IN CENTRAL AFRICA AND ELSEWHERE. 



175 



Malayan islands millions of years ago in the Eocene Age. The apes, 

 by the showing of this scientist, are co be regarded as descended from 

 man. The professor quotes Professor Boule, of Paris, and others in 

 support of this view, which, however, as Mr. Bishop points out, 

 " makes utterly valueless all the scientific evidence which has 

 hitherto been relied upon by biologists as proving the animal 

 origin of man " (i.e. through the apes). 



No doubt in a few years some other professor will arise and 

 demolish Professor Wood-Jones and his tarsius. But while evolu- 

 tionists are engaged in biting and devouring one another " we may 

 possess our souls in patience and continue to believe in the Creator- 

 ship of God. It is hardly a question of what God might or might not 

 have done. In the absence of any scientific or other proof that He 

 did create according to a certain theory, we may safely refuse to 

 bow to the idol. 



Mr. Theodore Eoberts' analogy is exceedingly interesting and 

 suggestive as an illustration of what has been going on in the 

 religious history of the race. With reference to Dr. Thomson's 

 remarks, I am glad of his general agreement with my conclusions. 

 As regards his query, fetichism and animism must be distinguished. 

 In the latter the spirits are, I believe, supposed to be elemental, 

 indwelling trees, rocks, etc., but in fetichism they are professedly 

 discarnate. I do not think I attempted any pronouncement on 

 idolatry ; the more ignorant and degraded idolaters might worship 

 the idol itself, those more advanced the spirit associated with the 

 idol. In answer to Dr. Fox, I did point out the close analogy he 

 refers to. Fetiches as mascots are for the " common herd," but it 

 is on the esoteric side that fetichism bears so close a relation to 

 spiritism, though, of course, I do not assert an exact correspondence 

 in every detail. I am grateful to Dr. Schofield, Professor Orchard, 

 and Colonel Moloney for their remarks as to the inner significance 

 of this correspondence. As for the real spiritual power behind 

 fetichism I have received since writing my paper the following 

 from my brother, Mr. T. H. Hoste, who lived thirteen years on 

 the Lower Congo : " Neither I nor the missionaries with whom 

 I was associated thought there was anything to understand about 

 fetiches, and in my time the whole thing was treated cavalierly. 

 A remarkable incident, however, occurred within my knowledge 

 shortly before I left Africa. Three important men gave themselves 



