The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1879-01-26
hOME MD DOOKS
The Transition IRON Roman Plagiarism to
Ghrlstinntty.

me lFhnsitlon IRON homan Pnnnniam to
ChrIstianity.
The overthrow by Christianity Of the va
rious forms OF pngonem which 1t encountered
cannot be adequately explained by the assumU-
ton that Christianity being true. and all other
religions false, it had but to mako itself known
10 triumph. The progress Of the new faith was
slow and huctuatlng and when. three centuries
after the commencement Of its career, Constan-
line gave II illegal protection. its adherents
numbered. according to the best estimates not
more than one in twenty Of his subjects. This
power OF resistance in Roman paganism has
suggested the idea that, after ALL ii posseaaed
qualities which entitled IT to popular favor and
that the transition from II to Christianity was
not altogether unpreparcd and abrupt. The
researches of German scholars on the point are
as might be- expected the most profound and
thorough. but n learned Frenchman. NJ. CASTOR
DorssIKR, has also just published, in regard to
II. n WORK called La Religion Romdine a. AuOuste
sur AntOnns. which IL full Of information
and entertainment
When. shortly before the birth Of Christ. Au-
gustus made himself Emperor no found tho
religion, in common with the other social insti-
buttons Of the Roman people. in quito a dilapi-
dated condition. The temples were out Of
repair, the priesthood was incomplete. and the
ancient rites were neglected. The new mon
arch eet himselft to rcpairng'and strengthening
the religious fabric as a means Of assuring the
continuance OF his political system, and during
his reign. ut least. his efforts were crowned
with success. The nature OF his task and the
mode In which he accomplished It are the thomo
OF the larger portion OF NJ. Boissier's first
volume.
The primitive religion OF tho Romans. like
that OF other Aryan peoples. was the dedication
and worship Of the powers OF nature. and they
even surpassed their Asiatic ancestors in the
multitude and variety OF the gods whom they
thus created. A tutelary deity watched over
every event Of life and over every transaction
OF industry. business. and war. The god Vati-
canus made the babe utter his frst cry. while
Fabulinus prompted his first articulate word.
Educa taught him to eat. Potina to drink and
Cuba assured his repose. Altoona accom-
panied the child when he went out and
Adcona when he came in. Iterduca
guarded him on the way. and Domiduca brought
him safely homo Lovana superintendent his
education and Carnea preserved HE bodily
health. The god Of his youth was Juventus; he
owed his noble ambition TO Horto his cheerful
ness 10 Nitula. and his peace to Quies his sor-
rows were alleviated by Angerona and his sick
ness cured by Meditrina. When he married he
invoked. besides the greater gods. six moro:
Jugatinus. Domidu,us Domtius. Manturna
Vrginensis, and Mutinus. and his conjugal
troubles were removed by Niriplaca. The hus-
bandman worshippcd. among other deities. Col
lima who presided over the hills Valonia who
ruled the valleys; Bubona who had the care Of
oxen Hippona. who had that OF horses Seia.
who guarded the seed in the ground; VOlusia.
who folded 1t in the blade Patelina. who saw
the corn develop. and Lactura. who brought it
20 the milky stage. When he weeded his field
no invoked Runcina. when he narrowed IT, De-
Gator; whom he.manured II. Sterculinus; when
he sowed II. SHtor; and when he reapcd IT, Tu-
telina- Nymphs fauns aud sstyrs peupled the
streams, the forests. and the pastures. Every
country. city and even dwelling Lad III peculiar
Penatos or household gods. and In evory house
was a Lararium. where daily worship was Of
fered to the Lares. or guardian spirits Of the
family. When war was declared the temple OF
Janus was opened. when peace was made it was
closed; and no act Of political importance was
performed without Invoking some god or god
dsss with APPROPRIATE rites. In this manner re-
ligion was interviewer with daily life and
It's ceremonies were necessary part Of u eiti-
Een's duty.
With allthis multiplicity OF objects OF worship
and assiduity In paying them reverence. the
early Romans had no definite creed or form OF
religious doctrine. Their deities were regarded
as powers to 10 invoked, and were feared as
publishers Of ng-doing. but nothing was
said or even thought beyond this. The priests
were part OF tho civil government appointed
like other officers. for political reasons and
charged with the business OF conducting re-
ligious ceremonials because such cerelnonials
were necessary to the public welfare. So
long as they performed this service
faithfully, no inquiry was made
into their theological opinions, nor even
into their habits OF life. Thus Cicero. who him
seli was an augur. questions many points OF
the popular religious belief and represents, in
one OF his dialogues. priest as disputng the
very existence Of the gods. Cato. again. 10 re-
ported as saying he wondered that when one
soothsayer met another he could help laugh
Ing" And the poniifer mayuatss was selected
not for his piety. but for his thorough acIuRint-
Ance with the traditional rites ana for his emf
nence in the state. In the minds OF the Ko-
mans. therefore. religious worship was identi-
ned with the established Government. and
when the civil wars impaired the one they also
worked tho decay Of the other Not that the re-
llgous sentiment Of the people was affected
either way. That had always boeI independent
OF ritual ana remained 80. The upper classes
ander the influence Of the Greek philosophers
had long been EpcuI eahs Stoics. or Platoni lists
~ II might happen; the populace retained IL
hereditary eupersttions or adopted those 81
foreign countries. But when the public cero-
monies fell into disuso the respect commanded
by tho constituted authorities could moi
but be corrcspondingy weakened and 1t was {,
romody this mischief that Augustus redstab-
lshed throughout the empire the religious oh
servances of primitive Rome. After the death
Of Lepidus no had himself appointed pontiieN
maximus, and suffered himself, outside O
Rome to be addressed as deity; ne resume,
the celebration Of the secular games festiya
at which all Italy was summoned 20 be present
he inspired Virgil to popularizo the ira
dtion Of his descent from the gods. and he sri
the example Of n rigid compliance with tn
ancient ritual customs. SO far AS appearance,
went, puganlsm under his administration be-
came as tlOurishing as ever ii had been.
A religion Of mere forms and ceremonie.
could not however. retain III hold upon pOnu-
lar esteem against the growing skepticisn o
the awakened intellect aud the demand fol
spiritual consolation caused by tho increasing
miseries Of human life under Tiberus Nero
and the other unworthy successors Of Augustus
SKeptics like Cicero multiplied with the difIu
sion Of knowledge. and the gods Of Egypt