The Final Fate of the Masonic Order

...a cunning web of all the arts, jests, and sophistries that were blamed on the Jesuits; and Weishaupt himself confessed in his letters that he had formed his new Order according to Jesuitism The author highlights the irony that Weishaupt, while often opposing Catholic influence, modeled his secret society’s structure on the hierarchical and disciplined organization of the Jesuit Order. (). Indeed, among the papers of these "exemplary moralists," one found a defense of suicide, a description of a firebox original: "Brennkiste" — likely a device for the rapid destruction of incriminating documents., recipes for inducing abortion, recipes to prepare Aqua Tofana A famous, slow-acting, and tasteless poison used in the 17th and 18th centuries., for scattering poisonous scents in rooms, for exciting nymphomania original: "Mutterwuth" — an archaic term for what was then considered a pathological or uncontrollable sexual desire in women. in women, for forging false seals original: "Pettschaften" — small personal seals used to close and authenticate letters., and the like (). The beautiful bond of friendship and brotherly love that was tied among the members of the Order consisted of this: that, according to the founder’s own expression, each had to be the other’s spy ().

But what more shall I say about it? Read for yourselves, my brothers! the original writings of the Illuminati, the authenticity of which no one among them has yet dared to contest. Your own feelings guarantee to me that your souls must be filled with horror and disgust. And to this conspiratorial alliance against religion, state, and morality, Weishaupt gave—to the vain youth from whom his first members were drawn—the name so attractive to—

() Original Writings p. 216. Supplement p. 8. and other places.
() Ibid. p. 108. ff.
() Ibid. p. 216.