observation applies to
"The Mysteries of Freemasonry," and we may come at once to the year
1891. Some time subsequently to the third of August, our witness
published a volume entitled "Are there Women in Freemasonry?" which, so
far as one can see, bears the marks of hurried production. It is, in
fact, "The Sister Masons" almost _in extenso_--that work being still in
circulation--with the addition of important fresh material. The bulk of
the new matter is concerned with the rituals of the New and Reformed
Palladium, consisting of five degrees, conformable, as regards the first
three, with the somewhat banal but innocent grades of the Modern Rite of
Adoption, and passing, as regards the two final, into pure Luciferian
doctrine. How did Leo Taxil become possessed of these rituals? He
informs us quite frankly that by means of arguments _sonnants et
trebuchants_, that is to say, by a bribe, he persuaded an officer of a
certain Palladian Grand Council located at Paris to forget his pledges
for the time required in transcribing them. That was not a very
creditable proceeding, but in exposing Freemasonry ordinary ethical
considerations seem to be ruled out of court, and it is idle to examine
methods when we are in need of documents. By these documents, and by the
editorial matter which introduces and follows them, Leo Taxil, as
already observed, created the Question of Lucifer. Premising that a dual
object governed the institution of androgyne lodges, namely, the
opportunity for forbidden enjoyments, and the creation of powerful
unsuspected auxiliaries for political purposes, he states that the
latter part of this programme was specially surrendered to the old
Palladian Masonry. Now it is clear that the rituals of the order which
he published in 1886 bear no such construction as he here, and for the
first time, imputes; they connect with part one of the programme, and he
was content at the time with their impeachment on the ground of sexual
disorder. Why has he changed the impeachment? No assignable reason
appears from his subsequent remarks, but he goes on to allege that,
under the auspices of Albert Pike and his group, the original order
developed the New and Reformed Palladian Rite, in which the political
purpose was itself subordinated to "Satanism pure and simple."
Originating in the United States, it has invaded Europe, where it
propagates with truly unheard of rapidity, so that in Paris alone there
are three active lodge