One of the most persuasive testimonials we found to the existance and activities of the Prieure de Sion dated from the late nineteenth century. The testimonial in question is well enough known - but it is not recognised as a testimonial. On the contrary it has always been associated with more sinister things. It has played a notorious role in recent history and still tends to arouse such violent emotions, bitter antagonisms and gruesome memories that most writers are happy to dismiss it out of hand. To the extent that this testimonial has contributed significantly to human prejudice and suffering, such a reaction is perfectly understandable. But if the testitmonial has been criminally misused, our researches convinced us that it has also been seriously misunderstood.

The role of Rasputin at the court of Nicholas and Alexandra of Russia is more or less generally known. It is not generally known, however, that there were influential, even powerful esoteric enclaves at the Russian court long before Rasputin. During the 1890's and 1900's one such enclave formed itself around an individual known as Monsieur Philippe, and around his mentor, who made periodic visits to the imperial court at Petersburg. And Monsier Phillippe's mentor was none other than the man called Papus - the French esotericist associated with Jules Doinel (founder of the neo-Cathar church in the Languedoc.), Peladan (who claimed to have discovered Jesus's tomb), Emma Calve and Claude Debussy. In a word, the 'French occult revival' of the late nineteenth century had not only spread to Petersburg. It's representatives also enjoyed the privledged status of personal confidants to the czar and czarina.

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