Thursday, October 29, 2020

Jacobins, Illuminati, and George Washington


Frederick R Smith has moved to Frederick R. Smith Speaks (substack.com)

The Jacobins

Established in France in 1789, the Jacobins initially were known as the “Society of the Friends of the Constitution.” Later, as the Jacobin Club, it met in a former convent of the Dominicans (known in Paris as Jacobins). Deputies of the National Assembly formed the Jacobins to protect against a possible aristocratic reaction to the Revolution. Though it did not have a direct role in overthrowing the monarchy in 1792, the club later changed its name to “Society of the Jacobins, Friends of Liberty and Equality.” It accepted leftist deputies of the National Convention and agitated for the king’s execution and the overthrow of the moderate Girondins. In 1793, with about 8,000 clubs and 500,000 members, the Jacobins became instruments of the Reign of Terror (French Revolution). In April 1790 Maximilien Robespierre ascended to president of the Jacobin Club and became increasingly popular as an enemy of the monarchy and as an advocate of democratic reforms.

The Jacobins are well known, and many history books acknowledge their subversive tactics with respect to the French Revolution. In The USA, during the French Revolution, it was common for people to throw the epitaph “Jacobin” out at people who were perceived to be in line with the thinking of the radical aspects of the enlightenment. In fact, Federalists were known to call Thomas Jefferson a Jacobin for his Deist thinking and his outward sympathy with the French Revolution.

Ancient and Illuminated Seers of Bavaria

Jesuit-trained Adam Weishaupt was appointed professor at the University of Ingolstadt in Bavaria, Germany around 1772, and shortly thereafter he rose to the post of professor of Canon Law. He was the first layperson to hold that position as clergy previously held it. In 1775, Weishaupt began planning a clandestine group to challenge the Church. This group coalesced on May 1, 1776 (May Day), as the “Ancient and Illuminated Seers of Bavaria.” This group evolved into the “Illuminati,” which was in line with Enlightenment rationalist ideas. Between 1784 and 1787 the Illuminati faced suppression.  In 1785, Bavaria banished Weishaupt. Some writings suggest that the Illuminati used the drug hashish to produce an “illuminated” state.

Unlike the Jacobins, there is scant information about the Illuminati in establishment history books. Alternate sources of information claim that this group was in line with or behind the Jacobins. Some claim that the Illuminati still exist today, and they are the “wealthy people who control the world.” More importantly, some writings suggest that the Illuminati at one time in the past grafted themselves into lodges of some Masonic organizations. Enter the Freemason [1] who was the “Father of our county.”

George Washington and the Illuminati

Before presenting historical information about Washington, this author does not believe that the Illuminati are today hiding under the guise of Masonry. There are many good people, including close friends of this author, who are Masons. As such, I have no personal animosity towards my Masonic friends. Also, Washington (a Mason) is one of my favorite heroes. I only use the historical writings of Washington, which happen to reference Masonry, to prove that the Illuminati existed. This is to thwart the knee-jerk reaction that discussion of the Illuminati is “right-wing wacko conspiracy crap.” Well then, was Washington a “right-wing conspiracy monger?” I do not think so.

As previously mentioned, the Illuminati may have infiltrated only selected branches of Freemasonry in Europe in the distant past. As such, it is important to note that it is common for evil to clandestinely use good things for its purposes and we should not bury our heads in the sand. For example, just because there are some bad priests (e.g., the pedophilia scandal) does not automatically make all the remaining people in this religion bad. Likewise, just because there may have been a bad apple or two that graduated from West Point does not mean we need to shut down this institution. Accordingly, just because the Illuminati may have once grafted itself onto certain branches of Freemasonry in the distant past does not today make all in that organization bad people. Now I would like to indulge in some fascinating history.

The more obscure writings of George Washington were the two letters he wrote to Reverend George Washington Snyder concerning the Jacobins and the Illuminati. The text of these letters comes from the Library of Congress (The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799) and supplied below for your review (emphasis added):

 October 24, 1797

Revd Sir: I have your favor of the 17th. instant before me; and my only motive to trouble you with the receipt of this letter, is to explain, and correct a mistake which I perceive the hurry in which I am obliged, often, to write letters, have led you into.

It was not my intention to doubt that, the Doctrines of the Illuminati, and principles of Jacobinism had not spread in the United States. On the contrary, no one is more truly satisfied of this fact than I am.

The idea that I meant to convey, was, that I did not believe that the Lodges of Free Masons in this Country had, as Societies, endeavoured to propagate the diabolical tenets of the first, or pernicious principles of the latter (if they are susceptible of separation). That Individuals of them may have done it, or that the founder, or instrument employed to found, the Democratic Societies in the United States, may have had these objects; and actually had a separation of the People from their Government in view, is too evident to be questioned.

My occupations are such, that but little leisure is allowed me to read News Papers, or Books of any kind; the reading of letters, and preparing answers, absorb much of my time. With respect, etc.

September 25, 1798

Sir: Many apologies are due to you, for my not acknowledging the receipt of your obliging favour of the 22nd. Ulto, and for not thanking you, at an earlier period, for the Book [2] you had the goodness to send me.

I have heard much of the nefarious, and dangerous plan, and doctrines of the Illuminati, but never saw the Book until you were pleased to send it to me. The same causes which have prevented my acknowledging the receipt of your letter have prevented my reading the Book, hitherto; namely, the multiplicity of matters which pressed upon me before, and the debilitated state in which I was left after, a severe fever had been removed. And which allows me to add little more now, than thanks for your kind wishes and favourable sentiments, except to correct an error you have run into, of my Presiding over the English lodges in this Country.  The fact is, I preside over none, nor have I been in one more than once or twice, within the last thirty years. [3] I believe notwithstanding, that none of the Lodges in this Country are contaminated with the principles ascribed to the Society of the Illuminati. With respect I am &c.

Concerning Washington’s association with Freemasonry, there is little to be found in original writings and history books. Nonetheless, there is an occasional reference to Freemasonry and Washington in modern writings. [4] The bottom line — Washington confirms the existence of the Illuminati and he repudiates any influence it may have had on Freemasonry during his lifetime here in the United States.

Notes:

  1. The Catholic Church first prohibited Catholics from membership in Masonic organizations and other secret societies in 1738. Since then, at least eleven popes have made pronouncements about the incompatibility of Catholic doctrines and Freemasonry. The Church continues to prohibit membership in Freemasonry because it believes that Masonic principles and rituals are irreconcilable with Catholic doctrines.
  2. Among the correspondence of George Washington, are letters from George Washington Snyder, who sent to the President a copy of John Robison’s “Proofs of a Conspiracy Against All the Religions and Governments of Europe,” 1798. This treatise revealed the Illuminist plan for the overthrow of established governments and religions. Mr. Snyder questioned Washington’s membership and position as Grand Master of the Alexandria Lodge No. 22 of Virginia.
  3. It is interesting to note that Washington denies a connection to “English lodges” of Freemasonry. He was involved with Scottish Rite Freemasonry.
  4. Richard Brookhiser’s wonderful 1996 book “Rediscovering George Washington” at page 150 states – “In Europe, Freemasonry was anticlerical, and the Catholic Church was anti-Masonic. (The church would rightly see itself as the Old World.)  In the United States, Freemasonry was assailed as irreligious and revolutionary in the late 1790s by Congregationalist divines, the religious right of that day. Thirty years later, the second outbreak of anti-Masonry attacked its rituals as unrepublican and even formed a political party to crusade against the menace. The issue has not died yet; in 1992 Pat Robertson published a book accusing Freemasons of pulling the strings of the Bush Administration, world communism, and other sinister organizations. American anti-Masons have always had to climb over the fact of Washington’s membership. The Yankee preachers, Federalist all, distinguished between ordinary Masons (good) and “Illuminated” mason (very bad), while the Anti-Masonic Party took the tack that Washington hadn’t been told what was going on; to think anything else, declared William Wirt, the party’s presidential candidate, ‘would be parricide.’”
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Author and Publisher, Frederick R. Smith
Editor, Sean Tinney

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