Resumen de la crise de la franc-maçonnerie européenne et la convent de Wilhelmsbad (1782)
From 16th July to 29th August 1782 there met in Wilhelmsbad near Hanau in Hesse-Darmstadt a congress or convent of European — mainly French and German — Freemasons, which has since led to much speculation. It was claimed to have hatched the Masonic plot which fomented the French Revolution. In fact this congress tried to redefine the aims, means and rituals of the Order of Strict Observance, which was going though a serious crisis. There were three main opposing tendencies : hermetico-alchemistic ; Martinist mystico-spiritualism centred in Lyons ; and a rationalistic, Enlightened tendency. The second finally emerged victorious thanks to the firm but subtle guidance of the promotors of the meeting, Prince Charles of Hesse, Prince Ferdinand of Brunswick and the Lyons silk-merchant Jean-Baptiste Willermoz.
