1
THE TORCH OF REASON, SILVERTON, OREGON, MARCH 16, 1899.
ed in unaccustomed places.
O riental R eligions.
are still prevalent all over Asia, for ality. How much longer will the
The advent of Mrs. Page at the
the Asiatic morally and mentally ratioll<ll Norse and Germanic na.
Silver Brick hotel naturally made
BY B. F. UNDERWOOD.
is a fixture, a stationary man, and
a sensation. An assemblage of n o t!
not only morally and mentally, tions, which are the leaders of mod­
less than fifty gentlemen of leisure
The Asiatic presents a striking but socially and in matters of gov- ern civilization, condescend to tol­
erate these worn-out and exploded
crowded about the entrance, each contrast to the European and the ernment.
more intent than the others on American. He is “a brown man”.
He reached a certain stage of de­ Orientalisms and Asiaticisms?
I he primitive Greeks, who were
getting a look at the arrivals, and \ et the white races and communi- velopment tw’o or three thousand
especially at this one arrival
ties of Europe and America have years ago, and there he “sticks” to the first rational, modern people,
whose age, looks, name, business derived their religions from the the present day. He still believes understood Asia and the groveling
and intentions in coming to Lucky- brown Asiatic. The Asiatic’s idea in demoniacal possession as he did Asiatic mind, so servile and un­
dog were discussed with great free- of government is that of a single, in the days of the so-called savior; manly and superstitious in its ten­
dom. Sam Rice was closely ques- irresponsible, absolute despot. The that is, he believes there are bad dencies, thoroughly. Hence they
tioned, but proved reticent and thought of a popular representative spirits or demons, the subjects of opposed with all their might, and
non-committal. The landlord was government based on law neveren- ^atau, who take possession of the successfully, the attempts of sever­
beseiged with inquiries — the land- tered his head. A writer in the bodies of human beings as oppor­ al Asiatic despots to overrun aud
lad» too— and all without any- Contemporary review some years tunity occurs and infest them with subjugate Europe. But later on
body being made much the wiser, ago said:
disease and madness. The Asiatic Europe became fearfully infected
There was the way-bill, and there
“The Asiatic from the days of believes that Satan holds divided with Asiatic superstition, and both
was the lady herself; put that and Saul and earlier has preferred that sway with God, and that the pow­ Europe and America remain so to
that together and make what you his ruler should l>e absolute, and ers of light and darkness are engag­ this day. But the rational, scien­
could of it.
there is not and never has been a ed in a constant warfare for the tific, democratic civilization of to­
Mrs. Dolly Page did not seem brown community in which the souls of men.
day is bound to disencumber itself
discomposed in the least by the ev- ruler had not the right to inflict
As Prof. Huxley says, the Gos­ of this Oriental rubbish, which con­
derit interest she inspired With death on a private person at his pels, the Acts, the Epistles and the stitutes the chief obstacle to pro­
her black curls smoothly brushed, discretion. . . Asiatic rulers are Apocalypse assert the existence of gress.
her black robes immaculately neat, not overthrown for despotism, and the devil and his demons and hell
with a pretty color in her round the reason is that their subjects as plainly as they do that of God.
I Can’t Learn E asily.
cheeks, and a quietly absorbed ex­ like it, that it etrikes and soothes
Disease in the New Testament is
pression in her whole bearing, she their imaginations; that they think regarded as the lesult of the demo­
Many a young person becomes
endured the concentrated gaze of autocracy, wielded bv an individu­ niacal possession of the sick man. discouraged because he thinks some
fifty pairs of eyes during the whole al who can fit his decision to each And it is largely go regarded all
other person learns more easily
of dinner without so much as one individual case, the perfection of over Asia today. Asia now, as it
awkward movement, or the drop­ beneficial energy and a reflex of was thousands of years ago, is than he does. Those w’ho learn
ping of a fork or teaspoon. So it the government of the most high. overrun by fanatical religious most easily often make the least of
life. Remember the reply of the
was plain that the curious would Unless the law is divine, they dis- tramps called dervishes, santons,
Spartan mother when she gave her
have to await Mrs. Page’s own time | like law as an instrument of eov- vogees, etc., who are unutterably
son a sword and commanded him
for developments.
ernment, and prefer a flexible and filthy beggars, but who are every­ to go into the battle and be brave
But developments did not seem movable human will, which can be where treated with reverence.
and do valiantly. He looked at the
likely to come overwhelmingly, turned by prayers, threats and
In the third chapter of the first sword and said:
Mrs. Page made a fast friend of the conciliations in money.”
*
gospel one of these Oriental relig­ “Mother, this sword is too short.”
landlady of the Silver Brick by
As has been said, the chief re­ ious tramps and enthusiasts is in­
The mother replied:
means of little househould arts pe­ ligions of the world are of Asiatic
troduced under the name of John
“My son, add a step to it.”
culiarly her own, aud before a fort- origin, viz., Judaism, Buddhism.
the Baptist. He might have been
So, kind reader, if you feel that
night was gone had become as in- Christianity and Mohammedanism, a wandering Buddhist saint. He
your ability is a litle short, add en­
dispensable to all the boarders as Of course the primitive Asiatics of is represented as roaming the des­
she was to Mrs. Shaughnessy her­ Arabia, Persia, Judea and India ert shouting to all who might be ergy to it. A little ability with en­
ergy is far better than great ability
self. If she had a history, she kept who were the evolvers of the above
within earshot to repent because without energy.
it carefully from curious ears. Mrs. religions, had no correct scientific
“the kingdom of the heavens,”
Yon have talent enough if you
Shaughnessy was evidently satisfied knowledge, no idea whatever of the whatever that might have been,
will use it. The future holds suc­
and quite challenged criticism of her limitless universe of modern sci- was at hand. Then follows a reg­
cess for you if you will pay the
favorite. Indeed, there was noth- enee. Their terrestrial knowledge ular Oriental myth or fairy tale of price.
ing to criticise. It was generally even only included a portion of the
the Arabian Nights sort, descrip­
understood that she was a widow’, continent of Asia. The sky, accord­ tive of the baptism of Jesus by this
Rural M in ister’s B lessin g.
who had to get on in the world as ing to their primitive notions, was wandering santon in the Jordan,
best she could, and thus the public a mere aerial roofing of the earth, while the heavens open and a dove
Down in the rural district it hap­
sympathy was secured and an em­ and not an outlet into infinite hovers above the scene and a su­
pened, when the Mean Man invited
bargo laid upon gossip. To be sure, space, starred with innumerable
pernatural voice is heard vouching the preacher to dinner. The mean
there were certain men iu Lucky- suns and worlds. They made the
for the divine sonship of Jesus. man had plenty of money, but he
dog, of a class which has its repre sky the abode of a celestial des-
The New Testament, like the Arab­
sentatives everywhere, who regard- pot with a court of angels, his min- ian Nights and all other Asiatic didn’t spend it on his table, which
e all unappropriated women, and isters and servitors.
In other writings, is full of supernatural oc­ on that occasion showed but scant
fare.
especially pretty women, very much words, the theism of all the chief currences and the performances of
“ Parson,” said the Mean Man,
hunter regards game, and the religions is the rule of an Oriental supernatural agencies. Travelers
“times air hard an’ groceries high;
difficult to approach, the despot reigning in the heavens.
in the East to this day, no matter but such as it is, you’re welcome,
r exciting the chase. But these
In the New Testament the the- how rational or modern they may Will you ax a blessing?”
Uj,)ra Nimrods had not half the ism, which prevails even at present
be in their ideas and convictions,
“I will,” said the parson; “fold
/‘
8e^-possessed Mrs. among the white races of the West, say that the everywhere prevailing your hands.” And then he said:
I / •
^ e y w’ould have is called “the kingdom of the heav- superstitions are so constantly in-
“Lord, make us thankful for
1( a different style of wo- ens”, as if there were a personal sisted upon, that they can not es­
what we are about to receive — for
,an-
e grosser sort got a sud- deity reigning in the heavens over- cape a certain infection for the
these greens without bacon, this
1 ‘
; and with the more re- head I Our theologies being of time being. The question is how bread
without salt, this coffee with-
... ,,, <^°rtSmen 8^e coil,lfdted just Asiatic origin, are all infected with much longer the supernaturalisms,,out sugar; and, after we have re-
pm, i f i
Kh°w them that two the Asiatic idea that the universe theologies and mythologies of Asiajceived it, give thy servant strength
could play at a game of “make be- is governed by a personal celestial
which originated among the primi­ to get home in time for dinner.”—
‘7 ' / and then 8ent thera
with despot. The New Testament is a
tive Assyrians, Egyptians, Persians,
* ? scorn edifying to behold — thoroughly Asiatic book, as much Arabians and Jews (an Arabian [Atlanta Constitution.
-------- ---- "» — ------ ------ — ouu «gown
nmuiaii
___________
‘he mingled admiration aud
so as the Arabian Nights. The tribe), thousands of years ag >, are
Woodworkers, don’t forget to send an
a,UU8e“»entof Mrs. Shaughnessy.
same superstitious notions which to be preached in these modern 'order for a set of the Forstner Auger
r' 1 BE CONTINUED.)
) are spoken of in the New Testament 1 days of positive knowledge and re-1 Bits. Price, »2.00 by mail. See ad