Notes By Father Foy On His Second Lecture.

by one of the chief conspirators in this movement , Baron Ruigge , who had , however , chosen the Jewish term of Philo , having the title of a " Popular System of Religion . " In this , Christianity is considered as a mere allegory . Attention is continually directed to the absurdities and

horrors of superstition ; the tyranny and oppression of the great , and especially the tricks of the priests . The general tenor of the whole is to make men discontented

ivith civil subordination , and still more the restraints of revealed reli gion . In this manner the Association was said to abjure Christianit y , and to refuse admission to any of the hi gher degrees , to all who were either Catholics , Lutherians , or

Calvanists . Sensual pleasures were restored to the rank they held in epicurean philosophy . Self murder or suicide was justified in stoical principles . In these assemblies death was declared an eternal sleep ;

patriotism and loyalty were called narrowminded prejudices , and incompatible ivith universal benevolence . Nothing was so frequently discoursed of as the propriety of employing , for a good purpose , the means which the wicked employed for an evil purpose . In some of these degrees the brethren

are declared to be in this sense , free . The word that is sought for is deism , —the pietented worship of Jehovah , known to the philosophers of nature . The religion which is to be destroyed , is the religion of Christ . And the word , that is liberty and

equalit y , is to be established by the total overthrow of the altar and the throne . So it was laid down by these conspirators that "no religionist must , on any account , ue admitted into these higher mysteries ; for here we work at the extirpation of

superstition and prejudice . " Spartacus OVeishaul pt ) to Cato ( Zwack ) . And hence they arrived at the teaching ° f Spinosa , that there was no God but this world : that the world was God , and wod was the world . And thus mankind became irresponsible , as God being only this , there was no judge , or ruler , or Wenger , whom they had . to fear .

THE GERMAN UNION . AVhat had been fearful enough in most Rocking results , had already been achieved " y these Assemblies .

But as it was the great aim of these societies to poison society at its fountain head , and wholly to corrupt it , it was requisite to carry out things on a far larger scale , and to employ engines that would make nothing but ruins wherever they

were employed . " The great aim , " according to its own prospectus , " of the German Union is the good of mankind , which is to be obtained only by means of mental illumination , and the dethroning of fanaticism and moral

despotism . ' ' Tins German Union , then , for the advancement of this detestable conspiracy , was a system ivhich embraced both literary associations , and Book Clubs . One of the first to join it was Nicolaia

, a leading publisher of Nicolai , who thus disseminated the organisation of this association , as well as all its publications at all the German fans . ( He called himself ( Lucian . ) It requires , then , no elaborate amount

of details to see how soon the public mind in Germany was utterly poisoned by these conspirators . " Reading societies were to be formed in every quarter , and to be furnished with proper books . Nothing could so well lead to the improvement of the human character as well managed Reading Societies .

" When , by degrees , the whole trade of book selling is in our hands , the writers Avho labour in the cause of superstition and restraint , Avill have neither publisher nor readers . "And thus , by the spreading of our

fraternity , all good hearts and sensible men Avill adhere to us , and , by our means , -will be put in a condition that enables them to work in silence upon all courts , families , and individuals in every quarter , and acquire an influence in the appointment of

court officers , steAvards , secretaries , public teachers , and private tutors . " AU this Avill speedily come about , as our association will be the only book shop in Germany . " NOAV all this nefarious plot spread from

Germany into France , Ave have already seen . There , it culminated into the savage horrors of 1753 , and of the Communism of 1870 . They had , there , at least the experience of their Barabbas . " No more altars ! No