Abhandlung über die allgemeine Zusammenkunft der Freymaurer, bei den Gesundbrunnen in Wilhelmsbad

...consist of creatures who are without reason and constitute the dregs of the human race; that it will thus resemble those societies of villains and evildoers over whom the sword of justice is always drawn, if its scourge is not sufficient to disperse them.

For the opposite cause, every society which has an honest, useful, and just purpose, and good laws derived from this purpose, whose individual members are upright, mild, and virtuous by temperament as well as by principle, and are enemies of such a form of government which is contrary to the social foundation, who love only wise laws and beneficial harmony, honor these wise laws, obey them, and maintain harmony—such a society deserves veneration and will be venerated; it deserves to be sought out and will be sought out. The great ones of the earth will value it in their states, because it is important for the state to be populated with virtuous subjects. Latin: "Of all societies, none is more excellent, none more firm, than when good men of similar character are joined in familiarity. For that moral goodness (which we often mention) even if we see it in another, nevertheless moves us and makes friends of those in whom it seems to dwell." Cicero, De Officiis, Book I, Chapter 17. (*) Yes indeed, we often say it! And we said it above with the same words.

This is the essence of the Society of Freymaurer Freemasons. This venerable society will always be of this character if it receives into its bosom only virtuous men, or those who zealously strive to become virtuous; if its purpose is honest, useful, and just; if all who conduct the business of the society, or have obtained the right to penetrate into the secrets of the Order, know this purpose; if the laws by which it is governed are supported by justice, integrity, and utility; if it has enough courage to close the gates of its temples to the false, stormy, innovation-seeking, deceptive, power-hungry, hypocritical, and all other vicious and dangerous creatures who would destroy the happiness of a gentle, honest, beneficial, and philanthropic union.

According to all these principles, the Maurervolk Masonic people (o) I call "Masonic people" that part of the Masonic corps which boasts of being the healthier part, which believes it possesses the true purpose of the Order, which formally announces the desire to be truly useful to the human race... assembled in Wilhelmsbad should have...