other matters of form, are absolutely distinct and have no kind of
connexion with each other. The lodges of the Scottish Rite number,
it is true, a few _Illumines_ amongst the Masons of the higher
degrees, but these adepts are very careful not to be known as such
to their brothers in Masonry or to manifest ideas that would betray
their secret.

Berckheim then goes on to describe the subtle methods by which the
Illuminati now maintain their existence; learning wisdom from the events
of 1786, their organization is carried on invisibly, so as to defy the
eye of authority:

It was thought for a long while that the association had a Grand
Mastership, that is to say, a centre point from which radiated all
the impulsions given to this great body, and this primary motive
power was sought for successively in all the capitals of the North,
in Paris and even in Rome. This error gave birth to another opinion
no less fallacious: it was supposed that there existed in the
principal towns lodges where initiations were made and which
received directly the instructions emanating from the headquarters
of the Society.

If such had been the organization of Illuminism, it would not so
long have escaped the investigations of which it was the object:
these meetings, necessarily thronged and frequent, requiring
besides, like masonic lodges, appropriate premises, would have
aroused the attention of magistrates: it would not have been
difficult to introduce false brothers, who, directed and protected
by authority, would soon have penetrated the secrets of the sect.

This is what I have gathered most definitely on the Association of
the _Illumines_:

First I would point out that by the word hotbeds [foyers] I did not
mean to designate points of meeting for the adepts, places where
they hold assemblies, but only localities where the Association
counts a great number of partisans, who, whilst living isolated in
appearance, exchange ideas, have an understanding with each other,
and advance together towards the same goal.

The Association had, it is true, assemblies at its birth where
receptions [i.e. initiations] took place, but the dangers which
resulted from these made them feel the necessity of abandoning
them. It was settled that each initiated adept should have the
r