Mark Coleman Wallace PhD Thesis - University of St Andrews

not my intention to doubt that, the doctrines of the Illuminati, and
principles of Jacobinism had not spread to the United States…The idea 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. 32
It was this alleged connection between the Illuminati and freemasonry
and the geographical reach of its influence which aroused the suspicions of
Robison as well as James Robertson, a Benedictine monk in Galloway – so
much so, in fact, that they each wrote to the Lord Advocate. Robison warned
Robert Dundas of the potential subversive influence not only of the Illuminati,
but European freemasons as well:
January 1798
195
My Lord
What I wished to inform your Lordship of is thus some time ago
an invitation was given to the Fraternity of Free Masons in Scotland to
hold a Correspondence with the Grand or Royal Lodge of Berlin. This
was decorated with every Ornament and full of pompous titles, and
conceived in terms of the highest import for Scotch Masonry. It was
conceived as particularly addressed to the most advanced Order of
Masonry (tho’ I rather suppose it addressed to the National Lodge). This
is supposed to be what they call the Royal Order of St. Andrews –
professing what they call the Masonry of Rose Croix Tau the Letter, and
thus it was from a Lodge professing the same Masonry. The simplicity
of the fraternity in this Country has made us indifferent as to all the
parties on the Continent, but of late we are also seized with the desire of
innovation, and becoming fond of the high degrees of masonry. But we
are quite ignorant of the life made of them abroad. I know that this
System was continued by Swedes and the Duke of Sudermannia had a
great hand in it. Under the most inoffensive exterior, I know that the
cosmopolitical doctrines are most zealously taught, and that the whole of
32 From The Writings of George Washington from the Original Manuscript Sources, 1745-1799,
ed. John C. Fitzpatrick, (Washington, 1939).