The DeSmet leader. (DeSmet, Kingsbury Co., Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1890-06-28
SERPENT WORSHIP.
Tho Reptile That Was Once Prom
Inent In Religious Faiths.

Tho Reptile That Was Once Prom
inent IN Religious Faiths.
Century Magazine:--"That such q
work, so carefully designed, and con-
structed under such difficulties along
narrow riytgv t--.ho serpent mound fn
Ohio'0 terminating in the high rough
cliff was planned and built under
some powerful influence, we can but
believe. And what other but relig-
ious motive can be conceived? Have
we not here the evidence OF the former
existence OF that ancient faith, which,
rising probably in the East, ages be-
fore historic time, held millions OF
people under it's terrible sway; and,
spreading over Asia, Africa and Eu-
rope has not yet been wholly sup.
planted in India and Africa by later
faiths?
"That the serpent was prominent in
the religious faiths OF the Americans
is beyond question, and that to cer.. .
tain extent, in combination with phal-
lie and solar worship. it extended
from Central America to Peru and
Mexico, cannot be doubted, whatever
it's origin. Its existence IN Yucatan
is shown, as in Cambodia, By sculp-
lures IN the ruined buildings which
can only be properly designated az
temples. We know from history and
art that this form OF worship existed
in Mexico down TO the time oil the
Spanish invasion and conquest, and
that il still survives in the rites of the
Zunis and Moquis, and probably 9TH
or OF the Pueblo tribes.
"To this Southwestern region, with
it's many Asiatic features OF art and
faltn, we are constantly forced by our
investigations as we look for The
source OF the builders OF the older
works OF the Ohio valley. With these
considerations In mind, and with the
knowledge that structures similar TO
this in Ohio existed in the old world,
where the serpent and other early
faiths had their greatest develop
ment, will il be forcing the facts TO
argus--unlsss all religious symbolism
is merely coincident, vague and mean.
inpless, which seems an absurd posi-
tion to hold-that In the oval em-
bankment, with it's central pile OF
burnt stones, in combination with
the serpent, we have the three
simbols everywhere regarded In the
Old World as emblems OF thoso
primative faiths2 Here we lind the
ijnga-in.yoni OF India or the re-
ciprocal principles OF nature guarded
by the serpent, or life, power, knowk.
edge and eternity. Moreover, Its po.
sition, east and west, indicates the
nourishing source oil fertility-tne'
great sun god whose rays fall upon
the altar OF stones in the center OF
the eval. So that here we have assO-
ciated the several symbols which IN
Asia would be accepted without ques-
tion as showing the place to be . phal-
10 solar shrine combined with the SER
pent faith. It's position on the nigh
cliff terminating i'm the rough, over
hanging rocks, washed by the spring
torrents, and near three forks OF the
river, is to be considered when com.
parisons are made. This combina-
UlOu VI uhJuLuA kpUtukS0 bASb#gsJ
could not be found again in any part
OF the great route along which the peo-
pie must have journeyed from the
Mexican gulf. Is this ell to be taken
as mere coincidence In the develop
ment OF a faith i'm America
aud in the old world? There seems
to be too much here to admit
OF such u theory; and whsn other
facts. in other lines, piont In the Same
direction, 1t 10 playing false with our
reason to be scepticsl. Agreements,
nav, identities. would then MEAN
nothing In science, and compara I've
studies would be useless. FergusBOn,
in his Tree and Serpent Worship,
mentions the existence of serpent wo--
ship on some OF the Pacific islands,
and refers To its possible transmission
across the Pacific to America, and
says IL it is proved that this worship
is Indigenous in the new world. we are
thrown back on the doctrine that
human nature is alike everywhere,
and that man in like circumstances
with q like degree OF civilization does
always the same things and elabor-
ates the same beliefs. IL may be 90,
but confess it appears TO me that at
present the evidence preponderAtes
the other way, Up. 39). Whenl this
careful author thus expressed his
views he was not acquainted with the