The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-01-13
IsRAELIrE AND RED MAN.
An Interesting Paper Prepared for n
Smithsonian Iuxtitution.

An Interesting Paper Prepared for the
Smithsonian Institution.
Washington Correspondence New York Tribune
Colonel G&rrick MaIlery, of the Smith
sonian Institution. who is recognized as
the authority on Indian traditions religions
and languages has just completed con-
tribution to science that is likely to cause
considerable stir in theological circles Il
is entitled ''Israelite and Indian; Parallel
in Planes OF Culture" and was written for
the American Association for the Advance
ment OF Science, of which he is the vice
president and chief OF the anthropological
section.
In this report Colonel Mallery completely
demolishes popular theory that all the
savage tribes OF america before their con-
tact with civilization had formulated and
established religious faith, believed in a
single supreme being, future life, and a
system of rewards and punishments after
death. This theory, which has been ac-
cepted and disseminated by religious mis-
sionarieS OF all denominations among the
Indians, has been the chief link to connect
them with the prehistoric races Of the Mo-
sale era and, az the same time, has been
used to demonstrate that man as a creature,
vineIy inspired with a revelation or an in
stinct that recogizes the one supreme be-
ing. the Immortality OF the soul. and hope
of happiness or fear ef misery after death,
according as the worldly life was spent
Colonel Mailery reports that after years
Of investigation into the traditions OF the
North American tribes, representing fifty
eight linguistic stocks and more than 300
a l.
clusion thai the aborigines had no such i'm
stinct and no such religious belief until af-
Ter contact with European civilization. when
they gathered it from the missionaries
These missionaries, BE says. were imbued
with the dogma. and sought to and therefore
found evidence OF one primevai faith, but
we're misled by their own enthusiasm. He
continues:
After careful examination. with the as
sistance OF explorers and Iingaists. reas-
Sert my statement that no tribe or body OF
Indians. before missionary influence. enter
tanned any formulated or distinct belief I'm
s single overriding great spirit. or any
being that earresponslei TO the Christian
conception Of God. But freely admit.
with even greater emphasis. the North
American Indians are the same IS those
recorded OF the ancient IsFaelites"
he tells, too, OF the experience 81 W. w.
Warren. who translated Bibie history for
the onbwsy nation, ana vas invariably
MAJ With the remark from the native
priests; This hook must be true. for our
ancestors have told ns similar stories gen
GRAFTON after generation since the world
was new" and only last year. when
a weliinformed chief of the Musko-
ks was being questioned az 70 the
religious myths and legends Of hts tribe. he
replied They are a. in the Old Festameat
We car read them there without the trouble
Of takins them 6oRn from our peopss
tsolones Maliery also argues that II il use-
less 70 asteTnps 50 ChgistIaniEe the Indians
until after they have heen civilized.