| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: in its general outline and essence by rude and primitive
people before the dawn of history, and embodied in their
rites and ceremonials. What is the explanation of this fact?
It is very puzzling. The whole subject is puzzling. The
world-wide adoption of similar creeds and rituals (and,
we may add, legends and fairy tales) among early peoples,
and in far-sundered places and times is so remarkable
that it has given the students of these subjects
'furiously to think'[1]--yet for the most part without great
success in the way of finding a solution. The supposition
that (1) the creed, rite or legend in question has
Pagan and Christian Creeds |
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from Bucolics by Virgil: Of us they feel no shame, poet divine;
Nor of the flock be thou ashamed: even fair
Adonis by the rivers fed his sheep-
Came shepherd too, and swine-herd footing slow,
And, from the winter-acorns dripping-wet
Menalcas. All with one accord exclaim:
"From whence this love of thine?" Apollo came;
"Gallus, art mad?" he cried, "thy bosom's care
Another love is following."Therewithal
Silvanus came, with rural honours crowned;
The flowering fennels and tall lilies shook
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The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from First Inaugural Address by Abraham Lincoln: never interfere with the domestic institutions of the States,
including that of persons held to service. To avoid misconstruction
of what I have said, I depart from my purpose not to speak of particular
amendments so far as to say that, holding such a provision to now be
implied Constitutional law, I have no objection to its being made express
and irrevocable.
The chief magistrate derives all his authority from the people,
and they have conferred none upon him to fix terms for the
separation of the states. The people themselves can do this
also if they choose; but the executive, as such, has nothing to
do with it. His duty is to administer the present government,
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