There is a book published in 1802 named "Proofs of Illuminism"
which tells the story of how Masonic lodges were turned from a
men's club, discussing intellectual subjects and having guest speakers
who were intellectuals on various subjects, into what came to be
known as "Illumined Lodges." The "secrecy" of the tame men's club
was used to cloak the discussions of anti-government and
anti-religion.
https://archive.org/details/1802ProofsOfIlluminismPayson
Last I know of – this was removed from Archive.org website.
It can be found in some libraries online. Need new research.
Some various details:
1802 – written in old english (using f for s)
laments on how good people can result in barbarism like french revolution
page 7 – accused Robison of financial tricks, being rejected by the Lodge in Edinburgh, was rejected, then applied in France for second grade but was refused and tried again in germany, and refused, so thereafter he was against masonry.
page 12 – In the autumn of the year 1797, Professor Robison published an octavo volume entitled "Proofs of a Conspiracy,
illustrating the history of Jacobinism
Weishaupt was a professor in an university and distinguished for literary – and found no religion to his taste
page 25 – it is agreed that a society of illuminees existed in germany, instituted by Weishaupt about the year 1776. It is agreed that the papers found in the possession of Counsellor of Sanderdorf in 1787 on search made by order of his highness the elector of bavaria are authentic documents, drawn up by the illuminees, expressing the plan and object of the order. It is agreed that the object of this institution is the overthrow of all religion and all government.
page 27 the Abbe Barruel's memoirs describe a larger plan afoot 1-anti-christian, 2-anti-monarchial, 3- anti-social, and these unite with the occult lodge of free masons, and thus form the club of the Jacobins at paris, who are the real directors of the french revolution
page 32 Voltaire, the son of an ancient notary of the Chatelet, was born in Paris, Feb 20, 1694. His original name was Mary Francis Arouet, which, through vanity, he changed to Voltaire, as more sonorous and more conformable to the reputation at which he aimed. It was in England that he first conceived the design of overthrowing religion
page 37 - In the true style of conspirators, they had also their enigmatical language, and secret appropriate names. The general term for the conspirators was Cacouac; they say one is a good Cacouac, when he can be perfectly depended on
page 47 – Writings in every form and shape, calculated to excite licentious desires, to deprave the moral taste, to communicate the infection of infidelity, and exhibit religion in a ridiculous view, were crowded upon the public.
page 50 - "that they cannot know whether a god really exists, or whether there exists the smallest difference between virtue and vice."
"Modesty is only an invention of refined voluptuousness."
"The commandment of loving their parents is more the work of education than nature."
"The law that condemns (married) to live together, becomes barbarous and cruel on the day they ccafe to love each other."
"The bible says, the fear of the lord is the beginning of wisdom. I think it rather the beginning of folly."
(continued)