ans growth, those who have reached a higher stage of
development can only point the way to others--they are powerless to
effect changes for which the masses are unprepared.

Although through a partial revival of the ideas entertained by an
ancient people the attempt was made by Zoroaster, Confucius, Gotama
Buddha, Pythagoras, the Stoics, and other schools of philosophy, to
elevate the masses of the people, and, although the unadulterated
teachings of the man called Christ were doubtless an outgrowth of this
movement, yet the human mind had not, even as late as the appearance of
this last-named reformer, sufficiently recovered from its thraldom
to enable the masses to grasp those higher truths which had been
entertained by an earlier civilized people.

While there are doubtless many points of similarity between the
religious system elaborated by Gotama Buddha and that enunciated by
Christ, there is little likeness between the teachings of the former and
those set forth by the Romish Church, or by Paul. Seven hundred years
B.C., the Persians had grasped the idea that virtue is its own reward,
and that every soul is responsible for its own growth. The fundamental
doctrine of the Christian Church to-day is that of a vicarious
atonement--a belief which takes away man's responsibility for his own
misdeeds.

CHAPTER XIII. CHRISTIANITY A CONTINUATION OF PAGANISM.

By comparing the sacred writings of the Persians with the history of the
events connected with the conception and birth of the mythical Christ
as recorded in the New Testament, the fact is observed that the latter
appears to be closely connected with the central figure of Persian
mythology. It has been found that the visit of the Magi, who, following
a star, were guided to the spot where the young child lay, was the
fulfilment of a Persian prophecy, which is to be found in the life of
Zarathustra as recorded in the Zendavesta, while the subsequent history
of the same personage is seen to be almost identical with that of the
Hindoo Sun-god Chrishna.

According to the sacred books of the Persians, three sons of the great
Zarathustra were to appear at three successive periods of time. These
sons were to be incarnations of the sun, and the result of immaculate
conceptions.

"The first is named Oschederbami. He will appear in the last millennium
of the world. He will stop the sun for ten days and ten nights, and the
second part of the human race will embrace the