Some formatting pasted funny. Link at the bottom!
To REVEREND G. W. SNYDER7 Mount Vernon, September 25, 1798.
Sir: Many apologies are due to you, for my not acknowledging the receipt of your obliging favour of the 22d. Ulto, and for not thanking you, at an earlier period, for the Book 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. 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.
*To WILLIAM RUSSELL16 Mount Vernon, September 28, 1798.
Sir: Your favour of the 8th instr. is received, and I thank you for your obliging attention to the articles promised me, when I had the pleasure of seeing you at this place.
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Of Fredericktown (now Frederick), Md.
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Proofs of a Conspiracy &c, by John Robison.
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In a letter from Snyder (Aug. 22, 1798, which is in the Washington Papers), it is stated that this book “gives a full Account of a Society of Free-Masons, that distinguishes itself by the Name of ‘Illuminati,’ whose Plan is to overturn all Government and all Religion, even natural.”
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Of Middletown, Conn.
https://www.loc.gov/resource/mgw2.021/?q=Illuminati&sp=182&st=text
The lower-level Masons believe they belong to a fraternal organization.
They are not let into the knowledge and goals of the 33d Degree elites.
Not so sure about that. In the 1960's my Dad was asked to join. He was a man of few words. But what little he did say about the topic when he mentioned it to me was that he somehow knew they were not what they claimed to be. And he intimated it was in a religious sense. So there must have been rumors circulating back then.
Yeah indeed, Catholics were forbidden to join it as a "secret sect".
But some did join for the "networking". Maybe with a wink and a nod . . .
Okay but how do the lower level masons stay ignorant? They're too lazy and uninterested to even do some internet sluething?
LOL back in the day there was no internet!
Maybe the three see hear speak no evil monkeys too.
Well theres certainly internet now.
(I was replying to you because you used present tense and it's something I like to ask)
Bawwwhhhaaaaa