Theophilanthropist, The
Name/Title
Theophilanthropist, TheEntry/Object ID
M61 P35tSecondary Title
Containing Critical, Moral, Theological and Literary Essays, In Monthly NumbersDescription
Anthology of essays including a posthumous work, Origin of Free-Masonry by by Thomas Paine (page 370)Context
From the Grand Lodge of British Columbia and Yukon website: "...culled from the writings of Mr. Paine after his death, and published in a mutilated state by Mrs. Bonneville, his executrix. Passages having a reference to the Christian religion she erased, with a view no doubt of accommodating the work to the prejudices of bigotry. These, however, have been restored from the original manuscript, except a few lines which were rendered illegible." Madame Bonneville published this fragment in New York, 1810 (with the omissions I point out) as a pamphlet. — Dr. Robinet (Danton - Emigre, p. 7) says erroneously that Paine was a Freemason; but an eminent member of that Fraternity in London, Mr. George Briggs, after reading this essay, which I submitted to him, tells me that "his general outline, remarks, and comments, are fairly true." Paine’s intimacy in Paris with Nicolas de Bonneville and Charles Frangois Dupuis, whose writings are replete with masonic speculations, sufficiently explain his interest in the subject. — Moncure Daniel Conway The Writings of Thomas Paine 1896 G.P. Putnam’s Sons, New York."Collection
Gillett, Charles E.Cataloged By
Adam KendallCategory
Literature and Music: Addresses, Lectures, Sermons, Essays (Instructional)