The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-09-13
cun1osrrIns OF occuLrIsM.
Vitality OF an Ancient Cult in
France.
From the Humanitarian.


been a center of occultism, and though
the words "satanism" and "satanlst"
may be comparatively modern. all they
signify and all they imply have long been
a very real problem, not only to French
theologians, but also to French turists and
philosophers.
OF late years French thinkers have be-
| come once more concerned with what has
! seemed 10 them a revival in their midst Of
the darkest medieval superstition nj. J..
X. Huysmans electrified his contempora-
ries by "La-Bas," probably the most Gu
rious study of occultism ever given to the
world. Those who opened the book az
| scoffers closed it with a conviction that
| Eatanism was becoming a force ID modern
! life. At the present moment there is be-
! ing tried N the French courts a case in
! which the plaintiffs declare that the late
| Edouard Dubus a decadent poet, who
| committed suicide some two years ago
was not in fit state to make will, ow-
| ing to the fact that he was wen known
! Satauist, and that he had at one time as
! sisted Nj. Huysmans when the latter was
! getting up the material for his book To-
| gether they had assisted at black mass
| and witnessed other diabolical practices.
| NJ. Jules Boies has constituted himself
| the historian of Satanism. He has pub
| lished more than one work on the sub
| ject his magnum opus lie Satanisme ct
la Magic" having already reached a cir
culation of 5000.
II have studied the question of Satan
ISM" observed N. Boies in answer to
| question: from the scientific or psyche
logical point of view. Though l have the
| greatest admiration and affection for my
| friend, j. K. Huysmans he and l do not
see eye to eye in these matters I have
Instituted an exhaustive inquiry into the
mental and moral state of those whose
type of mind has led them to Satanism
for il should never be forgotten that this
| phase Of -occultisn is as old as the world.
Now, the author of 'La-Bas is, as you
probably know, q convinced Catholic. and,
| need hardly add, an entire believer in
the personality of satan. He regards the
whole matter exclusively from that point
Of view. Thus, to him diabolical possess
| sion is proved fact, and he has put it on
record that according to his theory, we
move, not only in a world unrealized but
in a world peopled with evil spirits who
play great part in the lives of men.
need hardly add that as to one fact we
are absolutely agreed, and that Is in the
actual reality of modern Satanism. We
also both hold that Satanlsm possess
| certain qualities that render it an eternal
phase of human existence"
And do you actually assert that the
more terrible and sinister forms of media
eval witchcraft are still with US, and that
| there are now actually living men and
women who delight in human sacrihce?'
Certainly" he answered calmly
"Huysmans has exaggerated nothing in his
now famous book. Indeed, even he has not
described some of the horrible things that
| all those interested in this subject are per-
tectly aware of. AS TO the question of hui
man sacrifices, of course it opens up a
very wide subject. 1T is no longer possible
to buy a child body and soul for five
francs; but, remember, it was perfectly
easy to do so less than 100 years ago. In
many cases a live animal generally a toad
or reptile, takes the place of the hui
man sacrifice. There has never been time
when Satanists did not ascribe an enor-
nous Importance ID this side of their
strange ceremonies, but you must remem-
Der that they were not alone In this mat
ter Every religion in the, world has PASS
ed through a sacrificial stage Nay, / will
go further ana declare-although you will
probably be disinclined TO believe me-
that there is scientific basis for this feel
ing.
"A friend of mine, DR.. Baraduc, has
lately made some very extraordinary ex-
periments. Working as a scientist, not as
an occulist, he photographed the blood of
animals, and found that certain shapes
gathered In and about the fluid, sucking up
a strength which, as it were, enabled them
the blood was cold Probably many medi-
cal men would also allow that there was
value in the blood baths of the ancients.
Satanists believe, of course that there are
certain forces in the spiritual world that
absorb strength from human, or, indeed,
an animal sacrifice. Paracesus held very
similar views, still subscribed to by his dis
ciples to this day, and we come across
traces of this feeling and belief in many
medieval writings"
And who are the Satanists of to-day?
From what class are they drawn? Do they
consist of men rather than women"
Nowadays, replied M Bots, decidedly
there are many more men than women
engaged in these singular mysteries; that
was not so in the past. There are among
them many middle-aged women, tired of
life, and seeking, perhaps, renewal Of
youth. And 1t IS well known that there
are even priests among the more advanc-
ed section. These soon become known to
the ecclesiastical authorities; or, rather,
they are vaguely suspected for 1t is eX-
tremely difficult to prove an accusation
of the kind Belgium is permeated with
this form of occultism, ana even in Great
Britain there are several important secret
societies of the sort / have myself been
on their track and you can take il from
me that L assert a fact. AS to Paris
there are many centers-an especially i'm
portant place of meeting for Satanists ex-
lists close to the pantheon"
DO Satanists admit that they worship
evil?"
well, there is no doubt that these peo-
pie consider satan their god. You know
that in India, Chivas, the Dealer of Death
is considered to be in his way more pow
erfui and important than is Brahma. Per-
haps Michelet was the first to inaugurate
secular research into mysticism and oc-
cultsm. Every mad cement naturally
made, and still makes, for certain forms
of devil worship. Mind you, / do not
consider that the elements which 20 to
make up Satanism are entirely evil. Or,
rather, / would say they were not entirely
evil in the past. You must remember that
IN cd days everything known was put
down TO either divine or diabolical agen-
cy. Calico was supposed to be possessed
by the devil. The witches extraordinary
knowledge of the powers Of herbs, and so
on, was also said to be communicated to
them by the devil At the Sabats we see
the first gllmmers Of woman's rights, The
equality of the sexes, and indeed of mod
ern socialism. The very motto that Is
now universal in France, and which you
see inscribed on so many churches, Fra
arsaff I ~..t~r 4 H.. 4