Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 26, 1915.djvu/349

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THE RELIGIOUS BASIS OF SOCIAL UNION.

BY DR. F. W. BUSSELL. SYNOPSIS.

I. Lessons from primitive ideas of social union — needed to-day.

Factors in Development :

(i) The Sire or Patriarch.

(2) The Elder Brethren (Absolutism in Commission).

(3) The Sisters (aboriginal element).

(4) Fusion with neighbours.

(5) Dualism of the new group.

(6) Totemism and exogamy.

(7) Above development the result not of natural

affection, but of a series of tacit contracts and compromises.

II. Where is Religion in such a Society?

(i) and (2) Ancestor-worship and Magic.

(3) Feminine-cult and the Mother Goddess.

(4) Cult of the abnormal or uncanny : inlet into

the Sacred World ; magician becomes fetish- king: {Mana-ism arrayed against unprogressive Manis7?i).

III. Method of social expansion : the Liberal King. {Mana active and personal, or passive and imparted by Elders in name of community.) Suspicion and dislike of the Royal Shaman or Divine King.

(5) Active and innovating Royalty. (Successful pro-

test throughout history of the Whig Oligarchy.)

(6) The Tyrant and Robber Band. (New types of

non-moral and secularist authority.)