Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1876-10-06

FacH DAwS To SUNRISE a REVIEW. HISTORICAL
AND ruiLosOrHicAL. % TIE RELtsI. u IDEAS
p MANKIND ~ Mr~ 4 Gregory SIN tn.
houses Point Lowell Publishing conrlny
So pp-
The religions Of mankind have formed the
theme Of several recent works Of great
ability. From Dawn 70 Sunrise" l. the
suggestive title OF fre>h contribution to
the literature OF this subject. by an accom-
pli-hed and hIsniy gifted lady Of Vermont.
The design OF the book l. % show hy an a;s-
pc a 10 history. tina, there l. in nan a -
lIgi0us consciousness indcstructible Is M
rature;-that all forms OF false religion are
attempts to satisfy It's demands - aad
that Christianity alone IS adequate 10
meet mans needs as e religions being.
This Is certainly q high and worthy ai;a
In carrying II out, ,ttc traditions OF the Drel-
ton are carefully c0liated. compared - iii
the biblical account and used o. Illustrate
and confirm the Mosaic c1,upgouy Thea
follows chapter on the Ante Diluvisns.
an account Of the Fall, the religion, ciyiiiz-
alton and art OF primitive man. ard the
traditions which we're banded down from
generation to generation Of the pre-dilu
Wan races The author takes the position
that the Geiuge vas caused b. the
extreme wickedacss introduced into the
world by the intermsrrilge OF fallen angels
and sinful women, the Consequences of this
unnatural union being obIterared by the
hlOd Alter briet chapter on the Deiuge
and tie couis>iun Of tongues, We have the
most elaborate part Of the book, IN de-
seriptiGn OF the ophioiItTy OF the post-iilu-
Wan ages. \ Wv d impression j. made of the
strange and debasing superstltiOus, which
inremote ages found expression 10 worship
and many startling facts are collected, re
lating to the widespread worship of the
serpent in early times. Ths Information
which this chapter contains wIll be new
to most readers. and the more acceptable
because the sources whence II l. ira an are
not easily accessible.
The ancient S4bean star worship. with
its necIomancY aud magic the religion Of
Confucius and China the netur5 aud athe
istic tendencies OK Buddhism ths system
of Persian MazGaisln the supc-S-itions
aud horrible rites OF Brahmiai>m, together
with its gross idjlAuY the religions IDEAS
and forms Of Egypt and Of the old S;ar-
dinavian races the mytholJgIes of Greecs
and Rome the : nsuaiisn. cruelty and
prohlgacy Of Mo>lenisn, are ali faithfully
depicted while the sources OF their influence
are analysed their errors and failures point
ed out and the poverty AID lnethciency of all
natural ard human = stems OF religion most
fully exhibited A short chapter Of great
beauty upon Christianity closes the hook.
The author has iEGustri0usly gathered
the rcsu Is o. recent Investigations, and
when occasion Ct.fs, enrlches her page
with pertinent quotations.. which display
| familiarity with the literature OF the subject
| and mpart authority to the statements of
the text. The work exhibits catholieity
of spirit worthy OF the theme, and a genial
sympathy with truth even when 0bscured
by fatal error.
The Christian reader. however, who has
been taught to regard the religion of the
Bible as one, will notice with surprise the
wide Interval which separates the religion
of the Hebrews from Christianity. NJ
doubt. in the view If the author. chion0i-
oglcal reasons required the connection to
| be broken.
We understand this work to have had its
| origin in the studies and notes prepared by
the author for her adult Bible class-and
the class is to be congratulated which has
50 enthusiastic and cultivated teacher
While thus designed for popular reading
rather than for scholars, As scholarly critic
as Rev. DR.. Lord can say of it:
We have read this volume with an inter
est awakened not alone by the fact that its
author holds a high place In our personal
regard and friendship. Ii Is her first essay
in the field of authorship. and the subject
| she has chosen Is far more ambitIt : than
any romance or any everyday literary
topic. IL is no easy task she has chosen
to light the way into the regions OF the
primitive ages and trace the relations OF
the great religious systems OF thought and
worship which have prevailed in the world.
That she has executed 1t fully. and invested
the arguments and discussions OF this vol
une with fresh and living interest I;
that she has succeeded in throwing
around such antique and obstruse
matters new charms Of illustration !;
that she has faithfully collected and brought
into relation and harmony the widely sep
ara,ed researches OF original students IN the
manv departments OF history, science, phil
ology. antiq uities, monumental art and IN
scriptlons. and traditions. and patiently
arranged and classified them in order TO
show the superior value and authenticity
| of the Scriptures as the source OF religious
belief that she mas done all this Is no slight
| nraise The book evincss 50 much enthu-
siasm. 50 much paiDstaking, so great pa
tience and fidelity. SO reveieEt regard for
the Bible, so much research and dlscrmina-
tion. that the sentence from lie Maestro on
the title page hardly gives Just hint oil
the profoundly christian spirit which per-
yades it.
The typography Of the volume is neat,
(though not always free from typo graph
cal errors which have escaped The proo'-
readers eye.) and the binding is handsome
and striking.