Mackey – Encyclopedia Of Freemasonry Vol. 1

ITALIAN SOCIETIES 185report at that time was that they actually once intended tooffer the crown of Italy to the Duke of Wellington ; but thisis highly improbable, since our Iron Duke was not at allpopular in Italy. But it is highly probable that they soughtthe co-operation of Russia, which, since 1815, maintainedmany agents in Italy-with what purpose is not exactlyknown ; the collection of statistical and economical informationwas the ostensible object, but Austria looked on themwith a very suspicious eye, and watched them narrowly .The Independents had close relations with these Russianagents, probably, as it is surmised, with a view of,, turningRussian influence to account in any outbreak againstAustria .578 . The Delphic Priesthood.-This was another secret.society, having the same political object as the foregoing .The Delphic priest, the patriotic priest, the priest militant,spoke thus : "My mother has the sea for her mantle, highmountains for her sceptre ; " and when asked who his motherwas, replied : " The lady with the dark tresses, whose giftsare beauty, wisdom, and formerly strength : whose dowry isa flourishing garden, full of flagrant flowers, where bloom theolive and the vine ; and who now groans, stabbed to theheart ." The Delphics entertained singular hopes, and wouldinvoke the " remedy of the ocean " (American auxiliaries)and the epoch of " cure " (a general European war). Theycalled the partisans of France " pagans," and those of Austria,"monsters" ; the Germans they styled "savages ." Theirplace of meeting they designated as the "ship," to foreshadowthe future maritime greatness of Italy, and the helpthey expected from over the sea ; their chief was the" pilot ."579 . Egyptian 'Lodges.-Immediately after the downfallof Napoleon, societies were formed also in foreign countriesto promote Italian independence . The promoters of thesewere chiefly exiles . Distant Egypt even became the centreof such a propaganda ; and under_ the auspices of MehemetAli, who aspired to render himself independent of the SublimePorte, there was established the Egyptian rite ofCagliostro with many variations, and under the title of the11 Secret Egyptian Society ." Under masonic forms, thePacha hoped to further his own views ; and especially, toproduce political changes in the Ionian Islands and in Italy,he scattered his agents all over the Mediterranean coasts .Being masonic, the society excluded no religion ; it retainedthe two annual festivals, and added a third in memory of