aphomet explains the name which it received, and the passage of
that idol from its original custodians he leaves in the same uncertainty
as Dr Bataille. This difficulty apart, in Signor Margiotta the question
of Lucifer has received a most important witness; he is the most recent,
the most illustrious, and Masonically the most decorated of all. If I
add that he is in one respect to be included among the most virulent, I
do not necessarily detract from his value. So far as one can possibly
be aware, he is a man of unimpeachable integrity, who gives us every
opportunity to identify him, heraldically by his arms and emblazonments,
historically by an account of his family, personally by extracts from
the _Dizionario Biografico_, Masonically by a full enumeration of all
his dignities, including photographs of his most brilliant diplomas and
printed correspondence from Grand Masters and other exalted potentates
of the great Fraternity. It would be difficult, however, in the last
respect, to discover many more exalted than himself, for before his
demission he was Secretary of the Lodge Savonarola of Florence;
Venerable of the Lodge Giordano Bruno of Palmi; Sovereign Grand
Inspector General, 33rd degree, of the Ancient and Accepted Scotch Rite;
Sovereign Prince of the Order (33rd ..., 90th ..., 95th ...,) of the
Rite of Memphis and Misraim; Acting Member of the Sovereign Sanctuary of
the Oriental Order of Memphis and Misraim of Naples; Inspector of the
Misraim Lodges of the Calabrias and of Sicily; Honorary Member of the
National Grand Orient of Haiti; Acting Member of the Supreme Federal
Council of Naples; Inspector-General of all the Masonic Lodges of the
three Calabrias; Grand Master, _ad vitam_, of the Oriental Masonic Order
of Misraim or Egypt (90th degree) of Paris; Commander of the Order of
Knights-Defenders of Universal Masonry; Honorary Member, _ad vitam_, of
the Supreme General Council of the Italian Federation of Palermo;
Permanent Inspector and Sovereign Delegate of the Grand Central
Directory of Naples for Europe (Universal High-grade Masonry), and,
according to his latest portrait, Member of the New Reformed Palladium.
That such a luminary could withdraw from the firmament of the Fraternity
and not take after him the third part of the stars of heaven, above all
that the Italian Grand Master could have the effrontery to affirm that
he had never heard of him and had only discovered who he was after some
investigation,