New-York tribune., 1868-07-06

endaT counts among its saiBts and angels JoD haguei
from the ApOcrypha). Isaiah, Moses, Zacharas son
of Ba:achias, Michael the Archangei, JONAH Abra-
ham. Isaac and Jacob Elijah the prophet ana many
more from the Jewish history. we have noted tho
above names as they stand in the calendar for the
two first months, a specimen OF the year. Along
with them arc notables from the Roman, the Grecian
and the Coptic Churches, and not few peculiar to
Abyssna. The provorb that Christmas comes but
once a year does net apply here for Christmas comes
in every month and Michael the Archangel, and
several others, have also monthly commemoration
The Jewish Sabbath and the first day of the week
are both observed by the devout. Major Harris
rather uncharitably remarks that two days OF rest
fall in very well with the native inclination. The
fasts devote more than half the year to abstnence
but the AbyssiniaR deyotee takes his revenge be-
tween the days. and makes up in the night for his
daily abstinence.
The original dolatry of the country, serpent wor-
ship underlies the Jewish contribution to the Abys
sinian character, and upon both the Christian reg
ion as they received it, engrafted Romish mis-
sonaries in the fifteenth century added still more to
the heterogeneous faith. The Roman teachers adj
mired as well they might the native Chrstians,w VINO
had resisted the followers of Mahomet for centuries
The Roman missionaries were expelled from ADys-
sinia as from China and Japan, though both Latlns
and Greeks, as we have noted have contributed
names TO the native calendar. No doubt the prophet
of Mecca added something to the curious meahge OF
faith and practice though the Abyssinan Christians
are filthy on principle to show their adherence OF the
Mahometan washings. Perhaps some more enlight-
ened Christians fall sometimes into like error.
II is not difficult to guess who originated the story
of the royal line of Solomon. The wandering Jews
could have found no better pretext for obtaining
power than that of having furnished the royal fam
ly In their creed the Christians of Abysslnla are
Coptic The distinguishing tenet of that Church is
what is termed by theOlOGans the "Monophyslte
heresy" which was condemned in the Council OF
Chacedon. DioscOrus, the Bishop of Alexandra,
leader in the heresy exiled. But the Abyssnians
denounced the Council a meeting of FOOLS gave to
the banished Bishop the honors of martyr, and.
since his death a place in the calendar. With the
Egyptians, the Abyssinians,have had a monopoly of
the "Monophyslte heresy' for nearly l,5OO years.
Their churches are crowded with priests and the
land is abundanty supplied with monasteries. In
Africa the mOnastic system began. For the rest 1t
is proper to say that with all the Ignorance and su
perstton of these poor creatures the Christians
by far the best people in the country and the dola-
trous tribes who retain their original worship the
worst The ancient literature of this strange people
is far above contempt 1t is even poetical, Judging
from the brief extracts which have reached us in the
relations of travellers FTumentIus of Tyre who fell
into the hands of the Abyssnans as prisoner, and
afterward converted the nation is celebrated as their
first missionary, under the name of Salama. Won
deTfu are the miracles recorded of him in the subdu-
ing of the great serpent and his worshipers. Etho-
plan poetry not only runs riot in miracles, but is ca
pable of strains that would not disgrace Christian
poet of any land. Thus is celebrated the honor of
the Apostle of Abyssinia:
Hail him with the OF joy sing praises TO Saama,
The door OF pity and of mercy and of pleasant grace
Salute those blessed hands bearing the pure torch of the
For the spendor of Chrss Church has enlightened
darkness.
1t is pleasant to know that there are native Afri-
cans capable of maintaining Church of their own
against idolatry and Mahometanism for so many
centuries even if that Church does not come mp to
the standard of enlightened Christendom If any of
our readers desire TO know of them, there is
readable article in The 4tGRtc for June. Major
Harriss book from which we have drawn largely,
if any copies have escaped the papermil is quite
worth reading Wethink that competent person,
availing himself of the official reports which have
been published and others which will be, might CON
struct very interesting volume. He should be
scholar familiar with Christian antiquities. Kings
ley could make a splendid tale Of Frumentius,' the
disciple of Athanasius His researches in producing
Hypatra would lead him to the proper sources OF IN
curry.