El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1919-08-09

livery rational human being rear
J. ICES the existence Of a force su-
perior to him. Reason has never fully
Convinced any man that things are
controlled absolutely By inflexible
natural law nor has revelation com
pletely satisfied anyone that it holds
the light, declares the truth and
shows the way. Although from the
very nature OF things an inferior can
not comprehend q superior. everyone
essays understanding controlling
forces. Men are following knowledge
continuously. like a sinking star, be-
yond the utmost bounds OF human
thought until they are hopelessly lost
in darkness
Superstition Is that feeling a senti-
ent being has towards the stronger
force that stands over against him
Common usage has restricted the
meaning OF the term superstitutiOn
until now Il includes all regard, ex-
cept true religion, which one has for
a higher power. Since no two men
on earth have exactly the same re-
ligion. every other mans religion is
Grass superstition
Superstition is concern for what is
considered mysterious, usually found
ed on irrational fear or Credultys e1-
cessive religious scruples produced BY
credulOus fears superstition Is an
unreasoniuE fear OF the unknown II
dishonors Cod in that It attempts to
set up another power above OF AT
least. coextsteut with Him II Nio-
lates the first commandment given 10
Moses on Mount Sinai Yet IN the
heart OF every man there is more or
less OF a vague. indefinite feeling that
he Is IN the midst OF forces tnar az
tempt constantly to thWart his Will
Besides. he loves the weird; the mys-
ferrous fascinates him
While superstition originated IN
darkness and has its greatest power
over the ignorant, yet no degree Of
civilization has yet been attained
where men are free from its damag-
ing effects. With increasing intelll-
gence, they no longer bow down 10
wood and stone, yet they worship
mental creations OF their own
Superstition has brought untold
evil 70 every tribe and race and na-
ton IN all generations. It cast Dan
Eel IN the lions den and crucified
Christ on Calvary It rotted early
Christians IN Mammertime prisons
and sent martyrs to the rack IN the
dark ages Il made the ancient lncas
offer human sacrifices to the sun and
makes modern mothers feed their
babies TO hungry crocodiles along the
Ganges and the Nile
All Believe In Ghosts.
Some Que has said that the proper
superstitions do actually reveal MS
character more surely than anything
else And one ginds superstitlons
everywhere. in the palace and the nut,
in temple, market place and FORUM
and In every cline. and age and race
and nation The pretended interpre
tation Of tho win OF superior powers
20 men has been an immensely profit
able occupation IN all ages For many
centuries II was exceedingly tnfluen-
aa-H NJ = Ira
even vet clairvoyants. soothsayers,
palmists. ouija board operators and
other faklrs and necromancers reap q
golden harvest AL over the world. but
they have been shorn Of their power
over matters Of STATE however mucn
they may have over individuals
Il IS remarkable the number OF "a
kris this age and nation supports.
They are needed 70 predict futures,
prescribe for patients after physicians
have failed to cure, sell love potions-
cast spells on ones enemies manu-
facture smulets to ward off disease,
or to give good luck and 70 show US
how to avoid pitfalls and disaster
Even astrology has column IN the
aYeraE &c daily paper here and now
The philosopher who tries to
cl-cumscrfbe the soul within n
Eeometrfenl figures the younE
woman who counts the petals Of
n daisy. and the BUSINESS man
endear0rluE to see beyond the
natural and learn the viii OF the
gods.
Superstitions enFelop Us from the
moment OF birth until long after
death Nothing that ons can 90 but
has some hidden meaning. No evil ex-
lists without something to stay its de-
stroying hand. No illness obtains
without something that viii effect
cure
Pun Of lIeccaE and Medinas-
The world IS yet full Of Meccas and
1Ledinas. Of shrines and temples. even
though unaterialisrl sneers and scorns-
The Hmcieufs realized the pecu-
liar force OF the horrible in heal
ing. Egyptian kingn hnthed in
HUMAN blood to cure epilepsy and
tuberculosis. Romun en1perorE
drank the blood 81 radiators to
n HZo4H t.