-Caveat Lector- <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/"> </A> -Cui Bono?- ..... far and wide! The following has been painstakingly transcribed from The Publishers Introduction to the Americanist Classics Edition of the "PROOFS OF A CONSPIRACY AGAINST ALL THE RELIGIONS AND GOVERNMENTS OF EUROPE, CARRIED ON IN THE SECRET MEETING OF FREE MASONS, ILLUMINATI, AND READING SOCIETIES. COLLECTED FROM GOOD AUTHORITIES, BY JOHN ROBISON, A. M. PROFESSOR OF NATURAL PHILOSPHY, AND SECRETARY TO THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH. Nam tua res agitur paties cum proximus ardet. THE FOURTH EDITION, TO WHICH IS ADDED, A POSTSCRIPT. NEW-YORK: Printed and Sold by George Forman, No. 64, Water-Street. between Coenties and the Old-Ship. 1798." (To enable you to properly and intelluctality digest what follows, I strongly urge a quiet environment with absolutely no distractions. Not recommended for those suffering from Attention Disorder Syndrome [caused by being raised by dysfunctional parents].) INTRODUCTION TO THE AMERICANIST CLASSICS EDITION Very few people are aware that the intense drama of our twentieth century--the life and death struggle between capitalism and Communism, freedom and slavery--has its origins in the the late eighteenth century. All Americans are aware that the Declaration of Independence was written in 1776. Few are aware that Adam Smith's 'Wealth of Nations', which provided the ideological foundation for capitalism and for the Industrial Revolution, was published in 1776. And fewer still are aware that in that same year, 1776, Adam Weishaupt, a professor of Canon law at Ingolstadt University in Germany, founded the Illuminati Order, a conspiratorial organization which embodied all of the goals, aims and methods of what we now call Communism. All history books will tell you of the first event. A good many will tell you of the second. But practically none will even allude to the last. Why? When you know the answer to that question you know hstory better than the historians. The two prime source books for our knowledge of Adam Weishaupt's Illuminati conspiracy are Professor John Robison's 'Proofs of a Conpircy', first published in 1798, and the Abbe Augustin Barruel's impressive four-volume study, 'Memoirs Illustrating the History of Jacobinism' published in 1799, some months after the first appearance of Robison's book. Both men--one a Professor of Natural Philosophy at Edinburgh University, the other a French clergyman--writing in different countries and in different languages, without the one knowing the other, basically covered the same subject matter and came to the very same conslusions. Thus, we have two excellent works which tell us virtually all we need to know about the origin of history's most diabolical, long-range conspiracy. While Barruel's work is the more extensive, better documented, and perhaps more painstakingly accurate, Professor Robison's book is the more literate, sophisticated and reflective. Its documentation is extensive, but its intellectual scope is its chief delight, for Robison, in this work, is more than merely a historian; he is a philosopher, moralist, social commentator, wise observer of human foibles, scientist, critic, and stylist. Robison had all of the virtues of the enlightment, rational, scientific, humane and religious spirit which characterized the founders of our own country and which represented the flower of eighteenth century English intellect. He had traveled widely in the old and new worlds, was one of the century's leading teachers of science--then known as 'natural philosophy'--and he knew many of the major men of achievement in all the sciences. He was a close friend of James Watt, the inventor of the steam engine, who described Robison when the latter died in 1805 at the age of 66 as 'a man of the clearest head and the most science of anybody I have ever known.' Professor Robison was a member of the distinguished circle of intellectuals who at that time enhanced the reputation of the University of Edinburg. In fact, in 1783, Robison was elected general secretary of the royal Society of Edinburg. In short, Robison was one of the leading intellects of his time, deeply interested in every aspect of man's attainments, both scientific and moral, in civilized society. The French Revolution, with its incredible atrocities, its militant atheism, its reign of terror, its wanton destruction of civilized values, was the major event which shook Europe during Robison's mature years. Its shock was particularly painful because it occurred when science, rationality and enlightenment were making incredible strides. Yet the Revolution, brought on in the name of all of these, plus 'liberty, equality and fraternity,' resulted in the beheading by guillotine of such scientific geniuses as Antoine Lavoisier, who was well known and greatly admired by his English colleagues. Men of genuine learning in Europe were well aware that the French Revolution had been preceded by a long period of intense intellectual agitation, in which the very foundations of civilized society were seriously questioned. Ideas and doctrines advocating the abolition of all religion, the overthrow of all civil governments, the creation of utopian world citizenship and the abolition of private property, often at the risk of provoking the authorities. But the main haven for the free espression of such revolutionary ideas on the Continent were certain Masonic lodges, which, departing from the simpler practices of English Freemasonry, had become forums where diverse opinions on morals, religion and politics could be and were freely expressed. This development was a 'peculiarly French innovation', but it was adopted by numbers of Masonic lodges in many others parts of Europe, particularly Germany. [don't give up! the best is yet to come.] <A HREF="http://www.ctrl.org/">www.ctrl.org</A> DECLARATION & DISCLAIMER ========== CTRL is a discussion & informational exchange list. Proselytizing propagandic screeds are not allowed. Substance—not soap-boxing! These are sordid matters and 'conspiracy theory'—with its many half-truths, misdirections and outright frauds—is used politically by different groups with major and minor effects spread throughout the spectrum of time and thought. That being said, CTRL gives no endorsement to the validity of posts, and always suggests to readers; be wary of what you read. CTRL gives no credence to Holocaust denial and nazi's need not apply. Let us please be civil and as always, Caveat Lector. ======================================================================== Archives Available at: http://home.ease.lsoft.com/archives/CTRL.html http:[EMAIL PROTECTED]/ ======================================================================== To subscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SUBSCRIBE CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNsubscribe to Conspiracy Theory Research List[CTRL] send email: SIGNOFF CTRL [to:] [EMAIL PROTECTED] Om
