The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1883-09-11
Qieen. Ranavaiona. )

g. The London Misstonary S0ciety has
received telegramannouncing thstlthes
Qieensof Madagascar died onJuly l3,, 4
,Qieen ,Ranavalnna's reign, began in
1858 1t marked new era In Maiagasy
history. A series Of important reforms
we're at once set on foot. The corrupt
and vexstious system Of fegat procedure
was exchanged for trial by jury. Na-,
tiopal education was so vigorously pro-
NOTED that the native schools 10 the
provinces OF Inerina ana B3tsile ,iaIone
now member altotal, aaccording t0isvfr1e
authorities, ofl1a9.001 pupils ALL per i
sous engaged in eiucatiosala work we're
declared exempt from the compulsory
government service, which 10 the native
substitute for taxation The cruel prac.1
tees Of native superstition weregus spar-,
ingly swept aways AMI " 1877 all the
slaves, from the Mozlmbiqqp eoss. wh ,
still remained in the couitry we're freed
at one blow Tie spread OF Chrisiaditv
was encouraged and she domssticcondi-
rtion OF the penp' g smsliorste1 incevery
way. Under Queen Ranayalona sway
idolatry was forever extirpated.
E,rty in her reign the Green ernbraced
Christianity and built royal chapel
Mean while the woo len fence around the. |.
temple aof the great national idol had
been pullei, down, and tue priests as.
sumed threatening aspect, even hitting
that their g,d had medicine whici wiald
avenge him on the hereto sovereign
o. the S8sh of. Septensers iS70.r they
came in force 70 ,Lhe capital TO !claip
their rights, as, mobiles. A council was
called, and it vas decided to send the
Chief Secretary Of State aud other high
Off :ials to the sacred,village, ,seS Seaemises'
from the cspitaLand barn the ile before
the keeper, returnai, They, set of thu
same, afternoon and, BY 40 authority
from the Prime Minister ,se 'zed tae idols
house. Tue Swoodi of tho siallea fence
was collected and fire was made and
the conteuts OF the temple we're brought
out to be burned. First the long cane
carried before the idol in, procession was
thrown in, then tselvJ bdllocSs' horns
from which incense or,holy water ha l
heen sprinkIed; then three scarlet um
hrellas aRd the silk robe worn over the
idol hy the keeper WAC carried it. Thsn
came the IDOLS case -'he trunk OF a
small tree followed AL fitted with q
cover, aud, last OF all, tha ti)l itself.
Hardly any Of the present generation
had seen the god. and great was the sur
prise when he was produced. Two pieces
Of scarlet silk about thee feet long and
three inches wide, with email piece oi
wood about as big as q mans thumb ln-
serted in the mil lie between th.m, 9 ,
that the silk, form ID as il were, two
wings. was the great goi OF Ma iagasc lr,
whose touch WIS sanc.itving and whose
nearness was .prsserva.iya. " ~ can
not burn him. he is q god, said the peo-
ple "ff he b. a yotl he will-n,t burn,s
said the officers ;'ewe arelgoing lto'try,fi
and aheld itaonls s.iokato thes6re, that the
people might see it as it was consumed
The victory was complete. Naxt dav
four other idols shared the same fate and
the rest followef.i One was little bag
of sand,e another eousisted sotathree
round, pieces of wood united. by A. silver
chain. The people ,lopked, on IN won
der. and wheL the process was over, see
ing that they had no gotst to Worship.
they sent to- the q ieen TO ask what they
were to worship toe the tuture.t Il Was
found that Of $50 towns and villages in
Imerina l20 already had Christian
churches, and teachers wers at once
found for ALI ths rest. o.. sJs5 W Va