The anti-monopolist. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1874-1878, 1874-07-23
The Anti-Monopolist.

.Now, said Peter in an argumenta-
tive tone of voice, crossing his legs, Il
am perfectly willing to reason with
you, and have no doubt but that | can
disprove you altogether
ssIhe only objection to that is, sug-
gested his visitor, ''the slight one that !
do exist
Nonsense Peter exclaimed dogmat-
ically, ssIf prove you to be only the
result Of imagination and false interpre-
tation, trust that you will be candid
enough to admit the truth!'
Certainly, my character for veracity
is widely known.
swell, then, let us begin at the begin
ming. You will acknowledge, | hope,
that there is nothing going to show that
you we're referred to by the author Of
the Mosaic books when he speaks of
Eve and the serpent. In later times
the Jews falling from their original
faith came to adopt superstitions OF
fearful unearthly beings haunting
wildernesses, similar to the Grecian
fawns and satyrs. This is clear from
the Pentateuch. There, the Hebrew
word sseirim' QLeviticus xvii, y, which
our translators render devils, really
means only hairy Ones Now, we
know that the Egyptians worshipped
the he-goat, and we also know that the
Hebrews shared in their idolatry-ex-
cuse the word. So, Moses in the verse
I have mentioned says They shall no
more offer their services to seirim '-that
is to the Egyptian god or he-goat. Am
I correct so far!'
The visitor smiled politely. Il find
it very interesting. You remind me Of
great deal that had forgotten. Pray
continue"
ssIn the books Of the Old Testament, :"
Peter went on, quite elated at this COM
mendation, (which were written during
and after the Babylonish captivity, we
see the development of demonism rap
idly increasing and giving signs Of Medo-
Persian influence. In these books we
first find you mentioned by name; you
are there called Satan, but are repre-
sented as minister of the Almighty,
performing the function Of accuser and
seducer. 1t was you, according to l.
Chronicles, xxi, l, who stirred up David
to number the people: but, on the other
hand, in the older account Of the same
act given in II Samuel, XIV, l David's
impulse is attributed to an angry God,
your figure being then not very clearly
invented. / am afraid, my friend, that
down to this time your existence is UNI
proued.'
His guest smiled again. perhaps
you are right he said carelessly,
knocking the ash off his cigar; "but do
not, beg, interrupt your argument.
ssBy no means. AS we all know,
Satan becomes prominent in Job, but
that book is only a poem, while the
Talmud says expressly that it is an alle-
CORY, and nothing but an allegory. So
we will not give any more credence to
you there than to the witches in Mac
BETH In Zachariah, iii, 1, you are
depicted as resisting the angel of God.
and also as falsely accusing the high
priest Joshua. Still, you are not yet
represented as being positively evil, by
as taking pleasure in active wrong
doing. In word, you are the adversary
the literal meaning of Satan-or mar
plot. l could prove this at length, but
a comparison of the passages from
Chronicles and Samuel which | have
already referred to is sufficient. You
go with me, l hope?'
The devil laughed. "You are reason
ing admirably, but l am not quite con-
vinced."
SIN the Apochryphal books contin-
ued Peter, 'syou are seen growing in inn
portance and power, and here you as
sumo many traits Of the Persian Ahri-
man, or active evil. Only small por-
ton of the Apocrypha is of Palestinian
origin, the remainder being either Chal-
dean-Persian las, for instance, Tobias
and Baruch), or Egypto-Alex-
andrian las the Book of Wisdom).
The old Hebrew doctrine Of mis-
fortune being caused by Jehovah him
self, through an angel, fades from sight,
and we have instead demons or devils in
the New Testament meaning Of the word
pneumatic ponera. Many of these we
know by name; among others Asmodeus,
/ the demon of pleasure, who figures SO
prominently in the Book of Tobit. He
is undoubtedly of Persian origin. But
the first trace of head of this organi.
. cation is in the Book Of Wisdom, ii, "a
S where you are spoken of in connection
with Eve
. Eyes, said the devil pensively, " ]
r remember the circumstance she was
!, very handsome"
Peter was too engrossed in his subject
to notice the reflection.
J, during the time from the close Of
) the Apocrypha to the appearance o.
t Jesus the Jewish theory Of denonology
s. developed rapidly. It was mainly de
t rived from the system of Zoroaster
grown familiar to the Jews during thei1
d long and close communion with the Per
IS sian Empire. But as they could mo-
g accept the coequal powers of Ormuzt
and Ahriman, the belief was modified
a to agree with the national monotheism
'e You and your demons were supposed t.
= be angels fallen from your former state
n and therefore hostile II Jehovah. Thes
5. opinions spread ext = II
:, lower classes, Will (e