12 CEREMONIAL INSTITUTIONS. 



time than did the traits which distinguish them from one 

 another. If fish, reptiles, birds, and mammals, all possess 

 vertebral columns, it follows, on the evolution-hypothesis, 

 that the vertebral column became part of the organization 

 at an earlier period than did the teeth in sockets and the 

 mamirne which distinguish one of these groups, or than did 

 the toothless beak and the feathers which distinguish an 

 other of these groups; and so on. Applying this principle 

 in the present case, it is inferable that if the controls classed 

 as civil, religious, and social, have certain common charac 

 ters, such characters, older than are these now differentiated 

 controls, must have belonged to the primitive control out of 

 which they developed. Ceremonies, then, have the highest 

 antiquity ; for these differentiated controls all exhibit them. 

 There is the making of presents: this is one of the acts 

 showing subordination to a ruler in early stages; it is a re 

 ligious rite, performed originally at the grave and later on 

 at the altar; and from the beginning it has been a means of 

 vertebral columns, it follows, on the evolution-hypothesis, 

 propitiation in social intercourse. There are the obei 

 sances: these, of their several kinds, serve to express rever 

 ence in its various degrees, to gods, to rulers, and to private 

 persons: here the prostration is habitually seen, now in the 

 temple, now before the monarch, now to a powerful man; 

 here there is genuflexion in presence of idols, rulers, and fel 

 low-subjects; here the salaam is more or less common to the 

 three cases; here uncovering of the head is a sign alike of 

 worship, of loyalty, and of respect; and here the bow serves 

 the same three purposes. Similarly with titles: father is 

 a name of honour applied to a god, to a king, and to an hon 

 oured individual; so too is lord; so are sundry other names. 

 r \ lie same thing holds of humble speeches: professions of 

 inferiority and obedience on the part of the speaker, are 

 used to secure divine favour, the favour of a ruler, and the 

 favour of a private person. Once more, it is thus with 

 words of praise : telling a deity of his greatness constitutes a 



