ief that he did. The literature of Anti-Masonry
became a drug in the market, failing some novelty in revelation. The
last work of Leo Taxil was eminently a contribution towards this missing
quantity. He was already in a certain sense the discoverer of "Female
Freemasonry," that is to say, he was the only equipped person who
seriously maintained that the exploded androgyne system was worked in
modern France, and when he added the development of the Palladium as the
climax to the mystery of iniquity, it is small wonder that his book
achieved notoriety to the extent of five thousand copies. He was
assailed as a venal pamphleteer and his past achievements in literature
were freely disinterred for his own benefit and for public instruction,
but he was more than compensated by the approbation of Mgr. Fava, bishop
of Grenoble, with whose opinions upon Satanism in Masonry we have
previously made acquaintance. The Church indeed had all round agreed to
overlook Leo Taxil's early enormities; she forgot that she had attempted
to prosecute him and to fine him a round sum of 60,000 francs; the
supreme pontiff forgave him the accusation of poisoning, and transmitted
his apostolical benediction; he was complimented by the cardinal-vicar
of Rome; and he is in the proud position of a man who has received
felicitations and high approval from eighteen ecclesiastical
dignitaries, whether cardinals, archbishops, or bishops. With his back
against the _turris fortitudinis_, he faced his accusers stoutly and
returned them blow for blow. Nor did he lack his lay defenders, one of
whom, by the mode which he adopted, became himself, somewhat
unexpectedly, a witness of Lucifer.

To those who disbelieve in the existence of Female Freemasonry, Leo
Taxil had offered two pieces of wise advice: Go to the Bibliotheque
Nationale, search the files of the Masonic organ _La Chaine d'Union_,
and you will find proof positive of your mistake. Next proceed to the
Maison T----, there is no need to reproduce the address, but it is given
by Leo Taxil in full, and obtain their current price-list of lodge
furniture, insignia, and other accessories, and you will find
particulars of aprons for sisters, diplomas for sisters, garters for
sisters, jewels for sisters. Except upon the signs of initiation, the
catalogue is not surrendered, but in view of the literature of
revelation the signs are no longer secret, &c.

All this is clearly outside the subject of Satanism, but