766 ECCLESIASTICAL INSTITUTIONS. 



of the latter their proper mission in history ; &quot; the filiation 

 of this religious development upon ancestor-worship becomes 

 manifest. And since the periodic gatherings for sacrifice 

 initiated the Amphictyonic council, the statutes of which 

 &quot; had their origin in the Apolline religion,&quot; and were regarded 

 with respect by the separate Grecian states &quot; in all matters 

 touching on rights common to all ; &quot; we have clear proof that 

 the federal bond originated in a common worship. 



The like happened in Italy. Concerning the Etruscans* 

 Mommsen says &quot; Each of these leagues consisted of twelve 

 communities, which recognized a metropolis, especially for 

 purposes of worship, and a federal head or rather a high- 

 priest.&quot; It was thus with the Latins too. Alba was the 

 chief place of the Latin league ; and it was also the place at 

 which the tribes forming the league assembled for their 

 religious festivals : such union as existed among them was 

 sanctified by a cult in which all joined. A kindred fact 

 is alleged of ancient Borne. &quot;The oldest constitution of 

 Rome is religious throughout,&quot; says Seeley. &quot;Institutions 

 suggested by naked utility come in later, and those which 

 they practically supersede are not abolished, but formally 

 retained on account of their religious character.&quot; 



Though generally in such cases the need for joint defence 

 against external enemies is the chief prompter to federation ; 

 yet in each case the federation formed is determined by that 

 community of sacred rites which from time to time brings 

 the dispersed divisions of the same stock together, and keeps 

 alive in them the idea of a common origin as well as the 

 sentiment appropriate to it. 



Though Christendom has not exemplified in any consider 

 able degree a like consolidating effect though its worship, 

 being an adopted- one has not supplied that bond which 

 results where the worship is of some great founder of the 

 tribe or traditional god of the race; yet it can hardly bo 

 questioned that unity of creed and ceremony has to some 

 extent served as an integrating principle. Though Christian 



