https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/06-02-02-0435
G. W. Snyder, a German immigrant and Christian educator in Maryland, wrote to George Washington on August 22, 1798, warning of a secret, global conspiracy. He describes a society called the Illuminati, exposed in John Robison’s book Proofs of a Conspiracy, which aims to overthrow all governments and religions and promote atheism. Snyder feared that some American Freemason lodges might be infiltrated or influenced by these forces, possibly in connection with French Jacobins. He sent Washington a copy of Robison’s book, urging him to act to prevent the spread of these dangerous ideas and protect the nation’s liberty and moral order. Snyder closes with a prayer for Washington’s strength, wisdom, and long life to navigate these “perilous times.”