dventures are conceived in the mythological style of these
physical allegorists.[479:2]

In the Samothracian mysteries, which seem to have been the most
anciently established ceremonies of the kind in Europe, the _Heaven_ and
the _Earth_ were worshiped as a male and female _divinity_, and as the
_parents of all things_.[479:3]

The Supreme God (the _Al-fader_), of the ancient _Scandinavians_ was
_Odin_, a personification of the _Heavens_. The principal goddess among
them was _Frigga_, a personification of the _Earth_. It was the opinion
among these people that this Supreme Being or Celestial God had united
with the Earth (Frigga) to produce "Baldur the Good" (the Sun), who
corresponds to the Apollo of the Greeks and Romans, and the Osiris of
the Egyptians.[479:4]

_Xiuletl_, in the Mexican language, signifies _Blue_, and hence was a
name which the Mexican gave to _Heaven_, from which _Xiuleticutli_ is
derived, an epithet signifying "_the God of Heaven_," which they
bestowed upon _Tezcatlipoca_, who was the "Lord of All," the "Supreme
God." He it was who overshadowed the Virgin of Tula, Chimelman, who
begat the Saviour Quetzalcoatle (the Sun).

3. _His birth was foretold by a star._ This is the bright _morning
star_--

"Fairest of stars, last in the train of Night,
If better, thou belongst not to the Dawn,
Sure pledge of day, that crown'st the smiling morn
With thy bright circlet"--

which heralds the birth of the god _Sol_, the beneficent Saviour.

A glance at a geography of the heavens will show the "chaste, pure,
immaculate Virgin, suckling an infant," preceded by a _Star_, which
rises immediately preceding the Virgin and her child. This can truly be
called "_his Star_," which informed the "Wise Men," the
"Magi"--_Astrologers and Sun-worshipers_--and "the shepherds who watched
their flocks by night" that the Saviour of Mankind was about to be born.

4. _The Heavenly Host sang praises._ All nature smiles at the birth of
the Heavenly Being. "To him all angels cry aloud, the heavens, and all
the powers therein." "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace,
good will towards men." "The quarters of the horizon are irradiate with
joy, as if moonlight was diffused over the whole earth." "The spirits
and nymphs of heaven dance and sing." "Caressing breezes blow, and a
marvelous light is produced." For the Lord and Saviour is born, "to give
joy and peace to men and Devas, _to shed light in