The Washington times., 1894-07-30
RELIGIOUS INSTINCT IN NAN.
dite DiscOurse-Researches
Among the Zunis.

| fTOls FRANK hamlltOn SuSniueS LIu'
dite Discourse-Researches
| Among the Zunis.
| Prof. Frank Hamilton Gushing, OF the
Smithsonian Institution, delivered a learned
| and most interesting lecture on the subject OF
| primitive religion. from an chronological and
psychological standpoint" yesterday morn
ing to largo congregation in the People s
Church.
Prof. Cushing has made lifelong study OF
ethnology, and has lived among the Zuni In
dians in Central New Mexico for six years in
his research and study of primitive religion
among primitive tribes and races who hith-
erto have known nothing whatever OF the
Christian religion.
The announcement that Prot Cushing
would lecture in the Peoples Church had the
effect of drawing large crowd, which hiled
that hall Notwithstanding the intense heat OF
the morning.
After briefly explaining the particular phase
of the broad subject which he meant to follow
in his lecture, Prof. Cushing said:
Religion is as old as man himself. The
Oiucot VI dis anu AuStitutAOho saA W
traced back to primitive religion. The eie-
ments OF religion were already in the natural
and animal worlds before man was developed.
Religion can be shown to be inherent III ma
ture, and thus immanent to consciousness.
"The ancient religionist was not only priest,
but was also medicine man or doctor, legislator
or ruler, and by his influence was also the
artist Of the primitive peoples. By studying
things In their appearance to one another,
the rituals and ceremonies grew. Primitive
man did no acts that were not conceived or
performed In d religious spirit by him. In
observing the characteristic Of life in animals,
life is attributed by the primitive relgionists
even to inanimate objects manifesting those
characteristics"
RELIGIOUS INSTINCT IN ANIMALS.
Prof. Cushing dwelt long and explicitly
upon the topic Of the religious instinct of
animals.
"Among the Zuni Indians" he said, "the
Ashi-wa-ni, or priests, through this same sys-
TEN, supposing that their totems are related
directly TO these animal and man gods, repre-
sent them in some measure as partasing OF
their powers, and in some way by their hunts
or other ayocations or pastimes. they are
helping the gods, as the gods are helping
them"
The lecturer Illustrated what he meant by
religion in animals as well as in man, by
language studies, (which, following the same
law. are simpler of illustration he said.
.'Thus n rabbit is warned by one Of his COM
panions humping and pulling if danger is
ahead. but the rabbit that thumped and then
puffed did not do these things to warn the
others, but because OF an inherited tendency
which told powerfully for the survival OF his
species-frst to clear his feet for fleeing, then
to explode his breath for the sake of frighten-
ing and confusing the enemy before fleeing.
Adaptively these things have become the dan
ger sign, ana the double danger sign OF the
preserve. Man, however, cries out to warn
his companions, since the preservation Of his
companions tells for his own preservation.
"The priest of primitive man is 50 imbued
with the notion that he walks hand IN hand
with the gods and aids them or changes their
purposes that their effect on his character is
tremendous. 1t tided over the most difficult
places that primitive man had to pass TO Sc
cure place. and in that has done what religion
ought to do.
Religion has ever been true. yet never
finally true. is true, and ever will be true, yet
can never be finally true.
CONDITION OF PRIMITIVE MAN.
''The condition of primitive man must be
considered in considering his religion. as also
his ways of thinking in lack ofall knowledge
Thus it is seen that the teachings Of natuse
and circumstance to absolute Ignorance con-
stituted the first religion.
.'One of the earliest conceptions of religion
is the conception of the immortality OF the
soul 1t seems to me that the most potent
cause that led up to religious conception was
the question. the wonder that is manifested.
not by man alone. but also by other animals.
why things are as they are. We may define
religion in certain sense as the wonder of
religion itself. The inquiry into things we
do not comprehend. The answer Of it is re-
ligion. Science is never final. Religion is
never final.
The first OF religions is connected with
the last of religions. There is no study in
evolution quite SO interesting rs that of re-
ligion The course of religion has been an
absolutely fixed course. and must therefore
be regarded just as real and true as primi-
tive religions We're parts OF the revelations
we have to-day. The primitive religions
were all building up to the Christian re-
ligion."
Prof. Cushing said that when he first went
among the Zuni Indians he was astonished in
talking with them to find the great similarity
of their teacher to our Great Master.
Their religion is the same as ouIs.' he
said. Il hope to see the day when we can
trace all things to the heart of nature. Then
we shall know that the heart of nature is
divine"
Prof. Cushing's magnificent peroratlon was
received with a tremendous round of ap-
plause When he was permitted to speak
again he said he would be pleased to answer
any questions which any members of the
audience might choose to ask. Several
availed themselves OF the privilege and asked
for fuller explanation on some poiats they did
L.