Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1883-05-08

city OF Peluclum In Egypt, Piaceo
front Of his army great number of cats
dogs and other sacred animals, which 81
Mortified the Egyptians to see their favor
lite gods exposed to destruction, they sur
rendered the city to the conqueror withou
flinging a dart or shooting an arrow
The Apis or calf was the most famous o.
all the deified animals. In the reign Of
Ptolmy Lagus the bull Apis dying of old
age, there was general mourning through
out Egypt. His obsequies were cele-
brated with the greatest pomp, the ex-
pense thereof being more than fifty
thousand crowns. Historians inform us
that the bull Apis had peculiar marks,
by which the priests, on the death OF
one could select another.
The God Osiris, the creative power,
Typhon the destructive property in ma
ture, Horus the mediator between de-
struction and creation, form triad cor
corresponding to the Hindoo triad, Brah.
ma, Vishnu and silva, also to the Per-
sian triad, Ormand, Ahriman. and
Mythra; hence it is inferred by many
that Pagan theology has laid the founda-
ton for the christian telief in trinity.
The Egyptians recognized the existence
of the spiri, after death, future state OF
rewards and punishments, in which the
good dwelt with the Gods, and the wick
ed were consigned to agonizing tor
ments surrounded by gloom and per-
petual darkness. The doctrine of q
transmigration OF souls, according to
Herodo,us, taught that the human soul
must pass through all animals, fishes,
birds, insects,-in short must complete
the whole circuit Of animated existence
before it again enters the body Of man,
requiring journey Of three thousand
years.
This doctrine was carried out Of Egypt
into Greece by Pythagoras, Grecian
philosopher, 500 B. C. HerodOtus, the
father of history, who fourished four
hundred and fifty years before our era,
says: "most Of the names OF the Greek
gods came from Egypt, except some
who came from the Pelasgians." He
also informs us that the Greeks received
their modes of worship, consisting OF
professions, festivals and solemn prayers,
from the same source. The Grecian re-
ligion differs from many others, as 1t had
no great founder, priestly order or sacred
books. The principal god. Deus or Ju-
piter, was regarded the thunderer, who
Yields the lightning and directs the
storm. Many feasts are celebrated In
Greece, in honor Of the different gods.
The most remarkable festival was held
in honor of Bacchus, the god of wine.
Rollins, in his ancient history, informs
US that all who were engaged in the
Bacchanalian orgies had drums, horns,
pipes and other rude instruments to make
q great noise. Some were mounted on
asses, others dragged goats along fol
sacrifice. Men and women, ridiculously
dressed, appeared in public, night and
day, initiating drunkenness, dancing with
the most indecent gestures, screaming
and bowling furiously, revealing in de-
bauchery and the most Abandoned licen-
tiousnes of which we can conceive.
In Rome, nothing important was un-
dertaken, either public or private, with
out consulting the gods through the
means of augury. The augurs made
known the will of the gods BY inspecting
the entrails of animals, the singing and
fight Of birds, the manner in which
fowls pecked their food. with many other
signs construed as good or evil omens.
Invading armies. even where the fate oil
an empire depended upon the result
would never engage in battle. unless
under the auspices of favorable omen
The gods of Greece were consulted BY
the oracles, which were numerous. The
oracle of Apollo at Delphi was the mos'
famous, standing near the mountain o
Parnassus. "Th,sre was cavity from
which issued an exiHiliration that made
the goats dance. skip about, and intoxl
Gated the BRAIN" A magnificent temple
was erected over the spot, priestes
appointed who sat on a tripod placed
over the ori6ce, and pretended to- foretel
what the gods had decreed. Oracle
were generally given in obscure, amhig
uous language, and were construed u
| deceive the credulous, but to show tn
gods were never wrong.
The religion and cruel customs OF tn