The Confession of Léo Taxil

05.04.
2015
LeoTaxilsconfession
TheConfessionofLoTaxil
AGOODPRACTICALJOKECANPRODUCEWEEKSOFLAUGHTERAGRANDjokeis
retoldasthecenterpieceoflatergettogethersafewjokes
becomelegendary.GabrielJogandPags,betterknownasLo
Taxil,playedalegendarypracticaljokeacenturyago.Hechoseto
ridiculetheRomanCatholicChurchscredulityaboutFreemasonry,
andheseemedtohavethoughtitallgoodfun.OnApril19,1897,
TaxilconfessedeverythingatapublicmeetinginParis.His
confession,however,hasn'tstoppedantimasonsfrom
rediscoveringthehoaxandreusingittoattacktheCraft.Monsieur
Taxil,likeDr.Frankenstein,couldnotforseewhathiscreation
woulddo.
AHOAX
LEOTAXIL
THECONFESSION
TAXILsCONFESSION
HOAXBIBLIOGRAPHY
INDEXOFPAPERS
ANTIMASONRY
AtranscriptofTaxilsconfessionwaspublishedintheweekly
Parisiannewspaper,LeFrondeur,onApril25,1897.Itisalong,
ramblingspeechthathasneverbeenpublishedinEnglishuntil
now.Taxilsconfessionisbothamusingandappallingandgivesthe
readeraglimpseofthemagnitudeofhisdeceit.Thistranslation
representsmanyhoursoftediousworkbythreeardentstudentsof
masonry.Taxilstextiscolloquialandungrammaticalinmany
places,aswellasbeingaverbalpresentation.Thetranslatorshave
triedtobefaithfultotheoriginalformatwhileproducinga
readabletext.
AlainBernheim,32,A.WilliamSamii,32,andEricSerejski,32
AlainBernheim,A.WilliamSamii,andEricSerejski,trans.,"TheConfessionofLo
Taxil,"Heredom,TransactionsoftheScottishResearchSociety,vol.5,pp.13768.
1997ScottishRiteResearchSociety.AllRightsReserved.Reprintedwithpermission.
TwelveYearsUndertheBanneroftheChurch
THEPRANKOFPALLADISM
MISSDIANAVAUGHANTHEDEVILATTHEFREEMASONS
AConferenceheldbyM.LoTAXIL
attheHalloftheGeographicSocietyinParis
Withmoreorlessimpartiality,allnewspapersreportedthe
memorableeveningattheGeographicSocietyonApril19.Wethought
thebestthingtodowastoreproducethefulltextofM.LoTaxils
conference.
Letussayfirstthattheverynumerousaudienceconsistedmainlyof
pressrepresentativesfromvariouscountriesandofallopinions,many
priests,monks,verymanyladies,somefreethinkers,some
freemasons.Thenunciaturehadsenttwodelegatesthearchdiocese
wasalsorepresented.Entrancewasfree,butonecouldgetinonlyby
showingnominalinvitationcardswhichhadbeensentonemonthin
advance.
Firstthingintheevening,asplendidtypewriterofferedbyMissDiana
Vaughanwasraffled.ItsluckywinnerwasM.AliKental,Editorofthe
Ikdam,atConstantinople
ThenM.LoTaxiladdressedtheaudience:
MYREVERENDFATHERS,
LADIES,
http://freemasonry.bcy.ca/texts/taxil_confessed.html
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LeoTaxilsconfession
GENTLEMEN,
Firstofall,itisappropriatetoconveysomethankstothoseofmy
colleaguesoftheCatholicpresswhosuddenlyundertakinga
campaignofvociferousattackssixorsevenmonthsagoproduceda
marvelousresultwealreadywitnessittonightandtomorrowwill
witnessitevenbetter,Imeanthequiteexceptionalexplosionofthe
manifestationoftruthinaquestionwhosesolutionmightpossibly
havepassedcompletelyunnoticedwithoutthem.
Tothesedearcolleagues,accordingly,myfirstcongratulations!And
theywillunderstandinamomenthowmuchthesethanksaresincere
andjustified.
Thisevening,Ishallstrivetoforgetalltheunjustandoffensivethings
whichhavebeenpublishedagainstmeduringthepolemicIjust
mentioned.Or,atanyrate,ifIcometoelucidatespecificfactsina
wayunexpectedformany,Ishallmerelytellthetruth,settingaside
theveryshadowofthelightestresentmentfrommythoughts.
Aftertheexplanationswhosetimehascomeatlast,maybethese
Catholiccolleagueswillnotdisarmbeforemypeacefulphilosophy.
However,shouldmygooddispositionsannoytheminsteadofcalming
themdown,Iassurethemthatnothingwillinducemetosetasidethe
equanimityIacquiredoverthelasttwelveyearsandwhichmakesme
infinitelyhappy.
Besides,ifthisexceptionalaudienceistrulymadeofthemost
disparateelementssinceallopinionswereindiscriminatelyinvited,
neverthelessIamconvincedthatthisaudienceispossessedofthe
sweetesttolerance,asfarassurveyisconcerned.Tocallthingsby
theirpropername:wearehereamongwelleducatedpeople.Allofus
areallabletomakeallowanceforwhatisearnestandtotakeitunder
considerationwiththerequiredseriousnessandwithoutpassion.
Howeverwhenafactsubmittedtousisaboveallonthewittyside,
wedonotgetexcitedeither.Bettertolaughthancry,asthenations'
wisdomgoes.
THEPRANKOUTLINED
Now,IaddressmyselftotheCatholics.
Itellthem:WhenyouweretoldthatDoctorBataille,pretendingto
bedevotedtotheCatholiccause,spentelevenyearsofhislife
exploringthedarkestdensofsecretsocieties,LodgesandBack
Lodges,1.andevenluciferianTriangles,youfullyapprovedhim,you
foundhisbehavioradmirable.Hewasoverwhelmedwith
congratulations.Laudatoryarticleswerewritteneveninthe
publicationsofthepartywhich,today,can'thurlenoughthunderbolts
toreduceMissDianaVaughantoashes,herecallingheramyth,there
anadventuressandafortuneteller.
ShouldthecheerswhichgreetedDoctorBataillebenowreconsidered,
theyexistednonethelessandwerethunderous.Illustrioustheologians,
eloquentpreachers,eminentprelatescongratulatedhim,eachlouder
thantheother.AndIdonotsaytheywerewrong.
Imerelyandsimplydetermineafact.
Andthepurposeofthisdeterminationistoallowmetosay
forthrightly:
"Donotgetangry,myreverendfathers,butdolaughheartilywhen
youaretoldnowthatwhatdidhappenistheveryoppositeofwhat
youexpected.Therewasn'ttheshadowofadedicatedCatholic
exploringtheHighMasonryofPalladismunderafalsenose.But,on
thecontrary,therehasbeenafreethinkerwho,forhisown
edification,notbecauseofanyhostility,cameintoyourcampand
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LeoTaxilsconfession
strolled,notduringelevenyearsbutduringtwelve,and...itisyour
servant."(Variousreactions:murmuring,laughter).
Therewasn'ttheleastmasonicplotinthisstory,whichIshallproveto
youshortly."WemustleavetoHomer,singingtheexploitsofUlysses,
theadventureofthelegendaryTrojanHorsethatformidablehorse
hasnothingtodointhiscase.Todaystaleismuchlessintricate.
Yourservanttoldhimselfoncethathavinggoneforirreligiontoo
youngandpossiblywithmuchtoomuchspirit,itwaswellpossible
thathemightnotbeawareofthetruesituation.Then,notactingin
anybodysname,willingtochangehismindiftherewerereasonsto
doso,entrustingnooneatfirstwithhisdecision,hethoughthehad
foundthemeansofknowingbetter,ofascertainingbetter,forhisown
instruction.
Addtothis,ifyouwish,atouchofprankatthebackofhistemper
hewasn'tborninMarseilleinvain!2.(Laughter)Yes,addthelovely
pleasure,thatmostpeopleignorebutwhichisquitereal,theintimate
joyofplayingagoodturnonanopponent,withoutmalice,justforfun
andtohavesomelaughs.
Well,Imustsaysoatonce,thistwelveyearlongpranktaughtme
somethingvaluablefromthestart,namelythatIhadactedwithout
moderationindeed,thatIshouldhavebetterstayedonthegroundof
ideas,andthatinmostcases,ithadbeenamistaketomakepersonal
attacks.
IfeelboundtomakesuchastatementandIalsoadmitthatImakeit
easily.Duringthesetwelveyearsspentunderthebannerofthe
ChurchandalthoughIregisteredasaprankster,Irealizedhowwrong
itistoimputethemaliceofsomepeopletodoctrines.Itresultsfrom
mankinditself.Abadmanremainsbad,justlikeagoodmanactswith
goodness,whetherhekeepshisfaithorlosesit.Dishonestpeopleas
wellashonestonesarefoundeverywhere.(Marksofapproval).
Accordingly,Imadeformyselfastudywhichhasbornfruit.That
studygavemetheequanimity,theinnerphilosophymentionedbefore.
Icameatfirstasacuriousperson,abitatrandom,butofcourse
intendingtowithdrawoncetheexperiencehadcometoitsend.Then,
thesweetpleasureofprankingtookover,overwhelmingeverything,I
lingeredintheCatholiccamp,graduallydevelopingmyplanofan
altogetheramusingandinstructivemystification,andgivingitever
broaderproportionsasthingswentalong.
Inthecourseoftime,Ihappenedtosecuretwocollaborators,not
morethantwo:onewasafellowIknewsincechildhood,whomItook
atfirstforarideandtowhomIascribedthepseudonymofDr.
BatailletheotherwasMissDianaVaughan,aFrenchProtestant,
ratheronthefreethinkingside,aprofessionaltypistandthe
representativeofoneofthetypewritermanufacturersintheUnited
States.Ineededbothtoachievethesuccessofthelastepisodeofthis
joyfulprank,whichAmericannewspaperscall"thebiggesthoaxof
moderntimes.""(Manylaughs.Murmurs.)
THEORIGINSOFAPRANKSTER
Ofcourse,thislastepisodehadtoendinApril,themonthofgaiety,
themonthofpranks,andletusnotforgetthatthehoaxalsostarted
inApril,onApril23,1885,thislastepisodeistheonlyonewhichhas
tobeexplainedtoday,thoughinbroadtermsonlybecauseif
everythingwastobetoldandsecretaspectsdisclosedfromthestart,
itwouldtakemanydays.ThisAprilFoolscatchbroughthomea
giganticwhale.(Explosionoflaughter.)
However,itisnecessarytoilluminatethestartingpointwithafew
raysofgentlelight.
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LeoTaxilsconfession
Amongthemaximsoftheculinaryart,anoftenquotedonesays:
"Onebecomescook,butoneisbornaroaster."Perfectioninthe
scienceofroastingcannotbelearned.Ibelievethesamecanbesaid
ofpranksterism:oneisbornaprankster.
Herearesomeadmissionsconcerningmyoutsetinthisnoblecareer:
THESHARKSOFMARSEILLES
Letusbeginwithmynativetown.InMarseille,nobodyhasforgotten
thecelebratedstoryofthecovesravagedbyaschoolofsharks.
Lettersfromlocalfishermendescribingtheirescapefromthemost
awfuldangersbegantoflowin.Panicspreadamongswimmers,and
beachesweredesertedforseveralweeksfromlesCatalanstothe
Pradobeach.ThemunicipalCommissionfeltupsetthemayor
suggested,quitejudiciously,thatthesharks,plagueofthecoves,
likelycamefromCorsica,followingashipwhich,nodoubt,musthad
thrownoverboardaspoiledcargoofsmokedmeat.Themunicipal
CommissionvotedanaddresstoGeneralEspiventdelaVilleboisnet
martiallawwastheninforcerequestingacompanyarmedwith
Chassepotriflesforanexpeditiononatugboat.Theworthygeneral,
onlywantingtopleasetheadministratorshehadpickedouthimself
forthedearandgoodcitywhereIwasborn(Laughter),General
Espivent,presentlyasenator,thusgrantedonehundredwellarmed
men,withanamplestockofammunition.Therescuingshipleftthe
harborunderthecheersofthemayorandhisdeputies,coveswere
exploredinalldirections,butthetugboatreturnedemptyhandedno
moresharksthanhereinthisroom!(Generallaughter)Alaterinquiry
showedalllettersofcomplaintfromvariouslocalfishermentobe
fanciful.Suchfishermendidnotexistinthelocalitieswherethese
letterswerepostedandoncetheletterswerecollected,onenoticed
thattheyallseemedtohavebeenwrittenbythesamehand.The
authorofthehoaxwasnotfoundout.Herehestandsbeforeyou.All
thishappenedin1873Iwasthennineteenyearsold.
Idohopethat
GeneralEspiventwillforgivemeforhavingoncecompromisedhis
prestigeintheeyesofthepopulationwithaprank.Hehadsuppressed
mypaper,LaMarotte,journaldesfous.3.Thestuffaboutthesharks
wasamostharmlessvengeance,wasn'tit?
THEUNDERWATERCITY
Someyearslater,IwasinGeneva,abscondingfromafewpress
sentences.Inthemeantime,LaFronde,thenLeFrondeur,4.
succeededLaMarotte.Onefineday,thescientificworldwasthrilledto
hearofawonderfuldiscovery.Someoneintheaudiencemay
rememberwhatitwasabout:anunderwatercitywassaidtohave
beenperceivedratherconfusedlyonthebottomofLakeGeneva
betweenNyonandCoppet.Lettersweredispatchedtothefourcorners
ofEurope,keepingthepapersinformedoftheallegedsearches.They
relieduponamostscientificexplanationfoundeduponthe
CommentariesofJuliusCaesar:thiscitymusthavebeenbuiltduring
theRomanconquest,atatimewhenthelakeWassonarrowthatthe
Rhonetraverseditwithoutdisturbingitswaters.Well,thediscovery
madelotsofnoiseeverywhereeverywhere,exceptofcoursein
Switzerland.TheinhabitantsofNyonandCoppetwerenotalittle
astoundedwhentourists,arrivingeverynowandthen,askedtosee
theunderwatercity.Thelocalboatmenendedbyresolvingtotakethe
mostinsistentonesontheLake.Oilwasspreadoverthewaterin
ordertoseebetterand,indeed,thereweresomewhodidmanageto
perceivesomething...(Generallaughter)remnantsofstreetsrather
wellsetinaline,crossings,whatdoIknow?APolisharchaeologist
whomadethetrip,returnedcontentedandissuedareportinwhichhe
assertedhehadverywellrecognizedtheremainderofaplaceinthe
middleofwhichanondescriptobjectmightwellbetheremnantofan
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equestrianstatue.AnInstitutedelegatedtwoofitsmembersbutupon
theirarrival,theygotintouchwiththeauthoritiesandbeingtoldthat
theunderwatercitywasapurehumbug,theyreturnedfromwhence
theycameand,alas,didnotseeanything!
Theunderwatercitydidnotsurvivetheirscientificproceedings
(Prolongedlaughter).ThefatherofthecityundertheLakeofGeneva
presentlyspeakinghadapreciousauxiliaryforthespreadingofthe
legendinthepersonofoneofhisfellowexilesitishardlynecessary
tostressthathetoowasborninMarseilles,mycolleagueandfriend
HenryChabrier,presentlyresidingonthebordersoftheSeine,justas
Iam.Bothanecdotes,amongahundredthatImightquote,aretold
merelytoassertthatyourservantsinclinationforgreatandjoyous
pranksgoesbackmorethantwelveyearsago.
THEMOSTGRANDIOSEPRANK
Icomenowtothemostgrandioseprankofmyexistence.Itcomesto
anendtodayandwillevidentlybethelastbecause,afterthis,Idoubt
whetheranycolleague,evenbelongingtotheIcelandicorPatagonia
press,wouldconfidentlyacceptthereportofanyextraordinaryevent
uponmyrecommendationorthatofoneofmyfriends!...(Avoice:
Obviously!Laughter.)
Onewilleasilyunderstandthattheformidablefameofmyirreligious
writingsdidn'tmakeiteasyformetobeacceptedinthebosomofthe
Churchwithoutbeingmetwithanevenmoreformidablemistrust.I
needed,however,togetthereandtobegreeted,sothatoncethe
mistrusthadfadedawaycompletely,atleastinhighquarters,Icould
organizeandleadtheprodigiousprankofcontemporarydevilry.(A
voice:Distasteful!Howcanoneadmittobeingsuchaprankster?)
InordertoreachthegoalIhadsettomyself,itwasnecessary,
indispensable,toentrustnoonewithmysecret,absolutelynoone,
notevenmymostintimatefriends,notevenmywife,atleastinthe
beginning.Itwasbettertobedeemedtohaveturnedcrazyinthe
eyesofthosewhoapproachedme.Theleastindiscretioncouldruin
everything.AndIwasplayingforhighstakesbecauseIfaceda
powerfulopponent.(Avoice:Oh!yes!)Onthecontrary,thehostility
ofsome,thesaddenedandvexedannoyanceofothers,weremybest
trumpssinceaswastobeexpectedIwassetunderclosescrutiny
duringthefirstyears.
Nevertheless,afewparticularswillstrikeabellformyoldfriendsifI
recallthemnow.
EXPULSIONFROMTHEANTICLERICALLEAGUE
Thus,afterthepublicationoftheletterinwhichIdisownedallmy
formerirreligiouswritings,theParisiangroupsoftheAnticlerical
Leaguegatheredinageneralassemblytovoteuponmyexpulsion.
PeopleweresurprisedtoseemearrivetheretheLeaguerswere
baffled,andmypresencewasincomprehensibleindeed,sinceIhad
notcometodefythosefromwhomIseceded,anddidn'tsayaword
eithertotryandgainthemover,asaconvertwouldhavedoneinhis
neophytesfervor.No!Icametothemeetingunderthepretenseof
makingmyfarewellsthoughhavingdemittedformorethanthree
months!butinfactinordertoseekandfindtheopportunitytoplace
awordIcouldremindthemoflater,whentimewouldberipe.
Mostoftheseanticlericalleaguersweremyfriends.Someofthem
criedandIwasmovedmyself...
ACatholicjournalist:You,moved?...Comeonnow!...Youmadefunof
themlikeyoumakefunofus!
M.LOTAXILIassureyouthatIwasnottakingleavefromthem
unconcerned.Well,takeitasyouwish.ThoughIfeltaffected,Ikept
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LeoTaxilsconfession
coolinthemiddleofatruetempestIreferyoutocontemporary
newspapers.
Inordertoclosethemeeting,thepresidentsubmittedthefollowing
resolutionwhichwasagreeduponthroughanunanimousvote:
ConsideringthattheindividualnamedGabrielJogand
Pags,calledLoTaxil,oneofthefoundersofthe
AnticlericalLeague,hasdisownedalltheprincipleshe
stoodupfor,hasbetrayedfreethinkingandallhisfellow
antibelievers:
TheleaguersattendingthemeetingofJuly27,1885,
withouttakingintoconsiderationthemotiveswhich
dictatedsuchaninfamousbehaviortotheindividual
namedLoTaxil,expelhimfromtheAnticlericalLeague
asatraitorandrenegade.
Iobjectedthenagainstoneword,onesinglewordofthatresolution.
Presumably,oldfriendswhoattendedtheJuly1885meetingarein
thisroom.Ishallremindthemoftheformulationofmyprotest.
Isaidthefollowinginamostpeacefulvoice:
"Myfriends,Iacceptthisresolution,exceptoneword.
Thepresidentinterruptedmeandexclaimed:
"indeed,thisischeeky!"
Ikeptonundisturbed:
YouhavetherighttosaythatIamarenegade,sinceIjust
published,fourdaysago,aletterinwhichIexpresslyretractedand
disownedallmywritingsagainstreligion.ButIbegyoutocrossout
thewordtraitorwhichinnowaysappliestomycasethereisnotthe
shadowoftreasoninwhatIdotoday.WhatItellyouhere,youcannot
understandatthepresentmomentbutyoushallunderstanditlater."
Irefrainedfromputtingtoomuchinsistenceonthislastsentence,
becauseIcouldnotletthemgetsuspiciousofmysecret.ButIsaidit
clearlyenoughsothatitwouldstickintheirmemories,thoughitlaid
itselfopentovariousinterpretations.
And,whenIhadtheopportunitytoissueareportofthatmeeting,I
tookgreatcaretoomitthisdeclarationwhichindeedcouldhaveput
peopleontheirguards.
FAITHFULFRIENDS
Secondfact.BetweenthedayinAprilwhenIcametoapriestand
trustedhimwithmyconversion,andthedayofthemeetingwhenI
wasexpelledfromthefreethinkers,ananticlericalcongresstook
placeinRome,ofwhichIhadbeenoneoftheorganizers.Nothingwas
easierformethantodisorganizeitandtomakeitfailcompletely.
ThiscongresstookplaceinthefirstdaysofJune.Alltheleaguers
knowthat,untiltheend,Idevotedallmystrengthforitssuccess
onlythedeathofVictorHugo,whichhappenedatthattime,turned
publicattentionfromthiscongress.
Later,whenitwaslearnedthatsinceAprilIhadseenpriestsagain,it
wassaidandprintedthat,underthepretenseofthiscongress,Ihad
gonetoRometonegotiatemybetrayalandwasreceivedsecretlyat
theVatican.ItwaseveninsertedinmybiographythatIwasgivena
largesum,itwassaid"onemillion."(Laughter)
IletitgobecauseIdidn'tcaremuchandlaughedinsidemyself.
ButtodayIhavetherighttosaythatthingswerequitedifferent.
Amongsttheguestsofthepresentevening,thereisanoldfriendwho
madethetripwithme,whoaccompaniedmeeverywhere,whodidnot
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leavemeforaminute.Heishereandwillnotcontradictme.Didhe
leavemeaminute?DidIleavehimtoundertakeanythingsuspicious:
No!
Thisisnotall.Duringthesametrip,whilereturningtoFrance,we
stoppedinGenoa.IinsistedonvisitingsomeonewithwhomIwas
boundbyfriendship:generalCanzioGaribaldi,Garibaldissoninlaw.
Duringthisvisit,IwasaccompaniedbythefriendIjustmentionedand
anotherone,heisstillalive,waswithus:DoctorBaudonwhowas
recentlyelectedDeputyofBeauvais.
Bothcantestifytothefactthatduringthevisit,Iwithdrewone
momentasidewithCanzio.AndthenCanziocantestifytowhatItold
him:
"MydearCanzio,Ihavetotellyou,underthesealofsecrecy,that
inashortwhile,Ishallmakeacompleteandpublicbreak.Be
surprisedatnothing,andkeepyourtrustinmeinyourheart."
Ididnotinsistmuchwithhimeither,andlaterIwasevenafraidof
havingsaidtoomuch.Forthenexttwoorthreeyears,Canziosentme
hiscardonNewYearsDay,inspiteofourbreak.Then,likely
estimatingthatthingstooktoomuchtime,hemusthavegottentired
andstoppedmanifestinghimself.
Lastly,oneofmyformercoworkerswholikedmealot,kepton
seeingmeinspiteofeverything.Heisnowdead:hisnamewasAlfred
Paulon,aformermagistrate.5.(Avoice:Heisdead!Sohewon't
disownyou.)Pleasewait.Iknow,thatthroughhisshrewdand
constantobservation,hereachedtheconclusionthatIwashoaxing
people.(Variousreactions.)
Avoice:ThenyouboastaboutdeceivingCatholics!...Itsascandal!
M.LOTAXILPaulon,myformercoworkerwhokeptonassociating
withme,hadawayofdefendingmewhichwasofteninmyway.
Thisiswhathesaidofmetohisfriends:"Loishardtoget.Ithought
firstthathehadturnedcrazybutwhenIresumedrelationswithhim,I
noticedonthecontrarythatheisinfullpossessionofhismental
faculties.Idon'tgetit:somethingtellsmeheisstillwithusinhis
heartandmindIcanfeelit.Inevertouchreligiousmatterswithhim,
becauseInoticedhedoesn'twanttoletthecatoutofthebag,butI
wouldstakemylifeonit,hedoesnotworkfortheclericsoneof
thesedays,weshallhaveabigsurprise."
AlfredPauloncannottestifytowhathenoticedbuthementioneditto
manyfriends.Andifthereareanyinthisroom,Iaskthem:"Isittrue
thatwhenhespokeofme,Paulonexpressedhimselfthatway?"
Variousvoices.Itstrue!Itstrue!
PENANCEANDCONFESSION
Letsnowcometothehoaxitself,tothisfunnyaswellasinstructive
hoax.Inhighquarters,theydidnotrelyuponthatgoodmanofa
vicar,apriestwithasimplesoul,towhomIconfidedhowIhadbeen
struckbygrace,likeSaulontheroadtoDamascus.
"Thisblockcoveredwithfloursomehowlookssuspicious,"6.itwas
thoughtamongthe"bighats"ofthechurch.(Laughter)
Accordingly,itwasdecidedthatthedayaftermyletterofretraction,
theywouldletmemakeagoodlittleretreatatthereverendJesuit
fathers'house,andoneofthemostexpertonesintheartofturning
oversoulsandsearchingthemwaspickedouttotakecareofme.The
choicewasnotmadeimmediately.Theyletmewaitagoodweekfor
thegreatsearcherwhowastobemylot.
HeturnedouttobeaformermilitarychaplainwhobecameaJesuit,a
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LeoTaxilsconfession
slyoneamongthesly!Hisappreciationwastobeweighty.
Ah!Itwasatoughgamethatthetwoofusplayed!...Istillhavea
headachewhenIthinkofit...Amongotherthings,thedeardirector
mademepracticetheSpiritualExercisesofSaintIgnatius.Ithought
littleoftheseexercises,butatleastIhadtoskimthroughthepages,
soastolookasifIhadgonedeeplyintotheseextraordinary
meditations.Itwasnottherighttimetobecaught.
ygeneralconfessionletmewinthebattle.Thisgeneralconfession
M
didnotlastlessthanthreedays.(Prolongedlaughter)Mylastcrushing
blowcameattheendofit.
Isaideverything,this,that,andotherthings,butmypartner 7.
suspectedtherewasafurtherbigsin,verybig,verybig,whichwas
hardtoconfess,asinmorepainfultocomeoutwiththanthe
admissionofthousandsandthousandsofimpieties.
Atlast,ithadtocomeout,thismonstroussin.
Ladiesandgentlemen,Idon'twanttokeepyouwaitingaslongashe
hadto:mybigsinwasamurder,afirstclassmurder,oneofthebest
downrightassassinations.No,Ihadnotslaughteredanentirefamily,
butwithoutbeingaTropmannoraDumolard,8.Iwasgoodforthe
guillotine,nodoubt,hadIbeenfoundout.
Ihadtakencaretoinvestigateafewdisappearancesreportedthree
yearsbeforebynewspapers,andhadimaginedalittlefairytalebased
upononeofthem.Butmyreverendfatherdidn'tletmetellitallin
details.Hethoughtmecapableofthemostdreadfulsacrileges,and
foundgroundstobepleasantlysurprised.Hedidnothoweverexpect
anassassinathisknees.(Newlaughter)
Whenthefirstwordsofadmissionfellfrommylips,thereverend
fatherjumpedbackwardsinamostsignificantway.Ah!Nowhe
understood,myembarrassment,mydifficulties,mywayofdiscussing
certainsinsoflesssignificanceatsuchlength...AndhowashamedI
waswhenIconfessedmycrime!...Notonlyashamed,but
disconcerted,frightened...Awidowwaspartofthestory,the
reverendfatherletmepromisethat,inanindirectandindeedmost
ingeniousway,Iwouldbestowarentonmyvictimswidow....Hedid
notwanttohearanyname,butwhathewasinterestedinwasto
knowwhetherIhadmurderedwithorwithoutpremeditation.After
beatingaroundthebushandfallingundertheweightofshame,I
admittedpremeditation,atrueambush.
Achurchman:Whatyouaredoingrightnowisabominable,Sir.
Anotherlistener:Foryourpunishment,apriestwillneverreceiveyour
confession.Youareanutmostrascal!(Tumult)
Otherlistener:Allpriestsinthishalloughttoleaveatonce!
AbbottGarnier:No!Wemustlistenthescoundreltotheend!(some
peopleintheaudiencestandupandleave)
M.LOTAXILWhetheryouleaveornotdoesn'tmatter.Iproceed....
ItismytruedutytopaytributetothisreverendJesuitfather.Inever
gotintotroubleswiththelaw.Myprankthusallowedmetotestthe
secrecyofconfession.IfonedayItellthestoryofthesetwelveyears
indetails,Iwilldoitjustastoday,withthestrictestimpartialityand
withcalm,AbbotGarnier!(Approval)
Themainpointatthisstagewasmyfirstvictoryintheopeningofthe
battle.HadanyonedaredandtoldthereverendfatherIwasnotthe
mostearnestconvert,hewouldhavegottenastrongrebuke.
(Laughter)
INTOTHEVATICAN
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ItwasnotpartofmyplanstohurryandseetheSovereignPontiff.9.
Myconfessionofassassinationwasindeedafantasticsuccessbutthe
directorofmyretreatatClamarthadkeptitsecret.Evidently,what
elsecouldhetellthehierarchicalauthoritywhoentrustedhimto
inspectthedepthsofmysoul,except:
"LoTaxil?...Ivouchforhim!"
OncethemistrustoftheVaticanwassetaside,howcouldImake
myselfagreeable?InordertobringthehoaxtotheheightsIdreamed
ofandwhichIhadtheinexpressiblejoytoreach,Ihadtomakegood
apointmostcherishedbytheHolySeewithintheprogramofthe
Church.
Thispartofmyplanwassettledfromthestart,assoonasIdecided
toinquireintoCatholicism.
Oneyearearlier,theSovereignPontiffhadmadehimselfnotorious
withtheencyclicalHumanumGenus,andthisencyclicalagreedwitha
wellestablishedideaofthemilitantCatholics.Gambetta10.hadsaid,
"Clericalism,thereistheenemy!"TheChurch,ontheotherside,said,
"TheenemyisFreemasonry!"
Accordingly,slanderingFreemasonswasthebestwaytoestablishthe
foundationsofthecolossalprankofwhichIsavoredallthesuave
happinessinadvance.
Atfirst,Freemasonswereindignanttheydidnotforeseethatthe
patientlypreparedconclusionofthehoaxwouldresultinaworldwide
outburstoflaughter.TheyactuallythoughtIhadjoinedforgood.It
wassaidandrepeatedthatitwasawayofavengingmyselfforhaving
beenexpelledfrommyLodgein1881,awellknownstorywhichwas
notintheleastdishonorableforme,butthemereconsequenceofa
littlerowinitiatedbytwomenhavingnowadaysdisappeared,and
disappearedundersadcircumstances.
No!Iwasnotavengingmyself,Iwashavingfun.Andifoneexamines
nowtheundersidesofthiscampaign,eventheFreemasonswhowere
mosthostiletomewillacknowledgethatIdidnotharmanyone.I
wouldgoasfarastosaythatIdidagoodturntoFrenchMasonry.
(Interruption:Yougotoofar!...)Pardonme,waituntilIexplain
myself,andIamsureyouwillagreewithme.Imeanthatmy
publicationoftheritualswascertainlynotirrelevanttoreformswhich
resultedinsuppressingoutmodedpracticeswhichhadbecome
ridiculousintheeyesofallmasonsbefriendedwiththenotionof
progress.
AGOODCANONOFFRIBOURG
Letusleavethisasideandsummarizefacts.Sincemygoalwasto
inventalltheelementsofcontemporarydevilrywhichwasagoodbit
strongerthanthecityundertheLakeofGenevaitwasnecessaryto
proceedstepbystep,foundationshadtobeset,theeggfromwhich
Palladismwastobebornhadtobelaidandincubated.Aprankofthis
sizecannotbecreatedinoneday.(Avoice:Obviously!)
Fromthefirstmomentofmyconversion,Ihadfoundoutthata
certainnumberofCatholicsstronglybelievedthatthename"Grand
ArchitectoftheUniverse,"adoptedbyFreemasonrytodesignatethe
SupremeBeingwithoutrelatingittotheparticularwayofanyspecific
religion,thatthisname,asIsay,isusedinfacttoskillfullyconceal
MasterLuciferorSatan,thedevil!
Variousvoices:Enoughisenough!Hehasbecomeafreemason
again!(Laughter)
Otherlisteners:Keepon!...Itsinteresting.
M.LOTAXILStoriesaretoldhereandthereinwhichthedevil
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suddenlyappearedinaMasonicLodgeandpresidedoverthemeeting.
ThisisadmittedamongCatholics.
Moregoodmenthancanbeimaginedbelievethatthelawsofnature
aresometimessetasidebygoodorbadspirits,andevenbysimple
mortals.Iwasamazedmyselftobeaskedtoperformamiracle.
AgoodcanonofFribourg11.oncedroppedbylikeahurricaneatmy
houseandtoldmeliterally:
"Ah!You,MisterTaxil,youareasaint!BecauseGodrescuedyou
fromsodeepanabyss,youmusthaveamountainofgracesupon
yourhead[sic].AssoonasIheardofyourconversion,Itookthetrain
andhereIam.Onmyreturn,ImustbeabletosaynotonlythatI
sawyou,butthatyouperformedamiracleinfrontofme."(Laughter)
Iwasnotexpectingsucharequest.
"Amiracle!Ianswered:Idon'tunderstandyou,MisterCanon.
11
Yes,amiracle,herepeated,itdoesnotmatterwhich,justsothatI
canbearwitnesstoit!...Whatevermiracleyouwish!...WhatdoI
know?...Here,forexample...Thischair...turnitintoacane,an
umbrella...."(Prolongedlaughter)
Ihadgottenhispoint.Igentlydeclinedtoperformsuchawonder.And
myCanonreturnedtoFribourgsayingthatifIwasnotperforming
miracles,itwasoutofhumility.
Severalmonthslater,hesentmeangiganticGruyrecheeseonthe
crustofwhichhecarvedpiousinscriptions,wildmystichieroglyphs,
withaknifeanexcellentcheesebyallmeans,whichseemednever
tocometoanendandwhichIatewithinfiniterespect.(Laughter
increases.SomeCatholiclistenersprotest.)
Accordingly,myfirstbooksonFreemasonryconsistedinamixtureof
rituals,withshortinnocentpartsinserted,apparentlyharmlessly
interpreted.Eachtimeanobscurepassageoccurred,Iexplaineditina
wayagreeabletoCatholicswhoseeMasterLuciferasthesupreme
grandmasterofFreemasons.Butonlywithatouchofsuggestion.I
wasslowlysmoothingthefieldfirst,inordertoploughitlateron,and
thenscatterthemystifyingseedswhichweretosproutsowell.
ANAUDIENCEWITHTHEHOLYFATHER
Aftertwoyearsofthispreparatorywork,IwenttoRome.(Avoice:
Ah!Hereweare!)
ReceivedatfirstbyCardinalsRampoliaandParocchi,Ihadthe
pleasureofhearingthem,oneaswellastheother,tellmemybooks
wereperfect.Yesindeed,thebooksunveiledexactlywhatwassowell
knownintheVatican,anditwastrulyfortunatethataconvert
publishedthesefamousrituals.(Laughter.)
CardinalRampoliacalledme"mydear,"thickasthieves.Andhow
muchheregrettedthatIhadbeenonlyamereApprenticeinMasonry!
ButsinceIsucceededingettingattherituals,nothingwasmore
legitimatethanprintingthem.Hesaidhecouldidentifythereinallhis
previousreadingsfromdocumentsintheHolySeespossessions.He
identifiedeverything,eventhatwhich,bymydoings,hadthesame
worthasthesharksofMarseillesorthecityundertheLakeof
Geneva.(Avoice:Rascal!Scoundrel!Blackguard!Rogue!)
AsforCardinalParocchi,whatinterestedhimmost,wasthequestion
ofMasonicSisters.Mypreciousrevelationshadtaughthimnothing
neweither.(Murmursononesidelaughterontheother.)
IhadcometoRomeunexpected,unawareofthefactthatarequest
foraprivateaudiencewiththeSovereignPontiffmustbemadealong
timeinadvance,butIhadthepleasantsurpriseofnotwaitingatall,
andtheHolyFatherreceivedmeforthreequartersofanhour.(A
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voice:Youarearuffian.)
Towinthisnewgame,IhadplayeditsafeduringthefirsteveningI
spentalonewiththeCardinalSecretaryofState.Evidently,hehad
beenentrustedwithmypreliminaryexamination.ButtheimpressionI
wishedtogivehimwasthatIwassomehowexaltednotquiteas
muchhoweverasthegoodCanonofFribourg.(Laughter)
TheverbalreportwhichCardinalRampollamusthavegiventothe
HolyFathergrantedmethereceptionIdesired.
SincethetimeofmyadmissionunderthebanneroftheChurch,Ihad
convincedmyselfofabasictruth,namelythatonecouldnotbecomea
goodauthor 12.ifonedoesnotputoneselfinthebodyoftheperson
onerepresents,
ifonedoesnotbelieveatleastmomentarilythatallofitistrue.
Whenasceneofdespairisplayedonthestage,tearsshouldnotbe
faked:thethirdrateactorwipesdryeyeswithhishandkerchiefthe
artistcriesactually.(Avoice:Rascal!Rascal!)
Whichiswhy,alongthemorningbeforemyreception,Ifilledmyself
socompletelywiththesituationthatIbecamereadyforanythingand
incapableofflinchingdespiteanykindofsurprise.(Speakersvoice
getsmomentarilylostintumult.)
WhenthePopeaskedme:
Myson,whatdoyouwish?
Ianswered:
HolyFather,todieatyourfeet,rightnow!...Thiswouldbemy
greatesthappiness.(Laughter)
Alistener:RespectLoXIII.Youhavenorighttoutterhisname!
M.LOTAXILSmiling,LoXIIIdeignedtotellmethatmylifewas
stillveryusefulinthefightforfaith.Thenhetoucheduponthe
questionofFreemasonry.Heownedallmynewworksinhispersonal
library.Hehadreadthemfromoneendtotheotherandinsistedupon
thesatanicguidanceofthesect.
HavingbeenanApprenticeonly,Ihadgreatmerittohaveunderstood
that"thedevilisthere."AndtheSovereignPontiffstressedonthe
worddevilwithaninflectionwhichiseasyformetorender.Itseems
thatIcanstillhearhimrepeating:"Thedevil!Thedevil!"
WhenIleft,Iwassurethatmyplancouldbecarriedouttotheend.
Theimportantthingwasnottostandoutanymore,oncethefruitwas
ripe.
ow,thetreeofcontemporaryluciferianismbegantogrow.Igaveit
N
allmycareforafewmoreyears...ThenIrewroteoneofmybooks,
introducingapalladianritualinit,allegedlyobtainedin
communication,infactprettilyfabricatedbymefrombeginningto
end.
Alistener.Andwehavetohearthat!...Itisdisgusting!
M.LOTAXILNow,PalladismorLuciferianHighMasonrywasborn.
Thenewbookhadthemostenthusiasticreception,includingallthe
magazinesissuedbytheFathersoftheSocietyofJesus.
THESEARCHFORCOLLABORATORS
Thetimehadcomenowformetostepaside,otherwisethemost
fantastichoaxofmoderntimeswouldhavefailedsadly.
IstartedlookingforthefirstcollaboratorIneeded.Ithadtobe
someonewhohadtraveledalotandwhomightbeabletodescribea
mysteriousinvestigationintheluciferianTriangles,inthedensofthis
PalladismdescribedassecretlydirectingalltheLodgesandBack
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Lodgesoftheentireworld.
IhappenedthentomeetagaininPariswithanoldcollegefriendof
mine,whohadbeenadoctoraboardships.
Atfirst,Ididnotputhimontothesecretofthehoaxatall.
Ilethimreadvariousbooksofauthorsenthralledatmywonderful
revelations.ThemostextraordinaryonewasauthoredbyaJesuit
bishop,Msgr.Meurin,bishopofPortLouis(Mauritius),whocameto
Parisinordertoconsultme.Onecanimaginehowwellinformedhe
became!...(Laughter)
ThisexcellentMsgr.Meurin,aneruditeOrientalist,cameoutequal
withthePolisharcheologistwhohadrecognizedafragmentofan
equestrianstatueinthemiddleofaplaceinmyunderwatercity.(New
laughter)
StartingfromthedeterminedideathatFreemasonsworshipthedevil,
andconvincedoftheexistenceofPalladism,hediscoveredthemost
extraordinarythingsbehindtheHebrewwordsusedaspasswords,
etc.,intheinnumerabledegreesofmasonicrites.
Sashes,aprons,ritualistictools,hescrutinizedeverything.He
examinedthesmallestembroideredfiguresonthemostinsignificant
piecesofmaterialhavingbelongedtoaFreemasonand,inthebest
faithintheworld,hefoundmyPalladismeverywhere.
Amongthemostjoyoustimesofmylife,Iwillalwaysrecallthehours
duringwhichhereadhismanuscripttome.Histhickvolume,
Freemasonry,SynagogueofSatan,wasawonderfulhelpinconvincing
mydoctorfriendthattheretrulywasasecretluciferianmeaninginall
ofthemasonicsymbolism.
Infact,thedoctordidnotcarearap.Buthehadreallystudied
spiritualismoutofcuriosityasanamateur.Heknewthatbelieversin
supernaturalmanifestations,phantoms,ghosts,werewolves,etc.
existedthroughouttheworld.Heknewthatwithinsmallgroupsof
occultists,likableprankstersletspectersappeartogoodpeoplewho
forgotallofRobertHoudinstechnique.Buthedidnotknowthatsuch
operationseveroccurredinfreemasonry.Hedidnotknowthatthere
wasaspecificriteofluciferianandmasonicoccultism.Heknew
nothingofPalladismandofitstriangles,oftheElectedWizardsandof
TemplarMistresses,andofalltheastoundingsupremeorganization
imaginedbyme,theexistenceofwhichbecamescientifically
establishedthroughtheproductionsofMsgr.Meurinandothers.
SOPHIAWALDER,GRANDMISTRESSOFPALLADISM
Inmybook,AreThereanyWomeninFreemasonry?,Icreatedthe
partofaGrandMistressofPalladism,aSophiaSapho,disclosingonly
theinitialletterofherallegedtruename:aW.Iconfidedthewhole
nametomydoctorfriend.HebelievedintheexistenceofSophie
Walder.
Letusunderstandeachotherright.BecauseofbookssuchasMsgr.
Meurins,thedoctorbelievedinPalladismandinthevarious
individuals,heroesofmyhoax,whobegantoappeartherein.ButIdid
nottryintheleasttomakehimbelieveintherealityofthe
supernaturalmanifestationswhichhadtobetold.
(Renewedtumult.Amonkburstsoutlaughingandbeginstoapplaud.
Thereisdeepamazementbypriestswhositnexttohim.)
ThisishowIaskedmyfriendthedoctortoworktogetherwithme.
"DoyouwanttocollaborateonaworkonPalladism?...Asforme,I
amthoroughlyfamiliarwiththesubject,buttheissueofritualsisfar
lessinterestingthanrecountingadventuresasawitness,especially
unbelievableones...Besides,tomovegoodsoulsbest,thenarrator
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musthimselfbeahero.NotaconvincedPalladist,butazealous
Catholichavingputontheluciferianmaskinordertomakethis
mysteriousinquiryattheperilofhislife...Iwillgiveyoua
pseudonym,becauseweshallsaythatforallsortsofreasons,the
authorcannotsurrenderhisnametopublicity:forexample,hestill
hastowriteaninquiryaboutthenihilists...(Laughter)Youwillbe
knownonlytoasmallgroupofecclesiastics,thatwillbeenough...
YouwillhandovertometherouteofyourvoyageswhereuponIshall
designanoutlinewhichyouwillonlyhavetoembellish.ThenIshall
recopyyourmanuscript,correctit,cutoutsomepartsandaboveall
addafewones....Yourswillbethemedicalpart,the.descriptionof
townsandsomenarratives.Minewillbethetechnicalaspectsof
Palladism,informationonalltheindividualswhoaregoingtoappear,
andmostoftheaddedepisodes....Ineedyourcollaborationforsome
thirtyorfortyinstallmentsaltogether...Nowdon'tworryabout
denials...AsyounoticedintheworksIgaveyoutoread,thereare
twokindsofPalladists:nutswhoreallybelievethatLuciferisthe
GoodGodwhosecultmustbekeptsecretforafewmoreyearsstill,
andthewirepullerswhousethenuttyonesasexcellentsubjectsfor
theiroccultistexperiments...Neithersortwillbeabletoprotest
publicly,sincethefirstconditionofbelongingtoPalladism.isthemost
rigoroussecrecy.Besides,shouldsomeofthemprotest,theirdenials
wouldbewithouteffect,sincetheywouldappeartohavebeenmade
inselfdefense."
Mydoctorfriendagreedandinordertostrengthenhisownbeliefin
theexistenceofPalladisminspiteofthehoaxofmarvelousfacts
attributedbyustoitsTriangles,Ilethimreceiveseverallettersfrom
SophieWalder.Sophiewasindignantthathepretendedtohavemet
her.
Thedoctorfaithfullyrelatedtheseletterstome.
Afterreceivingthreeorfourofthem,hetoldme:
"Iamafraidthatthiswomanisgoingtomakeascandaland
demonstratethattheloadofcrapwespoutaboutherissheer
nonsense."(Laughter.)
Ianswered:
"Calmdown.Sheprotestsforformssakeinreality,sheisthrilledto
readthatshehasthetalentofwalkingthroughwallsandownsa
snakewhowritespropheciesonherbackwiththetipofitstail.
(Laughter)Igotintouchwithherandwasintroducedtoher.Sheisa
goodgirl.SheisaPalladisthoaxster.Shelaughsherheadoffabout
allthat.Doyouwantmetointroduceyoutoher?"
Hewantedtoindeed!Boy!Washehappytostrikeupanacquaintance
withSophieWalder!Severaldayslater,Iforwardedtomyfrienda
letterfromthePalladistgrandmistress.Sheagreedwiththe
introduction.Weweretomeetatmyhouse,andgofromthereto
SophiaSaphowhoeveninvitedusfordinner....Myfriendcametomy
houseinceremonialfulldressasifhewasinvitedattheElyse.13.I
showedhimthetableinmyhouseandthentoldhimeverything...or,
atleast,almosteverything.
SophieWalder,amyth!Palladism,mymostbeautifulcreation,only
existedonpaperandinafewthousandbrains!Hecouldnotbelieveit.
IhadtoshowhimsomeproofOnceconvinced,hefoundthehoax
evenfunnierandkeptonworkingwithme.
THECREATIONOFDR.BATAILLE
AmongthethingsIforgottotellhim,thereisonewhichhewilllearn
atthisconference,namelythereasonwhyIpickedDr.Batailleashis
pseudonym.
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Allegedly,itwastostresstheoffensivecharacterofwaragainst
Palladism.Butmyowntruereason,myintimatereasonasadilettante
hoaxster,wasthis:oneofmyoldestfriends,deceasedbynow,a
hoaxsterofthesupremecategory,wastheillustriousSapeck,prince
ofhoaxterismintheLatinQuarter.14.InawayIwaybringinghimto
lifeagainwithoutanybodysnotice.ThenSapeckstruenamewas
Bataille.(Longlaughter.)
Howevermydoctorfriendwasnotenoughtoworkmyplanout.In
TheDevilinthe19thCentury,myplanwastosetthestageforthe
conversionofaluciferianGrandMistress.
ThebookIhadauthoredintroducedSophiaSaphoundertheblackest
colors.Ihadtakenpainstomakeherasdistastefulaspossibleforthe
Catholics:theaccomplishedtypeofanincarnateshedevil,wallowing
insacrilege,atrueSatanist,suchasonemeetsinHuysmans'books.
THEBIRTHOFDIANAVAUGHAN
SophiaSapho,orMissSophieWalder,wasthereonlytoserveasa
contrasttoanotherluciferian,asympatheticone,anangeliccreature
livinginPalladisthellthroughthechanceofbirth.Herexistencewas
toberevealedtotheCatholicpublicthroughaworksignedby
Bataille.(Avoice:Oh!Therogue!...Oh!Thebasevillain!)
Now,sincethisexceptionalluciferianwomanwastoconvertata
givenmoment,Ihadtohavesomeoneinfleshandbloodonhand,
shoulditbecomenecessarytoproduceher.
Alittlewhilebeforemeetingagainwithmychildhoodfriend,the
doctor,thenecessitiesofmyprofessionletmemeetatypistwhowas
aEuropeanrepresentativeofoneofthelargetypewriter
manufacturersintheUnitedStates.Atthattime,Igaveherlotsof
manuscriptstotype.Imetwithawomanwhowasintelligent,active,
sometimestravelingforbusiness.Furthergiftedwithaplayfulhumor
andanelegantsimplicity,asinmostofourProtestantfamilies.One
knowsthatLutheranandCalvinistwomen,althoughproscribingluxury
inthewaytheydress,neverthelessmakeconcessionstofashion.Her
familywasFrench,fatherandmotherFrenchbutdeceased,the
Americanoriginwentbacktohergreatgrandfatheronly.Inspiteof
thesimilarityinnames,shehadnofamilytieswithErnestVaughan,
formeradministratorofIntransigeant.15.ThereareseveralVaughans
inFrance.InEnglandandintheUnitedStates,Vaughansare
innumerable.Ihavetosaythat,becauseonemightbelievethatMr.
ErnestVaughan,withwhomIwasacquaintedinthepastandwhose
brotherinlawalwaysremainedoneofmybestfriends,onemight
believe,asIsay,thatMr.ErnestVaughanwasmoreorlessindirectly
anaccompliceinmyhoax.Suchamisunderstandingshouldbe
avoidedatallcost.MissDianaVaughanisinnowayrelatedtohim,
thehomonymyisnomorethansheercoincidence.
Myluckcouldnothavebeenbetter.Nobodywasbetterqualifiedthan
MissVaughantoassistme.Thequestionwas:wouldsheaccept?
DIANAVAUGHAN
Icouldnotaskherpointblank.Istudiedherfirst.Littlebylittle,I
interestedherindevilry,whichgreatlyamusedher.Sheis,asIsaid,
ratherafreethinkerthanaProtestant.Consequently,shewas
amazedtofindoutthatinthiscenturyofprogress,therearestill
peoplewhobelieveseriouslyinallthenonsenseoftheMiddleAges.
Avoice:Butwedidn'tcometolistentothesethings!
Othervoices:Keepon!Keepon!
M.LOTAXILItissurprisingthatthosewhogetmadatwhatIam
sayingnowarepreciselythesamepersonswho,intheirnewspapers,
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LeoTaxilsconfession
urgedmetospeak....Iproceed....
MyfirstapproachtoMissVaughanwasonthesubjectofthelettersof
SophieWalder.Sheagreedtoletthembewrittenbyoneofher
friends.Ihadtheproof,thusly,thatwomenaremuchlesstalkative
thanonesaysandthatiftheirweakpointiscuriosity,ontheother
handonecancountontheirdiscretion.MissVaughansfriendnever
boastedtoanybodytohavewrittenSophieWaldersletters.Besides,
thereweren'tmany.
Finally,IconvincedMissVaughantobecomemyaccompliceforthe
finalsuccessofmyhoax.Idrewafixedagreementwithher:150
francspermonthfortypingmanuscriptsaswellasforletterswhich
shouldbecopiedbyhand.Itgoeswithoutsayingthatshouldtripsbe
necessary,allherexpenseswouldbedefrayedbut.shenever
acceptedanymoneyasagift.Infact,sheenjoyedtheprankquitea
lotandtookalikingtoit.CorrespondingwithBishops,Cardinals,
receivinglettersfromtheprivatesecretaryoftheSovereignPontiff,
tellingthemfairytales,informingtheVaticanaboutthedarkplotsof
luciferians,allthissetherinaninexpressiblegaiety,shethankedme
forassociatingherwiththishugeprank.Hadshepossessedthegreat
wealthweattributedtohertomakeherprestigegreater,shewould
haveneveracceptedthepriceagreedforhercollaboration,and
furthershewouldhavepaidforallthecostswholeheartedly.
Shewastheonewholetusdiscovertheexistenceofprivatepostal
agenciesinordertoreduceexpenses.Shehadhadtheopportunityto
haverecoursetooneoftheminLondon,andtoldusaboutit.Shealso
toldmeabouttheAlibiOfficeinNewYork.
TheDevilinthe19thCenturywasmainlywrittentointroducethe
existenceofMissVaughanwhowastoplaythemainpartinthehoax.
HadhernamebeenCampbellorThompson,wewouldhavegivenour
sympatheticluciferianthenameofMissCampbellorMissThompson.
WemerelyturnedherintoanAmerican,bornbychanceinParis.We
letherfamilyoriginateinKentucky.Thisallowedustomakeherpart
asinterestingaspossiblebymultiplyingextraordinarywonders
concerningher,whichnobodywasabletocheck.(Laughter)Another
reasonwasthatwelocatedthecenterofPalladismatCharlestonin
theUnitedStates,withthelateGeneralAlbertPike,GrandMasterof
theScottishRiteinSouthCarolina,asFounder.Thiscelebrated
Freemason,endowedwithvasterudition,hadbeenoneofthe
highlightsoftheorder.Throughus,hebecamethefirstluciferian
Pope,supremechiefofallfreemasonsoftheglobe,conferring
regularlyeachFriday,at3p.m.,withMasterLuciferinperson.
(Explosionoflaughter).
Amostcuriouspointinthestoryisthatsomefreemasonsjoinedin
theprankwithoutintheleastbeingaskedto.Comparedwiththe
tugboatIhaddispatchedhuntingforsharksinthecovesofMarseillein
myearlyyears,theboatofPalladismwasatruebattleship.
WiththehelpofDr.Bataille,thebattleshipturnedintoasquadron.
AndwhenMissDianaVaughanbecamemyauxiliary,thesquadron
grewintoafullnavy.16.(Newlaughter)
WesawindeedsomeMasonicjournals,suchasLaRenaissance
Symbolique,swallowadogmaticcircularaboutluciferianoccultism,a
circulardatedJuly14,1889,writtenbymyselfinParis,andwhichI
disclosedashavingbeenbroughtfromCharlestontoEuropebyMiss
DianaVaughanonbehalfofAlbertPike,itsauthor.
WhenInamedAdrianoLemmisecondsuccessortoAlbertPikeas
luciferianSovereignPontiffthenLemmiwasnotelectedpopeofthe
FreemasonsintheBorghesepalace,butinmyoffice,whenthis
imaginaryelectionbecameknown,someItalianMasons,amongwhich
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LeoTaxilsconfession
aDeputyattheParliament,tookitseriously.Theywereannoyedto
learnthroughindiscretionsoftheprofanepressthatLemmiwas
secretivetowardthem,thathekeptthemalooffromthefamous
Palladismwhichthewholeworldspokeabout.TheymetinCongressin
Palermo,constitutedinSicily,NaplesandFlorence,threeindependent
SupremeCouncils,andnamedMissVaughananhonorarymemberand
protectressoftheirfederation.
Avoice.Thatwasasuccessfulprank!
Anotherlistener.Thesefreemasonswereyouraccomplices!
M.LOTAXILYoubet!...MayIsayagainthatIhadonlytwo
auxiliarieswhowereinthesecretoftheprank:mydoctorfriendand
MissDianaVaughan.
Anunexpectedauxiliarythoughbynomeansanaccomplice,inspite
ofwhathesaidisMr.Margiotta,aFreemasonfromPalmi,in
Calabria.Hebeganasoneofthehoaxed,becamemorehoaxedthan
alltheothersand,whatismostamusing,hetoldushehadmetthe
PalladistgrandmistressduringoneofhertripstoItaly.(Laughter)It
istruethatIhadgentlyinducedhimtoentrustmewiththis
confidence.IhadputinhisheadthatthetriphadreallytakenplaceI
hadcreatedarounditanatmosphereofPalladismIlethimmeeta
chamberlainofLoXIIIinRomewhohaddinedwithMissDianasome
timesbefore.(Loudlaughterandprotests)ThenImentionedthat
duringMissVaughansimaginedtripof1889,whenshewassupposed
tohavebroughttheallegeddogmaticAlbertPikescircularletterto
Europe,shehadentertainedmanyFreemasonsingroups,inthe
courseoftwoeveningsinNaples,atHotelVictoria.IknewthatMr.
Margiotta,whoisapoet,haddedicatedavolumeofversetoBovio,
andIhadtakenthetroubletotellhimthattheFreemasonswere
introducedtoMissVaughanin1889byBovioandbyCosmaPanunzi.I
addedthatthesebrothershadtakenteawithherbutweresomany
thatshecouldn'tremembertheirnamesorfaces.Timidlyatfirst,Mr.
Margiottariskedsomeallusionsaboutthisformermeeting.Then,
seeingthatitseemedtoworkandthatMissDianadidnotcontradict
him,hewentalltheway.Hewentindeedmuchtoofar.Later,when
Idecidedtopreventthemystificationfromcollapsingunderthe
silenceofaCommission,ourprankhavingbeenunmaskedinthe
meantimeinGermany,whenIagreedwiththedoctortotallyhothe
panicofthemystifiedCardinals,whenBatailleandI,alwaysin
agreement,fakedshootingateachother,Mr.Margiotta,havingatlast
openedhiseyes,fearedridiculeandchosetodeclarehimselfan
accompliceratherthanablindvolunteerinournavy.
Butweshouldn'tappearmorenumerousthanweactuallywere.We
werethreeandthatwasenough.Theeditorsthemselveswere
mystifiedalltheway.Anyway,theyhavenothingtocomplainabout.
Firstofallbecauseourmarvelousrevelationsbroughtthemthemost
encouragingEpiscopalcongratulations,notcountingthoseofthegrave
theologianswhodidn'tbataneyelidwhenourcrocodileplayedthe
pianoandMissVaughantraveledtovariousplanets.Then,because
ourtriplecollaborationletthemgivetwoworkstothepublic,which
cancompetewithAThousandandOneNights,workswhichhavebeen
devouredwithdelightandwillstillbereadforalongtime,notwith
convictionanymore,possibly,butoutofcuriosity.
ELABORATIONSONATHEME
Itisabitunusualindeed,thatwemanagedtogetourstaggering
storiesswallowedinour19thcentury.
Iaskmyselfhowevertowhatextentthehighapproversofunmasked
Palladismhavetherighttogetangrytoday.Whenoneunderstands
thatonewasfooled,thebestthingtodoistolaughwiththeaudience.
16/22
05.04.2015
LeoTaxilsconfession
Yes,MisterAbbotGarnier!Andyourgettingcrosswillmakeyoueven
morelaughedat.
AbbottGarnier.Youareascoundrel!(attemptsaremadetotryand
calmdownAbbottGarnier.)
M.LOTAXIL(whenthetumultcalmeddown)Thosehoaxedby
Palladismcanbedividedintotwocategories.
Firstly,thosewhowereingoodfaith,entirelyingoodfaith.Theywere
thevictimsoftheirtheologicalscienceandoftheireagerlypursued
studiesofallthattouchesonFreemasonry.Ihadtoimmersemyself
inthesetwosciencesinordertoimagineeverythingandinsucha
waythattheywouldn'trealizeitwasaprank.Canonebelieve,for
instance,thatitwaseasytotakeM.delaRiveforaride,he,the
embodimentofaninquiringmind,whoexaminestheslightesttrifles
withamicroscopeandwhocouldbeatourbestinvestigatingjudges?
Hecanboastofhavinggivenmetrouble!...MywholePalladismhad
beensolidlyconstructedasfarasitsmasonicpartisconcerned,since
someFreemasonseven"thirtythirds"ifyouplease!didnottakeit
forashadowymirageandaskedtobecomemembers.(Laughter)The
impossibilityofPalladismbecomesplainasthenoseononesface
onlybecauseofthesupernaturalelementswefilleditwith.Butthese
devilrieswereawarningonlyforthosewhodonotbelieveinthose
devilriesdescribedinotherbooks,inpiousbooks.Asmodeuscarrying
MissDianaVaughantotheGardenofEdenisnomoreextraordinary
thanMasterSatantakingupJesusChristhimselfontopofamountain
andshowinghimallthekingdomsoftheEarth...whichisround!
(Variousvoices:Bravo!)Eitheronehasfaithoronehasnot.
(Laughter)
esidesthisfirstcategoryofhoaxedpeople,however,thereisa
B
secondone,andmembersofthelatteronewerenotfullyhoaxed.The
goodabbotsandmonkswhoadmiredMissVaughanbecauseshewasa
convertedMasonicluciferianSisterhavetherighttothinkthatsuch
femaleMasonsexist.Theyhaveneverseenorencounteredany,but
theymaythinkthatitisbecausetherearenoneintheirdiocese.In
Rome,itsanotherstory.InRome,allinformationiscentralized.In
RomeonecannotignorethattherearenofemaleMasonsotherthan
thewives,daughters,orsistersofFreemasons,admittedtobanquets,
publicfeasts,orthosewhomeetseparately,verydecently,inprivate
societiescomprisingfeminineelementsonlysuchastheSistersofthe
EasternStarortheDaughtersoftheRevolutionintheUnitedStates.
(Signsofapproval)
Whenonethinksaboutit,itiseasytounderstandthatifMasonic
sistersexist,suchastheantiMasonsimagine,therewouldhavebeen
conversionsandconfessionsalongtimeago!Theeagernesswith
whichMissVaughansallegedconversionwasreceivedinRomeis
significant.PleasenoticethatMsgr.Lazzareschi,delegateoftheHoly
SeetotheAntiMasonicUnionscentralCommittee,letaThanksgiving
Triduum17.becelebratedattheChurchoftheSacredHeartinRome!
TheHymntoJoanofArcsupposedlycomposedbyMissDiana,words
andmusic,wasperformedattheantiMasonicfeastsoftheRoman
Committee.Thismusicbecamenearlysacredandsoundedwithgrand
solemnityinthebasilicasoftheHolyCity.Itstuneisthatofthe
PhilharmonicSyringe,amusicaljestwrittenfortheentertainmentsof
theharembyoneofmyfriends,conductoroftheorchestraofSultan
AbdulAziz.(Prolongedlaughter.Cries:Itisabominable!Oh!The
blackguard!)
SuchRomanenthusiasmsetsonethinking.
Ishallrecalltwotypicalfacts.
Underthepenname"Dr.Bataille"Irelatedandunderthatof"Miss
17/22
05.04.2015
LeoTaxilsconfession
Vaughan"IconfirmedthattheMasonictempleinCharleston
containedamazeatthecenterofwhichstaysthechapelofLucifer...
(Interruptions).
M.OscarHavard.ThebishopofCharlestondeclaredthistobean
imposture.
M.LOTAXILSoitis.Iwasgoingtosaysoinamoment.Butdonot
triumphyet.Waitalittle!...IsaidthatintheMasonictemplein
Charlestononeoftherooms,triangularinshape,calledtheSanctum
Regnum,hasasitsmainornamentamonstrousstatueofBaphomet,
whichtheHighMasonsworship.Thatinanotherroom,astatueofEve
comesalivewhenaTemplarMistressisespeciallyagreeableto
MasterSatan,andthatthisstatuethenturnsintothedemonAstarte,
foramomentalive,andgivesakisstothepreferredTemplar
Mistress.IpublishedtheallegedmapofthisMasonicbuilding,aplan
whichIdesignedmyself.Now,Msgr.Northrop,Catholicbishopof
Charleston,wenttoRomeexpresslytoassuretheSovereignPontiffof
thehighestfantasyofthesewritings.Thisjourneywouldhave
remainedunknownifMsgr.Northrop,onhiswaytoRome,hadnotlet
himselfbeinterviewed.WhichishowwhathecametotellthePope
becamepublic.Hehadcometosay:"Itisfalse,absolutelyfalse,that
theFreemasonsofCharlestonarethechiefsofasupremeluciferian
rite.Iamespeciallywellacquaintedwiththemostimportantones.
TheyareProtestants,inspiredbythebestintentions.Notoneofthem
considerspracticingoccultism.Ivisitedtheirtemple,noneofthe
roomsindicatedbyDoctorBatailleorMissVaughanaretobefound
there.Themapisahoax."OnhisreturnfromRome,Msgr.Northrup
didnotprotestanymoreandhaskeptsilenteversince.MissDiana
Vaughan,onthecontrary,repliedtoMsgr.Northropsinterviewshe
saidtheBishopofCharlestonwashimselfaFreemasonandshe
receivedthePopesblessing.(Sensation)
Secondfact.UnderthesignaturesofBatailleandVaughan,Irecounted
andconfirmedthatimmensesecretworkshopswerelocatedin
GibraltarundertheEnglishfortress,inwhichmenmonstersfabricated
alltheinstrumentsusedintheceremoniesofPalladism,andMiss
Diana'Vaughan,askedaboutthisbyRomanhighecclesiastical
dignitaries,enjoyedherselfansweringinhercuteststylethatnothing
wasmoretrueandthattheforgesofthemysteriousworkshopsof
GibraltarwerefedbytheveryfiresofHell.(Laughter)Msgr.the
ApostolicVicarofGibraltarwrote,ontheotherhand,thathe
confirmedwhathehadbeenforcedtodeclaretovariouspeople,
namelythatthestoryofthesecretworkshopswasanaudacious
invention,restingonnofoundationwhatsoever,nothingwhatsoever,
andthathewasindignanttowitnessthecreationofsuchlegends.The
VaticandidnotpublishtheletteroftheApostolicVicarofGibraltar,
andMissVaughanreceivedtheblessingofthePope.(Applause.
Manyvoices:BravoTaxil!)
ShouldIrecallsomeofthelettersofapprovalreceivedbyMiss
Vaughan?
VariousvoicesamongtheCatholicjournalistsItsnottrue!There
wasnoapproval.
LETTERSOFAPPROVAL
M.LOTAXILWhat!Youdaredenyit!Well,hereisone,aletterof
assent,andaweightyone!...ItisfromCardinalParocchi,VicarofHis
HolinessitisdatedDecember16,1895:
MissanddearDaughterinOurLord,
ItiswithalivelybutquitesoftemotionthatIreceived
yourgoodletterOf29November,togetherwiththecopy
oftheNeuvaineEucharistique...HisHolinesshasentrusted
18/22
05.04.2015
LeoTaxilsconfession
mewithbestowinguponyou,onhisbehalf,averyspecial
blessing...
Mysympathieshavebeenallyoursforalongtime.Your
conversionisoneofthemostmagnificenttriumphsof
gracethatIamawareof.Rightnow,Iamreadingyour
Memoirswhicharejustfascinating.
BeassuredthatIhavenotforgottenyouinthemeantime,
especiallyinmyprayerstotheHolySacrifice.Asforyou,
donotceasetothankOurSaviorJesusChristforthegreat
mercywhichHebestoweduponyouandthemagnificent
tokenoflovewhichHegaveyou.
Doacceptmyblessingandbelieveme,
AllyoursintheheartofJesus.
L.M.CardinalVicar.
Hereisanotheronewrittenontheofficialletterheadofthegeneral
leadingCounciloftheAntiMasonicUnion,whichisthehighestaction
committeeagainstfreemasonry,acommitteeconstitutedbythePope
himself,acommitteewhoseleaderisanofficialrepresentativeofthe
HolySee,Msgr.Lazzareschi.Listen:
Rome,May27,1896.
Miss,
MonsignorVincenzoSardi,whoisoneoftheprivate
secretariesoftheHolyFather,hasentrustedmewith
writingtoyou,bytheorderofHisHolinesshimself.
IshouldalsotellyouthatHisHolinessreadwithgreat
pleasureyourNeuvaineEucharistique.
CommanderAlliatahadaninterviewwiththeCardinal
Vicarconcerningtheveracityofyourconversion.His
EminenceisconvincedbutHedeclaredtoourpresident
thatHecannotbearwitnessofitpublicly."Icannotbetray
thesecretsoftheHolyOffice,iswhatHisEminence
answeredtoCommanderAlliata.
Iamallyours,verydevotedinOurLord,
RodolfoVerzichi,
SecretaryGeneral
TheprivatesecretaryofLoXIII,thesameMisterVincenzoSardiwho
wasmentionedabove,writesamongotherthings:
Miss,
Rome,July11,1896.
Ihastentoexpressthethankswhichareduetoyoufor
sendingyourlastbookonCrispi....
Thisisabookinwhich,underthesignatureofMissDianaVaughan,I
recountedthatCrispihadapactwithadevilnamedHaborym,that
Crispiwaspresentin1885ataPalladisticmeetingduringwhicha
devilnamedBitru,introducingSophieWaldertoacertainnumberof
Italianpoliticalmen,announcedtothemthatthesaidSophie,on
September19,1896,wouldgivebirthtoagirlwhowastobecomethe
grandmotheroftheAntichrist.IhadsentthebooktotheVatican.The
privatesecretaryofthePopewasexpressinghisthanksforit
accordinglyandadded:
Keepon,Miss,keeponwritingandunmaskingthe
iniquitoussect!WhichisthereasonwhyProvidencehas
permittedthatyoubelongedtoitforsuchalongtime...
19/22
05.04.2015
LeoTaxilsconfession
Irecommendmyself,withallmyheart,toyourprayers,
andwithaperfectesteemIdeclaremyselfyourvery
devoted
Msgr.VincenzoSardi.
TheCiviltCattolica,themostimportantofallCatholicreviewsinthe
world,theofficialorganoftheJesuits'General,areviewpublishedin
Rome,issuedthefollowinglinesinitsissueno.1,110inSeptember
1896:
Wewantatleastoncetogiveourselvesthepleasureof
blessingpubliclythenamesofthevalorouschampions
whoenteredfirstthegloriousarena,amongthemthe
nobleMissDianaVaughan.
MissDianaVaughan,calledfromthedepthsofdarknessto
thelightofGod,preparedbydivineProvidence,armed
withscienceandpersonalexperience,turnstowardsthe
Churchtoserveit,andappearsinexhaustibleinher
valuablepublicationswhichareunparalleledforaccuracy
andusefulness."
IntheentourageoftheSovereignPontiff,MissVaughanwasnot
merelyconsideredasaheroicpolemicistshewassetonthesame
levelastheSaints.Whenshestartedtobeattacked,thesecretaryof
CardinalParocchiwroteherfromRome,October19,1886:
Keepon,Miss,throughyourpenandyourpiety,despite
theeffortsofhell,furnishingweaponstooverwhelmthe
Enemyofmankind.AlltheSaints'deedshavebeenfought
againstnowonderthenthatyoursarenotspared....
Pleaseaccept,Miss,theexpressionofmyliveliestfeelings
ofadmirationandrespect.
A.Villard
PrelateoftheResidenceofHisHoliness
SecretarytoH.E.CardinalParocchi
Youknowwell,gentlemenCatholicjournalists,thattheselettershave
beenactuallysenttoMissVaughan.Theymayembarrassyoutoday
buttheyarehistoricaldocumentsthesehavenotbeenforged,and
theireminentauthorswillnotdisownthem.
Andnotonlydidtheypatronizethishoaxbutbelievingthewoman
withwhomtheycorrespondedtohaveanexaltedhead,theyurgedher
toentertheirgameforpreparingtheirmiracles.
Timeisshorttodaynevertheless,Iwanttoacquaintyouwithafact
alongthesamelines.EverybodyknowsthataccordingtotheCatholic
legend,onceJoanofArchadbeenburned,theexecutionerwas
shockedtofindoutthat,alone,theheartoftheheroinehadnotbeen
consumedinvain,hethrewmoreburningpitchandsulfuruponit,the
heartwouldnotburn.Finally,ontheinjunctionofthebailiffwho
directedthetorment,JoansheartwasthrownintheSeine.Now,the
FrenchclergyrequeststhecanonizationofJoanofArcbutitisRome
whichcanonizes,andRomeisinItaly.TheFrenchclergyhasalready
foundarelicofthegirltheyputtodeath,namelyacarbonizedrib.In
Italy,theyarepreparingsomethingbetterthanthat.Theysupporta
nunofthethirdorderintheextraordinaryideathatsheistheone
whowillretrievetheheartofJoanofArcnodoubtanangelwillbring
ittoher.Thisultramysticalnunofthethirdorderhassaidsoina
lettershewrotetoMissVaughan,andtheverysecretaryofthe
CardinalVicarrecommendedtoMissVaughantocorrespondwiththis
piousperson,toexchangewithherimpressionsaboutthesupernatural
factsconcerningJoanofArc.Itiseasytogetwhatthatmeans.Be
20/22
05.04.2015
LeoTaxilsconfession
surethatonedayanangelwillcarrytheheart,nottoFrance,butto
Italy,thesameasangelscarriedthehouseofNazarethtoLorette.18.
JoanofArcwillbecanonized,andalltheFrenchpilgrimswhowill
cometoItalywillnotfailtomakeavisittotheItalianpossessorof
themiraculouslyretrievedheartandtheirvisitswillbefruitful,won't
they?(Laughter)
Indeed,MissVaughanhasseenthefavorsoftheprincesoftheChurch
falluponher.
ThemasonsofFrance,ofItaly,ofEngland,laughedintheirsleeves
andrighttheywere.Ontheotherhand,aGermanMason,Findel,19.
gotrealmadandthunderedforthaverywellwrittenpamphlet.Great
excitement.Thatpamphletwaslikeapavingstoneinafrogs'pond.20.
Astrongreactionappearednecessary.Findelendangeredthefinal
successofmyhoax:hisgrandmistakewastothinkthatitwasaplot
setupbytheJesuitsunfortunateJesuits!Ihadsentthemafragment
oftheMolochstail,asapieceofevidenceofPalladism!(Explosionof
laughter)
DisquietcreptintotheVatican.Jumpingfromoneextremetoanother
theygotintoapanic.Theywonderedwhethertheywerenot
confrontedwithahoaxabouttosmashtheChurchinsteadofserving
it.Theynamedasecretcommissionofinquiryinorderto.ascertain
whattheyweretobelieve.
Sincethen,thedangerbecominggreat,myworkwasendangered,and
Ididnotwanttogetshipwrecked.Thedangerwassilence,strangling
thehoaxintheoubliettes21.oftheRomanCommission,preventing
Catholicpapersfrombreathingaword.
MyfriendthedoctorwenttoColognefromthere,heputmeinthe
picture.AndforewarnedIleftfortheCongressofTrent,well
forewarned.WhenIcameback,thefirstpersonIsawwasmyfriend.
Itoldhimofmyfearofsilentstrangling.
Thenweagreeduponallthatwastobedoneandwritten.Ifthe
editorsoftheUniversedoubtit,Icannamethempartstheyleftoutof
thelettersofDr.Bataille.ItwasIwhostokedtheirfirethatway,then
itwasnecessaryfortheworldpresstobemadeawareofthisgrand
andbizarreepic.Andagooddealoftimewasnecessarysothatthe
uproaroffuriousCatholics,thepolemicwiththoseinfavorofMiss
DianaVaughanwouldcatchthenoticeofthemajornewspapers,those
whowalkalongwithprogressandcountmillionsofreaders.
THECONCLUSION
Beforeending,Imustpaymyrespectstoanunknownhoaxster,a
shrewdAmericancolleague.Amonghoaxsters,oneunderstandseach
otherfromoneendoftheworldtotheotherwithoutneedingto
exchangeletters,withoutevenhavingtodropacall.Respects
thereforetothedearcitizenofKentuckywhohadthefriendlythought
ofhelpinguswithoutanyprioragreement,whoconfirmedthe
revelationsofMissDianaVaughantotheLouisvilleCourierJournal,
whocertifiedtowhoeverwantedtohearthathehadknownMiss
DianaVaughanintimatelyforsevenoreightyearsandthatheoften
metherinthevarioussecretsocietiesofEuropeandAmerica...where
sheneversetfoot.
LADIES,
GENTLEMEN,
YouweretoldthatPalladismwouldbeknockeddowntoday.Better
still,itisannihilated,itisnomore.
InmygeneralconfessiontotheJesuitfatherofClamart,Ihad
accusedmyselfofanimaginarymurder.Well,Iwilladmittoafurther
crime.Icommittedinfanticide.Palladismisnowdeadforgood.Its
21/22
05.04.2015
LeoTaxilsconfession
fatherjustmurderedit.
(Anindescribabletumultmeetsthisconclusion.Somelaughmoreand
moreandapplaudthelecturer.Catholicsscreamandhiss.Abbot
Garnierstepsonachairandattemptstoaddresstheaudience,buthe
ishinderedbythehoot.Afewlistenersstrikeupthecomicsongby
Meusy:OSacredHeartofJesus!)
NOTES
1.
InFrench:arriresloges,literallybacklodges,inthesensetheyareintheback,
behindthescenes,butsecretlyrunningeverything.^
2.
TheFrenchstereotypethoseborninMarseillesasmakersofpranks.^
2.
Literally:TheHobbyHorse,JournalforFools.^
4.
LaFrondewasaseditiouspartyduringtheminorityofLouisXIV.Itgavebirthtothe
wordFrondeur,designatinggenerallyspeakingallthosewhocriticizetheauthoritiesandthe
governmentwithoutrestraintordeference.^
5.
InFrench:Conseillerprudhommal.^
6.
ThisalludestooneoftheFablesdeLaFontaine,wellknowntoFrenchchildren,about
acatwhocoveredhimselfwithflourinhopesthatmicewouldbefooledandcomeclose
enoughtobecaught.^
7.
"Partner"intheoriginalFrenchtext.^
8.
Twomurdererswhoseexactionsandexecutionattheguillotinewerefamousinthe
timeofTaxil.^
9.
PopeLoXIII.^
10.
AfamousFrenchpolitician.^
11.
OneofthestrongholdsofCatholicisminSwitzerland.^
12.
Actorismeantherelikely.^
13.
ResidenceofthePresidentoftheFrenchRepublic.^
14.
PartofPariswheremanystudentslive.^
15.
AParisiandailynewspaper.^
16.
BothsentencesarebasedonajokealmostimpossibletorenderinEnglish"Monterun
bateau"istheFrenchequivalentof"topullonesleg".Taxilcombinesitwiththetugboatof
hisyouth,whichgrowsintoasquadron,andthenawholenavy.Meaningthattheprank
becomesmoreandmoreenormous.^
17.
Areligiousceremonywhichlaststhreedays.^
18.
Thisisanallusiontoalegendfromthe15thcenturythatthebirthhouseoftheVirgin
MaryinNazarethwasbroughttoAnconainItalybyangels^
19.
J.G.Findel,authorofHistoryofFreemasonry,1861.^
20.
Inadditiontotheobviousimageryofastonedisturbingfrogs,Frenchpriestsare
sometimescalled"frogsoftheholywaterbasin."^
21.
Anoublietteisasecretdungeonwherepeoplewerethrown,forgotten,anddied.Taxil
playsonthedoublemeaningofoublier,toforget,andoubliette.^
WebmasterssNote.PierreMollier,LibrarianoftheGrandOrientofFranceprovidedthe
photocopyofLeFrondeurreproducedabove.
ANTIMASONRY|BIOGRAPHIES|ESSAYS&PAPERS|GRANDLODGEOFBCANDYUKON|HOME|LINKS|SITEMAP
WebsiteManagement
18712015GrandLodgeofBritishColumbiaandYukonA.F.&A.M.Updated:April2,2001
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The Confession of Léo Taxil

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