746 ECCLESIASTICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



momentum among the highest intelligences. A supremacy 

 of one supernatural agent having become established, there 

 follows the thought that what power other supernatural 

 agents exercise is exercised by permission. Presently they 

 come to be conceived as deputies, entrusted with powers 

 not their own ; and in proportion as the Cause of Causes 

 grows more predominant in thought, the secondary causes 

 fade from thought. 



615. Rightly to conceive the evolution of monotheism 

 and its accompanying ecclesiastical institutions, we must 

 take note of several influences which qualify it. 



The earlier tendencies towards the rise of a supreme deity 

 are apt to prove abortive. Just as during the first stages of 

 social integration, a predominant headship is often but tem 

 porary, and the power acquired by a conquering chief is fre 

 quently lost by his successor ; so an ascribed headship among 

 the gods is commonly not lasting. For this we may see more 

 reasons than one. The double of a dead man, at first 



conceived as existing temporarily, becomes conceived as per 

 manently existing only where circumstances favour remem 

 brance of him ; and in like manner supremacy among ghosts 

 or gods, requires for its maintenance that traditions shall be 

 well preserved, and the social state lend itself to orderly 

 observances. In many places these conditions are in 

 adequately fulfilled. Remarking upon the fading of traditions 

 among the Comanches, Schoolcraft says &quot; I question if tho 

 names of any of their chiefs of the fourth generation 

 ascending are retained among them;&quot; and when, in 1770, 

 Cook touched on the shores of New Zealand within fifteen 

 miles of the place visited by Tasman a hundred and twenty- 

 eight years before, he found no tradition of the event. 

 So that though everywhere the original tendency is for 

 the oldest known progenitor to become tne chief god ; yet, 

 as we are shown by the Unkulunkulu of the Zulus, this 

 headship of the supernatural beings is apt to fade from 



