Over ten years ago,
we
took
a
field
trip
to
the
Rindge
Historical
Society.
The
museum’s
collection
includes
a
military
discharge
signed
by
General
George
Washington,
a
musket
from
a
veteran
of
the
French
and
Indian
War,
and
the
carriage
owned
by
Dr.
William
Dean
of
nearly
Jaffrey,
NH,
whose
murder
in
1918
remains
an
unresolved
mystery.
Before
leaving
this
historic
gem,
we
visited
the
museum’s
bookstore
and
found
reprinted
copies
of
Proof
of
the
Illuminati
by
Rev.
Seth
Payson.
I
asked
the
museum’s
director
why
this
book
would
be
offered
by
the
museum.
She
told
me
that
the
author
was
pastor
of
the
Rindge
Congregational
Church
from
1782
until
his
death
in
1820.
I
bought
a
copy
and
read
this
fascinating
account
of
the
Illuminati.
Camp
Constitution
Press
is
pleased
to
reprint
this
timeless
but
little
known
classic.
From the Foreword:
This work, Proof of the Illuminati, was first published in 1802 under the longer title Proofs of
the Real Existence, and Dangerous Tendency, of Illuminism. It was printed in Charlestown,
Massachusetts by Samuel Etheridge for the author, Seth Payson. Reverend Seth Payson, D. D.
was born in 1758 and died in 1820. He, like his father, Rev. Phillips Payson, and several of his
brothers, became a Congregational preacher. After graduating from Harvard, he was appointed
as the minister of the Congregational church in Rindge, New Hampshire in 1782, and held this
post for the rest of his life. At least one of his sons also followed him into the ministry. Payson
was very active in establishing new churches for communities in northern New England,
including the church in Coventry, Vermont. He was the author of numerous sermons, several of
which were published and had a modest distribution. Additionally, Payson helped educate and
provide for Sophia Sawyer, a woman who would later become famous for establishing the
Fayetteville Female Academy. Rev. Payson served in the New Hampshire State senate from
1802-1805. He was a staunch Federalist supporter. Along with its alarming message regarding
both religion and state, Proof of the Illuminati was also a part of Payson’s campaign platform
A link to a free PDF version of the book:
And, a link to purchase the book from our on-line shop:
https://campconstitution.net/product/59283/
Back in 2012, we took a role in helping to defeat Agenda 21 in the Town of Rindge. Some Leftists in town were not happy with us. One such person was a direct descendent of Rev. Payson. This person was a town official. We pointed out to her that we were simply picking up where her worthy ancestor left off. She had no clue that her ancestor authored a book like this.