Free Masonry - The Masonic Trowel

340 WEISHAtitT
Free Mason, and lover of good cheer, surnamed himsetf
Philo, and by his epistles and services, seems entitled to
the third rank in this brotherhood of smooth-tongued impostors.
Their plan of operations divided the sect into two grand
classes; these were again divided into many degrees.
The first class was that of preparation, and the three
first degrees of this class were the three first degrees of
Masonry, unless we say, that novices in Illuminism were
always selected from masters in Free Masonry. Then four
degrees brought them to the second class, or mysteries; of
the mysteries there were five degrees.
ffluminisro, proper, had nine degrees, grafted on the
three first degrees* of Free Masonry: all the remaining
degrees of Masonry were used as occasion required; and
served the disciples of Weishaupt as the twenty collateral
degrees serve the sublime sovereigns: " which- they generally
communicate free of expense to those brethren who
are high enough to understand them."—(DafcAo'* Orations,
p. 80.)
Every degree had one member, who was, by the code
itself, entitled, from his official duty," Brother Insinuator,"
and, sometimes, " Brother Recruiter." The Free Mason
lodges were the pools in which the Brother Recruiter angled
for novices in Illuminism, and the manner of baiting
and taking his prey will be best understood from the follow*
ing directions, furnished by the statutes of the order.
(B. p. 30.) " He must begin by descanting on the
supreme felicity of being versed in sciences which few can
approach; of walking in the paths of light, while the vulgar
are groping in darkness. He must remark, that there
* Barrnel, who beet understood the plans of the IUnminees, makes all
Free Masonry only collateral to Blnminimn; Rohison, who was better
skilled in their practice*, makes the three first degrees of Masonry the
stock, and Qtaminism the scion.