, 1877-01-27
The Spiritual Idcas OF African
SavnEes.
From the London Spiritualist.


Modern Spiritualsn, having made the
mutual relationship between the spiritual
and natural worlds more conspicuously
and generally manifest than before, new
era in manknd's history has begun, and
both psychology and anthropologv, to-
getber with physiology, are being pushed
into new lines OF observation. Science
feels the necessity for gathering, in
methodical way, information connected
with those sciences from different parts
Of our globe, and at all times of its histo-
ry. We live in period Of investigation,
led on by rational critics. The old rreeds
prevailing In India, Japan, Africa, Amer
ics, and the rest of the world, and also
the remnants and corruptions OF those
creeds, are searched and sifted by numer-
Gus explorers and reporters, and learned
literary men at home try to digest the
observation and FACTS into systematical
science
Tue remnants of ancient creeds in Afri.
ca have particularly occupied the atten-
tion of the European styants since its in
terror has been the great object of explo-
ration. The superstition and the tetich-
ism OF its sundry black, copper-colored,
and yellow tribes; their or,leals; ami the
absurd, nay, internal Vaccinations Of
their sorcerers, rainmakers, and exorcists,
have been described by sundry traveles,
as Magyar and Bastian. Even the super
fetal notice OF Captain Burton have
recently brought these insuttcicntly
known matters before the public. Some
valuable information may be gathered in
the reports OF the Berlin Mission to the
zulu-land, edited BY its director, Dr..
| wangemaun (serliD, ls15), which in the
nrss chspteIa tpp. 4.z-ll3 treat of the
Itlieologicai traditions and notions still
preserved by old men among the tribes
of the Zulu Katfirs The missionaries
endorse the opinions of those who think
that such African traditions are derived
from the Mosaic dispensation, because
they show some conformity with the
Mosaic history Of creation, circumcision,
distinction between clean and unclean
beasts, polygamy, and 50 on. 1t appears
more likely chat these scattered TRADITIONS
and ceremonies are corrupted remnants of
more ancient systems OF religion. / alb.
stain from entering here into the details
of such disfguied traditions, and notice
only few points more especially relat-
ing to the theories about modern Spirit
ualisn.
A great deal of skepticism, materialism
and naturalism nowadays prevails in these
tribes, and only finds an imperfect RENE
| DIV in the teachings of missionaries from
the. Jealous sects Of old perverted Chris
tian churches. Some practical good may
certainly be elected, when the civil power
OF annexing governments joins the
missionaries in putting down supersiL
tious excesses and obnoxious ahusesof
pagan priestcraft and wcrsstp The
path 10 fufurg spirituas insight and gen.
uine tyutlf may tlSls be prepared, and
the rugged soii made ready tor futuse
civilization. In 50 far the missionary
assistance may be far from absolutely
detrimental. The egotism OF Gbustian
priestcrait may, perhaps, be quite NJ per
nicious as the absurdity Of the heathen |;
bnt, at all events, 1t is more manageable
and accessible to reason.
The unconpromisine materialism Of
the Zulus, which admits no doctrine
which checks them IN the enjoyment Of
sensual pleasures according to their ami
NAL taste, makes them reject the notions
OF sin and divine prohibition, believing
that such enjoyment is rather contorma'
BILE with the intentions Of the Ortlainer
of nature, from whom the unbounded
despotic power OF their chiefs and kings,
and their fore-fatheIs, is derived. They
have constantly preserved u notion OF
continued lite after natural death. q.
They distinguish, rs the report tells, p.
Is, four sorts Ot spirits, or future exist-
encies; viz, l. Amo t0ngo, possessing spir-
itunl power either Tor good or for evil
and who preside ss itongo, IN the shape
Of n serpent, over every place and locality
2 The ithlObri, Who enter into some AMI
NAL body, generally into serpenta. snd
thence influence the drs'iny Vt man, 3.