ere
instituted, what rituals published, what is contained in these, and it
is all solid and instructive. His facts, as already indicated, are
borrowed facts, but they come from a variety of sources, and original
research was scarcely to be expected from a writer against whom the
avenues of knowledge are sealed by his lack of initiation. He concludes,
however, that Adoptive Masonry is Satanic by intention, and that even
the orphanages of the Fraternity are part of a profound and infamous
design to ruin the children of humanity and to perfect proselytes for
perdition.

The appearance of "Child and Woman in Universal Freemasonry" was hailed
with acclamation in the columns of the _Revue Mensuelle_; it reviewed it
by dreary instalments, and when reviewing was no longer possible, had
recourse to tremendous citations; as a last effort, it supplied an
exhaustive index to the whole work--a charitable and necessary action,
for the twelve months' toil of the author had expired without the
accomplishment of this serviceable means of reference. And still, as
occasion offers, it gives it bold advertisement.

The quaint methods of previous witnesses are amplified by M. de la Rive.
Like Dr Bataille, he tells us that the Order of Oddfellows, though quite
distinct from Palladism, is "essentially Luciferian," but he does not
say why or how--instance of demonstrative method. He regards the Jews
with holy hatred as chief ministers of Anti Christ, and characterises
them as that nation of which Judas was "one of the most celebrated
personages"--specimen recipe for the production of cheap odium in large
quantities; but what about Jesus the Christ, whom men called King of the
Jews? Fie, M. de la Rive! He informs us that Miss Alice Booth, daughter
of General Booth, the founder of the Salvation Army, is one of the
foremost Palladists of England--instance of absurd slander which refutes
itself.

M. de la Rive must therefore on all counts of his evidence be ruled out
of court as a witness. No one denies the existence of Adoptive Lodges in
a few countries and under special circumstances, and no sensible person
attributes them any importance. Freemasonry as an institution is not
suited to women any more than is cricket as a sport, but they have
occasionally wished to play at it as they have wished to play at
cricket; the opportunity has been offered them, but, except as the vogue
of a moment, it has come to nothing. It is, moreover, of no importan