The Illuminati

The Illuminati

The Order of the Illuminati was a secret society whose name means "Enlightened Ones". The organization was founded on May 1, 1776 in Bavaria. The founder, was a former Jesuit and Professor of Canon Law at the University of Inglolstadt, Germany named Adam Weishaupt.

There is very little information about the Illuminati. However, there is reason to believe that the Illuminati was established and developed with the help of the Masonry in Germany. Many trace the Illuminati back to the Knights of Templar, Gnostics, Atlantis and even the Ancient Egyptians. As a secret society within a secret society, the myths, legends and folklore of the Illuminati have the capability of becoming quite infinite.

Other groups that have based their beliefs upon the speculation of the Illuminati include the Atheists, Cabalists, Rationalists, Democrats, Socialists, Anarchists, etc. In the United States, Federalists encouraged people to believe that the Democrats, Republicans and even Thomas Jefferson were linked to the Illuminati.

Two central figures in the Illuminati were Adam Weishaupt and Adolph Franz Friedrich Ludwid Baron Von Knigge. These men developed the central belief in freedom of thinking combined with radical politics and spiritual perfection. The Illuminati was originally known as "The Order of Perfectibilists".

The Illuminati believed in a subtle stronghold of the United States of America by way of political, financial and social administration. They were also known for having a significant influence in global business relations. Members wanted to remove the powers of hereditary aristocracy and replace it with intellectual aristocracy.

The Illuminati were extremely secretive, often identifying themselves as well as their Chapters by mystical references. Weishaupt was "Spartacus", Knigge was "Philo", Ingolstadt (the headquarters) was "Eleusis", Austria was "Egypt", etc. Dates were given in a form of cryptography.

Ceremonies were divided into three principal classes and those principal classes were divided into degrees as the following:

· The Nursery

1. Preparatory Literary Essay

2. Novitiate

3. Minerval

4. Minor Illuminatus

5. Magistratus

· Symbolic Freemasonry

1. Apprentice

2. Fellow Craft

3. Master

4. (a) Scots Major Illuminatus

(b) Scots Illuminatus Dirigens (Directory)

· Mysteries

1. Lesser

(a) Presbyter, Priest or Epopt

(b) Prince or Regent

2. Greater

(a) Magus

(b) Rex or King

The Illuminati claimed over two thousand members during the height of their organization's popularity. Members resided in Germany, France, Belgium, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Poland, Hungary, and Italy. Members included many prominent nobles, political individuals and reformers, including Johann Von Goethe and Herder.

At some point, Adam Weishaupt found fault with the ritualistic work of Adolph Franz Friedrich Ludwid Baron Von Knigge. As a result, Adolph Franz Friedrich Ludwid Baron Von Knigge became resentful and resigned in 1784.

Another Illuminati member named Christoph Friedrich Nicolai (1733-1811), nicknamed "Lucianus," picked up where Knigge left off. Nicolai was a prolific and gifted writer. Nicolai had been the longtime editor of the ADB (Allgemeine Deutsche Bibliothek) from 1765-1806. This publication was considered the heart of the German Enlightenment. Nicolai was once quoted saying "we must view matters from a Protestant rather than a Catholic perspective" and reminded others of "incredible stupidity that still prevails among Catholics." In critiquing another writer’s work, Nicolai remarked, "this is unforgivable and we Protestants must contradict such things, so that prejudices are not once again introduced in place of the truth."

As an Illuminati member, Nicolai also noted that he "started the campaign of the Berlin Enlighteners against what they perceived as the Catholic threat against the Enlightenment," by publishing his pseudo-historical book on the Knights Templar: Versuch über die Beschuldigungen, welche dem Tempelherrenorden gemacht worden, und über dessen Geheimnis; nebst einem Anhang über das Enstehen der Freimäurergesellschaft (Essay on the Accusations against the Templars, and the Secret of the Order, with a Dissertation on the Origins of Freemasonry.) His writing included the often claimed Templar origins of Freemasonry as well as endorsing the then-prevailing anti-Catholic, Masonic theory that Jesuits had wreaked havoc with the high degrees of Freemasonry.

As internal disorder became an issue within the Illuminati, external disorder began. Many feared the Illuminati would attempt to overthrow Europe’s monarchies. The Jesuits were greatly opposed to the Illuminati and fought with them politically to the point where priests became active enemies.

So much opposition was developed to the point where the elect of Bavaria suppressed the Order of the Illuminati by edict on June 22, 1784. As a result, many of the Illuminati were imprisoned, unless they fled from the country as Adam Weishaupt did.

Even though the edict was obeyed, it was reinforced in March and August of 1785. Inevitably, The Illuminati as well as Freemasonry were complete annihilated in Bavaria and neither was able to fully recover in position.

With the help of Duke Ernst of Gotha, Adam Weishaupt was eventually able to compose a series of writings about the Illuminati including:

· A Complete History of the Persecutions of the Illuminati in Bavaria (1785)

· A Picture of Illuminism (1786), An Apology for the Illuminati (1786)

· An Improved System of Illuminism (1787)

Adam Weishaupt died in 1830.

In 1834, an Italian revolutionary by the name of Giuseppe Mazzini was selected by the Illuminati to direct their organization. Giuseppe Mazzini was formerly a Mason and often linked to Albert Pike who eventually transformed from Masonry into the secret world of the Illuminati. More can be mentioned about Giuseppe Mazzini, including the allegations that he originated the Mafia, but such comments are only speculation.

The Illuminati either disappeared completely in the darkness or faded quietly in the shadows by the end of the 18th century. Their presence is believed to remain, through members of the John Birch Society.

The design of the Great Seal of America, the country’s symbolic coat of arms, has a great deal of occult significance and mystery, all because of its use of a well known symbol from the Illuminati.

After Congress signed the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776, a resolution was passed requesting Benjamin Franklin, John Adams and Thomas Jefferson to create a symbol that would be used to represent the official seal for the new country. A French artist by the name of Eugene du Simtiere was commissioned to draw the designs. By 1780, another committee had to be formed. By 1782, a third committee had to be formed and a unanimous decision was made to use the symbol from the Illuminati. Secretary of Congress, Chares Thomson, was later commissioned to modify and finalize the design.

The U.S. Dollar bill bears the Masonic-Rosicrucian-Illuminati symbol on the reverse side of the Great Seal. President Franklin D. Roosevelt placed the symbol on the U.S. Dollar bill in 1945. President Franklin D. Roosevelt was given the idea of including the occult symbol by a practicing occultist named Henry Wallace. Henry Wallace suggested that a new dollar coin should be created to show the Great Seal of the Egyptian Pyramid and the eye of God. President Franklin D. Roosevelt agreed with the idea, but felt it would be more practical to instead add it to the existing paper currency.

· Obverse Side Of The Dollar Bill

On the obverse side is the bald-headed American eagle. In occultism, an eagle symbolizes the Zodiac sign of Scorpio. Scorpio is a strong astrological sign that is symbolically associated with sexuality, death, and new life. Above the eagle are thirteen five pointed stars known as pentagrams. The pentagram is an occult symbol often used to represent the human and in this case, signifies the thirteen colonies. These pentagrams are conspicuously shaped into the form of a hexagram. On the chest of the eagle, rests a heraldic protective shield that is decorated with stripes. The eagle holds in its mouth a scroll. This scroll has the Latin inscription "E Pluribus Unum" written on it, which translates into "One out of many." This translation was in reference to the thirteen colonies that joined together under one nation for one cause and one God. The eagle holds in its talons a bundle of arrows and an olive branch. There are thirteen arrows and thirteen leaves on the olive branch. The significance of the number thirteen can again be used as a reference to the thirteen colonies. The arrows are a symbol of war and the olive branch is a symbol of peace. This conflict of good vs. evil has existed since the beginning of mankind and will always continue to be a part of society.

· Reverse Side Of The Dollar Bill

On the reverse side is a truncated pyramid with an eye. The eye is considered to be the "eye of God." Above the eye of God, is the Latin inscription "Annuit Coeptis" which translates into "He favors our undertaking." Those who were involved in the American Revolution felt that they were undertaking a divine event that would fulfill an historic destiny for the world and its future. The eye of God was placed above the pyramid and was surrounded by a ray of light. This ray of light symbolizes Illuminism. The thirteen levels of steps on the pyramid represent the thirteen colonies. The Roman numerals "MDCCLXXVI", which stands for 1776, were written on the bottom step of the pyramid in the Great Seal. 1776 was the year of the Revolution as well as the year of the foundation of the Illuminati. According to occultism, the truncated pyramid represents the loss of the Ancient Wisdom. This loss occurred when the Christian Church achieved political power and eventually repressed the old pagan religions, which were driven underground into secret societies. Below the pyramid, is the Latin inscription "Novus Ordo Seclorum" which translates into the "New Order of the Ages." The "New Age" could be referred to as the "Age of Aquarius". The transition from the Piscean Age to the Aquarian Age spans a period of 250 years, from the Revolution of 1776 to the year 2025 CE.

In spite of their presence on everyday currency, the Illuminati continue to remain a mysterious organization.