Salon de la Rose + Croix. Règles et monitoires (1891) - Page 25

XIV

VEHMIC EXECRATION

A ritual condemnation inspired by the Vehmic courts, which were secret medieval Westphalian tribunals that exercised jurisdiction over life and death

OF THE

CATHOLIC CONGRESS OF MECHELEN

A major assembly of Belgian Catholics held in 1891 to discuss social and religious issues; Péladan viewed their stance on art as narrow minded

We, by the grace of God and the unworthiness of the clergy, Grand Master of the Rose-Cross and the Temple.

Having constituted the Vehmic tribunal and having shown it that Protestantism is infesting our Holy Church, that miserable bourgeois without letters or works, patriotic priests, and finally an abominable company have gathered at Mechelen under the rash epithet of Catholic Congress.

That these incompetents and these ignoramuses have uttered a thousand vain and foolish words, and particularly have issued three vows that are equally ridiculous and odious:

1st That Catholics should disavow, as dishonoring religion, Charles Baudelaire, Paul Verlaine, Barbey d'Aurevilly, and Joséphin Péladan;