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Article THE UNIVERSALITY OF SUPERSTITION. ← Page 10 of 20 →
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Universality Of Superstition.
On a Wednesday was born Pope Sixtus V . ; on the same day made a monk , a general of his order , created cardinal , elected pope , and on that day xvas inaugurated . Thursday , again , was fatal to Hemy VIII . and his posterity ; he died , as did King Edward VI ., Queen Mary , ancl Queen Elizabeth , on that clay of the week . On the feast of Pentecost Henry III . xvas born , made king of Poland , ancl succeeded his brother , Charles IX . In Scotland it is considered unfortunate to marry in May ,
xvhich month is favoxu-able to enchantments . At this time maidens place a snail on a slate , which , by crawling , traces out the initial letter of their future husband ' s name . Many ceremonies were attached to certain days of this month , ancl originated the choosing a king and queen of May to preside over such rites . Childermas , or Innocent ' s-day , was deemed unlucky
for marriage . The coronation of Edward IV . xvas postponed till after this day . In Logierait , Perthshire , so late as 1818 , a firm belief xvas entertained that the clay of the week upon xvhich the 14 th of May chanced to fall , xvould prove unlucky throughout the rest of the year ; and in 1828 , the idea Avas prevalent in Banff , that on the 12 th of the same month , spirits might be seen dancing on the waters of the Avon , and that on that day they made universal havoc among the poultry and cattle of the
farmers of that shire . Again , the power of foretelling fixture events , either by inspiration of individuals or by presage drawn from certain natural phenomena , has been a favourite matter of superstitious credulity in all ages of the world ' s history . The prophetic poAver of the inspired scriptural ancients , found a distorted reflection
in pagan countries , and in their own also . After the return of the Jews from Babylon , they abandoned themselves to a system of divination founded in sorcery , as evinced by the Talmud , Avhich abounds Avith mystic rites ; and is still looked upon xvith veneration almost amounting to idolatry . The rabbins interpreted dreams and cured diseases after the model of Zoroaster , not of Moses ; and consulted the stars and the operative agency
of spirits . The JBAVS still practise singular ceremonies of a traditionary kind at births and marriages . The Cabala contains directions for rendering spirits visible , for the purposes of divination by combinations of various texts and Avords . Thus , the five Hebrew letters of which the name Satan is formed , constitute the number 364 . It is believed that he is on this account
unable to injure them b y false accusation , except on one out of the 365 days of the year . Divination and sorcery , then , come into action to determine and guard against this day of Satanic license .
Note: This text has been automatically extracted via Optical Character Recognition (OCR) software.
The Universality Of Superstition.
On a Wednesday was born Pope Sixtus V . ; on the same day made a monk , a general of his order , created cardinal , elected pope , and on that day xvas inaugurated . Thursday , again , was fatal to Hemy VIII . and his posterity ; he died , as did King Edward VI ., Queen Mary , ancl Queen Elizabeth , on that clay of the week . On the feast of Pentecost Henry III . xvas born , made king of Poland , ancl succeeded his brother , Charles IX . In Scotland it is considered unfortunate to marry in May ,
xvhich month is favoxu-able to enchantments . At this time maidens place a snail on a slate , which , by crawling , traces out the initial letter of their future husband ' s name . Many ceremonies were attached to certain days of this month , ancl originated the choosing a king and queen of May to preside over such rites . Childermas , or Innocent ' s-day , was deemed unlucky
for marriage . The coronation of Edward IV . xvas postponed till after this day . In Logierait , Perthshire , so late as 1818 , a firm belief xvas entertained that the clay of the week upon xvhich the 14 th of May chanced to fall , xvould prove unlucky throughout the rest of the year ; and in 1828 , the idea Avas prevalent in Banff , that on the 12 th of the same month , spirits might be seen dancing on the waters of the Avon , and that on that day they made universal havoc among the poultry and cattle of the
farmers of that shire . Again , the power of foretelling fixture events , either by inspiration of individuals or by presage drawn from certain natural phenomena , has been a favourite matter of superstitious credulity in all ages of the world ' s history . The prophetic poAver of the inspired scriptural ancients , found a distorted reflection
in pagan countries , and in their own also . After the return of the Jews from Babylon , they abandoned themselves to a system of divination founded in sorcery , as evinced by the Talmud , Avhich abounds Avith mystic rites ; and is still looked upon xvith veneration almost amounting to idolatry . The rabbins interpreted dreams and cured diseases after the model of Zoroaster , not of Moses ; and consulted the stars and the operative agency
of spirits . The JBAVS still practise singular ceremonies of a traditionary kind at births and marriages . The Cabala contains directions for rendering spirits visible , for the purposes of divination by combinations of various texts and Avords . Thus , the five Hebrew letters of which the name Satan is formed , constitute the number 364 . It is believed that he is on this account
unable to injure them b y false accusation , except on one out of the 365 days of the year . Divination and sorcery , then , come into action to determine and guard against this day of Satanic license .