414 MISSION TO ASHANTEE. 
to by lazy clergymen. They conceive to worship God in any other 
way than chaunting or singing is absurd. I have had more than 
once to sing (if I may presume to call it so) from the psalms of 
David, and chaunt the responses of the service, to convince them 
that there is something more than mere muttering in prayer, were 
it properly performed, besides describing the organ used in churches 
to assist the harmony. They have often asked me about the high 
priest at Rome, and whether or not we had any thing shaped out 
that we called god. I told them the English abhorred all represen- 
tations of the Eternal, and that nothing was adequate to represent 
him. They are very tenacious on this point, and as scrupulous as 
any Protestant may wish, conceiving it an inexcusable crime to 
have any thing of the kind. They have many times enquired if we 
offer any sacrifice to God. I told them that our Scriptures do not 
allow the shedding of blood of any kind ; the last great expiation 
of the Christians being performed by Jesus when he died on the 
cross, in commemoration of which, the offering of bread and wine 
formed the sacrifice. Neither did we pour out libations* before 
drinking, because any thing poured forth before drinking, or 
victuals set apart before eating, is an offering to devils. 
The Shereef Abraham coming in with one or two more, I en- 
quired about Solomon's Al Genii, and whether or not they knew 
any thing of free masonry. I had questioned them several times 
before, and knew none of them were free masons ; they now told 
me that there was such a sect in Arabia, and conceived them to be 
magicians, as they controlled the spirits of air. They were much 
astonished to hear that I was one, and eagerly enquired if I knew 
about Solomon's seal, the building of the temple, and other matters, 
which universal belief endows free masons with, — matters, I told 
* I have observed some of the Moors who have been a long time in Ashantee pour 
forth a little of any thing before drinking. It may be remarked, that all the worshippers 
pf the fetish do this, and also set apart some of their victuals before they eat. 
