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Evidence that for a time the Society did exist in some form can wards imperial federation on _ be found scattered in various places. For instance, Stead had agreed on the structure of the already formed the "Association of Helpers" by 1890, when he ct", that he had sought since founded Review of Reviews as a means of making Rhodes's secret this proposed secret society society idea—in another Iluminati-like touch—"presentable to cture, based on that of the the public without in any way revealing the esoteric truth behind , the position of "General of _ it" (Stead). Recognising his contribution with the Review and the 1 the General of the Jesuits— Helpers, Rhodes enthusiastically told Stead: "You have begun to realise my idea..." Further progress appeared to have been made in 1891 when Lord Esher and Milner, according to Stead's account, both agreed to participate in the Society.” There are other tantalising frag- ments of evidence, though they are incomplete. According to Marlowe, for instance, it was while visiting England in April 1891 that Milner saw Stead, who "talked to him about Cecil Rhodes and his scheme for an imperial secret society". Yet Marlowe cannot tell us if Milner decided to join. He also notes that Milner met with George Parkin, Lord Roseberry and Lord Esher, all named by Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) Quigley as known or suspected "initiates".” In addition, Rotberg t also that its "outer circle records that Rhodes met with Esher during his 1891 visit to rs'" was "later organised by Britain and later corresponded with him about forming a secret league of "the English race", in which each member would be 3lo-American Establishment required to find two more supporters. "It could begin with you," sty had been formed and that — Esher wrote to Rhodes, "and might well roll up indefinitely!" 2ty idea from Rhodes's sixth We also find, in an exchange with Stead in April 1900, in holarships was only a calcu- which he explained that Stead would no longer be a trustee 1erely a fagade to conceal the (because of Stead's opposition to the Anglo—Boer War), that 2d Rhodes's objective right Rhodes acknowledged the existence of their "Society": thers, though, have been less How can our Society be worked if each one sets himself up as the sole judge of what ought to be done? Just look at the posi - s Whyte's contention that the tion here. We three are South Africa, all of us your boys. I ywledging the Society "did myself, Milner and [F. Edmund] Garrett, all of whom learned ween 1889 and 1891, yet he politics from you—and yet instead of deferring to the judge - ectiveness and eventual col- ment of your own boys you fling yourself into violent opposi - tion to the war." Rhodes took his own first steps towards imperial federation on be found scattered in various places. For ins tance, Stead had 5 February 1891 when he and Stead agreed on the structure of the already formed the "Association of Helpers" by 1890, when he secret society, or "Society of the Elect", that he had sought since founded Review of Reviews as a means of making Rhodes's secret 1877. Like Weishaupt's Illuminati, this proposed secret society society idea—in another Iluminati-like touch—"presentable to had an elaborate hierarchical structure, based on that of the the public without in any way revealing the esoteric truth behind Jesuits, which comprised: at the top, the position of "General of __ it" (Stead). Recognising his contribution with the Review and the the Society"—a position modelled on the General of the Jesuit:— Helpers, Rhodes enthusiastically told Stead: "You have begun to to be occupied by Rhodes, with Stead and Lord Rothschild as his designated successors; an executive committee called the "Junta of Three", comprising Stead, Milner and Reginald Baliol Brett (Lord Esher); then a "Circle of Initiates", consisting of a number of notables including Cardinal Manning, Lord Arthur Balfour, Lord Albert Grey and Sir Harry Johnston; and outside of this was the "Association of Helpers", the broad mass of the Society.” One of the puzzles surrounding this meeting is whether the "Society of the Elect" actually came into with George Parkin, Lord Roseberry being. Quigley claims in Tragedy and Lord Esher, all named by and Hope (1966) that Rhodes's Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) Quigley as known or suspected "Society of the Elect" was not only "initiates".” In addition, Rotberg "formally established" in 1891, but also that its "outer circle records that Rhodes met with Esher during his 1891 visit to known as the ‘Association of Helpers'" was "later organised by Britain and later corresponded with him about forming a secret Milner as the Round Table". league of "the English race", in which each member would be In his posthumous book, The Anglo-American Establishment required to find two more supporters. "It could begin with you," (1981), Quigley insists that the Society had been formed and that Esher wrote to Rhodes, "and might well roll up indefinitely!"”* realise my idea..." Further progress appeared to have been made in 1891 when Lord Esher and Milner, according to Stead's account, both agreed to participate in the Society.” There are other tantalising frag- ments of evidence, though they are incomplete. According to Marlowe, for instance, it was while visiting England in April 1891 that Milner saw Stead, who "talked to him about Cecil Rhodes and his scheme for an imperial secret society". Yet Marlowe cannot tell us if Milner decided to join. He also notes that Milner met the disappearance of the secret society idea from Rhodes's sixth We also find, in an exchange with Stead in April 1900, in and seventh wills in favour of the scholarships was only a calcu- which he explained that Stead would no longer be a trustee lated ruse. The scholarships were "merely a fagade to conceal the (because of Stead's opposition to the Anglo—Boer War), that secret society", which had remained Rhodes's objective right Rhodes acknowledged the existence of their "Society": through to his death.” Other researchers, though, have been less How can our Society be worked if each one sets himself up as certain. the sole judge of what ought to be done? Just look at the posi - Billington, for example, challenges Whyte's contention that the tion here. We three are South Africa, all of us your boys. I organisation was "stillborn", acknowledging the Society "did myself, Milner and [F. Edmund] Garrett, all of whom learned organise in a provisional sense" between 1889 and 1891, yet he politics from you—and yet instead of deferring to the judge - argues that Quigley ignored its ineffectiveness and eventual col- ment of your own boys you fling yourself into violent opposi - apse.” tion to the war.™ About the Author: Endnotes Men, p. 13. Will Banyan, BA (Hons), GradDip 41. Walter Nimocks, Milner's Young 45. Frederic Whyte, The Life of W. T. (Information Science), is a writer spe- Men: the "Kindergarten" in Edwardian Stead, Jonathan Cape, 1925, vol. II, pp. cialising in the political economy of Imperial Affairs, Duke University Press, 12-13, 322-323 (including quotes); globalisation. He has worked for local 1968, pp. 8-10; John E. Kendle, The Nimocks, Milner's Young Men, p. 14. and national governments as well as Round Table Movement and Imperial 46. Quoted in Kendle, The Round Table some international organisations and Union, University of Toronto Press, 1975, | Movement, pp. 7-8. the private sector. He is currently pp. 6-7; and Robert I. Rotberg with Miles 47. Quoted in A. M. Gollin, Proconsul in working on a revisionist history of the F. Shore, The Founder: Cecil Rhodes and _ Politics: A Study of Lord Milner in New World Order and an analysis of the Pursuit of Power, Oxford University Opposition and in Power, Anthony Blond, the War on Terror. Press, 1988, p. 106. 1964, p. 130 (emphasis added). Banyan's six-part series, "Rockefeller 42. Quoted in John Evelyn Wrench, 48. Quoted in Wm Roger Louis, In the Internationalism", was published in Alfred Lord Milner: The Man of No Name of God, Go!: Leo Amery and the NEXUS 10/03-11/02. He has also pub- II/usions, 1854-1925, Eyre & British Empire in the Age of Churchill, lished papers at the Modern History Spottiswoode Ltd, 1958, pp. 44-45. W.W. Norton & Co, 1992, p. 76. Project website. 43. Quoted in Kendle, The Round Table 49. Quoted in Eric Stokes, "Milnerism", Will Banyan can be contacted by Movement, p. 6. The Historical Journal, vol. 5, no. 1 email at banyan007@rediffmail.com. 44. Quoted in Nimocks, Milner's Young (1962), p. 49. 28 = NEXUS THE "SOCIETY OF THE ELECT" Cecil Rhodes (1853-1902) www.nexusmagazi ne.com FEBRUARY — MARCH 2005