“Satanism” & Modern Witchcraft – The Kansas Farmer, 10/21/1897

A hilariously exaggerated depiction of Satanists from the latter 19th century.

Occultism, in its most grotesque and monstrous forms, has lately come to light in Paris and other French
communities. For years, vague rumors of a revival of “devil-worship” have appeared in the press, but until
the publication of J. K. Huysmans’ La-Bas startled the literary circles of France, few attached any significance
to the mysterious sects and their practices. Huysmans’ book was a study in modern Satanism and was based
on fact. It appears that a case is now pending in the Paris courts, in which it is sought to annul the will of a
decadent poet who committed suicide some time ago, on the ground that he was a Satanist and was in the
habit of attending a “black mass.” A scientific study of these tendencies has been made by M. Jules Bois,
an eminent French writer and psychologist, author of Le Satanisme et la Magie. An interview with him on
the subject of modern magic and Satanism is reported in the Humanitarian of London (August) by Marie A.
Bellac. We quote as follows from the article: “I have studied the question of Satanism,” observed M. Bois in
answer to a question, “from the scientific or psychological point of view. Though I have the greatest admiration
and affection for my friend J. K. Huysmans, he and I 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 it should never be forgotten that this phase of occultism is as old as the world. “Now, the author of La-Bas
is, as you probably know, a convinced Catholic, and I 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 possession
is a 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 a great part in the lives of men.

“I need hardly add that as to one fact we are agreed, and that is in the actual reality of modern Satanism. We
also both hold that Satanism possesses certain qualities that render it an eternal phase of human existence.”
“And do you actually assert that the more terrible and sinister forms of medieval witchcraft are still with us, and
that there are now actually living men and women who delight in human sacrifice?” “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 perfectly aware of. “As to the question of human
sacrifices, of course it opens up a very wide subject. It 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 a hundred years ago. In many cases, a live
animal—generally a toad or a reptile—takes the place of the human sacrifice. “There has never been a time
when Satanists did not ascribe enormous importance to this side of their strange ceremonies, but you must
remember that they were not alone in this matter. Every religion in the world has passed through a sacrificial
stage. Nay, I will go further and declare—although you will probably be disinclined to believe me—that there
is a scientific basis for this feeling. A friend of mine, Dr. Baraduc, has lately made some very extraordinary
experiments. Working as a scientist, not as an occultist, he photographed the blood of animals and found that
certain shapes gathered in and about the fluid, absorbing strength which, as it were, enabled them to materialize,
and this many hours after the blood was cold. Probably many medical 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 a human or, indeed, an animal sacrifice.” According to M. Bois, many more men than
women are today engaged in these mysterious ceremonies and invocations. Middle-aged women, tired of life
and seeking, Faust-like, a renewal of youth, join the Satan worshipers.

Questioned about the extent of the movement, M. Bois said: “Belgium is permeated with this form of occultism, and
even in Great Britain there are several important secret societies of the sort. I have myself been on their track, and
you can take it from me that I assert a fact. As to Paris, there are many centers—an especially important place of
meeting for Satanists exists close to the Pantheon. There are now in Paris many fortune-tellers who claim the
same power, and some very strange stories can be told as to events that have actually occurred after a visit to
one of these modern witches. In provincial France, soothsayers retain much influence, and in Brittany, a sorcerer
is supposed to lose his power if he ever goes into a church.” “And are the Satanists linked to one another? I mean,
has each center communication with others?” “There is no doubt at all that the modern Satanists have an elaborate
creed, elaborate prayers, and elaborate ceremonies, and these have changed exceedingly little through the ages.
Many of the prayers actually used now are found in the oldest manuscripts dealing with the subject. Indeed, one
of the most curious, and to me most interesting, sides of Satanism is its unchangeable character throughout the
ages and the nations. The medieval Satanist was the anarchist of medieval society. Every hand was lifted against
him, and he on his side did his best to injure the powers leagued against him.” “But is it not true that there has
lately been a great revival of Satanism in France?” “It is true that only lately has the outside world woken up to
what was going on in its midst. But at no time during the last hundred years has Satanism really disappeared.
The black mass has often been said, and the complete description given of that ceremony in La-Bas is absolutely
true. Spiritism, as we call it, has long been a far more powerful factor than would even now be believed.” Exorcism,
it appears, is also practiced by the Satan worshipers. The two, indeed, are linked. M. Bois states that he is personally
acquainted with the originals of the principal characters in Huysmans’ story, and has assisted at an extraordinary
exorcism ceremony performed by one of them.