Devil-Worship in France | Page 6

Religions de Paris. He left a number of manuscripts
behind him, recounting his life-long combats with the priests of black
magic--a series of fervid narratives which savour strongly of
hallucination, but highly picturesque, and in some quarters accepted
quite seriously.
In like manner, concerning the existence of Satanic associations, and
especially the Palladium, M. Huysman admittedly derives his
knowledge from published sources. We may take it, therefore, that he
speaks from an accidental and extrinsic acquaintance, and he is
therefore insufficient in himself to create a question of Satanism; he
indicates rather than establishes that there is a question, and to learn its
scope and nature we must have recourse to the witnesses who claim to
have seen for themselves. These are of two kinds, namely, the spy and
the seceder--the witness who claims to have investigated the subject at
first hand with a view to its exposure, and those who have come
forward to say that they once were worshippers of Lucifer, worshippers
of Satan, operators of Black Magic, or were at least connected with
associations which exist for these purposes, who have now, however,
suspended communication, and are stating what they know. In the first
class we find only Doctor Bataille; in the second, Diana Vaughan, Jean
Kostka, Domenico Margiotta, and Leo Taxil.
Finally, we have, as stated in the preface, some testimony from writers
representing the interests of the Latin Church, in a special manner, and

speaking with the authority of that Church. The most important of these
is the late Archbishop Meurin. At the same time, M. Huysman
apart--who occupies much the same quasi-religious position as that
which attached a fleeting interest to the personality of Mr W. H.
Mallock--all writers and all witnesses are, or assume to be, at the
present time, convinced and zealous Roman Catholics.
I have already stated that the purpose of Black Magic is simply and
obviously to communicate with devils, and if we interrogate our
sources of knowledge as to the object of such communication, it must
be admitted that the response is vague. Perhaps the object will best be
defined as the reinforcement of human ability by diabolical power and
intelligence for the operation of evil along the lines of individual desire
and ambition. For the fulfilment of what is good man aspires towards
God, and to fulfil evil he attempts to conspire with Satan.
It must, however, be observed that modern devil-worship, as exposed
by its French experts, has two aspects, corresponding to the distinction
already laid down in my preface. There is (a) devil-worship pure and
simple, being an attempt to communicate with evil spirits, admitting
that they are evil; (b) the cultus of Lucifer, star of the morning, as
distinguished from Satan, on the hypothesis that he is a good spirit. It
will be seen very readily that the essence of diabolism is wanting in the
second division, namely, the Satanic intention, so that it belongs really
to another category, though the classification may be accepted for the
moment to prevent dispute at the beginning of a somewhat complex
inquiry. The first division is, in any case, Satanism proper, and its
adepts are termed Satanists; those of the second division are, on the
other hand, Luciferians, Palladists, &c. The two orders are further
distinguished as unorganised and as organised diabolism. The cultus of
Satan is supposed to be mainly practised by isolated persons or small
and obscure groups; that of Lucifer is centralised in at least one great
and widespread institution--in other words, the first is rare and sporadic,
the second a prevalent practice. We accordingly hear little of the one,
while the testimonies which have been collected are concerned
exclusively with the other. It is possible, in fact, to dismiss Satanism of
the primary division in a few words, because materials are wanting for

its history. It is founded on orthodox Christianity; it acknowledges that
the devil is a lost angel, but it affirms that the God of the Christians has
deceived His believers, has betrayed the cause of humanity, has exacted
the suppression of the nature with which He Himself has endowed it;
they have therefore abandoned a cruel and tyrannical Master, and have
gone over in despair to His enemy.
Satanism of the second division, its principles and its origin, will be
described in the second chapter.
CHAPTER II
THE MASK OF MASONRY
The identification of the cultus of Lucifer with devil-worship pure and
simple is not, as we have seen, at first sight an entirely just proceeding,
but at the same time it is inevitable. As already observed, the source of
all our knowledge concerning Modern Diabolism exists within the pale
of the Catholic Church; the entire literature is written from the
standpoint of that church, and has been created solely in its interests.