They are too close to the sanctuary to feel its
sanctity,—a fact noted through centuries about almost every great temple in the world, even that which at Mukden covers the tombs of the Manchu Emperors. We fancy that Lamaism is decaying like every other form of Buddhism, which for all its wide diffusion, and the content with which it seems to inspire its higher votaries, never obtained the grip of either Christianity or Mahommedanism, and never perfectly extinguished far older superstitions. Even within the Cathedral of Lhasa butter lamps are burning to a terrible goddess crowned with skulls, with three eyes and mother-o'-pearl teeth, who has in Buddhism, which is theoretically the most benign of creeds, no proper place. The correspondent makes, without explaining, the statement that the next Incarnation is to be European, and that both the Russian Emperor and Queen Victoria have been accepted as in some sort deities. We think it all incom- prehensible folly; but at this moment Canadian mounted police are out in force to prevent the Doukhobors, who are white men, from marching into the Canadian steppe to worship Lord Mints as the Messiah. There is a worshipping instinct in man which may have strange developments yet.
Previous page
