投诉 阅读记录

第4章

StrangeinourownBaptismalServiceandjustbeforetheactualchristeningwereadthesewords,“ThenshallthePriestsay:OmercifulGod,grantthatoldAdaminthischildmaybesoBURIEDthatthenewmanmayberaisedupinhim:grantthatallcarnalaffectionsmaydieinhim,andthatallthingsbelongingtotheSpiritmayliveandgrowinhim!“CanwedoubtthattheAustralianmedicine-man,standingatthegravesideofthere-arisenoldblack-fellow,pointedthesamemoraltotheyounginitiatesasthepriestdoesto-daytothoseassembledbeforehiminchurch——forindeedweknowthatamongsavagetribesinitiationshavealwaysbeenbeforeallthingstheoccasionsofmoralandsocialteaching?Canwedoubtthathesaid,insubstanceifnotinactualwords:“Asthismanhasarisenfromthegrave,soyoumustalsoarisefromyouroldchildishlifeofamusementandself-gratificationand,ENTERINTOthelifeofthetribe,thelifeoftheSpiritofthetribe。”“Intotemisticsocieties,“toquoteMissHarrisonagain,“andintheanimalsecretsocietiesthatseemtogrowoutofthem,thenoviceisbornagainaSTHESACREDANIMAL。ThusamongtheCarrierIndians[1]

whenamanwantstobecomeaLulemor"Bear,"howevercoldtheseasonhetearsoffhisclothes,putsonabear-skinanddashesintothewoods,wherehewillstayforthreeorfourdays。Everynighthisfellow-villagerswillgooutinsearchpartiestofindhim。TheycryoutYi!

Kelulem(comeon,Bear),andheanswerswithangrygrowls。

Usuallytheyfailtofindhim,buthecomesbackatlasthimself。

Heismet,andconductedtotheceremoniallodge,andthereincompanywiththerestoftheBearsdancessolemnlyhisfirstappearance。Disappearanceandreappearanceisascommonariteininitiationasstimulatedkillingandresurrection,andhasthesameobject。Bothareritesoftransition,ofpassingfromonetoanother。”IntheChristianceremoniestheboyorgirlputsawaychildishthingsandputsonthenewman,butinsteadofputtingonabear-skinheputsonChrist。Thereisnotsomuchdifferenceasmayappearonthesurface。TobeidentifiedwithyourTotemistobeidentifiedwiththesacredbeingwhowatchesoveryourtribe,whohasgivenhislifeforyourtribe;itistobebornagain,tobewashednotonlywithwaterbutwiththeHolySpiritofallyourfellows。TobebaptizedintoChristoughttomeantoberegeneratedintheHolySpiritofallhumanity;andnodoubtincasesitdoesmeanthis,buttoooftenunfortunatelyithasonlyamountedtoapretenceofreligioussanctiongiventothemeanestandbitterestquarrelsoftheChurchesandtheStates。

[1]GoldenBough,Section2,III,p。438。

ThisideaofaNewBirthatinitiationexplainstheprevalentpagancustomofsubjectingtheinitiatestoseriousordeals,oftenpainfulandevendangerous。Ifoneistobebornagain,obviouslyonemustbereadytofacedeath;theonethingcannotbewithouttheother。Onemustbeabletoendurepain,liketheRedIndianbraves;

togolongperiodsfastingandwithoutfoodordrink,likethechoupanamongtheWesternInoits——who,wandersforwholenightsovertheice-fieldsunderthemoon,scantilyclothedandbravingtheintensecold;toovercometheveryfearofdeathanddanger,liketheAustraliannoviceswho,atfirstterrifiedbythesoundofthebull-

roarerandthreatsoffireandtheknife,learnfinallytocasttheirfearsaway。[1]Bysodoingoneputsofftheoldchildishthings,andqualifiesoneselfbyfirmnessandcouragetobecomeaworthymemberofthesocietyintowhichoneiscalled。[2]Therulesofsociallifearetaught——thedutytoone"stribe,andtooneself,truth-

speaking,defenceofwomenandchildren,thecareofcattle,themeaningofsexandmarriage,andeventhemysteriesofsuchreligiousideasandrudimentaryscienceasthetribepossesses。Andbysodoingonereallyentersintoanewlife。Thingsofthespiritualworldbegintodawn。JuliusFirmicus,indescribingthemysteriesoftheresurrectionofOsiris,[3]saysthatwhentheworshipershadsatiatedthemselveswithlamentationsoverthedeathofthegodthenthepriestwouldgoroundanointingthemwithoilandwhispering,“Beofgoodcheer,ONeophytesofthenew-

arisenGod,fortoustoofromourpainsshallcomesalvation。”[4]

[1]AccordingtoaccountsoftheWiradthuritribeofWesternAustralia,intheirinitiations,theladswerefrightenedbyalargefirebeinglightednearthem,andhearingtheawfulsoundofthebull-roarers,whiletheyweretoldthatDhuramoolanwasabouttoburnthem;thelegendbeingthatDhuramoolan,apowerfulbeing,whosevoicesoundedlikethunder,wouldtaketheboysintothebushandinstructtheminallthelaws,traditionsandcustomsofthecommunity。Sohepretendedthathealwayskilledtheboys,cutthemup,andburntthemtoashes,afterwhichhemouldedtheashesintohumanshape,andrestoredthemtolifeasnewbeings。(SeeR。H。Matthews,“TheWiradthuritribes,“JournalAnthrop。Inst。,vol。xxv,1896,pp。297sq。)

[2]SeeCatlin"sNorth-AmericanIndians,vol。i,forinitiationsandordealsamongtheMandans。

[3]DeErrore,c。22。

[4]

Itwouldseemthatatsomeveryearlytimeinthehistoryoftribalandpriestlyinitiationsanattemptwasmadetoimpressupontheneophytestheexistenceandover-

shadowingpresenceofspiritualandghostlybeings。Perhapsthepainsenduredinthevariousordeals,thelongfastings,thesilencesinthedepthoftheforestsoronthemountainsoramongtheice-floes,helpedtorousethevisionaryfaculty。

Thedevelopmentsofthisfacultyamongtheblackandcoloredpeoples——East-Indian,Burmese,African,American-

Indian,etc——arewellknown。MissAliceFletcher,wholivedamongtheOmahaIndiansforthirtyyears,givesamostinterestingaccount[1]ofthegeneralphilosophyofthatpeopleandtheirritesofinitiation。“TheOmahasregardallanimateandinanimateforms,allphenomena,aspervadedbyacommonlife,whichwascontinuouswithandsimilartothewill-powertheywereconsciousofinthemselves。ThismysteriouspowerinallthingstheycalledWakonda,andthroughitallthingswererelatedtomanandtoeachother。Intheideaofthecontinuityoflifearelationwasmaintainedbetweentheseenandtheunseen,thedeadandtheliving,andalsobetweenthefragmentofanythinganditsentirety。”[2]ThusanOmahanovicemightatanytimeseektoobtainWakondabywhatwascalledTHERITEOFTHEVISION。Hewouldgooutalone,fast,chantincantations,andfinallyfallintoatrance(muchresemblingwhatinmoderntimeshasbeencalledCOSMICCONSCIOUSNESS)inwhichhewouldperceivetheinnerrelationsofallthingsandthesolidarityoftheleastobjectwiththerestoftheuniverse。

[1]SummarizedinThemis,pp。68-71。

[2]A。C。Fletcher,TheSignificanceoftheScalp-lock,JournalofAnthropologicalStudies,xxvii(1897-8),p。436。

Anotherriteinconnectionwithinitiation,andcommonalloverthepaganworld——inGreece,America,Africa,Australia,NewMexico,etc——wasthedaubingofthenovicealloverwithclayorchalkorevendung,andthenafterawhileremovingthesame。[1]Thenovicemusthavelookedasufficientlyuglyanduncomfortableobjectinthisstate;

butlater,whenhewasthoroughlyWASHED,theceremonymusthaveaffordedathrillingillustrationoftheideaofanewbirth,andonewhichwoulddwellinthemindsofthespectators。Whenthedaubingwasdoneasnotinfrequentlyhappenedwithwhiteclayorgypsum,andtheritualtookplaceatnight,itcaneasilybeimaginedthatthefiguresofyoungmenandboysmovingaboutinthedarknesswouldlendsupporttotheideathattheywerespiritsbelongingtosomeintermediateworld——whohadalreadypassedthroughdeathandwerenowwaitingfortheirsecondbirthonearth(orintothetribe)whichwouldbesignalizedbytheirthoroughandceremonialwashing。ItwillberememberedthatHerodotus(viii)

givesacircumstantialaccountofhowthePhociansinabattlewiththeThessalianssmearedsixhundredoftheirbravestwarriorswithwhiteclaysothat,lookinglikesupernaturalbeings,andfallingupontheThessaliansbynight,theyterrifiedthelatterandputthemtoinstantflight。

[1]SeeA。Lang"sMyth,RitualandReligion,i,274sq。

Suchthen——thoughonlyveryscantilydescribed——weresomeoftheritesofInitiationandSecondBirthcelebratedintheoldPaganworld。Thesubjectisfartoolargeforadequatetreatmentwithinthepresentlimits;butevensowecannotbutbestruckbytheappropriatenessinmanycasesoftheteachingthusgiventotheyoung,theconcretenessoftheillustrations,theeffectivenessofthesymbolsused,thedramaticcharacteroftherites,thestrongenforcementoflessonsonthenatureanddutiesofthelifeintowhichthecandidateswereabouttoenter。Christianityfollowedon,andinheritedthesetraditions,butonefeelsthatinitsceremoniesofBaptismandConfirmation,whichofcoursecorrespondtothePaganInitiations,itfallsshortofthelatter。Itsceremonies(certainlyaswehavethemto-dayinProtestantcountries)

areofaverymilk-and-waterycharacter;allallusiontoandteachingontheimmenselyimportantsubjectofSexisomitted,thedetailsofsocialandindustrialmoralityarepassedby,andinstructionislimitedtoafewrathercommonplacelessonsingeneralmoralityandreligion。

Itmaybeappropriatehere,beforeleavingthesubjectoftheSecondBirth,toinquirehowithascomeaboutthatthisdoctrine——soremoteandmetaphysicalasitmightappear——hasbeentakenupandembodiedintheircreedsandritualsbyquitePRIMITIVEpeopleallovertheworld,tosuchadegreeindeedthatithasultimatelybeenadoptedandbuiltintothefoundationsofthelatterandmoreintellectualreligions,likeHinduism,Mithraism,andtheEgyptianandChristiancults。Ithinktheanswertothisquestionmustbefoundinthenow-familiarfactthattheearliestpeoplesfeltthemselvessomuchapartofNatureandtheanimalandvegetableworldaroundthemthat(whenevertheythoughtaboutthesemattersatall)

theyneverforamomentdoubtedthatthethingswhichwerehappeningallroundthemintheexternalworldwerealsohappeningwithinthemselves。TheysawtheSun,overcloudedandnightodeathinwinter,cometoitsbirthagaineachyear;theysawtheVegetationshootforthanewinspring——therevivalofthespiritoftheEarth;

theendlessbreedingoftheAnimals,thestrangetransformationsofWormsandInsects;theobviouslynewlifetakenonbyboysandgirlsatpuberty;thesameatalateragewhenthenovicewastransformedintothemedicine-

man——thechoupanintotheangakokamongtheEsquimaux,theDacotahyouthintothewakanamongtheRedIndians;andtheyfeltintheirsub-consciouswaythesameeverlastingforcesofrebirthandtransformationworkingwithinthemselves。InsomeoftheGreekMysteriesthenewlyadmittedInitiateswerefedforsometimeafteronmilkonly“asthoughwewerebeingbornagain。”(SeeSallustius,quotedbyGilbertMurray。)Whensub-consciousknowledgebegantoglimmerintodirectconsciousnessoneofthefirstaspects(andnodoubtoneofthetruest)underwhichpeoplesawlifewasjustthus:asaseriesofrebirthsandtransformations。[1]Themostmodernscience,Ineedhardlysay,inbiologyaswellasinchemistryandthefieldofinorganicNature,supportsthatview。ThesavageinearliesttimesFELTthetruthofsomethingswhichweto-dayareonlybeginningintellectuallytoperceiveandanalyze。

[1]Theferventandwidespreadbeliefinanimalmetamorphosesamongearlypeoplesiswellknown。

Christianityadoptedandabsorbed——asitwasboundtodo——thisworld-widedoctrineofthesecondbirth。Passingoveritsphysiologicalandbiologicalapplications,itgavetoitafinespiritualsignificance——orratheritinsistedespeciallyonitsspiritualsignificance,which(aswehaveseen)hadbeenwidelyrecognizedbefore。Only——asI

supposemusthappenwithalllocalreligions——itnarrowedtheapplicationandoutlookofthedoctrinedowntoaspecialcase——“AsinAdamalldie,soinCHRISTshallallbemadealive。”TheUniversalSpiritwhichcangiverebirthandsalvationtoEVERYchildofmantowhomitcomes,wasofferedonlyunderaveryspecialform——thatofJesusChrist。[1]Inthisrespectitwasnobetterthanthereligionswhichprecededit。Insomerespects——thatis,whereitwasespeciallyfanatical,blinkered,andhostiletoothersects——itwasWORSE。ButtothosewhoperceivethattheGreatSpiritmaybringnewbirthandsalvationtosomeundertheformofOsiris,equallywellastoothersundertheformofJesus,oragaintosomeundertheformofaSiberiantotem-BearequallyastoothersundertheformofOsiris,thesequestioningsandnarrowingsfallawayasofnoimportance。Weinthislatterdaycanseethemainthing,namelythatChristianitywasandisjustonephaseofaworld-oldreligion,slowlyperhapsexpandingitsscope,butwhosechiefattitudesandorientationshavebeenthesamethroughthecenturies。

[1]ThesamehappenedwithregardtoanothergreatPagandoctrine(towhichIhavejustalluded),thedoctrineoftransformationsandmetamorphoses;andwhereasthepagansbelievedinthesethings,asthecommonandpossibleheritageofEVERYman,theChristiansonlyallowedthemselvestoentertaintheideainthespecialanduniqueinstanceoftheTransfigurationofChrist。

Manyotherillustrationsmightbetakenofthetruthofthisview,butIwillconfinemyselftotwoorthreemore。

ThereistheinstanceoftheEucharistanditsexceedinglywidespreadcelebration(underveryvariousforms)amongthepagansallovertheworld——aswellasamongChristians。

Ihavealreadysaidenoughonthissubject,andneednotdelayoverit。Bypartakingofthesacramentalmeal,eveninitswildestandcrudestshapes,asinthemysteriesofDionysus,onewasidentifiedwithandunitedtothegod;initsmilderandmorespiritualaspectsasintheMithraic,Egyptian,HinduandChristiancults,onepassedbehindtheveilofmayaandthisever-changingworld,andenteredintotheregionofdivinepeaceandpower。[1]

[1]BaringGouldinhisOrig。Relig。Belief,I。401,says:——“AmongtheancientHindusSomawasachiefdeity;heiscalledtheGiverofLifeandHealth……Hebecameincarnateamongmen,wastakenbythemandslain,andbrayedinamortar[agodofcornandwineapparently]。Butheroseinflametoheaventobe"theBenefactoroftheWorld"andthe"MediatorbetweenGodandMan!"Throughcommunionwithhiminhissacrifice,man(whopartookofthisgod)hasanassuranceofimmortality,forbythatsacramentheobtainsunionwithhisdivinity。”

OragainthedoctrineoftheSaviour。ThatalsoisoneonwhichIneednotaddmuchtowhathasbeensaidalready。

Thenumberofpagandeities(mostlyvirgin-bornanddonetodeathinsomewayorotherintheireffortstosavemankind)issogreat[1]astobedifficulttokeepaccountof。ThegodKrishnainIndia,thegodIndrainNepaulandThibet,spilttheirbloodforthesalvationofmen;Buddhasaid,accordingtoMaxMuller,[2]“Letallthesinsthatwereintheworldfallonme,thattheworldmaybedelivered“;theChineseTien,theHolyOne——“onewithGodandexistingwithhimfromalleternity“——diedtosavetheworld;theEgyptianOsiriswascalledSaviour,sowasHorus;sowasthePersianMithras;sowastheGreekHerculeswhoovercameDeaththoughhisbodywasconsumedintheburninggarmentofmortality,outofwhichheroseintoheaven。SoalsowasthePhrygianAttiscalledSaviour,andtheSyrianTammuzorAdonislikewise——bothofwhom,aswehaveseen,werenailedortiedtoatree,andafterwardsroseagainfromtheirbiers,orcoffins。Prometheus,thegreatestandearliestbenefactorofthehumanrace,wasNAILEDBYTHEHANDSandfeet,andwitharmsextended,totherocksofMountCaucasus。BacchusorDionysus,bornofthevirginSemeletobetheLiberatorofmankind(DionysusEleutheriosashewascalled),wastorntopieces,notunlikeOsiris。EveninfarMexicoQuetzalcoatl,theSaviour,wasbornofavirgin,wastempted,andfastedfortydays,wasdonetodeath,andhissecondcominglookedforsoeagerlythat(asiswellknown)

whenCortesappeared,theMexicans,poorthings,greetedHIMasthereturninggod![3]InPeruandamongtheAmericanIndians,NorthandSouthoftheEquator,similarlegendsare,orwere,tobefound。

[1]SeeforaconsiderablelistDoane"sBibleMyths,ch。xx。

[2]Hist。SanskritLiterature,p。80。

[3]SeeKingsborough,MexicanAntiquities,vol。vi。

Brieflysketchedasallthisis,itisenoughtoprovequiteabundantlythatthedoctrineoftheSaviourisworld-wideandworld-old,andthatChristianitymerelyappropriatedthesameand(astheothercultsdid)gaveitaspecialcolor。Probablythewiderangeofthisdoctrinewouldhavebeenfarbetterandmoregenerallyknown,hadnottheChristianChurch,allthrough,madethegreatestofeffortsandtakenthegreatestprecautionstoextinguishandsnuffoutallevidenceofpaganclaimsonthesubject。

ThereismuchtoshowthattheearlyChurchtookthislinewithregardtopre-Christiansaviours;[1]andinlatertimesthesamepolicyisremarkablyillustratedbythetreatmentinthesixteenthcenturyofthewritingsofSahaguntheSpanishmissionary——towhoseworkIhavealreadyreferred。

Sahagunwasawonderfullybroad-mindedandfinemanwho,whilehedidnotconcealthebarbaritiesoftheAztecreligion,wastruthfulenoughtopointoutredeemingtraitsinthemannersandcustomsofthepeopleandsomeresemblancestoChristiandoctrineandpractice。ThisinfuriatedthebigotedCatholicsofthenewlyformedMexicanChurch。TheypurloinedthemanuscriptsofSahagun"sHistoriaandscatteredandhidthemaboutthecountry,anditwasonlyafterinfinitelaborandanappealtotheSpanishCourtthathegotthemtogetheragain。Finally,attheageofeighty,havingtranslatedthemintoSpanish(fromtheoriginalMexican)hesentthemintwobigvolumeshometoSpainforsafety;

buttherealmostimmediatelyTHEYDISAPPEARED,andcouldnotbefound!ItwasonlyafterTWOCENTURIESthattheyultimatelyturnedup(1790)inaConventatTolosainNavarre。LordKingsboroughpublishedtheminEnglandin1830。

[1]SeeTertullian"sApologia,c。16;AdNationes,c。xii。

IhavethusdweltuponseveralofthemaindoctrinesofChristianity——namely,thoseofSinandSacrifice,theEucharist,theSaviour,theSecondBirth,andTransfiguration——asshowingthattheyarebynomeansuniqueinourreligion,butwerecommontonearlyallthereligionsoftheancientworld。Thelistmightbemuchfurtherextended,butthereisnoneedtodelayoverasubjectwhichisnowverygenerallyunderstood。Iwill,however,devoteapageortwotooneinstance,whichIthinkisveryremarkable,andfullofdeepsuggestion。

ThereisnodoctrineinChristianitywhichismorereverencedbytheadherentsofthatreligion,orheldinhigherestimation,thanthatGodsacrificedhisonlySonforthesalvationoftheworld;alsothatsincetheSonwasnotonlyoflikenaturebutoftheSAMEnaturewiththeFather,andequaltohimasbeingthesecondPersonoftheDivineTrinity,thesacrificeamountedtoanimmolationofHimselfforthegoodofmankind。Thedoctrineissomystical,soremote,andinasensesoabsurdandimpossible,thatithasbeenafavoritemarkthroughthecenturiesfortheridiculeofthescoffersandenemiesoftheChurch;andhere,itmighteasilybethought,isabeliefwhich——whetheritbeconsideredgloriousorwhethercontemptible——isatanyrateunique,andpeculiartothatChurch。

Andyettheextraordinaryfactisthatasimilarbeliefrangesallthroughtheancientreligions,andcanbetracedbacktotheearliesttimes。ThewordhostwhichisusedintheCatholicMassforthebreadandwineontheAltar,supposedtobethetransubstantiatedbodyandbloodofChrist,isfromtheLatinHostiawhichthedictionaryinterpretsas“ananimalslaininsacrifice,asin-offering。”IttakesusfarfarbacktotheTotemstageoffolk-life,whenthetribe,asIhavealreadyexplained,crownedavictim-bullorbearorotheranimalwithflowers,andhonoringitwitheveryofferingoffoodandworship,sacrificedthevictimtotheTotemspiritofthetribe,andconsumeditinanEucharisticfeast——themedicine-manorpriestwhoconductedtheritualwearingaskinofthesamebeastasasignthatherepresentedtheTotem-

divinity,takingpartinthesacrificeof"himselftohimself。"

ItremindsusoftheKhondsofBengalsacrificingtheirmeriahscrownedanddecoratedasgodsandgoddesses;

oftheAztecsdoingthesame;ofQuetzalcoatlprickinghiselbowsandfingerssoastodrawblood,whichheofferedonhisownaltar;orofOdinhangingbyhisowndesireuponatree。“IknowIwashangeduponatreeshakenbythewindsforninelongnights。Iwastransfixedbyaspear;IwasmovedtoOdin,myselftomyself。”Andsoon。Theinstancesareendless。“Iamtheoblation,“

saystheLordKrishnaintheBhagavadGita,[1]“Iamthesacrifice,Itheancestraloffering。”“Inthetrulyorthodoxconceptionofsacrifice,“saysElieReclus,[2]“theconsecratedoffering,beitman,womanorvirgin,lamborheifer,cockordove,representstHEDEITYHIMSELF……

Brahmaisthe"imperishablesacrifice";Indra,Soma,Hariandtheothergods,becameincarnateinanimalstothesoleendthattheymightbeimmolated。Perusha,theUniversalBeing,causedhimselftobeslainbytheImmortals,andfromhissubstancewerebornthebirdsoftheair,wildanddomesticanimals,theofferingsofbutterandcurds。Theworld,declaredtheRishis,isaseriesofsacrificesdisclosingothersacrifices。TostopthemwouldbetosuspendthelifeofNature。ThegodSiva,towhomtheTipperahsofBengalaresupposedtohavesacrificedasmanyasathousandhumanvictimsayear,saidtotheBrahamins:"ItisIthatamtheactualoffering;itisIthatyoubutcheruponmyaltars。"“

[1]Ch。ix,v。16。

[2]PrimitiveFolk,ch。vi。

ItwasinallusiontothisdoctrinethatR。W。Emerson,paraphrasingtheKatha-Upanishad,wrotethatimmortalverseofhis:-

Iftheredslayerthinksheslays,Ortheslainthinksheisslain,TheyknownotwellthesubtlewaysItake,andpass,andturnagain。

IsayitisanastonishingthingtothinkandrealizethatthisprofoundandmysticdoctrineoftheeternalsacrificeofHimself,ordainedbytheGreatSpiritforthecreationandsalvationoftheworld——adoctrinewhichhasattractedandfascinatedmanyofthegreatthinkersandnoblermindsofEurope,whichhasalsoinspiredthereligiousteachingsoftheIndiansagesandtoalessphilosophicaldegreethewritingsoftheChristianSaints——shouldhavebeenseizedinitsgeneraloutlineandessencebyrudeandprimitivepeoplebeforethedawnofhistory,andembodiedintheirritesandceremonials。Whatistheexplanationofthisfact?

Itisverypuzzling。Thewholesubjectispuzzling。Theworld-wideadoptionofsimilarcreedsandrituals(and,wemayadd,legendsandfairytales)amongearlypeoples,andinfar-sunderedplacesandtimesissoremarkablethatithasgiventhestudentsofthesesubjects"furiouslytothink"[1]——yetforthemostpartwithoutgreatsuccessinthewayoffindingasolution。Thesuppositionthat(1)thecreed,riteorlegendinquestionhassprungup,sotospeak,accidentally,inoneplace,andthenhastravelled(owingtosomeinherentplausibility)

overtherestoftheworld,isofcourseonethatcommendsitselfreadilyatfirst;butoncloserexaminationthepracticaldifficultiesitpresentsarecertainlyverygreat。

Theseincludethemigrationsofcustomsandmythsinquiteearlyagesoftheearthacrosstracklessoceansandcontinents,andbetweenracesandpeoplesabsolutelyincapableofunderstandingeachother。Andiftoavoidthesedifficultiesitisassumedthatthepresenthumanraceallproceedsfromoneoriginalstockwhichradiatingfromonecentre——sayinSouth-EasternAsia[2]——overspreadtheworld,carryingitsritesandcustomswithit,why,thenwearecompelledtofacethedifficultyofsupposingthisradiationtohavetakenplaceatanenormoustimeago(thecontinentsbeingthenallmoreorlessconjoined)andataperiodwhenitisdoubtfulifanyreligiousritesandcustomsatallexisted;nottomentionthefurtherdifficultyofsupposingallthefourorfivehundredlanguagesnowexistingtobedescendedfromonecommonsource。ThefartraditionoftheIslandofAtlantisseemstoaffordapossibleexplanationofthecommunityofritesandcustomsbetweentheOldandNewWorld,andthiswithoutassuminginanywaythatAtlantis(ifitexisted)wastheoriginalandSOLEcradleofthehumanrace。[3]Anyhowitisclearthattheseoriginsofhumanculturemustbeofextremeantiquity,andthatitwouldnotbewisetobeputoffthetrackoftheinvestigationofapossiblecommonsourcemerelybythatfactofantiquity。

[1]SeeA。Lang"sMyth,RitualandReligion,vol。ii。

[2]SeeHastings,Encycl。ReligionandEthics,art。“Ethnology。”

[3]E。J。Payne,HistoryoftheNewWorldcalledAmerica(vol。i,p。93)says:“ItiscertainthatEuropeandAmericaonceformedasinglecontinent,“butinroadsofthesea“leftavastislandorpeninsulastretchingfromIcelandtotheAzores——whichgraduallydisappeared。”Alsohespeaks(i。93)ofthe“MioceneBridge“

betweenSiberiaandtheNewWorld。

Asecondsupposition,however,is(2)thatthenaturalpsychologicalevolutionofthehumanmindhasinthevarioustimesandclimesledfolkofthemostdiversesurroundingsandheredity——andperhapsevensprungfromseparateanthropoidstocks——todeveloptheirsocialandreligiousideasalongthesamegenerallines——andthateventotheextentofexhibitingattimesaremarkablesimilarityinminutedetails。Thisisatheorywhichcommendsitselfgreatlytoadeeperandmorephilosophicalconsideration;

butitbringsusuppoint-blankagainstanothermostdifficultquestion(whichwehavealreadyraised),namely,howtoaccountforextremelyrudeandprimitivepeoplesinthefarpast,andontheveryborderlandoftheanimallife,havingbeenSUSCEPTIBLEtothegermsofgreatreligiousideas(suchaswehavementioned)andhavingbeeninstinctively——thoughnotofcoursebyanyprocessofconsciousreasoning——movedtoexpresstheminsymbolsandritesandceremonials,and(laternodoubt)

inmythsandlegends,whichsatisfiedtheirFEELINGSandsenseoffitness——thoughtheymaynothaveknownWHY——

andafterwardswerecapableofbeingtakenupandembodiedinthegreatphilosophicalreligions。

Thisdifficultyalmostcompelsustoaviewofhumanknowledgewhichhasfoundsupportersamongsomeablethinkers——theview,namely,thatavaststoreofknowledgeisalreadycontainedinthesubconsciousmindofman(andtheanimals)andonlyneedstheprovocationofouterexperiencetobringittothesurface;andthatinthesecondstageofhumanpsychologythisprocessofcrudeandpiecemealexternalizationistakingplace,inpreparationforthefinalorthirdstageinwhichtheknowledgewillbere-absorbedandbecomedirectandintuitionalonahighandharmoniousplane——somethinglikethepresentintuitionoftheanimalsasweperceiveitontheanimalplane。HoweverthisgeneralsubjectisoneonwhichIshalltouchagain,andIdonotproposetodwellonitatanylengthnow。

Thereisathirdalternativetheory(3)——acombinationof(1)and(2)——namely,thatifoneaccepts(2)andtheideathatatanygivenstageofhumandevelopmentthereisaPREDISPOSITIONtocertainsymbolsandritesbelongingtothatstage,thenitismuchmoreeasytoaccepttheory(1)

asanimportantfactorinthespreadofsuchsymbolsandrites;forclearly,then,thesmallestgermofacustomorpractice,transportedfromonecountryorpeopletoanotherattherighttime,wouldbesufficienttowakethedevelopmentorgrowthinquestionandstimulateitintoactivity。Itwillbeseen,therefore,thattheimportantpointtowardsthesolutionofthiswholepuzzlingquestionisthediscussion,oftheory(2)——andtothistheory,asillustratedbytheworld-widemythoftheGoldenAge,Iwillnowturn。

IX。MYTHOFTHEGOLDENAGE

Thetraditionofa“GoldenAge“iswidespreadovertheworld,anditisnotnecessarytogoatanylengthintothestoryoftheGardenofEdenandtheotherlegendswhichinalmosteverycountryillustratethistradition。Withoutindulginginsentimentonthesubjectwemayholditnotunlikelythatthetraditionisjustifiedbytheremembrance,amongthepeopleofeveryrace,ofapre-civilizationperiodofcomparativeharmonyandhappinesswhentwothings,whichto-dayweperceivetobetheprolificcausesofdiscordandmisery,wereabsentoronlyweaklydeveloped——namely,PROPERTYandSELF-CONSCIOUSNESS。[1]

[1]Forafullerworkingoutofthis,seeCivilisation:itsCauseandCure,byE。Carpenter,ch。i。

DuringthefirstcenturyB。C。therewasagreatspreadofMessianicIdeasovertheRomanworld,andVirgil"s4thEclogue,commonlycalledtheMessianicEclogue,reflectsveryclearlythisstateofthepublicmind。TheexpectedbabeinthepoemwastobethesonofOctavian(Augustus)

thefirstRomanemperor,andamessianichalosurroundeditinVirgil"sverse。UnfortunatelyitturnedouttobeaGIRL!HoweverthereislittledoubtthatVirgildid——

inthatverysadageoftheworld,anageof“miseryandmassacre,“andincommonwiththousandsofothers——lookforthecomingofagreat"redeemer。"Itwasonlyafewyearsearlier——aboutB。C。70——thatthegreatrevoltoftheshamefullymaltreatedRomanslavesoccurred,andthatinrevengesixthousandprisonersfromSpartacus"

armywerenailedoncrossesallthewayfromRometoCapua(150miles)。ButlongbeforethisHesiodhadrecordedapastGoldenAgewhenlifehadbeengraciousincommunalfraternityandjoyfulinpeace,whenhumanbeingsandanimalsspokethesamelanguage,whendeathhadfollowedonsleep,withoutoldageordisease,andafterdeathmenhadmovedasgooddaimonesorgeniioverthelands。Pindar,threehundredyearsafterHesiod,hadconfirmedtheexistenceoftheIslandsoftheBlest,wherethegoodledablameless,tearless,life。Platothesame,[1]

withfurtherreferencestothefabledislandofAtlantis;

theEgyptiansbelievedinaformergoldenageunderthegodRtowhichtheylookedbackwithregretandenvy;thePersianshadagardenofEdensimilartothatoftheHebrews;theGreeksagardenoftheHesperides,inwhichdwelttheserpentwhoseheadwasultimatelycrushedbeneaththeheelofHercules;andsoon。

Thereferencestoasupposedfar-backstateofpeaceandhappinessareindeednumerous。

[1]Seearts。byMargaretScholes,SocialistReview,Nov。andDec。1912。

Somuchsothatlatterly,andpartlytoexplaintheirprevalence,atheoryhasbeenadvancedwhichmaybeworthwhilementioning。Itiscalledthe“Theoryofintra-uterineBlessedness,“and,remoteasitmayatfirstappear,itcertainlyhassomeclaimforattention。Thetheoryisthatinthemindsofmaturepeopletherestillremaincertainvaguememoriesoftheirpre-nataldaysinthematernalwomb——memoriesofalifewhich,thoughfullofgrowingvigorandvitality,wasyetatthattimeoneofabsoluteharmonywiththesurroundings,andofperfectpeaceandcontentment,spentwithinthebodyofthemother——theembryoindeedstandinginthesamerelationtothemotherasSt。PaulsaysWEstandtoGod,“INwhomweliveandmoveandhaveourbeing“;andthatthesevaguememoriesoftheintra-uterinelifeintheindividualarereferredbackbythematuremindtoapastageinthelifeoftheRACE。Thoughitwouldnotbeeasyatpresenttopositivelyconfirmthistheory,yetonemaysaythatitisneitherimprobablenorunworthyofconsideration;

alsothatitbearsacertainlikenesstotheformeronesabouttheEden-gardens,etc。Thewell-knownparallelismoftheIndividualhistorywiththeRace-history,the“recapitulation“bytheembryoofthedevelopmentoftherace,doesinfactaffordanadditionalargumentforitsfavorablereception。

Theseconsiderations,andwhatwehavesaidsooftenintheforegoingchaptersabouttheunityoftheAnimals(andEarlyMan)withNature,andtheirinstinctiveandage-longadjustmenttotheconditionsoftheworldaroundthem,bringusuphardandfastagainstthefollowingconclusions,whichIthinkweshallfinddifficulttoavoid。

Weallrecognizetheextraordinarygraceandbeauty,intheirdifferentways,ofthe(wild)animals;andnotonlytheirbeautybuttheextremefitnessoftheiractionsandhabitstotheirsurroundings——theirsubtleandpenetratingIntelligenceinfact。Onlywedonotgenerallyusetheword“Intelligence。”Weuseanotherword(Instinct)——

andrightlyperhaps,becausetheiractionsareplainlynottheresultofdefiniteself-consciousreasoning,suchasweuse,carriedoutbyeachindividual;butare(ashasbeenabundantlyprovedbySamuelButlerandothers)thesystematicexpressionofexperiencesgatheredupandsortedoutandhandeddownfromgenerationtogenerationinthebosomoftherace——anIntelligenceinfact,orInsight,oflargersubtlerscopethantheother,andbelongingtothetribalorracialBeingratherthantotheisolatedindividual——asuper-consciousnessinfact,ramifyingafarinspaceandtime。

Butifweallow(aswemust)thisunityandperfectionofnature,andthissomewhatcosmiccharacterofthemind,toexistamongtheAnimals,wecanhardlyrefusetobelievethattheremusthavebeenaperiodwhenMan,too,hardlyasyetdifferentiatedfromthem,didhimselfpossessthesesamequalities——perhapseveningreaterdegreethantheanimals——ofgraceandbeautyofbody,perfectionofmovementandaction,instinctiveperceptionandknowledge(ofcourseinlimitedspheres);andaperiodwhenhepossessedaboveallasenseofunitywithhisfellowsandwithsurroundingNaturewhichbecamethegroundofacommonconsciousnessbetweenhimselfandhistribe,similartothatwhichMaeterlinck,inthecaseoftheBees,callstheSpiritoftheHive。[1]Itwouldbedifficult,nayimpossible,tosupposethathumanbeingsontheirfirstappearanceformedanentireexceptionintheprocessofevolution,orthattheywerecompletelylackingintheverygracesandfacultieswhichwesoadmireintheanimals——onlyofcourseweseethat(LIKEtheanimals)

theywouldnotbeSELF-consciousinthesematters,andwhatperceptiontheyhadoftheirrelationstoeachotherortotheworldaroundthemwouldbelargelyinarticulateandSUB-conscious——thoughnonethelessrealforthat。

[1]SeeTheLifeoftheBeebyMauriceMaeterlinck;andfornumeroussimilarcasesamongotheranimals,P。Kropotkin"sMutualAid:afactorinEvolution。

Letusthengrantthispreliminaryassumption——anditclearlyisnotalargeorhazardousone——andwhatfollows?

Itfollows——sinceto-daydiscordistherule,andManhascertainlylostthegrace,bothphysicalandmental,oftheanimals——thatatsomeperiodabreakmusthaveoccurredintheevolution-process,adiscontinuity——

similarperhapstothatwhichoccursinthelifeofachildatthemomentwhenitisbornintotheworld。Humanitytookanewdeparture;butadeparturewhichforthemomentwassignalizedasaLOSS——thelossofitsformerharmonyandself-adjustment。AndthecauseoraccompanimentofthischangewasthegrowthofSelf-consciousness。

Intothegeneralconsciousnessofthetribe(inrelationtoitsenvironment)whichinfacthadconstitutedthementalityoftheanimalsandofmanuptothisstage,therenowwasintrudedanotherkindofconsciousness,aconsciousnesscenteringroundeachlittleindividualselfandconcernedalmostentirelywiththeinterestsofthelatter。Herewasevidentlyathreattothecontinuanceoftheformerhappyconditions。Itwasliketheappearanceofinnumerablelittleulcersinahumanbody——amenacewhichifcontinuedwouldinevitablyleadtothebreak-upofthebody。Itmeantlossoftribalharmonyandnature-adjustment。Itmeantinsteadofunityamyriadconflictingcentres;itmeantalienationfromthespiritofthetribe,theseparationofmanfromman,discord,recrimination,andthefatalunfoldingofthesenseofsin。

TheprocesssymbolizeditselfinthelegendoftheFall。ManateoftheTreeoftheknowledgeofgoodandevil。

Sometimespeoplewonderwhyknowledgeofanykind——andespeciallytheknowledgeofgoodandevil——shouldhavebroughtacurse。Butthereasonisobvious。Into,theplacidandharmoniouslifeoftheanimalandhumantribesfulfillingtheirdaysinobediencetotheslowevolutionsandage-longmandatesofnature,Self-consciousnessbrokewithitsinconvenientandimpossiblequery:

“HowdothesearrangementssuitME?Aretheygoodforme,aretheyevilforme?Iwanttoknow。I

WILLKNOW!“Evidentlyknowledge(suchknowledgeasweunderstandbytheword)onlybegan,andcouldonlybegin,byqueriesrelatingtothelittlelocalself。Therewasnootherwayforittobegin。Knowledgeandself-

consciousnesswereborn,astwins,together。KnowledgethereforemeantSin[1];forself-consciousnessmeantsin(anditmeanssinto-day)。SinisSeparation。Thatisprobably(thoughdisputed)theetymologyoftheword——

thatwhichsunders。[2]Theessenceofsinisone"sseparationfromthewhole(thetribeorthegod)ofwhichoneisapart。Andknowledge——whichseparatessubjectfromobject,andinitsinceptionisnecessarilyoccupiedwiththe"goodandevil"ofthelittlelocalself,isthegreatengineofthisseparation。[Mark!IsaynothingAGAINSTthisassociationofSelf-consciousnesswith"Sin"(so-called)and"Knowledge"(so-called)。Thegrowthofallthreetogetherisanabsolutelynecessarypartofhumanevolution,andtorailagainstitwouldbeabsurd。Butwemayaswellopenoureyesandseethefactstraightinsteadofblinkingit。]Theculminationoftheprocessandthefulfilmentofthe"curse"wemaywatchto-dayinthetoweringexpansionoftheself-consciousindividualizedIntellect——scienceasthehandmaidofhumanGreeddevastatingthehabitableworldanddestroyingitsunworthycivilization。Andtheprocessmustgoon——necessarilymustgoon——untilSelf-consciousness,ceasingitsvainquest(vaininbothsenses)fortheseparatedominationoflife,surrendersitselfbackagainintothearmsoftheMother-consciousnessfromwhichitoriginallysprang——surrendersitselfback,nottobemergedinnonentity,buttobeaffiliatedinlovingdependenceonandharmonywiththecosmiclife。

[1]Comparealsoothermyths,likeCupidandPsyche,Lohengrinetc。,inwhichafatalcuriosityleadstotragedy。

[2]GermanSunde,sin,andsonder,separated;Dutchzonde,sin;

Latinsons,guilty。NotunlikelythattheGermanrootSuhn,expiation,isconnected;Suhn-bock,ascape-goat。

AllthisIhavedealtwithinfarmoredetailinCivilization:

itsCauseandCure,andinTheArtofCreation;butIhaveonlyrepeatedtheoutlineofitasabove,becausesomesuchoutlineisnecessaryfortheproperorderingandunderstandingofthepointswhichfollow。

Wearenotconcernednowwiththeultimateeffectsofthe"Fall"ofManorwiththepresent-dayfulfilmentoftheEden-curse。Whatwewanttounderstandishowthe"Fall"intoself-consciousnessledtothatgreatpanoramaofRitualandReligionwhichwehaveverybrieflydescribedandsummarizedintheprecedingchaptersofthisbook。WewantforthepresenttofixourattentionontheCOMMENCEMENTofthatprocessbywhichmanlapsedawayfromhislivingcommunitywithNatureandhisfellowsintothedesertofdiscordandtoil,whiletheangelsoftheflamingswordclosedthegatesofParadisebehindhim。

ItisevidentIthinkthatinthat"golden"stagewhenmanwassimplythecrownandperfectionoftheanimals——

anditishardlypossibletorefusethebeliefinsuchastage——hepossessedinrealityalltheessentialsofReligion。[1]

Itisnotnecessarytosentimentalizeoverhim;hewasprobablyrawandcrudeinhislustsofhungerandofsex;

hewascertainlyignorantandsuperstitious;helovedfightingwithandpersecuting"enemies"(whichthingsofcourseallreligionsto-day——exceptperhapstheBuddhist——lovetodo);hewasdominatedoftenbyunreasoningFear,andwasconsequentlycruel。YethewasfullofthatFaithwhichtheanimalshavetosuchanadmirabledegree——unhesitatingfaithintheinnerpromptingsofhisOWN

nature;hehadthejoywhichcomesofaboundingvitality,springinguplikeafountainwhoseoutletisfreeandunhindered;herejoicedinanuntroubledandunbrokensenseofunitywithhisTribe,andinelaboratesocialandfriendlyinstitutionswithinitsborders;hehadamarveloussense-acutenesstowardsNatureandagiftinthatdirectionvergingtowards“second-sight“;strengthenedbyaconviction——whichhadneverbecomeCONSCIOUSbecauseithadneverbeenQUESTIONED——ofhisownpersonalrelationtothethingsoutsidehim,theEarth,theSky,theVegetation,theAnimals。OfsuchaManwegetglimpsesinthefarpast——thoughindeedonlyglimpses,forthesimplereasonthatallourknowledgeofhimcomesthroughcivilizedchannels;andwherevercivilizationhastouchedtheseearlypeoplesithasalreadywitheredandcorruptedthem,evenbeforeithashadthesensetoproperlyobservethem。

Itissufficient,however,justtomentionpeopleslikesomeoftheearlyPacificIslanders,theZulusandKafirsofSouthAfrica,theFansoftheCongoRegion(ofwhomWinwoodReade[2]speakssohighly),someoftheMalaysianandHimalayantribes,theprimitiveChinese,andeventheevidencewithregardtotheneolithicpeoplesofEurope,[3]

inordertoshowwhatImean。

[1]SeeS。Reinach,Cults,Myths,etc。,introduction:“Theprimitivelifeofhumanity,insofarasitisnotpurelyanimal,isreligious。Religionistheparentstemwhichhasthrownoff,onebyone,art,agriculture,law,morality,politics,etc。”

[2]SavageAfrica,ch。xxxvii。

[3]SeeKropotkin"sMutualAid,ch。iii。

Perhapsoneofthebestideasofthegulfofdifferencebetweenthesemi-civilizedandthequiteprimalmanisgivenbyA。R。WallaceinhisLife(Vol。i,p。288):“Amostunexpectedsensationofsurpriseanddelightwasmyfirstmeetingandlivingwithmaninastateofnaturewithabsoluteuncontaminatedsavages!ThiswasontheUaupesriver……Theywereallgoingabouttheirownworkorpleasure,whichhadnothingtodowiththewhitemenortheirways;theywalkedwiththefreestepoftheindependentforest-dweller……originalandself-sustainingasthewildanimalsoftheforests,absolutelyindependentofcivilization……livingtheirownlivesintheirownway,astheyhaddoneforcountlessgenerationsbeforeAmericawasdiscovered。IndeedthetruedenizenoftheAmazonianforests,liketheforestitself,isuniqueandnottobeforgotten。”Elsewhere[3]Wallacespeaksofthequiet,good-natured,inoffensivecharacterofthesecopper-coloredpeoples,andoftheirquicknessofhandandskill,andcontinues:“theirfiguresaregenerallysuperb;

andIhaveneverfeltsomuchpleasureingazingatthefineststatueasattheselivingillustrationsofthebeautyofthehumanform。”

[3]TravelsontheAmazon(1853),ch。xvii。

Thoughsomeofthepeoplesjustmentionedmaybesaidtobelongtodifferentgradesorstagesofhumanevolutionandphysicallysomenodoubtwerefarsuperiortoothers,yettheymostlyexhibitthissimplegraceofthebodilyandmentalorganism,aswellasthatclosenessoftribalsolidarityofwhichIhavespoken。Theimmenseantiquity,oftheclanorganization,asshownbyinvestigationsintoearlymarriage,pointstothelatterconclusion。

TravellersamongBushmen,Hottentots,Fuegians,Esquimaux,Papuansandotherpeoples——peopleswhohavebeenpushedasideintounfavorableareasbytheinvasionofmorewarlikeandbetter-equippedraces,andwhohavesufferedphysicallyinconsequence——confirmthis。Kropotkin,speakingoftheHottentots,quotestheGermanauthorP。Kolbenwhotravelledamongthemin1275orso。“HeknewtheHottentotswellanddidnotpassbytheirdefectsinsilence,butcouldnotpraisetheirtribalmoralityhighlyenough。Theirwordissacred,hewrote,theyknownothingofthecorruptionandfaithlessartsofEurope。Theyliveingreattranquillityandareseldomatwarwiththeirneighbors,andareallkindnessandgoodwilltooneanother。”[1]Kropotkinfurthersays:“LetmeremarkthatwhenKolbensays"theyarecertainlythemostfriendly,themostliberalandthemostbenevolentpeopletooneanotherthateverappearedontheearth"hewroteasentencewhichhascontinuallyappearedsinceinthedescriptionofsavages。Whenfirstmeetingwithprimitiveraces,theEuropeansusuallymakeacaricatureoftheirlife;butwhenanintelligentmanhasstayedamongthemforalongertimehegenerallydescribesthemasthe"kindest"orthe"gentlest"raceontheearth。TheseverysamewordshavebeenappliedtotheOstyaks,theSamoyedes,theEskimos,theDyaks,theAleuts,thePapuans,andsoon,bythehighestauthorities。IalsorememberhavingreadthemappliedtotheTunguses,theTchuktchis,theSioux,andseveralothers。Theveryfrequencyofthathighcommendationalreadyspeaksvolumesinitself。”[2]

[1]P。Kropotkin,MutualAid,p。90。W。J。SoliasalsospeaksintermsofthehighestpraiseoftheBushmen——“theirenergy,patience,courage,loyalty,affection,goodmannersandartisticsense“(AncientHunters,1915,p。425)。

[2]Ibid,p。91。

Manyofthetribes,liketheAleuts,Eskimos,Dyaks,Papuans,Fuegians,etc。,arethemselvesintheNeolithicstageofculture——thoughforthereasongivenaboveprobablydegeneratedphysicallyfromthestandardoftheirneolithicancestors;andsotheconclusionisforcedupononethattheremusthavebeenanIMMENSEPERIOD,[1]priortothefirstbeginningsof"civilization,"inwhichthehumantribesingeneralledapeacefulandfriendlylifeontheearth,comparativelylittlebrokenupbydissensions,inclosecontactwithNatureandinthatdegreeofsympathywithandunderstandingoftheAnimalswhichledtotheestablishmentoftheTotemsystem。Thoughitwouldbeabsurdtocreditthesetribeswithanygreatdegreeofcomfortandwell-beingaccordingtoourmodernstandards,yetwemaywellsupposethatthememoryofthislongperiodlingeredonforgenerationsandgenerationsandwasultimatelyidealizedintotheGoldenAge,incontrasttothesucceedingperiodofeverlastingwarfare,rancorandstrife,whichcameinwiththegrowthofPropertywithitsgreedsandjealousies,andtheaccentuationofSelf-consciousnesswithallitsvanitiesandambitions。

[1]Seeforestimatesofperiodsch。xiv;also,forthepeacefulnessoftheseearlypeoples,HavelockEllison“TheOriginofWar,“wherehesays“WedonotfindtheWEAPONSofwarfareortheWOUNDSofwarfareamongthesePalaeolithicremains……itwaswithcivilizationthattheartofkillingdeveloped,i。e。withinthelast10,000or12,000yearswhenNeolithicmen(whobecameourancestors)werejustarriving。”

IsaythateachtribeatthisearlystageofdevelopmenthadwithinittheESSENTIALSofwhatwecallReligion——

namelyabedrocksenseofitscommunitywithNature,andoftheCommonlifeamongitsmembers——asensesointimateandfundamentalthatitwashardlyawareofitself(anymorethanthefishisawareoftheseainwhichitlives),butyetwasreallythematrixoftribalthoughtandthespringoftribalaction。ItwasthissenseofunitywhichwasdestinedbythegrowthofSELF-CONSCIOUSNESStocometolightandevidenceintheshapeofallmannerofritualsandceremonials;andbythegrowthoftheIMAGINATIVEINTELLECTtoembodyitselfinthefiguresandformsofallmannerofdeities。

Letusexamineintothisalittlemoreclosely。Alarksoaringintheeyeofthesun,andsingingraptbetweenits“heavenandhome“realizesnodoubtinactualfactallthatthosetwowordsmeantous;yetitsrealizationisquitesubconscious。Itdoesnotdefineitsownexperience:

itFEELSbutitdoesnotTHINK。InordertocometothestageofTHINKINGitwouldperhapsbenecessarythatthelarkshouldbeexiledfromtheearthandthesky,andconfinedinacage。EarlyManFELTthegreattruthsandrealitiesofLife——oftenIbelievemorepurelythanwedo——buthecouldnotgiveformtohisexperience。THAT

stagecamewhenhebegantolosetouchwiththeserealities;

anditshoweditselfinritesandceremonials。Theinbreakofself-consciousnessbroughtOUTthefactsofhisinnerlifeintoritualisticandafterwardsintointellectualforms。

Letmegiveexamples。ForalongtimetheTribeisallinall;theindividualiscompletelysubjecttothe"SpiritoftheHive";hedoesnotevenTHINKofcontraveningit。Thenthedaycomeswhenself-interest,asapartfromtheTribe,becomessufficientlystrongtodrivehimagainstsometribalcustom。Hebreaksthetabu;

heeatstheforbiddenapple;hesinsagainstthetribe,andiscastout。Suddenlyhefindshimselfanexile,lonely,condemnedanddeserted。Ahorriblesenseofdistressseizeshim——somethingofwhichhehadnoexperiencebefore。Hetriestothinkaboutitall,tounderstandthesituation,butisdazedandcannotarriveatanyconclusion。

HisoneNECESSITYisReconciliation,Atonement。HefindshecannotLIVEoutsideofandalienatedfromhistribe。HemakesaSacrifice,anofferingtohisfellows,asasealofsincerity——anofferingofhisownbodilysufferingorpreciousblood,orthebloodofsomefood-animal,orsomevaluablegiftorother——ifonlyhemaybeallowedtoreturn。Theofferingisaccepted。Theritualisperformed;andheisreceivedback。Ihavealreadyspokenofthisperfectlynaturalevolutionofthetwin-ideasofSinandSacrifice,soIneednotenlargeuponthesubject。Buttwothingswemaynotehere:(1)thattheritual,beingsoconcrete(andoftensevere),gravesitselfonthemindsofthoseconcerned,andexpressesthefeelingsofthetribe,withanintensityandsharpnessofoutlinewhichnowordscouldrival,and(2)thatsuchritualsmayhave,andprobablydid,comeintouseevenwhilelanguageitselfwasinaninfantileconditionandincapableofdealingwiththepsychologicalsituationexceptbysymbols。They,therituals,werethefirsteffortoftheprimitivemindtogetbeyond,subconsciousfeelingandemergeintoaworldofformsanddefinitethought。

Letuscarrytheparticularinstance,givenabove,astagefarther,eventotheconfinesofabstractThoughtandPhilosophy。Ihavespokenof“TheSpiritoftheHive“asifthetermwereapplicabletotheHumanaswellastotheBeetribe。TheindividualbeeobviouslyhasneverTHOUGHTaboutthat"Spirit,"normentallyunderstoodwhatMaeterlinckmeansbyit;andyetintermsofactualexperienceitisanintenserealitytothebee(ordainingforinstanceonsomefatefuldaytheslaughterofallthedrones),controllingbee-movementsandbee-

moralitygenerally。Theindividualtribesmansimilarlysteepedintheage-longhumanlifeofhisfellowshasneverthoughtoftheTribeasanordainingbeingorSpirit,separatefromhimself——TILLthatdaywhenheisexiledandoutcastfromit。THENheseeshimselfandthetribeastwoopposingbeings,himselfofcourseanIntelligenceorSpiritinhisownlimiteddegree,theTribeasamuchgreaterIntelligenceorSpirit,standingagainstandoverhim。Fromthatdaytheconceptionofagodarisesonhim。Itmaybeonlyatotem-god——adivineGrizzly-Bearorwhatnot——butstillagodorsupernaturalPresence,embodiedinthelifeofthetribe。ThisiswhatSinhastaughthim。[1]ThisiswhatFear,foundedonself-consciousness,hasrevealedtohim。Therevelationmaybetrue,oritmaybefallacious(I

donotprejudgeit);butthereitis——thebeginningofthatlongseriesofhumanevolutionswhichwecallReligion。

[1]Itistobenoted,inthatcharmingidylloftheEdengarden,thatitisonlyAFTEReatingoftheforbiddenfruitthatAdamandEveperceivetheLordGodwalkinginthegarden,andconversewithhim(Genesisiii。8)。

[Forwhenthehumanmindhasreachedthatstageofconsciousnessinwhicheachmanrealizeshisown"self"asarationalandconsistentbeing,“lookingbeforeandafter,“then,asIhavesaidalready,themindprojectsonthebackgroundofNaturesimilarlyrationalPresenceswhichwemaycall"Gods";andatthatstage"Religion"

begins。Beforethat,whenthemindisquiteunformedanddream-like,andconsistschieflyofbrokenandscatteredrays,andwhendistinctself-consciousnessishardlyyetdeveloped,thenthepresencesimaginedinNaturearemerelyflickeringandintermittentphantoms,andtheirpropitiationandplacationcomesmoreproperlyunder,theheadof"Magic。"]

SomuchforthegenesisofthereligiousideasofSinandSacrifice,andtheritesconnectedwiththeseideas——

theirgenesisthroughthein-breakofself-consciousnessuponthecorporateSUB-consciousnessofthelifeoftheCommunity。Butanexactlysimilarprocessmaybeobservedinthecaseoftheotherreligiousideas。

IspokeofthedoctrineoftheSECONDBIRTH,andtheritesconnectedwithitbothinPaganismandinChristianity。

Thereismuchtoshowthatamongquiteprimitivepeoplesthereislessofshrinkingfromdeathandmoreofcertaintyaboutacontinuedlifeafterdeaththanwegenerallyfindamongmoreintellectualandcivilizedfolk。Itis,orhasbeen,quite,commonamongmanytribesfortheoldanddecrepit,whoarebecomingaburdentotheirfellows,toofferthemselvesforhappydispatch,andtotakewillingpartintheceremonialpreparationsfortheirownextinction;

andthisreadinessisencouragedbytheirnaveanduntroubledbeliefinaspeedytransferenceto“happyhunting-grounds“beyondthegrave。Thetruthisthatwhen,asinsuchcases,thetriballifeisverywholeandunbroken——eachindividualidentifyinghimselfcompletelywiththetribe——theideaoftheindividual"sbeingdroppedoutatdeath,andleftbehindbythetribe,hardlyarises。Theindividualisthetribe,hasnootherexistence。Thetribegoeson,livingalifewhichiseternal,andonlychangesitshunting-grounds;andtheindividual,identifiedwiththetribe,feelsinsomesubconsciouswaythesameabouthimself。

Butwhenonememberhasbrokenfaithwiththetribe,whenhehassinnedagainstitandbecomeanoutcast——

ah!thentheterrorsofdeathandextinctionloomlargeuponhim。“Thewagesofsinisdeath。”Therecomesaperiodintheevolutionoftriballifewhentheprimitivebondsareloosening,whenthetendencytowardsSELF-willandSELF-determination(sonecessaryofcourseinthelongrunfortheevolutionofhumanity)becomesarealdangertothetribe,andaterrortothewisemenandeldersofthecommunity。Itisseenthatthechildreninheritthistendency——evenfromtheirinfancy。Theyarenolongermereanimals,easilyherded;itseemsthattheyareborninsin——oratleastinignoranceandneglectoftheirtriballifeandcalling。TheonlycureisthattheyMUSTBEBORN

AGAIN。Theymustdeliberatelyandofsetpurposebeadoptedintothetribe,andbemadetorealize,evenseverely,intheirownpersonswhatishappening。Theymustgothroughtheinitiationsnecessarytoimpressthisuponthem。

Thusawholeseriesofsolemnritesspringup,differentnodoubtineverylocality,butallhavingthesameobjectandpurpose。[Andonecanunderstandhowthenecessityofsuchinitiationsandsecondbirthmayeasilyhavebeenitselffeltineveryrace,atsomestageofitsevolution——andTHATquiteasaspontaneousgrowth,andindependentlyofanycontagionofexamplecaughtfromotherraces。]

Thesamemaybesaidabouttheworld-widepracticeoftheEucharist。Nomoreeffectivemethodexistsforimpressingonthemembersofabodytheircommunityoflifewitheachother,andcausingthemtoforgettheirjanglingself-interests,thantoholdafeastincommon。

Itisamethodwhichhasbeenhonoredinallagesaswellasto-day。ButwhenthefleshpartakenofatthefeastisthatoftheTotem——theguardianandpresidinggeniusofthetribe——orperhapsofoneofitschieffood-animals——

thenclearlythefeasttakesonaholyandsolemncharacter。

Itbecomesasacramentofunity——oftheunityofallwiththetribe,andwitheachother。Self-interestsandself-

consciousnessareforthetimesubmerged,andthecommonlifeassertsitself;buthereagainweseethatacustomlikethiswouldnotcomeintobeingasadeliberateriteUNTILself-consciousnessandthedivisionsconsequentthereonhadgrowntobeanobviousevil。Theherd-

animals(cows,sheep,andsoforth)donothaveEucharists,simplybecausetheyaresensibleenoughtofeedalongthesamepastureswithoutquarrellingovertherichesttuftsofgrass。

Whenthefleshpartakenof(eitheractuallyorsymbolically)

isnotthatofadivinizedanimal,butthefleshofahuman-formedgod——asinthemysteriesofDionysusorOsirisorChrist——thenweareledtosuspect(andofcoursethistheoryiswidelyheldandsupported)thattheritesdatefromaveryfar-backperiodwhenahumanbeing,asrepresentativeofthetribe,wasactuallyslain,dismemberedandpartlydevoured;thoughastimewenton,theritegraduallybecameglossedoverandmitigatedintoalove-communionthroughthesharingofbreadandwine。

Itiscuriousanyhowthatthedismembermentordivisionintofragmentsofthebodyofagod(asinthecaseofDionysus,Osiris,Attis,Prajpatiandothers)shouldbesofrequentatenetoftheoldreligions,andsocommonlyassociatedwithalove-feastofreconciliationandresurrection。

ItmaybefairlyinterpretedasasymbolofNature-dismembermentinWinterandresurrectioninSpring;butwemustalsonotforgetthatitmay(andindeedmust)havestoodasanallegoryofTRIBALdismembermentandreconciliation——

thetribe,conceivedofasadivinity,havingthussufferedanddiedthroughtheinbreakofsinandtheself-motive,andrisenagainintowholenessbytheredemptionofloveandsacrifice。Whateverviewtherankandfileofthetribemayhavetakenofthematter,Ithinkitisincontestablethatthemorethoughtfulregardedtheseritesasfullofmysticandspiritualmeaning。Itisofthenature,asIhavesaidbefore,oftheseearlysymbolsandceremoniesthattheyheldsomanymeaningsinsolution;anditisthisfactwhichgavethemapoeticorcreativequality,andtheirgreatholduponthepublicmind。

Iusetheword“tribe“inmanyplaceshereasamatterofconvenience;notforgettinghoweverthatinsomecases“clan“mightbemoreappropriate,asreferringtoasectionofatribe;or“people“or“folk“asreferringtounionsofSEVERALtribes。Itisimpossibleofcoursetofollowoutallthegradationsoforganizationfromtribaluptonationallife;butitmayberememberedthatwhileanimaltotemsprevailasaruleintheearlierstages,human-

formedgodsbecomemoreconspicuousinthelaterdevelopments。

Allthrough,thepracticeoftheEucharistgoeson,invaryingformsadaptingitselftothesurroundingconditions;andwhereinthelatersocietiesareligionlikeMithraismorChristianityincludespeopleofveryvariousrace,theRitelosesquitenaturallyitstribalsignificanceandbecomesacelebrationofallegiancetoaparticulargod——ofunitywithinaspecialChurch,infact。

Ultimatelyitmaybecome——asforabriefmomentinthehistoryoftheearlyChristiansitseemedlikelytodo——acelebrationofallegiancetoallHumanity,irrespectiveofraceorcreedorcolorofskinorofmind:thoughunfortunatelythatdayseemsstillfardistantandremainsyetunrealized。Itmustnotbeoverlooked,however,thatthereligionofthePersianBb,firstpromulgatedin1845to1850——andasubjectIshalldealwithpresently——hadasamatteroffactthisallembracinganduniversalscope。

ToreturntotheGoldenAgeorGardenofEden。Ourconclusionseemstobethattherereallywassuchaperiodofcomparativeharmonyinhumanlife——towhichlatergenerationswerejustifiedinlookingback,andlookingbackwithregret。ItcorrespondedinthepsychologyofhumanEvolutiontostageOne。ThesecondstagewasthatoftheFall;andsooneisinevitablyledtotheconjectureandthehopethatathirdstagewillredeemtheearthanditsinhabitantstoaconditionofcomparativeblessedness。

X。THESAVIOUR-GODANDTHEVIRGIN-MOTHER

Fromtheconsiderationoftheworld-widebeliefinapastGoldenAge,andtheworld-widepracticeoftheEucharist,inthesenseindicatedinthelastchapter,tothatoftheequallywidespreadbeliefinahuman-divineSaviour,isabriefandeasystep。Somethirtyyearsago,dealingwiththissubject,[1]Iwroteasfollows:——“ThetrueSelfofmanconsistsinhisorganicrelationwiththewholebodyofhisfellows;andwhenthemanabandonshistrueSelfheabandonsalsohistruerelationtohisfellows。Themass-Manmustruleineachunit-man,elsetheunit-manwilldropoffanddie。Butwhentheoutermantriestoseparatehimselffromtheinner,theunit-manfromthemass-Man,thenthereignofindividualitybegins——afalseandimpossibleindividualityofcourse,buttheonlymeansofcomingtotheconsciousnessofthetrueindividuality。”

Andfurther,“Thusthisdivinityineachcreature,beingthatwhichconstitutesitandcausesittocoheretogether,wasconceivedofasthatcreature"ssaviour,healer——healerofwoundsofbodyandwoundsofheart——theManwithintheman,whomitwasnotonlypossibletoknow,butwhomtoknowandbeunitedwithwasthealonesalvation。This,Itakeit,wasthelawofhealth——andofholiness——asacceptedatsomeeldertimeofhumanhistory,andbyusseenasthroughaglassdarkly。”

[1]SeeCivilisation:itsCauseandCure,ch。i。

Ithinkitisimpossiblenottosee——howevermuchinourprideofCivilization(!)weliketojeeratthepettinessesoftriballife——thattheseelderpeopleperceivedasamatteroffactanddirectconsciousnesstheredeemingpresence(withineachunit-memberofthegroup)ofthelargerlifetowhichhebelonged。Thislargerlifewasareality——

“aPresencetobefeltandknown“;andwhetherhecalleditbythenameofaTotem-animal,orbythenameofaNature-divinity,orbythenameofsomegracioushuman-limbedGod——someHercules,Mithra,Attis,Orpheus,orwhat-not——orevenbythegreatnameofHumanityitself,itwasstillinanycasetheSaviour,thelivingincarnateBeingbytherealizationofwhosepresencethelittlemortalcouldbeliftedoutofexileanderroranddeathandsufferingintosplendorandlifeeternal。

Itisimpossible,Ithink,nottoseethatthemyriadworshipof“Saviours“allovertheworld,fromChinatoPeru,canonlybeascribedtothenaturalworkingofsomesuchlawofhumanandtribalpsychology——fromearliesttimesandinallracesthesame——springingupquitespontaneouslyandindependently,and(sofar)unaffectedbythemerecontagionoflocaltradition。TosupposethattheDevil,longbeforetheadventofChristianity,puttheideaintotheheadsofalltheseearlierfolk,isreallytopayTOOgreatacomplimentbothtothepowerandtheingenuityofhisSatanicMajesty——thoughtheingenuitywithwhichtheearlyChurchDIDitselfsuppressallinformationaboutthesepre-ChristianSavioursalmostrivalsthatwhichitcreditedtoSatan!Andontheotherhandtosupposethismarvellousanduniversalconsentofbelieftohavesprungbymerecontagionfromoneaccidentalsourcewouldseemequallyfar-fetchedandunlikely。

Butalmostmoreremarkablethantheworld-encirclingbeliefinhuman-divineSavioursistheequallywidespreadlegendoftheirbirthfromVirgin-mothers。Thereishardlyagod——aswehavealreadyhadoccasiontosee——whoseworshipasabenefactorofmankindattainedpopularityinanyofthefourcontinents,Europe,Asia,AfricaandAmerica——whowasnotreportedtohavebeenbornfromaVirgin,oratleastfromamotherwhoowedtheChildnottoanyearthlyfather,buttoanimpregnationfromHeaven。Andthisseemsatfirstsightallthemoreastonishingbecausethebeliefinthepossibilityofsuchathingissoentirelyoutofthelineofourmodernthought。

Sothatwhileitwouldseemnotunnaturalthatsuchalegendshouldhave,sprungupspontaneouslyinsomeoddbenightedcorneroftheworld,wefinditverydifficulttounderstandhowinthatcaseitshouldhavespreadsorapidlyineverydirection,or——ifitdidnotspread——howwearetoaccountforitsSPONTANEOUSappearanceinallthesewidelysunderedregions。

Ithinkhere,andfortheunderstandingofthisproblem,wearethrownbackuponaveryearlyageofhumanevolution——theageofMagic。Beforeanysettledscienceorphilosophyorreligionexisted,therewerestillcertainThings——andconsequentlyalsocertainWords——whichhadatremendousinfluenceonthehumanmind,whichinfactaffecteditdeeply。Suchaword,forinstance,is"Thunder";

tohearthunder,toimitateit,eventomentionit,aresurewaysofrousingsuperstitiousattentionandimagination。

Suchanotherwordis"Serpent,"another"Tree,"andsoforth。Thereisnoonewhoisinsensibletothereverberationoftheseandothersuchwordsandimages[1];andamongthem,standingprominentlyout,arethetwo"Mother"and"Virgin。"ThewordMothertouchesthedeepestspringsofhumanfeeling。Astheearliestwordlearntandclungtobythechild,ittwinesitselfwiththeheart-stringsofthemaneventohislatestday。Normustweforgetthatinaprimitivestateofsociety(theMatriarchate)thatinfluencewasprobablyevengreaterthannow;forthefatherofthechildbeing(oftenasnot)

UNKNOWNtheattachmenttothemotherwasallthemoreintenseandundivided。ThewordMotherhadamagicaboutitwhichbasremainedevenuntilto-day。ButifthatwordrooteditselfdeepintheheartoftheChild,theotherword"virgin"hadanobviousmagicforthefullgrownandsexuallymatureMan——amagicwhichit,too,hasneverlost。

[1]Norisitdifficulttoseehowoutofthediscreetuseofsuchwordsandimages,combinedwithelementaryformslikethesquare,thetriangleandthecircle,andelementarynumberslike3,4,5,etc。,quiteascience,sotospeak,ofMagicarose。

ThereisampleevidencethatoneoftheveryearliestobjectsofhumanworshipwastheEarthitself,conceivedofasthefertileMotherofallthings。GaiaorGe(theearth)

hadtemplesandaltarsinalmostallthecitiesofGreece。

RheaorCybele,sprungfromtheEarth,was“motherofallthegods。”Demeter(“earthmother“)washonoredfarandwideasthegraciouspatronessofthecropsandvegetation。Ceres,ofcourse,thesame。MaiaintheIndianmythologyandIsisintheEgyptianareformsofNatureandtheEarth-spirit,representedasfemale;andsoforth。TheEarth,intheseancientcults,wasthemysticsourceofalllife,andtoit,asapropitiation,lifeofallkindswassacrificed。[Therearestrangeaccountsofahugefirebeingmade,withanaltartoCybeleinthemidst,andofdeerandfawnsandwildanimals,andbirdsandsheepandcornandfruitsbeingthrownpell-mellintotheflames。[1]]

Itwas,inaway,themostnatural,asitseemstohavebeentheearliestandmostspontaneousofcults——theworshipoftheEarth-mother,theall-producingeternalsourceoflife,andonaccountofhernever-failingever-renewedfertilityconceivedofasanimmortalVirgin。

[1]SeePausaniasiv。32。6;andLucian,DeSyriaDea,49。

ButwhentheSaviour-legendsprangup——asindeedI

thinkitmusthavesprungup,intribeaftertribeandpeopleafterpeople,independently——then,whetheritsprangfromthedivinizationofsomeactualmanwhoshowedthewayoflightanddeliverancetohisfellows“sittingindarkness,“orwhetherfromthepersonificationofthetribeitselfasagod,ineithercasethequestionofthehero"sparentagewasboundtoarise。Ifthe"saviour"

wasplainlyapersonificationofthetribe,itwasobviouslyimpossibletosupposehimthesonofamortalmother。Inthatcase——andifthetribewasgenerallytracedinthelegendstosomeprimevalAnimalorMountainorthingofNature——itwasprobablyeasytothinkofhim(thesaviour)as,bornoutofNature"swomb,descendedperhapsfromthatpureVirginoftheWorldwhoistheEarthandNature,whorulestheskiesatnight,andstandsinthechangingphasesoftheMoon,andisworshiped(aswehaveseen)inthegreatconstellationVirgo。If,ontheotherhand,hewasthedivinizationofsomeactualman,moreorlessknowneitherpersonallyorbytraditiontohisfellows,theninallprobabilitythenameofhismortalmotherwouldberecognizedandaccepted;butastohisfather,thatsideofparentagebeing,aswehavesaid,generallyveryuncertain,itwouldbeeasytosupposesomeheavenlyAnnunciation,themidnightvisitofaGod,andwhatisusuallytermedaVirgin-birth。

Therearetwoelementstoberememberedhere,asconspiringtothisconclusion。Oneistheconditionofaffairsinaremotematriarchialperiod,whendescentwasreckonedalwaysthroughthematernalline,andthefatherhoodineachgenerationwasobscureorunknownorcommonlyleftoutofaccount;andtheotheristhefact——sostrangeanddifficultforustorealize——thatamongsomeveryprimitivepeoples,liketheAustralianaborigines,thenecessityforawomantohaveintercoursewithamale,inordertobringaboutconceptionandchild-birth,wasactuallynotrecognized。Scientificobservationhadnotalwaysgotasfarasthat,andthematterwasstillunderthedomainofMagic![1]AVirgin-Motherwasthereforeaquiteimaginable(nottosay"conceivable")thing;andindeedaverybeautifulandfascinatingthing,combininginoneimagethepotentmagicoftwoverywonderfulwords。Itdoesnotseemimpossiblethatconsiderationsofthiskindledtotheadoptionofthedoctrineorlegendofthevirgin-motherandtheheavenlyfatheramongsomanyracesandinsomanylocalities——evenwithoutanycontagionoftraditionamongthem。

[1]Probablythelongperiod(ninemonths)elapsingbetweencohabitationandchildbirthconfusedearlyspeculationonthesubject。ThenclearlycohabitationwasNOTalwaysfollowedbychildbirth。And,moreimportantstill,thenumberofvirginsofamatureageinprimitivesocietieswassoveryminutethatthefactoftheirchildlessnessattractednoattention——whereasinOURsocietiesthesterilityofthewholeclassispatenttoeveryone。

Anyhow,andasamatteroffact,theworld-widedisseminationofthelegendismostremarkable。Zeus,Fatherofthegods,visitedSemele,itwillberemembered,intheformofathunderstorm;andshegavebirthtothegreatsaviouranddelivererDionysus。Zeus,again,impregnatedDanaeinashowerofgold;andthechildwasPerseus,whoslewtheGorgons(thepowersofdarkness)andsavedAndromeda(thehumansoul[1])。Devaki,theradiantVirginoftheHindumythology,becamethewifeofthegodVishnuandboreKrishna,thebelovedheroandprototypeofChrist。WithregardtoBuddhaSt。Jeromesays[2]“ItishandeddownamongtheGymnosophists,ofIndiathatBuddha,thefounderoftheirsystem,wasbroughtforthbyaVirginfromherside。”TheEgyptianIsis,withthechildHorus,onherknee,washonoredcenturiesbeforetheChristianera,andworshipedunderthenamesof“OurLady,““QueenofHeaven,““StaroftheSea,“

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