The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-01-15

the hard Journalism OF the OLD roman mytnol
ogy. For many generations the cults OF East
ern origin, the worship of Isis, OF the Grea
Mother and OF Mithra had satisfied devotiona
feelings which could find little nourishment 1t
the cold distractions OF the old Roman religion
or the brilliant anthropomorphism OF Greece
The inscriptions OF the fourth century revea
the enduring power OF those Syrian or Egyptian
worships. They encouraged an ecstatic devo-
tion and gave relief to remorse for sin. They
had their mystic brotherhoods and guilds. with
an initintory baptlsmal rite. They had their
rules and periods OF fasting and abstinence
from all the pleasures OF sense. They had a
priesthood set apart from the world. with the
tonsure and n peculiar vestment. In the initia-
lions into their mysteries q profound impress
sion was made on the imagination and feelings
OF tho novice. The baptism OF blood whereof
many n stone record remains was the crown
ing rite OF the later paganlsm. relieving the
guilty conscience and regarded rs n new birth.
1t can hardly be doubted that. while these
cults may not have supplied the moral
tone and discipline which was the great
want in all heather systems. they slim
nlated n devotional feeling which had been
unknown to the native religions OF Greece and
Rome. There was, moreover. in this later pagan
movement a decided tendency to monotheistic
faith. Pretextatus was the most conspicuous
person in the last generation that openly wor-
shipped Isis, Mithra. Hecate and the Magma
Mater. Yet, In the Sdt,rndlid Of Macrobius, no
is put forward to explain that, under the many
names OF the Pantheon. 1t is the attributes OF
one Great Power which are really adored. The
inner monotheism OF tho loftier minds in
paganism was the fruit OF a millennium OF the
freest and most disinterested philosophic
movement in history. More than five centuries
before Christ Greek speculation had lifted
mems minds to the conception Of n mysterious
unity behind the phantasmagoria OF sense.
In the fifth century after Christ Macro-
bus. at once pagan and Neoplatonist.
held fast to the doctrine OF the Infinite
One. from whom. by q chain OF successive
emanations. the universe proceeds. If this
lofty conception OF the divine nature often
lent itself to the support Of systems which
seemed to degrade and fritter away the central
idea Of pure religion, the philosophic supporter
of paganism was ready with an explanation,
He would have said that the Infinite can neither
be known nor expressed by finite powers,
the human spirit. In It's helplessness.
can only find utterance for its yearnings. in
symbolism OF word or act. Yet, he would con-
tinue, II we purge mythology OF the gross
fancies OF rude ages. the myths may be used
as a consecrated language of devotion. They
are only faint shadows Of the great reality
from which we are separated by an impas-
sable gulf; yet they represent the collective
and feeling Of the past about God.
They are only symbols. but a religious symbol
is doubly sacred when it has ministered to the
OF many generations. In some such
way the philosopher reconciled himself to the
ancient worship.
Although philosophy and the mysticism Of the
East had given new life to the religion Of Rome.
the old patriotic feeling was. perhaps. the most
powerfulsupport OF paGanism in its conflict with
the Church. Men like Symmachus. Flavianus
and Volusianus were often skeptics at heart.
They may have believed vaguely In some divine
power and have been ready to admit that he
might be approached by many ways: but their
real devotion was to Roma Dea. the idealized
genius Of the Latin race. with its twelve
centuries Of victorious warfare and its
skilful. worldwide organization. In every
step of the marvellous career Of the
city. her ancient gods had been
her partners. The forms Of the ancestral re-
ligion were inextricably intertwined with the
whole fabric OF the State. Embedded in law.
literature and the deepest instincts
Of the people. her ancient worship seemed in
from the very identity OF Rome. The
true Roman. even though his religious faith
might not be very deep or warm. inherited the \
ancient belief of his race. that the gods OF
his city were sharers in all It's fortunes. Apos-
tasy from them was identified with a languid
patriotism. and was regarded as the cause OF
public calamities. The complete and literal
Of the Christian faith seemed to
him a refusal to perform the duties OF citizen
Or soldier. a scornful abandonment Of the old
Of culture. and even a loss OF faith
IN the mission Of Rome.
The author of this book is not one OF those
writer's who impute the downfall Of the Roman
Empire in the West to an almost universal
prevalence OF vice in the population. He points
out that the judgments OF satirists and profess |
;ional moralists on the morality Of a given age
always be accepted with caution. and that
he picture Of the Roman aristocrat at the be-
ginning OF our period given by Ammianus Mar
though certainly not a pleasant one. is
BY no means so dark as are the pictures Of
life in the days OF Lucullus or in
he days OF Nero. As for the criticisms of st
Ierome. we must remember that his ideal of
'irtue. and especially OF sexual virtue. was
II the extreme ascetic type. 1t Is notice.
Ible. however. that his heaviest censure
alls on those who. at least in NAME. had
separated themselves from the world, namely,
he monks and the secular clergy of Rome.
The letters OF Symmachus indicate that the
conceptions OF woman's position and character
lad undergone a profound change. which gave
Use to misunderstanding on the part of satir-
That her status had really risen. both in
aw and fact. is unquestionable. There can be
10 doubt that the Roman lady of the better
without becoming less virtuous and re-
had become far more accomplished
nd attractive. With fewer restraints. she
lad greater charm and influence. She had
,ecome. moro and moro. the equal and
OF her husband. and her In
luence on public affairs had become
more decisive. Even in the last days
I the empire In the West there was no
eterioration In the position and influence
I women. In Christian families they
cultivated sacred learning. and took the
cad in works Of charity and mercy. Furlola
ounded a hospital: Laeta. the widow Of
fed the starving p~opulace of the
apital during its siege by the forces OF Alaric;
,yrena. the wife OF Stilicho. was all accom-
lished scholar. and was regarded. both by
rlends and enemies. as a serious force in
.olitics; Placidia. the mother OF the younger
'heodosius. after all her vicissitudes as the
rife OF a Gothic chief. probably welded greater
influence In her sons counsels than any states
nan OF the time. On the pagan side. Prntex-