The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1895-12-12


ancient Aryan name for the moon was
Jana (Juno), the masculine of which
was Janus, and the latter was applied to
the sun. (See Classical Mythology, page
462.)
Theologians in Jonah's day differed
just as they do now. Sometimes they
taught that the moon was masculine,
the sun feminine, as did some Of the
Egyptians, but more often the former
was feminine. Still, after a somewhat
careful search through more than hund.
red languages and dialects for the
words for sun and moon, we find that
they are almost invariably from one
root, which may explain theological diff.
ferences, or why the name OF the Latin
moon goddess Juno, was transferred to
the Hebrew Jonah.
But, again we recall the formula, Eek.
cept man be born Of water, etc." in
connection with the water.born moon,
and it helps us to understand why "the
Buddhist priest of Asia still dips the new
born child three times in water and i'm.
poses on it name" 1t explains why
the Brahman priests, who are OF differ
ent religion, plunge the candidate for
baptism three times into the sacred
Ganges and repeat the formula: 20 Su-
preme Lord, this man is impure, like the
mud Of this stream, but at water cleanses
him from this dirt, do thou free him from
sim" 1t explains why the priests of the
Sarac tribe of Africa wash the infant
three days after birth, a custom still
practiced in parts of China and among
the Cherokee Indians. (See Prim Cult.
Origin of Primitive Superstition, &C.,
Finally this moon or wind and water
religion explains why american priests
were found in Mexico, beyond Darien,
baptising boys and girls year old in
the temples at the cross" (See Monu.
mental Christianity,ip. 3S9). 1t texplains
why Roman priests, who practice triple
baptism, in blessing the baptismal font,
breathe three times upon the water and
why they always do it cross-wise. (See
All Religions, p. 3lI.
1t explains why the midnight mystic
of old chose to conjure the fates by
mumbling triple. repetitions and per.
forming triple circles around crossroads.
1t shows why, in Greece and Rome, the
cross roads were under the special pro.
lection OF the Moon goddesses, Hecate
and Juno, whose statues were often
carved with triple heads and set up near
these roads, just as the wooden cross
used to be set up at the cross roads in
northern Europe. 1t explains the for
mu]a OF an old invocation to the moon,
quoted by Moncure D. Conway, "Come,
Internal, terrestrial and celestial Bombo
Goddess of highways and cross roads,
thou who Dearest the light, who travel.
est the night, &C." (See Devil Lore, Vol.
ii, p. 325.) Let us be thankful that
Bombo is no longer evoked aroun4 the
cross roads of the Ecirpite village. We
have avoided reference to sun, serpent
tree, devil worship, etc., simply because
the subject before is of itself inexhaust.
ible, but we must leave it here with a
thousand unused notes yet we shall not
forget that it was the renewal of the
triple faced moon, after it's three days
immersion in the great ocean of space,
which gave the pagans of antiquity the
idea of initiating its renewal by triple
forms of baptism and other rites. Nor
shall we forget, that while the blending
of moon worship with that of the wind
giants furnishes key to the Pagan's sac.
red seven, this number was rendered
more sacred by the seven glorious stars
that circle forever with the Great Bear
around the north pole, the clock of eter.
nifty. Nor again, that it was rendered
doubly sacred when it was found that a
month or moon could be approximately
divided into four periods, or weeks of
seven days each, by beginning the count
on moon.day, or the first day of the
week, as we do. But what of this There
are people still living near the Ecirpite
village who wish and plant and meet by
the moon. The reason the Ecirpites re.
jected the old Redskins quadruple mode
of baptism is because those modes are
born of water, lunar and solar worship,
while the Ecirpite system is thought to
be from heaven (?)
Here then we close with drink to the
Ecirpites may their tribe increase in all
the nobler pleasures earth can afford,
and may their knowledge 60 widen that
ere they 'join that innumerable caravan
which moves to the pale realms of
shade," they shall have reached that
higher culture, where faith in renew.
ed existence beyond this pain prisoned,
erring, reckless life, is swallowed up by
demonstrable facts AEsoP