New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1849-07-09
The Prize Composition OF this Department
was read by Rev Mr. BoURSs.
Prze Composition Of me Firr Department.
REFLECTIONS UPON SUPERSTITION
RY ANNA 81 vNDEAHILL

One Of the olden time-a inspired BY the
Almiehty-hsd occasion 70 denounce as too su-
perstitous one of the most enlightened and CIV
ilized nations OF the earth. The Athenisns, then
at the hight Of their refinement and luxury-skil-
ed in learning in the arts, in science and all that
condlces 10 the elegancies Of hie-were thus con-
demned by Saint Psul-and with equol iustioe
may this sentence be applied to our own times and
to all nations
When rejecting upon the state OF the world in
know edge and improvements only, at the present
time, we are struck with wonder that il should
scer have been enslsved by errors, so gross as
those, that have more than once held 1t M thrai-
DOM An established maxim that " Ignorance j.
the mother OF Superstition was then fully con-
6rmed. For ages after the Christian era and even
till within two or three centuries the mind Of man
has been degraded and depressed by an ableci
bondage. The priests of superstitious faith held
the people in mental slavery, which they had not
the power or the will to throw of They uaedn-
cqtel the powers OF the intellect were suffered o
remain sloihiul and inert no attempt was made 10
rouse them for it was the policy Of the Romsh
Church to keep them in this condition. and thus
90 ige their proselytes bhndly 10 follow their be
hests Many felt aud saw whence the bondage
proceeded. but none dared to speak-a morbid fear
kept them silent At last dauntess spirits arose,
the power Of the Church was humbled, aud by
few bold superior minds the glorious Reformation
was effected The CALLING chains were held too
tightly, and at last they broke, leaving but nven
Inks in tie hand This was not the work OF
months or even Of years. The lapse of Time only
could accomplish 1t.
The Grecan Mythology belongs to those ages OF
the world of which we have but slight record
their gods and goddesses seem to realize their
ide as of good and evil and the passions that intlu
ence the human heart. These neurological be
iefs were difused amon7 the Romans and other
nations OF the East When their philosophers
arose to search for the truths OF Religion their con-
cusioD. as to the final destiny OF the soul were
far from satisfactory, and then their ideas degene-
rated into the doctrine OF MetemPhsycosis which
soon spread Itself over the continent. They had
struck the right note in the scale OF ideas bat they
could not sound nor explain H.
In Egypt-then one Of the most artistic srd
scientific countries OF the world buried in the
depths of superstition. worshiping the meanest
aud mos, disgusting creatures OF al ever present
Deity. bowling down ia idolStrous reverence 70
cats. dogs. and other animals denomluated sacred
the influence OF the evil eye. their sacrifices to
Isis. were the prevailing characteristics OF the
EGYPTIAN belief. They had their festivals. on
wbich DAYS their most solemn rites were perform
ed and sacrifices made to the god OF the Nile
Here. too. IL was that the science known by the
name of The Black Art. or Necromancy, had
its oriein. The priests were the actors IN It's tx
hotious, and appeared to the Ignorant multitude
70 be capable OF performing miracles, but which
really were the effects OF Alchemy and the leslt'
mate know edge Of the secrets OF Nature Ihey
fully believed in the existence OF e;heua. beings
and many OF their wonderful architectural stree
lures are cons dered by them as the suPernaturs
agency of angels and demons.
Arabia also has iet the sn-peUadins influence
OF imagination, their Peris their Houns-beings
whom they regarded with suPsrsti,ioas reverence
were the inhabitants Of their Mohsmmedsn Par
sdse In strict accordance with their ideas Of
sensual qualification. the true believers wished
for no better portion than to die on the battlefield
in defense Of their religion. and thence 70 @,
trans ported 10 the presence Of ANat. The MussrL
men are firm believers in the wonderful traditions
OF their leader and prophet Nohsmmed Tales oil
heroes " no reach the accomplishment OF their De
sres by the aid Of fairies and genu are as ire
quent as ever they were in the Thousand and
One" tales OF the d" Arabian Nights The system
OF which Mohammed was the founder, " "a one
calculated 20 excite the passions Of ne jewellers
Ia the warm Eastern climes-it addressed itsei
70 the sensual passions and therefore ras certain
Of many adiereEt' Perhaps never was any re
leion 50 widely disseminated in So short reriod
OF time as was that OF the Mohsmmedsns. There
was be; little in Il that could command respect
except that It taught the existence Of 4 God. a.
though they raised his vicegeren,, as Mahommed
styled himself 70 a level with Him. This was
religion Of the sword-it was Judged q greater
victory 20 convert al enemy by the drawn blade.
than BY the soft answer that turneth away
wrath 3" pesce and salvation could only be brought
into the world by the religion Of Jesus The No
hsmnedsus have a great reveresoe for baHA
enounas. which they CAL by the Poetical name o.
the " Cities Of the Silent, and which they people
with the shades Of The departed. who 81, each Al
the head OF his own grave, invisible to morris
eyes. They imagined the decoration OF these
tombs to be peculiarly acceptable to the dead as
did also tie Greeks, who placed al sorts Of purple