Page images
PDF
EPUB

volution actually took place. This committee was the centre of union, when in 1778 the focieties of France and of Germany-the Sophifts and the Illuminatiwere united by means of Mirabeau; and this important connexion was celebrated under the name of the German Union. Thus ftrengthened we find them extending their operations. "We must encom-. pafs the powers of the earth with a legion of indefatigable men, all directing their labours according to the plan of the Order, towards the happiness of human nature-and seek thofe places which give power, for the good of the cause. But all must be done in profound filence." In 1786 they instituted "The Propaganda," a club aiming at nothing less than being the mover of all human nature." It appears from their Reports, that this society "found much difficulty in gaining footing in Holland, and only fucceeded at last by perfuading the people there, that they must be fwept away by the general torrent." In 1791, it drew

[ocr errors]

large fums of money from all thofe Provinces, for the general fund. In 1792, one of the principal members writes from thence, "The Propaganda is at prefent in full activity. You will foon fee its effects."

At

[ocr errors]
[ocr errors]

At an early period of the Revolution in France, this fraternity of Illuminated FreeMafons took the name of Jacobins, from the name of a convent where they held their meetings. They then counted 300,000 adepts, and were fupported by two millions of men fcattered through France, armed with torches and pikes, and all the neceffary implements of revolution." Till the twelfth of August 1792, the French Jacobins had only dated the annals of their Revolution by the years of their prtended liberty. On that day when the King was carried prifoner to the Temple, after having been declared to have forfeited his right to the crown, the rebel Affembly decreed, that to the date of liberty, the date of equality fhould be added in future in all public acts, and the decree itself was dated the fourth year of liberty, the first year and day of equality. It was on that day for the first time, that the Secret of FreeMasonry was made public. That secret fo dear to them, and which they had preferved with all the folemnity of the most inviolable oath. At the reading of this famous decree, they exclaimed, We have at length fucceeded, and France is no other than an immenfe Lodge. The whole French people

2

[ocr errors]

people are Free-Mafons, and the whole univerfe will foon follow their example.' I witneffed this enthufiafm. I heard the converfations to which it gave rife. I faw Masons, till then referved, who freely and openly declared, Yes, at length the grand object of Free-Masonry is accomplished— liberty and equality! All men are equal and brothers; all men are free. That was the whole fubftance of our doctrine; the object of our wishes, the whole of our grand fecret z !"

Now, when we confider the peculiar meaning which their own writings have proved to be annexed to these wordsWhen we recollect their own declaration, that" none but a Brutus, or a Catiline, was fit for their higher myfteries,” I think we can scarcely avoid fuppofing, that the commencement or the establishment of the REIGN OF THE IMAGE may be dated from this memorable day. I fhall now therefore request the attention of the Reader to "the POWER of the image made by them which dwell on the earth, and to which the Beaft gave life."

z Barruel.

The

The REVOLUTIONARY TYRANNY OF FRANCE, Shown to be the exact Refemblance of

THE IMAGE OF THE BEAST.

It is fcarcely poffible to contemplate the horrors which the Revolution in France has produced in France itfelf, without enquiring into the previous ftate of a country fo peculiarly afflicted. History will furnish ample evidence for the justice of exemplary punishment, when she recites the persecutions, the licentioufness, and the Infidelity which have long diftinguished that unhappy country; and Religion, in fuch a cafe, may "vindicate the ways of God to man," without offence against that charity which is her peculiar characteristic.

the flaugh

The cruel perfecutions, and ter of the faints," have been noticed in a former Chapter; and for proofs of the long pre-eminence of France in open vice and irreligion, we may appeal to the numerous Memoirs which defcribe their manners. From them it will appear, that the

See p. 35. of this volume..

court

:

court of France has been, with fhort ex-
ceptions, the feat of profligate wickedness,
from the reign of Francis I. to go no far-
`ther back, and that she must be confidered
as the grand corruptrefs of nations, fince
the power of Rome declined. The uni-
verfal prevalence of irreligion in this un-
happy country, is thus described by a wri-
ter not at all disposed to cenfure those with
too much feverity, who intermix the re-
finements of Philosophy with religious in-
quiries. "When I was myself in France,
in the year 1774, I faw fufficient reafon
to believe, that hardly any person of emi-
nence in Church or State, and especially
in the least degree eminent in Philosophy
or literature (whose opinions in all coun-
tries are fooner or later adopted by others),
were believers in Christianity; and no per-
fon will fuppofe, that there has been any
change in favour of Chriftianity in the last
twenty years.
A perfon, I believe now
living, and one of the best informed men
in the country, affured me very gravely,
that (paying me a compliment) I was the
first person he had ever met with, of whose
understanding he had any opinion, who
pretended to believe Chriftianity. To this
all the company affented. And not only

VOL. II.

P

were

« PreviousContinue »