72 
toner's address. 
growth and culture denominated by Morgan in 
his Ancient Society as barbarism, that the eariiest 
sense of a reward or punishment after death is no- 
ticed, and some practices begin which may be re- 
ferred to ideas awakening to moral responsibility to 
an overruling Providence. It is in this stage of devel- 
name has thus become perpetuated to all time, though it is very prob- 
able that the Magi themselves were merely the pupils in this art, as 
in other matters, of the subtle Brahmins of Hindustan. At this mo- 
ment, the jugglers of India and Thibet are far in advance of those of 
the rest of the world. 
One of the principal pretensions of magic art at all times has been 
the cure of the sick ; and for this purpose its professors, while pre- 
tending to exercise supernatural i3owers and disguising their action 
with mysterious and meaningless movements, most frequently effected 
their object, as the physician now does, by their superior or exclusive 
knowledge of the great secrets of chemJstry and the laws of physics. 
In the hands of unscrupulous men, this magical power was capable 
of the most fraudulent excesses; and hence even many ancient phi- 
losophers denounced the magicians or pretended sorcerers in the 
severest terms. Pliny's remarks on this subject are appropriate. I 
quote from the quaint translation by Dr. P. Holland, folio edition, 
London, 1601, vol. ii, p. 371 : 
" That notwithstanding it be of all arts fullest of fraud, deceit, and 
cousenage, yet never was there any throughout the whole world either 
with like credit professed, or so long time upheld and maintained. 
Now% if a man consider the thing well, no marvaile it is that it hath 
continued thus in so great request and authoritie; for it is the only 
science which seemeth to comprise in itself three professions besides, 
which have the command and rule of man's mind above any other 
whatsoever. For to begin withall, no man doubtest but that magicke 
tooke root first, and proceeded from Physicke, under the pretence of 
maintaining, curing and preventing diseases : things plausible to the 
world, crept and insinuated farther into the heart of man, with a deepe 
conceit of some high and divine matter therein miore than ordinarie, 
and in comparison whereof, all other Physicke was but basely ac- 
counted." 
