The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1874-09-22
1H1isffHa,,g.
The Downfall OF Paganisn In Ei,-
gland.

age. The inhumanities of the Druids
were succeeded by the degraded idolatry
Of Paganism, and the Jutes, Angles, Sax
ons and Danes, added thereto an aban-
doned grossness in feasting and habitual
drunkenness. The worship of the fierce
Wooden was horrible reality when war
was the delight of ALL The great Thor
1.-THE thunderer:) Saturn,and the goddess
Freya, or Friga, we're the other principal
objects Of worship, and their names are
attached to our days of the week.
In 626 Edwin. King of Northumbria,
married Ethelburga, under the condition
that his Christian bride should not be
molested on account Of her religion
Ethelburga journeyed to her future home
accompanied by Paulinus, the Bishop of
the newly formed Christian Church.
King Edwin received them with great
kindness, and dispelled the fears of his
bride by granting permission to PAUL.
nus to speak openly about the new relig.
ion. PauIinus and his assistants we're
not slow to avail themselves of this per.
mission, and spoke freely Of the great
love of God in sending His Son into the
world to save sinners. He told them
that the great gift of God-eternal life
could be gained by all who believed in
this only-begotten Son of God, He told
them further that the Kingdom of God,
of which he spake, was righteousness and
ljoy and peace.
"Ah!' said the king, "this new relig-
ion will not suit us; it may do for wo-
men and children, but for us men who
have to fight, we must worship the great
Wooden and Thor; they viii strengthen
our arms in war, and that is what we
want"
Thus does the evil of war incapacitate
men for the gospel of peace.
In year the gentle Queen Ethelburga
brought her husband little daughter
Great was the rejoicing; the warriors
feasted right boisterously, and the queen
and her Christian friends thanked God
for His mercy. The Pagan priests wish
ed to present the little princess before
their gods, but the queen. expostulated,
and the king said:
"The baby girl must remain with her
mother; they shall not be separated"
Bishop Paulnus and his companions
were not idle; they would not be dis
couraged at the war.like decision of the
king. but took every opportunity to
make known the unsearchable riches of
Christ. Thew told the king that the new
religion would make men better, and
asked whether it was not wiser that men
should lore each other rather than to
continue to hate and destroy one anoth-
er.
"Think," said Paulinus, "what would
be the feelings of the queen were you to
be slain in battle; and would you cause
such grief to your enemy ?"
The kings heart was touched. He
grew thoughtful, and listened more at
tentively to the good bishop.
At length he resolved to summon the
Witan, or great national council, to de-
eide about accepting or rejecting the new
faith. Mobiles, priests and wise men
all came to the great meeting, which was
held at Godmundinghsm, on the hanks
of the Swale.
At the sound of the horn the king
went forth, leaving the queen praying
that God would guide him Alright, and
enlighten him by His Holy Spirit.
Paulinus came forward with his COM
panions, bearing sn emblem of redemp
ton, and singing their sweet hymns.
Then came the Pagan high priest, Co.
if, with dark and troubled face. His
white beard and long robe gave him a
venerable appearance, and this made q
great impression upon people who did
not think much about these things. On
they went tovard the Pagan temple, in
side which were great figures of stone
and wood standing upon pedestals, so
that all had to look up to them.
When they were assembled in the
great Saxon hall, the king told them
that they were to decide upon the new
religion preached by the queens friends,
who said that the old religion was false,
and that Wooden and Thor were mere
senseless blocks. He then called upon
Pauliuus TO explain the new religion.
The bishop then arose and spoke fc1
his Lord and Master with an unfalter.
ing tongue. He who promised "it shall
shall sbe given to you what ye shall
speak" was with His servant, and sof
tened the hearts Of the stern warriors
to listen to the Gospel of peace. Pau.
linus spoke long and fervently of the
one and only God who made heaven
and earth, and that this great God was
so loving to man that He sent His Son
to suffer and die, that men might be nc
longer sinners and rebels, but be made
friends-yea. sons Of God, and fit tc
dwell with Him in heaven.
GAS to those idols," he continued
"are they not the work of mems hands
Eyes have they, but they see not
mouths have they, but they speak not
How can they help u.s." continued he
"when they cannot help themselves P
Golf arose; the king and the people
looked anxiously on him, and eagerly
listened to his words.
go kingw said Golf, "this mar
speaketh truth. l feel that the new re
ligion will be better for us than the old
and if the old gods are mere, idols, lie
US dash them to the earth.' '9l-
'But,". said one of the earls, "wht
will dare to do this If they should
be gods, who will brave their lightning
and thunders ?" .,s.
"I WILL" said Golf; 81 have beer
their priest, and doubt their power, Sc
it is only right that l should test it,
Come, follow mer'
He led the way toward the temple, ,th'
king and the assembly following him
and the crowd drawing aside in fea
and awe. He mounted horse, which
no priest of Wooden dared do before
and welded a spear-another act o
sacrilege. On he went, encouraged by
the good Paulinus, and, waving asid,
the gatekeeper, rode into the temple =
The people gazed at him with terror a
he thrust the spear al every image il
turn, and struck it upon every altar
He paused before one great idoi-i
b,,o Er,,ro 81 rNLo, o,I