Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1897-01-21
CAN SATAN WRrTEf
Remarkable Story of . Conference Be
tween Him and signor CrispI.


Remarkable Story of . Conference BE
tween Him and signor crispL
We are interested in the remarkable de-
bate between two foreign theological Jour-
nails, the Volkszeitung Of Cologne and the
Pelikan Of Feldberg, In the Tyrol, as to
the authenticity Of signature of the devil
which was recently discovered in Rome
The debate grew out Of the publication of
a tract, "Die Geheimnisse der Holle," or
"The Secrets Of Hell, " the production Of a
pious woman, Miss Vaughan. Its author
gave an account OF conference that took
place ON the night of Oct Is, 1888, be-
tween the devil and Signor Crispi, the man
who afterward became premier in the gov
ernment Of the kingdom of Italy. 1t was
held In that Freemasons' lodge In Rome
of which Crispi is member and the in
terest of 1t lay in the circumstance that the
devil predicted that within year from the
time of the interview certain woman
whom he named would give birth to a
child destined to become the grandmother
Of boy who would serve as the most pow
erful of his earthly allies
In testimony of the truth of this
prediction, document was drawn up, at
the end of which the devil wrote his title,
"sanctus damon primarious prases,"
which may be translated as !" first presiding
sacred devil" He did not write in words,
but in symbolical signs, such as a rooster,
a three pronged fire fork, pair of horns
and caudal appendage, using for that
purpose pen which lay in the lodgeroom
Other Freemasons besides Signor Crispi
kept an eye on him while he was engaged
in writing or rather in drawing. The
news of the affair leaked out, and it came
into the possession of Miss Vaughan, the
author Of the tract ON the subject.
Dr. Kunzle the learned editor of the
Feldberg Pelikan, contends for the genu-
ineness Of this signature, appeals TO tradi-
tion in support of his opinion and fortifies
his appeal with arguments drawn from
theologianG of distinction. Among his
hackers may be named the aristocrat,
Prince zu Lowenstein.
The Cologne Volkszeitung refuses to
give credence to the revelation made in
Miss Vaughan's tract. 1t says that only
superstitious people can believe in the au-
thenticity of the DEVILS signature or in
the report of his interview with Signor
Crispi, the Freemason. While the Volks-
zeitung afflrms that it is certain that a man
like Crispi may hold interviews with satan,
sometimes known in the Tyrol as Vitru,
it rejects the testimony offered as proof of
Vitru's appearance in the lodge at Rome.
How could Vitru know that the woman
Sappho would give birth to the grand
mother of the chief one of his earthly allies?
The Pelikan has replied to the Volks-
zeitung. The Volkszeitung has made an
swer to the Pelikan. Both of the theo-
logical journals have become very much
heated while carrying on the debate.
What do we think of the case as it
standsP We frankly confess that we are
unable to answer the arguments Of either
of the parties engaged in 1t. They go far
beyond our depth.
But one thing we are able to say, and
it is that IL the DEVILS signature is in that
Freemasons' lodge at Rome to which ex-
Premier Crispi belongs, this Crispi ought
to be called upon to deliver itup. His sue
cessor in office, the Marquis of Rudini, has
the means of compulsion in his own hands,
The Corte di Cassazione can issue man.
date in the case. Parliament possesses the
power to act upon 1T. The king cannot be
disobeyed with impunity. The symbolical
signature, rooster, three pronged fire fork,
horns and other things would be more in
teresting than the Roman Coliseum, which
is genuine relic.-New York Sun.