Gold Hill daily news. [volume] (Gold Hill, N.T. [Nev.]) 1863-1882, 1880-12-02
A uEsulroHY ESSAY.
speeuiatiess ~ ss Inc Origin efsns
R~iief In Gods, Devils sud sns
Priesthood.
Uncle Daniel.

Having recognized from boyhood to
cid age forces in Nature. above. below
and around him. which be could neither
comprehend nor control, 1t was but nat.
ural that man. from the time he had pro.
crossed from his low beginning sufa-
GENTLY to enable him to reason and re-
fleet. should have believed these forces
to have been ex.rted and governed by
beings superior to himself. And a there
seemed to bs forces exsrtsd both for
good and for evil It was but natural that
prim.val man should have believed in
two kinds OF superior beings. 1t was
also bat natural that the imaginary
beings who controlled forces that seemed
to be exertsd for good should be called
gods, aud that the beings who controlled
forces that seemed to bs sxerted for evil
should be called devils. Because these
imaginary beings seemed to possess 30
much power IL was but natural they
should be worshiped and feared. Per
haps in these early experiences. and IN
the natural tendency Of q to attribute
causes not understood to superior be-
inss, arose his first ideas OF gods and
devils. And in mans efforts to pro.
pitiats and to obtain favors Of these i'm.
aeinary beings. as well As to reward
them for favors received. ths foundation
Of the worlds many religions was laid.
Be that. however. as II may. the history
Of the human race shows that religions
existed among men at so early q day
that IL is impossible to even conjecture
the date Of their origin.
Even with the men OF prehistoric
times there must have been some who
were superior in intelligence to the
many /; and what more natural than that
these few should assume the office Of
mediator between their more ignorant
fellows and the gods 2 And how natural
that. having experienced the benefits Of
their assumed position in many ways.
they should endeavor to retain II for
themselves and their children. To do
this ii became necessary to magnify
their office, to cloths their acts With
mystery. and to keep the many in
ignorance Of their false prstences.
Briefly told. perhaps in this way the
offices Of priest aud mediator may have
originated.
Inasmuch al during historic times
down almost to the present day the
priesthood have sndeavored to keep the
people in Ignorance. and to magnify and
e1alt their Office. it is perhaps fair to
assume that religions and the priest
hood had their origin a. here suggested.
The history Of our race shows that
religions have Jagged behind the general
intelligence Of every age, and. that while
some progress has been made in religions
during any given period Of time. they
have not kept pace with the progress OF
the arts and sciences, and secular know
ledge generally. This fact IL readily
recognized by every observing man OF
our time. We converse with men upon
politics, or upon any OF the secular top.
les OF the day. and fud them we'll in
formed with reference to these subjects /;
but. IL we attempt to discuss religion
with the same men we often dnd them.
in point Of information, and liber-
ality and breadth OF views upon it.
q hundred years behind the leading
minds OF the age. While In the consid.
Grafton Of secular matters they give proof
that they exercise their reason and Judg-
ment freely and intelliRently. 10 religious
matters they seem to DO afraid TO think
aud investigate for themselves. The In.
flu.pcs Of the priesthood upon the minds
Of the people for thousands OF years 10
opposition to investigation OF religious
questions has been so great, that people
OF intelligence and education feel its
effects today. and seem to be afraid to dis
cuss freely what has 80 long been. except
in u limited way. an interdicted subject.
But oppose the spirit OF Investigation As
tho religionists may. the people OF today
have eaten OF the tree Of knowledge to
that extent that no power can prevent
them from investigating any system OF
religion that 10 claimed TO DO Of divine
origin. Aud with the clogs Of superstitisn
removed from mems minds. and the spirit
OF investigation fairly awakened. what the
result in the near future may be 10 some
OF the religions long cherished by our
people is beyond the ken OF all not
gifted by the spirit Of prophecy. That
their form Of religion may be spared to
them 10 the wish OF all who worship ct
any shrine.