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fact that the Greeks and Romans were sound philologists. Being nearer the 
fountain-head, they recognised the identity of two false gods, or, rather, of 
the false worship or the degeneracy from true worship ; and it is curious to 
find how completely in Christian times, in the north of Europe, we have 
assumed an opposite identity, and take almost every one of the names of the 
Norse gods as a name for the devil. There is not a familiar or vulgar name 
for the devil that is not derived from the Norse mythology, — even the very 
undignified name of “Scratch” is actually derived from “ Scratti”; and 
of course our words “ Bogey ” and “ Deuce ” are equally derived from our 
old heathen forefathers’ names for gods. By a very natural inversion of 
the old Roman process, the Christians assumed that the gods of their fore- 
fathers were actual personal devils, and even the popular idea of appearance 
of the devil is undoubtedly derived from Pan, or some northern variation 
of Pan — some wood-god — for certainly nowhere else can we find the 
familiar representation of the author of evil, which I believe is so firmly 
impressed on the minds of many people that they would consider any doubt 
about it as an absolute disbelief in the Bible. It is curious that to this day, 
the old traditions have remained, and still affect popular ideas, and we can 
trace these myths in the old nursery tales, and it is singular to find that 
these nursery tales contain, after all, some of the oldest of our learning — 
how old one does not know, but certainly extending over a very large 
number of the twelve hundred years the Etruscans would have traced back 
our history. (Applause.) 
Mr. J. H. Buckley. — I should like to ask what it is that Mr. Herbert 
Spencer means when he says, “ While the degradation theory, as currently 
held, is untenable.’’ What is the degradation theory to which he alludes ? 
Mr. Brown. — I believe the theory to which Mr. Herbert Spencer 
alludes is that mankind started with a completely formulated creed given 
to them by directly Divine revelation, and that they worked down to the 
condition in which we find the modern savage. 
Mr. J. H. Buckley. — Somewhat analogous to the Biblical theory. 
Mr. Brown. — Somewhat. It is Mr. Herbert Spencer’s statement that it 
is untenable — not mine. He would probably repudiate all that we call the 
supernatural. 
Mr. J. H. Buckley. — Precisely. 
Mr. Brown. — It only remains for me to thank the members of this 
Institute for the very kind attention they have given to my Paper on a 
subject which, although exceedingly interesting and important, is un- 
doubtedly severe. Perhaps I may be allowed to make one or two further 
remarks which, I hope, will interest you. I had the pleasure, only last 
Friday when coming up to town, of reading the “ Hibbert Lectures ” for 
last year — lectures in which “ the origin and growth of the Christian reli- 
gion as illustrated by the religion of ancient Egypt ” are treated by 
M. Renouf, who is an authority on that topic. The publication of those 
lectures had been delayed, and I was exceedingly gratified on going through 
