OXXXII ADMINISTRATIVE RKroia' [eth. an.v. 20 



are often learned, often devout, often zealdus, and often pro- 

 foundly interested in the good of mankind. Ecclesiastics thus 

 constitute a specialized body of men whose function it is to 

 receive the new born and consecrate them to the higher life of 

 religion. It is their dutv to train the vouth in the luirture and 

 admonition of religion. It is their duty to admonish and 

 reprove for evil conduct It is their dutv to guide men in all 

 the wavs of life. When tlie most important event of social 

 life occurs, they solemnize tlie inarriage and they seek and 

 often exercise the power of controlling marriage relations in the 

 interest of religion; in sickness and in pain they shower com- 

 fort and fortitude, and they bear in their hands as offerings for 

 religious conduct the bounties ot paradise. When tlic portal 

 of death is open, kindred and friends are consoled, and the 

 occasion serves to enforce the doctrines of religion. Thus 

 religion, which is a theory of superlative conduct, employs 

 sanctions of superlative potency. 



The association of the fine arts continues through the stage 

 of raonarch'V'. Largely their evolution is accomplisheil through 

 the ageiicv of the priesthood, and men of genius who ■avo devout 

 worshipers contribute their share to the advancement of esthet- 

 ics, often impelled bv religious ecstasy. In nuisic mchMh' and 

 harmony are added l)v ecclesiastics as an adjunct to temple 

 worship. In graphic, to sculpture and relief perspeftive is 

 added, impelling the motive of decoration to the walls of the 

 temple. In drama the mysteries of religion still constitute the 

 theme, while to dancing and sacrifice ceremonv is added The 

 drama is no hmger the leading element in religious worship, 

 but it becomes an accessory element designed to instruct the 

 people in the mystei'ies of religion. In romance, to beast fables 

 and power myths tales of necromancv are added. In poetry, 

 to ])ersoniiication and sinnlitude allegory is added, and the 

 themes of poetry are mainly the themes of religion. 



Religion itself undergoes marked development. There still 

 remains an element of terpsichoriau worship and an element of 

 sacriiicial worship, but ceremonial worship is moi-e liighly 

 developed, while terpsichoriau and sacrificial worship is per- 

 formed with an alleg-orical meaning-. 



