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a time of the infancy of the human race, when as yet no 
swarms had left the parent hive, and when afterwards they 
took their departure to seek new situations and more ample 
room for their increased numbers, they took with them the 
original religious belief, which afterwards got corrupted and 
changed according to each tribe's peculiar habits; and yet, 
strange to say, among all the variety of idols and strange 
systems of mythology, the truth was still known to the 
initiated, who in some instances have recorded that their 
idols and theogony were for the sake of the multitude, lest 
they should altogether forget God, while .they themselves 
regarded them but as fables and emblems. (Max. Tyrius, 
Sallust on Gods, and Aristot Metaph.) 
We must turn then to the present use of pillar stones in 
India, and to the frequent mention of them in Scripture, as 
being the earliest authentic record that we possess, if we 
wish to form any conjecture as to their use and origin. It 
appears from Scripture that these pillars were used for 
various purposes, even as crosses have been among Chris- 
tians ; and, like the cross, were an emblem of Deity. 
In Gen. xxviii. 18, we read, " Jacob rose up early in the 
morning, and took the stone that he had put for his pillow, 
and set it up for a pillar, and poured oil on the top of it, and 
called the name of that place 'Bethel,' i.e., 'house of God:' 
but the name of that city was called Luz at first;" v. 22, 
"And this stone that I have set up for a pillar shall be 
God's house." On his return from Padan-aram he built an 
altar there, and called the place El-beth-el, i.e., " The God of 
the house of God " (Gen. xxxv. 7). 
So again, after God had appeared to him, and changed his 
name to " Israel," Jacob set up a pillar in the place where 
he talked with him, even a pillar of stone, and he poured a 
drink-offering thereon, and he poured oil thereon, and called 
the name of the place "Bethel," Gen. xxxv. 14, 15. Com- 
