1898-99. | LANGUAGE AND RELIGION. 273 
EANGUAGE, AND REPIGION. 
By REV. JOHN MACLEAN, PH. D. 
(Read May 6th, 1899.) 
Language is the handmaid of religion. As the outward expression of 
religion is dependent upon language, we may by the study of the words 
and forms of expression obtain some conception of the religious ideas 
and ceremonies of a tribe or nation. As ancient religion was dependent 
for its expression on language, we can best understand it by understand- 
ing the ancient tongue, and without this knowledge we are compelled to 
accept the interpretations of scholars who are conversant with the form 
of speech. Archeology comes to our aid in understanding ancient 
religious beliefs and practices, but the chief place must be given to lan- 
guage. As there are various dialects of language, so there are dialects 
of religion of numerous kinds, whereby the learned and ignorant, the 
clergy and laity, men, women and children express their religious 
thoughts and feelings. As language changes from the period of child- 
hood to that of manhood, so does religion. So closely are they related 
that language is influenced by religion, and deeply imbedded in the 
words spoken are the thoughts and forms of religion practised by the 
priests and people. Religion lies at the foundation of national unity and 
when a tribe or nation becomes definite, the language becomes definite, 
and we are able to see the relationship existing between language and 
religion. During the childhood of the human race the various tribes of 
men had no doubt religious rites as an expression of their thoughts 
about God and his relationship to his creatures, and some form of verbal 
communication had been used for handing down from father to son the 
creed which became a tie to bind them together. The study of lan- 
guage has enabled us to trace the objects of worship to their root-forms, 
thus revealing the meaning and thought that lay at the root of the wor- 
ship, and the identity of the gods of different nations, though having ap- 
parently different names, has been proved by resolving them into the 
same root-word. Language expresses the inner life of a people, and by 
its help we may obtain with considerable accuracy a knowledge of their 
modes of life and thought, and religious beliefs and forms of worship 
