booknetsaWebster-secretSocietiesAndSubversiveMovements

own assertions, he had been throughout in supreme control. Again and again he impresses on his intimes
the necessity for unity of command in the Order: " One must show how easy it would be for one clever head
to direct hundreds and thousands of men,"[83] and he illustrates this system by the table reproduced on the
next page, to which he appends the following explanation: I have two immediately below me into whom I
breathe my whole spirit, and each of these two has again two others, and so on. In this way I can set a thousand
men in motion and on fire in the simplest manner, and in this way one must impart orders and operate
on politics.[84]
Thus, as in the case of Abdullah ibn Maymun's society, " the extraordinary result was brought about that
a multitude of men of divers beliefs were all working together for an object known only to a few of them."
Enough has now been quoted from the correspondence of the Illuminati to show their aims and methods
according to their own admissions. We shall now see how far their apologists are justified in describing
them as " men of the strictest morality and humanity."[85] 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 private life." These further
extracts from their correspondence may be left to speak for themselves.
CHARACTER OF THE ILLUMINATI
In June 1782 Weishaupt writes to " Cato " as follows:
Oh, in politics and morality you are far behind, my gentlemen. Judge further if such a man as Marcus
Aurelius[86] finds out how wretched it [Illuminism] appears in Athens [Munich]; what a collection of immoral
men, of whoremongers, liars, debtors, boasters, and vain fools they have amongst them. If he saw all
that, what do you suppose the man would think? Would he not be ashamed to find himself in such an association,
in which the leaders arouse the greatest expectations and carry out the best plan in such a miserable
manner? And all this out of caprice, expediency, etc. Judge whether I am not right.[87]
From Thebes [Freysing] I hear fatal news; they have received into the lodge the scandal of the whole
town, the dissolute debtor Propertius, who is trumpeted abroad by the whole " personnel " of Athens [Munich],
Thebes and Erzerum [Eichstadt]; D. also appears to be a bad man. Socrates who would be a capital
man [ein Capital Mann] is continually drunk, Augustus in the worst repute, and Alcibiades sits the whole
day with the innkeeper's wife sighing and pining: Tiberius tried in Corinth to rape the sister of Democedes
and the husband came in. In Heaven's name, what are these for Areopagites ! We upper ones, write, read
and work ourselves to death, offer to our health, fame and fortune, whilst these gentlemen indulge their
weaknesses, go a whoring, cause scandals and yet are Areopagites and want to know about everything.[88]
Concerning Arminius there are great complaints.... He is an unbearable, obstinate, arrogant, vain fool !
[89]
Let Celsus, Marius, Scipio, and Ajax do what they will... no one does us so much harm as Celsus, no one
is less to be reasoned with than Celsus, and perhaps few could have been so much use to us as Celsus....
Marius is obstinate and can see no great plan, Scipio is negligent, and of Ajax I will not speak at all.... Confucius
is worth very little: he is too inquisitive and a terrible chatterer [ein grausamer Schwatzer].[90]
Agrippa must be quite struck off our list, for the rumour goes round... that he has stolen a gold and silver
watch together with a ring from our best fellow-worker Sulla.[91]
It will doubtless be suggested at this point that all these letters merely portray the lofty idealist sorrowing
over the frailties of his erring disciples, but let us hear what Weishaupt has to say about himself. In a letter
to Marius (Hertel) he writes: And now in the strictest confidence, a matter near my heart, which robs me of
all rest, makes me incapable of anything and drives me to despair. I stand in danger of losing my honour
and my reputation which gave me so much power over our people. Think, my sister-in-law is expecting a
child.[92] I have for this purpose sent to Euriphon in Athens to solicit the marriage licence and Promotorial
from Rome, you see how much depends on this and that no time must be lost; every minute is precious. But
if the dispensation does not arrive, what shall I do? How shall I make amends to the person since I alone am
to blame? We have already tried several ways to get rid of the child; she herself was resolved for anything.
But Euriphon is too timid and yet I see no other expedient. If I could ensure the silence of Celsus he could
help me and indeed he already promised me this three years ago....[93] If you can help me out of this dilemma,
you will give me back life, honour, peace and power to work.... I do not know what devil led me
astray, I who always in these circumstances took extreme precautions.[94]
A little later Weishaupt writes again: All fatalities happen to me at the same time. Now there is my
Nesta H. Webster — Secret Societies and Subversive Movements — Part I
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