AN ECCLESIASTICAL SYSTEM AS A SOCIAL BOXD. 767 



brotherhood has not been much displayed among Christian 

 peoples, still, it has not been absolutely a mere name. Indeed 

 if is manifest that since similarity of thought and sympathy 

 of feeling must further harmony by diminishing reasons for 

 difference, agreement in religion necessarily favours union. 



624 Still more clearly shown is the parallelism between 

 suspension of family animosities at funerals, and temporary 

 cessation of hostilities between clans on occasions of common 

 religious festivals. 



Already in 144 I have pointed out that among some of 

 the uncivilized, burial places of chiefs become sacred, to the 

 extent that fighting in them is forbidden : one of the results 

 being the initiation of sanctuaries. Naturally an interdict 

 against quarrels at burial-places, or sacred places where 

 sacrifices are to be made, tends to become an interdict against 

 quarrels with those who are going there to sacrifice. The 

 Tahitians would not molest an enemy who came to make 

 offerings to the national idol; and among the Chibchas 

 pilgrims to Iraca (Sogamoso) were protected by the religious 

 character of the country even in time of war. These cases 

 at once recall cases from ancient European history. Of the 

 tribes which originated the Eoman civilization, we read 

 &quot;There are, however, indications that during the Latin 

 festival [sacrifices to Jupiter], just as was the case during the 

 festivals of the Hellenic leagues, a truce of God was 

 observed throughout all Latium.&quot; And the instance with 

 which Mommsen here makes a comparison, being much more; 

 specific, is particularly instructive. First serving to regulate 

 the worship of a deity common to all, and to maintain a 

 temporary peace among worshippers, the Amphictyonic 

 council served to guarantee &quot;a safe and inviolate transit 

 even through hostile Hellenic states &quot; to the sacrifices and to 

 the games which became associated with them. And here 

 from the temporary suspensions of antagonisms came 

 secondary effects furthering union. 



