Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-08
For the Democrat.
THE TEN GREAT RELIGIONS
No. ".

Egypt, one of the Oldest countries o
the world, now contains population o
FIVE millions: of which six hundred
thousand are Christians, and the rest
Mohammedans. Christianity was intro.
duced FIVE hundred years before the days
of the Prophet. Yet his religion, though
an imperfect system, has become the
prevailing faith of that celebrated empire.
The Egyptian monarchy is one Of the
most ancient known to history. 1t was
instituted by Menes, according to the
chronology Of Marietta, five thousand
years before the Christian era. The best
authorities inform US this people origin
ated from the Aryan race, who in remote
ages resided in Central Asia, and emf
grated to Egypt, where they became re-
nowned for arts, science and learning.
Phthagorous, Plato, Scion, Lycurgus and
others, travelled into Egypt to complete
their studies. Many of the inventions
hitherto considered recent, were we'll
known, and used more than four thous-
and years ago. The great pyra nids, the
numerous obelisks, $50 feet high, made
of single stones, some weighing three
hundred tons. monolithic temple. as
described by Herodotus, carved out of q
single rock weighing four or five t'1ous-
and tons and carried the whole navigable
length of the Nile, to the Delta. The
Labyrinth with its three thousand rooms.
and the renowned Sphynx, from a solid
rock Of granite, when finished l25 feet
long, 60 feet high, comprise work I'M
surpassed by any nation on the globe.
Herodotus says; No Egyptian omits
to record extraordinary events" and those
were generally inscribed on their temples
and monuments, in hieroglyphics and
carry US back much further than any
other record. A people must have ex-
listed long time anterior TO the forma-
ton Of government, and if the first
King of Egypt hourished 1904 b. c.,
within four hundred years of Adam, and
1000 before the food. we must set back
the creation, doluge and dispersion at
least 10000 years beyond the Mosaic
chronology.
From the numerous traditions among
the ancient nations, there seems but little
doubt Of a partial food which destroyed a
portion Of the human family. Whether
the Deluge was the result Of natural
causes, or the terrible exhibition Of Gods
towards sinful and disobe-
dent world. is question on which sci
entists and theologians disagree. That
Asiatic people were dispersed, at an early
period, over the countries of Europe. is
fact well established by the similarity OF
language and religious ceremonies insti-
tuted BY the former country. From the
fossil remains Of man discovered in the
eastern continent, psychologists contend
that the primitive inhabitants of Europe
were savages Of the lowest type, cocks
tant with extinct mammals which roamed
the forests of Germany and France.
myriads of years anterior to the advent
of the Caucasian race.
The ancient Egyptians were an exceed :
ingly devout people whose daily ive''
were greatly influenced by religion. In
early times they believed in one God who
had no beginning and would have no
end. He was the maker Of all things,
but was not himself made. There were
formerly many sacred books which con-
stituted the library of the priesthood
In published extracts from the Ritual,
the soul addresses tie Lord Of Truth.
and says: 81 have not afflicted any; l
have not told falsehood; l have not co,a-
mitted fraud; have not made the labor
ing man do more than his task; have
loved God, given bread to the hu ngry,
water to the thirsty, garments to the
naked, and an asylum to the abandon ed. "
These duties comprehend the esse initial
requirements of Christianity; therefore,
whoever complied with them, from mo-
tives of piety and love to man, received
the same reward as those who perform
acts of benevolence under the sanction OF
the Gospel. All the religions which ele-
vate man, original. ID from divine source.
Those leading to depravity, are the out
growth of fraud and priestcraft.
This excellent primitive doctrine be-
came corrupted by the sacerdotal class,
as they have done in all ages of the
world, and multitude',, by priestly inven-
tons, were led into itlolatry, and at last,
worshiping many gods and numerou.
animals. Osiris and Isis, supposed to
be the sun and moon, were universally
adored throughout Egypt, while other