Demonology and devil-lore / by Moncure Daniel Conway.

  • Conway, Moncure Daniel, 1832-1907.
Date:
1879
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Demonology and devil-lore / by Moncure Daniel Conway. Source: Wellcome Collection.

Provider: This material has been provided by the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, through the Medical Heritage Library. The original may be consulted at the Francis A. Countway Library of Medicine, Harvard Medical School.

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    DEMONOLATRY. CHAPTER I. DUALISM. Origin of Deism—Evolution from the far to the near—Illustrations from witchcraft — The primitive Pantheism — The dawn of Dualism. A COLLEGE in the State of Ohio has adopted for its motto the words ' Orient thyself.' This significant ad- monition to Western youth represents one condition of attaining truth in the science of mythology. Through neglect of it the glowing personifications and metaphors of the East have too generally migrated to the West only to find it a Medusa turning them to stone. Our prosaic literalism changes their ideals to idols. The time has come when we must learn rather to see ourselves in them: out of an age and civilisation where we live in habitual recognition of natural forces we may transport ourselves to a period and region where no sophisticated eye looks upon nature. The sun is a chariot drawn by shining steeds and driven by a refulgent deity; the stars ascend and move by arbitrary power or command ; the tree is the bower of a spirit; the fountain leaps from the urn of a naiad. In such gay costumes did the laws of nature hold