Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-05-09

mortal the savages had believed was sent di-
rect from Heaven by some divine but IN
known power. The noted Bishop lunar
raga had this crucitix removed to the Capt.
tai and placed in sumptuous chapel ex-
pressly prepared for it, adjoining the great
cathedral. Information concerning its dis
covery. together with a small cross c1t
from it, was sent to Rome, where Panl v.
received it upon his knees, while retinue
of priests chanted Verala Regis PfOdeu1lt,
and the people fell upon their faces in ado
ration.
Historians tell us that the inky-haired
and adder-annointe priests of Montezu-
mas time-those frighful creatures who
dug out the living hearts Of human
victims in sacrifice to their hldeous
gods of the TeocaW-wores scarlet
robes. sown all over with black crosses.
Therefore Couez-being in a measure ex-
pected from the remembered prophesy OF
the Sage of Yucatan-found yielding and
congenial soil in which 10 plant his . Vera
Cruz" but-as in the Pagan East, where
statues of neurological diyinities fire.
quently did no more than change their
names from heather gods to Christian
SdlllS-SO ItIC illlt-=C- bASi4A T. Nt.D -StNAh'
continued. In order TO impress the untu-
tored mind of Lo, the poor Indian, it IS
necessary that the mysteries OF Christianity
be visibly portrayed bat il is greatly to be
feared that his thoughts ascend no higher
than the rude image which a rude hand
has carved. Though his mind is supposed
to be directed from the representation to
the true God who inhabits eternity-the
wooded saints and virgins are to him pre-
ciselv what the monstrous shapes repre-
senting unseen powers of earth and air
were to his ancestors He kneels before a
figure of the suffering Christ, horrible with
streaming blood, scourged back and LAGER
ated brow-and beats his breast with blows
of contrition, believing that such being
died for him-eXactly as his fathers be-
lieved that Quetzalcoatl, god OF the air, or
the
GREAT WAR-GOD, HUITZILOPOTCHTLI,
Was their only hope of immortality. He
has also been taught that the gracious Vir-
gin intercedes for him, and he prostrateS
himself and kisses the ground before her
image. But in his imagination there are
several Virgins, Of various gifts-au some
how the Mother of God"-possessing diff
ferent degrees of miraculous power and
grades of glory-the latter attribute gagged
by the number and value OF gems with
which she is decked. He believes that one
Virgin will bring rain when there is
drought, than another can stay floods in
: seasons of inundatiOn, and that a third will
come to the rescue if supplicated in times
of trouble. So bitter has been the rivalry
between these several =" Mothers OF Cod
or rather between their respective worship
| ers-that armies have fought for them, and
! the conquered Virgin has been rolled in the
l., nv 4 Of l,n
opposition, while her other self under an
other name had the wealth Of kings Law
! ished upon her
Among the lower classes OF Mexico the
| religion of to-day is emphatically the wor-
! ship of her who predicted " From hence
forth all nations shall call me blessed -
Before her innumerabe shrineS thousands
are kneeIing at all hours OF every day
| Their darkened warnings, born of the pa
! thetic heritage of lifelong hunger, toll and
| priyation, find vent in words OF passionate
alteration as they address the Mother of
| Sorrows and kiss the floor before her. OF
| the invisible and unimaged Father they
| dare not even think and towards the Son
| their feelings are rather of respectful pity
| but to the blessed Maria Purissima they
| give all love and confidence, and look up
to her as 10
KIND AND BENEFICEST QUEEN,
! Whom her magnificent robes and ieweled
diadems, yet mourning in all the agony OF
a divine sorrow mingled with human
grief-admits the poorest beggar TO partici-
pate in her woes; while in her turn she
shares the Affections of the lowly, feels for
| their privations and grants her all-powerful
! intercession. Who would deprive the poor
| Indian of his only solace, though in truth
the Spanish crusaders but substituted one
! class of idols for another? We of Protest
ant faith call this but a short remove from
| paganism- but we must remember that
our colder creeds could not make much
| impression on these simple folk, to whose
Uneducated minds the forms and cere-
! monies, music glitter and superstition are
! essential adjuncts to religion.
| The real God, which all men worship, is
within-and if the ideal be potent enough
| to keep heart and hands comparatively
| clean, or to assuage in any measure the
sorrows and tragedies of this world of
graves, perhaps it answers the purpose.
The followers of Nishnu and Buddah, Con-
fucius and Mohammed-strongin their own
faith as we in Ours-regard us with con-
temptuous pity, as benighted heathens.
| Who shall say that the fearful sacrifice of
the Hindoo mother, as she throws her
baby in the Ganges, or the sufferings Of the
pious pilgrim, with peas in his shoes and
| a hOrse-hair shirt, may not avail at the last
| great day as well as our own claims TO
! heavens consideration?
FANNIE B. WARD.