The Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Or.) 1862-1899, 1880-02-13
Piety in Animals.


Proofs of sagacity involving what
would seem processes OF judgment, infer
ence and generalization fairly equal those
of the average man, have been made
familiar to us by the reports OF natural
lists without number, il not by opportu-
mites of personal observation OF what
requirements animals of oil sorts are
capable, under mans skillful and patient
tuition, all must be fairly convinced. To
this culture of the intellect and the emo
tions we are taught by DIR. Lindsay to
superadd the development of the relig-
ious feeling in animals, whether in the
form of natural piety or of kind Of ami
NAL Kulturkampf. Not only does the
dog, for instance, worship his master and
learn from his example to display deco
rum in kirk or chapel, but, in common
with many other species outside the pale
OF humanity, he is capable of religious
feeling and action of direct and sponta-
neous character. The seemingly be-
havior of the Scottish collie in kirk is
conspicuous among the attributes which
have given that sagscious quadruped it's
high and well-earned reputation.
Nor is devotional decorum, all impair
tial critics of the ways of animals will
learn with pleasure, confined to single
Catholic country, on the contrary, dogs
attend prayer or mass with their masters,
exhibiting in the grand cathedrals of that
beautiful land a becoming behavior. in
Guiding gravity of look and demeanor,
silence, and mot1onlessness, an attitude
of apparent attention or intentness, and a
probable feeling of awe, produced, itmay
be, by the dim religious light of such edi-
fees, or by the varied impressive sights
and sounds that environ them"-a kind
of conduct, in short, only too instructive
or suggestive, to irreverent man. Nay,
a more emphatic lesson still is taught by
his canine companion to many a lax Ro-
man Catholic, since we are taught on the
authority of s'Southey," (whatever that
may be), that sin Catholic countries
church going dogs have been led to the
stage of fasting
Nor are dogs the only animals that
may claim occasionally to be pious.
''While collies regularly attend church,
| they cannot be said, as rule, to take any
active or intelligent part in the service
| but in the case of the parrot, which is not
usually allowed to attend church, the
bird not unfrequently takes prominent
and certainly intelligent part in the pri
vate worship of it's master household
| Such parrots, for instance, make re-
| sponses at the proper time-an exercise
that implies good deal more than mere
memory, mere attention to the service
They have been taught moreover, or they
have learned, to repeat mans creeds, tt
recite prayers, and even, or otherwise il
certain sense, to act as domestic chap
lains-as substitutes, in other words
for man himself AS in so many othe
cases. the behavior, nay. the very speech
the remark or conversation of the birt
are suitable to place, time and other cir
cumstances. Thus certain Englisl
Bishops parrot is or was) in the habi
of saying sometimes quite devoutly AM
with becoming solemnity, at other time
case at proper seasons and appropriated
to the circumstances--s'let let us pray" O
another we are told that it could sing i
correct time and measure ''There is
happy land. .'-Saturday ReoieaO.