I've always thought of the Illuminati as sort of an advanced 'off-shoot' of the Freemasons.
Does anyone know for sure??
;)
the freemasons are/were a good organization initially.they as are evryone else were infiltrated by Illuminati. even the higher degree freemasons knew it was getting bad so they allowed a huge "crusade" against their own. many freemasons and related architectures were razed but the damage was done. the freemasonry ladder is not unlike a pyramid scheme. the lower levels have no clue what the upper levels are doing..it trickles down so to speak. they are still lead by the Illuminati at the highest levels.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AoShiNmmZ0w.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g8eP8LTUlvI