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emanating from the physical self。
The rites of this physical worship； again； were wholly symbolic； and
the Indian no more worshiped the Sun than the Christian adores the Cross。
The Sun and the Earth； by an obvious parable； holding scarcely more of
poetic metaphor than of scientific truth； were in his view the parents of all
organic life。 From the Sun； as the universal father； proceeds the
quickening principle in nature； and in the patient and fruitful womb of our
mother； the Earth； are hidden embryos of plants and men。 Therefore our
reverence and love for them was really an imaginative extension of our
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love for our immediate parents； and with this sentiment of filial piety was
joined a willingness to appeal to them； as to a father； for such good gifts as
we may desire。 This is the material or physical prayer。
The elements and majestic forces in nature； Lightning； Wind； Water；
Fire； and Frost； were regarded with awe as spiritual powers； but always
secondary and intermediate in character。 We believed that the spirit
pervades all creation and that every creature possesses a soul in some
degree； though not necessarily a soul conscious of itself。 The tree； the
waterfall； the grizzly bear； each is an embodied Force； and as such an
object of reverence。
The Indian loved to come into sympathy and spiritual communion
with his brothers of the animal kingdom； whose inarticulate souls had for
him something of the sinless purity that we attribute to the innocent and
irresponsible child。 He had faith in their instincts； as in a mysterious
wisdom given from above； and while he humbly accepted the supposedly
voluntary sacrifice of their bodies to preserve his own； he paid homage to
their spirits in prescribed prayers and offerings。
In every religion there is an element of the supernatural； varying with
the influence of pure reason over its devotees。 The Indian was a logical
and clear thinker upon matters within the scope of his understanding； but
he had not yet charted the vast field of nature or expressed her wonders in
terms of science。 With his limited knowledge of cause and effect； he saw
miracles on every hand；the miracle of life in seed and egg； the miracle of
death in lightning flash and in the swelling deep！ Nothing of the
marvelous could astonish him； as that a beast should speak； or the sun
stand still。 The virgin birth would appear scarcely more miraculous
than is the birth of every child that comes into the world； or the miracle of
the loaves and fishes excite more wonder than the harvest that springs
from a single ear of corn。
Who may condemn his superstition？ Surely not the devout Catholic；
or even Protestant missionary； who teaches Bible miracles as literal fact！
The logical man must either deny all miracles or none； and our American
Indian myths and hero stories are perhaps； in themselves； quite as credible
as those of the Hebrews of old。 If we are of the modern type of mind；
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that sees in natural law a majesty and grandeur far more impressive than
any solitary infraction of it could possibly be； let us not forget that； after
all； science has not explained everything。 We have still to face the
ultimate miracle；the origin and principle of life！ Here is the supreme
mystery that is the essence of worship； without which there can be no
religion； and in the presence of this mystery our attitude cannot be very
unlike that of the natural philosopher； who beholds with awe the Divine in
all creation。
It is simple truth that the Indian did not； so long as his native
philosophy held sway over his mind； either envy or desire to imitate the
splendid achievements of the white man。 In his own thought he rose
superior to them！ He scorned them； even as a lofty spirit absorbed in its
stern task rejects the soft beds； the luxurious food； the pleasure…worshiping
dalliance of a rich neighbor。 It was clear to him that virtue and happiness
are independent of these things； if not incompatible with them。
There was undoubtedly much in primitive Christianity to appeal to this
man； and Jesus' hard sayings to the rich and about the rich would have
been entirely comprehensible to him。 Yet the religion that is preached in
our churches and practiced by our congregations； with its element of
display and self…aggrandizement； its active proselytism； and its open
contempt of all religions but its own； was for a long time extremely
repellent。 To his simple mind； the professionalism of the pulpit； the paid
exhorter； the moneyed church； was an unspiritual and unedifying thing；
and it was not until his spirit was broken and his moral and physical
constitution undermined by trade； conquest； and strong drink； that
Christian missionaries obtained any real hold upon him。 Strange as it
may seem； it is true that the proud pagan in his secret soul despised the
good men who came to convert and to enlighten him！
Nor were its publicity and its Phariseeism the only elements in the
alien religion that offended the red man。 To him； it appeared shocking
and almost incredible that there were among this people who claimed
superiority many irreligious； who did not even pretend to profess the
national faith。 Not only did they not profess it； but they stooped so low
as to insult their God with profane and sacrilegious speech！ In our own
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tongue His name was not spoken aloud； even with utmost reverence； much
less lightly or irreverently。
More than this； even in those white men who professed religion we
found much inconsistency of conduct。 They spoke much of spiritual
things； while seeking only the