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Women were also enlisted. He wrote: “There is no way of influencing men so powerful, as
by means of women. These should therefore be our chief study; we should insinuate ourselves
into their good opinion, give them hints of emancipation from the tyranny of public opinion, and
of standing up for themselves...” He also wrote: “This sex has a large part of the world in their
hands.” Female members were divided into two groups: one group of society women, to give the
organization an air of respectability; and the other group “who would help to satisfy those
brothers who have a penchant for pleasure.” The Illuminati also used monetary and sex bribery
to gain control of men in high places, then blackmailed them with the threat of financial ruin,
public exposure, and fear of death.
Internal fighting soon developed because of Weishaupt’s thirst for power. Besides that,
because only nominal dues were collected, the Order suffered financially.
In 1780, a new member, Baron Franz Friedrich Knigge (1752-1796), was recruited, and
given the pseudonym of ‘Philo.’ Knigge was born on October 16, 1752. He studied law at
Gottingen, served in the courts of Hesse-Cassel and Weimar, and was a well-known writer of
romance, poetry and philosophy. He joined the Masonic lodge of Strict Observance, which was
dedicated to the elimination of the occult sciences, which were widely practiced. Unable to do
that, they were forced to accept it. Knigge achieved the rank of Brother Commander, and had the
title of Knight of the Swan. He assisted in the establishment of a new Masonic lodge at Hanau.
Because of his developing exposure and interest in the occult, magic and alchemy, he joined the
Rosicrucians, a secret organization that dated back to the fourteenth century, and reportedly was
an occult group who participated in human sacrifice rituals.
He later renounced alchemy, and devoted his studies to the development of a form of
Masonry that would allow man to regain the perfection they once had before the fall of Adam
and Eve. His idea was to reform Masonry, and he was going to make these proposals at the
Congress of Wilhelmsbad. However, the Marquis of Constanza (known as “one of the most
notorious of the Illuminati”) informed him that the Illuminati had already done that. In order to
lure him, Weishaupt portrayed the Order as representing the greatest advancement in science,
and dedicated to philosophical advancement. Since this fell in line with Knigge’s thinking, he
was drawn into the Order.
Knigge was definitely a catch, because he had a talent for organization, and soon became the
head of the Westphalia Circle. He was instrumental in pushing for a merger between the Masons
and the Illuminati. Weishaupt wrote of him: “Philo is the master from whom to take lessons; give
me six men of his stamp and with them I will change the face of the Universe ... Philo does more
than we all expected, and he is the man who alone will carry it all through.”
Knigge was firmly supported by members of the Areopagite, who felt that Weishaupt’s
supreme authority should be delegated to others, and they agreed with Knigge’s proposed
modifications for the organization. They were adopted on July 9, 1781. Knigge was able to
recruit the most effective propagandists, and from 1780 on, the growth of the Order was very
rapid because its expansion was facilitated through its affiliation with the Masonic lodges.
Their goal was now to achieve their aims by splitting mankind into opposing ideologies, and
for them to fight among themselves, thus weakening national governments and organized
religion.
An understanding was finally reached between the Masons and the Illuminati, and on
December 20, 1781, a combined Order was proposed, which would add to the Illuminati
organization, the first three degrees of Masonry. It wasn’t until the Congress of Wilhelmsbad
from July 16th to August 29th, 1781 (which was attended by Masons, Martinistes, and