CHAPTER XV. 



ECCLESIASTICAL RETROSPECT AND PROSPECT. 



652. AMONG social phenomena, those presented 1&amp;gt;y 

 Ecclesiastical Institutions illustrate very clearly the general 

 law of evolution. 



Subjection to the family-head during his life, continues to 

 be shown after his death by offering to his double the things 

 he liked, and doing the things he wished; and when the 

 family multiplies into a tribe, presents to the chief, accom 

 panied by compliments and petitions, are continued after his 

 death in the shape of oblations, praises, and prayers to his 

 ghost. That is to say, domestic, civil, and religious subordina 

 tion have a common root ; and are at first carried on in like 

 ways by the same agencies. 



Differentiation early begins, however. First some contrast 

 arises between the private cult proper to each family, and the 

 public cult proper to the chiefs family; and the chief, as 

 propitiator of his dead ancestor on behalf of the tribe, as 

 well as on his own behalf, unites the functions of civil head 

 and spiritual head. Development of the tribe, bringing in 

 creased political and military functions, obliges the chief more 

 and more to depute, usually to a relative, his priestly func 

 tion ; and thus, in course of time, this acquires a separate 

 agency. 



From integration of societies effected by conquest, there 

 results the coexistence of different cults in different parts of 



