563 
B U C II A N IT ES . — C A I N 1 TES. 
Dr. Weishaiiptis allowed to have been influenced by a high degree 
of vanity, as an evidence of which, he communica tes, as the first secret, 
to his most fivoured adepts, that the mysteries of IlUiminism, while 
passing through the inferior degrees, had been successively attri- 
buted to the most ancient patriarchs and philosoplmrs, and even to 
Christ himself, owing its origin to no other than Adam Weishaupt, 
known in the order by the name of Spartacus. 
Buchakites. 
A SECT of enthusiasts, who sprung up in the west of Scotland in 
1783, and took their name from a Mrs. Buchan of Glasgow, who 
gave herself out to be the woman spoken of in the Revelation, and 
that all who believed in her should be taken up into heaven without 
tasting death, as the end of the world was near. Mr. White, minis- 
ter of the Relief Church at Irvine, whom she styled the “ man-child 
brought forth by the woman,” with the town-clerk and some others, 
were among the principal people who were so infatuated as to listen 
to her ravings, and to join her followers. From the folly of some 
bigots, the Buclianites had their share of persecution. At Irvine, the 
bouse in which they met was assaulted, and the furniture and windows 
broken ; in December, 1784, similar outrages were committed against 
them in Dumfries-shire, in consequence whereof, twenty-one of 
the rioters were fined by the sheriff. Their party, however, never 
increased much, and the death of their leader, within a year or two 
afterwards, occasioned their dispersion, by putting an end to their 
hopes of reaching the New Jerusalem without death. 
Cainites. 
I 
These were a sect of heretics who sprang up in the second cen- 
tury, A. D. They believed Cain to have been produced by some 
greater power than Abel, for which reason he prevailed oyer his bro- 
ther, and slew him. On the same principle they honoured those 
persons who are recorded in scripture as the worst of mankind, siich 
as Korah, Dathan, and Abiram ; and particularly the traitor Judas, 
who, they say, knowing that the salvation of mankind was to be pro- 
cured by the death of Jesus Christ, delivered him to his enemies to 
be executed, notwithstanding the resistance of certain powei's, who, 
being ill-wishers to our happiness, would have prevented him. The 
Cainites adopted whatever was most impure and ignominious among 
the Gnostics and other heretics. 
[When we cast a transient glance on the absurdities which have 
been embraced under the character of religion, it is melancholy to 
reflect on the degeneracy of the human intellect. The sects that 
have been enumerated in the preceding pages form hut a small spe- 
cimen of what might be produced. But amidst the diversified senti- 
ments of conflicting parties, of this we may rest assured, that no 
principles which lead to persecution and immorality can ever have 
come from God.] 
