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New England and the Bavarian Illuminati

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_New England and the Bavarian Illuminati_, first published in 1918 and republished here by The Invisible College Press, by Vernon Stauffer is the classic historical examination which covers the period in New England from 1798 to 1799 when a widespread fear of the Bavarian Illuminati developed. V. Stauffer born in 1875 was a scholar of some repute who was active in the Christian ministry before becoming a professor. This book represents his doctoral dissertation for a degree in the Faculty of Political Science at Columbia University. This work was praised highly by _The American Historical Review_ and has been subsequently used as a useful source of information by various researchers. The Illuminati scare arose in New England during a period of believed decline in morality and religion and a relaxation of puritan values, when various Federalist clergymen revived the notion of the Illuminati which had proliferated on the European continent and made allegations against the Democratic party of Thomas Jefferson. Various factors played into this, including a growing fear of the revolution in France, the excitement over the X.Y.Z. Affair, and the alleged relations between the Illuminati and the freemasons. These allegations were chiefly the work of Reverend Jedidiah Morse, a clergyman of the Calvinist faith and the father of the inventor Samuel F. B. Morse, whose picture appears near the front of this book. Reverend Morse revived the theories of the Abbe Barruel and John Robison concerning an Illuminati conspiracy at work through the masonic lodges behind the French revolution and plotting the overthrow of all thrones and altars. Thus, began the Illuminati scare in New England in 1798 which was to continue in the writings and sermons of several important clergymen. This book is expertly footnoted and includes a wide variety of information and sources detailing the history of the Bavarian Illuminati of Adam Weishaupt and its role in the New England scare. While the author is certainly opinionated on this matter, he nevertheless offers much material of value to the modern reader, particularly in light of the times in which we live.

The book begins with an Introduction in which the author explains the role of the churches in New England and their role in promulgating the Illuminati scare. Following this, the first chapter is entitled "The Undermining of Puritan Standards and Institutions". Here, the author explains how the strict and fierce standards of puritanism came to be eroded after the Revolutionary War and the growing fear that developed among some of the clergy that this heralded in a coming age of irreligion. Added to this fear was a newfound dread of the events that had taken place in France during the revolution and the rise in America of the Democratic-Republicans who were opposed by the conservative Federalist clergy. This chapter examines such things as the "Rapid Disintegration of Puritanism After the Revolution", "Ominous Discontent With the Standing Order" (discussing the situation as it was in Massachusetts and Connecticut and ending with a Summary), "Alarms Due to the Spread of Religious Radicalism and Skepticism" (discussing for example the works of Thomas Paine and others, mentioning the horror felt by many of the clergy at the atheistical French revolution). The second chapter is entitled "Political Entanglements and Hysteria". Here, the author explains the complicated relationship between the fledgling United States and England and France, noting the important distinction of loyalties amongst the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans regarding England and France. The author notes the rise of the Democratic Clubs in France and the role of the X.Y.Z. Affair and the Alien and Sedition Acts under the presidency of the Federalist John Adams. This chapter examines such things as "The Situation Prior to 1798" (explaining the role of the Democratic Clubs in France and the relationship with England and George III) and "The Situation from 1798 to 1800" (explaining how France fell out of favor with the Federalists following the diabolical French revolution). The third chapter is entitled "The European Order of the Illuminati". This chapter traces the role and development of the Bavarian Illuminati created by Adam Weishaupt in 1776 out of a milieu of Enlightenment philosophy marked by anti-clericalism. This chapter includes sections discussing "The Rise and the Disappearance of the Order" (explaining the creation of this order by Weishaupt, the role of this order in Bavaria, and its alleged suppression in 1787; the author explains the complicated relationship between this order and the Catholic church as well as the Jesuits and the Freemasons, mentioning such figures as the Baron von Knigge, Zwack, and others, and ending with a bibliographical segment devoted to the study of the order) and "The Legend of the Order and Its Literary Communication to New England" (mentioning the works of the Abbe Barruel and John Robison concerning this order and its conspiracy against the churches and all earthly governments and the dissemination of these works and their eventual arrival in New England). The fourth chapter is entitled "The Illuminati Agitation in New England". Here, the author explains the role of the Illuminati scare in New England as precipitated by Morse and taken up by other clergymen including Seth Payson and eventually the leveling of the charge in turn by the Democrats against the Federalists. This chapter also includes a discussion of the complicated role of the Freemasons and the attempts by various clergymen to condemn the Illuminati but distance themselves from outright condemnations of the freemasonic lodges. This chapter includes the following parts "Morse Precipitates the Controversy" (explaining how drawing from the work of Robison, Morse began the Illuminati scare), "Inconclusive Developments of Morse's Second Formal Deliverance", "Morse Submits His Inept Documentary Evidence" (explaining how Morse was called to explain himself and how his evidence for the conspiracy was found to be faulty), "Freemasonry's Embarrassment and Protest" (explaining how many freemasons took the charges made against them by Robison personally and how Morse tried to deflect some of the animosity directed against the freemasons), and "Attempts of Democrats to Fix the Countercharge of Illuminism Upon the Federalists" (explaining how eventually the Democrats came to level the same charge against the Federalists as had been leveled against them). The book ends with a thorough Bibliography including material from a wide variety of sources and a Vita.

This book offers a fascinating study of a disturbing period in American history. It remains one of the unique sources on these events and offers much material for those interested in the history of secret societies. Into modern times, similar scares have continued to plague the United States and this book shows the origin and growth of one of their important precursors.