POWELL] SOCIOLOGY CXXXI 



rean reliu-ion is developed into sacrilicial religion, for iu bar- 

 barism the altar symbolism is further develojjed, so that food 

 and drink are sacrificed to the gods. In this stage the ghost 

 deities are believed to enjoy for themselves not only tlie danc- 

 ing but the feasting which is offered them. 



All of the tine arts have their origin in religion, for in the 

 worship of ghost deities tribal men seek to propitiate them and 

 win their favors. In this effort they exhaust all their ingenu- 

 ity in the production of music, graphic, drama, romance, and 

 poetry. Tribal music is thus the worship of the gods; tribal 

 graphic, iu the same manner, is illustration to the gods; tribal 

 drama is gesture speech to tlie gods; tribal romance is story 

 about the gods, and tribal poetry is song of the gods; finally, 

 tril)al religion is first dancing- to the ffods, to which is added 

 the fea.stino- of the gods, and at the close of this state of society 

 religion is terpsichorean and sacrificial in its essential charac- 

 teristics. The practice of religion is no inconsiderable portion 

 of tribal life, and it occupies a large share of tribal thought 



Here we must pause to emjjhasize the thought that religion 

 has for its purpose the regulation of conduct in such manner as 

 to secure, through the agency of the gods, superlative or per- 

 fect happiness. Thus is the conduct of men regulated by 

 motives that although artificial are yet profoundly potential, 

 for the conduct which is thus instigated is held to be the 

 wisest and best for mankind. It is the ethics of tribal men. 

 Ethics is, therefore, a theory of superlative or perfect conduct. 

 If we consider it as conduct, it is ethics; if we consider it as 

 reward, it is religion. Ethics and religion are identical, the 

 one is the reciprocal of the other. 



Through the stage of monarchy the king usurps the function 

 of high priest. His coiu'tiers flatter him as the vice-regent of 

 deity, and he strives to be considered in this light. Often self- 

 deceived by adulation he has a profound faith in the sacred 

 character of his person and authoi'ity, notwithstanding which 

 religion undergoes further develojiment. The pageantry of 

 kingK' courts is the pageantrv of religious cei'emony. The 

 festivals which are ])roinoted l)y rulers all have a religious 

 character, and the priesthood e()nstitute a body of men who 



