The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1870-02-03
l RELIGIOUS REVOLUTION.
The Great God of Madagascar
Burned and Christianity
Embraced by the
,.. Queen.

FROM Tie Mauagascar NeWs, Lee <fth
A remarkable religious revolution
has taken place in Madagascar. We
learn from letter from. Rev. W.. Pool,
dated from the capital on the 23d OF
September, and published in weekly
contemporary, thar the Queen has had
the royal idols publicly burned, that
she and her arstocracy, have en-
braced Christianity, and that the whole
province OF Imerna in which the CAPT
tai is situated, has followed the exam
pie of the government. The Queen
embraced Christianity early in the
year, and has all the summer been
building q chapel royal. Meanwhile
the wooden fence around the temple
of the great national idol had been
pulled down, and the pries.s had as
snmed a threatening aspect, even hint
ing that their god had medicine which
would avcnge HIM on the hereto SOY.
ereign. On the 9Th of September they
came in force to the capital TO claim
their rights as mobiles. A council was
called, and it was decided to send the
Chief Secretary ofState and other high
officials to the sacred village, seven
miles from the capital and burn their
idol before its keepers returned. They
sat off the same afternoon and by an
authority. from the Prime Minister
seized the IDOLS house. The wood of
the fallen fence was collected and a
fire was made, and the contents of the
temple were brought out to be burned.
First, the long cane carried before the
idol in professions was thrown in then
twelve bullock's horns from which in.
cense or holy wate' had been Sprinkled
then three scarlet umbrellas and the
silk robe wore over the idol by the
keeper who carried it. Then came the
Idol s,case-the trunk Of small tree
followed and fitted with cover; and
last of.alI the idol itself. Hardly any
Of the present generation had seen the
god, and great was the surprise when
he was produced. Two pieces of scar
let silk about three'feet long and three
inches wide, with small piece of wood
as big as a mans thumb inserted in
the middle between them, so that the
silk formed as it were, two wings was
the great god OF Madagascar, whose
touch was sanctifying, and whose near
ness was preservative. you cannot
burn him. he is god said the people,
"If he be god he will not burn" said
the officers, "we are going to try" and
held it on a stick in the fire, that the
people might see 1t as it was consumed
The victory was complete. Next day
four other idols shared the same fate
and the rest followed. One was lit.
tie bag of sand and an other consisted
of three round pieces of wood united
by silver chain. The people looked
on in wonder, and, when all was over
seeing they had no gods to Worship
they sent. to the Queen to ask what
they were to worship for the future
The Government, says the English In
dependent, adding to the information
in Mr. Pools letter, thereupon appeal
ed to the native Christians to send
Christian teachers and they at once re.
sponded' 1t was found that Of ESQ
towns and villages i'll Imerina, 13C
already had Christian churches, and
teachers were at once found for all the
rest. This movement, which is re
markable for its pufely native origin,
is another proof that in certain stages
of civilization nations may be convert
ed By authority. The conversion OF
Madagascar has been accomplished in
the n nineteenth century much as that o
the Saxons wss accomplished in thu
sixth. The iconoclast is the reformel'
forerunner 70 overflow fetish
worship the fetish itself must be frs
destroyed.