50G 
ILLUMINATI. 
of absolute decrees a system of uncontrollable necessity ; they denied 
the difference between moral good and evil, and the corruption of 
human nature, whence they concluded that mankind were under no 
obligation to correct their manners, improve their minds, or obey the 
divine laws; that the whole of religion consisted, not in acting, but in 
suffering ; and that all the precepts of Jesus Christ are reducible to 
this one, — that we bear with cheerfulness and patience the events that 
happen to us through the divine will, and make it our constant and 
only study to maintain a permanent tranquillity of mind. 
. Thus far they agreed ; but the Hatteraists farther affirmed, that 
Christ made no expiation for the sins of men by his death, but had 
only suggested to us, by his mediation, that there was nothing in us 
that could offend the Deity ; this, they say, was Christ’s manner of 
justifying his servants, and presenting them blameless before the 
tribunal of God. it was one of their distinguishing tenets, that God 
does not punish men for their sins, but by their sins. These two sects, 
says Mosheim, still subsist, though they no longer bear the names 
of their founders. 
Illuminati. / 
This name was assumed by a secret society, founded on the first of 
May, 1776 , by Adam Weishaupt, professor of canon law in the uni- 
versity of Ingoldstadt. The avowed object of this society was, “to 
diffuse from secret societies, as from so many centres, , the light of 
science over the world ; to propagate the purest principles of virtue ; 
and to reinstate mankind in the happiness they possessed during the 
golden age fabled by the poets. Such a philanthropic object was 
doubtless well adapted to make a deep impression on the minds of 
ingenuous young men, and to such alone did Dr. Weishaupt first 
address himself. But “the real object,” we are assured by Professor 
Robison and Abbe Barnel, “ was, by clandestine arts, to overthrow 
every government, and every religion ; to bring the sciences of civil 
life into contempt; and to reduce mankind to that imaginary state of 
nature, when they lived independent of every other, on the sponta- 
neous productions of the earth.” 
Freemasonry being in high reputation all over Europe when Weis- 
haupt first formed the plan of his society, he availed himself of its 
secrecy, to introduce his new order, of which he constituted him- 
self general, after initiating some of his pupils, whom he styled 
Areopagites, into its mysteries. And when report spread the news 
throughout Germany, of the institution of the order of llluminees, it 
was generally considered as a mere college lodge, which could interest 
the students no longer than during the period of their studies. Weis- 
haupt’s character too, which at that time was respectable for morality 
as well as erudition, prevented all suspicion of his harbouring any 
such dark designs as have since come to light : but it would far exceed 
the limits to which our work is restricted, to give even an outline of 
the nature and constitution of this extraordinary society ; of its secrets 
and mysteries ; of the deep dissimulation, consummate hypocrisy, and 
shocking impiety of its founder, and his associates ; of his Jesuitical 
