Elmore bulletin. [volume] (Rocky Bar, Idaho) 1889-1906, 1890-11-29
MIGRATION OF SYMBOLS.
In Nations widely Separated the Same
symbolic Features Are Found.

=
In Nation. widely Separated the Same
symbolic Features Are Found.
The following interesting article has
been contributed 10 the Revue des
Mondes, Paris, by Count Goblet d'Al-
viella:
We are living in the midst OF symbols,
from the flag which floats over our
buildings to the bank bill in our pocket
book. Symbolism minglcs with all our
intellectual and social life, from the
hand-shaking which we distribute in
the morning TO the applause with which
we crafty the actor in the evening. II
Is in symbols that we speak and write,
and even think. II we can believe the
philosophical systems which are found
ed on our assured powerlessness to per-
ceive the reality OF things.
symbols. various as they are, can all .
be divided into two classes, one COM
prising acts or rites, the other, objects I
or emblems. II is the latter class only
OF which ! am going TO speak. The
study OF comparative symbolism fell
I into discredit toward the second part OF
/ this century. Hut in the last thirty
five years. thanks To the immense ae-
cumulation of materials, the study has
acquired the Importance 1t deserves
There Is no reason why in the study of
symbols we should not arrive at re-
suits as positive as have been reached
In the study of myths Perhaps. after
many and patient researches, IL may be
possible TO esta blish laws Of symbolism
such as have been established in near
ly all the branches OF knowl-
edge. In religion, in literature,
In art symbolism Is n necessity
OF the human mind. which, fortunately
for its aesthetic development has never
been able TO content itself with pure
distractions. Under the material and
sometimes incoherent forms by which
past generations have expressed their
aspirations and their creeds we per-
ceiye q human heart beating, a heart
which appsals TO other hearts, a mind
which seeks to embrace the invinite in
the finite.
II Is not rare to find the same sym
bolic figures among nations widely sep
arated. Whether these images are the
product of independent conceptions or
have been borrowed from one country
portance to be decided only after care.
tuA ftutCbiuH.
When the Spaniards entered Central
America they found true crosses in the
temples OF the natives, who regarded
them as the symbol sometimes of Tia.
loc, n divinity at once terrible and ben
eficent; sometimes OF Quetzacoatl, q
white and bearded civilizing hero The
Spaniards concluded the cross had beer
brought to the Toltecs by Christian
missionaries of whom all trace had beer
: lost and they bestowed the honor o
bringing 1t on ST. Thomas, Legendary
apostle OF the Indies. Now. 1t Is un
contested that the pre-ColumbeaI
American cross was meant as a symbo
I of the winds, that 1t represented tn,
: four principal directions from whicl
the rain comes, and thus became th'
symbol OF the god Tlalco, the dispenser
3 OF the heavenly waters, and by the ex
= tension OF the mythical personag'
: Quetzacoatl.
: Symbols may differ In appearance,
3 and yet be affiliated more or less direct
!, ly. When the symbol is composed o.
several figures united, IL may keep IL
physiognomy as q whole, while seyera
: OF its constituent elements may b,
n traditions or geographical peculiarities
/ In symbols the form is not every thing
! 1t Is the intention which makes tn
symbol. From this point OF view mus
be regarded a symbol which passes, no
from one country to another, but on tn
same soil from one religion to anothe
., which succeedsit Such adaptations hav
been especially frequent in Buddhism
+ which has never hesitated TO accept th
Is symbols or rites OF anterior or neigh
n boring religions,
% One can conceive . religious stat
;, where all forms OF worship and do,
trines will become purely symbolica
l. Nothing will prevent their preservin
Q the rites and traditions they have IL
Id herited; only these will be considere
}. as the symbols of truths common TO a
.s religions. Such . course, which woul
10 imply that every religion has Its shar
r. of truth, but not one possesses IL nj
10 would seem very unlikely in our tint
;" Nevertheless. we sometimes see tn
a. chiefs OF the various religions and sect
1. "a thing unheard OF in former ages
D. cooperate on a footing OF equality
I works of philanthropy or social peac'
as IL they recognized that charity an
,r Justice offer ground for religious a
is tivity common 10 all. Moreover, III
3. Attribution OF value relative--or syn
a. bolic, which Is the same thing--to a
st forms OF worship without distinction.
a, the basis OF the relations betwee
I; church and state in all the oountri,
Ia governed by modern law.