirations,asystem which,moreover,has proveddisastrousevery
timeanattempthasbeenmadetoputitintopractice.
Russiahasprovidedafurtherexampleofitsfutility.Thefactthatthemore
responsibleleadersinthiscountrydonotadvocateviolence,doesnotaffect
theultimateissue.WhilstBolshevismsetsouttodestroyCapitalismata
blow, Socialism prefers a more gradual process. It is the difference
betweenclubbingamanontheheadandbleedinghimtodeaththatisall.
ThefactisthatallSocialismleadstoCommunisminthelongrun 735and
thereforetodisaster.TheBolshevist rgimebroughtruinandmiseryto
Russia not because of the brutality of its methods, but because it was
foundedonthegiganticeconomicfallacythatindustrycanbecarriedon
withoutprivateenterpriseandpersonalinitiative.Thesametheoryapplied
byconstitutionalmethodswouldproducepreciselythesameresults.Ifthe
Socialistsareeverallowedtocarryouttheirfullprogramme,Englandmay
bereducedtothestateofRussiawithoutthesheddingofadropofblood.
ButhowarewetoexplainthefactthatinspiteofthefailureofSocialism
inthepast,inspiteofthegiganticfiascopresentedbyRussia,inspite,
moreover, of the declaration by the Bolsheviks themselves that
Communismhadfailedandmustbereplacedby"aneweconomicpolicy,"

thatistosaybyareturnto"Capitalism," 736thereshouldstillbealargeand
increasing body of people to proclaim the efficacy of Socialism as the
remedy for all social ills? In any other field of human experiment, in
medicineormechanicalinvention,failurespellsoblivion;theprophylactic
thatdoesnotcure,themachinethatcannotbemadetowork,isspeedily
relegated to the scrapheap. What indeed should we say of the
bacteriologist, who, after killing innumerable patients with a particular
serum,weretoadvertiseitasanunqualifiedsuccess?Shouldwenotbrand
such a man as an unscrupulous charlatan or at best as a dangerous
visionary?If,moreover,weweretofindthatlargebandsofagentsbacked
byunlimitedfunds,wereengagedinpressinghisremedyuponthepublic
andcarefullyavoidingallreferencetothefatalitiesithadcaused,should
wenotfurtherconcludethattherewas"somethingbehindallthis"some
powerfulcompany"running"theconcernwithaviewtoadvancingitsown
privateinterests?
WhyshouldnotthesamereasoningbeappliedtoSocialism?Fornotonly
hasSocialismneverbeenknowntosucceed,butallitspastfailuresare
carefully kept dark by its exponents. Who, then, stands to gain by
advocating it? And further, who provides the vast sums spent on
propaganda?IfinrealitySocialismisarisingofthe"havenots"againstthe
"haves,"howisitthatmostofthemoneyseemstobeonthesideofthe
"havenots"? For whilst organizations working for law and order are
hamperedateveryturnforfunds,nofinancialconsiderationseverseemto
interferewiththeactivitiesofthesocalled"Labourmovement."Socialism,
infact,appearstobeathoroughly"payingconcern,"intowhichayoung
manentersashemightgointotheCity,withthereasonableexpectationof
"doing well." It is only necessary to glance at the history of the past
hundred years to realize that "agitation" has provided a pleasant and
remunerative career for hundreds of middleclass authors, journalists,
speakers,organizers,anddilettantesofallkindswhowouldotherwisehave
beencondemnedtopasstheirlivesonofficestoolsoratschoolmasters'
desks.Andwhenwereadtheaccountsofthedelightfultreatsprovidedfor
these "devoted workers" in the cause of the proletariat as given in the
recordsoftheFirstInternationaleorthepagesofMrs.Snowden,webegin
tounderstandtheattractionsofSocialismasaprofession.737
ButagainIrepeat:Whoprovidesthefundsforthisvastcampaign?Dothey
comeoutofthepocketsoftheworkersorfromsomeothermysterious

reservoirofwealth?Weshallreturntothispointinalaterchapter.
Howisitpossibleatanyratetobelieveinthesincerityoftheexponentsof
equalitywhothemselvesadoptastyleoflivingsodifferentfromthatofthe
proletariat whose cause theyprofess torepresent?If thedoctrinaires of
Socialismformedabandofasceticswhohadvoluntarilyrenouncedluxury
and amusement in order to lead lives of poverty and selfsacrificeas
countlessreallydevotedmenandwomennotcallingthemselvesSocialists
havedoneweshouldstilldoubtthesoundnessoftheireconomictheories
as applied to society in general, but we should respect their
disinterestedness.ButwithveryfewexceptionsSocialistIntellectualsdine
andsup,feastandamusethemselveswithasfewscruplesofconscienceas
anyunregenerateTories.
Withpeoplesuchastheseitisobviouslyasfutiletoreason,asitwouldbe
toattempttoconvincetheagentofaquackmedicinecompanythatthe
nostrumshepressesonthepublicwillnoteffectacure.Heisverywell
awareofthatalready.Hencetheeffortsofwellmeaningpeopletosetforth
inlong,wellreasonedargumentsthe"fallaciesofSocialism"producelittle
ornoresult.Allthesesocalled"fallacies"havebeenexposedrepeatedly
byablewritersanddisprovedbyallexperience,sothatifbasedmerelyon
ignoranceorerrortheywouldlongsincehaveceasedtoobtaincredence.
Thetruthisthattheyarenotfallaciesbutlies,deliberatelydevisedand
circulatedbymenwhodonotbelieveinthemforamomentandwhocan
therefore only be described as unscrupulous charlatans exploiting the
credulityofthepublic.
Butifthisdescriptionmaybelegitimatelyappliedtothebrainsbehind
Socialism and to certain of its leading doctrinaires, there are doubtless
thousandsofhonestvisionariestobefoundinthemovement.Asystemthat
professestocurealltheillsoflifeinevitablyappealstogenerousminds
thatfeelbutdonotreason.Inrealitymanyofthesepeople,didtheybut
knowit,aresimplysocialreformersatheartandnotSocialistsatall,and
their ignorance of what Socialism really means leads them to range
themselvesunderthebannerofapartythatclaimsamonopolyofideals.
Others again, particularly amongst the young intelligentsia, take up
Socialism in the same spirit as they would adopt a fashion in ties or
waistcoats,forfearofbeingregardedas"reactionaries."Thatinreality,far
frombeing"advanced,"theprofessionofSocialismisasretrogressiveas
wouldbeareturntothesidewhiskersandplaidtrousersofthelastcentury,

doesnotoccurtothem.ThegreattriumphofMussoliniwastomakethe
youthofItalyrealizethattobeaCommunistwastobea"backnumber,"
and that progress consisted in marching forward to new ideas and
aspirations. The young men of Cabet's settlement discovered this sixty
yearsagowhentheyformedthemselvesintoabandof"Progressives"in
opposition to the old men who still clung to the obsolete doctrine of
Communism.
Socialism at the present moment is in reality less a creed than a cult,
foundednotonpracticalexperiencebutonunrealtheory.Itisherewefind
a connexion with secret societies. M. Augustin Cochin in his brilliant
essays on the French Revolution738 has described that "World of the
Clouds" of which the Grand Orient was the capital, peopled by the
precursorsoftheFrenchRevolution."Whilstintherealworldthecriterion
ofallthoughtliesinputtingittothetest,"thereintheWorldoftheClouds
the criterion is opinion. "They are there to talk, not to do; all this
intellectual agitation, this immense traffic in speeches, writings,
correspondence,leadsnottotheslightestbeginningofwork,ofrealeffort."
We should be wrong to judge them harshly; their theories on the
perfectibility of human nature, on the advantages of savagery, which
appeartous"dangerouschimeras,"wereneverintendedtoapplytoreal
life,onlytotheWorldoftheClouds,wheretheypresentnodangerbut
become,onthecontrary,"themostfecundtruths."
The revolutionary explosion might well have finally shattered these
illusionsbutfortheGrandOrient.Wehavealreadyseentheidentityof
theorybetweenFrenchMasonryandFrenchSocialisminthenineteenth
century.Itwasthusthat,althoughinFranceoneexperimentafteranother
demonstratedtheunrealityof SocialistUtopias,thelodges werealways
there to reconstruct the mirage and lead humanity on again across the
burningdesertsandstowardsthesamephantompalmtreesandillusory
poolsofwater.
Whatever the manner in which these ideas penetrated to this country
whether through the Radicals of the last century, adorers of the
Encyclopdist Masons of France, or through the British disciples of
German Social Democrats from the time of the First Internationale
onwardsitisimpossibletoignoretheresemblancebetweenthetheories
notonlyofFrenchbutofmodernBritishSocialismandthedoctrinesof
illuminizedFreemasonry.ThustheidearunningthroughFreemasonryofa

GoldenAgebeforetheFall,whenmanwasfreeandhappy,andwhich
throughtheapplicationofmasonicprinciplesistoreturnoncemore,finds
anexactcounterpartintheSocialistconceptionofapasthalcyoneraof
Liberty and Equality, which is to return not merely in the form of a
regeneratedsocialorder,butasacompleteMillenniumfromwhichallthe
illsofhumanlifehavebeeneliminated.Thisideahasalwayshauntedthe
imagination of Socialist writers from Rousseau to William Morris, and
leads directly up to the further theorythe necessity for destroying
civilization.
Icannot findinMr.LothropStoddart'sconceptionof therevolutionary
movementastherevoltofthe"UnderMan"againstcivilization,theorigin
ofthiscampaign.Inrealitytheleadersofworldrevolutionhavenotbeen
"UnderMen,"victimsofoppressionorofadversefate,norcouldtheybe
rangedinthiscategoryonaccountofphysicalormentalinferiority.Itis
truethatmostrevolutionaryagitatorshavebeeninsomewayabnormaland
thattherevolutionaryarmyhaslargelybeenrecruitedfromtheunfit,but
therealinspirersofthemovementhavefrequentlybeenmeninprosperous
circumstances and of brilliant intellect who might have distinguished
themselvesonotherlineshadtheynotchosentodevotetheirtalentsto
subversion.TocallWeishaupt,forexample,an"UnderMan"wouldbe
absurd.Butletusseewhatistheideaonwhichtheplanofdestroying
civilizationisostensiblyfounded.
ItwillberememberedthatRousseaulikeWeishauptheldthattheGolden
AgeoffelicitydidnotendinthegardenofEden,asispopularlysupposed,
but was prolonged into tribal and nomadic life. Up to this moment
Communism was the happy disposition under which the human race
existed and which vanished with the introduction of civilization.
Civilizationisthereforethe fonsetorigomali andshouldbedoneaway
with.LetnooneexclaimthatthistheorydiedouteitherwithRousseauor
withWeishaupt;theideathat"civilizationisallwrong"runsallthroughthe
writingsandspeechesofourIntellectualSocialiststoday.Ihavereferred
elsewheretoMr.H.G.Wells'spredictionthatmankindwillmoreandmore
reverttothenomadiclife,andMr.Snowdenhasrecentlyreferredintones
ofevidentnostalgiatothatproductiveerawhenman"livedunderasystem
oftribalCommunism."739 ThechildrenwhoattendtheSocialistSchools
arealsotaughtinthe"RedCatechism"theadvantagesofsavagery,thus:
Question.Dosavagesstarveinthemidstofplenty?

Answer.No;whenthereisplentyoffoodtheyallrejoice,feast,andmake
merry.740
Thatwhenthereisnotplentyoffoodtheyoccasionallyeateachotherisnot
mentioned.
Here,then,isthetheoryonwhichthisyearningforareturntonatureis
based.ForitisquiteprobablethatifaGoldenAgeeverexisteditwas
Communistic; it is also true that certain primitive tribes have found it
possibletocontinuethesamesystem,forthesimplereasonthatwhenand
wheretheearthwasverythinlypopulateditbroughtforth,withoutthe
artificialaidofagriculture,morethanenoughtosupplyeachman'sneeds.
Therewasthereforenoneedforlawstoprotectproperty,sinceeveryman
couldhelphimselffreelytoallthatherequired.Ifatthepresenttimea
dozenpeoplewereshipwreckedonafertileislandsomemilesinarea,the
institutionofpropertywouldbeequallysuperfluous;if,however,several
hundredweretosharethesamefate,itwouldatoncebecomenecessaryto
institutesome system of cultivationwhichinits turnwouldnecessitate
eithertheinstitutionofproperty,bywhicheachmanwoulddependonhis
ownplotoflandforhisexistence,oracommunalsystem,bywhichall
wouldbeobligedtoworkforthecommongoodandforceappliedtothose
whorefusedtodotheirallottedshare.
PeacefulCommunismisthussimplyamatterofpopulation;theconditions
underwhichmencansitinthesunandenjoythefruitsoftheearthwith
little effort must be transformed with the multiplication of the human
speciesintoasystemwhichrecognizesprivateproperty,oracommunal
Statewhichenforcescompulsorylabourbymeansofoverseerswithwhips.
It was perhaps an appreciation of this truth that impelled the practical
exponentsofRousseau'sdoctrines,theTerroristsof1793,toembarkon
their "plan of depopulation" by way of establishing Communism on a
peacefulbasis.
ButourIntellectualSocialistsdenythisnecessityonthegroundthatunder
thebenignrgimeofSocialismallmenwouldbegoodandhappyand
wouldworkjoyfullyforthewelfareofthecommunity.Thefactthatthis
hasnotprovedthecaseeveninvoluntaryCommunistsettlementsdoesnot
daunt them, because, as has been said, their creed is founded not on
practicalexperiment,butontheory,anditisherethatweagainfindthe
inspirationofGrandOrientFreemasonry.Theassumptionthatunderan

idealsocialorderallhumanfailingswouldvanishderivesdirectlyfromthe
two masonic doctrines which the Grand Orient, under the influence of
Illuminism,hasbroughttoa reductioadabsurdumtheperfectibilityof
human nature and universal brotherhood. The whole philosophy of
Socialismisbuiltuponthesefalsepremises.
IndeedtheactualphraseologyofilluminizedFreemasonryhasnowpassed
intothelanguageofSocialism;thustheoldformulof"theUnitedStates
ofEurope"and"theUniversalRepublic"havebeenadoptednotonlyby
Mrs.Besantandherfollowers741asthelastwordinmodernthought,but
havealsoreappearedasabrilliantinspirationunderthepenofMr.H.G.
Wells in the slightly varied form of the "World State." It would be
amusing,foranyonewhohadthetime,todiscoverhowmanyoftheideas
ofoursocalledadvancedthinkersmightbefoundalmostverbatiminthe
writingsofWeishaupt,the RpubliqueUniverselle ofAnacharsisClootz,
andinthespeechesofGrandOrientoratorsduringthelastcentury.
Moreover,theworldrevolutionisnotonlyfoundedonthedoctrinesof
illuminized Freemasonry, but has adopted the same method of
organization.Thus,aftertheplanofthesecretsocieties,fromtheBatinis
onward, we shall find the forces of revolution divided into successive
gradesthelowestconsistingoftherevolutionaryproletariat,the chaira
rvolution as Marx expressed it, knowing nothing of the theory of
Socialism,stilllessoftherealaimsoftheleaders;abovethisthesemi
initiates,thedoctrinairesofSocialism,comprisingdoubtlessmanysincere
enthusiasts; but above these again further grades leading upto thereal
initiates,whoaloneknowwhitherthewholemovementistending.
For the final goal of worldrevolution is not Socialism or even
Communism,itisnotachangeintheexistingeconomicsystem,itisnot
thedestructionofcivilizationinamaterialsense;therevolutiondesiredby
theleadersisamoralandspiritualrevolution,ananarchyofideasbywhich
all standards set up throughout nineteen centuries shall be reversed, all
honouredtraditionstrampledunderfoot,andabovealltheChristianideal
finallyobliterated.
ItistruethatacertainsectionoftheSocialistmovementproclaimsitself
Christian.TheIlluminatimadethesameprofession,sohavethemodern
TheosophistsandRosicrucians.But,asinthecaseofthesesecretsocieties,
weshouldaskofsocalledChristianSocialists:Whatdotheymeansby

Christ? What dothey meanby Christianity? Onexamination itwill be

found that their Christ is a being of their own inventing, that their
ChristianityisaperversionofChrist'srealteaching.
The Christ of Socialism invoked in the interests of Pacifism as the
opponentofforceandintheinterestsofclass warfareasaSocialist,a
revolutionary, or even an "agitator," bears no resemblance to the real
Christ. Christ was not a Pacifist when He told His disciples to arm
themselveswithswords,whenHemadeascourgeofcordsanddrovethe
moneychangers from the Temple. He did not tell men to forgive the
enemiesoftheircountryoroftheirreligion,butonlytheirprivateenemies.
ChristwasnotaSocialistwhenHedeclaredthat"aman'slifeconsisteth
notintheabundanceofthethingsthathepossesseth."Socialismteaches
thatamanmustneverrestcontentaslongasanothermanpossessesthat
whichhehasnot.ChristdidnotbelieveinequalityofpaymentwhenHe
toldtheparableofthetentalentsandtheunprofitableservant.Socialism
wouldreducealllabourtothepaceoftheslowest.Aboveall,Christwas
notaSocialistwhenHebadetheyoungmanwhohadgreatpossessionssell
allthathehadandgiveittothepoor.WhatSchoolofSocialismhasever
issuedsuchacommand?Onthecontrary,Socialistsareenjoinedbytheir
leadersnottogivetheirmoneyawayincharitylesttheyshouldhelpbythis
meanstoprolongtheexistenceofthepresentsocialsystem.Thetruthis
that,asIshowedinconnexionwiththefallacyofrepresentingChristasan
Essene,thereisnoevidencetoshowthatHeorHisdisciplespractisedeven
thepurestformofCommunism.Christdidnotadvocateanyeconomicor
politicalsystem;Hepreachedaspiritwhichifappliedtoanysystemwould
lead to peace among men. It is true that He enjoined His disciples to
despiserichesandthatHedenouncedmanyoftherichmenwithwhomHe
cameintocontact,butitmustnotbeforgottenthatHisimmediatemission
wastoaracethathadalwaysglorifiedriches,thathadworshippedthe
goldencalf,andbywhichwealthwasregardedasthenaturalrewardof
godliness.742Christcametoteachmennottolookforpresentrewardinthe
formofincreasedmaterialwelfare,buttodogoodoutoflovetoGodand
one'sneighbour.
IdonotdoubtthatinthepastsuchmenasKingsleyandJ.F.D.Maurice
sincerelyimaginedthattheywerefollowinginthefootstepsoftheMaster
by describing themselves as Christian Socialists, but that the present
leadersofSocialisminEnglandareChristiansatheartisimpossibleto

believeinviewoftheirattitudetowardsthecampaignagainstChristianity
in Russia. Never once have they or their allies, the Quakers, officially
denouncedthepersecutionnotonlyofthepriestsbutofallwhoprofessthe
ChristianfaithinRussia.743ListentothisvoicefromtheabyssofRussia:
We very much ask for prayer for the Church of Russia; it is passing
throughgreattribulationanditisaquestionwhetherspiritualorearthly
power will triumph. Many are being executed for not denying God....
ThoseplacedbyGodatthehelmneedalltheprayerandhelpofChristians
allovertheearth,becausetheirfateispartlytheirstoo,foritisaquestion
offaithtriumphingoveratheism,anditisatugofwarbetweenthosetwo
principles.
Andagain:
IlookuponthepersecutionoftheRussianChurchasanefforttooverthrow
Christianity in general, for we are governed just now by the power of
darkness,andallthatweconsidersinfulseemstogettheupperhandandto
prosper.744
YetitisforthispowerthattheSocialistPartyofGreatBritainhavefor
yearsbeendemandingrecognition.Eventheappealsforhelpfromtheir
fellowSocialistsinRussiahaveleftthemcold."Wewouldsuggest,"ran
onesuchappeal
1.ThattheBritishLabourPartyissueanofficialprotestagainsttheSoviet
Government'sinhumantreatmentofitspoliticalopponentsingeneraland
thepoliticalprisonersinparticular.2.Thatmeetingsofprotestshouldbe
organized in the industrial towns of Great Britain. 3. That the British
Labour Party make an official representation to the Soviet Government
directly,urgingthelattertoputastoptothepersecutionsoftheSocialists
inRussia.745
AnditwasofthisrgimethatMr.Lansburywrote:
Whatevertheirfaults,theCommunistleadersofRussiahavehitchedtheir
wagontoastarthestaroflove,brotherhood,comradeship.746
The callous indifference displayed by British Socialists, with the
honourableexceptionoftheSocialDemocraticFederation,747towardsthe

crimesoftheBolsheviksoffersindeedapainfulcontrasttotheattitudeof
the other Socialists of Europe. At the conference of the Labour and
SocialistInternationalatHamburginMay1923,aresolutionwaspassed
condemning the persecution by the Soviet Government. When the
resolutionwasput tothecongress, 196votedfor,2againstit,and39,
includingthe30Britishdelegates,abstained.
Iask,then:WhyshouldtheSocialistsofGreatBritainbedifferentiated
fromtheBolsheviksofRussia?Ineveryquestionofimportancetheyhave
alwayslentthemtheirsupport.InthegreatwaronChristianitytheyhave
actedastheadvanceguardbytheinstitutionofSocialistSundayschools,
fromwhichallreligiousteachingisexcluded.Socialistsareveryanxiousto
disassociate these from the "Proletarian" Sundayschools which teach
atheism.ButfromignoringtheexistenceofGodtodenyingitisbutastep;
moreover, it will be noticed that the Socialists have never issued any
protests against the blasphemies of the Proletarian schools. The real
attitudeoftheSocialistPartytowardsreligionmayperhapsbegaugedby
thenotice,reproducedonpage341,whichonceappearedinitsofficial
organthe DailyHerald,ofwhichMr.Lansbury,widelyadvertisedasa
ferventChristian,wasonceeditorandisnowmanagingdirector.
Itwastothepartycontrollingthisorganthat700clergymenoftheChurch
ofEnglandandtheEpiscopalChurchofScotlandsawfittooffertheir
congratulations by means of a memorial presented to Mr. Ramsay
MacDonaldinMarch1923.ShallweyetseethesceneofBrumaire1793
repeatedandaprocessionofprelatespresentingthemselvesatWestminster
tolaydowntheirringsandcrossesanddeclarethat"henceforththereshall
benootherworshipthanthatoflibertyandholyequality"?
Already the desecration of the churches has begun. The red flag was
recentlycarriedintotheCityTemplebyabandofunemployed,although
severaloftheirnumberobjectedtoitspresenceinthechurch.Anattempt
tosing"TheRedFlag"wasalsosuppressedbyasectionoftheunemployed
[Illustration:
BooksWeAllPretendtohaveRead
The Bible is a real book, although during the whole of the nineteenth
century the Churches turned a blind eye to the fact that it was a free
translationbyJacobeanclergymenofaGreektextofdoubtfulauthenticity
and of multiple authorship. The Bible is as divinely inspired as

Shakespeare,orMilton,orAnatoleFrance.Butitisnotas"pure"asthe
textsoftheseauthors,foritis:
(1)Amiscellaneouscollectionoffolkandtraditionalhistoryboundtoand
describedasthe"OldTestament,"and
(2) "The New Testament," a collection of Eastern theological doctrines
centralizedinthefigureofagreatSyrianmysticreligiousteacher,Jesus.
ThosewhowillgototheBiblewithanunprejudicedmindwilldiscover
thatitisoneofthegreatbooksoftheworld,fullofbeauty,humour,and
aspiration, and disfigured, as great books often are, by occasional
brutalitiesandcrudities.DailyHerald,February7.1923.
]
themselves,whohadapparentlyretainedsomesenseotdecency.748
Weishaupt'sdesignofenlistingtheclergyintheworkofworldrevolution
hasbeencarriedoutaccordingtoplan.ThoseCatholicpriestsinIreland
who inflamed popular passions acted as the tools of the International
Atheist conspiracy and found at last the movement turning against
themselves.TheProtestantclergymenwhoprofess"ChristianSocialism"
areplayingthesamepart.Doubtlesswithoutknowingit,theyactasthe
agentsoftheContinentalIlluminatiandpavetheway,asdidtheemissaries
ofWeishaupt,fortheopenattackonallformsofreligion.Itisnotamere
accidentthattheblasphemousmasqueradesoftheFrenchRevolutionhave
recentlybeenrepeatedinRussia.Thehorribleincidentsdescribedinthe
press749weresimplytheoutwardmanifestationofacontinuousconspiracy
ofwhichevidencewasseensomeyearsagoinPortugalundertheinfluence
oftheCarbonarios,ledbyAlfonsoCosta,whoseutterancesattimesborea
strikingresemblancetothoseofAnacharsisClootz.ThelateDuchessof
Bedford thus described the war on religion which inaugurated the new
Republic:
Oneofthemostzealousenterprisesofthisgreatsociety[theCarbonarios]
is,intheirownwords,toexterminate"theChristianmyth"inthemindsof
thenationofPortugal.Thelittlechildrenintheschoolshavebadgespinned
intotheir clotheswiththewords"NoGod!Noreligion!"andaBritish
touristwhomadeajourneythroughoutthecountryofPortugalmetbands
ofinnocentbabescarryingbanners,onwhichtheinscriptionwas"Wehave
noneedofGod."750

IsitonlyacoincidencethatlastyearaSocialistandCommunistmeetingin
TrafalgarSquaredisplayedaredbannerbearingthemotto:"NoKing,no
God,noLaw"?751
Irepeat:Itisnotaneconomicrevolutionwhichformstheplanofthereal
directorsofthemovement,itisneitherthe"dictatorshipoftheproletariat"
northereorganizationofsocietybytheIntelligentsiaof"Labour";itisthe
destruction of the Christian idea. Socialist orators may inveigh against
corruptaristocracyor"bloatedCapitalists,"butthesearenotinrealitythe
peoplewhowillsuffermostiftheaimoftheconspiracyisachieved.The
worldrevolution has always shown itself indulgent towards selfish and
corrupt aristocrats, from the Marquis de Sade and the Duc d'Orlans
onwards; it is the gentle, the upright, the benevolent, who have fallen
victimstorevolutionaryfury.
Socialismwithitshatredofallsuperiority,ofnoblevirtuesloyaltyand
patriotismwith its passion for dragging down instead of building up,
servesthepurposeofthedeeperconspiracy.IftheChristianIntelligentsia
canbedestroyedorwonoverandthenationdeprivedofallitsnatural
leaders,theworldrevolutionariesreckonthattheywillbeabletomould
theproletariataccordingtotheirdesires.Thisbeingso,thethingwenow
callBolshevismformsonlyonephaseofthemovementwhichiscarriedon
by countless different methods, apparently disconnected but all tending
towardsthesameend.Wehaveonlytolookaroundusintheworldtoday
toseeeverywherethesamedisintegratingpoweratworkinart,literature,
thedrama,thedailypressineveryspherethatcaninfluencethemindof
thepublic.JustasintheFrenchRevolutionaplayonthemassacreofSt.
Bartholomew was staged in order to rouse the passions of the people
againstthemonarchy,soourmoderncinemasperpetuallyendeavourtostir
upclasshatredbyscenesandphrasesshowing"theinjusticeofkings,""the
sufferings of the people," the selfishness of "aristocrats," regardles of
whethertheseenterintothethemeofthenarrativeornot. 752 Andinthe
realms of literature, not merely in works of fiction but in manuals for
schools,inhistoriesandbooksprofessingtobeofseriouseducativevalue
andreceivingaskilfullyorganizedboomthroughoutthepress,everything
isdonetoweakenpatriotism,toshakebeliefinallexistinginstitutionsby
thesystematicperversionofbothcontemporaryandhistoricalfacts,whilst
novelsandplayscalculatedtoundermineallideasofmoralityarepressed
uponthepublicasworksofgeniuswhich,inordertomaintainareputation

for intellect, it is essential to admire. I do not believe that all this is

accidental;Idonotbelievethatthepublicasksfortheantipatrioticor
demoralizing books and plays placed before it; on the contrary, it
invariablyrespondstoanappealtopatriotismandsimplehealthyemotions.
Theheartofthepeopleisstillsound,butceaselesseffortsaremadeto
corruptit.
ThisconspiracyhaslongbeenapparenttoContinentalobservers.Some
yearsbeforethewar,MonsieurdeLannoy,amemberofanantimasonic
associationinFrance,ataconferenceon"theinfluenceofjudaeomasonic
sectsinthetheatre,inliterature,inthefashions,"showedhow"ordersof
thingswhichappeartohavenoconnexionwitheachotherareskilfully
bounduptogetheranddirectedbyasinglemethodicalmovementtowardsa
commonend.Thiscommonendisthepaganizationoftheuniverse,the
destruction of all Christianity, the return to the loosest morals of
antiquity."753 Robison saw in the indecent dress of the period of the
DirectorytheresultofWeishaupt'steaching,andtracestothesamecause
theceremonywhichtookplaceinNotreDamewhenawomanofloose
morals was held up to the admiration of the public. 754 The same
glorificationofvicehasfoundexponentsamongstthemodernIlluminatiin
this country. In The Equinoxthe Journal of Scientific Illuminism, it is
proposedthatprostitutesshouldbeplacedonthesamelevelassoldiers
who have served their country and be honoured and pensioned by the
State.755Thecommunityofwomenwasnotanideathatoriginatedwiththe
Russian Bolsheviks, but one that has run through all the revolutionary
movementsofthepast.
Theattempttopervertallconceptionsofbeautyinthesphereofartserves
topavethewayformoralperversion.Inthe NewYorkHerald twoyears
agothereappearedacircularprotestingagainstthesocalledModernistic
cultinartas"worldwideBolshevistpropaganda."Thecircularwentonto
declare:
Thisaimstooverthrowanddestroyallexistingsocialsystems,including
thatofthearts.ThismodernisticdegeneratecultissimplytheBolshevist
philosophyappliedinart.ThetriumphofBolshevismthereforemeansthe
destructionofthepresentstheticsystem,thetransportationofallsthetic
values,andthedeificationofugliness.
Thewholepropagandaofthemovementwassaidtobeorganizedby"a

coterieofEuropeanartdealers"elsewheredescribedasGermanwhohad
floodedthemarketwiththeworksofartistswhobeganas"asmallgroupof
neuroticegomaniacsinParisstylingthemselvesworshippersofSatan,the
God of Ugliness." Some of these men were suffering from the "visual
derangement"oftheinsane,whilst"manyofthepicturesexhibitedanother
formofmania.Thesystemofthisisanincontrollabledesiretomutilatethe
humanbody."Sadism,asweknow,playedaprominentpartinboththe
FrenchandRussianrevolutions.Themostimportantpointinallthisisnot
that degenerates should be found to perpetrate these abominations, but
whatthecirculardescribesasthe"Machiavelliancampaignorganizedfor
theunloadingoftheseworks.Editionsdeluxe...werepublishedandsold
bythepicturedealers;...everycraftydeviceknowntothepicturetradewas
resorted to in order to discredit and destroy the heretofore universally
acceptedstandardsofaesthetics."756
Thisprocessofreversingallacceptedstandardsmayalsobebroughtabout
bysubtlermethods.Wehavealreadyseenthatoccultpracticesmayleadto
theobliterationofallsenseoftruthandofnormalsexualinstincts.Under
the influence of socalled occult science, which is, in reality, simply
powerfulsuggestionorselfhypnotism,allaman'snaturalimpulsesand
inhibitivespringsofactionmaybebroken;hewillnolongerreacttothe
conceptionsofbeautyorugliness,orrightorwrong,which,unknownto
himself,formedthelawofhisbeing.Thusnotonlyhisconsciousdeedsbut
hissubconsciousmentalprocessesmaypassunderthecontrolofanother,
orbecomeentirelyderanged.
MuchthesameconsequencesmayresultfromtheFreudsystemofPsycho
Analysis,which,particularlybyitsinsistenceonsex,tendstosubordinate
the will to impulses of a harmful kind. An eminent American neuro
psychiatristofNewYorkhasexpressedhisopiniononthissubjectinthe
followingwords:
The Freud theory is antiChristian and subversive of organized society.
ChristianityteachesthattheindividualcanresisttemptationandFreudism
teaches that thematter of yieldingto or resisting temptationis one for
whichtheindividualisnotwilfullyresponsible.Freudismmakesofthe
individualamachine,absolutelycontrolledbysubconsciousreflexes....It
wouldofcoursebedifficulttoprovethatpsychoanalysishasbeenevolved
as a destructive propaganda measure, but in one sense the point is
immaterial. Whether conscious or unconscious, it makes for destructive

effect.757
Ingeneral,theartoftheconspiracyisnotsomuchtocreatemovementsas
to capture existing movements, often innocuous and even admirable in
themselves, and turn them to a subversive purpose. Thus birth control,
whichifcombinedwiththerestrictionofalienimmigrationandcarried
out under proper directionwould provide a solution to the frightful
problemofoverpopulation,canwithouttheseprovisosbecomeasourceof
nationalweaknessanddemoralization.Itiseasytoseehowalimitationof
the native population would serve the cause of England's enemies by
reducingherfightingforcesandbymakingroomforundesirablealiens.
That the birthcontrol campaign may also be used for evil purposes is
suggestedbythefactthatithasnotbeenconfinedtoourownovercrowded
island,buthasbeencarriedoninFrance,whereunderpopulationhaslong
constituted a tragedy. In 1903 and 1904 the "Ligue de la Rgneration
Humaine,"foundedbyMonsieurPaulRobin,initsorganL'mancipateur
issuednotonlyinstructionson"themeanshowtoavoidlargefamilies,"but
alsopamphletson"freeloveandfreematernity."758Thecampaignofrace
suicidewasthuscombinedwiththeunderminingofmorality;legalfamilies
weretobelimitedandillegalbirthsencouraged.Thiswasquiteinaccord
withthedoctrinesoftheGrandOrient,inwhoseTemples,MonsieurCopin
Albancellipointsout,theprincipleof"lalibrematernit"knowninthis
countryas"therighttomotherhood"wasadvocated.
ItiscurioustonoticethattheapparentlyinnocentinventionofEsperanto
receivessupportfromthesamequarter.Thisisnotsurprisingsincewe
knowthattheideaofauniversallanguagehaslonghauntedthemindsof
Freemasons. Ihavemyselfseenadocumentemanatingfromabodyof
FrenchMasonsstatingthatEsperantoisdirectlyunderthecontrolofthe
three masonic powers of Francethe Grand Orient, the Grande Loge
Nationale,andtheDroitHumain.
That it is largely used for promoting Bolshevism has been frequently
stated.InJuly1922,M.Brard,MinisterofEducation,issuedacircular"to
theheadsofallFrenchUniversities,academies,andcolleges,callingon
themnottohelpinanywayintheteachingofEsperantoonthegroundthat
Bolsheviksuseitasoneoftheirdangerousformsofpropaganda."759 A
correspondentpointsouttomethatanotheruniversallanguage,Ido,isused
forpropagandabytheAnarchists,andthatseveraljournalsdistributedby

revolutionarysocieties,writteninIdo,are"franklyandbaldlyAnarchical."
Thewriteradds:
LastweekIreceivedacopyof Libereso (Liberty),monthlyorganofthe
Anarchist Section of the "Emancipating Star""Cosmopolitan Union of
LabourclassIdists."ItcommandscarryingoutAnarchisticprinciplesto
theirextremelimits;commends"LaRuzo"(ruse);issarcasticregarding
SocialismandDemocracy....Itcontainsanappealforhelp(inmoney)for
theAnarchistsimprisonedinRussia...writtenbyAlexanderBerkmannand
signedbyhimwithEmmaGoldmannandA.Schapiro.
Here,then,wehavearevolutionarymovementwhichisantiSocialistand
even antiBolshevist, which tends to prove the opinion I have already
expressed,thatBolshevismisonlyonephaseoftheworldconspiracy.But
if we explain this by the old antagonism between the opposing
revolutionarycampsofAnarchyandSocialism,howarewetoaccountfor
thefactthatthesamedestructivepurposeanimatespeoplewhoareneither
AnarchistnorSocialist,butcanonlyberangedinthecategoryofextreme
reaction?OfthisphaseofthemovementNietzscheprovidesthesupreme
example. In his imprecations against "the Crucified," the advocate of
autocracy and militarism rivals the most infuriated of revolutionary
Socialists.Thewholespiritofperversioniscontainedinthedescriptionof
NietzschebyhisfriendGeorgesBrandes:"Histhoughtsstoleinquisitively
alongforbiddenpaths:'Thisthingpassesforavalue.Canwenotturnit
upsidedown?Thisisregardedasgood.Isitnotratherevil?'"Whatisthis
butSatanism?ThecaseofNietzscheisnottobeexplainedawaybythefact
thathediedravingmad,sinceanumberofapparentlysanepeoplestill
professforhimunboundedadmiration,andwhilstderidingSocialismand
evenattackingBolshevismjoininthewaragainstChristiancivilization.
Theconspiracythereforeexistsapartfromsocalleddemocraticcircles.
NotlongagoIpickedupanItaliannovelbyanantiSocialistcontaining
preciselythesamediatribesagainst"Christianbourgeoissociety"thatare
tobefoundinAnarchistandBolshevistliterature."Thefamily,"saysthe
author,"isthekernelofcontemporarysocietyanditsbase.Whoeverwould
really reform or subvert must begin by reforming and subverting the
family....Thefamily...istheprincipalpathofallunhappiness,ofallvice,
ofallhypocrisy,ofallmoralugliness,..."andhegoesontoshowthatthe
twocountrieswhichhaveprovedthemselvesthesanestandthestrongest
areGermanyandAmerica,becausetheyhaveadvancedbylongstrides

towardsfreelove.760
Thewriterofthesewordsmaybeofnoimportance,buttheyshouldbe
notedbecausetheyaresymptomaticandhelpustolocatecertaincentresof
infection.
Itisimpossibletoobserveallthesemiscellaneousmovementsgoingonall
arounduswithoutbeingstruckbythesimilarityofaimbetweenthem;each
seemstoformpartofacommonplan,which,liketheseparatepiecesofa
jigsawpuzzle,conveynomeaning,butwhenfittedtogethermakeupa
perfectlycleardesign.Thatthereissomewhereinthebackgroundapoint
ofcontactissuggestedbythefactthatwefindmembersofthedifferent
groupsplayingadoubleandatreblerle,thesamenameoccurringinthe
listofpatronsinaBirthControlpaperandinarevolutionarysecretsociety,
amongsttheexponentsofPsychoAnalysisandthemembersofanIrish
RepublicanCommittee.
Withtheopenaswiththesecretforcesthegreatmethodofwarfareisthe
captureofpublicopinion.Ahiddeninfluencebehindthepresscontributes
powerfully to this end. Some of the subtlest disintegrating propaganda
during thelast seven years has emanated fromthe socalled "Capitalist
press."TheDailyHeraldisonlythebrassbandoftheRevolution.Itisto
thejournalsinspiredandpatronizedbytheIntelligentsiathatwemustturn
to find the doctrines of Illuminism set forth with the most persuasive
eloquence.761
More than eighty years ago a Frenchman endowed with extraordinary
propheticinstinctforetoldnotonlythedangerthatwouldonedaycome
from Russia, but that the press would facilitate the destruction of
civilization:
Whenourcosmopolitandemocracy,bearingitslastfruits,shallhavemade
of war a thing odious to whole populations, when the nations calling
themselves the most civilized on earth shall have finished enervating
themselvesintheirpoliticaldebaucheries,...thefloodgatesoftheNorth
willopenonusonceagain,thenweshallundergoalastinvasionnotof
ignorant barbarians but of cunning and enlightened masters, more
enlightenedthanourselves,fortheywillhavelearntfromourownexcesses
howwecanandmustbegoverned.ItisnotfornothingthatProvidence
piles up so many inactive forces in the East of Europe. One day the
sleepinggiantwillariseandforcewillputanendtothereignofwords.In

vain,then,distractedequalitywillcalltheoldaristocracytothehelpof
liberty;theweapongraspedagaintoolateandwieldedbyhandstoolong
inactivewillhavebecomepowerless.Societywillperishforhavingtrusted
towordsvoidofsenseorcontradictory;thenthedeceitfulechoesofpublic
opinion,thenewspapers,wishingatallcoststokeeptheirreaders,will
push[theworld]toruinifonlytohavesomethingtorelateforamonth
longer.Theywillkillsocietytoliveuponitscorpse.762
Today the newspapers, no longer the echoes of public opinion but its
supreme directors, throw open their columns to every form of
disintegratingdoctrineandclosethemtoargumentsthatcouldeffectually
arresttheforcesofdestruction.
Whatisthehiddeninfluencebehindthepress,behindallthesubversive
movementsgoingonaroundus?ArethereseveralPowersatwork?Oris
thereonePower,oneinvisiblegroupdirectingalltherestthecircleofthe
realInitiates?

Chapter 14:

Pan-Germanism
Wehaveseeninthecourseofthisbookthattheideaofasecretpower
working for worldrevolution through both open movements and secret
societies,isnotanewone,butdatesfromtheeighteenthcentury.Inorder
toappreciatethecontinuityofthisidea,letusrecapitulatethetestimonies
of contemporaries, some of which have been already quoted in their
context,but whichwhencollected together and placedinchronological
ordermakeupaveryremarkablechainofevidence.
In 1789 the Marquis de Luchet warned France of the danger of the
Illuminati,whoseobjectwasworlddomination.763Inconsequenceofthis
"giganticproject"deLuchetforesees"aseriesofcalamitiesofwhichthe
endislostinthedarknessoftime,likeuntothosesubterraneanfiresof
whichtheinsatiableactivitydevoursthebowelsoftheearthandwhich
escapeintotheairbyviolentanddevastatingexplosions."764
In1794theDukeofBrunswickinhismanifestototheGermanlodgessaid:
Agreatsectarose,which,takingforitsmotto"thegoodandhappinessof
man,"workedinthedarknessoftheconspiracytomakethehappinessof
humanityapreyforitself.Thissectisknowntoeveryone:itsbrothersare
knownnolessthanitsname....Theplantheyhadformedforbreakingall
socialtiesandofdestroyingallorderwasrevealedintheirspeechesand
acts....Indomitablepride,thirstofpower,suchweretheonlymotivesof
thissect:theirmastershadnothinglessinviewthanthethronesofthe
earth, and the government of the nations was to be directed by their
nocturnalclubs.765
In 1797Montjoie, writingof the Orlaniste conspiracy, towhich inan
earlier work he had attributed the whole organization of the French
Revolutioninitsfirststages,observed:

Iwillnotexaminewhetherthiswickedprince,thinkinghewasactinginhis
personalinterests,wasnotmovedbythatinvisiblehand766whichseemsto
havecreatedalltheeventsofourrevolutioninordertoleadustowardsa
goalthatwedonotseeatpresent,butwhichIthinkweshallseebefore
long.767
In 1801 Monsignor de Savine "made allusions in prudent and almost
terrified terms to some international sect ...a power superior to all
others...whichhasarmsandeyeseverywhereandwhichgovernsEurope
today."768
In1817theChevalierdeMaletdeclaredthat"theauthorsoftheRevolution
are not more French than German, Italian, English, etc. They form a
particularnationwhichtookbirthandhasincreasedinthedarkamidstall
civilized nations with the object of subjecting them all to its
domination."769
In 1835 the Carbonaro, Malegari, wrote to another member of the
Carbonari:
Weformanassociationofbrothersinallpointsoftheglobe,wehave
desiresandinterestsincommon,weaimattheemancipationofhumanity,
wewishtobreakeverykindofyoke,yetthereisonethatisunseen,that
canhardlybefelt,yetthatweighsonus.Whencecomesit?Whereisit?No
oneknows,oratleastnoonetells.Theassociationissecret,evenforus,
theveteransofsecretsocieties.770
In1852Disraeliwrote:
Itwasneitherparliamentsnorpopulations,northecourseofnature,northe
courseofevents,thatoverthrewthethroneofLouisPhilippe...thethrone
wassurprisedbytheSecretSocieties,everpreparedtoravageEurope....
Actinginunisonwithagreatpopularmovementtheymaydestroysociety,
astheydidattheendofthelastcentury.771
In1874PreDeschamps,afterhisexhaustivestudyofsecretsocieties,thus
propoundedthequestion:
Wehavenowtoaskourselveswhetherthereisanythingbutanidentityof
doctrines and personal communications between the members of the
different sects, whether there is really a unity of direction which binds

togetherallthesecretsocieties,includingFreeMasonry.Herewetouchon
themostmysteriouspointoftheactionofsecretsocieties,onthatwhich
thesenationalGrandOrientswhodeclarethemselvesindependentofeach
other and sometimes even excommunicate each other conceal most
carefullybeneathaveil.772
FinallyDeschampsisledtotheconclusionthatthereis"asecretcouncil
whichdirectsallmasonicsocieties," 773thattherearesecretlairswherethe
chiefsofthesectsagreetogetherontheirworkofdestruction.774
It would be easy to multiply quotations of this kind taken from many
differentsources.Whetherthemenwhoexpressedtheseopinionswere,as
wearefrequentlytold,sufferingfromdelusionsornot,thefactremains
thattheideaofahiddenhandbehindworldrevolutionhasexistedforat
least 135years.Andwhenwecomparethese utteranceswithMonsieur
Copin Albancelli's description of an inner circle secretly directing the
activities of the Grand Orient, and with the conclusions reached by
membersofothersecretsocieties,thatsuchacircleexistsbehindalloccult
and masonic societies of a subversive kind, we are necessarily led to
enquire:isthereonecircleorratheronePowerbehindbothopenandsecret
organizationsworkingfortheoverthrowoftheexistingsocialorderand
Christiancivilization?Ifso,whatisthispower?
Now, to leave speculation for the moment and come to known facts,
everyonewhohasseriouslystudiedthesemattersisawarethatthereareat
thepresent moment fiveprincipalorganizedmovements atworkinthe
world with which ordered government has to contend, that may be
summarizedasfollows:
1. GrandOrientFreemasonry.
2. Theosophywithitsinnumerableramifications.
3. Nationalism of an aggressive kind, now represented by Pan
Germanism.
4. InternationalFinance.
5. SocialRevolution.
Itwillbeseenthat,withtheexceptionofthefourth,thesemovementsare
those of which I have endeavoured to trace the course throughout the
earlierpartofthisbook.Itisahighlysignificantfactthatitwasonlywhen
IhadreachedthisstageofmyworkIdiscoveredtherewereindependent

investigatorswhohadarrivedatpreciselythesameconclusionsasmyself.
Theproblemthatnowconfrontsusisthereforethis:ifthereisindeedone
powerdirectingallsubversivemovements,isitoneofthefivemovements
hereenumeratedorisityetanotherpowermorepotentandmoreinvisible?
In order to discover this, it is necessary to consider whether these
movements,althoughapparentlydivergentintheirultimatepurpose,have
neverthelessanyideasoranyaimsincommon.Onefundamentalpointof
similaritywillcertainlybefoundbetweenthem.Alldesiretodominatethe
world and to direct it along lines and according to rules of their own
devising;morethanthis,eachdesirestodirectitsolelyforthebenefitof
oneclassofpeoplesocial,intellectual,ornationalasthecasemaybeto
theentireexclusionofeveryhumanbeingoutsidethatclass.Thusinreality
eachaspirestothedictatorshipoftheworld.
Besidesthis,itwillbenoticedthatnotonlytheseprincipalmovements,but
alsotheminorsubversivemovementsdescribedinthelastchapter,havein
themain(1)aproGermantendencynone,atanyrate,areproFrenchnor
dotheyencourageBritishpatriotism,(2)allcontainaJewishelement
none,atleast,are"antiSemite,"and(3)allhaveamoreorlessdecided
antagonismtoChristianity.Ifthen,thereisasinglepowerbehindthem,is
it the PanGermanic Power? Is it the Jewish Power? Or is it the Anti
ChristianPower?Letusexamineeachofthesepossibilitiesinturn.
Viewedunder theaspect of exaggeratedNationalism,thespiritof Pan
Germanismisnothingnew.Thedreamofworlddominationhashaunted
theimaginationofmanyracesfromthetimeofAlexandertheGreatto
Napoleon I, but nowhere has the plan been carried out by the
MachiavellianmethodswhichhavecharacterizedPrussianforeignpolicy
anddiplomacyfrom thedaysofFredericktheGreatonwards.Itisnot
Prussian militarism that constitutes the crime of modern Germany.
Militarisminthesenseofcourage,patriotism,discipline,anddevotionto
dutyisasplendidthing.ButthespiritofPanGermanismdiffersfromthe
Britishconceptionofpatriotisminthatitoverridestherightsofallother
peoplesandseekstoestablishitsdominationoverthewholeworld.Under
GermandominationeveryGermanwouldbefreeandeveryotherhuman
beingaslave.England,whilstseekingconquests,has,ontheotherhand,
alwaysallowedtheinhabitantsofconqueredterritoriestodevelopalong
theirownlinesandhasmadeuseoflegislationlargelytoprotectthemfrom
eachother.ThepreferenceofthenativeofIndiaforanEnglishjudgeto

one of his own race is evidence of this fact. But it is further the
abandonmentofallprinciple,theacceptanceofthedoctrinethateverything
isallowablelying,treachery,calumny,andbadfaithinordertoachieve
itsend,thathasplacedGermanyoutsidethecomityofnations.Robison
describes the system of the Illuminati as leading tothe conclusion that
"nothingwouldbescrupledat,ifitcouldbemadeappearthattheOrder
wouldderiveadvantagefromit,becausethegreatobjectoftheOrderwas
held as superior to every consideration."775 Change the word Order to
State,andonehasthewholeprincipleofmodernGermanImperialism.
Now,itisinterestingtonoticethatthefoundersofGermanIlluminismand
ofGermanImperialismdrewcertainoftheirideasfromthesamesource.
Both Weishaupt and Frederick the Great were earnest students of
Machiavelliandbothoutdidtheirmaster.ThisformofMachiavellism,
carriedtoapointprobablyneverdreamtofbytheItalianphilosopher,has
runthroughthewholestruggleofPrussiaforsupremacyandatthesame
timethrougheachoutbreakofworldrevolutioninwhichPrussianinfluence
hasplayedapart.ThustheEmstelegramin1870,thefalsereportthat
trickedRussiaintomobilizationin1914, 776theviolationoftreatiesandof
all the laws of civilised warfare during the recent war, were the direct
outcomeofdoctrinesthatmaybefoundinembryoinThePrince.Soalso
the most striking characteristic of the French Revolution under the
inspirationofWeishaupt'semissariesandtheagentsofPrussia,andofthe
presentrevolutionarymovementinauguratedbyKarlMarxandFriedrich
Engels,isnotsomuchitsviolenceasitsMachiavelliancunning.Theart
popularlyknowntodayas camouflageofdressinguponedesignunder
theguiseofsomethingquitedifferent,ofmakingblackappearwhiteby
glorifying the most ignoble actions, of making white appear black by
holdingupallhonourabletraditionstocontemptandridicule,inaword
perversionhasbeenreducedtoasystembythesecretdirectorsofworld
revolution.Itisherethatwecandetectthenonproletariancharacterofthe
movement.TheworkingmanofallcountriesistheleastMachiavellianof
beings;hisweaknessliesinthefactthatheistooinarticulate,thathedoes
notknowhowtoputhiscaseevenwhenhehasagoodone,stilllessto
makeabadoneappearplausible.Itwasnotuntilworldrevolutionwas
taken over by the faction described by Bakunin as "the GermanJew
Company" that it reassumed its Machiavellian character and gradually
becametheformidableorganizationitistoday.

AfewextractsfromThePrincewillshowhowcloselyboththePrussians
and the Terrorists of France and Russia have followed Machiavelli's
manualfordespots:
"He who usurps the government of any State is to execute and put in
practiceallthecrueltieswhichhethinksmaterialatonce,thathemayhave
nooccasiontorenewthemoften,"etc. 777 (VidetheGermanprincipleof
"frightfulness"tobeexercisedagainsttheinhabitantsofinvadedterritory
andtheplanoftheFrenchandRussianTerroristsinsuppressing"counter
revolutionaries.")
"It is of such importance to a prince to take upon him the nature and
dispositionofabeast;ofallthewholeflockheoughttoimitatethelionand
thefox."778(VideFredericktheGreatandthedemagoguesofFranceand
Russia.)
"Aprince...whoiswiseandprudent,cannotoroughtnottokeephis
parole,whenthekeepingofitistohisprejudice,andthecausesforwhich
hepromisedremoved."779(VideGermany'sdoctrineofthescrapofpaper
andthepromisesoftheBolshevistTradeDelegationinLondontorefrain
frompropaganda.)
"Becausethewholemultitudewhichsubmitstoyourgovernmentisnot
capableofbeingarmed,ifyoubebeneficialandobligingtothoseyoudo
arm,youmaymakethebolderwiththerest,forthedifferenceofyour
behaviour to the soldier binds him more firmly to your service,"
etc.780(Vide the insolent behaviour permitted to officers of the German
ImperialArmyandthefeedingoftheRedArmyinRussiaattheexpenseof
therestofthepopulation.)
"Theprince...isobliged...atconvenienttimesintheyeartoentertainthe
peoplebyfeastingsandplaysandspectaclesofrecreation...andgivethem
someinstanceofhishumanityandmagnificence." 781(Videtheimportant
partplayedby"spectacles"intheFrenchRevolutionandbythetheatreand
operainSovietRussia.Alwaysthesameplanof"panemeicircenses!")
Just after the fall of Napoleon I a French writer published a book
describingthe"methodicperversity"oftherevolutionaryleadersandthe
RevolutionasthebeginningofaMachiavellianrgime.782 Howdidthis
system come to be established in France unless under the guidance of
Weishaupt'semissariesandtheagentsofFredericktheGreatandofthe

IlluminatusFrederickWilliamII?
Germanywaswellable,however,todefendherselfagainstthedevastating
doctrinesofIlluminism.Alwaysthehomeofsecretsocieties,shebecame
bytheendofthenineteenthcenturythespiritualhomeofSocialism.Yet
althoughthismightappeartopresentadangertoGermanImperialism,no
countryhasremainedsofreeasGermanyfromseriousagitation.Ithas
been well said that the Germans are theoretically more Socialistic than
othernations,buttheyarefarlessrevolutionary.
ThetruthisthattherulersofGermanyhavealwaysknownthattheycould
countnotmerelyontheservilityofthepeoplebutontheirardentnational
spirit.Astrongveinofpatriotismranthroughallthesecretsocietieseven
of themost subversive variety, and it was the German StudentOrders,
whencetheIlluminatidrewtheirdisciples,thatbecamealsotherecruiting
groundfortheGermanImperialistidea.Insteadofcombatingsubversive
forces, German Imperialism adopted the far more skilful expedient of
enlistingtheminitsservice.
It was thus that in Germany Freemasonry became a powerful aid to
Prussianaggrandizement.From1840onwardsthewordofcommandtoall
the lodges went out from Berlin,783 and in the revolution of 1848 the
FreemasonsofGermanyshowedthemselvesthemostardentsupportersof
German unity under the gis of Prussia. Later, Bismarck with superb
ingenuityenlistednotonlyFreemasonsandmembersofsecretsocietiesbut
Socialistsanddemocratsinthesamecause.LassalleandMarxcontributed
powerfully to the cause of panGermanism. Dammer, who succeeded
LassalleasheadoftheSocialistparty,instructedhissuccessorFritschethat
"in the meetings which took place in Saxony, whilst putting forward
Socialistclaims,theymustnotfailtodemandtheunityofGermanyunder
thedominationofPrussia.Fritschewaspersonallytorenderanaccountto
Bismarckoftheresultsobtainedatthesemeetings."784
EvenasfarafieldasItaly,Bismarcksucceededinimposingthepolicyof
Germanautocracyonmenwhowereostensiblymarchinginthevanguard
of "liberty." "I believe in the unity of Germany," Mazzini wrote to
Bismarckin1867,"andIdesireitasIdesirethatofmyowncountry.I
abhor the empire and supremacy that France arrogates to herself over
Europe."785
Before1870FreemasonryeverywhereontheContinenthelpedthecauseof

Germany."TheOccultPowerpreachedpacifismandhumanitarianismin
FrancebymeansofFrenchFreemasonrywhilstitpreachedpatriotismin
GermanybymeansofGermanFreemasonry."786 Soalthoughthroughout
thenineteenthcenturytherulersofGermanypermittedthedissemination
ofideasantagonistictoreligion,untilbythedawnofthefollowingcentury
the very idea of God was rooted out of the minds of many German
children, the Imperial Government was careful that nothing should be
allowed to weaken patriotism. Indeed, the PanGerman obsession into
whichGermanpatriotismbecametransformedundertheinfluenceofsuch
menasTreitschkeandBernhardiwas,nolessthanrevolutionarySocialism,
fortifiedbyirreligionbecausefoundedonthelawofforceandtheabsence
ofallmoralscruple.Itisthusnot"militarism"intheacceptedsensethat
hasrenderedGermanyamenacetotheworld,buttheMachiavellianplan
ofusingforexportdoctrinessternlyrepressedwithinherownborders.
I shall not enlarge here on the crime of the German Imperial Staff in
sendingLeninandhisfellowBolshevikstoRussia,becauseIhavealready
dealt at length with this question in a controversy that appeared in the
Morning Post twoyearsago.787 Butwhilstacknowledging thefair and
courteouslineofargumentadoptedbymyGermanopponent,withwhich
oncertainpointsIfoundmyselfcompletelyinagreement.Iwasobligedto
recognize that the bar to any real understanding between us lay in the
impossibilityofpersuadinghimtorecognizetheprinciplethatallmeans
arenotjustifiableinordertoobtainone'sends.Thisishowheexpresses
himselfonthesubject:
If Mrs. Webster ... reproaches Germany for having employed seditious
propagandainthecountriesoftheAllies,itmaysimplybebroughttomind
thatallisfairinloveandwar.Inawar,inafightconcerninglifeanddeath,
onedoesnotlookattheweaponswhichonetakes,noratthevalueswhich
aredestroyedbyusingthearms.Theonlyadviser[sic]is,firstofall,the
successofthefight,thesalvationofone'sindependence.788
UntilGermanyabandonsthisMachiavelliandoctrineitwillbeimpossible
totreatherasacivilizedPower.
But Herr Kerlen accuses England of pursuing the same Machiavellian
policyofencouragingseditionabroad.UndoubtedlyEnglanddidpropagate
PacifisminGermanyandotherenemycountriesandhopedtobringabouta
politicalrevolution,thatistosay,arisingoftheGermanpeopleagainstthe

rulerswhohadledthemintowar.(Itshouldberememberedthatallthe
friendsofGermanyinthiscountryalwaysdeclaredthattheGermanpeople
didnotwantthewarandweredraggedintoitunwillinglybythemilitary
caste.)ButisthereanyevidencetoshowthatEnglandeverattemptedto
engineerasocialrevolution,tounderminemoralityandallbeliefinordered
government,inawordtopromoteBolshevisminGermanyorelsewhere?
HerrKerlencitesthesympathyaccordedinthiscountrytotheKerensky
revolution.ButEngland,largelythroughtheinfluenceoftheLiberals,had
alwaysentertainedanexaggeratedideaof"Tzaristtyranny,"andhonestly
sympathizedwithallefforts,howevermisguided,to"liberate"theRussian
people. Further, throughout the war the Tzar and Tzarina had been
ceaselesslyrepresentedasfaithlesstotheAlliesastorythatwenowknow
tohavebeenaninfamouscalumnycirculateddoubtlessbyenemyagents.
ThisideaevenobtainedcredenceinConservativecircles,misledbyfalse
informationonthesituationinRussia.Onemusthavelivedthroughthe
springof1917inLondontorealizehowcompletelynotonlythepublicbut
the authorities were deluded. What else could be expected when the
opinionofSocialistswasacceptedonthematter?Iknowfrompersonal
experiencethattwoofthemostimportantGovernmentdepartmentswere
completelymistakenevenonthesubjectofBolshevism,withtheresultthat
measureswerenottakenwhichmighthavecheckeditsspreadintothis
country.
Inaword,then,theessentialdifferencebetweentheattitudeofGermany
andEnglandtoRussiawasthatwhilstEnglandimaginedthattheKerensky
revolutionwouldbeforthegoodofRussiaaswellasfortheadvantageof
theAllies,GermanydeliberatelyintroducedintoRussiawhatsheknewto
beapoison.
Alwaysfaithfultothemaximofdivideetimpera,Germany,afterbringing
Russiatoruin,hasatlastsucceededincausingdissensionsbetweenthe
Allies. This policy she pursued unremittingly throughout the war. Thus
whilstononehandshewasassuringtheFrenchthat"theEnglishwould
fighttothelastbreathofthelastFrenchman,"GeneralLudendorffwas
instructingtheImperialChancellorthat:"Wemustagainandagainrubin
thesentenceinKuhlmann'sspeechtotheeffectthatthequestionofAlsace
Lorraineistheonlyonewhichstandsinthewayofpeace.Andwemustlay
special emphasis onthe factthat theEnglish peopleare shedding their
bloodforanImperialisticwaraim."789

Soskilfullywasthispropagandacarriedonafterthewarhadendedthat
whilstEnglishofficersreturningtoEnglandfromtheoccupiedareaswere
declaring that the friendliness of the Germans convinced them that
Germanywasreallyourfriendandthatweshouldhavean"entente"with
herratherthanwithFrance,FrenchofficersreturningtoFrancesaidthat
the Germans had assured them that they were their best friends, that
England was the real enemy, and that it would be better to break the
EntenteandformanalliancewithGermany.Atthesametimenolessthan
threelinesofpropagandaconcerningthecausesofthewarweregoingout
fromGermany,onelayingalltheblameontheEnglish,oneontheFrench,
andoneontheJews,andpamphletsembodyingtheseconflictingtheories
were despatched broadcast to likely subjects in the countries of the
Allies.790
ThegreatesttriumphforImperialGermanylayinhersuccessinenlisting
theveryelementsamongst theAllieswhichmightmostbeexpectedto
opposeher.Althoughtherewasnocountryintheworldwheremonarchy
wassoadored,militarismsouniversallyadmired,whererankandbirth
playedsoimportantapart,andtheworkingclasses,thoughcaredfor,so
rigidlykeptinsubjection,GermanyfromthetimeofBismarckonwardshas
always been the "spiritual home" of British Socialists, democrats, and
pacifists,justasinFranceshehasalwaysfoundherprincipalalliesinthe
masoniclodges.AndthisalthoughtheGermanSocialistsandFreemasons
haveneverattemptedtousetheirinfluenceinfavourofthemasonicand
Socialist ideal of universal brotherhood and worldpeace, but, on the
contrary,ateverycrisishavethrownintheirlotwiththemilitaryparty.
Thus beforetheFrancoPrussian War,whilstFrenchFreemasons of the
LogeConcordiaandtheSocialistsoftheFirstInternationalewereurging
theirbrotherstorelyonGermanSocialismtoavertaconflict,thePrussian
lodgeswereshoutingHoch!tothenationalcoloursandchantingthepraises
of King William and "the Prussian sword," and the German Social
DemocratswereapplaudingthecauseofGermanunity.791
Exactly the same thing happened before the recent war, when Jaurs
assuredhisfellowSocialiststhatatthefirstsignofconflicthehadonlyto
communicate with Berlin in order to enlist German Socialism in the
interests of peace; yet on the declaration of war the German Socialists
voted solidly for war credits, whilst the British Socialists opposed
participationinthewarandeveninsomeinstancesexpressedsympathy

withGermany.Andletitneverbeforgotten,itwasnotSocialistGermany
butImperialGermanythatwontheallegianceofoursocalleddemocrats.
InspiteofthisbetrayalbytheSocialistsofGermany,inspiteofthefact
thattheyhavecontributednothingtothecauseofInternationalSocialism
orofworldpeace,theBritish"Labour"Partyneveruntilitsaccessionto
officewaveredinitspolicyofpubliclyadvocatingthecauseofGermany.
WiththeexceptionoftheSocialDemocraticFederation,everySocialist
bodyinthiscountryhasproclaimedproGermansentiments,and Justice
alone,ofallSocialistorgans,hasexpresseditssympathyforthesufferings
ofFrance.Infact,anySocialistwhodaredtochampionthecauseofFrance
immediatelylosthisinfluenceandpositioninSocialistcircles.Astothe
DailyHerald,haditbeeneditedinBerlinitcouldnotmorefaithfullyhave
supportedGermaninterests.WhenAlsaceLorrainewasrestoredtoFrance,
itpublishedanarticleshowinghowdeeplytheinhabitantsofthisprovince
resented being transferred from the German Empire to the French
Republic792;whenageneralstrikethreatenedthiscountry,itseizedthe
opportunitytocomeoutwithanappealinenormouscapitalstorevisethe
VersaillesTreaty;inthematterofreparationsitseffortstoletGermanyoff
altogetherhavebeen,asititselfobserved,"unceasing.""Theplainfactis,"
itdeclaredonDecember17,1921,"thatthesefantasticreparationdemands
cannotbemet;andthateverypaymentbywhichGermanyattemptstomeet
themwill onlyworkfurther havoctoour owncommerceandour own
industry.Wehaveurgedthatceaselesslyforthreeyears.Todayeventhe
Premierbeginstoseethatwewereright,thattheinterestsofthiscountry
demand the scrapping of the whole bad business of 'making Germany
pay.'"793
Indeed,whentheinterestsofGermanywereconcerned,thispaper,which
Leninhasdescribedas"ourownorgan,"butwhichmightstillmoretruly
beclaimedbyLudendorffandStinnes,wasquitereadytothrowSocialism
tothewindsandpleadthecauseofcapital.Attheverymomentthatitwas
advocatingtheLabourpolicyofacapitallevyonallfortunesexceeding
5,000inthiscountry,the DailyHerald waxedalmosttearfuloverthe
iniquityofFranceinattemptingtotouchthepocketsofGermanmulti
millionaires whose profits, it went on to explain elaborately, were not
nearlyashugeasmightappearinviewofthedeclineinthepurchasing
powerofthemark.Thedeclineinthepurchasingpowerofthepoundhad,
however, never been taken into account when assessing the profits of

Britishemployersoflabour.794
WehaveonlytofollowpointbypointthepolicyoftheBritishLabour
Party since the war to recognize that whilst the measures it advocated
might be of doubtful benefit to the workers, there could be no doubt
whateverofthebenefittheywouldconferonGermany.Withamillionand
aquarterunemployedandlargenumbersoftheworkingclassesunableto
find homes, the professed representatives of Labour have persistently
clamouredfortheremovalofrestrictionsonalienimmigrationandalien
imports.SoalthoughthroughtheTradeUnionstheBritishworkerwasto
be rigorously protected against competition from his fellowBriton, no
obstacles were to be placed in the way of competition by foreign, and
frequentlyunderpaid,labour.Thatthisglaringbetrayaloftheirinterests
shouldnothaveraisedastormofresentmentamongsttheworkingclasses
is surely evidence that the Marxian doctrine "the emancipation of the
working classes must be brought about by the working classes
themselves"795hassofarledtonogreatresults.Emersontrulyobserved:
"Sofarasamanthinks,heisfree."Theworkingclassescanneverbefree
untiltheylearntothinkforthemselvesinsteadofallowingtheirthinkingto
bedoneforthembythemiddleclassexploitersofLabour.
ThehandofGermanybehindSocialismmustbeapparenttoallthosewho
donotdeliberatelyshuttheireyestothefact,anditissignificanttonotice
thatthenearerSocialismapproachestoBolshevismthemoremarkedthis
influence becomes. Thus although certain Socialist groups, such as the
SocialDemocraticFederationinEnglandandtheSocialistPartyinFrance,
havenotbecomeGermanized,theavowedCommunistsinalltheAllied
countriesarestronglyproGerman.ThisisthecaseeveninFrance,where
theBolsheviksfindferventsupportersinthegroupledbyMarcelCachin,
Froissart,andLonguet,grandsonofKarlMarx.
TheorganizationoftheBolshevistmovementhasindeedthroughoutowed
agreatdealofitsefficiencytoGermancooperation,providednotonlyby
theSocialistbutbytheMonarchistelementsinGermany.Itisnecessaryin
thisconnexiontounderstandthedualcharacteroftheGermanMonarchist
party since the ending of the war. The great majority of its adherents,
animatedbynothingmorereprehensiblethanthespiritofmilitarismandan
aggressiveformofpatriotismthatclingstotheoldformulaofDeutschland
beralles,areprobablystrangerstoanyintrigues,butbehindthismassof

honestImperialists,anddoubtlessunknowntoagreatnumber,therelurk
thosesinisterorganizationsthePanGermansecretsocieties.
Manyofthese,asforexamplethe Ostmarkenverein,ostensiblyinstituted
forthedefenceofGermaninterestsontheRussianfrontier,existedbefore
thewar;indeed,thereislittledoubtthattheyhavecontinuedwithouta
breaksincethedaysoftheTugendbundandhavealwayspreservedtheir
masonicand"illuminized"character.ButsincethebeginningoftheGreat
War,andstillmoresincetheArmistice,theirnumbershaveincreaseduntil
in1921theywereestimatedtorunintothreefigures.Moreover,asinthe
timeofWeishaupt,Bavariaisstillacentreforsecretsocietyintrigue,andit
washerethatEscherichfoundedtheEinwohnerwehrsometimesknownas
the Orgesch orOrganizationEscherich,withMunichasitsheadquarters.
TheOrgeschwasfollowedbytheformidablemurderclubknowntoallthe
world as the Organization C or "Consul," named after its founder, the
famousCaptainEhrhardt,whosenicknamewas"derHerrConsul."During
theyear1921nolessthan400politicalassassinationswerereportedin
Germanyandsaidtobetheworkofsecretsocieties.Amongstthecrimes
attributed to the initiative of Organization C were the murders of Herr
ErzbergerandtheattemptonthelifeofHerrScheidemann.Eightypersons
arrestedforcomplicityinthemurderofHerrRathenauwerealsosaidtobe
membersofthesamesociety.796
Butasinthecaseofallsecretsocieties,thevisibleleaderswerenotthereal
hierarchy;behindthisactivebodythereexistedaninnercircleorganisedon
masonic lines, the Druidenorden, a name unknown to the public, and
behindthisagainanotherandstillmoresecretcirclewhichappearstobe
nameless. It isthese inner ringswhich, whilstremainingMonarchistin
Germany,workforotherendsabroad,andareconnectedwiththeworld
revolutionarymovement.
This alliance between the two extremes of ardent Monarchism and
revolutionarySocialismexistedatthebeginningofthewarorevenearlier,
and, as is now well known, it was the Jewish Social Democrat, Israel
Lazarewitch,aliasHelphandtaliasParvus,whoarrangedwiththeGerman
General Staff for the passage of Lenin from Switzerland to Russia,
accompaniedbyKarlRadek,theAustrianJewdeserter,andanumberof
otherJews.
Now,Switzerlandhasbeenforhundredsofyearsacentreofrevolutionary

and secretsociety intrigue. As early as the sixteenth century the Pope,

writingtotheKingsofFranceandSpain,warnedthemthatGenevawas
"unfoyerterneldervolution,"andJosephdeMaistre,quotingthisletter
in1817,declaredGenevatobethemetropolisoftherevolutionaries,whose
artofdeceptionhedescribesas"thegreatEuropeansecret." 797Elsewhere,
ayearearlier,hehadreferredtoIlluminismastherootofalltheevilat
work.ItisnowknownthatatthemomentdeMaistrewrotethesewordsan
innerringofrevolutionaries,claimingdirectdescentfromWeishauptand
even from an earlier sect existing at the end of the fifteenth century,
profitedbythefallofNapoleonItoreconstructitsorganizationandtook
upitsheadquartersinSwitzerlandwithbranchofficesinLondonandParis.
The same secret ring of Illuminati is believed to have been intimately
connected with the organization of the Bolshevist revolution, although
none of the leading Bolsheviks are said to have been members of the
innermostcircle,whichisunderstoodtoconsistofmenbelongingtothe
highestintellectualandfinancialclasseswhosenamesremainedabsolutely
unknown. Outside this absolutely secret ring there existed, however, a
semisecretcircleofhighinitiatesofsubversivesocietiesdrawnfromall
over the world and belonging to various nationalitiesGerman, Jewish,
French,Russian,andevenJapanese.Thisgroup,whichmightbedescribed
astheactiveringoftheinnercircle,appearstohavebeenintouchwith,if
notincontrolof,acommitteewhichmetinSwitzerlandtocarryoutthe
programmeoftheThirdInternationale.
It was thus in Switzerland that at the same time high initiates of Pan
German secret societies foregathered and that an active centre of pro
German, antiEntente, and even Bolshevist propaganda was established.
These Germans, although Monarchists themselves, cooperated with the
secret revolutionaryforces instirringuptroubleinthecountries of the
Allies. At the same time the conferences of the Second Internationale,
attendedbymembersoftheBritishI.L.P.tookplaceinSwitzerland,andat
oneofthesetheBerneConferenceof1919thedelegateswereentertained
byamysterious"American"millionaire,JohndeKay,livinghimselfin
great style, paying for press service at the rate of 2,000 francs a day,
lavishingmoneyontheconference,andatthesametimesubsidizing a
PacifistandDefeatestpapernamedLaFeuille.
Itisimpossible,then,toignoretheroleofGermanyinthepresentoutbreak
ofworldrevolution.IntheBritishWhitePaperonBolshevisminRussia

wefinditstatedbyanEnglishmanwhohadbeenthroughthewholeofthe
Revolutioninthatcountrythat:
The Germans initiated disturbances in order to reduce Russia to chaos.
Theyprintedmassesofpapermoneytofinancetheirschemes;thenotes,of
whichIpossessspecimens,canbeeasilyrecognizedbyaspecialmark.798
What has Germany to say to all this? Simply that the promotion of
Bolshevismwasamilitary"necessity"inordertobringaboutthedownfall
ofheropponents,butthatthepropagandautilizedbyherwasinrealityof
Jewishorigin,andthatJewry,notGermany,wastherealauthorofworld
revolution.
ItiseasytoseehowsuchatheorycanbemadetoservethecauseofPan
Germanism. For if Germany can persuade us that the Jews alone were
responsibleforthewarandwerealsothesoleauthorsofBolshevism,we
shallnaturallybeledtotheconclusionthatGermanyis,afterall,innocent
ofthecrimesattributedtoher,andthatouronlysafetyliesinforgoing
reparations, restoring her to her former power, and coalescing with her
against a common enemy. We shall therefore do well to accept with
extremecautionadviceontheJewishquestionemanatingfromGerman
sources, and totest the sincerity of thespirit in which it is offeredby
consideringtherelationswhichhavehithertoexistedbetweentheGermans
andtheJews.
Now, Germany has long been the home of modern "antiSemitism."
Althoughineverycountryandateveryperiod,butmoreparticularlyinthe
East of Europe during the last century, the Jews have suffered from
unpopularity,itwasGermanythatorganizedthisaversionintoadefinite
planofcampaign.IfinRussia,Galicia,andPolandtheJewshavemetwith
sporadicviolenceatthehandsofthepeasants,inGermanytheyhavebeen
systematicallyheldupbytheauthoritiestohatredandcontempt.Luther,
Kant,Fichte,Schopenhauer,Treitschke,successivelyinveighedagainstthe
Jewishrace.Jewsweredeniedadmissiontomasoniclodgesandtotherank
ofofficersinthearmy,whilstsocietyexcludedthemuptotheoutbreakof
war.
YettheextraordinaryfactremainsthatofallnationstheGermanshave
alwaysbeenthefavouritesoftheJews.Throughoutthewholemovement
fortheunificationofGermanyunderthegisofPrussia,Jewsplayeda

leadingpart,andintherecentwarGermanyfoundinthemsomeofher
most valuable allies. As Maximilian Harden recently pointed out: "The
services of the Jews to Germany during the war were enormous. The
patriotismoftheJewswasbeyondreproach,inmanycasesevenludicrous
andoffensive initsintensity." Andinspiteof "antiSemitism,"Harden
declares:"ThereisastrongaffinitybetweentheGermanandtheJew." 799
TotheAshkenazimGermanyevenmorethanPalestinehasappearedthe
Land of Promise. Thus some years before the war Professor Ludwig
Geiger,leaderoftheLiberalJewsofBerlin,denounced"Zionistsophisms"
inthewords:"TheGermanJewwhohasavoiceinGermanliteraturemust,
ashehasbeenaccustomedtoforthelastcenturyandahalf,lookupon
Germanyaloneashisfatherland,upontheGermanlanguageashismother
tongue,andthefutureofthatnationmustremaintheonlyoneuponwhich
hebaseshishopes."800
Howarewetoexplainthisunrequiteddevotion?SimplybytheGerman
policyofenlistingeverydynamicforceinherservice.Shehasknownhow
tousetheJews justasshehasknownhowtousetheFreemasons, the
Illuminati, and the Socialists for the purpose of PanGermanism. From
FredericktheGreat,whoemployedtheJewEphraimtocoinfalsemoney,
toWilliamII,whokeptintouchwithRathenaubymeansof aprivate
telephonewire,therulersofGermanyhavealwaysallowedthemtoco
operateintheirschemesofworlddomination.AsthealliesofBismarck,
whousedthemfreelytofillhiswarchests,theJewsdirectedthepowerof
the secret societies in the interests of Germany; in 1871 the Jew
BloechreideractedasadvisertothenewGermanEmpireastothebest
method of wresting indemnities from France. And Germany, whilst
heapinginsultsontheJews,neverthelessfulfilscertainconditionsessential
toJewishenterprise.UnlikeEnglandandFrance,shehasneverallowed
herselftobeseriouslyweakenedbydemocraticideas,andthereforetothe
JewsastoBritishbelieversinautocracysherepresentstheprincipleof
stability.
Moreover, Germany as the home of militarism offers a wide field for
Jewish speculation. We have only to couple together an aphorism of
Mirabeau'swithoneofWernerSombart'stoperceivethebondofunion
betweenthetworaces,thus:"WaristhenationalindustryofPrussia"and
"WarsaretheJews'harvests."Aslongagoas1793AnacharsisClootz,the
apostleofuniversalbrotherhoodanddefenderoftheJewishrace,declared

thatifGermanyweretobepreventedfromgoingtowartheJewsmustbe
persuadedtowithdrawtheirsupportfromhermilitaryadventures:
War could not begin or last in Germany without the activity, the
intelligence,andthemoneyoftheJews.Magazinesandmunitionsofall
kindsareprovidedbyHebrewcapitalistsandallthesubalternagentsof
militaryprovisionmentareofthesamenation.Wehaveonlytocometoan
understanding with our brothers, the Rabbis, to produce astonishing,
miraculousresults.801
Mr.Ford,theAmericanmotorcarmanufacturer,appearstohavearrivedat
muchthesameconclusionexpressedinthewordsrecentlyattributedto
him:"Wedon'tneedtheLeagueofNationstoendwar.Putundercontrol
thefiftymostwealthyJewishfinanciers,whoproducewarsfortheirown
profit,andwarswillcease."802
OnanotheroccasionMr.FordisreportedtohavesaidthattheJewswho
voyagedwithhiminthePeaceshipin1915"wentoutoftheirwayto
convince"himof"thedirectrelationsbetweentheInternationalJewand
thewar":they"wentintodetailstotellmethemeansbywhichtheJews
controlledthewarhowtheyhadthemoney,howtheyhadcorneredallthe
basicmaterialsneededtofightthewar,"etc.803
WithoutinanywayabsolvingGermanyfromthecrimeofthewar,itis
necessarytotakethissecondaryfactorintoconsiderationifpeacebetween
thenationsistobeestablished.Foraslongasthelustofwarlingersinthe
heartsoftheGermansandthelustofgainatthepriceofhumansuffering
lingersintheheartsoftheJews,bothraceswillremainnecessarytoeach
otherandthehideousnightmareofwarwillcontinuetobroodoverthe
world.
There is then a great deal of truth in the Socialist phrase "Capitalists'
Wars,"althoughnotinthesensetheyattributetoit.Foritwillbenoticed
thattheCapitalistswhoaremostinstrumentalinmakingwarsareprecisely
thosewhomtheSocialistsarealwayscarefultoshieldfromblame.The
followingincidentwillillustratethispoint.
At a meeting of the Social Democratic Federation Mr. Adolphe Smith
movedaresolutionappealingtotheorganizedworkersofGreatBritain
Nottopermitthemselvesinthesupposedinterestsoftheirfellowworkers

inothercountries,tobeusedbysinisterfinancialandmilitaristinfluences
merelytoweakentheEntentenationsinthepresentcriticalsituation,and
urgingthemtokeepcarefulwatchagainstsuchmanoeuvresonthepartof
proGerman international financiers, who were able to exercise
considerablereactionaryinfluenceamongthewealthyandofficialclasses
inthiscountry.804
Mr. Hyndman added that "the most serious danger by which we were
threatened was from the most powerful group of capitalists in Europe
headedbyHugoStinnesandbackedbyHindenburg,Ludendorff,andthe
militaristpartyinGermany."Thisresolutionwasopposedbyamemberof
theParliamentaryLabourPartyandeventuallywithdrawn.
The connexion between German Imperialism, International Finance,
Illuminism,Bolshevism,andcertainsectionsofBritishSocialismisthus
apparent. Is Germany then the secret power behind the thing we call
Bolshevism?AreIlluminismandPanGermanismoneandthesamething?
Tothishypothesistwoobjectionspresentthemselves:firstly,thatthespirit
ofIlluminismandBolshevismexisted,aswehaveseeninearlierchapters
of this book, long before modern Germany came into existence; and
secondly,thatGermanyherselfisnotentirelyfreefromthecontagion.For
althoughthedangerofBolshevisminGermanyhasbeendoubtlessgreatly
exaggeratedinordertopreventtheAlliesfrompressingtheirdemandsfor
disarmament and reparations, nevertheless Bolshevism under its
illuminatednameofSpartacismcannotberegardedasamovemententirely
stagedforthedeceptionofEurope.Moreover,justasinthecountriesofthe
Allies it has shown itself, under the guise of Pacifism, savagely anti
nationalandproGerman,soinGermany,asalsoinHungary,itturned
Pacifismtotheoppositepurposebyprofessingsympathyatmomentswith
theAllies.
It is clear, then, that besides PanGermanism there is another power at
work,apowerfarolder,thatseekstodestroyallnationalspirit,allordered
governmentineverycountry,Germanyincluded.Whatisthispower?A
largebodyofopinionreplies:theJewishpower.

Chapter 15:

The Real Jewish Peril

InconsideringtheimmenseproblemoftheJewishPower,perhapsthemost
important problem with which the modern world is confronted, it is
necessarytodivestoneselfofallprejudicesandtoenquireinaspiritof
scientific detachment whether any definite proof exists thata concerted
attempt is being made by Jewry to achieve worlddomination and to
obliteratetheChristianfaith.
ThatsuchapurposehasexistedamongsttheJewsinthepasthasbeen
shownthroughouttheearlierchaptersofthisbook.Theconceptionofthe
Jews as the Chosen People who must eventually rule the world forms
indeedthebasisofRabbinicalJudaism.
ItiscustomaryinthiscountrytosaythatweshouldrespecttheJewish
religion, and this would certainly be our duty were the Jewish religion
founded, as is popularly supposed, solely on the Old Testament. For
althoughwedonotconsiderourselvesboundtoobservetheritualofthe
Pentateuch, we find no fault with the Jews for carrying out what they
conceivetobetheirreligiousduties.Moreover,althoughtheOldTestament
depictstheJewsasafavouredraceaconceptionwhichwebelievetohave
been superseded by the Christian dispensation, whereby all men are
declaredequalinthesightofGodneverthelessitdoescontainaverylofty
law of righteousness applicable to all mankind. It is because of their
universalitythatthebooksofJobandEcclesiastes,asalsomanypassages
inthePsalms,inIsaiah,andtheminorprophets,havemadeanundying
appealtothehumanrace.ButtheJewishreligionnowtakesitsstandonthe
TalmudratherthanontheBible."ThemodernJew,"oneofitslatestJewish
translatorsobserves,"istheproductoftheTalmud."805TheTalmuditself
accordstotheBibleonlyasecondaryplace.ThustheTalmudictreatise
Soferimsays:"TheBibleislikewater,theMischnaislikewine,andthe
Gemaraislikespicedwine."

Now, the Talmud is not a law of righteousness for all mankind, but a
meticulouscodeapplyingtotheJewalone.Nohumanbeingoutsidethe
Jewish race could possibly go to the Talmud for help or comfort. One
mightlookthroughitspagesinvainforanysuchsplendidruleoflifeas
thatgivenbytheprophetMicah:"Hehathshewedthee,Oman,whatis
good;andwhatdoththeLordrequireofthee,buttodojustly,andtolove
mercy,andtowalkhumblywiththyGod?"IntheTalmud,onthecontrary,
asDrachpointsout,"thepreceptsofjustice,ofequity,ofcharitytowards
one'sneighbour,arenotonlynotapplicablewithregardtotheChristian,
butconstituteacrimeinanyonewhowouldactdifferently....TheTalmud
expressly forbids one to save a nonJew from death, ... to restore lost
goods,etc.,tohim,tohavepityonhim."806
HowfartheTalmudhascontributedtotheantisocialtendenciesofmodern
JudaismisshownbythefactthattheKaraiteslivinginthesouthofRussia,
theonlybodyofJewswhichtakesitsstandontheBible,andnotonthe
Talmud,ofwhichitonlyacceptssuchportionsasareinaccordancewith
Bible teachinghave always shown themselves good subjects of the
RussianEmpire,andhavethereforeenjoyedequalrightswiththeRussian
peoplearoundthem.CatherinetheGreatparticularlyfavouredtheKaraites.
ThuseventheJewsarenotunanimousinsupportingtheTalmud;indeed,
aswehavealreadyseen,manyJewshaveprotestedagainstitasabarrier
betweenthemselvesandtherestofthehumanrace.
ButitisintheCabala,stillmorethanintheTalmud,thattheJudaicdream
ofworlddominationrecurswiththegreatestpersistence.TheZoharindeed
referstothisasafaitaccompli,explainingthat"theFeastofTabernaclesis
theperiodwhenIsraeltriumphsovertheotherpeopleoftheworld;thatis
whyduringthisfeastweseizetheLoulab[branchesoftreestiedtogether]
and carry it as a trophy to show that we have conquered all the other
peoples known as 'populace' and that we dominate them." 807 God is,
however,askedtoaccordtheseotherpeoplesacertainshareofblessings,
"sothatoccupiedwiththissharetheyshallnotparticipatenorminglewith
thejoyofIsraelwhenhecallsdownblessingsfromonhigh."Thesituation
maythusbecomparedwiththatofakingwho,wishingtogiveafeastto
his special friends, finds his house invaded by importunate governors
demanding admittance. "What then does the king do? He orders the
governorstobeservedwithbeefandvegetables,whicharecommonfood,

andthensitsdowntotablewithhisfriendsandhasthemostdelicious
dishesserved."808
ButthisisnothingtothefeastingthatistotakeplacewhentheMessianic
eraarrives.AfterthereturnoftheJewsfromallnationsandpartsofthe
worldtoPalestine,theMessiah,wearetoldintheTalmud,willentertain
thematagorgeousbanquet,wheretheywillbeseatedatgoldentablesand
regaledwithwinefromAdam'swinecellar.Thefirstcourseistoconsistof
aroastedoxnamedBehemoth,soimmensethateverydayiteatsupthe
grassuponathousandhills;thesecondofamonstrousfishLeviathan;the
thirdofafemaleLeviathanboiledandpickled;thefourthofagigantic
roastfowlknownasBarjuchne,ofwhichtheeggalonewassoenormous
thatwhenitfelloutofthenestitcrushedthreehundredtallcedarsandthe
whiteoverflowedthreescorevillages.Thiscourseistobefollowedupby
"themostsplendidandpompousDessert"thatcanbeprocured,including
fruit from the Tree of Life and "the Pomegranates of Eden which are
preservedfortheJust."
Attheendofthebanquet"Godwillentertainthecompanyataball";He
Himselfwillsitinthemidstofthem,andeveryonewillpointHimoutwith
hisfinger,saying:"Behold,thisisourGod:wehavewaitedforHim,we
willbegladandrejoiceinHissalvation."809
Theeighteenthcenturycommentator,whosesummaryof these passages
wequote,goesontoobserve:
ButletusseealittleafterwhatmannertheJewsaretoliveintheirancient
CountryundertheAdministrationoftheMessiah.IntheFirstPlace,the
strangeNations,whichtheyshallsuffertolive,shallbuildthemHouses
and Cities, till them Ground, and plant them Vineyards; and all this,
without so much as looking for any Reward of their Labour. These
survivingNationswilllikewisevoluntarilyofferthemalltheirWealthand
Furniture:AndPrincesandNoblesshallattendthem;andbereadyattheir
NodtopaythemallMannerofObedience;whiletheythemselvesshallbe
surrounded with Grandeur and Pleasure, appearing abroad in Apparel
glitteringwithJewelslikePriestsoftheUnction,consecratedtoGod....Ina
word,thefelicityofthisHolyNation,intheTimesoftheMessiah,willbe
such,thattheexaltedConditionofitcannotenterintotheConceptionof
Man;muchlesscanitbecouchedinhumanExpression.Thisiswhatthe
Rabbissayofit.Buttheintelligentreaderwilldoubtlesspronounceitthe

ParadiseofFools.810
Itisinterestingtonoticethatthisconceptionofthemannerinwhichthe
return to Palestine is to be carried out has descended to certain of the
moderncolonists.SirGeorgeAdamSmith,afterwatchingZionismatwork
in1918,wrote:
OnvisitingarecentlyestablishedJewishcolonyinthenortheastofthe
land,roundwhichahighwallhadbeenbuiltbythemunificentpatron,I
foundthecolonistssittinginitsshadegamblingawaythemorning,while
groupsof fellahinatapoorwagedidthecultivationforthem.Isaidthat
thiswassurelynottheintentionoftheirpatroninhelpingthemtosettleon
landoftheirown.AJewrepliedtomeinGerman:"Isitnotwritten:The
sonsofthealienshallbeyourploughmenandvinedressers?"Iknowthat
suchdelinquencieshavebecometheexceptioninJewishcolonizationof
Palestine, but they are symptomatic of dangers which will have to be
guardedagainst.811
Thefellahinmay,however,considerthemselvesluckytobeallowedtolive
atall,for,accordingtoseveralpassagesintheCabala,allthegoyimareto
besweptoffthefaceoftheearthwhenIsraelcomesintoitsown.Thusthe
ZoharrelatesthattheMessiahwilldeclarewaronthewholeworldandall
thekingsoftheworldwillendbydeclaringwarontheMessiah.But"the
HolyOne,blessedbeHe,willdisplayHisforceandexterminatethemfrom
theworld."812Then:
HappywillbethelotofIsrael,whomtheHolyOne,blessedbeHe,has
chosenfromamongstthegoyimofwhomtheScripturessay:"Theirworkis
butvanity,itisanillusionatwhichwemustlaugh;theywillallperish
whenGodvisitstheminHiswrath."AtthemomentwhentheHolyOne,
blessedbeHe,willexterminateallthegoyimoftheworld,Israelalonewill
subsist,evenasitiswritten:"TheLordalonewillappeargreatonthat
day."813
Thehopeofworlddominationisthereforenotanideaattributedtothe
Jewsby"antiSemites,"butaveryrealandessentialpartoftheirtraditions.
WhatthenoftheirattitudetoChristianityinthepast?Wehavealready
seen that hatred of the person and teaching of Christ did not end at
Golgotha,butwaskeptalivebytheRabbisandperpetuatedintheTalmud

andtheToledotYeshu.TheCabalaalsocontainspassagesreferringbothto
ChristandtoMohammedsounspeakablyfoulthatitwouldbeimpossible
toquotethemhere.
Butitwillbeurged:theJewsofWesternEuropetodayknownothingof
theCabala.Thismaybeso,yetimperceptiblytheCabalahasmouldedthe
mindoftheJew.AsamodernJewishwriterhasdeclared:
[Kabbalism] has contributed to the formation of modern Judaism, for,
withouttheinfluenceoftheKabbala,Judaismtodaymighthavebeenone
sided, lacking in warmth and imagination. Indeed, so deeply has it
penetratedintothebodyofthefaiththatmanyideasandprayersarenow
immovablyrootedinthegeneralbodyoforthodoxdoctrineandpractice.
Thiselementhasnotonlybecomeincorporated,butithasfixeditsholdon
theaffectionsoftheJewsandcannotbeeradicated.814
ItisthusnotinthelawofMosesthunderedfromSinai,notinthedryritual
oftheTalmud,butinthestupendousimaginingsoftheCabala,thatthereal
dreamsandaspirationsofJewryhavebeentransmittedthroughtheages.
BeliefinthecomingMessiahmayburnlow,butfaithinthefinaltriumph
ofIsraelovertheothernationsoftheworldstillglowsintheheartsofa
racenurturedonthishopefromtimeimmemorial.Eventhefreethinking
Jewmustunconsciouslyreacttothepromptingsofthisvastandancient
ambition.AsamodernFrenchwriterhasexpressedit:
AssuredlysectarianFreethinkersswarm,whoflatterthemselvesonhaving
borrowednothingfromthesynagogueandonhatingequallyJehovahand
Jesus. But the modern Jewish world is itself also detached from any
supernaturalbelief,andtheMessianictradition,ofwhichitpreservesthe
cult, reduces itself to considering the Jewish race as the veritable
Messiah815.
Somecolourislenttothisstatementbyanarticlewhichrecentlyappeared
intheJewishpress,inwhichitisexplainedthat,accordingtotheteaching
ofthe"LiberalJewishSynagogue,"thebeautifulpassagesinthefiftythird
chapterofIsaiahconcerning"theManofSorrowsacquaintedwithgrief,"
usually supposed by Christians to relate to the promised Messiah, are
interpretedtomodernJewishyouthasrelatingtoIsraelandsignifyingthat
Israel's "sufferingswerecaused bythesins ofothernations,"whothus
"escapedthesufferingtheydeserved."Consequently"Israelhassuffered

forthesakeofthewholeworld816."Howthisamazingpretensioncanbe
maintained in view of the perpetual denunciations of the Israelites
throughoutthewholeoftheOldTestamentisdifficulttoimagine.Ontheir
entryintoCanaantheyweredistinctlytoldbyMosesthattheLordtheir
Godhadnotgiventhem"thisgoodland"onaccountoftheirrighteousness
ortheuprightnessoftheirhearts 817;longafterwardsDanieldeclaredthat
allIsraelhadtransgressedthelawofGod 818;Nehemiahshowedthaton
accountoftheirrebellionanddisobediencetheyhadbeendeliveredintothe
handsoftheirenemies819.IsaiahspokeoftheiniquitiesofJudahinburning
words:
Ahsinfulnation,apeopleladenwithiniquity,aseedofevildoers,children
thatarecorruptors!...Washyour,makeyouclean;putawaytheevilof
yourdoingsfrombeforeMineeyes;ceasetodoevil;learntodowell,
etc.820
ThuseventheWordofGoditselfispowerlesstomitigatetheimmense
megalomania of the Jewish race. It is doubtful indeed whether by the
majorityofJewstheBibleisnowregardedasdivinelyinspired."Theten
commandmentswhich we gavetomankind821"isaphrasetypicalofthe
mannerinwhichIsraelnowarrogatestoitselfthesoleauthorshipofthe
Scriptures.ThedeificationofhumanitybytheFreemasonsoftheGrand
OrientfindsitscounterpartinthedeificationofIsraelbythemodernJew.
Itisherethatwemustsurelyseethecauseofmuchofthesufferingthe
Jewshaveenduredinthepast.Nooneofcoursewouldjustifythecruelty
with which they have frequently been treated; nevertheless to maintain
therewasnoprovocationonthepartoftheJewswouldbeabsurd.Arace
thathasalwaysconsidereditselfentitledtooccupyaprivilegedposition
amongstthenationsoftheworldmustinevitablymeetwithresentment,
andinaprimitiveageorpopulationresentmentisapttofindaventin
violenceshockingtothecivilizedmind.Moreover,torepresenttheJewsas
a gentle longsuffering people, always the victims but never the
perpetratorsofviolence,isabsolutelycontrarytohistoricfact.Inthedark
agesofthepasttheJewsshowedthemselvesperfectlycapableofcruelties
not only towards other races but towards each other. One of the first
pogroms recorded in the Christian era was carried out by the Jews
themselves. The Jewish historian Josephus describes the reign of

"lawlessnessandbarbarity"thatwasinauguratedaboutthemiddleofthe
first century A.D. by the band of assassins known as the Sicarii, who
infestedthecountryroundJerusalemand,bymeansoflittledaggersthat
theyworeconcealedbeneaththeirgarments,"slewmeninthedaytimeand
inthemidstofthecity,especiallyatthefestivalswhentheymixedwiththe
multitude." During one night raid on the small town of Engaddi they
massacredmorethansevenhundredwomenandchildren. 822AndJosephus
goesontosay:
Somehow,indeed,thatwasatimemostfertileinallmannerofwicked
practicesamongtheJews,insomuchthatnokindofvillainywasthenleft
undone;norcouldanyonesomuchasdeviseanybadthingthatwasnewif
hewished.Sodeeplyweretheyallinfected,bothprivatelyandpublicly,
andviedwithoneanotherwhoshouldrunthegreatestlengthsinimpiety
towardsGod,andinunjustactionstowardstheirneighbours,meninpower
oppressing the multitude, and the multitude earnestly endeavouring to
destroymeninpower.823
ItisfutilethentomaintainasdotheJewsandtheirfriendsfortheproJew
isfrequentlyplusroyalistequeleroithatallthefaultsofthemodernJew
aretobeattributedtobitternessengenderedbypersecution.Judaismhas
alwayscontainedanelementofcruelty824 whichfindsexpressioninthe
Talmud.ItisfromtheTalmud,notfromtheMosaiclaw,thattheinhuman
methodsofJewishslaughteringarederived.825TheTalmudlikewisegives
the most horrible directions for carrying out capital punishment,
particularlywithregardtowomen,bythemethodsofstoning,burning,
choking,orslayingwiththesword.Thevictimcondemnedtobeburntisto
haveascarf woundroundhisneck,thetwoendspulledtightlybythe
executionerswhilsthismouthisforcedopenwithpincersandalighted
stringthrustintoit"sothatitflowsdownthroughhisinwardsandshrinks
hisentrails."826
It will be said that all this belongs to the past. True, the practice here
described may be considered obsolete, but the spirit of cruelty and
intolerancethatdictateditisstillalive.Onehasonlytostudythemodern
JewishpresstorealizethepersecutiontowhichJewsaresubjectedfrom
membersoftheirownraceshouldtheyinfringeonefractionoftheJewish
code.

If,then,"themodernJewistheproductoftheTalmud,"itisherethatwe
must see the principal obstacle to Jewish progress. It is said that Isaac
Disraeli, the father of Lord Beaconsfield, gave as his reason for
withdrawing from the Synagogue that Rabbinical Judaism with its
unyieldinglawsandfetteringcustoms"cutsofftheJewsfromthegreat
familyofmankind."827 Suchasystemisindeedabsolutelyincompatible
not only with Christian teaching but with the secular ideas of Western
civilization. The attitude it adopts towards women would be in itself
sufficient tojustifythisassertion.TheJewish dailyprayer,"Blessed be
Thou,OLordourGod,Kingoftheuniverse,thatThouhasnotmademea
woman!"828isaludicrousanachronisminthepresentage.Accordingtothe
TalmudaservicecantakeplaceintheSynagogueonlyiftenpersonsare
present,whichnumberensuresthepresenceofGodintheassembly.Drach
explainshoweverthatthesepersonsmustallbemen."Ifthentherewere
ninemenandamillionwomentherecouldbenoassembly,forthereason
thatwomenarenothing.Buttherearrives[onthescene]onlyonesmall
boyofthirteenyearsandaday,atoncetherecanbeaholyassemblyand,
accordingtoourDoctors,itispermittedtoGodtobepresent829."
WhenthereforewesaythatwemustrespecttheJewishreligionwecannot,
ifweknowanythingaboutit,meanthatwerespectthatportionofitwhich
isfoundedontheRabbinicaltraditionsoftheTalmudandtheCabala,but
onlythatethicallawsetforthintheOldTestament,towhichrightliving
JewshavefaithfullyadheredandwhichislargelyinaccordwithChristian
teaching.
LetusnotforgetthatRabbinicalJudaismisthedeclaredandimplacable
enemyofChristianity.HatredofChristianityandofthepersonofChristis
not a matter of remote history, nor can it be regarded as the result of
persecution; it forms an integral part of Rabbinical tradition which
originated before any persecution of the Jews by Christians had taken
place,andhascontinuedinourcountrylongafterallsuchpersecutionhas
ended.
Itisherethatwecannotfailtodetecttheoriginofmuchofthatvirulent
antiChristianteachingthatisbeingdisseminatedinourmidsttoday.This
teachingwillbeobservedtofollowthreelines,ofwhichthecoursehas
beentracedthroughoutthisbook.TheseconsistindesecratingtheChristian
traditionbydeclaringthatChristwaseither(a)amyth,(b)apurelyhuman

teacherendowedwithsuperiorvirtueandknowledgeofnaturallaws,(c)a
crazyfanatic830 oramalefactor.Thefirsttwotheoriesare,aswehave
seen,thoseheldbysecretsocieties;thelastisessentiallyJewish.Itistrue
that there is now a movement amongst the more enlightened Jews to
recognizeJesusasagreatteacher;sofar,unfortunately,thisismetbybitter
hostilityfromtherest,andinthecurrentJewishpresscontemptuousand
evenblasphemousreferencestoChristandtheChristianfaithfrequently
occur.ThefactthathereinEngland,fornearlythreehundredyears,the
Jewshavebeenallowedtodwellinpeaceandcarryouttheirreligiousrites
unmolested,thattheyhavebeenadmittedtosociety,tomasoniclodges,
and to all offices of State and have met with increasing tolerance and
favour,hasdonenothingtomoderatethathatredofChristianityinculcated
throughoutnineteencenturiesofRabbinicalteaching.Thus,forexample,
undertheheadingof"WhatChristianityhasMeant,"wereadinamodern
Jewishperiodical:
WearethinkingofwhatChristianityasaninstitutionhasmeanttousJews.
Thetwentycenturiesofitsexistencehavebeencoevalwiththelongdrawn
tragedyoftheJew'sdispersalamongthenations....Whatkindlinessand
considerationwehavereceivedatthehandsofChristianityhasforthemost
partbeentenderedwiththelureofthebaptismalfont.Totheextentto
whichChristianity'sembodiment,theChurch,hasbeenpuissanthasthe
Jewishtragedydeepened.OnlywhenandwheretheChurchhasbeenweak
has life been tolerable for the Jew.... Hatred of the Jew, antiJewish
outburstsandantiSemiticcampaigns,aretraceabletonothingsosurelyas
toantipathytotheJewwhichhasbeeninbredbyChristianity....Thereis
thuspreciouslittleaboutwhichtheJewhasforrejoicingandgladnessin
theinstitutionofChristianity,etc.831
The most cursory study of history would reveal the falseness of this
contention.AntipathytotheJewbeganlongbeforetheChristianera;in
Egypt,Persia,and Romehebecame, whether justor not,the objectof
suspicion to rulers. The reason given by Pharaoh for oppressing the
Israeliteswasthatiftheywereallowedtogrowtoopowerfultheymight
jointhemselvestotheenemyintimeofwar 832;theEmperorsofRome
regardedthemasaturbulentelement;Mohammeddeclared:"Theiraim
willbetoabetdisorderontheearth,butGodlovethnottheabettorsof
disorder."833 Meanwhile, the antipathy shown by the "people" in every

countrywasmainlybasedoneconomicgrounds.Itwasnotsimplythe
possessionofwealthwhichaccordingtotheSocialistcreedshouldjustify
anyamountofhatredbutthemannerinwhichitwasacquiredandthe
arrogancewithwhichitwasdisplayedthatrousedpopularfeelingagainst
theJews.AnArabFakih,AbuIshakofElvira,thuswarnedhismasterof
the growing power of the Jews in Spain in the middle of the eleventh
centuryA.D.:
TheJews,contemptibleoutcasts,havebecomegreatlords,andtheirpride
andarroganceknownobounds....Takenotsuchmenforthyministers,but
abandonthemtocurses,forthewholeearthcriethoutagainstthemere
longitwillquakeandweshallallperish.Turnthineeyestootherlandsand
behold how the Jews are treated as dogs, and kept apart.... I came to
Granada,andthereIbeheldtheJewsreigning.Theyhadparcelledoutthe
provincesandthecapitalbetweenthem:everywhereoneoftheseaccursed
ruled. They collected the taxes, they made good cheer, they were
sumptuouslyclad,whileyourgarments,OMoslems,wereoldandworn
out.Allthesecretsofstatewereknowntothem;yetisitfollytoputtrustin
traitors!Whilebelieversatethebreadofpoverty,theydineddelicatelyin
thepalace....HowcanwethriveifweliveintheshadeandtheJewsdazzle
uswiththegloryoftheirpride?834
InmedivalFrancethechiefcauseforcomplaintagainsttheJewsisthatof
notworkingwiththeirhandsbutofenrichingthemselvesby"excessive
usury."InthefifteenthcenturytheStrasbourgpreacherGeylerasks:"Are
theJewsabovetheChristians?Whywilltheynotworkwiththeirhands?...
practisingusuryisnotworking.Itisexploitingotherswhilstremaining
idle."835Suchquotationsasthesemightbemultipliedadinfinitum.
To attribute the persecution of the Jews to Christianity is therefore
ludicrous.ThatinalessenlightenedagetheChurchshouldhaveadopted
rigorous measuresalthough no more rigorous than their own laws
demandedagainst thoseJewswhopractisedmagicandwitchcraftmust
appeardeplorabletothemodernmind,butsomustmanyotherphasesof
medivallife.Whythenharkbackperpetuallytothepast?IftheJews
werepersecutedinalessenlightenedage,soweremanyothersectionsof
the community. Catholics were persecuted, Protestants were persecuted,
menwereplacedinthestocksforminoroffences,scoldingwomenwere
duckedinthevillagepond.Butifallthesecrueltiesofthedarkagesareto

berememberedandperpetuatedontheplanofatribalbloodfeud,what
peacecantherebefortheworld?Thedisastrousresultsofthistendency
wereseenintheIrishIntellectuals,nourishedfrominfancyonthestoryof
Ireland'swrongs,who,insteadofsanelyfacingpresentproblems,unhinged
theirmindsbybroodingonhistoricgrievances,therebysealingtheirown
doomandplungingtheircountryintoruin.So,too,theenragedFeminists,
harkingbacktoinjusticesthathadlongceasedtoexist,embitteredtheir
livesbyproclaimingthemselvestheeternalenemiesofMan.Emerson,the
prophetofsanity,declared:"TheonlyballastIknowisarespecttothe
present hour." It is for lack of this ballast that the Jews have become
victims of a fanaticism in which Christians from a mistaken idea of
kindnesshavefrequentlyencouragedthem.Inrealitynothingismorecruel
thantoencourageinthemindsofanervousracetheideaofpersecution;
true kindness to the Jews would consist in urging them to throw off
memoriesofpastmartyrdomandtoenterhealthfullyintotheenjoymentof
their present blessings, which are the direct outcome of Christian
civilization.
LetusconsiderwhatChristianityhasinrealitydonefortheJews.Ifso
muchistobesaidaboutthepersecutionstheyhaveendured,whatofthe
extraordinaryindulgenceshownthemastheresultofChristianrespectfor
the Bible? For hundreds of years Christian school children have been
brought up on Old Testament history and Christian congregations have
listenedsympatheticallytothestoryofIsrael'ssufferingsandhopesoffinal
restoration. All the support lent to Zionism arose from this tradition.
Christianity,then,soreviledbytheJews,hasbeentheirgreatestprotection.
IfChristianitygoes,thewholetheorythattheJewswereoncetheChosen
PeoplegoeswithitasfarasGentilesareconcerned,andtheJewishrace,
divestedofitshaloofdivinefavour,willhavetobejudgedonitsown
merits.
Inourowncountry,theChosenPeopletheoryhasinfactbeencarriedto
the point of superstitiona superstition immensely advantageous to the
JewswhichconsistsininterpretingthepassageofScripturecontainingthe
promisemadetoAbraham,"Iwillblessthemthatblessthee,andcurse
themthatcurseththee,"asmeaningthatfavourshowntotheJewswho
form merelyafractionof theseed of Abrahambringswithitpeculiar
blessings.Inrealityitwouldbeeasiertoshowbyhistorythatcountriesand
rulers who have protected the Jews have frequently met with disaster.

FrancebanishedtheJewsin1394andagainin1615,anddidnotreadmit
theminlargenumberstill171519,sothattheywereabsentthroughoutthe
mostgloriousperiodinFrenchhistorythe GrandSicle ofLouisXIV
whilsttheirreturncoincidedwiththeRegency,fromwhichmomentthe
monarchy of France may be said to have declined. England likewise
banishedtheJewsin1290,anditwasduringthethreeandahalfcenturies
theyremainedinexilethatshewasknownas"MerrieEngland."Thefact
thattheirreturninforcein1664wasfollowedthenextyearbytheGreat
PlagueandtheyearafterbytheGreatFireofLondonwouldnotappearto
indicate that the Jews necessarily bring good fortune to the land that
protectsthem.Thetruthis,ofcourse,thatkindnesstoanyportionofthe
humanracebringsitsownrewardintheformofmoralimprovementinthe
individual or nation that performs it, but no more benefit attaches to
philanthropywhenexercisedtowardstheJewthantowardstheChinaman.
Iwouldurge,then,thattheJewishproblemshouldbeapproachedneither
inthespiritofsuperstitiousproSemitismnorinthebitterspiritof"anti
Semitism,"butwithasanityworthyofanenlightenedage.Toquoteagain
thewordsofBernardLazare,letusenquirewhatpart"theJew,considering
hisspirit,hischaracter,thenatureofhisphilosophyandhisreligion,"may
nowbetaking"inrevolutionaryprocessesandmovements."Isthere,then,
any evidence that there exists amongst Jewry today an organized
conspiracyhavingforitsobjectsworlddominationandthedestructionof
ChristianitysuchasthefamousProtocolsoftheEldersofZionsuggest?836
ThetheoryofaJewishworldconspiracydoesnot,ofcourse,restonthe
evidenceofProtocols.Tojudgebythepansofjoythatrangthroughthe
pressafterthepublicationofthe Times articles,onewouldimaginethat
withthesocalled"refutation"ofthisonedocumentthewholecaseagainst
the Jews had collapsed and that the "antiSemites" must be for ever
silenced.ButtheargumentsoftheJewsandtheirfriendsgofurtherthan
this; not onlydotheyclaimthatthereisnoJewish conspiracy, butno
worldplotofanykind.Thiscontentiontheyhadindeedmaintainedfrom
the beginning, and Mr. Lucien Wolf, in his earliest "refutation" of the
Protocols,deridedtheexponentsofthesecretsocietydangerasvehemently
ashederidedtheperfidiousauthoroftheJewishPeril.Itwillinfactalways
be noticed that references to the Illuminati meet with almost as much
resentmentfromtheJewishpressasallusionsofadirectly"antiSemitic"
character.Barruel,whorefusedtoincriminatetheJews,anddeMalet,who

neverreferredtothematall,aredenouncedbyMr.LucienWolfnolessas
scaremongersthanGougenotdesMousseauxorChabauty.Tosuggestthat
any Hidden Hand has ever been at work in the world is to raise
immediatelyastormofJewishprotest.
YetintelligentJewsmustbewellawarethat,whethersecretsocietieshave
contributed as much to past revolutions as these writers believed, their
existenceandtheirveryrealinfluenceisnotamatterofsurmisebutof
historicalfact.NooneeverwarnedtheBritishpublicmoredistinctlyofthe
dangertheypresentedoroftheroletheJewswereplayinginthemthan
Disraeli, whose famous words have been quoted so frequently in this
connexion:"Theworldisgovernedbyverydifferentpersonagesfromwhat
isimaginedbythosewhoarenotbehindthescenes."Whatisthisbuta
clearrecognitionoftheHiddenHand?Why,then,isDisraelinotincluded
withBarruel,Robison,deMalet,andDesMousseauxinMr.Wolf'slistof
scaremongers?IsitbecauseDisraelipointedthemoralthat,Jewsbeingso
dangerous,theyshouldbeemployed?

If, then, leading Jews persist in villifying everyone who reiterates the
warningsutteredbysoeminentamemberoftheirrace,itisinevitablethat
theyshouldcometobesuspectedofhavingsomeinterestinsuppressing
furtherrevelations.
SettingallsuchevidenceastheProtocolscompletelyaside,letusexamine
thereasons for believing inthe exisence of aJewish worldconspiracy.
Now,weknowforcertainthatthefivepowersbeforereferredtoGrand
OrientMasonry,Theosophy,PanGermanism,InternationalFinance,and
SocialRevolutionhaveaveryrealexistenceandexerciseaverydefinite
influence on the affairs of the world. Here we are not dealing with
hypothesisbutwithfactsbasedondocumentaryevidence.Weknowin
eachcasethenamesofmanyoftheleaders,theirmethodsoforganization,
theircentresofdirection,andtheaimstheyarepursuing.Butwithregard
totheJewishpowerwecannotproceedwiththesamecertainty.Wecannot
citethenamesoftheleadersorthecentresofdirection,wecannotproduce
documentaryevidenceastotheirmethodsoforganizationortheirfinal
aims.Theveryexistenceofsuchapower,inthesenseofaunitedand
organizedbodyofJewsworkingforthedestructionofChristianityandthe
existingsocialsystem,isstillamatterofspeculationandnotofknown

fact.InvestigationsintotheactivitiesofsuchgroupsastheB'naiB'rith,
PoaleZion,theJewishBund,andtheWeltverband(orJewishInternational
UnionofSocialists),mighthoweverthrowmuchlightonthisquestion.The
custom of printing their pidgin German, known as Yiddish, in Hebrew
charactersprovidestheJewswithamoreorlesssecretcodebymeansof
whichtheirideasandaspirationsareconcealedfromthegreatmassofthe
Gentiles.
WhetherthentheJewishpowerisunifiedornot,Jewsaretobefoundco
operatingwith,ifnotdirecting,allthefivepowersofwhichtheexistenceis
known. Thus Jews have long played a leading part in Grand Orient
Masonry837 andpredominateintheupper degrees. Aswehavealready
seen, Freemasonry is always said to be subversive in Roman Catholic
countries.ItwillalsobenoticedthatincountrieswhereFreemasonryis
subversive, Jews are usually less conspicuous in the revolutionary
movementthanincountrieswhereFreemasonryiseithernonexistentor
constitutional.ThusinFrancethemasonicperilismuchmoregenerally
recognizedthantheJewishperil;inItalytheFreemasonshavebeenbanned
byMussolini,buttheJewsarenotregardedbyhimasaparticulardanger;
inPortugalitwastheFreemasonsratherthantheJewswhomadetherecent
revolutions.InHungary,however,therevolutionarieswereprincipallyboth
Jews and Freemasons. On the other hand, in England, Germany, and
America, where Freemasonry is not subversive, the Jewish question is
moreapparent.AllthiswouldsuggestthateitherFreemasonryisthecover
underwhichtheJews,liketheIlluminati,prefertowork,sothatwherethe
coverisnotavailabletheyareobligedtocomeoutmoreintotheopen,or
thatGrandOrientMasonryisthedirectingpowerwhichemploysJewsas
agentsinthosecountrieswhereitcannotworkonitsownaccount.
The preponderance of Jews in the ranks of "Aurora" has already been
indicated,asalsotheinfluenceoftheJewish Cabalaintheteachingof
Theosophy and Rosicrucianism. But it is important that the latter point
shouldbefurtheremphasizedinconnexionwiththecrazeforoccultism
thatisspreadingthroughsociety.Ragonhassaid:"TheCabalaisthekeyof
alloccultsciences";thereforeinthisfieldofexperimenttheGentilemust
alwaysbeatadisadvantagewiththeJew.IndeedMr.Waite,whocertainly
cannotbesuspectedof"antiSemitism,"goessofarastosuggestthatthe
giftofceremonialmagicwas"theanswerofJewrytoChristendomasa
counterblast"to"centuriesofpersecution."838 Itwouldbewellifevery

Gentilewhohasbeentemptedtodabbleinoccultismweretorealizethis
sourceofinspiration.
TherleofJewsinsocialrevolutionandparticularlyinBolshevismhardly
needscomment.YetsincetheJewishpresshaschosentodenythislastand
veryobviousfactandstillpersistsinsettingdowntoprejudiceor"anti
Semitism"amerestatementoffacts,itmaybewelltoquotehereafew
officialstatementsonthesubjectwhichadmitofnodenial.
Firstofall,itmustberememberedthatthefounderandpatronsaintof
BolshevismwastheJewKarlMarx,andthatitwastheAnarchistBakunin,
nottheDukeofNorthumberland,whodescribedhimandhisfollowingin
the Internationale as "the GermanJew Company" and the "red
bureaucracy." It was therefore not surprising that when the "red
bureaucracy,"avowedlyfoundedonthedoctrinesofMarx,cametobeset
upinRussia,itshouldhavebeenlargelyledbyJews.Thisiswhatthe
officialBritishWhitePaperhastosayonthematter:
ExtractfromReportfromtheNetherlandsMinisteratPetrogradonthe6th
ofSeptember,1918, forwardedbySirM.Findlay,atChristiania,toMr.
Balfour:
Iconsiderthattheimmediatesuppression ofBolshevismisthegreatest
issue now before the world, not even excluding the war which is still
raging, and unless, as above stated, Bolshevism is nipped in the bud
immediately,itisboundtospreadinoneformoranotheroverEuropeand
the whole world, as it is organized and worked by Jews who have no
nationality, and whose one object is to destroy for their own ends the
existingorderofthings.*
Mr. Alston to Lord Curzon, quoting statement from British Consul at
Ekaterinburg,January23,1919:
TheBolsheviks cannolonger bedescribed asapoliticalpartyholding
extremecommunisticviews.Theyformarelativelysmallprivilegedclass
which is able to terrorize the rest of the population because it has a
monopolybothofarmsandoffoodsupplies.Thisclassconsistschieflyof
workmenandsoldiers,andincludesalargenonRussianelement,suchas
LettsandEsthoniansandJews;thelatterarespeciallynumerousinhigher
posts.

Lord Kilmarnock to Lord Curzon, quoting information given by

FrenchmanfromPetrograd,February3,1919:
The Bolsheviks comprised chiefly Jews and Germans, who were
exceedingly active and enterprising. The Russians were largely anti
Bolshevik,butwereforthemostpartdreamers,incapableofanysustained
action,whonow,morethaneverbefore,wereunabletothrowofftheyoke
oftheiroppressors.*839
Mr. Alston to Lord Curzon, forwarding Report from Consul at
EkaterinburgofFebruary6,1919:
From examination of several labourer and peasant witnesses, I have
evidencetotheeffectthatverysmallestpercentageofthisdistrictwere
proBolshevik, majority of labourers sympathizing with summoning of
ConstituentAssembly.WitnessesfurtherstatedthatBolshevikleadersdid
notrepresentRussianworkingclasses,mostofthembeingJews.
TheRev.B.S.LombardtoLordCurzon,March23,1919:
IhavebeenfortenyearsinRussia,andhavebeeninPetrogradthroughthe
wholeoftherevolution....[I]hadampleopportunityofstudyingBolshevik
methods. It originated in German propaganda, and was, and is being,
carriedoutbyinternationalJews.TheGermansinitiateddisturbancesin
ordertoreduceRussiatochaos.Theyprintedmassesofpapermoneyto
finance their schemes, the notes, of which I possess specimens, can be
easilyrecognizedbyaspecialmark.
Asoneoftheresults,thewriteradds:
Allbusinessbecameparalysed,shopswereclosed,Jewsbecamepossessors
ofmostofthebusinesshouses,andhorriblescenesofstarvationbecame
commoninthecountrydistricts.
InHungary(where,ashasbeensaid,Socialismhadbeenpropagatedby
Jewsinthemasoniclodges840)theoutbreakofBolshevismwasconducted
undertheauspicesofthesamerace.Toquoteagainanofficialdocument
on this question, the Report on Revolutionary Activities issued by a
CommitteeoftheNewYorkLegislature,headedbySenatorLusk841:
TherewasnoorganizedoppositiontoBelaKun.LikeLenin,hesurrounded

himself with commissars, having absolute authority. Of the thirtytwo

principalcommissars,twentyfivewereJews,whichwasaboutthesame
proportionasinRussia.Themostprominentoftheseformedadirectorate
offive:BelaKun,BelaVarga,JosephPogany,SigmundKunfi,andone
other.OtherleaderswereAlpariandSamuely,whohadchargeoftheRed
Terror, and carried out the torturing and executing of the bourgeoisie,
especiallythegroupsheldashostages,thesocalledcounterrevolutionists
andpeasants.842
ThesameReport publishesalistof seventysixmenprosecuted bythe
CommitteeonthechargeofcriminalanarchyinAmericaatthebeginning
of1920,ofwhichtheoverwhelmingmajorityareseenbytheirnamestobe
Jewish.843
Thesenamesspeakforthemselvesandarepublishedwithoutcommenton
theobviousnationalityofthemajorityofthepersonsconcerned.Sofar
indeeddoestheLuskCommitteeappeartohavebeenremovedfrom"anti
Semitism," that nowhere in its vast Report, running to 2008 pages, is
attention drawn to the preponderance of Jews concerned in the
revolutionary movement, except inthe one passage onHungary quoted
above. The Lusk Report must therefore be regarded as an absolutely
impartialstatementoffacts.
Inviewoftheseofficialdata,howisitpossiblefortheJewishpressto
pretend that a connexion between Jews and Bolshevism is a malicious
inventionofthe"antiSemites"?ThatallJewsarenotBolsheviksandthat
allBolsheviksarenotJewsisofcourseobvious;butthatJewsareplayinga
preponderatingpartinBolshevismitisabsurdtodeny.
AnattempthasbeenmadetoshowthatJewshavesufferedasmuchasthe
rest of the population in Russia under Bolshevism and that the Jewish
religionhasmetwiththesamehostilityastheChristianfaith.Doubtless
manyJewshavesufferedinRussia,sincehumanviolence,onceallowedto
gounchecked,isliabletoexpressitselfinvariousunexpectedways,and
theresentmentoftheRussian"proletariat"towardstheJewswasboundto
break out under Lenin as under the Tzar. Again, a campaign against
ChristianityinevitablyledinRussia,asinFrance,toacampaignagainstall
formsofreligion,andtheJewishBolsheviks,beingatheiststhemselves,
were doubtless as ready as Lambert of the French Revolution to turn
againstthebelieversinthefaiththeyhadabandoned.

YetthattheJewishreligionsufferedtothesameextentasChristianity,or
thatanyorganizedcampaignwasconductedagainstitbytheGovernment,
iseffectuallydisprovedbythelamentationsofprofessingJewsonthedeath
of Lenin.844 Indeed, as is generally recognized, the fall of the Soviet
Government must mean the downfall of the Jews from the position of
privilegetheynowoccupy.
That inour own countryJews areplaying apart inthe backgroundof
Bolshevism is againevident. The Patriot recently published aseries of
articlesgivinginsideinformationontheorganizationoftherevolutionary
movementinGreatBritain,whereitwasstatedthewholeplotwasdirected
byagroupoftwelvemen.Thisgroupinturnwascontrolledbythreeofits
members.Thesethreemen,asthekeyrevealed,wereallJews,soalsowas
"thefiendinhumanformwhosepsychologicalperversionproducedthis
plot,"845andwhowasoneofagroupinAmericaconsistingoffourJews
andaJewesswhichcontrolledanouterrevolutionarygroupofeighteen. 846
TheIrishRepublicanBrotherhoodalsomaintainedcloserelationswitha
ringofrevolutionaryJewsinAmerica.Incidentally,itiscurioustonotice
thatthelanguageemployedinsomeofthecorrespondencethathaspassed
betweenmembersofaninnergroupbearsastrongresemblancetothatof
WeishauptandhisfellowIlluminati.
JewishinfluenceinthelessextremeformsofSocialisminthiscountryis
no less apparent. If the Labour Party is solidly proGerman, it is also
solidlyproJewish.Whilstloudlyproclaimingpacifismandpressingforthe
reductionofarmaments,ithasneverutteredawordofprotestagainstthe
employmentofBritishtroopstodefendJewishinterestsagainsttheArabs
inPalestine.TheblessedwordMesopotamiamaybefreelymentionedin
connexion with the withdrawal of troops from military adventures, but
never the word Palestine. Again, the free admission of aliens and
particularlyofJewsintothiscountryhasalwaysbeenoneoftheprincipal
planks in the Labour platform. Even the Jewish capitalist meets with
indulgence at the hands of our Socialist Intellectuals, who whilst
inveighing against British owners of property, never include Jewish
millionairesintheirdiatribes.
Thismayperhapsthrowsomelightonthequestionfrequentlypropounded:
HowcanonebelievethatJewsadvocateSocialismsincetheystandtolose
everythingbyit?ThefactremainsthatmanyJewsdoadvocateit.Afterthe

recentaccessionoftheLabourPartytoofficetheJewishWorldobserved:
TheresultoftheGeneralElectioninEnglandisregardedasverygratifying
bytheHebrewandYiddishpress.TheHebrewjournalsinPalestine,as
wellastheHebrewandYiddishorgansinEuropeandAmerica,express
satisfactionatthereturntoParliamentofmenwhohaverepeatedlyassured
thepublicoftheirintentiontoadheretotheBalfourdeclaration.847
Afurtherreasonisadvancedbythe JewishCourier forrejoicingatthe
downfall of the Conservative Government, namely, that "the election
results have wiped out antiSemitic remnants in England," for "the
ConservativeGovernmentdoesincludeseveralmemberswhoarefarfrom
favourablydisposedtowardsJews."848TheindulgenceshowntotheJews
andthehonourspiledonthembyConservativestatesmenthereforeavailed
nothingtotheConservativecause,andthewelfareofthewholecountry
wassubordinatedtotheinterestsoftheJewsalone.
Itisdifficultatfirsttounderstandhowtheprogrammeofthe"Labour"
Party,evenwhencombinedwithardentproSemitism,couldhoweverbein
accord with the interests of the Jews, who have never displayed any
hostilitytowardstheCapitalistsystemwhichSocialismsetsouttodestroy.
Indeed,wefindthesameJewishpaperwhichrejoicedattheadventofthe
present Government to office offering birthday congratulations to the
richestJewinthiscountry,whosewealth,itgoesontoobservewithsome
complacency, "amounts to no less than 12,000,000 sterling, and is
constantlyincreasing,apartfromtheinterestthatitbrings,bythehuge
profitsoftheconcernsinwhichheisinterested."849
Itwouldseem,then,thatintheeyesofJewryallcapitalistsarenottobe
regardedasmonsterswhoshouldbemercilesslyexpropriated.
ButinconsideringthewaronCapitalismitisessentialtobearinmindthat
capitalistsareoftwokinds:nationalindustrialcapitalistslargelyGentiles
and usually men of brains and energy who have built up flourishing
businessesand international loanmongering capitalists, principally,
though not exclusively, Jews, who live by speculation. Whilst to the
former,socialunrestmayprovefatal,tothelatteranydisturbancesmay
provideopportunitiesforprofit.AsM.GeorgesBataulthaswellexpressed
it:
From the strictly financial point of view, the most disastrous events of

history,warsorrevolutions,neverrepresentcatastrophes;themanipulators
ofmoneyandthewarybusinessmencanmakeprofitoutofeverything,
providedtheyknowbeforehandandarewellinformed....Itiscertainthat
the Jews dispersed over all the surface of the earth ... are particularly
favourablysituatedinthisrespect.850
ItissignificanttonoticethatthecapitalistsmostattackedbytheSocialists
andPacifistsarenotthosewhomakeprofitoutofwarsandrevolutions,but
thosewhocontributetotheprosperityofthecountryandprovideworkfor
millionsofpeople.Here,then,theJewsandtheSocialistsseemtofinda
pointofagreement.Itisevident,atanyrate,thatmanyrichJewsconsider
thattheyhavenothingtofearfromthethreatenedCapitalLevyandother
featuresofexpropriation.Arewenotirresistiblyremindedofthepassagein
the Protocolswhere incidentally the Capital Levy is specifically
mentioned"Ourstheywillnottouch,becausethemomentofattackwill
beknowntousandweshalltakemeasurestoprotectourown"?
ButletusconsiderfurtherhowtheSocialistplanfor"thenationalizationof
all the means of production, distribution, and exchange" might be
reconciled even with the interests of Jewish Industrial Capitalists. The
moreweexaminethismagicformulawhichistotransformtheworldintoa
Paradisefortheworkers,themoreweshallseethatitapproximatestothe
systemofSuperCapitalism,ofwhich,asWernerSombarthasshown,the
Jewsweretheprincipalinaugurators.Socialistsarefondofexplainingthat
"Capitalism"beganwiththeintroductionofsteam;inreality,ofcourse,
Capitalism,inthesenseofwealthaccumulatedinprivatehands,hasalways
existedsincethefirstsavagemadehisstoreofwinterfood.WhatSocialists
reallymeanbyCapitalismisthemodernsystemofIndustrialism,which
tendstoconcentrateallthemeansofproductionanddistributioninthe
handsofindividualsorgroups,who,iftheyhappentobeunscrupulous,are
ablebysystematicsweatingoftheworkerandbleedingoftheconsumerto
conductoperationsonsolargeascaleastocrushallcompetitionbythe
homeworkerorthesmalltradesman.
Obviously,however,withthegrowingdemandoftheworkersforbetter
conditionsoflifeandtheincreasingsupportlenttothembyenlightened
publicopinionthispossibilitycannotcontinueindefinitely,andunlessa
violentconvulsiontakesplacethetimewillcomewhengreatindustrial
magnateswillhavetocontentthemselveswithmoderateprofitsontheir

outlay.ThusalthoughatfirstsightitmightappearthattheSuperCapitalist
mustdesiretomaintaintheexistingorderofthings,ifheisfarseeinghe
mustrealizethatprofiteeringunderpresentconditionsmustsooncease.
ItisthereforeconceivablethateventheJewishIndustrialCapitalistmay
see in the nationalization of industry a preferable alternative to the
limitationofprofitsunderprivateenterprise.Thesamefinancialacumen
andskillinmanagementwhichhasenabledhimtocontrolringsandtrusts
inthepastwouldensurehimaplaceattheheadofnationalizedindustries,
whichineffectwouldbenothingbutgigantictrustsnominallyunderState
controlbutreally,likeallStateenterprises,inthehandsofafewmen.
Under Socialism the position of these trusts would be rendered
impregnable.Forwhilstunderthepresentsystemanyindividualorgroup
maysetouttobreakatrust,nosuchcompetitionwouldbepossibleina
Statewhereprivateenterprisehadbeenmadeillegal.Themenincontrolof
nationalized industries would therefore be able to exercise absolute
authoritybothovertheworkerandtheconsumer.Further,iftheworkercan
be persuaded to accept the ultimate scheme of Communism, which is
compulsorylabourinreturnfornomonetaryremuneration,butmerelya
daily ration of food and the other necessaries of life whenever State
officials decide that he requires them, the directors of Labour, like the
overseersinaslaveplantation,willbeable,asinRussia,toimposeany
conditionstheyplease.
TheJewsmaywellhopetooccupytheseposts,notonlybecauseoftheir
aptitudefororganizationonsolargeascale,butbecausetheirinternational
relationswouldfacilitatethesaleorbarterofgoodsbetweencountries.The
cohesion which exists amongst them would speedily lead to the
monopolizationofallthehigherpostsbymembersoftheirrace.
Itisidletodismisssuchapossibilityasachimera.Thisiswhathappened
inRussiaandishappeninginGermanytoday.Here,then,wemayfind
perhapstheinnermeaningofaremarkattributedtoaprominentmemberof
the Labour Party, that under Socialism a certain wellknown Jewish
capitalistmightwellbeworth10,000ayear.Leninexpressedmuchthe
sameideawhenhesaidthattheRussianSovietRepublicmightrequirea
thousandfirstclassspecialists"todirecttheworkofthepeople,"andthat
"thesegreatest'stars'mustbepaid25,000roubleseach,"orevenfourtimes
thatsum,supposingitwerenecessarytoemployforeignspecialistsforthe
purpose.851

But the Jewish capitalists doubtless see further that in England, as in

Russia,thisconditionofthingswouldbemerelyatemporaryphase,and
that the institution of Socialism by dispossessing the present Gentile
owners of wealth and property would pave the way for a Jewish and
Germanplutocracy.InRussiawealthhasnotbeenaltogetherdestroyed;it
hassimplychangedhands,andaclassofnewrichhassprungupwhich
meetswithnohostilityfromtheprofessedadvocatesofequality.Those
Jews who see in the Christian Intelligentsia the main obstacle to their
dreamofworldpower,thereforenaturallyfindinthepromotersofclass
warfaretheirmostvaluableallies.FortheChristianIntelligentsiaisthesole
bare to the enslavement of the proletariat; most of the movements to
redressthewrongsoftheworkers,fromLordShaftesbury'sonwards,have
arisen not amongst the workers themselves, but amongst the upper or
middleclasses852;oncetheseweresweptawayanironbureaucracywould
havetheworkersattheirmercy.Idonotsaythisistheplan,butIdosay
thatsuchahypothesisprovidesareasonfortheotherwiseunaccountable
indulgencedisplayedbySocialistseverywheretowardswealthyJewsand
atthesametimeforthehugefundstheSocialistsappeartohaveattheir
disposal.
Ifbigfinanciersarenotattheirback,Irepeat:wheredoesallthemoney
comefrom?ItseemsunlikelythatitcanbederivedfromtheBritishowners
ofwealthandpropertywhomtheSocialistsareopenlyouttodispossess;
the only body of financiers which can therefore be suspected of
contributingtowardsthisendisthebodyknownas"InternationalFinance,"
whichismainly,thoughnotexclusively,Jewish.
TheinfluenceoftheJewsinallthefivegreatpowersatworkintheworld
GrandOrientMasonry,Theosophy,PanGermanism,InternationalFinance,
andSocialRevolutionisnotamatterofsurmisebutoffact.Letusnow
examinewhatparttheyareplayingintheminorsubversivemovements
enumeratedinanearlierchapter.
Freud,theinventorofthemostdangerousformofPsychoAnalysis,isa
Jew. In this connexion the eminent American neuropsychiatrist before
quotedwrites:
NotonlytheFreudtheoryofpsychoanalysisbutaconsiderablequantityof
pseudoscientific propaganda of that type has for years been emanating
fromagroupofGermanJewswholiveandhavetheirheadquartersin

Vienna. From its inception, psychoanalysis has been in Jewish hands.

Therearenothalfadozenphysiciansinthewholeworld,recognizedas
authoritiesinthisfield,whosenamesareidentifiedwiththismovement
whoarenotJews.Thismayhavebeenanaccident,butneverthelessitisa
fact.853
Ihavealreadyreferredinanearlierchaptertothequestionofdegenerate
art defined in a circular to the New York Herald as "the deification of
ugliness."854 Theoriginatorsofthiscultareheredescribedasagroupof
SatanworshippersinParis,andthedealersbywhomthemovementwas
propagated as "Germans," but we note amongst the lenders to the
exhibition at which these "works of art" were displayed several Jewish
names.OfonewellknownJewishartistacritichaswritten:
Weretheseworkstheproductofamanwhohadimperfectcontroloverhis
material,who,instumblingtowardsthelight,dweltinevitablyuponmuch
darkness,whosoughtforbeautyandfoundugliness,wholookedforpurity
andfoundfiltheventhenonemightbesilentandhopeforbetterthingsto
come.Buthere,apparently,unlessmywholereadingisludicrouslywrong,
he delights in deformity and glories in degradation.... He brings to the
worldofartanewgospel,ablackgospel,agospelinwhicheverythingis
tobeinvertedanddistorted.Whatsoeverthingsarehideous,whatsoever
things are of evil report, whatsoever things are sordid: if there be any
unhealthinessoranydegradation:thinkonthesethings.
What better rsum could be given of that tendency to perversion
denouncedbytheprophetIsaiahinthewords:"Woeuntothemthatcall
evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for
darkness"? An organ of the Jewish press, with that sense of solidarity
which always rallies Jews to the defence of their compatriots however
culpable, immediately detects in the critic's expression of opinion the
insidiousworkof"antiSemitism."AmoreenlightenedJew,Mr.FrankL.
Emanuel,however,havingcometothesupportoftheGentilecritic,the
Jewishjournalisobligedtoadmitthejusticeofhiscontentionthat"itis
lamentabletothinkoftheundueproportionofyoungJews"who"have
joinedtheRevolutionaryorsham'ModernArt'movementinthiscountry."
Thesameinfluencewillbenoticedinthecinemaworld,where,ashas
alreadybeenpointedout,historyissystematicallyfalsifiedintheinterests

ofclasshatred,andeverythingthatcantend,whilstkeepingwithinthe
presentlaw,tounderminepatriotismormoralityispresseduponthepublic.
AndthecinematradeisalmostentirelyinthehandsoftheJews.
In the drug traffic Jews are playing a prominent part both here and in
America.AneminentNewYorkdoctorwritestomeasfollows:
Members of the Federal narcotic squad attached to the Treasury
Department and having the function of enforcing the provisions of the
HarrisonActhavelongbeenconvincedthatthereisadirectrelationship
betweenRadicalismandnarcotism.Fromseventotenyearsagothiswas
thoughttobeamanifestationofpanGermanpropaganda.Activitywasand
still is greater on the part of the distributors and pedlars than is to be
accounted for by the large profits, according to their story. Curiously
enough,thetrafficlargelystoppedforseveralweeksfollowingthesigning
oftheArmistice.Inoneinstance,sevenregularlylicensedphysiciansofthe
"EastSide,"allJews,werearrestedinsuccessionduringthesummerof
1920forillegitimateuseofnarcoticprescriptions,andeveryofficeraided
had large quantities of Radical literature. Such associations are not
uncommon. As to the distribution, a recent investigation by Hearst's
Magazinedefinitelyrevealedthefactthattheillegitimatedistributorswere
almostinvariablyoftheJewishrace,andthatthepedlarswereexclusively
JewishandItalian.
Enough, then, has been said to show that, whether as agents or as
principals, Jews are playing a part in all subversive movements. A
ChristianJew,norenegadetohisracebutdeeplyconcernedfortheirfuture
development,saidrecentlytothepresentwriter:"Thegrowingmaterialism
amongstJewshasmadethemthemostdestructiveforceintheworld.The
onlyhopeforthemistoacceptChristianity.Atpresenttheyarethegreatest
dangerthatChristiancivilizationhastoface."
Therecognitionofallthesefactsdoesnotofcourseimplythebeliefthatall
Jews are destructive. Undoubtedly there are good and loyal Jews
particularly in France, where the Sephardim predominatewho have
absolutelyidentifiedthemselveswiththecountryoftheiradoption,andare
sincerelyopposedtoBolshevism.Buttheseisolatedindividualscarrylittle
weightcomparedtothemassedforcesofsubversiveJewry.Thesamething
wasobservedinAmerica,whereareportprivatelycommunicatedtothe
presentwriterin1923stated:

It appears not without significance that Radical literature is never anti

Semitic, but, on the contrary, manifestoes issued by the Executive
CommitteeoftheCommunistPartyareoftenemphaticallyproJewish.So
far as I know, there is not one exclusively Jewish organization in the
United States which is openly and consistently fighting Radicalism.
Conservative Judaism loyal to the United States and its institutions as
conceivedbyitsfoundersisunorganizedandinarticulate.
When,therefore,theJewishpressprotestsattheinjusticeofassociating
JewswithBolshevismitmaybelegitimatelyanswered:WhathasJewry
donecollectivelytodisassociateitselffromBolshevism? 855Whatofficial
protests has the Jewish press uttered against any subversive movement
except when Jewish interests were threatened? 856 Has it not, on the
contrary,denouncedallpatrioticeffortstoopposetheforcesofdestruction
wheneversucheffortsnecessitatedtheexposureofthecorruptelementsin
Jewry?
ButthesetacticshavenotbeenconfinedtotheJewishpressalone.The
generalpressofthiscountry,overwhichtheJewsexerciseanincreasing
control,hasfollowedthesamepolicy.Thisprocessofpenetrationbegan
longagoontheContinent.Asearlyas1846anEnglishmissionarytothe
JewsinBerlinwrote:
IndependentlyofthefifteenexclusivelyJewishjournalsofGermany,four
ofwhichhavemadetheirappearancesincethebeginningofthepresent
year,thedailypoliticalpressofEuropeisverymuchunderthedominionof
the Jews; as literary contributors, they influence almost every leading
Continentalnewspaper,andascontroversyseemstobetheirnativeair,and
theybringintothefieldmentalenergiesofnoordinarystamp,theyfindno
lackofemployment,andifanyliteraryopponentventurestoendeavourto
arresttheprogressofJudaismtopoliticalpower,hefindshimselfheldup
topublicnotice,andexposedtoattackafterattackinmostoftheleading
journals of Europe. Such ... was the lot of a Roman Catholic priest of
Prague,wholatelywroteapamphletentitledGuterRathfrZeitderNoth,
directed against the advancing power of Judaism. And such is my
convictionoftheextentoftheparticipationtheJewstakeintheeveryday
literatureofGermany,thatIneverpassbyacrowdedreadingroom,but
whatIthinkIseestandingbehindthescenesaJew,causingnewideasto
rise and stir, and develop themselves in the unsuspecting mind of the

Gentile.857
Dowenotseethesamemethodsbeingpursuedwithstillgreatervigourto
day?Itwouldnotbeanexaggerationtosaythatthereishardlyaperiodical
inthiscountrywiththeexceptionof ThePatriot thatdarestospeakout
freelyonquestionsinwhichtheinterestsofJewsareinvolved.
Thefactisthatthewholeeducationalaswellasthewholepoliticaland
socialworldispermeatedwithJewishinfluence.Everymaninpubliclife,
everymodernpolitician,towhateverpartyhebelongs,seemstofinditde
rigueurtohavehisconfidentialJewishadviserathiselbow,justasinthe
MiddleAgesaprincehadhisJewishdoctoralwaysathandtomixhis
potionsandensurehimlonglife.Thisappearstobeowingnotonlytothe
utilityoftheJewinfinancingprojects,buttothealmostuniversalbeliefin
thesuperiorintelligenceoftheJewishracewhichtheJewhassucceededin
implantingintheGentilemind.
Butthetimehascometoask:IstheJewreallythesupermanwehavebeen
taughttoconsiderhim?Onexaminationweshallfindthatinthepresentas
inthepasthistalentsaredisplayedprincipallyalongtwolinesfinancial
andoccult.UsurersintheMiddleAges,financierstoday,theJewshave
alwaysexcelledinthemakingandmanipulatingofwealth.Andjustasat
theformerperiodtheywerethegreatmastersofmagic,soatthepresent
timetheyarethemastersofthealmostmagicalartofgainingcontrolover
themindbothoftheindividualandofthepublic.
Yetintherealmsofliterature,philosophy,painting,sculpture,politics,and
evenscience,Jewswillbefoundfrequentlyoccupyingthesecondorthird
ranks,andonlyveryseldomthefirst.Heinemaybecitedasapoetofthe
firstorder,Spinozaasaphilosopher,Disraeliasastatesman,butitwould
bedifficulttoprolongthelist.OnthestageandinmusicalonecantheJews
besaidtohaveprovedabsolutelytheequalsoftheirGentilecompetitors.
ThefactisthattheJewisnotusuallyamanofvastconceptions,norishe
endowed with great originality of mind; his skill consists rather in
elaborating or in adapting other men's ideas and rendering them more
effectual.Thusthemostimportantinventionsofmoderntimeshavenot
beenmadebyJews,buthavebeenfrequentlyimprovedbythem.Neither
James Watt, Stephenson, Marconi, Edison, Pasteur, nor Madame Curie
were of the Jewish race, and the same might be said of nearly all the
greatestmenwhohavelivedsincethedawnofourcivilization.Napoleon

wasnotaJew,norwasShakespeare,norBacon,norSirIsaacNewton,nor
Michael Angelo, nor Leonardo da Vinci, nor Galileo, nor Dante, nor
Descartes,norMolire,norEmerson,norAbrahamLincoln,norGoethe,
nor Kant, nor even Machiavelli. Thrown on their own resources, what
civilizationweretheJewsabletocreate?WhilstEgypt,Greece,andRome
haveleftimmortalmonuments,whatmonumentshasPalestinebequeathed
totheworld?858
TheJews,then,provideahighaverageofcleverness,buthavetheyever
duringthelasttwothousandyearsproducedonemightygenius?Moreover,
against this high average of intelligence must be set an equally high
averageofmentalderangement.Onthispointwehavetheevidenceofthe
JewishEncyclopdia:
TheJewsaremoresubjecttodiseasesofthenervoussystemthantheother
races and peoples among which they dwell. Hysteria and neurasthenia
appeartobemostfrequent.Somephysiciansoflargeexperienceamong
Jewshaveevengonesofarastostatethatmostofthemareneurasthenic
andhysterical.ToblerclaimsthatalltheJewishwomeninPalestineare
hysterical; and Raymond says that in Warsaw, Poland, hysteria is very
frequently met with among both Jewish men and Jewish women. The
Jewishpopulationofthatcityaloneisalmostexclusivelytheinexhaustible
source for the supply of hysterical males for the clinics of the whole
Continent (L'Etude des Maladies du Systme Nerveux en Russie). As
regardsAustriaandGermany,thesameneurotictaintoftheJewshasbeen
emphasizedbyKrafft,Ebbing,etc....InNewYorkithasbeenshownby
Collins that among 333 cases of neurasthenia which came under his
observation,morethan40percent,wereofJewishextraction,etc.859
The same American neuropsychiatrist already quoted attributes the
predominanceofJewsintherevolutionarymovementinAmericalargelyto
thiscause:
Anarchistshavebeendevelopedlargelyfromthecriminalclasses,anda
beliefinanarchy, perse,isapsychopathicmanifestation.Astudentof
anarchy, therefore, would not only be obliged to cover the field of
criminology,butitsmoresignificantandimportantbackground,psycho
pathology.Someanarchistsareactuallyinsane,whileothersshowmarked
psychologicaldeficiencies.Underourlawsastheyarenowframed,they
cannot be restrained unless they commit acts of violence. As it is, our

asylumsarefilledwiththisclass,andthatintroducesanotherphaseofthe
matter.OurasyluminsanearelargelyrecruitedfromtheJewishrace,at
least recruited in tremendous disproportion to their number in the
population.Thefactthattherevolutionarymovementissolargelymadeup
ofJewishelementsfurnishesaninterestingconfirmationofwhatIhave
said.
The JewishWorld,recentlycommentingonthe"generallyadmitted"fact
that"thepercentageofmentaldisordersamongJewsismuchgreaterthan
amongnonJews,"asks:"Isthecauseinherent,thatistosay,istherea
racial disposition towards degeneracy, or is itthe result of theexternal
conditionsandcauses?"Thewritergoesontorefertoanarticleinthe
ZukunftwhichsupportstheviewthattheterribleexperiencesoftheJewsin
theMiddleAgeshaveaffectedtheirnervoussystem,andthereforethatthe
cause of mental derangement amongst them "is not due to racial
disposition,isnotanethnicprinciple,butistheresultofthetragiclotof
theJewishpeople."860Itmightperhapsbetracedmoresurelytothehabit
ofbroodingonthattragiclot.Atanyrate,itiscurioustonoticethatthetwo
symptomsrecognizedinthefirststagesof"generalparalysisoftheinsane,"
themaniathatoneistheobjectofpersecutionand"exaltedideas"(known
in France as the folie des grandeurs), are the two obsessions that the
TalmudandtheCabalawiththeirdreamsofworlddominationunderan
avengingMessiahhaveinculcatedinthemindoftheJew.
Butwhateverarethecausesofthisneurosis,itissurelyundesirablethata
racewhichexhibitsitshouldbeallowedtocontrolthedestiniesofthe
British Empire or indeed of any country. If "all the Jewish women in
Palestinearehysterical,"presumablymanyoftheirmenkindsufferfrom
thesamedisability,whichcertainlydoesnotpromisewellfortheluckless
Arabwhoistolivebeneaththeirsway.Howmuchofthetroublethathas
occurredalreadyinPalestinemaybeattributedtothiscauseitisimpossible
to know. The increasing number of Jews in positions of authority in
Englandpresents,however,afargreatersubjectforalarm.JewsandArabs
areatanyratebothSemitesandmaybeexpectedtohavecertainideasin
common,buttoplaceahighlycivilizedAryanraceunderSemiticcontrol
is another matter. The time has come for every Briton to ask himself
whetherheseriouslydesirestoseethetraditionsofhiscountry,thosegreat
traditionsofhonour,integrity,andjusticewhichhavemadethenameof

Englandgreat,replacedbyOrientalstandards.Idonotsaythatthereareno
honourableanduprightJews,butIdomaintainthatthespiritoffairplay
whichistheessenceoftheBritishcharacterisnotthecharacteristicofthe
Jewishraceingeneral.Thecompleteabsenceofthisspiritshowninthe
attemptsofagitatorstosuppressfreespeechduringelectionscannotbe
attributed to English workingmenwhose "sporting" instinct is highly
developedand testifies to the alien character of the socalled Labour
movement.IfEnglandlosesthespiritoffairplay,shewillhavelosther
mostpricelessnationalheritage.
Conservatism,whichhasalways stoodforthesegreattraditions,allows
itselftobehypnotizedbythememoryofDisraeliandacceptshisdictum
that "the natural tendency of the Jews is to Conservatism"hence the
advisability of placing Jews in control of its interests. The late Mr.
Hyndmansawfurtherwhenhewarnedusthat"thosewhoareaccustomed
tolookuponallJewsasessentiallypracticalandconservative,ascertain,
too,toenlistonthesideoftheprevailingsocialsystem,willbeobligedto
reconsidertheirconclusions."861 Thecausesoftherecent dbcle ofthe
ConservativeGovernmentarestillobscure,butthefactremainsthatitwas
preciselyatamomentwhenConservativeorganizationhadpassedlargely
intoJewishhandsthatConservatismmetwiththemostastoundingdisaster
inthewholeofitshistory.IfthemannerinwhichConservativepropaganda
was conducted at this moment was an example of Jewish efficiency,it
mightbewelltoconsiderwhetheronafutureoccasionthetaskshouldnot
beconfidedintothehandsofsimpleBritons.
Theonlyeffectual wayofcombatingSocialismistoshowupthealien
influences behind it. As long as the working man believes it to be the
outcomeofagenuineBritishlabourmovement,hewillturnadeafearto
allwarningsandantiSocialistpropagandawillmerelyservetodrivemore
recruitsintotheSocialistcamp.Butlethimoncesuspectthatheisbeing
madethetoolofforeignintrigue,andallhisnationalfeelingwillassert
itself.Wehaveonlytoaskhimwhetherhewantshisworktakenfromhim
bytheimportofaliengoods,hishousingaccommodationappropriatedby
alien immigrants, finally to make him understand who are the people
behindthescenesadvocatingapolicysodisastroustohistrueinterests,in
ordertogainhissupport.TheSecretServicehasoverwhelmingevidence
onthis last point,which under a Conservative Government might have
beenmadepublic,butunseeninfluencesinhighplaceshaveordainedits

suppression. The slogan "Britain for the Britons," that would form the
strongestcounterblasttothefalseslogansofSocialism,hasbeenbarred
from Conservative platforms and the very word "alien" avoided lest it
shouldoffendJewishsusceptibilities.ThusoutofdeferencetotheJews,
Conservatismallowsitsmostpowerfulweapontorustinitsarmoury.
InrealitythesetacticsavailnothingtotheConservativecause.Thegreat
weightofJewrywillneverbethrownintothescaleoftrueConservatism;
only in so far as Conservatism abandons its patriotic traditions and
compromises with the forces of Internationalism will it win any
considerableJewishsupport.Wehavebuttofollowthecommitmentson
currentpoliticsintheJewishpressinordertorealizethattheonlystandard
bywhichtheJewsjudgeofanypoliticalpartyisthemeasureinwhichit
willconferexclusiveadvantagesontheirownrace.TheJewishquestion,
therefore,doesnotturnonwhethertheJewsshallbeaccordedeverywhere
equalrightswiththerestofmankind,butwhethertheyshallbeplaced
above the law, whether they shall be allowed to occupy everywhere a
privilegedposition.862 Nothinglesswillsatisfythem,andanyattemptto
opposethisclaimwillalwaysbemetbythemwiththecryof"persecution."
Further,thispositionofprivilegerepresentstoasectionofJewrymerelya
stage on the road to worlddomination. For if, as we have seen by
documentaryevidence,thisplanhasalwaysexistedinthepast,isitlikely
that it has been abandoned at the very moment which seems most
propitiousforitsrealization?Thetrendofpresenteventsandthetoneof
theJewishpresscertainlydonotwarrantanysuchconclusion.
Tosumup,then,IdonotthinkthattheJewscanbeprovedtoprovidethe
solecauseofworldunrest.Inordertoestablishthiscontentionweshould
beobligedtoshowtheJewstohavebeentheauthorsofeverypastsocial
convulsioninthehistoryofmoderncivilization,todiscovertheirinfluence
behindthehereticalsectsofIslam,asbehindtheBavarianIlluminatiand
theAnarchistsofRussia.Intheabsenceofanysuchconclusiveevidence
wemustthereforerecognizetheexistenceofotherdestructiveforcesat
workintheworld.
ButthisisnottounderratetheimportanceoftheJewishperil.Althoughthe
existenceofaninnercircleof Masonic"Elders"remains problematical,
Jewryinitself constitutes themosteffectualFreemasonryintheworld.
Whatneedofinitiations,oroaths,orsigns,orpasswordsamongstpeople
whoperfectlyunderstandeachotherandareeverywhereworkingforthe

same end? Far more potent than the sign of distress that summons
Freemasonstoeachother'saidatmomentsofperilisthecalloftheblood
that rallies the most divergent elements in Jewry to the defence of the
Jewishcause.
The old complaint of the French merchants already quoted would thus
appeartobejustified,that"theJewsareparticlesofquicksilver,whichat
the least slant run together into a block." One must therefore not be
deceivedbythefactthattheyoftenappeardisunited.Theremaybe,and
indeedis,verylittleunityamongstJews,butthereisimmensesolidarity.A
Jew named Morel, referring to the persecution of the converted Rabbi
DrachbytheJews,observes:
Whatcanthewisestmeasuresoftheauthoritiesofallcountriesdoagainst
thevastandpermanentconspiracyofapeople which,likeanetworkas
vastasitisstrong,stretchedoverthewholeglobe,bringsitsforcetobear
whereveraneventoccursthatintereststhenameofIsraelite?863
ItisthissolidaritythatconstitutestherealJewishPerilandatthesametime
provides the real cause of "antiSemitism." If in a world where all
patriotism, all national traditions, and all Christian virtues are being
systematicallydestroyedbythedoctrinesofInternationalSocialismone
racealone,aracethatsincetimeimmemorialhascherishedthedreamof
worldpower,isnotonlyallowedbutencouragedtoconsolidateitself,to
maintainallitsnationaltraditions,andtofulfilallitsnationalaspirationsat
theexpenseofotherraces,itisevidentthatChristiancivilizationmustbe
eventuallyobliterated.ThewaveofantiJewishfeelingthatduringthelast
fewyearshasbeenpassingoverthiscountryhasnothingincommonwith
theracialhatredthatinspiresthe"antiSemitism"ofGermany;itissimply
theanswertoapretensionthatlibertylovingBritonswillnotadmit.Those
ofuswho,sacrificingpopularityandmonetarygain,daretospeakouton
thisquestionhavenohatredinourhearts,butonlyloveforourcountry.
We believe that not only our national security but our great national
traditionsareatstake,andthatunlessEnglandawakensintimeshewill
pass under alien domination and her influence as the stronghold of
Christiancivilizationwillbelosttotheworld.

Conclusion
We have now followed the course of associations working throughout
nineteen centuries to undermine social and moral order and above all
Christiancivilization.Wehavealsoseenthatalthoughontheonehandthe
unholyspiritofdestructionandontheotherthenaturalspiritofrevolt
againstoppressionhavealwaysexistedindependentlyofanyorganization,
it is to secret societies using and organizing these forces that the
revolutionarymovementhasoweditssuccess.Further,wehaveconsidered
thepossibilitythatbehindbothopenandsecretsubversivesocietiesthere
mayexistahiddencentreofdirection,andfinallywehaveobservedthatat
thepresenttimemanylinesofinvestigationrevealaconnexionbetween
these groups and the Grand Orient, or rather with an invisible circle
concealedbehindthatgreatmasonicpower.Atthesametimethiscircleis
clearlynotFrenchincharactersinceeverywheretheactivitiesofWorld
Revolution are directed against France and England but seldom against
GermanyandneveragainsttheJews.Itwouldnotbeanexaggerationto
saythatnosubversivemovementintheworldtodayiseitherproFrench,
proBritish,or"antiSemitic."WemustconcludethenthatifonePower
controlstherestitiseitherthePanGermanPower,theJewishPoweror
whatwecanonlycallIlluminism.
Thislasthypothesisisonethatdeservesseriousconsideration.Inthelight
ofourpresentknowledgeitdoesnotappearimpossiblethatifaninner
circleofWorldRevolutionexistsitconsistsofapurelyInternationalgroup
of men whose aim is that of Weishauptthe destruction of the present
systemofsociety.Thatsuchanaimcanbeseriouslyentertainedisshown
bythefactthatitisopenlyproclaimedbyawholeschoolofwritersand
thinkersrangingfromgentleIdealiststoferociousAnarchistswho,whilst
widelydifferingastomethodsandtheultimateendstobeattained,are
agreedonthecommonpurposeexpressedbyRabauddeSainttiennein
the words: "Everything, yes, everything must be destroyed, since
everythingmustberemade."
Itisidletosaythatsoinsaneaprojectcanpresentnodangertotheworld;

thefactremainsthatanincreasingnumberofpeopleregarditwithperfect
equanimity. The phrase: "All civilizations have passed away; ours will
doubtlesspassawaylikewise,"iscontinuallytobeheardonthelipsof
apparently sane men and women who, whether they advocate such an
eventuality or not, seem prepared to accept it in a spirit of complete
fatalismandtoputupnoresistance.Thepointtheyignoreisthatwhen
civilizationexistedonlyinisolatedspotsontheearth'ssurfaceitmightpass
awayinonespotonlytospringtolifeinanother,butnowthatcivilization
isworldwidethedreamofareturntonatureandthejoysofsavagery
conjured up by Rousseau and Weishaupt can never be realized. Yet if
civilization in a material sense cannot be destroyed, it is none the less
possible totakethesoul outof it,toreduce ittoadeadandheartless
machine without human feelings or divine aspirations. The Bolsheviks
continuetoexistamidsttelephones,electriclight,andotheramenitiesof
modernlife,buttheyhavealmostkilledthesoulofRussia.Inthissense
then civilization may pass away, not as the civilizations of the ancient
worldpassedaway,leavingonlydesertsandsandcrumblingruinsbehind
them,butvanishingimperceptiblyfrombeneaththeoutwardstructureof
ourexistinginstitutions.Hereisthefinalgoalofworldrevolution.
If, then, one inner circle exists, composed of Illuminati animated by a
purelydestructivepurposeitisconceivablethattheymightfindsupportin
thoseGermanswhodesiretodisintegratethecountriesoftheAllieswitha
viewtofutureconquests,andinthoseJewswhohopetoestablishtheir
empireontheruinsofChristiancivilizationhencethesuperborganization
and the immense financial resources at the disposal of the world
revolutionaries. On the other hand it may be that the hidden centre of
direction consists in a circle of Jews located in the background of the
Grand Orient, or perhaps, like the early nineteenthcentury Illuminati,
locatednowherebutworkinginaccordandusingbothPanGermansand
GentileIlluminatiastheirtools.
OnthispointIthinkitwouldbedangerousatpresenttodogmatize.But
thattheproblemiscapableofelucidationIhavenodoubtwhatever.Ifthe
SecretServicesoftheworldhadchosentocoordinateandmakepublicthe
factsintheirpossessionthewholeplotmightlongsincehavebeenlaid
bare. A "Department for the Investigation of Subversive Movements"
shouldhavehadaplaceineveryorderedgovernment.Thismighthave
beencreatedbytherecentConservativeGovernmentinEngland,butthe

samemysteriousinfluencethatprotectedtheenemyduringtheGreatWar
has throughout prevented disclosures that would have enlightened the
countryontherealnatureoftheperilconfrontingit.Inthepresentstateof
European politics the only course open to those who would save
civilizationistoactindependentlyofgovernments,andformacounter
organization in each country with unofficial bureaux of information
maintaining relations with each other, yet each retaining its national
character.
As far as this country is concerned I am convinced that only a great
nationalmovementcansaveusfromdestructionamovementinwhich
men of all classes and above all of the workingclass will take part.
FascismotriumphedinItaly,becauseitwasnot,asithasbeenabsurdly
represented, a reactionary movement, but because it was essentially
democraticandprogressive,becausebyappealingtothenoblestinstinctsin
humannature,topatriotismandselfsacrifice,itralliedallelementsina
disorganizedanddisunitednationaroundthestandardofacommoncause.
Onecannotbringaboutanygreatmovementwithoutfirstkindlingasacred
fireintheheartsofmen;onecannotmovemassesofpeoplemerelyby
appealingtoselfinterest;theymusthaveacausetofightfor,acausethatis
notentirelytheirown.Socialism,whilstenlistingalargeproportionofits
followingbyappealingtotheirbaserinstincts,hasnevertheless,byitsfalse
idealsandpromises,beenabletokindleafireinmanygeneroushearts,and
topersuadedeludedenthusiaststhattheyareworkingforthewelfareof
humanity. The only way to combat Socialism is to create counter
enthusiasmforatrueideal.
YetevenMussolinifoundthatapurelysecularidealwasnotenough,and
that the spirit of religious fervour was necessary to defeat the spirit of
materialismanddestruction.Forbehindtheconcreteforcesofrevolution
whether PanGerman, Judaic, or Illuministbeyond that invisible secret
circlewhichperhapsdirectsthemall,istherenotyetanotherforce,still
morepotent,thatmustbetakenintoaccount?Inlookingbackoverthe
centuriesatthedarkepisodesthathavemarkedthehistoryofthehuman
race from its earliest originsstrange and horrible cults, waves of
witchcraft,blasphemies,anddesecrationshowisitpossibletoignorethe
existenceofanOccultPoweratworkintheworld?Individuals,sects,or
racesfiredwiththedesireofworlddomination,haveprovidedthefighting
forcesofdestruction,butbehindthemaretheveritablepowersofdarkness

ineternalconflictwiththepowersoflight.

Appendix A:

Jewish Evidence on the Talmud

ThedenunciationoftheTalmudbytheJewPfefferkornin1509andtheex
RabbiDrachin1844havebeenquotedinthecourseofthisbook.Graetz
however, in his History of the Jews, quotes an earlier incident of this
kind.864 InthethirteenthcenturyaconvertedJewandformerTalmudist
Donin who, on his baptism, assumed the name of Nicholas, presented
himself before the Pope, Gregory IX, "and brought charges against the
Talmud,sayingthatitdistortedthewordsofHolyWrit,andintheAgadic
portionsofitthereweretobefounddisgracefulrepresentationsofGod,"
that it containedmanygross errorsandabsurdities, further that"itwas
filled with abuse against the founder of the Christian religion and the
Virgin.DonindemonstratedthatitwastheTalmudwhichpreventedthe
JewsfromacceptingChristianity,andthatwithoutittheywouldcertainly
have abandoned their state of unbelief." Again "he stated that the
Talmudicalwritingstaughtitwasameritoriousactiontokillthebestman
amongtheChristians865...thatitwaslawfultodeceiveaChristianwithout
anyscruple; thatitwaspermittedtoJewstobreakapromisemadeon
oath."TheseGraetzdescribesaslyingcharges.
The Jews were accordingly ordered by the Pope to hand over all their
copiesoftheTalmudtotheDominicansandFranciscansforexamination,
andiftheirjudgmentshouldcorroboratethechargesofNicholasDonin,
theyweretoburnthevolumesoftheTalmud(June9,1239).
InFranceGraetzgoesontorelatethat"thepriestriddenandweakminded
Louis IX"that is to say, Saint Louispursued the same course. "The
Talmudwasputonitstrial.FourdistinguishedRabbisofNorthFrance
werecommandedbytheKingtoholdapublicdisputationwithNicholas,
eithertorefutetheimputationslevelledagainsttheTalmud,ortomake
confessionoftheabuseagainstChristianityandtheblasphemiesagainst
Godthatitcontained."

Itisimpossibletoimagineafairerdecision,andthequeenmother,Blanche
deCastille,wascarefultoassurethefirstwitnesssummonedthatifthe
livesoftheRabbiswereindangershewouldprotectthemandthathewas
onlyrequiredtoanswerthequestionsthatwouldbeaskedofhim.Now,
there would have been nothing simpler than for the Rabbis to admit
honestlythattheseoffensivepassagesexisted,thattheyhadbeenwritten
perhaps in moments of passion in a less enlightened age, that they
recognizedtheindelicacyofinsultingthereligionofthecountryinwhich
theylived,andthatthereforesuchpassagesshouldhenceforthbedeleted.
Butinsteadofadoptingthisstraightforwardcourse,whichmighthaveput
an end for ever to attacks on the book they held sacred, the Rabbis
proceededtodenytheexistenceofthe"allegedblasphemousandimmoral
expressions"andtodeclarethat"theodiousfactsrelatedintheTalmud
concerning a Jesus, the son of Pantheras, had no reference to Jesus of
Nazareth,buttooneofasimilarnamewhohadlivedlongbeforehim."
Graetz,whoadmitsthatthiswasanerrorandthatthepassagesinquestion
didrelatetotheJesusoftheChristians,representstheRabbisasbeing
merely"misled"onthequestion.ButtheKing,whowasnotmisledbythe
Rabbis,orderedallcopiesoftheTalmudtobeburnt,andinJune1242
thesewerecommittedtotheflames.866
TheTalmud,however,continuedtoexist,anditwasnotuntil1640that,as
wehavealreadyseen,theoffendingpassagesagainstChristwereexpunged
by the Rabbis as a measure of expediency. Now that they have been
replaced,nofurtherattemptismadetodenythattheyrefertothefounder
ofChristianity.AsfarasIamawaretheyarenotincludedinanyEnglish
translationoftheTalmud,butmaybefoundinanEnglishversionofDr.
GustavH.Dalman'sbook,JesusChristusimTalmud(1891).

Appendix B:

The Protocols of the Elders of

Zion
Contrary to the assertions of certain writers, I have never affirmed my
beliefintheauthenticityoftheProtocols,buthavealwaystreateditasan
entirelyopenquestion.867 TheonlyopiniontowhichIhavecommitted
myself is that, whether genuine or not, the Protocols do represent the
programmeofworldrevolution,andthatinviewoftheirpropheticnature
andoftheirextraordinaryresemblancetotheprotocolsofcertainsecret
societiesinthepast,theywereeithertheworkofsomesuchsocietyorof
someoneprofoundlyversedintheloreofsecretsocietieswhowasableto
reproducetheirideasandphraseology.
ThesocalledrefutationoftheProtocolswhichappearedinthe Times of
August1922,tendstoconfirmthisopinion.Accordingtothesearticlesthe
ProtocolswerelargelycopiedfromthebookofMauriceJoly, Dialogues
auxEnfersentreMachiaveletMontesquieu,publishedin1864.Letitbe
said at once that theresemblance between thetwo works could notbe
accidental,notonlyarewholeparagraphsalmostidentical,butthevarious
pointsintheprogrammefolloweachotherinpreciselythesameorder.But
whether Nilus copied from Joly or from the same source whence Joly
derivedhisideas isanotherquestion.ItwillbenoticedthatJolyinhis
prefaceneverclaimedtohaveoriginatedtheschemedescribedinhisbook;
on the contrary he distinctly states that it "personifies in particular a
politicalsystemwhichhasnotvariedforasingledayinitsapplication
sincethedisastrousandalas!toofaroffdateofitsenthronement."Could
thisreferonlytothegovernmentofNapoleonIII,establishedtwelveyears
earlier? Or might it not be taken to signify a Machiavellian system of
governmentofwhichNapoleonIIIwassuspectedbyJolyatthismomentof
beingtheexponent?WehavealreadyseenthatthissystemissaidbyM.de
Mazres,inhisbookDeMachiaveletdel'influencedesadoctrinesurles

opinions,lesmoeursetlapolitiquedelaFrancependantlaRvolution,
publishedin1816,tohavebeeninauguratedbytheFrenchRevolution,and
tohavebeencarriedonbyNapoleonIagainstwhomhebringsprecisely
thesameaccusationsofMachiavellismthatJolybringsagainstNapoleon
III."TheauthorofThePrince,"hewrites,"wasalwayshisguide,"andhe
goesontodescribethe"parrotcriesplacedinthemouthsofthepeople,"
the "hired writers, salaried newspapers, mercenary poets and corrupt
ministers employed to mislead our vanity methodically"all this being
carriedonby"thescholarsofMachiavelliundertheordersofhiscleverest
disciple."Wehavealreadytracedthecourseofthesemethodsfromthe
Illuminationwards.
Now precisely at the moment when Joly published his Dialogues aux
Enfersthesecretsocietieswereparticularlyactive,andsincebythisdatea
numberofJewshadpenetratedintotheirranksawholecropofliterary
effortsdirectedagainstJewsandsecretsocietiesmarkedthedecade.Eckert
withhisworkonFreemasonryin1852hadgiventheincentive;Crtineau
Jolyfollowedin1859with L'EgliseRomaineenfacedelaRvolution,
reproducingthedocumentsoftheHauteVenteRomaine;in1868camethe
bookoftheGermanantiSemiteGoedsche,andinthefollowingyearona
higherplanetheworkofGougenotDesMousseaux,LeJuif,leJudasme,
etlaJudasationdesPeuplesChrtiens.Meanwhilein1860the Alliance
IsraliteUniverselle hadarisen,havingforitsultimateobject"thegreat
workofhumanity,theannihilationoferrorandfanaticism,theunionof
human society in a faithful and solid fraternity"a formula singularly
reminiscent of Grand Orient philosophy; in 1864 Karl Marx obtained
controlofthetwoyearold"InternationalWorkingMen'sAssociation,"by
whichanumberofsecretsocietiesbecameabsorbed,andinthesameyear
BakuninfoundedhisAllianceSocialeDmocratiqueontheexactlinesof
Weishaupt'sIlluminism,andin1869wrotehisPolmiquecontrelesJuifs
(orEtudesurlesJuifsallemands)mainlydirectedagainsttheJewsofthe
Internationale.Thesixtiesofthelastcenturythereforemarkanimportant
erainthehistoryofthesecretsocieties,anditwasrightinthemiddleof
thisperiodthatMauriceJolypublishedhisbook.
Now it will be remembered that amongst the sets of parallels to the
Protocols quoted byme in World Revolution, twowere taken fromthe
sourcesabovequotedthedocumentsoftheHauteVenteRomaineandthe
programmeofBakunin'ssecretsociety,theAllianceSocialeDmocratique.

MeanwhileMr.LucienWolfhadfoundanotherparalleltotheProtocolsin
Goedsche'sbook."TheProtocols,"Mr.Wolfhadnohesitationinasserting,
"are,inshort,anamplifiedimitationofGoedsche'shandiwork" 868andhe
wentontoshowthat "Nilusfollowedthispamphletveryclosely."The
ProtocolswerethendeclaredbyMr.Wolfandhisfriendstohavebeen
completelyandfinallyrefuted.
But alas for Mr. Wolfe's discernment! The Times articles came and
abolished the whole of his carefully constructed theory. They did not,
however,demolishmine;onthecontrary,theysuppliedanotherandavery
curiouslinkinthechainofevidence.Forisitnotremarkablethatoneof
thesetsofparallelsquotedbymeappearedinthesameyearasJoly'sbook,
andthatwithinthespaceofnineyearsnolessthanfourparallelstothe
Protocolsshouldhavebeendiscovered?Letusrecapitulatetheeventsof
thisdecadeintheformofatableandtheproximityofdateswillthenbe
moreapparent:
Crtineau Joly's book published containing documents of Haute
VenteRomaine(parallelsquotedbyme).
1860. AllianceIsraliteUniversellefounded.
1864.1stInternationaletakenoverbyKarlMarx.
AllianceSocialeDmocratiqueofBakuninfounded(parallelsquoted
byme).
MauriceJoly's DialogueauxEnfers published(parallelsquotedby
Times).
1866. 1stCongressofInternationaleatGeneva.
1868. Goedsche'sBiarritz(parallelsquotedbyMr.LucienWolf).
1869.GougenotDesMousseaux'sLeJuif,etc.
Bakunin'sPolmiquecontrelesJuifs.
It will be seen, then, that at themoment when Maurice Jolywrote his
Dialogues,theideastheyembodiedwerecurrentinmanydifferentcircles.
Itisinteresting,moreover,tonoticethattheauthorsofthelasttwoworks
referred to above, the Catholic and Royalist Des Mousseaux and the
Anarchist Bakunin, between whom it is impossible to imagine any
connexion,bothinthesameyear denouncedthegrowingpower of the
JewswhomBakunindescribedas"themostformidablesect"inEurope,
andagainassertedthataleakageofinformationhadtakenplaceinthe
1859.

secretsocieties.Thusin1870Bakuninexplainsthathissecretsocietyhas
beenbrokenupbecauseitssecretshavebeengivenaway, 869andthathis
colleagueNetchaeffhasarrivedattheconclusionthat"inordertofounda
seriousandindestructiblesocietyonemusttakeforabasisthepolicyof
Machiavelli."870 MeanwhileGougenotDesMousseauxhadrelatedin Le
Juif, that in December 1865 he had received a letter from a German
statesmansaying:
Sincetherevolutionaryrecrudescenceof1848,Ihavehadrelationswitha
Jewwho,fromvanity,betrayedthesecretofthesecretsocietieswithwhich
hehadbeenassociated,andwhowarnedmeeightortendaysbeforehand
ofalltherevolutionswhichwereabouttobreakoutatanypointofEurope.
I owe to him the unshakeable conviction that all these movements of
"oppressedpeoples,"etc.,etc.,aredevisedbyhalfadozenindividuals,who
give their orders to the secret societies of all Europe. The ground is
absolutelyminedbeneathourfeet,andtheJewsprovidealargecontingent
oftheseminers....871
ThesewordswerewrittenintheyearaftertheDialoguesauxEnferswere
published.
ItisfurtherimportanttonoticethatJoly'sworkisdatedfromGeneva,the
meetingplace for all the revolutionaries of Europe, including Bakunin,
who was there in the same year, and where the first Congress of the
Internationale led by Karl Marx was held two years later. Already the
revolutionary camp was divided into warring factions, and the rivalry
betweenMarxandMazzinihadbeensupersededbythestrugglebetween
MarxandBakunin.Andallthesemenweremembersofsecretsocieties.It
isbynomeansimprobablethenthatJoly,himselfarevolutionary,should
duringhisstayinGenevahavecomeintotouchwiththemembersofsome
secret organization,whomayhavebetrayedtohimtheirownsecretor
thoseofarivalorganizationtheyhadreasontosuspectofworkingunder
thecoverofrevolutionarydoctrinesforanulteriorend.Thustheprotocols
ofasecretsocietymodelledonthelinesoftheIlluminatiortheHaute
VenteRomainemayhavepassedintohishandsandbeenutilizedbyhimas
an attack on Napoleon who, owing to his known connexion with the
Carbonari, might have appeared to Joly as the chief exponent of the
Machiavellian art of duping the people and using them as the lever to
powerwhichthesecretsocietieshadreducedtoasystem.

ThiswouldexplainMauriceJoly'smysteriousreferencetothe"political
systemwhichhasnotvariedforasingledayinitsapplicationsincethe
disastrous and alas! too faroff date of its enthronement." Moreover, it
wouldexplaintheresemblancebetweenalltheparallelstotheProtocols
fromthewritingsoftheIlluminatiandMirabeau'sProjetdeRvolutionof
1789onwards.Forifthesystemhadnevervaried,thecodeonwhichitwas
foundedmusthaveremainedsubstantiallythesame.Further,ifithadnever
varieduptothetimewhenJolywrote,whyshouldithavevariedsincethat
date?Therulesoflawntennisdrawnupin1880wouldprobablybeara
strongresemblancetothoseof1920,andwouldalsoprobablyfolloweach
otherinthesamesequence.Thedifferenceswouldoccurwheremodern
improvementshadbeenadded.
Might not the same process of evolution have takenplace between the
datesatwhichtheworksofJolyandNiluswerepublished?Idonotagree
withtheopinionoftheMorningPostthat"theauthoroftheProtocolsmust
havehadtheDialoguesofJolybeforehim."Itispossible,butnotproven.
Indeed,Ifinditdifficulttoimaginethatanyoneembarkingonsuchan
elaborateimpostureshouldnothavepossessedthewittoavoidquoting
passagesverbatimwithouteventroublingtoarrangetheminadifferent
sequencefrom a book which might at any moment be produced as
evidence against him. For contrary to the assertions of the Times the
DialoguesofJolyisbynomeansararebook,notonlywasittobefoundat
theBritishMuseumbutattheLondonLibraryandrecentlyIwasableto
buyacopyforthemodestsumof15francs.Therewasthereforeevery
possibility of Nilus being suddenly confronted with the source of his
plagiarism.Further,isitconceivablethataplagiaristsounskilfulandso
unimaginativewouldhavebeencapableofimprovingontheoriginal?For
theProtocolsareavastimprovementontheDialoguesofJoly.Themost
strikingpassagestheycontainarenottobefoundintheearlierwork,nor,
which is more remarkable, are several of the amazing prophecies
concerningthefuturewhichtimehasrealized.Itisthislatterfactwhich
presentsthemostinsuperableobstacletotheTimessolutionoftheproblem.
Tosumupthen,theProtocolsareeitheramereplagiarismofMaurice
Joly's work, in which case the prophetic passages added by Nilus or
another remain unexplained, or they are a revised edition of the plan
communicatedtoJolyin1864,broughtuptodateandsupplementedsoas
tosuitmodernconditionsbythecontinuersoftheplot.

WhetherinthiscasetheauthorsoftheProtocolswereJewsorwhetherthe
Jewishportionshavebeeninterpolatedbythepeopleintowhosehands
theyfellisanotherquestion.Herewemustadmittheabsenceofanydirect
evidence.AnInternationalcircleofworldrevolutionariesworkingonthe
linesoftheIlluminati,ofwhichtheexistencehasalreadybeenindicated,
offersaperfectlypossiblealternativetothe"LearnedEldersofZion."It
would be easier, however to absolve the Jews from all suspicion of
complicityiftheyandtheirfriendshadadoptedamorestraightforward
coursefromthetimetheProtocolsappeared.Whensomeyearsagoawork
of the same kind was directed against the Jesuits, containing what
purported to be a "Secret Plan" of revolution closely resembling the
Protocols,872theJesuitsindulgedinnoinvectives,madenoappealthatthe
bookshouldbeburntbythecommonhangman,resortedtonofantastic
explanations,butquietlypronouncedthechargetobeafabrication.Thus
thematterended.
But from the moment the Protocols were published the Jews and their
friendshadrecoursetoeverytortuousmethodofdefence,broughtpressure
tobearonthepublisherssucceeded,infact,intemporarilystoppingthe
salesappealed to the Home Secretary to order their suppression,
concoctedoneclinchingrefutationafteranother,allmutuallyexclusiveof
each other, so that by the time the solution now pronounced to be the
correctoneappeared,wehadalreadybeenassuredhalfadozentimesthat
theProtocolshadbeencompletelyandfinallyrefuted.Andwhenatlasta
reallyplausibleexplanationhadbeendiscovered,whywasitnotpresented
inaconvincingmanner?Allthatwasnecessarywastostatethattheorigin
of the Protocols had been found in the work of Maurice Joly, giving
parallelsinsupportofthisassertion.Whatneedtoenvelopagoodcaseina
webofobviousromance?Whyallthisparadeofconfidentialsourcesof
information, the pretence that Joly's book was so rare as to be almost
unfindablewhenasearchinthelibrarieswouldhaveprovedthecontrary?
WhytheseallusionstoConstantinopleastheplace"tofindthekeytodark
secrets,"tothemysteriousMr.X.whodoesnotwishhisrealnametobe
known,andtotheanonymousexofficeroftheOkhranafromwhomby
mere chance he bought the very copy of the Dialogues used for the
fabricationoftheProtocolsbytheOkhranaitself,althoughthisfactwas
unknowntotheofficerinquestion?Why,further,shouldMr.X.,ifhewere
a Russian landowner, Orthodox by religion and a Constitutional

Monarchist,besoanxioustodiscredithisfellowMonarchistsbymaking
theoutrageousassertionthat"theonlyoccultMasonicorganizationsuchas
the Protocols speak of"that is to say, a Machiavellian system of an
abominablekindwhichhehadbeenabletodiscoverinSouthernRussia
"wasaMonarchistone"?
ItisevidentthenthatthecompletestoryoftheProtocolshasnotyetbeen
told, and that much yet remains to be discovered concerning this
mysteriousaffair.

End Notes
1.Moniteurforthe14thFructidor,AnII.
2.SethPayson,ProofsoftheRealExistenceandDangerousTendencyof
Illuminism(Charleston,1802),pp.57.
3.Ibid.,p.5note.
4.QuotedintheLifeofJohnRobison(17391805)byGeorgeStronachin
theDictionaryofNationalBiography,Vol.XLIX.p.58.
5.TransactionsoftheRoyalSocietyofEdinburgh,Vol.VII,pp.538,539
(1815).
6. Freemasonry,itsPretensionsExposed ...byaMasterMason,p.275
(NewYork.1828).
7.MmoiressurleJacobinisme,II.195(1818edition).
8.Barruel,op.cit.,II.208.
9.Ibid.,II.311.
10.Iusetheword"antiSemitism"hereinthesenseinwhichithascometo
beusedthatistosay,antiJewry,butplaceitininvertedcommasbecause
itisinrealityamisnomercoinedbytheJewsinordertocreateafalse
impression.ThewordantiSemiteliterallysignifiesapersonwhoadoptsa
hostileattitudetowardsallthedescendantsofShemtheArabs,andthe
entiretwelvetribesofIsrael.Toapplythetermtoapersonwhoismerely
antagonistic to that fraction of the Semitic race known as the Jews is
therefore absurd, and leads to the ridiculous situation that one may be
described as "antiSemitic and proArabian." This expression actually
occurredinTheNewPalestine(NewYork),March23,1923.Onemightas
wellspeakofbeing"antiBritishandproEnglish."
11.Augustus lePlongeon, Sacred Mysteries amongtheMayasandthe
Quiches,p.53(1909)
12.Ibid.,pp.56,58.

13.AdolfErman,LifeinAncientEgypt,p.45(1894).
14. J.H. Breasted, Ancient Times: a History of the Early World, p. 92
(1916).
15.Thiswordisspeltvariouslybydifferentwritersthus:Cabala,Cabbala,
Kabbala,Kabbalah,Kabalah.Iadoptthefirstspellingasbeingtheone
employedintheJewishEncyclopdia.
16.Fabred'Olivet,LaLangueHbraque,p.28(1815).
17."AccordingtotheJewishviewGodhadgivenMosesonMountSinai
alike the oral and the written Law, that is, the Law with all its
interpretationsandapplications."AlfredEdersheim,TheLifeandTimesof
JesustheMessiah,I.99(1883),quotingotherJewishauthorities.
18.SolomonMaimon:anAutobiography,translatedfromtheGermanbyJ.
ClarkMurray,p.28(1888).Theoriginalappearedin1792.
19.AlfredEdersheim, TheLifeandTimesofJesustheMessiah,II.689
(1883).
20."ThereexistsinJewishliteraturenobookmoredifficulttounderstand
than the Sepher Yetzirah."Phineas Mordell in the Jewish Quarterly
Review,NewSeries,Vol.II.p.557.
21.PaulVulliaud, LaKabbaleJuive:histotreetdoctrine,2vols.(mile
Nourry,62Ruedescoles,Paris,1923).Thisbook,neithertheworkofa
Jew nor of an "antiSemite," but of a perfectly impartial student, is
invaluable for a study of the Cabala rather as a vast compendium of
opinionsthanasanexpressionoforiginalthought.
22."RabHaninaandRabOschayawereseatedontheeveofeverySabbath
studyingtheSepherIetsirah;theycreatedathreeyearoldheiferandate
it."TalmudtreatiseSanhedrim,folio65.
23.Koran,SuraLXXXVII.10.
24.Zohar,sectionBereschith,folio55,andsectionLekhLekha,folio76
(DePauly'stranslation,Vol.I.pp.431,446).
25.AdolpheFranck, LaKabbale,p.39;J.P.Stehelin, TheTraditionsof
theJews,I.145(1748).
26.AdolpheFranck,op.cit.,p.68,quotingTalmudtreatiseSabbath,folio
34,Dr.ChristianGinsburg, TheKabbalah,p.85;Drach, Del'Harmonie

entrel'gliseetlaSynagogue,I.457.
27.AdolpheFranck,op.cit.,p.69.
28.Dr.ChristianGinsburg(1920),TheKabbalah,pp.172,173.
29.Vulliaud,op.cit.,I.253.
30.Ibid.,p.20,quotingTheodoreReinach,HistoriedesIsraelites,p.221,
andSalomonReinach,Orpheus,p.299.
31.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonCabala.
32.AdolpheFranck,op.cit.,p.288.
33.Vulliaud,op.cit.,I.256,quotingGreenstone,TheMessiahIdea,p.229.
34.H.Loewe,inanarticleontheKabbalainHastings' Encyclopdiaof
Religion and Ethics, says: "This secret mysticism was no late growth.
Difficult though it is to prove the date and origin of this system of
philosophyandtheinfluencesandcauseswhichproducedit,wecanbe
fairlycertainthatitsrootsstretchbackveryfarandthatthemedivaland
Geonic Kabbala was the culmination and not the inception of Jewish
esotericmysticism.FromthetimeofGraetzithasbeenthefashiontodecry
theKabbalaandtoregarditasalaterincrustation,assomethingofwhich
Judaism hadreasontobeashamed."Thewritergoes ontoexpress the
opinionthat"therecenttendencyrequiresadjustment.TheKabbala,though
laterinformthanisclaimedbyitsadherents,isfarolderinmaterialthanis
allowedbyitsdetractors."
35.Vulliaud,op.cit.,I.22.
36.Ibid.,I.13,14,quotingEdersheim,LaSocitJuiveantempsdeJsus
Christ(Frenchtranslation),pp.3634
37.SeechaptersonthisquestionbyGougenotdesMousseauxinLeJuif,le
JudasmeetlaJudasationdesPeisplesChrtiens,pp.499andfollowing
(2ndedition,1886).Thefirsteditionofthisbook,publishedin1869,is
saidtohavebeenboughtupanddestroyedbytheJews,andtheauthordied
asuddendeathbeforethesecondeditioncouldbepublished.
38.EliphasLvi,HistoiredelaMagie,pp.46,105.(EliphasLviwasthe
pseudonym of the celebrated nineteenthcentury occultist the Abb
Constant.)
39.LexiconofFreemasonry,p.323.

40.Ginsburgop.cit.p.105;JewishEncyclopdia,articleonCabala.
41.GougenotdesMousseaux, LeJuif,leJudasmsellaJudasationdes
PeuplesChrtiens,p.503(1886).
42.P.L.B.DrachDel'Harmonieentrel'gliseetlaSynagogue,Vol.I.p.
xiii(1844).M.Vulliaud(op.cit.,II.245)pointsoutthat,asfarashecan
discoverDrach'sworkhasnevermetwithanyrefutationfromtheJews,by
whomitwasreceivedincompletesilence.The JewishEncyclopdia has
anarticleonDrach inwhichitsays hewas broughtupinaTalmudic
school and afterwards became converted to Christianity, but makes no
attempttochallengehisstatements.
43.Drach,op.cit.,Vol.II.p.xix
44.Franck,op.cit.,p.127.
45.DePauly'stranslation.Vol.V.pp.3368,3436.
46.Zohar,treatiseBeschalah,folio59b(DePauly,III.265).
47.Zohar,ToldothNoah,folio69a(DePauly,I.408).
48.Zohar,treatiseBeschalah,folio48a(DePauly,III.219).
49.Ibid.,folio44a(DePauly,III.200).
50.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonCabala.
51.AdolfErman,LifeinAncientEgypt,p.32.
52.Zohar,treatiseToldothNoah,folio59b(DePauly,I.347).
53.Zohar,treatiseLekhLekha,folio94a(DePauly,I.535).
54.Zohar,treatiseBereschith,folio26a(DePauly,I.161).
55.TheEmekhaMelekistheworkoftheCabalistNapthali,adiscipleof
Luria.
56.Drach,Del'Harmonieentrel'gliseetlaSynagogue,I.272.
57.Ibid.,p.273.
58.D'Herbelot,BibliothqueOrientale(1778),articleonZerdascht.
59.Ibid.,I.18.
60.Rom.iii.2.
61.Drach,Del'Harmonieentrel'EgliseetlaSynagogue,II.19.

62.Ibid.,I.280.
63.Vulliaud,op.cit.,II.255,256.
64.Ibid.,p.257,quotingKarppe,tudessurlesOriginesduZohar,p.494.
65.Ibid.,I.13,14.InVol.II.p.411,M.VulliaudquotesIsaacMeyer's
assertionthat"thetriadoftheancientCabalaisKether,theFather;Binah,
theHolySpiritortheMother;andHochmah,theWordortheSon."Butin
ordertoavoidthesequenceoftheChristianTrinitythisarrangementhas
beenalteredinthemodernCabalaofLuriaandMosesofCordovero,etc.
66.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonCabala,p.478.
67. "...All that Israel hoped for, was national restoration and glory.
Everythingelsewasbutmeanstotheseends;theMessiahHimselfonlythe
grand instrument in attaining them. Thus viewed, the picture presented
wouldbeofIsrael'sexaltation,ratherthanofthesalvationoftheworld....
TheRabbinicidealoftheMessiahwasnotthatof'alighttolightenthe
Gentiles,andthegloryofHispeopleIsrael'thesatisfactionofthewantsof
humanity,andthecompletionofIsrael'smissionbutquitedifferent,even
tocontrariety."Edersheim, TheLifeandTimesofJesustheMessiah,I.
164(1883).
68.Zohar,sectionSchemoth,folio8;cf.ibid.,folio9b:"Theperiodwhen
theKingMessiahwilldeclarewaronthewholeworld."(DePauly,III.32,
36).
69. A blasphemous address entitled The God Man, given by Tom
Anderson,thefounderoftheSocialistSundaySchools,onGlasgowGreen
toan audience of over 1,000 workers in 1922and printed inpamphlet
form,wasfoundedentirelyonthistheory.
70.J.G.Frazer,TheGoldenBough,PartVI."TheScapegoat,"p.412(1914
edition);E.R.Bevanendorsesthisview.
71.HistoiredelaMagie,p.69.
72. The Magi or Wise Men are generally believed to have come from
Persia;thiswouldaccordwiththeZoroastrianprophecyquotedabove.
73.Drach,op.cit.,II.p.32.
74.Ibid.,II.p.xxiii.
75.JosephBarclay,TheTalmud,pp38,39;cf.Drach,op.cit.,I167

76.TheTalmud,byMichaelRodkinson(aliasMichaelLevyRodkinssohn).
77.LeTalmuddeBabylone(1900).
78.LeZohar,translationin8volsbyJeandePauly,publishedin1909by
EmileLafumaGiraud.Wherever possible inquotingthe Talmudor the
CabalaIshallgiveareferencetooneofthetranslationsherementioned.
79.JewishEncyclopdia,articleTalmud.
80.Drach,op.cit.,I.168,169.ThetextofthisencyclicalisgivenbyDrach
inHebrewandalsointranslation,thus:"Thisiswhyweenjoinyou,under
painofexcommunicationmajor,toprintnothinginfutureeditions,whether
oftheMischnaoroftheGemara,whichrelateswhetherforgoodorevilto
theactsofJesustheNazarene,andtosubstituteinsteadacirclelikethisO,
whichwillwarntheRabbisandschoolmasterstoteachtheyoungthese
passagesonlyvivavoce.Bymeansofthisprecautionthesavantsamongst
theNazareneswillhavenofurtherpretexttoattackusonthissubject."Cf.
AbbChiarini,LeTalmuddeBabylone,p.45(1831).
81.OnthispointseeAppendixI.
82.JewishEncyclopdia,articleon"Jesus."
83.EliphasLvi,LaSciencedesEsprits,p.40.
84.Origen,ContraCelsum.
85.S.BaringGould,TheCounterGospels,p.69(1874).
86.Cf.BaringGould,op.cit.,quotingTalmud,treatiseSabbath,folio104.
87.Ibid.,p.55,quotingTalmud,treatiseSanhedrim,folio107,andSota,
folio47;EliphasLvi,LaSciencedesEsprits,pp.32,33.
88.AccordingtotheKoran,itwastheJewswhosaid,"'Verilywehave
slaintheMessiah,JesusthesonofMary,anapostleofGod.'Yettheyslew
himnot,andtheycrucifiedhimnot,buttheyhadonlyhislikeness....No
sureknowledgehadtheyabouthim,butfollowedanopinion,andtheydid
notreallyslayhim,butGodtookhimuptoHimself."Suraiv.150.See
alsoSuraiii.40.TheRev.J.M.Rodwell,inhistranslationoftheKoran,
observesinafootnotetothelatterpassage:"Muhammadprobablybelieved
thatGodtookthedeadbodyofJesustoHeavenforthreehours,according
tosomewhiletheJewscrucifiedamanwhoresembledhim."
89.Suraiii.30,40.

90.Suraxxi.90.
91.Suraiv.150.
92.Suraii.89,250;v.100.
93.Surav.50.
94.Inthemasonicperiodical ArsQuatuorCoronatorum,Vol.XXIV,a
Freemason(Bro.SydneyT.Klein)observes:"Itisnotgenerallyknownthat
one of the reasons why the Mohammedans removed their Kiblah from
Jerusalem to Mecca was that they quarrelled with the Jews over Jesus
Christ,andtheproofofthismaystillbeseenintheGoldenGateleading
into the sacred area of the Temple, which was bricked up by the
Mohammedans,andisbrickeduptothisday,becausetheydeclaredthat
nobodyshouldenterthroughthatportaluntilJesusChristcomestojudge
theworld,andthisisstatedintheKoran."Icannottracethispassageinthe
Koran,butmuchthesameideaisconveyedbytheRev.J.M.Rodwell,who
inthenoteabovequotedadds:"TheMuhammadansbelievethatJesuson
HisreturntoearthattheendoftheworldwillslaytheAntichrist,die,and
beraisedagain.AvacantplaceisreservedforHisbodyintheProphet's
tombatMedina."
95.Graetz,GeschichtederJuden,III.21652.
96. TheEssenes:theirHistoryandDoctrines,anessaybyChristianD.
Ginsburg,LL.D.(Longmans,Green&Co.,1864).
97.Ibid.,p.24.
98.Edersheim(op.cit.,I.325)ablyrefutesbothGraetzandGinsburgon
thispoint,andshowsthat"theteachingofChristianitywasinadirection
theoppositefromthatofEssenism."M.Vulliaud(op.cit.,I.71)dismisses
the Essene origin of Christianity as unworthy of serious attention. "To
maintain the Essenism of Jesus is a proof of frivolity or of invincible
ignorance."
99.Lukexvii.79.
100.Ginsburg,op.cit.,pp.15,22,55.
101.Ginsburg,op.cit.,p.12.
102.Fabred'OlivetthinksthistraditionhaddescendedtotheEssenesfrom
Moses:"Ifitistrue,aseverythingattests,thatMosesleftanorallaw,itis
amongsttheEssenesthatitwaspreserved.ThePharisees,whoflattered

themselves so highly on possessing it, only had its outward forms

(apparences),asJesusreproachesthemateverymoment.Itisfromthese
latter that the modern Jews descend, with the exception of a few real
savants whose secret tradition goes back to the Essenes."La Langue
Hebraque,p.27(1815).
103.Matter,HistoireduGnosticisme,I.44(1844).
104.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonCabala.
105.Matter,op.cit.,II.58.
106.Ragon,MaonnerieOcculte,p.78.
107."TheCabalaisanterior totheGnosis,anopinionwhichChristian
writerslittleunderstand,butwhichtheeruditesofJudaismprofesswitha
legitimateassurance."Matter,op.cit..Vol.I.p.12.
108.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonCabala.
109.JohnYarker, TheArcaneSchools,p.167;Matter,op.cit.,II.365,
quotingIrenus.
110.EliphasLvi,HistoiredelaMagie,p.189.
111.EliphasLvi,op.cit.,p.218.
112.DeanMilman, HistoryoftheJews (Everyman'sLibraryedition),II.
491.
113.Matter,II.171;E.deFaye,GnostiquesetGnosticisme,p.349(1913).
114.DeLuchet,EssaisurlaSectedesIllumins,p.6.
115. Manueld'HistoireEcclsiastique,parR.P.Albers,S.J.,adaptpar
RenHedde,O.P.,p.125(1908);Matter,op.citt.,II.197.
116.Matter,op.cit.,II.188.
117.Matter,op.cit.,II.199,215.
118.EliphasLvi,HistoiredelaMagie,pp.217,218.
119.Matter,op.cit.,II.115,III.14;S.BaringGould,TheLostandHostile
Gospels(1874).
120.Matter,op.cit.,II364.
121.Ibid.,p.365.
122.Ibid.,p.369.

123.SomeNotesonVariousGnosticSectsandtheirPossibleInfluenceon
Freemasonry, by D. F. Ranking, republished from Ars Quatuor
Coronatorum(Vol.XXIV,p.202,1911)inpamphletform,p.7.
124. Hastings, Encyclopdia of Religion and Ethics, article on
Manicheism.
125.Zohar,treatiseBereschith,folio54(DePauly'stranslation,I.315).
126.TheYalkutShimoniisasixteenthcenturycompilationofHaggadic
Midrashim.
127.Principalauthoritiesconsultedforthischapter:JosephvonHammer,
TheHistoryoftheAssassins(Eng.trans.,1835);SilvestredeSacy,Expos
de le Religion des Druses (1838) and Mmoires sur la Dynastie des
Assassins in Mmoires de l'Institut Royal de France, Vol. IV. (1818);
HastingsEncyclopdiaofReligionandEthics;SyedAmeerAli,TheSpirit
ofIslam (1922);Dr.F.W.Bussell, ReligiousThoughtandHeresyinthe
MiddleAges(1918).
128.ReinhartDozy,SpanishIslam(Eng.trans.),pp.4035.
129. Claudio Jannet, Les Prcurseurs de la FrancMoonnerie, p. 58
(1887).
130. The following account is given by de Sacy in connexion with
Abdullah ibn Maymn (op. cit., I. Ixxiv), and Dr. Bussell (Religious
ThoughtandHeresyintheMiddleAges,p.353)includesitinhischapter
ontheKarmathites.VonHammer,however,givesitastheprogrammeof
the Dar ul Hikmat, and this seems more probable since the initiation
consists of nine degrees and Abdullah's society of Batinis, into which
Karmath had been initiated, included only seven. Yarker (The Arcane
Schools,p.185)saysthetwoadditionaldegreeswereaddedbytheDarul
Hikmat.ItwouldappearthenthatdeSacy,inplacingthisaccountbefore
his description of the Karmathites, was anticipating. The point is
immaterial,thefactbeingthatthesamesystemwascommontoallthese
ramificationsofIsmailis,andthatoftheDarulHikmatvariedbutlittle
fromthatofAbdullahandKarmath.
131.VonHammer,op.cit.(Eng.trans.),pp.36,37.
132.VonHammer,TheHistoryoftheAssassins,pp.45,46.
133.Dr.F.W.Bussell,ReligiousThoughtandHeresyintheMiddleAges,

p.368.
134.VonHammer,op.cit.,p.55.
135.VonHammer,op.cit.,pp.83,89.
136.Ibid.,p.164.
137.DveloppementdesabusintroduitsdanslaFrancmaonnerie,p.56
(1780).
138.JulesLoiseleur,LadoctrinesecrtedesTempliers,p.89.
139.Dr.FW.Bussell,D.D.,ReligionsThoughtandHeresyintheMiddle
Ages,pp.796,797note.
140.G.Mollat,LesPopesd'Avignon,p.233(1912).
141. Michelet, Procs des Templiers, I. 2 (1841). This work largely
consists of the publication in Latin of the Papal bulls and trials of the
TemplarsbeforethePapalCommissioninPariscontainedintheoriginal
documentoncepreservedatNotreDame.Micheletsaysthatanothercopy
wassenttothePopeandkeptunderthetriplekeyoftheVatican.Mr.E.J.
Castle,K.C.,however,saysthathehasenquiredaboutthewhereaboutsof
this copy and it is no longer in the Vatican (Proceedings against the
Templars in France and in England for Heresy, republished from Ars
QuatuorCoronatorum,Vol.XX.PartIII.p.1).
142.M.Raynouard,Monumentshistoriquesrelatifslacondemnationdes
ChevaliersduTempleetdel'abolitiondeleurOrdre,p.17(1813).
143.Michelet,op.cit.I.2(1841).
144.Michelet,ProcsdesTempliers,II.333.
145.Ibid.,pp.295,333.
146.Ibid.,pp.290,299,300.
147."Dixitperjuramentumsuumquoditaestterribilisfigureetaspectus
quodvidebatursibiquodessetfiguracujusdamdemonis,dicendogallice
d'un mauf, et quod quocienscumque videbat ipsum tantus timor eum
invadebat, quod vix poterat illud respicere nisi cum maximo timore et
tremore."Ibid.,p.364.
148. Ibid., pp. 284, 338. "Ipse minabatur sibi quod nisi faceret, ipse
ponereteumincarcereperpetuo."Ibid.,p.307.

149."Etfuitterritusplusquamunquamfuitinvitasua:etstatimunus
eorumaccepiteumpergutur,dicensquodoportebatquodhocfaceret,vel
moreretur."Ibid.,p.296.
150.Mollat,op.cit.,p.241.
151.ProcsdesTempliers,I.3:Mr.E.J.Castle,op.cit.PartIII.p.3.(It
should be noted that Mr. Castle's paper is strongly in favour of the
Templars.)
152.Ibid.,I.4.
153.ProcsdesTempliers,I.5.
154.MicheletinPrefacetoVol.I.ofProcsdesTempliers.
155.JulesLoiseleur,LaDoctrineSecrtedesTempliers,p.40(1872).
156.Ibid.,p.16.
157.ProceedingsagainsttheTemplarsinFranceandEnglandforHeresy,
byE.J.Castle,PartI.p.16,quotingRymer,Vol.III.p.37
158.Ibid.,PartII.p.1.
159.Ibid.,PartII.pp.257.
160.Ibid.,PartII.p.30.
161."AnotherwitnessoftheMinorFriarstoldtheCommissionershehad
heardfromBrotherRobertofTukenhamthataTemplarhadasonwhosaw
throughapartitionthat theyasked oneprofessingifhebelievedinthe
Crucified,showinghimthefigure,whomtheykilleduponhisrefusingto
denyHim,buttheboy,sometimeafter,beingaskedifhewishedtobea
Templarsaidno,becausehehadseenthisthingdone.Sayingthis,hewas
killed by his father.... The twentythird witness, a Knight, said that his
uncleenteredtheOrderhealthyandjoyfully,withhisbirdsanddogs,and
thethirddayfollowinghewasdead,andhesuspecteditwasonaccountof
thecrimeshehadheardofthem,andthatthecauseofhisdeathwashe
wouldnotconsenttotheevildeedsperpetratedbyotherbrethren."Ibid.,
PartII.p.13.
162.F.FunckBrentano,LeMoyenAge,p.396(1922).
163.Ibid.,p.384.
164.F.FunckBrentano,op.cit.,p.396.

165.Ibid.,p.387.
166.DeanMilman,HistoryofLatinChristianity,VII.213.
167.E.J.Castle,op.cit.,PartI.p.22.
168. Thus even M. Mollat admits: "En tout cas leurs dpositions,
dfavorablesl'Ordre,l'impressionnrentsivivementque,parunesriede
gravesmesures,ilabandonnauneunetoutessesoppositions."LesPapes
d'Avignon,p.242.
169.F.FunckBrentano,op.cit.,p.392.
170.E.J.Castle,ProceedingsagainsttheTemplars,A.Q.C.,Vol.XX.Part
III,p.3.
171.EvenRaynouard,theapologistoftheTemplars(op.cit.,p.19),admits
that,iflessunjustandviolentmeasureshadbeenadopted,theinterestof
theStateandthesafetyofthethronemighthavejustifiedtheabolitionof
theOrder.
172.FunckBrentano,op.cit.,p.386.
173."Thebourgeoisie,wheneverithasconqueredpower,hasdestroyedall
feudal,patriarchal,andidyllicrelations.Ithaspitilesslytornasunderallthe
manycolouredfeudalbondswhichunitedmentotheir'naturalsuperiors,'
andhasleftnotietwixtmanandmanbutnakedselfinterestandcallous
cashpayment."TheCommunistManifesto.
174.EliphasLvi,HistoiredelaMagie,p.273.
175.E.J.Castle,op.cit.,A.Q.C.,Vol.XX.PartI.p.11.
176.Ibid.,PartII.p.24.
177.Loiseleur,op.cit.,pp.20,21.
178.HistoiredelaMagie,p.277.
179.Dr.F.W.Bussell,ReligiousThoughtandHeresyintheMiddleAges,
p.803.
180.LesSectesetSocitsSecrtes,p.85.
181.HistoryoftheAssassins,p.80.
182.F.T.B.Clevel,HistoirePittoresquedelaFrancMaonnerie,p.356
(1843).

183.Loiseleur,op.cit.,p.66
184.Ibid.,p.143.
185.Ibid.,p.141.
186."Dixitsibiquodnoncrederetineum,quianichilerat,etquoderat
quidam falsus propheta, et nichil valebat; immo crederet in Deum Celi
superiorem,quipoteratsalvare."Michelet,ProcsdesTempliers,II.404.
Cf.ibid.,p.384:"Quidemfalsusprophetaest;credassolummodoinDeum
Celi,etnoninistum."
187.Loiseleur,op.cit.,p.37.
188.Raynouard,op.cit.,p.301.
189.WilhelmFerdinandWilcke, GeschichtedesTempelherrenordens,II,
30212,(1827).
190.EliphasLvi,HistoiredelaMagie,p.273.
191. J.M. Ragon, Cours Philosophique et Interprtatif des Initiations
anciennesetmodernes,ditionsacrel'usagedesLogesetdesMaons
SEULEMENT (5,842), p. 37. In a footnote on the same page Ragon,
however,referstoJohntheBaptistinthisconnexion.
192.J.B.FabrPalaprat,RechercheshistoriquessurlesTempliers,p.31
(1835).
193.Ibid.,p.37.
194.EliphasLvi,HistoiredelaMagie,p.277.
195.EliphasLvi,LaSciencedesEsprits,pp.269,40,41.
196.Raynouard,op.cit.,p.281.
197.Matter,HistoireduGnosticisme,III.330.
198.EliphasLvi,HistoiredelaMagie,p.275.
199.M.Grgoire,HistoiredesSectesreligieuses.II.407(1828).
200.Matter,HistoireduGnosticisme,III.323.
201.Ibid.,III.p.120.
202.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonMandans.
203.Grgoire,op.cit.,IV.241.

204. JewishEncyclopdia,andHastings' EncyclopdiaofReligionand

Ethics,articleonMandans.
205.CodexNasarus,LiberAdamappellatus,trans.fromtheSyriacinto
Latin by Matth. Norberg (1815), Vol. I. 109: "Sed, Johanne hae tate
Hierosolym nato, Jordanumque deinceps legente, et baptismum
peragente, veniet Jeschu Messias, summisse se gerens, ut baptismo
Johannis baptizetur, et Johannis per sapientiam sapiat. Pervertet vero
doctrinam Johannis, et mutato Jordani baptismo, perversisque justiti
dictis,iniquitatemetperfidiampermundumdisseminabit."
206.Articleonthe CodexNasarus bySilvestredeSacyinthe Journal
desSavantsforNovember1819,p.651;cf.passageintheZohar,section
Bereschith,folio55.
207.Matter,op.cit.,III.119,120.DeSacy(op.cit.,p.654)alsoattributes
theCodexNasarustotheeighthcentury.
208.Matter,op.cit.,III.118.
209.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonMandans.
210.Loiseleur,op.cit.,p.52.
211.Ibid.,p.51;Matter,op.cit.,III.305.
212.Hastings'Encyclopdia,articleonBogomils.
213.TheSabbaticgoatisclearlyofJewishorigin.ThustheZoharrelates
that"TraditionteachesusthatwhentheIsraelitesevokedevilspirits,these
appearedtothemundertheformofhegoatsandmadeknowntothemall
thattheywishedtolearn."SectionAhreMoth,folio70a(dePauly,V.
191).
214.EliphasLvi,DogmeetRitueldelaHauteMagie,II.209.
215.SomeNotesonvariousGnosticSectsandtheirPossibleInfluenceon
Freemasonry,byD.F.Ranking,reprintedfrom A.Q.C.,Vol.XXIV.pp.
27,28
216. "Their meetings were held in the most convenient spot, often on
mountainsorinvalleys;theonlyessentialswereatable,awhitecloth,and
acopyoftheGospelofSt.John,thatis,theirownversionofit."Dr.
Ranking,op.cit.,p.15(A.Q.C.,Vol.XXIV.).Cf.GabrieleRossetti, The
AntiPapalSpirit,I.230,whereitissaid"thesacredbooks,andespecially
that of St. John, were wrested by this sect into strange and perverted

meanings."
217.Michelet,HistoiredeFrance,III.18,19(1879edition).
218.Michelet,op.cit.,p.10."L'lmentsmitique,juifetarabe,taitfort
enLanguedoc."Cf.A.E.Waite, TheSecretTraditioninFreemasonry,I.
118:"TheSouthofFrancewasacentrefromwhichwentforthmuchofthe
baseoccultismofJewryaswellasitstheosophicaldreams."
219.Michelet,op.cit.,p.12.
220.Ibid.,p.15.
221.Graetz,HistoryoftheJews,III.517.
222. Thus Hastings' Encyclopdia of Religion and Ethics omits all
reference to Satanism before 1880 and observes: "The evidence of the
existenceofeitherSatanistsorPalladistsconsistsentirelyofthewritingsof
agroupofmeninParis."Itthenproceedstodevotefivecolumnsoutofthe
sixandahalfwhichcomposethearticletodescribingtheworksoftwo
notoriousromancers,LoTaxilandBataille.Thereisnotawordofreal
informationtobefoundhere.
223.PrcisofEliphasLvi'swritingsbyArthurE.Waite,TheMysteriesof
Magic,p.215.
224.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonCabala.
225. DogmeetRitueldelaHauteMagie,II.220(1861).Itiscuriousto
notice that Sir James Frazer, in his vast compendium on magic, The
Golden Bough, never once refers to any of the higher adeptsJews,
Rosicrucians,Satanists,etc.,ortotheCabalaasasourceofinspiration.The
whole subject is treated as if the cult of magic were the spontaneous
outcomeofprimitiveorpeasantmentality.
226.HistoiredelaMagie,p.289.
227.Talmud,treatiseBerakhoth,folio6.TheTalmudalsogivesdirections
on the manner of guarding against occult powers and the onslaught of
disease.ThetractPesachimdeclaresthathewhostandsnakedbeforea
candleisliabletobeseizedwithepilepsy.Thesametractalsostatesthat"a
manshouldnotgooutaloneonthenightfollowingthefourthdayoronthe
night following the Sabbath, because an evil spirit, called Agrath, the
daughterofMa'hlath,togetherwithonehundredandeightythousandother
evilspirits,goforthintotheworldandhavetherighttoinjureanyonethey

shouldchancetomeet."
228.Talmud,treatiseHullin,folios143,144.
229. Hastings' Encyclopdia of Religion and Ethics, article on Jewish
MagicbyM.Caster.
230.MargaretAliceMurray,TheWitchCultinWesternEurope,andJules
Garinet,HistoiredelaMagieenFrance,p.163(1818).
231.Hastings' Encyclopdia,articleonJewishMagicbyM.Gaster.See
theZohar,treatiseBereschith,folio54b,whereitissaidthatallmenare
visitedintheirsleepbyfemaledevils."Thesedemonsneverappearunder
anyotherformbutthatofhumanbeings,buttheyhavenohairontheir
heads.... In the same way as to men, male devils appear in dreams to
women,withwhomtheyhaveintercourse."
232. The Rev. Moses Margoliouth, The History of the Jews in Great
Britain, I. 82. The same author relates further on (p. 304) that Queen
Elizabeth's Hebrew physician Rodrigo Lopez was accused of trying to
poisonheranddiedavictimofpersecution.
233. The Rev. Moses Margoliouth, The History of the Jews in Great
Britain,I.83.
234.Hastings'Encyclopdia,articleonTeutonicMagicbyF.Hlsig.
235.Talmud,tractSabbath.
236.HermannL.Strack, TheJewsandHumanSacrifice,Eng.trans.,pp.
140,141(1900).
237.Seepages215and216ofTheMysteriesofMagic,byA.E.Waite.
238.SeealsoA.S.Turberville, MedivalHeresyandtheInquisition,pp.
11112(1920),endingwiththewords:"Thevoluminousrecordsofthe
holytribunal,thelearnedtreatisesofitsmembers,arethegreatrepositories
ofthetrueandindisputablefactsconcerningtheabominableheresiesof
sorceryandwitchcraft."
239.HistoiredelaMagie,p.15.
240.TheMysteriesofMagic,p.221.
241.A.E.Waite,TheRealHistoryoftheRosicrucians,p.293.
242.HistoiredelaMagie,p.266.

243.JohnYarker,TheArcaneSchools,p.205.
244.Drach(Del'Harmonieentrel'gliseetlaSynagogue,II.p.30)says
thatPicodellaMirandolapaidaJew7,000ducatsfortheCabalisticMSS.
fromwhichhedrewhisthesis.
245.JewishEncyclopdia,articlesonCabalaandReuchlin.
246.Ibid.,articleonCabala.
247.ThefollowingrsumistakenfromtherecentreprintoftheFamaand
Confessio brought out by the "Societas Rosicruciana in Anglia," and
printedbyW.J.Parrett(Margate,1923).Thestory,which,owingtothe
extraordinaryconfusionofthetext,isdifficulttoresumeasacoherent
narrativeisgivenintheFama;thedatesaregivenintheConfessio.
248.IncidentallyParacelsuswasnotbornuntil1493,thatistosaynine
yearsafterChristianRosenkreutzissupposedtohavedied.
249.NachtragvonweiternOriginalschriftendesIlluminatenordensPartII
p.148(Munich,1787).
250.Mackey,LexiconofFreemasonry,p.265.
251.Ibid.,p.150.
252.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonShabbethaiHorowitz.
253.Mirabeau,HistoiredelaMonarchiePrussienne,V.76.
254.LecouteulxdeCanteleu,LesSectesetSocitsSecrtes,p.97.
255.Eckert,LaFrancMaonneriedanssavritablesignification,II.48.
256.A.E.Waite,TheRealHistoryoftheRosicrucians,p.216.
257. "Traict des Athistes, Distes, Illuminez d'Espagne et Nouveaux
Prtendus Invisibles, dits de la Confrairie de la CroixRosaire, levez
depuisquelquesannesdansleChristianisme,"formingthesecondpartof
the"HistoireGnraledeProgrsetDcadencedel'HrieModerneA
lasuiteduPremier"deM.FlorimonddeRaemond,ConseillerduRoy,etc.
258.SeeG.M.Trevelyan,EnglandundertheStuarts,pp.32,33,andJames
Howell,FamiliarLetters(editionof1753),pp.49,435.JamesHolwellwas
clerktothePrivyCouncilofCharlesI.
259.Th.LouisLatour, Princesses,DameselAdventuriresduRgnede
LouisXIV,p.278(EugneFigutre,Paris,1923).

260.Ibid.,p.297.
261.Ibid.,p.306.
262. Oeuvres compltes de Voltaire, Vol. XXI. p. 129 (1785 edition);
BiographieMichaud,articleonGlaser.
263. This assertion finds confirmation in the Encyclopdia Britannica,
article on the Rosicrucians, which states: "In no sense are modern
RosicruciansderivedfromtheFraternityoftheseventeenthcentury."
264.JewishEncyclopdia,articleontheCabala.
265. A Free Mason's Answer to the Suspected Author of a Pamphlet
entitled"JachinandBoaz,"oranAuthenticKeytoFreemasonry,p.10
(1762).
266.QuotedbyR.F.Gould,HistoryofFreemasonry,I.5,6.
267.SignsandSymbolsofPrimordialMan,p.1(1910).
268.ArsQuatuorCoronatorum,XXXII.PartI.p.47.
269.Preston'sIllustrationsofMasonry,pp.143,147,153(1804).
270.JohnYarker,TheArcaneSchools,pp.269,327,329.
271.Publishedinthe EssaisurlaSectedesIllumins bytheMarquisde
Luchet,p.236(1792edition).
272. Brother Chalmers Paton, The Origin of Freemasonry: the 1717
TheoryExploded,quotingancientchargespreservedinaMS.inpossession
oftheLodgeofAntiquityinLondon,writteninthereignofJamesII,but
"supposedtobereallyofmuchmoreancientdate."
273.ArsQuatuorCoronatorum,XXV.p.240,paperbyJ.E.S.Tucketton
Dr.Rawlinson andtheMasonicEntriesinEliasAshmole'sDiary,with
facsimile of entry in Diary which is preserved in the Bodleian Library
(AshmoleMS.1136,fol.19).
274.Yarker,TheArcaneSchools,p.383.
275.Preston'sIllustrationsofMasonry,p.208(1804).
276.TheOriginsofFreemasonry:the1717TheoryExploded.
277.TheRev.G.Oliver, TheHistoricalLandmarksofFreemasonry,pp.
55,57,62,318(1845).

278.SignsandSymbolsofPrimordialMan,p.185(1910).
279.SignsandSymbolsofPrimordialMan,p.8(1910).
280.Ibid.,p.7.TheGermanFreemasonFindeldisagreeswithboththe
Roman Collegia and the Egypt theory, and, like the Abb Grandidier,
indicatestheSteinmetzenofthefifteenthcenturyastherealprogenitorsof
theOrder:"AllattemptstotracethehistoryofFreemasonryfartherback
thantheMiddleAgeshavebeen...failures,andplacingtheoriginofthe
Fraternity in the mysteries of Egypt ... must be rejected as a wild and
untenablehypothesis."HistoryofFreemasonry(Eng.trans.),p.25.
281.Dr.OliverandDr.MackeythusrefertotrueandspuriousMasonry,
theformerdescendingfromNoah,throughShem,Abraham,Isaac,Jacob,
and Moses to Solomonhence the appellation of Noachites sometimes
applied to Freemasonsthe latter from Cain and the Gymnosophists of
IndiatoEgyptandGreece.Theyaddthataunionbetweenthetwotook
placeatthetimeofthebuildingoftheTempleofSolomonthroughHiram
Abiff,whowasamemberofboth,beingbybirthaJewandartificerof
Tyre,andfromthisunionFreemasonrydescends.AccordingtoMackey,
therefore,JewishMasonryisthetrueform.ALexiconofFreemasonry,pp.
3235;Oliver'sHistoricalLandmarksofFreemasonry,I.60.
282.Rev.G.Oliver,TheHistoricalLandmarksofFreemasonry,pp.55,57
(1845).
283.TheJewishEncyclopadia(articleonFreemasonry)characterizesthe
nameHiramAbifiasamisunderstandingof2Chron.ii.13
284.Clavel,HistoirepittoresquedelaFrancMaonnerie,p.340;Matter,
HistoireduGnosticisme,I.145.
285.QuotedinA.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.p.36.
286. Article on Freemasonry, giving reference to Pesik, R.V. 25a (ed.
Friedmann).
287. Clavel, op. cit., 364, 365; Lecouteulx de Canteleu, Les Sectes et
SocitsSecrtes,p.120.
288.Clavel,op.cit.,p.82.
289.Yarker,TheArcaneSchools,p.257.
290.Ibid.,p.242.

291."AccordingtoProf.MarksandProf.HayterLewis,thestoryofHiram
Abiffisatleastasoldasthefourteenthcentury."J.E.S.Tuckettin The
OriginofAdditionalDegrees,A.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.p.14.Itshouldbe
notedthatnoMasonwhotookpartinthediscussionbroughtevidenceto
showthatitdatedfrombeforethisperiod.Cf. FreemasonryBeforethe
ExistenceofGrandLodges(1923),byWor.Bro.LionelVibert,I.C.S.,p.
135,whereitissuggestedthattheHiramiclegenddatesfromanincidentin
oneoftheFrenchbuildingguildsin1401.
292.Yarker,op.cit.,p.348;Eckert,op.cit.,II.36.
293.Eckert,op.cit.,II.28.
294. "The Essenes, in common with other Syrian sects, possessed and
adhered to the 'true principles' of Freemasonry."Bernard H. Springett,
SecretSectsofSyriaandtheLebanon,p.91.
295. "The esoteric doctrine of the JudeoChristian mysteries evidently
penetrated into the masonic guilds (ateliers) only with the entry of the
TemplarsafterthedestructionoftheirOrder."Eckert,op.cit.,II.28.
296.LaComtessedeRudolstadt,II.185.
297.Ragon,CoursphilosophiquedesInitiations,p.34.
298.Mr.SidneyKleininArsQuatuorCoronatorum,XXXII.PartI.pp.42,
43.
299.JohnYarker,TheArcaneSchools,pp.195,318,341,342,361.
300.Ibid.,p.196.
301.Official history of theOrder of Scotland quotedby Bro.Fred.H.
BuckmasterinTheRoyalOrderofScotland,publishedattheofficesofThe
Freemason,pp.3,5,7;A.E.Waite,EncyclopdiaofFreemasonry,II.219;
Yarker,TheArcaneSchools,p.330;Mackey,LexiconofFreemasonry,p.
267.
302.BaronWesterodeintheActaLatomorum(1784),quotedbyMackey,
op. cit., p. 265. Mr. Bernard H. Springett also asserts that this degree
originatedintheEast(SecretSectsofSyriaandtheLebanon,p.294).
303.ChevalierdeBrage,LesPlusSecretsMystresdesHautsGradesde
laMaonneriedvoils,oulevraiRoseCroix (1768);Waite, TheSecret
TraditioninFreemasonry,I.3.

304. In 1784 some French Freemasons wrote to their English brethren

saying:"ItconcernsustoknowiftherereallyexistsintheislandofMull,
formerlyMelrose...intheNorthofScotland,aMountHeredom,orifit
doesnotexist."InreplyaleadingFreemason,GeneralRainsford,referred
themtotheword[Hebrew:**](HarAdonai),i.e.MountofGod(Noteson
theRainsfordPapersinA.Q.C.,XXVI.99).Amoreprobableexplanation
appears,however,tobethatHeredomisacorruptionoftheHebrewword
"Harodim,"signifyingprincesorrulers.
305.F.H.Buckmaster, TheRoyalOrderofScotland,p.5.Lecouteulxde
Canteleusays,however,thatKilwinninghadbeenthegreatmeetingplace
ofMasonrysince1150(LesSectesetSocitsSecrtes,p.104).Eckert,op.
cit.,II.33.
306.Mackey,LexiconofFreemasonry,p.267.
307.Clavel,op.cit.,p.90;Eckert,op.cit.,II.27.
308.A.E.Waite,TheSecretTraditioninFreemasonry,I.8.
309."OurnamesofE.A.,F.C.,andM.M.werederivedfromScotland."
A.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.p.40.Clavel,however,saysthattheseexistedinthe
RomanCollegia(Histoirepittoresque,p.82).
310.ReligiousThoughtandHeresyintheMiddleAges,p.372.
311.TheSpiritofIslam,p.337.
312.SecretSectsofSyriaandtheLebanon,p.181(1922).
313.See,forexample,Bouillet's DictionnaireUniverseld'Histoireetde
Gographie(1860),articleorTemplars:"LesFrancsMaonsprtendentse
rattachercettesecte."
314.LexiconofFreemasonry,p.185.
315.Findel,GeschichtederFreimaurerei,II.156,157(1892edition).Dr.
Bussell(op.cit.,p.804),referringtoDupuy'swork,alsoobserves:"An
editorofalateredition(Brussels,1751)undoubtedlywasaFreemasonwho
triedtocleartheindictmentandaffiliatetothecondemnedOrderthenew
andrapidlyincreasingbrotherhoodofspeculativedeism."
316.TheRoyalOrderofScotland.
317.ManueldesChevaliersdel'OrdreduTemple,p.10(1825edition).
318. Oration of Chevalier Ramsay (1737); Baron Tschoudy, L'toile

Flamboyante,I.20(1766).
319.ThedescriptionoftheVehmicTribunalsthatfollowshereislargely
taken from Lombard de Langres, Les Socits Secrtes en Allemagne
(1819),quotingoriginaldocumentspreservedatDortmund.
320. Clavel derides this early origin and says it was the Francsjuges
themselves who claimed Charlemagne as their founder (Histoire
pittoresque,p.357).
321.LecouteulxdeCanteleu,LesSectesetSocitsSecrtes,p.100.
322.AccordingtoWalterScott'saccountoftheVehmgerichtsinAnneof
Geierstein,theinitiatewaswarnedthatthesecretsconfidedtohimwere
"neithertobespokenaloudnorwhispered,tobetoldinwordsorwrittenin
characters,tobecarvedortobepainted,ortobeotherwisecommunicated,
eitherdirectlyorbyparableandemblem."Thisformula,ifaccurate,would
establishafurtherpointofresemblance.
323. Lombard de Langres, Les Socits Secrtes en Allemagne, p. 341
(1819);LecouteulxdeCanteleu,LesSectesetSocitsSecrtes,p.99.
324.A.lePlongeon,SacredMysteriesamongtheMayasandtheQuichas
(1886).
325.Findel,HistoryofFreemasonry(Eng.trans.,1866),pp.131,132.
326.JohnYarker,TheArcaneSchools,p.216,431.
327.LexiconofFreemasonry,p.298.
328.Waite,TheRealHistoryoftheRosicrucians,p.403.
329.Ibid.,p.283.
330.Yarker,TheArcaneSchools,p.430.
331. "Yarker pronounces Elias Ashmole to have been circa 1686 'the
leading spirit, both in Craft Masonry and in Rosicrucianism,' and is of
opinionthathisdiaryestablishesthefact'thatbothsocietiesfellintodecay
togetherin1682.'Headds:'ItisevidentthereforethattheRosicrucians...
foundtheoperativeGuildconvenientlyreadytotheirhand,andgrafted
upon it their own mysteries ... also, from this time Rosicrucianism
disappearsandFreemasonryspringsintolifewithallthepossessionsofthe
former.' "Speculative Freemasonry, an Historical Lecture, delivered
March31,1883,p.9;quotedbyGould,HistoryofFreemasonry,II.138.

332.L'Antismitisme,p.339.
333.JewishEncyclopdia,articlesonLeonandManassehbenIsrael.
334. Article on "AngloJewish Coatsofarms" by Lucien Wolf in
TransactionsoftheJewishHistoricalSociety,Vol.II.p.157.
335.TransactionsoftheJewishHistoricalSocietyofEngland,Vol.II.p.
156.A picture of Temploforms the frontispiece of this volume, anda
reproductionofthecoatofarmsofGrandLodgeisgivenoppositetop.
156.
336.Zohar,sectionJethro,folio70b(dePauly'strans.,Vol.III.311).
337. The Cabalistic interpretation of the Mercaba will be found in the
Zohar,sectionBereschith,folio18b(dePauly'strans.,Vol.I.p.115).
338."Byfigureofamanisalwaysmeantthatofthemaleandfemale
together."Ibid.,p.116.
339.HistoiredelaMonarchiePrussienne,VI.76.
340.LecouteulxdeCanteleu,op.cit.,p.105.
341. Ibid., p. 106; Lombard de Langres, Les Socits Secrtes en
Allemagne,p.67.
342.MonsignorGeorgeF.Dillon,TheWarofAntiChristwiththeChurch
andChristianCivilization,p.24(1885).
343. Brother Chalmers I. Paton, The Origin of Freemasonry: the 1717
TheoryExploded,p.34.
344. Lecouteulx de Canteleu, op. cit., p. 107; Robison's Proofs of a
Conspiracy,p.27;Dillon,op.cit,p.24;Mackey,LexiconofFreemasonry,
p.148.
345.Preston's Illustrations ofMasonry,p.209(1804);Anderson's New
BookofConstitutions(1738).
346.ArsQuatuorCoronatorum,XXV.p.31.Seeaccountofsomeofthese
convivial masonic societies in this paper entitled "An Apollinaric
Summons."
347. ReligiousThoughtandHeresyintheMiddleAges,p.373.A"Past
GrandMaster,"inanarticleentitled"TheCrisisinFreemasonry,"inthe
EnglishReviewforAugust1922,takesthesameview."Itistrue...thatthe
CraftLodgesinEnglandwereoriginallyHanoverianclubs,astheScottish

lodgeswereJacobiteclubs."
348.Dr.Anderson,anativeofAberdeenandatthisperiodministerofthe
Presbyterian Church in Swallow Street, and Dr. Desaguliers, of French
Protestantdescent,whohadtakenholyordersinEnglandandinthissame
yearof1717lecturedbeforeGeorgeI,whorewardedhimwithabenefice
inNorfolk(DictionaryofNationalBiography,articlesonJamesAnderson
andJohnTheophilusDesaguliers).
349.TheFreeMason'sVindication,beingananswertoascandalouslibel
entitled (sic) The Grand Mystery of the Free Masons discover'd, etc.
(Dublin,1725).ItiscuriousthatthisreplyistobefoundintheBritish
Museum(Pressmark8145,h.I.44),butnotthebookitself.YetMr.Waite
thinksitsufficientlyimportanttoincludeina"ChronologyoftheOrder,"
inhisEncyclopdiaofFreemasonry,I.335.
350.Gentleman'sMagazineforApril1737.
351.DatesgiveninA.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.pp.11,12,andDeschamps,Les
SocitsSecrtesetlaSocit,III.29.Thewriterofthepaperin A.Q.C.
appearsnottorecognizetheauthorshipofthesecondwork L'Ordredes
FrancsMaonstrahi;butonp.xxixofthisbookthesignatureofAbb
Prau appears in the masonic cypher of the period derived from the
masonicwordLUX.Thiscypheris,ofcourse,nowwellknown.Itwillbe
foundonp.73ofClavel'sHistoirepittoresque.
352.TheBritishMuseumpossessesnoearliereditionofthisworkthanthat
of1797,butthefirsteditionmusthaveappearedatleastthirtyfiveyears
earlier,asAFreeMason'sAnswertothesuspectedAuthorof...Jachinand
Boaz,ofwhichacopymaybefoundintheBritishMuseum(Pressmark
112,d.41),isdated1762.Thisbookbearsonthetitlepagethefollowing
quotationfromShakespeare:
"Oh, that Heaven would put in every honest Hand a Whip to lash the
RascalnakedthroughtheWorld."
353.TheauthorofJachinandBoazsaysinthe1797editionthatinreplyto
this work he has received "several anonymous Letters, containing the
lowestAbuseandscurrilousInvectives;naysomehaveproceededsofaras
tothreatenhisPerson.HerequeststheFavourofallenragedBrethren,who
shallchusetodisplaytheirTalentsforthefuture,thattheywillbesokind
astopaythePostageoftheirLettersfortherecanbenoReasonwhyhe

shouldputupwiththeirillTreatmentandpaythePiperintotheBargain.
Surely there must be something in this Book very extraordinary; a
somethingtheycannotdigest,thustoexcitetheWrathandIreofthesehot
brained Masonbit Gentry." One letter he has received calls him "a
ScandalousStinkingPowCatt(sic)."
354.A.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.p.34.
355.Ibid.
356.Ibid.,p.15.MackeyalsothinksthatR.A.wasintroducedin1740,but
that before that date it formed part of the Master's degree (Lexicon of
Freemasonry,p.299).
357.Yarker,TheArcaneSchools,p.437.
358.ReviewbyYarkerofMr.A.E.Waite'sbookTheSecretTraditionin
FreemasonryinTheEquinox,Vol.I.No.7,p.414.
359.EncyclopdiaofFreemasonry,II.56.
360.A.Q.C.,Vol.XXXII,PartI.p.23.
361. Correspondence on Lord Derwentwater in Morning Post for
September15,1922.Mr.Waite(TheSecretTraditioninFreemasonry,I.
113)wronglygivesthenameofLordDerwentwaterasJohnRadcliffeand
inhis EncyclopdiaofFreemasonry asJamesRadcliffe.ButJameswas
thenameofthethirdEarl,beheadedin1716.
362.Gould,op.cit.III.138."ThefounderswereallofthemBritons."
A.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.p.6.
363."IfweturntoourEnglishengravedlistswefindthatwhateverLodge
(orLodges)mayhaveexistedinParisin1725musthavebeenunchartered,
forthefirstFrenchLodgeonourrollisonthelistfor173032....Itwould
appearprobable...thatDerwentwater'sLodge...wasaninformalLodge
and did not petition for a warrant till 1732."Gould, History of
Freemasonry,III.138.
364.JohnYarker,TheArcaneSchools,p.462.
365.GautierdeSibert,HistoiredesOrdresRoyaux,HospitaliersMilitaires
deNotreDameduCarmeletdeSaintLazaredeJrusalem,Vol.II.p.193
(Paris,1772).
366.Thisorationhasbeenpublishedseveraltimesandhasbeenvariously

attributedtoRamsayandtheDucd'Antin.TheauthorofapaperinA.Q.C.,
XXXII.PartI.,saysonp.7:"WhetherRamsaydeliveredhisspeechornot
isdoubtful,butitiscertainthathewroteit.Itwasprintedinanobscureand
obsceneParispapercalledtheAlmanachdesCocusfor1741andisthere
said to have been 'pronounced' by 'Monsieur de RGrand Orateur de
l'Ordre.'Itwasagainprintedin1742byBro.DelaTierceinhisHistoire,
ObligationsetStatuts,etc.,... andDelaTiercesaysthatitwas'prononc
parleGrandMatredesFrancsMaonsdeFrance'intheyear1740....A.
G.Jouast(HistoireduG.O.,1865)saystheOrationwasdeliveredatthe
InstallationoftheDucd'AntinasG.M.on24thJune,1738,andthesame
authoritystatesthatitwasfirstprintedattheHaguein1738,boundupwith
somepoemsattributedtoVoltaire,andsomelicentioustalesbyPiron....
Bro. Gould remarks: 'If such a work really existed at that date, it was
probablytheoriginalofthe"LettrephilosophiqueparM.deV , avec
plusieurs pices galantes," London, 1757.'" Mr. Gould has, however,
providedverygoodevidencethatRamsaywastheauthoroftheorationby
Daruty'sdiscoveryofthelettertoCardinalFleury,whichtogetherwiththe
orationitself(translatedfromDelaTierce'sversion)hereproducesinhis
HistoryofFreemasonry,Vol.III.p.84.
367.A.Q.C.,XXII.PartI.p.10.
368. Les plus secrets mystres des Hants Grades de la Maonnerie
dvoils, ou le vrai RoseCroix. A Jerusalem. M.DCC.LXVII. (A.Q.C.,
Vol.XXXII.PartI.p.13,refers,however,toaneditionof1747).
369.AsGodefroideBouillondiedin1100,Iconcludehisnametohave
beenintroducedhereinerrorbydeBrageorthedateof1330tohavebeen
amisprint.
370.Dr.Mackeyconfirmsthisassertion,LexiconofFreemasonry,p.304.
371.toileFlamboyante,I.pp.1820.
372.ThesametheorythatFreemasonryoriginatedinPalestineasasystem
of protection for the Christian faith is given almost verbatim in the
instructionstothecandidateforinitiationintothedegreeof"Princeofthe
Royal Secret" published in Monitor of Freemasonry (Chicago, 1860),
whereitisaddedthat"thebrethrenassembledroundthetombofHiram,is
a representation of the disciples lamenting the death of Christ on the
Cross." Weishaupt, founder of the eighteenthcentury Illuminati, also
showedalthoughinaspiritofmockeryhoweasilythelegendofHiram

couldbeinterpretedinthismanner,andsuggestedthatattheperiodswhen
theChristianswerepersecutedtheyenvelopedtheirdoctrinesinsecrecy
and symbolism. "That was necessary in times and places where the
Christianslivedamongsttheheathens,forexampleintheEastatthetime
oftheCrusades."NachtragzurOriginalschriften,PartII.p.123.
373.toileFlamboyante,pp.249.
374.Gould,HistoryofFreemasonry,III.92.
375.Mackey'sLexiconofFreemasonry,p.267.
376.Oliver'sLandmarksofFreemasonry,II.81,note35.
377.LexiconofFreemasonry,p.270.
378.Clavel,HistoirepittoresquedelaFrancMaonnerie,p.166.
379.A.Q.C.,XXXII.Part1.p.17.
380.TheRoyalOrderofScotland,byBro.Fred.H.Buckmaster,p.3
381.HistoiredelaVieetdesOuvragesdeMessireFranoisdeSalignac
delaMotheFenlon,archevquedeCambrai,pp.105,149(1727).
382.J.M.Ragon,OrdreChapitral,NouveauGradedeRoseCroix,p.35.
383.TheidentityofLordHarnouesterhasremainedamystery.Ithasbeen
suggestedthatHarnouesterisonlyaFrenchattempttospellDerwentwater,
andthereforethatthetwoGrandMastersreferredtowereoneandthesame
person.
384.In1786theseventhandeighthdegreesweretransposed,theeleventh
becameSublimeKnightElect,thetwentiethGrandMasterofallSymbolic,
thetwentyfirstNoachiteorPrussianKnight,thetwentythirdChiefofthe
Tabernacle, the twentyfourth Prince of the Tabernacle, the twentyfifth
KnightoftheBrazenSerpent.ThethirteenthisnowknownastheRoyal
ArchofEnochandmustnotbeconfoundedwiththeRoyalArch,whichis
the complement of the third degree. The fourteenth is now the Scotch
KnightofPerfection,thefifteenthKnightoftheSwordoroftheEast,and
thetwentiethisVenerableGrandMaster.
385.HistoryofFreemasonry,III.93.ThorygivesthedateoftheKadosch
degreeas1743,whichseemscorrect.
386.Zohar,sectionBereschith,folio18b.
387.A.Q.C.,XXVI:"TemplarLegendsinFreemasonry."

388."Thisdegreeisintimatelyconnectedwiththeancientorderofthe
KnightsTemplars,ahistoryofwhosedestruction,bytheunitedefiortsof
Philip, King of France, and Pope Clement V, forms a part of the
instructionsgiventothecandidate.ThedressoftheKnightsisblack,asan
emblemofmourningfortheextinctionoftheKnightsTemplars,andthe
deathofJacquesduMolay,theirlastGrandMaster...."Mackey,Lexicon
ofFreemasonry,p.172.
389.Mr.J.E.S.Tuckett,inthepaperbeforementioned,quotestheArticles
ofUnionof1813,inwhichitissaidthat"pureancientMasonryconsistsof
threedegreesandnomore,"andgoesontoobservethat:"Accordingtothis
viewthoseotherDegrees(whichforconveniencemaybecalledAdditional
Degrees)arenotrealMasonryatall,butanextraneousandspontaneous
growthspringinguparoundthe'Craft'proper,laterindate,andmostly
foreign,i.e.nonBritishinorigin,andtheexistenceofanysuchdegreesis
by some writers condemned as a contamination of the 'pure Ancient
Freemasonry'ofourforefathers."A.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.p.5.
390.J.J.Mounier,Del'InfluenceattribueauxPhilosophes,auxFrancs
MaonsetauxIlluminssurlaRvolutionFranaise,p.148(1822).See
also letter from the Duke of Northumberland at Alnwick to General
RainsforddatedJanuary19,1799,defendingBarruelfromthechargeof
attacking Masonry and pointing out that he only indicated the upper
degrees,A.Q.C.,XXVI,p.112.
391.Em.Rebold,HistoiredesTrotsGrandesLogesdeFrancsMaonsen
France,pp.9,10(1864).
392.A.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.21.
393. A.Q.C., XXXII. Part I. 22. It is curious that in this discussion by
membersoftheQuatuorCoronatiLodgetheinfluenceoftheTemplars,
whichprovidestheonlykeytothesituation,isalmostentirelyignored.
394.Yarker,TheArcaneSchools,pp.47982.
395.Mackey,LexiconofFreemasonry,p.119.
396. MartinesdePasqually,parPapus,prsidentduSuprmeConseilde
l'OrdreMartiniste,p.144(1895).PapusisthepseudonymofDr.Grard
Encausse.
397.Gould,HistoryofFreemasonry,III.241.

398.Seetheveryimportantarticleonthisquestionthatappearedin The
National Review for February 1923, showing that Carlyle was assisted
gratuitouslythroughouthisworkbyaGermanJewnamedJosephNeuberg
andwassuppliedwithinformationandfinallydecoratedbythePrussian
Government.
399.Executedin1746asapartisanoftheStuarts.
400.Gould,op.cit.,Vol.III.pp.101,110;A.Q.C.,Vol.XXXII.PartI.p.
31.
401.A.E.Waite,TheSecretTraditioninFreemasonry,I.296,370,415.
402.Clavel(HistoirepittoresquedelaFrancMaonnerie,p.185)saysit
wasafterwardsdiscoveredthat"thePretender,farfromhavingmadede
HundtaTemplar,onthecontrarywasmadeaTemplarbyhim."Butother
authorities deny that Prince Charles Edward was initiated even into
Freemasonry.
403. Lecouteulx de Canteleu, Les Sectes et Societes Secrtes, p. 242;
Clavel,op.cit.,p.184.
404.Gould,op.cit.,III.100.
405.Ibid.,III.99,103;Waite, SecretTraditioninFreemasonry,I.289:
"TheRiteoftheStricteObservancewasthefirstmasonicsystemwhich
claimed to derive its authority from Unknown Superiors, irresponsible
themselves but claiming absolute jurisdiction and obedience without
question."
406.HistoiredelaMonarchiePrussienne,V.61(1788).
407.LesSectesetSocitsSecrtes,p.246.
408.Gould,op.cit.,III.102.Waite(EncyclopdiaofFreemasonry,II.23)
saysJohnsonwas"inrealitynamedLeucht,anEnglishmanbyhisclaim
whodidnotknowEnglishandisbelievedtohavebeenaJew."
409.Mackey,op.cit.,p.331.
410.Gould,HistoryofFreemasonry,III.93;A.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.p.24.
411.Lvitikon,p.8(1831);FabrPalaprat,Rechercheshistoriquessurles
Templiers,p.28(1835)
412.M.Grgoire,HistoiredesSectesReligieuses,II.401.Findelsaysthat
very soon after Frederick's return home from Brunswick "a lodge was

secretlyorganizedinthecastleofRheinsberg"(HistoryofFreemasonry,
Eng.trans.,p.252).ThislodgewouldappearthentohavebeenaTemplar,
notaMasonicLodge.
413.Oliver,HistoricalLandmarksinFreemasonry,II.110
414.Findel,HistoryofFreemasonry(Eng.trans.),p.290.
415.OnthispointseeinteraliaMackey,LexiconofFreemasonry,pp.91,
328. In England and in the Grand Orient of France most of the upper
degrees have fallen intodisuse, and this rite,known inEngland as the
AncientandAcceptedRiteandinFranceastheScottishRite,consistsof
fivedegreesonlyinadditiontothethreeCraftdegrees(knownasBlue
Masonry),whichformthebasisofallmasonicrites.Thesefivedegreesare
theeighteenthRoseCroix,thethirtiethKniqhtKadosch,andthethirtyfirst
tothethirtythird.TheEnglishFreemason,onbeingadmittedtotheupper
degrees,thereforeadvancesatoneboundfromthethirddegreeofMaster
MasontotheeighteenthdegreeofRoseCroix,whichthusformsthefirst
oftheupperdegrees.Theintermediatedegreesare,however,stillworked
inAmerica.
416. ScottishRiteofFreemasonry:theConstitutionsandRegulationsof
1762, by Albert Pike, Sovereign Grand Commander of the Supreme
Council of the Thirtythird Degree for the Southern Jurisdiction of the
UnitedStates,p.138(A.M.5632).
417.RO.StatePapers,Foreign,France,Vol.243,Jan.2andFeb.19,1752.
418. John Morley, Diderot and the Encyclopdists, Vol. I. pp. 12347
(1886).
419.Gould,op.cit.,III.87.Mr.Gouldnavelyaddsinafootnotetothis
passage:"TheproposedDictionaryisacuriouscruxisitpossiblethatthe
RoyalSocietymayhaveformedsomesuchidea?"Thebeginningalready
madeinLondonwasofcoursetheCyclopdiaofChambers,publishedin
1728,andChambers,whointhefollowingyearwasmadeaFellowofthe
RoyalSociety,ifnothimselfaMasonnumberedmanyprominentMasons
amongst his friends, including the globemaker Senex to whom he had
been apprenticed and who published Anderson's Constitutions in 1723.
(SeeA.Q.C.,XXXII.PartI.p.18.)
420.Papus,MartinesdePasqually,p.146(1895).
421.Evidentlyareferencetothesevenliberalartsandsciencesenumerated

in the Fellow Craft's degreeGrammar, Rhetoric, Logic, Arithmetic,

Geometry,Music,andAstronomy.
422.In1767VoltairewritestoFrederickaskinghimtohavecertainbooks
printed in Berlin and circulated in Europe "at a low price which will
facilitatethesales."TothisFrederickreplies:"Youcanmakeuseofmy
printersaccordingtoyourdesires,"etc.(letterofMay5,1767).Ihave
referred elsewhere to the libels against Marie Antoinette circulated by
Frederick'sagentsinFrance.SeemyFrenchRevolution,pp.27,183.
423.EliphasLvi,HistoiredelaMagie,p407.TherleofFreemasonryin
preparingtheRevolutionhabituallydeniedbytheconspiracyofhistoryis
neverthelessclearlyrecognizedinmasoniccirclesapplaudedbythoseof
France,deploredbythoseofEnglandandAmerica.AnAmericanmanual
inmypossessioncontainsthefollowingpassage:"TheMasons...(itisnow
wellsettledbyhistory)originatedtheRevolutionwiththeinfamousDuke
ofOrleansattheirhead."ARitualandIllustrationsofFreemasonry,p.31
note.
424.Papus,MartinesdePasqually,p.150.
425.BenjaminFabre,EquesaCapiteGaleato,p.88.
426.SouvenirsduBarondeGleichen,p.151.
427.HenriMartin,HistoiredeFrance,XVI.529.
428.Heckethorn,SecretSocieties,I.218;Waite,SecretTradition,II.155,
156.
429. "The ceremonial magic of Pasqually followed that type which I
connectwiththedebasedKabbalismofJewry."A.E.Waite, TheSecret
TraditioninFreemasonry,II.175.
430. An eighteenthcentury manuscript of Les vrais clavicules du roi
Salomon,translatedfromtheHebrew,wassoldinParisin1921.
431.Mackev,LexiconofFreemasonry,p.156
432.A.E.Waite, TheDoctrineandLiteratureoftheKabbalah,p.369.
RagonelsewheregivesanaccountofthephilosophicaldegreeoftheRose
Croix,inwhichthesacredformulaI.N.R.I.,whichplaysanimportantpart
intheChristianformofthisdegree,isinterpretedtomeanIgneNatura
RenovaturIntegraNatureisrenewedbyfire.NovueauGradedeRose
Croix, p 69. Mackev gives this as an alternative interpretation of the

Rosicrucians.LexiconofFreemasonry,p.150.
433.Ragon,MafonnerieOcculte,p.91.
434.GustaveBord,LaFrancMaonnerieenFrancs,desOrigines1815,
p.212(1908).
435. Letter from General Rainsford of October 1782, quoted in
TransactionsoftheJewishHistoricalSociety,Vol.VIII.p.125.
436.DeLuchet (Essai sur laSectsdes Illumins,p.212) refers tothe
followingworksinconnexionwiththeOrder:
1. NouvellesauthentiquesdesChevaliersetFrresInitisd'Asie.
2. Reoiton,peutonrecevoirlesJuifsparmilesFrancMaons?
3. Nouvellesauthentiquesdel'Asie,byFrederickdeBascamp,nomm
Lazapolski(1787).
Wolfstieg,inhis BibliograpkiederFreimaurischerLtteratur,Vol.II.p.
283,givesFriedrichMnterastheauthorofthefirstoftheabove,andalso
mentions amongst others a work by Gustave Brabe, Die Asiatischen
BrderinBerlinundWien.ButnoneofthesearetobefoundintheBritish
Museum,noristhebookofRolling(publishedin1787),whichgivesaway
thesecretsofthesect.
437. Books in Wolfstieg's list refer to the Order as "the only true and
genuineFreemasonry"(dieeinzigewahreundechteFreimaurerei).
438.Clavel,Histoirepittoresque,etc.,p.167.
439.TheBarondeGleichen,indescribingthe"Convulsionists,"saysthat
young women allowed themselves to be crucified, sometimes head
downwards,atthesemeetingsofthefanatics.Hehimselfsawonenailedto
thefloorandhertonguecutwitharazor.(SouvenirsdaBarondeGleichen,
p.185.)
440.Barruel,MmoiressurleJacobinisme,IV.263.
441. Franciscus,EquesaCapiteGaleato,publishedbyBenjaminFabre
withprefacebyCopinAlbancelli.Apaperonthisbookappearsin Ars
QuatuorCoronatorum,Vol.XXX.PartII.Theauthor,Mr.J.E.S.Tuckett,
describes it as abook of extraordinary interest to Freemasons. Without
sharingMr.Tuckett'sadmirationfor themembersof theRitPrimitif,I
agreewithhimthatM.Fabreattributestothemtoomuchguileandfailsto
substantiatehischargeofrevolutionarydesigns.Theyappeartohavebeen

theperfectlyhonourabledupesofsubtlerbrains.IncidentallyMr.Tuckett
erroneouslygivestherealnameof"EquesaCapiteGaleato"asChefdebien
d'Armand;itshouldbed'Armisson.
442.DeLuchet,EssaisurlaSectedesIllumins,p.208.Gould,op.cit.,III.
116.
443.ItisamusingtonotethatMr.Waiteconfuseshimwiththerightful
bearerofthename,ClaudeLouis,ComtedeSaintGermain,Ministerof
WarunderLouisXVI,forinTheSecretTraditioninFreemasonry,Vol.II.,
apictureoftherealCountisappendedtoadescriptionoftheadventurer.
444.BiographicMichaud,articleonSaintGermain.
445. Souvenirs de la Marquise de Crquy, III. 65. Francois Bournand
(HistoiredelaFrancMaonnerie,p.106)confirmsthisstory:"Theman
whocalledhimselftheComtedeSaintGermainwasinrealityonlytheson
ofanAlsatianJewnamedWolf."
446.NouvelleBiographieGnrale,articleonSaintGermain.
447.FrederickBlau,GeheimeGeschichtenundrthselhafteMenschen,I.
311(1850);Eckert, LaFrancMaonnenedanssavritablesignification,
II.80,quotingLening'sEncyclopdiedesFrancMafons.
448.LecouteulxdeCanteleu,op.cit.,pp.171,172.
449.Clavel,Histoirepittoresque,p.175.
450.Ibid.,p.175.
451.Figuier,HistoireduMerveilleux,IV.911(1860).
452.Mounier,Del'influenceattribue,etc.,p.140.
453.BenjaminFabre,FranciscusequesaCapiteGaleato,p.24.
454.DeLuchet,EssaisurlaSectedesIllumins(1792edition),p.234.
455.L'Antismitisme,p.335.
456.Ibid.,p.328.
457.ArticlebyMr.LucienWolf,"TheFirstEnglishJew,"inTransactions
oftheJewishHistoricalSocietyofEngland,Vol.II.p.18.Onthisquestion
see also the pamphlets by Mr. Lucien Wolf: CryptoJews under the
Commonwealth (1894), Cromwell's Jewish Intelligencers (1891), and
ManassehbenIsrael'sMissiontoOliverCromwell(1901),alsoarticleson

Cromwell,Carvajal,andManassehbenIsraelintheJewishEncyclopdia.
458.LucienWolf,"TheFirstEnglishJew,"inTransactionsoftheJewish
HistoricalSocietyofEngland,II.20.
459.Tovey,AngliaJudaica,p.275.
460.TheJewishEncyclopdia,initsarticleonManassehbenIsrael,says:
"Hewasfullofcabalisticopinions,thoughhewascarefulnottoexpound
them in those of his works that werewritten in modernlanguages and
intended to be read by Gentiles." In its article on "Magic" the Jewish
Encyclopdia referstothe"NishmatHayyim,"aworkbyManassehben
Israelwhich"isfilledwithsuperstitionandmagic"andaddsthat"many
Christianscholarsweredeluded."
461.Tovey, AngliaJudaica,p.259;Margoliouth, HistoryoftheJewsin
England,II.3.
462.Mirabeau(SurlaRformepolitiquedesJuifs,1787)thinkstheymay
nothavebeenallowedtoreturnunconditionallyuntil1664.Itwascertainly
at this date that they were formally granted free permission to live in
Englandandpracticetheirreligion(Margoliouth,op.cit.,II.26).
463.Margohouth,opcit.,II43.
464.TheDiggerMovementintheDaysoftheCommonwealth,byLewisH.
Berens,pp.36,74,76,98,141(1906).
465. Claudio Jannet, Les Prcurseurs de la FrancMaonnerie, p. 47
(1187).
466.HarmsworthEncyclopdia,articleonJews.
467.DiaryofSamuelPepys,dateofFebruary19,1666
468.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonShabbethaiZebiB.Mordecai.
469.HenryHartMilman, HistoryoftheJews (Everyman'sLibrary),Vol.
II.p.445.
470.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonBa'alShemTob.
471.Milman,op.cit,II.446.
472.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonHeilprin,JoelBenUri.
473.Heckethorn,SecretSocieties,I.87.
474.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonJacobFrank.

475.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonJacobFrank.
476.Ibid.
477.Milraan,op.cit.,II.447.
478.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonJacobFrank.
479.Ibid.
480.Ibid.:Heckethorn.SecretSocieties,I.87.
481.Milman,op.cit.,II.448.Cf.descriptionofpompdisplayedbyanother
memberoftheoppressedracenamedFrnkel,whoappearedataparadeof
JewryatPraguein1741inacarriagedrawnbysixhorsesandsurrounded
by footmen and horseguards.Jewish Encyclopdia, article on Frnkel,
SimonWolf.
482. Jewish Encyclopedia,articleonFalk,of whomagoodportraitby
Copleyisgiven.OnFalkseealsoArsQuatuorCoronatorum,Vol.XXVI.
Part I. pp. 98105, and Vol. XXX. Part II; Transactions of the Jewish
HistoricalSociety,Vol.V.p.148,articleon"TheBa'alShemofLondon,"
bytheRev.Dr.H.Adler,ChiefRabbi,andVol.VIII,"Notesonsome
ContemporaryReferencestoDr.Falk,theBa'alShemofLondon,inthe
Rainsford MSS. at the British Museum," by Gordon P.G. Hills. The
followingpagesaretakenentirelyfromthesesources.
483.FalkdoesnotappeartohavebroughtgoodfortunetotheGoldsmid
family,forMargoliouthinapassagewhichevidentlyrelatestoFalksays
that,accordingtoJewishlegend,thesuicideofAbrahamGoldsmidandhis
brotherwasattributedtothefollowingcause:"ABa'alShem,anoperative
Cabalist,inotherwordsathaumaturgosandprophet,usedtolivewiththe
father of the Goldsmids. On his deathbed he summoned the patriarch
Goldsmid,anddeliveredintohishandsabox,whichhestrictlyenjoined
shouldnotbeopenedtillatertainperiodwhichtheBa'alShemspecified,
and in case of disobedience a torrent of fearful calamities would
overwhelmtheGoldsmids.Thepatriarch'scuriositywasnotarousedfor
sometime;butinafewyearsaftertheBa'alShem'sdeath,Goldsmid,the
aged,halfsceptic,halfcurious,forcedopenthefatalbox,andthenthe
GoldsmidsbegantolearnwhatitwastodisbelievethewordsofaBa'al
Shem."Margoliouth,HistoryoftheJews,II.144.
484.TransactionsoftheJewishHistoricalSociety,V.162.

485.BenjaminFabre,EquesaCapiteGaleato,p.84.
486.BenjaminFabre,opcit.,pp.88,90,98,110.
487. Clavel, Histoire pittoresque, pp. 188, 390; Robison's Proofs of a
Conspiracy,p.77.
488.TheRoyalMasonicCyclopdiadescribesbothNathanderWeiseand
ErnstundFalkasprominentworksonMasonry.
489.Thereis,however,thepossibilitythatLessingmayhavehadinmind
anotherFalklivingatthesameperiod;thiswas"JohnFrederickFalk,born
atHamburgofJewishparents,reportedtohavebeenheadofaCabalistic
College in London and to have died about 1824" (Tranactions of the
JewishHistoricalSociety,VIII.128).Butinviewofthepartwhichthe
correspondenceofSavalettedeLangesshowstheBa'alShemofLondonto
haveplayedinthebackgroundofFreemasonry,itseemsmoreprobable
thathewastheFalkinquestion.Atanyrate,bothwereJewsandCabalists.
490.Whocanthishavebeen?
491. The Duchesse de Gontaut relates in her Mmoires that the Due
d'OrlanswasonedaydrivingthroughtheforestofFontainebleauwhena
man,halfclothedandwithadementedair,sprangtowardsthecarriage,
grimacing horribly.The Duke's suite, taking him for amadman, would
havekepthimatbay,buttheDuke,atthatmomentawakingfromsleep,
unbuttonedhisshirtandshowedhisassailantanironringsuspendedround
hisneck.Atthissightthemantooktohisheelsanddisappearedintothe
wood.Themysteryofthisincidentwasneverelucidated,andtheDuke,
whenquestionedonthematter,wouldoffernoexplanation.Couldthisring
havebeenFalk'stalisman?
492.Margoliouth,op.cit.,II.1214.SeealsoLifeofLordGeorgeGordon
byRobertWatson(1795),pp.71,72.
493.FriedrichBiilau,GeheimeGeschichtenundrthselhafteMenschen,I.
325(1850).ThePublicAdvertiser,Aug.22,24,1786.
494.Barruel,Vol.III.p.xi.,quotingGaultier.
495. Silvestre de Sacy, "Mmoires sur la Dynastie des Assassins," in
Mmoiresdel'InstitutRoyaldeFrance,Vol.IV.(1818).
496.HistoryofFreemasonry,III.121.
497.MmoiressurleJacobinisme(editionof1819),Vol.III.p.9.

498.Ibid.,III.55,56.
499.EssatsurlaSectedeslllumins,pp.2839.
500. "Our worst enemies the Jesuits."Letter from Spartacus,
Originalschriften,p.306.
501.Figuier,HistoiredeMerveilleux,IV.77.
502.OriginalschriftendesIlluminatenordens,p.230.
503.Ibid.,p.331.
504.In WorldRevolution IsuggestedaresemblancebetweentheJewish
calendarandthatoftheIlluminati.Thiswasanerror;theJewishcalendar
wasadoptedbytheScottishRite,which,aswehaveseen,derivedpartly
fromJudaicsources.
505. Thus Zwack (alias Cato) writes: "We have not only hindered the
enlistingsoftheRoseCroixbutrenderedtheirverynamecontemptible."
Originalschriften,p.8.
506.Originalschriften,p.363.ThewordIlluminismisalwaysrepresented
bythissymbolinthecorrespondenceoftheIlluminati.
507.Ibid.,p.202.
508.Ibid.,p.331.
509. A. E. Waite, "Freemasonry and the Jewish Peril," in The Occult
ReviewforSeptember1920,p.152.
510.MmoiresdeMirabeaucratsparluimme,parsonpre,sononcle
etsonfilsadoptif,etprcdsd'unetudesurMirabeauparVictorHugo,
Vol.III.p.47(1834).
511.IhaveexpresslymadeuseofM.Barthou'srsuminsteadofmaking
oneofmyown,lestIshouldbesaidtohavemadejudiciousselectionsin
ordertosuitthepurposeofshowingtheresemblancebetweenthisMemoir
and the passage from Mirabeau's other writings which follows. But M.
Barthou'simpartialitycannotbeimpugned,forheappearstoknownothing
abouttheIlluminatiorMirabeau'sconnexionwiththem,andregardsthe
MemoirinquestionassolelytheoutcomeofMirabeau'smindwhichhad
"ripened"since1772.
512.F.Barthou,Mirabeau,p.57.
513. In the Memoir drawn up by Mirabeau quoted above we find this

passage:"Itmustbeafundamentalrulenevertoallowanyprincetoenter
theassociationwereheagodforvirtue."MmoiresdeMirabeau,III.60.
514.HistoiredelaMonarchiePrussienne,V.99.
515.HenryMartin,HistoiredeFrance,XVI.533.
516.LouisBlanc,HistoiredelaRvolutionFranaise,II.84.
517.HistoryofFreemasonry,III.121.
518.Originalschriften,p.258.
519.Ibid.,p.297.
520.Ibid.,p.285.
521.Ibid.,p.286.
522. Originalschriften,p.300.ItseemsthatwhenaFreemasonappeared
likelytofallinwiththeschemeofIlluminism,hewassoonallowedto
knowofthefurthersystem.Thusinthecaseof"Savioli""Cato"writes:
"NowthatheisaMasonIhaveputallaboutthis beforehim,shownhim
whatisunimportantandatthisopportunitytakenupthegeneralplanofour
,andasthispleasedhimIsaidthatsuchathingreallyexisted,whereat
hegavemehiswordthathewouldenterit."Originalschriften,p.289.
523.Ibid.,p.303.
524.Ibid.,p.361.
525.Ibid.,p.363.
526.Ibid.,p.360.
527.Originalschriften,p.200.
528.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,I.67.
529.Ibid.,p.95.
530. Lexicon of Freemasonry, p. 142. See also Oliver's Historical
LandmarksofFreemasonry,I.26,wheretheIlluminatiarerightlyincluded
amongsttheenemiesofMasonry.Nevertheless,bothMackeyandOliver
proceedtorevileBarruelandRobisonasenemiesofMasonry,andinorder
to substantiate this accusation Oliver descends to the most flagrant
misquotation.Forifwelookupintheoriginalthepassageshequoteson
page382fromRobisonandonpage573fromBarruelasevidenceoftheir
calumniesonMasonry,weshallfindthattheyreferrespectively tothe

RoseCroixCabalistsandtheIlluminatiandnottotheFreemasonsatall!
SeeRobison'sProofsofaConspiracy,p.93,andBarruel'sMmoiressurle
Jacobinisme(1818edition),II.244.
531.OeuvresCompltesdeVoltaire(1818edition).Vol.XLI.p.153.
532.Ibid.,pp.165,168.
533.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften.II.5457.
534.Ibid.,p.82.
535.Ibid.,p.59.
536.Ibid.,p.63.
537.Ibid.,p.65.
538.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,II.67.
539.Ibid.,pp.80,81.
540.Ibid.,pp.98,99.
541.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,II.100101.
542.Ibid.,p.105:"HeHimselflivedwithHisdisciplesincommunityof
goods."
543.Ibid,p.101.ThiswasoneoftheearliestheresiesoftheChristianera
refutedbyOrigen:"Moreover,he[Celsus]frequentlycallstheChristian
doctrineasecretsystem,wemustrefutehimonthispoint...tospeakofthe
Christiandoctrineasasecretsystemisaltogetherabsurd."Origen,Contra
Celsum,inTheAnteNiceneChristianLibrary,p.403(1869).
544.Ibid.,p.106.
545.Ibid.,p.113.
546.Ibid.,p.96.
547.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,II.111.
548.Ibid.,II.123.
549.Ibid.,II.124.
550.Ibid.,I.68.
551.Ibid.,II.113.
552.Ibid.,II.115.

553.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,II.13,14.
554.Ibid.,I.104.
555.Ibid.,I.104106.
556.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,I.76.
557.Originalschriften,p.8.
558.Ibid.,p.9.
559.Ibid.,p.10
560.NeuestenArbeitendesSpartacusundPhilo,pp.143,163.
561.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,I.3.
562.Originalschriften,p.215.
563.Ibid.,p.173.
564.Ibid.,p.175.
565.Ibid.,pp.2378.
566.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,I.12.
567.Originalschriften,p.231.
568.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,II.2.
569.Originalschriften,p.51.
570.Ibid.,p.52.
571.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,II.45.
572.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,II.51.
573.Originalschriften,p.210.
574.Ibid.,p.72.
575.Ibid.,p.271.
576.Ibid.,p.50.
577.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,I.32.
578.RoyalMasonicCyclopdia,articleonIlluminati.
579.Feder,apreacherattheCourtwhohadjoinedtheIlluminati.
580.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,I.42.

581.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,I.39,40.
582.Ibid.,I.47.
583.Originalschriften,pp.370,371.
584.Ibid.,pp.257,258.
585.GiveninthecypheroftheIlluminati:"Denkensie,meine18.10.5.
21.12.6.8.17.4.13.ist18.10.5.21.12.13.6.8.17.(meineSchwgerin
istschwanger)."Seecypheronp.1ofOriginalschnften.
586.Note,then,thatthiswasnosuddenlapseonthepartofWeishaupt.
587.Nachtragvon...Onginalschrtften,I.1416.
588.Ibid.,I.21.
589.Ibid.,I.99.
590.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,I.112.
591.AuthoroftheveryinterestingworkLaVritsurlesSocitsSecrtes
enAllemagne,parunAncienIllumin(Paris,1819).
592.Del'InfluenceattribueauxPhilosophes,auxFrancsMaonsetaux
Illuminssurla,RvolutiondeFrance,parJ.J.Mounier(1822),p.181.
593.IthasseveraltimesbeenstatedthatWeishauptwashimselfaJew.I
cannotfindtheslightestevidencetothiseffect.
594.Originalschriften,pp.10710.
595."Foresightindicates,"saysFalk,"thatanendmustbemadetothe
wholeofthepresentschemeofFreemasonry[demganzenjetzigenSchema
derFreimaurereieinEndezumachen],"andhegoesontoshowthatthis
mustbedonebypickedmeninthesecretsocietieswhoknowthetrue
secretsofMasonry.ThisispreciselyWeishaupt'sidea.
596.In1779SpartacuswritestoMariusandCatosuggestingthatinsteadof
IlluminatitheOrdershouldbecalledthe"OrderofBees[Bienenordenoder
Bienengesellschaft]," and that all the statutes should be clothed in this
allegoryOriginalschriften,p.320.
597.Nachtragvon...Originalschriften,II.81.
598.Myitalics.
599.Wherearetheycalledthis?TheCabaladistinctlystatesthatIsrael

aloneistopossessthefutureworld(Zohar,sectionVayschlah,folio177b),
whilsttheTalmudevenexcludesthelosttribes:"thetentribeshaveno
shareintheworldtocome"(TractSanhedrim,Rodkinson'stranslation,p.
363).
600.MemoirsofMosesMendelssohn,byM.Samuels,pp.56,57(1827).
601.LettertotheJewishChronicle,September1,1922,quotingHenrietta
Herz.
602.GoethewasinitiatedintoFreemasonryonSt.John'sEve,1780. The
Royal Masonic Cyclopdia observes: "There exist two great classical
Masonicwriters,LessingandGoethe."Dr.Stauffer,inNewEnglandand
theBavarianIlluminati(p.172),pointsoutfurtherthatGoethe'sconnexion
with the Illuminati is fully established by both Engel (Geschichte des
Illuminatenordens, pp. 355 and following) and by Le Forestier (Les
IlluminsdeBavire,pp.396andfollowing).ItispossiblethatFaustmay
bethehistoryofaninitiationbyadisillusionedIlluminatus.
603.HenriMartin,HistoiredeFrance,Vol.XVI.p.531.
604.HistoriedelaMonarchieprussienne,V.73.
605.ArsQuatuorCoronatorum,Vol.XXVI.p.98.
606."NotesontheRainsfordPapers"inA.Q.C.,Vol.XXVI.p.111.
607.MorningHeraldforNovember2,1786.
608.Eckert,LaFrancMaonneriedanssavritablesignification,Vol.II.
p.92.
609.DreimerkwrdigeAussagen,etc.,evidenceofGrnberger,Cosandey,
andRenner(Munich,1786);GrosseAbsichtendesOrdensderIlluminaten,
etc.,Ditto,withUtzschneider(Munich,1786).
610.GustaveBord,LaFrancMaonnerieenFrance,etc.,p.351(1908).
ThisAustralianCountisreferredtointhecorrespondenceoftheIlluminati
moreasanagentthanasanadept.ThusWeishauptwrites:"Imustattempt
tocurehimoftheosophyandbringhimroundtoourviews"(Nachtragvon
...Originalschnften,I.71);andPhilo,beforetheCongressofWilhelmsbad,
observes:"Numeniusisnotyetofmuchuse.Iamonlytakinghimupsoas
tostophismouthattheCongress[umihnaujdemConventedasMeulzu
stopfen];still,ifheiswellledwecanmakesomethingoutofhim."(ibid.,
p.109).

611.DieNeuestenArbeitendesSpartacusundPhiloindemIlluminaten
Orden.p.viii(1794).
612.DeLuchet,EssaisurlaSectedesIllumins,p.vii.
613.CrtineauJoly,L'gliseRomaineenfacedelaRvolution,I.p.93.
614.InmyWorldRevolutionIacceptederroneouslytheopinionofseveral
wellknownwriterswhoattributethispamphlettoMirabeau.Thefactthat
itwasprintedat theendofMirabeau's HistoireSecrtedelaCourde
BerlinandthatafurthereditionrevisedbyMirabeauwaspublishedin1792
no doubt gave rise to this supposition. But apart from the fact that
MirabeauasanIlluminatuswasunlikelyhimselftodenouncetheOrder,
theproofthathewasnottheauthormaybefoundattheBritishMuseum,
wherethecopyofthe1792editionbearsonthetitlepagethewordsinink
"Donnparl'auteur,"andMirabeaudiedinthespringof thepreceding
year.
615.BritishMuseumpressmarkF.259(14).
616.OeuvresposthumesdeMarmontel,IV.77.
617.LombarddeLangres,HistoiredesJacobins,p.31(1820).
618. Deschamps, Les Socits Secrtes et la Socit, II. 151, quoting
document amongst the papers of Cardinal Bernis entitled: Discours
prononcaucomitdelaPropagandeparM.Duport,undesesmmoires,
le21mai1790.
619.GalartdeMontjoie,HistoiredeMarieAntoinettedeLorraine,p.156
(1797).
620.LombarddeLangres,HistoiredesJacobins,p.117(1820).
621.Ibid.,p.236.
622.SeeDieNeuestenArbeitendesSpartacusundPhilo,p.71,wherethe
Illuminatiaredescribedaswearing"fliegendeHaareundkleinevierekte
rothesamtne Hute."Analternativetheoryis,however,thatthe"capof
liberty"wascopiedfromthatofthegalleyslaves.
623.HistoiredesJacobins,p.117.
624.A.E.Waite,TheMysteriesofMagic,p.215.
625.Moniteur,Vol.II.,sancedu23dcembre,1789.
626.ThophileMalvezin,HistoiredesJuifsBordeaux,p.262(1875).

627. RequtedessixcorpsdemarchandsetngociantsdePariscontre
l'admissiondesJuifsinArchivesNationales,quotedbyHenriDelassus,La
QuestionJuive,p.60(1911).
628.LeonKahn,LesJuifsdeParispendantlaRvolution(1898).
629. Ibid., p. 167. Cf. Arthur Chuquet, La Lgion Germanique, p. 139
(1904).
630.ArchivesNationales,F*.2486.
631.MyFrenchRevolution,p.274.
632.Kahn,op.cit.,pp.140,141,170,201,241.
633.NouvelleAdressedesJuifsl'AssembleNationale,le24dcembre,
1789.
634. Moniteur, Vol. XVIII., sances of 21st and 22nd Brumaire, An 2
(November,1793).
635. Discours de morale, prononc le 2ime dcadi, 20 frimaire, l'an
2imedelarpublique...antempledelaVrit,cidevantl'glisedes
bndictinsAngelyBoutonne...faitparlecitoyenAlexandreLambert,
fils, juif et lev dans les prjugs du culte judaque (1794), British
MuseumpressmarkF.1058(4).
636.Kahn,op.cit.,p.311.
637.CrimesdelaRvolution,III.44.
638.ArchivesNationales, PiceremiseparleCabinetdeVienne (1824),
F*7566.
639.ChevalierdeMalet,Recherchespolitiquesethistoriques,p.2(1817).
640.Eckert,LaFrancMaonneriedanssavritablesignification,II.125.
641.Mr.LucienWolf,"TheJewishPeril,"articleintheSpectatorforJune
12,1920.
642.A.E.Waite,"OccultFreemasonryandtheJewishPeril,"inTheOccult
ReviewforSeptember,1920.
643. Deschamps, op. cit., II. 197, quoting Tableau historique de la
Maonnerie,p.38.
644.EquesaCapiteGaleato,pp.362,364,366.

645.Ibid.,p.423.
646.TheWarofAntiChristwiththeChurchandChristianCivilization,p.
30(1885).
647.G.Lentre,LeDauphin(Eng.trans.),p.307.
648.ArchivesNationales,F*6563.
649.ArchivesNationalesF*6563No.2449,Srie2.No.49.
650.PiceremiseparleCabinetdeVienne,F*7566.
651.Lettresd'unVoyageurl'AbbBarruel,p.30(1800).
652. World Revolution, pp. 86 and following, where extracts from the
correspondenceoftheAltaVendita(orHauteVenteRomaine)weregiven.
This correspondence will be found in L'glise Romaine en face de la
Rvolution,byCrtineauJoly,whopublisheditfromthedocumentsseized
bythePontifical Governmentatthedeathof oneofthemembers.The
documentswerecommunicated toCrtineauJolybythe Pope Grgoire
XVI,andpublishedwiththeapprovalofPiusIX.Theirauthenticityhas
neverbeenquestioned.TheyarestillinthesecretarchivesoftheVatican,
oratanyratewerethereatthebeginningofthepresentyear.
653JanWitt,ditBuloz,LesSocitsSecrtesdeFranceetd'ltalie,pp.20,
21(1830).
654.Ibid.,p.6.
655.LouisBlanc,HistoiredeDixAns,I.88,89.
656.Deschamps, LesSocitsSecrtesetlaSocit,II.534,quotingthe
MondeMaonmqueforJuly,1867.
657. Correspondence de Michel Bakounine, published by Michael
Dragomanov,pp.73,209(1896).
658.A.E.Waite,TheSecretTraditioninFreemasonry,Vol.I.p.ix.
659.TheRealHistoryoftheRosicrucians,p.403.
660.PaulNourrisson,LesJacobinsanPouvoir,pp.202,215(1904).
661. J.M. Ragon, Cours philosophique ... des Initiations, etc., dition
sacre(5,842),p.19.
662.Ibid.,p.38.

663.CopinAlbancelli,LePouvoiroccultecontrelaFrance,p.124(1908).
664.Ibid.,p.125.
665.Ragon,op.cit.,p.38,note2.
666.Ibid.,p.39.
667.Ibid.,p.52.
668.Ibid.,p.53.
669.Clavel,HistoirepittoresquedelaFrancMaonnerie,p.21.
670.Ibid.,p.23.
671.InLaRpubliqueuniverselle,publishedin1793.
672.GeorgesGoyau, L'IdedePatrieetl'Humanitarisme,p.242(1913),
quotingspeechofF.Troubatin1886.AperiodicalcalledLestatsUnisde
l'EuropewaspublishedbyFerdinandBuissonin1868.Ibid.,p.113.
673.CopinAlbancelli,LePouvoiroccultscontrelaFrance,p.89.
674.Gould,HistoryofFreemasonry,III.191,192.
675.Ibid.,III.26.
676.CopinAlbancelli,LePouvoiroccultecontrelaFrance,p.97.
677.Ibid.,p.90.
678.LePouvoiroccultecontrelaFrance,pp.2747.
679.Ibid.,pp.2846.
680.LePouvoiroccultecontrelaFrance,p.44.
681.Ibid.,p.263.
682.Ibid.,p.294.
683.LaConjurationjuivecontreleMondeChrtien(1909).
684.MorningPostforFebruary1andFebruary26,1923.
685.CopinAlbancelli,LePouvoiroccultecontrelaFrance,p.132.
686.Gautrelet,LaFrancMaonnerieetlaRvolution,p.87(1872).
687.CopinAlbancelli,LePouvoiroccultecontrelaFrance,p.85.
688.LouisDast, MarieAntinetteetleComplotMaonnique,pp.4951
(1910).

689.TimesforDecember30,1921;AEpoca,November28,1921.
690. These documents were published in a book entitled A
SzabadkmivessegBneibyAdorjanBarcsay.
691.TwoCenturiesofFreemasonry,p.79.PublishedbytheInternational
BureauforMasonicAffairs,ofNeuchatel,1917.
692. Article on "The Popes and Freemasonry," by the Rev. Herbert
Thurston,S.J.,inTheTabletforJanuary27,1923.
693.EveningStandard,June26,1923.
694.Ragon,CoursdesInitiations,p.33.
695. Alliance de la Dmocratic Socialiste, etc., publi par l'ordre du
CongrsInternationaldelaHaye,p.93(1873).
696.HistoiredesClubsdeFemmes,bytheBaronMarcdeVilliers,p.380.
697.RenGunon,LeThosophisme,p.245(1921).
698.Gunon,op.cit.,p.248,quotingLaLumireMaonnique,Nov.Dec.
1912,p.522.
699. Alice Leighton Cleather, H. P. Blavatsky: her Life and Work for
Humanityp.17(Thacker,Spink&Co.,Calcutta,1922).
700.RenGunon,op.cit.,p.17.
701.RenGunon,op.cit.,p.30.
702.Gunon,opcit.,p.193,quotingLeLotusforDecember,1887.
703.Irefrainfromgivingthenameofthisbookastheauthorhasnowleft
theTheosophicalSocietyandmayregrethavingwrittenthesewords.
704.AdolpheFranck,LaKabbale,pp.iiiv.
705.Seeante,pp.21,66,92.
706.AliceLeightonCleather,AGreatBetrayal,p.13(1922).
707.SeeonthissubjecttheravingscontainedinthebookChristandthe
NewAge(1922),editedbyG.Leopold,undertheauspicesof"TheStarin
theEast."
708.DudleyWright,RomanCatholicismandFreemasonry,p.221(1922).
709.InafewlodgesthepurelyBritishritualhasbeenadoptedunderthe
name of the Verulam working, whilst recently a third ritual has been

introducedby"BishopWedgwood,"whichintheopinionofahighBritish
Mason"upsetsthewholeworkingoftheCraftdegreesandreducesitallto
anabsurdity."
710. Alice Leighton Cleather, H. P. Blavatsky: her Life and Work for
Humanity,p.24(Thacker.Spink&Co.,Calcutta,1922).
711. Alice Leighton Cleather, H. P. Blavatsky: her Life and Work for
Humanity,p.24.(Thacker,Spink&Co.,Calcutta,1922).
712.Ibid.,p.14.
713.Ibid.,pp.20,311.
714.Nos.ofJanuary11toMarch22,1923.
715.A.L.Cleather, H.P.Blavatsky'aGreatBetrayal,p.69(Thacker,
Spink&Co.,Calcutta,1922).
716.JohnBull,June7,1919;ThePatriot,February15,1923.
717.TheWarandtheBuildersoftheCommonwealth,alecturegivenatthe
Queen'sHallbyAnnieBesantonOctober5,1919,pp.15,18(printedby
theTheosophicalPublishingCo.).
718.DiaryoftheTheosophicalSocietyforAprilJuly,1924,p.43.
719.OnJune26,1923
720.TheTheosophicalQuarterlyforOctober1920,April1921,andApril
1922(publishedbytheTheosophicalSociety,NewYork).
721.SyedAmeerAliexpresses theopinionthateventoEasternminds
esotericspeculationpresentsadanger:"SufismintheMoslemworld,like
to its counterpart in Christendom, has, in its practical effect, been
productiveofmanymischievousresults.Inperfectlywellattunedminds
mysticismtakestheformofanobletypeofidealisticphilosophy;butthe
generalityofmankindaremorelikelytounhingetheirbrainsbybusying
themselves with the mysteries of the Divine Essence and our relations
thereto.Everyignorantandidlespecimenofhumanity,who,despisingreal
knowledge,abandonedthefieldsoftruephilosophyandbetookhimselfto
thedomainsofmysticism,wouldthussethimselfupasoneoftheAhli
Ma'rifat."TheSpiritofIslam,p.477.
722.ConfirmedbyA.Q.C.1.54.
723.Gunon,op.cit.,p.296.ItwouldappeartobethisMS.oracopy

which was recently offered for sale by a Paris bookseller under the
followingdescription:"ManuscritdeKabbale.Spedalieri(Baronde.Le
SceaudeSalomon).TraitsurlesSphiroth,enuninf.de16pp....le
baronSpedalierifutlediscipleleplusinstruitetleplusintimed'Eliphas
Lvi.Son trat kabalistique 'Le Sceau de Salomon' est fond sur la
tradition hbraque et hindoue et nous rvle le sens occulte du grand
pantacle mystique. Dans une tude sur les sphiroth, Eliphas Lvi
annonaitqueletempsvenuilrvleraitsesdisciplescegrandmystre
jusqu'icicach.Spedalierientreprendcettervlation."LeBibliophiles
Sciences Psychiques, No.16(1922).LibrairieEmileNourry,62rudes
Ecoles,Paris,Ve.
724.Seeante,p.34.
725. Robert Kuentz, Le Dr Steiner et la Thosophie actuelle, series of
articlesinthereviewLeFeuforOctober,NovemberandDecember1913
andreprintedinpamphletform.
726.TheyearoftheGeneralStrike.
727.LetterfromMeakintoBaronWalleen,aDaneandmemberofthe
S.M.
728. Bertrand Russell, The practice and Theory of Bolshevism, p. 65
(1920).
729.Amongstths"subsidiaryactivities"oftheTheosophicalSocietymay
bementionedtheLiberalCatholicChurch,theGuildoftheCitizensof
Tomorrow,theOrderoftheBrothersofService,theGoldenChain,the
OrderoftheRoundTable,theBureauofSocialReconstruction,theBraille
League,theTheosophicalEducationalTrust,etc.
730.LePouvoirOccultecontrelaFrance,p.291.
731."ThestruggletoinstilintothemassestheideaoftheSovietState
control,andaccounting,thatthisideamayberealisedandabreakbemade
withtheaccursedpast,whichaccustomedthepeopletolookuponthework
ofgettingfoodandclothingasa'private'affairandonpurchaseandsaleas
somethingthat'concernsonlymyself'thisisamostmomentousstruggle,
ofuniversalhistoricalsignificance,astruggleforSocialistconsciousness
againstbourgeoisanarchistic'freedom.'"Lenin,TheSovietsatWork,p.22
(TheSocialistInformationandResearchBureau,196St.VincentStreet,
Glasgow,1919).

732.Mr.BernardShawon"RailwayStrikeSecrets,"reportedinMorning
PostforDecember3,1919.
733.Mr.BernardShawintheLabourMonthlyforOctober1921.
734.ReportofinterviewwithMaximGorkyinDailyNewsforOctober3,
1921.
735.OpinionexpressedtomeinconversationwithaSocialist.Cf.Keir
Hardie,"Communism,thefinalgoalofSocialism"(SerfdomtoSocialism,
p.36).
736."BythedecreeofMay221922,therightofprivateownershipof
means of production and for production itself was reestablished." See
article by Krassin on "The New Economic Policy of the Soviet
Government"inReconstruction(themonthlyrevieweditedbyParvus)for
September1922.
737.SeeGuillaume'sDocumentsdel'InternationaleandMrs.Snowden'sA
PoliticalPilgriminEurope.
738.LesSocitsdePenseetlaDmocratie(1921).M.AugustinCochin
collaborated with M. Charles Charpentier in throwing new light on the
FrenchRevolution,andtriumphantlyrefutedM.Aulardin1908.Unhappily
hisworkwascutshortbythewarandhewaskilledatthefrontinJuly
1916,leavinghisgreathistoryoftheRevolutionunfinished.
739.Mr.PhilipSnowdenindebateonSocialismintheHouseofCommons
onMarch20,1923:"Byfarthegreatesttimethatmanhasbeenuponthis
globe he has lived not under a system of private enterprise, not under
capitalism,butunderasystemoftribalcommunism,anditiswellworth
whiletorememberthatmostofthegreatinventionsthathavebeenthe
basisofourmachineryandourmoderndiscoverieswereinventedbymen
wholivedtogetherintribes."
740.TheRedCatechism,byTomAnderson,p.3.
741.E.g.thefollowingextractfromanaddressbyMissEstherBrightto
theEsotericSchoolofTheosophyquotedin ThePatriot for March22,
1923: "The hearty and understanding cooperation between E.S.T.
membersofmanynationswillformanucleusuponwhichthenationsmay
buildthebigbrotherhoodwhichwehopemaybecometheUnitedStatesof
Europe.UnitedStates!Whatafinesoundithaswhenonelooksatthe
Europeoftoday!"Areviewnamed LestatsUnisd'Europe existedas

earlyas1868,andM.Goyaushowsthatthisformulaandalsothatofthe
"RpubliqueUniverselle"weresloganscurrentamongstthepacifistsbefore
andduringthewarof1870whichtheysignallyfailedtoavert.L'Idede
Patrieetl'Humanitarisme,pp.113,115.
742.HowbitterlythisattitudeisstillresentedbytheJewsisshowninthe
article on Jesus in the Jewish Encyclopdia, which observes that: "In
almost all of his public utterances he was harsh, severe, and distinctly
unjust ... toward the ruling and welltodo classes. After reading his
diatribesagainstthePharisees,theScribes,andtherich,itisscarcelytobe
wonderedatthatthesewereconcernedinhelpingtosilencehim"(vol.vii,
p.164).
743. The execution of Monseigneur Butkievitch, the Roman Catholic
Archbishop of Petrograd, was condoned by the Daily Herald, the New
Statesman,andtheNation.SeetheDailyHeraldforApril7,1923.
744.LettersfromafriendofthepresentwriterinRussia,datesofAugust
1922andFebruary1923.
745.DailyHeraldforFebruary21,1922.
746.Ibid.,March18,1920.
747.SeeReportofAnnualConferenceoftheSocialDemocraticFederation
inMorningPostforAugust6,1923,whereitissaidthat"Wholehearted
denunciationofSovietismwasthechieffeatureoftheday'sdiscussion,"
etc.
748.EveningStandardforJanuary15,1924.
749.DailyTelegraphforJanuary8,1923;DailyMailforJanuary24,1923.
750.ReportofspeechbyAdeline,DuchessofBedford,atapublicmeeting
toprotestagainstthetreatmentofpoliticalprisonersinPortugal,April22,
1913,quotedinPortuguesePoliticalPrisoners,p.89(publishedbyUpcott
Gill&Son).
751.EveningStandard,May14,1923.
752.Thatthisuseofthecinemaforrevolutionarypropagandaisdeliberate
wasprovedtomebypersonalexperience.Amanwhohadbeenstruckwith
thedramaticpossibilitiesofsomethingIhadwrittenwrotetoaskifhe
mightplaceitbeforeacertainwellknownfilmproducerinAmerica.I
gavemyconsent,andsometimelaterheinformedmethattheproducerin

questionregrettedhecouldnotfilmmyworkasitmightappeartobeanti
Bolshevistpropaganda.Soonafterthisthesameproducerbroughtouta
filmonthesamesubjectwiththemoralturnedroundtheotherway,soas
to make the whole thing subtly revolutionary, and brought this over to
England, where he advertised it as antiBolshevist propaganda! This is
typicaloftheduplicitydisplayedbythesepropagandists.
753.QuotedinLeProblmedelaMode,bytheBaronnedeMontenach,p.
30(1913).
754.Robison,ProofsofaConspiracy,pp.251,252(1798).
755.ArticlebyA.QuillerinTheEquinoxforSeptember1910,p.338.
756.NewYorkHeraldforSeptember6and7,1921.
757.Privatecommunicationtotheauthor.
758.PaulBureau,LaCrisemoraledesTempsnouveaux,p.108(1907).
759.DailyMail,July14,1922.
760.LeSmorfiedell'Anima,byMarioMariani(1919).
761.AleaderwriterinoneofthemostimportantliteraryConstitutional
journals in this country observed to me in conversation that "all such
nonsenseaspatriotismoughttobedoneawaywith";anotherwriterforthe
same paper told me he would not in the least regret to see the British
Empirebrokenup.
762.AstolphedeCustine,LaRussieen1839,I.149(1843).
763. EssaisurlaSectedesIllumins (1792edition),p.48.Onp.46de
Luchet expresseshisideainacuriouspassaqe whichIfinddifficultto
renderinEnglish:"Ils'estformauseindespluspaissestnbres,une
socitd'tresnouveauxquiseconnaissentsanss'trevus,quis'entendent
sanss'treexpliqus,quiseserventsansamiti.Cettesocitalebutde
gouvernerlemonde...."
764.Ibid.,p.171.
765. Eckert, La FrancMaonnerie dans sa vritable signification,
translatedbytheAbbGyr(1854),II.133,134.
766.Myitalics.
767.GalartdeMontjoie,HistoiredeMarieAntoinette,p.156(1797).

768.G.Lentre,TheDauphin,Eng.trans.,p.307.
769. Recherches politiques et historiques sur l'existence d'une secte
rvolutionnaire,p.2(1817).
770.J.CrtineauJoly,L'gliseRomaineenfacedelaRevolution,II.143
(1859).
771.LordGeorgeBentinck,APoliticalBiography,pp.5524(1852).
772.LesSocitsSecrtesetlaSocit,I.91
773.Ibid.,II.243.
774.Ibid.,II.521.
775.Robison'sProofsofaConspiracy,p.107.
776.Agoodaccount ofthiswascontainedinaletter to TheTimes of
January23,1924.
777.ThePrince,Eng.trans,byHenryMorley,p.61.
778.Ibid.,p.110.
779.Ibid.,p.110.
780.Ibid.,p.131.
781.ThePrince,Eng.trans,byHenryMorley,pp.143,144.
782.M.Mazres, DeMachiaveletdel'influencedesadoctrinesurles
opinions,lesmurs et lapolitiquedelaFrancependantlaRvolution
(1816).
783.Deschamps, LesSocitsSecrtes,etc.,I.p.xcii.,quoting"Discours
duF.MalapertalaLogeAlsaceLorraine"inLaChainsd'Umon,pp.88,
89(1874);ct.Eckert,LaFrancMaonneriedanssavritablesignification,
II.293.
784.Deschamps,op.cit.,II.681.
785.PoliticaSegretaItaliana,byDiamillaMuller,p.346(1891).
786.CopinAlbancelli,LePouvotroccultecontrelaFrance,p.388.
787.Seriesofarticleentitled"BocheandBolshevik"byNestaH.Webster
andHerrKurtKerlen,whichappearedinthe MorningPost forApril26,
27,June10,11,15,16,1922.ReprintedinbookformbytheBeckwith
CompanyofNewYork.

788.BocheandBolshevik,p39.
789.TheGeneralStaffanditsProblems,II.556
790. One of the pamphlets emanating from the first of these lines and
entitled"England'sWarGuilt"reachedthepresentwriter.Itspurportisto
showthat"Englandalonewasthechiefagentofthewar,"andthatLord
HaldaneandSirEdwardGrey,byencouragingGermanytobelievethat
Englandwouldnotintervene,ledherintoatrap.
791.GeorgesGoyau,L'IdedePatrieetl'Humanitarisme,p.in(1913).
792.August19,1919.
793.Myitalics.
794.DailyHeraldforJanuary26,1923.SotenderaregarddidtheDaily
Herald entertain for the feelings of German magnates that its
susceptibilitiesweredeeplyshockedatthecorrespondentofanotherpaper,
who, after lunching with Herr Thyssen, was so "ungentlemanly" as to
comment afterwards on the display of wealth he had witnessed (Daily
Herald for February 2, 1923). Yet the Daily Herald reporter had seen
nothingungentlemanlyinattendingagardenpartyatBuckinghamPalace
andpublishingasneeringaccountofitafterwardsundertheheadingof
"PompandFarceinthePalace"(dateofJuly21,1921).
795. Karl Marx in his Preamble of the Provisional Rules of the
Internationale(1864).
796.TheTimes,June30,1922;theMorningPost,June26and30,1922.A
verycuriousandwellinformedarticle,fromwhichsomeofthesedetails
aretaken,appearedintheWestCoastLeader,Lima,Peru,ofDecember14,
1921.
797.LettresinditesdeJosephdeMaistre,p.415(1851).
798.LetterfromtheRev.B.S.LombardtoLordCurzon,March23,1919.
799.JewishGuardianforJanuary18,1924.
800.JewishEncyclopdia,articleonZionism.
801.LaRpubliqueuniverselle,p.186note(1793).
802.DailyMail,September21,1923.
803.ReportedintheJewishWorld,January5,1922.

804.MorningPostforAugust1,1921.
805.MichaelRodkinson(i.e.Rodkinssohn),inPrefacetotranslationofthe
Talmud,Vol.I.p.x.
806. Drach, De l'Harmomie entre l'glise[C] et la Synagogue, I. 167,
quotingthetreatiseAbodaZara,folio13verso,andfolio20recto;also
treatise Baba Kamma, folio 29 verso. Drach adds: "We could multiply
thesequotationsalmosttoinfinity."
807.Zohar,sectionToldothNoah,folio63b(dePauly'strans.,I373).
808.Zohar,sectionToldothNoah,folio646(dePauly'strans.,I.376).
809.J.P.Stehelin,TheTraditionsoftheJews,II.21520,quotingTalmud
treatises BabaBathrafolio74b,Pesachimfolio32,Bekhorothfolio57,
MassektothTa'anithfolio31.TheZoharalsoreferstothefemaleLeviathan
(section B, de Pauly's trans., III. 167). Drach shows that amongst the
delightspromisedbytheTalmudafterthereturntoPalestinewillbethe
permission to eat pork and bacon.De l'Harmonie entre l'glise et la
Synagogue,I.265,276,quotingtreatiseHullin,folio17,82.
810.Stehelin,op.cit.,II.2214.
811.TheVeryRev.SirGeorgeAdamSmith,SyriaandtheHolyLand,p.
49(1918).
812.Zohar,sectionSchemoth,folio7and9b;sectionBeschalah,folio58b
(dePauly'strans.,III.32,36,41,260).
813.Ibid.,sectionVayschlah,folio177b(dePauly'strans.,II.p.298).
814.Hastings'EncyclopdiaofReligionandEthics,articleontheKabbala
byH.Loewe.
815.EugneTavernier,LaReligionNouvelle,p.265(1905).
816.JewishGuardianforJanuary25,1924.
817.Deuter.ix.5.
818.Dan.ix.11.
819.Neh.ix.26.
820.Isa.i.117.SeealsoEzek.xx.13.
821.JewishGuardianforOctober1,1920.

822.Josephus,TheJewishWar(Eng.trans.),IV.170,334.
823.Ibid.,V.152.
824.See,forexample,thedescriptionsofthehorriblecrueltypractisedin
the Jewish schools of Poland in the eighteenth century, given in The
AutobiographyofSolomonMaimon(Eng.trans.,1888),p.32.
825.TreatiseHullin,folio27a.
826.Talmud,treatiseSanhedrim(Rodkinson'strans,p.156).
827.EncyclopdiaBritannica(1911edition),articleonLordBeaconsfield.
828.Drach, Del'Harmonieentrel'gliseetlaSynagogue,II.336.This
customisstillinforce;seetheverylegitimatecomplaintofaJewessinthe
JewishWorldforDecember21,1923,thatwomenarestillrelegatedtothe
gallery"tobehiddenbehindthegrille,whencetheymayheartheirmenfolk
bless the Almighty in strident tones that 'Thou hast not made me a
woman.'"
829.Drach,op.cit.,II.335,336,quotingTalmud,treatiseMeghillafolio
23verso,treatiseBerachothfolio21verso,treatiseSanhedrimfolio2recto,
Maimonideschap.viii.art6;SchulchanArukh,etc.
830.Inthisconnexionseearticleon"Jesus"intheJewishEncyclopdia,
where the reader is referred to the work of O. Holtzmann (War Jesus
Ekstattker?), who "agrees that there must have been abnormal mental
processesinvolvedintheutterancesandbehaviourofJesus."
831.JewishWorldforDecember22.1920.
832.Exod.i10.
833.Surav.60(Everyman'sLibraryedition,p.493).
834.ReinhardtDozy,SpanishIslam(Eng.trans.),p.651.
835.J.DenaisDarnays,LesJuifsenFrance,p.17(1907).
836.OnthequestionoftheProtocols,seeAppendixII.
837."JewshavebeenmostconspicuousinconnexionwithFreemasonryin
France since the Revolution."Jewish Encyclopdia, article on
Freemasonry.
838.A.E.Waite,TheSecretTraditioninFreemasonry,II.115.
839.Itissignificanttonoticethatinthesecondandabridgededitionofthe

white Paper issued by the Foreign Office these two most important
passagesmarkedwithanasteriskwereomittedandthefirsteditionwas
saidtobeunobtainable.
840.Onthispointseealsoaveryinterestingpamphlet FromBehindthe
Vail, published by Victor Hornyanszky (Budapest, 1920), also Madame
CcileTormay,TheDiaryofanOutlaw(1923).
841.RevolutionaryRadicalism,itsHistory,Purpose,andTactics,withan
ExpositionandDiscussionoftheStepsbeingtakenandrequiredtocurbit,
beingtheReportoftheJointLegislativeCommitteeinvestigatingSeditious
Activities, filed April 24,1920. inthe Senate of the State ofNew York
(Albany,J.B.LyonCompany,Printers,1920).
842.RevolutionaryRadicalism,Vol.I.p.374.
843.Ibid.,p.24.
844.Amongthosewhoprominentlyshowed their profoundgriefatthe
deathofLeninwereJews,andnotmerelyJewsbyoriginbutconforming
Jews.ChildrenfromJewishschools,welearn,joinedintheprocession,
whiletheHebrewArtTheatre(Habima)sentabannerwiththeinscription
inHebrew:"Youfreedthenations;youwillberememberedforever.'In
additionRabbiJacobMase,ofMoscow,theJewishReliefCommitteeof
thatcityandotherJewishbodies,senttelegramsofcondolence;whilethe
Association of Jewish Authors issued a special memorial magazine in
YiddishdedicatedtothememoryofLenin."JewishWorldforJanuary21,
1924.
845.Patriot,forApril26,1923.
846.Ibid.,May3,1923.
847.JewishWorldforJanuary10,1924.
848.QuotedintheJewishWorldforJanuary10,1924,
849.JewishWorldforNovember9,1922.
850.LeProblmeJuif.pp.41,43.
851.Lenin,TheSovietsatWork,p.18.
852.IdonothereignoretheworkoftheTradeUnions;buttheTrade
Unionswouldhavebeenpowerlesstobetterconditionswithoutthesupport
ofupperandmiddleclassmeninParliament.

853.Privatecommunicationtoauthor.
854.Seeante,p.343.
855.MadameCcileTormay,inherdescriptionoftheJewishBolshevist
rgimeinHungary,eloquentlyobserves:"Itissaidthatonlyamisguided
fractionoftheJewsisactiveinthedestructionofHungary.Ifthatbeso,
whydonottheJewswhorepresentJewryinLondon,inNewYork,andat
theParisPeaceConferencedisownandbrandtheirtyrantcoreligionistsin
Hungary?Whydotheynotrepudiateallcommunitywiththem?Whydo
theynotprotestagainsttheassaultscommittedbymenoftheirrace?"(An
Outlaw'sDiary,p.110,1923).
856.Forexample,whenreligiouspersecutioninRussiawassaidtohave
turnedagainsttheJewsinthespringof1923.
857. JewishIntelligence,andMonthlyAccountoftheProceedingsofthe
LondonSocietyforPromotingChristianityamongsttheJews,April1846,
pp.111,112:LetterfromtheRev.B.W.Wright.
858. Gustave Le Bon goes so far as to say that "the Jews have never
possessedeitherarts,sciences,orindustries,oranythingthatconstitutesa
civilization.... At the time of their greatest power under the reign of
Solomonitwasfromabroadthattheywereobligedtobringthearchitects,
workmen, and artists, of which no rival then existed in Israel."Les
PremiresCivilisations,p.613(1889).Itshouldberemembered,however,
thatHiram,themasterbuilder,washalf,ifnotwholly,anIsraelite.
859.JewishEncyclopedia,articleonNervousDiseases.
860.JewishWorldforNovember9,1922.
861. H.M. Hyndman, "The Dawn of a Revolutionary Epoch," in The
NineteenthCenturyforJanuary1881.
862. A committee has recently been formed by the Jewish Board of
Guardians to sit on all "antiSemitic" movements in this country. At a
meetingofthisbodyitwascomplacentlyannouncedthat"theCommittee
hadobtainedtheremovalofthepostersofanantiSemiticpaperfromthe
wallsofanimportantestablishment,andstepshadbeentakentogetothers
removed."JewishGuardian,February22,1924.Wewonderwhetherthe
Welshwouldbeabletoobtaintheremovalofpostersadvertisingliterature
ofanantiCelticnature.Thiscomesperilouslyneartoafulfilmentofthe
Protocols.

863.Drach,Del'Harmonieentrel'gliseetlaSynagogue.I.79(1844).It
iscurioustonoticethattheJewishwriterMargoliouthmakesuseofthe
sameexpressionwherehesays,"Itwaswellremarkedthatthehouse[of
Rothschild]'wasspreadlikeanetworkoverthenations.'"Historyofthe
JewsinGreatBritain,II.161(1851).
864.Eng.trans.,Vol.III.p.591ff.
865. Confirmed by Werner Sombart, The Jews and Modern Capitalism
(Eng. trans.), p. 203: "The Talmud says: 'Kill even the best of the
Gentiles.'" The Zohar also says: "Tradition tells us that the best of the
Gentilesdeservesdeath."SectionVaqra,folio14b(dePauly'strans.,Vol.
V.p.42).
866.ProfessorH.Graetz,TheHistoryoftheJews(Eng.trans.),III.5916.
867.SeemyWorldRevolution,pp.296307.Themisapprehensionreferred
toabovemayhavearisenfromtheresemblancebetweenthetitleofmy
bookandtheseriesofarticleswhichappearedintheMorningPostunder
thenameof TheCauseofWorldUnrest.Inviewofthefactthatthese
articleswereonsomepointsatvariancewithmyowntheories,itseems
hardlynecessarytostatethattheywerenotmywork.Asamatteroffact,I
did not know of their existence until they were in print, and later I
contributedfoursupplementaryarticlessignedbymyname.
868.SpectatorforJune12,1920.
869.JamesGuillaume,Documentsdel'Internationale,I.131.
870.CorrespondancedeBakounine,publishedbyMichaelDragomanov,p.
325.
871.LeJuif,etc.,pp.367,368.
872. Revolution and War or Britain's Peril and her Secret Foes, by
Vigilant (1913). A great portion of this book exposing the subtle
propagandaofSocialismandPacifismisadmirable;itisonlywherethe
authorattemptstolayallthistothechargeoftheJesuitsthatheentirely
failstosubstantiatehiscase.

TheEnd