communication
which, the Jews say, was used by Ezra and Nehemiah against the
Samaritans, in this manner:--The whole congregation was assembled in
the Temple, and there were brought three hundred priests, three
hundred boys, three hundred trumpets, and three hundred books of the
law, and the Levites, singing, cursed the Samaritans by all forms of
excommunication, particularly with the curse of the superior house of
judgment, and with the curse of the inferior house of judgment. At the
same time it was commanded that no Israelite should partake of a
Samaritan's food. Hence arose the saying in reference to the breaker
of this commandment: "He who eats a Samaritan's bread is as he who
eats swine's flesh." Moreover, it was decreed that the excommunicate
should have no part in the resurrection of the dead.

There were other punishments introduced among the Hebrews in later
times of their government, which were borrowed from other nations.
These were principally, death upon the cross, sawing asunder,
condemnation to fight with wild beasts, the wheel, drowning in the
sea, beating to death with cudgels, and boating. The first and third
punishments were properly Roman inflictions; the second was likewise
used by the Romans, but whether it was originally taken from them is
doubtful; the fourth and sixth were Grecian penalties; the fifth was,
in substance, in use among the Hebrews, Greeks, and Romans, but in the
manner of drowning they differed, for the Hebrews tied a mill-stone
about the culprit's neck; the last punishment was derived from the
Persians, and is thus described:--The condemned person was laid upon
his back in a boat, with his hands tied to the sides thereof; another
boat was put over him, covering all his body except the head. In this
posture the unhappy person was fed with milk and honey till the worms
ate his very bowels, and thereby ended his days in extreme pain.

Every year the Greek Church, at Constantinople, pronounces
excommunication against the Roman Catholic Church. Heathens as well as
Christians resorted to excommunication. The Druids made use of
excommunication against rebels, and interdicted the communication of
their mysteries to such as refused to submit to their judgments.

In the Christian Church, excommunication has been practised in all
ages, and ecclesiastics have had continual recourse to it as one of
their spiritual weapons. Not only have they excommunicated
individuals, but whole families an