The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-06-02

Under the above title a brief and rcada-
hlc account q the religion. ethical traits, and
social custom ~ Plrs0 Is b. published by
CHARLES u. Io,roN u. Roman Il Coz The ma
toria'- of this little sketch seem 90 have been
collected during Visit 90 Bombay, whore per-
-oual Intercourse excited in the author. a. 1t
has in SO many othors. a respectful md lively
interest ia the modern followers Of Xlroast 'r
There il no prctruce In this sketch of linguistic
or philosophic eruditon. nor is there any at
tempt To- trace the pre- Sc relation Of the cXi-t-
Ing parsnc creed and ritual. either in tnoir Vul-
enr or es'rrir forms. to that coro Of primal
faith preserved ina the /rnd-Avcsia. or 10 the
lGlter's successive notifications through Chal-
dale, Egyptian and Greek influence. from
the conquest of Bnctria by the As
syrians some twelve centuries before
our era, UP to the striking resurrection of
old Persia under the Sassanian princes. Tho
author. indeed has neglected to aequaint HIM
self with the latest conclusions Of philologi-'s
as to the probable date Of the Zoroastrian Scrip
lures, and contents himself with citing on this
head the idle myths or conJectures OF Greek
historians. Merely promising that the compo-
sition Of the older portions Of the Aycsta is now
referred TO an epoch nearly coincident with
that Of the Homoric pocms-say I 300 i. C.-aud
tnat the authentic teaching Of the Battrian sage.
so far as we can now unraVel it, Joined TO a puro
and lofty monotheism and the fruitful tenet Of
personal mortality Il whole system Of sound
and generous ethics. we would direct attention
TO some Of the curious details here noted in the
actual creed and eoremonals.
We imagine that tho catechism Of the Parsce
faith from which the writer makes some intor-
esting extracts was prepared 10y tho Reform
Society which has undertaken in recent years
10 weed out the corruptions and superstitions
introduced among the Persian refugees in In
dia. Certainly. the citations exhibit u remark
able accord with the primitive simplicity of tho
Ioroastrian dogmas. Thus, TO tho question,
Whom do We believe in Z" the parsee child is
| taught to answer: Tho God who created tho
heavens. the earth. the sun, the moon. the stars.
the angels the four elements. and all things, -
| and 10 II second inquiry touching the form of
this divinity. the reply Is. " Our God has neither
face nor form. color nor shape. nor fixed plnco.
| There is no other like Him. He is Himself,
singly. such glory that We cannot praise nor
| describe Him. nor can our mind comprehend
Him" The specific tenet. whose abuse has
caused the followers of Zoroaster in all ages to
be COMPOUNDED with idolatrous worshppers OF
| fire. is thus formulated When worshipping
| God. We should turn toward some OF His
creatures Of light, OF glory, and Of brightness
| nHHlclys INC sun lle moon, lhe stars, IRE
water, and such emblcms as have spark OF
His glory" Among the commands commune
Gated by the Deity. through his prophet, are the
following; To believe in the reckoning Of
Justice tho third day after death to hope fol
! heaven and TO fear hell and to believe in duy
of general resurrection and dcst uetlon." Inc
catechumen is further admonished that good
works, not orthodox belief, will be his passport
| in the other world. our prophet has distinctly
announced, We shall receive according to wha
We do; II you do vrtuous and pious actions
your reward is heaven If you dowckod things
you hall be punished in hell if you repent OF
| your sins ana reform. and # the Great judge
| deem YOU worthy Of pardon, H. may be mrrci-
| tul TO you such are some of the doctrines
| which keep fresh in the nineteenth century
| the pure and wholesome faith chilled with
| Cyrus To- the throne Of ASIA. and which are still
| accepted and practised 10y community mum
| berlng some two hundred thousand souls, and
| including the most Industrious, Intelligent, M
right, and respected subjects OF British rule in
| India. For some noteworthy data regarding
tho commercial activity Of the Parseos as wei
| as view of their social customs. and especially
the peculiar ceremonies attending births. mar,
| rages, and funerals, we must refer tho reader
to Mr.. Postons little VOLUME.