The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1909-01-21

Paper Read Before the ChdatauQId Circle.
CONSIDERABLE research and
I much meditation coupled
4 with infinite worry has con-
vinced the writer that his
chosen subject is very elusive one;
consequently very difficult one to SO
model that it teases the eyes and
pleases the ears. You all have my as
surance that the privilege of an occa-
sional sigh shall not be withheld, nor
will l be at all discounted should
few decide upon a quiet, harmless nap.
In preparing this paper 1 have with
difficulty restrained myself from laps
ing into Sunderland, and were it not
for the supreme sense of duty, which
at all times actuates me, am not sue
but what l would prefer that we all
enjoy a quiet sleep for the next fifteen
or twenty minutes. Possibly at some
time it will be different. Sometime
when this awful devotion to duty has
deserted me, when the last sun has set;
sometime when human hearts beat no
more in the breasts of men; when hu-
man hopes are transformed into grim
clouds that envelop worlds and stretch
away endlessly-forever; then perhaps
we can all recline on the inviting
phantom of Brother Aviso and sink
into dreams far sweeter than any
which ever succeeded hearty mid
night lunch.
This paper treats of a strange people
who lived a strange life beneath far
off sky in years that have long bee n
buried under drifting centuries. More
particularly l speak to you today of
Egyptian beliefs, of the customs and
habits, the liberties and restrictions
which sprung from and became part
of those teliefs.
Perhaps the most notable feature OF
the compound of myth and religion
which thoroughly pervaded the atmos-
phere of old Egypt was the wide con-
trast between the extremes of its ap-
.plication and acceptance. In the pure
light of the ideal which it furnished
great minds were sanctitied by the no.
bic impulses and lofty aims which it
INSPIRED. LII the 81 a lows OF its per-
verted truths reveled vice and stupid
ity, ignorance and shame. 70 few
were given the blessing of faith in its
high wisdom, and upun millions were
heaped the curses of sordid passions
and blind prejudices which sprung
from its darkened teachings. 1t is
with the latter that deal today.
The Egyptian masses believed in
many gods. They were almost fanati-
cal in the worship of those gods. To
name the individual members of their
family of divinities would he to intro
duce confusion and Danish all hope of
entertainment. Yet it may te proper
to mention two of the third-rate deities
before whom the gre eat masses of Egypt
knell in abject veneration, Osiris the
man and his spouse. Around these
two was woven myth full of pathos
and glOry-sadly sWeet-over which
Plutarch fingered in later years and
which he could n 1t leave without en-
bellishing.
Due reverence was early instilled in
the little Egyptian child for the great,
kind god Osiris, and for Isis he was
early taught to cherish love that
deepened to absolute devotion as the
years advanced.
Civilization and refinement, with
their poetry, their music AMI arts.
were the attributes of Osiris; an all.
abundant nourishment and succor were
embodied in Isis. Together they were
the hope and the fear of the great
body of those superstitious ancients.
OF course there were many other
lesser deities occupying conspicuous
places in Egyptian religion, but l
merely mention their existence.
To the priestly caste and their iik
was specially reserved the worship of
a higher order of gods whom l shall
not mention. The Egyptian priest
hood comprized an exalted caste. Its
members were exempted from all the
grosser burdens of social and political
existence, yet they benefited of all
the privileges of wide dominion. In