The Rural Magazine, and Literary Evening Fire-Side, Vol. 1 No. 09 (1820)

Vol. I. Philadelphia, Ninth Month , 1820. No. 9.
FOR THE RURAL MAGAZINE.
Man has been in all ages and countries, in a greater or less degree, the victim of imposture and superstition. Their origin can every where be traced to rude and uncultivated periods of society; but subsequent stages of comparative elegance and refinement have also ministered to the support of their dominion. Egypt, Greece and Rome were successively the seats of learning and science; yet in these celebrated regions, the human mind was enveloped in darkness and loaded with chains. The Egyptians have this ancient proverb: It is easier to find a deity than a man. —Apotheosis must have been carried to an extraordinary length indeed when this was the case. Among these deities, Isis was prominently distinguished, and universally worshipped. On her statues, these words were impudently inscribed: I am all that has been, that shall be, and none among mortals has hitherto taken off my veil! Who but would blush for the credulity which listened with reverential awe to the oracular responses at Delphi, a town situate in the neighbourhood of Mount Parnassus, believed by every one at that time to be the centre of the earth! And concerning this precious object, the wars denominated the sacred wars, were so furiously and destructively waged. The Grecians were compelled, under pain of death, rigidly to observe the mysteries of Eleusis; and the wisest of the Romans were seen consulting the flight of birds and the entrails of animals, for infallible prognostics of future events. Where the footsteps of true philosophy can be traced, her triumphs have been signal; and having found most of these and many other errors exploded, we lay claim in this enlightened age and country, to an extraordinary exemption from the influence of imposture and superstition. Although the darkness and gloom of former ages have in a great degree fled at the approach of the light of knowledge, still here and there the skirts of a black cloud remain, to indicate the failure of an absolute conquest. And the presence of these potent adversaries of human happiness, should inculcate the duty on every friend of his species of lending his aid in advancing the cause of TRUTH.